Truth Be Told: A Blog by Pastor Bill Alderson

  I explored with my mind how to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely, and how to take hold of folly, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven the few years of their lives. I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself; I made gardens and parks for myself, and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees. I bought male and female slaves and I had homeborn slaves. Also, I possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men—many concubines. Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me. All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure...

  By this, the love [agape] of God was manifested in us [in our case], that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him .      1 John 4:9   According to C.S Lewis, agape is “ a selfless love that is passionately committed to the well-being of others.” When Jesus told Nicodemus that God so loved the world (John 3:16), He was introducing a new concept that took a Jew’s understanding of love to a deeper level: that God’s love is personal to each believer. Agape love starts with God. In 1 John 4:19, We love because He first loved us . To know God is to know Him by His love. Everything that we learn about God is to bring us to His love. In 1 Timothy 1:5, But the goal [objective] of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere [literally, non-hypocritical] faith .   James refers to this love as the royal (regal) Law (James 2:8) and says that it should be applied without pa...

  Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. In the same region, there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to t...

  In John 3:17, Jesus told Nicodemus that God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him (Jesus). If the world was not judged by God, neither should anyone judge another. This Greek word for judge is krinoe and it means to separate, to distinguish, or to discriminate between good and evil. Spiros Zodhiates says it is to form and express a judgment or opinion as to any person or thing, more commonly unfavorable. It speaks of a habit of forming a judgment hastily, harshly, and without an allowance for every palliating circumstance, and a habit of "expressing" such an opinion harshly and unnecessarily when formed . Judging is one of the most destructive activities any believer can participate in. The consequences can be immediate. Antisemitism, like all forms of prejudice, should fall into the category of judging.   Antisemitism   The current war in Israel against Hamas is highlighting the climate around the ...

The current war in Israel against Hamas is highlighting the climate around the world regarding the attitudes toward the Jews. Antisemitism is rearing its ugly head all over the world, evidenced by protests and other public displays against Israel’s right to defend itself against the horrific evil perpetrated by Hamas against the civilian population near Gaza on October 7, 2023. It is of great importance for the Christian believer to understand the history and nature of this condition.   According to the U.S. State Department, “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities .” It exists prevalently not just in nations that are opposed to Israel and its existence, but even within the Christian community in America and worldwide. An article writte...