You are all I need.

When I was in High School, I thought I was pretty cool.  I had all the answers.  I made all the right decisions.  I had all my life figured out.

What I really had... was pride.

I went on a yearly retreat with our church's youth group to Myrtle Beach, SC.  It was my 5th time going (I got to go prior to 9th grade and after 12th) and I remember thinking that my friends and I were all the "in charge" kids of the group.  I had previously had some really amazing years at this particular retreat and had learned a lot as a Christ follower and as a person.  I didn't know what to expect this year though as I had seen it all before... after all... didn't I already know everything?

We got down there after the 14 hour drive crammed in 15 passenger vans... and I remember we walked in a bit late to the service that was already going on that first night.  There was a band on stage called "Catalyst" and it was about 6 or so college students.  They sounded terrible.  There was a brick wall behind them that just reverberated the drums and cymbals to no end... the sound system wasn't configured that great yet and it was just a rough sound.  On top of that they were singing their own stuff that none of us knew and it was just awkward.

We left that night just ripping on the band.  We laughed at how bad things were and thought, "Man... what is the rest of the week going to be like with these guys when the music is THAT BAD."

I never gave God a chance to work in my heart that night.  I was too busy puffing up my own sense of self-worth by seeing the faults in others and ignoring their good qualities.... like their willingness to serve a bunch of jerky high-school kids for a week.  But I blew it off... they were getting paid... they should be GOOD... right?  The rest of the nights they WERE good.  The sound system was adjusted and things were better... I even picked up a couple of their CDs at some point.

The week went on.  We did the routine and I learned nothing.  It was time to go... and little did I know God was about to break my heart with a lesson that I'd never forget.

We were gathering in our vans after the last session ended and we were already packed and about to hit the road.  Just then I overheard one of our leaders talking about the band.  He was asking if anyone had any money they could spare.  It was then I learned the whole story.

Catalyst had driven 26 hours or so to get to this conference.  It was their last show as a band despite being together for many years and their van broke down multiple times on the way.  They limped into Myrtle Beach knowing it wasn't going to make the return trip home.  They weren't getting paid for the conference... They were stranded.  And they never asked for money.  What's more, the lead singer and his wife (who was also in the band) were on their honeymoon.  Yeah... They spent their honeymoon ministering to people who didn't deserve them.  People who mocked them.  People like me.

I gave what I had left in my wallet and others did the same.  In the end we had a few hundred dollars from a couple dozen teenagers... and we gave it to our leader.  I watched as he gave it to them.  They were floored.  Such humble people... they were extremely grateful.  They cried... We cried... And they thanked us to no end and it TORE ME APART because I KNEW what the mean things were that I thought about them that first night... the jerky things I said to my friends... just to look cool.

It wasn't that simple.  I couldn't just hand over money and expect to be changed.  I had to talk to one of them.  I pulled the lead singer aside and struggling to maintain my composure I explained to him that I had to apologize to him.  That I had said some absolutely uncalled for things... that I had pushed them down to make myself look better.  I was grateful for the chance to help them and I thanked him for the sacrifices they made for us and for being such amazing examples of humility and for representing Christ and true Christianity well.  He forgave me.

I realized then that TRUE knowledge and wisdom comes from understanding that you know nothing.  God is in control.  I am not.  God knows everything.  I don't.  And unless I show LOVE to others... Anything else I do is a waste of breath and discredits my ENTIRE faith to others.

I may have made my peace with Catalyst that night, but I don't know if others on that trip overheard me or not.  I don't know if others who may not know Christ as their Savior heard me and thought... "That guy's a Christian?  Man I don't want to be like that.  What a jerk."  I dont' know if someone else is avoiding accepting God into their life today because of my stupid mouth that night.

Often we don't realize how fragile our representation of Christ to others is... until we've shattered it.

Where do you need to watch your mouth?  Where do you need to watch your pride?  Are you representing Christ and his humility or yourself and your ego?

So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”  - 2 Corinthians 5:20

Likewise, we are seen by the world as speaking for Christ when we slam others... when we fail to show love... and when we cater to our own arguments.

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This post came about as I was listening to my iPod and this song by Catalyst came on...

