I was reading Leviticus 14 this morning. Like the several chapters before this, it gave instructions to the levitical priests (descendants of Levi, but really began with Aaron, Moses' older brother) on the sacrificial and dietary laws, as well as management of skin diseases and household molds. These were written in amazing details (in fact chapters 13 and 14 contained some of the most number of verses in a single chapter!). Now I had been taught that Moses wrote these first five books of the Old Testament (often called the Pentateuch) and I had held these books as authoritative and inerrant etc. There had been many times when I puzzled over the lengthy details of what appeared to be irrelevant and at times absurd rituals. Now I know even Jesus and the apostles had quoted from these writings. What should my attitude be when I spend time reading this, as in letting God speak to me through His Word?
I found this book "Who Wrote the Bible?" by Washington Gladden quite helpful. In chapter II "What did Moses Write?" he helped me put a proper perspective on reading the "Torah" (as the Pentateuch is also called). Basically his conclusions were:
1. The Pentateuch could never have been written by any one man, inspired or otherwise.
2. It is a composite work, in which many hands have been engaged. The production of it extends over many centuries.
3. It contains writings which are as old as the time of Moses, and some that are much older. It is impossible to tell how much of it came from the hand of Moses, but there are considerable portions of it which, although they may have been somewhat modified by later editors, are substantially as he left them.
In terms of answering the question whether Jesus and the apostles also held the same view, he said:
"It is upon this that the advocates of the traditional view of the Old Testament wholly rely. "Christ was authority," they say; "the New Testament writers were inspired; you all admit this; now Christ and the New Testament writers constantly quote the Scriptures of the Old Testament as inspired and as authoritative. Therefore they must be the infallible word of God." To this it is sufficient to reply, Christ and the apostles do quote the Old Testament Scriptures; they find a great treasure of inspired and inspiring truth in them, and so can we; they recognize the fact that they are organically related to that kingdom which Christ came to found, and that they record the earlier stages of that great course of revelation which culminates in Christ; but they nowhere pronounce any of these writings free from error; there is not a hint or suggestion anywhere in the New Testament that any of the writings of the Old Testament are infallible; and Christ himself, as we have seen, clearly warns his disciples that they do not even furnish a safe rule of moral conduct. After this, the attempt to prove the inerrancy of the Old Testament by summoning as witnesses the writers of the New Testament may as well be abandoned."
In my other reading this week, I have been working through slowly these two books:
(1) "Surprised by Hope - Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church" by NT Wright, and
(2) "Triple Jeopardy for the West - Aggressive Secularism, Radical Islamism, and Multiculturalism" by Michael Nazir-Ali
Let me quote just one thing I learned from NT Wright and leave my comments on Nazir-Ali's book to next week:
On God's Future Plan (Part II of Surprised by Hope"), Wright wrote that the two options of the world view - Evolutionary Optimism and Souls in Transit were both not based on scripture. He then argued from scripture that our hope lies on our understanding of the "new creation" - not only a reality for Christ's followers ("Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 2 Corinthians 5:17) but also a promise of "new heavens and a new earth" in which justice will dwell ("But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells." 2 Peter 3:13). He concluded:
"What I am proposing is that the New Testament image of the future hope of the whole cosmos, grounded in the resurrection of Jesus, gives as coherent a picture as we need or could have of the future that is promised to the whole world, a future in which, under the sovereign and wise rule of the creator God, decay and death will be done away with and a new creation born, to which the present one will stand as mother to child... What creation needs is neither abandonment nor evolution but rather redemption and renewal; and this is both promised and guaranteed by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This is what the whole world's waiting for." (page 107)
"I am neither an optimist nor pessimist, Jesus Christ is risen from the dead!" - Bishop Lesslie Newbigin
Friday, 13 February 2015
Friday, 6 February 2015
Seven Woes against Hypocrisy and Mere Apologetics
Today I read Matthew 23. What was so striking about this story was Jesus' anger towards hypocrisy and those who practiced it. I can think of only another instance when I see Jesus' "righteous anger" so vividly displayed and that is found in the story of Jesus clearing the temple (Matthew 21:12-17). There he told the merchants who were doing their business in the temple court:
“It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’[a] but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’[b]” (verse 13).
He was then quoting [a] Isaiah 56:7 and [b] Jeremiah 7:11. These passages speak of God's passionate love for His temple (His tent or His people where He had chosen to make his abode). He wants to have a relationship with believers, through prayer and worship but instead, some have "robbed" that relationship for personal gain.
