We Do the Right Thing Because It's Right

And then morning came... (Genesis 1:1-25)

2011-10-10T20:02:00.000-07:00

I had a very hard time trying to decide how to resume this blog. Finally, I fell back on the old adage: the best place to begin is at the beginning. Genesis has long been one of my favorite books of the Bible. When I was a kid, it was because of some of the cool stories (talking snakes, a boat full of animals, come on!) As I went through seminary, it became more important to me because it realized how so many of the grand theological themes of the Bible are laid out in Genesis. I think it's fair to say Genesis serves as a foundational text for Christians. This is not to say that it is more important than the Gospels. Rather, the Gospel story of the Christ is the crowning achievement of what Genesis inaugurates. Genesis cannot supplant the Gospel, but it can certainly support and enrich it.All that being said, when I re-read through the first twenty-five verses, what struck me was blatantly un-exigetical. This post is a devotional thought. Nothing more, nothing less. If one were so inclined, it probably wouldn't be too difficult to find fault with the reasoning. Nonetheless, it seems to ring true to larger narrative of Scripture and of our lives. We'll see what you think.It occurs to me that each time God created something, he saw that it was "good." The text tells us as much (1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25) What it doesn't tell us, however, was what I can only assume was implied..."this was good...but God had something better coming." It occurs to me that this is a lesson that's been lost on me many times in life. I reach a point of comfort--be it in a relationship, a job, a city I'm living in, or what have you--and things seem "good." I am quite upset, then, when something happens to disrupt this goodness. When the friendship sours, or the job ends other than I would have wished, or I have to move away. It is at these times that I experience another truth of Genesis. You will notice that after each one of these creative acts proclaimed "good," there was an evening. Perhaps this detail doesn't have much impact on we who live in the age of "cities that never sleep" of electric light...of 24 hour Wal-Mart service...but I wonder what the night time must have represented to the first hearers of the Genesis story. Wasn't night the time of danger? The time when thieves broke in to steal? The time when the wild beasts came nearest to menace family and flock? Yet just as the text tells us that the evening came, it was just as surely followed by another morning. And not only that--it was followed by another morning, with another good thing. This, the story that morning will always come for the Children of God, seems to me to be a fundamental message of Scripture. It's not a simple one to be sure. This is not of the same ilk as modern day "prophets" who would tell us that suffering is in our head, or that the cancer failed to go away for lack of our faith, or some other such rot gut. The God of Genesis does not deny the reality of the evening. He simply refuses to be bound by it. He will not allow it have the final word. Of course, this is the same theological story as we meet on another evening many years later...in a garden called Gethsemane. The evening fell...and with it, the "good" that had seemed so promising was lost. Not only for one day...but for three. Yet in the end, God demonstrated in His most spectacular fashion ever that even if morning tarries, in the end it will always come for those who fear God.

Luke 4-5 and the Wilderness

2011-02-21T18:40:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, Stephanie and I had the chance to visit the church where we met 10 years ago--the Woodmont Hills Family of God. While there, I had the chance to visit with an old friend, Terry Smith, who asked about how I was dealing with some lingering issues from my ministerial past. I told him I was not "over it," but I was "better." I also mentioned that being at work, in graduate school, and with a family...I didn't find myself with a tremendous amount of time for introspection. He admonition to me was, "You need to make the time; Because it is in the quiet moments away from the distractions that God meets us."

This encounter had been percolating in my mind when I came to prepare a lesson on Luke chapters 4-5. Perhaps I only saw what I needed to see, but for the first time the recurring theme of "the wilderness" stood out to me. A number of questions present themselves, like "What makes for a wilderness?" In the context of Luke 4, Jesus' temptation takes place in a place of physical isolation and probably some level of danger. Furthermore, the wilderness is not only external but internal as well. Jesus has fasted forty days and is "very hungry." In other words, he is in a weakened physical state. Perhaps most shockingly, we find that the decision to subject Himself to such treatment was not merely a personal fancy, but that in fact Jesus has been "led by the Spirit into the wilderness."(4:1)

After triumphing over his temptation, Luke tells us that Jesus emerges from this time of trial "filled with the Holy Spirit's power" (4:14) and immediately sets about His public ministry. It strikes me as significant that Jesus DID NOT enter upon his Messianic mission immediately following His baptism and the confirming sign of the Holy Spirit's descent.(3:22) It seems as if there is some necessary connection between the experience of suffering and deprivation, and Jesus' ability to emerge with the power (personal, moral, ethical, et al.) to fulfill His God-given mission.

Theology Matters 3

2011-01-25T03:15:00.000-08:00

Theology Matters 2

2011-01-21T03:34:00.000-08:00

Reflection Questions

1. The video talks about some of the differences between the view of the world espoused by classical Newtonian physics (e.g., mechanistic, perfect, timeless, unchanging, etc.) and the worldview necessitated by thermodynamics (e.g., changing, decaying, dying, etc.) How do you think these different understandings of physics have affected the the incidence of faith or belief? Does one view seem to "fit" better with the idea of God (or with the idea of no god) than the other?

A new generation of mathematicians and philosophers were convinced if only they could solve the problems and paradoxes that had defeated Cantor, maths could be made perfect again. The most prominent among them, Hilbert, declared: "the definitive clarification of the nature of the infinite has become necessary for the honor of human understanding itself." They were so concerned to find some kind of certainty. They had come to believe that the only kind of understanding that was really worth anything was the logical and the provable.

2. What do you think of Hilbert's declaration?

3. What's so bad about believing that the only kind of understanding worth anything is the logical and the provable?

Cantor had dislodged the pebble which would, one day, start a landslide. For him, it had all been held together the—paradoxes resolved—in God. But what holds our ideas together when God is dead? Without God, the pebble is dislodged and the avalanche is unleashed; And World War I had killed God.

4. Is it necessary for our ideas to hold together?

5. The claim that "World War I...killed God" is certainly not new. I'd like to know what you think of that claim. What do you think it means? Is it valid or not?

Theology Matters 1

2011-01-09T17:23:00.000-08:00

What you’re about to read is a pilot program. It’s an attempt to address a fundamental danger facing the Church in America. Below is an excerpt from the proposal letter I sent to our elders—in case you’d like to understand a little better why we’re doing these lessons. The first three clips of the documentary Dangerous Knowledge follow. Later this week, I will post some thought questions to guide your reflection before next Sunday. As always, if you have any suggestions for improving the class, please don’t hesitate to share.

One of the greatest needs in churches today is for Christians to receive thorough grounding in a Christian worldview. This is a bit of a new challenge for American churches. For most of our history, we have existed in a society that tacitly (if not overtly) accepted and reinforced basic presuppositions about the world and life that can properly be considered “Christian” (e.g., that the Bible is an authoritative text and ought to be treated so; that there is, in fact, such a being as “God” etc.) Such cultural presuppositions enabled earlier generations to focus sermons, Bible classes, and personal work largely (if not exclusively) on things like the proper mode of baptism, organization of the church, etc. However, such questions are ONLY relevant if the person one is speaking to has already accepted a “Christian worldview”.

It seems that the shared worldview of earlier generations is, if not gone already, eroding very quickly. No longer is it enough to answer the question “What does the Bible say?” for there are many people who simply do not accept that the Bible is a unique book. It is not enough to ask someone what they think God would have them do, for there is no common consent that such a being even exists.

This is an issue that I am deeply concerned about. It is not the sort of challenge that can be effectively dealt with in one or two sessions...nor even in a sermon series. The reason for this is because worldviews are constructed over a long period of time and are the result of a great variety of factors/inputs. Very often, the groundwork for the dissolution of faith is laid without people being aware of its presence. Consequently, I propose that the church would benefit from an ongoing class dealing with larger issues than the exegesis of a particular text. I envision this as a class that would cut across and integrate a variety of disciplines (e.g., theology, physics, logic, biology, history, hermeneutics, etc.)

Reflection Questions

If all that Cantor had seen was mathematics, then his story would be of limited interest; But from the beginning, Cantor realized his work had far wider significance…Cantor’s god was the Creator God…the god who set the planets spinning in their orbits. Whose mysteries were the eternal and perfect laws of motion.

Had Cantor been teaching in a theology department, his work would have been classified as “natural theology.”

1. What does this term mean? What do you think is the proper relationship (if any) between natural theology and special revelation?
2. Are there limitations to “Cantor’s god”?

What was inspiring for Cantor, frightened his critics. They saw mathematics as the pursuit of clarity and certainty. Everything Cantor was doing…seemed to them to be eating away at certainty. He soon faced a deep and implacable hostility.

3. What does Cantor teach us about the consequences of pursuing truth? Is it “worth it” to investigate?
4. What is “faith” and is it essential for human life? Why or why not?

Job: When Life Doesn't Make Sense--God

2010-11-28T11:17:00.000-08:00

As with many books of Scripture, the most fascinating and important character is not the one the book is named after (in this case, Job) but rather the mysterious and hidden God who works through the other characters. As previously mentioned, the driving question of this book is posed by the Satan in 1:9-11. Much of Job’s story is about testing this hypothesis that people will only serve God for selfish reasons. However, there is another test being conducted…Job’s test of God.

Throughout this book, we’re forced to wrestle with theodicy (this is just a word that means, “If God is (1) all powerful; and (2) all loving; then why is there so much unjust suffering in the world?) Job wishes to put God to the test and demands answer for why this has come upon him. The counselors—fearful of having God put to the test—turn the situation back on Job and examine him. They pronounce Job to be responsible for all of his own sufferings and God to be blameless. Often, when people question why God allows terrible things to happen, we fall back into responses like those of the counselors (e.g., God didn’t really do it…He didn’t want it to happen…etc.) While those things may be true, they don’t evade the central problem that if God is, in fact, all powerful (and we believe He is) then He could stop evil. He could at least, stop little children from being molested (for example).

There is no easy way to solve the problem of theodicy. That’s another of the main points of Job. In fact, we cannot solve the problem at all. As Job learns, all we can do is have faith in God that despite the seeming victory of evil, in the end His will is being worked for all Creation…and that it is a gracious will. We can have no guarantee. We can have no binding legal contract with God for, as Job says, “Who can bring the Almighty to court?” In the end, the only assurance we can have that God will be there for us is His own word that He will be so. That’s just going to have to be good enough…because that’s all there is.

You will note, that Job never receives answer to the question, “Why did this happen to me.” What he receives, instead, is a visit and a vindication from God. The thing that Job needed most was not an answer…but his God. At times in life, we come to the place where words and explanations and rationality are useless. They have done all they can. At those times, there is nothing left to lean on except faith and one’s experience of fellowship with God.

The end of the dialogue [in chapter 28] teaches that people cannot find wisdom, whose dwelling place is known only to God, [except] in the fear of God; thus, this hymn judges the counsel of the comforters as lacking in wisdom…In the epilogue God will confirm this…by saying that the three friends have not spoken about Him rightly. (42:7-9)

Job also knows that in court he must have a witness to testify on his behalf, a witness more credible than the condemning testimony of his body. At this point, Job’s faith in God rises above his experience of suffering leading him to declare that God is his Witness (16:19), even his Redeemer (19:25-7), Whose testimony will vindicate him. Still, his pain terrorizes him and his dread is compounded by God’s silence. Finally, his confidence in his own innocence and God’s justice drives him to take a desperate course that will force God to act: He swears an avowal of innocence (chs. 29-31). Now God must answer him; for God to remain silent would be to concede Job’s claim to innocence.

Addressing Job, God affirms that He has structured the world exactly according to His blueprints (38:4-8). With this metaphor He claims that He has built justice into the structure of the universe. Moreover, God asserts that no corner of the world is outside His authority (38:16-24), thereby refuting any theory that injustice and suffering exist because God is in a struggle with a strong foe…God brings Job to realize that no human being has a proper perspective to judge the course of matters in the universe, let alone to accuse God of acting unjustly. The foundation of God’s argument in His speeches is that power and wisdom (justice) are one in the Supreme Ruler of the universe.

Awed by God’s majesty and overwhelmed that God in grace reasons with him, Job surrenders his complaint against God, realizing that a person must surrender even his rights to God because God is Lord. In yielding himself to God Job reveals beyond any doubt that he serves God out of love, not for material gain or prestige…In praise of God Job confesses, “I had heard You with my ears, but now my eyes have seen You.” (42:5). Clearly the author finds the profoundest personal answer to undeserved suffering to reside in the divine-human encounter. That God both appears to Job and speaks with him means that Job’s encounter is more than a mystical experience with a numinous force; it is a meeting with the personal God. God’s presence authenticates Job, drawing him out of his self-love to focus his affection on God. Job gladly abandons the complaints against God, conscious of the fact that he can trust God in His grace to accomplish that which is worthwhile from his undeserved suffering.
--[John E. Hartley, The Book of Job (NICOT series), (Eerdmans, 1998), 44-5, 49-50]

Job: When Life Doesn't Make Sense--the counselors

2010-11-21T16:58:00.000-08:00

In our first lesson we looked at the person of Job. The second lesson focused on the role of the satan in this story. Today, we’ll consider the group of characters who are sometimes called Job’s “friends,” “comforters,” or “counselors.”

What kind of guys are they?
How do they try to help/guide Job?

You…have given no help. You have seen my calamity, and you are afraid. – Job 6:21

Why would Job tell his “counselors” that they were afraid? What were they afraid of?

If only you could be silent! That’s the wisest thing you could do. Listen to my charge; pay attention to my arguments. Are you defending God with lies? Do you make your dishonest arguments for His sake? Will you slant your testimony in His favor? Will you argue God’s case for Him? What will happen when He finds out what you are doing? -- Job 13:5-9

Job says that the counselors are defending God “with lies”? What were those lies?

What are some ways that people today try to defend God with lies and dishonest arguments? How do they rationalize their behavior?

Since they place their system of belief above their compassion for their troubled friend, their exhortations to repentance become a temptation by encouraging Job to seek God for reward, not for God Himself.

Because of their rigid understanding of [the doctrine that the righteous are always blessed and the wicked are always punished, the “counselors”] can only explain Job’s suffering as the result of some sin that he has committed. Then the only solution they can offer to him is the way of repentance. Because they encourage Job to repent primarily to escape his suffering and to receive God’s blessing, they unsuspectingly tempt him to use God for personal gain, the essence of sin. Therefore, if Job followed their counsel, he would confirm the Satan’s proposition that human beings are totally self-serving in their worship of God. [John Hartley, The Book of Job, NICOT series, (Eerdmans, 1988), 44, 48-9]

Job: When Life Doesn't Make Sense--the satan

2010-11-14T10:27:00.000-08:00

Review
What is the main point of Job?
What did we learn about the man, Job last week?

Where does the Satan first appear in the story of Job?
Does his presence in the heavenly assembly seem odd to you?

Every time Satan is mentioned in the book of Job, he is referred to literally in Hebrew as “the satan.” In other words, the term appears in Job more as a title than a personal name.

What significance (if any) do you think there might be in the author of Job calling this character “the satan.”

The word “satan” is employed in two ways in the OT.
1. On the one hand, it describes the activity of a political foe bent on overthrowing the king (2 Sam. 19:22; 1 Kings 11:14, 23, 25)
2. On the other hand, it refers to one who, like a prosecuting attorney, brings charges against another in court (Ps. 109:6, Zech. 3:1-2). Many scholars have taken this lead and posited that this figure was patterned after the court life of a large empire…[Some see this as imagery drawn from the Persian emperor’s use of] secret servants who toured the realm at random to discern the allegiance and behavior of the people and especially of various officials.

Some scholars conjecture that the Satan may be the prosecuting attorney of the heavenly council. If this view is correct, his task on earth was to discover human sins and failures and to bring his findings before the heavenly assembly.

What do you think? Does “the satan” seem more like (1) a servant performing a job assigned to him, or (2) the enemy of God as portrayed in the New Testament? Is there any way to reconcile these views?

Even if one buys into the notion that “the satan” was performing a role given him by God, his behavior in the text seems already to be exceeding his legitimate authority. Instead of uncovering disruptive plans, he acts as a troublemaker, a disturber of the kingdom. He…doubted what God affirmed [i.e., that Job was a good and honest man who served God with integrity] and sternly resisted persuasion to a different viewpoint. In the second scene before [God] the Satan would not even debate the issue of Job’s integrity, but rather denied it in an impudent style by challenging God with verbs in the imperative.

In 1:11 we find the satan essentially arguing with God about Job’s integrity and his reasons for fearing God. The satan consistently asserts that no one fears God for nothing…that if God were ever to take back all the blessings he had given Job, the self-serving basis of Job’s loyalty would be revealed. Whereas Job continually feared that one of his children might have cursed God in his heart,(1:5) the satan projected that Job would become so angry he would curse God to his face. (1:11; 2:4)

If the satan was a servant of God, he was a rebellious and impudent one.

Conclusion:
The most important thing about the satan in the book of Job is not the character himself, but the question he raises. “Will a person serve God for nothing?” What about you? Are you willing to honor and worship God solely because He is God…to give your life for Him whether you get anything in return or not? While it’s probably true that most of us come to God out of self interest (i.e., we either don’t want to go to Hell, or we really want to go to Heaven) the story of Job reveals a better way…a godlier way…for us to live.

What about you, would you serve God for nothing?

Job: When Life Doesn't Make Sense--Job

2010-11-07T09:59:00.000-08:00

I suspect you’ve all heard of Job before. What can you tell me about him?

As near as we can tell, the text of Job is perhaps the oldest book in the Bible. (Some believe it was the first Scripture ever given by God.) It follows the life of a non-Jewish man named Job. The book calls Job a “man from the East.” This has led some people to assume that he was an Edomite, a Persian, or perhaps an Arab. There’s really no way to know for sure. It is important, however, to realize that he wasn’t a Jew.

Why do you think this might be important?

There’s a reason we’re studying Job now. As you recall, we just finished our study of Proverbs. Proverbs formed one of the foundational guides for life that young Israelite men were given. Yet, Proverbs—for all its wisdom—is not the only book of the Bible. There are 65 others meant to complement or, in the case of Job, challenge what we learned from Proverbs. Perhaps the most fundamental challenge to Proverbs in all of Scripture is the book of Job.

Why do you suppose that is? What would be a point of fundamental difference between Job and Proverbs?

I would suggest to you that the key passage for understanding the book of Job is the challenge posed to God in 1:9-11

Job’s story begins with this statement: There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. (Job. 1:1-2) This sentiment is repeated twice more by God Himself (1:8 and 2:3)

Dwell on this comment a moment. Let it sink it. Could anyone say this about you? Could you say this about anyone you know? Have you even heard about someone like this (who isn’t already in the Bible)?

Job was apparently a devoted and caring father. He looked after their spiritual as well as their physical welfare. We’re told in 1:4-5 that: Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them. When these celebrations ended—sometimes after several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

Integrity is something Job is known for. Twice God spoke of Job’s integrity (1:8 and 2:3). Eliphaz too initially tried to encourage Job to take heart because of his life of integrity (4:6)

What does the word “integrity” mean?
Job’s wife asked him if he really meant to retain his integrity in 2:8. What did she mean by this? What was Job doing (or not doing) that maintained his integrity?

Despite all of this, for much of the story, Job is basically suicidal. Consider the following passages:
· Let the day of my birth be erased, and the night that I was conceived… 3:3-26
· Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant my desire. I wish He would reach out His hand and kill me. 6:8-9
· O God, remember that my life is but a breath, and I will never again feel happiness…I hate my life and don’t want to go on living. Oh, leave me alone for my few remaining days. 7:7,16

In the final analysis, this is the Job we’re confronted with in Scripture:

Job, a man of great faith and flawless character, suffers deeply in every dimension of his existence—physical, social, spiritual, and emotional. These dimensions, to be sure, are intertwined in human experience and can be separated only for purposes of discussion. In the physical realm Job loses his vast wealth and all his children in a single day (1:13-14). In these events Job suffers from both the suddenness and the totality of his losses. A little later he is struck down by a dreaded disease (2:8-10). In the social dimension Job, the noblest elder of his community, is alienated from his family and friends as he sits in shame on an ash heap outside the city’s walls (2:7-8; 19:13-19). There the crowds, even the lowest rabble, scorn him as they make him the subject of their taunt songs (16:10; 30:1-15). Since even those who have come to console him turn against him, he feels the treachery of disloyal friends (6:14-23). Spiritually God’s silence terrifies Job (23:8, 9, 15). God’s apparent hostility leads him to imagine that God is a capricious despot, who delights in afflicting his servant (cf. 6:4; 7:17-19; 19:25). Troubled on all sides, Job feels the range of disturbed emotions: troubled thoughts (7:4, 13-14), uncertainty (9:20), rejection and hostility (10:3; 12:4), fear (9:28), dismay (21:6), loneliness (19:13-19), distaste for life (9:2), i.e., the lack of any sense of inner tranquility (3:26). John Hartley, The Book of Job (NICOT), (Eerdmans, 1988), 47-8.

