Building Christ

If you:

are Encouraged in your Unity with Christ,

are Comforted from His Love,

have Fellowship with the Spirit,

have Tenderness

and Compassion...

Paul is building here. He's shaping the believers foundation. Philippians 2:1.

Being like Christ first requires that we want to be like Him. Makes sense right? Then why is it that so many who claim to be Christians have such a difficult time being like Him? And why do so many who don't know Jesus appear to have Christlike attributes? Well there's a lot that goes into that answer but we'll stick with Paul's foundation for now.

Forming the 'mindset' or the 'attitude' of Christ is a journey.

Being like Him is an adventure, a rigorous, relaxing and rewarding adventure.

Dig deep, ask yourself, seek out the truth in your soul...are you encouraged knowing that you are united with Jesus with every ounce of your being: heart, mind, soul and body.

When it's quiet, when the light's are off and you're alone...do you have comfort knowing that you are loved by Christ. That He died not simply for the whole world but for you specifically. You are accepted and needed.

Are you reliant on your own energy, your own knowledge and limited understanding...or are you fully given over in fellowship with the Spirit, the Encourager, the Counselor, the Guide.

Has life hardened your heart. Are you able to trust others. Willing to be authentic and genuine in your relationships with friends, family, authority figures...God. Do you have a tender heart, warm nature about you.

Look around you, look at those you live with and share life with. Look for those you pass by regularly. Would they call you compassionate. Do you see emotional, mental, physical, spiritual need around you...do you do anything at all to fill those needs. 

IF you desire to have this foundation.

IF at your core you are these things.

THEN Paul is speaking to you, describing your heart. Being built within you is a framework for the attitude of Christlikeness...this is freakin awesome!

LWBC: An Ugly Toddler 2

Now, the blood had to flow. The temple was not only a place for acknowledging God and His power and glory and leadership. The temple was the place to worship, display devotion and seek forgiveness. And so the blood of animals had to flow...right there on temple grounds.

Now there were lots of reasons to spill the innocent blood of an animal.
Plenty of opportunities for a farmer to offer freshly harvested grains and such.
However there was only One place to offer any of these.
The temple.

The temple had a wild host of inner workings. Special items used only to glorify the Lord with. Special ingredients and never ending light in the holy places of the complex. In order to really picture what's happening in the temple, lets climb the temple mount in Jerusalem and take a brief look inside.

Court of Priests:
Altar of Sacrifice: made of bronze, this is where all offerings came to rest, especially blood offerings.
Bronze Laver (Sea): giant bowl containing 12,000 gallons of water resting on a foundation of 12 oxen.
Bronze Pillars: standing at the entrance to the Holy Place, named Jachin and Boaz these pillars represented Stability and Strength.

Holy Place:
Table of Showbread: 12 loaves of unleavened bread representing the 12 tribes of Israel were placed new on this table each week.
Altar of Incense: made of gold, this altar burned a pleasing aroma to God 24/7 - ingredients only allowed to be used in the temple.
Golden Candelabra: the 7 armed lamp stand made of 100lbs of solid gold - burning with olive oil 24/7.

Most Holy Place:
Ark of the Covenant: chest of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold - resting on top were 2 golden cherubim facing one another with heads bowed towards the Ark - each with an enormous wingspan that filled the room. Inside rest the stone tablets in which the 10 commandments were written, Aaron's staff (Moses' brother), and a jar of manna from their journey in the desert.

Right now this information may seem a bit pointless, not all that exciting or useful. However, each piece described above tells the future story of the Son of God, The Messiah, The Savior of mankind.

Each piece describes in some way, shape or form the LIFE, DEATH and ROLE of Jesus in the history of mankind, PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE.

Yes, it's just a bunch of metal ware in a stone building run by a group of Priests who don't have a choice to do what they do...but that's only what it looks like from the outside.
On the inside, I'm not talking about inside the building, I mean on the inside of your heart, your soul, deep within your spirit God is alive and well.
What may look broken, seem pointless, feel trapped and hurt and living in sin may also be very much alive deep down inside.
The temple, the metal and stone, the Priests acting on tradition...well God is using all of them to do something much, much, much greater than they could imagine.
That is where Jesus eventually comes in.

LWBC: An Ugly Toddler 1

Whether you know it or not your soul desires to be connected with its Creator.

In Figs & Furs we saw man and woman choose sin and Gods response to their sin. Now here we are several thousand years later at the Temple, built by King Solomon (1 Kings 6), modelled after Moses' tabernacle (Exodus 36), which was designed by God as an earthly replica of the temple in Heaven.

The Temple began with Moses. He would leave the Israelite camp and head out to a lone tent called 'the tent of meeting' (Exodus 33:7). There he would speak with God face to face, 'as a man speaks with his friend' (33:11). I'm jealous. In fact, God even let Moses see His Glory, His beauty, His Divine Nature...but not His face. Looking into His face, God says, would kill Moses (33:12-23). Stinking Awesome.

