Q: Do horses go to heaven?
A: No. Only people go to heaven. And even then, only the people who are reconciled to God through Jesus Christ go to heaven.
We always like our animals and like to think of dogs, cats or even horses as being with us in heaven. We're just certain that God is such a fan of them as we are. But consider that if horses went to heaven, so would feral hogs, skunks, goats and all sorts of critters. Heaven is for spiritual beings. Animals are not and have never been spiritual beings.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Biblical Names?
Q: Why do so many people name their kids after characters in the Bible? Is that disrespectful or respectful to do so?
A: I'm not sure that so many people do. There are hundreds, if not thousands of names in the Bible ... and most of them are not used or even considered useful in modern culture. Consider the last time you heard of someone naming their child Ichabod, or Habakkuk, to name a few. At the same time, I believe that quite often people give their child a new without realizing that it is from the Bible or what it's original meaning might have been. (Most names had a Hebrew meaning that may have described the character or heritage of the individual.)
When people do knowingly give their child a name from the Bible, it is most likely because they prefer the sound of that name. Or perhaps they admire the individual and feel in some way that they are honoring that individual by re-using their name. Curiously, nobody in western culture names their child Jesus - or any of the names for God.
It could be respectful to name your child after a particular character in the Bible. This would be tantamount to name the child after a favorite grandmother, etc. I don't see any way that naming your child after a Bible character could be disrespectful though. It's curious to me that you would ask. Somehow I get the feeling that your question doesn't represent all that's on your mind in this regard.
A: I'm not sure that so many people do. There are hundreds, if not thousands of names in the Bible ... and most of them are not used or even considered useful in modern culture. Consider the last time you heard of someone naming their child Ichabod, or Habakkuk, to name a few. At the same time, I believe that quite often people give their child a new without realizing that it is from the Bible or what it's original meaning might have been. (Most names had a Hebrew meaning that may have described the character or heritage of the individual.)
When people do knowingly give their child a name from the Bible, it is most likely because they prefer the sound of that name. Or perhaps they admire the individual and feel in some way that they are honoring that individual by re-using their name. Curiously, nobody in western culture names their child Jesus - or any of the names for God.
It could be respectful to name your child after a particular character in the Bible. This would be tantamount to name the child after a favorite grandmother, etc. I don't see any way that naming your child after a Bible character could be disrespectful though. It's curious to me that you would ask. Somehow I get the feeling that your question doesn't represent all that's on your mind in this regard.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Predestination
Q: How do we know that predestination is real? I mean where exactly does the Bible spell it out? Aren't people who believe in predestination reading a lot into Scripture ... maybe more than even God intended?
A: Oh my gosh, there are literally dozens and dozens of Bible verses in both the Old and New Testaments that confirm the concept of predestination. It starts with Adam & Eve in the garden. God created the world and everything in it. Then He laid forth some guidelines. When Adam & Eve failed to follow them, God told them how it was going to be. In fact, He told them how it was going to be for all of mankind!
The theme continues in many chapters and verses. An Old Testament favorite is Jeremiah 1:4-5, where God says, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart ..." He's basically saying that we were known spiritual beings before we started down that path to become human beings. And when we became human beings, God had a plan in place for us.
A New Testament favorite is Romans 8:29-30, where the Apostle Paul tells us that, "For those God foreknew He predestined to be conformed in the image of His Son ... and those He predestined He also called; and those He called He also justified; and those He justified He also glorified." What Paul is saying is that God knew which of us would become Christ-followers. And He created us with the plan that we become spiritually like His own Son (Jesus). In other words, when we became human beings, God knew us and had a plan for us (as humans).
There are so many other Bible verses that confirm the concept of predestination, that it would be impossible to list them all here without bringing the blog server down! Seriously, there are just too many for there to be a practical debate. But as you read the Bible, notice how things are explained in terms of what will happen. "If you do this, God will do that. If this happens, then that will be the outcome." Basically anywhere you see this, you're seeing predestination.
God has a plan and a will. He didn't create chaos to rule itself. And God's will being carried out is predestination. It is the action of God deciding how things will be and how things will happen. And it is the action of God following up to see that things go down that way.
A: Oh my gosh, there are literally dozens and dozens of Bible verses in both the Old and New Testaments that confirm the concept of predestination. It starts with Adam & Eve in the garden. God created the world and everything in it. Then He laid forth some guidelines. When Adam & Eve failed to follow them, God told them how it was going to be. In fact, He told them how it was going to be for all of mankind!
The theme continues in many chapters and verses. An Old Testament favorite is Jeremiah 1:4-5, where God says, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart ..." He's basically saying that we were known spiritual beings before we started down that path to become human beings. And when we became human beings, God had a plan in place for us.