You Are All I Need
I don't need these clothes I wear
I don't need to breathe this air
All I really need is You

I don't need these things I own
I don't need a place called home
All I really need is You

When my world is falling apart
When this world has crushed my heart
When I cannot stand on my own two feet
When I can't go on
You carry me

  Because You are all I need.

When the dead are dunked...

In my studies today I came across 1 Corinthians 15:29 and it reminded me of a long conversation I had with a Mormon friend of mine.  She was raised in the Mormon church and is VERY knowledgable and involved there.  The Bible following Christian Church is often at great odds with the Mormon faith.  The Mormons do NOT believe in the same God that Christians do... nor the same Jesus.  But when asked, they consider themselves Christian... and with all the same terminology, it certainly sounds like they are to the everyday Christian Joe who hasn't researched what the true Mormon beliefs are.  It saddens me that she really hasn't seemed to view her beliefs with any scrutiny and has always accepted what was fed to her.  I know that 95% of Christians are just as guilty of this statement as well.  But regardless, I tried to make her question her beliefs (and was very up-front about my intention to do so...) and I told her that I wanted her to discover WHY she believed what she believed.  If she really researched it and found she thought she was in the right spot... great!  If not... then it's a good thing she looked.

When eternity is at stake, blind acceptance is a fool's choice.

Anyway, on with the passage I remembered this from...

"Why else are they Baptised for the Dead, if the Dead raise not at all?" - 1 Coninthians, 15:29.

The Mormon church takes this passage VERY literally.  They have their children research their geneology and find the name of some distant dead relatives who weren't baptized in the Mormon church. Then those children temporarily assume the name of the dead relative and are baptized...  and this is to proxy baptize the dead relative who failed to do so when they were alive.

Here's a rather interesting article I found that explains that passage with some amazing depth that I never knew before researching the issue...  P.S. James Walker (the author of this article) was born and raised a Mormon... all of his family is Mormon... He has since left the Mormon church and identifies himself as a Christian and has started a non-profit foundation that does nothing but reach out to Mormons to show them the truths that he has found. So yes... it is a biased view behind the writing... but he knows what he's talking about!

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1 Corinthians 15:29 - Mormonism's Baptism for the Dead
 -James K. Walker

A unique teaching of Mormonism is the practice of baptizing on behalf of the dead. This is a very important belief of Mormons today. Mormon Apostle Bruce R. McConkie taught: "...the Lord has ordained baptism for the dead as the means whereby all his worthy children of all ages can become heirs of salvation in his kingdom," (Mormon Doctrine, p. 73).

In every active Mormon Temple proxy baptisms for the dead take place in which living Mormons temporarily assume the names of dead people to perform baptisms on their behalf. Mormon leaders teach that this activity was practiced by the first century Christian churches and quote 1 Corinthians 15:29 as proof (Ibid).

1 Corinthians 15:29

"Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?"

Historically, this passage has been the source of much speculation and some confusion. One second century sect, the Cataphrygians (Montanists), seem to have developed the practice of baptizing actual corpses based on a misunderstanding of this verse (see Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, edited by Walter A. Elwell, p. 119).

In order to understand this or any other Biblical passage, it is important to examine the context to understand what is being talked about.

The entire fifteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians deals with the resurrection. False teachers had infiltrated the church at Corinth, teaching "that there is no resurrection of the dead," (vs. 13).

Paul had stated that the heart of the gospel was Christ's resurrection (vs. 1-14). Christ died on the cross for man's sins, was buried, and that he rose again the third day.

To be saved one must turn from their sins and trust in, or "keep in memory" Christ's work on their behalf. Christ's historical death, burial and resurrection is the gospel.

But there were cultic leaders at Corinth that believed and taught that there was no resurrection. The whole chapter is devoted to reasons why this is a false teaching.

Reason #1: There were eye witnesses of Christ's resurrection (15:5-7);

Reason #2: If there is no resurrection, Christ has not risen (15:13, 16);

Reason #3: If there is no resurrection, Paul's preaching is in vain (15:14);

Reason #4: If there is no resurrection, their faith was in vain (15:14);

Reason #5: If there is no resurrection, Paul and the other apostles were false witnesses (15:15);

Reason #6: If there is no resurrection, the Corinthian Christians were still lost in their sins (15:17);

Reason #7: If there is no resurrection, all who have died trusting Christ have perished (15:18).

