Christianity ... Prove it!

Jesus said to him …

I am the way, the truth, and the life:

No man comes to the Father, but by me.  

John 14:6

What would you say if an atheist or a believer in a false religion ... 
were to ask you to explain why Jesus is God and why your beliefs are true ... 
and all other religions false? Could you give a compelling answer?

This is a complicated question which most would be hard pressed to effectively answer. I am convinced that the key here is to stay focused on what you believe and why ... and the words of Jesus, rather than your personal opinions.

Recently in an online forum, a man named Carlos Castaneda asked the following question: 
“What makes your point of view (religion) the most superior? So what makes other religions fake, but not yours?  I'm not trying to disrespect you or your beliefs, but what bothers me is that you're downgrading other people's beliefs. They care about their religion the same way as you to yours … to clarify things; I'm an atheist so therefore I respect you and your beliefs as well as all others.  Please explain.”

This type of question is often raised by atheists and believers of other religions. What is the best way to reply?  Well here is my response to Carlos.

What makes your point of view (religion) the most superior?

My Answer: First of all what do I believe? I do not need to do anything to receive the free gift of grace that Jesus has promised … only to believe in Him. I believe that my eternal life is secured by the sacrificial death of Christ on the Cross as atonement for my sins by faith alone. John 11:25; Galatians 2:20. Jesus has given us the eternal Truth and the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide and help us understand Him and His Truth.

Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and His resurrection from the dead is clearly what makes my religion superior to all others.

If Jesus did not die on the cross for my sins and did not resurrect from the dead after three days, then Christianity would a fraud and I may as well be an atheist. If there is any other true god, then Christianity is a false belief. Christianity is monotheistic which means that God has demanded that we are to worship him alone, and that all other gods are false gods, and are the foolish teachings of men; rather than the eternal truth of the Creator of all things.

God’s Truth gives us absolutes which we are free to accept or reject. To reject these absolute truths is to reject Christ who has stated: I am the Truth. Jesus Christ is the foundation of eternal life and His absolute promises have become the building blocks of my belief system. Christianity stands or falls on the basis of these truths. No other belief system can defend the claim to be established upon the eternal truth which was demonstrated by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It is quite easy to prove that there are absolutes. For example: atheism makes an absolute statement: "there is no god." This statement is either absolutely true or false. Carlos' question begs for evidence that his rejection of God and the other religions are false. To say; “I respect … your beliefs as well as all others" is confused at best. I can't imagine for instance that Carlos means that he respects the belief of more than 50 million Muslims that say: "all infidels must convert to Islam or die?" There is a huge difference between respecting people and their rights to believe; and respecting their false religions or false beliefs. 

They are free to believe whatever they choose ... 
and I am equally free to reject or challenge falsehood.

The most unloving thing that I could ever do would be to know the truth and not share it with everyone I meet. This is not disrespecting the person. When considering various beliefs and religions, some confuse giving validation of a religion, with the tolerance for freedom of belief for all. If my belief system is false, please show me. You will not offend me in any way. 

I don’t believe anyone wants to die believing in a false god, or rejecting the true Creator and Savior of all men … Do you?

Both atheists and Christians could be absolutely wrong; or one could be absolutely right, and the other wrong; but both cannot be absolutely right. 

Some others say the truth is relative and there are no absolutes; how do I know they are wrong? Think about it … if the statement; “the truth is relative” is true; then this is an absolute truth as stated, and it would be a self-defeating statement, by proving that truth is not relative. The same rule applies to the statement "there are no absolutes."

On the other hand, we all know that there are absolutes. 

It is true that truth exists and the truth will not contradict itself. In the same way that Jesus will never be wrong or lie … this is another absolute. All of His promises are absolutes. Man-made religions contradict themselves; but God’s Truth never contradicts itself. Only men’s interpretations and their understanding of God’s Truth are contradictory.

God’s Truth has many fulfilled prophecies … hundreds of years later. 

