The Eye Of God

This picture taken by NASA's Hubble telescope is cool. It's called the "Eye of God".

On The Gospel

Often, I think, when one says, "I believe in Jesus," what one means is that "I believe in the Good News that Jesus brought to the earth." In a general sense, this practice is fine. However, in an actual sense, there is an inherent (if subtle) danger in equating the deliverer with His message. I believe the danger is two fold. In one we misrepresent who Jesus is if we do not have a clear understanding of what His message is. On the other hand, if we do not have a clear understand of whom Jesus is, we don't really know what we mean when we confess our belief in Him. I believe that Jesus preached the Gospel. Scripture informs us that He preached a message of repentance and belief in [He who brings the Kingdom near]. I say this because Jesus preaches repentance "for the Kingdom is near" and also repentance and belief in Himself. This parallel implies the above in my estimation. So, the subsequent question becomes, "Who is Jesus?"

Whether Christians invented monotheism doesn't apply to this conversation. In this context, if I am correct in my belief that Jesus is God, then my focusing all my attention upon Him (a.k.a. repentance) and placing my faith in Him (i.e. believing in Him and Him alone) is my appropriate reaction to the Gospel (a derivative of the Saxon phrase meaning "Good News"). This is the same relation that we are called to have in the "Shema". So, Jesus' message is NOT the Gospel nor is the Shema. The Good News must be the reason that I may place my faith in Jesus. He is God and He sacrificed Himself willingly upon the cross so that the sins of the world may be forgiven making John 3:16 effective for all time. And not only that but He rose from the dead and now sits upon the right hand of God the Father. Like Paul said, I believe that my baptism (a definition of which must wait for a different post, please) has connected me to the death of Jesus so that I may now live a life like Jesus' forever. In effect, I am no longer a citizen of this world, but instead I am a citizen of God's Holy Kingdom with all the rights and responsibilities that entails.It's all connected, you see. But the Gospel is that God lived died and now lives again for me and for you. Now that you've heard, you may believe and live.

I think that even in the exodus, the Israelites had access to the Gospel in a manner of speaking. They were called to the same action as the Gospel calls us to via the Gospel and/or the Shema. They were to focus on God and place their trust in Him. They could literally witness God's presence in the pillar of Cloud and the pillar of fire. They were to actually follow God and trust Him to secure their passage through the wilderness. Their exodus was at the same time a real life experience for them and a metaphor of life on earth for the rest of us. They and we are called to focus our attention upon God (repent) and believe in His Word (via Moses or in Christ Jesus). The Gospel, I believe is directly connected with the presence and accessibility of God. He is present so it is possible to do what He wishes.

Confess AND/PLUS believe/trust/have faith. I believe that doing one and not the other has definite salvific consequences. One seems to be an inward effect while the other is an outward action, just as when Jesus preached "Repent and Believe".

I think that there is always a way to confess one's belief. The mechanism is less important than the action itself. But, I do believe that believing is the key. The question is whether one truly believes if one never acts upon that belief.

It is because God has made it possible to choose Him that we can and must choose Him. It is indeed a God thing that makes the choice possible. God never forces anyone to make the choice, however. Our "yes" is made possible because of God's "Yes" but we must still take the opportunity to say that "yes".

God has already done the work. We must respond positively to what He has done. This is true repentance. This is our first act of faith. This is true faith in our Creator. I don't think that anyone who is saved will NOT do this.

God justifies and God sanctifies. God saves too.In everything He wishes us to act relationally to Him. Every good relationship requires effort by both parties. Sanctification is what naturally happens as we walk with God. We become more like Him.Responding positively in terms of our salvation is our "yes" (a positive statement) to God's outstretched hands.Not everyone is saved. Those who are saved are those who have taken God up on His offer.

What if everyone is saved? We have much to answer for, then. There is no Great Commission. Everything is accomplished. But then why is there suffering? Why does not everyone believe that Christ is Lord? Why is there death? You see, such a misunderstanding of basic theology serves to open up a "Pandora's Box" of questions that are unanswerable because of the sandy ground of doubt they are based upon. Don't get me wrong here. This is NOT WORKS righteousness. Salvation is by Grace Alone. No one must say halleluiah seventy times in order to be saved or anything like that. THAT would be salvation by works. It is God's grace that makes salvation possible (He did the WORK) on the cross. It is God's grace that offers salvation that He made possible. It is through God's grace that a person may realize that salvation is there for the asking. It is God who brings a person to Him and it is God that supplies that wherewithal for a person to reach for His outstretched hands and grab hold; even for eternity. BUT, you have to take that hand that is being so graciously offered or salvation is not yours.Christ has not returned. There is still hope for the world. We still have a purpose. It's going to get worse before it gets better. But all that is because Christ's work in the world is not finished since not everyone is saved who will be saved.

In Christ,

Christopher

On Eternity

There seems to be a general misconception about what eternity means. Most people seem to think that it is from now until the end of time. In other words, they believe that eternity exists in the future. And, in a way it does. But that is only half of eternity. Of course, this is still a very long time but only half as long as it really is. This is really forever.

"But wait!" you say. Forever is also used to express the past. "I've been waiting for this bus forever." "It's taking forever to type this article." The past is forever, too.

Forever is the future and the past.

Eternity is the present. Think about it. It has no beginning and no end; no past and no future. It just is. Therefore, the faithful believer who is saved to eternal life has no beginning and no end. All the sins one ever committed are erased, as are all the sins one ever will commit. There are no "special" days because all the days belong to the LORD who is eternal. All days are as one to Him. This is not to say that it is wrong to set apart holidays to remember specific holy events. I thoroughly enjoy Christmas and Easter and such. They are awesome times of worship and celebration. Furthermore, since everyday is equal to our Eternal God, the specific day these fall upon every year doesn't matter either. Nor does the name we use for these holidays matter.

Eternity is now. To have eternal life is to have it now and forever (present +past and future). The theological implications of this are endless (they'd have to be, though, wouldn't they?). I could go on and on. So, I'm sure that I will return to this topic in the "future".

Christopher

THE SIMPLE HERMENEUTIC

I've been working on a new, simple hermeneutic, lately. Actually, by "working on" I mean trying to understand what my LORD has been telling me. It is based on the Two Great Commandments. Succinctly put, they are "Love God with everything you are", and "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Obviously, there's a lot that is packed into those two phrases but it comes, basically, down to this: Serve God first, all others second and your self last.
Jesus says it. Paul explains it (c.f. Phillipians). The Holy Spirit provides examples throughout the Bible that demonstrate this principle. These examples are almost entirely negative in one way or another except for Jesus' because He is Emanuel.

It's pretty cool. It even provides a simple basic "litmus test" for testing Biblical theories and theologies. There are two questions for the believer to ask. Does it glorify God and does it serve others?

Both criteria must be met. It is also practical in nature. Once again one can ask those above two questions when examining any action. If I do such and such; will God be glorified and will it serve someone?

This is, obviously, just a "bare bones" description. The Big (albeit simple) picture is still a work in progress. But, I am examining this from the beginning of the Bible and it has already provided unexpected dividends in the first 3 chapters of Genesis.(More on that later.)

It all begins with the Cross:

Here's the deal. Metaphorically speaking, envision Christ Jesus dying on the cross. Now imagine an eternal, cosmic exposion that sends ripples throughout time and space.... The cross is ground zero.

That's the imagery.

God doesn't change. God is God. His precepts, His will lasts forever. On the otherhand, we have the above event that altered "stuff" (how's that for a high powered word?) in some mysterious way.

Now, imagine the faithful as cosmic surfers riding Christ's eternal wave. It's this empowering "Christ Effect" that allows the faithful to live the Way. It allows them to view the Law as a measuring stick instead of a club. It allows us to live hope-filled lives even amid the chaos of the world around us. It shields us from the arrows of the enemy and allows us to survive and even grow strong from those barbs that do get through to us (being the imperfect servants that we are, this is bound to happen from time to time).

Associated with this wave is the Holy Spirit. Riding the wave places us in contact with the Spirit of God. This Spirit aids us along our Way; empowering us for the tasks at hand and the tasks to come. We shoot through the curl that is the Law and we now see that it is a demonstration of God's will and not His will itself. His Will is much older and simpler. The Law is an effect of the Will. We realize that by being followers of His will we are de facto followers of the Law because it is an effect of His will.
Remember this is just the bare-bones of the very genesis of this idea and I believe that there are some very astounding ramifications to this and we can discuss them as they arise in the course of discussion.

Essential Conclusion:

Together, believers comprise an imperfect image of God on earth. What He does perfectly alone ( though not alone), it takes millions of humanbeings to even imagine. However, what He does believers can do, too not because of who we (as indivdual humans) are, but because of who we are as the body of Christ. And if we are part of Christ or , at least, part of the imperfect facsimile of Christ's body, then He is a part of us (though He,of course, accomplishes His part perfectly). I believe that it is a necessity for all faithful Christians to understand the responsibility and the power that is available to them through being a part of Christ's body and through this kind of ultimate relationship with God. This is where true minstry begins and the Truth will be actualized. This is true faith accompanied by true work.

To God be ALL the GLORY! AMEN

Not alot gets me excited but this is definitely doing the trick. Have you ever had the distinct priviledge of knowing that your a part of something that is much bigger than yourself?

In Christ,

Christopher

Phillipian 2: 1-11

Philippians 2

Christian Unity and Christ’s Humility
2:1 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit,1 any affection or mercy,2 2:2 complete my joy and be of the same mind,3 by having the same love, being united in spirit,4 and having one purpose. 2:3 Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition5 or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. 2:4 Each of you should be concerned6 not only7 about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.8 2:5 You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,9
2:610 who though he existed in the form of God11
did not regard equality with God
as something to be grasped,
2:7 but emptied himself
by taking on the form of a slave,12
by looking like other men,13
and by sharing in human nature.14
2:8 He humbled himself,
by becoming obedient to the point of death
—even death on a cross!
2:9 As a result God exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
2:10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow
—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—
2:11 and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord
to the glory of God the Father.
(Net Bible)

John 6:25-71 (NET Bible)

Jesus’ Discourse About the Bread of Life

6:25 When they found him on the other side of the lake,37 they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”38 6:26 Jesus replied,39 “I tell you the solemn truth,40 you are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs, but because you ate all the loaves of bread you wanted.41 6:27 Do not work for the food that disappears,42 but for the food that remains to eternal life—the food43 which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has put his seal of approval on him.”44
6:28 So then they said to him, “What must we do to accomplish the deeds45 God requires?”46 6:29 Jesus replied,47 “This is the deed48 God requires49—to believe in the one whom he50 sent.” 6:30 So they said to him, “Then what miraculous sign will you perform, so that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 6:31 Our ancestors51 ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”52
6:32 Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the solemn truth,53 it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread from heaven. 6:33 For the bread of God is the one who54 comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 6:34 So they said to him, “Sir,55 give us this bread all the time!”
6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will never go hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty.56 6:36 But I told you57 that you have seen me58 and still do not believe. 6:37 Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never send away.59 6:38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. 6:39 Now this is the will of the one who sent me—that I should not lose one person of every one he has given me, but raise them all up60 at the last day. 6:40 For this is the will of my Father—for everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him to have eternal life, and I will raise him up61 at the last day.”62
6:41 Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus63 began complaining about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven,” 6:42 and they said, “Isn’t this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 6:43 Jesus replied,64 “Do not complain about me to one another.65 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him,66 and I will raise him up at the last day. 6:45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’67 Everyone who hears and learns from the Father68 comes to me. 6:46 (Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God—he69 has seen the Father.)70 6:47 I tell you the solemn truth,71 the one who believes72 has eternal life.73 6:48 I am the bread of life.74 6:49 Your ancestors75 ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 6:50 This76 is the bread that has come down from heaven, so that a person77 may eat from it and not die. 6:51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats from this bread he will live forever. The bread78 that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
6:52 Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus79 began to argue with one another,80 “How can this man81 give us his flesh to eat?” 6:53 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the solemn truth,82 unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,83 you have no life84 in yourselves. 6:54 The one who eats85 my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.86 6:55 For my flesh is true87 food, and my blood is true88 drink. 6:56 The one who eats89 my flesh and drinks my blood resides in me, and I in him.90 6:57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so the one who consumes91 me will live because of me. 6:58 This92 is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the bread your ancestors93 ate, but then later died.94 The one who eats95 this bread will live forever.”
Many Followers Depart
6:59 Jesus96 said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue97 in Capernaum.98 6:60 Then many of his disciples, when they heard these things,99 said, “This is a difficult100 saying!101 Who can understand it?”102 6:61 When Jesus was aware103 that his disciples were complaining104 about this, he said to them, “Does this cause you to be offended?105 6:62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascending where he was before?106 6:63 The Spirit is the one who gives life; human nature is of no help!107 The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.108 6:64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus had already known from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)109 6:65 So Jesus added,110 “Because of this I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has allowed him to come.”111
Peter’s Confession
6:66 After this many of his disciples quit following him112 and did not accompany him113 any longer. 6:67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?”114 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. 6:69 We115 have come to believe and to know116 that you are the Holy One of God!”117 6:70 Jesus replied,118 “Didn’t I choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is the devil?”119 6:71 (Now he said this about Judas son of Simon Iscariot,120 for Judas,121 one of the twelve, was going to betray him.)122

