bible – Page 16

How Minor Biblical Characters Impact Major Stories

Posted on February 18, 2025 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I love learning about the major people in the Bible. I have a biography of Moses I plan to read. I read one on Paul. It’s fun to look all the verses that mention the top three apostles, Peter, John, James and learn of their backgrounds and personalities. It’s good to remind myself that these are real people, not characters in a book.

I’ve also developed a series of “Little Known Bible Characters”. The series is linked below. The ones who are mentioned a few times and which the Bible gives some details of their lives. I became curious about people such as Trophimus, Eutychus, Iddo, Esther’s Harbonah the Eunuch. There is enough in the record to be able to glean something of their lives and their service to God in providential ways.

But comes now a short essay I read from a favorite author of mine, JR Miller. He was an American who lived from 1840-1912. He was “was a popular Christian author, Editorial Superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication, and pastor of several churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois” says Wikipedia.

We have the major people in the Bible, we have the minor people in the Bible, and we have the (seemingly) insignificant people in the Bible. JR Miller has something to say about this last group, that I thought was wonderfully comforting. Here is Pastor Miller-

Treasures from J.R. Miller (1840 — 1912)

Mordecai gave Hathach a copy of the decree issued in Susa that called for the death of all Jews, and he asked Hathach to show it to Esther. He also asked Hathach to explain it to her and to urge her to go to the king to beg for mercy and plead for her people. So Hathach returned to Esther with Mordecai’s message.

Then Esther told Hathach to go back and relay this message to Mordecai …” Esther 4:8-10

We are apt to overlook the minor actors in Scripture stories — in our absorbed interest in the prominent ones. Yet ofttimes these lesser people are just as important in their own place, and their service is just as essential to the final success of the whole — as the greater ones.

–The little girl in the story of Naaman the leper, is scarcely seen among the splendors of the Syrian court; but without her part, we would never have had the story at all.

–The young lad with the basket, is hardly thought of when we read the account of the miracle; but they were his loaves with which the Master fed all those hungry thousands that day on the green grass.

The smallest links in a chain — are ofttimes quite as important as the greatest links.

Hathach was one of these obscure characters. But his part was by no means unimportant. Without his being a trustworthy messenger, Mordecai’s communication with Esther would have been impossible — and the whole nation would have perished!

If we cannot do brave things like Esther, nor give wise counsels like Mordecai — we may at least be useful, as Hathach was, in faithful service. And perhaps our lowly part may someday prove to have been as essential — as the great deeds which all men praise. We may at least help some others in doing the great things that they are set to do in this world. –END JR Miller

You may feel like the smallest ant in a great civilization. You may be thinking, ‘What am I to contribute? How will the Lord use me? My spheres are so small, my resources so few…’ But God. He uses those who love Him in many ways. Naaman’s servant girl had the fewest resources of all, but she had the greatest knowledge, of the One True God. The boy with the basket had barely anything, and he isn’t even named. But his generosity and kindness speaks through the millennia.

Friend, keep living a life in obedience to God and your life itself is the service. Speak of Him where you can. Raise those children, as Eliza Spurgeon did, who was Charles’ mother and whose son became the Prince of Preachers. Even if your son or daughter is also ‘invisible’ to the world at large, no one is invisible to God. He sees all. He has placed you where you are on purpose, according to His will.

Little Known Bible Characters series

Little Known Bible Characters #6: King Cherdolaomer
Little Known Bible Characters #5: Harbonah the Eunuch
Little Known Bible Characters #4: Eutychus
Little Known Bible Characters #3: Trophimus
Little Known Bible Characters #2: ‘The List of Offenders’
Little Known Bible Characters #1: Iddo

theology

Modern day Jonah: Chilean man swallowed by whale (and it’s on camera)

Posted on February 14, 2025 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Adrian Simancas was kayaking with his dad off the coast of Bahía El Águila near the San Isidro Lighthouse in the Strait of Magellan. This is at the very tip of Chile where there are a series of islands, through which ships pass so as not to round Cape Horn all the way at the bottom of Chile. Antarctica is not far below that.

So his dad was behind Adrian, with a camera on, recording. And on a nice , cold day, the pair were kayaking around. When suddenly a humpback whale came up and swallowed Adrian and his inflatable kayak. They disappeared from view.

A few seconds later Adrian is spit out, as he reappears at the surface yards away from the spot where he’d disappeared into the whale’s gullet, and moving sideways fast. A moment later came the yellow kayak.

What was going through is mind as he lost the view of the shore and the sky and was engulfed in darkness?

“I thought I was dead,” Adrián told The Associated Press. “I thought it had eaten me, that it had swallowed me.”

It takes a bit for the mind to comprehend sudden, incredible circumstances you’re experiencing. But his assessment of the situation was correct. To be swallowed by a whale usually means you’re dead. Prophet Jonah had said,

I called for help from the depth of Sheol;
You heard my voice.
For You threw me into the deep,
Into the heart of the seas,
And the current flowed around me.
All Your breakers and waves passed over me.
So I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight.
Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’
Water encompassed me to the point of death.
The deep flowed around me,
Seaweed was wrapped around my head. (Jonah 2:2b-5).

