Author: Joan C. Thomson

“They say, “The Holy Spirit doesn’t do miracles anymore.”

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Is it true? No.

Why wouldn’t he? The Bible, which people rightly point to as the final authority, never says that miracles have ceased or would no longer be necessary. They can only point to I Corinthians 13:8, which says, “Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.”

But they don’t believe that knowledge has passed away. They say that the “completeness” refers to the canon of Scripture, the final agreement of the number of books in the Bible, particularly the New Testament, which didn’t happen until the 300’s—but what about the Resurrection, the final judgment, and New Jerusalem, aren’t those rather the completeness Paul referred to? Yes. And if prophecy disappears when the Bible was “finalized,” then a good part of the Bible would disappear as well, since a lot of it is prophecy.

Paul was speaking, not of the gifts of the Spirit “passing away,” or their being unimportant, but of the ongoing need of love as a “way” of life and of operating in the gifts of the Spirit. He went on to say that the Corinthians—and by extension, all believers should “eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy” (I Corinthians 14:1). Do not quench the Spirit. I Thessalonians 5:19

The only way that healing or miracles of protection would no longer be needed is if we were in New Jerusalem in the new heavens and new earth, where there’s “no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4). As long as people become ill, are injured are in pain or die, as long as there is spiritual warfare, miracles are still needed.

Many say that since they don’t see any miracles, miracles can’t exist—as though they themselves were the defining authority of what exists. One would have to be hiding in a cave to miss the many healings that the Holy Spirit has done through the ages and continues to do. Lesser known, but still happening, are the miracles of multiplying food, and of supernatural protection from bandits..

I have personally been supernaturally healed, and even raised from the dead, so I am an eyewitness that these things have not “passed away.”

They say, “Every Christian is a missionary.”

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Is it true? No.

Is everyone then, a pastor? Of course not.

The word missionary means “to be sent,” not to stay. (Though there are certainly missionaries, who work in their home country as vital support for those going out.)

Acts 13:2 The Holy Spirit said to set apart Barnabas and Saul for being missionaries. Missionaries are required to go through a lot—intense vetting with multiple references, background checks, signing safeguarding policies every year, much experience in evangelism and ministry, months of training, proof of sufficient support, many prayer meetings, reports, planning, focus on the task—mostly full-time, and accountability. They most often live in a different culture and are often required to learn a new language in a year, as well as generally living on small incomes. Most Christians, for various reasons, aren’t able to put that kind of full-on focus and expense into evangelism.

However, as God’s ambassadors, every Christian is to be a continual witness for Jesus and the Kingdom of God.

In the Great Commission, Jesus commanded us to “go.” The word translated as “go,” means “go”– or travel. Not everyone can travel to other countries or cultures, though these days, through short-term missions and local ministries to refugees and diaspora cultures, that’s becoming easier. Still, these are not the same as actually living in another culture—those who can go, should, and should be supported by those who can’t. Every Christian is called to be a part of the Great Commission—to go, send, pray, and/or give.

They say, “It’s acceptable for Christians to be in the military because Jesus never told the centurions to stop what they were doing.”

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When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment. Matthew:10-13

Jesus commended one centurion for his faith—not his occupation. Jesus also never told the “woman at the well” that she was wrong for having five husbands and divorces, as well as living with a man who was not her husband. Neither is there any record of Jesus directly telling prostitutes that they were in the wrong profession, but that doesn’t mean he commended it.  Each of these things is covered in his teachings, which he clearly had in mind for his followers to obey, whether he made a direct, personal application to them individually or not.

Jesus taught:

“Love your enemy” (Matthew 5:43-48).

“Bless those who curse you” (Luke 6:28).

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also” (Matthew 5:38-40).

“My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” (John 18:36)

Peter said, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9).

Paul said, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world” (2 Corinthians 10:3, 4).

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

Jesus expects his followers to be different because they’re not operating the way this world does, but in God’s way.  By not telling the centurion, just one man, that he shouldn’t be in the military, Jesus did not nullify all of his teachings about loving one’s enemy.

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8; 31, 32

 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” John 14:21

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.” John 14:23, 24

They say, “It’s acceptable for Christians to be in the military because the Old Testament characters fought wars.”

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Is it true? No.

