2008 December archive at Zeal For Truth

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Archive for December, 2008

Biblical Christian Giving Part III: Commentary on Philippians 4:10-20

Published by Chris A December 29, 2008 in Religion. 2 Comments

Because Paul made reference to the Philippians in Second Corinthians chapters 8 and 9, I thought it would be worthwhile to examine what Paul wrote to them concerning giving.

A Brief Recap
First, we should recall that Paul described them as being poor, yet generous - even to the point of pleading with Paul to accept their gifts. Paul wrote that their willingness to give was accentuated by the grace of God, such that they were actually able to give beyond their natural ability. Paul desired to see this same quality of grace manifested in the lives of the Corinthians as well.

Love as Expressed by Deed

10But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.

Just as in his communication with the Corinthians, Paul intimates that love is demonstrated by the act of giving. When he states that the Philippians “revived their concern” for him, this is in reference to the gift they gave him. He does not say that they had not loved him until they gave, but rather that their gift was an expression of that preexisting love. He does, however, suggest that had they been opportunity to give earlier they would have.

Not in Respect of Want

11Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. 14Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. 15You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; 16for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. 17Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.

Twice (verses 11 and 17) Paul makes clear that his excitement in receiving from the Philippians has nothing to do with his personal needs, but rather has to do with the continued spiritual development of the church.

In verse 15, he notes that they contributed to his ability to preach the gospel when he left Macedonia. He also says that their offering was “a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.”

Give and it Shall be Given
In verse 17, the principle of reciprocity in giving is reinforced. Where Paul wrote, “…I seek for the profit which increases to your account”, we should understand that the word account here does not simply mean behalf. It literally means something akin to a bank account. Therefore, Paul was referring to what the Philippians would receive as a result of their giving. This makes perfect sense given the fact that Paul says the church was able to give beyond their ability. How would this be possible? It would only be possible if they were increased financially beyond their normal means.

Giving as a Fragrant Aroma

18But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. 19And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

There is something very important in verse 18. Notice that Paul wrote that he had an “abundance” and was “amply supplied” as a result of receiving the offering from the Philippians. He makes clear that he was the personal recipient of the money, yet he says that the gift was “a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.” Just as Jesus said that giving to the poor was giving to Him, giving to the ministers who are carrying out His directive to preach the Gospel is also giving to Him. Furthermore, it is an act of faith allowing access into the grace of God for provision. After thanking the Philippians on behalf of God for their offering, Paul said in the same breath, “And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” There seems to be a connection to the supernatural provision afforded to the Philippians and their giving.

The First Christmas

Published by gurr8 December 25, 2008 in General. 0 Comments

The account of the first Christmas. Taken from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

The Visit of the Wise Men
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

The Flight to Egypt
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Herod Kills the Children
Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

“A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

The Return to Nazareth
But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Merry Christmas!

Published by Colin December 23, 2008 in General. 1 Comment

The Zeal For Truth blog will be taking a small break over Christmas. We’ll be back with links on the 26th of December.

In the meantime, please enjoy the discussions going on in our forum.

Links: FDR’s New Deal Propaganda Back Again

Published by Colin December 19, 2008 in General. 2 Comments

This is really worth the watch. Propaganda video from FDR’s America, explaining how they are going to save the country by inflation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99Dzdc1H0wM

Look, it’s a Baptist family tree!

Top 10 Books for Christian Libertarians

Check out this scheme.

Speaking of schemes, the Fed made another cut.

teeheehee a really good News Pun

Pirates - not just a thing of the past

Bush: “I’ve abandoned free-market principles to save the free-market system”

Published by Colin December 17, 2008 in Current Events. 8 Comments

Double-speak is not surprising to hear from politicians - especially president Bush - whose presidency has generally been defined by the practice. Bush has generally talked a “free market” talk while walking a socialistic, interventionist walk. He, like several presidents before him, signed bills that promoted home ownership for risky buyers. He federalized airport security. His prescription drug program was a massive increase in the welfare state. He has signed bailouts of many shapes and sizes from his first year in office onwards. He has raised tariffs. He has supported farm subsidies. No Child Left Behind has wrecked the school system and expanded federal power and intervention in education. Overall, his domestic, non-military discretionary spending rivals the openly socialist LBJ.

But while doing all of this, Bush has claimed to be a “fiscal conservative” and a supporter of “the free-market.” Those who voted for him in 2004 and who have generally supported him throughout his presidency, have buried their heads in the sand when it comes to the overwhelmingly socialistic tenancies of this so-called “conservative” president (who makes Bill Clinton look like Barry Goldwater).

