Reading Matthew 6 today. This is the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, and Jesus is giving some real practical and hard to swallow advice. Like any piece of wisdom, there are multiple layers of truth that fortify each other like woven fabric. Each part securing, protecting, and allowing the others to be more daringly displayed.
Chapter 5 ends with Him teaching about revenge and choosing to love people you can't normally stand. Some areas I really lack (you may too)! He starts Chapter 6 (not that He divided His thoughts into our modern Chapters, but I digress) by talking about taking care of the needy. His instructions are not about whether or not we should take care of the needy, that decision seems understood. Of course we should take care of them. It goes without saying. Instead, His thoughts focus on the motivation that drives the decision to care.
“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. (Matthew 6:1 NLT)
Okay, when Jesus says "Watch out!", that tells me this is a spot where I could really screw up. You have my attention. "Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others..." So, if the question isn't about whether I should do the good deed or not, but the reason why I'm choosing to do it. If I'm doing it to get other people to admire me, I'm in dangerous territory. It almost feels like a warning. If you have any character flaws that make you seek other people's admiration, you might mot want to do your good deed where anybody else can see it. Like a Caution Sign.
I live at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in beautiful Colorado. And, as I drive into the mountains, I see Caution Signs everywhere. Caution Falling Rock. Caution Wildlife Crossing. Caution Steep DownHill Ahead. They know I'm driving. They know what direction I'm headed in. They know that if I'm not cautious, something ugly could happen. These signs aren't there to stop me from doing anything, just to warn me of danger, and what could happen if I don't pay attention.
What is Jesus trying to warn me off of? He continues "for you will lose your reward from your Father in Heaven." Not, you might lose... You WILL lose that reward.
The tipping point between being rewarded by God vs. being rewarded by other people's admiration happens at the point of my intention. If I do it IN ORDER TO GET someone's admiration, I will get exactly and only what I was aiming for.
When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. (Matthew 6:2 NLT)
Why do I feel the need to call a press conference to advertise those rare occasions where I do something wise , selfless, and generous? Because, in reality, I am foolish, selfish, and fearful. I just want to appear the good things. I want the benefit and respect that comes from being excellent without actually being excellent. I just want to look that way. Since that is my real intention, I get exactly what I was aiming for. I APPEAR to be a good person, when in reality, I am a hot mess.
But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. (Matthew 6:3 NLT)
I can't speak for you, but I am a clutz, and this left hand not knowing what the right is doing makes sense to me. Sometimes, when I'm attempting a rare athletic feat, my body looks like no single part of it is aware of what any other part is doing. And, that's how God advises us to do our good deeds. Unplanned. Unrecognized. Spontaneous. Foolish. Ugly. Like me trying to make a layup, with no one looking. Like when you trip in public, and look around hoping no one saw how much of an idiot you really are. "Did I get away with it?" "Is my secret safe?"
Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. (Matthew 6:4 NLT)
As if an honestly selfless act was not reward enough itself, He promises more. What will that reward be? Honesty? Compassion? Honor? A pure heart?
Where would you rather get your reward?
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Monday, November 28, 2011
Should the Church Abandon the church? Part 8
The Review...
We've been talking about the Church (as in the Bride of Christ), and Her amazing fascination with doing "church" (as in the typical things that everyone hates about organized religion). The argument that's running through my head is that although the Church is eternal, I wonder if She (the Church) should walk away from some things. These are things that She has come to be identified with, but those same things do not connect Her to Her purpose or original design. They have become distractions and a detriment to Her.
In Part 1, we talked about leadership in Christianity... how it was designed, and what it has become. In this, we looked at how if J. Edgar Hoover had the foresight to realize his FBI agents were likely to be corrupted as they began to pursue the Mafia, how much more so would God's wisdom look to protect His own.
In Part 2 , we stepped backwards a few thousand years and took an exhaustive and interesting (at least for me as I was writing it) look at the leadership of the Jewish church in Jesus days. It's a fascinating (again, at least for me) study of the day of Jesus's crucifixion with some surprising revelations that affect the decisions we have to make today.
In Part 3, we discussed line by line the historical miracles that had occured for thousands of years for the Jewish people, and how, at the time of Jesus, these miracles all just stopped, and what that represented as God began to shift His work from "organized religion" to working in the hearts of men. We ended with a quote from 1st Samuel, that the "Glory of the LORD has departed."
In Part 4, we jumped forward to the time of Martin Luther, the Great Reformer as he struggled to free his people from the chains of fear and bondage placed upon them once again by the very "church" that God had called to set men free. In this, I go to great lengths to say that all organized religion is inherintly flawed, and almost irredeemable. Thank God for my wife, Stacy, who pulled me back from that precipice, to bring greater clarity and balance to what I was trying to say. This section ends with a heartfelt thank you to the untold, unthanked, and under-appreciated Servants of Christ who wholeheartedly pursue their calling.
In Part 5, my views begin to mature a little, as my frustration with church leadership begins to simmer-down. We look at the Modern American Family, with all of it's screw ups. As I was writing this, I was beginning to re-realize (if that's even a word), that God is a redeemer. What I mean, is that God takes our broken things, and makes them even more beautiful than they were before we broke them. As we look at the Modern American Family, we begin to realize that maybe God's plan all along was to do just that... make our broken things beautiful. Maybe that was His plan with the Church, too. In this line of thinking, we jump into the boring begats in Matthew's Chapter 1, and begin to uncover a thread of understanding that God chooses not to hide our brokeness as we look at Tamar, the 1st of 4 women mentioned amongst all those guys in the 'begats'. Tamar's story would be banned from the bookshelf of any Christian bookstore I've ever been to. But, God chose to include it, and other's that we discuss in further discussions. Why would He highlight these women in the lineage of Jesus?
In Part 6, we look at 2nd and 3rd women of Matthew Chapter 1, Rahab and Ruth. This is a short (but fun to write) piece about how God continues to not only not hide scandal, but almost seems to point it out. In fact, the things that should disqualify us, He chooses to bless.
Most recently, in Part 7, we painfully look at the 4th woman from Matthew Chapter 1's lineage of Jesus, her name is Bathsheeba, and the story is about thr Great King David in one of his truly un-great moments.
And so, now, here we are...
What do the 4 women have to do with what we were talking about?
I started this Series with the intention of Scripturally proving that we should not be doing church like we do church. I intended to prove that "The Glory of the LORD" had departed, and that we were foolish to continue walking down this road.
But, like every other time I have looked at Scripture as a catalyst to change someone else, I found it changing me instead.
I can prove all the things I intended. But doing only that would be a lie. Because it is not all I discovered. I discovered (again), God's Grace. I discovered that God loves us. Just as we are.
Not because we're doing things right. Not because we've got our stuff together. But, just because He chose to.
My wife is a crier. She is emotional, and empathetic. It is a wonderful quality that allows her to love so very freely. I, on the other hand, am not a crier. As such, sometimes, I have no clue why she's crying. It just doesn't make sense to me. You see, we're different. We balance each other. Sometimes, when she's crying, and I have a glimpse of understand as to what is going on in the incredibly complex heart and mind of that woman... on those rare occasions of enlightenment, I am able to do something miraculous.
I hold her.
I can't fix the situation. I can't make things all better. But, I can be me. Steady, and strong. I can wrap her in my arms, and let her know that I love her, and that things will be okay.
It makes me feel manly.
Sometimes I wonder if our weakness make God feel Godly.
I wonder if when we're broken, and stumbling... I wonder if He relishes the opportunity to show off a little bit...
To love us unconditionally...
To extend ridiculous grace...
To bring value to the valueless...
To be Himself...
*AHEM*... and so what does the 4 women have to do with this?
Well, in my infinite arrogance, as I strove to point out exactly what we were doing wrong... completely embarassed by our stupidity, I realized that God wasn't embarassed at all.
He refused to hide those stories. He POINTED THEM OUT! And chose to birth His Son into that lineage.
A girl pretends to be a prostitute and has her Father in laws babies (twins in fact). She deceives him and conceives, because he has been lying to her, and the lineage of Jesus continues towards Him.
A real prostitute hides men in her home on the wall of Jericho. Though the wall falls down in the famous battle, she is remembered, and bears a son to Salmon named Boaz who becomes King David's Great-Grandfather.
This same Boaz marries a Moabite woman, and birth's David's GrandFather, though by law, her family should have been excluded for 10 generations.
And a beautiful young woman named Bathsheeba is stolen from her husband by that same Great King David. David tries to fool her husband into thinking their child is not illegitimate, but when that fails, David has him killed, and Solomon is born.
Listen to me. No matter what you've done. No matter how bad you've screwed up. God is not ashamed of you. He can make it beautiful.
Church, listen to me. No matter what we've done, and we have done some really bad stuff (think the Crusades... or the hiding of pedophiles Priests...). I am not trying to lessen the incredible pain and destruction that this disgusting sin has caused. Only God could redeem things like that. Only God...
But, He can. And, He will.
That is why He included their 4 names, and that is why I told you their 4 stories...
Because God is Godly.
We've been talking about the Church (as in the Bride of Christ), and Her amazing fascination with doing "church" (as in the typical things that everyone hates about organized religion). The argument that's running through my head is that although the Church is eternal, I wonder if She (the Church) should walk away from some things. These are things that She has come to be identified with, but those same things do not connect Her to Her purpose or original design. They have become distractions and a detriment to Her.
In Part 1, we talked about leadership in Christianity... how it was designed, and what it has become. In this, we looked at how if J. Edgar Hoover had the foresight to realize his FBI agents were likely to be corrupted as they began to pursue the Mafia, how much more so would God's wisdom look to protect His own.
In Part 2 , we stepped backwards a few thousand years and took an exhaustive and interesting (at least for me as I was writing it) look at the leadership of the Jewish church in Jesus days. It's a fascinating (again, at least for me) study of the day of Jesus's crucifixion with some surprising revelations that affect the decisions we have to make today.
In Part 3, we discussed line by line the historical miracles that had occured for thousands of years for the Jewish people, and how, at the time of Jesus, these miracles all just stopped, and what that represented as God began to shift His work from "organized religion" to working in the hearts of men. We ended with a quote from 1st Samuel, that the "Glory of the LORD has departed."
In Part 4, we jumped forward to the time of Martin Luther, the Great Reformer as he struggled to free his people from the chains of fear and bondage placed upon them once again by the very "church" that God had called to set men free. In this, I go to great lengths to say that all organized religion is inherintly flawed, and almost irredeemable. Thank God for my wife, Stacy, who pulled me back from that precipice, to bring greater clarity and balance to what I was trying to say. This section ends with a heartfelt thank you to the untold, unthanked, and under-appreciated Servants of Christ who wholeheartedly pursue their calling.
