What is an evangelical atheist?  An atheist is a person who declares and/or believes that there is no god. An evangelical atheist is a person who dedicates themselves to preaching the “good news” that there is no god.  It is an amusing phenomenon indeed.  If there is no god, what does it matter if anyone believes that there is a god or not? And that is why they are so “cute”. Their own doctrine declares that “there is no purpose to life”, after all, there is no god, we are just accidents of nature, the result of endless eons of mindless mutations and when we die then that’s “all she wrote”, there’s nothing left.  So what does it matter what they believe, or what anyone believes?  Why should they care?  But many of them do.  They make it a point to try and persuade folks to their belief – which is in nothing.  Weird.  They are as fanatical in their belief as any ayatollah from Iran, and as bereft of logic.  It matters not what scientific proof of anything one can show them, such things are either ignored or interpreted by their mantra – “We’ll follow our investigation in any direction that it leads – as long as it does not lead toward God.”  It is my belief that since they can’t live within the framework of their own invented world that they have to create a reason to live.  And that reason to live seems to be simple – in order to tell others that there is no reason to live.

[Soapbox mode:  Off]

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into 50 pounds of flour until it spread through all of it.”  Matthew 13:33

One of the oft overlooked parables about the Kingdom of Heaven is the one comparing the Kingdom of Heaven to yeast. Yeast has long fascinated me.  I recall waaay back in time when we were at the “Morbach” school.  The older kids were having science classes and we got to look through the microscope as well. They took some yeast that had been activated and placed it on the slide.  It did not look like much, but as we looked through the microscope we saw the yeast cells busy multiplying themselves. What was not obvious from the microscope slide was the byproduct of their growth, the generation of gas which when combined with the elasticity of the gluten in the flour resulted in the rising of the dough.

In proportion, the yeast is never a large part of the dough.  We use only a couple of spoons worth of yeast to make several pounds of dough.  But the effect of those minuscule particles of yeast is impressive.  How does it work?  By the yeast multiplying itself time after time.  And this is a sample of what the Kingdom of Heaven should be like.   Each disciple of Jesus the Christ should multiply him/herself – time after time.  Our purpose in life is not to become part of the flour (the world around us) but to live in it and to transform it by becoming what our Creator designed us to be and doing what He set us to do.  Our lives, transformed by the renewing of our minds, should help others to do the same.  And as we go through this process we will transform the society around us, not by might but by our influence, not by obligation, by influence upon those near us.

There is a movement around the world in some evangelical circles that is telling people to not try to influence the society around them, to simply let people be what they will be.  It is an anti-involvement movement that sounds very “holy” because it says that we should worry about God’s Kingdom, not man’s.  Yet God’s Kingdom impacts man’s kingdom and brings about change. It is my belief that if we love people like Christ did, we will not say “what ever you want to do is OK.” He did not tell people this, He told them “go and don’t sin any more”.  He loved them in spite of their sin, yet called them to repent of that sin.  AND He came down hardest on the most religious.

If each Christian would go about their life allowing Christ to work through them, they would influence society positively.  More people would come to the Lordship of Jesus the Christ and in turn their lives would impact even more.  The action of one life is often unnoticed in the greater scheme of things, but the chain reaction of one life resulting in another changed life leading to another changed life will in the long run result in a measurable change in the society around.  This isn’t because that one life set out to “change the world” but because they set out to be what they were called to be by their Creator.

Sitting in the dentist’s office, playing with WordPress for Android. This is a handy gadget!

On the other hand, there are far too many congregations who act like hookers. They offer pleasure and titillation with a soothing mix of “worship” and “praise”, but NEVER demanding commitment. Their main interest is pecuniary. As long as a person tithes or gives offerings then the leadership is happy. The spiritual growth and well being of the person in question is of no interest, as long as each party gets what they want.  Titillation on one side, pecuniary reward on the other.

