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Mark Corbett

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About Mark Corbett

  • Birthday 03/27/1965

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    http://parresiazomai.blogspot.com/

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  • Gender
    Male
  • Location
    Severn, NC
  • Interests
    God's Word, Hope and Joy (my wife and daughter), Intelligent Design movement, Indonesia (lived there for 14 years), Conditional Immortality, Christian music (I'm not gifted as a singer or musician but I love to listen), blogging, long walks in the morning with my dog Sadie

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  1. I have struggled on and off with watching TV for many years. My wife and I agreed to literally throw away our TV early in our marriage. But when TV became available on disks and then via the internet we started watching it some again. Overall, I feel TV is a bad influence and most Christians would benefit from watching less of it. A year ago, I wrote a blog post where I share my own experience and some thoughts on this topic. You can see it here: Should Christians Watch TV? Here are two graphics from that blog post:
  2. "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.” - Jesus (Matt. 24:9 NIV) In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, - Paul (2 Tim. 3:12 NIV) The Bible warns us that we will be persecuted for following Jesus. Because the types of persecution we usually face in countries like the US is usually relatively mild, we can have a hard time relating to this important truth. Yet, all throughout the last 2,000 years of history and all around the world today, Christians often face violent persecution. For a long time I’ve felt that the short (26 minutes) movie Stephen’s Test of Faith does an excellent job helping us relate to the important Biblical truth about persecution. Although the movie is made so that children and youth can watch it and relate to it, in my opinion it is just as effective for adults. In the form of a dream that a young boy has, the movie reviews examples of persecution throughout history. The movie was made in 1998, and is now available free on YouTube. The YouTube version is not HD, and looks better on a small computer screen. The story is so well told that the lack of HD quality does not really distract from the message. One More Story In addition to the true stories we see in Stephen’s dream in the movie, I would like to add one more true story. This story took place while we were living in a Muslim majority nation. We had friendly, good relations with many of our Muslim neighbors during the fourteen years we lived there. But there were radical Islamic groups which brought persecution to Christians living in our city and province. We always had nationals living in our house with us, which was a blessing for many reasons. One of these nationals had a good Christian friend whom I’ll call Mary. Mary was from a Christian family. Mary lived outside the city, so when she visited our home she would take public transportation into the city. The most popular form of public transportation was mini-vans which had been turned into mini-buses. There were thousands of these. One day when Mary arrived at our home, she was visibly shaken. In fact, she appeared to be in shock. She immediately entered the room of her Christian Indonesian lady friend who was living in our home at that time. After a couple of hours she came out. She then told us what had happened on the way to our house. Mary was on a mini-van bus heading into the city. Her bus stopped and a young man got on whom she did not know. Based on the books that he was carrying and the fact that he got on at a stop near a small Christian college, she guessed that he was a Christian. As the mini-van bus entered the city they encountered a massive traffic jam. The young Christian man said, “I can see that something is going to happen here.” Eventually they got to the source of the traffic jam. A group of radicals had set up a roadblock. When the mini-bus reached the roadblock, radical Muslim students forced it to stop. They requested the citizen ID cards (which include a person’s religion) from all the male passengers on the bus. The young Christian man explained that he had lost his ID card. The radical students then demanded that he recite the Islamic Creed, "There is no God but God, and Mohammed is his prophet." The young Christian man calmly said, "I'm sorry, I can't do that, I'm not a Muslim, I'm a follower of Jesus." The Muslim students then forced the young man off the bus. They held him down and severely beat him. They then placed his head under another vehicle behind