Posted by John L. Rothra on September 24, 2006 under Devotional/Teaching, General, Site Updates | 
The host server ran into some trouble and in the recovery process, one blog post was lost. Thanks to a cache of the blog, the missing entry has been recovered. Below is that missing entry.
——————–
I’m going to be spending the next few months preparing for some very important tests. Come October I’ll be taking the GRE (Graduate Records Exam), mid-term and final exams for four classes over the semester, and then entrance exams in March. All this is to complete the current semester and apply for the Ph.D. program at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Part of me looks forward to them and part of me doesn’t. I enjoy learning and passing tests. I don’t enjoy taking them all the time. It is my prayer that I do my best and pass each of them. It is my prayer to be accepted into the doctoral program.
These tests, however, are not the most important tests in life. Eventually, every person will take the same test. It will be very short, consisting of one question. God will administer the test by asking each person: Why should I let you into my heaven? This question is not multiple choice, but is a short answer question. Many will plead for entrance based on their works. Many will appeal to their knowledge. Some may fain ignorance. Far too few will give the only correct answer. What is the correct answer?
I am a sinner, but I believe Jesus died and rose again to pay for my sins. It is only by your grace, O God, that you let me in. Only through your Son, Jesus, will I be able to come in.
If you don’t believe in Jesus, you cannot get into heaven. Do you believe that God will have mercy because you are a good person? Do you really believe that your works will get you in? There is a short test that will help answer the question “Am I good enough to get into heaven?” found on the Way of the Master site. Take that test and see if you are good enough for heaven. If you are truthful, the answer may shock you!
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” — Christ Jesus, c. AD 30
Posted by John L. Rothra on September 22, 2006 under General |
I ran across an interesting news article on Fox News about the recent controversy over VeggieTales and NBC.
Talking Veggies Stir Controversy at NBC (FoxNews.com article).
Statement from BigIdea, producers of VeggieTales.
In short, NBC decided that Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber cannot reference God in any way other than historical references. That means various changes may need to be made to the show, including possibly removing their famous closing tag line: “Remember, God made you special and He loves you very much. Goodbye.”
NBC is attempting to promote values without promoting religion. This raises many questions, but I’ll address only a few.
1. Can you have good morals and high values apart from God?
Philosophers, ever since about the 17th century have been trying to reason out using human logic how to attain values and virtue. In the end, the result was such a relativity and subjective mix of ideas that nobody is able to tell what is right or wrong anymore. Why? Because when we try to reason out values, or try to decide that the source of virtue is within ourselves, we will always fail. We are sinful creatures whose reasoning and morals are tainted by our sinful nature. Up to the years not long after the Reformation, values were seen as coming from God (while there may have been some mavericks, the overall social view held to this). Aristotle and Augustine typify this belief. Without a final authority outside ourselves from which morals and values derive, there are no morals or values. Rather, there is only chaos, selfishness, and a lack of righteousness. In short, without God, there is only sin and hopelessness.
However, with God’s grace, when we accept Christ, we have peace, hope, and eternal life. Apart from Christ, there is no life.
2. Is NBC playing religious politics or being fair?
Until they attempt to broadcast a show promoting the beliefs of other religions targeting kids, this question is difficult to absolutely answer. However, I am inclined to believe that if another faith promoted their religious beliefs, they would not be forced to change their views or statements. For example, if a Muslim show targeting children was to be broadcast by NBC, I’m not convinced that NBC would require all non-historical references to Allah be removed. Their argument would be about promoting peace and fairness and not wanting to offend all the Muslim viewers. All the while, they have no problem offending Christian viewers. This is an anti-Christian double standard, but it is a standard one would expect from a secular, worldly organization. When people are blinded by sin, as all are without Christ, then they work against God’s purposes and His people.
3. Should VeggieTales give in and change their shows?
Since VeggieTales signed a contract, they should abide by the terms. The best option may be to keep the show on and make as few changes as possible in order to abide by NBC’s rules. This allows them to keep their word, just as Jesus instructs. Consider that this may be an opportunity for VeggieTales to have children around the nation tell their parents they want to own Bob and Larry’s show, which will include all the references to God. This could be an open door for a potential evangelistic outreach to children. Whatever VeggieTales decides to do, they must do whatever God wants them to do and whatever glorifies Him.
My take is this: NBC is hoping to censor out and remove all references to the Christian God, the God of the Bible, the true and living God. They found a show that is very popular and overlooked the Christian message. After the contract was done, they discovered Christianity in the show and are now wanting that removed. I disagree with NBC’s decision and pray they chance their mind. However, I pray that Phil Vischer and the crew of VeggieTales follow God’s guidance with this and do what He desires. Doing so will glorify Him and He will bless them for it.
Here at John Rothra Ministries, we support and encourage children of all ages, from birth to senior citizen, to watch VeggieTales. It is a wonderfully done program used by God to reach millions.
Posted by John L. Rothra on September 5, 2006 under Devotional/Teaching, Site Updates |
Two more studies have been added for your use. Psalm 8 and Psalm 13 are uploaded. More are coming soon, as they are edited for online publishing. I pray you find them useful and help you understand God’s word and how it applies to your life.
