Ministry of Love

The intention of this blog is to share Biblical messages at least on a weekly basis. Any response is appreciated. I do not expect everyone to agree with my interpretation of Biblical passages. I will try to respond with love and thoughtfulness.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Do Blind People See Better Than Seeing People? by John.

Do Blind People See God Better Than Seeing People?

Occasionally I respond to those who make comments on this blog, and I am doing that now because it may be of interest to a certain lady, or to someone else. Being physically blind does have some things in its favor. Helen Keller certainly contributed much to Christian life. Perhaps she saw God better than others of us. Dr. George Kleinschmidt, one of my closest friends in years past, was keen in his insight of others. He was the Psychiatrist in charge of the criminally insane section of a state hospital and a member of the church I served. He had a pretty severe visual problem. Once as we discussed various things, he said, "If I had the choice of being blind, or being deaf, I'd choose blind." That piqued my curiosity and I asked why. He answered saying, "I've known quite a few totally blind and deaf people. The deaf always seem to be on edge, unhappy, and irritable with others. The blind always seem to be happy and at peace with everyone." That was about fifty-five years ago, so I may not have quoted him exactly.

I gave that a lot of thought never thinking that I might experience some of both in years to come. I had already lost some hearing probably as the result of the big guns on ship immediately after WW II, and I was always quite near-sighted, but about that time, I was being treated for glaucoma. George may have said that for my benefit. The glaucoma advanced steadily in spite of all doctors did to stop it. I now have ninety-seven percent loss of vision, including the macula, in my left eye, and ninety-five percent in my right eye. The right macula is still clear. I gave up driving almost three years ago, and now instead of a driver's license I proudly possess a state identification card with my picture that says, "Non-driver's ID." I can still see to walk, but I don't cross many busy streets alone. My Senior Center friends tell me I still shoot a pretty good game of billiards, and I enjoy doing it.

I don't know that I perceive God better than any person with good vision who seeks to know God.

My faith in God tells me that if it is His will for me to be blind so that I can see Him better, He will grant me that spiritual vision. James 1:17 says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." I also believe He gifts us according to what He wants us to do while we are on this earth. That leads me to say at this point, I think I see Him as He wants me to. I believe I would understand His Word and see Him spiritually much better anyway if I was not so self-centered. My ego constantly hinders my spiritual life. I believe that is true for almost all, if not all, people.

Ancient Greek's religion was pantheism, but their stories showed a lot of insight into our human situation. For instance, Achilles' mother dipped him in the river Styx thinking it would make him invincible, and he almost was. She missed getting his heel wet, and that's where we get the term, "Achilles' heel." A randomly shot arrow, as I remember, pierced his heel, and it killed him. Like him, I believe the very best of us have something in our lives that is so flawed as to cause us severe spiritual trouble. James 3:2 says, "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check." At first reading, it sounds like James contradicted himself. He included everyone when he said we stumble, or sin. Then he said that if anyone always speaks without fault, he is perfect. "Perfect" in Greek does not mean flawless, or faultless. It means mature, or complete.

The first part agrees with Romans 3:23 and other Scriptures that also tell us we are all sinners needing to confess our sins to God for cleansing and redirection. In I Corinthians 13: 12 Paul said, "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." He was aware that none of us see God like we should. We don't even see ourselves or others around us as we ought. In a way, we are living contradictions. Romans chapter 7 covers that well.

Back to spiritual vision, that's something I believe I'd like to have, but it is not mine to achieve. It is God's gift if He so chooses. Perhaps He doesn't give it at all. Perhaps we could not live with what it would reveal to us. I'm willing to wait to find out some day. In the meantime, I plan to do the best with what I have whether seeing physically, or being physically blind. "To be, or not to be, that is the question," is an oft-quoted phrase by a Shakespearean character. I don't see it as an option for a Christian. Personally I settled that long ago by casting all my care on Jesus, and I am happy with Him in whatever state I find myself. I know there are others much closer to the Lord than I am, and there are still others not nearly as close. That is not important to self-value. Each of us must relate to the Lord individually. Together we all form the church Jesus died to create even though some of us may not even recognize our relationship to each other. I've attended many "Monday Preacher's Meetings" which turned into bragging sessions about how many baptisms each one had, and how high their Sunday School attendance was. It is easy to fall into competition with others, but I refuse to compete with brothers and sisters; yet, I do strive to know the Lord better, and if I can, I'll pull others along with me. I hope those closer to God than I am will do the same for me. With all this, I remember, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." That's Philippians 3:10, 11. A dear old saint in California pointed those verses out to me in 1946 while I was on liberty in Long Beach. I've adopted them as one of my "life" verses, and I'll always remember her for bringing them to my attention.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Forces and Personalities, Realities

Someone asked me a couple of days ago, "Do you believe in demons?" I mulled my answer over before I spoke. "Yes. I do," I said. I really meant I believe in their reality. That question caused me to do some thinking because there are some subtle differences between forces, personalities, and excuses.

In every age, even in this so called scientific age, human beings seem to find it necessary to lay blame most anywhere and on anything other than themselves. Flip Wilson in his TV show years ago made, "The devil made me do it!" a well-known sentence as he used it as an excuse in his comedy routine.

Making fun of it is okay. It gets it out in the open so that we will look at it, but it doesn't get rid of our having to deal with the reality of guilt.

Humans have blamed black magic, witches, sorcerers, vampires, werewolves and zombies for their troubles and otherwise unexplained deaths. Before that, folklore contains ogres, fire breathing, flying dragons, trolls, hydras, Circes, giants, sirens, Cyclops and Satyrs. Some of these may have a physical background in dinosaurs, but for the most part their background was simply the unexplained.

What about demons and Satan? Well, let's look at them first with the Biblical account. In Genesis 3, the serpent has been universally accepted as Satan. Satan means deceiver, or adversary. It comes from the Aramaic pronounced as we sound it except with the accent on the last syllable. Our word comes directly from the Greek without change in pronunciation. In the Old Testament it is used most often in a figurative way. About 16, or 17 times it definitely refers to the devil. The Greek word from which we get our word is diabolos and means accuser.

Jesus said, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven." As far as I am concerned, Jesus spoke not of an evil influence, but of a defeated, yet powerful personality. That brings us to consider influences, or forces, and personalities.

