The title? those aren't my words, but a-sort-of-a-quote from a man who said he heard them fall from the lips of preacher Creflo Dollar. They were a sideswipe at the Ten Commandments during a sermon that emphasized Grace...which is something we all need...in large and frequent servings.
Of course I started wondering which of the Ten Words should be trashed; that is if I choose to follow CD's advice. So I thought and thought until my mind hurt from thinking and still I could not find a "bad" Commandment that needed to be tossed.
Come to think of it...more brain pain...Jesus had a lifestyle...we know He did but what was it like? Did He steal; did He lie; covet the stuff of other's that He didn't have? Did He take His Father's name in vain (swear)? No! because if He had sinned in any way He would have been disqualified to be our Redeemer.
Didn't the Christ come to save mankind from sin? And how was He able to do that? Or in today's parlance, how was He able to pull that off? By living a perfect and sinless life as a man and bruising the head of the serpent...Satan. It's all there in the first few chapters of the Bible.
If the Ten Words had an expiration date, when was it? At the cross? Again I have to say no. It is Satan, who is the enemy of all righteousness, who hates the Ten Words. Throughout the history of the world Satan has done his best to destroy the government of God; and on what is it based? Love to God and love to our neighbor as ourself (Deut 10:12; 30:6; Matt 5:43).
Interesingly, in Matthew chapter five, the first part of the Sermon on the Mount series (5-7), Jesus talks about the Ten Commandments, references two as examples (murder and adultry), enlarges on them and pronounces a blessing on those who "do" or keep the Commandments. How is this done? There is only one way; through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Read the whole 7th chapter of Romans. Paul is usually credited (quoted) as saying the law was done away with. Three laws were laid out before Israel's children; The Ten Words (Commandments), the Ceremonial Law that had to do with the sacrificial system for sin and the Civil Law. Which one(s) expired at the cross...and why?
No mean spirited criticism of Creflo intended...I believe the man is well intended with respect to grace and faith but in error regarding the foundation of God's government and His lifestyle...which BTW is the lifestyle of Heaven.
Think on these things. ec
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Fear The Future
Fear finds occasion to affect each of us in one form or another; especially in these times, this economy and our violence-filled society: Witness the latest inexplicable shooting rampage in Colorado.
Should we stop going to movies because some deranged person may invade with intent to kill? Should we not get on an airplane because terrorists may use it as a weapon of mass destruction?
Silly questions! Overreaction! Perhaps.
Life brings surprises and some are going to be unpleasant; even painful. That's no surprise.
This being true, why do some choose to live in fear of what might happen? Why dim the light of today because life-circumstances may turn it off tomorrow?
The sum of human pain and suffering at any one moment is sufficient; it's best not to invent fear of sorrows that may come...sorrow has a way of finding the door to our hearts without us marking out a path.
" The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe." [Proverbs 29:25]
What it means: that by trusting in the Lord, our souls are safe in His keeping. What it does not mean: that we are safe from life.
It means that in YHWH we are safe in life. ec
Should we stop going to movies because some deranged person may invade with intent to kill? Should we not get on an airplane because terrorists may use it as a weapon of mass destruction?
Silly questions! Overreaction! Perhaps.
Life brings surprises and some are going to be unpleasant; even painful. That's no surprise.
This being true, why do some choose to live in fear of what might happen? Why dim the light of today because life-circumstances may turn it off tomorrow?
The sum of human pain and suffering at any one moment is sufficient; it's best not to invent fear of sorrows that may come...sorrow has a way of finding the door to our hearts without us marking out a path.
" The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe." [Proverbs 29:25]
What it means: that by trusting in the Lord, our souls are safe in His keeping. What it does not mean: that we are safe from life.
It means that in YHWH we are safe in life. ec
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Silence As Deceit
Good morning. For those strong enough, brave enough, concerned enough to allow themselves to be discomfited by Man's evil designs toward other weaker souls in the World, here is a must-read book; The Good News About Injustice by Gary A. Haugen.
For background, Haugen writes an autopsy on injustice as he has (vividly) seen it while an official UN-appointed investigator in Rwanda, Africa, the Philippines, and other unfortunate parts of this planet. Through his words we see writhing in pain of all species among peoples of all colors.
Haugen was so deeply affected by what he saw in Rwanda that after returning he established the International Justice Mission (IJM) whose mission is to intervene in the Name of Christ by rescuing victims and shining the light of God's justice into the darkness, cruelty, greed and deceit in the marketplace of man's inhumanity to man.
