Comparable to him II: Understanding the times

“The sons of Issachar had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do” (1 Chronicles 12:32).  A one size fits all understanding of how to interpret the Bible just does not work. If we insist that everything should be interpreted at face value,  for example, then we would need to hate our parents (Luke 14:26).  It is called hyperbole, exaggeration not meant to be taken literally.  Not every admonition is for all time and in all circumstances. De we insist that women wear hats in church (1 Corinthians 11:10). Some will insist on it because, by the slippery slope argument, if you let one thing go,  you will eventually let everything go, and in any case how on earth do you distinguish between what is relevant for today and what is not?  

We need to love the Lord with our mind (Mark 12:30),  and stop making overly simplistic rules that help us to avoid thinking, and wrestling with the issues.  In the past slavery was a thorny issue, today the woman's issue is thorny.  Slaves are commanded to submit to their masters, even when they are harsh (1 Peter 2:18). Does this mean God approves of slavery? It is a mistake to see something as God's perfect will just because it's in Scripture. I mean Judas went out and hung himself (Matthew 27:5)!  Many things exist as result of the fall. We pray and work for the Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. You can be sure that there's neither slavery nor patriarchy in heaven.  It was William Wilberforce's Christian values that cause him to devote his entire life to the abolition of slavery. The Kingdom will not be brought to earth in a day.  And there is a timing,  a process and a Kingdom way of facilitating change in things that need to change (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).

In terms of understanding the times, we need to distinguish carefully between moral and non - moral commandments.  Moral commands don't change, non - moral commands may need to change with the times.  As society changed from Biblical times, so did male-female roles. In Bible times women were not even taught to read and write. And in light of this, Paul's rule that women not be allowed to teach (1 Timothy 2:12) was totally appropriate. I see this in the same way that I see the command not to promote a novice (1 Timothy 3:6).  Paul's rule was not about morality, at the time it was simply common sense.

I like to think of Wilberforce working from the command that we are to love justice and do kindness  (Micah 6:8). The same principle was surely needed to be at work a hundred years ago in the movement to give women the right to vote. You may have noticed that women can read these days!

Father, if we are to love justice and to do kindness, we must operate out of Kingdom principles and attitudes. When we see that something needs to change there is a strong tendency to go too far, throwing the baby out with the bath water. When we do this what replaces it can be as bad or worse than what needed to be changed. Today we see the formerly oppressed becoming the oppressors. It is not true, as some would have it, that masculinity is toxic in and of its self. Help us Lord to operate with love, justice and courage in a world gone mad,  in Jesus Name Amen

A helper comparable to him I: The sex wars

“Now the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper [one who balances him—a counterpart who is] suitable and complementary for him” (Genesis 2:18 AMP).  In the war between the sexes,  the Bible tends to get short shrift, but there is a lot of misunderstanding.  For example, the Holy Spirit is called the Helper, there is no sense of inferiority in a helper designation. From verses 21-22,  God performs takes a rib from Adam,  and forms Eve.  Matthew Henry comments “woman was made of a rib,  out of the side of Adam; not  out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved.”

 But perhaps the most controversial issue in the sex wars,  comes from the passage on marriage (Ephesians 5:22- 33). It is important to note that this teaching is preceded by the command to submit “to one another in the fear of God” (verse 21). In particular the husband is commanded to submit to the wife,  as well as the wife to the husband. And both are to do it in the fear of the Lord. Actually, the whole passage is summed up by the admonition that the husband love the wife,  and the wife respect her husband (verse  33). It's not that there’s no need for the wife to love her husband, nor for the husband to respect his wife. But I know from my own life that I feel undermined by lack of respect. And perhaps what a man needs most is respect,  and what women need most is love, and perhaps these things are most naturally missing from the equation!

But let's not pretend that man has lived up to the command from the Ephesians passage to love the woman as Christ loved the church (verse 25), nor that there's no disrespect for the man. Note however,  that there is no requirement for these things be deserved!  In a little known verse Paul tells that “neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:11).  It's called interdependence, each surrendering what is necessary for the  good of the relationship. This is to be done “in the fear of the Lord” (verse 21).  We are different, but complementary, with the whole being greater than the sum of the individuals. We are made to need each other. It is not good to be alone, “two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9. 10).

