The Humanitarian Theory Of Punishment

                                            When The Door Slams

I will turn my face away from the people, and robbers will desecrate the place I treasure. They will enter it and will defile it. "Prepare chains! For the land is full of bloodshed, and the city is full of violence. I will bring the most wicked of nations to take possession of their houses. I will put an end to the pride of the mighty, and their sanctuaries will be desecrated. When terror comes, they will seek peace in vain.           Ezekiel 7:22-25

            As a Christian, I most certainly believe in punishment. Biblical justice demands that individuals be held accountable. Throughout the history of ancient Israel, to break God's law was to invite swift, specific, and certain punishment. When a law was broken, the resulting imbalance could be righted only when the transgressor was punished and thus made to "pay" for his wrong. 

            Though modern sociologists take offense at this elemental concept of retribution, it is essential: If justice means getting one's due, then justice is denied when deserved punishment is not received. And ultimately this undermines one's role as a moral, responsible human being. 

            C.S. Lewis summed this up in his brilliant essay  "The Humanitarian Theory of Punishment," which assails the view that lawbreakers should be "cured" or "treated" rather than punished. "To be punished, however severely, because we have deserved it, because we 'ought to have known better,' is to be treated as a human person made in God's image," says Lewis. In this Biblical sense, punishment is not only just, it is very often redemptive-to the offender, the victim, and society at large.

            Think about this: This is why the distinction between prison and punishment is so crucial. Prisons, though necessary to confine violent offenders, can hardly be considered redemptive. And while punishment is clearly Biblical, American penal philosophy is not based on the Biblical principle of just due or payment, that it is founded on a humanistic view that crime is an illness to be cured.

            Confession: Have you not brought this on yourselves by forsaking the LORD your God when he led you in the way? Now why go to Egypt to drink water from the Nile? And why go to Assyria to drink water from the Euphrates? Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is you when you forsake the LORD your God and have no awe of me; declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty (Jeremiah 2:17-19).

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness. 

                                                Never Rest Ministries

                   

      

28 Spiritual Understandings

                                   When The Door Slams  

* Proverbs 28                                                                                                                                        (1) The Wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions. (2)  When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability. (3) A poor person who oppresses the poor is like a pounding fain that destroys the crops. (4) To reject the law is to praise the wicked; to obey the law is to fight them. 

(5) Evil people don't understand justice, but those who follow the LORD understand completely. (6) Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and rich. (7) Young people who obey the law are wise; those with wild friends bring shame to their parents. (8) Income from charging high interest rates will end up in the pocket of someone who is kind to the poor. (9) God detests the prayers of a person who ignores the law.

(10) Those who lead good people along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the honest will inherit good things. (11) Rich people may think they are wise, but a poor person with discernment can see right through them. (12) When the godly succeed, everyone is glad. When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding. 

(13) People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. (14) Blessed are those who fear to do wrong, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble. (15) A wicked ruler is as dangerous to the poor as a roaring lion or an attacking bear. (16) A ruler with no understanding will oppress his people, but one who hates corruption will have a long life.

(17) A murderer's tormented conscience will drive him into the grave. Don't protect him! (18) The blameless will be rescued from harm, but the crooked will be suddenly destroyed. (19) A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty. (20) The trustworthy person will get a rich reward,  but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble. (21) Showing partiality is never good, yet some will do wrong for a mere piece of bread. (22) Greedy people try to get rich quick but don't realize they're headed for poverty.

(23) In the end, people appreciate honest criticism far more than flattery. (24) Anyone who steals from his farther and mother and says, "What's wrong with that?" is no better than a murderer. (25) Greed causes fighting; trusting the LORD leads to prosperity. (26) Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe. (27 Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.

(28) When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding. When the wicked meet disaster, the godly flourish (Proverbs 28).-  

Affirmation: All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shinning in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your heart (2 Peter 1:19 NIV).    

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for his forgiveness.             

                                                 Never Rest Ministries 

        Happy New Year             

There Are Ways Of Covering Sin.

                                             When The Door Slams

Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.                  Proverbs 28:13-14 NIV       

            There are two ways of covering sin. The first is by our own effort, which, in our society, is called a cover-up. Every political junkie knows that politicians get into more trouble covering up their crimes rather than not committing them to begin with, and the same is true for us. If you have a secret habit, a guilty conscience, or a moral failure, Proverbs 28:13 is warning. Do not try to cover it up or explain it away. 

            There's another way of covering our sin, and that's by confessing it. Psalm 32:1 says, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." Isaiah said, "The iniquity of Jacob will be covered....For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness" (Isaiah 27:9; 61:10). 

