This Sunday I was blessed to hear John MacArthur briefly speak of what our perspective on the conflict in Israel should be. It seems that many evangelicals have an extremely unbiblical perspective on this conflict therefore; I would like to share what I learned this Sunday.

Israel has the Sovereign Right to Defend Itself

First, we must recognize that God has established the nations and they have no authority except what has been granted them by God (Romans 13). God has granted Israel the right to defend itself against hostile aggressors and Israel is just in doing so.

Israel is Currently a Nation Under God’s Judgment

Second, we must recognize that Israel, and subsequently the Jewish people, is a nation under the judgment of God. Israel has rejected Christ, the New Testament, and the entire Old Testament, in that the purpose of the Old Testament is to point towards Christ. They are literally enemies of God and of the Gospel (Romans 5:10). The Israel is no safer now than in the days of captivity.

Israel’s Actions Cannot Hinder the Sovereign Plans of God

Third, God’s purposes are immutable, what He decrees always comes to pass, and all those who plot against Him do so vainly (Isaiah 14:24, 43:13, 55:11). The fulfillment of God’s will is not dependent upon anyone or anything; He does as He pleases.

Israel Need’s the Gospel

What is Israel’s most pressing need; UN sanctions, assistance, a Hezbollah ceasefire? No, Israel needs what it has always needed, the Gospel. How should Christians respond to this conflict? We should respond with the Gospel.

Amazingly, enough I do not have very much to say which is why I want to hear from you. School and work have been keeping me very busy lately and I have not been able to spend as much time reading books and keeping up with world news, as I would like. Because of this, I have decided to ask your opinion on a couple of issues. I will likely not comment on this post, as I want to hear your opinions.

First, are any topics you would like to read a post on?

Second, if I were to do a F.A.Q. what kind of things would you like to see on it?

Third, where do you see the modern church failing? What is going wrong and what are the Biblical solutions to these problems? I do not want this to become a church bashing fest, however, I think there are real concerns and problems to be addressed.

Fourth, where do you see the modern church succeeding?

For those of you who have not already read Albert Mohler’s commentaries on “Christian Apologetics for a Postmodern Age” I would highly recommend that you do so. Below are the links for all three parts.

“You Are Bringing Strange Things to Our Ears”: Christian Apologetics for a Postmodern Age

“You Are Bringing Strange Things to Our Ears”: Christian Apologetics for a Postmodern Age, Part 2

“You Are Bringing Strange Things to Our Ears”: Christian Apologetics for a Postmodern Age, Part 3

I have been very busy lately studying for Greek but I wanted to post some pictures of our two new kittens; Tiggy and Benson. Tiggy is the Tabby and Benson is the Calico, both girls. They are both very energetic and loads of fun. Benson was sick when we first got her but after ten days of amoxicillin she has become a little ball of energy and has put on some weight. I will be sure to update everyone with more pictures as they grow :)

As you can also see I have re-coded my blog, which still has a couple of kinks that need to be worked out, let me know if you like the new look and how it looks on your screen (I think you need 1024×768, or higher, to view it correctly). I should be doing some more posts on the Christian Worldview and Monism soon, but will probably limit myself to one post a week, probably Saturdays. In August, we begin translating I John and I look forward to sharing some of the fruits of that labor here. That is all I can think of now, I look forward to your comments.

I almost forgot; cats rule and dogs drool :)

In the same way that I described the effects of the fall, I am going to briefly describe redemption in three specific categories our relationship with God, our fellow man, and creation.

God

Through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection our relationship with God can be restored and is generally described in three specific ways justification, sanctification, and glorification. In their book, The Great Doctrines of the Bible, William Evans, and S. Maxwell Coder describe justification and sanctification as follows: “In justification we are declared righteous in order that, in sanctification, we may become righteous. Justification is what God does for us, while sanctification is what God does in us. Justification puts us into a right relationship with God, while sanctification exhibits the fruit of that relationship—a life separated from a sinful world and dedicated unto God.” It is imperative to note that both justification and sanctification are blood bought products of grace and find their origin and power in God and not man. Man cannot save himself nor can man choose to be saved (Romans 3:9-20). Likewise, once justified, man cannot conform himself to the image of Christ (Galatians 3:3). Because of this God alone receives all the glory. Glorification is the competition of this when God takes us into heaven and we receive a new body and spend eternity in His presence.

Man

Abraham Kuyper, in his Lectures on Calvinism, offers a wonderful description of what our relationship with our fellow man should look like. “If Calvinism places our entire human life immediately before God, then it follows that all men or women, rich or poor, weak or strong, dull or talented, as creatures of God, and as lost sinners, have no claim whatsoever to lord over one another, and that we stand as equals before God, and consequently equal as man to man. Hence we cannot recognize any distinction among men, save as such as been imposed by God Himself, in that He gave one authority over the other, or enriched one with more talents than the other, in order that the man of more talents should serve the man with less, and in him serve his God.”

Creation

This aspect of the Christian worldview receives much neglect and is considered unimportant when viewed in comparison to man and God; however, consider the implications of rendering these three categories in another way. God is The Divine Being, man bears His Divine image, and the earth is His Divine creation, which reveals His Divine character. Just as mocking, a painting would offend a painter neglecting and abusing God’s creation represents an offence to God. We must reclaim our position as the guardians and caretakers of God’s creation.

Concluding Thoughts

The chief and supreme end for everything is that it would glorify God. It is imperative that every aspect of the Christian worldview work towards this supreme and singular end. Christ suffered on the cross in order to bring us to God (I Peter 3:18). Our relationship with creation and our fellow man must be lived in such a way that it glorifies God and leads others to do likewise (Matthew 5:16). These are not thoughts for your private life this is the framework through which, by the grace of God, you must interpret and live the whole of life.