Who Pays for Hitler's Sins?

While it is true that all men are judicially guilty before God; that is, we are all unrighteous, some men sin more than others. Surely Hitler must be guilty of as many individual acts of sin as anyone who has ever lived. His sin was not simply a matter of the heart, it was a matter of his deeds.

So, who pays for Hitler’s sins? That is, who recompenses a righteous God for the sins of Adolf Hitler?

Someone may answer; Hitler has God’s wrath abiding upon him. He is in hell for eternity. So, Hitler pays. But Hitler cannot pay for his own sins. No one can do that. Yes, God is perfectly just in sending Hitler to hell, but, just as a murderer is justly put to death by the state for his murder, his death does not recompense his victim, for his victim remains dead. Additionally, God is not recompensed for the murder by the murderer’s just punishment in hell.

So, who recompenses God for the sins of Hitler? Herein lies the scandal of the cross: Jesus paid for the sins of Hitler! Jesus’ death is a perfect sacrifice for sin that completely satisfied God’s just and righteous anger against sin. Jesus recompensed the Father for all sin. Otherwise, God is never recompensed for sin throughout all eternity. That simply cannot be.

Obama's Sliding Pendulum

Politics tends to swing back and forth from the left to the right in American history. In the 1920s, the swing was to the right with a limited government and commerce that operated freely. With the Great Depression, federal invervention in the economy was necessary and the pendulum swung to the left with growing federal power from 1932 until the end of the Johnson presidency in 1969. With Nixon's election in '68 and the subsequent trouncing of McGovern in '72, few politicians proclaimed themselves to be liberal all the way to this present day. It has been a period of a rightward swing of the pendulum.

Obamas election is a swing of the pendulum to the left, yet it is more than just a swing of the pendulum. For, while the pendulum swings back and forth, the trajectory of American history is toward greater and more expansive federal power. The pendulum swings, but the frame upon which the pendulum hangs slides toward the left. This die was cast when Lincoln proclaimed that the states, once in the union, could not leave. And he enforced his conviction with a war. Since the Civil War, the power of the federal government has grown steadily, though there have been long periods in which the growth was curbed.

With the troubled economy and the collapse of finance and industry, greater federal intervention in the free markets is inevitable. Obama is ideoligically committed to this and historically positioned to accomplish it.

The Bush Disasters

I'm sure President Bush had goals for his presidency when he took office, but events displaced his priorities and forced him to respond to the unforseen. Consider the disasters that occurred during his terms: The enemy attack of 9-11, The natural disaster of Katrina, and The Financial Meltdown of 2008. Bush will be rated by historians according to his responses to these crises. How did he do?

9-11: He took extraordinary steps to ensure that an attack like this did not re-occur and he took extraordinary measures to retaliate against those who attacked. Both of these are on-going projects. If Bush's succesor(s) do not keep this in mind, our nation will suffer for it. Both responses cost him politically, but he pursued his policies to the end.

Katrina: I think officials at all levels were slow to realize the magnitude of this disaster and their response was slow. Now the question is: Should New Orleans be rebuilt at all? No one seems to be thinking about this.

Financial Meltdown: The solution here has been amazingly bi-partisan. The recovery from the meltdown is incomplete if it has begun at all. Unfortunately, the financial factors of deficit spending and legacy costs that caused this meltdown are in place to recur with even greater intensity within the next 20 years. There is a bi-partisan ignoring of this fact that almost assures a tragic outcome. Unfortunately, Bush is in no political position to propose a solution.

Well Done, Larry

Mr. Larry was a frequent poster on this blog. He was a good friend from my seminary days. He and I were roommates for about three years. On Sunday, his wife called and informed me that Larry had passed away. At 37, this was most unexpected.

Larry's lot in life was not an easy one. His problems seemed to compound and reached their nadir in 1999 when Larry's father passed away suddenly. Larry left school and moved away. I didn't think I'd ever hear from him again. But, God was good and Larry persevered. One day he e-mailed me and told me he had met a girl and was going to get married! He did just that. I was thrilled to meet Larry and his bride when Larry was a groomsman in my wedding in 2005.