After that God called Moses to build an official meeting place, set up a high priest who would lead the people and be the middle man between God and them. This new tent is the Tabernacle.

Many years and wars and sins and blessings and people come and go and we step into the season of the Ugly Toddler.

Remember who the Ugly Toddler is? The Israelites. They're in that stage in their spiritual life where they're selfish, obnoxious, always needing to be retold how to act and speak and live. Yet, like a loving parent, God never gives up on them.
He disciplines.
He teaches.
He sets up Laws to guide them.
He forgives them and reconnects with them.
Yet they never stay faithful to Him for long. An Ugly Toddler.

King David steps onto the scene and is considered a friend of God they have such a good relationship. He is a king chosen by God to lead His people. King David decides to build a permanently magnificent temple for the Lord instead of a temporary tent/tabernacle. God gives David the blueprints and David passes on the instructions to Solomon, his son. Solomon builds the Temple.

This is important.
Before the Temple the people were nomads waiting to settle a land of their own.
After they move into the land God had promised them and eventually build the Temple life changes.
These people (much like you and I) have a hard time simply believing that God is always with us and in control.
These people have heavenly moments where they are connected with God, ask forgiveness for their sin and obey the Lord.
These people have even more horrible moments where they worship themselves, do what makes them feel good, follow the gods of their neighbors to fit in and make friends...they ignore God and leave Him in the dust.
The Temple is symbol of power and permanence. Now the people see a building that God calls His home permanently built in their city on the highest hill.
The Temple and the priests that take care of it are a symbol of Gods love and plan to be united with His people always. Laws are put in place to guide the people and show them what holiness is and what sin is.
The Temple is a sign of a new and eternal life with thee Creator, YHVH, the Lord God.

It's ancient history, but if you're a student of Jesus, if you believe in Him and know that He loves you, then this is your history as well, these men and women and this Temple are a part of your family tree. And if it's part of your family, it's not useless info hidden in the past, it shapes your story, who you are, why you are the way you are and who God is in your life.

Read Exodus 36:8-38 to get an idea of what Moses' Tabernacle looked like.
Read 1 Kings 6 to see the Temple being built under King Solomon.
Read Hebrews 3:6 & 1 Corinthians 6:19 to see that here and now, in 2010, the followers of Jesus are a new and living temple (we'll get to that later in more depth).

Blood was shed in the Garden and is shed in the Temple. In fact, the Ugly Toddler needs lots of blood to be forgiven for their never ending sins. We'll get to that next time.

LWBC: Figs & Furs 3

God exists in His Glory - Heaven on Earth - Man Created - Man misses the Mark - Fig Leaves and Animal Furs = Genesis 1-3

'Their eyes were opened...so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings...' (Gen. 3:7)

Adam and Eve are living in Heaven on earth. They have a personal relationship with the Creator of everything. Even in a perfect environment such as the Garden of Eden, God allowed Satan to tempt man. God even allowed man the freedom to choose how to live their lives. And the outcome is famous - they choose to be selfish, they crave power and self righteosness and so they give in to Satans temptation - they Miss the Mark = they sin and break their perfect relationship with God.

I love their response, because I'm sure I would do the same thing.

They realize that they're naked (they hadn't noticed before), so they swan dive in opposite directions into some bushes nearby. They find some thin vines and sew some big ole leaves together creating that seasons newest fashion. They are no longer naked and embarrassed.

Outcome: God shows up, knowing entirely what just happened, and is clearly disappointed. Man cannot cover his own sin. No matter how fashionable and creative we might get, no matter how comfortable and content we might be, if we're living in sin then we're missing Gods mark, we're missing His plan and no matter what we do, we won't be able to cover it up physically, mentally or spiritually and it will tear us apart emotionally.

Fig Leaves don't cover sin.

So God does what only God is allowed to do and maps out their future. He curses them all three of them: man, woman and Satan.

Now, God still wants a relationship with his most loved creation, Adam and Eve. Since fig leaves won't cover their sin and make them holy again, God must do it.

'The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.' (Gen. 3:21)

In this passage, according to many brilliant theologians, is a Protoevangelium: first announcement of the Good News of Gods future plans. God knows of their choice to listen to Satan, He see's their attempt to cover their shame and embarrassing sin, so God decides to cover their sin in His own way.

YHVH finds one of His beautiful animals, sheds its 'lifeblood', skins it, creates an even newer seasonable fashion and covers Adam and Eve.

Take note of the symbolism. He doesn't just cover them physically with fur. He covers their sin with the blood of the animal. He takes the life of an innocent, perfect lower lifeform in place of taking human lives. He loves them too much to abandon them. He chooses them to glorify Him and to have a relationship with. Animals were not created to act and to think and to freely choose and know God, only man has this ability, has His word and spirit and love.

