I have really had to wrestle with myself…forgive…at this moment in time it is almost impossible for me to do that. I call myself a Christian and then the reality of that is while I do have a choice, the God I serve leaves me no wiggle room on this. It is here that the picture of the cross and the image of our Savior hanging there, for all who have sinned…you see, Christ said your sins are forgotten. I have been reading what the Bible says about forgiveness and I discovered that this thing of forgiveness to be complete requires we forget the sin also.

So this is a reminder that to follow Christ, to be called a Christian requires that we emulate Christ, become more like him everyday….I thought I had found a solution to the problem…I forgive….but I forgot to forget

This Christian thing…It ain’t easy. Read Romans 12, it is only 21 verses. Join us again in the Pew tomorrow eve for our regular From The Pew Blog.

Life is Good

jk

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Ecclesiastes is a book that is many things too many different people but seems to hold a majority of thought, or consensus, that most believers find to be baffling and to some even wrongheaded. From the get-go there were strong efforts to exclude it from the list of sacred books and even now it has a very small place in liturgical practice. In Jewish liturgical practice it is of greater use only because it is one of the five scrolls that are read at the festivals. It is said that this book encourages conversation because of its grasp of the truth. That, however is quickly walked back by those who say its value is it serves as a dark background against the shining light of the gospel. There is a wealth of information available about the book of Ecclesiastes, extensive and easily available. The one question that is asked in most commentaries….Who wrote Ecclesiastes or better yet who is Qohelet in Ecclesiastes? This question after all this time has not gained a solid acknowledgement that it was Solomon. Is he Qoheleth, the teacher and in turn the Preacher? 

We return this week to the book of Ecclesiastes and specifically the 12th and concluding chapter of this book. The text of this chapter addresses the youth throughout the creation. 

We are reminded that we are not our own. We were made to be happy but this is only true when we live our lives for him. Not only has God created you he also preserves you, feeds you and clothes you and in difficult times he upholds you. You have been made as being able to know, love and serve him. You have been given the privilege to enjoy him in his own glory for ever. Even when you had chosen to undo that relationship, he sent his Son to redeem you through the cross and his blood shed for you. But God has even more for you. He sends the Spirit to enlighten, persuade and to led you away from childless endeavors, keeping you from trifling and sinful pursuits. In our youth memory is strong and unrelenting. In this time in our lives it is easy to remember our creator, our loving and affectionate Father but through the perversion of sin it seems in our youth we come to the point where we forget and remember any other thing better than God. We  remember the kindness of others and even feel gratitude for it but what of our Father in heaven? There is no one who can give us the benefits of a relationship with him. From the Father came our body and soul, our eyes to see, ears, tongue, hands and feet. With our eyes we can see the beauty of his creation, hear the word of salvation, the tongue allows us to speak to his goodness and with our feet to carry us forward we can raise our hands in celebration of our service to God who calls us to serve his people. How can we forget HIM?  

In our youth we are susceptible to the evils of this world. You could say we are at times in some ways drawn to them, resulting in the corruption and misery that accompanies them. Remember him in thy YOUTH. In our youth we have the power to be more active and vigorous in our endeavors. Faith, hope and love at this point in our lives could be a thing of great joy. It is now in our youth that it will be easier for us to believe, hope, pray, love, obey, and bear our cross, then it can be in old age and the those infirmities that weaken body and determination. Even in your youth there is no certainty of life. Today is yours, tomorrow may not be. Youth also has no promise of old age. While you have your youth and health hear the call of your God. If you do not heed that call you may find that sin will encroach on your heart every moment that goes by. Give your heart to your creator early and it will serve you well in the years you have. There is much to be said about old age and some things are harsh but reality is the part of the Preacher’s book of life. Evil habits gain strength over time and the infirmities of time press down on our bodies and minds. The cold fact is that our hearts can become hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. There is little time left to repent and even less inclination to do so. There is nothing of this world that can ease the burden of sin. Words of truth are always valued and have worth. The truth of God’s words often annoy those who would shy away, often causing a negative reaction as they seek to reject the good way. To fear God and keep his commandments makes a man whole. Fear where there is no love has no redeeming power. We are to have a fear of God but by his gracious love for us as a child of God, we are in awe of his presence and that which he gives us in this life. There are many distractions in this life but we have only one task to be mindful of… Fear God, and keep his commandments, for this is all that concerns man.

And in Conclusion….

Verse Ecclesiastes 12:14. For God shall bring every work into judgment — This is the reason why we should “fear God and keep his commandments.”

The following is from Adam Clark Commentary and is public domain.

1. Because there will be a day of judgment.

2. Every soul of man shall stand at that bar.

3. God, the infinitely wise, the heart-searching God, will be judge.

4. He will bring to light every secret thing – all that has been done since the creation, by all men; whether forgotten or registered; whether done in secret or in public.

5. All the works of the godly, as well as all the works of the wicked, shall be judged in that day; the good which the godly strove to conceal, as well as the evil which the wicked endeavoured to hide.

