A point . . .

Edersheim wrote, " The two were imcompatable, and therefore no alliance could ever be formed with heathenism, no intercourse cultivated, nor even the presence tolerated."

This must be kept in mind as we move through the Prophets.  But as we see in both Joshua and Judges, the die was cast, the idol of idolarty would always remain as a trap and tangle for God's people.

It is no less true for you and I.  It is sorrowfully whimsical to proclaim that we do not battle against flesh and blood - although true.  We constantly battle against our own flesh and blood and those of flesh and blood who serve a false lord.  In this study we will see why attacking others who are not of our faith is a panecia - a false cure - when the seeds of our error lie within us.

"We have met the enemy and they are us." Is a cute but horrifically true statement.  It was not that Israel could not cleanse the land of the evil it is that they would not. 

What about you and I.  Where do we tolerate "heathenism" in our own lives?  Certainly the heathanism of our day is less bloody and more subtle but it is there, all around us.   We are told that our yes is to be yes and our no is to be no but I know I struggle against the comfort of "maybe."  Asctheticism has its a lure but it is not an answer.  So what is?

The answer is not in what we can do or will do.  The answer is not ours at all.  I will never not sin as long as I carry this body of death.  But that does not relieve me of the obligation to resist.

Not to be picky - but;  we enjoy watching professional and college sports on TV.  Is this wrong?  Mmmmmmm.  Let's see.  How many starving people could be fed by the money spent on one, just one, professional or college sports event?  Count the whole cost from the per game cost of the players to the hot dog bought by a fan.  30 seconds encouraging us to buy a certain beer can cost a million dollars.   Mmmmmmmm.

Should that give us pause? 

What is your favorite sit com or drama?  What is the message delivered?  Why is it funny?  Why is it entertaining?

NO alliance.  NO intercourse.  NO presence.  What part or NO do we resist? 

We can say NO to it all and that would be a great blessing but that is not the solution.  We all know that the Redeemer is the only and final solution.  We all know that Rev. 21 shows us the solution.  BUT that is not yet so what NOW.

How do you address this?  I wonder if until we are willing to see the depth and bredth of the ways in which we compromise we will not long deeply for His return.

It's kind of scary when Paul writes

1 Corinthians 9:24 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. 9:25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 9:26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 9:27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (ESV)

Jumping over Judges

It is not that the book of Judges is not important.  It is!  If nothing else, Judges should convince the reader that when it comes to following God, we are just going to do our own thing.
Moses (God) was right.   The influence of the paga peopke left in the land was just too irresistable.  Jesus put it this way, "A little leaven, leavens the whole."

I strongly encourage you to read Judges.  My favorite is Ehud and Patti loves Jael.

The point of reding Judges is to get a clear picture of God's people as we move into 1 Samuel.

We have to banish this false picture we have.  We tend to idolize Israel in the OT as though they got it right.  They didn't - and haen't yet.  Of course you have to keep in mind that we never get it right either -duhh- that's the whole need for a Redeemer.

Just read Judges - get the feel of the culture, coditions and the compromise.  Then start reading 1 Samuel.

As we read and study the Prophets keep some notes on the knowledge you gain.
What is normative (what does God expect)?
What is the situation/context?
What are the people doing/experiencing?

REMEMBER, this is HISTORY not fiction ----  it's real ---- what does it tell you?

Taking a moment for Moses . . . .

Moses was a Prophet.  Somehow we seem to not get that.  Yes, he was God’s instrument for leading Israel from Egypt and overseeing them in the wilderness but he was no less a prophet.

So why backtrack to Moses?  I want you to see that the issues that the later prophets dealt with where (perhaps are) nothing new.

I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.'" Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.  (Exo 6:8-9)

Leviticus 26 (all)

And I will set your border from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates, for I will give the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you.   (Exo 23:31)

"Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their figured stones and destroy all their metal images and demolish all their high places. And you shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it. You shall inherit the land by lot according to your clans. To a large tribe you shall give a large inheritance, and to a small tribe you shall give a small inheritance. Wherever the lot falls for anyone, that shall be his. According to the tribes of your fathers you shall inherit. But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell. And I will do to you as I thought to do to them."   (Num 33:51-56) 

Be very careful, therefore, to love the LORD your God. For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, know for certain that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you, but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good ground that the LORD your God has given you.   (Jos 23:11-13)

Yet the people of Israel did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maacathites, but Geshur and Maacath dwell in the midst of Israel to this day.    (Jos 13:13)

Now when the people of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.   (Jos 17:13)

They (Israel) did not drive them out!  So they paid and are still dealing with the prophesied consequences.

Oops!!

Be careful to obey all these words that I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God. "When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods?--that I also may do the same.' You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the LORD hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods. "Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.   (Deu 12:28-32)

Moses’ prophetic message comes before the compromise - the disobedience of Israel and with this disobedience comes the fulfillment of God’s prophetic word through Moses.

A point I hope you see is that this fantasy we have created around the Israel we see in the Old Testament diminishes the impact of what is actually happening.

Imagine you’re visiting a friend in the hospital who is dying from Ebola.  As you approach the room you see all the signs warning of a bio-hazard.  You see racks of sterile suits and masks.  You see posters telling you how to dress and what to watch for.  There is even a tech there to assist you.  The message is plain.  Do these things or you will become infected by the hazard?  Don’t do these things and, well, you die.  What are you going to do?

Those who occupied the “promised land” were worse than a bio-hazard.  They were a spirit-hazard.  Their idolatry was highly – actually unavoidably – contagious.  There was no way to not be infected by their corruption.

I hate cooking chicken.  It’s too much work.  All the cleaning you have to do.  Actually, all the sanitizing you have to do to avoid a danger that may or may not be present.  And regardless of how much or how carefully you clean you still might get contaminants.  But ignore the sanitizing at your own peril!

This is Moses’ prophetic message to Israel.  They were fortunate in that he prophesized before they went into the land.  He warned them of the danger.  In the later prophets we will see God, calling through the prophets for His people to repent, to do a 180 and escape the hot zone they are standing in.

Jesus will do both.  He will cry out to God’s people to repent (leave the hot zone) and warn all men of the judgment to come.

There is God, God’s message, God’s messenger, God’s audience and then there are God’s consequences.

It is not, as far as I can see, the prophets job to convince or persuade the people to heed the message.  He cannot make then follow God’s directives or leave off from their evil ways.  The prophet speaks the authoritative word from God.  It is the word, God’s word that has all the authority, not the prophet.

We will see that despite the frustration and in some cases futility of the mission the prophets were on they are, each and every one marked by faithfulness.  No matter how weird what God called then to do was and no matter how virulent the opposition they were faithful.  Sure, we’ll see them frustrated and wanting to quit.  We’ll see them questioning the utility of their ministry but their sweet and loving Lord is always there to reassure, comfort and restore them.

We love to place Israel in the Old Testament in a fairy tale like setting.  We may look at the few glaring sins of individuals but we squint hard enough to miss the insidious sin that all of Israel rests upon.  They reject the prophecy (fore and forth – telling) and go and do as they please, paying lip service to God and His righteous requirements.  This was and is Israel.

Of course, to be fair, my ancestors were in that condition way before Israel so “takes one to know one,” applies here.  I could never consider exposing the sin of Israel were I not ready and willing to do the same not only for my blue painted-naked-tree hugging ancestors but for myself as well.  If I say all of Israel sins I say nothing different or more harsh when I say all of Israel is human.  We all quack – we’re all some kind of duck.

I also really hope you get this point.  What Israel had that no other ‘people” had was opportunity.  God chose, called and commissioned them.  They are His living, breathing lesson to us.  Actually they are us – except God pitched His tent right in the middle of their camp.  

Paul makes it plain – there is no excuse.  But, neither is there a ringer on Israel’s team.  My wild Celtic ancestors would not have done any better – actually they’d have probably eaten the prophets to get their mojo (sorry – a little earthy dark humor there).

Israel didn’t “blow it.”  If God is sovereign – if He is really really in charge – then everything has been ok always.  Oh, it doesn’t look ok, it doesn’t act ok it doesn’t smell ok but since He is in control – it really is ok.

As we look at the prophets we will have to do so within the context of Israel.  I really hope you will begin to develop an appreciation for these people we will study.  Where-ever they lay (individually and collectively) on the continuum of badness they are the threads with which God weaves His tapestry of redemption.  Each and every, as well as all the Israelites we will look at are intended to serve as lessons to ALL of us (humans).  We will see goodness and we will see evil and we have to realize that we see it because God chose this one people to demonstrate it.