Adrian said he was in terror. “I thought I had died. And no, there was nothing I could do.”

Jonah, rebellious as he was, knew what to do. He prayed.

But You have brought up my life from the pit, Lord my God.
While I was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, (Jonah 2:7).

What did it feel like? In this CNN news interview, Adrian said he felt a strong movement, stronger than a wave on his neck, then felt a “slimy texture on my face.” He said he could see colors like blue and white approaching him, then it went dark.

Adrian’s next thought as he was spit onto the surface, was that the whale would do something to his father. He next became concerned about getting to shore quickly to avoid hypothermia. His father paddled over and comforted his son.

Adrian in the end decided that the whale was curious, or perhaps wanted to communicate something.

There isn’t much more to the story than that. The video is only 59 seconds long. The only lessons here are: enjoy a quirky and unusual story. Secondly, you are clicking along in life and the next second everything changes. Something dramatic could happen to anyone at any time. Third, and most important, there is ALWAYS something you can do, and that is to ‘remember the Lord, and pray to Him.’ When circumstances change dramatically, as they did for Jonah, for Job, for Mary…knowing the Lord is the best comfort, refuge, and answer as to “why?!”

But God…

Jonah concluded his prayer:

But I will sacrifice to You
With a voice of thanksgiving.
That which I have vowed I will pay.
Salvation is from the Lord.

I thought this caption in the video was hilarious:

Here is a news interview.

https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c2k5e14vwx4o

theology

Lessons from Jethro: Wisdom and Support in the Bible

Posted on February 13, 2025 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I’m going through the John MacArthur Daily Bible. A week or so ago I was in Exodus 18. I’ve been thinking about a sweet scene in that chapter. There are a lot of important scenes in Exodus, and some hard scenes, but this one was sweet and left an impression on me.

Exodus 18:13 – “¶ And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.” art from Bible.art

It’s when Moses’ father-in-law Jethro comes to Moses after the Exodus at the Red Sea and escape from Pharaoh.

When Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mountain of God. 6And he sent word to Moses: “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.” 7Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed down and kissed him; and they asked each other about their welfare, and went into the tent.

8Moses told his father-in-law everything that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had confronted them on the journey, and how the LORD had rescued them. 9And Jethro rejoiced over all the goodness which the LORD had done for Israel, in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10So Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all the gods; indeed, it was proven when they acted insolently against the people.” 12Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

The impressive scene goes on afterward when Jethro observes Moses judging Israel and the heavy burden it was, and gives Moses counsel to appoint men and delegate the responsibility in various ways. It was wise and good advice.

Exodus 18:24 – “So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.” Illustration from Bible.Art

So I got to wondering how often we mimic the Jethro scene in our lives in this century. How often do we have dinner and break bread together, and discuss the wonder that is God? Or exult over what He has done for His people in general and us personally? Do we give or accept wise advise from elders?

Jethro seemed to be available when Moses needed him and retreated when not needed to allow Moses to live his life. Jethro was an observant and loving father-in-law!

The scene was a good reminder for me to be prepared to glorify the Lord with my words, recounting His deeds and ways in conversation. Being available for loved ones, keenly observing otherwise and ready to step in. Think about the Moses-Jethro relationship and see how we can model ourselves after these Bible people who came before us.

theology

The Spiritual Groping: Seeking Meaning in a Material World

Posted on February 11, 2025 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I watch Youtube for a few topics, among them, thrifting videos. I like to learn about antiques and vintage items and their production, origin, or history. I watch some content creators who are Christians but most are not Christians, they are just living their lives and making money by making these videos as their job.

As we go along in their walk with Christ, we become more and more saturated with a biblical worldview. Our former secular worldview is increasingly shaved away. No longer blind, we now see. Many times what we see is sad, because we are increasingly recognizing the ‘lostness’ of the people around us. They are searching, groping.

We grope for the wall like people who are blind, We grope like those who have no eyes. We stumble at midday as in the twilight; Among those who are healthy we are like the dead. (Isaiah 59:10).

Jesus talked of people blindly stumbling as they went along, even falling into a pit. It’s a vivid metaphor for the lost, who vainly search for what they know now and even if they find it, reject it.

He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might feel around for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; (Acts 17:26-27)

So this one thrifting video lady I watch on Youtube had a video recently where she was at home, not thrifting, and just spoke from her heart. She said she had been doing thrifting-reselling videos for 13 years. For the past year or so, she said, she’s been spiraling. She feels like she is losing her identity as a person and as a content creator.

“It’s causing me some emotional turmoil at times. I’m struggling with my identity because I feel like pieces of my identity are being taken from me piece by piece and when those pieces are taken away I’m no longer an original. I’m not who I thought I was. I’m having an identity crisis. If I’m no longer me who am I this has been my question for the past months who am I what am I doing?”

She said what she does for work is becoming monotonous. She needs something new, she said to the camera.

