Everyday, it seems our culture attempts to bombard us and our children with images that are meant to arouse us sexually. Images on television and in the movies push the limits and boundaries of what is proper and inappropriate merely by virtue of their constant use. TV shows catered toward teenagers frequently promote premarital sex as long as the two individuals "know in their heart it is time." Children's cartoons are increasingly alluding to issues of sex. The common Christian response has been one of expurgation and attempting to redeem the valuable morals and lessons recognized within its culture, media, and literature.
Wikipedia defines expurgation as: "a form of censorship by way of purging anything noxious, offensive, or erroneous, usually from an artistic work. It has also been called bowdlerization, after Thomas Bowdler, who in 1818 published an expurgated edition of William Shakespeare's work that he considered to be more appropriate for women and children. He similarly edited Edward Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire."
"Clear Play" technology lets you watch regular DVD's and SKIP the VIOLENCE, NUDITY, and PROFANITY (so) you and your family can safely watch current films is an example of expurgation. The fact is that those outside of the Christian faith or without any religious scruples sees expurgation as censorship. They see freedom as the release from any boundaries and do not see freedom as the release from those things that can bind you. In reality there is no freedom apart from law (parameters that guide our behavior).
Recently we were in the home of a younger couple that we just met. While in their home, my wife noticed in the magazine rack some Playboy magazines. When we discussed this later, we realized that within our culture there is a real change in attitude about morality. That this young man would openly display a magazine that reduces the value of a woman to a mere image to provoke sexual desire surprised me. That his wife would allow such an open display would seem to imply that she has resigned her struggle for sole devotion from her husband, not realizing that he has reduced her value to that of her physical beauty. Neither is love. Love is not selfish; it is not lust (1Cor. 13:5).
Eroticism is certainly a motivational force in this world, but this twist on love based upon physical beauty is not a method of truly building each other up. It debases people, it changes the focus of desire to one's self and away from the other, and it devalues a person by allowing for competing images of desire (whether printed or in the flesh). The paradigm shift in our culture in regard to provocative images should not merely be dismissed as wrong without explaining the real reason for why this behavior is destructive. Yet, the desire for sex is so strong within mankind that Christians also must understand why it is so critical to not only expurgate them from the things we see and allow to influence us and our families (because they can truly tempt us to do things that would harm us and others), but also to explain why it is so harmful to our relationships and our understanding of the value of an individual.
By merely judging by the appearance, we will misjudge the value of people and their gifts. An example of this was seen on Britain's Got Talent. Watch this link: www.metacafe.com/watch/2696263/susan_boyle_singer_britains_got_talent_2009 /
I would like each of us to truly pray how we can really convince people who see the sexual drive in mankind as an opportunity to make money at the expense of people and their relationships that this is really wrong and harmful. Let us agree together in prayer for those who use social networks like "twitter" and "MySpace," etc. inappropriately to find the true unselfish love of Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for their sin.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
You Belong
Recently I received a letter from the General Council of the Assemblies of God confirming the recommendation by the WNMD that Hope Springs Christian Church is now officially listed as an A/G church. Along with this letter came a brochure that stated in large font: "You Belong!" Those words reminded me of a conversation that I had with a friend from church after the service; the gist of which was, "thank you for making me feel like I belong." He gave me a "man hug" and fought off tears as he expressed how much he valued my friendship and ministry.
There is always the thought as a pastor that numbers of attenders validate a ministry. While this has an element of truth, the fact is that churches are built by relationships that are nurtured one person at a time. It is not that you cannot nurture quantities of people over a period of time, but for a relationship to grow it must have moments of solitary focus on one person and draw them out of the crowd.
That is what Jesus did when he focused on Zacchaeus and called him out of the crowd (Luke 19). The importance of the story wasn't the stature of Zacchaeus, but rather that Jesus made him feel like he belonged. I want to be friends with you, I want to spend time with you, I am not distracted by others that might seem more important in this world's eyes, and all of these statements do the exact thing. These statements say, "You belong."
Statistically we are told that unless someone feels like they "belong" at a church they will eventually leave. Saying, "You belong," validates and affirms that person. If we can teach the value of individuals as a concept to each person in our church, we will grow.
