Why are there Christians in prison?

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Steve Husting

I am a pen pal to prison inmates. Of the Christian pen pals I have, many of them received Christ while in prison. They ignored God before prison; now they have much time to learn of him. I’ve received letter after letter from convicts who are grateful for being there. They are glad they were caught at the time, otherwise they would have destroyed themselves and their families.

As for those who were Christians when they went in, they said they had fallen away from God, and thus did wrong. Now in prison, they see how wrong they were and are getting back to God. One such pen pal wrote, “I’ve spent far too many years out of God’s will, but when I was incarcerated, I completely surrendered my life to Jesus.”

Some countries fiercely persecute those of the Christian faith and put them in prison. They are there because they would not deny their faith, even though it meant imprisonment or death.

What Do You Think?

a. If you are a Christian, were you nearly persuaded to engage in criminal activity? Why or why not?

b. If you are under a government that is hostile to Christianity, would they find enough evidence to convict you of practicing your faith?

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Is money the root of all evil?

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Steve Husting

The phrase comes from the Bible. First Timothy 6:10 tells us, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Paul in the preceding verses is addressing people who think that godliness is a way to get rich, who desire to be rich through their religion. For these people, the love of money will be the root of all sorts of evil – of ignoring their spouses, of being workaholics and hurting their health in the process, of spurning the care and teaching of their children, of making foolish financial choices and risking their family finances, and so on. These are all different kinds of evils, and the man’s love of money is the root cause of them all.

In other cases, some people will love the admiration of others, or strongly desire a particular job or thing. They can make foolish choices as a result, and for them, their desire for admiration or a job will be the root of all kinds of evil.

I believe that Paul meant the statement for a specific and narrow application, not a universal one. Nevertheless, people are tempted to do what’s wrong in order to get more money. “Follow the money,” we are told. When reporters follow the money trail, they often write juicy stories of bribes and kickbacks among the rich and powerful, politicians and businessmen, who already have more than enough to enjoy life. Money has been the downfall of many in high places down through the centuries, and will continue to be.

What Do You Think?

a. Does all evil have a single root? If so, what is it?

b. If the Bible claims that God will remove all evil from the world, exactly what will he remove to make sure of evil’s elimination?

c. We are told that “everyone has their price.” Would you be tempted to burgle a house or commit other crimes if you were offered a million dollars to do it? If you were about to lose your house and job, would you reconsider? How much would you accept to rob the government at tax time?

d. If a nosy reporter followed the money in your case, would the trail lead to underhanded deals, or aboveboard helpfulness?

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If you were born in India, you wouldn’t be a Christian but a Hindu, right?

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Steve Husting

If I were born in the Middle East, I would probably belong to one of the three major branches of Islam. If I were born in Japan, I might be a Buddhist or Shintoist. If born in Central America, I would probably be a Catholic. If I were born in America, I could belong to any of several religions. I would share in the cultural beliefs and practices of the local people or my own family.

However, it’s important to distinguish the difference between a religious culture’s influence and the work of God drawing people to himself by the Holy Spirit. Most people think that Christians merely subscribe to a particular set of ethics and who practice particular rituals. However, a Christian’s life goes beyond subscribing to various ethics of right and wrong.

The Bible tells us that a Christian is a child of God, not of culture. A person does not become a Christian by his own will power, blood relations, family upbringing, nor by any other agency of mankind (John 1:12-13). Through the gift of faith in Jesus a person becomes a citizen of heaven, and slowly takes up new practices that are often at odds with his former culture.

What Do You Think?

a. If the Creator of the universe himself came into your life, do you think you would continue life like before?

b. If you are a Christian, do you have the same standards in life as your coworkers or fellow students? If so, is that a good thing?

c. If you are a Christian, in what ways have you withdrawn from the culture because of the work of God in your life?

d. Is America a Christian nation? Why or why not?

e. Is someone a Christian simply because of high moral standards and the belief in a higher power?

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How do people grow in their faith?

