Science - The New Religion

I have been reflecting recently on the world's emerging religion called Science. Now I'm not talking about real Science, those hard working men and women in Labs all around the world who are seeking to find cures for Cancer and developing smarted technology. I'm talking about those who use a cloak of Science to impose their perverted view of the world on the rest of us.

I suppose it's always been around, the Apostle Paul warned Timothy about it 2000 years ago. 'O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:' But it's seem to have had a resurgence since the 1859 publication of Darwin's 'Origin of the Species'.

If you really analysis what the preachers of Scientism teach you will find all the major components of a religion.

ORIGINS

The Bible starts with 'In the beginning God' but Scientism starts with a Big Bang.

GOD

The Bible reveals the Lord Jehovah but Scientism has embraced the pagan Gaia mother earth god. This is the main motivation of extreme environmentalists. They believe that cutting down a tree is hurting Gaia.

SATAN

The Infernal enemy of the Christian God is a wicked enemy called Satan. In the view of Scientism the wicked enemy is Western Capitalism whose seeking to create wealth is a danger to their precious Gaia.

HELL

Unlike the hell of the Bible the hell of Scientism is not a burning lake of fire, instead they believe in a burning earth. Global warming, which isn't in fact really happening, is painted as a hell that we are all headed for because of our supposed poor stewardship of the earth. 

HEAVEN

The religion of Scientism also has it's heaven. It is not the eternal abode of God as revealed in the Bible but instead it is some sort of a Nirvana, right her on earth, where we all have to live happily in some sort of a socialist collective where we do exactly what our totalitarian masters tell us.

So many people are sucked in by this religion because it has an excellent propaganda campaign helped in no small part by the BBC. The mainstream media propagates it's doctrines as truth even though they are not proven. Every child in the UK believes that the earth is getting warmer and as a consequence the world is in big trouble. The truth of course is much less exciting, the worlds temperature has not risen for many tears. To combat this reality Scientism has subtly changed the name of the doctrine from Global Warming to Climate Change. The truth is the climate has always changed over the centuries and always will but one thing is for sure...

'While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.' Genesis 8 v22

Peer Pressure

It's a while since I have posted to this blogspot but I feel so strongly about what I witnessed on TV this week that I have to speak out.

I am referring to BBC Question Time aired on Thursday the 27th March 2014. As is often the case on BBC output the subject of 'gay marriage' reared it's head through a question from the floor. As far as I could see there were only 3 people in the room who were prepared to voice their opposition to 'gay marriage', they were, Roger Helmer a panel member representing the United Kingdom Independence Party and two ladies in the audience.

Every time these three individuals attempted to articulate their positions there was booing, hissing, gasps of horror and general ridicule aimed in their direction. Now here is my problem with the whole thing, BBCQT audiences appear to be regularly overloaded with lefties and liberals who snoot and ridicule people who dare to express a more conservative point of view.

The BBC as a public service broadcaster has the responsibility to provide a forum where all sorts of political, religious and social views can be expressed in a balanced way. They as a corporation will argue that they have done so by inviting right of centre politicians onto the panel and by allowing them and sympathetic members of the audience to make their points, but that is where the balance ends.

The make up of of BBCQT audiences are far from balanced. The room always seems to be stuffed with militant lefties who do what militant lefties do best and that is bully. Lefties never seem to be able to make coherent arguments to defend their position, they simply insult people they don't agree with by accusing them of being imperialists, racists or homophobes.

As a Christian my opposition to homosexuality is not based on a hatred for a certain section of the population but on a love for the Word of God and His commandments. Sadly in the face of such militant opposition many Christians are allowing themselves to be put under such pressure to such an extent that they are trying to reinterpret God's Word on this subject in light of relative social conditions. We must never allow ourselves to be bullied away from standing up for God's truth.      

The leftie tactic of stuffing question time audiences is designed to make you think that people who think like you are vastly outnumbered in society. Don't you believe it, there are millions in the UK opposed to 'gay marriage' and do you know what, even if we were only a handful it wouldn't matter they would still be wrong. God's truth is not determined by a democratic vote, it is determined by His Word.

 'Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth'. John 17 v17

There’s No Smoke Without Fire

There’s no smoke without fire, or so the old saying goes. Well I just found out this evening that this old saying isn’t always true.

Tonight the eyes of the world’s media were fixed on a narrow chimney pot sticking out of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. They wee all waiting for that puff of white smoke to indicate that a new Pope has been elected. However, the smoke that blows out of this chimney is not created by the burning of ballot papers as many suppose, oh no. According to a Vatican insider, on BBC 5 live this evening, the smoke is generated by the release of chemicals from a canister.  So much for the ozone layer!

