Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Ups 'n' Downs

I've been sick for over two weeks, now - a cold or bronchitis or ... Anyway, it really saps my energy and mooshes my brain, so I haven't posted much. My post from this AM was a reworking of something I wrote for a friend early this year or late last year. I started antibiotics this PM, so hopefully I'll start doing better.

Not being well, I haven't been exercising as much as I had been. I've still been doing OK with eating and exercise as a whole, though. I'm not doing anything fancy, just using MyFitnessPal.com to track and plan what I eat and how much I exercise. Users enter some profile and goals information and it calculates what one needs to do to meet those goals. It's calorie-counting based, but it has a huge database of different foods and the number of calories per unit of measure. The database also has a lot of items from many restaurants.

One of the things we bought in early July was some 38 waist jeans, the next waist size smaller from what I was then (and am still) wearing. We were anticipating further progress, and I guesstimated that they would fit in late August. So I tried on a pair this PM ... and they fit! So now I'm down two waist sizes, from 44 to 38. And I haven't worn 38s, except for a few years in the 80s, since the early or mid 70s. More than a few stores have little or no stock of men's pants larger than 38 waist. So this is pretty cool.

God has done some wonderful things - new jobs for Mrs. Soapy Pete - for our finances ... We are looking forward to resuming our church home group in a few weeks ... Mrs. Soapy Pete has also been doing well with losing weight ... And hopefully I'll get the rest of my brain back in a few days.

The Personhood and Deity of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit as a person

Before diving into the lists that follow, I'd like to explain my approach and focuses in their compiling. The Bible can be a daunting book - well over a thousand pages long, written by multiple authors over some 14 or 15 centuries. Even the "simple" message of salvation, understandable to many 3- or 4-year-olds, challenges and sometimes eludes the wisest men and women. There are multiple ways to approach studying the Bible. One is to go through an entire book or long section of a book word by word, verse by verse and paragraph by paragraph. Another is to select a word or topic and use a concordance to see what is said about that topic or how that word is used throughout Scripture. The list below came from a search, using BibleStudyTools.com, on the word "spirit". The verses below are those which refer to the Holy Spirit rather than to a demon or the human spirit and attribute to the Holy Spirit qualities only a person can have. Details which are important are sometimes easy to miss or to misunderstand the full significance thereof. My format is to give the verse (all verses are from the NASV), and then indicate its significance.

Nehemiah 9:20: You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them, Your manna You did not withhold from their mouth, and You gave them water for their thirst.
Capable of teaching, requires knowledge, understanding, thought and speech.

Isaiah 63:10: But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; Therefore He turned Himself to become their enemy, He fought against them.
Awareness and emotions.

Ezekiel 3:24: The Spirit then entered me and made me stand on my feet, and He spoke with me and said to me, "Go, shut yourself up in your house. ..."
Speech and having a will.

Ezekiel 11:5: Then the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and He said to me, "Say, 'Thus says the LORD, "So you think, house of Israel, for I know your thoughts. ..."
Speech, knowledge, thought and having a will.

Matthew 28:19: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is grouped with two other persons as having authority.

Mark 3:9: but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin
Blasphemable. See also Matthew 12:31-32, Luke 12:10.

Mark 13:11: When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.
Speech. See also Matt. 10:19-20.

Luke 2:26: And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
Knowledge, thought and ability to reveal things.

Luke 12:12: for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.
Knowledge, thought and ability to teach.

John 14:26: But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
Knowledge, thought and ability to teach.

John 15:26: When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me
Sight, knowledge, thought and speech.

John 16:13: But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
Speech, having a will (initiative), hearing, thought and knowledge.

Acts 1:16: Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.
Foretelling (knowledge, thought and speech).

Acts 4:25: who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,
Speech.

Acts 5:3: But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land ?
Capable of being lied to, capable of discerning truth or falsehood.

Acts 5:32: And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.
Sight, knowledge, thought and speech.

Acts 8:29: Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot."
Speech.

Acts 10:19: While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you. ..."
Knowledge, thought and speech.

Acts 11:12: The Spirit told me to go with them without misgivings. These six brethren also went with me and we entered the man's house.
Speech.

Acts 13:2: While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
Speech, foresight, knowledge, thought and having a will.

Acts 15:28: For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials
Having judgment (i.e. having knowledge, thought and a will).

Acts 16:6: They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia
Speech and having a will and authority.

Acts 20:23: except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.
Foresight, knowledge, thought, having emotions and mannerisms, and speech.

Acts 21:11: And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, "This is what the Holy Spirit says: 'In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'
Speech, foresight and knowledge.

Acts 28:25: And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, "The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, ..."
Speech and having foresight, judgment and moral qualities (being right or wrong).

Romans 8:16: The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God
Knowledge, thought and speech.

Romans 8:26: In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words
Ability to pray and groan (actions that involve knowledge, emotions and will).

Romans 8:27: and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Having a mind (i.e. consciousness, knowledge, thought, emotions and will).

Romans 15:30: Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me
Loving (an emotion that entails consciousness, knowledge, thought and will).

1 Corinthians 2:10: For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.
Search (entails knowledge, thought, will and consciousness).

1 Corinthians 2:11: For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.
Knowledge and thought.

1 Corinthians 2:13: which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
Knowledge, understanding, thought and speech.

1 Corinthians 12:11: But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
Having a will, purpose, thought and knowledge.

2 Corinthians 13:14: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
Having fellowship with other persons (entails speech, consciousness, thought, and emotions).

Galatians 4:6: Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"
Speech, having knowledge, thought, consciousness and emotions.

Ephesians 4:30: Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Consciousness and emotions.

1 Timothy 4:1: But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons
Foretelling (knowledge, thought and speech).

Hebrews 3:7: Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE
Speech.

Hebrews 10:15: And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,
Sight, knowledge, thought and speaking of things.

Hebrews 10:29: How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
Capable of being insulted (consciousness).

1 John 5:6: This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
Sight, knowledge, thought and speaking of things.

Revelation 2:7: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.
Speech. See also Revelation 2:11,17, 28; 3:6, 13, 22.

Revelation 14:13: And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!' " "Yes," says the Spirit, "so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them."
Foresight, knowledge, thought and speech.

Revelation 22:17: The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
Speech.

I know, the list is lengthy, cumbersome and repetitive, and designedly so. Speaking of the Holy Spirit as having the many qualities of a person (rather than just a thing or force) pervades Scripture – both Testaments, 8 or 9 authors – and so very often as to not be metaphoric. There is significant value, I think, in just seeing how frequently, how pervasively Scripture speaks of the Holy Spirit as having the qualities peculiar to a person.

The Holy Spirit as God

It makes sense if you think about it for a moment, but there aren't a lot of passages that identify the Holy Spirit as God. Not a lot of passages that refer to the Father identify Him as God either. God seldom self-identifies Himself as such, except by speaking and acting in the authority and qualities of being God.

Job 33:4: The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
The Holy Spirit identified as Creator and life-giver.

Psalm 139:7: Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
The Holy Spirit is omnipresent, an attribute of God.

Matthew 28:19: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
I guess you could call this Godhood-by-association. The Holy Spirit is shown as having the authority of God, thus the Holy Spirit is God.

Acts 5:3-4: But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? "While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
In lying to the Holy Spirit, Ananias lied to God.

1 Corinthians 2:11: For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.
Attributes to the Holy Spirit knowledge and understanding that only God can have.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Christian Unity and Boundaries in Christian Fellowship, Part 9 – Summation(?)


This series of posts hasn't been so much a linear path from Point A to Point Z as an exploration of the domain of A. As pointed out in the previous post – possibly in more practical terms – the Law of Non-Contradiction means that when the domain of A is understood, all that is within that domain is “A”, and that which is outside of that domain is “non-A”. Thus, those who believe those things fundamental to the Christian faith are, within my limited knowledge, my brothers and sisters in Christ. Those who reject fundamental things may be perfectly nice people to be around, but are not (subject to the same qualification) Christians.

