Study reveals that overly-sensitive Christians need to drink more coffee

It seems that every time we turn around (about 5.4 revolutions per day on average), an atheist or an American Christian is offended at something. At the rate of 5.4 offenses per day, it's hard to find things that are truly offensive, unless you're overly sensitive, or just wanting to stir up crap to get attention.

To sensitive atheists who suffer from crossophobia, this is all I have for you,

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” (Psalm 14:1)

To oversensitive American Christians, "Relax, and have another cup of overpriced, burnt Starbucks joe in a bright red cup."

Starbucks attempts to dethrone God

Starbucks recently rolled out their solid red holiday cups. Former pastor Joshua Feuerstein posted on Facebook, "Starbucks REMOVED CHRISTMAS from their cups because they hate Jesus..."

The Devil's cup

This got the controversy going and became national news. I realized instantly that this was headline stuff. You know, the really important things that Matt Lauer talks about on the Today show.

Fortune Magazine said, "This has outraged many people who see the move as an attack on Christianity."

Persecution by red paper cup? I wonder how Christians in China and Muslim countries would react to this severe treatment by Starbucks? They would probably enjoy a red cup full of Starbucks from their musty, cockroachy prison cells.    

 

 

Survey shows that coffee drinkers hate Jesus  

In an official statement, Starbucks said they do hate Jesus. And their solid red cups are an attempt to make Jesus and His Father feel bad, in the hope that They'll just leave us all alone so we can do our own thing.

Talib's two-finger technique is very potent

Most people who hate Jesus used to hide in the shadows. Now they're easy to spot. They unashamedly drink from the Devil's cup. If you really love Jesus, when you witness this blasphemy, you'll slap the cup clean out of their hand, then poke them in the left eye using the Aqib Talib technique.

Sources say Starbucks intends to release a new line of cups around the theme of "Hail Satan." But they are waiting until God throws in the towel and announces His resignation.

Jesus was unable to be reached for comment.

Why sensitive Christians need to unbunch their panties

God is firmly on His throne. God is not going to get knocked off His throne. The world does hate Jesus, and He's well aware of this fact. He said,

¹⁸ “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. ¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed My teaching, they will obey yours also. ²¹ They will treat you this way because of My name, for they do not know the One who sent Me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ Whoever hates Me hates my Father as well. ²⁴ If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both Me and my Father. ²⁵ But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’" (John 15:18-25)

But the world's hatred for Jesus won't stop Him from eventually leading all people to repentance and a harmonious relationship with Him. That's the power of Jesus and His love. Some of us have experienced His power and love and are now His friend and part of His family. He turns His enemies into His friends. And every single one of us start out as His enemy.

For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! (Romans 5:10)

Can't touch this

 

If Starbucks sells a billion red cups of coffee, God will still be on His throne.

If the government takes away the church's tax-exempt status, God will still be on His throne.

If your local school doesn't sing Christmas songs during the "Holiday Concert," God will still be on His throne.

If the government says that only homosexual marriage is legal, God will still be on His throne.

There is not one thing that humanity can do that will knock God off His throne or change Him. Heck, they killed His only Son, and look what He did with that - paid for every single sin of every single person.

Ask God to show you how to wisely spend your time and effort 

If you are a follower of Jesus, you need to do what God has called you to do. And if God has called you to stand up against Starbucks because they "attacked" Christianity, do it well.

But realize that our enemy (that's the Devil, not Starbucks) often sends deceptive distractions our way to keep us from doing the more important things God has called us to.

Christians need to realize that this world is not our home. In 1 Peter 2:11, we're called "foreigners and exiles" in this world. We currently live in a foreign world that hates our Savior and His Father. But God has something way better for us. Someday He'll take over this world and make all things new, including all people. Until then, we'll just have to strive to be His faithful representatives on this earth.

  

Put your trust in God, not man

Does God need us to defend Him? No. He knows exactly how to deal with all situations and all people.

People are going to offend you. And you'll probably offend someone yourself. Unfortunately, that's one result of being in a fallen world.

The world we live in has been flat on its face in the mud since the fall of man. One by one Jesus is lifting us up and cleaning us off. And He will eventually lift all people out of their fallen condition.

Until then, it's going to be ugly. But the "ugly" isn't all "out there," simmering in red coffee cups. The ugly looks us straight in the eye every time we look in the mirror. Though some of us have been picked up by Jesus, we're still incomplete and we do sin.

When Jesus makes all things new, Starbucks will put snowflakes back on their holiday coffee cups. Until then, trust Jesus and His Father and unbunch your undies.