I have no explanation for Larry’s death at such a young age. I believe that he made great strides in his spiritual life in the last five years that he lived. He met his obligations, finished his degree, got married and started a family, and was working towards being an elder in his church. He lived an honorable life and he finished well. Well done, my friend! I'll meet you in the morning....

Jonathan Turns Two

Yesterday was my son Jonathan's second birthday. It was a big day with friends and grandparents in attendance, lunch, and a delicious birthday cake that his mom made. "'appy Buthday" Jonathan!

The Order of Faith and Regeneration

What is the proper order of faith and regeneration? Does regeneration precede? Or does faith? Or are they simultaneous? Consider twelve miraculous works of Jesus recorded in the gospels. These miracles involve acts of physical healing or physical regeneration performed by Jesus. Often the text indicates that spiritual regeneration occurs in the person’s heart as well, although this is not always made clear. These miracles also involve expressions of faith or confessions of faith. In these, which comes first, the faith or the regeneration?

The Man with the Withered Hand (Matt 12:9-14; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 4:38-39)
Jesus was teaching in the synagogue. There was a man present with a withered hand. Jesus said to him “Stretch out you hand!” The man stretched it out and he was healed.

Here the obedience to the command of Jesus and the healing are simultaneous.

The Centurion’s Servant (Matt 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10)The Centurion, as a gentile, knew that Jesus was not permitted to enter his house. So, he actually requested Jesus to heal his servant without coming. Jesus was astounded at the man’s faith. He exclaimed that he had not found anyone with such faith in Israel. Then Jesus said “Go your way; let it be done to you as you have believed.” Those who returned to the house discovered that the servant was healed the hour that Jesus spoke the words.

Notice the great faith that the Centurion had. Jesus marveled at his faith. Why would Jesus marvel at his faith if the man had been unable to believe?

Notice that the man believed before he met Jesus, so the faith preceded the regeneration.

The Nobleman’s Son (John 4:46-54)This story is remarkable similar to the story of the centurion in that it is a “long-distance” miracle. However the details are so different that it is a separate event. The nobleman went a good distance to see Jesus and ask him to heal his son. Jesus said “Go your way; your son lives.” John records, “the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he started off.” The servants of the nobleman meet him later as he travels home and tell him his son is well. They determine that the healing occurred at the same time Jesus pronounced that he was well. John records that the nobleman believed and his entire household.

Note that the man believed and then the son was healed. The healing results in deeper belief by the nobleman and the salvation of his household.

The Woman with the Issue of Blood (Matt 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48)This woman, who was very weak physically because of her constant bleeding pressed her way through a crowd to get to Jesus just for the chance to touch his garment for she believed this would heal her. She touched it and was healed. This would have gone unnoticed, but Jesus stopped so as to call attention to what she had done. He called her out and encouraged her to tell what she had done, which she did. Then Jesus said “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”

Notice that her faith preceded her healing.

Notice that Jesus referred to her faith as “her faith”.


The Caananite Mother (Matt 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30)This woman was a Gentile. She followed Jesus and begged him to heal her daughter who was oppressed by a demon. Jesus ignored her and told her he was “sent to the lost sheep of the House of Israel“, not to Gentiles. She continued to beseech Jesus. Finally Jesus answered her “O woman great is your faith! Be it done to you as you desire”. Immediately her daughter was healed.

Notice that the woman gave clear evidence of faith, so much so that Jesus marveled at her faith. THEN he healed the girl. The faith preceded the regeneration.

Notice also that Jesus refers to the woman’s faith as “her faith”.

The Epileptic Boy with the Demon (Matt 17:14-19; Mark 9:14-29; Luke 9:37-42)This man brought his demon possessed son to Jesus’ disciples while Jesus was on the mount of transfiguration with Peter, James, and John. Jesus’ disciples were unable to help the boy. The man said to Jesus, “if you can do anything, take pity on the boy and help us!” Jesus replied, “If you can! All things are possible to him who believes.” The man replied, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” Then Jesus cast out the demon and physically regenerated the boy.

Notice, the faith was weak, but it was there. The man asked for help with his unbelief.

Notice that the faith was expressed first, then Jesus healed the boy.