To ask a person to make not only a statement of faith but to make a commitment to the local congregation is anathema in much of today’s culture. After all, if they toss something into the offering plate, is that not enough? One of the oddest things I’ve observed in churches in Latin America is the custom of asking “all baptized believers” to stand up to receive Communion. But at the time of the offering they pass the plate or other receptacle in front of ALL the folks present. And never have I heard anyone teach the Biblical truth that God expects us to put our personal relationships in order before we bring an offering to Him.

So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23-24

Now Colin is looking to outdo himself.  He has taken on a project in which he will build a DOUBLE BARREL 2 bore rifle.  He calls it the “Double Deuce” – and he’s documenting his build on YoutTube. I intend to keep updating this post and adding the videos in order as they come out.  So far he is up to video five, over forty hours of machine time alone.

Mr. Stolzer also has published a book on making muzzle loading locks from materials.  You can preview then order it by clicking here.

What this national experience demonstrated was the utter inability of law to provide a foundation for morality.  If all you need to do to get folks to do what is right or not do what is wrong is write a law then we would have no murder, no rape, no drunken drivers or thieves, for all those have long since been forbidden by legislation.  And yet any casual glance through the news sources today shows that they are occurring regularly – in spite of the laws against such actions.

So, what is the answer?  Where in can we find a way to bring about a better, more orderly society?  The answer lays at home.  It is only when a people is taught right from wrong at home, through example and not just by word, that a basis for an orderly society can exist.  When the foundation is strong the laws needed are few, for each person is self governed.  But the weaker the foundation, the more corrupt the society and the greater need for more and more laws to attempt to reign in the increase in disregard for others.

Morality can not be legislated.  Morality is the result of individual moral decisions which arise from personal convictions.  A moral society arises when the vast majority of the citizens choose to do what is right, not because of fear of punishment from doing wrong but rather due to an aversion for wrongdoing.  There will always be those who chose to do wrong and no fear of punishment can deter them.  It is for them that laws should be written, ensuring that even though they may “flaunt the law” that they will not be allowed to continue to do so.  As I heard mentioned in a debate on the death penalty one time, “The death penalty will not ensure that some person will never unjustifiably take another person’s life, but it SHOULD prevent them from doing so again.”  The same can be said of rape and other such reprehensible actions.  There will always appear some person or another who has no regard for the law.  The law should be such that such a person will never be allowed to prey upon others again.  The majority of violent crime in the United States of America is committed by less than 10 percent of the violent criminals.  Simply eliminating such persons from society will bring about a large drop in the crime rate.  Doing so swiftly would result in an even larger drop as people capable of reasoning it out will be dissuaded from imitating their actions for fear of imitating their demise.  Those incapable of “taking the hint” would be removed from society and thus further actions on their part against others would cease.

Erasing all current laws other than the Constitution and then rebuilding with only the bare minimum – strictly enforced – would result in a safer, freer society.  The proliferation of law upon law results only in making otherwise moral people into criminals by binding them with laws which have no effect on the immoral and criminally inclined.  A simple example is the found in the multitude of laws prohibiting the possession or carrying of firearms.  Criminals and violent people who do not hesitate to break the ancient, universal, law of “Thou shalt not commit murder” are not averse to breaking a lesser law dealing only with the possession of an inanimate object.  A person who will shrink from possessing an inanimate object because some law says “Don’t!” is less likely to break the innate law of “don’t murder”.  Binding the latter has no effect on the former, and leaves the latter at the mercy of the former.  If a person who, out of fear of violent people or a desire to protect others, breaks the inane law of “don’t possess an inanimate object” is punished for doing so, nothing is done other than to deny a useful citizen to society.  Such a person is not the type of person who would attack another without due cause.

