There are 206 pieces in the LEGO set in the video above.  An intelligent person can follow the directions to correctly build the set in a few minutes. Even though there are only 206 pieces, it is impossible for the recycling truck to be assembled by chance.  For example by shaking the box.  

The human body contains 37,200,000,000,000 cells.  Psalms 139:13 says, "You made all the delicate inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb."  God is the intelligent designer of all living things including humans.  Just as it would be impossible for the simplest LEGO toy by chance it is also impossible for the simplest living thing to form by chance as well.  

Did Jesus really rise from the dead? Let’s take a look at the facts that most Biblical Scholars agree about.

1. Jesus Christ was really crucified.
2. Jesus’ tomb was empty.
3. Jesus appeared to many people after his death.
4. Skeptics such as James the brother of Jesus and Saul became followers of Jesus after these appearances.

The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ explains these four facts better than any alternative theory.  Let’s take a look at some of the other theories. 
Theory #1: The disciples stole Jesus’ body while the guards were asleep. This is the original conspiracy theory of the Jewish leaders in the Bible.  The theory accepts the fact of the crucifixion and the empty tomb but there are some problems with it. First of all, it is unlikely that the disciples could have stolen Jesus body even if they wanted to.  Jesus tomb was guarded by up to 16 Roman soldiers. If they fell asleep, the penalty was death.  Second of all, it this theory does not explain the appearances of Jesus after his death.  There is no way that the disciples could convince anyone that Jesus was alive with a dead corpse.  This theory also does not explain the fact that skeptics such as James, the brother of Jesus or Saul a persecutor of Christians could be converted.
Theory #2: Someone else died on the cross besides Jesus.  Many Muslims believe that it was Judas and not Jesus who died on the cross.  There are many problems with this theory because it does not account for any of the established facts.  First of all, Jesus performed the miracle of healing the priest’s servant’s ear after Peter cut it off. Judas could not have performed a miracle under the circumstances. Jesus was well known and his arrest, trial, and crucifixion all took place in front of people who knew him well and knew what he looked like including the disciples, priests, soldiers, and even his own mother Mary.  Jesus spoke to his mother from the cross just before he died. So, there is no way that Judas could have died in Jesus’ place.  This theory also fails to account for the empty tomb, the appearances of Jesus to his followers which included allowing Thomas to touch his wounds.  This theory also fails to explain the transformation of skeptics such as James and Saul.
Theory #3: Jesus body was buried in a shallow grave and his body was eaten by wild dogs.  This recent theory also has some serious problems with it. It has been popularized by the media so it must be answered.  This theory does not account for the empty tomb and the guards it also does not account for the appearances or the transformation of skeptics. 
Theory #4: Jesus’ appearances were hallucinations.  This theory does not account for the empty tomb. 1 Corinthians 15 says that Jesus appeared to 500 people at one time.  It is impossible for 500 people to have the same hallucination.  The hallucination theory also fails to account for the empty tomb.
Theory #5 Jesus did not really die on the cross.  This theory claims that Jesus somehow survived the cross but this is impossible.  Medical doctors have examined what happened to Jesus and have concluded that no one could survive the severe beating that Jesus endured, and being hung on the cross, being speared through the lung and heart. Even if Jesus survived all this, how could he survive being trapped in the tomb for three days with no food, water, or medical care?  How could he have escaped from the tomb and the guards?  Even if Jesus survived, he would not be in good enough condition to appear to his followers and convince them that he rose from the dead miraculously. 
When we look at the strength of the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the weakness of the alternative theories, it becomes clear that Jesus Christ really rose from the dead, just as the New Testament of the Bible.  He is risen! He is risen indeed! 

 
One way we can confirm that the Bible is reliable is through archaeology.  Archaeology, “the study of human history through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains.” Psalms 85:11 says, “truth springs up from the earth.”  When we study the archaeological evidences for the Bible we can see that the discoveries of archaeology confirm the Bible’s truth. Let’s take a look at just a few of many archaeological discoveries that confirm the Bible.

In the last 200 years, archaeologists have confirmed many of the small historical details in the Bible such as the names of rulers, cities, place, etc. Many times, the Bible’s accuracy has been challenged by critics but later, archaeological discoveries have confirmed the Bible’s accuracy and the challenges were overcome. Here are a few examples.

