Should the Church Abandon the church (Part 1)

Camelot

The year is 1960. A baby-faced good looking kid from Massachusetts has just been elected the youngest American President ever. He appoints his brother Bobbie to the US Attorney General's office. Bobbie, then approaches the storied founder and leader of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover to begin investigating the Mafia.

Hoover and the FBI had been criticized in the media for ignoring the mafia for many years. Truth is, he had been avoiding the Mafia for a very long time. The world-wearied Hoover understood something practical that others seemed not to grasp.

There was money in the Mafia. There wasn't money in government service.

J. Edgar Hoover had been around the seedy side of people long enough to know that his underpaid and overworked field agents were much too vulnerable. The long hours, the financial needs of their families, and the necessary periods of separation from direct leadership oversight that was the life of a field agent was a recipe for disaster when mixed with Mafia money.


Now, history tells us that J. Edgar Hoover attacked the Mafia by upping the ante in their game. He attempted to trump their aces by buying mafia informants. Offering them protection and resources that would exceed anything they would see in their current deals in exchange for information. Only the 20/20 vision of review allows us to see whether there was wisdom in his decisions. However, one thing remains clear...


J. Edgar Hoover was hesitant to put his people into a position in which they were almost certain to fail.


The Mission or the Missionaries?
Jesus is about to be betrayed. He will soon be beaten, whipped, ridiculed, mocked, and humiliated. He knows this is coming. He has agonized over it. He has begged to have this cup that He must drink removed from Him. Nevertheless, He has accepted it.


Having done that, His thoughts are on His friends. Let's take a moment and look at an extended piece of scripture as Jesus exposes His heart towards His friends as He prays for His disciples.


After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. And this is the way to have eternal life--to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began. "I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me. "My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. "Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one--as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. "I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! "O righteous Father, the world doesn't know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them." - Jhn 17:1-26 NLT


Do you hear His love for His guys?  Do you hear the responsibility He feels towards them?

The next chapter, John 18, starts by Jesus and his guys crossing the Kidron, and walking into a grove of olive trees. Judas knows this spot, and Judas is ready with soldiers to give his "kiss of death."


This is His final thought before He is taken from them to be crucified. His heart is not for the mission as much as it is for His missionaries. His heart is breaking for them. That love is amazing.


Like Whitewashed Tombs
One thing is for sure. When it came to confronting the religious leaders of His day, Jesus did not mince words. He laid it out plain and simple...


Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, "The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don't follow their example. For they don't practice what they teach. - Mat 23:1-3 NLT


Alrighty, then. Sounds like a lot of people we know...


They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. "Everything they do is for show... . - Mat 23:4-5a NLT


I don't know about you, but that sounds like what everyone I know says about our Modern Day church.


And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called 'Rabbi.' - Mat 23:6-7 NLT


Right off the bat, I think it's safe to say that Jesus is not fond of these traits in His church. He has come to earth to start a revolution. The Jews wanted Him to start a political revolution, and to lead them out of the oppression that they were suffering at the hands of the Romans. But, He has other plans. He ALWAYS has other plans.


Understand that, in this passage, He is talking about what we would now call the "church." But, He is talking to His followers, His believers. He's talking to the "Church." Follow the capital letters here, He's talking to the Church about the church. (I'll explain the differences as I see them later)


Let's continue in Matthew 23 as He instructs how He wants them to be different than what they've seen so far...


"Don't let anyone call you 'Rabbi,' for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. And don't address anyone here on earth as 'Father,' for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. And don't let anyone call you 'Teacher,' for you have only one teacher, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be a servant. - Mat 23:8-11 NLT


Shut the front door! How do we miss this stuff? Or more correctly said, how do we put so much importance on some of the things Christ said, while we completely ignore other things He said?


I'm not Jewish, so I don't call anyone Rabbi. But, I get His point. There is only one teacher, and all the rest of us are all equal. I'm also not Catholic, so I don't call anyone 'Father', but I was in church yesterday, and sat and listened to a wonderful 'Teaching Pastor' give a great 'sermon' on Job and the ups and downs in his life. It was meaningful, it was inspirational, it was comforting. The 'Teaching Pastor' is genuine and Godly. His message was impacting not because of his title, but because he has caught onto the heart of his calling, 'The greatest among you must be a servant.'


My issue isn't with him, we'll come back to this. For now, let's continue with a warning from Christ to the power hungry...


But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. - Mat 23:12 NLT


I don't know about you. But, Jesus doesn't seem like the kind of guy to make empty threats. I'd guess that you could pretty much bet that if He says something, He'll follow through on it.


He continues to characterize the religious establishment. Understand that, if you only know the "Sunday School" polite Jesus, what He says here may shock you. If your prayers sound like Ricky Bobby's, "Dear Eight Pound, Six Ounce, Newborn Baby Jesus, in your golden, fleece diapers, with your curled-up, fat, balled-up little fists pawin' at the air..." Well, this Jesus has a beard. Let's listen to the MAN.


