Q: Are the environmentalists right or wrong? I hear both opinions. Suggested Daily Reading: Genesis 1:26-31 A:   Today’s environmentalists express a deep love and respect for the environment.  They actively try to protect and preserve nature.  They oppose industrial expansion into natural areas and accuse mankind of abusive, wasteful and harmful environmental practices. Some of these practices fit with biblical teachings.  We are called to value and appreciate God’s creation, including our earth’s environment.  Consider such passages of Scripture as Psalm 19 and 104.  Yes, we are to value all of God’s works, including our world that God created and uniquely prepared to sustain life.  Respect and appreciation for creation as God’s handiwork is right, not wrong. While most environmentalist groups share the same goal to respect nature, their motives, however, are different from a Christian’s motive.  A Christian sees his or her God’s marvellous work in creation and loves it.  A true Christian loves and respects God’s creation as one loves a painting or work produced by a loved one.  Many environmentalists view nature as their god and adore “Mother Earth” and marvel at so-called evolutionary processes.  The true God and the real Creator of all is not even in their view.  Such motives are wrong. Another distinction is that God placed man in a position to rule over His earthly creation (Genesis 1:28), and has given plants and animals to mankind for food (Genesis 9:3).   Here many environmentalists’ beliefs and practices are contrary to God’s Word.  Many deny mankind the right to rule over the earth and to use its land, resources and animals for desired purposes.  Plants and animals are not placed at the same level as man, nor do they have the same rights. To place mankind at an equal level with animals or as having no more rights than trees is wrong. What is the correct scriptural view of our environment?  Mankind is given permission to use, but not to abuse God’s earthly creation. Do you love and respect God’s creation?  At the same time, do you see that God stands above His creation?  Do you therefore worship the Creator and not His creation?  How does the first verse of the Bible clarify this truth and condemn most secular environmentalist’s beliefs?

With so many different opinions today, and with everyone believing that he or she is right, how can I know what is true? Where should I begin? Suggested Daily Reading: Genesis 1:1-7 Beginnings are important. They are direction setting. Imagine a couple departing from a hotel early in the morning. They merge on to the nearby interstate highway to continue on their trip. They pride themselves that they have made good time this morning and have covered a lot of miles already. An hour later, however, they discover that they entered the highway on the wrong side and have been driving all this time in the wrong direction! They sincerely believed that they were doing well, but they were sincerely mistaken. The same can be true on our journey through life. Many sincerely believe that they are doing well, they are travelling along just fine. But they are sincerely mistaken; they are headed in the wrong direction! How can I know the right direction? How should I set the compass of life? Establish your direction from Genesis 1:1. The beginning verse of the Bible will show you if you are headed in the write direction for life or not? Genesis 1:1 corrects the following and warns them that they are headed in a wrong direction: Atheist and agnostic – “In the beginning God…” God exists. Pantheist and Materialist – “God created the heaven and the earth…” God is not the same as, but is above nature. Polytheist – God created…” Not plural gods, but one God – singular. Evolutionist – “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Matter did not evolve from itself, but God created the universe. Secular humanist – “In the beginning God…”  The focus is not on me, but on God. Test yourself. If the beginning, aim and goal of our thoughts, words and actions focus on yourself instead of God, you’re headed in the wrong direction. You are not God; God is. Do you love and respect God’s creation? At the same time, do you see that God stands above His creation, and worship the Creator and not His creation? How does the first verse of the Bible point us all in the right direction for our lives, and correct those heading down a wrong path? #Genesis

