Isn't New Moon Just Creepy??? - Theology Forum | Theology Online

Referring to a popular television show, New Moon: a show where a young teenage girl becomes infatuated with a 100 year old vampire, someone posted a legitimate question:

The idea of a 100+ year man dating a teenage girl is universally seen as very creepy. Why isn't a teenage girl dating a 100+ year old vampire seen as even much more creepy! Why is this seen as romantic by millions of women and girls?

Rather than give an answer based upon my personal opinion, I responded with God's Word:

Genesis 6:5
(5) And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Job 15:16
(16) How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?

Psalms 53:1-3
(1) To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.
(2) God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
(3) Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Jeremiah 17:9
(9) The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

1 John 1:8
(8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Conclusion: God's Word reveals that Man is wicked. Sin so permeates our lives and minds that many times, we don't always see its corruption. This television show is wicked. A born-again child of God has no use for such evil.



Isn't New Moon Just Creepy??? - Theology Forum | Theology Online

Evidence the Earth is not Necessarily Old - Sedimentary Layers - Theology Forum | Theology Online

Evidence the Earth is not Necessarily Old - Sedimentary Layers - Theology Forum | Theology Online

The easiest way to delete millions of years from geological history is to recognise the contact between two sedimentary layers for what it is. If the contact surface is flat that is powerful evidence that the upper layer was deposited immediately after the lower one. If any significant length of time separated the depositional events then the boundary would be eroded and not flat.

A second easy means to delete millions of unnecessary years from the geological record is to recognise that a graded bed must have been deposited all at once. A graded sedimentary layer is most easily explained by a single event that has sorted the entire layer.

A third easy way to delete millions of years from the geological record is to recognise that deposits of high purity were deposited quickly. There is no slow mechanism that might account for a depositional layer constructed almost entirely of only one source material.

These are three simple and powerful ideas that negate the popular requirement that one must believe rocks took millions of years to form.

The problem is not the empirical data but the presuppositions that are used to interpret the data.

Good post.

Days

Days

I cannot agree more with this article on defining "Days" in Genesis 1.

Many individuals interpret the word "day" in Genesis 1 to mean a broad period of time. This is called Evolutionary Theology, which concludes that science is correct in the idea that the world is millions of years old and that Scripture needs to be reconciled to this belief.

Pastor Dave Jenkins points out that the problem is not in the exegetical definition of the Hebrew word, "Yom", but in the attempt by others to synchronize the passage of Genesis 1 with the modern views of science.

Good article. Well worth reading.

Rebuking Heresy

This morning on TOL, I had admonished an individual teaching a doctrine that was unScriptural. Another person, broke out laughing and rebuked such arguing as being un-Christ-like. The following is my response to him.

[Link to Entire Thread]

In today's culture, too many people think that it is wrong to argue over God's Word. They might feel that this disagreement and 'harshness' is un-Christ-like and should not be done.

God's Word says differently.

2 Timothy 4:1-3
(1) I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
(2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
(3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

The mindset of many Laodicean christians is that we need 'unity' among believers. They quote verses like John 17:11, 21, and 22 where Jesus prays to the Father that the body of believers would be one as Christ and the Father are one. The problem with these unanchored brethren is that they base this importance for unity above the rest of God's Word. The Neo-Evangelical is willing to church-up with the Roman Catholic and Presbyterian because they want to show the warm and gushy feelings of love towards these individuals.

This practice not only is far from what Scripture teaches, but cuts totally against the grain of the truth found in God's Word.

The Bible teaches for the true Christian to seperate themselves from the World (2 Corinthians 6:14-18), the lusts and desires of the flesh (Romans 8:1-13), and the Devil (James 4:7). The Bible also teaches that the Christian needs to confront, rebuke, and even separate ourselves from ungodly heresies.

2 Timothy 4:2
(2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Titus 1:13-16
(13) This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
(14) Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
(15) Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
(16) They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

2 Timothy 3:1-7
(1) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
(2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
(3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
(4) Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
(5) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
(6) For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
(7) Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Beloved57 holds to, and teaches doctrine that is not taught in Scripture. This makes him a heretic. Is he saved? I don't know! God's Word tells us not to judge (Matthew 7:1). BUT in the same breath, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ commands for us to DISCERN!

Matthew 7:15-20
(15) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
(16) Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
(17) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
(18) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
(19) Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
(20) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

The problem is that too many christians are so fearful of being judgmental, that they flee from their duties of discernment.

This is sad.

While Jesus Christ showed tenderness and compassion to the Lost, He was also quick to rebuke and chasten those who claimed to be of God, and yet taught false doctrines. The true Child of the Living God should reflect the same, with real discernment that can only come from God's Holy Spirit.

God's Providence

This morning, while my son and I were spending some quiet time together, we started discussing the difference between a recession and a depression. One article I read defined a depression as,

...a downturn of three years or more with a 10 percent drop in economic output and unemployment above 10 percent...
Another definition says a depression is a sustained recession during which the populace has to dispose of tangible assets to pay for everyday living. For some families, that's happening now.

I explained to Jeremiah that if we are truly in a depression, then our reliance on God will need to be stronger than it is now. This is when I stumbled across this verse in Deuteronomy 9.

Deuteronomy 9:6
(6) Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.

God has promised to provide for our needs.

Philippians 4:19
(19) But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

He does so, not because I am so wonderful. God supplies my needs, not because of my own righteousness. God takes care of my needs because of His Goodness and His Righteousness.

Are we going to go through a depression like the one my mother and grandparents went through in the 1930's? I don't know. Yet, I do know, is if we keep our eyes on Jesus Christ and continue to follow after Him, He will in fact provide for our needs.

