Who's Ready?

Now as to the times and epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety! then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (I Thess. 5:1-3)

We just finished this passage on Tue night. Here are some thoughts and questions that I would like to have considered:

There are some in our Christian community who believe that this passage will be literally fulfilled. Further, there are those of us who actually believe that we are living in the days where we might be participants in just such a scenario. If Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is proclaiming that the world community is in no way ready for this moment, then it might be productive to ask just who is. What do you think?

Let’s divide the world community into several parts. Do you think that the non-believing community is ready? By implication, they are the very ones who are claiming “peace and safety”. No, they certainly don’t appear to be ready? Well, how about the man-made Church? It seems to me that the overwhelming majority of those who make up this community are seeking after the very same sentiment. “Let’s heal the world in the name of Christ” they might be saying. “Peace and safety” through cooperation with the various religions of the world is certainly a noble goal is it not? No, I don’t think that that huge two- billion- strong community is ready for the “sudden destruction” looming ahead. All right, how about the true Church, namely, the remnant? Now this becomes problematic. Surely the remnant is seeing handwriting upon a wall, are they not? The problem here, it seems to me, is that many of us are seeing but we still have hope that somehow we, through prayer, or whatever, are going to bring about some kind of healing to this world. But that is not what Paul is saying, is it? So who’s left (we’ll talk about national Israel at some later time)?

But you brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief…(I Thess. 5:4) Are you one of these brethren? If you are, I’m suggesting that you are a minority even in the remnant community of Christ. Do you believe that we are approaching the very day of the Lord? If so, then we are in the nascent stages of birth pangs are we not? If we exegete this passage, how do we get away from that sobering conclusion? Eventually the entire community of remnant believers will see since we are not in darkness that the day should overwhelm us. Until then, those of us who consider ourselves watchmen need to be warning our believing community, including those who are in that man-made church that there is a freight train coming - no?

TAFTCom… beloved ones; TAFTCom…

Caroline at the JPost

OK - this time I really, really, really mean it. I am going to post more than once every seven years, or so, from this very second on. I’m not exactly sure what it was that I just said and I will probably fail again, but I really, really do mean it.

What got me going again was this article in the Jerusalem Post written by a no-nonsense girl by the name of Caroline Glick. To those of you who know of her, you love her, or you hate her. Personally, I love her. She says it like it is, and, without apologies; a Golda Meir in the making. This particular article displays just one more evidence of an exercise in international appeasement that is being lived out by a snake-bit Western society. Sadly, this exercise never seems to be resisted by our world community. We made a feeble attempt to proactively resist appeasement in Iraq and the entire world, including many in the church (?), rose up in a massive collective whine. The whine, seemingly won the day. In the comments section, I found this response to be more than plausible:

Sadly, the West has virtually surrendered to the Jihadists and abandoned Israel already. Next, the right wing backlash will increase as seen now in Austria. This will be good for slowing the flow of radical Islam to Europe (but not good enough to stop it), but will have the unwanted effect of increased anti-semitism in Europe. We have been abandoned by the US who is broke and will not be able to do anything except what its creditors (Chine/Russia/Japan) demand of it. Get ready for bad times ahead. (Eli - #24)

If you want to read of the particulars on how Italy surrendered to the Jihadist murderers - go to the article. It’s not so much that I wanted to surface just one more surrender that I generated this article, however, but rather that I wanted to introduce those of you who did not know of just such a beast as Caroline Glick to her ongoing comments on current events. If you are interested in such subject matter, it would be profitable to put the Jerusalem Post on your Favorite Places.

See you soon - I hope.

With Minimum Comment

Here are some thoughts from Marvin Rosenthal:

As I began this letter to you, I wanted to use a word or phrase to describe our world at this hour of history.

I thought of words like "critical," "explosive," "uncertain," "confused," and "wicked." I thought of phrases like "time bomb," "completely unprepared for what is coming," and "all-out war with God."

In the final analysis, I could not choose just one word or phrase. Tragically, they are all true.

This is a critical, explosive, uncertain, confused, and wicked hour of history. The world is like a time bomb ready to explode. Most people are completely unprepared for what is coming, totally ignorant of what they will soon confront, and unaware of the fact that they are opposing the God who created them and His Son who died to save them.

Clear and compelling specific and international events of a prophetic nature are converging in our generation. They point toward the approaching end of this age. How much time remains? I do not know.

As I write these words, I could be depressed and feel like a man with an old-fashioned signboard hung over his shoulders which reads, "The end of the world is coming!" Fortunately, I am delivered from that fatalistic mindset because I have absolute assurance of the ultimate, total victory through the Lord Jesus Christ at His coming.

The world does not know where we are or what the answers are to the pressing problems we face. You will not get answers from the media, academia, or the government. And tragically, much of the co-called church is liberal, lost, and can provide no help. They, themselves, are like a blind man in a dark room, looking for a black cat that is not there.

The world is burning, and much of the Church is fiddling. There is a grave urgency at this hour, and few are picking up on it.

So, there's at least two of us - amazing! I received this form letter from Marvin Rosenthal yesterday (9/19). He continues in the letter to address replacement theology which we will address many times in the future, but for now let's have the above speak for itself.

The ministry is Zion's Hope; the magazine is Zion's Fire. If you do not subscribe to this magazine, I strongly suggest that you do. This man is intellectually honest; his logic is reasonable, and his exegesis is penetrating.

The bold was added by me.

Back to Stanley

Obviously, posting on this site has not been my highest priority for awhile. This may change. As I have alluded to before, we are going to begin a men’s Bible study that will be pursuing knowledge of current world events as they pertain to the unfolding of the conditions leading up to the return of Christ. Actually, we began last Tue night (9/2). I’m thinking of wedding the ruminations arising from these meetings with this site. So, let us ruminate together.

Now, one of the motivations for starting this class was a growing perception of apostasy resident within the “church”, i.e. the man-made edifice. This, of course, forces me to return to previous thoughts and posts regarding the Emergent Church. I had started reading Stanley J. Grenz’s A Primer on Postmodernism (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996) a few months ago, put it down, placing it at the bottom of the book-pile, but have now resurfaced it, giving it new life. So, what’s so pertinent about postmodernism? Well, this seems to be the substance that is numbing the Christian early- warning- system concerning waywardness from the absolute claims of Scripture. If you are emergent, you are postmodern; if you are emergent, you tend to disbelieve Scripture as authoritative in an absolute sense. Here is part of Dr. Grenz’s apologetic concerning the matter:

Postmodern holism entails an integration of all the dimensions of personal life…Wholeness also entails a consciousness of the indelible and delicate connection to what lies beyond ourselves, in which our personal existence is embedded and from which it is nurtured. This wider realm includes “nature” (the ecosystem), of course. But in addition it involves the community of humans in which we participate. Postmoderns are keenly conscious of the importance of community, of the social dimension of existence. And the postmodern conception of wholeness also extends to the religious or spiritual aspect of life. Indeed, postmoderns affirm that personal existence may transpire within the context of a divine reality.

The conviction that each person is embedded in a particular human community leads to a corporate understanding of truth. Postmoderns believe that not only our specific beliefs but also our understanding of truth itself is rooted in the community in which we participate. They reject…timeless truth in favor of searching out truth as the expression of a specific community. They believe that truth consists in the ground rules that facilitate personal well-being in community and the well-being of the community as a whole. (p. 14 – bold added)

Are you a Christian moving towards a postmodern ethos? If so, then please consider some thoughts. To whatever degree that Scripture makes claims to being the absolute expression of God’s revelations to us, then, to that degree, it is not subject to the community’s affirmation. Is “Truth” embedded within Scripture, or does the “community” impart “truth” into Scripture as that community so perceives truth to be manifested. Is this not eisegesis at its worst? You are losing the plumb-line, are you not?

Further, one must define who this “divine reality” is, it seems to me, if one is to keep any sense of sobriety and import concerning this subject matter. Scripture reveals this “divine reality” as the very God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob Himself. He makes absolute claims concerning Himself, and He demands obedience to His absolutist claims - or not! This God is not simply a therapeutic god wanting us to have a happy “community”, but rather, He is the Despot (despotes, - 2 Peter 2:1) of our lives, or He is not!

Well, this could go on and on (and of course it will). Let’s break here and give ourselves opportunity to reflect seriously what awaits the Christian community. You are welcome to respond.

Restraint in Lebanon

Remember the conflict that took place in Lebanon awhile back between the Israeli IDF and the forces of Hizbullah? Israel had invaded southern Lebanon in an effort to stop the terrorist organization from constantly firing rockets into the neighboring Israeli towns and subsequently killing civilians, damaging buildings and etc. After inflicting some damage, the IDF pulled back into Israeli territory leaving Hizbullah another opportunity to recover and grow strong again. Of course Israel pulled back! This is what the international community demands that it do - every time! BTW, the rockets are still coming.

