Monday, December 27, 2010

SERMON NOTES FOR DECEMBER 26, 2010


FOUNDING OF AMERICA

CRITIQUE OF CHRISTIANITY

Many today criticize Christians for saying that our Country was founded as a Christian nation and argue that the founders of this country wanted a purely nonspiritual and secular country. Anne Gaylor, the President of the Freedom From Religion Foundation says, “America has never been a Christian Nation.”

THE FOUNDING OF AMERICA WITHOUT CHRIST

We would not have our nation the way it is today nor would we be governed the way we are were it not for Christianity.

THE FOUNDING OF AMERICA WITH CHRIST

Though there are some who hate the very mention idea that America was founded as a Christian nation the facts of History are not easily dismissed though often times ignored.

Numerous historians believe that Calvin has made the greatest—certainly not the sole, but the greatest contribution to American liberty, government, economics and education. Though just a humble Reformer from Geneva, Switzerland, his principles taken from the very word of God are believed to be the same principles that have made our country great. German historian Leopold von Ranke said, “John Calvin was virtually the founder of America.” French historian Hippolyte Taine said concerning the Calvinists, “These men are the true heroes of England…they founded Scotland; they founded the United States.” Lastly, One of America’s great historians, George Bancroft, who wrote a 10 volume History of the United States of America called Calvin simply “the father of America” and added: “He who will not honor the memory and respect the influence of Calvin knows but little of the origin of American liberty.”

During the time of the revolution, it is estimated that of the 3 million people who lived in colonial America, there were 900,000 Scots or Scots Irish, who are the founders of the American Presbyterian Church, 600,000 Puritan English, and 400,000 German or Dutch Reformed. All of these groups had their roots in the Reformed Church movement which claims John Calvin as its founder. So were it not for Calvin, there would not be these groups and were it not for these groups, most importantly the Presbyterians, The American Revolution would not have happened the way it did.

Not only were these groups formed because of Calvin, but also their convictions which led to the Revolution stemmed from Calvin’s teachings. The Presbyterians because of Calvin’s influence were very outspoken against oppressive and monarchial government. This explains why they were the first religious body to declare openly and publicly a separation from England in 1775?

The Presbyterians were also extremely influential in the Revolution of 1776. So much so that the event was actually referred to as the Presbyterian Rebellion in England. One passionate supporter of King George III who resisted the Revolution wrote the following words: “I fix all of the blame for these extraordinary proceedings upon the Presbyterians.

And this only scratches the surface of our Nation’s Christian Heritage. We do not even have time to get into discussing the founding fathers and how they and other members of Congress were greatly influenced by the Christian faith.

Just consider the quote by Patriot Patrick Henry when he said, “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ!” Also consider the slogan adopted by supporters of the American Revolution that said, “NO KING BUT KING JESUS.”

MODERN SCIENCE

CRITIQUE OF CHRISTIANITY

Many today believe and teach that religion and science are not compatible. They say you cannot be both a person of faith and science.

Many also believe that as ones knowledge of the natural world increases what results is the erosion of religion.

MODERN SCIENCE WITHOUT CHRIST

John Calvin once compared the Bible—God’s special revelation—to glasses that must put on if one is to correctly see and understand the world. Unfortunately many today in science have thrown away these glasses and have chosen to explain the world apart from the existence of a personal God. But though many modern scientists reason in this way, did you know that were it not for Jesus, Modern Science as we know it would not be.

MODERN SCIENCE WITH CHRIST

Scripture is clear that understanding our world doesn’t lessen ones belief in God, it affirm and strengthens it. Psalm 19:1-2 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.” Paul also says in Romans 1:20, “(God’s) invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.”

Although science began 6 hundred years before Christ with the Greek Philosophers, these philosophers did not attempt to change anything in the natural world. They just wanted to understand it. Their philosophy was, “The world is not meant to be changed or to be used—just meant to be understood.”

It was not until, the time of the reformation that that changed. It was in fact Christians during this time who used the observations of these Greek philosophers to make changes to the natural world, which birthed modern science.

Some of the greatest pioneers of science were committed Christians who believed in a rational God who created a rational world. For example, Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) viewed science simply as, “Thinking God’s Thoughts After Him.” What he meant by this is that when a scientist is engaged in the study of nature, what he is looking for are the laws that God has set up. Another godly pioneer of science was Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) who once wrote, “Faith tells us what senses cannot, but it is not contrary to their findings.” Also, Isaac Newton (1642-1727) said, “This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being.”

