Crazy Christian Belief #2

 

False Assumptions: Relief from 12 “Christian” Beliefs that can Drive You Crazy

A book by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend (c) 1994

Summarized by Gary L. Clendenon, 2019-2020

Click HERE for "Crazy Christian Belief #1"

False Assumption #2: “If I’m spiritual enough, I will have no pain or sinfulness.”

Christian Truth #2: “Sinfulness and pain are normal on the Christian path. To admit and accept our problems is the first step to freedom and growth.”

MORE: People living under this false assumption cope with this untruth through “Denial” of reality, “Trying harder”, and/or “Using shame” and condemnation as their motivation.

The Bible’s truth about badness: 1. “Sinfulness is normal. Expect failure.” 2. “Negative feelings are normal, not sinful, when they arise from a sin against you.”

To blame victims for their pain is a sin against them; it is a sin against God, whose heart is with those who hurt (Ps. 34:18). Nowhere does Scripture tell us to confront the wounded. It tells us instead to love them.

CLICK HERE FOR CRAZY CHRISTIAN BELIEF #3

Crazy Christian Belief #1

 

False Assumptions: Relief from 12 “Christian” Beliefs that can Drive You Crazy

A book by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend (c) 1994

Summarized by Gary L. Clendenon, 2019-2020

False Assumption #1: “It’s selfish to have my needs met.”

Christian Truth #1: “Its NOT selfish to have my needs met.”

MORE: We have a God-given responsibility to get our needs met. If your need for comfort, encouragement, is selfish, then others’ need for that is selfish, too. If it ain’t okay for you to have it, then it ain’t okay for you to give it.

The self-righteous attitude of thinking we have no problems is what birthed Alcoholics Anonymous in the 1940’s. People found that in A.A. meetings they could still have struggles; they could still be needy. In fact, they had to confess their neediness at every meeting. The church should be a place where it’s safe to be unfinished, incomplete, and needy.

Having our needs meet frees us to meet the needs of others—without resentment.

CLICK HERE FOR CRAZY CHRISTIAN BELIEF #2

“The Antichrist!” (Islam & the Antichrist #4)

“The Antichrist!” (Islam & the Antichrist #4)

Here is the link to Part 1:

The following is taken from the book The Islamic Antichrist by Joel Richardson:

Simply put, according to the Bible, the Antichrist will be Satan’s primary human agent on the earth in the last days.

Who exactly is the Antichrist? The Bible prophesies that the Antichrist will be a political and military leader with power unparalleled by any other world leader throughout history.

The Mahdi [Islam’s Messiah], like the Antichrist, is also prophesied to be a political and military world leader unparalleled by any other throughout world history.

The Bible teaches that the Antichrist will lead a worldwide religious worship movement that will attempt to displace and usurp worship from the God of the Bible. This worship will then be directed toward both himself and Satan—the invisible spirit—the provocateur and puppet master that motivates, empowers, and gives authority to the Antichrist to accomplish his worldwide task.

Likewise, it almost goes without saying, the Mahdi of Islam will be the leader of a worldwide worship movement, a worship movement that will seek to cause anyone who practices any religion other than Islam to renounce his faith and worship Allah, the god of Islam.

Both the Antichrist and the Mahdi are said to be the unqualified leaders of a global religious movement that will draw worship away from the God of the Bible and His Son Jesus Christ.

The Bible is very clear that Satan, through the Antichrist, will specifically target first Jews and then Christians for death. (Revelation 12)

Interestingly enough, Islamic tradition speaks much of the Mahdi’s special calling to convert Christians and Jews to Islam. The following quote from Ayatollah Ibrahim Amini clearly articulates this vision: The Mahdi will offer the religion of Islam to the Jews and Christians; if they accept it they will be spared, otherwise they will be killed.

The Bible teaches that the Antichrist, with his multination coalition, will attack Israel, and specifically Jerusalem, to conquer it. The Apostle Paul says that the Antichrist will “set himself up in God’s Temple,” or more literally, “he takes his seat in the temple of God.” This speaks not so much of a literal sitting down as it does of a taking a position of authority.