Dr Peter Stoner has calculated the odds of only eight Old Testament prophecies being fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ as being 1 with 28 zeros behind it. 
That’s 1 in 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.

The odds of these miracles happening by chance are zero.  

When considered with an open mind, who can deny that God inspired the writers of the Old Testament; and that Jesus fulfilled these prophecies as a further demonstration of the validity of who He is: God who came down to earth, born of a virgin, in the form of a man, in order to fulfill God’s purpose for all of mankind.

Here are a few of the Old Testament prophecies and New Testament fulfillments.

 Born of a virgin –Isaiah 7:14 – Matthew 1:18-25. Born at Bethlehem - Isaiah 7:14 - Matt. 1:18-25. Proceeded by a Messenger - Isaiah 40:3 - Matt. 3:1-2. Rejected by His own - Isaiah 53:3 - John 7:5; John 7:48. Betrayal by friend - Psalm 41:9 - John 13:26-30. 30 pieces of silver used to buy potter's field – Zechariah 11:13 – Matthew 27:3-10. His side pierced - Zech. 12:10 - John 19:34 Crucifixion - Psalm 22:1-18 - Luke 23:33 - John 19:23-24. Resurrection of Christ from the dead - Psalm 34:20; Zechariah 12:10 - John 20:1-27

Some might say that their religion or beliefs have prophecy fulfillments and other truths that are comparable to God’s Truth … and I say: show me. My challenge is extended to the false science and atheistic belief system of Darwinian Evolution.

Either my belief is the only way to heaven or Jesus lied which would render Him a fraud. 

Jesus came to give the free gift of everlasting life to all. Those who have rejected Jesus Christ and believe in these other gods and religions already stand condemned. If I were to pretend otherwise, I would be denying the Creator and Savior of all men which clearly would be hypocritical on my part. His words: John 3:16-18.

Now, what did Jesus claim regarding Himself? 
Why were the Pharisees and other religious leaders plotting to kill Jesus? 
There are a number of reasons. He referred to himself as God in John 8:58. At this point the angry Pharisees attempted to stone Him to death; but Jesus miraculously disappeared and went on His way. Jesus also claimed that he could do everything God the Father could do in John 5:19.

Imagine the outrage, since Jesus was in reality claiming the powers of the Creator of all things; another absolute that was an offense to the religious rulers.

Jesus declared: I am the way and the truth and the life and that no one goes to the father but through Him. John 14:6.This claim effectively renders all other religions and philosophies false. The many miracles Jesus performed, was resulting in many people following Him; rather than the Pharisees. This was the final straw that led to Jesus' crucifixion. John 11:46-53

Making a claim is one thing, but backing it up is another.  
Did Jesus back up His claims with miraculous deeds?  
Yes, He did … over and over again.

What miracles did Jesus perform? What made him different from all others in the eyes of those who He met and witnessed his deeds?

Jesus continuously performed miracles … 
like no other being that has ever walked the earth.

Jesus changed water into wine. John 2:6-10. Jesus cast out demons.  Matthew 8:28 and Matthew 15:22-28. Jesus healed lepers. Matthew 8:3 and Luke 6:17-19. Jesus healed the lame man. Mark 2:3-12. Jesus raised the dead. Matthew 9:25 and John 11:43-44. Jesus healed the blind. Matthew 9:27-30 and John 9:1-7. Jesus healed the deaf. Mark 7:32-35.

Jesus fed thousands with a five loaves and two fish Matthew 14: 15-21 and Matthew 15:32-38. Jesus walked on water. Matthew 14:25-27. Jesus calmed the storm with a command. Matthew 8:22-27. Jesus rose from the dead. Luke 24:39 John 20:27. Jesus appeared to disciples after resurrection. John 20:19. There were many more miracles Jesus performed which are too numerous to note here.

Without question, the resurrection is the most important miracle of all. 
The truth that Jesus resurrected from the dead is not realistically disputable. Without this resurrection, my faith is of little value. 1 Corinthians 15:14. His victory over death allows all of us to stand securely in this victory over death eternally with Him.

