THE WORD OF GOD.
Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
That the “law of the Lord is perfect” is direct reference to the absolute, complete, and entire trustworthiness of the Holy Scriptures, which constitute the Bible. The Word of God is perfect in its accuracy and sure in its dependability. Two terms are generally used to describe these features of God’s Word. 1) Inerrant (perfect) means that, in the original copies of each manuscript written by each Bible book’s respective author, there was nothing mistaken or tinged with error. (Further, the excellence of the Holy
Scriptures over the centuries has insured that the copies delivered into our hands from generations past are essentially the same. Even the literary critics who claim no faith in the truth of the Bible attest to its being the most completely reliable of any transmitted from antiquity, in terms of its actually remaining unchanged and dependably accurate.) 2) Infallible refers to the fact that the Bible is unfailing as an absolutely trustworthy guide for our faith (belief in God) and practice (life and behavior). This is so because God is true (John 3:33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true: 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent) because His Word reveals His truth (John 17:17 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You), and because God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good. Titus 1:2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, Hebrews 6:18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.)
2Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
Proverbs 30:5-6 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.
I found Proverbs 30:6 (Do not add to His words) very interesting as we live in this world. When we compromise the Word of God in the way we conduct ourselves, are we not adding to His Word when we do what God tells us not to do?
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
How God Feels About Violence
Greetings,
I wanted to share this article motivated by how video games and media are influencing the children including my 12 year old grandson. It is our God given responsibility to bring about change in our children and our world.
"Violence is not the answer"
By Paul Kendall
Many people have the idea that God loves war and is a bloodthirsty, violent God. What these critics fail to understand is that the true God of the Bible is actually a God of peace.
In fact, God is called “the God of Peace” in 1 Thessalonians 5:23. The Bible shows us that God rejects violence, war and brutality. We spend a great portion of our lives experiencing, hearing about and dwelling on violence – a plague we cannot seem to avoid!
Beginning with Cain murdering his brother Abel, violence has caused immeasurable havoc and destruction on the earth.
Notice the role that humanity’s violence played in God’s decision to flood the earth: “And God said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth’” (Genesis 6:13).
When we read in the Bible about the calamity that God brings upon people, it is always in the context that God alone is able to execute righteous judgment. For example, even in the midst of the end-time plagues that God will send down upon an unrepentant humanity, the angel proclaims, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments” (Revelation 16:7).
Today, violence is all around us; we see it constantly. A steady stream of scenes depicting brutality, hatred, crime and war flows from our televisions and web browsers. News reports continuously remind us of the reality that we live in a violent world.
Sadly, the reality of the news is not enough. Violence has infiltrated our homes, schools, cities and hearts. Brutality is a big money-making theme of movies and stories. Beyond the actual violent events that we learn about, extraordinary violence entertains us. Our society takes pleasure in cruelty and savagery. Today, we love violence as much as, or more than, Roman society did in the days of the gladiators! Now, these fictional depictions of violence are not enough; “Reality television” has taken the inevitable shift to exhibitions of people really getting hurt, maimed or even killed. The human tendency is to push to a new level of “extreme.” Today’s “extreme” will soon become tomorrow’s mainstream. How far will we push it? What will be the new shocker that sells big?
Comparable to the surge of violent fictional and reality TV, is the dominance of top-selling video games that focus on killing and warfare. With titles like, “Assassin’s Creed,” “S.T.A.L.K.E.R.,” “Warhammer,” “Left For Dead” and the new game “Dante’s Inferno” (which uses “collected souls” as game currency), video games are becoming more and more outrageous.
The Bible reveals that the true God is grieved when He sees people indulging in this kind of wickedness and violence. “The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates” (Psalm 11:5).
Prophecies in your Bible proclaim the good news that the God of Peace is going to bring about true and permanent peace when Jesus Christ returns and establishes His Kingdom on the earth. It will be a time in which “Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; But you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise” (Isaiah 60:18).
If we strive to follow the God of Peace, then we should make every effort to avoid becoming enthralled by the implements of war, and never allow vengeful fantasies to take root in our minds. We should never wish pain on anyone.
Violence is not the answer.
Even though we are surrounded by the sights, sounds, and consequences of fighting and aggression, we should reject violence and work very hard to follow and become well-acquainted with the God of Peace.
I wanted to share this article motivated by how video games and media are influencing the children including my 12 year old grandson. It is our God given responsibility to bring about change in our children and our world.
"Violence is not the answer"
By Paul Kendall
Many people have the idea that God loves war and is a bloodthirsty, violent God. What these critics fail to understand is that the true God of the Bible is actually a God of peace.
In fact, God is called “the God of Peace” in 1 Thessalonians 5:23. The Bible shows us that God rejects violence, war and brutality. We spend a great portion of our lives experiencing, hearing about and dwelling on violence – a plague we cannot seem to avoid!
Beginning with Cain murdering his brother Abel, violence has caused immeasurable havoc and destruction on the earth.
Notice the role that humanity’s violence played in God’s decision to flood the earth: “And God said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth’” (Genesis 6:13).
When we read in the Bible about the calamity that God brings upon people, it is always in the context that God alone is able to execute righteous judgment. For example, even in the midst of the end-time plagues that God will send down upon an unrepentant humanity, the angel proclaims, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments” (Revelation 16:7).
Today, violence is all around us; we see it constantly. A steady stream of scenes depicting brutality, hatred, crime and war flows from our televisions and web browsers. News reports continuously remind us of the reality that we live in a violent world.
Sadly, the reality of the news is not enough. Violence has infiltrated our homes, schools, cities and hearts. Brutality is a big money-making theme of movies and stories. Beyond the actual violent events that we learn about, extraordinary violence entertains us. Our society takes pleasure in cruelty and savagery. Today, we love violence as much as, or more than, Roman society did in the days of the gladiators! Now, these fictional depictions of violence are not enough; “Reality television” has taken the inevitable shift to exhibitions of people really getting hurt, maimed or even killed. The human tendency is to push to a new level of “extreme.” Today’s “extreme” will soon become tomorrow’s mainstream. How far will we push it? What will be the new shocker that sells big?
Comparable to the surge of violent fictional and reality TV, is the dominance of top-selling video games that focus on killing and warfare. With titles like, “Assassin’s Creed,” “S.T.A.L.K.E.R.,” “Warhammer,” “Left For Dead” and the new game “Dante’s Inferno” (which uses “collected souls” as game currency), video games are becoming more and more outrageous.
The Bible reveals that the true God is grieved when He sees people indulging in this kind of wickedness and violence. “The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates” (Psalm 11:5).
Prophecies in your Bible proclaim the good news that the God of Peace is going to bring about true and permanent peace when Jesus Christ returns and establishes His Kingdom on the earth. It will be a time in which “Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; But you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise” (Isaiah 60:18).
If we strive to follow the God of Peace, then we should make every effort to avoid becoming enthralled by the implements of war, and never allow vengeful fantasies to take root in our minds. We should never wish pain on anyone.
Violence is not the answer.
Even though we are surrounded by the sights, sounds, and consequences of fighting and aggression, we should reject violence and work very hard to follow and become well-acquainted with the God of Peace.
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