Happy Reformation Day!

Sola Scriptura

"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, 

because you know those from whom you learned it 

 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures,

which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."

2 Timothy 3:14-15

Sola Fide

"For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 

Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too?

Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God,

who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith."

Romans 3:28-30

Sola Gratia

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—

and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 

not by works, so that no one can boast."

Ephesians 2:8-9

Solus Christus

"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me."

John 14:6

Soli Deo Gloria

"If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.

If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides,

so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."

1 Peter 4:11 

Without a Vision, People Perish?

I am in my Bible reading cycle now at the point where I am reading through the entire Bible again.  My cycle is to read through the entire Bible, then take a break for a year or two and read specific books to study them, then read through the entire Bible again.  When I read through the Bible, I try to find a new way to read through it each time, either by reading a different version or reading a different format.  At this time I am reading through the NET version of the Bible.  The NET pays specific attention to the original languages of the Bible with its copious footnotes explaining why certain terms are translated as they are.  I have been in Proverbs lately and I hit a verse that surprised me--and made me realize how it is has been misused in Christian culture.

The verse is Proverbs 29:18.  The version I am used to hearing is the KJV: "Where there is no vision, the people perish."  I've heard this used often to support the idea that people need to have goals and objectives.  You usually hear it at church planning meetings or ministry meetings: "If we don't have goals, we won't make it."  Now, I am all for goals.  But that is actually not what this verse is about.  Actually, even in the way it's quoted above, there is an immediate problem: it's only half the verse and it's the only half I ever hear in the goal context.  In the KJV, the rest of the verse says: "but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."  Hum...This is a contrast with the first part as indicated by the "but."  How does people not having goals contrast to keeping the law?  Are people without goals inherently against God's law?

The answer was revealed to me in the NET translation.  A clearer translation of this verse is "When there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but the one who keeps the law, blessed is he!"  The footnote in the NET points out that the Hebrew term here for "vision" refers to "divine communication to prophets."  This is not about a group communicating their vision for a church or ministry.  It is about God communicating His word to His prophets.  Thus, the people in the first part are without God's direction and "cast off restraint."  The Hebrew says the people are "let loose" or "let alone," the idea being that they "run wild."  Now we see how the first part of the verse does indeed contrast easily with the second part.  People without God's direction run wild, but the one who follows the law is blessed.  The person in the second part is not running wild or let loose, but is under God's guidance.

Instead of telling churches and ministries to impart their vision, this verse is making the point that those without God's communication will throw off restraint.  It's a warning even to us today that without God's word, people will run around doing whatever they want bringing chaos to society.  Unfortunately, much of our society today is a perfect example of this proverb.

He's Alive and I'm Forgiven!

Each Easter it's our tradition to listen to Don Francisco's song "He's Alive" on the way to church.  It's from the perspective of Peter and captures the point of Jesus' resurrection--forgiveness.  Here's a link to listen to this song.  It always makes me all the more joyful on Easter Sunday.

And a comic by Johnny Hart--click on the comic to view it larger.

Oh My Black Soul!

Oh My Black Soul! Now Art Thou Summoned
by John Donne

Oh my black soul! now art thou summoned
By sickness, death's herald, and champion;
Thou art like a pilgrim, which abroad hath done
Treason, and durst not turn to whence he is fled;
Or like a thief, which till death's doom be read,
Wisheth himself delivered from prison,
But damned and haled to execution,
Wisheth that still he might be imprisoned.
Yet grace, if thou repent, thou canst not lack;
But who shall give thee that grace to begin?
Oh make thy self with holy mourning black,
And red with blushing, as thou art with sin;
Or wash thee in Christ's blood, which hath this might
That being red, it dyes red souls to white.


B.C. by Johnny Hart

 

People Are Multidimensional

A few weeks ago, I saw this video about a math teacher whose students consider him a bit strict and maybe crotchety.  This was before they discovered something else about him.  Go watch the video now if you don't want a spoiler :-)  When one of the teacher's students went to a meeting about a blood drive at the local children's hospital, he discovered everyone knew who his teacher was and loved him.  Why?  Not only is he the top blood donor at the hospital, but he also spends a good deal of his time comforting sick babies, walking with them, feeding them and rocking them.  When I shared this on Facebook, I mentioned how students often see their teachers as two-dimensional, thinking we are only what they see when we are at school.  But there is so much more to a teacher's life than school.

