The Muslims believe that the Koran was dictated to Mohammed in Arabic. They also believe that it cannot be translated. Any translation of the Koran is considered a commentary.
A Christian view of inspiration is more “incarnational” than this. Just as Jesus was fully human and fully divine, the Bible is a completely divine book at the same time that it is a completely human book. Not only does the personality of the particular human author come through in the Scripture, but so also does the culture and worldview of the time in which a particular book was written.
One of the biggest mistakes modern Christians make is to impose upon the biblical record modern norms which were foreign to the writers. For example, the use of quotation marks is quite modern. The concept of a direct quotation did not exist in the mind of Moses, Micah or Matthew.
Because the concept of a direct quotation did not exist in the mind of the biblical writers, why would we expect them to follow our standard of accuracy?
If you have a photograph from the early days of digital photography, you don’t expect it to have the same resolution as a state-of-the-art camera from today. (Hassleblad recently announced a 39-megapixel camera.) People took good, accurate pictures with those cameras. But they cannot match the resolution of a 39-megapixel camera.
The writers of the Bible were inspired, but they were also using the tools available to them at the time they wrote. It would be unreasonable to expect Moses to have an understanding of quantum mechanics, general relativity and astrophysics. He described the truth, revealed to him by God, with the tools he had available.
If God had tried to give Moses a description of the world consistent with our scientific understanding it would have made no sense to him. And science is still progressing. In 500 years, our current technology and understanding of the cosmos will seem simplistic.
Some critics of the Bible think that if they can find a mathematical inconsistency in the Bible it will prove that it is not inspired. And some Christians accept this absurd assumption. Why would we expect measurements which are given in cubits (a variable length) to give us an exact number for pi? How many decimal points must it resolve to before we pronounce it “without error”?
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Monday, February 27, 2006
Why so much about the Bible?
The reason I’ve been spending so much time focusing on the Bible is because a proper understanding of the Bible is an essential component of discovering what it means to be the Church and what God is calling us to be as a congregation.
One of the problems we must overcome is the assumption that we already know what the Bible says. I’ve been hearing, reading and studying the Bible virtually all my life (almost half a century now). And I’ve been studying the Bible and learning about it “professionally” for more than 30 years. I even teach the Bible at the University level.
Yet I find myself occasionally discovering that “what I had always thought” about the Bible was inaccurate or in some cases just downright incorrect.
For many that will be a shocking statement. But would you allow a surgeon to cut open your chest who hasn’t radically changed his approach to heart surgery since 1976? Or even 2001? He still believes that the heart is the organ that pumps blood throughout the body. He still sees blockage of the coronary arteries as a threat to the health of the heart and the entire body. He still believes that some serious cases can only be resolved with a heart transplant. But his procedures have changed dramatically. And in some cases, his understanding of the heart and how it functions has changed significantly.
If I, a “professional” student of the Bible, have changed my understanding of certain passages of the Bible over the years, wouldn’t it seem likely that an “amateur” student of the Bible would also need to be adjusting her understanding of Scripture as archaeology and other disciplines have “uncovered” new information?
Imagine a patient who goes to the hospital for open-heart surgery. He quizzes the surgeon about the procedure. But what he hears is different than what had been done to his father ten years earlier. Would it make sense for him to insist that the surgeon use exactly the same procedure that was used on his father? Could you imagine him saying, “If it was good enough for my father, it’s good enough for me”?
Some will object at this point that the analogy breaks down. The Bible is about truth, and truth doesn’t change. Surgery is about science, and science is always advancing.
But science is as much about the truth as is the Bible. Science is constantly trying to refine its understanding of the truth. The human body didn’t change. Our understanding of it just got better.
So it is with the Bible. The truth of the Bible doesn’t change, but our understanding of it is constantly improving. And because the truth of the Bible is timeless, that truth has to be applied in fresh ways as culture changes.
Now here’s an interesting observation. When my understanding of the Bible has changed, it was almost always started by reading something other than the Bible. This shouldn’t be surprising. If we keep reading with our same assumptions and preconceptions, we are always going to see the same thing. But when someone says, “Hey, look at it this way, it makes more sense,” we can read it with “fresh eyes” and see things we never noticed before.
Sometimes we find this new “view” so obvious that we wonder why we never saw it before. (This is not unlike what happens when you buy a new car and start to notice how many other people have suddenly started driving the same model.)
So be prepared to hear, “Hey, look at it this way, it makes more sense.” And don’t feel threatened that we are tampering with the timeless truth of the Bible. Allow yourself to read the Bible with “fresh eyes” and see if it does, in fact, make more sense.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
One of the problems we must overcome is the assumption that we already know what the Bible says. I’ve been hearing, reading and studying the Bible virtually all my life (almost half a century now). And I’ve been studying the Bible and learning about it “professionally” for more than 30 years. I even teach the Bible at the University level.
Yet I find myself occasionally discovering that “what I had always thought” about the Bible was inaccurate or in some cases just downright incorrect.
For many that will be a shocking statement. But would you allow a surgeon to cut open your chest who hasn’t radically changed his approach to heart surgery since 1976? Or even 2001? He still believes that the heart is the organ that pumps blood throughout the body. He still sees blockage of the coronary arteries as a threat to the health of the heart and the entire body. He still believes that some serious cases can only be resolved with a heart transplant. But his procedures have changed dramatically. And in some cases, his understanding of the heart and how it functions has changed significantly.
If I, a “professional” student of the Bible, have changed my understanding of certain passages of the Bible over the years, wouldn’t it seem likely that an “amateur” student of the Bible would also need to be adjusting her understanding of Scripture as archaeology and other disciplines have “uncovered” new information?
Imagine a patient who goes to the hospital for open-heart surgery. He quizzes the surgeon about the procedure. But what he hears is different than what had been done to his father ten years earlier. Would it make sense for him to insist that the surgeon use exactly the same procedure that was used on his father? Could you imagine him saying, “If it was good enough for my father, it’s good enough for me”?
Some will object at this point that the analogy breaks down. The Bible is about truth, and truth doesn’t change. Surgery is about science, and science is always advancing.
But science is as much about the truth as is the Bible. Science is constantly trying to refine its understanding of the truth. The human body didn’t change. Our understanding of it just got better.
