As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you...”
(rf. Matthew 24:3-4)
“But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come.”
(rf. Mark 13:32)
Earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan. Civil war in Libya, Egypt, Yemen and Bahrain. Economic turmoil throughout the known world breeding uncertainty as to the future. Many are running to the Scripture to find not only comfort and peace amidst troubling times, but also reasons for the things that are happening. They believe that what was written so long ago is as determining as the newspaper headlines printed for today. Added to that are the harbingers of woe from the secular world telling us that, according to the prophets of the Mayan culture predominantly along with the foretelling of Nostradomus of the 16th century, the world will undoubtedly come to an end in December of 2012.
However, if we are to be Biblical Christians and follow the words of Christ specifically, we should be a people of hope and not despair. After all, as the Apostle John tells us in I John 4:18-19, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us.”
Fear of the future should not be a part of our pedigree. We should trust in our God without question. He has promised to take care of His people...period. Therefore, we should live our lives in perfect peace, knowing that we are totally secure in Him. Whether we live or die, we are His and He will never leave us nor forsake us ever. He has promised to provide for our every need regardless of the circumstances. So, again, we should not fear the future.
Therefore, having such an encouragement, let us look at what the Scriptures actually state above so we will not fall prey to foolish nonsense that desires to captivate the unsuspecting and ignorant among us. Jesus makes it clear in Matthew 24 in answering the two questions of His disciples that He wants no one to mislead them as to what the signs of His coming and those of the end of the age, two separate events, will be. To correctly interpret this passage, we must understand that Jesus is speaking to His disciples in the first century, not the twenty-first century. We must never look at the passage first through the lens of our own time, but through the time period in which the passage was originally spoken or written in order to correctly exegete or grasp the meaning.
Secondly, Jesus’ use of “coming”, especially in reference with clouds, power and glory (vs. 30) is an Old Testament pseudonym for judgment (rf. Psalm 97:1-6; 104:1-4; Nahum 1:2-3). If that were true, then His “coming” to the disciples would have been understood as judgment to Jerusalem and to the Jewish people for rejecting their Promised Messiah, a judgment foretold in Matthew 23:37-39 in the same context. Indeed, Jesus spends the first thirty or so verses of Matthew twenty-four simply warning His disciples to flee from Jerusalem when these signs appear because the judgment that He brings will be so severe (rf. Matthew 24:5-31).
Jesus goes on to state (rf. Matthew 24:32-25:30) what the signs of the end of the age would be by virtue of parables, a feature common to the teaching style of Jesus. He shares the parables of the fig tree, the thief in the house, the ten virgins and the talents to give different dynamics of what to look for as signs that the end of the age is coming, of how his followers are to prepare themselves for when He returns to bring all things to their final culmination. He then provides the capstone of this discussion with His disciples by disclosing what the last judgment will look like (rf. Matthew 25:31-46) with Christ separating the people into two groups, His sheep into one with all the rest as the “goats”.
Why am I sharing this brief synopsis of Matthew 24/25 with you? For the very same reason Jesus shared with His disciples: “See that no one misleads you.” The only way that we as believers can safely navigate through troubled times like these is to hold on tightly to God’s Word rightly understood. There are too many folks out there who are trying to profit from the fears of others, exploiting turmoil, and, yes, using God’s Word as a tool to accomplish their ends. Do not be fooled by them! Remember Jesus’ words in Mark: “But of that day or hour no one knows”. If anyone makes a prediction concerning the end of the world or the coming of Christ, etc., mark them down as a false prophet regardless of their credentials!
Make no mistake. Jesus will return in His own time according to the Father’s will. When He does, He wants us to be about the Father’s business. That is what should be our primary concern. We should be ready to welcome Him here nor wringing our hands about when will He be coming! If our hearts are pure, it will not matter when He returns after all. Will it?
Friday, June 3, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Church Members and Church Attendance
Recently I was privy to a discussion on the subject of church membership. I have always been amazed at how touchy people can become when the issue of membership arises among "the brethren". It stems, I believe, from the erroneous notion based in tradition that one's membership in a church is a sacred bond or trust, tantamount to a stock investment in a company, never to be touched or changed by the corporation, or in this case the church, only by the member or stockholder himself/herself.
This perception on first glance might seem right on target, especially in the light of the "Entitlement"-prone culture in which we presently live. However, our standard of measure is not the culture, but the Scripture, God's Holy Word. When this perspective is lined up accordingly, what we find might actually surprise us.
First of all, church membership, as we know it, being an official name on a roll for statistical purposes and denominational "bragging-rights", is not all to be found in either the Old or New Testaments. What we will find is a very different definition of church membership than what we have come to understand. Church membership in the New Testament, in particular, is the Providential location where God has chosen to place a person for service and worship. Proof of one's faith in Christ was shown in one's life and devotion to His teachings as well as time spent with fellow believers in worship and spiritual growth. It did not reside in the files of church offices and stay there until requested by members or other churches. It went automatically with the believers as they traveled from place to place.
