The Nativity Story

Thought the probability of Jesus being born during winter time are small, some or most of us doesn’t even know the real story behind the Christmas scene and why Jesus had to be born. Perhaps many of us has been thought about an infant named Jesus being born and that “three wise men” visited him with gifts during evening in Bethlehem of Judaea and that’s the end of the story. Is this the whole picture? What was the real purpose of Jesus being born?

Most people usually sing Christmas carols. Swedish tradition celebrates Christmas festivity together with  their families to celebrate Christmas holiday and this of course includes eating traditional Swedish cuisine and share Christmas presents with each other later on that day(at 4 p.m.). But what is really behind all this celebration. Surely there are more than eating Christmas cuisine, family gathering, laughter, joy and sharing gifts. Christmas is not even about Santa Claus (a mythical person) which is frequently told to our little children and which is really sad. Why? Because it undermines and obscure the real meaning or ought to be the true purpose of Christmas .

The Nativity

Let me tell you something about the real story behind our Christmas celebration [see Should Christians celebrate Christmas? ] in which this saga happened two thousand years ago in a small town called Bethlehem. We can read this fascinating narrative accounts of Jesus being born in our New Testament Bible and these story are found in two synoptic Gospels of mostly Matthew and Luke. The account of Matthew and Luke tells us that somewhere in a small town of Nazareth two thousand years ago an Archangel spoke to a young virgin lady whom was called Mary and told her that she was chosen by God to give birth (through virgin birth) and she was to call him Jesus, “for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). After this, Joseph was flabbergasted knowing that Mary was already pregnant yet he marries her. Joseph and Mary travelled and went to Bethlehem just to evade paying a special tax. When they arrived in Bethlehem, Joseph and Mary couldn’t even find a suitable place for both of them because they were all crowded, there were simply no room for them to stay. By God’s provision, an innkeeper told Joseph and his wife Mary where they could stay and they where to stay in a stable (not in a cave).

To make a long story short, both Mary and Joseph departed from Nazareth for a while then went to a small town called Bethlehem to finally give birth to Jesus and placed him in a manger full of hay. By the guiding star Wise men arrived with their gifts at the stable and worshipped Jesus along with the shepherds who heard an angel spoke to them and telling them that a child was born, that cool evening (Matt. 2:11). The Wise men (actually, there were zero wisemen when our Savior was born. Jesus were old enough to be able to walk and talk when they arrived) gave gifts to Jesus and these were gold, frankincense and myrrh. This is the real story of Christmas we often tell our kids but is this all? If we read the entire book of Matthew and Luke, Jesus did not, of course, remained as a baby but actually grew up and did lots of marvelous deeds that no mere human being could perform like healing sick, casting out demons, helping, forgiving sins, debating, walking on water, resurrecting people from the dead, and he even end up being falsely accused and get beaten and finally was sentenced to death by crucifixion. Then after three days Jesus was resurrected from the dead and went back to heaven and shall return again.

Theological Significant of the Nativity

The point behind the Christmas narrative is that something happened in time past, a miraculous event did occur and that God was about to enter the scene and evade time to become human and have personal relationship with us and call us out from the shackles and bondage of sin. God call us to have a personal relationship with Him and that we ought to acknowledge God and to worship Him. God is not just some sort of a transcendent or distant deity but has immanently reached down to us by entering time and space in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, born us one of us just so we could know him in a very personal and intimate way. The little baby who was born in the town of Bethlehem was not just an ordinary infant but was or is God (the Word became flesh and dwelt among us as the disciple John wrote in Jn. 1:14) who created the universe including us. The same baby Jesus who was placed in a manger will someday going to judge each one of us.

For me, the greatest gift God has given to mankind is His unique Son Jesus Christ who by his own admission was crucified and died in order for us to be forgiven and be reconciled with God. Those who believed in His Son are no longer condemned but forgiven unto eternal life. The Christmas story I think did not ceased in Bethlehem but actually continued to Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension.

Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?

There are Christians who have qualms over in celebrating Christmas. Christians believe it is wrong-headed to participate Christmas because it has roots in paganism and therefore should not be practiced. Christmas, having a pagan roots is hardly undisputed. But should Christians shun Christmas because of its heathen-like elements? There was, for example, a saturnal celebration around the time of Christmas that pagans celebrated. Christmas came from the Roman feast of the Unconquered Sun (Lat. Sol Invictus) celebrated on December 25th. Later, Constantine replaced this non-Christian feast with a celebration of “Christ’s birth.”

The other reason why few of these Christians does not participate Christmas is due to the fact that Jesus of Nazareth wasn’t born in December 25th; Lukan narrative tells us that, “There were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over there flock by night” (2:8).

Shepherds would normally not be in the fields so late in the year. The Scripture is silent about what date Jesus was born. Besides, nowhere in the Bible that commands believers to “celebrate” Christmas or even to celebrate Christ’s birth. So what is the proper answer to this question?

While I disagree with my fellow brothers in their argument for not celebrating Christmas, I however, show respect for their commitment.

I do not see any reason why the body of Christ should be divided in this issue. While there are few Christians who believes that celebrating Christmas is un-Christian, other believes that it is okay to celebrate Christmas (I belong to this camp).

But what about the objections above, sincere Christians has objected against Christmas? Isn’t Christmas unbiblical? My first answer to this is that since the Bible didn’t explicitly forbid or condone Christmas I think it can be very legalistic to say that sincere Christians should not celebrate Christmas.

Being legalistic means that we adjudicate rules that aren’t God’s rules, but in fact man-made rules, and we try to make our own rules equal with God’s rules. For example, we take man-made rules that Christians should be prohibited going movies, or play Xbox games. The Bible did not say that you shouldn’t smoke, it doesn’t say we shouldn’t train martial arts.

We take our own rules that we apply in our church, and apply it all to Christians. That’s a type of legalism. In other words, we make things wrong that the Bible doesn’t make wrong. Further, just because the Scripture do not mention about Christmas is not to be equated as a prohibition.

The Bible does not mention many good things the church does (choir, sunday-school etc.,). Are we then to stop these activities just because the Bible did not mention these things? Of course not! Also, the fact that we cannot be absolutely certain about our Savior’s date of birth does not negate the possibility of celebrating His birth.

By not celebrating Christmas because its has elements from pagan is the position known as “guilt by association.” Certainly there is no scriptural command to celebrate Christmas, but there is no warrant for saying that to do so is forbidden. I believe that celebrating Christmas is fully legitimate even though there may have some pagan elements that were rooted with Christmas.

That doesn’t make our celebration of Christmas the same as pagan celebration. In fact, it’s quite different. We are celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. In addition, it is good to celebrate Christmas because we are celebrating the resurrection and birth of Christ by doing so.

However, whatever it is we are celebrating we must be sure that our practices are consistent with the Scripture’s explicit commands, and principles, but we are being illogical and legalistic to say that we cannot do something if it is not mention in the Bible.

