So it seems that I am not so good at this blog thing. I don't know why. I love to write, talk, debate, think.... So this should come naturally. But it doesn't. It reminds me of other things in my Christian life. Oh, by the way, I have not abandoned the Orthodoxy thoughts, but I am attempting to refine them before I go further.
So, back to my other train of thought. It seems blogging does not come natural to me. Just like another part of my Christian life. Prayer.
You see, I do pretty well at giving. I do okay at study. I like to think I am compassionate. I share whenever I can. But I struggle with prayer.
I don't know why. Maybe because it forces me to face my sin and I sin (even the same sins) more than I would like. Maybe because I let myself get too busy. Maybe because I am more task than person oriented.
But God as part of his salvation has given me the ability to pray, to bring him my praises and my worries. I believe he has called me to share my thoughts with others. I must commit myself to following through in these pursuits. Being not good at doing it regularly, or being too busy, these are not valid, they are not reasons.
Mike
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Orthodoxy
There is a lot of talk in today's church about unity and not causing division in the body of Christ. And while these things are true and good (causing division for the sake of division is not healthy), there are two things the modern church needs to keep in mind.
1. Disagreement is not the same as division. In any healthy body of Christ, there is room for disagreement on some issues. Two people discussing the merits of a particular theology or idea or policy is not only not a bad thing, but it can be very healthy. Now, said discussion should be done in love and with respect, but love and respect does not mean that both sides must agree. It also does not preclude serious discussion. In the end on these issues, it is okay to agree to disagree.
2. There are some things that must be disagreed over. They must be fought for, and choosing to agree to disagree is not an option. These are what the church has called issues of orthodoxy. Orthodox means conforming to established traditions. In the case of the Christian faith these are doctrines that must be agreed upon. These are things that are so clearly stated in Scripture that the church throughout the ages has always agreed upon them, and to not agree is to be guilty of heresy. But what are the things that the church holds to be Orthodox? Well there are certain denominations that hold certain doctrine tightly, but some of it might or might not be Orthodox. So, with that in mind, lets look at what would overall be called orthodox doctrine of the church.
God: He is eternal (John 1:1). He is holy and just. He is one God in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Through Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit, we come to know the Father (Matthew 11:27). God the Father created all things through the Son, in the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1; 2; John 1:3; Job 33:4), and we are called to worship Him (John 4:23). The Father loves us and sent His Son to reunite us with himself (John 3:16).
Christ: He is the Second Person of the Trinity. He is also eternal. He became a man, and thus He is at once fully God and fully man. His coming to earth was foretold in the Old Testament by the Prophets. In reciting the Nicene Creed, Orthodox Christians regularly affirm the historic faith concerning Jesus as they say, "I believe...in one Lord Jesus Christ, begotten of the Father before all ages, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made, who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again from the dead, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, whose Kingdom shall have no end."
The Holy Spirit: It is one of the Persons of the Trinity and is one in essence with the Father. Orthodox Christians repeatedly confess, "And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified. . ." He is called the "Promise of the Father" (Acts 1:4), given by Christ as a gift to the Church, to empower the Church for service to God (Acts 1:8), to place God's love in our hearts (Romans 5:5), and to impart spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7-13) and virtues (Galatians 5:22, 23) for Christian life and witness. Orthodox Christians believe the biblical promise that the Holy Spirit is given in chrismation (anointing) at baptism (Acts 2:38). We are to grow in our experience of the Holy Spirit for the rest of our lives.
The incarnation: This refers to Jesus Christ coming "in the flesh." The eternal Son of God the Father assumed to Himself a complete human nature from the Virgin Mary. He was (and is) one divine Person, fully possessing from God the Father the entirety of the divine nature, and in His coming in the flesh fully possessing a human nature from Mary. By His Incarnation, the Son forever possesses two natures in His one Person. The Son of God, limitless in His divine nature, voluntarily and willingly accepted limitation in His humanity, in which He experienced hunger, thirst, fatigue--and ultimately, death. The Incarnation is indispensable to Christianity--there is no Christianity without it. The Scriptures record, "Every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God" (1 John 4:3). By His Incarnation, the Son of God redeemed human nature, a redemption made accessible to all who are joined to Him in His glorified humanity.
Sin: The Westminster Confession of Faith says of Sin: "Our first parents, begin seduced by the subtlety and temptations of Satan, sinned in eating the forbidden fruit. This their sin God was pleased, according to his wise and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to his own glory. By this sin they fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and so became dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body. They being the root of mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed, and the same death in sin and corrupted nature conveyed to all their posterity, descending from them by original generation." Our Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1,2). We are born spiritually dead in our Sin (Ephesians 2:1). To save us, the Son of God assumed our humanity, and being without sin, "He condemned sin in the flesh" (Romans 8:3). In His mercy, God forgives our sins when we confess them and turn from them, giving us strength to overcome sin in our lives. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
Salvation: Salvation comes when the work of Christ is applied to a person by the Holy Spirit. Salvation is a free gift from God and can not be earned, asked for, begged, or in any other way be a work of man. Man is wholly ineffectual in any attempts to save himself from the judgment of God. Only through the free gift of God, the work of Christ, applied to us by the Holy Spirit are those that were known before time.
