When an Orange Is Green

Mike Leake 1 Comment

small__2759763969You sit down to eat your lunch and begin peeling your orange, when your lunch buddy makes a strange comment. “Why in the world do they call it an orange if it is green?”

After gaining your composure, you realize your friend is likely color blind and unable to see the difference between orange and green. To him this orb in your hand is green and nothing you say is going to change that “fact”.

He insists that the burden of proof is on you. In order for him to believe that this orange is actually orange you will have to prove it. Secondly, he insists that only six colors exist and every other “color” is just a myth created by the greedy tyrants at Crayola. Lastly, he cares little about what others believe on the issue—he won’t believe it until he sees it with his own eyes.

Apart from the discovery of a cure for color blindness you’ll never win this debate. But what has actually been proven in this debate?

By your inability to win the debate your friend has not disproven that oranges are actually orange. Nor has he shown that oranges are actually green. All that has really happened is that we’ve shown that a fruit that is the color orange cannot and does not exist in your friends view of the world.

When Christians Lose the Debate

The above scenario is played out in lunch rooms every day, but over things far more significant than the color of an orange. There are those who insist that the Bible is a bunch of fairy tales and that God does not exist.

Just as the color-blind dude in the above scenario insisted that the burden of proof was upon you, so also unbelievers insist that we must prove that God exists in order for them to believe. They will say things like “if something is true then it must be scientifically proven” even though such a statement itself cannot be scientifically proven.

Furthermore, they will set the rules and standards for the debate. Things that are supernatural must be considered mythological. If they cannot be scientifically proven then they cannot be counted as evidence. They must be seen and observable over time in order to actually be considered true.

Christians will never win this debate.

But again losing this debate hasn’t really proven anything. Concerning the Bible, James White is correct when he says:

…the testing of Scripture’s claims on the basis of a foreign standard, context, or worldview usually lies behind allegations of error.

If you impose a Western or atheistic standard, context, or worldview on the Bible and it doesn’t pass the muster it doesn’t prove that the Bible is false. You’ve just proven that the Bible isn’t Western and it isn’t compatible with an atheistic worldview.

We’ve got to come to grips with the fact that what must happen to the color-blinded man must happen to the unbelieving mind. The leopard cannot change his spots and an unbeliever cannot be won to the Lord through his atheistic worldview. If the leopards spots will change the Lord must do work.

God must change the heart and the mind of the unbeliever. That is the only hope. And the means that he uses is His powerful Word. And so let us whole-heartedly and confidently proclaim that which is of first importance—the worldview-shattering and life-shaping gospel of Jesus Christ.

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photo credit: Yaisog Bonegnasher via photopin cc

Today in Blogworld 01.14.15

Mike Leake 5 Comments

Are You Willing to Doubt Your Doubts

I appreciate this. Doubt happens. But we need to also be willing to doubt our doubts.

5 Habits to a Stronger Marriage

These five habits will help strengthen your marriage. My wife and I have always had a difficult time getting on the same sleep schedule, but we’ve seen the importance of at least getting close.

Heaven Will Never Be Boring

We can be tempted to think heaven will be boring. Not so.

Would You Skip Church for Football?

I’m shocked by the results. I wonder if it would be different if it was a big and meaningful game.

It’s almost cold enough here to do this…now to “borrow” the neighbors trampoline:

Five Ways to Protect Yourself From Cold-Hearted Familiarity With God’s Word

Mike Leake 3 Comments


Familiarity with the Bible is a tricky thing. On one hand there is a sweet familiarity that is akin to a husbands familiarity to his wife. But there is another type of familiarity—one that Peter Krol calls a cold-hearted familiarity. He explains

“[It] will betray you with kisses, poison your wineglass, and watch impassively while your life slips steadily away. You might not even realize it’s happening.”

I linked to his piece on familiarity awhile back. There I noted how much I would have appreciated a few tips on how to keep such cold-hearted familiarity at bay. As a pastor, writer, and seminary student I spend a great amount of time in the Word and in reading things directly related to the Word. As such, this article resonated with me.

Perhaps you are like me and Krol’s article inspired you, and you too wanted a few tips on protecting yourself from cold-hearted familiarity then I pray you’ll be served by my thoughts here.

Here are five ways that I’ve attempted to keep this “devious enemy” in check in my own Bible reading.

  1. Write it down. If you write down a Scripture passage it will slow you down. Familiarity makes us assume we already know a passage. But as we’ve witnessed in our Sunday school class, when you slow down you always notice things you’ve never noticed before.
  2. Change your quantity intake. If you typically read a little each day try reading through an entire book in one sitting. If you like to read bigger chunks force yourself to take smaller bites and meditate on only a few verses throughout the day.
  3. Read in community. I’m convinced that the Scriptures are meant to be read in community. One sure fire way to be rattled out of your familiarity is to engage the Word with other believers. Wrestling with the Scriptures together and searching for meaning and faithful application will keep you from familiarity.
  4. Teach a kid. I think teaching adults has the same effect but it is even more pronounced when you try to disciple either a new believer or a small child. Their questions will keep your Bible reading fresh.
  5. Try to learn the original languages. I am terrible at foreign languages. But at this point there is no way I’m getting familiar with my Greek New Testament.

One discipline that is attached to each and every one of these points is the discipline of praying through the Scriptures. The Word doesn’t become stale when you are engaging with the Author.

What do you do to protect yourself from a cold-hearted familiarity with the Scriptures?

Today in Blogworld 01.13.15

Mike Leake

7 Reasons Not to Worry

Worry seems to come a bit too natural, but here are seven reasons that we should not worry.

Honest Christian Book Titles

These are funny.

Watching Naked People

Lore Ferguson has become convicted about watching shows with nudity in them. I’ve shared her convictions here for quite some time—if you aren’t there yet I pray you read this and consider these points.

Should We Trust People’s Near Death Experiences?

I always love Michael Patton’s work. Here he tackles the popular near-death experiences.

Jurrasic Parks and Recreation, I’d watch it: