The Tree of Knowledge

Here’s an article on the Tree of Knowledge, which is from a great site entitled, The Christian Scribbler. The link for this article is below.

Why the Tree of Knowledge?

I’ve had several conversations with people lately surrounding the idea of the Tree of Knowledge. Why was Adam given the choice, or opportunity to disobey God…or rather, to not have faith in God?

That answer is quite obvious; Adam had to be given some form, or kind, of choice in order to truly have free will. It is plain that God does not want humans as robots, or else He could’ve very easily made Himself a bunch of automatons to populate the earth. So, in order for there to be free will, there absolutely must be a choice available; The Tree of Knowledge was that choice.

Now, I in turn ask the question; Why was the Tree of Knowledge the choice? Why didn’t God just say; “You see that tuft of purple grass…don’t step on it.” Would that not have been a free will choice between obedience and faith or disobedience and a lack of faith? So, why the Tree of Knowledge in particular?

Isn’t it amazing how God works His will in, around and through us! It was through the very object that stumbled Eve and Adam that would ultimately show all of us our way back to God. This is yet another example of God’s sovereign and unchangeable will!

Why the Tree of Knowledge? « The Christian Scribbler.

Theistic Evolution?

Below is a quote from an article, listed below, on Evolution Expose entitled, “Theistic Evolution-No Way-No How.”

I encourage all to read this article, which exposes some of the fallacies associated with this pseudo religious and scientific theory.

The reason why many decide to balance to belief in God along with evolution is that the latter does not explain the actual origin of life. Many Christians have embraced the theory of evolution out of the indoctrination of Darwinism in the public school system while being told that it is an indisputable “fact” and attempt to compromise the two.

Some evolutionists, when they see my objections to accepting evolution, point out Kenneth Miller who is a Catholic Evolutionist and insist that it is okay for me accept them both. — As a Christian I have never been able to harmonize the two and no matter how much I looked at the logic I’ve just never been able to see it as convincing. Indeed, there are overwhelming problems with accepting the two.

Many Theistic Evolutionists insist that the first chapters of Genesis are only a parable. The reason why I do not buy into them is that explanation is that the context does not allow for it to be a parable or an illustration. — When the Bible uses illustrations it is blunt about it — It actually says its a parable. Just look at the parables of Jesus.

We either believe and have faith in what God has given us as His truth, the Word of God, or we don’t truly believe. We can’t have it both ways. Many of us also don’t realize how indoctrinated, by material science, we were as high school and college students.

Theistic Evolution — No Way, No How! « Evolution Exposé.

“Being Defeated, Decisively!”

The Man Watching

by Rainer Maria Rilke

I can tell by the way the trees beat, after

so many dull days, on my worried windowpanes

that a storm is coming,

and I hear the far-off fields say things

I can’t bear without a friend,

I can’t love without a sister

The storm, the shifter of shapes, drives on

across the woods and across time,

and the world looks as if it had no age:

the landscape like a line in the psalm book,

is seriousness and weight and eternity.

What we choose to fight is so tiny!

What fights us is so great!

If only we would let ourselves be dominated

as things do by some immense storm,

we would become strong too, and not need names.

When we win it’s with small things,

and the triumph itself makes us small.

What is extraordinary and eternal

does not want to be bent by us.

I mean the Angel who appeared

to the wrestlers of the Old Testament:

when the wrestler’s sinews

grew long like metal strings,

he felt them under his fingers

like chords of deep music.

Whoever was beaten by this Angel

(who often simply declined the fight)

went away proud and strengthened

and great from that harsh hand,

that kneaded him as if to change his shape.

Winning does not tempt that man.

This is how he grows: by being defeated, decisively,

by constantly greater beings.

This poem was sent to me, by a close friend, when I was going through a very difficult time in life. I, too, saw the “storm” coming, in those days, and it was a sister who would help me throughout that awful storm. One thing I learned among many others, during those dark days, was I can let affliction and suffering rule and destroy me, or I can allow them to “have their perfect way” and instruct and change me. Thank God, I chose the latter and my “shape” was changed. This poem deals with the same subject matter, to some degree, as the meditation by John Donne: sometimes we gain more when we are being tested severely than when we are content and happy, because it makes us more aware of others and less wrapped up in ourselves. My mountain top experiences have been wonderful, but I’ve learned more about myself, God and others while crawling through the darkest of valleys. “Winning” can be a good thing, but it shouldn’t be our only goal in life, and “being defeated,” in the long run, can be a much better mentor and friend!