Wind, rain, lightning, heat, and cold are all forces we have to deal with constantly. They have causes and effects that can be codified so that we can understand and handle them for the most part. Personalities think and plan actions. When we react, they can respond with a changed and unexpected plan. Forces can't do that. I believe in the reality of Satan and demons because of what Jesus said, and because reading between the lines as it were, I can see a diabolical personality behind so much in the New Testament. I see it also in history.

I think there is a difference in Satan and demons. For one thing, I think there is one Satan and there are many demons. Jesus called Peter Satan when Peter reprimanded Jesus for saying He had to die. But I believe He was saying Peter was out of character and acting like Satan. Peter obviously was not Satan. Demons are apparently lesser, disembodied beings desiring a body, and the New Testament depicts people as demon possessed. Just as evil perhaps as Satan, but they lack his ability and power. In Numbers 22:22 an angel was called to stand in opposition to the prophet Balaam. Since the Hebrew satan was translated "oppose" here, some suggest this angel rebelled against God and became Satan. I know of no proof either way other than the serpent in Genesis certainly predates this time.

I respect believers who have a differing opinion about this, but unless God changes my mind, I'll stick with what I now believe.

Laying the blame for our sins on Satan is useless. The Bible tells us we are responsible for our own sins. Laying blame for our condition on society, the weather, having to work too hard, not being well enough educated, being born in the wrong family, or any other thing won't work either. The Bible statement in Romans 6: 23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Notice that it doesn't say "from," but "in" Jesus Christ our Lord. Christians are saturated not in baptismal waters, but in God's Holy Spirit. Sometimes we don't act like, but we are. As I understand it, Christians can only be tempted to sin. They cannot be forced in any way. When we sin, we do it on our own, and to keep our fellowship with God unbroken, we need to be ever ready to confess our sins to Him. In I John 1:9, He promises to restore us the moment we confess.
We don't need to worry about demons or Satan. We just need to be aware they and he are working to undo to the best of their ability what God has already done in Jesus. Rest in the assurance that what Jesus said in John 10: 27-30 is absolutely correct: "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

Monday, January 24, 2011

Getting or Giving, Your Choice, by John.

Getting or Giving, Your Choice!

I've had ample time to look back on my life, and I've discovered that two purposes dominated my past. From the time I was born, I actually lived for what I could get. I wanted knowledge. I wanted ability. I wanted people to like me. I wanted to be like Tarzan! Yep, I wanted to be a super-hero! I went to Sunday School and Worship every Sunday because it was the thing to do, not because I knew God had a claim on my life. At age 12, I joined the church with a friend who was within a few hours of being my exact age. Neither one of us had any real idea of why we were joining. It was just the thing to do.

I left for the Navy full of high ideals such as being patriotic, serving my country, maybe becoming a hero. That last thought didn't last long because the atomic bomb dropped on Japan, and for the most part, there was no more fighting.

I faced the question of purpose in living, and I really didn't know what it was. I thought I should get out of the Navy and get a college degree, make a good living, get married and raise a family. That was about the general order I thought those things should be done, and after all, it was the thing to do.
On liberty in California, I met an air force vet who was going to Biola University. The name is an acrostic of Bible Institute of Los Angeles. He really befriended me. His name was Myron T. Hayter. He began to talk with me about Jesus. Others at the Christian Service Organization did, too, and we attended The Old Fashioned Revival Hour. There I heard wonderful Christian music, and some interesting sermons by Charles E. Fuller. Every time he preached and gave an invitation, I went forward. Someone always dealt with me personally, but they were speaking words I didn't understand. Oh, I knew the words, but I didn't really have a concept of salvation.

We put to sea and went to Yokosuka, Japan. On the way, I was able to put together what Myron was talking about as I read the beautiful Bible he bought for me. I gave myself to God trusting Jesus for my salvation. It was probably the most unselfish gift I had ever given. Oh, I gave my parents, and my brother and his wife gifts, and I gave gifts to my friends on their birthdays, things like that that were expected of me, but this gift to God was different. I gave Him my old really sinfully selfish self, worthless as far as I could tell. I expected eternal life from Him, and I knew I received it.

I went through a period of about three months of intense New Testament Bible study. I underlined everything I thought was important for me to remember. About the only thing I had ever memorized were the songs my teachers taught me in grade school, the national anthem, and a few nursery rhymes. I dreaded trying to memorize anything, but when I returned to San Pedro and Long Beach, California, Myron introduced me to Dawson Trotman's memory cards, and I memorized as many as I could. At that time, I believe they had three sets of 35 cards each, but I had a print shop cut some stock to the same size, and I bought a little box that would hold them in order. I think was still going when I used all the four hundred cards in that
box.

It wasn't long until I experienced God calling me to serve Him. I interpreted his call as a call to preach. I was dead sure about it, but later I did have doubts. I was sure no one ever was as scared of public speaking as I already knew I was. Still later, I discovered my life purpose had changed dramatically. I still want things, but now in addition, I want to give to others, to use what I have to help other people spiritually and physically. Later, I told an older Mississippi pastor, Brother Ledbetter, about it. With a twinkle in his eye and a chuckle, he said, "God changed your 'want to,' didn't He?" I thought about it, and I agreed with him. He was a life long friend by the way. He was the primary reason I began to serve as pastor the first Sunday in November 1947. I served for several years trying get everything straightened out without a lot of success, then things again began to become crystal clear. My ministry was to be to share the love of Jesus in word and in person. That has been my goal ever since. I say goal because I have not accomplished it yet. That old selfish nature keeps popping up, and it takes prayer and renewed dedication to get back on track.

I have to judge myself daily. I ask myself, why do you want to do that? Is it for yourself? Is it for you and your friend, loved ones? Is it for the Lord? By the time those things run through my mind, there's usually an inner urge, perhaps God's Spirit telling me the right way to go. The problem is, like Paul says in Romans 7, that old nature fights hard, and sometimes I am the loser. I sympathize with Paul in Romans 7:24,25 when he said, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
I've had a number of people express concern that they couldn't "hold out" as a Christian. I can't either, but I don't have to. Romans 8:1 gives me assurance that God holds me: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."

Loving and giving are the two paramount actions of a Christian while confidence in the Love and Goodness of God is paramount in a Christian's mind, heart and life. We don't "belong" to a spiritual church! We are "The Church of Jesus Christ" regardless of any other name we may give it. The only boundary Christ's church knows is the boundary of unbelief. Once you've believed to the point of giving yourself to God, you are His child by His action, not your own. You are a new creature and your creation continues to develop as long as you live on this earth. I firmly believe that perfection will continue to be perfected throughout eternity.