This is why Paul's letters are addressed literally to the "assembled believers" (ekklesia) at Ephesus...Colossae...Philippi, etc. Wherever the believers in Christ were located, they were "members", that is, there they worshiped and served. They were already members of Christ's Body, the universal Church. Location didn't matter. When they moved from Ephesus to Philippi, they didn't "transfer their letter"; they simply moved and attached themselves to one of the house churches at Philippi and started serving and worshiping Christ there. In other words, their "membership" went with them. There was no such thing as leaving one's membership at a previous location for any reason.
Secondly, the New Testament makes it clear that, unless one is hindered by sickness or physical constraints that prevent one's being a part of worship and service at the local fellowship, not to do so brings into serious question one's own salvation at best if not invalidating it altogether at worst. For those who elect not to join in fellowship with the church in which they are members because 1) they have been offended by actions or words by others within the church or 2) they don't like the way the church has decided to do this thing or that or 3) a myriad of other possibilities that they can pursue, hear what the Scripture says:
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (rf. Hebrews 10:25)
Note the encouragement at the beginning for those who are of the household of faith: "...hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering...consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds". Obviously, we must be together to do these things. That's why "forsaking (the) assembling together, as is the habit of some" is detrimental not only to do those who do it, but also to the rest of the fellowship because it weakens us all when we all are not present.
They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. (rf. I John 2:19)
John here in context is establishing the principle that true faithfulness in fellowship is one of the key signatures in real and abiding salvation. We are drawn together because of Jesus Christ, secondarily because of our love for each other. If we have a problem with either of those two reasons, then the problem is with our own hearts and salvation has more than likely never been experienced.
However, assuming that I have been saved and I am a church member, simply put, to be a part of Christ's Church is a huge responsibility. Although the church body is responsible for displaying to its members the love of Christ (rf. John 13:34-35) and for extending to me opportunities to worship the Lord and fellowship with His people, I am responsible to be a viable asset of the particular gathering of believers God has selected for me at this time in my life. I am responsible to worship Him there in the lifting up of my voice in prayer and praise as well as in the giving of my tithes and offerings consistently to the work of His kingdom. I am responsible for serving Him through the various ministries and missions opportunities afforded me through this particular local fellowship. If I expect this fellowship to do these things in my stead or to beg me to do that for which I alone am responsible, then I am the one who is self-centered, disobedient and sinful. In such a state, I can expect no great blessing from God until I repent and return to the path of obedience and faith once again.
May this walk down "membership lane" serve to encourage us all to take serious stock of the great benefit God has given us in being a part of Christ's Church. After all, if Jesus gave His lifeblood for Her, is it too much to ask that we be committed members in service to Him?
This perception on first glance might seem right on target, especially in the light of the "Entitlement"-prone culture in which we presently live. However, our standard of measure is not the culture, but the Scripture, God's Holy Word. When this perspective is lined up accordingly, what we find might actually surprise us.
First of all, church membership, as we know it, being an official name on a roll for statistical purposes and denominational "bragging-rights", is not all to be found in either the Old or New Testaments. What we will find is a very different definition of church membership than what we have come to understand. Church membership in the New Testament, in particular, is the Providential location where God has chosen to place a person for service and worship. Proof of one's faith in Christ was shown in one's life and devotion to His teachings as well as time spent with fellow believers in worship and spiritual growth. It did not reside in the files of church offices and stay there until requested by members or other churches. It went automatically with the believers as they traveled from place to place.
This is why Paul's letters are addressed literally to the "assembled believers" (ekklesia) at Ephesus...Colossae...Philippi, etc. Wherever the believers in Christ were located, they were "members", that is, there they worshiped and served. They were already members of Christ's Body, the universal Church. Location didn't matter. When they moved from Ephesus to Philippi, they didn't "transfer their letter"; they simply moved and attached themselves to one of the house churches at Philippi and started serving and worshiping Christ there. In other words, their "membership" went with them. There was no such thing as leaving one's membership at a previous location for any reason.
Secondly, the New Testament makes it clear that, unless one is hindered by sickness or physical constraints that prevent one's being a part of worship and service at the local fellowship, not to do so brings into serious question one's own salvation at best if not invalidating it altogether at worst. For those who elect not to join in fellowship with the church in which they are members because 1) they have been offended by actions or words by others within the church or 2) they don't like the way the church has decided to do this thing or that or 3) a myriad of other possibilities that they can pursue, hear what the Scripture says:
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (rf. Hebrews 10:25)
Note the encouragement at the beginning for those who are of the household of faith: "...hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering...consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds". Obviously, we must be together to do these things. That's why "forsaking (the) assembling together, as is the habit of some" is detrimental not only to do those who do it, but also to the rest of the fellowship because it weakens us all when we all are not present.
