"My Kingdom is Not of This World"

“My kingdom is not of this world…” (rf. Jn. 18:36)

            At the writing of this month’s entry, Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church has just completed his first visit to the shores of America. With the response he was accorded by the politicians in Washington, the American media, and the public in general, one would have thought that the myths surrounding the Pontiff were true, that he was, indeed, the Vicar, or substitute, of Jesus Christ on the earth and that he was gifted by his office to do wondrous miracles! However, truth be told, more lies with his overwhelming popularity in his alignment and current allegiance with politically correct beliefs and statements on significant issues than with any supposed spiritual renewals taking place among the American people right now or in any inherent spiritual power that this Pope may professedly possess. No, the rock-star status of Francis is due to the perception that he is finally leading the hitherto conservative Roman Catholic Church down a path to a more enlightened liberalism that will usher in a “bright new day of freedom” for Catholics everywhere, especially in the United States. At least, that is the pervasive hope underlying all of the hoopla.

            Protestants should take close note of these developments as well, and not just for their political ramifications. We tend to get caught up in media-created frenzy while not thinking about what is really going on. We also have the same problem with “celebrityism” in our own backyard, putting our leaders on pedestals and worshiping them as gods, waiting with baited breath on every word that proceedeth from their lips while purchasing every book that cometh forth from their pens. Far be it from us to cast stones at the Catholics when we have plenty of popes of our own!

            As conservative Evangelicals, many of us have appropriated a particular theory of the end times that has Jesus coming back to establish an earthly kingdom in Israel from which to rule the whole earth, making the future of Jerusalem and Israel pivotal pawns on the world’s political stage. Yet, Jesus Himself stated above that an earthly kingdom was not at all a part of His plan. His kingdom was and is spiritual (rf. Lk. 17:21 KJV), and would be expanded and brought about by the power of His Spirit (rf. Acts 1:3-4, 8). There are a number of people who make their living off of prophetic guesses as to when Jesus will return to set up His earthly kingdom to rule and reign, not realizing or recognizing that His kingdom has already arrived at His first coming when He was born in a manger so many years ago (rf. Is. 9:6-7) We know that He will return to bring His kingdom promises to fruition and to close out this age in final judgment, separating the true from the false as a shepherd parts his sheep from the goats (rf. Mt. 25:31-46).

            Until then, He expects us to live and act like citizens of His kingdom, displaying His colors (i.e. flying His flag, metaphorically speaking) by the way that we live our lives even as we depend upon His Spirit as our primary resource. We possess the treasure of His kingdom, the Gospel of Christ, a prize He means for us to share with others as His way of expanding the kingdom’s influence and territory. In this way, Jesus shows the world that He requires no earthly landmarks, no army, no palace, no planes, no ostentatious ceremonies or costumes to prove His kingship. He simply uses the common people of the world like you and me as His citizens to display His glory and to reveal the reality of His kingdom on earth, here and now and in the ages to come, until He returns to “tie up the loose ends” of history, ushering in the formal introduction to eternity.

Dealing with Anger and Depression

“Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger” (rf. Eph. 4:26)

            How often have we heard sermons about rightly communicating our anger and making sure that we express our negative emotions in a constructive fashion, especially before the day is out, so that bitterness is not planted in our hearts (rf. Eph. 4:31; Heb. 12:15). I myself have preached and taught this truth many times over the years. Yet, something that I have not realized until very recently is that, though these truths are easily stated, they can be quite difficult to practice, especially if one is introverted by nature and subject to outward pressures and expectations that preclude expressions of negative emotions. Such a combination can, in fact, become lethal and can turn one’s anger inward, packaging those negative feelings one on top of another, leaving one depressed, suffering at the hands of constant discouragement and despair. If anyone has ever experienced this as well, he or she understands the paralysis of action, the loss of joy, the detriment such heartache has on the closest of relationships as well as the toll it takes on one’s faith and hope for the future. Because these feelings run deep in the soul, one who suffers such a malady cannot just “snap out of it” as out of a bad dream. No, redemption takes the hand of God Who shows unconditional love for the vulnerable nature of the one hurting and Who is willing to take the time necessary to minister His healing balm of love and restoration until the wounds are healed.

