THINK
January-February-March, 1996
Volume 27, No. 1

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CONTENTS
Who's Counting the Money? - Al Diestelkamp
"Choice" Reveals Its Bloody Hands - Andy Diestelkamp
Overcoming the Dragon - Matt Hennecke
Advice My Dad Gave Me - Roy Diestelkamp
Speaking of Dinosaurs - Al Diestelkamp
Moral Courage -  Ed Brand
Sojourners & Pilgrims - Al Diestelkamp

WHO’S COUNTING THE MONEY?
By Al Diestelkamp

One Sunday morning after worship, a six-year-old boy got my attention by asking, “Did you know that there’s only one man back there counting the money?” Evidently he was keenly aware of our policy, in an effort to provide “honorable things” (2 Cor. 8:21), to have at least two men assigned to that job. When I arrived at the room I was amused to find it was the boy’s own father whom he had “reported.”  Back to Top



“CHOICE” REVEALS ITD BLOODY HANDS
By Andy Diestelkamp

Finally the truth is coming out. For years our nation has been debating the morality versus the immorality of abortion. One side of the debate has attempted to posture itself as the moderate voice of reason and liberty in defending the right of a woman to choose whether to terminate the life of her unborn child. That we have come to accept such a position as moderate is by itself awful. Yet, public opinion polls would seem to suggest that more Americans are closer to this alleged moderate position than the position that condemns abortion as immoral. Thankfully, however, morals are not determined by majority vote.

What is finally beginning to be revealed is that the so-called moderate position on this issue (pro-choice) is quite extreme in the extent to which it will go to defend personal liberties. All the rhetoric over trimesters, human life versus masses of tissue, etc., is now being revealed to be inconsequential. The Supreme Court of our land made a big deal about trimesters back in 1973, but medical advances along with moral declines have made the issue of trimesters moot. We can now save a baby in the womb long before the supposed date of viability as artificially set by the Court. Likewise, regardless of the trimester, “pro-choice” advocates are screaming about any attempts to limit abortion procedures.

The most recent debate has centered on a disgusting method of killing “unborn” babies. I placed unborn in quotation marks because now the abortion debate involves defining when a baby is born. It is important to have this precise definition for moderates because their position defends a woman’s right to destroy her baby before birth, but not after. Society is not quite ready for aborting human lives after birth (though it happens). Thus the debate must now involve splitting hairs about when a baby is born so we can then decide whether or not it is legal to split his/her brains. Before you are too critical of my choice of words descriptive of abortion consider the procedure that the U.S. Senate finally agreed to ban. It involves partially delivering the child feet first. However, before the head is delivered, the “doctor” stabs the baby in the lower back of the head. A catheter is then inserted and the baby’s brains are literally sucked out. The dead baby is then removed from the mother.

Surely, I thought, no one would or could defend such a procedure, but some did. It was interesting that those who defended the procedure thought that the graphic descriptions of the “partial-birth abortions” were inappropriate for the floor of the Senate. They attempted to trivialize the procedure saying that only a few hundred of these were performed per year. “Pro-choice” has revealed its bloody hands! The truth is that these people want a woman to be able to kill her baby at any stage of pregnancy with any method for any reason. Only in a morally warped climate could we conclude that sucking the brains out of a living human being is within the realm of personal liberty. Only those blind to justice could justify it. Only the spiritually emasculated could claim it as a liberty in Christ.

Where this “pro-choice” mentality will lead is gruesome. It could only be so, because where it has led us to this point is already gruesome. The practice of abortion is nothing new to us, but the government approval and protection  of such as a constitutional liberty is relatively recent. We cannot fool ourselves into thinking that it will stop with just the unborn. It hasn’t stopped there as the “partial-birth abortion” debate has demonstrated. Next in line, of course, are the “postpartum abortions.” It is a bloody path that is being blazed in the name of “choice.”

Wake up America and look where our so-called moderation and toleration on the issue of killing unborn babies has taken us. “Choice” is not about defending life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all. It is about giving the strong the power to suck the life out of the weakest and most defenseless among us. It is about alleviating the responsibilities of the irresponsible. It is about punishing the innocent for the sins of the guilty. That the killing of the weak and helpless has even become a debatable issue is a shame. That the promoters of “choice” will not debate it is despicable. That many spiritual leaders of this land are silent  is damnable.