Baptism: The Westminster Confession of Faith states. "Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church, but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life: which sacrament is, by Christ's own appointment, to be continued in his Church until the end of the world. The outward element to be used in the sacrament is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a minister of the gospel, lawfully called thereunto. Although it be a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance, yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it as that no person can be regenerated or saved without it, or that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated."
To be continued....
The above is compiled from various sources.
Mike
1. Disagreement is not the same as division. In any healthy body of Christ, there is room for disagreement on some issues. Two people discussing the merits of a particular theology or idea or policy is not only not a bad thing, but it can be very healthy. Now, said discussion should be done in love and with respect, but love and respect does not mean that both sides must agree. It also does not preclude serious discussion. In the end on these issues, it is okay to agree to disagree.
2. There are some things that must be disagreed over. They must be fought for, and choosing to agree to disagree is not an option. These are what the church has called issues of orthodoxy. Orthodox means conforming to established traditions. In the case of the Christian faith these are doctrines that must be agreed upon. These are things that are so clearly stated in Scripture that the church throughout the ages has always agreed upon them, and to not agree is to be guilty of heresy. But what are the things that the church holds to be Orthodox? Well there are certain denominations that hold certain doctrine tightly, but some of it might or might not be Orthodox. So, with that in mind, lets look at what would overall be called orthodox doctrine of the church.
God: He is eternal (John 1:1). He is holy and just. He is one God in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Through Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit, we come to know the Father (Matthew 11:27). God the Father created all things through the Son, in the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1; 2; John 1:3; Job 33:4), and we are called to worship Him (John 4:23). The Father loves us and sent His Son to reunite us with himself (John 3:16).
Christ: He is the Second Person of the Trinity. He is also eternal. He became a man, and thus He is at once fully God and fully man. His coming to earth was foretold in the Old Testament by the Prophets. In reciting the Nicene Creed, Orthodox Christians regularly affirm the historic faith concerning Jesus as they say, "I believe...in one Lord Jesus Christ, begotten of the Father before all ages, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made, who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again from the dead, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, whose Kingdom shall have no end."
The Holy Spirit: It is one of the Persons of the Trinity and is one in essence with the Father. Orthodox Christians repeatedly confess, "And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified. . ." He is called the "Promise of the Father" (Acts 1:4), given by Christ as a gift to the Church, to empower the Church for service to God (Acts 1:8), to place God's love in our hearts (Romans 5:5), and to impart spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7-13) and virtues (Galatians 5:22, 23) for Christian life and witness. Orthodox Christians believe the biblical promise that the Holy Spirit is given in chrismation (anointing) at baptism (Acts 2:38). We are to grow in our experience of the Holy Spirit for the rest of our lives.
The incarnation: This refers to Jesus Christ coming "in the flesh." The eternal Son of God the Father assumed to Himself a complete human nature from the Virgin Mary. He was (and is) one divine Person, fully possessing from God the Father the entirety of the divine nature, and in His coming in the flesh fully possessing a human nature from Mary. By His Incarnation, the Son forever possesses two natures in His one Person. The Son of God, limitless in His divine nature, voluntarily and willingly accepted limitation in His humanity, in which He experienced hunger, thirst, fatigue--and ultimately, death. The Incarnation is indispensable to Christianity--there is no Christianity without it. The Scriptures record, "Every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God" (1 John 4:3). By His Incarnation, the Son of God redeemed human nature, a redemption made accessible to all who are joined to Him in His glorified humanity.
Sin: The Westminster Confession of Faith says of Sin: "Our first parents, begin seduced by the subtlety and temptations of Satan, sinned in eating the forbidden fruit. This their sin God was pleased, according to his wise and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to his own glory. By this sin they fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and so became dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body. They being the root of mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed, and the same death in sin and corrupted nature conveyed to all their posterity, descending from them by original generation." Our Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1,2). We are born spiritually dead in our Sin (Ephesians 2:1). To save us, the Son of God assumed our humanity, and being without sin, "He condemned sin in the flesh" (Romans 8:3). In His mercy, God forgives our sins when we confess them and turn from them, giving us strength to overcome sin in our lives. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
Salvation: Salvation comes when the work of Christ is applied to a person by the Holy Spirit. Salvation is a free gift from God and can not be earned, asked for, begged, or in any other way be a work of man. Man is wholly ineffectual in any attempts to save himself from the judgment of God. Only through the free gift of God, the work of Christ, applied to us by the Holy Spirit are those that were known before time.
