Unity is very valuable. It's brought about by loving one another deeply from the heart (1 Peter 1:22), forgiving one another from the heart (Matthew 18:35), bearing with one another (Romans 15:1) and submitting to one another--the Greek word means voluntarily coming under with the idea of doing so to accomplish something. (Ephesians 5:21)
This unity is to be always around the Lord and His Word, which must never be compromised. It's not to be built around a leader, a leader's vision or style of leadership or a "because I said so and I'm the boss" attitude. It cannot be forced. A leader is to be a servant to those he or she leads. (1 Peter 5:2)
Christian unity is a very sweet and special treasure that Jesus valued and can bind his followers together in close fellowship across language, culture and personality.
I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:22,23)
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
True Christian Giving (tithing, part 3)
Does it seem right that many Christians are on some kind of public or private assistance while giving hundreds each month to the church? It doesn’t look right to the world either.
"There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need." (Acts 4:34,35)
When we get back on a Scriptural foundation and give generously, hilariously and without compulsion (force) to lots of ministries and people in need instead of the lion’s share to the “local church," fewer Christians will struggle and the poor will be better cared for, making a better witness to the world. (Luke 6:38, Acts 4:34)
"Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little." (2 Corinthians 8:13-15)
Also, there’s no scriptural foundation for the separate “para-church” designation in which the local church is to get the main part of giving and ministries are supposed to get only the "extra". They are not outside the church;there is one church of Jesus Christ and all who worship him in Spirit and in truth are a part. However, we are to provide all good things for those from whose teaching we benefit.
(1 Corinthians 9:12) but from what we have, not what we don’t have.
"The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea." (Acts 11:29)
"Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have." (2 Cor 8:12)
Incidentally, “Christian tithing” didn’t become widespread until the eighth century! That’s right, the early church didn’t teach it or do it.
This is liberating! Everything we have and are belongs to God! We are free from the Law and we are free to give from our hearts so that no Christian goes without! Give wherever God instructs you with a free and cheerful heart not just squeezing out the tenth that the pastor tells you that you must if you want to avoid a curse! (One pastor paralleled tithing with salvation! A church administrator said that it should be a requirement for church membership! We once told a pastor that we were in a financial situation in which we couldn’t tithe; he was very “understanding” and said that we could, in effect, owe it to the church!) Take care of the poor! Notice that Jesus didn’t describe Himself as telling the people in the end that they were cast out because they didn’t “tithe” but because they didn’t take care of the poor!
"Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Then he will say to those on his left, `Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' (Matthew 25:37-43)
*All emphases are mine
"There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need." (Acts 4:34,35)
When we get back on a Scriptural foundation and give generously, hilariously and without compulsion (force) to lots of ministries and people in need instead of the lion’s share to the “local church," fewer Christians will struggle and the poor will be better cared for, making a better witness to the world. (Luke 6:38, Acts 4:34)
"Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little." (2 Corinthians 8:13-15)
Also, there’s no scriptural foundation for the separate “para-church” designation in which the local church is to get the main part of giving and ministries are supposed to get only the "extra". They are not outside the church;there is one church of Jesus Christ and all who worship him in Spirit and in truth are a part. However, we are to provide all good things for those from whose teaching we benefit.
(1 Corinthians 9:12) but from what we have, not what we don’t have.
"The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea." (Acts 11:29)
"Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have." (2 Cor 8:12)
Incidentally, “Christian tithing” didn’t become widespread until the eighth century! That’s right, the early church didn’t teach it or do it.
This is liberating! Everything we have and are belongs to God! We are free from the Law and we are free to give from our hearts so that no Christian goes without! Give wherever God instructs you with a free and cheerful heart not just squeezing out the tenth that the pastor tells you that you must if you want to avoid a curse! (One pastor paralleled tithing with salvation! A church administrator said that it should be a requirement for church membership! We once told a pastor that we were in a financial situation in which we couldn’t tithe; he was very “understanding” and said that we could, in effect, owe it to the church!) Take care of the poor! Notice that Jesus didn’t describe Himself as telling the people in the end that they were cast out because they didn’t “tithe” but because they didn’t take care of the poor!
"Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Then he will say to those on his left, `Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' (Matthew 25:37-43)
*All emphases are mine
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Levitical Tithe (tithing part 2)
The Hebrews verses,in addition to pointing to Melchizidek's greatness, refer to “the Law” requiring the collecting of tithes by “the Levites”. In Christianity, we aren’t under the law and we do not have Levites.
"For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations." (Ephesians 2:14,15)
Some point to Jesus’ reprimand of the Pharisees’ hypocrisy as justification for Christian tithing but overlook the fact that He was speaking to Jewish Pharisees, not to Christians (again, who are not under the Law). If we were to be like the Pharisees, we would be following the law (613 parts) to it’s “nth” degree along with all their add-ons, we would be sacrificing animals for our sins and we wouldn’t eat with Gentiles (oops, that’s me)!
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.” (Matthew 23:23,24)
The favorite scripture quoted by those who teach tithing to the local church is Malachi 3:8-11: “You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house.” This is the context for Malachi 3:8:
“I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the LORD Almighty.” (Malachi 3:2-7)
This is a reference to God’s requirement for Israel to obey the Law that they were to bring food: wine, grain, olive oil, meat--not money, (this was separate from their monetary system) into the storehouse of the Tabernacle or Temple, (which the church is not; a woman who “was raised in a Jewish home” pointed out that the tithing teaching is a type of "replacement theology",designating the church building as a replacement for the Temple). Every first and second year they were to take this food to the designated place and eat it themselves in the presence of the Lord but still remembering to include the Levites.
"You must not worship the LORD your God in their way. But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you." (Deuteronomy 12:5-7)
The Levites were to give a tithe from what they got in the third year to Aaron or the chief priest.
"Say to the Levites: “When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress. You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the Tent of Meeting. By presenting the best part of it you will not be guilty in this matter; then you will not defile the holy offerings of the Israelites, and you will not die." (Numbers 18:30-32)
In the third year, the Israelites were to give that tenth of food to the Levites, aliens, orphans, and widows, so it was a four-way split. The Israelites in Malachi’s time were robbing God by not taking care of the aliens (read immigrants), widows and orphans and apparently the Levites weren’t sharing what they did get!
"When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. Then say to the LORD your God: "I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them." (Deuteromony. 26:12-13)
There is no New Covenant equivalent of the Aaronic Priesthood or the Levites; the Temple sacrificial system is over.
If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come--one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. (Hebrews 7:11-12)
Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Hebrews 10:11-14)
So, if we were to remain under the Law, (the very thought of such horrified Paul as he wrote to the Galatians) we would be tithing from our fields and flocks, not our money. We would eat that tithe ourselves at the central location, which God designated for all Christians to gather for worship in the first and second years (could be a very long trek!). In the third year we would divide that tithe of food between the pastors, immigrants, orphans and widows. However,Scripture says that if one aims to be justified by following any part of the law, one must keep the entire Law and be judged by it or be under a curse! SCAREY!
All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (Galatians 3:10-14)
But, the prosperity teachers say, when you give ten percent to us (I’m still amazed that this erroneous teaching prevails twenty years after it’s been thoroughly debunked by many Bible teachers), God will multiply it and “rebuke the devourer”. We’ve heard, “tithe and your appliances and cars won’t break down”. We tithed but our appliances and cars broke down. In fact we were hurting financially but the church got theirs. Occasionally this works for some people but you don’t hear the prosperity teachers talking about the cases where it didn’t work—this is correlation, not causation (two unrelated events happening at the same time without one causing the other). I can only conclude that when people are under compulsion to do a certain thing that the Bible doesn’t teach ("traditions of men"), under many pains of shame, accusations of sin and supposed curse if they don’t—that if somehow it does “work” it’s more likely magic than miracle. Noah Webster (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, the Webster’s) says “the doing of things not required by God (as a religious rite)” is superstition. I shudder to think about it.
And it’s not just the prosperity teachers who proclaim tithing, most evangelical preachers teach it, but without the pay-off. All you get from their version is a “spiritual blessing” which doesn’t really have a basis in scripture either, certainly not in the “Malachi 3” one. You can be assured that on payday they will want their paychecks, they won’t be satisfied with a spiritual blessing alone.
continued tomorrow...