Job Webliography

2010-10-31T12:15:00.001-07:00

In preparation for our series on Job, I'm putting up a list of links/videos to additional resources I think might be worthwhile. If you know of any other useful material on Job you'd like to recommend I add to the webliography, please contact me via the comments section at the end of this post.

1. Theodicies in the Book of Job

2. The Book of Job Criticism

3. The Book of Job in MP3 Audio Format

4.

5. Audio of Alistair Begg's Sermon: Why Suffering?

Proverbs: Words to Live By: Chapters 26-31

2010-10-31T10:07:00.000-07:00

Prov. 26:2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.
· Explain the imagery of this proverb.

Prov. 26:7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool is as useless as a paralyzed leg.
· What does this mean?

Prov. 27:11 Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad. Then I will be able to answer my critics.
· And what will that answer be? What might the critics charge?

Prov. 27:14 A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning will be taken as a curse!
· What’s this proverb trying to say?

Prov. 27:21 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised.
· What do you think this means?

Prov. 27:23-27 Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds, for riches don’t last forever, and the crown might not be passed to the next generation. After the hay is harvested and the new crop appears and the mountain grasses are gathered in, your sheep will provide wool for clothing, and your goats will provide the price of a field. And you will have enough goats’ milk for yourself, your family, and your servant girls.
· What is the point of this proverb?
· How do you think it applies to you today?

The Sayings of Agur
Prov. 30:24-28 There are four things on earth that are small but unusually wise: Ants—they aren’t strong, but they store up food all summer. Hyraxes—they aren’t powerful, but they make their homes among the rocks. Locusts—they have no king, but they march in formation. Lizards—they are easy to catch, but they are found even in kings’ palaces.
· Why all this talk about animals? What do they have to do with being wise?
· Any ideas on what lesson we’re supposed to get from the lizard?

Prov. 30:29-31 There are three things that walk with stately stride—no, four that strut about: the lion, king of animals, who won’t turn aside for anything; the strutting rooster; the male goat; and a king as he leads his army.
· Why does Agur say, “There are three things…no, four…”
· Why is the king leading an army mentioned last?
· So what is the overall point of this proverb?

Sayings of King Lemuel (and his momma)
Prov. 31:2-9 O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows, do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol. For if they drink, they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed. Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress. Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more. Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and the helpless, and see that they get justice.
· What is the overall idea here? What’s this proverb about?
· What did Lemuel’s momma mean when she said “women ruin kings?”
· What did Lemuel’s momma say about alcohol? What were her reasons?
· In what ways can the church “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves?”

Prov. 31:10-31 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar. She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls. She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard. She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night. Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber. She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy. She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes. She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns. Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders. She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants. She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
· Broadly-speaking, there are two things this passage could be about. What are they?
· What things make this woman so attractive…so “good"?

A Call for Reader Input

2010-10-30T16:50:00.000-07:00

As we're nearing the close of our study in Proverbs, I'm preparing for Job and Ecclesiastes. Last week, I asked students in my Sunday AM class for input on changes they'd like to see with regard to format, presentation, content, etc. And decided that I'd like to solicit similar input from readers of the blog.

Do you have any particular suggestions regarding the format you'd like to see in these postings?

I notice that the N.T. Wright video I posted received several views rather quickly. Would you like to see more videos on the blog?

Following the completion of this study of the Wisdom Literature, are there any particular topics/books of the Bible you'd like to see addressed on the blog?

I am honored and humbled that you take the time to read this blog. I want it to be as much of a blessing to you as it possibly can be. For that reason, I hope you will share any suggestions/requests you might have.

Be blessed, my friends!

N.T. Wright on Gnosticism

2010-10-26T15:53:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine posted this video from YouTube and I thought it was so good and relevant, I would repost it here. Enjoy!

Proverbs: Words to Live By: Chapters 21-25

2010-10-24T13:40:00.000-07:00

Prov. 21:9 It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home. [see also: Prov. 21:19 and 25:24]
· What’s the main point of this proverb?

Prov. 22:7 Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.
· How is this proverb illustrated today?

Prov. 22:10 Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too. Quarrels and insults will disappear.
· Does “throwing out the mocker” strike you as a Christian response? Why or why not?

Prov. 22:11 Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a friend.
· What does this mean?
· Which king is he talking about?

Prov. 22:13 The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!”
· What do you think the point of this proverb is?

Prov. 24:3-4 A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.
· What does it meant to “build a house”?
· What other ways do people try to build their houses?

Prov. 24:10 If you fail under pressure, your strength is small.
· What’s the message for us?

Prov. 24:11-12 Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save them as they stagger to their death. Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and He sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.
· What’s the basic point?
· How can you fulfill this command individually?
· How can we as a church?

Prov. 24:27 Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.
· Do you understand?
Prov. 24:28-9 Don’t testify against your neighbors without cause; don’t lie about them. And don’t say, “Now I can pay them back for what they’ve done to me! I’ll get even with them!”
· Is there any reason these proverbs are stuck right next to each other?

Prov. 24:30-34 I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense. I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down. Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson: A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.
· What’s the point of this?

Prov. 25:3 No one can comprehend the height of heaven, the depth of the earth, or all that goes on in the king’s mind!
· What are some possible meanings of this proverb?

Prov. 25:18 Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.
· The ancient rabbis saw slander as a violation of the commandment: “Thou shalt not kill.”

Greasing the Wheels or Sleazing the Deals?

2010-10-21T18:08:00.000-07:00

Proverbs explicitly speaks of bribes no fewer than five times (15:27; 17:8, 23; 21:14; 29:4). The potentially disturbing thing for believers is that three times the book takes a decidedly negative perspective on bribes:

Greed brings grief to the whole family,but those who hate bribes will live. Prov. 15:27

The wicked take secret bribes to pervert the course of justice. Prov. 17:23

A just king gives stability to his nation,but one who demands bribes destroys it. Prov. 29:4

while the remaining two passages seem to encourage their use:

A bribe is like a lucky charm;whoever gives one will prosper! Prov. 17:8

A secret gift calms anger;a bribe under the table pacifies fury. Prov. 21:14

This is an instance where we do well to remember two things: (1) the "general" nature of Proverbs, and (2) the importance of context. Regarding the first point, regular readers should be familiar with the metaphor of Proverbs as "a floodlight, not a spotlight." In other words, the book offers us advice that is usually right...but not always. The proverbs are meant to be understood as if they are right most of the time--but not as immutable truths to be applied always and equally in all situations. Proverbs teaches contextual ethics.

This leads us directly into consideration of the different contexts in these five proverbs. The first three (i.e., those condemning bribery) seem to be focused on condemning those in positions of authority who accept bribes. The latter two proverbs (i.e., those that seem more accepting of bribery) are focused upon the wisdom of offering bribes.

It seems to me that there's a significant difference between acknowledging that something is effective, and affirming that it ought to be effective. I think Proverbs is just giving us straightforward advice: it's a bad idea to start accepting bribes because you're putting someone else in control of you when you do so...on the other hand, it may not be such a bad idea to offer bribes in order to get what you want. Sometimes, the bribe may even be a way of encouraging bad rulers to do good things. It reminds me of a discourse the late Milton Friedman had on the issue of how to clean up Congress.

A Fate Worse Than Singleness

2010-10-18T19:15:00.000-07:00

It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home. (Prov. 21:9)

It’s better to live alone in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife. (Prov. 21:19)

It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home. (Prov. 25:24)

Obviously, these proverbs speak to the repeated importance of relationships. It’s always struck me as a little surprising that, despite the rising divorce rate and the fact that virtually everyone has either been burned by a toxic relationship or knows a close friend/family member who has, people keep getting married. A negative secularist view might say this is because we’re all stupid, or the oppressive power of religious taboo is so powerful it continues to exert the pressure to marry, or some such rot.

I rather think it’s because most people simply crave healthy relationships—even if we don’t know how to recognize them. Even if we’re the ones responsible for making relationships toxic, that doesn’t diminish our desire to have someone who will love, affirm, and accept us in spite of who we are.

Such a desperate longing for love can be inspiring, but without at least a modicum of cool rationality such desperation can lead to terribly tragic decisions. When I was younger and experiencing some of those consequences, a good friend told me, “You know, there are worse things in life than being single…like being married to the wrong person, for example.”

The watchword Proverbs would give us for today is: discretion. Look before you leap. If you think you love someone, take the time to be certain you’re loving with your mind as well as your heart. Contrary to popular belief, covenants (such as marriage) that are lightly entered into cannot be exited without serious long-term consequences. Remember, there are worse things than being single.

Proverbs: Words to Live By: Chapters 16-20

2010-10-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

Marriage and Family
Prov. 17:6 Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.
Prov. 17:21 It is painful to be the parent of a fool; there is no joy for the father of a rebel.
Prov. 17:25 Foolish children bring grief to their father and bitterness to the one who gave them birth.
Prov. 18:22 The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD.
Prov. 19:13 A foolish child is a calamity to a father; a quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping.
Prov. 19:14 Fathers can give their sons an inheritance of houses and wealth, but only the LORD can give an understanding wife.
Prov. 19:18 Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives.
Prov. 19:26 Children who mistreat their father or chase away their mother are an embarrassment and a public disgrace.
Prov. 20:11 Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.
Prov. 20:20 If you insult your father or mother, your light will be snuffed out in total darkness.

· What is the Bible (particularly, the OT) perspective on how to deal with those who bring grief to the family? Do you think this is still valid?
· The New Testament often speaks of the church as a “family.” In what ways do the family principles of Proverbs apply to the church?

Chapter 16
Prov. 16:26 It is good for workers to have an appetite; an empty stomach drives them on.
· What do you think of this? Does it sound cruel?
· In what ways has life given you an “empty stomach”?

Prov. 16:32 Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.
· Why?

Chapter 17
Prov. 17:8 A bribe is like a lucky charm; whoever gives one will prosper!
· So…is God saying we should bribe people? [see also: Prov. 17:23 and 18:16]
· What are some ways in which we “bribe” people today…but may not think of it as wrong or as bribery?

Prov. 17:19 Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin; anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster.
· What do the first and second parts of this proverb have to do with each other?

Chapter 18
Prov. 18:17 The first to speak in courts sounds right—until the cross-examination begins.
· What lesson are you supposed to get from this?

Prov. 18:18 Flipping a coin can end arguments; it settles disputes between powerful opponents.
· What do you think is the main point of this proverb?

Chapter 19
Prov. 19:2 Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.
· How is this relevant to you?

Prov. 19:3 People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the LORD.
· How does this fit with what we read in 16:3?

Chapter 20
Prov. 20:4 Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.
· Notice, it’s not enough simply to be willing to plow…you have to plow in the right season.
· How might that idea relate to our lives?

Prov. 20:21 An inheritance obtained too early in life is not a blessing in the end.
· Are there any biblical examples? (Prodigal Son – Lk. 15:11-32)

Prov. 20:28 Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king; his throne is made secure through love.
· What is the real basis of authority?
· What is it that makes God, “God”?

Proverbs: Words to Live By: Chapters 11-15

2010-10-03T17:39:00.000-07:00

Review
If you boil Proverbs down to two choices, what would you say they are?

What does it mean to describe Proverbs as “a floodlight” rather than “a spotlight”?

Speech
Prov. 10:19-21; 11:9, 12-13; 12:6, 26; 13:2-3; 17:27-28; 18:4, 20; 20:15

What light does James 1:26; 3:1-12 shed on the topic of speech?

Have you ever considered how God created the world in the first place; or how when Isaac was tricked into offering his blessing to Jacob, he could offer no blessing for Esau? (Gen. 27:1-37)

How would you summarize Proverbs’ teaching/perspective on wise words?

Do you think that our society respects the power of words? Why or why not?

Wealth & Work
Prov. 11:4, 15, 18, 24, 28; 12:11, 14, 24; 13:4, 7-8, 11, 22-23; 14:20, 23-24, 31; 15:16, 27; 16:8; 17:1; 18:9, 11; 19:4, 15, 17, 24; 20:13

How would you sum up Proverbs’ teaching on wealth? Is it a gift from God, or the result of your own hard labor? Is wealth good or bad?

Chapter 13
Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. Prov. 13:20 [see also Prov. 14:7]
· How is this relevant to your life?

Chapter 14
Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest. Prov. 14:4
· What does that mean?

Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share its joy. Prov. 14:10
· What does this mean?
· Why would it be important for people to remember this?

Laughter can conceal a heavy heart, but when the laughter ends, the grief remains. Prov. 14:13
· Why do you think God wants us to face this reality?

Chapter 15
The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but He delights in the prayers of the upright. Prov. 15:8
· What’s the difference between sacrifice and prayer?
· How is this relevant today?

Proverbs: Words to Live By: Chapters 6-10

2010-09-26T12:27:00.000-07:00

Chapter Six
What situation is Solomon addressing in 6:1-5? Why does he think it’s so dangerous?

Proverbs directs us to “consider the ant, and be wise…” (6:6-8) Why do you think Proverbs uses this sort of “animal example”? Is it merely an illustration point, or is there something deeper…something more profound that Proverbs is attempting to say about Creation? (Consider this question in light of 3:19-20; 8:22-31)

Good article on bestiaries

Chapter Seven
What is the seventh chapter about? Why do you think so?
· You’ll notice a lot of talk in Proverbs centering upon sexual relationships. Proverbs repeatedly calls its readers (whom it presumes to be young men) to avoid the immoral woman and instead remain faithful to the wives of their youth. While on one level these passages are to be taken literally (at least I think so), there is also a symbolic level at work. The overall message of Proverbs seems to be that there are two paths to choose from: the path of wisdom, or that of folly. These “two ways” are personified by women. Scholars typically refer to these personas as Lady Wisdom and Dame Folly. (Notice the comparison between 8:11 and 31:10)

Assuming this is accurate, why do you suppose God would have chosen to use women as the personification of the two ways?

Chapter Eight and Nine
Lady Wisdom and Dame Folly make their respective pleas to men. Do you notice anything about how Wisdom & Folly make their pleas? (9:3, 14)? Also, notice the difference in the length of Wisdom’s cry versus Folly’s (8:1-9:12; 9:13-18) Do you suppose there could be any significance to this?

Chapter Ten
How true do you think 10:3-4 are? Is this a message that our culture reinforces, or one that it challenges? Why do you say so?

How do we reconcile these verses with the biblical commands to care for the poor?

What is the meaning of 10:15 and 16?

What do you suppose is the relationship between the people in 10:17 and those in 10:4, 16?

How does 10:19-21 impact your understanding of 10:18? Does all this talk about the power of words remind you of anything in the New Testament?
· Bring in James 1:26; 3:1-12. Also, have you ever considered how God created the world in the first place? Or how when Isaac was tricked into offering his blessing to Jacob, he could offer no blessing for Esau? (Gen. 27:1-37)

Do you think that our society respects the power of words? Why or why not?

Proverbs: Words to Live By: Chapters 1 - 5

2010-09-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

Proverbs: Words to Live By

Review
What do you remember from last week?
Did anything in the first five chapters seem especially important/puzzling to you?

Chapter One
1:1-7 The book’s introduction talks about giving insight to “the simple” (1:4). What does that word mean? Who are “the simple”?

No one believes they’re simple. We hear “stupid” when we read this passage. Maybe this is so difficult because we’ve been trained to take pride in our knowledge…or competence…our doctrinal purity. Strangely enough, it seems to me that many Christians are much more comfortable admitting moral failings than intellectual ones. It’s acceptable to say, “I am a sinner,” but not to say “I am simple…I don’t understand…I don’t know what I’m doing.” Perhaps we need a bit more breaking of the will.

1:8-19 What is the format for this passage? In other words, who is speaking to whom?

The passion and desperation of the father’s pleading with his son comes through…if you let it. Why is he so desperate? Why such anxiety for his son to heed? Because of death…both the death that may cut short the son’s life through folly (2:17-19) and the fear that death may steal the father and mother away before the son decides to start listening. What a tragedy should he fail to heed their counsel while living. Once dead, he will have access to it no longer—regardless of how repentant and curious he may be. This is the wisdom of the Latin proverb: Carpe diem! (Seize the day!) or the American: Strike while the iron is hot. Opportunities are not eternal. They have lifespans just like us, and can be cut off just as quickly and unexpectedly.

It’s ironic that the very ones who wish to “lie in wait and ambush the innocent” (1:11) out of greed promise to live communally among themselves once the deed is done (i.e., “we’ll all share the loot” 1:14). Maybe this is just what they tell people gullible enough to believe the wicked can be trusted?

1:20-33 Why do you think Wisdom’s words are so…blunt? Is this the way you expect God to speak to people?

Chapter Two
2:1-6 Why does the father think acquiring wisdom is so important?

2:3-4 What significance might these verses have for our discussion last week about “the fear of the LORD”?

2:10 What does the passage suggest is a result of acquiring wisdom? (see also 3:13)

2:11 What does it mean to say, “wise choices will watch over you?”

Perhaps it suggests that wise decisions made early will pay long-term dividends.

2:20 instructs us to follow the steps of good men. Why use this phrase? Why not say, “follow the instructions (or teachings) of wise men”?

The word mentor comes to us from the story the Odyssey. In it, the hero Odysseus is about to take off on a long voyage so he leave his son in the care of a trusted older friend named “Mentor.” In recent years, “mentoring” has become the rage in business and education. People are realizing the importance of people…of copying behaviors to good development. Have you ever seen, for example, a father and son who walk exactly alike…but they don’t realize it? See, much of what we learn is “caught not taught.” We just absorb it from our surroundings. That’s why Jesus wanted His apostles to live with Him and walk with Him for three years. He was trying to teach using more than words. He wanted to teach using life as well.

Chapter Three
Proverbs talks a lot about wisdom being stored in the heart (3:1; 4:4, 21, 23, et al.) Why do you think that is?

3:5 How important is faith to the development of wisdom?

A long time ago, a guy named Augustine said: Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. What do you think he meant? Is he saying that irrational belief is good? NO! Augustine meant that faith is necessary because it gives us the lens through which we look at everything else and understand it. He felt that trying to understand life without the right faith would be like trying to put a 10,000 piece jigsaw puzzle together with no picture to look at—you won’t know what the point is…what you’re trying to “create”! A good historical example was Galileo’s theory of the heliocentric universe. Everyone was “sure” that the earth was center of everything. They produced text books that taught that and “proved” the same. The problem was, when you really started crunching the numbers it never worked. Finally, Galileo had the breakthrough to realize the numbers weren’t working because the big picture was wrong. They were trying to construct the wrong puzzle with the pieces they had.

What is a paradox? Is the recognition of paradox important in acquiring wisdom? Why or why not?

How about 3:9-10? Does this make “common sense”—if you want to get more stuff, give the first and the best of your stuff away!? What do you think this means? (See also, Matt. 19:16-30)

3:14-20 Is wisdom really better than gold, silver, jewels, etc.? If so, how?

On some level, wisdom is a basic building block of Creation. God laid it into the foundation of everything around you. Therefore, when you get wisdom…you “get” life.

3:27-32 What does any of this Good Samaritan stuff (3:27-28) have to do with developing wisdom?

What is “violence”? Why would people have a problem envying the violent? (3:31)

Perhaps because the violent get results…and they get them fast. The path of violence frequently allows us to preserve one of our most precious possessions—our pride.

Chapter Four
Why is getting wisdom the wisest thing you can do (4:7)?

What does 4:18 mean? How are the righteous like the development of the day?

4:24 Why is God so concerned about us maintaining pure speech?

It goes back to the idea of the power of words. God spoke Creation into existence. Sadly, we live in a day when the words someone writes about another person on Facebook can cause them to commit suicide.

How much of what I say in any given day would qualify as “perverse and corrupt speech”?

