Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.
I have a strange friend. He has convinced me that the way he shows love is to call me names (e.g. dork, dweeb, dufus, putz, or his favorite, "galoot"!) He's convinced me so well, that I do the same to him (e.g. stubby, schmuck, looser, and my favorite, "Barney Rubble Toes"!)
It's weird, but it seems to work for us. We've known each other since the 3rd grade and our love is closer than that of brothers.
But the other day he did something that made me feel even more loved. He confronted me with my sin. It was like he threw cold water in my face while I was sleeping. It hurt and scared me and made me want to throw him out a window. But it was so right.
I was walking around "coma-like" and his words shook me back to reality.
In the end, I much prefer the "wounds of a friend" to the "kisses of an enemy".
Thanks, Stubby!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Closing the Loop
A friend of mine sent me an email the other day saying, "Sorry, I didn't close the loop on that." He was referring to a promised phone call. He promised to call and did not. He didn't "close the loop". It's an interesting expression and it's what I thought of when I read this paragraph from 1 Corinthians 15.22-28:
For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to him.15:24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he has brought to an end all rule and all authority and power. 15:25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 15:26 The last enemy to be eliminated is death. 15:27 For he has put everything in subjection under his feet. But when it says “everything” has been put in subjection, it is clear that this does not include the one who put everything in subjection to him. 15:28 And when all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.
In this paragraph, we see a summary of the culmination of all things. In the end, Christ is raised, all His are raised, all enemies are conquered, death is conquered, everything is subjected to Christ, Christ is subjected to God, and life is restored. Paradise is regained!
What we lost in the first Adam, is restored in the last Adam. Death is beaten. Life reigns!
This is what resurrection means. Resurrection is not just making a dead person alive again. Resurrection is the restoration of what God intended in the first place. Resurrection represents our great sin and God’s great grace. Resurrection is the place where Justice and Mercy kiss. Resurrection is beauty and wholeness. Resurrection is the completion of the plan. Resurrection is where we are headed. We are on a mission, a journey, and the destination is life. This life is just the path. Resurrection is where the path ends.
The resurrection is “closing the loop”.
For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to him.15:24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he has brought to an end all rule and all authority and power. 15:25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 15:26 The last enemy to be eliminated is death. 15:27 For he has put everything in subjection under his feet. But when it says “everything” has been put in subjection, it is clear that this does not include the one who put everything in subjection to him. 15:28 And when all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.
In this paragraph, we see a summary of the culmination of all things. In the end, Christ is raised, all His are raised, all enemies are conquered, death is conquered, everything is subjected to Christ, Christ is subjected to God, and life is restored. Paradise is regained!
What we lost in the first Adam, is restored in the last Adam. Death is beaten. Life reigns!
This is what resurrection means. Resurrection is not just making a dead person alive again. Resurrection is the restoration of what God intended in the first place. Resurrection represents our great sin and God’s great grace. Resurrection is the place where Justice and Mercy kiss. Resurrection is beauty and wholeness. Resurrection is the completion of the plan. Resurrection is where we are headed. We are on a mission, a journey, and the destination is life. This life is just the path. Resurrection is where the path ends.
The resurrection is “closing the loop”.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Regula Fidei
1 Corinthians 14:36-38: Did the word of God begin with you, or did it come to you alone?14:37 If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, he should acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord’s command. 14:38 If someone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
From the very beginnings of the church, as evidenced by this letter to the Corinthians, heresies were creeping into the church. People were distorting the gospel, misunderstanding the gospel, and generally messing up the gospel. In the case of the Corinthians, some were preaching a gospel that excluded the resurrection.
The early church had the OT and was compiling letters and narratives that would eventually become the canon of scripture.
But the big question was, not only what constituted the Scriptures, but how were they to interpret what the Scriptures said.
In these few verses, Paul is saying that, even though the Lord had delivered a text (the OT, epistles and narratives) these materials were not open to private interpretations (cp. 2 Pet. 1.20) The answer to the rhetorical question is obviously “no”. The word of God did NOT begin with the Corinthians nor come to them alone.
There must be rules for interpreting the text. The text is the final authority, but how we understand that text is vital. We call these rules, Hermeneutics.
Where do we get these rules?
