Since that time, I have of course come to realize that astrology — like so many mystical and New Age teachings — is a load of bunk. But, for a number of years, it held enormous appeal for me, because it helped quell my anxieties.

Astrology made me feel powerful; it gave me a sense of control. If I could just interpret the stars correctly, I would know what was coming at me — I could be prepared. Computer crashed? Must be the planet Mercury rising. Challenges communicating with a co-worker? It’s because they were born under a constellation that makes them bullheaded and proud. (Couldn’t possibly have anything to do with my attitude.)

All of this came to mind recently when I saw the description for a group on Facebook called the New Thought Movement.

According to Wikipedia, the New Thought Movement “is comprised of a loosely allied group of denominations, organizations, authors, philosophers, and individuals who share a set of metaphysical beliefs concerning healing, life force, visualization, and personal power…. It promotes the ideas that God is all powerful and ubiquitous, spirit is the totality of real things, true human self-hood is divine, divine thought is a force for good, all sickness originates in the mind, and ‘right thinking’ has a healing effect.”

In other words, it promotes the idea that we, as humans, hold divine power — that we can be God simply by “right thinking”.

Like astrology, Tarot, and Wicca, the New Thought Movement — and so many other mystical teachings — offer believers a sense of control and empowerment by promising that they can know and do things beyond normal human ability, whether through controlling their thoughts or casting spells or interpreting the signs correctly.  By working the magic formula, we can govern our environment, the people around us, and diseases that plague our bodies.

(Why do you think the Harry Potter series is so wildly popular? Wouldn’t we all like to discover our secret wizardly abilities?)

The truth is, we do have the power to heal our bodies and to achieve our goals and to receive immeasurable blessings in our life. But, that power is in Christ Jesus — not in our minds or our will or mystical practices.

Scripture tells us in Matthew 24:11 that in the last days, “many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.” Of course, mystical teachings are nothing new, and who knows whether we are in the last days. But Jesus and his disciples repeatedly caution Christ’s followers not to be deceived or led astray.

The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

That last line is the clincher: They refused to love the truth and so be saved.

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

There is really just one answer to this riddle called life. There is one truth — not many truths, not variations of the truth. One truth.

But, guess what? When we put our faith in Christ Jesus, he gives us the power and authority we so deeply desire. He hears our prayers and works miracles in our lives. Through the Holy Spirit, we can heal the sick and raise the dead. And, God promises to pour out his blessings on his people — as long as we are walking in his will and are obedient to his commands.

Obedience. Submission. If we are willing to give up control and put our faith in something outside of ourselves — something far greater — then we DO have power. We have authority. We have salvation. And we have eternal life.

Yes, million.

How did they “prove” it? By measuring magnetic particles in the rocks where they found the artifacts and gauging the age based on shifts in the earth’s magnetic poles over the past several thousand centuries.`

Come again?

First of all, who’s to say that the artifacts are the same age as the surrounding rocks? That conclusion, in and of itself, is flat out silly. What if I took a 1982 penny and threw it one some million-year-old dirt? Does that now mean the penny is a million years old?

More importantly, though, I’m supposed to believe science – which is inherently fallible and constantly changing – over the infallible and unchanging Word of God that He created mankind in His likeness.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

So 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 said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” – Genesis 1:26-28

Hard to fathom that a higher power conjured us up out of thin air? Sure. But, is it really soooo much more plausible that humans were born out of primordial muck and evolved over millions of years — making our way from single-celled amoeba to some sort of fishy things, then to apes and finally homo erectus? Does that make any more sense than that we were born of a loving God, an almighty Creator, who made us in His image by blessing us with the very same power to create all sorts of wonderful things?

According to the theory of evolution (and mind you, it is still a THEORY), all of nature — the millions upon millions of species of plants, flowers, insects, animals, birds, fish and reptiles — came about through happenstance. Everything — EVERYTHING — in our world is all just a grand coincidence.

Sure, that makes sense.

‘But, the scientists have proof!’ you say. ‘They teach these things in grade school!‘ You cite the work of the all-knowing sage Charles Darwin, author of The Origin of Species, who deduced that mankind actually evolved over millennia from other, lesser creatures. Hmmm… Here’s what else Darwin has to say about evolution:

“The chief distinction in the intellectual powers of the two sexes is shown by man attaining to a higher eminence in whatever he takes up than women can attain, whether requiring deep thought, reason, or imagination, or merely the uses of the senses and hands.”

In other words, men have “evolved” to a higher level of intellect, creativity and dexterity than women. Oh, and did I mention that Darwin also thought that whites are more “evolved” than blacks?

