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Mar 13

Hell and Who Goes There

Categories:

Doctrine, Salvation, Sin

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I was reading an article the other day regarding hell.  The author of the article holds to the theology that God predestines (Romans 8:30) or chose  for adoption (Ephesians 1:4-5).  Clearly, this is what the Scriptures teach.  The article was discussing who is going to hell. The author correctly pointed out what Scripture has to say regarding those who die and have not placed their faith in Christ for salvation from their sins.  He goes on to state that “many grit their teeth at the reality of hell” and “they will not believe that” (i.e. believe in hell).  I understand that there are some truths that are not only difficult to acknowledge or understand but that many will do what they can to make scripture say what they are comfortable with.  I have struggled myself.  I struggled and agonized over the clear teaching of predestination.  I fought it within myself and with anyone who discussed it with me.  While I could not deny the words I read in the Bible, I tried to make them say something else.  The gymnastics I used to make this doctrine say what I wanted it to say was remarkable. In the end, I accepted what was clearly taught in Scripture.

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Feb 26

Christian Terminology

Categories:

Apologetics, Salvation, Sin

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I was reading an article where an Indiana pastor did not like the word “saved” or “born again” to describe Christians.  He felt it was an “insider” term that can be uninviting or confusing to non-Christians or even can ostracize those that may be searching.  He states that he likes to “substitute the word ‘saved’ and describe committed Christians with phrases like ‘Christ follower,’ ‘following Jesus,’ and ‘someone that started on the journey of following Jesus.’”  Should we use terms that are more comfortable for non-Christians? 

My first thought as I was reading through this article was that the whole point of Jesus coming to earth, living amongst sinners and giving His life on the cross was to SAVE the lost.  The word “saved” denotes that we are being saved from something.  It is critical that a person understand that they are a sinner by nature and that they need to be saved from the penalty of sin.  That is the very crux of Christ’s message.  The four Gospels focus on being saved, not “following Jesus” “started on the journey of following Jesus, or “Christ follower.”  If we do not use the correct terminology to describe our condition and our need to be rescued from that condition, separation from God will be the eternity of those that are not saved.  It’s really as simple as that.

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Nov 28

Healing Ministries

Categories:

Bible Study, Christian Issues, Christian Walk, Doctrine

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A couple of years ago, I read a question that someone asked a Christian site.  She asked “Why don’t y’all believe in healing ministries?”  For some reason, this question stuck with.  I would like to answer that question here on this blog.

The scripture that most healing ministries refer to as their authority for their ministry is James 5:14-15.  This scripture states:

  • (14) Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.  (15)  And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

When I first decided to look at healing ministries, I went to online healing ministries sites to get an understanding of what they believe.  I looked at James 5:14-15 carefully.  Initially, it appears pretty straightforward.  It does say that if anyone is sick (verse 14), let the elders pray over him and that the prayer of the faith (verse 15) will save the one who is sick.  The scripture is abundantly clear.  I can’t make it say something else just because I want it to.  I looked a little closer by looking at the Greek.  The next couple of paragraphs are a bit technical but please bear with me for it will become clear why I am discussing the two Greek words that we translate into English as “sick.”

The word “sick” in verse 14 is the Greek word asthenéō.1  This Greek word means “specifically, to be infirm in the body, i.e., to be sick, to suffer from disease or the consequences thereof.  However, in verse 15, a different Greek word is used, kámnō, which is translated as “sick” as well.  However, it has a different meaning.  This Greek work means “When used in connection with asthenéō, to be sick, it suggests the common accompaniment of sickness, weariness of mind which may hinder physical recovery.”2 Read the rest of this entry »

  1. The Complete Word Study Dictionary ↩
  2. The Complete Word Study Dictionary ↩

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