Category Archives: Romans

Should Christians serve in the military?

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In honor of Memorial Day and all who served I’m offering this ENCORE POST

Should Christians serve?Some Christians refuse to serve in the military on religious grounds.  So what of those who do serve?  Are they disobeying God?  Let’s look into God’s Word and see what HE has to say.

Note: Because this is such a complex issue and because the topic so deeply impacts the lives of many men and women who are serving in the armed forces, this topic deserves greater attention and this post is much longer than most.

1. What did Jesus say?
John the Baptist and Jesus both spoke to soldiers in an army that was oppressing God’s people.  Certainly, if it was wrong to serve in the military, it would be extra wrong to serve in an army oppressing God’s chosen people and either John or Jesus would have addressed the issue.  Neither John nor Jesus said the soldiers should change careers.  In fact, soldiers specifically asked John what they should do and he never mentions getting out of the military.

Luke 3:14
Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”  He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely — be content with your pay.” Continue reading →

Should Christians serve in the military?

Posted on by

Should Christians serve?In honor of Memorial Day and all who served we are offering this ENCORE POST

Some Christians refuse to serve in the military on religious grounds.  So what of those who do serve?  Are they disobeying God?  Let’s look into God’s Word and see what HE has to say.

Note: Because this is such a complex issue and because the topic so deeply impacts the lives of many men and women who are serving in the armed forces, this topic deserves greater attention and this post is much longer than most.

1. What did Jesus say?
John the Baptist and Jesus both spoke to soldiers in an army that was oppressing God’s people.  Certainly, if it was wrong to serve in the military, it would be extra wrong to serve in an army oppressing God’s chosen people and either John or Jesus would have addressed the issue.  Neither John nor Jesus said the soldiers should change careers.  In fact, soldiers specifically asked John what they should do and he never mentions getting out of the military. Continue reading →

Why so many struggles?

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Struggles strengthen us to soarJudges 3:4
(These hostile enemies of Israel) were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord’s commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses.
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We know the Lord could easily erase every struggle and make our lives smooth sailing into glory. But He allows it to “rain on the just and the unjust”. Christians get sick, have money problems, relational stresses, auto accidents, are victims in tragedies, on and on. In fact, as one first century accuser said, “You Christians have more problems than the average person. How can you believe a God who takes such poor care of you in this life is able to take care of you in the life to come?” Continue reading →

Did God choose me or did I choose Him?

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A complete circuit.Ephesians 1:3-13
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit…
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He chose us. When did that happen? Ephesians 1:4 – For he chose us in him before the creation of the world …

But we also had to choose Him. When did that happen? Ephesians 1:13 – And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, … When you believed … Continue reading →

God is so uncivilized!

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Rated VReading about all the slaughter at Ai in Joshua 8 is hard for me to enjoy. I feel I should rejoice because “the good guys won” but I don’t get excited picturing carved up corpses of women and children with their blood draining into the streets. Theologically, I know the right answers for why this was necessary but in the sterile, nice world where I live such images are abhorrent.

It does, however, cause me to reevaluate my image of God. Jesus was a perfect reflection of God the Father (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus and the Father are in perfect sync. In other words, Jesus was in on this slaughter as much as the Father was. There is no contradiction between the two. Continue reading →

Pay up!

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Luke 20:21-25
Spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
(This was a trap.  If He said pay the taxes many Jews would see Him as a compromiser willing to support an evil empire that cruelly subjugated them.  If He said, “No”, He could face the wrath of Rome for encouraging insurrection against the empire.)
He saw through their duplicity and said to them, “Show me a denarius (a Roman coin). Whose portrait and inscription are on it?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Continue reading →

The Seed of Sin

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RipplesIn Joshua 7 Achan stole just as few tiny items that belonged to the Lord and was destroyed for his thievery.  He and his entire family died for a robe, a handful of silver and a pound or so of gold. And he couldn’t even enjoy them. He had it buried under his tent. His greed also resulted in 36 innocent men dying producing widows, orphans, grieving parents, family, friends and loss to a nation.

Such a huge, painful price to pay for such a small infraction. That is just not fair… but sin never is.  The fruit of our sin is always so much greater than the seed of sin we sowed. And it doesn’t just impact us. Drop a pebble in a calm pond and the ripples, like sin, spread out and disturb the entire pond.  Continue reading →

Hallelujah! and pass the pork chops

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Pass the pork chopsMark 7:19
…Jesus declared all foods clean.
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I know people who insist on keeping the OT dietary laws, which is fine if you are doing it for health reasons. No doubt we would all be healthier avoiding the stuff God told the Jews to abstain from eating. Unfortunately, some of these do it for religious reasons thinking somehow it is more spiritual or God-pleasing.

Some celebrate the feasts, love to worship on the Sabbath (Saturday) rather than the “first day of the week” when the NT church met (Acts 20:7). Nothing wrong with that, every day belongs to the Lord. And it is especially appropriate for a Jewish believer as a way to celebrate their heritage. But here is where the problem comes in. Continue reading →