Sincerely,
Wes

P.S. Here is one of my favorite Bible passages showing God's perspective when people try to dethrone Him:

Psalm 2

¹ Why do the nations conspire
    and the peoples plot in vain?
² The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
³ “Let us break Their chains
    and throw off Their shackles.”

⁴ The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
    the Lord scoffs at them.
⁵ He rebukes them in His anger
    and terrifies them in His wrath, saying,
⁶ “I have installed my king
    on Zion, My holy mountain.”

⁷ I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father.
⁸ Ask Me,
    and I will make the nations Your inheritance,
    the ends of the earth Your possession.
⁹ You will break them with a rod of iron;
    You will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

¹⁰ Therefore, you kings, be wise;
    be warned, you rulers of the earth.
¹¹ Serve the Lord with fear
    and celebrate His rule with trembling.
¹² Kiss His Son, or He will be angry
    and your way will lead to your destruction,
for His wrath can flare up in a moment.
    Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. 

Rival gangs brutally beat and kill young man while crowd watches, some cheer

Did you see this story?

I recently read about a young man who went to the Middle East on an extended trip for his dad's business. The area he traveled to wasn't very open to outsiders. But he met some locals who accepted him. They said the young man was very kind to them, and that he was very helpful. They also said he was very charismatic, and some of the locals began to hang out with him.

There were two rival gangs that controlled the area. One gang was dominant. But the two gangs sometimes worked together to suppress and control the people of the region.

Some members from the lesser gang began to hang out with the young businessman. This apparently angered the leaders of the gang, who became jealous of the foreigner's growing popularity among the locals. It was discovered later that they were plotting to kill the young man because some of their members were becoming less committed to the gang's illegal agenda.

But they couldn't kill the young man because of a code that existed between the two gangs. Only the dominant gang had the authority to kill someone they considered to be a problem. And since the new foreigner wasn't on the dominant gang's radar yet, he continued living in the area, helping people in need, and managing his dad's business.

And more people began to hang out with him.

Eventually, the lesser gang had had enough. They found the young man one night, drug him to their hangout and beat him. Then they took him to the dominant gang and told them that this foreigner was causing problems in the area and needed to be taken care of.

So the leader of the top gang questioned the young man. He was a very tough and vicious man. He had killed many people as gang leader. Oddly, he was impressed with the young man as they talked. He even somewhat admired him because the young man had no fear, even in his dire situation - all alone and at the mercy of two merciless gangs. The gang leader was even somewhat intimidated by the young man, though he didn't know why.

The top dog announced to the members of both gangs that the young man should be let go because it wasn't proven that he had done anything wrong. But the members of the lesser gang relentlessly pressured him to kill the young man. The leader had a dilemma. He had a reputation and position to protect. He hadn't risen to power by being soft.

Going against his own desire, the gang leader ordered his thugs to deal with the young man. So they taunted and mocked him. And they savagely beat the young man. When they were finished, he was unrecognizable.

As they led him out into a public place, onlookers were shocked. But some cheered as the foreigner was dealt with. His friends watched from a distance, afraid for their own lives.

Then the gang killed him.

The young man's name was Jesus.

But His story didn't end that day.

Jesus' story continues after His death...

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

² There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.

³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

⁴ The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, Who was crucified.

⁶ He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.

⁷ Then go quickly and tell His disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ Now I have told you.”

⁸ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples.

⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” He said. They came to Him, clasped His feet and worshiped Him.

¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see Me.” (Matthew 28)

Like Jesus, the story of all who have died will continue... at their resurrection!

Jesus said,

"Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live... Do not be amazed at this... all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be judged." (John 5:25,28,29)

Go here to read in the Bible the story of Jesus and the two gangs. 

Sincerely,
Wes

Do you have to see to believe?

Jesus died, then rose from the dead. His resurrection is proof that He is the Son of God.

[Jesus] was declared to be the Son of God with power...by the resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4)

I believe this. And I hope you do too. But if you don't, I understand. We all start out as unbelievers. Someday you'll believe.

 

 

The Doubter

One of Jesus' closest followers didn't initially believe He had come back from the dead. His name was Thomas. And he's been given the infamous nickname "Doubting Thomas" for his refusal to believe in the resurrection without hard, tangible proof.

"Stop doubting and believe."

So the other followers told [Thomas], “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25)

But Doubting Thomas soon became Believing Thomas. What made the most famous skeptic of all time become a believer in Jesus? Evidence.

The evidence Thomas saw was Jesus. The story continues:

²⁶ A week later His followers were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷ Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.” ²⁸ Thomas said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20)

From that moment on he was no longer Doubting Thomas. He saw the evidence and believed.