This means that believers sometimes face seemingly odd choices. Some of my Christian brethren and sisteren have some really rough and sharp edges! And, sadly, I've probably left more than a few scratches and dents on fellow Christians, and even more sadly, probably more than I know! And there are some genuinely nice, smart, talented people who are not Christian believers, which has eternal consequences. Truth is not sway-able or changeable on the basis of my personal emotions or likes and dislikes.

Consequently, I've had (and enjoyed) Christian fellowship with some really rough edged people. It is my duty to them and to the Lord to be in fellowship with them to the degree that is practical. Perchance the Lord may use me to help smooth some of their rough spots (and/or they may be used to work on with my rough spots!) . Maybe that is something Paul had in mind:

On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. (1 Cor. 12:22-25, ESV)

The other side of this coin is that there are areas of my life, my spiritual life, that a non-believer cannot fully understand. That's not a bar to being a friend or to being kind, which I should be where/when reasonably possible. It just means that there is no basis for Christian fellowship.

So there's no nice eloquent wrap-up, no grand moral conclusion. I'm just saying that this pretty much sums up where I stand. If love seems missing, it isn't. Loving persons intelligently – knowing how best to be their brother or friend – starts with knowing who they are, as a person and spiritually.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Christian Unity and Boundaries in Christian Fellowship, Part 8


So far, I've tried to keep the focus of this series of posts “positive” - focusing on things that unite (or that should unite) Christian believers. But these things are also things that divide Christian believers from non-believers. I have what I call the “Ham-and-Swiss-on-Rye Sandwich Test”. On what bases and by what authority do I dispute some one claiming that Christianity is a ham-and-Swiss-on-rye sandwich? If Christianity can be anything anyone wants it to be, then Christianity can be a ham-and-Swiss-on-rye sandwich if some one wants it to be! In that sense, the fundamentals, the foundational teachings, of Christianity divide Christian believers from non-believers.

Reviewing and summarizing some from that perspective, there are three major things that bring this division:

  • Jesus;

  • Salvation;

  • Scripture.

These are the bedrock on which Christianity is built, as a faith and as a “movement” of believers. While I've given considerable attention to all three in previous posts, I'd like to “revisit” Jesus. Part 5, posted back on July 3rd, speaks to both Who Jesus was and what Jesus did, with emphasis on the latter. Without what Jesus did salvation is not possible. In this post I'd like to focus a bit more on Who Jesus is – what Scripture says about Him and what He said and did that point to Who He is.

Setting the scene, why is this important?

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6, ESV)

On what basis could Jesus make such grand, sweeping, absolute claims? If I were to make those claims I would be placed in a mental hospital!

For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. (2 Corinthians 11:4, ESV)

If Jesus' Own comment weren't enough, Paul brings it to a fine, hard, point. Who Jesus is matters! Jesus nature and identity is the very core of the Christian faith. If “your Jesus” is other than what Jesus is, you may not be a Christian believer!

While millions of people – through time and currently – who call(ed) themselves Christians believe(d) Jesus to be just a man or some other created being, Scripture makes clear that Jesus is much more.

Scripture identifies Jesus as God:

"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel"(which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:23, ESV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1, ESV)

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped (Philippians 2:6, ESV)

But of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. (Hebrews 1:8, ESV)

Scripture identifies Jesus the Creator of all things:

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3, ESV)

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:16-17, ESV)

Jesus identified Himself as God:

Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." (John 8:58, ESV)

The significance of John 8:58 is easily missed. It sounds like Jesus used poor grammar. But in reality, Jesus ascribed to Himself one of the names by which God identified Himself to Moses, the I AM (Exodus 3:14). It's a name that emphasizes the fact that God is eternal, not subject to time, which God created. Thus Jesus proclaimed Himself to be eternal, uncreated! Verse 59 shows that the Jewish people around Jesus when He said this understood exactly what he meant. They started to pick up stones to use to kill Jesus. Claiming to be God was blasphemy, punishable by being stoned to death! And, speaking of things blasphemous ...