Only after the resurrection were the disciples radically changed men. Even doubting Thomas was able to look at the wounds from His crucifixion and be transformed. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the proof that Jesus is God the Creator and the only true God and Savior of mankind as he claimed to be. 

This evidence is not available with any other religion.

Jesus is the only way, the only truth and the only one who gives us eternal life. His Truths are absolute and eternally true, and His miracles are the evidence that demands a verdict. Jesus is the Messiah. He died and rose again on our behalf. Why would anyone place their trust in any other god or religion? 
I beg you on behalf of Jesus Christ: be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

God bless you my friends, Bob

A Popular Person

This is my commandment, 

that you love one another, 

as I have loved you. 

Greater love has no man than this, 

that a man lay down his life for his friends. 
John 15:12-13

The Hunger Games ... 
is without question one of the most popular book and movie series over the past several years. What is the most important moment of the entire series?

I know what I would say. That’s easy: 
In the sick world in which they live … 11 year old Primrose Everdeen’s name is called to suffer a most certain violent death … her 16 year old sister Katnis rushes to her rescue, and volunteers to take her place in the deadly Hunger Games. Three books and movies are the result of this noble decision.  We have also read stories about Medal of Honor winners who fall on a grenade to save the men that they love. This is the ultimate act of love and bravery. The reason these deeds have so much power is because they act out the words of Christ above.

This commandment (singular) is referred to as the law of Christ. 
The natural tendency of people is to interpret this verse to mean being loving to others in a way that would be pleasing from a worldly point of view; because that is basically all they know.  But when we meditate upon these words and look at them in context we learn that this verse means so much more. For example, in chapter 13 Jesus models His Love by washing the disciple’s feet ... by giving them what they clearly did not deserve.

But the Truth that is most often ignored in our world today is spoken by Jesus two verses earlier when he says: “even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.” John 15:10

The New Testament does not cancel out the Old Testament but rather fulfills it. The apostle Paul expands upon this Truth when he explains: “Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the law. For this, you shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” 
Romans 13:8-10

This verse is all inclusive … 
“and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. ” I needed to repeat this verse because it is so filled with power. All of God’s laws are fulfilled by loving our neighbor.

So where is all of this going? 
This writing was supposed to be about being popular. Well you will see that this most wonderful verse has Truth before and after that are most often not associated with loving our neighbor or being popular.

Read what Jesus has to say next.

“These things I command you, that you love one another. If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love his own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, the servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” 
John 15:17-20

Most of our life from Childhood ...
throughout our adult life we are trying in one way or another to get people to like us and to be popular. Don’t make waves. Be tolerant and politically correct are the words of the day.  Building others up rather than telling them the Truth is not being loving; but rather the opposite. Why do we do this? Because we want them to like us, and we want to be popular.

Did Jesus ever do that; or did he always tell the Truth?

Being popular is great as long as we do not compromise the Truth to gain popularity. We must always remember: “the servant is not greater than his lord” We must do our best to be popular with Him and those in the family of God and He will take care of the rest. We must remember that we are in this world, but we are no longer of this world. We must always remember who we are in the eyes of God and who we will be in the eyes of men as we live out the love of Christ. 

We need to be different, a peculiar people.

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." 
1 Peter 2:9-10

The people loved Jesus you might say.  Really, did they now? … 

... crucify him, they screamed. 
And Jesus’ most loyal follower denied him three times, saying, 
“Woman, I know him not.”

What should we do? Stand on the Truth, and let the chips fall where they may. Many will love you because of the courage of your convictions. This builds respect. But regardless, remember your purpose is to stand on the Truth … not compromise the Truth or remain silent.

If we are able to please Christ, this is the only popularity we need. Jesus died on the cross for you and I in spite of the fact that we deserved eternal death. The world may hate us and what we have to say; but If Jesus is the only one that I am popular with … then that is the most I could hope for.