 

 

You don't have to see Jesus to believe and be blessed 

Jesus' first followers saw Him live, die, and live again. We don't get to actually see Jesus (not yet, anyway). But that doesn't mean we can't believe. There is enough evidence available for all people to believe right now.

Then Jesus told [Thomas], “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

Jesus said that believing without seeing Him in person is possible. Millions have come to believe in and know Jesus without seeing Him. And they have been blessed by God for doing so.

 

 

Justifying unbelief

There were times when people asked Jesus for a sign and He refused to give it to them. So why did He give Thomas one when he said he would only believe with a sign - actually seeing and touching the One who supposedly came back to life? This was a bold request/demand from Thomas. 

I believe Jesus knew Thomas' heart and revealed Himself to Thomas for these reasons:

• Thomas was sincere and really wanted to know the truth
• Thomas was willing to go where the evidence led him, even if it meant that he had to change his mind

Those who asked Jesus for signs and didn't get them often asked with insincere motives. They had no intention of following Him, regardless of what He did. They just wanted a show. They wanted to ride the bandwagon of the popular guy at the time.

Some unbelieving people asked for signs so that when Jesus failed to perform, they could scoff at Him with a mocking attitude. To them, His lack of performance justified their unbelief. In many cases, they were ignoring what He had already done.

You can ask God for a sign if you want to. I don't know if He'll give you one or not. But if you do ask for one, make sure your motives are sincere. 

But I will tell you that you don't need a sign. God has already provided us with enough evidence to believe. We just need to pay attention to what God's already done.

3 solid pieces of evidence you may be missing 

Following are three big questions about God and Jesus, and the evidence He has already supplied for all people to see and believe. 

1. Does God exist? 

You don't have to look very far to clearly see evidence that God exists.
  

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)

The creation that you wake up to every day is tangible, solid evidence that God exists. When you look in the mirror, you are staring at evidence. People, plants, animals, the earth, stars, water, fire, trees, rocks, and everything that has ever been created screams that there is a God. It's like the wind. You don't actually see the wind, but you see and hear the leaves move in the trees.

And it's not just the fact that these things exist, but that they work so precisely. God's creation moves, lives and breathes in amazing and mysterious ways. Romans 1:20 tells us that we have no excuse to deny the reality of our Creator based on this.

2. Does Jesus exist? 
Jesus' first followers told about their experiences with Jesus. John, Matthew, Paul, and Peter all wrote in detail about the life of Jesus.

The Bible reveals to us the truth of God and His Son. The Bible has never been proven wrong, even though countless people have tried to discredit it over the centuries. Many of those who set out to discredit it became believers due to the power of God and the power of the truth. 

This is why you need to read the Bible yourself and get the truth about Jesus straight from God's book. If your understanding of God, Jesus and other spiritual things is only from sources other than the Bible, you will be missing out on the ultimate written source of spiritual truth.

3. Did Jesus rise from the dead? 

His followers said He did. Over 500 of them saw Him after His resurrection. Many of them were persecuted for what they believed and said. Some were killed. People don't say something that they know to be a lie when faced with persecution and death because of it. Paul says in the Bible,

³ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that He appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. ⁶ After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, ⁸ and last of all He appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. (1 Corinthians 15)

It's as if Paul was saying, "There's a boatload of people who saw the resurrected Jesus. Don't just take my word for it. Ask them."

Eyewitness testimony has always been the most valuable evidence used in court.

Imagine being on a jury and hearing consistent eyewitness testimony from over 500 people about seeing Jesus alive after He was dead and buried. And the opposing side has no good argument against all these eyewitnesses. Their testimony would convince you. You'd probably believe after just a handful told their story. You can't ignore these ancient eyewitnesses.

One of THE most powerful forms of evidence 

From personal experience, when God changed my heart and opened my eyes to the truth of Jesus, that became the most powerful personal evidence that I could get. And no one can refute that. God made me a new man. I was transformed by the power of God from doubter to believer. From rejecter of Jesus to follower of Jesus. From a man drowning in sin to a man saved by my Lifeguard. Ask my wife. She saw the transformation firsthand. Besides me, she was benefited the most by God's supernatural work in my life. God made a better person. 

A changed life is one of the most powerful forms of evidence God can show us. Do you know someone that God has dramatically changed in this way. Maybe He changed you like this. This is real live proof of God accomplishing His will - changing people to become like Jesus.

For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (Romans 8:29)

 

What will you do with the evidence?

Jesus was not mad at Thomas for wanting evidence, because He knew Thomas would believe if given evidence. But some will not believe, even with clear evidence right in their face. 

You might think, "Sure, if I personally saw Jesus I would believe too." Maybe, maybe not.  

