Why the Resurrection Matters
I have believed for many years that the most important week in world history is Holy Week–the seven day period when Jesus of Nazareth arrived to fanfare in Jerusalem, died on a Roman cross of torture, and three days later was raised to life.
Of those seven days, Good Friday stands as the centerpiece–the day God substituted the death of His own Son in the place of humanity’s sin to bring forgiveness to all who believe. Good Friday was a day of atonement–a “covering” of our rebellion by the agonizing love of God.
Recently I’ve been thinking more about the Resurrection. It wasn’t the day of redemption. It didn’t have anything to do forgiving our sins.
But the Resurrection matters.
Deeply.
Here’s why.
The two most widely read articles I’ve written over the past few years describe the uniqueness of Jesus Christ and his unparalleled impact on world history. If you want some inspirational thoughts this week, here’s where you can find them.
The Uniqueness of Jesus Christ.
How Easter Changed the World–and Can Do It Again.
Yet, the Resurrection of Jesus confused me for a while because I kept finding Scriptures that indicated that Jesus was the first to rise from the dead (Acts 26:23). The idea was that because he was first, then the rest of us would follow. He was the first-fruits of a general resurrection of both the redeemed and unredeemed (1 Corinthians 15:20).
But I also knew that, in one sense, Jesus was not the first person to come back to life. Elijah performed that miracle on a young boy in the Old Testament (1 Kings 17:17-24) and his prophetic heir, Elisha, did the same thing (2 Kings 4:18-37).
I assume there were others.
In the New Testament, we have at least two stories of Jesus Himself resurrecting people. First was the young man in Nain who got up off his burial bed when Jesus gave the command (Luke 7:11-17). Even more impressive was the resurrection of Lazarus (John 11:1-44). He’d been in a tomb for four days and it was presumed that he was well rotted and the stench would be terrible (John 11:39).
But Jesus shouted for Lazarus to “Come Forth” out of the tomb (John 11:43). Apparently, whatever had been decayed was made whole, his spirit returned, and he walked out of the cave still wrapped in grave clothers.
So it’s pretty clear from both Old and New Testaments that, in the sense of those stories, Jesus was definitely not the first human being to be brought back to life (resusitated or resurrected).
So what makes his resurrection on Easter Sunday “first” or important?
Let’s go a little deeper.
Jesus was the first resurrected person that never had to die again. His resurrection was permanent, eternal. All others who experienced resurrection ended up dying once more. The young boy in Nain lived out his life and then died gain. Lazarus enjoyed more years with Mary and Martha, but then passed away a second time.
Jesus rose never to die again. It even appears that He was given a different body that could pass through walls (Luke 24:36), appeared different to the disciples (Luke 24:16), and ascended into heaven (Luke 24:51). His resurrection body seemed to be made from “different stuff” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).
That resurrection–the first of its kind–signaled a change in the eternal order of things. From now on, those who put their trust in God’s atonement and were born again by his Spirit would join his permanent resurrection when they passed from this life.
Those who believed in Him “would never die” (John 11:25). Just like Jesus, we will be raised to a permanent resurrection.
But there’s one more reason for the greatness of the Resurrection:
It was the final PROOF that Jesus was God, not man, and that His promises are true.
Other people have sacrificed their lives. Some people have claimed to know God or be the way to God. But only ONE backed up that claim by rising from the dead.
Jesus Christ.
There is no other.
Let the remarkable words of Scripture speak for themselves:
“Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.”
“But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he is risen as he said. Come see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead, and indeed he is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold I have told you.’”
“So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold Jesus met them saying, ‘Rejoice!’ So they came and held him by the feet and worshipped Him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. God and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.’”
“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw him, they worshipped Him; but some doubted.”
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and makes disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’”
(Matthew 28:1-10, 6-20).
Jesus Christ, the wondrously unique God/man, died for the sins for the world and rose from the dead to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt he was more than a human being. Resurrection served as the final witness in his trial for credibility.
Josh McDowell devotes eighty-five pages of his classic work, Evidence That Demands a Verdict, to the historical, logical and literary proofs for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His risen life remains one of the most provable events of ancient times.
He points out that human beings living since the death and resurrection of Jesus are faced with only three choices relating to the Son of God. Either he was a lunatic who made crazy claims—a liar who has deceived billions—or the Lord of life that he claimed to be.
Number three is the most logical choice.
G.B. Hardy exclaims: “Here is the record. Confucius tomb – occupied. Buddha’s tomb – occupied. Mohammed’s tomb – occupied. Jesus’ tomb — EMPTY. The decision is yours to make; the evidence speaks for itself. It says very clearly—Christ is risen indeed!”
The proof is in. Once for all sacrifice for sin. Permanent first resurrection. Those who believe follow.