"For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations." (Ephesians 2:14,15)
Some point to Jesus’ reprimand of the Pharisees’ hypocrisy as justification for Christian tithing but overlook the fact that He was speaking to Jewish Pharisees, not to Christians (again, who are not under the Law). If we were to be like the Pharisees, we would be following the law (613 parts) to it’s “nth” degree along with all their add-ons, we would be sacrificing animals for our sins and we wouldn’t eat with Gentiles (oops, that’s me)!
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.” (Matthew 23:23,24)
The favorite scripture quoted by those who teach tithing to the local church is Malachi 3:8-11: “You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house.” This is the context for Malachi 3:8:
“I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the LORD Almighty.” (Malachi 3:2-7)
This is a reference to God’s requirement for Israel to obey the Law that they were to bring food: wine, grain, olive oil, meat--not money, (this was separate from their monetary system) into the storehouse of the Tabernacle or Temple, (which the church is not; a woman who “was raised in a Jewish home” pointed out that the tithing teaching is a type of "replacement theology",designating the church building as a replacement for the Temple). Every first and second year they were to take this food to the designated place and eat it themselves in the presence of the Lord but still remembering to include the Levites.
"You must not worship the LORD your God in their way. But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you." (Deuteronomy 12:5-7)
The Levites were to give a tithe from what they got in the third year to Aaron or the chief priest.
"Say to the Levites: “When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress. You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the Tent of Meeting. By presenting the best part of it you will not be guilty in this matter; then you will not defile the holy offerings of the Israelites, and you will not die." (Numbers 18:30-32)
In the third year, the Israelites were to give that tenth of food to the Levites, aliens, orphans, and widows, so it was a four-way split. The Israelites in Malachi’s time were robbing God by not taking care of the aliens (read immigrants), widows and orphans and apparently the Levites weren’t sharing what they did get!
"When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. Then say to the LORD your God: "I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them." (Deuteromony. 26:12-13)
There is no New Covenant equivalent of the Aaronic Priesthood or the Levites; the Temple sacrificial system is over.
If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come--one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. (Hebrews 7:11-12)
Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Hebrews 10:11-14)
So, if we were to remain under the Law, (the very thought of such horrified Paul as he wrote to the Galatians) we would be tithing from our fields and flocks, not our money. We would eat that tithe ourselves at the central location, which God designated for all Christians to gather for worship in the first and second years (could be a very long trek!). In the third year we would divide that tithe of food between the pastors, immigrants, orphans and widows. However,Scripture says that if one aims to be justified by following any part of the law, one must keep the entire Law and be judged by it or be under a curse! SCAREY!
All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (Galatians 3:10-14)
But, the prosperity teachers say, when you give ten percent to us (I’m still amazed that this erroneous teaching prevails twenty years after it’s been thoroughly debunked by many Bible teachers), God will multiply it and “rebuke the devourer”. We’ve heard, “tithe and your appliances and cars won’t break down”. We tithed but our appliances and cars broke down. In fact we were hurting financially but the church got theirs. Occasionally this works for some people but you don’t hear the prosperity teachers talking about the cases where it didn’t work—this is correlation, not causation (two unrelated events happening at the same time without one causing the other). I can only conclude that when people are under compulsion to do a certain thing that the Bible doesn’t teach ("traditions of men"), under many pains of shame, accusations of sin and supposed curse if they don’t—that if somehow it does “work” it’s more likely magic than miracle. Noah Webster (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, the Webster’s) says “the doing of things not required by God (as a religious rite)” is superstition. I shudder to think about it.
And it’s not just the prosperity teachers who proclaim tithing, most evangelical preachers teach it, but without the pay-off. All you get from their version is a “spiritual blessing” which doesn’t really have a basis in scripture either, certainly not in the “Malachi 3” one. You can be assured that on payday they will want their paychecks, they won’t be satisfied with a spiritual blessing alone.
continued tomorrow...
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Abraham’s Tithe (tithing, part 1)
Lately, I’ve been looking thoroughly at every area of life through the lens of Scripture. I want to follow the Lord in Spirit and in truth. Unfortunately, many of the ways that we American (and others?) Christians have picked up are based only on the traditions of men or on teachings of error. One of the teachings that I’ve examined is that of tithing. As you may know, the standard teaching nearly everywhere in America is that we are to give 10% of our paychecks, “off the top”. If one says, “But that’s the Law and we’re under grace not the Law!” the comeback is, “Abraham tithed to Melchizedek and that was before the Law.” They cite scriptures from here and there and if you only look at those few, it seems like a must to tithe. Well as it turns out, Abraham didn’t tithe everything-everything but only his spoils of war i.e., not that which he had to live off of but the windfall and he didn't keep a share.
