. . . are you not of the flesh, and behaving like ordinary men? (I Corinthians 3:3).
It has been a busy harvest season, and we in the upper Midwest have to get ready for winter. Other responsibilities, as well, have left me with a huge writing block, so I apologize for writing with much less frequency than I should. The way one breaks through a writing block is to write, so that is what I am doing.
This is a little desperate, but I saw this quote by Joseph Heller in the Jewish World Review this morning that made me laugh--and it is true. I thought it to be worthy of sharing with you: Some men are born mediocre. Some men achieve mediocrity. And some men have mediocrity thrust upon them. How has it come to you?
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
NOTES ON HOW THE GOSPEL CHANGED THE WORLD
.How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news! (Romans 10:15).
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sigh to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord (Luke 4:15-18).
For God so love the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through him (John 3:16-17).
My thoughts have not been refined on this topic so they might sound a little awkward when you read them--feel free to comment, though I'm sure that Husker Red will comment in any case.
Literally, the word "gospel" means, "Good message." Now what is a good message to some is not a good message to others. Those who have a vested interest in keeping things as they are do not welcome a message that can be life-changing! When a member of a dysfunctional family begins to act positively and bring about change in the family, one other member of the family will always undermine and sabotage the functioning family member so that nothing will really change.
It is important to understand that concept as I talk about how the gospel changed the world. Significant positive change will never happen without opposition, so it is understandable that the first Christians faced great opposition and persecution as they began to live their lives for Christ.
But the gospel about Jesus Christ really did change the world! I have been perusing a book my son Paul gave me called, The Rise of Christianity by Rodney Stark. Having been through a Bible College church history class and a seminary church history class, I thought I knew a lot about church history, but Dr. Stark gave me a few things to think about. My thoughts written here are reflections from reading his book.
The first Christian missionaries first went to the Greco-Roman cities. Because city walls were expensive to build, they limited expansion. Thus, the population behind them became very dense with densities approaching modern-day Calcutta and Bombay. Add to that the animals that were required for transportation and business and crowding was intense. The streets were less than 10 feet wide. Roman law limited the upward limit of housing to about 60 feet--these houses frequently collapsed. There was no privacy. A family might have only one room. Though sewers were built, they were for the wealthy, otherwise they were open pits. Those who found the stairs to steep and the journey too long to the pit simply emptied the contents of the chamber pot on to the street. Good water was very scarce as well, so a bath seldom, if ever, occurred for the poor. Crime rates were extremely high so venturing out after dark was extremely dangerous. All of this needed to be said so that it is understood that disease was rampant and life was hellish behind the city walls. The average life expectancy was less than thirty. Adding to this was the different ethnicities in the city. In Antioch, the fourth largest city in the empire, there were 18 different ethnic divisions. It was into this environment that Christians brought the gospel. The result of the gospel was a culture that made life in the city more stable and tolerable because the gospel is about God and the life to come!
First, the good message says that God loves people. The simplicity of John 3:16 was astounding to those of the first centuries of the Christian era. The gods only demanded service, then they might do something good for the worshipper, but they did not care for the worshipper. OTOH, the basis for human behavior is the love of our Father in Heaven. The worship and the moral behavior He demands is for our good and our welfare. The change in behavior resulting from the preaching of the gospel was the birth of a counter culture which brought a better life here as well as ensuring a life to come.
The gospel was good news to the children. Both Plato and Aristotle taught that infanticide was legitimate state policy. As a result, unwanted children were routinely exposed, left to die. Of course, it was Christian teaching that the killing of innocent life is murder. There were two kinds of people who picked up exposed infants to care for them, those from the pagan temples who reared them to be prostitutes and the Christians who took their faith seriously.
The gospel was good news for women. It might seem strange that the life expectancy for a woman was shorter in those times than for men, but there were reasons for this. In the Roman world there were about 135 men for every 100 women. Reasons for a higher female mortality rate were infanticide, females were not as highly valued as men, sexually transmitted diseases and abortion. Only the women of Sparta in the ancient world enjoyed much higher esteem and thus lived longer as well. Christianity demanded sexual fidelity of men in marriage, condemned infanticide and abortion and entitled women with the same inheritance as men (Galatians 3:27-29).
The gospel was good news to the poor and the sick. Because of the gospel, they were seen as objects of God's love. In 165 during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, what is thought to be the first smallpox epidemic swept the Roman empire. During the 15 year duration of the epidemic, between a quarter and a third of the population died of the disease. Then in 251 a new and equally devastating epidemic that is thought to have been the measles swept over the empire again. These mortality rates are of the book-of-Revelation proportions! Depopulation was severe not only because of death, but because people of means could flee the plagues, but Christians did not flee. They practiced their Christian faith, giving a drink of water in the name of Jesus, not fearing death because of the heavenly life to come. Generally, the pagans left the sick to die, but Christians nursed the sick. The gospel gave meaning to their work because they viewed heaven as their destination and the epidemic was merely schooling for the life to come. The gospel says that God demonstrates his love through sacrifice and that Christians must demonstrate love in the same way. The plagues did not "passover" the Christians, but their mortality was much less, about 20% less, due to simple nursing, food and water. The pagans noticed this and many were converted as a result.
CONCLUSIONS: A culture is what it believes. The more I study history the more I believe that had Christ not come into the world, it would be a vastly different place than it is now; not advancing beyond the "Greco-Roman" level of advancement because a sufficient foundation for advancement could not be built. Without commenting on Islam, which is another study that verifies my conclusion, the pagan cultures could not explain or give reason why one should be charitable to the sick and the dying. The emperor, Julian, who hated Christians, nevertheless admired their charity, tried to mobilize the pagans to charity, but could not because they had no reason to.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sigh to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord (Luke 4:15-18).
For God so love the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through him (John 3:16-17).
My thoughts have not been refined on this topic so they might sound a little awkward when you read them--feel free to comment, though I'm sure that Husker Red will comment in any case.
Literally, the word "gospel" means, "Good message." Now what is a good message to some is not a good message to others. Those who have a vested interest in keeping things as they are do not welcome a message that can be life-changing! When a member of a dysfunctional family begins to act positively and bring about change in the family, one other member of the family will always undermine and sabotage the functioning family member so that nothing will really change.
It is important to understand that concept as I talk about how the gospel changed the world. Significant positive change will never happen without opposition, so it is understandable that the first Christians faced great opposition and persecution as they began to live their lives for Christ.
But the gospel about Jesus Christ really did change the world! I have been perusing a book my son Paul gave me called, The Rise of Christianity by Rodney Stark. Having been through a Bible College church history class and a seminary church history class, I thought I knew a lot about church history, but Dr. Stark gave me a few things to think about. My thoughts written here are reflections from reading his book.
The first Christian missionaries first went to the Greco-Roman cities. Because city walls were expensive to build, they limited expansion. Thus, the population behind them became very dense with densities approaching modern-day Calcutta and Bombay. Add to that the animals that were required for transportation and business and crowding was intense. The streets were less than 10 feet wide. Roman law limited the upward limit of housing to about 60 feet--these houses frequently collapsed. There was no privacy. A family might have only one room. Though sewers were built, they were for the wealthy, otherwise they were open pits. Those who found the stairs to steep and the journey too long to the pit simply emptied the contents of the chamber pot on to the street. Good water was very scarce as well, so a bath seldom, if ever, occurred for the poor. Crime rates were extremely high so venturing out after dark was extremely dangerous. All of this needed to be said so that it is understood that disease was rampant and life was hellish behind the city walls. The average life expectancy was less than thirty. Adding to this was the different ethnicities in the city. In Antioch, the fourth largest city in the empire, there were 18 different ethnic divisions. It was into this environment that Christians brought the gospel. The result of the gospel was a culture that made life in the city more stable and tolerable because the gospel is about God and the life to come!