The most valuable things on earth are not things, but people. What can (anyone) give in exchange for their soul? Of greater value than all this world possesses is a soul. What does it profit a man (or woman) if he/she gains the whole world? When God sent His Son, He sent the Worthy One and in essence told us, "You belong." He chose us in Christ before the world began and surprises us by calling us His children. Let us each reach out in love and make those God brings in our path feel they belong. If you or a family member do not belong to a church, we invite you to come and be a part of Hope Springs. You belong!
There is always the thought as a pastor that numbers of attenders validate a ministry. While this has an element of truth, the fact is that churches are built by relationships that are nurtured one person at a time. It is not that you cannot nurture quantities of people over a period of time, but for a relationship to grow it must have moments of solitary focus on one person and draw them out of the crowd.
That is what Jesus did when he focused on Zacchaeus and called him out of the crowd (Luke 19). The importance of the story wasn't the stature of Zacchaeus, but rather that Jesus made him feel like he belonged. I want to be friends with you, I want to spend time with you, I am not distracted by others that might seem more important in this world's eyes, and all of these statements do the exact thing. These statements say, "You belong."
Statistically we are told that unless someone feels like they "belong" at a church they will eventually leave. Saying, "You belong," validates and affirms that person. If we can teach the value of individuals as a concept to each person in our church, we will grow.
The most valuable things on earth are not things, but people. What can (anyone) give in exchange for their soul? Of greater value than all this world possesses is a soul. What does it profit a man (or woman) if he/she gains the whole world? When God sent His Son, He sent the Worthy One and in essence told us, "You belong." He chose us in Christ before the world began and surprises us by calling us His children. Let us each reach out in love and make those God brings in our path feel they belong. If you or a family member do not belong to a church, we invite you to come and be a part of Hope Springs. You belong!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Why Water Into Wine?
The Bible tells us that this was the first time that Jesus revealed His glory.[1] Was there some special significance to this miracle? John further explains that “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which (were) not recorded... But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”[2] This tells me that the apostle John attached some significance to this miracle that would help us in our faith.
I have pondered this passage for a long time and I have noticed some interesting things about this miracle, especially in light of other passages of Scripture. First of all, I don’t believe the significance of this miracle has anything to do with what we should or should not drink. I think its importance is much deeper.
The story implies that this wedding event was one that was kept religiously sacred. The implication of this comes from the fact that there were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing.[3] Commentaries agree that these jars were used so that guests could ceremonially wash their hands before eating.[4] That this was done religiously and not just for cleansing is implied by the descriptive word translated “Jewish.” This does not refer to people coming from Judea, but rather referring to those that observed the Jewish religion – thus the word ceremonial is supplied.
There was another time when “an argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.”[5] This passage referred to baptism and the fact that Jesus’ disciples were now baptizing more people than John. John preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.[6] I mention this because all these ceremonial washings never really cleansed the hearts of those that partook in them, just as they neither do today.
Back to the event in Cana, Jesus has the servants use these six ceremonial jars and tells them to have them filled with water. This is the typical contents for these vessels and there is an allegory in regard to this ritual cleansing. The water is usually applied to the outside of the pious person to cleanse them. Jesus changes THIS water into wine! I believe this is the true significance of this passage.
We use water on the outside of our bodies to cleanse ourselves, but Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit (the new wine) who cleanses and controls us from the inside out.[7] The scriptures teach, “Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.”[8] One translation tells us, “to ever be filled with the Holy Spirit.” You see the real baptism of the Holy Spirit is His cleansing of our hearts from the inside out. We are to be under the influence and control of the Holy Spirit just as wine brings the partaker under its influence.
I think that this is the reason Jesus chose to do this miracle first. It prefigures his ministry of being the one who would come and baptize us with the Holy Spirit. The Bible teaches the Jesus’ blood keeps on cleansing us from our sins[9] as we continue to walk in the Spirit.[10] May each of us give ourselves to Jesus to be made new vessels able to receive His new wine.
[1] John 2:11
[2] John 20:30-31
[3] John 2:6
[4] Matt 15:2
[5] John 3:25
[6] Mark 1:4
[7] Acts 2:13
[8] Eph 5:18
[9] 1 John 1:7
[10] Gal 5:16
I have pondered this passage for a long time and I have noticed some interesting things about this miracle, especially in light of other passages of Scripture. First of all, I don’t believe the significance of this miracle has anything to do with what we should or should not drink. I think its importance is much deeper.
