“Eat well, exercise regularly, live longer.”

Nonsense!

Well, OK… perhaps in one sense the advice isn’t totally bogus, particularly if the goal is to keep “the delivery vehicle of the Word” maintained (1Co 3:16-17).

But really… how important is living longer if it still ends in death? The advice is useless if the prescription for life goes unnoticed or is ignored:

Pr 9:11 “Through Me your days will be many and years will be added to your life.”

This verse is interesting in that it can be read two ways.

The first is obvious: Life through Jesus is made up of many days and added years.

The second is less-obvious, but far more exciting: Life is made up of days which, through Jesus, are made many. But after these days are completed (at death), through Jesus, years are added. Here, the “days” in a lifetime are seemingly small when compared to the “years” of eternity which are added following the resurrection. Awesome!

As for me, I’m not content to settle for more days when it could be years eternal!

“Don’t judge me! It isn’t your place to judge my Christianity or my relationship with God! That’s anti-biblical! Jesus says, ‘Judge not!'”

Nonsense!

I hear and read quotes like this with some frequency. If it wasn’t so sad, it’d be funny. Why? Because most times, the person preaching so dogmatically about how unbiblical it is to judge really has no idea what the Bible says about the topic! So, is it biblically okay to judge? The answer is: Yes. In fact, Jesus, Himself, instructs us to judge, but in a qualified manner!

Joh 7:24 “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

not… according to appearance – Sometimes things aren’t as they appear. Therefore, two alternate means of judgment are in order:

1) judging the fruit (the byproduct or source of inspiration in a person’s life)

Mt 12:33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.

2) judging the words (the byproduct of the condition of the heart).

Mt 12:34b “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
 35 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.

with righteous judgment –

1) according to the Scriptures –

2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2) without hypocrisy –

Mt 7:1 ¶ “Judge not, that you be not judged.
 2 “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
 3 “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?
 4 “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?
 5 “Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

3) gentle, in humility, with repentance as the goal –

2Ti 2:24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

And, to top it off: One day, the saints will judge the world and the angels!

1Co 6:2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?

“All truth is God’s truth.” – St. Augustine

Nonsense!

It’s not uncommon to hear Augustine’s quote in Christian circles. It’s usually applied to an idea or theory that’s been accepted as true, based upon empirical evidence, that’s subsequently being ascribed to God as His truth. The intent in using the phrase is to attach greater significance to an idea or theory in order to make it more acceptable. Because… who wants to disagree with God?

The problem, however, is that empirical evidence cannot validate an idea or a theory. In fact, observation and experimentation provide only evidence for a reasonable conjecture. Thereafter, a group of “very influential people” may assemble to agree that their conjecture is now a truth, and then publish their findings to the world. But…

Is God in agreement with these truth-setters? It would seem that, rather than taking an idea and trying to secure an endorsement from God, we’d all be better served by answering the following first:

1. What has God already revealed as truth?
2. Is anyone or any group really in a position to declare anything as true if it’s only conjecture?
3. Isn’t it irresponsible (and blasphemous) to ascribe a truth to God without His direct verification? and what would be that means of verification?
4. Is it possible that those who are assembling to ascribe a truth to God might be undermining God’s authority for a secular humanistic ideology (eg The Tower of Babel)?

In regard to truth, only that which has been revealed by God can be regarded as genuine truth. He’s the only one in a position to make such a declaration.

De 29:29 “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

The secret things are the realm of understanding which God has not (yet) revealed or disclosed. It’s these secret things which some attempt to define, for their own glory and recognition (and condemnation).

Those things revealed pertains to God’s truth through the Word of God, given that we may do all the words of this law.

Additionally, God’s revelation is unchanging and eternal!

Ps 119:160 ¶ The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

There’s a better phrase and theology than Augustine’s: “God’s truth is all truth!”

 †

Ps 2:1 ¶ Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision.

“‘People Basically Never Change’, says Science.” – New York Magazine (NYMag.com)

Nonsense!

Is this a crazy quote or what? “Science” will (incorrectly) assert macro-evolutionary change at the genetic level, yet deny the possibility for change in the area of personality!?! Well…

Contrary to “science”, change can and does occur!

A profound idea or person (eg Jesus – Jn 14:6 “the Way, the Truth, and the Life”), when introduced and received into an individual’s life, can influence to such a degree inwardly that change becomes apparent outwardly. This process is synonymous to a transformation or metamorphosis – complete and comprehensive, from the inside out!

Ro 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.