¨…I will walk about in freedom,  for I have sought out your precepts.  I will speak of your statutes before kings  and will not be put to shame…” -  Psalm 119:45-46  NIV

Only a people who live by God’s precepts can truly know freedom.  It is only when we walk according to His ways and live as He designed us to live that we can know the true meaning of freedom.  When we deviate from His word we become slaves to our own passions.  When a society turns its back on His precepts then slavery follows. It is not usually sudden thing.  It is rather a gradual decline in the freedom of the citizens as more and more laws are passed to reign in their lusts and desires.  Self control gives way to government control.  Government control grows steadily more intrusive.  People give up freedom for the illusion of security and end up having neither.

Only when we are self governed,  only when God’s supreme law rules our hearts, may we know true freedom.  Only when we allow God’s Spirit to rule our own restless spirit may we overcome the destructive tendency to live for the deceitful pleasures of the flesh that really only lead us to destruction.

On the other hand, there are others who condemn anyone and everyone who disagree with them. They tend to have a legalistic outlook on life and see anyone who disagrees with their particular brand of theology as “obviously headed for hell in a hand-basket”. Their attitude seems to be “my way is better even that God’s way” and “Real love smacks people upside the head for not toeing MY line.”

Is there any middle ground available?  CAN we know anything? Is ANYTHING wrong? Is EVERYTHING right? What did Jesus REALLY do and teach?

The first group are quick to grab onto a certain extract from Jesus’ “Sermon On The Mount” – in Matthew 7:1-2.  In this passage, Jesus said: ““Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” This text is used to “prove” that we have no way to know if someone is acting right or wrong.  Any comment as to the correctness or lack thereof of another person’s actions is seen as “judging” that person and is condemned (ironically) by those who claim to not judge anyone.  Any assertion that a certain action is ungodly or sinful is condemned as “sinfully unloving” by those who claim to “not judge”.  Yes, we live in a strange world.  But, what if Jesus Himself told us that we can tell when someone is acting wrongly? Perhaps the whole idea of “judging” is not about an assertion that something is wrong or right but rather is about condemnation of someone who has done wrong?

Further along in the same 7th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel we find verses 15 to 20.  In this section of the same “Sermon on the Mount” Jesus stated:  “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” In this passage we are told clearly that “by their fruit you will recognize them”.  Note that Jesus did not contradict Himself.  He DID NOT say, “Condemn them for their fruit”.  He DID say, “You WILL recognize them by the fruit they produce”. He is telling us to be discerning, to pay attention, to not latch on to everyone who claims to work for Him but rather to see what their life produces.  AND He says “watch out for false prophets” – a clear warning to steer clear of such folks.

Not only did Jesus Himself address this issue, His Apostles and Prophets also taught people that they can know what is right and what is wrong.  And they also warned Christ’s disciples about “wolves in sheep’s clothing” arising from within the church itself to draw people away after themselves.  In his farewell message to the elders from the church in Ephesus, the Apostle Paul stated:

Acts 20:26-31
26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.29I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

He didn’t say “You can’t know what is right and what is wrong, so don’t worry about it.” He said “Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.”  Why would he warn them if they would be unable to discern what is right and what is wrong?

The author of the book of Hebrews was a bit harsh with his readers.  He didn’t mollycoddle them, he spoke to them straight out and  told them that they were not growing and maturing like they should.

Hebrews 5:11-14
11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Note especially his comment about “solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” Note that not only can we distinguish good from evil, we can even learn to train ourselves to do so.  It is not something that “just happens”, it is something that happens because we learn to eat solid food and digest it properly.

What is absent from both the account in Acts and the passage in Hebrews is, however, any admonition to force others to believe as one does.  There is no admonition to condemn those who disagree.  We are not called to “go on a witch hunt” nor are we called to burn heretics at the stake.  We ARE called to “be on our guard” and told that we can “distinguish good from evil”.

So, how should the church handle this?  In the opinion of some folks, the church should never comment negatively on any behavior by any person or group. They opine that doing so is “unloving”. To say “this or that action or lifestyle is destructive of the individual and society” is the unpardonable (to these people) sin. Is there any way in which we can not only identify that which is destructive but also call others to a life of walking according to God’s mandates without being “judgmental”? I believe there is.