Was Jesus A Socialist?

“Christian Socialism” is neither Christian nor Socialism …. It is disappointing to Christians and irritating to Socialists. – R. A. Torrey

Socialist propagandists for over four centuries have claimed that the Bible teaches socialism, but we have yet to see a single Bible commentary written by a socialist. If the Bible teaches socialism, where is the expository evidence? – Gary North

Time for me to write this untimely subject and most misunderstood among professing Christians which is of course about Jesus and its supposedly correlation with socialism. Socialism is very attractive and popular not only among the secular but also among Christians as well. Christians who adhere to socialism, unfortunately, and misleadingly so believes that socialism champions the poor and that its opposite view such as capitalism encourages greed and envy and therefore, they believe, to biblically incoherent.

Either, Christians misunderstood its ideological stance on the account of what socialism is, or they just plainly ignore the fact that socialism goes against the teachings of the Scripture. In despite of many professing believers in Christ who thinks and believes that socialism is compatible with the Christian faith, I would, however, argue otherwise.

I believe that socialism or collectivism will corrupt both the free-market enterprise and human freedom. I also believe that socialism is a nonbiblical teaching and I doubt that Jesus and his disciples adopted some sort of socialistic/communistic ideology. However, I will be very careful not to confine Jesus and his followers as hardcore capitalists. Yet, by a thorough exegesis of the Scripture I believe that they have more in common with capitalism than with socialism.

It really bothers me when well-intentioned Christians practices Marxism. Because it, certainly is a non-biblical ideology. Socialism as such is no more than biblical than the belief in anarchism (extreme anti government). It is sad to see that Christians seems to have been bewitched with the delusion that socialism and communism fights for the destitute which is, of course false if not misleading. All I can see and comprehends about socialism is that it deprives the individual’s freedom and self-worth. Without furthermore complications let us first study, in brief, about what socialism really represents.

Understanding Socialism

It is evident that Socialism is to be distinguished from Communism with which it is often confused. The latter advocates a collective ownership of all wealth. Socialism does not deny the right of private property, but of private capital. Socialism is an economic and social system based upon the political and economic theories of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Socialism is system of social organization in which private property and the distribution of income are subject to social control. In a lay person’s language this simply means that all people having all things in common, It also is used to refer to a government taking things and redistributing them as the government sees fit. Either way, socialism, so defined, denies private ownership. But, ’tis not so, since the Scripture clearly endorses private ownership (see Exo. 20:15; 2-17, Deu. 22:1, Lev. 19:35-36, Pro. 3:9).

Moreover, in a socialist country, the state is sovereign. Such an all-powerful state views itself as the grand authority. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Communist Manifesto calls for abolishing family, marriage, countries, and religion as well as private property. Under the socialist system the state determines what is right and wrong — without any competing loyalties to the Judeo-Christian God, family, or country. As you and I understands, surely, socialism is irreconcilable with Christianity. Not to mention that the founder of socialism/communism were atheists if not antitheists. Winston Churchill rightly says, “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy.”

Christian Socialism ?

Socialist and dictator Hugo Chavez once commented that “Jesus was the greatest socialist in history.” I cannot, to be honest, see why he made such a ludicrous statement! In disagreement Christian evangelist R.A. Torrey wrote;

That He [Jesus] insisted upon justice, and brotherhood, and love, and self-sacrifice is evident; but to suggest that these virtues are the monopoly of any one political or economic party is presumptuous, and to prove that Christ advocated “collective ownership of property” is impossible. The fundamental economic problem relates to the division of wealth; and as to that Christ refused to speak. He rebuked social sins and injustice and selfishness, but when requested to divide a possession on a certain occasion He asked, “Who made Me a judge or a divider over you?” and that question has wide implications for the present day. (emphasis mine)

Christians who have been persuaded by the socialist mind will argue that Jesus and in fact the New Testament teaches socialism if not communism. Christian socialists attempts to combine the fundamental aims of socialism with the religious and ethical convictions of Christianity, promoting cooperation over competition as a means of helping the poor. Christian socialism generally refers to those on the Christian left whose politics are both Christian and socialist and who see these two philosophies as being interrelated. This category can include Liberation theology and the doctrine of the social gospel.

Heterodox Readings of the Holy Scripture

Of course, those who believe that socialism is compatible with the Christian faith are anxious to defend their faulty understanding of the Bible by quoting couple verses building their own arguments for collectivism. I can assure you that no such verses that supposedly supports socialism can ever be found in the mouth of Jesus, disciples, apostles and certainly not in the Bible. 

Market enterprise during the Old and New Testament time reflect the social and economic practices of the day without meaning to say that these particular practices are to be universal. But when immorality is practised in biblical culture, it is always condemned by Scripture. If private ownership and wealth were sinful and in themselves oppressive to the poor, Scripture would condemn these. Scripture, however, never condemns wealth – it speaks of wealth as a blessing, and actually protects the concept of private ownership.

Socialists maintains and advances arguments by using biblical texts to support their misconceptions. For instance, in Matt. 19:21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

Does the texts above supports the socialist view? Not if you’re willing to read the texts out of contexts. First of all, the Bible is evidently clear how we can attain salvation–by faith. Salvation is not to be achieve by being rich or by being poor. No. You’re saved by having faith and trust in Christ. Besides, Jesus didn’t rebuked the man by being rich per se. But rather, Jesus saw the rich man failed by not loving his neighbour. His unwillingness to relinquish his wealth showed he did not love his neighbour as himself. His reliance upon his wealth only showed that he loves more the mammon than righteousness. Again, the verse (as shown above) has nothing to do with being rich but having more to do with idolatry and trust in wealth for salvation instead of having faith in God and live a righteous life.

What about Acts 2:44-45 it reads, “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” Does the passage above support the primitive communist mind-set? Again, I doubt it. There are difference between voluntary and obligatory. The former teaches and demonstrated their love for one another by giving self-sacrificingly. The latter, on the other hand, teaches that in socialists or communists regime the state uses the authority to accomplish the desired result.

 Acts 4:32 is yet another text that has been abused by the Christian socialist it says, “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.” It amazes me how this passage at hand can ever be reconciled with the socialistic mind-set. Furthermore, just because the early NT Christians gave and shared their positions in common with each other doesn’t concludes socialism at large! After all, they didn’t only shared their positions in common but also “believed with one heart and soul.” The verse at hand is more characteristically spiritual and not an economical proposal. In addition, Torrey commented,

When we read the story of the early Church there are statements which suggest Socialism or even Communism, as for instance when we read that “they had all things common,” but a fuller investigation shows their Communism was local, voluntary, occasional, temporary. It was practiced only in Jerusalem, no one was compelled to divide or sell his property, not all adopted the practice, but many like Mary the mother of Mark kept their homes in the city. Furthermore, this Communism was only practiced for a time. It was prompted by love and designed to meet a special crisis, but never admitted or established as an abiding principle of Church life. 

