Have you ever noticed our world has an obsession with super-heroes? For example, look at all the super-hero movies and how well they do at the box. IRON MAN was one of the big blockbusters of this summer. BATMAN and SUPERMAN always pull in the crowds. SPIDER MAN almost always generates lots of buzz and box office receipts. GREEN HORNET is coming early next year and THE AVENGERS, featuring a bunch of Super-heroes is coming in 2012. (That is, if the Mayans are wrong and we’re still here.)
So why are so many obsessed with super-heroes? Everyone’s looking for a Savior – whether they admit it or not. The problem is . . . too many look to Hollywood instead of Heaven. That’s why Hollywood has to keep rolling out new “super- heroes” year after year. Initially, their moving pictures (pun intended) make people believe. But eventually people come to discover Hollywood’s heroes are merely “make believe.” They really can’t leap tall buildings, fly all over the universe, eliminate crime, prevent catastrophes, save everyone, etc.
Truth is, Hollywood’s super-heroes can’t save anyone. Except the jobs of studio execs whose future depends on bringing in the big bucks at the box office. There’s only One Who can save the universe and everyone in it and that’s JESUS CHRIST. Acts 4:12 says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
This weekend, come to Crossroads and meet JESUS – the world’s One and Only Savior.
On Tuesday, July 13th, the Mayor of Coppell, Texas, Jayne Peters allegedly shot her 19-year-old daughter, Corinne, then turned the gun on herself and committed suicide. The gruesome discovery was made after the Mayor failed to show up for a city council meeting.
A simple note, posted on the front door, included a key and a carefully worded warning for what police would find inside. Three more notes were found inside the home including one with instructions for taking care of her pets. The Mayor’s body was found downstairs and the daughter’s body was found in an upstairs bedroom.
While many wonder why and how such a horrific event like this could ever happen, some speculate the death of the Mayor’s husband in 2008 and recent financial struggles were contributing factors.
This past Monday, July 19th, a Dallas mother of two allegedly murdered both of her children because they were autistic. She confessed to a 911 operator that she had killed both of them. She said, “I killed both of them. They’re both not normal, not normal. They’re autistic.”
She told the 911 operator she tried to poison them by getting them to drink bathroom cleaner, but they wouldn’t. So she took some wire and choked them to death. “They are just blue and they are not taking any breath and their heart is not beating.”
As she continued to talk with the operator she said the reason she killed her children was because “they’re autistic. I don’t want my children to be like that . . . I want normal kids.”
Reaction to both the Mayor’s murder of her daughter and her subsequent suicide, and the mother alleged to have murdered her two young children simply because they “weren’t normal,” has been one of complete disbelief and absolute outrage - and rightly so.
Most people seem to instinctively know there’s something woefully wrong about mothers taking the lives of their own children and they’re justifiably outraged when they hear someone has. No one dares defend a mother’s right to commit such a heinous crime by murdering her own children.
Until it comes to abortion . . .
Proverbs 24:11-12, “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, ‘But we knew nothing about this,’ does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?”
In Ecclesiastes 12:12, Solomon said, “Of the making of books there is no end.” That’s certainly true even in our day, Including an exploding market for e-books accessible via Kindle, the Ipad, or the Sony book reader. But of all the books ever made, from every part of the world and every period in human history, there’s no book like the Bible. Never has been and never will be.
The Word of God stands alone as the most unique book of all time, and makes claims for itself no other book has or ever can or will make. For example, the Bible says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” In other words, Scripture is not only inspired by Almighty God, but is also extraordinarily sufficient to equip us completely and fully for every good work. The Word of God is perfect and penetrating with the power to revive the soul (Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 19:7). It is unchanging and eternal (Isaiah 40:8), completely trustworthy (Psalm 111:7) and will endure forever (1 Peter 1:25).
But some in our day, as in days gone by, are again questioning the veracity and even the necessity of the Bible. Dr. James Montgomery Boice said, “In Martin Luther’s day, sola Scriptura had to do with the Bible being the sole ultimate authority for Christians over against challenges to it from the traditions of the medieval church, church councils, and the pope. The Reformers wanted Scripture to stand alone as the church’s true authority. Today, at least in the evangelical church, that is not our chief problem; we assert biblical authority. Rather, our problem is in deciding whether the Bible is sufficient for the church’s life and work. We confess its authority, but we discount its ability to do what is necessary to draw unbelievers to Christ, enable us to grow in godliness, provide direction for our lives, and transform and revitalize society.”
“So we substitute such things as Madison Avenue methodology for biblical evangelism, special ‘religious’ experiences rather than knowledge of the Word to promote and guarantee sanctification, special revelations for discerning the will of God for our lives, and a trust in the power of votes and money to change society. In other words, in the sixteenth century the battle was against those who wanted to add church traditions to Scripture, but in our day the battle is against those who would have us use worldly means to do God’s work.” 1
Shockingly, there are pastors in pulpits around the country today who don’t even have a Bible with them when they stand to preach. In fact, many of them wouldn’t call what they do “preaching.” Instead, they say they are giving a “talk.” If we were talking about a civic club, a country club, or a parent/teacher organization, no problem. But we’re talking about the church of the Lord, Jesus Christ and the absence of a Bible when it comes to our pastors, our pulpits and/or our people is a HUGE problem.
Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse, former pastor of the Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, said, “It is my prayer that no man shall ever stand in this pulpit as long as time shall last who does not desire to have all that he does based upon this Book. For this Book does not contain the Word of God, it is the Word of God. And though we may preach the Word with all the stammering limitations of our human nature, the grace of God does the miracle or the ministry, and through human lips speaks the divine Word, and the hearts of the people are refreshed. There is no other explanation for the continuing power of a church that is poorly located, that is without endowment, but which continues to draw men and women to the capacity of its seating arrangements, morning and evening, summer and winter, and which sends its sons and daughters by the score to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ throughout the world.” 2
Whenever someone, no matter who, attempts to minimize or marginalize the Bible, Christians need to stand up and speak up. Especially when it happens in a church or church-related setting. For those who think we’re making too big a deal out of a book or would accuse us of bibliolatry (worshiping the Bible), listen to these words from my friend, Dr. Bob Moorehead:
“This book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy. Its precepts are binding. Its histories are true and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s character. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, ruffle the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It’s given you in life, will be open at judgment, and remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labor, and condemns all who trifle with its holy contents.” 3
Regardless of what men may do, God will always have the last word! 1 Peter 1: 25 says, “but the word of the Lord stands forever. And this is the word that was preached to you.”
Paul told Timothy the time would come when people wouldn’t want to hear the Word anymore, that they would desire to hear other things instead. In spite of that, his responsibility would always be to “Preach the Word!” (2 Timothy 4:2).
That’s still our responsibility today and still the only hope for our world.
1 James Montgomery Boice, Whatever Happened To The Gospel of Grace? (Crossway Books, 2001), 66.
2 Ibid., 68.
3 Dr. Bob Moorehead, Counsel Yourself and Others from the Bible (1999), 102.
Wintley Phipps, one of America’s most gifted gospel singers, shares the background behind one of Christianity’s most beloved hymns. After watching this video and hearing what Wintley shares you’ll never be able to sing this well-known song the same way . . . ever again.
Prepare to be moved. Prepare to be inspired. Prepare to be . . .
July 29, 2010 
Posted in Belief, Fiction, Jesus, Make-believe, Messiah, Salvation, Saviors, Super-heroes, Uncategorized 
No Comments » 