So were it not for Christ, modern science as we know it would not be.

HEALTH AND MEDICINE

CRITIQUE OF CHRISTIANITY

Many have argued that Christians have done more to hurt people than help them. Atheist’s like Bertrand Russell say that the only contributions that Christians have made to humanity is human misery. He writes, “The views of traditional Christianity promote insanity, disease and cruelty.”

HEALTH AND MEDICINE WITHOUT CHRIST

In short, without Christ, there would be fewer hospitals, not many if any facilities that care for all people, medicine would not be as widespread, there would be many more deadly diseases and healthcare would be lacking a key component, which is compassion.

HEALTH AND MEDICINE WITH CHRIST

Christianity has made significant contributions in the area of health and medicine.

Prior to the influence of Christ, we find that in some cultures there were only a few places for the sick. For example, in ancient Rome there were military hospitals for Roman Soldiers, but they did not care for everybody.

That all changed with Christianity. In the 4th century, there was an important church council that met and decided that Hospitals were to be established alongside churches and throughout history we see this trend continue.

In the US, before hospitals, Christians began starting what are known as almshouses, which were refuge centers for the poor and sick. Later, came some of the first hospitals also started in large part by Christians. One of these was the Pennsylvania Hospital started in Philadelphia in 1751.

Christianity has also given rise to nursing care. Christian Florence Nightingale is considered to be the founder of modern nursing. Her influence came from Lutheran pastor Theodor Fliedner (1800-1864) who founded the first nursing school.

In 1860, she followed in her mentor’s footsteps by opening her own school—the Nightingale School for Training Nurses at St. Thomas Hospital in London and this act is said to be the beginning of modern nursing.

Also without Christ we would also be without the influence of Henry Dunant (1828-1910) who was a Swiss banker, humanitarian, and devout Christian who founded the Red Cross. This organization with its roots in the Christian faith has served to save the lives of millions. So were it not for Christianity, there would be no Red Cross.

We would also be without the input of Louis Pasteur. In the area of medicine and health, we live with the positive effects of his work to this day. His research into bacteriology gave rise to sterilization and the development of vaccines against many deadly diseases including rabies, diphtheria, and anthrax.

Not only was Pasteur a brilliant scientist, he was also a devout Christian. In a biography on his life, his biographer writes, “Absolute faith in God and in eternity were feelings which pervaded (Pasteur’s) whole life.”

Medical Missions has also served to improve the health of people groups around the world. To this very day, tens of thousands of Christian missionaries are providing basic medical services to millions of people in the Third World.

Christians have also constructed tens of thousands of hospitals all over the world. Even in the most remote jungles—there are hospitals that have been built to provide care to lepers, to the blind, to the deaf, and to the crippled of every sort.

So were it not for Christ, we would not be where we are today in the field of health and medicine.

THE IMPROVEMENT OF HUMAN LIFE

But of all the issues discussed, none are more important than this final one. While the others dealt with culture, country and the world as a whole, this one deals with the individual. If Jesus had never been born, what would that mean for us as individuals?

CRITIQUE OF CHRISTIANITY

Many today believe and teach that what is truly life changing and liberating is coming to the realization that God doesn’t exist and that there is no need for Christ.

THE IMPROVEMENT OF HUMAN LIFE WITHOUT CHRIST

In the nineteenth century, Charles Bradlaugh, a prominent atheist, challenged a Christian man named Hugh Price Hughes, to a debate on the existence of God. Hughes told Bradlaugh that he would agree to the debate on one condition. He says, “I propose to you that we each bring evidences of our beliefs in the form of men and women whose lives have been changed for the better due to our system of belief. He said, “I will bring 100 such men and women, and I challenge you to do the same.”

Hughes then said that if Bradlaugh couldn’t find 100, then he could bring 50 and if he could not find 50 then he could bring 20 and he finally whittled the number down to one. All Bradlaugh had to do was find one person whose life had been improved by atheism—Bradlaugh finally withdrew!

I believe if a debate like this were offered today, it would have similar results. Paul affirms this by saying, “If all we have is hope in this life only, we are to be pitied.”