It’s not about mass production, it’s about daily living.  It’s about building relationships in which you have not only the right but the duty to point out to another the simple facts. When we build proper relationships with people then we can tell them “You know I love you, but what you are doing is stupid at best and destructive at worst. If you keep following this pathway you will fall into a deep pit, harming yourself and others.” For example, I have personally told people “Your lifestyle is destroying you.” but without rejecting them as a person.  When asked by a young man who was living a homosexual lifestyle “What does the Bible say about this?” I told him.  I took him to the Scriptures and showed him what the Bible teaches – and it does NOT teach that such a lifestyle pleases God.  But at no time did I condemn him for his choices in life. The message was “There is a better way, one of blessing through following God’s design.” He had to face his choices and he had to decide between doing what he knew to be right and what society was telling him was right.  BUT he never had to wonder if we loved him or if God loved him, he could tell through our acceptance of him that our rejection of his lifestyle choices was simply a call to live God’s design versus society’s destructive tendencies, to implement God’s blessing for his life rather than falling for satan’s perversion.

Not only have folks dealing with homosexuality passed through our doors and sat in our living-room and been shown God’s love, but also folks dealing with drunkenness, womanizing, gossiping, lying, anger, malice and multitudinous other sinful choices.  And they almost without exception have noted that they are received with love and that a home based on God’s principles is a haven of peace in the midst of society’s carnage.  By showing the same love as Jesus (Who would say “your faith has made you well, go and sin no more” and “neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more”) we have seen lives restored and true newness of life where before there was but darkness and destruction.

We CAN know that things are right or wrong.  We CAN show love while rejecting sin.  We ARE called to be watchmen warning of destruction ahead.  But we are NOT called to judge and condemn folks who are different from us.  After all, the true mark of Christ’s disciples is love.  Love doesn’t stand by and not say a word when it is obvious that someone is setting themselves up for harm.  Nor does it snarl and growl and mutter about “idiots” who don’t know how to do things better.  Love gives warning about pitfalls, and extends arms of love to those who have fallen in them anyway.  Love shows a better way of doing things, but does not shun those who have chosen wrong. Love does not say “I am better than you.” Love says “God has a better way of living.”  Love recognizes that we all are in need of God’s help and grace and mercy.

There is room for moral uncertainty only when we do not really believe that there is a better way of life that God helps those who love Him to follow.

First grade found me reading about Dick and Jane and Spot, but my inquisitive mind was soon seeking new frontiers.  In second grade I found my way to the library and was soon reading the captions in National Geographic and then making my way through the stories as well as the pictures.  Soon I was reading Jim Kjelgaard’s stories about Big Red and other Irish setters as well as Jack London’s stories of the frozen north.

A memory from my fourth grade year is of the day when Mrs. Wilcox started the reading circles for the year.  She called the first group and since I was new to the school system she invited me too.  She asked me to read from the book first, which I was glad to do, and then told me “Thank you, Paul.  You can return to your desk now.” I sat and worked on the things she’d set the rest of the class to doing while the first group read and then I was called along with the second group.  The same events transpired, an invitation to read (a much more interesting piece than the former book) followed by a request that I return to my desk.  To my uninformed mind this was embarrassing.  Apparently I couldn’t read good enough to stay with the group.  When she called the final group to read I was invited as well and the book we had was even better than the last one.  It was not until much later that I realized that she was giving me a chance to show to the class what level I belonged in.  Since I read above my grade level (which she had no way of knowing) it was an opportunity to fit into the level most appropriate to me abilities.  By starting me low and allowing me to work my way up the scale she did not cause me the embarrassment of being asked to step down to a lower level.