In verses 20-28, Paul explains that Christ has been raised. He is the "firstfruits" of all that will be raised and that all "enemies" including death have been subjected and conquered by Christ.

Then in verse 29, Paul points out a further reason that the resurrection is real. He says: "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?" The apostle is pointing out an inconsistency in the practice of these false teachers. Apparently, they did not believe that the dead would rise (15:12), but they practiced proxy baptism for the dead. If the dead do not rise, why did they baptize them after death? It was a contradiction.

By carefully noticing the pronouns, one can see who was actually practicing baptism for the dead. Paul says, "...what shall they do which are baptized for the dead... why are they then baptized for the dead?" Paul did not say, "Why are you (Corinthian Christians) then baptized for the dead?" He did not say, "Why are we (the followers of Christ) then baptized for the dead?" He did not say, "Why then am I (Paul himself) then baptized for the dead?" He was asking, in effect, why these false teachers, who did not even believe in the resurrection, would want to baptize for the dead if the dead do not rise at all.

As pointed out in The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, edited by Colin Brown: "The practice (baptism for the dead) could hardly be reconciled with the Pauline proclamation, and was cited by Paul as part of the polemic: people who deny the resurrection for the dead ought not to get baptized for the dead!" (Vol. 1, p. 147).

Baptism for the Dead and the Book of Mormon

A further problem arises with the doctrine of baptism for the dead when the Book of Mormon is examined.

The Doctrine and Covenants teaches that the Book of Mormon contains: "...the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also," (Section 20:9) It also teaches that "...this most glorious of all subjects belonging to the everlasting gospel (is) namely the baptism for the dead," (Doctrine and Covenants 128:17).

Although baptism for the dead is "the most glorious of all subjects belonging to the everlasting gospel," and the Book of Mormon contains the "fullness of the gospel," baptism for the dead cannot be found in the Book of Mormon.

Another problem with baptism for the dead teaching is that the theology taught in the Book of Mormon does not allow for this doctrine. In Alma 34:34, 35, the Book of Mormon teaches that:

"Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis (death), that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.

"For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked," (emphasis mine).

Finally, a vital companion doctrine to baptism for the dead is the practice of genealogy, or tracing one's "roots" to determine the names of dead relatives. This is practiced in Mormonism so that those dead ancestors can have temple works performed by proxy (see Mormon Doctrine, p. 308).

The Bible soundly condemns the practice of genealogy for religious purposes (1 Timothy 1:4 and Titus 3:9). The Bible teaches that there are no opportunities for salvation after death. Any doctrine that teaches otherwise is both false and dangerous. As Hebrews 9:27 proclaims: "...it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."

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So yeah... That explains it pretty well. Paul was not baptizing people in the name of dead people... he was saying, "The false teachers that say there is no resurrection are baptizing for the dead.... WHY???"

She commented back to me:

I think this all just comes down to Faith. What an individual believes in. Men can twist *anything* any way they want to -- on either side. I prefer to just put my trust in God, listen to him, and go from there. Beyond that, all the logic of men just dosn't matter to me -- I'm more interested in seeing what God has asked us to do now, today, then in figuring out just how it fits with the past. The people who founded my Church were men -- inspired, guided, lead -- but they made mistakes, and said things that were speculative, and not inspired -- which were often taken the wrong way. Or were wrong, but have been corrected.

I replied:

Yes, by all means, the Christian church has had it's black-eyes in the past as well... but at the same time, I want to challenge you. I want you to look at your beliefs... look at what you were raised with... look at what you've heard re-inforced from your family, your friends, your church.... all you've ever known. Look at it seriously and with DEEP speculation. If in the end you can say that you've decided you've made the right choice, then by all means... enjoy. But if you have the slightest inkling of doubt in the whole deal... it's not worth being complacent about since it's "the way things are" for you.... This is your eternity at stake here... it's worth a look.

She had also stated in her first reply:

Eh, continuing revelation makes it so that the mistakes of past generations can be fixed. . .

My response to that:

Mistakes of action are one thing... but mistakes of doctrine or changing doctrine is quite another. Continuing revelation really sounds like a convenient "way out" if things aren't working the way they want.... Jehovah's Witnesses often say, "The light got brighter" when an event didn't come to pass... and they claim that it'll happen further down the road. They have successfully failed to predict the end of the world over 20 times in their history as a church... but each time... "The light has gotten brighter."

