Heaven: A Placebo?

Atheists often argue that Christians simply believe what they do because it gives them a false hope of an afterlife, which makes the Christian feel better about seeing their families again.

Two problems:

(1) It is fallacious. Even if that is the Christian’s motivation, it proves nothing about the truthfulness of the Christian religion. Explaining why someone believes something does not prove whether or not that something is false, even if the reasons the person believes it are false.

(2) For me and many Christians, heaven was not a motivation at all while we were unsaved. It was much more attractive for me as an unbeliever to believe in no God as it meant that I could continue in sin.

A Nod to the Wind, A Poem

A Nod to the Wind

A breeze gently caressing the face

Of a man who knows no better

A single molecule, of air, and life

Enters into the lung, and out

Without a hint of indifference

Not one glance to the stars

As if to ask about our mere existence

How can we not see?

When so much exists to prove

What we determine as the immaterial

The same breeze patterns a long cluster of hairs

Standing up and taking notice

Like the goose-bumps that appear

When someone close blows

A small gentle breath in our direction

The breath of God smacks your face

With a warm wet kiss of salt water

And a cool night air that seems

A perfect complement to the patterned sky above

Still, “no proof exists”

At least, that is what we say when faced

With something greater than ourselves

And yet, everything that exists

Is in so much more control than we

So watch the birds as they flock

And the bear as he hunts

Or the seasons change

In perfect harmony with the needs of its bearer

And the breeze; ask it to stop

Tell it to listen to you

Make it understand you

When you say you have no proof

Just don’t be afraid

When you’re faced with the truth

By Brian Dufala

________________________________

This poem can be redistributed and shared without hesitation, so long as proper credit is given for the work and so long as there is no charge for distributing, except to cover costs associated with distribution.

Tags: Poetry

Lions and Liars

From time to time, I like to share music that I really enjoy.  Recently, I picked of Sho Baraka’s Lions and Liars.  It is one of my favorites and if you like rap, I definitely recommend it.  Check out some samples below.

Amazon.com Widgets

Tags: Christian Music, Sho Baraka

Saving Mass Murderers

Adolf Hitler is a man responsible, ultimately, for the deaths of millions. Joseph Stalin is another figure in history responsible for the tragic ending of many lives. Unfortunately, there are many people throughout history that we would recognize as mass murderers. In an instant, Osama Bin Laden became known by virtually all Americans for being the face of terror. He is a man known for being the head of Al Qaeda, a terrorist group who masterminded and carried out the September 11^th attacks on the United States. Osama Bin Laden, Adolf Hitler, and Joseph Stalin are by all accounts evil people. And yet, a question lingers: can mass murderers such as them be saved?

The prompting of this post comes at a time locally when two police officers lost their lives in a routine traffic stop when a man pulled a gun on them and shot them to death. It was the comments made by someone I know that prompted me to think deeper on the issue of saving those who are most obviously evil among us. The man that killed these two police officers is deserving of whatever the law has in store for him. He will likely get the death penalty and sometime in the not too distant future, this man who murdered two police officers will stand before his creator and be judged. He will be judged, not only for these two murders, but for every sin he committed on this earth. I ask you, when he stands before God, will he be sentenced to hell? Of course, based purely on the way he lived his life, yes he will go to hell. And yet, we could easily say the same thing about our own lives. Based purely on the way I have lived my life, I too would stand before God and the verdict will be read, “Guilty!”

The most amazing, astounding, and sometimes baffling thing about the gospel is that it applies universally to all people, no matter how evil we believe they are (and no matter how good we think we are). The Bible states resoundingly that we are all condemned by the law of God. We have all broken God’s laws. In God’s courtroom, we stand as guilty as Osama Bin Laden. Yes, every one of us has the same guilty verdict awaiting us when we stand trembling before Almighty God. However, just as we are all condemned, God has also offered a pardon found in the substitutionary death of His Son. When Jesus died on the cross, he stepped into that courtroom and said, “I will pay the fine.” It does not matter how evil someone is, or how allegedly good they may seem, we are all condemned for our transgressions and we can all be saved by the shed blood and atoning work of Christ – yes, even mass murderers can be saved!

We, as Christians, must be careful of the things we say about those we see as evil. Rest assured that there is plenty of evil to be found. However, when we talk about someone else’s evil in a manner that portrays it as unique to them alone, we do not accurately reflect the evil that is within. Further, were it not for God’s restraining grace, we could not say for sure the level of evil we ourselves are capable of. Instead of the bitter anger for the mass murderer, I suggest we in humble love seek to offer the gospel even to them. I do not pretend to understand some of the seemingly senseless acts of violence that occur each day. More and more, my heart breaks over these acts. And yet, if I understand the gospel correctly, I understand then that I must forgive even the mass murderers among us and pray for their salvation. I hope and pray that those two police officers knew Christ as their Lord and Savior. I pray now that the man that killed them will also come to know the Savior.