The Daughter of Jairus (Matt 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56)Jairus approached Jesus and asked him to come heal his daughter. Before Jesus could get the to house messengers came and reported that the daughter had died. Jairus became greatly discouraged, but Jesus said to him “Do not be afraid any longer; only believe, and she shall be made well.” Then Jesus went to Jairus’ house and raised his daughter from the dead.

Notice that Jairus was first commanded to believe, then the regeneration of his daughter took place.


The Raising of Lazarus (John 11)After it was reported that Lazarus was dead, Jesus told his disciples, I am glad that I was not there so that you may believe. Jesus met Martha and encouraged her to believe. Then he met Mary and encouraged her to believe. Next Jesus raised Lazarus and it is reported that “many of the Jews who had come to Mary and beheld what he had done, believed in him.

In this story, Jesus allows the tragedy to occur. In the face of the tragedy, he encourages his followers to believe and, after raising Lazarus, their faith is strengthened and others believe. So the faith is both before and after the regeneration.


Two Blind Men (Matt 9:27-31)Two blind men followed Jesus crying out “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” Jesus asked, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord” they said. Jesus healed them.

Faith precedes the regeneration of their eyes in this story.

Blind Bartimaeus (Matt 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43)As Jesus passed through Jericho, blind Bartimaeus called out continually after him, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” The crowd tried to quiet him, but he persisted. Jesus had them bring Bartimaeus over. Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartmaeus replied, “Lord, I want to receive my sight!” Jesus replied “Receive your sight, your faith has made you well.” Immediately Bartimaeus received his sight.

Notice that Jesus acknowledged Bartimaeus’ faith before he healed him.

Notice that Jesus referred to Bartimaeus’ faith as “his” faith.


The Man Born Blind (John 9)This man was healed of his blindness by Jesus, for the glory of God, as Jesus said. After his healing, a great trial ensued as the Pharisees tried to discredit and disprove what had happened. The more they investigated, the more irrefutable the miracle became. Eventually, they excommunicated the man from the synagogue. After this Jesus found the man and approached him about his faith. Jesus asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” The man answered, “And who is he Lord that I may believe in Him?” Jesus revealed himself and the man said “Lord, I believe.”

Here, regeneration occurs first and faith comes later. However, the man was healed before he knew Jesus’ identity. He could not believe on one whom he did not know. Once Jesus revealed himself, the man believed.


The Man and His Four Friends (Matt 9:2-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:18-26)In this story, four men bring their lame friend to Jesus for healing. They could not get into the house because of the crowd so they went on top and dug through the ceiling and let the man down in the room before Jesus. Luke says “And seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” Then after making a point to the Pharisees, Jesus said “Rise, take up your bed, and go home.” The man did so.

Notice that faith precedes the forgiveness of sins which precedes the physical regeneration in this story.

Notice that Jesus saw “their” faith.


These stories deal with Jesus healing physical conditions like blindness, lameness, and death which illustrate man’s lost spiritual condition. In all but one story, faith precedes or is simultaneous with regeneration. In the one exception, the man in question did not believe in Jesus because he did not know who he was at the time he was healed. This is powerful biblical evidence that the norm is that faith precedes regeneration. Comments or feedback?

Don't Try This at Home!

Subaru's 2008 Impreza WRX STI has been out for several months now. Equipped with AWD, VDC, DCCD, SI Drive, ABS, EBD, and EBA; not to mention 305 HP; it's quite a car! I've driven it at the track and around the street, but I haven't driven it like the guys in this new commercial. Enjoy!

Theology and the Theory of Relativity

A light is placed inside an empty train car on one side. Across the car on the opposite inside wall is a mirror which reflects the light back across from where it came. A man stands inside the car and records the time it takes for a flash from the light to reflect in the mirror and return to its original side.

The same experiment is repeated, only this time, a man also sits outside the train car as the car rolls slowly by him at the speed of one mile per hour. This man also records the time it takes for the light to cross the car and return.

The time recorded by the second man outside the car is longer by an infinitesimal amount than the time recorded by the first man who was inside the car even though they both time the same flash.

Why? Because the light for the second man, who views a moving car, must travel at an angle that is slightly longer than the distance the light must travel for the first man. Thus the second man records a longer interval though timing the same flash.

