Can people be saved without hearing about Jesus Christ from a missionary?

Many young people have asked me that question. I’ve shared my beliefs on the topic with them but here I would like to write them down. 

I believe that the Bible teaches all humans have an opportunity to be saved before they die and I will outline some reasons why I believe that. 

Many Calvinists would disagree with me but, for what it’s worth, many other men of God would agree that all people have some type of opportunity for salvation. Men, to my understanding, such as Justin Martyr (and other patriarchs), Erasmus, Ulrich Zwingli, John Wesley, Matthew Henry, G. Campbell Morgan, Billy Graham and C.S. Lewis to name a few. 

We know that salvation is needed because of sin, salvation is only accomplished at the cross of Christ and salvation can only be attained by faith before death. These statements are Biblically true throughout the history of humankind before and after Christ and also throughout the geography of mankind. 

John Stott, an Evangelical powerhouse, has said:

“I believe the most Christian stance is to remain agnostic on the question… The fact is that God, alongside the most solemn warnings about our responsibility to respond to the gospel, has not revealed how he will

deal with those who have never heard it. We have to leave them in the hands of the God of infinite mercy and justice, who manifested these qualities most fully in the cross.”

However, no less than Billy Graham, went further and said this later in life:

“I believe that there are other ways of recognizing the existence of God—through nature, for instance—and plenty of other opportunities, therefore, of saying ’yes’ to God.”

Graham was not into universalism at all - he maintained that the only way to God was through Jesus - but allowed for other ways to come to this realization. 

What I Am Not Saying 

Before we start let me be clear about what I am NOT saying. I am not suggesting that there is any other way to be saved except by Christ Himself. Only Jesus saves. 

I am also not saying that I believe in Universalism – the idea that everyone makes it to heaven despite their faith choices. 

Nor am I implying that we don’t need missionaries. The more missionaries the better (see Romans 10 below). I just think there are additional means for God to use to preach the Gospel. 

Romans 10: 13-15

This passage is probably the most obvious one that exhorts the necessity of evangelists and missionaries along with Jesus’ Great Commission. And I readily admit it makes me think twice about my belief on the matter. While I firmly believe in the necessity of missions I also believe that God can, if necessary, use other means. 

There is also much Scriptural evidence to suggest that God can reveal the Gospel to people in other ways (see below for Genesis 3:15, Psalm 19, Romans 1:19-20 and Colossians 1:23). With all of these Scriptures in mind let us ponder the main question of this blog.

Genesis 3:15 and Oral Traditions

The promise of Genesis 3:15 was made immediately after humankind sinned in the Garden of Eden. The Gospel itself was contained in Genesis 3:15. This promise and prophecy of a future “Savior” would have been orally passed down from generation to generation until Moses wrote it down around 1446-1406 B.C. This is one plausible reason to believe that many people who have not had contact with Israel or the Church have indeed had contact with the promise of the gospel.

Think of Job who lived in the land of Uz around the time of the patriarchs (c.2000-1800). He existed before the nation of Israel and in a land that was likely not near the patriarchs (Uz was probably in northern Arabia) and yet he was a “man (who) was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.” Job 1:1. There is no question that this man was saved (as we understand the term today). 

Creation – the Second Book

It has been said that God gave two books to humanity. One, of course, is the Bible. The second is Creation itself. And on this topic the first book has much to say about the second. It is simply obvious from Scripture that nature reveals God to us. 

Psalm 19:1-4a

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” 

Romans 1:19-20 

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

The Human Conscience and the Holy Spirit

We also know that every human is endowed with a conscience to remind them of God and His ways. The Holy Spirit can also convict people wherever they are and whatever knowledge they or may not have at the time. 

If Romans 1 can say that all humanity is “without excuse” then that means they have made a choice to reject God. And if they have made a choice to reject God then, it would follow, they would have had a choice to receive Him as well. And I believe many have received Him at the heart level where there are no words. 

Direct Revelation of God

Also the Bible is full of God revealing things to people directly via angels or visions from the Holy Spirit. That is not to say that anyone can just say God told them something - but if it aligns rightly with Scripture then these are also real possible ways for people to come to know Christ on a personal level. 

Cornelius was a Gentile who had not yet heard the Gospel but because he was already “a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.” (Acts 10:2), God sent him an angel to tell him to contact Peter the Apostle. Peter later preaches the Gospel to Cornelius and he eagerly receives it. 

Conclusion 

Colossians 1:23

“If indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.” 

Here “all creation under heaven” can also be translated “to every creature under heaven”. Either way Paul seems to be saying that the Gospel will be proclaimed to everyone one way or the other (and perhaps even if it is not in written or verbal form).  God can reveal Himself, and thus the Gospel, to anyone He wishes. 

I believe that if a person has come to know the one true God through any of these ways then that person has also come to know Jesus Christ – because God is Jesus and Jesus is God. If a person sincerely seeks God, encounters God, surrenders to Him and puts their faith in Him then they have been saved by the Gospel of Christ – even if they don't know all the details. 

What a blessing to know that our good and gracious God allows all humanity to have an opportunity to know of Him.

5 Examples of How Jesus' Treated Women

I may not be the best person to write this blog post but nevertheless it’s on my mind to do it. I’ve always admired the way Jesus treated women. 

