What If You Don’t Want To Live Forever?

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Kurtis Karr

Blake_jacobsladderIf a Christian does not want to live forever, can he or she opt out of the eternal life thing?

At first blush, this may seem like a rather bizarre question. After all, who doesn’t want to live forever? But ask yourself, is there anything you could imagine doing that would be so wonderfully exciting that you would want do it for eternity? Personally, I get tired of vacationing after just a few days.  Am I the only person on the planet who thinks that spending forever anywhere, even paradise, is a terrifying prospect? Perhaps I could tolerate a few hundred extra years  but eternity scares the “you know what” out of me.

I suspect the problem is I’m thinking of Heaven like an amusement park or some tropical getaway.  I imagine that in reality this couldn’t be further from the truth. Heaven is completely beyond my pitiful human comprehension. This is why, I suppose, Jesus only spoke publicly of it in parables as far as I know (see: What Is The Kingdom of Heaven Like?). There literally aren’t words to describe it.

So fear of the unknown (and, quite possibly, the unknowable) is my real problem. What I need is a stronger faith that I will love it and continue to love it even after I’ve been there awhile. God knows what he is doing, after all.  🙂

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. [Proverbs 3:5-6]

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Atheism, Agnosticism and Religious Skepticism – What’s the Difference?

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Kurtis Karr

question-685060_960_720Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities. Most inclusively, atheism is the absence of belief that any deities exist. Atheism is contrasted with theism, which, in its most general form, is the belief that at least one deity exists.

Agnosticism is the view that the truth of metaphysical and religious claims such as whether God, the divine or the supernatural exist are unknown and perhaps unknowable. In the popular sense of the term, an agnostic is someone who neither believes nor disbelieves in God, whereas an atheist disbelieves in God. Agnosticism is a doctrine or set of tenets rather than a religion as such.

Religious skepticism questions religious authority and is not necessarily anti-religious but is skeptical of a specific or all religious beliefs and/or practices. Modern religious skepticism typically emphasizes scientific and historical methods or evidence, it is a process for discovering the truth rather than general non-acceptance. For this reason a religious skeptic might believe that Jesus existed while questioning claims that he was the messiah or performed miracles. Religious skepticism is not the same as atheism or agnosticism, though these often do involve skeptical attitudes toward religion and philosophical theology (for example, towards divine omnipotence). Religious people are generally skeptical about claims of other religions, at least when the two denominations conflict concerning some stated belief. Additionally, they may also be skeptical of the claims made by atheists. The historian Will Durant writes that Plato was “as skeptical of atheism as of any other dogma.”

I thought it might be interesting, even ironic, to read here what the Bible says about various forms of non-belief. But I restrained myself because it is generally unflattering. I will say only this:

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. [John 3:16]

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How Do You Know You Have the Right Religion?

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Kurtis Karr

1024px-Symmetric_religious_symbols.svgHow do you know you have the right religion, I mean, other than fact your religion’s holy books say you do? Lets face it, there are literally thousands of religions in the world. Chances should be pretty slim that you’ve stumbled on to the right one by ‘accident’, right? So really, how do you know?

My answer is that I feel it in my heart. That’s a pretty weak argument, I know. But, hey, it’s good enough for me right now. On the other hand, when periods of doubt come, and they do, it sometimes pays to be a little more analytical.

A good analytic framework to use is: a) Is my religion logically consistent? In other words, is my belief system logically coherent and non-contradictory? b) Is my religion empirically adequate? Is there plenty of evidence to support my belief system? c) Is my religion existentially relevant and does it answer all the big questions like origin, ethics, meaning and destiny?

Read apologetics literature for your religion, does it all seem to make perfectly good sense? Read a little criticism as well. Does the apologetics or the criticism seem to make a stronger case, in your opinion?

What’s in it for you? This obviously seems a bit selfish but ultimately that’s what you’re looking for, isn’t it? Comfort, answers, happiness, peace, love, salvation, eternal life – what are the promises of your religion? Which is most important to you? Do the promises clearly seem to be being fulfilled among its followers?