Happy Easter.
Rejoice!
Neil Gorsuch and the Spirit of Lawlessness
This month in my morning devotions I finished reading the book of Deuteronomy. Eugene Peterson calls it the world’s longest sermon by the world’s oldest preacher.
I love Deuteronomy because it clearly lays out the landscape of the moral world. This fifth book of Moses is really an “Instruction Manual for Wise Living” from ancient times. The main idea is still relevant. When we love God and obey his commands, great blessings flow. But when we turn away from God’s blueprints for living, all hell can break loose because right and wrong have consequences.
By Friday the US Senate will confirm Neil Gorsuch as an associate justice on the United States Supreme Court. Gorsuch probably shares my opinion on Deuteronomy. It was the most widely quoted book during the Constitutional Convention.
Neil Gorsuch is a Constitutionalist.
Will God use his appointment to help stop the tide of lawlessness in our nation?
The Bible is pretty clear that in the last days, (prior to Christ’s Return), lawlessness will increase. People won’t obey God’s laws for living and will cut themselves loose from his commands.
Notice the Apostle Paul’s prophetic words in two New Testament passages:
“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
“For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:7-10).
To highlight a few items:
- The first list of “bad behavior” comes from loving self and pleasure instead of loving God i.e. turning away from his standards.
- This involves a breakdown of “self control” including family disintegration.
- All these ugly and selfish actions come from a spirit of lawlessness.
- The ultimate immoral mind behind the lawless one (Anti-Christ) is Satan.
- Many folks will be deceived by the lawless spirit and reject God’s truth and salvation.
Sounds pretty bad to me. Lawlessness brings disobedience, godlessness and chaos. This philosophy comes from the pit of hell where Satan and his demons try to add human beings to their rebellion.
They operate out of a spirit (mind-set) of lawlessness.
On the other side, godly people love the order and beauty of law (Psalm 119). They know that societies that love, respect, and keep good laws are more peaceful and blessed.
Which brings us to the present. Have you noticed the growth of lawlessness in the Western World (Judeo-Christian based culture) in the past six decades? Do you lament the acceleration of that spirit of lawlessness in the past few years?
Here’s a brief overview of the growth in lawlessness (20th century):
1. The 1960s saw a wholesale revulsion of God’s precepts when millions of teenagers rejected their parents’ authority and moral standards and began to rebel, smoke dope, and sleep around. I know because I was there. It was a time of casting off inner restraints (self control) for pleasure -oriented hedonism.
2. In subsequent decades we tossed the Bible and prayer out of the public schools and even decided we would re-define murder to exclude killing your own baby (abortion). Lawless people changed God’s laws to cover up their rebellion and sin.
3. During this same period, we threw away God’s laws on debt and sound money–running up a staggering twenty trillion dollars in government IOUs (plus trillions more in personal debt). I noticed reading Deuteronomy that when you obey God’s principles, you become the lender, not the borrower (Deuteronomy 15:6). In two generations the United States went from being the world’s largest lender (think the Marshall Plan), to become the world’s greatest debtor. Tragic.
4. An incredible breakdown of the American family highlights the past few decades of lawlessness. The American two-parent home was once the bedrock of our society. Today, nearly 40% of American children have been ripped away from father or mother, and in some cities, single-parent homes are up to 70%. We’ve forgotten the good laws make families stable and great.
5. Did you notice that from 1960 to today we lost most of our wars–Korean, Vietnam, and now conflicts in the Middle East? Deuteronomy details that consequence of lawlessness: “The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will come at them from one direction but flee from them in seven, and you will become a thing of horror to all the kingdoms on earth” (Deuteronomy 28:25).
Now let’s examine the 21st century acceleration of the lawless spirit:
1. The Obama Administration greatly advanced the rejection of biblical laws and mores by re-defining marriage, promoting gender confusion, and using the US presidency to govern by fiat. In eight years, the US Congress passed no budgets (a Harry Reed tactic). They simply operated by Continuing Resolutions that bypassed Congress and doubled the national debt in eight years.
7. Groups like Black Lives Matter, emboldened by the Justice Department, started a lawless war against police in large American cities. Dozens of cops have been mowed down during this season of anarchy. Occupy Wall Street made violent protest normal across the land.
8. Both in Europe and America, politicians laughed at sovereignty laws and proclaimed lawless “Open Borders” for many immigrants. Some European cities are powder kegs of rape and Muslim terrorism. In the United States, millions of illegal criminals are welcome in “Sanctuary Cities” in direct violation of federal law. We even changed the wording from “illegal aliens” to “undocumented workers.” Clever and lawless. Signs at many rallies say that “No One is Illegal.” Really?
9. A large scandal envelops our national security agencies as documents leak, intelligence laws loosen, and recent evidence points to one administration using the powers of government to collect information on their political opponents. This is unheard of lawlessness in American high places.
10. The Democratic Party knows it can’t win with its ideas at the ballot box (losing 1200 seats nationwide in eight years), so it resorts to pushing its agenda through the courts. Harry Reid changed 200 years of Senate protocol in 2013 by eliminating a 60 vote norm for approving federal justices. He did so to allow the Obama administration to pack the federal courts with lawless judges–those who do not respect the Constitution. They want to force a lawless secular agenda upon the people of the US.
We arrived at the 2016 election with a lawless spirit exploding on many fronts. Though Donald Trump was an unusual candidate, millions of Americans realized he needed their vote to help reverse the tide of lawlessness.
A major battlefield? The US Supreme Court.
Constitutionalist (lover of law) Antonin Scalia had died suddenly. The Court was grid-locked with four anti-law justices (Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan) along with four generally law-respecting jurists (Kennedy, Thomas, Alito and Roberts).
The American people realized that generations of lawlessness–and maybe disaster–could sweep the United States if Hillary Clinton won and nominated another lawless judge. And then another. And maybe another.
America might not survive a lawlessly tilted Supreme Court.
So people turned out en masse to vote. One of the goals was to elect a president who would appoint a law-loving judge who could put his finger in the crumbling dike of American law and culture and help stop the explosion.
Donald Trump did the right thing and appointed Neil Gorsuch.
The Democrats are now screaming against an eminently qualified judge while threatening to filibuster a US Supreme Court nominee for the first time in history. They know that the only way governmental lawlessness can continue unabated is through SCOTUS overriding the will of the people.
But they won’t prevail on this one. Neil Gorsuch will win confirmation.
Here’s Gorsuch’s view of the law:
“I respect, too, the fact that in our legal order it is for Congress and not the courts to write new laws. It is the role of judges to apply, not alter, the work of the people’s representatives.”
“Standing here in a house of history, and acutely aware of my own imperfections, I pledge that if I am confirmed I will do all my powers permit to be a faithful servant of the Constitution and laws of this great country.”
I believe Neil Gorsuch will do his part.
Will you do yours to combat the spirit of lawlessness?
Healthcare: If At First You Don’t Succeed…
I watched with great concern as the proposed repeal and replacement of Obamacare went down in flames last week. It was a sad day for all Americans. An imploding, top-heavy healthcare system still hangs around our individual necks like a surgical noose.
I went back and forth about the merits of the Ryan bill. On one hand, I thought it might be a good first step forward (though not great) and give President Trump a win and some momentum. On the other hand, I knew there was a better way that many were championing with their “no” votes.
Then the bill was pulled and we careened back to this truth:
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
Here are my thoughts and gradebook on the most recent healthcare debacle.
It’s easy for me to think of grades right now because of teaching at Faith International University. Besides my YWAM projects and responsibilities, this Spring Quarter I will be teaching fourteen courses at FIU (most on-line) and grading papers most days.
Right now I live in the land of A through F–so let’s apply those letters to the various players in the healthcare saga. Before we go there and suggest the way ahead, I’d like to analyze why the American healthcare system debate is important. I will do it in question and answer form to make the ideas clearer.
1. Why is healthcare such an important issue in today’s world?
The main answer is the cost due to advances in modern medicine. MM keeps us alive with antibiotics, prolongs our lifespan through major surgeries, and even extends quality of life via cancer treatments and the like. All of the these medicines and procedures cost large sums of money to research, develop and provide.
The benefits and costs of medical care were not an issue prior to 1900. Before the 20th century you simply lived, fought various diseases in natural or primitive ways, and died. Today there are vast (and often expensive) ways to extend both quantity and quality of life.
My wife recently had major female surgery from which she has received a great outcome. Even with the bloated costs of care that exist in today’s system, her surgery cost thousands of dollars that we wouldn’t have been able to pay without insurance.
One more reason for healthcare’s importance: It amounts to nearly one-fifth of the American economy. Getting it right or wrong affects literally trillions of dollars.
2. Why is there such a rift between Democrats and Republicans on healthcare?
It’s the great American divide–between the secular view of life and the biblical one. The secular Democrats believe that government is the answer to most problems (a God substitute). They don’t care about people’s behavior or the cost of things. In the name of compassion (whether honest or pretended), they want all citizens to be taken care of–with the government in charge.
Republicans hold to the traditional Judeo-Christian view that individual responsibility (under God), free markets, and church-centered compassion make for the best combination of health care in society. They believe this view retards bad behavior, gives everyone a sense of stewardship, encourages good works and philanthropy and lowers costs through competition.