Chapter Five
5:1-2 Notice the progression: watch…listen…learn…THEN, speak.

The “immoral woman” isn’t necessarily a woman. She represents anyone or anything that tempts people into the foolish path of self-destruction. Quite frequently, the immoral woman may not think of herself as “immoral” at all…merely misunderstood. Never forget that we humans have a truly breath-taking capacity for self-deception.

Proverbs: Words to Live By: introductory notes

2010-09-06T08:08:00.000-07:00

In an effort to simplify life and keep some fresh content on this blog, I'm going to begin posting material from the college class I'm teaching on the book of Proverbs This material was originally written for a teenage audience when I worked as a youth minister, but I'm attempting to revise and update it to make it more applicable to a college crowd. What you will have access to here are the revised lessons. I hope they can be a blessing to you.

Proverbs: Words to Live By

Introduction:
Proverbs is one of the “Wisdom Books” Some scholars feel that Proverbs was originally written as a textbook for young men who were being trained to work in the royal court of Israel. If this view is right (and I tend to believe it is) then these words were originally meant to teach young people how to make their way in the world with the minimum amount of trouble and the maximum amount of blessing

Wisdom Books are a little different from the rest of the Bible. They tend to be very “general.”
Ø Not much about things specific to Jews (e.g., Law, Covenant, etc.)
Ø Mostly about the everyday stuff of life (e.g., money, marriage, raising kids, getting along at your job, etc.)
Ø “Proverbs is a floodlight, not a spotlight.” What does this expression mean? Important to recognize that because it’s “general wisdom” the things Proverbs says are usually—but not always—true. (e.g., 22:6; 26:4-5)

A Note on Biblical “Wisdom”
What does the word “wisdom” mean to you? How do you know if someone is “wise” or not?

What if I had you read a book on mechanical engineering and then handed you a live bomb and said “Okay, this thing is on a five minute countdown. You’ve got all the necessary information…deactivate the bomb before it blows up.” How would you feel…confident or terrified?

This example helps explain what “wisdom” means in the Bible. It’s not the same thing as knowledge, intellect, or “book smarts.” When Proverbs talks about “wisdom,” it’s translating the Hebrew word – hokmah.

Exodus 31:1-6 talks about two men—Oholiab and Bezalel—who are supposed to help make stuff for the tabernacle. Though most English Bibles translate God as saying: “I have given skill to Oholiab to make….” He actually says He has given them hokmah.

This illustrates that when Proverbs speaks of acquiring “wisdom” it is talking about more than just intellectual knowledge. It’s about learning the necessary skills to live life well.

It’s my observation that all skills take time to develop. These are things you have to learn by doing. You can read a book on football fundamentals, but you probably won’t understand how to break down and make a tackle, block, etc. until you get out on the field and start getting knocked around a bit. It’s the same way with developing the skills for life.

Generally-speaking, life skills come with age. That’s why the Wisdom Books (and the Bible-in-general) has so much to say about respecting people who are older than you.

You’ll notice there is a poetic flair to Proverbs. One of the most important is the way it stylizes women. Most people see Proverbs as laying out a theology of the “two ways” (i.e., the way of wisdom and the way of folly) Throughout the book these two ways are represented by women. Wisdom is personified as a woman who will be a faithful spouse and good mother…one who will take care of you and bless your life. Often, scholars refer to this character as “Dame Wisdom.” The other woman of Proverbs is often referred to as “Madame Folly.” The Madame Folly character is usually depicted as an adulteress or a prostitute in Proverbs. Why do you think Proverbs might use women to personify these two ways?

You Can't Spell Hopeless without "Hope"

2010-07-21T13:06:00.000-07:00

Like many of the earlier passages in Jeremiah, the 16th chapter begins with unqualified messages of judgment (e.g., "these people will die from terrible diseases" vs. 4, "I have taken away My unfailing love and mercy" vs. 5, etc.)

Yet at verse 14 begins we begin to see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. It is only a glimmer, however. This is no sudden message of immediate pardon and forgiveness such as we are wont to demand--perhaps to the point of inserting it into the text when it does not exist. Rather, what the LORD has to say to Jeremiah is:

“But the time is coming,” says the Lord, “when people who are taking an oath will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who rescued the people of Israel from the land of Egypt.’ Instead, they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the people of Israel back to their own land from the land of the north and from all the countries to which he had exiled them.’ For I will bring them back to this land that I gave their ancestors.
“But now I am sending for many fishermen who will catch them,” says the Lord. “I am sending for hunters who will hunt them down in the mountains, hills, and caves. I am watching them closely, and I see every sin. They cannot hope to hide from me. I will double their punishment for all their sins, because they have defiled my land with lifeless images of their detestable gods and have filled my territory with their evil deeds.”

-- Jeremiah 16:14-18

The LORD leaves no doubt that punishment will be meted out--indeed, it will be "doubled." Yet after the necessary suffering, redemption will ensue. How should we interpret this? As with many things in the Divine-human relationship, I suspect we see that which we are looking for. The one who already resents the notion that One other than himself is worthy of the title "God" will see in this evidence of a capricious and punitive Deity, unwilling to suffer the slightest indignity. Conversely, he who believes in a compassionate God will see in this evidence of painful, but necessary, purgatory suffering. This latter man will acknowledge--even if he does not like--the truth that the alcoholic often must hit "rock bottom" before he is willing to forsake the bottle. The drunk must suffer the full effects of his own degeneracy before the "scales will fall from his eyes" and he is willing to see himself as he truly is.

What I find especially interesting from a canonical perspective is the LORD's promise that he will send forth "fishermen" (vs. 16) to "catch" the people. In this context, the fishermen (along with their land-based compatriots, the hunters) are enablers of God's wrath upon the sinful. How fascinating then, that the One who embodied God's ultimate act of compassion, self-revelation, and sacrifice should extend to a handful of common men the possibility of being instruments of His peace by the calling "Follow Me, and I will show you how to fish for people." -- Matt 4:19

In the Interest of Promoting Balance...

2010-07-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

I know my recent series of posts from Jeremiah veer towards the negative and pessimistic (perhaps that is to be expected from "the Weeping Prophet"). In the interest of trying to balance out the negativity, I'd like to point you to a great post by a former professor of mine, Mark Hamilton. Dr. Hamilton reminds us that the core nature of God's interaction with humanity is one of mercy...not judgment. Here's the link. Enjoy!

It's Lonely at the Bottom

2010-07-11T19:27:00.001-07:00

Following on last week's theme from Jeremiah, I am once again confused--and more than a little disturbed--by what I read today. Perhaps that is as it should be. Consider this dialogue between God and Jeremiah from Jer. 15:10-21

Then I said,
“What sorrow is mine, my mother.
Oh, that I had died at birth!
I am hated everywhere I go.
I am neither a lender who threatens to foreclose
nor a borrower who refuses to pay—
yet they all curse me.”

The Lord replied,

“I will take care of you, Jeremiah.
Your enemies will ask you to plead on their behalf
in times of trouble and distress.
Can a man break a bar of iron from the north,
or a bar of bronze?
At no cost to them,
I will hand over your wealth and treasures
as plunder to your enemies,
for sin runs rampant in your land.
I will tell your enemies to take you
as captives to a foreign land.
For my anger blazes like a fire
that will burn forever.[a]”

Then I said,

“Lord, you know what’s happening to me.
Please step in and help me. Punish my persecutors!
Please give me time; don’t let me die young.
It’s for your sake that I am suffering.
When I discovered your words, I devoured them.
They are my joy and my heart’s delight,
for I bear your name,
O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.
I never joined the people in their merry feasts.
I sat alone because your hand was on me.
I was filled with indignation at their sins.
Why then does my suffering continue?
Why is my wound so incurable?
Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook,
like a spring that has gone dry.”

This is how the Lord responds:

“If you return to me, I will restore you
so you can continue to serve me.
If you speak good words rather than worthless ones,
you will be my spokesman.
You must influence them;
do not let them influence you!
They will fight against you like an attacking army,
but I will make you as secure as a fortified wall of bronze.
They will not conquer you,
for I am with you to protect and rescue you.
I, the Lord, have spoken!
Yes, I will certainly keep you safe from these wicked men.
I will rescue you from their cruel hands.”

Again: two or three things stand out to me.

"I am neither a lender who threatens to foreclose; nor a borrower who refuses to pay--yet they all curse me." (15:10) This reminds one of Paul's depressing New Testament prophecy that "everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12) It seems to me that people are far more willing to sacrifice money, than sin. Generally, we'd rather live in poverty than give up our pride. Consequently, Jeremiah--God's spokesman--found himself persona non grata in the very community he was trying (to no avail) to save from utter disaster. Such is the life of one of God's favorites, I suppose.

The more disturbing message is to follow. At first, it seems like Jeremiah will at least receive steadfast comfort from his God. He is told "I will take care of you, Jeremiah..." (15:11) God seems to have a rather different notion of what "I'll take care of you" means than Jeremiah had in mind. The LORD goes on to warn His prophet:

"At no cost to them, I will hand over your wealth and treasures as plunder to your enemies, for sin runs rampant in your land. I will tell your enemies to take you as captives to a foreign land. For My anger blazes like a fire that will burn forever." (15:13-14)

At first glance, it's tempting to read these words of judgment as simply a societal judgment (i.e., to understand God to be speaking them to Jeremiah only insofar as he is a representative of the reprobate community) It is tempting to almost imagine an oracle of judgment and exile being spoken to Jeremiah even as God gives him a "nudge, nudge, wink, wink" to let the prophet know that this is not meant to be his fate.

Such illusions are shattered, however, by the remainder of the dialogue. Jeremiah first pleads with God to "step in and help" to "punish [his]persecutors" (15:15) Jeremiah even seems to go so far as trying to "guilt" God by saying "It's for Your sake that I'm suffering." (15:15)

This is the moment at which we want God to clarify--to say, "Oh no, Jeremiah, I'm VERY pleased with you. You're a good and faithful servant. All that judgment stuff was meant for the OTHER people." The LORD's actual response, however, is rather different:

If you return to Me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve Me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be My spokesman. You must influence them. Do not let them influence you. They will fight against you like an attacking army, but I will make you as secure as a fortified wall of bronze. They will not conquer you, for I am with you to protect and rescue you. I, the Lord, have spoken! Yes, I will certainly keep you safe from these wicked men. I will rescue you from their cruel hands.

If I'm understanding this correctly, God is telling Jeremiah that he (Jeremiah) will lose everything short of his life--and that, only because of the prophet's faithfulness to God. Furthermore, it seems that Jeremiah's life is being spared not so much as a reward or as "wages earned for faithfulness" but only so that he "can continue to serve" God. One suspects that, should Jeremiah fail to meet the conditions God lays out, the prophet might very well end up sharing the fate of the rest of Judah.

What does such a text have to say to Christians (and ministers, in particular) today? I feel it puts the lie to one of the most popular heresies of modern evangelicalism: that people (either individually or collectively) are the highest priority. It seems to me that God is, in fact, the highest priority. He is the priority not only of Jeremiah, but also of Himself. Perhaps this is as it must be. Could God be any different than He is and still be God?

I'm just not sure where to go with this text. I would appreciate your thoughts/critiques. I don't want my summation to be right...but even less do I want to go around believing a lie.

It

2010-07-11T18:54:00.001-07:00

Then I said,
“What sorrow is mine, my mother.
Oh, that I had died at birth!
I am hated everywhere I go.
I am neither a lender who threatens to foreclose
nor a borrower who refuses to pay—
yet they all curse me.”

The Lord replied,

“I will take care of you, Jeremiah.
Your enemies will ask you to plead on their behalf
in times of trouble and distress.
Can a man break a bar of iron from the north,
or a bar of bronze?
At no cost to them,
I will hand over your wealth and treasures
as plunder to your enemies,
for sin runs rampant in your land.
I will tell your enemies to take you
as captives to a foreign land.
For my anger blazes like a fire
that will burn forever.[a]”

Then I said,

“Lord, you know what’s happening to me.
Please step in and help me. Punish my persecutors!
Please give me time; don’t let me die young.
It’s for your sake that I am suffering.
When I discovered your words, I devoured them.
They are my joy and my heart’s delight,
for I bear your name,
O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.
I never joined the people in their merry feasts.
I sat alone because your hand was on me.
I was filled with indignation at their sins.
Why then does my suffering continue?
Why is my wound so incurable?
Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook,
like a spring that has gone dry.”

This is how the Lord responds:

“If you return to me, I will restore you
so you can continue to serve me.
If you speak good words rather than worthless ones,
you will be my spokesman.
You must influence them;
do not let them influence you!
They will fight against you like an attacking army,
but I will make you as secure as a fortified wall of bronze.
They will not conquer you,
for I am with you to protect and rescue you.
I, the Lord, have spoken!
Yes, I will certainly keep you safe from these wicked men.
I will rescue you from their cruel hands.”

"At no cost to them, I will hand over your wealth and treasures as plunder to your enemies, for sin runs rampant in your land. I will tell your enemies to take you as captives to a foreign land. For My anger blazes like a fire that will burn forever." (15:13-14)

If you return to Me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve Me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be My spokesman. You must influence them. Do not let them influence you. They will fight against you like an attacking army, but I will make you as secure as a fortified wall of bronze. They will not conquer you, for I am with you to protect and rescue you. I, the Lord, have spoken! Yes, I will certainly keep you safe from these wicked men. I will rescue you from their cruel hands.

Extra: Is Evangelism a Panacea?

2010-07-08T19:11:00.000-07:00

Normally I wouldn't break away from my weekly devotional series from Jeremiah, but an interesting thing occurred to me this evening. I was meditating on a frequent refrain I've heard in church almost my entire life. One hears it under various slogans:

We need to be more evangelistic!
We need to get out in the community!
Evangelism is the number one mission of the church!
We've got to get involved in personal work!

And so the sayings go. A number of years ago, however, I began first to seriously question--and ultimately reject--these arguments. Please don't misunderstand. I'm not saying that evangelism is bad, or that it ought not be pursued by the Church. Rather, I'm taking issue with this popular idea that it is the supreme work of the Church. I am rejecting the idea that the first and foremost duty of a Church is evangelism.

Why would I make such a heretical claim? For three reasons. First, in my experience I found that more and more often evangelism was being used as a slogan to distract the church from the call to be holy. It's similar to what happens when someone engages in systemic sin in their private personal life and then volunteers for every committee at church to "make up for it." It bothered me greatly when folks who didn't seem to bothered by racism, back-stabbing, et al. were greatly concerned that we get out and "evangelize" more.

Second, I began to learn a little more Christian history. Specifically, I delved more deeply into the story of the International Churches of Christ (sometimes known as the Boston Movement Churches of Christ). The ICOC was all the rage in the 1980s. They posted tremendous numeric expansion via their single-minded focus upon evangelism. Ultimately, however, the ICOC shattered under repeated allegations of a cult-like environment and abusive hierarchical relationships. The evangelistic success of the ICOC is unquestioned. The results of it, however, have proven to be quite mixed.

Third, as I was driving home this evening it occurred to me that Jesus never criticized the Pharisees for a lack of evangelistic zeal--quite the opposite in fact!

What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of Hell you yourselves are!-- Matthew 23:15

Apparently, Jesus' problem was not that the Pharisees weren't preaching the word...it was just exactly whose word they were preaching!

In conclusion, I want to make a radical suggestion: What the Church most needs is NOT more evangelism but more holiness,which is the only thing that makes our evangelism credible. In other words, we need to do the right thing simply because it is right. If we seek [to be] the Kingdom first, all this other stuff will take care of itself.

Of God and Men

2010-07-04T11:26:00.000-07:00

Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray for these people anymore. When they fast, I will pay no attention. When they present their burnt offerings and grain offerings to Me, I will not accept them. Instead, I will devour them with war, famine, and disease.”

Then I said, “O Sovereign Lord, their prophets are telling them, ‘All is well—no war or famine will come. The Lord will surely send you peace.’”

Then the Lord said, “These prophets are telling lies in my name. I did not send them or tell them to speak. I did not give them any messages. They prophesy of visions and revelations they have never seen or heard. They speak foolishness made up in their own lying hearts. Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I will punish these lying prophets, for they have spoken in my name even though I never sent them. They say that no war or famine will come, but they themselves will die by war and famine! As for the people to whom they prophesy—their bodies will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and war. There will be no one left to bury them. Husbands, wives, sons, and daughters—all will be gone. For I will pour out their own wickedness on them. Now, Jeremiah, say this to them:

“Night and day my eyes overflow with tears.
I cannot stop weeping,
for my virgin daughter—my precious people—
has been struck down
and lies mortally wounded.
If I go out into the fields,
I see the bodies of people slaughtered by the enemy.
If I walk the city streets,
I see people who have died of starvation.
The prophets and priests continue with their work,
but they don’t know what they’re doing.” -- Jer. 14:11-18

As with so much else in the ministry of Jeremiah, this oracle presents a number of stark challenges to the vision of God and ministry prevalent in the minds of many Christians. To be frank, I do not know how to square all of this with the example of Jesus...but I know that it MUST be squared. We cannot act as if the God Jeremiah served is somehow different from the One we serve. That would be Marcionism. We cannot claim that God Himself somehow changed His fundamental character between Testaments (i.e., that God "became a Christian" and consequently changed all the rules of His interactions with Creation.)

With so many questions, then, what word(s) for our upcoming week can we gain from this passage? It seems to me there are at least three or four points worthy of our quiet moment ponderings:

1. God CAN change. This stands in sharp contrast to the vision most of us carry of a God who is eternally "immutable" (just a big word meaning that He never changes). The doctrine of God's immutability comes out of Greek philosophy and early on was wedded to Christian doctrine. Additionally, there are passages of Scripture which, when taken by themselves, seem to explicitly teach the doctrine of immutability. Unfortunately, too much of the rest of Scripture informs us that God can...and frequently does...change. When God became flesh in Jesus...was that not a change? When God died in Jesus...was that not a change, too? And if God cannot change, then why do we ever pray and ask Him to do (or refrain from doing) anything at all?

2. God loves us unconditionally...but there are purposes in the universe of more weight than satisfying our human cravings. Just because we are the most-loved part of Creation, that does not mean that humanity is center or the purpose of Creation. All that is exists with the purpose of glorifying and serving God...not the other way around. Jeremiah's message, again, suggests that we may so rebel against God that we forfeit our right to be called His people.

3. People have always found prophets who tell them they've nothing to repent of, and that God is quite pleased with their lives just as they are. Worse yet, we have a dangerous tendency to seek out the voices that preach "all is well--no war or famine will come. The LORD will surely send you peace." This is an inherent danger of having ministers who are financially beholden to the congregations they minister to. It is the rare church that can hear...that is willing to hear...a less-than-adulatory message from its preacher. Yet, if we learn anything from Jeremiah it is that greater disaster might very well have been averted had the people been willing to listen to the hard truths he spoke.

No doubt, many could find fault with the three points I have outlined. And I will be the first to admit that there are problems with each of these points. As I said at the beginning, I make no claim to have all the answers on these topics. Indeed, the older I get, the more convinced I am that the most profound truths of God and our relationship to Him simply CANNOT be put into words...they can only be lived...experienced. I ask, then, that you consider my three points not as doctrinal propositions to be either refuted in debate, or committed to rote like a catechism. Rather, take them as lenses with which to understand your experience of life and your walk with God. Try them on. See if they make the picture clearer and your steps surer. Don't staple them to your head, as it may be they are not the lenses you need right now...but don't throw them away either. If Jeremiah and Judah needed these lenses in their lives, it's a fair bet that you will--someday--need them in your own.

Jeremiah: Model Pastor or National Doormat?

2010-06-28T14:14:00.000-07:00

Listen and pay attention!
Do not be arrogant, for the Lord has spoken.
Give glory to the Lord your God
before it is too late.
Acknowledge him before he brings darkness upon you,
causing you to stumble and fall on the darkening mountains.
For then, when you look for light,
you will find only terrible darkness and gloom.
And if you still refuse to listen,
I will weep alone because of your pride.
My eyes will overflow with tears,
because the Lord’s flock will be led away into exile.