Jesus accepted people's worship:

Matthew 8:2; 14:33; 28:9; Mark 5:6; Luke 24:52; John 9:38

Because of the number of verses (and I could have listed more from the book of Matthew) I won't quote them. These all use one of the main Greek words translated “worship”. It means to bow before some one, face to the ground. It's easy to miss the meaning embedded in these and similar verses. Any Jew who had received basic instruction in the Law knew that only God was to be worshiped. And as Matthew 4:10 and Luke 4:8 show, Jesus knew this well. Thus, for these Jewish people to worship Jesus was to commit blasphemy (though excessive emotional reaction could be a defense); for Jesus to accept their worship, without correcting them, was blasphemy, with no defense. By accepting their worship, Jesus implicitly and intrinsically said, “Yes, it is proper to worship me. I am God.”

So, why is it significant that Jesus is the Creator, God? First, of course, is that this is what Scripture teaches. But there are practical significances as well.

Were Jesus just a creature, sinless, He would not have been able to atone for as many as believe in Him - a one-for-one trade, maybe, but not for as many as believe. Being God, Jesus' sinless death was of unlimited worth. Another Jesus, one who is not God, could not save all (possibly not even one) who believe in him. Jesus, God the Son, being real, did and does; Jesus the archangel or Jesus-the-really-good-man is not and cannot.

One comment made in the Gospels is that people Jesus spoke to were surprised that He “spoke as one having authority” (Matthew 7:29). If this seems something less than significant, consider James 3:1 (ESV): Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. The Jews of Jesus' time understood the seriousness of teaching spiritual matters. Their teachers qualified their teachings by citing others who had taught the same understanding. Jesus taught from His own authority, an authority Scripture reveals to be Divine. Thus, Jesus' teachings are not merely nice and “inspiring”, they are God's words!

Because Jesus is God, believers can rely on His promises to be with us, to dwell in us, to provide power to live the Christian life, that he will return, that we will spend eternity with Him. The promises of a merely human or archangelic Jesus could not be relied on. A merely human or archangelic Jesus could not do all the real Jesus promised for his followers. The real Jesus did, does and will.

Jesus, the real Jesus Who is God the Son, is the core of the Christian faith. Believers' salvation, Scriptural authority, Jesus' involvement in believers' lives, purpose and destiny all hinge on Who He is. The nature and identity of Jesus are non-negotiable, fundamental to the Christian faith.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Christian Unity and Boundaries in Christian Fellowship, Part 7C


Some Christians reading my previous post on this topic might note that a passage is “missing” from my lists above, a passage that many Christians interpret to mean that baptism in water saves the believer or is essential for a believer's salvation, Titus 3:5.

(H)e saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit … (ESV)

There are at least a couple of problems with this interpretation of this verse. One problem I'll get to later, but the more fundamental problem with it is that the Greek word used in the verse for “washing” is loutron (loutron), not baptisma (baptisma ). The word does mean being bathed, a similar meaning, but it is a different Greek word. So “washing”, in Titus 3:5, doesn't refer to baptism in water.

The verses about Jewish ceremonial washings, John's baptism and most of the passages I listed in Part 7B as “Other or Uncertain” are not relevant to this series of posts regarding baptisms. They don't refer to foundational Christian teachings.

Setting these aside, sorting the remaining references to “Baptize” or “Baptism(s)” according to who is baptized (1), by whom (2), in what (3), reveals that Scripture describes three types of baptisms:

Baptism into Christ, in which believers are baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ;

Christian Baptism in Water, in which believers are baptized by other believers in water'

Baptism in the Holy Spirit, in which believers are baptized by Jesus baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Except in Pentecostal and charismatic circles, probably only baptism in water is familiar to most Christians. So then, what are Baptism into the Body of Christ and Baptism in the Holy Spirit?

Backing up a little, Christian baptisms – in water, into Christ, in the Holy Spirit – are pictures that describe or symbolize spiritual events. Baptism in water symbolizes and is a visibly testimony to fellow believers and to non-believers as to what has happened (past tense!) spiritually to the one being baptized. They have died and have been resurrected a new creation in Christ.

Baptism into Christ is what happens when the believer first believes, is saved. The Holy Spirit baptizes, immerses, the new believer in Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13 expresses this most clearly: “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” (ESV, the Greek preposition, en, en, can be translated as “in”, “by” or “with”)). And like a vessel when immersed, Christ comes into and dwells in the believer. This baptism is the first, chronologically in the life of a believer. If a non-believer were to be baptized in water, they would have gone into the water a dry non-believer and come out of the water a wet non-believer.

