Mirror, mirror, on the wall.....

Mirror, mirror, on the wall….

     Mirror, mirror, on the wall….

      Narcissus’ total obsession with himself was the eventual cause of his self-destruction.  This self-absorption is the primary characteristic of the prevailing worldview in the western world.  The intense focus on self causes us to lose touch with the actual reality around us.  Instead of looking for the truth behind observable reality, we look for truth within ourselves.  It’s like trying to fix a blemish on our face by applying the solution to the image we are seeing in the mirror. 

The world around us, the external reality, becomes a reflection instead of a reality.  We use reality in an attempt to define who we are.  Reality’s profound truth is diminished to a self-serving tool to help us discover ourselves.  Clothing no longer is used to keep us warm or to provide us with covering so much as it is used to define who we are.  We become what we wear.  The car we drive is no longer simply a means of transportation, it defines us.  Our relationships are no longer about others. Rather, they are all about us, about me.  We define ourselves by living through the one we are dating or are married to.  Thus, the real becomes an image to gives us back reflections of ourselves.

When truth and substance are no longer elements of reality, reality becomes simply a mirror and we pervert it to try to force it to tell us we are “fairer than them all”.

In these modern times, our ‘self’ is totally dependent upon our circumstances.  We look to others and to stuff to reflect back to us an image of who we are.  But, were we not all born in the image of God?  Our only hope of actually knowing self is to look to Christ for an accurate reflection of who we are.  When we see the reality of our sinfulness against his holiness it is most sobering and causes many to seek repentance from the sin that has caused such darkness to take abode in the deeper parts of the soul.  

Kevin Probst - Teaches History, Government and Apologetics at the high school level in Columbus Georgia.

The Truth They Could Not know

There was a point in Christ’s ministry when the Jews came to him demanding a sign.  He told them that if they would “destroy this temple he would raise it again in three days.”  (John 2:18-23)  The Jews perceived this statement to be foolish. They mocked his claim that he could single handedly rebuild in three days what took 46 years to complete using a very large workforce of laborers.  Of course, they missed the point because they were not spiritually minded.  A mind totally focused and consumed with earthly things cannot comprehend spiritual things. 

There is a foundational principle in Christianity that non-Christians fail to comprehend.  You cannot know who God is except you know his Son.  Jesus proclaimed this when he said, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)  We can’t really know God except we first know Christ in his saving grace.  It is the truth that leads men to Christ.  The truth is that we are all born in sin and “if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from unrighteousness.” – (1 John 1:9)

When men turn away from scripture in their search for bad things happen.  The Bible is the source of the truth that reveals to us Christ who leads us to the Father.  No man can know Christ apart from the Bible.  So, there is a train of logical steps that lead us into a relationship with the Almighty.  First, it is the truth that sets us free and the source of that truth is the Bible.  Second, the Bible introduces us to Christ, the very Son of God.  Confession of our sin and belief in the power of the shed blood of Christ as a sacrifice and an offering for our own sin brings us into relationship with Jesus.  Thirdly, to know Christ is to know the Father. When Jesus was asked, "Where is your father?",  He replied, "If you knew me, you would know my Father also."  (John 8:19)

The attempt to discover spiritual truth in any other source leads men away from rather than toward Christ.  Many claim to know Christ or they attempt to know him through other means.  Regardless of what Oprah Winfrey says, there is only one way to God, Jesus.  He said, “I am the way, the truth the life” and there is no other way but by me.  (John 14:6) 

Some seek him through their own intellect.  History has shown us that the most destruction despots and dictators of the past have been those who were exposed to the truth but willfully alienated themselves from that truth and dedicated their lives to lies and falsehoods.  Karl Marx’s verse in The Pale Rider is chilling:

“Thus heaven I’ve forfeited

I know it full well.

My soul, once true to God,

Is chosen for hell.”

Some have attempted to bring about reform or salvation to the hearts of men by transforming society.  In a sense, they lift their fist toward God and declare,  ‘We can save ourselves.  We don’t believe in your heaven or your hell’ and then they set about trying to prove themselves to be gods sufficient for the needs of mankind.  They attempt to redistribute wealth, level the playing field for the social classes and create a utopia on earth.  Karl Marx dream for society was to see the State fade away and all people join hands in harmonious bliss, sharing everything with hearts cleansed of greed simply by embracing his idea.