"What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people's faces. You won't go in yourselves, and you don't let others enter either. "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are! "Blind guides! What sorrow awaits you! ... Blind fools!... How blind!... "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law--justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. Blind guides! You strain your water so you won't accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel! "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy--full of greed and self-indulgence! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too. "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs--beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people's bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! ...Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell? - Mat 23:13-33 NLT


This may not be clear to you, but to me it seems pretty obvious. Jesus does not dig people who use "religious authority" to laud power over people for their own advantage or for the people's disadvantage. He REALLY doesn't like it, and He REALLY isn't someone to mess with. One thing is clear. Jesus did not like the way the Jewish leaders treated the Jewish people. I would imagine His opinion of that type of leadership in today's church is not much different.

Next, Part 2, where we go back a few thousand years...

REDUX If all the Bible is really "Scripture", then are we "Scripture" too?

I've spent a lot of time thinking lately.  I know... dangerous... Anyways, I've been thinking about the "infallibility of scripture", the importance the church places on the study and understanding of scripture, and the role our lives play in the world around us.


I've spent a lot of time in church. Having worked in "full-time ministry" for many years, for periods of my life I probably spent more waking moments involved in "church" than not. I've studied our sordid history. I've compared denominations. I've contrasted major belief separations within "Christendom".


And, for the life of me, I just can't figure this out. 


I may have spent time thinking this through, but I am definitely no expert. I've studied, but I am no scholar. I am at best an semi-informed semi-pro layman, yeah... not even that. 


Here's my problem.


We put this immense focus upon the intricate study of scripture. We scour the original (or at least earlier historical version) languages. We read commentaries. We listen to sermons. We compare linguistics. "Yes, but this is in the Greek Aorist tense!"


A Short Rabbit Trail
It bothers me that we have made the study of scripture a profession. Thus, to be done by professionals. And, in doing so, re-instituted the exact separation between laity and regular-everyday Joe's that Jesus eliminated. But, that's another subject.


Back to the Point
I am not trying to say that the study of scripture is not beneficial. I am not trying to say that it is not important. I am not trying to say that you shouldn't be studying scripture.



[22] But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. [23] For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. [24] You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. - Jam 1:22-24 NLT


Study of scripture is a beautiful thing. But, it is not a destination in and of itself. The point is not to JUST study the scripture. But, to study the scripture, seek to understand it, and then apply it in such a way to your life that it makes changes in your character.


Study itself is not worship. Study is a vehicle. Study of scripture, which becomes knowledge, can become belief. If that belief is given time to mature, it produces changes in our character which manifests itself as changes in our behavior and actions. 


Lives that have visibly changed bring glory to God. THAT is worship.


Worship is an Olde English word which comes from "Worth-ship". And it means "to ascribe worth."


When we study, it does not necessarily ascribe worth to Father God. However, when that study becomes maturity in our lives, and people notice it. In that, our Father is glorified.


So, let me encourage you. Or, more correctly, let me encourage myself. Don't be like the man who looks into the mirror of scripture, then turns away and forgets what he saw. James continues...



[22] Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. [23] Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror [24] and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. [25] But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does. - Jam 1:22-25 NIV


Okay, but what does this have to do with Scripture?
Now, in my last post, we were discussing the letters that Paul wrote, and whether they were "Scripture". I was running off at the mouth about my issues of using Paul's quote about "all scripture is God breathed" to prove that Paul's letter itself was scripture. (Go back and read it, because I just did a terrible job readressing the issue).


Anyways, without any doubt, Paul wrote some great letters. But, in my opinion, he had something even more interesting to say about a letter that Christ wrote...


I'm in the Second letter Paul has written to the Church at Corinth. At the end of Chapter 2, he is saying that he's not like all the "televangelists" of his day who are only preaching to make a quick buck. But, he speaks before God out of love, and with sincerity. 


Then, he continues at the top of Chapter 3 (understanding that it wasn't Paul who divided this letter into Chapters) and he takes an interesting stance.  



[1] Are we beginning to praise ourselves again? Are we like others, who need to bring you letters of recommendation, or who ask you to write such letters on their behalf? Surely not! - 2Cr 3:1 NLT

Okay, let's back up. First, he's saying that he's not a money-hungry-preacher-for-hire, like so many other people of his day (lest you think that you and I are the only ones who detest that type). Then,  he starts talking about the proof behind the legitimacy of his ministry and calling.


Paul hypothetically asks if he really is like the other guys. Does he need to bring a letter of recommendation? Should he ask them to write their own letter of recommendation so he can go to the next town to preach-for-pay there?


Of course not!


But, watch what he says...



[2] The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. - 2Cr 3:2 NLT


Basically, Paul tells them that if anyone wants to look at the legitimacy of his ministry, he can look at the harvest produced in the Corinthian believers. That is the only "letter" of recommendation that he needs, "...everyone can read it and recognize our good work...".


So, the "letter" of recommendation is read in the lives of the people that his ministry has touched. But, who wrote that letter?