Let's see how Jesus feels about those who see evidence and reject it:

²⁰ Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. ²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²² But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. ²³ And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. ²⁴ But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” (Matthew 11)

When people see cold, hard evidence that should spur them to believe in God, and they refuse to do it, God is not happy.

Are you looking for evidence of God? What kind of evidence are you looking for? Are you currently ignoring solid evidence? Are you asking God to open your eyes to see evidence? If so, are you asking from a sincere heart that will believe if given evidence, even if it means drastically changing your mind? Or are you asking from an insincere heart that will not believe, even if the evidence cracks you right in the nose?

 

 

Blind faith?

Anyone who lives by blind faith is a fool. And God never asks us to live by blind faith. He asks us to live by solid faith. Solid faith will be based on something He has already done. He has proven Himself in the past, so we can have faith in Him now and in the future.

God has always supplied humans with evidence on which to base our beliefs and actions. The creation is one of God's greatest pieces of evidence. And it has been here longer than humans. So there has always been evidence that points us to God.

The story of David killing Goliath shows how to live life with solid faith, not blind faith. 

³² David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” ³³ Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” ³⁴ But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, ³⁵ I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. ³⁶ Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. ³⁷ The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.” (1 Samuel 17)

Young David killed the giant Goliath with Goliath's own sword. Then he cut off Goliath's big fat head.

David didn't go against Goliath in blind faith. He and God had history together. And God had previously proven Himself to be strong by giving David victory over the lion and the bear. David's faith was based on personal evidence. He rightfully reasoned that if God could give him victory over the lion and bear, He could surely give him victory over Goliath. And He did.

If you don't have history with God, you can look at what He's done in other people's lives to strengthen your faith. Then when He proves Himself in your life your faith can then also be strengthened by your personal history with God. Never forget what God has done in your life. It's powerful evidence.

Chillax and open your eyes

My hope is that you seriously look at the evidence that God has already set before you. Slow down. Put away your cell phone. Go to a quiet place outdoors where you can see God's amazing creation. Chill. Relax. Think. Talk with God. Listen. If you come humbly to God, He'll show Himself to you.

God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. (James 4:6)

If you are not yet a believer and follower of Jesus, read and heed Jesus' words to Thomas,

"Stop doubting and believe."

Sincerely,
Wes

P.S. God's answer to my prayers is sometimes "No." But He has never let me down. He's always faithful. But I need to have a proper understanding of His will. If I'm asking Him to do things that contradict His will, I have no right to be disappointed when He doesn't do it. Knowing as much about God as I can is key. This will guide my expectations, my prayers and my life. That's why seeking to grow in the knowledge of God through Bible study and prayer is so important. 

A valuable lesson from the man who lost his ass, then became king

Saul had a problem. His ass was lost. Actually, many of his asses were lost. And they belonged to his father. It was Saul's mission to find them, and he was failing. But he did encounter something he could have never imagined in his search. 

"I kick Saul's derrière at hide 'n seek every single time!"

Let me explain...

Saul's long, unsuccessful, desperate search for his lost asses led him to Samuel - who was THE man in Israel. Samuel talked with God and was the spiritual leader of the nation. He was the one who would proclaim Saul as Israel's first king.

Saul had no clue that God had chosen him to be king of an entire nation. Israel had never had a king. But God's plan was unfolding behind the scenes before He ever let Saul in on it. It's like a seed working hard unnoticed while underground, then BAM!, the sprout shows up and it's on! Keep your eyes open for the sprout. It starts out small, but it's there.

Saul was simply trying to fix the problem at hand. His thoughts were focused. The possibility of God using this problem for something good didn't seem to be on Saul's radar.

God appointed Saul to be king over Israel so that he could set them free from their enemies - the dreaded Philistines, the nation of Goliath.

Mission possible

Saul didn't feel worthy to be called by God to such a position. And he wasn't worthy.

God's plans don't depend on our worthiness or strength, but on His. And He usually calls the least qualified to work with Him. That way there is no boasting on our part. Then it's obvious it is God's power that accomplishes the mission through us.

God empowered Saul for the kingly mission. Samuel told Saul,

The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you... and you will be changed into a different person. (1 Samuel 10:6)      

Saul couldn't fulfill God's plan as old Saul. He had to become a new man. And it was God's Spirit that would change him into King Saul. It's ultimately God's power that accomplishes His purposes.

By the way, the asses were eventually found.

Does God have a plan for you?

Maybe a throne is not in your near future. But I believe God has good things in store for you. I believe God has fulfilling missions for you that will glorify Him, bless you, and bless others.

Saul was Israel's first king. Maybe God has a mission for you that will be a first in human history. Be prepared to be surprised by God.