So it is with the Bible. The truth of the Bible doesn’t change, but our understanding of it is constantly improving. And because the truth of the Bible is timeless, that truth has to be applied in fresh ways as culture changes.
Now here’s an interesting observation. When my understanding of the Bible has changed, it was almost always started by reading something other than the Bible. This shouldn’t be surprising. If we keep reading with our same assumptions and preconceptions, we are always going to see the same thing. But when someone says, “Hey, look at it this way, it makes more sense,” we can read it with “fresh eyes” and see things we never noticed before.
Sometimes we find this new “view” so obvious that we wonder why we never saw it before. (This is not unlike what happens when you buy a new car and start to notice how many other people have suddenly started driving the same model.)
So be prepared to hear, “Hey, look at it this way, it makes more sense.” And don’t feel threatened that we are tampering with the timeless truth of the Bible. Allow yourself to read the Bible with “fresh eyes” and see if it does, in fact, make more sense.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Importance of the Bible
The Bible claims to be inspired by God. It claims to be a direct revelation of what God considers to be the most important things for us to know.
It doesn’t tell us everything we’d like to know. It doesn’t even tell us everything we need to know. There is much that we need to know to function in our everyday lives that Bible is silent about. The Bible doesn’t claim to be a complete repository of all knowledge. It claims to be the final word on what is most important.
But this presents us with some problems. How do we decide exactly what the Bible says?
I addressed this in my previous post. And you may have gotten lost in all the detail. But the one thing I want you to grasp clearly is that understanding and interpreting the Bible is not like solving a math equation.
It requires scholarly tools and spiritual discernment. Unfortunately, there are many “Bible scholars” who do not even believe in a personal God, much less that Jesus is the incarnated Word. So you have to pick your “experts” with some care. There are also many well-intentioned, godly people who routinely misinterpret the Bible. Godliness is not a protection against a lack of information. The "bird" of Bible interpretation needs both wings to fly.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
It doesn’t tell us everything we’d like to know. It doesn’t even tell us everything we need to know. There is much that we need to know to function in our everyday lives that Bible is silent about. The Bible doesn’t claim to be a complete repository of all knowledge. It claims to be the final word on what is most important.
But this presents us with some problems. How do we decide exactly what the Bible says?
I addressed this in my previous post. And you may have gotten lost in all the detail. But the one thing I want you to grasp clearly is that understanding and interpreting the Bible is not like solving a math equation.
It requires scholarly tools and spiritual discernment. Unfortunately, there are many “Bible scholars” who do not even believe in a personal God, much less that Jesus is the incarnated Word. So you have to pick your “experts” with some care. There are also many well-intentioned, godly people who routinely misinterpret the Bible. Godliness is not a protection against a lack of information. The "bird" of Bible interpretation needs both wings to fly.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Understanding the Bible
It is generally believed that anyone able to read reasonably well can interpret the Bible without much or any outside help (except the Holy Spirit). While there are many clear statements in the Bible, biblical interpretation is not as simple as it might seem.
One problem we have is that we tend to read the Bible through the grid of our culture and our belief system. This filtered reading can never be completely avoided, but trained, Spirit-filled students of the Bible can minimize the distortion that can result.
I meet people all the time who say, “I just take the Bible for what it says.” But when I try to explain to them that their interpretation of a particular passage is in fact erroneous, they accuse me of trying to change the Bible. They can’t understand why I would take issue with the “plain sense” of what is there in black and white (or maybe red).
The first thing most Christians don’t realize is what is involved in producing the book that they hold in their hands. There is much research that has to take place and many decisions that must be made before the process of translation can even begin. And the translation process requires its own scholarship and choices.
So before we even start the process of interpretation, there is a lot going on behind the scenes.
Now we have to deal with the mechanics of hermeneutics. Hermeneutics is the science and art of interpreting a written work, especially the Bible. And our understanding of biblical inspiration will shape our interpretation as well.
See, I told you this was more complicated than it seemed.
Let’s see what happens with a relatively straightforward passage from Matthew:
What does this mean?
But wait! Before you can answer that question you must answer these questions:
Where is Caesarea Philippi?
What does Jesus mean by “the Son of Man”?
What is the significance of John the Baptist here?
What is the significance of Elijah here?
What is the significance of Jeremiah here?
What does Peter mean by “Christ”?
What does Peter mean by “Son of the living God”?
When did this conversation take place?
Why did Matthew include it in his gospel?
So what does this passage mean? It means that the disciples were beginning to understand that Jesus was the predicted Messiah. It means that Jesus was trying to show them what this meant. He wants to redefine who the Messiah is and what his mission will be. In verse 20 he tells his disciples not tell anyone that he is the Christ.
As a part of his instruction, “from that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (v. 21).
Not only did they not understand what he was trying to tell them, but Peter told Jesus that he would not allow this to happen. Jesus replied with, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men” (v. 23).
Clearly Peter did not mean the same thing by “son of the living God” that we use it to mean today. He still had a lot to learn about who Jesus was and what his mission was.
And you thought you knew what that passage meant.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
One problem we have is that we tend to read the Bible through the grid of our culture and our belief system. This filtered reading can never be completely avoided, but trained, Spirit-filled students of the Bible can minimize the distortion that can result.
I meet people all the time who say, “I just take the Bible for what it says.” But when I try to explain to them that their interpretation of a particular passage is in fact erroneous, they accuse me of trying to change the Bible. They can’t understand why I would take issue with the “plain sense” of what is there in black and white (or maybe red).
The first thing most Christians don’t realize is what is involved in producing the book that they hold in their hands. There is much research that has to take place and many decisions that must be made before the process of translation can even begin. And the translation process requires its own scholarship and choices.
So before we even start the process of interpretation, there is a lot going on behind the scenes.
Now we have to deal with the mechanics of hermeneutics. Hermeneutics is the science and art of interpreting a written work, especially the Bible. And our understanding of biblical inspiration will shape our interpretation as well.
See, I told you this was more complicated than it seemed.
Let’s see what happens with a relatively straightforward passage from Matthew:
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:13–16).
What does this mean?
But wait! Before you can answer that question you must answer these questions:
Where is Caesarea Philippi?