We must not consent or walk in the way with those who are preying upon the innocent and are finding political and monetary gain in doing so. We must keep ourselves from the path of those who are quick to shed blood (Prov. 1:10-19). It is the responsibility of those in positions of authority and influence to defend the defenseless. “Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.” (Prov. 31:8,9) God give us the boldness to do so (Ac. 4:29)!  Back to Top
   


OVERCOMING THE DRAGON
By Matt Hennecke

In the last year there has been renewed interested in dinosaurs, largely because of the movie Jurassic Park. If you’ve seen the movie, you’ll recall that several dinosaurs are cloned and then proceed to wreak havoc on those humans unlucky to get too near. Some of the most frightening moments occur as the humans try to protect themselves and overcome the terror of the T-Rex and three ferocious velociraptors! While Michael Crichton and Steven Spielberg have brought an entertaining story to the big screen, it is interesting to note that nearly 2000 years ago John spoke of a similar situation. Only, it wasn’t a dinosaur he wrote about, but a Dragon!

Revelation 12:3 vividly describes a red Dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven diadems (more hideous and frightening than even a T-Rex!). This Dragon, identified as the Devil and Satan (v.9) wages war in heaven with Michael and his angels until he is finally “thrown down” to earth where he begins to “accuse” the brethren “day and night” (v. 10).

Now, there is much about the book of Revelation that I do not know. I’m not an advocate of an early or late date (though I do recall from my college days having several of each!). So, while there are many things I cannot affirm about the symbology of Revelation 12, the message of verse 11 is clear and unmistakable: Christians overcame the Dragon because of:

The Blood of the Lamb 
Blood is an important substance in our society. We frequently hear pleas for blood donations and despite man’s ingenuity, he has not been able to replicate the life-giving qualities of blood. The Jews were also familiar with the power of blood and the sacrifices for consecration (Ex. 29:10-14). But, in verse 11, we are not talking about the blood of bullocks, but of Christ himself! And the message is clear: overcoming the Dragon depends on the blood of the Lamb! Note Peter’s assertion of that very fact: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet. 1:18-19).

The Word of Their Testimony
The second step in overcoming the dragon seems a bit puzzling.  Of whose testimony is John speaking? We get some insight from the word itself when we consider that “testimony” is second cousin to the words “testify” and “test.” Witnesses are called to testify in court. They provide testimony. Similarly, all of us have taken tests, which are designed to determine whether we pass or fail. But, the Greek word itself provides even greater insight. The word “testimony” comes from the Greek “marturia” from whence we get the word “martyr.” 

John is telling us that we can overcome the Dragon by heeding the testimony of the faithful. Note Revelation 6:9 and 12:17 as it relates to the testimony of “our fathers.” John’s message echoes the idea expressed in Hebrews 12:1-2: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

They Did Not Love Life Even to Death
God has programmed us for survival. Yet John indicates that one of the ways to overcome the Dragon is to willingly put aside our “survival instinct.” We must be willing to die for God’s cause! Need proof? Examples exist everywhere: Daniel and his three friends “did not love life, even to death.” They were willing to put aside the “survival instinct” for a higher calling. Peter died in service to Christ because “he did not love life, even to death.” The same idea is expressed by Jesus himself: “...whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it” (Mk. 8:35).

Satan still is at work and we are still in danger. How do we overcome the evil one? The same way John instructed the seven churches of Asia: “they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Rev. 12:11).  Back to Top




ADVICE MY DAD GAVE ME
By Roy Diestelkamp

We do well to learn from the older heads. There are many things I remember Dad always teaching and practicing. Here are a few of them on various subjects.

1. Don’t Cumulative Fight. Dad applied this to husbands and wives and the home, and called it a home wrecker, but it applies in disputes among brethren and anyone. The principle is when in a dispute, don’t remember and reach back and drag up all the old failures and aggravations of the past.This will make the present dispute even hotter and harder to settle. Forgive past wrongs, and do not bring them up again!

2. Don’t Be Driven To Extremes. Dad always encouraged young preachers (older ones too), when contending for an issue, not to allow others to push them to an extreme they really didn’t want to go to. The point is, when discussing an issue, we may be pressed by others, for the sake of appearing consistent in argumentation, or to avoid admitting a position was wrong, to go even further than we had really thought out. Consequently we might well take extreme stands that we otherwise never would have done. Then pride might well keep us from “climbing down.” Contend for truth, but with care.