“If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love.” Abiding in His love is the most loving thing we can do for those we call friends. They will then be drawn to Christ through each of us by the walk we maintain daily and hopefully they will abide with Him for eternity. Teach a man to fish.

God bless you my friends, Bob

The Perfect Will of God

The beginning of a perfect day by Thomas Kincaid

Have you ever wondered ... 
what the perfect will of God is for you?  

I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind; that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and the perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2

This verse clearly answers that question … don’t you think?

So the question for  today is: 

Why do most Christians fall short of the perfection 
God has planned for each of us?

The easy answer is ... that to some degree, we are being conformed to the world; rather than being transformed by the renewing of our minds … right?

Okay so that leads us to the next logical question: 

How do we become transformed 
by the renewing of our minds?

Well the first step is obvious. We are to “not be conformed to this world.” Think about it ... nobody would attempt to fix a computer that has been corrupted by viruses, bugs, and destructive programming, without first removing the infected files. God explained this process two thousand years ago when he said we are (1) put off the old ways of the world, (2) renew our minds, and (3) put on the new ways of Christ.

Change is a three step process! 

Here is a clearer understanding of the problem; and more specific instructions as to how to achieve victory and live out the will of Jesus Christ in our lives.

"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you from now on walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ; If so be that you have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That you put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Ephesians 4:17-24

So what are we to do, and what is God’s role in renewing our mind? Well it is clear that we first need to make an accounting of all of this ignorance of the world that has infected into our minds. And next stop following the teachings of the atheistic world. And stop exposing your mind to these evil doctrines that are often disguised as tolerance, and political correctness, as well as innocent messages from the enemies of Christ.

Greatly limit the information that you allow into your brain. Garbage in … is the opposite of God’s will for us. Stop allowing supposed Christians who are not following Christ and atheistic thought to poison our brains and our children’s brains.

Next we must take steps to renew our minds. So how would Jesus instruct us to do this? Well we must begin building upon the only solid foundation that matters: Jesus Christ. As the song so clearly explains the instruction that Jesus has given; “on Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.” Luke 6:46-49 

Without Jesus Christ … all else is futile; no matter how well meaning.  
John 3:16-18

Now what has Jesus provided to help us perfectly renew our minds? God renews our minds by the power of His eternal Truth and by the power of the helper …the Holy Spirit. This is where we are most likely to fall short. His part is to guide us, and teach us; but we must pray to Him without ceasing and trust Him so that we can clearly understand His Truth ... and it's application to all the days of our lives.

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you." John 14:26

The Word of God by the teaching of the Holy Spirit will provide us knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. This is an absolute promise from God that we can stand upon.

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27

"If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken to you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you." John 15:10-14

God Bless you my friends, Bob

Walk the Walk

But I have this against you,

that you have left your first love.

Therefore remember from where you have fallen,

and repent and do the deeds you did at first. Revelation 2:4

We all have high and low points in our life. 

Some of these would include successes or failures; winning or losing; wise or foolish decisions; a promotion or loss of job; marriage or divorce; the birth of your children and grandchildren; and people who build you up, or tear you down. In many ways these events shape our lives.

I can easily name my high and low points. Can you? 

My low point came in 1978 at the peak of my success in life. Looking back I had become disillusioned with life and what I believed to be the Great American Dream. In the middle of tremendous success from the world’s perspective, I became bored, confused, and discouraged. I had everything that was supposed to bring me happiness; but in reality my life was empty. I began to question if there was more to life than just my daily routine. What is the meaning and purpose of everything? Does life matter … or does it just begin, happen, and then end?

In the midst of several years of this discouragement, I found the truth and met my first love on October 20, 1980. When I told my wife I had become a Christian, she looked at me in confusion and said: "I've been a Christian since 7th grade" and ... “you’re not going to become a fanatic like your sister, are you?” After watching me change overnight … within a month, she prayed to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior as well. My walk became my witness.

Jesus Christ was and is my First Love. Those first years were exciting, enlightening, and growing times. So what can happen between then and now that can make things seem different? Jesus, the Truth of His Word, and the Holy Spirit never change. Life  happens and life brings failures and discouragements.