Karl’s  father was very concerned about the direction his young son had chosen.  He wrote in a letter:  “Only if your heart remains pure and beats humanly and if no demon is able to alienate your heart from better feelings, only then will I be happy.”  But his son resisted all authority figures including his father.  Karl’s youthful rebellion and hatred for God was revealed in a poem he wrote called “The Player”:

“The hellish vapors rise and fill the brain,

Till I go mad and my heart is utterly changed.

See this sword?  The prince of darkness sold it to me.

For me he beats the time and gives the signs.

Ever more boldly I play the dance of death.”

Saul Alinsky was a Jewish-American community organizer from Chicago who strongly influenced Barack Obama. Alinsky feared greatly that his parents would insist he become a Jewish Rabbi.  Instead, he ran in the other direction.  He is famous for his book, Rules for Radicals, an instructional guide to the rebellious generation of the 60’s instructing them how to organize a revolution whose ultimate goal would be to teach the poor working class how to take away from the wealthier upper class.  His book contains an outlandish dedication to Lucifer:

“Lest we forget at least an over-the-shoulder acknowledgement to the very first radical:  from all our legends, mythology, and history (and who is to know where mythology leaves off and history begins –or which is which), the first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom – Lucifer.”

Though Alinsky might have some sort of warped admiration for Lucifer, Christ sets the record straight regarding the ‘first radical’ and those who admire him:  “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires.  He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.  When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)

One observer of the life of Karl Marx seemed to hit the nail on the head:  “Marx wrote in the Communist Manifesto that his aim was the abolition not only of all religions, but also of all morals, which would make everything permissible.”  Isn’t this the real foundation of all rebellion against God?  We want to be able to do what we want to.  We don’t want to have to answer to anyone.  We want to call our own shots.  A final truth from God’s word: “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

Kevin Probst - Teaches History, Government and Apologetics at the high school level in Columbus Georgia.

Martyrdom in the US: Not Enough Evidence to Execute

God revealed his nature in his creation. (Romans 1:19-20) A more complete revelation of God was realized in the coming of his Son, Jesus Christ. This revelation was preserved for the ages by though the written word. When Jesus stood before Pilate he was asked this question, “What is truth?” (John 18:38) Had Pilate known Jesus and had he been familiar with his words he would not have had to ask that question. Jesus had already defined truth, he said, “I am the truth” (John 14:6) and God’s “ “word is truth.” (John 17:17) God is the source of all truth, Jesus is the human revelation of truth and the Bible is the written preservation of truth.

The truth in God’s word is perfect and complete. Because we are fallen creatures and our minds are limited we are unable to interpret this truth perfectly. But God assures us that when it comes to the essential truths regarding the salvation of our souls he will simplify those truths in a way that even a child can understand.

This truth has endured throughout the ages. It has survived the inquisitions and the persecutions of wicked men who would suppress truth and destroy it. God is storing up wrath in heaven to release on evil men who would suppress truth with their wickedness. (Romans 1:18) This truth has survived the philosophies of Lenin, Marx and Russell. This truth has weathered the assault of numberless evil rulers through the ages. Truth is eternal and indestructible. God is truth.

All of the early apostles, with the exception of John, were martyred for this truth. A martyr is someone who willingly suffers death rather than to renounce his faith. This word is being redefined in our modern age. We bounce that word about so carelessly. We identify certain terrorists as martyrs but they are actually suicidal assassins whose purpose is the murder those who might believe differently than they do.

Those who were martyred for the preservation of truth are of a different ilk. Polycarp was a contemporary of John the Apostle and a Christian from his youth. Because he was a leader of the hated Christians, Roman authorities called for his execution. Polycarp did not flee. Instead, he turned himself over to them. They dragged him before a crowd driven by their bloodlust. He was asked to recant. The old man defied the crowd and said, “Eighty-six years have I served him, and he never once wronged me. How then shall I blaspheme my King who has saved me?”

When the soldiers came to secure Polycarp he said, "Leave me as I am. For he who grants me to endure the fire will enable me also to remain on the pyre unmoved, without the security you desire from nails." His words have inspired Christians for nearly two thousand years.