Put simply are you a "getter," or a "giver?" Determining that will determine whether you live beyond this life, or not.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Three Days, or More Than 30 Years Blind? by John.

Acts 9:1 begins the story of Saul of Tarsus' life changing experience with the Lord. I've heard and preached many sermons about that experience, but each time I think about it, something new, at least to me, strikes me. Saul was more than thirty years of age or he would not have had the recognized status of Jewish manhood. He was a Roman citizen and I really don't know if they considered any special birthday as a transition from childhood to being an adult, but the Jews did. Paul was an adult in their sight, and he was obviously approved and a favorite among the Pharisees. According to Acts 7:58, he was young and considered trustworthy because the crowd stoning Stephen left their outer clothes at his feet to be guarded. The fact is, Saul may have well been just a by-stander at this event, and it may have stirred him to persecute Christians. We don't know when he started down that road.

Young, trustworthy, well educated in a highly respected class of people among the Jews, he was on his way up...he thought!

On his way to Damascus with letters from the top leaders to give him authority to arrest and take Christians to Jerusalem for prison and trial, Saul must have been exhilarated!

Some have thought a thundercloud hung over that party as they traveled. If it did, it wasn't a physical thing, and there is no mention of clouds at all. They neared Damascus, and that's where the action begins. Do you suppose the Lord waited that long for a reason? Perhaps this was an instance when II Peter 3:9 fit the situation: "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." At any rate, Saul was about to do something God did not want him to do, and He stopped him in a flash!

Saul fell to the ground as he heard a voice speak his name, and it must have been awe-inspiring! In Acts 9:4 he heard, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" It could have been quietly spoken, but most of us like to think it was loud! The other men with Saul heard the sound, but did not understand anything that was said in the conversation Saul had with God.

It was obvious, Saul did not know God because he had to ask, "Who are you Lord?"

All those years studying the Scriptures had not given Saul eternal life. Instead, with his teacher's influence, Saul was against anyone who disagreed with him. Aren't there a great many people you know like that? It seems to me many Christians fit pretty well into Saul's old pattern. Don't you know some young, well educated, well meaning Christians who only love people who agree with them, and actually hate those who disagree?

Why didn't God let the others understand what He said to Saul? There are many possible reasons, but I'll mention just one. Salvation is a private thing between God and the person involved, in this case, Saul of Tarsus. I'm sure you can think of others possibilities.

Why did Jesus say, "I am Jesus you are persecuting." Note that Jesus has already ascended into heaven, but this is present indicative language. Jesus told Saul he was persecuting Him at that moment! He's the great Shepherd watching over His sheep, and Saul was a wolf about to do them harm, and without doubt had already done others harm. When any Christian is persecuted, so is the Lord by His Own statement right here. That makes me better able to stand up when I believe satanic forces are trying to persecute God's people. I hope it helps you, too.

When Saul stood up and opened his eyes, he saw nothing! Blind! What a shock that must have been! He thought he had everything under control, and then God spoke to him, told him to go into the city where he would be told what he must do and then left him blind! I don't know what Saul thought, but I know it is natural when we have what we call "an epiphany," we expect to leave it enthused, eager, and able; yet, God left Saul, weak, trembling and blind needing someone to take him by the hand and lead him!

I have an idea Paul had this experience in mind when he wrote the Corinthians, (I Cor. 1:26-29), "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."

It seems to me that God wants us to depend on Him for all of our wisdom, strength and ability, and I'm happy that He does. There's not been a time in the past almost 70 years when someone complemented me that I didn't feel unworthy of the complement. I remembered that when we've done all that we can do, we are just doing what God expects of us. That opens the way for God to work miracles using us as the beloved tools to do it!

Whether Saul of Tarsus became Paul of God at that time, or not, makes no difference. God prepared him to serve Him as his own child for a long lifetime of achievement and suffering. He became a brand new creature still endowed with all his old culture, position, education and Roman citizenship. All of those things, I believe, God led him through from birth because God sees the end at the beginning. He is that great!

I've had so many come to me as pastor and say, "I just can't do anything! I don't have any talent!" Sometimes they would be in tears because they believed Satan's lies. My reply, after I learned better, was, "You are right! You can't do anything! Neither can I! But our God can do everything! Give Him yourself, and He will show you the way you are to bear fruit in His Kingdom, and that fruit will be excellent! It will please your Father in Heaven!"

Saul was just a Jew with all the same problems all of us Gentiles have. They just looked different to us, and our look different to Jews today, but God is capable to breaking down every wall between and within people to accomplish His will, and to let all of us know He loves us. Let's give Him our lives...maybe we won't have to be blind for three days as Saul was, or for more than thirty years as he was spiritually.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Right and Wrong? by John.

Right and Wrong?

When I was a little boy, I associated with the neighborhood kids, and all but two were older than I was, so frequently I heard some rather profound arguments about religion. Some were Catholic, others were Baptists, two were Presbyterians, and several of us were Methodists. That's a potpourri for religious arguments, isn't it? Oh, yes! There were one or two kids who belonged to the neighborhood Church of God. They moved away early on, and I don't remember their ever being in an argument except over the rules for playing "King of the Mountain" when we played on the site of the brand new hospital being built.

All but one Catholic kid seemed to be content that their priests decided what was right. The two Presbyterian children both finished high school and went to college when they were 14. I think they were too smart to spend much fruitless time in arguing.

At one point, I remember one Catholic boy and the Baptist kids were quite concerned about when Jesus was going to return, and about the "Rapture" of the church, and who was saved and who was lost.
I was really interested in their arguments because I had never heard of any of those things! Oh, we celebrated Easter in a big way at the Methodist Church, and we heard a lot about right and wrong. I'm sure the minister dealt with sin every Sunday, but I was probably asleep, or maybe playing with a toy automobile. At any rate, in our family we talked a lot about right and wrong, but the word "sin" almost never came into the conversation, so all this "stuff" was new to me. After one of those heated arguments in which the Catholic boy pushed some of the Baptist kids around (He just emphasized his point physically, and he was tough enough to do it well), I went home and questioned my mother.

She told me right was the same thing as "right-eous-ness." I knew that word, and she told me Jesus was coming again, but we didn't know when. Then she told me not to listen to those boys arguing! She explained it was just not a good thing to do.

