Based on a teaching by Michael Sattler in the 16th century:
There are two kinds of obedience: that of the slave and that of the child.
The child focuses on obeying the continuing, inner witness of the Holy Spirit. The slave focuses on, and limits himself to, the command of his Lord that he is able to accomplish without the Father’s grace.
The child relies on the Power the Father gave him to obey. But because the slave is not filled by the Holy Spirit, he does not have the power to obey the Father.
The child listens only to the Father to determine what obedience really is.
Because he does not have the power to obey, the slave changes what obedience is to be what he is able to do.
The child’s obedience, because it is based on his love of the Father, is focused on loving his neighbor, simply because it is the desire of his Father. The slave’s obedience ignores the heart of the will of the Father—namely that of loving his neighbor. Should the slave determine to do good to his neighbor, it is not because he delights to do the will of the Father, but because it will gain him some benefit, or because he feels it is his obligation. The child’s obedience is the child’s satisfaction and joy.
The obedience of the slave is incomplete in that which is most important, and so his Lord and Master takes no pleasure in him.
However, the Father cannot reject the obedience of the child, for he strives after the Father and becomes complete.
The child’s obedience springs forth from the love of the Father, even if no other reward should follow. The slave’s obedience is sourced in one’s love of self, the hope of reward and the fear of punishment.
The child wishes to gain only that which his Father will give him, knowing that all good gifts come from the Father. The slave desires the benefits that others receive, whether the Father wishes to give that to him or not.
The loving child seeks out the will of the Father from the Father himself, his word and his Spirit. The slave seeks to know the will of the Father from his fellow slaves and so his knowledge is incomplete.
The loving child rejoices in the Father’s discipline, even if he has done no sin. The slave never wants the Master’s rebuke, even if he does nothing right.
The child has his sense of worth and greatness in the Father, doing as he asks for His sake. The slave looks to his work to obtain recompense for the incomplete obedience done.
The slave’s obedience is like that under Moses, and so it produces legalists. It is a beginning and preparation for blessings. It is temporal, and does not give the blessing of God.
The obedience of the child is like Christ’s and so it makes children of God. It is the blessing complete—the wholeness God has wished for humankind. It is eternal, although it is begun in this age.
The slave’s obedience is a shadow of the true, which is realized in the loving child’s obedience.
If a man is to escape the bondage of sin, he must first hate it. In order to hate it, he must know it for what it is. The obedience of the slave hates the wickedness of the sin that the slave thinks is most important. The more one clings to one’s own partial obedience as a treasure in and of itself, the more one’s hatred of God and neighbor grows. The more one desires the blessing of this age, the more one despises the Creator who strives with one for the next age. So while the obedience of the slave is good in and of itself, it ends up creating disobedience in the heart of the slave.
However, the obedience of the Son is given by God to set one free from the bondage of slave obedience. It opens the way to love God and one’s neighbor.
In this way, the one kind of obedience leads to death, while the other leads to life.
The obedience of the slave is like the Law, was initiated in order to reveal sin. While it has a semblance of righteousness, it does not have true understanding. It is a grudging slavery, a drudgery, a life of regret and obligation. While some of the works of sin are done away with, the life of righteousness can never be gained in this manner.
The obedience of the child is given by God to do away with sin. For the one who loves with his whole heart and sacrifices himself for that love, sin is not found in him. And the one who has sin done away with in his heart, such a one willingly does whatever his Deliverer and Savior desires of him. The faithful child goes to his Father and asks, “What would you have me do now? Please grant me service for you, for I long to do your will.” Should the Father have nothing for him to do, he begs until the Father gives him some little task for him to perform.
The obedience of the slave looks for swift vengeance. The child’s obedience looks to the Father to avenge, trying to be at peace with all.
Under the slave, the one who kills is punished, while all others who hate are free. For the children, the Father punishes the one who is wrathful to his brother.
For the slave, hatred and harm against one’s enemy is permitted. For the children, they are to love those who hate them, blessing those who curse them, praying for those who wish ill to them.
The slave focuses on the disciplines he can do and makes rules for all slaves about them—reading the Bible, praying and giving. The child does all these things for the glory of the Father, looking only for his approval.
The slave may divorce his spouse because he is no longer able to live with her. The child never initiates a breaking of a covenant he has made.
