What Is A Real Man?

 

On social media I often see posts that start off with,

“A real man….”

This is often followed by, “puts his woman first,” “knows how to treat his lady,” “would die for his woman,” etc. I cannot say for certain that only women have posted these, but I can say that 100% of these posts I have seen are posted by women. While I do not argue against these statements, I do take issue with them in general for two reasons.

First, they appear, at least to me, to be used in a negative way. Often, I see them posted right after I have seen numerous posts bashing the last guy they were in a relationship with. This leads me to believe this is meant to be a jab at their ex, attacking his manliness or manhood.      I am quite confident that if the shoe were on the other foot and a man stated, “A real woman…,” it would be met with attacks from both women and men. Men are naturally inclined to defend women, a noble characteristic I have yet to see posted.   

Secondly, while many single mothers, my mom included, have tried to raise their sons to be good men, it is impossible for a mother to know how to teach her son to be a man, mainly because she is not a man. Can a lion teach a zebra how to be a lion? This is not meant to take away credit for trying but it is outside the realm of their knowledge.

Some mothers think they can simply find another man, not the biological father, to fill these shoes. Dr. Charles Stanley tells how his mother tried this approach with near disastrous results. You see, God gave children a mother and a father for good reason. Fathers are every bit as important as mothers and this is biblical.

Children raised in homes in any other setting than having the biological father present, with the exception of the father’s death, suffer tremendously. Promiscuity, drug and alcohol abuse, dropping out of school, incarceration, self-harm, and suicide rates go through the roof when the father is absent.

The next problem seems to be to lay the blame on the father for not being present. While this is certainly true in some cases, it is not true in all cases. In cases of divorce or separation, it is natural for both parents to want their kids but the evidence I have seen seems to point to two very different ideas. Fathers typically feel the kids would be better off living with their mother while moms tend to feel threatened and attempt to strip the father of all rights. I base these conclusions from first hand knowledge and statistical data. I make no claim that this is always the case but it does seem to be the prevalent thought.

Data also shows that most judges, especially in the past, have typically placed children, especially younger children, with the mother. While some order visitation, most never enforce it when the father is denied his rights. Again, look at the data.

Another complaint I have heard, a lot more lately, is that we have grown boys rather than men so finding a man is near impossible. Again, look at the data. Since the 1970’s, the number of children raised in a single parent home have continued to climb. Most of these kids have been raised by a single mom. The reason we have so many grown boys rather than men is the result of mothers raising their sons without the father present.

Young ladies, rather than attacking young men for not acting like men, perhaps you should blame bad mothering. Not only this, learn from their mistakes and do not repeat them.

I am not saying all single moms are guilty but if the shoe fits, wear it.

Maybe it’s time we, as a society, stopped attacking manhood and started recognizing the unique qualities God has given to men and women, fathers and mothers. Your desire to manipulate your ex using the kids needs to stop. What we are seeing is destroying our children. If you love your kids:

 

1.      Put God first

2.      Save yourself for your spouse (more likely to stay together)

3.      Do whatever you can to make your marriage work

4.      If separation is inevitable, co-parent equally as much as possible

5.      Encourage your kid’s relationship with the other parent

6.      Work to create the best environment for nurturing your kids  

7.      Stop using social media to bash your spouse, whether you are still together or not

 

This certainly does not apply to all single parents, neither does it only apply to mothers, but the reality is, manhood is under attack and many would see masculinity outlawed. I’m sure everyone has heard the term “toxic masculinity.” If not, check out your local public university.

If you really want to know what a real man should be, look to the Bible. While you’re at it, you might also look at what God says a real woman should be.

 

“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone”   - John 8:7

 

For more on this subject, check out:

   https://ken-kenscorner.blogspot.com/2015/07/redefining-family.html

 

"Grief"

 

“Laughter can conceal a heavy heart; when the laughter ends, the grief remains.”

                                                                                          -Prov. 14:13 (NLT)

 

No doubt, many are familiar with the names Robin Williams and Chris Farley, two brilliant and hilarious comedians who entertained countless fans. Besides comedy, they also shared depression and deep pain which eventually led to their deaths. Williams committed suicide and Farley overdosed on drugs.

There are many today who suffer from depression and inner pain who do a great job of masking it. Some isolate themselves, perhaps seeming to be unsociable or even angry, while others may seem like the happiest people on the planet.