Closing Statement

Biblical Christian orthodoxy should not compromise by correlating the secular ideology with socialism and communism which is the very antithesis of the Christian faith. I, among many believers in Christ Jesus stands firmly in the conviction that socialism as such is a non-Christian discipline and ought not to be in courage to adopt within the Christian community. Socialism as an economical, materialist theory goes against the biblical teaching of “justification by faith,” and not by works. A true Gospel of grace is inseparable from a Gospel of good works. Christian doctrines and Christian duties cannot be divorced. At last but not least, socialism is in a strong contrast with Christianity. Again, Torrey said that,

It insists that better social conditions will produce better men; Christianity teaches that better men are needed to produce better conditions. Socialism endeavors to elevate individuals by elevating society; Christianity contends that society can be elevated only by the regeneration of individuals. To secure such regeneration is the supreme effort and function of the Church, and its chief message to Socialism is that the “life is more than meat and the body than raiment.”

Suggested Readings

R. A. Torrey: “The Church and Socialism.” Bible Institute of Los Angeles.

Ronald H. Nash; Social Justice and the Christian Church

David A. Noebel; The Battle For The Truth

What Is A Worldview?

What Is A Worldview?

What it is a worldview? Weltanschauung or worldview in German simply means a person’s thinking or understanding is the sum total of everything that person believes. There are many ways we want to interpret our world and it really depends upon your presuppositions; for example, you can be an anarchist, communist, Nazi, guru, and even a satanist. Let me provide you with an illustration. I was a satanist before I came to finally acknowledge Christ as my Lord and Savior. My weltanschauung was satanism (read my testimony for more details) to explain my understanding of  “reality” as I lived my life.

I thought that the world, as I saw it then were meaningless and purposeless if not also dreadfully uninteresting. I saw Christians, according to my worldview, as my enemies because first, they were hypocrites and did not live according to what they preach and second, they worshipped my arch-enemy–God. Within my world and life view, compassion, love, and mercy was for the weak and should be ignored by a satanist (I’m not speaking for all satanist). Satanist worldview helped me to understand what was true and real back then.

A New Pair of Christian Eyeglass

Worldview can be similar or analogous to a pair of intellectual eyeglass. I had a satanist eyeglass to view my world but this eye glass was, as I know it now, did not helped me to see more clearly about reality and truth. It was Jesus Christ who took away my satanistic eyeglass and gave me a new pair of Christian eyeglass and it did change my worldview and remarkably so. Not only that Christ administered me with a new lens, he also forgive my sins. I never took off the eyeglass of Christian worldview since then and I see more clearly that life has a meaning and is purposefully handed to us by our Creator. As a Christian my worldview holds to a belief that Satan will be conquered and the world is more than just the physical. And since a God of life, righteous, goodness, and truthfulness exists then life has its meaning, objective truth and moral values undeniably exist. This is now my weltanschauung and it is pretty much consistent with reality.

Are There Contrasting Worldviews?

Satanist worldview, as I see it now, did not conform with the reality and structure of how things work. Satanism is one among many ways one tries to explain and accept as reality of the world. It is of most importance what kind of worldview we embrace because what ever one perceives the world consciously or otherwise have consequences for ill or for good. Our particular ways of understanding of the world does not only affect ourselves but also affects those whom we love as well.

I believe and argue that not all welstanschauung are comparable with each other system of thought because they remarkably contradicts with each other. Put this simply, one of these competing worldviews are wrong and should not be embrace. So, “choose you this day!” which worldview fits and conform with reality. Before we can even take our first step in chosing worldview we must identify these contrasting way of perceiving our world. There are various system of thought out there: Atheism, Pantheism, Deism, and Agnosticism. We will try to investigate some of the predominant worldviews mentioned above. Let us first consider the worldview of atheism.

• Atheism

Atheism believes that God or gods does not exist, either beyond the universe (transcendent) and within it (immanent). They contend that the universe is self-sustaining apparatus.  According to a atheistic explanation of the universe, either the universe is eternal or it came about by random chance–by accedent–through billions of years ago. Humans wasn’t created by a fiat God but evolved unaided through natural selection decades ago, and does not have a soul. There are no such thing as absolute virtue in morality because morality of evil and goodness is part of our evolutionary make-up. Thus, God is not needed to tell us what is right and what is wrong. The destiny of humanity is neither heaven or hell but grave that’s it and that’s that plain and simple, says atheistic worldview. Atheism is also some form of a religion (naturalism) in a sense like Jainism or Buddhism.

• Pantheism

Another major worldview is pantheism, the belief that God is the universe and humans true self is God. according to pantheism God is one, infinite and usually impersonal; he is the universe. The materialistic universe is an illusion, God alone is the ultimate reality. Evil, pain, and suffering are nothing but illusion caused by errors of the mind. Pantheism are represented by certain forms of Hinduism, Zen Buddhism and the New Age.

• Deism

Deism postulates that a supernatural being such as God created the universe to only left it out to work for itself. For a deistic mind, God is somehow disinterested and inactive when it comes to human affairs. He is just only a spectator who observes His creation but do not interacts. So, the God of deism is wholly transcendent and not immanent. God created us and leaved us on our own.

• Agnosticism

The worldview of agnosticism does not exhaustively roll out God’s existence but that we as humans cannot know for sure that there is such a God (soft agnosticism). Even if there was one we cannot know it for sure (dogmatic agnosticism) says the agnostic. Thus the worldview of agnostics pleads ignorance, and even paves the way to atheism.

• Christian Theism

Christian theism believes that the observable material universe is not eternal nor did it came by chance. The universe including us was created by God a finite time ago. God is not part of the universe but apart from His creation (transcendent). Humans, did not evolved through painful gradual step of evolution but was created in the image of God (imago de) and therefore, humans are intrinsically valuable. Unlike the god of deists God deals with humanity and even interacts with them (immanent). God is one, personal, morally perfect, holy, just and infinite in all His attributes. The worldview according to a Christian believes that evil, suffering and pain is not an illusion but rather real caused by our own choice. Furthermore, evil in its presence form will be defeated by God sometimes in the near future. Morality is not relative but objective, absolute, prescriptive and is grounded in the nature of God.

I haven’t summarized these worldviews in a deeper lever and in a more concise way but my objective is to give you, at least, a simple overview and I advise you to further study these worldviews later in depth if you want. Remember though, that chosing a particular worldview does not make it your own reality because as I emphasized earlier not all of these predominant worldviews applies to reality since they all contradicts with each other. Not all can be correct at the same time in the same respect, some of these understanding of the world is in grave error. Again, the probability that the Christian weltanschauung are more coherent with the universe and all of its reality are more plausible is beyond any doubt.

