Weekly Articles

Throughout history the quality of a nation’s soil related directly to its power in the world.  In the ancient world, this meant that the population could thrive in good times and survive the bad times.  Few places on Earth are more synonymous with the term “breadbasket” than ancient Egypt – after all, why did Israel send his sons there, but to buy grain?  When Roman power was at its peak, whole navies of transport vessels transported grain from Egypt and Anatolia to Rome to support its multitudes.  Both of these areas were placed in what would become the Eastern Roman Empire (or Byzantine Empire); notice that the half of the Roman empire that contained the breadbasket regions survived the other half by a thousand years!

One of the most productive areas in the world is the well-named “Grain Belt” of the Midwestern area of the United States.  Without this region’s produce, much of the world might starve.  This region is one of the best examples of the natural abundance of the United States.  But not all soil is the same – compare the Grain Belt states to the Gobi Desert!  Just as there are areas of the world that seem to overproduce, there are areas that are known as agriculturally non-productive.  No matter how much water you bring, corn is not going to survive in the vast dunes of the Sahara Desert – the soil is shifting and barren.

In addition to rocky, barren deserts is the presence of weeds.  Often the bane of gardeners and those with allergies alike, weeds are quite simply unwanted plants that thrive to the detriment of other plants.  Pine trees, for example, will grow to the point that they block out the sunlight – starving all of the other nearby plants, including smaller pine trees.  The presence of weeds in a garden will lead to the death of that garden if they are not dealt with, because the weeds will overtake the wanted plants, choking them out.  Weeds can turn even the best soil unproductive.  Look at the Parable of the Sower that Jesus told. 

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:  when anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.  This is the seed sown along the path.  The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time.  When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.  The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.  But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it.  He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”  (Matthew 13:18-23 NIV)

When people hear this parable, they often focus on the fact that the farmer spread seed on the path.  But look again:  the path seems to be a small part of the field that was sowed.  Three of the four mentioned places rationally make up more than seventy-five percent of the field (unless you have a four-lane highway running through your farm)!  Ignore the path (where the seed will never take root) and look at the field:  the rocky soil is bad soil, because plants there will not establish deep roots; the thorny soil is bad soil because the weeds choke out the seed as it tries to grow.  Only in the soil that has been cleared of rocks and weeds can produce the harvest!

The lesson is usually given as a tool for evangelism, but I want you to take it as one for your own life!  What does your own field look like?  Have you cleared the field of your life of rocks and weeds?  If not, you are risking spiritual death.  If you do not establish strong roots through rigorous Bible study, a dedicated prayer life, and meaningful fellowship with the church, then you will likely die a quick death amidst the persecutions that inevitably come.  If you do not clear out the weeds and thorns of life – the worries of the worldly life and the pursuit of empty wealth – then you will likely die a slow death of choking on worldly desire and being starved of the light of life.  Either way, there is death in the soil if that soil is not prepared for God.

-Charles Peterson

I was looking at the RSS feeds from Fox News on my computer recently and saw  the headline “Oldest Possibly Hebrew Inscription Possibly Found.”  This understandably drew my attention, so I clicked on the link and was presented with the news story; the article informed me about a ceramic shard that was found at a site that has been dated to 1000BC-975BC – contemporary with King David.  The story then proceeded to explain that “some scholars and archeologists argue that the Bible’s account of David’s time inflates his importance and that of his kingdom, and is essentially myth” (article).  This is said to come from an objective viewpoint.

Now compare this to the “facts” of the story of human evolution.  Java Man, Piltdown Man, Nebraska Man, and Ramapithecus were all at one time or another proclaimed to be evidence of the evolution of man from a “common ancestor” with apes and other primates.  They have all been subsequently revealed as frauds:  Java Man had been manufactured out of small fragments from two different creatures; Piltdown Man was a deliberate hoax, Nebraska Man had been conjured up from a pig’s tooth, and Ramapithecus turned out to be an ape.  Neanderthal Man has tested out as human in every way:  DNA, lifestyle, etc.  So if it walks like a human, has the DNA of a human, and acts like a human – maybe it is human?  But Anthropology is given the benefit of the doubt – they “know” humans evolved, so they will keep searching until they prove it.