The story implies that this wedding event was one that was kept religiously sacred. The implication of this comes from the fact that there were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing.[3] Commentaries agree that these jars were used so that guests could ceremonially wash their hands before eating.[4] That this was done religiously and not just for cleansing is implied by the descriptive word translated “Jewish.” This does not refer to people coming from Judea, but rather referring to those that observed the Jewish religion – thus the word ceremonial is supplied.
There was another time when “an argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.”[5] This passage referred to baptism and the fact that Jesus’ disciples were now baptizing more people than John. John preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.[6] I mention this because all these ceremonial washings never really cleansed the hearts of those that partook in them, just as they neither do today.
Back to the event in Cana, Jesus has the servants use these six ceremonial jars and tells them to have them filled with water. This is the typical contents for these vessels and there is an allegory in regard to this ritual cleansing. The water is usually applied to the outside of the pious person to cleanse them. Jesus changes THIS water into wine! I believe this is the true significance of this passage.
We use water on the outside of our bodies to cleanse ourselves, but Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit (the new wine) who cleanses and controls us from the inside out.[7] The scriptures teach, “Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.”[8] One translation tells us, “to ever be filled with the Holy Spirit.” You see the real baptism of the Holy Spirit is His cleansing of our hearts from the inside out. We are to be under the influence and control of the Holy Spirit just as wine brings the partaker under its influence.
I think that this is the reason Jesus chose to do this miracle first. It prefigures his ministry of being the one who would come and baptize us with the Holy Spirit. The Bible teaches the Jesus’ blood keeps on cleansing us from our sins[9] as we continue to walk in the Spirit.[10] May each of us give ourselves to Jesus to be made new vessels able to receive His new wine.
[1] John 2:11
[2] John 20:30-31
[3] John 2:6
[4] Matt 15:2
[5] John 3:25
[6] Mark 1:4
[7] Acts 2:13
[8] Eph 5:18
[9] 1 John 1:7
[10] Gal 5:16
Monday, May 4, 2009
The Lord is with You, Mighty Warriors
I was recently thinking again about how much we have seen our culture attack faith in Jesus. Many areas we have surrendered and just have begun to accept that is just the way it is. It reminds me of the story of Gideon. (You can read the whole store beginning at Judges chapter 6). Gideon was in a winepress threshing wheat to keep it from the Midianites. The reason Gideon was in a winepress was he didn’t want to fight the Midianites. At the time the Midianites seemed like an unstoppable force, but he didn’t realize the LORD wanted Gideon and Israel to fight for what was right. The LORD wanted Gideon to fight with the strength that HE would provide.
We are no different then the many examples of people who have made compromises trying to avoid fighting for what is right. In the Preamble to the Declaration there is an explanation, “Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
There are many examples of our willingness to compromise from modern times to Biblical examples. There was another time in Israel’s history when fear overtook their ability to fight for what is right. Goliath, the Philistine, cursed God and defied the armies of Israel. When a shepherd boy questioned Israel’s fear, he was rebuked. But David said, “What have I done now?
Is there not a cause?”
It is our tendency to suffer for a while before we rise up and say enough is enough and we begin to fight for what is right. It is our right – yes it is our duty! The position of the church is always to be attacking the gates of hell. Our enemy is not with flesh and blood but with spiritual wickedness. We need not fear, but trust in God’s strength to provide for His purposes.
2 Thess 1:11 says, “With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by HIS power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.”
We limit God. We determine much of what we experience of God’s power. We set parameters on the depth of our relationship with God. In spite of limitless possibilities – we choose to impede what God does in our lives. The Bible says of Israel, “How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert! Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember His power: The day when He redeemed them from the enemy (Ps 78:40-42).
We must remember that Jesus has promised, “I am with you always…” Dwight L. Moody said, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. By God’s help, I aim to be that man.”
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. The Lord is with us, mighty warriors so let us trust in His strength and go forth and do the will of God. I don't believe the Gospel is no longer the power of God unto salvation.