What does Jesus mean by “the Son of Man”?
What is the significance of John the Baptist here?
What is the significance of Elijah here?
What is the significance of Jeremiah here?
What does Peter mean by “Christ”?
What does Peter mean by “Son of the living God”?
When did this conversation take place?
Why did Matthew include it in his gospel?
So what does this passage mean? It means that the disciples were beginning to understand that Jesus was the predicted Messiah. It means that Jesus was trying to show them what this meant. He wants to redefine who the Messiah is and what his mission will be. In verse 20 he tells his disciples not tell anyone that he is the Christ.
As a part of his instruction, “from that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (v. 21).
Not only did they not understand what he was trying to tell them, but Peter told Jesus that he would not allow this to happen. Jesus replied with, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men” (v. 23).
Clearly Peter did not mean the same thing by “son of the living God” that we use it to mean today. He still had a lot to learn about who Jesus was and what his mission was.
And you thought you knew what that passage meant.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
Friday, February 24, 2006
Behind the scenes
You may be wanting to see some of the steps in the argument that I have left out or skipped over.
I have intentionally left out some of this information to keep the posts at a readable length and to make them flow. If I stopped and explained every little thing, most people would stop reading. And the ones who persisted in reading would be in danger of missing the big point.
In an attempt to accommodate those who want more detail without overwhelming those who don’t, I’ve started a companion blog: Behind the Scenes. I will use it to hold the things that would normally go in footnotes.
I will go back a few posts and add notes which are linked to this blog. In the future I will post the notes at the same time as the regular post. Remember, however, the best use we can get from this blog is for you to post your own questions and comments right here.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
I have intentionally left out some of this information to keep the posts at a readable length and to make them flow. If I stopped and explained every little thing, most people would stop reading. And the ones who persisted in reading would be in danger of missing the big point.
In an attempt to accommodate those who want more detail without overwhelming those who don’t, I’ve started a companion blog: Behind the Scenes. I will use it to hold the things that would normally go in footnotes.
I will go back a few posts and add notes which are linked to this blog. In the future I will post the notes at the same time as the regular post. Remember, however, the best use we can get from this blog is for you to post your own questions and comments right here.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
Why does it matter?
What difference does it make if we adopt a kingdom mindset?
One thing it does is change how we view the world. With a kingdom mindset, we see creation as valuable, not something that will be thrown into the trash on Judgment Day.
It also changes our focus on life now. If God is establishing his kingdom right now on earth, then we have a role to play and a job to do. We’re not just sitting around waiting to go to heaven.
If we understand the nature of the conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world, then we avoid entanglements that divide our loyalties. As C. S. Lewis said, “There is no neutral ground in the universe: every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God and counter claimed by Satan.”
We also realize that what we do now matters. Because there is a continuity between this creation and the new creation, between our fleshly bodies and our resurrection bodies, everything has eternal consequences. This life is not just a holding pattern until we can get on with “eternal life.” Dallas Willard uses a phrase I like: “eternal kind of life.” That is not something that begins at death. It begins when we join God’s kingdom.
With a kingdom mindset, we take it personally when we see evil, oppression and exploitation. We no longer say, “I can’t get involved. It’s not my problem.” The real “problem of evil” is not why good people suffer. The real “problem of evil” is that evil is an insult to our King. And we are obligated to do something about it.
When we think about recruiting people to the kingdom of God, we realize that our job is not done when a person “accepts Christ.” That’s just the beginning.
And by recognizing that we are part of the kingdom of God, we realize that we are a part of a bigger story. This is not just a story about one person, or one church, or even one period in history. This is God’s story.
What difference does a kingdom mindset make? It makes all the difference in the world.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
One thing it does is change how we view the world. With a kingdom mindset, we see creation as valuable, not something that will be thrown into the trash on Judgment Day.
It also changes our focus on life now. If God is establishing his kingdom right now on earth, then we have a role to play and a job to do. We’re not just sitting around waiting to go to heaven.
If we understand the nature of the conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world, then we avoid entanglements that divide our loyalties. As C. S. Lewis said, “There is no neutral ground in the universe: every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God and counter claimed by Satan.”
We also realize that what we do now matters. Because there is a continuity between this creation and the new creation, between our fleshly bodies and our resurrection bodies, everything has eternal consequences. This life is not just a holding pattern until we can get on with “eternal life.” Dallas Willard uses a phrase I like: “eternal kind of life.” That is not something that begins at death. It begins when we join God’s kingdom.
With a kingdom mindset, we take it personally when we see evil, oppression and exploitation. We no longer say, “I can’t get involved. It’s not my problem.” The real “problem of evil” is not why good people suffer. The real “problem of evil” is that evil is an insult to our King. And we are obligated to do something about it.
When we think about recruiting people to the kingdom of God, we realize that our job is not done when a person “accepts Christ.” That’s just the beginning.
And by recognizing that we are part of the kingdom of God, we realize that we are a part of a bigger story. This is not just a story about one person, or one church, or even one period in history. This is God’s story.
To accept the call of grace is to accept the call to join the divine story, the redemptive, covenantal story of the kingdom of God and to gain the recovery of our true human happiness.Philip Greenslade, A Passion for God’s Story
What difference does a kingdom mindset make? It makes all the difference in the world.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
Thursday, February 23, 2006
The kingdom and culture
When Jesus came to earth 2,000 years ago, the Jews had three different attitudes towards the Roman occupiers.
But Jesus did not fit into any of these categories. He engaged the culture without becoming caught up in the culture.
Today the church sees three similar choices with regard to the dominant culture of the world.
Jesus appears to be calling us to something different. He said that we were not to remove ourselves from the world. He said that we were to be in the world but not to become a part of the world system. He said that he demanded our ultimate allegiance but that we shouldn’t pick unnecessary fights. We should, however, fight against all the forces of evil, oppression and exploitation.
He called us to engage the culture.
He said that it was like being salt in a bland world or a bright light in a dark world. He said that we should pray for God’s kingdom to be established in this world and for his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. He sent us into the world to proclaim the good news of the kingdom, not as a message of condemnation but as a message of reconciliation, forgiveness and hope.