First, according to Paul in 1 Corinthians, there is a group of Godly people, gifted people (in this chapter he calls them prophets and spiritual persons) who recognize a proper interpretation of the text and we must submit our interpretations to their evaluations.
Second, since the apostles and prophets who first received and delivered the text of God’s revelation understood it to mean certain basic truths, the early church fathers summarized these truths in creeds, based on the regula fidei (i.e. Rule of Faith.)
Isn’t it interesting that the issue of hermeneutics is raised in a letter dealing, in large part, with division in the church!
Division often occurs in churches (and in the church, generally) because of poor interpretations of God’s revelation. Although the Scriptures are THE final, infallible authority in faith and practice, radical individualism in the interpretation of Scripture leads to all kinds of false doctrines and deep schisms (e.g. not believing in the resurrection)
Now, lest anyone is tempted to think all this is just a bunch of “hooey”, and that we have the Bible and that’s all we need…look at what follows: a regula fidei!
15:1 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand, 15:2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you – unless you believed in vain. 15:3 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received – that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, 15:4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, 15:5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 15:6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 15:7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 15:8 Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been in vain. In fact, I worked harder than all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 15:11 Whether then it was I or they, this is the way we preach and this is the way you believed.
Here is a summary statement of the Gospel. Here is implied a rule that, if violated, would lead to division and heresy. Whatever teaching or interpretation of Scripture was contrary to this gospel, was wrong and to be shunned.
Note also Galatians 1.8-9: But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be condemned to hell! 1:9 As we have said before, and now I say again, if any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be condemned to hell!
The Regula fidei guide us in our interpretations of revelation. Now this idea applies to the essentials of the faith. In the non-essentials, there is freedom, flexibility, and a certain amount of individuality. But in the essentials, one’s interpretations must be consistent with the historical rules of faith.
If you were to look at the heretical churches that have erupted over the centuries, they all violate one or more of the essentials (i.e. deity of Christ, deity of the Holy Spirit, Trinity, Christ’s death, Christ’s resurrection, Christ’s return, etc)
So when we Evangelicals say we believe the Bible and the Bible only, we are not saying that we can interpret the Bible any way we please.
In fact, when we cite a creed, we are announcing that we disagree with any interpretation of Scripture that is contrary to that creed.
Furthermore, even when we claim to believe in the principles of the Reformation: Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Solus Christus, Soli Deo Gloria, we are refusing any teaching or interpretation that is contrary to these principles.
So let us join the ancient church...
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. AMEN.
(Apostles Creed)
From the very beginnings of the church, as evidenced by this letter to the Corinthians, heresies were creeping into the church. People were distorting the gospel, misunderstanding the gospel, and generally messing up the gospel. In the case of the Corinthians, some were preaching a gospel that excluded the resurrection.
The early church had the OT and was compiling letters and narratives that would eventually become the canon of scripture.
But the big question was, not only what constituted the Scriptures, but how were they to interpret what the Scriptures said.
In these few verses, Paul is saying that, even though the Lord had delivered a text (the OT, epistles and narratives) these materials were not open to private interpretations (cp. 2 Pet. 1.20) The answer to the rhetorical question is obviously “no”. The word of God did NOT begin with the Corinthians nor come to them alone.
There must be rules for interpreting the text. The text is the final authority, but how we understand that text is vital. We call these rules, Hermeneutics.
Where do we get these rules?
First, according to Paul in 1 Corinthians, there is a group of Godly people, gifted people (in this chapter he calls them prophets and spiritual persons) who recognize a proper interpretation of the text and we must submit our interpretations to their evaluations.
Second, since the apostles and prophets who first received and delivered the text of God’s revelation understood it to mean certain basic truths, the early church fathers summarized these truths in creeds, based on the regula fidei (i.e. Rule of Faith.)
Isn’t it interesting that the issue of hermeneutics is raised in a letter dealing, in large part, with division in the church!
Division often occurs in churches (and in the church, generally) because of poor interpretations of God’s revelation. Although the Scriptures are THE final, infallible authority in faith and practice, radical individualism in the interpretation of Scripture leads to all kinds of false doctrines and deep schisms (e.g. not believing in the resurrection)
Now, lest anyone is tempted to think all this is just a bunch of “hooey”, and that we have the Bible and that’s all we need…look at what follows: a regula fidei!