But Bush’s denial of his own hypocrisy seems to be ending with this statement:

US President George W. Bush said in an interview Tuesday he was forced to sacrifice free market principles to save the economy from “collapse.”

“I’ve abandoned free-market principles to save the free-market system,” Bush told CNN television, saying he had made the decision “to make sure the economy doesn’t collapse.”

Is Bush finally willing to admit that his legacy is one that most left-wingers before 2000 couldn’t even dream of? Al Gore did not even have such left-of-centre ambitions in 2000. Yet, Bush has effectively done his part in sabataging what is left of the US “free” market after nearly a century of intervention. The fact that he (a “conservative” president) can now do this in the open (as Democrats have generally been openly socialistic for seventy years now, at least in rhetoric) marks a significant moment: where both left and right in the US are now officially and openly the socialist-left and socialist-right parties. A Mike Huckabee nomination, an even more open right-wing-socialist than Bush, in 2012 will cement this trend in American politics.

The media is still catching up (from just below the quote in the story):

Bush’s comments reflect an extraordinary departure from his longtime advocacy for an unfettered free market, as his administration has orchestrated unprecedented government intervention in the face of a dire financial crisis.

Bush’s “advocacy” for an “unfettered” free-market has never existed, ever. When offered the choice between wielding government power and allowing market forces to act, Bush has almost always chosen the former.

This kind of consequentialist language is the new mantra for the Republican movement. Despite the fact that it is completely illogical to presume to save a “free market” by sabotaging it. This sounds like the statements from the villains in Atlas Shrugged, who made the same arguments about their interventions.

Bush’s legacy in many ways, can be summed up by this statement - his desire to promote freedom and capitalism by using forces that are in direct opposition to these things - promoting the freedom of men by invading their countries, killing them, subjugating them and threatening them - and promoting capitalism by using government prevent industries from failing, subsidizing others, increasing regulations, nationalisation, tariff and quota rises and increasing the power of government.

At least one thing is now clear - we can no longer call Bush a fraud or a liar in this. He has finally admitted the truth.

Some (Anecdotal) Notes on God’s Will

Published by Colin December 15, 2008 in General. 6 Comments

England is a difficult country to move to - especially when, despite living in the bottom 28% of your last country, you had a much higher standard of living. My wife and I have faced many challenges over the past four months in almost every aspect of our lives. I can’t imagine some of the difficulties people face when moving from the US to countries in Africa, South America or Asia.

It is inevitable that such dramatic life changes - moving, changing vocations, changing churches - create uncertainty and unpredictability in life. If we had done all this and everything seemed normal - then surely something would be wrong! However, how are we to interpret these difficulties and challenges? How is the Christian supposed to reconcile ideas such as peace, joy and hope in the face of fairly consistent difficulty in life’s circumstances? Is this really what God has in store for us?

God’s Cruel Will
It would be a cruel thing if, aside from the explicit scriptural guidelines which God has provided, he also had authoritative “hidden” guidelines or a “hidden will” for each individual Christian which God expects followed, but refuses to reveal in plain terms. The idea that we must all follow secret feelings, inward impressions and the divinations of our circumstances in order to satisfy God and live abundantly is a tremendous burden that many Christians bear. Sadly, this is unnecessary.

Many Christians argue (because they have been taught this by men, not because they have seen anything like it in scripture) that we must interpret “God’s will for your life” by presuming that our feelings are authoritative. If we feel a “peace” about a situation or decision then it is from God. Some Christians so blindly follow this false doctrine that they can justify clearly unbiblical acts by their feelings and impressions (”I need to divorce my wife and God has given me a real peace about it”).

Imagine if a man like Joseph would have followed his feelings. He had dreams where he was in authority over his whole family - that God was going to favour him. Yet he found himself in Egypt, as a slave in Potipher’s house for ten years and later in jail. But Joseph didn’t second guess the sovereignty of God. His circumstances were screaming at him that he was clearly doing something wrong - a man of his talent and ability, to whom God had promised great things, was a slave and prisoner. But Joseph’s peace clearly was not in subjugation to his circumstances - it was above them. His peace was found in God, and kept in God - safe from the wiles of his feelings and machinations.

God’s Objective Authority Versus Man’s Subjective Interpretation
Our feelings and impression are just that - feelings and impressions. They might have divine authorship, they might be last night’s burrito. The fact is that these things are subjective. The advice we get from others is also subjective. Even words of prophecy in this age are subjective, and limited by the men who have received them. Christians tend to rely on a combination of subjective “signs” to somehow achieve a seemingly authoritative direction where God is leading them. This is 1) irresponsible; 2) a source of unnecessary confusion and fear; and 3) not biblical.