My Testimony

From Satanism to Jesus Christ

“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” Eph. 5:11

 “Kill the Christian” – Glen Benton of Deicide

Someone ask me to write and publish my testimony. Well, here it is. This is my testimony and my personal story of my journey from my miserable life to the life of freedom from darkness and to forgiveness, joy and victory thanks to my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

I did not wrote this testimony in details (I wasn’t planning to write an entire biography) because I did not want this to be a lengthy testimony. I believe testimonies should be short but concise. Nevertheless, since, I’m not a good and gifted writer, I only hope and pray that this testimony will be readable.

Early Years

I was one among many, young kid who was raised in an unorthodox, legalistic, very religious environment back in the Philippines. I was thought to fear god and obey his rules. Due to my father’s negligence and irresponsibility towards his family, my parents eventually separated and my mother remarried a Swede and adopted us as his own kids. But, later in my life, as I lived in Sweden however, I became indignant and apathetic and eventually detested the religion I was raised as a kid and became disgusted by all sorts of religion in general and Christianity in particular. Why just Christiany?

Good question! Christianity for me back then was the very back bone of all religions and it was supposedly to be the religion I was raised to obey (I was wrong). I thought, in my benightedness that all religions were basically the same. Besides, I was an ignoramus about other religions too. I never heard about Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam nor did I care about the theological details about these differing faiths. 

So, in other words Christianity or not, they were all the same. I hated people who worshiped God or any kind of gods. I was consummed by hate against the God (as I have known him) that I have known and and came to learn that he was nothing but a dictator a tyrant who enjoys in my sufferings. I believed that this same God was the author of all wars, genocides, pain and evil that constantly happens in our world.

I was first an agnostic (although I never knew the terminology of it before) during my fifteen years of age  and became atheist later (I loved rock n’ roll music and was a rockabilly and listened to and idolized Elvis Presley, Stray Cats, Johnny Burnette, Eddie Cochran, Chuck Berry, etc, etc, during this years). I became an atheist for some obvious reasons. Even though I cannot say that I lost the sense of what is right and wrong. Me and my brother got into trouble in our pre-highscho0l years from stopping bullies from bullying me, our classmates and other students. We knew that bullies and bullying was and still is ill-conduct and unpassionate. So, we got into the situation where we have to fight in the school. And, obviously, bullies didn’t appreciate it so it became “war” within the school’s peremeters. They were many. We were only three! So we fought back and from that moment on they never bothered us again and other just as long we were there. From fighting bullies to city riots fighting, throwing stones both at the police authorities and neo-nazis.

Anyway, I choosed not to believe in a god who was suppressive and who did not need my worship anyways. The god I knew became an obscure type of deity and who in turn became irrelevant in my life. In short, atheism was freedom from the shackles of my childhood cultic religion. No more fear for condemnations in every little mistake I made.

And so I was free from a god who didn’t allow me to be a child. A child who needed to think childish thoughts. Then eventually, I became a devout satanist for no obvious reason. I did not plan to be part of this urban culture nor did I wished for it. I just became satanist. I was a satanist most of my early twenties. I was a satanist who did not believe in a personal existence of Satan however. 

I believe Satan to be just a mere force in nature. My conception of satanism or Satan was more like Anton La Vey’s Satan. And I was also a huge fan of Aleister Crowley. I did wished that Satan existed as a person so that I could worshiped him. Satanism made my life more sensible since the world (as I saw it) was rather dark, devoid of meaning and rather hopeless after all!  I was a hateful, aggressive, and a cynical person. Life for me was hopeless, incomplete of meaning and even useless. Suicide was the best of all options and so I believed. Music has been a factor (I listened ENDLESSLY and idolized Deicide, Cradle of Filth, Cannibal Corpse, Marduk, Hypocrisy, Morbid Angel, etc) in my life or it is still to me now, though I have radically change my preferences when it come to music (thanks Christ for this).

I had long hair, only and always dressed in black and never let go of my black leather Jacket (no matter what the weather circumstances were) and always had a inverted pentagram (as a sign of rebellion or religious identification, the three downward points symbolising rejection of the holy Trinity.) necklace. I was also fascinated with death which is why most motives of my ink-art (tattoes) are skulls one way or the other. I prefered to read satanistic literature, nude magazines, books about necromancy, witchcraft and black magic.

I also went to satanistic concerts on several occations and did my part in headbanging and stage diving. It was fun then. I did my own occultic ” ritual” every October 31st which is otherwise widely known as Halloween.

Again, I listened and idolized satanistic music (right after my rockabilly years). Without these music I listened too I though I would literally die. Satanic music was the very air I breathed. It was my life. Satanic music was the very pillar and even fueled my hate even more. Music gave me the rush in my blood (endorphin like experience) and made me think I was invincible. 

Satanic music was my power and strength. Now, I don’t necessarily say that satanist at large have the same experiences when they listened to these kind of music. I’m telling you from my own personal experiences. Satanistic music made me more hateful. 

Besides from being toxicated with hate I was also a blasphemous and filthy in every way back then. I indulged in promiscuity, pornography, witchcraft, and satanic rituals. Sex was important part of my life. I even had vivid dreams having sex with a beautiful girl (demonic experiences I pressumed). Been into numerous sexual relationships with lots of girls I came to know. I was abusive in my early relationships. I was also a moderate alcoholic and my parents never new about this but they do now and I have quit drinking alcoholic beverages since my conversion.

Turning Point 

I thought that I have found the meaning of my life. The way of life for me back then was satanic, and nihilism. It never came to my mind to alter my way of life nor did I ever thought that my life would actually change. My conversion to Christianity happened in Monrovia, California 1997. It was Sunday afternoon when it happened. My dear aunts (devout Christians) always invited me to go to church with them every Sunday morning and which I always refused. Never would I set my foot in a church much less worship a god. I’m not sure if I already told them about this.

Note: my relatives treated me with respect and love during my visit there. I stayed with them for several months yet no one pushed their religion down to my throat. They didn’t nagged at me to change my life style. All they did but love me as I was then. God bless them all!

I always got the chance to listen to my “music” every Sunday since they were at church during that day. I usually do not do anything but listen to satanistic music every Sunday. But, this particular Sunday was somehow different. For some reason I decided not to listen to any music but to watch a video film about Jesus.

I wanted to watch Jesus film not because I was interested to know about Him and His teachings. I wanted to watch it just to find something to laugh at and to find a way to ridicule it. I watch the film with no anticipation at all about its contents and messages. And so I was there sitting down, rather bored watching the Jesus film. After an hour or so, I went out to smoke a cigarette as I habitually do every hour. 

And so I went back to finish the movie. I don’t exactly remember which part of the film made me feel crying and sorry. I was sitting down watching the film and it brought tears to my eyes for some reason. I cried and sobbed then I felt that someone made my heart feel lighter and easier. It felt like someone took off all the burdens out of my heart and soul. All the anger, hate and evil thoughts disappeared at once! I felt empty yet full with an uncompassing joy that I never felt before.