Bottom line, without Christ there is no significant improvement in human life.

THE IMPROVEMENT OF HUMAN LIFE WITH CHRIST

Because of the person and work of Christ there have been countless numbers of lives that have been changed for the better.

There was Zacchaeus a dishonest and greedy tax collector who after his encounter with Christ became a generous man. There was also Mary Magdalene who had a questionable reputation and was demon possessed, but after encountering Christ the Scriptures tell us that she left a life of sin and followed Him. She was also the first person to see Him after His resurrection.

You also have Paul who was adamantly opposed to Christ and his followers who made it his business to find and arrest Christians and was even an accomplice to the murder of Stephen who was a faithful follower of Christ.

When Paul encountered the risen Christ everything changed. He went from being greatest enemy of Christ, to being His greatest supporter and went on to make the biggest impact for him in all of history.

AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO

The story of Christ changing hearts and lives also goes far beyond the pages of Scripture with men like Augustine of Hippo. He was a brilliant philosopher who early in life was critical of the Christian faith. Not only was he a skeptic, but was as immoral as anyone. Looking back, Augustine said of himself, “The evil in me was foul, but I loved it.”

He had a mother who was a committed Christian who longed for him to commit his life to Christ and continually prayed and pleaded for his conversion. God eventually answered her prayers and Augustine eventually surrendered his life to Christ and became one of the most gifted theologians in all of history.

JOHN NEWTON

Before salvation and writing one of the most famous hymns ever, Newton worked in the slave trade. It was said of him, “His livelihood was earned on a ship that traded human cargo.” He said of himself, “I sinned with a high hand and made it my study to tempt and seduce others.” God eventually did a great work in his heart and life and he was transformed by God’s grace. Newton not only wrote the hymn “Amazing Grace,” but knew firsthand what God’s amazing grace was all about.

C.S. LEWIS

Early in life, after the death of his mother, Lewis became an atheist. However, as he continued to read from Christian authors like George MacDonald and G.K. Chesterton and because of the influence of friends like Christian J.R.R. Tolkien, Lewis eventually surrendered his life to the Lord.

After coming to Christ, he became one of the greatest Christian writers in all of history. His classic “Mere Christianity” is still widely used today by many apologists as a defense for the Christian faith.

And to this day, human lives are being transformed by the grace of God. Though many have tried to take the Christian faith to task on a number of issues, life change is tough to dispute. They find it difficult to explain how murders become men of God, how wicked slave traders become worshipful songwriters, how atheists become apologists.

Believers have the answer from God’s word. Lives are change because of the person and work of Christ. So without Christ lives would remain unchanged.

CONCLUSION

Without Christ hope is lost—not just when it comes to the value of human life, Mercy and Compassion, Education, Ethics and Morality, Government, Science, Health and Medicine, but more importantly because of the fact that without him, lives remain unchanged, because without Christ there is no chance at being made right with God and transformed by His grace.

Had God not sent Christ and had Christ refused to empty self by taking on flesh and dwelling among us and had He not been obedient to the point of a painful death on a shameful cross, we would all be dead in our sins waiting to stand in judgment before a Holy and Just God.

But Christ did come and came to save sinners and the changing power of God through Christ that has been transforming hearts and lives of people throughout history is the same transforming power that is available today for anyone who will trust in Christ alone for salvation.

"Quote" of the Week

"If Jesus had not been born there would be no mediator between God and man, for the man Christ Jesus would not have been born. We would remain dead in our trespasses and sins, the veil not yet rent." -Sam Crabtree

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us). Matthew 1:23

Monday, December 20, 2010

SERMON NOTES FOR DECEMBER 19, 2010

The overwhelming impact of Christ’s life on planet Earth has been positive and not negative.

THE VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE

CRITIQUE OF CHRISTIANITY

Many in our world think that Christianity is too hard on people, because it teaches that all mankind is sinful and deserving of God’s judgment. In response to that, most man made belief systems teach that man is inherently good not evil.

Many also think Christianity is to blame for the discrimination against women and that the Scriptures condone slavery.

THE VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE WITHOUT CHRIST

Prior to the coming of Christ, and also in certain parts of the world where the Christian faith is non-existent, life was and is exceedingly cheap.