-- Jeremiah 13:15-17

This passage is especially eye-catching to me in light of a discussion we had in Bible class regarding forgiveness. After announcing in rather dramatic fashion the corruption that was rampant in Judah (i.e., the famous linen loincloth prophecy) Jeremiah goes on to announce God's judgement upon the nation. Notice this is the same nation that in the previous chapter contained considerable elements scheming against Jeremiah. (see Jer. 12:6)

Despite all of this, I'm struck that Jeremiah pledges that if Judah continues to ignore his message from God, the prophet will "weep alone because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears." (Jer. 13:17)

In all honesty, I'm still not where Jeremiah is. I'd like to be...I have ambitions of being so...but justice is awfully important to me. I think the wicked ought to be punished...and yes, I contend that there is a major difference between sinners and "the wicked". It seems to me that Scripture even reflects such a dichotomy at times. I'm thinking of writing a longer post in the future (TBD) on the doctrine of forgiveness that seems to be gaining popularity in the American church today.

In anticipation of that, I ask that you begin thinking through what the word "forgiveness" really means. What are its implications? How is life different in a climate of authentic forgiveness?

A Question RE: Interpretation of Jeremiah 12

2010-06-21T13:17:00.000-07:00

As I read this chapter today, a basic question springs out to which I (currently, at least) do not have a satisfactory answer. It is the question of just who "the wicked" are that Jeremiah speaks of in vss. 1-4. Upon reading it,I wonder if Jeremiah is not referencing other nations that are oppressing Judah. If so, then it seems to make sense to me why God would respond to Jeremiah's call for Him to punish "the wicked" by saying things like:

If racing against mere men makes tou tired, how will you race against horses? If you stumble and fall on open ground, what will you do in the thickets near the Jordan? Even your brothers, members of your own family have turned against you. They plot and raise complaints against you. Do not trust them, no matter how pleasantly they speak. Jer. 12:5-6

In essence, I'm asking if the first four verses are Jeremiah's call for"justice" against the "wicked" oppressor nations, and the following eight verses are God replying that what is happening to Judah is justice for the past crimes of the chosen nation.

It seems to me like getting the appropriate message from this text is dependent upon identifying who is being talked about. Any help or insight in this regard would be appreciated.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Since last week's post, I've heard back from a former professor of mine, Mark Hamilton. Dr. Hamilton is a specialist in the Old Testament, and was kind enough to point out a possible problem with my interpretation. In 1:4, the "people" say "the LORD (or Yahweh) doesn't see what's ahead for us." Because Gentile nations would be less inclined to use the personal name of Israel's God, he tends to assume that verses 1-4 refer to Judah's sins. However, Dr. Hamilton did point out that--like many OT prophetic oracles--it is difficult to pin down a chronology/and identify all the players here.

I think the interpretation I originally proposed COULD still work. I suppose it depends on whether one interprets vs. 4 to be the ACTUAL words of the (supposedly Gentile) people, or simply a paraphrase of their sentiment expressed in the language of Jeremiah.

A third option that occurs to me is that perhaps verses 1-4 refer to Israel, rather than Judah. Remember that Jeremiah's ministry takes place post the division of the Israelite kingdom. As always, any further reflections are much appreciated!

Time for a Pendulum Correction

2010-06-14T15:31:00.000-07:00

A few years back, I was talking with one of my in-laws who is also a former-professional-minister-turned-house-church-planter about what motivated his decision to pursue the church planting model. Among other things, he mentioned that he felt the typical church in America today was not doing a very good job of teaching people to "obey" Jesus. On the surface, this language sounds like much of what I consider "legalism", yet knowing this brother as I do, I was fully aware that he was by no means a legalist. As our conversation progressed, I began to realize that he was advocating not a doctrine of salvation by works, but a genuine doctrine of working faith. Countless others have pointed this out already, but there was a time when the doctrine of grace needed to be restored to the American pulpit--at least to the pulpits in Churches of Christ.

Today, however, I think that any sober-minded assessment of what gets preached as our calling, and what gets tolerated and/or "winked at" within our behaviors, suggests that it is time to correct an out-of-balance notion of grace. (What Bonhoeffer would have called "cheap grace".) These were the thoughts that flooded my mind as I read the following passage from Jeremiah:

The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, “Remind the people of Judah and Jerusalem about the terms of My covenant with them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Cursed is anyone who does not obey the terms of My covenant! For I said to your ancestors when I brought them out of the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt, “If you obey Me and do whatever I command you, then you will be My people, and I will be your God.” I said this so I could keep My promise to your ancestors to give you a land flowing with milk and honey—the land you live in today.’”
Then I replied, “Amen, Lord! May it be so.”

Then the Lord said, “Broadcast this message in the streets of Jerusalem. Go from town to town throughout the land and say, ‘Remember the ancient covenant, and do everything it requires. For I solemnly warned your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, “Obey Me!” I have repeated this warning over and over to this day, but your ancestors did not listen or even pay attention. Instead, they stubbornly followed their own evil desires. And because they refused to obey, I brought upon them all the curses described in this covenant.’”
-- Jeremiah 11:1-8

What to Do Now?

2010-06-06T16:13:00.000-07:00

Hear the word that the Lord speaks to you, O Israel! This is what the Lord says:
“Do not act like the other nations,
who try to read their future in the stars.
Do not be afraid of their predictions,
even though other nations are terrified by them.
Their ways are futile and foolish.
They cut down a tree, and a craftsman carves an idol.
They decorate it with gold and silver
and then fasten it securely with hammer and nails
so it won’t fall over.
Their gods are like
helpless scarecrows in a cucumber field!
They cannot speak,
and they need to be carried because they cannot walk.
Do not be afraid of such gods,
for they can neither harm you nor do you any good.” -- Jeremiah 10:1-5

I've put off writing on this blog for months now. On one hand, the reasons are many: time, technological problems, deciding what to write about, etc. But at core, I think there was one basic reason I wasn't writing: fear. Since leaving full-time ministry I have been, for lack of a better word, "lost". I don't mean lost in the salvation sense (though I suppose that's a possibility too) but lost in the vocational sense. I don't really know what I'm doing...who I am...or why I'm bothering to do it. This identity crisis has not covered every area of life. I know who I am as a husband and father, for example--but in what I think of as the third major relationship of life, "Who am I in relation to God?" I really don't know. I still feel like I want to be a minister...but I don't feel the same level of passion...or perhaps the better word is "trust" that I once did. I'm currently pursuing yet another degree in a non-ministry related field in the hope that it will not only provide more stable employment, but will perhaps create some space in which I can discern "the still small voice" and rediscover who God is calling me to be.

I realize this is a little philosophical...and perhaps too "whiny", but I wanted you to understand the context from which I approached the first five verses of Jeremiah 10 this evening. I realize that Jeremiah was talking to a corporate group, not an individual. Yet, as I read it, I could not help but hear the following paraphrase applied to my own life:

Do not act like other people.

Who try to read their futures. Who try to control their lives and have everything planned out and scripted according to their timetables.

Do not be afraid of the predictions they make about your life...or the predictions YOU make about it, because neither of you are really in control of anything anyway!

Even though others are you are terrified at their future prospects...afraid the economy will never recover...or this is the end of civilization...or what not, don't let yourself get sucked into that.

All such things are foolish and futile. Despite all the preparation and energy you've put into your plans for life this far, what has it really accomplished? The things you planned didn't pan out, and best things in your life were completely unplanned (at least by you) anyway. That should tell you something.

All this stuff that you, and everyone else, is worried about and afraid of is ultimately helpless. At the end of the day, it's not what you should trust in...and its not really something you should fear either. Deep in your heart, you know Who fits both of those bills.

So stop worrying about your future and where you'll be used tomorrow, and how you'll get there "for the pagans run after all these things". Instead, seek out where the Kingdom is today...and go there. And let tomorrow worry about itself.

-- Justin

Do I Want There to be a Balm in Gilead?

2010-01-03T10:49:00.000-08:00

I hurt with the hurt of my people. I mourn and am overcome with grief. Is there no medicine in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why is there no healing for the wounds of my people?

If only my head were a pool of water and my eyes a fountain of tears, I would weep day and night for all my people who have been slaughtered. Oh, that I could go away and forget my people and live in a travelers’ shack in the desert. For they are all adulterers—a pack of treacherous liars. -- Jeremiah 8:21-9:2

This oracle reflects one of the qualities of Jeremiah that most impresses, and shames, me. Somehow, he was able to face and boldly state the ugly truth about his people (i.e., "They're all liars.") without losing his ability to love them. These were not people who were particularly kind to Jeremiah. He was ignored, imprisoned, and left for dead by them. Yet he was still able to weep for them. Despite his own confessed desire to be able to just abandon them to their fate and not care (9:2) Jeremiah had been so touched, so imprinted with the character of his God, that it was impossible for him to stop loving his people. Indeed, Jeremiah's capacity for compassion on the seemingly unforgivable has earned him the nickname "The Weeping Prophet."

I wish to be more like Jeremiah. Usually, when people reject my advice or instruction, I want to see them fail. I want to see them hurt. I want to see them punished. The fact of the matter, is that I'm often far more like Jonah than I am like Jeremiah.

Did You Know?
The classic hymn, There is a Balm in Gilead was inspired by Jeremiah's anguished cry in 8:22, "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why is there no healing for the wounds of my people?"

The hymn answers Jeremiah with the promise that Christ is that long-awaited balm who can soften the hardest heart, bring the dead to life again, and heal the deepest scars of sin.

When People Fall Down...

2009-12-21T05:44:00.000-08:00

Do you ever feel as if aspects of your life have just been one disaster after another (e.g., relationships, jobs, etc.)? I have. I find that the natural first response is simply to blame others, and perhaps they are to blame sometimes; But when the same problems recur again and again with different people, perhaps the fundamental problem is with the common denominator: me.

Jeremiah, say to the people, ‘This is what the LORD says:
“‘When people fall down, don’t they get up again?
When they discover they’re on the wrong road, don’t they turn back?
Then why do these people stay on their self-destructive path?
Why do the people of Jerusalem refuse to turn back?
They cling tightly to their lies
and will not turn around.
I listen to their conversations
and don’t hear a word of truth.
Is anyone sorry for doing wrong?
Does anyone say, “What a terrible thing I have done”?
No! All are running down the path of sin
as swiftly as a horse galloping into battle!
Even the stork that flies across the sky
knows the time of her migration,
as do the turtledove, the swallow, and the crane.
They all return at the proper time each year.
But not my people!
They do not know the LORD’s laws.
“‘How can you say, “We are wise because we have the word of the LORD,”
when your teachers have twisted it by writing lies?
These wise teachers will fall
into the trap of their own foolishness,
for they have rejected the word of the LORD.
Are they so wise after all?

Jer. 8:4-9

If ever there was a community with a dysfunctional cycle, it was ancient Israel. One wonders how often the prophets must have felt like hopelessly broken records, repeating the same message to the same people over and over again, and repeatedly watching them ignore it. In this passage, God Himself addresses the people and diagnoses their fundamental problem.

God: Why do you continue down a self-destructive path? Because you don't know any better.
People's Response: But we have the word of the LORD!
God: You have it; But you don't know it. Much less follow it! You don't even know enough to realize when you're being lied to by your "teachers"--when they're telling you what you want to hear, rather than what you need to hear.

Are we in American Christianity really much different? I hope so...but I doubt it. At least in my own case, I know I'm not much different. Though I've slowly improved in my serious Bible reading habits over the years, for a long time most of what I "knew" about God and Christianity, I "knew" because I had always heard it, or because some delightfully engaging speaker with lots of funny stories and an inhumanly broad grin had told me so--which should have been a bright red flag! In short, I "knew" things about God, but I didn't know how I knew them.

In the interests of full disclosure, I'm not promising that a serious commitment to growing with God will make your life easier. It may be just the opposite. Often, those who are actively pushing the limits and trying to grow in their knowledge will (intentionally or otherwise) disomfit others by asking hard questions and eshewing simplistic answers. Expect to find--as Jeremiah did--that many people prefer words of soothing, peace, and comfort--regardless of whether they are true or not. (Jer. 5:3, 11-13, 20-21, 23, 30-31; 6:10, 16-17; 7:22-27, et al.)

PRACTICAL STEPS
If, after realizing the risk, you decide you still want to grow in your relationship w/God, I offer four practical steps to help. I'm sure there are many more (and better) steps that could be taken, but I must plead ignorance of how to be a great Christian. If any of you have things that have worked well for you, please share. Here's mine:

1. Give yourself a memory verse. If you can do nothing else, do this. It's simple, and everyone's got the time to recite one verse a day. The sooner you start, the better. We've already started with our children (ages 4,3, and 1) and they can all recite (for example) Isaiah 7:14 from memory.

2. Daily Bible reading. This is if you're ready to "step it up a notch" from simply memorizing one verse. This plan commits you to read at least a chapter a day (preferably more) from the Bible. There are tons of good reading schedules out there that you can get online.

3. Improve your Bible study. First and foremost, this means asking a lot of hard questions--of yourself, of the text, and of others. Don't settle for the first answer. Wrestle with questions like: "Why has God given this command?" "How do we know that Revelation is to be taken figuratively, but Matthew is not?" etc. Get some supplementary books, DVDs, etc. that delve more deeply into a given book, or ancient Near Eastern culture.

4. Find some equally-committed, Christ-hearted people to share your journey. This may be the most difficult, but is probably the most helpful of all four. Having these people join you, will help prevent you from becoming judgmental of others who aren't where you're at, and will also help you to sift and discern some of the stuff you encounter in step #3.

2009-12-13T09:16:00.000-08:00

Don’t be fooled into thinking that you will never suffer because the Temple is here. It’s a lie! Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and burn incense to Baal and all those other new gods of yours, and then come here and stand before Me in My Temple and chant, “We are safe!” – only to go right back to all those evils again? Don’t you yourselves admit that this Temple, which bears My Name, has become a den of thieves? (Jeremiah 7:8-11a)

This is part of a message God directed Jeremiah to speak to the people at the entrance of the Temple. Even as the worthies of Jerusalem gathered to “honor God with their lips” and to see—and be seen by—others, the prophet arrives to announce that for all their finery and showmanship, they are only deluding themselves. No amount of sacrifice…no solemnity of occasion…no gravity of countenance can make evil good, or good evil.

Speaking Truth to Power

2009-12-07T13:01:00.000-08:00

The political and scientific worlds have been a flutter over the last few weeks after damning revelations that a premiere institute trumpeting the dangers of global warming (or global climate change, as the new vogue term) has suppressed contrary evidence, altered figures, and engaged in a coordinated conspiracy to deceive and defraud the public. Even more disturbing than the lies, has been the response by many in the face of their disclosure. We continue to push forward with the “necessity” to enact legislation that was rooted and justified on the basis of this now-discredited theory. Apparently, the truth is out…but many people do not care to hear it. This situation reminds me very much of what faced Jeremiah.

In Jeremiah 6:11 the prophet says: …I am filled with the LORD’s fury. Yes, I am tired of holding it in. It seems the prophet’s weariness can be explained by an all too common phenomenon: frustration with those who refuse to listen to his warnings. Consider this phrase in its immediate context:

Listen to this warning, Jerusalem, or I will turn you into a heap of ruins, a land where no one lives. This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Even the few who remain in Israel will be picked over again, as when a harvester checks each vine a second time to pick the grapes that were missed.

To whom can I give warning? Who will listen when I speak? Their ears are closed, and they cannot hear. They scorn the word of the LORD. They don’t want to listen at all. So now I am filled with the LORD’s fury. Yes, I am tired of holding it in! -- Jeremiah 6:8-11

Finally, as a consequence of their unwillingness to listen to real problems, the people of Jerusalem were unwilling to explore real solutions.

From the least to the greatest, their lives are ruled by greed. From prophets to priests, they are all frauds. They offer superficial treatments for My people’s mortal wound. They give assurances of peace when there is no peace. – Jeremiah 6:13-14

The unwillingness to listen to truth is a ubiquitous human problem. As we each face unpalatable truths today: the state and relative severity of our ecological, military, national and individual economic, and spiritual crises, we would do well to learn from the ministry of Jeremiah. I do not believe that God has left us without reliable witnesses to “speak truth to power.” The real question is the same as it has always been: Is the power willing to listen to the truth?

What Would God Do?

2009-11-30T07:59:00.000-08:00

I had occasion some time ago to hear a gentleman speak about the small, struggling congregation of which he is a member. Apparently the church has struggled for a number of years. At one point a previous minister stood on the steps of the church building and announced: “God has abandoned this church.” The gentleman relating the story seemed to reject the very possibility of such a thing. His appeal was based on Jesus’ promise that “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” (I assume he was referencing the King James Version of Hebrews 13:5) I don’t know the particulars of this situation. Perhaps this was simply a case of a frustrated preacher seeking to place the blame for his own failures on someone else. Frankly, the particulars are irrelevant to the basic point I want to discuss.

I am concerned by the near-certainty many Christians seem to have that God would "never" do such a thing. Of course, this is a discussion that can degenerate into semantics (e.g., What, precisely, do we mean by “abandon”? Does God abandon us, or do we abandon Him? Etc.) It is not that I think these points are invalid. (In Jer. 5:23, in fact, God speaks explicitly of the people having “turned away and abandoned Me.”) Yet I suspect that such digressions are often pursued simply because they afford a convenient way to dodge the uncomfortable question: Is it possible that God may actively bring great misfortune--and even suffering--upon people (even His own people) specifically in punishment for their sins? If we answer that it is at least possible, what are the implications of this possibility for our interpretation of and teaching about suffering?

It has been my experience that in cases of suffering and/or misfortune—the near-ubiquitous response of American Christians is to say, “God didn’t do that. God didn’t bring that about. God doesn’t do that kind of thing”

Yet the fifth chapter of Jeremiah testifies to at least the possibility that those who were once the apple of God’s eye can so degrade themselves and reject the LORD that they are—for want of a better word—abandoned by Him. Consider:

Go down the rows of the vineyards and destroy the grapevines, leaving a scattered few alive. Strip the branches from the vines for these people do not belong on the LORD. The people of Israel and Judah are full of treachery against Me,” says the LORD. They have lied about the LORD and said, ‘He won’t bother us! No disasters will come upon us. There will be no war or famine. God’s prophets are all windbags who don’t really speak for Him. Let their predictions of disaster fall on themselves!” Therefore, this is what the LORD God of Heaven’s Armies says: “Because the people are talking like this, My messages will flame out of your mouth and burn the people like kindling wood. O Israel, I will bring a distant nation against you, says the LORD…They will devour the food of your harvest; They will devour your sons and daughters. They will devour your flocks and herds; they will devour your grapes and figs. And they will destroy your fortified towns, which you think are so safe…And when your people ask, “Why did the LORD our God do all this to us?” you must reply, “You rejected Him and gave yourselves to foreign gods in your own land. Now you will serve foreigners in a land that is not your own.” – Jeremiah 5:10-15,17,19.

Reflections Questions
1. Compare Jeremiah 5:1 to Genesis 18:23-33. What seems significant to you about these passages? How do you think the first hearers of Jeremiah’s oracle would have understood his message in light of their knowledge of the Abraham story?

2. It is sometimes conceded that God came in temporal judgment on people in the Old Testament, but He has ceased to operate in that fashion since the coming of Jesus. Now all punishment inflicted by God is—according to this argument—reserved for the Final Judgment. Yet if this is the case, how do we explain:

-The case of Ananias and Sapphira? (Acts 5:1-5)
-Paul’s warning to the Corinthian Christians that “if you eat the bread or drink the cup [of the Lord’s Supper] without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.” (1 Cor. 11:29-30)
-The warnings of the Resurrected Jesus:
*To the church at Ephesus: “I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.” (Rev. 2:5)
*To the church at Thyatira: “I will throw [that Jezebel] on a bed of suffering, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her evil deeds. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the One Who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.” (Rev. 2:22-23)
*To the church at Laodicea: “Since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth!” (Rev. 3:16)

Heart Problems

2009-08-30T14:09:00.000-07:00

The book of Proverbs intones: Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. – Prov. 4:23 Tragically, the Judah of Jeremiah’s day failed to attend this most basic instruction.

Despite being murderers, idolaters, thieves, deceivers, (etc.), it would seem that God considered Judah’s fundamental problem to be one of the heart. Five times in this chapter, He addresses the people’s “heart problem.”

Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! – Jer. 4:3
…surrender your pride and power. Change your hearts before the LORD. – Jer. 4:4
…put on clothes of mourning and weep with broken hearts… - Jer. 4:8
…cleanse your heart that you may be saved. – Jer. 4:14
Your own actions have brought this upon you. This punishment is bitter, piercing you to the heart! – Jer. 4:18

Jeremiah was desperately pleading with his people to let God break the shells they had constructed around their hearts to hide their sins and protect them from godly criticism and amendment. As I reflect on the message of this text, I recognize that there is such a shell around my own heart. Like the ancient Judeans, I say that I want God to use me and be present in my life; But is that even possible? What can God really do with an unmalleable heart? What can anyone do with people who refuse to change. How do you teach someone who has already made the decision that they do not want to learn what you’re trying to teach them?

It is far too tempting for us to dismiss our heart problems as regrettable—but not life-threatening. I have frequently heard chronic sin in Christian lives (my own included) excused with the refrain: “Well, what’s it gonna’ hurt? That’s just [insert name here] being [insert name here].” According to Jeremiah—quite literally, everything.

If we repeatedly refuse to address our heart problems, at some point, God will step in and address those problems for us. In Jeremiah 4:23-26, He announced to the people of Judah:

I looked at the earth,
And it was empty and formless.
I looked at the heavens,
And there was no light.
I looked at the mountains and hills,
And they trembled and shook.
I looked, and all the people were gone.
All the birds of the sky had flown away.
I looked, and the fertile fields had become a wilderness.
The towns lay in ruins, crushed by the LORD’s fierce anger.
-- Jer. 4:23-26

Discussion Question:

1. Is there anything significant about the destruction imagery Jeremiah uses in 4:23-26? (Hint: Compare this language to Genesis 1)
2. In what (if any) ways are you hard-hearted?
3. What reason(s) might God have for telling the people to “put on clothes of mourning and weep with broken hearts?” (4:8) Is there anything good that can come of mourning and being broken?
4. Who was responsible for bringing this destruction upon Judah?

Caught with Our Hands in the Cookie Jar

2009-03-21T08:35:00.000-07:00

We all know what it means to be "caught with our hand in the cookie jar." It means that we were doing something we knew was forbidden...we just thought we could get away with it. That's the situation God addresses in Jeremiah 3. The sister kingdoms of Israel and Judah have both been guilty of putting their hands into the "cookie jar" of idolatry.

As I read this chapter, it strikes me that God's wrath was NOT primarily stirred up because of the idolatry...but because of the DENIAL of the idolatry. Consider the following pronouncements from God:

You say..."I haven't worshiped the images of Baal!" But how can you say that? Go and look in any valley in the land! Face the awful sins you have done. (2:23)

Israel is like a thief who feels shame only when he gets caught. They, their kings, officials, priests, and prophets--all are alike in this. (2:26)

Your clothing is stained with the blood of the innocent and the poor, though you didn't catch them breaking into your houses! And yet you say, "I have done nothing wrong. Surely God isn't angry with me!" But now I will punish you severely because you claim you have not sinned. (2:34-35)

Then the LORD said to me, "Even faithless Israel is less guilty than treacherous Judah! Therefore, go and give this message to Israel. This is what the LORD says: 'O Israel My faithless people, come home to Me again, for I am merciful. I will not be angry with you forever. Only acknowledge your guilt. Admit that you have rebelled against the LORD your God...Confess that you have refused to listen to My voice. I, the LORD, have spoken.'" (3:11-13)

Reading from the vantage point of hundreds of thousands of years after Jeremiah, I must ask myself: Has anything really changed? Don't we, as the modern day people of God, all too often deny our own Sin? Aren't our pulpits all too often filled with bold and prophetic denouncements of the sins of non-believers (and other believers) while a deafening silence regarding our own communal sins continues to hinder our prayers and our witness to a dying world?

Currently, American society is still the most religious of the industrialized nations. However, recent surveys have shown that non-belief in modern America is on the rise. The saddest part of this, in my opinion, is that I don't believe this is an inevitable trend. While materialism surely plays a part in this trend, no less does fickle and shallow Christianity. I would suggest to you that the numbers of unbelievers are growing not because our claims are so fantastic...but because our lives are, all too often, so un-credible.

It is my prayer that God is refining His people during this time...that the chaff is being burned away, and that He is forcing both individual Christians and churches to face who we truly are. I know that there are those who are (and always have been) true to the LORD. (Even in Jeremiah's day, at least there was Jeremiah.) But I also know that far too many of us have sold out our ethics and our faith for...what? popularity? money? corporate and/or political advancement? Even as this has happened, we have continued (just as people of Jeremiah's day) to surround ourselves with the external trappings of faith, in the vain attempt to keep up the delusion of our own sanctity. We build buildings. We start programs. We pack venues with thousands of people. We turn up the music. We turn down the lights. We market our faith. We insist upon only hearing "positive messages" and we will brook no prophet in our midst who might challenge our self-absorption. Despite our most strenuous efforts, however, deep in our spirits we know things are not as well as we would like to claim. When will we return to our LORD? When will we "acknowledge our guilt and return to our LORD"? He remains merciful to this day. His greatest desire is that we will come home to Him again.

I ask all of you who read this to pray for me, that I will return home to my Father; And if you too find yourself in the midst of pigs, what say you return with me?

-- justin

Undo by Rush of Fools

Glass Ceilings and Cracked Cisterns

2009-03-13T10:36:00.000-07:00

The oracle in Jeremiah chapter two is quite long. As such, there’s a lot to be gained from meditating upon it. I hope that you will have opportunity to do so this week. What I’d like to address in the devotional is what I see as the core of chapter two: abandoning God.

Sadly, we’re all too familiar with the suffering of abandoned children. We know the empty look in their eyes…and the even emptier feeling in their hearts. There is little that is more torturous than feeling oneself unloved and unappreciated. Jeremiah reveals to us that it is just this sort of pain that God Himself suffers when His people abandon Him to place their trust in other “gods” (i.e., other things)

According to Jeremiah, the people had committed two fundamental evils: They have abandoned Me—the Fountain of Living Water; And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all! (2:13) In the midst of the current economic crisis, I fear that many Christians are discovering that they too have placed their trust in cracked cisterns.

Too often, we allow our faith to degenerate into a product to be marketed, rather than a radical counter-cultural call to be lived out. We expect to be popular…not holy. Eventually, however, the cracked cisterns that we have relied upon to keep us afloat drain out, and we find ourselves at the bottom of a deep pit.

It is my prayer that all of us who find ourselves at the bottom of a cracked cistern now, will respond to this time of privation and testing by restoring our worship of the one true Fountain. So that future generations will not look back on us some day an apply Jeremiah’s pithy and pitiable assessment: They worshiped worthless idols, only to become worthless themselves. (2:4)

-- justin

Memory Verse

Picture of an empty cistern

Additional Thought/Discussion Questions

1. What does 2:8 suggest about the role of leadership (both political and religious) in the abandonment of God? Is it even possible for a large group to abandon God without the willing compliance of the group leadership?

2. How does God’s self-identification as the “Fountain of Living Water” (2:13) relate to Jesus’ promise to the woman at the well to give her “living water” (John 4:10; see also John 7:36-38)

3. God’s anguished cry to the people of Jeremiah’s day included these words: …I was the One Who planted you, choosing a vine of the purest stock—the very best. How did you grow into this corrupt wild vine? (2:21) Have you ever made a good start of something in your life, only to see it fall apart…a marriage…a job…a child? What steps do you plan to take in the future to prevent the cycle from repeating?

It's Someone Named "God" on Line One...

2009-03-09T08:42:00.000-07:00

The first chapter of Jeremiah includes what’s known, in biblical studies, as a “call narrative.” Basically, this is the story of how a prophet becomes a prophet. Classic literary criticism teaches that the call narrative was intended to legitimize the prophet in the eyes of his audience.

While I think call stories probably functioned in this capacity on some level, I don’t believe it was their primary purpose. There were tons of false prophets running around in Jeremiah’s day (we’ll see him have to contend with them repeatedly) and they, no doubt, produced their own “call stories” to impress the people. Ultimately, there was no way for the average Israelite to verify whose call stories were true and whose were made up.

Consequently, rather than being for the audience, I believe that the call experience was primarily for the prophet himself. It was an event he could look back on and draw strength from, during times of rejection and persecution. This would have been important as Jesus Himself said that rejection and persecution were almost universal experiences among God’s prophets. (Matt. 5:12; 23:29-37; Lk. 6:22-23; 11:47-49; 13:33-34)

That being the case, God used Jeremiah’s call to anchor the prophet—from the very beginning—in the truth that, though he will minister to the people, he does not work for them. Ultimately, Jeremiah is God’s servant; And therefore can be no one else’s. This idea may not have been as obvious as we might think. Jeremiah’s world was full of prophets-for-hire who say whatever you wanted to hear…for the right price. Not surprisingly, most of their “prophecies” ran something like this:

Thus sayeth the LORD: Thou art awesome. Everything thou doest is great. Thou has nothing for which thou needest to repent nor make recompense. Thy only problem is that thou hast not enough money and power. Thou needest more…nay, thou deservest more. I, the LORD, hath spoken.

As always happens when the Word of God ceases to be a Truth to be taught and becomes instead a commodity to be marketed, the people of Jeremiah’s day began to “prophet-hop” in the same way that some church-hop today. As his career unfolded, Jeremiah would be ridiculed, imprisoned, put in stocks, and left for dead. The temptation to take the easy way out and simply give the people what they wanted must have been tremendous. I suspect that during those dark days of his ministry, Jeremiah recalled the words God initially spoke to him:

“…You must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you… I have put My words in your mouth! Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant…Get up and prepare for action. Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say. Do not be afraid of them, or I will make you look foolish in front of them. For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land—the kings, officials, priests, and people…They will fight you, but they will fail, for I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the LORD, have spoken!” (Jer. 1:7-10, 17-19)

-- Justin

Memory Verse

The Calling of Jeremiah coloring page

Almond Branches & Boiling Pots coloring page

Before I Formed You in the Womb

Additional Thought/Discussion Questions from Chapter One

1. God told Jeremiah, “Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as My prophet to the nations.” (1:5) Parents, what if you knew God had a similarly important destiny in mind for your child/children? If this knowledge would motivate you to do anything differently, why aren’t you doing it differently right now?

2. Are you hesitant to speak up for God? Jeremiah said he was “too young,” (1:6)what excuses have you used not to speak God’s words? What do you think is a good excuse for not standing up for the truth?

3. God said Jeremiah was being called to “destroy and overthrow…build up and plant” kingdoms.(1:10) How incredible is this!? Do you normally think of individuals with no real money or power at their disposal as being capable of such world-transforming work? What does this tell you about your own ability to change the world?

4. Why do you think it was important for people in Jeremiah’s day to know that God was “watching” (1:12)? Do you believe that He’s still “watching” today?

A New Chapter...A New Book

2009-03-06T08:53:00.000-08:00

Hello again, my friends. After a hiatus of over a month, I have once again returned to the world of blog ministry. However, as I am no longer employed in full-time ministry, there will be a few changes in format and subject matter.

First, I have decided to drop the study that I had going on Matthew. Instead, I will begin posting devotional thoughts from one of the neglected Old Testament books: Jeremiah.

Second, owing to my job situation, I will be posting weekly rather than daily.

Third, since I intend to post by the week, and Jeremiah is a book conveniently divided into 52 chapters, our new reading plan will be (surprise, surprise) to read a chapter a week.

Fourth, for my edification, as well as yours, I will encourage us all to commit a couple of passages from Jeremiah to memory. This is a practice I encouraged when I was a minister, and I found it to be very rewarding. It’s not easy for modern American, of course. It takes time and commitment…but then, most things do that are actually worthwhile. Our first memory verse will be Jeremiah 7:1-11. You can find the NLT translation of this passage here.

Now that we have the “housekeeping” stuff out of the way, let’s move on to a brief overview of this Jeremiah guy and the times he lived in.

Jeremiah ministered during the tumultuous years surrounding the decline of Assyria and the rise of the Babylonian empire. [The kingdom of] Judah passed…through cycles of independence and subjection first to Egypt and then to Babylon. [Jeremiah’s] ministry is set primarily against the background of…the last four rulers of Judah. The nation’s independence was at an end, and Jeremiah would witness the final destruction of [Jerusalem] and the Temple.

I’ve chosen to reflect upon Jeremiah for two basic reasons. First, though the macho side of me would like to deny it, I find myself struggling with feelings of rejection, failure, and shame. Jeremiah seems to have battled many of the same dark emotions, and it’s my prayer that his example will give me insight into how to fight my own battles.

Second, the chaotic society in which Jeremiah lived seems to bear an increasingly-disturbing resemblance to the dystopia in which we currently find ourselves. It is my prayer that reflecting on how Jeremiah lived as God’s servant in the midst of a world falling down around him, will help each of us better understand what it means to be citizen’s of God’s eternal Kingdom living in the midst of the temporary kingdoms of this world.

As always, I welcome your thoughts, questions, ideas, etc. I am always enriched and encouraged by the insights you bring. May God be with you and bless you.

-- Justin

Our Hope Endures

2009-02-03T08:45:00.000-08:00

I heard this song on the radio today, and had to find a You Tube video. I hope it can bless your life as much as it has mine.

Natalie Grant's Our Hope Endures

What's the Deal with the Inconsistent Posts?

2009-01-19T14:41:00.000-08:00

Hello, faithful readers. Well, I must once again come to you "hat in hand" as they used to say. You may have noticed that I've missed the last three days of posting devotionals. In addition, on the days that I have posted recently, you have likely noticed a drop off in the quality of both the posts themselves and the "extras" added onto them.

The reason is simply this: I found out a little over a week ago that my current job is to be eliminated at the end of February. Consequently, most of my day is spent in the search for another job. While I am confident that something will turn up, until it does I probably won't be very consistent in blogging. I hope that you will all understand that you will be prayerful for myself and my family as we search for where God plans to put us next.

Thanking you in advance,

justin

January 15, 2009 (Matthew 15:32-16:4)

2009-01-15T14:52:00.000-08:00

Today’s reading features the second of Jesus’ miraculous feedings. As a kid, this section of Scripture always confused me. Just one chapter earlier, Jesus fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish. (14:13-21) Yet here—with fewer people—the disciples still ask “Where would we get enough food here in the wilderness for such a huge crowd?” (15:33)

I always thought of this as an example of how unbelievably dense Jesus’ apostles must have been. After watching one miraculous feeding of a multitude how they could they still not get it?

During my graduate studies, however, I learned something that helped make better sense of the apostles’ reaction. Apparently, the context for the feeding of the 5,000 was the land of Israel. Jesus was among His people—God’s people; But the setting for the feeding of the 4,000 is among Gentiles. These were folks who were “outside the camp” of Israel. If this distinction is correct, I think it’s a little easier to understand why the apostles reacted as they did. They may have been thinking: “Sure, God showed up to help us before, but that was because He was feeding the chosen nation…just like He did for Moses and our ancestors in the wilderness…but these guys are another story. Who knows if God even wants to bother with stirring up a miracle for them?”

After feeding the 5,000 Jews the apostles gathered up 12 baskets of leftovers. As I’m sure you’re aware, twelve was a number with significant meaning in Jewish tradition. It could be taken as symbolizing wholeness…completeness…the idea that Jesus represents all that Israel needs now and forevermore. Similarly, the seven baskets gathered after the feeding of the 4,000 communicates a similar message for Gentiles with a number that was of symbolic significance for them.

The notion that God might hear the prayers and bless the lives of those outside the “chosen circle” was one that Christ’s followers continued to struggle with for some time. For many it was incomprehensible that someone could be a follower of Jesus without first being a follower of Moses. In fact, this mindset was so entrenched, that God found it necessary to take the step of imparting the Holy Spirit to some Gentiles just to get the point across. (see Acts 10)

Christians today can fall prey to this same temptation to assume that God only works amongst us…that in order for the LORD’s merciful power to be unleashed upon a person’s life he/she must first become like us. Let us disabuse ourselves of the notion that God is constrained by our “boxes.” He is Sovereign of all. It is not our job to bring God to the rest of Creation so that He can start working there…it is to open our eyes to the work He is already doing, and join Him in it.

-- Justin

January 14, 2009 (Matthew 15:12-20)

2009-01-15T08:45:00.000-08:00

Today’s reading deals with the fallout from Jesus’ “Korban controversy” (see post for Jan. 13, 2009). We begin with the apostles asking Jesus: “Do You realize You offended the Pharisees by what You just said?” (15:12)

In reading this, I cannot help but think of the church political squabbles I have observed (and, to my shame, participated in) over the years. The Pharisees thought they really were “the cat’s meow.” Not only that, the apostles put far more stock into the importance of the Pharisees than was warranted as well. The twelve fell prey to the same problem many of us do: they worried far too much about what other people thought.

In response to the apostles’ question, Jesus simply said, “Ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind.” (15:14) This has been a hard lesson for me to learn. I don’t want to ignore the Pharisees. I want to defeat them. Yet Jesus’ response is that they don’t need to be defeated because they are so totally irrelevant. Jesus had REAL enemies to deal with: Sin, Death, Satan, Evil, et. al. He couldn’t be bothered by mere human squabbles.

I don’t know about you, but when I look at the way I’ve responded to controversies throughout my life, there are more than a few people that I simply should have ignored…not because what they were doing wasn’t wrong, but because it didn’t matter. I claim to be a man of faith, yet when I look at how I’ve dealt with conflict, there’s not a lot of evidence that I have enough faith to trust that “every plant not planted by [the] heavenly Father will be uprooted.” (15:13) As we go through the rest of this week, let’s all try to have a little more faith in God…to remember who the truly dangerous enemies are…and expend our fighting energy accordingly.

-- Justin

January 13, 2009 (Matthew 15:1-11)

2009-01-13T11:17:00.000-08:00

Today’s reading deals with a first-century practice known as Korban. Let me say at the outset, that I’m no expert on Korban. However, as I understand the practice, it was essentially a process whereby a Jew could donate something of value (e.g., land) to the Temple. So long as the person giving the land was alive, he was allowed to receive income from it. Upon the man’s death, however, it became the property of the Temple.

So, what’s the problem? Wouldn’t Jesus be supportive of folks giving things to God? Jesus’ problem was not with Korban per se, but with the way it was being used by some wealthy Jews to “weasel out” of the command to honor their parents.

What happened was that when one or both of a man’s elderly parents approached him seeking help because they could no longer support themselves, he would say: “Gosh…I’d really like to help you, but the land/money/etc. that I would have given to you, has already been given to God.” As if using God as a shield to justify their own selfishness wasn’t bad enough, these guys actually had the audacity to give Jesus a hard-time because His disciples didn’t follow their tradition about hand-washing!

It’s pretty easy to see the hypocrisy of the Pharisees in this instance; But I wonder how many times we play the Korban game ourselves. One simple example from my own fellowship (i.e., Churches of Christ) has been the debate over how to help orphans. Some of my brethren feel very strongly that the Bible forbids sending “collection plate money” to an orphanage. “The authorized way to help orphans is by taking them into our own homes,” they say. Fine and dandy…however, I have met more than one brother who holds such a view, yet has no orphans living in his home. Yet, He remains vehemently opposed to “church money” going to the orphanage.

It’s not too difficult to find abusers of Korban “out there.” However, I want us to take a closer look at our own lives and churches. Are we “by our traditions, [violating] the direct commandments of God?” (15:3) Our checkbooks and church financial statements probably offer the answer. How much money goes out to help others in need versus eating out? How much of our church budget is spent on local and/or international benevolence versus on the purchase, expansion, and upkeep of our own building?

Let us live in such a way that when Judgment comes, we will not have to hear the following words: You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote: These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.

-- Justin

For Everyone: The Blessing Video

January 12, 2009 (Matthew 14:22-36)

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In the final verse of today’s reading Matthew includes a small detail of how the great Rabbi Jesus was received by the people of Gennesaret: They begged Him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of His robe, and all who touched Him were healed. (14:36)

That detail struck me today for the first time, even those who only touched “the fringe of His robe” were healed. If you’re like me, I suspect you’ve questioned the power of your Christian witness more than once. Perhaps you’re a young parent worried that you’re spending far too much time at work and far too little with your children…Perhaps you’re an overworked teacher wondering if any lesson you’ve ever given has survived longer than five minutes in the heart of a teenager…Perhaps you’re a member of a small, struggling church that is even smaller in 2009 than it was in 1999.

