Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Love Wins


Love wins

So much angry, pain, accusations, hatred, ignorance, idiocy, arrogance, and basic bullshit (which I believe is the first time you have every read me state that on my blog) came about over this simple book. I suggest first, ignore all the stupidity and read it. 

My thoughts on it are nothing has changed about Rob Bell. He has not change into a Universalist, though he holds to universal atonement as I do. I think the issue is many who read Bell and hate him are those so entrenched in their defined and narrow theological view, they cannot fathom that anything beyond their own understand might be right. They cannot trust God and face the challenge and cling to their own understanding thus remain static and never grow. 

The book is a very easy read. In some ways Bell does not go very deep yet in others if you understand what he is saying the impact of the words like “It’s the gospel of goats.” (p. 180) and how Bell unpacks that statement that make the book very much deeper than first glance might give.  I would give this book to people as a way to help them understand that God is not angry or wrathful but is love. 

Oh, about the hell thing…  my own opinion is that Hell does not save us God does. We cannot go were God is not. Hell is real and Bell broadens what both heaven and hell are. You might not like it, but it even fits the most fundamentalist of beliefs if only those who hold that style of belief understood what they believed. 

Bell opens the doors to possibilities and here is a huge hint. There may seem to be only two choices. 

1. Calvinism 2. Universalism 

But there is a third way. Here is a post I did a while back that might help you get where Bell comes from. And yes, whether there is a hell or not, Love wins. The Bible is clear on that one.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Conversation on Twitter takes more than 140 characters



On Friday 25th March 2011, said:
OK, I need to be careful here. The damnation of a soul is something that should cause us the greatest grief. We sing Charles Wesley's great hymn with gusto and feeling: "O that the world would taste and see the riches of His grace, etc." But OTOH, we should not be blind to the fact that God sees fit, as Judge, to banish guilty, impenitent sinners, whom He pronounces as "curséd", into everlasting fire. If He does not do so for His own glory, then what He has done is at odds with His glory. Furthermore, when He comes to judge wicked Babylon the Great in Revelation 18, the redeemed are urged to "Rejoice over her, thou heaven and ye holy apostles and prophets, for God hath avenged you on her." (v20) and consequently, the many people in heaven respond to this command to rejoice at God's avenging hand, and say, "Alleluia" (19:3)

@weecalvin
1. You seem to lack skills in reading apocalyptic lit.

2. If you read John's gospel you might find that Jesus did not come to judge and condemn us but to save us. In fact Jesus states He judges no one and that we judge ourselves by means of hear His words.

3. Hebrews states of Jesus return 27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Heb 9:27-28 (NIV)

Notice it is a contrast between judgment (which happened at the Cross and in 70ad) and what Jesus will come a do.

Now, back to #1. John is writing in code to show that while Caesar may claim to be King, Jesus is King of all. Much of the image of Revelation is around Ephesus and if you read up on the buildings rulers and other things there they line up to Revelation and showing Jesus is King of all. Also, how do we "overcome"... "by the blood of the Lamb and our testimony". That is not about bloodshed of others, but salvation as noted in Hebrews. If you take symbols and images in apocryphal writings literal, you then get into real trouble fast... and get stupid things like the Rapture and other non biblical teachings. Even Luther and Calvin knew better than to write about Revelation.

Friday, March 11, 2011

John Calvin: His own words on certainty



For those who think doubting and having questions is wrong... should bone up on Calvin more.

Calvin on certainty:

Unbelief is so deeply rooted in our hearts, and we are so inclined to it, that not without hard struggle is each one able to persuade himself of what all confess with the mouth: namely, that God is faithful.

While we teach that faith ought to be certain and assured, we cannot imagine any certainty that is not tinged with doubt, or any assurance that is not assailed by some anxiety. On the other hand, we say that believers are in perpetual conflict with their own unbelief. • Inst. III.ii.15, 17.


Sounds rather Arminian of him.

Monday, March 07, 2011

Is your ministry of condemnation or reconciliation?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt4OZ4wRu_8

Hell is more complicated than you might think

When people ask me about hell, I ask them back, "which one?" If you get buried in the ground, that is referred to as Sheol or the grave translated as Hell so all of us will be in hell sometime. The Christian will not be saved from going into the grave (hell) unless Jesus returns... but we will be saved from the grave (hell) if we die before His return. Another hell is Hades. It is temporal... not eternal as it is tossed into the Lake of Fire (another hell of sorts). This is the Greek realm of the dead mentioned in the NT. 

Then there is Abraham's Bosom which is the abode of the righteous and also Paradise that is said to be those in Abraham's bosom rose with Jesus. Hell is also Tartarus... where Peter writes the fallen angles are kept in chains. This is also part of Greek mythology of where Zeus kept prisoners. Hell is not straight forward as many Christians believe. It is more complicated than just I get to go to Heaven and not go to hell... As I stated, that is even wrong. 