Q: Why does everyone in the church say that looking at pornography is so dangerous? Suggested Daily Reading: Romans 6:12-16 A: God warns us not to sin and not to give in to sinful lusts.  If we do, these sins can gain a deep hold over us.  We can become addicted to them, to the sinful pleasures in them.  This is especially true of sexual sins. Ned married a girl he loves from his church.  He is successful in many ways, but a serious problem has entered into his marriage.  Ned started watching pornography as a teen and he is addicted.  He can’t stop himself.  When his wife learned of this, she felt betrayed. Ned’s sin is seriously harming himself, his wife, his marriage and his relationship with God. Ned has developed a “sex for self-gratification” spirit. This is the opposite of that which God planned.  Sexual intimacy is intended to be a special expression of oneness with the special person that God has united me with for life in a marriage.  It is meant to be a deep expression of love; not a selfish desire to entertain or please myself. Pornography is anti-God; it breaks His law – the seventh commandment.  It is anti-moral; it corrupts our thoughts, emotions and actions.  It is anti-human; it degrades and uses people as objects for sinful pleasure.  Pornography is anti-love, it uses sex for self-gratification.  It is anti-marriage; it looks for sexual pleasures outside of the loving bond of marriage.  It is anti-society; it pollutes and degrades a culture and nation.  It is anti-personal; it makes sexual activity impersonal, and destroys the people involved. Today, pornography is everywhere.  Our society is addicted.  Be wise and fore-warned.  Avoid all forms of pornography.  The pain and consequences of sexual impurity are great. But the rewards of sexual purity in a loving marriage are also great!  Following God and His loving commandments is always your best guide to happiness. Read Proverbs 5 and 7.  In these chapters, God instructs us of the disastrous consequences of a young man yielding to sexual temptations and indulging in sexual sin.  Pray for strength and vow to live a sexually pure life.  If you have sinned, stop and repent.  Begin again, by God’s grace, to avoid sexual sin. #Pornography #Proverbs #Romans

“Use not vain repetitions…” —Matthew 6:7 Read Matthew 6:5-15 Have you ever contemplated what prayer actually entails? In prayer you are seeking to have contact with God. You may speak to Him about all your needs and unburden your heart. When we regard prayer in this way, folding our hands, closing our eyes and kneeling down before the Lord in prayer is a most natural posture. In this way, the created seek to show reverence to God the Creator. Only in this way are we able to approach God. But when we do pray, what are we actually praying for? God Himself has given instructions for prayer in His Word. He tells us how and what we should pray for. In this respect, the Lord’s Prayer is a very important “model” prayer. What does praying actually mean to you? This devotional was taken from “The Time of Your Life” a daily devotional published by the Youth & Educational Committee of the FRC. To order a printed copy of this book, contact: bookorders@frcna.org.

Everybody seems to have different ideas about how we should and should not dress.  What does the Bible really teach about this? Suggested Daily Reading: 1 Peter 3: 1-9 The Bible does not state specific rules regarding what is allowed or not allowed regarding minimum length of skirt, top price to spend on a new coat, maximum size of earrings, etc.  God does, however, provide guiding principles in His Word, which we need to use and apply when making our decisions regarding dress and appearance today in our culture.  Fashions may change and cultures are different, but the same biblical overarching principles apply to everyone at all times, in all places. The following are six guiding biblical principles regarding our dress and appearance: 1. Maintain a proper perspective – Inward beauty is more important than outward (1 Pet. 3:3-4) 2. Avoid Anxiety – Do not worry and become anxious about physical dress and appearance (Mt. 6:28-30) 3.  Show due care for cleanliness and neatness – Avoid sloppiness, dirtiness and other evidences of not valuing and caring (Eccl. 9:8 and Prov. 31:21-22) 4. Demonstrate modesty – Avoid dressing provocatively, spending large amounts of money, or wearing clothes that purposefully draw attention to yourself (1 Tim. 2:9) 5. Dress fitting for the occasion – Appropriate dress differs with the activity planned and occasion to be attended (Ex. 3:22 and 33:4) 6. Reflect distinctiveness between male and female – Girls should not dress to look masculine and guys should not dress to appear feminine (Deut. 22:5) We know from the business world that one advertises according to the type of customers that one wishes to attract.  The ads to sell Mercedes-Benz cars are designed differently from those to sell Jeeps. Why? Because each wants to attract a certain type of buyer.  Someone interested in a Jeep is different from a person looking for a Mercedes-type car.  A girl who chooses to dress immodestly will attract attention from guys, but not the type of guy who is genuinely interested in, or cares about her as a person.  Why not?  She advertised herself differently and attracted guys who were interested in what she was advertising. While our inward motives, desires, feelings and thoughts are most important, they are not all that counts. Our dress and appearance is also important, as they reflect our inner being, our values and who we are as persons. When you shop for new clothes, do you shop with a Christian mindset? Or in a worldly way?  Do you consciously and purposefully shop using the six biblical principles? Or do you only use the world’s standards?