The protoevangelium here is the shedding of blood by God for the salvation of man. Sound familiar? Jesus, shedding His blood for the eternal salvation of man...This act of God in the garden is a sign of what is to come in the future in Jerusalem. Stinkin awesome! He is in control, He has had a plan throughout every century, age, blessing and disaster.

God is just. He created justice and lives by it. He is perfect and calls us to be perfect. In order to stay connected with God something must pay for sin, originally it was an innocent animal (which soon becomes a religion) - eventually it becomes the Messiah, the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

Figs and Furs don't cover sin.
Leaves and Animals don't forgive sin.
God does. Only God. The Beginning and the End. The One True God.

Read Genesis 3. Take notice that while God is love, it isn't a fluffy-run through a meadowy field with flowers in His hair type of love. His love is strong, it is forgiving, it is just and like all love it involves discipline, change, maturity, protection and need for a healthy, pure relationship.

This is the beginning.

Philippians 1:29

Paul is in prison.
Timothy continues to serve with him.
Philippian believers are on the road to struggle and persecution.
And Paul is encouraging them to stand firm in Christ amidst their opposition.
How encourging...

'For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him...'

'granted' - charizomai (gk) - to give permission, to authorize, allow

If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, it's only because God has allowed your eyes and ears and heart and mind to be opened to the Truth.
Yes, He wants all of His creation to know Him.
No, they won't all want to know Him.
Through your willingness to seek Him no matter how broken hearted, bitter or angry towards Him you might be, He knows you and me and every person on earth and opens us up to understanding His Word according to His time and plan.

In the same way that He gives us permission to believe and trust in Jesus...He allows us to suffer.
He allows us to believe in Jesus for eternal love and life. And allows us to suffer like Him on earth.

He doesn't just allow it really, He authorizes it, He permits it.
He's pretty much saying that if you're willing to follow the Messiah, the Savior of the world Jesus...then you and I must be willing to suffer in some way as well, some of us in more extreme ways than others...some even to death.

Paul was confident that God would continue to work in their lives through good and bad (1:6) and because they knew God would never stop working in them (2:13) they should continue working out their own salvation (2:12) living a life worthy of Christ (1:27), living, acting, thinking and speaking with His attitude (2:5).

What other gifts do we need?
He's given us the greatest gifts a believer could ask for:
1) to believe in Jesus
2) to live like Him (includes suffering)

We're allowed to be like Christ.

LWBC: Figs & Furs 2

The Garden of Eden, a sort of Heaven on earth, was the place that YHVH (God) had set apart for Himself and His favorite creation, man and woman.

Isaiah called this place the 'garden of the Lord' where joy and gladness and thanksgiving and singing are found. Pretty much he's saying it's freakin awesome place to be (Isaiah 51:3).This is the place on earth God created to dwell (live). He created man in this Garden to live with Him in perfection and joy...

This Garden is a type of Holy Temple created in nature. The Garden itself is like the Holy of Holies (where the Ark is kept remember?) and Eden, which is in Mesopotamia, is like the Holy Place (candles, incense, bread...).

You see, most ancient Mesopotamian cultures had creation stories of their own. Some, like the Sumerian 'island of Dilmun', have their own versions of paradise on earth similar to the Garden. However, in the Sumerian version the god Enki has to figure out how to teach the people and animals they just made how to function: eat, sleep, work, talk, think...(An imperfect creator is not a god I want to follow)

My point is - the original audience reading the words of Genesis almost 4000 years ago would have seen the Garden as Heaven on earth. In the same way you know that Yellowstone National Park is a real place out West, the Hebrews reading this story would have pictured the Garden of Eden out East of them. We should too.

I can picture God walking through His Garden with His people, barefoot. A mighty river feeding the land. Fruit trees and vegetables and wildlife flourishing. Trees of Life and Knowledge growing in the center. Life is good, healthy, growing abundantly and stinkin' awesome! God is enjoying His time with His creation.

Take a moment and read Genesis 1-2.

Now go to the end of the Bible and read Revelation 22:1-5.

Isn't it awesome how the beautiful Temple in Heaven described in Revelation, the final home for all of those who have faith and believe in Jesus, is similar to the Garden. The river of life, the trees and the abundance of fruit and crops and health for all in perfection, 'No longer will there be any curse (sin).' His people will be with Him just like in the Garden and this time forever!

Alright - so we still haven't made our way to Adam and Eve and Figs and Furs...but we will! I just want you to understand how incredible the environment is that Adam and Eve are in when we get to their horrible decision to screw it all up.

