by Jeff A. Jenkins

In the most recent Newsweek magazine, Jon Meacham writes about the new movie, "The Passion of the Christ". Meacham raises questions concerning the accuracy of the Word of God when he writes, "the Bible can be a problematic source. Though countless believers take it as the immutable word of God, Scripture is not always a faithful record of historical events; the Bible is the product of human authors."

If Meacham is right, the Bible is no better than any other book. If the Bible is not always a faithful record of historical events, how can we know if Scripture is ever faithful and accurate?

The claim of Scripture is radically different from Mr. Meacham's point of view. The Bible claims to be the Word of God. The Apostle Paul states, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16).

The word inspiration comes from the Greek word, "theopneustos". It is a word that literally means "God-breathed". The Biblical claim is, God spoke His Words to man. The Apostle Peter states that Scripture did not come from man. He claims that it came from God (2 Pet. 1:20,21). Jesus himself said the Word of God is Truth (Jn. 17:17).

Meacham and the Bible cannot both be correct. Either the Bible is historically accurate in every instance or it is not. Either the Bible is the product of human authors or it is the product of a Divine Author. I will take God's Word over the word of man every time (Jn. 12:34).

By Emmett Smith

February has been an interesting month. For one thing, the "controversy" surrounding Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" seems to have become increasingly shrill as the movie neared release. On top of that, we've been bombarded from all sides with images of homosexual "marriages" in San Francisco. Who needed to see Rosie O'Donnell "marry" her lesbian partner? Certainly not me.

On the other hand, perhaps the "in your face" strategy we've been witnessing will awaken anyone who has gone back to sleep since 9/11/2001. You do remember 9/11/2001 don't you? A prominent Australian Muslim cleric went on record this week claiming that it was "God's work". He also spoke of an Islamic revolution, and said not to be surprised if a muezzin called out "Allah is Great" from the "top of the White House" some day.

It's worthy of note that God has historically punished nations for their ungodly ways. As this nation debates the homosexual agenda and as anti-Christian "critics" (devout humanists) insist that the biggest problem with an upcoming movie is that it takes the Biblical record "too literally", let's all remember how God warned Israel through Jeremiah, "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it." (Jeremiah 18:6-8).

The enemy is at the gate. Have you been AWOL?

By Michael E. Brooks

"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire… In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you had no pleasure" (Heb. 10:5,6).

It is easy for people who live in so-called "Christian" cultures to assume that animal sacrifice is an obsolete custom, long vanished from the earth. Many Americans and Western Europeans have never seen an altar, or animals prepared for burnt offerings.

In other parts of the world, however, such sacrifices are still very much a part of life. Eid, the second most sacred festival of the Islamic calendar, was celebrated this year in early February. It lasts several days, and is commemorated with various rituals, but one of the most important of these is the day of "Corbani" – on which every pious Muslim offers an animal sacrifice. The days before Eid are noted for the huge numbers of bulls and goats offered for sale. On the afternoon of Corbani one sees trucks and rickshaw vans piled high with skins of the slaughtered animals being taken to the tanneries. The sacrifices themselves provide food for the worshipper and for the poor to whom some of the meat is given.

Unfortunately, the absence of animal sacrifice from Western culture is sometimes mistakenly taken to mean that no sacrifices are given or expected in Christianity. Nothing could be further from the truth. Though our New Testament affirms that God is no longer worshipped through offerings given on fires, it is also full of requirements for other forms of sacrifice. These include the "living sacrifice" of our own bodies (Rom. 12:1), the "sacrifice of praise" as we give thanks to God (Heb. 13:15), and the self-sacrifice which precedes our following Jesus (Matt. 16:24).

The fact that these sacrifices are not accompanied by bloodshed, or fire, or smoke, or ash, in no sense lessens their reality or their importance. The fact is that "the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin" or otherwise appease God (Heb. 10:4). Nothing which humans do can remove the guilt or the consequences of our sin. Only God can do that, through the satisfaction of his justice provided by the death of his son, Jesus. Our sacrifices, whatever their nature, earn us nothing. The genuine sacrifices of self-denial and worship do glorify God, however. They also indicate our faith in and commitment to God through Jesus. And there-in lies their value. It is not what we do to impress or obligate God. It is what we do that reveals our genuine response of faith and trust in Jesus, and our submission to his will.