Likewise the Mahdi is said to attack Jerusalem and reconquer it for Islam in order to establish Islamic rule over the earth from Jerusalem. The Mahdi will not end his campaign against Jerusalem in a peaceful way. For the Jews, the Islamic version of the last days ends with the last few surviving Jews hiding behind rocks or trees from the sword of Islam.

Another of the Antichrist’s goals according to the Book of Daniel is to “change the set times and the laws”: He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. (Daniel 7:25, emphasis mine)

It quite plausible that the biblical reference to the Antichrist who will “try to change the set times and the laws” describes a Muslim. As we look at the full picture, only Islam fits the bill of a system that has its own unique calendar, a week based on its own religious history, and a clear system of law that it wishes to impose onto the entire earth.

So in conclusion, we see that several of the most unique and distinguishing aspects of the biblical Antichrist’s person, mission, and actions are matched to quite an amazing degree by the descriptions of the Mahdi as found in the Islamic traditions. And now, even further, we see that Muslim scholars actually apply Bible verses about the Antichrist to their awaited savior, the Mahdi. This must be seen as quite ironic, if not entirely prophetic.

~ Joel Richardson, The Islamic Antichrist, pg. 33, 34, 37, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 48, 49, 51.

“Islam’s Awaited Savior!” (Islam & the Antichrist #3)

“Islam’s Awaited Savior!” (Islam & the Antichrist #3)

HERE is the link to Part 1:

The following is taken from the book The Islamic Antichrist by Joel Richardson:

SUMMARY: After reviewing the various Islamic traditions and opinions of the Muslim scholars, let’s now review and walk through a list of what we have learned about the person and the mission of the Mahdi as he exists in the minds of the 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide. Remember, this is the man that the Muslims of the world eagerly await:

1. The Mahdi is Islam’s primary messiah figure.

2. He will be a descendant of Muhammad and will bear Muhammad’s name (Muhammad bin Abdullah).

3. He will be a very devout Muslim.

4. He will be an unparalleled spiritual, political, and military world leader.

5. He will emerge after a period of great turmoil and suffering upon the earth.

6. He will establish justice and righteousness throughout the world and eradicate tyranny and oppression.

7. He will be the caliph and imam (vice regent and leader) of Muslims worldwide.

8. He will lead a world revolution and establish a new world order.

9. He will lead military action against all those who oppose him.

10. He will invade many countries.

11. He will make a seven-year peace treaty with a Jew of priestly lineage.

12. He will conquer Israel for Islam and lead the “faithful Muslims” in a final slaughter/battle against Jews.

13. He will establish the new Islamic world headquarters from Jerusalem.

14. He will rule for seven years (possibly as much as eight or nine).

15. He will cause Islam to be the only religion practiced on the earth.

16. He will appear riding a white horse (possibly symbolic).

17. He will discover some previously undiscovered biblical manuscripts that he will use to argue with the Jews and cause some Jews to convert to Islam.

18. He will also rediscover the Ark of the Covenant from the Sea of Galilee, which he will bring to Jerusalem.

19. He will have supernatural power from Allah over the wind and the rain and crops.

20. He will possess and distribute enormous amounts of wealth.

21. He will be loved by all the people of the earth.

~ Joel Richardson, The Islamic Antichrist, pg. 31-32.

HERE is the link to Part 4:

“The Awaited Savior!” (Islam & the Antichrist, Part 2)

 

“The Awaited Savior!” (Islam & the Antichrist, Part 2)

Here is the link to Part One:

The following is taken from the book The Islamic Antichrist by Joel Richardson:

...the most anticipated and central sign that Muslims await is the coming of a man known as “the Mahdi.” In Arabic, al-Mahdi means “the Guided One” -- “the Awaited Savior.”

“...mankind will have reached a stage of great suffering. Then the awaited Mahdi will appear;”

The coming of the Mahdi is the central crowning element of all Islamic end-time narratives. According to Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani, chairman of the Islamic Supreme Council of America, “The coming of the Mahdi is established doctrine for both Sunni and Shi’a Muslims, and indeed for all humanity.”