Their pretend smoke from a non-fire isn’t the only bit of fakery that will come out of Rome this week. Another classic lie that will come from Rome this week will be one of the titles that will be bestowed upon the newly elected Pontiff.

Pontifex Maximus

For those of you like me who do not read Latin the term literally means ‘The Greatest Bridge Builder’.

Now that’s quite a title to take to yourself.  The idea, of course, is that the Pope is the greatest bridge builder that the Roman Catholic can find between himself and his God. If you will, he is a mediator between God and men.

However, that particular role is already held by someone who, unlike Benedict, has not retired or, unlike John Paul II, has not died. You see the only person who can really be called Pontifex Maximus is the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Apostle Paul said to Timothy…

‘For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;’ 1 Timothy 2 v5

How dare Rome bestow such a title on a mere man!

A Bitter Harvest

The Roman Catholic Institution has had to face a drip feed of sexual scandals amongst it’s clergy now for decades. The most recent high profile case is the former Cardinal Keith O’Brien who on Sunday the 3rd of March admitted inappropriate sexual relations with other priests. Now the Roman Church is not the only religious body to have to face such scandals but no other religious group has had to face the volume of revelations as them.


So what on earth is the problem? Well to my mind they are reaping a very bitter harvest for their insistence on a celibate priest hood. Celibacy of course is not to be found in the Bible, as is the case with most of the doctrines of Rome, in fact celibacy in the Bible is described as a doctrine of devils.

‘Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.’ 1 Timothy 4 v 1-3

What the Hierarchy of the Church of Rome does not seem to realise is that their insistence on celibacy does not give her priesthood the opportunity to vent their sexual desires. Now sexual desires are not sinful, they are normal: they are a part of what we are as human beings. The problem comes when we channel these desires in a way that is contrary to God’s Word.

God’s word only allows for these desires to be fulfilled within the marriage bond between a man and a woman, any deviance from this Biblical pattern is sin. By banning their priests from the only Biblically condoned opportunity to channel their sexual desires these men are expected to dam up these desires and sadly for society and many thousands of innocent children the dam wall bursts all to often.

The Apostle Paul addressed this very issue in his first letter to the Church at Corinth saying…

‘ I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.’ 1 Corinthians 7 v8-9

There is an army of Roman Clerics around this world who are burning with sexual desire and their Church won’t let them follow the advice of Paul and they wonder why they have a problem!

Far be it from me to give advice to the Roman Church as it continues on it’s course of self destruction, for the destruction of this institution would give me great pleasure, but do the world a favour and let your priests get married.

An Unlikely Influence

Anyone who is a regular follower of my blogs will know that I like to keep an eye on what the music industry is pumping out.  It’s important to be aware of the filth the world is pumping our way. Recently I was surprised to see an unlikely influence in a musical genre not normally associated with baser things.  If I was to blog about Satanic overtones in Rock music or sexual perversion in R&B then who would be surprised, however, on this occasion I feel I need to warn people about folk music.

Folk music? I hear you cry. Unlikely indeed but I’m never surprised these days. Folk music has always been the poor second cousin of the music industry, it certainly has never really had a ‘cool’ image, well at least it’s been that way until now.

Recently a folk band from England has found previously unheard of mainstream popularity with their high energy modern take on ‘folk music’.   I speak of course of ‘Mumford and Sons’.  I have never actually listened to Mumford’s music but I have been aware of their rise to prominence just from listening to the media. I note that they are Grammy winners and I have seen media clips of them packing out music festivals. Somewhat unheard of for a folk band!

I always get suspicious when I see such a rapid rise to stardom, I always wonder are they getting a little extra help from the musical maestro himself, Lucifer.  I saw an advert on TV a few weeks ago for their new album and its name sent off alarm bells in my mind. I refer of course to their recent album, ‘Babel’. I am interested to know why a band would choose a Bible word associated with rebellion against God for the name of their album.

The word Babel comes from the ‘Tower of Babel’ as recorded in Genesis 11. God had told man to spread through the earth, but when man reached the land of Shinar they decided to disobey God and build a city to stay together and there they built a tower. God was displeased with them and confounded their languages so that they no longer understood each other and went their separate ways. In this way God’s purpose was fulfilled in that the people spread through the earth as God had originally commanded.

‘Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.’ Genesis 11 v9

So why would Mumford associate themselves with rebellion against God in the name of their album?  Well perhaps the lyrics of one of the tracks of the album will shed some light on the subject.