She s groping for meaning in her life, if I may state my opinion about her self-revealing video. What to do when the “thrill of the find” wears off? The rush you get from finding the exact treasure at Goodwill that you didn’t know you needed, wears off. It’s fleeting. The rush of adrenaline from selling that item for more money than you paid for it, also wears off. It’s fleeting.

It is the same no matter what you do in this life. Whatever you try, it will not be fulfilling. I know. I’ve been there. During my groping years I sought fulfillment in a different job, fame, travel, books, justice, education (wisdom), people, you name it. I still groped, stumbled, and remained unfulfilled. Who am I? What was I doing in this life? What is my identity, just a blob of flesh that in the end, dies and decomposes? Yes, I actively wondered about these things.

The Book of Ecclesiastes is all about that seeking and not finding. The “Preacher”, usually attributed to King Solomon, reveals that depression will inevitably result when seeking happiness in worldly things. The world cannot satisfy. It only leads to emptiness and despair.

So the Youtube lady shared in her video that to resolve her identity crisis and to stop ‘struggling’, she bought a house that she will turn into an AirBnB. THAT will give her new resolve to enjoy her life she intimated. She needed another layer to her life “to hold onto.” As far as I know she is also married with a child or children.

So, her solution was simply more of the same, to thrift for items, but this time to decorate a different house, an AirBnB house instead of her own house or to resell. It won’t work.

I was saddened by this admission and more saddened by her attempted resolution. It got me thinking about Apostle Paul. He was strong, resolute, and diligent in his walk. He was also emotional. He wept for his churches. He mourned over the lost. He cried over the Corinthians’ unruliness. He was angry with the Galatians incipient defection.

Paul cried a lot-

Acts 20:19, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews;

Acts 20:31, Therefore, be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.

2 Corinthians 2:4, For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.

Philippians 3:18, For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ,

He cried because he was concerned for others’ spiritual well-being. He cried because he had a passionate commitment to God’s work. He cried over the lost of the world in deep spiritual grief. He cried because he loved Jesus so much and wanted everyone to know Him as well.

May we all have such concern, compassion, and such care for the people around us and the people in the world. They are lost, groping, and wondering why they do not feel a deep sense of restful satisfaction. We know. The restful, peaceful soul knows Christ.

theology

Billy Graham: Standout evangelist, or sad example of one who will say ‘Lord, Lord’?

Posted on February 10, 2025 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I made a comment the other day in a recent essay about Billy Graham. A person directly asked me if I was saying Graham was not saved. I said I didn’t know about his salvation, but given his stances over the years, it is not likely.

Billy Graham was a 20th century (and a bit of 21st century) itinerant evangelist. He was known for his “Crusades”, which were events that filled arenas to the max and so popular they were held over multiple days, weeks, or even months. He’d preach, there would be choirs and singing, testimonies, and a final “Just as I Am” song with invitations for attendees to come and pray with a counselor on the field, and then be referred to a local church for follow up.

Los Angeles Crusade, I think, 1963. Source

Graham was listed by Time Magazine and others as “pastor to Presidents”, meeting with 13 presidents, from Harry Truman to George W. Bush, over his career. He was known as “America’s Pastor” and was seen as a major religious figure of the 20th century.

Rolling Stone wrote of Graham,

Since the late 1940s, when two of the country’s most powerful publishers – William Randolph Hearst and Henry Luce – helped turn the ambitious blond hunk of North Carolina farmboy into a national celebrity, Graham had merged old-time fundamentalism with modern media to create a wildly popular civic religion. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association produced movies, radio shows, magazines and syndicated newspaper columns. Its crusades were television spectacles watched by millions of families like ours. They sometimes became headline news: Just a few years earlier, a single night of “crusading” in Seoul, South Korea, was attended by a jaw-dropping 1.1 million people. You might have called Billy Graham the rock star of Biblical literalism, except that he was bigger than Elvis and the Beatles combined. Source

It’s hard to picture a man who spent his entire adult life ‘crusading’ for Jesus and “winning souls” all over the world as a false teacher or a false convert. Our minds have a hard time going there. He was so busy! He was so fervent!

But the Bible pierces that mental resistance and trumps it. Matthew 7:21-23 says that on that Day, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; LEAVE ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.‘ (Matthew 7:21-23).

There are many other warnings about being true to Jesus and not false, as well, like James 1:22, Luke 6:46, John 14:21, 1 John 2:4, Romans 2:13…

Judas lived with the other disciples day and night, was trusted with the treasury, and heard every sermon and teaching that came out of Jesus’ mouth for three and a half years. Yet none of the disciples even had a whisper of an idea that Judas was false. They first suspected themselves over him.

So it is possible to be ‘doing’ for Jesus but not ‘knowing’ Jesus.