A New Testament favorite is Romans 8:29-30, where the Apostle Paul tells us that, "For those God foreknew He predestined to be conformed in the image of His Son ... and those He predestined He also called; and those He called He also justified; and those He justified He also glorified." What Paul is saying is that God knew which of us would become Christ-followers. And He created us with the plan that we become spiritually like His own Son (Jesus). In other words, when we became human beings, God knew us and had a plan for us (as humans).
There are so many other Bible verses that confirm the concept of predestination, that it would be impossible to list them all here without bringing the blog server down! Seriously, there are just too many for there to be a practical debate. But as you read the Bible, notice how things are explained in terms of what will happen. "If you do this, God will do that. If this happens, then that will be the outcome." Basically anywhere you see this, you're seeing predestination.
God has a plan and a will. He didn't create chaos to rule itself. And God's will being carried out is predestination. It is the action of God deciding how things will be and how things will happen. And it is the action of God following up to see that things go down that way.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Complete Forgiveness
Q: I know that Christ-followers are compelled to forgive everyone and everything. And I've read your blog about sometimes God has to help bring about that kind of complete forgiveness. So what are the signs of complete forgiveness? How do you know if the forgiveness is sufficient, adequate, complete, etc.?
A: Complete forgiveness is always evidenced by actions. If I forgive you, but don't ever want to see you again - my forgiveness isn't complete. Another way to look at it is that the result of completed forgiveness will always be reconciliation.
When God forgives us, He separates us from our sin "as far as the east is from the west." (Psalm 103:12) And then God treats us as if we had never sinned. He relates to us as though the sin had never been committed at all. In His eyes, we are sinless.
This is the kind of forgiveness that Christ-followers are compelled to offer others. We'll have a hard time, as humans, separating them from the offense "as far as the east is from the west." that's why we most likely will need God's help to accomplish that level of effective forgiveness. So if you want to know whether or not the forgiveness is real and complete, look at the strength of the reconciliation. Is the relationship completely restored - as though the matter to be forgiven had never happened? If not, then the forgiveness needs more work.
A: Complete forgiveness is always evidenced by actions. If I forgive you, but don't ever want to see you again - my forgiveness isn't complete. Another way to look at it is that the result of completed forgiveness will always be reconciliation.
When God forgives us, He separates us from our sin "as far as the east is from the west." (Psalm 103:12) And then God treats us as if we had never sinned. He relates to us as though the sin had never been committed at all. In His eyes, we are sinless.
This is the kind of forgiveness that Christ-followers are compelled to offer others. We'll have a hard time, as humans, separating them from the offense "as far as the east is from the west." that's why we most likely will need God's help to accomplish that level of effective forgiveness. So if you want to know whether or not the forgiveness is real and complete, look at the strength of the reconciliation. Is the relationship completely restored - as though the matter to be forgiven had never happened? If not, then the forgiveness needs more work.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Relative Conflict
Q: I have a relative whom I am almost constantly fighting with about something. No matter how much I resolve to "get along" it seems we still end up in conflict with each other. What can I do?
A: God is not the author of conflict. Rather He is the author of unity. So let's start there. This conflict that you have then is not of God. It is therefore caused by some evil somewhere. James 4:1 tells us that arguments and other sorts of conflict are caused by "desires that battle within you" - which are evil in nature.
What does that mean? It means that whenever there is conflict there is sin. It may be your sin. It may be his sin. I may be both of you who are in sin. It may even be the sin of a third party that causes you to quarrel. But whatever the source, you can be sure that sin is behind the conflict.
Christ followers have only three options when it comes to being impacted by the sin of others. First, we can confront it and try to change it. Second, we can forgive it and overlook it. Or third, if the confrontation hasn't been effective - we can separate from the source. In other words, just because someone is a blood relative doesn't require you to maintain a relationship with them ... if you've tried to address the source of the sin and they won't back off.
The only thing wrong between you and your relative then is your reaction to each other. Look for the sin, and then ask God to show you how best to respond to it.
A: God is not the author of conflict. Rather He is the author of unity. So let's start there. This conflict that you have then is not of God. It is therefore caused by some evil somewhere. James 4:1 tells us that arguments and other sorts of conflict are caused by "desires that battle within you" - which are evil in nature.
What does that mean? It means that whenever there is conflict there is sin. It may be your sin. It may be his sin. I may be both of you who are in sin. It may even be the sin of a third party that causes you to quarrel. But whatever the source, you can be sure that sin is behind the conflict.
Christ followers have only three options when it comes to being impacted by the sin of others. First, we can confront it and try to change it. Second, we can forgive it and overlook it. Or third, if the confrontation hasn't been effective - we can separate from the source. In other words, just because someone is a blood relative doesn't require you to maintain a relationship with them ... if you've tried to address the source of the sin and they won't back off.