Ayatullah Baqir al-Sadr and Ayatullah Murtada Mutahhari, both Shi’a Muslim scholars, in their book, The Awaited Savior, describe the Mahdi this way: A figure more legendary than that of the Mahdi, the Awaited Saviour, has not been seen in the history of mankind. ... He has been the vision of the visionaries in history. He has been the dream of all the dreamers of the world. For the ultimate salvation of mankind he is the Pole Star of hope on which the gaze of humanity is fixed…. In this quest for the truth about the Mahdi there is no distinction of any caste, creed, or country. The quest is universal, exactly in the same way as the Mahdi himself is universal. He stands resplendent high above the narrow walls in which humanity is cut up and divided. He belongs to everybody. (emphasis mine)

In the simplest of terms, the Mahdi is Islam’s messiah or savior. The Islamic messiah, thus, embodies the aspirations of his followers in the restoration of the purity of the Faith which will bring true and uncorrupted guidance to all mankind, creating a just social order and a world free from oppression in which the Islamic revelation will be the norm for all nations. (emphasis mine)

Thus it is fair to say that the “rising” of the Mahdi is to the majority of Muslims what the return of Jesus is to Christians. While Christians await the return of Jesus the Messiah to fulfill all of God’s prophetic promises to the people of God, Muslims await the appearance of the Mahdi to fulfill these purposes. Sheikh Kabbani likewise identifies the Mahdi as Islam’s primary messiah figure: “Jews are waiting for the Messiah, Christians are waiting for Jesus, and Muslims are waiting for both the Mahdi and Jesus. All religions describe them as men coming to save the world.”

~ Joel Richardson, The Islamic Antichrist, pg. 20-23.

HERE is the link to Part 3:

“Islam & the Antichrist!” (Part One)

“Islam & the Antichrist!” (Part One)

The following is the first of a series of posts I will make taken from the book The Islamic Antichrist by Joel Richardson. Joel has a very compelling take on this subject and I wanted to share it with you, my friends. He says:

“I believe that the information presented in this book will establish the fact that Islam is indeed the primary vehicle that will be used by Satan to fulfill the prophecies of the Bible about the future political/religious/military system of the Antichrist that will overwhelm the entire world just prior to the second coming of Jesus Christ.”

Joel Richardson, The Islamic Antichrist, p. 12

The Qur’an mentions five things that a Muslim must believe in order to be a Muslim. These five things have, as a result, become a creed of sorts within Islam. From the Qur’an we read: It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces to the East and the West; but righteous is he who believeth in Allah and the Last Day and the angels and the Scripture and the prophets… (Sura 2:177; Pickthall)

Notice the order of the five tenets of belief:

1. Belief in Allah.

2. Belief in the Last Day.

3. Belief in angels.

4. Belief in the Scripture.

5. Belief in the prophets.

This is very different than in Christianity. Unfortunately, while end-time belief plays a prominent role in the New Testament and in the life of the early church, today belief in the last days has become essentially optional or generally ignored by most. But not so with Islam; there are no true Muslims who do not believe in the last day and the events that precede it. Understanding the Islamic perspective regarding the Last Day and specifically the Major Signs, therefore, is crucial if we wish to understand the central religious anticipations of the 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide.

~ Joel Richardson, The Islamic Antichrist, p. 18-19.

HERE is the link to Part 2:

“King David: Part Three: The Hero!” (Grace Note #101)

 

This is “Part Three” in a series of three essays on the story of King David’s sinful encounter with Bathsheba.

(Click HERE for “Part One”)

“King David: Part Three: The Hero!”

Grace Note #101

By Gary L. Clendenon, May 17, 2023

(All Bible verses quoted from The Message Bible)

The story of David and Bathsheba—this terrible, embarrassing story for which, in our times and judicial system, would have had David locked up in prison for LIFE—why is it in the Bible?