One Jaw Dropping Video

Tonight, my son and I watched a video on what really happened on September 18, 2008. According to Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski of Pennsylvania, a bank run occured right here and indeed brought this country and the entire world economy to within three hours of complete and systemic financial collapse.

Now, I am no where near the age to remember the Great Depression of 1929, but I do know what a run on the banks would have done to our economy and nation. There would have been precedence for Marshal Law to have been enacted, and greater government control over everyday activities. Food and fuel rationing would have gone into effect, and the nation that we had known, along with our liberties would have disappeared. Widespread fear would have been beyond description.

Even though this scenario had not played out, many people today are still in the grip of fear. The video we listened to, opened with a caller almost screaming at this politician over all the bills she had to pay, and yet not qualified to receive food stamps. Like her, many citizens all over the world are crying out in fear over their future.

As a Christian, one who has placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, I am also not immune to the rampages in the economy. Like so many others, I can lose my income, my home, and ways to make ends meet. Yet through it all I can rest in God's Word and know that I will still be provided for.

1. God is Not the Source of Fear.

2 Timothy 1:7
(7) For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Over the past, I have learned that whenever I start to feel the panic of fear, this emotion is not coming from God, because 2 Timothy 1:7 clearly shows that God doesn't give us a spirit of fear or dread. Since this emotion is not coming from God, it can only come from another source,

1 John 2:16
(16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

So many times, our own lusts and desires overwhelm our lives to the point where our "wants" become more important than what God wants for us. When the flesh looses something important, it will react out of fear.

2. God Has Promised to Provide for His Own

Philippians 4:19
(19) But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Though the Lord has never promised that He would keep us from suffering, He has promised to provide for our needs.

Matthew 6:25-33
(25) Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
(26) Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
(27) Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
(28) And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
(29) And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
(30) Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
(31) Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(32) (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
(33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Here are some very clear promises from Scripture. If we truly are trusting Christ, and following His Word, He has promised to provide for us. Granted, you might lose some conveniences of life; you might be forced to tighten your lifestyle, but God promises that we will not be destroyed if we place our felowship with Christ as our highest priority.

3. God Promises Never to Leave Us

Romans 8:35-39
(35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
(36) As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
(37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
(38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
(39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Hebrews 13:5
(5) Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

The greatest comfort I have as a Christian is the fact that God promises never to leave me, and never to forsake me. My boss could fire me from my job, my landlord could evict me from my home, my government could come and remove me from my freedoms, but God will not leave me. God will not abandon me.

Friend, are you fearful? Do you find yourself awake at night worrying about tomorrow? If so, please, allow me to ask you, do you know Jesus Christ as your personal savior?

It's not hard my friend.
1. Realize that you are just like every other human being: a lost and wicked sinner who deserves an eternity in hell.

Ecclesiastes 7:20
(20) For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Romans 3:10
(10) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23
(23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23
(23) For the wages of sin is death; ...

God is Holy, and God is Just. He cannot allow one single sin to enter into Heaven, because of His holiness. Because of our sin and disobedience to God, we deserve Hell.

But there is hope!

2. Jesus Christ came to provide hope of Salvation!

John 3:16-17
(16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
(17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

1 Timothy 1:15
(15) This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

3. If you bow your heart before God, and confess your sins to Him, He WILL SAVE YOU!

Romans 10:9-10
(9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
(10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

My friend, are you tired of being afraid? Are you weary of living a life of panic? Then please, turn to Jesus Christ, and trust Him!

Be Ye Holy

Though I have had read through the Bible several times in the past, this year is the first time, my son Jeremiah and I, are reading through the Bible together. Recently, we came to the portion in Leviticus where it reads,

Leviticus 19:1-2
(1) And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,
(2) Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.

The word Holy in Hebrew is קָדֹושׁ [qadowsh, qadosh /kaw·doshe/] which means "sacred," "sanctified," or set apart for a special purpose. In the Greek it is the word ἅγιος [hagios /hag·ee·os/], which also means "saint," or "sanctified."

When a child of God is called to be holy, we are asked to separate ourselves from things in this world that would make us profane, or "un-holy." God doesn't save people for the sole reason of giving them a home in Heaven. He saves them so that they can bring glory to Himself, the One who paid for our sins.

I remember getting our family ready for church one morning and my little daughter was all clean and ready, while I still needed to finish shaving and dressing. I asked her not to go and play outside because I wanted her to be nice and pretty for Sunday School. Did this mean that she was to remain still, and not do anything? NO! But she was to constantly remember to not go and get herself dirty, because her father had plans for her. God, my Heavenly Father, is the same way. He wants me to stay away from things that can soil and pollute my life so that He might be able to use me. God wants me to avoid anything that could get in the way of our fellowship.

Someone once said, "I don't do good works in order to get saved, I do good works because I am saved!" Holy living is not as much as a "do's and don't do's" as it is a continual walk and fellowship with Jesus Christ. I continue to walk with Christ and anything that might try to get between me and the LORD is removed.

During the early fifth century, some Christian believers felt that the only way we could truly be holy is if they separated themselves from the rest of the world. One individual, named Simeon, lived up on the top of a pillar to get away from everyone. Now, does this call to holiness mean that I must hole up somewhere in a monestary, and avoid people? Absolutely not! I enjoy being with people. I personally enjoy going online and playing a popular game, but there are things that I do stay away from. I don't go near liquor because alcohol can cloud my thinking. I don't go to movie theaters or watch television programs that promote the world's values, because my value system must originate from God's Word. And if there ever comes a time that I find something in my life that hinders my fellowship with Jesus Christ, I will rid myself of that as well.

The Old Testament book of Leviticus is not an easy read, but it can be boiled down into one command: be holy!

The New OnStar Study Bible