Since 1964, when excavation began in Syria of an ancient kingdom that was destroyed in 2250 B.C. 17,000 Ebla Tablets have been discovered. These clay tablets have disproven many of the arguments against the Old Testament. Critics claimed that writing did not exist at the time of Moses and so the early Old Testament books were nothing more than oral traditions passed down over generations and could not be trustworthy. The Ebla tablets show that a thousand years before Moses, laws, customs, and events were recorded in writing in the same area of the world where the Old Testament was written.

Critics also assumed that the cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar mentioned in Genesis 14 never really existed. The Ebla tablets confirm that they were real cities.
The Old Testament also has lots of text about the Kingdom of Assyria that conquered Israel around 722 B.C. For years, many critics claimed that there was no such kingdom. However, in 1843, Paul Emile Botta discovered an artifact with details of Sargon the Second, who was the king of Assyria mentioned in Isaiah 20:1.
Critics also mistakenly assumed that the Hittites, mentioned many times in the Bible, including Joshua 1:4 never existed. Recently, hundreds of artifacts overlapping 1,200 years of Hittite civilization have been discovered. The critics were wrong again.

In Joshua 6:20, the Bible reports that the walls of Jericho fell, the Israelites charged straight in.  When archaeologists excavated the city, they discovered that the walls of Jericho really fell down.  They fell outwardly and flat, forming a ramp that an army could have used to invade the city. 

In Joshua 24:32, Joseph was buried in Shechem, Palestine. According to the Bible, Joseph was an Israelite who was sold as a slave to Egypt.  He became an important ruler in Egypt.  When the Israelites left Egypt they took the body of Joseph with them and buried the body in Shechem.  According to John Elder, “For centuries there was a tomb at Shechem reverenced as the tomb of Joseph.  A few years ago, the tomb was opened. It was found to contain a body mummified according to the Egyptian custom, and in the tomb among other things was a sword of the kind worn by Egyptian officials.”

Critics once doubted they accuracy of the Book of Daniel in part because there was no evidence confirming the Bible’s report that “Belshazzar” was king of Babylon. Later research showed, however that the reigning king, Nabonidus, appointed Belshazzar as co-regent while he was away.

Sir William Ramsay, a skeptical archaeologist in the 1800s, believed the Book of Acts in the New Testament was written at a much later date by someone other than Luke. However as the result of his archaeological research, he changed his mind and became convinced that Luke really wrote the book of Acts at the earlier time.  He came to regard Luke as the, “greatest of historians.” If Luke was so accurate about his historical accounts, his accounts of miracles and Christ’s resurrection are likely to be historically accurate as well.

The same scientific and archaeological research that confirms the Bible, discredits the accuracy of the sacred books of other religions such as the Book of Mormon of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The founder, Joseph Smith, claimed that the Book of Mormon was the true history of the Americas. However, the artifacts, cities, people, places, or events mentioned in the book of Mormon have never been found. DNA research has disproven the Book of Mormon’s claim that the native peoples of the Americas came from Israel. “Nothing which demonstrates the Book of Mormon is anything other than a myth or invention has ever been found.”

On the other hand, the great archaeologist William F. Albright, stated, “archaeology has confirmed the substantial historicity of Old Testament tradition.”  Dr. Scott McRay, author of Archaeology and the New Testament, was asked, “Does archaeology affirm or undermine the New Testament when it checks out the details in those accounts?”  Dr. McRay answered, “There’s no question that the credibility of the New Testament is enhanced, just as the credibility of any document is enhanced when you excavate and find that the author was accurate in talking about a particular place or event. 

​These are just a few of many examples of discoveries that confirm the historical accuracy of the Bible. Unlike the sacred books of other religions which either cannot be tested with archaeology or are discredited by archaeological discoveries, the more we research this topic, the stronger our faith becomes.  If the Bible is accurate about the people, places, and events of ancient history we can trust that it is accurate about its teachings and miracles as well.  

​Did Jesus really rise from the dead? Let’s take a look at the facts that most Biblical Scholars agree about.