            Think about this: It is not a sin to be tempted, for everyone is tempted. The devil will tempt you, but he can tempt you only as far as God permits-and God always provides a way to escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). The sin is in yielding to temptation, instead of seeking God's power to escape. 

            When you face temptation, follow Jesus' example. Satan will say, "for a moment's bowing of your head to me, the money, the fame, the business, the success and power, will be yours." But do what Jesus did. Jesus didn't argue with Satan; Jesus didn't debate with him; Jesus didn't rationalize. Instead He replied, "It is written...." Jesus responded to the enemy's temptation with the simple but strong truth of God's Word, Scripture. 

            Hidden sin yields the crop of guilt, but confession brings release and peace. Is there something in your life that needs to be covered? Don't try to hide it. Confess it, and let the blood of Jesus Christ cover your guilt with the flow of the Holy Spirit. 

            Intercession: O LORD, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness with those who love Him and with those who obey His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity; we have been wicked and have rebelled, even turning away from Your commandments and from Your judgments. To the LORD our God belong mercy and forgiveness, even though we have rebelled against Him. We have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God to walk in His laws which He set before us through His servants the prophets (Daniel 9:4-5,9-10).

 Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.                                

The Truth Of Christmas Is Christ

                                     When The Door Slams        

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.                 John 1:14 NKJV 

            When Daniel was captive in Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar the king had a dream. He demanded that the wise men of his court not only tell him the interpretation of the dream but the dream itself! How else would he know if they truly had access to "the divine"? His courtiers recoiled at the very idea: "It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh" (Daniel 2:11). 

            Therein lies the human dilemma: We are "here," and God is "there." While God dwelt with man in the Holy of Holies, He was not "with flesh." It was not until the first Christmas that God "became flesh and dwelt among us" so that we might know Him and behold God's glory (John 1:14). At the first Christmas, the gap between God and man was bridged in a way never before imagined in history-God becoming a man! Jesus of Nazareth came to live a life acceptable unto God so that we could be forgiven for our unacceptable (sinful) lives. 

            In a sense, of course, Christmas is about us. God loved us, became flesh for us, died to forgive our sins, and rose to give us everlasting life. Christmas is the celebration of what Jesus did for us. But in return, we should make it all about Him: loving Him, serving Him, praising Him, and emulating His attitude of humility. 

            He humbled Himself to become human; in turn, Joseph and Mary put His interests before their own. The shepherds, too, put Him first. They left their flocks and bowed before Him. The Magi worshiped Him and presented Him with their gifts. In the temple, the aged Anna and the venerable Simeon praised God because of Him. They gladly let Him be the central focus.

            Think about this: As you celebrate Christmas this year, don't lose sight of what Christmas means: God became a man and dwelt among us. Not just in spirit, but in bodily form so that humanity and deity might be reunited forever through faith in Him. 

            Let's have ourselves a humble Christmas. Turn your thoughts toward Him and others. What a great time to rededicate the remainder of your days on earth to serving Christ with a humility that transcends the holidays.

            Intercession: But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:12).                              

  Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.

                                                Never Rest Ministries 

Temptation Can Come In An Attractive Package

                                             When The Door Slams

So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the messiah is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in  God. When the Messiah, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.                                                                                            Colossians 3:1-4 HCSB   

            Just...thinking about religion is not the same as making a Christian impact on our culture. Pollsters tell us that fifty million Americans say they are born again. No doubt about it, religion is up. But so are practices unremittingly opposed to the truth of Christianity: one out of every two marriages is shattered by divorce; one of three pregnancies ends in abortion. Homosexuality is no longer considered deviant or depraved behavior; it is an alternative lifestyle.

            Politicians and religious leaders said they will make American great again, but crime continues to soar: in "Christian" America there are two hundred times more burglaries than in "pagan" Japan...If there are so many Christians in the U.S., why we are not affecting our world?  

            I believe it is because Christianity has begun to lose its punch over the past forty to fifty years; it is that more and more Christians (it seems to me) now opt for a lower standard when confronted with choice of living in moral purity as set forth in the Scriptures or compromising (then rationalizing away the guilt). Well, just look around. You decide. 

            The battle of choices is certainly not new..."Our sinful selves want what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit wants what is against our sinful selves. The two are against each other, so you cannot do just what you please" (Galatians 5:17). 

            Think about this: Some things that appear quite harmless can entangle and hurt us. Most of us know what it is like to get involved innocently in a relationship or a pastime only to eventually find that we were caught up in something hurtful from which we could not break away. Temptation can come in an attractive package. 