My friend said that she attends a New Testament church; is this biblically correct to say? Suggested Daily Reading: Luke 24:36-45 Whether your friend is biblically correct or not depends on what she means.  If she simply means that we live in the New Testament time of God’s church, when the church has the rich benefit of God’s full revelation of both Old and New Testaments, she is correct.  If she means, however, that her church does not preach or teach from the Old Testament because it believes that the Old Testament is no longer relevant and has been replaced by the New Testament, then she is sadly mistaken. The Old and New Testaments are two parts of one divine message.  The Old Testament points to Jesus and the way of salvation for sinners by way of prophecies, types and examples.  While we no longer worship God using the ceremonial practices of animal sacrifices, priesthood rituals and tabernacle or temple practices, the principles and teachings still apply.  They all point to the salvation of sinners through the death of the great Sacrifice, Priest, and Temple – the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus taught this very clearly Himself.  In Luke 24 we read of two post-resurrection appearances of Jesus.  The first is to the two disciples walking to Emmaus.  When Jesus opened their understandings to comprehend the Scriptures (which was the Old Testament at that time, as the New Testament was not written yet), what does He do?  Does He instruct them that the Old Testament is no longer to be used as it is now or soon to be replaced by the New?  No, He does just the opposite.  He opens their understanding to see that the entire Old Testament points to Him.  “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Lu. 24:27).  Moses is the beginning of the Old Testament books and the prophets are the final books.  Christ’s meaning here is that we must learn about Him from studying “all the scriptures,” i.e. the entire Old Testament. The second appearance of Jesus in Luke 24 is to His disciples.  And how does He teach them about His resurrection and what is happening?  “And he (Jesus) said unto them (His disciples), These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me” (Lu. 24:44). So if your friend claims to be a Christian but will only use the New Testament, saying that she only believes in Jesus (as an increasing number of churches state today), you may share with her that Jesus Himself, in the New Testament, instructs us to study the entire Old Testament, from beginning to end, because it teaches us about Him.  “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they (i.e. the Old Testament Scriptures) are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). Jesus also demonstrated this truth in practice, from the beginning of His official ministry to its end. He quoted the Old Testament Scriptures each time He responded to the three temptations of Satan (Mt. 4: 4,7 and 10) until His final words on the cross (Ps 22:1 and Mt. 27:46; Ps. 31:5 and Lu. 23:46).  The New Testament writers quoted from and referenced the Old Testament hundreds of times, from the Gospel of Matthew quoting how the ministry of Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy, through Peter’s preaching, Paul’s teaching and the books of Hebrews and Revelation providing instruction for us from Old Testament pictures and types of Christ.  One cannot really believe the New Testament without believing the Old, which provides the foundation, principles, prophecy and types referenced, enriched and fulfilled in the New Testament. What would you miss, if you only believed in the Old Testament or only in the New?  Do you value the entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments?  Do you believe the Scriptures with your whole heart?  How can you know?  What are the fruits produced by true faith in the written Word, the Bible, which testifies of the living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ?