“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
“The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself."
But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, `I made Abram rich.' I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me--to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share." (Genesis 14:13-22)
“Just think how great he (Melchizedek) was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people--that is, their brothers--even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater.” (Hebrews 7:4-7)
Abraham’s tithe came from other people’s shares before they got it. The point of the writer of Hebrews is not to admonish us to tithe, but that Abraham, by tithing, acknowledged that Melchizedek was greater than he was. The writer uses this example as proof that the priesthood Jesus is a part of (the Order of Melchizedek) is far greater than the Levitical priesthood. However, if we were to take Abraham as our example to follow (and he is a good one if you exclude tying one’s son to a sacrificial altar [yes, God commanded him to do it but He’s not commanding us to!], lying about Sarah not being his wife and “lying” with Hagar, who wasn’t his wife), then we would tithe off of things like sweepstakes winnings or bonuses--not on everyday income for living expenses.
continued tomorrow...
“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
“The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself."
But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, `I made Abram rich.' I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me--to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share." (Genesis 14:13-22)
“Just think how great he (Melchizedek) was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people--that is, their brothers--even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater.” (Hebrews 7:4-7)
Abraham’s tithe came from other people’s shares before they got it. The point of the writer of Hebrews is not to admonish us to tithe, but that Abraham, by tithing, acknowledged that Melchizedek was greater than he was. The writer uses this example as proof that the priesthood Jesus is a part of (the Order of Melchizedek) is far greater than the Levitical priesthood. However, if we were to take Abraham as our example to follow (and he is a good one if you exclude tying one’s son to a sacrificial altar [yes, God commanded him to do it but He’s not commanding us to!], lying about Sarah not being his wife and “lying” with Hagar, who wasn’t his wife), then we would tithe off of things like sweepstakes winnings or bonuses--not on everyday income for living expenses.
continued tomorrow...
Monday, February 9, 2009
A Blessing
May you believe who God says He is
Not what people say He’s not
May you base your faith on what God says He’ll do
Not on what your experience seems to show
May you place your confidence and pride in the Lord and who He’s made you to be
Knowing full well you can’t draw a breath without Him
May you be assured that Jesus’ atonement covers every one of your sins
And the sins of those who wrong you
May you remember that Jesus’ main desire is that we love
May you throw yourself wholly into trusting Him
Never leaving yourself a back door out
May you live as though the Kingdom of God is “the real world”
May you realize that you are no longer “only human” but filled with the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead
And that you are empowered to answer His call
Joan C. Thomson
(c)December 2001
Not what people say He’s not
May you base your faith on what God says He’ll do
Not on what your experience seems to show
May you place your confidence and pride in the Lord and who He’s made you to be
Knowing full well you can’t draw a breath without Him
May you be assured that Jesus’ atonement covers every one of your sins
And the sins of those who wrong you
May you remember that Jesus’ main desire is that we love
May you throw yourself wholly into trusting Him
Never leaving yourself a back door out
May you live as though the Kingdom of God is “the real world”
May you realize that you are no longer “only human” but filled with the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead
And that you are empowered to answer His call
Joan C. Thomson
(c)December 2001
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Jesus, The Light of the World
My Buddhist friend says, “You have to have “darkness” (or evil) in order to appreciate the “light’.”
My writing teacher who wanted nothing to do with God said, ‘You can't only write “light”, you have to write mostly “darkness” in order for the ” light” to shine brighter.’
My artist friend whose husband describes them as “born-again pagans” insisted that I must paint more “darks” in order for the “lights” to “pop” (stand out).
Curiously, I’ve heard much the same thing from many church friends, “You have to have “darkness” in order for the candle to shine brighter.”
The Bible disagrees and so do I.
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12) and John later wrote, God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
The Buddhists with their “yin and yang”, see dark and light, evil and good as equals to be balanced (incidentally, they put female on the same side as evil) but Solomon pointed out that light is better than darkness. (Ecclesiastes 2:13) Jesus came to dispel darkness not balance it!