You should walk away from here today realizing that the Garden wasn't just a Garden...it was a Holy Place showing us that from the very beginning of creation God has eternity planned out and that eternity is with those He loves dearly.

LWBC: Figs & Furs 1

In The Beginning...God made heaven and earth and air and plants and birds and fish and dogs (not cats) and lots of other creations and finally He made human beings.

In Genesis 2:7 we see that God 'breathed into his [mans] nostrils the breath of life.' God didn't do this with any other creation. There is something special about Gods relationship with man and woman - we're made to be like Him in a lot of very important ways.

In 2:22-23 we see that woman is made from the bone and flesh of man. This is important too. It shows us that flesh and bone, the human body, is very important to God. So important that He uses it to create more life.

At camp on Sunday Night we talked about Lifeblood: the life of the flesh is in the blood - Leviticus 17:11. This shows us that all living creatures are important and loved by God. However, because humans are made in a more special way than animals we know that man and woman have a special place in Gods heart and Gods plan.

So God breathes Life into Adam

From Adams flesh God creates Eve

Both Adam and Eve have flowing within them the blood and the breath of Life

NOW before we get to the sacrifice and sin and leaves and furs...I want you notice something very important that should help you understand why the Bible (the Scriptures, Old and New Testaments) are so important and trustworthy.

Read 2 Timothy 3:16 - 'All Scripture is God-breathed...'

Did you catch that? The Bible, Scripture, The Word of God is 'God-breathed' - in the original Greek language the word is 'theopneustos' - this simply  means that God spoke the words of the Bible. IF God spoke these words then they must be important right? Yes.

Not only are they important but like the breath God breathed into Adam in the beginning - this breath gives life. Reading the Bible, studying the story of God, discovering Jesus throughout the entire Bible fills us with a new kind of spiritual life.

In other words - Reading the Bible is like Breathing in the Breath of God - the Breath of Life. It's refreshing and challenges us to become more like Jesus, like God.

So - before we move on, spend some time reading the first few chapters of Genesis:

Note how wild of a story it is.

Think about how creative God is.

Think about how important man and woman are to God.

Think about how awesome it is that the same God that breathed life into the first man is breathing life into you and  me - take a deep breath and thank God you're alive.

Know that you can trust the Bible to tell us about Gods love for us.

LWBC Underground

Another great week of camp comes to an end. There is nothing quite like a week of sweat, mosquitoes, tube-city and discovering YHVH Shammah (the Lord is there).

Having begun with the first Blood-Sacrifice (Freddy-Bob the leopard) and ending with Christians as Living-Sacrifices we've spanned the entire length of human history up to this point. But one week isn't enough time to cover the awesomeness of what God has done in the past and is doing right now in your life and mine.

In the next few days and weeks I'll be slowly walking through what we've learned at LWBC but in more detail:

- more Scripture for further study
- more explanation on certain topics
- recommended books to read
- responding to any questions or thoughts you have

If you're reading this then I suppose you're as excited as I am to connect with this God on a deeper level (or maybe you just want some sweet pictures of me and my beard). Either way, it was fantastic spending the evenings with you at camp this week, maybe we'll do it again next year?!

Peace like a tree sending it roots out to a stream...

(Stay tuned - from now on anytime you see a new post titled LWBC:  you'll know it's for you.)

Set-Apart or Setting-Apart...or Both

Sanctified: to make holy - to set apart - to consecrate - to free from sin, purify

So living a God-honoring life is not only awesome but necessary right? Why do we do it? For Jesus or for us? Is it mandatory? Do we work at it? Does it just happen amidst salvation?

'To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy...' 1 Cor. 1:2

As disciples we are sanctified and yet being sanctified right? How would you explain Sanctification? How a believer should go about it and why they should, if they should or is it fully up to the Spirit to work out our spiritual transformation and growth with or without our knowledge and work?

If God alone 'brings forth a new creation through the Spirit' (Gal. 6:15) - then does it matter if I 'work out my salvation' personally with perseverance, a clear mind and self-control.

Below are a few very brief descriptions of several prominent paths to defining sanctification in the Christian realm today. Though only a scratch at the surface of these views we none-the-less catch the idea that Biblical truths are not always so easy to place in a neat little box. Yet truth still remains.

1) the Lutheran View: Sanctification is learning to live by faith that one is justified because of Gods free gift in Jesus Christ.


2) the Reformed View: Sanctification is definitive (final) and also progressive (ongoing).

3) the Keswick View: Sanctification is a blessing, liberty and rest for those who have life in Christ – no longer any wrestling w/sin, a cease from striving.

4) the Wesleyan View: Sanctification is a matter of heart and right relationship, not a set of rules – entire sanctification, that is, completely cleansed from inbred sin.

'May the God of peace sanctify you entirely...' (1 Thess. 5:23). Entirely here and now or eternally someday?