Politics, Human Ideologies & God

The quote below, from a Pew Forum article, discusses the two diametrically opposed “Christian” doctrines of the Prosperity Gospel and Liberation Theology.

Far more attractive to poor people, who are a majority of its adherents, is the “prosperity gospel,” a version of Christianity asserting that material benefits will come to those who have faith, live a morally upright life and, not so incidentally, give money to the church. Broadly speaking, this is what Max Weber called the Protestant Ethic, but with much less emphasis on self-denial and more on hard work, planning for the future, family loyalty and educating one’s children…

Virtually all outside commentary on the prosperity gospel, both by theologians and by people in the lay media, has been very negative, holding that it is a distortion of Christianity pushed by rogue preachers who enrich themselves by exploiting the poor. There is some validity to these criticisms. It is certainly true that Christianity is not a recipe for acquiring wealth. But in that respect the prosperity gospel — usually seen as being on the Christian right — closely resembles the “liberation theology” of the Christian left, except that the latter’s enrichment program is collective rather than individual. Liberation theology defined Christianity as essentially being a struggle of poor oppressed people against capitalism and imperialism. And while it is obvious that some preachers of the prosperity gospel are simply motivated by self-interest, one must suppose that, given human nature, some left-leaning clergy are too.

In my estimation, neither of these religiously-humanistic and self involved ideologies or theologies express any of the life and truth which Jesus taught and exhibited. Yet, they are a driving force, religiously, for millions of believers around the world. God, is not a magic genie, nor does he hold to any man-made government, economic system or human ideology that claims to represent His truth: “Man’s ways are not God’s ways” and “the thoughts of man are foolishness to God.”

Religion News: Pennies From Heaven.

A Statement of God's Sovereignty

This statement, from an email I received (from an old friend), speaks of God’s sovereign will, and that man cannot, in his politics or any other way, change what God has set in motion. “He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 21: 6)

TOP 10 PREDICTIONS NO MATTER WHO WINS THE ELECTION

1. The Bible will still have all the answers (WHEN WE SEEK).

2. Prayer will still work.

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.

5. There will still be God-anointed teaching and healing (AS GOD WILLS).

6. There will still be singing of praise to God.

7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people (ALL PEOPLE).

8. There will still be room at the Cross.

9. Jesus will still love you (EVERYONE).

10. Jesus will still save (ALL) the lost.

ISN’T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS REALLY IN CONTROL (SOVEREIGN)!!!!

An Old Friend & Memories

It was forty years ago, just last month, that I was standing in line to get a locker at the Ohio State University: School of Music. As I stood there waiting, a tall and lanky person got in line behind me, and, as I turned, I immediately recognized his face. We had gone to the same high school and had been in band together. Doug, had been one year behind me, so, even though we knew each other, we had never really communicated or been friends (I had taken a year off before starting my freshman year at Ohio State). As we waited in line, we began to talk about the old high school and our aspirations in music.

I don’t remember much more about that first day, but I do know that neither of us could have foreseen our long-lived friendship and the winding paths in life that lay ahead.

Doug, from this time forward, would have an impact on my life and in many ways. We would share much time together, in those early, carefree days. We both loved to arrange music, and we would spend hours, on my parent’s patio, writing music, copying parts and smoking pack after pack of cigarettes. Early in the morning, we would set out, in Doug’s old Chevy Corvair, on long drives: gas was thirty cents a gallon, and cigarettes were twenty five cents a pack. We would drive and talk until the wee hours of the morning. One night, which I’ll never forget, we were so involved in conversation that we started driving down a boat ramp. It wasn’t until the headlights hit water that we realized we were about to drown. We backed up and laughed about it almost all the way home.

We started two bands together, both of which failed, miserably. Doug, was responsible for introducing me to the first love of my life. This incident, in particular, could have been the end of our friendship, since I dated her after Doug had stopped seeing her. But after some conversation, we finally worked our way through it. In 1971, Doug would enlist in the navy, and I would move to Washington DC. Except for being at his first wedding, it would be almost five years before we would see each other again.

Many years later, Doug and his wife would stand with me when my life and marriage fell apart. His wife, Sheila, would be with me as my mother died, and she would hold me up as I settled my mother’s estate, over the next few months. Doug’s family became my family, after my parents died. I spent weekends and holidays with them and their family, and this helped me with my loneliness and sorrow. Sheila, was responsible for helping me get work. Just five years ago, I found myself broke and was facing homelessness, after a failed, musical adventure in Nashville. They took me in and fed and clothed me, for over fourteen months.