They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. (rf. I John 2:19)
John here in context is establishing the principle that true faithfulness in fellowship is one of the key signatures in real and abiding salvation. We are drawn together because of Jesus Christ, secondarily because of our love for each other. If we have a problem with either of those two reasons, then the problem is with our own hearts and salvation has more than likely never been experienced.
However, assuming that I have been saved and I am a church member, simply put, to be a part of Christ's Church is a huge responsibility. Although the church body is responsible for displaying to its members the love of Christ (rf. John 13:34-35) and for extending to me opportunities to worship the Lord and fellowship with His people, I am responsible to be a viable asset of the particular gathering of believers God has selected for me at this time in my life. I am responsible to worship Him there in the lifting up of my voice in prayer and praise as well as in the giving of my tithes and offerings consistently to the work of His kingdom. I am responsible for serving Him through the various ministries and missions opportunities afforded me through this particular local fellowship. If I expect this fellowship to do these things in my stead or to beg me to do that for which I alone am responsible, then I am the one who is self-centered, disobedient and sinful. In such a state, I can expect no great blessing from God until I repent and return to the path of obedience and faith once again.
May this walk down "membership lane" serve to encourage us all to take serious stock of the great benefit God has given us in being a part of Christ's Church. After all, if Jesus gave His lifeblood for Her, is it too much to ask that we be committed members in service to Him?
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Different Meanings of Love
The calendar turns again to reds and pinks as a reminder to us that February is the month of “love”. Whether with hearts or Cupids, spelled out or implied, we are everywhere immersed in the concept. It is interesting how we so flippantly bounce that word around, “love”, that is, especially in the English language. We say, “I love you” to our spouse, girlfriend/boyfriend, dog, cat, favorite car, stuffed animal, pile of cash, etc. There is no difference in the wording, only the meaning we may place on the wording in our hearts.
It is a far different thing in the Greek language. At least the Greeks were wise enough to use distinctions in their words to differentiate their meanings so one would not have to look at the context to discern what or who a person really loved. Let me give you some examples.
If affection was being shared between brothers and sisters or within a family context or even between friends, those using the Greek language of the New Testament times would employ a form of the word, phileo (pronounced fil-ay-o). An example of this usage would be Matthew 10:37 where Jesus declares that we cannot have greater love and affection for our family members than for Him. This is not to say that this type of love is condemned, not all. It has its rightful place within the family or friend context, just not as superior to Christ.
Though it is not employed as a word specifically in Scripture but definitely in concept, eros is the term the Greeks utilized when referencing romantic, intimate or sexual feelings between men and women. Eros would be akin to the KJV’s application of “to know” as in “Adam knew Eve” (rf. Genesis 4:1a). It obviously means so much more than intellectual knowledge; it is the sharing of one with another on a deep, intimate level, heart-to-heart as well as fulfilling the “one-flesh” command. The eros concept in Scripture is most vividly and beautifully portrayed in the symmetrical interaction of lovers in the Song of Songs (Song of Solomon). Included within the Wisdom literature of the Bible, it is intended to show that intimate love within the marriage covenant is to be a practiced art and is both a God-given gift to man and an expression of praise to our Creator.
Finally, there is the highest and greatest level of love, the unconditional version. Agapeo (pronounced a-ga-pay-o) is the word we most commonly associate with Biblical “love” because it is the love that God has for us as His children. Rather than “love if someone will do this for us” or “love because someone is this to us”, agapeo is simply “I love you period...understanding who you are, what you’ve done, where you’ve come from, etc.” As powerful a concept as it is for God to have this kind of love for us, it is even more daunting to realize that He actually expects us to have this same kind of love for each other. Jesus makes this point very clear in John 15:12: “This is My commandment, that you love (version of agapeo) one another, just as I have loved (version of agapeo) you.” Wow, what a target we must reach, huh?
So, as we proceed through this “month of love”, let us be far more mindful of what we mean when we use that term “love”. When we say to our fellow Christians in church (or anywhere else for that matter), “I love you”, do we really mean it, first of all, or is it just a glib saying to assuage our consciences? If we do “love” them, do we love them enough? Is it just phileo or agapeo? And when it comes to our spouses, has the eros gone completely out of our tires, leaving only phileo to bind us together? Could it be that a good dose of the Song of Songs is in order?
Maybe this month we should pray that the Spirit of God Who dwells within our hearts and knows best what distinguishing types of love we need most in our lives, relationships and marriages will instill and ignite just the right ones in just the right spots for just the right purposes. He alone sees our deficiencies and knows exactly how to correct them. With His leading we can apply these phileo, eros and agapeo principles accurately with the desired Scriptural results. Then, as Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love one toward another” (rf. John 13:35).
It is a far different thing in the Greek language. At least the Greeks were wise enough to use distinctions in their words to differentiate their meanings so one would not have to look at the context to discern what or who a person really loved. Let me give you some examples.
