Fighting Against God

Fighting and battling of mankind has taken place since the first human walked the earth. Though man fights against himself for the occupying of lands, freedoms, etc., the greatest and most lingering of fights that takes place is that of man fighting against God. In Acts 5:39, the great rabban and scholar Gamaliel commented on the subject: "but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God."[1] In the context of the passage, Gamaliel does not agree with the doctrine that is being spread throughout Jerusalem of Jesus proclaimed as the Messiah. However, he acknowledges that fighting against God is fruitless, vain, and ridiculous. I will explore this passage and others throughout this paper to: a) reveal the reasons that man fights against God, b) to explain that those who do fight against God are fools, and finally c) that one who fights against God is only fighting against him/herself.

Why do people fight against God? One reason is that people do not listen to what God says about Himself but only listen to what others say about Him. With the bombardments of the 21st century media today, many people listen to and believe most or all of what they hear. A man on a television set in an expensive suit can proclaim something he "discovered" in scientific research and it is taken immediately as fact. In this age, children are brought up taught that evolution is fact rather than theory. Without exercising discernment about information taken in, one can develop false concepts of God and thus enter into a fight against Him. Many people come up with big whoppers about God that make me wonder where in the world they get their "facts" from. The truth is that people only repeat what they hear. Someone who doesn't know God personally and hasn't actually read the Bible for themselves may have no clue that they are simply crackers in their thoughts and concepts of the God of the Bible.

The Bible claims to be God's revelation to mankind. As I study the Bible daily, I am continually satisfied with the tangible evidence and logical concepts presented. Unless you have read the Bible from cover to cover, how can you formulate accurate conclusions about it? Some begin at Genesis but then put the Book down at the first miracle because they just can't believe that it really happened. However, the book of Genesis alone, or even the first handful of books isn't enough of the Bible to get the whole concept of God as He intends. Many people that don't believe the Bible have never even picked it up to read it. I cannot logically accept someone's opinion of the Bible if they haven't carefully examined the evidence for themselves. I don't want you to take my word for it. If you have not already, take the challenge to read the Bible for yourself and gather your own conclusion rather than adopting the opinions and conclusions of other men. Hugh Prather once wrote, "Don't fight a fact, deal with it."[2] Gamaliel however did have a very strong knowledge of the scriptures and realized that fighting against God was foolish.

Other people fight against God because they experienced mishaps in life and allow bitterness against God to develop. Perhaps a minister wrongs them and makes a mistake. People often view pastors as perfect and when they see the pastor stumble, the shock that the pastor is human is unbearable and they run. Or, maybe God doesn't answer a specific prayer that someone prays. Perhaps a prayer to save a life from cancer is unanswered and bitterness sparks a fight against God in a person who previously loved and trusted God completely. A common question I am asked from non-believers is, "If there is a God, why does he allow all of this evil, violence, and destruction in the world?" These people fight against God because they are upset over the situations that He permits to happen. This world is indeed in a state of chaos but this isn't the way God intended it to be from the beginning. It is our fault that the world has become what it is and to hold animosity in our hearts against God for things that we cause is absurd. Why not surrender what we don't understand and allow God to lead our lives rather than combating to control them ourselves?

You must be a fool to fight against God. "Woe to him who strives with his Maker!"[3] There is no hope in a mortal human trying to wage a war against the infinite omnipotent God. Jonah tried to fight against God by running in the opposite direction of where he was called to go. God responded by having a massive fish swallow Jonah in route to Tarshish.[4] Only someone devoid of common sense would dare to fight against God, yet we all do it in someway or other all the time. While some try this physical fight with God, others war intellectually. "The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."[5] People argue with God and think they know more. When God answers though, the result is silence. Because God loves us all, His mercy allows people to say blasphemous things in the hope that they will turn to Him eventually. If God wasn't merciful, He would justly wipe out all mankind because of these blasphemes.

MacArthur puts it this way: "Such a foolhardy course of action is dangerous, if not fatal and eternally terrible, because God fights back."[6] God gives a tremendous warning of such in Jeremiah. "I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger and fury and great wrath."[7] God's power cannot be combated against and only a fool even tries. Just because immediate action may not take place, God will clearly pass judgment in due time.

Men can only fight with God because He allows them to do so. It is only by God's grace and mercy that man is even granted the life to fight with God, rather than abrupt death. As man shouts words of empty intellect to God, the realization is missing that the very breath forming the words from the lungs is from God. When Daniel was brought in to interpret the writing on the wall for the Babylonian king Belshazzar, he said, "the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified."[8] As you read this, your very next breath is in the hand of God and is granted to you not out of obligation but out of love and grace. Ironically, Belshazzar's grandfather Nebuchadnezzar tried to fight God and revealed the outcome when he said, "at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation."[9]

Gamaliel was a respected and well-educated rabban in the religious council in Jerusalem. "Gamaliel was only one of seven scholars in his nation's history to receive the title, 'Rabban' (our master)."[10] It is this man that gives the warning against fighting God. Paul the Apostle sat under Gamaliel's teaching but obviously did not heed this principle since he set out to destroy followers of "The Way": the name given to the first followers of Jesus Christ. Gamaliel is the rabban who persuades the council to a more reasonable course of action when they become outraged at Peter and the other disciples' doctrine and want to kill them. Gamaliel was well qualified since he himself was a member of the Sanhedrin and therefore held in high respect among the people in Jerusalem. He at least acknowledged that this doctrine of Jesus could be a possibility. As a result of Gamaliel's excellent declaration, the apostles were beaten, threatened, but then released. The apostles immediately started preaching again. The more Christianity is threatened and persecuted, the more it rises.