David Frost, a famous English interviewer and mid 20^th century journalist followed Billy Graham’s trajectory from the 1940s and onward. Cecil Andrews of Take Heed Ministries said in a talk about Graham,

“David Frost said in the early days Billy Graham would usually preface things by saying the Bible says but he says as time went on he dropped that and it began to be more what Billy Graham thinks rather than what the Bible says. I think that really sums up the problem where Billy Graham is concerned.“

We see in the book Examining Billy Graham’s Theology of Evangelism by Thomas P Johnston on page 379, a table showing the four phases of Graham’s drift over the years. Johnson lists the five fundamentals for belief as a saved person and how Graham compromised on all of them over the years. By the end, Graham even taught that even if someone didn’t know Jesus, they were saved.

Cecil Andrews participated in a Crusade as a counselor in the later 20th century and also sang in Graham’s choir once or twice in England. Andrews said,

“I know a number of men who do door to door work in Northern Ireland and they constantly come across people whose view is ‘oh I made a decision at a Billy Graham crew said but I don’t go to church now I haven’t gone for years and so on’. But yet somehow or other they’re relying on this emotional response 30 or 40 years ago. Yet they would have gone down as one of the people who went forward as an Inquirer. They would be viewed rightly or wrongly by others as fruit…”

Did you know that people streaming down the aisles at the end of the Crusades during the ‘Invitation’, would be funneled to receiving counselors of their home religious tradition. If a Jew, there was a rabbi there. If a Catholic or ex-Catholic, they would receive counseling from a priest. So, no, those likely would not be bearing fruit for the Lord. Nor the ones who made an Arminian decision once (“prayed a prayer”) and then never honored the Lord by attending church.

Are the people who said they were ‘saved’ at a Graham Crusade really saved? It’s another question I was asked.

I am sure though that of the masses of people who had contact in some way with something Graham has said or taught, that the Lord in his providential wisdom saved some.

The Youtube talk by Cecil Andrews of Take Heed Ministries is called “Billy Graham: The man and his message” and it’s been on Youtube for 12 years. I’ve watched it several times, including 12 years ago, when barely anyone said Graham’s evangelism methods were problematic. Andrews was clear but humble in the talk, pointed about orthodoxy but sensitive when delivering his biblical perspective. I recommend the talk.

There are many reasons why Graham in my opinion will be one of the sad souls pleading with the Lord on Judgment day Lord, Lord. Many. Dissertations, books, and essays have been written about Graham’s personal life and how it didn’t follow the biblical pattern for a godly husband, and many essays recounting Graham’s non-biblical stances- all of which indicate he was not a true believer. Too many to explain and back up in one essay. But the point is:

Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will gain heaven. Event he most seemingly busy and fervent workers for Jesus may be false.

The Pharisees spent their lives ‘doing’ religious things for God, but were not saved. Also the Sadducees. Also Cain, Demas, Judas, and the hordes who will cry out on Judgment day as per Matthew 7. These false teachers and false converts masquerade as righteous, (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) and masquerade means they wear a disguise to cloak and hide their unrighteousness. It is hard to detect some of these. Others, well, the mind does not want to go there, as in the case of Graham.

Therefore, do not be surprised that one who seems so fervent for the Lord, so busy doing for the Lord many not be all he or she seems to be. Be discerning.

bible jesus, enering His rest

Resting on the Sabbath

Posted on February 9, 2025February 9, 2025 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Are the weeks getting longer, or is it just me? By the time Friday comes, I’m just pretty tired!

Of course, I’m thrilled to have been working in a job I love, so no complaints there. Weekends are an opportunity to rest and reflect on the week. I like to think back and go over the times where I may have stumbled and use the weekend for Bible reading or household tasks to keep my place shipshape. Also to enjoy the nature around me, and slow down to contemplate life- this one and the next.

I like to look back and praise the Holy Spirit for when I see where He helped me overcome something. I pray, study and think on Him and His word. Sundays are days for worship and fellowship, praising Him. In short, weekends are not only respite from the busy week but a clearing of space and time to reflect on the relationship I have with Him.

The Bible does not speak much of the concept of rest, except that when it does speak of rest, it is always in the future. There are few people resting in the Bible. They are always busy.

Even in Genesis 49:15 where Jacob said “When he saw that a resting place was good, And that the land was pleasant, He bowed his shoulder to bear burdens, And became a slave at forced labor” it means that they saw that the place was permanent and restful so they worked hard to prepare it for the day in the future when they could rest.

Hebrews 4 discusses rest. In that verse, the LORD is called the Rest. Heaven is the place of rest. (Also Psalms 5:11 and Hebrews 3:11).

God said for the Israelites to let the land rest, let it lie fallow every seventh year.

Of course, the most important mention of rest was in Genesis 2:3 where God Himself rested on the 7th day. “Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”

I like to be busy for the Lord and to use every minute I can to do His will and further His kingdom. But at times we have to stop. Continual work for the sake of work is not good. Though God was not tired, He stopped and rested on the 7th day to show US we need it. In addition, He didn’t just stop and rest, He blessed the day, AND He made it holy.

God made the sabbath a day of rest so rest must be important. He blessed the day, which means we should honor the sabbath and Him who established it in ancient days. He made it holy, putting His holy hands around the day as a hedge to set it apart as a day to honor Him, specifically.

