Lust is defined by Dictionary.com as “a passionate or overmastering desire or craving”. Here we can see the breakdown of lust and how the different aspects interact. This is paired with a biblical explanation through bible verses dealing with each component.
Click the graphic to enlarge.
Check out a great deal on a great book. Moral Apologetics, by Mark Coppenger is on sale for 2.99 at Amazon. Click HERE.
Dr. Coppenger was by far my favorite professor while studying at Southern Seminary. Behind the wit and humor, he is a godly man with an incredible intellect. Once he took me and a group of students to a philosophy conference in Chicago. He opened his home to us for the night and treated us like family.
It is easy to recommend a book that is so full of knowledge by someone you know and respect because you have seen their life in action. Go check out Moral Apologetics as a guide to pushing back against the cultural and religious critics of our day.
“A tour de force of apologetic thought.” – R. Albert Mohler Jr.
Here is what the back of the book says.
Have Christians grown accustomed to those who defame the Church?
Whether it’s a best-selling author who claims “religion poisons everything” or an atheist comedian whose punch lines aren’t hassled by the burden of proof, foes of the faith continue to declare Christianity morally deficient without much resistance.
In Moral Apologetics for Contemporary Christians, Mark Coppenger mixes compelling references—from classic philosophers to modern entertainers— to reasonably push back against both harsh critics and less intense cultural relativists, contending that Christianity is morally superior to its competitors as well as true.
Coppenger doesn’t avoid uncomfortable realities like the misbehavior of many Christians and false teachers, but he sets the book’s course in defense of his faith with evidence that a Christian approach to life makes people and societies flourish, while those who turn their backs on genuine Christianity are more liable to behave wickedly.
“I hope to help replenish our cultural confidence,” he writes. “We have a great moral story to tell, and it surely points to the Author of Light and Life.”
Mark Coppenger has rendered a great service to the Christian church in the twenty- first century. Moral Apologetics is a special gift to all of those faithful Christians who believe that Christianity brings new life to the mind as well as to the soul.
Richard Land, President, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, Nashville, TennesseeThis book is a tour de force of apologetic thought, revealing ethical issues to be apologetic opportunities. Fascinating on every page . . . get ready for a guided tour through contemporary culture and Christian apologetics.
R. Albert Mohler Jr. President, The Southern Baptist Theological SeminaryMark Coppenger is professor of Christian Apologetics at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, kentucky, and director of the Seminary’s extension in Nashville, Tennessee. He holds degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Vanderbilt University (Ph.D.).
In college I fell in love with apologetics. My mind was opened to the intellectual credibility that the Christian faith has, and I was blown away. Yet the ability to communicate these truths takes time. All Christians are called to be ready to give and answer for the hope they have (1 Peter 3:15), so here are seven tips I can offer to improve your apologetic prowess.
ESPN analyst Chris Broussard has come under fire for articulating his personal opinion concerning homosexuality. This conversation took place on the sports talk show “Outside the Lines” concerning the recent announcement by NBA free-agent, Jason Collins, of his sexual orientation. This is news worthy because he is the first professional athlete to “come out” while still professionally active.
The interesting part of this controversy is the way Broussard is being attacked and maligned for articulating a RATIONAL and PROPER definition of tolerance. Broussard never degrades Collins or any homosexual, but coherently states that it is HIS belief that the practice is sinful. And if he can tolerate a homosexual in the NBA without disrespecting anyone, he should receive equal tolerance from those who believe he is wrong without being disrespected on account of his lifestyle choice. Seems to make sense to me. Yet he is being attacked for the very act of suggesting that homosexuality is not perfectly normal.
Here is a quoted section of their conversation:
[Appearing with ESPN senior writer LZ Granderson, who is openly gay, Broussard was asked by the host], “How ready is the NBA and the locker rooms for having an openly gay teammate?”
Broussard answered, “The climate in society is very set for this thing to happen …. A lot of people feel like if you come out and say you don’t agree with homosexuality, you are viewed as a bigot, you are viewed as intolerant. So I think the climate is right for somebody to come out and say they are gay. I’ve been texting with players, GMs, coaches, agents throughout the day … and it’s been overwhelmingly supportive of Jason, from former teammates to guys who have played against him.”