Eucharistic

Who is the Word? What else is the Word? Now if one wishes to truly know the Word, one must fully digest the Word so that the Word will fully become a part of the very fabric of one's being and one may truly Love God. Obviously, Jesus did not start feeding Himself to His remaining disciples who were totally at a loss when Jesus presented this teaching. They did not expect Him to do so either. So it's not about eating Jesus. Also, there's that incident with the woman at the well in which Jesus speaks of Spiritual food. And there is the Hebraic mindset of studying Scripture and thinking of it in terms of eating and digesting food. This is descriptive language more than symbolic language. It's metaphoric in terms of its language but it is describing a real process. One studies something so in depth and puts it into effect to such a degree that it literally shapes one's being inide and out. The Eucharist is symbolic in that it reminds us that we are to place our entire being into our faith and it, in turn will be our truth source of life because of He who is present within us at even the most basic level of our existence. It all goes together.

In Christ,
Christopher

To Do List

Ask, Seek, Knock (Mt. 7: 7-12)

7:7 “Ask9 and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door10 will be opened for you. 7:8 For everyone who asks11 receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 7:9 Is12 there anyone among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 7:10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?13 7:11 If you then, although you are evil,14 know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts15 to those who ask him! 7:12 In16 everything, treat others as you would want them17 to treat you,18 for this fulfills19 the law and the prophets.
(NET Bible)

Do Not Worry

Do Not Worry (Mt. 6: 25 -34)

6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry33 about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? 6:26 Look at the birds in the sky:34 They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds35 them. Aren’t you more valuable36 than they are? 6:27 And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life?37 6:28 Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers38 of the field grow; they do not work39 or spin. 6:29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! 6:30 And if this is how God clothes the wild grass,40 which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven,41 won’t he clothe you even more,42 you people of little faith? 6:31 So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 6:32 For the unconverted43 pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 6:33 But above all pursue his kingdom44 and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 6:34 So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.45 (NET Bible)

Pretenders

Judgment of Pretenders

Mt 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’24 will enter into the kingdom of heaven—only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 7:22 On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do25 many powerful deeds?’ 7:23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!’26

(NET Bible)

Does that refer to you?

How do you know?

Romans 10: 1-13

10:1 Brothers and sisters,1 my heart’s desire and prayer to God on behalf of my fellow Israelites2 is for their salvation. 10:2 For I can testify that they are zealous for God,3 but their zeal is not in line with the truth.4 10:3 For ignoring the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law, with the result that there is righteousness for everyone who believes.
10:5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is by the law: “The one who does these things will live by them.”5 10:6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart,6 ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”7 (that is, to bring Christ down) 10:7 or “Who will descend into the abyss?”8 (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 10:8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”9 (that is, the word of faith that we preach), 10:9 because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord10 and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10:10 For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness11 and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation.12 10:11 For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”13 10:12 For there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who richly blesses all who call on him. 10:13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.14

What Would You Think?

What would you think if some one told you to read Psalm 71 and it would explain your life? What would you do?