This includes the idea of a “calling” into ministry. The bible lays out clear guidelines for certain areas of ministry - these are objective and authoritative. The advice of leaders, feelings, dreams and visions are not - they are subjective. If a man is verbally abusing his wife and his children are rebellious - it doesn’t matter if Billy Graham believes he should be a pastor or that the man feels God wants him to be a pastor. He is objectively unqualified based on the bible. A “calling” is irrelevant. A man who can’t teach and doesn’t have biblical leadership skills is not qualified to be a pastor - despite what he or others might think he is “called” to do.

This applies in a myriad of other places. Christians who are in deep debt and refuse to work, but might feel “called” to go to unpaid missionary work in China should reconsider their desires in light of the bible. A man deep in debt but who feels “called” to give thousands of dollars to a church should reconsider his plans - as the bible says some hard truths about debt. A Christian who feels “called” to marry a non-Christian should reconsider whether this is biblically acceptable - regardless of their feelings.

Final Thoughts
I am not sure why this tradition has arisen in the church. I suspect it might be a combination of things. First I believe this emphasis on material circumstances is rooted in materialist philosophy as well as in the prosperity gospel. I think it also is influenced by the eccentricities of the charismatic movement. Lastly, it comes about by an emphasis on people-pleasing: unintentionally placing the value of leadership and Christian peers over scripture.

We have been able to deal with our own trials because God has enabled us to look past our circumstances for our peace. This doesn’t mean we don’t whine, complain and seek to change our circumstances - it just means that they don’t overshadow our joy that comes from knowing that God is in charge and has provided for our greatest need - salvation. We can rest in this, and be comforted in the midst of trials - passing through them with wisdom and peace because God has clearly told us in his authoritative word, that he is taking care of us.

Links: More Bailouts

Published by Colin December 13, 2008 in Current Events. 0 Comments

The stubbornly seductive perils of justice porn:

Judge Judy and her brethren are the ultimate judicial activists…. [Courtroom TV shows position] judges as unquestionable authorities with unlimited power to scrutinize our lives. What’s truly scary is that Judge Judy—a judge even more capricious, interventionist, and megalomaniacal than Simon Cowell—remains the undisputed queen of the genre.

“Churches are ill-equipped to deal with [men] who suffer emotional pain”

Good old American racism: a Ford dealer runs a radio ad saying that foreign cars “are rice ready. They’re not road ready.”

Maybe Hillary Clinton could use a bailout

Piano Industry Bailout?

What about the time before the car? Look at the years between 1870 and 1930. As surprising as this may sound today, the biggest-ticket item on every household budget besides the house itself was its piano. Everyone had to have one. Those who didn’t have one aspired to have one. It was a prize, an essential part of life, and they sold by the millions and millions.

Worship and Intellectual Property, Part II

Published by Colin December 10, 2008 in Religion. 10 Comments

Last time, I made a couple of points:

Worship songs are God’s gift to man, not the property of any individual or group
Worship songs must not be withheld from the church for profit
Any manifestation of God’s Spirit must be given away freely
It is the responsibility of individuals to give, not for worship writers to enforce obedience by requiring a fee

I would like to take this opportunity to deal with a few common objections to these points.

But these artists deserve to be paid for their work! - I am not disputing that worship leaders and songwriters should not be paid. Any Christian worth his salt should give to any minister who is providing spiritual nutrition to him - including worship songwriters. However, the songwriter has no right to withhold a gift from God for the church’s benefit (not his) unless he is paid. He must give freely, as he has been given, and trust in God to move in the hearts of those who receive. I would argue that a worship songwriter who does not provide his work free of charge has a severe lacking of faith.

Couldn’t you just argue that everything is from God and thus everything should be free? A person’s money, house, car, etc… is a gift from God. Isn’t private property in general just hoarding what God has given? - I think there are clear indications in scripture and in nature that the structure which God has appointed to order stewardship is private property. However, there is a nuanced difference between manifestations of the spirit and just general property in the bible. Things like land, food, wealth and so on are spoken about differently in scripture than spiritual gifts such as words of prophecy, teaching, faith and healing. Now, there is no question that all things belong to God - but this does not mean that God has ordered that all things be stewarded the same way. Some things he wants stewarded privately, others he wants used for the profit of the church, some for the poor, some for all men.

What about non-worship music from a Christian artist? - Lot’s of worship writers make other music as well. Since this music is still given by God, but not as a manifestation of God’s Spirit for worshipping him collectively - then the author may do whatever he wants as far as intellectual property. I would then argue with him as to whether intellectual property was a legitimate institution, but my argument would be rooted in natural law and secular reasoning - as we have effectively moved out of a spiritual manifestation and into private property.