1. Jesus Christ was really crucified.
2. Jesus’ tomb was empty.
3. Jesus appeared to many people after his death.
4. Skeptics such as James the brother of Jesus and Saul became followers of Jesus after these appearances.

 
The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ explains these four facts better than any alternative theory.  Let’s take a look at some of the other theories. 
Theory #1 the disciples stole Jesus’ body. This is the original conspiracy theory found.  The theory accepts the fact of the crucifixion and the empty tomb but there are some problems with it. First of all, it is unlikely that the disciples could have stolen Jesus body even if they wanted to.  Jesus tomb was guarded by up to 16 Roman soldiers. If they fell asleep the penalty was death.  Second of all, it this theory does not explain the appearances of Jesus after his death.  There is no way that the disciples could convince anyone that Jesus was alive with a dead corpse.  This theory also does not explain the fact that skeptics such as James, the brother of Jesus or Saul a persecutor of Christians could be converted.
Theory #2 Someone else died on the cross besides Jesus.  Many Muslims believe that it was Judas not Jesus who died on the cross.  There are many problems with this theory because it does not account for any of the established facts.  First of all, Jesus performed the miracle of healing the priest’s servant’s ear after Peter cut it off. Judas could not have performed a miracle under the circumstances. Jesus was well known and his arrest, trial, and crucifixion all took place in front of people who knew him well and knew what he looked like including the disciples, priests, soldiers, and even his own mother Mary.  Jesus spoke to his mother from the cross just before he died. So, there is no way that Judas could have died in Jesus’ place.  This theory also fails to account for the empty tomb, the appearances of Jesus to his followers which included allowing Thomas to touch his wounds.  This theory also fails to explain the transformation of skeptics such as James and Saul.
Theory #3 Jesus body was buried in a shallow grave and his body was eaten by wild dogs.  This recent theory also has some serious problems with it. It has been popularized by the media so it must be answered.  This theory does not account for the empty tomb and the guards it also does not account for the appearances or the transformation of skeptics. 
Theory #4. Jesus’ appearances were hallucinations.  This theory does not account for the empty tomb. 1 Corinthians 15 says that Jesus appeared to 500 people at one time.  It is impossible for 500 people to have the same hallucination.  The hallucination theory also fails to account for the empty tomb.
Theory #5 Jesus did not really die on the cross.  This theory claims that Jesus somehow survived the cross but this is impossible.  Medical doctors have examined what happened to Jesus and have concluded that no one could survive the severe beating that Jesus endured, and being hung on the cross, being speared through the lung and heart. Even if Jesus survived all this, how could he survive being trapped in the tomb for three days with no food, water, or medical care?  How could he have escaped from the tomb and the guards?  Even if Jesus survived, he would not be in good enough condition to appear to his followers and convince them that he rose from the dead miraculously. 
When we look at the strength of the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the weakness of the alternative theories, it becomes clear that Jesus Christ really rose from the dead, just as the New Testament of the Bible.  He is risen! He is risen indeed! 

We have all experienced seasons of suffering and trials.  During those times God may seem far away. Even Jesus Christ cried out, "My God why have you forsaken me," from the cross. (Mark 15:34).  Hebrews 4:15 says, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin."

​I hope you will find this interview with Joni Erikson Tada to be an encouragement to embrace God's grace in the midst of your own suffering and trials.  Jesus is the best only answer to our pain whether it be physical or emotional or both.   

““You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’  But I say, if you are even angry with someone,you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.” (Matthew 5:22 NLT)

“Anyone who hates another brother or sister[ is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.” (1 John 3:15 NLT) 
When I was a child, we used to repeat this common phrase, “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.”  Later, I realized that, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will break my heart.”  Now, I understand that, “sticks and stones may break people’s bones but words may dehumanize them so much that they may kill themselves and/or others.”  

When I was in junior high school, I took a hunter safety class with my mother so that I could get a hunting permit (I grew up in Missouri it's my culture).  That class taught me that we could not “win the game” by shooting the animal that we were hunting for unless we were absolutely certain that the bullet from our gun would not hurt anyone or damage any property.  This lesson taught me that firearms are a great responsibility. If I fire a gun, I am responsible for that bullet until it stops moving.  If anyone is killed or anything is damaged along the path of that bullet (or its ricochet), I am guilty.  Likewise, according to the Bible, if I speak a hateful word, I will be guilty, before God (even if my nation’s laws allow it) for the damage and death my word causes to anyone who hears it.  If the word is recorded, written, and broadcast via radio, television, books, magazines, newspapers, or the Internet, I will be guilty  (before God) for the damage and death it causes to anyone who hears or reads it. "God please forgive me for all the hateful words I have spoken and written, please stop them from continuing to hurt others, and heal those who have been wounded.  Amen."