Finally, look to the people. Do you want to be more like them? Are you excited to be part of their group? Or do you feel a little uncomfortable and out of place?

If you can give a personally satisfactory answer to all of these questions, it seems like you have found the right religion for you. Who am I to say any different? Personally, I’m strongly partial to Christianity. It fulfills all of my criteria for being the “right” religion for me. But perhaps it is not your cup of tea. Is there such a thing as an objective universal  truth? I truly believe so, but of course I  could be wrong.

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Can You Ever Have Too Much Religion?

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Kurtis Karr

Lead64At what point can religion become excessive? Surely, whenever it becomes dysfunctionally all-consuming and distresses the quality of your own life or anyone else’s, enough is enough. Scrupulosity, immoderate religiosity, zealotry, hypocrisy, religious persecution and oppression can all be symptoms of having too much religion.

It is good to remember that as Christians, ours is not a faith characterized by anxiety but one deeply established in peace (John 14:1-31; John 16:33). It is important to understand the truth about God. He is perfect in His justice, lavish in His grace, and acts out of love because He is love (1 John 4:8). God does not treat us as we deserve by our works (Romans 3:23; 6:23) but offers us another way to salvation (John 3:16). It is not by our own works that we are saved but through placing our faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9).

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Why Are Christians Not Considered Jews?

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Kurtis Karr

GerrerRebbeJesus Christ, the undisputed founder of Christianity was undoubtedly Jewish, both ethnically and religiously. He never set out to start a new religion but to fulfill the old. [Matthew 5:17] So why are today’s Christians not considered Jews?

Clearly there are some major differences between Judaism and Christianity:

Christianity is rooted in Second Temple Judaism, but the two religions diverged in the first centuries of the Christian Era. Christianity places emphasis on correct belief (or orthodoxy), focusing on the New Covenant as mediated through Jesus Christ,[1] as recorded in the New Testament. Judaism places emphasis on right conduct (or orthopraxy), focusing on the Mosaic Covenant, as recorded in the Torah and Talmud.

Christians believe in individual salvation from sin through repentance and receiving Jesus Christ as their God and Savior through faith (and in some Christian traditions, good works). Jews believe in individual and collective participation in an eternal dialogue with God through tradition, rituals, prayers and ethical actions. Christianity generally believes in a Triune God, one person of whom became human. Judaism emphasizes the Oneness of God and rejects the Christian concept of God in human form. [Wikipedia]

However, one could argue that perhaps just as much difference exists between Mormonism and Catholicism yet both denominations still identify as Christian.

I think it is primarily an issue of self-identification. Today, and starting as early as the first century AD, Christians did not necessarily want to identify with the people they believed “killed Jesus”. For early Gentile converts, converting to Judaism also meant painful rituals and intensive training in Old Testament law. If a Gentile could easily become a Christian and bypass all of that, why bother?

The Gentile Christians soon began to outnumber the ethnically Jewish Christians and so Christianity was no longer seen as a primarily Jewish religion. Judaism has always been seen as an essentially ethnic religion, after all.

Presumably, today, you can still find people who still identify as both Jewish and Christian, however, the ‘Jewishness’ to which they refer is probably primarily that of ethnicity.

 

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Does God Test Us And Why?

Posted on April 13, 2016 by Kurtis Karr

El_sacrificio_de_Isaac_(Domenichino)Does God test us? The Bible says He does. But why, when He already knows men’s hearts?[1 Kings 8:39, Jeremiah 17:9-10, Psalm 44:21, Luke 16:15, Acts 15:8, Romans 8:27] Clearly testing must be for our own benefit. In testing,  we come to better know ourselves and what, through God, we are capable of. In his epistle, James says:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. [James 1:2-4]

Here are some more selected passages about how God tests us and why:

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” … [Genesis 22:1-14]

You shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. [Deuteronomy 13:3]

And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. [Deuteronomy 8:2-3]

Who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end. [Deuteronomy 8:16]

They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. [Judges 3:4]

And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart. [2 Chronicles 32:31]

Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. [Judges 3:1]

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. … [Job 1:1-22]

The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. [Psalm 11:4-5]