In an age of “mass communication,” it seems we are more lonely, more depressed, and more confused than ever before. I think this may be the result of the death of relationships. While grief and depression go back, long before the age of technology, many reports show an increased number of people experiencing depression and other psychological disorders. While it may seem a bit uncomfortable dealing with people we don’t understand, isn’t it the right thing to do?

Many of us no longer have the family structure we once had around us for support. Parents and others have died or moved away, around half of marriages end in divorce and parents fight over visitation with the kids, the list goes on. Some, mainly the twenty-somethings, find family structure with their friends and colleagues but fail to realize, it isn’t the same. While you may be able to share some things with friends that you would feel uncomfortable sharing with family, who loves you unconditionally?

I often think of those who live in nursing homes or alone. Some have no family, while others have family who are too busy to visit. You might think being surrounded by others around the same age and with the same conditions, they would find community but that doesn’t seem to be the case for many. Some are still able to get around but many are bedridden.

If we gain nothing else from this Covid 19 pandemic, we should at least learn what isolation and loneliness feels like. When it is over, rather than thinking, “I’m glad that’s over,” perhaps we can ask ourselves, “what can I do now to reach others who are lonely?”

As Christians, are we not instructed to be family and good neighbors?

The Scriptures warn of not taking care of each other and Jesus talked about taking care of the widow and the orphan (Job 22:9; Isa. 10:2; Jer. 49:11; Mal. 3:5; Mat. 24:13; Acts 6:1), visiting the sick, those in jail, feeding and clothing the poor (Mat. 25:41-46). This last passage in Matthew ends with a dire warning so we should pay attention. 

Those of us who call ourselves Christians should be very careful in the way we deal with each other or neglect one another.

Starting today, why not make it our goal to reach out to at least one person this week who might not have family or just get to know one person we might not otherwise talk to. Next week, we can reach out to two. The next week three, and so on. Getting to know the janitor where you work, that homeless guy on the way home, that man at church who others avoid, or an aged relative you’ve neglected to call.

I think of Ebenezer Scrooge’s nephew who, despite his nastiness, never failed to invite him to Christmas dinner.

Instead of saying, “He’ll never change,” why not say, “how can I be a good neighbor to this hurting soul?” or, “how can I show her Jesus?”

When a person like Robin Williams or Chris Farley are gone, it’s too late and you will never have another opportunity to reach them with the love of Christ. When you stand before the Lord to give an account, what will you say? 

 

 

 

If you change the font for Grief (Bookshelf Symbol 7), you will see it is “Grief.” Many of us are around people everyday who are struggling with grief and depression but we never see it. Even if a person seems happy and the life of the party, they may be struggling in a way we can’t understand.

 

 

To see more comedians who suffered from depression and took their own lives, see:

 https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-comedians-who-committed-suicide/celebrity-lists

To read more about Chris Farley, see:             

https://www.biography.com/actor/chris-farley

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God’s Law or My Law?

 

Some criticize God for asking for or demanding our worship and then complain that He would send anyone to hell. He is our Creator so there is nothing wrong or unfair with this. If we cannot praise Him in thankfulness, why would we want to go to be with Him in His heavenly home? The truth is, some of us want to be our own god, living for and worshipping ourselves but not facing judgment. We deny God and want to deny accountability to Him. The truth is, God created everything, including us, and has every right to set the rules. We broke His rules but then He, being perfectly just, sacrificed Himself to bridge the gap that we created. Since He is perfect, His laws are perfect. Perfect law demands accountability and punishment. He paid the price so we would not have to. We make the choice to accept His gift of atonement or pay the sin debt ourselves. There is nothing on God’s part that is unjust or unloving with this. What is unjust and unloving is to deny a holy Creator our thanks for creating us and providing for us and making a way back to Him. If we go to hell, it is because we choose it!   

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Who Gets What?

 

When we praise God and worship Him, we are merely acknowledging truth. We do not benefit Him or add anything to Him. He is who and what He is, regardless of us or our acknowledgement. When we come to Him, it is us, fallen humanity, that gains everything.

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DAWN

Several years ago, I was going to a homeless encampment to visit with the people there. I developed a friendship with a man named Dean and I really enjoyed talking with him. It was interesting, and heartbreaking, to hear some of the stories these people shared. I tried to understand how someone could end up living on the streets this way; after all, many of these folks had been much like myself in many ways. With some, alcohol and/or drugs had led them here. For others, the loss of a job or divorce and depression.

One evening I was talking with a small group when a young lady approached. I could not help but notice how pretty she was, despite being dirty and a bit disheveled. Dean introduced her as Dawn and then said, “she’s a crack whore.” She was standing right there but did not say anything. I was shocked. I thought he might have been joking but he told me that indeed, she was a crack whore. She seemed to okay with what he said but I could not understand how. I told him he should not say that, but he insisted that she was, and she knew it.  

The two of them talked for a few minutes and then he asked if I would give her a ride home. I wish my next thoughts were different, I am ashamed to admit this, but my first thought was, what if someone sees me? How would this appear? Regrettably, my thoughts were of myself. While I felt great compassion for Dawn, I was swept with feelings about how this might look.

We had barely started on our way when she asked me if I could buy her a hamburger. We went through a drive-through and she asked if I minded if she got a small fry. I felt this overwhelming compassion for this young lady so I told her she could get whatever she wanted. We got her a super-sized meal and continued. She offered me some of her food but I declined. I thought it might have been awhile since she ate and I wondered when she might eat again. She kept thanking me but I felt like I was getting the bigger blessing.

As we drove on, we talked. In response to one of her questions, I replied that I was a Christian. What she said next broke my heart. She said, “I like Jesus, He hung around with people like me.”

Talk about conviction. I had to fight back tears. This beautiful broken young girl saw in Jesus what most of us in the church fail to see: a Jesus that loves and seeks out people like her.

When I dropped her off on a dark and deserted looking street, I feared for her safety, but she insisted she would be fine. She thanked me again and said, “God bless you.” I left her there a changed man.

Every time I am in that area, I think about her. Is she still around? Is she still alive or did the streets claim another victim? I pray for her still to this day. I had reluctantly agreed to take her home, but I am so thankful I did. 

  

Dawn, wherever you are, Thank You!

In the book of Luke, Jesus told a parable about two men that went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, a church leader, and the other a tax collector. Tax collectors were despised by the Jews because they collected taxes for the Roman government which the Jews felt they should not have to pay. Many collected above and beyond what was owed to line their own pockets. The Pharisee prayed, “God, I thank You that I am not like other men-extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.” The tax collector on the other hand would not even look up but beat his chest and prayed thus, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” Jesus then said, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:9-14). 

  

James, the brother of Jesus, in his letter talks about the danger of treating some people better than others, based on their wealth or position, while treating the poor with disdain. He then talks about faith without works. He explains that our works do not gain our salvation but our works are a demonstration of our faith (salvation). In other words, doing good works does not save us but if we are saved, we will do good works because we are saved. James then gives two examples: Abraham, known and revered by the Jews as a righteous man, and then Rahab, a prostitute. She assisted the Jews in the conquest of Jericho. While she would have been looked down on because of her profession, she was spared when the city fell and later we read that she was in the ancestral linage of Jesus (James 2:1-26; Joshua 2:1-22, 6:1-25; Mat. 1:5).  

Lastly, the writer of the book of Hebrews states, “Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels” (Heb. 13:1-2, NKJV).

I have often wondered if Dawn was an angel…

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Filthy Rags

Have you ever looked at a white towel or undershirt and thought about how white and pure is was? But then you saw it next to something whiter and more vibrant and then it looked dingy and dirty.

Our hearts are like that. When we compare ourselves to some of our friends or family, we think about how much more righteous we are than they. We do not use the course language they do or have quick tempers. Maybe we do not smoke or consume alcohol or exceed the speed limit; in a nutshell, we are good. On the flip side, when we see others who are living a more Godly life, perhaps a parent, pastor or neighbor, we don’t feel so pure or righteous.

So where exactly do we fit on the righteous scale?

I have good news and bad news. First, the bad news. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6, NLT). The Apostle Paul said, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23, NKJV). When we compare ourselves to others, we may look pretty good but when we compare ourselves to Christ Jesus, God’s standard of righteousness, we are disgusting and filthy. We can do nothing on our own to earn God’s favor or meet His standard.

The good news is this, when we receive Jesus, His righteousness is imputed to us. Paul said, “I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith” (Phi. 3:9, NLT). In the gospel that bares his name, John pinned, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16, NKJV).

