A former Speech and Language Pathologist for nearly 20 years, I began educating our 3 children full-time in 2015 and have cherished every gifted moment (even the challenges). But what is interwoven into all aspects of daily life (as a wife, via motherhood, teaching, friendship, fitness, etc.) is Christian Apologetics (1 Peter 3:15)… which is why this blog exists.
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?” (Psalm 22:1)
Sisters, this song sung by God’s people praises God for the vindication of the innocent sufferer. When Jesus was hanging upon the cross in A.D. 30 or 33, He quoted the first line of this hymn (Ps 22) before died. And this is significant, because God the Son was speaking words He wanted to be heard. God’s words are intentional, and they faithfully come to pass (Mt 24:35; Lk 21:32)!
Given that Jesus chose this Psalm, we should read it in its entirety. And remember that the Jewish people listening to Jesus most likely had memorized the whole song, recognizing that it doesn’t end with anguish!
For example: If you were to start singing, “Happy…” 🎶
After just one word, most folks here in the United States would recognize, immediately, that you are singing “Happy Birthday,”…and could finish the rest for you.
The same is true for the Jewish people of the first century, who had memorized the songs of the Psalter. When Jesus recited the first line, those listen would recognize the psalm and could sing the rest. Yes, there is anguish and suffering in this psalm…but it ends with vindication and celebration!
Written approximately 1000 years before his crucifixion and bodily resurrection, these words provide abundant encouragement that our God faithfully keeps His word.
The ESV Study Bible says:
“The song closes with confidence that when God answers the prayer, the singer will be vindicated and will again be able to join with God’s people in worship. The song helps readers to see the outcome of this personal trial in its relation to the whole of God’s people: the vindicated singer looks forward to telling forth God’s praise among the assembled congregation (vv. 22, 25), and thus all the offspring of Israel will take encouragement and join in giving thanks (vv. 23-24, 26). Indeed, the praising company will extend to the whole world (v. 27, all the families of the nations, echoing Gen. 12:3; 22:18; etc.); that is, the singer’s personal story of trouble and vindication is part of the larger story of God’s redemptive work in the world.”
“Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.” (Ps 22:30-31)
Question: Have you ever wondered why Jesus exclaimed, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” before yielding His spirit to the Father?
In order to adequately address this heartfelt query, we need to highlight an important cultural detail concerning how scripture was both memorized and shared around AD 30.
Per numerous scholars, if someone living during the first century quoted the beginning of a Psalm, he or she would do so knowing that the listener could recite the rest. It is likened to when we sing the first few words of a song (“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound…”), anticipating that our friends could finish the tune. Therefore, when our Lord and Savior spoke the words of Psalm 22:1…“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He did so with the whole Psalm in mind!
The final verse of Psalm 22, written 900-1000 years prior to the crucifixion, tells of the victorious outcome regarding the rule and reign of our God among His people.
Ladies, please take time to read both Mark 15 and Psalm 22 (shared below), as well as to examine the resources provided alongside. It’s my hope and prayer that these scriptures point your heart and mind to the faithful purposes of our God…and how no adversary could thwart God’s rescue plan from taking place.
85 minutes with Mike Winger about Psalm 22
5 minute, artistic teaching of Psalm 22
18 minutes with Nabeel Qureshi
Inspired by God, the book of Mark was written by Peter’s attendant, Mark (John Mark), in the mid-to-late 50’s AD. While Psalm 22 was penned by King David approximately 1000 years earlier (before Roman crucifixions). Note: The book of Mark was composed in Rome and is primarily written to a Church “audience largely unfamiliar with Jewish customs.” One example of this is that the Roman day began at 12am, but the Jewish day commenced at 6am. Therefore, an account of the time of Jesus’s crucifixion would vary from Mark’s account to another Gospel’s account (i.e. John), as the intended audiences were different.
Mark 15
Jesus Delivered to Pilate
And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. 2 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” 3 And the chief priests accused him of many things.4 And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” 5 But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.
Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified
6 Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. 7 And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. 8 And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. 9 And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up.11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. 12 And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” 13 And they cried out again, “Crucify him.”14 And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
Jesus Is Mocked
16 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters),[b] and they called together the whole battalion.[c]17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.
The Crucifixion
21 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. 22 And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). 23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. 25 And it was the third hour[d] when they crucified him. 26 And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left.[e]29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!”31 So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.