This, then, will be the conclusion of the whole mortal story. And although in this world all is vanity; yet there, “vanities will be vain no more.” Every thing, whether good or evil, will have its own proper stable, eternal result. O God! prepare the reader to give up his accounts with joy in that day! Amen.

Life is Good

jk

I am re-publishing this blog from a few years back. Computer problems and I lost this weeks blog. Hope you enjoy this one. jk

I always wanted to play football but time and circumstances kept me from it until the eighth grade. We moved around quite a bit and my dads last duty station took us to Texas. Texas, where a baby’s first crib toy is a football and his first pair of outdoor shoes are cleats. Now in Texas most boys my age had been playing football since Pee-Wee league and have a good knowledge of the of the game and its language. Truth is they speak it better than the Kings English. I wanted to be a part of the game so bad and any amount of humiliation and effort was worth it. So I gave it the best I had and made the team, even after the coach said my lack of skill would get me killed. Well that is a bit overstated but I did get on the team……at the end of the bench. Now in my golden years I sometimes revisit those early days and that’s how this blog came about.I kind of believe that even in church some of us feel like we are at the end of the bench. We want to be a part of what’s going on and to actively become involved in some type of ministry within the church but if time has taught me anything, it is preparation and knowledge goes a long way.

 Psalm 25:5

Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.

It occurred to me that maybe my football experience was due to my lack of knowledge as to what the game required and my lack of preparation. Admittedly, serving God is no game but it does require knowledge and preparation. I once wrote about getting out of the pew, go and serve. This is about getting off the bench, preparing yourself to serve and getting in the game.

2 Thessalonians 3:5

May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.

Here are some good points as to where you can start your preparation. These are from a sermon by Tom Shepard, Quiet Life Ministries.

John 12²⁶ Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

 Develop a servant mentality.

“Possessing A Servant’s Heart. God’s Word teaches that greatness in the Kingdom is defined by serving others in the body of Messiah. Having the heart of a servant is an important component in our spiritual walk with the Lord. God shaped each one of us for service.” (Tom Shepard, Quiet Life Ministries.)

How do we define selflessly? Perhaps servanthood is a better word, or rather a clearer definition for us. Servanthood literally means serving others, putting them and their needs first. (“It means willingly giving of oneself to minister for and to others and to do whatever it takes to accomplish what is best for another.”)*Tom Shepard, Quiet Life Ministries.

Gal 6:9-10 (Phi) Let us not grow tired of doing good, for, unless we throw in our hand, the ultimate harvest is assured. Let us then do good to all men as opportunity offers, especially to those who belong to the Christian household.

Have a determination to serve.

Determination also requires endurance.

 Psalms 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

 1 Corinthians 9:24-27  Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.  But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

 Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

 Thessalonians 3:13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good

We Christians will have times of doubt and fear and even worry. Allowing fear, doubt and worry to rule our lives weakens our faith. The word of God gives us strength and determination in our daily walk with God. God’s word gives us hope. Consider the following verses…

 Psalms 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

 Proverbs 20:13 Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.

 Luke 9:62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Commit to following God.

“Each believer is responsible to respond to God’s call by committing their heart, mind, body, and life to serve Him, to share the Gospel, and to be His ambassadors in this world.” (https://bible.org

 Acts 20:32 “And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.

 Serve where you are.

Many times people believe that in order to serve or be a part of ministry, you have to go overseas or commit to a month long mission trip. While being involved in those type of things is commendable and even worthwhile, we need to understand that we can serve right where we are. There are so many opportunities that we miss out on by thinking mission work is done some place other than where we are. When we chose to not serve and be involved where we are I think many times it is because we have conditioned ourselves to think that mission work is done some place other than where we are. Look around there are many opportunities in our neighborhoods, schools and even our own church or home.

“God has called believers to “go and make disciples” in Matthew 28:19, but we must realize that we can fulfill this command in class, with the neighbors down the hall, and even at work. Wherever you are, just go! Go, and make disciples.” (Tom Shepard, Quiet Life Ministries.)

Get off the bench, get in the game.

Life is Good

jk

 

This week we look at a subject that you would not expect to find in a religious blog, the butterfly. I am not sure but I believe butterflies are not all that common in scripture. It has been noted that as a part of God’s creation they do provide a beautiful picture of spiritual transformation…. The butterfly in the Bible is a symbol of resurrection. It can sustain a comparison to the Christian conversion, resurrection, and transfiguration. What does the scripture say?… 

(2 Corinthians 5:17).So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 

Our God who can transform a caterpillar into a butterfly, can turn sinners into saints. Butterfly just a symbol, could be but God has many ways of speaking to us. That little voice we hear now and then, we refer to it as our conscience just might be the Holy Spirit speaking to us and maybe, just maybe the butterfly is in some simple way a message from God. Christian tradition holds the butterfly to be a symbol of resurrection. In many  spiritual, circles the butterfly represents the spirit or soul. What does a butterfly mean spiritually? Butterflies are beautiful and they have in times past been a mystery because there is attached to them a certain symbolism, a metaphor if you will that represents spiritual health, transformation, change, hope and life. The short life of the butterfly reminds us of the shortness of our own life. Butterfly colors also carry a symbolic message…The color blue representing a transformation from human life to everlasting life. The color blue also conveying the emotions of beauty, joy and hope. The old traditions means seeing a white butterfly could be a response to prayer. We are reminded that God has a plan for all of us:

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 ESV)

Now I stress that we are dealing with mostly traditional thoughts of the meaning of the butterfly, some that have even made their way into church traditions. These two scriptures could be inspired by the butterfly.