Jesus left His glory in heaven and came in human flesh, lived a sinless life and then died on the cross, meeting God’s righteous standard of judgement for sin, and became an acceptable sacrifice for our sin. Then He arose from the grave and is seated on the right hand of the Father where He makes intercession for us (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25; Eph. 1:15-22). As Paul stated, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Rom. 5:8, NLT). 

   

Friend, do you feel good enough to earn a place in heaven? You aren’t. Do you feel filthy and unworthy to come before the Lord? That is how we all must come before Him. He does not expect anyone to get clean before we come before Him because we can’t. We come as we are and He cleanses us. What a loving and merciful God!

If you don’t know Him or you have strayed away from Him, come to Him today. Confess your sins and He will take you as you are and transform your life. This is the most important decision you will ever make and one you will never regret, I promise.

“Tend My Sheep…”

In the book of John, we read where Jesus, after His resurrection, gathered with His disciples. After breakfast, Jesus begin a dialogue with Peter, perhaps the most difficult conversation Peter ever had with the Lord.

“So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep…”

                                                                                      John 21:15-17  (NKJV)

I want to look at this passage and answer two questions: 1. Why did Jesus ask Him, “Do you love Me?” three times, and 2. What was Jesus trying to get through to Peter?

If we go back just a bit, we read that Jesus had foretold that Peter would deny Him three times. At this, Peter vehemently denied it.

Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Gallilee.” Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter said to Him, “Even if I die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.

                                                                                      Matthew 26:31-35 (NKJV)                     

How soon we forget…

Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood there with them and warmed himself.                                                                                                      Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not!” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.   

                                                                                      John 18:17-18, 25, 26 (NKJV)

John was nice. Matthew gives this account but includes, “So he,” being Peter, “went out and wept bitterly” (Mat. 26:75b, NKJV).

Looking back to Jesus’ questioning Peter, perhaps Jesus was reminding Peter of his betrayal and for each denial, Jesus asked him if he loved Him to offset his denials. I personally think this was the case. I also believe this was to solidify in Peter’s mind what he was called to do, regardless of the cost.      If given a second chance, would Peter be willing to die for Jesus?

So what was Jesus saying when He responded to Peter, “Feed my lambs,” “Tend my sheep,” and “Feed my sheep?”

I think Jesus was reminding Peter what he had done but affirming that the past was behind him and his calling was before him. Peter was to boldly proclaim what he had seen and heard, and share that with others, any who would listen. That is just what he did and, in the end, it did cost him his life. While not recorded in Scripture, it is reported that Peter, who was to be crucified, asked that they crucify him upside down because he was not worthy to die like his Savior.

Friend, have you got a past that is weighing you down? Are you afraid Jesus can’t forgive you? Do you question whether He still loves you? Fear not! Jesus died on the cross for you, knowing your past but seeing your future. A future He has chosen for you. Warts and all, come to the Savior today and just like Peter, Go and tell others what great things God has done for you.

The Condition of Man

The Condition of Man

“What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?”

                                                                                                            Psalms 8:4 (NKJV)

If you look up the word man in the dictionary, you might find a long list of definitions and/or uses of the word. According to mirriam-webster.com, who also has various definitions, two uses for the word are:

“an individual human” and “the human race: Humankind”  

For the sake of this writing, I will be using the word, almost exclusively, in the latter sense, humankind. If you search humankind or man on a search engine, you will find some interesting thoughts and writings; I almost got led down a rabbit hole. I guess there are as many opinions on this subject as there are people who have ever lived, all varying to one degree or another, but I digress.

When discussing humankind, one can look at the subject through the perspectives of religion, philosophy, anthropology, psychology, history or others. I will be looking at this from a Judeo-Christian worldview, primarily in the sense of man or humankind as he/she relates to God. Let me begin by posing the following questions:  

  

     Is man good?

     Is man evil?

     Is he both?

     Is he neither?

Depending on who you ask, regardless of religious/non-religious views, you will get an opinion, even if that opinion is “I don’t know” or “can anyone really say?”  I suppose, for many, their opinion would be based on history or personal experience. If you asked a Jewish survivor of a concentration camp during World War II, they might say man is evil. To a child growing up in an abusive home, they might likely feel the same. But to a child growing up in a loving home, they would most likely think man is good. A soldier who has experienced combat might say some are good, some are evil, and some are both. A Buddhist would probably say both good and evil (the concept of yin and yang).