The same sense of responsibility also carries over to controlling our anger and our tongues. We cannot, “win the argument,” with curses, lies, slander, defamation, or other ad hominem  attacks any more than we can win the argument with a gun.  If people cannot trust themselves or be trusted to handle a firearm responsibly, they should not have a firearm.  We can debate gun control laws but we cannot change this fact. It is impossible for humans to outlaw or confiscate the minds of those who hate, the tongues of people who say hateful things, or the fingers of those who write them, without causing more evil than we are trying to stop or prevent.

“The first to speak in court sounds right—until the cross-examination begins.  Flipping a coin can end arguments; it settles disputes between powerful opponents. An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars. Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction. The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” (Proverbs 18:17-21) 

For many years I have wondered why anger, name calling, curses, hatred and lust (Matthew 5:27) are taken more seriously in the New Testament than in the Old Testament.  I am coming to understand that the common ingredient behind these “zero tolerance” prohibitions is this--dehumanization.  Calling people and groups by insulting labels fuses their identity to their humanity and then rejects both their identity and humanity at the same time.   Just as emotionally it would be easier for me to kill a mosquito than to kill the family pet, it is much emotionally much easier for genocidal regimes to get their soldiers to kill those who have been dehumanized than it would be to kill someone who they view as a human.  Activists who want to prevent cruelty to animals always humanize the animals through “personification.”  Genocidal people like Hitler and Pol Pot, always dehumanize people before they can insight others to exterminate them.  On the other hand, the Anti-Defamation League exists to prevent the dehumanization of Jews (and others) that led to the first holocaust and could lead to future genocides. 

Before we can really understand dehumanization we need to make sure we know what the Bible says about the true identity of humans.  As we apply these truths, we can re-humanize everyone, even our fiercest enemies. 

1.  Humans all have the image of God and this gives us a uniquely high value that cannot be taken away.   
“Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”  So God created human beings in his own image.  In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” (Genesis 1:26-28) 

2.  God has a special plan and purpose for every person.  
“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is  marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.  How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!”  (Psalm 139:13-18)

3.  God loves each person who has ever lived whether they love him or not.  
“For God loved the world so much that: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 5:17-19)

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:18) 

“Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself. ”Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.” (Romans 13:8-10)
(see also) http://www.gty.org/blog/B110706/does-god-love-his-enemies 

4. Because Jesus loves us, we should and can love others. 
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” (John 13:34)

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13) 

5.  Therefore, I can and must love my enemies.  
“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!  In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.  If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48) 

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (Arabic: أبو بكر البغدادي; born Ibrahim Awad Ibrahim al-Badri) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Bakr_al-Baghdadi the leader of ISIS is my enemy because he chose to be my enemy not because I chose to be his enemy.  But if I think Biblically, I can love him.  

1. Ibrahim has the image of God and this gives him a uniquely high value that cannot be taken away no matter how many sins he commits. 
2. God has a special plan and purpose for Ibrahim, whether he knows or obeys it or not. 
3. God loves Ibrahim, whether he loves God or not. 
4. Only because Jesus loves me, I can love Ibrahim.
5. Therefore, I can and must love Ibrahim.  

Biblical love re-humanizes Mr. Ibrahim, it does not mean that I approve of his actions or that he is in anyway freed from God’s justice or human legal justice.  We can apply Biblical love and re-humanize murderers but this does not free them from the legal or spiritual consequences of their crimes.   Also by God’s grace I can forgive Mr. Ibrahim.  “Father forgive” Mr. Ibrahim “for he does not know what he is doing.”  (Luke 23:34)  This frees me from the poison of his actions and places him into God’s hands, the ultimate source of love and justice.  
"Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,”  says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good." (Romans 12:19-21)
Hate rejects these truths in our own lives.  Curses causes others to reject these truths in their lives.  This leads to dehumanization which leads to death.  