Wrestle. Pray. Study. Ask. 'Hold unswervingly to the hope [you] profess for He who promised is faithful' (Heb. 10:23). Regardless of where you sit in your understanding of what it means to 'be Holy as [He] is Holy' you and I are called to Love God and Love People.

Loving God is an awesome honor. Loving His people is equally so. I know that I can only do either because He has revealed Himself and His purpose and is currently working in my heart and soul to do both. If He is currently working then I must be changing for the better - is this sanctification? If I was sanctified by the Spirit once and for all then no growth is necessary and therefore no work is to be within me right? What is the role of sanctification? As this settles I think I'll continue to:

Focus on Jesus.
Talk to the Father.
Rely on the Spirit.
Rest in the word.
Grow in knowledge.
Mature in understanding.
Hope to live an eternally holy life.

Be Sanctified.

Many thoughts stem from the book - Across the Spectrum, Gregory A. Boyd & Paul R. Eddy

colors = words = ideas

A typical thought-mapping scheme on the beloved mighty-whitey (whiteboard).

After I have the initial bulk of research and study done, I then move to creating a color-schemed, quasi-psycho, maplike-outline of the flow of the teaching.

Lines and arrows inter-connect thoughts and flow.

Colors and shapes help divide up various sections of the outline: Intro - Body - Conclusion - Challenge etc...

At times a word-for-word sentence solidifies a main point, thought or a necessary mind/heart bridge.

Ultimately the entire design and layout of my notes on mighty-whitey assists in memorizing the teaching. Of course, being passionate about and familiar with the material is absolutely key to a more authentic communication with the audience.

This method is how I flush out the details and kinks and grab onto the big picture as well as the minute details in a very physical way. Of course there are many ways to dance a jig. It's a healthy combination of learning the key components involved in putting together the material and your personal learning style (both of which take much time to learn and develop).

If your desire is to glorify God in presenting His Word in love and in truth - then how you get there in your prep is totally up to you.

Underground

LWBC - 'Underground' - week is about to wrap up. It's a very interesting thing to walk through the role of the blood sacrifice in the history of Gods plan of reconciliation.

From the animal skin coverings in Edens Garden through the maze of complex rituals in the Temple, YHVH has desired a fearfully loving and divinely personal relationship with His most favored creation - man.

Sacrifice has been a part of the human/Deity relationship since the beginning, a way to connect, to remember sin, to taste and feel and know Holiness.

Living as a sacrifice through the lifeblood of the Final Sacrifice is an honor given to the house of God, an honor like no other in history. His story.

An honor not meant to keep hidden Underground, but to be shared, to be lived, to speak of and conform to the image of Whom we honor.

The Singing Seven

If you could listen to a group of strange men singing wildly about hermeneutics would you? Freak yeah!

An awkward group of grown men in red and white striped suits with straw hats painted to match belting out a capella songs about the study of the Word. Sweet, sweet soul music. This is what I picture as I crack open the Scriptures and begin the study process on any given day.

Let's meet the barber shop group and get a feel for the role they play:

 - wrote the book/letter/poem
 - is the main character(s)

 - is the reason for the text: letter, parable, poem etc.
 - are the key words, phrases, ideas

 - was the text written
 - did the events in the text take place

 - was the author at time of writing
 - is the main setting for the text

 - is the author writing
 - do they choose the words, phrases, thoughts, etc.

 - does verse relate to the passage...etc.
 - does what is written affect the audience

 - what am I to do with this text, how does it affect me
 - how does this affect my life in Christ


There it is. A non-exhaustive listing of questions to ask yourself when studying the Word. These guys come in handy once you get the hang of asking their opinion on everything you read. The amount of info you're able to pick up simply by adding these to your study habits will greatly increase your comprehension of the living and active Word of God.

Next time you study, put on an Andrew Bird album, make a hot mug o' chamomile-vanilla tea, pull out a nice and thick journal and sing yourself into hermeneutical bliss.
Enjoy.

The Mind-blowing Hypernymity...

More non/thoughts on the un/knowable (G)od as seen through the eyes of the author of 'How (Not) to Speak of God'.

YHVH is mysterious.
He has not revealed every bit of who He is.
There is more to the Father than we'll ever comprehend.
Yet He has given us everything we need to know regarding truth, orthodox living, faith, salvation...(2 Peter 1:3-4 - is it possible that God would personally 'call/choose/elect' us only to confuse us?)
He has spoken, He has revealed Himself in thousands of situations throughout Scripture and as John the Apostle notes, 'Jesus did many other things as well.' (John 21:25 - if what he did was too much to comprehend or worse, not worth knowing, why even make note of this?)