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts. [Proverbs 17:3]

Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard, who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip. For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance. [Psalm 66:8-12]

Until what he had said came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him. [Psalm 105:19]

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” [Jeremiah 17:9-10]

And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’” [Zechariah 13:9]

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [Matthew 6:9-13]

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” [Matthew 26:41]

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” [Mark 14:38]

And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.” [Luke 11:4]

And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” [Luke 22:40]

And he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” [Luke 22:46]

Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. [John 6:5-6]

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— [Acts 2:22]

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. [Romans 12:2]

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. [1 Corinthians 3:11-13]

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. [1 Corinthians 10:13]
Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. [1 Corinthians 7:5]

But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. [1 Thessalonians 2:4]

But test everything; hold fast what is good. [1 Thessalonians 5:21]

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. [1 Timothy 6:9]

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. [Galatians 6:1-3]

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. [Hebrews 2:18]

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. [Hebrews 4:15]

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, [Hebrews 11:17]

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. … [James 1:1-27]

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. [James 1:2-4]

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. [James 1:12-16]

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. [James 1:14-16]

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. [1 Peter 1:6-7]

So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. [1 Peter 1:7]

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. … [1 Peter 4:12-19]

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. [1 John 4:1]

Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. [1 John 5:10]

Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. [Revelation 3:10]

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Is Christianity Possible Without the Bible?

Posted on April 13, 2016 by Kurtis Karr

BIBLETWOCan you be a real Christian without ever having cracked open the Bible? Of course you can! Consider the Bible didn’t even exist as such until the fourth century. It was then that the final canon was settled upon. The Christian church was doing okay up until this point.

The Gospel of Mark didn’t even exist until about 70 AD and the rest came later. The only thing before this was some letters of Paul. Christianity still spread and thrived through word of mouth. The apostles got their teaching through word of mouth and apparently continued on with the tradition.

Let’s face it, according to recent polls, today only about 26% of Christians read their Bibles on a regular basis. So word of mouth must still be pretty much a big deal. There are probably plenty of people who identify as Christian without ever having read a word of scripture. On the other hand, it would seem very strange to hear someone say that they ‘believe the Bible literally 100%’ without them having read it. 😉

The Bible is an anchor for the Christian tradition. It is authoritative and keeps us from going too far off track. I’m glad we have it. But is it absolutely necessary? I think history proves otherwise. After all, the Bible is not the Word of God, that would be Jesus Christ [John 1:1]

 

 

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You Should Be Proud Of Yourself!

Posted on April 13, 2016 by Kurtis Karr

Pieter_Bruegel_the_Elder_-_The_Tower_of_Babel_(Vienna)_-_Google_Art_Project_-_editedHave you ever heard someone with well meaning say ‘you should be proud of yourself’? Wrong! You should never be proud of yourself. Are you a Christian? Do you think Jesus was proud of anything he did? He worked miracles after all. He was the son of God! If anyone deserved to be proud it was Him. But no. Pride is a sin, after all. And Jesus was sinless.

He humbled himself before God and man by being baptized by John, washing His disciples feet, standing before Pilate and ultimately dying on the cross. Not once did He show a modicum of pride. He was the preeminent example of humility.

If we are truly trying to follow Jesus, we should never allow ourselves to be prideful, even of our most noble accomplishments. We should instead defer to He to whom all credit is properly due. Only the truly humble can never be humiliated.

Here are some helpful Bible passages about pride and humility:

Who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end. [Deuteronomy 8:16]

And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. [Deuteronomy 8:2]

And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. [Deuteronomy 8:3]

Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. [1 Samuel 2:3]

If my people who are called by my name 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. [2 Chronicles 7:14]

When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: “They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. [2 Chronicles 12:7]

Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. [2 Chronicles 34:27]

For when they are humbled you say, ‘It is because of pride’; but he saves the lowly. [Job 22:29]

Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.” [Job 37:24]

Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away. I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. … [Psalm 34:1-22]

I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn; do not lift up your horn on high, or speak with haughty neck.’” For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, [Psalm 75:4-6]

Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure. [Psalm 101:5]

The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground. [Psalm 147:6]

Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor. [Proverbs 3:34]

The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. [Proverbs 8:13]

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. [Proverbs 11:2]

The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. [Proverbs 15:33]

Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished. [Proverbs 16:5]

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. [Proverbs 16:18]

Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. [Proverbs 18:12]

“Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride. [Proverbs 21:24]

The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. [Proverbs 22:4]

One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor. [Proverbs 29:23]

Man is humbled, and each one is brought low, and the eyes of the haughty are brought low. [Isaiah 5:15]

I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless. [Isaiah 13:11]

All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. [Isaiah 66:2]

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” [Jeremiah 9:23-24]

The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” [Obadiah 1:3]

And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. [Matthew 18:2-4]

Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. [Matthew 23:10-12]

He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; [Luke 1:52]

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” [Luke 14:11]

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” [Luke 18:14]

And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” [Mark 7:20-23]

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. [Romans 11:17-21]

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant [1 Corinthians 13:4]

I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! [1 Corinthians 15:31]

So that no human being might boast in the presence of God. [1 Corinthians 1:29]

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. [2 Corinthians 11:30]

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. [2 Corinthians 12:9]

Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. [Galatians 5:26]

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. [Galatians 6:14]

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [Ephesians 2:8-9]

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, … [Philippians 2:1-11]

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. [Colossians 3:12-14]

He is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, [1 Timothy 6:4]

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. … [2 Timothy 3:1-17]

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. [1 Peter 3:8]

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” [1 Peter 5:5]

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, [1 Peter 5:6]

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. [James 4:10]

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” [James 4:6]

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What Does the Bible Say About Your Soul?

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Kurtis Karr

SoulCarriedtoHeavenThe following is a selection of Bible passages regarding the soul, it’s origin and final disposition:

Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. [Genesis 2:7]

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. [Deuteronomy 6:5]

For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. [Psalm 16:10]

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. … [Psalm 23:1-6]

And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. [Ecclesiastes 12:7]

Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die. [Ezekiel 18:4]

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. [Matthew 10:28]

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? [Matthew 16:26]

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. [Matthew 22:37]

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. [Matthew 25:41]

And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” [Matthew 25:46]

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? [Mark 8:36]

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [John 3:16]

For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” [John 6:40]

For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. [Acts 2:27]

So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. [Acts 2:41]

Of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. … [Psalm 103:1-22]

He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. [Romans 2:6-8]

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Romans 6:23]

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” … [1 Corinthians 15:51-58]

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [1 Thessalonians 5:23]

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. [Hebrews 4:12]

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. [1 John 3:15]

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. [Revelation 6:9-11]

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. … [Revelation 20:1-15]

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Why God Created Man

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Kurtis Karr

Believe it or not, tCreación_de_Adán_(Miguel_Ángel)he Bible frequently does address why God created man. If you are searching for the meaning of life, you need look no further than the pages of your trusty old Bible:

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. [Genesis 1:26-27]

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” [Genesis 1:28]

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. [Genesis 2:15]

And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. [Genesis 9:1]

Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. [1 Samuel 12:24]

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” [Jeremiah 9:23-24]

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. [Psalm 138:8]

The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. [Proverbs 16:4]

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. [Ecclesiastes 1:2]

I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. [Ecclesiastes 1:14]

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: [Ecclesiastes 3:1]

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. [Ecclesiastes 12:13-14]

Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” [Isaiah 43:7]

The people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise. [Isaiah 43:21]

So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. [Isaiah 55:11]

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. [Jeremiah 29:11]

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? [Micah 6:8]

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. [Matthew 22:37-39]

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” [Matthew 28:18-20]

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [John 3:16]

And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. [John 17:3]

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. [Romans 8:28]

But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? [Romans 9:20-21]

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. [Romans 11:36]

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. [1 Corinthians 6:19-20]

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. [1 Corinthians 10:31]

Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, [Ephesians 1:4-5]

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. [Ephesians 2:10]

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. [Philippians 2:12-13]

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. [Colossians 1:16]

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. [1 Peter 2:9]

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