AN AGNOSTIC ARCHAEOLOGIST FINDS EVIDENCE FOR THE VIRGIN BIRTH

Of the four Gospels, Luke gives the most detailed account of the Nativity and mentions Mary 12 times, more than any other biblical writer. In addition to the birth of Christ, he also gives special, detailed attention to the birth of John the Baptist and many see his gynecological interests to be a result of his training as a physician.

The agnostic Oxford professor and archaeologist, Sir William Ramsay, thought he would scientifically prove Luke to be a bogus, unreliable writer by retracing Luke’s account of Paul’s travels in Acts. However, after years of retracing Luke's account of Paul's travels and doing archaeological excavations along the way, Ramsay completely reversed his view of the Bible and first-century history.

He Sets Out to Disprove Luke

Ramsay, considered one of the greatest archaeologists of all time, was a product of the skeptical, German higher criticism of the 19th century. According to these critics, the New Testament was written in the second century by individuals far removed from the events described and, therefore, filled with inaccuracies, myths, and legends.

However, Ramsay’s many years of archaeological research convinced him that Acts was written in the first century by Luke, the traditional author, and he acquired a very high regard for Luke as a historian. He wrote,

Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy, he is possessed of the true historic sense; in short, this author should be placed along with the greatest of historians (Hyatt, Christmas is for Real, 10-11).

In 1896, Ramsay began publishing his discoveries in a book entitled St. Paul the Traveler and the Roman Citizen. The book caused a furor of dismay among the skeptics of the world, for its affirmation of the biblical record was totally unexpected. The evidence was, in fact, so overwhelming that many atheists gave up their atheism and embraced Christianity.

Over the next 20 years, Ramsay published other volumes showing how he discovered Luke to be accurate in the tiniest details of his account. In his book, The Bearing of Recent Discovery on the Trustworthiness of the New Testament, he wrote, "You may press the words of Luke in a degree beyond any other historian's and they stand the keenest scrutiny and the hardest treatment" (Hyatt, Christmas is for Real, 11).

To cite just one example, Luke’s use of the term “politarch” to describe officials in Thessalonica was widely considered to be a bogus term made up by a later writer since it was never used by ancient writers. But in his archaeological excavations, Ramsay uncovered the term no less than five times in ancient carvings in the city, demonstrating beyond doubt the authenticity and reliability of Luke’s authorship. 

The evidence was overwhelming, and Ramsay eventually gave up his agnosticism and came to faith in Christ. He concluded that if Luke was this careful to get right the most minute facts about words, dates, roads, waterways, and different cultures, then he could also be trusted to have gotten his facts right about the supernatural things he described such as the Virgin Birth.

Indeed, at the beginning of his Gospel, and just before describing the angel’s visit to Mary, Luke says that he has utilized eyewitness accounts of the events described. Indeed, the detail Luke presents about the Virgin Birth does indicate that he has derived his information from a primary source, either Mary herself or someone to whom Mary had relayed the intimate details of the event.

Conclusion of the Matter

The famous Oxford historian, A.N. Sherwin-White, carefully examined Luke’s references to 32 countries, 54 cities, and nine islands, finding not a single mistake. The noted New Testament scholar, F.F. Bruce, noted that where Luke has been suspected of inaccuracy by modern critics, archaeology has again and again proven Luke to be right and the critics wrong.

The evidence begs the question that if Luke was this careful to get his facts right about names, places, events and dates, can we not be confident that he was just as careful to get his facts right concerning the more important things about which he wrote, such as the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ?

Charles Wesley, the Anglican cleric and Methodist revivalist, believed so and wrote his magnificent hymn, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” after hearing London church bells ringing as he walked to church one Christmas day. He wrote,

Hark the herald angels sing,

Glory to the newborn king.

Peace on earth and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled.

 

Joyful all ye nations rise,

Join the triumph of the skies.

With angelic hosts proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.

This article is derived from the book, Christmas is for Real, by Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt and available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehhyatt.com.