Is work a curse or blessing? I’ve heard it explained both ways. Suggested Daily Reading: Ephesians 6:1-9 Meaningful work is a blessing.  God works.  Holy angels work.  We are called to work.  Our first parents worked in Paradise before sin entered this world (Gen. 2:15) and one day all the redeemed in heaven will work (Rev. 22:3).  But after Adam sinned, God cursed the ground for mankind. Thorns and thistles entered into our work; and work involved sweat (Gen. 3:17-19). This means that we are to view work as a God-given blessing, but due to sin, every type of work on this earth will have its hardships, problems, disappointments and struggles.  We will also find work difficult at times and we will sweat. Every occupation in today’s fallen world will have its own “thorns and thistles” and we will “sweat” because of its struggles and challenges. God calls us to work.  Read the suggested daily reading above as one example.  Therefore, we are to think about our work and perform it in ways that honor God.  The following four biblical principles should guide or thoughts and actions: Honorable work is a sacred calling of God. We are to serve God in our work, to be conscious of His presence and to please Him with our work. God calls every person to his or her work. We are therefore answerable to Him for our attitude and performance. Service is to be the primary motivation and goal. Yes, we may make money by working and even a great deal of money, but serving God and others by using my God-given talents is to be the main motivation. We are to be devoted to our work, but not enslaved to it. Our work calling is important, but we are to balance this with our other callings, e.g. our callings to promote and maintain our spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health of ourselves and our families. Careers do not only include work outside of the home.  It is important to remember that the career that influences the life of another human being more than any other occupation in the world is the calling to serve as a Mother. In all aspects of life, we are to love and glorify God, and to love and serve others.  This includes our work life. Read Colossians 3:22-23.  What does God mean here when He instructs us to do our work “heartily”? and to do our work “as to the Lord, and not unto men”?  How should a Christian’s attitude and devotion to his or her work differ from a non-Christian’s? How should it differ when the boss is absent, or not respectful and fair, or one who is difficult to work for?

Does God command us to give 1/10 of what we make to Him? Suggested Daily Reading: Malachi 3:8-12 The word “tithe” means “one tenth.  One tenth of annual produce or earnings.”  We read of Jacob vowing to the Lord at Bethel to give the tithe, “and of all that Thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto Thee” (Gen. 28:22).  The tithe is presented in Scripture as God’s just requirement, e.g. Gen. 14:20, Lev. 27:30, II Chron. 31:5, Matt. 23:23, Heb. 7:4,6, etc.  Read also the daily reading for today’s meditation, Malachi 3:8-12.  Free-will offerings in the Old Testament that were giving in addition to In the New Testament, God enlarges on “cheerful giving.”  Free-will offerings were those gifts given in addition to the tithe.  For example: “For God loveth a cheerful giver” (II Cor. 9:7); “Upon the first day of the week let everyone of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him” (I Cor. 16:2). Some Christians believe that giving a personal the tithe is no longer required for the New Testament church, as the tithing requirements are only mentioned in the Old Testament.  Jesus, however, did refer to tithing in Mathew 23:23 and Paul did as well in Hebrews 7:4-6.   Besides, the emphasis upon giving cheerfully and thankfully, is that of a free-will offering, one that is giving over and above the ten percent required.  Understanding this, if someone argued that New Testament Christians are not bound by the tithe, but should simply give freely and cheerfully, this would not mean that we are free to give less than the tithe, but that we are free to cheerfully give more. A father was teaching his young son the concept of tithing.  He provided a visual example.  The father placed ten $5 bills on the table.  He then instructed the boy to take nine of them and to give one to him.  “This is what God instructs us to do with the money that we make,” he explained, “we may keep nine, but we must give one back to the Lord.”  To the father’s surprise, the child responded, “We keep nine, and only give one to God?” When we consider that God gives us our health, abilities and opportunities to work and He is the one who blesses our labor, why is it surprising to think that He allows us “to keep nine, and to only give back one to Him?”  Love to God and love to others is the heart of God’s law.  How can we testify of this love in our giving to God’s ministries and to others in need?  What is the best way for you to structure you finances to ensure that you give freely and cheerfully?