3. Men, Don’t Visit Women Alone. For the sake of personal purity, to avoid temptation, to avoid the appearance of impropriety, don’t visit women alone. In practical terms, that means in dealing with women, don’t have private home Bible studies, don’t meet alone in the office, or any other such thing. Take your wife, another man (and his wife), and have the Bible studies, and make the visit.

4. Don’t Be Bitter. Many events, actions, and people, will disappoint us in life. We will be disappointed in ourselves too. Do not let this turn to bitterness. Press on, look for other people, other churches, other opportunities. Trust in God.

5. Do Give People A Second Chance. Sometimes when people fail us, or sin against us or Christ, we may feel like, “that’s it, I will never have any use for them again; I will never trust them again,” or “I don’t want them part of the congregation ever again.” We are not to slight or overlook sin, which condemns the sinner, and harms the cause of Christ. However, we must seek the restoration and welfare of the sinner, and give them a second chance to serve Christ. If God can and will forgive, we must too.

These things are not always easily put into practice, but the advice is good.  Back to Top



SPEAKING OF DINOSAURS
By Al Diestelkamp

Color me paranoid, but it seems that there has been a concerted effort in recent years to develop a fascination (especially in young children) with dinosaurs. I don’t know just when this new emphasis began, but I doubt that it happened accidentally.

As a precaution, to make sure I wasn’t just being an old fuddy-duddy, I compared the number of pages devoted in our old 1967 edition of The World Book Encyclopedia with a 1994 edition of the same publication. Sure enough, the newer edition devoted more than twice as much space to the subject than the older one.

The dinosaur, which has become the evolutionists’ “mascot,” can be found in books, cartoons, documentaries, and just about everything else, including Happy Meals. As a result, many little children can tell you more than you want to know about Tyrannosuarus Rex.

The atheists have been so successful in this public relations blitz that should one dare to express doubt about dinosaurs ever existing, his credibility drops to the level of Flat Earth Society members. This is even true when discussing the subject with other Christians.

Inevitably someone will ask: “How can you deny the existence of actual dinosaur bones?” I don’t deny the bones. I question the credibility of the paleontologists who are out to prove the theory of evolution even if it means supplementing their findings with plaster. They re-build what they think this creature looked like in a manner not unlike a child with a Tinker Toy set.

Remember, these are the same people who are certain that these monsters roamed the earth at least 130 million years ago. These “scientists,” sure that man evolved from lower life forms, have been guilty of finding bones and building missing links. And you wonder why I doubt their credibility on the dinosaur issue!

Attempts have been made to identify the leviathan mentioned in the Bible (Job 41:1; Psa. 74:14; Psa. 104:26; Isa. 27:1) as the dinosaur. That there was a terrible creature as described, I have no doubt. As to just what it was, I have heard speculation all the way from crocodiles to the Loch Ness monster, but in reality the Bible doesn’t give us enough information to identify it. I consider it one of the “secret things” (Deut. 29:29) that we don’t need to know. If you think the leviathan is a dinosaur, why don’t you call it by it’s Bible name instead of giving credibility to the peddlers of evolution?

To borrow a phrase from Rush Limbaugh, “Words mean something.” The word “dinosaur” as defined in any good dictionary is, “any group of extinct reptiles of the Mesozoic Era.” Those of us who believe the literal account of creation deny the Mesozoic Era ever existed. Therefore, to acknowledge the existence of the dinosaur is to give credence to the evolutionary time table.

Most Christians I have talked with agree that God created this universe, including our earth, fully developed. Only days old, Adam and Eve would have appeared to be full-grown adults. If Adam had decided to build a coffee table and cut down a large tree he would have seen the age rings because the tree was full-grown. If you can believe that, why is it so hard to believe that God may have created the earth with bones and fossils already in the ground?

I expect atheists and skeptics to snicker at such reasoning. What surprises me is when Christians put so much confidence in the “vain babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge” (1 Tim. 6:20).

My biggest concern is for the children who are getting an unhealthy dose of propaganda from the enemy. I cringe when I see the title of the popular G-rated film, Land Before Time. I wonder, just when was that? Maybe some Christian can explain that to me!

After this article some of my brethren are likely to change their minds and claim that dinosaurs aren’t extinct after all. They’ve heard there’s a Diestelkamposuarus roaming around in Illinois.  Back to Top



MORAL COURAGE
By Andy Diestelkamp

In a world of moral relativism and an age seeking to challenge, if not destroy, absolutes, it is refreshing when someone stands up and confronts the ignorance, injustice and immorality of this perverse generation. Occasionally a politician, feeling for the pulse of this morally comatose nation, will make a bold comment. Very often he is mocked for his courage. Every now and then the open sewer we call television will flush something by us that has a remnant of wholesome values. It usually gets poor ratings and is cancelled.