We are no different then the many examples of people who have made compromises trying to avoid fighting for what is right. In the Preamble to the Declaration there is an explanation, “Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
There are many examples of our willingness to compromise from modern times to Biblical examples. There was another time in Israel’s history when fear overtook their ability to fight for what is right. Goliath, the Philistine, cursed God and defied the armies of Israel. When a shepherd boy questioned Israel’s fear, he was rebuked. But David said, “What have I done now?
Is there not a cause?”
It is our tendency to suffer for a while before we rise up and say enough is enough and we begin to fight for what is right. It is our right – yes it is our duty! The position of the church is always to be attacking the gates of hell. Our enemy is not with flesh and blood but with spiritual wickedness. We need not fear, but trust in God’s strength to provide for His purposes.
2 Thess 1:11 says, “With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by HIS power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.”
We limit God. We determine much of what we experience of God’s power. We set parameters on the depth of our relationship with God. In spite of limitless possibilities – we choose to impede what God does in our lives. The Bible says of Israel, “How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert! Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember His power: The day when He redeemed them from the enemy (Ps 78:40-42).
We must remember that Jesus has promised, “I am with you always…” Dwight L. Moody said, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. By God’s help, I aim to be that man.”
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. The Lord is with us, mighty warriors so let us trust in His strength and go forth and do the will of God. I don't believe the Gospel is no longer the power of God unto salvation.
Monday, April 27, 2009
We Are The Church
I want to talk to you about our church plant in Oconomowoc. To do that effectively, in my mind, I want to share my heart in regard to what the Lord has shown me about church planting. When Peter spoke to the church, he said the reason he wrote was to “stir up their pure minds by way of remembrance” “though they knew (those things) and were firmly established in the truth.” Many of the things I am writing serve that purpose, I want to stir them up again and bring them to your attention.
Jesus said, “I will build my church…” and yet we also are told from the Scriptures, “God has committed unto us the ministry of reconciliation.” Jesus affirmed this by saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
You see, I believe that Jesus is saying He is with us as we go and make disciples and thus build the church. When we go to build His church, we go with His authority and therefore His blessing. I am writing you because I believe that you also know how important it is for each of us to obey the great commission. Experience has taught the church at large that the most effective way to make disciples is church planting.
Why do many church plant attempts fail if Jesus is involved in building His church? One may blame the faith or skill of the church planter, but I believe no person is called to do the work of ministry on their own. Eph 4:16 tells us that “From Him the whole body… grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” That means we each have a part to do and share responsibility for the work. The Holy Spirit has told us that we cannot say that we do not need each other; each member is essential and necessary not only to the growth of the local church but also to the Church at large.
In the past there have been individual planters whose primary resource from the body of Christ was finances. Because they lacked the other elements of support necessary in planting a church, they failed. This has resulted in a move towards satellite churches where one local church provides almost all the necessary elements.
While these churches are more successful, they still do not reflect the image of the full body of Christ working together for growth and edification. The body of Christ shouldn’t have a sink or swim pragmatic attitude toward church planting success or failure. Rather the Bible says, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it” (1 Cor 12:26). That tells me that for every church plant that has failed, the whole body has suffered and every success should be shared amongst the whole body (because the whole body contributed in some way toward that success).
What does a successful church plant need? I have grouped the needs into four categories:
1) Prayer – church planting is met with spiritual resistance according to Jesus (Mt 16:18). The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds (2 Cor 10:4).
2) People – The lead pastor is called of God to equip/prepare these people to do the work of the ministry (Eph 4:12) and entrusting the same to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others (2 Tim 2:2).
3) Provisions – finances are needed for start up costs, to purchase necessary equipment, and to provide for the lead pastor whom God has ordained or commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel (1 Cor 9:14 KJV/NIV).
4) Peers – these are those individuals and organizations willing to provide supervision, guidance, wisdom, and even accountability for the church plant’s leadership team.
Since you are my friends, I am making my plea to you to join with us to help plant Hope Springs Christian Church in Oconomowoc, WI. Pray seriously about what function God is calling you to do in this work. Friends, we do share responsibility and as such we share the success or failure of this church plant. Each one of us can do something, however great or small, however trivial or significant in our own eyes, the point is to have a good conscience before God that we did something and that something is all that Jesus has told us to do.