Baptism: The Westminster Confession of Faith states. "Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church, but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life: which sacrament is, by Christ's own appointment, to be continued in his Church until the end of the world. The outward element to be used in the sacrament is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a minister of the gospel, lawfully called thereunto. Although it be a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance, yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it as that no person can be regenerated or saved without it, or that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated."
To be continued....
The above is compiled from various sources.
Mike
Monday, August 23, 2010
James 1:2-4
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Wow, this verse really speaks to me right now. It seems like in our current life, whenever Sarah and I take one step forward, we take another two right back. It seems that although making headway, we just never seen to get anywhere very quickly.
We have a five year plan and are right on target. But there are times when it seems that we may be able to make it into a 3 year plan. Then something comes up that puts us back on the 5 year plan. At times like those (in an overly dramatic fit born out of a misplaced persecution complex) I cry out (in a voice befitting William Shatner in Star Trek II) "WHYYYY??? WHHHHHYYYYYY???"
And of course God waits for my fit of self induced pity to pass and leans in closely and says "Because it is my plan for you."
Now, like a child who didn't get to play in their little league game because they were hurt (and it was in their best interests in the long run not to play) that does not do a very good job of consoling me at that very moment. But not because it is not correct or not good, but mostly because I do not want to be consoled. I want what I want.
But as I look back on things in the long run this verse comes to mind.
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
And I see that the person I have become is because of my trials (which are as much a part of God's grace as the blessings I receive every day) and I do count it all joy. Now keep in mind that joy does not necessarily mean happiness. My trials do not make me happy. I often am not smiling and happy while I am going through them. But I do count it joy. Why? Because as the definition of joy says it "brings the prospect of possessing what one desires." And deep within my being I don't desire a big screen TV or a nice house or 2.4 kids or even a wonderful loving woman in my life (although I am grateful for all these blessings and they also bring me varying levels of great, if not temporary, joy), but at the core of my being, what I desire is to be with Christ and have that great joy that he has set before me.
Now I need to get better at the second part of that first statement, and to take joy in meeting trials. You see, my joy is often after the trial has passed and I can look back on it and see God's intent. But I must learn to take joy the moment the trial arises, knowing that whatever man has meant for evil, God has meant for good (by the way I need to write a blog post about that verse from Genesis at some point).
The last part of the verse is where most of us (Christians) live. Because when the trial is done, and our faith has been tested and proved steadfast (by the way, not steadfast because of anything we do, but rather because that is the nature of the faith God has given us), we can look both back (knowing that God brought us through the trial and that we have learned and grown in it) and forward (seeing that one day this steadfastness will produce a glorified body and a clean soul able to live in perfect obedience to the will of God) and praise our wonderful God.
Mike
Wow, this verse really speaks to me right now. It seems like in our current life, whenever Sarah and I take one step forward, we take another two right back. It seems that although making headway, we just never seen to get anywhere very quickly.
We have a five year plan and are right on target. But there are times when it seems that we may be able to make it into a 3 year plan. Then something comes up that puts us back on the 5 year plan. At times like those (in an overly dramatic fit born out of a misplaced persecution complex) I cry out (in a voice befitting William Shatner in Star Trek II) "WHYYYY??? WHHHHHYYYYYY???"
And of course God waits for my fit of self induced pity to pass and leans in closely and says "Because it is my plan for you."
Now, like a child who didn't get to play in their little league game because they were hurt (and it was in their best interests in the long run not to play) that does not do a very good job of consoling me at that very moment. But not because it is not correct or not good, but mostly because I do not want to be consoled. I want what I want.
But as I look back on things in the long run this verse comes to mind.
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
And I see that the person I have become is because of my trials (which are as much a part of God's grace as the blessings I receive every day) and I do count it all joy. Now keep in mind that joy does not necessarily mean happiness. My trials do not make me happy. I often am not smiling and happy while I am going through them. But I do count it joy. Why? Because as the definition of joy says it "brings the prospect of possessing what one desires." And deep within my being I don't desire a big screen TV or a nice house or 2.4 kids or even a wonderful loving woman in my life (although I am grateful for all these blessings and they also bring me varying levels of great, if not temporary, joy), but at the core of my being, what I desire is to be with Christ and have that great joy that he has set before me.
Now I need to get better at the second part of that first statement, and to take joy in meeting trials. You see, my joy is often after the trial has passed and I can look back on it and see God's intent. But I must learn to take joy the moment the trial arises, knowing that whatever man has meant for evil, God has meant for good (by the way I need to write a blog post about that verse from Genesis at some point).
The last part of the verse is where most of us (Christians) live. Because when the trial is done, and our faith has been tested and proved steadfast (by the way, not steadfast because of anything we do, but rather because that is the nature of the faith God has given us), we can look both back (knowing that God brought us through the trial and that we have learned and grown in it) and forward (seeing that one day this steadfastness will produce a glorified body and a clean soul able to live in perfect obedience to the will of God) and praise our wonderful God.
