Category Archives: Faith

Mar17

The Trinity: Made in His Image

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The Trinity of God

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As Christians, we believe that God is a triune being made up of these three persons. We read about the Trinity in the Bible, we learn about it in Sunday School, and we take it on faith. But for many, the idea of a three-in-one God is quite confusing. If someone were to ask us to explain it, we would probably have a hard time doing so.

When Saint Patrick shared the Gospel with the Irish in the fifth century, he searched for an illustration to explain the Trinity. Legend has it that he picked a three-leaf clover. Pointing to each of its leaves, he explained that the single clover is made up of three distinct leaves. In the same way, God is made up of three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This elegant explanation resonated with the people, and Christianity spread throughout Ireland.

The Trinity of Humanity

“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:26-27 NAS).

I read this verse when I was little, and I asked two big questions: why is God plural (”Our image”), and in what way are we in God’s image?

I quickly learned that God has three parts: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That’s why God refers to Himself in the plural.

So in what way are we similar to God’s image? We, too, are a trinity of sorts. Each of us is comprised of a body, soul, and spirit.

A Trinity in Harmony

The Trinity of God is always in perfect harmony. Jesus tried to explain this when He spoke of doing the Father’s will.

“So Jesus said, ‘When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him‘” (John 8:28-29 NAS).

It’s believed that Adam and Eve also enjoyed internal harmony, allowing them to commune with God effortlessly. Then they sinned, and a disconnect occurred. Now we can’t use our minds to control all of our bodily functions, so diseases run rampant. We struggle to use our spirits to control our thoughts, but we still sin. Our internal trinity is often at war, as Paul explained to the church in Rome:

“For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:22-25 NAS).

Thankfully, Jesus told us how to fight this internal conflict:

“Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41 NAS, Jesus speaking).

When we become believers and submit to God, He gives us strength, peace, and guidance, but our internal trinity remains disconnected. Some may wonder at this, but we should remember that God wants us to rely on Him and walk in faith.

I do believe, though, that when we get to heaven our bodies, souls, and spirits will once again be in perfect harmony. This will allow us to worship God in the way He always intended—and a way we can’t possibly imagine right now!

A Thoughtful St. Patty’s Day

There are probably many reasons God made us in His image. Perhaps our internal trinity connects with God’s Trinity like a puzzle piece. Perhaps it’s a magnet of sorts, drawing us inexorably closer to our Creator. Or maybe our trinity is a mark of God’s design, like a shamrock stamp that identifies us as one of God’s special creations.

This St. Patty’s Day, after you finish your corned beef and cabbage, I encourage you to take some quiet with the Lord. Sit in amazement at a Creator who loved you enough to make you in His image. Now, that’s something worth celebrating!

“When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age’” (Matthew 28:17-20 NAS).

Mar3

A Biblical Look at Abortion

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I’ve always known that God loves us, especially innocent children. But when I became pregnant with Gordon last year, I became more aware of this than ever. Every day, I felt God’s love and care for my little baby. I came to realize that as much as I loved my son, God loved him even more!

Unfortunately, the Enemy is no fool. He knows that every life has the potential to glorify God and impact the world in His name. That’s why the Enemy wants to destroy lives as early as possible. Abortion is a very efficient way of accomplishing that goal because it ends the life of the baby and often ruins the lives of the parents.

Recently, legislators here in the US have made headlines with bills that would permit abortions up to the moment of the baby’s birth. Virginia’s governor even indicated that a baby’s life could be taken after birth! This is the sickest, most shameful thing I have ever heard, but it’s not really surprising. In fact, it’s quite logical. If it’s okay to abort babies at 6 weeks, why not 36 weeks? And if we permit babies to be aborted in utero, why not after birth? It’s the mother’s decision after all, right? Or so the Enemy would have us to believe.

But, as Christians, what should we believe? As with all things, let us start with this question: “What does the Bible say?”

Children are a blessing

Children were always part of God’s perfect plan.

“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it….’” (Genesis 1:27-28 NAS).

Throughout the Bible, children are referred to as the “fruit of the womb” because they were considered treasures from God.

“Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them…” (Psalm 127:3-5a NAS).

Only in the past few decades have we considered children liabilities instead of assets. [Tweet This.]