There is also Gehenna where the garbage was burned outside of Jerusalem. Jesus passed through Gehenna on His way to be executed. This is also were prisoners were buried. This is the closest “hell” there is to the Lake of Fire. Now, theologians debate whether the Lake of Fire is to purify annihilate or to punish. It may be a matter of perspective. Yet, even that is stated to be eternal punishment however the word in Greek to mean “eternal” could mean “ages” or “a very long time” or “generations”. 


Monday, February 28, 2011

Romans 12: 9-21 ; thoughts on the Just War theory.



Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:9-21 (NIV)

War is never Just. I often wonder if the Just War Theory is just the Christianized version of Jihad...

Sunday, February 13, 2011

My politcal view




Liberalism should not be a catch all any more than conservatism... it causes unnecessary division and confusion instead of Christ-like unity and reconciliation. It is like having two monkeys fighting over a banana only to mush it before it can be used. In Christ there is no liberal or conservative, no Jew or Gentile, no male or female, no slave or master... the wall of division came down with the Cross... the empowerment to give justice, mercy, life, freedom, forgiveness came at the Resurrection through the Life of Christ who lives in and through those who believe. To make such nonsense over who is right and who is wrong only proves the bible when it states "no one is right... not one" (paraphrased on purpose) and that all our rightness comes only through Jesus. If we believe this, compassion and love will never be confused as liberalism, but be seen as Christ in us our only hope.

That is my political view.

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Ephesians 2

Source

 

Ephesians 2

 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

 11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
  
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (New International Version, ©2010)
Footnotes:
  1. Ephesians 2:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Somewhere between us and them, we are made alive again in Christ Jesus. How we forget that those of us who have been found by God, once were as those who still do not know the very grace of God that saves us. We are quick to judge and condemn the already condemned and short on showing the love God showed us when God called us to be reconciled. Some proudly strut in arrogance missing the humbling point of Grace. No one is worthy of Grace. Not one of us could earn God’s grace. However, God shows his very character in the Person of Jesus who imparts his Life Giving Spirit into us as we humble hear the call and receive the message of reconciliation. All this was a gift from God.

    In some ways we Gentiles have it better than the Jew as we have come to a saving knowledge of Christ Jesus apart from the Law. However, there are those who still today attempt to shortchange those “saved by Grace” with teachings that compromise both the Law and Grace. In fact they turn to “principles” or “rules” or other ways to earn salvation as if Jesus was only the beginning. In fact Jesus is the beginning and the end. We are not called to be a people of principles but of the Living Word who is Jesus the Christ.

    It was through Christ that the Law that separated Jew and Gentile came down. The idea that some are chosen and some are not came crashing down at the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus. Out of this destruction of the barrier of the Law came Grace that united both Jew and Gentile in Christ through faith by Grace. Through this Grace we became a “New Humanity” in Christ Jesus. Jesus offered himself as a peace offering so that those who were near God and those far away could now both enter equally through Him. Together all of us, who once were sinners worthy of death, now have been joined, Jew and Gentile as one people yet more, we have become the very Temple of God.


    Saturday, January 29, 2011

    Radical Grace from a friend's perspective




    A friend on Facebook wrote this in a reply to a post I wrote! Cracks me up! I love it!


    "Radical Grace... The kind that makes real life changes? like the kind of change that could make Eskimos give up fur? or make a vegetarian barbecue hamsters? The kind that could make weight lifters take up ballet? Real life changes? YES!!! Bring it to Billings! Maybe people need to hear the real freedom forming truth! The 'healing' truth! We've been held captive to religion for too long!" ~ Marielynn Penning Shoen

    Thursday, January 27, 2011

    Jay Bakker



    Link to video


    "You may not agree with me, but at least you will
    learn to love me." ~ Jay Bakker

    Just some quick thoughts:

    Powerful. Love covers a multitude of sin... not doctrinal statements... Those often create barriers between those Jesus reconciled and Jesus... Learning to love God and others is the core teaching of Jesus.

    Your thoughts?





    Tuesday, January 04, 2011

    Doing the Stroke

    Doing the Stroke.

    First off I must state I am fine.

    Last Sunday night around 8pm I stood up and realized I felt dizzy. That is rather normal for me, though this time was unsettling. I then seemed to have a sleepiness and confusion that was not normal for me. I decided to just try to get ready and get to work at 9:30pm and still was wondering if I should go to work or to the emergency room. As it turned out, I was more confused than I realized as I drove to work, walked in and had about three people tell me I did not look right. I decided I needed to go to the emergency room and thankfully, my coworkers decided to have someone give me a ride instead of let me drive myself. As we drove up to the emergency entrance I realized I was having trouble remembering things… I knew my name was Carlos, but it took me a moment to remember my last name.