PSALM 71

Psalm 711
71:1 In you, O Lord, I have taken shelter!
Never let me be humiliated!
71:2 Vindicate me by rescuing me!2
Listen to me!3 Deliver me!4
71:3 Be my protector and refuge,5
a stronghold where I can be safe!6
For you are my high ridge7 and my stronghold.
71:4 My God, rescue me from the power8 of the wicked,
from the hand of the cruel oppressor!
71:5 For you give me confidence,9 O sovereign Master;
O Lord, I have trusted in you since I was young.10
71:6 I have leaned on you since birth;11
you pulled me12 from my mother’s womb.
I praise you continually.13
71:7 Many are appalled when they see me,14
but you are my secure shelter.
71:8 I praise you constantly
and speak of your splendor all day long.15
71:9 Do not reject me in my old age!16
When my strength fails, do not abandon me!
71:10 For my enemies talk about me;
those waiting for a chance to kill me plot my demise.17
71:11 They say,18 “God has abandoned him.
Run and seize him, for there is no one who will rescue him!”
71:12 O God, do not remain far away from me!
My God, hurry and help me!19
71:13 May my accusers be humiliated and defeated!
May those who want to harm me20 be covered with scorn and disgrace!
71:14 As for me, I will wait continually,
and will continue to praise you.21
71:15 I will tell about your justice,
and all day long proclaim your salvation,22
though I cannot fathom its full extent.23
71:16 I will come and tell about24 the mighty acts of the sovereign Lord.
I will proclaim your justice—yours alone.
71:17 O God, you have taught me since I was young,
and I am still declaring25 your amazing deeds.
71:18 Even when I am old and gray,26
O God, do not abandon me,
until I tell the next generation about your strength,
and those coming after me about your power.27
71:19 Your justice, O God, extends to the skies above;28
you have done great things.29
O God, who can compare to you?30
71:20 Though you have allowed me to experience much trouble and distress,31
revive me once again!32
Bring me up once again33 from the depths of the earth!
71:21 Raise me to a position of great honor!34
Turn and comfort me!35
71:22 I will express my thanks to you with a stringed instrument,
praising36 your faithfulness, O my God!
I will sing praises to you accompanied by a harp,
O sovereign king of Israel!37
71:23 My lips will shout for joy! Yes,38 I will sing your praises!
I will praise you when you rescue me!39
71:24 All day long my tongue will also tell about your justice,
for those who want to harm me40 will be embarrassed and ashamed.41

(NET Bible)

In Christ

I do my best
Yet fall far short
Unless Christ
Through me
Does Holy work

Christopher

On Being Good

I've been watching and listening and even reading about Katrina. People's reactions are as different as people themselves. Most oppinions I have heard fall into either political or moral positions. Within these two areanas, thoughts are polarized. I don't want to devle too far into politics at this point. I'll jus go on record by saying that the two general sides are either anti- Bush or anti -victims. Neither side is correct. The problems are societal in nature. Long range policies are mostly to blame.


More in keeping with the themes covered in this blog is the moral polarities brought to light by the Katrina disaster. There are moral polarities involved in the political spectrum, but I am more concerned with people's thoughts...well..concerning the victims. And, more precisely, I want to adress the reactions of those moral people who have gone out of their way and even made sacrifices to help the victims of this disaster.

First of all, I want to say that it is wonderful that so many people have reached out to the hurricane survivors and given them their time, resources, food, clothing, shelter, and prayers. I read an article the other day about a guy who went and donated his time and effort as a volunteer and left totally dismayed by what happened to him. This is really what my reactio is adressing in this article. I am positive that others have had similar experiences and left just as jaded as he.

He handed out water to people as they diembarked buses at a major drop off site and was insulted by uncaring people who complaied that they were not being given soda pop. He then went inside and handed out food to people who asked for Mc Donalds instead and then neglected to pick up after themselves. Finally, when he suggested that some healthy teenager boys might help the women and other volunteers who stting up the air mattresses and such for their beds and was sworn at, he had had enough and left the scen in disgust.

I must admit, that I really empathize with this gentleman. He honestly went down there to help out and did not deserve to be treated the way that he was, especially not by the very individuals he was trying to help. He is right, those rude and disgusting people did not deserve his help. But he was also in the wrong. Oh yea, he was following a moral obligation of doing what he could to help those in need. He was being very moral. But he was not being a good person.

There's a difference between being a moral person and being a good person, after all. A moral person does good things especially to people less fortunate than him or her self. He or she knows how to do the right thing and will usually do it just because it is the right thing to do. Watch out though. Because, if you are not some one who is doing the right thing, then you must be doing the wrong thing and are therefore an immoral person which is logically equated with being a bad person. Bad people don't deserve help. Moral people who do help bad people are just all that more superior for doing so. Moral people are merely self agrandizing egoists despite all of their hugs and tears.