Baptism in the Holy Spirit is controversial among many Christians, and, frankly, I think spiritual pride is a main root of much of the controversy – some believers don't want to think there might be more in the Christian life than they have, while others fancy themselves somehow elite among Christians. Well, to begin with, baptism in the Holy Spirit is real. It's mentioned at the beginning of all four Gospels, and, lest anyone try to make an excuse of the fact that it was John the Baptist speaking in all four Gospels, Jesus affirmed what John said in Acts 1:5. John stated what it is most clearly: Jesus baptizes the believer in the Holy Spirit. Using the word picture from the previous paragraph, like a vessel immersed in water, the believer, when baptized in the Holy Spirit, is filled with the Holy Spirit. And “filled with the Spirit” ia a phrase used for this in a couple of places in the book of Acts – Acts 2:4 and 9:17. Two other terms the book of Acts used for baptism in the Holy Spirit are to “receive the Holy Spirit” and “gift of the Holy Spirit” – Acts 2:38, 8:15, 10:45 and 19:2. Like baptism in water, baptism in the Holy Spirit only happens with a believer. Beyond that sequence, the accounts in Acts 8:4-17, 9:8-18, 10:9-48 and 19:1-7 make two things clear. First, baptism in the Holy Spirit is not automatic, concurrent with becoming a believer. Teachings about a special Apostolic period when God did things differently are not supported by Scripture, and, to be blunt, are just attempts to evade something Scripture clearly shows. Second, there is no fixed sequence between baptism in water and baptism in the Holy Spirit. Usually, in the examples cited above, the believer is baptized in water first and then in the Holy Spirit, but in Acts 10 Cornelius and his family were filled with the Spirit, baptized in the Spirit, before being baptized in water, This is the second problem, mentioned above, for those who believe baptism in water is necessary for salvation. The baptism in the Holy Spirit, receiving the Holy Spirit, being filled with the Holy Spirit, is a promise made to Christian believers.

How does one know if one has been baptized in the Holy Spirit? Good question! Though the event wasn't visible, if one is a believer one knows one has been baptized into Christ. On the other hand, being baptized in water is an event visible to as many as are present. In Scripture, sometimes being baptized in the Holy Spirit was at the specific prayer of another believer (the previously referenced passages in Acts 8, 9 and 19); on at least one occasion, in Acts 10, it happened spontaneously when the persons became believers; in Acts 2, the 120 or so original believers were gathered and waiting to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Not much of a pattern … almost as if God did things as He chose. Many Pentecostals and charismatics teach that the evidence of having been baptized in the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues. This teaching is based on the pattern they believe is shown in the book of Acts. I part ways at this point with my Pentecostal and charismatic brethren and sisteren who teach this. First, the pattern is not as complete as they believe it to be: “And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying,” Acts 19:6, ESV. Of the people present on this occasion in Ephesus, the verse states that some spoke in tongues; the verse does not state that all spoke in tongues. Some may instead have prophesied. I know, it's a very fine distinction, but if one is going to teach a supposed pattern as a Christian doctrine (i.e. a Christian teaching), the pattern should be complete and very clear. Much larger than this small flaw in the pattern, God did not state, in plain words, that this pattern is the way in which He would work: that God is God and will work as He wills. Let's not be trying to build a box around God that God did not put there! God is a bit bigger than our boxes!

So, where does this leave us? Stepping back a little, the purpose of being filled with the Holy Spirit, receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, is power to serve. This wasn't just for apostles 2000 years ago. We all, today, need His power in our daily lives. Being baptized in the Holy Spirit isn't automatic, so we should ask that Jesus would fill us with the Spirit (and not just as a one-time event, by the way, something the book of Acts makes clear). In our asking, we should trust God to fulfill the promise Jesus made in Luke 11:13 (ESV): If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! God will choose the time, place and manner, but He won't refuse our prayer. In this we must trust Him.

