by Tim Hall

(Just in time for Super Bowl Sunday . . .)

Across my desk each week flow several different bulletins from churches across the country. I occasionally get good ideas or information from them, so I take a moment or two to scan each of them. Some time back, I opened one to find that the inside had been copied upside down. It was really a minor thing, and easily corrected.

A few days before that, another item came to my attention that I would also call upside down. This one will not be so easily corrected. The quote: "Farmers who grow the wheat used in Wheaties cereal get only half as much money as Tiger Woods receives from the boxes that carry his picture" (Current Thoughts and Trends, June 2001). Let me get this straight: General Mills pays more to have a photo on the Wheaties cereal boxes than for all the wheat that goes into the boxes' contents? Incredible!

It's all about marketing, of course. You may have a superior product, but if no one knows about it, you'll never get rich. One way to get people's attention is by using celebrities to advertise your product. Wheaties has done this with sports heroes for decades.

But this quote also says something about the values of Americans. One man who plays a game better than anyone else can make more money than hundreds of men and women who provide much more fundamental service to our country. And it's not just farmers. There are many professions that are significantly undervalued: Police officers, teachers, firefighters, nurses, (preachers?), etc. Yet where would our society be without any one of these groups?

Do we value the things that matter most? That's a good question for Christians to think about. In our society, there are so many things that call out for our attention. Many of those things are not evil -- they're good in and of themselves. But have we neglected the things that are most important by fixing our attention on things of lesser value?

"For my people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water" (Jeremiah 2:13, New King James Version). Nothing -- absolutely nothing -- is more important than our relationship with God. We must make sure we never neglect time with Him because we are too busy with more trivial pursuits. Being right with our Lord will keep life from becoming upside down!

by Greg A. Tidwell

It has been thirty years now; thirty years of unrestrained killing, thirty years since abortion became lawful throughout the United States.

Faithful Christians should consider three points in evaluating the enormity of this situation:

1. God Champions the Helpless

The Lord reveals Himself in Scripture as an advocate of the weak and oppressed; the champion of innocent victims. The application of this truth to the abortion debate is obvious. Whatever injustices and inequities exist in life, the unborn child is not to blame and has no means to protect himself or herself from the violence of abortion.

2. Responsible Actions Have Consequences

While "hard cases" are often put forward to shield the true atrocity of abortion from being clearly discussed, most abortions have nothing to do with rape, incest or the physical health of the mother. Most abortions are simply an alternative method of birth control. The abortion crisis is a devastation growing from a society bent on self-gratification. Christians, who are called to deny themselves in serving God and others, must oppose indulgence which destroys responsible choices.

3. Life is Sacred

The Bible is clear. God fashioned man from the dust of the ground. Humanity is the result of special creation, not merely evolution from animals. Human life is different from animal or plant life. Human beings are marked with the image of God. Human life is sacred. Abortion destroys the life of a child, and is therefore a tragedy to be mourned, not an impulsive option to be indulged.

Keeping these three principles in mind, let us with humility and fear pray God's deliverance for these most innocent victims of our nation's selfish excess.

Part 1: The Divine Perspective by Randal Matheny

How many times have you seen the cartoons of a man with two strange little creatures sitting on his shoulders? On his (right, I assume) shoulder, a little angel whispers in his hear, encouraging him to do what's right. On his other shoulder, a little devil, complete with horns and tail, entices him to do wrong.

That little scene sticks with us, because the tug-and-pull of temptation, besides occupying plenty of space in Scripture, represents a basic element in the life of those who strive to serve God.

An important passage in this struggle is 1 Corinthians 10:11-14.

Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. (NASU)

When temptation whispers in our ear, we tend to concentrate on the action of Satan to draw us away. But this passage teaches us to see the divine.

The Divine Perspective

When we feel the intensity of temptation or the sorrow of suffering, we often tell ourselves, "Nobody has been through what I'm undergoing. Nobody knows how I feel. I'm the only one who has such a rough time."

Perhaps that's because we cannot delve into the hearts and minds of others. But God can. Here's his conclusion:

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man."

Unlike us, God knows every heart and reads every mind. He knows that the pressure of temptation we feel is common to all. Literally, all temptation is "human," within the human experience and, consequently, within the human capacity to endure.

As a side note, if anyone felt a greater intensity of temptation, it would have been Jesus, who never gave in. And because he never surrendered, he would have felt the full force of Satan's efforts. Those of us who do not resist all temptation to the end have never felt its fiercest fury.

Another side note: Like Adam and Eve before us, we tend to blame the devil for the temptation. But the Lord says to look to our own inner workings, for temptation is human, that is, it arises from our desires and passions. Or, as James puts it, "each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust" (Jas. 1:14).

So the first step in overcoming temptation is to see the divine perspective: Temptation is common to us all. And that means, no pity party for me.

Next up: The Divine Character

by Randal Matheny

[Note: This is an extended article of the one posted on the Random Variables weblog.]

In his book The Bible Jesus Read, Philip Yancey lauds the varied expressions in Psalms as people of faith grappled with life's realities. Joy mixed with pain, protest alongside praise, agony and ecstasy together. Indeed, the Bible has its feet on the ground.

Joy and peace do not come at the expense of ignoring the tough issues and the afflictions of our passage through this world. On the contrary, Jesus' suffering brings us face to face with sin's deepest horrors while it breaks the darkness with divine light.