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Steve Husting

Christians grow in their faith as they would grow in any other endeavor. Jesus tells us, “For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him” (Matthew 13:12).

As an illustration of this verse, I can read a book straight through on how to build a boat. But if I don’t actually build a boat, I will not grow in that area. If I continue to read books one after another without applying what I read, I’ll forget what I’ve read earlier. Remember what Jesus said – to those who have, more will be given. The Lord is always looking for people who will respond to his word in obedience (2 Chronicles 16:9). To such people, God increases responsibilities and opportunities for further growth. To those who merely hear and do nothing, even what they have heard will be forgotten.

Another example: I wanted to grow as a calligrapher, so I spent several hours a day practicing. Sure enough, my beautiful writing improved dramatically and friends began requesting wedding invitations. Also, I wanted to grow in my understanding of the word, so I read it often, studied the context of each passage, and put the teachings into practice. This increased my understanding dramatically – reading much enlarged my grasp of many Scripture topics, and practicing what I read deepened my appreciation for the spiritual laws behind the teachings. “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (2 Peter 2:2).

As with any other area of growth, we grow by following the rules laid down in the scriptures about the trait. For instance, 2 Peter 3:18 tells us to “grow” in grace. How do we grow in grace? Here’s a rule I found: Paul boasted of his weaknesses so that God’s grace may be experienced (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). So if we wish to grow in grace, then we acknowledge our weakness and obey anyway, trusting the Lord to provide. (Normally, our weaknesses are grounds for excuses to keep from responding!) When we find God providing the missing strength, courage, ability, or whatever the weakness is, then we’ll grow in grace as we cast away our excuses, and pursue his will. Following the rules for faith or any other spiritual trait will pay dividends.

Paul was saddened by the lack of growth he found in a church. He wrote of them, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food” (Hebrews 5:12). The Parable of the Sower tells us why many church members remain spiritually immature for years even when they are hearing the faithful word: because they spend more time pursuing their interests in the world than pursuing the things of God (Matthew 13:22).

Paul continues, “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews (5:14). We don’t grow up automatically like when we physically age, but spiritual growth occurs for those ‘by reason of use” – they are putting their faith into practice.

We grow in prayer and praise, understanding God’s word, in love and patience, and in many other Christian virtues the same way we improve in any other endeavor. Just because they are spiritual disciplines does not mean that the rules of growth are different than in the world.

How important is growth? Second Peter 1:8-11 tells us that ongoing growth is proof that we have left our sins behind and are not shortsighted (1:9), we show full proof that we are of those whom God had called (1:10), we protect ourselves from stumbling (1:10), and in the end, God will provide us an exuberant welcome into the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

What Do You Think?

a. If you work hard at something, shouldn’t you expect to grow in it? Why shouldn’t this work with spiritual traits as well?

b. If campuses award special recognition to those who have increased their knowledge and participation in the campus, should not Christ do the same for his disciples who have grown in their abilities and character? See Matthew 25:14-30.

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Shouldn’t the Jews be blamed for killing Christ?

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Steve Husting

The Bible is clear that the early Jewish religious leaders were foremost in condemning Jesus to death at his trial on trumped-up charges, and they brought him before the Roman governors to request the death penalty (because that right had been taken from them when the Romans took over.) Technically, it was the Romans who crucified Christ, not the Jews.

However, from God’s perspective, the crucifixion of the Son of God by the Jews and Romans was representative of mankind’s wholesale rejection of Christ. For example, when Paul the apostle preached in Athens, he said, “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31). If only the Jews were responsible, then why is God calling all the world to repentance? Why will Jesus judge the whole earth if only the Jews were guilty?

Furthermore, God has not cast out the Jews forever. Paul wrote, “I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin” (Romans 11:1). If God had a vendetta against the Jews for killing his Son, then why did he save the apostle Paul and commission him to preach the good news? Why would he save Jesus’ disciple, a Jew named Peter, and commission him as an evangelist to the Jews (Galatians 2:7-8)?