So, it was with interest that I read a JPost article that addressed the possibility of future penetration into Lebanese territory whenever it was decided that Hizbullah had, once again, gone too far. The article was entitled We exercised restraint in Lebanon war.
The article is dated Aug. 19th. Here are some quotes:

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert sent a stern warning to Beirut on Tuesday, pledging that Israel would not restrain itself if Lebanon sanctioned a new Hizbullah offensive. “ In the Second Lebanon War we had much greater means and capabilities, which we avoided using since [during that war] we fought against a terror organization and not a country,” Olmert said. “In this context, if Lebanon, turns into a Hizbullah state, we won’t restrain our response.”

The article goes on to state, in so many terms, that, yes indeed, the Lebanese parliament has already given Hizbullah official status as part of the Lebanese state. The meaning is plain and not at all concealed. Olmert is saying that Israel will no longer consider Hizbullah as merely a terrorist organization, but rather, in the future, it will be considered as an integral part of the Lebanese state, and thus, any retaliation that would be generated toward terrorist activities that are being perpetrated against Israel will be directed against the government and territory of Lebanon itself. This is potentially explosive, and it could be biblical in its proportions!

Does Olmert have it in him to so-respond? It doesn’t matter. This is a thought process that is obviously subject-matter to many people who are high up in the Israeli society. Would Netanyahu so-respond? Would anyone respond this way if conditions get any more bizarre in the Middle East? One of these days the answer will be yes and then, it will happen. What, then, will be Russia’s response? They are politically in bed with Syria and Iran - the sponsors of Hizbullah.

Honestly, do you believe that anybody can stop this insanity? I don’t think so. As Christians, however, we need to be a little bit more intense with our walk, don’t you think? Let the dead bury their dead. Let us get more intense in our serving. We can start by getting back to those passages in Ezek. 36 thru 39.

China - Wow!

I watched most of the opening ceremonies at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing last night. Did you? Wow! What a display of technology, pomp, and human achievement! Is there anything that Mankind cannot do? It seems as though only a lack of monetary resources can prevent us from doing anything that we want. One wonders what form the 21st century Tower of Babel will soon take.

Two thoughts immediately came to my mind last night. The first was the thought of just how the world is constantly being inoculated against the reality of evil in our collective society. How many more proclamations of peace and human reconciliation will be uttered forth every two years (summer and winter games) before we understand that it isn’t going to happen? It must have been a little embarrassing to the commentators when they were forced to recognize the wonderful peace efforts of the Russian army currently unfolding in the contiguous neighboring country of Georgia. When a country paraded before the cameras, one wondered whether they were forced to admit to previous mass-murders and genocide by that same country, or whether they wanted to say even more but were prevented by the enormity of the moment.

The second thought followed from the above observations. My thoughts sent me back to 1984 when the Winter Games were being held in Sarajevo. Same thing; different time. To those of you who recall those games, you may remember how the same utterances of peace, unity and human interaction were being proclaimed. How we marveled and celebrated the interaction of the athletes from different countries. The barriers were down; we simply needed to follow the liberating affections of those athletes. We will follow their examples and supersede the limitations and barriers that political entities set up to cause division. Just look at these athletes and the good will of the countries being represented. We can reason with each other. We can reason with Islam, Jihadism, Russian expansionism, racists, international intrigue, nationalism, anti-Semitism, etc. etc.
Why just look at the athletes. Peace is so simple.

Now why did my mind go to Sarajevo? Never has it been otherwise. At every Olympic event the same platitudes of peace and human cooperation are uttered. Again, why Sarajevo? Well, for those of you who do recall those games, you may also recall that within one decade of those same games, there was invented a term known as “ethnic cleansing”. Mass murder and butchery smothered that town and the surrounding areas. So, if peace is so simple, why isn't it happening?

Here’s a thought: The two most populated countries in the world are China and India. Are you aware that both are growing economically and technologically at a phenomenal rate and that they both are expanding their military might at an accelerated rate as well? How many times, embedded in those opening ceremonies, did China, the host country, imply a new spirit of cooperation with the other countries of the world? Did you believe this?

I’m not sure how to conclude this. Let me simply say that Rev. 16:12 came to my mind. Let’s continue to observe world conditions as they unfold - but with a little more skepticism, - please?

Life!

It’s alright, I’m still alive. Sorry for the three week absence. It’s a combination of having too much to do, being lazy and loving procrastination. So, how shall I get back into it? There is so much out there that is so rich. There are deep theological mysteries out there in the midst of a world falling apart and my cat was giving birth this morning. The well is deep. - Obviously, I’m going to write about my cat.

Now Autumn is a Flame Point Himalayan. Further, she is a Baby Face Flame Point Himalayan - sans pug face - or whatever the official name is for such a face. We mated her two months ago with a beast named Cinnamon Bear. Now you can’t possibly be more handsome that someone named Cinnamon Bear, right? Anyway, Autumn kept the tradition of the family alive in that she gave birth between the hours of 12 midnight and 6:00 a. m. Why be civilized? All day yesterday she was acting “funny”. We knew that she was ready, and so at 1:30 this a.m. she started having the first of five. Whatta gal! Her first time, and she knew exactly what to do.

Even though she was surprised by the first one, from that point on she knew to lick the membrane off of each baby, eat the after-birth, let them nurse, etc. etc. We were worried before this when we observed that for approximately 24 hrs she stopped eating. I now wonder if that was not God’s way of preparing her to eat all of that “stuff” that is so nourishing for her and for her kittens. Folks, the planet can’t evolve this instinct into an animal. This kind of “instinct” has got to be programmed into the genes. This is divine information. God blessed our family with LIFE this morning.

Thank God for life, and thank God for restored life.

Christianized or Rescued?

I will start teaching a class on The Eschatology of the Bible in the Light of Current Events soon. So, I thought that I would dust off an old book that was a classic on the subject several years ago, namely, Contemporary Options in Eschatology by Millard J. Erickson (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994). I don’t think that it is still being published. In his section on “Background Views” he states this:

The kingdom that Jesus brought is different in nature from anything that preceded it. In this sense it had come once and for all. Its nature would not change with passing time. Its growth was one of degree, not kind. As man extended the kingdom to yet more and more areas of society, he would progressively Christianize society. This belief and hope were vividly illustrated in 1908 when a new religious journal was named the Christian Century. Behind this name lay the belief that the twentieth century would be the Christian century. The kingdom of God was here, or it would be shortly. It would be introduced progressively through the efforts of Christians, not through a cataclysmic event such as the second coming of Christ. The nature of the kingdom now is no different from what it will be at any time in the future. Some who hold this view of the kingdom emphasized God’s role in its achievement; others emphasized the role of human institutions and programs. (p. 5 - my emphasis)

I thought - while pondering this tension between the thought that we will Christianize our world culture by the sincere efforts of our community and the polar opposite thought that that same Christian community of ours will, instead, be in need of a cosmic rescuing - that this eschatological choice demands a far more sobering reflection than the majority of our community is currently engaged in. Our eschatological position should not be lightly formed. This should not be an academic exercise only. What if the current world community is gravitating towards an anti-Christian and godless mindset? It seems to me that the preponderance of vigor in the world community is thrusting towards violence and suppression of the Christian community, certainly not in a Christian-like healing of the world condition. I know that commitments to Christ are robust throughout the world. However, such revivals do not seem to be healing the nations and certainly are not turning the information flow of the secular community around from a worldly propaganda towards any kind of Christian light. If it turns out that we will be in need of “a second coming of Christ”, then two questions arise:

Will our faith withstand the events leading up to that coming, and does a “Christianizing” belief system tend to blunt preparedness for just such a series of events? It’s not a small matter is it? I will probably blog much concerning such matters in the future.

No Transitional Forms

Just in case that you were wondering, - I’m back - I haven’t evaporated away to somewhere unknown. Got back from my trip with the boys. We went fossil hunting near Delta, Utah (50 miles northwest - not too near, I guess). It was great fellowship, and we did find fossils, namely, trilobites. Creationists rightfully make a big deal that the fossil record gives no tangible evidence of transitional forms. Always when fossils are found, they are fully formed as a species. I was surprised at how struck I was at that fact when I first looked at those little fellows. These animals were fully formed, and in all of their intricacies and functional complexities were demanding intellectual reflection. The empirical data is on our side folks.

Along these lines, I was made aware of William Dembski’s new book Understanding Intelligent Design (Sean McDowell coauthor, Eugene: Harvest House) and was more than peaked in my interest when I learned that it was designed with the youth in mind. I have been wanting to probe in this area for more than two years now, but felt inadequate to the task. We need to be proactive in this area, and need to be methodical with our information. Our youth need to be armed. I’ll get back to you when I finish the book.

It was good to be in Utah; It’s good to be back. Let’s go to war.

The Dinosaur Next Door

The above named document was published in the current edition of Acts and Facts (Institute For Creation Research, June 2008, p. 13). This month’s edition was one of their better publications. If you are interested in the assault by Darwinian evolutionists against those in our community who are attempting to make a reasonable and scientific apologetic for Creationism/Intelligent Design, then please read this article. Go here if you wish to sign up for the monthly publication and if you wish to get involved in any way with the subject matter (www.icr.org). They will in no way insult your intelligence. These are world-class scientists who are unapologetic about their faith in the God of Genesis and in His having created all things ex nihilo. As I have alluded to before, the fossil record, when scientifically examined, is on our side.