The Seven Woes on the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees (representing those who were knowledgeable of God's word and were in position of leadership in the church) are summarized here with my personal reflection. I am quoting from the Message translation which uses the phrase "you are hopeless" instead of "woe to you" and calls the teachers of the law and Pharisees as "frauds":
The lesson this morning ties in with the book I finished reading this past week. "Mere Apologetics" by Alister McGrath reminded me of the importance of personal narrative/stories in the post-modern age. Let me quote a few helpful passages here:
"An image I have long found helpful is to think of each person potentially being on the road leading from doubt or unbelief to faith. For some, that path is smooth and easy, having few roadblocks of any importance. For others, that path is long and difficult, with many potholes and other obstacles to faith along the way. The problem is that an external observer doesn't know what someone's road look like; the apologist has no idea whether the difficulty raised by the person she's speaking to is the one and only remaining barrier to faith - or whether a whole series of difficulties remained to be engaged. All the apologist can do is to give a good answer and trust that a seed has been sown - and that one less barrier to faith remains. Our job is to move people along by one step." (page 159 last paragraph).
In dealing with questions and concerns, some basic points (pages 160-161):
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:10-13)
“It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’[a] but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’[b]” (verse 13).
He was then quoting [a] Isaiah 56:7 and [b] Jeremiah 7:11. These passages speak of God's passionate love for His temple (His tent or His people where He had chosen to make his abode). He wants to have a relationship with believers, through prayer and worship but instead, some have "robbed" that relationship for personal gain.
The Seven Woes on the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees (representing those who were knowledgeable of God's word and were in position of leadership in the church) are summarized here with my personal reflection. I am quoting from the Message translation which uses the phrase "you are hopeless" instead of "woe to you" and calls the teachers of the law and Pharisees as "frauds":
- "You’re hopeless, you religion scholars, you Pharisees! Frauds! Your lives are roadblocks to God’s kingdom. You refuse to enter, and won’t let anyone else in either." (verse 13) Oh don't let my preconceived ideas of personal holiness to blind me of the true delight of God's Kingdom on earth. If I miss the boat I will lead others away from God's true intention for mankind.
- "You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You go halfway around the world to make a convert, but once you get him you make him into a replica of yourselves, double-damned." (verse 15) When I present the good news to others I should be mindful of telling the good news of Jesus instead of telling them a list of do's and don'ts.
- "You’re hopeless! What arrogant stupidity! You say, ‘If someone makes a promise with his fingers crossed, that’s nothing; but if he swears with his hand on the Bible, that’s serious.’ What ignorance! Does the leather on the Bible carry more weight than the skin on your hands?...A promise is a promise. God is present, watching and holding you to account regardless." (verses 16-22) I am reminded of the importance of personal integrity in my dealings with believers and non-believers alike.
- "You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but on the meat of God’s Law, things like fairness and compassion and commitment—the absolute basics!—you carelessly take it or leave it..." (verses 23-24) These verses helped me understanding the meaning of tithing better. It's not just 10% of my income (before tax or after tax?). It is about using what has been entrusted to me to further God's kingdom of justice and compassion.
- "You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You burnish the surface of your cups and bowls so they sparkle in the sun, while the insides are maggoty with your greed and gluttony. Stupid Pharisee! Scour the insides, and then the gleaming surface will mean something." (verses 25-26) Do everything out of God's love and not just to look good.
- "You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You’re like manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it’s all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh. People look at you and think you’re saints, but beneath the skin you’re total frauds." (verses 27-28) This one looks similar to (4). I guess it puts more emphasis on sincerity and transparency. Admitting to missing the mark should always be part of my testimony.
- "You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You build granite tombs for your prophets and marble monuments for your saints. And you say that if you had lived in the days of your ancestors, no blood would have been on your hands. You protest too much! You’re cut from the same cloth as those murderers, and daily add to the death count." (verses 29-32) Wow, I really need to be aware of my criticism and judging of others, especially those who belong to the household of God. It amounts to murdering their faith!
The lesson this morning ties in with the book I finished reading this past week. "Mere Apologetics" by Alister McGrath reminded me of the importance of personal narrative/stories in the post-modern age. Let me quote a few helpful passages here:
"An image I have long found helpful is to think of each person potentially being on the road leading from doubt or unbelief to faith. For some, that path is smooth and easy, having few roadblocks of any importance. For others, that path is long and difficult, with many potholes and other obstacles to faith along the way. The problem is that an external observer doesn't know what someone's road look like; the apologist has no idea whether the difficulty raised by the person she's speaking to is the one and only remaining barrier to faith - or whether a whole series of difficulties remained to be engaged. All the apologist can do is to give a good answer and trust that a seed has been sown - and that one less barrier to faith remains. Our job is to move people along by one step." (page 159 last paragraph).
