So what did we get ourselves into? We may never know the full extent of it to be honest. The wiring is outdated in some parts of the house, termite damage is apparent but not spelling our impending doom, and only half of the outer walls are insulated. In short, we have our work cut out for us. But it’s not all bad – we do, after all, own an awesome house.

When our cat ran away last week I had the perfect opportunity to meet people – many of whom have lived on our street all their lives. One particular neighbor, an elderly woman who is a first cousin to the previous owner and builder of our house, was kind enough to talk to me for over 30 minutes about our home. She told me that our home was started in the late 1940’s. The owners before us were frugal people and only built when they had the money in the bank (smart people). The original house was two rooms (what is now our kitchen and dining room). The bathroom didn’t come until a few years later. After the bathroom came what is now our bedroom – followed by the living room and the other bedroom. Finally our office and the other half of the kitchen was added. How cool is that? All of the construction was done by the owners and their friends – a tradition that we are glad to continue. Our beautiful terazzo floor was poured in 1961 and still looks fantastic.

All of these little facts about our house make me love it more – a lot more. Another of our neighbors – also a first cousin to the previous owners – has photo albums documenting the construction of our house. You better believe I can’t wait to see those pictures!

With this kind of history I’ve expected a fair share of discoveries. I haven’t been disappointed. . .

At first the things we found were small. Small antique toys, empty vintage packaging, notes written on the rafters in the attic; but we’ve been blessed with some bigger surprises too. Several days after closing on the house I stumbled upon an antique toolbox filled with copper pipe supplies in the garage, but my favorite discovery so far came yesterday in the old playhouse. . .

Over thirty issues of TIME Magazine from 1974 to 1976, plus several issues of Skeptic Magazine from the same years and one issue of National Enquirer – all in excellent condition. Woohoo!

With that said (and hopefully without stepping on toes) let me go ahead and lay a groundwork for what will likely be a series of posts on this topic. First I’ll lay out some simple definitions. They won’t be all-encompassing, but they will do the job for now:

Preterist View – The prophecies in Revelation were fulfilled in the days of the early church (namely 70 AD). This view holds that the book of Revelation was written before 70 AD.

Futurist View – The prophecies in Revelation have not yet come to pass (some believe that they are beginning to come to pass in the past several decades). This view dates Revelation as being written around 80 AD.

Dispensational Pre-Millennialism – Futurist view of Revelation. We are in the church “dispensation”. Christ will secretly come back and rapture out the believers followed by 7 years of tribulation followed by the millennial reign (literal 1000 years).

Historic Pre-Millennialism – Futurist view of Revelation. Same as Dispensational Pre-Mil except that there is no secret rapture and Christians go through the tribulation.

Post-Millenialism – Preterist view of Revelation. The millennium (not literally 1000 years) was ushered in with Christ’s resurrection and the binding of Satan (i.e. Christ defeated Satan with the completion of His plan of redemption). During this millennium the gospel will be preached to every tribe and tongue until literally a representation of all the world is redeemed. At the end of this millennium there will be a rebellion against Christ and the church at which time Christ will return to destroy the wicked and usher in the new heaven and the new earth.

Amillennialism – Preterist view of Revelation. Similar to Post-Millennialism except that the millennium is representative of the church age without any promise of the Gospel going to the whole world. Note that Amillenialists do not deny a millennium, they simply attribute less significance to it.

There are a few other smaller camps in existence but the vast majority of Christians fall into one of these four categories. For further development of each of these definitions, I would definitely recommend spending the two hours to watch “An Evening of Eschatology”  – a round-table discussion between prominent representatives of each of the three main views (excluding dispensational pre-millenialism) hosted by Bethlehem Baptist Church and moderated by John Piper. Here’s the link:

An Evening of Eschatology

Of course I’m making it sound worse than it is. I am very glad that we’ve chosen to renovate now rather than later (and no, dad, we’re not really penniless). True, my wife and I will have to make due without a kitchen for a few weeks – but in the end we will look at our new home with joy and contentedness. Speaking of my wife, she is AMAZING! She has worked very hard to make this house a good home for us and it means the world to me to see her investing her time and energy into making sure that the paint looks perfect and the house is clean.

Moving day is two days away! I’m so ready to be in our new house. The Lord is good in His provisions. I wish I had pictures to show, but we really would like to have the “after”s before we show everyone the “before”s. Hang in there. . .

The debate turned into a movie and a book. The movie (which comes out on DVD today) is called Collision. Now I haven’t seen the movie yet. It will be in the mail today. Let me tell you why you should want to buy this movie and watch it as well:

Reason #1: Doug Wilson.

If you want to see boldness (supported by vast intelligence of Scripture) turn to Doug Wilson. Here is a man filled with the Spirit who does not shy away from questions like “Why does God punish the innocent?” or “Am I going to Hell?” It is so refreshing to hear a man of God who is not afraid to speak the Word of God with boldness and intelligence. Even if you aren’t a calvinist or a paedobaptist – even if you don’t know what those things mean and you are a brand new believer – watch this preacher, see his conviction to speak the Word without fear, and learn from his example.