I’m getting all preachy here, but if you want to explore the topic more, erstwhile child star Kirk Cameron and evangelist Ray Comfort have put together an excellent and very funny video on Evolution vs. Intelligent Design. Just click on the image to the left here to watch it online.

Pressed for time? Here’s a ten-minute clip that hits the high points, if you’ll forgive the cruddy broadcast quality of YouTube:

“Evolution is unproved and unprovable. We believe it only because the alternative is special creation, and that is unthinkable.” -Sir Arthur Keith, Physical Anthropologist and Anatomist (1866 – 1955)

]]> http://www.outoftheherd.com/character/playing-god-and-proving-lies/feed/ 2 http://www.outoftheherd.com/character/the-ultimate-superhero/ http://www.outoftheherd.com/character/the-ultimate-superhero/#comments Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:45:15 +0000 lesliejthompson http://www.outoftheherd.com/?p=25 Throughout the past year, I couldn’t help but notice Hollywood’s renewed fascination with superheroes. Batman. Iron Man. The Hulk. The Spirit. It seems these days that every cinematic blockbuster centers on a comic icon. And don’t forget the mortal crusaders protecting us from evil, like Jason Bourne, James Bond, or Max Payne. Their bravery and brazenness make us all feel a little more empowered, and let us vicariously stand-up to bad guys of every ilk as we comfortably munch on popcorn and Junior Mints.

It’s as if, in our collective consciousness, we secretly hope that a mysterious stranger will come swooping in and save us from society’s ills. As a nation, we long to abdicate responsibility for our current state of affairs and instead look for a mystical bail-out package wrapped in a flowing cape. We want a crime-fighting vigilante with super human strength, an iron will, and perhaps a few cool gadgets to deal with the drug lords, gangbangers, and scheming sociopaths all around us.

But, this Christmas season is a reminder that the ultimate superhero has already come, and still walks with us today. He’s not an undercover agent or a radioactive monster. He is God made man — the King of King and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ.

It’s hard to imagine that the helpless infant born in a manger some 2000 years ago is the Savior for whom we have all been yearning. He was a carpenter, not a covert operative. He never carried a weapon, never beat up a bad guy with his bare hands. But, he overcame the world. All our sin, all our shame. We are made clean by his sacrifice – if only we will believe.

Ay, there’s the rub.  Because for all our fantastical visions of celluloid superheroes, millions still turn away from the one who came to save us. Christ is merely a myth, they say; only the feeble-minded believe those old stories.

Why don’t they accept that Jesus is our Savior? Because it’s hard. Unlike the Hollywood heroes we hope for, Christ holds us accountable. He offers salvation, but the price is submission. And, in our fast-paced, gratification-driven, socially networked world, it’s hard to imagine that we’re not the center of our universe. Scripture tells us to play by his rules — to obey Christ’s commands. Obey? Commands? This whole Christianity thing sounds more like a dictatorship.

Except that Jesus’ principal command is this: Love each other.

What dictator ever demanded that?

If you think about it, if everyone followed this one command – this one simple plea – we wouldn’t need a superhero. If we loved each other the way that Jesus loved us — through service, grace and mercy — there would be no crime, no violence, no emotional neglect or physical abuse. There would be no greed, no prejudice, and no self-centeredness. If we really understood and put into practice what Jesus calls us to do, then we would see that he truly is our Savior, wanting nothing more than to save us from ourselves.

Instead, we spend our days griping about government bail-outs as we wring our hands over our own mounting credit card debt. After a hard day’s work surfing YouTube and sending text messages, we swipe a pack of Post-It Notes from the supply room, then spend $4 on a cup of Starbucks. We hide in our homes at night and watch riveting dramas about adultery and homicide to unwind, and just before bed, we secretly peek at online porn, forgetting that the girl splayed out naked for our entertainment is someone’s daughter.

We hope for a hero, and all this time, our true hero is hoping for us. Phillipians 4:19 assures us: “But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”. God promises that all things work together for good to those who love and serve Him faithfully (Romans 8:28), and that those who believe in Jesus and are baptized for the forgiveness of sins will be saved (Mark 16:16).

He promises to give us hope and a future, if we will just believe. This Christmas, don’t look to the movies for a miracle. Look to the baby in the manger, who is the only hero we need.

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
– Isaiah 55:6

‘Wait a second, lady,’ you’re probably saying, ‘I’ve been praying for a breakthrough and petitioning God for weeks/months/years to help me out of this mess. How can you say that I’m not connecting with him?’

