The shortest chapter of Ezekiel is where I am turning my attention this evening. Chapter two concludes a rather interesting story that begin in chapter one. This first chapter showcases for us a rather unusual vision by Ezekiel but response at the end is where we need to start. This passage provides for us an understanding of how God can and will use us for His glory.
He humbles us - 1:28 tell us that "this was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. So when I saw it, I fell on my face." When Ezekiel realizes that he is standing before the Almighty Creator of the Universe, the King of kings and Lord of lords, he bows in humility. At that point, he has realized his insignificance when compared to a Sovereign God. Our problem is that we have too high a view of ourselves and believe we are doing God a favor by serving Him. Nothing could be fahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifrther from the truth! I've heard it said that "God cannot use a person until they have hit rock bottom first." I firmly believe that statement to be true; because when we realize our worthlessness, we see how much we need God. At that point, anything that we do from there on will be for His glory and not our own.
He speaks to us - 2:1 shows that God "said to me" and later on "I will speak to you." When we are humbled and truly seek God's direction, He will speak to us. A neon sign in the sky will not appear; but if we truly seek Him through Bible study and prayer, He does speak to us. Our part is to be patiently waiting and listening for His words; and when He does speak, we need to respond as He leads.
He sends us - 2:3-4 reveals that God does send us to do His bidding. There is a mentality in American Christianity that we all want to get to heaven but we don't want to love the King who is there. That fact cannot be revealed any more clearly that by individuals that pick and choose whether to serve God. We want comfortable situations and not any difficulty or suffering. For instance, God told Ezekiel that he was being sent to "a rebellious nation" that has "transgressed against Me." They are "impudent and stubborn children." This place of ministry does not sound very inviting, but God wanted Ezekiel to go. Why? Regardless of the choice they made, Ezekiel's obedience would cause them to "know that a prophet has been among them." In our modern vernacular, Ezekiel would stand out in this culture because his life and the words of his lips would be unlike anything these folks have heard.
He wants us to trust Him - 2:6 takes this one step further as God provides comfort in that he should "not be afraid of them no be afraid of their words." As said above, modern Christians will serve conditionally because we enjoy our life of luxury way too much. That shows everyone that our love for God is secondary to our love of things. The Bible clearly tells us that any who live Godly "shall suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12). Note the words carefully -- not may but shall. Instead, we need to consider and follow the words of 1 Peter 4:19 -- "let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator." Earlier, Peter says that our suffering should produce personal joy because we are bringing glory to the One who have everything for us. Remember that God has never failed you, nor will He; and during those difficult times, just trust Him and watch Him work through you.
He wants our obedience - 2:8 concludes the thought with God saying "hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious..." The phrasing here indicates more that just a hearing of God's words, because Israel had heard God, but including an understanding that evolved into action. People today will say that are listening to you, and that may be true, but have the HEARD what you were saying? That is the most appropriate question. God was imploring Ezekiel to hear His words, understand them, and then act upon them by obeying His Lord.
This short passage provides a wonderful example of finding the will of God. The steps are rather simple: (1) develop a proper view of yourself in the light of your Master, (2) dig into the Word of God to see what He has to say, (3 details of God's task for you will come at the proper time, (4) determine to trust God and get your eyes off the responses of man, and (5) do what you have been instructed.
Refusing God simply means that you love yourself more than you Savior. He is the only Being in the universe that has the right to command us to do His bidding. How? He created us and he purchased us by the blood of His Son. He is worthy and I am not (nor are you). Our choices are simple: be like Ezekiel whom God uses or be like Israel whom God calls rebellious and stubborn. One path chooses the wrath of the True Judge while the other path chooses slighting by man. That's an easy choice -- I'd rather offend the world by the love of God than offending God due to a love of the world.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
A Christmas Surmise....
Every home has its Christmas traditions, and ours is no different. We read the first half of the Christmas story before we open the 1 present we each get on Christmas Eve. We conclude the Christmas story on Christmas Day, once again, before we open any presents at all. Our hope is to keep the reason for this day before us all.
Tonight, I watched my son tear into any and all paper that he could find. I laughed and flipped through the forward of the book I was given. The person writing the forward made a point about Acts 11:26 that I had never seen before: the disciples at Antioch were first called Christians. Yeah, we all know that; but notice the language of the verse -- they were called Christians. The term was given to them by outsiders and this was not a moniker they chose for themselves.
This point led me to some examination of the word Christian. The Greek word for Christian is christianos. The last half of this word - ianos - is where we will spend our time tonight. This last part of the word for Christian literally means "slave of a great family." It references the wealthy Roman families that owned multiple slaves and that a specific slave could be easily identified with a specific Roman family.
Is this not a great picture of what we as Christians are to be? We are members of a greater family than our own whose wealth is more than all the gold of this world. Should not an unsaved person be able to observe our lives and immediately identify us with Christ? Unfortunately, our lukewarm Christianity in America has blurred the lines between the holy and profane. We have not followed I John 2:15 and do love much of this world and its offerings instead of the One that created it all.
Let's return back to that nickname give to the disciples in Antioch -- Christians. Knowing that this name literally means "a slave of Christ" and carried an implication that they were "easily identified with Christ," we impose our interpretation of the word upon it instead of looking at the culture of that time. This term - Christian - very well may have served two purposes: as a mocking term and a means to an end.
(1) Mocking term: those who did not believe in Christ rejected His claim as Messiah; so to reinforce their unbelief AND mock the disciples, they chose a term that is supposed to refer to a individuals bound to a wealthy and prestigious family. You can almost hear their sarcasm as they called the disciples "slaves to the great family of Christ."
(2) Means to an end: the Roman emperor was to be the individual served and worshiped; so using this term would clearly identify those who did not worship the Roman ruler. Therefore, being called a Christian and worshiping Christ was to risk being persecuted for your lack of faith in the earthly Caesar. Take a look at 1 Peter 4:12-16 to get some additional information about Christians knowing and understanding the risks of persecution.
As we celebrate the day where Jesus Christ came to this earth for all mankind, let's recommit to loving Him as He loved us -- supremely. If we choose to love the world more than God, then the last part of I John 2:15 applies to us -- the love of the Father is not in us. Never forget that Jesus told us to love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37). Simply put, every facet of our being is to be devoted solely to loving Him more than anything else. If we do that, others will notice a difference and will identify us with Christ.
As I conclude, consider the lyrics to two Christmas songs - a classic and a modern one. The classic song is "Joy to the World" and note this phrase: "the Lord is come. Let earth receive her king. Let every heart prepare Him room." The modern song is "While You Were Sleeping" and here's the phrase: "Bethlehem, you'll go down in history as a city with no room for its king, while you were sleeping."
The obvious question of both is simple: have you prepared your heart for Jesus or have you occupied it with a love for other things so that you are sleeping while He is waiting to get in? By opening your heart to Him, you can have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
Tonight, I watched my son tear into any and all paper that he could find. I laughed and flipped through the forward of the book I was given. The person writing the forward made a point about Acts 11:26 that I had never seen before: the disciples at Antioch were first called Christians. Yeah, we all know that; but notice the language of the verse -- they were called Christians. The term was given to them by outsiders and this was not a moniker they chose for themselves.
This point led me to some examination of the word Christian. The Greek word for Christian is christianos. The last half of this word - ianos - is where we will spend our time tonight. This last part of the word for Christian literally means "slave of a great family." It references the wealthy Roman families that owned multiple slaves and that a specific slave could be easily identified with a specific Roman family.
Is this not a great picture of what we as Christians are to be? We are members of a greater family than our own whose wealth is more than all the gold of this world. Should not an unsaved person be able to observe our lives and immediately identify us with Christ? Unfortunately, our lukewarm Christianity in America has blurred the lines between the holy and profane. We have not followed I John 2:15 and do love much of this world and its offerings instead of the One that created it all.