Whispers in the dark

You hold your truth so purely

And swerve not through the minds of men

This lie is dead
And this cup of yours tastes holy

But a brush with the devil can clear your mind and strengthen your spine
But fingers tap into what you were once

And I'm worried that I blew my only chance
Whispers in the dark

Steal a kiss and you'll break your heart

Pick up your clothes and curl your toes

Learn your lesson, lead me home

Spare my sins for the ark, I was too slow to depart

I'm a cad but I'm not a fraud, I'd set out to serve the Lord
But my heart was colder when you'd gone

And I lost my head but found the one that I love

Under the sun, under the sun
But fingers tap into what you were once

And I'm worried that I blew my only chance

Fingers tap into what you were once

And I'm worried that I blew my only chance!

But my heart was colder when you'd gone

And I lost my head; let's live while we are young

While we are young

While we are young

Interesting Lyrics! I think you’ll agree they are certainly very spiritual in nature.

Now I’m not sure exactly what was in the heart and mind of the songwriter as he penned these lyrics but they do seem to describe a man who once served God, ‘I’d set out to serve the Lord’ but had an encounter with evil ‘But a brush with the devil can clear your mind’. It seems that the songwriter is now living by a new worldly philosophy ‘Let’s live while we are young’. This is certainly the maxim of the godless. The child of God, like old Abraham, is looking for a city whose builder and maker is God but the worldling is only interested in enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season.

Something else sheds a bit of light on the subject. Band member Marcus Mumford is from an Evangelical Christian background. This song almost seems to be a public renouncing of his former faith. He speaks of thinking about going back ‘lead me home’ but by the end of the song he appears to have decided on the life of sin. Sad!

It’s worth having a look at some of their other songs, they certainly make interesting reading. Have a look for yourself and see what conclusions you come to.  

A Very Expensive Bill

Tomorrow the United Kingdom government at Westminster will debate a Bill, which is intended to make same sex marriage legal in the UK. This should be a matter of deep concern for all Christians as our government has no right to tamper with an institution that is not of their making.


Marriage was created and ordained by God, at the very dawn of time, in the Garden of Eden. It was created between one man and one woman, it was Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve that good created for one another. Genesis is very clear.

‘So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.’ Genesis 1 v27

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the great head and Saviour of the Church reinforced this biblical pattern while on this earth. (Matt 19v4-6) There is no place in the Biblical pattern for a marriage between a man and a man or a woman and a woman. In fact such relations are roundly condemned by God’s Word and considered great wickedness (Gen 19v7) and an abomination (Lev 18v22). It is therefore a great wickedness and an abomination for the UK government to consider redefining marriage to accommodate homosexual practices. They have no right, nor, place to tamper with things that are not in their remit.

This is where it gets scary as far as I am concerned, for I believe if this Bill is passed into law it will prove to be ‘a very expensive bill’ indeed. You see when God created this world not only did he ordain marriage but He also put in place an unbending law, ‘The Law of the Harvest’.

‘Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.’ Galatians 6 v7

If you sow carrots, you reap carrots! If you sow wheat, you reap wheat! If you sow to the wind, you reap the whirlwind! If you sow sin, wickedness and abomination then you reap in kind. The United Kingdom will reap an awful harvest of judgement, as will those who are pushing this down the nations throat.

Please pray that God’s wisdom will yet be given to those, as yet, bent on folly. Pray that God’s Word will not be trampled over in parliament tomorrow and pray that in wrath He would remember mercy and that our nation would once again turn back to God.

‘Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.’ Proverbs 14 v34

Triple Security

‘A threefold cord is not quickly broken’, so said wise Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes. These are words of scripture that came to my mind recently as I considered the eternal security of the believer in Christ Jesus.

One of the greatest guarantees of our eternal security is found in the fact that when we trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation we are admitted to the family of God.  Once you are in a family you are always in the family, no family dispute can change that fact.  I will always be my father’s son, that will never change.There is a threefold admission to God’s family that secures our eternity.

Birth

I was born into the Warburton family in 1971, nothing can alter that fact. During my early years I put my faith in Christ for Salvation, at that moment I was born into the family of God by the ‘New Birth’ as described to Nicodemus in John’s gospel chapter 3. As a result I have the right to be called a son of God, as John said in chapter 1 verse 12 ‘But as many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name’.

Marriage

In the year 2000 I got married, on the happy day in question my wife also joined the Warburton family.  At this point you might say my argument fails because a divorce could terminate that relationship.  The thing you are forgetting is God doesn’t do divorce. As the prophet Malachi reminds us, God ‘…hateth putting away’. You see when we trust Christ, not only do we experience the ‘New Birth’ but we also become part of the ‘Bride of Christ’.  One day our union with Christ will be consummated at the Marriage of the Lamb.