Young girls in their early teens abducted into forced prostitution; children forced to labor a lifetime for a family member's debt that can never be paid; men rotting in prisons without charge, without representation and without hope.
In the chapter, The Anatomy of Injustice, Haugen dissects injustice into its larger parts; 1. Coercion by force, and 2. Deceit. Those who coerce---by whatever means---cover the truth with lies.
The Old Testament prophet Micah exposed the injustice of Israel's leaders (political and religious) when he wrote...
"Both hands are skilled in doing evil;
the ruler demands gifts,
the judge accepts bribes,
the powerful dictate what they desire---
they all conspire together." [Micah 3:7]
The prophet goes on to say...
"But as for me, I am filled with power,
with the Spirit of the Lord,
and with justice and might,
to declare to Jacob his transgression,
to Israel his sin," [Micah 3:8]
It occurred to me this morning that there is another---perhaps equally evil---face of deceit: Silence.
Very often the trail of lies can be uncovered as evidence---documents and witnesses---are discovered and published; but Evil is not easily shamed.
Silence on the face of evil deeds is insidious; more so than lies, I would opine. Silence is a faceless, expressionless, sinister attitude that cannot be read. It is a different, far different behavior than was the silence of Christ when he faced His tormentors and accusers the day He was crucified.
The silence of Evil is cynical; contemptuous in other's opinions; smug in its selfishness.
Those who believe there is Good and Evil; who differentiate between Right and Wrong...especially those who name the Name of Christ...cannot keep silent in the face of injustice because in doing so they become default conspirators with the Unjust.
Christ ended His Sabbath in the grave, emerging as the Judge and Conqueror of all Evil and Injustice. That being True, what shall we do?
The Christ answered that question: "Go ye into all the World...preaching the gospel..." even into the dark, evil, unjust, uncomfortable and unsafe places where corruption, coercion and lies flourish like an unchecked plague. Take heart dear souls. He is coming. Meanwhile, what will you do about injustice? ec
For background, Haugen writes an autopsy on injustice as he has (vividly) seen it while an official UN-appointed investigator in Rwanda, Africa, the Philippines, and other unfortunate parts of this planet. Through his words we see writhing in pain of all species among peoples of all colors.
Haugen was so deeply affected by what he saw in Rwanda that after returning he established the International Justice Mission (IJM) whose mission is to intervene in the Name of Christ by rescuing victims and shining the light of God's justice into the darkness, cruelty, greed and deceit in the marketplace of man's inhumanity to man.
Young girls in their early teens abducted into forced prostitution; children forced to labor a lifetime for a family member's debt that can never be paid; men rotting in prisons without charge, without representation and without hope.
In the chapter, The Anatomy of Injustice, Haugen dissects injustice into its larger parts; 1. Coercion by force, and 2. Deceit. Those who coerce---by whatever means---cover the truth with lies.
The Old Testament prophet Micah exposed the injustice of Israel's leaders (political and religious) when he wrote...
"Both hands are skilled in doing evil;
the ruler demands gifts,
the judge accepts bribes,
the powerful dictate what they desire---
they all conspire together." [Micah 3:7]
The prophet goes on to say...
"But as for me, I am filled with power,
with the Spirit of the Lord,
and with justice and might,
to declare to Jacob his transgression,
to Israel his sin," [Micah 3:8]
It occurred to me this morning that there is another---perhaps equally evil---face of deceit: Silence.
Very often the trail of lies can be uncovered as evidence---documents and witnesses---are discovered and published; but Evil is not easily shamed.
Silence on the face of evil deeds is insidious; more so than lies, I would opine. Silence is a faceless, expressionless, sinister attitude that cannot be read. It is a different, far different behavior than was the silence of Christ when he faced His tormentors and accusers the day He was crucified.
The silence of Evil is cynical; contemptuous in other's opinions; smug in its selfishness.
Those who believe there is Good and Evil; who differentiate between Right and Wrong...especially those who name the Name of Christ...cannot keep silent in the face of injustice because in doing so they become default conspirators with the Unjust.
Christ ended His Sabbath in the grave, emerging as the Judge and Conqueror of all Evil and Injustice. That being True, what shall we do?