Many other more worthy and academic people have preached on the importance of sabbath rest, so I’ll just say that as busy as I am and I like to be, setting aside a time when I can simply meditate on Him, praise Him, sing to Him, and rejoice in Him is a blessing indeed.

On this earth, we are called to work, to fight, to persevere, to wrestle, to run. There is no rest for us, the weary. At least, NOT YET. Picture the sabbath rests of those few precious hours on a Sunday as a drop of water on the tongue of parched worker, soothing for but a moment; but when we enter THE Rest, and lay down our burdens in heaven, the full flowing water will slake our thirst forever and we may then rest. Imagine how refreshing it will be!

The permanent rest will be as a flowing fountain of peace, thoroughly drenching every cell of ours and relaxing us to a degree none can even imagine. No more fighting! No more persevering! No more wrestling! No more running! Our rest will be Jesus Himself!

Hold on but a bit longer. Enjoy your Sabbath day knowing it is a drop of a foretaste of what is to come. And it will come, and SOON!

theology

Prayers for Leadership: Christians Respond to Trump’s Faith Advisors

Posted on February 7, 2025February 7, 2025 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Televangelist Paula White and President Donald Trump on Feb. 6. *Photo by Schwartz/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images*

You’ve heard by now, probably, that President Trump is creating the White House Faith Office led by Paula White. He began the initiative in 2018. One of the people included in the inside of that initiative was Justin Dean, former communications officer for Driscoll’s Mars Hill church, which is also not a good sign-

Dean said on X,

“Trump started the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative. He would invite faith leaders to speak into policies and decisions, and sought out their opinions. This led to major prison reform, disaster aid for churches, adoption and foster care reform, and further protections for religious liberty, among others… most notably the appointment of common sense pro- life judges, and the decision on Roe v Wade.”

Good stuff. That is something to praise the Lord for.

The bad part is this: Dean continued, “This initiative included Paula White, Greg Laurie, Jentezen Franklin, Franklin Graham, and many others from all walks of faith and beliefs.”

All those people mentioned are false teachers. Dean continued,

“We have participated in almost monthly calls with political leaders, many times with President Trump joining the calls. He would ask for and listen to our advice, and let us pray over him. We met for many in-person gatherings”…

Good to know that they are so heavily involved, so we can be aware and pray against bad religious advice. We can also pray that the President is searching for truth and will eventually come to the true faith. The alternative is that the bad religious advice he’s receiving will be along the lines of the verse in Matthew 23:15,

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.”

Sadly, Dean then said this:

“Trump may not be the best example of a Christian leader, but he does respect and understand the importance of surrounding himself with Christian leaders, and he has proven over the years that he listens and has made many great actions based on their advice. This group has been more influential over his policies and decisions than you’ll ever realize.”

President Trump is not a Christian, nor are the others. It’s good to know, though, that he seems to understand and respect Christianity, such as he understands it. I am old enough to have seen many political leaders simply USING Christianity for their own gain. I don’t sense that here. Of course I am sad that the President’s soul-searching is leading him down this broad path. Perhaps the Lord has a course correction in mind later to the narrow road. I don’t know. The Lord knows.

It’s really no different than Obama being advised by false teacher Rick Warren, or most the the previous generation of Presidents being advised by Billy Graham, who was also false.

What true Christians can do, now that you know how deeply these wolves are involved in governing activities, is to pray for true shepherds to be allowed near the President.

My advice is this: I’ve seen a lot of shock and outrage and distress over Donald Trump’s choice of Paula White. Don’t be shocked. Don’t be distressed. Don’t be outraged. What else can we expect from a non-believer? Why are Christians surprised when non-saved people act like non-saved people? We know Trump is not a believer, so we shouldn’t expect him to act like one. He doesn’t know how to choose a righteous man to help him along the path of righteousness. He can do no less.

What we can pray for is that these wolves will at least even accidentally give the gospel to the President and for him to be saved. And, for him to continue works that align with God’s values, if not the faith, as in opposing abortion, major prison reform, disaster aid for churches, adoption and foster care reform, further protections for religious liberty and so on.

The Lord raised President Trump at this time to lead. He has His reasons. We should do like we always do, pray, watch, and pray some more.

encouragement, Uncategorized

The Beauty of Creation: God’s Gift of Color

Posted on February 5, 2025 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Genesis 1:1:

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth

When God created the earth, He could have made it colorless. He could have used only His brush strokes of black, or gray, or brown. The world could look like this:

Did you ever wonder why God graced us with a common grace of color? He has made the world beautiful in its time, says Ecclesiastes 3:11. This beauty includes the spectrum of colors which we enjoy in all its prettiness. I particularly enjoy colorful flowers.

The Bible has in it of course, references to colors. It doesn’t, however, really explain if colors of the tabernacle meant anything, if they individually had a symbolism. Other colors do have a symbolism. Here is Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary’s entry on color:

Color, Symbolic Meaning Of

Although the Bible contains relatively few references to individual colors, their symbolic associations are theologically significant. Colors usually symbolize redemptive and eschatological themes. The Bible is, however, silent on whether the colors used in the tabernacle, temple, and priestly garments held symbolic meaning.