    There was a line, and I felt dizzy as I stood in line to be admitted. I told them I might be having a stroke and they gave me paper work. I began to fill it out yet found my handwriting was like a 6 year old! That was rather scary to realize that as hard as I tried, it was as if someone else was writing. This seemed to clear up a little after a few minutes.

    They then took me into the emergency room and asked me a bunch of questions. I could not remember some things and seemed to be affected in memory and emotions… I receive a CAT scan that showed I did not have any bleeding. I was then moved to a room for monitoring and observation.

    I was too scared to sleep so just sat up and watched TV most the night. I was able to read, though my attention span was about two paragraphs, so returned to TV.

    I waited… I was told I could go home yet had a few more tests they wanted to do. The neurologist felt I may have experienced a TIA 



    Yet, it seemed that some of the symptoms were not as straight forward for me. He decided I may need more tests and it was decided I would have an MRI. Later the speech therapist showed up and I found I could add, multiply and divide, but subtraction seemed almost impossible. While I could not remember the date she was pleased I could find a clock and calendar in the room to get the information. She then showed me flash cards with pictures on it and I knew all of them and was even able to correctly state things like “stethoscope”, however… when I looked at a picture of a hammock, I could not recall what it was. I knew what it was used for, but it took me about 10 good long seconds to recall it was called a hammock.

    I was told around 3pm Monday I could go home after the MRI… and then told the MRI was going to be after 9pm. It was a long day.

    I came home and have no restrictions, though they want me to do some follow up. I seem to be working fine (with the excepting of having some issue with spelling – thank God for spell check!) TES picked me up and we went over to retrieve one of our vehicles from work only to find it had a flat tire. Luckily it was not entirely flat and a gas station had an air pump (which charged us 1 freakin’ dollar!).

    Today I am at home taking care of Ciana who had a fever last night. I am thinking a lot about things… God is good… I am blessed…

    Thanks to all the Outlaw Preachers and others who prayed for me… I know I am well loved.

    Monday, December 27, 2010

    WTWTW? Outlaw Preacher's informal telephone conference




    THIS EVENT IS CANCELED: 
    I read the fine print and realized that there was a cost for those calling in. It was not that specific as to how much so I decided to cancel this until I found venue that was more specific.
    There has been a few heated discussions on Twitter that need to be addressed in a different forum. While I am not sure why I decided to do this, I have at least two topics we should address as Outlaw Preachers. 

    1. How organized are Outlaws anyway?
      1. Do we need any formal description/creed.
      2. If we “join a membership” is that being exclusive and against the “rule” of inclusiveness?
      3. If adopted should it be optional? 
         2. Inclusion without giving more victims to those that abuse. (A debate that surrounds a certain person who claims to be a pirate) 

    Contact me: iggy@wwdb.org if you are:

    1. An Outlaw Preacher

    2 Able to call in Wednesday @ 1pm mst  (Yes, Adele, it is only 1 hr ahead instead of 2... sorry! LOL!)

    I will send you out the details.


      Tuesday, December 14, 2010

      A quick look at the Ten Commandments



      A quick look at the Ten Commandments

      Many view the Ten Commandments as how to live the Christian life, however if one looks at at the Big Ten, they may find something interesting.

      The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17 NKJV)

      1 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.

      At first this one is obvious, however if someone thinks about it, either God is insecure, OR we humans placed gods before THE GOD. Strangely to me if I was God (which is part of the issue I am addressing) I would simply show myself as God to a people (Like a small tribe that no one knew about… probably pulled from some nomadic pagan worshiping tribe) I would slowly show who I was so I would not overwhelm the simple humans… (hmmm like what God did with Abram and in choosing the Jews). My point is mainly this. God could show Himself in power, yet, He chooses relationships instead.


      2 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My Commandments.

      While this seems also obvious, imagine this. God created Adam to be His image… or IKON to represent God to all creation. Then what does this IKON do? They created IKONS in their own image or in the image of created things and worship themselves or creation! Why no images? We are that image… now we are to be the image of God in Christ. In being this image we worship God and do His Will. Worse than engraved images is someone who falsely represents God by being a “self made” image. When we create this false image of self reliance and a being set apart from God the Creator, we create a false god in which we worship. (Rom 8:21)

      3 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

      While many see this as not cursing… (Like Jesus’ middle initial is really “H”… ) This vain usage is much deeper. In fact I have seen it take place in churches I have attended on Sunday as an act of worship! It is in misrepresenting God. It is the act of speaking for God falsely or in a way that is in fact an act of self worship of selfish gain. Imagine that God really needs your tithe? No… how degrading to even think God “needs” anything. To represent God as a money grubbing get rich scheme is only one of thousands (estimation is low there) ways we use God’s Name in vain.


