Jonathan Falwell

What We Believe Matters!

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:23:27 -0400

This week, the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life released the results of a survey of African Christians that found one in every four respondents believing that sacrifices to spirits or ancestors can guard them against bad things.
“Many people also say they consult traditional religious healers when someone in their household is sick, and sizable minorities in several countries keep sacred objects such as animal skins and skulls in their homes and participate in ceremonies to honor their ancestors,” the Pew study found.
It is tragic to read that these people, shaped by tradition and folklore, have not been trained to believe that Christ, the Son of the living God, is all we need.
However, if we look here in our own nation, we see related problems. As a pastor, I can tell you that I often speak with people who are similarly affected by religious customs or family teachings or some other outside influence. As a result, their faith suffers because it is not completely based on biblical teachings. They are shaken because the foundation of their faith is not firm.
This is why it is incumbent on parents, pastors, Sunday school teachers — all believers — to ensure that we are teaching and following only the precepts of God’s Word.
The secular world scoffs at such teachings. Instead, they promote the principles of “inclusion” and “diversity,” even as it relates to faith. But as I’ve noted in past columns, if Christians are to include views that counter the Gospel of Jesus Christ our convictions mean nothing.
If we follow the world, we cannot teach the crucified and risen Christ as the sole way of redemption and eternal life. If we follow the world, we can no longer teach that the Bible is the infallible Word of God or that this world is the spoken creation of God. If we dilute these foundational teachings, we have no sure doctrine on which to stand when calling people to repentance and following Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul understood that people, even some Christians, will be drawn away from the Truth by these teachings that seek to weaken the Truth. He addressed this in an important passage we read in a letter to Timothy.
Paul wrote in II Timothy 4:1-5: “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
I find such encouragement in these impassioned words. Paul is saying that we should not be discouraged by those who turn from God in order to follow the fashionable breezes of the day. Instead, we must hold true to the Word of God, which is as true and pertinent today as in the days when it was written, and continue calling people to salvation through the risen Christ. This is our ministry and responsibility.
Do not grow weary in well doing, friends. Remember that our God will never forsake us when we are carrying out His will for evangelism and compassionate defense of His Truth.
We never stand alone.

Discussion with Joni Eareckson Tada

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:20:52 -0400

I sat down with Joni Eareckson Tada last week to talk about how to trust God in the midst of an uncertain future. She shared incredible truths from which we can all learn. Click here (or on the photo) to watch the video.

When The World Was Perfect

Fri, 9 Apr 2010 20:23:37 -0400

Following the creation of our world, and the worlds beyond what we can see or imagine, this planet existed free of pain or sorrow or tragedy.
There were no grieving miners’ widows who would never again see their husbands alive. There were no storm-torn communities where people had lost virtually everything they owned. There were no innocent babies born with terrible diseases.   There were no veterans who had lost their limbs defending freedom.   There were no AIDS orphans living in the streets. There were no drive-by shootings, school rampages, serial killings or suicide bombings.
The world was simply perfect, a spoken miracle of Almighty God.
Today, that world is largely unbeautiful in many ways. As I recently reported, I returned last month from a Christian outreach mission to Guatemala where I saw things that I could never hope to adequately describe in this communiqué. The images of that journey have burned themselves into my mind and I am often haunted by them. It is life changing to see people in utter, seemingly hopeless, poverty.
I, like most others, find myself asking: Why must people suffer in this way?
Unlike the atheist who comes to believe that there is no God after he sees this planet of misery, I have taken the contrasting road, believing with all my soul that there is a God and that He cares for us beyond measure.
So why doesn’t He reach down and stop the suffering?
The answer lies largely within us all.   We, humans, long ago were as perfect as this world. Adam and Eve lived harmoniously with God. But they traded their sinless environment for knowledge and sin entered into them, forever altering how they (and we) could relate to the sinless God.
Sin has been a part of every life since that day.   Romans 5:12 tells us, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men.”
Sin is our choice.   Most people don’t intend to sin, but it is a part of us and is often irresistible.   Other people revel in sin and wickedness and the world suffers for it.
We know from II Chronicles 7:19 that sin impacts our fellowship with God in a collective way: “If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”   Our nation would not look like it does today if God’s people were living out this passage.
Sin not only separates us from God, it allows suffering and evil to come into our world. Even though God always wants to restore that once perfect fellowship between man and Himself, sin prevents it.
We are left to exist in a world that increasingly rejects God and evil grows. Just this week I read that a London nurse lost her discrimination claim after she was moved to a desk job solely because she refused to stop wearing a necklace bearing a cross. Many in our world cannot tolerate even the most basic expression of faith. In our own nation, we see constant, petty discrimination against Christians, all in the paradoxical name of “tolerance.”
But there is hope, my friends. The book of Hebrews offers us a great promise in chapter 13:5-6. It states, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say:“The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
That world from long ago, where humans had unspoiled fellowship with God, will come about again. To those who know Jesus as Lord and Savior, we will spend eternity in His glory. The suffering we endure here—and yes, it is sometimes terrible suffering—will be no more when we enter into His everlasting Kingdom in glory. He is our helper, a very present help in our time of need.
Jesus paid the price for our salvation through His own suffering on the cross, but as we celebrated a few days ago, His resurrection paved the way for eternal life with Him all who will believe. That is the hope of all believers who suffer. It behooves us all to ensure that those we know and love have made a commitment to follow Jesus Christ in their lives.