A good person, will often look exactly like a moral person. This is because what usually seems like a good thing to do is a good thing to do. So there we see good and moral people working side by side at food pantries and as disaster relef workers, giving blood, and helping old ladies across the street. The subtle difference between a moral person and a good person most of the time is in their attitudes. Whereas a moral person is doing the other person a favor by helping them, the other person is doing the good person a favor by allowing him or her to help. A moral person condescends to lend a hand. A good person serves for the sake of serving. A good person welcomes the opportunity to serve because there is a need to be filled. It's not about the servant or even the served. It's just about service.

By serving, just serving, we flame the fire of Christ within us. We come closer to God. We do not take credit we do not ask for reward. After all, we did nothing. If any good occured because of our actions it was because of Christ in us. What reward compares to the one we already have in heaven?

By serving, just serving, our light, which is Christ's, which is Christ, shines for the world to see and our LORD is glorified and, in some small way, the Gospel is proclaimed. That is the "Simple Hermeneutic" actualized for Him.

Christopher

End Times Links

Click on the title above to go to "Christian Web Site". It has a variety of links to information about the end-times. I hear many Christians talking as if we are near to Christ's return. I'm trying to get my thought lined up about this abut I will say this. Looking for Christ's imminent return is the proper Christian attitude in any time.

Christopher

God Bless You!

May you be at peace. AMEN

Spiritual Gifts

I believe that every Christian needs to be involved in the work of the Kingdom. To aid believers in this, here is a link to a Spiritual Gifts Analysis. It's a pretty good one, I think. All you have to do is click on the above title and you'll be taken to the testing site.
Christopher

THE TEMPLE GARDEN

It came to me this morning that the temple represents the garden of Eden and the veil of the temple was equivalent to the angelic being with the flaming sword. The implications of this are great and mind is going in a number of directions right now so I'm finding it difficult grab hold of one train of thought at this point. But this is really cool.

My thoughts go to Jesus' crucifixion and the veil being split from top to bottom by God. The implication being that because of the cross event we may now enter the holy of holies and receive eternal life.The Eden story ends with us being cast out of the garden and being prevented from enjoying the fruit of the tree of life and living forever.The cross = the tree of lifefruit = Jesus' body and blood ( We could look at the sixth chapter of John's Gospel to hash that out)Anyway, Jesus truly is the Alpha and the Omega! AMEN!

Christopher

THE CROSS AND ETERNITY

I had a thought concerning the eternal nature of the crucifixion the other day. The thought is this: If, during the crucifixion, Jesus paid the price for all of our sins for all eternity, then, anyone who ever believed in Him or ever will, is saved. But more than that, the crucifixion is an ongoing event. Our sins our forgiven because of its eternal nature. This means that the crucifixion is happening as I type this article and even as you read it. More importantly, everytime you or I commit a sin, we are pounding in the nails in Jesus' hands and feet. Gruesome but true nonetheless.

Christopher

On the Gospel

Often, I think, when one says, "I believe in Jesus," what one means is that "I believe in the Good News that Jesus brought to the earth." In a general sense, this practice is fine. However, in an actual sense, there is an inherent (if subtle) danger in equating the deliverer with His message. I believe the danger is two fold. In one we misrepresent who Jesus is if we do not have a clear understanding of what His message is. On the other hand, if we do not have a clear understand of whom Jesus is, we don't really know what we mean when we confess our belief in Him. I believe that Jesus preached the Gospel. Scripture informs us that He preached a message of repentance and belief in [He who brings the Kingdom near]. I say this because Jesus preaches repentance "for the Kingdom is near" and also repentance and belief in Himself. This parallel implies the above in my estimation. So, the subsequent question becomes, "Who is Jesus?"

Whether Christians invented monotheism doesn't apply to this conversation. In this context, if I am correct in my belief that Jesus is God, then my focusing all my attention upon Him (a.k.a. repentance) and placing my faith in Him (i.e. believing in Him and Him alone) is my appropriate reaction to the Gospel (a derivative of the Saxon phrase meaning "Good News"). This is the same relation that we are called to have in the "Shema". So, Jesus' message is NOT the Gospel nor is the Shema. The Good News must be the reason that I may place my faith in Jesus. He is God and He sacrificed Himself willingly upon the cross so that the sins of the world may be forgiven making John 3:16 effective for all time. And not only that but He rose from the dead and now sits upon the right hand of God the Father. Like Paul said, I believe that my baptism (a definition of which must wait for a different post, please) has connected me to the death of Jesus so that I may now live a life like Jesus' forever. In effect, I am no longer a citizen of this world, but instead I am a citizen of God's Holy Kingdom with all the rights and responsibilities that entails.It's all connected, you see. But the Gospel is that God lived died and now lives again for me and for you. Now that you've heard, you may believe and live.