WHEN GOD LAID ASIDE HIS POWER

Is the Modern Church Willing to Learn this Lesson?

Love and power, like oil and water, do not mix. The well-known sociologist, Willard Waller, discovered that there seems to be an inverse relationship between love and power. He noted that in interpersonal relationships as love increases, power decreases; and as power decreases, love increases.

Waller coined the term “principle of least interest” to describe the phenomenon, revealed by his studies, that power lies in the hands of the person who cares the least about the relationship.

For example, a couple whose marriage is disintegrating goes for counseling. The counselor can immediately tell which one loves the least. It is the one sitting in the power seat and making demands. The one who truly loves has let go of power and is willing to make any sacrifice to save the marriage.

Love and power, it seems, cannot coexist, at least in this world.

God Set Aside His Power

That is why when the time came for God to demonstrate His love for humanity, He set aside His power. Paul speaks of this in Philippians 2:7 where he describes how Christ emptied Himself of the power He had known with the Father and became as a powerless slave. He wrote,

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges. He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being (NLT).

This is why the Messiah, who had come to reveal God's love, was born in a stable and His first bed was a feeding trough for animals. This would explain why the Christ was born, not into a wealthy aristocratic family, but into a poor family who offered up two doves and a pigeon in the temple, an alternative offering allowed by Scripture for families who could not afford a lamb (Leviticus 12:8; Luke 2:22-24).

This would explain why He grew up in in Nazareth, an insignificant and despised village, well away from the power centers of Jerusalem and Rome. It also explains why He showed no interest in Herod’s throne, Caesar's crown, or the High Priestly position. He had come to demonstrate God’s love, and He could not show love while at the same time seeking power.

It comes then as no surprise that Jesus directed his disciples away from visions of “power” to thoughts of “service. When, for example, James and John requested the two "power" seats in His kingdom, Jesus rebuked them for their preoccupation with power. Power coerces and controls with outward force. Love woos and influences and changes the heart.

But make no mistake, this is not a namby-pamby kind of love. It is not for the weak and selfish. This love requires great strength and resilience. This is love that desires the best for the other person and is willing to sacrifice its own self-interests to see it happen. The ultimate example of this love, known in the Greek New Testament as agape, is found in Jesus Christ.

Love is More Effective Than Power

A father became distressed over the rebellion of his young son whom he had disciplined again and again. One day as he was about to apply another punishment, he was overcome with grief for his son and suddenly fell at the boy’s feet weeping profusely. The son was stunned and stood speechless, but from that moment was changed.

In the Old Testament God demonstrated His power. He thundered from Sinai, parted seas, destroyed armies, and even stopped the sun and moon in their paths. His people, however, continued to be a rebellious people for they had not yet seen His love.

This is what Christmas and the cross are all about. It is about God setting aside His power and showing humanity the depth of His love. Jesus called on His disciples to walk in this same agape love. In John 13:34-35, Jesus said,

A new commandment I give to you; that you love (agape) one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love one for another.

Constantine or Christ

For the first 200 years of its existence, the church demonstrated the love of Christ and had great success spreading its influence throughout the earth. The church conquered the mighty Roman Empire without raising an army or lifting a sword.

Constantine, however, thought He knew better than Christ and He began merging the church with power. The church began using the power of the state to advance its cause, and love took its flight. Terrible atrocities were committed in the name of Christ as the medieval “church” gained power but lost influence.

The Reformation was a move away from “power” and back to the Gospel of Christ. Nonetheless, many in the church today are still seeking “power.” Many today are closer to Constantine than to Christ in this regard.

At Christmas, we celebrate God setting aside His power and coming to earth and demonstrating His love for humanity. This love would reach its apex at the Cross for nothing epitomized weakness like a crucified individual hanging on a Roman cross.

This is the challenge that Christmas brings to the church. Are we following the example of Christ in letting go of power? Are we walking in pure love? Or, are we, like Constantine, seeking to merge power with love?