Reason #2 Christopher Hitchens.

There’s a popular saying that goes like this – “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” Christopher Hitchens is an enemy of God. On top of that, he is very intelligent. Even worse, the church and all of its divisions, weak pastors, and lack of knowledge of Scripture is his greatest weapon against Christianity. I am a fan of this movie and I subscribe to Mr. Hitchens’ blog because he is absolutely right on so many occasions. Whenever I need to know what I or the church at large could be doing better, I turn to people like Mr. Hitchens to tell me. Yes, the Spirit plays the key role in conviction, but that does not mean He does not use various means to do so.  Mr. Hitchens says this of Doug Wilson:

Wilson isn’t one of those evasive Christians who mumble apologetically about how some of the Bible stories are really just “metaphors.” He is willing to maintain very staunchly that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and that his sacrifice redeems our state of sin, which in turn is the outcome of our rebellion against God. He doesn’t waffle when asked why God allows so much evil and suffering—of course he “allows” it since it is the inescapable state of rebellious sinners. I much prefer this sincerity to the vague and Python-esque witterings of the interfaith and ecumenical groups who barely respect their own traditions and who look upon faith as just another word for community organizing.

Incidentally, Doug Wilson and Christopher Hitchens struck up a friendship in the aftermath of their debate.

The basic question is this: Is it sinful for a God-ordained organization or position to overstep its God-ordained parameters? I would love to hear someone who has a compelling argument come out and say ‘no’, but after examining Scripture I am forced to conclude that the answer is ‘yes’. (I Samuel 13:8-14, 2 Samuel 6:2-7) God gives us guidelines for a reason. Sometimes it is for our good, sometimes for His glory, sometimes both, and sometimes we are forced to take Him at His word because we are clueless to discern His reasons.

In the case of health care, we have these Biblical guidelines:

1. The head of household (the husband) is to take care of the needs of his family. (Eph. 5: 28-29, 6:4)
2. The church is to take care of the needs of the orphan and the widow. I would also include single women who are not under a head of household in this category. (James 1:27, I Tim. 5:16)
3. The church is to reach out to households with legitimate needs (job loss, disability, etc.) (Acts 4:34-35)
4. The government is given authority to punish sin and protect its people. (Romans 13:1-7)

The conclusions that I draw from this guideline is that it is not the government’s responsibility to take care of the health of its people – it is clearly the responsibility of the heads of household and the church. That means that it is the responsibility of the husband/church to pay the insurance bills and other medical related bills. No one else has been given that responsibility and no one is left out when these commands are followed.

The common response to this is “Well, the church isn’t doing its job so the government and various charities have to step up”. The problem with this response is that it assumes that it is OK for people to do wrong in order to have the chance to do right – which (again, in my opinion) is clearly unbiblical.

And now for the objections:

Aren’t Christians supposed to love their neighbor? Shouldn’t we want EVERYONE insured and taken care of?

Yes. That is 100% correct and it is my desire that this would be true someday.

So what about the uninsured woman with no money and no family and no job?

Many churches have policies that no member will ever draw unemployment, lack health care, or receive any government aid. These churches are filled with people that understand the Biblical model for caring for people and these people give of their income to make sure the church is in a position to do these acts of mercy. In addition, these churches often reach out to needy people in the community to offer the same care regardless of membership status.

But what’s the difference between paying taxes so the government can reach out and giving tithes and offerings so the church can reach out?

For one, God only approved one model. Secondly, the entity that the people look to for care is the entity that holds the power. Our government certainly understands this. Could you imagine if the collective church was taking care of every jobless, homeless, fatherless or otherwise helpless person in this country? The implications of that happening are huge. Not only would there be a great shift of influence from the White House to the pulpit, but there would also be an understanding that it is God who provides for the sick and poor.

Why is it important that the church have this power? Isn’t the church supposed to submit to the God-given authority of the government?

Yes and no. The church is commanded to submit to the governing authority in areas that do not breach Scriptural mandate. God clearly set these responsibilities the way that he did for the purpose of properly directing the honor and respect of the people. It is God who takes care of His children – not the White House. When the government confuses its position it misdirects glory and honor that is due to our Lord.

It is very clear that our government is currently committing the same sin that Saul was guilty of by sacrificing without the prophet Samuel. The White House is stepping outside its own parameters. Consequently they are redirecting honor due to the Lord in the direction of Washington.

To the sick and needy: Do not depend on your government to save you. Only God has the power to regenerate your soul and he has chosen to use the church to fulfill your earthy needs. If you do not attend church or if the church you currently attend is not willing to meet your needs, find a church that will help you. Do not expect handouts. If you are capable of working, expect to be put to work. This is the plan that God has for His people and we would do well to stick to it.