Anonymity: not easily distinguished, too little info to understand

Hypernymity: too much information to understand, overwhelming sensory overload

According to Rollins, Gods revelation of Himself is so powerful, so sensory blinding that no one is capable of getting a good look at or understanding who He actually is. God is not anonymous, He is hypernonomous. He has now revealed so much of Himself that we will never decipher what has been revealed. (I'm surprised anyone managed to coherently write anything down after meeting the resurrected Jesus...)

Yes, Moses' hair turned white upon meeting the Lord.
Yes, the Lord refused to show His face when passing by Elijah.
Yes, Paul the super-apostle was blind for 3 days after meeting Jesus in all His glory.
Yet God has wanted nothing more than to connect with His people. He has repeatedly revealed Himself in ways we can grasp, comprehend, hope and believe in.

If ever there were to be a blinding reaction in the face of meeting Deity, Jesus would have blinded all. Yet even He taught the opposite. That those with open heart and open eyes would see Him for who He is. And those with a darkened heart would remain deaf - it wasn't the overwhelming Glory of Jesus that blinded people, it was their callous and cynical hearts and minds. The light of Jesus brings life, truth, understanding, faith and ultimately the Kingdom of God.

Rollins seems to ignore every shred of Scripture in order to pass off his incomprehensible un/theology of (G)od.

'To those who believed Jesus said, 'if you truly are my disciples you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.' Truth was/is objective, truth was/is factual, truth was tangible at that moment (Jesus), orthopraxy is not only possible but necessary to truly know what it is to be like Christ. Action and Faith. Paul and James.

Without reading his (Rollins) book it may be hard to gather that he knows little about Scripture and clearly shies away from hermeneutics.

I imagine Rollins heart is in the right place at times, unfortunately he seems to proclaim his 'truth' without the approval of Jesus and the Apostles, without the Holy Spirit and without the support of the Father - all of which come to us through Scripture but only to he who is Wise in the Spirit.

To close my ramblings I want to note a thought of Rollins that almost sounds authentic and worth considering...Rollins believes a follower of Christ is only a true follower of Christ once he has (if even for a moment of clarity) lost all hope of heaven and eternal life, thus resting fully in the despair of Jesus' death on the cross. To Rollins this act proves that ones faith is freely given to Christ if they expect nothing in return...such as life with the Creator for eternity. In other words - A person cannot fully experience faith until he expects nothing in return. I would almost agree...just not with Rollins reasoning.

It's interesting then that Jesus preached the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of God. His message was for all to repent, follow Him (the way, truth and life) and live forever in the Kingdom which is His. If Jesus never intended us to faithfully hope in eternal salvation, if He never wanted us to run the race and fight the good fight to receive our crown...then why continuously preach eternal life as a gift to be received?

Rollins - I agree with him to some degree - the disciple ought to wrestle with the weight of the cross, and not just the cross, but the sin that Jesus carried on it and the Life that is lost because of our sin. Vital.
Though we serve a loving God of redemption, which is the narrative of the Bible...so resting and hoping and having faith in Resurrection can't be that bad can it?

There it is. I'd like to think I'm not so defensive all the time in the face of gross error - but I suppose it hit the right nerve - not that my knowledge of God is the end all...but if Rollins is right...then Jesus was wrong.

Velkomen

Great, let's get started.

In the previous post are some general thoughts about the class and some questions to help get us started on this journey. I'm excited to be an ambassador for the Kingdom, to speak old truth in new ways.

Most of us are at the beginning of this journey in discovering what role we play in speaking the Word. Perfect. The goal is to help realize what it looks like for you - personally, individually - to create, develop and speak how you are built to do so. Good stuff.

Like:
DaVinci with his art
C.S.Lewis with his writing
Quentin Tarantino with his movies
Kenny G. with his clarinet
and Me with my beard...
speaking is an art and a science and a spiritual act of worship that takes time and discipline and reliance on the Spirit. You are designed with certain gifts and whether speaking is one of them or not we want to find out how you communicate best, how you were created to do so.

SO read the previous post - Communis 101 - eat some frosted mini-wheats, and get ready to speak.

Communis 101:

When Jesus 'randomly' strikes up a conversation with the woman of Samaria drawing water from Jacobs well He does is it so naturally (yes, I know He created conversation). He and the woman had something in common - thirst. Thus begins another opportunity for the outgrowth of Jesus' Kingdom.

Communis (Latin) - common - the root of communication.

If we desire to communicate anything of value we should ask ourselves that late 90's pop slogan 'WWJD?' and discover some common ground with the opposite party. When this happens, hearts and minds are attracted and community is given a foundation to grow upon.

Using your vocal cords, however, is not the starting point for worthwhile communication. Your mouth is merely the portal by which the trappings of your heart are released. And your heart is only the filter by which the knowledge of the Messiah and His life and His love are funnelled through.

We'll start there, with the heart and the mind...your lifestyle.
Eventually we'll tap into:
Idea formation
Research & Prep
The architecture of the message
The art of delivery
...and more.

