Who is God?

The Bible does not argue for, but rather, presumes the existence of God, and it communicates that God is real and knowable. - Clint Decker

As I walked through the Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India I observed person after person as they worshiped their Hindu gods. I came to learn that Hinduism has over 300,000 different gods. This contrasts with my Christian faith, which is the belief there is only one true God. In our climate of religious tolerance and pluralism, who is right? And what about the atheist, agnostic and those of other religions like Islam, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Buddhism and Judaism? Logically speaking, not everyone can be correct, so this leads to the valid question, “Who is God?” (Image by NASA)

Sometime around 1200 B.C. when the Egyptian empire was the greatest nation on earth, the God of the Jewish people appointed a man named Moses to go to Pharaoh, Egypt’s king, to command him to let God’s people go. For 400 years the Jews had been enslaved by Egypt.

Moses was a Jew but was raised in Pharaoh's household. He knew that Egyptian’s had over 2,000 gods, like Ra (the sun god) and Horus (the sky god) and how Pharaoh himself was considered a god. Knowing all that, Moses came before Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’ But Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.’” (Exodus 5:1-2)

In many ways, our world is the same, where we have Christians talking about God like Moses, but people of other religions or no religions are saying like Pharaoh, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice?” We also have Christians wondering, “Is it fair and loving for people of other faiths, to be told that the God of the Bible is the only true God?”

The Bible starts with Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” This does not argue for, but rather, presumes the existence of God, where He is immediately known as the Creator. We also see God creating humankind and beginning a relationship with them. All this communicates that God is real and knowable. In Genesis 3, humankind eventually rebelled against God, but that did not change who God is. Then when people were fashioning and worshiping other gods, the Lord responded, “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God…” (Deuteronomy 10:17) He once identified Himself to help people know Him saying, “I am who I am.” (Ex. 3:14) This is a statement categorizing God as self-existent and self-sufficient not dependent on anyone or anything else.

A few thousand years after God described Himself that way, He took His greatest step to reveal who He was. He sent His only Son from heaven to earth. Jesus once said, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9) And the “Father” is the Lord God. Jesus became the visible image of the invisible God. Jesus spoke about Himself, saying “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25) “I am the bread of life.” (Jn. 6:35) “I am the light of the world.” (Jn. 8:12) “I am the good shepherd.” (Jn. 10:11)

Do you have questions? God invites you to come and ask. In the end though, remember that no one will be able to say, “I did not know.” It is written, “…what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his 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. So they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:19-20)

If you wonder or have doubts about God, get yourself a Bible and begin reading the book of Mark today.

A prayer for you – Lord God, are You real? Do you exist? I bring my questions and doubts before You. Help me to know who You truly are. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Christian and Christian Nationalism

Christian Nationalism has its roots in the dangerous myth that we were founded as a Christian nation. - Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush

CNN produced a widely watched documentary on “The Rise of Christian Nationalism.” Christianity Today created a podcast episode, “Christian Nationalism Is Worse Than You Think” to go along with many other articles and resources on the subject. Tammy Swanson-Draheim, President of the Evangelical Covenant Church, said on a podcast that she “…speaks against” Christian nationalism. The National Association of Evangelicals has addressed the subject, and Christians Against Christian Nationalism is a group that was formed and is endorsed by denominational leaders from the Presbyterian Church USA, American Baptist Churches, Evangelical Lutheran Churches of America and many more. (Image by Unsplash)

Christian nationalism is a label that has been popularized in the last few years, causing incredible polarization and divisiveness. The term has largely been used by opponents to stereotype Christians who speak out on moral issues from a biblical perspective, call America back to God and promote America’s Christian heritage. The Charles Kettering Foundation says, “Christian nationalism is an ideology that desires a close fusion of a particular expression of Christianity with American civic life. It demands our government, at all levels, vigorously defend this ideology as central to our national identity, public policy, and social belonging.”

Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance, states that “Christian Nationalism has its roots in the dangerous myth that we were founded as a Christian nation, and because of that, enjoy special favor from God.” He clarified what that practically looks like, saying “the suppression of voting rights, the promotion of white supremacy, and the policing of personal privacy, including the right to abortion and same-sex marriage.”

Here are five statements about America and Christian citizenship.