I wasn't really satisfied. I came to think of right and wrong as terms of the world. Teachers at school used them when they graded our papers, when they talked to us about when and where to cross the street, and about being truthful and telling lies. Our Physical Education instructors told us the right way to play games, and the penalties for playing the wrong way. I worried and fretted over those two words a long time!

Yep. Right and wrong do seem to be terms for correction of actions in society rather than spiritual words, don't you agree? Sin is the right word to describe what does not please God, and righteousness is the word for that which does please God. Beyond righteousness is holiness. Holiness as briefly as can be stated is simply being set apart for God's use, and His alone.

Holiness is often misused as a descriptive term for many people. I hear a lot about "holiness churches." Some probably have it in their titles, and I suppose it refers to more a style of worship than the state of the worshiper. (I'll welcome being corrected on that if anyone finds it unsuitable). In my opinion, all churches should be seeking to attain a position of living to please God. That is holiness to me, and it is also right to me. When I turn toward sin, no matter the size or worldly importance of the particular sin, I consider that wrong and unholy.

Are you wondering where I'm going with this? Well, first, I believe most Christians seek to gain what they themselves want rather than what God wants for them. That means I believe we are not nearly as holy as we ought to be. Second, I believe all of us need to constantly reevaluate what we are doing, and why we are doing it! We seem to think that as long as we live on a par with our neighbors, that's fine! I don't think it is. I think having any goal other than Jesus and the life He lived on earth is acceptable to God. We can't reach that goal, but we can strive toward it. Philippians 3:14,15 said of himself, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things."

I believe God should be in our every activity, and we should be in continual touch with Him personally. I love the song, "Others" which is a prayer for us to be like Jesus in living for others, but I also believe we are to retain our own personality without pushing our egos. Jesus never ceased to be Jesus, and we should never cease to be ourselves, but we should rather be seeking to improve our own character and daily living. Right and wrong, dedication and holiness, all should be foundational in our review of our own past, and they should be considered as we contemplate what we will do next. We truly should fit the term, "Christian." That term is used several times in the Bible and was more an epithet than an honor, but its meaning was, and is, "Christ-like," and that is exactly what we should be. The world at large may see us as right or wrong, but I believe God will view us with pleasure as long as we are devoted to Jesus.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

The Assurance and Outworking of Salvation, by John.

I John 5:16 & 17 speak of a "sin unto death" and a "sin not unto death." To discover what it means, we must consider the whole Book as context. Then we must compare these two phrases as well. By the way, this is a passage that troubles many because of their belief in eternal security or their belief you will be lost any time you sin. I'd like to point out in the beginning that in my own estimation you either have a home in heaven, or you don't, and it is not my right to decide which you have. All I can do is discuss what the Bible says, and I will admit my answer to what those verses mean may not be acceptable to you. I always am aware that I may be wrong. Christianity is not a matter of provable fact. It is a matter of faith. Only if God wanted people to have absolute proof of His existence could we offer proof. We must assume He does not, and that leads us to the conclusion that He wants those in His Kingdom who come to Him by faith.

Think about this for a moment or two. What is light? Any scientist would quickly say that light is made up of a spectrum of visible energy rays. Is it? Or are those rays of energy visible because God gave us eyes that could and would receive them? If that is what light is, why can't we see all the other rays that are present all the time? If color is only distinguished by the frequency of the different rays of visible light, why are we unable to distinguish higher and lower frequencies? Why can some of us not distinguish as many as other so-called "color-blind" people? My conclusion to all of this is that God made us the way He wanted us to be.

Do spiritual beings actually exist? If so, why can't we see them? Why do people report seeing angels sometimes, but not all of the time? Human beings existed from Adam until now without ever being able to visibly detect air, right? It's transparent, or is it? Hydrogen won't burn without oxygen, yet both are components of the air around us. Remove the other elements of air, and suddenly we will "see" the hydrogen/oxygen mixture in explosion, and if we are anywhere close, we will experience its force! The first result is visible fire. The secondary result will be oxygen and hydrogen combined in the form of water which both our eyes and skin can readily detect, but before the explosion we can't see either one.

There are myriads of questions scientists ask that still haven't been answered. Some will be, but there will always be more. God is so far ahead of us in intellect and power that questioning Him can't even be compared to an amoeba questioning the leading scientist of the world whoever that might be.

The Jews were furious with Jesus because He indicated He was equal with our Heavenly Father in John 6. Beginning in verse 31, Jesus said this: "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid. You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me...You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life."

Jesus said there were three witnesses of His unique position with our Heavenly Father, John the Baptist, the work God gave Him to finish, and the Father Himself. To explain the last witness, He alluded to the Jews' trust of the Scriptures. They were stating that they knew Moses came from God, so the Scripture to which He referred was probably the Pentateuch. I see what He said in verse 40 as meaning there was no life giving power in reading the Bible, but that the Bible witnessed the validity of Christ, and they refused to accept that truth.

First John was written primarily to announce and witness that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, Who came to give us eternal life and to assure us of it. The first words of this short selection follow a lot of assurances of the reality of our faith in Jesus, and the security we have right now beginning here in this life. It is a gift resulting from the trust we place in Him. We cannot earn or deserve it in any way.

I feel there is no reason to bring in the "unpardonable" sin (Matthew 12:31-32) though some scholars do. The Book is written to Christians who are already past any such possibility; however, some scholars believe the sin "that does not lead to death" refers to sins committed by people in general, and the sin "that leads to death" refers perhaps to those who lapse from the faith, or more particularly those who attribute the works of the Spirit to Satan.

Notice in the following translation the article "the" is not used in front of "sin." If it was, it would refer to a specific sin. When it is not used, it refers to any and all sins.

Verse 16. If a person sees "the brother of his (another Christian) sinning not toward death (I've translated pros as toward), we shall pray for him and God will give him life." That could be, but is not necessarily eternal life, I think. He continues with "to those not sinning toward death." "There is sin toward death, concerning that I do not say he should pray. "

Verse 17. "All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not toward death;"

My conclusion is that all sin committed by Christians can and will be forgiven anyway because of our position as God's children. This does not refer to that. I believe it refers to physical life. Otherwise, the "brother" in verse 16 might possibly be lost eternally without another brother's prayer. That contradicts many other scriptures. Nowhere in this portion is the word "eternal" used.