If worship songwriters give away their music for free, this will disincentivise worship music from being created, spread and used in the church? There must be some profit or the worship musicians wont write songs! - This sentiment exposes a lack of faith and an over-dependence on men to accomplish God’s will. Sorry, but God does not need our help to worship him - he is more than capable of generating his own music and distributing it as he sees fit. Again, the bible specifically addresses this point: “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills” (1 Cor 12:11 - emphasis mine). I worry that this kind of thinking ports marketing and capitalism onto Christianity - which is dangerous territory.

Is it just to use IP to make music free - that is, can one copyright their song so as to prevent it from being hoarded? Is this consequentiallism? - This is a profound question. I have argued elsewhere against using “evil” institutions to bring about “good” - how am I going to handle this? First of all, I don’t think IP is “evil” - I do think it is unnatural and non-biblical. However, unlike war, taxes etc… I don’t see it as an evil institution. I would compare IP more with a gun- it is not inherently evil, but almost all of its uses are evil. It is not unChristian to own a gun, but in many situations it is evil for a Christian to use it. I don’t see anything wrong with using copyright in defence of free distribution - I do not think however, that it should ever be used offensively - to prevent others from legitimate use of music, books, tapes, etc…

Hopefully, this clarifies my position a little. Secondly, I hope to encourage worship writers and ministries to take a moment and consider whether they are engaging in biblical behaviour by restricting the music which God has given to them for the church. Third, I hope that wider implications are considered - for example, whether other church events and products should bear a mandatory fee or charge.

Worship and Intellectual Property, Part I

Published by Colin December 8, 2008 in General. 9 Comments

In going to a new church, in a different movement, and in a different country - the hundreds of songs which I had memorized from leading worship in Calvary Chapel in the US for ten years are mostly useless. Normally I know about one of five songs on a given Sunday (if that). Now, having been asked to help a little with the worship in the church, I find myself spending hours online to try and find some ad hoc instructions (mp3s of the song, youtube videos, chords, even myspaces pages, etc…) for playing the songs.

These are all great worship songs - they are just new to me. But many of these songs, which God has given to His church in order to facilitate worship of Him, require an upfront payment for a download or physical CD. This is because worship music is considered intellectual property, just like secular music, and so it is not freely available.

I should note at the outset that I do not find evidence of intellectual property in God’s order (or the natural order if you prefer). I should also note that I am a musician and have to apply whatever it is that I figure out to be right here. Next time I am going to try and deal with some common questions that arise from my position. Today I am just simply going to state my position.

I do not believe that IP should apply to worship music whatsoever. And in fact, it is wrong for Christian songwriters to try and use secular law to restrict their worship music to a paying audience. I am not going to lambast copyright (for example) completely, but as a mechanism for requiring payment - it is wrong.

First of all - to whom does worship music belong? To the author? To the church? To God? To answer this question, I must presume that worship music is given as a gift of the Holy Spirit. That is, it belongs to God, but is dispensed by the Holy Spirit to the church. The purposes of which is given in 1 Corinthians 12:7:

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all

Spiritual gifts are given for collective profit. They are not given for personal profit. If worship music is spirit-led or spirit-given, then by definition, it is not for private profit. Any book, tape, cd, sermon or whatever that claims it is from the Holy Spirit must not have a charge.

I get this principle from Paul, whom we know refused to charge for his work for the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:18). Yet at the same time, he insisted on reminding the church that they must pay for what they receive. However, Paul knew that his spiritually inspired words were for the “profit of all” -therefore, he had no right to require payment - peddling the word of God (2 Corinthians 2:17).

It is not the responsibility of the worship-writer to ensure that he is paid fairly - it is God’s. Secondly, it is the responsibility of teachers to instruct their flocks in good giving practices.

It is a sad reality that worship musicians have bought into the lie of intellectual property - and that they are using this mechanism to rob from God and from his people. Yes, that’s correct. I believe the author’s of music are actually using copyright laws to rob valid and powerful manifestations of the spirit from God’ intended recipients: the church.

Links: Creative Capitalism

Published by Colin December 5, 2008 in General. 2 Comments

Bill Gates and Warren Buffett Discuss “Creative Capitalism” Creative capitalism is Bill Gates evolving theory on how corporations can use a profit motivation to engage in charitable and world improving work.

SWAT team enters bank…discovers cardboard cutout.

Steal me away, Firefox

If you get spam on Facebook, blame Canada

Banks are giving away money to “help” the economy

Walmart Employee Dies after being trampled to death during Black Friday:

“When they were saying they had to leave, that an employee got killed, people were yelling, `I’ve been in line since yesterday morning,’ ” Cribbs said. “They kept shopping.”

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