The child does not fear men or love the things of men. Rather, his loyalty is to the Father alone. The child asks the Father and receives from him; the child seeks the Father and finds him; the child knocks at the Father’s door and the door is opened to him. The child enters the Father’s kingdom only through the narrow way provided for by the Father. The child avoids the false teachers who did not come from the Father. The child does what is good because the Father has made him good. The child hears what he should do from the Father, and does it.
The slave is busy with ceremonies and the traditions of men. The child is so busy with the love of God and of neighbor that he has little time for anything else. At times the child will go through the ceremonies for the sake of the slaves in order to bring them to sonship.
Slave’s obedience makes self-willed and vengeful people. The child’s obedience makes one tolerant and mild.
The slave is weary, wanting quickly to come to the end of the day’s work. The child is content and takes no account of the length of time.
The slave is angry, he wishes good to no one but himself. The child is so blessed in his obedience that he wishes everyone could be as he is.
The child does not despise the slave, although some might think so. But the child’s obedience is the fulfillment of the slave’s. The child’s obedience is the completion of the life of the slave. Therefore, whoever is a slave, let him seek a better obedience—that of the child’s, who does not need the slave’s obedience at all.
The child, in his joyful obedience, gains the hatred of the slave, who wishes all to be like himself. The slave hates the child for his love of those who disobey the slave, but love the Father. The slave hates the child for his easy obedience. The slave hates the child for his disinterest in the details of men’s traditions. The slave hates the child for his unending confidence in the Father, even in light of tragedy. The slave wants nothing to do with the child, but if the child is in his way, then the slave will persecute the child.
The slave claims the child has been disobedient. The slave claims the child is presumptuous. The slave claims the child is proud and self-willed. Then the slave will attempt to punish the child in the name of the Father. The Father will look at the child with love and punish the slave, casting him out of the kingdom. And in this way, the child of humility will overcome the false obedience.
The way of the child is the way of Christ. All this comes to those who have faith in the way of Christ, in the way of the cross. All this comes to those who have received the gift of the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of love who opposes the service for the self. Everyone who follows the love of the Father is in Christ and receives the blessings of Christ: the adoption as sons, the approval of the Father, the resurrection from the dead, the reward of the kingdom and life everlasting.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Transforming Culture #3-- Slow and Steady
God's utopia is like a small pinch of yeast which a woman carefully places into four gallons of dough. Then she mixes it all together so that the yeast cannot be seen anymore, yet it has permeated the whole of the flour, so that it has all been transformed.
The church is within the broader society, yet being distinct from it. In that way, the church changes society as a whole. Just in being steadfast to Jesus’ way, to Jesus’ life, we will, step by step, person by person, change the world. We will never—until Jesus’ return—control the world politically. It may look as if the church ran the world in the Middle Ages, but that was not the true church, the church of humility, the church of love, the church of mercy, the church without judgment. That was the façade church. The real church will transform society, not by force, but by lifestyle.
The church speaks to the world in two ways—by gently communicating the truth of Jesus and by living out the life of Jesus. This is the prophetic model of transformation. We are the light, we are to show them the love of Jesus, not just send out tracts. The true church never forces the world to accept the ethics of Jesus. They never manipulate them politically to accept the morality of the Bible. Rather, the church gently tries to change people’s hearts, and sees the world transformed that way.
This is how the Amish influenced society to forgive those who murdered their children. This is how William Wilberforce convinced the British Parliament to abolish slavery. Not by political force or by armies—rather by persistent influence. Yes, this is the long path, but this is the only way we can remain gentle and humble but still influential.
In this way, we can influence despite persecution. If those with clear eyes see that we are not manipulators, not the political strongman, not the philosophy behind the armies, then when we are attacked, we will be seen as those of a pure, loving heart, welcome to all, even our enemies. In this manner did the Anabaptists change the world for freedom of religion—by allowing themselves to be attacked and killed without attacking back.
The church is within the broader society, yet being distinct from it. In that way, the church changes society as a whole. Just in being steadfast to Jesus’ way, to Jesus’ life, we will, step by step, person by person, change the world. We will never—until Jesus’ return—control the world politically. It may look as if the church ran the world in the Middle Ages, but that was not the true church, the church of humility, the church of love, the church of mercy, the church without judgment. That was the façade church. The real church will transform society, not by force, but by lifestyle.