CHILDREN

In our culture, we as Christians fight for the rights of our children because we believe that their lives are equal in value to ours. But these feelings are not universal. For example, in the ancient world, nations surrounding the children of Israel partook in child sacrifice. Also, in ancient Rome life for an infant was not any better. While killing a Roman man was a serious offence, killing one’s child was a common practice.

WOMEN

The value of human life for a woman was also exceedingly cheap. In ancient Rome a woman’s fate was not much better than a child’s. In India, prior to the influence of Christianity, widows were voluntarily or involuntarily burned with their dead husbands. This brutal practice was known as suttee, which is translated “good woman.” Because the Hindus believed that good women followed their husbands in death.

THE VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE WITH CHRIST

God’s word continually teaches the value of human life. We are told in the Scriptures that we are created in God’s image.

We are also told of the great lengths God has gone through to save us because he loves us.

Concerning children—God’s word has a lot to say. In the Old Testament God and His people speak harshly against the shedding of the innocent blood of children.

10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire…these things are an abomination to the LORD. Deut. 18:10

Christ also showed the value of children during His earthly ministry.

Jesus gathered the little children unto Himself saying, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them” (Mt. 19:14).

Christians have followed His example. In ancient Rome Christians saved many abandon babies and brought them up in the faith and throughout history you have believers doing the same thing. For example, in the 1800s you have George Mueller who started many orphanages in and throughout England, which have served to helped thousands of children.

WOMEN

There are countless examples of how God looks favorably on women. Think of the women used by God in the Scriptures:

Ruth-The Moabite who becomes the ancestor of David and Jesus.
Esther-the chosen queen who intercedes for her people and prevents the
destruction of Israel.
Mary the mother of Jesus-who is greeted by the Angel
Gabriel with the words, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you.”

Christ also goes out of His way to show the value of women during his earthly ministry. He commends the poor widow for her offering, he ministers to Mary Magdaline who had a questionable reputation and was demon possessed, he ministers to the woman at the well and brings Jairus’ daughter back to life after death. These examples found in the Scriptures have also been modeled by His people.

For example, you have missionary William Carey who was influential in putting a stop to the practice of Widow Burning in India. Also, missionary Amy Carmichael fought against the practice of childhood prostitution in India and weaned many girls out of this situation and into a Christian community.

SLAVERY

It is clear from the beginning that the scriptures do not condone slavery. For example, God delivers His children from Egyptian bondage and allows them to be taken as slaves by the Babylonians as punishment for their disobedience.


In Paul’s letter to Philemon, he sends back a runaway slave named Onesimus to his master. In this letter he encourages Philemon to “Receive [Onesimus] not as a slave, but as a beloved brother.”

Over the centuries, Christians have followed these examples. For example, committed Christian William Wilberforce worked tirelessly in an attempt to stop the slave trade from Africa to the West Indies and eventually was successful in doing so. He then worked day and night to free slaves in the British territories. Because of the commitment of Wilberforce, in 1833 700,000 British slaves were freed.

So were it not for Christ we would not be where we are today when it comes to the value of human life.

COMPASSION AND MERCY

CRITIQUE OF CHRISTIANITY

Many argue that compassion and mercy are not a result of being a Christian, but the result of being a decent human being. There are many non-believers today who are involved in all sorts of community service and many organizations that claim no religious affiliation who say that they care for others out of a sense of civic duty, but not because they are Christian.

With that being said, it is important not to simply look at the state of things now, but go back to the source of what makes individuals charitable and to look at the roots of the charities themselves.

COMPASSION AND MERCY WITHOUT CHRIST

Prior to Christ we learn that people were not too charitable. Ancient Greek historian Polybius reports that the Romans did not have a charitable bone in their body. He says that in Rome, “No one ever gives away anything to anyone if he can help it.” This lack of charity is also seen in other groups as well.

COMPASSION AND MERCY WITH CHRIST

The Scriptures have a lot to say about compassion and mercy.

Solomon says,

21 Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor. Proverbs 14:21

During Jesus’ earthly ministry, he set a great example for us by helping the poor and caring for the down and out and calls for his followers to do the same.

He says,


35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink…and His disciples said, “Lord when did we do all these things…” He said, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Mark 25:35-40

From this teaching come many of our charities.