            What then can be done by those who walk along beside these wounded vulnerable ones in need? First of all, and above all, pray for them that God’s Presence and peace would be a constant source of comfort to their hearts as He brings healing to them (rf. Php. 4:6-9). Second, be a source of encouragement to them without putting unnecessary pressure or expectations upon them as to when they should get or be better, how they should act, etc. Depression is a real struggle to overcome, sometimes in need of medication to assist in the treatment. Often Christians do not view mental or emotional maladies with the same seriousness as physical ones, causing those who suffer from them to feel as “less than” Christians for being so afflicted. This perspective also prevents them from coming forward to acknowledge their suffering, allowing their pride to become a barrier that keeps from the healing they need and require. Those who are strong, rather, must uphold those who are weak at present, whether physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually, so that, when the time comes and we are in the place of need, someone will be there to help us. This is how the body of Christ is designed to operate (rf. II Cor. 8:14).

            There are a number of believers in Christ who struggle with depression. Thankfully, there is always hope because the Lord we serve is ruler of all things, including our hearts and minds. He has the power to “create…a clean heart…and renew a steadfast (right) spirit” (rf. Ps. 51:10) within us, removing the anger that threatens to destroy us. As He does, He also gives us “a future and a hope” (rf. Jer. 29:11), to remind us, in spite of our feelings, that we as His children are, indeed, an important part of a much bigger picture He is completing. We need only relinquish ourselves, our lives, our hearts, our dreams, especially, our internal anger, to Him in order for us to begin to see what He will do with us to make this beautiful portrait a reality.

The Lure of Idolatry

“You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a ^jealous God, ^visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”  (Exod. 20:3-6)

“One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and ^recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, ‘What commandment is the foremost of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’” (Mk. 12:28-30)

            God is absolutely clear about who is supposed to receive our complete and total allegiance and fealty—God and God alone. The reason for this exclusivity is that there is but one God in existence in all of the universe. It is the God of the Holy Bible, the God of Israel. So, if He is doing a solo act, He possesses the authority to “call the shots”, to tell His creation, those who exist at His sole pleasure, that they do not have the license to go forth and create with their own imaginations gods or deities of their own personal designs.

            Yet, as humans, sinners that we are, we rebel against God’s directives and go our own way, thinking that we know best about life and people. We develop philosophies of thought that are in direct contradiction to the teachings of God’s Word, while not weighing the consequences of doing so. Thus, it should not be surprising when rebellious humans “reap the whirlwind” of justice, when not only do our best-laid plans and schemes ultimately fail, but also that the instruments of God Himself are rallied against us as well as all forms of idolatry.

            With all of this in mind, one would think, “How in the world would a professed believer in Christ ever open himself/herself up to even the possibility of falling into idolatry?” Those who have succumbed to its poison do not realize just how powerful and subtle the hold it has over them. How many times did Israel fall prey to idols and, yet, still believe herself to be faithful to Jehovah? Do we recall Aaron’s words regarding the golden calf that he fashioned for the people of the Covenant at their insistence? “—"This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt” (rf. Ex. 32:4). We are so easily mislead.

            I share this with you as a warning from a shepherd to the sheep. The gods of this age are many: self, money/greed, jobs/career, children, luxury, play/enjoyment, etc. If these largely intangible gods were physical realities like the substantial idols of old (or those in the Near East), many Christians would have a house full, like Micah (rf. Jg. 17:1-5 [5]). Indeed, the largest (and most popular) of the present-day gods, political correctness, would have its own suitable statue in each yard awaiting its desired human sacrifices, much akin to its ancient predecessor, Molech (rf. Lv. 20:1-5; Jer. 32:35).