My tears didn’t stop to fall from my eyes. I was crying literally crying. And it felt good crying (I thought that crying was for sissies). I ran out through the kitchens door and kneeled myself to the ground. I felt awkward of course and it was really weird. I felt very weak. So I kneeled down and asked,” why me Lord? “I blasphemed and cursed at you.” I even ripped and destroyed a bible due to my madness and idiocy.” “Why me Lord?” And so I asked for forgiveness. At the same moment, all the guilt that I had within me was obliterated.

How did I know that my experience that day made me realized that it was God who touched me? 

I just know it was God who spoked and touch my rebellious untamed soul. This kind of experience I had is difficult to share and describe exactly what was going on. From that moment on forward I rushed to my room where I slept and took every satanistic materials (books, cd’s, magazines, etc) and burned it all in just a few second. All was gone. The music that I have listened and idolized was gone. The literatures that I use to read was burned and gone. These only happened in a few minutes. Right there where I stood, I felt forgiven and cleansed from my unrighteousness.

My heart burned for Jesus Christ until now. I still asked this question until this day “why me Lord?” I live and I will die for Christ. Now I’m not telling you, my reader, that I became perfect and sinless. The fact is that I still do sin. I still have to combat with my old sinful nature. But I do trust that God will make me perfect and sinless and He is still working within my life.

This is my new life. My new passion is to share and tell people about Jesus Christ who saved me from my own folly and destruction. Jesus forgave me even though, He was my enemy (unconsciously). Now He is my best friend and my companion. He is my strength and my shield. Jesus Christ my Lord and my Savior!

As a Christian, purchased by the blood of Jesus, I spend reading amounts of time by reading and studying my Bible  and academical books. I purchase lots of books. I never cared much about education and higher learning (not my parents fault) during my troubled years. But now I do thanks to Christ and Christianity. It was my conversion that made me interested in higher learning.

Comments 

I mentioned earlier that all religions were basically the same. Whether you are a Muslim, Hindu or Christian these faiths teaches basically the same. Well, my comment is no, all religions are not or do not teach the same theologically speaking. 

These religions may appear the same on the surface but at the core of each dogmas they all contradict each other. Examine the conception of God, sin, salvation in these religions then one well find that they are not at all the same. If a good God exist why is there pain and suffering. This is an old question which is called in technical term “Theodicy” and which has already been answered by theists philosopher.

Let me give you my own point of view about this question. If you are an atheist asking this question then my answer would be in a question format “whence is goodness?” One cannot deliberately suppose that evil exist unless one knows goodness exists. In an atheistic universe no good nor evil exist. There is no contrast between this two. All is part of the cycle of life. There are lots of good reason why God allow pain and suffering. 

Further, pains are not necessarily evil. Pains in our life as a result of bad consequence can enable us to be a better person. A sick and injured man having without pain would certainly not seek for a physician. 

Anton Svandor LaVey’s Church of Satan’s disciples are deceived in believing that Satan is nothing but a mere force in nature. According to the Scripture Satan exist. He is a creature (Ezek. 28:14) and a spirit being (Eph. 6:11-12). Satan or Lucifer is a murderer (John 8:44), liar and an accuser (Rev. 12:20). Satan in his representation as a serpent (Rev. 12:9), the dragon (Rev 12:13), and the angel of light (2 Cor 11:14). The Bible teaches as that Satan is the evil one (1 John 5:19), the tempter (1 Thess 3:5), prince of this world (John 12:31) and the god of this age (2 Cor 4:4).

Fellas, beware, Satan exist and he hates your guts! Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). If you want to share your testimony to others please feel free to send it to me and I will publish it on my web site. It is of vital importance that you tell others how Jesus Christ can change life. Soli Deo Gloria!

Eternally Secured

Is It possible for a Christian who has accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and Lord, yet lose his salvation? Before attempting answering this delicate and important question we have to ask if a person is really saved. Did he have a genuine saving faith or a counterfeit based faith?

Certainly before we can be assured of our salvation and have the certainty for being eternally saved a person must be born again. Jesus Christ was is clear about this and said,

“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3)

    The above word “born again” simply means turning away from his sinful life. A born again person must live a new life, new thinking, and new aim or purposes in life and trust his salvation only in Christ.

    The Bible clearly warns against spiritual pride. Christians risks the possibility to fall into corruption of sinning or even leave his faith and become apostate (2 Peter 2:20).

    Why does this happen to a Christian in a first place? Can the cause of falling-away-from-faith from these professing Christian accepted the decision for following Christ superficially?

    There are various reasons why those who profess their faith does not have eternal security such as follows:

1. Professes the Christian faith but does not repent (Luke. 3:7-14; Acts 26:2).

2. Having religious zeal apart from the gospel (Romans 10:1-4).

3. Knowing not, saving faith always produces works (Eph. 2:8-10; Heb. 11:4,7)

    Or perhaps this believer (who lost his salvation) failed to understand that as a Christian we need to live a disciplined and holy life (Lev. 19:2) so that at the end of our “race” he would not be disqualified or even eliminated from the competition, and win the Crown of Life (1 Cor. 9:24-27)?

    Henceforth, false Christians can never lose their salvation because they never had it in the first place! Genuine Christians on the other hand if they lived consistent biblically based, Christ-like life can rest assured that they are indeed on their way to heaven and are eternally secured. 

    I am totally in disagreement with my fellow brethren who argues from the negative side that true believers in Jesus Christ can lose their salvation.

Once Secured, Always Secured!

    I would argue against the false notion that a Christian who have an intimate with Christ Jesus is in risk losing his eternal security.

    First of, it is a contradiction in term to say that saved can be unsaved. Remember a born again Christian has been saved from the following:

a. Saved from the penalty of sin (Rom. 5:9)

b. Saved from condemnation (v. 8:1)

c. Saved from eternal punishment in hell (Jude 23)

    Indeed, Jesus told us that, “He that  believeth on the Son hath (right at this very moment!) everlasting life” (John 3:36).

Born again believer have everlasting life with God in heaven not “probably” or even “maybe” but today!

    Our source of life which is none other but Jesus Christ give us the positive certainty,

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any one pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:27, 28). [emphasis mine]

    How wonderful and encouraging to read this profound word from our Lord Jesus Christ. Not only that we are assured in him he also will hold on us!

    There is no possible way that a Christian will lose, (who depends and believes in God) his salvation. Jesus says,

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).

    This is very simple, the person who hear and believe in Him shall not come into judgment. What a promise indeed! But what if a believer who had everlasting life with God lose his salvation? The Jesus Christ would not be true to his word. Yet it is impossible for God to lie (Titus 1:2).

