How Deep The Father’s Love For Us ~ Phillips, Craig and Dean

How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
And make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which marr the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon the cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

… It was my sin.

Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”

In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.

Matthew 27:37-42 (New International Version)

It wasn’t the nails that held him there, but, as the famous John Newton hymn goes, “It was my sin that held him there, until it was accomplished. His dying breath has brought me life….” Despite the mocking challenge of the chief priests to get down and save himself, he stayed on the cross. He stayed there, held, not by nails, but by his own will.

“…I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

John 10:17-18 (New International Version)

Therefore, be thankful this Easter, for your Lord who laid down his life has risen for you who trust in him.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 (New International Version)

Yes, he is risen!

I know I’ve asked this question before on my old blog, but I thought it would be a good idea to ask it again here in the interest of generating conversation from a different crowd. And being Easter it ties in nicely.

Eating meat on Good Friday? Is it blasphemous to eat red meat on Good Friday? Where did the vegetarian/fish policy come from?

After speaking to a Catholic colleague; the custom has was originally adopted by the early church (and since maintained by the Catholic Church) from the custom on the Jewish Sabbath. Not only is the Sabbath a no work day but is also a no meat day. And fish is not considered meat to the Jews.

My own thoughts were that there is no problem with eating meat on Good Friday. Looking at the words of Jesus in Matthew 15:10-11, 16-20

Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean.

Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean.

To me this is Jesus lifting all the Jewish food restrictions and saying “Whats food got to do with anything, its just food. There are more important things to dwell on.”

If, on the other hand, having a meat ban on Good Friday leads you to reverent reflection and remembrance of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, then I don’t see any harm.

[Last updated by Duane: 12 April 2011]

Every year as Easter approaches, you can be sure to find all sorts of opportunistic and inane stories in the main stream media (MSM) concerning the Christian world view. This annual religious tradition – referred to by some as “Christian bashing”, and having taken place for many years now – has left in its wake, a grand corpus of sorts; a body of writing that cannot be considered Christian thought. But can perhaps be loosely referred to as Neo-Christianity.

A few years ago, for example (cue the looney tunes music), the Sydney Morning Herald published an article suggesting that Moses was on drugs when he allegedly met with God on Mount Sinai and earlier when he spoke with God in the burning bush. The punch line in this particular story: The author of the theory “experienced visions that had spiritual-religious connotations,” after taking drugs!

A year before that, we had James Cameron claiming that he had discovered the very tomb of Jesus himself, bones and all.

During the lead up to Easter in 2009, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) aired a two-part Zeitgeistian program on “The Real Jesus” where the Christian record of Jesus’ life is challenged by examining similar parallels in the accounts of other ancient figures such as Horus, Mithras, Krishna and the Buddha.

Bill Muehlenberg has been observing this annual phenomenon of Easter attacks on Christianity (and for the most part, only Christianity) for some time. Take for example this summary of some of the programs aired by the ABC via its religious program, Compass.

I have already mentioned Easter 2009 and Easter 2006. How about a story on the “three faces of Christmas” – another interfaith push on Christmas, 2007; a three part religion hatchet job by Robert Winston (no friend of Christianity) over Easter 2007; a segment on “the real Mary” (we are told she was the “first apostle”) in Christmas 2004; “Did Jesus Die?” which questions his death, Easter 2004; “Children of Abraham” three common faiths, Easter 2002; “Testing Faith” critics assail Christianity, Christmas 2001; “Lives of Jesus” – another quest for the “real Jesus. Christmas 1999; etc.

- Bill Muehlenberg, The ABC’s War on Christianity

See also, More Artistic License, More Christ-Bashing.

Read the rest of this entry

The Principal of a public school in my neck of the woods has tried to ban the word Easter from the Easter Hat Parade in the name of religious “tolerance.”

The story comes from today’s Daily Telegraph:

Bondi Public School principal Michael Jones wrote to parents about the decision, saying Easter was just one of many religious celebrations at this time of year.

“As we are an inclusive community which celebrates our diverse range of cultures and beliefs, I have not called it an Easter Hat parade,” Mr Jones wrote in the school’s latest newsletter.

“Many religious celebrations occur at this time of year but we want to include all students in any celebration at school. Teachers will talk to students about the different celebrations and the emphasis will be on tolerance and understanding.”

Sounds like a job for Mr Hankey the Christmas Poo. Perhaps he can come and hand out chocolate brown treats and sing songs about tolerance and love.

Or here’s something novel. They can get real about religious tolerance and teach children what real tolerance is by educating them about the religious view that grounds the holiday (and the parade) in the first place.

Here’s the thing. True tolerance is not about censoring particular points of view so as not to offend others. But is about respecting another person, even if you disagree with their view. Under the classical definition of tolerance, you can’t tolerate someone unless you disagree with them. We don’t “tolerate” people who share our views. They’re on our side. There’s nothing to put up with. Tolerance is reserved for those we think are wrong.

But notice the irony. In attempting to promote this false brand of tolerance and understanding, Principal Jones must, by necessity, be “intolerant” of Easter.

It’s almost too obvious to have to point out: (1) It’s a hat parade. (2) It’s held at Easter time. (3) Ergo, it’s an Easter Hat Parade.

Thankfully, the Telegraph reports, there was a swift end to the insanity:

However the ruling on Friday’s fundraising event was overturned yesterday, after parents from the school in Sydney’s east expressed anger.

“This was done very quietly,” Helen Robson – who represented a group of outraged parents – said.

“Up until last month’s newsletter, these events were referred to as ‘Easter’ events.

“Without warning, the recent newsletter deleted all reference and children came home with news their Hats and Raffle tickets were not to be called ‘Easter’ anymore.”

Principal Jones could not be contacted yesterday.

Federation of Parents and Citizens Organisations Sharryn Brownlee said she was disappointed by the original decision to dump Easter.

“The Department of Education has a very clear direction, a very strong policy that Christian activities such as celebrating Easter and Christmas go ahead,” she said.

“These are long-held traditions. Categorically the parade should go ahead as an Easter function.”

Bill Muehlenberg also wrote briefly on this politically correct nonsense earlier today:

“… do you think for one moment this guy would ever even consider trying to ban something to do … with Aboriginal dreamtime spirituality? Not on your life buster. These secularist crusaders wouldn’t have the guts to try to do such a thing. But as always it is open season on Christianity.”

Check out his full article here.

I [the LORD God] will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction? ~ Hosea 13:14

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said” ~ Matthew 28:5-6

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power ~ 1Cor 15:20-24

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed ~ Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)