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It’s safe to say that at one time or another, we’ve all experienced anger. It comes in different forms. There is the red-hot rage that blows up and causes us to lash our irrationally, the “slow burn” that simmers and festers until it blows up, the passive-aggressive feeling that maybe doesn’t blow up, but eats away at our joy, and the dozens of minor irritations that we encounter every single day. We’ve all had those times when we’ve been angry.
Not that we always call it “anger.” We have various names for it: “frustrated,” “irritated,” “ticked off,” “mad,” “furious,” “ballistic,” or even more colorful metaphors. Anger, no matter its form and no matter its name, is a universal experience. The Bible has a lot to say about anger. For one thing, not all anger is wrong. In John 2, we read that Jesus drove the moneychangers out of the temple. He had a whip, he turned over the tables, and rebuked the swindlers there. It would be difficult to picture this scene without seeing Jesus clearly angry. In fact, John quotes an Old Testament passage that says, “Zeal for your house has eaten me up” (John 2:17). Being angry at blatant sin or injustice is certainly appropriate. But if we are totally honest with ourselves, most of our sin is not “righteous indignation” over the violation of God’s holiness, acts of willful, unrepentant sin, or injustice that surely grieves the heart of God. No, when we are angry—okay, when I am angry—it is usually for selfish reasons. I was insulted. Things did not go my way. I am unthankful or ungrateful for what is happening in my life. I want what I cannot have and get irritated that I cannot have it. It’s all about me! Our purpose is not to do an in-depth psychological paper on the causes and consequences of anger. There have been studies that show the effect of anger on health, the effect of anger in marriages and families, the effect of anger in society and with crimes. What we’re going to do is share just a fraction of what the Bible says about anger. In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he says “be angry and do not sin, let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” (Ephesians 4:26). There is a time and place for anger, but sin should not follow. You want to be angry, fine—just don’t sin! Easier said then done, though. In Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus says whoever hates his brother without a cause has committed murder in his heart. That anger and resentment you have toward another has the same effect spiritually as murder! You may not punch someone in the mouth, but if you’re angry enough to think about it, you’ve sinned! Ephesians 4 cautions us that, even if we are experiencing righteous anger, we should not dwell on it for a prolonged period of time (let not the sun go down on your wrath). Later in the chapter, the apostle tells us, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Here, we are told what to put away: bitterness, wrath, anger. . . in short, no matter what we call it, anger should be shoved out of our lives. And then we are encouraged to replace anger with kindness, tender-heartedness, and forgiveness. We see this same sentiment in other parts of the New Testament: Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” James 1:19-20 “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 “Love suffers long (patient) and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil” Feeling angry? Let the Lord know how you feel, admit that it is what the Bible calls it: sin, and be thankful for His forgiveness. With God’s help, replace the anger and bitterness with love, kindness, and patience. Forgive one another. Anger is common to all of us, but it does not have to rule our lives. Thanks be to God for His victory.
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There are three elements that have gone into the purpose of Rock Solid Journey. Those three elements are the Clear Element, the Simple Element, and the Counter Element.
This post will summarize the Counter Element. Not every teaching about the Bible is accurate. In fact, some ideas are either dangerously deceptive or downright silly. There are so many movements, even some that operate with the larger church, that are drowning out the clarity and simplicity of Scripture. You can type a Bible topic on a video search engine and get teachings that are scattered across the theological spectrum. There are cults and non-Christian philosophies, many of which have long-standing historical roots. There are also so-called “Christians” who have decidedly un-Biblical slants on doctrine. Some are very subtle, interjecting a unique twist on the Biblical text, creating the impression that through heavy study and perhaps divine insight, they have arrived at “new truth.” And there are some teachers and evangelists who make a very great show of promoting ideas like “all believers should be healthy and wealthy if they have just enough faith.” There are individuals who tour the country testifying of their spectacular experiences with God, be it in seeing visions, making trips to supernatural realms (or even heaven itself), or manifesting some miraculous sign or wonder. It is not our purpose to be “heresy-hunters,” “cult watchers,” or “discernment detectives.” Of course, we are to be discerning and there are many resources for Biblically based examination of various philosophies and religions. But our desire and hope is to present the Word of God simply and clearly, so that its truth stands and counters any false teaching that may present itself. There are three elements that have gone into the purpose of Rock Solid Journey. Those three elements are the Clear Element, the Simple Element, and the Counter Element.