1. America was founded on biblical principles. John Adams was the 2nd President of the United States and signer of the Declaration of Independence. In a letter to Thomas Jefferson, he reflected on the founding of America, “The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity.” Noah Webster shared similar views. He was a Revolutionary War soldier and also known as the “Schoolmaster to America.” He wrote, “The moral principles and precepts found in the Scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws.” The Christian heritage our nation has does not mean we were “chosen by God” or that we have a special “covenant relationship” with Him. Among all nations, the Bible teaches only Israel has that distinction.

2. America has both succeeded and failed at times, to live up to its founding ideals. We praise God for how America has been a beacon of freedom and liberty for the world, but also lament our sins of slavery and Native American atrocities, as well as the deaths of 60 million babies, the imposing of transgender ideology on our young and much more.

3. Christian citizens are to be loyal to only one King. For Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:38) When Christians do so, they will honor their leaders, pray for them, seek the welfare of their communities and nation, live with integrity, love their enemies and encourage one another.

4. Christian citizens are to point out evil and stand for what is just. The Scripture says, “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11) Wherever Christians are they have a moral duty to unmask evil, and advocate for laws and practices that are wise, godly and just.

5. Christian citizens are to go into all the world to proclaim the gospel and make disciples of Jesus. This is the primary mission for all believers. May the people and leaders of all nations turn to Jesus. May the whole world serve the King of kings and love their neighbor as themselves regardless of differences, and including their enemies.

A prayer for you – Lord God, let us not be bound to politics or religion. Rather, help us to be united with Christ alone, and love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to do all the good we can for others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Do You Know Why Jesus’ Died?

Not everyone, including church people, know why Jesus died, and if they do know, they may not necessarily agree. - Clint Decker

I live in a small rural town in north central Kansas. We have 10 churches in our city limits, with religion being a part of the fabric of our community from its founding. Accordingly, when I ask the Easter question, “Why did Jesus die?” to someone in my town, it should be a simple Sunday School type answer. (Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)

One day as I was talking with an older gentleman that had lived much of his life in the town, I asked, “Do you know why Jesus died?” He honestly replied, “No, I do not.” I was shocked. I did not think that people deep in the Amazon jungles of South America knew, but I surely thought everyone in rural Kansas knew.

In 2019, a British religious poll was taken, which included a question about Jesus dying for sins. Only 46% of Christians in the poll agreed that Jesus died for sins, which meant that 54% of Christians did not agree! Again, I was shocked. Why would a Christian not believe the Christian teaching that Jesus died for their sins?

Then I came across a well-educated pastor who stated, “I don’t teach that we have an angry, vengeful God that was so wrathful over our sinfulness that God sacrificed God’s son, God’s self, to himself, for his own vengeance. That doesn’t hold for me,” said the pastor. “Jesus, having borne the pain and suffering of the cross… allows us to be liberators and to be liberated.” This is a teaching of Liberation Theology, which is taught to many pastors in seminaries across the country.

Not everyone, including church people, know why Jesus died, and if they do know, they may not necessarily agree.

Why did Jesus die and rise again? Because of sin. No other person in human history has ever died for the sins of another. It is the most unique death. This was spoken of at Jesus’ birth. An angel told Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, “[Mary] will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

Why did Jesus die for “sin”? Because of its awfulness. The Scriptures say, “…nothing unclean will ever enter [God’s presence], nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:27) Sin is called unclean, detestable and false. God lays out some examples, “…the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars…” (Rev. 21:8) Outwardly, there is a lot of difference between being a coward versus a murderer. What do they both have in common regarding God’s rules? Prideful defiance. When God lays down His rules for us and we respond with defiance, that angers Him. He will have nothing of it.

What are the consequences God has laid out for such rebellion? Death. Both spiritual and eternal. God clearly communicates this, “…their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Rev. 21:8) Is there any hope for humanity or is it the fate of us all? This is the good news of Easter.

Though the consequence for our sinful defiance is death, it is something we can be delivered from. The Bible says in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him, should not perish, but have eternal life.”

God is willing to show you mercy in the face of your deserved penalty. He voluntarily sent His Son to take that sentence. Jesus’ death on Easter’s cross was an act of divine kindness toward you. He died so you would not have to. Then He rose again, conquering sin and death, that you might overcome and have the incredible gift of eternal life, beginning now.

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray that all people would know why you died and rose again. Help them to admit their prideful defiance toward your rules. Humble them, that they would cry out to you, for the forgiveness of their sin and walk in victory through Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.