Mike
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Grace and Mercy and Mentors
So Sarah and I had a long conversation last night and we both realized we did not have the best grip on exactly what mercy and grace were and what the difference between them was. I started to try and explain it, and realized I had no idea how to do it.
So we turned to Scripture and it really didn't clear anything up (mostly due to my lack of understanding I am sure). So I turned to a mentor....
Which made me think. Having a mentor is very important.
Often today churches don't emphasize the need for mentorship. People are often actually told to read their Bible with no guidance. This can lead to very tragic theological consequences.
Not to say that people cannot understand the Bible on their own. And not to say that tradition ever trumps Scripture, but we have tradition and we have mentors for a reason. We can all use a voice of those more advanced in the faith than us to help us understand that which is just beyond our comprehension.
In this case grace is something that is not a one time thing (as we often think of it), but rather it is a one time gift (at regeneration) and it is an ongoing gift. So that there is common grace (those blessings that are given to all people regardless of their elect status) like air to breathe, food to eat, etc. Then we see the grace in sanctification (some people get more of this grace than others). Finally we will see grace in glorification (which we will all get an equal dose of as the elect).
Then we see mercy as the application of the work of Christ to sinners in their justification. But we also see it in the lives of the reprobate (because God delays their judgment).
Without tradition and without a mentor Sarah and I might have taken much longer to understand these concepts if we even got them at all.
Mike
So we turned to Scripture and it really didn't clear anything up (mostly due to my lack of understanding I am sure). So I turned to a mentor....
Which made me think. Having a mentor is very important.
Often today churches don't emphasize the need for mentorship. People are often actually told to read their Bible with no guidance. This can lead to very tragic theological consequences.
Not to say that people cannot understand the Bible on their own. And not to say that tradition ever trumps Scripture, but we have tradition and we have mentors for a reason. We can all use a voice of those more advanced in the faith than us to help us understand that which is just beyond our comprehension.
In this case grace is something that is not a one time thing (as we often think of it), but rather it is a one time gift (at regeneration) and it is an ongoing gift. So that there is common grace (those blessings that are given to all people regardless of their elect status) like air to breathe, food to eat, etc. Then we see the grace in sanctification (some people get more of this grace than others). Finally we will see grace in glorification (which we will all get an equal dose of as the elect).
Then we see mercy as the application of the work of Christ to sinners in their justification. But we also see it in the lives of the reprobate (because God delays their judgment).
Without tradition and without a mentor Sarah and I might have taken much longer to understand these concepts if we even got them at all.
Mike
Monday, August 9, 2010
The Old Rugged Cross
So, I am going to do that Mark 13 blog entry. Mark 13 is one of those chapters that is very easy in parts and very complicated in others. So I am still researching it (if this sounds like a cop out it might be). But I have something else on my mind today as well.
You see, I often struggle with my traditional, conservative self facing off with my revolutionary, progressive self. Part of it is that I am a moderate by nature, and part of it is the fact that I am moving from the time in my life where try to make the world the way it should be, to the part where I am learning to live in the world as it is.
So, you say, what does this have to do with an old rugged cross? Well, nothing specifically, but of course that song takes me back to my childhood, and of course appeals to my conservative side.
So, what does this have to do with anything? Well, as I was going to look at Mark 13 today, I was thinking where is my Bible? You see, we have tons of Bibles around the house, but often I will forgo them in lieu of an online Bible. My progressive side says it is much easier to compare different translations, and it is easier to use an online Concordance.
But part of me loves a well used Bible. Notes in the margins. Worn out pages. A cover that has been bent back. Hilighter. It is just so appealing to me. I mean I know I can't give my Bible to God and it doesn't really impress him.
So is it just a tie to my childhood and something that I really love, or is it a point of pride for me to have a "well used" Bible.
It is something I need to think about.
Mike
You see, I often struggle with my traditional, conservative self facing off with my revolutionary, progressive self. Part of it is that I am a moderate by nature, and part of it is the fact that I am moving from the time in my life where try to make the world the way it should be, to the part where I am learning to live in the world as it is.
So, you say, what does this have to do with an old rugged cross? Well, nothing specifically, but of course that song takes me back to my childhood, and of course appeals to my conservative side.
So, what does this have to do with anything? Well, as I was going to look at Mark 13 today, I was thinking where is my Bible? You see, we have tons of Bibles around the house, but often I will forgo them in lieu of an online Bible. My progressive side says it is much easier to compare different translations, and it is easier to use an online Concordance.
But part of me loves a well used Bible. Notes in the margins. Worn out pages. A cover that has been bent back. Hilighter. It is just so appealing to me. I mean I know I can't give my Bible to God and it doesn't really impress him.
So is it just a tie to my childhood and something that I really love, or is it a point of pride for me to have a "well used" Bible.
It is something I need to think about.