They certainly did fight wars, and God sometimes* told them to. However, they were under the Law of Moses and the Old Covenant, and we who are Christians are not. God also told them to marry their dead brother’s wife to have children for him if he didn’t have any—I have never yet heard any Christian clamoring to do that!

We are under the New Covenant with teachings by Jesus that are more profound and far-reaching. Jesus commanded his followers, “Love your enemy” (Matthew 5:43-48).

“My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” (John 18:36)

Thank God, we’re not back in the Old Covenant! Jesus’ ways are different.

*At other times, he told them not to engage in physical warfare.

They say, “My ways are not your ways, says the Lord.”

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“My ways are not your ways, says the Lord.” Is it true?

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This is a true Scripture that is generally quoted out of context in order to assure people that there’s no point in asking why someone is sick, or died, or why their prayers weren’t answered.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8.9

This is God’s lament—not his plan.  God lamented that the Israelites didn’t forgive like he does.  Now read it in context:

 ISA 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts.

 Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

 ISA 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the LORD.

 ISA 55:9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways.

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God was addressing evil people, who wouldn’t forgive. This is certainly not his plan or desire for Christians to have evil thoughts, especially since we have been given “the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16) and we are to walk in all his ways or steps (1 Peter 2:21).

If you’re a follower of Jesus and the Lord’s ways are not your ways, why not?

“Woman is made in the image of man.”

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They say, “Woman is made in the image of man.” Is it true? No!

The Bible says, right from the start,

“Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  Genesis 1:26,27

Some people cause a lot of harm by confusing 1 Corinthians 11:7, which says that woman is the glory of man-not the image of man.

A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.

Glory is a translation of the Greek word “doxa,” which means splendor or praise. It sounds like women make men look good.

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3: 18

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:29

All who follow Jesus are to be transformed and conformed into God’s image. Men and women were made in God’s image, from the Beginning. That never changed.

Read more about it here: https://jesussetswomenfree.com/2018/07/16/in-the-image-of-god/

“To show proper reverence to God, we must be quiet and somber.”

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They say, “To show proper reverence to God, we must be quiet and somber.” Is it true? No.

There will certainly be times to be quiet before God, but the Bible says we are to “rejoice in the Lord always.”

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4 The Greek word translated as “rejoice,” chairó, means to rejoice, be glad, be cheerful.* We are to rejoice “always;” the Greek word, pantote, means, at all times. That would include when we’re in church. And yes, we’re to rejoice even in the face of suffering and persecution.

The Hebrew word translated as praise, from which we get hallelujah, means to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate; also to stultify:—(make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool(-ish, -ly), glory, give (light).”**–even dance and spin around! No straight faces and sitting still!

*https://biblehub.com/greek/5463.htm

**https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h1984/kjv/wlc/0-1/

“Jesus is the Great Physician”

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Is it true? No.

Shocked? But doesn’t the Bible say he is? No, Jesus quoted mockers who had no faith in Capernaum, who would taunt him with a local proverb, “Physician heal thyself.”

Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’” Luke 4:23.

Jesus didn’t use medicine to heal people—he used supernatural power! Even in the advanced medicine of the twenty-first century, physicians admit, “Medicine isn’t science—it’s an art. We only practice.” They also often say, “I don’t know. We don’t have a treatment for that.”

Jesus always knows what to do; his healing is free and is available to everyone. It does no harm and has no bad side-effects. He and his healing are way above any physician. That is good news!

“I’m just a sinner saved by grace.”

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They say, “I’m just a sinner saved by grace.”

Is it true? No.

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If you’re a follower of Jesus (see John 8:31,32), you were a sinner but are no longer; sin is not to be a lifestyle for you anymore. Yes, we all sin from time to time and do have God’s forgiveness, but we’re not to keep on sinning as a regular way of life.

No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. 1 John 3:6

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 1:2

“Christians aren’t different from anyone else, we’re just beggars telling other beggars where to find bread.“      

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They say, “Christians aren’t different from anyone else, we’re just beggars telling other beggars where to find bread.“      

 Is it true? No.

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Those who follow Jesus are redeemed and transformed by the Holy Spirit and adopted into the family of God! We are no longer beggars but are daughters and sons of the Most High King. Jesus promised that we could ask anything in his name and he would do it.

Yes, we offer Jesus, the Bread of Life–not as beggars, but as co-heirs with Jesus.

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

Romans 8:15

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:13,14