The church speaks to the world in two ways—by gently communicating the truth of Jesus and by living out the life of Jesus. This is the prophetic model of transformation. We are the light, we are to show them the love of Jesus, not just send out tracts. The true church never forces the world to accept the ethics of Jesus. They never manipulate them politically to accept the morality of the Bible. Rather, the church gently tries to change people’s hearts, and sees the world transformed that way.
This is how the Amish influenced society to forgive those who murdered their children. This is how William Wilberforce convinced the British Parliament to abolish slavery. Not by political force or by armies—rather by persistent influence. Yes, this is the long path, but this is the only way we can remain gentle and humble but still influential.
In this way, we can influence despite persecution. If those with clear eyes see that we are not manipulators, not the political strongman, not the philosophy behind the armies, then when we are attacked, we will be seen as those of a pure, loving heart, welcome to all, even our enemies. In this manner did the Anabaptists change the world for freedom of religion—by allowing themselves to be attacked and killed without attacking back.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Is God Concerned About Global Warming?
Okay, we know about “global warming” that should really be called “climate change” (If not, then watch “An Inconvenient Truth” already!). Scientists tell us we should we worried about these couple degrees increase. But is God really worried about it? Is this any real concern at all? Does the Bible have anything to say about this?
God rules over the whole world
“The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.
For He has founded it upon the seas And established it upon the rivers.” Psalm 24:1-2
God is the Emperor of the world and there is nothing that is not under his command. Of course He cares, after all He’s in charge of the world. Shouldn’t He be concerned with what someone else does with His world?
Men are commanded to care for the world as a good ruler
“What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?
Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!
You make him to rule over the works of Your hands.” Psalm 8:4-6
Even though God is ultimately in charge of the world, He put the world into the hands of humanity, for them to rule as they see fit. Some think that this means that humanity can use up the world in whatever way they want to. However, when God gives someone to be a ruler of something, He doesn’t just say, “Sure, go ahead and use this resource up as selfishly as you want to!” God establishes humanity to be a ruler like Him—a ruler who cares about His sovereignty so much that He is willing to set aside his own needs and desires for the good of those under Him. If humanity treated the earth the same way that God treats His people, then the world will be in good shape, for humanity would be willing to sacrifice their own needs for the sake of creation.
Climate change isn’t about the earth so much as about people
“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” Matthew 6:26
If the climate change happens that scientists have been predicting, the earth will be just fine. Sure, there will be some weather changes, and some edges of land masses will be covered with water, but overall, it’s like the earth will have a rash. It’s uncomfortable, but doable. Heck, the world went through worse in the ice ages!
No, the ones that will be greatly effected is people. Large populations of people who live on coastlines and deltas and in hurricane areas will be effected. We are talking about hundreds of millions of people whose homes will be covered in water.
And does not God care about His people? Oh, yes He does. He cares about people dying. And he cares about it especially if it can be avoided by people just taking better care.
Humanity will be judged for not caring for the world when they knew what they were doing
“If you say, "See, we did not know this," Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?” Proverbs 24:12
We are not responsible for what we don’t know. But we are responsible for what we do. If we know that there is an evil to people and we refuse to do anything about it, we will be judged for it. If our society doesn’t do something about the pollution and the problems on the earth that we know we are doing, then we will judged for it. God will not only judge our motives, but He will judge whether we acted on our knowledge.
God will fix whatever crap men did to the world
But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. II Peter 3:13
When the Bible says that God will make a “new earth” it doesn’t mean that He will wipe out the atoms that make up the current planet and then replace it with another one. Rather, it means that He will re-form the planet and the rulers that currently exist. All the evil that humanity has done to the earth will be made up for. Perhaps it will happen immediately, or perhaps it will take a long time. But in the end, God will right the wrongs. But we should do what is right not because there will be harm from doing wrong. We should do what is right because it is right.
We should never be willfully ignorant of the love that God has commanded us to live.
God rules over the whole world
“The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.
For He has founded it upon the seas And established it upon the rivers.” Psalm 24:1-2
God is the Emperor of the world and there is nothing that is not under his command. Of course He cares, after all He’s in charge of the world. Shouldn’t He be concerned with what someone else does with His world?
Men are commanded to care for the world as a good ruler
“What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?
Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!