Your mission could be small, it could be huge. But it will be important. And God may call you to a variety of missions over the course of your life. He will call you to be a co-worker with Him in His plans. Isn't that awesome? Little ol' you and Almighty God... co-workers.  

God turns your heart through circumstances

We humans tend to like routine. As our lives go along we can get settled into a comfortable position. We REALLY like to be comfortable. We see challenging times in life as annoyances, setbacks and failures, when they may very well be opportunities designed by God. God can use a challenge in life to pry us out of a rut we may not even realize we're stuck in.

Sometimes when we're too comfortable in the routine of life we forget God. God warned Israel against this. And I think we all need to hear this warning too.
   

¹⁰ When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. ¹¹ Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. ¹² Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, ¹³ and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, ¹⁴ then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (Deuteronomy 8)

 

A challenging situation in life can be used by God to keep us from a proud I-don't-need-God attitude. God can use challenging times to turn our hearts back to Him if we've forgotten Him and strayed. God can cause us to think in new ways that include Him as we search for a solution. Through trying times He can also lead us to the people He wants us to meet that we wouldn't have met otherwise.

A seemingly hopeless or unsuccessful situation in your life could have you right where God wants you. 

I'll say it again - be prepared to be surprised by God.

 

 

See the sprout

I don't know if Saul was looking for God in his situation. As you walk through the day-to-day of life, are you looking for the sprout? Do you see any evidence of God working? Opening your eyes, heart and mind to begin to see God at work is essential. Your mindset is key. 

• Anticipate that God will bring good things out of the challenges of your life
• Be willing to go down the new road that God reveals to you
• Stay positive in the middle of the challenges of life
• Come close to God and ask for His help
• Believe that God is working, even when you can't see anything (because He is)
• Know that God is in control
• Trust Him to give you the power you need

These Bible verses show that God is actively directing our steps, even in the trials of life.

A man's heart devises his way: but the Lord directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9) 

O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walks to direct his steps. (Jeremiah 10:23) 

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delights in his way. (Psalm 37:23)

Sincerely,
Wes

P.S. You can read the story of Saul in 1 Samuel 9-10

Is it a sin to drink beer?

If you're of the male gender and you drink fruit flavored beer, or add real fruit to your beer, that's a sin. It's a very girly thing to do. If you're a dude, would you wear women's panties? I should hope not.

If you're a man, and you quit drinking fruity beer, your testosterone level will skyrocket faster than the time it takes a redneck to buy a case of Busch Light on a Friday morning.

"I don't always drink crappy beer. But when I do, I drink Carona."

If you're a female and you drink fruity beer, it's not a sin. Girls are allowed to drink fruity beer.

If you drink beer out of a green bottle, it's not a sin, but you are drinking really crappy beer.

If you drink Corona, that is a sin. That stuff should be outlawed because it's harmful to your taste buds. I'm currently drafting a letter to my senator to finish the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico just to keep this foul liquid from entering our beloved country.

If you drink Killian's Irish Red, you are spot on, and a wise drinker of beer.

And if you don't drink beer at all, that's perfectly fine.

But seriously folks ...

Is it a sin to drink beer? Yes... and... no. Let me explain.

 

First, know that to "sin" means to "miss the mark."

"Why be serious?
We have beers!"

Nowhere in the Bible has God outlawed beer drinking (or drinking of any kind). Nowhere in the Bible has God commanded people to drink beer. But ...

Some people may have a personal law against drinking anything with alcohol. And that's perfectly fine in God's eyes. For them, drinking beer would be a sin.

Some people are free to drink stuff with alcohol in it. And that's perfectly fine in God's eyes. For them, drinking beer is not a sin.

Mature people in both of these groups know that their relationship with God has nothing to do with what they drink.

for the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in holy spirit.

(Romans 14:17) 

You can't eat or drink your way into God's kingdom. And refusing to eat or drink certain things won't get you there either. You must personally know Jesus to be a part of God's kingdom.

Here's one problem  

If someone has a personal law against drinking alcohol, it's Biblically illegal for them to impose their law on others. Just as it's Biblically illegal for a drinker to push his personal law on others.

Chapter 14 in the book of Romans in the Bible talks about handling spiritual "gray areas." Eating, drinking, and special days of the week are discussed. Here's how we are told to handle these and other gray areas:  

The faith which you have, have for yourself in God's sight (Romans 14:22)

If God doesn't outlaw something, we have no right as individuals to make our personal law binding on others. But some religious people do this. And unfortunately, their personal opinions that they try to make universal laws may hinder some from coming to Jesus. It can cause people to think Jesus is the leader of the "Can't Do That Club" so they stay away from Him. This is bad.

God draws the line

But God does have restrictions regarding drinking. Drunkenness is a sin.