To the church-goer: Does your church care for the sick and needy in the ways perscribed by God? If not, it is time to talk to your church leaders about starting and maintaining a benevolent care fund. If they are unwilling to fulfill their God-given duty it is time to stand up and walk out the door. If you need the name of a good Bible-obeying church and you live in the Greenville area I’ll be glad to point you in the right direction.

Now ask yourself these questions:

Do I understand how he feels about religion? Do I understand what it means to be closed-minded? Is it necessary for Christians to be closed-minded when talking to people like this man? Do I act in a closed-minded way when talking to fellow Christians who don’t believe exactly the same things I do?

Here are my honest answers:

Do I understand how he feels about religion? Yes. Watch the video again if you have to. I have a hard time arguing against such clear logic. The problem with many witnessing Christians is that we fail to understand that we CAN’T prove God’s existence or Christ’s love to someone with unaided words from human mouths. Both of these things are truths that must be experienced. The Holy Spirit is how that happens. There is much more that could be said about the work of the Holy Spirit and no time to say it here and now. Suffice it to say that it is God who proves Himself to men – not us.

Do I understand what it means to be closed-minded? It’s taking me a while to get there – and believe me, I’ve been guilty of closed-mindedness many times over, but the more I focus and learn and THINK, the more I understand how best to be open-minded to my fellow man.

Is it necessary for Christians to be closed-minded when talking to people like this man? NO! Exactly the opposite! Does that mean I should consider evolution and athiesm? Of course not. What it does mean is that I understand that this man has NO REASON to believe in God yet. It means that I must truly seek to understand what he is thinking and how he sees the world. I need to consider that there was a time in my own life when I had no proof of God. Show of hands: How many of you Christians understand exactly what evolutionists believe? Very few, if any (myself included). We have a vague understanding of the theory – the earth is millions of years old, we all evolved from one-celled creatures, there is no God, etc. But we have no idea how these ideas are supported by science. We haven’t seen the vast amounts of data that they have and THEY KNOW THIS. So when we talk to them and they try to present data to you and you shut them down, you have just given them a HUGE reason to not care about what you say. This is just a small example of how closed-mindedness can ruin your credibility as a rational human being. Listen to them. Show them that you are interested in them. Share your experiences with them. If they are like this man in the video, they will welcome your life experiences. After all, scientists LOVE data. In spite of what Fox News tells you, most atheists are not hostile toward religious people. There are a few nutters out there, but they are the outspoken minority. Be an open-minded Christian and you will begin to build a framework on which to base friendships that will lead to witnessing opportunity after witnessing opportunity.

Do I act in a closed-minded way when talking to fellow Christians who don’t believe exactly the same things I do? This is another one that I am having to work on. There are many different types of Christians in America and around the world. Usually what we do is segregate ourselves into our denominations and sects and interaction ceases. Another devastating behavior among Christians is pride. This issue of being closed-minded is perhaps the largest hindrance to the furtherance of the Gospel. So please, please: evaluate your attitude. Are you open-minded enough to work together with someone who believes something different about baptism or end times? Could you minister together with a Democrat? We are all citizens of one country with one common goal if we belong to Christ. Many members, one body.

I think we could all stand some prayer-filled self-evaluation.

For one thing, not many people know exactly what has been going on in my life over the past few years. The exceptions are my immediate family and a few (very few) close friends. I’ve learned a lot and I feel like my broader circle of friends and acquaintances could benefit from understanding a little bit more about me.

For another, in person I can come across as a very bone-headed person (even guilty of this online every-so-often). I think that with a little discipline I could successfully communicate my ideas and convictions in a way that doesn’t put people off. At least that’s my goal. I even have a few specific people in mind. My prayer is that those people will subscribe to this blog and as a result understand me a little better

Thirdly, I’m right at the beginning of a very exciting part of life. I have been married now for a little over 4 months and my wife and I will move into our first home in less than a month. We don’t have children, but we will (in God’s providential timing) and with that will come all kinds of valuable lessons. We’re even planning a few short term trips to Scotland to encourage our sister churches and pastors as they labor to bring that country back under the covenant of grace.

Fourthly, our nation is in a sad state. The church is divided as well. This makes me sad, but I have hope in the future because of the promises found in Scripture. I find myself wanting to grab my fellow believers by the shoulders and give them a good shake. One of my greatest desires is to see the Church wake up to the amazing promises found in Scripture. If we would do this, all questions of government and war and suffering would disappear.

And now, here is my one request. . .

Please listen. Please consider the things I write. I know not everyone (perhaps no one in some instances) will agree with the things that I say. I’m not interested in changing minds. If the Spirit chooses to change your mind that is His business. What I am interested in is being understood.

With that said: Please subscribe to this blog. The RSS icon is in the top right corner. If you are seeing this on facebook you can find my blog at samgerdt.com.