You make him to rule over the works of Your hands.” Psalm 8:4-6
Even though God is ultimately in charge of the world, He put the world into the hands of humanity, for them to rule as they see fit. Some think that this means that humanity can use up the world in whatever way they want to. However, when God gives someone to be a ruler of something, He doesn’t just say, “Sure, go ahead and use this resource up as selfishly as you want to!” God establishes humanity to be a ruler like Him—a ruler who cares about His sovereignty so much that He is willing to set aside his own needs and desires for the good of those under Him. If humanity treated the earth the same way that God treats His people, then the world will be in good shape, for humanity would be willing to sacrifice their own needs for the sake of creation.
Climate change isn’t about the earth so much as about people
“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” Matthew 6:26
If the climate change happens that scientists have been predicting, the earth will be just fine. Sure, there will be some weather changes, and some edges of land masses will be covered with water, but overall, it’s like the earth will have a rash. It’s uncomfortable, but doable. Heck, the world went through worse in the ice ages!
No, the ones that will be greatly effected is people. Large populations of people who live on coastlines and deltas and in hurricane areas will be effected. We are talking about hundreds of millions of people whose homes will be covered in water.
And does not God care about His people? Oh, yes He does. He cares about people dying. And he cares about it especially if it can be avoided by people just taking better care.
Humanity will be judged for not caring for the world when they knew what they were doing
“If you say, "See, we did not know this," Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?” Proverbs 24:12
We are not responsible for what we don’t know. But we are responsible for what we do. If we know that there is an evil to people and we refuse to do anything about it, we will be judged for it. If our society doesn’t do something about the pollution and the problems on the earth that we know we are doing, then we will judged for it. God will not only judge our motives, but He will judge whether we acted on our knowledge.
God will fix whatever crap men did to the world
But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. II Peter 3:13
When the Bible says that God will make a “new earth” it doesn’t mean that He will wipe out the atoms that make up the current planet and then replace it with another one. Rather, it means that He will re-form the planet and the rulers that currently exist. All the evil that humanity has done to the earth will be made up for. Perhaps it will happen immediately, or perhaps it will take a long time. But in the end, God will right the wrongs. But we should do what is right not because there will be harm from doing wrong. We should do what is right because it is right.
We should never be willfully ignorant of the love that God has commanded us to live.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Welcoming: Transforming Culture Part 2
Jesus told the disciples another story: "God's utopia is like a mustard seed, a tiny seed compared to most other seeds. But a man took that insignificant thing and planted it in his land and he let it grow. And when it grew up fully, it became a sturdy tree so strong that the birds rested in the branches. Even so, you, my disciples, are insignificant and the least. But when the Father and the Spirit are done with you, you shall be strong enough that the nations of heaven will rest comfortably within you."
This alternative society of Jesus is not to be a separatist society, but an evangelistic one. In other words, the church doesn’t protect its purity, but opens up its purity to all the world. All are to be welcome to be a part of the church, no matter how corrupt, no matter what they have done in the past, no matter how far from the ideal they are. The great task of the church is welcoming all who desire to be transformed into God’s people, and then to help them to become part of that.
We accept people as they are, but we are not content with who they are. All of us, should we be a part of Jesus, must be transformed into the image of Jesus. This is not something that happens overnight, nor does it happen before conversion. Rather, this is the process we go through that conversion begins. We assist each other, allowing the Spirit to create diamonds out of coal.
Thus, the church does not remain completely separate from the church. Jesus places parts of the church within the world, commanding them to welcome the world into the church. Within the world, the church holds onto its unique purity, a purity based on love of God and neighbor, and opens itself up to be understood by the world. More and more people become a part of this community, embracing Jesus’ ideals.
In this way, the world becomes the church. Individual by individual, family by family, soon tribes and even nations become a part of the community of Jesus’ love. People flock to be a part of the alternative community because it works better than other communities, and it is led by Jesus, our example of patience, faithfulness and endurance.
This alternative society of Jesus is not to be a separatist society, but an evangelistic one. In other words, the church doesn’t protect its purity, but opens up its purity to all the world. All are to be welcome to be a part of the church, no matter how corrupt, no matter what they have done in the past, no matter how far from the ideal they are. The great task of the church is welcoming all who desire to be transformed into God’s people, and then to help them to become part of that.
We accept people as they are, but we are not content with who they are. All of us, should we be a part of Jesus, must be transformed into the image of Jesus. This is not something that happens overnight, nor does it happen before conversion. Rather, this is the process we go through that conversion begins. We assist each other, allowing the Spirit to create diamonds out of coal.
Thus, the church does not remain completely separate from the church. Jesus places parts of the church within the world, commanding them to welcome the world into the church. Within the world, the church holds onto its unique purity, a purity based on love of God and neighbor, and opens itself up to be understood by the world. More and more people become a part of this community, embracing Jesus’ ideals.
In this way, the world becomes the church. Individual by individual, family by family, soon tribes and even nations become a part of the community of Jesus’ love. People flock to be a part of the alternative community because it works better than other communities, and it is led by Jesus, our example of patience, faithfulness and endurance.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Transforming Culture, Part 1
In his book, Christ and Culture, H. Richard Niebuhr wrote about how the church influences the world. He was right, that Jesus asks us—even demands—that we transform the world. However, he set up a false dichotomy between passivism and activism. As if those who do not act in the political manner in which he was used to, then they were not acting at all.
Jesus, on the other hand, presented a kind of transformationalism that is not necessarily politically active, but is powerfully active, nevertheless. He established the following principles:
a. Creating alternative communities
b. Being welcoming to all who desire transformation
c. Gently, patiently influencing without force
d. Attacking the forces behind the evil
1. The church as salt
You are salt—essential for the world. But if you lose the basic qualities that make you important, you cannot regain them. You will be useless, cast out of God’s kingdom and trampled.
You are light—God’s glory and truth in the world. You are the kingdom of God to come, and you cannot be hidden. Nor should you be hidden—God’s glory should be displayed, not hidden. So display the true righteousness of God before everyone, so that people will see your acts of God and so glorify the Father. Matthew 5:13-15
The church is not a building, an organization or a political force. Rather, the church is, according to Jesus, an alternative society, a unique people, a separate nation which lives by God’s law of love. The church, in the form Jesus established it, is a group of people who are living according to Jesus’ principles of love. The church is made up of the outcast of society, engaged in community not to just improve ourselves, but to love all of those in need. And we strive to live out the principles of love found in Jesus’ law—we do not insult, we do good to those who persecute us, we do not look with lust, we keep our promises, we do our religious deeds before God, not for people’s being impressed, we do not judge others, but we are constantly repenting of our sin and forgiving those who repent. And we will strive not to be put in a situation—like the military or addiction to drugs—that will cause us to act in opposition to this way of life.
We will look and act different for all this. The world will see us as strange, as ignorant, as naïve or even as hateful because we will stand with Jesus, no matter what anyone else says or does to try to promote us or to try to oppose us. At times, we will act different from that which the world calls “the church” or “Christianity.” “And this is because a majority of the church is caught up in the ways of the world, and has become a part of the world—focusing on education, on politics, on judging, on intellectualism, on power and the manipulation of it. And so they, the façade church, looks at the church of Jesus, and thinks that they’ve missed the point.
The church of Jesus is a community, not a political party. It doesn’t seek to compromise its ideals so it can fit better into the world. It doesn’t seek to give a message less than the love of Jesus, ever. If it changes it’s ideal of love and mercy and hope in God’s future, then it is no longer the community of Jesus, but a part of the very empire it seeks so hopelessly to transform. The compromised church is in a place to be transformed, not to create transformation.
Jesus, on the other hand, presented a kind of transformationalism that is not necessarily politically active, but is powerfully active, nevertheless. He established the following principles:
a. Creating alternative communities
b. Being welcoming to all who desire transformation
c. Gently, patiently influencing without force
d. Attacking the forces behind the evil
1. The church as salt
You are salt—essential for the world. But if you lose the basic qualities that make you important, you cannot regain them. You will be useless, cast out of God’s kingdom and trampled.
You are light—God’s glory and truth in the world. You are the kingdom of God to come, and you cannot be hidden. Nor should you be hidden—God’s glory should be displayed, not hidden. So display the true righteousness of God before everyone, so that people will see your acts of God and so glorify the Father. Matthew 5:13-15
The church is not a building, an organization or a political force. Rather, the church is, according to Jesus, an alternative society, a unique people, a separate nation which lives by God’s law of love. The church, in the form Jesus established it, is a group of people who are living according to Jesus’ principles of love. The church is made up of the outcast of society, engaged in community not to just improve ourselves, but to love all of those in need. And we strive to live out the principles of love found in Jesus’ law—we do not insult, we do good to those who persecute us, we do not look with lust, we keep our promises, we do our religious deeds before God, not for people’s being impressed, we do not judge others, but we are constantly repenting of our sin and forgiving those who repent. And we will strive not to be put in a situation—like the military or addiction to drugs—that will cause us to act in opposition to this way of life.
We will look and act different for all this. The world will see us as strange, as ignorant, as naïve or even as hateful because we will stand with Jesus, no matter what anyone else says or does to try to promote us or to try to oppose us. At times, we will act different from that which the world calls “the church” or “Christianity.” “And this is because a majority of the church is caught up in the ways of the world, and has become a part of the world—focusing on education, on politics, on judging, on intellectualism, on power and the manipulation of it. And so they, the façade church, looks at the church of Jesus, and thinks that they’ve missed the point.
The church of Jesus is a community, not a political party. It doesn’t seek to compromise its ideals so it can fit better into the world. It doesn’t seek to give a message less than the love of Jesus, ever. If it changes it’s ideal of love and mercy and hope in God’s future, then it is no longer the community of Jesus, but a part of the very empire it seeks so hopelessly to transform. The compromised church is in a place to be transformed, not to create transformation.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Confession and Openness-- Scriptures
Psalm 32:3-5
When I was silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to you, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord;" and you forgive the guilt of my sin.
Psalm 51:1-12
Be gracious to me, O God, according to your loving kindness; According to the greatness of your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, I have sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified when you speak and blameless when you judge. Behold I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, you desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part you will make me know wisdom. Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear greatness and gladness, let the bones which you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.
Matthew 5:23-26
Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. Make friends quickly with your opponent while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and he to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.
1 John 1:5-10
This is the message that we have heard from him and have announced to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light, as He himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
Ephesians 5:11-14
Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; For it is disgraceful to even speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, and Christ will shine His light on you."
James 4:9-10
Be miserable and mourn and weep, let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourself in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Does This Picture Offend You?
It sure offended some folks.
Update-- I don't know where the pic went. Perhaps it didn't pass some cenor? You can see it at this site: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://linkoping.expressen.se/polopoly_fs/1.1070989!slot100slotWide75ArticleFull/3447786819.jpg&imgrefurl=http://cominganarchy.com/2008/03/10/jesus-defecation-poster-request/&usg=__1wG8S2BbYgQpCbxgr2L_bFHDboY=&h=301&w=420&sz=33&hl=en&start=50&um=1&tbnid=djfR_76SS3ZTLM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=125&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djesus%2Bsatan%2Bpunk%26start%3D40%26ndsp%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4TSHA_enUS309%26sa%3DN
I guess it was a pic in Europe (the Netherlands, Sweeden?) that advertised a punk concert. Some people got all up in arms about it being blasphemous, or some such thing, and a controversy erupted. As usual.
However, I find it interesting that the pic accurately describes the first theory of atonement, the Christus Victor point of view.
In that view, Satan arranged for Jesus to be dishonored and cast out of the congregation of Israel. Crucifixion, in the first century, is not as much a symbol of torture or death, but of the ultimate dishonor. Thus, Satan shitting on Jesus is an accurate description of the cross, from the Christus Victor position. Jesus is helpless and he has to take the dishonor, in the face of all those whom he loves and before his enemies who sneer before him.
So if this pic offends you, perhaps you better understand why the cross wasn't used as a Christian symbol until crucifixion was long gone. Because to depict Jesus on a cross is to depict this very scene. Hard to watch for anyone who really loves Jesus.
But this is what he put up with so we could be delivered from our sin.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Consequences of Disobedience
Evil is not reserved to people like Hitler or Stalin, criminals and child pornographers. Evil is simply disobedience to the basic things God has asked us to do. We desire what God has not given us yet and so we pursue to do that which God has commanded us not to do. This is rebellion against our rightful Lord, and the littlest disobedience, without repentance, will cause us to be trapped in a cycle of sin that will have at least some of the following consequences.
However, below are not the consequences of unintentional sin, or of intending to do good and it turning out bad. These are the consequences of knowing what God wants us to do, and doing the opposite simply because we don't want to do what He asked us to do.