Now apparent are the works of the flesh, which are adultery, prostitution, uncleanness, wantonness,
20 idolatry, enchantment, enmities, strife, jealousies, furies, factions, dissensions, sects,
21 envies, murders, drunkennesses, revelries, and the like of these, which, I am predicting to you, according as I predicted also, that those committing such things shall not be enjoying the allotment of the kingdom of God.

(Galatians 5:19-21)

There is a definite point when someone is legally drunk based on their blood alcohol level. But most of us probably don't tote around a breathalyzer. Determining when oneself is drunk is not always easy. Most immature alcohol drinkers think they can handle more alcohol than they truly can. They don't know when they've had enough. The tricky part is that the point of drunkenness can be reached differently for each person. One person may become drunk after only one drink. Another may be able to handle two drinks. This is where personal responsibility and self-control come in. Each person must be responsible enough to know his tipping point and when they've had enough. When you go past this point you're sinning (missing the mark). God wants you to be free to enjoy the things He has given you. But He also wants you to be mature, responsible and safe while enjoying the gifts He's given us.

God also draws the line with the legal drinking age, which can vary from location to location. If you live in the U.S. and you're 18, you can't legally drink beer. But your 16 year old cousin can ... in Germany. You must obey the laws of the land you are in.

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. (Romans 13:1-5)  

Unlimited

I've heard people say, "I'm gonna get shit-faced tonight." When your motive to drink is to get drunk, which is a sin, then you're sunk before you even start. You've chosen to be unlimited and out of control.

Choosing to get drunk is like choosing to be mentally challenged for a short period of time. On what planet is that a good idea?

Humans are prone to excess. Therefore, we need limits. God sets some limits for us. Governments set some limits for its citizens. And we are responsible for setting our own personal limits.

We've all probably been around someone who is drunk. Isn't that fun? Maybe we have gotten drunk and made an ass of ourselves, with much regret. Drunkenness usually leads to very poor decision making. Sometimes life-changing and even life-threatening decisions.

Before I came to know Jesus, I would usually set my drinking limit by three criteria:

1. Drink 'til the beer's all gone
2. Drink 'til the money's all gone
3. Drink 'til I'm gone; go sleepy-sleep (a.k.a.- pass out)

Alcohol has a delayed effect. And you can consume too much before you start to feel drunk. Then you're in trouble.

When I was a teenager (drinking illegally), a guy once mixed me a drink for me called a "slow screw" that tasted like yummy cherry Kool-Aid. And I drank a lot of it pretty fast. I felt fine when I left to drive home. Yeah, I made it home that night, after a detour through a ditch ... and the hospital. The "slow screw" hit me while I was at the wheel. I totaled the car. I have a not-so-nice 2" scar on my forehead as a reminder of that idiotic choice. But even after this I continued to make stupid drinking choices.

Out-of-control self-control

I came to know Jesus in my early twenties. One of the benefits of this relationship is the control Jesus gave me over the things I couldn't control on my own. Drinking was one of them.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) 

Everyone has some natural level of self-control. But this isn't enough to overcome all of the temptations of life. The self-control that Jesus gives us when we come to know Him is at a supernatural level that we can't get on our own. He gives us the ability to control things we couldn't before. He gives us the ability to say "No" to sin and "Yes" to God. Perfectly? No. But, He's the reason I avoid drunkenness while still enjoying alcoholic drinks. It's the power of Jesus. He's not the leader of the "Can't Do That Club." He's the leader of the "Can Do That Club."

I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

The beneficial supernatural self-control that Jesus offers can be used in every area of life where we can struggle---drinking, eating, talking, driving, anger, sex, drugs, laziness, work, and so many more.

If you're currently a drinker and you don't know Jesus, when you do come to know Him, you might very well totally quit drinking. And that's awesome. Or when you come to know Him, you might continue to drink in a controlled, non-drunk way. That's awesome, too. The main thing is that you come to know Him.

    

Know yourself

It's possible to enjoy the taste of a good beer (Killian's) and not become drunk. I sometimes dump out part a bottle if my taste buds are satisfied.

You should know your own body and how you react to alcohol. If not, pay attention. You're responsible to yourself and to God for how much you drink.

Why drink?

Ask yourself a couple questions: "Why do I drink?" And if you do get drunk, "Why do I get drunk?" Here are some common answers: 

• I like the taste
• It eases my pain
• My friends do it
• I can't stop
• It's fun

What's your answer? When you know your motives for drinking, it helps you to make the right choices about drinking.

 All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. (Proverbs 16:2)

God knows our motives, and we should too. It's part of being responsible and mature. If your motives for drinking aren't good, maybe you need to step back and take a long, hard look at your life. Ask Jesus for help.