The moment I find myself in a church that stands behind doctrine which has either failed to come true as stated, or has leadership that "tweaks" their doctrine to fit their desires... is the moment I'd bail and seriously look at what I believe. I say this out of love.... Check it out.

Currently Listening Phenomenon: Music From The Motion Picture By Various Artists "Change the World - Eric Clapton" see related

A little tongue action...

To get to the point of this post, I need to first give a slight back story from the Bible. It's found in the book of Acts, chapter 8... verses 14 through 17.

"When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.  When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.  Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit."

I have been accused of not having the Holy Spirit in my life because I don't speak in tongues.  My accusers use this verse to back their claim, saying that conversion doesn't mean you get the Holy Spirit... and if you DO have the Holy Spirit, you will know it because you will have the ability to speak in tongues.

That's two major claims there... 1) You don't get the Holy Spirit when you are saved. And 2) If you have the Holy Spirit you can talk in tongues.  Let's look at those both in detail.

1.) What my accusers fail to see is that this event in Acts is widely believed by many scholars as unique... not the norm.  This was the first time that the Gospel was preached and conversions were made in Samaria... outside of the Jewish culture.  In fact, it was SO unique that Peter and John (who were pretty much "running the show" in terms of apostle activity at that time) who stayed in Jerusalem through all of the persecution the church faced shortly after Christ's death and the subsequent stoning of Stephen (the first martyr), personally went to Samaria to see for themselves that the message of Christ had been received well.  This was a crucial time that Peter and John had to connect with the Samaritans to make sure that group of believers wasn't separated from the church body in Jerusalem.  Peter and John (John had previously asked Jesus if they should call down fire from Heaven to destroy a Samaritan village that didn't welcome them...) were now praying with the Samaritans and seeing the beginning of the spread of the Gospel throughout the world.

In that vein, God chose to have the Holy Spirit sweep through in power... as a sign of the spreading of the Gospel into Samaria through the powerful, effective preaching of believers.  Normally the Holy Spirit enters a person's life the moment they ask God into their life and accept Christ's death on the cross as forgiveness of their sins.  This was a special event.  We find a similar event in chapter 10:44-47 when Cornelius and his family accept Christ... that time it is a sign that the uncircumcised Gentiles can be saved as well.

Any other time in the Bible we see a person accept Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells within them and they are a new person.  The Bible says they are a new creation...  In reality, they are finally capable of being the person God designed them to be before they screwed it up with sin and the misguided desires of this world.

2.) Tongues are NOT given to everyone.  Let's look at what they are, and the reason for them.  Tongues are first spoken about in Acts 2:4-13.  There, they are nothing more than other languages.  The Holy Spirit came down for the first time and was received by man.  Those believers then were all preaching the Gospel in foreign languages that they had never known.  A crowd gathered around them and was amazed as they heard the Gospel in their own languages.

THIS HAD TO HAPPEN to spread the Gospel to other cultures quickly!  There are over 2,900 languages in the present day world.  I don't know how many there were back then, but I know in the city alone there were at least 3 major ones; Aramaic, Greek, and Hebrew.

Now lets look at what "tongues" are by a good majority of modern churches... Tongues are now when some guy sitting in a pew stands up and starts talking gobbledygook that no one can understand.  It's known as a language between the speaker and God alone... a private conversation... If that's the case, why blurt it out loud when no one can understand you?  No one really knows if the person is faking it (not hard to do) or is really filled with the Spirit to the point of not being able to control what comes out of their mouth... but the Bible makes one thing clear... you don't do it unless there is someone there who can interpret what you're saying.  Another gift that the Holy Spirit gives, besides speaking in tongues... is the ability to understand those who talk in tongues.  So the next time you see someone spouting out random gibberish and claiming that it is the Holy Spirit... feel free to tell them that the word of God forbids them to do so unless someone is there who can interpret it for others.  If not, then their actions aren't edifying God for all to see... They're edifying the speaker for all to be amazed by... focus attention on... perhaps even envy... etc... (1 Corinthians 14 talks about this)

Lastly, we're not all given the gift of speaking in tongues when we are saved and the Holy Spirit comes into our lives.  Romans 12 talks about how we are each gifted differently.  We are all parts of the body of Christ.  If we all did the same thing and all were a "mouth" for the body... what good will it do?  We all have our own abilities and gifts given to us and we must act according to that.