‘Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ Revelation 19 v9

Adoption

There is another way to join a family, the way that a stranger can join a family, by adoption. Now, my immediate family includes no adopted people, but there are a couple of examples of adoption in my wider family circle.  When we trusted Christ for salvation we were also adopted by God. Galatians chapter 4 verse 5 describes this reality for us. ‘To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.’

I don’t know about you but I know that I am eternally secure. A God that would go to such lengths, to reinforce to me that I am part of His family, wants to let me know that I’m secure. Triple Security!

The New Normal

American television giants NBC have created a new TV show called ‘The New Normal’.  I have not watched the programme but I have seen the trailers recently on British Television.  The general plot of the show relates to the challenges a couple of gay men face in adopting a baby.

It goes without saying that the general plot is sickening to me, not to mention sinful.  However, I was struck by the title chosen by the writers Ryan Murphy and Allison Adler.  There has been a serious push by the media in the past couple of decades to ‘normalise’ the activities of homosexuals in the eyes of the general population. This can be evidenced by the increasing quantity of homosexual characters in all major television serials.  I suppose the writers must believe that their goals have been reached in the use of their title ‘the new normal’.

I had a look in the Oxford English Dictionary to see the definition of normal.

Normal = Conforming to a standard, regular, usual, typical.

It’s fair to say that the homosexual lobby has done a good job on re-defining the standards of morality in western civilisation to accept homosexual practices as normal and even something to be celebrated.  Homosexuals are certainly regular characters on our TV screens, and so it no longer seems unusual to hear of people coming out, you could say it’s now fairly typical.

So what are we to make of this new normality as Christians? Should we adapt our views to accept the “new” reality or the “new” normality? Should we understand our Bibles relative to this new normality?

CERTAINLY NOT!

Sin will always be sin no matter how normal or unusual its occurrence may be!  God says what He means and means what He says!  God’s truth is not decided by a majority vote within humanity.  God Himself, who never changes, determines truth and standards. It is to Him that we all have to answer.

‘There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.’  Deuteronomy 23 v17

I don’t care if its normal, its evil!!!

Media Bias

I always get frustrated at the Medias' Bias towards the cause of the Palestinians in the Arab Israeli conflict. I experienced such a frustration just today when viewing the Belfast Telegraph website. There was a typcically staged picture of a Palestinian child looking 'forlorn'. Now no doubt, Gaza is not a pleasent place to be at the moment, but neither is Ashdod or Tel Aviv, but you never see media images of 'forlorn' looking Israeli children. The only pictures you see protraying Israel are pictures of tanks and F16 Jets.

I clicked on the picture on the Belfast Telegraph wesite and it took me to an article about the ongoing conflict in Southern Israel. Once again as I read the article my frustration grew. The following is an extract from the article.

'Since then it (Israel) has carried out hundreds of air strikes in what it says is a systematic campaign to halt years of rocket attacks launched from Gaza. While Israel claims to have inflicted heavy damage, dozens of rockets have continued to fly out of Gaza each day.'

You will notice that the Telegraph's correspondent calls into question Israel claim that there is a systematic campaign by Hamas to shoot rockets into Israel by the subtle use of the term 'in what it says'(highlighted above). However, despite using the language of questioning Israel's claim the correspondent goes on to acknowledge in the same paragraph that 'dozens of rockets have continued to fly out of Gaza each day.'

The facts are clear, in the past few years thousands of rockets have been fired into Israel from Gaza and from Lebanon. There is no question about it, no doubt about it. But listen carefully to media reports and you will continually hear these questioning terms being used 'they say' or 'Isarel says'. On the other hand when they report what Israel does in response (and they have every right to) to these attacks there is no ambiguity. It reported as fact.

Once again the free press disappoints me.

'Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.' Psalm 121 v4

Preparing to Meet Royalty

Speculation has been growing in recent months that the infamous Irish Republican Martin McGuinness is preparing to meet Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth the Second. As a seasoned observer of the Northern Irish political process I would imagine that a meeting is indeed in the pipeline and that the recent drip feed on this story is merely the Republican base being prepared for such a meeting.


However, my reason for writing is not to make any kind of political commentary on this matter, I will leave that to others better qualified. I was simply struck by a spiritual parallel that we would all do well to consider.