Is gambling wrong, and if so, why? Suggested Daily Reading: Genesis 3:17-19 and Exodus 20:9-11 God works.  Angels work.  God also blessed mankind with work in the Paradise (Gen. 2:15).  After man’s fall into sin, sweat and painful problems and difficulties (thorns and thistles) entered all of life, including our work. Yet God still commands us to work (Ex. 20:9-11). Gambling is wrong.  Why?  One of the blessings received from honest work is profit or income for oneself and one’s family.  Gambling, however, perverts God’s plan.  When someone gambles they want to get money without working.  This person wants the blessings (the financial income) but to avoid the means God appointed for this (honest work).  Gambling attempts to bypass the sweat, thorns and thistles associated with work, and to get rich without work. Honest work and earning income is according to God’s plan.  In so doing, God wants us to employ our talents in a way that honors Him, benefits others, and serves to provide for ourselves.  We are called to develop and use our talents in these ways.   We are not to be lazy and waste our talents (Matt. 25:14-30).  Gambling is a sinful attempt by people to do things their way and not according to God’s will and word.  Gambling is purely self-focused and it does not seek to honor God or to serve the benefit of others through honest work. God also instructs us not to be wasteful, but to use our money wisely and prudently.  Gambling does not do this.  It wastes money “hoping on good luck” while the odds are stacked against the person who gambles.  There is a reason why governments make millions of dollars of profit from lotteries and gambling casinos are so luxurious!  We are not to be reckless with our money that God has provided through our work, or from that which others have given us, i.e. an inheritance (Luke 15:12-13).  Gambling is wrong because it wastes money recklessly and foolishly. We often limit our thinking about gambling to that of money, but how else can we sinfully gamble with other matters in life? Why is it sinful for someone to gamble with a marriage relationship by marrying an unbeliever, simply hoping that things will work out OK because there is a chance that it will?  How can we gamble with our lives? How can we be sinfully lazy in respect to our salvation, and just hope for the best?  Are you gambling? If so, how?

Prayer When thou saist, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Psalm 27:8 Read Psalm 27 Have you ever heard the expression: Prayer is speaking to God? Because of this, we require a moment of silence at mealtime. I’m sure that when you were young your parents often said: Be quiet, close your eyes and fold your hands. You were probably also taught to pray on your knees before you went to bed at night, either in your own words or by reciting a well known prayer. And if God some day gives you children, you must also instruct them to pray. Yet the question remains: How are things with you in this regard today? Do you say a quick prayer before a meal, and quickly jump into bed at night without second thoughts about prayer because you are so tired? Maybe you say a few words under the covers as you warm up, before you fall asleep. Hopefully things are different in your life! There once was a father who was very concerned about his son. Was he living uprightly? Did he have good friends? Did he go to places where he did not belong? This father finally made the decision to have a heart to heart talk with his son. He made his way up the stairs to his bedroom. Instead of barging in unannounced, he very carefully peaked in. Through the crack of the door he saw his son on his knees in front of his bed, praying. The scene stirred the emotions of this father so deeply that the planned discussion was not needed that night. In Psalm 27:8 we read the following words: When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Is that also true of you? Thought: What do you think is more important: prayer itself, or the posture of prayer? Psalter 72: 1,2 (based on Psalm 27) Lord, hear me when I pray, And answer me in grace; Oft as I hear Thee say, Come ye and seek My face, My heart and lips their answer speak, Thy face, Jehovah, will I seek. Hide not Thy face from me, In wrath turn not away, My help and Saviour be, Forsake me not, I pray; Should father, mother, both forsake, The Lord on me will pity take.