Black signifies gloom, mourning, evil, judgment, and death (Lam 4:8; Micah 3:6; Zechariah 6:2 Zechariah 6:6; Revelation 6:5 Revelation 6:12). Its image is often one of dense, impenetrable darkness (Job 3:5; Isa 50:3). The terms “darkness” and “night” parallel this usage (Job 3:3-7; Joel 2:2; Zeph 1:15). Hell is the place of “blackest darkness” reserved for the godless (2 Peter 2:17; Jude 13).

The pale horse of Revelation 6:8 resembles the color of the terror-stricken and corpses (cf. Jer 30:6; Dan 10:8). The horse’s color matches the work of its rider. Its rider is called Death, who, with Hades, goes forth to kill a fourth of humankind.

An expensive dye, purple represents wealth and royalty (Judges 8:26; Est 8:15; Daniel 5:7, Daniel 5:16, Daniel 5:29; Luke 16:19); for this reason, idols were attired in purple (Jer 10:9). The purple dress of the harlot symbolized Roman imperial rank (Rev 17:4; Revelation 18:12, Revelation 18:16). Before his crucifixion, Jesus was robed in purple in mockery of him as “king of the Jews” (Mark 15:17, Mark 15:20; John 19:2, John 19:5; cf. Matt 27:28,; “scarlet robe”). Garments of purple suitably clothe a wife of noble character (Prov 31:22).

Red symbolizes blood. Israel’s sin as brilliant scarlet and deep-red crimson is analogous to the bloodstained hands of murderers (Isaiah 1:15 Isaiah 1:18). The images of red, blood-soaked garments of God as an avenging warrior (Isa 63:1-6) and the fiery red horse bringing slaughter through warfare (Zech 6:2; Rev 6:4) describe divine retribution against evildoers (see also Joel 2:31; Rev 6:12). The red color of the dragon (Rev 12:3) and beast (17:3) symbolizes the shedding of innocent blood (11:7; 16:6). The red heifer (Nu 19:1-10) and scarlet wool (Heb 9:19) symbolize the Old Testament means of purification through blood; the New Testament powerfully expresses the fullness of Christ’s atoning work through a contradictory color image: believers’ robes are washed pure white through the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 7:9 Revelation 7:13-14 ; 19:13-14).

White signifies purity and holiness. It depicts complete forgiveness of sin. David and Israel’s bloodguilt would be fully removed, leaving them whiter than snow/wool (Psalm 51:7; Isa 1:18). It represents the absolute moral purity of God (Da 7:9), Christ (Rev 1:14; Mark 9:3; pars.), angels (Mark 16:5 ; pars. Acts 1:10), and believers (Rev 2:17; 3:4-5; 4:4), and thus of the divine judgment of God (20:11) and Christ (14:14). It indicates the certainty of God’s conquest and victory over evil (Zechariah 6:3 Zechariah 6:6; Rev 6:2; 19:11).

H. Douglas Buckwalter, Bibliography. G. W. Thatcher, Hasting’s Dictionary of the Bible, 1:456-58; P. L. Garber, ISBE, 1:729-32; A. Brenner, Colour Terms in the Old Testament; “Color, ” BEB, 1:494-96.

Color is a common grace. Every person on the planet whether young or old, saved and acknowledging the creator or unsaved and worshiping the creation, enjoys the colors of this earth. Everyone can admire a sunset, colorful avian plumage, floral hues that delight the senses.

Theopedia defines common grace as

Common Grace refers to the grace of God that is common to all humankind. It is “common” because its benefits are experienced by the whole human race without distinction between one person and another, believers or unbelievers. It is “grace” because it is undeserved and sovereignly bestowed by God.

The Lord God created a world that is beautiful. Its beauty is enhanced by the colors He created for us (and Him!) to enjoy in our common grace. The painted desert, the lush tropics, the animals, insects, and fish in all their rich tones and hues are a joy. He didn’t have to but He did.

Thank you Lord!

theology

Should Christian Women Take Selfies?

Posted on February 3, 2025 by elizabethprata

by Elizabeth Prata

Lori Alexander The Transformed Wife of Twitter’s @godlywomanhood is the negative gift that keeps on giving. She is so prodigious in her errant output, there is a lot to choose from when I write an essay instructing sisters in discernment.

The genius of satan’s false teaching is that false teaching sounds good on the surface. It even has a grain of truth. If false teaching was overtly wrong, everyone could detect it. “The ocean is dry” is something that’s so patently false you know right away it’s wrong.

Satan is subtle and crafty (Genesis 3:1). It’s the first thing we learn about him.