I do believe sin toward eternal death is sin being committed by those who are lost, and the sin toward death is being committed by those who refuse and rebel against God the Father and Jesus His Son. But Christians do sin, and some of those sins certainly lead to physical death. Anything that we do that harms our bodies, certainly leads to death if continued. Prayer for, and witness to, a brother committing sin will help him live as long as God wants him to live. Personally, I do not want to go home before my time because something I am doing destroys my body. Things to think about are God's treatment of the Egyptians with Moses, Sodom and Gomorrah with Abraham and Lot, and some other references in the Old Testament such as Ezekiel 18:25-27; "Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear, O house of Israel: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust? If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin, he will die for it; because of the sin he has committed he will die. But if a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life. Because he considers all the offenses he has committed and turns away from them, he will surely live; he will not die." Romans 1:18 and Titus 2:12 indicate that all ungodliness is sin, and all sin is destructive to human life as well as our fellowship with God.

Finally, I am not concerned about which view is correct. It is much more to the point to be concerned with our direct relationship with our Father through His Son, and our sensitivity to the leadership of His Holy Spirit who seals us to the day of redemption. My sister-in-law once asked me, "Don't you think it is easier for a woman to pray to Mary, a mother, rather than to Jesus who we don't know too well?" My answer: "I don't know Mary at all except that God chose her to be His Son's mother. I do know the Holy Spirit indwells me. You can't get any closer to the Lord than that, so I direct my prayers to the Father in the name of the son through the Holy Spirit." I am never satisfied with my relationship with the Lord, but I am more than satisfied with all that Jesus does for me.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Will Time Embarrass Us about Our Judgment? by John

I was taught early in life the difference between right and wrong. Years ago I found myself judging people the moment I saw them in action. That was wrong on my part, and it wasn't easy to conquer that reaction. I don't believe I have conquered it yet. Perhaps you may have the same problem.

In the Old Testament we can find the answers to many puzzling questions if we view it from a New Testament viewpoint. I had one of those "Aha!" moments while reading Ezekiel just last week. In both the third and thirty-third chapters, God talks to Ezekiel about his responsibility as a watchman over the house of Israel, but in 18:21-28, he talks to him about the righteous man who turns from his righteous way of life and the wicked man who turns from his evil way. He has already stated that everyone is responsible for his own sins. None of us can blame our parents, our children or anyone else. Verse 21 says; "But if a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; He will not die." Verse 24 says; "But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked man does will he live? None of the righteous things he has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness he is guilty of and because of the sins he has committed, he will die." That's pretty clear, isn't it?

I see this as a core item in the Old Testament Covenant God made with Israel. In the New Testament Jesus takes away the guilt of every sinner who comes to Him, and He fulfills the old covenant for us.

That is really great, isn't it? But what I want us to think about is this: As a child of God, we tend to make snap judgments about people, don't we? We place them in one of three categories, saved, lost, or condition unknown. Our problem as I see it is that we almost always place people in one of the first two categories before their whole story is told. What God spoke to Ezekiel was true then and is true now. We don't see a person's life completely. We never do not even after they've passed away. We tend to view those whose history we know with assurance that we can now judge them. The truth is only God ever sees a person for who he really is! We never have the right to judge them.

We do have the right to look at what a person does and say that is good, or that is bad, but we must also accept a person's acknowledgement of Jesus as Lord and Savior as real even if his actions don't show it. If it is unreal, God will take care of that. We have the responsibility for telling people about Jesus regardless of what we think about them personally, and to do it with a loving spirit.

I heard of a deacon and his pastor visiting a young medical doctor and his wife. The deacon invited them to church, "Come visit our church! You are our kind of people!" His pastor was appalled. He told the deacon not to ever say a thing like that again. God wants and loves people regardless of their position, possessions, politics, or education, or lack of any of those. Everyone should be aware of that. God loves all sinners! That's the exact reason each one of us can be saved at any point in our lives!

Every one of us needs Jesus, and we need Him at every point in our life! Some of us come to Him early on, and some later. Some never do. Our responsibility is to tell the lost they are going the wrong way, and we need to help them understand that Jesus is the right way.

We have no responsibility and no right to judge anyone before they've lived out their lives on earth. We do have the right to think what we want, but not to pass judgment. At any rate, let's wait until their whole story is told. Even then, we should leave all judgment in God's hands. In the Gospel of John 5:39, Jesus told those listening that they searched and trusted the Scriptures (apparently the Pentateuch), and they thought because they did that, they would live eternally. He followed that by saying those Scriptures testified about Him. Later, in 14:6 He said, "I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." That leads me to say confidently, there is no other way to please God and become His child. If you have another idea, I'd strongly urge you to consider what it means to disallow God's Word! At best, to turn away from God is to turn toward emptiness.

I hate to close this on a negative note! Let me say, God opened the way for you to be acceptable to Himself, and He invites you to become His child by placing your trust in His Son Jesus. All of us who are already children of God join in His invitation. Come to Jesus while God gives you time!

Monday, January 10, 2011

Do people "Protest" too much? by John

Do People "Protest" too Much?

Jeremiah asked the Lord, "Why does the way of the wicked prosper?" in 12:1. Other people have asked the same question ever since, and no one has an exact answer except for the Lord. We know He gives people time to seek Him and change. No one who leaves this world and faces Him will be able to say, "You didn't give me a chance!" II Peter 3:9 says, "God is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." He gives people time to repent of their sins. If they don't do it, they cannot accuse God of being unjust.

In Jeremiah 12:3, he made a statement to God that struck home with me, "You are always on their lips but far from their hearts." I've observed to be true among people who claim to be Christians. Some of those who speak God's name too frequently are not really Christians. They use God's name as a magic charm to gain ungodly goals, to gain God's support, or to convince those around them of their faith. I don't mean to say everyone who uses God's name frequently is not simply a devout Christian. I do say it can make me wonder...sometimes!

To some, even questioning another person's faith is judgment, but Jesus told us in Matthew 12:33, "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit." Viewing what is happening in a person's life is not judging them. It is coming to know them. I John 4:1 says, "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

In verses 2 and 3, he tells us how we are to test spirits: "This how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God." "Protest" in Shakespeare's day usually meant just the opposite of our usage today. It was sort of like saying "Amen! That's the truth!" to every word a preacher says. It calls attention to the person saying it instead of making people believe what the preacher said. In my mind, that person is "protesting" their own faith, and it is probably not as strong as they make it appear.