    Again Jesus tells us,

“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:25)

    All we have to do is to believe in him who is “the resurrection and life” only then we have eternal life. Paul the Apostle responded to the jailer and said,

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31)

    It is hard for me to reconcile between the genuine believer who is saved will ever be unsaved. On the top of this, it is important to remember that security is based on the grace of God and the fact that eternal life is a gift. 

     Of course, this is ONLY true for “born again” Christian.

Re-checking Christians Attitude Towards God

    If you are a Christian and is saved by the grace of God then, you don’t have any reason doubting your eternal security.

    However, if you as a believer still doubts your salvation, then it is only advisable to re-check our personal relationship and attitude towards our Savior. If we really want and willing with whole our mind and soul to get right in-tune with God we must check the following:

1. Do I have a present trust in Christ for salvation?

2. Is there evidence of a renewing work of the Holy Spirit in my heart?

3. Do I see a long-term relationship of growth in my Christian life?

Again, remember if you are already a believer then be certain and be assured of your eternal security. Make sure we’re not one of whom Jesus rebuked,

“Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven…I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Matt. 7:21,23).

Apologetics and Its Necessity

Introduction

Long time ago, before I met Christ and accepted him as Lord and personal Savior, I wasn’t really interested into reading and studying academic books. Books was an obscure, incomprehensible entity to my taste. I never even bothered to read newspapers or other novels just for curiosity. No, books was a waste of time, and so I believed. But when I became a follower of Jesus Christ almost twelve years ago, I felt the sudden hunger for knowledge. I never felt this craving for knowing and learning before in my life. And so I become a “bookworm” (a person devoted to reading and studying). While not neglecting studying my Bible, I indulge and keep indulging myself in reading books that touches the areas of epistemology, ethics, church history, metaphysics, theology and philosophy. There is not an hour or a minute that I actually have been in negligence with my studies until this very day. My passion in studies leads me to study apologetics and its discipline and reading other apologetical methodologies. So, my major part in my life is having possessions of numerous academical books and yes you can call me bibliophilia so much so, I find a quote from Erasmus rather telling of my condition: “When I have a little money I buy books, and if any is left, I buy food and clothes.”

    By studying certain subject (s) I came to understand the importance of knowledge and how we as thinking person should not waste our God given mind by not learning, thinking well and avoiding much irrationality or faulty thinking.  Besides from reading the Scripture, apologetics has been a great help to me because it involves, not only in knowing how to defend my faith, but it  has also given me much insight that apologetics as a discipline makes you more able and prepared in handling skeptics objections against your Christian faith. Being exposed to apologetics is absolutely not peripheral but essentially crucial in our Christian world and life view. It is really sad that not all Christians even seriously considers the study of apologetics. In this essay I will try to explain, in this essay what apologetics is and then we will proceed to why the discipline of apologetics is necessary. May you find this written material helpful and inspiring in your pursuit in studying apologetics.

What Is Apologetics?

I went to Wushu Kung Fu Academy in Stockholm and I studied there with my brother for five years under the instruction of Lois Lin. The training was quite rigid and uncomfortable because it requires techniques, skills, stamina as well as flexibility in your part. Timing was also important and so is balance. I was probably almost fifteen years of age when I begun training martial arts because it, not only teaches you to have self-control, it teaches you how to defend yourself against any kind of assault. Having knowledge in martial arts or self-defense can be very quite handy now a days, one must fight or defend through any kind of situations with little damage on your part as possible. While, Kung Fu is good with physical and mental training, it also teaches you how to defend yourself from anyone. Apologetics is almost the same as Kung Fu but not quite. Wushu, involves physical, muscular, balance, timing, strength etc., If there is no other way to avoid confrontation, one must engage and even damage your opponent in order for you not to be in his situation. Apologetics on the other hand need not have any physical confrontation but only verbal, logical, rational argumentation, and and so fort. Wushu is an art of defense while apologetics is also an art of defense and it has to do more in thinking logically and defending your faith.

Apologetics (Greek apologia) means defense as I have mentioned earlier. To give an “apology” does not hereby mean to apologize or showing regret. It means to give a rational defense of what or why you believe in certain things be it God, the Bible, Jesus and your world and life view as a Christian. Defending the Christian faith is not an option but a command to do apologetics and explain to whom why we believe what we believe. Peter a disciple of Jesus Christ wrote,

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. (1 Peter 3:15-16)

In additional of our understanding what apologetics is, Norman Geisler wrote,

The most important reason to do apologetics is that God told us so. The classic statement of 1 Peter 3:15, which says, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” This verse tells us to be ready. We may never run across someone who asks tough questions about our faith, but we should still be ready to respond if someone does. [Normal L. Geisler, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, Baker Books, p. 37]

Thus, Christian apologetics seeks to serve God and the church by assisting fellow Christians to carry out the mandate of 1 Peter 3:15-16. This particular verse tells us to be on alert and ready if someone or somebody ask us tough questions about our faith. We may not always encounter tough questions about our faith but we should still be on the look out nevertheless. And if this happens we should not run and hide and hope the skeptics will soon vanish into thin air. Rather, we should answer him or her whatever the skeptic have in mind only with meekness and fear. I think we must keep in mind is that not all skeptics are sincere in knowing the answer of why you believe what you believe. Some, if not most skeptics are just out to win or with an axe to grind, and probably wants a simple quarrel, and if this happens, then no reason for giving him an answer in why you believe what you believe, because this will only cause unnecessary, waste of time discussion, that should not have happened in the first place. Likewise, as a martial artist, I have been told not to look for a fight nor fight if absolute necessary. If anyone challenges you to fight, as an self-defense practitioner, one is likely to ignore. The manners or code of conduct as a martial artist is to avoid trouble as much as possible and not to use the skills of fighting when one is provoked or challenged. This is true with apologetics in some sense though some challenges (debate) from skeptics should be faced head on just to demonstrate that their arguments are futile. In addition with our discussion, doing apologetics is more than just an intellectual task or having a brain tease. It actually enhances our understanding about God, Jesus, Scripture, science, philosophy and the discipline of theology. By having a greater insight in the area of apologetics, makes us more prepared in handling various objections against the Christian faith. Philosopher Greg L. Bahnsen wrote,

According to Cornelius Van Til, apologetics aims to defend the Christian faith by answering the variety of challenges leveled against it by unbelievers, thereby vindicating the Christian philosophy of life (world view) over against all non-Christian philosophies of life (world views). [Greg L Bahnsen, Van Til's Apologetic, P&R Publishing, p.29]

The Necessity Of Apologetics

The world is never a safe place whether you a an expert of martial arts or not. Likewise, the Christian faith is never safe or accepted in the market of ideas but is constantly marginalized. Hostility, antagonism, mocking, and persecution towards the Christian faith is common and is unlikely to refrain. Our Lord Jesus warned us that,

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you (Jn. 15:18-19)

The beloved apostles faced similar hostility and persecution yet did not commence to witness and boldly defended their faith even unto their death of martyrdom. Though martyrdom for having the faith in Jesus Christ is uncommon in the Western hemisphere, the mocking, hostility and some form of persecution against Christians is prevalent. News media, Hollywood filmmakers, politicians , teachers, professors, etc., are united in one common agenda and this is to destroy Christianity once and for all. Why? The as the apostle Paul said, “The carnal mind is enmity against God” (Rom. 8:7). What this mean is that, the mind of the flesh is hostile to God and can never submit itself to the law of God. Becoming a faithful follower of Christ is to renew our thinking and not have the same mind of the carnal mind of the unbeliever because it is hostile to God. Again Paul wrote,

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Rom. 12:2).

