In this day of directional apps such as Waze and Google Maps, we have become accustomed to \u201calternate\u201d routes and \u201crecalculating.\u201d To use an app that helps you avoid traffic snarls is indeed a blessing. But we are now full speed ahead in a world that has no shame or embarrassment, nor offers any apology for its alternative facts and truths.<\/p>\n
We are forced by court decrees to accept same-sex marriage as an alternative. Economically powerful interest groups punish us for not accepting gender-alternative bathrooms. Media news is so polluted that fake news and real news are hardly distinguishable. Each serves ideological biases. Politicians from every political party, camp,\u00a0and spectrum intentionally quote one another out of context, and they intentionally slice and paste political commercials designed to do everything but tell the truth. Even Christians find it difficult to discern between truth, fiction and lies as the seemingly limitless stream of propaganda flood our social media. In January, Ed Stetzer, who will be speaking at the IPHC\u00a0General Conference<\/a> in July, warned evangelical Christians about our lack of discernment in this matter. Our lack of discernment reflects negatively on the efficacy of our witness for Christ.<\/p>\n Our common social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter feed our insatiable hunger for juicy \u201cnews.\u201d I can\u2019t tell you how many times I\u2019ve checked something and found out the story was either false or taken out of context. Stetzer is correct. We need to be careful what we post on social media or quote in our sermons.<\/p>\n Does it sound like I\u2019m pretty fed up with this stuff? Yes. I. Am. Sometimes I feel like the Psalmist: \u201cAll men are liars.\u201d But then I remember the psalmist prefaced his threatening cynicism with this remark: \u201cI said in my haste\u201d (Psalm 116:11, NKJV). When I get over my temporary \u201chaste,\u201d I remember that alternative facts and truths have been with us a long time. Who does not remember the episode involving Jesus and Rome\u2019s governor, Pilate.<\/p>\n Jesus said to the representative of the greatest Empire of the time: \u201cFor this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.\u201d And we all remember Pilate\u2019s reply: \u201cWhat is truth?\u201d (John 18:37-38). But the problem goes farther back than 2,000 years ago in Jerusalem. It goes back to the origins of humankind in a garden. There the Tempter began with the statement that reflects the origin of all our human agony: \u201cHas God indeed said \u2026 ?\u201d with which the Tempter followed with an alternative \u201ctruth.\u201d This lie led to our lost condition (see Genesis 3:1,4,5). I mention all of this because it relates to the reality of the kingdom of God. It is well known in IPHC circles that we are focusing this year on our fourth core value: \u201cWe Prayerfully Value Christ\u2019s Kingdom.\u201d The phrases kingdom of God,<\/p>\n There the Tempter began with the statement that reflects the origin of all our human agony: \u201cHas God indeed said \u2026 ?\u201d with which the Tempter followed with an alternative \u201ctruth.\u201d This lie led to our lost condition (see Genesis 3:1,4,5). I mention all of this because it relates to the reality of the kingdom of God. It is well known in IPHC circles that we are focusing this year on our fourth core value: \u201cWe Prayerfully Value Christ\u2019s Kingdom.\u201d The phrases kingdom of God, kingdom of heaven, and Christ\u2019s kingdom are synonyms of the same reality. That reality began in the Garden of Eden where the kingdom of God was first demonstrated on this planet. It was the place where God\u2019s reign was acknowledged, affirmed and actively obeyed by Adam and Eve.<\/p>\n The goodness of God and the truth of God were at stake in the temptation. But Satan convinced our first parents that God is not really good; that God\u2019s Torah (Law) is oppressive and against \u201cour nature;\u201d that truth does not reside in God\u2019s Word but in an alternative word.<\/p>\n Our first parents rejected the blessings and life promised in the kingdom of God. They chose instead an alternative promise they did not comprehend. They were blinded by deception and did not recognize that the kingdom of God had a gate through which one would leave this blessed place of God\u2019s presence (Genesis 3:23, 24). They had chosen an alternative truth, and as painful as their experience was, there was no way for them to re-enter that particular place.