Pastor Mike's Corner

Way to go John McCain! Nice VP choice. I only have one thing to say: Obama who?

Here was your question: What happens after we die? Do we "sleep" until we are resurrected?

There are some who believe in a "soul sleep." For example, the Jehovah Witnesses erroneously teach, among other things, that when we die we go into a time of hibernation if you will. When the end time comes the dead are awaken and sent to their eternal destination.

Some justify this position with many Old Testament passages (like Ecclesiastes 9). The problem with this is that though the Old Testament is God’s revelation to mankind, it is incomplete. Even during the times of Jesus there was a debate on whether or not we were going to be resurrected (Acts 23: 6—8). So we must look at the whole scripture to get an understanding of what happens to us when we die.

Let me walk you through: Upon death there are two possibilities: We die without Christ and we die in Christ. I will only speak to one—those that are in Christ (those who are not in Christ have a different path). Those that are in Christ go to Him in paradise/heaven in spirit form. Jesus promised the thief on the cross that he would be with Him in paradise that day (Luke 23: 43). Paul tells us that to be away from the body is to be with the Lord (2nd Corinthians 5: 1—6; Philippians 1: 22—24). We are conscious, alert, awake, and in worship (Revelations 7: 9—10).

After an unspecified amount of time, God sends us back to the earth and we are resurrected into our new bodies (Revelation 20: 11—14). Those found to be in Christ go on to the new heaven and new earth. The two (heaven and earth) actually become one (Revelations 21).

It is interesting to note that Jesus who is called the "first born of the resurrection" took this very same path—possible modeling what would happen to us. Right before He died, he released His Spirit (Matthew 27: 50) into paradise, returned to get His body (all four gospel accounts), and returned to heaven with His body (He did this even before He would allow His body to be touched {John 20: 17})

I hope this helps

Click here for My News Gazette reply to the posting below.

Christian influence must be addressed
Wednesday August 13, 2008

Pastor Michael Jenkins was lamenting over immorality with his left hand while unwittingly resolving to fuel it with his right. In his July 16 letter, Jenkins wrings both hands over the precarious condition of marriage today. Then he paints himself into a corner using G. K. Chesterton's brush: "We should never tear down a wall unless we understand why it's there."
"We understand" that – with the number of Christian divorces eclipsing those of hell-bound sinners like me – the color of the paint must be blush.

Over eight years ago, Dr. James Dobson made this amazing observation: "Isn't it interesting that in many countries where Christian influence is minimal, the family continues to be supported overwhelmingly?"

Interesting?

It's interesting that Dr. Dobson and Pastor Jenkins have yet to re-examine "Christian influence." Instead – forgetting what forest they're in – they become preoccupied with same-sex marriage.
But to Dobson's credit, he offered this advice: "We must continue to pray that the Holy Spirit will bring to life that which is seemingly dead and to bless us with a sweeping spiritual renewal in the years ahead."

There may well be a sweeping spiritual renewal. And indeed, it would depend – relatively speaking – on life brought to that which is seemingly dead. But what Dobson and Jenkins would shudder to understand – and no doubt reject forthwith – is that the answer to this prayer demands the exposure and possible destruction of the monstrous, Jericho wall of "Christian influence" they currently and dearly espouse.
LOREN ANDERSON
Champaign

Under “Hate Crime inspired by speech” you will find three very powerful stories of three individuals struggling with homosexuality.

I don’t for any moment want to take away from these stories. They are moving and somewhat sad. However, I don’t see how these stories add to the debate.

I don’t believe for one moment that the desires between two homosexuals are not real. They have feelings for one another, they love one another, they are aroused by one another. I’m not saying that the love they have is not real. Though not a homosexual relationship, David loved Jonathan as he loved himself. Real feelings. (If you feel you must debate whether or not this relationship was a homosexual relationship, please see the example given under "Interpretation of Scripture." A narration is not necessarily a command.)

However, just because a person has a real desire, it does not mean that they should (a) act on it or (b) justify it as moral or acceptable to God because the feelings are real. I’m quite sure that the feelings that Senator Edwards had for the woman that was not his wife was a real feeling. He may have even been in “love” with her. The behavior was still wrong even though the feelings were quite real. The act was still a sin even though that was the way God made him (with sexual desires for other women).