the mini bus and told the driver to go forward. The driver of the other vehicle was almost certainly Muslim, but he refused to drive forward. This made the radical students angry, and they beat the young Christian man again. As Mary's mini-bus pulled away, the last thing she saw was the Muslim students throwing the body of the young Christian man into a large sewage canal. She assumed he was dead. The next day a local newspaper confirmed Mary’s story reporting the five Christians had been hospitalized as a result of being beaten at this roadblock. Setting up a roadblock and checking for Christians was not a one time thing in our city. It was called “sweeping” and occurred multiple times. Although Mary was from a Christian family and identified herself as a Christian, it was not clear that she really had accepted the Lord yet when she witnessed this terrible event. Almost exactly a year to the day after this event, we were blessed to witness Mary’s baptism after she wholeheartedly committed her life to Christ. Mary lived in a setting where Christians were often persecuted. She witnessed firsthand a traumatic case of violent persecution. But this didn’t prevent her from choosing to follow the Lord. We knew other Christians who experienced persecution during our years living in a Muslim nation. I’ve shared two of their stories in blog posts here and here. Two Applications What should we do in light of the Bible’s teaching about persecution and these stories which verify that this teaching still applies in the world today? Here are some ways we should respond: 1. We should be encouraged to stand firm in the Lord when we are threatened with or experience persecution for following Him and living by His Word. Persecution takes many forms: slander, lost relationships, and lost income are not as severe as being beaten, imprisoned, or killed. Yet, we should not underestimate how painful and costly these less severe forms of persecution can be. When you face these, remember Jesus and stories of others who have stood firm, stories in the Bible and stories throughout history, and with God’s help stand firm. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Eph. 6:13 NIV) 2. We should pray, work, and give for the continued spread of the gospel in spite of strong opposition. We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. (1 Thess. 2:2 NIV) 3. We should remember those who are suffering severe persecution. Prayer is powerful. We can pray for the persecuted. We can also give financially to support gospel ministry and Christian work in areas where there is severe persecution. Finally, we should be prepared to go if God calls us and to support others who are sent by God. Remember the prisoners, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily. (Hebrews 13:3 CSB) This was originally a post on my blog.
  3. Scott, I think the best way to respond to your objections is to show how my view of Revelation actually is entirely consistent with the passage you quoted from Matthew 6:24-33 (partly shown above). It's true that we cannot serve both God and money. I pointed out that this truth, the very truth you are rightly concerned about, is emphasized in Revelation by the imagery of the Prostitute. I wrote: You will be tempted to compromise your faith and/or your morals to enjoy some of the luxuries and pleasures this world has to offer. Don’t do it! The truth taught by Jesus about not worrying about our material needs, but rather putting God's Kingdom first, is also emphasized in Revelation by the warning not to give in to the economic persecution associated with the infamous 666. In fact, a major point of my post is that the Book of Revelation teaches, strengthens, and encourages us to say no to the tempting things of this world. This is the opposite of "giving the flesh a false sense of value", as you put it. I hope to help people see how Revelation is harmonious with and reinforces the very passage you quoted and other passages which are directly applicable to our lives. This does not mean that Revelation does not also serve other purposes and I explicitly state this in the OP.
  4. That's a false dichotomy. You're correct that the book of Revelation is about Jesus Christ. Nothing in my post denies that. But it is also true that Revelation, like the rest of the Bible, is written to strengthen, encourage, and guide us. It is applicable to our lives. It does, or should, make a practical difference in our lives. And it is all about Jesus. There's nothing contradictory. We don't have to cover all aspects of a topic in a single post. If you're interested, on my own blog some time ago I wrote a post which focuses on how the Book of Revelation reveals to us who Jesus is.