In Part 5, my views begin to mature a little, as my frustration with church leadership begins to simmer-down. We look at the Modern American Family, with all of it's screw ups. As I was writing this, I was beginning to re-realize (if that's even a word), that God is a redeemer. What I mean, is that God takes our broken things, and makes them even more beautiful than they were before we broke them. As we look at the Modern American Family, we begin to realize that maybe God's plan all along was to do just that... make our broken things beautiful. Maybe that was His plan with the Church, too. In this line of thinking, we jump into the boring begats in Matthew's Chapter 1, and begin to uncover a thread of understanding that God chooses not to hide our brokeness as we look at Tamar, the 1st of 4 women mentioned amongst all those guys in the 'begats'. Tamar's story would be banned from the bookshelf of any Christian bookstore I've ever been to. But, God chose to include it, and other's that we discuss in further discussions. Why would He highlight these women in the lineage of Jesus?
In Part 6, we look at 2nd and 3rd women of Matthew Chapter 1, Rahab and Ruth. This is a short (but fun to write) piece about how God continues to not only not hide scandal, but almost seems to point it out. In fact, the things that should disqualify us, He chooses to bless.
Most recently, in Part 7, we painfully look at the 4th woman from Matthew Chapter 1's lineage of Jesus, her name is Bathsheeba, and the story is about thr Great King David in one of his truly un-great moments.
And so, now, here we are...
What do the 4 women have to do with what we were talking about?
I started this Series with the intention of Scripturally proving that we should not be doing church like we do church. I intended to prove that "The Glory of the LORD" had departed, and that we were foolish to continue walking down this road.
But, like every other time I have looked at Scripture as a catalyst to change someone else, I found it changing me instead.
I can prove all the things I intended. But doing only that would be a lie. Because it is not all I discovered. I discovered (again), God's Grace. I discovered that God loves us. Just as we are.
Not because we're doing things right. Not because we've got our stuff together. But, just because He chose to.
My wife is a crier. She is emotional, and empathetic. It is a wonderful quality that allows her to love so very freely. I, on the other hand, am not a crier. As such, sometimes, I have no clue why she's crying. It just doesn't make sense to me. You see, we're different. We balance each other. Sometimes, when she's crying, and I have a glimpse of understand as to what is going on in the incredibly complex heart and mind of that woman... on those rare occasions of enlightenment, I am able to do something miraculous.
I hold her.
I can't fix the situation. I can't make things all better. But, I can be me. Steady, and strong. I can wrap her in my arms, and let her know that I love her, and that things will be okay.
It makes me feel manly.
Sometimes I wonder if our weakness make God feel Godly.
I wonder if when we're broken, and stumbling... I wonder if He relishes the opportunity to show off a little bit...
To love us unconditionally...
To extend ridiculous grace...
To bring value to the valueless...
To be Himself...
*AHEM*... and so what does the 4 women have to do with this?
Well, in my infinite arrogance, as I strove to point out exactly what we were doing wrong... completely embarassed by our stupidity, I realized that God wasn't embarassed at all.
He refused to hide those stories. He POINTED THEM OUT! And chose to birth His Son into that lineage.
A girl pretends to be a prostitute and has her Father in laws babies (twins in fact). She deceives him and conceives, because he has been lying to her, and the lineage of Jesus continues towards Him.
A real prostitute hides men in her home on the wall of Jericho. Though the wall falls down in the famous battle, she is remembered, and bears a son to Salmon named Boaz who becomes King David's Great-Grandfather.
This same Boaz marries a Moabite woman, and birth's David's GrandFather, though by law, her family should have been excluded for 10 generations.
And a beautiful young woman named Bathsheeba is stolen from her husband by that same Great King David. David tries to fool her husband into thinking their child is not illegitimate, but when that fails, David has him killed, and Solomon is born.
Listen to me. No matter what you've done. No matter how bad you've screwed up. God is not ashamed of you. He can make it beautiful.
Church, listen to me. No matter what we've done, and we have done some really bad stuff (think the Crusades... or the hiding of pedophiles Priests...). I am not trying to lessen the incredible pain and destruction that this disgusting sin has caused. Only God could redeem things like that. Only God...
But, He can. And, He will.
That is why He included their 4 names, and that is why I told you their 4 stories...
Because God is Godly.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Should the Church Abandon the church? Part 7
When we last left our story (several months ago), we were talking about the four women that St. Matthew mentions in the first Chapter of his record of the the birth of Christ. We're looking at these women in the context of the way that I believe God views our Modern Day Christian church.
We've talked about Tamar who got pregnant by her Father-in-law when she tricked him into thinking she was a prostitute. We talked about Rahab, the for-real prostitute who lied to hide the Israelite spies when Joshua was getting ready to "Fit the Battle of Jericho". We talked about Ruth the Moabite, who by the fact that she was a Moabite, should have disqualified everyone else for ten generations from being able to take part in the Jewish Temple worship. That would include King David at the third generation who re instituted worship, and provided much of the supplies to rebuild the temple. As well as David's son, Solomon who actually did rebuild the Jewish temple. Per the law of scripture, these men should have been disqualified.
Speaking of David and Solomon, this brings us to our fourth and final woman mentioned in the deceptively sleepy First Chapter of Matthew. We pick up in the very next verse after we left off last time...
And there we have our fourth woman listed in this Genealogy. Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah.
If you didn't know the story, that would almost sound honorable. Bathsheba, a poor lonely widow finds love again and is honored to be included in the lineage that will eventually produce the Christ child. How poetic. The real story is much darker. In order to find it, let's turn back into the Old Testament, and start in the Eleventh Chapter of the Second Book of Samuel. And, it goes a little something like this...
Let me digress here for just a second. Gentlemen, Fathers, Husbands, Patriarchs... when it's your time to fight... when it's your time to stand up for what is right... when it's your time to expand your territories... don't leave the dirty work for somebody else to do, it's just going to cause trouble. Don't stay behind in Jerusalem. But, let's get back into the story.
*Ahem* Now, in all honesty, there's not a guy among us who can't identify with David at this point. Yes, we are all pigs.
Hit the brakes here... I thought Bathsheba was a widow. David finds out here that she's the WIFE of Uriah the Hittite. Okay, I guess I get it so far. She's hot. She's naked. She's taking a bath, and King David is watching her get all soapy. Sounds like any teenage boy's fantasy. Since no matter how old we get, we all are just teenage boys, he sends someone to find out who she is, because, back in the day, the King could have LOTS of wives. So, they come back, and tell him that she's married. All right, David. Time to turn your lustful stare somewhere else. Surely THE King David will do the honorable thing, right? Let's continue...
Any guys is too stupid to understand what Samuel is telling us here. But, any woman knows the timing of this like the back of her hand. So, let me explain. During a Jewish women's menstrual cycle, she was considered Niddah, or 'unclean'. Her Niddah status would begin as soon as she noticed any evidence of Menstrual blood flow. She would continue to be 'unclean' for a minimum of the Jewish-approved seven day cycle. At the end of the seven 'unclean' days, she would begin seven 'clean days'. Near the completion of those seven 'clean days', and before she would be allowed to have sexual relations with her husband, she must immerse herself in a mikvah of living water.
So, ladies, again, the timing of this is obvious to you, but we Gentlemen are a little stupid. I had to wake my wife up to discuss this to make sure I understood it correctly. So, Bathsheba has just had her period, and even the guys among us know that means she is not currently pregnant. She goes through her seven Niddah days, then her additional seven 'clean days', and ceremonially washes herself. Okay, guys. Seven plus seven equals what? Fourteen. It has now been Fourteen days since the start of her period. Which means, that Bathsheba is... ovulating. Guys, that means that Bathsheba is FERTILE. Let's read that verse again, and then continue...
Okay, David knew that she was married. But, he sends for her anyways. They do the "Married Dance" as my 14 year old daughter calls it. Now, David finds out that she is pregnant. So, it looks like David is going to do the right thing by Bathsheba. He sends a message to Joab who is laying siege to the city of Rabbah (where David should have been), asking Him to send Uriah the Hittite home to meet David. Obviously, David's got some explaining to do. Let's see how our honorable King David handles this awkward moment as we pick up in verse seven. Come on David! Do the right thing...
Bad show, David! Come ON!!??!!?? Instead of coming up honestly, and telling Uriah the truth. David figures, "I'll just bring him home, he'll realize how hot his wife is, and they'll do the Married Dance. Then I'm off easy." Sleazy.
Uriah, though shows much more honor than the King. He knows his wife is hot. So, as he swore to stay focused in battle, he sleeps in the guard shack, rather than laying beside his hot tempting wife.
David decides to get him drunk, and send him again to his wife's embrace. But, Uriah is a man of his word.
Defeated, David sends Uriah back to the siege with a letter to Joab. Can't wait to read that one...
This literally makes me physically ill to think about. I swear that if I was God, I would've left this stuff out of the story. This should never have happened.
There it is. Murder. A planned assassination. Nice job, David. Absolutely disgusting. In all honestly, I'd love to close my computer and walk away at this point. I hate to continue, but there's more for us to look at, as ugly as it is.
Let me throw a aside in here. Joab is probably the most painful character in scripture for me personally. Joab is no fool. He knows exactly what David is doing. More than that, Joab is going to point this fact out to David. I have always identified with Joab. Fully aware of what is going on, willing to confront his leadership, but still completely complicit in all of it. Very tough for me. I'm really not enjoying this story.
Let's see how our honorable King receives the news...
"The LORD was displeased with what David had done." You think?
At this point, I'm going to close for today. I can't take much more right now. We'll pick up again in Part 8 for what will hopefully be the conclusion of this wandering narrative.
Thanks for letting me be real with you...
We've talked about Tamar who got pregnant by her Father-in-law when she tricked him into thinking she was a prostitute. We talked about Rahab, the for-real prostitute who lied to hide the Israelite spies when Joshua was getting ready to "Fit the Battle of Jericho". We talked about Ruth the Moabite, who by the fact that she was a Moabite, should have disqualified everyone else for ten generations from being able to take part in the Jewish Temple worship. That would include King David at the third generation who re instituted worship, and provided much of the supplies to rebuild the temple. As well as David's son, Solomon who actually did rebuild the Jewish temple. Per the law of scripture, these men should have been disqualified.