When Jesus comes again, he will come to Israel and save the Jews in their moment of greatest need (Zechariah 12), at the battle of Armageddon. They will look on him who they had pierced, and will sorrow. Jesus will even appoint Jews as rulers over Israel in his future, eternal government (Matthew 19:28).

Paul also wrote, “… that hardening in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob'” (Romans 11:25b-26).

What Do You Think?

a. Is anti-Semitism appropriate, since God has not cast off the Jews, and has called all to repent of their sins?

b. When Peter preached to the Jews in Acts 2, the Jews believed and repented, and 3,000 souls were saved. Does this show that God prefers preaching repentance over violent acts toward the Jews?

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Shouldn’t all clergy preach for free?

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Steve Husting

I went to a church where all the clergy had regular jobs. They thought it was a privilege to preach on their own time in the evenings and on Sundays. However, the Bible does say it’s OK for preachers to receive pay. Paul uses an example from the Old Testament to back this idea: “For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. ” (1Timothy 5:18).

This passage tells us that we rightly feed and care for the animals that work hard for us. We don’t expect them to live off of purely spiritual fare, or tell them that their labor is its own reward.

In the real world companies, people who work every day don’t simply receive a pat on the back for their hard work. They are paid. Clergy should receive the same consideration for their hard work as well.

“The labourer is worthy of his reward” means that the worker should be fairly paid. How often have you heard news anchors and actors speaking to you through television? They are paid for their work. The clergy, who speak to us the way of everlasting life, should also be paid fairly for their work.

What Do You Think?

a. Do you believe strongly that spirituality and money affairs should be kept separate? Why or why not?

b. Do you believe that preaching for money will corrupt the message and messenger? If so, do you believe every person who works for a living is corrupt?

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What is so special about the cross?

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Steve Husting

Christians highly value the cross because it means that our sins were borne by Jesus on the cross. The cross was an instrument of Roman torture to administer the death penalty. The criminal was nailed to a beam with his hands over his head or to a cross-beam with his hands spread out. His feet were nailed below. In this hunched-over position, the victim died of suffocation, complicated by loss of blood and other factors.

It’s very important that we recognize that Jesus was nailed to the cross, because prophecy in Psalm 22 indicates that God’s anointed will die by having his hands and feet pierced and his bones will go out of joint. This happens when a person hangs on a cross. (If Jesus had died in any other way, he would not have been God’s chosen Savior.)

It is shameful for someone to die on a cross, and God chose that form of death on purpose. Jesus took on all the shame of our sins when he was on the cross. Then he died. But the third day he rose from the dead – because only people who sinned must stay dead. Jesus never sinned, so death could not hold him.

In the Old Testament dealings with the Israelites, God had instituted animal sacrifices, and it is here that we see the meaning of the cross. When a Jew knew he had committed sin (broken one of God’s laws), he was to take an animal from his flock and kill it before the priest to make atonement for his sin. Those sacrifices teach us that God accepts a substitute – that another may die in our place. On the cross, Jesus was not dying for any sins he had committed, for he was sinless. He was dying in our place. We have broken God’s laws and need to bear the punishment. Jesus is called the Lamb of God because he was the lamb sacrificed in our place. Now, believing in him, we are forgiven all our sins and come into a right relationship with God. In this way is Jesus’ death different from all the criminals’ that the Romans had crucified.

The empty cross reminds us that Jesus rose again. It is a symbol of God’s love. You want to know how much he loved you? Well, see the hands stretched out on the cross? He loved you that much.

What Do You Think?

a. God foretold hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth that he would die with his hands and feet pierced. Jesus was sentenced to die even though he had done nothing wrong – another prophecy that was foretold. Does this sound like God had figured out a way to deal with our sins in advance? Why or why not?

b. If the Son of God had to become man and suffer agony on the cross to set us free from our sins, then what does that say about our efforts to deal with the sin issue, including being a good person?