Mike
Monday, July 26, 2010
Mark 13:13
Wow, so I knew it had been a while but I didn't think it had been a whole month! Geez. I have never been good at the whole blogging thing, but since I am using it to keep myself reading and studying in The Word, I should post more often. Don't you hate it when life gets in the way? I don't know about others, but I tend to get really frustrated with myself when I am in a time of waning. But too much frustration doesn't do anyone any good, so it is just time to get back on the horse, so to speak.
Today I am looking at Mark 13:13. To be honest I knew I wanted to write, but I had no idea what to write about. I prayed for God to enlighten me and guide me in a study, but I had no idea what to study.
So, I opened up my trusty daily verse app on my phone (EVO not iPhone!) and what do you know it was actually something useful to write about (this app has a habit of giving random verses that when taken out of context don't make a whole lot of sense).
So, it gave me Mark 13:13 (NIV) "All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." This is a great verse to write about!
First off lets look at the setting. In Mark 13 Jesus is leaving the Temple. When the disciples point out how magnificent the Temple is, he tells them that eventually those buildings would be overturned. This leads the disciples to ask when this would happen. Now there is a lot of controversy about Mark 13. About what exactly Jesus is talking about, and whether it has already happened or if he is speaking of events yet to come. That is not what I am going to address here. Instead I am going skip to verse 13.
Now verse 13 is one of those verses in Scripture that can be applied to the people Jesus is talking to in that exact moment, and to us today as followers of Christ. Lets look at the verse and what I believe to be its two main implications.
First "All men will hate you because of me." First off, does the all here literally mean all? It can not or it would make a mockery of the greatest commandment. The All here, when taken with men, refers to all those who are not followers of Christ. Next, this is a statement of fact. Note the word "will" implying certainty. Hate is a very strong word, but think back to the last time you took a stand for the Truth in a group of non-believers (and not the watered down I don't want them to hate me truth, but the actual Truth of Scripture), I am willing to bet you were reacted to in a very strong negative fashion. Now, why do all men hate you? There is a direct reason. "because of me." Jesus knew that what he was teaching was not only not popular then, but would never be accepted by society at large. So then is this simply a warning to the disciples (and later Christians) that they would be hated by society? It is that, yes, but it is also more. Look deeper and you will see a way to measure your growth as a Christian.
N0w I know I am trampling some toes here, but it is often necessary to look at how we and those around us are growing as Christians. Not in order to condemn and judge, but in order to encourage and teach. For example I would feel more comfortable exploring the Trinity with a very mature believer than I would someone who is still on milk (so to speak). Well, how can I tell if this is something that should be explored? I can look for prof in their life of the level that they are on. In addition we must always be measuring ourselves. Not because we might backslide out of salvation, but rather to keep pushing ourselves further and further towards God. Well here Jesus gives you a measuring stick.
Are you hated by those who are not of Christ? And not hated because you are mean or judgmental or just annoying, but hated BECAUSE OF ME?
Now the second part of this verse "but he who stands firm to the end will be saved" has to be among the most misused verses in the Bible (probably in the top 10-20). What does this verse say? Well let me start with what it does not say. Hear this clearly. It does not say that we have to (in our own power) stand firm in our faith until the end to be saved. This is not a verse of judgment. You are not saved because you stand firm. So, if that is not the meaning here, then what is the meaning?
Well, we start with a but. So we have to look at the verses before. So, you are being hated, ridiculed, persecuted (because of him), now what? Do you give up? Give in? Change your tune? Or do you hold fast to His Word? Well lets see what you are supposed to do, then look at the implications.
"He" here doesn't tell us anything until we look at the modifiers. "He who stands firm". Now what is he standing firm in? Well, what are Christians commanded to stand firm in? Well 2Thess 2:15 says "So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter." But I like 2Cor 1:21-22 "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."
So "he who stands firm (in Christ) until the end" gives us the whole description. But how do we stand firm in Christ? Well, we can go right back to 2Cor 1:21-22 "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."
Notice that in all those actions GOD IS DOING AND WE ARE RECEIVING. The ONLY way we can stand firm in Christ is because of God. Because of his salvation, because of his anointing, because of his guaranteeing! Praise to God for this. Because if it were up to me as John Piper often says, I would make a royal mess of it. But God will not. Once God has chosen us and God has saved us, HE guarantees it. And not for 60 days, but for all eternity.
Now finishing up the verse, we see that "he who stands firm until the end will be saved." We know this is not a command that we must (under our own power) stand firm until the end to be saved (thank God for that as well, or Heaven would be a very empty place). Then what is it? It is a promise. A promise that if you find yourself being hated, being persecuted, you can stand firm in the salvation that God has given you and speak his Truth boldly and honestly, and when you look at your life and you see the places where God allowed you the strength to proclaim his Truth that you will indeed be saved and can count on an eternity in the presence of the Living God.
Mike
Today I am looking at Mark 13:13. To be honest I knew I wanted to write, but I had no idea what to write about. I prayed for God to enlighten me and guide me in a study, but I had no idea what to study.