Let's return back to that nickname give to the disciples in Antioch -- Christians. Knowing that this name literally means "a slave of Christ" and carried an implication that they were "easily identified with Christ," we impose our interpretation of the word upon it instead of looking at the culture of that time. This term - Christian - very well may have served two purposes: as a mocking term and a means to an end.
(1) Mocking term: those who did not believe in Christ rejected His claim as Messiah; so to reinforce their unbelief AND mock the disciples, they chose a term that is supposed to refer to a individuals bound to a wealthy and prestigious family. You can almost hear their sarcasm as they called the disciples "slaves to the great family of Christ."
(2) Means to an end: the Roman emperor was to be the individual served and worshiped; so using this term would clearly identify those who did not worship the Roman ruler. Therefore, being called a Christian and worshiping Christ was to risk being persecuted for your lack of faith in the earthly Caesar. Take a look at 1 Peter 4:12-16 to get some additional information about Christians knowing and understanding the risks of persecution.
As we celebrate the day where Jesus Christ came to this earth for all mankind, let's recommit to loving Him as He loved us -- supremely. If we choose to love the world more than God, then the last part of I John 2:15 applies to us -- the love of the Father is not in us. Never forget that Jesus told us to love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37). Simply put, every facet of our being is to be devoted solely to loving Him more than anything else. If we do that, others will notice a difference and will identify us with Christ.
As I conclude, consider the lyrics to two Christmas songs - a classic and a modern one. The classic song is "Joy to the World" and note this phrase: "the Lord is come. Let earth receive her king. Let every heart prepare Him room." The modern song is "While You Were Sleeping" and here's the phrase: "Bethlehem, you'll go down in history as a city with no room for its king, while you were sleeping."
The obvious question of both is simple: have you prepared your heart for Jesus or have you occupied it with a love for other things so that you are sleeping while He is waiting to get in? By opening your heart to Him, you can have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
A Praising Apology....
We come to the final section of the New Testament apologetics book -- the short 25 verses of Jude. These last 2 verses are really the benediction or closing by the author; however, they are very instructive for apologetics.
Verse 24 and the first part of verse 25 reveal to us a tremendous description of who our God is: (1) He alone has the strength and power to keep us from sin, (2) His presence is of substantial glory that further highlights His worthiness and our worthlessness, (3) He is our Savior indicating that we cannot defend ourselves from the penalty of sin, and (4) He is the true and sole source of wisdom in the world.
This description of God reminds me of I Corinthians 1:18-31. In this passage, Paul tells the church at Corinth that the "message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing" but for the saved, "it is the power of God" (verse 18). The delineation here is in the nature -- the unsaved have no desire to change their ways while the saved have a new system of wants, in that, they wish to remain pure before God. He also says that God has made "foolish the wisdom of this world" (verse 20); and if that is the case, then the only true source of wisdom, then, is God. Paul continues in verse 25 by saying that "the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men." This statement, along with the general flow of the passage, showcases His value is infinitely more than our own. Paul's conclusion is the same as that of Jude: "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord" (verse 31).
While apologetics has a piece where we learn more about the evidence for our faith and are always ready to answer the questions of others, there is another element to its study -- we gain a more clear understanding of just how great our God is and just how much we need Him. John Piper has said: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." That statement perfectly fits here! When we are totally satisfied in this world because of the peace that only God can give, the unsaved world marvels at the Source of that contentment.
The last few phrases of Jude 25 reveal to us what our response to this knowledge should be: ascribing to Him "glory and majesty" and "dominion and power." With these 2 couplets, let's break them apart. The first one - glory and majesty - is where we share what God has done for us and highlight those two features of His character. He is supremely worth while we are not, and His love is so far beyond ours due to His sacrifice for us even when we were not deserving of that gift. The second couplet - dominion and power - is where we yield our lives totally to His will. D.L. Moody said: "The world is yet to see what God can do with one man wholly committed to Him." When we surrender our lives to Christ, we often try to hold on to something; and that act inhibits the brightness of His glory shining through us. Give Him your all because that is what He did for you.
To conclude this short study of apologetics, I hope you see these end results:
(1) A Christian must study and know the Word of God in order to share their faith. This witnessing to others is both by example and by direct conversation.
(2) A Christian in sharing their faith must share the whole truth in love, even risking the possible offense of a person. Political correctness waters down the truth, thereby minimizing its effect.
(3) A Christian will encounter false teaching and should be able to discern truth from error because they know the truth so well. Christ told us to expect this event, so we must be prepared to address it.
(4) A Christian that studies the Word for apologetic purposes will gain a better picture of how great our God is. That realization will be life-changing and should lead to a life more in control of the Savior.
My prayer is that you have found these thoughts over the past few weeks as challenging as have I. "To God be the glory....great things HE hath done!"
Verse 24 and the first part of verse 25 reveal to us a tremendous description of who our God is: (1) He alone has the strength and power to keep us from sin, (2) His presence is of substantial glory that further highlights His worthiness and our worthlessness, (3) He is our Savior indicating that we cannot defend ourselves from the penalty of sin, and (4) He is the true and sole source of wisdom in the world.
This description of God reminds me of I Corinthians 1:18-31. In this passage, Paul tells the church at Corinth that the "message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing" but for the saved, "it is the power of God" (verse 18). The delineation here is in the nature -- the unsaved have no desire to change their ways while the saved have a new system of wants, in that, they wish to remain pure before God. He also says that God has made "foolish the wisdom of this world" (verse 20); and if that is the case, then the only true source of wisdom, then, is God. Paul continues in verse 25 by saying that "the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men." This statement, along with the general flow of the passage, showcases His value is infinitely more than our own. Paul's conclusion is the same as that of Jude: "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord" (verse 31).
While apologetics has a piece where we learn more about the evidence for our faith and are always ready to answer the questions of others, there is another element to its study -- we gain a more clear understanding of just how great our God is and just how much we need Him. John Piper has said: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." That statement perfectly fits here! When we are totally satisfied in this world because of the peace that only God can give, the unsaved world marvels at the Source of that contentment.
The last few phrases of Jude 25 reveal to us what our response to this knowledge should be: ascribing to Him "glory and majesty" and "dominion and power." With these 2 couplets, let's break them apart. The first one - glory and majesty - is where we share what God has done for us and highlight those two features of His character. He is supremely worth while we are not, and His love is so far beyond ours due to His sacrifice for us even when we were not deserving of that gift. The second couplet - dominion and power - is where we yield our lives totally to His will. D.L. Moody said: "The world is yet to see what God can do with one man wholly committed to Him." When we surrender our lives to Christ, we often try to hold on to something; and that act inhibits the brightness of His glory shining through us. Give Him your all because that is what He did for you.
To conclude this short study of apologetics, I hope you see these end results:
(1) A Christian must study and know the Word of God in order to share their faith. This witnessing to others is both by example and by direct conversation.
(2) A Christian in sharing their faith must share the whole truth in love, even risking the possible offense of a person. Political correctness waters down the truth, thereby minimizing its effect.
(3) A Christian will encounter false teaching and should be able to discern truth from error because they know the truth so well. Christ told us to expect this event, so we must be prepared to address it.
(4) A Christian that studies the Word for apologetic purposes will gain a better picture of how great our God is. That realization will be life-changing and should lead to a life more in control of the Savior.
My prayer is that you have found these thoughts over the past few weeks as challenging as have I. "To God be the glory....great things HE hath done!"
Sunday, December 13, 2009
A Predicted Apology....
Verses 16-23 show us that the need for apologetics has been predicted by none other than the apostles. Where would that have received such a prediction? Their Master, Jesus Christ!! He told them in Matthew 7:15-16a to "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruit." That last phrase rises to a place of importance in this discussion because, as a pastor that started a church I attend in NC said, "we cannot judge people but we can be fruit inspectors."
In moving back to Jude, we see a list of characteristics in verse 16: grumblers (offers criticism against God), complainers (discontented with status in life), walk according to their own lusts (their desires elevated over that of any other), mouth great swelling words (exaggerate with their speech), and flatter to gain advantage (speak admiration of others for the sole purpose of getting something in return).