First, the good message says that God loves people. The simplicity of John 3:16 was astounding to those of the first centuries of the Christian era. The gods only demanded service, then they might do something good for the worshipper, but they did not care for the worshipper. OTOH, the basis for human behavior is the love of our Father in Heaven. The worship and the moral behavior He demands is for our good and our welfare. The change in behavior resulting from the preaching of the gospel was the birth of a counter culture which brought a better life here as well as ensuring a life to come.
The gospel was good news to the children. Both Plato and Aristotle taught that infanticide was legitimate state policy. As a result, unwanted children were routinely exposed, left to die. Of course, it was Christian teaching that the killing of innocent life is murder. There were two kinds of people who picked up exposed infants to care for them, those from the pagan temples who reared them to be prostitutes and the Christians who took their faith seriously.
The gospel was good news for women. It might seem strange that the life expectancy for a woman was shorter in those times than for men, but there were reasons for this. In the Roman world there were about 135 men for every 100 women. Reasons for a higher female mortality rate were infanticide, females were not as highly valued as men, sexually transmitted diseases and abortion. Only the women of Sparta in the ancient world enjoyed much higher esteem and thus lived longer as well. Christianity demanded sexual fidelity of men in marriage, condemned infanticide and abortion and entitled women with the same inheritance as men (Galatians 3:27-29).
The gospel was good news to the poor and the sick. Because of the gospel, they were seen as objects of God's love. In 165 during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, what is thought to be the first smallpox epidemic swept the Roman empire. During the 15 year duration of the epidemic, between a quarter and a third of the population died of the disease. Then in 251 a new and equally devastating epidemic that is thought to have been the measles swept over the empire again. These mortality rates are of the book-of-Revelation proportions! Depopulation was severe not only because of death, but because people of means could flee the plagues, but Christians did not flee. They practiced their Christian faith, giving a drink of water in the name of Jesus, not fearing death because of the heavenly life to come. Generally, the pagans left the sick to die, but Christians nursed the sick. The gospel gave meaning to their work because they viewed heaven as their destination and the epidemic was merely schooling for the life to come. The gospel says that God demonstrates his love through sacrifice and that Christians must demonstrate love in the same way. The plagues did not "passover" the Christians, but their mortality was much less, about 20% less, due to simple nursing, food and water. The pagans noticed this and many were converted as a result.
CONCLUSIONS: A culture is what it believes. The more I study history the more I believe that had Christ not come into the world, it would be a vastly different place than it is now; not advancing beyond the "Greco-Roman" level of advancement because a sufficient foundation for advancement could not be built. Without commenting on Islam, which is another study that verifies my conclusion, the pagan cultures could not explain or give reason why one should be charitable to the sick and the dying. The emperor, Julian, who hated Christians, nevertheless admired their charity, tried to mobilize the pagans to charity, but could not because they had no reason to.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Friday, October 08, 2010
DOES PSALMS 51:5 SUPPORT THE DOCTRINE OF ORIGINAL SIN?
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me (Psalms 51:5).
Short answer, no. As is often the case in the Psalms and Proverbs, this is a Hebrew parallelism. The second half of the sentence defines the first. The circumstances of the conception do not mean that the results of the conception are tainted with sin. Actually, David understood the systemic nature of sin, sin is my family history. David could have said, "Ten generations ago (see Ruth 4:12-22; Matt. 1:2-6; Genesis 38:12-30; Deuteronomy 23:2) my family was conceived in sin and I did what my family has always done." A sinful family system has an immediate influence on a conceived, innocent baby, unborn and newborn. A pregnant woman who smokes, drinks, over eats, is unmarried has negatively influenced the little one immediately after conception. At birth, anger, lack of self discipline, over work and under involvement, dysfunctional relationship with dad, etc. all are part of a sinful family system and exert a huge amount of sinful influence on the baby. When I counsel, on the second session, I have the counselee do a genogram, a 3 or 4 generation family history that helps me to understand both the negative and positive dynamics that have influenced my client.
Truth be told, we are all in sinful family systems, but that does not mean that the new-born is a sinner at birth! It only means that he/she was born into a sinful family and as a result, will become a sinner.
In short, the new-born will experience some of the consequences of the parent's sin, but none of the guilt of the parent's sin.
Regardless of what I have said above, the genre is poetry and thus highly emotional. That's hardly the basis on which to build Christian doctrine.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Short answer, no. As is often the case in the Psalms and Proverbs, this is a Hebrew parallelism. The second half of the sentence defines the first. The circumstances of the conception do not mean that the results of the conception are tainted with sin. Actually, David understood the systemic nature of sin, sin is my family history. David could have said, "Ten generations ago (see Ruth 4:12-22; Matt. 1:2-6; Genesis 38:12-30; Deuteronomy 23:2) my family was conceived in sin and I did what my family has always done." A sinful family system has an immediate influence on a conceived, innocent baby, unborn and newborn. A pregnant woman who smokes, drinks, over eats, is unmarried has negatively influenced the little one immediately after conception. At birth, anger, lack of self discipline, over work and under involvement, dysfunctional relationship with dad, etc. all are part of a sinful family system and exert a huge amount of sinful influence on the baby. When I counsel, on the second session, I have the counselee do a genogram, a 3 or 4 generation family history that helps me to understand both the negative and positive dynamics that have influenced my client.
Truth be told, we are all in sinful family systems, but that does not mean that the new-born is a sinner at birth! It only means that he/she was born into a sinful family and as a result, will become a sinner.
In short, the new-born will experience some of the consequences of the parent's sin, but none of the guilt of the parent's sin.
Regardless of what I have said above, the genre is poetry and thus highly emotional. That's hardly the basis on which to build Christian doctrine.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Saturday, September 25, 2010
FOR WHOM TO VOTE?
. . . choose this day whom you will serve . . .but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).
The Bible does not speak about what form of civil government is superior to another, but in God's dealing with human kind, He gives human beings the freedom to choose who they will follow. The freedom to choose our civil leaders in one of those God-given, inalienable rights with which human beings have been endowed.
For whom, then, should we vote? For me, the litmus test is life; where does the candidate stand on protecting the most innocent and vulnerable life, the unborn? I do not consider myself a single issue voter, but it seems to me that a candidate's stand on the "life" issue is a window into their soul; is the life in the womb nothing but an unviable tissue mass good only for infant stem cell research or is it a unique human being with its own DNA? First, being pro life means that the candidate will likely be a person of faith, one who is sensitive to God's perspective. Thus the judge up for retention will not legislate matters of faith from the bench; civil unions are for the state, marriage is for the institutions of faith.
Second, if a candidate will stand for the unalienable rights of the unborn, he/she will most likely stand for my rights and freedom. One who is pro abortion will likely think I am not worth the money when I am elderly. Notice that Medicaid is already being defunded.