Effectively Martin McGuinness is preparing to meet Royalty, something that every man woman and child should do. However, I’m not thinking about meeting the Queen of the UK, I am thinking about the day when we will have to meet the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. A verse of scripture in Amos chapter 4 springs to mind…

‘Prepare to meet thy God.’

The Person

If we were ever invited to meet the Queen, at perhaps a garden party, we would be instructed in advance how we must act and how we must address Her Majesty. In essence we have to take account of the person. When we think about a meeting with the God of Heaven we need to consider His person.

He is Holy, that is, morally pure. He has no sin; in fact He hates sin and must punish it wherever He finds it. That will leave our meeting with Him very difficult. As sinners, we are the subjects of God’s wrath.

‘God is angry with the wicked every day.’ Psalm 7 v11

A righteous, Holy God must and will punish sin.

‘But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.’ Revelation 21 v8

That meeting with God would not go well if it was not for a great plan…

The Plan

While God is Holy and angry with the sinner, we can be thankful that he is also merciful and has provided a means of escape for the sinner. He did that at tremendous cost to Himself in that God the Son, the second person of the Trinity, had to be born into a human body, live in this world and suffer the death of the cross, a cross on which He bore our sins…

‘Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree.’ 1 Peter 2 v24

Having done all of the hard work, all God asks of us is to repent (turn away) from our sins, and trust in the finished cross work of the Lord Jesus. Then and only then will we be ready, or prepared, to meet God.

‘…the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.’ 1 John 1v7

Are you prepared?

The Compassion of Christ

At this time of the year we especially think about the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ and how He suffered so much in order to purchase Salvation. In these days running up to the Easter weekend as I have been considering Christ's Passion I have seen a glimpse of His Compassion.

You will of course remember how the anguish of the Lord Jesus began in the Garden of Gethsemane where, 'He sweat as it were great drops of blood'. He was then arrested and dragged around Jerusalem to stand before the High Priest, Pilate, Herod and then Pilate again. He was mocked, buffeted, spat on and finally whipped so severely that His back was lacerated from the neck to the back of the knees. After this a heavy cross beam was placed across his severely wounded back and he was forced to carry it to the site of Crucifixion. So deep had been the physical trauma that His now severely weakened body was unable to carry the cross beam and it was given to 'one Simon, a Cyrenian' to bear it for Him.

Stop for a moment and think of what has happened to Him up to this point. Put yourself in that situation. How would you have been feeling? What would you have been thinking? Severe fatigue and pain would be shooting across your nervous system or perhaps you would have been angry with your tormentors.

Having set the scene and the context I now want to show 'The Compassion of Christ'. As He was being lead to the cross with Simon bearing the cross beam a group of women who loved Him and believed in Him followed after him weeping. Luke records in his gospel...

'And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.' Luke 23 v 27-29

What a picture of compassion, at the very moment when the Lord Jesus was in deep agony and contemplating what lay ahead for Him on the cross He still demonstrated a concern for others and took the time to minister unto them by giving them a word. What selflessness, what love, what compassion, what an example...WHAT A SAVIOUR!!!

'Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.' 1 John 3 v 16

Our Debt to St. Patrick

'I am Patrick, a sinner...'

I don't suppose that you have ever thought this of St. Patrick, but these are his own words from 'The Confession'. St. Patrick understood this truth because God's Word told him.

'For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.' Romans chapter 3 verse 23

'For the wages of sin is death...' Romans chapter 6 verse 23

Patrick realised that the only means of escaping the wages for sin was through the Lord Jesus Christ.

'Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.' Acts chapter 4 verse 12

'Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.' Hebrews chapter 9 verse 12

Jesus Christ knew the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour for he said so in his confession.

'For on that day we will undoubtedly rise in the brightness of the sun, that is, in the glory of Christ Jesus our redeemer.'

St. Patrick's redeemer told a very religious person on one occasion.

'Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' John chapter 3 verse 3

What does it mean to be born again? When we were born physically, we were born in sin and on our way to hell! So we need to be born spiritually, so how then can we be born again?

'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have ever lasting life.' John chapter 3 verse 16

God commands that we realise that we are guilty sinners and therefore must turn our backs on our sinful ways. This is called repentance. We then must accept that Jesus Christ is our only hope for salvation and cry unto Him to save us.

'For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;' 1st Timothy chapter 2 verse 5en, the man Christ Jesu

'For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.' Romans chapter 10 verse 13

This was the message that Patrick preacher around Ireland, the message that men and women need to be born again. Thank God many believed for as Patrick himself recorded.

'I am very much in debt to God, who gave me so much grace that through me many people were born again in God.'