Father, the New Testament calls singleness a gift (1 Corinthians 7:7), but You put the lonely in families (Psalm 68:6). Actually most us us don't want the gift of singleness.  We often say that we can't live with them and we can't live without them.  But one thing is sure, we need Your help Lord in all relationships, and we need to be changed. Show us,  and help us Lord,  in Jesus Name Amen

If you live according to the sinful nature, you will die;

....  but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live (Romans 8:13). This New Testament principle is the equivalent of  “in the day that you eat of it,  you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17). There is a perversion of the gospel (the good news) that is quite common, especially in the West, which says you don't have to change to be saved (put right with God). But this is to ignore  the command to repent (doing a 180 with respect to sin - Mark 1:15). It also ignores such warnings as “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins remains,  but only a fearful expectation of judgment” (Hebrews 10:26, 27). Certainly we are intended to have assurance of salvation, and when we confess and forsake sins we will be forgiven (1 John 5:13; 1:9). But the presumption inherent in the Hebrews reference, is the very opposite of the repentance necessary for salvation (Luke 13:3, 5).

What is interesting, is that many recovering addicts seem to have a more accurate understanding of our sin nature,  than do many Christians.  The sin nature is the inborn impetus to sin, to do misdeeds.  We all have it, we inherited it from Adam.  Because of this, the default is to sin. I am convinced, given the right (or perhaps wrong) circumstances,  that each and every one of us is capable of the most heinous of crimes. You and I could easily have been an Auschwitz guard!  It's no trouble for you to know that about me,  but for you to know it about you,  is to know yourself pretty well. But most of us do not know ourselves that well. It's the offense of the cross, namely that our sin nature is so serious, that the only way for justice to be served,  is for the perfect Son of God to die in our place as a substitution for our sin (1 Peter 3:18).  I often hear “I'm a good person,” but only God is good (Mark 10:18).  It is offensive to many.

But it's not just the misdeeds of the body that need to die, it is also the passions and desires of the sinful nature (Galatians 5:24). So how “by the Spirit” do we put these things to death.  Our part (the “we” in this morning's verse) is to use the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17).  When we learn,  memorize,  internalize and believe (trust in) the precious promises of the Word, we come to share in God's divine nature and so to live (2 Peter 1:4). When we do our part,  the Spirit does His.  For example He kills greed and pride and fear and lust,  changing our desires,  and giving us the wherewithal (the grace) to do His will (Philippians 2:12, 13).  He also provides the way to stand up under trials and to escape temptation (Philippians 4:13; 1 Corinthians 10:13).  

Father, thank You that You loved us so much that You sent Your only Son Jesus to put us right with You (John 3:16). Since the cancer of sin has to fully die, please help us to daily present our bodies as living sacrifices, and to be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:1, 2). When we do this, we will start to live the abundant life (John 10:10b). Thank You Lord for Your awesome salvation,  in Jesus Name Amen

“It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18).

In a world of cell phones and instant communication, we live in the most connected society ever.  Yet at the same time loneliness,  isolation and divorce are of epidemic proportions. We are wounded in community, but we cannot heal in isolation. Perhaps we can survive, but we cannot heal, isolation is not good. I have felt for a very long time that marriage and relationships are God's primary tool to make us more like Christ, and to bring “Kingdom come on earth” in relationships (Matthew 6:10). I believe this is true even when we have utterly failed.

We are told, as far as it depends on us, to live at peace with all (Romans 12:18). It's not always possible of course. Indeed there's a time to embrace,  and a time to refrain from embracing (Ecclesiastes 3:5). Having said that, we tend to either give up far too easily, or we endure rather than deal with the issues,  engaging in the iron sharpening iron character polishing process (Proverbs 27:17). Salvation is by Grace from start to finish, sanctification (freedom from the power and pollution of sin) is certainly by grace, but also through radical obedience and mutual submission (Philippians 2:12, 13; Ephesians 5:21). Obedience allows us the tap into that grace we need to help (Hebrews 4:16).  

One picture of “Kingdom come” in relationships,  looks like paradise before the fall. And we can see what bad things were absent, and what good things were present,  from the admonitions in Scripture. Absent then was  bitterness, wrath, anger, evil speaking and malice (Ephesians 4:31). Present was compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, love, being thankful and forgiving one another as Christ forgave us (Colossians 3:12-15). The believer does not have to do any of this without His help (grace).  We need His grace to do any of it,  but there is one command for which I believe we need a double portion of grace to even start to move into. But it's key.

