Leaning Towards Extremes Pt. 1

The Bible calls us to be temperate (showing moderation in action, thought, or feeling. Not to be confused with the unappealing, indifferent, luke-warmness of Rev 3:16.) However, we often lean towards extremes. As far as how we approach God’s word and our service to Him, we’re usually either liberalistic or legalistic. LAW: • Taken together, the first five books of the Old Testament, and books of the prophets (both major and minor) make up the entire Old Testament, and designate the law. Jesus plainly said that he wasn’t abolishing the law, but was fulfilling them (in the sense that he gave them their full meaning). He purposed to emphasize the deep underlying principles of what it was intended to teach. He wanted to make it known that a total commitment to them was necessary, meaning a commitment at heart, not just mere external knowledge and obedience (from NIV note on Mt 5:17, 18). This was particularly impactful because believers, then and now, find that a mere acknowledgement of the dos and don’ts of God’s word reduces them to rules that they’re not able to follow in every instance of their lives. Jesus’ focus was on the faith that it takes to accept the free gift of salvation, the same faith that works continuous change in the everyday life of a believer and results in obedience to His word, which is the Holy Bible. • While Jesus affirms the continuing authority of the law, people again -in an attempt to make invalid what doesn’t appeal to them- try to validate the spoken word (red letters) of our God in the flesh, Jesus, as the only word of God. However, the Bible is clear that Jesus has been speaking since the beginning, before he was born human, made to walk the earth (1Jn 1:1, 2, 14). The Holy Bible in John 1:17 speaks of God’s will being brought about by two individuals (Moses and Jesus Christ), with two methods (law and grace), and one goal (to glorify God). So, the Old and New Testaments could never oppose one another because they both speak of who God is (holy). In Luke 16:17, Jesus makes it clear that his word includes the Old Testament, and that none of it will pass away, not one pen stroke (Mt 24:35; Lk 21:33). He’s emphatic. The entire Holy Bible is the law of God! All scripture is God-breathed, and was useful then and is useful today (2Ti 3:16). • Jesus summarized the law (or God’s commandments) as the law to love, saying, ‘Love the Lord with all that you have, and love everyone as you love yourself’ (Mt 7:12; Mk 12:30, 31, my paraphrasing; 1Jn 4:8). LEGALISM: • legalism – n. 1. strict, literal, or excessive conformity to the law or to a religious or moral code • Jesus directed a ‘woe’ (an expression of sorrow, misfortune, suffering, calamity, regret) at the very people who should’ve known better and been opening people’s minds concerning the law. But instead they obscured their understanding with faulty interpretation and an erroneous (mistaken, wandering) system of theology (Instead of following the Word and seeking God for an understanding of it, they made up stuff as they went along!). They kept themselves and the people in ignorance of the way of salvation, or as Matthew’s account puts it, they “shut the kingdom of heaven on men’s faces” (from Zondervan NIV Study Bible note on Lk 11:52). And the same woe applies to us today, if we choose to follow their example. • In the previously mentioned ‘Seven Woes’ of Jesus, he condemned this legalism as hypocrisy that misleads, particularly the hypocrisy of those who should’ve been, and claimed to be, learned –and the Bible calls us all to be learned (Mt 23:13; 2Ti 2:15). • Hypocritical legalism burdens us with rules prescribed by people who don’t even practice what they preach. But do so for the purpose of putting on airs to make a show of religion in order to be approved by man, not to glorify God (Mt 23:3-7). • By definition alone legalism (strict, or excessive conformity to the law or to a religious moral code; m-w.com) isn’t wrong because the Lord commands us to be holy (perfect in goodness and righteousness; devoted entirely to God; m-w.com). Jesus himself was commended for what can be interpreted as legalism. After all he did live a perfect sinless life (He 4:15). But in his ‘Seven Woes’, Jesus wasn’t referring to a sincere desire to please God by following His word when he spoke of legalism, but a warped distorting of scripture based on faulty motives. Yes God wants us to be holy, as He is, but understand that we cannot become holy under our own power and merit. As co-laborers with the Lord, we do our best to conform to the Word, but ultimately entrust Him to enable us where we’re lacking, and to bring about an inward change that produces obedience when we walk with faith in the Holy Bible (Lev 11:44; 1Pe 1:16; 1Co 3:9; 2Co 5:17; Ro 12:2). God would be unjust if he commanded us to do what we can’t (Ps 9:16; 1Co 10:13; Jas 4:7). LIBERALISM: • liberalism – n. 2.a. a movement in modern Protestantism emphasizing intellectual liberty and the spiritual and ethical content of Christianity TEMPERANCE: • Synonymous, or nearly synonymous, to temperance are: self-control ( – n. exercising restraint over one’s actions, emotions, or desires), moderate (– adj. avoiding extremes: level-headed, rational, reasonable, sensible), disciplined, even-tempered, restrained, controlled, deliberate. • Paul