• Curses lead to seeing victims as less than human (dehumanization).  

http://www.npr.org/2011/03/29/134956180/criminals-see-their-victims-as-less-than-human 

• Dehumanization techniques dehumanized BOTH slaves and slaveholders:

http://coursesite.uhcl.edu/HSH/Whitec/LITR/4232/models4/projects/proj04/rp04pequeno.htm
 

• Dehumanization leads to suicide:  

https://prezi.com/vfrziqkaa6pc/dehumanization-suicide-and-depression/ 

• Dehumanization leads to genocide:  8 Stages of Genocide http://www.genocidewatch.org/aboutgenocide/8stagesofgenocide.html 

1. Classification
2. Symbolization
3. Dehumanization
4. Organization
5. Polarization
6. Preparation
7. Extermination
8. Denial     

Christians in the United States are Not Immune to Being Dehumanized 
https://www.breakpoint.org/features-columns/breakpoint-columns/entry/2/27213 

As a Christian Apologist, I have a duty to defend Christ, Christianity, and Christians from dehumanizing insults that could prepare the way for religious oppression and violence.   However, while I can defend Christ and Christianity from dehumanization based on the Word of God, it will be difficult for me to effectively defend Christians from dehumanization if we ourselves are dehumanizing others with our own hateful words.  We do not have to approve of or applaud the sins of others, but we must repent from following the sinful pattern of dehumanizing others. 

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.”  (Luke 6: 31) 

Photo: 
"Mugshot of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, 2004" by U.S Army - http://www.scribd.com/doc/256164952/Baghdadi-Detainee-File. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mugshot_of_Abu_Bakr_al-Baghdadi,_2004.jpg#/media/File:Mugshot_of_Abu_Bakr_al-Baghdadi,_2004.jpg

How to Deal with Divisive People

It seems that every day, we must try our best to overcome divisions in our families, friends, churches, communities, nations, and world.  Biblically the source of divisions are our own sins and of course Satan loves to plant the seeds of divisions.

• "What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.” (James 4:1-2)   "
• The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” (Romans 3:20)

 But in order order to get the fires of division burning hot enough to be really destructive, it often requires at least one or two divisive people.  

• "But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ predicted. They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.” (Jude 17-19) 

It is very important define what a divisive person is and IS NOT.

•  1. You can be totally different and NOT be a divisive person.  
• 2. You can disagree passionately with others and NOT be a divisive person.  
• 3. You can be the lone voice of reason and Biblical principles standing against the crowd and NOT be a divisive person.  

Here is my definition of a divisive person:  A divisive person intentionally, actively, and repeatedly rubs raw the resentments of people within a community, fans the latent hostilities of many people, searchs out controversy and issues rather than avoiding them, and stirs up dissatisfaction and discontent. 

Divisive people are defined in the Bible.  

• “A worthless man digs up evil, While his words are like scorching fire. A perverse man spreads strife, And a slanderer separates intimate friends.  A man of violence entices his neighbor And leads him in a way that is not good. (Proverbs 16:27-29) 
• Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it Than a house full of feasting with strife. (Proverbs 17:1)
• He who conceals a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends. (Proverbs 17:9)
• He who returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. (Proverbs 17:13) 
• The beginning of strife is like letting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out. (Proverbs 17: 14)
• He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. (Proverbs 17:15)
• Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. (Romans 16:17-18) 

So how can can we effectively deal with people who act as divisive people?  It is important to remember that divisive people are just ordinary people like you and I who sometimes act in a divisive manner.  We too can be divisive people, if we aren’t careful.  Even the people who act in a divisive manner can stop at any time through repentance.  
1. Do not get angry.  Divisive people are like arsonists.  Arsonists hate flame-proof materials and wet matches.  Divisive people are happiest when people, especially their opponents get angry.  Because, when we get angry, we unintentionally spread the seeds of division to others.  The world says, “fight fire with fire.”  This is a really bad tactic.  If an arsonist breaks into your home and sets your curtains on fire, should you defeat him by setting your sofa on fire?   No, you would use a fire extinguisher or water to put out the flame before it can spread.  Even though the actions of the divisive person are designed to make us feel angry, the Bible says,