While you are at it, you might consider ordering a book that I have mentioned before, namely: Evolution: the Fossils Still Say No! by Duane T. Gish (Institute for Creation Research. El Cajon, 2006). ICR offers this book. The back cover says it all: “…Evolutionists may invent ‘just-so’ stories, but they have been completely unsuccessful at showing any scientific evidence for macro-evolution, in the all-important fossil record. This book demonstrates that fact compellingly!” (bold added)

Again, if you are at all animated by the seriousness of the subject matter, read Never Stop Questioning (Beth Mull) in the current publication two or three times (pp. 4-5). The author has “hit the nail on the head”.

Am leaving Friday for Utah with my two grandsons to do some fossil hunting. Hope to have great fellowship and demonstrate that it was the Genesis Flood that laid down all of these (millions and millions of) fossils. Who knows when I will be back?

He's Lost It?

Was going to comment on the futility of the current Egyptian brokered "ceasefire" between Hamas and Israel. I thought that I would expose the Hamas Charter and their declared intention to destroy their newly found partner in the ceasing of fire; thought that I would muse about how many Chrisitans would applaud this sham and while I was at it would muse concerning how many Christians were applauding California's legalizing of homosexual marriages. Changed my mind. Let me ask a simple question, fold tent, and just drop the subject. To some this will appear as a feeble attempt to sober our Christian community; to others it will appear arrogant and to others just plain stupid. Nonetheless, here it comes?

To those of us who proclaim the great name of Christ, do we understand that that proclamation makes us all candidates to apostasy? (I Thes. 5:1-6)

And So With All Of Us

I’ll attempt to keep this one brief since I’ll need to get ready for church soon. As I arose and sat down to read a little this a. m. a thought (one that has vexed many people throughout recent history) surfaced within me and I thought that I would attempt to draw out from within me some kind of a conclusion. The book is “The Coming of the Third Reich” by Richard J. Evans (Penguin Press, 2005). When commenting that “I want to draw something out from within me”, I certainly did not want to appear dramatic. I simply am not sure as to what is going to be concluded. So let us just “bang on the keys” and see what comes out on the other end.

The vexation, of course, surfaces whenever one contemplates just who it was that perpetrated those awful atrocities appended to the history of the Second World War. This is Germany; the land of Goethe, Lessing, Schiller, Beethoven, etc. etc. This is “the land of poets and thinkers” the most cultured country in all of the world - as many have said in commenting on the subject matter. How in the world can such a cultured and educated people do such things? My thought while reading the book this morning surfaced this silent utterance: “But of course they did these things; we are sinful Man. Under similar conditions we all would have done the same”! Now I promised to keep this brief, so I’ll not support with details the culture thing.

The Hebrew People let God down. Had He gone to some place near Tuscany ca. 2000 BC and drawn out some guy named Luigi and formed a people from this guy, we Italians would have let God down; And so with all the peoples of the world. We would all commit atrocities under similar conditions. We are all slaves to our collective sinful natures. In the year 2008, in the midst of the exponential and information age, what atrocities await us – atrocities that we will all participate in? The implications lead us to the conditions uttered by the Lord as found in Matthew 24-25 and particularly by Luke 21. We will betray one another with all of the implications that that awful scenario requires.

But wait, you might say. We are Christians. We do not do such things. Exactly! We are Christians, we do not do such things! We are a “called-out” people. So what “thought from within me” shall I conclude? Perhaps it is this. As we attempt to heal the world in the name of Christ, and the world does not want to be healed, and turns and rends us, will we still be Christians? Will we keep the faith? The thought is this: Christ is in the process of calling us out just as He did Abraham from Ur of the Chaldeans. Where is our heart, what is our ethos, where are our treasures? Are our affections and treasures still in Chaldea? We are living in 1933 beloved. There is a wave of evil with tsunami like conditions about to engulf us. The world does not want to be healed by Christ. Only a hungry, Abrahamic-like nature, one that yearns for truth will resist just such a temptation. The wave that currently drives much of the Christian community today may be the 21st century edition of the Third Reich in 1930s Germany. Let’s be careful here and terribly sobered by our current world condition - please!

OK, I lied. Not brief and more than one thought. Have patience with me. Believe me, I will pursue this subject much more in the future.

Blood-Bought?

OK, we’ve been bought. So what does that mean? Peter in addressing those of the faith had this to say about false prophets and teachers:

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. (2 Pet. 2:1-3)

I won’t go into the implied eschatology of this passage although I believe that false teaching has been robust throughout the history of the man-made edifice known as the church, and further that the conditions alluded to by the Apostle will be especially robust as we approach the close of the age. Rather, let us simply become somewhat sobered by just such a scenario. I was more than a little sobered as I read this passage recently. My thoughts particularly centered on that phrase that claimed that these false teachers will be “even denying the Master who bought them”.

The KJV uses the word Lord, whereas the NASB discriminates a little by using the word Master. I believe that the NASB is the more accurate. The Greek word here is not the usual word for Lord, that being kurios, rather it is the Greek word despotes wherein we get the English word despot. W. E. Vine explains by defining kurios as “a lord who exercises power”. Christ is certainly that. He goes on to define despotes as “one who has absolute ownership and uncontrolled power” over his slave. (Vine, III, 46) Some lexicons add “slave owner” to that definition.

Simon Kristemaker words it thus:

To Jesus has been given all authority and power in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18). In the Greek, the word is despotes, from which we have the derivative despot. It is closely connected with the verb to buy. In the New Testament, this Greek verb occurs twenty-five times in a commercial setting, “but on five other occasions it describes the ‘buying’ of Christians. This clearly reflects the contemporary terminology of the slave-market.” With his blood Christ has bought his people that they may do his will…Just as a master has bought slaves from whom he expects obedience, so Jesus as sovereign Lord has bought his servants and demands obedience. (New Testament Commentary: Peter & Jude, Grand Rapids: Baker 1993, p. 282)

Do you get the impression that most Christians think of Christ in these terms? I promise you that false teachers who are tending toward heresies and leading others astray don’t think of Him in this way. Does it offend you that you have been bought? Does it offend you that the One who bought you lays claim to be a despot in your life? I hope not. Either we have been “bought with a price”, or we have not. If not, then, we are bastards and not adopted children.

I fear that there are many pseudodidaskaloi (false teachers) out there right now doing exactly what the Apostle warned (is warning) us about, and that there are many who are right now following their sensuality. This is serious. Yes, we have been bought by a Despot, but One who is all-loving, all-compassionate, all-powerful and is soon to return in power. What sort of a servant (slave) ought we to be? We have been blood-bought. Thank God!!!

Fire Synapses Fire!

About ten months ago I discovered that Andre Watts was going to appear with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra performing Rachmaninoff’s 2nd Piano Concerto sometime in June. Well now, my Pepsi-sniffing granddaughter is getting pretty serious about her piano lessons so I thought that I would take her out on a date and we would attend. By the time that I could finally purchase our tickets in May, we had grown to eight. One of my other granddaughters started to sustain with her piano lessons by this time also so I included her as well. My wife and I have fond memories of this piece dating back to our days at Pasadena City College so she wanted to go as well. By the time we attended, our party consisted of one each: daughter, son, daughter-in-law, piano teacher, two granddaughters, wife, and I. By the way, I should mention that this other granddaughter is getting pretty good at “sniffing” as well. Oh yes, I almost forgot that there was also going to be a performance of something called the fourth symphony by some guy named Tchaikovsky. We all met at an Italian restaurant near the concert hall and did what was proper and then attended.

OK, so with Kenzi and Tasha sitting on my right hand, the concert begins. When it was all over? Good food, much love and fellowship, a whole new world for two young and beautiful girls, a world-class artist playing with a world-class orchestra, passionate music composed by two of the giants, and a lasting memory. Oh by-the-way, this Tchaikovsky guy’s not too terrible awful bad either, huh? The PSO is just down the freeway from us, so we will be doing this more often. Girls, I hope that you want to do this again. Grandpa does. OK, let’s go from the sublime to the mundane.

In the subsequent days, I have dwelt on two thoughts: The first is just a musing. How in the world can mankind produce music like this and still murder (etc.) like we do? Sin must be incredibly powerful beyond our imagination. I’ll let that lie for a future blog.

The second thought surfaced when I poked Kenzi and Sassas in the ribs. It appears that in history a few of the great composers who were also great pianists would love to insert sections into their compositions that were so difficult to play that few pianists could “keep up”. When the soloist got to one of these passages, and Kenzi and Sassas were looking, I did the “pokin”. Andre Watts’ hands were like a blur. I poked, and Kenzi said “I know, I know”. Here is the mundane side of it: “Evolution can’t do this! Think about it. The human physiology has to memorize this composition. At the right time, the artist must respond. The mind tells the artist to play this note and at this time. The chemistry of the body must produce the electro motive force to generate the ability for the synapses to fire. A cybernetic response is demanded of the human physiology. Traveling at lightning speed the synapses fire, the motor system responds instantly, muscles activate instantly, and memory continues. There is no time for the human system to relax. Memory then demands another response – instantly, then another and another and another. Cybernetic feedback demands continuous responses for the entire composition! It doesn’t matter whether the artist’s hands “are a blur”, or not. The mind must say “do this” and the motor system must respond instantly and continuously. And the result? Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto! Yes, I can understand how the shepherd David must have felt when he wrote the 139th Psalm.

