by | January 20, 2011 · 2:52 pm

Was John R. Rice a Heretic?

On the 400th aniversery of the 1611 King James Version of the Bible, I would like to pose a question to my brothers and sisters who refuse to recognize any other translation: was John R. Rice a heretic? If you do not know of whom I am referring, let me give you a little background information.

Dr. John R. Rice

Dr. Rice, who died in 1980, was one of the most well-known fundamentalist writers and evangelists of the 20th century. He wrote more than 200 books and booklets which were published in many languages and sold all over the world. He condemned the compromise, liberalism, and apostacy being taught at major denominational colleges and seminaries.  He fought for a return to holiness and the fundamentals of the Christian faith. But what I think he will always be remembered for is his founding of the weekly paper, Sword of the Lord.

For the record, I highly respect Dr. Rice. I have in my personal library several of his works published back in the 1960’s. He was a great writer and a great preacher; however, he was not flawless. He said some things back in the day that I have a hard time with. On the other hand, he had some things to say that would shock the average reader of Sword of the Lord and the typical legalist who believes the KJV is the one-and-only perfect, preserved text for the English-speaking world.  Unlike the Sword which continually decries any other translation as dangerous and confusing, Dr. Rice actually recommended the 1901 ASV. OK, would somebody get a glass of water for the fainting KJV-only person on the floor? Dr. John R. Rice, founder and editor of the Sword of the Lord newspaper, actually said that the…

“…American Standard Version, translated in 1901, is perhaps the most accurate of all versions… It takes advantage of the three great manuscripts – the Sinaiticus, the Vatican, and the Alexandrian manuscripts – which were not available when the King James Version was translated.”   from, Dr. Rice, Here Is My Question (Wheaton: Sword of the Lord, 1962), p. 59.

As an overall explanation of his beliefs on the topic of multiple translations, Dr. Rice also stated:

“[There] are many, many translations. The differences in the translations are so minor, so insignificant, that we can be sure not a single doctrine, not a single statement of fact, not a single command or exhortation, has been missed in our translations. And where the Word of God is not perfectly translated in one instance, it is corrected in another translation. And if the Word of God is not perfectly portrayed in one translation, it is portrayed, surely, in the winnowed sum of them all… Have copyists passed on to us any major errors so that in any particular matter we miss the Word of God? There is abundant evidence that they have not. Do the various translations differ materially on any doctrine, any fact of history, any Christian duty, on the plan of salvation, or the Person of Christ, or any comfort or instruction? No, they do not! God has preserved His Scriptures. – from, Our God-Breathed Book, the Bible (Murfreesboro, TN: Sword of the Lord Publishers, 1969), p. 355.

Now, according to many legalists, at least to those who refuse to read or use any other translation of the Bible than the King James 1611, Dr. Rice, who had probably been one of their heroes, is now a liberal. Poor guy! He did so much!

I believe that God inspired His Word (2 Timothy 3:16). I believe He gave it to us in the original autographs. I believe that He has preserved copies of those originals in the examples we have of Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic manuscripts. What I do not believe is that the King James Version was the one-and-only, forever-settled-as-pure-and-inspired translation. It is ONLY a translation. To say that no other English translation is the Word of God is to say that the Geneva Bible, 51 years older than the KJV, was just a book.

The Kings James Version of the Bible changed the world. We should all be grateful for it. I still use it many times when preaching, and especially when memorizing verses. But even though the KJV was and is a blessing of God, His Word is preserved in the ORIGINAL TEXTS. Anything other than the original languages, including the King James, is a translation.

Our goal should be to use the best translations of the texts at our disposal when we are preaching and teaching, comparing them with each other and the originals, when possible, so that we can better understand how God’s Word should be understood in today’s language. After all, if you can’t understand it, doing you no good is the least of your worries – doing harm because of a faulty understanding based on a changed vocabulary is far worse. That is where the REAL heresy comes from.