  5. That's a very serious accusation. What specifically do you disagree with?
  6. Many Christians become so wrapped up in debates about how to interpret John’s vision that they miss Revelation’s power and purpose. I’m going to propose something radical. One of the main points of Revelation does not depend on any of the following: Is a premillennial, amillennial, or postmillennial view correct? Was most of Revelation fulfilled in the first century, does it refer to events all throughout church history, or is it focused mainly on the last seven years of this age? Who are the 144,000? Who are the beast and the false prophet? What role will modern Israel and other nations play in fulfilling John’s visions? Are the locusts and fire-breathing horses a vision of modern military weapons, demonic beings, or something else? I’m not saying it’s wrong to ask such questions, think about them, and discuss them. I have. I do. But I am saying that there is a danger that we can get so wrapped up in these questions that we miss the main point and purpose of Revelation. We miss the forest for the trees. God help us. The book of Revelation is practical. It is designed to be helpful in the life of every Christian who lives from the time John recorded his visions until Jesus returns. The purpose of John’s book is the same as the purpose of the Psalms, the purpose of the prophetic books, and the gospels, and the epistles: NIV Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. I’m claiming, and I hope to show you, that what is true of “everything that was written in the past” (relative to Paul) is also true for the book of Revelation. The book of Revelation is intended to give us endurance and hope. Before we see how Romans 15:4 applies to Revelation, let’s think about how it works with the story of David and Goliath. David fought a literal nine foot tall giant. It is very unlikely you will ever be called upon to do that! Yet, it is not difficult for us to see how the story of David and Goliath is relevant to our lives. We apply the story of David and Goliath by seeing that we need to trust God when we face giant problems. A similar method of applying the Bible can be used with other stories, prophecies, and the Psalms. These often tell or are based on historical events which are very different in their details from what we experience. Yet, we are able to see how God can use these parts of the Bible to give us endurance and hope in the difficult details of our own lives. Now, let’s apply the same method of applying the Bible which we use with David and Goliath (and many other parts of the Bible) to four parts of John’s visions. The Deceiving False Prophet In Revelation a “second beast” appears. This beast is a false prophet whom the Devil uses to lead people astray. There are many interpretations concerning who this false prophet is, when he will live, and how he will work. But no matter which interpretation is closest to the truth, you need to ask how John’s vision of the false prophet applies to your life here and now. Here are some of the many possible applications: * We need to seek God’s help, work, and pray in order to see people set free from false religions such as Buddhism and Islam, and false world views such as atheism and secularism. * We must resist and equip others to resist the false narrative of unguided evolution. * We need to be on guard against false teaching and false prophets in the church. I’m not talking about minor differences of interpretation. I’m talking about teaching which denies or creates doubt and confusion about the core beliefs of true Christianity. * All this means that we should be constantly and vigilantly reading, meditating on, studying, and teaching God’s Word. Knowing God’s truth is our best defense against the Devil’s many lies. The Seducing Whore of Babylon In his vision, John sees a prostitute riding a seven headed beast. The prostitute is identified as “Babylon”. She is wearing gold and expensive clothes: NIV Revelation 17:4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. As with the other symbols in Revelation, there are endless interpretations, each supported by wearisome arguments. But notice this: you can and should apply this vision to your life today no matter which of these interpretations are correct. You will be tempted to compromise your faith and/or your morals to enjoy some of the luxuries and pleasures this world has to offer. Don’t do it! The prostitute is an image of temporary, seductive power and pleasure. But Revelation reveals that in the end she suffers and is destroyed. Here are some of many possible practical applications: * Don’t give in to the temptation to “enjoy” an affair, or one night stand, or fling, or anything else you want to call adultery. It may very well bring some short lived pleasure, but the end will be suffering, and if you don’t repent, destruction. * Don’t compromise to make money. Don’t lie. Don’t cut corners. The benefits you gain will not be worth the price you pay in the long run. * Don’t turn to alcohol or drugs or porn to numb your pain and find a little bit of fun and good feelings. The fun will soon be gone and the payment will be heavy. The Economic Pressure of 666 If deception and seduction don’t get you to compromise, there’s always economic pressure. In John’s vision, everyone has to get the mark of the beast: 666. If you don’t get the mark, you are not allowed to buy or sell. Some Christians are worried about whether they will be asked