            This statement perfectly describes the tempter. Sometimes people have the mistaken idea that Satan wants to give weak minded people pleasure. Satan no more wants to give us pleasure than a foolish person wants to grow in wisdom. Satan hates us and wants to inflict as much suffering into our lives as he possibly can. Satan offers the pleasure of sin only to inflict suffering later and to make that suffering permanent.

            In many ways, that is what temptation does to us. The more the enemy of our souls tries to yank away our faith, the tighter we squeeze it to our heart. God allows temptation so that we will cling more fiercely to Him. 

            Related Bible Texts: Pleasure, Satan, Sin, Sowing and Reaping: Matt. 4:1-11;                                John 10:10; Gal. 6:7-8; Heb. 11:25  

            Affirmation: He said to mankind, "The fear of the LORD is this: wisdom. And to turn  from evil is understanding" (Job 28:28). Who is the man who fear the LORD? He will show him the way he should choose (Psalm 25:12). How happy is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways (Psalm 128:1). The LORD values those who fear Him, those who put their hope in His faithful love (Psalm 147:11).                   

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His Forgiveness

                                                       Never Rest Ministries 

Bitterness, Family, Grace, Mercy, Righteousness, Sexual Abuse

                                           When The Door Slams

"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.         (Matthew 18:21-22 NIV) 

            A woman I met at the Los Angeles Mission told me how she was sexually abused as a small child by her father. She grew up, overcame the emotional damage that had been done, and eventually married a missionary. Years later, after her children were fully grown, she received a letter from her father telling her he had became a Christian and has asked God for forgiveness and received it. He had, moreover, realized he had sinned dreadfully against her, and was writing to ask for her pardon.

            Feelings she didn't know were there suddenly surfaced. It wasn't fair! He should pay for what he had done, she thought bitterly. It was all too easy. And now he was going to be part of the family! She was sure her home church was busy killing the fattened calf for him and that she would be invited to the party! She was angry, resentful. . . . 

            Then she had a dream. She saw her father standing on an empty stage. Above him appeared the hands of God holding a white robe of righteousness. She recognized it at once, for she was wearing one just like it! As the robe began to descend toward her father, she woke up crying out, "No! It isn't fair! What about me?"

            The only way she could finally rejoice, as our heavenly Father pleaded with her to do, was to realize that her earthy father was now wearing the same robe that she was. They were the same in God's sight. It had cost His Son's life to provide both those robes. As she began to see clearly her father clothed with the garments of the Lord God grace. She was able to begin to praise the LORD.

            Think about this: The same grace of God that protects and heals us also calls us to forgive those who hurt us the most.

            Affirmation: The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward (Psalm 19:7-11 NIV).      

Related Bible Texts: Matthew 18:21-35; Luke 15:11-32

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.

                                        Never Rest Ministries 

People God Used In A Significant Way Went Through Periods Of Waiting

                                              When The Door Slams

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.              Isaiah 40:28-31 NKJV   

            We say that time heals everything because time often dims our memory. This is why parents and trainers know that important principles need to be taught and repeated often. If people were computers, a concept could be entered once and saved, but people forget.

            To the extent we embrace that mentality, we lose touch with one of God's greatest character-building tools: waiting on Him. Most of the people God used in a significant way went through periods of waiting. The Old Testament has many references to waiting on the Lord, especially during trials. 

            Waiting on the Lord in marriage may be one of the most challenging test. If we think our spouses need to change, we are tempted to want that change now. The alternative is to commit that need to the Lord and wait upon Him. It sometimes escapes us that the waiting might be for our benefit; God's best work may be in us, not our spouses. 

            Think about this: Throughout Scripture, the people of God are reminded, "Do not be afraid." When we come face-to-face with God and His glory: "Do not be afraid." When Peter walks on water: "Do not be afraid." When loved one die: "Do not be afraid." When all you have is five loaves and two fish: "Do not be afraid." 

            This simple phrase is God's comfort and invitation to us. We may not have the confidence, skills, or resources needed for our situation, but God does. Jesus invites us to rest, knowing He is God. His peace is ever present. He delights in our requests for more of Him. It is not about ignoring feelings of fear, but about focusing on God's love, power, and provision. As we do, our faith grows as we see God working in the midst of our circumstances. It is worth repeating: "I can wait-on the Lords." "Do not be afraid." 

            Affirmation: "Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows (Matthew 10:27-31 NKJV).   

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness  

                                                     Never Rest Ministries