If affection was being shared between brothers and sisters or within a family context or even between friends, those using the Greek language of the New Testament times would employ a form of the word, phileo (pronounced fil-ay-o). An example of this usage would be Matthew 10:37 where Jesus declares that we cannot have greater love and affection for our family members than for Him. This is not to say that this type of love is condemned, not all. It has its rightful place within the family or friend context, just not as superior to Christ.
Though it is not employed as a word specifically in Scripture but definitely in concept, eros is the term the Greeks utilized when referencing romantic, intimate or sexual feelings between men and women. Eros would be akin to the KJV’s application of “to know” as in “Adam knew Eve” (rf. Genesis 4:1a). It obviously means so much more than intellectual knowledge; it is the sharing of one with another on a deep, intimate level, heart-to-heart as well as fulfilling the “one-flesh” command. The eros concept in Scripture is most vividly and beautifully portrayed in the symmetrical interaction of lovers in the Song of Songs (Song of Solomon). Included within the Wisdom literature of the Bible, it is intended to show that intimate love within the marriage covenant is to be a practiced art and is both a God-given gift to man and an expression of praise to our Creator.
Finally, there is the highest and greatest level of love, the unconditional version. Agapeo (pronounced a-ga-pay-o) is the word we most commonly associate with Biblical “love” because it is the love that God has for us as His children. Rather than “love if someone will do this for us” or “love because someone is this to us”, agapeo is simply “I love you period...understanding who you are, what you’ve done, where you’ve come from, etc.” As powerful a concept as it is for God to have this kind of love for us, it is even more daunting to realize that He actually expects us to have this same kind of love for each other. Jesus makes this point very clear in John 15:12: “This is My commandment, that you love (version of agapeo) one another, just as I have loved (version of agapeo) you.” Wow, what a target we must reach, huh?
So, as we proceed through this “month of love”, let us be far more mindful of what we mean when we use that term “love”. When we say to our fellow Christians in church (or anywhere else for that matter), “I love you”, do we really mean it, first of all, or is it just a glib saying to assuage our consciences? If we do “love” them, do we love them enough? Is it just phileo or agapeo? And when it comes to our spouses, has the eros gone completely out of our tires, leaving only phileo to bind us together? Could it be that a good dose of the Song of Songs is in order?
Maybe this month we should pray that the Spirit of God Who dwells within our hearts and knows best what distinguishing types of love we need most in our lives, relationships and marriages will instill and ignite just the right ones in just the right spots for just the right purposes. He alone sees our deficiencies and knows exactly how to correct them. With His leading we can apply these phileo, eros and agapeo principles accurately with the desired Scriptural results. Then, as Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love one toward another” (rf. John 13:35).
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Submit to His Ways
As I type out this article closing out one year moving into the next, the snow falls steadily outside the window disclosing in God’s uncanny way how uncertain, yet exciting are the paths of life. As the Apostle James rightly puts it in 4:13-15: “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.’” When we set out on a journey, we never really know what the Lord has in store for us. We tend to forget that it is He who truly has control over our lives and not us. We fight against that fact constantly in our sinful humanity but much to our own frustration. Regardless of our efforts to the contrary, the Lord shows us in ways both great and small that even though “the mind of man plans his way...the Lord directs his steps.” (rf. Proverbs 16:9)
So, why bring this up? Why stress these things at this time? It should be quite obvious. At this time of year, the world around us makes a very big deal about making plans, reprioritizing one’s life, setting up new resolutions to follow as the new year begins. If we heed this wisdom, we will start out with good intentions and, then, in just a short while, the intentions will fall by the wayside as we allow the cares of life to dictate the decisions we make, overriding the good intentions of yore.
However, if we heeded the wisdom of James and the author of the proverb (probably Solomon) we would realize a different end. Notice that in both cases, there is a clear submission of one’s life to the Lord on a daily basis. This produces humility in attitude and spirit as well as an understanding that none of us ultimate control our own destiny. When we affirm the Lordship of Christ in our lives, we see Him as He is Biblically portrayed, “Lord of all”. That designation is not limited to all things outside of ourselves, but it includes ourselves as well. This does not relegate us to mindless robots, but to beings within the scope of His will, fully responsible for our own decisions yet even those decisions are under the jurisdiction of His plan. Joseph understood this principle perfectly as he explained it to his brothers when they bowed before him as governor over all of Egypt: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” (rf. Genesis 50:20)
The truth that we need to see clearly as we proceed into this new year is this: seek and submit. Seek the Lord and His wisdom in everything that we do. If we claim His Name and to be His followers/servants, then it only follows that we need to be attentive to where He leads and what He says to do. He has already given us His Word; therefore, we have only to read it and do what it says... which lead us to the second part of the truth. Not only in attitude but in action, we need to be submissive in our hearts. We should be humble before Him and our fellow man, readily recognizing that His way is much better than our own, His plans far exceeding ours in wisdom and authority. Then after seeking and being submissive, we should follow through with what we believe we are being led to do, regardless if conventional wisdom or popularity tries to convince us otherwise, always verifying our leadings by the clear teachings of His Word. God does not operate by worldly ways, mind you. As His Word testifies, His ways are not ours...but much higher than our own (paraphrase of Isaiah 55:9).