The root of each characteristic described can be found in the phrase "walk according to their own lusts" in verse 16 and once again in verse 18. It is that penchant to get what they want at all costs that lead folks to abandon the truth and go the way of error. That may mean compromising, even if slightly, your beliefs to hang around those who can get you a promotion or money. Never forget, though, that Lot merely pitched his tent toward Sodom; and before he knew it, the family was living in Sodom and had married into the ruling class of the city. This underscores the importance of apologetics -- one small slip could begin a general trend downward on a slippery slope -- in that we must know the truth and stand solidly for it.
While the deferment from truth has been predicted, so has the needed response. Verse 20 starts by saying "but you," which is a direct contrast to the verses before, and continues within "building yourselves up on your most holy faith." So, we are to build up or strengthen our stand on truth and, in verse 21, to keep ourselves in the love of God. However, the passage does not stop there. Verses 22-23 speak of saving others by "pulling them out of the fire."
I know what you are thinking -- just get to the point -- so I will. If we do not exhibit the characteristics mentioned earlier in the passage and strengthen our understanding of truth while keeping ourselves in the love of God, then we have a mission to accomplish. We are to look at this world and have compassion on those who do not know Christ, but we must do more that just look -- we have to take action by telling them the truth. Yes, the need for apologetics is predicted in that error would be taught; but also, the mission of apologetics is predicted because we must teach to truth to dispel the errors that are known to be coming.
Let me give you a perfect example and you can access the full study at this URL -- http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=490#3. The study essentially says that religious Americans mix multiple beliefs, and listen to these startling results from "Protestants:" 20% believe in reincarnation, 20% believe that spiritual energy permeates everything in life, 21% believe in astrology, and 16% believe in the "evil eye" (that someone can cast a spell or put a curse on someone else). These beliefs are hard to swallow in the light of the Bible, so that begs the question of just how much truth is being espoused in this world. We see, even in our modern time, the predicted need of apologetics is still valid!
Yet, there is some good news in this study. The folks at the Pew Forum break this down for the "Protestant" category, which is, of course, a catch-all. A need breakdown is between those that attend "weekly" or "less often." For those that weekly, this is defined as one service a week, their is a considerable decline in those that believe the facts cited in the previous category. The average rate of change across those 4 categories is 66%!! Let me translate: if you attend ONE service a week, you are 66% more likely to spot truth and error. Just think what that means if the individuals attend more than one service a week!!
Again, the term "Protestant" is a catch-all group; so, we must ensure that our Bible-believing churches are, in fact, teaching sound doctrine to its people. If those in the church are not believing and understanding the truth, then how can we expect it to be taught to those who are not in the church?
Be sure that you are, personally, a student of Biblical doctrine because knowing the truth sets you free (John 8:32) from the false promises offered by this world.
In moving back to Jude, we see a list of characteristics in verse 16: grumblers (offers criticism against God), complainers (discontented with status in life), walk according to their own lusts (their desires elevated over that of any other), mouth great swelling words (exaggerate with their speech), and flatter to gain advantage (speak admiration of others for the sole purpose of getting something in return).
The root of each characteristic described can be found in the phrase "walk according to their own lusts" in verse 16 and once again in verse 18. It is that penchant to get what they want at all costs that lead folks to abandon the truth and go the way of error. That may mean compromising, even if slightly, your beliefs to hang around those who can get you a promotion or money. Never forget, though, that Lot merely pitched his tent toward Sodom; and before he knew it, the family was living in Sodom and had married into the ruling class of the city. This underscores the importance of apologetics -- one small slip could begin a general trend downward on a slippery slope -- in that we must know the truth and stand solidly for it.
While the deferment from truth has been predicted, so has the needed response. Verse 20 starts by saying "but you," which is a direct contrast to the verses before, and continues within "building yourselves up on your most holy faith." So, we are to build up or strengthen our stand on truth and, in verse 21, to keep ourselves in the love of God. However, the passage does not stop there. Verses 22-23 speak of saving others by "pulling them out of the fire."
I know what you are thinking -- just get to the point -- so I will. If we do not exhibit the characteristics mentioned earlier in the passage and strengthen our understanding of truth while keeping ourselves in the love of God, then we have a mission to accomplish. We are to look at this world and have compassion on those who do not know Christ, but we must do more that just look -- we have to take action by telling them the truth. Yes, the need for apologetics is predicted in that error would be taught; but also, the mission of apologetics is predicted because we must teach to truth to dispel the errors that are known to be coming.
Let me give you a perfect example and you can access the full study at this URL -- http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=490#3. The study essentially says that religious Americans mix multiple beliefs, and listen to these startling results from "Protestants:" 20% believe in reincarnation, 20% believe that spiritual energy permeates everything in life, 21% believe in astrology, and 16% believe in the "evil eye" (that someone can cast a spell or put a curse on someone else). These beliefs are hard to swallow in the light of the Bible, so that begs the question of just how much truth is being espoused in this world. We see, even in our modern time, the predicted need of apologetics is still valid!
Yet, there is some good news in this study. The folks at the Pew Forum break this down for the "Protestant" category, which is, of course, a catch-all. A need breakdown is between those that attend "weekly" or "less often." For those that weekly, this is defined as one service a week, their is a considerable decline in those that believe the facts cited in the previous category. The average rate of change across those 4 categories is 66%!! Let me translate: if you attend ONE service a week, you are 66% more likely to spot truth and error. Just think what that means if the individuals attend more than one service a week!!
Again, the term "Protestant" is a catch-all group; so, we must ensure that our Bible-believing churches are, in fact, teaching sound doctrine to its people. If those in the church are not believing and understanding the truth, then how can we expect it to be taught to those who are not in the church?
Be sure that you are, personally, a student of Biblical doctrine because knowing the truth sets you free (John 8:32) from the false promises offered by this world.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
A Punishing Apology....
This section of Jude that becomes difficult for many individuals. Verses 5-15 tell us that punishment is coming for those that refuse and reject the truth offered by Jesus Christ. These are personal choices with eternal consequences, and verse 8 tell us the reason behind their refusal of Him -- "Likewise also these...reject authority." Typically, a person rejects authority because they think of themselves so highly that no one should tell them how to act. Philosophers would call this existentialism and Soren Kierkegaard sums it up best: "the thing is to find a truth that is true for ME, to find the idea for which I can live and die." Call it what you may philosophically, but the unnamed issue is pride, which has a rather difficult end: Proverbs 16:18 says "Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall."
One error that we make in sharing and/or defending our faith is that we present our evidence or defense while neglecting to share the consequences of a personal refusal of the truth. Look at the examples provided for us by Jude: (1) Verse 5 shows that God "destroyed those who did not believe;" (2) verse 7 highlights Sodom and Gomorrah who are "set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire; (3) verse 13 tells us that these folks will face "the blackness of darkness forever;" and (4) verses 14-15 reveal the prophecy of Enoch that the Lord would return "to convict all who are ungodly" in that they have "spoken against Him" (and His truth).
Using and old Southern phrase here, God is "not beating around the bush" but is clearly revealing the end result of their choices. So, why do we fail to take that next step by presenting the evidence of our case and consequences if a person choose not to believe? Part of the issue is that we forget we are truly bond-servants of Christ (see the entry entitled "A Personal Apology"). My high school soccer coach, who was referencing Romans 12:1, often said "the problem with a living sacrifice is that it keeps crawling off the altar." How true! When we forget our place and begin to think a little more about ourselves than others (i.e. become prideful), we shy away from speaking the whole truth with others.
The other part of the issue is that we fall into the philosophical trap of determinism. This philosophy purports that all events have causes. This belief works well in the natural world; but when it is applied to human behavior, it becomes difficult. One tenet of behavioral determinism follows this line of thinking: since all events (human behavior) has a natural cause (the "spiritual world" is nonexistent), then it would be unreasonable for societal authorities to punish individuals for their actions, which were beyond their control anyway. Instead of punishing or ascribing guilt, society should devote its resources to discovering the impetus of that behavior.
