Bits and Pieces – 204th Edition – August 18, 2024

     The Olympic games have come and gone with the usual excess of hype, some real and some unreal. Christians should remember that the games are named after Mount Olympus in Greece, the supposed home of the pagan god Zeus. So therefore, don’t be surprised that they are no paragon of virtue.

     Canada was shamed in that someone in the women’s soccer organisation sent a drone to spy on another team resulting in the Canadian coach being sent home. There was the usual number of athletes caught using performance enhancing drugs, and questions raised about the actual sex of some of the supposed female boxers.

     The athletic competitions were real enough, real people performing in real events.  But the games were book-ended by opening and closing ceremonies that had much that was unreal.  Some of the dancing was frantic and, in my humble opinion, devilish.

     This raises the question of the difference between reality and unreality in our modern society.  God is truth.  Jesus said, “I am …. the truth” [John 14:6]. The devil, on the other hand, is a liar [John 8:44].  Not only is he a liar, but he is the father of all untruth.  It stands to sense then that all unreality is of him.

     The devil also is described as, “the prince of the power of the air” [Ephes. 2:2]. Think of the air filled with satanic messages spawned by Satan, emanating from cell phones, televisions and other means of communications.   We are surrounded by satanic enemies.  We need to have our eyes opened to the army of God protecting us as in the case of Elisha’s servant [2 Kings 6:17].

     Tattooing has become fashionable in the last few years. In earlier years an occasional tattoo was seen, but now one is faced with multiplied examples of the tattooist’s art.  Arms, legs and necks are completely covered, and the bodies defaced.  It seems that more and more young men and women are climbing onto the bandwagon with unsightly tattoos.

     The question arises, should a Christian follow the world’s practice here?  The answer is simple.  The Word of God is very clear, “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks (‘tattoos’. NKJV) upon you: I am the Lord” [Leviticus 19:28].

     God has given us an amazing body.  Why anyone would want to disfigure it with horrible tattoos is beyond me.

     From all corners of the world comes a challenge to God’s Word.  Doubt and denial are encouraged by the enemy. Everything seems against the Gospel of Christ.  But we must remain to fulfill our duty.  What is the duty of Christians at such a time?  What is the duty of leaders in the work?

     Firstly, they should encourage those who are engaging in the intellectual and spiritual struggle. They should not say, as some do, that more time should be spent in the propagation of the Gospel and less on its defence.

     Certainly, there must be the propagation of the Gospel, but far more is usually meant by those who call for less defence.  What they really intend is the discouragement of the whole intellectual defence of the faith.  And their words come as a blow in the face of those who are fighting the great battle.

     Indeed, truth cannot be stated clearly at all without being set over against error.   Thus, a large part of the New Testament is polemic.  The enunciation of evangelical truth was occasioned by the errors which had arisen in the churches.   So, it will always be on account of the fundamental laws of the human mind.  At the present time, when the opponents of the Gospel are almost in control of our churches, the slightest avoidance of the defence of the Gospel is just sheer unfaithfulness to the Lord. [From an article by J. Gresham Machen].