It’s easy to take such things as “evidence” that we have failed in our God-given missions. My regular readers know me well enough to know that I do not wish to make excuses for our failures. However, before we start beating ourselves (or others) up, let’s make sure that our “failures” are really failures. Contrary to popular opinion, God has NOT called us to fill buildings or start new programs. (Read that last sentence again).

What is the fundamental thing that God demands of you and I? What is the measure by which He will determine if we have succeeded or failed?

…the LORD has told you what is good,
and this is what He requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)

I know many a Christian mother who had to wait a lifetime of heartache and tears to see a rebellious child come to Christ. Over the years there were numerous times that woman must have felt that she was an abject failure…and yet she was not. Even though the child may have only touched the “fringe” of his mother’s faith, in the end that was enough…for all who touch Jesus are healed.

-- Justin

For the Kids: Hem of His Garment Coloring Page
For Everyone: One Touch video

January 11, 2009 (Matthew 14:13-21)

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…The disciples came to Him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.” (14:15-16)

At this point, the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand becomes quite familiar to most Christians: The fives loaves and two fish are brought to Jesus. He blesses them, breaks them, and feeds the multitude. Finally twelve baskets of leftovers are taken up.

Many of us read this story and get the message: Jesus can make much out of little. Certainly this is a valid message from the text. Yet, I would encourage you to realize that Matthew is doing more than simply calling us to have faith in Christ. He’s making the audacious claim that Christ has faith in us as well!!

Some may say that Jesus simply told the disciples to feed the multitude in order to “set Himself up” for glory by being the only One around who could solve the problem. I tend not to think so. Self-promotion is not only of the traits we typically observe in Jesus. I think He was giving a legitimate challenge to the disciples and hoping that they had learned enough about the power of God and the fact that God wanted to work through them, that they’d actually take a stab at doing the impossible. Sadly, that day the unbelief of the disciples was simply too great to be overcome; Though eventually, they did become “more than conquerors.”

My question for us today is: “Are we willing to take a stab at the impossible?” After all, the God of all the universe believes in you. Why, then, can you not find the faith to believe in yourself?

-- Justin

For Everyone: Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand on-line jigsaw puzzle
God Believes in You video (this a good one!)
For the Kids: Jesus Feeds the 5,000 coloring page

January 10, 2009 (1 Peter 2:1-9)

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But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light… 1 Peter 2:8 KJV

You may be wondering why we’ve got a reading from 1 Peter today. The reason is the January 10th is a little known holiday called “Peculiar People Day.” It’s intended as a day to honor uniquely different people. Before you ask, I have no idea where this holiday came from, nor who started it. (From the basis of what I could find on-line, no one else seems to know either.) True, we could simply dismiss Peculiar People Day as simply the latest attempt by the greeting card industry (henceforth to be referred to as “Big Greeting Card”) to sell something.

The good new is that I’m not asking you to buy anything. Rather, I’m asking whether anyone else could legitimately send you a card today. Just how “peculiar” are we modern American Christians? What sets us apart? The people to whom Peter wrote cut a stark and contrasting figure alongside their contemporaries. The Christians of the early centuries were known for their non-violence, the respect they accorded women, the value they placed upon human life, their integrity, et al. In essence, they took to heart what Jesus said: Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. (Jn. 13:35)

What do our neighbors see when they look at us?

What does the homosexual who lives next door see when she looks at you: a bigot who would just as soon vomit as speak to her; or someone who always demonstrates love and hospitality—despite they fact that you will not endorse her lifestyle?

What do the “at risk” kids who get coats at your church clothing drives see when they look at you: someone who genuinely cares about them (even though they may have spikes in their body and listen to music that sounds like some form of aural torture; or someone who is polite to them at the church building because other people are looking, but would not welcome their company at the Friday night football game?

What do your fellow Christians see when they look at you: someone who volunteers to transport them back and forth to the doctor while their car is broken; or someone who merely occupies the other end of their pew on Sundays and says little beyond: “Hello. How are you?”

If you and I are the “living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple” (2:5) What does that say about God’s temple? Is it a spacious marble mansion, or a mere shanty of cardboard and discarded pallet wood?

-- Justin

For Everyone: Does Anybody Hear Her?

January 9, 2009 (Matthew 13:53-14:12)

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Have you ever been rejected? What a stupid question, right? I suspect that if we could poll the entire population of the world, every single person on earth would say that they had been rejected somewhere, at some time, for some reason.

In today’s reading, we have the story of Jesus being rejected in his childhood home of Nazareth. (13:53-58) It’s not an uncommon experience. The people you grew up with have trouble envisioning you as anything other than that awkward, precocious, perhaps belligerent 13-year-old who drove everyone mad! Does that hit a little close to home? (This, bye the way, is one reason I’m such a fan of kids going away to college. They not only need to grow up and become adults; They need to be given the chance to do so, as well.) It can be tough trying to get taken seriously among the hometown crowd. As the old adage goes: “Familiarity breeds contempt.”

What then, is the spiritual lesson for us from this story. Simply this, don’t pay too much attention to your critics. Even Jesus, despite His miracles and obvious learning, had folks who simply didn’t want to believe in Him. Frankly, their lack of faith had much more to do with themselves, than it did with Christ. Furthermore, if you find that you’re unable to “work wonders” among people who don’t believe in you, don’t sweat it. Not even Jesus could work with folks who wouldn’t believe in Him—and, trust me brother, YOU ARE NO JESUS. (Neither am I.)

Sure, rejection is hard. But it’s something that comes upon everyone. In the end, as Paul said, it’s not only irrelevant what others think of us—it’s even irrelevant what we think of us! Only God’s judgment matters. (1 Cor. 4:3-4) Entrust yourself to Him, and all will be well.

-- Justin

January 8, 2009 (Matthew 13:36-52)

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Right in the middle of today’s reading, we find one of Jesus’ shortest parables about the Kingdom. It reads simply:

…the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. (13:44)

For most of my life, these one-line parables never meant much to me. Honestly, I used to think they were a waste of my time. The meaning is obvious, right? The Kingdom is valuable…okay, Jesus, get on with talking about something more important!

In retrospect, I suppose I didn’t get as much from the Parable of the Hidden Treasure, not because I was brilliant and had already figured out all that “simple stuff” but because I was horribly, horribly naïve. Perhaps it takes seasoning in life…getting burned a few times…to begin to understand what Jesus is talking about. Now when I read this parable, I see Jesus talking about a man who saw value where no one else did. What must they have wondered as this fellow sold everything he had to buy a useless, old field?! I suspect this man’s neighbors made the same sort of naïve assessments that I once made of friends who chose to forego lucrative careers in the States to become missionaries in foreign, poverty-stricken lands, for example. As I look at them now, I realize how rich they truly are. They were fortunate enough (or wise enough) to find something of great value early in life and they dedicated themselves to it whole-heartedly. That singleness-of-purpose gave their lives a direction and a meaning that most people can only envy from afar.

It is my belief that not only the is Kingdom of Heaven like that hidden treasure; It also contains a limitless number of other hidden treasures within it. Like Russian nesting dolls, the deeper we move into the Kingdom, the more “undiscovered country” there is. At thirty-one, I am finally coming to this realization and am trying to recommit myself to making “foolish” decisions for the sake of buying that Kingdom field. Will you do the same? Will you join me on this great adventure that is Kingdom life? No question, abandoning everything for the sake of the Kingdom is a scary business; But it’s much less scary if we have the joy of companionship on the journey. Be well, fellow traveler. I hope to see you on the way…and if not here, then at our destination.

-- Justin

For Everyone: When I Get Where I'm Going

January 7, 2009 (Matthew 13:24-25)

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If the truth be told, I suspect that most of us join the church not primarily to be in fellowship with God; but to be in fellowship with people who we trust will love us, nurture us, and forgive us. It comes as a tremendous disappointment, then, when we first realize that the church is not all good, and that the Kingdom values do not always hold sway among those who name the name of Christ. When this happens, two reactions usually follow.

First, we become angry at the church…and not just at the people who may have hurt us. We get angry at everyone else for allowing them to hurt us—As if the entire congregation always knew 100% about what everyone else was doing and they had all placed their “stamp of approval” upon whatever we’re upset about.

Second, after our ire is good and riled up against God’s people, we turn it on Him as well. After all, if we can justify being mad at everyone in the church for the injustices they have allowed, then it only stands to reason that God (Who is the all-knowing head of the church) is to blame as well.

It is precisely at such times, that we need to be reminded of the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds. Jesus tells the story of a farmer who sows his field. But during the night an enemy comes and sows weeds among the field, and no one realizes it until the plants have started to sprout. When they realize what has happened, the farm hands react in the same way I often do. They are angry…incensed…they want justice and they want it NOW! They ask the farmer, “Should we pull out the weeds?” (13:28) To their surprise, the farmer says “No. You’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.” (13:29-30)

We must learn that God’s patience and forbearance is not a sign that He doesn’t care about us, or about the evil that may well be present in His field. Rather, He is patient precisely because He cares so much. To unleash His judgment before the right time, could well destroy wheat along with the weeds; And God has made the decision that it is better to let a few weeds grow than to risk destroying a single stalk of wheat. So the next time you find yourself frustrated by the weeds among you, rather than focusing upon uprooting them, look for little wheat stalks nearby who are struggling just as much as you are. Nurture them. Love them. Water them. And most of all, make sure you do your part to get them as much “Son light” as possible.

-- Justin

For the Kids: Wheat and Weeds coloring sheet

January 6, 2009 (Matthew 13:10-23)

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Today’s reading begins with the disciples asking Jesus “Why do You use parables when You talk to the people?” (13:10) After essentially saying, “I speak in parables so they WON’T understand…” (13:12-13) Jesus goes on, in verses 14 and 15, to say that this is yet another fulfillment of an ancient Isaian prophecy:

When you hear what I say,
You will not understand.
When you see what I do,
You will not comprehend.
For the hearts of these people are hardened,
And their ears cannot hear,
And they have closed their eyes—
So their eyes cannot see,
And their ears cannot hear,
And their hearts cannot understand,
And they cannot turn to Me and let Me heal them.

The thing that struck me as I read this was that Jesus is essentially saying it takes more than raw intellect to understand the will of God. Some of us come from Christian heritages that have placed a lot of emphasis upon rationality and thinking skills—perhaps too much, in fact. Please don’t misunderstand, I’m not advocating that we embrace irrationality as an alternative…but I am saying that we need to hear the words of Isaiah and Jesus. The people they spoke about hear the voice of God. They saw the actions of God. In the case of the first century people, they actually saw God enfleshed as a human being—and yet they still did not understand! They saw Him…but they didn’t see Him. They saw only what they wanted to see, and blinded themselves to reality. (Isaiah said “they have closed their eyes”)

This got me to wondering, “How often do I ‘close my eyes’ to what is right in front of me?” How much of God’s will for my life have I failed to understand, not because I haven’t read the Bible, or studied Greek & Hebrew, or read great theologians…but simply because my heart is hardened and I don’t WANT to understand? I suspect that has been the case quite often. I’m struggling to improve the situation every day, but it’s rather difficult to make a blind man see. It requires an act of God. I ask you to pray for me to embrace that action of God in my life…and I will do the same for you; And together, perhaps we will finally be able to turn and let Him heal us.

-- Justin

For Everyone: Give Me Your Eyes video

January 5, 2009 (Matthew 13:1-9)

2009-01-04T13:33:00.000-08:00

From the perspective of a person who has spent the last twelve years of life deeply-engaged in ministry of one form or another, the Parable of the Sower has especial meaning and poignancy for me.

I have never yet been what would be popularly-considered “successful” as a minister. I’ve never landed the big name job. I’ve never had a group that quadrupled in size in a year. I’ve never had money start flowing into any ministry that I was responsible for heading. Not only have I never measured up to the typical standards of ministerial success, I have all too often been reminded of that fact (both by my critics and myself.) All of these facts have conspired to make me succumb to recurring bouts of mild depression. In my quiet moments, my mind is tortured by voices that whisper: “You’re a failure.” “You’ve wasted your life.” “I told you. You should have gone to med school.”

When these voices begin to croak now, I try to return my mind to Jesus’ parable. He told of a farmer whose desire to make things grow. He was so passionate in this desire that he left no ground untouched by his seed. He scattered seeds in the thorns, along the path, among the rocks, anywhere that his pitching arm could send them. After he had spread all the seed he had, the farmer sat down to watch what would happen. I wonder how the farmer must have felt when he first began to realize that at least 75% of his labor was completely in vain. His precious seeds were trampled, eaten, choked out, and starved to death. I suspect that he was disappointed…perhaps even grieving. Perhaps he regretted all the time he had “wasted” sowing seed upon such inhospitable ground. Perhaps he heard voices of his own: “If only I’d listened to my parents and become a carpenter…” Yet, in time, the farmer would have come to see that although most of the seeds he planted fell to the ground never to rise again…a minority was different. There were a few seeds that sprouted. I have to assume that these seeds didn’t look particularly “special” when they were still in the sack. They looked like all the other seeds. There was no way to predict that these would sprout while the others would fail. Yet here they were, a season later—young, and green, and reaching for the sunlight.

Jesus tells us that those few surviving plants went on to produce “thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” What the parable does not tell us, however, is whether the farmer lived long enough to see just how much his hardy survivors produced. Perhaps he did…perhaps not. Jesus leaves that part of the story unanswered. In a similar way, the spiritual fruit we bear may sometimes be evident to us…but other times it does not emerge until years after our death. The calling…the challenge for us…is to simply take joy in the act of sowing itself. In the act of trying to help things grow. As you go through this day, remember the words with which Jesus ended this parable: Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. (13:9)

-- Justin

For the Kids: On-Line "Parable of the Sower" Coloring Page
For Everyone: Picture 1 Picture 2 Mary Picked the Roses video

January 4, 2009 (Matthew 12:38-50)

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…Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign… (Matt. 12:38) This passage used to bother me a lot. It seemed like Jesus was being inconsistent. Didn’t Gideon ask for a sign to make sure it was really God telling him to drive the foreigners from Israel? (Judges 6:11-17ff) And didn’t the apostle Thomas ask to see the nail-scarred hands of Jesus before he would believe in the resurrection? (John 20:24-25) Surely Jesus wouldn’t have declared them “evil and adulterous,” would He?

After thirty-one years of life, I think I’ve finally come to realize the difference between Gideon, Thomas, and the Pharisees of Matthew 12. Gideon had seen his nation repeatedly brutalized by foreigners. It was nearly impossible to believe that good days would ever return to Israel. Thomas had believed with every ounce of his heart that Jesus was, indeed, the Messiah of God; but then he had to watch as that Messiah was betrayed by a man Thomas thought of as a brother…was shamefully mocked and ridiculed before being put to a torturous death…and was finally buried in a borrowed grave. It must have seemed to Thomas that all the hope, light, and goodness had gone out of life forever.

In Gideon and Thomas we have men who desperately wanted to believe that God still cared…that He had not forgotten them. Yet they had been so demoralized it was almost impossible to believe. They NEEDED a sign. In the case of the Pharisees of Matthew 12:38, they merely WANTED a sign. They were not asking so that they could believe seemingly-impossible good news. Rather, they sought some excuse to avoid what they considered bad news from Jesus (i.e., that THEY needed to repent)

Re-read the response Jesus gave them, and see if you do not also detect a difference between a miracle given to strengthening hope, and a miracle demanded in a vain attempt to forestall repentance:

…the only sign I will give…is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.

The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on Judgment Day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now Someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.

My word to you who feel that you must have a sign from God simply to be able to make it through another day is this: Don’t lose heart. If you’re right, God will provide the sign that you need. If you’re wrong, God will use even this “dark night” of your soul to shape you in His image. In either event, the Lord loves you and He has not forgotten you. My word to you who would simply demand a sign to reinforce what you already know in to be true, but do not wish to be true is simply to repeat the warning that Jesus gave: The people of Nineveh will stand up against [you] on Judgment Day and condemn [you], for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah…

-- Justin

January 3, 2009 (Matthew 12:15-37)

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I’d like to address Jesus’ famous words regarding “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.” (12:31). For decades—if not longer—this passage has provoked fear, questioning, and not a little despair. In order to understand what is meant by “blaspheming the Holy Spirit” we need to keep in mind the context.

According to Matthew, Christ has just healed a demoniac who was both blind and mute due to a demon. It’s important to realize that both the man’s possession and Jesus’ exorcism of his demon were PUBLIC knowledge. In fact, this particular miracle was so obviously and publicly performed that it caused the crowd to become amazed and ask “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?” (12:23)

Enter the Pharisees. They do not challenge that the miracle happened. They do not seek in any way to investigate the claim of the miracle. They seek ways to discredit it. They are not struggling to come to faith; but rather are desperately trying to find some way to ignore the effects of God’s power through the life of this man, Jesus. They are trying to do anything they can to marginalize Him—even to the point of making a ludicrous argument against what was obviously a blessing from God. (i.e., the healing of the demoniac) Jesus responds to them in 12:26-27 by pointing out the irrationality of what they’re saying (i.e., “if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive…”) as well as its hypocrisy (i.e., “if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said…”)

It seems to me that the “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” is a poetic way of talking about someone who willfully defies God in the face of blatant proof that He is calling them to respond to Him in some particular way. Once again, Jesus was not introducing anything new. He wasn’t “springing” some new law on the Pharisees. Consider the following words from the Old Testament book of Numbers:

…those who brazenly violate the LORD’s will, whether native-born Israelites or foreigners, have blasphemed the LORD, and they must be cut off from the community. Since they have treated the LORD’s word with contempt and deliberately disobeyed His command, they must be completely cut off and suffer the punishment for their guilt. -- Numbers 15:30-31 [emphasis mine]

So, when the topic of the “unforgivable sin” comes up, what’s a Christian to do? First, we should quit saying that people can’t commit the unforgivable sin today. Of course they can! We can be just as brazen, contemptuous, and deliberately disobedient as any Israelite in the wilderness or Pharisee of the first century. Once we have afflicted the comfortable, however, we need to make sure to also comfort the afflicted. In my experience, those who worry the most about whether they have committed the unforgivable sin are those who are the most righteous. A good rule of thumb is: if you’re genuinely afraid that you’ve blasphemed the Holy Spirit, that’s a pretty solid sign that you haven’t.

-- Justin

January 2, 2009 (Matthew 12:1-14)

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In today’s reading, we find the Jesus’ disciples growing faint and hungry as they followed Him one Sabbath day. Their hunger became so great that at one point they began to pick and eat ears of grain. The Pharisees protested this by saying that they had violated the law prohibiting “work” on the Sabbath.

Jesus responds by citing examples of others who “worked” on the Sabbath. Under the legalistic interpretation they are using against His disciples, the Pharisees would also have to condemn David and even the priests in the Temple…that is, if they wanted to be consistent. But Jesus realized that the fundamental problem the Pharisees had was not inconsistency. Their inconsistency was a symptom of a deeper problem: their fundamental failure to understand Who God is, and what His law was supposed to be about. He went on to quote from Hosea (Hos. 6:6) and scold the Pharisees for failing to understand the prophet’s message: You would not have condemned My innocent disciples if you knew [or “understood”] the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For the [son of man] is lord, even over the Sabbath. (12:7-8)

What Jesus meant was that not all of God’s laws are of equal importance. There is a hierarchy of values. He preached this same message in 22:34-40 in which He famously responded to the question: “What is the most important commandment in the Law of Moses?” It’s worth noting that, even when given a great set-up to do so, Jesus NEVER taught that all of God’s Law was of equal weight. He consistently taught that some things were more important than others. The Pharisees had come to look upon the Old Testament as an end in itself. Jesus taught that it a means to an end. It was God’s tool to help people become more like Himself. But like all tools, it could be used for it’s intended purpose…or it could be used for other purposes. A hammer is meant to drive nails into wood and make things of beauty. It can, however, be used to kill a person. One use is good, the other is evil.

It seems that the application to Christians today is obvious. Many of us take great pride in being “people of the Book.” Whether that’s a good thing, or a bad thing, depends ultimately on what we’re doing with the “the Book”. The Pharisees took great pride in their learning…in the fact that they knew their Bibles backwards and forwards…that they could dot every ‘i’ and cross every ‘t’. The Pharisees knew how to win arguments and get their way in the synagogue and maintain control over the people. Unfortunately, they never moved beyond the level of gathering spiritual information to the more demanding work of spiritual transformation. They knew the Law…but not what it meant. What about us, my brother? Are we any better than they? Do we know what this means: “I want You to show mercy, not offer sacrifices”?