Of course this means that we will have to take a stand on various issues. But a kingdom perspective will help us avoid the often-repeated mistakes of fighting unnecessary battles, of aligning ourselves with the wrong side and of remaining passive when action is required.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
- Some of them responded to Roman occupation by withdrawing from society. These were the people at Qumran who gave us the Dead Sea Scrolls.
- Some of them reacted with violence, trying to throw off the Roman yoke. These were the Zealots.
- Some of them decided that the best way forward was compromise, to make the best of a bad situation. These were the Pharisees and the Sadducees.
But Jesus did not fit into any of these categories. He engaged the culture without becoming caught up in the culture.
Today the church sees three similar choices with regard to the dominant culture of the world.
- There are those who think we should withdraw from society. They send their kids to private Christian schools. They don’t go to movies. They avoid contact as much as possible with the “godless culture.”
- There are those who think that we should fight the “culture wars.” We should protest abortion clinics. We should consolidate our political power and let our voice be heard. We should stand up for the values that our country was founded on.
- There are those who say that we need to adjust the message of the gospel to accommodate the realities of the modern world. Kids are going to have sex, so we should encourage safe sex instead of abstinence. People have a right to be happy, so we should be more accepting of “alternative lifestyles.”
Jesus appears to be calling us to something different. He said that we were not to remove ourselves from the world. He said that we were to be in the world but not to become a part of the world system. He said that he demanded our ultimate allegiance but that we shouldn’t pick unnecessary fights. We should, however, fight against all the forces of evil, oppression and exploitation.
He called us to engage the culture.
He said that it was like being salt in a bland world or a bright light in a dark world. He said that we should pray for God’s kingdom to be established in this world and for his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. He sent us into the world to proclaim the good news of the kingdom, not as a message of condemnation but as a message of reconciliation, forgiveness and hope.
Of course this means that we will have to take a stand on various issues. But a kingdom perspective will help us avoid the often-repeated mistakes of fighting unnecessary battles, of aligning ourselves with the wrong side and of remaining passive when action is required.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Taking the name of the Bible in vain
It’s time for people to stop using the adjective “biblical” in trivial ways.
The Bible claims to be God’s revelation to humanity of what he considers most important. He has also given us “general revelation,” which is what Paul refers to at the beginning of his letter to the Romans.
General revelation is what we can understand about the cosmos, ourselves and the Creator by observing “how things work.” We can learn a lot from general revelation. But there are some things we would never know if God hadn’t told us in the “special revelation” of the Bible.
So the Bible is the “gold standard” of revelation.
General revelation (This includes our ability to reason and draw conclusions based what we observe.) can even help us understand the Bible better. There was a time when Christians thought that the Bible taught that the earth was the center of the universe. (This was based more on Aristotle’s philosophy than the Bible, but that’s what people thought.) Scientific observation helped us to realize that this was a misinterpretation of the Bible.
Even though general revelation sometimes helps correct our understanding of the Bible, the Bible remains the final authority.
For this reason, Christian teachers, speakers and writers like to label their ideas as “biblical.” This gives them more authority. In some situations, it means that there can be no disagreement with a position because it has the official biblical endorsement. It is almost as if we have a symbol of a B in a circle (like the R for a registered trademark) that certifies our opinion as biblical.
But Christians are guilty of taking this endorsement “in vain.” They label all kinds of speculation, narrow interpretations and cultural norms as “biblical.”
But this is so subtle that we often don’t see it.
Here’s a list of some of the pretexts that people use to label something as “biblical”:
- Someone in the Bible did something similar to what is being suggested.
- There’s a statement in Proverbs that seems to support it (more on this later).
- There’s a statement in Job (even worse) that seems to support it.
- It is good practice or common sense and a verse in the Bible alludes to it or mentions it in passing.
- It is good practice or common sense and a verse in the Bible can be twisted to appear to suggest it.
- It is a narrow interpretation based on a few isolated statements in the Bible.
- It is tradition or culture validated by a narrow interpretation of certain parts of the Bible.
- It is a general teaching of the Bible, but its claim to be “biblical” is validated by a proof text.
All these are guilty of taking the endorsement of the Bible in vain.
The only valid use of the adjective “biblical” is when it is used for something that is a deep principle taught by the Bible. In a future post I’ll try to start a list of core biblical principles. You may want to suggest some in the comments.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
What is the kingdom?
To many Christians, the phrase “Kingdom of God” simply means “heaven” or the spiritual realm. But what did Jesus mean when he used it and its cognate the “Kingdom of Heaven”?
At the beginning of Mark’s gospel Jesus says, “The Kingdom of God has arrived. Change your ways and accept the good news.” He was not just telling them that he had a new way for them to get to heaven. He was announcing the arrival of God’s reign on earth—his plan to redeem an entire creation that had been damaged by sin.
This was about much more than avoiding hell or even atoning for sin. It was a new way of life now, under the authority of the Creator of the universe. But we’ve reduced Christianity to a few legal metaphors.
The church tends to see its mission as simply trying to get people to heaven.
But the Kingdom of God is much more. It is about asserting God’s rule in every area of this life. It is about bringing hope and healing to a world ripped apart by sin. It is about opposing evil in every form it takes.
N. T. Wright explains it, “This is what ‘the kingdom of God’ means: neither ‘going to heaven when you die’ nor ‘a new way of ordering earthly political reality,’ but something which includes and thoroughly transcends both.”
Becoming a Christian is not about a one-time transaction we make with God. It is about a new way of living. It is about opposing all rivals to God’s Kingdom. It is about undivided loyalty to the true King.
Jesus didn’t say, “If you want to be my disciple then you need to pray a short sinner’s prayer and try to be good.”
He said, “If you want to be my disciple then you must set aside your own agenda, consider your own life worthless for the sake of the Kingdom and then follow me wherever I lead you. And you must do this every day of your life.”
Unfortunately, it’s all too easy just to pay lip service to the Kingdom instead of letting it transform our lives.
We tend to do pretty much the same things we did before we “joined” the Kingdom and the same things people outside the Kingdom do. We may try to be a little more honest. We may try to be nicer to other people (as long as we’re not having a bad day). We may try to make room for some “religion” in our busy schedules.