Are the Jews/Israel more special in God sight than we (the redeemed) are?  Good question – looooong and difficult answer. But they are more special in my book.  How would I know the grace and mercy and kindness and wrath and anger – how would I know anything clearly about my God had He not called a people with whom He weaves His wonders? 

Of course, it’s kind of like with Job.  I thank God for Job and his faithfulness and his realness.  Then I thank God it was Job and not me.

God called a people to be His own.  They said, “Yes.”  God, knowing full well they’d never keep their yes took them anyway and through them teaches us about us, Himself and brings us our Redeemer.  

So as we look at the prophets and to oopses of Israel, look for yourself – even if you’re not Jewish – you’ll be there – individually and collectively.

As we begin with Prophets (starting in 1 Samuel) keep the below in mind:

But the people of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem, so the Jebusites have lived with the people of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day. The house of Joseph also went up against Bethel, and the LORD was with them. And the house of Joseph scouted out Bethel. (Now the name of the city was formerly Luz.) And the spies saw a man coming out of the city, and they said to him, "Please show us the way into the city, and we will deal kindly with you." And he showed them the way into the city. And they struck the city with the edge of the sword, but they let the man and all his family go. And the man went to the land of the Hittites and built a city and called its name Luz. That is its name to this day. Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages, for the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land. When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not drive them out completely. And Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them. Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, or the inhabitants of Nahalol, so the Canaanites lived among them, but became subject to forced labor. Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, or the inhabitants of Sidon or of Ahlab or of Achzib or of Helbah or of Aphik or of Rehob, so the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, for they did not drive them out. Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, or the inhabitants of Beth-anath, so they lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless, the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became subject to forced labor for them. The Amorites pressed the people of Dan back into the hill country, for they did not allow them to come down to the plain. The Amorites persisted in dwelling in Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim, but the hand of the house of Joseph rested heavily on them, and they became subject to forced labor.   (Jdg 1:21-35)

Now the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, "I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to give to your fathers. I said, 'I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.' But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done? So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you."   (Jdg 2:1-3)

Here we go . . . . .

FYI 

Bruised Reeds Bible Study Fellowship

Second and Fourth Wednesdays

7 pm @ Caribou Coffee @ Friendly Center in Greensboro, NC

Well worth considering for your 2012 reading list.

Credo Magazine- "I believe"

Luke 14 - Count - but count it all.

Last day of 2011 to make plans for 2012! 
The Lord draws our attention to two smilies about counting the cost...or as the YLT says, counting the experience.
I just wanted to encourage you to REALLY count - do the paper and pen thing.  Whether you want to get for, earn more or grow in your walk - it,s is gonna cost you - Better to explore the costs and adapt your plans than just "figure stuff" and drop in all later.

Our main measure is faithfulness.  As you makemyur plans - don't make then too big to be faithful in.  Better slow growth than no growth!

May God richly bless you all as we move into a new year.  AND to yu Mayans out there - bye!
MS SR shpdg

Prophets 001 Jonah

Jonah

Why?  No, really, why??  There it is, this story of Jonah.  Ninevah, boats, whales – the whole 9 yards

Why?

First, consider it a primer in prophetic literature.  There’s God, His message, His messenger and His messageeeee (recipient).  That’s Prophetic Literature in brief.  It takes place in time, in history.  It addresses a specific issue.  It demands a response.  It has consequences.  

We tend to want to “fantasticate “(new word) prophesy.  We like our prophesy with a dose of mysticism, a pinch of fantasy and a good bit of deeply hidden stuff that no one ever “got” until relatively recently.  This makes prophesy fun – but it also makes it fruitless.

Fore-telling or forth-telling.  Which is it?  Well, overall it is forth-telling.  It is God’s Chosen, speaking God’s Word to God’s audience.  That is the bottom line in prophesy.  If, as too many propose, there is mystery in prophecy and vaguely revealed future events, then God speaks at cross purposes with Himself.  You cannot effectively communicate if you obscure the communicated information.

I can write you a very important letter with information/message that you really need to have/know and will really bless you.  But, if I write it in code, even though I have sent you all you need to know, I have not sent it in a manner that is of any use to you, unless you have the key to the code.  But why would I use a code for information that was NOT of an extremely confidential (secret) nature but is of inordinate necessity; and, why would I send it in code if you were going to have to hunt for the key?

Jonah lays the ground work for our reading and understanding God’s use of prophecy.  There are NO mysterious aspects to Jonah; regardless of what you’ve heard.  There are neat parts and “wow” parts that point to Jesus – but there ain’t nothing hidden in Jonah – or any other prophetic communications. 

Now, when it comes to Prophetic books (stories), they are usually placed in one of three categories:  Allegory; Parable; History.  Which of these is Jonah?  My answer is, “yes.”

There is no reason not to apply (even left-handedly) any of these categories to Jonah.  However, such applications must be done with discretion.  The “story” is history or historical.  Jesus, Himself, refers to Jonah's experience as a real event that occurred in actual time and as an event that was to serve as a “big hint” concerning the Messiah.

But, FROM Jonah, we can also draw parables and allegories for the purpose of teaching the theological truths of not only Jonah’s ministry and message, but the character of our God.

Now, we have to be very very careful when we “draw-from” scripture and we should never do so unless we are consciously confident what we draw out is biblically sound.  What I mean is that within this theological history (historical event) there are people.  We are privileged to the dynamics of God acting in the lives of people and people reacting to the acting of God in their midst.

When we separate the great theological elements from the “history” and the “people,” we surrender much of the power of the lesson and certainly most of the “so what now, what do I do with it.”  It is not just the theological issues and elements that God wants us to know and use.  It is also the effects of “God with us,” that are the sinew of the story.  When we cut out the “common” (people) from the story, we cut out the life and lessons.  We turn God’s communication (the story) into a list of to do's which we then inhumanly attempt to impose upon our lives and/or the lives of others.

Jonah’s reaction to God’s call upon him is really quite normal (not good but normal).  We can see here a place for grace in our lives when we run from God AND the need for grace as we interact with others who run from God.  Though I certainly am convicted and I do repent when I run from God, I also remind myself that for a fallen (even though redeemed) person, in a fallen (not yet redeemed) world ,running from God is – well – normal.  It’s not OK – watch out for big fish – but it is normal.

I take comfort in that fact just as I take comfort in the fact that God did not let Jonah run too far.  I also take comfort in the fact that God understands Jonah’s perspective and goes to wonderful lengths to teach Jonah wherein he had erred.  I read Jonah and see a certain sweetness in God’s dealing with his challenging chosen messenger.  What a great picture of sweet grace we have in the face of fallen stubbornness.

The story of Jonah isn’t about a big fish or about Ninevah.  It’s about God and then about Jonah.  As I serve God I am encouraged by Jonah (I do stay away from deep waters though).  As I seek His will in ministry (especially the wild and wacky one I have), it is easy for me to run, avoid, etc.  But, even when I run, I know He will not let me go far.  I know that He will not only stop me but He will lovingly bring me back and tenderly teach me what I need to understand in order to fulfill His call on me.

Using Jonah as our key, we need to keep in mind that the Prophets are not only theological treatises, they are also rubber meets the road lessons in the difficulty in following Him in this life.  They are about His unflappable and inexhaustible kindness and patience with those He has called to be His.  One lesson all the prophets share is:

“We (people) will never rely upon God to the extent He commands us to; we can’t.”  So, He has to make a way, He has to sovereignly act to address our need.

I also see that we, in our fallen foolishness, are as consistent as He is in His righteousness and love.  It is the “we are,” and “He is,” conflict and convergence that is so exciting.  It’s realizing that loving God but doing things He hates is, normal.  It’s not OK, it’s not good, but it is as it is until He makes it otherwise.

So should we just do whatever?  Well, I don’t believe we can.  Jonah demonstrates this truth (as do the other Prophets) historically and powerfully.  God is and will be God.  His will is good and it will always prevail.  We can struggle with it – and that’s normal – but we can never defeat, distract or diminish it.  C.S. Lewis (not one of my heroes theologically) is quoted as saying that he was carried “kicking and screaming” into the Kingdom.  Well, if the Prophets have anything to teach us, it is that we make kick and scream less once we’re His, but we will still kick and scream.

KEY:

As we begin the Prophets there is a key we need to keep in mind.  This key is the foundation of the issues that the Prophets address.

They said to Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."   (Exo 14:11-12)

The issue here is the difference in the people’s willingness to trust God utterly or to trust man.  They would have rather died as slaves to Pharaoh than trust God in the wilderness.  This is the singular issue the Prophets address.

Notice there is no mention of God in their questions or statements.  It is Moses or Pharaoh. After the plagues and their miraculous deliverance in the Passover they looked to man and what man could do.

The choice, as we will see, is always between God and man.  Even in the rifest idolatry with a multiplicity of deities idolatry is, in the final reckoning man’s worship or man with its unavoidable rejection of God.

2012 Plans but No Promises

Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." (Jas 4:15)

There is a lot happening in the coming year, the election, economic excitement and of course, the end of the world ;-}. We move through the Nativity celebrations and move into the New Year with expectations good and/or bad or both. Some of us move forward with confidence others no so much. It’s the time of making resolutions about how we will live our lives for the next 365 days.

Now resolutions are all well and good but we have to keep James 4:15 in mind. We also must apply this much more broadly than we usually do. Certainly we apply it to our own goals and plans but we must also accept that the leaf that falls to the ground on second after midnight on January 1 does so by God’s will. We will do this or that; this or that will happen, if the Lord wills.

It is His sovereignty, righteousness and love we must trust in. Nothing happens outside of His sovereignty. He is in utter complete control. His plan will not be diverted, twisted of hindered and everything that happens has a place in His will. God is indeed in charge.

Having said that, I also have to say that nothing depends on us. The key word there is depends. Within His will, His laws both natural and spiritual you and I have a place and a part but nothing we do or don’t do will deter His plan.
Let’s not scheme and fret and plan and plead about the coming year. The election is certainly an important event but whatever the outcome it is His plan that we trust in.

We, like ancient Israel, seem to looking for a deliverer. We want our world to be our way and we want to find that person who will make it our way. This is not, has not been and never will be God’s plan. He has sent His Deliverer who has fulfilled His ministry and now simple awaits the Father’s command to return.

Is it not interesting that much of the conversation is about the religion and/or morality of the candidates? I think it is. With rare exception (very rare indeed) politics and the faith cannot go hand in hand. Politics is the art and science of compromise – our faith does not allow for compromise.

I hate to draw fire but it really does not matter, in the context of the Kingdom, who is in power. Those seeking power do not do so for pure, good, holy motives. People seek power to rule over others – to control them. That is God’s roll – His is the power; right?

Until our country was established the world was rules by kings and queens, hereditary rules whose power was considered absolute and ordained (read “allowed”) by God. They, whether they knew it, liked it or were even conscious of it were under His sovereignty.

That does not mean they submitted to Him. Few rulers, even in Judah and Israel did that. It simply means that He is mightier than they. They did not rule (for the most part) as servants of God and Christ but rather as those who assumed that because of their position they knew best and what they did was best – period.

It’s no different today.

Those in power – elephant, ass or duckbilled platypus – are neither servants of God nor servants of the people. They are, in the end, servants of the rulers of this world. The designations Christian, Jew, Moslem even Atheist and Humanist are all sullied by being applied to these men and women.

Why don’t we “get it?” Jesus said that His Kingdom was not of this world. Therefore, neither is ours. We are to do good works not for the purpose of making the world a better place (that cannot happen) but rather in humble gratitude and submission to Him.

It all began long ago:
But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, "Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. (1Sa 8:6-8) . . . . .

READ THE WHOLE PASSAGE

. . . . And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day." But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, "No! But there shall be a king over us, (1Sa 8:18-19)

Not being willing to return to Egypt the people decided to be like their neighbors and create that same conditions in the Promised Land that they lived under in Egypt. Samuel makes it very clear that to live under the power of a man (king or elected officials) was to choose slavery to the one holding power. The insult added to injury for us is that whereas God appointed the ones who would enslave Israel we on the other hand pick ours. The sad thing is that it does not matter which person(s) you enslave yourselves to – slavery is slavery. If the “government” has power – you do not.

I don’t know that I’ll even vote this coming year. I’ve lived long enough and studied history deeply enough to determine that it does not really matter, it really doesn’t. There are indeed two “golden rules.” We know God’s but man’s we tend to forget, “He who has the gold, makes the rules.” When will we accept that we are slaves to those with the gold (power)?

Pessimistic? Negative? Duhhhhh, you betcha! At least about this world and the powers that rule this world. I also firmly believe that we have to accept and live with the fact that the world hates “us.” Hates!!!!! Get it?  I hope so.

In the coming year I am drawn to study and share the truths and lessons found in the work of the prophets of the Old Testament. We tend to pick and choose what we study there and in doing so we miss the big picture. It’s a picture of what happens when we choose to be ruled by men and not by God. Yes, we HAVE to render to Caesar that which is Caesar’s but this is primarily because Caesar will imprison or kill us if we don’t. Rendering to Caesar is only a quasi-religious obligation because we do not battle flesh and blood and because God uses even the most corrupt of rulers to work His will.

The revolution through which our country was founded was one of economics and not religious issues. It was not some holy crusade. Nor, and I’ll take the heat, was it motivated by biblical truth. If indeed we as believers are to, “honor the king,” what right did we have to rebel? We simply exchanges one form of slavery for another. We sowed the wind and we are beginning to reap the whirl-wind.
I hope you’ll follow our journey. I don’t know what we’ll learn or how it will change our lives (if at all) but there are lessons to be learned, warnings to be heeded and hope to be found in the words of God from the prophets. As Satan closed the ears of Israel to the dangers and evil of having a King so too has he done to us even though we choose our King and his minions every two or four years.
Power corrupts and that corruption corrupts all it touches. The rulers in this world are under the influence of the rulers of this world:

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Eph 6:12)

Simeon, Anna and Us

Luke 2:29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;  2:30 for my eyes have seen your salvation  2:31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,  2:32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”   (ESV)

We usually don't think of this passage when we think about the Nativity but of all the elements in the story of the Lord's birth, this is my favorite.

Imagine that God had revealed to you that you would live until the promised Savior came.  What would that be like?  Would your priorities change?  What would be important to you?  How could you sleep at night knowing that at any moment you would see and know the promised one?

Would you look at the world differently?  Would you look at people differently?  What of difficulties and trials?  Would they take on a different meaning?  What of pleasures and joys?  How would they compare to the expectation of the coming of the Lord's Christ?

Simon (and Anna) appear unique and in some ways they are.  But was not all of Israel to be anxiously looking for the promise Messiah?  Was the expectation of these two not supposed to be the expectation of all?  We can only, in truth, say,"Yes!"

Notice Simeon's words:

Your salvation.

In the presence of all peoples.

A light of revelation to the gentiles.

For the glory of your people Israel.

This is not some limited narrow event designated to a small and captive people.  This is a cosmic event.  A powerful inclusive event.  This coming was for all mankind.

This event was to have a powerful effect upon gentiles.  Tree huggers, rock worshippers, Zeusers and Pantheists.  It was a light - presupposing darkness - of revelation for men and women in the darkness who did not know the truth.  It was, quite specifically intended to set the gentile world on its head.  And it did.

This coming changed the world forever.  No longer was darkness and ignorance a normal state.  There was, in the might of revelation, a challenge to the norm - darkness and ignorance.  There could no longer be a comfortable apathy concerning the one true God and His sovereignty.   Everything would be different for the gentiles from this moment on.

But what of Israel?  This moment was to be for her glory.  No, not for the praise of Israel but as a justification of her whole existance.  She was the people to whom and through whom the promised one was to come and come He did.

I kind of think of this as a cosmic, "We told you so!" moment.  All of Israel's history, her very creation and sustinance was aimed at this moment.  There was no other reason for her except as the people through whom God would bring redemption to His creation.

In Simon and Anna we see what should have been the reaction of all of the Children of Abraham.  But, alas, as the story plays out, it was not.

Now I don't know anyone who has been promised life until the Christ returns.  But, as the promise is that His return is immanent - at any moment - I don't know many who have the mind and heart of Simon or Anna either.

Laying aside all the "millienial" foofarra, Christ is returning and that return could well negate the need for this blog.............

ok--- still here.

Do we live with a powerful anticipation of His return?  Does knowing that in the next moment we could be with Him really affect our lives?

Now I have strong concerns about the Left Behind series but it did (and does) have one good effect.  It brings to the front of our minds the fact that at any moment He will return.

My Pastor and friend David Smith taught recently on the significance of the calling of Abraham and it's parallel to the Christian life.  We are called to go, following Him, trusting in Him for all things.  It is a life of utter dependence firmly based on a promise.

