Apostasy

No longer just an individual problem.

            Individuals can become apostate for of a variety of reasons, like unanswered questions and doctrinal doubts. But what happens when whole churches preach & teach socially acceptable thoughts instead of sticking to scripture?

            It’s so simple to just deny God’s existence or the infallibility of His Word. Question everything and base your set of beliefs on how you feel about various subjects. People get hooked up with a charismatic preacher, teacher, or traveling evangelist who speaks authoritatively on cultural, and / or socially acceptable topics to bring doubt to the masses that engage with them. 

            Things like homosexuality, gender-neutral wording, and evolution, when spoken with the proper authoritative rhetoric, can sway many to believe that which they had been told was ungodly isn’t at all. People can be spiritually lazy, in that they rely on others to spoon feed them biblical doctrine rather than dig for the truth on their own. Doubts regarding the existence of God or the validity of scripture are no doubt common, but that doesn’t scare or concern the Almighty One. That’s what our free will allows. 

            One thing that Christians need to learn is not to dog those who believe differently than us. We MUST reflect the true nature of Christ and not free wheel our approach based on anything other than love, compassion, and mercy. Making people aware of what we consider to be the truth is our mission. They have every right to reject what we, and by extension, God, has to say. But it behooves those seekers to diligently search high and low for the correct answer and not just AN answer. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Human Tongue

“When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” - James 3:3-6

            Just as one word from God can change one’s situation forever in a good way, one word from the mouth of a man can bring havoc, pain and in the end, destruction. Fortunately, we serve a God who understands us better than we understand ourselves. He is infinitely patient and kind, yet not hesitant to chide or punish when necessary to pull any one of us back onto the path He’s set for us.

                  The tongue is an interesting tool that is at our disposal 24/7 to say whatever our minds trigger us to say. What comes out depends almost entirely on what you feed in. The ever popular computer jargon “garbage in, garbage out” applies here. It only stands to reason that if you feed in things that are positive, loving, edifying, encouraging and Godly then that is what’s going to come out. How could it not? But feed in anger, hate, discord, profanity, pornography, and anything else THIS world has to offer, well, I think you can imagine what results you’d get.

                   “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” ^{[Romans 12:2]}

We must allow our minds to be directed by the Holy Spirit. We must feed ourselves things that are pleasing to God. Only then can we expect the full measure of God’s mercy and grace to be realized in our lives.

                  We should definitely take the time to thank God for His infinite patience toward us. We are unequivocally unworthy of His favor; however, He has chosen to bathe us in His grace. Thank God He doesn’t act on our behalf based on what we deserve. Unmerited favor is what grace is all about. May we never treat it as a cheap thing. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministry

Struggling with Sin?

You’re not alone

“So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. 

                  So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”  “... letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. * But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.” ^[1]

Take heart my dear brothers and sisters ... we battle sin every day, every one of us. Even the Apostle Paul struggled as evidenced in the portion of scripture above. However, if we trust God and place your focus on him daily as our personal leader and guide then we shall defeat sin in every quarter. Hear his word and act upon it to avoid the pain of falling into another sinful temptation. God is the answer to every important question. 

Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In his name & for his glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

* Not physical death, but rather spiritual death.

[1] Romans 7:14-25; 8:1-2, 6-8 NLT

Speak life, not death

“To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.” – Proverbs 25:12 New Living Translation

            Criticism for criticisms sake is unnecessary. Some folks simply like to criticize others. They don’t have a good word for anyone at anytime. It could be a reflection of their own life and situations that they are going thru, but one thing is for sure, they don‘t seem to see anything wrong with freely offering destructive criticism.

                  There is, however, such a thing as “valid” or constructive criticism. It is based on seeing someone doing something that is either being done wrong or could be done an easier way, just for example. Constructive criticism could be seeing bad behavior in action and trying to dissuade them from continuing. Either way, there is nothing wrong with valid criticism as long as it is done with grace and mercy. 

                  To constructively criticize someone is to encourage and edify by way of instruction. Those who offer criticism of correction are offering life-giving correction. If you keep your focus on Christ you will be more prone to the positive side of things then the negative. Offer life rather than suffocating the spirit in someone. 

Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: www.biblegateway.com

Note:  “If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise.” - Proverbs 15:31 New Living Translation

A Lesson from Samuel

“Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.” Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer.” 1 Samuel 8:5-7 New Living Translation

 

            1 Samuel 8:1-22 tells the story of Samuel, his sons & the people of Israel wanting a King like the surrounding nations. This falls under the category of ‘be careful what you ask for, because you just might get it’.  