I think that even in the exodus, the Israelites had access to the Gospel in a manner of speaking. They were called to the same action as the Gospel calls us to via the Gospel and/or the Shema. They were to focus on God and place their trust in Him. They could literally witness God's presence in the pillar of Cloud and the pillar of fire. They were to actually follow God and trust Him to secure their passage through the wilderness. Their exodus was at the same time a real life experience for them and a metaphor of life on earth for the rest of us. They and we are called to focus our attention upon God (repent) and believe in His Word (via Moses or in Christ Jesus). The Gospel, I believe is directly connected with the presence and accessibility of God. He is present so it is possible to do what He wishes.

Confess AND/PLUS believe/trust/have faith. I believe that doing one and not the other has definite salvific consequences. One seems to be an inward effect while the other is an outward action, just as when Jesus preached "Repent and Believe".

I think that there is always a way to confess one's belief. The mechanism is less important than the action itself. But, I do believe that believing is the key. The question is whether one truly believes if one never acts upon that belief.

It is because God has made it possible to choose Him that we can and must choose Him. It is indeed a God thing that makes the choice possible. God never forces anyone to make the choice, however. Our "yes" is made possible because of God's "Yes" but we must still take the opportunity to say that "yes".

God has already done the work. We must respond positively to what He has done. This is true repentance. This is our first act of faith. This is true faith in our Creator. I don't think that anyone who is saved will NOT do this.

God justifies and God sanctifies. God saves too.In everything He wishes us to act relationally to Him. Every good relationship requires effort by both parties. Sanctification is what naturally happens as we walk with God. We become more like Him.Responding positively in terms of our salvation is our "yes" (a positive statement) to God's outstretched hands.Not everyone is saved. Those who are saved are those who have taken God up on His offer.

What if everyone is saved? We have much to answer for, then. There is no Great Commission. Everything is accomplished. But then why is there suffering? Why does not everyone believe that Christ is Lord? Why is there death? You see, such a misunderstanding of basic theology serves to open up a "Pandora's Box" of questions that are unanswerable because of the sandy ground of doubt they are based upon. Don't get me wrong here. This is NOT WORKS righteousness. Salvation is by Grace Alone. No one must say halleluiah seventy times in order to be saved or anything like that. THAT would be salvation by works. It is God's grace that makes salvation possible (He did the WORK) on the cross. It is God's grace that offers salvation that He made possible. It is through God's grace that a person may realize that salvation is there for the asking. It is God who brings a person to Him and it is God that supplies that wherewithal for a person to reach for His outstretched hands and grab hold; even for eternity. BUT, you have to take that hand that is being so graciously offered or salvation is not yours.Christ has not returned. There is still hope for the world. We still have a purpose. It's going to get worse before it gets better. But all that is because Christ's work in the world is not finished since not everyone is saved who will be saved.

In Christ,

Christopher

Cain Loved God

The Story of Cain is an explicit example of the "Simple Hermeneutic". It's a negative example in that Cain didn't love God first, nor did he love his neighbor second. Instead he placed himself first. As a result he became further seperated from God.

It's clear from this story that this is a relationship issue and that because of Cain's self-centerdness, his relationship with God --which is very close at the beginning of the story -- suffers deeply, even though God still loves Cain deeply at the end of the story.In a way, though, Cain is us just as his parents are us.

We hide ourselves from God. We try to cover our sleves up so that God won't see us. Our perfect realtionship with God is ruined and we are seperated from total communion with Him (i.e. we're chucked out of the Garden).