In the passage mentioned above, Philippians 2:6-8, Paul clearly states what our attitude and approach should be. He wrote,

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges. He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

The Justice and Power of Christ Will be on
Full Display When He Comes Again

Love makes us vulnerable and we are sometimes tempted to not walk in love because people will take advantage of us. We must remember at such times that justice is an essential component of love. God is a God of justice and no one is going to get away with anything.

When, therefore, He comes again, His power will be on full display. This time He comes, not as a baby in a manger, but as the mighty Sovereign Lord of the universe. For those who have rejected His love, it will not be nice. John saw that day with people crying out to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb (Revelation 6:16).

Paul wrote to the believers in Thessalonica who were going through terrible persecutions and exhorted them to See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good (I Thessalonians 5:15). However, he wrote to those same Thessalonian believers,

And to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power (II Thessalonians 1:7-9).

Receive His love today and avoid the wrath that is coming.

Dr. Eddie Hyatt is an author, historian and ordained minister who has written extensively on Spiritual Awakening and other issues related to the Christian faith. His books are available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com, including the small book, Christmas is for Real: Historical Evidence for the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ. 

DO NOT GIVE THE DEVIL A PLATFORM

She came into the meeting I was leading and took a seat in the center of the front row directly in front of me. She was dressed very scantily in a pair of tight shorts. I immediately knew in my spirit that she had come there to divide the worship, i.e., to take the eyes of the people off God and onto her. I determined then and there that it was not going to happen.

The Drama Unfolds

I had met her once before in passing but knew her reputation as one who had been to various churches and ministries seeking deliverance. One person told me that he and his pastor had prayed with her until 2 am one morning, seeking to cast out the demons, but with no success.

The audience this night, in the community center of a Canadian town, consisted of people from various denominations who shared a hunger and passion to better know the Lord and experience His power. They, therefore, enthusiastically entered into worship with hands raised and faces turned expectantly toward heaven.

In the midst of the worship this young woman began to shake and convulse in her seat. Sure enough, everyone stopped worshipping and began looking at her. I stepped in front of her, laid my and on her head, and shouted, “Stop that!”

I don’t doubt that there were demons, but I felt that I was shouting at her for she was giving place to the demons. When I shouted at her to stop, she immediately stopped, and we continued in a very precious time of worship.

However, a few minutes later, she began violently shaking again as she slid down her seat and then rolled off her seat onto the floor where she lay still as though in a trance. Again, everyone stopped worshipping and were looking at this young woman, whose name was June.

I encouraged the people to continue worshipping and then knelt in the floor next to her. I cupped my hand next to her ear and whispered, “June, if you don’t stop this, I am going to have to ask you to leave.” She immediately came out of the trance, grabbed her purse off the chair, and stormed out the door.

I directed the people’s attention back to Jesus. We continued worshipping and many lives were touched and refreshed by the presence and power of God.

In my evaluation of the situation, I don’t doubt that June was demonized. However, she was tolerating the demons because she liked the attention it brought her. Demons love attention and they will find ego-centric people who also love attention, for such people will tolerate the demonic manifestations in return for the attention it brings.

A Well-Known Pastor Learns this Lesson

Judson Cornwall was a well-known Christian leader in the Charismatic Renewal of the 1970s-80s who authored numerous books on prayer, worship, and spiritual warfare. In a particular church he pastored in Oregon, he had a religious routine that he would go through at the beginning of each service. He would begin by taking authority over the devil, binding all the demons, naming them, silencing them, and telling them they had no place in that meeting. He religiously repeated this prayer at the beginning of each meeting.

One morning, during his devotional time with God, he heard the Holy Spirit say, “Demons are coming from all over this region to be in your services.” He was shocked and asked, “Why Lord?” The Holy Spirit replied, “Because you give them recognition.” He suddenly realized that he was giving the devil a platform and immediately stopped that routine.

T.L. Osborn Would Give No Platform to the Devil

I had the privilege of working with the elder statesman of modern, miracle evangelism, the late Dr. T. L. Osborn. T. L was a firm believer in the absolute victory of Jesus over Satan and demonic forces, and he would not give any platform for the devil in his meetings.