"...in the church, I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue." - 1 Corinthians 14:19

Tongues are a gift to be used to preach to others in their language... or to be used to edify God when they are interpreted to your current language.  But to speak in tongues without interpretation or order... is a selfish act.  They are not given to all believers who receive the Holy Spirit... only to some.  And the Holy Spirit is not withheld from you until you are baptized, speak in tongues, etc... It is received the moment you ask God to come into your life and trust Jesus died and rose again for the forgiveness of your sins... and you thus have eternal life by accepting that gift.

...

Man... long post... I just got going and couldn't stop.  I remembered the "look down upon" attitude I was shown when I was accused of not having the Holy Spirit because I didn't speak in tongues...  Sad, really... that people resort to a "puff me up by pushing you down" mentality over such a beautiful system that God has established but man has (surprise!) distorted.

Currently Listening The Black Parade By My Chemical Romance "The Black Parade" see related

Do you know what you're saying?

So when Jesus was being tried before Pilate for the second time... Pilate wanted nothing to do with killing Jesus.  Pilate tried multiple ways to let Jesus live, but the mob insisted Jesus be crucified.  Pilate eventually washes his hands in front of them and tells them, "I am innocent of this man's blood.  It is your responsibility!" - Matthew 27:24

What do they reply?

All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!" - Matthew 27:25

Let his blood be on us.... and on our children.

Little did they know the meaning behind those words.  It is through the shedding of Jesus' blood... that we are forgiven.  That we have the ability to go to heaven.... that we can even stand in the presence of a perfect and holy God and not be ashamed of who we are.

If it weren't for this sacrifice... we'd have no hope.

Currently Listening See the Morning By Chris Tomlin "Let God Arise" see related

The power of group-think.

I was reading about Jesus' arrest today... I found it interesting to think about it through the eyes of the officers and thought I'd share.

 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?" 
 "Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. 
 "I am he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.
 Again he asked them, "Who is it you want?"
 And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."
 "I told you that I am he," Jesus answered.

                         -John 18:4-8

What scared the arresting officers?  Was it the conviction and confidence in Jesus' voice?  Was it the boldness and authority with which he answered?  Or do you think that just for a brief moment... they caught a glimpse of the power of God?  Seconds after this, a disciple pulled a sword and cut off the ear of one of the soldiers. Jesus stopped him and healed the man's severed ear by touching it.  Then he told them all that if he wanted, he could have legions of angels come to his rescue by just saying the words.

Then the soldiers arrested him and took him into captivity.

After all that...

Do you think those soldiers thought he was "just a man" that they were arresting?  I doubt it.  They obviously saw SOMETHING that made them draw back and fall to the ground in fear when Jesus said he was the one they were after.  Then they watched him touch and heal one of their own... a miracle in front of their eyes.

They KNEW there was more to this man than meets the eye.  Yet they still arrested him.  Why?  Likely out of fear of what the Roman government would do to them if they failed to obey the orders they were given. Usually the penalty was death.

One thing is for sure... I bet they carried out that task with extreme fear and caution.  Especially after experiencing all they did, then hearing this man say that all he had to do was speak the words and legions of angels would rescue him.  Yeah... That'd scare me too... I'd believe it after what they'd seen in the span of 3 minutes.  I bet they carried out the arrest and were as civil as possible to Jesus until they handed him over to the rest of the guards and awaiting officials (who knew nothing of the signs they had seen)... then they likely got the heck outta Dodge and avoided being put in a spot where they'd have to be involved.

They sold out the very God of the Universe because they were scared of what their punishment would be if they didn't do what they knew was right... They feared man more than God.  They feared the known more than the unknown.... Even if one of them WANTED to back out, what would he say to the rest of the officers?

Heh... mob rule at it's finest.  They were likely all thinking the same thing.  "Are you sure we should do this?" but no one could say it.

Currently Listening Carried Me: The Worship Project By Jeremy Camp "Beautiful One" see related