"The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work." (1John 3:8)
In creative writing class, I made it my goal to prove that I could write about “light” more than “darkness”. I simply couldn’t dwell on darkness because as Paul said to the Thessalonians,"You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness." (1 Thessalonians 5:5)
Perhaps my artist friend gave up on me since I kept insisting that my paintings are about light, that there is plenty of darkness in this world already—I don’t need to add to it! (If you’ve seen my paintings, you know that I have no trouble getting my “lights to pop”!) As Paul exhorted the Ephesians, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:8-11)
Physical science would probably refute my church friends’ candle philosophy but psychology would likely agree with their perception. But we followers of Jesus need to be concerned with what is true, not what seems. Many who are called by Jesus’ name (so many that it’s epidemic) believe wholeheartedly that God makes them sick or puts other evil things in their lives (one person even said that God makes people sin!) in order to “teach them something” or ‘bring them closer to him”! (see Matthew 7: 9-11) But the Bible continually speaks of Jesus bringing us out of darkness and into the light! (1 John 1:6; 2 Corinthians 4:4,6; Colossians 1:12,13; Isaiah 5:20)
We are coming into Christmas, the season in which we celebrate The Light of the World, Jesus. I’ve heard from two sources lately that it doesn’t matter if all the trappings of Christmas that we’ve come to value—saying “Merry Christmas” (though Charles Spurgeon said that, in his time, people were bothered by the “Merry” part) or nativity scenes (attributed to St. Francis) and are only left with “twinkling lights”. Because, they said, “Light is what we celebrate. The Father of Lights (James 1:17) sent The Light of the World (John 8:12) into a dark world (Isaiah 9:2) during the Festival of Lights (Chanukah).
Light has overcome and is overcoming darkness. Don’t try to balance it and don’t make darkness your friend.
“...giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:12-14)
This Christmas season, walk in the light as he is in the light and as Michael Card sings, “Celebrate the Child who is the Light”!
My writing teacher who wanted nothing to do with God said, ‘You can't only write “light”, you have to write mostly “darkness” in order for the ” light” to shine brighter.’
My artist friend whose husband describes them as “born-again pagans” insisted that I must paint more “darks” in order for the “lights” to “pop” (stand out).
Curiously, I’ve heard much the same thing from many church friends, “You have to have “darkness” in order for the candle to shine brighter.”
The Bible disagrees and so do I.
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12) and John later wrote, God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
The Buddhists with their “yin and yang”, see dark and light, evil and good as equals to be balanced (incidentally, they put female on the same side as evil) but Solomon pointed out that light is better than darkness. (Ecclesiastes 2:13) Jesus came to dispel darkness not balance it!
"The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work." (1John 3:8)
In creative writing class, I made it my goal to prove that I could write about “light” more than “darkness”. I simply couldn’t dwell on darkness because as Paul said to the Thessalonians,"You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness." (1 Thessalonians 5:5)
Perhaps my artist friend gave up on me since I kept insisting that my paintings are about light, that there is plenty of darkness in this world already—I don’t need to add to it! (If you’ve seen my paintings, you know that I have no trouble getting my “lights to pop”!) As Paul exhorted the Ephesians, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:8-11)
Physical science would probably refute my church friends’ candle philosophy but psychology would likely agree with their perception. But we followers of Jesus need to be concerned with what is true, not what seems. Many who are called by Jesus’ name (so many that it’s epidemic) believe wholeheartedly that God makes them sick or puts other evil things in their lives (one person even said that God makes people sin!) in order to “teach them something” or ‘bring them closer to him”! (see Matthew 7: 9-11) But the Bible continually speaks of Jesus bringing us out of darkness and into the light! (1 John 1:6; 2 Corinthians 4:4,6; Colossians 1:12,13; Isaiah 5:20)
We are coming into Christmas, the season in which we celebrate The Light of the World, Jesus. I’ve heard from two sources lately that it doesn’t matter if all the trappings of Christmas that we’ve come to value—saying “Merry Christmas” (though Charles Spurgeon said that, in his time, people were bothered by the “Merry” part) or nativity scenes (attributed to St. Francis) and are only left with “twinkling lights”. Because, they said, “Light is what we celebrate. The Father of Lights (James 1:17) sent The Light of the World (John 8:12) into a dark world (Isaiah 9:2) during the Festival of Lights (Chanukah).