                  Samuel was very old and his sons were not at all like him, in that they were greedy, accepting bribes & corrupting justice. The people saw this and instead of turning to God, asked Samuel for a King to rule over them just like the nations that surrounded them. This King, they reasoned, would rule over them and lead them into battle.  Samuel would not at all pleased with their request, considering it a major slap in the face. God recognized what was happening here and essentially said to Samuel give them what they want for they do not wish to have me rule over them any longer. 

                  The point of my looking at this portion of scripture from the Old Testament is that there are things and circumstances that we all wish to have or take place. We don’t pray about it, we just want it to happen so badly they we assume God would surely honor our request. I mean, why wouldn’t he? Doesn’t the Bible say God gives us the desires of our hearts? It is at that precise moment that we lose sight of what God may want for us and replace it with our own selfish wants.  The fact of the matter is that we cannot know all that God knows about our life. He created us and therefore knows us more intimately than we could ever know.  This is why it is imperative to lay everything before the Lord and wait.  God’s best is far greater than our biggest wants, desires and dreams and that is what he has planned for us, nothing but the absolute best.

                  So when you feel like there is something you either must have or a situation that you must have take place, remember the Israelites from 1^st Samuel and seek to determine what God’s will is in the situation. God has no particular timetable when it comes to what we want or don’t want. He knows the best time for his will to manifest itself in your life. So put your desires aside and rely on God to know what you truly need in this life. If your desires line up with his desires for you, then you can be confident it will come to pass. You have never been, nor shall you ever be short changed and some day you may be glad you never received what you felt you had to have. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!  

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: www.biblegateway.com

Why did God create us knowing we would sin?

God created humanity, knowing we would sin, to reveal the fullness of His character and love while demonstrating the power of His redemption. He established a relationship with us based on free will, allowing for the possibility of rebellion, so our love for Him would be genuine and meaningful (Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15). The fall of humanity did not surprise God; rather, it set the stage for the greatest act of love—the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ for our sins (Romans 5:8; Ephesians 1:4–5). Through our struggles, God’s grace is magnified, teaching us dependence, humility, and the transformative power of His redemptive work (2 Corinthians 12:9; 5:17). Ultimately, God's plan is perfect, using our imperfections to draw us into a deeper relationship with Him and to reflect His glory to the world (Romans 8:28–30).

By creating us and allowing us to fall, God displayed His mercy, grace, forgiveness, and sovereignty. Redemption through Christ shows us the depth of God’s love and commitment to restoring the relationship. It serves the purpose of establishing God’s sovereignty over sin, death, and Satan. God used the Fall for His sovereign purposes and plan for creation and mankind. He also used even the Fall to reveal His character and glory.

God created us to invite us into a relationship that brings Him glory. In allowing the possibility of sin, God could show His justice and righteousness by dealing with sin, as well as His incredible grace and mercy by providing the way of salvation through Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23–26). The Fall was not the end of the story, but the beginning of God’s divine narrative that displays His glorious character and purposes to redeem and restore to the world. Through our journey, God’s purpose unfolds, revealing that His grace is sufficient even in our weakness and failures (2 Corinthians 12:9). As He draws us into a relationship with Himself, we see that His plan is always perfect—using even our imperfections to display His glory and to bring us into a deeper, everlasting fellowship with Him (Romans 8:28–30).

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.compellingtruth.org; Compelling Truth is the Discipleship site of Got Questions Ministries. 

What is a Theocracy?

A theocracy is a system of government in which religious leaders hold political power, often invoking divine authority and basing laws on religious texts. It essentially means "government by God". In a theocracy, religious principles often shape governance, policies, and societal norms. The primary source of power in a theocracy is a religious body or individual who claims to represent divine authority. Laws and policies are often derived from religious texts and doctrines, with the belief that they are divinely guided. 

 

Is Heaven a Theocracy?

Yes, traditionally, heaven is considered a theocracy in the sense that it is ruled by God. This concept is rooted in the belief that God is the ultimate authority and the source of all power and wisdom in the heavenly realm. 

In the context of heaven, God is viewed as the ultimate, supreme, sovereign ruler.  Religious texts and beliefs often portray heaven as a realm where God's authority is absolute, and his laws are upheld by heavenly beings. Earthly theocracies involve human religious leaders exercising power, heaven is a realm where God himself directly governs. 

  In the Abrahamic faiths, heaven is often depicted as a place where God's will is supreme and his presence is felt in all aspects of existence. In the Christian faith, heaven is often described as a place where God's will is perfectly carried out and where all beings are in harmony with his divine plan. 

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries