Betwixt and Between But Blessed

Betwixt and Between But Blessed

Please accept my apology for the length of this blog.  I try hard to limit them to 2 pages but this one just wouldn't allow it.  Thanks

In commenting on the 12 who spied out the land during the Exodus A.W. Tozer paraphrases their comments as follows:

"We're free of Egypt, thank God, and are not slaves anymore. We are in the wilderness, and while it isn't the best, we will settle for it rather than go up against those giants in that wonderful promised homeland."  A.W. Tozer. The Crucified Life: How To Live Out A Deeper Christian Experience (Kindle Locations 582-583). Kindle Edition.

Tozer is making a comparison between Israel and Believers.  I couldn’t help but feel smacked when I read this. 

Now we aren’t with the Lord yet.  His Kingdom isn’t established here physically but it is here within each of us. 

Huh?  OK – the concept of a Kingdom presupposes the concept of a King.  If we are subjects of the King we are citizens of His Kingdom – right?  So if the King of Kings is “in” us, if we are united with Him, then His Kingship/Kingdom exists.

We have been brought, “out of Egypt.”  We have been freed from “slavery to sin.”

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Col 1:13-14) ESV

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,    (Heb 12:28)

We are “in the wilderness.”  A place where we are utterly dependent upon God.  Crossing into the Promised land, the Kingdom will not make us any less dependent upon Him.  In the wilderness.  We are told:

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years.   (Heb 3:7-9) ESV

Now before you go all weird on me let me include:

So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.   (Heb 3:19) ESV

None of the “unbelieving” could enter God’s rest – His Sabbath – the Promised Land.  But how do we understand their disbelief?

As it is said, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?   (Heb 3:15-18)  ESV

Those who did not believe were those who were rebellious, sinful and disobedient.  That is unbelief.  Belief is – well – submission.  Accepting what God says as truth and moving forward based upon that truth. 

Israel, despite all God had done, did not believe He was truthful.  They did not trust His promise. 

We have to remember that though we are saved by grace alone through faith alone those two mighty things have to have an effect.  That effect is obedience.  If there is no effect, was there ever a cause? 

That’s a tough question to have to face.  But it weakness when we realize that in His truth God has told us the truth about us as well.  No one has ever or will ever put it better than Paul did in Romans.

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.  (Rom 7:14-25)  ESV

If there is a passage in all of scripture that we need desperately to commit to memory and pray about it is this one.  We have been freed from Egypt but we still have all those Egyptian habits and proclivities.  We must identify them and understand them and resist/oppose them. 

Paul says it is, “another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin.”  Note that well brothers and sisters, “another law.”  This “other law” wages war making Paul a captive to, “the law of sin.”

This “other law” works in Paul’s (and our) “members,” that is, the seat of the desires and passions.

What should we call this, “law?”   I call it the Law of I-dolarty.  The Law of ME. 

Now believer, take it easy.  You were born, raised and grew up surrounded by this “law.”  It is natural for it to have a powerful impact and a residual influence in your life.  It’s what you are used to.  What you have been comfortable with.  What you have been encouraged to.   You have learned to play the game according to those rules and to protect and enhance yourself by them.

How powerful is this Egyptian thinking?  Well it took 40 years and the passing of a generation for it to somewhat weeded out of Israel (at least enough for them to cross the river).  But those 40 years were not idle years.  They were 40 years of utter and complete dependence upon God for everything.  Even then, a seed of Egyptian thinking remained.

Why would you and I suppose god would do in an instant what He took 40 years to do with Israel?  Even more, we are far from being as dependent upon God as Israel was in the wilderness (or at least we think we are).  We do not have the benefit of their isolation and clear daily demonstration of His providence.  Or at least we don’t see/acknowledge His hand in everything as they would have.

Even once across the river there is a sense of, “Thank you God for getting us out or Egypt and bringing us here.  We’ll see you around and if we need you we’ll call.  We can take it from here on.”

Yeah, right --------

But that’s where we tend to go. 

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?   (Gal 3:3)  ESV

The word here, “foolish,” is the Greek word ἀνόητος  anóētos which is basically, “Are you out of your mind?” 

Paul has a point.  There’s certain insanity about acknowledging our redemption as solely God’s provision and then thinking our sanctification isn’t.  There’s a certain insanity in thinking god needs our help to accomplish His goal in, for and through us.

Not only is there a certain insanity in thinking this way – but thinking this way can make us nutz.

I’m not going to get into which side of the river we’re on.  But we need to address the attitude of:

"We're free of Egypt, thank God, and are not slaves anymore. We are in the wilderness, and while it isn't the best, we will settle for it rather than go up against those giants in that wonderful promised homeland."  A.W. Tozer. The Crucified Life: How To Live Out A Deeper Christian Experience (Kindle Locations 582-583). Kindle Edition.

Let me just say that we’re in the wilderness and we’re not.  We’re across the river but not yet.

The issue isn’t whether we’re one place of another.  The issue is trusting God.  Being willing to live constantly reminding ourselves that He is true and His promises are sure and that even the smallest particle in creation is subject to His sovereignty. 

Few (if any) of us “trust” God 100%, 100% of the time.  We are indeed weak and needy creatures.  We struggle.  We worry.  We fear.  We fall.  But all of that is part and parcel of why we needed to be redeemed – utterly redeemed.  That is why we have to have a High Priest who has the right and authority to effectively intercede for us. 

We are learning to trust Him in this wilderness (Oops, did I just pick a side of the river?). 

Unlike Israel of the east side of the Jordan we are (in a very weird way) on both sides.  The Kingdom is but not yet.  The Kingdom we experience is in the midst of the wilderness (changed sides again??).  We might say that His Kingship is established and His Kingdom is coming. 

That’s tough.  But how else can we see it?  The east side of the river is not the west side.  In either place we will always be utterly dependent of God.  The difference, I think, is in what we are dependent upon Him for and what wages war against our trusting Him utterly (much less submitting utterly).

Just as He was with Israel in the wilderness so too His Word and His Spirit are with us here, now.  We need Him no less.  We may be tempted into thinking we do – but we don’t.  Perhaps our need, except in crisis, does not feel as immediate – as pressing.  But it has not lessened on bit.

This verse struck me as I was writing:

By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. (Heb 11:9)  ESV

That’s us – we are living in the “land” of promise as though we were in a foreign land.

Take note too of;

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. (Heb 11:13-16)  ESV

Does this not apply to you and I?  Does it not give hope and peace?  We, if He does not return before, will also “die in faith.”  So let us acknowledge that we are, “seeking a homeland,” and take confidence that He, “has prepared for them (us) a city.”

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.   (Rev 21:1-6)  ESV

We do not want the Jerusalem – or even the Promised Land of Abraham, David, Solomon or Paul.  We look for a New Jerusalem.

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened--not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.   (2Co 5:1-9)  ESV

Trusting God is something we do very inconsistently.  The good news is that there is nothing inconsistent in His trustworthiness.  He knows our struggles, our weakness, our failings and he has provided well for them all.  Sure, we hesitate to, “cross the river,” but He knew we would.  Actually, He knew He would have to get across Himself.

Are you weak of faith?  That’s normal.  Do you struggle with sin?  That’s normal.  Do you grieve and weep, yearning to be with Him?  For a believer, that’s normal too. 

What part of:

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  (2Co 12:9)  ESV

do you not want to have apply to you?  Paul, by stating, “weaknesses,” makes plain the fact that it was not just that thorn he boasted in.  What He boasted in was the fact that he was utterly dependent upon God – and he knew that God was utterly dependable.

God has no unreasonable expectations of you and I.  There is nothing He expects from us that He does not provide the means, opportunity and energy to accomplish.

Anxiety 2.0

Php 4:6  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  NASB

Anxious:  μεριμνάω  merimnaō

1) to be anxious

1a) to be troubled with cares

2) to care for, look out for (a thing)

2a) to seek to promote one’s interests

2b) caring or providing for

There is a related word that we ought to attend to as well:  μερίζω  merizō.  This work means to divide, to split into factions; to be disunited.  The reason I include merizō is that it gives a clearer sense of what we’re being told in this verse.  This word carried the idea of being distracted – diverted from the course set.

It is normal to be “anxious” – is it not?  Are we not told that we will be hated and have tribulation?  Are we not told we are engaged in a war?  Are we not warned of Satan’s desire to entrap and impale us?  How then could we never be anxious?

If you want to get hard core we are told here to “Be anxious,” but to be anxious for nothing 

But – that aside, we need to understand that the point here is to enjoin us to not be “disunited,” or as my grandfather would say, “discombobulated” for nothing.  We are not to let anything distract us from, well, the faith.

OK – for the rookies.  I want you to remember that the Christ did not die to make life here a party – or even nice.  He died so that we might be redeemed into God’s family and have the assurance of eternal life with Him.  That’s what we cannot afford to be distracted from. 

We should also remember that God’s desire for us here is to grow in righteousness.  He does not want us to be distracted from that either.  The anxiety He presents here in Phil. Is an anxiety that distracts us from those truths and make other things of equal or greater importance and concern.

I know a man who is struggling with anxiety over his circumstances.  Work, money, the future all seem to loom over him pressing him down.  The constant battle he faces is in trying to work it out, figure it out, fix it, etc. apart from his dependence upon God.  The shame and humiliation that would attend the worst case scenario plaques most of his waking moments, even his dreams.  A sense of a wasted life, uselessness and failure rise up in his throat like bile.

He’s afraid to do anything because the thought keeps running in his head that if he does the wrong thing, God will smack him.  All of his past errors and sin raise their ugly heads to accuse and offer proof of his unfitness for God’s blessing.  In his anxiety, he is frozen. 

He wants to pray but feels that would be disingenuous.  He has thoughts of ramping up his practices, good works, prayer, stewardship – but he knows that comes from the wrong direction.  The subtle thought that if he just does X God will rescue him freezes his mind and heart.

This is the anxiety of which Paul writes.  I had one person describe it as feeling like what it must be like to be water-boarded.  It’s a paralyzing, smothering sense of distress. 

Knowing his redemption is sure; Knowing that he is a child of God; Knowing that God works all thing for the good of those who love him, he still struggles desperately though quietly; all the while pushing forward to meet his obligations and commitments. 

He yearns to be with the Lord but even here it is dangerous.  To be with the Lord one must shuffle off this mortal coil.  Yet he knows that perhaps he wants more to be out of his circumstances than to be - well – dead.  So he even questions his desire for God and the eternal life Christ purchased for him.

He does not trust his own mind and struggles with God entrusting him because of his failures.  Oh, he knows these are all the strategies of the world, the flesh and the Devil but knowing the source doesn’t reduce the injury. 

He fights being “distracted,” or “diverted,” rom the course set before him.  He struggles with every fiber of his being to push through the darkness and dismay.  Like the prophet he would sit under a tree and invite God to take his life.  Like Job he would scorn the day of his birth.

There is no “cure” for his anxiety, only an alternative.

“but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God”

Interestingly he does not struggle with being thankful.  He knows all he has to be thankful for.  It is the nature and content of his requests that concern him.  He wants to pray for what he needs but what he thinks he needs smacks too much of what he wants.  He wants to ask for the right thing but he does not trust his thoughts on what the right thing is.  What should he request?

Now, for you and me, what he should pray for may be clear and simple.  Homey but true, “It’s hard to remember the job was to drain the swamp when you’re up to your behind in alligators.”  We also have to remember that one man’s gecko is another man’s alligator.

Then we find:

Rom 8:26-27  In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;  (27)  and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

That, then, is his only active hope.  Unable to trust himself, his heart, his mind, he must trust the Spirit of God to untangle all the “stuff” and to present to God those groanings.  Yes, sometimes we need to “be still.”  Not just to hear from God but to speak to Him as well.

“Being still,” isn’t easy.  We need to pray to be still.  When our minds and hearts a racing, when we are hard pressed inside and out being still is as hard as turning the other cheek – perhaps harder.