2 Corinthians 5:17 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 3:18 

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

 I had thought that I might be done with this blog but somehow it just wasn’t enough. I am not always the brightest bulb in the box but I do believe that the Spirit answers and guides us in many of our endeavors. Such is the case with this blog today…Dean H Taylor wrote about butterflies not being in the Bible, well by name that is but what a brilliant example of enlighten writing he brings to his article. He writes that Jesus, who always used examples people could relate to in getting his point across would at seeing the beauty of this creation of the Father, most likely would have used it to illustrate some profound truth.  But butterflies aren’t in the Bible Mr. Taylor writes….but wait…

‘ The unsightly caterpillar, its range of movement restricted to a few square feet, becomes a Monarch butterfly that will spend the rest of its life as a living miracle, flying above the earth, venturing as far as Mexico on its migratory path.’    (Dean H. Taylor)

This radical change in its original state is called metamorphosis. So it is interesting how Mr. Taylor ties the butterflies journey to our own journey as Christians to become acceptable and the perfect will of God is brought about in our lives. In the two verses below the Greek word metamorphoo is translated with the word “transformed.” 

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  (Romans 12:2)

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.  (2 Corinthians 3:18)

There is the striking comparison to be made that the transformation of the butterfly is much like the transformation that takes place in us when we believe in Jesus Christ.What Mr. Taylor goes on to explain is astounding and its full impact can only be appreciated by reading his words.

So I am asking you to go to his post, the link is below…

 

 

It is worth the read and in these days of focus being on bad news it is a pleasant read.

Life is Good

jk

 

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I have been reading introductions to various books of the Bible, the most recent one being James. While James is not the only book to have doubts or suspicions toward it, James also had a long hard journey to make before its inclusion into the New Testament. Though it would eventually be considered to be scripture there was still a fair amount of reserve and suspicion about it. Martin Luther would have been happy to see it banished from the New Testament. This view was also shared by the early Christian fathers but in fairness to James not so much to banning it as to the fact there was strong doubt still among them as to content. At this point the journey is just beginning. It was into the fourth century that the Latin speaking church saw the emergence of  James in the writings of the fathers. The scholar Jerome included James in his Latin version of the New Testament, The Vulgate which was completed early in the fifth century. However the doubt was still present to some degree. James, who is referred to as the brother of the Lord wrote only this epistle, it was one of the seven catholic Epistles and some said it was issued by someone else in James’ name. Although Jerome had some doubt as to who the writer was he did accept it as scripture. We can add to that Augustine, who fully accepted James and had no doubt that James was the brother of our Lord. There are other points and facts that make this journey so long and arduous.  If the book was really written in Palestine and James was really the brother of our Lord, was the hesitation of the Syrian Church fostered by the wavering and swings of opinion that continued to present itself?

 We add this note here…

Peshitta, (Syriac: “simple” or “common”) Syriac version of the Bible, the accepted Bible of Syrian Christian churches from the end of the 3rd century ce. 

The name “Peshitta” was first employed by Moses bar Kepha in the 9th century to suggest (as does the name of the Latin Vulgate) that the text was in common use. (Wikipedia)

Now we could engulf ourselves in dates and times but it is much simpler to just add a few  comments here.

-The Peshitta was to the Syrian Church what the Vulgate was to the Latin Church.

-The first time it was translated into Syrian was about AD 412 by the Bishop of Edessa.

-It was not, in fact, until mid-way through the eighth century that the great authority of the Greek theologian John of Damascus did for James in the Syrian church what Augustine had done for it in the Latin church. (W Barclay)

James emerged sooner in the Greek speaking churches compared to the Latin and Syrian but still that doubt was there for some. As strange as it seems no one really questioned the value of James but in all the letter was emerging and went through a period of debate while its right to be considered a new testament book was in dispute. In our day we seldom hear James mentioned in conversation as often as John, Romans, Luke or even Galatians. There were those books that were accepted without question from the very start and then there were those that had to gradually win there way in. James found itself in that second tier that only time would heal the doubts and suspicions attached to the book. The Roman Catholic Church settled its issues with the book of James with the Edict of the Council of Trent. Things didn’t work out as well in the Protestant Church because of the attacks against it from Luther. We will take a little space and a few more words to note this interesting fact. During the printing of the German New Testament Luther kept a contents page. There was a separate small group that he considered to be secondary. That group consisted of James, Jude, Hebrews and Revelation. These were books which Luther held to be secondary. I think to sum all this up we can best simply use Luther’s famous verdict on James. It is in the concluding paragraph of his Preface to the New Testament… 

