Are We Obligated to Obey the 10 Commandments?

What a great question! This gets us to the heart of the Old Testament/New Testament tension. Now that Jesus has come, we struggle to know if the Old Testament is irrelevant, or still applicable for us today.

I think a key to answering this question lies in our understanding of the word "obligated." Many believe that ancient Israel was "obligated" to obey the 10 commandments in order for God to love and accept them. This isn't quite true. God had already declared Abraham, and conversely Israel, righteous because of their faith. God had established a covenant with Israel, and much of the Old Testament law that we read was the parameters of this covenant. In other words, Israel didn't follow the 10 Commandments so that God would find them righteous; they followed the 10 Commandments because God had already declared them righteous. The 10 Commandments taught them how a righteous people would live. So, in this sense, even the people of Israel were not obligated to obey the 10 Commandments- they did so out of their relationship, their covenant, with God.

So, fast forward to the New Testament. Many statements of Jesus and the apostle Paul would suggest that the Old Testament and all its laws have been done away with. We are now under the law of love and the law of Christ. We are free from the Old Testament law! But, and this is key, we are still servants of Christ. If we are following Him, we have submitted our whole lives and our whole selves, all of our actions and activities to Him. We live to please Him. Which brings us to an obvious question- what does it look like to please Christ? How will someone who has devoted their whole selves to Jesus actually live? Ah, now we come to the purpose of the Old Testament in our lives. While the laws and regulations are no longer necessary to forgive sin or make us right with God, these commands do teach us how a Christ-follower will live.

So, when we turn to the Old Testament, and the 10 Commandments, we are no longer looking for a path to peace with God or to personal righteousness. This is only through the blood of Christ. But we do need to ask, "How will a person who loves Jesus express that love in their day to day life?" At this point, instructions such as "Do not lie", "Do not commit adultery", etc., can be tremendously helpful, because in them we come to understand how God views humanity and the world. When we know what is important to Him, we can't help but want to live that way.

You are free...free to do what pleases God. Scripture, the whole thing, offers a great guide for how to do just that. But it is always the relationship, not the laws, that must come first.

May you find incredible joy in that relationship today!

Nick

Do Animals Go to Heaven?

Although there are references to some specific animals in the Kingdom of God, there is nowhere in scripture that says that animals go to heaven when they die. This is because the Bible is written for human redemption, and not animals, and therefore is silent on this particular issue. There are segments of scripture that say that all of creation shall be redeemed. But these refer to the renewal that will take place when God creates a new heaven and a new earth. For an animal to die and then go to heaven it must have a soul. Souls are eternal, and they continue to exist after the passing of the physical body. And if an animal has a soul, then there must be a means of salvation for it to enter heaven, for every soul on earth is subject to sin. And if there is salvation, then pets must therefore have a choice in the matter; and no one wants to think about cute little fluffy being burned to nubbin in hell because she made the wrong choice. (I had a cat once that I'm pretty sure was possessed!)

1Cor 15:35,39 "But someone will ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come? For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals..." Paul continues to say that man will be raised with a new body, one that is imperishable. The Bible doesn't speak of animals having a soul. And it is a man's soul that goes on into eternity when his body has died.

I know many people get attached to animals like they would a family member. And it is really hard to think about being separated from the pet. So it's a natural response to wonder if they will go to heaven when they die. What we must realize is that death is a part of this life, and separation with it. God gives us animals and pets in this life so we can enjoy this life here on earth. They are gifts for the "now" just as we will be given new gifts "then" in our ressurrected state.

The Bible does speak of animals being in heaven, however. And these are animals not ressurected from earth, but created by God for that realm. In Revelation 19, it tells how the armies of heaven ride out on horses following Jesus.

In the new Millenium, when we rule with Christ on earth, it speaks of

Isa 65:25 "The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain," says the LORD.

Ultimately, the Bible is silent on the issue. But if you are one of those tied to pets, I'm sure God has something even better in store for us when we enter our heavenly home than we could ever imagine.

Pastor Caleb

Ask Anything: What does the Bible say about reincarnation?

We all like a second chance, a do-over. Maybe that is why someone came up with the idea of reincarnation. This concept has been around for hundreds of years. It basically states that the human soul will progress through a series of lives (some think this will include plants and animals) and eventually will merge with God. Along with the belief in reincarnation comes the concept of karma, which teaches that how we live in this life will effect our future lives. Hindu and Buddhist belief systems embrace reincarnation as a central concept.

So, what does the Bible say about this? It is pretty straightforward that the Bible gives absolutely no room for such an idea. In Hebrews 9:27 we read, "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people."