      4 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

      The Sabbath day has always bothered me as I was taught we “must follow the Ten Commandments” as Christians. While I at first had no issue as I went to church on Sunday, I soon realized that Sunday was NOT THE SABBATH… What? Saturday was the Sabbath to Jews. So, how does one reconcile this clear commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy… well to be honest, by either ignoring it… or by showing historically how it changed from Saturday to Sunday… yet, in all honestly I struggled with that historical view… So, what then? I realized as I read Hebrews that Jesus became our Sabbath Rest. In fact originally as you read this commandment it was about setting aside a day for God. Imagine that God only originally wanted one day for us to rest and reflect on Him! However, something sick happened along the way. Man began to worship to day and miss the Person it was about. Still, we go to church on our “imagined” Sabbath, and miss Jesus who is our Sabbath Rest. Jesus stated that all scripture was about him. (John 5: 39-40). As I mentioned, God set a day aside for us to rest… Hebrews 4:9 states that this is now “Today” so EVERY DAY is the Sabbath… as we rest in the finished works of Jesus Christ and cease our own.



      5 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

      As simple as this commandment sounds, what to do with parents who are not honorable? Imagine having the father who beat you, the mother who let others abuse you... Yet, without learning forgiveness we cannot learn to truly honor God. This is a hard one to say the least. Imagine that this was to be attempted originally without the Holy Spirit inside to give us strength! Now we have God’s Spirit inside us to help be our strength. Note I am not saying give us strength, but be our strength.

      6 “You shall not murder.

      Jesus stated that even if we hate another we murder in our heart. The point is not the taking of the physical life of someone but also hoping ill will toward that other person. Likewise many miss that most people do not even know you hate them! Hate can do more harm to the person who carries it than the person it is aimed at. In a sense as we hate others, we die a little our self.

      7 “You shall not commit adultery.

      The idea of faithfulness reflects directly on God’s faithfulness toward us. When we commit to another and then do them harm by chasing our own lust, we not only dishonor them but God. While that is enough, the harm is also in that we break the union of trust and love by abusing the privilege of loving another who loves us in faith we will be only their love. Adultery leads to destruction of families… think about this… here in the Big Ten is adultery, yet no mention of homosexuality. If we were to prioritize God’s way, the Church would realize the greater harm of adultery and its ramifications (such as divorce) and the harm we allow and afflict the church with as we commit this action against our loved one.

      8 “You shall not steal.

      How many ways do you steal and not even realize it. Worse, the church can steal from the poor to line its pockets for programs that really mean nothing in light of eternity. We think of the thief who comes and steals our TV or laptop… but what of the thief of our time? How often when we are on our way to church we pass the person in need? In a sense we steal in so many ways... and are completely blind or worse see it and ignore it.

      9 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

      This is the age of the so called discernment ministries. However, while many are great resources, most are two bit gossip operations that bear false witness against their brothers and sisters in Christ… let alone their neighbor. While these fine people fight for truth, they use the tools of this world to lie, distort, and twist the truth to fit their “biblical” world view and in the end fall short of keeping this very commandment. We also may not realize that we do this to others. That homeless person may be a drunk; however, does that give you the right to ignore their plight or hurt? We state the poor need to “just get a job”, most often using our own work ethic as the standard they should meet! Might we forget that there is One who has a much greater work ethic than we ever would have… in fact he gave His Life to His work so we could rest in it! Bearing false witness also degrades the other as the IKON of God they are intended to be.

      10 “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.”

      Paul stated this was the one commandment that got him. This one has bothered me for years, as it seems to make the “wife” on the same level as servants, houses, or livestock! Meaning, women are reduced property! Yet, while that may seem how it originally comes across, it is actually saying the opposite. If we covet we reduce people to property and degrade them. If we do not covet we are not degrading women or our neighbor in general. We are to edify and lift each other up not degrade each other by objectifying each other.


      While we may not be able to “live by the Law” we also cannot gain righteousness by it, we see it seems to point to Jesus who did live it and how far we fall from the perfection of what the Law demands. In that shortness we find grace in our failings… not condemnation. We find that in Jesus these things are what is now being written on our hearts.

      Thursday, November 25, 2010

      Ephesians 1:7- 23

       

      Ephesians 1:7- 23

      7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
       11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
       15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. (NIV)


      “In Him” is the point I cannot drive home enough. Other phrases such as “His Blood”, “He made”, “His will and “He purposed “ shows over and over what we contribute to the equation of our salvation, and that being nothing! It was at the “fullness of time” or in perfect timing that Jesus came to gather both the “heavenly things” as well as the things on earth all back “in Him”.