This new year lies before us all with great possibilities and opportunities. Let us then pursue the course that the Lord has set out for us to follow and not the one that we have developed on our own, now understanding that His way and will for us is always best.
So, why bring this up? Why stress these things at this time? It should be quite obvious. At this time of year, the world around us makes a very big deal about making plans, reprioritizing one’s life, setting up new resolutions to follow as the new year begins. If we heed this wisdom, we will start out with good intentions and, then, in just a short while, the intentions will fall by the wayside as we allow the cares of life to dictate the decisions we make, overriding the good intentions of yore.
However, if we heeded the wisdom of James and the author of the proverb (probably Solomon) we would realize a different end. Notice that in both cases, there is a clear submission of one’s life to the Lord on a daily basis. This produces humility in attitude and spirit as well as an understanding that none of us ultimate control our own destiny. When we affirm the Lordship of Christ in our lives, we see Him as He is Biblically portrayed, “Lord of all”. That designation is not limited to all things outside of ourselves, but it includes ourselves as well. This does not relegate us to mindless robots, but to beings within the scope of His will, fully responsible for our own decisions yet even those decisions are under the jurisdiction of His plan. Joseph understood this principle perfectly as he explained it to his brothers when they bowed before him as governor over all of Egypt: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” (rf. Genesis 50:20)
The truth that we need to see clearly as we proceed into this new year is this: seek and submit. Seek the Lord and His wisdom in everything that we do. If we claim His Name and to be His followers/servants, then it only follows that we need to be attentive to where He leads and what He says to do. He has already given us His Word; therefore, we have only to read it and do what it says... which lead us to the second part of the truth. Not only in attitude but in action, we need to be submissive in our hearts. We should be humble before Him and our fellow man, readily recognizing that His way is much better than our own, His plans far exceeding ours in wisdom and authority. Then after seeking and being submissive, we should follow through with what we believe we are being led to do, regardless if conventional wisdom or popularity tries to convince us otherwise, always verifying our leadings by the clear teachings of His Word. God does not operate by worldly ways, mind you. As His Word testifies, His ways are not ours...but much higher than our own (paraphrase of Isaiah 55:9).
This new year lies before us all with great possibilities and opportunities. Let us then pursue the course that the Lord has set out for us to follow and not the one that we have developed on our own, now understanding that His way and will for us is always best.
Monday, November 29, 2010
God Will Supply All Our Needs...Not Our Wants
Have you ever pondered at length (or depth) the subject of need vs. want? Take, for instance, a scene at the dinner table. Junior "wants" something sweet to caress his tastebuds. In fact, if it were up to him, he would opt for dessert as his first course for the meal. However, since mother-dear is the chairlady of the dinner, she is the one who decides what is served for the courses to those at the table, including Junior. Mother has determined that all at the repast are in "need" of a good dose of vegetables for the betterment of their bodies. She knows what is required for strong bones and muscles and, therefore, serves the food necessary for such nourishment. Thus, mother addresses best the "need" for Junior instead of accommodating his "wants". It may be that if Junior eats his vegetables ("needs"), he may be eligible to get dessert ("wants"), though it is not a guarantee!
Let's move this analogy to the present Christmas marketplace, shall we? Retail establishments have reformulated their policies in recent years to make it absolutely sure that the customer acquire whatever he/she "wants" for Christmas. By lower prices through initial markdowns and offering tremendous discounts, the customer is enticed to get the item that Junior or other loved one totally desires. Then, on Christmas morning (or Christmas Eve), when the presents are opened, the person in question will be completely satisfied with said gift. However, if the unforeseen and unexpected disappointment should take place, the retailer is ready with the backup plan. The customer can happily return said un"want"-ed gift for refund or exchange so that the customer can find what is truly "want"-ed and purchase it. God forbid, the customer or the one for whom the gift is given should ever receive something they should "need" and not "want".
...yet there was a time not too very long ago when it wasn't that way at all.
Some who read this remember of days when Christmas gifts were items such as socks, shoes, coats, underwear and, maybe, some fruit and candy canes, not to say all of the above. You were blessed to get any of the above. The fruit and candy were treats, not even classified as "wants". The socks, shoes, etc. were definitely "needs" which were you pleased to get because they replaced items of the same kind that were completely worn out by that time of the year. As you opened your gifts and saw these things, you were very thankful that whoever gave the gift was looking out for you, had correctly understood that you needed them. In other words, there was a time when Christmas was more about "need" than "want". Why was that? Was it just because of the times and the economy of the day?