To which baptism, then, does Ephesians 4:5 refer? There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call-- one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (ESV). As previously noted, the verse isn't specific. Contrary to a common teaching (a teaching contradicted by Scripture, as shown in the lists above) this verse does not teach that for Christians there is only one baptism. The context of the verse is that Paul was urging the Christians at Ephesus to be in spiritual unity, and then listed things which unify Christians. Which baptism mentioned in scripture unites Christians? It is slightly more likely that Paul refers to baptism into Christ, as that is what happens at salvation, and salvation is is what makes one a Christian. Still, since baptism in water is a public testimony to one having become a Christian, commanded by Jesus, it is also possible Paul referred to baptism in water in this verse. In some non-Christian societies (e.g. India and China) a believer is not accepted as being truly converted to Christianity until one is baptized. So baptism in water is something that ties Christians together. Personally, I'm OK with not being sure to which baptism Ephesians 4:5 refers. Understanding Scripture is always good, but a fine detail should not obscure Paul's emphasis, which was Christian unity. Today, 2000 years later, that is still something on which believers need to work!

Saturday, August 6, 2011

What Is "Success", to God

This is going to be one of those dangerous, off the top of my head posts. Ever thought about what God would see as success? Our culture and some Christians definitely point toward affluence and comfort as the epitome of success, but, really?

To be sure, Scripture is replete with followers of God who were prosperous and powerful: Abraham; Isaac; Jacob (don't talk about the goat stew incident or those years in Haran!); Joseph (don't talk about his years as a slave or his years in prison!); Job 1.0 and Job 2.0 (don't talk about Job 1.5 who argued with his "friends" while scraping his sores with a potsherd!); David (try to ignore that incident in Gath - 1 Samuel 21!).

Then there are other successful followers of God who don't quite fit in the "(Wealth + Comfort) = Success" equation.

Abel's sacrifice was accepted by God ... and his jealous brother Cain "helped" Abel meet God face to face earlier than would be allowed by Abel's natural life span.

Isaiah was one of the most prolific of Jewish prophets. He prophesied the fates of many nations and confronted his own nation and several of its kings. The last king he so served, Manasseh, had (traditionally) Isaiah beheaded.

Jeremiah, similarly prolific, similar in confronting his evil nation and its wicked kings, was pretty much ignored. Jeremiah urged his nation, Judah, to repent and turn to God as the one way to avoid horrible defeat and exile. At one point, his warnings led to Jeremiah almost drowning in a quagmire of mud. In the end, Judah was defeated, many slaughtered, and many survivors were forced to a distant exile. Jeremiah did not go to Babylon, but was instead taken, involuntarily, to Egypt.

Want to talk about Jesus and success? His ministry only lasted some 3 years. He almost got killed more than once and was rejected by those to whom he ministered ... so totally that a mob of his people intimidated the Roman governor to kill Jesus. And Jesus wasn't killed swiftly, mercifully! The crucifixion process was designed to allow sadistic torturers to extract the most agony possible for the longest time possible from their victim.

Paul was successful, right? Soon after becoming a Christian, Paul had to escape being murdered in Damascus by being lowered from the city wall in a basket (history's first basket case!). On the first of his itinerant preaching trips ("Missionary Journey" sounds more grand, doesn't it?), Paul got stoned, and I don't mean intoxicated! He almost died (or maybe did and was resurrected?). Later, Paul had to flee Thessalonica, again to avoid would-be assassins, spent a night in jail in Philippi (after being beaten severely), spent a couple years in prison in Caesarea, almost lost his life when the prisoner transport on which he was embarked shipwrecked, was imprisoned in Rome at least twice, and finally was beheaded.