This is just a partial list of the events in our friendship and lives, over the years. I would be writing for months if I were to list every event and every Godly blessing that has come my way through Doug and Sheila!

I sometimes wonder if I had even an inkling, that Autumn day in 1968, of how important my friendship with Doug would be to me. Doug and Sheila have always been faithful and generous with me, and, although I may not have shown it, I am more grateful for them than these few words can express! I owe them much and love them even more!

A Special Place

Montreux, Switzerland

I would imagine most people have had a place somewhere in the world, beyond their current home, where they would have wanted to live out their lives. A special place in their mind and heart that seemed to be the definition, the perfect picture, of peace, beauty, joy, contentment and life. A place where the rat-race of daily life seemed to fade away or even become non-existent. I found such a place as this, over thirty years ago, and I would, if it were possible, move there tomorrow!

In the Summer of 1978, I was blessed to have experienced the beauty, peace and joy of Montreux, Switzerland. I had spent four, wonderful days there with my college jazz band. We had been invited to perform at the Montreux Jazz festival, as well as the jazz festival in Nice, France.

Montreux sits on the northeast shore of Lake Geneva and is surrounded by the French and Swiss Alps. Lake Geneva is a large glacial lake filled with dark-green water that seems to stretch on forever in both directions. Looking out over the lake, the French Alps rise in the clear blue sky and reflect off of the water.

There were several of us who would arise early every day, eat our continental breakfast, which usually consisted of fruit, pastry and a variety of coffee drinks, and then walk the shoreline. There is a walk way that stretches out for miles and is lined on one side by the lake and gardens on the other. Montreux is an immaculately kept city: every morning the home and store owners would be seen scrubbing their sidewalks and street gutters. I could have literally eaten out of the gutter without becoming ill. We would walk for miles along the shoreline as our senses were filled with the beautiful surroundings, the smell of freshly baked bread and flowers, and the clean alpine air.

The French Swiss were small in stature, but the men were broad at the shoulders, sturdy and strong. Everyone looked so content and healthy. They were a quiet and friendly people who always seemed to be looking out to see if we needed anything. The stores and shops were quaint, for the most part, and the food was out of this world! Our lunch and dinners, which we had to supply, usually consisted of French bread, hard salamis, cheeses, a salad and wine. Our evenings, when not performing, were spent under the influence of the best tasting, as well as most potent, beer that I have ever imbibed. The Europeans, in general, were always surprised to find that we couldn’t handle the potency of their beers and wines. They all found this to be very amusing.

One particular morning after breakfast, I decided to walk on my own. I walked for quite a while, and then I stopped to sit on a bench facing the lake. As I sat there on that beautiful, July morning, and attempted to comprehend what my senses and emotions were taking in, I found myself suddenly overwhelmed by the thought that what I was experiencing could have never come about by chance and mutation. In those few, amazing moments, I came to understand, somewhere deep inside my mind and heart, that God existed and was responsible for the beauty, joy and peace I was experiencing. It was a life changing event that I will never forget.

Oh yes, if I had the ways and the means, I would have a little villa that sits on the shore of Lake Geneva, in that most beautiful and friendly city, and every morning I would walk for miles and then sit on my bench, while sipping coffee, and ponder God and His beautiful creation that surrounds me.

"…Avoid Such Men as These"

Paul, said to Timothy, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come…” Paul, also said, “For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant…holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.” 2 Timothy 3: 1-5

Below, is an article which quotes a prayer given by a minister of God.

“`There are millions of people around this world praying to their god – whether it`s Hindu, Buddha, Allah – that his [McCain`s] opponent wins, for a variety of reasons,` said Arnold Conrad, former pastor of Grave Evangelical Free Church. `And Lord, I pray that you would guard your own reputation because they`re going to think that their god is bigger than you if that happens. So I pray that you will step forward and honor your own name in all that happens between now and Election Day.`”

This invocation before a John McCain appearance in Davenport, Iowa is disturbing on so many levels.

The notion of a god who has a partisan stake in American politics is laughable, but let`s leave that essay for another day.

The idea of a minister asking the Almighty to bless a McCain campaign rally is absurd. No deity worth his or her salt would bless an event where the main speaker, McCain, incites hatred, and the crowd often responds with shouts of “terrorist” and “kill him.” That`s like asking god to bless a dogfight or an orgy.