Light has overcome and is overcoming darkness. Don’t try to balance it and don’t make darkness your friend.
“...giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:12-14)
This Christmas season, walk in the light as he is in the light and as Michael Card sings, “Celebrate the Child who is the Light”!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Advent—Looking for Jesus’ Return
Since Jesus already came to earth as a man (a baby who grew into a man) about two thousand years ago, Advent (coming) isn’t about Jesus’ first coming but his second one.
Indeed much has been said and written about “The End Times”—often too much and too little. I tend to hold “End Time prophecies” and eschatological interpretations of current events at arm’s length because they tend to focus heavily on one aspect, adding to the Word, taking away from it or rearranging it. Much paralyzing fear is generated; keeping God’s people from doing the work Jesus assigned us.
But some people, you may say, are scared into the Kingdom (of God) this way, but I have to wonder what they are being brought to--when scripture is changed to enable the process. Besides fear breeds fear not love or life.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
It seems strange that the same people who preach that the church will be raptured before “The Great Tribulation” seem to be the same ones who are so worried about “Armageddon”, the last battle at the end of the world (after the Tribulation). Jesus is most definitely coming back for his followers, but he has given us some clear guidelines that have been largely ignored.
Fear Not
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Matthew 24:6
This was the watchword the Lord gave me after “September 11”—it still applies.
No Avoiding It
Such things must happen Matthew 24:6b
Theses things, wars, earthquakes, famines will happen, must happen because they are the signs of the end. Nor can we completely prevent them, though we may be able to lessen some of the effects through considerate decisions and perhaps science. We can’t, as one pastor said, pray away the signs of the end times nor, I would add, protest them away with picket signs, petitions nor boycotts, though avoiding being a part of making them worse is wise.
but the end is still to come. Matthew 24:6b
These things aren’t IT but only the signs of the end.
Jesus’ emphasized that we should avoid being deceived by false prophets (v.11) since many will appear and that we should stand firm until the end in order to be saved. This doesn’t sound like we’ll have an easy ticket out. A major focus rather than wringing our hands about how bad things are (hint:read history;things have always been bad and often good,just as now) but on shoring up our faith (Jude 20) and living holy and obedient lives.
Jesus went on to say (v.14) that “this gospel will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations (people groups) and then the end will come.” Missions are crucial to eschatology (study of the End Times) but the average Christian isn’t all that interested in seeing to it that every one hears the Good News. Notice that Jesus said, “this gospel of the kingdom” not the gospel of the cross (which is a MAJOR part), he also said that we’re to teach them to obey everything he commanded us. (Matthew 28) Any gospel that teaches less is not “this gospel of the kingdom”. Any gospel that disrespects or disregards the poor, women or aliens, waves a national flag or seeks to put Christians under Mosaic Law not only is not the gospel of the kingdom (of God) but what Paul called “a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all.” (Galatians 1:7)
We need to be careful what we teach and what we’re taught—always taking the teachings of Jesus (including that which he taught through the apostles) as our standard rather than “conventional wisdom”, culture or “what I’ve always been taught”. And we need to be careful what teachings we export to other parts of the world. For example, I read that there are women in an African country who are called by the name of Jesus, yet they believe that they can only be saved by having babies! This is NOT Good News! What happened to grace? The true meaning of I Timothy 2:15 was apparently ignored--to great harm. The Greek says “the childbearing” and clearly points to Jesus, born of Mary, who was Eve’s seed (or offspring)! Genesis 3:15
In summary, we need to avoid fear, watch the signs, be ready by preaching the gospel of the kingdom to all nations (and living it!) and standing firm, not being taken in by the many false prophets. There’s no time for fearful hand wringing! We’ve got work to do!
Indeed much has been said and written about “The End Times”—often too much and too little. I tend to hold “End Time prophecies” and eschatological interpretations of current events at arm’s length because they tend to focus heavily on one aspect, adding to the Word, taking away from it or rearranging it. Much paralyzing fear is generated; keeping God’s people from doing the work Jesus assigned us.