Thanx girls; let’s do it again.

If - Then

We ran into this handsome fellow Sunday in our adult bible study. He’s another old friend who shows up every once in a while in my life.

My son, if you will receive my sayings,
And treasure my commandments within you,
Make your ear attentive to wisdom,
Incline your heart to understanding;
For if you cry for discernment,
Lift your voice for understanding;
If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will discern the fear of the Lord,
And discover the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Prov. 2:1-6)

Perhaps you’ve noticed that we Christians are wringing our hands a lot nowadays. As we perceive the world-condition, hope does not seem to be triumphant in our lives. Constantly we are lamenting the fact that righteousness is not exactly winning the day. “If only we would do this, then that would happen” we declare. “If only the church would become more active, then we would heal our government”, etc, etc. Wherever you may be wringing your hands, I’ll leave it up to you to “fill in the blanks”. Actually, I am becoming increasingly annoyed whenever I hear or read about what will happen when we “do what is right”. Christ requires of us that we do what is right. The problem is that the man-made edifice known as the church is not going to do “what is right”. We are not going to turn our government around to embrace a state of righteousness. It is not the inclination of the world community to respond to whatever emasculated call to righteousness that we are fumbling over. Are you doing what is right? Do so with vigor. It is what Christ demands of us all. Be proactive in obedience to His call in your life. You will be healing individuals and whole communities as Christ sees fit. We are a remnant people. He is in the process of calling us out into a remnant-like community. Want to have more hope and less hand-wringing in your life? Let’s try Solomon’s advice.

If we treasure His commandments,
If we incline our hearts,
If we cry for discernment,
If we lift up our voices,
If we seek her as we would silver and hidden treasures,

Then, we will discern and fear Him and have hope as He sees fit.

Hard work, diligence, yearning for Him, and even some agonizing seems to be required here. Let’s go for it. The night may be soon gone.

Stanley Grenz on Postmodernism

A Primer on Postmodernism. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996

In rejecting the modern assumption of the objectivity of knowledge, postmoderns also reject the Enlightenment ideal of the dispassionate, autonomous knower. They contend that the work of scientists, like that of any other human beings, is historically and culturally conditioned and that our knowledge is always incomplete.

The postmodern worldview operates with a community-based understanding of truth. It affirms that whatever we accept as truth and even the way we envision truth are dependent on the community in which we participate. Further, and far more radically, the postmodern worldview affirms that this relativity extends beyond our perception of truth to its essence: there is no absolute truth; rather, truth is relative to the community in which we participate. (p. 8) Bold has been added.

Some comments:

To whatever degree that one cannot be a “dispassionate and autonomous knower”, then one is, to that degree, a slave of an eisegetical mind-set. That one can be strongly exegetical in the “knowing” of a text is made possible by an exercised discipline and can be totally efficient in the discerning of a “truth” proclaimed by any text. This proclamation, of course, depends on the degree that one defines the appropriate text as being authentic. The inerrancy of the biblical text would be appropriate for this study. Thus, “truth” is proclaimed as an absolute in the biblical text. Further, to whatever degree that one has trained himself in an exegetical and disciplined mind-set, to that degree that person has the ability to be "dispassionate and autonomous" as a knower and a discerner of that text.

I wrote the above last night as a Word document for the purpose of research and personal comment, but thought that I might as well post it. It also appeared to me (this morning) as a big dose of pedantic gobbledygook (“wordy and generally unintelligible jargon”) and as such I was prepared to put it to sleep and archive it for future personal reference only. But - I couldn’t leave well-enough alone. I’m sorry folks; it’s that emergent thing again. This movement is becoming more than serious in its import. Dr. Tackett alluded to the fact that Jesus is “bifurcating the world” (see post on 5/19). May I suggest that He is also bifurcating the man-made church? To whatever degree that the postmodern (emergent) mind-set is leading some in the church toward a disbelief in “absolute truth”, to that degree it may be leading those who are so involved toward a state of apostasy, or as previously alluded to, they are at least removing some barriers to that apostasy.

Why is it mandated upon a seeker (potential “knower”) that he be blunted in his quest for understanding of a particular text by the culture that dominates his surroundings? An author records and a seeker-for-understanding reads. When I read the Scriptures, I exegete the text contained within. This process is a result of a conscious decision upon my part. To the best of my ability I resist the temptation to eisegetically skew the text to best comfort my psyche; one that is white, Protestant, and Western-European in nature. Such eeeeeeevil within me does not prevent me from allowing the biblical text from saying what it wants to say. Whenever a passage implies against my personal belief-system, I question seriously that part of my belief. I will not be denied truth by my cultural conditioning. Life and death are too important. Further, I will not allow a worldly community-based-culture to proclaim a collective-like “truth” upon me, especially when it contradicts the absolute claims of Scripture.

Consider this: If Scripture has been penned by the Spirit Himself then it has been dictated with the intent of being understood by the one who seeks for truth. Truth has been proclaimed from above. That Truth will not be altered by evil men who distort and use that Truth for the purposes of plunder, murder, empire building and other atrocities that have been committed throughout history. Too many (emergent?) “Christians” have surfaced such distortions throughout history to deny the reality of Truth. Again, a distortion of the Truth does not deny that Truth.

I am not “culturally conditioned” in such a way that I read my “truth” into any text that I may be reading. I am a “dispassionate knower”. I have many limitations, but please understand that they are not culturally induced. Truth has been proclaimed. That the Truth has been proclaimed and recorded is an absolutist-like claim. Further it is a Plumb Line that has been designed to be dealt with by any reader and seeker for knowledge. The contents contained within are knowable. Deal with it! Your life may be at stake.

From Carson to Grenz

Just finished D. A. Carson’s book (Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church – see post on May 9th). After the Truth-Project-showing that I alluded to in my May 19th post, we were discussing the emergent phenomenon (most Christians present had not even heard of such a beast) after the meeting concluded and I found myself advocating the book to those who were listening. Now this is no small decision. To whatever degree that I believe that many honest and concerned Christians are removing barriers to apostasy, to that degree, I must take very serious any recommendations for further intellectual and spiritual pursuits in that area. So after some serious reflection, I have decided that this literary effort is sufficiently penetrating, honest, and logical that I am advocating it for serious consideration.

There are too many solid Christians who are in the process of polarizing regarding this debate for me to slay dragons as of yet. I have alluded to that fact in a previous post. It would be beneficial, it would seem, to recommend literature from both polarized houses. I have yet to find one that would express the emergent/postmodern position. My next effort will be to go to the 1999 effort by Stanley Grenz - A Primer on Postmodernism – (Eerdmans: Grand Rapids). Perhaps this effort will be a candidate. Dr. Grenz was a world-class scholar. Let’s see what he has to say. I may consider Brian McLaren’s A Generous Orthodoxy at some later date, but that would be to offer that literary effort as a polarized view of emergent that may be loved by some, but that I would consider the worst that they have to offer. Some of you may have noticed that I am not advocating Beyond Foundationalism by Dr. Grenz (and J. R. Franke) – see post on May 7. The authors are certainly robust enough to teach us much concerning this issue; it’s just that this effort was too pedantic and epistemologically nuanced to be a useful tool at this time.

So back to Carson. The author has raised many objections to the EC. This is not a book review, so I won’t go into them on this site. Let me just suggest that there is one point that he has made that may transcend all others in importance; namely that he finds little, if any, scriptural exegesis in the writing of those who advocate that belief-system. So far, I have found that suggestion to be totally true. This observation generates a serious concern. In the author’s estimation, it is a conscious decision of the most hardened of the postmodernist’s to do so. Brian McLaren certainly comes to mind at this point. So, I will be aware of this phenomenon as I read EC literature, and will tend to ask the question as I do so: Will there be any claims to Scripture as a base for their belief-system, and if not, will this trend continue as I read more of their literature? Dr Carson alludes to this theme several times but I find the following to be a good summation of the spiritual damage that it could cause:

Third, granted that the emerging church movement is driven by its perception of widespread cultural changes, its own proposals for the way ahead must be assessed for their biblical fidelity. In other words, we must not only try to evaluate the accuracy of the emerging church’s cultural analysis, but also the extent to which its proposals spring from, or can at least be squared with, the Scriptures. To put the matter differently: Is there at least some danger that what is being advocated is not so much a new kind of Christian in a new emerging church, but a church that is so submerging itself in the culture that it risks hopeless compromise? (p. 44) - bold has been added

The EC may not be heading for a hopeless compromise, but if they are, is this not a serious matter of the highest order?

