Sheeple

"Gosh, you sheeple(1) are really pathetic if you need an imaginary friend to make sense of your miserable lives." quote left on Bible Love Notes Facebook page  

I responded: What you call "imaginary" I know as fact, a fact that has changed my life forever. What you call "pathetic," I know as joy and peace that keeps me from saying mean things to others even when they say mean things to me. What you call "miserable," I know as true and abundant life in Christ. No need to feel sorry for me. ~ "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8  

Writing Bible Love Notes has introduced me to many such atheists, whose faith(2) in no God makes them rude. They don't realize being called sheeple is no insult when you're following the Good Shepherd. In fact, their insults are blessings according to Christ (see Matthew 5:11).

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(1) I'd never heard this term before, but this man didn't invent it. It's a derogatory term combining "people" and "sheep," meaning persons who don't think for themselves and don't research things but simply go along with whatever they're told. 
(2) While they vehemently deny it, atheists have faith (not proof) in the unproven theory that there is no God. They are sheeple, but their shepherd is a thief (See John 10:1-18).

Bible Study 

1. These passages should help us see atheist insults in their proper light and rejoice instead of taking offense:

Matthew 5:11: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

1 Peter 4:14: If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.  

2. The passage below puts the term "sheeple" into perspective. We are all letting something or someone lead us. Christians are following the Good Shepherd. All others are following the thief.

John 10:7-13: Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

copyright 2015, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com 
All Scripture NIV unless otherwise noted

7 Ways to Be "Christ Lights"

Jesus commands Christians to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). 

What does this mean? How can we shine our light instead of hiding it (Matthew 5:14-15)? 

1. Remember we've been called out of the world's darkness (1 Peter 2:9)
Live gratefully and deliberately. 

2. Have fellowship with Jesus and other light-bearers (1 John 1:7). 
Be committed and accountable to other Christians (Hebrews 10:24-25). 

3. Live a godly life filled with good deeds that give God glory (Matthew 5:16).
Do the things God prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10).

4. Obey God (Ephesians 5:8-9). 
Jesus says this is the true test of whether we love Him (John 15:14). 

5. Find out what pleases God (Ephesians 5:10).
Study His Word and seek His guidance (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

6. Separate from dark things (Ephesians 5:11-13). 
Don't let the world pollute our faith through false philosophies, immoral values, entertainment, reading, and music that glorify sin. 

7. Expose evil deeds but don't focus on them (Ephesians 5:11-14). Don't be ashamed to speak up for God's values but don't focus on evil details.

Bible Study 

There are many wonderful passages about light, both the Light of Christ and the light of believers.  Check out the passages below and write down ways you can become a brighter light for the Lord:

Ephesians 5:8-16: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 

1 John 1:7: we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Matthew 5:14-16: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

copyright 2015, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com 
All Scripture NIV unless otherwise noted

The Power and Limit of Words Study

Before working through this Bible study, please read the 1-minute introduction The Power and Limit of Words.

It addresses misunderstandings about Proverbs 18:21: "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."  

Scripture teaches that our words can be encouraging or discouraging, honest or dishonest, harmful or helpful, wise or foolish. 

James three devotes 18 verses to the power of the tongue, but never addresses physical sickness, healing, or death. 

While Proverbs 18:21 could mean giving testimony at a trial where someone's life hangs in the balance, it doesn't promise that our words can have life and death power over all physical sickness.

Bible Study 

1. It's dangerous to base theology on a Proverb alone. Solomon prefaces the book of Proverbs saying it is a book of "wise sayings." Nowhere is it presented or described as promises. 

If every Proverb were a promise, all righteous people would be wealthy and live long lives while the wicked would dies young (Proverbs 10:22,27).  Righteous people would never be harmed (Proverbs 12:21). I could continue, but I think you get the idea that we can't claim all Proverbs as promises. Proverbs offer biblical principles, many of which apply in a spiritual sense, not a physical sense. 

For more on this subject, check out this Bite Size Study help: Proverbs Aren't Promises.

2. It is dangerous to create theology on a single verse even if it isn't a proverb. 

For example, if we drew all of our beliefs about healing from James 5:14-16, we would assume all sickness can be healed by the prayers of the elders and/or confession of sin although it doesn't specify "all." But James 5:14-16 is only part of the story on healing. we must add it to every other passage on healing before drawing conclusions. If you want to see this illustrated with the subject of prayer, check out Pieces Parts. 

3. Scripture is the best commentary on Scripture. That's why we combine all that Scripture teaches on word and healing to understand what the Bible teaches. 

Our words are important:

Matthew 12:36: But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 

Ephesians 4:29: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 

James 3: 5-6, 9-10, 17-18: Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell...9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be...17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. 

But our words do not bring physical life and death. If we want to understand what Scripture teaches about physical healing, we need to combine all that it teaches.

If you'd like to do that these devotions can help: The Biblical View of Healing. 

And this article offers some important information about the history of the word of faith movement, a movement that teaches that our words can heal or make sick, bring wealth or poverty: Proverbs 18:21 doctrine.

copyright 2015, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, updated in 2024.

Hate Crimes

I'm against ALL hate crimes. 

Hate is never a godly motivation (1 John 4:20).  

God doesn't tell us to mistreat people, call them names, talk about them sarcastically, or beat them up in back alleys.  

But there's one type of hate crime our culture encourages: silencing the Truth.

God's commands are given for our good. They're loving and holy, preventing spiritual damage and death to our souls.

If we remain silent about God's moral truths because they aren't popular with the media or the culture, we're being truly hateful.

Why would we want to let men continue in destructive sins without gently and lovingly sharing God's truth with them? 

It's like having a cure for cancer but watching cancer patients die without saying a word.   

And it's being ashamed of God (Luke 9:26).  

"Anyone who rejects [God's instructions about morality] does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit." 1 Thessalonians 4:8  

Let's make sure we avoid all forms of hate. 
 

Bible Study

1. Many of the "hot topics" in our culture revolve around sexual practices. When Christians speak up for God's truth, no matter how gently, they are typically mocked. This passage specifically addresses sexual immorality and God's emphasis on it. List the main points in this passage.  

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8: It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

2. The following instructions were given to Titus, a young Christian leader. Do you think most young Christian leaders are eager to teach, encourage, and rebuke in areas that contradict our culture?    

Titus 2:11-15: For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. 15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.