The real distressing part of this is that we are not prone to carry these burdens to the Body.  There is too much of a stigma attached.  Not only that, but there is often nothing available except shallow platitudes or castigation.  So in these circumstances the individual is left to deal with it alone.  All too often – most often – this results in a catastrophe of faith.

Yes, I know that the Romans verse is followed by:

Rom 8:28  And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

This is indeed a great and true assurance but like children who have suffered an injury the assurance that, “It will be OK,” doesn’t stop the pain or quell the fear.

Any thoughts?

Error as necessary truth?????

Superstition always breeds such sorrows, when men make themselves religious duties which God never made them, and then come short in the performance of them. Many dark souls are assaulted by the erroneous, and told that they are in a wrong way; and they must take up some error as a necessary truth, and so are cast into perplexing difficulties, and perhaps repent of the truth which they before owned. Many fearful Christians are troubled about every meal that they eat, about their clothes, their thoughts, and word, thinking or fearing that all is sinful which is lawful, and that unavoidable infirmities are heinous sins. All such as these are troubles and sorrows without cause, and therefore overmuch.

Richard Baxter

Believers, like ships, tend to pick up barnacles over time.  Many of these barnacles are little more than superstitions.

Superstition is a belief in supernatural causality: that one event leads to the cause of another without any physical process linking the two events [citation needed]; a false conception of causality, such as astrology, omens, witchcraft, etc, that contradicts natural science. WikiP

Leaving the debate between science and faith (things seen vs. things unseen) alone, superstition for us would be the belief that some action or thought, etc. that we hold (or reject) will CAUSE God to do (or not do) something.  If I wear a St. Christopher’s medallion, I will be safe on my journey.  If I fast, God will do what I want.  If I scrupulously attend to the disciplines of the faith, God will do (or not) good things for me.

This is superstition.  It is, quite simply, a false belief which carries within it the germ of causality.  That is, I believe that if I do X, God will have to do Y.  There’s a lot of that going around today and so there are a lot of greatly downcast believers.

I read much about “spirituality” and how to develop it.  Unfortunately, most, if not all, of these writers propose that the believer, “take up some error as a necessary truth.”  (Baxter)  Note!  “error as necessary truth.”  Baxter is being nice using the word “error”, I think, because in what I read today, it seems more like an insistence that the believer “take up heresy as a necessary truth.”

Take the infusion of Eastern ideas and techniques into the lives of believers.  These ideas and the techniques they utilize are based upon untruth – lies.  Yoga, Tai chi, Eastern meditation and Acupuncture, just to name a few, are based in unbelief.  Unless the believer is clearly aware of this [this what - - background/motivation/fact/factor/aspect], they are in danger of being teased off the right path.

We are spiritual.  Everyone is spiritual – even unbelievers.  WE, as believers are not called to be spiritual – we are called to be holy.  We cannot be any more spiritual than God made us, but we can be more holy – which is His whole point in redeeming us.  But I think it is easier to work towards a silly and useless goal, than to work towards THE goal.

Prayer does not make one more spiritual.  Prayer makes one more intimate with God, more aware of our dependence on Him.  Meditating on Scripture does not make on more spiritual.  It does make one more familiar with the Word of God and, I believe, it provides the Spirit more bricks with which to build in our lives.  Fasting does not get God to do anything.  Fasting focuses our attention on our dependence upon Him, the power of the world’s offerings and our own self-serving propensity.

None of the “duties” or practices that are touted as spiritual will ever cause God to do anything.  The disciplines we find in scripture (and there are few) are intended for our benefit and development.  One might as well say doing sit-ups or jogging for God could cause Him to do anything. 

“If” is a dangerous word.  When we phrase a statement, “If we do X, God will do Y,”  we are entering a danger zone.  Most of the “If/Then” books offered to believers are not Biblically sound and are subtly designed to meet the needs of our flesh more than the needs of our spirits.  Though happiness and contentment here are nice and certainly desirable, are they not to be counted as “dung” compared to what is ready for us with Him?