Tags: Salvation, Sin, The Gospel, Theology

Evaluating the Usefulness of Apologetics

The first iteration of this site began primarily as a foray into apologetics. As I became more and more passionate about my faith, I found myself wanting to express an intelligent faith. I had always found apologetics interesting. My first taste of defending the faith, ironically, came from a book that in and of itself was not an apologetic. At least, that was not its primary aim. The book was Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. The way in which C.S. Lewis explained Christianity opened my eyes to an aspect of Christianity that I did not know previously. And yet, ironically, I had read Mere Christianity two times before I was even a Christian. It was a powerful book, but it was not (at least for me) something that led me to salvation. I have been thinking about this a lot lately. I still have an interest in apologetics, but I wonder if it is useful? Does it edify the body, or is it a system founded primarily on a secular foundation of thought? I would like to evaluate these questions in this post.

First and foremost, we need to understand what the practice of apologetics actually aims to do. At its most basic form, an apologetic is simply a defense of the Christian faith. It aims to defend the claim of truth by Christianity. So, in that sense, it would be strange and difficult for me to claim that apologetics are not useful. However, as with all thought systems, apologetics as a system of thought is subject to the corruption of man. Apologetics in the hands of an unsaved purely religious person is no more useful than a science textbook in the hands of Richard Dawkins. In both cases, you will find many truthful statements and a system of thought that in many ways is intelligent, but in the end, both systems are utterly bankrupt of moral authority. Further, as a system of thought or an overarching philosophy, both are tragically destructive and build up human pride rather than making the person more endeared to Christ.

It would seem that the only way to truly evaluate apologetics is to categorize it rightly. As I see it, there are two categories that are relevant to this discussion. The first is apologetics whose aim is foremost about proclaiming the need for salvation in Christ alone. The second is more general and simply aims to defend the intellectual truths claimed by Christianity. Now both systems ultimately run alongside one another and have many commonalities. However, the thread that holds each one together is very different and is what is most important for this evaluation that I am doing here.

Intellectual Ascent

John MacArthur wrote a book called The Gospel According to Jesus some years ago, which was strongly criticized by many within the greater evangelical world. The reason it was criticized is that it challenged the prevailing winds of evangelicalism and ultimately claimed that a large portion of visible Christianity is delusional in upholding mere religion as opposed to true saving faith. What John MacArthur argued was that many people have an intellectual ascent to the facts of Christianity, but have not surrendered their lives to Jesus. I had never read the Gospel According to Jesus until recently. When I did, it solidified something I had already known. For most of my life, despite claiming to be, I was not really a Christian. I conformed to a faith that was an intellectual ascent to the facts of Christianity. The first time I read Mere Christianity, I actually became more religious and further embedded in false religion. Of course, I didn’t know it at the time.

In evaluating apologetics in a very general sense, I would ask that Christians be ever mindful of the gospel. I believe that anything we endeavor to do as Christians should ultimately come back to the gospel. There is a quote that I am fond of from a sermon by Reverend Al Martin that is relevant to what I am trying to convey. He said, “The cross does not give us a minor shift or two with regards to a few of our ethical and religious values. The cross radically disrupts the very center and citadel of your life from self, to Christ.” If you are a Christian, everything flows from and to Christ. Thus, as I would evaluate anything we do, I would evaluate the usefulness of apologetics. If the apologetic aim does not center on Christ, it is not useful. Of course, God in His magnificence may still use it, so please do not misunderstand. However, it is not in and of itself what we should seek to do in apologetics. It is not God honoring. Instead, it is merely man centered and aimed at the proclamation of religion.

Gospel Centered

As I have stated, I believe apologetics must be gospel centered and flowing from and to Christ. But what does that look like? I wish I could say it was an easy thing to distinguish, but I can’t. It can be a challenge many times to rightly divide the truth. I have read and followed an apologetics ministry, sometimes for years, before realizing that it was simply not gospel centered. And yet, there are some telltale signs that I believe we should watch for. They are as follows:

• When is Christ brought into the argument? There are some apologetics ministries that almost never get to actually proclaiming Christ.
• What is the general tone of the ministry? Is it bitter and argumentative? Or, is it humble and heartbroken over the lost? Make no mistake, proclaiming Christ will get people upset. However, are people getting upset because the person proclaiming the truth is simply mean and argumentative, or are they getting upset because of an accurate proclamation of the gospel? Is it hatred for the messenger because of the message, or hatred for the messenger because of the way it is delivered? We should be heartbroken and humble when we venture to proclaim these truths, issuing the proclamation in love, not anger.
• Is the ministry aimed ultimately at proclaiming the gospel, and bringing lost souls to Christ? Or, is it simply defending truths as a means of intellectual superiority? Our arguments should not be about our intellect, but should at some point draw in on the gospel.
• Is the ministry proclaiming Biblical centered truths, regardless of their secular support, or is it simply seeking to prop the Bible up by secular means? The Bible has stood the test of time, not by human might, but by it being the very Word of God. It is great when our human systems of thought offer support to the Bible, but we should not be confused into thinking that the Bible actually needs that support. Even if every secular system went against the Bible, it does not make it any less true.