Speaking of David and Solomon, this brings us to our fourth and final woman mentioned in the deceptively sleepy First Chapter of Matthew. We pick up in the very next verse after we left off last time...
Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah). - Mat 1:6 NLT
And there we have our fourth woman listed in this Genealogy. Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah.
If you didn't know the story, that would almost sound honorable. Bathsheba, a poor lonely widow finds love again and is honored to be included in the lineage that will eventually produce the Christ child. How poetic. The real story is much darker. In order to find it, let's turn back into the Old Testament, and start in the Eleventh Chapter of the Second Book of Samuel. And, it goes a little something like this...
In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem. - 2Sa 11:1 NLT
Let me digress here for just a second. Gentlemen, Fathers, Husbands, Patriarchs... when it's your time to fight... when it's your time to stand up for what is right... when it's your time to expand your territories... don't leave the dirty work for somebody else to do, it's just going to cause trouble. Don't stay behind in Jerusalem. But, let's get back into the story.
In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem. Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. - 2Sa 11:1-2 NLT
*Ahem* Now, in all honesty, there's not a guy among us who can't identify with David at this point. Yes, we are all pigs.
He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, "She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite." - 2Sa 11:3 NLT
Hit the brakes here... I thought Bathsheba was a widow. David finds out here that she's the WIFE of Uriah the Hittite. Okay, I guess I get it so far. She's hot. She's naked. She's taking a bath, and King David is watching her get all soapy. Sounds like any teenage boy's fantasy. Since no matter how old we get, we all are just teenage boys, he sends someone to find out who she is, because, back in the day, the King could have LOTS of wives. So, they come back, and tell him that she's married. All right, David. Time to turn your lustful stare somewhere else. Surely THE King David will do the honorable thing, right? Let's continue...
Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home. - 2Sa 11:4 NLT
Any guys is too stupid to understand what Samuel is telling us here. But, any woman knows the timing of this like the back of her hand. So, let me explain. During a Jewish women's menstrual cycle, she was considered Niddah, or 'unclean'. Her Niddah status would begin as soon as she noticed any evidence of Menstrual blood flow. She would continue to be 'unclean' for a minimum of the Jewish-approved seven day cycle. At the end of the seven 'unclean' days, she would begin seven 'clean days'. Near the completion of those seven 'clean days', and before she would be allowed to have sexual relations with her husband, she must immerse herself in a mikvah of living water.
So, ladies, again, the timing of this is obvious to you, but we Gentlemen are a little stupid. I had to wake my wife up to discuss this to make sure I understood it correctly. So, Bathsheba has just had her period, and even the guys among us know that means she is not currently pregnant. She goes through her seven Niddah days, then her additional seven 'clean days', and ceremonially washes herself. Okay, guys. Seven plus seven equals what? Fourteen. It has now been Fourteen days since the start of her period. Which means, that Bathsheba is... ovulating. Guys, that means that Bathsheba is FERTILE. Let's read that verse again, and then continue...
Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home. Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message, saying, "I'm pregnant." Then David sent word to Joab: "Send me Uriah the Hittite." So Joab sent him to David. - 2Sa 11:4-6 NLT
Okay, David knew that she was married. But, he sends for her anyways. They do the "Married Dance" as my 14 year old daughter calls it. Now, David finds out that she is pregnant. So, it looks like David is going to do the right thing by Bathsheba. He sends a message to Joab who is laying siege to the city of Rabbah (where David should have been), asking Him to send Uriah the Hittite home to meet David. Obviously, David's got some explaining to do. Let's see how our honorable King David handles this awkward moment as we pick up in verse seven. Come on David! Do the right thing...
When Uriah arrived, David asked him how Joab and the army were getting along and how the war was progressing. Then he told Uriah, "Go on home and relax. " David even sent a gift to Uriah after he had left the palace. But Uriah didn't go home. He slept that night at the palace entrance with the king's palace guard. When David heard that Uriah had not gone home, he summoned him and asked, "What's the matter? Why didn't you go home last night after being away for so long?" Uriah replied, "The Ark and the armies of Israel and Judah are living in tents, and Joab and my master's men are camping in the open fields. How could I go home to wine and dine and sleep with my wife? I swear that I would never do such a thing." "Well, stay here today," David told him, "and tomorrow you may return to the army." So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next. Then David invited him to dinner and got him drunk. But even then he couldn't get Uriah to go home to his wife. Again he slept at the palace entrance with the king's palace guard. So the next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and gave it to Uriah to deliver. - 2Sa 11:7-14 NLT
Bad show, David! Come ON!!??!!?? Instead of coming up honestly, and telling Uriah the truth. David figures, "I'll just bring him home, he'll realize how hot his wife is, and they'll do the Married Dance. Then I'm off easy." Sleazy.
Uriah, though shows much more honor than the King. He knows his wife is hot. So, as he swore to stay focused in battle, he sleeps in the guard shack, rather than laying beside his hot tempting wife.
David decides to get him drunk, and send him again to his wife's embrace. But, Uriah is a man of his word.
Defeated, David sends Uriah back to the siege with a letter to Joab. Can't wait to read that one...
The letter instructed Joab, "Station Uriah on the front lines where the battle is fiercest. Then pull back so that he will be killed." - 2Sa 11:15 NLT
This literally makes me physically ill to think about. I swear that if I was God, I would've left this stuff out of the story. This should never have happened.
So Joab assigned Uriah to a spot close to the city wall where he knew the enemy's strongest men were fighting. And when the enemy soldiers came out of the city to fight, Uriah the Hittite was killed along with several other Israelite soldiers. Then Joab sent a battle report to David. - 2Sa 11:16-18 NLT
There it is. Murder. A planned assassination. Nice job, David. Absolutely disgusting. In all honestly, I'd love to close my computer and walk away at this point. I hate to continue, but there's more for us to look at, as ugly as it is.
Let me throw a aside in here. Joab is probably the most painful character in scripture for me personally. Joab is no fool. He knows exactly what David is doing. More than that, Joab is going to point this fact out to David. I have always identified with Joab. Fully aware of what is going on, willing to confront his leadership, but still completely complicit in all of it. Very tough for me. I'm really not enjoying this story.
Let's see how our honorable King receives the news...
So the messenger went to Jerusalem and gave a complete report to David. "The enemy came out against us in the open fields," he said. "And as we chased them back to the city gate, the archers on the wall shot arrows at us. Some of the king's men were killed, including Uriah the Hittite." "Well, tell Joab not to be discouraged," David said. "The sword devours this one today and that one tomorrow! Fight harder next time, and conquer the city!" When Uriah's wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But the LORD was displeased with what David had done. - 2Sa 11:22-27 NLT
"The LORD was displeased with what David had done." You think?
At this point, I'm going to close for today. I can't take much more right now. We'll pick up again in Part 8 for what will hopefully be the conclusion of this wandering narrative.
Thanks for letting me be real with you...
Then Joab sent a battle report to David. He told his messenger, "Report all the news of the battle to the king. But he might get angry and ask, 'Why did the troops go so close to the city? Didn't they know there would be shooting from the walls? Wasn't Abimelech son of Gideon killed at Thebez by a woman who threw a millstone down on him from the wall? Why would you get so close to the wall?' Then tell him, 'Uriah the Hittite was killed, too.'" - 2Sa 11:18-21 NLT
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Should the Church Abandon the church? Part 6
The OTHER Women
As we've been talking about how far the church has drifted from it's original purpose and design, we've recently been looking at an interesting aspect of God's nature. He seems to choose the broken things to redeem.
We'd all like to believe that He picks from the best of us to promote. But, in reality, it doesn't seem to happen that way. It almost appears like He purposefully picks the pitiful and destitute. So, if you feel like you've been called into church ministry, consider that. Did He call you because you were great and strong and would be able to show your potential? Or, did He call you because you were broken and weak, and His strength could lift you up?
Could the same thing be true of the church?
In looking at how He chooses the scandalous and scattered, we've been looking at the seemingly boring passage of Matthew 1 containing the genealogy of Christ. This passage mentions 4 women (for Matthew to mention women at all in a genealogy was ground-breaking in his day). Let's see what conclusions we can draw in looking at why he chose those 4 women. Last time, (Part 5), we looked at the first woman, Tamar. And, if you don't know the story, it's a hoot. Really.
Woman #2 and Woman #3. Rahab and Ruth.
Matthew 1 continues listing the lineage of Jesus, and in Matthew 1:5 we come across 2 women in one verse.
I'm not sure how this conversation went with the spies' wives.
I digress, Joshua 2 tells the story...
I digress again. Let's continue.
As we continue into the story, we start to see some character similarities to Tamar. Beside the whole prostitute thing. Here are two women who are willing to lie and manipulate in order to preserve their family line. Somehow there is honor found in their ability (despite their current situation) to see beyond the moment and in to the future.
Ruth was from Moab. The Moabites where related to the Israelites through Abraham's relationship with Lot, his nephew. So, while they were fairly friendly, they were still very separate.
I'm not going to try to explain this away. Or, try to make it politically correct. The truth is that our modern ideas of Tolerance and Diversity were a serious No-No in God's commands at the time to the Children of Israel. Looking back on it, we now recognize a lot of the rules he laid out as obvious wisdom as far as cleanliness (not touching dead bodies), and avoiding parasites (not eating pork) that the Children of Israel could not have understood. But there are other parts that just rub us the wrong way, No cripples allowed. No interracial relationships. I'm not trying to lobby for these things to be re instituted, I just don't think I should "pretty-up" the past. It was what it was. I could explain it all away with the idea that God was looking to protect their national identity and through natural selection preserve the lineage of Jesus. But, I don't have to explain it away. It wasn't my decision, and I'm not sure I understand or agree with it. Speaking specifically of the Moabites, let's jump in to Deuteronomy 23 for that and some other choice nuggets of ignored Bible passages.
Honestly, Ruth is a breath-taking and beautiful love story. (Read the book of Ruth through, it is really worth it.) But, if Ruth is the Mother of Obed, and Obed's son was Jesse. If you know your Jewish history, you know that Jesse was the father of David. David, as in King David (who we will talk about in a little bit). That means Ruth is King David's Great-Grandmother. King David, probably the most celebrated Isrealite King of all time. Not ten generations removed from his Moabite Great-Grandmother.
Again, another woman who should be disqualified, but in each case, something honorable is found in the squallor of their dishonor. And Matthew points this out.
Next, Woman #4, and she's got quite a story
As we've been talking about how far the church has drifted from it's original purpose and design, we've recently been looking at an interesting aspect of God's nature. He seems to choose the broken things to redeem.