Supposedly the majority of people in this country oppose the shameless glamorization of immorality that the media so often push. However, if that is true, why is it still being sold and who’s buying? So-called Christian organizations will declare that most Americans oppose abortion, but to get majority percentages they have to ask strangely worded questions in their polls and/or lump those who are only moderately pro-life (if that is possible) with those who truly are. If indeed we are, for the most part, a moral nation, then we are too quiet about our convictions.

This silence on moral issues reflects this nation’s general attitude toward all spiritual matters. Both morally and doctrinally we have adopted a “personal faith” concept which in effect says, “I’ll believe what I want and you believe what you want. Leave me alone!” The truth is that most Americans have faiths that cannot withstand the scrutiny of the sword of the Spirit (Heb. 4:12). Faith has become more a tradition rather than conviction. Therefore, it should not be surprising that so few want to study the Bible, let alone take a public stand for truth, be it moral or otherwise.

When the nation of Israel had fallen away from God and was on the brink of captivity and destruction, God challenged Jeremiah to find anybody in the open places who executed justice and sought truth (Jer. 5:1). To Ezekiel God said that He had looked among the leaders of the land to see if there was anyone who would “stand in the gap.” Among the princes there were none (Ezk. 22:23-31). God was looking for someone with spiritual fortitude and moral courage—someone who would openly and boldly stand in the gaping hole of that nation’s spiritual and moral fiber.

No doubt God looks for the same things today. Still it appears that moral excellence is becoming less common in our pluralistic society.

Since our nation has guaranteed the freedom to worship God as we see fit, many have made the illogical leap that means all manner of worship is acceptable to God. It is further reasoned that good Americans must embrace this diversity no matter the perversity.

This mentality attempts to squelch moral courage. It must not succeed! God is looking for people who will stand for truth regardless of what the majority think or do. Only if we add virtue (moral courage) to our faith (2 Pet. 1:5) can we be the kind of people God is looking for in the midst of a perverse generation.  Back to Top



SOJOURNERS & PILGRIMS
By Ed Brand

Peter urges saints to regard themselves as sojourners and pilgrims. A sojourner is one who lives among aliens. Pilgrims live in a strange place, away from one’s own people. Hostility is injected into this alien, strange place by the phrase, “which war against the soul” (1 Pet. 2:11). He says the present dwelling place of Christians is in a strange, hostile land; a land where danger lurks in the form of fleshly lusts.

I know Americans who live abroad. They are literally “sojourners.” They are living in a country of which they are not native. The customs there are different from their homeland. Most of them live in relative safety from governmental persecution, but some do not. There is actual danger of deportation or threat of harassment while they live there. A remarkable thing about these people: they volunteered to live in this environment because they believe their being there would be helpful to the cause of Jesus. Living there is generally more rigorous and less comfortable than living in the USA. They have not forgotten their homeland and look forward to the time they can return.

Christians are living in a land which is not theirs and which is inhabited by people and influences which are foreign to them. How easy it is to forget that we are just pilgrims “passing through.” We are like Abraham who dwelled in tents (only a temporary home) while he traveled in search of the “city which hath foundations” (Heb. 11:9-10). He was incessantly looking for this permanent dwelling place.

The world is out to make us citizens. Its efforts, sometimes subtle, sometimes bold, are to make us feel at home here. We need to slip into something more comfortable. Since we are going to be here for awhile we ought to at least enjoy being here. Don’t be so uptight.

I’m afraid many saints are vulnerable to this persuasive song the world sings. Some have concentrated so hard on the here and now that the there and then have all but been forgotten. We are surrounded with the gadgets of culture which dazzle and amaze our eyes and minds. The popular media praise modern paganism and denounce Christians with convictions as “right-wing fanatics” and “bigots.” Surely we do not want to be either fanatics or bigots. The only way to be relieved of those names is to cease opposition to the world’s agenda, be silent and lay down our arms.

Dear brethren, when we become sophisticated and are comfortable in our surroundings, the enemy has won. Our lips will be silenced in opposition to wrong and closed for use to convert others. Our numbers will dwindle, our influence lessen, until we are gone. Vanished! Unless we remain conscious to the designations of “sojourners and pilgrims” and act consistently with the meaning of those terms.  Back to Top