In a police a lineup they bring a group of people, who fit the description of the perpetrator, into a room and line them up against a wall and then have witnesses pick which one they saw commit the crime. Imagine now a lineup where the first person is a Catholic priest, the second a protestant minister, the third a school teacher, the forth a scientist, the fifth a postal worker, the sixth a homeless person,  the seventh a man in a Nazi uniform, and the eighth a politician. You have to pick which ones are good and which are bad. Most likely, your personal bias will dictate which ones you think are bad or good.

Now imagine a lineup of a murderer, a rapist, a thief, a sex trafficker, a bank robber, a counterfeiter, a kidnapper, and a guy caught speeding. 

Which are good? 

Which are bad? 

Which are worse?

The fact is, all are guilty or bad because they have broken the law.

  

What is the Christian perspective?

Now imagine God sitting on His judgement seat. People are led in to determine whether they are guilty or innocent. Who should God allow into heaven and who should He cast into hell?

I will leave you to ponder this and form your opinion later…  

Even between those who profess to be Christians there is some disagreement on who is good and who is not. I think it best to look at what Scripture has to say. 

Isaiah, in the book that bears his name, writes, “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isa. 64:6).

The Bible commonly refers to sin. Sin is any act that violates God or His law.

The Apostle Paul, writing in the book of Romans, states, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).

Further in the book of Romans, Paul describes a warring of two natures, the Spirit of God that indwells him and his sinful nature. He discusses how with his mind he knows what is right and seeks to do it but his sinful nature, what he calls his flesh, has a strong hold of him and causes him to sin (Rom. 7:13-25) and then states, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (v. 24-a) He follows that with, “I thank God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (v. 25). Lastly, he concludes with, “So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin” (25-b).

Here we have a man who exhibited true faith and lived a holy (set apart) life, arguably better than most, admitting that the best he can do is live a life of conflict.  Paul is saying that man is evil by nature but good in as much as he strives to live a holy life. We must understand that the only good that we are or have is the presence of the Holy Spirit that lives within us. I strongly encourage everyone to read Romans, chapters 3 and 7, as Paul lays out his argument in regard to man’s struggle and that only through faith in Jesus Christ can man be reconciled to God.

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed to the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified[i] freely by His grace through redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God sent forth as a propitiation[ii] by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:21-26

    

Back to the question, who should God allow into heaven and who should He cast into hell?

In sum, the condition of man is he is not good, he is evil. But when he submits to Jesus Christ, he is made good or righteous because of Jesus’ goodness and righteousness. Will you trust Him today?

   

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

Psalms 8:3-5

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Bible passages taken from the New King James Version.

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[i] Justified; to be found innocent or not guilty of breaking the law.

[ii] Propitiation: God’s wrath has been turned away from guilty man and the penalty for our sin paid by Christ Jesus on the cross.

What Is Your Worth?

Lately I have been reading numerous posts on Facebook describing how during this Covid-19 scare, it is those who lack college that are the most valuable members of society. The farmer, grocery store worker, truck driver, sanitation worker, etc. are allowed to work during this crisis because they are considered “key essential” personnel and thus, the ones who are of real value to a society.

This is true, they are of great value, and I would say that they have been overlooked for quite some time but for those who say this, have they not considered that doctors and nurses, both of which require a college degree, are extremely important during this crisis? They are being exposed to infected, sick people daily.

What about biologists, chemists, and others who are working to find a cure? What about the professors who taught them how to do this? There are government officials who are trying to maintain order and making policy for the good of all, are they of no real value? There are certainly many others of great value and I don’t mean to ignore any, but I think my point is made; there are those, both with a college degree and without, who make a difference in our daily lives, especially during a health crisis such as we are dealing with today.

What gives a person worth?

Does what we do, how we benefit others, determine our worth or is it something else? Does the amount of money we make increase our value? Does simply having a college degree give us greater worth? Perhaps we could change the wording to more accurately express what we mean or should mean. I thought the term “key essential,” in this case, was accurate but after reading other people’s opinions on this, I’m not so sure.

What gives a person worth?

From a biblical perspective, what gives you and me worth is God. Go to Genesis, the first book of the Bible, the first chapter, and we find God saying, “Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…” (Gen. 1:26, NKJV). The next verse states, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Gen. 1:27, NKJV).

