Clare De Graaf's Blog, page 10
March 11, 2019
Slaves for Life
When we think of slavery, most of us automatically think of Africans kidnapped, brought to this country, sold and worked six days a week, treated more like farm animals than humans. It’s still stunning to me that “Christian” slave merchants and slaver owners were able to ignore this clear command of God.
“Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnapper’s possession.” Exodus 21:16
God required the death penalty for kidnapping people for slavery, or holding people they knew were kidnapped!
But in the Old Testament, God imagined some masters so kind and compassionate that slaves would voluntarily choose slavery for life.
“Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnapper’s possession.” Exodus 21:16
God required the death penalty for kidnapping people for slavery, or holding people they knew were kidnapped!
But in the Old Testament, God imagined some masters so kind and compassionate that slaves would voluntarily choose slavery for life.
March 4, 2019
This Life is an Audition for All Eternity
For the first 31 years of my life, I was a cultural Christian. A product of Christian schools, church every Sunday and a Sunday School teacher. I believed every word of the Bible to be true. Of course I was saved! My sins would all be forgiven and after death I’d live with Jesus, the angels and the rest of the believers, forever! Doing what? I didn’t know. I wrote this in The 10 Second Rule regarding my thoughtless and careless attitude about heaven.
I just didn’t see the point of being overly obedient or spiritual. I didn’t need box seats in heaven – after all, how bad can the bleachers be? I was in!
Not only was I in, but I gave absolutely no thought to the heavenly consequences of my choices on earth. I had no idea that Christians are actually auditioning in this life, for how they will live for all eternity.
I just didn’t see the point of being overly obedient or spiritual. I didn’t need box seats in heaven – after all, how bad can the bleachers be? I was in!
Not only was I in, but I gave absolutely no thought to the heavenly consequences of my choices on earth. I had no idea that Christians are actually auditioning in this life, for how they will live for all eternity.
February 25, 2019
Understanding Your Children, or Grandchildren’s “Brave New World”
I was taking the “middles,” our six middle school age grandchildren, out to eat a few weeks ago. One of my granddaughters received several texts. So, I asked how many texts she received a day. 192 in the last 24 hours! This does not include Snapchat, Instagram or Facebook. 192!
She acted like that was normal. And shockingly, she’s a great student and a good kid. No purple hair or nose studs. But that incident compelled me to better understand why young people would even want to live that way and the enormous pressure today’s Gen Z are under.
As parents and grandparents, we can either shake our head in disgust at this ridiculous waste of time, or better understand how we can guide our kids through this dangerous online world.
The following is an edited blog by David R. Smith at TheSource4YM.com.
She acted like that was normal. And shockingly, she’s a great student and a good kid. No purple hair or nose studs. But that incident compelled me to better understand why young people would even want to live that way and the enormous pressure today’s Gen Z are under.
As parents and grandparents, we can either shake our head in disgust at this ridiculous waste of time, or better understand how we can guide our kids through this dangerous online world.
The following is an edited blog by David R. Smith at TheSource4YM.com.
February 18, 2019
Why Are Jews Today the Leaders in Almost Every Field?
Years ago, I came across an amazing statistic on Wikipedia.
“As of 2017, Nobel Prizes have been awarded to 902 individuals, of whom 203, or 22.5% were Jews, although the total Jewish population comprises less than 0.2% of the world’s population. This means the percentage of Jewish Nobel laureates is 112.5 times, or 11,250% above average.”
That is a statistical anomaly that cannot be ignored! In spite of the fact that the Jewish people did not have their own country from roughly 70 AD to 1948, and were some of the most persecuted people on earth for 2,000 years, how is it they have managed to dominate almost every field from science to business?
I have an idea.
“As of 2017, Nobel Prizes have been awarded to 902 individuals, of whom 203, or 22.5% were Jews, although the total Jewish population comprises less than 0.2% of the world’s population. This means the percentage of Jewish Nobel laureates is 112.5 times, or 11,250% above average.”
That is a statistical anomaly that cannot be ignored! In spite of the fact that the Jewish people did not have their own country from roughly 70 AD to 1948, and were some of the most persecuted people on earth for 2,000 years, how is it they have managed to dominate almost every field from science to business?
I have an idea.
February 11, 2019
Do Christians Who Commit Suicide Go to Heaven?
I’ve had the privilege of meeting a half a dozen or more Christians in my lifetime who were seriously contemplating ending their lives. These weren’t just average people going through depression. One young business owner, whose family called me late one night, had a gun in the drawer of his desk in his office. Another successful professional, whose wife frantically called me had been contemplating ending his life for weeks. They and the rest were dead serious about putting an end to it once and for all.
Every single one of them asked me The Question, “Do Christians who commit suicide to go to heaven?” I was afraid if I told them what I really believed, they might just do it. So I lied. “I’m not sure,” I told them. And if that was a sin, I was willing to commit it to scare them into choosing life.
On this topic, theologically, I’m way over my pay-grade. So the following are the views of Pastor John Piper, one of the most conservative and respected pastors and theologians in the country.
Every single one of them asked me The Question, “Do Christians who commit suicide to go to heaven?” I was afraid if I told them what I really believed, they might just do it. So I lied. “I’m not sure,” I told them. And if that was a sin, I was willing to commit it to scare them into choosing life.