            God is serious about wanting our complete and total devotion. Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection does not give us grace in order to gain eternity in heaven just to pursue our idols of lust while on earth (rf. Rom. 6). Jesus means for us to be absolute committed to Him as His disciples and followers. This means having no other gods in our lives but Him. Is that absolutely true for your life?

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Abominations and Forgiveness

‘Do not defile yourselves by any of these things; for by all these the nations which I am casting out before you have become defiled. For the land has become defiled, therefore I have brought its punishment upon it, so the land has spewed out its inhabitants. But as for you, you are to keep My statutes and My judgments and shall not do any of these abominations, neither the native, nor the alien who sojourns among you (for the men of the land who have been before you have done all these abominations, and the land has become defiled); so that the land will not spew you out, should you defile it, as it has spewed out the nation which has been before you. For whoever does any of these abominations, those persons who do so shall be cut off from among their people. Thus you are to keep My charge, that you do not practice any of the abominable customs which have been practiced before you, so as not to defile yourselves with them; I am the Lord your God.’ ” (Deut. 18:24-30, New American Standard Version)

            Prior to this text in the same chapter in Deuteronomy, the Lord specified various sins that He categorized as “defiling” in His sight. These included incest (vs. 6-17), adultery (vs. 18, 20), offering children as sacrifices to idols (vs. 21), all homosexual acts and practices, whether male or female (vs. 22), and bestiality (vs. 23). The reason God viewed these actions by humans as abominations was that they were in direct violation of His created order regarding sexuality, family, and marriage. So strongly did the Lord uphold His own dictates as to these ordained truths, principles, and institutions that He placed the death penalty upon those who willfully disobeyed His precepts concerning them (“those persons who do so shall be cut off from among their people”).

            As we approach the New Testament and the Person of Jesus, some have the mistaken belief that in the transition between the testaments God’s character, demeanor, or even perspective changes it comes to man’s sin. If anything, His mercy comes to the fore, but His view of sin has not changed one iota. Indeed, the very people to whom Jesus relates predominantly throughout His earthly ministry fall into the category of “sinners”, those who have committed the iniquities which would have been labeled “abominations” and which would have acquired for the culprit the death penalty if the religious officials had desired to prosecute them. This was not to show that God Incarnate had altered His mind concerning those sins, somehow taken on a more “tolerant” attitude toward them. Rather, He was choosing to disclose grace (undeserved favor) instead of justice at the time so that they might pursue forgiveness for their sin through Him.

            This reality is shown most clearly through Jesus’ interaction with two women in particular. The first was “the woman at the well” in John 4:7-45. This woman was a serial adulterer, having had five husbands and was, at the time of her conversation with Jesus, living out of wedlock with another man, presumably in a sexual relationship with him, thus committing either fornication or adultery (vs. 18). Any and all of these sins would have brought the death penalty had she been tried before the Pharisees, thus explaining why she wanted to change the subject rather quickly with Jesus (vs. 19). Yet, it was Jesus, knowing her sin (and bringing it up to her) who led her to the place of forgiveness and belief. Through His grace displayed, not only did the woman become a disciple, but so did most of her village as well (vs. 41-42).

            The second instance was that of the woman caught in the very act of adultery in John 8:1-11. This was a trap set by the Pharisees for Jesus. They knew exactly where to find this woman who apparently was well-known for her adulterous ways. She had a reputation for being “loose”. Thus, she was brought before Jesus for Him to judge her according to the Law of Moses which demanded the death penalty for such sexual acts (as we saw earlier in Deuteronomy). Though Jesus had the authority to bring such a judgment against her, He chose mercy instead of justice, pursuing the course of forgiveness to make a point, not only to her, but to her persecutors as well. However, in so doing, Jesus also clearly states that her aforementioned actions were, indeed, sinful—“Go and sin no more” (vs. 11), showing that her previous life was truly displeasing and dishonoring to the Lord, violating the dictates of His holy Word.

            Therefore, we see that the Old and New Testaments, in essence, are in agreement with each other as to how God views such actions that are against His created order as touching sexuality, family, and marriage. These actions are sin in His eyes, yet sins that are forgiveable, if one will seek Him in honesty and sincerity through the agency and merits of His Son, Jesus Christ. It is not that these sins are any greater than any other types of sins, not at all. The present Church tends to amplify these sins because we have yet to fully grasp a healthy and Biblical view of human sexuality. The culture magnifies sexual issues because it has made sex a god to be worshipped with any and all expressions of sexuality to be embraced. Any limitations upon sexual demonstration is viewed as an attack on this false god and, therefore, all restraints are to be seen as threats and fought against with every effort. The combination of the Church’s ignorance and confusion in conjunction with the culture’s predictable negative response on issues regarding sex and sexuality have led us to our present stalemate.

            God’s people need to be clear about our portrayal of the Scriptural issues concerning sexuality, family, and marriage. God established these realities for our benefit and for the continuation of the human race. He, especially, set in motion these truths so that generations would experience the blessings of His salvation and spread the Gospel of His kingdom around the globe. This is one of the reason for the Creation Mandate (i.e. “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it”—rf. Gen. 1:28). Christians should be replicating by discipleship, but also by reproduction. Who we are in Christ are integrally tied to who we are as human beings, made in the image of God, male and female (rf. Gen. 1:27). We need to be assured of these Scripturally truths in our beings, our sexuality, our roles as husbands and wives, as parents, so that we can just as Biblically prepared to meet a world that needs these truths as well as the salvific knowledge in order that its people can see and experience the reality of the Christian faith.

Returns of Respect

“Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor” (Rom. 13:7, New American Standard Version)

            Do you remember when the phrases, “Thank you”, “Please”, and “You’re welcome” accompanied the speech of most everyone you met? Do you recall your parents stressing your acquisition of “Sir” and “Ma’am” (short for Madam, by the way), “Mr.” or “Mrs.”, when addressing men and women who happened to be your elders, regardless of how familiar they may be to you, out of a display of respect? The answers may take us to a time “far far away”, but it should only serve to prompt us to the truth that kindness, respect, and civility are not products of a bygone age. These are qualities that should be ageless if, indeed, they are fruits of the faith that we profess as followers of Christ.

            In our culture, the old adage, “familiarity breeds contempt” rings true. We as a society have purposefully sought (and fought) to become more familiar, intimate, and informal in all of our dealings with each other, believing that this process destroys barriers and encourages greater communication between people. Rather than tearing down obstacles between people by supposedly engaging more closeness, efforts made to purposefully make things more “familiar” between people actually have caused greater difficulties and divisions to arise. The informality, instead of making people more comfortable with each other, has elevated disrespect, because the elements of esteem and protocol have been removed. In other words, there needs to be a certain amount of distinction that results in mutual value and civility in order for people to engage freely with each other. This is especially true within the church.

            Let’s start with our concept of God, shall we? The Apostle Paul told us that, because of our relationship with Jesus, we would be adopted into God’s family and could, thereby, call the Father God “Abba”, or Papa (rf. Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6). Now, on a personal note, I have a pet name for my father, “Boog”, which has since become the primary name by which all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren know him. It is a name that is very familiar, because he is such to me and to them. However, he has not lost his place as my father, nor as their grandfather and great-grandfather in terms of authority. The same holds true for God on a much grander scale. I can call upon God as my “Abba”, but He is still King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Creator and Sustainer of the universe, Sovereign over all things and people. Thus, I can approach Him freely, boldly, but, at the same time, as a subject to the Great King with fear, reverence, and awe…though He is still my “Abba”.

            By the same token, we, as believers in Christ, must not lose the principle of respect. It must not be surrendered to a society that eschews the ideas of authority, honor, discipline, societal hierarchy, and structure. God is a God of order (rf. I Cor. 14:33). Familiarity has brought nothing but confusion and misunderstanding.

            Within our ranks, we must return to teaching our children proper designations for their elders as before, “Sir” and “Ma’am”. This is not a relic of the ancient past, but the showing of respect for those far wiser than themselves. In the stating of “Mr.” and “Mrs.” or “Ms.”, it is the clear delineation of a person in view of the gender that they possess biologically by God’s intent and of the marriage relationship that God has established.  We need to verbally acknowledge our thankfulness to others (“Thank you”) with proper responses (“Your welcome”) along with requests for assistance (“Please”) without the assumption that other people, whether they may be familiar to us or not, are there to serve us as personal slaves. If anything, with the practice, the Christian community in so doing will make themselves all the more distinguishable from the growing uncivilized horde that will inevitably continue down its path toward anarchy and self-destruction. This is one way we in Christ can fulfill the Biblical command to “come out from their midst and be separate” (rf. II Cor. 6:17).

            

Purposeful Genders

“God created man ^in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (rf. Gen. 1:27).

           

In last month’s article, we discussed the roles of women, primarily, as distinguished between the teachings of Scripture and the views of Dr. Melvin Konner of Emory University in his anthropological study, entitled, Women After All: Sex, Evolution, and the End of Male Supremacy. This month we want to turn our attention to his views of men and likewise set them against what the Bible has to say on the subject. I assure you God has a much higher view of His creation than does this professor regarding his fellow man.

Rather than paraphrasing, I will directly quote Dr. Konner for greater effect. His words, thereby his beliefs, are much more chilling when read verbatim than filtered.

There is a birth defect that is surprisingly common, affecting a key pair of

chromosomes. In the normal condition the two look the same, but in this

disorder one is shrunken beyond recognition. The result is shortened life span,

higher mortality at all ages, an inability to reproduce, premature hair loss, and

brain defects variously resulting in attention deficit, hyperactivity, conduct

disorder, hypersexuality, and an enormous excess of both outward and self-

directed aggression. The main mechanism is androgen poisoning. I call it the

X-chromosome deficiency syndrome, and a stunning 49 percent of the human

species is affected. It is also called maleness.[i]

I share this because, on the one hand, such perspectives are rapidly taking hold within our society, especially within the realm of higher education. One need only watch sitcoms and commercials on television to see that men are portrayed as stupid and juvenile when compared to women. Men are clearly moving away from pursuits of college-level education[ii]. The rise of women over men is borne out in other areas of society as well, especially in the Church. This is largely due to the perception that men either do not know their rightful place anymore in the world and/or have been harassed into submission by a feminist society. Confusion abounds with too few fathers as examples and too many women acting as their mothers. Men need to be appreciated and respected for our maleness. In contrast to Dr. Konner’s view, men must understand that we are not biological defects at all. Men are purposeful creations of Almighty God.

As Gen. 1:27 states, God created us as human beings “male and female” and He did so because He willed it. Each sex has a place and role to fulfill in His plan. Biologically, emotionally, we are different because He has designed us that way because we are to complement one another, especially, through the marriage covenant, to join together and bear children. As males, we are called to lead our families as the “head” of our homes, protecting them, both spiritually and physically, even as Christ protects and keeps His Church (rf. Eph. 5:23-33). In fulfilling this responsibility, we always do so as a servant leader, not as one who lords our authority over those whom God has given us to serve (rf. I Pet. 3:7).

Though these few words have applied primarily to men as husbands, they are meant to show all men, as an example, that God has given them His Word as a guideline by which we are to follow in order to be all that He wants us to be as males. He made us who we are in our specific gender on purpose, a fact of which we should never be shamed. Indeed, God intends that both men and women should bless Him in the fullness of their individual natures, knowing that He perfectly designed them for each other with marriage and procreation in mind, in addition to working together in non-marital relationships as complements so that through their mutual gifts the fullness of God’s work on earth could be realized. If the Church as a whole ever grasped this truth, rejecting the philosophies and teachings of the outside world, imagine what blessings we would experience as the body of Christ, laboring together, side-by-side with no barriers between us? Yet, this possibility can still be realized if we abide in His Word, living our lives as men and women of His creation to the utmost of His design. It simply is a matter of reliance on the power of His Spirit to do so.