And the world forces of darkness never sleep. The enemy has a thousand ways to attack, and come between each of us and Christ. Our failures and our successes, our flesh, and our pride can quickly cause us to unconsciously lose our focus and take our eyes away from God’s purpose and plan. This is often accomplished by atheistic thinkers in our life; or atheistic thinkers in the media, friends, and our public educational system. The desire by most is to get along and not make waves is a danger.

Tolerance and politically correct are the words of the day. But Jesus was not politically correct. He stood against the teachers of the world and their false teachings. To be intolerant to false teachings will quickly result in your rejection and persecution by the world. Jesus clearly explained this truth. John 15: 18-20

A most dangerous weapon used by atheists against God is evolution. Once Christians accept this heresy, they are horribly compromised and likely to become a walking contradiction. There is always the danger that we could begin to drift, and eventually become lukewarm and a hypocritical witness for Christ.

But there are many other false teachings that are also leading Christians away from Christ. Moral Relativism and values clarification is another great example. The teaching that there are no moral absolutes is another evil lie. This is the notion that morality is described by one's own personal feelings, ideas, beliefs, and values … whatever they may be.

A friend once told me Bob, that is your truth and I have my truth. And I replied; “our beliefs are the opposite of each other. We can both be wrong; or one right and the other wrong; but we cannot both have the truth.”

Spiritual pride can also be very deceptive. The more we learn, the more we can become prideful and tempted to twist our understanding of spiritual things. The more we know … what we know can become the stumbling block. God’s Truth never changes … it is eternal, regardless of our feelings, logic, or circumstances. God’s eternal Truth is the anchor of our souls … where hope, confidence, meaning, and purpose are discovered. Once grounded in God’s eternal truth … His Truth forever becomes the foundation of our belief system.

Without God’s Truth, there is only chaos, confusion, hopelessness, and death. Without the hope, peace, and rest that only Christ provides us; discouragement is a natural result. Once discouraged, the next logical step is to neglect or disregard God’s Truth, and the seeking of His daily guidance by the power of the Holy Spirit.

But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.  For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him?  But we have the mind of Christ … And I, brothers, could not speak to you as to spiritual, but as to carnal, even as to babes in Christ.  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for till now you were not able to bear it, neither yet now are you able.  For you are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are you not carnal, and walk as (mere) men?  1 Corinthians 2:14-3:3

30 years ago, Dr. Bill Bright taught me … There are three types of people in the world.

The Natural Man – he does not understand the things of God, they are foolishness to him. This man has rejected Christ and as a result has been judged by God and stands condemned. There is nothing worse than being a natural man with a closed mind to the Truth of Jesus Christ.

The Spiritual Man – he judges all things in relation to God’s Word with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This man has believed and trusted his eternal life to Jesus Christ. Since God has already judged this man forgiven, he is judged by no man. He stands here and now secure eternally by the blood of Jesus Christ. All men have the option to choose to be a Spiritual Man.

The Carnal Man – he has believed in Jesus Christ for eternal salvation; but he has chosen to allow the teachings of the world; and his lust and his pride to guide him rather than God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. This man is saved eternally (because of his faith in Christ) but his loss is great … compared to “a man running from a burning house.”

Dr Bright explained further that when Christians were asked which man best described them; that more than 80% of Christians … identified themselves as Carnal Man. It seems that millions trust Christ as their Savior but then never move on from the milk to the meat of the word. They only want the food that is easy to swallow … that which allows them to remain acceptable and to fit in with the false teachings of the world.

The questions we are left with are:

Which person best describes you?

Which person would you like to be?

What steps do you need to take to get from A to B?

The Spiritual Man is the one who  … Walks the Walk.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of the Lord is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

God bless you my friends, Bob

Finding ... "It"

"Only be strong and very courageous;

be careful to do according to all the law 
which Moses My servant commanded you;

do not turn from it to the right or to the left

for then you will make your way prosperous.

and then you will have success.