Apart from Christ we would be without the YMCA which stands for Young Men’s Christian Association which God has used to greatly minister to the physical and spiritual needs of millions of underprivileged people in the urban areas of our world. We would also not have the Salvation Army, which is fueled on today by the love of Christ and is constantly helping the poor in countries around the world.

Internationally, much of the work being done to help the needy is being carried out by the church through various missions’ agencies. There are numerous para-church groups like World Vision international, Samaritan’s Purse, Food for the Hungry, Christian Children’s Relief Fund, and Compassion International that are each making a huge impact when it comes to providing Hope and showing compassion.

So a world without Christ would be a world without charity as we know it.

EDUCATION

CRITIQUE OF CHRISTIANITY

Some today argue that people are one of two ways. They are either superstitious religionists or rational secularists, but never both. They also argue that to be a person of faith, you have to some extent abandon learning. Atheist Richard Dawkins says that living by faith “…teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding our world.”

EDUCATION WITHOUT CHRIST

Although people were educated before Christianity, education was not for all people—it was a privilege and there was little concern for the larger numbers of the uneducated and illiterate.

EDUCATION WITH CHRIST

Education for everyone is a Christian idea. This idea grew directly out of the reformation. The reformers pushed for education for everyone because they believed that the only way the Protestant Reformation would hold would be for people themselves—laypeople—to be able to read and understand the Bible in their own language.

EDUCATION IN AMERICA

Many may not know this but the push for education in America was also made by Christians. When the Pilgrims and the Puritans first came to the US, education was a high priority. It was not long until they began to require education for everyone in their colonies. They also used the Bible and other Christian literature when educating their children.

We not only have Christians to thank for lower education but also for our universities. Almost everyone of the first 123 colleges and universities in the United States had Christian Origins—started by Christians for Christian purposes. For example, Dartmouth was founded to train missionaries to the Native Americans and Columbia university, which opened in 1754, put out an early advertisement for the school that read, “The chief thing that is aimed at in this college is to teach and engage children to know God in Jesus Christ.” Past president of Princeton, Rev. John Witherspoon once said, “Cursed be all learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ.”
So were it not for Christianity we would be without prestigious schools like Oxford and Cambridge and Harvard, Yale, William and Mary, Brown, Princeton, New York University and others.

CHRISTIANITY AND WORLDWIDE LITERACY

Many of the world’s languages were first set to writing by Christian missionaries who wanted all peoples to be able to read and understand the Bible in their heart language. This work is still taking place today. Today many tribal languages are being codified by Christians out on the mission field.


Wycliffe Bible Translators (the second largest missions organization in the world) spend most of their resources and send most of their missionaries to obscure areas of the world to learn the language so they can translate the Scriptures into the heart language of the people so the people can then teach the nationals how to read and understand the Bible in their own language.

SO WITHOUT CHRIST MANY OF US WOULD BE UNEDUCATED AND MAYBE EVEN ILLITERATE


ETHICS AND MORALITY


CRITIQUE OF CHRISTIANITY

Many believe Christianity along with other belief systems are to blame for the evils in our world. Atheist Bertrand Russell once said, “I say quite deliberately that the Christian religion, as organized in its churches, has been and still is the principal enemy of moral progress in the world.”

MORALITY WITHOUT CHRIST

In the Old Testament there are numerous accounts of pagan societies surrounding the people of God who were involved in all sorts of godless and immoral practices. For example, the worshippers of the god Moloch offered up their own children as sacrifices and Baal worship was as sexually immoral as any practice. The Assyrians were barbaric and inhumane in the way they treated they treated others and the standards of morality for the Canaanites were probably the lowest of all.

Though we have many positives today from the Greeks a greater morality is not one of them and the Romans, as earlier discussed, were uncharitable and had little value for human life.

So without Christ things are not good morally.

MORALITY WITH CHRIST

Nothing in all of history compares to what Christianity has done for morality. The Western world in particular owes a great deal to Christ for the way the Christian faith has changed tribes, peoples and nations for the better.

PAGANS OF ROME

Into this cruel, vulgar and immoral world you have the birth of Christ and his impact on the world is unmatched. Historian and author Will Durrant mentions that the Romans took notice of Christians and their morality. He says, “Pliny [who was a governor] was compelled to report to [the emperor] Trajan that the Christians led exemplary lives. Galen described them as ‘so far advanced in self-discipline and (with an) intense desire to attain moral excellence.”