• "So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:25-27)  
• “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. (Proverbs 15:1) 
• He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city. (Proverbs 16: 32)
•  He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. (Proverbs 17:27)

2. Do not get divided.  Divisive people look for differences and disagreements and try to drive wedges into them to make them seem bigger and more important than they are.  They do this so that they can divide us from our loved ones in order to destroy our commUNITY.   If we allow ourselves to focus on the difference or disagreement, the divisive person wins.  Instead we need to remember that division is always more destructive than the disagreement or difference that started it.  So, we can overcome this by emphasizing how much we love our brothers and sisters despite any differences or disagreements that we may have and have an attitude that seeks to find win-win solutions to any problems that may be presented.  Divisive people will try to frame the disagreements as a a choice between A and Z (and if you choose Z you are insert insult here), but we need to remind ourselves that B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, and Y are also possible options not to mention 1, 2, 3,. . .127.3459…to infinity... so we should be able to find something that all of us can live with.  With this in mind, most disagreements can be resolved with a solution which meets the most important needs of everyone with a stake in finding a solution to the problem.  

​We cannot let ourselves be controlled by insults.  Just remember that many years ago, people called guys who spent all of their time thinking about computers and software "nerds" and "computer geeks."  Now, we call those same guys BILLIONAIRES.  Imagine if Bill Gates thought this, "People are calling me a "nerd" so I'm going to stop learning about computers, instead, I'm going to try to a professional football player, those guys are cool."  

• "God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)  
• “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.  I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.  I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.  Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!" (John 17:20-23). 

3.  Do not give in.   Divisive people often use threats and intimidation to get what they want but we can’t give them what they want because they really want division and destruction.  Divisive people do not perform, they only criticize those who do.  Divisive people do not build anything except rhetorical bombs that break hearts and relationships. "Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” (Proverbs 15:4) Divisive people do not teach anything except destruction and division.  Divisive people often mistakenly  assume that they are immune to the consequences of their divisions, but ultimately they are self-destructive.  

• "Can a man scoop a flame into his lap and not have his clothes catch on fire?" (Proverbs 6:27) 
• "Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. (Galatians 6:7-8)

So, we cannot give into them, for their own good as well as others. Divisiveness can be addicting.  Addictions get worse when we become "enablers".  When the police find someone who is 51-50 "a danger to themselves and others," they take them into custody (as gently as possible) and then they take them to the nearest hospital that has psychological/drug rehab services.  This prevents them from hurting themselves or others more and also gives them a chance to be treated and reformed.    

• "Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time.  If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them.  For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them.” (Titus 3:9-11)

​Vaccinating BRI Techs Against Logical Viruses

Sometimes our cultures can program our brains and thought patterns to the point that we can be deceived into misinterpreting the BRI results.  The worst thing about deception is that usually we do not know that we have been deceived. These viruses, if left untreated can be dangerous for BRI techs.  Matthew 24:8-11.  

Here is one logical virus that infects many of our thought patterns.  

"Unless you approve of my actions you do not love me (or you hate me)."

This is called a False dilemma (False Dichotomy Black or White Fallacy)  The above statement gives only 2 choices. 
Either  1. approve my actions OR 2. hate me. This assumes that there are no other alternatives.  One option is very bad (hate) and so the only other choice is to approve of my actions even if they violate your conscience or religious beliefs.  Given these two choices most people will feel pressured to approve of actions that they normally would find objectionable.  

Here are Other Alternatives:

1.  If the actions are beneficial, one can approve of those actions because they want their loved ones to benefit.  (I approve of my wife taking vitamins because they are good for her).  
2. If the actions are harmful, one can approve of those actions because they want their enemies (those they hate) to be harmed.  (I’m sure that Hitler’s enemies approved of his suicide, they probably wished he had done it thirty years earlier).  
3. If the actions are beneficial, one can disapprove of them because they do not want their enemies to benefit from them in a way that will make them more stronger and more dangerous. (I do not want ISIS to get rich by selling oil).
4. If the actions are harmful, one can disapprove of them because they do not want their loved ones to be harmed. (When my son runs out into the street without looking both ways, I disapprove of this action because I love my son and do not want him to be harmed).    