Issue #1L KJV-Onlyism and word usage

Lori is a King James Onlyist. She agrees with her idol Michael Pearl who claims that only “the King James Bible is the word of God and not the other books“(source) and that all the other translations “are not really translations, they are not preservations of the word of God, they are modern renderings which involve somewhat the imagination of the authors. They are all done for the sake of selling something.” (Source). So, that is the first error from Lori, to reject all other translations. She does not have a handle on how or why Bible translations are done. Some translations are better than others, but to reject out of hand the NASB, LSB, ESV, NKJV and other good translations as not the word of God is a mistake.

Resource: What is the King James Only movement?

The other day Lori posted the following on X (formerly Twitter):

OK, good food for thought, right? Partly, yes. I mean, for one, it is an issue that Lori neglected to include a verse and just stated her opinion. On the other hand, selfie culture is self-absorbed. I mean, it’s right in the name. It makes you think, is taking selfies something God would be displeased with?

But I mention the King James issue for a reason. The language in that particular version is archaic, which means, some of the words have shifted meaning. Words are living, organic. I love certain verses better in the KJV myself, but I have no illusions that it is the ONLY translation worthy of including in the cadre of translations.

For example, in 2 Timothy 3:3 in the King James version we read that in the latter days, people will be “Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,“

The word incontinent is a late Middle English word. It meant a person who is unable to exercise self-control or restraint. Nowadays it means an inability to control the flow of urine from the bladder. The chart displays its common usage over time, which has declined.

The verse Lori alluded to when she wrote shamefaced is 1 Timothy 2:9. I use the NASB and LSB. The link takes you to a page with ALL the translations.

KJV: In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

The word ‘broided’ is not a typo. It is defined as to decorate with needlework or embroidery. We don’t use that word much anymore either. The KJV was completed in 1611. Words have shifted meaning in 400 years. If anyone doubts this, read Shakespeare.

Comparing to the NASB: Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive apparel,

“shamefaced” literally in the Greek means “modestly”. In fact, prior to the KJV that Lori loves so much, the word was translated shamefastness. You see the archaic language and the fact that words change. Using a synonym modestly for shamefaced is perfectly fine, and easier for modern readers to understand.

Issue #2, Basing your Christianity on just 2 verses

Secondly, Lori’s insistence on teaching ONLY from the verse in Titus 2:3-5 means she often takes verses out of context. The verse to which she alludes (but doesn’t name) in her post involves the comportment of women in public worship, not taking photos of themselves in other life venues.

Barnes’ Notes explains: The world, as God has made it, is full of beauty, and he has shown in each flower that he is not opposed to true ornament. There are multitudes of things which, so far as we can see, appear to be designed for mere ornament, or are made merely because they are beautiful. Religion does not forbid true adorning. It differs from the world only on the question what “is” true ornament…

However, the concept of self in photographs is one that we should look into. Rather than misusing a verse, rather than taking a half of a verse out of context, rather than using an allusion to a verse as one’s own opinion, let’s take a look at the idea behind Lori’s comment.

Issue #3: Selfie culture can be dangerous

Should we be taking selfies? Is it indicative of an untoward self-absorption as a Christian woman?

GotQuestions takes on the issue in this essay What does the Bible say that would apply to selfie culture?

“A “selfie culture” is one in which people take a lot of selfies, of course. But, for the purposes of this article, we will further define a selfie culture as a widespread obsession with self-expression, self-esteem, and self-promotion, evidenced by the proliferation of self-portraits on social media. The Bible was written before the advent of camera phones, but God’s Word still has plenty to say about one’s view of self. While there is nothing inherently wrong with taking a selfie and sharing it with others, selfie culture, as defined above, is steeped in narcissism.”

A woman can decide for herself if she wants to take a photo of herself.

If a woman is consumed with self and posting obsessively all kinds of pictures of herself, then yes, there is a self-absorption issue and she needs to repent.

God’s commands to women are many. ONE is to be modest. Others are to serve others, to be selfless, to take care of her family, and so on. Taking a selfie now and then does not violate God’s commands for women. I mean, obviously not, else Lori herself would be violating God’s commands for her nearly daily selfie videos, right?

Ladies, watch out for the craftiness of false doctrine. It sounds good at first, but like a candy coated cyanide treat, it will eventually kill you. Look carefully before consuming.

theology

Jen Wilkin is so gone (and what is the ‘ordo amoris’ anyway?)

Posted on February 1, 2025March 15, 2025 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Today on X (formerly Twitter), a theologian noted that Jen Wilkin made a nonsensical statement by twisting a biblical concept while on a Q&A Panel. He said,

I’ll have three points here:
1. In general, avoid Jen Wilkin,
2. Specifically, explaining the error of her statement that was posted yesterday,
3. Explaining what the ordo amoris is.

1. In general, avoid Jen Wilkin

I have written about Jen Wilkin several times here on my blog, once positively (long ago!) and then always negatively. Jen is a teacher and preacher out of Matt Chandler’s church, The Village Church in Flower Mound, TX. She has been the Director of Curriculum, she has been teaching pastors & missionaries, and she preaches as a guest in other churches. Of course, the Bible says a woman may not preach or teach men in the church. (1 Timothy 2:11-12). It is disgraceful for her to do so. (1 Corinthians 33-35).