I am really sent over the edge when I read these bound sheets of toilet paper offering to help you become a “better” believer.  Let me ask you, who made you a believer?  Who “redeemed you?”  Ok, what did He mess up?  Where did He fall short?  Where are the gaps and tears in your redemption?

We are NOT called to improve upon what He and He alone has done.  We are called to simply grow in it.  For that [growth], He has given us all we need - the Word and the Spirit.  Out of the scandal of the crucifixion, the power of the resurrection and the glory of the ascension, everything that needs be done is done.  We simply have to PRACTICE submission and obedience to Him.  I use the word “practice’ because that’s what it is, practice.  We are not done yet and we won’t be done here.

Don’t get sucked into the vortex of superstitions.  Do not allow yourself to be seduced into taking up some error as a necessary truth (or practice).  Yoga is exercise not a spiritual discipline.  Acupuncture is a “quasi-medical” treatment not a spiritual exercise.  Meditating your belly-button is – well – just silly.  Martial Arts are simply martial arts not some spiritual endeavor.

The only “spiritual” thing about all this error is – you.  Be not deceived!

Paul tells us:

(1Co 6:12)  "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. ESV

and

(1Co 6:17)  But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.

Though he uses food and sexual immorality as examples the principle is that whatever does not glorify God is not helpful (to be profitable, advantageous, to contribute or bring together for the benefit of another).  So the question is, what has light to do with darkness – and what are the dark parts?

Spiritual = biblically based, Spirit dependent and God focused.  So whatever you do, whenever you do it, if it meets that criteria – it is “spiritual” in the context or redemption.  If it does not meet that criteria it is “spiritual” (because man are spiritual) but outside the light. 

Call me "christian" no more!

Call me ‘christian’ no more!

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Yep – I’m thinking about it.  I’m thinking about answering the question, “Are you a Christian?” with a resounding, “No!!!”

Why?  Simply put, because that’s not what God calls me!

Three times the denominator “Christian” is used in scripture and at no time is it intended to be anything more than a slur.

Act 11:26   and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

Act 26:28  And Agrippa said to Paul, "In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?"

1Pe 4:16   Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

Christianós; gen. Christianoú, masc. noun from Christós (G5547), Christ. A name given to the disciples or followers of Christ, first adopted at Antioch. It does not occur in the NT as a name commonly used by Christians themselves (Act_11:26; Act_26:28; 1Pe_4:16). The believers first became known as Christians as an appellation of ridicule.

The official Roman charge against Believers was atheism.  Should we consider calling ourselves atheists?  What about “fools?”  Should we just accept the name given us by the world.  Or should we consider using the terms by which God calls us?

We might call our selves “disciples of Jesus.”  However that just tells folks we are students of a guy called Jesus.  It’s import is little more than the Pharisees’s and John’s followers were. 

How about this piece of Bible trivia – did you know that it is only in the Gospels and the Acts off the apostles that Believers are called disciples?  That’s right, after Acts the appellation is not used.  Why?  Because after the giving of the Holy Spirit Believers became much much more than mere disciples.

But, you say, we are called to make disciples!!  Absolutely true – and we can.  What we can’t do is make Believers!!!!!  Get it?  We go – we teach Christ and Him crucified – people come to hear/learn – they are disciples – then the Holy Spirit acts and they become Believers – then we baptize them.  Get it???  We are only capable of making disciples who may or may not become believers.

OK – so what now?  Well, you’ve got “Believers,” and “Saints.”  Those are the two predominant appellations we find in scripture.  Those are the most common terms God uses to “name” His people.  So whose name do you want to carry – the one given us by the pagans in Ephesus which was intended to be a slur or the names given us by God?

Is this a big deal?  Yes and no.  It is a big deal when we consider calling biblical things by biblical names.  It is a big deal when we want to be accurate and God honoring.  It is a big deal when we want to make sure that the world knows who and what we are.  In terms of our salvation – it’s not so big a deal.

The term “christian’ was intended to be a pejorative not simply a name.  It was intended to demean and insult those it was used of.  It was intended to marginalize those it was applied to.  Mmmmmmmm?  Sound familiar?   I don’t know about you but I’m tired of accepting the world’s appellation – I think I prefer God’s.