But no one would mistake us for radicals, fanatics or revolutionaries.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
At the beginning of Mark’s gospel Jesus says, “The Kingdom of God has arrived. Change your ways and accept the good news.” He was not just telling them that he had a new way for them to get to heaven. He was announcing the arrival of God’s reign on earth—his plan to redeem an entire creation that had been damaged by sin.
This was about much more than avoiding hell or even atoning for sin. It was a new way of life now, under the authority of the Creator of the universe. But we’ve reduced Christianity to a few legal metaphors.
The church tends to see its mission as simply trying to get people to heaven.
But the Kingdom of God is much more. It is about asserting God’s rule in every area of this life. It is about bringing hope and healing to a world ripped apart by sin. It is about opposing evil in every form it takes.
N. T. Wright explains it, “This is what ‘the kingdom of God’ means: neither ‘going to heaven when you die’ nor ‘a new way of ordering earthly political reality,’ but something which includes and thoroughly transcends both.”
Becoming a Christian is not about a one-time transaction we make with God. It is about a new way of living. It is about opposing all rivals to God’s Kingdom. It is about undivided loyalty to the true King.
Jesus didn’t say, “If you want to be my disciple then you need to pray a short sinner’s prayer and try to be good.”
He said, “If you want to be my disciple then you must set aside your own agenda, consider your own life worthless for the sake of the Kingdom and then follow me wherever I lead you. And you must do this every day of your life.”
Unfortunately, it’s all too easy just to pay lip service to the Kingdom instead of letting it transform our lives.
We tend to do pretty much the same things we did before we “joined” the Kingdom and the same things people outside the Kingdom do. We may try to be a little more honest. We may try to be nicer to other people (as long as we’re not having a bad day). We may try to make room for some “religion” in our busy schedules.
But no one would mistake us for radicals, fanatics or revolutionaries.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
How do we define success?
I’m going to start by admitting that I don’t have a complete answer to this question. But, as you might expect, I have several thoughts on the issue.
First, the church has tended to use the worldly definition of success with a few minor modifications. We eliminate people from consideration who achieve their “success” by unscrupulous means (most of the time), but we tend to use the same criteria that world does: numbers, size, money, power.
Second, Jesus was a failure according to the Jewish culture of his day. Any would-be Messiah who gets killed before he can establish his kingdom is by definition a failure. This is why Paul said that the cross was a stumbling block to the Jews.
Third, Jesus was a failure according to the pagan culture of his day. He never accomplished anything of significance according that culture. He didn’t build anything. He didn’t win any great battles. He didn’t consolidate a political power base. This is why Paul said that the cross was foolishness to the Gentiles.
Fourth, the prosperity promised in the Old Covenant is no longer on offer in the New Covenant. I am surprised how few Christians (and Christian leaders) understand the terms of the Old Covenant (the Covenant of the Law given through Moses on Mount Sinai). To put it in its simplest terms, God said, “You keep my laws and I will make you prosperous.” This offer is no longer available. The Old Covenant has been replaced with the New Covenant.
This confusion between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant is why so many Christians get certain issues so wrong: such as tithing, Sabbath observance and promises of prosperity.
The New Covenant proposes something very different. Jesus says, “If you deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me, then I will give you true life and a place of significance in my Kingdom.” (I’ll have to deal with this issue at more length in a future post.)
But what about the success of the early church? Peter’s first sermon produced 3,000 converts (possibly more depending upon how you do the math). God added to their number daily. The early church exploded on the world. Shouldn’t we expect similar signs of God’s blessings in our ministries?
One thing we overlook is that this was kingdom success. The early church was pretty much the sum total of the kingdom at this point. Peter’s sermon did not produce the results it did because he had a clearly-defined mission statement, or well-written long-term goals. Peter was faithful, and God produced the results. This was God building his kingdom.
Maybe we’re asking the wrong question.
Maybe success is not the issue. Could it be that the real question is faithfulness? Does the master in the parable of the talents say, “Well done, good and successful Apprentice”? Of course not. He says, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Jesus is focusing on his faithfulness, not his success. But in our culture we see them as the same thing. The first two servants both doubled their investment after all.
Here’s some insight into this issue from Allen Mitsuo Wakabayashi in his excellent book Kingdom Come:
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
First, the church has tended to use the worldly definition of success with a few minor modifications. We eliminate people from consideration who achieve their “success” by unscrupulous means (most of the time), but we tend to use the same criteria that world does: numbers, size, money, power.
Second, Jesus was a failure according to the Jewish culture of his day. Any would-be Messiah who gets killed before he can establish his kingdom is by definition a failure. This is why Paul said that the cross was a stumbling block to the Jews.
Third, Jesus was a failure according to the pagan culture of his day. He never accomplished anything of significance according that culture. He didn’t build anything. He didn’t win any great battles. He didn’t consolidate a political power base. This is why Paul said that the cross was foolishness to the Gentiles.
Fourth, the prosperity promised in the Old Covenant is no longer on offer in the New Covenant. I am surprised how few Christians (and Christian leaders) understand the terms of the Old Covenant (the Covenant of the Law given through Moses on Mount Sinai). To put it in its simplest terms, God said, “You keep my laws and I will make you prosperous.” This offer is no longer available. The Old Covenant has been replaced with the New Covenant.
This confusion between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant is why so many Christians get certain issues so wrong: such as tithing, Sabbath observance and promises of prosperity.
The New Covenant proposes something very different. Jesus says, “If you deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me, then I will give you true life and a place of significance in my Kingdom.” (I’ll have to deal with this issue at more length in a future post.)
But what about the success of the early church? Peter’s first sermon produced 3,000 converts (possibly more depending upon how you do the math). God added to their number daily. The early church exploded on the world. Shouldn’t we expect similar signs of God’s blessings in our ministries?
One thing we overlook is that this was kingdom success. The early church was pretty much the sum total of the kingdom at this point. Peter’s sermon did not produce the results it did because he had a clearly-defined mission statement, or well-written long-term goals. Peter was faithful, and God produced the results. This was God building his kingdom.
Maybe we’re asking the wrong question.
Maybe success is not the issue. Could it be that the real question is faithfulness? Does the master in the parable of the talents say, “Well done, good and successful Apprentice”? Of course not. He says, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Jesus is focusing on his faithfulness, not his success. But in our culture we see them as the same thing. The first two servants both doubled their investment after all.