The Christian mind should not be conformed (be similar) to the way of the rest of the world (“age” or “era”). The enmity against God, and its sinful, dehumanizing values should not be entwined by the believer, instead, the believer should be transformed (Gk. metamorphoo, “change”) by the renewing of the mind. Godly transformation starts in the mind and heart. In his two great commandments, Jesus Christ thought this to his disciples namely to, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mk. 12:30). Followers of Christ who are steadfastly allured by the philosophy of the world are unlikely to love their Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. Doing apologetics is one of the means by loving God with all our minds, strengths, soul and heart. The Christian mind who is in accord with his faith in Jesus Christ are likely to be able to distinguish falsity and irrational arguments augmented by the carnal minds of the world. The enmity of the world against God and its false pretensions (atheism, nihilism, evolutionism, communism, homosexuality, false religions etc.,) contradicts the Christian mind. The Christian mind, by correctly being discerned (between coherent and incoherent in thinking) do not stand in common ground with the unbelieving mind, nor does he be neutral. Paul warns Christians in Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Bahnsen as quoted earlier commented,

By attempting to be neutral in your thought you are a prime target for being robbed– by “vain philosophy” of all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” which are deposited in Christ alone (cf. v.3). Paul explains that vain philosophy is that which follows the world and not Christ; it is thinking which subsuppositionally committed to Christ in all of our thinking. [Greg L Bahnsen, Always Ready, Covenant Media Foundation, p.5]

Not only that Christians should transform their minds and not to conform with the philosophy of the world, Christian apologists might strive also in defending the Gospel of Christ against those who ridicule, and mock it. Paul said, “Inasmuch as both in my bonds (prisoned), and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.” (Phil. 1:7) What Paul is telling us is that he defended and confirmed the gospel against opponents’ assault and were not silence even while in prison. Not only that Christians ought to defend the Gospel from the claws of its enemies, iy should also be advanced by witnessing to unbelieving mind. To many arguments has been advanced by atheists, and Muslims alike, for instance, the historical reliability of the Gospel, the true deity of Christ, the existence of God and so forth, yet the Scripture reminds us to “let God be true, but every man a liar.” (Rom 3:4) The Christian soldier have the obligation to devastate the skeptics prideful objection of God, His Son etc.,

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ ( II Cor. 10:3-5).

Paul reminds his fellow believers in Christ that they are at war in the world of ideologies against the unbelieving mind–the carnal mind. The Christian apologists cannot afford being neutral and carnally minded. The loyal servant of Jesus Christ should cast down the arguments that exalts itself against the knowledge of the Creator and Savior which is God. The strong holds of neo-atheism and its false pretension of arguments should be demolished by confronting it with cogent, logical, Christ-centered apologetics, yet with love and respect. The “strong holds” of the 21st century that we should be busy engaging in demolishing against their false pretenses are the neo-atheists such as Dawkins, Hitchen, Harris, Dennet and story teller and author of the Golden Compass, Philip Pullman. These infidels are not only anti-God but also anti-Christian. You don’t have to take my word for it, all you have to do is read the literatures of these fundamentalist atheists. If these militant atheists mentioned above were granted political power, Christians would probably end up similar to Hitler’s concentration camp probably for brain examination, because belief in God, Jesus, angels, hell and heaven, according to them, is a sign of having brain damage. These men as well as other secularists out there are not you average atheists. Their intentions is no longer to befriend Christians and convert them to atheism but sees us as disillusioned, fanatical sponges worthy of desolation.

God created this universe including you and I but most of us doesn’t want God to be our ruler and King in our lives. We prefer our own selfish, sinful way of life and so we tend to suppress God and worship the things that the Creator created more than Himself. Amongst the things we adore and worship which God made is our minds. We repress the Creator who created our mind by using it in denying His existence. The very mind that God endowed upon us has become the primary weapon in denying His existence. The is exactly what the prideful, militant, fundamentalist neo-atheist has been doing for all eons. They denied their Creator and even insults Him with their arrogance and consuming hate. The neo-atheists are the “sage” of this world. They call themselves the “Brights” or “wise men.” They are the Enlightened of the 21st century since the Renaissance. But, these wise men has been confounded by God as fools. “Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” (I Cor. 1:20).

Christians who engages in apologetics on the other hand doesn’t need to fear the arguments made by fools because God grants him understanding in all things (II Tim. 2:7). Should Christian be intimidated by atheists ridicule and hostility? No, because God has not given the Christian spirit of fear but with a sound mind (II Tim. 1:7). Before taking stand by defending our faith against infidels we must learn that wisdom and knowledge can only be located in Christ. True knowledge (of God) cannot be found in realm of atheism and also in the realm of world religions. “In whom [Christ] are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Col. 2:3 ) [emphasis mine]. The Christian mind cannot adopt the carnal mind way of thinking because the believer can only have full access of the true wisdom and knowledge in none other but Christ Jesus. The Christian world and life view is far more rational and realistic than any other kind of anti-Christian world view combined. If the God of the Bible exist, and that he came into the world by entering time and space and became in the person of Jesus and lived with us for a moment then crucified and died for our sin, and then rose back to life three days later and ascended back to heaven really is true (which it is!), then why should we fear antagonistic philosophies that undermines the Christian faith? We have no reason to fear in reasoning by defending the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the truthfulness of Christianity.

Is apologetics necessary? I already given you my answer. The discipline of apologetics is mandated by God. Apologetics is needed today as it was needed two thousand years ago. By doing apologetics in different areas of human enterprise (epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, aesthetics, logic etc.,) can be divided in three ways. Apologetics can be used as proof, as defense and as offense. More about this later in my The Discipline of Apologetics article.

Atheist At Birth?

Empiricism teaches us that we can know things by seeing and observing by our senses. British philosopher and an empiricist John Locke once wrote that we are born Tabula Rasa which means blank slate in Latin refers to the epistemological thesis that individuals are born without built-in mental content and that their knowledge comes from experience and perception. Atheists in their logical conclusion tells us that since we are born blank slate i.e. without knowing the existence of a god or gods then we must be natural born atheists.