Think of it this way: You’re in need, and you’re looking at a door that’s locked from the inside. The person that can help you is on the other side of the door. You’re talking to them–telling them all about your troubles and frustrations and how much you need their help–and they can hear everything you’re saying. But, they need you to unlock the door and let them in before they can help you. Telling someone all your problems when there’s still a barrier between you may feel like you’re asking for help. You can even start to feel bitter and resentful if they don’t come charging in to deliver you from your trials. (They’re right there, just a few inches away–why aren’t they doing something?!) But, eventually, it’s up to you to open the door and allow that person to get close.

Still not making sense? After all, God is omnipotent. When he hears our petitions, he has the power to overcome any obstacle to come to our aid.

Of course. But God is not a superhero on call. He is our loving Father. And, while he will help clean up our messes and is boundless in his mercy and grace, in the big picture, he wants a relationship with us.

And that means sometimes we need to not only ask for God’s help, but ask to know God. We need to pray not just for Him to provide a solution to our problems, but to instill in us His wisdom. Because when we’re walking in His will, we’re more likely to avoid troubles to begin with. And, when we are filled with the fruit of the Spirit–love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control–then we are unphased by the trials and tribulations that life throws our way. We feel a deep and abiding sense of security in the arms of our loving Father that is unshakeable because we know Him. We know that we know that we know.

Some days, I find my desire to connect with God waning. I don’t feel like putting in the effort. I don’t feel like spending quiet time in His presence. I’m caught up in the world–I have too many projects on my plate, people to call, places to go–and my relationship with the Lord gets put on the back burner in much the same way that our relationship with our spouse and our friends can sometimes take second place to other “more pressing” concerns.

It’s during those times that I simply pray for God to give me the desire to know Him better. “God, I don’t want to slow down and spend time with you. Please help me want to want to.” I know that I generally do what I want, so praying to have the want is the first step to drawing nearer to God.

We are each of us qualified and invited to be in relationship with Him. Doesn’t matter your skin color, your upbringing, your education, or how badly you’ve sinned. Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior to all who ask for His help. If you’re afraid to ask, then just ask for the courage to ask.

Unlock the door, and He’ll come in.

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right….” (Acts 10:24-35 NIV)

Now, what if the person you are with really, really wants you to run toward the bathroom? What if they believe, with all passion and conviction, that the door to the bathroom is the door to safety? “Here’s the a door!” they exclaim. “This is the way out!”

If you knew that the bathroom had no windows or other means of egress, would you follow them in? Again, probably not. Regardless of the person’s passion, regardless of their conviction, that door just ain’t gonna get you to safety. Quite the opposite. Sure, you’ll leave the theater, but you will be trapped in another place and will likely burn to death. Not pretty.

It’s nice to think that every door will get us to where we want to go. But, just because it’s a door doesn’t mean it’s the right door. Sadly, this analogy illustrates the backward thinking of millions of Americans. In fact, a recent survey of more than 35,000 adults found that the majority believe more than one religion can lead to heaven. Remarkably, of those participants who attend an evangelical Christian church, more than half stated that belief in Christ is not the only way to eternal life.

Y’all, let me spell it out to you in Scripture: Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 6:14)

The EXIT sign in the theater leads you outside to safety. No one gets out of the building except through the exit. (I know, at this point, some readers are starting to construct detailed arguments about how the movie-goer could make their escape through an alternate route. Maybe they could go back into the main lobby and out the front entrance. Maybe there’s a door to the back alley just for deliveries. For the purpose of this analogy, let’s say you’re in a small indie film house, and there’s only one freakin’ door. I don’t want to belabor the point.)

Just because you might think it’s not fair that some people don’t get to go to heaven doesn’t mean that it’s not the truth. Heck, sometimes I think gravity is unfair. I wish I could levitate. That would be cool. I wish I could step off the side of a building and not go ‘splat’ on the pavement below. It worked in The Matrix, why not in real life?

Because, the laws of physics aren’t necessarily “fair”. But, they are what they are. And, guess what? When we abide by the laws of physics, they work in our favor. We can even cooperate with the laws of physics, and achieve things we wouldn’t have thought possible. Who knew you could build a big metal bus with wings and fly across the Atlantic in a matter of hours? That’s working with the laws, not against them.

Look, it’s one thing to be tolerant and politically correct, it’s another to lack conviction or be feeble-minded when it comes to declaring your beliefs. If you state that you believe in something, know WHY you believe it. Be able to make your case succinctly and back it up, either with factual data or at least with personal experience. If you’re not sure what you believe, for heaven’s sake, do some research.

I know that Jesus is my personal savior because he saved me. I was born again on July 16, 2003, and my life changed. My personality changed. My desires and my tastes changed. Not because I willed it, or because someone else convinced me, but because God changed me on the inside—as soon as I started to cooperate. As soon as I submitted to His will instead of mine, I was able to experience things I never knew were possible. I became better than I was before—I had more integrity, more character, and more conviction. I still fall far short of God’s glory, but when I operate outside of his design…let’s just say I’m a hot mess.