So, I opened up my trusty daily verse app on my phone (EVO not iPhone!) and what do you know it was actually something useful to write about (this app has a habit of giving random verses that when taken out of context don't make a whole lot of sense).
So, it gave me Mark 13:13 (NIV) "All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." This is a great verse to write about!
First off lets look at the setting. In Mark 13 Jesus is leaving the Temple. When the disciples point out how magnificent the Temple is, he tells them that eventually those buildings would be overturned. This leads the disciples to ask when this would happen. Now there is a lot of controversy about Mark 13. About what exactly Jesus is talking about, and whether it has already happened or if he is speaking of events yet to come. That is not what I am going to address here. Instead I am going skip to verse 13.
Now verse 13 is one of those verses in Scripture that can be applied to the people Jesus is talking to in that exact moment, and to us today as followers of Christ. Lets look at the verse and what I believe to be its two main implications.
First "All men will hate you because of me." First off, does the all here literally mean all? It can not or it would make a mockery of the greatest commandment. The All here, when taken with men, refers to all those who are not followers of Christ. Next, this is a statement of fact. Note the word "will" implying certainty. Hate is a very strong word, but think back to the last time you took a stand for the Truth in a group of non-believers (and not the watered down I don't want them to hate me truth, but the actual Truth of Scripture), I am willing to bet you were reacted to in a very strong negative fashion. Now, why do all men hate you? There is a direct reason. "because of me." Jesus knew that what he was teaching was not only not popular then, but would never be accepted by society at large. So then is this simply a warning to the disciples (and later Christians) that they would be hated by society? It is that, yes, but it is also more. Look deeper and you will see a way to measure your growth as a Christian.
N0w I know I am trampling some toes here, but it is often necessary to look at how we and those around us are growing as Christians. Not in order to condemn and judge, but in order to encourage and teach. For example I would feel more comfortable exploring the Trinity with a very mature believer than I would someone who is still on milk (so to speak). Well, how can I tell if this is something that should be explored? I can look for prof in their life of the level that they are on. In addition we must always be measuring ourselves. Not because we might backslide out of salvation, but rather to keep pushing ourselves further and further towards God. Well here Jesus gives you a measuring stick.
Are you hated by those who are not of Christ? And not hated because you are mean or judgmental or just annoying, but hated BECAUSE OF ME?
Now the second part of this verse "but he who stands firm to the end will be saved" has to be among the most misused verses in the Bible (probably in the top 10-20). What does this verse say? Well let me start with what it does not say. Hear this clearly. It does not say that we have to (in our own power) stand firm in our faith until the end to be saved. This is not a verse of judgment. You are not saved because you stand firm. So, if that is not the meaning here, then what is the meaning?
Well, we start with a but. So we have to look at the verses before. So, you are being hated, ridiculed, persecuted (because of him), now what? Do you give up? Give in? Change your tune? Or do you hold fast to His Word? Well lets see what you are supposed to do, then look at the implications.
"He" here doesn't tell us anything until we look at the modifiers. "He who stands firm". Now what is he standing firm in? Well, what are Christians commanded to stand firm in? Well 2Thess 2:15 says "So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter." But I like 2Cor 1:21-22 "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."
So "he who stands firm (in Christ) until the end" gives us the whole description. But how do we stand firm in Christ? Well, we can go right back to 2Cor 1:21-22 "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."
Notice that in all those actions GOD IS DOING AND WE ARE RECEIVING. The ONLY way we can stand firm in Christ is because of God. Because of his salvation, because of his anointing, because of his guaranteeing! Praise to God for this. Because if it were up to me as John Piper often says, I would make a royal mess of it. But God will not. Once God has chosen us and God has saved us, HE guarantees it. And not for 60 days, but for all eternity.
Now finishing up the verse, we see that "he who stands firm until the end will be saved." We know this is not a command that we must (under our own power) stand firm until the end to be saved (thank God for that as well, or Heaven would be a very empty place). Then what is it? It is a promise. A promise that if you find yourself being hated, being persecuted, you can stand firm in the salvation that God has given you and speak his Truth boldly and honestly, and when you look at your life and you see the places where God allowed you the strength to proclaim his Truth that you will indeed be saved and can count on an eternity in the presence of the Living God.
Mike
Monday, June 14, 2010
The writings on the wall...
With all the talk of college football conference realignment the old saying "the writing's on the wall" has been throw around a lot (I know, you thought this was a theological blog, why am I talking about college football?), well how many of us know the etymology of this phrase?
It turns out, it is from Daniel Chapter 5. When Balshazzar, the king of the Chaldeans was dining with his lords, concubines, etc a hand appeared and wrote something on the wall of the great chamber where they dined. Maybe some of us know the basic story, but lets look a little deeper.