Dave Ramsey

Tue, 6 Apr 2010 20:27:09 -0400

I spent the morning with Dave Ramsey. It was the first time I’d met him. What a great guy! Very impressed with him and his entire organization. I spoke to his staff for devotions then we filmed a segment for an upcoming sermon series
entitled, Back to Life: Getting Your Life Back When Your Finances Are Challenging!
I’m excited about the series. Along with Dave, we will be hearing from Joni Eareckson Tada, Tim Clinton and John Ortberg. Series starts on April 11.

So Many Have Forgotten

Sun, 4 Apr 2010 21:07:04 -0400

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19, NKJV).
When Jesus made this remarkable comment, some who heard it believed He was referring to the physical temple which Herod the Great began having restored in 20 B.C., and was not yet completed.
Even Jesus’ disciples did not understand at this time that He was referring to physical resurrection of His body following the approaching crucifixion on the cross. It wasn’t until after He had literally risen from the grave that they understood that Jesus truly was the Christ, the Son of the living God.
If you are like me, you sometimes look around our nation and are saddened that so many people seem to have forgotten (or never personally discovered) the significance of who Jesus is. And tragically, I believe this has happened because God’s people ignore their responsibility to tell people about the Savior who conquered the tomb for us all. We live in a nation that increasingly has no room for Jesus.
Let’s examine what some people may believe today about the resurrection and how we, as followers of Jesus, can address their concerns/questions.
1. The story of Jesus is nice, but it is just a myth.
If this is true, the followers of Jesus—the disciples, the early church members, et al—established the most elaborate hoax in history. The fact is that both Jewish and Roman sources point to an empty tomb. Josh McDowell has stated, “As a reward for their efforts, those early Christians were beaten, stoned to death, thrown to the lions, tortured and crucified. Every conceivable method was used to stop them from talking.” Would these people have suffered such persecution and even violent death to protect a fraudulent tale? I think not. Further, as Paul wrote, Jesus appeared before more than 500 of His followers at one time following His death and resurrection, which means one thing: He lives!
1. I believe a lot of the Bible but I can’t believe that Jesus was raised from the dead.
The resurrection is the cornerstone of Christianity because it was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and Jesus’ own promise that we see in John 2:19. Billy Graham stated, “The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the chief proof of the Christian faith. It is the truth that lies at the very foundation of the Gospel. Other doctrines of the Christian faith may be important, but the resurrection is essential. Without a belief in the resurrection there can be no personal salvation.” In 1 Corinthians 15:4-8, we are told that after Christ was raised from the dead, he appeared to over 500 witnesses. Once they saw Christ in His resurrected body, they began to preach and teach the glory of the resurrection because they knew that surely He was the Son of God. Romans 10:9 gives foundation to this: “… if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” That is the simple plan of God’s salvation offered to all.
1. It’s great that you believe all this, but it’s just not for me.
The power of God to change lives crosses all boundaries. He died and lives again so that everyone—no matter their race, creed or station in life—can have eternal life. Look no further than my friend Ergun Caner; he was raised a Muslim but came to understand his need for the Savior who conquered the grave. Ergun, who is president of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, recently said, “Because Jesus Christ died on the Cross for the world, that includes all of us. He died to forgive my sin, and was resurrected to give me life. He did the same for you. When I repented of my sin and put my faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, He gave me new life. He can do the same for you. We are all sinners and in need of forgiveness. If you will trust Jesus Christ and turn from your sin, you can find forgiveness and freedom from all the guilt that is upon you. Jesus loves you.” No other god can offer what Jesus guarantees: victory over death and eternal life in Him.
I believe the evidence of Jesus’ resurrection is indisputable. He liberally conquered the tomb and this means that nothing can hold back His authority. He is the God who cannot lie (Titus 1:2) and He has given us His word that eternal life comes only through Him.
If you want to learn more about Jesus, please visit our church’s website (www.trbc.org) and click on “Who is Christ?” We have mapped out His plan of salvation and we want to share it with you.
Finally, my prayer is that all of my readers come to personally know Jesus and experience His love beyond anything they can ever imagine. Living out our faith with boldness and kindness is the only way we can hope to convey the story that so many have forgotten.