This experiment demonstrates Einstein’s theory of relativity; a theory that states that time can expand and contract resulting in variable measurements depending upon ones perspective. (For more on this concept, see the website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/einstein/relativity/ and http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/einstein/

Should this knowledge affect our understanding of time in theology? Men view time from within the time/space continuum ( as though we are in the train car), but God views time from outside of the time/space continuum (as though he is outside the train car). Is this concept the solution to the tensions we find in scripture between the sovereignty of God and the free will of man? For instance, when the scriptures say that “Pharoah hardened his heart” and then also say that “God hardened Pharoah’s heart”, must we reconcile these two statements or relate them to one another in a hierarchy? Perhaps we can learn from Einstein’s conclusions that the two statements differ and cannot be reconciled, yet both are true.

Andrew's Arrival

On Monday, March 3, at 2:17AM, our newest, Andrew, arrived. He was 8 lbs. 2 oz. and 21 inches long. Check out these photos of Andrew with his proud parents, grand-parents, and big brother!

Jonathan, Thy Name Is...

Since we are now within three weeks of the due date of our second child, I've been reminiscing about the day Jonathan, our first-born, came into the world.

Earlier in that pregnancy, when Pearl had an ultra-sound, we had requested that the tecnician NOT tell us the sex of the child. But, of course, I really wanted to know. So I paid close attention as the tecnician measured the babies' legs to see what I could see. I concluded that the coming baby was to be a girl. I wrote down the coming "girl's" name and sealed it in an envelope telling Pearl that I thought I knew the sex and, if she changed her mind, I would tell her.

Pearl's labor was long. I brought the envelope to the delivery so that when the baby was born I could show everyone that I was right. After quite a while in labor, Pearl asked me to unseal the envelope and tell her what the baby was going to be. I unsealed it and read the female name to her. Later, after some 40 hours in labor, the Drs advised us that we should procede with a ceasarean delivery. I was seated beside Pearl during the operation with the view of the surgery hidden from us behind a hanging sheet. When the Dr. got ready to remove the baby she told me that I could stand up to see the delivery. I did and when the Dr. pulled the baby up, she announced "It's a boy!" So much for my ultra-sound reading skill!

For this second child, I have no idea what the sex will be, but we have at the ready, if it is needed, the name that I thought Jonathan was going to get.

Am I Morally Obligated to Vote For One of These?

Consider the choices of 1972. On the one hand we had George McGovern. He was a socialist who promised national healthcare for all Americans and an immediate withdrawal from Vietnam. On the other hand, we had Richard Nixon who, during the election months, oversaw the Watergate crimes that eventually brought him down. Would it have been morally reprehensible to refuse to vote for either candidate?

In this election of 2008 we seem to be headed for another choice between bad and worse. Either Clinton or Obama will be a choice for bigger government, higher taxes, and international defeat. McCain is, in my opinion, temperamentally unfit to be president; much as Nixon was. I expect the press to begin hammering him on this once he gets the nomination.

I plan to vote in the Pennsylvania primary in April and I hope we can avoid these bad choices. But if not, I feel no moral obligation to vote for any of the current front-running candidates.

History's Greatest Political Speech

O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty. And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled. But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him. He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will.
And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.
“Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

This speech, and it’s actually a sermon; an explanation of God’s words that were written on the wall, was delivered by Daniel to King Belshazzar of Babylon. Belshazzar had thrown a huge feast which had devolved into a drunken party with Belshazzar the drunkest of the drunk. The wine being drunk was consumed from the sanctified cups from the temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem that had been pilfered by the Baylonians. Interrupting the party was the hand of God writing a message upon the wall of the palace. Belshazzar’s knees buckled and he became pale at the sight. Daniel, now in his 80s, was called to interpret the message based upon his reputation for wisdom. This, history's greatest political speech, points up man's attempt to take God's place and God's refusal to cede his control.

As we approach our elections in the US, we should remember Daniel’s bold words: The Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will.

THEY HIT!!! PEARSON IS INTO THE WALL!!! PETTY SLIDING, SLIDING....

The 1976 Daytona 500 finish has to be the greatest NASCAR finish ever. Here it is.

Someday, someone will enlarge this video and you'll be able to see Pearson intentionally turn left into Petty to spin him out. At least, that's my theory... ;)