You're probably thinking: "Now, wait a minute! I am not a determinist nor will I ever be!!" Before you are so quick to say such a thing, really step back to look at the world today, and you will see deterministic thinking in every sector of society. Further, answer this question: how often, when witnessing to someone, do you talk about heaven and totally neglect "the other option"? Intellectually, you have just practiced determinism because you avoided the punishment side of a choice to refuse the truth in Jesus. While some may say that it is fear of offending that person, and that may be true, but philosophically, it is determinism.
Apologetics defends our faith and provides evidence for its veracity; however, we do need to remind folks of the alternative if they so choose. Verse 23 even alludes to that with the phrasing "but others save with fear." This does not mean that we berate others in these discussions but that we do remind them of Newton's Third Law of Thermodynamics -- For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Refusing to accept the singular payment for sin offered by Jesus Christ leading to heaven will result in our eternal payment for sin in a place of suffering called hell. It's not a pleasant thought; but if we truly care about others, we will tell the "whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help us God."
One error that we make in sharing and/or defending our faith is that we present our evidence or defense while neglecting to share the consequences of a personal refusal of the truth. Look at the examples provided for us by Jude: (1) Verse 5 shows that God "destroyed those who did not believe;" (2) verse 7 highlights Sodom and Gomorrah who are "set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire; (3) verse 13 tells us that these folks will face "the blackness of darkness forever;" and (4) verses 14-15 reveal the prophecy of Enoch that the Lord would return "to convict all who are ungodly" in that they have "spoken against Him" (and His truth).
Using and old Southern phrase here, God is "not beating around the bush" but is clearly revealing the end result of their choices. So, why do we fail to take that next step by presenting the evidence of our case and consequences if a person choose not to believe? Part of the issue is that we forget we are truly bond-servants of Christ (see the entry entitled "A Personal Apology"). My high school soccer coach, who was referencing Romans 12:1, often said "the problem with a living sacrifice is that it keeps crawling off the altar." How true! When we forget our place and begin to think a little more about ourselves than others (i.e. become prideful), we shy away from speaking the whole truth with others.
The other part of the issue is that we fall into the philosophical trap of determinism. This philosophy purports that all events have causes. This belief works well in the natural world; but when it is applied to human behavior, it becomes difficult. One tenet of behavioral determinism follows this line of thinking: since all events (human behavior) has a natural cause (the "spiritual world" is nonexistent), then it would be unreasonable for societal authorities to punish individuals for their actions, which were beyond their control anyway. Instead of punishing or ascribing guilt, society should devote its resources to discovering the impetus of that behavior.
You're probably thinking: "Now, wait a minute! I am not a determinist nor will I ever be!!" Before you are so quick to say such a thing, really step back to look at the world today, and you will see deterministic thinking in every sector of society. Further, answer this question: how often, when witnessing to someone, do you talk about heaven and totally neglect "the other option"? Intellectually, you have just practiced determinism because you avoided the punishment side of a choice to refuse the truth in Jesus. While some may say that it is fear of offending that person, and that may be true, but philosophically, it is determinism.
Apologetics defends our faith and provides evidence for its veracity; however, we do need to remind folks of the alternative if they so choose. Verse 23 even alludes to that with the phrasing "but others save with fear." This does not mean that we berate others in these discussions but that we do remind them of Newton's Third Law of Thermodynamics -- For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Refusing to accept the singular payment for sin offered by Jesus Christ leading to heaven will result in our eternal payment for sin in a place of suffering called hell. It's not a pleasant thought; but if we truly care about others, we will tell the "whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help us God."
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
A Problematic Apology....
With verse 3 revealing the purpose of his short epistle (and thus apologetics), we see Jude explain some of the problems in his day - and ours especially - only emphasizing further the need for every Christian to study of apologetics.
Verse 4 indicates that "certain men" - and if you keep reading in that same verse you will see them named as "ungodly men" - who have sneaked into the church. The phrase "crept in unnoticed" (NKJV) or "crept it unawares" (KJV) indicate a mission shrouded in secrecy. That very notion means that their actions were premeditated to accomplish some purpose.
The verse itself provides clues for us to understand their goals and objectives: (1) to change the grace of God from reality into something that fits their worldview or (2) to outright deny the existence or work of God. I particularly like the phrasing here in Jude because its moves from symptom (changing God's grace) to disease (denial of God). A deep desire to satisfy personal desires is only an indicator of the larger issue that someone does not wish to have a moral authority over their lives. Therefore, the ultimate goal of these "ungodly men" is to deny God's existence and work in the world; because if He does not exist, then they get to satisfy every desire of their worldview (notice the word "lewdness" in the NKJV and "lasciviousness" in the KJV). The simple sentence structure leaves you with the thought of denying God's existence which is what the author wanted us to remember.
If we were talking about this today, the sentence could sound like: "Just remember, these folks want to fulfill their personal desire but what they really want are guilt free pleasures without consequences; and the only way to get that wish is to not have a God over them." They seek a license to get a thrill any way they desire while wanting to do so without guilt. As much as they try to bury God, He is still there seeking an opportunity to soften their hard hearts.
The underlying reason for denying God is a personal choice due to a self-focus. Really, these individuals have a void they are trying to fill and believe they best know how to do so. Let's turn to a human example of a similar individual and see how they responded - C.S. Lewis. He abandoned the faith he had been taught as a child and became an atheist. However, his quest for joy never subsided. He speaks of "unsatisfied desire which is itself more desirable than any other satisfaction." He goes on to say that he calls "joy, which is here a technical term and must be sharply distinguished both from happiness and pleasure....But then joy is never in our power and power often is." (quoted from pages 51-52 in Skeptics Who Demanded a Verdict by Josh McDowell). By trying to fill this void on their own, people will remain on an endless search - that is until they drop their skepticism and turn to the Savior. Lest we adopt a haughty attitude toward these individuals, remember that we were like them at one point; and only by the grace of God are we changed today.
Lewis eventually realized the truth of Habakkuk 3:17-19. In this short passage, the prophet is describing the difficulties being faced; however, his conclusion is astounding: regardless of all these issues, I choose to rejoice in the Lord because God, as my salvation, is the source of my joy. His joy translates into strength for us to deal with these difficulties. Simply stated, the One who created us in the first place is the only source for joy while all else acts like an addictive drug providing a short "fix" with the craving returning way too quickly. God is our joy! That's why Jesus, the Son of God, said in John 14:6 - "I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Remember, there are 3 definitive Greek articles in that verse removing any other possibility -- its only Jesus.
The problematic apology, then, is not in a lack of evidence but in a lack of two actions -- (1) not enough Christians are telling the world about this evidence and (2) accepting or understanding that evidence due to a lack of knowledge. Lewis says that he turned "to Him whom I so earnestly desired not to met. That which I great feared had at last come upon me." The evidence is there, if we share it, and the goal of the true apologist is to highlight that evidence, thereby, pointing others to the One and Only Truth. We cannot save anyone out on life's seas, but we can sure provide the right bearing to safe harbor. Keep presenting truth and remember that a small drip of water over time will erode even the hardest of stones!
Verse 4 indicates that "certain men" - and if you keep reading in that same verse you will see them named as "ungodly men" - who have sneaked into the church. The phrase "crept in unnoticed" (NKJV) or "crept it unawares" (KJV) indicate a mission shrouded in secrecy. That very notion means that their actions were premeditated to accomplish some purpose.