<\/p>\n The good news is that God does not \u201crecalculate\u201d truth. There was never a \u201cplan B\u201d of redemption. \u201cIn these crazy times in which we live, let us recommit ourselves to God\u2019s truth, God\u2019s love and God\u2019s mercy.\u201d Jesus, the eternal Son of God, was from the foundation of the world the \u201cslain Lamb\u201d of God (Revelation 13:8). The gospel message that we preach, share and live out is an invitation to the lost to \u201crecalculate\u201d the way they are going. We preach because no one can enter the kingdom of God unless one is \u201cborn again;\u201d that is, born from the truth that is above the deceitful \u201calternative truth\u201d of our world (St. John 3:3,5,7). That same gospel message comes to us as followers of Jesus and calls us to \u201crecalculate\u201d how we faithfully obey Jesus in our generation. It is through such \u201crecalculation\u201d of our directions, our motives and our purposes that we again discover how to live in the grace, presence, and power of the Holy Spirit as citizens of Christ\u2019s kingdom even while we live in the kingdom of this world.<\/p>\n In these crazy times in which we live, let us recommit ourselves to God\u2019s truth, God\u2019s love and God\u2019s mercy. Let us walk as citizens of God\u2019s kingdom amidst the nations and kingdoms where we live and serve.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This article was published in\u00a0the February 2017 issue of Encourage<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"excerpt","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1176,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,1],"tags":[313,108,134,218,37,39,290,38],"class_list":{"0":"post-1175","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-bishops-blog","8":"category-general","9":"tag-313","10":"tag-bishop-doug-beacham","11":"tag-bishops-blog","12":"tag-blog","13":"tag-encourage","14":"tag-february","15":"tag-iphc-general-superintendent","16":"tag-magazine","17":"entry"},"title_es":"Intitulado","content_es":" Por Doug Beacham<\/strong><\/p>\r\nAhora estamos llegando a las \u00faltimas semanas y meses de 2016. El IISP ha permanecido durante este a\u00f1o se centra en nuestra raz\u00f3n de ser fundamental:<\/em> la santidad. Fuimos fundados en 1898 como una de las numerosas reposiciones, movimientos y denominaciones paridos de un avivamiento de la santidad, sobre todo la santidad Wesleyana. Nuestra comprensi\u00f3n de la santidad fluy\u00f3 de la Escritura, John Wesley, y los escritores y predicadores a finales del avivamiento de santidad del siglo XIX. Tenemos recursos adicionales a iphc.org\/holiness<\/a> . Os animo a visitar este sitio y tener tiempo para leer el archivo PDF de NJ Holmes ' Provisi\u00f3n<\/em> de Dios<\/em><\/a> \u00a0<\/em> de la santidad<\/em><\/a> . Escrita a principios del siglo XX, Holmes escribe como uno santificado durante este per\u00edodo. Al llegar al final de 2016, con el Adviento y la Navidad en mente, ofrezco algunas reflexiones sobre la santidad de 2017, mientras nos preparamos para centrarse en nuestro cuarto valor central: en<\/em> oraci\u00f3n Unido de Valor Cristo.<\/em> debido a la llegada del Mes\u00edas de San Lucas es \u00fanico entre los cuatro Evangelios. Dentro de las narrativas del nacimiento de Juan el Bautista y Jes\u00fas, Lucas incluye dos poemas \/ canciones que incorporan temas del Antiguo Testamento. Creo que de estos salmos como de introducci\u00f3n a la llegada del Mes\u00edas. Son salmos del nuevo pacto, arraigadas en los prop\u00f3sitos de Dios en Israel, que encuentran su cumplimiento milagroso en los vientres de las dos mujeres. La primera mujer, que representa la Antigua Alianza, es Elizabeth. Ella es una mujer mayor, que al igual que Sarah casi 2.000 a\u00f1os antes, se piensa m\u00e1s all\u00e1 de la edad de la concepci\u00f3n (ver G\u00e9nesis 17, 18, 21). La segunda mujer, que representa el nuevo pacto, es Mar\u00eda, una mujer de la joven virgen profetizado en Isa\u00edas 7:14 unos 700 a\u00f1os antes, y no est\u00e1 casado. La mujer lleva el esc\u00e1ndalo de la falta de hijos; el m\u00e1s joven lleva el esc\u00e1ndalo de un ni\u00f1o concebido por alguien que no sea su marido prometida. La vida de la mujer mayor proclama el poder del Dios de Israel para romper el vac\u00edo humano, la esterilidad y la esterilidad. La vida de la mujer m\u00e1s joven proclama el poder del Dios de Israel para superar la maldad humana y la costumbre social. A diferencia de las burlas que