‘In sum: the gospel and the first epistle of St John, St Paul’s epistles, especially those to the Romans, Galatians and Ephesians; and St Peter’s first epistle, are the books which show Christ to you. They teach everything you need to know for your salvation, even if you were never to see or hear any other book or hear any other teaching. In comparison with these, the epistle of James is an epistle full of straw, because it contains nothing evangelical. But more about this in other prefaces.’ 

I will close with this thought. James had a long and perilous journey but one bright spot was that the Roman Catholic Church agreed  in 1546, Council of Trent, that James is canonical and is written by an apostle. So why this blog? For me it brings into focus how important scripture is. Those who wrote the words as they lived the ordeal of teaching and preaching the Gospel, the agony of Christ as he went to the cross and the faith of the believers as they took the reality of eternal life through the resurrection of Christ to the people. 

James stood the test of time because the believer’s faith stood firm…It did not waver, it did not give into doubt. How do you stand today? Do you waver and allow doubt to marginalize God’s word?

Life is Good

jk

Hebrews 8

A little history before we go on. There are 27 books in the New Testament and 21 of those books are letters. It is noted that 13 of those 21 are of the Pauline collection. The Letter to the Hebrews is included in this collection. It is due to this inclusion that we have Hebrews in the New Testament today, only because of this attachment of Paul’s name was it accepted. Here in chapter 8 we have the key thought of this letter. Barclay had the best in a few words… The Perfect Priest and the Perfect Sacrifice…well wrote and to the point. The Greeks were looking for a way from the shadows of their minds to the reality of faith. The writer to Hebrews gives them just that…Jesus Christ.

The writer to Hebrews in previous chapters has described the Priesthood of Melchizedek in all its glory and assurance of a never-ending function within the faith. It was not one of legal appointments or racial qualifications, it is a Priesthood which death cannot touch. There are other qualifiers that make it so special a relationship with God and then the writer to Hebrews makes the claim “we already have such a Priest”…‘a priest precisely like that, we have in Jesus.’  Here at the very beginning of this chapter we are told that Jesus took his seat at the right hand of God, this being the final proof of his divinity. The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the minister of the sanctuary. He is both majesty and service.The point is made throughout this chapter that religion to the writer was access to God. Jesus does that, our supreme Priest opens the way to God, removes the barriers between God and his people. Jesus has become the bridge between men and women, all, who wish to be in the presence of God. Jesus is the reality that makes that possible.

 The Greeks believed this world was only copy of a real much better world. In plain language they believed the world they lived in was an imperfect copy of something much better. The writer goes on to say that the earthly Temple is an inadequate copy of the real Temple of God and the earthly priesthood an inadequate shadow of the real priesthood. Much is said about the Temple and priesthood but to cut to the chase, so to speak, only Jesus can lead people to reality and into the presence of God. Given that day and time this was an argument, that of reality, this his contemporaries used and understood. Plato among many things called it an idea, to the Jews it was a form, the way you do it…we may call it what we will but the truth is that it is beyond anything we can find here in this world. Reconciliation between God and his people lies in the reality of Jesus Christ, Jesus is the only person who can bring us from the shadows to reality, real life. Greek, Jew, Gentile, it matters not… Chapter 8 then moves on to the covenant, the reality of a new relationship with God. The simple meaning of covenant, is it is an agreement entered into by two people. It is a mutual agreement and if either party breaks that agreement then the covenant is void. There were covenants made between Jews and other nations or even people but its distinctive use is to describe the relationship between Israel and God. New Testament use is best described as a relationship between God and men and women. But things take a turn here as the Greek word translated means a will. In the translations back and forth a covenant that is made between two is done so on equal terms. God and human beings do not meet on equal terms. I am on a limb here trying to get this across and the only way I know to do it is just some down home logic. We cannot bargain with God. So at this point we move from a covenant to a will. A will is not made on equal terms. The person who makes the will sets the terms, usually one sided and the other party cannot change or alter them. What do we receive from this will? Forgiveness of our sins, eternal life as per the covenant…or will…whichever you chose to call it. The writer to Hebrews continues to make his point…The argument of the writer to the Hebrews is that that old covenant is done away with and that Jesus has brought a new relationship with God. 

 There is much we did not get into as I tried to keep it simple, on the level of a layman who just wants to share the word…the Good News. Hebrews calls out the Good News, the divinity of Jesus, the path forward from the shadows to the reality that JESUS is Lord and the only way to God is through him.