The verse itself provides clues for us to understand their goals and objectives: (1) to change the grace of God from reality into something that fits their worldview or (2) to outright deny the existence or work of God. I particularly like the phrasing here in Jude because its moves from symptom (changing God's grace) to disease (denial of God). A deep desire to satisfy personal desires is only an indicator of the larger issue that someone does not wish to have a moral authority over their lives. Therefore, the ultimate goal of these "ungodly men" is to deny God's existence and work in the world; because if He does not exist, then they get to satisfy every desire of their worldview (notice the word "lewdness" in the NKJV and "lasciviousness" in the KJV). The simple sentence structure leaves you with the thought of denying God's existence which is what the author wanted us to remember.
If we were talking about this today, the sentence could sound like: "Just remember, these folks want to fulfill their personal desire but what they really want are guilt free pleasures without consequences; and the only way to get that wish is to not have a God over them." They seek a license to get a thrill any way they desire while wanting to do so without guilt. As much as they try to bury God, He is still there seeking an opportunity to soften their hard hearts.
The underlying reason for denying God is a personal choice due to a self-focus. Really, these individuals have a void they are trying to fill and believe they best know how to do so. Let's turn to a human example of a similar individual and see how they responded - C.S. Lewis. He abandoned the faith he had been taught as a child and became an atheist. However, his quest for joy never subsided. He speaks of "unsatisfied desire which is itself more desirable than any other satisfaction." He goes on to say that he calls "joy, which is here a technical term and must be sharply distinguished both from happiness and pleasure....But then joy is never in our power and power often is." (quoted from pages 51-52 in Skeptics Who Demanded a Verdict by Josh McDowell). By trying to fill this void on their own, people will remain on an endless search - that is until they drop their skepticism and turn to the Savior. Lest we adopt a haughty attitude toward these individuals, remember that we were like them at one point; and only by the grace of God are we changed today.
Lewis eventually realized the truth of Habakkuk 3:17-19. In this short passage, the prophet is describing the difficulties being faced; however, his conclusion is astounding: regardless of all these issues, I choose to rejoice in the Lord because God, as my salvation, is the source of my joy. His joy translates into strength for us to deal with these difficulties. Simply stated, the One who created us in the first place is the only source for joy while all else acts like an addictive drug providing a short "fix" with the craving returning way too quickly. God is our joy! That's why Jesus, the Son of God, said in John 14:6 - "I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Remember, there are 3 definitive Greek articles in that verse removing any other possibility -- its only Jesus.
The problematic apology, then, is not in a lack of evidence but in a lack of two actions -- (1) not enough Christians are telling the world about this evidence and (2) accepting or understanding that evidence due to a lack of knowledge. Lewis says that he turned "to Him whom I so earnestly desired not to met. That which I great feared had at last come upon me." The evidence is there, if we share it, and the goal of the true apologist is to highlight that evidence, thereby, pointing others to the One and Only Truth. We cannot save anyone out on life's seas, but we can sure provide the right bearing to safe harbor. Keep presenting truth and remember that a small drip of water over time will erode even the hardest of stones!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
A Purposeful Apology....
After describing who should become involved in apologetics, Jude then turns to the specific purpose in verse 3. Before getting to the purpose, the author makes sure that we understand who he is addressing: those having received "our common salvation." This language does not demean the value of salvation but simply refers to its availability to all mankind. Those that have accepted Christ's free gift are the ones to whom this explanation is coming.
The purpose of this short book is to "exhort you to contend earnestly for the faith." This exhortation is not only personal teaching but also a specific call to action. So, we will be receiving instruction that we must retain and remember then commit to redistributing that teaching to others. Essentially, Jude is the first apologist and his thoughts are of great value in our modern day.
The heart of this verse is the phrase "contend earnestly for the faith." Contending here is based upon the Greek word from which we receive our English word agony -- "epagonizonai." The reference is a struggle in that effort meets effort through opposition as one proceeds to become a victor. The implication, then, highlights that contending for the faith will require time and training because, as Blackaby says, "evil forces are seeking to rob us of our faith and to disrupt our relationship to Christ."
Contending does NOT mean that Christians are to go through this life looking for a fight; however, we must take a stand upon doctrine regardless of what others may think of us. God's truth is the only truth! Man's opinion of God's truth does not, in any way, change the fact that it is still universal truth. The Bible clearly tells us to refrain from foolish arguing (see II Timothy 2:23), so what are we to take a stand about? Look at the last part of verse 3 -- "the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." Our faith is rooted in the Word of God (see Romans 10:17), so we must make our stand upon the clear teachings of the Bible and nothing else.
Many counterfeits exist in this world, and the sure way to spot a counterfeit is the know the original beyond doubt. Most people do not realize that any investigations of counterfeit money are handled by the US Secret Service. The Secret Service trains their agents to know the genuine currency beyond doubt; because when they pick up a counterfeit, they will notice it immediately. However, this governmental organization does not leave this only up to those who have had detailed training. Take a look at their website (http://www.ustreas.gov/usss/money_detect.shtml) which says regular citizens should be involved as well -- "You can help guard against the threat from counterfeiters by becoming more familiar with United States currency."
The same is true of our faith, and we must, as Jim Collins in Good to Great says, learn to "spot rot." Preachers are not the only ones that must recognize counterfeit truths because that is a responsibility of us all. If we do not spend time in God's Word, to know the real thing, then we will struggle in differentiating truth and error. Never forget that just a little bit of error is still error. Our purpose is to agonize over maintaining the truth and it begins with our knowledge base from time and effort. We all know 2 Timothy 2:15 but often fail to see the purpose of the study that this verse commands -- "rightly dividing the word of truth." Rightly dividing means to cut straight indicating no flaws or error. Clearly, our purpose in studying God's Word is that we will use it properly and teaching in properly to others.
We cannot share what we do not already know; so, do you have purposeful study of God's Word so that you can know the truth? If not, the time to begin is now.
The purpose of this short book is to "exhort you to contend earnestly for the faith." This exhortation is not only personal teaching but also a specific call to action. So, we will be receiving instruction that we must retain and remember then commit to redistributing that teaching to others. Essentially, Jude is the first apologist and his thoughts are of great value in our modern day.
The heart of this verse is the phrase "contend earnestly for the faith." Contending here is based upon the Greek word from which we receive our English word agony -- "epagonizonai." The reference is a struggle in that effort meets effort through opposition as one proceeds to become a victor. The implication, then, highlights that contending for the faith will require time and training because, as Blackaby says, "evil forces are seeking to rob us of our faith and to disrupt our relationship to Christ."
Contending does NOT mean that Christians are to go through this life looking for a fight; however, we must take a stand upon doctrine regardless of what others may think of us. God's truth is the only truth! Man's opinion of God's truth does not, in any way, change the fact that it is still universal truth. The Bible clearly tells us to refrain from foolish arguing (see II Timothy 2:23), so what are we to take a stand about? Look at the last part of verse 3 -- "the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." Our faith is rooted in the Word of God (see Romans 10:17), so we must make our stand upon the clear teachings of the Bible and nothing else.
Many counterfeits exist in this world, and the sure way to spot a counterfeit is the know the original beyond doubt. Most people do not realize that any investigations of counterfeit money are handled by the US Secret Service. The Secret Service trains their agents to know the genuine currency beyond doubt; because when they pick up a counterfeit, they will notice it immediately. However, this governmental organization does not leave this only up to those who have had detailed training. Take a look at their website (http://www.ustreas.gov/usss/money_detect.shtml) which says regular citizens should be involved as well -- "You can help guard against the threat from counterfeiters by becoming more familiar with United States currency."
The same is true of our faith, and we must, as Jim Collins in Good to Great says, learn to "spot rot." Preachers are not the only ones that must recognize counterfeit truths because that is a responsibility of us all. If we do not spend time in God's Word, to know the real thing, then we will struggle in differentiating truth and error. Never forget that just a little bit of error is still error. Our purpose is to agonize over maintaining the truth and it begins with our knowledge base from time and effort. We all know 2 Timothy 2:15 but often fail to see the purpose of the study that this verse commands -- "rightly dividing the word of truth." Rightly dividing means to cut straight indicating no flaws or error. Clearly, our purpose in studying God's Word is that we will use it properly and teaching in properly to others.