[Later in the conversation, Granderson said], “If we really want to move toward progress and toward full acceptance, we have to have this conversation and this process.” [Broussard then seconded that motion, and gave an example of that conversation and how it could be productive:] “I’d like to second what LZ said. “I’m a Christian. I don’t agree with homosexuality. I think it’s a sin, as I think all sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman is. [ESPN’s] L.Z. [Granderson] knows that. He and I have played on basketball teams together for several years. We’ve gone out, had lunch together, we’ve had good conversations, good laughs together. He knows where I stand and I know where he stands. I don’t criticize him, he doesn’t criticize me, and call me a bigot, call me ignorant, call me intolerant.”
“In talking to some people around the league, there’s a lot Christians in the NBA and just because they disagree with that lifestyle, they don’t want to be called bigoted and intolerant and things like that. That’s what LZ was getting at. Just like I may tolerate someone whose lifestyle I disagree with, he can tolerate my beliefs. He disagrees with my beliefs and my lifestyle but true tolerance and acceptance is being able to handle that as mature adults and not criticize each other and call each other names…”
“Personally, I don’t believe that you can live an openly homosexual lifestyle or an openly premarital sex between heterosexuals, if you’re openly living that type of lifestyle, then the Bible says you know them by their fruits, it says that’s a sin. If you’re openly living in unrepentant sin, whatever it may be, not just homosexuality, adultery, fornication, premarital sex between heterosexuals, whatever it may be, I believe that’s walking in open rebellion to God and to Jesus Christ. I would not characterize that person as a Christian because I do not think the Bible would characterize them as a Christian.”
From this 45 seconds of conversation Broussard’s career now hangs in the balance. Much debate has raged over this outward display of one person’s beliefs, that happen to contradict the new social norm.
How the tables have turned in our culture. The liberal media seems to be saying – “We need to be tolerance of every person’s beliefs and lifestyle, and if you don’t agree with us, we will blacklist you and destroy your career! ”
Does anyone else see the self-contridiction here! They are changing the definition of tolerance to be accepting what they believe to be correct and nothing else! That is the opposite of tolerance!
Here are some interesting links to follow up on this issue! Check them out.
Albert Mohler’s Podcast on 4/30/13 – “The media has an unqualified celebration over NBA player declaring homosexual lifestyle. Meanwhile, those who refuse to celebrate full normalization of homosexuality are cancelled from events, protested, and ridiculed.” – listen for free.
Bubba Watson thanks Chris Broussard through twitter for his words.
And excellent commentary on the events by Ben Shapiro – “When it comes to tyranny and tolerance, the case of Chris Broussard is far more telling than that of Jason Collins.”
Hang in there Chris. This is an uphill battle.
– Adam
Did you know that Jesus had a ton to say about money? This infographic is not “christian” but affirms common sense wisdom consistent with the bible. I know I have a long way to go in this, but I want to be putting resources out there that really connect with real life. Check out these budgeting tips.
We all have a lens through which we see and interpret the world around us. Anyone who claims to be “neutral” or to simply “let the facts speak” has a misunderstanding about how reason functions. There must always be a framework, a worldview, through which we package and understand information. C.S. Lewis understood this.
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”
― C.S. Lewis
He understood that through the reality of Christ we best understand everything else! No really…Everything: from God, spirituality, relationships, finances, self worth, work ethic, parenting, you name it and it is best understood in the light of Biblical Christianity.
The question is, what worldview framework are you working within?
-Adam
Today most of the students in my ministry are headed back to school. Man, how the summer flies by. Now the harsh reality of early alarm clocks and homework deadlines are crashing in. Here are four thoughts as we all re-adjust to the school routine. (this blog is equally for parents as it is for students.)
1.) Be Thankful! – I know what you are thinking…”he has got to be kidding”. Well no, I’m not. Here is why. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Maybe your schedule is not perfect, student. Perhaps the teachers aren’t doing exactly the method of instruction you would prefer, parents. Be thankful. We are incredibly blessed to live in a nation that, according to the UN, has a 99% literacy rate. We are blessed to have access to science labs and football fields and musical instruments and art supplies and computer technology. These are luxuries that most of the world does not enjoy. It is nothing but God’s grace to be born in a nation and live in a community with so much abundance, and we should not mistake these gifts for entitlements.