The Christ answered that question: "Go ye into all the World...preaching the gospel..." even into the dark, evil, unjust, uncomfortable and unsafe places where corruption, coercion and lies flourish like an unchecked plague. Take heart dear souls. He is coming. Meanwhile, what will you do about injustice? ec
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Animal Writes
The first animal to die on the Earth after sin entered was killed by whom? "Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. [Genesis 3:21].
On the Earth, the first chapter of the struggle between Good and evil was written in the blood of an animal; probably more than one, given that there were two standing naked in their sin. If Biblical typology can be retrospectively applied in this situation, I will posit that the animal(s) that were sacrificed to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve were...lambs.
Given the symbolism of the lamb...the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world...the Good Shepherd...the sacrificial service the Lord gave Moses...and the followers of Christ as His flock: we see the lamb as a recurring symbol of Christ; and it began in the Garden of Eden.
The death of the first animals occurred in a world newly fallen into sin. Killing the animals prefigured Christ as the Lamb that would die for the sins of the world, and their skins (tunics) represent the robe of Christ's righteousness that we wear because of His death in our place.
Adam and Eve did not die (immediately) for their sins; it was innocent lambs that died so that they could be covered. The same is true of our sins; our Innocent Savior died to pay the price for our sins. Before the beginning of the life on this Earth, He had us covered! ec
On the Earth, the first chapter of the struggle between Good and evil was written in the blood of an animal; probably more than one, given that there were two standing naked in their sin. If Biblical typology can be retrospectively applied in this situation, I will posit that the animal(s) that were sacrificed to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve were...lambs.
Given the symbolism of the lamb...the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world...the Good Shepherd...the sacrificial service the Lord gave Moses...and the followers of Christ as His flock: we see the lamb as a recurring symbol of Christ; and it began in the Garden of Eden.
The death of the first animals occurred in a world newly fallen into sin. Killing the animals prefigured Christ as the Lamb that would die for the sins of the world, and their skins (tunics) represent the robe of Christ's righteousness that we wear because of His death in our place.
Adam and Eve did not die (immediately) for their sins; it was innocent lambs that died so that they could be covered. The same is true of our sins; our Innocent Savior died to pay the price for our sins. Before the beginning of the life on this Earth, He had us covered! ec
Monday, December 5, 2011
In Search of the "Clinical Christ"
Once upon a time when I was young--in my 50's--I directed a pain clinic in a dental school. Eight hours a day, five days every week, they came. The AVERAGE time they had suffered chronic pain was 6 years. That's hard to imagine, but it is true; and it is only an average.
Men and women came complaining of headaches, facial pain, earache, and all manner of disease and disorder. Probably the worst pain was what we call Trigeminal Neuralgia; a pain that is felt in some part of the distribution of the Trigeminal nerve--one of the major nerves to the face and jaws.
When I thought this was the case I would ask a question: "Does the pain feel like you have been stabbed in the face with a hot knife that is plugged into an outlet?" When their eyes widened I pretty much knew I had it right. I knew their pain was excruciating.
For 18 years I saw all manner of hurting people. Most of them were women...but that's a different topic and takes time to explain.
I felt none of their pains and could not truly identify with the patients. My task was to be clinically proficient, search out the problem, and try to fix it as best I could. There were always those I could not help; and they would continue their search for healing. That was the hardest part of the work...not being able to help or heal.
Some of us have a "clinical relationship" with Jesus Christ. We are unable to feel the pain of His humanity; the Son of Man, who was, in His short life, hungry, weary, cold, insulted, taunted, accused, called a sinner, called a liar, called a devil, tormented by the weight of the sin of this world, put on trial, and executed in the preferred, Roman "excruciating" way; crucifixion.
I assume the connection between the two words is obvious, but just in case...
So we read our Bibles, go to a study class and talk about the Christ; often in a disconnected, abstract, intellectual, clinical way. Not connecting, not feeling, not really able to understand in a deep and personal way what our Lord and Creator chose to go through as the only way to rescue us from the spiritual, tumorous, tentacles of sin that permeate our hearts, minds, and bodies.
He chose to suffer and die with one thing in mind; that we would somehow grasp the eternal issues and choose Him as Lord and Savior. Intellectual discussions about diseases physical, mental, and spiritual are OK in their place. The problem is that the patient--that would be you and me--goes away with the same pain that they brought to the discussion.