"Have I not commanded you? ... Be strong and courageous!"

"Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:8-9

Why is it so important for all of us to be grounded in the Truth?

In the late seventies, a movement called EST Seminar Training reached millions as it spread across the United States. The teaching was deliberately complicated; but at the end of a full weekend the listeners were given the rather simple message that was the essence of this supposedly breakthrough new belief system. 

The teaching goes something like this:

“You must find IT.”

“All your life, society and your parents have given you rules and boundaries that they have never followed themselves.  These rules have brought you endless guilt and unhappiness. You must first clear you mind of all of this false programming. Free yourself from the rules and the guilt. Once you have emptied your mind. Take joy in your unlimited newfound freedom. Do whatever you decide is logical and whatever feels right to you. Now … you are the god of your life. Whatever you decide is right is true for you. This is IT. 

Lives were ruined and for many this was the most destructive message we can ever imagine. 

Unfortunately ... anything goes results in Chaos, pain and loss. Worse yet, when a person can redefine anything to mean whatever they decide it to be; the next thing you know they are calling this babble ... Christianity.

This message is clearly atheistic and is now being taught in our public schools and universities disguised as relative morality, political correctness, and tolerance. Many of today’s teachers and leaders were grounded in the EST philosophy of the past under another name, or guided by someone who was a devotee to this dangerous teaching. We now live in a society where millions of adults now mindlessly follow these ideas as truth.

So back to the question: “Why is it so important for us and our children to be grounded in the Truth? 

God’s Word explains this clearly: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual [forces] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. Ephesians 6: 11-12

Recently a friend who is a student at the university shared with me his confusion. Now free of his parents, he is able to test all of the beliefs and boundaries that they have passed on and charged him with. The honest question from him is: what am I to believe? From a human perspective based upon logic and feelings ... decisions like lying, cheating, fornication, adultery, immorality, abortion, homosexuality, false religions, and many others can be viewed in ways that would make them appear to be acceptable.

The way this works is first the kids are taught that we evolved and that there is no god. Next the message is that there are no absolutes beyond evolution, and that we each need to determine what the truth is for ourselves. This is America and we are all free to believe whatever makes sense to each of us ... so it goes. This all sounds good, but the end result leads each student to clear their mind of unwanted rules and boundaries, and this can result in all sorts of bizarre beliefs and self centered behavior. Next they are led to believe that all people and their beliefs have value and should not be questioned ... unless they are close minded Christianity, of course.

Biblical Christianity teaches moral absolutes ... 
and as a result, within this training it is absolutely to be rejected.

This is why our children being grounded in the truth is so critical. The best of kids are likely to fall prey to this teaching. This is the Strong and Courageous that God was explaining to Joshua. God was not talking about physical battles. It takes much courage to stand up for God’s Truth in the face of logic, feelings, pride, lust, friends, and deluded authority figures.

When we have moral absolutes there is no question of finding out what "IT" is? God’s truth is true whether we believe it or not. We cannot change the eternal truth by simply putting on a different mindset. God’s Truth is not subject to our mind and our thinking. This is where love, peace, joy, and redemption are discovered. God' Truth becomes the foundation of our belief system.

The scripture teaches: “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20

And God makes it clear what he thinks about the wisdom of the world: ”For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, "[He is] THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS"; and again, "THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS." 1 Corinthians 3: 19-20

Once our children are out in the world ... it is too late. They are like fish in a barrel waiting to be consumed. They go on a search for "IT" and fall prey to "IT" whatever "IT" might be, and wherever IT might lead.  But they are not to consider Biblical Christianity and moral absolutes.

All we can hope for at that point is that the Holy Spirit and God's Word will guide them into the Truth.  Unfortunately many are following their parents and the world’s sometimes hypocritical leading which is polluted by these atheistic beliefs and then in danger of falling into the politically correct trap that the enemy has set in place.

God Bless you my friends, Bob