But hey, it doesn’t matter which translation, if you are not reading it and studying it on your own, you might as well be reading Harry Potter and the Temple of Whatever. READ your Bible. STUDY your Bible. Let the Holy Spirit guide you as you read and study and then a wonderful thing will happen – you won’t be ashamed in the end (2 Timothy 2:15); you will find light for your path (Psalm 119:105); and you will know how not to sin against God (Psalm 119:11). Even the ASV, ESV, HCSB, or the NIV will tell you that….right, Dr. Rice?

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by | January 19, 2011 · 2:53 pm

Missing the Point…AGAIN!

It never fails to amaze me…the ignorance of those who claim to know so much.

Just recently, Governor Robert Bently of Alabama made a whole lot of people angry. According to the reactions of some, he might as well have said that from now on, only Christians will be allowed to eat and breath in the state of Alabama. Of course, that is not what he said, but that is how it was interpreted.

You can read the articles for yourself (I attached the links, below). Both are full of accusations from non-Christians and atheists. None show any understanding or appreciation of the biblical principles to which Governor Bently was referring. Moreover, they smugly and hypocritically avoid the fact that the word “brother” is used in more circles than just Christian ones. Most of all, they accuse the governor of making all non-brethren out to be “second-class citizens.” All because he said that if you are not a follower of Jesus Christ and born again you can’t be considered family?

Correct me if I am wrong, but since when was I included in the family of the Muslim brotherhood? Tell me, when was it that I was last notified of my spot at the reservation in Montana? Has anyone received a call from Jessie Jackson, recently? Surely, the Rev. Jackson is wanting to welcome me as a “brutha.” Did anyone misplace the memo? NO, because I am not in those “families.” Moreover, most don’t want me, if I could, to become a part.

Governor Bently said what he said based on the fact that only believers in Jesus Christ as Saviour can claim a relationship. That, however does not make us incapable, as Christians, to love and serve our fellow man, even if he is a part of another “family” which seeks to destroy our own. The Apostle Paul made it very clear in the 12th chapter of the letter to the Romans that even though we may not all be “family,” we are to be “kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another (v. 10).”

On a side note, where do the people of Philadelphia think they got the name for their city? Philadelphia is the Greek word for “brotherly love,” as in Romans 12:10. Atheists and Muslims weren’t the ones who named the city, and those leaders led well.

No, it is precisely the Christian who is commanded to do what so few others are willing to do to non-brothers – love them and show kindness, even amidst persecution. Consider the following verses from Romans 12…

Romans 12:14-21  Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.  Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

If the Constitution was not the law of the land, and we were in any other country, especially one ruled by Sharia Law, would the above words bring comfort, or install fear? If the founders of our nation had been Jihadists, would they have written a Constitution such as ours that allows for “freedom of religion?” Is it fair to say that Governor Bently will treat non-Christians like “second-class citizens?” Not if he really does abide by his religious beliefs. If he does what he is supposed to do, then the non-brethren will fair much better than the non-brethren do in Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Sudan, China, North Korea, etc., etc., etc.

Give the governor a break people! The great thing about America is that we are a nation of many “families,” but we’re still Americans. Don’t miss the point to make a stupid one.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/alabama-gov-robert-bentley-apologizes-christian-comments/story?id=12662495

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/01/18/new-ala-gov-just-christians-family/?test=latestnews#content

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by | January 15, 2011 · 12:35 am

Why Be a Legalist?

Well, that’s a good question! The question could also be asked another way: what makes a person want to be, or remain a legalist? This, essentially, was the question recently posed by a friend on Facebook. Assuming we know what a legalist is, what makes a person attracted to this way of thinking? Let me respond with five possible answers.