1. The story of David and Bathsheba is in the Bible because its ugliness speaks to the validity and honesty of the Bible as a legitimate, true text. Nothing is sugar-coated here. The errors and mistakes and flaws of all its characters are on full display. Nothing is hidden. Nothing glossed over. The “Heroes” of the Bible time and time again are not heroes in the sense that they had any special characteristics of righteousness or perfection. THE BEST WE CAN SAY OF THEM IS THAT THEY KEPT FOLLOWING GOD--IN SPITE OF THEIR MISTAKES. Of course, this is a huge encouragement to us who attempt to follow GOD. The best characters in the Bible—its “Heroes”—were messed up sinners just like us! From this we can gain strength and hope as we know how often we don’t measure up.

2. The story of David and Bathsheba—and all of the other messed up, flawed characters in the Bible—inevitably leads us to the conclusion that these people are NOT the heroes of their stories. If they are not, then who is the hero? As we scan these stories and the entire Bible, only one character rises to the standard of “Hero”. THE "HERO" OF THESE STORIES AND THE BIBLE IS GOD. Time after time after humanity has messed things up beyond all recognition, it’s GOD who steps in and saves the day. It’s GOD who steps in and straightens up, as best is possible, the complete messes of the Bible characters. Because GOD is the “Hero” of the Bible stories, this fact teaches us to not look to humanity for our heroes, but to GOD for our almost-always needed rescue.

3. A third reason the story of David and Bathsheba is in the Bible is to show us how GOD can and does forgive even the worst of our sins. Because David finally woke up to reality and understood the absolute gravity and seriousness of his sin, he prayed to GOD for a new, clean heart and repented in one of the most beautiful prayers in the Bible: “Create in me a clean heart, O LORD, my GOD, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalms 51. Please read this whole Psalm.) GOD did as David requested—forgiving him and renewing his heart, but the rest of the story must be told.

GOD DID NOT REMOVE THE CONSEQUENCES OF DAVID'S SINS. He lost to death the child that had been conceived in his sinful act. He lost respect in his children’s eyes which made it easier for them to enact their own horrible sins. He lost the chance to build GOD’s temple. His family, from that time forward, was a hot, dysfunctional, ugly mess! Yes, forgiveness is real and awesome, but the maxim that “Choices have consequences” cannot be ignored. There is no “Free Pass”.

The story of David and Bathsheba, like the other stories in the Bible, is a cautionary tale mixed with both the worst of humanity and the best of Deity. Let us—with David—praise GOD, the real “Hero” for His Grace, Mercy, and Everlasting Love.   ~ SELAH

(The term "Selah" is used 71 times in the Psalms.  Some think it means "Pause", as a note to the singers.  Some think it could also mean "Pause to consider".  I like how the AMPLIFIED BIBLE translates Selah: "Pause and calmly think about that."

“King David: Part Two: Hearts!” (Grace Note #100)

This is “Part Two” in a series of three essays on the story of King David’s sinful encounter with Bathsheba.

(Click HERE for “Part One”)

“King David: Part Two: Hearts!”

Grace Note #100

By Gary L. Clendenon, May 11, 2023

(All Bible verses quoted from The Message Bible)

In 2^nd Samuel 12:1, we read, “But GOD was not at all pleased with what David had done.” Ya think? This seems to be one of the greatest understatements in the Bible! (1)

Nathan, the Prophet of GOD, comes and tells David a “Word Picture” story—wisely using a harmed sheep as one of the main characters of the story knowing that David, the former Shepherd, would relate to and connect with the imagery! (2)

It worked well! “David EXPLODED IN ANGER”. Now, this is more like the reaction that I might expect from Almighty GOD—“Righteous Anger” at the harm caused to one of his little lambs!!

And then, with brilliant timing, Nathan, the Prophet of GOD, says, “YOU ARE THAT MAN!” Nathan then lists what GOD had done to bless David, what David had done to sin against GOD and His sheep—Bathsheba and Uriah, and then the consequences that will follow for David’s sins—and they are very serious, life-long consequences (looking back in hindsight, we can see that David’s command that “the man who did this...must repay...four times over” was about what happened to David throughout the rest of his life). (3)

Please notice David’s response to Nathan the Prophet’s story and consequent description in verse 13 of 2^nd Samuel 12: “Then David confessed to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against GOD’.” Finally, David is in his right mind. He gets it. And, immediately, David owns up to his sin. THIS shows one of the reasons why David is called “a man after GOD’s own heart.”