Now in these stories that were written we have one person coming to grips with their desires. They have accepted these desires as “God’s will” for their lives. James says something quite contrary: “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” (James 1: 13—15)

That’s a great text. The desires are real, but evil. Sin comes only when we act on them (one can entertain a thought and therefore the thought becomes an action {Matthew 5: 28}). And, don’t blame God for our evil desires.

Yes, the stories were moving, but we could just as easy put Senator Edwards’ story in there. He has these real feelings…God made him this way…we shouldn't’t force our morality on him (though we’re simply just stating a biblical truth…not mandating our beliefs)…and on, and on, and on.

Any thoughts on the matter?

Free tutoring:

It's been a couple of years since I came to this body of believers (b.o.b). Since then, they have done a lot of great things. They've grown from a dwindling and dead congregation to a growing, zealous, and thriving groups of dedicated believers. I'm convinced that this b.o.b will eventually be one of the largest SBC churches in ECIBA--and that in a town of 2100. All for the glory of God. Through His power they have been faithful to their calling and He has been faithful in making it grow.

I'm very proud that the congregation is starting to move from internal ministry to external ministry. Of course, all ministry done at FBC is open to the outside. Nate B's leadership to the youth would be 50/50. The music ministry ministers to all that come. Deacons help insiders and outsiders. All of these ministries and more have blossomed in the last couple of years. However, none have been directed strictly to the community, until now.

Several of the believers here are joining together to offer free tutoring to this community. We will be opening up our fellowship doors on Tuesdays and Thursdays to any high school student who needs extra help. I'm excited about the hope these men and ladies are going to bring to the community. We've seen a defeatist attitude in some of the youth and I pray that our men/ladies who know the importance of a good education can give these youth more then just an understanding of calculus. I pray that God will bless these ministers in their service to Him. To God be the glory.

A few comments about "my interpretation" of the scriptures. My interpretation is simple: I believe that truth is found in the whole council of God. That is, all "scripture is God breathed (comes directly from Him). I do not have the right to "line item veto" any passage that I don't like or add to it because of what the Church has done in the past.

Because all scripture is from Him, we have another way of coming up with a correct interpretation: scripture interpreters scripture. Let me give you an example. If we were to look at David's relationship with his multiple wives, one might think that polygamy is justified. I believe the Mormons did this for a while (some still do) (they may also be pulling from their other texts...texts that I do not believe are within the whole council of God). They see a fact in a narrative and turned it into a law. Problem with doing this is it may have been a sin...which it was. There is no text that God specifically says that polygamy is cool. On the contrary, there are multiple passages that say that marriage is to be between one man and one woman.

Point is this: there is such a thing as a correct interpretation of the scriptures. One's interpretation is not a matter of subjective opinion. The subjects may disagree, but it doesn't mean that they're all right.

Last week PG made a comment that I didn't have time to address. I'd like to do this now. I believe it's unfortunate, sinful, a tragedy, disgusting, and whatever adjective I can come up with that an individual would go as far to resort to murder because they disagreed with the views of any organization. I don't care how much I disagree with a person or a group, using violence as a means goes against everything that Christ stood for. I'm reminded of the passage in our Bible where Jesus rebukes Peter because Peter went to the sword. Jesus said, and this is from the MIV (Mike's international version), "Don't you think if I wanted to call down a bunch of angels, I would have..." The point was clear: We engage others the way that Jesus commands us: Demolish arguments and thoughts and make them captive to God.

No sword; but with gentleness, truth, respect, and love.

This doesn't mean that we cant boldly comment on something. If I believe, based on what God has written, that if a person dies without Christ they go to hell, it would be unloving to say either wise. If the Bible states an action is evil and I lead people to believe that an all loving God will look away, I'm not acting in love, I'm acting selfishly. My desire would be for the world to approve of me and not God.

Christians, we stand on dangerous grounds when people equate the words of the righteous in Christ with the actions of those acting outside of the parameters set forth in the Holy Scriptures. PG tried to equate the actions of a murderer (outside of Christ's teachings) with my assertion that some actions are sinful in God's eyes (inside of Christ's teachings). Could we condemn Christ as a sinner because one of His followers went to the sword? No. Peter was being disobedient.

Many try to suppress the words of those acting within the parameters of scripture because of evils committed by those outside of the scriptures. They call it "Hate Speech." "Hate speech" is an attack on our "American" freedoms. In our day and age, it is an attack on the Christan voice.

Thoughts?