On this topic, theologically, I’m way over my pay-grade. So the following are the views of Pastor John Piper, one of the most conservative and respected pastors and theologians in the country.
February 4, 2019
What Does it Mean to Become More Like (the Actual 1st Century) Jesus?
This is a guest blog by Dr. Preston Sprinkle. Preston has a PhD in New Testament, taught at Cedarville and Eternity Bible Colleges and co-wrote a book with Francis Chan. He’s also a close friend and co-founder with me of The Center for Faith, Sexuality and Gender. www.centerforfaith.com. Preston and his amazing family living what he teaches.
I’m one of those guys who has an extra sensitive Christian cliché antenna. Some call it a BS meter. It picks up on all kinds of chatter through the church airwaves and demands a concrete explanation. So when I hear Christians say "I want to become more like Jesus,” my meter goes nuts. Not that it’s a bad thing. Becoming more like Jesus is a good thing. But what is this good thing? What does it look like? What does it smell like? What does it mean to “become more like Jesus?”
I’m one of those guys who has an extra sensitive Christian cliché antenna. Some call it a BS meter. It picks up on all kinds of chatter through the church airwaves and demands a concrete explanation. So when I hear Christians say "I want to become more like Jesus,” my meter goes nuts. Not that it’s a bad thing. Becoming more like Jesus is a good thing. But what is this good thing? What does it look like? What does it smell like? What does it mean to “become more like Jesus?”
January 28, 2019
The Confession of a Recovering Martha
In Luke we have this familiar story:
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42
Most of my life, I’ve not been all that wild about Mary, because I’m a Martha. I’m a doer. I like getting things done for the kingdom of God. I like organizing things, starting new ministries, teaching and leading.
Mary’s don’t seem all that interested in moving forward or pitching in with the work. They’re happy and thankful when you or other do it, but they are generally people, people. They hang out with people and they love quiet times of contemplation and Bible study. They’d rather “be,” than “do.”
Does Jesus favor Mary’s?
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42
Most of my life, I’ve not been all that wild about Mary, because I’m a Martha. I’m a doer. I like getting things done for the kingdom of God. I like organizing things, starting new ministries, teaching and leading.
Mary’s don’t seem all that interested in moving forward or pitching in with the work. They’re happy and thankful when you or other do it, but they are generally people, people. They hang out with people and they love quiet times of contemplation and Bible study. They’d rather “be,” than “do.”
Does Jesus favor Mary’s?
January 21, 2019
What If There Is Nothing After Death?
A few weeks ago, I gathered with our older grandchildren (high school and college) for what they call Papa School. They suggest topics they’d like to discuss about the Christian life, the Bible, history - you name it and I try to answer them.
One of the questions they asked was “how can we say with confidence, all other religions are wrong and we are right?” You can read my blog “The Myths That Not-Yet Christians Believe About God” for the answer to that question (http://bit.ly/2jYGkNs).
But one of the other impromptu questions during that discussion was this, “Papa, what if the Bible isn’t true and there’s nothing after death?”
One of the questions they asked was “how can we say with confidence, all other religions are wrong and we are right?” You can read my blog “The Myths That Not-Yet Christians Believe About God” for the answer to that question (http://bit.ly/2jYGkNs).
But one of the other impromptu questions during that discussion was this, “Papa, what if the Bible isn’t true and there’s nothing after death?”
January 14, 2019
Why All the Fascination with the “End Times?”
Every few years, my former pastor, now with Jesus, used to ask the congregation for topics on which they’d most like him to teach. “The End Times,” the events leading up to Jesus return, the judgment and the eternal kingdom of God were always in the top five. Above all, “when will Jesus return?”
Our Single Adults pastor used to joke, the most three popular topics for unmarried Christians were;
1. End Times
2. Sex
3. Sex in the End Times
So, why all the fascination with End Times and in specific, trying to pin-point when Jesus will return?
Our Single Adults pastor used to joke, the most three popular topics for unmarried Christians were;
1. End Times
2. Sex
3. Sex in the End Times
So, why all the fascination with End Times and in specific, trying to pin-point when Jesus will return?
January 7, 2019
Was Jesus “Soft On Crime?”
I think most Christians believe the God of the Old Testament was fearsome. He spoke from Mount Sinai words that terrified the Israelites. He gave them hundreds of laws and commanded harsh penalties for disobedience. He actually killed 25,000 Israelites once for disobeying his command to not intermarry with other nations.
To be fair, God also declared his love for his people time and time again, but disobedience wasn’t an option. He was a God to be both loved and feared.
Then along came Jesus. “Meek and Mild” Jesus. The forgiver of the woman caught in adultery and of Peter who denied him. He even asked the Father to forgive the soldiers nailing him to the cross. It’s easy to think of Jesus as being soft on sin – a kinder, more gentle version of the Old Testament God.
To be fair, God also declared his love for his people time and time again, but disobedience wasn’t an option. He was a God to be both loved and feared.
Then along came Jesus. “Meek and Mild” Jesus. The forgiver of the woman caught in adultery and of Peter who denied him. He even asked the Father to forgive the soldiers nailing him to the cross. It’s easy to think of Jesus as being soft on sin – a kinder, more gentle version of the Old Testament God.
