So my thought for this week revolves around much research I have done lately. Two main points: first, how do you approach Scripture and Second, is the phrase or concept "baptism of the Spirit" used equivocally or univocally in Scripture.
Regarding the first point I would love if we could really wrestle with this one for some time. Here is the rub for me: I usually fall in the literal category (ofcourse allowing for figurative or symbolic language where the bible uses it that way: I.E. in Revelation when John is writing about the dragon in the next verse it is called "Satan, the devil, that serpent of old". The dragon is a symbol for satan) but in some of the more difficult passages I have caught myself leaning towards a spiritual understanding of something...in other words I am not being consistent in my approach to Scripture. This is very dangerous because if I spiritualize or allegorize or symbolize something in Scripture because of whatever reason then why can I not now spiritualize Jesus death on the cross? In other words, basically making Jesus' historic event nothing more than a figurative symbol for how all humans should be self-sacrificing for one another. Don't get me wrong on this point, I do believe Jesus is a perfect demonstration of this but the historicity of the cross and the God-man Jesus the Messiah communicates so much more beyond only that. For instance there is heated debate concerning the Kingdom of God...many would site Luke 17:21 which states "nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you" to say that there will be no future physical kingdom. Now not even going into the fact that Jesus was talking to Pharisees what do we take from this? Does that fact that Jesus said this redefine the hundreds and hundreds of passages in the OT regarding the kingdom promised to the Jews? And if so how can Paul make the argument in Romans that the word of God does not fail (Romans 9:5)? Because if the Jews now get no kingdom then how can we trust that God is going to give us a kingdom or heaven...because quite frankly there is a whole lot more Scripture regarding the Jews and their kingdom/ inheritence in the OT than there are passages regarding the Church and her inheritence in the NT...unless of course you read the Church back into the OT passages which breaks almost every rule of exegesis not to mention makes God look like He was playing a cruel joke on the Jews for thousands of years. But this cannot be so, not that I don't think God can't do whatever He wants but because of the goodness of God that is always tied to His soveriegnty; for God is light and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John)...and there is not shifting shadow with out God (James). And though He has a hand in all that happens--good or ill--He is not malicious in those seemily unfair things that He does; in other words He is not like a murderer when He destroys someone (Eze 33:11).
Take another example for instance: I don't know how many times I have heard that the Song of Solomon should be understood allegorically of Christ and the Church...but if I do this even though there is no evidence from the text to do this then I could just as easily allegoricalize Jesus' death on the cross couldn't I. But let's just say for a minute that I do understand the Song of Songs as allegory...would I not be much more in tune with the OT and chronology to under Song of Songs, not as Christ and the Church but Yhwh and Israel?(Hos 2:16-19, Eze 16:32, Jer 3:20). Anyway the rubber has met the road because I must be consistent, lest I adapt to the ways of post modernity and the realitivism that is so characteristic of it. There is only one place in the Bible that states it is in allegory, and that is Gal 4?? maybe starts in 3. Inconsistency lends to instablity and we are not to be those who build their house on the sand but the rock.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Why "Jesus is Lord" is not the Gospel
I want to explain something about British evangelicals: Most conservative Bible-believing Church of England evangelicals are more or less "Reformed" in their theology. But sadly, I have my doubts as to how many of these men actually know the Gospel. If you ask the average British Christian who has gone through pastoral training nonetheless, what the Gospel is, they will say, "The Gospel is simply this: Jesus is Lord." I have a problem with this.
Okay, of course Jesus is Lord. And of course the Gospel says and proclaims from the mountain tops that Jesus is Lord. Of course if Jesus wasn't Lord the Gospel wouldn't be the Gospel. But the problem I have - the frustration that I have with British evangelicalism is when you define the Gospel as "Jesus is Lord" then that becomes to very motivation for everything you do.
What, then, is the implication of this? If your motivation for being a good Christian is "Jesus is Lord" then doesn't that mean the only reason you obey Jesus is because...well, he's Lord? And when you're telling others about Jesus you're doing it because he's Lord, and he commands you to. And you're telling the non-Christian to believe in Jesus not because Jesus lived the life they should have lived and died the death they should have died so that they could become children of God. We're telling non-Christians to believe in Jesus because Jesus is Lord and if you don't act accordingly (i.e. live a moral life) it's going to be a rough ride. If "Jesus is Lord" is you're very motivation for everything you do, you're motivation is not the free grace of Jesus, it is legalism.
What is the flip side of this? If "Jesus is Lord" is not an adequate definition of the Gospel, then how do we define it? Let's take a look at evangelism. Evangelism is a hard thing to do. It is often times uncomfortable and non-Christians usually don't like being "preached" to. Now, as we have seen, if our motivation for evangelism is "Jesus is Lord," then we're evangelising because he tells us so and we if we don't evangelise Jesus will be mad. In other words, we are trying to gain Jesus' approval by obey him. We are trying to save ourselves by being good Christians. BUT, if our motivation for evangelism is the Gospel it's going to look different. Let me explain: God is a missionary God. God longs for the nations to be saved. In Psalm 2 the Father says to the Son, "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession." The Father radically sends his only Son into the most hostile mission field ever to die for the sins of those who rejected him. The Jesus sends the Holy Spirit as a missionary to the hearts of Christians everywhere. Yhwh is a missionary God! We evangelise - not so much because he commands us to - but because it's in his very character. We evangelise not because we should or have to, but because Jesus lived the life we couldn't live, and died the death we deserve to die. And he did all of this despite the fact that we rejected him, and despite the fact that we will remained only marginally faithful at best. He did all of this so that we could become sons and daughters of God - righteous in the eyes of the Father - perfectly accepted; perfectly loved. You see if that is your motivation then you don't have to feel like you "have to" share the Gospel - it's not a burden anymore. You share the Gospel simply because it's the best news in the world. There's nothing more exciting than it. There's nothing that will fulfill and satisfy the life of the non-believe like the Gospel does. You see, Jesus took the ultimate persecute for sharing the Gospel so that now we can face our little persecutions.
Over the next few weeks, I hope to expound on the Gospel a bit more. What exactly is the Gospel? How do we communicate the Gospel in the 21st century? And what are the reaches of the Gospel? I know the purpose of this blog isn't exactly to set up "themes" as such to cover in a period of time, but I believe we should lay some ground work. The Gospel is that ground work - the very basis of the Christian's faith, the very basis of the Christian's life.
Okay, of course Jesus is Lord. And of course the Gospel says and proclaims from the mountain tops that Jesus is Lord. Of course if Jesus wasn't Lord the Gospel wouldn't be the Gospel. But the problem I have - the frustration that I have with British evangelicalism is when you define the Gospel as "Jesus is Lord" then that becomes to very motivation for everything you do.
What, then, is the implication of this? If your motivation for being a good Christian is "Jesus is Lord" then doesn't that mean the only reason you obey Jesus is because...well, he's Lord? And when you're telling others about Jesus you're doing it because he's Lord, and he commands you to. And you're telling the non-Christian to believe in Jesus not because Jesus lived the life they should have lived and died the death they should have died so that they could become children of God. We're telling non-Christians to believe in Jesus because Jesus is Lord and if you don't act accordingly (i.e. live a moral life) it's going to be a rough ride. If "Jesus is Lord" is you're very motivation for everything you do, you're motivation is not the free grace of Jesus, it is legalism.
What is the flip side of this? If "Jesus is Lord" is not an adequate definition of the Gospel, then how do we define it? Let's take a look at evangelism. Evangelism is a hard thing to do. It is often times uncomfortable and non-Christians usually don't like being "preached" to. Now, as we have seen, if our motivation for evangelism is "Jesus is Lord," then we're evangelising because he tells us so and we if we don't evangelise Jesus will be mad. In other words, we are trying to gain Jesus' approval by obey him. We are trying to save ourselves by being good Christians. BUT, if our motivation for evangelism is the Gospel it's going to look different. Let me explain: God is a missionary God. God longs for the nations to be saved. In Psalm 2 the Father says to the Son, "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession." The Father radically sends his only Son into the most hostile mission field ever to die for the sins of those who rejected him. The Jesus sends the Holy Spirit as a missionary to the hearts of Christians everywhere. Yhwh is a missionary God! We evangelise - not so much because he commands us to - but because it's in his very character. We evangelise not because we should or have to, but because Jesus lived the life we couldn't live, and died the death we deserve to die. And he did all of this despite the fact that we rejected him, and despite the fact that we will remained only marginally faithful at best. He did all of this so that we could become sons and daughters of God - righteous in the eyes of the Father - perfectly accepted; perfectly loved. You see if that is your motivation then you don't have to feel like you "have to" share the Gospel - it's not a burden anymore. You share the Gospel simply because it's the best news in the world. There's nothing more exciting than it. There's nothing that will fulfill and satisfy the life of the non-believe like the Gospel does. You see, Jesus took the ultimate persecute for sharing the Gospel so that now we can face our little persecutions.