15:1 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand, 15:2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you – unless you believed in vain. 15:3 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received – that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, 15:4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, 15:5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 15:6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 15:7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 15:8 Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been in vain. In fact, I worked harder than all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 15:11 Whether then it was I or they, this is the way we preach and this is the way you believed.
Here is a summary statement of the Gospel. Here is implied a rule that, if violated, would lead to division and heresy. Whatever teaching or interpretation of Scripture was contrary to this gospel, was wrong and to be shunned.
Note also Galatians 1.8-9: But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be condemned to hell! 1:9 As we have said before, and now I say again, if any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be condemned to hell!
The Regula fidei guide us in our interpretations of revelation. Now this idea applies to the essentials of the faith. In the non-essentials, there is freedom, flexibility, and a certain amount of individuality. But in the essentials, one’s interpretations must be consistent with the historical rules of faith.
If you were to look at the heretical churches that have erupted over the centuries, they all violate one or more of the essentials (i.e. deity of Christ, deity of the Holy Spirit, Trinity, Christ’s death, Christ’s resurrection, Christ’s return, etc)
So when we Evangelicals say we believe the Bible and the Bible only, we are not saying that we can interpret the Bible any way we please.
In fact, when we cite a creed, we are announcing that we disagree with any interpretation of Scripture that is contrary to that creed.
Furthermore, even when we claim to believe in the principles of the Reformation: Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Solus Christus, Soli Deo Gloria, we are refusing any teaching or interpretation that is contrary to these principles.
So let us join the ancient church...
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. AMEN.
(Apostles Creed)
Monday, July 28, 2008
Adoration
Heavenly Father,
We come here this morning for many purposes. We come to sing praises, to fellowship, to learn from your Holy Word. We come to function together as a body, in the gifts you have freely and lavishly bestowed. We come to strengthen and encourage each other in the faith.
But none of these purposes is more delightful than coming in adoration of your person and work.
You are marvelous! And you do marvelous things.
You are amazing! And you do amazing things.
You are creator and sustainer of the universe and our very lives.
You are worthy of every possible sacrifice we could possibly make.
We humbly ask you for more; more gifts, more opportunities, more blessings, more of you.
Because when you give us more, we have more to give back in adoration, worship, and sacrifice.
And there is no doubt you deserve more.
More love to thee oh, Christ.
More love to thee.
Here now the prayer we make, on bended knee.
This is our earnest plea…in Jesus’ Name…Amen
We come here this morning for many purposes. We come to sing praises, to fellowship, to learn from your Holy Word. We come to function together as a body, in the gifts you have freely and lavishly bestowed. We come to strengthen and encourage each other in the faith.
But none of these purposes is more delightful than coming in adoration of your person and work.
You are marvelous! And you do marvelous things.
You are amazing! And you do amazing things.
You are creator and sustainer of the universe and our very lives.
You are worthy of every possible sacrifice we could possibly make.
We humbly ask you for more; more gifts, more opportunities, more blessings, more of you.
Because when you give us more, we have more to give back in adoration, worship, and sacrifice.
And there is no doubt you deserve more.
More love to thee oh, Christ.
More love to thee.
Here now the prayer we make, on bended knee.
This is our earnest plea…in Jesus’ Name…Amen
Saturday, June 14, 2008
The Secret of Life
Ruth 2.1-3
Ruth sees the need they have for food and seeks to meet that need by working.
Ruth seeks Naomi’s permission and gets it.
In obtaining permission, she “just happened to end up” in the field belonging to this Boaz.
This may not look like much, on the surface. But like all scriptures, it is profitable for us…
Not only that, but it might just contain the “secret to life”!
- Look for needs and seek to fill them
- Follow any appropriate chain of command
- Be willing to work hard
- Trust God’s providence.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Holistic Health, part eleven
How do they all fit together?
We have talked about these qualities of personality (Mind, Will, & Emotion) and about the body as though they were separate entities. This is usually done for the sake of clarifying how each one works and how to address problems that arise.
However, the truth is that they are each intimately related to the other. The body influences the personality and is influenced by the personality.
There exists a cyclical and reciprocal interaction between all 4 elements.