We'd all like to believe that He picks from the best of us to promote. But, in reality, it doesn't seem to happen that way. It almost appears like He purposefully picks the pitiful and destitute. So, if you feel like you've been called into church ministry, consider that. Did He call you because you were great and strong and would be able to show your potential? Or, did He call you because you were broken and weak, and His strength could lift you up?
Could the same thing be true of the church?
In looking at how He chooses the scandalous and scattered, we've been looking at the seemingly boring passage of Matthew 1 containing the genealogy of Christ. This passage mentions 4 women (for Matthew to mention women at all in a genealogy was ground-breaking in his day). Let's see what conclusions we can draw in looking at why he chose those 4 women. Last time, (Part 5), we looked at the first woman, Tamar. And, if you don't know the story, it's a hoot. Really.
Woman #2 and Woman #3. Rahab and Ruth.
Matthew 1 continues listing the lineage of Jesus, and in Matthew 1:5 we come across 2 women in one verse.
Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse. - Mat 1:5 NLTDo you recognize the name Rahab? I'll bet most of the guys in the Ancient City of Jericho did. Rahab the prostitute.The 2nd chapter of Joshua tells the story of Joshua sending spies in secret into the great city of Jericho. They hid with Rahab.
I'm not sure how this conversation went with the spies' wives.
"Okay, so we're going to sneak into the city..." whispered darkly.I LOVE the parts of the Bible that we skip over and don't even pay attention to. That's almost like our American Soldiers in the Middle East doing recon on a city-stronghold of the Taliban and getting caught in a Strip Club. (Not that the Taliban would allow Strip Clubs). But, as my friend Tim says, "Come ON!"
The wife's breathless reply, "Ooh, tell me more... tell me more."
"Once we get in the city, we're gonna have to find a place to hide, there'll be danger on every corner..." darker still.
Shivering, "You're so manly."
All in one tumble, "So, Joshua said that we should go to Rahab the Prostitutes place...
"Joshua WHAT??!!??!?"
I digress, Joshua 2 tells the story...
Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove. He instructed them, "Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho." So the two men set out and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there that night. But someone told the king of Jericho, "Some Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land." So the king of Jericho sent orders to Rahab: "Bring out the men who have come into your house, for they have come here to spy out the whole land." - Jos 2:1-3 NLTDoes anybody else find this situation amusing? Spies come to the house of Rahab and stay the night. Someone tells the King, "Some Israelis are spying tonight." The kind responds, "Israelis? Oh, they must be at Rahab's place!" Too funny for me. What was it "Rahab's House of Carnal Desires and Spy Hideout Extraordinaire"?
I digress again. Let's continue.
Rahab had hidden the two men, but she replied, "Yes, the men were here earlier, but I didn't know where they were from. They left the town at dusk, as the gates were about to close. I don't know where they went. If you hurry, you can probably catch up with them." (Actually, she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them beneath bundles of flax she had laid out.) - Jos 2:4-6 NLT
As we continue into the story, we start to see some character similarities to Tamar. Beside the whole prostitute thing. Here are two women who are willing to lie and manipulate in order to preserve their family line. Somehow there is honor found in their ability (despite their current situation) to see beyond the moment and in to the future.
Before the spies went to sleep that night, Rahab went up on the roof to talk with them. "I know the LORD has given you this land," she told them. "We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror. For we have heard how the LORD made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed. No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the LORD your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below. "Now swear to me by the LORD that you will be kind to me and my family since I have helped you. Give me some guarantee that when Jericho is conquered, you will let me live, along with my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families." "We offer our own lives as a guarantee for your safety," the men agreed. "If you don't betray us, we will keep our promise and be kind to you when the LORD gives us the land." Then, since Rahab's house was built into the town wall, she let them down by a rope through the window. - Jos 2:8-15 NLTThe 3rd woman of Matthew 1 is not nearly as salacious, but let's take a close look at Ruth anyways.
Ruth was from Moab. The Moabites where related to the Israelites through Abraham's relationship with Lot, his nephew. So, while they were fairly friendly, they were still very separate.
I'm not going to try to explain this away. Or, try to make it politically correct. The truth is that our modern ideas of Tolerance and Diversity were a serious No-No in God's commands at the time to the Children of Israel. Looking back on it, we now recognize a lot of the rules he laid out as obvious wisdom as far as cleanliness (not touching dead bodies), and avoiding parasites (not eating pork) that the Children of Israel could not have understood. But there are other parts that just rub us the wrong way, No cripples allowed. No interracial relationships. I'm not trying to lobby for these things to be re instituted, I just don't think I should "pretty-up" the past. It was what it was. I could explain it all away with the idea that God was looking to protect their national identity and through natural selection preserve the lineage of Jesus. But, I don't have to explain it away. It wasn't my decision, and I'm not sure I understand or agree with it. Speaking specifically of the Moabites, let's jump in to Deuteronomy 23 for that and some other choice nuggets of ignored Bible passages.
"If a man's testicles are crushed or his penis is cut off, he may not be admitted to the assembly of the LORD. "If a person is illegitimate by birth, neither he nor his descendants for ten generations may be admitted to the assembly of the LORD. "No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants for ten generations may be admitted to the assembly of the LORD. - Deu 23:1-3 NLTNot even going to talk about the first part, but still had to leave that in there. So, Ruth is a Moabite, not only is she not allowed to be part of the Jewish system of Tabernacle worship, but for ten generations, none of her offspring would be allowed either.
Honestly, Ruth is a breath-taking and beautiful love story. (Read the book of Ruth through, it is really worth it.) But, if Ruth is the Mother of Obed, and Obed's son was Jesse. If you know your Jewish history, you know that Jesse was the father of David. David, as in King David (who we will talk about in a little bit). That means Ruth is King David's Great-Grandmother. King David, probably the most celebrated Isrealite King of all time. Not ten generations removed from his Moabite Great-Grandmother.
Again, another woman who should be disqualified, but in each case, something honorable is found in the squallor of their dishonor. And Matthew points this out.
Next, Woman #4, and she's got quite a story
Friday, August 19, 2011
Should the Church Abandon the church? Part 5
As we continue talking about the church and all it's foibles, let's look at this from another perspective.
Here's the Story... Of a Lovely Lady...
I grew up with the Brady Bunch. The picture perfect example of a blended family. Decades ahead of it's time. Their seeming bliss only occasionally interrupted by a frustrated "Marcia! Marcia!! Marcia!!!"
If only life could imitate art. (Not that the Brady Bunch is really art...)
Imagine with me a family today. A 21st Century family.
Mom and Dad are happily married. Mostly. They have their issues. They fight sometimes. Raise their voices. Disrespect each other. But, that's mostly because they each bring some "history" to the marriage.
This is Dad's 2nd marriage. He and his first wife divorced several years ago after the birth of their third strapping young lad, and the discovery of his wife's multiple affairs. Dad, obviously, has trust issues as a result.
Mom is a widower. Her three girls with hair of gold (the youngest one in curls), watched her 1st husband slowly succumb to an agonizing death of pancreatic cancer. Mom has abandonment issues.
Dad and his 1st wife have shared custody of the three boys. Things are pretty structured at Dad's house, but when the boys are with their mom, things are a little... well... messy. Her endless parade of boyfriends has not slowed down, nor does she expect much or enforce much discipline in dealing with her sons. Dad does his best to respect his 1st wife in front of their boys. But, honestly, she doesn't give him much to work with. This past weekend, she didn't show up at all. Still now sure where she's at.
While Mom doesn't have an Ex to share custody with, she does have a LOAD of bills from his painful and extended illness. Her oldest daughter is just entering High School, and is starting to smile again (soft, and kinda shy). The scars on her arms seem to be healing. The middle one doesn't talk much, but LOVES to play pranks. The youngest however, just kind of seems stuck. It's been 3 years. She really hasn't recovered. Her grades are not good.
The oldest boy is on the football team, has a pretty girlfriend, and came home reeking of beer last night. The middle boy is no longer in the closet, not that this admission surprised any one. Dad is trying to balance loving and supporting his son with the judgement his church teaches about homosexuality. The youngest boy is just a nut. Ornery, and happy. He almost seems unscathed.
Mom and Dad desperately love each other. Try to schedule regular dates, but sometimes (well, all the time) the money is a little thin. Last Friday night, they went to McDonald's together and sat drinking $1 fountain drinks and laughing at the old couple across the room.
They've been trying to "do right" by their creditors, but the pile seems to grow rather than receed. So, they're considering bankruptcy, and, they may lose their house.
Oh, and Mom is a week late for her "cycle." She hasn't told Dad. Not sure how to feel about that. Too much going on.
Is this how it was supposed to be?
God made Adam. God spent time with Adam. God decided that although it was cool for Adam to spend time with Him. Adam really needed someone else. So, selflessly, God made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked, and not ashamed. (I love that part...)
When God decided to make Eve to come alongside Adam. When He set them as an example (obviously not a perfect example with the whole eating the fruit thing), but an example for future couples. Do you think God thought, "I can't wait for people to have to deal with divorce and infidelity, shame and guilt!"
Obviously, the family we described above is not perfect. None of us are.
Does that mean the family should split? Does that mean, since their foundation is blemished, they have no future?
Okay, without regard to who is at fault, it's safe to say that the perfect plan has not worked so perfectly for Mom and Dad. But, this is the real world. Where real people really screw up, and really hurt each other. This is a world where innocence is stolen, yet justice is still fought for. This is a world where it's safer to isolate yourself, yet people still choose to love.
This is our fallen world. Imperfect and glorious.
All the things we've said about the family above are true also of the church, messy as it is. True, we live in a fallen world. Things are not perfect. We haven't made the right decisions. We do things out of hurt, anger, selfishness, and fear. But, God can use us still.
The Scandal Ridden Ministry of Jesus
Jesus was in the temple, and was announcing the start of His ministry,
The Most Commonly Skipped Passage in ScriptureStay with me here, I'm getting to a point.
When I was a kid, we called them "The Begats". The 1st Chapter of the 1st book of the New Testament starts off with a flop. If you've ever struggled through it in the King James Version, you are one of the few. To "begat" someone means to have a kid. So, my Father, Russell, begat Chris (that's me).
All of this lineage stuff is leading towards the birth of Jesus as Matthew opens the New Testament. Betwixt all the 'begats', this guy had this son, that guy had that son, etc., etc., there are 4 women who are mentioned. In Jewish culture at the time of the writing, it was almost sacrilege for Matthew to include women in a lineage, but he broke with their tradition. The 4 women he chose to mention tell us something about the nature of God.