First of all, as they dine Balshazzar commands that golden vessels (that his father looted from the temple in Jerusalem, now his father, Nebuchadnezzar had been raised up by God to judge Israel, but had become too big for his britches my mom would say and was humbled by the Lord and spent his final days eating with field animals and sleeping in the rain, but that is another blog) be brought for his lords and concubines to drink out of as they celebrated their gods of wood, silver, gold, etc.
Lets stop here for a moment. Balshazzar was the ruler of a large kingdom. He was the man so to speak. But, like his father, he thought he was greater than he was. He was simply a tool, used of God in instruction of his people. All he had was from God, and he did not recognize it. In fact he blasphemed God by drinking in this wine out of vessels looted from the temple. Do we recognize often enough that what we have is from God? Do we thank him enough for all that we have (even if what we have is not that much)?
Back to the story. A hand appears as they eat and writes on the wall. At this Balshazzar turns white. I think were I in his position I might be laying on the floor, but that is another story. Anyway, the hand writes something on the wall, and everyone is mystified. No one can translate the writing. The Queen enters and clams everyone down, letting the king know there is a man in his kingdom that can translate it. Sound familiar? This is very similar to the story of Joseph from Genesis. In fact if you look at the top level analysis, Joseph and Daniel have a lot in common. Anyway, once again a great man of God is in a position to bring glory to God. God placed him (in exile), tested him (with the golden statue), and now gives him a chance to make good on bring Him the glory (and of course there is no question that he will, God does not need a backup plan). What happens next?
The king calls for Daniel and promises him a large reward if he can translate it. Daniel turns down this reward (he knows who gives the best rewards, how often do we settle for the rewards of this world, when there are so much better rewards for us?) and and delivers a message to the King. It is a message letting Balshazzar know that all the power his father had was from God, and when he became too cocky he was humbled by God. Now the same thing has happened to Balshazzar, he has angered God (never good) and will now suffer the consequences. This is bad news for the king! In fact I would be surprised if he were not furious! How often do we try and "save" people (ourselves included) by "softening" bad news? How often do we water down the Gospel for fear of angering or hurting or offending people? Are we following Daniels example? The Gospel has been given to us, to our care, spelled out, and made very clear. It is not up to us to soften it, to take the edges off, to alter it in any way, no matter our motivations.
So, how does the story end? Daniel translates the message, and is clothed in purple robes and gold (perhaps an example of the fate of those who deliver God's messages with their intent), and the empire of the Chaldeans is conquered by Darius.
So, what can we see here?
1. Do we recognize that all we have is from God? He is the giver of all things. Do we devote our resources toward the building of the Kingdom?
2. That we are being placed, tested, and given our positions in life in order that we may bring Glory to God? That God knows what he is doing when does this, that there are no mistakes?
3. That we are messengers of God and entrusted with his most important message (the Gospel of Jesus Christ) and that we are to deliver it, unaltered, to those around us, no matter the cost?
By the way, what did the message say? Mene, mene, Takel, and Parsin. Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."
What can this message say to us? God has numbered all of our days. How will we spend them? For Christians we have no need to fear the judgment for Christ has tipped the scales and allows us to be found righteous (by his blood along). And people who chose to live for themselves will find their legacy swallowed up by entropy. We might be remembered for 10 years or 100 or even 1000, but only God is everlasting. Only his kingdom will not fall.
Mike
PS Did you ever notice when you say "the writing is on the wall" it is never (or should never be if used correctly) anything good you are referring to? It is always the end of something, the destruction of something, the fall of something....
It turns out, it is from Daniel Chapter 5. When Balshazzar, the king of the Chaldeans was dining with his lords, concubines, etc a hand appeared and wrote something on the wall of the great chamber where they dined. Maybe some of us know the basic story, but lets look a little deeper.
First of all, as they dine Balshazzar commands that golden vessels (that his father looted from the temple in Jerusalem, now his father, Nebuchadnezzar had been raised up by God to judge Israel, but had become too big for his britches my mom would say and was humbled by the Lord and spent his final days eating with field animals and sleeping in the rain, but that is another blog) be brought for his lords and concubines to drink out of as they celebrated their gods of wood, silver, gold, etc.
Lets stop here for a moment. Balshazzar was the ruler of a large kingdom. He was the man so to speak. But, like his father, he thought he was greater than he was. He was simply a tool, used of God in instruction of his people. All he had was from God, and he did not recognize it. In fact he blasphemed God by drinking in this wine out of vessels looted from the temple. Do we recognize often enough that what we have is from God? Do we thank him enough for all that we have (even if what we have is not that much)?
Back to the story. A hand appears as they eat and writes on the wall. At this Balshazzar turns white. I think were I in his position I might be laying on the floor, but that is another story. Anyway, the hand writes something on the wall, and everyone is mystified. No one can translate the writing. The Queen enters and clams everyone down, letting the king know there is a man in his kingdom that can translate it. Sound familiar? This is very similar to the story of Joseph from Genesis. In fact if you look at the top level analysis, Joseph and Daniel have a lot in common. Anyway, once again a great man of God is in a position to bring glory to God. God placed him (in exile), tested him (with the golden statue), and now gives him a chance to make good on bring Him the glory (and of course there is no question that he will, God does not need a backup plan). What happens next?