But before we go any further, let’s make sure we’re on the same page. What is a legalist? Here are a couple of really good, all-around definitions of legalism. The first one is from GotQuestions.org (which I recommend). I would advise reading the whole piece on their website. The following is an excerpt:

The word “legalism” does not occur in the Bible. It is a term Christians use to describe a doctrinal position emphasizing a system of rules and regulations for achieving both salvation and spiritual growth. Legalists believe in and demand a strict literal adherence to rules and regulations. Doctrinally, it is a position essentially opposed to grace. Those who hold a legalistic position often fail to see the real purpose for law, especially the purpose of the Old Testament law of Moses, which is to be our “schoolmaster” or “tutor” to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-Christian-legalism.html

The second is a definition found on Wikipedia. Believe it or not, it is a pretty in-depth article. Again, here is a portion of that article:

Legalism, in Christian theology, is a sometimes-pejorative term referring to an over-emphasis on discipline of conduct, or legal ideas, usually implying an allegation of misguided rigour, pride, superficiality, the neglect of mercy, and ignorance of the grace of God or emphasizing the letter of law over the spirit. Legalism is alleged against any view that obedience to law, not faith in God’s grace, is the pre-eminent principle of redemption…Legalism refers to any doctrine which states salvation comes strictly from adherence to the law. It can be thought of as a works-based religion. – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legalism_(theology)

**********

But to be fair, most people that I would label “legalists” are not people who believe that salvation is earned by works of any kind, at least if they are Baptists. The vast majority of legalists to which I refer, and of which I used to belong, use a system of rules and regulations to determine spirituality, spiritual growth, and favor with God and other believers. They believe, as a whole, in the redemptive work of the cross, but set a universal standard which defines holiness for all who claim Christ, regardless of cultural or societal considerations. To the legalist, anyone who behaves or believes differently than the legalist’s perceived standards must not be “right with God.”

**********

So, back to the original question:

“Why are Some People Legalists?”

One reason could simply be that they do not know any different.

When I was growing up, I did not know anything different than what I was exposed to in our little churches, missionary conferences, revivals, or Christian schools. Even though I believe that most of what I was taught was doctrinally sound, I was not encouraged to examine different viewpoints, even those of other Baptists, specifically if they were anything other than “Independent, Fundamental, etc.” I was not allowed to explore the true nature of a life of grace and freedom. Many are still in this situation. Tragically, they are content with their ignorance. They refuse to consider the fact that they may be wrong on a particular point. Even when Scripture is plain and simple, because of the secluded nature of these groups, they would rather stick their heads in the sand than risk being wrong. Being wrong might make someone else, even another denomination, right about something. Heaven help us!

A second reason could be that they came from an unholy lifestyle and now seek to redeem themselves (or their consciences).

Some people are so ashamed of their past that they go overboard in trying to live a life of holiness. They see in their past a link between so-called “worldly activities” and their fall into depravity. In an effort to show they are no longer the person they used to be, and in order to avoid temptation, they strictly avoid certain activities deemed “worldly.” Sadly, even though they mean well, they project their own weaknesses onto others, therefore expecting others to abide by the same level of austere living, or be seen as worldly. However, in many cases, appearances are not what they seem. The very ones who are so legalistic in some areas of life wind up being the ones with the biggest weakness in that area. Their overbearing attitudes, in many cases, may only be the big doors hiding skeletons in their closet.

A third reason could be the desire to be controlled or told what to do.

As strange as it may sound, some people don’t like to think for themselves, nor do they like being responsible for their own choices. It is sort of like people whom I have seen that were once under a totalitarian government. When they no longer had a dictatorial system telling them what to do, they either lost all control or had no motivation to do any good. Legalistic churches provide the lazy or immature Christian a list of “do’s and don’ts” so that he/she doesn’t have to search the Scripture for guidance. It is much easier this way. If the pastor says something is wrong, and that God would not approve, then that’s it – end of discussion. Having a list is safe and doesn’t require much thought. They prefer being a marionette to being mature.

A fourth reason, which is among the more sinister, is that they want to control others.