Maybe you struggle with addiction. Jesus can fix that. You can't understand His power until you experience it personally. If you don't know Him, believe in Him now. He'll help you. He loves you. And He wants you to be free to enjoy all the good things in life in a way that is pleasing to Him.

His greatest desire is for you to be a part of His family.

Sincerely,

Wes 

"Why did you start there?"

Dear Readers,

Will God save all people? Or will most suffer in incredible misery forever? Or will most be utterly annihilated?

Your starting point in the Bible on this important subject is vital in determining what conclusions you will come to. Your starting point will also greatly affect your understanding of God and His ultimate purposes for all people.

"Everybody else starts here. Right?"

It's possible, and sometimes pretty easy, to use the Bible to justify almost any belief imaginable. The Bible is a big book that speaks to almost every area of life. And one verse or a handful of verses skillfully plucked from the Bible can be made to look like a rock-solid foundation on which to build a complete set of beliefs about God, man and life. People who are at polar opposites on a biblical subject can simultaneously sound very convincing with their arguments, leaving someone seeking the truth confused.

I know from personal experience that choosing a side on important biblical subjects can be difficult when opposing sides present their cases very well. I've been deceived before. There may be things in my life right now that I am deceived about. Never forget that our enemy, Satan, is the master deceiver. But I will continue to seek the truth. And I encourage you to do the same.

   

The question I must ask myself 

 (and I hope you ask yourself) is this: 

"Do I want any of my beliefs to be based on verses that contradict God's clearly revealed will?"

I hope your answer is a reasonably loud, but not obnoxious "No!"

The point of this article is to ask, "Why do you start where you do in the Bible on this issue?". I also want to tell you my reason for starting where I do.

 

Will the judgment end?

There are three main camps trying to make their voice heard on the subject of the duration of God's judgment on those who are not followers of Jesus.
 

• Salvation for all (Universalism) - the eventual end of punishment and judgment, and the eventual reconciliation of every individual with God

• Annihilation - the eventual complete destruction and non-existence of mortal people who didn't know Jesus in this life. They won't live again after their annihilation, thus their judgment is eternal. 

• Eternal conscious misery - God's never-ending, punishing judgment of immortal people who did not know Jesus in this life

 

Striving for coherent and consistent beliefs

Jerry Walls, Professor of Philosophy and author of the book Hell: The Logic of Damnation, said it very well in the documentary Hellbound?. 

"Any honest person has to recognize that there are three kinds of texts in the Bible. There are texts, which on the face of them, clearly seem to teach eternal conscious misery. There are texts, which on the face of them, seem to teach annihilation. There are texts, which on the face of them, seem to teach that everybody's gonna be saved. No matter what position you've got and you take, you've gotta find a way to making those three sets of texts coherent and consistent with each other."  

Here are the three sets of texts shown in Hellbound?:

Eternal Conscious Misery                 Annihilation                               Universalism 

Isaiah 66:24                                                     Matthew 19:29-30                        John 12:32

Daniel 12:2                                                        Matthew 25:46                               Acts 3:21

Matthew 5:22                                                   John 3:16                                          Romans 5:18

Matthew 5:29-30                                            John 3:36                                         Romans 11:32

Matthew 7:13                                                   John 4:14                                         1 Corinthians 15:22-28

Matthew 10:28                                                John 5:24                                         2 Corinthians 5:9

Matthew 13:38-42                                         John 6:40                                          Philippians 2:9-11

Matthew 13:49-50                                         John 6:47                                         1 Timothy 2:4

Matthew 25:31-46                                         John 6:54                                          Titus 2:11

Mark 9:43-45                                                   John 6:68                                          Hebrews 2:9

Luke 12:5                                                           John 10:28                                       1 John 2:2

Luke 16:19-26                                                  Romans 5:21                                   2 Peter 3:9

 

To make all of these texts coherent and consistent with each other, as well as the rest of the Bible, is not easy. But if it's true that "God is not the author of confusion" (1 Corinthians 14:33), and that He does not contradict Himself, then you should believe it can be done and strive to do it. The reward of a coherent belief system is worth the effort.


Each set of verses above is not exclusive to each group. As a Christian universalist, I believe all of these Bible verses. But I may not believe a particular verse as it's written in the King James Version or the New International Version of the Bible. Sometimes you have to dig a little deeper than what a particular version of the Bible says. When this is done, all of these texts can be made coherent and consistent with each other. But the key is having the right starting point.

Judgmental Universalism

I've spent time in each of these three camps. In my opinion, all three groups have convincing arguments.