Here’s some insight into this issue from Allen Mitsuo Wakabayashi in his excellent book Kingdom Come:
The way of the cross sometimes leads us into those places where all we can do is hold on. We can’t see our way forward, we are confused that God isn’t doing what we expect, and we can’t see any meaning for all the pain and frustration…. We must always do what we know is right and true before God even if it doesn’t seem as if it produces results…. We must never forget that the path of the cross leads to and through the darkness of death, not around it. Yet the God that we follow is the God of resurrection. We must hang on and stay faithful for as long as it takes.Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
Monday, February 20, 2006
What does Communion mean?
It is known by many names: the Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, the Blessed Sacrament. But what it is? What does it mean? And why do we do it?
First, let me explain what it is not. Communion is not magic. There are many “Christians” who attend “church” so that they can receive Communion because they think that it will “get them to heaven.” But Communion is not some magic elixir that instantly makes us “good to go” for another week. There is more to caring for a car than getting the oil changed every 3,000 miles.
Communion is not a sacrifice. Sometimes this language is even used by the one performing the sacrament. But the Bible is quite clear that Jesus made a single sacrifice, once for all, for the sins of the world—past, present and future.
At the other extreme, Communion is not just a symbolic act. There is something important and real that takes place in Communion. The church has argued about what that is and how it works. And I’m not sure that I even understand exactly what’s going on. I do know that many of the explanations given are inadequate.
Why do we celebrate Communion? Well, first because Jesus told us too. The early Christians celebrated Communion every morning. It was a central part of their worship. This is because Communion is primarily a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.
When we celebrate Communion we are looking back to Jesus’ resurrection when the kingdom of God broke loose in the world. In this single event, the kingdom of this world became the kingdom of our God and of his Christ. Jesus defeated sin, Satan and death.
But we also look ahead when we celebrate Communion. We look ahead to the day when the new heaven and the new earth will be unveiled, “when the times will have reached their fulfillment,” “when all things in heaven and on earth [will be brought] together under one head, even Christ” (Ephesians 1:10).
Some Christians focus too much on the past and turn Communion into a morbid reliving of the death and suffering of Jesus. Some Christians focus too much on the future sitting back and dreaming of the day when God will come and fix everything.
But the resurrection of Jesus is not just about the past and the future. It is also about the present.
Paul tells the Christians in Ephesus, “I pray also 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 the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:18–21).
We have a hope and an inheritance to look forward to. But, more importantly, there is power available to us right now. This is the same power that was at work in Jesus’ resurrection.
Paul tells the Corinthians that our hope is rooted in the resurrection of the dead. But in the meantime we don’t just wait around for our transportation to heaven. Rather, we have work to do. “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Communion is a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and a reminder that this resurrection power is to animate our lives as we do the work of the kingdom.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
First, let me explain what it is not. Communion is not magic. There are many “Christians” who attend “church” so that they can receive Communion because they think that it will “get them to heaven.” But Communion is not some magic elixir that instantly makes us “good to go” for another week. There is more to caring for a car than getting the oil changed every 3,000 miles.
Communion is not a sacrifice. Sometimes this language is even used by the one performing the sacrament. But the Bible is quite clear that Jesus made a single sacrifice, once for all, for the sins of the world—past, present and future.
At the other extreme, Communion is not just a symbolic act. There is something important and real that takes place in Communion. The church has argued about what that is and how it works. And I’m not sure that I even understand exactly what’s going on. I do know that many of the explanations given are inadequate.
Why do we celebrate Communion? Well, first because Jesus told us too. The early Christians celebrated Communion every morning. It was a central part of their worship. This is because Communion is primarily a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.
When we celebrate Communion we are looking back to Jesus’ resurrection when the kingdom of God broke loose in the world. In this single event, the kingdom of this world became the kingdom of our God and of his Christ. Jesus defeated sin, Satan and death.
But we also look ahead when we celebrate Communion. We look ahead to the day when the new heaven and the new earth will be unveiled, “when the times will have reached their fulfillment,” “when all things in heaven and on earth [will be brought] together under one head, even Christ” (Ephesians 1:10).
Some Christians focus too much on the past and turn Communion into a morbid reliving of the death and suffering of Jesus. Some Christians focus too much on the future sitting back and dreaming of the day when God will come and fix everything.
But the resurrection of Jesus is not just about the past and the future. It is also about the present.
Paul tells the Christians in Ephesus, “I pray also 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 the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:18–21).
We have a hope and an inheritance to look forward to. But, more importantly, there is power available to us right now. This is the same power that was at work in Jesus’ resurrection.
Paul tells the Corinthians that our hope is rooted in the resurrection of the dead. But in the meantime we don’t just wait around for our transportation to heaven. Rather, we have work to do. “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Communion is a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and a reminder that this resurrection power is to animate our lives as we do the work of the kingdom.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
Sunday, February 19, 2006
How should we dress when we “go to church”?
There are some who believe that Christians should “dress up” when they gather for worship. This, they say, demonstrates their respect for God and shows that worship is important.
While there may be some value in this, there is also some danger.
First, this reinforces the idea that we are “going to church” to worship.
Second, it also reinforces the false division of life into sacred and secular parts.
Third, it creates the impression that we are “going to church” in order to meet God, that he is not present in our everyday lives.
Fourth, in some congregations it turns corporate worship into a fashion show.
I’m not saying that we should all wear sweatshirts and jeans when we gather as the body of Christ. This may carry its own baggage.
If you like to “dress up” when you attend corporate worship services, please continue. But remember that God is more concerned with what’s inside than with what we look like on the outside.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
While there may be some value in this, there is also some danger.
First, this reinforces the idea that we are “going to church” to worship.
Second, it also reinforces the false division of life into sacred and secular parts.
Third, it creates the impression that we are “going to church” in order to meet God, that he is not present in our everyday lives.
Fourth, in some congregations it turns corporate worship into a fashion show.
I’m not saying that we should all wear sweatshirts and jeans when we gather as the body of Christ. This may carry its own baggage.
If you like to “dress up” when you attend corporate worship services, please continue. But remember that God is more concerned with what’s inside than with what we look like on the outside.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
Saturday, February 18, 2006
What is appropriate in worship?
