Category: theology

The chortles and glee have already started. Baptist preacher, anti-gay activist and prominent Christian, was caught returning from a vacation with a gay escort hired through the website rentboy.com. The Miami New Times broke the story that George Alan Rekers was photographed returning through customs at Miami International with a gay hiree. When queried, Rekers claimed he had hired rentboy to push his luggage because Rekers had previously had surgery.

Rekers had testified for the state of Florida against gay adoptions, had worked with Dr. James Dobson on the Family Values Summit, and has spent thirty years in activism against anything and everything gay.

There is more to the story of course, the lurid details are included in the Miami New Times’ reporting and also in other articles, but suffice to say it is a personal and spiritual tragedy of the largest proportions.

The usual attitude when yet another Christian man is discovered to be gay, is that the Christianity has proved itself wrong again and thus homosexuality is normal. That the Christian man should not struggle nor rail against it. But that is a backward thinking. Homosexuality is wrong, and no one knows that better than the Christian man, who preaches against it at every turn. That’s WHY he preaches against it at every turn. ‘But that’s hypocritical!’ you might say. It is not. It is simply sin. No one knows better than the Christian man what sin is and why God hates it. No one knows better than the Christian man that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Rom 3:23) We all succumb to sin. A gay man falling into homosexuality is no different than one who lies or murders or gossips: they are all sins and they are all things that God hates. Fortunately for us, they are all things that God forgives, if the sinner asks Him.

We should not mock Dr. Rekers. We should not say “There goes another gay man professing to be a Christian” but instead say “There goes another sinner in need of God’s mercy. Just like me.” Pray for Rekers instead. God’s precepts are good. They are true. We all strive and we all fall short. Homosexuality is wrong and an abomination against nature and thus against God. (1 Cor 6:9). However, God’s mercy is large enough to cover any sin, including Dr. Rekers’ … And yours.

A horrifying story has broken in our area, one that is though terrible, is becoming all too tragically common. A father who did not have custody of his two sons asked the mother to visit them over the weekend, and when he got his sons he drove them into the woods and shot them. Then he shot himself. One boy was 4 and the other was 7.

Just a few days before that, in my old home town, another father killed his autistic son, then himself. Reports of parents killing their children are becoming less rare and more common as each day passes. Unfortunately, the bible prophesies that the end time would be filled with families “without natural affection”.

2 Timothy 3:3 it states the end times will be rife with people who are “Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good… The Greek word for ‘without natural affection’ is astorgos and the short definition is ‘unfeeling.’ The word originates from alpha and storgé (family affection). “The Greek means ‘Without natural affection – To their own children. Intemperate, fierce.”

Matthew Henry said in his bible commentary:
“See what a corruption of nature sin is, how it deprives men even of that which nature has implanted in them for the support of their own kind; for the natural affection of parents to their children is that which contributes very much to the keeping up of mankind upon the earth. And those who will not be bound by natural affection, no marvel that they will not be bound by the most solemn leagues and covenants. They are truce-breakers, that make no conscience of the engagements they have laid themselves under.”

What could be worse for a child, but to feel in peril for their very lives from the one to whom it is entrusted, their father? As Matthew Henry said, ‘see what a corruption of nature sin is…” O Lord come quickly!

I was at a rest area in South Carolina, and stopped short on the way inside. The newspaper machines were lined up along the walk, each with their large graphic photo touting the main headline. The photo on USA Today’s front page was a man holding a football in front of three crosses.

A shining star, or a flop in the making?
By Jon Saraceno, USA TODAY
NASHVILLE — Thursday is the day every NFL team tries to find a gridiron savior. And in this NFL draft, the most intriguing question is this: Is legendary Florida quarterback Tim Tebow a potential pro football miracle worker — or another college football golden boy who will flop? He plans to convince non-believers. “I believe I’ll be drafted as a quarterback and used as a quarterback,” he says in an interview with USA TODAY, responding to doubts about whether he has the skills to make the transition to the NFL. “My dream is to be a quarterback.” The Christian missionary has spent a lot of time turning the other cheek the last few months while preparing for Thursday’s first round of the three-day draft extravaganza in New York (ESPN, NFL Network, 7:30 p.m. ET). Despite the urgings of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Tebow will not attend the festivities at Radio City Music Hall, as many top draft prospects do. His stock has risen because of the promise he has shown in recent workouts — he is projected as probably a second-round selection — but skeptics abound. Most recently, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was secretly recorded in a bar, disparaging Tebow. “It’s very hard to wrap your brain around him; I just don’t see how anybody can think he’s anything but a long-term project,” says Trent Dilfer, the Super-Bowl winning quarterback-turned-ESPN analyst. “But you don’t pick players in the first or second rounds who are projects. You pick starters.” Chief among Tebow non-believers is ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., who says, “I never thought Tim Tebow was an NFL quarterback.” He suggests sturdy 6-3, 235-pound Tebow could convert to the hybrid fullback-tight end position of H-back. “When I hear that, I take it to heart. It motivates and pushes me,” Tebow says. “I am very passionate, very emotional. Whatever I do, I give everything.”

more at link.