No. It was because we had a better understanding of the meaning of Christmas. God sent His Son to address the greatest "need" of all. Our sin separated us from Him. In order for His sheep to be able to drawn into His fold, the Father had to send His Son, the Shepherd, to die for them, to take away their sin, to break down the barrier of separation. Once accomplished, the Shepherd was raised from the dead to lead His Sheep into the fold by His Spirit so that they would be one forever, experiencing the love that He has for them that is beyond measure.
Christmas, then, is God taking care of our "need" in the grandest way. That little One in the manger is the Shepherd of Salvation, the One "who will save His people from their sins". Had He left us to our "wants", our desires, our lusts, we would be enjoying ourselves as we went along merrily into Hell. However, the Lord took the initiative and addressed our "need", overriding our "wants", calling us unto a salvation and a life that is far better than anything that we could ever desire or imagine.
So, this Christmas, don't let your "wants" outstrip your "needs". Indeed, let Christmas be a special time to meet the "needs" of others more so than your own "wants" in the spirit of Christ. In this way, we can show the world what Christmas was truly intended to be and to mean.
Let's move this analogy to the present Christmas marketplace, shall we? Retail establishments have reformulated their policies in recent years to make it absolutely sure that the customer acquire whatever he/she "wants" for Christmas. By lower prices through initial markdowns and offering tremendous discounts, the customer is enticed to get the item that Junior or other loved one totally desires. Then, on Christmas morning (or Christmas Eve), when the presents are opened, the person in question will be completely satisfied with said gift. However, if the unforeseen and unexpected disappointment should take place, the retailer is ready with the backup plan. The customer can happily return said un"want"-ed gift for refund or exchange so that the customer can find what is truly "want"-ed and purchase it. God forbid, the customer or the one for whom the gift is given should ever receive something they should "need" and not "want".
...yet there was a time not too very long ago when it wasn't that way at all.
Some who read this remember of days when Christmas gifts were items such as socks, shoes, coats, underwear and, maybe, some fruit and candy canes, not to say all of the above. You were blessed to get any of the above. The fruit and candy were treats, not even classified as "wants". The socks, shoes, etc. were definitely "needs" which were you pleased to get because they replaced items of the same kind that were completely worn out by that time of the year. As you opened your gifts and saw these things, you were very thankful that whoever gave the gift was looking out for you, had correctly understood that you needed them. In other words, there was a time when Christmas was more about "need" than "want". Why was that? Was it just because of the times and the economy of the day?
No. It was because we had a better understanding of the meaning of Christmas. God sent His Son to address the greatest "need" of all. Our sin separated us from Him. In order for His sheep to be able to drawn into His fold, the Father had to send His Son, the Shepherd, to die for them, to take away their sin, to break down the barrier of separation. Once accomplished, the Shepherd was raised from the dead to lead His Sheep into the fold by His Spirit so that they would be one forever, experiencing the love that He has for them that is beyond measure.
Christmas, then, is God taking care of our "need" in the grandest way. That little One in the manger is the Shepherd of Salvation, the One "who will save His people from their sins". Had He left us to our "wants", our desires, our lusts, we would be enjoying ourselves as we went along merrily into Hell. However, the Lord took the initiative and addressed our "need", overriding our "wants", calling us unto a salvation and a life that is far better than anything that we could ever desire or imagine.
So, this Christmas, don't let your "wants" outstrip your "needs". Indeed, let Christmas be a special time to meet the "needs" of others more so than your own "wants" in the spirit of Christ. In this way, we can show the world what Christmas was truly intended to be and to mean.
The Dangerous Life of a Disciple of Jesus
When we review the Gospel accounts of the life of Christ, we tend rightfully to focus on Jesus and His ministry, His works and His teachings. However, the Gospels also give us another perspective. They show us the reality of what it meant to be one of His disciples. They provide us the nitty gritty details of the life of faith and trust in Christ.
Take, for instance, the time that Jesus came walking on the water to the disciples. The waves were lashing the boat as well as the feet of Christ. Jesus paid them no mind. He paced on the surface of the briny sea as if he were on the plains somewhere in Judea. As He approached the vessel filled with His frightened followers, He called out to them. Peter responded that he wished to join his Master on the water. Peter's was a response of faith that led him out of a comfortable place to an adventure that he could share only with Christ. Even though his faith faltered when faced with difficult and perceived overwhelming circumstances, Peter was still accompanied by Jesus back to the safety of the ship. He still grew in His trust in Jesus.
This is the way of Biblical faith. It doesn't grow in the safe places. The qualities of false contentment, laziness and fearfulness thrive in the shade of the great oak where no wind or rain ever falls. However, because of these very things present in one's life, nothing of eternal value is ever accomplished. Biblical faith, on the other hand, is vibrant, full of life and adventure. It must be energized by friction and challenge. It grows by having to face the elements. Like the mighty tree lashed by wind and blinding rain, whose roots seem on the very edge of being torn from the ground at times by the storm, so is the one whose faith is tested by the Lord for the purpose of enhancement and greater use in His kingdom. He intends by the pruning for that person to be a source of blessing to the lives of so many others as an example of what His grace can do in the life of one willing to trust Him implicitly.
