Monthly Archives: March 2013

Get Out Of The Pew

09 Saturday Mar 2013

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Sometimes you have to get out of the pew to get a good view where you are spiritually and grow in your walk of faith. We become comfortable with “that ole time religion” of which I will admit is the way I have walked for years. This week’s blog is about exploring a world rich with writings that are not intended to demean or lessen the faith but to challenge and create a hunger for the gospel and those who lived it and wrote about it. In future blogs I intend to share with you books and commentaries that along with the Bible will increase your understanding and love of “The Word.”

I have often wondered how Jesus, the Son of the living God spent his childhood. I thought it odd that there were no writings about this early time in his life. How could such a person have passed through his childhood unnoticed? So I got out of the pew and looked for writings about this subject knowing full well I was on a slippery slope. Remember I am a layman and have no paper of higher education hanging on the wall but Mr. Gates has given me a world of information and knowledge right here at my desk. This week I recommend to you a great book. “THE LOST BOOKS OF THE BIBLE” These are actual texts that have been found and translated, passed down and finally put in book form. Below is a brief excerpt from the book.

“This is a collection of New Testament Apocrypha, including many works which were admired and read by the early Christians, but which were later excluded from the canonical Bible. It includes accounts of the young Jesus, particularly the Gospel of Mary and the Protevangelion, which provides additional folklore about the birth and youthful adventures of Jesus. Of note are the letters of Paul and Seneca, and the letters of Herod and Pilate, which are most likely a forgery, but add more depth to the question of the historicity of Jesus. There are also a number of non-canonical epistles, such as Laodiceans. Also worth a close read are the three books of the Shepherd of Hermas, which uses apocalyptic and symbolic imagery. This collection is an invaluable selection of portions of the New Testament which illustrates the fluid nature of the early Biblical canon, and provides access to all of the ‘spare parts.’–J.B. Hare, August 12, 2009.”

You can check it out on the internet and I assure you this is not a book to question your faith but rather to expand it. Next blog will look at the extraordinary promise of resurrection….ours.

The Great Deception

01 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Mark 12: 17
I believe the church, that’s us, is being deceived into fighting a fight, debating an issue and squandering resources on a wrongly perceived notion that the church lacks relevance in today’s world. The church has become a social issue advocate and clearing house for accepting the unacceptable through the guise of being inclusive. Homosexuality, same sex marriage; have I got your attention yet? Those who wish to water down or soften or dance around scripture often chose to take scripture into the social issue arena. They tried to do just that with Jesus, Mark 12: 13-17. They agreed he taught God’s truth but wait a minute; what about this tax thing. I also love the scripture from Mark chapter 7.

Mark 7:6-8
New King James Version (NKJV)
6 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
7 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men…..

It is time that we as the Church recognize that the issues listed above are social issues that can be debated in that arena but as God’s people they are not debatable in the faith and belief of His Church. From a layman’s view “that dog won’t hunt here.” One only has to read The Book of Leviticus to find their selves challenged and to some extent, uncomfortable. The book calls upon the people to constantly distinguish between the holy and the profane and between the unclean and the clean. Christians often pull one or two scriptures from this book to defend a view or doctrine. Chapters 17-26:4 are often referred to as the Holiness Code and this is the subject of today’s view. “Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” (Leviticus 19: 2) In Chapter 18: 1-30 we find the instructions for sexual behavior. Verse 22 is often quoted when the subject of homosexuality or other sexual practices are discussed. Only in some of the newer bible translations will you find that word (homosexuality) used.

The scripture is plain and to the point. Leviticus 18:22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. There are sixteen verses preceding this one of other forms of sexual behavior that is in God’s eyes wrong. These acts compromise our ability to live a holy life as God has instructed us to do. “Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” If the debate is about living a holy life and whether homosexuality and same sex marriage can be a part of that, well the answer is no.

And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” These issues belong to Caesar. Taking the Gospel to the world, telling all about the saving grace of Jesus Christ is the calling of all Christians and is best done by living a holy life because we belong to Him and he has commanded we do so.