One of the strongest arguments I know for the inspiration of Scripture is Romans 1. Why? Because all of mankind in all of his many centuries of writing about himself has never come close to the depth and accuracy of Paul's diagnosis of man, the creature, in rebellion against God, his Maker, as is found in these handful of sentences filed with divine wisdom and revelation. In describing the idolatry of man the Apostle at one point (v. 24) writes, Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness to the dishonoring of their bodies amongst them (personal translation). When the image bearer rebels against the Potter, the resultant judgment is not destructive of the Maker's glory, but of the creature's honor. Our bodies are to be honorable, but when we engage in idolatry (in all its forms), we dishonor our bodies. All sexual sin, in all its forms, is a reflection of idolatry, for we are seeking to pleasure God's creation outside of His will and against His law. Every June we see how this is lived out, and honestly, it is hard to tell the difference between the dogs in the alley and the humans in the street during those explosions of depravity. Paul explains how this could happen: the great exchange. "For they exchanged the truth of God for the lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator who is blessed forever, amen." God did not hide His truth on a mountain top, or inside a sacred temple. Men know God exists (1:20). Men know they are His creation. But instead of treasuring the truth God has made so clear within them, and in the creation around them, man exchanges this truth for the lie. The lie (definite) is the myth of human autonomy and independence from God. All false religions promote the idea, and the greatest religion of our day, secularism, is based upon it. But man is an insatiable worshipper. The two terms Paul uses are in many ways synonymous, but together cover the entire range of religious worship and service. Man worships the creature and serves the creature as the means of suppressing the knowledge of God. Worship is due only to the One Creator, so man finds a way to give what belongs to God alone to everything around him. When we look at the world today through the lens God has given us, we gain great clarity in understanding why men act in such self-destructive ways. We can see past the limited, often confusing and tentative conclusions of sociology and philosophy in the light of divine truth. And we can see that secularism is, in its essence, the expression of man's detestation for his Creator. As long as secularism rules in the hearts of men, mankind will be under the just judgment of God's wrath. I long for the day when the nations will seek after God's law and will stream to Jerusalem to worship the Creator as He has revealed Himself in the risen Lord, King of kings, the righteous Judge of mankind, Jesus.

Well, I won't be able to comment on the AI generated Turin image till next week, as far as on the DL, so here's a brief observation: Catholicism thrives on signs, miracles, and externals. Marian apparitions, miracles associated with saints, and this kind of stuff (Shroud of Turin, bones of saints, and the long, sordid, absurd history of relics), is not just "on the side," it is definitional of Roman Catholic piety and experience. May I suggest a reason? The Scriptures have been removed from their role as the voice of the Shepherd by the monotone of the voice of the Church. The follower of Christ who finds His Lord's voice in His Word will not be looking for images of Mary in corn tortillas or the branches of a yucca plant (or in the water stains on a mirrored window of an Ugly Duckling Used Car Dealership in Florida, as below) because he or she has no need for such things.

Last evening I posted a simple comment on the need for the gospel to be preached with grace and urgency to both Jews and Muslims. The comment thread reveals that not only do I have some real ghouls following me, but a number of professing Christians as well who have no concept of "go into all the world" and "for God so loved the world." Have to be blunt: if you harbor hatred in your heart for Muslims (please recognize the difference between the Muslim people and Islam as a religion) you are sinning. Period. Full stop. As a follower of Christ, hatred is NOT an option, and if your "theology" gives you a place for it, you have been led astray. Repent.

At this time you can either go with the world and be consumed with anger and hatred, or, you can go with Christ and pray for every opportunity to witness of the truth of Christ to the Muslim people AND the Jewish people. He is the only answer.