So, if you are being battered and torn by life's stresses, and, yet, you are still holding on to your faith in Christ, be thankful. Know that the Lord who has called you into the midst of this adventure is walking with you through it as well, hand in hand. Never will He let you go until the both of you safely reach the shore!
Take, for instance, the time that Jesus came walking on the water to the disciples. The waves were lashing the boat as well as the feet of Christ. Jesus paid them no mind. He paced on the surface of the briny sea as if he were on the plains somewhere in Judea. As He approached the vessel filled with His frightened followers, He called out to them. Peter responded that he wished to join his Master on the water. Peter's was a response of faith that led him out of a comfortable place to an adventure that he could share only with Christ. Even though his faith faltered when faced with difficult and perceived overwhelming circumstances, Peter was still accompanied by Jesus back to the safety of the ship. He still grew in His trust in Jesus.
This is the way of Biblical faith. It doesn't grow in the safe places. The qualities of false contentment, laziness and fearfulness thrive in the shade of the great oak where no wind or rain ever falls. However, because of these very things present in one's life, nothing of eternal value is ever accomplished. Biblical faith, on the other hand, is vibrant, full of life and adventure. It must be energized by friction and challenge. It grows by having to face the elements. Like the mighty tree lashed by wind and blinding rain, whose roots seem on the very edge of being torn from the ground at times by the storm, so is the one whose faith is tested by the Lord for the purpose of enhancement and greater use in His kingdom. He intends by the pruning for that person to be a source of blessing to the lives of so many others as an example of what His grace can do in the life of one willing to trust Him implicitly.
So, if you are being battered and torn by life's stresses, and, yet, you are still holding on to your faith in Christ, be thankful. Know that the Lord who has called you into the midst of this adventure is walking with you through it as well, hand in hand. Never will He let you go until the both of you safely reach the shore!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
The Abominations of Rebellion and Sorcery
Food for thought. Remember when you were young and your mom told you to clean your room? You listened to her voice, heard her words and then went about your way, totally ignoring what she had told you to do. Now if she were one of the “oblivious moms” so prevalent in today’s world, she would have responded to your behavior with by saying, “I thought I told you to clean your room...At least, I thought I did. Maybe I didn’t after all...Never mind, be a good boy/girl and be sure to clean your room. If you do, there will be something good for you.” Of course, you left the room unkempt, knowing that your mom would not only forget that she told you to clean it, but also there would be no consequences to your disobedient actions. Besides you would eventually get the treats promised even without doing what she had asked you to do. The shame is that so many have parents who treat them this way, allowing disobedience to continue without punishment and so many adults believe this is the norm of parenthood and childrearing. It is no wonder that self-centeredness is the prevailing attitude of the day! Ah, but here I am digressing.
Whether or not our moms or dads were “oblivious” in their parenting skills, how many of us fell prey to the same attitude of disobedience when we were young? I wonder if we realized that such a reckless heart motivation was what the Bible calls “rebellion”, especially if the disobedience is not just a one-time occurrence but a systemic problem. When we think of rebellion, it usually is in terms of overthrowing a government, a dire solution to a political dilemma. However, the Lord looks at rebellion differently. He sees it in terms of a negative reation to an established authority, specifically authority He has put in place, whether it relates in terms of people, such as parents, ministers, or governmental officials, or in reference to His Word. So, in either case, God views continuous disobedience to the authorities that He has set up in our lives, not as mere mistakes but as the serious sin of rebellion, equating it with the abomination of witchcraft (rf. I Samuel 15:23).
Therefore, as we pursue this subject further, are there precepts in the Scripture that we consistently violate because we simply don’t like and refuse to follow? For example, even though we know that we are not to take our anger against someone to bed with us according to Ephesians 4:26, we do it time and time again, nursing internal bitterness toward that someone against the very witness that Christ would have us to exhibit! Not only is this disobedience, it has become rebellion because of the repetition involved. When we have taught better and we do worse, knowing all the while what we do is in violation, we sin by rebellion.