Third, the candidate who is pro life is more likely to understand the economics of freedom. When people are most free to pursue their vision, working at what interests them, and doing the jobs that step up to their dreams, a great economic dynamo is produced, making more and more prosperity. Government does not produce jobs and money, but government sure can destroy them! While understanding, because of human nature, that government cannot be completely lazze' fare, the pro life candidate understands the sanctity of the fruits of one's risk and labor, knowing that it is not the government's money!
I like my tea hot. I like my tea iced. But know this, no "Bart Stupac" will get my vote! Stupac was not willing to stand against his party for life. That kind of luke-warm stand for life will not get my vote.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
The Bible does not speak about what form of civil government is superior to another, but in God's dealing with human kind, He gives human beings the freedom to choose who they will follow. The freedom to choose our civil leaders in one of those God-given, inalienable rights with which human beings have been endowed.
For whom, then, should we vote? For me, the litmus test is life; where does the candidate stand on protecting the most innocent and vulnerable life, the unborn? I do not consider myself a single issue voter, but it seems to me that a candidate's stand on the "life" issue is a window into their soul; is the life in the womb nothing but an unviable tissue mass good only for infant stem cell research or is it a unique human being with its own DNA? First, being pro life means that the candidate will likely be a person of faith, one who is sensitive to God's perspective. Thus the judge up for retention will not legislate matters of faith from the bench; civil unions are for the state, marriage is for the institutions of faith.
Second, if a candidate will stand for the unalienable rights of the unborn, he/she will most likely stand for my rights and freedom. One who is pro abortion will likely think I am not worth the money when I am elderly. Notice that Medicaid is already being defunded.
Third, the candidate who is pro life is more likely to understand the economics of freedom. When people are most free to pursue their vision, working at what interests them, and doing the jobs that step up to their dreams, a great economic dynamo is produced, making more and more prosperity. Government does not produce jobs and money, but government sure can destroy them! While understanding, because of human nature, that government cannot be completely lazze' fare, the pro life candidate understands the sanctity of the fruits of one's risk and labor, knowing that it is not the government's money!
I like my tea hot. I like my tea iced. But know this, no "Bart Stupac" will get my vote! Stupac was not willing to stand against his party for life. That kind of luke-warm stand for life will not get my vote.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
WATER BAPTISM OR SPIRIT BAPTISM: A FALSE CHOICE (Part 5 in a series).
And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot." . . . Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this scripture he told him the good news of Jesus, And as they went along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "See, here is water! What is to prevent my being baptized?" (Acts 8:29,35-36).
The anti water baptists would have you believe that every reference to baptism in the New Testament is Spirit baptism; they would have you believe that I Peter 3:21 is Spirit baptism if the context didn't prevent it, so then they try to tell you why it doesn't mean what it says. As I have taught earlier, water and Spirit baptism are two facets of the one baptism (See part 4). From the text above, the providence of the Spirit moves people to be baptized as well as being the baptizer (I Corinthians 12:13).
Preaching the gospel also demanded teaching a response to the gospel, and baptism was taught as part of the response to the gospel. In the conversion stories of Acts, faith isn't always mentioned because it is obvious that it exists when a person asks in response to hearing the gospel, "Men and brethren, what should we do?" It is interesting that in the conversion accounts, not once is a person instructed to pray the sinners prayer, or bow his head and raise his hand, or some equivalent. Baptism in water with the acaccompanying Holy Spirit was the normal response to the gospel. That was the understanding at the writing of the New Testament and is how it should be understood when one encounters baptism when studying the New Testament, unless it is an obvious metaphor.
for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26-28).
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Note: Whole books have been written on this subject, but I have decided to end the series with this post. I have painted with some very long and broad strokes, but I can back them up with credible scholarship. I understand why there is disagreement on this subject, but as teachers and preachers of the gospel we have the responsibility to rise above the creeds and systematic theologies and teach truthfully from the Bible.
The anti water baptists would have you believe that every reference to baptism in the New Testament is Spirit baptism; they would have you believe that I Peter 3:21 is Spirit baptism if the context didn't prevent it, so then they try to tell you why it doesn't mean what it says. As I have taught earlier, water and Spirit baptism are two facets of the one baptism (See part 4). From the text above, the providence of the Spirit moves people to be baptized as well as being the baptizer (I Corinthians 12:13).
Preaching the gospel also demanded teaching a response to the gospel, and baptism was taught as part of the response to the gospel. In the conversion stories of Acts, faith isn't always mentioned because it is obvious that it exists when a person asks in response to hearing the gospel, "Men and brethren, what should we do?" It is interesting that in the conversion accounts, not once is a person instructed to pray the sinners prayer, or bow his head and raise his hand, or some equivalent. Baptism in water with the acaccompanying Holy Spirit was the normal response to the gospel. That was the understanding at the writing of the New Testament and is how it should be understood when one encounters baptism when studying the New Testament, unless it is an obvious metaphor.
for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26-28).
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Note: Whole books have been written on this subject, but I have decided to end the series with this post. I have painted with some very long and broad strokes, but I can back them up with credible scholarship. I understand why there is disagreement on this subject, but as teachers and preachers of the gospel we have the responsibility to rise above the creeds and systematic theologies and teach truthfully from the Bible.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
BAPTISM AND THE HOLY SPIRIT (4th in a series)
. . . one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all . . . (Ephesians 4:5-6a RSV).
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the othe apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:37-38 NIV).
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit (I Corinthians 12:13 RSV).
One of the characteristics of Christian baptism that is different from John's baptism is the Holy Spirit. John's was, like Christian baptism, an immersion in water on condition of repentence for the forgiveness of sin. The Holy Spirit was not a part of the promise of John's baptism (Note: Acts 19:1-3. Rebaptism was necessary in this case.). If the Holy Spirit is not involved in the baptism, it is not Christian baptism.
So how is it that there is but one Christian baptism, yet it appears that there are two baptisms that are a part of conversion, one in water and one in the Spirit? John 3:5 gives us a clue: . . . unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God (RSV). There is one baptism with two facets, the outward baptism in water which dramatizes ones faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the inward baptism of the Spirit, which is the surrender our our spirit to the renewing of the Holy Spirit. Romans 6:6 indicates the baptism of the Spirit when it says, For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--because anyone who has died has been freed from sin (Roman 6:6-7).
Have you received the one baptism?
Our Father's Blessings
Tom
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the othe apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:37-38 NIV).
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit (I Corinthians 12:13 RSV).
One of the characteristics of Christian baptism that is different from John's baptism is the Holy Spirit. John's was, like Christian baptism, an immersion in water on condition of repentence for the forgiveness of sin. The Holy Spirit was not a part of the promise of John's baptism (Note: Acts 19:1-3. Rebaptism was necessary in this case.). If the Holy Spirit is not involved in the baptism, it is not Christian baptism.
So how is it that there is but one Christian baptism, yet it appears that there are two baptisms that are a part of conversion, one in water and one in the Spirit? John 3:5 gives us a clue: . . . unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God (RSV). There is one baptism with two facets, the outward baptism in water which dramatizes ones faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the inward baptism of the Spirit, which is the surrender our our spirit to the renewing of the Holy Spirit. Romans 6:6 indicates the baptism of the Spirit when it says, For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--because anyone who has died has been freed from sin (Roman 6:6-7).
Have you received the one baptism?