Children are Spiritually Aware

The world uses the term “fetus” to differentiate between an unborn baby and one who’s been delivered. The unborn is depicted as an unfeeling, unthinking mass of tissue that only becomes a “baby” upon birth.

However, the Bible indicates that each person is comprised of a body, soul, and spirit. Even while a baby’s body is still forming, his spirit is alive and able to communicate with God.

God told Jeremiah,

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5 NAS).

An angel told Zacharias that his barren wife Elizabeth would bear a son (who would become John the Baptist).

“For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb” (Luke 1:15 NAS).

Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth when they were both pregnant, and Elizabeth’s baby responded to the presence of the Lord. Elizabeth said,

“For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy” (Luke 1:44 NAS).

Later, the apostle Paul told the church in Galatia that God,

“…had set [him] apart even from [his] mother’s womb….” (Galatians 1:15 NAS).

Clearly, our spiritual development begins before birth and is independent of our cognitive and physical development. [Tweet This]

Child Sacrifice is Idolatry

You won’t find the term “abortion” in the Bible. However, you will find many references in the Old Testament to child sacrifices, especially requiring a child to pass through fire in an effort to appease a god. This blood sacrifice was the deepest form of idolatry. And what is abortion, really, but the sacrifice of a baby to the god of Self? [Tweet This]

When God called the Jews out of Egypt and set them apart from the world, He commanded them to abolish such evil acts and to conquer many of the groups that performed them.

“There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire… For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD; and because of these detestable things the LORD your God will drive them out before you” (Deuteronomy 18:10a, 12 NAS).

Unfortunately, the Jews continued to be influenced by those around them.

“They built the high places of Baal that are in the valley of Ben-hinnom to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech, which I had not commanded them nor had it entered My mind that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin” (Jeremiah 32:35 NAS).

Many years ago, the Holy Spirit showed me what He feels about abortion. I think it’s time to share that experience. Click the following video to hear more.

Children Belong to God

In the Book of Ezekiel, God makes it clear who is actually being sacrificed.

“You slaughtered My children and offered them up to idols by causing them to pass through the fire” (Ezekiel 16:21 NAS).

“For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. Thus they have committed adultery with their idols and even caused their sons, whom they bore to Me, to pass through the fire to them as food” (Ezekiel 23:37 NAS).

The truth is that our children are not our own; they belong to the God who created them. [Tweet This]

Sin Separates us from God

Like all sin, child sacrifice (including abortion) separates us from God.

“’When you offer your gifts, when you cause your sons to pass through the fire, you are defiling yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘I will not be inquired of by you’” (Ezekiel 20:31 NAS).

A nation that serves idols cannot also expect to call on the living God. [Tweet This]

God is the Answer

Regardless of what you hear in the media, abortion is not a debate. It’s not about politics. It’s not about healthcare. It’s not even about women’s rights. Abortion is about ending a life. 

While I personally support life-saving legislation, I don’t think the answer will be found in our legal system. The answer is, and always has been, found in God. We as a Church have to create an environment where families are supported and babies are welcomed. Only then will new parents want to choose life for their babies. [Tweet This]

This may seem like a tall order, but there’s something really simple that each of us can do: we can support our local pregnancy crisis centers. It’s there that women find the help they need on a daily basis.

This year, I’m taking a stand—actually, I’m taking a walk. On Saturday, March 9, I’m participating in the Walk for Life to benefit A Women’s Pregnancy Center here in Tallahassee. The money raised will allow them to continue providing free pregnancy tests and other resources to help expectant mothers in my area. They’ll also make sure each new mom knows just how much God loves her and her baby.

Will you stand with me? Will you help save babies and bless families by donating $10 or more to A Women’s Pregnancy Center? I’ve set up a website here where you can donate securely: http://www.fundeasy.com/m/4264980/.

“Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14a NAS, Jesus speaking).

We are so fortunate to serve a God who is merciful! If you’ve had an abortion, please know that God loves you and wants to heal your heart. Don’t go through this alone. Seek out counseling resources through your local church or pregnancy crisis center.

If you’re pregnant and in need of more resources than your local crisis center can offer, check out such groups as Lifecall. Their site, www.lifecall.org, states they even provide shelter for expectant moms who have nowhere to go.