Really, there is so much more to everyone's life than the static glimpse we usually get.  Yet people continually judge other people because they only see one facet of someone's life. This is especially true of any famous figure.  We only see an actor on the screen or in select interviews and assume we know him.  We only see the politician on the screen or in the news and assume we know him.  We only see the sports person on the screen or in the news and think we know him.  Thus this judging does extend to our everyday life as well.  We only see that driver when he cuts us off, that mother in the grocery store with the crying child, that drunk on the street begging for money.  And we assume we have everyone's number--but we don't.

I have always been struck by how Jesus took time with people.  He already knew what was in every man and woman, yet we still see him doing things like engaging in conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well, spending time in Zacchaeus' home, having dinner with Matthew the tax collector.  Jesus was about people.  He knew that the people he saw were "distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36).

So we aren't Jesus.  We can't read a human heart.  How then can we get to know the heart?  We must spend time with the person.  We have to stop assuming we know someone from one encounter or from afar.  You will only know someone if you are willing to hear their stories, listen to their fears and put yourself in their shoes.  People aren't two dimensional static pictures.  People are multidimensional and complex with experiences and moving lives.  And if anyone should take the time to get to know them, it's Christians.  We should reflect our own Savior's love for people.  He didn't walk this earth seeing people once and brushing them off with a negative thought.  He looked and listened and helped and loved.  And we should do the same.

Christians Aren't Perfect

A while back I was listening to a sermon on the radio and the preacher said that the church is filled with broken people.  In fact, he said the church is for broken people.  The church is for those of us who realize that we are sinful at heart and broken and we can't fix ourselves and we need someone to do it for us.  Enter Jesus.  I suspect if you love Jesus a good deal of that love comes from the fact that you know how broken you are and that you don't have hope without him.  I feel a lot like Paul does in Romans 7:18-19: "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing."  And I am just as relieved as Paul when he cries out: "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:24-25).

So if the church is for broken people and thus filled with broken people, what should we expect to find when we step inside one?  Selfishness, pride, anger, legalism, greed, gossip, and so on.  Let's face it.  We don't become perfect once we're saved.  When we're saved, what we get is grace.  All that sinful stuff that defines us is washed clean because our God loves us enough to die and be raised for us.  That's what happens.  But we still struggle with that sinful human nature that doesn't want to rest under God's grace.  It rears its ugly head and gratefully we have the Holy Spirit as our aid, giving us a sword to fight the sinful nature.  But you know what?  Sometimes we will fail.  "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8).

Of course, we don't want to sin.  Those who love Christ want to live as he did, or at least they should.  John notes that he writes so followers of Christ won't sin--"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:1-2).  John notes that those who love Jesus will do what he commands.  We should want to obey and live godly lives.  But thank goodness John says that if we do sin, we still have an advocate who died for our sin.

I don't know about you, but I still struggle against my sin.  I have to turn to Jesus daily.  I have to ask people for forgiveness often.  And I have to remind myself that it is only by the grace of God that I can even take a step without continual self-condemnation.  And this is the situation of most Christians I know.

So this is what I want people to remember: that Christians are not perfect; their Christ is.  Christians want to be like him and the Holy Spirit is guiding them, but until glorification, we won't be entirely there.  And that's why you aren't going to find perfection in the church.  It seems the thing of the day for Christians to write blogs condemning the church and Christians for being horrible people that turn everyone away from the church.  I cringe at those blogs.  Because I know you will walk into a church and be met with mean people.  If you think walking into a church takes you out of the world, think again.  You will meet broken people in the church who wrongly treat you like dirt.  You can't expect perfection.

But you will also find people who don't want to be bound by their sin and who will sympathize with you.  You will find those who in their own brokenness don't crush others in their brokenness.  You will find those who extend to you the same grace they have been given.  In the church, you will find both the mean-spirited and the kind.  The argument goes that the world sees Christians in a bad light.  Of course they do.  The pastor who gets down on his hands and knees to serve the wounded in his community rarely gets the spotlight.  The pastor who has an adulterous affair is prime news fodder.  The church that supports and runs a pregnancy center isn't going to be hailed.  The church that throws mud at girls going to abortion clinics will be on the six o'clock news.  The world gets a heavy dose of the mean and not the kind.