[3] Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This "letter" is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts. - 2Cr 3:3 NLT


Paul's letter to Corinth vs. Christ's letter to the Earth
Now, let's return to our subject from last post. If a man can write something (under the influence of the Holy Spirit), and across thousands of years of discussion, it can still be considered "God breathed Scripture". How much more so a letter from Christ.


If Paul's word ring eternal. How much more so the Eternal One?


Okay, so what's the point?
You undoubtedly know many a person that would never pick up a Bible. Maybe they've been burned by church. Maybe they can't stand "Christians". Maybe they can't stomach the politics. Maybe they just don't feel "holy" enough or "clean" enough or perhaps they do feel that they are just "not" enough. 


Whatever the reason. The bible is not their source for inspiration. Paul's letter will never grace their thought patterns. 


Your life, however, does. They may not read Paul's letter. They will read Christ's. Because Christ's letter... is you.


"...The only letter of recommendation we need is you..."


"...Your lives are a letter..."


"...Clearly, you are a letter from Christ..."


"...everyone can read it..."


You may be the only "Scripture" someone ever reads. Your reaction to difficult situations. Your decision in times of temptation. Your grace with the tough-to-love. Your patience with rush-hour-traffic. Your spirit of forgiveness instead of judgement.


You, my friend, are a letter of recommendation from God to all the people around you. Live it fearlessly!

Is all the Bible "Scripture"? The Riddled Riddle.

When I was in High School, I had a friend named Dave. I'd love to be able to describe to you what type of high school student Dave was, but I'm not sure how to classify him. He wasn't a "Jock", but the Jock's all knew him. He didn't party, but the "Stoners" all thought he was hilarious. He could discuss quantum theories in the morning, help an awkward Freshman avoid social foibles at lunch, and chat up the Home Coming Queen before the end of the day.


Dave did not fit into any social structure, but was liked and respected by all


I am not Dave.


In some ways, although I am not Dave, I am a little like Dave... only a little... the not fitting into any social structure part. But, that's where the similarities end.


All the Super Human abilities to effortlessly maneuver the minefield of High School angst belonged to Dave alone. He made it look so easy. Easy smile. Lots of genuine laughter. Comfortable with the ladies.


I hate him still.


In the 20 plus years since I've graduated from High School, I can say with full confidence that I have gotten no better at this at all. I just can't seem to fit in. It's not that it bothers me, exactly. I know that it's healthy to have your own opinions. You don't know how many times I've quoted, "That warm comfortable feeling is the body temperature of the middle of the pack."


I know that, ultimately, it's good to not follow the status quo. To not believe something just because everybody else believes it. 


I just spend a lot of time feeling... alone.


I spent most of my life in the church. Going to church. Working for the church. Cleaning the church. Setting up and tearing down at church. Teaching at church. Loving the church. Hating the church. Vowing to never step foot again in a church. Returning anyways to church.


And let me tell you first hand. Do you know what I feel most often when I'm around church people? Do you want to know?


Alone.


I feel alone. Isolated. Separated. Like there's nobody who understands me. Nobody who thinks like me. Nobody like me.


Everybody else seems to laugh and joke... worship and weep... sing and clap... given and take. But me, I feel like I'm always just watching. When the worship gets loud and boisterous... yeah, I'm not really very charismatic. When the offering plate comes around... yeah, I'd love to be an extravagant giver, but most times, giving anything at all is an extravagance.  


I just don't feel like I'm a very good Christian.  Maybe you understand.


I can't figure out how David did it. He made High School look easy. Like Michael Jordan graciously playing basketball with innocent children.


In life, I often feel like the 3-eyed half-brother who wasn't allowed to play basketball with gracious Michael Jordan lest my clumsiness cause him to tumble and fracture his spleen.


In Christianity (where I've spent so much of my life and time), when I am allowed onto the court, I feel I must have learned basketball from another planet, because what they're all doing makes no sense to me.


It's not that I don't pray. But, that my prayers are not bold and triumphant, they're more like "Hey God, can you help me not be such a jerk to my wife and kids. They don't deserve me being such a grump."


It's not that I don't read and study. That's probably the only thing I do well. 


It's just that the things I learn when I read and study seem to disagree with a lot of what I hear around me.  


Now, I don't claim to have any special knowledge. No secret code. No ancient sect. 


But since I was a little kid, I couldn't jive with the typical. It's not that I didn't want to follow their drumbeat, it just didn't sound like rhythm to me.


I'm 40 now. It's not getting better.


Someone asks me a question... wants to know my thoughts on an issue...  I'm in a dilema.


Do they really want to know what I think? 


Or, do they want the neatly wrapped answer that most believe? The answer handed down from our father's father?. That the church has been teaching for 200 years? I mean, that answer has to be right... right? If it's widely accepted, and widely believed, then it has to be right... right?


The dance begins, and I am just a God-Awful dancer. I want to answer their question honestly, but I don't want to tie them up in a 2-hour long conversation explaining how I think the political environment in the church hundreds of years ago fostered an environment where someone twisted the interpretation to support an ideology which became doctrine handed down from pulpit to pulpit... from lectern to lectern... till it became unquantifiable fact.