Tell me...

• why do you want to teach, speak, preach etc?
• what do you want to learn in this time together?
• what is at least one strength and one weakness of yours regarding this topic?
• who are some communicators: speakers, preachers, artists, actors, bands etc. that impact you, that hold your attention and stir something within you?

Ask yourself the above the questions (bring answers for the first session). Your answers will help define the purpose and direction of this class. Come ready to discuss, ask and learn. Our mouths are only a part of the teaching process, God will use any and every medium to do His work - everything is on the table - ask.

Bring:  notebook - writing utensil - Bible

Check out the Date page for meeting dates/times/locations.

The Speak page shares my divine enlightenment while reading - which has spilled into this class.

'Be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry [and even slower to assume I'll have every answer]' I think Jesus' brother James said that. Look it up.

In the hope of gaining the attitude of Christ...see you soon.

I'll be there at 7am with a coffee if you're interested in depth and conversation over any topic your spirit so desires.

The Unknowable-Untheology...

Let me start by saying that I love to rethink. I love the discovery process of finding God in anything and everything. The catch is that I believe God is discoverable and has revealed Himself for that purpose.

In 'How (Not) to Speak of God' Rollins lays the foundation of his view of God and the Word by stating first and foremost that:

'[R]evelation [of God throughout Scripture is merely] the overpowering light that renders God known as unknown.' (Rollins, 17) (John 1:1-34, Jesus did want to be known right?)

To help explain his point he uses the 'parable' as an example. Now in my last post I used one from Luke and pointed out that clearly Jesus isn't praising the unethical behavior of the dirty manager, Jesus used that character to shed light on a greater, specific point, which He states clearly.

Rollins, however, believes we have it wrong, that these parables - stories, these allegories, fables have an infinite number of interpretations and that all of them draw us closer to God, all of them transform us into...Christ-likeness?

According to Rollins, orthodox interpretation and theology may be eloquent and well versed but it does not transform - what transforms a person is not knowing who God really is, or better yet, that we can't really know for sure what we think we know. (2 Tim. 3:10-4:2, Paul tells us to correct false teachings with truth found in Scripture - if Rollins is right, then Paul is wrong, because we can't correct if we don't know what should be)

I agree though, we can't know the mind of God entirely, He is mysterious and no one is capable of being identical to Him. That said, we're called to be like Christ, to have His attitude, to carry our cross like Him, to be forgiven and redeemed by God, to personally be His body and worship Him as He has revealed Himself to us.

Rollins uses various stories from Scripture to show us who God really is, or isn't...though, I don't know if I can trust the theology of a person who in one breath denies we can know anything about God as revealed to us in Scripture while simultaneously using that very Scripture as His foundation for understanding this God as presented to us.

What a shame, Jesus wasted his life:

ushering in the Kingdom,

teaching truth,

travelling to open hearts and minds,

connecting personally with His creation,
healing those he loves,

dying for those he knows,

rising again for our personal salvation,
sending the Counselor to guide us in all of Gods revealed truth,
Truth that has been prophesied throughout Scripture and quoted by Jesus Himself...Jesus did all this and apparently it doesn't have to mean what He intended it to. Shhh...don't tell Jesus.

I suppose the Law wasn't really meant to guide, steer and correct.
I suppose 'command' could be interpreted, 'if it sounds good to you'.
I suppose 'I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Me' could be a way of saying, 'relax, I'm not here to say anything in particular, what do you think I'm saying anyways?'
I also suppose that when John closed his gospel noting that Jesus did so much more than we could ever imagine, what he was really saying was, 'Jesus did stuff, doesn't really matter, what do you make of it...tell me what it all means cause I don't know what Jesus was talkin' about but I'm willing to die for it.'

Nah.

I'm curious to see where this un-theology, this non-understandable-understanding leads. As open as I think I am to new ideas...the idea that we can't know anything about YHVH just because He is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient and mysterious doesn't line up with the heart of that very same God as found in Scripture.

He reveals because He desires a relationship, a relationship more in-depth than that of an infant who only knows she has a mother but not really who the mother is. Jesus wants His followers to be mature, knowledgeable believers, faithfully following after Him...the Him He showed us - and yes, He did show us many definite attributes.

Hmm...I suppose I'll have to keep reading.

(I apologize for the sarcasm...it doesn't help in the ongoing conversation...I know)

The Shrewd

So I'm a fan of the plots and characters of Jesus' stories. Really. In one [Luke 16:1-12] Jesus unearths a corrupt rich man (Guido) who plans on firing his villainous manager (Tiny). So Tiny immediately acts 'shrewdly' and cuts the debt of some of Guido's debtors so that he'll have a friend or two when he's on skid row.