We cannot share what we do not already know; so, do you have purposeful study of God's Word so that you can know the truth? If not, the time to begin is now.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
A Personal Apology....
During Bible Fellowship Time at church, our class is continuing to move through Luke and we are quickly approaching the end of that study. Once completed, we will turn to apologetics; so I have started preparations for the series. What does that mean and why do we need to study it? The book of Jude is a tremendous resource for us and that will be the series that I undertake in this blog for awhile.
What is apologetics? The word apologetics stems from Greek etymology -- apologia. The word itself does not carry the same meaning as our English word apology. Instead, it has legal connotations and is simply the statement of defense in a court case -- the prosecution argues its case and then the defense gets to provide its apologia. Apologetics, as it applies to religion, has at its heart 4 purposes: (1) demonstrate that the belief is rational, (2) showcase that the belief is not beyond human reason, (3) confirm the belief in the heart of that individual, and (4) prepare individuals to share and explain that belief to others.
In conclusion, then, the title of this blog reveals the truth we will be discussing -- a personal apology is where we share the beliefs of the Bible intelligently and pray that God's Holy Spirit will work in the hearts of those we encounter. Now, let's turn to Jude 1-2 to begin understanding who should practice apologetics.
The opening verse details four "Persons" that should practice apologetics and we will go through them in depth. These can and should refer to every professing and Bible-believing Christian. The four "persons" are:
(1) A Bondservant -- Jude ascribes this status to himself, and a bondservant is simply a person who totally gives over self to another's will. The word picture presents an individual who owes a debt they cannot pay, so, in exchange, they give themselves over to the person who personally paid the debt. This word picture is a glorious image of what Christ has done -- the past -- and what our response should be -- the present and future. The price He paid for our sins on that cross means we are redeemed (twice owned) -- He created us (Isaiah 43:1,7) and has covered the penalty for our sins (I Corinthians 6:19-20).
(2) The Sanctified -- this word implies being set apart for a specific purpose. We are set apart from this world and set apart unto God; therefore, our lives should reflect that fact. Since we have been bought twice and are set apart unto God, we should reflect His character -- since He is holy, we should also be holy (see I Peter 1:15-16). If we practice a life of holiness that stems from saving faith in Jesus Christ, then we will be a "crown of glory in the hand of the Lord" as stated in Isaiah 62:3 because others will see God and not you or I.
(3) The Preserved -- preservation, in short, means keeping one in the state with which he is. If we are living as a sanctified bondservant, which we describe above, then we are to remain in that condition. If others see a difference in our life, then they will ask questions which will open the door to share our faith. When Lee Strobel (the author of The Case for Christ, The Case for Creation, and The Case for Faith) began his task of disproving Christ that eventually led to his salvation, he said something like this: watching faithful Christians made him "long for what they had. Or, more accurately, for the One they knew" (p 9 from The Case for Christmas). Look at Ezekial 36:25-27. Here, this passage reveals that God cleans us up, gives us new desires, and provides us the ability to keep His commandments. These verses reveal to us the meaning of this word in Jude.
(4) The Called -- lest we digress into a deep theological discussion that really splits "the hairs of salvation," the Greek word refers to those that have gained salvation and an entry into the kingdom of God. Look at Isaiah 41:9-10. We see that the called are servants of God who are not cast away, but notice what comes next: God provides us comfort . Many folks are afraid of giving an answer for their faith, but that should not be the case. Why? We have it right here in that He will strengthen us to fulfill our God-ordained purpose. Study His Word so that you are prepared to give a "reason for the hope that is in you" (I Peter 3:15).
My question to you is simple: are you prepared to offer a "personal apology"? If not, why is that the case? Is it that you do not know Christ or that you are not living the life for which He has called you? Regardless of which reason defines your lack of preparation, Jesus is the answer to that problem.
What is apologetics? The word apologetics stems from Greek etymology -- apologia. The word itself does not carry the same meaning as our English word apology. Instead, it has legal connotations and is simply the statement of defense in a court case -- the prosecution argues its case and then the defense gets to provide its apologia. Apologetics, as it applies to religion, has at its heart 4 purposes: (1) demonstrate that the belief is rational, (2) showcase that the belief is not beyond human reason, (3) confirm the belief in the heart of that individual, and (4) prepare individuals to share and explain that belief to others.
In conclusion, then, the title of this blog reveals the truth we will be discussing -- a personal apology is where we share the beliefs of the Bible intelligently and pray that God's Holy Spirit will work in the hearts of those we encounter. Now, let's turn to Jude 1-2 to begin understanding who should practice apologetics.
The opening verse details four "Persons" that should practice apologetics and we will go through them in depth. These can and should refer to every professing and Bible-believing Christian. The four "persons" are:
(1) A Bondservant -- Jude ascribes this status to himself, and a bondservant is simply a person who totally gives over self to another's will. The word picture presents an individual who owes a debt they cannot pay, so, in exchange, they give themselves over to the person who personally paid the debt. This word picture is a glorious image of what Christ has done -- the past -- and what our response should be -- the present and future. The price He paid for our sins on that cross means we are redeemed (twice owned) -- He created us (Isaiah 43:1,7) and has covered the penalty for our sins (I Corinthians 6:19-20).
(2) The Sanctified -- this word implies being set apart for a specific purpose. We are set apart from this world and set apart unto God; therefore, our lives should reflect that fact. Since we have been bought twice and are set apart unto God, we should reflect His character -- since He is holy, we should also be holy (see I Peter 1:15-16). If we practice a life of holiness that stems from saving faith in Jesus Christ, then we will be a "crown of glory in the hand of the Lord" as stated in Isaiah 62:3 because others will see God and not you or I.
(3) The Preserved -- preservation, in short, means keeping one in the state with which he is. If we are living as a sanctified bondservant, which we describe above, then we are to remain in that condition. If others see a difference in our life, then they will ask questions which will open the door to share our faith. When Lee Strobel (the author of The Case for Christ, The Case for Creation, and The Case for Faith) began his task of disproving Christ that eventually led to his salvation, he said something like this: watching faithful Christians made him "long for what they had. Or, more accurately, for the One they knew" (p 9 from The Case for Christmas). Look at Ezekial 36:25-27. Here, this passage reveals that God cleans us up, gives us new desires, and provides us the ability to keep His commandments. These verses reveal to us the meaning of this word in Jude.
(4) The Called -- lest we digress into a deep theological discussion that really splits "the hairs of salvation," the Greek word refers to those that have gained salvation and an entry into the kingdom of God. Look at Isaiah 41:9-10. We see that the called are servants of God who are not cast away, but notice what comes next: God provides us comfort . Many folks are afraid of giving an answer for their faith, but that should not be the case. Why? We have it right here in that He will strengthen us to fulfill our God-ordained purpose. Study His Word so that you are prepared to give a "reason for the hope that is in you" (I Peter 3:15).
My question to you is simple: are you prepared to offer a "personal apology"? If not, why is that the case? Is it that you do not know Christ or that you are not living the life for which He has called you? Regardless of which reason defines your lack of preparation, Jesus is the answer to that problem.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
That Cloud's Moving in Fast!
Mark 9:2-10 and Matthew 17:1-9 record for us what is called the Transfiguration of Christ. As the inner circle of disciples - Peter, James, and John - witness this, they are afraid and are speechless because Elijah and Moses are there with Jesus. How would you have reacted if you saw men who had been dead for hundreds of years fully alive? What happens next is typical in that Peter boldly goes where no other dares -- he speaks up. His suggestion is that 3 tabernacles should be constructed on this spot: one for each of those special individuals. The language of Matthew seems to indicate that he wanted to be the one to build those tabernacles, thereby, stepping ahead of the rest once again.