A second example is in the area of priorities of life. Genesis 1 and 2 states everything we need to know in reference to how God wants us to set up the way we should live. He should be first (1:1–“In the beginning, God...”) and foremost. This first place is in regards to our relationship with Him, not having to do with our service to or worship of Him. That comes later. Secondly, He wants our family to hold precedence over everything else, with spouse first (1:27) then the children (1:28a). In third place God calls us to support said family for the six days of the week as the equivalent that He “worked” to bring about the creation of the universe (1:28b-30). Fourth and finally, He makes provision for us to worship and serve (2:2-3). Some would immediately criticize this set-up of priorities, stating that work is higher than worship, thus giving people an excuse to pursue their career goals rather than worship the Lord on Sundays. Actually, this is not true if one’s priorities are in this correct order. If one has a right relationship with God, one will have an intense desire to worship Him, thus making provision to worship and serve Him, carving out the necessary time in the work week for the Sabbath rest, time with one’s family and for spending quality time with the Lord. No, the priorities as arranged by God are very correct. When we fail to measure ourselves and abide by them, we are the ones in rebellion and disobedience.
Finally, if the Bible speaks in the harshest terms of those who practice witchcraft, those who cast spells, those who divine magic and practice sorcery or necromancy, calling all of the above an abomination (rf. Deuteronomy 18:9-14), where does the Christian community find the license to participate in the sacred occultic holiday of Halloween? One would have to be completely blind as to not see the imagery of evil associated with this perceived “holy day” that is dedicated to the celebration of all that is dark and wicked in the hearts of men. Yet, year after year, Christians of every stripe continue to involve themselves in this pagan ritual with no thought of how such action violates the mandate of Scripture for us to “come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (rf. II Corinthians 6:17-18) Indeed, the greatest evangelistic impact we could ever make in this case would be by our absence not by our presence even as we chose obedience over rebellion in reference to His Word.
God calls us to hear and obey. To do so will make us inevitably different and distinct from the world around us. This is what He showed us in His Son, Jesus. This is what it means to be one of His disciples. Let us commit to the path of obedience today.
Whether or not our moms or dads were “oblivious” in their parenting skills, how many of us fell prey to the same attitude of disobedience when we were young? I wonder if we realized that such a reckless heart motivation was what the Bible calls “rebellion”, especially if the disobedience is not just a one-time occurrence but a systemic problem. When we think of rebellion, it usually is in terms of overthrowing a government, a dire solution to a political dilemma. However, the Lord looks at rebellion differently. He sees it in terms of a negative reation to an established authority, specifically authority He has put in place, whether it relates in terms of people, such as parents, ministers, or governmental officials, or in reference to His Word. So, in either case, God views continuous disobedience to the authorities that He has set up in our lives, not as mere mistakes but as the serious sin of rebellion, equating it with the abomination of witchcraft (rf. I Samuel 15:23).
Therefore, as we pursue this subject further, are there precepts in the Scripture that we consistently violate because we simply don’t like and refuse to follow? For example, even though we know that we are not to take our anger against someone to bed with us according to Ephesians 4:26, we do it time and time again, nursing internal bitterness toward that someone against the very witness that Christ would have us to exhibit! Not only is this disobedience, it has become rebellion because of the repetition involved. When we have taught better and we do worse, knowing all the while what we do is in violation, we sin by rebellion.
A second example is in the area of priorities of life. Genesis 1 and 2 states everything we need to know in reference to how God wants us to set up the way we should live. He should be first (1:1–“In the beginning, God...”) and foremost. This first place is in regards to our relationship with Him, not having to do with our service to or worship of Him. That comes later. Secondly, He wants our family to hold precedence over everything else, with spouse first (1:27) then the children (1:28a). In third place God calls us to support said family for the six days of the week as the equivalent that He “worked” to bring about the creation of the universe (1:28b-30). Fourth and finally, He makes provision for us to worship and serve (2:2-3). Some would immediately criticize this set-up of priorities, stating that work is higher than worship, thus giving people an excuse to pursue their career goals rather than worship the Lord on Sundays. Actually, this is not true if one’s priorities are in this correct order. If one has a right relationship with God, one will have an intense desire to worship Him, thus making provision to worship and serve Him, carving out the necessary time in the work week for the Sabbath rest, time with one’s family and for spending quality time with the Lord. No, the priorities as arranged by God are very correct. When we fail to measure ourselves and abide by them, we are the ones in rebellion and disobedience.
Finally, if the Bible speaks in the harshest terms of those who practice witchcraft, those who cast spells, those who divine magic and practice sorcery or necromancy, calling all of the above an abomination (rf. Deuteronomy 18:9-14), where does the Christian community find the license to participate in the sacred occultic holiday of Halloween? One would have to be completely blind as to not see the imagery of evil associated with this perceived “holy day” that is dedicated to the celebration of all that is dark and wicked in the hearts of men. Yet, year after year, Christians of every stripe continue to involve themselves in this pagan ritual with no thought of how such action violates the mandate of Scripture for us to “come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (rf. II Corinthians 6:17-18) Indeed, the greatest evangelistic impact we could ever make in this case would be by our absence not by our presence even as we chose obedience over rebellion in reference to His Word.
God calls us to hear and obey. To do so will make us inevitably different and distinct from the world around us. This is what He showed us in His Son, Jesus. This is what it means to be one of His disciples. Let us commit to the path of obedience today.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)