The only thing wrong between you and your relative then is your reaction to each other. Look for the sin, and then ask God to show you how best to respond to it.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Christmas Error?
Q: I've heard that Luke 2:14 is not accurately stated in our Christmas recitations. Someone in our church told me that it doesn't actually say "Peace on earth, goodwill toward men." I looked in my Bible and it doesn't. So where does that come from?
A: Luke 2:14 has been a misnomer for many Christians to figure out. The King James version (translation) of the Bible does say, "Peace on earth, goodwill toward men." However, the original manuscripts translate into something a bit different, more like, "Peace on earth, toward men of goodwill." The order of the words in the sentence makes a world of difference!
If you look at other translations of the Bible, you'll find that they tend to follow this latter translation pretty consistently. It's not an error, but rather just one way of translating it. Remember the English language is the most complex language on earth. No other language has as many variables and options as English does. So it is impossible to make a word for word translation from any language to English. Rather one must consider the context and try to select English words that best reflect what's being said.
We should think of Luke 2:14 as saying, "Peace on earth, toward men of good will." The context for that is simply Jesus birth, death and resurrection. Peace on earth is only for those whom Jesus has saved. It isn't intended for anyone else. In fact, anyone who is not soft will get the opposite of peace on earth!
A: Luke 2:14 has been a misnomer for many Christians to figure out. The King James version (translation) of the Bible does say, "Peace on earth, goodwill toward men." However, the original manuscripts translate into something a bit different, more like, "Peace on earth, toward men of goodwill." The order of the words in the sentence makes a world of difference!
If you look at other translations of the Bible, you'll find that they tend to follow this latter translation pretty consistently. It's not an error, but rather just one way of translating it. Remember the English language is the most complex language on earth. No other language has as many variables and options as English does. So it is impossible to make a word for word translation from any language to English. Rather one must consider the context and try to select English words that best reflect what's being said.
We should think of Luke 2:14 as saying, "Peace on earth, toward men of good will." The context for that is simply Jesus birth, death and resurrection. Peace on earth is only for those whom Jesus has saved. It isn't intended for anyone else. In fact, anyone who is not soft will get the opposite of peace on earth!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
After God's Heart
Q: I know that King David of the Old Testament was called "a man after God's own heart." But wasn't David a warrior who killed lots of people? And didn't he sleep with Bathsheba and then murder her husband to hide his sin? How could anyone call him "a man after God's own heart?"
A: You're referring to Acts 13:22 where the Apostle Paul reports that God, after removing Saul from the throne (of Israel) replaced him with David. At that time, God is reported to have said of David, "I have found David to be a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do."
Why would God say such a thing? Because God look at David's heart. He found a humble, contrite heart with a sincere desire to do good. You'll be hard-pressed to find David doing any killing that God didn't want done. He was killing evil people, and God usually gave him the upper hand in those battles.
In terms of his adultery with Bathsheba, lying about it and having her husband killed to hide it, this may have been the most sordid point in David's life. In modern terms, we might say he "hit bottom." Fortunately God doesn't judge us by what we do. Rather He judges us by what we do with what we do. In other words, God looks for how we respond to our own sin. We all sin. Everyone sins. Jesus was the only human on earth to ever avoid sinning.
But the heart of God is found in the man (or woman) who responds to their sin with repentance, a sincere grief for sin committed (James 4:9) and a consistent effort to obey God in all matters. David was a man after God's own heart not because of what he did or didn't do. Rather he got that title for who he was. (You and I can get that title the same way!)
A: You're referring to Acts 13:22 where the Apostle Paul reports that God, after removing Saul from the throne (of Israel) replaced him with David. At that time, God is reported to have said of David, "I have found David to be a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do."
Why would God say such a thing? Because God look at David's heart. He found a humble, contrite heart with a sincere desire to do good. You'll be hard-pressed to find David doing any killing that God didn't want done. He was killing evil people, and God usually gave him the upper hand in those battles.
In terms of his adultery with Bathsheba, lying about it and having her husband killed to hide it, this may have been the most sordid point in David's life. In modern terms, we might say he "hit bottom." Fortunately God doesn't judge us by what we do. Rather He judges us by what we do with what we do. In other words, God looks for how we respond to our own sin. We all sin. Everyone sins. Jesus was the only human on earth to ever avoid sinning.
But the heart of God is found in the man (or woman) who responds to their sin with repentance, a sincere grief for sin committed (James 4:9) and a consistent effort to obey God in all matters. David was a man after God's own heart not because of what he did or didn't do. Rather he got that title for who he was. (You and I can get that title the same way!)
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