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The “New Year” always seems to rejuvenate us, offer us hope, and open for us another chapter in our lives.  Yet, for one family I know, and countless others I do not know, the new year brought with it heartbreak and despair.  In less than six hours, I will conduct the funeral of Christian man who will leave behind two teenage girls who, in their short time on earth, have now lost both their mother and their father.  I cannot begin to comprehend the feelings and emotions of these two teenage girls and how overwhelmed they must feel.  These girls now have to face life, and all its choices, with all its joys and sorrows, without their mother and their father.

As I prepared for the funeral, I came to realize how many questions I have to which I do not have any answers.  Oh, I think I understand death from a theological point of view.  I understand the reality of death., and how and why death entered into this world.  I also understand that we all must some day die.  What I don’t have clear vision of is why two teenage girls would be asked to carry such pain, and how that will ultimately, by God’s good providence , work together for good (Romans 8:28).  Those are the questions to which I do not have answers, but I have full confidence that God is in control.  In fact, in the midst of circumstances that leave us bewildered, that is the one truth upon which we can lean and find stability and strength.

Many prayers have been prayed over the past 8 months for Dr. David Fant.  Thousands of prayers have been offered up to God, asking that David be healed of his illness.  Well, God answered those prayers, just not in the way we were wanting.  Instead, God answered those prayers in a better way.  David is fully healed today, and will never be sick again.  As for Charli and Jessie, his daughters, they are not alone.  They have a heavenly Father who is watching over them, and they have a spiritual family who loves them more than words can adequately express.

Despite the quantity and severity of the pain and heartache we may be called upon to bear in this life, we can affirm without hesitancy, “God is good!” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17).

I wanted to share the following video of one of our young people at South Green Street.  Grant is four years old, and he memorized and recited Psalm 100.  I also want to commend Grant’s parents for steering Grant in the direction of memorization.  Far too many children have memorized everything about video games, their favorite television shows, and lyrics to songs, but do not know the Word of God.  Along the same line, far too many parents have low expectations for their children when it comes to memorization of Scripture.

It’s wonderful to have a nice, leather bound copy of the Scriptures, but even better than that is to have the Word of God hidden in our hearts (Psalm 119:11).  Friends, there is nothing in this world more important than knowing the Word of God.  Whatever else we may help our children and grandchildren aspire to and master, nothing will be of more importance than the work you do in teaching them the Word of God.

(I have had some trouble playing back this video with some versions of Internet Explorer. If you have trouble viewing this, that is the reason. I would encourage you to download Firefox, and use it as your browser. You’ll find that it can do many things that Internet Explorer cannot do. I haven’t had any problem with Firefox).

The December 15, 2008 issue of “Newsweek” magazine attempts to support “homosexual marriage” by appealing to Scripture. Yes, you read that correctly. In the current issue, the magazine cover reads, “The Religious Case For Gay Marriage.” Under the cover of “Our Mutual Joy,” Newsweek attempts to formulate an argument from the Bible to support homosexual marriage. Below are the bulk of the arguments made, and a brief response.

Newsweek Exhibit A - Why should one look to the Bible to define marriage.  The Bible says that Abraham had a child by his wife’s servant.  Jacob fathered children by four women.  And shall we speak of David and Solomon? No sensible modern person wants marriage to look, in it’s particulars, like what many people practiced in Bible times.
Defense - It is a gross misapplication and misunderstanding of the Bible to site an action recorded therein, and then assume that the action has divine approval.  The Bible is a record of inspired teaching as well as uninspired actions.

Newsweek Exhibit B - Neither the Bible nor Jesus ever explicitly defined marriage as between one man and one woman.
Defense - (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6) “Have you not read [Newsweek included] that he who made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?  So they are no longer two but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Newsweek Exhibit C - Jesus had a low view of marriage and expressed a lack of interest in it.  In fact, he, himself was unmarried, and actually taught people to leave their families to follow him, even going so far as to teach that there will be no marriage in Heaven.
Defense -The fact that Jesus taught that our bond to God should be greater than our bond to our families does not minimize family, but rather exalts God.  Surely all would understand and readily acknowledge that some things in life are more important than “family ties.”  Would you “turn in” to the police a family member who was a child molester?  To say that God should come first in our lives, even above our family ties does not minimize marriage in the least.  Was it not Jesus who taught that the marriage vows were important, and that one could not simply walk away from them (Matthew 19:9)?

Newsweek Exhibit D - Paul didn’t like marriage any better than Jesus.  In fact, Paul taught people to be celibate and to use marriage only as a second-best alternative.
Defense - Paul’s advice to remain unmarried was based on the present distress.  “I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress - that it is good for a man to remain as he is.” (1 Corinthians 7:26).  Keep Paul’s statement in context.

Newsweek Exhibit E - Paul never spoke a word against homosexuality.  Rather he spoke against violent and promiscuous homosexuality.  Furthermore, the extent of David and Jonathan’s relationship in the Old Testament is only limited by our imagination.
Defense - This is a blatant case of eisegesis (reading into the text).  Read the passages for yourself and see what Paul really says (Rom. 1:26-27;  1 Cor. 6:9;  1 Timothy 1:9-10).  This line of argumentation reminds me of a book I once read entitled, “Just As I AM: A Practical Guide to Being Out, Proud, and Christian.”  In this book, Robert Williams, an ordained Episcopal priest, who was a practicing homosexual attempted to defend homosexuality using the Bible.  However, he unashamedly stated that in order to see homosexuality in relationships such as David and Jonathan or Ruth and Naomi you have to read the Scriptures with “Queer colored glasses.”  In other words, rather than allowing the Bible shape your beliefs, you allow your beliefs to shape the Bible.

Newsweek Exhibit F - Jesus reached out to everybody, especially those on the margins of society.  If he were here today, he would reach out to the homosexual community.
Defense - The premise is true, but he conclusion doesn’t follow.  Yes, Jesus would reach out to the homosexual community if he were here today, and so should and does his church.  However, there is one word that is overlooked, and that is “repentance.”  Reaching out to all men does not equal endorsement of the sins in which they are engaged.  Remember, Jesus reached out to the adulterous woman, but told her to “go sin no more.” (John 8:11).

Apparently the inclusivists and pluralists of our society have decided to eradicate sin through legalization and normalization.  But allow me to close with this reminder… God knows the difference between good and evil, even if we don’t (Isaiah 5:20).

What’s the matter with people?  Yesterday morning, over 2000 shoppers gathered outside a Wal-Mart in Valley Stream, New York.  They were waiting for the doors to open at 5:00 a.m.  At 4:55 a.m. they could be held back no longer. The crowd had become a “mob” and pushed and pounded against the glass doors.  Finally, the doors gave way.  However, inside was a 34-year-old Wal-Mart employee who stood in the way of the mob and he was trampled to death.

In spite of the fact that the front of the store was destroyed, one man lay dead on the floor, and others injured, the people who caused this destruction went on with their shopping as if nothing had happened.  When a semblance of order was restored, the shoppers were told to leave due to the death of an employee, but some shoppers replied by saying, “I’ve been in line since yesterday morning,” and just the continued to shop for their bargains.  Police finally had to remove the shoppers. — Amazing!

All I can say is that I hope some innocent little child doesn’t look up at his mommy or daddy this Christmas, and ask them how much his present cost.

“Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15).

Last week marked the 30th anniversary of the “Jonestown tragedy.”  Those of you who are old enough surely remember that on Saturday, November 18, 1978, a total of 918 members of the People’s Temple Church in Jonestown, Guyana committed suicide/murder.  Of this number, 294 of the dead were children under the age of 18.

I was 16 years old at the time.  I remember spending about a week talking about the events in my 10th Grade World Culture class.  Though 30 years have passed, I still vividly see in my mind the pictures of hundreds of people lying dead on the ground; arms wrapped around one another, mother’s holding their babies, and a father embracing what must have been his wife and children.