There are several things to consider here. First is the unusual and rare circumstance of having the cross represented on the front page of a nationally distributed newspaper. It is indeed a rare thing, and rarer in the end times. Paul told Timothy that at the last days men would be haters of the good. Presenting the cross to a nation of unbelievers is a daring and wonderful thing. I’m sure it’s only Tebow’s popularity and skill as a football player that dared the newspaper to put the cross on the front page. This nation worships football and youth, and since with Tebow the cross is part of the package, the newspaper had little choice.

However, you see from the headline and the first line that immediately there must be a disparaging toward the notion of the cross. Using the word “flop” in the headline probably made the headline writer feel better but is par for the course in any time, but especially the end time. Peter said there will be “mockers and scoffers.” Interestingly, I notice that USA Today later changed the headline to the following: “Is he a miracle worker, or just an average QB?” which is also a shift in emphasis from flop to miracle worker.

Throughout the article it’s evident that the writer is not a believer and likely in thinking that using “Christian-type” words will satisfy the Christian reader. Likely, the word ‘flop’ was deleted not because someone is sensitive to Christianity but because someone didn’t like the word flop associated with a football star at the outset of his career. In any case, I wanted you to be aware that we ARE in a spiritual war and that one example of it, in a minor way, was presented to the United States through the battle of the headlines yesterday and today.

I am going on a Christian retreat Thursday. I have wireless connection at the place I am going to but I’ll be busy so no promises on updates for a few days. I’ll try though. 🙂

The Hebrews use the term “Ancient of Days” for God so as not to accidentally say His name and blaspheme. Ancient of Days is a poetic sounding name, and a lovely one. It is also comforting. It rings with authority and by its own name has a timeline that precedes us mere humans and will outlast this earth and the Church Age. It is and was and forever will be, since ancient times. He and His throne IS the Ancient of Days!

Micah says:

Daniel is a difficult book to interpret prophetically, but, then again, maybe not so difficult when you remember “scripture interprets scripture.” In 2Peter 1:20 Peter wrote: “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,” He was not saying that we would not understand it. Nor is he saying that we should not try to interpret it. He was saying that the interpretations are given to us, that they are contained in the bible. Scripture interprets scripture. How about this example:

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea” is found in Rev. 21:1. However, we are told in Isaiah 57:20 – “But the wicked are like the tossing sea, For it cannot be quiet, And its waters toss up refuse and mud.” (NASB). For one to interpret the Revelation verse correctly you have to have known from Isaiah that when the sea is referred to symbolically it means sinners, or the wicked. Scripture interprets scripture.

Let’s take a look at the following from Daniel 7:15-27–

“As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me. 16 “I approached one of those who were standing by and began asking him the exact meaning of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth. 18 ‘But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.’
19 “Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet, 20 and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head and the other horn which came up, and before which three of them fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts and which was larger in appearance than its associates. 21 “I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them 22 until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.
23 “Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it. 24 ‘As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. 25 ‘He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. 26 ‘But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever. 27 ‘Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.’

First, in Daniel 7:15-16,

“I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. I approached one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this.“So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things:” The student of bible interpretation is given a gift here, because the interpretation of the verses was placed within the same chapter and only a few verses away, not far apart like in Revelation and Isaiah.

What a blessing, that the prophet Daniel could approach the one giving the prophecy and ask for its interpretation! We are granted another blessing in verse 18, when we read, “‘But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.’” This is a reminder and an assurance to us and to those post-rapture believers who must go through the chaos.

Then a few verses later we see another blessing as Daniel asks for the meaning of the fourth beast and of the horns. The vision is one of torment and anguish and war and usurpation and all sorts of chaos, but in the midst of the interpretation we receive blessing because suddenly there is order. Not order on earth, but we read of order in the heavens:

“until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.” [Daniel 7:22] Ahh, blessed order! The Ancient of Days came! And judgment was passed. In this word judgment from the Aramaic it is not judgment as in wrath and discipline, but the word ‘din‘ as in courts. And the time arrived. You see that nothing is being done in knee-jerk response to the chaos. Nothing is reflexive, judgment is appointed to occur in due course. Indeed, in verse 26 our eyes turn from the chaos on earth yet again and seeing the court come to order. Every few lines we flip from earth to heaven and the chaos on earth back to heaven. This is a gift to us, the reader, for before we get too upset at the chaos that must come we are given a picture of the orderliness

‘But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever.”

And finally in verse 27b “His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.’ ”

From the beginning of the terrible sights that are revealed to us through Daniel’s vision, we are given knowledge of the interpretation, assurance and reminder, judgment which bespeaks of a legal solidity, a seated court who carries out the judgment in a weighty and time-appointed process, and the final blessing that it shall be so forever.