I was raised by a strong woman who was a bit ahead of her time. She made sure that I knew how to do “women’s work” as well as the work I learned from my dad. She knew I would need those skills when I moved out on my own and she wanted to instill in me that idea that women and men, as much as they may be different at times, are indeed equal. 

Flash forward a few years and I am married to a strong woman as well. She balances career and home life in a way that is rarely matched and I admire her for this. And it doesn’t take long to know that my daughter is also growing into a strong woman – world watch out!

This is not a politically feminist post but it is a post of admiration for women and the hardships they have had to overcome and are overcoming. 

First of all, when it comes to understanding Jesus’ interactions with women, we must also understand the overwhelmingly patriarchal time and place in which He lived. His actions and words were often revolutionary in the society of his time. Here are 5 examples of women who crossed paths with Jesus Christ:

#1 The Woman At the Well

"A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”  John 4:7-10

For a first century Jewish man it was unheard of to talk to a women alone. Then there is the fact that she is a Samaritan woman and the Jews had no use for the Samaritans. Add to that the fact that we later learn that she had a rather dubious reputation when it came to relationships. 

All of this information helps us to grasp what a revolutionary action this was by our Saviour. The Samaritan woman went on to believe that Jesus indeed had the “living water” and she became a missionary to her town and the whole area. 

#2 The Woman Caught in Adultery

"The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”

…And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”]]  John 8:3-5, 7, 10-11

If you’re wondering “Where was the man who had participated in this act of adultery?”  - you would be in good company. These “religious” men had no real concern for the Law of God. They simply wanted to trap Jesus and they victimized a woman in the process. 

Jesus’ answer left them stunned and ashamed as they walked away from the woman. Jesus saved her from the masses and did not condemn her. He did, however, instruct her to stay away from such destructive behavior in the future (apparently this was a consensual act). 

#3 The Woman With the Alabaster Box

"But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” Matthew 26: 10-13

A woman (perhaps Mary, Lazarus’ sister) had crashed the party and began to break a flask of alabaster and anoint Jesus with it. Judas, knowing this ointment was worth about a year’s wages, was indignant and asked why it wasn’t sold and given to the poor (Judas conveniently had access to the funds given to the poor). 

Remarkably, Jesus commends this culturally unusual act and rebukes His disciples. He goes even further saying, to everyone’s amazement, that her “beautiful” act would be recalled whenever the Gospel was preached throughout space and time.

#4 Mary, Jesus’ Mother, at the Cross

“When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.”  John 19:26-27

It seems Jesus’ mother, Mary, had been widowed by this point and widows were amongst the most marginalized of people at that time.  In the midst of unimaginable suffering while on the cross, Jesus thinks of His mother and makes sure that she will be taken care of after his imminent death.  What a tender loving heart! 

#5 The Women Witnesses of the Empty Tomb

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” Luke 14:1-6

“They” were a group of women which included Mary Magdalene. Again to understand the culture is so important. In first century Palestine women were not considered credible witnesses. In that context, the fact that Jesus Christ chose these women to discover his empty tomb and be the very first witnesses to His resurrection is mind boggling. 

For the Gospel writers to record it is also amazing. A first century writer would never use female witnesses if they wanted to truly establish something. Ironically this has become a convincing element in the belief of the resurrection. 

As we can see in these five examples (and there are more) Jesus had a tender heart towards women of all backgrounds. He treated them with the dignity they deserved despite the cultural backlash He received at the time. 

7 Reasons Why I Am No Longer King James Version Only

I used to believe that the only acceptable translation of the Bible was the King James Version – otherwise known as “KJV – Only”. 

I have had (and continue to have) many wonderful mentors who were/are KJV-Only still and I love and respect them. They have taught me much, helped me much and continue to do so. However, I cannot in good conscience remain in a KJV-Only stance myself. I am very thankful for the variety of translations of the Bible in the English language. Some are certainly better than others, and some serve different functions than others but I am grateful since so many other languages have only one or maybe even no translation in that language. 

Here are 7 reasons why I am no longer KJV-Only. Some reasons are more personal testimony and some are more about fact-checking (but they are certainly not exhaustive). For a full and fair treatment of this topic I highly recommend you read “The King James Only Controversy” by James R. White. 

One last note - this is not an anti-KJV blog post. It is simply expalining my reasons for not being KJV-Only. 

#1 Reaching the Lost

I soon began to realize that the old English of the King James Version was simply not meeting the needs of the youth I was trying to reach and serve in a rural town who had never really been to church before. To me, it was not enough to say that “We shouldn’t dumb the Bible down but rather smarten the people up.” That didn’t ring right to me. Jesus always went out seeking the sinner, the tax collector and others who were not very “educated”. 

It is certainly no sin to have a modern translation in today’s English. We should be wary of putting any unnecessary stumbling blocks in the way of reaching the lost with the Gospel. 

#2 My Pride

If I’m honest, I also began to realize that in my heart I was harbouring a sense of superiority over other Christians who did not use the KJV only. I thought to myself “Are all other believers just not very smart?” Little did I know how many brilliant Bible-loving scholars and laymen had searched out the issues of texts and translation and come to an honest opinion that was different than mine. 

It was really the epitome of pride and I realized I was also putting an unnecessary stumbling block on my fellowship with other believer

#3 But What About Those Missing Verses?