-- Justin

My apologies, readers

2009-01-02T08:46:00.000-08:00

I wanted to post a brief apology to those of you who follow this blog. The reading schedule I gave out at church and posted in one of my earliest blogs here, features readings for every day of this quarter. I had intended to post blog devotionals through the holiday vacation...but this turned out to be too ambitious. Initially, I thought about going back and posting for all the days I missed; However, I've come to believe that doing so will cause me to fall further behind on other ministerial/family obligations as well as draining my literary energies and probably resulting in lower quality posts from here one out. Consequently, I've decided to simply pick up and start posting again with the reading for January 2, 2009.

I thank you all for your continued interest and encouragement as I bumble my way around here trying to discern how God would have me do blog ministry. As always, I enjoy hearing from you and greatly appreciate your kind words, suggestions, and prayers.

-- Justin

December 23, 2008 (Matthew 9:1-13)

2008-12-21T13:40:00.000-08:00

The story of Jesus healing the paralytic is powerful (to make a gross understatement). However, the power in this story runs much deeper than I realized for many years.

Matthew says that when Jesus told the man, “Your sins are forgiven…” (9:2) some teachers of the Law began saying to themselves: “Does He think He’s God?” (9:3) In a dramatic move, Jesus calls them out for their evil thoughts, by saying “…I will prove to you that the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” He then turns to the paralytic and says, “Stand up. Pick up your mat and go home.” (9:6)

It’s pretty easy to see how this establishes Jesus’ power and authority. There is, however, a much subtler point being made that often gets lost. Part of the problem comes from the fact that we are not reading Matthew’s original writing (which was in Greek), but an English translation. In virtually all English bibles, the phrase “son of man” is capitalized. We translate this because we know that Jesus often used the phrase “son of man” to speak about Himself. In ancient Semitic culture, however, “son of man” was a common way of speaking about any human being. (e.g., Ps. 8:4; 144:3) No one standing in the crowd would’ve understood Jesus to be speaking ONLY about Himself. Notice the crowd’s reaction to His words: “…they praised God [for giving such authority to human beings].” (9:7)

So…am I saying that mere humans have the power to forgive sins? Absolutely! Not only am I saying that we can, I am saying that we must. Had Jesus not already warned the people that “…if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins”(6:14)? We sometimes shy away from the full implications of this verse by saying that to take upon ourselves the right to forgive sins is “presumptuous.” I can appreciate the humility that is being expressed…however, to forgive others is not to take on a right God has forbidden you…but to exercise a ministry and a calling that He has specifically given to you; And in the final analysis, which is really more presumptuous: to grant forgiveness…or (2) to deny it?

-- Justin

Casting Crowns' Does Anybody Hear Her?

December 22, 2008 (Matthew 8:28-34)

2008-12-21T13:13:00.000-08:00

In today’s reading, we find that Jesus has just crossed the Sea of Galilee and come ashore in the land of Gadara. Gadara was a Gentile place…an unclean place. Can you imagine what the apostles must have been thinking at this point: “Why have You brought us here?!” All of a sudden, demon-possessed guys come running out of a cemetery (double…TRIPLE UNCLEANNESS!). They demand to know, “Why are You interfering with us?” (8:29)

We might cut these guys a little slack for their apparent rudeness—they were, after all, possessed by demons; But notice what happens when word gets out about Jesus’ exorcism of the two demoniacs. “The entire town…begged Him to go away and leave them alone.” (8:34) What?! No worship? No praise? Not even a ‘thank you’?

Had it been me, I probably would’ve called the demons back, and said something like, “Fine! If you prefer them so much, then keep them!” But that’s not what Christ did. Humbly, He got back into the boat and went home.

What do we learn from this? Jesus was willing to “intrude” into the lives of others. In fact, He was willing to do so in a powerful way. (When you think about it, the only way a relationship between humans and God can ever start is if He “intrudes” into our world.) Jesus didn’t wait for an invitation to Gadara. He took the initiative to go where His apostles did not want to go, and where he was not wanted. However, when asked to leave, He did not refuse the request. This reminds me of the passage in Revelation where the Risen Christ says: “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” (Rev. 3:20)

Christ was ready to bless the land of Gadara…but the Gadarenes were not ready to receive Him. Perhaps there are “Gadarenes” in your life…people with whom you have tried to share Christ’s blessing, but who show no interest. They may, in fact, ask you to stop “interfering with us.” What is a Christian to do in such a situation? All I can say is, follow the example of your Lord. Be ready to bless their lives at any time…but if you are not wanted, then leave humbly and quietly and go to those who will receive you.

-- Justin

MercyMe's Go

December 21, 2008 (Matthew 8:18-27)

2008-12-20T09:12:00.000-08:00

In re-reading a book by Craig Blomberg, Jesus and the Gospels, I was enlightened on today’s reading. Blomberg pointed out that the story of Jesus stilling the storm is often preached as a sort of promise: Come to Jesus and He will still all the storms of your life.
The problem, of course, is that nowhere does Jesus say that. In fact, He makes a point to say just the opposite elsewhere.

It’s easier to say “Jesus is God,” when we’re not in the boat with Him. Notice how this reading begins. Two different people come to Jesus and claim they want to follow Him. However, as He reveals what following Him will mean…what it will require (e.g., going homeless; leaving one’s father to be buried by someone else and suffering the family/communal shame that would follow such a decision), they drop out. Thus, as we arrive at verse 23, you would think that the only people in the boat with Jesus are those who were willing to make the sacrifices…who understood and accepted the risks. Yet as soon as the storm arises, they become fearful. Jesus rebukes them for having “so little faith!” (8:26) I think I would have laid it on a bit thicker: “Why did you even get into the boat if you weren’t going to trust Me?! Didn’t you hear what I told those two other guys back on the shore? Did you think I was kidding?!”

Most anyone who’s tried to follow God for very long can testify that simply being in the boat with Jesus DOES NOT calm all of life’s storms. Christian spouses sometimes cheat…children of Christians sometimes die…Christians are told the cancer is inoperable…etc. What, then, is the point of this story? I think its basic purpose is to make us face the question the apostles had to ask: “Who is this man?” (8:27) Any good Jew of the first century knew that only God could triumph over a storm. What we see in Jesus is a Man Who—on His own authority—told the wind and waves what to do. He didn’t pray to God to stop the storm. He ordered it so…and it happened.

It’s popular to say that this is about challenging us to a “radical faith.” I’m beginning to wonder, however, if that isn’t a terrible misnomer. The Bible does not speak of “radical faith,” only “faith.” It seems that faith, by its very nature, is radical. If we aren’t prepared to be a bit radical as well…then perhaps it is not faith that we have at all. As you go through this week, ask yourself: “Am I willing to get into the boat with Jesus and sail through the storm…or merely wave from the dock as He sails away?”

-- Justin

Brave by Nicole Nordeman

December 20, 2008 (Matthew 8:5-17)

2008-12-19T06:49:00.000-08:00

The story of the Roman officer (8:5-13) is another illustration of a theme we’ve repeatedly seen in Matthew—the unexpectedly righteous Gentile. We read in chapter two how Herod, the king of the Jews, tried to kill Jesus as a child; While the pagan wise men from the East shower Him with gifts and worship. In a strange reversal, we saw how the Messiah of Israel actually had to flee Israel to be safe; And where did His family find sanctuary? Egypt, of all places! So it should, perhaps, be no great surprise to find Jesus in today’s reading saying of a Roman, “I have not seen faith like this in all Israel.”

Like the earlier stories, the tale of the Roman officer warns us against judging others prematurely. Yet there may be more than merely praise for the officer. It seems to me that Jesus is also subtly criticizing His own disciples! Notice the context of 8:10, “When Jesus heard this, He was amazed. Turning to those who were following Him, He said, ‘I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel.”

I wonder how I would have reacted to that if I had been one of the apostles. Would I have been humble enough to receive the rebuke, and learn from the example of someone I secretly considered “beneath” me? This is a dilemma that faces Christ’s followers even today. I know of an elderly Christian—a preacher, in fact—who attended a special function at a nearby church. Despite his decades-long ministry of preaching, this gentleman became enraged when he was not asked to offer a public prayer during the service…but a local black preacher was. Yes, this man’s behavior was deplorable…but how many times has mine been like it…or at least similar? If Christ were to walk through your town or neighborhood today, where would He find the greatest faith? Would He point you out to others…or would He invite you to come and learn from them?

-- Justin

O, For a Faith That Will Not Shrink (sheet music)

December 19, 2008 (Matthew 7:24-8:4)

2008-12-18T08:38:00.000-08:00

The first four verses of today’s reading should be familiar to anyone who grew up going to Vacation Bible School. Though I sang The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock over and over as a child, I never saw any spiritual meaning or significance to the story. It was just a good opportunity to sing loud, bang your fists together, and drink a lot of Kool-Aid. Today, as I read from the vantage point of a 31-year-old husband and father, I see much more here. Specifically, I notice not how different the wise and foolish builders were…and yet, how much they had in common.

First, they both built houses. They both gave themselves to a cause that was greater than they were. Second, both endured storms. The wise person was not promised—nor did he expect—to be spared the experience of life’s storms. On the contrary, he anticipated them. That’s why he was willing to go to the trouble of building on rock…even though it would’ve been more labor intensive, time-consuming, and expensive to do so. The foolish person was impatient…seeing only the reality of the moment and living as if that moment would last forever; But, as is the nature of life, that moment never lasts.

Perhaps a storm is raging in your life at this moment. If not, I assure you that one is brewing just beyond the horizon. It will break over your life someday. Will you be prepared? What are you building your life upon? What are you teaching your children to build theirs upon?

-- Justin

Praise You in This Storm

The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock (a thought-provoking photograph)

Wise? or Foolish? (a coloring page for the kids)

December 18, 2008 (Matthew 7:13-23)

2008-12-17T08:49:00.000-08:00

This passage evidences Jesus’ heart as our Shepherd. He cares for us. He cares so much, that He fears our being mislead. Specifically, Christ warns us against false prophets—those who would lead us down the easy path. Those who would say to us, “you’re perfect just the way you are.” Those who would encourage us to sit, shade, and take our rest for all is well and the city is at peace. Those whom we perceive as gentle, harmless men and women; But who are, in fact, (whether intentionally or not) sowing the seeds of both their, and our destruction.

How could anyone be so blind, as to confuse a wolf for a lamb?! Jesus gives us a measure. It’s a common sense one. One that, if we look into the deepest parts of our heart, we knew all along. Our actions betray us…whether good or bad. Jesus says, “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.” (7:17) If someone were to look at the fruit of your life, what would they find? Would it nourish their lives and spirits, transforming more and more into the image of Christ…or would it bear more resemblance to the fruit of Adam & Eve?

-- Justin

Click here for some activities for the kids related to today's reading.

December 17, 2008 (Matthew 7:1-12)

2008-12-16T08:19:00.000-08:00

Today’s reading is a gold mine of devotional thoughts. Fortunately, time and attention-span conspire to restrict me to one topic—that of judging.

Let me say at the outset that I believe this to be a complicated (and therefore, easily misunderstood) topic. This is made worse by the fact that far too many self-serving people take isolated passages of the Bible and use them as though they were the only things God ever said on the topic of judgment.

Jesus opens by saying, rather simply, “Do not judge others...” If you’ve been caught with your hand in the proverbial cookie jar, this is the verse you throw out. Often, it’s what we say when we have been called out and we have absolutely no way to deny or evade responsibility for our sins. (I would imagine it is particularly popular around the Illinois governor’s mansion these days) The problem is that as we read on, Jesus says not only that we should “get rid of the log in your own eye,” but that we should do this so that, “you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.” (7:5)

What often goes unsaid in our commentary on these verses, is that Jesus nowhere advocates leaving the speck in your friend’s eye. He just said to get the log out of your own first. To our shame, some of us tacitly agree to act like we don’t see the blatant sin in each others’ lives. We go about our business with a polite nudge and a wink, and excuse our behavior because “we’re not to be the judging business.” Whatever Jesus meant, I find it impossible to believe He meant that! Otherwise, why did He go into such detail about how we ought to deal with sin in each others’ lives? (Matt. 18:15-17)

As you go through this week, I encourage you to do two things: First, take some time each day—preferably before bed at night—to honestly review your actions that day. If you sinned (and if you’re a human being, then you did) don’t make rationalizations. Offer repentance up to God. If you sinned against another person that day, do everything in your power to go and make it right with them tomorrow. Only after you’ve put yourself under the microscope, ask God to give you the vision to see the sins in your brothers and sisters. Ask Him to give you the mercy to use that vision as a way to help them…not a way for you to feel haughty or exercise power over them through guilt. Ask Him to give you the courage to confront your brother or sister with their sin, and the wisdom to know how to do so. Ask Him to give you the patient love that will allow you to bear with them even if they respond to you with threats, curses, and cold-shoulders. I know it isn’t easy. It isn’t what any of us want to do; But as Christians, we must put away our excuses and honestly answer this question: Am I avoiding dealing with the sin in my brother’s (or sister’s) life because I love them, or because I love me?

-- Justin

December 16, 2008 (Matthew 6:19-34)

2008-12-15T07:33:00.000-08:00

Only two days ago, I was blessed to sit down and have lunch with a childhood friend. I had not seen this man in 12 years. Needless to say, we’d both changed quite a bit in the interim. It was, in many ways, one of the most encouraging and spiritually-uplifting experiences I’ve had in quite a long time. Yet, I was profoundly disappointed in myself because even in the midst of our reminiscing and catching up, I was conscious of another emotion present in my heart. Alongside the spirit of joy, I felt the cold, creeping hand of envy…and I hated myself for it. I hated myself for not acquiring all that he had…for being unable to give my family the things he had given his…for feeling as if I’ve wasted my life.

The next day, I read the blog of another dear friend who spoke of the struggle to keep his desire centered on God, rather than on the yellow SUV parked across the street. I knew I had found a kindred spirit, and I posted the following comment to his blog:

…Thank you for “being real.” I find this is a recurring struggle in my life as well. Recently, it has returned with a vengeance. It’s very difficult for me to look at others who have more, and not be envious. I hate this about myself. It makes me feel like a failure…

And today, I heard the voice of Jesus say:

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure it, there the desires of your heart will be also…

No one can serve two masters. For you will hate the one and love the other; you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money…

So don’t worry about these things, saying “What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?” These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. (Matt. 6:19-21, 24, 31-33)

-- Justin

Nicole Nordeman's Legacy

December 15, 2008 (Matthew 6:5-18)

2008-12-14T11:22:00.000-08:00

Today’s readings round out a section (beginning in 6:1) in which Jesus addressed three of the most basic acts of worship in first-century Judaism (i.e., giving to the needy, prayer to God, and fasting). The one theme that I see connecting across all of these acts is the idea of secrecy. This is worthy of some reflection.

Many of us have grown up in churches which urged us not to be secretive about these things, but to do them openly…publicly…perhaps, even a bit belligerently. As church bodies many of us put up signs on our buildings and buses. When we hand out food at the holidays, we make sure to include slips of paper advertising for our church, “just so these people will know where it comes from.” Is it really important that they know that? If so, how does that jive with Jesus’ words here in Matthew?

I certainly agree that we should not be ashamed of Christ. Yet, is there not quite a bit of difference between being unashamed, and simply seeking to shove your confession in the face of others? Since when has standing for Jesus necessarily obligated us to disregard both the direct command of Christ and the example of the One who “[did] not shout or raise His voice in public” (Is. 42:2)?

I propose that we all engage in a little spiritual experiment this week. Let’s do as much giving, fasting, and praying as we can for the next seven days…but let us do so in secret. Let’s simply sit back and see what the result is. After a week, if you should choose to break your public silence, I invite you to share your experience with the rest of us so we may grow in our faith.

-- Justin

December 14, 2008 (Matthew 5:43-6:4)

2008-12-13T06:57:00.000-08:00

I’ve been making a big deal out of the fact that Matthew has a high view of the Mosaic Law. Consequently, I feel I should address a potential misunderstanding in today’s reading.

In 5:43-44a, Jesus says: You have heard that the Law of Moses says, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say, love your enemies!” What the heck does this mean? Doesn’t this sound like Jesus is saying, “Moses taught one thing…but I’m here to teach something else”? Perhaps not. Here are a couple of points to consider.

First, notice how Jesus prefaced the Sermon on the Mount in 5:17-19,
Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Whatever He meant in 5:44, it’s hard for me to believe that Jesus is doing exactly what He said He wasn’t going to do!

Second, Jesus didn’t say, “The Law of Moses says ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy,” but rather “You have heard that the Law of Moses says…” When we actually turn to Leviticus 19:18, however, we find that all Moses said was, “Love your neighbor.” It was later people (i.e., the Pharisees and “teachers of religious law”) who had added what they felt was “surely implied” by the command (i.e., “hate your enemy.”) I maintain that this wasn’t really a case of Jesus vs. Moses. It was Jesus vs. the Pharisees. He was saying, “You have been taught that the Law of Moses meant one thing; but I’m here to tell you that the ‘experts’ are wrong. Here’s what Moses’ Law is really all about…”

So what are 21st century Christians to take away from this? At least two things occur to me. First, we need to be cautious about over-playing the “Jesus-came-to-obliterate-the-Law-of-Moses-and-replace-it-with-something-completely-and-totally-different” card. That is NOT what Christ said (look at 5:17-19 again). Second, we should take warning from the Pharisees’ error, and be VERY cautious about binding on others whatever we think is implied by some particular passage. I don’t doubt that many Pharisees did so with pure intentions; But their pure intentions did not stop them from being wrong. Nor did it stop them from causing a lot of other people to sin, or be given over to heartache and despair. We should all think for ourselves when studying God’s Word…and we should let Him speak for Himself. If He left something unsaid…sometimes we just need to listen to the silence.

-- Justin

MercyMe's Word of God, Speak
For the Kids: Love Your Enemies printable jigsaw puzzle
Love Your Enemies Coloring Page

December 13, 2008 (Matthew 5:33-42)

2008-12-12T21:03:00.000-08:00

Today’s reading features some famous “hard sayings” of Jesus: I say, don’t resist an evil person! If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other too…Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow. (Matt. 5:39, 42)

It’s been my experience that after reading such passages in the Sunday assembly, almost immediately someone will pipe up and say, “Well…we can’t take those verses literally…” Is it that we can’t, or simply that we don’t want to?

Lest I be accused of hypocrisy, let me confess that I do not now—nor have I ever—practiced these commands literally. Furthermore, I have yet to meet a Christian who does so. However, what does that prove? Just because my form of disobedience is popular…that doesn’t make it any less disobedient, does it?

Why are so many so certain that Jesus didn’t mean what He said? I tend to think it’s because we’re afraid that practicing this in its entirety would result in Christians being permanently poor (at least, materially) and persecuted.

For the sake of argument, let’s assume this dire prediction is right. So what? Have we read some passage where Jesus said, “Hey guys, follow Me and everything will be great all the time. You’ll make lots of money. You’ll never get sick. People in the world will love you and say nothing but nice things about you”?

I suggest to you that Jesus was being 100% literal when He gave these commands. I suggest to you that trying to dodge the demands of this passage by saying, “That was under the Old Covenant…” is nothing more than a cop out. I suggest to you that Jesus meant exactly what He said in 5:20, …unless you obey God better than the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees do, you can’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all!
I suggest that a proper response to Matt. 5:39 & 42 is not to act as if these verses don’t exist. Rather, we ought to:

(1) Face up squarely to their plain meaning.
(2) Strive, each day, to move a bit closer to the standard of righteousness
practiced by Jesus
(3) Fall on our knees in repentance and gratitude that God accepts us in spite of
our failure to meet the true standard of righteousness
(4) Get comfortable with Julian of Norwich’s prayer: “I do not love Thee as I
ought. I do not even want to love Thee as I ought. But I want, to want to love
Thee as I ought.”

At least, that’s what I think. What will you do with Matt. 5:39, 42?