Freedom is dangerous. Freedom allows for movement and change. Freedom allows for the individual to be led by God in a specific direction that may or may not be God’s will for another. Freedom takes power away from those who would want to control others for their own edification or gratification. Legalism keeps the sheep under strict control by encouraging tattling and fear of being ostracized. There are pastors, well-intended men, who would rather their people live under a specific set of guidelines than question long-held, man-made traditions. These leaders are afraid to lose their congregations to the world, but also to other churches. They may even find comfort in controlling others due to their own inadequacies. Much like emperors and dictators, they manipulate weak Christians in order to maintain their little kingdoms. Rarely do they admit weakness. Often, they micro-manage every aspect of ministry. They have to be in control.

A fifth reason could be that some people are more afraid of God than in love with Him.

So many people that I know and used to be like were more afraid of losing their relational standing with God than anything else. As a matter of fact, by being legalistic, one could be assured that God was pleased with him. I wonder how it really was for Enoch as he walked with God. Many modern preachers are quick to make the application of Enoch’s walk with God to the way we act in this world. They make little of the relationship implied by the narrative (Genesis 5:24). In reality, very few lists would even be needed if one had an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. To the legalist, God is not a friend; He doesn’t laugh; He speaks in Old English, and He holds a grudge because of what it took to buy the sinner’s salvation. When you think of God as always looking for an opportunity to send judgment, then being legalistic is the safest way to go. You’d hate to be hit with a lightning bolt.

There you have it. I am sure there may be other reasons, but this is a good start.

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by | January 14, 2011 · 8:49 pm

“You Might be a Legalist If…”

The following list is not original on my part, but I am unsure of who came up with it. Don’t think I wrote it, but enjoy!

1) God’s love for me depends on what I do.

2) Meeting the expectations of others, especially those in my congregation or in positions of authority, are paramount.

3) Moral and ethical questions are usually black and white and only made into fuzzy shades of gray by hand-wringing, bleeding-heart types.

4) I try hard to obey God and it irritates me that others think they can get away with avoiding the same level of dedication.

5) I fall short because I don’t have enough faith, or because I haven’t prayed enough, or because I just need to be a better person.

6) God is predisposed to be angry with me because I am a sinner. My main goal in life is to try to gain God’s favor by doing things that will impress him.

7) My sense of spiritual well-being is linked to a Christian leader or membership in my church rather than a personal relationship with God.

8) I tell my children not to do something in church or around other Christian families that I allow in my home.

9) I believe my church is God’s true church and that most other Christians may be sincere, but are sincerely wrong.

10) The exterior choices a person makes in what they wear, hairstyle, piercings, tattoos, etc. is a clear indication of that person’s character.

11) I sometimes worry that people might take advantage of grace if it’s preached too much —people might think they can do anything they want.

12) After being around Christians for a while I feel drained —weary of putting up a false front.

13) When I happen to miss a service or activity of my church I feel guilty.

14) I will likely get into heaven, even though I’m far from perfect, because I have tried to be a basically good person and God will take that into account.

So, are you a legalist? I used to be, but I still struggle. That is the reason for this blog. That is why I call myself a “recovering” legalist.

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by | January 12, 2011 · 11:11 pm

A Store With Testosterone: Stockdale’s

I live with so many females in my life.  Everything oozes with estrogen, from the types of food we eat, to the stores at which we shop. I have stood and waited uncomfortably in more bra sections of stores than I can count. Thank the Lord I took the initiative to walk through the doors of a new store – Stockdale’s.

On a whim, without knowing anything about Stockdale’s, I said, “Let’s go in here…they say they’re America’s rural outfitters, and we live in rural America.” I can’t tell you how good it felt to have the first thing I see be a large kiosk of nothing but Case knives. This was definitely not J.C. Penney’s or Bed Bath & Beyond.

Because there was bad weather in the forecast, the store we went into was about to close early. I didn’t get to see everything, but I did make a quick trip around. There was everything from horse saddles to blue jeans. But when I saw a whole end cap full of cowboy cap guns, I told me wife, “We have got to come back to this place.”

