On the other side of dark days and troubled times are new seasons and bright days.
Author: Rick Tryon
They Said It: C.S. Lewis On Atheism
Please consider this profound gem from C.S. Lewis
“Supposing there was no intelligence behind the universe, no creative mind. In that case, nobody designed my brain for the purpose of thinking. It is merely that when the atoms inside my skull happen, for physical or chemical reasons, to arrange themselves in a certain way, this gives me, as a by-product, the sensation I call thought. But, if so, how can I trust my own thinking to be true?
It’s like upsetting a milk jug and hoping that the way it splashes itself will give you a map of London. But if I can’t trust my own thinking, of course I can’t trust the arguments leading to Atheism, and therefore have no reason to be an Atheist, or anything else.
Unless I believe in God, I cannot believe in thought: so I can never use thought to disbelieve in God.”
C.S. Lewis
Death Row Letters: End Times Hope
Greetings, from your fellow death row occupant.
In my previous letter I talked about the ‘Soul-Making’ theological explanation for why God allows natural evil to happen to innocent folks. Meh, I’m not really convinced by that argument but I think we can learn from it.
In this letter I want to discuss the Eschatological (end-times) Hope explanation. I like this one. It makes a lot of sense and is fairly easy to understand. It goes something like this:
all suffering and evil will be redeemed by God in the future, so trust in the ultimate purpose and plan of God to make things right.
But what about the people who suffer and die in earthquakes and from diseases and such through no fault of their own?
Good question, in fact that is THE question.
The Eschatological (end-times) Hope argument is based on the total trust and confidence in a just and righteous Creator, who even in the midst of the evil and darkness of this present age intends to bring about the redemption of the entire creation and put an everlasting rightness to things.
As Paul said in his letter to the Romans, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” – Romans 8:18
Or another way to put it, as I once heard someone say, is this – everything will be alright in the end, and if it’s not alright it’s not the end.
Okay, in the next letter let’s get into the ‘Mystery of Divine Providence’ explanation for why evils exists.
Until then,
Your death-row-sitting compatriot
The Prosperity Gospel, Part 2
In Part 1 of this series we asked whether Jesus and Paul taught the prosperity gospel and we listed some examples of current ‘health and wealth’ preachers.
Let’s start by taking a closer look at some of those prosperity gospel teachers’ own prosperity.
Joel Osteen
Joel Osteen, the senior pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, has an estimated net worth that varies across sources. Some reports suggest his net worth is around $100 million (Celebrity Net Worth), while others estimate it to be approximately $40 million to $60 million (Wikipedia).
Additionally, some sources claim his net worth is as high as $180 million (CA Club India).
Osteen resides in a 17,000-square-foot mansion valued at $10.5 million in the River Oaks neighborhood of Houston. He has stated that he does not receive a salary from Lakewood Church, which has an annual budget of $70 million, relying instead on income from his best-selling books and related products (Wikipedia).
Kenneth Copeland
Kenneth Copeland, a prominent American televangelist and founder of Kenneth Copeland Ministries, has amassed significant wealth throughout his career. Estimates of his net worth vary widely:
- $300 million:
- As of 2024, his net worth was estimated at $300 million ( scmp.com).
- Celebrity Net Worth also reports his net worth to be $300 million (Celebrity Net Worth).
- $750 million:
- In 2021, the Houston Chronicle referred to him as the wealthiest pastor in America, allegedly having a net worth of $750 million (Wikipedia).
- $760 million:
- The New York Post reported his net worth to be $760 million (nypost.com).
These discrepancies highlight the challenges in accurately assessing the net worth of high-profile individuals, especially those with diverse income streams and private financial dealings. Copeland’s wealth primarily stems from his extensive ministry operations, including television broadcasts
It’s important to note that net worth estimates for both Osteen and Copeland can vary based on different sources and may not always reflect the most current information. You’ll find similar net worth data for some of the other prosperity gurus online.
What did Jesus teach?
Well, it seems pretty clear to me, or anyone else with a lick of common sense, that when Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you…” he didn’t have $10 million mansions, private luxury jets, and massive piles of cash in mind.
But what did he have in mind? Read the context:
Matthew 6:25-34 (NKJV) “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28 So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
You don’t need an advanced degree in theology or philosophy to understand the plain words spoken by our Lord here. All you need is basic reading comprehension.
What things “shall be added to you”? Mansions? A fleet of luxury fishing boats? A hoard of gold coins? No, the “things” are the necessities of life like food and clothing.
Does he teach that you can’t or shouldn’t have more than the necessities? No, but the message our Lord’s message is clear that the desire for God’s righteousness is muddied and distorted when we focus on the riches of this age instead of His kingdom.
It’s impossible to have total reliance on God when one has lots of cash and cars and jets and Swiss bank accounts to fall back on, right?
We’ll look at the Apostle Paul’s teaching to the Church regarding this topic in Part 3.
Latest Fascinating Discoveries In Biblical Archaeology
Bible Rebel continues to update readers from the world of biblical archaeology. Here’s the latest.