He told, for example, about a miracle crusade his ministry sponsored in Africa. Among the many thousands that had gathered in the open air were hundreds of witch doctors who had come there with their fetishes to cast curses and spells on the foreign preacher.

Knowing this, the supporting pastors wanted to lay hands on him and pray before going on the platform, that he would be protected from the spells, curses, and witchcraft. T. L. emphatically refused their prayer. He said, “I would not insult my Lord in that way.”

T. L. focused the people’s attention on the good news of Jesus and His absolute victory over all the powers of hell. Many came to Christ that day and many were miraculously set free from all kinds of illnesses and bondages. And some Christian pastors realized that they did not have to fear the devil and thereby give him a platform.

Ephesians 4:27 says, Give no place to the devil (NKJV). The word “place” in this passage is from the Greek word topon and can refer to any kind of place, seat, or platform. It is variously translated as “place” (KJV), “foothold” (NIV), and “room” (NRSV). T.L. was adamant about not giving the devil any kind of place or platform in his personal life or in his meetings.

My Summary Statement

There is a new emphasis in the body of Christ on demons, deliverance, and spiritual warfare. This is good for the church must be continually reminded that our battle is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12).

At the same time, we must know and proclaim the truth of Satan’s absolute defeat through the Cross, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus. If we run across a demon or principality, cast it out and move on. Do not become preoccupied with the devil and do not allow someone to take over a meeting who has allowed themselves to become a pawn of Satan.  Do not give the devil a platform!

We must run our race with our eyes fixed on Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). And we must keep before us Matthew 28:19 where Jesus emerged from the tomb a mighty conqueror over death, hell, and the grave. He then said to His disciples,

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations . . ..

Dr. Eddie Hyatt is a revivalist, Bible teacher, and church historian. He is the author of over 20 books, which are available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

POLITICAL COALITION OR CHRIST-CENTERED UNITY?

Why The Church Must Now Step Up to the Plate

Donald Trump astounded the American media and political world by cobbling together a coalition of Blacks, Whites, Asians, Hispanics, Women, Men, Muslims, and Christians for a resounding victory over Kamala Harris and the Democrat Party. But in our euphoria, we must not forget that this is a very tenuous political coalition that could quickly dismantle at the next election or economic crisis. 

The deep hostilities, although in abeyance at the moment, are still there waiting for the next opportunity to erupt in an inferno of rage at Donald Trump and everyone who supported him. Only a Christ-centered national Awakening can bring healing to a deeply divided America. 

Donald Trump's election was a great victory, but the job of the American Church is just now beginning. An Awakened Church is the instrument God will use to heal the deep divisions in our nation, and such a healing actually happened at the time of America's founding. 

In the early 1700s the 13 American colonies seemed hopelessly divided. There existed a mutual hatred and distrust that stretched back to their forefathers in the Europe. They seemed destined to forever exist as 13 divided colonies. God, however, had a plan.

The Deep Divisions of Colonial America

Most do not realize the deep divisions that existed in colonial America between the Anglicans who settled Virginia, the Puritans who settled New England, the Baptists who settled Rhode Island, the Quakers who settled Pennsylvania, and so on.

In the Old World, Anglicans (as the state church) had imprisoned Puritans, even putting some to death. They had also persecuted Baptists and Quakers. In the New World, Puritans had persecuted Quakers and Baptists, banning them from their colony and even putting some to death. Anglicans in Virginia jailed Baptists preachers who came into their colony to preach the gospel. Baptists and Quakers did not get along and considered Puritans and Anglicans to be part of the false, harlot church of Revelation.

It seemed that these groups could never reconcile. Their history was too long and their pain too deep. God, however, had an answer. His answer was a great, spiritual awakening based on the preaching of the gospel wherein Jesus was presented as the central object of faith.