In the mid sixteenth century William Tyndale committed his life to the translation of the scriptures into common English. “It is impossible to establish the people in any truth unless the scriptures were plainly laid before their eyes,” he said. (1) Tyndale was betrayed by a friend. He was captured and imprisoned for 500 days enduring a torture that was unimaginable yet he would not recant. A ridiculous trial was conducted in which he was found guilty of heresy. On October 6 of 1536 at the age of 44 Tyndale was strangled and burnt at the stake. He was willing to die rather than compromise his love for the truth of God’s word. While the flesh dripped from his bones Tyndale said, “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes.”

That great American hymn popularized during the Civil War and written by Julia Ward Howe, declares “His truth is marching on.” Its march is relentless. It marches through enemy lines. It marches into the face of evil. It is assaulted, it is ridiculed, it is mocked and yet it marches eternally on. “As He died to make men holy let us die to make men free…” What motivated these men to die for the freedom of others? Did these men not find something bigger than themselves, something more important than their own lives, a truth worth dying for?

Now let me ask a sobering question? Imagine you country has been overrun by an enemy determined to eradicate Christianity. Image our Christian leaders were rounded up and taken to the stadium for torture and execution. Would there be enough evidence of their love and commitment to the truth of God to convict them in an atheist’s court?

Let’s watch as some of these leaders are dragged into court:

Joel Olsteen, the pastor of the largest church in America is first to be tried. “Mr. Olsteen, if a person doesn’t believe in Jesus will he go to hell?” Joel stumbles and stammers as he tries to answer the question. The court senses theological ignorance and feels much pleased as he waters down the word of God. Joel finally answers by saying, “I don’t know.” Joel is quickly released as they consider him more an ally than an enemy. The jurors compare Joel’s words “God wants us to prosper financially, to have plenty of money, to fulfill the destiny He has laid out for us” with those of Charles Spurgeon, “There are some who stumble at Christ because of his holiness. He is too strict for them; they would like to be Christians, but they cannot renounce their sensual pleasures; they would like to be washed in his blood, but they desire still to roll in the mire of sin.” A gospel that tolerates sin is devoid of truth. Real truth offends.

Next, we see Rob Bell being dragged before the court. Rob Bell is a very prominent leader among young American Christians and the court anticipates his martyrdom:

“Mr. Bell, what does it mean when you Christians call yourselves believers?”

“Everybody is following somebody. Everybody has faith in something and somebody. We are all believers." The court is dumbfounded as they expected to hear the name of Jesus in his answer.

“Mr. Bell, what is your stand regarding the Holy Scriptures?”

Bell declared that he views the Bible as a “human product” rather than a truth originating in the heart and mind of God.

Bell’s wife, Kristen, pipes up at this point by saying, “The Bible is still the center for us but…I have no idea what most of it means. And yet, I feel like life is big again – like life used to be black and white but now it’s in color.”

The members of the court look with confusion at each other. This was certainly not the Christianity they had expected to confront.

The judge of the court drops his gavel and dismisses the couple. No evidence for martyrdom here. The next name called was that of Brian McLaren, the emergent leader who had authored many books and influenced countless numbers who were searching for truth.

“Mr. McLaren, do you declare the Bible to be truth, eternal and unchangeable. Would you insist that the God you worship is truth?”

McLaren scratches his chin and then submits to the judge that many would like to “have the truth captured, stuffed and mounted on the wall” but truth is something that is pliable and certainty is never something that can be applied to truth.

The judge shatters his gavel as he slams it down in frustration. “We have come to torture and destroy those who call themselves Christians and boldly stand behind their sacred book. We have found no one who meets the criteria for execution. Court dismissed!”

It’s a sad fact that were our country were ever occupied by those with a goal to destroy Christianity they may find there are very, very few who qualify for martyrdom because we have forsaken truth.

1. Martyrs for the English Bible, Dr. Clyde Votaw
2. The Truth War, John MacArthur
3. Joel Olsteen Interview on CNN
4. Joel Olsteen interview on Fox News
5. Rob Bell on MSNBC

Kevin Probst - Teaches History, Government and Apologetics at the high school level in Columbus Georgia.