The short answer is that anything that honors God has a proper place in shared worship. There are no styles of music that are out of bounds. There are no forms of expression (which are appropriate for Christians to engage in publicly) that cannot be used in worship. And the old sacred/secular distinction is utter nonsense.
There is no style of music that is godly or Christian. Just because a song is sung slowly, accompanied by an organ and uses religious jargon doesn’t mean that it honors God. Nor does it mean when believers stand, wave their arms and sing at the top of their lungs that it is automatically superior to other expressions. This form can be just as dead as any other form of worship. It may provide superior cardiovascular benefits, but it doesn’t invariably honor God.
Does this mean that nothing is inappropriate in worship? Of course not. Anything that cannot be done to honor God has no place in worship. And anything that potentially could be done to honor God but is not done so that it does in fact honor God has no place in worship.
For example, it’s hard to imagine a circumstance in which a striptease could be done to honor God. But a presentation of “How Great Thou Art” which celebrates the virtuosity of the soloist more than the greatness of God is also an abomination.
There are certainly lines that must be drawn. But we’ve tended to draw them in the wrong places and over the wrong issues.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
There is no style of music that is godly or Christian. Just because a song is sung slowly, accompanied by an organ and uses religious jargon doesn’t mean that it honors God. Nor does it mean when believers stand, wave their arms and sing at the top of their lungs that it is automatically superior to other expressions. This form can be just as dead as any other form of worship. It may provide superior cardiovascular benefits, but it doesn’t invariably honor God.
Does this mean that nothing is inappropriate in worship? Of course not. Anything that cannot be done to honor God has no place in worship. And anything that potentially could be done to honor God but is not done so that it does in fact honor God has no place in worship.
For example, it’s hard to imagine a circumstance in which a striptease could be done to honor God. But a presentation of “How Great Thou Art” which celebrates the virtuosity of the soloist more than the greatness of God is also an abomination.
There are certainly lines that must be drawn. But we’ve tended to draw them in the wrong places and over the wrong issues.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
Friday, February 17, 2006
What is worship?
We tend to think of worship as something that we do at a specific time (usually Sunday morning) at a specific place (a church building). Some people tell us that we should worship more often than we do. The truth is that we are always worshipping. The issue is not whether we worship but what we worship.
The first question we must ask is what it is that we are worshipping. Are we worshipping success? Wealth? Power? Family? Youth? Sex? If an auditor examined our checkbook and our date book, what would he conclude is most valuable to us? Jesus said that we cannot have more than one master. We cannot divide our loyalty between two or more sovereigns.
As Christians our lives should be an act of worship to God. Paul said that we should offer our bodies as living sacrifices. We can’t appease God by getting together once a week and saying nice things about him. But, of course, we don’t worship God because it benefits him. We worship God for our own benefit. Unfortunately, most of the time we don’t worship him at all.
If, in fact, we are living lives of worship then why do we need to gather together to worship? Because it is part of what it means to be a church and part of what it means to be a Christian. We cannot adequately worship God alone. Shared worship is an essential part of life in Christ.
I’ll wait for another time to make the case for the necessity of shared worship. Right now I want to explore what that shared worship should be.
Many Christians “go to church” for what the “church” can do for them. They go to take advantage of the programs and services provided by the paid staff and dedicated volunteers. And they complain if everything isn’t done according to their personal preferences.
Imagine a chef who arrives at a restaurant when he is scheduled to work, but instead of going to the kitchen he goes to the dinning room expecting to be served. When the food comes he complains about the way it is prepared and at the end of the meal leaves without paying the bill, stiffing the waiter in the process.
Worship is as much the responsibility of the person in the pew as it is of the person in the pulpit.
This is not to say that the quality of the worship is not important. No one wants to eat bland food. But we all have a role to play in the quality of the worship. We should be going to the kitchen instead of the dinning room.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
The first question we must ask is what it is that we are worshipping. Are we worshipping success? Wealth? Power? Family? Youth? Sex? If an auditor examined our checkbook and our date book, what would he conclude is most valuable to us? Jesus said that we cannot have more than one master. We cannot divide our loyalty between two or more sovereigns.
As Christians our lives should be an act of worship to God. Paul said that we should offer our bodies as living sacrifices. We can’t appease God by getting together once a week and saying nice things about him. But, of course, we don’t worship God because it benefits him. We worship God for our own benefit. Unfortunately, most of the time we don’t worship him at all.
If, in fact, we are living lives of worship then why do we need to gather together to worship? Because it is part of what it means to be a church and part of what it means to be a Christian. We cannot adequately worship God alone. Shared worship is an essential part of life in Christ.
I’ll wait for another time to make the case for the necessity of shared worship. Right now I want to explore what that shared worship should be.
Many Christians “go to church” for what the “church” can do for them. They go to take advantage of the programs and services provided by the paid staff and dedicated volunteers. And they complain if everything isn’t done according to their personal preferences.
Imagine a chef who arrives at a restaurant when he is scheduled to work, but instead of going to the kitchen he goes to the dinning room expecting to be served. When the food comes he complains about the way it is prepared and at the end of the meal leaves without paying the bill, stiffing the waiter in the process.
Worship is as much the responsibility of the person in the pew as it is of the person in the pulpit.
This is not to say that the quality of the worship is not important. No one wants to eat bland food. But we all have a role to play in the quality of the worship. We should be going to the kitchen instead of the dinning room.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
What does it mean to be the church in the 21st century?
The first thing we must understand is that the church is people rather than a place. We often use the word “church” to refer to a building. But church buildings did not exist in New Testament times. In fact, for the first three centuries of its existence, Christianity was an underground movement. It wasn’t until 313 when Constantine legitimized Christianity that Christian worship went public.
Church buildings are beneficial, but they also have some negative influences on the Kingdom.
They add a financial burden to a congregation. Constructing and maintaining a building is costly. It is easy for the tail to wag the dog and for the congregation to see its purpose as serving the building. Money that could be used for ministry is often spent on elaborate structures.
Another drawback of church buildings is that they reinforce the perception of a sacred/secular distinction. It is unfortunate that we even use these words. God never intended for life to be severed into these two parts. But modern society has built a massive concrete wall to separate the sacred from the secular. And the church has bought in to this lie.