Remember when Jesus was on the cross and the criminal who was crucified alongside Him said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus did not suggest that he live his next life better and therefore improve his chances to enter the kingdom. His answer was very simple: "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

The apostle Paul writes in a letter to the Corinthians (II Cor. 5:6-10) that being out of his body would mean being present with the Lord. And that is true for every Christian. We can be as confident as Paul in knowing that at the moment we take our last earthly breath, we will be in the presence of our Savior.

So our do-over does not come from a long string of reincarnations, but from the grace and sacrifice of Jesus. He provides our new life. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

The Mark of the Beast

A question was turned in for our Ask Anything series that simply stated, "What's the mark of the beast in Revelation 13 and 14?" While this topic has been debated (often badly) for centuries, I think we can make a few observations that are helpful.

First, it is useful to know more about the book of Revelation. As odd and foreign as some of the language sounds to our modern ears, this type of literature was quite common in the early centuries. It was a genre known as "apocalyptic" literature. This type of writing was known by its high use of imagery and symbolism. Often, apocalyptic literature was used as a method for criticizing the powers-that-be without directly using their names. Another feature of this genre is its "already/not yet" use of language. This simply means that apocalyptic literature had a dual purpose: it addressed a current situation, but also pointed forward to a coming time when similar events would occur or prophecies would be fulfilled.

This basic understanding of Revelation is useful because it helps us see that the author, John, was writing about a very real beast (Rome) in his day. And while we do believe that the words of Revelation give us great insight into what might be in the future (the "not yet"), Revelation is best understood in the context of 1st century Rome. The Mark of the Beast at that time was very likely (although this could be disputed) association with what was called "the emperor's cult". The emperor of Rome at that time would literally set himself up as a god and expect to be worshiped. Those who did could be said, in a sense, to be "marked" for the emperor and they enjoyed great freedom in the Roman empire. This is why Christians (and Jews for that matter) had so much trouble in that era- their system of belief put them in direct opposition to the ruling religion, which often resulted in persecution and even death.

A second helpful observation is the meaning and purpose of the mark. In Revelation 13, it is quite clear that the mark of the beast would set someone apart as having chosen to follow the beast and his rule. What this means for us is that the mark of the beast, should something like this occur in our lifetime, is not something you can get by accident. From time to time, I hear people warn about different products or technological innovations as being a potential mark of the beast. Don't buy that for a second. Using a credit card is not the sign of the beast. Owning an ipod is not the sign of the beast. Even if they begin inserting electronic chips into our hands as a way of doing banking faster, this will not be the sign of the beast! How can I make such a claim? Because Revelation 13 so clearly associates the mark with the beast himself- those who chose his mark knew clearly what they were doing. No one was tricked into being marked. Should we ever see a current "mark of the beast", it will be a clear decision to reject God and embrace a different rule in our life. Until I see that choice being forced, I won't worry about it!

So, what is the mark of the beast? I have no idea. But I do know that in Revelation 14, there is a whole different group of peope who don't have the mark of the beast. Rather than having the name of the beast on their forehead, they carry the name of the Father. They have set themselves apart for Him. As we watch our culture and wonder if the end times are near, this is the best thing we can do- to be "marked" by our love and devotion to the Father. If we continually bear this mark, we have no reason to fear the mark of the beast.

Blessings!
Nick

Ask Anything: Why Should I Go To Church?

OK, I know Pastor Nick said at the weekend services that we should not read our Bibles (If you want the context of that radical statement listen to the message online), but I am reading my Bible anyway. I have been reading through the book of Acts and it really speaks to this question. In the stories told in Acts we find the birth of community for God's people.

Acts 2 says, "They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles' teachings and fellowship, sharing in the Lord's Supper and in prayer." And after a difficult circumstance recounted in Acts 4 we read, "...Peter and John found the other believers...then all the believers were united as they lifted their voices in prayer."

It is evident that the followers of Christ were finding value in being in community, even as they were persecuted and began to scatter all over the world. I believe that being in community is not just a good idea, I believe it is God's good idea.

Why don't people go to church? Here are a few reasons we have all heard:

I'm too busy

My kids are in sports

My house/yard/garden needs work

It's my only day off...give me a break

Church isn't really for me

The bible is too hard to understand

I don't know anybody there

The church is full of hypocrites

Yeah, I know...I've heard them too. But when we focus on these reasons (or excuses!) we miss out on seeing what God has for us as we rub shoulders with other Christ-followers.

Church is not just another appointment; it is the time when we can learn truths that will transform our thinking. It is also a place to use our God-given talents and abilities to serve and bless others. And it is a place where we can find safe accountability. It is a way to acknowledge the power and importance of God in our lives and homes.

Looking for more? Looking for better? Make time, make room, make it a habit to go to church. And look back at how the believers in Acts are described: "A deep sense of awe came over them all..." Now wouldn't that be worth rearranging your schedule for?