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Should we keep the law?

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Steve Husting

Well, we need to answer two questions first: (1) Why should we keep the law? (2) Which laws are we referring to?

1. Why should someone keep the law? One of the reasons people give for keeping the Bible laws is to be good people. Unfortunately, the Bible tells us expressly that if we want to be righteous before God, keeping the law will not work. Moreover, according to James 2:10, if we break just one law, we will have the book thrown at us – God will account us guilty of breaking all of them!

2. Which laws are we talking about? If we are talking about the laws in the Old Testament that were administered by the Levitical priesthood (such as the feasts and sacrifices), then no, we don’t need to keep those laws. God gave those laws to ancient Israel to keep, not to the whole world. We have a new priest in Jesus, and the Bible says nothing about his priesthood administering the OT laws. Hebrews chapters 9-10 are clear about this. He is instead the author and finisher of our faith, not our law-keeping.

If we believe that we are servants of God, and God still speaks to us today, then we necessarily believe that we will receive commandments from God. Those commandments must be kept, not because we are trying to be righteous before God or earn salvation, but because we are his grateful servants and children. The New Testament gives us many commandments that will help us lead lives well-pleasing to God when done in faith.

What Do You Think?

a. The New Testament contains plenty of commandments for believers. Does the Old Testament have any in particular that you wish to keep as well?

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What would happen if Christians actually followed their Bibles?

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Steve Husting

When Christians have followed through on the Bible, they have transformed society for the better. According to What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? 6, by D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe, here is what Christians have accomplished when they put the Bible into practice:

They have put a value on human life, even from inception.

Christians have been in the forefront feeding, clothing, and helping the poor all over the world. Many Christian volunteers have provided much help in the several disasters we’ve experienced lately.

It was Christians, not humanists, who started colleges and other institutions of higher learning. The original purpose of these universities was to educate and equip men and women to live their lives for Jesus, and spread the gospel message.

Some Christian founders of America have stamped their values in our Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Through personal investigation of God’s creation, many prominent early scientists have deduced that God is a lawgiver and a God of order. So they have taken it upon themselves to discover the natural laws that govern God’s creation. Many early scientific breakthroughs came from Christians who were exceptional in their branch of science.

Christianity has had a huge impact on the work ethic.

Christians established the first hotels and hospitals, based on care for strangers and compassion on the disabled and hurting.

When Christians have lived out the principles found in their Bibles, they have made the world a better place to live.

What Do You Think?

a. Is it possible for two Christians to arrive at different conclusions based on following the Bible? Why or why not?

b. Why are Christians found among Democrats and Republicans?

c. How can you tell when Christians are or are not following the Bible?

d. If you believe that religion is the reason for much of the world’s problems, did the listing on the previous page surprise you? If so, where did you get your ideas from, and why should you trust that source?

6. Kennedy, D. James and Newcombe, Jerry, What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? (Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 1994.)

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What do you get out of going to church?

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Steve Husting

I get to hear instruction from the Word of God from a man who explains it clearly and helps me to apply it to my life.

I get an opportunity to hear God direct my life.

I hear a promise that gives me a fresh perspective and lifts my spirits.

I have tasks to do there that can make an eternal impact on the lives of others.

The worship experience is so much richer when the whole congregation praises God.

I can give of my goods to help others in need.

I can share a message that encourages someone else.

I can bring my child in so he can learn from those who teach in a way that children can understand.

I can be convicted by the sermon or another brother, and change direction in life.

I can learn from other imperfect people who struggle with their faith.

I maintain a good conscience from doing what God said to do.

What Do You Think?

a. Do you belong to a non-church-related club that shares your interests? How do you think that group is different than a church? How is it similar?

b. Do you go to church? Are you getting any benefits out of it? Why or why not?

c. Who gets the most benefit out of church, people who participate in the meetings or people who don’t?

d. Do the benefits of church come from attending the meeting place, or from other people who are exercising their role and purpose in the church?

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