I also believe that the Bible is factually accurate. Yes, you need to consider much of its content in a historical context. Yes, Jesus spoke in parables, which weren’t meant to be taken literally. Like the analogy above, they illustrate a point. But, the long and short of it is, early on in our history, we were duped by Satan. That broke God’s heart. He chose to redeem us by sacrificing His own son, who carried the burden for all our sins, past, present and future. Everyone say it with me now: For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Is it fair that Jesus is the only exit strategy for eternal life? It depends on your perspective. If you recognize that everything God does is born out of his infinite and unfailing love for us, then no, it’s not fair. Because we don’t deserve his mercy. We all have sin in our lives, which is why it’s all the more important that we understand, acknowledge and accept the redemption offered through Jesus Christ. He is our doorway to true freedom.

And, when you recognize the truth, you can really soar.

Let me back up just a little. We were driving home from the gym the other day, and I brought up the fact that I was, well…fertile. See, there’s “that time of the month” and then there’s that other time of the month. For me, the latter is just as stressful as the former, because we don’t use any birth control. And, truth be told, I don’t think I want to get pregnant. Consequently, whenever we hit the fertile days, I become exceptionally paranoid.

Admittedly, I feel guilty about not wanting children, especially with so many folks we know going to great lengths to get pregnant or adopt a baby from overseas. It seems that lots of couples will stop at nothing to have a family. But, I’m already in my late 30s, and I just can’t see myself raising a brood while I’m planning my retirement. Besides, I’m selfish. And, parenting is an entirely selfless act, one that takes immeasurable patience and altruism. Currently, those traits are not among my strong suits.

So, there I was, sweaty and tired after a bout at the gym, voicing my worries to my husband about the possibility of pregnancy. To which he flatly replied, “Put your womb on the altar.”

Then, he started to sing it, in a hokey country twang:

Put your womb on the altar
Give your ovaries to the Lord
Throw your fertility on the sacrificial fire
Relax, and cook yourself some s’mores

We had a good laugh, and Craig gently reminded me that it’s really not up to me whether we have children. That’s God’s call. If He wants us to have kiddos, I’ll get pregnant. If He doesn’t, I won’t. We decided long ago that God’s got the ball on that one (hence the “no birth control” thing), and I have to trust that He always has my best interest at heart.

So, I’m putting my womb on the altar. And, I’m looking forward to seeing how the Lord’s will continues to unfold in our lives.

In the meantime, please pass the s’mores.

Sadly, today’s kids’ fashions are more of a desperate plea for attention, as evidenced by the new children’s line from singer Beyonce’s “House of Dereon”, aimed at grade-school girls whose parents must want them to become pole dancers.

I’m all good with fashion being edgy. Heck, back in the mid-Eighties, I was New Wave all the way, with snakeskin mini-skirts and studded belts. I colored my hair a tinge of purplish-red using bleach and Black Cherry Kool-Aid. Rebellious? Sure. But, I was a straight-A student who always kept curfew, stayed drug-free and was unmarred by piercings or tattoos. For me, fashion was a creative outlet; I was happily non-conformist, and I wanted my clothes to show it.

A decade later, I was a swing kid, feverishly collecting vintage attire and dancing every weekend to live big band music. No longer just a way to play dress-up, fashion had become an expression of my deep-seated beliefs about respect for oneself and others. The Forties were an era of class and character. This was when the Greatest Generation proved its mettle. Dressing in vintage attire was a reflection of my desire to bring back the best of a bygone era, both in terms of personal pride as well as shifting social mores.

Not so for today’s young women, who seemingly are being groomed to become a generation of street walkers. Bad enough that BRATZ has co-opted the feminine ideal from wholesome Barbie in the collective subconscious of America’s pre-teens. Now, pop singer Beyonce has opened a veritable Pandora’s Box of fashion calamities with her new “House of Dereon” children’s line that perfectly preps young girls for a future appearance on Shot of Love with Tila Tequila.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

Parents, I beg of you, consider the fall-out of your fashion choices when shopping for your kids. There’s a saying in the business world that you should “dress for the job you want.” Is “hoochie-mama hip hop dancer” really at the top of your little girls’ career list?

Whether they are 4 or 14, dressing like a tramp-in-training does nothing to build self-esteem or demonstrate to the world your child’s perfect worth. You needn’t try to raise prissy little prudes, but if you put your second-grader in four-inch heels, footing the bill for her back surgery will be the least of your worries.