Am I being too simplistic here? Am I missing something? What do you think?

BTW, I totally agree with Pastor Nick's statement about Bible reading and meditating on the word, just for the record!

What's Wrong With Pornography?

Did you know that the most visited sites on the internet are pornography sites? More than Google, Yahoo, or Wikipedia, Pornography sites draw millions and millions of viewers daily. And did you know that the revenues of the sex and porn industry in the U.S. are bigger than the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball industries combined? The No. 1 search term used at search engine sites is the word “sex”. And while even the word “pornography” stirs up such vivid pictures and emotions in our minds, its influence on the average churchgoer is astounding. It has shaped our culture and our relationships with each other.

I was given a magazine in 7^th grade. It was my first encounter with playboy. I remember hiding it in my room and sneaking to look at the pictures when I knew my parents were away. After every time I was filled with such a sense of shame that after a few weeks I told my parents (an unnerving endeavor for a 7^th grader) and I embarked on an accountability quest with my father to strive after purity.

All of us, male and female are exposed at some time to pornographic material. From a young age, this can either become a thorn in the flesh causing constant guilt and temptation, or an area of victory. In ministry, I have not encountered one man or youth who has not struggled to some degree in this area. We are all exposed.

Pornography is drawing satisfaction from the physical body of another person that is not your spouse. It is the act of lusting after; and Jesus says in Matt 5:27-28 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Jesus takes it seriously.

Did you know that:

• 87% of university students are having sex over webcams, instant messenger or the telephone
• 38 percent of adults believe it is ‘morally acceptable’ to look at pictures of nudity or explicit sexual behavior
• In a recent survey, 70% of Christians admitted to struggling with porn in their daily lives.
• As of a recent study: 50% of all Christian men and 20% of all Christian women are addicted to pornography. 60% of the women who answered the survey admitted to having significant struggles with lust; 40% admitted to being involved in sexual sin in the past year
• In a survey of over 500 Christian men at a men's retreat, over 90% admitted that they were feeling disconnected from God because lust, porn, or fantasy had gained a foothold in their lives.

Now, I know these statistics can be staggering, but what is crazy are the numbers in the “Christian communites.” Lust and pornography is a huge issue… and for a vast majority, it is the elephant in the room that is keeping them from experiencing all that God has for them.

Our society not-so-subtly communicates to women that the relational part of sexuality depends on the visual. Just look at the huge emphasis on appearance in the media today.

In Movies, music, TV, and Commercials:
- Sexy is confused with beautiful.
- Image is valued more than character.
- Morality is treated as a private matter.
- Intolerance of another’s values is despised—no matter how unhealthy or destructive those values are.
- Getting my needs met is the name of the game.

This is what our media tells us.

And you know what I hear all the time? “It’s not hurting anyone. If I look at this picture or video of a naked woman, that’s my business and it’s not really hurting anyone.” What we need to realize is how much it actually does hurt us and the people we look at. To look at a woman just for her body is to degrade her to nothing more than “eye candy.” Would we look at that woman differently if we knew she was God’s daughter, His special creation, and his divine fingerprint?

The Root Problem

Masturbation, pornography and lust are not the source of the problems in in our lives. Rather, they are symptoms being fed by something else. In fact, there is a root which feeds and keeps sexual immorality alive. This holds true for all who face sexual struggles. The root cause is a desire for intimacy. We are each created with a need for intimacy, and when that is not met, we turn to where we feel like we can get it fast and cheap. But it’s not real. It’s an illusion. It is not real intimacy at all, only an imitation. And it never satisfies. That why people keep going back.

Until people realize that there is only an intimacy that God can fill, they will try to fill it with other things. This is why porn is so attractive. It has all the appearances of intimacy without commitment. But what it leaves is a person feeling hollow, empty, and filled with shame.

If you are struggling through the mess of pornography, or are having trouble bridling your passions and thoughts, we at East Hills would love to talk with you and help you work towards purity and help you set realistic goals.

Make A Commitment Now
God is calling you right now to put aside selfishness and pride and to follow Jesus Christ! If you have been sexually impure, go to Jesus right now. No matter what your sexual sin, He is faithful and willing to forgive and purify you

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Verses to help…

1Co 6:18-20 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Rom 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Psalm 119:9-11 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Peace,

Caleb

Straying from the Path

As a follow up to our recent series on the Principle of the Path, someone submitted a great question: "Why is it so easy to stray from the path, even when you know the path?" I think we've all asked that question on some level in our lives. We know carrots are better for us than cake, but we put the carrots IN the cake to help us feel better. We know exercise is better than sitting on the couch, but instead we watch TV shows of other people exercising (ie, the Biggest Loser). We can see the right path, but walking it, and staying on it, is another matter all together. Why? I would offer these three suggestions:

1. Our Human Nature
It may be comforting to know that this struggle with knowing what is right and actually doing what is right has been going on for centuries. In the book of Romans, Paul laments his own struggle, "I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn, I can't make myself do right. I want to, but I can't. When I want to do good, I don't. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway." (Romans 7:18, 19) This is coming from a man who planted churches all over the world! What Paul reveals is that no matter our level of spiritual maturity, we can still become misdirected by our old nature- that part of us that rebels from God and His good will for us.