The Death of Jesus
33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (see Psalm 22:1) 35 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” 36 And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he[h]breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son[i] of God!”
40 There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.
Jesus Is Buried
42 And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died.[j]And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. 45 And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph. 46 And Joseph[k] bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
Psalm 22
(WRITTEN MORE THAN 900-1000 YEARS BEFORE THE CROSS)
22 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.
3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises[a] of Israel. 4 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. 5 To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8 “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”
9 Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. 10 On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. 11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.
12 Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; 13 they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.
16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet[b]— 17 I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; 18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.
19 But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! 20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! 21 Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued[c] me from the horns of the wild oxen!
22 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: 23 You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.
25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. 26 The afflicted[d] shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.
29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. 30 Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; 31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.
More on Psalm 22
55 minute refutation, Dr Michael Brown and Rabbi Singer regarding Ps 22
Who is Jesus?
6 minutes
45 minutes with Mikel Del Rosario
18 minutes, The essential Christian Doctrine of the Trinity. Jesus is the Son of God.
Jesus’s Resurrection
56 minutes with Nabeel Qureshi. The overwhelming evidence for both the crucifixion and the Resurrection.
75 minutes w/ Gary Habermas
< 3 minutes w/ Lee Strobel
Essential Christian Doctrine
62 minutes with Alisa Childers and Krista Bontrager
When you’re playing a board game with your family or friends, and you have a question about the game, what do you do?
Let’s also hypothesize that during an Indianapolis Colts football game, a member of the opposing team decides to dribble the football down the field like a soccer ball.
In these two instances, you and I would hopefully agree that the rules for both types of games would need to be consulted.
And these rules would have an interpretation which fallible human beings could read and agree upon (the essential parts, especially).
When it comes to #Christianity as a worldview, to understand what makes it “Christianity” and not Gnostic Christianity, Buddhism, New Thought, etc., we would need to consult the Christian manual: the Scriptures.
When Constantine decriminalized Christianity, along with other religions at that time, he strongly encouraged the leaders of numerous churches to meet and settle a contentious dispute regarding a central belief (Jesus’s Deity).
How did these men handle the matter? They consulted the Scriptures…both the Old Testament as well as the historical, eyewitness accounts of the biblical texts (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, and Jude). They looked at the Christian dictionary.
When Arius of Alexandria claimed Jesus was only a created being, the group examined what Christianity teaches about itself, inevitably proving Arius was wrong.
No new teachings were formed at this council, nor was the Bible constructed here.
💡 Friends, the Gnostic gospels found in Egypt were new to us in the 1900’s, but they were not new to the 2nd century church…These writings were rejected for legitimate reasons: 1.) The GG’s were written long after the apostles had died, and 2.) the theology did not coincide with the essential teachings of Scripture.
With all of this in view, it’s incredibly important to look back at history to examine the claims made in movies (Da Vinci Code) as well as on social media.
Resources:
✔️The graphic above was designed and produced by Wes Huff and can be found here.
This 8-minute video is an impactful example of what happens when fear keeps us from sharing the complete truth with others. How can others know the Good News until they understand WHY it’s good news! For there to be good news, there must be bad news.
Pragmatism (subjective helpfulness) should never override a biblical worldview for a Christian, because the Christian worldview is a biblical worldview. Jesus viewed the Scriptures as God’s authoritative word…so should we.
Todd Friel attempted to help a young lady grasp this reality!
Have you heard of the classic fable, Chicken Little? 📕
A few years ago, my children and I were reading an older version of Chicken Little called, Henny Penny, a story about a beloved hen who (after being hit on the head by a falling acorn) wrongly perceived that the sky was falling.
In her surprise and genuine concern, Henny Penny hurried off to alert the king of her homeland of this incredibly urgent emergency!
As Henny traveled, numerous friends of hers (a rooster, a duck, a swan, and a turkey) had noticed Henny Penny running excitedly through the woods. Each would precede to stop and inquire of her the purpose of her mission, and because they loved and trusted her, deceived to run with her to the king.
Sadly, they never made it their desired destination. Instead, the story ends with all 5 animals being tricked by a cunning fox, who deceptively promised them a shortcut to the King. But that shortcut only led them all to the fixes dem, where they all were dinner for the foxes’s family.
Why am I posted about this children’s tale?
1.) It occurred to me after reading this classic that we ALL can model Henny Penny’s emotional response, some days. Leaning too quickly upon our own understanding of a situation without praying about it will certainly set us upon the wrong path!