James 5:16 reads “Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” As the verse implies, it's key to healing, but it is also a major key to growth.  It requires the very opposite of bitterness, resentment and blame. It's about taking care of our side of the street, and it's at the heart of twelve-step programs. What is interesting, is that by and large such programs are safe. And when Christ is Your higher power, you have access to all the principles and promises of Scripture, as well as the power and the presence of  Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:4; 2 Timothy 1:7).  James 5:16 is not 'Kingdom Come 101.' In particular, the almost desperate need we seem to have to be right, to blame others and hide our sin and shame, this needs to die.

Father, even the thought of confessing to others is scary. But we confess to You to be forgiven (1 John 1:9), and we confess to others to be healed! As in twelve -step programs we need to find  just one safe person for this. Help us with this Lord, and give us wisdom and courage to create safe places. Thank You that Kingdom come its not so much about absolute maturity, but rather about the process of being changed (2 Corinthians 3:18).  Thank You Lord that that it's not all up to us, and that You who have begun a good work in us will keep right on doing it (Philippians 1:6), in Jesus Name Amen

Death: The day you eat of it you will die (Genesis 2:17).

Adam did not die physically within 24 hours of eating the forbidden fruit (3:24). But as in English, death  is used both literally and metaphorically in Scripture (i.e. “I would die for that dress”). Unbelievers are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1).   It's separation from God due to sin (Isaiah 59:2), it's spiritual death.  As with Adam, even the smallest sin disqualifies us from paradise (3:24).

If this seems too strict, we need to see God's perspective. Even from my own observations, we seem to have this tendency to define the sinner as 'someone worse than me.' In other words God should let me into heaven, but not that awful man across the street.  We minimize our own faults, maximize everyone else's, and we don't even live up to our own standards (Romans 7:19). After the disciples had walked with Jesus for three years,  He still needed to tell them  things they were still not able to bear  (John 16:12). How much truth can you bear, how much can I?  I have often felt that if the Lord showed me instantly everything in me that needs to be changed,   I would die of shame.

Coming back to paradise, think about it.  If we're going to be there forever and ever, how much rejection, judgement, back biting, manipulation, gossip, put downs, pride etc., etc. do you want to be there?  How much sewage do you want in a barrel of the finest wine?  If heaven is not perfect,  it would not be heaven! And nobody's  perfect, so we're all excluded. If we are to get there, we desperately need to be rescued and changed. We need a higher power! The good news is that God sent Jesus on a rescue mission. Because of free will however,  He won't rescue us without our cooperation.  It's called salvation.

Salvation translates us from “dead in trespasses and sins,” to “alive in Christ” (Ephesians 2:1). It involves three things,  justification (rescue from the penalty of sin -  Romans 5:1); sanctification (the ongoing rescue from the power and the pollution of sin - 1 Thessalonians 4:3);  glorification (rescue from the presence of sin - 1 Peter 5:12; John 11:24).  By analogy, a rescue at sea would involve being picked up from the ocean (justification), the journey to the shore (sanctification) and the arrival home (glorification). Actually, our cooperation on the journey home involves both death and resurrection.  Death: with the Help of the Spirit we are to put to death the actions and attitudes of our former life (death to self centeredness - Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:24). Resurrection: embracing the resurrection life of the Spirit (Philippians 3:10, 11).

Father,  we were dead is trespasses and sins, separated from You and  destined to stay that way for all eternity. “But God,” thank You Lord for Your  “buts,” but God “who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” We have been forgiven much,  help us to love much and obey Your commandments  (Luke 7:47; John 14:15). If You are not Lord of all, You are not Lord at all. Thank You Lord,  that You will destroy the last enemy death (1 Corinthians 15:26), so that in glory there will be no more death, sorrow, crying or pain (Revelation 21:4). And best of all Lord,  we will be like You (1 John 3:2), in Jesus  Name Amen

The commandment, love, free will and judgement

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, 'Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die' (Genesis 2:16,17).

Have you ever heard (or said) “Nobody is going to tell me what to do”?  Sometime the Bible reads like a newspaper “Every one did what was right in his own eyes.”  After recently committing a traffic violation,  I was given mercy rather than justice (he let me off with a warning), and that's what I want when I die, mercy rather than justice! But what gives the law, or the Lord,  the right to judge and/or condemn us?   Those who reject God are essentially saying “He has no right!” If that's you, or someone you love, I am not sure logic will ever convince them/you otherwise!