Matthew's 4 Women
(That sounds inappropriate when I read it, but it's not like that.)
Tamar. If you think the bible is all butterflies and lollipops, you should read the story of Tamar. Desperate Housewives could learn a thing or two from her.
Now, I'm going to paraphase here, but you can look it up. All of this is really there.
Jacob (who became Israel after he wrestled with God) has a BUNCH of kids. One's name is Judah. Judah decides that he's going to find a wife for his son Er (nice name, right?). He finds Tamar, and Bada-Bing-Bada-Boom, they get married. Well, Er is a real piece of poop, and God doesn't like him, so God kills him. (Sorry if that's harsh, read it for yourself in Genesis 38). So, Tamar's now a widow. But Judah, wants the family name to carry on. One of the way's they did this in those days was borrowing "seed" from a brother. You just can't make this stuff up. If your brother dies, it becomes your responsibility to give a child to your brother's wife. I don't mean give her one of the kids you already have. I mean... impregnate her. The old fashioned way.
So, Judah goes to sone #2, Onan (not much better for a name), and says, listen, your brother is dead. Go, marry his wife Tamar, and give your brother a son.
I'm not even going to try to explain the next part. You can read it for yourself.
Well, Er's dead. Onan's dead. And Judah says, "Listen Tamar, I've got another son, Shelah, but he's just a boy. Go back home, and when he's grown, you can have him for a husband." So, Tamar moves home with her parents.
Some time later, she finds out that her Father-in-law is going to be in town, so she takes off her widows garments, dresses up like a "lady of the evening," and goes to a public place where Judah is going to be. She see's Judah there, with Shelah, who is now grown (and not married to Tamar). Here's where things get hairy. Judah sees the fine looking prostitute, and propositions her, not realizing that it's his daughter in law. She bargains with him, because Judah has already lied to her about Shelah. She agrees to sleep with him, if he will give her... you know, never mind. Just read this, I promise you won't be bored.
Why? Because God is a redeemer of broken things. Even if that broken thing is me. Even if that broken thing is the Church.
Coming up next, the other Women
Here's the Story... Of a Lovely Lady...
I grew up with the Brady Bunch. The picture perfect example of a blended family. Decades ahead of it's time. Their seeming bliss only occasionally interrupted by a frustrated "Marcia! Marcia!! Marcia!!!"
If only life could imitate art. (Not that the Brady Bunch is really art...)
Imagine with me a family today. A 21st Century family.
Mom and Dad are happily married. Mostly. They have their issues. They fight sometimes. Raise their voices. Disrespect each other. But, that's mostly because they each bring some "history" to the marriage.
This is Dad's 2nd marriage. He and his first wife divorced several years ago after the birth of their third strapping young lad, and the discovery of his wife's multiple affairs. Dad, obviously, has trust issues as a result.
Mom is a widower. Her three girls with hair of gold (the youngest one in curls), watched her 1st husband slowly succumb to an agonizing death of pancreatic cancer. Mom has abandonment issues.
Dad and his 1st wife have shared custody of the three boys. Things are pretty structured at Dad's house, but when the boys are with their mom, things are a little... well... messy. Her endless parade of boyfriends has not slowed down, nor does she expect much or enforce much discipline in dealing with her sons. Dad does his best to respect his 1st wife in front of their boys. But, honestly, she doesn't give him much to work with. This past weekend, she didn't show up at all. Still now sure where she's at.
While Mom doesn't have an Ex to share custody with, she does have a LOAD of bills from his painful and extended illness. Her oldest daughter is just entering High School, and is starting to smile again (soft, and kinda shy). The scars on her arms seem to be healing. The middle one doesn't talk much, but LOVES to play pranks. The youngest however, just kind of seems stuck. It's been 3 years. She really hasn't recovered. Her grades are not good.
The oldest boy is on the football team, has a pretty girlfriend, and came home reeking of beer last night. The middle boy is no longer in the closet, not that this admission surprised any one. Dad is trying to balance loving and supporting his son with the judgement his church teaches about homosexuality. The youngest boy is just a nut. Ornery, and happy. He almost seems unscathed.
Mom and Dad desperately love each other. Try to schedule regular dates, but sometimes (well, all the time) the money is a little thin. Last Friday night, they went to McDonald's together and sat drinking $1 fountain drinks and laughing at the old couple across the room.
They've been trying to "do right" by their creditors, but the pile seems to grow rather than receed. So, they're considering bankruptcy, and, they may lose their house.
Oh, and Mom is a week late for her "cycle." She hasn't told Dad. Not sure how to feel about that. Too much going on.
Is this how it was supposed to be?
God made Adam. God spent time with Adam. God decided that although it was cool for Adam to spend time with Him. Adam really needed someone else. So, selflessly, God made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked, and not ashamed. (I love that part...)
When God decided to make Eve to come alongside Adam. When He set them as an example (obviously not a perfect example with the whole eating the fruit thing), but an example for future couples. Do you think God thought, "I can't wait for people to have to deal with divorce and infidelity, shame and guilt!"
Obviously, the family we described above is not perfect. None of us are.
Does that mean the family should split? Does that mean, since their foundation is blemished, they have no future?
Okay, without regard to who is at fault, it's safe to say that the perfect plan has not worked so perfectly for Mom and Dad. But, this is the real world. Where real people really screw up, and really hurt each other. This is a world where innocence is stolen, yet justice is still fought for. This is a world where it's safer to isolate yourself, yet people still choose to love.
This is our fallen world. Imperfect and glorious.
All the things we've said about the family above are true also of the church, messy as it is. True, we live in a fallen world. Things are not perfect. We haven't made the right decisions. We do things out of hurt, anger, selfishness, and fear. But, God can use us still.
The Scandal Ridden Ministry of Jesus
Jesus was in the temple, and was announcing the start of His ministry,
When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: "The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD's favor has come. " He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. "The Scripture you've just heard has been fulfilled this very day!" - Luk 4:16-21 NLTThe scripture He's reading from here we find in Isaiah 61, let's read it as it continues past the part Jesus was quoting...
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD's favor has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory. - Isa 61:1-3 NLTIn Isaiah's day, a man in deepest mourning would rub ashes over himself. Isaiah is saying that God trades our ashes for a crown of beauty. A joyful blessing for our morning. Crazy praise in exchange for our despair. God is all about redeeming (purchasing back, repurposing) broken things. Even if that broken thing is me.
The Most Commonly Skipped Passage in Scripture
When I was a kid, we called them "The Begats". The 1st Chapter of the 1st book of the New Testament starts off with a flop. If you've ever struggled through it in the King James Version, you are one of the few. To "begat" someone means to have a kid. So, my Father, Russell, begat Chris (that's me).
All of this lineage stuff is leading towards the birth of Jesus as Matthew opens the New Testament. Betwixt all the 'begats', this guy had this son, that guy had that son, etc., etc., there are 4 women who are mentioned. In Jewish culture at the time of the writing, it was almost sacrilege for Matthew to include women in a lineage, but he broke with their tradition. The 4 women he chose to mention tell us something about the nature of God.
Matthew's 4 Women
(That sounds inappropriate when I read it, but it's not like that.)
This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram. - Mat 1:1-3 NLTWoman #1
Tamar. If you think the bible is all butterflies and lollipops, you should read the story of Tamar. Desperate Housewives could learn a thing or two from her.
Now, I'm going to paraphase here, but you can look it up. All of this is really there.
Jacob (who became Israel after he wrestled with God) has a BUNCH of kids. One's name is Judah. Judah decides that he's going to find a wife for his son Er (nice name, right?). He finds Tamar, and Bada-Bing-Bada-Boom, they get married. Well, Er is a real piece of poop, and God doesn't like him, so God kills him. (Sorry if that's harsh, read it for yourself in Genesis 38). So, Tamar's now a widow. But Judah, wants the family name to carry on. One of the way's they did this in those days was borrowing "seed" from a brother. You just can't make this stuff up. If your brother dies, it becomes your responsibility to give a child to your brother's wife. I don't mean give her one of the kids you already have. I mean... impregnate her. The old fashioned way.
So, Judah goes to sone #2, Onan (not much better for a name), and says, listen, your brother is dead. Go, marry his wife Tamar, and give your brother a son.
I'm not even going to try to explain the next part. You can read it for yourself.
Then Judah said to Er's brother Onan, "Go and marry Tamar, as our law requires of the brother of a man who has died. You must produce an heir for your brother." But Onan was not willing to have a child who would not be his own heir. So whenever he had intercourse with his brother's wife, he spilled the semen on the ground. This prevented her from having a child who would belong to his brother. But the LORD considered it evil for Onan to deny a child to his dead brother. So the LORD took Onan's life, too. - Gen 38:8-10 NLTPlease don't make me explain that to you.
Well, Er's dead. Onan's dead. And Judah says, "Listen Tamar, I've got another son, Shelah, but he's just a boy. Go back home, and when he's grown, you can have him for a husband." So, Tamar moves home with her parents.
Some time later, she finds out that her Father-in-law is going to be in town, so she takes off her widows garments, dresses up like a "lady of the evening," and goes to a public place where Judah is going to be. She see's Judah there, with Shelah, who is now grown (and not married to Tamar). Here's where things get hairy. Judah sees the fine looking prostitute, and propositions her, not realizing that it's his daughter in law. She bargains with him, because Judah has already lied to her about Shelah. She agrees to sleep with him, if he will give her... you know, never mind. Just read this, I promise you won't be bored.
