Do you want to build a worldview?

With the success of Disney’s most recent princess tale “Frozen” much discussion has been swirling about since its release concerning the overtones and themes hidden in the message of the movie.  One camp says that, though admittedly unintentional, the movie teaches several Biblically supportable principles. 

For example: The older sister, Elsa, contains her powers and ignores that she even has them until one day through a series of events she unleashes them on the kingdom and quickly ushers the entire land into a winter that is only reversible by her.  She then runs away and sings the now world famous song “Let It Go”, the ballad of her breaking free from the years of oppression and now she is just letting go and doing with her power what she wants.  What does she come to realize?  Spoiler alert: She comes to realize that though in her ballad she sang “no right, no wrong, no rules for me” that sort of behavior only brought about trials and misery for all those who looked to her for care. 

Additionally it isolated her from the rest of society.  Interestingly enough, the Bible teaches that there actually is a law, God’s Law, and it is written on the hearts of all mankind (Romans 1). If we violate that Law we are indeed sinning against God as well as our sin has effects on those around us who trust us or, in some cases, who look to us for provision and protection.  We would love to be able to say that there is no right, no wrong, and no rules that we follow but that is moral relativism that ultimately makes truth a subjective matter that leaves a true adherent to that worldview in total chaos.

The Bible also makes plain that there is absolute truth, God (Genesis 1:1).  When Jesus declares that He is the Truth, the Way and the Life He effectively closes the door on the validity to any other worldview that opposes that which is revealed in the Christian Bible.

Secondly, absent from “Frozen” but present in nearly every other Disney film is the theme of following one’s heart.  Disney has made billions of dollars selling the lie to our children that to find happiness and fulfillment all one must do is follow their heart.  While Frozen falls woefully short of labeling it dead in sin, it does imply that our hearts can be difficult to change and what is needed is love.  While I am certain that Disney’s definition of the love needed is quite different than the Bible’s, I find it interesting that they are sending this message.

Thirdly, Disney’s Frozen ultimately sends the message that what was needed was not the true love of a love at first sight romance that is usually so obvious in all of Disney’s princess films, (spoiler alert) rather it was the unconditional love of a sibling.  If we are to draw a parallel there to Biblical truth we might say that Anna, the younger sister, is the archetypal Jesus who we see loves her sister though her sister consistently rejects her and pushes her away.  Just as Jesus pursues us though in our sin we reject Him; His love never fails.  Ultimately it is the Anna who is willing to sacrifice her own life so that Elsa’s is spared.  Seems I’ve seen that act on a eternally grander scale somewhere before... Ephesians 2:1-0; Romans 5:1-10

None of those themes were in there for the benefit of the Christian community I assure you. It is not Disney’s hopes that people will repent and turn to Christ as a result of their film, so please do not begin to write your “Frozen” Bible studies because Lifeway, Family Christian, and Mardel are sure to snap them up and get them on the shelves quickly if you do... the next Christian publishing goldmine?

But if you, like my family, saw the movie and enjoyed it these might be some great themes to discuss with your children after the fact.

On the other side of the issue we have the not so hidden agenda of the homosexual community.  They would have us believe that the ballad “Let It Go” is ultimately a song about ending homosexual discrimination.  According to that view it is said that the message of the movie is that people need to learn to love their homosexual family/friends regardless of the consequences that their life choice may have on others.  Let me be clear when I say that Christians are called to love others period.  We do not have to agree with a person's behavior and choices and we may label some of those things (such as homosexuality) as sin.  However, the most loving thing you can do for a person is be truthful with them.  Not accepting homosexuality as natural and normal is not automatically equal to being intolerant or unloving.  If that is the theme of the movie there is a problem.  As pointed out above Elsa comes to realize that letting go and living with no rules is actually not helpful at all but very harmful indeed.

All of this coming to the forefront of the media due to a recent interview given by some of the song-writers who were hired by Disney to write for the film.  (Source story : http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/04/22/award-winning-song-writers-behind-frozen-out-with-giant-claim-about-disney-and-god/ )

The claim is that Disney does not allow God to be mentioned in any of their films and prefers for His Name not to even be mentioned at all in any form.  Some Christians are upset over this but I, for one, am thankful for it.