writes that temperance must be taught and encouraged to set the right moral and spiritual example, among the unsaved especially (Tit 2:1-8). • Temperance is to be acquired through effort (2Pe 1:6). A Christian’s knowledge of God should affect the way they live. It doesn’t set us free from being morally restrained, as the heretics (specifically Gnostics) of the time of the New Testament church taught. Rather, it produces holiness and all such virtues (Zondervan, 2Pe 1:8; see also Lev 20:26; 1Pe 1:16). • Self-control is part of the fruit of the Spirit, and is evident in a person who lives ‘in step’ with the Spirit (Gal 5:23, 25). • Self-discipline is God-given (2Ti 1:7). It’s the mark of a person who is confident in the Lord, his teaching, his power, and his promises. Children of God are not fearful, timid, shrinking, cowards, led by their flesh (opinions and feelings), but they are full of faith, trusting in Him! • In light of Christ’s return, Paul encourages us to be alert, even-tempered, and knowledgeable of the Lord’s ways; not like the ‘sleeping’ and spiritually insensitive (1Pe 4:7; 1Th 5:6, 8). • A person lacking temperance is ripe for the picking, ready to be devoured by the roaring lion: Satan (1Pe 5:8). • An ill-tempered person -a person who lacks self-control- is regarded as godless (2Ti 3:1-4). We know that we’re to be controlled by nothing, but the Holy Spirit (Ro 6:16; Gal 5:16, 18, 25; 2Pe 2:19). God made us to have emotions –as He does, but our emotions aren’t to have us (Pr 25:28; 29:11; Isa 5:25; Col 3:20). The Lord certainly approves of diligence, fervency, and zeal in service to Him (Ro 12:11; Jas 5:16; Heb 6:11; 1Ti 4:15). But lack of self-control or lack of temperance? Not so much. God is not a God of disorder but of peace (1Co 14:33). The church has often experienced popular shifts in her approach to serving the Lord. In years past, Christianity was stuffy, strict, calloused, cold, and very legalistic, which has caused a backlash and equally extreme shift to the anything-goes, let’s-keep-up-with-the-world liberalistic approach of today. The teaching of the Bible is best understood as a whole, with all parts coinciding and validating each other in proper context, with proper motive. It’s a lack of proper context or motive that causes the leaning towards extremes. Worship that’s pleasing to God is a view that recognizes the big picture while not neglecting the details, and recognizes the details while not neglecting the big picture, all with a spirit to ultimately glorify God. Satan has convinced many to accept the parts of the Bible that are appealing and reject parts that aren’t. It’s the love of God, and his (entire) Word, which causes the true believer to develop a determined mindset to conform to the Holy Bible, regardless of where their flesh might attempt to lead them. Their relationship with the Lord begins and ends with complete trust in Him. But for the legalist, the fear of Satan and his suggestions, as well as pride in their own opinion, and reliance in the flesh, causes an undue need for them to control themselves -when they don’t have that ability outside of Christ, and control others -which they have neither the right nor ability to do. And for the liberalist, fear of certain, impending judgment, a desire to be like the world, and pride in their own opinion causes them to embrace an impotent, watered-down religion that appears to appease the conscience. Whichever way we may be inclined to lean, we have to be careful not try to press people into the mold of our opinion. We’ll ultimately be judged by God, not man’s interpretation of who God is (Jer 29:12,13; Mt 7:7, 21; 2Co 5:10; Gal 6:7, 8; 2Ti 3:16). The ‘law’ means different things, depending on context, in the Bible. In a broad sense, the law is the entire Word of God, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. In a more narrow sense, the law is the Mosaic and Levitical law of the Old Testament. There’s much dispute over what parts apply to New Testament worshippers. There are parts of the New Testament that explicitly echo those of the Old Testament, and others negate the necessity of strict adherence in favor of the general law to love. My advice is to be led by the Holy Bible and the Holy Spirit, and understand the difference between Spirit given revelations intended for all believers, Spirit given revelations intended for your congregation, and Sprit given revelations intended for yourself. Preachers especially, not everything the Lord gives you is intended for the body, as passionately as you may feel about them. We don’t have to fast every time the Lord leads you to. What the Lord gives you to act on is no less relevant if no one else is with you. Some journeys are intended for just you and God. The desire to have validation from man is also the cause of so many disputes. Really, what other co-sign do you need that the Lord’s? The truth (of God’s word or your personal revelation) stands on its own. The Bible warns us against being divisive and quarrelling about disputable matters (Ro 14:1; Tit 3:9-11). God made us all individuals, with individual opinions, preferences, experiences, gifts, etc. who are intended to be -and can only be- united through Him (1Co 1:10; 12:12-27; Gal 3:26-29; Eph 4:1-6).