But some people, you may say, are scared into the Kingdom (of God) this way, but I have to wonder what they are being brought to--when scripture is changed to enable the process. Besides fear breeds fear not love or life.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
It seems strange that the same people who preach that the church will be raptured before “The Great Tribulation” seem to be the same ones who are so worried about “Armageddon”, the last battle at the end of the world (after the Tribulation). Jesus is most definitely coming back for his followers, but he has given us some clear guidelines that have been largely ignored.
Fear Not
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Matthew 24:6
This was the watchword the Lord gave me after “September 11”—it still applies.
No Avoiding It
Such things must happen Matthew 24:6b
Theses things, wars, earthquakes, famines will happen, must happen because they are the signs of the end. Nor can we completely prevent them, though we may be able to lessen some of the effects through considerate decisions and perhaps science. We can’t, as one pastor said, pray away the signs of the end times nor, I would add, protest them away with picket signs, petitions nor boycotts, though avoiding being a part of making them worse is wise.
but the end is still to come. Matthew 24:6b
These things aren’t IT but only the signs of the end.
Jesus’ emphasized that we should avoid being deceived by false prophets (v.11) since many will appear and that we should stand firm until the end in order to be saved. This doesn’t sound like we’ll have an easy ticket out. A major focus rather than wringing our hands about how bad things are (hint:read history;things have always been bad and often good,just as now) but on shoring up our faith (Jude 20) and living holy and obedient lives.
Jesus went on to say (v.14) that “this gospel will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations (people groups) and then the end will come.” Missions are crucial to eschatology (study of the End Times) but the average Christian isn’t all that interested in seeing to it that every one hears the Good News. Notice that Jesus said, “this gospel of the kingdom” not the gospel of the cross (which is a MAJOR part), he also said that we’re to teach them to obey everything he commanded us. (Matthew 28) Any gospel that teaches less is not “this gospel of the kingdom”. Any gospel that disrespects or disregards the poor, women or aliens, waves a national flag or seeks to put Christians under Mosaic Law not only is not the gospel of the kingdom (of God) but what Paul called “a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all.” (Galatians 1:7)
We need to be careful what we teach and what we’re taught—always taking the teachings of Jesus (including that which he taught through the apostles) as our standard rather than “conventional wisdom”, culture or “what I’ve always been taught”. And we need to be careful what teachings we export to other parts of the world. For example, I read that there are women in an African country who are called by the name of Jesus, yet they believe that they can only be saved by having babies! This is NOT Good News! What happened to grace? The true meaning of I Timothy 2:15 was apparently ignored--to great harm. The Greek says “the childbearing” and clearly points to Jesus, born of Mary, who was Eve’s seed (or offspring)! Genesis 3:15
In summary, we need to avoid fear, watch the signs, be ready by preaching the gospel of the kingdom to all nations (and living it!) and standing firm, not being taken in by the many false prophets. There’s no time for fearful hand wringing! We’ve got work to do!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Who Were the Pilgrims, Anyway?
My elementary school classrooms were always filled this time of year with pictures of austere-looking men in black hats and shoes with big buckles. The women in the pictures had white headdresses and aprons over their black dresses. These were the Pilgrims, we were told, who had crossed the ocean in a tiny ship to come to start America—definitely the condensed and inaccurate version.
I was shocked (and relieved) to discover that the people in black were not the Pilgrims but those who came later, the Puritans. The Pilgrims were a church from England, formed when they saw no hope for positive change in the Church of England. They were persecuted for believing that a person could have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and for wanting to see “the churches of God revert to their ancient purity and recover their primitive order, liberty and beauty” (William Bradford)*, for believing that no one but Jesus could be the head of the church. They were “hounded, bullied, forced to pay assessments to the Church of England, clapped into prison on trumped up charges, and driven underground,” and “constantly spied upon”*. Finally, (to put it very simply) these “Separatists” had had enough and left England. The black-clad Puritans stayed and tried to “purify from within”*.
And surprise! The Pilgrims didn’t wear black, either! They wore colors such as plum red and emerald green!
*The Light and The Glory by Peter Marshall & David Manuel
I was shocked (and relieved) to discover that the people in black were not the Pilgrims but those who came later, the Puritans. The Pilgrims were a church from England, formed when they saw no hope for positive change in the Church of England. They were persecuted for believing that a person could have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and for wanting to see “the churches of God revert to their ancient purity and recover their primitive order, liberty and beauty” (William Bradford)*, for believing that no one but Jesus could be the head of the church. They were “hounded, bullied, forced to pay assessments to the Church of England, clapped into prison on trumped up charges, and driven underground,” and “constantly spied upon”*. Finally, (to put it very simply) these “Separatists” had had enough and left England. The black-clad Puritans stayed and tried to “purify from within”*.