These are just some general aspects of an apologetics ministry that might help in evaluating whether it is gospel centered. In the end, the usefulness of apologetics is found in the fruit it bears. For that aim, I believe that the best apologetic is always the one that is within the context of the gospel.

Tags: Apologetics, Salvation, The Gospel, Theology

Poof! An Explanation of Our Existence

In the world of secular science, evolution is king. You cannot watch a single program about life, and the cause of life, without being drenched in evolutionary dogma. And yet, at its core, evolution rests on one primary claim: somewhere, eons of time ago, where there was nothing came something – poof! The Christian is mocked for utilizing faith as his primary foundation for truth. The scientist is championed for the same faith in an event that if true can only be explained in the supernatural. Imagine for a moment a world that comes into being with men and women fully grown. A world like that cannot be explained outside of the existence of God. However, if you can reduce the world down to a process that occurs over billions of years, you have a chance of explaining away God. Still, that chance is dependent upon a point in time when everything popped into being out of nothing. There is no scientific foundation for such a hypothesis. It just simply has to be, or else you are left with God.

I am not a scientist. I am nothing really. And yet, I am not a fool. I am reasonably intelligent and at one time, I had almost bought into the evolutionary bag of tricks. However, one thing kept me from falling hook line and sinker. Sin. Deep down inside I knew that I was sinful. I knew that there was such a thing as right and wrong. And while I could not argue the basic tenants of science on evolution, what I did know is what we all know. There are things, acts of the human flesh, which despite our best efforts to argue otherwise, are simply wrong. It was those acts that brought me to my knees before a holy God. It may seem strange to say I walked away from evolution based on sin, but it is nonetheless true. As I placed my utter faith in Christ, as I threw myself at the feet of mercy, I also submitted to the One who claimed to be the truth. And if that One is the truth, then everything contrary is a lie. Thus, I was left with a dilemma: do I merge the two opposing views so as not to look silly, or do I place my full faith in Christ and follow where He leads? Clearly I chose the latter.

The point I am making is this: science makes a claim that is nothing more than intellectual hubris akin to the gambling addict seeking just one more turn of the cards. Common sense dictates that cells do not simply go poof! Where there was no life, there does not suddenly become life. Instead of buying the evolutionary lie, spend some time thinking about your own behavior. Are there not things in your life, thoughts and behaviors, which you would describe as sinful? Those acts are acts of rebellion against God. They are acts of a lawbreaker. Now, either your conscience is some evolutionary mishap, or your conscience is a signpost pointing you to God. Consider the possibility today and if you find your heart broken over how you have offended God, then repent and place your trust in Christ.

Tags: Apologetics, Evolution

The Greatest Thing in the World: An Overview of Romans 1-7

I have for some time been listening to John Piper preaching through Romans.  There have been many good sermons in this series (there’s over 200), but the one I listened to most recently is my favorite so far.  A little less than half way through the series, John Piper recaps chapters one through seven, but in doing so, really hammers out the gospel.

You can find the sermon here:

Tags: Powerful Preaching

Walking through the Bible: John 1:19-23

John 1:19-23 (ESV): 19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

John’s primary role was to be a witness of the coming messiah.  In order to ascribe authenticity to himself, he sets himself within the context of Isaiah 40:3 when he says, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’” He makes clear that he is a prophet that was spoken of in the scriptures and so John is a herald announcing that the kingdom has arrived.  The messiah is upon us.  A message of this nature would of course bring crowds as there was much anticipation of the messiah at this time.  However, John would have been forgotten if it had not been for the fact that the messiah actually did come.  John was the opening act of the grandest story in all of time — the truest story of all time!

There is also one thing especially that I take from John the Baptist more than any other figure in the New Testament.  John was a man called for a very specific purpose.  He had a very short ministry.  He had no glory for what he did.  And as we find out in the other gospels, he would pay with his life for being a prophet.  John forsakes it all for the gospel. In our rather cushy time in America, it is John who reminds me of so many things that get lost.

First, we cannot expect anything materially in this age.  We are not all going to be as wild as John, but we need to avoid being in chains for our materialism.

Second, we need to focus on doing what we are called to do, no matter how small it may seem and no matter the cost.  Our focus should not be on what we get out of this world, but on the Kingdom of God.