I first believed, taught and preached for about 17 years the eternal misery of those who do not believe in and follow Jesus in this life. Then for about a year and a half I believed in the ultimate annihilation of unbelievers. I am now a "judgmental universalist" and have been since 2009. As a judgmental universalist I believe that God will save all people and reconcile them to Himself. But I also believe that before they are saved, those who don't follow Jesus in this life will go through God's proper judgment. It will be very horrible (Romans 2:1-11), but also tolerable (Matthew 11:24). Their judgment is a result of their unforgiven sin due to the fact that they did not come to know Jesus in this life.

Contrary to this, there are many universalists who think God will save all people, but that He won't judge anyone. They believe God is smiling down approvingly on all people as mankind lies, hates, kills, rapes and abuses its way through history. Make no mistake - God will properly judge all sin.

The little god who couldn't

If you believe in the eternal torment or annihilation of unbelievers, you are in essence believing that God is not able to get what He wants - the salvation of all people. 1 Timothy 2:4 tells us clearly that God wants all people to be saved:

[God our Savior] wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (New International Version)

                   and from the King James Version,

[God our Saviour] will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

In this verse the Greek word that is translated as wants in the NIV and will in the King James actually means that God is determined to save all people.

If you believe in annihilation or eternal torment, the question you must answer is, "Why can't the Almighty God get all that He is determined to do?". Maybe you've never thought about your beliefs in this way. If you believe in eternal torment or annihilation, you are - probably without realizing it - essentially saying that God is not sovereign, or He is lacking in some other way, making Him unable to achieve His perfect will. The end result in your belief system is that God fails - He does not get what He's determined to do and has worked throughout history to achieve. Christian universalists believe that God is eventually one hundred percent successful in His plan to save all people through the work of Jesus.

Do you have a solid biblical reason why the Almighty God can't do what He is determined to do with His own creation?  

I discussed some verses about universal salvation with a man who has been a pastor for over 40 years. At the end of our discussion he said that maybe we just don't know what God wants. Really? His reasoning wasn't very biblical. Is 1 Timothy 2:4 unclear? Though there are many mysteries in the Bible, God does make many aspects of His will crystal clear. And when He does we better pay attention.

The following verses should convince you that God is able to get what He wants and save all people:

Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee. ( Jeremiah 32:17 - KJV)

          and God Himself says,

 Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27 - KJV)

Are you going to tell God He can't save all people because it's just too hard?
  

We can all just get along

It's important to find common ground for all sides. I believe this can be done with 1 Timothy 2:4 which again says,

[God our Saviour] will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (KJV)

The reason I chose this verse as a common-ground starting point is that Christians on all three sides of this very important issue believe that God wants to save all people. This is because no one can honestly ignore the power of this one verse. I have yet to meet a Christian who says God does not want to save all people. So this is our point of agreement. 

You'll notice if you look at the Scriptures listed under Eternal Conscious Misery, they all seemingly contradict God's desire/will/determination from 1 Timothy 2:4. 

Why would anyone base their beliefs on verses that seem to contradict God's clear desire? I think tradition, limited information, and peer pressure could be the main culprits. There are surely others.

I'm not picking on anyone who believes this way. I believed in eternal conscious misery for many years. I was never taught the other sides - annihilation or the salvation of all. When I first encountered them, I was resistant to believing tham because they went against everything I had been taught up to that point. Plus, I didn't personally know anyone who believed these teachings. "What would my friends think?" "Will they reject me?" These are all very real and very powerful emotions and questions I struggled with. Some people  never get past these initial questions, and out of fear, don't pursue the issue any further. But I realized I needed to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). This is how I became a Christian universalist.  

You'll also notice as you look at the verses listed as starting points for those who believe in the salvation of all, they are all in agreement with God's desire/will/determination from 1 Timothy 2:4.

If your starting point is contradicting God, I urge you get a new starting point, regardless of what you see "everybody else" doing. You won't be alone, though you will be in the minority. There are a lot of people who do believe that the Almighty God will accomplish His will and save all people. 

I ask you to try to understand the seemingly contradictory Scriptures in light of the verses that are in agreement with God's plan. From my study of this subject, if you dig deep enough, you can harmonize all of these verses with God's determination to save all people and bring them to the truth.

If you don't feel like digging that deep (it is a lot of work), or don't know how, I suggest my book - Jesus and Hitler - at the top of this blog. It's a deep look into the Scriptures to see the big picture of God's plan to save all people. Click on the book above and you will go to Amazon where you can get a paperback copy or download to your Kindle.


Please let me know your starting point on this important issue. Also, let me know what you think of this article.

Follow Jesus,
Wes   

P.S.
I occasionally offer the Kindle version of Jesus and Hitler for free download. Click on the book above.