Now, accepting that our redemption is complete and secure, what promise do we "go" on? 

How about the same one as Abraham? 

Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.  11:9 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.  11:10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.   (ESV)

Hebrews 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,  12:23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,  12:24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.   (ESV)

The point is that this isn't home!  We too are to look for His coming, His bringing the New Heaven and New Earth.  We are to live and measure all that happens next to the promise.  Like Simon and Anna we need to consciously and consistantly focus on the promise, His promise!

What we do here matters.  It must or we'd not be here.  Many of you know I struggle with depression.  Sometimes just getting out of bed is a battle.  But I know that every morning, regardless of how the depression is I know two things.  First, I know that He has something for me to do - even if I don't see it.  Second, this may be the day - His day - my day - our day.  This is always enough.  Oh, it may not be pretty and as Patti says, "The bear may be grump."  But compared to the promise of good works He has prepared for me to do and the promise of His coming - well - the bear will just need to deal with the Grumps.

How foolish must the Thessalonians felt when Paul told them to get off the hill and get back to life.  But ya know, they were gutsy folks.  A little off in their understanding but gutsy.

We, like our Master, must be about our Father's work.  That work though needs to be flavored with the fact that we never know when He'll return - so, no slacking!

Let me close with this.  The measure of our service to Him is simply faithfulness.  Not perfection, not even consistancy but faithfulness.  That means two things.  First it means we do everything in utter dependence upon His faithfulness.  Second, it means we never quit.  We may fail and faulter.  We may get distracted or diverted but we NEVER quit.  Some us will run after Him.  Some of us will walk after Him.  Some of us will limp after Him.  Some will even crawl after Him.  But regardless the pace or the method we follow after Him.

And - we should all anxiously look for Him - living with our lives clearly marked by His promised return. 

MS

More from the forums . . . .

I've been in some forums lately where believers and anti-believers lock horns and halos. It's distressing to read the hate spewed out by the anti-believers but it's equally distressing to read the nasty (and the dumb) responses from my brothers and sisters in Christ. But as I read these exchanges I begin to wonder if the force behind the attacks on our faith are more fear inspired than anything else.

James tells us that demons believe in God and tremble. I wonder if that's not equally true of anti-believers.

I believe that anger is a secondary emotion. What I mean is that underliing anger is either pain, fear or both. I'm not expousing some rule or deep insight but in my experience most angry people are either hurting or scared people.

Keeping in mind that these anti-believers are hurting or afraid drastically changes my view, approach and response. By keeping this in mind I find I am able to be compassionate (avoiding condescention) and that this greatly lessens the sting of their attacks. It also helps me listen better. I listen for the pain and fear and just let the anger and hatred go.

I'm commited to the fact that I don't "convert" anyone. I don't argue anyone into the kingdom. I can prove that there was a man Jesus who lived and died when the scriptures and extra-biblical documents say but I can't prove He was who He said (and others said) He was. So I don't even try.

Rarely do I even tell my, "how I came to Jesus," story. Certainly I'll share the dynamics of living out my faith but the tendency for that to become a "what's in it for you and me" conversation is very strong.

See, the gospel, the good news is the redemption from God's righteous wrath. It's not about having a "good" life it's about having eternal life.

But we, in our desire to "sell" Jesus have fallen into the trap of, well, selling it in fleshly terms. Health and wealth, peace and prosperity are the biggies. We try to convince folks that being a believer will make life "better." Ask Paul and Stephen about the "better" thing. A line from a poem by Richard Harris gets me: "who gave you the right to turn Christ into a bullet and shoot it into men's hearts?" He ends the poem with: " Our Father which art in heaven, sullied be thy name."

When we reduce Christ into a commodity we sully His name. When we reduce Him to a cosmic panecia we sully His name. When we reduce Him to a pithy one liner on a T-shirt or bumper sticker, we sully His name.

Where is the powerful witness of the Prophets in our lives today? Where is the crying out for repentance? Where is the voice crying out about the coming judgement?

We, I speak in general terms, don't want the world to hate us so we approach the world in a conciliatory manner. But we approach the world about US and how they feel and think about us. IT IS NOT ABOUT US!!!"

Jesus tells us to, "be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." Well, if the forums on the internet are any indication we've got the serpent part down pat. It's the dove part we've lost or ignored.