The Truth Project

I only recently heard that there was a beast by the name of The Truth Project. Since it was portrayed to me as a worthy project I thought that it would be productive to investigate further. Thus, I attended a showing of the first episode; one that was designed to explain the scope of the project. I wondered: "Would this project be substantive enough to proactively pursue for my church and even to promote the twelve session video set beyond that?" The effort was most assuredly not a waste of time. So what’s it about? Here is some of what the lesson guide for Lesson 1 says:

What is truth? Why is it important? What role does it play in the biblical view of the world, God’s purpose for the cosmos, His will for mankind, His plan of salvation, and the way we live our personal lives? In his comments on this subject Dr. Del Tackett will demonstrate how truth was fundamental to the missions of Jesus Christ in the world; how it forms the heart of the Cosmic Battle that has been raging since the beginning; how this battle has divided the world into two opposing camps or sides; how lies, the antithesis of Truth, take human hearts and minds captive by the power of deception; and how every man and woman now stands in the position of having to choose between God’s truth claims and the opposing perspective of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Dr. Tackett concludes that, in almost every case, the perspective of contemporary culture stands in direct opposition to the Truth-centered worldview present in the Bible. In the process of making this case, he advances the bold claim that our culture is not only filled with lies but is actually heading in the direction of social insanity. As a result, he proposes that Pilate’s query – “What is truth?” – is the most important question facing our society today. (I have added the bold)

Enough said. Dr. Tackett did more than a reasonable job of advancing those claims that were stated in the above Guide. I agree; there has been a Cosmic Battle raging since the beginning; one that is yet to be terminated and one that demands that everyone answer to the two stated cosmic claims: The biblical Truth (John 18:33-38), or the satanic lie begun in the Garden. Which do you choose? In the process of sharing our views of the video upon its completion I stated that perhaps the most substantive statement in the entire 12 session series will be this five-word utterance by Dr. Tackett: “Jesus is bifurcating the world”!!! Now, of course, I have not seen the next eleven sessions, but, honestly, other than the Christian Basics can there be anything more substantive than that utterance?

Either one has to vehemently deny that utterance (postmodern Christianity?) or one has to embrace it with passion, and wonder aloud shouting “why doesn’t the Christian community know that we are in a Cosmic War?" I look forward to the next eleven sessions. I’ll keep you posted. The pertinent Focus on the Family web site is http://www.thetruthproject.org/

Witty Sinners - Dull Christians

My son called me this morning. “Dad, I just finished reading the second Psalm. This is what your web site is all about, isn’t it?” Well, this is great, I thought! So I’ve raised my very own son to be a lunatic just like me. Anyway, I needed to hear from him. We had a good talk. The Lord has given him good wisdom and he spoke to me a word in season. Perhaps some of you noticed that California has now made it legal to wed members of the same sex. To some (many?) Christians, this is OK. We need to be tolerant and we need to appeal to the world at large they would say. To other Christians this is just one more surrender to licentiousness. We are discouraged. Licentiousness is becoming rampant. So what does the Psalmist say about such a scenario?

Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed: “Let us tear their fetters apart, and cast away their cords from us!” He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury: “But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” (Ps. 2: 1-6)

Now to some of you this passage may be only allegorical in nature. To others, me included, it is literal. There will literally be a day when God perceives that the human race has fully given itself over to rebellion and self-seeking. Do we not perceive this process to be robust in this information age in which we live? Kings and rulers are complicit in removing the Judeo/Christian God from the public arena, and they are being totally successful. Spurgeon comments on this process: “They go about their warfare craftily, not with foolish haste, but deliberately. They use all the skill which art can give. Like Pharaoh, they cry, ‘Let us deal wisely with them.’ O that men were half as careful in God’s service to serve him wisely, as his enemies are to attack his kingdom craftily. Sinners have their wits about them, and yet saints are dull.” (The Kingdom of David. Baker: Grand Rapids, 1981 - Vol. I, p. 12) Bold has been added.

This is the thought that has given birth, and that currently gives impetus, to this site: We saints seem to be dull of thought in the midst of this worldly unfolding. Please consider the possibility that we function in this, the information age, as part of the separating-out of His Elect. They are in rebellion, hopefully, we are in obedience, and thus, are in a process of being called-out. He really is going to be angry, and in His fury they are going to be terrified! Is it the intent of The Sovereign Lord to reason with such people and their rulers, or is it His intent to vent His fury? Ask the Psalmist. The completion of the footstool for His feet (Ps. 110:1) may be nearer than we seem to expect. What do you think?

TAFTCom…

Succinct

Where is this site going? I’m almost tempted to say that “I have no idea”. That is not entirely true, of course, since I believe that there is a very large, steady paced, and a very momentum-laden freight train coming. If I really mean it (and believe me I do), then obviously I have something in my viscera that must come out, and I have some direction that I wish to pursue. I have found, however, that the details and articles that are being generated by this site have so far dealt almost exclusively with the modern Christian thrust known as the Emergent Conversation. In the natural realm, it appears to be winning the day. If there is harm being generated by this community, then certainly it must be addressed in a most serious manner by those who so perceive it to be harmful to our community. Like many who are concerned by this phenomenon, it is still unclear to what degree this is so. Anyway, all of that is to simply apologize for being so polarized in my efforts on this site. There are many, many more topics of concern that I wish to deal with in the future, but it seems that the Spirit within me has me pursuing in this area to the exclusion of those many others, and I must obey to whatever degree that I am being led. This thought arose this morning as I was reading.

D. A. Carson is one who is engaged in this area. I think that this paragraph is succinct and addresses the concerns of many pursuing in this area:

“Third, granted that the emerging church movement is driven by its perception of widespread cultural changes, its own proposals for the way ahead must be assessed for their biblical fidelity. In other words, we must not only try to evaluate the accuracy of the emerging church’s cultural analysis, but also the extent to which its proposals spring from, or can at least be squared with, the Scriptures. To put the matter differently: Is there at least some danger that what is being advocated is not so much a new kind of Christian in a new emerging church, but a church that is so submerging itself in the culture that it risks hopeless compromise?” (Carson, D. A.. Becoming Conversant With The Emerging Church: Understanding a Movement and Its Implications. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, 2005, p. 44) - bold has been added.

By the way, the entire book is quite clear and succinct. If you are researching in this area, then this book seems to be quite clear on the subject and quite honest in its dealings. To those of you who are “emerging”, I understand that this concern is part of your “conversation”. Please do not too readily dismiss this concern. To whatever degree it is true, to that degree great damage is being placed upon our Christian community. For those of us whose tendency is to be concerned that “compromise” is where they are heading (taking us?), we need to be penetrating in our analysis, and we need to do so with much honesty and integrity - There are so many of them and they all lay claim to the name of Christ.

The Church seems to be in great flux. - and at a critical (terminal?) time in history. We may have to pull our pistols out eventually - perhaps just not yet.

Hey, That Was Nice

Just waded through a pedantic heavy weight (Beyond Foundationalism: Shaping Theology In A Postmodern Context, Louisville: WJK, 2001) by Stanley Grenz and John R. Franke. Franke had written a forward to Brian’s book and Grenz was alluded to several times in the same book (A Generous Orthodoxy. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004). So I thought that I would see what they had to say. Both are apparently self-proclaimed Emergents. The title of their book was enticing. I thought that it would be beneficial to see what two scholars thought about “getting beyond foundationalism”. Just to remind us all, one of the staples of the emergent belief-system is that the Christian community has relied too heavily upon, and caused much harm by distorting, absolutes and orthodoxies that are supposedly mandated by the Scriptures. How far were these guys going to go to demonstrate to our community that the modernist view of absolutes is not all that demonstrable and should be open to some vigorous conversation? I finished the book by asking myself just how emergent are these guys? In their eeeeevil emergent and dark mind-set were they hiding their true feelings by the use of subtle and academic niceties? They were emergent, but they wanted to inoculate us before they revealed their true feelings? They seem to hold to some form of absolutes. The Spirit working through scriptures should help form our theological base, they say. At the same time Church tradition should also help form that base. All of this should be exercised (in, through and/or by?) our current cultural surroundings. I suppose that this is one of the reasons that many people say that the emergent community is diverse. OK, I believe it. All of this is simply to say that at this point my brain is fried. Sooooo, in that condition, I go to a softball game.

Tuesday my wife and I went to a playoff game between Point Loma Nazarene University (San Diego area) and Biola University (La Mirada, CA). We watched a gal play whose mother grew up with our eldest daughter. Their family is our family. Randi is a senior. These are playoff games to finish out her senior year and it’s a little sad. PLNU will go back to Alabama to compete for the nationals and then it will be over for her. She will play no more at the college level. Anyway, when the game was over all of the girls walked past each other and gave a high-five to their individual opponents. Then I noticed that they slowly formed a large circle around the mound, held hands around that mound of dirt, and prayed. Different colored uniforms along with both coaching staffs holding hands in unity and praying! My fried brain needed that. In the midst of this increasingly dark and mean-spirited world a bunch of talented young girls gathered around each other in innocence and in a Fellowship that transcends that dark world and simply stated to the universe that we’re in competition with each other but we belong to each other in a Fellowship that you cannot understand. We’re really talented athletically at the college level, but we can still giggle and squeak and be vulnerable - and - we belong to the King. Thanks Ran for growing up to be such a fine young lady.