God’s Instrument for Change

God’s instrument to ignite this Awakening and carry the revival flame from Georgia to New Hampshire was a 25-year-old Oxford graduate who had just been ordained with the Anglican Church. At Oxford, George Whitefield had been part of the Holy Club (Methodists) and had experienced a radical conversion to Jesus Christ. After his ordination, he ignited great revival in England while John and Charles Wesley were away on a mission to Georgia.

Although ordained with the Anglican Church, Whitefield did not have a denominational bone in his body. He freely fellowshipped with all true believers, including Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Quakers, and any who honored God and confessed Jesus Christ as the true Lord of the Church.

Whitefield came to America on his first of seven visits in 1738. He came with a burden for the colonists and a prayer that they would no longer live as thirteen divided colonies, but as “one nation under God.” (Hyatt, America's Revival Heritage (Second Edition), 59).

His impact on America was astounding. Most of his meetings were in the open air because there were no buildings large enough to accommodate the thousands that came to hear him. In his Autobiography, Benjamin Franklin tells of the incredible change that came over his hometown of Philadelphia when Whitefield came there on his second of seven visits to America. He wrote,

In 1739 there arrived among us from Ireland the Reverend Mr. Whitfield who made himself remarkable there as an itinerant preacher. The multitudes of all sects and denominations that attended his sermons were enormous, and it was a matter of speculation to me, who was one of the number, to observe the extraordinary influence of his oratory on his hearers. From being thoughtless or indifferent about religion, it seemed as if all the world were growing religious so that one could not walk through the town in an evening without hearing psalms sung in different families of every street (Hyatt, America's Revival Heritage (Second Edition), 59-60).

Although accounts of his meetings often describe the multitudes as standing and listening in rapt silence, accounts also reveal intense emotional responses at times, as things eternal were made real to their hearts and minds. On one occasion, after preaching to a huge throng gathered outdoors, Whitfield surveyed the crowd and noted the amazing response. He wrote in his Journal;

Look where I would, most were drowned in tears. Some were struck pale as death, others wringing their hands, others lying on the ground, others sinking into the arms of their friends and most lifting up their eyes to heaven and crying out to God (Hyatt, America's Revival Heritage (Second Edition), 62).

Whitefield Confronts the Divisions

Whitefield addressed the divisions of the colonists head-on. In one of his sermons, for example, as he was preaching in the open air to several thousand, representing various sects and denominations, he pretended to converse with Father Abraham, whom he pictured as looking over the banister of heaven at the gathered multitude.

Whitefield cried out, “Father Abraham, are there any Anglicans in heaven?”

The answer came back, “No, there are no Anglicans in heaven.”

“Father Abraham, are there any Puritans in heaven?”

“No, there are no Puritans in heaven.”

“Are there any Methodists in heaven?”

“No, there are no Methodists here either.”

“What about Baptists or Quakers?” 

“No, there are none of those here either.”

“Father Abraham,” cried Whitefield, “What kind of people are in heaven?”

The answer came back, “There are only Christians in heaven, only those who are washed in the blood of the Lamb.”

Whitefield then cried out, “Oh, is that the case? Then God help me, God help us all, to forget having names and become Christians in deed and in truth!” (Hyatt, America's Revival Heritage (Second Edition), 60-61).

Sectarian Walls are Broken Down

In Boston, when the population was around 17,000, an estimated crowd of 20,000 gathered on the Boston Common to hear Whitfield preach. Differences were melted, denominational walls were broken down, and for the first time, the colonists began to see themselves as a single people with one Divine destiny, “One Nation Under God,” as Whitfield had prayed.

By his incessant travels, Whitefield made the Great Awakening America’s first national event. It was the first time the scattered colonists of various denominational and theological persuasions had participated together as one people in a single event.

Historian, Benjamin Hart, points out that when Whitefield visited America for the final time in 1770, even the Episcopal (Anglican) churches, which had initially rejected him, opened their doors to him. He goes on to say,

The true Spirit of Christ had dissolved sectarian differences. America considered itself to be a nation of Christians, pure and simple, as Whitefield noted with satisfaction. “Pulpits, hearts and affections,” he said, were opened to him and any preacher of whatever denomination who had a true Christian message to share (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 87-88).

The late Harvard professor, Perry Miller, surely had Whitefield in mind when he wrote, “The Declaration of Independence of 1776 was a direct result of the preaching of the evangelists of the Great Awakening.” Through Whitefield’s ministry the Divided Colonies of America became the United States of America.

We Hold the Key

In Ephesians 2:14, Paul says of Jesus, For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one and broken down the middle wall of separation. For Paul, the greatest gulf in first century humanity was the one between Jew and Gentile. He was convinced, however, that Jesus, and only Him, could span that gulf and bring the two together.

This is what brought the divided thirteen colonies together--the Christ-centered preaching of Whitefield and others of the Great Awakening. This happened to such an extent that a British-appointed governor in Connecticut wrote to his superiors in England, “If you ask an American who is his master, he will tell you he has none, nor any governor but Jesus Christ” (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 81).

They answer for a deeply divided America is not political. We, as the church, hold the only message that can restore civility and harmony to this nation. We, therefore, must not allow ourselves to be intimidated by the anti-Christian rhetoric of the modern world.

We must be bold! We must preach Jesus! And we must pray for the rain of the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon this nation once again. A national unity centered in Jesus is the only thing that will save America.

This article is derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt's books America's Revival Heritage (Second Edition) and 1726: The Year that Defined America, both available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com. He is the creator of the "1726 Project" with the goal of educating America in her Christian roots of Faith & Freedom and igniting another Great Awakening across the land.

POPE FRANCIS, MARTIN LUTHER AND THE QUEST FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY

October 31, 2024 will mark the 507-year anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses to the Wittenberg church door and igniting the Protestant Reformation. It also presents another opportunity for Pope Francis to demonstrate that he is truly serious about unity. 

Pope Francis has made Christian unity a major theme of his administration. He has reached out to leaders of the Eastern Orthodox churches and to Protestant leaders, including those from the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement. A July 10, 2014 article in Charisma News carried the story of a cordial meeting of the pope with Kenneth Copeland and James Robison, which included prayer and high fives.

I commend Francis for his efforts, but if he is truly serious about Christian unity, he can highlight it with a clear and unequivocal statement on this 507-year anniversary of the Reformation. He can do this by lifting Martin Luther’s excommunication and removing his label as a heretic 

Luther, after all, was a devout Roman Catholic priest who never wanted to leave the Catholic Church. He wanted to see the Church reformed according to Scripture but was excommunicated and labeled a heretic for his efforts.

As a Professor of Bible and Theology at the University of Wittenberg, Luther began to see how far the medieval Catholic Church had moved away from the Gospel. He began to boldly teach that Scripture is our final authority, not the pope. He also taught that we are saved through faith in Christ alone apart from church appointed works and sacraments.

When he was ordered to stop teaching these doctrines, he refused, now convinced that he was on the side of Scripture. He was hauled before a religious court—the Diet of Worms—where he faced the highest dignitaries in the Church and the Emperor himself. He was ordered to recant his teachings, but refused, saying,

I can believe neither pope nor councils alone, as it is clear that they have erred repeatedly and contradicted themselves. I consider myself convicted by the testimony of Holy Scripture, which is my basis. My conscience is captive to the Word of God; thus I cannot and will not recant anything, because acting against one's conscience is neither safe nor sound. Here I stand! God help me! Amen!"

Luther was declared a heretic and an order issued that his books were to be confiscated and burned. He would have been arrested and executed but for the protection of the powerful German prince, Frederick the Wise.

Luther did not recant because he was convinced that he was on the right side of God and history. The late Dr. Hans Kung, the most widely read Catholic theologian in the world today, agreed, saying,

And from a historical perspective there can be no doubt that it is not Luther but Rome which bears the chief responsibility for the way in which the dispute over the right way to salvation and practical reflection on the gospel very rapidly turned into a fundamental dispute over authority in the church and the infallibility of popes (Hyatt, Infallible Pope: Key to Unity or Source of Division, 54).