I am available to share my vision for Oconomowoc to you and your church if you like. Meanwhile check out our website at www.hopespringschristianchurch.org to see our specific plans and view a needs list.
Jesus said, “I will build my church…” and yet we also are told from the Scriptures, “God has committed unto us the ministry of reconciliation.” Jesus affirmed this by saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
You see, I believe that Jesus is saying He is with us as we go and make disciples and thus build the church. When we go to build His church, we go with His authority and therefore His blessing. I am writing you because I believe that you also know how important it is for each of us to obey the great commission. Experience has taught the church at large that the most effective way to make disciples is church planting.
Why do many church plant attempts fail if Jesus is involved in building His church? One may blame the faith or skill of the church planter, but I believe no person is called to do the work of ministry on their own. Eph 4:16 tells us that “From Him the whole body… grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” That means we each have a part to do and share responsibility for the work. The Holy Spirit has told us that we cannot say that we do not need each other; each member is essential and necessary not only to the growth of the local church but also to the Church at large.
In the past there have been individual planters whose primary resource from the body of Christ was finances. Because they lacked the other elements of support necessary in planting a church, they failed. This has resulted in a move towards satellite churches where one local church provides almost all the necessary elements.
While these churches are more successful, they still do not reflect the image of the full body of Christ working together for growth and edification. The body of Christ shouldn’t have a sink or swim pragmatic attitude toward church planting success or failure. Rather the Bible says, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it” (1 Cor 12:26). That tells me that for every church plant that has failed, the whole body has suffered and every success should be shared amongst the whole body (because the whole body contributed in some way toward that success).
What does a successful church plant need? I have grouped the needs into four categories:
1) Prayer – church planting is met with spiritual resistance according to Jesus (Mt 16:18). The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds (2 Cor 10:4).
2) People – The lead pastor is called of God to equip/prepare these people to do the work of the ministry (Eph 4:12) and entrusting the same to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others (2 Tim 2:2).
3) Provisions – finances are needed for start up costs, to purchase necessary equipment, and to provide for the lead pastor whom God has ordained or commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel (1 Cor 9:14 KJV/NIV).
4) Peers – these are those individuals and organizations willing to provide supervision, guidance, wisdom, and even accountability for the church plant’s leadership team.
Since you are my friends, I am making my plea to you to join with us to help plant Hope Springs Christian Church in Oconomowoc, WI. Pray seriously about what function God is calling you to do in this work. Friends, we do share responsibility and as such we share the success or failure of this church plant. Each one of us can do something, however great or small, however trivial or significant in our own eyes, the point is to have a good conscience before God that we did something and that something is all that Jesus has told us to do.
I am available to share my vision for Oconomowoc to you and your church if you like. Meanwhile check out our website at www.hopespringschristianchurch.org to see our specific plans and view a needs list.
Friday, April 24, 2009
God's Duty of Care
As a Christian, often times I have struggled to understand seemingly contradictory concepts in regard to our faith, but because “to whom would I go? I believe and am sure that Jesus has the words of eternal life…”[1] I have held those questions in my heart and continued to pray about them until God gave me some answer that would make sense to me. One such struggle centered on the justice of God and the vicarious or substitutionary death of Jesus for mankind.
As a person who evangelizes fairly often, I came across a tract that illustrates the reason for my struggle. In this tract, a bully grows up to eventually become a murderer. Because there are witnesses, he is arrested, found guilty of murder, and sentenced to death. All his life his mother loves him and pleads for him to live right, yet her son continually spews out hatred toward her. Even while in jail, his mother comes with cookies and declares her unconditional love for her son, yet still he rejects her love. Eventually he is told the day of his execution will be the following day and he proclaims, “I’m too young to die!” The next day the guards come to lead him away, but to his surprise he is set free and informed that his mother bore his sentence and died on his behalf. From this tract an analogy is drawn of how Jesus died on our behalf.
I don’t know if you ever thought about it, or if you have just accepted this kind of analogy, but I am asking you to think about it now. Would this truly satisfy the justice of God who is holy? Think about it. If a righteous person approached the bench of a judge in the sentencing portion of a convicted murderer and said, “Judge, you and I know that this man is worthy of death. Since the law demands death as the penalty for his crime and I can prove I am a person of impeccable character, I request that you allow me to die in his place. The death sentence that the law requires will be satisfied so you may set him free.”