Over the next few weeks, I hope to expound on the Gospel a bit more. What exactly is the Gospel? How do we communicate the Gospel in the 21st century? And what are the reaches of the Gospel? I know the purpose of this blog isn't exactly to set up "themes" as such to cover in a period of time, but I believe we should lay some ground work. The Gospel is that ground work - the very basis of the Christian's faith, the very basis of the Christian's life.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Samson
Sunday I'm preaching a sermon on Samson and as of now I am not anywhere close to being prepared. In fact, I've spent all day just trying to get started, which I haven't really succeeded as of now. But I thought it might be helpful for me to write some of my thoughts down as I work through them. So forgive me if this post is a bit scattered and poorly written - it may not make sense or it may just be obvious observations.
I plan on touching on the entire story of Samson's life, but specifically dealing
with the most famous section of Samson and Delilah. The first thing to strike me about Samson is just how unheroic he really was. Samson was tremendously violent and vengeful man. He was more or less a sexaholic (why do we tell this story to children?) who especially had a thing for Philistine women (i.e. "non-Christians). He was proud, he completely abandoned God and God's laws. He was shallow in his relationships, and he falsely believed himself to be indestructible. I guess I would put it this way: Samson was trying to be his own savior. This is very apparent in v. 20-22,
And, isn't it amazing how patient and gracious God is though all of this! Samson breaks every one of God's rules except the hair cutting one, and God stays with him - blessing him through his strength. Then, even when God allows Samson to be captured by the Philistines, he quickly forgives Samson in the end of the chapter. Even God's seeming abandonment of Samson was a gracious act, causing Samson to turn to God in repentance and thus saving his soul.
So the moral of the story is don't be like Samson. Find your strength in God. But even if you mess that up, God is quick to forgive. Wait. No. We can't end it like that. How do we do all that? How do we fight sin and temptation? How do we rely on the Lord instead of our own strengths? Ed Clowney writes,
I plan on touching on the entire story of Samson's life, but specifically dealing
with the most famous section of Samson and Delilah. The first thing to strike me about Samson is just how unheroic he really was. Samson was tremendously violent and vengeful man. He was more or less a sexaholic (why do we tell this story to children?) who especially had a thing for Philistine women (i.e. "non-Christians). He was proud, he completely abandoned God and God's laws. He was shallow in his relationships, and he falsely believed himself to be indestructible. I guess I would put it this way: Samson was trying to be his own savior. This is very apparent in v. 20-22,And [Delilah] said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison. But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.I mean, Samson had to have known his head had been shaved! Why did he tell Delilah his secret in the first place? Because he thought it wouldn't matter. Samson had already disobeyed all the other Nazarite vows. He had touched the dead carcase of a lion and a donkey's skull. Even though we're not specifically told, we can assume he drank alcohol when he got married to his pagan wife, seeing how marriage ceremonies in that culture would have been 9 parts partying and 1 part ceremony. You see, Samson didn't care if his head was shaved. He didn't think it would make any difference. He truly believed that he could take the Philistines without his hair and without God. And isn't this what sin is? Sin is being your own savior instead of looking to Jesus. It's relying in your own strength to be good and moral to save yourself. Or it's relying in your own strength of being popular and cool and accepted. It's attempting to find acceptance and comfort and happiness on our own, instead of though Christ.
And, isn't it amazing how patient and gracious God is though all of this! Samson breaks every one of God's rules except the hair cutting one, and God stays with him - blessing him through his strength. Then, even when God allows Samson to be captured by the Philistines, he quickly forgives Samson in the end of the chapter. Even God's seeming abandonment of Samson was a gracious act, causing Samson to turn to God in repentance and thus saving his soul.
So the moral of the story is don't be like Samson. Find your strength in God. But even if you mess that up, God is quick to forgive. Wait. No. We can't end it like that. How do we do all that? How do we fight sin and temptation? How do we rely on the Lord instead of our own strengths? Ed Clowney writes,
God had shown that He could deliver Israel with an army of willing volunteers; He had also shown that He could save with as few as three hundred...But when the Spirit of God came upon Samson, the Lord showed that He had no need for even three hundred. He could deliver by one. (The Unfolding Mystery, p.137)But Samson only delivered Israel from Palestinian rule. Israel's troubles were far from over, even after this victory. But there was a greater Samson to come who like Samson dies alone to save his people.
- Samson dies with the Philistines;
- Jesus dies with thieves.