This is why the only real sacrifice that can be offered today is sacrifice of self. We die to self, and to sin. We die with Christ and through Christ. And in so doing we take his ultimate sacrifice for ourselves and receive its benefits. We renounce any claim to goodness of our own and rest all our hope in the goodness God gives us through the sacrifice he made for us. That is all the goodness that will ever be required and far more than we could otherwise attain.

by Oran Burt

1. Give up your Idols.

God had allowed the Midianites to oppress Israel for seven years because of Israel's wickedness. God called Gideon to deliver his people from the oppression, and the first order of business was to destroy the idols (Ashera) that his father had built (6:25). Idolatry had resulted in Israel hiding in caves and wine presses from their enemy. Idols can't deliver us, but can help prevent God's deliverance.

2. Prepare for Battle.

The timid, careless need not apply. God wanted Gideon to realize that he could not deliver himself, but that he must rely on God and not say "my own power has delivered me" (7:2). Our adversary doesn't give up easily. He threw down the boy possessed with demons - even after being commanded to depart (Mk. 9:26,27) - and he is determined to seek and devour. God gave Gideon 400 to 1 odds so that the issue would be clear.

3. Let your light shine.

When Gideon and the 300 men broke the pots and the lights "came on" suddenly, they were able to conquer the enemy with God's help. Light dispels the darkness. If we let our light shine among men through our good works, God will receive the glory today (Mt. 5:16).

4. Let God rule over your life.

After the deliverance, the people were so impressed with Gideon and his sons that they asked him to rule over them. He turned down the offer saying, "the Lord shall rule over you" (8:23).

5. Don't go back into bondage.

Gideon made an ephod from the gold offerings the people gave. That ephod became a snare to him and his household. We have been set free from sin that we might live for another, yet the pull of temptation is constant. Joshua pleaded with the people of God not to go back and cling to the nations from which God had delivered them (Josh. 23:12). The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Peter warned about the disaster of having escaped the pollutions of the world and yet becoming entangled in them again.

by Tim Hall

You would think that the Apostle Paul would be in complete control. After all of the trials and difficulties he had suffered, he surely would have a handle on fear and doubts by now. But this great servant of God still needed strength at times. Where could he get it?

By the last chapter of Acts, Paul had been through so much. He had often been beaten, imprisoned, rejected by his own kinsmen, and had just survived a shipwreck from a fearful storm. Ahead of him, however, was a date with the Emperor, Caesar Augustus. A visit with the Roman ruler was not a pleasant appointment. The Caesars guarded their power with cold and ruthless means, and theirs were not normally sympathetic ears.

The skyline of Rome was in sight when Luke provided us with these details: "And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage" (Acts 28:15, NKJV).

Brethren coming together - is that such a big deal? It is when you are involved in a struggle, as Paul on this occasion was. And, in case you hadn't checked lately, struggles are still a part of life. Like the storm that wrecked Paul's ship, trials blow into our lives without warning. We may feel as if we are cast overboard, straining just to keep our heads above water. How we need courage in such situations! But where can it be found?

Our text shows that courage can come from people. We find courage, just as Paul did, by being with others who believe as we do, who have weathered crises in their lives, who compassionately reach out to help us. It's important that brethren keep up their habit of coming together.

The writer of Hebrews understood this principle and urged Christians to regularly practice it. In pressing his readers to endure, he wrote, "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching" (Heb. 10:24,25). He didn't order church attendance for the sake of big numbers; he exhorted brethren to practice active fellowship as a matter of survival!

Often when I attend worship and Bible study assemblies, my life is going well. I am joyful and confident, able to offer courage to others who are there. Occasionally, though, I stand on the other side of the transaction. Instead of being in a position to give encouragement, I am the one who needs it. What better place to find the strength needed than with people who draw their strength from the Lord?

Philo, a Jewish philosopher who was a contemporary of the apostles, once wrote: "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." That is a good reason to make assembling with the saints a high priority. Often we can help others just by being present; sometimes we're the ones who will be helped.