Uncleanness—
The first consequence of sin is that we become defiled before God. God no longer desires to associate with us, even as we would not want to associate with someone who has not bathed in months. We are unable to approach God in prayer, except in repentance, and until we repent we are unable to be in God’s presence. (Mark 7:21-23; Zechariah 7:12-13; Isaiah 1:11-17; I John 1:5-7)
Evil desire—
Sin begins with an evil desire and it perpetuates evil desire as well. One desires what one can have or obtain, not what one can do for God or others. Eventually, one’s mind is obsessed with thoughts of doing evil. (James 1:14; Romans 1:28; I John 2:16)
Bad reputation—
People will see you as untrustworthy. They will feel they have a right to judge you and no longer want to be around you. They will also think badly of God and Jesus and their names will be blasphemed because of your actions. (Ezekiel 36:17-21)
Increased disobedience—
You will desire to have more of what you gained in your disobedience. Since the gains of disobedience are fleeting and temporary, you will head deeper and deeper into the disobedience and rebellion against the Lord. One also develops a community of disobedience, developing friends that encourage each other to sin, away from the Lord. (James 4:2-3; Romans 1:32)
Mental illness—
You will no longer be able to think correctly about yourself, your life, others around you, the world or God. What God says is true, you will call a lie; what God says is real, you will call a fantasy. Soon you will live in accordance with that false reality, instead of God’s truth. Not all mental illness is a result of sin or Satan, but living in sin absolutely leads to mental illness. (Romans 1:21-22)
Inability to love others—
The Lord will take away the love he gave you to serve others. You will want to do good to others, but you will not be able to. Even the good that you do is a double-edged sword, causing harm even when you do good. (I John 4:8, 20)
Broken relationships—
You will hurt those whom you love and who love you. Eventually they will turn away from you to seek safer relationships. Those who live with you will no longer listen to you or want to be around you. (Matthew 18:17; I Corinthians 5:9-11)
God will take away what little authority you have—
The Lord will take away any amount of rulership you have, because you have proved yourself unworthy. You will lose money; no one will listen to you; you will be hated by those who live with you or are under you—employees, children, spouse, roommates, church members, etc. (I Samuel 15:23; Psalm 37:9)
Earthly punishment—
The Lord will punish you for your sin. This will often happen in direct connection to you sin. For instance, someone involved in sexual immorality will get a sexually transmitted disease. Someone involved in stealing will be arrested. Other consequences may happen as well, though, including sickness, blindness, loss of food or shelter, and separation from one’s community. (However, not everyone who experiences sickness, homelessness or poverty is judged for sin—see Job) (Deuteronomy 28:58-61)
Bondage to Enemies—
Yahweh will hand you over to the gods whom you are serving and you will only gain what they have, which is misery, death and horror. He will also possibly hand you over to the police or other governmental authorities to punish you. (Judges 2:11-14; Romans 1:24-28)
Not receiving the promises of God—
The disobedient will not inherit the kingdom of God. They will not gain the resurrection. They will not receive God’s blessings. They will seek the Lord and not find him. They will listen to God’s word and not understand it. They will think they will receive all of what God has in store for the righteous and they will gain none of it. (I Corinthians 6:9-10)
Causing others not to receive God’s kingdom—
Because you are living in hypocrisy, others will think that they can follow God as you do. Then they will receive the same consequences as you—punishment, dishonor and death. (Matthew 23:15)
Rejection of God—
Eventually the one in sin will realize their hypocrisy and decide that they never really wanted to follow God in the first place. They reject any word of the Lord and become an open enemy of God. At this point, there is no turning back and the final consequence of sin is inevitable. (Romans 1:20-23; Hebrews 6:4-6)
Judgment according to deeds—
Whatever one does to another, that is what that one will receive on the final day before God. So if one grants judgment to others, they will receive judgement. If they never show mercy, they will not receive mercy. (Luke 6: 36-38)
Death—
The final consequence of disobedience is death. The Lord will hand you over to the power of death, under the control of Satan and he will destroy you. You will be in fire and torture and punishment for eternity. (Matthew 13:41-42; Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:12-15)
However, the consequences of sin do not have to be our end. All of these consequences can be reversed through the cross of Jesus!