Every person is different, but today's people all seem to say too much, too fast without giving the listener time to take it all in. I suppose they think some of us old people were born in slow motion. I remember when my wife and I were in New Orleans going to seminary, we made mission trips into the sugar cane plantations. We had services for the Jamaican laborers who came to harvest the cane. They loved to sing, and we led them in singing hymns. It amazed us that we could begin and be half way through a verse only to discover our congregation was still on the first line! It was a comical situation. They and we laughed together about it. Actually, it improved our relationship. We adjusted to their slower rhythm. We were there to communicate Jesus to them, not to change their way of singing. Rapid talk throws up red flags to many of us. We think they are rushing us. We need time to think and make decisions, but there again, people differ from age to age, but it seems to me the speaker needs to accomodate the hearer; otherwise, we may have trouble discerning their true intent.

You may have totally different ideas to mine, and that's okay. Being Christian includes learning to live with those around us without condemning, shunning, or otherwise making life hard for them. It also involves the obligation for others to do the same where we are concerned. God knows the thoughts and intents of every heart, and I firmly believe we should ask Him for discernment so that we can love every person without wondering whether we are right, wrong, or just fooled. Life on earth is short! We need to make the most of it living with our God and preparing for eternity with Him.

Resurrection? Yes! For everyone? No! by John

Resurrection? Yes! For Everyone? No!

I've read the Book of John so many times, I should know it by heart, but I don't. I do learn something every time I visit it. Today, something struck me that caused me to ask and answer the questions above.

I've written before that John 5: 24 led me to put my faith in Jesus, and a wonderful change came into my life that is still working. Without that change, I believe the life I was living would have resulted in an early death. I never dreamed of being 83 years old! In John 5: 19, 24 and 25, Jesus is quoted as beginning His statements with "amen, amen" the actual Greek words. These stressed how important these statements were.

First, He stated He could do nothing alone! He could do anything He saw His Father do because He walked in His Father's footsteps.

Second, His Father showed Him everything He Himself was doing, so the Son could do those things as well.

Third, greater things lay ahead. He had just healed the lame man by the Bethesda pool, but He would be giving life to the dead just as His Father did.

Fourth, in 5: 22, He added that the Father would not judge anyone, but had committed judgment into the Son's hands, and it seems to me His statement of judgment here is in the words, "He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him." If you think you honor the Father without honoring Jesus, you should think about that again!

Fifth, in 5: 24, all who believe in His Father, and "hear" (listen to and obey) Jesus' words, have eternal life (that's right now), and will not be condemned. Jesus has already judged him. Jesus has passed him from death to life already!

Sixth, in 5: 25, Jesus' Father has life in Himself, and He has given that life into His Son. He stated that the time had come for the dead to hear the voice of Jesus and live.

Seventh, in 5: 28, Jesus said those in the graves will hear His voice, and they will all rise. He does not say that everyone will rise at the same time, or at different times, but He does go on to say those who have done good will rise to life. Those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.

There are many who refuse to listen to all of the words of Jesus, but there it is. All will rise, and they will not rise to live together. As much as we Baptists emphasize the importance of believing, it is what people do that Jesus says He will judge. I used Baptists as an example since I am one, but others preach and teach the same thing, and we all believe it is correct. Our reasoning is that when we are born into a new life, our total objective is good. We sin for sure, but our overall objective is to be like Jesus. We believe "evil doers" are not wholly evil people. They may do many good things, but they do it for a reward of some sort. They overlook Hebrews 11:6 and other verses that proclaim the same truth. It says, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Paul, in Romans 8:8,9 says, "Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you." That is the secret of life with God. We deliberately give ourselves to Him, and He makes us His children. Romans 8:16,17 say, "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." All of God's redeemed family are alive and will continue to live throughout eternity.

I'm writing this hoping readers will consider their future and talk to God about it. Call it prayer or just a conversation. The important thing is to make contact with our Heavenly Father. You probably won't hear Him speak although some have. After all, faith is believing when you have no concrete proof. If we did, faith would not be needed.

Thursday, January 06, 2011

Teaching, Instructing and Telling, by John.

Teaching, Instructing and Telling, by John.

I remember in high school that I thought teachers were really appreciated, and I guess they were, but they were certainly underpaid. My home state, Mississippi, still has a lower pay scale for teachers than most other states. Instructors in many cases get higher pay, and that indicates they have more value to John Q Public, doesn't it?

We use the word "instructor" and "teacher" as synonyms, don't we? As I think about this, is there a difference between the two terms? There is to me. I like to think of myself as a teacher/preacher/minister, but sometimes I think I am an instructor, and many times just a teller. Instructors give their designated group the "how to" to accomplish given assignments. Teachers frequently do the same with homework and sometimes fit all three terms. Sometimes both result only in telling their hearers who may be totally disinterested.

What's the difference? Well, I am thoroughly convinced that teachers give much more of themselves than instructors, or tellers. I remember Miss Hester Long who taught me mathematics in the seventh grade. I struggled with it, but only made failing grades. She called my mother, and said she was not going to fail me, that she would keep me after school and tutor me until I caught up with my class. That dear lady spent hours of her so-called free time every weekday afternoon with me. By the end of the term, I was able to start helping other kids with their homework. I'll admit I was lazy. I would rather be playing some kind of ball, but she found ways to get past that laziness, and she did what it took to get me to do my best. I'll always remember her for the gift of herself to me all those hours. My family never gave her a nickel for her wonderful service. She performed that great service for me because she was an instructor, but also a real, caring teacher!

I had capable instructors in the Navy. I either learned from them, or not. As far as I could tell, they didn't care one way or another. One of my college professors called me in and asked me how I expected her to give me a recommendation as a teacher when I graduated if I didn't do better work. She and I were the same denomination, and she knew I was going to be a minister, not a public school teacher. I replied to her rather sharply that I never planned to ask for her recommendation. She never did more than give me instructions and examinations as well as I can remember. Another professor, Speech and Drama, attended a church where I was serving as Interim Pastor while the regular pastor recuperated from a heart attack and the ensuing surgery. She was present when I preached on my first Sunday. On Monday after class, she asked if I would like for her to critique my delivery each week. She assured me she would not deal with, or question, the content of the messages, but their structure and delivery. I told her I would really appreciate it. There was never any doubt in my mind that she was a real teacher and a wonderful person. Miss Williams was a real teacher, a wonderful person, and I am thankful for her work in my life. I owe so much to these and others who gave themselves to make me a better person.