Life is Good

jk

• 

How often have we passed over a word in our scripture readings and never realized the significance of, or history of that particular person, place or thing. This week let’s take a look at the word sheep as used in scripture. Sheep are  used symbolically to represent God’s people Matthew 25:32… 

25 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

This is a very powerful metaphor that somehow does morph with the power of God’s word and biblical credence into a lovely fact of reassuring hope and faith. The first mention of sheep in the Bible can be found in Genesis 4:4, and although there is no direct reference that Abel’s sacrifice was fat portions from a sheep, the scripture translates from his flock to mean that. Sheep were among the first animals to be domesticated. Throughout the Bible references to sheep are to be found. Sheep were a major source of income for people but shepherding was a lowly occupation. A wealthy landowner would hire that job out to boys or men who really couldn’t do anything else and in many families the task of shepherding fell to the youngest boy. David’s father never saw him as a king of anything but the prophet Samuel sought him out to anoint him the next king of Israel. 1Samuel 16:11-13

11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

 Consider this… John 10:14

14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me…

It has been written that this humble status of the Shepard was one reason why Jesus ascribed that title to himself…

Psalm 79:13

13  But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,

will give thanks to you forever;

from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

Psalm 100:3

3  Know that the Lord, he is God!

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Sheep are known to follow a leader and like sheep we have been foolish keepers of the faith. We have been known to esteem those of exceptional charismatic personality and to grasp at their promises and shiny new ideas. We have heard of herd immunity during this covid crisis but scripture gives us examples of this trait that sheep are known for, from a human perspective. This is but one example that had a bad conclusion. Acts 13:50

50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.

Acting as sheep produced another but better known example at an even greater cost. Mark 15:11

11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead.

Another thing about sheep is that they are prone to wander away. Isaiah 53:6…

6  All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have turned—every one—to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

We like sheep tend to be distracted by worldly things and wander

from the safety of the flock…we leave the fellowship of believers 

leaving ourselves open to the evils of this world…forgetting the 

precepts of our faith…1 Peter5:8

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

The Silence of the Sheep what does that mean? We have established through scripture that we are the sheep and our shepherd is Jesus Christ… Isaiah 40:11  

11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd;

he will gather the lambs in his arms;

he will carry them in his bosom,

and gently lead those that are with young.

As a nation and a people we should be lifting our voices to God and praising our Good Shepherd…

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them… I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:11-15)

Forgive us our sins, we lift up to you our nation, our people and our leaders…All I hear is a deafening silence from the sheep.

Life is Good

jk

Romans 1:18-32

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I knew when I began this blog where I wanted to go but I was a bit unsure of how I would get there. In researching this subject I was not prepared for what I found and my sense of direction is totally askew. We are a nation under attack but I am not so sure “nation under God” now or in the past is a proper tag line for the United States of America. I read an article written by Kenneth C. Davis, “America’s True History of Religious Tolerance” which was published in the Smithsonian Magazine. I am one of many who have had my Christian tolerance challenged and have become indignant at the actions of certain people, groups and agenda driven social justice warriors whom I believe are destroying my country. I read the article through more than once even cross checked his dates and descriptions of the events written about…  The article was written in October 2010. Mr Davis believes that America has not been anything near a bastion of religious freedom and uses historical events of record to prove his point. I have always been God and country…now more than ever I am sadden by what is happening to my country and like many have been quick to point a finger at others. One of my favorite comic strips is Pogo, and the quote I remember most is “we have found the enemy and they is us”.

We learned in school that the Pilgrims came to America aboard the good ship Mayflower in search of religious freedom in 1620. Soon after the Puritans followed. It is a fact that millions followed to experience the freedom that allowed them to be free to practice their own faith. Some of you may remember a radio personality Paul Harvey, an early Rush Limbaugh, who had as a segment of his broadcast…The Rest of The Story. Well, as it turns out it seems possible that the account of America’s tolerance of religious freedom, has a Rest of The Story of its own. Mr Davis referred to that narrative as an American myth. I recommend you read his article with an open mind…It changed the direction of my thinking about where to go with this blog. Here is that Url.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/americas-true-history-of-religious-tolerance-61312684/

Let’s turn to scripture, Romans 1:18-32…In a previous passage Paul was addressing the truth about a relationship with God. A relationship entered into through faith, trust and living out God’s will in our lives. Paul now sets before us the wrath of God which men and women and their nation will face if they turn away from God. When we as a people refuse to worship God, adhere to his precepts and go off in other directions seeking to satisfy our own desires and allowing them to become our idols, we shall face the wrath of God. This thought or phrase one nation under God, implies we as a people and  a nation have a special relationship with God. I would say that the state of the nation and its people say just the opposite. What is our conception of that alarming and terrifying phrase? In early Old Testament writings God’s wrath is directed toward those we would call the covenant people. Those who had a special relationship with God. They were to be his chosen people and it would be so as long as they kept his Law.(Exodus 24:3-8) To put it simply, if anywhere in the nation the law was broken the relationship was severed and brought down God’s wrath. Also this relationship allowed for if another nation were to treat Israel with cruelty or injustice they would incur God’s wrath. As Paul speaks of the wrath of God, we must acknowledge that Jesus saves men and women from that very wrath. It is written many times in scripture that disobedience to God will ensure his wrath. Ezekiel was blunt and to the point… 18:4 Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die.   Are we missing something? Consider this for just a moment. Suppose you live from the perspective there is really no God…but you choose to live as if there were, at the end of life you would have fared much better than if you simply accepted life as it were. If it is not God’s will what should we call it? One commentary states ‘There is a moral order in this world, and anyone who transgresses it sooner or later is bound to suffer.’ J. A. Froude, the great nineteenth-century historian, said: ‘One lesson, and one lesson only, history may be said to repeat with distinctness, that the world is built somehow on moral foundations, that, in the long run, it is well with the good, and, in the long run, it will be ill with the wicked.’