Verily, verily, we cannot feel what the Christ felt, for no man or woman has ever suffered as did He, because they carried only the weight of their own sin--which can be heavy--while He carried the sin of every person who has ever lived or will live. Past, present, and future, Christ paid full price for our sins in the hope that we (you and I) would say "Yes" to his invitation: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" [Matthew 11:28, 29] [KJV]
Surely, someone will say to Him, "Yes Lord. I believe. I will follow You."
Men and women came complaining of headaches, facial pain, earache, and all manner of disease and disorder. Probably the worst pain was what we call Trigeminal Neuralgia; a pain that is felt in some part of the distribution of the Trigeminal nerve--one of the major nerves to the face and jaws.
When I thought this was the case I would ask a question: "Does the pain feel like you have been stabbed in the face with a hot knife that is plugged into an outlet?" When their eyes widened I pretty much knew I had it right. I knew their pain was excruciating.
For 18 years I saw all manner of hurting people. Most of them were women...but that's a different topic and takes time to explain.
I felt none of their pains and could not truly identify with the patients. My task was to be clinically proficient, search out the problem, and try to fix it as best I could. There were always those I could not help; and they would continue their search for healing. That was the hardest part of the work...not being able to help or heal.
Some of us have a "clinical relationship" with Jesus Christ. We are unable to feel the pain of His humanity; the Son of Man, who was, in His short life, hungry, weary, cold, insulted, taunted, accused, called a sinner, called a liar, called a devil, tormented by the weight of the sin of this world, put on trial, and executed in the preferred, Roman "excruciating" way; crucifixion.
I assume the connection between the two words is obvious, but just in case...
So we read our Bibles, go to a study class and talk about the Christ; often in a disconnected, abstract, intellectual, clinical way. Not connecting, not feeling, not really able to understand in a deep and personal way what our Lord and Creator chose to go through as the only way to rescue us from the spiritual, tumorous, tentacles of sin that permeate our hearts, minds, and bodies.
He chose to suffer and die with one thing in mind; that we would somehow grasp the eternal issues and choose Him as Lord and Savior. Intellectual discussions about diseases physical, mental, and spiritual are OK in their place. The problem is that the patient--that would be you and me--goes away with the same pain that they brought to the discussion.
Verily, verily, we cannot feel what the Christ felt, for no man or woman has ever suffered as did He, because they carried only the weight of their own sin--which can be heavy--while He carried the sin of every person who has ever lived or will live. Past, present, and future, Christ paid full price for our sins in the hope that we (you and I) would say "Yes" to his invitation: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" [Matthew 11:28, 29] [KJV]
Surely, someone will say to Him, "Yes Lord. I believe. I will follow You."
Sunday, December 4, 2011
They shall not cleave...
In the Old Testament book of Daniel, there is recorded Nebuchadnezzar's (King of Babylon) dream and the interpretation. The history of this dream applied both anciently and continues to do so today.
Here's why that is true: The king's dream was of a large statue of a man and consisted of a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron, feet and toes of iron and clay. In their order, these various parts of the statue represented the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Pagan Rome, and the nations that followed its breakup; the nations of Europe. The sequence of these nations and their fall is verified by history.
Commenting on those nations Daniel writes; "As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. [Daniel 2:43]
There is a historical witness to this statement: Go to the internet and search a phrase such as this...Intermarriage of European Royalty...
Multiple sites explore the various lines of royalty and their attempts at unity through marriage. None of these have succeeded.
Neither by marriage, nor wars (eg. Napoleon), nor any other attempt has held.
So it is today with the European Union and the Euro. We are watching the failure (default) of EU members on the nightly news. In the last few days Merkle and others have been calling for the IMF (international monetary fund) for more assistance.
Based on the word of the Lord in Daniel, the details given of the prophesied collapse of these kingdoms and their fulfillment over the centuries since Daniel wrote, I will say that we are witnessing the continuing fulfillment of God's Word: The EU and the Euro will fall.
God's Word does not fail! ec
Here's why that is true: The king's dream was of a large statue of a man and consisted of a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron, feet and toes of iron and clay. In their order, these various parts of the statue represented the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Pagan Rome, and the nations that followed its breakup; the nations of Europe. The sequence of these nations and their fall is verified by history.
Commenting on those nations Daniel writes; "As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. [Daniel 2:43]
There is a historical witness to this statement: Go to the internet and search a phrase such as this...Intermarriage of European Royalty...