- Samson’s greatest victory came when he was at his weakest - eyes gouged out, a prisoner with all of his strength gone, ridiculed, and surrounded by people who hated him.
- And like Samson, Jesus also won through losing - won by becoming despised and rejected.
- Samson triumphed over his enemies through his death.
- Jesus defeated sin and the devil through physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual death.
- Samson was crushed by the temple because of his iniquities.
- Jesus was crushed by God for our iniquities.
- Samson calls out to God to remember him in his time of need and God answers to show that he is with him again.
- Jesus calls out on the cross and the Father ignores him, so that we might, like the thief on the cross next to him, be remembered.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Receiving
1 Chronicles 29:14, Acts
"But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.
What is so amazing about this human act that David choose to say this at the end of his days (Chr 29:28)? It seems that God receiving from humans what he (God) formerly gave is the root of the beauty. Why should this be so beautiful that David included this words in a relatively short praise statement? Is there a clue from the context? Consider what some of the following verses state: "1Chronicles 29:17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you.
1Ch 29:18 O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you.
1Ch 29:19 Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision."
David loved that the Lord took pleasure in the uprightness of his heart and the heart of the other righteous. Nevertheless the context surrounding David's statement will not allow for humans to be given the ultimate credit for their actions. As seen from the verses above David did not view his own uprightness in a vacuum. His trust was firmly founded in the creative God, "[who commanded], let light shine out of darkness (2 Cor 4:6). Or as Augustine said it, "command what you will, and grant what you command." We find this to be true even in the case of light in the Genesis accound. This is easily seen because Paul uses the analogy of light in how a person becomes one of God's children in 2 Cor 4:6. Light was not waiting out there somewhere to respond, rather what God commanded He also created. David says, "direct our hearts towards you [God]...", and "grant...my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments...". God's granting happens prior to Solomon's keeping (the commandments, etc).
Now back to the beauty of David's statement, it seems that the beauty involves the volition of the human will and its freedom to serve God. Not only is it amazing and beautiful that we can be free from sin but it is further amazing that the depth to which God works in us--sometimes ever so meek (Matt 11:30) and sometimes ever so dominating (Jer 20:8-20). For it is not that we hate to follow Him when He induces (to steal the verb from Jer 20) us, but that He circumcises our very heart (Deut 30:6) so that delight is caught up in the very volition of our will to serve Him.
Scalise
"But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.
What is so amazing about this human act that David choose to say this at the end of his days (Chr 29:28)? It seems that God receiving from humans what he (God) formerly gave is the root of the beauty. Why should this be so beautiful that David included this words in a relatively short praise statement? Is there a clue from the context? Consider what some of the following verses state: "1Chronicles 29:17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you.
1Ch 29:18 O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you.
1Ch 29:19 Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision."
David loved that the Lord took pleasure in the uprightness of his heart and the heart of the other righteous. Nevertheless the context surrounding David's statement will not allow for humans to be given the ultimate credit for their actions. As seen from the verses above David did not view his own uprightness in a vacuum. His trust was firmly founded in the creative God, "[who commanded], let light shine out of darkness (2 Cor 4:6). Or as Augustine said it, "command what you will, and grant what you command." We find this to be true even in the case of light in the Genesis accound. This is easily seen because Paul uses the analogy of light in how a person becomes one of God's children in 2 Cor 4:6. Light was not waiting out there somewhere to respond, rather what God commanded He also created. David says, "direct our hearts towards you [God]...", and "grant...my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments...". God's granting happens prior to Solomon's keeping (the commandments, etc).
Now back to the beauty of David's statement, it seems that the beauty involves the volition of the human will and its freedom to serve God. Not only is it amazing and beautiful that we can be free from sin but it is further amazing that the depth to which God works in us--sometimes ever so meek (Matt 11:30) and sometimes ever so dominating (Jer 20:8-20). For it is not that we hate to follow Him when He induces (to steal the verb from Jer 20) us, but that He circumcises our very heart (Deut 30:6) so that delight is caught up in the very volition of our will to serve Him.
Scalise
Suffering Embraced...
This has been a strange week. Last Saturday, Patty and I discovered that we were going to receive a car from her grandparents for free. I literally wept once we found out. We have been in prayer about our car situation for some time, and God literally dropped one in our lap. I wept because we are so very undeserving of such a gesture, but God is gracious enough to overlook what we deserve in so many aspects of our lives.
The following day at church, we discovered that the preacher's wife has a brain tumor. The pastor preached a difficult sermon about facing trials. I have some idea of what the family is going through as there is terminal illness in my family as well, but I can't begin to imagine how difficult it must be when it is your wife, or mother.