At one time I had read every book in our home – and we had a substantial library – except for the novels that my mom enjoyed.  So finally I took a plunge at those.  After reading three slight variations of  the “boy meets girl, boy and girl hate each other, boy and girl fall secretly in love with each other, boy and girl end up together” plot (variations were due to names and geography, the plot was the same) I gave up and re-read every book in the house.  From my fifth grade on we were educated at home.  At the ninth grade we headed to the U.S. for a year’s home service and once more I was placed at the mercy of the public school system.  After a few weeks the school counselor called my parents and said, “Mrs. Moreland, we don’t have Paul’s junior high records.” to which she responded, “We don’t have any. He has been taught at home.”  This was odd for the time, “homeschooling” was not common at all back then.  Still, they decided to give me a chance to finish the quarter so they could check my grades.  At the specified time I was pulling C’s in math and grammar – A’s and B’s in everything else.  They decided to let me stay.

Over the years reading has been an important part of my life.  Curiosity about any subject that catches my attention can usually be satisfied by finding the appropriate book(s) to read.  The internet has changed the situation a bit – making it easier to research subjects of interest.  The availability of e-books in diverse formats has been a boon to an avid reader.  The ‘net has revolutionized the availability of reading material.  At one time we would search through garage sales, book stores, used book stores and church library castoffs while visiting the U.S.  Large sums of money were spent to ship the acquired books to our overseas address.  Now that is beginning to change some – via the internet. However, there is one area that the ‘net has not yet caught up on – and that is the international availability of books from some (many) sources.  Time after time when searching for a specific title the announcement pops up somewhere, “We do not provide books to those living outside the U.S.”

Recently my attention has been drawn to a device called the “Kindle” by amazon.com.  At one time I even had a cell phone that could use an application to read Kindle format e-books and I downloaded a wide selection of free titles.  But that phone got replaced and the new one does not allow the use of the app.  Various friends in the U.S. have written about their experiences with the device and regale us with accounts of the books they’ve read and made lists of titles they plan to acquire.  Upon inquiring about the device I found out that there are others out there as well.  The Nook by Barnes and Noble, e-readers by Sony, e-readers powered by Android, miscellaneous Chinese variations on the theme – in other words, there is a new way to acquire reading material – if you live in the U.S.  The base model Kindle is available in Colombia now – at nearly twice the cost of the same device in the U.S. When searching amazon.com one often gets the infamous “this book is not available in your region”.  [Sigh]  Such is life.

Sometimes folks ask “What can we do to support missions?” and “How can we help missionaries?” Reflecting on this subject has brought to my mind an idea.  Reading material in the traditional format (paper and ink) is bulky.  It is heavy.  It is expensive.  Mailing books costs a lot (even using the M-bag, the US Post Office’s cheapest way of sending printed matter) and when they arrive, books take up space.  When one moves they take work to pack, haul, unpack and re-arrange.  So, here’s an idea for folks who would like to provide assistance to their overseas missionaries.

Make a list of current (and classic) books of interest to your missionary that are available in the U.S. in e-book format.  Collect funds from interested people to purchase them.  Select an e-book reader in your favorite format and load it with the books chosen.

Mail it to your missionary.  Depending on the country of destination there may very well be a considerable customs charge for the device.  Most missionaries I know would be happy to pay this charge for the privilege of obtaining the device and the contents thereof.  But this may still strain their budget in these days of low dollar exchange rates that have raised the cost of living for missionaries around the globe.  So sending their forwarding agent or mission agency a donation to help defray the cost of importing the device would also be a good idea.

Some missionaries may already have such a device.  Finding out should be as simple as sending an e-mail to inquire. I believe that most of the devices allow you to acquire books for them via a gift card or other means.  This would allow you to share with them reading material that would be of benefit to them in their ministry or for their simple reading pleasure.

Reading is one of the most important skills an individual can have.  It opens horizons and plants seeds of thought.  The new media available are as vital to us today as Gutenberg’s invention was in his day.  We are indeed living in exciting times.  Let us make use of the means available to us to spread God’s word.