I do not need, nor do I desire, Disney to teach me or my family theology.  In fact, I am very glad that they keep their hands off of it.  Much harm has already been done to the doctrines held by many through films and other media that teach horrible theology as it is.  If Disney teaches me a principle through their media and uniquely labels it as God's truth and it happens to be false, then they are guilty of blasphemy and leading others to idolatry.  It is better Disney stick with their secular moralism than try and teach something that they are woefully unqualified and incapable of teaching, namely Biblical truth.  All the while Christians ought to remain prayerfully hopeful that not only those associated with Disney but that all who are lost and dead in sin would be reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Even in the examples cited above of the Biblical truth parallels contained in Frozen, upon further dissection many of them break apart because as I mentioned it was not Disney’s intent to teach Biblical morals or truth through the film but rather to provide entertainment to the masses of moms and dads who would flock to the theaters with their daughters for one more princess film.

In the end, whether you go to watch Disney’s film or any secular media for that matter is more or less a matter of conscience.  Something that you must work out by examining what the Scriptures say about how Christians are to conduct themselves.  If you do go to see these sorts of films, please... please... I beg of you... do not go home thinking that now you’ve found the golden key for teaching your family Biblical truth.  You haven’t, because it is not contained in a Disney (or any other) film. The theology built on Disney film teaching or any other secular medium will fair no better than Olaf in summer.

If you have the Bible, you have the key to teaching your family truth and explaining to them the Gospel and their need for Jesus Christ.  Open the Scriptures with your family and explore them together.  It is God’s prescribed means for spreading the truth about Himself in this world.

[16] All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)

[5] Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
(Proverbs 30:5 ESV) 

(In case you didn't see the movie, the title of this article is a play on the song "Do You Want to Build a Snowman" featured in Disney's Frozen.)

The Thankful Heart's Desire

So King David is preparing Israel to build the house of the Lord.  Preparing them to build the temple.  It was David’s plan to build the Temple, however Solomon will be the one who builds it because of the bloodshed that had happened at David’s hands.

As we enter into 1 Chronicles 29 we find David offers a prayer of thanks to God.  I have always loved this prayer and felt it would be appropriate for us to think on tonight given the holiday we will celebrate this week.  What I want you to observe from David’s prayer though is not just its beauty and adoration of God but rather the progression of the prayer and the effect it intends on the heart of David and all the Assembly.  Hopefully I can make that clear as we press on. Before you begin it would be helpful for you to go read 1 Chronicles 29:10-22 as that will be the focus of this post.  Did you read it?  Beautiful right?  Let’s look at then briefly the keys to a heart full of thanksgiving to God in all things and for all things.

The desire for a thankful heart must include: Adoration of God. - 1 Chronicles 29:10 

David began his prayer by acknowledging the blessedness of the Father.  The everlasting nature of His goodness and blessedness of the Lord towards His children forever and ever.

The desire for a thankful heart must include: An Exalting of God. - 1 Chronicles 29:11-13

It isn’t only that God is great and powerful but rather that all greatness and all power and all glory and all victory and all majesty and all the heavens and the earth and its contents belong to Him!

You start orienting your mind and your heart like that and you will find it easy to live a thankful life.  A life of constant worship and praise to God.   You plead with God to teach you and lead you to see all things as belonging to Him and you will find yourself more ready to give Him thanks in all things and for all blessings.

You see from verse 11 how David exalts God as high and lofty and above all things and then what comes naturally in verse 12 is an acknowledging of God’s provision.  How God has never once failed to provide for the needs.  Further, God has never failed to provide that which He calls for from His people.  Riches and honor come from the hand of the Lord alone!  David then says now we thank you, our God, and praise Your glorious Name!