Anti-believers are not MY enemies. They are HIS enemies. He does not need me to defend Him. I do need Him to defend me.

Do you KNOW the gospel? Or do you just know the marketing materials? The gospel is not, "Jesus loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life." That's marketing hooey.

The gospel - the good news - does not exist in isolation from the truth - or if you prefer, the bad news. The good news is not that Jesus makes things better. The good news is that Jesus died to redeem us from the justly deserved wrath of God!!! The good news is not that the creation is getting better. The good news is that when God destroys this fallen creation there will be a new one in which we will live in fellowship with Him.

We are not here to make the world good but to do His good while we're here. We are to wait and to witness - witness not only to Him and the redemption He brings but to witness to the NEED for that redemption I view of His impending righteous judgement.

Argue all you like on forums and in the street but stick to the point - the gospel. Evolution, abortion, ect. are all issues we can discuss but when we focus on the issues which are normal in a fallen world and do not focus on the gospel we're wasting breath and time.

Anti-believers are scared and rightly so. Pray He will use you to address that fear compassionately and correctly.

Forum Fun 001

Got into a forum yesterday where the topic was whether Jesus was a real historical figure or not. I was amazed at the effort the "not" folks put into their posts. But as I read it became clear that their topic was a bait and switch. It wasn't whether or not Jesus "was" it was an attack on "who" believers claimed He was.

The existance of a man named Jesus, living in Judea at the time of Pilate and that Jesus being crucified has adequate biblical and extra-biblical support. Of course "who" he was is another matter. But this was really the matter they were addressing.

What concerned me was the effort responders who claimed to be believers made to counter this twisted argument. From just silly to Bible thumping to vitriolic attacks the believing responders got sucked into an argument they could never win.

That's right. We convert no one! No agruement we could ever construct will bring a person to faith!!! So why bother??????

Well we "bother" because God in His graciousness does use those arguments for His glory in the conversion of men and women. That's a good reason to bother. But - our arguments have to be gracious and kind and patient. We can not argue as though we need to win - "we" win nothing no matter which way the end of the argument goes. We aren't here to beat anybody or to win anything. We are here to be light and salt and witnesses and teachers and preachers ....etc. But this isn't a game and we don't get points.

I have a lot of discussions with people who really hate believers (at least their idea of what a believer is) and they are shocked when I agree with some of thier issues. But, I also tell them that God is not a believer but the object of belief and we as people do a real crummy job of following Him.

One thing we need to keep in mind. We need to be slow to be provoked by assaults on our faith. These assaults won't change our faith, they won't make the truth any less true, they don't make us any less His. So why get all lathered up and act like a pit-bull. No one's unbelief can damage my belief. It can lead them to actions that damage me but not my faith.

I'm reminded of the time my best friend and police partner were in a gun sho (where else would we be?) and Wilbur got into a discussion as to whether there was a God or not. Wilbur was his calm, low key self while the other guy was was getting hotter by the second. Finally guy shouted, "You can't prove to me that there is a God." Calmly Wilbur said, "Sure I can." He slowly drew his gun and laid it in the counter, looked the guy right in the eyes and said, "You won't like it but I can prove there's a God." Point made......argument over......no winner------no looser but point made. It well may be that only in death will that guy have the proof he seeks -that is, of course, is very sad.

But we've got to get it in our heads that nothing we do or say matters. It's what God does with what we do and say that matters. I know men and women who have come to faith because God used really cluzy, sinful, unfaithful, weird believers. Go figure. If He could use and ass to get to Balaam He can use anything to bring folks to Himself.

In the arguments we find ourselves in concerning our faith we need to quit thinking God needs us to defend Him. Yes, we need to be able to give an (true and biblical) answer to questions about our faith but God does not need us to defend Him or to justify our faith in Him. It is NOT about US!

Calm down, take the hits, acknowledge the valid criticisms. You (nor God) have nothing to lose. Remember we are vehicles, conduits of His grace not grief.

Just an insight. I find few folks want to hear about my faith. They, for the most part just want to trash Christianity and/or the church. Their ignorance about both is astounding. I just listen and when they're done I respond, "OK." This freaks them out. But, I'm not going to get into their bait and switch. They want to trash the faith? What else would I expect? If they are willing I'll give them all the time in the world to hear my witness. But, in my experience, they prefer to make an argument for their unbelief. Whatever.