Our Father's Blessings
Tom
Thursday, September 16, 2010
CHRISTIAN BAPTISM IS BAPTISMA NOT BAPTISMOS (Third in a series)
Baptism is not the washing away of bodily pollution, but the appeal made to God by a good conscience; and it brings salvation through the resurrection of Jesus Christ . . . (I Peter 3:21).
The image of baptism is one of being overwhelmed, whether it is by water, fire or Spirit. Baptisma is the word used 22 times by the inspired writers of the New Testament to describe whole Christian baptism. It is interesting that baptisma is never found outside of the New Testament in ancient literature. Baptismos is a word used both in the New Testament and in ancient literature to describe washings, ceremonial and otherwise, but it is not used to describe Christian baptism because it only focuses on the act. The ma suffix of baptisma indicates the state of mind that accompanies the act of baptism.
What baptisma describes is the surrender of our bodies to the engulfing, overwhelming water as a visual dramatization of our personal trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is also descriptive of our personal surrender of our spirit to the Holy Spirit that we might be led of the Spirit from that point on in newness of life.
Some call Christian baptism only an external rite that can easily be faked, but prayers to receive Christ, something never commanded in the New Testament, can be easily faked as well. Pledges to defend and protect the Constitution are easily faked by elected officials. Marriage vows are easily faked too. The fruit of the Spirit is easily faked during low-stress situations. That something can be easily faked does not mean that it is less valid. The qualities essential to true Christian baptism are faith in Christ and a repentant heart.
When a believing and repentant person is baptized he/she is appealing to God (I Peter 3:21), calling on the name of the Lord, to be saved. Baptism is calling on the name of the Lord, and thus Acts 22:16 makes sense: Get up, be baptised and wash your sins away, calling on his name (NIV). The participle explains the action. Baptism is the appeal to the character and promises of God in Jesus Christ for salvation.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
The image of baptism is one of being overwhelmed, whether it is by water, fire or Spirit. Baptisma is the word used 22 times by the inspired writers of the New Testament to describe whole Christian baptism. It is interesting that baptisma is never found outside of the New Testament in ancient literature. Baptismos is a word used both in the New Testament and in ancient literature to describe washings, ceremonial and otherwise, but it is not used to describe Christian baptism because it only focuses on the act. The ma suffix of baptisma indicates the state of mind that accompanies the act of baptism.
What baptisma describes is the surrender of our bodies to the engulfing, overwhelming water as a visual dramatization of our personal trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is also descriptive of our personal surrender of our spirit to the Holy Spirit that we might be led of the Spirit from that point on in newness of life.
Some call Christian baptism only an external rite that can easily be faked, but prayers to receive Christ, something never commanded in the New Testament, can be easily faked as well. Pledges to defend and protect the Constitution are easily faked by elected officials. Marriage vows are easily faked too. The fruit of the Spirit is easily faked during low-stress situations. That something can be easily faked does not mean that it is less valid. The qualities essential to true Christian baptism are faith in Christ and a repentant heart.
When a believing and repentant person is baptized he/she is appealing to God (I Peter 3:21), calling on the name of the Lord, to be saved. Baptism is calling on the name of the Lord, and thus Acts 22:16 makes sense: Get up, be baptised and wash your sins away, calling on his name (NIV). The participle explains the action. Baptism is the appeal to the character and promises of God in Jesus Christ for salvation.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
DOES CHRISTIAN BAPTISM HAVE ANY THING TO DO WITH SALVATION? (Second in a series)
Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ . . . (I Peter 3:21 RSV).
It should be noted that other translations translate this differently "pledge of a good conscience" or "answer of a good conscience." Read several different versions.
First, I believe that whatever side of the debate, Christians understand that without the gracious incarnation of Christ, his sacrificial and redemptive death, burial and resurrection, there would be no hope of salvation!!! There is not one who is a Christian who thinks otherwise!!!
Having said that, the question remains, does baptism have anything to do with salvation? I Peter 3: 21 should be sufficient to answer the question, but there are numerous Dr's. of divinity and theology who say otherwise because I Peter 3:21 does not fit their systematic theology and creed. Having no creed but Christ, no book but the Bible and no name but the Divine, I only need to preach, teach and defend what God has said in His Word.
Most popular expositors of I Peter 3:21 are embarrassed by it and teach why it doesn't say what it says, "Baptism . . . now saves you . . ." The question about baptism is this, if Jesus saves, what does baptism have to do with that? Understanding the grammar of I Peter 3:21, the answer is self evident. The Greek word that is translated, appeal, answer or pledge, is a legal word. It was used in interrogations, How do you answer? It was used in making a pledge, Do you take this woman to be your wife? I do! It was used in making a profession, I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God. Baptism is covenant making. A reading of Romans 6:1-6 bears it out. First, baptism is into the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ; baptism connects us with Jesus who is the only Savior. Second, baptism is our own crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection so that we might not any longer be enslaved to sin. In Christian baptism, the new covenant is signed in the blood of Jesus and our own blood.
One of the characteristics of the new covenant, according to Hebrews 8:11, is that upon entrance into the covenant relationship with God, all would know Him. No longer were people physically born into a covenant relationship with God, as in Israel and had to be taught to know the Lord. Knowing the Lord was requisite to entering the new covenant relationship. In Christian baptism, one is answering God's question, one is professing faith, pledging allegiance
Can one be saved without baptism? Can a couple be married without a ceremony? A lot of folks would rather try to have a common-law relationship with the Lord than to humbly submit to Him in Christian baptism. What kind of relationship with Him do you have?
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Note: Some say that since baptism is the answer of a good conscience then the person is already saved since one cannot have a good conscience without salvation. But, that is not true, and it is dangerous to believe that a good conscience is indicative of salvation. There are many people who do evil and wrong things in good conscience, the apostle Paul being one of them. One thing that could never be said of Paul is that he went against his conscience. In Acts 23:1 and 24:16 Paul said that is was the practice of his life to live in good conscience--even when he was persecuting to the death believers in Christ! He believed he was doing God's will, but he was not saved.
Baptism is the answer, profession and pledge of one's sincere faith in Christ. Many substitute the sinners prayer for Christian baptism rather than humbly submit to the request of God to meet us in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It should be noted that other translations translate this differently "pledge of a good conscience" or "answer of a good conscience." Read several different versions.
First, I believe that whatever side of the debate, Christians understand that without the gracious incarnation of Christ, his sacrificial and redemptive death, burial and resurrection, there would be no hope of salvation!!! There is not one who is a Christian who thinks otherwise!!!
Having said that, the question remains, does baptism have anything to do with salvation? I Peter 3: 21 should be sufficient to answer the question, but there are numerous Dr's. of divinity and theology who say otherwise because I Peter 3:21 does not fit their systematic theology and creed. Having no creed but Christ, no book but the Bible and no name but the Divine, I only need to preach, teach and defend what God has said in His Word.
Most popular expositors of I Peter 3:21 are embarrassed by it and teach why it doesn't say what it says, "Baptism . . . now saves you . . ." The question about baptism is this, if Jesus saves, what does baptism have to do with that? Understanding the grammar of I Peter 3:21, the answer is self evident. The Greek word that is translated, appeal, answer or pledge, is a legal word. It was used in interrogations, How do you answer? It was used in making a pledge, Do you take this woman to be your wife? I do! It was used in making a profession, I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God. Baptism is covenant making. A reading of Romans 6:1-6 bears it out. First, baptism is into the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ; baptism connects us with Jesus who is the only Savior. Second, baptism is our own crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection so that we might not any longer be enslaved to sin. In Christian baptism, the new covenant is signed in the blood of Jesus and our own blood.