Purpose

Regarding the question asked last week concerning body decoration …First let me get a couple trivialities out of the way:  I questioned the use of the word tattoo, which is relatively new (1780), and is not even used in every Holy Bible version for Lev 19:28.  But even though the word is fairly new, that doesn’t mean that the practice is.  Also, some may try to dismiss this command as intended only for the Israelites.  But in order to gain an understanding of God’s word, we must consider context and purpose.  In my NIV intro of the book it says, Leviticus is a manual of regulations enabling the holy King (God) to set up his earthly throne among the people of his kingdom.  It explains how they are to be his holy people and to worship him in a holy manner.  Holiness in this sense means to be separated from sin and set apart exclusively for his purpose and for his glory.  In Leviticus spiritual holiness is symbolized by spiritual perfection.  So, when Jesus said, “do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them”, it meant that that he would demonstrate the full value and meaning of worshipping God, not only through mere adherence to the letter of his word, but on a deeper, more basic level as well (Mt 5:17; 22:37-40).  Jesus saw the big picture, but was still concerned with the details.

The Lord tells his people in Leviticus 19:28, ‘Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves.  I am the Lord.’  The NIV note on that verse says that there was to be no disfiguring of the body after the manner of the pagans.  The operative phrase here is, ‘after the manner of the pagans’.  By conforming to the practices of the pagans, and more importantly for the same reason as the pagans, God’s people would’ve shown that they’ve aligned themselves with their gods.  The NIV note on Lev 21:5 reads, such lacerations and disfigurement were common among pagans as signs of mourning and to secure the attention of their deity.  (Along with this is also the command not to cut the hair along the hairline or beard because this was also a pagan religious custom of the Canaanites. Lev 21:5; Deut 14:1)

If cutting or any permanent alteration of the body were sinful, in and of itself, then surely God wouldn’t have established the covenant of circumcision with Abraham (Gen 17:10).  God is purposeful, and he doesn’t arbitrarily establish rules for the sake of burdening us.  They’re for our own good -and more importantly- for his glory.  Just as the cutting of the hair at the hairline and cutting and tattooing were symbolic of calling upon pagan gods; circumcision was a sign of covenant between God and Abraham (and his people) (Gen 17:11). 

Consider though that we’re warned to be careful not to limit our understanding of God by religious practices only, and that by trying to justify ourselves by the law, we alienate ourselves from Christ (Gal 5:4).  Paul points out the futility of this by sarcastically suggesting that prideful agitators who did this should become even more ‘holy’ by castrating themselves! Who says the Bible is boring? (Gal 5:1-15, and also Ro 2:17-29; Php 3:1-11; Ro 6:15)  I believe that in order to gain a full understand of God and develop a relationship with him, a person must first have an understanding of God through his word, to which external acknowledgment and obedience are a byproduct.  Simple adherence to the word, based on knowledge without understanding, makes a hypocrite out of the one who does so.  We come to know God through his word, as well as by his grace (by which we have the ability to be reconciled with God, and grafted onto his family tree, through Jesus Christ).  If we exclusively acknowledge either (the letter of the Word or God’s grace), we fail to fully recognize who God is.  In all that we do, we must ask, ‘For who, and what purpose?’