Before we give Peter too much grief here, let's think about where this is recorded -- in the Gospel of Mark. Why is that significant? Remember, Mark was not one of the 12 disciples but was a companion of Peter. Scholars believe that Mark was recording for Peter the account of his time with Christ. If that is the case, then Peter was truly a humble person because he shared this time when he spoke brashly and would be challenged for it. This example reveals the post-"feed my sheep" Peter of John 21 because we see he now understands. Would you be that forthcoming??
I digress, so let's get back to the point. If the story was not interesting enough, it takes a wonderful turn. In both passages and following Peter's statement, a cloud moves in to overshadow them (verse 7). The structure points to the fact that this cloud concealed Moses and Elijah, then God's voice is heard stating: "This is my beloved Son: Hear Him!" This moment is special because it challenges Peter's desire to build a tabernacle for all three and promotes a focus on the One -- Jesus Christ.
The phrase "hear him" is a reference back to Deuteronomy 18:15,18-19. In this passage, Moses revealed to Israel that the Lord would "raise up a Prophet" to whom they must listen. He continues by saying that this Prophet would speak the words of God, and those who refused to listen to Him would be held accountable by God. Lest you think that these two words in Mark and Matthew do not refer back to this passage, let's take a look at John 1:45-46. Philip goes to find Nathanael to bring him to Jesus and note the specific language: "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law." Is this coincidence? I think not and neither did Philip because he told Nathanael to "come and see"!! At the Transfiguration, God the Father was making a very clear statement about Jesus the Son -- He was the Messiah, the promised one!!
Why focus on this small part of the Transfiguration account? Simply, because God wants all distractions eliminated for the disciples and to guarantee they understand what is most important -- Jesus Christ. God clearly wishes to protect His glory because, as Scripture says many times, He is a jealous God. Jonathan Edwards, in John Piper's God's Passion for His glory, on page 20 is recorded as saying: “It is one great reason why speculative points [of doctrine] are thought to be of so little importance, that the modern religion consists so little in respect to the divine Being, and almost wholly in benevolence to men.” That's it!!
Modern Christians (myself included) have become so entangled in things that we forget the most important thing - rather the most important One. We have allowed the distractions of the world, which are carefully crafted by Satan to be appealing, to draw our focus away. The end result is a Christianity that is weak and hard to discern for those who to not know Christ. Why is it that we don't "have to pray over" spending an extra $100 on some items that we wish to purchase, but we need to "pray about" giving an extra $100 to our church? The answer is simple: we have a great love for the materials than the Messiah.
May we rid our lives of these distractions so that we follow Matthew 5:16 and that the precious glory of God will shine through us into a ever-darkening world!
Before we give Peter too much grief here, let's think about where this is recorded -- in the Gospel of Mark. Why is that significant? Remember, Mark was not one of the 12 disciples but was a companion of Peter. Scholars believe that Mark was recording for Peter the account of his time with Christ. If that is the case, then Peter was truly a humble person because he shared this time when he spoke brashly and would be challenged for it. This example reveals the post-"feed my sheep" Peter of John 21 because we see he now understands. Would you be that forthcoming??
I digress, so let's get back to the point. If the story was not interesting enough, it takes a wonderful turn. In both passages and following Peter's statement, a cloud moves in to overshadow them (verse 7). The structure points to the fact that this cloud concealed Moses and Elijah, then God's voice is heard stating: "This is my beloved Son: Hear Him!" This moment is special because it challenges Peter's desire to build a tabernacle for all three and promotes a focus on the One -- Jesus Christ.
The phrase "hear him" is a reference back to Deuteronomy 18:15,18-19. In this passage, Moses revealed to Israel that the Lord would "raise up a Prophet" to whom they must listen. He continues by saying that this Prophet would speak the words of God, and those who refused to listen to Him would be held accountable by God. Lest you think that these two words in Mark and Matthew do not refer back to this passage, let's take a look at John 1:45-46. Philip goes to find Nathanael to bring him to Jesus and note the specific language: "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law." Is this coincidence? I think not and neither did Philip because he told Nathanael to "come and see"!! At the Transfiguration, God the Father was making a very clear statement about Jesus the Son -- He was the Messiah, the promised one!!
Why focus on this small part of the Transfiguration account? Simply, because God wants all distractions eliminated for the disciples and to guarantee they understand what is most important -- Jesus Christ. God clearly wishes to protect His glory because, as Scripture says many times, He is a jealous God. Jonathan Edwards, in John Piper's God's Passion for His glory, on page 20 is recorded as saying: “It is one great reason why speculative points [of doctrine] are thought to be of so little importance, that the modern religion consists so little in respect to the divine Being, and almost wholly in benevolence to men.” That's it!!
Modern Christians (myself included) have become so entangled in things that we forget the most important thing - rather the most important One. We have allowed the distractions of the world, which are carefully crafted by Satan to be appealing, to draw our focus away. The end result is a Christianity that is weak and hard to discern for those who to not know Christ. Why is it that we don't "have to pray over" spending an extra $100 on some items that we wish to purchase, but we need to "pray about" giving an extra $100 to our church? The answer is simple: we have a great love for the materials than the Messiah.
May we rid our lives of these distractions so that we follow Matthew 5:16 and that the precious glory of God will shine through us into a ever-darkening world!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Just for Me
Mark 8:11-12 is short, but packed with things we should consider.
Here, the Pharisees emerge from the crowd and begin to dispute with Christ on a series of matters. Then, they adopt another tactic and test Him by demanding that He provide additional signs. The odd part is they have completely ignored all of His previous miracles and want something done just for them. Because Jesus is God and knows all things, He understood what they were doing and denied them such a sign. The ultimate sign that He was the Messiah would be given at a later time -- the resurrection from the grave (see Matthew 12:38-40).
Getting to know these Pharisees a little better will help explain this scene. The Pharisees were a small sect (scholars estimate about 6,000 existed at this time); however, they were well-known. Their beliefs focused on strict adherence to the ceremonial law. They were quite proud of how they followed all these regulations and promoted themselves in public with those actions.
As an example, look at Mark 7:1-9. Once again, we see the Pharisees disputing with Christ, but they were upset because the disciples did not wash their hands before eating. That practice is good hygiene, especially in our day with the "swine flu" scare, but was not specifically commanded by God. Christ exposes these legalists for who they are by quoting an Old Testament prophet -- the Pharisees professed closeness to God but their hearts were definitively far away. They majored on the minor and missed the main thing.
The issue was their exchange of God's commandment for man's tradition. For instance, one of the 10 Commandments says to honor your father and mother; however, the Pharisees had a ceremonial law that protected the rights of a child over the parents. In Mark 7:10-13, we see this example. If parents were wanting to take something, to help the family survive, that would go to a child via inheritance, the heir could claim it as "corban" or a gift from God. In other words, the child made a vow that, as God's gift, it could only be used for sacred things. Because the Jews believed that vows were sacred (see Ecclesiasties 5:4-5), the parents would not touch that item. These acts would stem from a child's selfish desire to hold on to something that really should be used for the benefit of others. Once the parents were deceased, that heir would be the only one that knew of this vow, and oftentimes, would break it to retain the proceeds from it.
Before we give these Pharisees such a hard time, how frequently do we rationalize in our minds how to get something that we really want? Have you ever prayed something like this: "Lord, I know that you are God and can do anything you desire. We are really struggling in this economy and need You to take care of us. My faith is so weak, so strengthen that faith sending me the winning lottery numbers." Okay, maybe you've not asked to win the lottery, but substitute in its place things for which you have asked. We try to, just like the Pharisees, use the Lord to fancy our wants and desires; and we couch it in spiritual terms. That is nothing more than the old nature revealing itself as we attempt to manipulate God. He is the Lord of the universe and who are we to think that He answers to our beck and call? He has done so much for us, and all we must do is remember those times to keep us going during the difficult ones (see entry entitled "Loaves and Lost Faith").
Never forget that we exist to serve and glorify Him -- not for Him to glorify and serve us!