2.) Don’t complain or criticize. – In our culture of blame shifting and entitlement can be the norm, but Christians are called to a higher standard. Parents, help your student recognize that teachers and principles are authorities over them, people God had placed over them, and they helped us learn how to live under authority. Please, parents, I urge you not join in your child’s complaints about the science teacher being too hard or the history teacher being dumb. Instead, lead your child to obey God’s command to pray for those who are in authority over us, to desire their good. Our teachers, support staff, and administrators need and want our prayers, I assure you.
Paul writes, “Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…” (Philippians 2:14-15) Wow. Don’t miss the awesome truth here. When we can stop our complaining, we set ourselves apart from the rest of the world. We shine the light of Jesus in this dark world of need. Is that something worth compromising because you think a teacher gave an unfair grade? Probably not. Speaking of grades, though…
3.) Focus on character more than grades. – Students, you should do your very best on all your school work. “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). And, “whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward” (Colossians 3:23-24). Yes, you can do algebra to the glory of God. How? By doing your best. Learning MLA formatting for your research paper may seem pointless, but learning to follow instructions down to the level of fine details is invaluable. The great truth of that verse in Colossians says that when we work for the Lord we are not working for a grade, but for the promised inheritance that is ours in Jesus!
Now parents, remember that your child doing his or her best does not necessarily mean that she will get an A. As you encourage your children to excel, encourage them along biblical principles. The Bible says nothing about GPAs and class rankings. The Bible does speak about working hard, but also serving others, building relationships, and learning to rest. Parents be cautious not to push your child so hard for making the grade or the starting line-up that it hurts the kid’s development as a disciple of Jesus. You want your child not only to learn a good work ethic, but you also want your child to learn when to put people ahead of tasks. It is your responsibility, parents, to help them navigate these waters.
4.) Open your mouth and talk about Jesus. St. Francis of Assisi has a brilliant quote that is often taken in the completely wrong way. He said, “Preach the gospel always, and when necessary use words.” causing some people to stop talking about Jesus. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never had someone fall to their knees, repent of their sins, and trust in Jesus by looking at my lifestyle alone. Words are always, always, always necessary for people to come to know Jesus. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).
Students, share your faith in Jesus. Talk about what you are learning from Him. Tell people about your hope in Him; do it with a smile. Trust me, students, there will come a time in life when you will not have the opportunities for sharing the gospel that you have today. Eight hours a day, five days a week for nine months you get to walk through life with the same group of people. Don’t let that pass you by without creating friendships and sharing the message of God’s love in Jesus Christ.
Parents, pray with your kid every day for God to give you both an opportunity at some point to talk about what Jesus has done on the cross, how He has been raised from the dead, how He reigns now as King of the universe and King of your life. Tell them about your struggles to share the gospel at work, and listen to their struggles to do the same thing at school. Encourage one another in this great task. In doing so, you start developing a relationship beyond parent-child; you start relating as brothers and sisters in Christ.
I pray this is a great school year. I pray that teachers, support staff, and administrators are given wisdom, discernment, and passion from God to do what they’ve been called to do. And I pray that Christian students and parents — and all the rest of us for that matter — will take the light of the gospel, the hope of Christ, with us from every home, into every classroom, down every hallway, through every office, to the ends of the earth!
While at the Creation Museum I had the opportunity to see a representation of the crowning jewel of human evolutionary thought, Lucy. Yet accompanying these bones were not the usual interpretations by modern science. At the Creation Museum, scientists and artists took the biblical worldview as a guide to understanding these bones. From personal experience, it was stunning. It was an amazing visual backed up by solid facts. This is one exhibit everyone should go out of their way to see, creationists and evolutionists alike. Below is a section of an article describing this monumental exhibit.
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Using the latest in holographic technology, the Creation Museum, as a part of its fifth anniversary celebration, has opened a new high-tech exhibit on human origins last Saturday [May 26, 2012]. With striking holograms, this state-of-the-art exhibit is designed to expose the scientific bankruptcy of the evolutionary interpretation of the famous so-called ape-woman “Lucy.”