των  πιστων = the believers

ἅγιος  hágios; = saints

οι ηγορασμενοι = the redeemed

λαος θεου = people of God

δουλοι χριστου = servants of Christ

δουλος ιησου χριστου = servant of Christ Jesus

It’s time we took back our true name!  No, this isn’t a matter of salvation but it is one of correctness and scriptural accuracy.  We are:

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. (1Pe 2:9-11)  ESV

I think it’s high time we considered claiming our true status, our real name.  Nick names can be good or bad.  In the case of the word Christian – there was no good intent in its being applied to those who follow the Lord or Lords.  Things haven’t changed much over time except that we’ve accepted the appellation of the world’s ridicule as some kind of a warped badge of honor.  I for one have a problem with that!

Jesus, a first century "techy"

There’s a lot of misinformation floating around about what exactly the Christian faith teaches.  Now we could get into all kinds of theological arguments of minutia, but my point is that there are some fundamentals that are essential and other things that – well – aren’t so much.

 

But let me give you an example of how the misunderstandings play out.

Have you ever seen the bumper sticker, “My boss is a Jewish Carpenter!”

Well – that’s nice – but not quite on the money.

We KNOW that Jesus was raised by Joseph, Mary’s husband, and was considered by homefolks as Joseph’s “son.”  We read:

Mat 13:55  Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?

And

Mar 6:3  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.

But here things get funky.

There was not a lot of work in Israel (in that day) for carpenters.  Why?  There just wasn’t any lumber to mention at all.  Even the lumber that was used to build the Temples in Jerusalem had to be imported from Tyre.

The word most everybody translates as ‘carpenter’ is the Greek work τέκτων/téktōn.  Though such a person might be able to work with wood, they would actually be better seen as a craftsman (possibly master craftsman), able to work in wood, stone, clay, etc.  Kind of a super handyman, a super sub-contractor.  

Why then a “carpenter?”  Well the word is used a lot in non-biblical writings and in those cases (for the most part) the references are to carpenters/joiners who worked in ship building, so it’s natural to draw the carpenter conclusion.  But old records speak of téktōns as being multi-talented, even master craftsmen not just carpenters.

Near Nazareth where Jesus grew up is the Roman city of Sepphoris.  It’s possible that prior to beginning His ministry, Jesus (and even perhaps Joseph) worked there building the city.  Not a lot of wood there but lots of stone.  Even where wood is used, it’s not enough to keep a carpenter busy for long and Joseph (and after his death Jesus) had a family to support.

So, what’s the point?  Is whether or not Jesus was a “carpenter” or a “craftsman” critical to the Christian faith?  Not really.  But as more is discovered about the time in which He lived, our knowledge and understanding grows.  

There is a “history” in which the Biblical events took place.  As we grow in our knowledge and understanding of that history, many of the things we thought we KNEW begin to fade.  But just because the history in which the events took place becomes clearer and challenges some of the things we thought we KNEW, there is no reason to attach that to the Biblical events.  Whether Jesus of Nazareth was a carpenter or a master craftsman isn’t the point.

The point, all theological issues aside, is that after Joseph’s death, Jesus took on the responsibility for the care of his mother and his half-brothers and sisters until His ministry began.  He knew the trepidation of applying for work.  He knew what it was like to work for a bad boss.  He knew hard work with little pay.  

He knew – and knows – the inequities of the work world.  He understands what it feels like to get shafted.  

Think about this:

Heb 2:17-18  Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  (18)  For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Carpenter or Craftsman – not a big thing.  Sure is crucified Carpenter has a certain panache to is but if you’ll consider that as a Craftsman He would have worked with a variety of materials on variety of projects for a variety of contractors – well, His experience broadens quite a bit.  

Does this change who He is and what He did of the cross?  Of course not.  But it does, at least for me fill Him out as a person a little bit.