3. Why did Obamacare (ACA) pass eight years ago and the AHCA fail?
Obamacare wasn’t easy to ram through Congress (it was a 2700 page bill), but at the time, the Dems controlled all branches of government including the critical 60 votes needed in the Senate. Democrats are also more united in their secular philosophy (liberalism/progressivism) than the Republicans. They are a small tent party–either be Far Left or get out! Do you know of many national Democrats who are moderates or conservatives?
Republicans are the Big Tent party of the 21st century. Their roots are in conservative (biblical) philosophy of government (Freedom Caucus and others), but they possess a strong moderate faction (Paul Ryan, John McCain, Lindsey Graham etc.) and even some liberals (e.g. Susan Collins and Linda Murkowski). In 2017, they don’t hold a 60 vote margin in the Senate. This makes their task much more difficult–a harder needle to thread.
Plus, they’re not used to governing (they have a lot to learn) and, as mentioned above, aren’t as united as the Dems.
4. Why did the Republicans keep many governmental aspects in the AHCA bill and not vote on a free market solution?
This is one of the “dirty little secrets” of the health care debate. Republicans know (and Dems depend on the fact) that a sizable portion of 21st century Americans like free stuff. The American populace is so addicted to government hand-outs and re-distribution of wealth that it is very difficult for the Republicans to rescind Obamacare. That’s why the moderates clung to Medicaid expansion and defected. They knew some of their constituents have Democrat appetites for government aid.
5. Did this dependency make Obamacare easier to pass?
Yes. Another dirty little secret is that Obamacare was really a 10 million person expansion of Medicaid— expanding the definition of poverty to anybody with an irresponsible lifestyle including drug users and indigent folks–while making everybody else pay for them. It was a step toward fully socialized medicine or single payer insurance (government controlled).
I learned about single payer when I had hip surgery a few years ago. One of my fellow patients, from Canada, had been a chain smoker. The government paid $250,000 for lung transplant surgery (which was his fault), which then impacted his hips (his body reacting to anti-rejection drugs). They paid for that too ($30,000). Quite a gravy train with no personal responsibility.
Single payer takes from the responsible and gives to the irresponsible. I believe in caring for the truly needy, but not subsidizing poor choices.
So what are the grades for last week? (from good to worst):
1. Freedom loving, responsible Americans = A for praying and caring about their health.
2. President Trump = A- (half a grade off for naively trusting House leaders). Beyond that, he did a yeoman’s job of listening and negoiating with everybody. In fact, it was refreshing to see our government at work again.
3. Freedom Caucus = A on first two weeks (holding out for a good bill) and a C in the last week (loyalty to the party). Average = B. These House members must learn to be principled team players.
4. Paul Ryan & Allies = B for effort but D for delivery (should have gotten consensus beforehand). This reverts to a C.
5. Barack Obama and Dem Party = D- (will give half a grade for “compassion” but terrible policy). Plus, not one of them would have voted for this better bill.
6. Justice John Roberts = D- for horrible Supreme Court verdict (he should have stopped this mess).
7. And “F” to the demonic forces who are behind destroying America though inspiring irresponsible behavior, economic collapse, and bad leadership. Don’t forget the unseen realm. They are our true enemy.
What’s a solution going forward?
Here’s the simplest idea.
Rescind Obamacare with one sentence, then immediately replace with the free market. Just like every other industry where prices have gone down, create more quality, competition and lower prices. (Here’s a good freedom-oriented proposal from the Heritage Foundation.)
- Make the 90% of able-bodied Americans buy anything they want or can afford. Let all policies be sold nation-wide and let all manner of associations pool their resources (to drive down costs).
- Make the poor and indigent have some skin in the game (small co-pays etc.) If you don’t pay, you won’t care about how you live.
- Let Medicaid be a state-based safety net solely for the diligent poor.
Bryan Fischer agrees:
“The solution to Obamacare is not to make it worse and grant it the government equivalent of eternal life. No, it is to get government out the health insurance business altogether and let insurance companies develop whatever plans Americans want and compete with each other for their insurance dollars. This will instantly lower costs and increase accessibility, which is the goal.”
“Overnight, policies will be crafted that will make health insurance accessible to everyone and affordable for every budget. Folks with limited incomes will be able to buy low-premium, high deductible plans that will protect them in cases of unforeseen but expensive health incidents like cancer.”
“What about those who still wind up with a stiff deductible and a large health care bill even with insurance? Well, that’s what families, friends, churches and charities are for. Christian America is the most spectacularly generous nation on earth and they will step up.”
I agree.
So, Congressional leaders, get back to work with perseverance and wisdom. We’re praying for and standing with you.
If at first you don’t succeed, then try, try again.