I am posting this at a time when my wife is telling me I need to go to bed because I have to get up early; is correcting the way I put away towels; and is chastising me for my supposed poor positioning of Thanksgiving decorations in the closet. Can you see why I think a store with TESTOSTERONE is just what the doctor ordered?

I hope they have a store near you.  If they don’t, then just go watch a John Wayne movie.

http://www.chattanoogachamber.com/newsandvideo/stocdales_ribbon.asp

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by | January 12, 2011 · 1:39 am

A Lesson in the Snow

Maybe, just maybe, if you were living it up somewhere in Al Gore’s Tropicana, you did not notice the snow in Tennessee. Just this week we had more snow than any time since 1993. As a matter of fact, I slid down a hill on an inflatable sled for the first time ever. Not only did we get snow for Christmas, but no sooner than schools go back after Christmas break this snow comes and cancels classes for another week. Terribly unusual, I must say; but fun, I DO declare!

Time to get out in the snow!

After a day in the house watching all the four-wheel-drive trucks go by, however, I decided it was time to be a man. There was no reason for me to stay indoors while so many others were risking their lives and asking for an insurance claim, so to “The Ride” I went. I figured that there was no reason to fear the snow when I had an automobile with front-wheel-drive and an American V8 sitting under the hood. It was time for my family and I to go to Wal-Mart – even if we didn’t need anything – just to prove we could.

 

"Global Warming - Cadillac Style"

When I got to my car (The Ride), it was covered in snow 7 inches deep. It was beautiful! I hated to clean it off; but in order to go somewhere, the snow had to be removed from the windshield, at least. I walked around my black Cadillac, and as I did, I pulled out my iPhone 4 and took this picture. I call it, “Global Warming – Cadillac Style.” It was when I started knocking off the heavy, beautiful snow that a verse of Scripture came to mind…

 

Isa 1:18 KJV – Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Now, sin is not described as black in this verse, but as “scarlet.” There is a really good reason for that, but in this case I just thought of how white my black car had become. If my car had been scarlet, crimson, or whatever, it was now as white as it could be…white as snow….at least on top.

Isn’t it wonderful how God can use such a simple little thing like cleaning the snow off your car to remind you of a profound truth? The great thing about God’s forgiveness, the forgiveness made possible by Jesus’ death and resurrection, is that it doesn’t just cover our sin with a layer of goodness – it cleanses us “from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). That snow was beautiful, but underneath there was still a black car. Covering my car with snow made it white, just like doing good deeds can make us look pure and holy. Problem is, good works don’t change the color of the paint.

Real change takes place below the surface.

The difference between the forgiveness of God and snow is that salvation changes the color underneath. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall BE WHITE AS SNOW.” That’s a statement describing fundamental change, not a layer of frozen condensation. If you have never been forgiven of your sin, then at best you are just covered in a 7-inches of white that will one day melt. Why not let Jesus take your crimson-stained heart and make it new; make it “white as snow?”  That’s real change – Jesus Style.

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by | January 7, 2011 · 2:47 pm

Anthony’s Appetite #5 (the wedding)

I like food, but it is weighing heavy on me. Something has to give.

Young love, how sweet!

On New Year’s Eve I performed a wedding in St. Petersburg, Florida. Everything was so sweet and romantic, especially the gazebo and view of the Gulf Coast. What happened after the wedding is the subject of this post.

If you are ever in St. Petersburg, and you want to eat Italian, try the Palm Court Italian Grill located in the Trade Winds resort on St. Pete Beach (http://www.tradewindsresort.com/dining/palm-court.aspx). We walked there from the beach, but you will probably have to drive.

For an appetizer, I had their Traditional Crab Bisque. For those of you who don’t know, it’s like a thick, creamy soup. According to the menu, it was made with an Italian brandy cream. I don’t know what Italian brandy is like, so I’ll have to take their word for it. It was very creamy, though. Oh, and it had crab meat in it. Simple, huh? Yeah, and fattening.