But reality might!  I'm thinking of the school or hard knocks,  the  Biblical principle that “we reap what we sow.” In other words bad choices have bad fruit (consequences). His gift of free will gives us the ability to choose not to obey the commandments, we are not free of the consequences however. As a young man I knew my wild lifestyle was wrong, I didn't care,  until I did. Today because of persistent propaganda over the last fifty years many do not know their left hand from their right (right or wrong - Jonah 4:11). It's amazing to me, as Jordon Peterson reports, that saying we need to take responsibility for our lives comes as something of a revelation!

The principle contained in the context of morning's verse, is that choosing to disobey the commandments always leads to a form of death, and cuts us off from the tree of life (3:22, 23). God's commandments are there as both a hedge of protection,  and a path to life. In recovery ministry, we see over and over people discovering the hard way, that His ways are best. Actually the law of sowing and reaping is a kind of feedback loop that is designed by the Lord,  to bring us back to Him.  History, experience and the Bible (Psalm 107),  point to the fact that when we're in trouble we cry out to Him. There are no atheists in fox holes!
 

But why did the Lord risk it all by giving us free will? It seems to be about love. Love cannot be love if we have no choice! If there's no possibility of saying no, there's no real choice. And the possibility of our “no,” makes our “yes” significant. In His love then, He gives us the choice, allows the real possibility of  “no,” warns us of the consequences, and then with the gospel also makes a way to return to choosing “yes.” And He did this at incredible cost so Himself (1 Peter 3:18; John 3:16).

Father, I've learned to value You judgements and Your justice. I learned the hard way that if there were no consequences to saying 'no,' I'd likely have ridden off into the sunset! I have also learned to value righteousness, for the fruit of righteousness is a tree of life (Proverbs 11:30).  I am not there yet Lord, but I want to be. As You make clear in the great commandment (Mark 12:30) our 'yes' is a choice to love and be loved.  Please quiet and settle me again this morning with Your love Lord (Zephaniah 3:17) in Jesus Name Amen

The Tree of the knowledge of good and evil

“The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:9b). It was forbidden of course, to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (verse 17).  So was it wrong? If so why on earth would it be wrong to know good and evil (3:5)? Would it not help us to do the good,  and avoid the bad? The world has many such questions, and if we don't wrestle with them ourselves,  how on earth will we be able to give an answer of the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15).  

Let's look at the good first. If you think about it, it makes sense that “to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). You could have pulled a child away from oncoming traffic, but you did not want to get involved! It places a huge  responsibility on us.  And let's face it in many things we all fail (James 3:2)! As civilization progresses we learn things we never thought of as wrong. I hope a 100 years from now I wont be judged by the sensibilities that will have been revealed by that time. We can get overwhelmed with what we aught to do, I know I can!

But surely it would be good to know what's evil,  so we can avoid it!  But it's eating that's wrong, symbolically partaking of evil! You see knowing in the Biblical sense, is much more than intellectual knowledge, it's experiential knowledge (see Genesis 4:1 NKJV). They knew intellectually it was wrong wrong (3:3), but when they ate they knew wrong, they experienced evil.  Think for a moment about how you become an addict. You would never have gotten addicted,  if you had not taken your first fix.  It's a parable of sin. Jesus puts it this way “he (or she) who sins is the slave of sin” (John 8:34). It's like an aggressive cancer, a cancer that's chosen! They were warned there were consequences, but they chose not to believe God (2:17; 3:4, 6).

Jesus told us “every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit (Matthew 7:17). In fact the Bible chronicles the bad fruit from the eating of this tree. Just for a start we see the rapid spread of evil.  It started with disobedience, went to murder, and onto the genocidal attitude of Lamech (36; 4:8, 24). But it didn't stop there. The Lord laments “My people are ....  wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge” (Jeremiah 4:22). What's more, in rebelling against God,  we seem to want to decide for ourselves what is right and what is wrong. The Lord warns through Isaiah “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness” (Isaiah 5:20).

Father, concerning our knowledge of good and evil Paul, like many of us,  could declare “the good that I want to do, I don't do; but the evil I don't to do, that I practice” (Romans 8:19).  And that's talking about the things we ourselves know are either good or bad, it's not even thinking about the things we rationalize away (Romans 1:18). We needed (I did) to be rescued (John 3:16), and we need Your help to live Your way. I for one am asking for it this morning Lord in Jesus Name Amen