However, below are not the consequences of unintentional sin, or of intending to do good and it turning out bad. These are the consequences of knowing what God wants us to do, and doing the opposite simply because we don't want to do what He asked us to do.
Uncleanness—
The first consequence of sin is that we become defiled before God. God no longer desires to associate with us, even as we would not want to associate with someone who has not bathed in months. We are unable to approach God in prayer, except in repentance, and until we repent we are unable to be in God’s presence. (Mark 7:21-23; Zechariah 7:12-13; Isaiah 1:11-17; I John 1:5-7)
Evil desire—
Sin begins with an evil desire and it perpetuates evil desire as well. One desires what one can have or obtain, not what one can do for God or others. Eventually, one’s mind is obsessed with thoughts of doing evil. (James 1:14; Romans 1:28; I John 2:16)
Bad reputation—
People will see you as untrustworthy. They will feel they have a right to judge you and no longer want to be around you. They will also think badly of God and Jesus and their names will be blasphemed because of your actions. (Ezekiel 36:17-21)
Increased disobedience—
You will desire to have more of what you gained in your disobedience. Since the gains of disobedience are fleeting and temporary, you will head deeper and deeper into the disobedience and rebellion against the Lord. One also develops a community of disobedience, developing friends that encourage each other to sin, away from the Lord. (James 4:2-3; Romans 1:32)
Mental illness—
You will no longer be able to think correctly about yourself, your life, others around you, the world or God. What God says is true, you will call a lie; what God says is real, you will call a fantasy. Soon you will live in accordance with that false reality, instead of God’s truth. Not all mental illness is a result of sin or Satan, but living in sin absolutely leads to mental illness. (Romans 1:21-22)
Inability to love others—
The Lord will take away the love he gave you to serve others. You will want to do good to others, but you will not be able to. Even the good that you do is a double-edged sword, causing harm even when you do good. (I John 4:8, 20)
Broken relationships—
You will hurt those whom you love and who love you. Eventually they will turn away from you to seek safer relationships. Those who live with you will no longer listen to you or want to be around you. (Matthew 18:17; I Corinthians 5:9-11)
God will take away what little authority you have—
The Lord will take away any amount of rulership you have, because you have proved yourself unworthy. You will lose money; no one will listen to you; you will be hated by those who live with you or are under you—employees, children, spouse, roommates, church members, etc. (I Samuel 15:23; Psalm 37:9)
Earthly punishment—
The Lord will punish you for your sin. This will often happen in direct connection to you sin. For instance, someone involved in sexual immorality will get a sexually transmitted disease. Someone involved in stealing will be arrested. Other consequences may happen as well, though, including sickness, blindness, loss of food or shelter, and separation from one’s community. (However, not everyone who experiences sickness, homelessness or poverty is judged for sin—see Job) (Deuteronomy 28:58-61)
Bondage to Enemies—
Yahweh will hand you over to the gods whom you are serving and you will only gain what they have, which is misery, death and horror. He will also possibly hand you over to the police or other governmental authorities to punish you. (Judges 2:11-14; Romans 1:24-28)
Not receiving the promises of God—
The disobedient will not inherit the kingdom of God. They will not gain the resurrection. They will not receive God’s blessings. They will seek the Lord and not find him. They will listen to God’s word and not understand it. They will think they will receive all of what God has in store for the righteous and they will gain none of it. (I Corinthians 6:9-10)
Causing others not to receive God’s kingdom—
Because you are living in hypocrisy, others will think that they can follow God as you do. Then they will receive the same consequences as you—punishment, dishonor and death. (Matthew 23:15)
Rejection of God—
Eventually the one in sin will realize their hypocrisy and decide that they never really wanted to follow God in the first place. They reject any word of the Lord and become an open enemy of God. At this point, there is no turning back and the final consequence of sin is inevitable. (Romans 1:20-23; Hebrews 6:4-6)
Judgment according to deeds—
Whatever one does to another, that is what that one will receive on the final day before God. So if one grants judgment to others, they will receive judgement. If they never show mercy, they will not receive mercy. (Luke 6: 36-38)
Death—
The final consequence of disobedience is death. The Lord will hand you over to the power of death, under the control of Satan and he will destroy you. You will be in fire and torture and punishment for eternity. (Matthew 13:41-42; Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:12-15)
However, the consequences of sin do not have to be our end. All of these consequences can be reversed through the cross of Jesus!
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