      Verse 11 once again starts with “In Him” and presents what we obtain being “in Him”. You who are “in Christ” obtained an inheritance as an adopted son! You see while the natural son might be disowned, yet the adopted son was never natural, but placed in the family and instated by decree of the family that the adopted was now a natural child. The predestination is not some pre-existing clause that somehow initiated you to be created “saved” and some not… and then just one day come to that realization as some Reformed traditions promote. Rather, that according to “His Will” those, “as verses 12 and 13 state, “who “trusted” to accept the counsel of “His Will” after having heard the word of truth would become not only sons, but be the “praise of His glory.

      The Glory… is Jesus! (John 17:5) We in Christ are His praise unto the Father for what the Father does in and through Jesus! Now we in turn become the glory unto God through Jesus (John 17:10). Now how does this take place? Through trust! Trust is the responsive action based on having faith and belief in the other, who in this case is God in Christ… and then you are placed “in Christ”! Another note some miss is that the “gospel of your salvation” is not a set of doctrines but rather a person as Paul states “you were included in Christ when you heard” Often the gospel is represented by a series of events, and in some way this is true. However, here Paul is clear that salvation is the Person of Jesus Christ as you were placed “in Christ” when you heard, responded and believed on Jesus.

      In verses 13-14 the Holy Spirit is finally mentioned filling out the whole of the Trinity as far as being mentioned. Here Paul states in verse 13 has place the Holy Spirit on you as a seal! A holy seal or decree that shows God Himself seals us. This concept of the “seal” is that of the kings ring which would be leave the insignia of the king on a royal letter in the wax that sealed the letter. The Holy Spirit is that seal that shows we are of the King Himself. The Holy Spirit is given as proof of ownership of sorts and proof that we are His until God redeems those who become His possession, to the praise of His Glory.

      Paul spoke of those faithful in Ephesus as the “praise of His Glory”. So as Paul hears of their faith in turn gives thanks to God for their faith, even stating they are mentioned in his prayers. Paul prays that the may also receive the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him [Jesus]. Sadly, many traditions today have cut believers off from revelation and reduce it to experientialism (as if experiencing God is a bad thing) or worse claim it to be some sort of occult majick  or Gnosticism. Yet, Paul (who is writing scripture knowingly or not) teaches this as a good thing as he himself prays the believers receive these things. Paul prays “that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you”. Enlightenment is given that you may know gain understanding in relation to revelation that leads to hope. This enlightenment that leads us to hope can only come by revelation from God through the Holy Spirit.

      To grasp the flow to this one might chart it out like this

      1. Understanding the calling that was heard at salvation leads to
      2. Enlightenment unto hope leads to…
      3. The Hope in you were called to… leads to…
      4. Stronger belief in Jesus which leads you to…
      5. The Power of God that raised Jesus from the dead…

      This power also raised you! It made you a new creation… yet also power in that the Kingdom of God has and is coming down to us. All authority and power is not Jesus as he rules over His Body… the Church. However, this rule and authority is different that just a king to his kingdom. This is a King to His own Body… it is relational… and in His Body, which is the Church the fullness of Christ fills everything… that includes you who are “in Christ”.

      Tuesday, November 23, 2010

      A question to consider

       
      What if the people we believe do not fit into our theology, do in fact fit into God's theology?
      I am looking at this question as what we hold may be true but not complete... so being open to the possibility that God has more than what we now believe that pulls us ever deeper into Who God is, and who we are in Christ. To close off God with a sealed theology turns faith into religion that keeps God at bay and only allows hope in appeasing His anger. That is not growing in Love, but perishing in fear.
       
       

      Sunday, October 24, 2010

      Ephesians supplemental: Understanding “In Christ”



      Ephesians supplemental: Understanding “In Christ”

      The first thing one must comprehend in reading Ephesians is to understand what the phrase “in Christ” means. This phrase comes in a few different variants such as, “in Him”. “in Christ appears six times with variants “in Him” used four times. As you can see just in the 23 verses in the first chapter this phrase is used so often it must contain some significance.

      To begin to understand the significance we must go to Genesis chapter seven and the creation of Adam. We see Adam is created/formed from the dust of the earth and that being the finiteness of creation itself as there is nothing as fleeting as dust. Dust can be moved by the wind yet in itself cannot even hold a seed to grow anything properly. Then, God breathes His Life giving Breath (which can be translated also as Spirit) into Adam. Note it never states an animal is “breathed into” though they contain the life giving breath, but Adam is more than a mere creature creation. It appears significance is placed on the idea that Adam was not only breathed into the Spirit of Life, but also that Adam became a living “being”.

      We humans have a sense of being that may not be experience n the animal kingdom. We have a clear sense of self beyond the physical needs. We have a keen sense to ask questions beyond survival questions. We ask higher questions such as our purpose, - a monkey knows his purpose! Eat, poop, procreate, fight and die. I doubt they ask, “Why me?” when they die, or that they ponder their existence as having purpose as they gasp their last breath… but humans consider their “being” as they live as well as when they die.