We praise YOU Lord!  We thank YOU Lord!  Why?  For we have seen your display of all these attributes.  We have seen your greatness and power and goodness and love.  For this reason we lift our praises to God!  This sort of prayer leads to a devoted heart that increasingly loves and is conformed to Christ!

The desire for a thankful heart must include: Humility in relation to God. - 1 Chronicles 29:14-16

When we acknowledge God for who He is in all His fullness and then we pull back to look at ourselves by comparison it is quickly obvious that we must be humble before Him.  We are dust and ashes.  We are a sinful lot and completely unworthy to receive anything from God, let alone having the honor of doing anything for God.  Yet we find ourselves gripped by His grace and shown infinite mercies from His hand!

What is man that God is mindful of Him?  What a wonderful and loving God we serve who will lavish His goodness upon us purely from the purposes of demonstrating His kindness and grace!  David says, we are offering up all these things to you freely and willingly.  He is referring to all the materials that the people are giving for the House of the Lord to be built. 

The people are giving these free-will offerings so that the work can be done and yet even in their giving David acknowledges that they’d have nothing to give had what they have not been given to them by God in the first place!

Talking about being strangers and sojourners expresses the astonishment that they have anything at all!  How many travelers or vagrants do you know that possess anything at all?  That sort of person is usually marked by extreme poverty.  Such should have been the case of Israel yet they are blessed and all their needs and provided and God has even provided them with riches for the purpose of them freely offering those riches in their many forms back to Him for His glory!

The desire for a thankful heart must include: A Dependence on God. - 1 Chronicles 29:17-19

Having lifted God High and having humbled Himself and come lowly before the Lord David sees that not only are the riches that they have coming from the hand of the Lord, but moreover he realizes that to continue walking in such a thankful way they must depend on the Lord.

The fact that the people are giving so generously and so freely is an indication that they are in agreement with David on these things.  And if they are to continue praising God and worshiping God in such a way that the people have hearts these benevolent hearts they must plead with God for His continued leading.

David says, I know that you test the heart.  I know that you have pleasure in uprightness.  In the uprightness of his heart he and the people have offered these things and he knows this comes from God alone.  His plea is simple:  Verse 18, Keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people and direct their hearts toward you.

Church, what if your prayer this Thanksgiving and beyond was just that.  Lord, please… with every passing breath that I take, create in my heart Your purposes and bind Your thoughts on my heart.  Because what a Christian should desires is to be upright before the Lord.  We want to be upright before the Lord because that is what the Lord takes pleasure in. 

We GET that uprightness of self from God who grants it only through faith in Jesus Christ.  We trust in the God who is pleased to bestow all these things on us out of His mercy and grace!  So David says, let this continue Lord.  Let us continue to be thankful to You.  Please God do not remove Your guiding hand from us so that we never fall away from You!  Oh how I desperately want that to be my prayer and yours. 

Finally, the desire for a thankful heart must include: A Response to God. - 1 Chronicles 29:20-22

David calls upon the people to bless the Lord.  To lift their praises to God in affirmation of this resolve to live for God alone!  The people respond by offering sacrifices to the Lord.  We no longer are asked by God to sacrifice bulls or rams or lambs.  But we are called to live our lives as a sacrifice of worship to the Lord (Romans 12:1-2).

That’s my challenge to you at Thanksgiving and always.  Plead with God that according to His mercy He would stir up in you a passion for His Name that will not fade or pass.  A zeal for Him that will continue leading you down the paths of the righteous and upright.  The path that pleases the Lord and leads to eternal life with Him!

What the Gospel is NOT...

Although you may read this and think of plenty of other things that the Gospel is NOT, these were just 4 that I jotted down quickly...

1.) The Gospel is NOT a key to us having a life of success, health, money, etc… Absolutely not. I heard a guy preach the other day about how we are HD receivers made to receive God’s HD broadcast. Adam and Eve might fit that category if you want to use that cheesy illustration, but we are a broken remnant… a dim picture of what WAS, not what is. This is the reason why you want to avoid the teachings of Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, William P Young (author of 'The Shack', Joyce Meyer, TD Jakes, etc…

2.) The Gospel is NOT some story we tell that then leads us to get people to recite some magical sinner’s prayer. Let me interject here that people can be saved by praying the “sinner’s prayer”. If that’s your experience, I am not calling your salvation into question here. But that sinner’s prayer is not the Gospel, it is not in the Bible anywhere, and it doesn’t save anyone in and of itself.