In dealing with questions and concerns, some basic points (pages 160-161):
- Be gracious.
- What is the real question?
- Don't give prepackaged answers to honest questions.
- Appreciate the importance of learning from other apologists.
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:10-13)
Friday, 30 January 2015
NT Wright: How Scripture Outflanks Secularism
NT Wright was the first speaker at the Mere Anglicanism conference this year. He gave a rousing talk on the topic "How Scripture Outflanks Secularism: The Biblical Challenge to the World and the Church". Here are some my notes:
He began by describing two features which shaped the western culture:
(1) The first feature can best be described by the word "Epicureanism", by which the western culture sees the world: "If God exists at all, He is a long way away and at death we disappear into nothing". The factors that lead to this thinking include weariness of wars, progress in science and technology, and a belief that the world is progressing to a better place (by evolution). Even the church is buying into this idea. Preachers pick and choose from scripture to support these views.
Scripture has much to say about this. First and foremost, scripture described God as our Creator. We are God's artwork. He created us to have a relationship with Him and to fulfill His purpose for all of creation. In Ephesians 2 "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, ... among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (vv 1-10)
In terms of the myth of human progress, Wright gave the scriptural view of "time": (i) the turning point in history was when Jesus rose from the dead; (ii) Romans 8 described the ultimate goal of God's creation - we are God's agents to bring the New Kingdom on earth "For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently... And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." (vv 19-28)
Wright categorically refuted the "Dispensationalist Theology" which suggests that we can do nothing to alter the course of history. "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." (Matthews 28:18) - through Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection we too have been given a new life in Christ to fulfill God's purpose to bring His Kingdom on earth. Therefore our challenge to the world is to live out God's reign on earth instead of escaping from it. We live in unity with God's church to witness to God's sovereign reign of the new heaven and the new earth (Ephesian 1).
(2) Society believes in the "value" of Christianity but not the "faith". But all religions DO NOT lead to the same value! Secularism claims that society is progressing with a purpose. It prefers the individual at the expense of society (libertarianism). And that we should capitulate to culture (i.e. agree with whatever the fashion is) and to science (scientific discovery always ahead of moralism).
Our response should include:
Overall I walked away with optimism. Secularism has little to offer to this confused and purposeless world. I on the other hand have been richly blessed "in heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:3). I long to be an effective witness to the good news of Jesus Christ!
He began by describing two features which shaped the western culture:
(1) The first feature can best be described by the word "Epicureanism", by which the western culture sees the world: "If God exists at all, He is a long way away and at death we disappear into nothing". The factors that lead to this thinking include weariness of wars, progress in science and technology, and a belief that the world is progressing to a better place (by evolution). Even the church is buying into this idea. Preachers pick and choose from scripture to support these views.
Scripture has much to say about this. First and foremost, scripture described God as our Creator. We are God's artwork. He created us to have a relationship with Him and to fulfill His purpose for all of creation. In Ephesians 2 "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, ... among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (vv 1-10)
In terms of the myth of human progress, Wright gave the scriptural view of "time": (i) the turning point in history was when Jesus rose from the dead; (ii) Romans 8 described the ultimate goal of God's creation - we are God's agents to bring the New Kingdom on earth "For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently... And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." (vv 19-28)
Wright categorically refuted the "Dispensationalist Theology" which suggests that we can do nothing to alter the course of history. "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." (Matthews 28:18) - through Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection we too have been given a new life in Christ to fulfill God's purpose to bring His Kingdom on earth. Therefore our challenge to the world is to live out God's reign on earth instead of escaping from it. We live in unity with God's church to witness to God's sovereign reign of the new heaven and the new earth (Ephesian 1).
(2) Society believes in the "value" of Christianity but not the "faith". But all religions DO NOT lead to the same value! Secularism claims that society is progressing with a purpose. It prefers the individual at the expense of society (libertarianism). And that we should capitulate to culture (i.e. agree with whatever the fashion is) and to science (scientific discovery always ahead of moralism).