What the bible is saying to us here is that:
-scripture interprets scripture (all truth is contained in its covers, no need to guess, and it’s available to everyone)
-interpretations will be given if you ask (but you have to ask)
-the Ancient of Days is ancient and is in control from before Genesis 1:1 and will be forever
-He does things in an orderly way through legal and weighty means in His timing and rendered through judgments and courts,
-no matter what the chaos is on earth you can always look up to find the peace and orderliness of His control from on high

Selah!

REALLY good piece by Mr Hahn. I especially concur with the first paragraphs. It has been an amazing ride the last two years.

Potential Triggers Everywhere
Wilfred Hahn

Discerning the times is surely not a dauntless exercise. It has its challenges, even for researchers and historians. It is often difficult to determine what is or is not a critical development or trend in the moment. What data item is merely distracting noise, or what piece of news is important and relevant? What today is an indication of what is to come in the future?

As a result, most people go through life without a concept of the times nor an understanding of the “linear” cosmology of the world. Time passes … ho hum.

Well, recent times have been far from “ho hum” for at least two reasons. For one, epic and material changes are taking place … and rapidly. Quite frankly, there are so many shifts underfoot of late, the range of possible scenario types playing out ahead is extremely large (Please see the Signs of the Times feature of the February 2010 EVR for a more in-depth perspective on this point). The second reason is that many of the huge shifts underway, are significant viewed from a Biblical perspective. What we mean by “Biblical perspective” is the cosmological timeline of God’s purposes and dealings with all mankind.

After all, there are appointed times and therefore also seasons to be recognized. Apostle Paul confirmed this linear timeline view, saying, […] knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness — a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and at his appointed season he brought his word to light” (Titus 1:1-3).

Jesus Christ chastised the Pharisees on this particular point, saying: “You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs ofthe times” ( Matthew 16:3). We can conclude therefore that we would do well to discern the times in view of the Bible’s pronouncements. To that end, this same merciful God even chose to prove his very existence to mankind by telling us in advance as to some important points and events on that timeline. When we sense and discern the seasons of those events that are described literally in the Bible, there is compelling reason to sit up and take notice.

However, as the Bible indicates, while we are expected to be able to discern the times, we still cannot foreknow the exact timing and details of future events. That said, just what are some of the significant developments on the boil? In no particular order:

1. Tensions between China and the US are rising. From this spectre, a major change in epoch is likely underway … a new chapter for the world is being opened. Confrontations are now more direct. It was only a matter of time before the agendas of these two nations would no longer be mutually compatible (Please see the Signs of the Times column of the April 2010 EVR issue for further insight as to the significance of trends in Asia today).

2. Google. Indeed, Google, the major web search engine is withdrawing from China. This very event may be a signpost …a marker of the times with respect to the aforementioned point. A major world influencing corporation such as Google has decided to leave behind a potential business opportunity in a land of 1.3 billion potential consumers.

3. Global Debt. Governments around the world are plunging into greater indebtedness at an alarming rate. It is an unprecedented development during peacetime (Please see the Personal Perspectives column of the April 2010 EVR issue which outlines the potential “Biblical” significance of this rather sudden acceleration of late).

4. Europe on the Ropes? Many analysts today believe that the European currency union must soon collapse. The development path to the state of the European Union today has been probably one of the most singularly amazing developments of the past half-century. Could its economic and monetary marriage soon dissolve? It would be sure to have great repercussions on the world’s power order.

5. Rise of Islam. That there may be an Islamic connection to geopolitical trends in the world today, has been seared into the consciousness of most North Americans ever since 9/11. However, this influence is much more significant and complex than most people know. The influence of Islamic elements, in many different ways, is very like a prime vector of the “appointed season” of our times.

We live in world interconnected as never before. Single events can domino into serious reverberations quickly around the globe. And, there are many potential triggers that can launch such world-reaching consequences. Just which will prove to be the smoking gun … and who would be the trigger person? Here we again recognize the near futility of making short-term forecasts of any kind.

Consider the case of the Sino/American squabbles of late: Just who will prove the more powerful … or the more ruthless? The range of scenario is wide. One of the largest wealth transfers in history could take place. But the long-term victor is not yet sure, as wars can comprise many battles. Is China more dependent upon US consumers or is the US more dependent upon Chinese purchases of its debt? Both are factors that now add heft to possible outcomes. A case can be made either way. Whatever the outcome, you can be sure that the geopolitical outcomes will shake our world, as must be the case if all “Biblical perspectives” are yet to play out as prophesied

Hi there,

I started a new phase of my job on Monday and have been busy learning a new set of responsibilities. I’ll be back to blogging tomorrow (Friday). Sorry for the few days’ delay in new information!