One of the characteristics of the new covenant, according to Hebrews 8:11, is that upon entrance into the covenant relationship with God, all would know Him. No longer were people physically born into a covenant relationship with God, as in Israel and had to be taught to know the Lord. Knowing the Lord was requisite to entering the new covenant relationship. In Christian baptism, one is answering God's question, one is professing faith, pledging allegiance
Can one be saved without baptism? Can a couple be married without a ceremony? A lot of folks would rather try to have a common-law relationship with the Lord than to humbly submit to Him in Christian baptism. What kind of relationship with Him do you have?
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Note: Some say that since baptism is the answer of a good conscience then the person is already saved since one cannot have a good conscience without salvation. But, that is not true, and it is dangerous to believe that a good conscience is indicative of salvation. There are many people who do evil and wrong things in good conscience, the apostle Paul being one of them. One thing that could never be said of Paul is that he went against his conscience. In Acts 23:1 and 24:16 Paul said that is was the practice of his life to live in good conscience--even when he was persecuting to the death believers in Christ! He believed he was doing God's will, but he was not saved.
Baptism is the answer, profession and pledge of one's sincere faith in Christ. Many substitute the sinners prayer for Christian baptism rather than humbly submit to the request of God to meet us in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Monday, September 13, 2010
CHRISTIAN BAPTISM
The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven or from men? (Matthew 21:25)
Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John . . . Priscilla and Aquilla heard him, they took him and expounded to him the way of God more accurately (Acts 18:24-26).
I just finished reading a blog by a Dr. of ministry or theology or divinity, it was never made clear, on why baptism had nothing to do with salvation. Now who am I to argue with a Dr.? Many are the doctors out there who are able preachers of the gospel that stumble over the response to the gospel of Christ because they are more in love with their systems of theology and creeds than the word of God. For them baptism is something that needs to be explained away rather than accurately taught. They need to answer about Christian baptism the same question that Jesus posed to the religious leaders of his day on earth about John's baptism, is it from Heaven or is it of men? If Christian baptism is of men then it is not important, but if it is of God, then it must be understood and taught accurately!
Apollos was a great gospel preacher, but he taught the baptism of John. What was the matter with that? The difference is only a triviality--nothing to get excited about. But any preacher and/or teacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ must teach it accurately. Prisilla and Aquilla, in a spirit of love, took the time to explain the difference between John's baptism and Christian baptism so that Apollos could preach the good news of Christ, and the response to it, more accurately.
Because my time for writing is limited, over the next 2 or 3 "silver bullets" I attempt to teach more accurately about Christian baptism than is generally taught from the pulpits of our churches. Almost every church preaches the gospel, the good news that we can have salvation; it is found only in Jesus Christ who is the Lord and Savior. But when it comes to how one is to respond to the gospel, the answers are different. How important is Christian baptism in the response to the gospel? That is the question I will attempt to answer over the next 2 or 3 postings.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John . . . Priscilla and Aquilla heard him, they took him and expounded to him the way of God more accurately (Acts 18:24-26).
I just finished reading a blog by a Dr. of ministry or theology or divinity, it was never made clear, on why baptism had nothing to do with salvation. Now who am I to argue with a Dr.? Many are the doctors out there who are able preachers of the gospel that stumble over the response to the gospel of Christ because they are more in love with their systems of theology and creeds than the word of God. For them baptism is something that needs to be explained away rather than accurately taught. They need to answer about Christian baptism the same question that Jesus posed to the religious leaders of his day on earth about John's baptism, is it from Heaven or is it of men? If Christian baptism is of men then it is not important, but if it is of God, then it must be understood and taught accurately!
Apollos was a great gospel preacher, but he taught the baptism of John. What was the matter with that? The difference is only a triviality--nothing to get excited about. But any preacher and/or teacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ must teach it accurately. Prisilla and Aquilla, in a spirit of love, took the time to explain the difference between John's baptism and Christian baptism so that Apollos could preach the good news of Christ, and the response to it, more accurately.
Because my time for writing is limited, over the next 2 or 3 "silver bullets" I attempt to teach more accurately about Christian baptism than is generally taught from the pulpits of our churches. Almost every church preaches the gospel, the good news that we can have salvation; it is found only in Jesus Christ who is the Lord and Savior. But when it comes to how one is to respond to the gospel, the answers are different. How important is Christian baptism in the response to the gospel? That is the question I will attempt to answer over the next 2 or 3 postings.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Thursday, September 09, 2010
TRY FORGIVENESS
And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any one; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses ( Mark 11:25 RSV).
Some of the goals of marriage counseling are to improve communication, to increase understanding in each spouse and to build conflict resolution skills. While being successful in accomplishing these goals in marriage counseling is a good thing, and is exceedingly helpful, nevertheless, healing will never be complete unless there is forgiveness.
When Jesus taught about forgiveness he tended to frame it in financial terms; "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." People are familiar with finance so it makes forgiveness a little more easy to understand when he pictures forgiveness this way. When a debt is forgiven, the note is put through the paper shredder; there is no longer a legal basis to hold the debtor accountable for his debt. Though the debt might not be forgotten, it cannot be brought up again.
That two sinful people can be united in marriage and not hurt one another is nearly impossible and that is why forgiveness is so necessary. Most of the time the hurts are minor, sometimes they are major, but always they will be sources of anger and conflict unless they are forgiven. Forgiveness is a core value of being a Christian; to forgive is to love like God loves in Jesus Christ.
One of the hindrances to effective prayer is when forgiveness is withheld even when it is asked for by the spouse. God will not hear our prayers if we do not forgive the one who has hurt us.
My understanding of Christian forgiveness is that it is not unconditional; there must be a change of mind which is repentance. Sometimes there are pathological abusers out there who take advantage of forgiveness as a means to continue the abuse, but to ask for forgiveness implies a desire to change. According to first John 1:9 forgiveness is conditioned on the offender recognizing his behavior as sinful and thus asking for forgiveness.
God loves each person; Jesus died for all. The sins of every person are paid for in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ--while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). God stands willing to forgive anyone who recognizes their sin and embraces Jesus Christ as their lord and savior. Apart from that they stand unforgiven. Likewise, we must be so ready to forgive that forgiveness is a foregone conclusion if one asks us for forgiveness!!!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Some of the goals of marriage counseling are to improve communication, to increase understanding in each spouse and to build conflict resolution skills. While being successful in accomplishing these goals in marriage counseling is a good thing, and is exceedingly helpful, nevertheless, healing will never be complete unless there is forgiveness.
When Jesus taught about forgiveness he tended to frame it in financial terms; "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." People are familiar with finance so it makes forgiveness a little more easy to understand when he pictures forgiveness this way. When a debt is forgiven, the note is put through the paper shredder; there is no longer a legal basis to hold the debtor accountable for his debt. Though the debt might not be forgotten, it cannot be brought up again.
That two sinful people can be united in marriage and not hurt one another is nearly impossible and that is why forgiveness is so necessary. Most of the time the hurts are minor, sometimes they are major, but always they will be sources of anger and conflict unless they are forgiven. Forgiveness is a core value of being a Christian; to forgive is to love like God loves in Jesus Christ.
One of the hindrances to effective prayer is when forgiveness is withheld even when it is asked for by the spouse. God will not hear our prayers if we do not forgive the one who has hurt us.