What do you really think the judge will say? “Hmmm…kill a righteous man so that a criminal can go free to commit the same, or worse, crime again!” You and I both know that a good and just judge would never allow the criminal to go free and a good person take their punishment. How could that ever be considered justice?
So do you now see the dilemma and the contradiction in regard to Jesus’ death being the righteous dying for the ungodly. How could a completely holy, just, and good God accept as payment for our wickedness the death of one righteous? In fact, contrary to popular belief, the more righteous Jesus was the more unjust His substitutionary death would become.
So I prayed, “God I do not understand. It doesn’t make any logical or right sense that just because Jesus was the only one without sin that he could ever legally be accepted as a payment for our sin. Help me to understand.” I prayed over and over till finally the answer came when I was watching a PBS program about tort law.
The word “tort” refers to injury and the dominant action in tort is negligence. The tort of negligence provides a cause of action leading to damages, or to injunctive relief, in each case designed to protect legal rights, including those of personal safety, property, and, in some cases, intangible economic interests. Negligence actions include claims arising primarily from automobile accidents and personal injury accidents of many kinds, including clinical negligence.[2] In tort law, the standard of care is the degree of prudence and caution required of an individual who is under a duty of care. A breach of the standard is necessary for a successful action in negligence.[3] What does this all have to do with Jesus and justice you ask?
Well, I think it could be argued to a Trier of fact that God had a breach of the standard and a duty of care in regard to Adam and Eve, who were His sole creation. By reason of God’s ability to foresee the consequences of giving them a free will to choose or reject obedience, by virtue of Him being in all places present and failing to prevent them from eating of the deadly fruit, and allowing another member of His creation to so deceive Eve that it led to her actions that resulted in the spiritual death and subsequent physical death of all mankind, God failed to act with prudence and caution with those individuals who were under His duty of care.
It could be thus argued although God is not held in direct liability for the actions of His creation, but indirectly by virtue of creating Adam and Eve with a manufacturing defect called, “Choice.” Because God allowed Adam and Eve to exercise their choice and did not prevent them from doing so, which resulted in tort to not only themselves but all mankind. Much like the manufacturer of an automobile who is held liable for damages resulting from foreseeable defects that result in injury, so it could be said that God is liable for our injuries resulting from our defects (called our weaknesses or the weakness of our flesh in the Bible). Consider also the fact that God hid from mankind His wisdom - which it was He who came in the flesh, for if they had known they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory.[4]
This is why the Bible in John chapter one and Colossians chapter one tells us that the one that took responsibility for our sins and redeemed us by paying our sin penalty was the same One who created us.[5] The fact is the only one that could have purchased us back was the Creator because He is the only one who could be held liable for our sin. This is why the Bible teaches that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.[6] God through Christ willingly accepted responsibility for His creation, although it could also be argued that God should not be held liable.
So it could be said that there is a class action lawsuit against God for damages resulting from His tort liability for those under His duty of care. All those who wish to receive compensation must have their names added to the suit and be listed in the Lamb’s book of Life. As a result, all those who do cannot have their sins held against them.
God is both the judge and the defendant. Jesus is both the payment and our attorney. We are the plaintiffs and we truly have an opportunity to benefit for all eternity. Won't you come to God, not only to receive compensation but the fix to our resulting injuries caused by the exercise of our freewill - a new heart and a new Spirit.
“God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”[7]
[1] John 6:68-69
[2] Wikipedia etymology of tort
[3] Wikipedia standard of care
[4] 1 Cor. 2:7-8; Acts 3:17
[5] John 1:1-4, 10-14; Col 1:12-20
[6] 2 Cor. 5:19
[7] Rom 3:25-26
As a person who evangelizes fairly often, I came across a tract that illustrates the reason for my struggle. In this tract, a bully grows up to eventually become a murderer. Because there are witnesses, he is arrested, found guilty of murder, and sentenced to death. All his life his mother loves him and pleads for him to live right, yet her son continually spews out hatred toward her. Even while in jail, his mother comes with cookies and declares her unconditional love for her son, yet still he rejects her love. Eventually he is told the day of his execution will be the following day and he proclaims, “I’m too young to die!” The next day the guards come to lead him away, but to his surprise he is set free and informed that his mother bore his sentence and died on his behalf. From this tract an analogy is drawn of how Jesus died on our behalf.
