Is Gun Ownership Right For You?

Is it right to own a gun? 

If it is legal to own a gun, then we should be very careful about telling people whether they should own a gun or not.
Unless someone tells me that their purpose is to aggressively go out and kill someone, I have no business to tell someone not to legally buy a gun.
Yes, there is a key word there ....legally.
Sometimes people are able to buy a gun, but they are not legally qualified by law to own one.

Now, I can tell people that murder is wrong, but the Bible makes it clear that defending innocent life was accepted in Biblical times.
If the law allows you (even as an individual home or business owner) to defend innocent life, then it is up to your own conscience and ability about gun ownership.
Some people use guns to do target practice or to hunt for food to eat, and it's all within the law.

Clearly, I can see that the government is there to attempt to bring about justice and defense to the broader community.
Individuals are not called upon to run around looking for trouble to play cop or soldier.
That's obviously a government thing, and I can see in Romans 13 that it is actually a God-ordained role for government.
So, I have to obey the people that God has placed over us as long as they aren't commanding us to disobey God.
The government bears the sword for a reason, and that is pretty clear.
Now, if the government tells someone to aggressively, intentionally, & knowingly slaughter the innocent...that would be wrong.
I couldn't do that as a Christian.

So, basically, if the law allows people to self defense, and you are using a gun for purposes within that law - then it is God's to judge your attitudes and motives and not mine.

A person is just as guilty before God for hate and unrighteous anger with or without a gun.
Owning a gun legally isn't what God judges. He sees our hearts and knows our minds.
Yeah, I think we all are guilty of sinful anger and hate at times.
I could say that if you are full of hate, that there could be greater danger in owning or carrying a gun.

It's a matter of your own conscience, and we should listen to that.

What is most important though is our relationship with God....whether one is a Christian or a non-Christian.
The problem with all of the evil that is being done with guns in this nation isn't about the guns.
The problem is the sinfulness of mankind.
The conscience must be properly informed by what God says, and this applies in all areas.

I would request that you watch the video below, because it's message is of utmost importance to all of us.

Will You Find Peace & Refuge?

I have been reading All of Grace by Charles Spurgeon, and I found out you can read it online as well!
So, if you want to join me, this is a book for non-Christians & Christians alike!

"Who knows how many will find their way to peace by what they read here? A more important question to you, dear reader, is this—Will you be one of them?"
All of Grace by Charles H. Spurgeon

 I'm still unable to use my one arm much, so my blog posts will continue to be few for awhile.
At least my stitches are out!  I'm now working on trying to straighten my arm.

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
 Psalm 46:1 NASB

The following song is one that came into my head as an encouragement some time back, and a family member found it online.  Just imagine Fernando Ortega singing it as I do.



 

The Doctrine of Election - When Should It Be Introduced?

It is very interesting that in the past couple of weeks two videos and one sermon stood out to me about the doctrine of election and when and if it should be brought up.

The message I've linked on this blog post that was given by John MacArthur in 2004 is quite eye-opening.  I would recommend it for people who are on the fence or question predestination and the doctrines of grace and whether it is truly Biblical.   It was very shocking and surprising to see the vehemence that some have shown towards it, and yet we cannot ignore Scripture as Christians, can we?
The Doctrine of Election, Part 1

If you listened to the message linked above, it is actually the first in a series by John MacArthur on the subject.
https://www.gty.org/search/doctrine%20of%20election?title=1
 I hope that people will listen openly and consider all of the Scriptures that point to a truly sovereign God.  Many people have presuppositions based on what someone has told them and use certain Scripture verses without looking at the context or at other Scripture verses and passages that give a complete picture of a God that we cannot always fully comprehend.
We want a God who fits into our idea of "fairness.".  Yet we don't really think deeply enough about what really would be fair. 

The video below really emphasize how unbelievers can profit from being introduced to the doctrine of election although they may not fully understand until God gives them a new heart and they dig deep into the Scripture.

Bible Summary, Marriage Book Review, Gospel Languages App

The following are some links that I found worth sharing. 

• The Message of the Bible in 221 Words quote by D.A. Carson - Of course, only the whole Bible gives the entire message, but I thought it was a good overview!

• What Did You Expect Book Review  by David Forsyth - I thought this was a good review of something that married people would find helpful especially.  David Forsyth was a former pastor of mine before moving to TN.

• Lets the Whole World Hear  - this app looks very interesting if you have an iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad.  It actually has the Gospel in a number of different languages.  I think it would be great if they had even more languages included. 

Can You Reach My Friend?

Have you ever wanted someone to to have saving faith in the Lord so much that you cried over them?   I have before.  The song I'm sharing today is an older one again that expresses someone caring about a friend and praying for them.  While the lyrics could be criticized for not being 100% Biblically based, I think that a lot of people can relate to the expressions of love and longing behind the song.




If you are wondering exactly what it is that this song is expressing the desire for people to understand and why it matters so much to people like me, then please check out the link below.
Your eternal destiny is at stake:

http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/A335

There are Many Deceived Church Goers - Paul Washer

Does this describe you?

You go to church, and/or you prayed a prayer at some
point in your life.  Maybe you were even baptized.
You believe you are "saved" now.

But, are you?

There are a lot of people in the church who don't understand
what the Biblical Gospel is.

There are also people who have heard the Biblical Gospel,
but they haven't truly repented and put their trust in Christ.

If you still live the same way you did before,
but you've just added church to it...
then that's a sign you do not have saving faith.

On the other hand, you may do lots of good works.

You may be doing this to please someone,
or think that your works are somehow meritorious to your
salvation.

This is also a sign that you do not have faith.

You think that you must earn your way somehow.

Does this make you wonder whether you are one of the
unsaved in the church?

Please check out the following link: http://www.needGod.com

For by grace you have been saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
for good works, which God prepared beforehand
so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 NASB

You believe that God is one. You do well;
the demons also believe, and shudder. 
But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow,
that faith without works is useless?
James 2:19-20 NASB

The one who says, “I have come to know Him,”
and does not keep His commandments, is a liar,
and the truth is not in him;
but whoever keeps His word,
in him the love of God has truly been perfected.
By this we know that we are in Him:
the one who says he abides in Him ought himself
to walk in the same manner as He walked.
1 John 2:4-6 NASB