If you read carefully, you will discover that out of all creation, only man was created Imago Dei, in the image of God. This does not mean that we bare His physical appearance. It means that we are self-aware, we know good from evil, we have the ability to use reason and logic, etc. I would also argue that we have an innate sense that God exists; I believe He planted this in us to guide us to seek Him. This would explain why man has always had gods. We know there is something out there that is responsible for this world, for rain, the sun, harvest, life, death, and so on.

Great thinkers throughout time have sought to answer the questions of origin, meaning, morality, and destiny. I have written about this before (see blog posts from March 23, 2015; Jan 4, 2015) so I will not elaborate much here but to say, from my studies, only the God of the Bible gives us clear answers to these questions:

Origen – As we saw earlier from Genesis, chapter one, we were created by God and for God.

Meaning or purpose – Our purpose is to worship God and live in communion with Him.

Morality – God gave us instructions in the Bible. To live morally glorifies God and blesses man.

Destiny – Heaven or hell. God gives us the choice but on His terms.     

What gives a person worth?

Wealth? 

While having an abundance of money can be nice, it can also cause many problems. It can change us for better or worse. It can bring bad people into our lives because they seek to gain from our wealth; some can be family members and relationships can be destroyed. Some may think too highly of themselves and try to lord over others, including family. The Bible warns about greed, haughtiness, and wrong thinking (1 Tim. 6:10). It has quite a lot to say about wealth and wise is he who seeks knowledge in the matter. There is nothing wrong with wealth if it is used for good but it does not give us worth, at least not true worth.

Status/Power? 

God is a God of order and he gives some authority to rule over others to maintain order. The Scriptures tell us that God sets rulers and deposes rulers (Dan. 2:21) and, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgement on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil… (Romans 13:1-3, NKJV). What it does not say is that those in authority are any better, they are simply placed in a position to carry out God’s plan for their life but He can end that at any time.

Education? 

The Bible, especially in the writings of King Solomon, speaks to the issue of knowledge and education. Solomon, considered by many to be the wisest man to ever live, said, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Prov. 1:7, NKJV). I think there is a misconception today about education. On the one hand, some argue that formal education, college/university, makes you superior. Perhaps this is most prevalent in the military and corporate world. 

Most CEO’s are college graduates but not all. Take Bill Gates (Microsoft), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), and Richard Branson (Virgin records, airlines, etc.) for example. Gates and Zuckerberg dropped out of college and Branson never graduated from high school. Would anyone argue their intelligence? At the same time, to my knowledge, none of these practice any religious faith. While they may be intelligent, by human standards, they are not by God's standard.  

In the military, officers are college graduates but there are also thousands of enlisted personnel who have degrees. I feel it is safe to say, formal education does not make you superior, but I do believe it can be helpful, sometimes necessary. Would you allow a person to operate on you who never went to medical school?  

   

What gives a person worth?

One thing we all share in common, rich or poor, educated or not, ruler or slave, we will all surely die and stand before the Lord one day. Will He judge us based on any of these criteria? No! He will judge us based on whether we received His gift of eternal life, bought and paid for through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. Our salvation is based on nothing more nor less, but our rewards will be based on what we did with what we were given.

Remember the parable of the man who left his three servants’ money to invest while he was gone? One received five talents, another two, and the third got one talent. When he returned, the one who had been given five had doubled his master’s money; the man with two had done the same. The one who had been given one talent, probably because he was never a good worker anyway, had buried his in the ground and did nothing. Even if he had put it in the bank, the talent would have drawn interest, but he was so lazy that he would not even do that, he simply did not care (Mat. 25:14-30).

What has God given you? Did you go to college? Graduate high school? Get your GED? Do you work in a bank, a gas station, hardware store? Are you an accountant, a fireman, a doctor, or a lawyer? Do you repair appliances, do home repair, or work in sanitation?

I would say that whatever you do, whatever your education, do it as unto the Lord and not men (Col. 3:23). Seek His approval and pleasure and do not judge others as better or lesser than yourself. Is God not the ruler and judge over all?

Friend, if you are struggling with a sense of superiority or inferiority, give it to God and ask Him to show you how to please Him and be content wherever you are in life. Some of the happiest people I have known had almost nothing but they had peace, contentment, and joy in the Lord. I desire this more than anything this world has to offer. 

May God bless you as you seek Him~     

Are Christian Young People Dumber Than Their Secular Peers?