-- Justin

This song really sums up my struggle with verses like the above (and with discipleship in general). I STRONGLY encourage you to listen to it and give some time to meditate on its meaning. Somewhere in the Middle

For the Kids: Peace coloring page

December 12, 2008 (Matthew 5:21-32)

2008-12-11T07:44:00.000-08:00

It has long been recognized that Western Culture (and American culture in particular) places a premium on the individual. In many instances this has been a good thing. However, our love affair with the individual has not proven an unqualified blessing. Increasingly, it seems to be little more than a rationale for good old-fashioned selfishness. I would call this “perverted individualism.” What’s the difference? Good individualism asks, “What are my moral responsibilities before God and others?” Perverted individualism asks, “How can I get the most from God and others, while contributing the least?”

Perverted individualism has even infiltrated our understanding of salvation. Many people have come to believe in a Christ Who is nothing more than a “Personal Savior.” They speak of “my Jesus,” “my Savior,” etc. In fairness, such language is sometimes nothing more than a way of speaking with affection about the One who has saved us from sin. At other times, however, it simply masks—even tacitly encourages—the idea that what’s really important in life is “Jesus and me” and—quite literally—“to hell with the rest of the world.”

Such an attitude is not in keeping with the example of Jesus. His relationship with God was second to none. Yet He did not spend all His time in the wilderness or on the mountaintop communing with the Father. Rather, He went to the mountain top for the purpose of strengthening Himself for work in the valley.

You and I are called (and expected) to participate in that “valley work” as well. We are to follow the example of Jesus in being sacrificial, gracious, merciful, etc. Simply meeting on Sunday and lifting our voice in perfect pitch in praise of God, will not secure our pardon on the Judgment Day.

Jesus said: “…if you are presenting [your] sacrifice…and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice…Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” (5:23-24) He is saying that unless and until we can get along with our brothers and sisters, He doesn’t really want our worship!

What is the status of your sacrifice today? Can you offer it…or is there someone with whom you need to be reconciled? Things like reconciliation and repentance are rarely easy, but they are absolutely necessary. If you can sacrifice in integrity, God bless you! I ask only that you take pity on we who are weaker and help us to reconcile so that we may join you in God’s presence on the Day of Glory.

-- Justin

The Altar and the Door music video

Am I My Brother's Keeper jigsaw puzzle

December 11, 2008 (Matthew 5:13-20)

2008-12-10T09:46:00.000-08:00

You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? – Jesus (Matt. 5:13)

Have you ever considered that? What would you do with salt if it wasn’t salty? You couldn’t plant anything in it. You couldn’t build anything from it. You couldn’t burn it for energy. It would be just what Jesus said: worthless!

As followers of the Christ, we’re called to be the salt of the earth; But do we live up to that calling? Recently, I read a review of Michael Horton’s new book Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church. It said that Horton argues a fundamental change has come upon many American churches, and it has nothing to do with whether a church is left, right, or center, part of a denomination or not. Across the board our churches in different ways are adopting a therapeutic, utilitarian, even narcissistic “all about me” Christian message. Reflecting the predominant culture in the United States…we have come to believe that we need, not a “Redeemer,” but a “Life Coach.” We no longer ask “what does God require of me,” but rather, “what can God do for me?”

Do any of these criticisms strike home? Is there an annoying voice in the back of your mind whispering that perhaps the reason our churches seem to have so little impact on society is not because we don’t have enough people…but because we aren’t salty enough? Have we become worthless? Sadly, even when we hear these voices, many of us move quickly to silence them. After all, they sound rather “negative”…and a good Life Coach is never negative. (Just ask Tony Robbins!)

Maybe we don’t need what we think we need. Maybe we need less psychologizing and self-esteem and a little more repentance and holiness. Perhaps we have enough kettle-corn Christians…perhaps it’s time to be a little less sweet, and a little more salty?

-- Justin

Here's a neat activity to do with your kids. For similar ideas visit the ChildFun Family website here.

Salt of the Earth
Supplies: 2 cups salt, 1 cup cornstarch, 1 1/4 cups cold water, paper clips. Mix the salt, cornstarch and cold water in a saucepan. Ask an adult to heat the mixture until it is very thick.
Let the dough cool a little. Then squish it between your fingers until it's smooth. Use the dough to form the letters of your name. Press the paper clips into the backs of the letters to make hooks. Let the dough dry until it's hard. Then hang the letters in your room as a reminder to be the "salt of the earth."

December 10, 2008 (Matthew 5:1-12)

2008-12-09T05:32:00.000-08:00

If you grew up in church, I suspect you’ve heard the Beatitudes many times. As a kid, I generally heard sermons from them that were titled something like “the Be-Attitudes”—because Jesus was telling us what we should strive to be like. For the most part, that made sense to me. “Okay, God wants us to be peaceful, merciful, etc.” I was always a bit confused, however, by 5:3. A fairly literal translation of the Greek is: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” (NASB) I had a very difficult time understanding how being “poor in spirit” could be a good thing. Then during graduate school, I was introduced to a new way of understanding the Beatitudes. Maybe they weren’t so much intended to tell people what to be, as they were intended to encourage them in what they already were.

Remember, Jesus was teaching in the “backwaters” of Judea. His apostles were the guys who couldn’t cut it with any other rabbi. He’s got people following Him from Gentile lands. In short, His entourage was what many of the day would have considered “the dregs of humanity.” There was a popular teaching in the first-century that good things happened to good people, and bad things happened to bad people. Therefore, you could simply look at a person’s life circumstances and know where they stood with God. (And excellent example of this was when the apostles saw the man born blind and asked Jesus: Rabbi, why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins? John 9:1-3)

Bearing in mind that many people thought this way, the words of Jesus can take on a slightly different meaning. Perhaps He is not only telling people what they must do to be accepted by God, but also assuring them that—despite appearances—they are not abandoned by God! In essence:

“God blesses even those of you who are poor in spirit. He doesn’t expect you be a superman/superwoman. It may feel like you’ve been abandoned, or as if God has forgotten you. You may even have Temple officials and teachers who tell you the same, but don’t believe it! They aren’t calling the shots. My Father is…and He has declared that the Kingdom of Heaven is for you.”

As you go through today, be mindful not only of the obedience you owe God…but also of His unconditional love for you in spite of your disobedience. Blessed are we who are poor in spirit, for the Kingdom of Heaven is ours!

-- Justin

The Beatitudes
Beatitudes Coloring Sheet

December 9, 2008 (Matthew 4:23-25)

2008-12-08T18:44:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we saw how Jesus specifically chose apostles who were rejected by other rabbis. In today’s reading, we see the circle of Jesus’ acceptance expand even more. Matthew has already told us that Jesus grew up in the town of Nazareth (2:23). After His baptism and wilderness temptation, He briefly returned to Nazareth (perhaps to pack?) and then moved to Capernaum “in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.” Matthew goes on to cite Isaiah in saying this was “where so many Gentiles live…[and]…where the people sit in darkness.” (4:13-16). Once Jesus’ public ministry begins, Matthew reports that He had followers from (among other places) “the Ten Towns” and “from east of the Jordan.” (4:25)

Though lost to us, the idea that the Messiah of God would grow up in a place like Nazareth…and then spend most of His ministry travelling around a “backwater” place like Galilee would’ve been unthinkable to most Jews of the first century. (see John 1:45-46) No rabbi worth his salt stayed in places like that. If a man was really talented, then he’d be in Jerusalem, where the real action was.

Jesus was really going out on a limb. Not content to fraternize with dumb-jock disciples, and live among low-class Jews, now He actually has people following Him who aren’t even Jews at all! (The Ten Towns were Gentile territory…as was the eastern side of the Jordan River).

Matthew paints a picture of a Messiah who would not be play by the normal rules. He wouldn’t do what rabbis were “supposed” to do. In fact, it seems that Jesus thought many of Israel’s problems were tied to the corrupt class power and religious structures of Jerusalem. When He finally did go to Jerusalem, it wasn’t to participate in that structure…but to tear it down.

“So what does any of this have to do with me?” you may be asking. Simple. If you’re a Christian, I’m guessing that you want to grow. You want your youth group…your church…your small group to grow. Most of us do. What sometimes goes unexamined, however, is how we want to grow. Many desire only growth of a certain type. We desire to grow by adding pretty people…wealthy people…people who look like us…or maybe people that we desperately want to be. That, however, is not the example of Jesus. He went where no one wanted to go and hung out with people who couldn’t help Him or His career one bit. Jesus didn’t try to make His Church “look respectable.” In fact, Jesus and His followers were repeatedly slandered for associating with “the wrong sort.” Jesus taught us that it isn’t a certain type of person that makes a church respectable, but rather the presence of a holy God Who is the only One Who can make anyone respectable.

-- Justin

Brandon Heath's Give Me Your Eyes

December 8, 2008 (Matthew 4:12-22)

2008-12-08T17:10:00.000-08:00

Today’s reading tells how Simon, Andrew, James, & John became apostles. Well…actually it tells the latter half of the story. What I’d like to do now is fill in the first part.

According to my fellow minister, Chris Buxton, becoming the disciple of a first-century rabbi was a bit like trying to get into college today. There were the “Ivy League” rabbis (that EVERYONE wanted to study under) as well as various other grades of rabbis. The young men of Judea would study hard in their synagogue schools and when they reached the appropriate age, head off to Jerusalem to “try out” for discipleship. As you might expect, the best and the brightest were picked up by the Ivy League, the next best went to the second tier, and so on. After all the rabbis filled their disciple rosters, the leftover applicants were essentially told:

Thank you very much for your interest in the position as my disciple. While your qualifications are very impressive, I simply don’t feel that you’re a good fit for my needs at this time. I’m sure that you have a very bright future in discipleship ahead of you. Best wishes in your search.

Sincerely,

The Rabbi You Always Wanted

Once he got this letter, the wannabe disciple had to face facts. He just wasn’t cut out for a life of following a great spiritual teacher. Consequently, he had no choice but to return home to take up any number of “lesser” occupations, like fishing, for example. Buxton’s suggestion was that Jesus’ apostles were basically the leftovers! They were the guys who couldn’t cut it for the other rabbis. They were the ones who got a polite “Thanks for applying” letter.

What does that mean for you and I? I suspect most of us have received been rejected at some time in our lives. How does that make a person feel? Disappointed? Angry? Depressed? Isn’t it good to know that, as Christians, we follow a Master Who never says: “Come back when you have more experience…It’s not you. It’s Me…You’re just not what I need right now.”

Regardless of what the world may think of us, you and I are not “leftovers”. We have been—each one of us—specifically crafted by God, called by Him, and chosen to fulfill His purposes in a unique way that no one else in all of history will ever be able to do. Let us leave the nets of our pain and our past behind. We have better things to do. Remember, for a follower of Christ, the best is always yet to come.

-- Justin

For Mom & Dad: The Best is Yet to Come
For Anyone: On-Line Jigsaw Puzzle

December 7, 2008 (Matthew 4:1-11)

2008-12-06T14:15:00.000-08:00

The story of Jesus’ temptation teaches many lessons. Often, we use it to illustrate that He endured all the same things we do, yet was without sin. If we’re not careful, however, we can cross the line into teaching a sort of “Jesus-did-it-so-you-can-too” heresy; And this, in turn, leads either to self-righteousness (because we actually believe we’re “all that”) or self-hatred (because we fear we’re outside the tent of God’s grace for failing to live up to the standard of perfection.)

In light of this, it’s useful to step back and take a look at what Matthew was trying to communicate. As I’ve mentioned before, Matthew was writing for Jewish Christians. Because of that, he set up some comparisons between Jesus and various heroes of the Old Testament (e.g., Moses, David, Elijah, et al.) Perhaps the most important comparison, however, is between Jesus and the nation of Israel itself.

Immediately after His baptism (like Israel’s “baptism” in the Red Sea – 1 Cor. 10:1-2) Jesus is sent into the wilderness where He fasts for 40 days. (Like the Israelites wandered for 40 years in the wilderness.) During His time in the wilderness, Jesus is confronted not so much with the temptations that plague all humans…but with specific ones that plagued Israel in the wilderness. They complained against God because of the food they did (or didn’t) receive. (Numbers 11:1-10, 31-35). They put Him to the test (Exodus 17:1-7; Numbers 14:21-23; Deuteronomy 6:16). They repeatedly fell down and worshipped other gods in the attempt to secure temporary blessings for themselves (Exodus 32:1-3; Leviticus 17:1-7; Deuteronomy 32:9-18). In every instance Jesus—in contrast to Israel—rose to the challenge. He didn’t give in to sin. He was the Israel that Israel was always supposed to be.

So, if you read the temptation story and think: “This Jesus guy is nothing like me!” you’re actually getting the right message. He isn’t like Moses…or David…or Israel…or even you and I. He’s infinitely better! He has succeeded where we have failed; And by so doing, He has finally made real success possible for us.

-- Justin

Temptation of Jesus coloring sheet

December 6, 2008 (Matthew 3:13-17)

2008-12-05T08:33:00.000-08:00

As someone who grew up in Churches of Christ, it should come as no surprise that baptism is pretty important to me. I have often wondered, though, why our “go to passage” is Acts 2:38. It seems to me that if we call ourselves “Christians”—if we say that following the example of Jesus is the most important thing we will ever do—then shouldn’t our main baptism text come from the life of Jesus?

In today’s reading, Matthew recounts the story of Jesus’ baptism by John. Notice that two things immediately follow Jesus’ baptism. First, the Spirit of God descends upon Him in the form of a dove (sound a bit like “receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit” doesn’t it?). Second, God publicly announces for the first time (at least in Matthew’s Gospel) that, “this is My Son, Who brings Me great joy.”

The next time you watch a baptism, remember the announcement of Matt. 3:17. I’d be willing to bet that somewhere in Heaven, God is saying it again.

-- Justin

For those with young children: Baptism of Jesus coloring sheet

December 5, 2008 (Matthew 3:1-12)

2008-12-04T07:09:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the path of being God’s servant is just down right difficult. There’s no way around it. We find the pattern repeated over and over in the Bible…and yet, whenever I am called to suffer, you know what usually happens? I get upset with God…as though He had somehow reneged on a promise He never actually made in the first place.

Consider John the Baptist. Here’s a guy who’s totally devoted in his service to God. (In fact, Jesus would later say that there was never a greater person born than -- Matt. 11:11) And yet, God let His man eat bugs and wear camel’s hair for clothing. What?! No Armani? I thought God was love.

And consider the kind of preaching that John did. When the Pharisees & Sadducees (i.e., the super-religious folks of their day) came to hear John, what did he say?

You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee God’s coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. – Matt. 3:7-10

I’ve got to figure that sort of thing made John a bit unpopular, and earned him more than a few enemies. The bottom line is that it’s never been easy to be God’s servant. If we’re not making any snakes angry, that may be because they see us as just another snake. It will be a tragedy if they turn out to be right.

-- Justin

December 4, 2008 (Matthew 2:13-23)

2008-12-03T09:33:00.000-08:00

Matthew does more than any other Gospel writer to show how Jesus fulfilled prophecy. Many speculate this is because Matthew was writing to Jewish Christians who were being tempted to abandon their faith, so he had to take every opportunity to illustrate how Christ fulfilled the Law of Moses. Jesus’ life was lived—quite literally—by the book.

We all take “marching orders” from somewhere.
• Popular culture
• The expectations of others
• Our personal desires

Though in these early years, Jesus wasn’t yet old enough to make the conscious choice to fulfill the word of God (e.g., Joseph is the one who led the family down to Egypt) as He grew, however, the Bible makes clear that He was committed to the Scriptures and to prayer. He was devoted to living up to all that His Father had called Him to be and do.

What about you and I? If someone were to look at our lives and try to find parallels in the Bible…would there be any?

-- Justin

December 3, 2008 (Matthew 2:1-12)

2008-12-03T09:08:00.001-08:00

Do you ever make unfair assumptions about people and their motives? Yeah…I do too. Today’s reading should caution against such judgments. It is the story of a baby, some foreigners, and a king.

The wise men (magoi in Greek) were most probably Persian astrologers. Given that, it is equally-likely that these men would have been Zoroastrians (i.e., a pagan religion which was the official faith of the Persian Empire). In short, they were NOT the sort of people that any good Jew of the first century would have expected to seek the will of God—they didn’t even worship the right God!

And yet…there they were…travelling miles upon miles, at great personal cost, simply to seek out “the one born King of the Jews.”

Herod, by contrast, was the reigning king of the Jews. He was the official head of God’s “chosen people.” He was, theoretically, one of the principal leaders responsible for calling the nation of Israel to faithfulness.

And yet…he did not. Rather, he sought simply to secure his own power base. He was so devoted to this, in fact, that he was willing to lie to the wise men, and order the deaths of every male child in the region—just to make sure that he took care of his “baby Jesus problem” (2:16)

As you go through your week, remember that each and every person you encounter is created in the image of God. As C.S. Lewis said:

It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations.

People are still seeking the One born King of the Jews, and He is still ready to receive the worship of anyone who will come. So…Are you journeying to Bethlehem to worship, or simply to wipe out the competition? Are you encouraging all who will to come to the King, or only those you think are “worthy”?

-- Justin

We Three Kings

December 2, 2008 (Matthew 1:18-25)

2008-12-02T14:56:00.000-08:00

Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, is a man we don’t know much about. Many Bible scholars assume that Joseph died during Jesus’ teenage or young adult years (since the last mention of him is during the pilgrimage to Jerusalem when Jesus was twelve. – Lk. 2:41-51)

Though the bible doesn’t tell us a lot about Joseph, what it does provide is the picture of an unusually good man. When Joseph found out his young fiancée Mary was already pregnant, “he decided to break the engagement quietly” because “he was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly.”

In a culture that considered engagement the first-stage of marriage, Joseph may well have been within his legal rights to have Mary stoned to death. (Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22) At the very least, he would’ve been considered justified in “making an example” of her. To have your fiancée pregnant with another man’s baby would have been terribly humiliating. (Remember, angels told Mary and Joseph of their son’s Divine origins…but no one else. The rest of the community was bound to view Jesus as the illegitimate child of a promiscuous young woman, and Joseph as a poor cuckolded husband.) It was an embarrassment that would—quite literally—last a lifetime!

By far the easiest thing would’ve been for Joseph to cut his losses and walk away. We live in a day when far too many fathers take the easy way…the coward’s way out. We need more Josephs—real men who are willing to swallow their pride and suffer indignity rather than pass it on to innocents.

(If you have time, listen to this song. It's a powerful message about the type of man Joseph was...and the sacrifices he made) It Wasn't His Child

December 1, 2008 (Matthew 1:1-17)

2008-12-01T08:24:00.000-08:00

So, did you actually read the entire genealogy? Though this stuff may be horrendously boring us, it was of great importance to the Jewish Christians for whom Matthew was writing. You may notice some differences between the genealogy of Jesus that you find in Matthew, and the one found in Luke (Luke 3:23-38). Though there are some comments to be made on these differences…we’re not going to go there in this post.

Rather, I want to focus upon this weird thing Matthew does in grouping the ancestors of Jesus in “fourteens.” What the heck is that all about? Well…our best guess is that it has to do with Hebrew numerology (i.e., The study of the meanings of numbers and their supposed influence on human life). There’s pretty solid historical evidence that Jews of the first century saw a lot of significance in numbers. In part, this was because each letter of the Hebrew alphabet was assigned a corresponding number. In English we’d say: A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, etc. Because of this, you could add up the numerical value of a person’s name to get their “number.” (Probably the most famous instance of this in the Bible is the reference in Revelation to the man with the number 666)

Anyway, when you add up the numerical value of the name David you end up with the number 14. Since “Son of David” is one of the titles of Jesus that Matthew uses most frequently in his gospel (and the other Gospel writers use very little if at all) most scholars are agreed that the 14 generations thing was primarily about proving that Jesus was THE legitimate Messiah and King of Israel…the bona fide Son of David.

If someone doubted that Jesus was the Messiah sent to save the world, how would you convince them? Probably not with a genealogical list, right? Matthew’s pattern doesn’t necessarily show us the most effective way to evangelize…but it does offer an example of using whatever we can to bring glory to God. Did Matthew believe in numerology? Who knows? What I do know is that he most definitely believed that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God and he would use any opportunity…any avenue…to persuade others of that fact as well. What about you and I…are we as passionate about bringing others to faith in Christ?

-- Justin

If only we'd had this song when I was a kid: The Ballad of Matthew's Begats