Ancient Gold Processing Facility Discovered in Egypt
Archaeologists have uncovered a 3,000-year-old gold processing complex at Jabal Sukari, near the Red Sea. The site includes grinding and crushing stations, filtration and sedimentation basins, and ancient clay furnaces used for gold smelting. This discovery sheds light on the mining techniques used by ancient Egyptians. See more from Bible Archaeology Report
Ancient Tomb in the Negev Highlands
A 2,500-year-old tomb compound was discovered in the Negev Highlands, containing the remains of dozens of individuals. The burials are believed to be associated with trade caravans from Arabia, as the site is situated at a junction of ancient trade routes. Artifacts found include copper and silver jewelry, Egyptian scarabs, and alabaster beehive jars. See more from Bible Archaeology Report
Deciphered Dead Sea Scroll Reveals 364-Day Calendar
Researchers have recently deciphered one of the last two remaining Dead Sea Scrolls. Written in code, the scroll describes a 364-day calendar used by the Qumran community that lived in the Judean Desert. See more from BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY SOCIETY
Israel’s Oldest Chinese Inscription Found on Mt. Zion
Excavators with the Israel Antiquities Authority and the German Protestant Institute of Archaeology made an unexpected discovery while excavating on Jerusalem’s Mt. Zion. They found Israel’s oldest Chinese inscription, adding a new layer to the historical connections between these regions. See more from BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY SOCIETY
Swing, Batter, Swing
Step up to plate and swing, baby.
Watchdog Alert: Persecution And Massacre In Syria
While many Christians in America were enjoying their Sunday at church, Christians in civil war-torn Syria were being slaughtered, along with Muslim Alawites and other minorities.
Being mocked online or marginalized because of their faith is the only ‘persecution’ many modern American Christians ever have or ever will experience. Put simply, we have it easy here compared to the very real horror, death, and destruction that other Christians around the world suffer because of their confession of Jesus Christ as Lord.
Here’s one example happening right now in Syria.
From Newsweek
Now, with Alawites no longer in power, reports of revenge killings have emerged. Local reports have also highlighted targeted killings of Christians, who have a significant community in Latakia.
The patriarchs of Syria’s three main Christian churches, the Greek Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox and Melkite Greek Catholic Churches, issued a joint statement on Saturday condemning the violence and “massacres targeting innocent civilians.” The religious leaders called for “an immediate end to these horrific acts, which stand in stark opposition to all human and moral values.”
…Greco-Levantines World Wide, a nonprofit, wrote in an X, formerly Twitter, post on Friday: “Tony Petrus and his son Fadi Petrus, two Antiochian Greeks, were killed today in the pogrom launched by HTS against the mixed Christian and Alawite region.”
In a Saturday post, it noted: “The father of Fr. Gregorios Bishara, priest of the Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation, was martyred this morning at the hands of the pro-HTS armed factions that raided the city of Baniyas.”
From Sky News
The situation in Syria has been extremely dire, with recent reports indicating that hundreds of Christians and other minorities have been killed in brutal attacks. Over the past few days, clashes between Syrian security forces and militias loyal to the ousted President Bashar al-Assad have resulted in the deaths of more than 1,000 people, including many Christians. The violence has been described as some of the deadliest since the Syrian conflict began.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has documented at least 745 civilian deaths, along with 125 government security forces and 148 pro-Assad militants killed.
Watchdog Alert: Religion In Politics News
Bible Rebel continues to keep a watchdog’s eye on what’s happening in the world of religion and politics.
The New Era of Religion and Politics
This article discusses the shifting dynamics of religion and politics in the U.S., particularly how former President Donald Trump has altered the relationship between religion and American politics. The old paradigm of political parties being “friendly to religion” is no longer as relevant. See more at Yahoo News
Restoring Friendly Relations Between Freedom and Religion
This piece explores the criticisms faced by Christian conservatives from progressives over the years. It highlights the importance of religious liberty in American constitutional government and the role of religion in fortifying American democracy. See more at MSN News
Religion’s Role in Public Life
According to a Pew Research survey, U.S. adults are more likely to view religion as helpful rather than harmful. The survey also delves into Americans’ opinions on the separation of church and state and the positive and negative effects of organized religion. See more at Pew Research
Religion News on POLITICO
This source provides a variety of news stories and analyses related to religion and politics, including topics such as the influence of Christianity in public schools, the role of religion in the 2024 elections, and the intersection of religion and state policies. See more at POLITICO
Bible 101 Part 9: Take The Bible Literally?
Part 9 of our Bible 101 series covering four exceptions to a literal reading of the Bible.
Death Row Letters: Soul-Making
Greetings,
Just a follow-up to our last letter concerning the two kinds of evil – natural evil and moral evil.
Let’s look at natural evil first. Why and when does God allow natural disasters and diseases etc. to occur? That’s the question I left off with last time.
As to the ‘why’, there are several theological attempts at answering that question, including the soul-making theory, the eschatological (end times) hope idea, and the mystery of divine providence explanation. I’d like to discuss each of these ideas in turn with you over the next few letters if that’s okay.
So, let’s start with the soul-making theory, which was advocated by a guy named John Hick who once said, “A world which is to be a person-making environment cannot be a pain-free paradise but must contain challenges and dangers, with real possibilities of many kinds of accidents and catastrophes, bringing pain, suffering, and sorrow.”
I take that to mean that God allows natural evil, like earthquakes, floods, and cancer in order to create virtuous people of high character who have been forged in a fire of calamity and danger.
Well, there are some Bible passages which seem to support this view.
1 Peter 1:6-7 – “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
How about this one? James 1:2-4 – “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
The soul-making theory makes sense in some ways, but the Bible verses I cited here, and some others like Hebrews 12:11 and 2 Corinthians 4:17, don’t come right out and say that God intentionally created, or allows, natural evil in order to produce virtue in folks.
Granted, one of the results when natural evil happens could be perseverance, stronger faith etc., in believers, but other results are definitely the death and injury of innocents, destruction, pain, and massive sorrow and grief.
So, to me soul-making isn’t a completely satisfying answer as to why natural evil exists, it’s more like a possible side positive benefit stemming from some very disturbing and terrible happenings. But let’s continue to consider it as a part of understanding the whole.
In our next letter we should talk about the eschatological (end times) hope idea to explain the occurrence of natural evil in God’s creation. Sound good?
Until then,
Your fellow death row occupant