Henny had a real experience (an acorn crashing down on her head), which genuinely hurt, and therefore created a legitimate concern.
She ran towards the king with the authentic hope to help others! She wasn’t intending to mislead nor to harm…quite the opposite!
2.) Henny’s friends trusted and loved her. They ran with her, wanting to both support and encourage her. We all should want to support and encourage our friends! This is a good thing! However…(#3)
3.) But no one stopped to lovingly inquire if the sky was actually falling? Pausing to examine the evidence of a claim is far from unloving, nor is it cold and legalistic! As God’s word explains in 1 Corinthians 13, “Love rejoices with the truth!”
Instead, each of the 5 animals leaned upon their own understanding, running forward without slowing-down to check-out the facts.
Maybe they didn’t want to offend?
Maybe they were exceptionally tired (long day at work, too much on their plate, etc.) that day?
Maybe they were overly busy, and therefore moved-on to the next detail of the day without acknowledging God for help?
Take-away:
When I began researching the Enneagram a few years ago, it crossed my mind that maybe Henny Penny’s tale isn’t too far off from reality!
Maybe the combination of increased busyness and reduced scriptural guidance was the predominant manner in which the Enneagram entered into churches?
Perhaps it sneakily entered-in through *wonderful* brothers and sisters who earnestly wanted to share something “helpful,” but didn’t realize what they had actually had in their midst…a non-Christian tool making Christian claims.
Friends, we all can be Henny or her friends at various times in our lives.
If we don’t prayerfully navigate all that comes our way (especially after traumatic “acorn moments”), we will often run forward without seeking God for help…leading us down a potentially harmful path.
Today, let’s pause and intentionally forgive those who have been Henny Penny in our lives, as well as pray for them. And let’s stop to pray as often as possible, thanking God for the faithful wisdom He promises to provide each and every day (Ja 1:5).
God’s got this, sister!
📕“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
📕”Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” – Psalm 139:23-24
Don and Joy Veinot and Marcia Montenegro in their book, Richard Rohr and the Enneagram Secret, address the frequent misquoting of John Calvin (by Ian Cron and others). Numerous Enneagram authors and enthusiasts, like Ian Cron, have advocated the pursuit of self-knowledge via the enneagram by appealing to highly respected Christian sources…like Calvin and Augustine.
Per Ian Cron, coauthor of The Road Back to You, “How did Calvin put it, ‘Without knowledge of self, there is no knowledge of God” (p.15). This has been quoted by many-an-enneagram enthusiast. Which is very concerning (for two major reasons)!
Firstly, we should always test what we hear alongside the original source. Therefore, instead of readily accepting Cron’s words about Calvin, let’s check-out the original source for Calvin’s words. Wouldn’t that be responsible?
Secondly, nowhere in the Scriptures does God advocate for us to look within for Him. Looking into the heart is like being in a deep pit and looking down for a rope. We need to look to Him, not within.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
Jeremiah 17:9
“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
Matthew 15:18-20
Here is Chapter 1 from Calvin’s Institutes:
“the infinitude of good which resides in God becomes more apparent from our poverty. In particular, the miserable ruin into which the revolt of the first man has plunged us, compels us to turn our eyes upwards;” (Chapter 1 of Calvin’s Institutes).
Therefore, to answer the question posed in the title of this post: No, John Calvin did not say that in order to know God, we need to look within. When we examine John Calvin’s own words we find a DIFFERENT message. As the Veinots and Marcia explain on p.42 of their timely book, “in short, Calvin asserted that we are sinners in need of a savior!” Calvin’s words are being utilized incorrectly.
Friends, in lieu of readily believing secondary voices, everyone should prioritize going to the source and testing whether the secondhand information is tenable. As Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “test everything; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
Christians should view the Scriptures as Jesus views the Scriptures…as God’s authoritative word, true and unchanging (Mark 7:8-13; Matt. 26:54; Luke 4:21; John 7:38).
With this important fact in view on Valentine’s Day, Christians should always look to God’s Word (Bible) as our Dictionary in defining what love is, and from Whom it comes! Not Netflix!
Below is an impactful video by Mama Bear Apologetics I strongly encourage you all to watch…especially with your tween and teens!
✔️Mowing our neighbor’s lawn. ✔️Shoveling a widow’s snowy driveway. ✔️Taking meals to new parents. ✔️Giving money to combat human-trafficking. ✔️Sharing our dinner tables with those who are new to town. ✔️Listening to a grieving friend for as long as it takes. ✔️Forgiving those who have wronged us.