I could give the patent answer, or engage in a miserable and thoroughly un-enjoyable review of the sordid underbelly of church history and doctrine.


Or, I could choose neither. Be vague. Dancing like a feather-weight boxer. Ducking and diving, tripping and stumbling lest I accidentally engage in the unpleasant, and thoroughly exhausting. 


I hate it. I freaking hate it.


Maybe if I was smarter. Maybe if I was cleverer. Maybe I could come up with some smooth answer that reassures my troubled confidant without being untrue to my understanding. Maybe if I was smart.


It's not that I think I've got some kind of super-power vision giving me the ability to see invisible truth. No gamma ray induced green transformation with requisite whisper,  "You wouldn't like me when I'm truthful..." (cue ominous music).


C'mon. I'm a screw up. Barely able to type and think at the same time.


Let me give you an example of my dilema. Let me give you an example of what I feel is an often-quoted scripture that consistently makes me uneasy. And then you tell me what you think...


First the setting, Second Book of Timothy, Chapter Three. Paul is instructing his understudy. He's warning him. Paul tells him there are people he can trust, and people he can't. Teachings he can trust, and teachings he can't. He talks about how Timothy knows Paul, and what Paul teaches. How Timothy has seen the persecution that Paul has gone through. How Timothy has treasured these teachings that he (1) learned, then (2) embraced as the truth. Because he (3) knows the life of the person who taught it to him. 


So, Paul tells him that having (1) learned something, (2) embraced it as the truth, and (3) paid attention to the lives of the people you learned it from; having done all that, (4) look at it in light of the wisdom of the "scripture" you've been studying since childhood.


Specifically in 2 Timothy 3:14-15, he says...



[14] But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, [15] and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. - 2Ti 3:14-15 NIV


Paul goes on in verse 16...


[16] All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, - 2Ti 3:16 NIV


He's saying, this scripture that you learned as a young Jewish boy, it still applies. It came from the same God. The same God who breathed into Adam, breathed into those Scriptures and made it useful. Useful for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, and for training in righteousness...


[17] so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. - 2Ti 3:17 NIV


Awesome! Beautiful! I love it! Ancient wisdom, handed down from celestial minds. It trains us in righteousness and thoroughtly equips us for every good work.


Here's the rub. Here is where I start to wish that I wasn't me. Here's where I start to major on the minors.


Here's what bothers me. What qualifies something as "Scripture"?


Obviously, Paul is talking about the books of Moses and other ancient books that Timothy studied as a boy. No problem for me there.


But, my whole problem here, and the reason I often flinch when I hear this passage referenced, is because this verse is often quoted as though it were referring to the entire work that is now our modern Bible. Including, the letter in which this idea is contained.


It is used as "proof" that anything within the pages of your Bible is on a higher-plain than mere mortal books. Thus, making everything written therein, the decisive factor in any moral argument. 


My question is this. Did Paul consider everything in our Modern Bible to be scripture (understanding that some of it had yet to be written when He made this argument)


When Paul said that all "Scripture" is God breathed, was he referring to the letters he himself had written? Was he referring to the letter that he was dictating even then to Timothy?


I can't fathom that was Paul's intent.


Let me be clear, I'm not saying God didn't breathe life into what Paul wrote. I'm not saying that it is clearly not "Scripture". 


I am only saying that Paul was talking here about the "Scripture" Timothy studied as a child, not the letter Timothy was presently holding in his hand reading.


If Paul didn't consider the letter he was writing to be "Scripture", and wasn't trying to claim it was "Scripture"... should we be using his statement to say that it is "Scripture"?


Even more importantly, if we can't use his statement to prove his letter is "Scripture". Does that mean his letter to Timothy is not "Scripture"?


My high-school buddy Dave isn't around to help me out here. So, instead I pray, "Hey, God. Can you please pound some wisdom into this thick stubborn head of mine?"


Maybe, He's planted some wisdom specifically for me inside of you. Do you have some insight? 


What do you think?

Hanging with the Thieves Pt 2: Time Travel Secrets Revealed

Have you ever thought about time-travel? The ability to travel to the past and reword that classic argument. To kiss that person you should've kissed. To slap that face you should've slapped. Or, how about to go forward into the future, and find out whether this girl really will look just like her mom in 20 years. Discover what that business opportunity could really become. Get an advanced look at tomorrow's technology today.

Whether for the purest of reasons, or narcissistic, the ability to step-in-and-out of time is a concept that has fascinated man since the beginning of... well... time.

Last week, we talked about how the Past and the Future are both thieves. Today, we're gonna start talking about something a lot more fun. In my intense geekification, I will reveal to you how to change the past, and cement the future. (fanfares of trumpets, oohs and aahs of the crowd). I will uncover the Secrets of Time Travel, and I will use the examples given in scripture to prove my point.