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[i] Konner, Melvin. “The End of Male Supremacy”, The Chronicle of Higher Education: The Chronicle Review. March 20, 2015, Reprinted from http://chronicle.com/article/The-End-of-Male-Supremacy/228769/?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en

[ii] Hugo Lopez, Mark and Ana Gonzalez Barrera, “Women’s College Enrollment Gains Leave Men Behind”, March 6, 2014, Reprinted from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/03/06/womens-college-enrollment-gains-leave-men-behind/

God's Design of Genders and Roles

“God created man ^in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (rf. Gen. 1:27).

            It should not amaze me anymore how polarized we have become in our nation. Yet, at every turn, someone says or does something that takes the divide between people groups to even greater depths, making it harder for the possibility for future reconciliation and working together to occur. Much less is their prospective inclusion of biblical views as specified by the Scriptures, showing how far we have strayed from belief in and practice of God’s Holy Word.

            Take, for instance, the differences in roles between men and women. Society would have us to believe that we are not only fundamentally and completely equal in every way, indeed, interchangeable, but that the sexes have moved to a new place of inequality wherein women are the dominant of the species. According to a new anthropological study, entitled, Women After All: Sex, Evolution, and the End of Male Supremacy by Melvin Konner of Emory University, he states that women will soon dominate men in every sphere of life. Dr. Konner believes that this is a very good thing since women, in his view, are more and better adapted to handle the rigors of life and leadership than their male counterparts.[i]

            Of course, such beliefs take no thought as to God’s design for men and women since Dr. Konner’s premises are based on evolutionary presuppositions, precluding any belief in the existence of God. Yet, our Creator gave us two important templates by which to live, though they fly in the very face of the prevailing culture. I assure you, those who choose to follow these teachings of the Lord will find themselves at odds with our society, not popular at all with those who would agree with the assessments and beliefs of Dr. Konner and those of his like.

            First of all, superiority over others should never be a goal striven for as followers of Jesus, whether male or female. Be it on the basis of race, gender, social or economic status, we should never view ourselves as better than others. This is nothing but the sin of pride emanating from our own sinful nature. Jesus taught us, rather, to always think of ourselves last, instead of first, in order to keep ourselves humble. If we are to be exalted, it will be the Lord who does that work for us; it will not be by any effort or merit of ourselves (rf. Mt. 23:11-12; Lk. 22:26).

            Secondly, God Himself has clearly defined the roles of men and women. We will speak more about men in the next issue. For women, God has revealed that His highest calling for them is to be wives and mothers (rf. Prov. 31:10-31; I Tm. 2:15). For a small percentage of women, God has called them to be single, desiring them to be His servants in a unique and blessed fashion throughout their days (rf. I Cor. 7:6-8, 32). Submission will always be the expected attitude, whether uniquely to the Lord as a single or to the Lord and to a husband, if married, since this attitude is viewed as an adornment of the daughters of Eve in their faithfulness to Him (rf. Eph. 5:22-33; I Pet. 3:1-6).

            The challenge before us as Christians in this present age is to live differently according to the beliefs of Scripture in the midst of a society that demands compliance with its own set of values and ideas. The further the world moves away from the truths of Scripture, the greater the gulf will be it and between biblical Christianity, not to mention the higher the degree of persecution of Christians because of the distinction. The challenge this month is for the ladies of His Church to be bold in upholding the truths of His Word in the lives that they live, not falling prey to the deceitful and tantalizing belief systems that are put forth by the culture. God holds His daughters in great love and respect, having placed in their hands and hearts great gifts not given to His sons. It is only right that they should, in gratitude, exercise these gifts and uphold His truths in humility, taking their rightful place in His service and in love.

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[i] Konner, Melvin. “The End of Male Supremacy”, The Chronicle of Higher Education: The Chronicle Review. March 20, 2015, Reprinted from http://chronicle.com/article/The-End-of-Male-Supremacy/228769/?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en