Under the teaching of Gamaliel, Paul undoubtedly learned of the folly of fighting against God. Yet, Paul's encounter with the risen Christ shows the degree that this teaching took hold of his heart and life. "Then the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'"[11] Paul had been kicking against the figurative goads by fighting against Jesus Christ.

Thus, fighting against God is fighting against yourself and your own good. God's love and plan for your life is the absolute best for you and fleeing from that is only fighting against what is supreme for your life. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."[12] God is not some spirit of wrath waiting to send trials and heartache to you when you mess up. Take a look outside today and realize that God's imagination is incredible. Then, realize that that same imagination and creativity is thinking at this very moment of how to bless you and do wonderful things in your life. "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly."[13] When you surrender the fight against God and yield to His will, like a nation defeated in war that applies for aid, resources from the Lord will flow into your life and His Holy Spirit will empower and strengthen you to serve and follow the path of life.

Are you possibly fighting against God now? Maybe you realize you are caught up in some sinful mess and have no clue how you ended up in such a place. Stop fighting God and submit to doing things His way. Gamaliel is absolutely correct in that you cannot overthrow something God is doing. Stop kicking against the goads like Paul and fess up to God.

Some people do win in their fight against God by dying without ever having submitted to Him for salvation and lordship. The result of winning this fight against God is to be eternally lost. God is a perfect gentleman and will not force anyone to love or follow Him, yet He constantly persuades with that still small voice in each man's conscience. Your forfeit in this fight is what truly brings victory.

[1] Acts 5:39 NKJV

[2] Edythe Draper, Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World (Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1992), 3576.

[3] Isa. 45:9 NKJV

[4] See Jon. 1:3, 17

[5] 1 Cor. 1:25 NKJV

[6] John F. MacArthur, Jr., MacArthur's New Testament Commentary: Acts 1-12, (Chicago, Ill.: Moody Press, 1994).

[7] Jer. 21:5 NKJV

[8] Dan. 5:23 NKJV

[9] Dan. 4:34 NKJV

[10] Paul P. Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago, Ill.: Moody Press, 1989).

[11] Acts 9:5

[12] Jer. 29:11

[13] Ps. 84:11

a poem - a bit dark.

when the jokes end
after the laughter pales
a bleeding wound unveiled
pressed outwards, spreading inwards
inexcusable deeds
a rotted soul
unglued from the hinges there is little left to find
i bleed uncontrollably
wondering if you feel my weakening pulse
if only you were able to come close
feel my whimpering breath as fear strikes a thundering bell
memories growing faint with the last tone
my stomach tears itself in two
the tale i wrote suddenly sours
you grow faint

and i die.

Impulse Buy

I was browsing in World Market today. It's common to find uncommon items there but I found one that I simply had to buy just to have an excuse to write about it. It's a little tin of lip balm called
ORGANIC CARROT SMOOTHIE LIP BALM

It's pretty freakin awesome

Promoting the attainment of personal goats..

I was given a free cd today at my company's Christmas luncheon:

"Merry, Merry Show Tunes: Birmingham's Best & Brightest"

Cool. A free Christmas CD is surely able to cheer my spirits on an otherwise uneventful Thursday afternoon. I pop the CD into my computer..

Ridiculous. Ever song is absolutely garbage. I laughed my self silly at track 7 "Be A Santa," from the hit album "Subways are for Sleeping." The worst is "It's Turkey Lurkey Time." Enjoy the lyrics with me...

It's turkey lurkey time
Tom turkey ran away, but he just came home
It's turkey lurkey time
He's really home to stay, never one to roam
Let's make a wish, and may all our wishes come true.......
A snowy, blowy christmas, a mistletoey christmas
A turkey lurkey christmas to you...
A turkey lurkey christmas to you
It's loosey goosey time
She was a gadabout, but she's back again
It's loosey goosey time
Her time is running out, and we all know when
Let's make a wish, and may all our wishes come true....
A snowy, blowy christmas, a mistletoey christmas
A loosey goosey christmas to you...
A loosey goosey christmas to you
Turkey lurkey, loosey goosey
Some for uncle joe, some for cousin lucy
Everybody gather round the table
Dig in, dinner is being served
Eat all the turkey you are able
Can't you see a partridge in a pear tree?
Climb up and bring it down for me
That's something i would like to see
A snowy, blowy christmas, a mistletoey christmas
A turkey lurkey christmas to you......
Jingle bells, jingle bells x 15

Wow. My life is full of joy.