So, set aside your head-shaking, nay-saying doubts. We may learn something together. We may learn how to free ourselves from the bonds of time, and alter a world that has been altogether untouchable.

"And the geek shall inherit the earth..." (slightly modified quote from a famous book)

Now, in all honesty, I'm not taking you on an H.G. Wells-ian journey on the Time Machine, but hang with me here. We have some fun stuff to think through. In order to really understand the present... in order to hope to affect the future... you've got to understand the past. 

*Disclaimer* Now, I know that last week we talked about how the past is a thief, but today we're gonna play the Parent-Card and call this a 'Do As I Say And Not As I Do' situation. You know what I'm talking about, when a commercial shows someone driving like a maniac, and then the words "Do Not Attempt This at Home" flash on the screen. Well, in order to accomplish what we need to get done here, we've got to look at the past, the WAY past. So, hold on, because this Gentile student is about to go all Hebrew on you.

The Jews, The Month of Nisan (not the car), and Water

The more things change, the more they stay the same

I recently moved to the Denver area from sunny tropical North Eastern Ohio. In process of the move, we purged a lot of stuff. A LOT of stuff. But, in our packing, I came across a bunch of old photographs. In some of those photos, I saw this dude. He kinda looked like me. But, then again, he kinda didn't look like me too. It was me, but it wasn't me, all at the same time. I was the same, but different. Fatter, thinner, harrier, balder, mustache, beard, clean shaven... each pic was a different man, but all of them were me. In fact, the summer after my junior year, I had to have my Senior Pictures retaken. In my rebellious first set, I had grown a nasty pseudo-mustache and my hair was long in a Joe-Dirt-sanctified mullet, which was too much for my High School to handle. So they had me retake them. The next set must be of a different dude. It's not just that the hair is shorter, that there is nary a wisp of facial hair visible, and that I had sprouted large pancake-sized glasses. But, the two sets of pics look like two entirely different people. When my wife first saw the one pic, she asked my Mother who it was in the picture.

Now, my wife is a completely different story. You can look at her 2 day old baby pictures, her 2nd grade picture, her 2nd year of college picture, or the picture of her holding our 2nd child and have no stinking doubt that it's her. She's different, but somehow she always looks the same. Same facial expression, same eyes, same orneriness. Same Stacy. She just gets better and better. I hate that about her... I do feel bad for her though. 20 years from now, I'll still be married to that young hottie, and she'll be stuck with old bald cantankerous me.

Thou changest not...

God is kinda like the perfect compromise between my wife and I in this. He's always consistent, but never boring. You can count on him to always come through like He always has, but to do it in new and inventive ways each time.

Which brings me to this week's Hebrew History Lesson...

The month of Nisan

The historic month of Nisan is a seriously action packed time of the Jewish calendar. Among others, you've got the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Firstfruits. It was a month-long party.

That's something modern Christians have just never wrapped our heads around. The Jews were all about dancing their clothes off and partying till the early dawn. We're much too proper. During the Feast of the Passover, everyone had to have at least 4 glasses of wine. If you were too poor to buy your 4 glasses of wine, the money came out of the coffers for the poor. But, I digress...

Now, let me warn you again. If you're all for the politically correct, do-no-harm camp, you may want to stop here. Some of what scripture reveals is not pretty.

Still here?  Ok, here we go... let's look at what scripture says...

The 1st part of our story

The Cliff-Notes-Version... The Jews have been slaves for hundreds of years. Pharaoh's been building an empire on their backs. In order to keep the Jews week, Pharaoh orders all the 1st born males to be killed. Moses' mommy puts him in a basket in the water where he is plucked up by Pharaoh's daughter.  Mo's mom offers to be his maid, and Israel's hero grows up in Pharaoh's house. Fast forward a while, the Jews are continuing to pray for salvation, not realizing that God's already got the plan in motion. Moses peeps out an Egyptian beating a Jew, to his own surprise, Moses flips out, kills the egyptian, and takes off to hide in the desert.  (Yes, God uses murderers). (Shameless promotion of a great flick...)

Fast forward some more. Moses has been wandering around in the desert for a lot of years, found himself a fine black woman, and while walking with his sheep, stumbles upon a bush that is on fire, though not consumed, and is speaking to him. (Not that this story would be bought by any respectable church these days).

So, as commanded, Moses heads back to Egypt, to get Pharaoh to let his people go. Pharaoh refuses, lots of locusts, bloody water, plague, plague, plague. Pharaoh, says, "Yeah, go ahead and go... WAIT, I changed my mind!"

Our story pics up as God is done messing around with Pharaoh. We start in the 12th Chapter of Exodus.

"1 Now the LORD gave the following instructions to Moses and Aaron while they were still in the land of Egypt: 2 "From now on, this month will be the first month of the year for you. 3 Announce to the whole community that on the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice." - Exd 12:1-3 NLT

Alrighty, we're starting with the Passover and the Passover Lamb. By the way, only God is big enough to say, "This thing I'm about to do is so big, that your old calendar doesn't even matter. Today is the 1st day of the 1st month of a new year for you" I wouldn't think it wise to argue.