Here, the Pharisees emerge from the crowd and begin to dispute with Christ on a series of matters. Then, they adopt another tactic and test Him by demanding that He provide additional signs. The odd part is they have completely ignored all of His previous miracles and want something done just for them. Because Jesus is God and knows all things, He understood what they were doing and denied them such a sign. The ultimate sign that He was the Messiah would be given at a later time -- the resurrection from the grave (see Matthew 12:38-40).
Getting to know these Pharisees a little better will help explain this scene. The Pharisees were a small sect (scholars estimate about 6,000 existed at this time); however, they were well-known. Their beliefs focused on strict adherence to the ceremonial law. They were quite proud of how they followed all these regulations and promoted themselves in public with those actions.
As an example, look at Mark 7:1-9. Once again, we see the Pharisees disputing with Christ, but they were upset because the disciples did not wash their hands before eating. That practice is good hygiene, especially in our day with the "swine flu" scare, but was not specifically commanded by God. Christ exposes these legalists for who they are by quoting an Old Testament prophet -- the Pharisees professed closeness to God but their hearts were definitively far away. They majored on the minor and missed the main thing.
The issue was their exchange of God's commandment for man's tradition. For instance, one of the 10 Commandments says to honor your father and mother; however, the Pharisees had a ceremonial law that protected the rights of a child over the parents. In Mark 7:10-13, we see this example. If parents were wanting to take something, to help the family survive, that would go to a child via inheritance, the heir could claim it as "corban" or a gift from God. In other words, the child made a vow that, as God's gift, it could only be used for sacred things. Because the Jews believed that vows were sacred (see Ecclesiasties 5:4-5), the parents would not touch that item. These acts would stem from a child's selfish desire to hold on to something that really should be used for the benefit of others. Once the parents were deceased, that heir would be the only one that knew of this vow, and oftentimes, would break it to retain the proceeds from it.
Before we give these Pharisees such a hard time, how frequently do we rationalize in our minds how to get something that we really want? Have you ever prayed something like this: "Lord, I know that you are God and can do anything you desire. We are really struggling in this economy and need You to take care of us. My faith is so weak, so strengthen that faith sending me the winning lottery numbers." Okay, maybe you've not asked to win the lottery, but substitute in its place things for which you have asked. We try to, just like the Pharisees, use the Lord to fancy our wants and desires; and we couch it in spiritual terms. That is nothing more than the old nature revealing itself as we attempt to manipulate God. He is the Lord of the universe and who are we to think that He answers to our beck and call? He has done so much for us, and all we must do is remember those times to keep us going during the difficult ones (see entry entitled "Loaves and Lost Faith").
Never forget that we exist to serve and glorify Him -- not for Him to glorify and serve us!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Loaves and Lost Faith
Mark 6 records two tremendous revelations of the power of Christ -- (1) His never ending supply in that He fed 5,000 people from a few loaves and two fishes; and (2) His power over nature in that He walked on water and immediately calmed a storm. In reading this chapter again, I saw something that literally jumped off the page at me. Verse 52, which immediately follows His walking on the water, reads: "For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened." Why would such a statement be made following such a tremendous miracle?
As I pondered this statement, I went to Mark 8:13-21 which further added to the puzzle. Following another example of His never ending supply where He feeds 4,000 from seven loaves, Christ tells the disciples to avoid the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod, which leads the disciples to reason He said so because they failed to bring bread with them. Christ turns to them asking "How is it you do not understand?" But, His examples are specifically the feedings of the 5,000 and the 4,000. Both of those instances go back to the statement Mark made in 6:52 -- "the had not understood about the loaves." So, what is this about the loaves??
Mark 6 opens as Christ is sending out His disciples in pairs to preach repentance and to cast out demons. He tells them to "take nothing for the journey" meaning that they needed to place their complete trust in God to take care of them. In verse 30, they return to Christ and have a moment of braggadocio sharing "both what they had done and what they had taught." It was at this point, that the feeding of the 5,000 occurred. Christ saw the mass of people and had compassion on them, but it was the disciples that wanted to send them away to get food for themselves. The disciples estimated that it would take 200 days wages to feed this crowd, but in verse 37, Christ says "you give them something to eat."
At this point, their faith faltered. They had just come from a victorious mountaintop, but how quickly they forgot the trust in God that was required of them. Christ gave them another chance with the situation on the sea, but again, their faith faltered. Look at the last phrase of verse 48: "and would have passed them by." However, Jesus saw that their faith was lacking and He had to go them to comfort them and shore up their faith.
In Mark 8:17, Christ says their heart is "still hardened." Here, hardened references a covering by a thick skin; so an outside agent is being allowed to inhibit their understanding. We use an adage of "pulling the wool over someone's eyes," and that example here works. It was like the disciples allowed a shroud to conceal what they had learned while depending totally upon God while preaching for Him. Instead, they held on to, as John Gill said, their "anxieties, doubts, and unbelief."
What was it that they did not understand or remember? The Blackaby Study Bible commentary says it nicely: "God can surround our lives with miracles, but we must take time to process them to be prepared for His next work. God's activity is an expression of His character -- it is not just for our benefit. Therefore, we should always consider carefully what His work reveals to us." History does repeat itself, so we must implement in the future what we have learned from the past.
These disciples that so quickly practiced I Peter 5:7 while in pairs preaching the Gospel should have been able to revert back to that trust in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. How easy we smirk at this lack of faith they exhibited, but how easily our faith is shaken as well. May we learn from their example and remember, during the tough times, all the Jesus has done for us in the past. He has not yet failed us, nor will He.
As I pondered this statement, I went to Mark 8:13-21 which further added to the puzzle. Following another example of His never ending supply where He feeds 4,000 from seven loaves, Christ tells the disciples to avoid the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod, which leads the disciples to reason He said so because they failed to bring bread with them. Christ turns to them asking "How is it you do not understand?" But, His examples are specifically the feedings of the 5,000 and the 4,000. Both of those instances go back to the statement Mark made in 6:52 -- "the had not understood about the loaves." So, what is this about the loaves??
Mark 6 opens as Christ is sending out His disciples in pairs to preach repentance and to cast out demons. He tells them to "take nothing for the journey" meaning that they needed to place their complete trust in God to take care of them. In verse 30, they return to Christ and have a moment of braggadocio sharing "both what they had done and what they had taught." It was at this point, that the feeding of the 5,000 occurred. Christ saw the mass of people and had compassion on them, but it was the disciples that wanted to send them away to get food for themselves. The disciples estimated that it would take 200 days wages to feed this crowd, but in verse 37, Christ says "you give them something to eat."
At this point, their faith faltered. They had just come from a victorious mountaintop, but how quickly they forgot the trust in God that was required of them. Christ gave them another chance with the situation on the sea, but again, their faith faltered. Look at the last phrase of verse 48: "and would have passed them by." However, Jesus saw that their faith was lacking and He had to go them to comfort them and shore up their faith.
In Mark 8:17, Christ says their heart is "still hardened." Here, hardened references a covering by a thick skin; so an outside agent is being allowed to inhibit their understanding. We use an adage of "pulling the wool over someone's eyes," and that example here works. It was like the disciples allowed a shroud to conceal what they had learned while depending totally upon God while preaching for Him. Instead, they held on to, as John Gill said, their "anxieties, doubts, and unbelief."
What was it that they did not understand or remember? The Blackaby Study Bible commentary says it nicely: "God can surround our lives with miracles, but we must take time to process them to be prepared for His next work. God's activity is an expression of His character -- it is not just for our benefit. Therefore, we should always consider carefully what His work reveals to us." History does repeat itself, so we must implement in the future what we have learned from the past.
These disciples that so quickly practiced I Peter 5:7 while in pairs preaching the Gospel should have been able to revert back to that trust in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. How easy we smirk at this lack of faith they exhibited, but how easily our faith is shaken as well. May we learn from their example and remember, during the tough times, all the Jesus has done for us in the past. He has not yet failed us, nor will He.
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