She is an egalitarian, feminist, rebel, Bible twister, unhumble, unteachable, and in general, one to be avoided. She is false. Resources supporting my claims will be provided below.

2. Specifically, explaining why her statement today is error

The entire video from which this short clip is taken is available on Youtube. It is from a Gospel Coalition series titled Good Faith Debates, and the debate was “Should Christians Send their Children to Public School?” Wilkin’s stance is pro-public school. She believes in the “public school ideal” and thinks that Christian children, even kindergarteners, should be in public schools to be a witness and to be engaged in society. So that is her overall stance.

In this specific short clip Jen said, “The most common phrase I hear thrown out in these conversations is ‘well I just need to do what’s best for my family.’ I think that’s something that as Christians we have to push back on. Philippians tells us each of you should look not just to your own interest but to the interests of others.“

Something that dishonest debaters do is to make a generalization. Here, Jen said ‘conversations I’ve heard’. Normally, people have conversations with people who think and believe the same as they do. If she has heard conversations of people saying that 5 year olds need to be active witnesses in public school then I am positive this is a biased view of the situation. It’s also too narrow. Her statement is not based on wide-ranging, unbiased fact. Or the Bible in context.

Secondly, another dishonest debating trick is to restate the question as an either-or. She split what should not be split. Here, Jen subtly poses the question as ‘Christians either ONLY do what’s best for their family’ (and by implication, no one else). She makes it seem as if Christians in this debate are only concerned with their own family and are ignoring the needs of the rest of the world.

No one in their right mind is going to ‘push back on’ having a primary view of doing for one’s family. No one. In addition, most Christians are concerned with the needs of others. Philanthropy is alive and well among the brethren.

3. What is the ‘Ordo Amoris’?

The term originates from Augustine, if not the concept from the Bible. He wrote about it in the City of God. We know that we are supposed to love the right things; holiness, our spouse, His word, our neighbor, His name (Psalm 5:11), and so on. We also are not supposed to love certain things- we are not supposed to love violence Psalm 11:5, or worthless things (Psalm 119:37).

But in addition to knowing what to love, we are supposed to love in the right order. That’s where ordo comes from, it’s a Latin word. So is amoris. We love pizza, we love our football team, we love our home, our children, our spouse, Jesus. Not all of those loves are measured with the same weight. We don’t even love all the people in our lives the same amount.

“For whatever reason, Jesus had His Peter, James, and John, and He had His twelve, and He had His seventy. And so there are these concentric circles of intimacy, it seems, that mattered to Him.” ~John MacArthur

We love our family first, the nuclear family is the first priority. Our deep love and care goes to the people living under our roof. That is found in 1 Timothy 5:8. “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.“

It doesn’t say not to provide for anyone else except your family, it says to be kind to all, but especially one’s family, indicating a hierarchy. There are circles of responsibility. As pastor John Michael LaRue said on X,

“To add to this, Paul’s recognition in 1 Corinthians 7:33-34 of the divided interest of the married man undergirds the reality that the husband and father has responsibilities of protection and care for his wife and children that a single man does not have.“

Then a close second in love are extended family members, then our neighbors, then love our community, then our country, and then consider the interests of the rest of the world. Of course these can overlap and even shift. The concentric circles are not in stone.

Galatians 6:10 says “So then, while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith“, again indicating a concentric circle of mindfulness when considering to whom we donate. Jesus said to love your neighbor and defined it as, well, anyone in whose proximity we can share God’s love with.

My view on this ordo amoris discussion is, I trust true Christians to do and to give wisely based on their good decisions, true Christians who are making unwise decisions will be dealt with by Jesus (not me), and if they are not true Christians, then when they face Jesus they will have worse things to worry about than who or what to whom they gave donations.

In an essay about the ordo amoris, not specifically commenting about Jen Wilkin’s either-or statement, Owen Strachan said not to be “confused by silly dichotomies. You can love your natural family AND love the global body of Christ AND seek the salvation of the lost among the nations.”

The point is to use wisely the means (money, expertise, energy) Jesus has given us. Being a wise shepherd means making wise decisions about how to deploy what Jesus has gifted us with. After settling one’s obligations for the month, there may be discretionary money to use to fulfill others’ needs. Even if there is no money leftover we can use our energy, time, expertise to help fulfill others’ needs. As Christians we DO help with needs, as Christians we do so wisely.

Conclusion

False teachers abound, and Jen Wilkin is one of them. False teachers use deceptive language to divide the brethren, to confuse them, and to advance their evil agenda. Third, the ordo amoris is just a fancy phrase for being wise in providing for the people in your circles and extending outward with care and attention, founded by prayer and biblical principles.

Further Resources

Samuel Sey at Slow to Write: Is JD Vance’s ordered love biblical?

John MacArthur essay “Authentic Love“

JC Ryle essay: Christian Love

Jen Wilkin discernment article: If I ever meet him I’ll probably sock him in the face

Jen Wilkin discernment article: Boundary stones and slippery slopes

Cut to the chase, a shorter discernment article on Jen Wilkin