So, yes, of course, we should seek to be kind, welcoming people in the church.  I wish every Christian I knew was kind and gracious 100% of the time.  But I also know that we live with sin and we are broken and sometimes, we aren't going to shine.  And rather than write blogs condemning our brothers and sisters for sinning, we should be encouraging each other to yield to the Spirit, take up our sword and fight the darts of our enemy and our sinful nature.  And reminding ourselves that our perfect Christ has given us the power and the love to fight the good fight.

Epiphany: The Word Made Flesh

Epiphany is a Christian holiday usually celebrated on January 6th that is emphasized more in Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican churches, but I think it has value for all Christians.  The Greek term epiphaneia means "to manifest or reveal."  On Epiphany, Christians remember how Jesus Christ's deity was manifested.  As such, churches may discuss Jesus' baptism, where his deity was declared or miracles that revealed his deity.  Celebrated twelve days after Christmas, some churches commemorate the visit of the Wise Men and recognize Jesus' arrival for all nations.  I always leave Christmas decorations up until Epiphany and try to find ways to celebrate the holiday.  This year I am going to concentrate on the Word made flesh as found in John 1.

I've always loved the beauty of the beginning of John's gospel.  In eloquent words, John speaks of the Word's revelation to man, how the Word became a human being.  The Greek term for word is logos.  Logos is a fascinating term for John to choose.  Have you ever wondered why John didn't simply say Jesus or Christ?  Why did he say "word"?  I know many Christians that think this refers to the Biblical word become flesh in Jesus or God's promises become flesh and although this is part of the meaning, there is more to it.  In fact, a deeper meaning to the term logos had been around quite a while by John's time.  It was a term used by philosophers which John appropriated for his gospel.

Heraclitus was a Greek philosopher from Ephesus around 500 BC.  He defined logos as the source and order of the universe.  He further described it as "the principle according to which all things change, that which determines the nature of the flux that resides in all human beings" (www.abu.nb.ca).

Aristotle, the well-known Greek philosopher and student of Plato, called logos argument from reason. In this kind of argument, one seeks to give logical reasons to persuade someone of a fact.

The stoics, advocates of stoicism, a Hellenistic philosophy, said that logos is reason that pervades and animates the universe.To the Stoics,this logos was material and could be identified with God or Nature.They believed each person possessed some part of the logos.

Philo of Alexandria was a Jewish philosopher and a contemporary of John the disciple.Logos for Philo was the creative principle of the universe. He often paralleled the Logos with divine wisdom. The reason he did so was that he relied on the Platonic idea that imperfect matter and perfect idea were distinguished from one another. For this reason, God could not come into contact with any matter. The Logos, then, is the image of God and this is the image that God made in man’s mind. Philo said the Logos was "the archangel with many names, the expiator of sins, and the mediator and advocate for men. He said the Logos is a kind of shadow cast by God, having the outlines but not the blinding light of the Divine Being. The Logos as ‘interpreter’ announces God's designs to man" (Jewish Encyclopedia).

John would have been aware of how the term logos was used in philosophy.  Read now John's profound description of the Logos, how he picked up on the above philosophical meanings and transcended them:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.He was in the beginning with God.All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men...And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:1-4, 14).

John declares the Logos is indeed the source and order of the universe--all things came into being through him.  He is the one who pervades and animates the universe--everything exists because of him.  Yet he is much more than mind or reason--he is life entire.  He is the light of men, says John.  He exposes the darkness as the divine wisdom that enlightens men.  John departs from Philo, declaring with boldness that the Logos has come into contact with matter--in fact, he has become matter himself, the Word made flesh.  He is not a shadow of God, he is the exact representation of God's nature (Hebrews 1:3).

In appropriating a well-known philosophical term, John tied and modified the philosophical beliefs of his time to Jesus, revealing him as the true Logos.  One need not look further than Jesus Christ to find the true divine being, "the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man" (John 1:9).  Those who come to this light are given the right to become children of God (John 1:12).  This Logos is personal.  He comes to enlighten and save and adopt.

This is what we celebrate at Epiphany--our Savior manifest, the Logos made flesh, the creator of the universe revealed in a man.

Tonight, we will read John 1:1-14, sing the hymn "Christ Is God Incarnated" and then celebrate with treats and special raspberry soup as we remember how we are children of God only because the Word became flesh.