UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES: 2004/04
Print Version
E-mail This Article
Leave CommentUNDERSTANDING THE TIMES
The Newsletter of Contend for the Faith, Inc
1 Chronicles 12:32
April 2004
ITS DEBATABLE
Sometimes it is difficult to gauge in a practical way the impact of teaching sound doctrine. But other times it becomes very clear what difference good teaching can make. I was tremendously blessed recently to find out the results of some of my ministry labor.
Holly is a college student at UNC Charlotte. In one of her classes the students were given the task of debating important issues of our day. Holly and two friends were given the topic of “gay marriage,” arguing in opposition to it because they were probably the only students in the class who were against it.
Holly had attended a series of classes I had taught at a local church, so she contacted me to get some help for the debate. She knew she was firmly against the idea of “gay marriage” and knew that homosexuality is condemned by the Bible, but she wanted to be able to argue against it in a way that would be persuasive to her fellow students. She figured simply quoting Scripture would have little impact on her very secular classmates.
I sent her some material and spent time on the phone with her going over the arguments from the other side, giving her good responses to their specious claims. I also gave her some ways she could challenge the beliefs of her opponents so that they would be forced into trying to defend indefensible positions.
She sent me the following note to let me know how the debate went:
"Wow!
God used this unworthy vessel to present the truth in both an effective and educated fashion. The other two debate members on my side were almost completely silent except for the comment, “I just think that marriage is a man and a woman,” which didn't really say much.
People need to hear proof, validation, and logical reasons for understanding the destructive-ness of homosexual activity. Your material was awesome! It was exactly what I needed.
I used the argument about bisexual marriage, and that was effective. I also used the argument that desire doesn’t justify behavior (pedophilia and gay-bashing) – also effective!
One great comment that I made was in response to a girl who said, “why doesn't everyone in class now put ourselves in their shoes; let's say that we are all heterosexual, yet that is the minority and homosexual activity is the norm as it is and we want to be accepted as normal and equal to homosexuals.” I simply said, “If what you are saying is that the norm was homosexuality, there would be no classroom to discuss. We all know that homosexual activity does not lead to procreation.” At that the whole class agreed and it kind of clicked that there has got to be some sort of way that marriage and family was intended to work.
Overall I feel that I represented God in standing up for what He tells us is right and wrong out of a loving heart. But perhaps the statement that hit home [the most] with many of my classmates was, if marriage can mean anything (man-man, woman-woman, man-child, woman-dog . . . the list could be endless) then marriage means nothing. And isn't our society, our government, our very own communities based on the family unit? We must protect the family, because if not . . . within a few generations our society will collapse from within.
Thanks so much for all that you have done to prepare me for this debate and for future conversations dealing with this hot topic. May God bless your family as you educate others to contend for the faith.
His Wholeheartedly, Holly"
What a joy to be used by the Lord to help someone stand for His truth in a hostile environment! We need thousands more Hollys on college campuses and in businesses to speak the truth in love and contend for the faith.
SPEAKING SCHEDULE 2004
May 2
Evening Service, Sardis Baptist Church, 6:00 pm http://www.sardisbaptist.com/home.html
UNDERSTANDING WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST
Millions of people have now seen Mel Gibson’s movie The Passion of the Christ. This film has ignited a huge debate about who is really responsible for the death of Jesus.
Some Jewish critics have said the movie blames the Jews for the death of Christ, and consequently they fear it will lead to anti-Semitism. Mel Gibson has responded that humanity is responsible for Jesus’ death. Still others point out that the Romans performed the execution, so blame them. So who is right?
The answer is, all of them.
“Who is responsible?” is a short question, but the answer is long.
The Bible lists several individuals and groups as being responsible for the death of Jesus. Let’s take a brief look at each one.
Judas. It is clear from Scripture that Judas was paid by the chief priests to betray Christ (Matt. 26:14-16, 47-50). For thirty pieces of silver he betrayed the only truly innocent man who ever lived.
Satan. The devil played a part in the death of Jesus. Luke 22:3-6 tells us that Satan entered Judas before he took his bribe from the priests. When He cursed the serpent for his part in the Fall of man, the Lord foretold that Satan would have a hand in the wounding of the Messiah: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Gen. 3:15).
Annas and Caiaphas. Caiaphas, the high priest that year, and Annas, his father-in-law, were both in part responsible for the death of Christ. After Jesus was captured in Gethsemane, He was first taken to Annas (John 18:12-24) who then sent Him to Caiaphas for trial (Matt. 26:57-65). Caiaphas had earlier prophesied that Jesus would die for the people (John 11:49-53).
Pilate. Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor over Judea. Jesus was brought to Pilate to be judged and punished because the Jews were forbidden to carry out executions. Yet Pilate found no fault in Jesus and sought to let Him go, but the Jews forced his hand by saying that if he let Jesus go, he was no friend of Caesar (John 18:28-40, 19:1-16). Without Pilate’s approval, Jesus could not have been crucified. No matter how reluctant he was to do so, Pilate gave the orders that sent Jesus to scourging and death (Matt. 27:26; Luke 23:13-25).
The Jewish leaders. Many other Jewish leaders besides the high priest were to blame for delivering Jesus to Pilate. “Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him” (Matt. 26:3-4; cf Matt. 27:1). When Pilate would have released Jesus as a show of good will for the Passover, “the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus” (Matt. 27:14).
The Jewish crowd. At the instigation of the Jewish leaders, the crowd called for Jesus to be crucified (Matt. 27:20-24). In one of the most chilling statements in Scripture, the Jewish crowd declared to Pilate, “His blood be on us and on our children” (Matt. 27:25). Now this does not mean that the Jewish people, as a nation, are forever condemned for causing the death of Christ, as some have mistakenly asserted. The Jews who were there calling for His blood were responsible, and yet forgiveness and salvation were available to them through the very death they were calling for. On the day of Pentecost, when Peter gave his first great sermon to thousands of “men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem” (Acts 2:14), no doubt many in that crowd had demanded the crucifixion, yet 3000 people repented of their sins and trusted in Christ (Acts 2:36-41).
The Roman soldiers. These soldiers were the instrumental cause of Jesus’ death, as they were the professional executioners who carried out Pilate’s orders (Matt. 27:27-36; John 19:1-37).
All sinners. Mel Gibson is right when he says that all humanity is responsible for the death of Jesus. The writer of Hebrews says, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone” (Heb. 2:9). God so loved the world (cosmos) that He sent His Son to die for it (John 3:16).
God the Father. It may be surprising for some to realize it, but the primary cause of the death of God the Son was God the Father. Isaiah 53 is one of the clearest prophecies of the Messiah and His work in the Hebrew Scriptures, and it explains the Father’s role in the Son’s death: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Is. 53:6). “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When you make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand” (Is. 53:10). The Father’s plan is the means by which His righteousness is made available to us (2 Cor. 5:21).
God the Son. Last, but by no means least, Jesus is responsible for His own death. He willingly laid His life down for sinful man in order that all who trust in Him would be saved. “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again” (John 10:17-18). If Christ had not consented to die, no man could have killed Him (Matt. 26:53). Jesus told us what His purpose was in coming to earth: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45; cf 1 Tim. 2:5-6 and Titus 2:14).