The truth is that even though we can be set free in Christ, the actual experience of living free is an on-going process. How does this happen? It occurs as we allow Jesus to transform us. In trying to stay on the path, we can get overly focused on our actions. Changing our actions is important, but more important still is a change on the inside. That's what Jesus can do! Paul goes on in Romans to say, "Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:24, 25) So on a regular, daily basis, surrender your heart to him and ask him to help you make the right choices.

2. Our Environment
Let's face it: most of us are surrounded by influences that encourage us to live in ways that we know are destructive or unhealthy. Sometimes these influences are intentional, but most of the time it's a by-product of the culture we live in. We don't live in a world that highly values humility, self-discipline, or patient perseverance. We are immersed daily in an ego-driven, free-wheeling, have-it-your-way-right-now kind of environment. Unless we are intentional about placing positive influence in our life, it just won't happen.

There is a proverb in the book of Ecclesiastes that says, "A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (Ecc. 4:12) Add elements to your life so that you never stand alone. Go to church. Join a small group. Meet with a friend and go through a book together. Ask someone to hold you accountable. Taking steps like these, asking others to join you on the path, will help you keep your life pointed in the right direction.

3. Our Enemy
It's not very in vogue right now to talk about Satan as a real being, but the Bible says differently. The Bible clearly portrays an enemy of our souls who would like nothing better than to shipwreck our lives and our faith. Now I am not one who sees a demon under every bush- but I do believe we need to recognize that we live in a world that is not just physical. Spiritual realities exist, and we are in a battle. "For we are not fighting aginst people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12)

In this battle, it is asbolutely essential that we learn to rely on the Holy Spirit. This is the very presence of God, living in us and guiding us each moment as we learn to trust Him and listen to Him. Paul says, "So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then youw on't be doing what your sinflu nature craves." (Galatians 5:16) The Holy Spirit can lead us down the right path, no matter who, or what, is trying to lead us astray.

May you find peace and joy in Christ as you follow Him down the right path-

Nick

Angels - are they real?

I believe the bible is true and trustworthy, so I believe angels are real. They are key players in several Old Testament stories (Abraham, Gideon, Balaam) and in New Testament stories surrounding the birth of Jesus. They are described as innumerable, powerful, and obedient.

Angels were created by God as a special class of beings. They are messengers, protectors and aides, have been instruments of God's judgement, and they praise God. There are dozens of references to angelic beings and activities in the Bible, but there are many unanswered questions about them. This leads to speculation and misinformation when we get too eager to pencil in the details for ourselves. That is why we have so many images of beautiful blonde female angels with huge white wings who are wearing lavish amounts of white flowing chiffon...sort of like a prom dress gone wild.

A few things we do know is that angels were created pre-mankind, that they have free will, and that about a third of them followed a high ranking angel in rebellion against God and were cast out of their heavenly home. These rebel angels are followers of Satan and called demons. It appears that angels do not die, do not reproduce, and when they appear in human form they do not have wings and are always male. We can also deduce that angels are not the sweet little cherubic creatures we see on Christmas cards, but must be somewhat fierce looking as they almost always begin their interaction with humans by directing them to "fear not".

One personal and profound reference to angels is in Psalm 91:9-11 "If you make the Most High your dwelling, even the Lord, who is my refuge, then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." This is where we get the concept of a guardian angel.

From Genesis to Revelation angels are mentioned. Yes, they are real. I think the reason we don't know a ton about them is because God's focus in Scripture is on His created human beings, on His redemption and care for mankind.

Ask Anything: Do Angels Really Exist?

Short answer: Yes

Longer answer: Yes, but...

Yes, but we have so many misconceptions and misunderstandings about angels and their activities that it seems like a good idea to discuss a few things that we know to be true. So, we will turn from the common images we are presented with of angels that look like this...

or this....

or how about this...

What images pop into your head when you start hearing about angels? What stories have you heard? Tomorrow I will post a bit about what the bible tells us on this subject. In the meantime, feel free to weigh in with some of your own thoughts or even a picture or two. See you on Monday. ~Ann.