By the way, to those of you who have read the book (and to the authors I would add), to what degree will the Christian community help to bring about the telos, and to what degree will the telos (the eschaton) interrupt history and be forced upon us? It’s important that we know.

More McLaren

Finally finished a Generous Orthodoxy. There are far too many comments that could be made at this point. Any perusal of this book (and the thoughts of the author) needs to be addressed by far more than a blog. Where does one start? It would take a book by itself to respond to the author’s (Brian McLaren) thoughts. Since I am only starting to seriously address the current wave of emergent theology, and its subsequent impact upon Christian thought, I will refrain from any conclusions concerning the author or the movement as a whole. Problems arise, however, from the content of the book.

Let’s address one: It is the author’s (strong) tendency to surface straw dummies that are easily knocked over to draw conclusions that do not necessarily follow. If one absorbs the thought content of his eloquent writing style without critiquing those thoughts one would conclude, by implication, that orthodoxy constantly needs reinterpretation. The author rightly condemns the fact that Christianity in the name of Christ, and justified by orthodoxy, has mass-murdered, conquered, plundered, etc, etc (fill in the blanks). The straw dummies? Evil men (usually Protestant and white) have done evil things to innocent people in the name of Christ with orthodoxy and absolutes as justifications for their evil deeds. All this is true throughout history, by the way. The conclusion? Let’s advance to a more generous orthodoxy because our God is a loving God, disapproves of Pharisaic oppressions (in the name of orthodoxy, etc) and wants us to bridge the various divides of human interaction so that we might better be able to offer to the world this wonderful Jesus of ours.

Now the author would of course consider this response of mine to be shallow and perhaps even incorrect. But remember, I am addressing those (many) who engage his eloquent writings without critiquing them. The impact (the fruit of that tree) is to conclude by implication that we are in an ongoing conversation and that absolutes only inhibit us from this valuable dialogue. Are there absolutes in Scripture that demand responses within the Christian community? But of course. What are those absolutes that retard our community so much in his mind? The author does not address them. He does address distortions of absolutes and orthodoxies, but he does not name them. Absent, also, from the book is any attempt at exegesis. Now this is not a bad thing. It is simply not the intent of the book. However, I do have a problem with his excoriating his various straw dummies and thus concluding that their (unnamed) orthodoxies and absolutes are illegitimate without some attempt by him to engage Scripture. One would ask the author if there are any absolutes in Scripture. If so, what are they? Should we be generous about changing such absolutes and the orthodoxy that they inspire? It seems to me that there are two and separate subjects that are worthy of serious discussion. One is the distortion of absolute truth by evil men. The other is the absolute truth itself. It is worthy to condemn false teachers, etc, of doing evil deeds in His wonderful name. Those distortions do not however deny the truths that these evil men proclaim. Again, a distortion of the truth does not deny the truth. To the author I would ask, what are those orthodoxies and absolutes that you would like to converse about and possibly change? By the way, as we converse and change, does that change now become an absolute?

Joel Encapsulated

After prayer each morning, my wife and I will read aloud from the Bible. This morning it was out of The Book of Ecclesiastes. When we got to this famous passage my thoughts went beyond the normal wedding pronouncements that proclaim the eternal value of two becoming one in marriage. To review the complete thought, The Preacher said this:

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. (4:9-12)

So where did my thoughts go? Well, they progressed actually. They first went to an expansion of the celebration of marital companionship and uplifting that was required by the passage. If one is required to, and privileged to, uplift one’s mate throughout the trials of life, isn’t this process also valued in our relationship to our brothers and sisters in Christ? But of course, one might conclude! As the trials of life increase and we come closer to the insanity of our current world-condition, who better to lift up and to resist those who would overpower us, and along with Christ establish a multi-stranded cord of faithful companionship than our family in Christ? Well, I couldn’t leave well-enough alone. My thoughts immediately went to the one chapter in the Bible that best mirrors the entire reason for this site, namely Jeremiah 12:5. For those of you who know me, you know that this is one of my favorite verses. I had not thought of this verse, however, as summing up the entire reason for my blog until this morning - at this reading. After the prophet laments and imprecates, the Lord interrupts and thunders out with these words:

If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses? And if you fall down in a land of peace, how will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?

This web site is simply saying this: We Christians in North America are currently running with footmen. The day is soon to come when we will be required to compete with horses. We are ministering (and being family members) currently in a land of peace. The day is soon to come when we will be backed up into the thicket of the Jordon. Now is the time to be family. Now is the time to lift up our companions and to resist those who would overpower our brothers and sisters, and now is the time to establish a tested cord of koinania-like relationship within our local communities - while we are running with footmen; while we are in a land of peace. The day may soon be upon us that… the tree has born its fruit. The fig tree and the vine have yielded in full. (Joel 2:22b) TAFTCom.

Expelled

Just went to see Ben Stein’s “Expelled – No Intelligence Allowed”. Good Job. What the man has done is to force this documentary-like expose into the community when those who control the information-flow would restrict such information. So what’s it about?

First of all, Intelligent Design is an ongoing effort to research and explain the scientific evidence that posits that the incredible complexity of life on this planet can be best explained as the result of intelligent design. This, of course implies a designer. Secondly, it is being claimed by the documentary that such a scientific effort is being suppressed by many in the Darwinian/scientific community. Most of us in the Christian community don’t know that a controversy exists regarding the origins of the material universe, the creation of life, and the reason for existence in general. I think that we are comfortable in ignoring the claims of Evolution because it would strain our belief that “in the beginning God...” Well, this expose is not so much about there being good science that refutes the claims of Neo-Darwinian Evolution, and there is certainly very good science that does just that, but rather that there are those in the “scientific community” that are actively engaged in suppressing such scientific endeavors.

There are several posts commenting on the documentary found at Uncommon Descent (April 19). If you are saving to your address book such sites (that deal with the ID/Creationism debate) this is certainly one that you must have. This site is world class. Dr. Demski and friends comment on matters that reflect Intelligent Design as causation of much of the phenomena that manifests our universe. To those who are inclined to personify that Intelligence as the God of Scripture go to the site dedicated to such things at The Institute for Creation Science (ICR). Neither site will insult your intelligence. These are world-class scientists who deal with the rote data of science and justify their claims within the confines of that arena. While we are at it, here is a book that deals with the fossil record from a creationist standpoint: Evolution: the fossils still say NO! (Duane T. Gish, ICR, 2006). Are you a little nervous as a Christian to get into this area? Don’t be. The rote data is on our side. If I were a neo-Darwinian scientist, I would be embarrassed by the fossil record. I suppose that is one of the reasons that some in that community must suppress the claims of ID/Creationism as valid science.

Anyway, go see this doc. Take some friends. We will discuss this large issue much more in the future.

God A

Brian McLaren from A Generous Orthodoxy (Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 2004)

Again, beyond these masculine/feminine issues, the experience of God in Jesus was so powerful that it forever transformed what followers of Jesus meant when they said the word God. What was God like? What was God about? When they thought about what they had learned, seen, and experienced in Jesus, their understanding was revolutionized. Eventually, after a few centuries of reflecting on God as revealed and experienced through Jesus (in the context of some major controversies with varied forms of Greek philosophy), the church began to describe God as Father-Son-Spirit in Tri-unity or the Trinity. For them, God could no longer be conceived of merely as “God A,” a single, solitary, dominant Power, Mind, or Will, but as “God B”, a unified, eternal, mysterious, relational community/family/society/entity of saving Love.

Think of the kind of universe you would expect if God A created it: a universe of dominance, control, limitation, submission, uniformity, coercion. Think of the kind of universe you would expect if God B created it: a universe of interdependence, relationship, possibility, responsibility, becoming, novelty, mutuality, freedom. I’m not sure which comes first – the kind of universe you see or the kind of God you believe in, but as a Christian who believes in Jesus as the Son of God, I find myself in universe B, getting to know God B.

This is why, for starters, I am a Christian: the image of God conveyed by Jesus as the Son of God, and the image of the universe that resonates with this image of God best fit my deepest experience, best resonate with my deepest intuition, best inspire my deepest hope, and best challenge me to live with what my friend, the late Mike Yaconelly called “dangerous wonder,” which is the starting point for a generous orthodoxy. (pp. 84-85)

Apparently, the author believes that it took the church “centuries” to discover that God was a good guy. By implication the god that the church believed in was dominant, coercive, and controlling, but then after dealing with some major controversies and with some Greek philosophy to help, the church discovered Jesus, the loving God B. I’m sorry, but I don’t recognize this God A. It seems to me that He is a construct of the author based upon a distortion of the God of the Bible generated by shallow and dishonest men. Somehow, it seems difficult to believe that the first century Christians would recognize this God A, either. I’m beginning to sense that this entire book is designed to set up straw dummies so that they may be easily knocked over. The author's God A is a straw dummy, is he not?

