Sad but not True - pt. 2

(a series on dealing with depression)

Feelings are not truth. When we say that feelings are real but not truth, what does that mean? First, let’s get a good working definition of “truth.” Truth should be something that does not change. Truth should be something that can be applied at all times, in all places, to all people. Truth is that which is fact or reality, not that which is opinion or perception. The bible states in Psalm 119:160, “The sum of your word is truth.” Now, if we don’t believe what the bible says, then we should discard everything in it including what it says about love, mercy, forgiveness, heaven and right vs. wrong. If we believe what the bible says then we can place our confidence in God and his word as truth - truth by which to gauge every aspect of our lives. Francis Schaeffer said, “If Christianity is really true, then it involves the whole man, including his intellect and creativeness. Christianity is not just "dogmatically" true or "doctrinally" true. Rather, it is true to what is there, true in the whole area of the whole man in all of life.” Therefore, absolute truth is based on the very nature of God, who doesn’t change or lie, expressed through his word which is intended to guide, shape, nurture and transform us.
I will personally confess to you that most of my life has been spent struggling with the negative, defeating, belittling thoughts and feelings that stem from depression. When those emotions hit, they are very real. They cause real pain and leave real scars. So how do we process the idea that these emotions are real but not truth? Understanding this is critical to our game plan for dealing with depression. As a matter of fact, it is the core of our defensive strategy. Let’s look at an example to help us get a better understanding. Imagine you are walking down the sidewalk and you recognize a familiar piece of paper lying on the ground. You reach down to pick up a $100 bill! You realize there is no one around that could have dropped it and you begin to smile. The celebration of your good fortune begins to go off like fireworks in your mind. You may feel thrilled, excited, joyous or even relieved if you needed that money for an overdue expense. Once you decide what to buy with the $100, you happily go to the store and make your selection. As you proceed to pay for your item the cashier does something strange - she calls for a manager. As it turns out, the $100 bill is a counterfeit and now you are being detained for questioning by the police. Uh oh... I bet you’re not happy and joyous and excited now. We can learn two important things from this example. 1) Emotions can change in an instant and 2) emotions are based on perception not necessarily on truth. Because our feelings are fickle and erratic, unlike God who is unchanging, we can decisively say that feelings are real but not truth. Next in this series, we will lay out the differences between the offense and defensive parts of our game plan for dealing with depression.
"Father, sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." John 17:17

Sad but not True - pt. 1

(a series on dealing with depression)

We make way too many decisions based on our feelings alone. People that have suffered with depression, whether situational or clinical, can attest to a wide range of overpowering emotions - fear, anger, despair, loneliness, anxiety and hopelessness. All of these feelings are very real and have undeniable effects on your mind, body and spirit. A train running out of control through the middle of main street couldn't cause as much damage as those feelings when they are in full force. We've all been there. I've been there, yesterday, as a matter of fact. I bought the t-shirt then got depressed because I spent money I shouldn't have so I returned it. Now I'm depressed because I really liked it and wish I had kept it (a little humor for your morning - very little, lol). I would like to discuss our game plan as a team. We are all on the same playing field, fighting the same enemy, so let's go over some offense and defense. The first thing we need is a mission statement to give us a solid reference point to look back on. Here it is: Feelings are not Truth. Memorize that, think about it, analyze it. In part 2 of this series, we will unpack our mission statement and see how it will apply to our game plan.
"Father, sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." John 17:17

Gone Fishing

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

“Papa! Help me!” I screamed. When I was about 4 or 5 years old my grandfather made me catch my first fish. That’s right, I said “made.” He had taken me fishing since I was able to stand and had helped me catch many, many fish but this was the first time he wouldn’t help me. The fish on my line was so large that it was about to pull me in! As I cried for help he just laughed and said, “You can do it.” Finally, the fish was subdued. I was the champion. That was the biggest 2 pound fish I ever caught!

The Bible says that when God forgives our sins He sends them to the bottom of the ocean.

Micah 7:19 - You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

We shouldn’t be fishing them back out. We are called to be fishers of men, not fishers of sin. Stop punishing yourself and/or others for past sins. You may have a difficult time accepting God’s forgiveness because what you have done was especially shameful or detrimental to yourself and others. There may be constant reminders like consequences, negative thoughts or the reproach of others. Here’s what God says about that: if you are in Christ Jesus, there is now no condemnation for you. None. Listen to some of the terms used by God to describe you now: free, glorified, delivered, and loved by God.