So, as instructed, each Jewish family chooses a 1-year old lamb or goat to sacrifice. Smaller families got together to share the sacrifice, depending on the size, and how much they could eat. 

"6 Take special care of these lambs until the evening of the fourteenth day of this first month. Then each family in the community must slaughter its lamb. 7 They are to take some of the lamb's blood and smear it on the top and sides of the doorframe of the house where the lamb will be eaten. 8 That evening everyone must eat roast lamb with bitter herbs and bread made without yeast. 9 The meat must never be eaten raw or boiled; roast it all, including the head, legs, and internal organs. 10 Do not leave any of it until the next day. Whatever is not eaten that night must be burned before morning. 11 "Wear your traveling clothes as you eat this meal, as though prepared for a long journey. Wear your sandals, and carry your walking sticks in your hands. Eat the food quickly, for this is the LORD's Passover." - Exd 12:3, 6-11 NLT

They take the lamb into their homes, the kids play with it. Everybody loves the little lamb. But, on the night of the 14th, things get bloody. With all the kids standing around. Dad grabs the lamb, and quickly slits it's throat. Mary doesn't have a little lamb anymore. They war-paint their doorframes with it's blood, roast it all, and pig out. (Is it appropriate to say "pig out" when you're talking about a lamb?)

But, they can't do this in their feetie-jammies. No, they're dressed and ready to go. Eat it fast. Burn anything left over.

It gets uglier.

"12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and kill all the firstborn sons and firstborn male animals in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the LORD! 13 The blood you have smeared on your doorposts will serve as a sign. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt." - Exd 12:12-13 NLT

Yeah, this is not politically correct polite stuff here. So very many reasons for so many people to get offended. It's genocide. It's sexist. It's ageist. And, He's killing the 1st born male animals too. I mean, come on! What did Fido do wrong? But, He is God. I wouldn't think it wise to argue.

A less bloody momentary diversion

On May 7th, 1989, in the 5th and final game of the 1st round of the 1989 NBA playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers were battling the Chicago Bulls. Michael Jordan, had just hit a jumper with 6 seconds left to give the Bulls their 1st lead of the game at 99-98. The Cavs had dominated the Bulls the entire season, beating them 6 times including a 6-point win in their last game of the regular season while the Cavs rested their 4 best players.

Once the playoffs start, the regular season just doesn't matter.

Cleveland takes a timeout. Craig Ehlo inbounds, gets a return pass, and scores on a layup, putting the Cavs on top 100-99.

What happened next is infamy.

Go back and watch the films. Jordan is being double teamed by Craig Ehlo and the gargantuan-shouldered Larry Nance. In the films you will see Jordan talking to Ehlo. Pointing at a spot on the floor. 

"Right there." It's like he's taunting him.

"Right there. I'm going to get the inbound pass, and I'm going to shoot it from right there."

"See if you can stop me."

He could not.

And, "The Shot" was recorded forever is Cleveland's misery. Along with The Catch, The Drive, The Fumble, and The Decision.

Now, it's one thing to beat an opponent. but to first tell exactly HOW you're going to beat them, and then to follow through and do EXACTLY what you said you were going to do... that's the stuff of legends.

Back to our story

"28 So the people of Israel did just as the LORD had commanded through Moses and Aaron. 29 And at midnight the LORD killed all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn son of the captive in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed. 30 Pharaoh and his officials and all the people of Egypt woke up during the night, and loud wailing was heard throughout the land of Egypt. There was not a single house where someone had not died." - Exd 12:28-30 NLT

Yeah, that's some ugly stuff. I'd normally make some stupid joke here to break the tension, but... I've got nothing.

Here's where it get's weird.

"31 Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron during the night. "Leave us!" he cried. "Go away, all of you! Go and serve the LORD as you have requested. 32 Take your flocks and herds, and be gone. Go, but give me a blessing as you leave."" - Exd 12:31-32 NLT

Ummm? "But give me a blessing as you leave."???? What? Okay, so God really scared Pharaoh (understandable considering the mass death of only the first-born males Egyptians, but including all first-born male animals). That's something even Dr. House would say only God could do. And, now Pharaoh's scared of Moses. I guess I can understand.

And weirder yet.

"35 And the people of Israel did as Moses had instructed and asked the Egyptians for clothing and articles of silver and gold. 36 The LORD caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites, and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for. So, like a victorious army, they plundered the Egyptians!" - Exd 12:35-36 NLT

This is tough for me. I know the Jews have been in slavery for exactly 430 years. In fact 430 years to the day. But this just seems like adding insult to injury. All their 1st born die, then Pharaoh asks for a blessing, finally, the Egyptians PAY them to leave!!!!

And so, 600,000 men (not including the women and children) walk out of Egypt with all of Egypt's plunder.

"18 So God led them along a route through the wilderness toward the Red Sea, and the Israelites left Egypt like a marching army." - Exd 13:18 NLT

Okay, I'm no student of war. But, victorious marching armies do not leave a land and head towards a sea with no boats there to jump into. Pharaoh's smart enough to figure this out, and God knew that.