My wife ordered her own appetizer. She selected Bruschetta (roasted garlic, plum tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, smoked mozzarella, piquillo peppe & basil pesto). She really liked it, which frankly surprised me. Valerie is not one to eat tomatoes. I didn’t care for it too much, however. The dish had a lot of potential, but I believe there was an excessive amount of olive oil used.

After the appetizer I chose the Club Croissant. You normally can’t go wrong with a club sandwich, so I figured I was safe. This was no ordinary club sandwich, though. As the name implies, it was on a croissant. That added a whole flaky texture that made it a little difficult to hold the contents together when taking a bite. Don’t get me wrong – it was tasty. All of the ingredients (smoked turkey, smoked bacon, swiss cheese, etc.) came together nicely. It was a filling sandwich, especially when served with the cool pasta salad.

Delicious cake from Publix

Interestingly, the bride’s mother purchased the wedding cake from Publix. White cake with raspberry filling and a cream cheese icing – marvelous! One piece was enough to add an inch to my belt line.

Because of all this eating, and all of the eating before, the new year has begun with a change in diet. At my doctor’s recommendation, I have started the South Beach Diet. I am too important to my family to die early like my dad did. In the near future you will hear of how losing weight can be tasty, too…..I hope.

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by | January 6, 2011 · 10:13 am

The Raelians are Coming!!

About the time that I thought the only thing I had to worry about was Islam and LGBT marriages, along comes a new threat –

UFO cults. It’s not science fiction, folks.

As times change, pastors are having to battle change. It’s not that we oppose changing styles, or stuff like that. We oppose those who are attempting to change the truth of Scripture in order to accomplish their own goals.

People have always tried to twist the words of the Bible to meet their own needs. That is nothing new. The problem that we face today is the ever growing desire to make those changes legal; to force pastors, under threat of lawsuits, to accept sin and place a stamp of approval on it. An example of this would be a gay or lesbian couple trying to force a pastor to marry them, rather than face discrimination and/or human rights charges. If you don’t think they are serious, just check out this article from NPR written just a couple of years ago (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91486340). Things haven’t gotten better.

"I come to sue."

Now, get this, a Catholic school in Canada had been forced to pay damages to a group of UFO cultists! Even though you can go to their site, let me print it below (http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/ontario-tribunal-finds-catholic-school-board-guilty-of-religious-discrimina).

TORONTO, Ontario, December 20, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Ontario Human Rights Tribunal has ordered a Catholic school board to compensate three members of a prominent UFO cult after finding the board guilty of religious discrimination.

Daniel, Michel, and Sylvie Chabot, members of the Raelian cult, were hired in November 2006 by the Conseil Scolaire Catholique Franco-Nord to offer ‘emotional pedagogy’ training sessions for teachers.  They delivered such sessions through what they call the Academy of Pleasurology and Emotional Intelligence (APEI).

The Catholic board chose to end the contract in January 2007 after discovering their membership in the cult, which claims that humans were planted on Earth by benevolent extraterrestrials.

On December 15th, Tribunal vice president Michelle Flaherty ruled that the board had discriminated against the three siblings on the basis of their beliefs.  The parties had agreed to mediation, but asked the Tribunal to determine if the human rights code was violated.  The decision does not reveal how much the board must pay in penalty.

The Raelian sect was founded by former French sports journalist Claude Vorilhon, now known as ‘Rael’, in 1973 after he claimed that he had an encounter with aliens.  The cult is known for its strong support of human cloning, which is based on their belief that cloning will usher in a paradise where people live forever.

Daniel Chabot, who calls himself a bishop, said they have filed dozens of human rights complaints, but this is the first to side with them.  “It took us 17 years of relentless battles and one case before a Human Rights Tribunal in Ontario to finally have our voices heard,” he stated in a press release.  “This sentence was ironically delivered on Human Rights Day, December 10, 2010 and was, needless to say, a sweet victory.”