My understanding of Christian forgiveness is that it is not unconditional; there must be a change of mind which is repentance. Sometimes there are pathological abusers out there who take advantage of forgiveness as a means to continue the abuse, but to ask for forgiveness implies a desire to change. According to first John 1:9 forgiveness is conditioned on the offender recognizing his behavior as sinful and thus asking for forgiveness.
God loves each person; Jesus died for all. The sins of every person are paid for in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ--while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). God stands willing to forgive anyone who recognizes their sin and embraces Jesus Christ as their lord and savior. Apart from that they stand unforgiven. Likewise, we must be so ready to forgive that forgiveness is a foregone conclusion if one asks us for forgiveness!!!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Sunday, August 29, 2010
DANGERS INHERENT IN WALKING THE HIGH STEEL
He who digs a pit may fall into it . . . He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them. If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success (Ecclesiastes 10:8-10).
This post is more of a personal note than anything, but, in case that posting suddenly stops, you, my gentle readers, will know why--I have fallen. I have 400 feet of hog barn to put a new roof on. I have worked about 5 days and have completed about 75 feet. What takes most of the time is tearing off the old roof so that the new steel roof can be installed. I will have to say that this hard and demanding physical work is good for this 62 year old body. I have a lot of aches and pains but I feel like I am getting a little stronger and am able to work with much greater agility 10 feet off the ground. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and my skills will increase so that I can complete this task before winter. There is nothing worse than trying to drive screws with numb fingers.
There are blessings that come with hard work and there are dangers; it is good for us to rise to the challenge!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
This post is more of a personal note than anything, but, in case that posting suddenly stops, you, my gentle readers, will know why--I have fallen. I have 400 feet of hog barn to put a new roof on. I have worked about 5 days and have completed about 75 feet. What takes most of the time is tearing off the old roof so that the new steel roof can be installed. I will have to say that this hard and demanding physical work is good for this 62 year old body. I have a lot of aches and pains but I feel like I am getting a little stronger and am able to work with much greater agility 10 feet off the ground. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and my skills will increase so that I can complete this task before winter. There is nothing worse than trying to drive screws with numb fingers.
There are blessings that come with hard work and there are dangers; it is good for us to rise to the challenge!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
GETTING TO KNOW GOD
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made (Romans 1:19-20 RSV).
They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thought accuse or perhaps excuse them . . . (Romans 2:15 RSV).
In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son . . . (Hebrews 1:1-2 RSV).
There are many in the scientific community who see God's fingerprints on the universe. That is what God intended, he wanted people to become aware of his presence through the things he has made; nature speaks of nature's God. Nature cannot call itself into existence; nothing cannot become something on its own. Only God can create something out of nothing and it is he whom we must worship. Those who deny the reality of a creator God worship the creation rather than the Creator.
There are those who reduce human beings to being nothing more than animals and only products of evolution out of nothing; only products of heredity and environment. Thus, the value of a human being is not more than that of an animal and that is why abortion is not troubling to a naturalistic evolutionist.
There are religionists who emphasize the doctrine of original sin so much that they reduce a human to being so totally depraved that he cannot do anything right, everything he does is wrong. Again the reductionism is so thorough that a human being is completely incapable of being aware that there is right and wrong, and thus is not responsible. Original sin has been so emphasized that original righteousness has been forgotten. Human beings are created in the image of God and, as a result, though the image has been dimmed by sin, it still exists! Humans do have a conscience, meaning that there is a little bit of God in every person's heart. Human beings are depraved, but they are not totally depraved; they have enough of God in them to seek him and to do some good and beautiful things.
It is God's will that we know him, so the ultimate expression of his communication to us is Jesus Christ. Jesus "reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature," according to Hebrews 1:3. To know Jesus is to know God. To know Jesus first means to know about him. Is it possible to have a deep, fulfilling and enduring relationship without knowing about another? No. So it must be with Jesus. He is revealed in the Bible. Study about him, relate to those who know him and then you will surrender to him in a relationship that will last for eternity.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thought accuse or perhaps excuse them . . . (Romans 2:15 RSV).
In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son . . . (Hebrews 1:1-2 RSV).
There are many in the scientific community who see God's fingerprints on the universe. That is what God intended, he wanted people to become aware of his presence through the things he has made; nature speaks of nature's God. Nature cannot call itself into existence; nothing cannot become something on its own. Only God can create something out of nothing and it is he whom we must worship. Those who deny the reality of a creator God worship the creation rather than the Creator.
There are those who reduce human beings to being nothing more than animals and only products of evolution out of nothing; only products of heredity and environment. Thus, the value of a human being is not more than that of an animal and that is why abortion is not troubling to a naturalistic evolutionist.
There are religionists who emphasize the doctrine of original sin so much that they reduce a human to being so totally depraved that he cannot do anything right, everything he does is wrong. Again the reductionism is so thorough that a human being is completely incapable of being aware that there is right and wrong, and thus is not responsible. Original sin has been so emphasized that original righteousness has been forgotten. Human beings are created in the image of God and, as a result, though the image has been dimmed by sin, it still exists! Humans do have a conscience, meaning that there is a little bit of God in every person's heart. Human beings are depraved, but they are not totally depraved; they have enough of God in them to seek him and to do some good and beautiful things.
It is God's will that we know him, so the ultimate expression of his communication to us is Jesus Christ. Jesus "reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature," according to Hebrews 1:3. To know Jesus is to know God. To know Jesus first means to know about him. Is it possible to have a deep, fulfilling and enduring relationship without knowing about another? No. So it must be with Jesus. He is revealed in the Bible. Study about him, relate to those who know him and then you will surrender to him in a relationship that will last for eternity.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Sunday, August 22, 2010
FORTY YEARS
Forty years ago today, the lovely and gracious Helen and I were married. When John Wooden dedicated his book, They Call Me Coach, he said: "This book is gratefully dedicated to my wife, Nellie. Her love, faith and loyalty through the years are primarily responsible for what I am--be that good or be it bad." What an influence wives have on their husbands! Wooden's thoughts ring true for most men in long-term marriages, at least they are for me. Thank you, Helen!!!
Your Blessed Husband,
Tom
Your Blessed Husband,
Tom
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
CONFLICT AND EMOTIONAL MATURITY
And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds . . . (Hebrews 12:24).
It is often said that the "causes" of marital conflict are disagreements over such things as children, sex, and money. If no issues surfaces in any of these ares, people would probably get along better. However, people do not have trouble getting along because of issues in these areas. These issues tend to bring out the emotional immaturity of people and it is that immaturity, not the issues, that creates the conflict (Family Evaluation, Kerr/Bowen, 188).
One of the symptoms of low levels of emotional maturity is chronic conflict. In a marriage where there is low emotional maturity, each of the spouses believes that it is the other that needs to change to bring about a change in the relationship. Even though opposites attract, one of the laws of attraction is that people with similar levels of emotional maturity are attracted to each other so, for example, when one of the spouses is aggressive, most often, the other will be passive-aggressive; each will contribute equally to the conflict.
Except for extreme situations, divorce is not a solution, finding someone else is not a solution because the "someone else" will be a person of similar emotional maturity so the conflict will begin all over again. Learning to deal with conflict is not easy, but learning to do these four things will help:
1. Recognize that you are responsible for much of the conflict.
2. Learn to listen so that you understand. Often, we react emotionally before we understand and, as a result, there is conflict.