PS- Sorry about the title. I read the fine print wrong in from the Salvation Army note inside. It actually reads 'personal goals.' I figured that you deserve the same chuckle.

The Slain Lamb

"And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain..." Rev. 5:6

Jesus stands in heaven as a Lamb that has been slain. Isaiah 52 says He was marred more than any other man ever. That's more than the nastiest accident you can imagine. How about a man burned alive? Yep, worse than that. Jesus was slain for us. We won't quite understand what he endured until we see Him in person. It actually goes much deeper than just physical scarring.

The crazy thing is that Jesus wasn't concerned much about the physical pain He was up against. As He prayed in the garden just before His crucificion with such intensity that capalaries burst and blood flowed out of His pores, Jesus was actually concerned about one thing: being seperated from the Father. Jesus knew no sin. He was about to take on the sin of the world and be seperated from His Father for a time and the agony of that was torture beyond any physical pain.

"Jesus was close to His Father,
drew His love from His Father,
was in love with His Father" - Jon Courson

What do you worry over? Losing your job? Failing school? People not liking you? Yeah, I'm with ya. However, how much would we freak out if we were seperated from the Father for a day? Probably not at all. Let's stop worrying over stuff that isn't really that big of a deal in the perspective of eternity and start concerning ourselves with constant genuine communion with the Father. That's what the Christian walk is really all about: being totaly consumed with the Lord and relaxing in Him, hanging out with Him, drawing every breath from Him, running every thought past Him.

Dave's Hog Roast

At the top of this week's cravings: Dave's Hog Roast

If you don't know me from York, chances are you have never had the pleasure of eating from Dave's. If you have, your mouth is watering all over your keyboard. Wipe it up - people are staring.

Just a few steps off Petergate sits Dave's Hog Roast. The whole place is the size of my living room. As you near the entrance, the large window displays today's feast: several chickens, a lamb, a chunk of beef, a turkey and a pig. Dave roasts each of these in the morning and sells them for lunch in sandwiches. He closes his doors for the day whenever the last bite has been sold. It usually takes a mere 3 hours to sell out so arriving at 11am is a good idea.

Since only 3 people can fit in the door, the line goes for about 20 people down the sidewalk. At the counter, order a lamb sandwich with mint, a turkey sandwich with stuffing smeared on it, or a pork sandwich with applesauce running down your fingers. Oh, and the pork always comes with a chunk of real pork rind (with little hairs still attached) on the side. I love watching them literally carve the meat off the roasted animal and layer it thick onto my bun. Though greasy, Dave's hits the spot every time.
And since I'm on a roll with these restaurant reviews, stayed tuned for "Jenny's Fish and Chips - £1.50" Don't forget to bring your Pepto Bismal and a defibrillator (just in case).

Frustrated

I am so frustrated with life today. I have been for awhile now due to my new job. If I had the means, I would actually burn the building down today. This company is full of jerks that don't have their acts together. How are you supposed to tell me to fix someone's printer over the phone when I've never seen the printer, never had training on it, and have NO documentation? And then get mad when I can't fix it!!!

Well, the only thing I know to do when I'm frustrated is pray. It comes out with difficulty and negative words. I basically tell God that I'm really pissed and wish everyone around me were dead. Then, I tell Him that I know He is in control and promises to work everything out in my life if I just trust Him and hang in there. Amen. That's it.

Did it help? No. I'm still pissed off at the world. Namely, a company who pays me good money to do a big job but doesn't give me the time of day to equip me how to do it. Also, I'm pissed at the retarded Wal-mart ladies who took 30 minutes to figure out how to make my credit card work and made me late coming back from lunch. I'm also pissed at the mechanic who tried to jip me on a simple brake job. Hell, I'm pissed at my dad for not dying from his stroke and making me think about him all the time. I'm pissed at my mom for raising me the way she did. I'm frustrated with so many people and situations.

With all that said, I know that it's gunna be ok. Philip was tested by Jesus in the Bible. Jesus was all, "Hey Phil, let's feed all these people." Yeah, I would have been frustrated, too. Jesus, you nutcase. We have enough money for a few people but not this crowd. You're supposed to be all smart and look what you're suggesting.

But, Jesus was cool as a cucumber because He all ready knew the plan. He took the little stuff they had and made it multiply. He didn't call Philip a knuclehead and make him sit on the bench for the rest of the game. Likewise, Jesus isn't freakin out that I'm so frustrated and ready to throw in the towel. He already knows how everything will work out and is allowing me to be stretched so that I can grow. I'm really pissed about it but it is for my own good.

So there. I hate you. I hate the world. But, my God is gunna bring me through this crap kicking and screaming. Maybe in a year, I'll be explaining to the new hires in the very first training class of my department how I made it through with no training and how lucky they are to have a teacher like me.