The question that people asked then, and continue to ask today is, “How could so many people do such a senseless thing?  How could so many people forfeit their lives, and the lives of their children?”  While I still find these questions hard to answer, I do believe I have a better understanding of it today, than I did 30 years ago.

Jim Jones, the founder of “The People’s Temple Church” was a charismatic leader.  In 1952, he left the Methodist church.  He claimed to be the “manifestation of the Christ principle.”  He claimed to heal the sick, and even raise the dead just like Jesus did.  He also demanded absolute loyalty from his followers.  Being disloyal to him was tantamount to being disloyal to Christ, Himself.  Jones said:

“I have put on Christ, you see. I have followed after the example of Christ. When you see me…. it’s no longer Jim Jones here. I’m crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ that lives here. Now Christ is in this body…. You will not get Christ’s blessing in Jim Jones’ blessing until you walk like Jim Jones, until you talk like Jim Jones, until you act like Jim Jones, until you look like Jim Jones. How long will I be with you until you understand that I am no longer a man, but a Principle. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Light. No one can come to the Father but through me.”

Jones claimed that he was the only way to the Father.  Therefore, those who believed in him were willing to unquestionably follow him, even to death.  But  how can religious people be so mistaken?

I believe the answer can be found in a comment made by the Major in charge of the Army operation to remove the bodies from Jonestown.  In disbelief, he said, “There were no Bibles in Jonestown!”  These people had been weaned away from the word of God, and had learned to trust in the words of a man.

Can such a tragedy happen again?  Of course it can.  It happens every day.  Not the mass suicides, but people who turn from the Word of God to follow the words of a man.  Loyalty to God’s Word can save us from the tragedy of following a man to our own physical and eternal destruction.  “Where there is no vision [revelation - S.H.], the people perish…” (Proverbs 29:18).

At this time of the year, more will be said about the birth of Jesus than at any other time of the year.  Yet, each year I can’t help but be a bit disturbed by all the biblical ignorance and inaccuracies associated with the birth of our Savior.  When it comes to one of the most fundamental tenants of Christianity, the incarnation of Jesus, and one of the most pivotal historical events that ever occurred, I find that many cannot discern between fact and faction.  As fundamental as the birth of Jesus is, people do not really know the account of his birth as well as one might think.

Doubt me?  Then give the following “True/False” quiz a shot and see how well you do?

-True or False The angel Gabriel appeared to Joseph to inform him that Mary was with child.
-True or False The Bible says that three wise men came to to the manger to worship and give gifts to Jesus.
-True or False The Bible says that an unknown number of wise men came to the manger to worship Jesus.
-True or False The wise men were kings from the Orient.
-True or False A bright star appeared in the sky and led the shepherds to the manger.
-True or False A bright star appeared in the sky and let the wise men to the manger.
-True or False The shepherds and the wise men were present on the night of Jesus’ birth.
-True or False The translation of the word, “Immanuel” is “Savior.”
-True or False Jesus was born in Jerusalem.
-True or False An innkeeper told Mary and Joseph that there was no room in the inn, thus Jesus was born in a manger.

Okay, so how did you do?  Did anyone get them all right?  Did you get a passing grade?  Well, if you answered any of the questions with a “True,” you were mistaken.  Every statement is false for one reason or another.  Open your Bible and check it for yourself.

What I have discovered through the years is that it is surprisingly easy for us to believe as fact, what is in reality, fiction.  Furthermore, this “fiction” is sometimes propagated by religion.  How many church lawns and “Christmas” re-enactments will portray a nativity scene which inaccurately portrays the biblical account?

But now here’s my point:  If we can be misinformed about something as fundamental as the birth of Jesus, what’s to make us think we cannot be misled regarding other religious matters?

Friends, make sure your faith is not based on what others have told you is true, but rather make sure your faith is based on what you know to be true from your own personal study.  Let the “fiction” you see perpetuated on church lawns and in church pageants this holiday season be a reminder and a warning to you to do your own Bible study, and to never be content with what others say.

“Prove all things; Hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).