I don’t know if you ever thought about it, or if you have just accepted this kind of analogy, but I am asking you to think about it now. Would this truly satisfy the justice of God who is holy? Think about it. If a righteous person approached the bench of a judge in the sentencing portion of a convicted murderer and said, “Judge, you and I know that this man is worthy of death. Since the law demands death as the penalty for his crime and I can prove I am a person of impeccable character, I request that you allow me to die in his place. The death sentence that the law requires will be satisfied so you may set him free.”
What do you really think the judge will say? “Hmmm…kill a righteous man so that a criminal can go free to commit the same, or worse, crime again!” You and I both know that a good and just judge would never allow the criminal to go free and a good person take their punishment. How could that ever be considered justice?
So do you now see the dilemma and the contradiction in regard to Jesus’ death being the righteous dying for the ungodly. How could a completely holy, just, and good God accept as payment for our wickedness the death of one righteous? In fact, contrary to popular belief, the more righteous Jesus was the more unjust His substitutionary death would become.
So I prayed, “God I do not understand. It doesn’t make any logical or right sense that just because Jesus was the only one without sin that he could ever legally be accepted as a payment for our sin. Help me to understand.” I prayed over and over till finally the answer came when I was watching a PBS program about tort law.
The word “tort” refers to injury and the dominant action in tort is negligence. The tort of negligence provides a cause of action leading to damages, or to injunctive relief, in each case designed to protect legal rights, including those of personal safety, property, and, in some cases, intangible economic interests. Negligence actions include claims arising primarily from automobile accidents and personal injury accidents of many kinds, including clinical negligence.[2] In tort law, the standard of care is the degree of prudence and caution required of an individual who is under a duty of care. A breach of the standard is necessary for a successful action in negligence.[3] What does this all have to do with Jesus and justice you ask?
Well, I think it could be argued to a Trier of fact that God had a breach of the standard and a duty of care in regard to Adam and Eve, who were His sole creation. By reason of God’s ability to foresee the consequences of giving them a free will to choose or reject obedience, by virtue of Him being in all places present and failing to prevent them from eating of the deadly fruit, and allowing another member of His creation to so deceive Eve that it led to her actions that resulted in the spiritual death and subsequent physical death of all mankind, God failed to act with prudence and caution with those individuals who were under His duty of care.
It could be thus argued although God is not held in direct liability for the actions of His creation, but indirectly by virtue of creating Adam and Eve with a manufacturing defect called, “Choice.” Because God allowed Adam and Eve to exercise their choice and did not prevent them from doing so, which resulted in tort to not only themselves but all mankind. Much like the manufacturer of an automobile who is held liable for damages resulting from foreseeable defects that result in injury, so it could be said that God is liable for our injuries resulting from our defects (called our weaknesses or the weakness of our flesh in the Bible). Consider also the fact that God hid from mankind His wisdom - which it was He who came in the flesh, for if they had known they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory.[4]
This is why the Bible in John chapter one and Colossians chapter one tells us that the one that took responsibility for our sins and redeemed us by paying our sin penalty was the same One who created us.[5] The fact is the only one that could have purchased us back was the Creator because He is the only one who could be held liable for our sin. This is why the Bible teaches that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.[6] God through Christ willingly accepted responsibility for His creation, although it could also be argued that God should not be held liable.
So it could be said that there is a class action lawsuit against God for damages resulting from His tort liability for those under His duty of care. All those who wish to receive compensation must have their names added to the suit and be listed in the Lamb’s book of Life. As a result, all those who do cannot have their sins held against them.
God is both the judge and the defendant. Jesus is both the payment and our attorney. We are the plaintiffs and we truly have an opportunity to benefit for all eternity. Won't you come to God, not only to receive compensation but the fix to our resulting injuries caused by the exercise of our freewill - a new heart and a new Spirit.
“God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”[7]
[1] John 6:68-69
[2] Wikipedia etymology of tort
[3] Wikipedia standard of care
[4] 1 Cor. 2:7-8; Acts 3:17
[5] John 1:1-4, 10-14; Col 1:12-20
[6] 2 Cor. 5:19
[7] Rom 3:25-26
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Misunderstood Worship
Rom 11:36b-12:1 To him be the glory forever! Amen. Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.