Ronald Demers, the school board’s chairman, told the Catholic Register that they will not appeal.  LifeSiteNews.com did not hear back from the board by press time.

The aliens, I mean the Raelians are coming! The Raelians are coming!

P.S.   I don’t want to bash the poor Catholic folks in Canada, but why didn’t anyone see a HUGE RED FLAG when the board hired people from the “Academy of Pleasurology and Emotional Intelligence (APEI)” to conduct “emotional pedagogy” training? Just asking. What ever happened to Theology?

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by | January 5, 2011 · 2:37 pm

“Let God be True, and Luther a Liar”

Last week I went to Florida to perform a wedding. Here are some thoughts on God and Martin Luther, based on what I saw while sight-seeing.

Forgive me, but I am not a big fan of St. Petersburg, especially in the winter when it is 45 degrees. To me, Florida is supposed to be HOT. The warmest it got last week was in the low 70’s. The water on both coasts was terribly cold; therefore, sightseeing was more appropriate than sunbathing on the beach (which I don’t prefer, anyway). But aside from all of that, I still don’t think I would have liked St. Petersburg, even if it had been in the dead of summer.

However, they did have a few nice museums.

From books to IPhones

One museum we (Katie and I) enjoyed was the Museum of Fine Arts (http://www.fine-arts.org/). Believe it or not, it was the first time that I ever had the chance to stand in a room full of paintings by Monet. It was impressive, especially when you consider how close a teenager could stand next to objects worth multiple millions of dollars. Fortunately for the paintings, teenagers have touch-screen phones to keep their fingers occupied.

Another place we went, at my insistence, was the Florida Holocaust Museum (http://www.flholocaustmuseum.org/). I felt that it was important for the girls to see with their own eyes what true hatred and bigotry, even false religion can do. Not as big, nor as impressive as the museum in Washington, D.C., this museum still told the story well and featured an original cattle car that once carried Jews to the concentration camps.

When we left St. Petersburg, in order to find another beach to help Haley with her science project, at the advice of my brother-in-law, we went to Amelia Island in Fernandina, Florida. Now THAT was a change from St. Petersburg. Through priceline.com we even got a 3-star hotel for $52 a night! Not bad for a place with a huge, clean beach and a small-town feel.

“Big Guns on the Wall”

The highlight to the trip, for me, was when we got to visit Fort Clinch on Amelia Island. The fort was built back in the 1800’s and served both the Conferderate (1861) and the Union troops. It was a massive, red brick fortress overlooking the Atlantic ocean, and was meant to protect the Cumberland Sound. Fully restored, with reenactors playing the part, it was meant to give you the feel of stepping back in time to 1864.

I was really impressed with the fort. Even my wife was amazed. As I stood on its walls with huge canons, or on its proud bastions, I could not help but remember the words to the famous hymn by Martin Luther, “A Mighty Fortress.”

 

“A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing.
Our helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.”

Then a painful thought struck me.

Just the day before, my girls were able to read other words from Martin Luther in the Florida Holocaust Museum. You see, even though Luther has been regarded as the father of the Reformation, he was a rabid anti-semite. In one display chronicling centuries of hatred toward the Jewish people, the words from Luther’s book, “On the Jews and Their Lies,” was written in bold for every Christian to see. Here are some quotes from that book:

“He who hears this name [God] from a Jew must inform the authorities, or else throw sow dung at him when he sees him and chase him away.”

“If we wish to wash our hands of the Jews’ blasphemy and not share in their guilt, we have to part company with them. They must be driven from our country.”

“Moreover, they are nothing but thieves and robbers who daily eat no morsel and wear no thread of clothing which they have not stolen and pilfered from us by means of their accursed usury. Thus they live from day to day, together with wife and child, by theft and robbery, as arch-thieves and robbers, in the most impenitent security.”