Having said those two things though, I still had concerns about missing verses and different ways of translating certain verses and different manuscripts. So, for the first time in my life I put aside all the emotions and I read a book that treated the topic fairly (from both sides) – “The King James Only Controversy” by James White. Finally I understood why there were differences in the translations (and in some manuscripts) – after all it is just as much a sin to ADD to the Word of God as it is to TAKE AWAY from it. This helped me immensely and the following points will flesh that out.

“It is refreshing to read a work that simultaneously reflects the unswerving commitment to devout orthodoxy (i.e. doctrine) and a sane exposition of the facts.”  D.A. Carson on “The King James Only Controversy” 

#4 Tradition and the Textus Receptus (Received Text)

Many of us grew up with the KJV and its beautiful poetic style and that’s part of the reason we are uncomfortable with new versions. However, just because something is unfamiliar does not mean it is inaccurate. 

The truth is when Erasmus wrote the Textus Receptus (on which the King James Version is based) he was attacked by many Christians because it was a change from what had been the traditional text of the day - Jerome’s Latin Vulgate. To one such concerned Christian he wrote: “You must distinguish between Scripture, the translation of Scripture and the transmission of both. What will you do with the errors of the copyists?” 

In this statement by Erasmus himself we see him stating that there is a difference between the Scripture (in the original languages) and the varied translations of that Scripture. Only the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts can tell us what the Word of God is. 

As White says “There is nothing wrong with tradition, as long as we do not confuse tradition with truth.” 

Desiderius Erasmus

#5 Scribes Aren’t Perfect

In addition Erasmus affirms in that quote the fact that the copyists (or scribes) of those manuscripts sometimes made mistakes or even well meaning “adjustments”. 

White writes: “The scribes of old made errors, too. Even the best professional scribes had bad days… they often worked in the cold or the heat, and their lighting was almost always inferior to a good fluorescent lamp. Many of them had to work long hours at what they were doing. Fingers cramped, backs ached… All of these things contributed to the simple fact that there is not a single handwritten manuscript of the Bible, in Greek or Hebrew, that does not contain, somewhere, an error, an oversight, a mistake. To err is human.”

Having said all of that though he then quotes Philip Schaff who estimated that there were only 400 variants that affected the sense of the passage, and only 50 of those were actually important. He asserted that not one affected “an article of faith or a precept of duty which is not abundantly sustained by other and undoubted passages, or by the whole tenor of Scripture teaching.”

In other words whatever differences there may be between the KJV and some modern translations – none of them affect the vital and essential doctrines of our faith. Both teach conservative orthodoxy. “That is a fact that any semi-impartial view will substantiate.” White

Truly God’s Word has been preserved for us from every generation – including more modern translations such as the ESV (which I now use).

#6 1 John 5:17 (The Comma Johanneum)

Earlier we talked about how some scribes made well-meaning adjustments or even additions to the texts in order to shore up the evidence against a certain heresy etc. This is what scholars called “Expansion of piety” – adding to the text in order to “aid” God’s Word. However we know that adding to God’s Word is just as serious a problem as taking away from it. 

Erasmus’ first edition of the Textus Receptus did not include 1 John 5:7 (also known as the Comma Johanneum) because “…it was not found in any Greek manuscript of 1 John that Erasmus had examined.” When someone challenged Erasmus on why he did not include the Comma Johnanneum in his Greek text, he, in return, challenged the man to find even one manuscript that contained it and said if he found he would put it into his Greek text.

Finally someone found a manuscript that had it and so Erasmus kept his word and put it into the third edition of is text and it then made it into the KJV. However, even that one manuscript was highly suspicious as it came from an old enemy of Erasmus, whose only intention was probably to refute Erasmus. This is one passage where the evidence seems very clear that it was not in the original text.

#7 Further Notes

> It is also good to remember that the KJV has some missing portions of verses that the modern translations include.

> Erasmus was a Roman Catholic priest and, although he often rebuked the corruption within that church, he dedicated the Textus Receptus to Pope Leo X.

> Majority does not always mean accuracy. We have more Byzantine texts (on which much of the Textus Receptus is based) than the other text types but that is because the Byzantine texts came largely later on in Church history when the persecution had died down and the Church was more stable.

> As it stands the Bible clearly teaches the very important doctrine of the Trinity even without 1 John 5:7. In fact, the early church fathers, though they were embroiled in the debate over the Trinity did not quote 1 John 5:7 apparently because it simply did not exist at their time. 

 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector: Which One Are We?

The parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (found in Luke 18:9-14 – see below for text) always gives me pause because it is so tricky to not end up, even unwittingly, like the bad example of the Pharisee.

This parable is introduced with this statement:  “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt…”

Jesus then presents his audience with two characters. In that day and age of 1st century Israel, the Pharisee was well thought of while the tax collector was the epitome of a traitor and thought of as the scum of the earth. Undoubtedly Jesus’ audience would have been rooting for the Pharisee. 

We begin with the Pharisee and it soon becomes evident that he trusted in his own righteous acts (he says “I” 5 times) and then had contempt for the tax collector.  Commentator, David Guzik, gives a pointed thought here:

“The connection between those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and those who despised others is almost inevitable. If I credit myself for a supposed great and spiritual walk with God, then it is an easy thing to despise another for their supposed low and carnal walk with God.” 

Ain’t that the truth? Comparison with others almost always ends up poorly.