3.) The Gospel is NOT merely getting someone to intellectually believe in Jesus Christ. Believing in Jesus doesn’t save you, IF you are believing in Him for the wrong things. Do you want to know why so many make a profession of faith and then later turn their backs on God altogether? Because they believed on Jesus for the wrong things…

4.) The Gospel is NOT a lifestyle. The Gospel is a particular message as noted in the previous post. It is not accurate to say that we can 'live the Gospel'. We can demonstrate and validate our faith by our works done to Glorify God. **Those works don't earn any part of salvation, Salvation is of the Lord, but our works demonstrate that a change has taken place... that we've been regenerated. The popular phrase, 'Preach the Gospel, when necessary use words.' Is ridiculous. It has been said that that would be as absurd as saying to someone 'give me your phone number, when necessary use digits.'

We need Christ for RIGHTEOUSNESS!!! Repent of your sins and trust the Savior Jesus Christ!

Question and Answer: About infant death and unreached people groups

Q: What happens to babies when they die? Also, what about remote tribes who've never heard of Jesus?

Response:

"instant heaven" - John MacArthur

In 2 Samuel 12:16-23 David, upon learning that his infant son had died, ceased his fasting and mourning and began praising the Lord. He said that mourning wouldn't bring back his child. No prayers were going to alter that and he knew that one day he would once again be with his son.

He obviously knew that God, being just, would parson his son's sins. Now, are children born sinful? sure they are... Psalm 58:3 'Even from birth the wicked go astray...' However God is just, Genesis 18:25 '...will not the Judge of all the earth deal justly.'

It means that as they grow, when given the chance to choose to sin or not. They will, as we all do, choose to sin. They are born with that sin tainted heart that is bent towards evil until God gives them a new heart.

For whatever reason, and we can't even begin to speculate on the why here... but for whatever reason God has chosen for some children to die before what is commonly referred to as the age of accountability. It is that age when we are not just able to discern between right and wrong but able to understand that our sin has offended a Holy God and His justice demands our eternal punishment.

My kids understand some right and wrong but only because we've taught them what is right and wrong. They know about God and sin, but neither are old enough to have put those two things together. The same principle would apply to someone born with a mental handicap. They may grow to an age where normally they could respond to God's call of Salvation, but because of some debilitation from birth they are never able to comprehend. God is just, loving, and merciful and to punish them would be unjust, so teaches Scripture, and so we can say with some authority and assurance that for those it is instant heaven.

The fact though that God is merciful to them should in no way exonnerate us as parents from teaching them the things of God and pointing them towards Him their whole life. Some parents have told me that they aren't worried about stressing Biblical truth to their children until they surpass the age of accountability when there will be danger for them at judgment if they die.

That is absurd for two reasons. 1.) We have no clue what age a person is able to respond. I could guess at it just based on mental understanding and such. But I have no clue. That age is probably different for everyone. God knows when He will draw them to Him and we'd be well advised not to step in and take His role on that one.

2.) If we don't show them the value of Jesus from birth, they'll be less likely to see His value later in life. It can't be some cute trite thing that doesn't matter much. It must be taught and explained from birth on through! What a privilege that we get to do that!

About those who are in some remote tribe and have never heard of Jesus? No one will go to hell because they haven't heard of Jesus Christ. The unregenerate sinner will go to hell for murder either literally or merely of the heart, rape, adultery (literal or not), lust, theft, lying, blaspheming, idolatry, etc. Sin is not failing to hear the gospel. Sin is the transgression of the law. Ephesians 2; 1 John 3:4.