There are resources available! There is hope.

Feb24

Set Apart: Understanding the Strange Commandment of Circumcision

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There are a lot of unusual commandments in the Bible, but none is stranger than that of circumcision. As new parents, Robby and I had to decide whether or not to circumcise our little boy. After digging into God’s Word a bit, this strange practice now makes a lot more sense.

In talking with other parents, though, I realized that many make this decision based on cultural norms or medical studies, but few understand the biblical basis for circumcision. Here it is in a nutshell.

First, what is circumcision?

The penis has extra skin on the tip called foreskin that retracts as the child develops. Circumcision is the surgical removal of this foreskin. The procedure can be performed on adults or infants.

When did it begin?

We first read of circumcision in the Old Testament when God commanded Abraham to circumcise himself and his children and for the practice to be passed down through his descendants:

“This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you” (Genesis 17:10-11 NAS).

Interestingly, other groups also practiced circumcision, including the Egyptians and Moabites, so it was not unheard of. However, only Abraham and his descendants used circumcision to symbolize their covenant with God.

Are we required to practice circumcision today?

This was a question the First Century Church struggled with as the first Gentiles became believers.

“Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved’” (Acts 15:1 NAS).

Peter answered them:

“Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are” (Acts 15:10-11 NAS).

The idea here is that if we treat circumcision as part of the Law, and we circumcise ourselves in order to adhere to the Law, then we must adhere to the entire Law…something no one can do.

Should we circumcise our sons today?

Although we aren’t required to circumcise our sons, the practice still holds a lot of value (as do so many of the Old Testament Commandments).

Sign of Faith – The removal of the foreskin is a symbol of separation from the world and unto God. We are a people set apart. What greater and more intimate way can a man declare his faith and obedience to God than through circumcision?

Choosing to circumcise your children is also an act of faith. Robby and I discovered this when we chose to circumcise our little boy. We didn’t want to put him through an unnecessary procedure with potential health complications, but we trusted that God would take care of him (and He did). As a mother, this was a much bigger act of faith than I had ever appreciated before.

Dedication – Although it is not required, a new believer may choose to undergo circumcision as a sign of faith and dedication to the Lord. However, most circumcisions today are performed on infants. While the procedure doesn’t secure the child’s salvation—he still has free will—it is a type of dedication unto the Lord. As my son grows up, he’ll have a constant reminder that God loves him and wants him to be counted among His children.

Health Benefits – Not surprising, doctors have determined that there are medical benefits to circumcision, including a reduced chance of urinary tract infections, penile cancer, and sexually transmitted diseases. It’s also not surprising that doctors have confirmed the eighth day (the day God commanded) is the safest to perform the procedure as this is when the body’s blood-clotting substances are at an all-time high. When God first gave the commandment of circumcision to Abraham, He certainly knew what He was doing!

Whether you circumcise your children or not is a matter of personal choice. There are biblical and practical reasons to support it, but there are also risks associated with any medical procedure. Before you decide, research God’s Word and pray about the best course of action for your family.

As believers, we are called apart from the world. This week, I encourage you to “circumcise your heart,” or to submit your heart to the Lord. More important than any outward symbol, this inward submission is a true sign of your relationship with God.

“Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live” (Deuteronomy 30:6 NAS).

Click to Tweet: As believers, we are called apart from the world.

Update: A reader submitted a comment regarding Galatians 5:6:

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love” (Galatians 5:6 NAS).

He said this verse proves that circumcision is now useless. I disagree.

In the context of this chapter, Paul is speaking to the church at Galatia. There, a number of Jews were essentially telling new Gentile believers that they had to become Jewish before they could become Christian—and a big requirement to being Jewish was to be circumcised. Paul responded to those who were “seeking to be justified by law” that they should not seek the law itself, or the “yoke of slavery,” but instead accept God’s grace that was freely given to them (Galatians 5:4 and 5:1 NAS).

As stated above, circumcision is NOT about salvation—it never was. However, just like the other commandments of the Old Testament, it can still hold value to us today if we seek God’s heart in it and avoid the trap of legalism.

I’d love to hear from you! Please leave your questions or comments below.