      Now in Genesis 2:8 it states; “Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.” If one takes note they will notice that God placed Adam in the garden. The Garden is symbolic of Jesus Christ. So, we see a picture of Adam, the newly created man, placed in the Garden the idea of the New Man being placed “in Christ” at his birth.

      Romans 6: 3.  Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death

      We see in this verse the idea that we were “baptized into Christ Jesus”. Now, we can thank good ole King James for creating a bit of confusion by imposing his phobia of bathing into our translations in English. Baptism simply means “immerse”. While I cannot find a credible source, I understand that King James had a phobia of water, so bathing was terrifying to him. So, in deference to King James the translators used the transliteration or “baptizmo” when they simply could have used “immersed”. So the phrase “baptized into Christ Jesus simply means we are immersed/placed into Christ Jesus as Adam was immersed/placed into the Garden. I have always found it strange that even today, most translators use a transliteration of a word that can be translated…, but I digress. If one simply reads this verse as “immersed into Christ Jesus” much of the confusion of ritual drops off and the meaning becomes easier to grasp. Another verse states this concept as “put on the new self” (Ephesians 4: 32) as well as being “clothed in your heavenly dwelling (2 Corinthians 5:2) or that those “who were baptized (immersed) into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Galatians 3: 27).

      In Christ, we have been equipped to do all God has prepared for you to do (Hebrews 13:21-22)!  In fact, 2 Peter 1: 3 states, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” The point being, that everything we need is in the Person of Jesus Christ. We come to Jesus with nothing, and God gives us everything “in Christ” and we gain all! Jesus becomes our very all. Jesus becomes our very life, for He is Life eternal. Jesus becomes our dwelling place in which we live out this life eternal. One way to understand this idea is we have died to this world’s reality at the Cross and are born into the New Reality at the Resurrection. While we maintain a citizenship in this world we are no longer of it, but born of the heavenlies. Still another way to express this idea is the idea of the Kingdom. We die to our own kingdom and now live in God’s Kingdom that is eternal. To be “in Christ” means we live in the total dependency and trust in all Jesus has done and is now doing. As Major Ian Thomas often stated, “He who gave His Life for you, gave His Life to you to Live His Life Through you.” If one begins to understand this concept, one realizes it is all Jesus and none of me. One should soon realize that there is no hierarchical idea here... it is very much relational and this relationship is very much one sided.

      Reference: All translations are NIV

      Wednesday, October 20, 2010

      Ephesians 1: 1-8 Grace and Peace and being ‘in Him”


      Ephesians 1

       1.  Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,   To the saints in Ephesus,  the faithful  in Christ Jesus:
       2.  Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
       3.  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4.  For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5.  he  predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- 6.  to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8.  that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. (NIV)
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Ephesians 1: Grace and Peace and being ‘in Him”

      One must never underestimate the wisdom of Paul as he opens with what seems to be a rather plain opening. Most might read over or even skip the greetings as it seems nothing is really being taught. However, Paul first establishes that he is indeed more than some self appointed teacher. In fact the first thing Paul establishes is not only is he “an apostle of Jesus Christ” but also “by the will of God” to show that this letter is not written by Paul’s authority, but by the will of God through the authority of Jesus Christ. One should note that a seemingly simple opening statement sets this letter apart in authority than the letters of Ignatius or Polycarp. Paul then continues with whom he is addressing and that being the “the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus.” I want to draw your attention the simple but profound phrase, “in Christ Jesus.” This phrase will appear over and over in this letter in different forms mostly being “in Christ”. In my opinion, this is the main thought Paul is addressing as he unfolds many attributes of what being “in Christ” is about. While many focus on some sort of pre-existing plan of God where God chooses some for salvation and other for damnation, I see that instead, the plan was Jesus Christ Himself and all creation to be “in Christ” and returned to its original glory, yet not just that, beyond that Glory, and into an all new glory. We will continue with this thought a bit more as we address other versus to come.

      “Grace and peace” states Paul, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” sounds again like a mere and rather inornate greeting, yet here Paul address again that this letter is not coming from just his own self interest, but “from God our Father and Jesus Christ.” Not only is this no mere greeting but Paul states that Jesus “has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessings in Christ.” Again, notice that phrase “in Christ”.