Posted by John L. Rothra on September 2, 2006 under Evangelism |
I recently heard a television preacher tell his congregation and TV audience that it is possible to tithe you way into the upper echelon of wealth. Those who don’t achieve financial wealth are either not tithing or not tithing in faith. Therefore, this preacher seems to believe that those who give away their money with faith will become rich. This idea is something that reminds me of a song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers which says, “Give it away, give it away, give it away, give it away now!” I’m not sure as to the nature of his specific hermeneutic, but let me say one simple phrase about this type of theology: It is false.
There are numerous scriptures referring to sowing, reaping, prosperity, etc. Many of them from the Old Testament are used to promote a ‘health and wealth’ theology. Something each of these preachers fails to consider is the full context of the verses. They often examine one or a few verses, ignore the context, and build an entire doctrine on a misapplied verse. Some of the contexts ignored by these preachers, which have various levels of impact on the teaching of the text include:
- immediate context (the verses immediately before and after);
- broad context (the chapter and book in which the verse is contained);
- testamental context (the testament in which it’s found);
- Biblical context (the entire Bible);
- authorial intent (the message the author desires to express in the entire writing);
- original listeners (the original audience).
Ignoring these contexts will result in a potentially false doctrine. One parable I’ve often heard used by many prosperity preachers is the parable of the four soils (Matt. 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, Luke 8:4-15). The preacher says that if you sow your financial seed in good soil and have enough faith (often directly relating the level of faith to the size of the seed) then you will received a 100-fold return from God. This is usually followed by a statement that their own ministry, or the ministry for which they want to raise funds, is that good soil.
Such a teaching ignores both context and Christ himself! I will use the Lukan text for my explanation. In Luke 8:11, Jesus says, “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God” (NKJV). If you read further, you will see the soils are not ministries, but are the hearts of those listening to the word of God (“ones who hear,” v. 12; “when they hear,” v. 13; “when they have heard,” v. 14; “those who, when they have heard the word,” v. 15). Jesus said the seed is the word of God that has been proclaimed for people to hear. It is not money. The sower is either God or God’s preacher or witness. The good soil is the soil that listens having been prepared by the Holy Spirit to receive the word.
Many of these preachers say that those with faith will not be sick and will be wealthy. I would propose that the apostles’ own lives debunk that foolishness. Paul, John, Peter, and many others suffered, lost much, were imprisoned, and eventually were killed or died in prison. Paul mentioned a thorn in his side, which could have been a physical ailment (2 Cor. 12:7). None of these men obtained and kept great financial wealth. Rather, most lost much to all of the material wealth they possessed. So, would these health and wealth preachers say that John, Paul, Peter, and the others lacked faith or did not receive God’s full blessing? Far from it! The problem is not the apostles faith, but the incorrect theology of the health/wealth preachers.
God does have plans to prosper us, but it may not be material prosperity. The greatest prosperity anyone can receive is salvation. God never promises a complete lack of sickness (in fact, he said pestilences would come to the earth), everlasting financial riches (rather, riches from heaven, meaning, the Holy Spirit, salvation, and a mature relationship), or other worldly gains. Rather, God instructs us to not seek after the things of this world (1 John 2:15-17, Matt. 6:25-32) but to seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness (Matt. 6:33-34) because Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Christians are to preach the kingdom of God (Luke 9:2, Mark 16:15) and to make disciples, not millionaires (Matt. 28:18-20).
While some preachers encourage people to follow a ‘Red Hot Chili Peppers theology’ and give away all their money to that preacher’s ministry, God tells us that His gospel message is what we should always give away. While tithing is good, it is not a way to wealth. True wealth comes when a person gives away himself or herself to God and receives the most valuable gift ever: eternal life! Will you accept Jesus today? Will you admit you have sinned and are under judgment? Will you accept God’s free gift of salvation by believing Jesus died to forgive your sins? Will you let Jesus be lord of your life? Will you accept God’s love and forgiveness? Paul tells us “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9, NASB).
Posted by John L. Rothra on September 1, 2006 under Devotional/Teaching |
What would you say if someone asked you, “What has God done for you today?” I’ve asked many people this question and I’ve discovered the answer falls into one of four categories:
- healing miracles;
- financial miracles;
- family/social miracles;
- “I don’t know” answers.
These answers seem to show that people take God for granted. Ask any wife what is most important in marriage and ‘the little things’ will be somewhere near the top, if not the number one answer. Wifes cherish the little things from their husbands. A husband must do those ‘little things’ for their wives as a part of their self-sacrificial love. If you ask those same wives if their husband always does the little things all the time, it may not be suprising to find that less than 100% say “yes.”
Unlike most husbands, God never stops doing the little things. As a result, we often overlook those little things God does for us, looking for the big miracles of life. What are some of the little things God does for us? Well, some of these may seem extremely simplistic, but they are often overlooked and always critical to life.
God’s ‘little blessings’ include:
… keeping our lungs breathing;
… keeping our hearts beating;
… sunrises every morning/sunsets every evening;
… flowers to smell and enjoy;
… trees to sit under to read that good book;
… and much more.
Today, I encourage you to stop and think about the little things God has done for you. Say a prayer of thanksgiving and praise Him for those wonderful blessings. Don’t allow those blessings to remain forgotten, but always remember God’s graciousness.
Not only did God provide things which make this life possible, but God also provided a way to have life after this. God sent His son to take the punishment we all deserve because of our sin. Nobody is completely innocent, but God can redeem you, if you believe in His one and only Son: Jesus! God will forgive your sins, clothe you with His son, and save you to live forever in heaven. The only way to be saved is by accepting Jesus. It’s a free gift from God. Will you accept this gift today?