Could we conclude that this moral order is the wrath of God at work? We know that God made this world, his world, so that should we break his laws we do so at our own peril. If we can be put in a situation of peril due to this moral order, which is unbending and unrelenting, if we are left solely at its mercy, is it not reasonable to believe that the only thing left is death and destruction? How important might this be? The Prophets did not delay the wrath of God to the Judgement Day, they believed it was a continuous thing. Using Israel as an example whenever they strayed as a nation the wrath of God came against them. It often involved ruin, which often resulted in defeat and captivity. There is a concept here that we today find hard to understand…we read more about the wrath of God in the Old Testament writings rather than the New. We today are very much aware of this God of love, mercy and grace and we seldom think of him as a God of wrath. When was the last time most of us heard a  wrath of God sermon? These verses when read in context leave no doubt that we cannot plead ignorance of God. Paul makes a very valid point that suffering always follows sin. Look at the world and see the simple facts of God’s intended order. There are laws that apply to most any of our endeavors… one simple example…break the laws of  health and your body suffers. Break God’s law and you will suffer. You cannot deny that existence itself requires a far greater power than ourselves…that power is God. Those who sin are left without excuse. As sinners we look to ourselves and not to God. Christians are put in a very difficult position. God’s law has become secondary to our own laws, whims, opinions  and we have taken to setting our own standards to live by. We are a self centered people instead of God centered. In biblical times this resulted in idolatry. Idolatry is ruled by the selfish needs and wants of people. We enter our churches not to worship and serve God but to be served. Many times our prayers are self-centered that our dreams may be furthered and the result is we fail and then fall. We worship for self, not for God. 

Romans 1:28-32 provides us with a grocery list of offenses against God’s Law…I do not like to use scripture to beat someone with a righteous stick  so to speak and I am not an hysterical moralist, these verses describe accurately the decline of morals and degenerate behavior in Paul’s day. Even Greek and Roman writers of that day said the same thing about the state of the nations of that day. So now we arrive at the end of this blog that went another direction. We can point fingers all day long in every direction but like a boomerang they point right back to us. It is not the political parties, BLM, GLBT groups, social justice warriors or just a sign of the times, you know, the new norm. No… Pogo said it best the enemy is us.

Please read Romans 1:28-32 

We have banished God from our life as a nation and a people. Harsh statement to make even harsher when we who sin know it to be true. Examples…no longer are the bible and prayers welcomed in our schools in schools, prayers are not allowed before or on field during an athletic event…churches and religious institutions under attack…just a few. We have reached the point in this nation that those who openly attack people of the faith are encouraging others to do so. A quote to help wrap this up:

The dramatist and critic George Bernard Shaw once said: ‘No nation has ever survived the loss of its gods.’ 

Paul has given us a picture of what happens when people banish God from their lives. They eventually perish. Theirs is a legacy that in time produces disaster. We have failed to obey God, to continue the work his Son, Jesus Christ commanded us to do.

We must pray and live our lives so that this Nation is truly “One Nation Under God”

Life is Good

jk

Hope and the Hero’s of The Faith

In July, 2016, I wrote a blog about Cowboys and Hero’s, below an excerpt from that blog…

Back in the day many young boys dreamed of riding the plains doing good and rescuing the young girls from evil. Mounting the trusty broom and riding the backyard range in search of stray cattle or damsels in distress and even hoping to come across a bad guy or two. Sporting a set of Gene Autry pistols and a new hat and cowboy boots from Sears or the local Western Auto store, we were the picture of young justice and any number of Saturday cowboy shows on the old black and white TV. Sneaking a bit of small rope from dad’s work bench for a lasso, even the dog and cat feared our pass through the backyard range. They were examples of what we admired or wanted to be in our adolescent dreams and wishes. Today we look at a different time and a different type of hero, the ones back in the day that set an example of faith and are called to mind in the 11th chapter of Hebrews through the writings of Paul. (fromthepewblog.com)

I Always like to check in with Webster just to be sure…What is a hero? The simple answer is:

a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities…

Biblically speaking the eleventh chapter of Hebrews contains the major heroes of the Bible. A hero is a person of great courage, conquer, a victor and a winner to use just a few descriptive nouns. But in these definitions we find the most compelling attribute of a hero is missing, Faith the fuel of  Christian Hope. 