Think of this if you happen to go to Israel and walk around Nazareth.  Everything you see from that period of time could possibly be something He worked on.  If you go to Sepphoris think about the fact that he may have cut the paving stones and laid them in place.  He may have had a hand in building the magnificent structures you will see.

It’s a small thing – but for me it’s an eye and imagination opener. 

anti-Christs

Anti-Christs    060212 B

Mmmmmmm?

1Jn 2:18-19  Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.  (19)  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

Antichrist; The great booger-bear of the faith?  Maybe not!

Sure, we see THE antichrist in the Revelation to John and we get all clammy and scared.  BUT come on guys – we've got to accept that though there may well be a biggy – there are lots and lots of smaller antichrists – and there have always been!

What do we do about them?

First, we let them go. John says they do and will go out from us – they will not continue with us.  Why would that be?  He doesn't say we kick them out, rather they leave.

I wonder if what is happening is that things get just too uncomfortable for “them.” 

Today, in a lot of “churches,” there are no boundaries and no expectations.  Doctrine is fuzzy at best and an undefined state of  “loving Jesus,” seems to be the be all and end all.  Or, in some cases just an unqualified “believing (on or in) Jesus,” is enough.

However we must first ask whether or not this Jesus that is loved and/or believed in is the Jesus of scripture.  As David Smith once said to me, “There are a lot of guys named Jesus but just one Lord and Redeemer.”

To believe in the Jesus who is the Lord, one must believe in what He believed in.  One cannot claim to be His while at the same time contradicting not only what He taught but what He believed as well.

He believed in God, the Spirit and God's right to demand obedience and service from His creation.  He also believed that God's requirement for righteousness/holiness was legitimate.  He believed in the God of judgment, wrath, justice, mercy and grace.  He believed in a God who says what He means and means what He says.  He believed in a God who is sovereign, omnipresent, omnipotent, holy and righteous.

He believed that there was truth and only one truth.  He believed that right and wrong were never relative.  He believed that God deserved our submission and service right up to and including death.

Now, is that the Jesus we hear of and read about in popular “christian” literature?  I don't think so – not much at least.  Actually, most contemporary “christian” literature is more about us that it is about Him.  It is more about what we can expect from Him than what He demands of us.  It's more about our place in the grand scheme instead of our place at His feet.  It's six easy steps, one fantastic formula, a process, disciplines – but very little discipleship.  It's not about serving Him as much as it is about sucking as much out of Him as we can.

Whoa be it to the teacher who demands a slave attitude towards God.  And yet, Jesus not only believed in that, but lived it.

The God in whom Jesus believed is great and awesome and frightening.  The God we believe in is a great co-pilot, helper, designated runner, etc.  He's just not God anymore.

John and his folks were fortunate.  Their antichrists left.  Unfortunately, it seems that we will go to any length to keep ours.  We will soft-pedal, obfuscate, dally, waiver, waffle, concerning the biblical doctrines so that as few people as possible are offended and as little as possible is expected.

The cry, “You need a relationship with God,” is just dumb.  There has never been and never will be anyone or anything that does not have a relationship with God.  Whether it a relationship whose nature you want, is entirely another matter.  Redeemed or damned, everyone has a relationship with God.

Then there is, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.”  That's probably one of the favorite taunts thrown out to those in hell.  Yes, God loves His creation and He has plans for every speck of it.  Some of those plans are great, some, not so much. 

Then again, His plans for me may parallel those He had for Job or Stephen or Peter.  Ooops!  Not such an exciting prospect. 

Let's face it, maybe we ought to want to see the antichrists leave.  Maybe we ought to pray that they are either converted or that they just go away.  Of course, as long as they're warm and safe and comfortable, they'll stay.  As long as the expectations are not too great and the boundaries aren't too clear, they'll stay. 

I have to wonder what it was that was getting those antichrists to leave in John's day.  What were they experiencing as the church that provoked the antichrists to hit the road? 

Was it sound doctrine?  Was it an expectation that they would mortify the flesh?  Was it a demand that they not compromise with culture?  Was a refusal to meet the desires of the flesh? 

Somehow they had a situation that was repellant to the antichrists.  Why can't we?  Why don’t we?