Now comes the tax collector – he “would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’”  The humility and utter despair of his own righteousness is obvious. But a profound truth lies hidden in the original Greek. To quote Dr. Craig Blomberg, New Testament Professor, “…the verb translated “have mercy” is the same verb from which we get the word propitiation, which is an atoning sacrifice.”

The text does not say whether the tax collector brought an animal sacrifice but it tells us that he cried out for an atoning sacrifice – a propitiation – of the kind only Jesus Christ could give. This is how all people must come to God and it is a foreshadowing, I believe, of those coming to God through Christ’s atoning death and resurrection (remember when this parable is told Jesus’ sacrifice had not yet happened).  

And guess what? It turns out to be the tax collector who comes away justified and not the Pharisee. Not as though just saying we are a sinner and “sounding” humble is enough – the tax collector showed true and deep repentance. 

Jesus ends the parable with these words: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Dr. Bruce Demarest tells the story of when he preached extensively on this parable at a local church and then asked a church leader to come up and close in prayer. Among other things, the church leader said:

“Father, we’re so grateful that we’re not like this Pharisee.”

Wow. It’s so easy for us to miss the point of this parable.

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5 and see also Proverbs 3:34

Luke 18:9-14

“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed[fn] thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”   

Tim Keller on Hell

If I’m being honest, I’ve struggled with the concept of Hell. Yet in this article I find that Tim Keller really helps us to understand the what and why of it. Here is the article:

Preaching Hell in a Tolerant Age: Clarity and compassion on Christianity's toughest doctrine.

A few quotes from the article in case you don’t want to read the whole thing:

 “…hell must be preached as the only way to know how much Christ loved you… Unless we come to grips with this terrible doctrine, we will never even begin to understand the depths of what Jesus did for us on the cross. His body was being destroyed in the worst possible way, but that was a flea bite compared to what was happening to his soul. When he cried out that his God had forsaken him, he was experiencing hell itself.”

Peter Paul Rubens The Crucified Christ

 “Perhaps the greatest paradox of all is that the people on (C.S.) Lewis's bus from hell are enslaved because they freely choose to be. They would rather have their freedom (as they define it) than salvation. Their relentless delusion is that if they glorified God, they would lose their human greatness (Gen. 3:4-5), but their choice has really ruined their human greatness. Hell is, as Lewis says, "the greatest monument to human freedom."

 “"People ask, 'What kind of loving God is filled with wrath?' But any loving person is often filled with wrath. In Hope Has Its Reasons, Becky Pippert writes, 'Think how we feel when we see someone we love ravaged by unwise actions or relationships. Do we respond with benign tolerance as we might toward strangers? Far from it. … Anger isn't the opposite of love. Hate is, and the final form of hate is indifference.'

"Pippert then quotes E. H. Gifford, 'Human love here offers a true analogy: the more a father loves his son, the more he hates in him the drunkard, the liar, the traitor.'

"She concludes: 'If I, a flawed narcissistic sinful woman, can feel this much pain and anger over someone's condition, how much more a morally perfect God who made them? God's wrath is not a cranky explosion, but his settled opposition to the cancer of sin which is eating out the insides of the human race he loves with his whole being.' "

Why Palm Sunday?

Tomorrow is known as Palm Sunday and represents the beginning of the Holy Week when Jesus first rode into Jerusalem in a seemingly “triumphant entry” but which ended in His brutal crucifixion (Good Friday) and eventual resurrection (Easter Sunday). 

John’s Gospel (12:13) tells us that: “So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”

This was a direct fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9. The people were excited because they expected Jesus to begin an earthly, temporal kingdom, ending Rome’s cruel reign over them. However, God had something much larger in mind – a Heavenly and eternal kingdom. 

So why Palm leaves? One study Bible says that they were a symbol of Jewish nationalism. 

The first mention of Palms in the Bible is Exodus 15:27 when, after escaping Egypt, the children of Israel camped at Elim where there were “twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees”.  Later we see that King Solomon carved many palm trees into the temple that he built for the Lord (1 Kings 6). He then plated them with gold. 

The vast majority of people at Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem did not believe in Him as the suffering Saviour but rather expected a great and immediate political victory from Him. All the while, Jesus knew in His heart that this week would end in the passion and agony of the cross and the utter abandonment of most of these people. Yet He persevered because of His undying love for us and His desire to see all people saved into the Heavenly Kingdom. 

In the last book of the Bible we see the true celebration – after the death, burial and resurrection of Christ – when “a great multitude…from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages…” cry out “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb (Jesus).” Revelation 7:9-10

Guess what they were holding in their hands while worshiping and celebrating the Lord? Palm branches.

After the entry into Jerusalem, Jesus said of Himself: “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth (referring to the crucifixion), will draw all people to myself.” John 12:32 It is time, my friends, to draw near to God, even in His suffering, so that we may also rejoice with Him at the end of all things.

The Guarantee: A Thought on Our Eternal Security in Christ

Are you a Christian who understands and believes the Gospel and follows Christ - but you still struggle with doubts about your salvation? 

Remember... Satan doesn't torment the unsaved with these kind of thoughts...only the saved. Ironically it’s proof that you are indeed saved. Keep going back to the promises of God in His Word!