Examples of Alternative #4.

Smoking cigarettes is probably harmful physically and there may be some spiritual harm (from addiction).  "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything."  1 Corinthians 6:12.

Since smoking is harmful I disapprove of the action of smoking by my loved ones because I do not want them to be harmed.  

Heterosexual promiscuity/adultery may be harmful physically (STDs)  and it is very harmful spiritually. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 

Since promiscuity/adultery is harmful, I disapprove of promiscuous/adulterous actions by my loved ones because I do not want them to be harmed.  

Homosexual activity may be physically harmful and is definitely spiritually harmful.  1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Since homosexual acts are harmful, I disapprove of those actions  because I do not want my loved ones to be harmed. 

If you smoke cigarettes, or commit promiscuous, adulterous, or homosexual acts, I disapprove of your actions because I love you, I sincerely believe that these actions are harmful to you, I do not want you to be harmed.

I will approve of and support any efforts you make to quit but whether you choose to quit or not my love for you will not change.  

If you are unwilling to change and you still want my approval of your actions, here are some possible actions you may choose to take.  
A.  You can try to persuade me that your actions are beneficial.   If you are successful you can get my sincere approval but it is highly unlikely given that my reasons are based on Scripture.  But, maybe I am misapplying these Scriptures so it's worth a shot.  I won't be offended if you give it a try.  
 
B.  You can try to persuade me to hate you so that I can sincerely approve of your actions based on #2 above.
 
C. You can try to bully, threaten, sue, and even torture me to the point that I will say that I approve of your actions but this will not be sincere approval.  

But, if you truly love me, could you resort to options B or C? Wouldn’t it be better to accept sincere love from someone who disapproves of your actions than approval from someone who hates you?   

Proverbs 27:5-6 "Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy." 

Proverbs 9:8  "Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you,
Reprove a wise man and he will love you."

Proverbs 3:11-12 "My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord
Or loathe His reproof, For whom the Lord loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights."

Romans 1:28-32 "And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them."

This logical virus can also infect our thinking about other important issues.

Unless you believe in evolution you are anti-science. 
Unless you support abortion you are anti-woman.

This virus can cause divisions among Christians:  

Unless you agree with me about this (non-essential doctrine, practice, personal conviction, political issue, or denominational distinctive) you are (not a Christian or you are not a good Christian).  

Romans 14:4 "Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand."

One way to detect this virus is ask yourself.  Does this opinion bully or pressure people into agreeing with it and/or insult those who don’t?  I try to remind myself that, "satan is the father of lies" (John 8:44) and "satan is the accuser of the brothers." (Revelation 12:10) 

Is Sola-Scriptura a False Dichotomy?
Sola Scriptura should not be presented like this:  "Unless you believe in Sola Scriptura you are a (insert insult)."

Instead I try to present it like this. 

1.  If there is a Creator God.
2. If the Bible is God’s Word.
3. Then, according to the following verses (see article) the Bible claims to be the only completely reliable way of knowing God’s will. 
4. If we accept this claim, then here’s how we can live by it.  

I try to leave space for people who are not totally sold on sola-scriptura to try it out without feeling bullied or insulted if they are not totally convinced.  If the Bible truly is God’s Word, then I believe that eventually many people will be persuaded of that without any bullying, insults, or pressure from me. 

Is the Gospel a False Dichotomy?
If we present the Gospel as “Turn or Burn”, most people will see this as a false dichotomy and this can harden their hearts against the Gospel.

To avoid this misunderstanding, I try to present the Gospel in this way.  

1.  If there is a Creator God.  Here is the evidence for why I believe this is true (take it or leave it).
2. If the Bible is God’s Word. Here is the evidence for why I believe this is true (take it or leave it)
3. If Jesus Christ really lived, died, and rose again as the Bible says.  Here is the evidence for why I believe it is true (take it or leave it).
4. Then, according to the following verses (insert verses) the Bible says the following about sin and salvation (take it or leave it).  

Those who reject the Gospel will have to suffer the consequences of their choice, there is no need to add insults do anything which would make it more difficult for them to resume communication with me and complete the journey later.  Salvation is too important for people to be pressured into it.  We cannot persuade anyone very effectively after we have insulted them.