There are lots of ways to counter this statement. It is probably true in a sense that we do not know anything about God or gods or anything at all (including atheism for that matter) since birth. Thus, I presume that we are neither theists nor atheists since birth. Plus, there are big difference between unconscious and nonconscious.

A person can be conscious towards his opponent but he will be unconscious towards him but also his own sorroundings if he is not careful and quick enough to dodge those strong, unstoppable upper cut! In the case of the nonconscious which most of us went  through at birth cannot hardly be said to be (un)conscious (to be atheist or theist) in what ever presupposition one might adhere to.

Such early labelling to infant is unjustified if not desperate in my view. Moreover, one need not go through a painful child birth in order to become an atheist. Young or old, rich or poor, people as such becomes atheists too for some particular reasons. Also, the Scripture clearly opposes the idea of being born a Christian or a materialist.

My conclusion is that an infant at birth is neutral as far as the debate between atheism and theism is concerned. But let us say, for the sake of the argument, that we are born atheists while at birth and that we only become aware of God because someone told us so. Does this argument hold water? I do not think so. First of all, as I explained above, we are nonconscious at birth knowing nothing at all and must be taught, and later take it upon ourselves to learn, anything and everything that we will ever know or believe, including atheism.

In addition, as someone humorously said, “we are natural-born bed wetters but that does not mean that we should remain that way.” Besides, the statement that we only believe in God because someone told us so, does not say that God does not exist. It still might be true that God exist even if no one told us to believe in him. Just because belief in God is something that is taught does not discredit belief in God. It would be fallacious to claim that God does not exist because human beings invented the idea of God’s existence.

Is Slavery Sanctioned By The Bible?

By Reeves

There are many myths propped up by secular skeptics and among these is that Bible condones slavery. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

First of, The Bible does not specifically condemn the practice of slavery. It gives instructions on how slaves should be treated (Deuteronomy 15:12-15; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 4:1), but does not outlaw the practice altogether.

Many see this as the Bible condoning all forms of slavery. People of our generation, Christians included, tend to have a very hard time with this, because it seems to amount to a tacit approval of the institution, and we balk at the idea that God did not consider the institution itself to be immoral.

Created In God’s Image

It is crystal clear that the Scripture denounces slavery as sin. Slave traders are condemned and punishable by God in the New Testament (1Tim. 1:10). Slavery within the Old Testament context was sanctioned due to poverty rather than racial prejudice. In ancient Israel, people who could not provide for themselves or their families sold them into slavery so they would not die of starvation or exposure. 

In this way, a person would receive food and housing in exchange for labor. Bankruptcy laws as we have here in Sweden did not obviously existed then, so people would actually voluntarily sell themselves into slavery. 

So obviously slavery during Old Testament times was not what we commonly recognize as slavery, such as that practiced in the 17th century Americas, when Africans were captured and forcibly brought to work on plantations.

From the very beginning of time, God declared that all humans are created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). While the Bible as a whole recognizes the reality of slavery it nowhere promotes or condones the practice of owning a slave.

As a matter of fact, the law of the Scripture demanded that slaves eventually be set free (Ex. 21:2; Lev. 25:40) and that servants ought to be treated with respect (Ex. 21:20,26). The apostle Paul recognized the liberating truth that all people are created by God with innate equality, and declared;

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for all one in Christ” (Gal. 3:28).

Understanding The Ancient ‘Slavery’

Part of the problem is that we have false ideas about what slavery was really like. The life of a slave was not easy, but we get an exaggerated idea of the hardships of slavery from watching movies or reading historical material that is written on a popular level. Here the purpose is usually to dramatize the plight of slaves or to make some point about the evils of slavery in general, but the historical reality was less dramatic.

Slavery in Biblical times was very different from the slavery that was practiced in the past few centuries in many parts of the world. The slavery in the Scripture both Old and New Testament was not based exclusively on race. People were not enslaved because of their nationality or the color of their skin. In Bible times, slavery was more of a social status.

when thinking about slavery we tend to have in mind the recent slavery of the black race in America, and so the whole subject of slavery gets mixed up with the issue of racism. But in ancient times, slavery was not associated with any particular race i.e. Black people were considered slaves because of their nationality – many slave owners truly believed black people to be “inferior human beings” to white people. The Bible most definitely does condemn race-based slavery (Ex. 13:14). 

Not A Book Of Reform

“Everybody is equal in God’s eyes” is the premise, taken utterly for granted here, and in a rather sweeping way that includes not only spiritual matters but also matters of church government. But the authors of the Bible knew nothing of such modern egalitarian notions.

The crucial point is that the purpose of the Bible is to point the way to salvation, not to reform society. So the myth and slander about the Bible promotes slavery is without merit and proof to support their allege accusation.

Slavery, or the ownership of a persons by another or others as we understand the terms were not sanctioned by the inspired writers of both Old and New Testament. Slavery as such were largely practiced mostly by heathens from the ancient Greek to the Middle Ages and were common among the Vikings who carried on a brisk slave trade with the East, while Germanic warrior-settlers enslaved so many Slavs that their name (Sclavus) became the basis for the very word ’slave.’

Acceptance and practicing slavery ceased among these barbarians when they finally converted to Christianity. While there were indeed Christians (nominals) who sadly enough condoned and owned slaves as their private property by using the Bible to justify their corruption. The Scripture never said, “Go thy way and capture thee slave” statement. 

As we have seen from this study, the idea that the Scriptures encourages or approves of slavery is shown to be false.

The Origins of Halloween

By Reeves

The Origin of Halloween

Most of us when we see pumpkin (or otherwise known as Jack-o-Lantern) we think of Halloween. Little kids find it very fascinating and awesome as some adults do. But few of us know how or where the celebration of Halloween originated and what it means for us as Christians.

When I was a satanist, Halloween was somehow “sacred” and mystical in a lot of ways. I’m sure that October 31st is a special day for satanists, witches, occultists, and even for the ordinary people. Now that I’m cleansed and was bought a price with the holy blood of Christ, I no longer toy with it.

Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (SOW-IN) AND is a pagan holiday that is celebrated on October 31. It marks the end of Summer and the beginning of Winter. The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1.

This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.

It was a pagan belief that on one night of the year the souls of the dead return to their original homes, there to be entertained with food. If food and shelter were not provided, these evil spirits would cast spells and cause havoc toward those failing to fulfill their requests.Sacrifices were offered on this night to the dead spirits because it was thought they visited their earthly dwellings and former friends.

Going from a Celtic Celebration to Christianity

By the 800’s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints’ Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. Some experts believe that he was attempting to replace the pagan holiday with a Christian celebration. Pope Gregory III later changed the date of remembrance to November 1 when he dedicated a chapel in St. Peter’s Basilica to “all saints.” November 1 became All Saints Day, otherwise known as All Hallow’s Day.