"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:13-14

The Greek word “arrabona” is used 3 times in the New Testament (see below) and always of the Holy Spirit. It is translated as “guarantee”. Commentator William MacDonald explains:

 “Just as in legal matters a seal indicates ownership and security, so it does in Divine affairs… The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance. This is a downpayment, pledging that the full amount will be paid.” BBC p.1911

We are already fully children of God (being “born again”) but our full inheritance will be bestowed upon us when we are glorified in Heaven. 

MacDonald continues:

“As the seal, He (the Holy Spirit) guarantees that we ourselves will be kept safely for the inheritance. As the earnest (or pledge) He guarantees the inheritance will be kept securely for us.” BBC p.1911

Although we may stray at times, if we have been truly born again then God’s promise is clear – He will keep us for Heaven and Heaven for us! 

 “And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

"He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight." 

2 Corinthians 5:5-6

My Story of Dealing with Depression & Anxiety (As a Christian) - 2020 Update

There are 5 parts to this article. 

1) A small introduction
2) A brief explanation of the causes of depression and anxiety
3) My story of dealing with depression
4) My story of dealing with anxiety (specifically Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
5) Different ways we can help to treat depression and anxiety

Introduction

I think the first thing I would like to say is that mental health is everyone’s business. Everyone has a mind and therefore everyone is susceptible to mental illness at times. Whether it is in the form of depression, anxiety or psychosis; whether it is mild or major; whether it is temporary or permanent – it can affect you or someone you love.

I hope my story helps all kinds of people but I am choosing to tell it from the perspective of my Christian faith. This is because I think there can be some extra things that a person of faith has to understand and deal with when it comes to mental health. Society has progressed by leaps and bounds in destigmatizing mental health since I was young and the Church is doing better as well – but there is still work to be done.

I hope my personal story of dealing with depression and anxiety (specifically Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) will help other people going through similar things. Before I get into my testimony though, I’d like to help answer an important question:

What Causes Depression and Anxiety?

There are different types of depression and anxiety (D/A) and also different causes. Everyone experiences depression and anxiety to some degree; however, it is when depression or anxiety began to cripple your normal daily life that they are to be taken more seriously and should be addressed accordingly. 

Some causes of D/A are circumstantial, that is, based on your life experience. Such causes could include trauma, financial stress, relationship conflict or loss of a loved one. The other kind of cause is more biologically based such as a chemical imbalance in the brain. In this case, your life could be going wonderfully but you would still feel D/A for no apparent reason. And, of course, D/A can be a combination of these two types of causes.

For me, one of the most important realizations about my own dealings with depression and anxiety was that I must work to separate the thoughts and feelings that D/A can produce from the reality of who God is and how He feels about me as an individual. God is good and He loves me which is shown by the fact that He both created me and redeemed me. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to make this distinction between God and your mental health!



My Story of Dealing with Depression

It is clear to me now that I have struggled with depression and anxiety since childhood but no one knew much about it in the 1980’s and 90’s. When I was a teenager I struggled deeply with depression but as a very devout Christian I took it all as spiritual (e.g. spiritual warfare or being chastised by the Lord) - never thinking it might be a biologically based mental illness. I would struggle in prayer with God for hours thinking I had done something wrong.

When I was 18 I had my first full blown breakdown but again I chalked it up to a spiritual thing and the people closest to me didn’t know what do although they cared deeply for me. I was (and am) also very good at hiding the struggle – putting on a mask of sorts so that others can’t see the pain. At this point I have to give a huge shout out to my parents who, though they were probably bewildered and frustrated, never gave up on me. They supported me unconditionally every step of the way and I have no idea where I would be with them.

My next breakdown came when I was in my early twenties. I was still treating it as a completely spiritual problem but this time I learned my first hard-truth lesson about mental illness. It was actually the wife of my elderly pastor who said:

“I don’t think this is oppression (spiritually based) 

but depression (medically based)”. 

Wiser words may have never been spoken. You see as Christians we often want to put everything into a spiritual box and just pray it away. Am I saying I don’t think we should pray about mental health? Of course not! Prayer is the only thing that gets me through some days.

But even the most pharisaical Christian would be inclined to get medical attention should they break their leg – mental illness properly understood is no different. 

After admitting I had depression I began to realize how many others who had gone before me had also suffered with it. Charles Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers, fought with serious depression and preached on it. Winston Churchill described it as the “Black Dog” that beset him. Another has said it was “the beast that lay on my chest at night and rode my back during the day”.

Now having said this I have to tell you a little story. I was young but had firm opinions about so-called mental illness and the medications that went with it. This was brought to the forefront one day when I was preaching at my little church in Prince George. I was speaking about the joy of the Lord, I believe, when in my youthful fervor I exclaimed: “We don’t need Prozac to be happy – that is just a crutch. The Lord alone will make us happy”. 

Well apparently that night one of the dear “mom-like” ladies had brought her brother to church and it was the first time in a long time for him. It turns out this man was on Prozac and I had greatly hurt and offended him. Although I still didn’t believe in mental illness or the drugs for it, I realized I had to apologize for what I had said and the way I had said it. So I made the difficult phone call and he graciously accepted my apology.

But that is not where the irony ends my friends! For it was not long after this that I experienced that second breakdown, that my pastor’s wife had suggested depression and for the first time in my life was I was open to hear about it. With an entirely new perspective on life (I had quite an experience with God – learning about pride, humility and grace but that is another story), I went to my doctor and he had me fill out a questionnaire on depression. I was finally ready to be honest with my answers and I scored off-the-chart for severe clinical depression. I tried a series of different drugs until at last one seemed to help – it’s called fluoxetine, otherwise known as Prozac.

God indeed has a great sense of humour.


My Story of Dealing with Anxiety (Specifically Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) 

After this difficult times in my teens and early twenties, I had a bit of a renaissance in my life and was quite healthy for a while. However, there was more to come. About the age of 25 I began to become increasingly anxious and obsessive and soon another breakdown hit me. This time my diagnosis was a bit more specific. As well as depression, I discovered that I had a severe case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

OCD is classified as an Anxiety Disorder and many people associate it with constant hand washing or just liking things in a certain order but there are many forms. In serious OCD, whatever is most precious to you is what the OCD will attack – giving you unpleasant and unwanted thoughts that won’t go away until you perform some sort of compulsion (whether it be mental or physical). But the cycle of obsessive thoughts is only made worse by performing these illogical compulsions. I won’t go into all the details but the things I tend to obsess over are spiritual things as are the compulsions that follow. It often focuses on the fear of losing my salvation over the tiniest thing and it brings great distress.

I was diagnosed with this while dating my now-wife, Sherry. She experienced it first hand and stood by me all the way. She even chose to marry me having seen what this was like. However the worst was yet to come… after a few months of wedded bliss, it hit me again. The next 2 months were at times indescribably horrible, some of the worst times of my life and now I was dragging someone through it with me. Although not hospitalized, I spent about a month in a mental health transition house. My wife and I made the difficult and (to me) humiliating decision for me to enter this facility. We met with a psychiatrist at this house (who I later found out was a Christian) and she prescribed some more medication.

As my wife left to go back to our rental suite and I entered into my little room at the transition house where I would spend the next month – I broke down in tears and they did not stop for most of my stay there. I can only imagine what my wife went through as I was rendered useless as a husband. I thank God for her so much – her unshakeable faithfulness to me is something I will never forget.

One thing I’d like to mention here is the difference between “diagnosing” and “labeling”. Many people cringe at the thought of being “labeled” with a mental disease or disorder. However, diagnosing is not labeling – please know the difference. Correct diagnosis can free people because the truth frees people. The root problem is treated and the symptoms lessen or disappear altogether. In contrast, labeling ignores the root problem and only brings the person down further – they often even tend to become more like the label.

Once again when I admitted I had an issue with OCD I began to realize that other present and historical figures did as well including the great Reformer, Martin Luther, and the famed author of the Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan. The ultimate lesson I learned through that time though was simple but profound. God taught me – I would dare say He told me –

“Separate Me from your mental illness. We are not one and the same thing – I am not the voice in your head that is angry with you – believe the Truth, not your feelings or thoughts”. 

This was a powerful shift in my beliefs and thinking and it began the process of gaining some victory over this insidious disease.


What Are Some of the Way We can Help Treat Depression and Anxiety?

I want to clarify that I believe in and understand the Biblical reality of both spiritual warfare (e.g. Ephesians 6) and the discipline of the Lord (e.g. Hebrews 12). These things are still part of my life but the key to it all is properly discerning what the root cause is of your troubles. Only a true diagnosis will help set you free. 

So the very first thing a person should do if they are struggling with depression and/or anxiety is to talk! Find a wise and trusted family member or friend and get all of that junk out of your heart and mind and into the light.

If you are dealing with a more serious degree of illness then I highly advise that you also see a professional such as your family doctor, a registered counsellor or psychiatrist. And if that professional recommends that you take some medication for your illness then you need to know that that is okay. There is absolutely nothing immoral or unbiblical about taking medicine for mental health issues. Ultimately this is a personal choice between you and your doctor but don’t ever close the door to medication.

In addition to talking and, in some case, medicine, the Antidepressant Skills Workbook suggest these 4 areas that a person needs to look at when dealing with mental health issues:

1) Doing rewarding activities. We cease to engage in the simple things of life that we normally enjoy.

2) Taking care of yourself. Sleep, diet, exercise and personal hygiene can all fall into negative patterns.

3) Doing small duties. We often have the mindset that if we can’t do it “all” or “perfectly” then don’t bother at all. For the person with D/A it is imperative to realize that we must start with small duties (or “Tiny Tasks”) and build on them to get healthier day by day.

4) Don’t withdraw from family and friends. This isn’t just about being an introvert but rather confining oneself to social isolation. From a Christian perspective, it is important to remember that the way that the “Wolf” destroys the “Sheep” is by separating it from its Shepherd and its flock. Don’t let yourself fall into this trap!

I would also add to this that getting out in nature - God’s creation - is a wonderfully helpful thing. The sun does wonders for depression and if there isn’t much of it around then I recommend getting a professional sunlight lamp for your home.

In conclusion, I would say that for me depression and anxiety seem to be both major and permanent in my life. That does not mean that I cannot live a victorious life but it does mean that I will continue to battle with these illnesses. In 2 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul talks about a “thorn in the flesh” that God allowed in his life to help from becoming prideful. He goes on to say:

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, 

so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, 

persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

May we all, especially in the Church, acknowledge and began to understand mental health. May we pray for and assist our brothers and sisters who struggle with it. And, using these tools, may God help us to live victorious lives amid the struggle – we know His grace is sufficient!