Of all those instructors in the Navy, I do not remember any of their names, and I'm afraid I do not remember very much of the data they disseminated either. I may be making an unnecessary difference in these three words, but to me, they have a very real distinctive difference. I thank God for the teachers in my life, and I like to think that I am still a student even now. I really also appreciate the people who have studied the Bible, learned Hebrew and Greek, and then spent underpaid years in God's service to help students aspiring to serve God better. Every one who taught me showed real caring for every student, and I still think of each of them as real friends though most of have gone to be with the Lord now. I look forward to joining them, and I hope to achieve the high office of teacher before I do. I've been working on it for more than sixty years now, but I do not think I've achieved the level of teaching that I should.

If you instruct others, talk to the Lord about giving yourself to your students. I believe no greater blessing can come to a student than to become his teacher's equal in giving knowledge to another person.

Monday, January 03, 2011

Musings110102, Beyond the Written Word, by John.

Beyond the Written Word

There is much controversy about whether the Bible is the Word of God, or not. Many declare it to be just a book. Others declare that the 1611 version of the King James Bible is the "infallible Word of God." Many others are somewhere in-between those two points of view.

Personally, I believe people can be, and are, Christians who hold both views. I am sort of caught between these views. My view perhaps places me in "never, never land" with Tinker Bell and Peter Pan, but I feel differently about that, of course. I believe that God has always spoken to individuals who were willing to listen, and that he does now. I see the prophets as very special people at the beginning of their lives and made more special as they grew to know the Lord. I've mentioned this view lately, but I felt there is more than I've said to this point.

We must remember there was no written word at the time many of the prophets spoke. Even when there were some manuscripts, they were not available to everyone, and I think it is possible many of the prophets never saw one of them. One of the mysteries of the Bible is where did Jesus get His knowledge of the Scriptures? Carpenters spent their long waking hours working to make a living, so He didn't get them from Joseph. The rudimentary schools were for those who were rich, or from the most powerful families. Jesus was not the physical descendant of any such people. Some seems to think God left Him all alone to grow up as an ordinary human. I think that is true, but with a totally different idea of what an "ordinary" human being is. I believe God speaks to all of us who are willing to listen. Some are much more willing than others. Some seem to have a gift for hearing God speak with spiritual, not physical ears.

I personally have experienced dreams in which I believe God spoke to me. On one occasion I believe I heard God speak audibly. At the time, I was surprised no one else heard Him speak. I've had the experience of believing God was in complete control of myself, yet without any loss of freedom, and the time only lasted a few minutes.

These things keep me from totally disbelieving someone one when they say, "God spoke to me!" Isaiah saw the Lord, and He filled the temple with His glory (Isaiah 6), but no one else seemed to have seen Him. That fact does not keep from believing what Isaiah saw was very real. Elijah heard the voice of God speak in a "gentle whisper," (I Kings 19:12). God can, and apparently does, reveal Himself to people in a myriad of ways. Being God, He never has to do anything the same way twice if He does not want to.

What I am talking about is beyond the written word. Christians, of all people, should not try to put God in a box, so to speak. Compared to God, we are not as large as the tiniest object in our universe. Faced with how often we are to forgive those who sinned, the disciples were suddenly aware how little faith they had and asked Jesus to increase their faith. Jesus replied in Luke 17:6, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you." That seed was about the smallest thing with which the disciples were familiar. I think today, Jesus could have used an electron to accomplish His aim with them. Perhaps He was telling them you don't need great faith. You just need to be connected to our great God!

When God speaks to someone today, we say He inspired them, and that's what Paul told Timothy in II Timothy 3:16. The Greek word used is theo-pneustos. It is made up of theos, pneuma, literally, God-breath. I believe God breathes His Word on us just as Elijah heard a gentle voice.
The Bible is a true witness of God's work with the world He created from Adam, through Israel, Rome and so-called Christendom. People who've not had the written word have come to believe in Him, and such people readily accept Christ when He is witnessed to them. How do they know God exists? How can they turn to Him when so many with so much greater witness do not? I believe God breathes His Word to them. That goes beyond the written word, but it in no way discounts or plays down the value to the Bible. Remember when Jesus prayed in John 17:20,21, "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message. That all of them may be one. Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

What Jesus spoke of here is beyond the written word, and it is the Word of Life. God will not let anyone down who earnestly seeks Him, and as they find Him, He will increase their faith and intensify the love they have for Him.

Connections

The United States of America has blossomed in many ways since it's origin. American Indian tribes were here long before Caucasians arrived. There is a bit of evidence the first white people may have been Vikings who visited this continent and left it remarkably unchanged. I believe Columbus was probably the next visitor in 1492. Spanish conquistadors followed at a later date, and I'm sure there were still others in many countries that heard the news that the planet was indeed round and desired both to find out for themselves and establish a new way of life.

It amazes me now as I observe the human race. That includes myself. No matter how much we have whether it is property, riches, education, social standing, or power, we always want more. Mankind has constantly searched for ways to make precious metals from those less precious, and especially to live forever, or at least extend their lives beyond the usual expectation.

Population has exploded here. One of "baby boomers" born after the World War II is now reaching age 65 every 8 seconds. In addition to that, thousands of people are crossing US borders every year, and many of them are having children here. I read recently that no nation has survived after their birth ratio dropped below two per family. It is obvious that it takes more than two children for a population to survive; however, I don't think the writer considered the influx of people from other countries. The black, white, red and yellow ratios of our population may change racially, but there will be enough people from all sources to sustain our nation.

The one thing left to consider is God's will. He is sustaining the human population now, and it will remain intact until He ends it, or He is not God at all. I firmly believe He is!

Through the ages, prophets have spoken as God moved them according to I Peter 1:21, "For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." I love this translation that says, "carried along" by God's Spirit. It doesn't indicate that God dictated the words, and that prophets recorded them as a stenographer. It does hold the thought that God allowed the prophets to use their own wording to convey His message accurately. God is constantly watching as we make what we call "history." He tends to mankind as carefully as any gardener tends his plants, and He does it with more love and tenderness than we will ever understand. Some seem to even be unable to accept what He does. I always hope to see a change in my friends and loved ones that will allow them to not only accept what God does, but to applaud it!