Church buildings also tend to create a mindset that seeks to draw people in. We build our buildings and develop programs hoping that we can draw people to “church” so that we can minister to them. The arrow is going in the wrong direction. Instead of trying to draw people in, the church should be sending people out into the world to engage in ministry.
And because we gather at a specific time in a specific place we tend to think of church as a meeting rather than a community. The church was intended to be more like a family than an organization. The family doesn’t stop being a family when its members are not at home. Even if its members move away, it continues to be a family. But we tend to think of the church as the group of people who meet at a certain place. This also feeds the false distinction between the sacred and the secular. When we are at the church building we are “doing church.” The rest of the time we are just getting on with life. Consequently, being the church and living our lives seem like two separate, and competing, activities.
Now, I’m not suggesting that we get rid of our church building—not yet anyway. But we must constantly be on the guard against these misunderstandings if we are going to be the body of Christ and if we are going to effectively participate in the Kingdom of God.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
Church buildings are beneficial, but they also have some negative influences on the Kingdom.
They add a financial burden to a congregation. Constructing and maintaining a building is costly. It is easy for the tail to wag the dog and for the congregation to see its purpose as serving the building. Money that could be used for ministry is often spent on elaborate structures.
Another drawback of church buildings is that they reinforce the perception of a sacred/secular distinction. It is unfortunate that we even use these words. God never intended for life to be severed into these two parts. But modern society has built a massive concrete wall to separate the sacred from the secular. And the church has bought in to this lie.
Church buildings also tend to create a mindset that seeks to draw people in. We build our buildings and develop programs hoping that we can draw people to “church” so that we can minister to them. The arrow is going in the wrong direction. Instead of trying to draw people in, the church should be sending people out into the world to engage in ministry.
And because we gather at a specific time in a specific place we tend to think of church as a meeting rather than a community. The church was intended to be more like a family than an organization. The family doesn’t stop being a family when its members are not at home. Even if its members move away, it continues to be a family. But we tend to think of the church as the group of people who meet at a certain place. This also feeds the false distinction between the sacred and the secular. When we are at the church building we are “doing church.” The rest of the time we are just getting on with life. Consequently, being the church and living our lives seem like two separate, and competing, activities.
Now, I’m not suggesting that we get rid of our church building—not yet anyway. But we must constantly be on the guard against these misunderstandings if we are going to be the body of Christ and if we are going to effectively participate in the Kingdom of God.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Getting Started
This is the first edition of my musings which I’m calling “Kingdom Come.” I know that this might cause some confusion with the drama that we will be presenting in April, but that is not entirely a bad thing. The drama will be exploring some of the same things we need to address as a church.
When Jesus said, “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15), he was not talking about getting people ready to die. He was talking about establishing the Kingdom of God right now. Of course, this also includes eternal destinations. But it is much more than that. (I am borrowing heavily from N. T. Wright in the following observations.)
The crucified and risen Jesus of Nazareth is Lord. He is already reigning at God’s right hand. Yet his rule is still being opposed by various “powers.” Some of these powers are individual human beings; some of them are human organizations; and some are spiritual “powers.” There is coming a time when Jesus Christ will reappear to complete his rule by totally abolishing all enemies of the Kingdom. In the meantime, it is our responsibility to advance the cause of the Kingdom.
This has several implications for the Church. As subjects of the Kingdom we are called to relationship, stewardship and worship.
As a consequence of Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension, there is a different way of being human. As members of this Kingdom we are called to stand in opposition to all human oppression and declare that “the powers” have been defeated. There will be judgment for those who insist on dehumanizing themselves and others.
As stewards of God’s creation, we have a responsibility to care for it. We have tended to treat creation as a gold mine or as an ashtray. We do not worship creation as some people suggest. But we respect it as a good thing made by God. And we are responsible for how we take care of it.
Worship is more than what we do in the church building. But that’s not to say that it isn’t important. We cannot do authentic mission without shared worship. We are also to present our bodies as living sacrifices. Everything we do is to be an act of worship. The most important part of worship is to submit to Jesus Christ as Lord.
We are not called to withdraw from the world, to compromise with the world or to become militant with the world. Our job as Christians is to model genuine humanness as a sign and invitation to the world.
I will be expanding on these ideas in future postings.
If you have any questions or would like further clarification about something I write, login or send me an e-mail. I’ll try to respond to your question or concern here.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
When Jesus said, “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15), he was not talking about getting people ready to die. He was talking about establishing the Kingdom of God right now. Of course, this also includes eternal destinations. But it is much more than that. (I am borrowing heavily from N. T. Wright in the following observations.)
The crucified and risen Jesus of Nazareth is Lord. He is already reigning at God’s right hand. Yet his rule is still being opposed by various “powers.” Some of these powers are individual human beings; some of them are human organizations; and some are spiritual “powers.” There is coming a time when Jesus Christ will reappear to complete his rule by totally abolishing all enemies of the Kingdom. In the meantime, it is our responsibility to advance the cause of the Kingdom.
This has several implications for the Church. As subjects of the Kingdom we are called to relationship, stewardship and worship.
As a consequence of Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension, there is a different way of being human. As members of this Kingdom we are called to stand in opposition to all human oppression and declare that “the powers” have been defeated. There will be judgment for those who insist on dehumanizing themselves and others.
As stewards of God’s creation, we have a responsibility to care for it. We have tended to treat creation as a gold mine or as an ashtray. We do not worship creation as some people suggest. But we respect it as a good thing made by God. And we are responsible for how we take care of it.
Worship is more than what we do in the church building. But that’s not to say that it isn’t important. We cannot do authentic mission without shared worship. We are also to present our bodies as living sacrifices. Everything we do is to be an act of worship. The most important part of worship is to submit to Jesus Christ as Lord.
We are not called to withdraw from the world, to compromise with the world or to become militant with the world. Our job as Christians is to model genuine humanness as a sign and invitation to the world.
I will be expanding on these ideas in future postings.
If you have any questions or would like further clarification about something I write, login or send me an e-mail. I’ll try to respond to your question or concern here.
Pastor Rod
“Helping you become the person God created you to be”
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