Ad Fontes: 5 Thoughts on the Supremacy of Scripture

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8

Ad Fontes

Ad Fontes is Latin for “(back) to the sources” or “to the fountains”. It was a rallying cry of both the Renaissance and the Reformation. Its purpose was to encourage people to go back to the original writings (in the case of the Reformers that meant the Bible – especially the original Greek and Hebrew). 

“The idea in both cases was that sound knowledge depends on the earliest and most fundamental sources.” Wikipedia

As Os Guiness has said: 

“The Church always goes forward best by going backwards. The surest way to go forwards is always to look back to the thing that gave you your life in the first place.” As the Church we are always to look to Jesus Christ, the Scriptures and the Gospel written therein. 


Psalm 42

Interestingly, this phrase, “Ad Fontes”, appears in Psalm 42 of Jerome’s Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible:

“As a deer pants for flowing streams (is drawn unto the sources), so pants my soul for you, O God.” Psalm 42:1 ESV

In fact, there is some evidence that suggests that the Spanish Renaissance actually got the expression from Psalm 42!


The Renaissance

In his book “How Should We Then Live?” Evangelical author Francis Shaeffer (1912-1984) talks about the Renaissance and the Reformation. 

“Boccacio… learned Greek in order to study the classics better. His translation of Homer was one of the foundation stones of the Renaissance, reviving Greek literature after seven hundred years of neglect.” p.60

Shaeffer points out that while the Renaissance started out promising with its Ad Fontes mentality, it eventually led to nothing more than the false notion of secular humanism (where man was the centre of the universe and within him lay all that which was needed to perfect society). In contrast, the Reformation took its Ad Fontes mentality back to the Bible upon which it founded all teaching, morality and meaning. 


The Reformation 

The Reformation officially began when Martin Luther nailed his “Ninety-five Theses” to the door of the church in Wittenburg, Germany on October 31, 1517. As the Renaissance in the south of Europe was closing, the Reformation in the north of Europe was about to explode. 
One of the tenants of the Reformers was Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone). Shaeffer explains a bit what this means:

“That is, man needs not only a God who exists, but a God who has spoken in a way that can be understood.” p.81

“To the Reformation thinkers, authority was not divided between the Bible and the church. The church was under the teaching of the Bible – not above it and not equal to it. It was Sola Scriptura…” p.82

Some of the great artists who were to be strongly influenced by the Reformation include Rembrandt, Handel, Bach and Albrecht Durer. Durer, in fact, was so concerned about applying Ad Fontes and the Bible he wrote in his diary that “… the delicious Word of God is wrongly exegeted (or interpreted) or not at all taught in many places.” p..95

Durer goes on to write this prayer:

“Oh God in heaven, have mercy on us. Oh Lord Jesus Christ, 

pray for your people, deliver us at the right time, preserve in us the right true Christian faith, gather your widely scattered sheep by your voice, which is called the Word of God in Scripture.” p.95

“The Descent from the Cross” (c. 1508-1510), Albrecht Dürer, woodcut from “The Small Passion”

The Reformation was far from perfect but, like Durer, it recognized that the true Christian faith will always line up with the Holy Scriptures. 


An Important Caveat

As Reformed Theologian Robert Letham reminds us:

“[There is a] false notion, held widely, that the slogan sola Scriptura means that the Bible is the only source for theology. . . When the slogan [sola Scriptura, Scripture alone] was devised, it was never intended to exclude the tradition of the church.” 

The Reformers did not mean to do away with this “church tradition” but rather to make sure it was subordinate to and in agreement with Holy Scripture. This is exactly what the Bereans did when they heard Paul:

“Now these Jews (in Berea) were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed…” Acts 17:11-12a

To clarify, here the idea of the “tradition of the church” is not meant to refer to man-made traditions such as the Apostle Peter refutes (1 Peter 1:18) but rather the body of theology, doctrinal creeds and confessions (i.e. statements of faith) and collective wisdom that the Church has cultivated over 2000 years. We must remember that it was the early church with whom God entrusted the discovery and compilation of the canon of the New Testament itself! 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

The Bible is always our supreme source and it has the final say on all matters -  but to ignore these other things, and the men and women of God who went before us, is both arrogant and unwise. 

“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:1-2

5 Thoughts on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy & the Bible (Depression & Anxiety)

A pastor friend of mine has a favourite Bible verse that he reminds his congregation of often:

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23

The principle of guarding what one lets in and out of one’s heart (and/or mind) is a recurring theme in the Scriptures and it just so happens that psychology agrees with that principle in at least one area – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). As a person who has suffered severely from both depression and anxiety, CBT has been a huge blessing in my life and I would love to share the basics of it with you. 

If you would like to read or hear my personal story please click here.

To read the Antidepressant Skills Workbook (which inspired this article) click here. 

If you are interested in how CBT can help people with 

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder click here. 

1) What is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy?

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (or CBT) is a scientifically proven therapy for helping people with depression, anxiety and other issues. You’ll find that it is really quite practical and based in common sense. What you’ll also find (maybe to your surprise) is that it is very Biblical. It’s not that psychological researchers set out to form a therapy based on the Bible but rather that the Bible, being God’s instruction book to those He created, is eminently practical. In short – the teachings of the Bible work in real life (and also into eternal life). 