Similarly, look at the “facts” of the origin of the universe.  The universe “obviously” began as an infinitely small, infinitely hot, infinitely dense point that exploded outwards into the universe that we know today.  Out of that, over 100 Billion galaxies were born, each with maybe 100 Billion stars – that’s ten thousand billion billion (10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 or 1×10²²) stars!  So the argument is that we cannot possibly be the only living beings.  Astrophysicist Hugh Ross, in his book The Creator and the Cosmos, laid out forty-one parameters needed for a planet capable of sustaining life – such as type of galaxy, star mass, tidal force, thickness of crust, atmospheric pressure, etc.  He made the calculation that the probability of a planet meeting all forty-one parameters is one in a hundred thousand trillion trillion trillion trillion (1×10⁵³).  That means that even in a universe with ten thousand billion billion stars, there’s only one chance in one million trillion that a single planet could exist!  But stating that we are the only ones here shouts volumes about the power of the creator, so astronomers claim natural origins (no God) and are given the benefit of the doubt.

Every discipline that makes the claim that there is no God, or that the God of the Bible is not real, is given this benefit!  No serious historian doubts the authenticity of Caesar’s Gallic War, The History of Thucydides, or The History of Herodotus, and yet there is not a single manuscript that dates to within less than 900 years of the original writing!  But the New Testament documents are always held up to scrutiny and called into question as being inauthentic, even though there are literally thousands of manuscripts existing that date to within a couple of centuries (150-200 years), with a fragment of the Gospel of John that dates to within fifty years of the original!  But the doubting historians are given the benefit of the doubt.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written:  “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”  Where is the wise man?  Where is the scholar?  Where is the philosopher of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified:  a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.  (1 Corinthians 1:18-25 NIV)

We need to take comfort in all of this; God has placed before us the cross of Christ, which our modern “intellectuals” view as foolish and ignorant.  But these same individuals place their faith in the flimsiest evidences and latch on to anything that will tell them that there is no God.  But if look at the two sides, the atheist position needs the benefit of the doubt, while the God-believing side deserves it.

-Charles Peterson

There is a common misconception that forgiveness means you overlook wrongdoing by others; for example, those who are opposed to “harsh” sentences for sexual predators, murderers, and the like, will often tell us that Jesus told us to turn the other cheek and forgive – meaning that in effect we should not punish the criminal.  This kind of thinking has moved our system of justice from a punishment-centered one to a rehabilitation-centered one.  As a consequence, we now have prisons bursting at their seams, rising costs per inmate (as the quality of “service” is demanded to increase), and recidivism rates that are just plain ludicrous.  Our inmates have a more comfortable lifestyle that most of the population of the world:  there are many inmates who, in addition to free food, shelter, and medical care, are also able to earn tax free income that dwarfs the average pay throughout much of the world.  Frankly, which are you more afraid of:  being sent to an American prison or residing in North Korea?  In terms of the death penalty, the US executed forty-two in 2007, while China executed 470 (confirmed, while reports are that the true figure could have been as high as 8,000) – at least some of whom were political dissidents.  The US has definitely embraced a doctrine of leniency.   

Within the church, this kind of thinking leads us to tolerate numerous outrageous doctrines and behaviors.  Some things are fairly subtle, such as statements or questions raised during Bible classes that drift towards unhealthy ideologies – if they are challenged, the person challenging the wrong ideas is often accused of being aggressive or unchristian.  Other things are more blatant, such as the person who carries out adulterous behaviors but is never dealt with because the other members of the church are trying to “be forgiving” and treat with the person in love.  Overlooking sin is not forgiveness, it is indulgence – and it is condemned in the Bible!