Multiple sites explore the various lines of royalty and their attempts at unity through marriage. None of these have succeeded.
Neither by marriage, nor wars (eg. Napoleon), nor any other attempt has held.
So it is today with the European Union and the Euro. We are watching the failure (default) of EU members on the nightly news. In the last few days Merkle and others have been calling for the IMF (international monetary fund) for more assistance.
Based on the word of the Lord in Daniel, the details given of the prophesied collapse of these kingdoms and their fulfillment over the centuries since Daniel wrote, I will say that we are witnessing the continuing fulfillment of God's Word: The EU and the Euro will fall.
God's Word does not fail! ec
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Will they all say, "No thank you!"
My mind is perplexed; our witnessing seems to fall on deaf ears.
On the first Sabbath of each month our church has a potluck--C.S. Lewis had interesting things to say about church; the umbrellas, arranging, potlucks, and other such "botheration's." And members of the church bring a well-prepared array of dishes that promote one's appetite for conversation. fellowship, and of course, eating; the least important of the three.,
Yesterday we delivered some small things that were needed to a local fellowship group. Speaking to the gentleman that accepted the items, I asked, "Why don't you folks come to our church tomorrow; there will be plenty of good food and you're certainly welcome." My wife understands how these things work, so she set about cooking while I went to the market to get more stuff. After all, if you're going to have guests you need make certain there is something to put on the plate.
Not one of them came; not one.
This small, but disappointing experience made me think of Jesus Christ; The Creator of all things [John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:16. Hebrews 1:1-3, and Revelation 14:6 and 7].
God came to this earth to save us from the ultimate penalty of sin; eternal separation from Him...which will come to those who choose to say, "Thank you God, but no thank You." The Christ was not well received. Satan (through king Herod) tried to kill Him, but Joseph, warned of this in a dream, took Mary and the infant God of the Universe into Egypt where they lived until Herod was dead [Matthew 2:7-22].
We invite friends to church where they hear the truth about the Sabbath, agree that it is so, and never return. The 7th day Sabbath is that 10% of the Ten Commandments most of the Christian world has rejected in favor of Tradition.
Perhaps I'm overstating my disappointment about a few men missing a meal...but perhaps not. For me, the real issue is jealousy; I am jealous for my God, and with Paul, I am not ashamed to say it [Romans 1:16].
When I read how the Pharisees and crowd accused Jesus of blasphemy and wanted to kill Him [John chapter 10] I don't really have much of a complaint. But there is an issue that won't go away; when we extend an invitation, will the answer be.... "No thank you." ec
On the first Sabbath of each month our church has a potluck--C.S. Lewis had interesting things to say about church; the umbrellas, arranging, potlucks, and other such "botheration's." And members of the church bring a well-prepared array of dishes that promote one's appetite for conversation. fellowship, and of course, eating; the least important of the three.,
Yesterday we delivered some small things that were needed to a local fellowship group. Speaking to the gentleman that accepted the items, I asked, "Why don't you folks come to our church tomorrow; there will be plenty of good food and you're certainly welcome." My wife understands how these things work, so she set about cooking while I went to the market to get more stuff. After all, if you're going to have guests you need make certain there is something to put on the plate.
Not one of them came; not one.
This small, but disappointing experience made me think of Jesus Christ; The Creator of all things [John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:16. Hebrews 1:1-3, and Revelation 14:6 and 7].
God came to this earth to save us from the ultimate penalty of sin; eternal separation from Him...which will come to those who choose to say, "Thank you God, but no thank You." The Christ was not well received. Satan (through king Herod) tried to kill Him, but Joseph, warned of this in a dream, took Mary and the infant God of the Universe into Egypt where they lived until Herod was dead [Matthew 2:7-22].
We invite friends to church where they hear the truth about the Sabbath, agree that it is so, and never return. The 7th day Sabbath is that 10% of the Ten Commandments most of the Christian world has rejected in favor of Tradition.
Perhaps I'm overstating my disappointment about a few men missing a meal...but perhaps not. For me, the real issue is jealousy; I am jealous for my God, and with Paul, I am not ashamed to say it [Romans 1:16].
When I read how the Pharisees and crowd accused Jesus of blasphemy and wanted to kill Him [John chapter 10] I don't really have much of a complaint. But there is an issue that won't go away; when we extend an invitation, will the answer be.... "No thank you." ec
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