I don’t think so. If they are, I suspect it is not that they lack intelligence, rather they are left without answers, even meaningful dialogue, from their parents and the adults in their lives, including pastors and youth leaders. I personally don’t believe they are dumb or ignorant, perhaps just uninformed, or ignored.

A problem I see is too many adults in their lives seem to discourage the asking of questions. I call this laziness and/or apathy. It’s the “I don’t have time for this, just believe because I said so,” or, “ask the pastor” approach. Imagine, parents discouraging questions, you know, the ones who ask, “when will you be home?” “Who were you with?” “Will his/her parents be home?” and so forth.

I must inject, if a question is important enough to ask, doesn’t it mean the subject matter is important to the questioner? If the questioner is important to you, shouldn’t the subject matter likewise be important to you?

So why, when your child has a question about God, the church, politics, etc., do you not gladly say, “Great question! Have a seat and let’s talk about it.” Do you see where I’m going with this? If it’s important to them, it should be important to you. If it’s important to you, you will want to talk about it.

Another argument that I hear frequently that drives me crazy is, “my/our young people don’t understand …” Listen people, they understand a lot more than we realize. They are asking questions, at least most of them. I think the problem is more, who do they feel comfortable talking too. As a parent, who do you want teaching your child? As a Christian parent, this is an even more meaningful question. I promise you, if you are not willing to engage with your child and encourage discussion, the secular world is waiting to zap any belief in God out of them!

If you asked your boss a question about your job and they blew you off by saying, “Just do it because I told you too,” how would you feel? Chances are, you’ve experienced this, I have. What do we do? A good employee will do it, as long as it’s not illegal, unethical, or against company policy but they will most likely not be passionate about their work. I had a boss tell me once, “Just do it and if you still have a question, ask me later.” I understand that sometimes there simply isn’t time to address questions but it made me feel irrelevant. He had time, he just didn’t want to address my question.

So if parents and those in the church aren’t addressing the questions of our youth, who is?

Well, there’s good news and bad news…                                                                            The bad news is: teachers, professors, friends, various news agencies, and people on the internet that do not share your views. Even if your young person isn’t really asking a lot of questions, they are being influenced by those who are willing to take the time to push their agenda and influence them. Just like with adults, time equals caring.

The good news: there are parents and those who work in the church willing to have meaningful conversations but I see less of them every year. Millions of young people, whether brought up in a religious home or those who come from secular homes, are looking for answers. Many groups have been popping up over the last few years and do a remarkable job of giving facts to some of the hardest questions young people are asking. Ravi Zacharias, of RZIM, speaks at colleges around the world. Both Christians and non-Christians alike flock to hear him speak and ask their questions. There are many apologists, like Zacharias, that speak at colleges and youth groups around the world.

Dennis Prager, while not a Christian apologist, also speaks at colleges and any other platform available to address political concerns. Millions of young people watch his youtube videos and attend his speaking engagements. Candace Owens and Charlie Kirk also speak and answer questions concerning politics from a conservative point of view. There are many more, too many to list here.      

The following is from an email I received from PragerU and starts with a quote from the New York Times:

    

As you know, the left has seized the media, Hollywood, and public education, but PragerU is reaching teens and college students right where they are — online.
“Last year PragerU videos racked up more than one billion views. The Prager empire now has a fleet of 6,500 high school and college student promoters, known as the PragerForce, who host on-campus meetings and gather at least once a year for conventions. And this year, the company is expanding its scope.” - New York Times                                                                                             Even the largest media outlets cannot ignore the impact of PragerU!

PragerU is effectively reaching millions of young people every day. Our videos are an antidote to the left-wing narrative that has been dominating the culture. Teens and college students across the country are embracing American values and sharing these ideas with their peers. Our subscribers and our supporter base are growing exponentially.

Do you still believe young people aren’t talking and asking questions? I’m not exactly a teen, in fact, my kids are no longer teens either, but I love watching PragerU videos. They are about five minutes long and host a wide variety of speakers on topics relevant to today.

While these organizations are doing a wonderful job, there are those who wish to silence them. The ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, and others are relentless, and I fear one day they will succeed in crushing free speech once and for all.

I cannot express strongly enough how important this is. Parents, grand-parents, aunts, uncles, pastors, youth pastors, whoever is reading this, please, I beg you, get informed and stay informed. This generation and those that follow will be voting, running for office, and making decisions that impact the road we are to travel. Do you really want to leave it up to the left to shape our future?

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