One of the main themes of the Bible is “our hearts”. GOD, above all else, wants our hearts. And David exemplifies this knowledge, understanding, and application so well in his later written response to Nathan’s message from GOD—as found in the 51^st Psalm. In verse 10 of Psalms 51, David says these now famous words: “Create in me a clean heart, O LORD, my God.” Later, in verse 17, he says, “I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. O God, you will not reject a humble and repentant heart.” That’s all GOD wants when we mess up: Admit it, receive the consequences and responsibilities of our choices, and ask for another chance to grow and do better as we learn from our mistakes.

Notice what happens next in 2^nd Samuel 12:13 after GOD’s Prophet had announced David’s consequences: “Nathan pronounced, ‘...but that’s not the last word. GOD forgives your sin. You won’t die for it’.” The Biblical consequences for adultery and murder were “Death” in the Kingdom of GOD. Some people say that it wasn’t fair for GOD to pardon David’s death, but there was one key difference between his sin and King Saul’s sin: David acknowledged his sin and sought forgiveness while Saul, when confronted with his sin, hardened his heart and remained unrepentant. This contrast, again, points to the importance of our hearts to GOD and His willingness to work with anyone who understands their sinfulness and wishes to be better. (4)

My Prayer: “GOD, give me the soft, clean heart of David to be honest with you about my sins when you make them aware to me. I want to be ‘a man after GOD’s own heart’.”

CLICK HERE for Part Three:

FOOTNOTES:

1. Note: This verse is found in 2^nd Samuel 11:27 in other versions than The Message Bible.

2. For more on this concept of “Word Pictures”, read Gary Smalley’s excellent book The Language of Love.

3. 2^nd Samuel 12:10,11. For a deeper reading of this, see Ellen White’s Patriarchs & Prophets chapters 71-73.

4. Regarding David “getting out of his punishment” Ellen White says, “The sentence of death was transferred from David to the child of his sin. Thus the king was given opportunity for repentance; while to him the suffering and death of the child...was far more bitter than his own death could have been.” Patriarchs & Prophets, p. 722.

“King David: Part One: Bathsheba!” (Grace Note #99)

 

“King David: Part One: Bathsheba!”

Grace Note #99

By Gary L. Clendenon, May 3, 2023

(All Bible verses quoted from The Message Bible)

This is “Part One” in a series of three essays on the story of King David’s sinful encounter with Bathsheba.  I’m starting this with the assumption that you know the story of David and Bathsheba found in 2nd Samuel chapter 11. If you don’t, or you need a refresher, I recommend you read it there first.

First of all, I love wordplay and cannot pass up pointing out the irony in this woman’s name: “Bath” sheba? Wow. David saw her taking a bath, then asked and found out her name. It’s also interesting that Bathsheba’s later son through David, Solomon, had a relationship with the Queen of Sheba! (“Hey, that’s like my Mom’s name!”) The name “Sheba” in Hebrew means “Promise”. Jesus was a descendant of Bathsheba. Coincidence?

Now, back to the story. David’s men and army—including Bathsheba’s husband—were off fighting a war for him. The actions David took in this story were SO WRONG on so many levels! Ideally, you would think that he would have been fasting and praying for his army’s victory instead of watching a naked woman bathe. Christian author, Ellen White, says that David’s “success” as a King caused him to become lazy and arrogant in the reliance on GOD he had had in his younger years.

It WAS the custom of worldly kings to do whatever they wanted to and get away with it as “Entitled Royalty” (much like the entitled elites of today). But, obviously, the Kingdom of GOD, as represented by Israel and King David, was to be intentionally and thoughtfully different. In David’s actions, we see the thinking of a man whose thinking has been co-opted by the thinking of the world. THIS—through the subtle working of Satan’s guidance over time—was David’s downfall: Bad thinking led to bad actions.