As an Irish man I say to you on this St. Patrick's Day, what a debt we owe to St. Patrick!

St. Patrick is in heaven - will you join him there?

'And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.' Revelation chapter 20 verse 15

Come to the Saviour today, for if you find Him you find life!

Water into Wine

The first miracle that the Lord Jesus ever performed is recorded for us in the 2nd Chapter of John’s Gospel. It’s that well known story of how the Lord Jesus turned water into wine in an act of creation, which of course only God can do.

This story is a particular favourite of those who teach that it’s okay for Christians to drink alcohol. Any one who follows my blogs will know that I do not agree with that view point. I feel a balanced study of the subject, in the Bible, leads me to conclude that alcohol is a substance best avoided.

Those who use this passage in John 2 to condone drinking teach that the wine made by the Lord Jesus on that occasion was fermented (alcoholic) wine. So, let’s just think for a moment about the implications of that interpretation of the story. The Lord Jesus finds himself at a wedding party where alcohol is being consumed, at some point in the day the drink runs out and the Lord is put in a position by His mother where He turns pots of water into pots of wine (fermented/alcoholic wine). At the point when He performs this miracle the people have already had quite a bit to drink (‘and when men have well drunk’ v.10) and He makes drink for them.

So this interpretation expects us to believe that the Son of God came to a party where people were ‘half cut’ and He makes enough drink for them to get ‘loaded’. I ask you, is this understanding consistent with the person and character of God the Son? Would this be how you expect the Son of God to behave?

Let’s not forget what God said about wine in the Old Testament.

‘Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.’ Proverbs 20 v1

‘Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.’ Proverbs 23 v 29-35

‘Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink,’ Habakkuk 2 v15

You mean to tell me that the God who inspired these scriptures would make fermented wine to give to half drunk people? You mean to tell me that the sinless, spotless, Lamb of God, the one who did no sin and knew no sin, the one who always went about doing good, who always did the things that pleased the father, the one who was holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners, helped make people drunk? I don’t think so!

So how are we to correctly interpret verse 10 of John 2?

‘Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.’

Many take the phrase ‘well drunk’ to mean drunken. It is true that the Greek word can be used in that way, but not necessarily. It can be properly translated as it is in the AV with ‘well drunk’. It simply means that having already had some wine (or freshly squeezed grape juice), their tastes buds had become dulled to the flavour and therefore the host could have gotten away with serving a poorer quality grape juice. However in this case the better tasting stuff came later. The fact that the governor of the feast could tell it was better, tells me that the wine Jesus made must have tasted beautiful. I would fancy grapes hadn’t tasted that good since pre curse Eden and therefore the difference was so noticeable.

Another dimension to the confusing understanding of this record comes down to Bible versions. If you are a reader of the modern versions the text would lead you to believe the people at this wedding were drunk. For example the NIV renders ‘well drunk’ as ‘have had too much to drink’. This rendering clearly implies that the people on that occasion were drunk, as it says that they had had too much. Not a bit of wonder God’s people are confused in these days about the subject of alcohol, with unhelpful Bible translations suggesting that God’s Son made alcoholic wine to give to people who were already drunk.

‘And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;’ Ephesians 2 v18

Sorry We're Full

That was the message that rang in Joseph’s ear as he knocked on the door of the Inn at Bethlehem. I’m sure Joseph tried his hardest to get Mary a warm and comfortable room. I’m sure he explained Mary’s situation, he knew that her baby’s arrival was imminent but the answer was ‘no room’.

’And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in
swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.’ Luke 2 v7

I was just reading this passage the other day as I was thinking about the incarnation of the Son of God and I thought it was a very sad verse. The Saviour of the world was placed in an animals feeding trough for a bed, because there was no room for Him in the Inn.

As I got to thinking about this verse, I thought that not much has changed in 2000 years. Society in general still seems to have no time or room for the Son of God, for the Saviour of the world. Even at this time of year, which is supposed to be a celebration of His coming into the world, people have turned it into an excuse to indulge their fleshly desires. People are more interested in the office party, or shopping for presents than they are in the Son of God. Many will not be found in a Church environment singing Christmas Carols and praising God for His coming into the world to be our Saviour. What about you, how much time will you give to the Lord Jesus this Christmas?

Have you any room for Jesus
He who bore your load of sin?
As He knocks and asks admission
Sinner, will you let Him in?

May I take this opportunity to wish my regular readers a very Happy Christmas Season and a blessed New Year.

God is Great

That’s what militant Atheist Christopher Hitchens found out this week when he departed this world and entered Eternity. It gives me no pleasure to say it but if he died as he lived then he will find out how great God is in His Justice.