So, despite all the good efforts toward unity, Luther remains a heretic according to Catholic doctrine. And, according to Catholic doctrine, Protestant believers are not fully Christian but are “separated brethren” and Protestant churches are not true churches but mere “Christian communities.”

So, here are three things Pope Francis could do that would show the world he is truly serious about Christian unity.

1.    Remove Luther’s excommunication and label as a heretic.

2.    Recognize Protestant churches as true churches rather than mere “Christian communities.”

3.    Recognize Protestant believers as full and complete Christians through faith in Christ rather than “separated brethren.”

I do not expect any pope to declare numbers 2 and 3 for that would mean dispensing with the "hallowed" Roman Catholic Church doctrine that she is the only true church. However, acting on number one would show that there is an element of seriousness to the talk of love and Christian unity.

Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt is a historian, Bible teacher, and revivalist. This article was derived from the books, Infallible Pope: Key to Unity or Source of Division and The Charismatic Luther, both available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

HOLDING THINGS TOGETHER

“Holding things together is not an easy thing to do” are the words from a popular country song from the 1960s. It is about a man who is fighting to “hold things together” after his wife has left him, leaving him to struggle alone to raise their two kids.

We all face challenges in life and sometimes it seems that life is flying apart, and we struggle to find a way to “hold things together.” Well, only Jesus can hold things together and this is made very clear by a reality in modern science and the words of Paul in his letter to the Colossians.

The Mystery of Dark Matter

Paul’s description in Colossians of the glorious risen Christ gives an answer to a dilemma that is baffling modern science, particularly in astronomy. It is what astronomers and astrophysicists call “Dark Matter.” Dark Matter is an unseen force that is holding the universe together. It cannot be seen, and astronomers don’t know what it is, but they say it is keeping the universe from flying apart.

Our solar system, for example, is being held together by the gravitational force of the sun. Since the gravitational force of an object depends on its size, this means that our sun is the perfect size to keep the planets in orbit. If the sun were smaller, the planets would wander off aimlessly into space.

Furthermore, our solar system, along with billions of stars and other celestial bodies, are rotating around the center of our Milky Way galaxy. And, beyond that, our Milky Way galaxy is part of a cluster of galaxies that are all rotating around another center.

But here is the dilemma! According to astrophysicists and astronomers, there is too much empty space in our universe for this to be happening. There is not nearly enough matter or “stuff” to produce enough gravity to keep everything from flying apart. There is some mysterious force that they cannot see or explain that is holding everything together. So, they call it “Dark Matter.”

Paul’s Answer for the Mystery of Dark Matter

Paul, in his portrayal of the transcendent majesty and power of the Risen Christ, gives a clear answer to this dilemma. He says that Jesus is not only the Image of the Invisible God and the Cause and Agent of Creation, but he also says, He was before all else began and it is his power that holds everything together. (Colossians 1:17, LB). The writer of Hebrews concurs, saying that Christ is upholding all things by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3).

So, it is Jesus who is holding everything together. We must, however, distinguish between how He holds the universe together and how He will hold our life together. He holds the physical universe together by the direct action of His power on the heavenly bodies. Human beings, however, made in His image and likeness with free will, must voluntarily give Him that place of centrality in our lives.

He Will Hold Your Life Together

Just as the solar system is held together by the central position of the Sun, when we give the Son the place of centrality in our lives, we will find an invisible force, known as the Holy Spirit, working on our behalf and enabling us to “hold things together.”

In over 50 years of ministry and over 48 years of marriage, I have seen it happen again and again. Those times when it seemed that everything would fly apart, we have found that invisible force "holding things together." Yes! When we give Jesus that place of centrality in our lives, we will find the wisdom and power to “hold things together.”

Dr. Eddie Hyatt is an author, revivalist, Bible teacher and ordained minister. This article was derived from his book, Discovering the Real Jesus, available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.