Tamar was aware that Shelah had grown up, but no arrangements had been made for her to come and marry him. So she changed out of her widow's clothing and covered herself with a veil to disguise herself. Then she sat beside the road at the entrance to the village of Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. Judah noticed her and thought she was a prostitute, since she had covered her face. So he stopped and propositioned her. "Let me have sex with you," he said, not realizing that she was his own daughter-in-law. "How much will you pay to have sex with me?" Tamar asked. "I'll send you a young goat from my flock," Judah promised. "But what will you give me to guarantee that you will send the goat?" she asked. "What kind of guarantee do you want?" he replied. She answered, "Leave me your identification seal and its cord and the walking stick you are carrying." So Judah gave them to her. Then he had intercourse with her, and she became pregnant. Afterward she went back home, took off her veil, and put on her widow's clothing as usual. Later Judah asked his friend Hirah the Adullamite to take the young goat to the woman and to pick up the things he had given her as his guarantee. But Hirah couldn't find her. So he asked the men who lived there, "Where can I find the shrine prostitute who was sitting beside the road at the entrance to Enaim?" "We've never had a shrine prostitute here," they replied. So Hirah returned to Judah and told him, "I couldn't find her anywhere, and the men of the village claim they've never had a shrine prostitute there." "Then let her keep the things I gave her," Judah said. "I sent the young goat as we agreed, but you couldn't find her. We'd be the laughingstock of the village if we went back again to look for her." About three months later, Judah was told, "Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has acted like a prostitute. And now, because of this, she's pregnant." "Bring her out, and let her be burned!" Judah demanded. But as they were taking her out to kill her, she sent this message to her father-in-law: "The man who owns these things made me pregnant. Look closely. Whose seal and cord and walking stick are these?" Judah recognized them immediately and said, "She is more righteous than I am, because I didn't arrange for her to marry my son Shelah." And Judah never slept with Tamar again. When the time came for Tamar to give birth, it was discovered that she was carrying twins. While she was in labor, one of the babies reached out his hand. The midwife grabbed it and tied a scarlet string around the child's wrist, announcing, "This one came out first." But then he pulled back his hand, and out came his brother! "What!" the midwife exclaimed. "How did you break out first?" So he was named Perez. Then the baby with the scarlet string on his wrist was born, and he was named Zerah. - Gen 38:14-30 NLTAnd there it is, the first woman mentioned in the lineage of Jesus...
Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram. - Mat 1:3 NLTIf it was up to me, and I was recording the lineage of the Savior of all mankind, I'd leave that kind of crap out. But Matthew goes against the grain to purposefully point it out. Mentioning a women in this lineage is like a Super-Duty-Neon-Highlighter saying "HEY! PAY ATTENTION TO THIS!!!" Why, with all the wonderful women he could have mentioned, does he point out the girl who poses as a prostitute, and has twins by her Father-in-law?
Why? Because God is a redeemer of broken things. Even if that broken thing is me. Even if that broken thing is the Church.
Coming up next, the other Women
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Should the Church Abandon the church? Part 4
The Reformer
It is October 31st 1517, Martin Luther has nailed his 95 Thesis's to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. It is neither the beginning, nor the end of what will eventually become a broad sweeping change known as the Christian Reformation.
A Dominican priest, by the name of Johann Tetzel, had been commissioned by the Archbishop of Mainz and Pope Leo X to raise money for the renovation of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
As any properly demented and thoroughly soiled church leader can tell you, the easiest way for the church to raise money is by directly connecting people's financial giving to their fear of the afterlife-unknown. Better yet, if you can also magically work it out that their giving absolves them of the need for repentance, you've got a true win-win situation!!!
It is with this often-used technique that Johann Tetzel promotes the idea of Papal Indulgences.
What is an Indulgence?
Get ready for this one...
The current official doctrine of the Roman Catholic church is that Jesus, Mary, and the various assundry Saints lived such exemplary lives, and did so very many good works, that there is left over a super-abundance of "merit". This extra "merit" is owned and held in reserve by the Roman Catholic church, and can be distributed by said Roman Catholic church as it deems fit in it's exercise of "the power of the keys."
With me so far?
The doctrine further states that when God forgives sins, there are some sins that He only grants remission from the "eternal" punishment of the sins, while the "temporal" debt of punishment for the sin remains in effect. If the punishment of the sin is not endured in this lifetime, than it remains to be paid after death in purgatory.
Through the giving of indulgences, the Roman Catholic church can shorten or eliminate this "temporal" punishment, be it here on earth, or after death in purgatory.
Johann Tetzel Plays on the Ignorant
The Joe Six-Pack, regular-day everyman European Roman Catholic believer in the early 1500's was kept in great ignorance and lived a life of superstition-run-wild. Dimly explained doctrines such as purgatory were excellent tools to keep the people controlled by fears and ignorance.
Feeding on these superstitions, it was easy enough for Johann Tetzel to present a desperate picture of a dearly departed wife, or beloved child burning in the fires of purgatory. With your painful and generous contribution, your loved one could be instantly released from this torture. Tetzel's famous claim, "So wie das Geld im Kasten klingt; die Seele aus dem Fegfeuer springt" [As soon as the coin in the casket rings, the rescued soul to heaven springs] resonates like a demented nursery rhyme.
"...And I can't stands no more!"
Into this environment, Martin Luther's 95 Thesis's (which he intended as a continuation of his scholarly objection to the detestable practice) brought clarity, focus, and illumination to the plight of the average believer under the purposeful deceiving machinations of church leadership.
One of Luther's other major problems was with the issue of "Sacerdotalis".
Sacerdotalis
I know... with the flick of a dragon-heartstringed elm wand, it could almost be a Harry Potter spell.
It is an ancient latin word referring to the priesthood. Sacerdotalism teaches that the priesthood is a special class of churchman, and is a necessary part of worship. People cannot approach God on their own, but must come through the ministry of a priest, whether through the confession of sin, taking communion, or receiving grace. And divine blessing comes only through the church, and that only through the Church's ordained priesthood.
The More Things Change, The More they Stay the Same
At Luther's point in history, it's almost 1500 years after the finished work of Christ. 1500 years after Christ fulfilled and superseeded the need for and responsibility of the priest. 1500 years after the termination of the High Priest's lineage. 1500 years after the destruction of the temple. And, yet again, the Priesthood reigns supreme as the mediator between man and God. No one comes to the Father except through them.
Luther argued that not only was there no distinction between leadership and laity. Not only was there no difference between priest and participant. But, Luther championed the scriptural understanding of the priesthood of ALL believers.
In Luther's Open Letter to the German Nobility he talked about how the Roman Catholic church divided people into the "spiritual" and "temporal" estate. The "spiritual estate" consisted of those who went into the church and chose a holy vocation, while the "temporal estate" were the vast majority (i.e. everybody else). There were two kinds of people, clergy and laity. Ordination served as a kind of 2nd baptism, that lifted the clergy into a higher state of Christiandom while the laity struggled on in normalcy.
Is it really any different today?
Have things really changed? The Christian church was born out of Judaism. The protestant churches were born out of the Catholic church during the Reformation. But, even today, 2000 years later, are things that different?
Look at the big positions at your church. I'm not talking about the "lowly" positions like the guy who scrubs toilets. Or, the family who teaches children. I'm talking about the Big Money spots. The "Pulpit Ministry". The Go To Guys. The face of the ministry. Are they clergy, or are they laity. Do they work only in the church, seperate from the real world? Or, do they slave in a steel mill alongside their fellow church workers? Are they "Professional Christians"?
What does Scripture have to say about this?
Over and over again, not priests over a kingdom, but an entire Kingdom, made up of Priests. And, there is only one High Priest who reigns over us all.
Thank God for Stacy. My beautiful wife ROCKS! There's nothing like having someone in your life who can encourage you and tell you you're being an idiot at the same time. Stacy is my Ideal Reader, and proofreads everything I write before I post. If it passes the Stacy litmus test, then it's good enough by me. I sent her everything I had written so far in Part 4 (I'm travelling for work this week), and she replied back with an "I-love-you-but-you're-an-idiot"...
In Honor and Respect for the Selfless Shepherds
A very dear friend and mentor of mine (that I would never want to disrespect) had worked in Church ministry for many years. He worked as the Minister of Music for a large, respected, and progressive church. Through some time in prayer, and internal searching, he became convinced that God had laid it upon his heart to go in a different direction, to birth a church. And so, in his desire to be obedient to the plans Father had for him, he left his comfortable church salary with the comfortable benefits, and he, his wife, and their 5 kids struck out on their own. I don't know if you've ever tried that. But, when there aren't people in the church yet. There ain't no money. Kids still need to eat (and so do adults, by the way), and so this excellent man took on lots of roles to make ends meet. He worked odd jobs. He did construction. He did consulting. He did technical work. He did management and leadership training. He taught music lessons. All while slowly building a congregation, and developing a ministry. Years later, this ministry is now well established, handed off to an internally developed leader, and my friend is on to the next "church plant." My dear friend is an excellent, Godly, compassionate, compotent, and wonderful man. I have no doubt that his efforts deserve a "well done, thou good and faithful servent."
That is just an example. There are many, many people across the globe who have selflessly devoted themselves to the work of the ministry. Worked tons of hours. Baptized babies. Held friends hands as they died. Protected rape victims. Feed and clothed the homeless. Told the truth. Loved their spouses. Raised their kids right. Studied till all hours of the night. Endured budget meetings. And, put up with whiny people like me who point out faults without taking a moment to recognize just how much these men and women have given.
I honor you.
I respect you.
The world is not worthy of you.
Next up, Part 5, where do we go from here?
It is October 31st 1517, Martin Luther has nailed his 95 Thesis's to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. It is neither the beginning, nor the end of what will eventually become a broad sweeping change known as the Christian Reformation.
A Dominican priest, by the name of Johann Tetzel, had been commissioned by the Archbishop of Mainz and Pope Leo X to raise money for the renovation of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
As any properly demented and thoroughly soiled church leader can tell you, the easiest way for the church to raise money is by directly connecting people's financial giving to their fear of the afterlife-unknown. Better yet, if you can also magically work it out that their giving absolves them of the need for repentance, you've got a true win-win situation!!!
It is with this often-used technique that Johann Tetzel promotes the idea of Papal Indulgences.
What is an Indulgence?
Get ready for this one...
The current official doctrine of the Roman Catholic church is that Jesus, Mary, and the various assundry Saints lived such exemplary lives, and did so very many good works, that there is left over a super-abundance of "merit". This extra "merit" is owned and held in reserve by the Roman Catholic church, and can be distributed by said Roman Catholic church as it deems fit in it's exercise of "the power of the keys."
With me so far?
The doctrine further states that when God forgives sins, there are some sins that He only grants remission from the "eternal" punishment of the sins, while the "temporal" debt of punishment for the sin remains in effect. If the punishment of the sin is not endured in this lifetime, than it remains to be paid after death in purgatory.
Through the giving of indulgences, the Roman Catholic church can shorten or eliminate this "temporal" punishment, be it here on earth, or after death in purgatory.
Johann Tetzel Plays on the Ignorant
The Joe Six-Pack, regular-day everyman European Roman Catholic believer in the early 1500's was kept in great ignorance and lived a life of superstition-run-wild. Dimly explained doctrines such as purgatory were excellent tools to keep the people controlled by fears and ignorance.