And the ethical influence of Christianity impacted Roman life in a good way.

BARBARIANS AND VIKINGS

Both the Barbarians and Vikings were some of the most ferocious, godless and warlike people this world has ever known conquering and killing everyone who stood in their way including woman and children.

Many Christians from Rome put their lives on the line to take the Gospel to these warring groups and in time, their work was extremely successful. Both the Barbarians and the Vikings were transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

And we learn that wherever the Gospel goes, so goes a greater morality.

MODERN MISSION MOVEMENTS

In the past two hundred years churches and mission agencies have been sending out missionaries into the far corners of the world to spread the Gospel.

One of the most incredible stories is that of Mary Slessor, who was from Scotland. She was converted to Christianity in her teens and later felt a call to serve as a missionary in Nigeria in 1876. After she arrived, she learned of the Calabar people who were so ferocious and fierce that even the government soldiers were fearful to enter into the land.

It was said that their customs were so vile that it stretches the imagination to consider the types of things they did to one another. This did not, however, stop Mary Slessor. And not only did God spare her from death, but used her to reach this people for Christ.

SO HAD JESUS NEVER BEEN BORN GOD ONLY KNOWS HOW IMMORAL OUR WORLD WOULD BE.

CONCLUSION

So though atheists like Friedrich Nietschze, Bertrand Russell and Richard Dawkins believe that our world would be better off without Christianity, history shows us otherwise.

Christ is not what’s wrong with the world, but what the world needs most. As you celebrate Christmas this week may you be reminded of the wonderful gift God gave by sending His son.

Monday, December 13, 2010


A CRUEL WORLD
by D. James Kennedy & Jerry Newcombe

The consequences that flow from unbelief are very real and very tragic...(they) flow as inevitably and as irresistibly from what we think, as water irresistibly flows through a broken dam. The Bible says that 'as he thinks in his heart, so is he' (Prov. 23:7). As people think in their hearts so will the world be in which they live. There are results that come from our thinking; and above all else, the greatest results flow from what we think about God.

MORAL RELATIVISM

With atheism there are no objective moral standards. Evolutionary humanism and all forms of various atheistic concepts have been trying for years to establish some sort of moral standard, and they have failed miserably. The Scripture says, "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God'" (Ps. 14:1) and goes on to say that they have "done abominable works."

This is not to say that all atheists are immoral people. In reality, there are many nice people who are atheists, but their niceness is borrowed capital from Christianity; it is not because of their atheism, but despite it.

The existentialist writer Jean-Paul Sarte saw very clearly what would happen if we got rid of God--as he had done. He said, "[Without God] all activities are equivalent....Thus it amounts to the same thing whether one gets drunk alone, or is a leader of nations." In other words, it doesn't matter if, when you see an old woman trying to cross the street, you stop your car and help her across, or whether you simply run over her. It doesn't matter whether you are Florence Nightingale or Al Capone--all activities are equivalent without God.

Thus when atheism takes hold of a society, moral relativism quickly follows. When moral relativism takes hold, then nothing is sacred and human life becomes cheap--as it was before Jesus Christ entered our world.

When you devalue God, you devalue human life. What kind of view of man is given to us by evolutionary atheists? Is man a noble creature with a noble origin and a noble destiny? Here is what the evolutionists say:
"A fungus on the surface of one of the minor planets" (Du Maurier)

"A hairless ape" (Schoenberg)

"An accidental twig" (Gould)

"A useless passion" (Sarte)

This is what man is to them. Next to nothing at all.

CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY

Once the evolutionary view of man was applied, appalling crimes against humanity began to be committed. The worst crimes were committed by the Communists, who felt they could build heaven on earth.

STALIN

As horrible and as inexcusable as the Inquisition was, it was rather like a tea party when compared with the purges of Stalin. It is generally agreed that the number of people Stalin killed was 40 million. Stalin persecuted the Church, sometimes ruthlessly. Dr. David Barrett says that in 1934, Stalin, "widely regarded as the Antichrist, attempted liquidation of the entire Christian church."