Mr Hitchens was the author of a number of books the most famous of which is ‘God is NOT Great’. I listened to a clip of a speech he made on the radio this morning in which he mocked God, those who follow Him and God’s plan of redemption. I shudder to think of how he is feeling now, as he becomes aware of how wrong he has been and how settled his destiny is.

May the Lord open the eyes of others of his kind who make a career out of mocking God before it is eternally too late.

‘Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.’ Galatians 6 v7

Filth Watch

Another season of the X Factor is almost over. This year’s judging panel was a complete shake up from previous years with only Louis Walsh surviving from last year’s line-up. One judge in particular seems to have gone down very well with the British public and has been taken to the nation’s heart. I refer of course to the American judge Kelly Rowland.

The show has portrayed Miss Rowland as a real sweet and wholesome girl next door kind of character but a quick look at the lyrics of her latest single paint a somewhat different picture. The song itself is entitled ‘I’m down for whatever’. A quick read of some of the lyrics leaves little to the imagination, the song opens with the following…

‘I'm down for whatever, I'm down for whatever. When it comes to you, I could make love on the floor, I'm down for whatever, I'm down for whatever. Baby let's get creative. Cause of you I am down I'm down for whatever.’

Not so sweet and wholesome as you thought, eh? She goes on to sing…

‘There's no place I wouldn't go. Tonight I'm ready to take it anywhere. I'm amazed, by you all. You bring out a side I didn't know. Say the word, and I'll do anything, can't say no to you, It ain't juice, mixed with booze. No baby every word is true.’

The second verse is no better…

‘Let's explore, see what we find. I'm waiting for you to discover me. No restraints, no regrets Just give me your eye, I won't forget. Say the word, and I'll do anything, can't say no to you. It ain't juice, mixed with booze. No baby every word is true.’
‘Tonight, you're making everything feel right Tonight, I wanna get high and touch the sky.’

We should never forget, the X Factor is marketed as a family show and we know that families around the country all sit around the television watching it. Many of the viewers are young children of primary School age and of course the programme is aired before the watershed in order to cater for children of that age.

What happens in homes across Britain is young impressionable girls see this beautiful young woman with her cute American accent and they fall in love with her personality, they want to dress like her, they want her picture on their bedroom walls and of course they want her latest album. Their mums who have been sucked in by the wholesome image buy the album for their children and in so doing only serve to corrupt their children’s minds.

Don’t be sucked in, but rather be informed and be warned. The music of Kelly Rowland is Filth.

‘Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.’ Philippians 4 v8

Vote With Your Feet

'Tesco has triggered outrage by ending its support for the Cancer Research 'Race for Life' while deciding to sponsor Britian's largest gay festival.' This was the shocking message relayed in the Daily Mail in this past week.

Britian's largest supermarket chain Tesco has had a ten year association with Cancer Research helping them raise millions of pounds to help research a cure for a disease that will effect 3 out of 10 Britons. However, shortly after dropping their support for the cancer charity they announced their decision to support London's Gay Pride Festival. So rather than helping research a disease that will effect millions of people they have decided to support a group that represents less than 1% of Britain's population.

Many Christian groups are calling on Christians to boycott Tescos to send them a message that this decision is unacceptable. I for one agree with this sentiment and will be 'voting with my feet' by allowing them to carry me elsewhere for the weekly shop. I don't mind saying that my annual spend in Tescos, including Groceries and Fuel, would run into the thousands.

Just think, if tens of thousands of Christians went elsewhere with their hard earned money, the impact it would have on Tescos profit margins. You might think, what difference will it make if I boycott them? I would say, 'every little helps'.

The Dale Farm Curse

As I travelled to the office this morning I listened with wrapt attention to BBC 5 Lives radio coverage of the unfolding events at Dale farm in Essex. It was fascinating to listen to the reports of how riot police broke into the illegal travellers site to ensure that the will of the courts was carried out and the travellers evicted.

My blog today is not to make any political commentary on the rights or wrongs of Basildon Councils insistence on carrying out these evictions, I will leave that to those who are more knowledgeable about the situation. Today I just want to pick up on a comment made by one of the female travellers who was interviewed by the BBC correspondent at the Dale Farm site.
While being interviewed about the unfolding situation this female traveller made a Comment about Mr Tony Ball the leader of Basildon Council and public enemy number one as far as the travellers are concerned. She said ‘I hope he doesn’t see Christmas Night, I have put my curse on him’. Not the sort of thing you expect to hear someone saying on your way to work on the BBC. In a later interview ‘5 Lives’ Nicky Campbell played the comment to Mr Balls while interviewing him to get his reaction. Mr Balls very professionally side-stepped the issue of the curse on him but I had a feeling by a change in the tone of his voice that the comment had shocked him.