Perhaps more than any other fossil, Lucy is presented as “exhibit A” for evolutionists in their attempt to show that humans evolved from an ape-like ancestor. Through the scientific research of the Creation Museum’s Dr. David Menton (PhD, biology, Brown University) and the artistic talents of Doug Henderson and his crew, the museum has created a stunning holographic refutation of Lucy. (The technical name for this Lucy creature found in Africa is Australopithecus afarensis.)
“I expect that scientists, both evolutionists and creationists, will make a trip to the Creation Museum to see this exceptional exhibit, not only because it refutes Lucy as an ancestor of ours, but also due to its use of remarkable holographic technology,” declared Ken Ham, president of Answers in Genesis and the museum.
In a highly visual way, the exhibit conclusively shows that the fossil bones of Lucy belong to a knuckle-walking, ape-like creature. Menton points out that many evolutionists such as the well-known researcher Donald Johanson, the discoverer of “Lucy,” admit that Lucy’s V-shaped mandible was very ape-like, nothing like that of a human. In addition, Israeli scientists reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science that it may not be our ancestor, for its lower jaw bone resembles a gorilla’s.
In the new museum exhibit, a number of Lucy heads have been created, cast from the same mold. Each head, however, is given different skin and eye coloration, as well as variations in the amount and color of hair. This was done to demonstrate how significant artistic license can be employed by researchers in interpreting what Lucy resembled as they “put flesh to the bones” of the creature. There simply isn’t enough information found in the fossil bones for anyone to determine what Lucy looked like.
“An imagination-rich artist can have a very powerful influence over what the viewer concludes about the evidence presented,” Menton observed. “That is one reason why our Lucy exhibit is placed in an area of the museum that demonstrates to visitors that a person’s starting point, or bias, influences their views.”
“Ultimately, with this excellent display, we want to show museum guests, once and for all, that this knuckle-walking creature needs to be discarded as a ‘missing link’ in human evolution,” Menton concluded.
Designer Henderson described the technology used in the exhibit, “We have used holograms of the actual bone models of Lucy, as opposed to simply exhibiting a 3D physical model. Holographers tell us this is the first time they have seen holography used to take a virtual ‘look inside’ a creature for the public to view. I call it a 3D X-ray.”
Every few months, the Creation Museum (located west of the Cincinnati Airport) adds new exhibits to present the case for the Bible’s authority and accuracy, including creation. Last year, Menton’s striking exhibit on homology—comparing humans to apes (and to other creatures)—used the technology of lasers to point out the differences between humans and animals. Menton’s latest exhibit may create even more of a stir in the origins debate, for Lucy is treated with near reverence by some scientists.
Last week I had the privilege of touring the Creation Museum in Petersburg KY. A highlight of that tour was the planetarium show describing the immense size of our universe. Watch the video below to see the high level of quality at which the Creation Museum functions. Dr. Jason Lisle describes how this planetarium is using the best technology available to teach that the biblical worldview has the best answers for how our universe got here and why it is the way is.
Check out this interactive site that lets you scroll through the size of various objects in relation to each other. It helps us get a grasp on the intricacies of this world and beyond. We can zoom in to see the tiniest of matter and zoom out to see galaxies and beyond. http://scaleofuniverse.com Check it out, it is cool.
All of this boils down to one point in my perspective. If this world and beyond is all about us, it is a colossal waste of space. But if this universe is all about the Creator, it is just about the right the right size. If the universe around us is a parable for the awesomeness, the power, the grandeur of God, then it is speaking clearly to us about who He is.
Here is Tim Challies article on the subject. How Big is the Universe? I love the use of scripture to help us understand the world around us.
Psalms 19
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.[a]
4 Their voice[b] goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
To supplement yesterday’s post on Chick-fil-a’s stand against homosexual, I turn to a lyrical description of the institution of marriage as prescribed by God. I believe this is one of the best understandings of what God meant for the husband and wife union to be a picture of Jesus and the Church.
Maybe the style of this video is not your thing, but listen to the words. Hear the plea for the Lordship of Christ in this incredibly necessary institution. Hear the sound theology undergirding the lyrics of this man’s view of marriage.
Your fellow worker in the field, Adam
adamlickey.com 