              

   

Grace, Pt.1

First of all, my apologies to anyone who may’ve missed my Friday post.  I wasn’t even able to think straight because I was suffering from a viral infection complete with fever, headache, body aches, and loss of appetite (and if you know me, you know it’s serious then).  But I’m -at least- back to blogging health!

I can’t even put into words yet, how these past five days have been.  I’m still trying to evaluate it myself.  But the Holy Spirit has put in the forefront of my mind the value of grace, which is commonly defined as unmerited favor by Christians.  Merriam-Webster’s definition, in the context of biblical scripture, is unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration and sanctification; a virtue coming from God; a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace; approval; favor; privilege.

To receive God’s grace is so humbling.  In fact, God gives grace to the humble 9Pr 3:34).  Not the perfect, but the humble.  Paul boasted in God’s wisdom to afflict him with a thorn in his flesh along with the revelations he’d given to keep him humble (2 Co 12:7-10).  The nature of his affliction of the flesh was unknown, so we can find ourselves here.  God gives a better solution than removing the thorn:  for him to show himself strong in people’s lives despite their weaknesses.  The absolute best example is Christ’s sacrificial death on Calvary and resurrection (Lk 22:41-44; 23:26-24:35).

Paul says something so striking in Acts 20:24, and I second it: ‘…I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace’.  Or as the Michael A. Jones version goes, ‘My life wouldn’t have meant nothin’ unless I did as God told me to do, through his Word, by living a life that testifies to the gospel of his grace, which has shown that although I was messed up, God was still able to use me!’  As much as Paul had been blessed with, he also had his weaknesses, which kept him humble and fully aware that it was all God who was working in him, and not himself. 

Without grace there would be no hope.  We’d be subject to the law of sin which results in death (Ro 8:1-2).  The law was given, not to bring about redemption, but to point out the need for it, which is only offered through Jesus Christ (Jn 14:6; Ro 5:20-21, and NIV note).  The Bible tells us to be careful of taking advantage of grace.  Don’t be deceived.  God cannot be mocked.  But grace should be our motivation to obey God in love (Ro 6:1-15; Gal 6:7).

Not to deny the reality and the goodness of justice, but grace is the cornerstone of the Christian faith.  Without it, there is no hope, no faith, no Christianity.  So I conclude with these parting words John wrote until Christ’s return, ‘the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.’ (Rev 22:21)       

  

The Great Restorer

As stated in the last post, Satan comes only to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10).  And the result of sin is death; whether you interpret that as literal, physical death, spiritual death, death or loss of opportunities, or material blessings, etc., what is clear is that we will suffer for our wrongdoing (Romans 6:23).  That’s simply the appropriate response for a just God. 

The common response of wrongdoing is attempting to conceal them (John 3 19-20).  Our Accuser (Rev. 12:10) does not want us to gain from the restoration that results for a truly repentant believer.  Repentance is God’s plan for restoring us.  God says, ‘If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me…’ (Ps. 23:3; Jer. 15:19; Ez. 18:30-32; Nahum 2:2; 1 Pet. 5:10).  To be clear, repenting isn’t merely admitting to God that you’ve done wrong, but it’s also turning away form sin and dedicating oneself to the amendment of one’s life (according to Merriam-Webster Online).  God doesn’t merely offer an opportunity to repent, but commands it.  And he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins (1Jn. 1:9). 

Spiritual laws guarantees blessings (Ps, 1:1; 2:12; 32:2; 33:12; 40:4; 41:1; 84:5; 89:5; 89:15; 94:12; 106:3; 112:1; 118:26; 119:1-2; 127:5; Pr. 3:13; 8:34; 28:20; 29:18; 31:28; Isa. 30:18; Mt. 5:3-11; Jn. 12:13; Ac. 20:35Jas. 1:12; Rev. 1:3; 22:7).  We just need to trust that God will do what it says he will do in his word, and know and believe that ‘without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him’ (Heb. 11:6).