Christians, therefore, are the true realists. Atheists must ignore a universe of evidence for the existence of God. Optimists must close their eyes to human inequalities and social injustices. Pleasure-seekers must pretend there is no accounting for deeds done in the body. Secularists must squelch the cry of eternity emanating from the heart.

This holy realism girds up wisdom and spurns folly. Long ago a man of God made this connection, "The impious fool says in his heart, 'There is no God'" (Psalm 14:1, NEB).

Denial of reality comes in many forms. But in every case it bubbles up into foolishness. For as long and hard as one may deny reality, God (not reality) will not deny himself nor his law at work. Denial of reality is actually denial of God's ways and rebellion against his person. The fool of Psalm 14 does not lack rational sense, but moral integrity.

"How vile men are, how depraved and loathsome; not one does anything good!" (v. 2).

The fool refuses to learn when reality knocks him for a loop. He insists he will succeed by going his way -- as he drives off a cliff that, supposedly, isn't there.

When God's people deal with reality, they take several lines of approach.

• They agonize over what men do against what God wants.

• They analyze what is and compare it with what should be.

• They mourn what man has become in light of what he was created to be.

• They view the happenings of time and space within the framework of eternity.

• They rejoice at the goodness of God winning over the human perversity.

• They weigh the purposes of the heart in the balance of God's plan.

• They perceive the hand of God making good sprout from evil deeds.

• They exult in being new creatures in Christ as they face the dissolution of creation.

• With righteousness controlling their lives, they would hasten God's intervention to vanquish evil.

As God's people understand the full gamut of reality, their emotions range the complete keyboard of expression. Feelings and thoughts, motives and purposes, are all laid before the Sovereign's throne.

During his ministry, Jesus also felt the range of emotions. He got angry at the hypocrisy of religious authorities, frustrated at his disciples' slowness, exasperated at lack of faith. He showed tenderness to immoral women, love to lovers of money, and compassion to the suffering and mourning. He cried before a friend's tomb. He agonized with three disciples and drenched himself in sweat during prayer.

So Christians, like Israel before them and like their Savior whose example they follow, may cry, doubt, plead, and protest to their Maker. In so doing, they show their full humanity working toward holiness and demonstrate that they, above all others, are taking life as it is in full account and placing it squarely at the feet of him who can perform immeasurably more than any can ask or conceive.

by Barry Newton

If you have ever suffered prejudice, you can really appreciate just how wonderful the truth is that God is fair. That's right. When we come before God, nobody gets special treatment ahead of (or behind) you because of their connections, social status or race. That's right, being daddy's little girl won't help or hinder. Being a member of an ethnic minority will not make it any better or any worse. The manner in which God will judge the world is the same for us all.

The Principles of God's Judgment

Without favoritism, God gives to each one according to what that individual has done. Romans 2:6,11 If someone strives to do good, God will give that person eternal life. But if someone is self-seeking and rejects the truth thereby following evil, he or she will suffer God's wrath. Romans 2:7-11

But is this truly fair? An astute person might observe, "since not everyone has had an equal access to a clear understanding of what God wants from us, do not some people have an advantage over others? For example, it would seem that by giving His Law to the Jews, this provided the Jews with an advantage over other nations."

Paul responded that even those nations which did not receive God's Law show by their consciences that they are aware of God's laws. Since God will only judge each person by what he or she is aware of, God is fair! Romans 2:12-15

Those who did not have the Mosaical Law will be judged upon the basis of their conscience's understanding of God's ways. If they are aware that they have sinned, then they will be condemned based upon their own understanding. Those who had access to the Mosaical Law and who sinned will be judged by that Law. So, in the end God is fair. All are judged by what they know.

Good News Turned Bad?

But just how much hope for me (or for anyone else) does such a fair system of judging inspire? Can either you or I claim to be without sin? Can anybody, based upon their knowledge of right and wrong, say, "I am perfect and have lived up to the standard of God's glory?" As Paul wrote, "For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law; and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law." Romans 2:12

Since everyone has sinned and fallen short of God's glory and since neither Jew nor Gentile has an advantage in judgment before God, God's righteous judgment is not particularly wonderful news to our ears. If we could be saved based upon our own goodness, this would mean that we would be saved by works.

God is Fair When He Saves Through Grace All Who Believe

The story of the gospel is utterly amazing and reveals the justness of God. On the one hand, the gospel tells us that Jesus' sacrifice provided atonement for sin. Because God has made it possible for sinners to be cleansed in Christ, God is not corrupt when He declares a sinner to be righteous in Christ. The gospel reveals that God is just and fair. Romans 3:22-26

On the other hand, the gospel teaches us that Jesus' sacrifice is for all people since all have sinned and have fallen short of God's glory. Once again God is shown to be fair and just. By making this priceless gift of salvation available to all who trust in Jesus' blood, God has not shown any unjust favoritism. Romans 3:22-26

It does not matter who we are or what we have done, Jesus' sacrifice can handle our sin if we will trust in him. Nobody deserves to be saved, but God justifies everyone who comes to His Son.

Is this not great news? I am justified not upon the basis of who I am, but who Jesus is! If we have responded with the obedience of faith (Romans 1:5; 16:26), we have reason to exult in God because we are no longer going to be judged by God's Law but have been saved on the basis of the grace that comes from Jesus' sacrifice. Romans 5:1-2, 6-11; 7:6

Wow! Now this is something to get excited about and praise God for.