CBT works on the basic principle that: Thoughts create Feelings, Feelings create Behaviours and Behaviours reinforce Thoughts and on the cycle goes. 

This cycle, of course can be positive or negative, depending on what you let in to your mind and heart. A wonderful workbook for Antidepressant CBT can be found for free online (link at top of the page) and I heartily recommend you take advantage of it for your personal gain as well as to help others. We’ll look at how CBT works and how it aligns with Scripture in a moment but first let’s answer another question…

2) What Causes Depression and Anxiety?

There are different types of depression and anxiety (D/A) and also different causes. Everyone experiences depression and anxiety to some degree and therefore, Mental Health is everyone’s business and CBT can be for everyone’s benefit. However, it is when depression or anxiety began to cripple your normal daily life that they are taken more seriously and should be addressed accordingly*. 

Some causes of D/A are circumstantial, that is, based on your life experience. Such causes could include trauma, financial stress, relationship conflict or loss of a loved one. The other kind of cause is more biologically based such as a chemical imbalance in the brain. In this case, your life could be going wonderfully but you would still feel D/A for no apparent reason. And, of course, D/A can be a combination of these two types of causes. 

For me, one of the most important realizations about my own dealings with depression and anxiety was that I must work to separate the thoughts and feelings that D/A can produce from the reality of who God is and how He feels about me as an individual. God is good and He loves me which is shown by the fact that He both created me and redeemed me. He is not the “voice” in my head that is angry and disappointed with me all the time – that is D/A **. 

Now let’s look at the three parts of CBT: Thoughts, Feelings and Behaviours. 

3) Thoughts

People who suffer with D/A often have a distorted way of viewing life. In the Antidepressant Skills Workbook this is described as The Negative Triad: “…thinking in an unfair and unrealistic, negative way about your current situation, yourself, and your future.”

I think it is important to clarify here that CBT is not the same thing as “The Positive Thinking Secret” or “The Law of Attraction”. CBT is based on scientific research and rationality. It focuses on fair and realistic thinking as opposed to either overly negative or overly positive thinking. 

When we turn to the Bible to see what it says about our thoughts we see verses like Proverbs 23:7 which can be translated as “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” That pretty much sums up CBT where thoughts turn into feelings which turn into behaviours which reinforce the original thoughts.

Another fascinating passage of Scripture that reinforces a positive mindset is found in Paul’s letter to the Philippian church:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”   Philippians 4:8-9

4) Feelings

Feelings are valid but they are not trustworthy. They matter but they are not a good indicator of truth or reality. The Antidepressant Skills Workbook puts it this way:

“It may be hard to think about emotions as unrealistic. But imagine a person who firmly believes that airplane travel is extremely dangerous and that planes are falling out of the sky frequently. That person will feel very frightened when flying. This fear, however, is based on a false belief about airplane safety and is, therefore, unrealistic and inappropriate to the situation. Similarly, depressed individuals often have beliefs about the world and themselves that are unrealistic and lead to unrealistic, negative emotions.” 

Jesus (in Luke’s Gospel 6:45) describes the principle of how the thoughts and feelings we have inside of us eventually come out. 

“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” 

It is not a stretch to realize this principle applies to behaviors as well as words. 

5) Behaviours

We just read how thoughts and feelings come out as behaviours (whether positively or negatively). CBT tells us that our behaviours reinforce the original thoughts we had and therefore continue the cycle. If we are in a negative cycle how can we help break it by positive behaviours? 

The Antidepressant Skills Workbook describes 4 areas of behavior that negatively affects us:

1) Not doing rewarding activities. We cease to engage in the simple things of life that we normally enjoy. 

2) Not taking care of yourself. Sleep, diet, exercise and personal hygiene can all fall into negative patterns. 

3) Not doing small duties. We often have the mindset that if we can’t do it “all” or “perfectly” then don’t bother at all. For the person with D/A it is imperative to realize that we must start with small duties (or “Tiny Tasks”) and build on them to get healthier day by day. 

4) Withdrawing from family and friends. This isn’t just about being an introvert but rather confining oneself to social isolation. From a Christian perspective, it is important to remember that the way that the “Wolf” destroys the “Sheep” is by separating it from its Shepherd and its flock. Don’t let yourself fall into this trap! 

If you look back at the “Thoughts” segment and read Philippians 4:8-9 again you will see that at the end, the Apostle Paul urges us to not only think about positive things but then to put them into “practice”. Our behaviours can alter the way we think and feel and stop the negative cycle of depressive or anxious thinking. 

I hope and pray that this introduction to CBT (and the Bible’s teachings) will be a real blessing to you and to those who come across your path.  

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal 

of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, 

what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

*For more serious and long lasting cases of depression and/or anxiety one should seek out professional help and diagnosis immediately. That could mean your family doctor, psychologist or psychiatrist. In addition to CBT, your doctor may also recommend medication which is perfectly acceptable.

** Christians also recognize a separate but overlapping reality of what we call “Spiritual Warfare”. This is when the Devil wars against our minds and hearts as well. For more on how to deal with this type of attack please read Ephesians chapter 6. However, please understand that spiritual warfare is a separate thing from clinical depression or anxiety that is caused by a biological root such as a chemical imbalance in the brain.