Sin is the problem, Christ is the answer. Now, what about those in remote tribes who die and have never heard of Jesus or seen a Bible or anything... what about them? Well if they have never responded to their conscience and sought out the Creator (God) having turned from their sin and trusted in Christ they will go to hell. Ignorance of the law is not the same as lack of understanding.

God has revealed Himself to all of creation. Even the remotest tribes of people. Psalm 19:1 - the heavens declare the glory of God.

Also, we are all born with a conscience.

Romans 2:14-15

For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, (NASB)

God has programmed every individual to know that certain things are right and certain things are wrong regardless of whether the laws are put into legislation by human governments.

The existence of these moral laws points man to a Moral Lawgiver that transcends (or is over and above) human governments and man made laws.

Both testimony of creation and conscience fall under the heading of: General Revelation. General revelation refers to God's revelation that reaches

--all people

--of all times

--in every culture

All throughout the Bible Scripture teaches that if someone seeks after God then He will not hide Himself (Jeremiah 29:13). God ordains who will and will not be saved and so for those who are among those remote tribes that God has chosen to save He will draw them to Him and they will respond to the Holy Spirit's conviction on their conscience. God will do it by a dream or a vision or He'll send them a Bible or a missionary or something. But the remote nature of their location cannot negate God's ability to draw them to Him. All Creation bows before Him. If He is going to save them, He'll make a way when to us there may seem to be no way.

Now, does that excuse us from ministering to those folks? Absolutely not. It could be that we are to be the missionaries to that tribe and we are the vessel God will use to speak to them. Or our money is the money God will use to fund the Bibles sent to them and pay the workers to teach them. Or maybe God will call one of us to find such a tribe and place organize a Bible drive effort missions effort to get the Word to them in their language. Who knows... If we are truly concerned about those groups then lets pray harder for them and do something about them.

Typically, some of these tribes will respond to their conscience that there is something out there bigger than them... a god of some kind. But rather than seeking Him they build up an alter to the false god they create for their culture. You see it ALL throughout history. Typically they end up worshiping an element of nature or some fictitious being that controls nature.

If they err in that way, their first clue that they still haven't found the true God should be in the fact that they are having to climb on top of their idol that they have constructed and clean the bird droppings and other debris from it! ha

Also keep in mind that we are all descendants of Adam and then Noah after the flood... so at some point in all our ancestry the truth of God has been spoken to us. Noah was a preacher of righteousness. So they've heard... how far down the line it went before getting lost and distorted or which ancestor abandoned the faith... who knows...

God has revealed Himself in numerous ways to every man and woman who has ever lived. Those who die in their sins did not do so because they never heard... they did so because they never responded.

Hope that helps...

The Manhattan Declaration and Gospel Clarity

If you haven't heard yet about the Manhattan Declaration let me summarize it incredibly briefly. More or less it is a document signed by over 100 religious affiliates that takes a stand against the governments efforts to pass laws that would be contradictory to Biblical teachings on

1. the sanctity of human life
2. the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
3. the rights of conscience and religious liberty.

**3 points courtesy of manhattandeclaration.org

Before you read on you should really, if you haven't yet, go to the Manhattan Declaration website and read all the details. There you can also find a list of those who have signed on, affirming the declaration.

Then come on back and read just a couple of my thoughts and then post your own thoughts on the matter and, if you like, whether or not you yourself would sign on.

Am I in favor of defending and protecting the 3 items pointed out earlier in the post and outlined in the declaration? Absolutely. 100%

I was remarking to someone the other day about how we keep seeing headlines about the secularization of our nation... otherwise known as the continuing decline of society in general... and how these things are sometimes toted, by atheists and anti-God groups, as victories not just for them but for all of society. True enough that for their particular interest group these may be victories... but it is a bold statement to say it is a victory for society in general.

The Bible clearly tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10) and that the truth, Jesus Christ (John 14:6), will set us free (John 8:32).

In reality, these supposed victories that are enabling freedom for all religions under the mask of religious freedom are really only taking steps towards a legislated hatred for Christians. Each ruling may seem small and insignificant by itself but it will ultimately lead to greater persecution towards God's elect.