The preacher is implying that Obama supporters pray to the wrong god (Allah and Buddha), and that real Americans pray to Jesus. His prayer is an insult to every Christian, Muslim, Jew, and atheist who believes in the junior senator from Illinois. Obama admirers want him to win for a “variety of reasons”, proclaims the minister. The implication is that followers of Obama have nefarious reasons for wanting him to win, like hoping he will establish an Islamic state in America?

Politics are not the task of a Christian. (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

Where is the faith in God’s sovereignty in this prayer? What is the purpose of this man’s prayer to God? Is this prayer stated in love and acceptance of all God’s children, or is this prayer simply an arrogant, worldly and faithless, political statement, which has the desires of man, as opposed to God’s, in mind? We can serve only one God, and He is not a political entity!

Mr. Conrad, seems to have his mind set on the issues of man, as opposed to God. He has a form of godliness and yet denies the power and sovereignty of God. What then, according to scripture, should be our response to Mr. Conrad’s prayer?

Minister’s Controversial Prayer at a John McCain Rally.

Persecution: How Should We Respond?

Paul, said to Timothy,

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God… 2 Timothy 3: 1-4

and,

Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them. 2 Timothy 10-14

What should our response be, according to this, as well as other scripture, when we suffer persecution for our faith in God and subsequent actions?

Below is a post from Religion Clause, which deals with religious persecution and two believer’s political response.

The Pacific Justice Institute announced last week that it had filed a federal lawsuit against the College of Alameda, part of the California state system. The lawsuit claims that two students, Kandy Kyriacou and Ojoma Omaga, received disciplinary letters threatening to suspend them for “disruptive or insulting behavior, willful disobedience . . . persistent abuse of college employees.” The suit claims that the disciplinary action stems from an incident last December in which Kyriacou visited an instructor in her office to give her a Christmas present, and found that the instructor was feeling ill. Kyriacou offered to pray for her. The instructor bowed her head, and the student began to pray when another faculty member, Derek Piazza, came in and told her she could not pray there. Kyriacou left and joined her friend, now co-plaintiff, Omaga, followed by Piazza who repeated his warnings to Kyriacou. The lawsuit asks that the disciplinary letters be rescinded.

I understand that we have certain, constitutional rights in this country, but how do these rights mesh with our faith and Paul’s statement to Timothy? These two students acted out of faith and concern for another person, and their only reward was to be insulted and disciplined as trouble makers and disobedient students. This is horribly unfair and angers me, but where does Paul speak of fairness or our rights to resist persecution when it comes our way? Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. This sounds to me like we, who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus, should expect persecution, and therefore, we have no constitutional rights, according to God, to resist it.

What then should be our response, according to Paul, when we are mistreated and discriminated against, because of our beliefs and actions? But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them.

Religion Clause: Suit Claims College Students Disciplined for Praying.

"He who has an ear…"

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. ‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. Revelation 3: 14-19

I have always believed that these seven, church prophecies, in Revelation (chapters 1-3), refer to distinct times in this “Mystery” age, which is still continuing. In particular, the message to the church in Laodicea seems to be a pretty accurate description of the church today.

‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth:’ Christianity has become increasingly divided, throughout the centuries, until today, where we find Christians segregated into hundreds of denominations. These denominations, for all intents and purposes, adhere to separate doctrines and have become more political in nature than spiritual. Jesus, said to the Pharisees, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” If we believe what Jesus said, then how can our religious factions stand? This division has made the “body of Christ,” ekklessia, or “church,” less than affective and “lukewarm.” Perhaps, as the “Angel of the Lord” warned John, the Christ has “spit,” or vomited, the current church out of His mouth, and thus the reason for its ineffectiveness?

‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. Look at the major denominations, in particular, the Roman Catholic church, Methodists and Lutherans etc, they are wealthy beyond imagination and independent, but they seem to create more misunderstanding in the world than God’s blessings. It seems to me that the major denominations, as well as smaller and non-denominations, have lost sight of their “first love” and have become friends to the world “system” and its ways. They seem unable to repent and seek the “clothing” and “eye salve” that God is offering them, and they have forgotten that God “reproves and disciplines those whom He loves.” This description, in Revelation 3, is what I sense about the current state of Christianity!

Do I see any hope? Yes, and here it is:

‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” Revelation 3: 20-22

Note that the angel told John, “If anyone hears My voice…” and not, “If any denomination or church hears My voice…” (Not that I am against fellowship, but the organization of Christianity seems, in my estimation, to be flawed in many ways.) This verse is our hope, and God is calling us, individually and first of all, back to Him, so He can heal and make us whole in Christ. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”