3. Recognize the effect of your emotional reactivity on yourself and your spouse. To do this, try to be an observer of your own interactions, noting what actually occurs in your conflicted interactions.
4. Be thankful for the good things that are brought to the relationship. On this earth, there are no perfect human relationships. Look for the positive contributions that the other brings to the relationship and be thankful for them. Attempts to coerce a desired behavior in a relationship might appear to be successful, but feed resentments that will eventually manifest themselves in destructive ways. Teach, for the most part, by example and pray that each of you are sensitive to the Spirit's prompting and become the spouses that they need to be.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
It is often said that the "causes" of marital conflict are disagreements over such things as children, sex, and money. If no issues surfaces in any of these ares, people would probably get along better. However, people do not have trouble getting along because of issues in these areas. These issues tend to bring out the emotional immaturity of people and it is that immaturity, not the issues, that creates the conflict (Family Evaluation, Kerr/Bowen, 188).
One of the symptoms of low levels of emotional maturity is chronic conflict. In a marriage where there is low emotional maturity, each of the spouses believes that it is the other that needs to change to bring about a change in the relationship. Even though opposites attract, one of the laws of attraction is that people with similar levels of emotional maturity are attracted to each other so, for example, when one of the spouses is aggressive, most often, the other will be passive-aggressive; each will contribute equally to the conflict.
Except for extreme situations, divorce is not a solution, finding someone else is not a solution because the "someone else" will be a person of similar emotional maturity so the conflict will begin all over again. Learning to deal with conflict is not easy, but learning to do these four things will help:
1. Recognize that you are responsible for much of the conflict.
2. Learn to listen so that you understand. Often, we react emotionally before we understand and, as a result, there is conflict.
3. Recognize the effect of your emotional reactivity on yourself and your spouse. To do this, try to be an observer of your own interactions, noting what actually occurs in your conflicted interactions.
4. Be thankful for the good things that are brought to the relationship. On this earth, there are no perfect human relationships. Look for the positive contributions that the other brings to the relationship and be thankful for them. Attempts to coerce a desired behavior in a relationship might appear to be successful, but feed resentments that will eventually manifest themselves in destructive ways. Teach, for the most part, by example and pray that each of you are sensitive to the Spirit's prompting and become the spouses that they need to be.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
AVOIDING THE MARK OF THE BEAST
Now the weight of the gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty six talents of gold . . . (I Kings 10:14 RSV).
. . . no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is six hundred and sixty-six (Revelation 13:17-18 RSV, Emphasis mine).
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well (Matthew 6:31-33 RSV).
Solomon was the wealthiest king in the history of Israel. Just the income of gold was 666 talents, or very roughly, 59,940 pounds. They had so much gold they didn't count the silver. Did all of Solomon's wealth make him into a more devout man of God? Absolutely not! He became more a man of the world. The wealth of the world falls short of the true wealth God wants us to possess. Understanding that the Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the new, I do not believe that is was any accident that Solomon's annual income in gold was 666 talents, it is an important lesson to us all of what happens when one devotes all the labors of his mind and the labors of his hands to the accumulation of wealth.
Those who see money as the solution to every problem are the one's who wear the mark of the beast. The "beast" is an "it" as the Revised Standard Version correctly translates it, not "his" as every other translation glosses it. The beast is materialism and when materialism becomes becomes the dominant focus of a person's, family's, nation's or church's life, things can get ugly! Church's? Yes, Church's!!! To listen to many pastors talk about giving, one would swear that God was going to go out of business if the people didn't "pony up" the required amount of money. The church can be just as guilty of materialism as anyone--watch for the church with the mark of the beast on it! Giving is a matter of worship, it is not a matter of fundraising!
When people join with God, in the obedience of faith, in his enterprise of sharing the gospel and helping people, giving comes freely, joyfully as a matter of worship.
The "Gentiles" are materialistic, God's family is not. I fully understand that there are brothers and sisters in Christ who are in desperate situations, needing food, clean water, clothing to wear. We who have been blessed can be answers to their prayers, but God does not want any of his children to view money as the solution to his or her problems. As the Lord has said, "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
. . . no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is six hundred and sixty-six (Revelation 13:17-18 RSV, Emphasis mine).
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well (Matthew 6:31-33 RSV).
Solomon was the wealthiest king in the history of Israel. Just the income of gold was 666 talents, or very roughly, 59,940 pounds. They had so much gold they didn't count the silver. Did all of Solomon's wealth make him into a more devout man of God? Absolutely not! He became more a man of the world. The wealth of the world falls short of the true wealth God wants us to possess. Understanding that the Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the new, I do not believe that is was any accident that Solomon's annual income in gold was 666 talents, it is an important lesson to us all of what happens when one devotes all the labors of his mind and the labors of his hands to the accumulation of wealth.
Those who see money as the solution to every problem are the one's who wear the mark of the beast. The "beast" is an "it" as the Revised Standard Version correctly translates it, not "his" as every other translation glosses it. The beast is materialism and when materialism becomes becomes the dominant focus of a person's, family's, nation's or church's life, things can get ugly! Church's? Yes, Church's!!! To listen to many pastors talk about giving, one would swear that God was going to go out of business if the people didn't "pony up" the required amount of money. The church can be just as guilty of materialism as anyone--watch for the church with the mark of the beast on it! Giving is a matter of worship, it is not a matter of fundraising!
When people join with God, in the obedience of faith, in his enterprise of sharing the gospel and helping people, giving comes freely, joyfully as a matter of worship.
The "Gentiles" are materialistic, God's family is not. I fully understand that there are brothers and sisters in Christ who are in desperate situations, needing food, clean water, clothing to wear. We who have been blessed can be answers to their prayers, but God does not want any of his children to view money as the solution to his or her problems. As the Lord has said, "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Saturday, August 07, 2010
PRESERVING MARRIAGE
Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them (emphasis mine, Colossians 3:18-19).
Way back in1987, Olin Hicks wrote a book called, What the Bible Says About Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage. His book was instructive to me and I have used it as a reference many times. In his book he affirmed some thoughts that I was already thinking; it is always good to be affirmed by a real scholar. I'm sharing a quote from his book.
A marriage that is serving the purposes God intended marriage to serve will indeed be unbreakable, not for legal reasons but for emotional reasons. The partners in that marriage simply will not separate. A marriage that is failing to serve those purposes cannot be held together by the edicts of pope, priest, elder or preacher. For too long church leaders have been treating the symptom and not the illness itself. In most cases the "medicine" prescribed seems more harmful to the patient than to the disease.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Way back in1987, Olin Hicks wrote a book called, What the Bible Says About Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage. His book was instructive to me and I have used it as a reference many times. In his book he affirmed some thoughts that I was already thinking; it is always good to be affirmed by a real scholar. I'm sharing a quote from his book.
A marriage that is serving the purposes God intended marriage to serve will indeed be unbreakable, not for legal reasons but for emotional reasons. The partners in that marriage simply will not separate. A marriage that is failing to serve those purposes cannot be held together by the edicts of pope, priest, elder or preacher. For too long church leaders have been treating the symptom and not the illness itself. In most cases the "medicine" prescribed seems more harmful to the patient than to the disease.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Thursday, July 29, 2010
LORD OF THE DEAD AND THE LIVING
For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living (Romans 14:7-9 NKJV).
