Kraftwerk: "Radio Activity"

April 26th is the 35th anniversary of the tragic Chernobyl nuclear disaster. During the midnight shift, barely-trained technicians tested the number four reactor at the Vladimir I. Lenin nuclear power station. To make sure that the safety Diesel generator would turn on if the reaction dropped below half its usual power output, the men deliberately lowered the graphite rods into the core. 

That's when the power dropped rapidly. They raised the rods but the reactor became unstable. Dropping the rods didn't help because Xenon gas had built up at its top. The five-hundred-ton lid blew through the roof, releasing extreme amounts of radio activity.

The German techno band Kraftwerk updated their 1975 version of "Radio Activity," mentioning four atomic radiation events. Listen to it here:

We humans think we're so smart. But God is the one who knows all. Speaking of the wicked, he said in Deuteronomy 32:35 (Bible in Basic English), "Punishment is mine and reward, at the time of the slipping of their feet: for the day of their downfall is near, sudden will be their fate."

The Lord also said of such prideful people in Psalms 82:6 and 7 (BBE), "I said, 'You are gods; all of you are the sons of the Most High:' But you will come to death like men, falling like one of the rulers of the earth."

Likewise, Isaiah 45:7 (BBE) reminds humanity, "I am the giver of light and the maker of the dark; causing blessing, and sending troubles; I am the Lord, who does all these things."

Even with all our technology, we aren't in control of everything. Puny sinners figure they  have mastered nature. Christ's disciples found out first hand who really is in command, as we read in Mark 4:41 (BBE) after Jesus calmed the sea, "And their fear was great, and they said one to another, 'Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea do his orders?'"

If our mighty saviour hasn't returned by Thursday, I hope to post about how illicit pleasures never satisfy.

Why Christianity Matters

As fish aren't conscious that they're in water, we followers of Christ take Christianity for granted. Unless we spent time in a pagan culture, we aren't aware of how special our faith is and how it benefits all people.

We read in Galatians 3:8 (BBE) how the world would be blessed through Christ, Abraham's descendent. "And the holy Writings, seeing before the event that God would give the Gentiles righteousness by faith, gave the good news before to Abraham, saying, 'In you will all the nations have a blessing.'"

The gospel is that blessing. As Christ commanded his disciples in Matthew 28:19 (BBE), "Go then, and make disciples of all the nations, giving them baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:"

And since Christianity is a personal belief system and not a political or national one, it improves the lot of even its enemies. That's why Christ said in Matthew 5:43 and 44 (BBE), "You have knowledge that it was said, Have love for your neighbour, and hate for him who is against you: But I say to you, Have love for those who are against you, and make prayer for those who are cruel to you;"

Imagine how violent this world would be if Christians didn't love their enemies but sought to get revenge. Like a certain Chinese proverb says, "he who seeks revenge must dig two graves."

Even in the Old Testament, we read that God is the only one who can repay evil. Deuteronomy 32:35 (BBE) quotes him as saying, "Punishment is mine and reward, at the time of the slipping of their feet: for the day of their downfall is near, sudden will be their fate."

In a way, Christianity spawned hospitals. Christ told a parable of a man badly beaten and a Samaritan who had compassion on him. Luke 10:34 (BBE)shows how this caring gentleman made sure the beaten-up stranger had a safe place to recover. "And came to him and put clean linen round his wounds, with oil and wine; and he put him on his beast and took him to a house and took care of him." The Samaritan even gave money to the Innkeeper to pay for the man's extended stay.

But imagine if we lived in a non Christian world where vengeance reigned and violence was praised. This is what our western lands are becoming. Since governments have abandoned God, so god has abandoned our countries.

I hope to put my next book together and title it, You Think You're Going to Heaven? Just knowing that there are eternal consequences for wickedness has tempered our collective behaviour.

On Saturday, I hope to publish a post about a great song by The Hollies and how it relates to us believers in Christ.

Why Does God Allow Sin?

Since God is righteous and perfectly within his right to condemn sinners, why does he allow sin? He hates it but why doesn't he deal with it directly?

God has always given humanity a choice to follow him or the Devil. We saw that clearly demonstrated in the garden of Eden. Adam and Eve had only one commandment to obey but they chose to rebel.

Joshua 24:15 (KJV) demonstrates that choice is a gift from God. "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Choice also lets God's grace have greater effect. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 5:20 (KJV),  "Moreover the law entered, that the offence  might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more  abound:"

But the Lord won't let sin go on unpunished forever. Check out what Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 1:8 (KJV). "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:"

But does God cause sin to happen? No way! Paul explains who really is at fault for sin. He wrote in Galatians 6:7 (KJV), "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for  whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." In other words, what goes around comes around.

The Lord also lets bad things happen to his people for a good cause. Paul knew this well when he wrote in Philippians 1:12 (KJV)  "But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;"

But must we wait until Christ's return for wickedness to be punished? There are times when sins are punished in this life. Look at what God said in Deuteronomy 32:35 (KJV). "To me belongeth vengeance, and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste."

These are but a few of many scriptures which show that God makes use of sin but he isn't the cause of it. I'll be writing more on this subject in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? One reason many people give for rejecting the Lord is because he seems not to do anything about all the evil in this world. How reassuring it is that NOBODY will get away with continual wickedness all through their lives.

Is Christianity a Religion of War?

My previous post dealt with the uniqueness of Christianity. One of its unique attributes is that we believers aren't called to fight on behalf of our deity.

The people in this world should be extremely grateful that Christ forbad taking up the sword by his disciples to defend him. Read Luke 22:49-51 for the context of my assertion. Had this not been so, this world would be a much bloodier place if he commanded us to smite the necks of "unbelieving infidels."

Jesus said in Matthew 5:38-40 (KJV), "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also."

Since vengeance belongs to the Lord God Almighty, he will repay the unrepentant wicked people for their hateful deeds. As God said in Deuteronomy 32:35 (KJV), "To me belongeth vengeance, and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste." Therefore, it isn't the Christian's duty to attack evildoers.

One Hindu writer on the Web did bring up the matter of Christ telling his disciples to buy a sword. He erroneously assumed that this made Christianity a violent religion. Luke 22:36 (KJV) reads, "Then said he unto them, 'But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.'"

Examine the context and you'll find that Christ never meant the sword to be literal but the Sword of the Spirit who would soon come to them. Notice too that the previous verse was about the time they were sent out without money and extra clothes. They lacked nothing then but this time they needed to be careful.

It's this uniqueness which I wish to highlight in my upcoming You Think You're Going to Heaven? book. Because of the multitude of evidence proving that Christianity is based in reality, people must heed Christ's commandments and follow him daily.