On Monday, I talked to a good friend of mine on the phone who I have not spoken with in almost two months. I am horrible about returning phone calls, and my good friends and family are made to suffer because of my irresponsibility with those relationships. My friends message was sobering as he explained to me the reason for the call. He had been trying to reach me for about a month and a half to ask if I would pray for his fiance. She found out she has skin cancer, and has been receiving treatments for the last month and a half. I had failed my friend, and his wife to be, as a Christian brother.
It doesn't seem fair that God would visit such a blessing on someone so undeserving as me, and such horrible illness on these two very sweet women. A secular philosophy professor once told me that suffering detracted from a meaningful life. He also acknowledged that Christianity was very unique in the way that it viewed suffering.
The following day at church, we discovered that the preacher's wife has a brain tumor. The pastor preached a difficult sermon about facing trials. I have some idea of what the family is going through as there is terminal illness in my family as well, but I can't begin to imagine how difficult it must be when it is your wife, or mother.
On Monday, I talked to a good friend of mine on the phone who I have not spoken with in almost two months. I am horrible about returning phone calls, and my good friends and family are made to suffer because of my irresponsibility with those relationships. My friends message was sobering as he explained to me the reason for the call. He had been trying to reach me for about a month and a half to ask if I would pray for his fiance. She found out she has skin cancer, and has been receiving treatments for the last month and a half. I had failed my friend, and his wife to be, as a Christian brother.
It doesn't seem fair that God would visit such a blessing on someone so undeserving as me, and such horrible illness on these two very sweet women. A secular philosophy professor once told me that suffering detracted from a meaningful life. He also acknowledged that Christianity was very unique in the way that it viewed suffering.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations... (James 1:2)
You see, whereas most religions on earth are trying to avoid suffering at all costs, Christianity calls it's followers to embrace it.
WHY?
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (James 1:3,4)
Faith and religion tend to go hand in hand, and we sometimes use the word faith as a synonym for an individuals particular religion. In Christianity, faith is the instrument by which we are brought to the saving Grace that comes from Jesus Christ (Eph 2:8,9). But as Tyler mentioned in his previous post, while salvation from Hell may be a one time event, the act of salvation goes on in our lives in the form of sanctification. Sometimes this sanctification comes in the way of suffering.
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:7-9)
Faith continually draws us closer to Christ and away from the comforts of the world as Troy pointed out. In order for us to have that kind of reckless faith, God has to put us into situations where our comforts are stripped away. When we have only that which we cannot see to rely on (Hebrews 11:1), then we have true faith; the kind that moves mountains.
You may think it unfair that I received such a blessing from God, and those two women received such suffering, but God knows what He is doing with His children (Romans 8:28). When the suffering is through, their faith shall be multiplied, and they will have received the greater blessing.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Outside the Camp
Have you noticed how many obstacles God must overcome to accomplish his purposes in the first few books of the Bible? Abraham is an old man and Sarah is barren. Jacob is a cheat and a liar. Joseph's brothers hate him and want him dead. A little later the nation of Israel is miles from the promised land and enslaved to a foreign power. Yet God, time and again, demonstrates his sovereignty by ordering events in such a way that his purposes are accomplished. Abraham and Sarah give birth to Isaac. Jacob finds out first hand what being cheated feels like and has a wrestling match that changes his life. Joseph, through adversity, ends up saving the family from starvation. And Israel is miraculously delivered from Egyptian slavery.
When we come to Exodus 25, however, we face a far greater challenge. In Ex 19:21-22 God instructs Moses saying, "Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the LORD and many of them perish. Even the priests, who approach the LORD, must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them." The Lord's point is clear. He is holy and if we entered the presence of that holiness we would be consumed. This doesn't pose a problem until the Holy decides to take up residence among you! In chapter 25 of Exodus God reveals to Israel his intentions to "dwell among them." Now this is a problem. Gary Schnittjer articulates their dilemma well. "How could [Israel] avoid the fate of Pharaoh when they shared his foremost characteristic?" (Torah Story, 260)
In this context, God orders the tabernacle to be constructed which will separate him from the people. He also organizes the nation into what is called the camp, thus separating Israel from the rest of the world. In other words... he draws lines in the sand.