to get a 666 microchip. Others are confident that they will be raptured away first. Either of those views might be true, but focusing only on those interpretations may cause us to miss the practical applications which Christians around the world face today. Consider the economic pressure some Christians face: * In communist nations, it has often been much easier to go to university or get a good job if you are a member of the party. * In Muslim nations, Christians sometimes have a much harder time getting licenses and permits needed to do business. * In western nations, if you don’t go along with the radical homosexual agenda, you could be fined and have your business shut down. Are you beginning to see how John’s visions are urgently relevant and practical to the lives of Christians today, as they have been throughout the history of the church? Let’s consider one more character from Revelation. The Persecuting Beast For those Christians who are not deceived by the false prophet, or seduced by the whore of Babylon, or compromised by economic pressure, the devil has another strategy: violent persecution. In John’s vision, those who refuse to worship the beast get their heads chopped off. Is this relevant for Christians in the world today? Perhaps if you are reading this in the relative safe haven of the US or other “western nations”, you might not feel how frighteningly applicable John’s vision is. Yet, around the world today, Christians are beaten, imprisoned, and killed for their faith. Some have literally been beheaded. It doesn’t matter if you are preterist or futurist, a pre-, a-, or post- tribber, or which of a hundred detailed interpretations of Revelation you hold to. The application is the same. When you are threatened with physical violence or even death for being a Christian, stand firm. The Main Point I’m not saying that the following is the only purpose of Revelation. In fact, I believe and have written about other glorious truths seen in Revelation. But I am convinced, based on long study of Revelation and based on experience with Christians facing pressure around the world, that the following is a good summary of one of the main purposes of Revelation: Revelation is written to encourage Christians to stand firm for Christ and not compromise even when we are surrounded by deceptive worldviews and religions, infiltrated by false prophets and teachers, lured by tempting wealth and pleasure, and threatened with economic pressure and violent persecution. Revelation encourages us to stand firm in many ways: * We are reminded that many other believers have faced the same pressures. * When we suffer, we are following not only the example of other Christians, but of the Lamb of God, who is also the Lion of Judah. * We are shown that, in the end, evil will be destroyed and those who gave in to evil will wish they hadn’t. * We are reminded that far above this evil world and all the forces of darkness, our Lord Jesus Christ reigns supreme. He will shepherd us through the dark times and bring us safely to His Kingdom. * In the end, all our temporary sacrifices and sufferings will be worth it. We will live and reign forever with God and Christ in His glorious, eternal kingdom. He will graciously reward us who have stood firm to the end. So . . . He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen. (Rev. 22:20-21 NIV) This was originally a post on my blog.
  7. My answer to my own question is kind of long. Here is a summary: The Great Commission . . . receives great emphasis is given with great authority has great breadth (all nations) and great depth (learning to obey everything Jesus commanded) has great consequences is accompanied by the Greatest Person comes with great power calls for great commitment and sacrifice and results in great worship. I shared about this in just a little more depth in a post on my blog.
  8. So true! Jesus gave us a Great Strategy for completely the Great Commission, namely to make disciples.
  9. This quote points to the great breadth of the Great Commission (the whole world!) and to it's great importance because it must be completed before this current age ends and Jesus returns!
  10. Amen! I think we have a G0d-given desire to rescue people. I think that's part of the reason superhero movies are so popular. But even if superheroes were real, they merely rescue people from temporary loss. God actually calls us and works through us to rescue people from eternal destruction!
  11. I don't mean that question sarcastically. I believe it is great. But I would love to hear your thoughts about what's great about it!
  12. Thanks, looking at the ToS and SoF, and also you're brief answers, I feel it is likely I will fit in well here. I hope and pray that I will be a blessing to others!
  13. Sanctum, I think you are asking some important questions. Quickly skimming through quite a few pages of responses, I did not see a lot of careful explanations based on what the Bible says. Some time ago I wrote a post on this topic on my blog. It is mainly based on Ephesians 4:26-27. I think it directly addresses most of your questions. If you're interested in reading it, here it is. After reading, I hope you might comment on it here at Worthy Christian Forums: The Devil's Place in a Christian's Life, an Analysis of Ephesians 4:26-27
  14. Thanks! I'm glad to hear that. It sounds like people come here for a range of reasons. That's good. At least imho.
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