This post will summarize the Simple Element. There is no shortage of faithful Bible teachers who bring fresh insights and perspectives from the Scripture. Thanks to services like YouTube and Vimeo, one can tap into seminary level teaching and deep, rich preaching from pastors and scholars across the nation. They challenge one’s heart and mind through the mining of the rich ore contained in the Word of God. Deep insights and heavy theology are important --and we do not want to abandon a good, meaty exposition of text, full of Greek tenses that precisely define the theological application of the passage. And if the speaker makes it understandable, all the better. But sometimes, we have to come up for air. Perhaps we have come to a season when Christians need to return to the simplicity of the Scripture. There is a well-known anecdote about a famous theologian who was asked what he felt was the most significant theological truth. He thought for a second, then said, “The most significant theological truth I have found is this: ‘Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.’” Perhaps it is time to reacquaint ourselves with the basics, remind ourselves of the foundations of the faith, and grab ahold of those handholds that can propel us up the rock wall of Biblical understanding. When is the last time you read the account of David and Goliath with the excitement and wonderment of a child, believing that the God who helped David could also help you? Have you tried to memorize the Ten Commandments or the Beatitudes or the Lord’s Prayer again? Have you been sobered lately by the prophetic Scriptures and their clear declaration that Jesus is returning to a messy world? You can and should go deep in your understanding of the Bible. But you also need the refreshment that simple teaching can bring. Perhaps it is time to catch that breath of fresh air and, once again, take in the simplicity of the Word of God. There are three elements that have gone into the mission of Rock Solid Journey. Those three elements are the Clear Element, the Simple Element, and the Counter Element.
This post will summarize the Clear Element. Psalm 19:7-11 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward. A superficial scan of social media reveals a great deal of confusion as to what the Bible teaches. We are not talking about doctrinal matters over which good scholars differ or even minor issues that could be easily resolved if we had more data. No, we’re talking about areas in which Biblical truth is unintentionally or even deliberately obfuscated or clouded over. Politics, psychology, social theories, traditions, and fallacies have all contributed to this trend as people relegate the Bible to a secondary, inspirational role in favor of other disciplines that have the “answers.” It seems at times the church has forgotten that it is Jesus that ultimately changes lives. She has forgotten that the consistent application of the inspired Word of God will ultimately bring changes to society by first changing the heart and mind of the individual. As the psalmist declares in Psalm 19:9: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” That’s pretty clear. But in order to realize this soul-converting power, the Bible needs to be presented clearly, with no place for ambiguity or clever interpretations. As the bygone television police sergeant would say, “Just the facts.” There will certainly be critics who will argue against our views, but we should leave no doubt as to what those views are. And as the Bible is clearly presented, there are those will trust Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Think about it: lives transformed, lives redeemed, no matter their background. The divisions within society start to fade away as we realize we are one family. And then, as we read and study Scripture and get sound, clear teaching, we practice this new faith. Our minds and hearts draw closer in alignment to God’s will. Our daily lives are continuously upgraded to be consistent with the revealed word of God. Clarity in Bible teaching goes a long way. It’s time to say, “this is what the Bible says and this is how it applies to my life.” It is a Book unlike any other.
Throughout its history, it is as consistently been an overall bestseller. Most people (particularly people of faith) own at least one copy. We’re talking, of course, about the Bible. Whether you refer to it as “Scripture,” “the Word of God,” or “the Good Book,” the Bible has had a profound impact on history, politics, art, literature, music, and, not surprisingly, religion. And millions will testify of the Bible’s influence upon their lives. Why does the Bible matter so much? Let’s consider three things: 1. Its ultimate author is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Genesis 1:1 states, “In the beginning, God created the heaves and the earth.” Later on, in 2 Timothy 3:16, we read that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” Everywhere in between, in direct reference or indirect reference, we discover that the same God Who runs the universe also is the One who gave us His Word. Who better to speak to my life than the One who made me? 2. It has been a source of comfort throughout history. Even many who do not believe the Bible have heard of the 23rd Psalm, which begins “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Call it tradition, call it an innate desire to seek wisdom and peace in troubling times, but people of all backgrounds have sought out the consolation that the Scripture provides. 3. It addresses the greatest need of humanity: a right relationship with God. When mankind fell into sin, God promised a coming Redeemer to take care of the sin problem (Genesis 3:15). Throughout the pages of Scripture, we see what Bible teachers have called “the Scarlet Thread,” which points to Jesus the Messiah, Who saved us through His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. This is the Biblical message. So yes, the Bible matters. It matters in its authorship, the peace it offers, and, most of all, its message of new life through Jesus Christ. Read it, study it, memorize it, and meditate on it, and the Bible will matter in your life too. |
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