Third, we have to be prepared to pay the ultimate price.  We may not pay physically as John did, but we might.  But, either way, we need to die to this world and follow Christ.

_______________________________________________________

Walking through the Bible is a verse by verse study of the Bible. A small segment of verses will be looked at each time and a brief, but relevant study of the text will be conducted.

Tags: Walking through the Bible

Truth Comes

Truth Comes

Truth stood strong ready to change me
I walked away not ready to bend the knee
Truth comes again and again chipping away
I kicked and fought, but a crack began to fray
When He came again the crack widened
Yet again and the heart of stone softened
Repentance wells up, faith begins to stir
Another soul, a heart to Jesus to ensure
Life begins, a new birth; truth comes again
And so it is that truth saved me from my sin

By Brian Dufala

________________________________

This poem can be redistributed and shared without hesitation, so long as proper credit is given for the work and so long as there is no charge for distributing, except to cover costs associated with distribution.

Tags: Poetry

Truths that cannot be Compromised: Part IV

This is a continuation of a series of articles about truths within Christianity.

Read the first article here: When is it Time for True Christians to go to the Mat?

Read the second article here: Truths that cannot be Compromised: Part I

Read the third article here: Truths that cannot be Compromised: Part II

Read the fourth article here: Truths that cannot be Compromised: Part III

I ended Part III with the following statement: “In the end, I know the way I am going about these truths is a little strange, but I believe if you take the time to think on these thoughts, you will begin to see the picture. Jesus as the truth, as creator; God in three persons, in unity and community; God as the perfect, self-sustaining, self-existing I AM; and then us, most of the time prideful and dismissive of God. What do you think?” This is a good recap of what has been stated so far, so let’s get at the next step in our journey.

I think it is important to reiterate what our objective is. In a world of relativists that ask Christians to check their truths at the door, I am cutting across the grain of popular culture and arguing that there are such things as objective truths. These truths transcend any one person. They are not my truths, or someone else’s truths, they are quite simply true for all. They are true for me, true for you, and true for every man, woman, and child on this earth. If you are a relativist, you probably find that offensive, but that does not make these facts any less true. So, my ultimate objective is to establish a basic theological foundation of Christian facts that are universal to all true Christian beliefs. For the most part, these truths are directly tied into the gospel and are directly relevant to your soul.

The Condition of Man

There are two great truths that are prevalent throughout the entire Bible that beckon you to submit humbly to God. The first is the holiness of God and the second is the sinfulness of man. I am going to discuss the latter in this article. In our world, almost everyone believes they are a good person. They survey the news and see person after person who has committed crimes that they have not, but never really take the time to understand their own sin. In truth, those same news stories should call us to truth instead of reassure our faith in our own false goodness. Our court system is the very providence of God and it beckons us to recognize God as the creator of order. Those same judges are a picture of God as the righteous judge. God is your judge and one day you will stand before Him with your eternal soul in the balance. What will be His ruling?

What I am trying to get you to see is that you are a sinner. And I am not simply talking about the actual physical acts that you might recognize as sin. Instead, I am trying to get you to see that you are at your very core, a sinner. From day one, out of the womb, you have been a sinner. You did not just make a few mistakes, but you have by your very nature sinned against your creator. So, what is sin? Sin is rebellion against God and the breaking of His law. You are a lawbreaker. Just like those lawbreakers you see on T.V., you are a lawbreaker. The only difference is that while those lawbreakers on T.V. are in trouble for breaking a couple of laws, you have broken more of God’s laws than you can count. Consider the Ten Commandments:

Ten Commandments (Exodus 20)

You shall have no other gods before me

You shall not make for yourself an idol

You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy

Honor your father and your mother

You shall not murder

You shall not commit adultery

You shall not steal

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor

You shall not covet

What I would ask you to do is hold these commandments up as a mirror on your life. And lest you believe it too easy, allow these commandments to penetrate to your heart. I am not merely asking if perhaps you have been able to physically avoid some of these, but I am asking you to consider whether in your heart you have kept them. For instance, consider Jesus’ words about our heart in relation to Commandment 7, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” God is going to judge you not just on what you have physically done, but on the condition of your heart and what you have thusly thought.

Up until now, I have been trying to get you to see God in a certain way and now I am trying to get you to see yourself in a certain way. In both cases, I am trying to get you to see what is objectively true about God and objectively true about yourself. Don’t fall prey to our culture that tells you to accept all beliefs as equally true. I welcome you to tolerate all views, but that does not mean that all views are true. I am laying a stake in the ground here and telling you what the Bible claims throughout, from cover to cover. The condition of your soul is that of a lawbreaker. The diagnosis is clear. You have broken God’s commands and will one day stand before Him as judge. That is a truth that cannot be compromised.

Tags: Theology, Truths that cannot be Compromised