      Here we come on the idea predestination. While many seem to focus on the idea that “we were chosen” I have seen over the years a lack of the understanding or insight on the phrase “in Him” which is another restatement of “in Christ”. We see in verse 4, that the Father has chosen us “in Him” (Jesus) before creation. I hold out the idea that it was not at that time God chose Tommy to inherit the Kingdom and Bill to burn in hell, rather that the eternal plan of salvation was set in plan before creation. In a sense God knew that humanity might fall and choose his own path apart from God, yet also set in motion the plan to teach and redeem humanity “in Christ.” Meaning; Jesus Christ was THE PLAN before creation for the redemption of creation. Part of this reasoning is based on the idea that we are not mentioned as “sons”; meaning the Elect being already saved before creation because they were already chosen, rather that we were planned to be “adopted as sons”. If we were created to be saved, then there would be no need for adoption. We would only retain what was there all along. However, our own sonship was lost in the Garden and in our own desire to be like God and decide what is good and what is evil without God. Again, to assume one was already saved before creation as some present assumes that one was not truly lost or in need of salvation. The assumption that we were sons apart fro adoption also usurps the singular and important position of Jesus being the Only Begotten Son. My point to be clear is that no one is saved before creation; only the potential for salvation was set in the Person of Jesus before creation. That “in Christ” we are predestined, yet if we are not “in Christ” we will not fulfill our predestination of salvation. For a person to claim they were saved before creation in my opinion seems presumptuous and rather overlooking the importance of being in “the Only Begotten Son”. To begin to grasp “in Christ” helps one regain the perspective that apart from Jesus there is no salvation and that only “in Christ” we have salvation.

      Next we see “in Him we have the redemption of through His blood and forgiveness of sins. We see repeatedly Paul speaking of the “glorious grace of God” to emphasize that it is by grace we are saved, not by works, or by even some pre-existing pre-salvation. It is only by the “blood of Jesus” we are saved. This was the eternal plan that was before creation. This salvation as Paul re-emphasized, “has been freely given us in the One He loves.” To rephrase that as the grace of God has been freely given “in Christ” because God loves Jesus Christ His Son. While it is true that God loves you and me, God’s sight is on His Son more than on us. God’s sight is on us only as we are “in Christ.”

      On point I would like to draw out is a phrase that if translated one way emphasizes on thing one way and another thing if translated slightly differently. The phrase in verse 7 a phrase is translated as “we have”. This translation emphasized the human side of the equation which is there, yet as I look at alternatives in how this could be translated I see a better rendering might be, “conceived”. The verse in my estimation should read; “In him was conceived redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace…” While we do have redemption, I see that this better brings out the eternal plan as being in Jesus Christ before creation and not about what “we have”. The idea of salvation was “in Christ”. The idea of salvation was conceived “in Christ” and out of that we received salvation by His Blood which brought forgiveness of sins which opens the door to eternal Life by the power of the Resurrected life of Jesus Christ.  The idea being brought forth is that salvation and redemption were present as ideas in the Person of Jesus Christ even before the creation of all things.

      To be continued:

      Introduction to Ephesians



      Introduction to Ephesians:

      I have been sorting through ideas for new blog posts and have come to realize that maybe I should start a new installment on a book of the bible. Ephesians has been calling out to me for some time though as I read chapter one and two I find myself overwhelmed with the thoughts. Ephesians is a book that reminds me of wading through a NT Wright book. NT Wright can write one sentence with more content than most writers can introduce in a whole book! In a real way I look at what Paul has done with Ephesians as something that might take more time to unpack than Romans and Galatians combined. For me though, Ephesians is a book that contains more powerful truth than some of Paul’s other letters. That is not to say the truth contained in Paul’s other letters are lesser in truth, only that what Paul is teaching in Ephesians seems to reach deeper in to revelation and relational teaching that most realize. In some ways other writings of Paul are more practical while Ephesians seems to reach into Heaven and bring down bits and pieces of truth that may find some readers to feel the ideas are rather intangible if not out of reach of mere mortals. I hope to bring out points that I have been blessed with understanding and as we (the read and myself) humble push forward, that God may bless us both with something new to us, yet ancient in truth.

      Ephesus was a city of commerce and a major port in the Mediterranean for trade in the ancient world. Ephesus is located in what we now call Turkey.  There is much history in Ephesus from St. Luke’s grave where companion of Paul and writer of the Gospel of Luke was martyred and burred, to temple to the goddess Artemis (who in Greek mythology was the twin sister of Apollo as well as the daughter of Zeus and Leto). Not to mention this was the place Domitian built a temple to honor himself and accept worship as Caesar. Domitian may be the very person in which much of what the Apostle John wrote about as John spent time in Ephesus and was also exiled from Ephesus the Island of Patmos that is only a little over 60 miles away. If one reads the Book of Revelation, they might see that as John unfolds his vision, John describes such places as the Prytaneion as the place of the 24 elders in which the regional administrators would sit before Domitian. John replaces the earthly lord Domitian with the Heavenly Lord of All in the very seat. Again, if one reads the book of Revelation many scenes in Ephesus such as the decree to take the mark 666 in order to buy or sell in Ephesus may sound familiar. It may be a key to understanding the Book of Revelation as Ephesus is the very first church mentioned in the Book of the Revelation and called out on Ephesus is also the place where John returned after his exile and wrote the Gospel of John. John’s grave is also in Ephesus and in the Middle Ages considered to be a holy structure.