The king calls for Daniel and promises him a large reward if he can translate it. Daniel turns down this reward (he knows who gives the best rewards, how often do we settle for the rewards of this world, when there are so much better rewards for us?) and and delivers a message to the King. It is a message letting Balshazzar know that all the power his father had was from God, and when he became too cocky he was humbled by God. Now the same thing has happened to Balshazzar, he has angered God (never good) and will now suffer the consequences. This is bad news for the king! In fact I would be surprised if he were not furious! How often do we try and "save" people (ourselves included) by "softening" bad news? How often do we water down the Gospel for fear of angering or hurting or offending people? Are we following Daniels example? The Gospel has been given to us, to our care, spelled out, and made very clear. It is not up to us to soften it, to take the edges off, to alter it in any way, no matter our motivations.
So, how does the story end? Daniel translates the message, and is clothed in purple robes and gold (perhaps an example of the fate of those who deliver God's messages with their intent), and the empire of the Chaldeans is conquered by Darius.
So, what can we see here?
1. Do we recognize that all we have is from God? He is the giver of all things. Do we devote our resources toward the building of the Kingdom?
2. That we are being placed, tested, and given our positions in life in order that we may bring Glory to God? That God knows what he is doing when does this, that there are no mistakes?
3. That we are messengers of God and entrusted with his most important message (the Gospel of Jesus Christ) and that we are to deliver it, unaltered, to those around us, no matter the cost?
By the way, what did the message say? Mene, mene, Takel, and Parsin. Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."
What can this message say to us? God has numbered all of our days. How will we spend them? For Christians we have no need to fear the judgment for Christ has tipped the scales and allows us to be found righteous (by his blood along). And people who chose to live for themselves will find their legacy swallowed up by entropy. We might be remembered for 10 years or 100 or even 1000, but only God is everlasting. Only his kingdom will not fall.
Mike
PS Did you ever notice when you say "the writing is on the wall" it is never (or should never be if used correctly) anything good you are referring to? It is always the end of something, the destruction of something, the fall of something....
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Luke 7:36-50
So I have to admit, it has been a while since I read my Bible (maybe 6 months) and a little while since I seriously thought about anything Theological.
I volunteer in the ministry when my health holds up to it, so if I am feeling well, I hear a lot of sermons.
But for some reasons my desire to know God more deeply and follow him more fully has waned in the past few months. Now I know people will say that the Christian life goes in seasons. But that sounds suspiciously like an excuse to me. And I don't like excuses.
So, with that in mind, I heard a sermon not too long ago on Luke 7:36-50. This passage could easily be misinterpreted. Specifically, 47-50. When we look it appears very innocuous...
47Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." 48And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?" 50And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
You would not believe how many times that I have heard that this woman's love (and by extension her actions) are why her sins were forgiven. That she did something that others did not. We know this can not be true (forgiveness of sins is a gift of God and can not be earned by any means), so then what is 47-50 saying? If we look at the whole passage it becomes obvious.
Jesus tells Simon that her sins are forgiven. But note he has not yet said to her "your sins are forgiven", but rather he is telling Simon that they are. How does he know that they are (besides the fact he is Jesus)? Because she loved much! The next statement confirms this. He who is forgiven little, loves little. Then we see the direct refutation of the way that some people attempt to use this verse. "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
This leads me to my questions. If Jesus looked at your life, would he say that you loved little or loved much?
Do you take his words at heart and "go in peace?"
Mike
I volunteer in the ministry when my health holds up to it, so if I am feeling well, I hear a lot of sermons.
But for some reasons my desire to know God more deeply and follow him more fully has waned in the past few months. Now I know people will say that the Christian life goes in seasons. But that sounds suspiciously like an excuse to me. And I don't like excuses.
So, with that in mind, I heard a sermon not too long ago on Luke 7:36-50. This passage could easily be misinterpreted. Specifically, 47-50. When we look it appears very innocuous...
47Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." 48And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?" 50And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
You would not believe how many times that I have heard that this woman's love (and by extension her actions) are why her sins were forgiven. That she did something that others did not. We know this can not be true (forgiveness of sins is a gift of God and can not be earned by any means), so then what is 47-50 saying? If we look at the whole passage it becomes obvious.
Jesus tells Simon that her sins are forgiven. But note he has not yet said to her "your sins are forgiven", but rather he is telling Simon that they are. How does he know that they are (besides the fact he is Jesus)? Because she loved much! The next statement confirms this. He who is forgiven little, loves little. Then we see the direct refutation of the way that some people attempt to use this verse. "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
This leads me to my questions. If Jesus looked at your life, would he say that you loved little or loved much?
Do you take his words at heart and "go in peace?"
Mike
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