Yeah, Guido praises him for this, I know, and this is Jesus' point to the story. Is the most righteous Son in existence condoning lying and cheating and stealing? Nope. Guido knew he was overcharging and abusing his debtors (common practice in the culture since charging interest was unlawful amongst the Jews) and Tiny knew it and abused his boss like any disciple of corruption would...two evil men in awe of how creative yet practical their villainy can be.

phronimos (gk): shrewd - to think sensibly, prudently, practically in relationships and situations

In a reverse-tipsy-upside-downsy-pulp-fictionesque-sort-of-way Jesus commends us to get creatively wise and practically shrewd with our resources by way of two shady characters.

Guido and Tiny and others around us who are only interested in the happenings of the physical world are doing a better job winning others over than most followers of the Lover of this world.

Sure, this has a little do with money but it's so much bigger than that, it also touches on our vocational and social positions, talents, gifts, material belongings, time and energy etc.

I wonder if Jesus is praising Tiny's creativity. I wonder if the Creator is teaching His disciples, you and I, that vision and risk, creativity and imagination, practical application, knowledge, spiritual wisdom and humility need to come together in beautiful and powerful ways in order to share the Son of that very Creator with Guido's world. Isn't this simply responding as Christ would, with His attitude, with His sensibilities.

Is the ultimate Counselor, our internal Spiritual Guide, capable of such creativity within the Body?

Step outside and open your eyes, breathe in.

Stroll through a museum and contemplate.

Check your heart, abilities, desires.

He is the creative Head of His church.
You are His body.
God channels vast amounts of His creativity through man.

Be that kind of shrewd.

...learneth my child.

In his second epistle - or letter instructing groups of believers - Peter briefly acknowledges that Paul, his faithful pal, is writing words ultimately by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, text to be considered Scripture amongst the New Church.

He goes on to say that in order to shy away from spiritual ignorance, thus living in the divine nature [2 Peter chapter one] his readers - as well as you and I - must 'grow in the grace and knowledge of...Christ.'

Why? And how does this relate to being a productive teacher. Not only a productive teacher, but one that's able to brush off and defeat false teachings that exploit and destroy without understanding or care[chapter two].

Peter wrote these passionate instructions around the same time that his cohort Paul, while in prison, wrote his second very personal letter to his favorite son - Timothy. I realize how absurd it is to ask 'why' it's important to continue growing in Christ, it's obvious right? Tell me this, how much do you study the life of the Messiah. If you're fully matured in Christ-likeness then by all means, don't waste your time. Otherwise, it's not such an absurd question and reminder is it?

Though the answer can be found throughout the entire body of Scripture, Paul sums it up a bit while encouraging Tim, he says that all Scripture (even the new stuff) is God-breathed - Theopneustos: the very breath/wind/spirit of YHVH infused into the logos, the word - and used for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training up in the righteousness of God [2 Timothy chapter three].

Growing in Christ, according to Peter and Paul, equips us to graciously serve with the wisdom of God. Teaching is an obese part of that service, very weighty responsibility. As the student learns from the Teacher he is equipped to continue the spiritual tradition of passing on the Word, in truth.

So grow, breathe in the attitude of Christ.

Wushu Masters & Christian Rabbi's:

There is a fantastic range of similarities between how one trains to become a master in martial arts and how one grows in the attitude of Christ. In The Forbidden Kingdom, Jackie Chans wise but drunken character attempts to describe to his student where one must begin:

Like a cup overflowing with water, how can a man learn if he is already full of the knowledge he needs.

Like a cup being poured out, one must empty himself of what he thinks he knows and fill himself with actual knowledge.

Jesus and His dsiciples taught:

A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. [Luke 6:40]

In fact, if he is rooted and established in love, a love that surpasses all human understanding, he will be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Christlike. [Ephesians 3:14-19]

Isn’t it interesting that those who respond most often to Jesus’ call: the weary, the hurt, the sick, the poor, the stuck, etc – these come to Him with nothing. They come with open arms, teary-eyed, limping and breaking. Even those who are wealthy, who are healthy, comfortable and happy must come to Jesus with nothing in order to experience the filling of His Spirit, authentic response to His call.

The rich young ruler who came to Jesus with everything in his life already fulfilled? Jesus sent Him away with what challenge?…Why did he need Jesus if he were already full?

Jesus gave water to the Samaritan women who was hurting, spiritually blind but alert and very thirsty. She, a person humbled through the forthright truth and obvious compassion of Jesus, stood before Him with nothing, her entire life (in her own words) laid bare.

The student, before he can grow properly, must be properly emptied.

And the teacher, before he can teach, must accept his gift and be properly filled.

Intro

Not so long from now purpose will abound for this space. Until that time, however, be relieved that no such important activity is taking place herein. Sit back, relax and turn the channel.

Good Day.