      The Apostle Paul, who also lived in Ephesus for a time wrote about Ephesus, as we will read later, Paul calls out by name the silversmith Demetrius as there was the fear of loss of income by those who made idols as people turned from paganism to Christianity. Another point of interest as the popular cult of Diana seems to have been replaced by the cult of the Virgin Mary.

      The Letter of Paul called the book of Ephesians is considered one of the “prison” letters as Paul was written during his imprisonment. If there be one theme to consider, Charles Rye sums it up as we go through Ephesians, is “God’s eternal purpose to establish and complete His Body the church of Christ.” (Ryrie NIV study Bible) Jon Stott in his book on Ephesians states the basic theme this way. “We are the family of God the Father, the body of Jesus Christ his Son and the temple or dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.” (Stott p. 25) Stott also puts forth the main message is “adumbrated in the apostle’s opening salutation: Greece to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”. While this may seem like a common greeting, and as Stott points out even a “Christianized” version of the Greek and Hebrew written greetings, there is nothing common about this introduction… for the key word of Ephesians are “Grace” and “Peace” which are found in not only in the concept of being “in Christ” but in the very Person and message of Jesus that was set forth even before creation.

      References:

      1. Ring, T., Salkin, R., & La Boda, S. (1996). International Dictionary of Historic Places: Southern Europe. Available from http://books.google.com/books?id=74JI2UlcU8AC&pg=PA217&lpg=PA217&dq=prytaneion+and+revelation&source=bl&ots=jtvPbCr2LK&sig=CLk1DEfhAS2LUflLoxooNHKjvOE&hl=en&ei=6qa-TNvWCYSnnAfi4vGJDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=prytaneion%20and%20revelation&f=false.

      2. R. W. Stott, J., The Bible Speaks Today: The Message of Ephesians (Inter Varsity Press, Leicester, England. Downers Grove, Illinois, U.S.A. 1979)


      Thursday, October 14, 2010

      I've got to ramble on



      So once again I am taking a few days/weeks between blog posts. I could say I don’t have much to say, however I seem to have tons on my mind. The issue is that I am having problems organizing thoughts to better able write them. Why? Not sure. Could be new job with upside down hours—yet that was happening before then. I am done with school for now, though I want to keep going. I am not sure about the hours of work and being able to adequately do quality work that school demands. So, I am working, sleeping, and trying to regain health, which btw seems to be coming back well, though I still do not have the stamina I hoped to by now. I have lost about 60+ lbs since my gastric bypass surgery so in that way I am very happy. Clothes that were tights now hang loosely on me. I tried on one shirt that actually was tight that now hangs down on the shoulders!

      I finally finished The Shack… I know been a while since it was published. Personally I don’t see the big issue about it… unless one is so boxed into their theology they cannot understand a work of fiction! And I suppose that is what many have going on with them. I found it enchanting and a reflection of my own journey and conversations with God… I can understand those who use their theology to keep God at arms length would have much trouble sorting though the book, however I found many who have found rest and peace in the Grace of God embrace the book and understand what it is about. OK… I admit that this sounds a bit harsh… but sometimes I just want to toss out the truth for people as I see it.




      Sometime I suppose I will write a review on it, but there are many out there… and the negative ones, really… don’t bother…. They are simply unable to release God to be God and seek to use their theology to put people who the book is freeing in bondage to religion. As I realized on my new job when a person called and asked me to fix his account and while I was doing so go angry with me and cursed me and then hung up… you can only help people as much as they let you… you or I cannot control anyone else. In fact if you do, then you are being God in their life and usurping God from doing His job… in fact you are trying to create that other person in YOUR image instead of letting the Holy Spirit transform them into the Image of Jesus… think about that for a while… if you disagree, the really, may God help you realize what you are doing.

      For me, relationship is what faith in Christ is all about. If a relationship is based on anything but love, then there is no REAL relationship. If someone is bound to another by Law or doctrines or religion and it is all about rules, the it is not about relationship with the Creator, but about relationship with the Law, religion and rules. (Go back and read that a couple of times before you post a comment in anger.)

      Meanwhile I am now reading The Saving Life of Christ by Major Ian Thomas… strangely while I have listened to hours of the Major’s preaching, I have yet to finish one of his books. It is not that he is a bad writer, but that it seems whenever I do try to read one, another book is sent for me to read and write a review on. Saying that, expect a review on Jonathan Brinks’ new book (you can listen to the podcast here) Discovering the God Imagination.








      If you want some great new music... try out Robert Plant's Band of Joy album... some great surprises on that release... in fact been listening to it as I wrote this... it may become habit forming. 












      Well, as you can see this is sort of a rambling post… maybe after this one, I can get more focused…




      Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Book Publishers as part of a Book Review Blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”