There's an old joke about a rich man who was allowed to bring whatever he wanted into heaven with him. So he brought a bag of gold. As he entered heaven, the angels at the gate asked each other, "Why is he bringing paving stones into heaven?" From God's point of view - He's our Creator, so He might have some understanding of such matters - wealth and power are incidental to success. When we die and stand before God, all we had and "achieved" have been left behind. Even those of our accomplishments that survive our death will not ultimately endure. What will matter will be who we were in life and what we did with the life - "rich" or "poor", "powerful" or "obscure" - God gave us. In eternity, before God, many who had been great successes will be people who were obscure even in their own countries and generations. Their love for and relationship with God, their service to God where He placed them was what had made them great.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Pride and Complacency at Church

I rarely post on others' blogs and articles, though not because I think their ideas unworthy or my ideas superior. When I do, it's because the something that author said that kicked me in the teeth or at least resonated with me. This is one such article: http://www.christianpost.com/news/when-hubris-comes-to-church-53150/.

I'm one person with limited experience, and not an ecclesiologist. But I've seen symptoms and consequences of what Thom S. Rainer speaks of all too frequently over 3 or 4 decades (i.e. not just one particular church).

So-called success in local church ministry often creates a sense of self-sufficiency. “Look what we’ve done,” some members may say or think. “We have truly become a great church,” others may opine. But self-sufficiency is the opposite of God-dependency. And when church members and leaders lean on their own strength and understanding, they are headed down a dangerous path.

Hubris often manifests itself in the idolatry of ministries, programs, or preferred styles of worship. Those ministries that were once a means to the end of glorifying God become ends in themselves. Inevitably the church will experience conflict when any leader attempts to change or discard those ministries, programs, or worship styles. They have been become idols. They represent in the minds of some the accomplishments of the church rather than just an instrument to glorify God.

Likewise, hubris comes to church because we enjoy the accolades of others. We believe that we are as great as others say we are. We like the recognition. We enjoy the attention. We forget the Author of all good things in our church.

Ouch! On multiple levels!

Been in a “growing” church, a “successful” church? Have you (I!) checked to see if the supposed “growth” or “success” is consistent with how Scripture defines growth and success?

Got an edifice complex? Is your ministry really your kingdom? Do you equate your taste in worship with what is pleasing to God? Have you put your pastor on a pedestal?

Rainer puts his finger squarely on the root of this multi-symptom problem. Self-sufficiency. At best, we are so busy doing good things that we have neglected the One Who is supposed to be the reason for doing good things and the power to do good things! Sound like an ultra-modern problem? Hardly! Go check out Revelation 2:1-7. Sound familiar? The church of Ephesus was doing lots of good stuff, but the One they were supposed to be serving got lost in their busyness.

Rainer's article doesn't offer a hopeless fatalistic vision:

The presence of hubris in a church often leads to the stages of irrelevance and death. But such a downward spiral is not inevitable. When a church seems to be experiencing its best days of growth and community impact, its members and leaders should constantly be asking themselves questions. “Are we proud of our accomplishments?” “Have we implicitly given glory to ourselves rather than to God?” “Would we be willing to let go of anything in our church, even if it has become a sacred cow for many members?” “Do we compare our church to others with some level of pride?” “Have activities replaced prayer and time in the Word?”

Those are some very good diagnostic questions. Here's a few I would add:

  • Who am I serving in what I do in my church congregation?

  • With whose power am I serving?

  • Am I serving “the people” or individual persons?

  • Am I motivated by love for God or something worthy, but still less?

  • Am I growing in my love and knowledge of God? Or are those getting crowded out by doing things?

Self-diagnostic questions are valuable, but not an end in themselves. If your honest answers are “right”, that's no ground for … pride. If one has been honest, the answers showed areas that could be improved. In this life, there is always room for spiritual growth. But what if the honest answers revealed problems? The “easy” answer is, “Seek God!” And it's a correct answer. As Jesus counseled the church at Ephesus, “return to our first love”. Spend time in the word; spend time in prayer. Invest ourselves in our relationship with God. God won't turn us away!

At the same time, be practical! Don't let destructive attitudes and practices demolish your church. Trying to fix things has its own risk, but not playing Lone Ranger can mitigate some of the risks. Working together is a good idea … you know … like members of the Body of Christ. Seek God for a vision of what things to focus on, toward what purposes. And work toward those goals, with love of God and of His people moving and tempering what you do and how you do it. There is no guarantee everyone will like the changes, but even a smaller church that is growing spiritually is … growing ... and truly succeeding. Let doing flow from relationship, not supplant relationship.