I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters.  In that case you would have to leave this world.  But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler.  With such a man do not even eat.  What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church?  Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside.  “Expel the wicked man from among you.”  (I Corinthians 5:9-13 NIV)

Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time.  After that, have nothing to do with him.  You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.  (Titus 3:10-11 NIV)

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.  They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up.  Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.  (II Peter 2:1-3 NIV)

This is serious business!  We are supposed to expel the wicked man from our assembly!  Not kindly exhort him; not ask him gently to try being a little less wicked; not, please keep it quiet and out of view.  We are suppose to warn a divisive person twice, and then have “nothing to do with him”.  What happened to forgiving your brother however many times he needs it?  Well, that is itself a flawed theology!  Jesus didn’t say to forgive him however many times he needs it; in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew, it is pretty clear that the forgiveness came as a result of the repentance of the transgressor. 

Clearly, forgiveness that is the result of repentance is powerful, binding both the forgiven and the forgiver in love; forgiveness that comes without repentance simply indulges the transgressor, rewarding bad behavior and allowing them to proceed unchecked towards destruction.  This should be an easy concept for the Christian.  After all, God’s forgiveness is open to all to receive, but only through repentance and atonement.  God is willing to forgive sinners who repent, but he simply refuses to indulge sinners who want to keep sinning.   And he wants us to forgive, but never to indulge, sin.

-Charles Peterson

I was reading an excerpt from Hedge Fund Manager Jonathan Hoenig’s book “Greed is Good: The Capitalist Pig Guide to Investing” wherein he said that the point of life was to be as happy as possible (rough paraphrase).  The immediate reaction that arose in my mind was the wrongness of this notion; obviously our existence here is not for the purpose of our happiness.  But then I started to rethink this:  what if he is right?

No, I do not think that what we commonly think of as happiness is the point of life here on Earth.  Most people (especially Americans) will define happiness as something along the lines of comfort, carnal-satiation, or wish-fulfillment.  But if you extrapolate the end result of those things, does it lead to happiness?  Try unfettered gluttony – you will end up seriously obese, with major health problems and possibly even some emotional trauma.  Try doing only the things that come easily, avoiding any sweat, pain, or effort – you will become thoroughly unproductive and lacking in any accomplishment (and probably friendless, as well).  Seeking after simple wish fulfillment (as opposed to working towards goals) often leads the unwary into the snares of conmen and predators.

But what about true happiness?  What is it, and should we be seeking it?  For example, there are both immediate and long-term benefits that come from productive labor:  the immediate benefits are a sense of accomplishment and increased fitness (physical, mental, and/or spiritual, depending on the type of labor); the long-term benefits are an increase in health and wealth (fiscal, physical, mental, social, and spiritual).  Understanding this does not require a tremendous leap of faith or the wisdom of Solomon.  Our cultural history is full of fables and proverbs such as Benjamin Franklin’s – Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

God’s word provides more teaching about this than mere common sense; God goes further by showing why this is so. 

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me.  Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength.  (Philippians 4:10-13 NIV)

What does the worker gain from his toil?  I have seen the burden God has laid on men.  He has made everything beautiful in its time.  He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.  I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.  That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.  I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it.  God does it so that men will revere him.  (Ecclesiastes 3:9-14 NIV)

His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master’s happiness!’  (Matthew 25:23 NIV)

In the first passage, the Apostle Paul states that he knows the secret to being content in all situations:  drawing on the strength of the Lord.  This is not saying that he pays no attention to pain or suffering, nor is it saying that he never feels privation or hunger; on the contrary, he makes it plain that he is fully cognizant of need and discomfort – he has simply drawn on the power of God to be content no matter what be happening.  This is much akin to Proverbs 30:8-9 in which the writer asks for God to keep him from being too rich (and thus arrogantly forsaking God) or too poor (and thus dishonoring God by stealing).  The second passage shows that God made man to be happy (in food, drink, and work) and in doing good (precluding abuses of food, drink, and work).  The third passage shows that the servants of the master can only share in the happiness of the master through faithfulness.

Our existence on this Earth is precisely for the purpose of our happiness – but that happiness is only obtainable through our relationship with God.  So I’d have to say that our happiness is very important.  Let’s work to be happy through a better understanding of, and a stronger connection to, the Living God.

-Charles Peterson