But I digress, I am 100% in favor of defending the values outlined in the Manhattan Declaration. However, would I be willing to sign the document? I don't believe so. I am not the end all be all or the expert on anything. So please understand that from the beginning. And I realize, as you will from reading the list of signers, that many highly respectable theologians and apologists have signed. Men whom I trust in their knowledge of Scripture and matters of theology.

However, after reviewing the document myself and reading perspectives from both sides, I'm afraid I fall on the side that would prefer not to sign.

Is it to be quarrelsome or some lack of desire to do something controversial? no... here's my thoughts...

While I agree with the purpose of the document I do not agree with all of the wording in the document. Namely the ecumenical nature of the document.

My fear with this is two fold... that a.) it will set a precedent, a sort of trojan horse, that will open the door for other things to creep in and when we kick up a stink about it they will point back to this document in which we opened up the title Christian to groups that are in fact NOT born again believing Christians... when that happens their will be some embarrassment and damage control to be done.

2.) Too often it seems lately that we evangelicals are willing to set aside certain fundamental truths of the faith in order to accomplish some other good... as if the good of the community or anything else for that matter should come above the truth of the Gospel... this cannot be named amongst us... This is the Rick Warren approach to ministry. The 'Let's just include everyone so that we love everyone and don't offend anyone'.

Jesus said in Matthew 10 not to fear those who can destroy the body. Paul said, as you mentioned. in Galatians 1 that anyone who preached a Gospel contrary to scripture is to be anathema. I would rather concern myself more with being certain that every step I take in any circumstance is done with my gaze fixed steadily on Christ so that it is an action that is pleasing to Him, rather than ever worry about what types of inner-faith relationships I built.

From the declaration. "We, as Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical Christians" & "We are Christians who have joined together across historic lines of ecclesial differences"

That is the hang up for me. It clearly lumps Catholics and Evangelical Christians into the same category of True Believers in Jesus Christ. Although if you pushed the point with the respective signers you'd find significant differences between their respective definitions of Salvation.

Can we sacrifice Gospel clarity for the sake of another good, I say simply another good because there is no greater good than the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What could possibly be better than that? In a word, nothing...

Commenting on the Declaration, Dr. John MacArthur said "the document falls far short of identifying the one true and ultimate remedy for all of humanity’s moral ills: the gospel. The gospel is barely mentioned in the Declaration"

That's the problem, the Gospel is not clearly identified as the solution to the true problem of all moral issues. If anything it goes to the other end of the spectrum to dilute the true Gospel giving it a wider-mercy feel.

I would say that we cannot and should not sacrifice any amount of Gospel clarity for the sake of any purpose. So that's where I fall. As I said, many men who are far more learned than I have signed on and so be it. At the same time many learned theologians have also respectively declined to sign...

We need to focus more on declaring the Biblical Gospel and less time trying to force a secular government to legislate Biblical morality. And we don't need to include non-Christians in that title to get it done... that helps nothing. It would be a far more successful endeavor, I think, to increase our efforts to reach the unregenerate with the Biblical message of Salvation by Grace alone by faith alone through Jesus Christ alone... We need to be clear on WHO we mean by Jesus and WHAT we mean by Grace and Faith... We rightly proclaim it, so that people hear, and God convicts their heart and grants them repentance and they repent and get saved! Through that God regenerates their heart and they trust in His Word as their authority by which they govern.

And they don't need to legislate Christianity as the official religion of America. That would be horrible. God doesn't desire forced devotion. But they govern in a moral way because they govern in a Biblical way, and the precepts of the Bible... that is, the Holy Word of God, is profitable for all things and good for teaching on all things... They set laws on morality based on Scripture and leave each person to deal with the issue of religion to themselves...

So, read and discuss... I am for sure interested to hear the opinions of those who are in favor of signing...

Some great articles in support of not signing it can be found at the following:

Pyromaniacs Blog: Nineteen Questions for signers of the Manhattan Declaration

And also Grace to You: John MacArthur: Thoughts on the Manhattan Declaration