Faith is the certainty that what you believe is true and seen or unseen it will come. The hope we are looking at is not a make a wish thing but one of unshakeable conviction. I remember the young girl at Columbine High School who when confronted by the shooter, he asked her, “Do you believe in God?” while holding a pistol to her head…she never hesitated… “yes” he shot her. This unique Christian Faith, is a hope turned to certainty. It dictates the way Christians conduct themselves. They live it, they die for it and it is what’s makes them live as they do. James Mofatt writes three ways this Christian Hope works.

1. Belief in God against the world
2. Belief in the spirit against the senses
3. Christian Hope in belief in the future against the present   

The writer to Hebrews makes the point that what God has promised will be. They put everything on God, and the history of the scriptures proves them right. There were those who argued that God created the world out of existing matter, the writer to this letter insists that the creation of this world was all of God’s will and preference. The fact is that it is God’s world.  Acceptance of this leads us to these principals. We will respect and use wisely what God has created and believe that even when it looks bad, God is in control. Chapter 11 describes the nature and power of Christian faith. It does so by providing examples of such set forth by instances from Abel to Noah, Abraham and his descendants. They are joined by Jacob, Joseph, Moses, the Israelites, and Rahab. We can also add many Old Testament believers. Faith has always been the mark of a servant of God. Through faith we keep the truth of Christ’s sufferings through which he is justified, the promises made, the covenant secured and that which fuels our own hope and faith. A faith that proves to our mind those things we can’t see. Faith contains all things of worth while granting full approval of all God has revealed as holy, just and good. Here in chapter 11 we find examples of persons from Old Testament times who were honorable in character and the word of God. In faith they were examples of holy obedience, Godly service and patient sufferings. The bible is the one source of a true and accurate account of all things of God. There is power in the creation story and it is to be believed by all Christians. It is one of the cornerstones of our faith, one we cannot allow the disbelief of some to take it from us, just because they don’t believe.

We read here that all the works of the creation were brought about by the command of God. There is the account of Abel’s sacrifice, his atonement, acknowledging himself to be a sinner and seeking mercy and forgiveness from God. Contrast that to Cain’s rage and hostility against Abel and his sacrifice. Who would have known at that time this rage and hostility, even murder of believers would travel across time to this very day. Enoch, a man who walked with God always keeping the distance between him and God as little as possible. He did not see death, God took him to heaven just as Christ will do for the saints who are living at the time of his second coming. Enoch believed God and those things that the scripture of that time revealed him to be. If we are to find God in our life we must seek him with all our heart. Noah guided by God’s words and driven by his faith set about to build the ark. His faith overshadowed their unbelief and his obedience was greater than their contempt and rebellion. There is a point to be made here. The example of believers like that of Noahs after being warned of the wrath to come, moved by fear but filled with faith took action at God’s warning and became an heir of the righteousness of faith. We too can expect to be called, leave our interests and comforts behind. Strike out as Abraham, obeying and going forth not knowing what we might encounter, seeking only to do God’s will, to do that which He has called us to. Abraham’s trial was brought about simply because he fully obeyed the call of God. Abraham offered up Isaac putting aside his doubts and fears and looking to the power of God. We will be better off enjoying our comforts if we allow God to give us that which we need and He knows are best for us. Jacob lived by faith, and he died by faith, and in faith. This grace of faith is available to us in our life cycle but is especially needful when we face death. Here at last we have come to our destination, facing it with a life of patience, hope and joy, a life of faith in which we have striven to honor God in all things. Joseph was tried by temptations to sin, by persecution for keeping his integrity; and he was tried by the honors and power in the court of Pharaoh, yet his faith carried him through. Moses was a special baby, raised in royalty, tempted by power and sin, was of his own violation a murderer but God used him and Moses by faith led his people from captivity. Moses became a true believer of God and was willing to subject himself to their fate, being desirous to be in a covenant with God and in communion with his people. Rahab’s inclusion in this list is a bit tricky. It is written that Rahab operated an inn in the city and aided the Israelite spies to escape capture when scouting the city. There were some inns that were also brothels but the story does not indicate that. Rahab’s life was not perfect but she was declared just by her actions. 

There is a little more here in the chapter but I think the point has been made. Hope, Faith, Courage and Strength are some of the attributes of a hero by earthly definitions. These people were saints of the faith…It is because they believed that they had hope and were able to serve God. What is that old refrain…faith of our fathers… May we pray and endeavor to increase our faith and like them be made perfect in Him… Believe.