Now, look at Numbers 5:3. "The LORD said to Moses, Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone who has an infectious skin disease or a discharge of any kind, or who is ceremonially unclean because of a dead body. Send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so that they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them." The remains of a bull that was sacrificed were taken outside the camp as well, to be disposed of. When Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, were killed in the sanctuary by fire, Moses instructed two of Aaron's nephews to carry the bodies outside the camp. The picture painted of the world outside the camp, then, is one of disease, death, and refuse. As a Jew, outside the camp is the last place in the world you want to be.
Recently in chapel a guest speaker spoke about this idea of being "outside the camp" and I simply have not been able to shake it. His main text that morning was Hebrews 13:11-14. Bearing in mind what we have already established about the biblical description of "outside the camp" lets read the passage.
"For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. " Heb 13:11-14
This passage displays so powerfully what the redemptive work of Christ accomplished on our behalf. In Exodus 19 God's command is 'Come no further or I will break out against you.' This is followed by a plethora of regulations meant to protect the Jews from the wrath of God. Suddenly, in Hebrews we see the incarnate God walking, not among the tribes in the midst of the camp, which would have been miraculous enough. Rather, we find him outside the camp. He is with the lepers, the prostitutes, and the other socailly unwanted.
Christ's work outside the camp is a devotion by itself. However, I do not want to stop there. My focus is verses 13-14. "Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come." The author of Hebrews was writing to encourage Jewish believers who were being tempted to forsake Christ and return to a sacerdotal form of worship. His heart cry to them is that they would turn their back on anything that was less than Christ. Gentlemen, is this not our calling? I do not speak of the office of pastor. Rather, I am speaking of the call placed on every single believer. God has asked us to reject this world and its promises, and to willingly take upon ourselves the reproach of joining Christ outside. This means rejecting the worlds view of success. We are not called to have a well balanced portfolio. We are not called to attain positions or status. We are called to RECKLESSLY abandon everything in the camp, take upon ourselves the shame and disgrace of being outside, and join Christ is doing the will of the Father.
That image hit me with such force that I have simply been unable to shake it. In my average day how often am I among those outside the camp? How willing am I to reject the approval and applause of man (O how attractive that is to me at times) and follow Christ into the dark places where I will be mocked, ridiculed, and abused? How willing am I to lead my family there? How willing am I to pour out my life there for God's glory?
The author of Hebrews follows this challenge by providing our motivation. "For here we have no lasting city..." Oh that I could find a way to let that seep into my soul!!! This is not it. We have not arrived. I get so frustrated sometimes with the things of this world. Alyssa and I have not been able to repair the walls in our living room so I sit here typing this in a room closely resembling a WWII bomb shelter. Our carpet is "sea foam green", my car's windshield wipers only work when it is not raining, and I have yet to acquire my Ducati dream. Yet I must daily reprimand this flesh of mine for its insatiable appetite. There is no city here for me. This is not my home, "but we seek the city that is to come." Father God, enable me to set my affections on the home that you have prepared for me. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
When we come to Exodus 25, however, we face a far greater challenge. In Ex 19:21-22 God instructs Moses saying, "Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the LORD and many of them perish. Even the priests, who approach the LORD, must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them." The Lord's point is clear. He is holy and if we entered the presence of that holiness we would be consumed. This doesn't pose a problem until the Holy decides to take up residence among you! In chapter 25 of Exodus God reveals to Israel his intentions to "dwell among them." Now this is a problem. Gary Schnittjer articulates their dilemma well. "How could [Israel] avoid the fate of Pharaoh when they shared his foremost characteristic?" (Torah Story, 260)
In this context, God orders the tabernacle to be constructed which will separate him from the people. He also organizes the nation into what is called the camp, thus separating Israel from the rest of the world. In other words... he draws lines in the sand.
Now, look at Numbers 5:3. "The LORD said to Moses, Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone who has an infectious skin disease or a discharge of any kind, or who is ceremonially unclean because of a dead body. Send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so that they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them." The remains of a bull that was sacrificed were taken outside the camp as well, to be disposed of. When Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, were killed in the sanctuary by fire, Moses instructed two of Aaron's nephews to carry the bodies outside the camp. The picture painted of the world outside the camp, then, is one of disease, death, and refuse. As a Jew, outside the camp is the last place in the world you want to be.
Recently in chapel a guest speaker spoke about this idea of being "outside the camp" and I simply have not been able to shake it. His main text that morning was Hebrews 13:11-14. Bearing in mind what we have already established about the biblical description of "outside the camp" lets read the passage.