All of these apply to you… and to other brothers and sisters in Christ. Not only do you need to trust in God’s forgiveness for yourself, but also for them. Jesus shed His blood to pay for their sins and we need to accept that, honor that and set them free just like He did.

Galatians 5:1 – It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

We need to uplift one another, encourage one another! The Bible says that our love for each other will be one of the things that attracts the lost to Christ. Isn’t that great? When Jesus called us to be fishers of men that’s the bait He wanted us to use – LOVE. If you feel a tug on your line and it’s something bad from your past just tell that stinky old fish what God says about you now and you’ll have that sucker for dinner! And if it’s about someone else, you need to throw that fish back in the sea and never reel it in again. Give that person a hug and tell them you love them and appreciate them. You’ll be amazed at the healing power that comes from forgiveness.

God’s favor and blessings to you my brother or sister – you are free! Now, what’s for dinner? Fish???

To Judge or Not to Judge - That is the Question

Question: "What does the Bible mean that we are not to judge others?"

Answer: This is an issue that has confused many people. On one hand, we are commanded by the Lord Jesus, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1). On the other hand, the Bible also exhorts us to beware of evildoers and false prophets and to avoid those who practice all kinds of evil. How are we to discern right from wrong and who these people are if we do not make some kind of judgment about them?

To judge: to pronounce an opinion concerning right & wrong.

Prov. 31:9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

1 Cor. 6:2-3 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!

The first section of chapter 7 (vv. 1-5) is a continuation of statements Jesus made in chapter 6 as part of the Sermon on the Mount (ch. 5-7). The issues Jesus was addressing were the following: giving to the needy (ch. 6:2), praying (ch. 6:5&7), fasting (ch. 6:16) and judging (ch. 7:1). In each of these statements Jesus is making the same comparison – we are supposed to do these things but not like the hypocrites. He doesn’t say don’t give to the needy, don’t pray, don’t fast, don’t judge, he says don’t do it for the wrong reasons. Each should be done out of love for God and others.

Christians are often accused of "judging" whenever they speak out against a sinful activity. However, that is not the meaning of the Scripture verses that state, "Do not judge." There is a righteous kind of judgment we are supposed to exercise—with careful discernment (John 7:24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment). When Jesus told us not to judge (Matthew 7:1), He was telling us not to judge hypocritically. Matthew 7:2-5 declares, "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." What Jesus was condemning here was hypocritical, self-righteous judgments of others.

In Matthew 7:2-5, Jesus warns against judging someone else for his sin when you yourself are sinning even worse. That is the kind of judging Jesus commanded us not to do. If a believer sees another believer sinning, it is his Christian duty to lovingly and respectfully confront the person with his sin (Matthew 18:15-17). This is not judging, but rather pointing out the truth in hope—and with the ultimate goal—of bringing repentance in the other person (James 5:20) and restoration to the fellowship. We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). We are to proclaim what God's Word says about sin. 2 Timothy 4:2 instructs us, "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction." We are to "judge" sin, but always with the goal of presenting the solution for sin and its consequences—the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me).

Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

If we don't warn someone in error to turn from evil, we are partly responsible.

Ezekiel 33:8-9 If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.

We are not to judge people in an effort to elevate ourselves or to persecute and condemn them.

Please Accept My Apologia - the rapture

The Rapture

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:3)

Two essential rules for studying the end times:

1)      Don’t Americanize bible prophecy

2)      Don’t worry – God is in control and wants us to stay on mission

The rapture is a specific point in time when God physically removes both the living and dead in Christ from the earth; Christ gathers his bride to himself. This event is not the same as Christ’s return to establish his kingdom on earth by overthrowing the anti-Christ. To study the rapture, we must also understand God’s promise of a time of tribulation as prophesied in Daniel 9:24-27. The tribulation is the final 7 years of Daniel’s timeline after the fulfillment of Messiah. During this time the anti-Christ (the abomination that causes desolation, the beast) will make a seven-year covenant of peace with Israel but will break it half-way through (3 ½ years). The final half is also called “the great tribulation.”