Consider this possibility: God B has already created this “universe B”. It was called the Garden of Eden. Something bad happened there if I recall. Now, I fully expect to participate in this ideal state-of-being someday, but please understand that if God B creates it without dealing with evil, then we will do the same thing over and over and over again. Perhaps we need to consider that Brian’s God A and God B are the same God, but God A is not described correctly by the author’s pejorative-like adjectives. There will be a day when God A can no longer contain His rage, will turn to His Son God B and release Him to return with the armies of Heaven to deal with the enemies of His beloved Church, and we who belong will forever dwell in Brian’s Universe B.

A distortion of the Truth does not deny the Truth. God A hates evil.

From John to Brian

We recently posted re. John Franke’s forward to Brian McLaren’s book a Generous Orthodoxy. See post on March 21. I’m finally getting into the book proper, so let’s go from John’s views to what Brian is actually writing. Regarding his being enriched by the views of various major denominations and their beliefs concerning Jesus, he says this about The Eastern Orthodox Jesus:

For the first time, through the Eastern Jesus, I began to have a glimpse of how Jesus could indeed be the Savior of not just a few individual humans but of the whole world. I began to see the wisdom, the necessity of the incarnation, and its expanding impact – not just beyond this life and this history, but within it. And somehow I began to see how my personal salvation was not apart from the salvation of the world but was a part of it. The more I learned from Jesus “the ways of the king,” the more I could influence others in his ways, too, and the closer we came to the salvation of the whole world. This dynamic, transcendent, and cosmic Eastern Orthodox Jesus opened the door for three more. (pp. 65-66)

God’s life, love, joy, and power are so great that all our death, hate, pain, and failures are eradicated, swallowed up, cancelled, extinguished, and overcome by being taken up into God. In this way Jesus will ultimately bring blessing to the whole world, to all of creation…Second, as humanity (and all creation) enters into God through Jesus, God also enters Jesus’ people, species, and history. And by entering all creation through Jesus, God’s heart is forever bound to it in solidarity, faithfulness, loyalty, and commitment. God will never give up until all creation is healed of its diseases, cured of its addiction, retrained from its foolishness, reclaimed from its lost state. Jesus saves by coming, by being born. (pp.63-64 - emphasis has been mine)

I will withhold assertive conclusions about any of the author’s spiritual world views until a later date. One of the areas of interest to me will be in the discerning of his degree of possessing a koinania-like love for human kind and in a discerning of just how that love is supposed to impact world society. He seems to feel that as we learn “the ways of the king”, to that degree we will impact the world for good and help bring about “the salvation of the whole world”. God’s love is so powerful that death is going to be “swallowed up” by being “taken up into God”. Further, “God will never give up until all creation is healed…”

Let’s stop here. Books can be written regarding this page alone. To those of us who are animated in any way to serve Christ, questions demand to be asked, and answered:

Where is The Second Coming in all this? His first coming (incarnation) should indeed impact society as we live, but is that process going to swallow up death by “being taken up into God”? If there are many who are going to enter in by the broad way, and there are few who are going to enter in by the narrow way (Mt. 7:13-14), then a little more sobriety needs to be exercised here, don’t you think? It seems more likely that death is going to be swallowed up (destroyed) by the coming of a great king outraged by death and all that it (he) entails. As previously alluded to, He is not going to negotiate with bad people, the Church is not going to turn the world around, niceness is not going to win the day. The Second Coming of Christ with the armies of heaven is going to win the day!

Now here is the question that the 800 pound gorilla demands be answered by all who proclaim the name of Christ: Is it the eschatological intent of Christ through history to heal a community (the world), or is it His eschatological intent to call out a remnant people uniquely unto Himself (the Church)? Eternal life and death may be in the balance!!

But What's In Between

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure. (I Peter: 1-2)

It’s nice to have a document that is so powerful that even its salutation is packed with dynamite. Now apparently Peter is addressing Hebrew Christians who are in a (the) physical diaspora, separated from the land of Israel and sojourning in a foreign land. Even though I want to address the sequence of being chosen, developing sanctification and being required to obey, I couldn’t pass by the alien part. Could this not be taken as a typology; namely that Christians are in the world, but are not a part of it? Of course, this is not an original thought, but I wonder how many of us think of ourselves in this way? Not many, I fear. This topic, of course, could easily take up several blogs (books), but that is not the reason for this entry. So let’s get to the sequence:

We are chosen. Talk about books! Somehow, I don’t think that I have the answer to the debate generated by this concept. Let’s just say that God has determined that some are chosen. In anyone’s life it is a done-deal, or it’s not. One cannot work at being chosen. One cannot improve on his or her degree of being chosen. It seems to be a one-time event.

Peter goes on to indicate that we are required to obey Jesus Christ. Now that is a powerful concept. If not many Christians have an alien mind-set, it seems reasonable to conclude that not many Christians have a mind-set of obedience to this man we call Lord. That discouraging observation aside, let’s just simply let it pass that we are chosen by God, and we are to obey Christ. One is a privilege; the other a requirement. But, there’s something in between. Peter determines that we are in a Spirit-driven process here described as sanctification. Consider this: To be chosen is to receive a privilege. To obey is to receive a requirement. To be sanctified is to undergo a process. That’s what is in between being chosen and being required to obey. We will spend our entire life undergoing that sanctifying process.

W. E. Vine (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, III, pp 317-318, Zondervan, 1952) says this:

Sanctification, is used of (a) separation to God,... (b)the course of life befitting those so separated. This sanctification is God’s will for the believer…and His purpose in calling him by the gospel…it must be learned from God as He teaches it by His Word…and it must be pursued by the believer, earnestly and undeviatingly. For the holy character, hagiosune… is not vicarious, i.e., it cannot be transferred or imputed, it is an individual possession, built up, little by little, as the result of obedience to the Word of God, and of following the example of Christ.

Vine indicates that sainthood is not an attainment. We are all saints, however, the process described above clearly indicates a life-long process. It is a process that sets us apart as a mind-set. We are a called-out people; we are not a religion. This sanctification process is ever giving us an alien mind-set. Again, it seems reasonable to conclude that most Christians do not think of themselves as separated-out, chosen and obedient servants. Rather, most of us think of ourselves as religious personalities living a religious life-style and doing good things in the living out of our lives. More sobriety needs to be realized in our lives, and especially as the world culture that surrounds us continues to escalate into the insanity that appears to be winning the day.

We are chosen as a gift.
We are being sanctified as a process.
We are required to obey as a result.

We are a called-out people, not a religion. Let’s act like it!

Kenzi Cried Again

Sorry baby. Death always wins in this world. You and I have to cry some more, I guess. Just finished reading the book of James. He wrote about the history of the world in a strange way. Here’s what he wrote:

Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. (James 5:7-8)

This tired world has gotten a lot of rain over the years. I don’t think that there is much more rain waiting out there. We’ll probably cry together some more. Let’s both be patient and let’s always be there for each other. I am always so glad that you are there for me when I cry, and you know that I am always there for you when you do.

Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all the tribes of the Earth will mourn over Him. (Rev.1:7)

And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. And on either side of the river was the tree of life…(Rev 22:1-2)

No more death baby, no more death! Some people think that we Christians need to be nice to the world and it will be nice to us. Bad people won’t do bad things any more. I just think that we need the Lord to come back, don’t you? It won’t always be like this.

And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the kid, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze; Their young will lie down together; And the lion will eat straw like the ox. And the nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. (Is. 11:6-9)

OK Death, you win for now, but your day is coming too. Pain is ours for now, sweet baby, but not for long. Sorry for kinda writing like an adult, honey; I just didn’t know how to put it any other way. I just really need for Him to come back and get us. Until then, let’s be faithful to Him, love our family, kiss Holly on the nose for being a great mamma and spit in Death’s face. Luv ya baby. GPR

PS: Love His Coming baby; love His Coming. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!!!

On John R. Franke

I have been attempting to read a Generous Orthodoxy (Zondervan, 2004) by Brian McLaren for over a month now. Finally, I believe that I will start. As alluded to in previous articles, I am intellectually wrestling with the current thrust in the Church toward an ecumenical-like dialogue (conversation ) with world culture; a dialogue that also implies a concomitant thrust away from a firm adherence to Scriptural absolutes. To what degree is that true? We Christians wish to appeal to world culture, and rightfully so, but a question begs to be asked: at what price should we dialogue? Will we join a world headed toward an eschatological and violent end, or will we be salt to the inhabitants of that same world? Actually, the adherents of this emergent thrust are more inclined to have the conversation with fellow Christians, and of course, it is in this arena that we are the most susceptible to Scriptural deviance. So join me as we pursue the contents of this book, and let us do so by addressing some of the comments made by John R. Franke in the forward to the book:

Dr. Franke says this concerning the dialogue between liberal and conservative believers:

Residents of the liberal and conservative precincts of the church are engaging in respectful and constructive dialogue across the metaphorical divide that has separated them for nearly two centuries…(p, 13)

The question that needs to be answered as we peruse the book would be along the lines of something like this: Will a simple “no – you are wrong” be an acceptable response in this “respectful and constructive” dialogue? By implication, are there any absolutes allowed in this conversation?