But God was still with humankind after we were removed from the Garden. The realtionship was still open and strong. When was the last time that any of us had the same kind of free flowing conversation with God that Cain enjoyed? And, yes Cain loved God. He didn't want to be banished from God and he meant well with his offering. He didn't think of God first and bring him the first and the best. No, Cain saved the first and the best for himself. But Cain loved God. He got really angry when ?God didn't accept his offering. Would he have gotten mad if he didn't care? I don't think so. He didn't heed God's warning, though and he let his anger get the best of him. In a jealous rage, he killed his brother and then tried to cover it up from God. Obviously, he neither placed God first or his brother before himself. In this way he further distanced himself from God. But, even though Cain (us?) was removed from the immediate presence of God, he still enjoyed God's protection. The parting was not what either party wanted. Both God and Cain still loved the other. Cain just couldn't do what he had to do to stay with God.
(Hmmm. Does that remind you of anyone?)

There is no doubt that Cain screwed up (just like we do). There's no doubt that his lack of slef control and self-centeredness created a chasm between himself and God (just like ours do). But, when the Holy Spirit showed me the love that exists between God and Cain in this story, it just opened things up to a new level. It makes the murder that much more poignant. It makes God's words to Cain that much richer. It makes Cains words that much more shocking. And, it makes the final seperation all the more agonizing.

The closeness of the two also makes Cain's self-centeredness that much more "in-your-face" especially when taken into a Christian context of an open relationship with God through Christ Jesus. It begs the question: "How am I different than Cain?" Or even, "Am I any different than Cain?" In a word; NO. And it pains me to no end.

What is the application of this teaching?

I believe that the lesson is two fold. First, it offers hope to unbelievers. God loves you inspight of everything you may have done to get away from Him. Secondly, it is a call to believes to get close to God; to get rid of those things that are barriers to our relationship with God. God wants us to be with Him. We keep ourselves from Him. We often believe that we can't actually get to Him. We feel "cursed". But Christ Jesus has split the curtain that kept us away from God. It's up to us to walk into the holy of holies and be with our Creator.

Prayer
Worship
Study

The Essence of The Covenant Principles

6:4 Listen, Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is one. 6:5 You must love the Lord your God with your whole mind, your whole being, and all your strength.
Exhortation to Teach the Covenant Principles
6:6 These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind, 6:7 and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the way, as you lie down, and as you get up. 6:8 You should tie them as a reminder on your forearm and fasten them as symbols on your forehead. 6:9 Inscribe them on the doorframes of your houses and gates. " (Deut. 6:4-6:9,NET)

The above is called the "Shema" for the initial word in 6:4; "Listen" or "Hear".
This is what Jesus quoted and thereby alluded to when He gave us the "Great Commandment".The Quote I began the thread with says "The Essence of the Covenant Principles". In other words we are not so much discussing "Covenant(s)" per se. We are discussing the underlying principles behind them. What I am proposing is that these do NOT change with the advent of any New Covenant. These principles were in place in the Garden and are still in place today and will be in place forever. These are Eternal Principles. I further suggest that the editor(s) of the New English Translation were correct when they called the "Shema" the "essence" of these principles. Infact, that is why I included their heading in this thread.6:4 and 6:5 give us the principle. 6:6-6:9 explain the principle for our daily lives.
6:6 These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind, 6:7 and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the way, as you lie down, and as you get up. 6:8 You should tie them as a reminder on your forearm and fasten them as symbols on your forehead. 6:9 Inscribe them on the doorframes of your houses and gates. "

Simply put, "You must love the Lord your God with your whole mind, your whole being, and all your strength," all the time. I believe that this is what Paul had in mind as he exhorted us to "pray without ceasing."

Gal. 5: 24 "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." (Gal 5:24-26)


Col.3:"Put on the New Self and The Holy Spirit will quicken your mortal body if the Spirit dwells in you. Walking the New Covenant by having it written upon my heart and not tired around my neck but put on the door post of my heart.1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, F16 free; but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Col:3-17)

I believe that the key here is WORSHIP. And, I believe that there are three essentials to worship. Prayer, Study (Scripture), and Communion (a.k.a. group fellowship/worship). These three are the building blocks to a sound relationship with the LORD

Prayer = Communication with God. It's a dialogue.
Study = In depth, delving into the Word, prayerfully, faithfully, with God's help.
Communion = worship with others, meeting as the Body of Christ to hear the Word and worship God and pray.

I suggest that the SHEMA is about building a deeply personal realtionship with God. It's about God permeating everything about one's self. It's about God dwelling in faithful to such a degree that all of one's actions, all of words, all of one's thoughts are given back to God. Even one's breath is given back to God. How cool is that? What would be like to have other people meet God just by meeting you? I think that would be awesome indeed! AMEN