“My essay, I hope, will furnish a Christian (who in any case has no desire to become a Jew) with enough material not only to defend himself against the blind, venomous Jews, but also to become the foe of the Jews’ malice, lying, and cursing, and to understand not only that their belief is false but that they are surely possessed by all devils. May Christ, our dear Lord, convert them mercifully and preserve us steadfastly and immovably in the knowledge of him, which is eternal life. Amen.”

What a contrast! One moment I am being inspired by a fortress that reminds me of the greatness of God, the next I am being reminded of the painful truth that men are sinners – all with the same song. How could the words of one man inspire both the Church and the Nazi party at the same time?

Martin Luther

Martin Luther wrote “A Mighty Fortress” based on Psalm 46:11, “The LORD of hosts [is] with us; the God of Jacob [is] our refuge. Selah.” God is our refuge and our hope in time of trouble. The Psalmist also said, agreeing with Luther,

I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. – Psa 91:2 KJV

What are we to make of this, then? Is my hope in God supposed to be dashed all because of the actions of some (or all) of his followers? Are we to assume the truth of God is a lie because of the hateful words of Luther, as opposed to his hymns and 95 theses? Martin Luther was terribly wrong in his observations of the Jews. For that matter, David wasn’t perfect, either. No, God is God. Man is man. That is why it is so important to keep in mind the following words from the Apostle Paul:

“…[Let] God be true, and every man a liar…” – Romans 3:4 KJV

When Peter got it right, Jesus called him “blessed” and praised the fact that the Father gave him the words (Matthew 16:17). However, when Peter spoke in the flesh, out of his own selfish desires, Jesus said, “Get thee behind me, Satan!” (verse 23). When we speak out of hand about God, that does not change the truth about God.  Luther got some things right.  Luther also got some things wrong in a very bad way.

My God IS a mighty fortress…and He loves the people of Israel.  He has made that abundantly clear, despite the ramblings and false doctrines of men. God said, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” – Gen 12:3 KJV  Nothing has changed.  Let God be true, and Luther be a liar. Let God be true, and Peter a liar. Let God be true, and every one of us a liar. God is Who He is, whether we get it right or not. But because of Luther’s mistaken words, may we be ever more diligent to heed these words:

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. – 2Ti 2:15 KJV

Why? Because Jesus said it right, and He ALWAYS got it right, when He said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” – Jhn 17:17 KJV

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. – Pro 30:5-6 ESV

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by | January 3, 2011 · 1:04 am

2010 in review

The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:

Healthy blog!

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Fresher than ever.

Crunchy numbers

Featured image

The Leaning Tower of Pisa has 296 steps to reach the top. This blog was viewed about 1,000 times in 2010. If those were steps, it would have climbed the Leaning Tower of Pisa 3 times

In 2010, there were 45 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 49 posts. There were 176 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 64mb. That’s about 3 pictures per week.

The busiest day of the year was October 9th with 33 views. The most popular post that day was Anthony’s Appetite #2.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were facebook.com, digg.com, slashingtongue.com, obama-scandal-exposed.co.cc, and alphainventions.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for maida khal, the recovering legalist, president george washington, recovering legalist, and crying child.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

1

Anthony’s Appetite #2 October 2010

2

Does Divorce Disqualify? September 2010
1 comment

3

The Home Depot: Supporter of Non-Traditional Homes November 2010
1 comment

4

Christian Liberty or License September 2009
2 comments

5

Anthony’s Appetite October 2010

As we look forward to 2011, I can see many more people reading this blog.  You can help. If you read something that is funny, encouraging, helpful, or just interesting, why not forward it to someone who may care.  And by the way, the most active day came after these stats were compiled. On Monday of last week I actually reached 62, which is much more than 33.  That was all due to the fact that a ukulele site posted a comment referring its readers to a picture of me playing a banjo at Cracker Barrel.

My prayer is that God will use this blog to reach people with the message of grace and mercy through Jesus Christ.  Already, many have found their way to it through links to different articles; even pictures.  Thanks so much for all of your support.

God bless each of you,

Anthony

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