One of the first pair of verses I memorized as a new Christian was II Timothy 3:16,17; "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." We major on the New Testament because those who knew Jesus wrote it. (That includes Paul who saw Him on the road to Damacus). But the Old Testament was the only accepted and approved Scripture at the time Paul wrote to Timothy. I certainly agree with Paul. The Old Testament leads us to Jesus if we let it. It takes an open mind, and that might mean we have to put science aside for a time because it tends to distract a person seeking spiritual truth. It may mean setting aside tradition gained from Judaism or Zoroastrianism, or any other religion.

I went through a period during which some well-educated people told me Science (with a capital
"S") proves that there is no God. Someone asked me, "Are you familiar with "ex nihilo" (Latin for, out of nothing)?" I told him I was not, so he asked me, "With all that science has proven, why do these unbelieving scientists abandon their own law?" I wasn't familiar with that law either, but later I became familiar with it when an atheistic professor in college wrote on one of my papers, "The first Law of Science is to observe under a microscope and record what you see!" She was intimating that I had not done that. She was wrong. I don't think we are capable of putting God under a microscope, or even to test Him in any way! The Jews who tried discovered it impossible long before I did. We can trust the Scriptures. We can't always trust science. It is obviously still a developing system that seeks to know what God has known forever!

It's interesting to me to realize that Scripture in II Timothy 3:15, is the Greek word, gramma, from which we get "grammar," and they are both pronounced pretty much the same. The Greek word used for Scripture in verse 16 is, graphe, which has been brought over into English as "graphic," and is pronounced as gra-fay. Graphite also is derived from this word. There are great similarities in many of the world's languages, but no language will translate directly into another without losing or changing some of the meaning. For instance in the 1611 edition of the King James Version of the Bible, part of Romans 1:13 says, "but was let hitherto,). That makes no sense in 2011 English, does it? The word "hindered" would translate the Greek word much better.

Following the leadership of God's Spirit is the best way to get God's message across, and it has always been. For most of us, following is extremely difficult. We've been taught to lead, not follow. We have to learn again how to be followers of Jesus led by His Spirit. Our minds have to be open to His way of speaking to us, and if we aren't careful, things of this world will crowd out his message. I think He will simply place it in our minds as an idea, and we will realize it came from God. It's important that every one of us be connected with His Spirit so that we can connect with the people around us and help them hear God speak. It's our God-given opportunity to serve our Father.

Saturday, January 01, 2011

Musings1111, Connections, by John.

Connections

The United States of America has blossomed in many ways since it's origin. American Indian tribes were here long before Caucasians arrived. There is a bit of evidence the first white people may have been Vikings who visited this continent and left it remarkably unchanged. I believe Columbus was probably the next visitor in 1492. Spanish conquistadors followed at a later date, and I'm sure there were still others in many countries that heard the news that the planet was indeed round and desired both to find out for themselves and establish a new way of life.

It amazes me now as I observe the human race. That includes myself. No matter how much we have whether it is property, riches, education, social standing, or power, we always want more. Mankind has constantly searched for ways to make precious metals from those less precious, and especially to live forever, or at least extend their lives beyond the usual expectation.

Population has exploded here. One of "baby boomers" born after the World War II is now reaching age 65 every 8 seconds. In addition to that, thousands of people are crossing US borders every year, and many of them are having children here. I read recently that no nation has survived after their birth ratio dropped below two per family. It is obvious that it takes more than two children for a population to survive; however, I don't think the writer considered the influx of people from other countries. The black, white, red and yellow ratios of our population may change racially, but there will be enough people from all sources to sustain our nation.

The one thing left to consider is God's will. He is sustaining the human population now, and it will remain intact until He ends it, or He is not God at all. I firmly believe He is!

Through the ages, prophets have spoken as God moved them according to I Peter 1:21, "For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." I love this translation that says, "carried along" by God's Spirit. It doesn't indicate that God dictated the words, and that prophets recorded them as a stenographer. It does hold the thought that God allowed the prophets to use their own wording to convey His message accurately. God is constantly watching as we make what we call "history." He tends to mankind as carefully as any gardener tends his plants, and He does it with more love and tenderness than we will ever understand. Some seem to even be unable to accept what He does. I always hope to see a change in my friends and loved ones that will allow them to not only accept what God does, but to applaud it!

One of the first pair of verses I memorized as a new Christian was II Timothy 3:16,17; "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." We major on the New Testament because those who knew Jesus wrote it. (That includes Paul who saw Him on the road to Damacus). But the Old Testament was the only accepted and approved Scripture at the time Paul wrote to Timothy. I certainly agree with Paul. The Old Testament leads us to Jesus if we let it. It takes an open mind, and that might mean we have to put science aside for a time because it tends to distract a person seeking spiritual truth. It may mean setting aside tradition gained from Judaism or Zoroastrianism, or any other religion.

I went through a period during which some well-educated people told me Science (with a capital
"S") proves that there is no God. Someone asked me, "Are you familiar with "ex nihilo" (Latin for, out of nothing)?" I told him I was not, so he asked me, "With all that science has proven, why do these unbelieving scientists abandon their own law?" I wasn't familiar with that law either, but later I became familiar with it when an atheistic professor in college wrote on one of my papers, "The first Law of Science is to observe under a microscope and record what you see!" She was intimating that I had not done that. She was wrong. I don't think we are capable of putting God under a microscope, or even to test Him in any way! The Jews who tried discovered it impossible long before I did. We can trust the Scriptures. We can't always trust science. It is obviously still a developing system that seeks to know what God has known forever!

It's interesting to me to realize that Scripture in II Timothy 3:15, is the Greek word, gramma, from which we get "grammar," and they are both pronounced pretty much the same. The Greek word used for Scripture in verse 16 is, graphe, which has been brought over into English as "graphic," and is pronounced as gra-fay. Graphite also is derived from this word. There are great similarities in many of the world's languages, but no language will translate directly into another without losing or changing some of the meaning. For instance in the 1611 edition of the King James Version of the Bible, part of Romans 1:13 says, "but was let hitherto,). That makes no sense in 2011 English, does it? The word "hindered" would translate the Greek word much better.

Following the leadership of God's Spirit is the best way to get God's message across, and it has always been. For most of us, following is extremely difficult. We've been taught to lead, not follow. We have to learn again how to be followers of Jesus led by His Spirit. Our minds have to be open to His way of speaking to us, and if we aren't careful, things of this world will crowd out his message. I think He will simply place it in our minds as an idea, and we will realize it came from God. It's important that every one of us be connected with His Spirit so that we can connect with the people around us and help them hear God speak. It's our God-given opportunity to serve our Father.