As a young Christian, I met many individuals who had a profound impact on me - some for good and many by virtue of them being so wrong. One such individual, told me the story of how they went to a pentecostal service that the praise and worship was so exuberant that many were "dancing in the spirit" along with the praise music. Their group was led by a self-proclaimed judge of the move of the Spirit. When this man saw a woman praising God in a red dress (because they believed that wearing red was sinful like the whore in the book of Revelation), he proclaimed, "That woman's praise is unacceptable!" He believed that God did indeed look at the outward and refused her praise on the basis the color of her dress!!
It is interesting to me that, in both the Old and Testaments, the words used that are translated "worship" mean to bow or to prostrate one's self in the presence of another. In this definition I see what Paul mentioned as our spiritual act of worship. It is first ascribing glory to another and second to sacrifice ourselves.
The Greek word translated "glory" means to "make very apparent." The idea is that whatever we glory gets bigger in our eyes. In other words, whatever we esteem, value, or focus more attention on we ascribe glory to. Paul, in the passage above, tells us that to Jesus should be the glory. He must increase in our eyes. He should be the focus of our lives.
The second aspect of worship is that of prostrating or sacrificing. John the baptist said of Jesus, "He must increase and I must decrease." Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." The idea is that we sacrifice other things for whatever we worship. We lay down our wills and deny ourself. We humble ourselves with contrite and broken hearts.
You can see that THIS is the reason Jesus so hottly rebuked the Pharisees, they refused to prostrate their hearts and humble themselves. Whenever we refuse to humble ourselves and decrease in God's presence we are not worshiping in the literal sense.
So often in church during the "praise and worship" portion of the service we stand or are told to stand. It is not often we are told to bow or to fall to our knees. Yet this is what the figure or analogy is for worship. Let us bow our hearts, let us deny ourselves next time we praise Jesus and glorify Him, remembering that if we fail to humble ourselves we fail to worship. And MOST importantly...let us not judge others as they worship!! As the song says, "Down at Your feet, oh Lord, is the most high praise."
As a young Christian, I met many individuals who had a profound impact on me - some for good and many by virtue of them being so wrong. One such individual, told me the story of how they went to a pentecostal service that the praise and worship was so exuberant that many were "dancing in the spirit" along with the praise music. Their group was led by a self-proclaimed judge of the move of the Spirit. When this man saw a woman praising God in a red dress (because they believed that wearing red was sinful like the whore in the book of Revelation), he proclaimed, "That woman's praise is unacceptable!" He believed that God did indeed look at the outward and refused her praise on the basis the color of her dress!!
It is interesting to me that, in both the Old and Testaments, the words used that are translated "worship" mean to bow or to prostrate one's self in the presence of another. In this definition I see what Paul mentioned as our spiritual act of worship. It is first ascribing glory to another and second to sacrifice ourselves.
The Greek word translated "glory" means to "make very apparent." The idea is that whatever we glory gets bigger in our eyes. In other words, whatever we esteem, value, or focus more attention on we ascribe glory to. Paul, in the passage above, tells us that to Jesus should be the glory. He must increase in our eyes. He should be the focus of our lives.
The second aspect of worship is that of prostrating or sacrificing. John the baptist said of Jesus, "He must increase and I must decrease." Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." The idea is that we sacrifice other things for whatever we worship. We lay down our wills and deny ourself. We humble ourselves with contrite and broken hearts.
You can see that THIS is the reason Jesus so hottly rebuked the Pharisees, they refused to prostrate their hearts and humble themselves. Whenever we refuse to humble ourselves and decrease in God's presence we are not worshiping in the literal sense.
So often in church during the "praise and worship" portion of the service we stand or are told to stand. It is not often we are told to bow or to fall to our knees. Yet this is what the figure or analogy is for worship. Let us bow our hearts, let us deny ourselves next time we praise Jesus and glorify Him, remembering that if we fail to humble ourselves we fail to worship. And MOST importantly...let us not judge others as they worship!! As the song says, "Down at Your feet, oh Lord, is the most high praise."
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