Feeding on these superstitions, it was easy enough for Johann Tetzel to present a desperate picture of a dearly departed wife, or beloved child burning in the fires of purgatory. With your painful and generous contribution, your loved one could be instantly released from this torture. Tetzel's famous claim, "So wie das Geld im Kasten klingt; die Seele aus dem Fegfeuer springt" [As soon as the coin in the casket rings, the rescued soul to heaven springs] resonates like a demented nursery rhyme.
"...And I can't stands no more!"
Into this environment, Martin Luther's 95 Thesis's (which he intended as a continuation of his scholarly objection to the detestable practice) brought clarity, focus, and illumination to the plight of the average believer under the purposeful deceiving machinations of church leadership.
One of Luther's other major problems was with the issue of "Sacerdotalis".
Sacerdotalis
I know... with the flick of a dragon-heartstringed elm wand, it could almost be a Harry Potter spell.
It is an ancient latin word referring to the priesthood. Sacerdotalism teaches that the priesthood is a special class of churchman, and is a necessary part of worship. People cannot approach God on their own, but must come through the ministry of a priest, whether through the confession of sin, taking communion, or receiving grace. And divine blessing comes only through the church, and that only through the Church's ordained priesthood.
The More Things Change, The More they Stay the Same
At Luther's point in history, it's almost 1500 years after the finished work of Christ. 1500 years after Christ fulfilled and superseeded the need for and responsibility of the priest. 1500 years after the termination of the High Priest's lineage. 1500 years after the destruction of the temple. And, yet again, the Priesthood reigns supreme as the mediator between man and God. No one comes to the Father except through them.
Luther argued that not only was there no distinction between leadership and laity. Not only was there no difference between priest and participant. But, Luther championed the scriptural understanding of the priesthood of ALL believers.
In Luther's Open Letter to the German Nobility he talked about how the Roman Catholic church divided people into the "spiritual" and "temporal" estate. The "spiritual estate" consisted of those who went into the church and chose a holy vocation, while the "temporal estate" were the vast majority (i.e. everybody else). There were two kinds of people, clergy and laity. Ordination served as a kind of 2nd baptism, that lifted the clergy into a higher state of Christiandom while the laity struggled on in normalcy.
Is it really any different today?
Have things really changed? The Christian church was born out of Judaism. The protestant churches were born out of the Catholic church during the Reformation. But, even today, 2000 years later, are things that different?
Look at the big positions at your church. I'm not talking about the "lowly" positions like the guy who scrubs toilets. Or, the family who teaches children. I'm talking about the Big Money spots. The "Pulpit Ministry". The Go To Guys. The face of the ministry. Are they clergy, or are they laity. Do they work only in the church, seperate from the real world? Or, do they slave in a steel mill alongside their fellow church workers? Are they "Professional Christians"?
What does Scripture have to say about this?
Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.' This is the message you must give to the people of Israel." - Exd 19:5-6 NLT
And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. - 1Pe 2:5 NLT
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. - 1Pe 2:9 NLT
This letter is from John to the seven churches in the province of Asia. Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit before his throne; and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. - Rev 1:4-6 NLT
Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth. He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God's people. And they sang a new song with these words: "You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth." - Rev 5:6-10 NLT
For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity--the man Christ Jesus. - 1Ti 2:5 NLT
There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people's sins. The law appointed high priests who were limited by human weakness. But after the law was given, God appointed his Son with an oath, and his Son has been made the perfect High Priest forever. - Hbr 7:23-28 NLT
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. - Hbr 4:14-15 NLT
Hold ON a Second!
Thank God for Stacy. My beautiful wife ROCKS! There's nothing like having someone in your life who can encourage you and tell you you're being an idiot at the same time. Stacy is my Ideal Reader, and proofreads everything I write before I post. If it passes the Stacy litmus test, then it's good enough by me. I sent her everything I had written so far in Part 4 (I'm travelling for work this week), and she replied back with an "I-love-you-but-you're-an-idiot"...
"What about all the Pastors who are working themselves to death? The ones with pure hearts? They deserve respect. Don't forget that the heart of your writing needs to be Love and Grace."Realizing how harsh all this sounds. Let me clarify my feelings and thoughts.
In Honor and Respect for the Selfless Shepherds
A very dear friend and mentor of mine (that I would never want to disrespect) had worked in Church ministry for many years. He worked as the Minister of Music for a large, respected, and progressive church. Through some time in prayer, and internal searching, he became convinced that God had laid it upon his heart to go in a different direction, to birth a church. And so, in his desire to be obedient to the plans Father had for him, he left his comfortable church salary with the comfortable benefits, and he, his wife, and their 5 kids struck out on their own. I don't know if you've ever tried that. But, when there aren't people in the church yet. There ain't no money. Kids still need to eat (and so do adults, by the way), and so this excellent man took on lots of roles to make ends meet. He worked odd jobs. He did construction. He did consulting. He did technical work. He did management and leadership training. He taught music lessons. All while slowly building a congregation, and developing a ministry. Years later, this ministry is now well established, handed off to an internally developed leader, and my friend is on to the next "church plant." My dear friend is an excellent, Godly, compassionate, compotent, and wonderful man. I have no doubt that his efforts deserve a "well done, thou good and faithful servent."
That is just an example. There are many, many people across the globe who have selflessly devoted themselves to the work of the ministry. Worked tons of hours. Baptized babies. Held friends hands as they died. Protected rape victims. Feed and clothed the homeless. Told the truth. Loved their spouses. Raised their kids right. Studied till all hours of the night. Endured budget meetings. And, put up with whiny people like me who point out faults without taking a moment to recognize just how much these men and women have given.
I honor you.
I respect you.
The world is not worthy of you.
Next up, Part 5, where do we go from here?
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Should the Church Abandon the church? Part 3
Ancient Miracles, Fact or Fiction, No Longer
The Jerusalem Talmud...
The Miracle of the Lot
As we discussed during out last visit. On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would blindly draw two stones to place upon the heads of the lambs before him. One stone, white 'la-Jehovah'; would declare one lamb the sacrificial lamb to be given God. The second stone, black 'la-Azazel'; would declare the other lamb the scapegoat to be sent out of the city, carrying the sins of the nation on it's head. For thousands of years, the Priest would randomly select a white stone or black stone in either hand. It was seen as a sign when the right hand was found to be holding the white 'la-Jehovah' stone that God had accepted their sacrifice. But for 40 years in a row, from the year 30 CE to the destruction of the temple in 70 CE, the Priest's right hand grasped the black 'la-Azazel' stone every single time. The chances of that happening are 2 to the 40th power, or 1 in 5,479,548,800.
The Miracle of the Red Cloth
Taking the Scapegoat's scarlet cloth, torn in two, the High Priest for thousands of years had tied half to the lamb, and half on the door of the temple. Every single year to this point, the red cloth on the door turned white as a symbol that the Lord God had accepted their Day of Atonement sacrifice.
For those 40 years after the death of Christ, and before the destruction of the Temple (and the cessation of all the Jewish sacrifices), the Crimson cloth remained blood red. As if their sacrifice and service no longer had it's intended purpose or effect.
The Miracle of the Temple Doors
During those 40 years, as they secured the temple doors each night, when they awoke in the morning, they found them wide open. The leading Jewish scholar at the time Yohanan ben Zakkai, rightly declared it as a sign the temple would be destroyed. The Jewish Talmud states,
Might this miracle have not just been a foreteling of the destruction of the temple? Might it not also have been a reminder of the rent veil? On the day of Christ's death, the temple veil was rent from top to bottom. The Glory of the Lord departed from the temple to reside in the hearts of men. With the office of the Priest no longer needed, could these eternally open doors been a reminder that fellowship with Father God was now open to all?
The Miracle of the Temple Menorah
Our fourth miracle is that no matter what the priests did, the most important lamp of the Menorah refused to remain lit. Earnest Martin states,
One day, Jesus is sitting in the Temple. Now, I don't know if you have ever been to church, but let me fill you in on the unwritten rules. Besides the ones about staying out of Sister So and So's favorite seat, the most important rule of church going is this... When they pass the offering plate, mind your own dang business. Jesus, of course, couldn't care less about the pomp and circumstance that we perform in order to feel better about ourselves, and so, near the end of Mark chapter 12, we find Him breaking that exact rule.
Obviously, like most people, I'm stupid. And Jesus rarely gives eye to the one that is seeking attention. Least of all when one is using an act to publicly prove his "godliness" that is founded in selfishness and insecurity.
Jesus is, of course, not fooled. Nor are the "rich people" the reason He is hovering over the offering. Mark goes on...
This, I imagine, is the feeling in the room as the widow approaches the collection box. Head down, eyes on her feet, shame oozing from each pore. What Jesus does next probably stopped hearts.
Not only is Jesus hovering over the collection box, the offering plate. Not only is Jesus watching. But now, He's gathering a crowd. Gesticulating. Waving. Gathering His guys. Not only that, but in this tomb of silence, Jesus begins to speak...
It is in this environment, and in this frame of mind the Jesus walks out of the Temple at the beginning of Mark chapter 13. His disciples with Him.
Understand that to the Jewish culture, the wealth of the temple is a thing of pride and national identitiy. When Moses's tabernacle in the wilderness was built with tapesty, fine linen, silver, and gold. All of those expensive items came from the Jewish people who had spent the last couple hundred years as slaves! But, if you re-read the Exodus, you see that the Egyptian people loaded them up as they walked away. Gold, Silver, wealth, all of it. Like the plunder of a conquering King. That is what the wealth of the temple represented to them. That God favored them. That He would always make a way where there was no way.
And so, Jesus is walking out of that ordained Temple, having just praised the lowliest of givers, and His disciples reach out to defend this symbol of their nation.
Jesus dies, the sacrifice is completed, the earth cracks open, and dead people begin to walk around Jerusalem.
The miracles that have maintained the Jewish faith in their favor and calling from Jehovah have ceased. The veil is rent. The temple gates which take 20 people on each side to open, somehow will not remain closed at night. The menorah will not remain lit.
But, people do not give up power easily. So, the sacrifices continue. The priests close the gates each morning, hoping no one noticed them being open. They attempt to stitch closed the temple veil, each morning it is re-rent. Nothing works.
The lineage of the High Priest, unbroken for thousands of years, handed down directly from Aaron, the brother of Moses, had existed without fail whether Israel had a temple or not. From the end of Caiaphas's ministry in 37 CE, there are 15 High Priests in the next near 30 years.
Finally, for the first time, when unable to find a direct or indirect descendent of Matthian Ben Theophillus in 66 CE, the Zealots, showing their political power, cast lots and name Phannias ben Samuel the new High Priest. He dies in the destruction of the Temple 4 years later.