Yes, let’s keep doing all of the above, and more!
And…
Let’s always be prepared to share the #reason for the #hope that you have, with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). Let’s be prayerfully prepared to explain why we love in these ways, and from Whom this love comes! For His glory, alone.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16
💡“Why is there evil and wars?” 💡“Is the Bible true?” 💡“How is the Bible relevant?” 💡“How do we reconcile science and faith?” 💡“If God created the universe, who created God?”
💡What if someone hasn’t heard of God? 💡“Do dogs go to Heaven?”
…and more!
Shared below is a 60m clip of Christian Apologist, Dr. Sean McDowell, speaking at a church in Singapore…answering 12 difficult (yet, common) questions pertaining to God and Christianity.
It’s an incredible resource to have on-hand for the treadmill, when folding laundry, while eating lunch, or as your prepping for dinner. There’s always time to prioritize researching these pivotal worldview issues, as well as learning how to answer the tough queries people ponder.
“but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” – 1 Peter 3:15
More pertaining to the scientific veracity of the Enneagram:
According to an interview with Dr. Rhenn Cherry, a Biblical Counselor who wrote his PhD dissertation on the Enneagram, approximately 139 doctoral-level mental health professionals, with an average of 26 years experience, participated in a peer reviewed study in 2015 which found the Enneagram placing 2nd to last place on the first round of testing and last on the 2nd round…out of 36 protocols.
The Enneagram is not a valid scientific tool pertaining to Personality, even if marketed as such.
If someone played Beethoven poorly, would you play blame Beethoven?
As Frank Turek suggests, “Of course not!”
The fact that Christians are unable to live-up to Jesus’s standards, only affirms our desperate NEED for Jesus and what He did on our behalf (Isaiah 53; 1 Co 15; 1 John 4).
If we are completely transparent, friends, we should all admit that we can’t even live up to our own standards, consistently…let alone, God’s.
Let this sink in:
God lovingly came down because WE need Him. We need freed from the sin which enslaves us (Eph 2; Rom 5; 1 Cor 15). It’s a work only God can do. And it’s a gift given to humanity!
“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 Jn 4:9-10).
I grew-up with Santa (and adored him). But when I became a mom, I was faced with the reality that if Steve and I pretended Santa was real, we would be lying to our children. 🎅🏼
But if we didn’t participate in the Santa tradition, would we be robbing something incredibly fun from our children? This was a genuine concern!
Let’s process through this concern together!
1.) Would we be stealing fun from our children by not acting as though Santa is real?
First of all, we need to identify the false dilemma fallacy of thinking that fun is solely dependent upon thinking Santa is real.
For example, we can watch movies and read books containing fictional storylines (ie., Chronicles of Narnia, Guardians of the Galaxy, etc.) and thoroughly appreciate them, without them being nonfiction.
Therefore, can children watch Frozen the movie and enjoy it without believing Elsa is real? Of course!!
Friends, we can hopefully agree that enjoying the fictitious story of Santa is NOT reliant upon believing he is real. For more information pertaining to the false dilemma fallacy, please click here for Kathy Gibbens’s podcast.
2.) Should the desire for fun supersede honesty?
Most parents view Santa as a “white lie.” The thought that we would be purposefully deceiving their children would genuinely grieve us. With this being said, we can agree that deception is most often NOT the motivation. Instead, experiencing an awe-inspiring activity is.
This brings us having to our first question: “Can we enjoy Santa without believing he is real?”
Parents, the last thing I want is for anyone to feel condemned if they have promoted Santa to their children. To reiterate, I grew-up with a sincere fondness for Santa Clause, and am not upset with my parents for nurturing the idea that he was real.
The purpose of this post is to lovingly put forth questions that we all should consider. For we all earnestly desire that our children trust our words. Especially, regarding what matters most: their trust that God exists, and that Jesus came to save them from their sins (1 John 4).
Let’s allow the reality of what God has done on our behalf lead the way! We don’t need to add fluff to God’s incarnation, as if it lacks awe-inspiring qualities. It’s a true, historical event which is filled with more than enough awe and wonder to last a lifetime!
Our family on the Polar Express Train with Santa. By the way, the kiddos have always known Santa as a fictional character, who is different from the real man, St. Nicholas .
Hold Fast Apologetics 