"1 Then the LORD gave these instructions to Moses: 2 "Tell the people to march toward Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, opposite Baal-zephon. 3 Then Pharaoh will think, `Those Israelites are confused. They are trapped between the wilderness and the sea!' 4 And once again I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this so I will receive great glory at the expense of Pharaoh and his armies. After this, the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD!" So the Israelites camped there as they were told. 5 When word reached the king of Egypt that the Israelites were not planning to return to Egypt after three days, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. "What have we done, letting all these slaves get away?" they asked. 6 So Pharaoh called out his troops and led the chase in his chariot. 7 He took with him six hundred of Egypt's best chariots, along with the rest of the chariots of Egypt, each with a commander. 8 The LORD continued to strengthen Pharaoh's resolve, and he chased after the people of Israel who had escaped so defiantly. 9 All the forces in Pharaoh's army--all his horses, chariots, and charioteers--were used in the chase. The Egyptians caught up with the people of Israel as they were camped beside the shore near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon." - Exd 14:1-9 NLT

I know that hind-sight is 20/20. But, I almost feel bad for Pharaoh. The Jews, however, are still slaves at heart...

"10 As Pharaoh and his army approached, the people of Israel could see them in the distance, marching toward them. The people began to panic, and they cried out to the LORD for help. 11 Then they turned against Moses and complained, "Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren't there enough graves for us in Egypt? Why did you make us leave? 12 Didn't we tell you to leave us alone while we were still in Egypt? Our Egyptian slavery was far better than dying out here in the wilderness!"" - Exd 14:10-12 NLT

Now, I know that at this part of the story, I'm supposed to talk about how cowardly and unappreciative the Jews are. How little faith they have. But, I've got to be real here.

If I put myself in their shoes, this is looking pretty surreal to me. We've been in slavery for a hundred generations. Now all of the sudden, Moses shows up, ask Pharaoh to let us go worship for a couple of days, and when Ramses refuses, plagues start breaking all over the place.

Here's the thing though, they're affecting the Egyptians, but not the Jews. Frogs, rivers of blood, petulance. But, we're all untouched.

Then, Moses tells us to kill the lamb, slather on the blood, and put on your walking shoes.

The next day, all Egypt is crying, handing us their gold, and we go walking out... not towards the land of Canaan, but towards the Red Sea.

Now Pharaoh figured out that our 3-day field trip is being extended indefinitely, he's got us trapped against the sea, and he's coming charging.

I'd be soiling my shorts.

If you've been a slave for a hundred generations, a couple of weeks of having incredible favor and watching your masters suffer is not enough to break the cycle.

Have you heard the phrase, you can take the boy out of the south, but you can't take the south out of the boy? Well, you can take the Israelites out of slavery, but you can't take the slavery out of the Israelites.

I'd be freaking out, so would you.

Time for some comic relief in the story. Watch what Moses says.

"13 But Moses told the people, "Don't be afraid. Just stand where you are and watch the LORD rescue you. The Egyptians that you see today will never be seen again. 14 The LORD himself will fight for you. You won't have to lift a finger in your defense!"" - Exd 14:13-14 NLT

Now, there are times when, as a leader, you nail it. And other times you really stink, and you miss it. The moment of crisis. All eyes are on Moses. "What do we do? What do we do?", the people ask. Moses replies, "Just stand where you are and watch the LORD rescue you."

God's response...

"15 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!" - Exd 14:15 NLT

Classic moment. Like something from a Mel Brooks movie.

"16 Use your shepherd's staff--hold it out over the water, and a path will open up before you through the sea. Then all the people of Israel will walk through on dry ground. 17 Yet I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will follow the Israelites into the sea. Then I will receive great glory at the expense of Pharaoh and his armies, chariots, and charioteers. 18 When I am finished with Pharaoh and his army, all Egypt will know that I am the LORD!" 19 Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to a position behind them, and the pillar of cloud also moved around behind them. 20 The cloud settled between the Israelite and Egyptian camps. As night came, the pillar of cloud turned into a pillar of fire, lighting the Israelite camp. But the cloud became darkness to the Egyptians, and they couldn't find the Israelites. 21 Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the LORD opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. 22 So the people of Israel walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side! 23 Then the Egyptians--all of Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and charioteers--followed them across the bottom of the sea. 24 But early in the morning, the LORD looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw them into confusion. 25 Their chariot wheels began to come off, making their chariots impossible to drive. "Let's get out of here!" the Egyptians shouted. "The LORD is fighting for Israel against us!" 26 When all the Israelites were on the other side, the LORD said to Moses, "Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back over the Egyptian chariots and charioteers." 27 So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea. The water roared back into its usual place, and the LORD swept the terrified Egyptians into the surging currents. 28 The waters covered all the chariots and charioteers--the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived. 29 The people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry land, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides." - Exd 14:16-29 NLT

And exactly how does this relate?