The miracles have stopped.
The line of High Priests is forever broken.
The temple is destroyed.
What exactly is it about the work of Christ that caused such a massive shift? What exactly is it about mankind that so refuses to give up it's final vestiges of power?
"The Glory of the Lord has Departed"
We find this in one of the most poignant foreshadowings in scripture. Thousands of years before, Eli is Israel's Judge. He is 98 years old, he is fat, he is blind, and he has not passed on the honor of the office to his derelict sons. The Children of Israel are in battle with the Philistines, and Eli is sitting beside the road, awaiting news. Let's pick it up in 1 Samuel chapter 4...
The Jerusalem Talmud...
"Forty years before the destruction of the Temple, the Western Light went out, the crimson thread remained crimson, and the lot for the Lord always came up in the left hand. They would close the gates of the temple by night, and get up in the morning and find them wide open." (Jacob Neusner, The Yerushalmi, p. 156-157) [The Temple was destroyed in 70 CE]The Babylonian Talmud...
"Our rabbis taught: during the last forty years before the destruction of the Temple, the lot ['la-Jehovah'] did not come up in the right hand, nor did the crimson-colored strap become white; nor did the western most light shine, and the doors of the Hekel [Hekel] would open by themselves." (Soncino version, Yoma 39b)In the painful years that followed the 70 CE destruction of the Temple, two different versions of Jewish thought, Jewish history, and Jewish commentary began to be written. One was written in Palestine, and became known as the Jewish Talmud, the other in Babylon and became known as the Babylonian Talmud. Both passages agree that around 30 CE, things changed radically.
The Miracle of the Lot
As we discussed during out last visit. On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would blindly draw two stones to place upon the heads of the lambs before him. One stone, white 'la-Jehovah'; would declare one lamb the sacrificial lamb to be given God. The second stone, black 'la-Azazel'; would declare the other lamb the scapegoat to be sent out of the city, carrying the sins of the nation on it's head. For thousands of years, the Priest would randomly select a white stone or black stone in either hand. It was seen as a sign when the right hand was found to be holding the white 'la-Jehovah' stone that God had accepted their sacrifice. But for 40 years in a row, from the year 30 CE to the destruction of the temple in 70 CE, the Priest's right hand grasped the black 'la-Azazel' stone every single time. The chances of that happening are 2 to the 40th power, or 1 in 5,479,548,800.
The Miracle of the Red Cloth
Taking the Scapegoat's scarlet cloth, torn in two, the High Priest for thousands of years had tied half to the lamb, and half on the door of the temple. Every single year to this point, the red cloth on the door turned white as a symbol that the Lord God had accepted their Day of Atonement sacrifice.
"Come, let us reason together, saith the LORD; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18)
The Miracle of the Temple Doors
During those 40 years, as they secured the temple doors each night, when they awoke in the morning, they found them wide open. The leading Jewish scholar at the time Yohanan ben Zakkai, rightly declared it as a sign the temple would be destroyed. The Jewish Talmud states,
"Said Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai to the Temple, 'O Temple, why do you frighten us? We know that you will end up destroyed. For it has been said, 'Open your doors oh Lebanon, that the fire may devour your cedars.' (Zecharaiah 1:11)' (Sota 6:3)
The Miracle of the Temple Menorah
Our fourth miracle is that no matter what the priests did, the most important lamp of the Menorah refused to remain lit. Earnest Martin states,
"In fact, we are told in the Talmud that at dusk the lamps that were unlit in the daytime (the middle four lamps remained unlit, while the two eastern lamps normally stayed lit during the day) were to be re-lit from the flames of the western lamp (which was a lamp that was supposed to stay lit all the time it was like the 'eternal' flame that we see today in some national monuments)...Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple
"This 'western lamp' was to be kept lit at all times. For that reason, the priests kept extra reservoirs of olive oil and other implements in ready supply to make sure that the 'western lamp' (under all circumstances) would stay lit. But what happened in the forty years from the very year Messiah said the physical Temple would be destroyed? Every night for forty years the western lamp went out, and this in spite of the priests each evening preparing in a special way the western lamp so that it would remain constantly burning all night!" (The Significance of the Year CE 30, Ernest Martin, Research Update, April 1994, p.4).
One day, Jesus is sitting in the Temple. Now, I don't know if you have ever been to church, but let me fill you in on the unwritten rules. Besides the ones about staying out of Sister So and So's favorite seat, the most important rule of church going is this... When they pass the offering plate, mind your own dang business. Jesus, of course, couldn't care less about the pomp and circumstance that we perform in order to feel better about ourselves, and so, near the end of Mark chapter 12, we find Him breaking that exact rule.
"Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts." - Mar 12:41 NLTI've never been in a position to be one of the "rich people" who "put in large amounts," but I would imagine that if I ever were, or if I ever become one, I'd probably be pretty excited that Jesus had chosen this particular day to peep in on the plate. Perhaps He would see how "holy" I am, and how "giving" I am, and be impressed with how "sacrificing" I am.
Obviously, like most people, I'm stupid. And Jesus rarely gives eye to the one that is seeking attention. Least of all when one is using an act to publicly prove his "godliness" that is founded in selfishness and insecurity.
Jesus is, of course, not fooled. Nor are the "rich people" the reason He is hovering over the offering. Mark goes on...
"Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins." - Mar 12:42 NLTThis part I have played. Well, not exactly the widow part, but you get the picture. It's different for kids, but when you're a grown-up in church, and the offering plate comes around, the absolute LAST thing you want anyone to notice is the disgusting, look-at-how-poor-I-am, he-probably-doesn't-even-tithe sound of COINS clinking into the bottom of the plate. I have nearly cried in relief at the site of a felt-lining on the bottom of a brass offering plate. Put it in quietly. Don't look around. Nobody will be able to see what a loser you are.
This, I imagine, is the feeling in the room as the widow approaches the collection box. Head down, eyes on her feet, shame oozing from each pore. What Jesus does next probably stopped hearts.
"Jesus called his disciples to him and said..." - Mar 12:43 NLTWhat?!?!
Not only is Jesus hovering over the collection box, the offering plate. Not only is Jesus watching. But now, He's gathering a crowd. Gesticulating. Waving. Gathering His guys. Not only that, but in this tomb of silence, Jesus begins to speak...
"Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on." - Mar 12:43-44 NLTI imagine that statement like a silent thunderclap in the room. This Jesus is not unaccustomed to turning over tables in the Temple. With one comment, He turns their "church" on it's ear.
It is in this environment, and in this frame of mind the Jesus walks out of the Temple at the beginning of Mark chapter 13. His disciples with Him.
Understand that to the Jewish culture, the wealth of the temple is a thing of pride and national identitiy. When Moses's tabernacle in the wilderness was built with tapesty, fine linen, silver, and gold. All of those expensive items came from the Jewish people who had spent the last couple hundred years as slaves! But, if you re-read the Exodus, you see that the Egyptian people loaded them up as they walked away. Gold, Silver, wealth, all of it. Like the plunder of a conquering King. That is what the wealth of the temple represented to them. That God favored them. That He would always make a way where there was no way.
And so, Jesus is walking out of that ordained Temple, having just praised the lowliest of givers, and His disciples reach out to defend this symbol of their nation.
"As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, "Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls." - Mar 13:1 NLTThere's no doubt that the disciples rarely understood Jesus. I imagine that this irritated and frustrated Him sometimes. And so, Jesus replies. The word of Jesus are never to be taken lightly. Least of all when He seems a little stormy.
"Jesus replied, "Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!" - Mar 13:2 NLTThe End of the Line
Jesus dies, the sacrifice is completed, the earth cracks open, and dead people begin to walk around Jerusalem.
The miracles that have maintained the Jewish faith in their favor and calling from Jehovah have ceased. The veil is rent. The temple gates which take 20 people on each side to open, somehow will not remain closed at night. The menorah will not remain lit.
But, people do not give up power easily. So, the sacrifices continue. The priests close the gates each morning, hoping no one noticed them being open. They attempt to stitch closed the temple veil, each morning it is re-rent. Nothing works.
The lineage of the High Priest, unbroken for thousands of years, handed down directly from Aaron, the brother of Moses, had existed without fail whether Israel had a temple or not. From the end of Caiaphas's ministry in 37 CE, there are 15 High Priests in the next near 30 years.
Finally, for the first time, when unable to find a direct or indirect descendent of Matthian Ben Theophillus in 66 CE, the Zealots, showing their political power, cast lots and name Phannias ben Samuel the new High Priest. He dies in the destruction of the Temple 4 years later.
The miracles have stopped.
The line of High Priests is forever broken.
The temple is destroyed.
What exactly is it about the work of Christ that caused such a massive shift? What exactly is it about mankind that so refuses to give up it's final vestiges of power?
"The Glory of the Lord has Departed"
We find this in one of the most poignant foreshadowings in scripture. Thousands of years before, Eli is Israel's Judge. He is 98 years old, he is fat, he is blind, and he has not passed on the honor of the office to his derelict sons. The Children of Israel are in battle with the Philistines, and Eli is sitting beside the road, awaiting news. Let's pick it up in 1 Samuel chapter 4...
"A man from the tribe of Benjamin ran from the battlefield and arrived at Shiloh later that same day. He had torn his clothes and put dust on his head to show his grief. Eli was waiting beside the road to hear the news of the battle, for his heart trembled for the safety of the Ark of God. When the messenger arrived and told what had happened, an outcry resounded throughout the town. "What is all the noise about?" Eli asked. The messenger rushed over to Eli, who was ninety-eight years old and blind. He said to Eli, "I have just come from the battlefield--I was there this very day." "What happened, my son?" Eli demanded. "Israel has been defeated by the Philistines," the messenger replied. "The people have been slaughtered, and your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were also killed. And the Ark of God has been captured." When the messenger mentioned what had happened to the Ark of God, Eli fell backward from his seat beside the gate. He broke his neck and died, for he was old and overweight. He had been Israel's judge for forty years. Eli's daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near her time of delivery. When she heard that the Ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth. She died in childbirth, but before she passed away the midwives tried to encourage her. "Don't be afraid," they said. "You have a baby boy!" But she did not answer or pay attention to them. She named the child Ichabod (which means "Where is the glory?"), for she said, "Israel's glory is gone." She named him this because the Ark of God had been captured and because her father-in-law and husband were dead. Then she said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God has been captured." - 1Sa 4:12-22 NLTWatch for Part 4, coming soon...
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