The travelling community has long been associated with the occult practice of cursing people. I can remember as a child listening to people talking about ‘gypsy curses’. I’m not sure what, if any, involvement this particular lady has with witchcraft but if she does and if this is genuine I would ask that God’s people pray for several things.

1. Pray that God in His mercy would ensure that Tony Balls lives past Christmas Night to prove to this lady that there is a greater power in the world than those that she may be relying upon, open her eyes to His power and that He would save her lost soul.

2. Pray also for Tony Balls. I don’t know anything about this man or the state of his Soul before God. If he is not a man of faith this ladies comments may very well play on his mind in the run up to Christmas. Pray that this will cause Him to turn to the Lord for Salvation.

Thank you

‘There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.’ Deuteronomy Chapter 18 v10-11

Another Side to the Story

I’m sure we have all witnessed pictures like this one on television or in newspapers illustrating the poverty within the Gaza strip. The pictures are normally accompanied by anti Israeli commentary blaming scenes like this on Israel for it’s continued blockade of Gaza. It is of course heart wrenching to see images of children scrabbling about in a dump to assist in their survival and no right thinking persons takes any pleasure in the suffering of others, however, she should be careful not to swallow everything we’re feed by the media. There is always ‘another side to the story’.

The Blame Game

Is Israel justified in her blockade of the Gaza strip? The international media seems intent on pointing the finger of blame at Israel for the poverty within Gaza but who is really to blame. Surely Israel is well within her rights to block the free movement of goods into an area from where thousands of rockets are fired each year at innocent Israeli citizens! If the citizens of Kent started firing rockets across into Calais do you not think the French government would take some action? The reality is the Palestinians are their own worst enemies.

The blockade may cause poverty but what choice does the nation of Israel have? They must attempt to stop the rockets being smuggled into Gaza. The blockage has actually had some great successes not least the capture, in March of the German registered M/V Victoria bound for Gaza with a variety of munitions which had originated in Iran. As long as the militant Islamists within Gaza continue to desire the destruction of Israel then the blockade that impoverishes their own people will be justified to continue.

Unreported Facts

Since the beginning of the blockage of Gaza the Israeli authorities have sent trucks by the thousands carrying humanitarian aid into the Gaza strip. Goods such as medicine, baby food, building materials and diesel fuel have poured in from Israel on a daily basis but you never hear about this on the mainstream media.

According the International Monetary Fund the economy of Gaza has grown by double-digit proportions in recent years. While the major Western economies stagnate and fear a slide back into recession the economy of Gaza and the West Bank for that matter are literally booming. This economic growth in Gaza manifests itself in new luxury hotels, water parks and shopping malls, below are a few images that show the other side of the story.




Gaza’s New Shopping Mall





The Grand Palace Hotel, Gaza




The Gaza Water Park





I do not begrudge the citizens of Gaza a bit of leisure time and luxury. I just wish there was a bit more honesty on the part of the international media or maybe it’s not a lack of honesty but rather a lack of scrutiny as they swallow the propaganda of Hamas. A good journalist should always look at the other side of the story.

Shame on Them

The onward march or rampant Sodomy reached another milestone in Ireland in recent days with the acknowledgement by a Church or Ireland minister that he has entered into a same-sex civil partnership with his ‘partner’ of two decades.

One would have thought that someone in the hierarchy of the Anglican Church in Ireland would have read scriptures like ‘Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.’ Leviticus 18 v22 or even ‘Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.’ 1st Cor 6 v 9-11

As clear and unambiguous as these scriptures are, no one seems to be saying, ‘hold on a minute, this is wrong! How can a minister of religion be a practicing homosexual?’ It seems that the established church has adopted the perverted thinking of a godless world and treats as normal, something that in God’s eyes is perverse. Shame on them!

To Evangelical Anglicans

I’m sure news like this weekend’s revelations are unwelcome and unpalatable to many Godly Evangelical Christians within the Anglican Communion. My message to you is stark and uncompromising. It’s time to get out. My message to you is the same as the exhortation the Apostle Paul gave to the believers at Corinth ‘Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.’ 2 Corinthians 6 v 14-16

What have you got in common with a practicing homosexual minister? What have you got in common with a Bishop who at worst supports him or at best tolerates him? If a church is tolerating anti Christian practices can it still be considered a Christian Church?

'Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.' Revelation 18 v4