GREAT Story. But, what in the name of corn on the cob does it have to do with time-travel, the past, and the future

Well, in order to understand, we've got to fast forward 40 years so we can start to see a pattern starting to develop. In much the same way that you can look at my wife Stacy's baby picture and see the pattern of the smoking hot thing she would become.

40 years later, the 2nd part of our story

It's the Month of Nisan again. Moses is now dead, and all the people are looking to Joshua for answers. Joshua has sent a couple spies across the Jordan river to scope out Jericho. They're hiding in Rahab the Prostitutes roof (try getting your wife to believe THAT!). Rahab tells them that she is positive that God will give them the land because everybody is scared to death of them. Even though they've been wandering around in the desert for 40 years, the story of how they left Egypt, the blood on the door posts, and how they crossed the Red Sea is fresh in the Jerichoians minds. She begs for their mercy, and the spies promise that if she hangs a scarlet-red cord from the window and stays in her house, her family will be spared. (kinda like the blood on the door posts thing 40 years earlier). So, once again, the Jews are camped beside a body of water. We'll pick it up in scripture and we'll see if our pattern continues developing.

"9 So Joshua told the Israelites, "Come and listen to what the LORD your God says. 10 Today you will know that the living God is among you. He will surely drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites. 11 Think of it! The Ark of the Covenant, which belongs to the Lord of the whole earth, will lead you across the Jordan River! 12 Now choose twelve men, one from each tribe. 13 The priests will be carrying the Ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth. When their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will pile up there in one heap." 14 When the people set out to cross the Jordan, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now it was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river's edge, 16 the water began piling up at a town upstream called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the city of Jericho. 17 Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the LORD's covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by them. They waited there until everyone had crossed the Jordan on dry ground." - Jos 3:9-17 NLT

I don't know about you. But, to me... that's crazy. Same month, same nation of people. Water parting. Walking on dry ground. Some things are different, but the similarities are too big to ignore.

Let's take a closer look at the story, and see if we can figure out what God's doing here. Because, to do it once, is something incredible. To do it again...

Last time, they were running scared. They were free men that did yet know that they were free. So, when Pharaoh's army came charging, they freaked out and begged to be slaves again. God, however knew better (as He always does), and Moses stretched out his staff, and the waters parted.

This time, it's a different story. There's nothing like 40 years of wandering in the desert with clothes that never wear out and food miraculously appearing each and every morning to make you believe that God's looking out for you. The Israelite's aren't so scared this time. They're coming in to conquer.

Over the last 40 years, they became a real nation. The handing down of the Law. They took all the Eqyptian gold and silver, and made a portable temple to worship God in. It's not been perfect, and they've screwed plenty of stuff up, but all in all, they're in a good groove, and it's a different people that are approaching the water this time.

Now, the Jordan river is a MESS at this time of the year. It's like an angry hornet when you just ran over his nest with your lawn-mower. It's wide, it's dirty, and it is something to be afraid of. There's no stretching out the staff, instead, this time, the priests step down into the water, carrying the ark of the covenant, and the water doesn't just part. Let's look again at what it says, 

"15 Now it was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river's edge, 16 the water began piling up at a town upstream called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the city of Jericho." - Jos 3:15-16 NLT

"The water began piling up at a town upstream called Adam." Hmmm. Adam. Where have I heard that name before.

Let's get metaphysical. Metaphysical. I wanna get metaphysical.

(A very poor Olivia Newton John reference in case you weren't sure).

Did you know that when a baby is being formed in the womb, the optic nerve start to grow from the eye towards the brain, and from the brain towards the eye at the same time. At some point, the two part meet in the middle, 1.2 million nerve fibers reach out to their precise 1.2 million counterparts, and sight becomes possible.

The point is, God knows what He's doing, and He's so stinking good at what He does that His excellence bleeds over into every part of it.

So, if you were God, and trying to make a point. If you were trying to tell a story that was bigger than the story you were presently in, and you wanted people to figure it out, wouldn't you leave some clues around?

The River of Time

Steve Miller sang that "Time keeps on ticking, ticking, ticking, into the future."

It never stops. I was brushing my teeth this morning and saw these 3 big deep ugly wrinkles on my forehead. I'm old. Time is ticking.

But, you've got to understand, that God created time, and thus, He is not contained by it. 

To us, time flows like a river. Always in one direction. Unstoppable.

But God is not us. He's not held to our limitations. He is the beginning and the end at the same time.

So, when God instruct Joshua to have the priests carry the Ark of the Covenant (we'll get to the Ark in more detail later on... VERY COOL!), and step down into the water, the miraculous happens.

Verse 16 says that the water began to pile up at a town upstream called Adam. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea till the river bed was dry.

What the HECK? 

If time is a river. Do we have any reference points upstream called Adam?

More importantly, what the HECK was up with an Ark that was powerful enough to make time roll back to Adam, and dry it up all the way off into the Dead Sea?

THAT, my friends is a poop load of fun, and I'm saving it for Part 3.  See you next time!!!