My schedule for the summer has made it difficult to write so I have tried to share some thoughts from some other thoughtful people. Here is another quote from Elton Trueblood:
If this is really God's world, then we are really under His care, whether we live or whether we die. If God is, and if He is like Christ, then the problem of evil, instead of being principally a barrier to faith, becomes one of the chief reasons for believing in the conscious survival of personality after the death of the body. Since many are unfairly treated here, then it is evident that God's goodness is frustrated and defeated unless there is a beyond. But we cannot believe that His goodness is permanently frustrated and defeated. Therefore there must be a future life, beyond our human ability to visualize or even imagine, in which God preserves and purifies that which here He only begins.
What a wonderful, reasonable hope we have in Jesus Christ!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
My schedule for the summer has made it difficult to write so I have tried to share some thoughts from some other thoughtful people. Here is another quote from Elton Trueblood:
If this is really God's world, then we are really under His care, whether we live or whether we die. If God is, and if He is like Christ, then the problem of evil, instead of being principally a barrier to faith, becomes one of the chief reasons for believing in the conscious survival of personality after the death of the body. Since many are unfairly treated here, then it is evident that God's goodness is frustrated and defeated unless there is a beyond. But we cannot believe that His goodness is permanently frustrated and defeated. Therefore there must be a future life, beyond our human ability to visualize or even imagine, in which God preserves and purifies that which here He only begins.
What a wonderful, reasonable hope we have in Jesus Christ!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Sunday, July 25, 2010
FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this (Esther 4:14b NKJV).
Not many people play such a pivotal role in history as queen Esther---and yet maybe we do. What would it mean to your children if you acted courageously to save your marriage? What would it mean to your country if you acted courageously to defend the Constitution? What would it mean to one unborn if you acted courageously to protect life? What would it mean to the hopeless if you courageously shared legitimate hope in Christ? What would it mean to the average to be an example commitment and excellence?
Often we do not see ourselves as playing a pivotal role in history but . . . for want of a nail, the kingdom was lost. For such a time as this, you are the nail! You do play a pivotal role in history!
I have said all this to introduce another quote from Elton Trueblood's The Life We Prize:
The owners of nightclubs and motion picture houses profit greatly by the failure of men and women to find meaning in their lives, since, as is generally known, a people who have a sense of meaning feel no conscious need of constantly being entertained or amused.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Not many people play such a pivotal role in history as queen Esther---and yet maybe we do. What would it mean to your children if you acted courageously to save your marriage? What would it mean to your country if you acted courageously to defend the Constitution? What would it mean to one unborn if you acted courageously to protect life? What would it mean to the hopeless if you courageously shared legitimate hope in Christ? What would it mean to the average to be an example commitment and excellence?
Often we do not see ourselves as playing a pivotal role in history but . . . for want of a nail, the kingdom was lost. For such a time as this, you are the nail! You do play a pivotal role in history!
I have said all this to introduce another quote from Elton Trueblood's The Life We Prize:
The owners of nightclubs and motion picture houses profit greatly by the failure of men and women to find meaning in their lives, since, as is generally known, a people who have a sense of meaning feel no conscious need of constantly being entertained or amused.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Saturday, July 17, 2010
THE DANGER OF MODERATION
I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will spew you out of my mouth (Revelation 3:15,16).
While rereading and old book of mine, THE LIFE WE PRIZE, by Elton Trueblood, I came upon a few lines that I had underlined many years ago. It is still good enough to share with my devoted readers:
The dangers of moderation are, paradoxically, greater than are the dangers of excess, because the wholly moderate person is so likely to become balanced on dead center, and consequently to accomplish nothing.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
While rereading and old book of mine, THE LIFE WE PRIZE, by Elton Trueblood, I came upon a few lines that I had underlined many years ago. It is still good enough to share with my devoted readers:
The dangers of moderation are, paradoxically, greater than are the dangers of excess, because the wholly moderate person is so likely to become balanced on dead center, and consequently to accomplish nothing.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Monday, July 05, 2010
LIBERTARIANISM--AN UNREFINED THOUGHT
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; but through love be servants of one another (Galations 5:13).
Often I think about things as I write. This is one of those times when what I write is unrefined and is sort of "raw meat" that needs a little cooking.
The 5th of July is the official 4th of July holiday this year. Today I have a little time to think about liberty and what it means to Americans.
Liberty is a gift to all, yet it must be defended because it can be lost; laziness in its defense leads to learned helplessness which leads to dependence which leads to bondage. That is the slippery slope we are on.
According to the Declaration of Independence each person is equal under God and has been given by Him the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. No matter what station of life a person is in--the poorest, most handicapped person or unborn person is entitled to the same protection of the law as the richest, most educated, and powerful person in the land, or vice versa. Every one's freedom is diminished when that is not true.
True liberty can only be established under law. If there were no law then law of "might makes right" would rule; the weak would be the victim and/or slave of the powerful. God's character is the basis of all true law; any law that is ungodly is not Law.
Love is God's character, law and liberty are expressions of his love. God has never forced people to obey his law. We are free to make our choice of obeying him or not and then living with the logical and legal consequences of that choice. To allow a person to be free means that he is free to be stupid, and make bad choices.
Many of our drug, alcohol, tobacco and coming food laws, are based on the assumption that people are too stupid to make the right decisions for themselves so there needs to be a government "nanny" to restrict them. This restriction amounts to a very real loss of freedom. If there is not a freedom to be stupid, there will be no freedom.
Real freedom is in Jesus the Christ. He has established the worth of each human being and has paid the price of each one's liberation from sin and its penalty. Even in Christ there is the freedom to be stupid, and there are many Christians who do stupid things. In Christ there are those whose decisions are based on the desires of the flesh rather than upon the leading of the Spirit.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Often I think about things as I write. This is one of those times when what I write is unrefined and is sort of "raw meat" that needs a little cooking.
The 5th of July is the official 4th of July holiday this year. Today I have a little time to think about liberty and what it means to Americans.
Liberty is a gift to all, yet it must be defended because it can be lost; laziness in its defense leads to learned helplessness which leads to dependence which leads to bondage. That is the slippery slope we are on.
According to the Declaration of Independence each person is equal under God and has been given by Him the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. No matter what station of life a person is in--the poorest, most handicapped person or unborn person is entitled to the same protection of the law as the richest, most educated, and powerful person in the land, or vice versa. Every one's freedom is diminished when that is not true.
True liberty can only be established under law. If there were no law then law of "might makes right" would rule; the weak would be the victim and/or slave of the powerful. God's character is the basis of all true law; any law that is ungodly is not Law.
Love is God's character, law and liberty are expressions of his love. God has never forced people to obey his law. We are free to make our choice of obeying him or not and then living with the logical and legal consequences of that choice. To allow a person to be free means that he is free to be stupid, and make bad choices.
Many of our drug, alcohol, tobacco and coming food laws, are based on the assumption that people are too stupid to make the right decisions for themselves so there needs to be a government "nanny" to restrict them. This restriction amounts to a very real loss of freedom. If there is not a freedom to be stupid, there will be no freedom.
Real freedom is in Jesus the Christ. He has established the worth of each human being and has paid the price of each one's liberation from sin and its penalty. Even in Christ there is the freedom to be stupid, and there are many Christians who do stupid things. In Christ there are those whose decisions are based on the desires of the flesh rather than upon the leading of the Spirit.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
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