HITLER

Hitler, who hated God as much as Stalin did, had learned well from their mentor, Lenin, the father of the modern totalitarian state. Hitler was a total racist who wanted to remove from the world those he viewed as human bacillus. He killed Jews, Gypsies, Slavs, Poles, and others deemed racially inferior.

The Nazis worked out a system where Jews and others were to be worked until they were no longer able to work, then they were to be exterminated. The first victims of the Holocaust were 70,000 people. By the end, 6 million Jews and 9 to 10 million others (mostly Christians) were liquidated.

MAO

It is estimated that Mao Tse-tung alone killed more that 70 million Chinese. In the first ten years after Mao's takeover in 1948, 24.7 million were killed in "purges, famines, deaths in slave labor camps." From 1959-1962, about 25 million were killed or were starved to death in the collectivization effort and its failure. Dr. Barrett calls this "history's most systematic attempt ever, by a single nation, to eradicate and destroy Christianity and religion; in this it failed. Thus Mao was responsible for killing about 72 million human beings.
Kennedy, D. James and Jerry Newcombe. What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? Nashville: Nelson Books. 1994. 224-238

"Quote" of the Week




"The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they have done abominable works." Psalm 14:1

Monday, December 6, 2010

Jesus Christ has given art its loftiest themes. Many of the greatest masterpieces in the world have had a Christian theme or base. The great cathedrals of Europe are among the finest architectural masterpieces known, and their inspiration comes from Jesus. It was a servant of Christ, Bach (a man who dedicated every note he wrote to the glory of Jesus Christ), who changed Western music for all time.

Had Jesus never been born, art would depict only the finite. The attempt to capture the Infinite on canvas or in stone would never have been introduced. In short, had Jesus never come, the world would be poorer in the realms of art and music.

CHRIST AND ART

The Renaissance was a golden age of art, and biblical themes were among the most predominant motifs. Look at the work of Michelangelo (1475-1564). His great statutes are of biblical characters, such as David, Moses, and the Pieta--the crucified Christ in the arms of His grieving mother. His masterpiece is his work on the ceiling and walls of the Sistine Chapel, which is also biblical in nature. Not only did Michelangelo paint and sculpt great Christian works, but he himself was a devout Christian.

Other great artists of the Renaissance--whether they were Christian or not--painted on Christian themes. Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), one of the most versatile human beings who ever lived, pioneered in a variety of fields. He too has left the world with great works of art inspired by Christianity, such as The Last Supper, St. John the Baptist, Annunciation, Madonna and Child, and Adoration of the Magi.

CHRIST AND LITERATURE

Jesus has also had a very positive impact on literature, providing us with some of the greatest themes and ideas. As one writer puts it, 'Literature and the gospel are bosom friends.' From Dante to Chaucer, from John Donne to Fyodor Dostoevsky, the Christian faith has influenced literature, and literature has helped to spread the gospel.

John Bunyan (1628-1688) gave the world one of the greatest novels ever written, Pilgrim's Progress. This parable of the Christian life is one of the all-time most published and widely read books in the history of the world.

Another towering literary giant who was inspired by the Christian faith is John Milton (1608-1674), author of Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained. These two masterpieces deal with the first Adam, who brought sin into the world, and Jesus Christ, the second Adam, who was the beginning of a whole new creation. Milton's inspired thought has lifted and enriched the lives of millions.

CHRIST AND MUSIC

Many music critics declare that Bach is the greatest musician that ever lived. His genius is unsurpassed. He is the father of modern music (who) left no musical form as he found it, says one critic.

There can be no doubt that Johann Sebastian Bach was a Christian. He was a Christian to the very core of his life. When he died there were found in his library eighty-three volumes of entirely religious works. Bach believed in the great doctrines of the Christian faith--In fact, several have noted that in his music and in his writings you can see an almost eager desire to depart this world to be with Christ.

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) has (also) ministered to millions with his sacred oratorios, most notably the Messiah. Handel composed this fantastic work in less than twenty-five days.

Kennedy, D. James and Jerry Newcombe. "What If Jesus Had Never Been Born?" Nashville: Nelson Books. 1994. 172-188.

"Quote" of the Week

"More poems have been written, more stories told, more pictures painted, and more songs sung about Christ than any other person in human history, because through such avenues as these the deepest appreciation of the human heart can be more adequately expressed." -Cynthia Pearl Maus