Dr. Franke continues as he alludes to the leanings away from modernism to the more thoughtful and liberating ideas of postmodernism by saying this:

This rethinking has resulted not in irrationality, as is often claimed by less informed critics of postmodern thought, but rather in numerous redescriptions and proposals concerning the understanding of rationality and knowledge. These postmodern ideas produced a more inherently self-critical view of knowledge than modernity. (p. 14)

To be rational, have knowledge, and to possess introspection before adopting a belief system is a good thing. Are the adherents of postmodernism implying that those who went before did not so introspect? Hopefully, as we progress through this conversation
we will not become so humanistically self-critical that all substance will be muted beyond understanding.

He continues:

In response to this situation, “post-liberals” and “post-conservatives” have sought to move in the direction suggested by generous orthodoxy through a nonfoundationalist conception of the Christian faith. They can be identified by some common characteristics and commitments, such as strong ecumenical interests, a desire to move beyond the liberal/conservative divide, and a willingness to think through old questions in new ways that foster the pursuit of truth, the unity of the church, and the gracious character of the gospel. (p. 15)

Questions abound here. By inference, post-liberals and post-conservatives are a good thing. How would these post-liberals and post-conservatives describe a nonfoundationalist conception of the Christian faith? Does this concept frighten anyone? What are strong ecumenical interests? Does such a scenario suggest apostasy? With what church should we unite with? The man-made cultural church, or the called-out remnant of the Church? What is the gracious character of the gospel? With a humanistic bent, one would be tempted to put the concept of evil as non subject matter here. Well, I’m further in the hole here. I started out wanting to understand Brian’s book, but now am forced to read Dr. Franke’s book Beyond Foundationalism: Shaping Theology in a Postmodern Context as well.

Finally he says this:

Generous orthodoxy does not so much specify a particular point or position as it establishes a spacious territory defined by certain distinct boundaries in which there is space to live, move, and breathe while exploring the wonders and mysteries of the faith.

Dr. Franke has written far more in his brief introduction than is addressed here. These are just some of the many questions that have intruded upon my life while reading it. But, here is the one question above all others: Just what will those certain distinct boundaries be? Hopefully, they will show up somewhere in Brian’s book. What boundaries will the emergent/postmodern community establish as concepts that cannot be violated? If I say no – you are wrong, can I still be a part of the conversation?

More, much more to follow.

An Old Friend

Just ran across an old friend that I had not seen in a while. It was good to see him again. Here he is:

My son, if you will receive my sayings,
And treasure my commandments within you,
Make your ear attentive to wisdom,
Incline your heart to understanding;
For if you cry for discernment,
Lift your voice for understanding;
If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will discern the fear of the LORD,
And discover the knowledge of God. (Prov. 2:1-5)

One of the thoughts that has pursued me lately is the perception that most of us in the Christian community can agree on a Biblical truth, but seldom dwell on the proactive activity that this passage may require of us. Consider the above:

Now we all want spiritual knowledge and discernment. But - how badly do we yearn for such a process? Do we cry and lift up our voice? Is such knowledge and discernment so important to us that we would search as if for silver to obtain them? Such promises are not ours by osmosis. The fear of the LORD, and the knowledge of God are not ours by default. They are to be agonized over - or so it seems to me.

By the way, I’m embarrassed by how long it has been since I have been into the Book of Proverbs.

Anger, Frustration, or just A Watchman Upon the Wall?

Am I an angry man, a frustrated man, a watchman upon the wall, or some combination of all of the above? The thought surfaced when I received the comment below regarding my Peace, Peace post (diatribe?). This individual wanted to ascertain my denomination, and then noted my inclination toward “anger”. Hopefully he/she did not imply that one caused the other. I’m not sure how this post is going to evolve. I was sufficiently sobered by the implication of anger that I thought I would do more than respond to the comment, but would expand any comment with an entire post. So here it is:

First of all, let’s deal with the denomination. I have been a member of the Freewill Baptist, German Baptist, Foursquare (licensed), Assemblies of God (licensed), and First Christian denominations. Further, I have been a member of some independent churches. Thirty eight years is a long time folks. In all of these congregations, with one exception, I have found the pastors to be solid in the faith regarding the essentials. I have no problem with denominations disagreeing with each other on nonessentials. Further, no denomination, school, or church has forged my belief system (or inner passion such as anger). Whatever wrestling is churning within my inner nature is due to observations of world conditions, dormancy within the Church, good exegesis, the approaching world-insanity, and the arrogance of the Church (as I see it). As an aside, you may have noticed that I have not noted (in my profile) the local congregation that I currently attend. This deletion is due to the controversial nature of this site. I do not feel that I have the right to expose my church to whatever mud may be slung at me by various outrageous statements that I may have made. Perhaps I will ask for their permission as the site progresses. I even delayed using my name. It was only after I asked permission from my family did I append it to this site. I have decided that whenever I am under another person’s authority such as my pastor, elder, Sunday school teacher (whenever I am changing diapers), etc., I do not have the right to expose them to whatever may be controversial due to my world-view, especially when they may disagree with me. Not so with this site!

With this site, the only inhibition that may constrain me is generated whenever I suspect that my words are not those that would be appended as from the Lord. Whatever shots that I may take across my bow because of “outrageous” statements, statements that would normally cause me to edit my thoughts, will be self-absorbed. With all of the integrity that is within me, I engage in combat before the Lord knowing that I will ultimately answer to Him for every word and thought that I generate. This is how I think. This is my ministry unconstrained by public opinion. All other ministries that I engage in are under someone’s authority, and I will not violate that authority whenever I feel that my opinions exceed their spiritual ethos. Again, not so with this site!


So, am I angry? Apparently I am. Now this is interesting and perplexing. I felt some guilt when I read the comment and it’s implication of anger. It’s taken me three days to introspect and respond. Yet, here I seem to feel some guilt at being an angry man, but am discouraged by my perception of the lack of anger in the Church. Why isn’t the Church outraged by every evil violation of human-kind? Why our silence over the destruction of the YMCA library at Gaza. See A Stunning (Predictable) Silence below. Why does a non-believing Jewish man in Jerusalem have to perceive such a silence and comment on it? - and the Church remains silent! I’m angry and feeling guilty that I am angry, but feeling angry that the Church isn’t angry. Apparently I have much to learn of my inner nature.

Am I frustrated? My yes!

Do I consider myself a Watchman Upon the Wall? Yes, I fear that this is true. Now, doesn’t that sound sophomoric? Any shallow man can claim that status. I can only appeal to whomever cares that this is not a shallow position on my part. I’d rather that it were otherwise.

All right, let’s end this literary pretzel. I am somewhat angry, more than somewhat frustrated, and stuck with the task of warning my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ that there is a freight train coming! I welcome anyone who wishes to explore with me in the coming months to give me your opinion. This includes my anonymous commenter who sensed my anger. I welcome your follow-up.

Peace, Peace

The LORD says to my Lord:
Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.
The LORD will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying
Rule in the midst of Your enemies.
Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power;
In holy array, from the womb of the dawn,
Your youth are to You as the dew.
The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind,
You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
The Lord is at Your right hand;
He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath.
He will judge among the nations,
He will fill them with corpses,
He will shatter the chief men over a broad country.
He will drink from the brook by the wayside;
Therefore He will lift up His head. (Ps. 110)

Perhaps you’ve noticed that there are many unanswered questions generated by this blog. It’s done in honesty, - honestly! I’m attempting to stimulate our Christian community to a more sobered and disciplined mind-set. Believe me, this is not a call to a conversation that will tend to dilute the absolutes of the Scripture; rather, may it be an effort that will more focus our minds toward a realization that we are not going to usher in any kind of peace in this world. Rather, this is a world that is hostile to our community, and to the (Melchizedekian) Lord whom we serve. It is His Return, and that only, that is going to usher in (demand by fiat) world peace. So, with that in mind, let’s ask some questions:

So, who is this Melchizedekian guy? Well, I think that we all know Who that is (Heb. 1:13; 5:1-6). Can’t easily run and hide from that one, can we?
Now what is this Psalm saying?

This guy has enemies, and He’s going to rule them? Really? He’s not going to negotiate?
He’s going to shatter kings and the chief men who rule over a broad country. Now that’s a tough one. Can’t we just get the religions of the World to cooperate and prevent Him from having to shatter? Well, I guess that’s not what the Psalm says, is it?
The nations: He’s going to fill them with corpses. No! It didn’t really say that did it? He’s a God of peace (only?) right?

Well, I’m being sarcastic here, aren’t I? It’s for a reason. Things are getting ugly out there beloved. There are enemies out there who do not want peace with us. They are going to be dealt with and shattered in the day of His wrath! Let’s do good out there. It’s what He requires of us, but let us also be a little more wise like serpents in the process. There are two kinds of people out there: US - THEM. Think about it.