encontraron (y que las mujeres siguen encontrando hoy en d\u00eda), Dios habla bendiciones a estas mujeres. Los hombres en sus vidas llegan a discernir, respetar y proteger el poder de Dios en acci\u00f3n en estas mujeres. Si bien numerosos temas del Antiguo Testamento se nombran en estos salmos, mi atenci\u00f3n se centra en c\u00f3mo la santidad se refleja en los dos. El primer salmo es en Lucas 1: 46-55 y es de los labios de la Virgen Mar\u00eda. M\u00e1s temprano, el \u00e1ngel Gabriel se le apareci\u00f3 con el anuncio de que iba a ser superada y eclipsado por el Esp\u00edritu Santo (1:35) que sobrenaturalmente caus\u00f3 la concepci\u00f3n de un beb\u00e9 en su vientre. Gabriel inform\u00f3 a Mar\u00eda sobre Elizabeth, que ya estaba embarazada de seis meses (1:36). Mar\u00eda reconoci\u00f3 la calidad milagro de que el anuncio y respondi\u00f3 con fe al mensaje ang\u00e9lico (1:38). La visita de Mar\u00eda a Isabel confirm\u00f3 el doble milagro que ocurre en su vida (v\u00e9ase Lucas 1: 39-45). respuesta elogio de Isabel es una de confirmar bendici\u00f3n, y afirmar el poder de creer lo que Dios ha hablado (1,45). Es en respuesta a la confirmaci\u00f3n y afirmaci\u00f3n de Isabel que Mar\u00eda irrumpe en el salmo llamado el Magnificat<\/em> (Lucas 1: 46- 55). Aunque Mar\u00eda reconoci\u00f3 su estatus \u00fanico de la bendici\u00f3n, su salmo es una letan\u00eda de alabanza al Se\u00f1or. La Biblia de las Am\u00e9ricas utiliza el pronombre personal \u00e9l o sus quince veces en su relaci\u00f3n con el Se\u00f1or, Dios de Israel, Dios es poderoso y misericordioso; \u00c9l hace proezas, Derrib\u00f3 a los poderosos, los hambrientos, y ayud\u00f3 a Israel. Dios ha hecho todo esto de acuerdo a las promesas del pacto hechas \"a Abraham ya su descendencia para siempre\" (01:55). La referencia de Mar\u00eda a la santidad est\u00e1 relacionada con la poderosa naturaleza de Dios lo que le permiti\u00f3 hacer grandes cosas m\u00e1s all\u00e1 de la comprensi\u00f3n humana (Lucas 01:49). La trascendencia divina, por encima y m\u00e1s all\u00e1 de la condici\u00f3n manchado por el pecado de la humanidad, es capaz de penetrar en este mundo oscurecido con la luz, la vida y la redenci\u00f3n. fiel respuesta de Mar\u00eda al recibir la bendici\u00f3n y nutrir la bendici\u00f3n se basa en el poder de Dios santo de Israel. El segundo salmo, conocido como el Benedictus,<\/em> es proclamado por el esposo de Elizabeth Zacar\u00edas (Lucas 1: 67-79). El anciano sacerdote respondi\u00f3 al milagro de la concepci\u00f3n y el nacimiento de su hijo, al afirmar la fidelidad santo de Dios a trav\u00e9s de los profetas y del pacto con Abraham (1:70, 72, 73). La respuesta adecuada a una pantalla de la fidelidad santa este tipo es que \"podr\u00edamos servirle sin temor, en santidad y en justicia delante de \u00e9l, todos los d\u00edas de nuestra vida\" (1: 74-75). Tenga en cuenta que la palabra traducida santidad en Lucas 1:75 no es el habitual hagios<\/em> palabra griega. M\u00e1s bien, es hosiotes<\/em> y describe la piedad personal que refleja la transformaci\u00f3n santo en el coraz\u00f3n y la vida hacia Dios. La misma palabra se usa en Efesios 4:24: \". Eso se pone en el nuevo hombre, creado seg\u00fan Dios, en verdadera justicia y santidad (hosiotes)\"<\/em> hijo de Elizabeth Juan es el profeta que anuncia el uno en el vientre de Mar\u00eda, que es autor de la nueva creaci\u00f3n (Hebreos 12: 2; 2 Corintios 5:17). Jes\u00fas es el que trae el Reino de Dios en carne humana en medio de los reinos de este mundo. La santificaci\u00f3n, la santidad, la piedad, la justicia y la rectitud y encarna puntos a su santo reino que brilla, ya que vivimos en esta oscuridad presente. Al celebrar la venida del Ni\u00f1o Jes\u00fas durante la temporada de Navidad, ruego se le llena de asombro y que va a experimentar un renovado deseo de servirlo en santidad. Este art\u00edculo fue publicado en la edici\u00f3n de noviembre \/ diciembre de 2016 Anime<\/a> .<\/em>","author_name":"","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/02\/beacham-image-e1487103936206.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pb62Bx-iX","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1175","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1175"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1175\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1175"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1175"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1175"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}