Is saying mean things really murder? Suggested Daily Reading: James 3 While words do not physically kill someone, they can “kill” a person’s reputation.  When we slander or gossip, we attack another person.  Bullying, cruel teasing, mocking and using words to degrade another are forms of “murder” as well.  When doing so, we aim  to kill a person’s sense of worth and respect.  Using words in these types of harmful ways stem from the same motivations as murder. Never degrade or mock others.  God has created each person unique.  Each human being is of eternal importance.  Disrespectful expressions regarding gender, race, intelligence or status are sinful.  Remember that every talent and ability we have is a gift from God.  If God blessed you with more innate intelligence, health, strength or coordination than another, this is not your doing.  Why then should you act as if you are superior?  If you mock another person, you are not only insulting this person, but also his or her Maker.  Think about this.  If you laughed at a painting and made fun of it, would this not deeply insult the artist who painted it? Mean, hurtful, killing words are often expressed when we become angry.  Therefore we all must pray and work to control our tempers.  Uncontrolled anger is often destructive;  if not physically, then mentally and emotionally.  When angry, our language often becomes abusive.  The Lord instructs us, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city” (Proverbs 16:32). Read that which James writes about the tongue in the suggested reading for this meditation.  The gift of language is a special gift of God.  It is one of the traits that distinguish us from animals.  It is one of the ways in which we can reflect something of God, of His image.  But we can use words in heavenly or in hellish ways.  We can use words in Christ-like ways, speaking truthfully, lovingly, tenderly, caring for the good of others.  Or we can use words in Satan-like ways of speaking in untruthful, hateful, and harmful ways to destroy others. Pray, strive and develop your ability, habits and character to speak more in a Christian manner and less in an evil way. Read Matthew 5:21-22.  How is Jesus seriously warning us in these verses about controlling our anger and not using cruel words?  Why do you think Jesus and James use such strong language when teaching and warning us about the words we use?  Do you regard your words with such importance? What makes human beings different from cats or monkeys?  If people believe that there is no God and human beings are only evolutionary animals, then what is wrong with deciding to put some to sleep when they become old or sick?  Is the death of the body of a human person on earth, the death of the person’s existence?  Why is the death of a person different from that of an animal?

Why is peer pressure powerful? How can I resist sinful peer pressure? Suggested Daily Reading: 1 John 2:15-17 Friendship is a blessing from God given to Adam and Eve in Paradise.  God did not create us to be alone, but to live in friendship with others (Gen. 2:18).  Since our sinful fall, however, who we choose as friends is important, as friends influence each other – either for good or evil.  Godly friends positively encourage each other to live lives filled with love to God and others.  Ungodly friends encourage each other to live lives filled with love for worldliness.  Worldliness is described in today’s suggested reading as lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life (1 John 2:15-17). Since our fall, everyone has an innate fear for loneliness.  We want to have friends and to be included.  We want to be accepted and not rejected.  To be respected and not laughed at.  Even when we pray and strive to be a godly friend and choose godly friends, we still live in an ungodly culture.  The worldliness of our culture exerts a negative peer pressure.  It constantly tempts us to sin to be accepted and included, and not thought of as weird and ostracized. How can I resist sinful peer pressure?  The following pointers are helpful: Understand its strength – Avoid people, places and activities that you know ahead of time will apply strong pressures Be true to God – Pray and strive to stay focused on and walk in the way of God’s Word Be true to yourself – If you love God, do not give up who you really are; strengthen your convictions and confidence to be true to them A true friend is one who seeks your best – “Friends” who try to influence or pressure you to sin, are not real friends Time is short – Teen years are only a few years in your life, stand strong by God’s grace for these few years when sinful peer pressures can be the strongest Focus on the long-term results – Many carry life-long painful memories and scars for sins in their teen years; focus also on eternal realities Lead rather than follow – Pray and try to promote positive influence rather than follow sinful pressures Retreat is better than defeat – Walking away from sinful temptation is far better than succumbing to it God’s blessing is better than man’s – God’s blessing for those persecuted for His name’s sake is far more valuable than the shallow praises of people Inward thoughts often differ from words and actions – People who loudly encourage you to sin and outwardly mock you if you do not, inwardly may well respect you much more when you stand firmly on your principles rather than bow to theirs Are you praying and working to be a godly friend?  To exert positive peer influences?  What helps you to do this?  What hinders you from doing so?  How can you grow in both resisting sinful pressures and creating positive influence?