"For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. " Heb 13:11-14
This passage displays so powerfully what the redemptive work of Christ accomplished on our behalf. In Exodus 19 God's command is 'Come no further or I will break out against you.' This is followed by a plethora of regulations meant to protect the Jews from the wrath of God. Suddenly, in Hebrews we see the incarnate God walking, not among the tribes in the midst of the camp, which would have been miraculous enough. Rather, we find him outside the camp. He is with the lepers, the prostitutes, and the other socailly unwanted.
Christ's work outside the camp is a devotion by itself. However, I do not want to stop there. My focus is verses 13-14. "Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come." The author of Hebrews was writing to encourage Jewish believers who were being tempted to forsake Christ and return to a sacerdotal form of worship. His heart cry to them is that they would turn their back on anything that was less than Christ. Gentlemen, is this not our calling? I do not speak of the office of pastor. Rather, I am speaking of the call placed on every single believer. God has asked us to reject this world and its promises, and to willingly take upon ourselves the reproach of joining Christ outside. This means rejecting the worlds view of success. We are not called to have a well balanced portfolio. We are not called to attain positions or status. We are called to RECKLESSLY abandon everything in the camp, take upon ourselves the shame and disgrace of being outside, and join Christ is doing the will of the Father.
That image hit me with such force that I have simply been unable to shake it. In my average day how often am I among those outside the camp? How willing am I to reject the approval and applause of man (O how attractive that is to me at times) and follow Christ into the dark places where I will be mocked, ridiculed, and abused? How willing am I to lead my family there? How willing am I to pour out my life there for God's glory?
The author of Hebrews follows this challenge by providing our motivation. "For here we have no lasting city..." Oh that I could find a way to let that seep into my soul!!! This is not it. We have not arrived. I get so frustrated sometimes with the things of this world. Alyssa and I have not been able to repair the walls in our living room so I sit here typing this in a room closely resembling a WWII bomb shelter. Our carpet is "sea foam green", my car's windshield wipers only work when it is not raining, and I have yet to acquire my Ducati dream. Yet I must daily reprimand this flesh of mine for its insatiable appetite. There is no city here for me. This is not my home, "but we seek the city that is to come." Father God, enable me to set my affections on the home that you have prepared for me. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Our Motivation: He rejoices over us with gladness
I, too, want to bounce off the previous posts since we are all writing roughly on the same subject this week. Let me refresh your mind on what the others spoke about:
Troy spoke of the Christian's duty to be transparent within the body of Christ, for the purpose of Christians interceding for one another in prayer. After all, how can we really pray for our friends if we only know about their physical or economic problems? Or better yet, how can our friends - our brothers in Christ - pray for us if they don't know the deep spiritual struggles we wrestle with personally.
Josh continued this theme of "iron sharpening iron" by pointing out that Christian fellowship is rooted in honoring and loving God. If we love God, we will love one another. Josh points out that this isn't some kind of sissy homo-erotic kind of love between two men. It is a serious love - a deep love that confronts and corrects. It is a love that does not fear rejections, but that is concerned about the other's soul - an unselfish love.
Then Scalise nicely ties these two together, saying while it is true that we can never rightly love one another until we love God, we can never love God without the help, encouragement, and accountability of loving friends.
My question is how do we do it? I am Christian man who is currently in seminary, and there are sins and struggles that I have that I, quite frankly, don't want anyone else to know about. How do I over come those fears? How do I get to the point that I want my Christian friends to share my burdens? And in the same way I ask, how do I get to the point that I am willing to confront my friends over their sins? To be perfectly honest, I would much rather not risk my friends being upset with. I would much rather let them deal with their sin and me deal with mine. How, then, do I come to the place that not only am I willing to open up to others, but I am willing to confront others even in fear their disapproval? In other words, how do I love God wholeheartedly? How do I love Him so much that I have no fears of opening up and or being rejected?
We can't. Not without Jesus. You see, I will never have the desire to become transparent - to take off all the different masks I wear which hide the real me - to strip down to the bare naked Drew whose sins are hanging out unless I know that Jesus literally became naked - stripped down bare and hung on a cross for all the world to see - for my sins, so that I could be clothed in the righteousness of God. He became the one who was covered in blood and was naked, and no one pitied. He was the one who was cast into an open field and adored (see Ez. 16:1-5). And He did this for me and for you. He did this so that we could be beautiful in His eyes. He describes it like this,
"I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord God, and you became mine. Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. And I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck. And I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour and honey and oil. You grew exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord God" (Ez. 16:8b-14).