Life is Good

jk

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This is a short chapter only 13 verses but they challenge the church today just as strongly as they did the Corinthian Church of Paul’s day. We have as a community of faith become more and more complacent accepting among us those things that weaken the faith and over time we have allowed ourselves to view them as the acceptable in today’s society. We accepted the premise that to judge others is wrong, in this chapter Paul adds some much needed clarity to this idea. In the NRSV version the word unchastity is used to describe a series of bad behaviors. First Paul speaks to a specific problem that has occurred there in the church at Corinth. In todays world we have gone to great length to tone down and in some instances accept that which society deems appropriate or the new norm. We have allowed the perversion of God’s word and law to mirror the demand of social and cultural change.

First we must acknowledge that the Gentile world did not know the meaning of the word chastity. To make this plain they took pleasure where they found it with whom and whenever it pleased them. A Christian mind could not grasp this and certainly found it difficult to escape this sea of idolatry that surrounded them and was overwhelmed by such behavior. There were those who had come into the church from this very environment and they would have to unlearn these practices of such loose living. If the church was to grow and be kept pure they would have to say goodby to the old ways. As we join Paul at this point we find him dealing with what is a constantly recurring problem. The sin he confronts is to found in Leviticus 18:8. A couple of things here…Paul does not attempt to deal with her at all which indicates that she must have been outside the jurisdiction of the church…it being possible she was a divorcee…perhaps a Gentile. Now the other point to be made…The indication is that as shocked as he was of the nature of the sin he was even more shocked by the attitude of the Corinthian church to both the sinner and the sin itself. They had retained a complacent attitude toward both sin and sinner. They had accepted the situation, because they were surrounded by such behavior, they let this become the new norm. It was Paul’s opinion that they should have been deeply upset about this happening among the body of the believers within the church itself. Such an easy-going attitude toward sin is always dangerous, their silence and lack of response was in a way condoning such. There are scholars that have said sin puts believers in a perilous position. This is not about condemnation of another person it is about the fact that sin, when it comes among us is something that no Christian man or women should ever take an easy-going attitude toward. Sin…crucified Jesus Christ. Christ died that we might be free of sin.

It is at this point in the chapter that Paul introduces a new thought. We have always been taught to love the sinner, hate the sin. Paul puts a twist on that… 1 Corinthians 5: 5-7

 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. 6 You, boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are.

Paul leaves no doubt to his intentions in this matter. The man must be dealt with. In Paul’s day the world was looked upon as the domain of Satan, the church was the domain of God. They were to  put this man out of the church. Send him back to Satan’s world, that’s where he belongs. It was not the wish of the church to break this man…it was meant to get his attention and was done with a great deal of sadness. It was always the intention that in getting his attention they might have the time to change his sinful nature, restore him to the fellowship and save his soul. The example given here has at its core a practical truth. Discipline is sometimes needed in the church. To keep ignoring situations, and there are many others, we weaken the strength and ground of the faith our Lord has called us too. We , Christians, people of the faith cannot allow the weeds of sin to grow on our ground. The weeds of sin must be removed before it renders the ground unfit for planting and growing the seeds of faith. Discipline must always be used to prevent and to cure…Remember we are not in the practice of condemnation but one of restoration. 

Paul has already written a letter to the Corinthians. In this letter he had urged them to avoid the evils of society and the men and women involved in such behavior. Now here is the catch…some I am sure misunderstood what Paul was saying. Paul had meant that to apply only to the members of the church. Some of the members of the church had taken this to be an absolute, which would mean withdrawal from the world entirely. In Corinth it would be impossible to function in such a way in every day life. The society Paul is speaking of would be those within the church itself. Paul’s thought was that wicked people would have to be put out of the church, until they mended their ways. Paul believed that discipline was a necessary thing to maintain the faith and message of the church. In reality Paul would never have advocated   withdrawal from the world. I do not wish to put words in Paul’s mouth but I am sure he believed that our Christianity and faith must be lived out in the world…this he believed would make it a better place. There is no such thing as a solitary religion and I believe there is no group salvation. We find our strength in the community of faith but our salvation is something that we alone will stand before God to be judged on that day. 

Paul has a specific list, three sins to be exact that have or are occurring in the world and he places them in three classes of people. They are fornicators, the greedy, and idolaters. 

–It is reasonable to believe that fornication is a sin against ourselves, self inflicted.

-Greediness is a sin against others, our neighbors and of course the men and women we encounter every day.

-Idolatry is a sin against God. Worshiping things that takes our time from God. Not keeping God first in our lives.

I do not believe that scripture contradicts itself, it does at times clarify itself as to meaning. There was a Jewish phrase those outside which was applied to those who were not the chosen people. Paul believed that we must leave the judgement of those outside the faith to God, because He alone knows what is in their hearts. There is no doubt in Paul’s reasoning about this. Those within the church had special privileges, so it was only right that they should have special responsibilities. We of the faith have taken an oath to Christ and will and should be called to answer for our fidelity to it.

Chapter 5 has a rather harsh ending…I will let you be the judge as to its place in the church today.

1 Corinthians 5:13

13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

Life is Good

jk