·         Jesus removes the church (all believers) from the earth

·         The rapture will be instantaneous

·         Our bodies (both the dead and living) will be changed into everlasting bodies

Revelation 6-11

·         7 seals – these appear to be spread throughout a long period of time, possibly across the 7 years of the tribulation; the four horsemen of the Apocalypse (the first is the anti-Christ); martyrs during the tribulation

·         7 trumpets - the seven trumpets are the “contents” of the seventh seal; the seventh trumpet ushers in the 7 bowls of wrath (this seems different than the “last trumpet” sounding at the rapture, ref. 1 Cor. 15:42)

·         7 bowls of wrath – includes 7 plagues upon mankind; the battle of Armageddon

1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

1 Corinthians 15:50-54

Revelation 3:10

Daniel 9:20-27

Joel 2

Revelation 6-22

Three views on the rapture (in relation to the Great Tribulation):

1)      Pre-Trib: The rapture takes place immediately before the tribulation (the rapture is the catalyst for the commencement of the tribulation). Once the church is taken to heaven, the anti-Christ is revealed and the 7 years of tribulation commence to be immediately followed by Jesus returning to reign on earth for 1,000 years. According to this view, the church does not experience any of the tribulation.

Strengths: According to this view, the church does not experience any of the Tribulation. 1 Thess. 5:9 - For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. The church of Philadelphia was promised to be kept from “the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world” (Revelation 3:10). The word “church” appears nineteen times in the first three chapters of Revelation, but, significantly, the word is not used again until chapter 22. In other words, in the entire lengthy description of the Tribulation in Revelation, the word church is noticeably absent. Pre-Trib is the only theory which clearly maintains the distinction between Israel and the church and God’s separate plans for each. The seventy “sevens” of Daniel 9:24 are decreed upon Daniel’s people (the Jews) and Daniel’s holy city (Jerusalem). This prophecy makes it plain that the seventieth week (the Tribulation) is a time of purging and restoration for Israel and Jerusalem, not for the church. This view also matches other biblical examples of God’s salvation including Noah, Lot and Rahab.

Weaknesses: One perceived weakness of pre-trib is its relatively recent development as a church doctrine, not having been formulated in detail until the early 1800s. Another difficulty facing the pre-trib view is the fact that there will obviously be saints in the Tribulation (Revelation 13:7; 20:9). It is also unclear at which stage during the tribulation that the nation of Israel will recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

2)      Mid-Trib: The rapture occurs half way through the tribulation (3 ½ years into the 7 years of great tribulation). At that time, the seventh trumpet sounds (Revelation 11:15), the church will meet Christ in the air, and then the bowl judgments are poured upon the earth (Revelation 15–16) in a time known as the Great Tribulation. In other words, the Rapture and Christ’s Second Coming (to set up His kingdom) are separated by a period of three-and-a-half years.

Strengths: the body of Christ (the church) is present during the first half of the tribulation but taken up before God’s wrath is poured out (as seen in the bowls of wrath judgment in Revelation 15-16); this would match 1 Thess. 5:9 which states that God has not destined us for his wrath. This view also matches the chronology of 2 Thess. 2:1-3 (1) apostasy, 2) the revelation of the Antichrist, and 3) the Day of Christ). In Matthew 24, Jesus mentions the beginning of the great tribulation and his return for the elect after the abomination of desolation foretold in Daniel (the midpoint of the 7 years of tribulation).

Weaknesses: the 7^th trumpet of the judgments in Revelation may not be the same as the last trumpet sounded at Christ’s return. The questions remain about the interaction of “the church” and the nation of Israel during the end times.

3)      Post-Trib: The rapture occurs at the end of the 7 years of tribulation, coinciding with the return of Christ physically on earth. At that time, the church will meet Christ in the air and then return to earth for the commencement of Christ’s Kingdom on earth. In other words, the Rapture and Christ’s Second Coming (to set up His Kingdom) happen almost simultaneously. According to this view, the church goes through the entire seven-year Tribulation.

Strengths: Jesus’ declaration of the rapture of the elect occurs after his description of great tribulation; the book of Revelation mentions only one coming of the Lord and that after the tribulation; there will be saints alive during the tribulation; Rev. 20:5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection).

Weaknesses: the chapters in Revelation that describe the Lord returning to earth clearly describe his return as King to reign on earth; many people will come to faith in Christ during the tribulation including the nation of Israel (specifically 144,000); 1 Thess. 5:9 states that God has not destined us for his wrath, which would seem to contradict the wrath of God poured out during the great tribulation.