This is one danger of a life of wealth and/or ease! Slowly, over time, our minds become accustomed to what should NOT be taken for granted. We lose awareness over the on-going, always-present, battle for our hearts and minds until one day we find—when faced with a temptation we never would have given into before—we find ourselves not even thinking twice before quickly giving in to the temptation as if it were a completely natural thing to do!

The level of darkness this story continues to sink down to is shown when David brings Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, back from the front to “sleep with his wife” and Uriah refuses saying, “The Ark [of the Covenant] is out there with the fighting men of Israel and Judah—in tents. [They] are roughing it out in the fields. So, how can I go home and enjoy my wife?”

As I stated earlier, THIS thinking of Uriah’s, in great contrast to David’s thinking, shows what the thinking of David ought to have been from the start. But, David’s focus on the “problem”—that he created with his original bad thinking, instead, seems to keep him from ANOTHER, seemingly obvious, missed opportunity to do the right thing. Instead, as we’ll see in Part Two of this series, he ignores the opportunity, taking another, further step down into darkness.

My takeaways: I must always guard my thoughts against any idea of entitlement thinking and/or thinking I am above or better than anyone else. To do this, I will continue my practice that anything I have, own, or get is a gift from GOD for which I will continue to express my gratitude for daily, if not more often. Conversely, anything GOD hasn’t given me is not currently meant for me, so I will strive to be “content” (Philippians 4:11,12) and grateful for whatever I do have. May it be so.

CLICK HERE for Part Two:

“Don’t Be So Sure!” (Grace Note #89)

 

“Don’t Be So Sure!”

Grace Note #89

By Gary L. Clendenon, October 16, 2020

                                                                        

Most of us know well the famous story of Peter’s betrayal. Early in the day of Peter’s betrayal, Peter was confessing his loyalty to Jesus and Jesus said to him, “DON’T BE SO SURE. Today, this very night, in fact...you will deny me three times.” Peter replied, “I will never deny you” and all the other disciples said the same thing! (Mark 14:29-31, emphasis mine)

We think we know ourselves pretty well and what we would or would not do, but this story puts a real check on that idea! It gives us an opportunity to learn from others and grow in our understanding of ourselves. We really don’t know what we would actually do in any given situation!

“DON’T BE SO SURE”, Jesus says!

We would be wise to learn from Peter and all the other Disciples’ experience and become LESS SURE of who we think we are and what we think we would do.

I learned this lesson most graphically as a Student Missionary in Indonesia when we decided to teach our students a lesson on how they should relate to the poor (Indonesia has a LOT of poor people!). We practiced a skit on “The Good Samaritan” (1) and then headed home for a quick dinner before our evening program.

At our gate was a living example of the parable: a man, in desperate need of some real help! We passed by him. We had a schedule to keep—a program to get ready for! We ate our dinner in humbled silence until someone finally said what we were all feeling: “Shouldn’t we do something to help the guy at our front gate?” We all scattered to gather things to help him and then went out to the front gate.

He was gone.

It was with real humility that we acted out the skit of “The Good Samaritan” that night and a renewed sense of what the parable really meant!

Almost every day on my daily walk, I encounter the “Samaritans” of our day—the homeless. They are dirty. They smell funny. They smoke. Often, they seem really off in the head. To be honest, I am a bit afraid of them. Intellectually, as a “Christian”, I am very sure that I want to help them—my heart goes out to them, but, in reality, I am repulsed by them and want to “cross to the other side” of the street.

Truth is, I am not so sure about what to do—how to be Christ to them. I give to local charities that help the homeless, but something in me says that’s kind of a cop out. I’m going to end this, not with some clever colloquialism or pound-it-home-point, but instead just with an honest admission—taking Jesus’ advice—that “I’m just not so sure”.

It may be that solutions are only found in this place of not being so sure. Let’s find out!

1. The parable told by Jesus in Luke 10:25-37.