And surprise! The Pilgrims didn’t wear black, either! They wore colors such as plum red and emerald green!
*The Light and The Glory by Peter Marshall & David Manuel
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Thanksgiving--A Community Celebration
In the U.S. we’ll soon be celebrating Thanksgiving, a special day originally set aside by our early settlers, the Pilgrims, to give thanks to God for providing their food and safety. (though not the original date) Many have (rightfully) complained that it has degenerated into “Turkey Day” or “Football Day”, though food and games were a large part of the original. The lament continues that Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time for families to get together—you know, like the Norman Rockwell painting. Wait! Where did that come from?
The Pilgrim’s celebration had nothing to do with family, except of course that they were thankful that any of their family members survived at all. It was a community celebration. The entire settlement came together, and they invited an Indian chief. Surprise! Massasoit came “ a day early with ninety Indians.” How would they feed them all? No problem, the Indians had brought “five dressed deer and more than a dozen fat wild turkeys.” They taught the pilgrim women how to make hoecakes, Indian pudding and popcorn! * The whole community brought food and there was plenty.
If each Pilgrim family had stayed around their own table, they would have missed the opportunity to thank God together with others who had gone through the same trials. They would have missed building valuable friendships with their neighbors (and another culture). And of course, they may have missed popcorn!
If you’ve been in the habit of keeping your Thanksgiving celebration in the “us 4 and no more” realm, I urge you to reconsider and include others from the church and the community. “But I don’t have enough chairs…” You can borrow some or even ask your guests to bring some. “But this is the only time I can be with my family…” Well, then that needs some work. Sure people often include those who are single--but don’t stop there. What about the couple who is far away from their family? Why not make room for them, too? “But they have each other…” Well, “us 2 and no more” isn’t healthy either.
Some of my best memories of Thanksgiving are of community gatherings. One year, when we had our house in Texas, we invited my parents and sister, and a family of three from church who brought along a hitchhiker they had picked up the day before! (I don't recommend picking up hitchhikers but the Lord used it.). Another year, a variety of us from our apartment building gathered to eat, pray and listen to my husband read about the original celebration. Don’t be isolated, celebrate together!
*The Light and The Glory by Peter Marshall & David Manuel
Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:1,2
The Pilgrim’s celebration had nothing to do with family, except of course that they were thankful that any of their family members survived at all. It was a community celebration. The entire settlement came together, and they invited an Indian chief. Surprise! Massasoit came “ a day early with ninety Indians.” How would they feed them all? No problem, the Indians had brought “five dressed deer and more than a dozen fat wild turkeys.” They taught the pilgrim women how to make hoecakes, Indian pudding and popcorn! * The whole community brought food and there was plenty.
If each Pilgrim family had stayed around their own table, they would have missed the opportunity to thank God together with others who had gone through the same trials. They would have missed building valuable friendships with their neighbors (and another culture). And of course, they may have missed popcorn!
If you’ve been in the habit of keeping your Thanksgiving celebration in the “us 4 and no more” realm, I urge you to reconsider and include others from the church and the community. “But I don’t have enough chairs…” You can borrow some or even ask your guests to bring some. “But this is the only time I can be with my family…” Well, then that needs some work. Sure people often include those who are single--but don’t stop there. What about the couple who is far away from their family? Why not make room for them, too? “But they have each other…” Well, “us 2 and no more” isn’t healthy either.
Some of my best memories of Thanksgiving are of community gatherings. One year, when we had our house in Texas, we invited my parents and sister, and a family of three from church who brought along a hitchhiker they had picked up the day before! (I don't recommend picking up hitchhikers but the Lord used it.). Another year, a variety of us from our apartment building gathered to eat, pray and listen to my husband read about the original celebration. Don’t be isolated, celebrate together!
*The Light and The Glory by Peter Marshall & David Manuel
Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:1,2
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Whose side is God on?
Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?"
"Neither," he replied,"but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come."
Joshua 5:13,14
"Neither," he replied,"but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come."
Joshua 5:13,14
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