It might look like this:
________________________BODY
______________MIND _______________WILL
_______________________EMOTION
Now, since I can't figure out how to make lines between these components, imagine lines going back and forth between each. The mind influences and is influenced by the the body. The emotion is influenced by and influences the body, and etc.
For example:
We have talked about these qualities of personality (Mind, Will, & Emotion) and about the body as though they were separate entities. This is usually done for the sake of clarifying how each one works and how to address problems that arise.
However, the truth is that they are each intimately related to the other. The body influences the personality and is influenced by the personality.
There exists a cyclical and reciprocal interaction between all 4 elements.
It might look like this:
________________________BODY
______________MIND _______________WILL
_______________________EMOTION
Now, since I can't figure out how to make lines between these components, imagine lines going back and forth between each. The mind influences and is influenced by the the body. The emotion is influenced by and influences the body, and etc.
For example:
Poor thinking (wrong or inaccurate thoughts) can lead to bad behavior that can lead to bad feelings that can lead to poor health.
Negative or inappropriate feelings can lead to bad thinking to bad behaviors to poor health.
Poor health can lead to bad feelings to bad thinking to bad behavior.
Bad behavior can lead to bad feelings to bad thinking to poor health.
No matter where you start, errors in one arena will interact with and influence other arenas.
So what can we do about problems?
Personally, I like to start with the body. When emotional problems arise, I suggest that a person do a thorough self-examination of their overall health. Are you getting enough sleep? Are you getting enough of the right kind of nutrition? Are you getting enough exercise? If these appear normal, get a physical. Many emotional problems can arise because of health issues such as thyroid abnormalities or blood sugar issues.
When this is ruled out, you might move on to a self evaluation of your behaviors or your thinking.
Sometimes it takes an objective third party to help you through this evaluative process. Someone has said that the nature of blind spots is that we are blind to them! We sometimes need help.
Holistic health involves caring for our bodies, keeping our thinking as accurate as possible, monitoring our emotions, and behaving in ways that are consistent with the desires and commands of our Creator.
Hoping this has been helpful...
Monday, May 19, 2008
Holistic Health, part ten
Another way we can glorify God by reflecting His image to the world is thinking like Him.
We need to be able to identify faulty or wrong thinking, challenge those thoughts, and consciously replace those thoughts with truth.
There is a wonderful book by Robert McGee titled, The Search for Significance (1998, W Publishing Group: Nashville, TN). In it, he addresses the impact our fallen state has had on our ability to think correctly.
Adam and Eve were perfect thinkers, before they sinned. From the report that Adam was able to identify and name every living creature, we can assume that he was a pretty smart guy.
Furthermore, they were both very comfortable and peaceful in their relationships with each other and with God. There were no faulty or negative beliefs in their minds about themselves, the world, or God.
But you know the story. When Satan tempted and they both ate, their thinking was immediately warped. It became very self-centered. No one has had completely accurate beliefs since then (Christ excepted)
Think about this. We are born with physical brokenness. Someone has said we are born dying.
Not only are our bodies born to die, but our thoughts are intrinsically warped and bent toward self-centeredness and sin.
McGee boils down our faulty thoughts into four core false beliefs:
- I must meet certain standards…
- I must be approved of by certain others…
- Those who fail are unworthy of love (including myself) and deserve to be punished.
- I am what I am. I cannot change.
In each case, there is a corresponding Biblical truth that can replace these lies.
- Justification (Rom.5.1)
- Reconciliation (Col. 1.21-22)
- Propitiation (1 John 4.9-11)
- Regeneration (John 3.3-6)
Our task is simple, but difficult. Recognize the lie and replace it with truth.
There are day to day experiences and relationships that are often harmed by our unhealthy thinking. Parents have been known to abuse a small child for crying, believing that the child was crying to “get even” with them. Deaths have even occurred.
Husbands have been known to abuse their wives because of some faulty belief.
I know of a man who was convinced that his wife did not respect him and did not want to be married to him. He accused her of this regularly, until the fiction became a reality.
If I am convinced that I am useless, worthless, stupid, ugly, etc, it won’t be long before I’m convinced that those closest to me think the same things. And eventually, they will.
What does God think about me?
Am I a sinner? Am I selfish and self-centered? Sure. But these qualities exist in every human soul, so what makes me so special that I am beyond God’s loving acceptance, compassion, and friendship?
Next time: How do they all fit together?
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