When we know that God looks at us and sees absolute beauty, then, and only then, are we going to have the courage to be transparent. In Zephaniah it says that God, "will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing" (3:17). Do you believe that? Can you even fathom that when God looks at you he so much likes what he sees (because of Christ) that he dances, and he sings with gladness!? To the extent that we see this, and understand this, and believe this, is the extent that we will be willing to become transparent and share our burdens with our fellow Christians.
And in the same way, I am not going to have the courage to confront my brothers and sisters in Christ unless I know that no matter how mad they may get at me, Jesus looks over me and rejoices at what he sees! To have the courage to confront a friend in his sin is the greatest act of humility. It is not me thinking about myself - worried about what my friend will say, or the sins he will find in me - it is be thinking entirely of him and being interested in his life and being concerned about his spiritual wellbeing. The only way we can possess such humility is if we first have our hearts changed by Jesus' ultimate humility: a humility that left the glory of heaven; a humility that lived the life we should have lived and died the death we deserved to die; a humility that left him naked and cursed; a humility that took on our sins and went through the torments of hell; a humility that now shares the glory of the only begotten Son with unworthy servants - with us. May we look to Christ, for it is only when we believe his Gospel with all our being that we can become true friends to one another, true iron that sharpens, does not dull.
Troy spoke of the Christian's duty to be transparent within the body of Christ, for the purpose of Christians interceding for one another in prayer. After all, how can we really pray for our friends if we only know about their physical or economic problems? Or better yet, how can our friends - our brothers in Christ - pray for us if they don't know the deep spiritual struggles we wrestle with personally.
Josh continued this theme of "iron sharpening iron" by pointing out that Christian fellowship is rooted in honoring and loving God. If we love God, we will love one another. Josh points out that this isn't some kind of sissy homo-erotic kind of love between two men. It is a serious love - a deep love that confronts and corrects. It is a love that does not fear rejections, but that is concerned about the other's soul - an unselfish love.
Then Scalise nicely ties these two together, saying while it is true that we can never rightly love one another until we love God, we can never love God without the help, encouragement, and accountability of loving friends.
My question is how do we do it? I am Christian man who is currently in seminary, and there are sins and struggles that I have that I, quite frankly, don't want anyone else to know about. How do I over come those fears? How do I get to the point that I want my Christian friends to share my burdens? And in the same way I ask, how do I get to the point that I am willing to confront my friends over their sins? To be perfectly honest, I would much rather not risk my friends being upset with. I would much rather let them deal with their sin and me deal with mine. How, then, do I come to the place that not only am I willing to open up to others, but I am willing to confront others even in fear their disapproval? In other words, how do I love God wholeheartedly? How do I love Him so much that I have no fears of opening up and or being rejected?
We can't. Not without Jesus. You see, I will never have the desire to become transparent - to take off all the different masks I wear which hide the real me - to strip down to the bare naked Drew whose sins are hanging out unless I know that Jesus literally became naked - stripped down bare and hung on a cross for all the world to see - for my sins, so that I could be clothed in the righteousness of God. He became the one who was covered in blood and was naked, and no one pitied. He was the one who was cast into an open field and adored (see Ez. 16:1-5). And He did this for me and for you. He did this so that we could be beautiful in His eyes. He describes it like this,
"I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord God, and you became mine. Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. And I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck. And I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour and honey and oil. You grew exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord God" (Ez. 16:8b-14).
When we know that God looks at us and sees absolute beauty, then, and only then, are we going to have the courage to be transparent. In Zephaniah it says that God, "will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing" (3:17). Do you believe that? Can you even fathom that when God looks at you he so much likes what he sees (because of Christ) that he dances, and he sings with gladness!? To the extent that we see this, and understand this, and believe this, is the extent that we will be willing to become transparent and share our burdens with our fellow Christians.
And in the same way, I am not going to have the courage to confront my brothers and sisters in Christ unless I know that no matter how mad they may get at me, Jesus looks over me and rejoices at what he sees! To have the courage to confront a friend in his sin is the greatest act of humility. It is not me thinking about myself - worried about what my friend will say, or the sins he will find in me - it is be thinking entirely of him and being interested in his life and being concerned about his spiritual wellbeing. The only way we can possess such humility is if we first have our hearts changed by Jesus' ultimate humility: a humility that left the glory of heaven; a humility that lived the life we should have lived and died the death we deserved to die; a humility that left him naked and cursed; a humility that took on our sins and went through the torments of hell; a humility that now shares the glory of the only begotten Son with unworthy servants - with us. May we look to Christ, for it is only when we believe his Gospel with all our being that we can become true friends to one another, true iron that sharpens, does not dull.
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