Our response should include:
- importance of movement (institutional church is not the answer)
- movement of profession (we should take the good news to the work place)
- Mere Anglicanism is such a movement
- affirming marriage and establishment of family (don't give up on our children)
- need missionaries, especially in our own backyard (global migration of refugees)
- churches should be more mission minded to bring hope to nations and to our own people (don't be navel-gazing)
Overall I walked away with optimism. Secularism has little to offer to this confused and purposeless world. I on the other hand have been richly blessed "in heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:3). I long to be an effective witness to the good news of Jesus Christ!
Saturday, 24 January 2015
Mere Anglicanism 2015
Here I am in Charleston, South Carolina having just finished attending a conference called Mere Anglicanism. The theme this year is "Salt & Light, the Christian Response to Secularism". I feel particularly blessed by the speakers this year and there were many:
- NT Wright - I recently finished reading two of his books (Simply Christian - Why Christianity Makes Sense and After You Believe - Why Christian Character Matters) and am nearly finishing the third book (Surprised By Hope). I also watched several lectures of him speaking at the NT Wright Conference at Fuller University which were very very good. This was very helpful since I already had some background on his teaching. But he surprised me even more at this conference. I took some note and hope to put it together on another blog.
- Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali - I heard him speak last year at the same conference on the topic of "Science, Faith and Apologetics: An Answer for the Hope That Is Within Us" and knew that he was very good. He delivered the entire lecture without even looking at any notes. He received a standing ovation! On the subject of Secularism he presented his analysis on these three questions: (1) What we had; (2) How we lost it; and (3) What we can do now? I look forward to reading his book "Triple Jeopardy for the West: Aggressive Secularism, Radical Islamism and Multiculturalism".
- Ross Douthat - He was new to me. This young NY Times Columnist (see his blog) taught me a lot and I look forward to reading from his book "Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics".
- Mary Eberstadt - She was equally new to me. When I googled her name she was obviously well known to a lot of people. This passionate activist taught me how Christian living out their faith (to practice justice, compassion etc) must engage in this culture which is more and more intolerant to the Christian faith (this is the first time I heard of the term "The New Intolerance"). I am encouraged to read more on the subject and to apply it in my work.
- Os Guinness - Oh what a teacher! This Irishman who is now living in Washington, DC, continues to be a social critic and author, making huge influence on our culture. He warned the church of opting out of the debate or holding on to the ultra right stance. He suggested that Atheism is "Life With No Amen" - we have nothing to fear but much to face up to.
- Alister McGrath - Oh I love this man. I was totally inspired by him at the conference. He gave me a new perspective about living out my Christian faith by giving a new narrative of the Gospel story. I look forward to telling my story at the next CMDS (a local chapter of the Christian Medical and Dental Society) meeting where I will share on the topic "God in the Exam Room". I am now reading through his book "Mere Apologetics: How to Help Seekers and Skeptics Find Faith". I look forward to learning so much more from him.
Friday, 16 January 2015
What do Joseph and John the Baptist have in common?
This week I finished reading another NT Wright's book "After You Believe - Why Christian Character Matters". Despite all the years of being a Christian, I have never been completely free of the inner struggle of grace versus works. There were too many days to be counted when I had the doubt that I couldn't be a Christian because I didn't do all the things I was supposed to do and did all the things I was not supposed to do (see Paul's struggle in Romans 7:19). This is especially burdensome when you read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). NT Wright gave his insight into the Beatitudes:
"Jesus is not meaning either 'If you manage to behave in this way, you will be rewarded' (a kind of legalist solution) or 'Now that you've believed in me and my kingdom project, this is how you must behave" (a sort of thing some post-Reformation theology might insist on)... What Jesus is saying, rather, is, 'Now that I'm here, God's new world is coming to birth; and, once you realize that, you'll see that these are habits of heart which anticipate that new world here and now.' These qualities - purity of heart, mercy, and so on - are not, so to speak, 'things you have to do' to earn a 'reward', a 'payment'. Nor are they merely the 'rule of conduct' laid down for new converts to follow... They are, in themselves, the signs of life, the language of life, the life of new creation, the life of new covenant, the life which Jesus came to bring." (page 106 - with my emphasis)
He explained what Jesus meant when he asked us to follow him:
"Jesus's call to follow him, to discover in the present time the habits of life which point forward to the coming kingdom and already, in a measure, share in its life, only makes sense when it is couched in the terms made famous by Dietrich Bonhoeffer: 'Come and die.' Jesus didn't say, as do some modern evangelists, 'God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.' Nor did he say, 'I accept you as you are, so you can now happily do whatever comes naturally.' He said, 'If you want to become my followers, deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me' (Mark 8:34). He spoke of losing one's life in order to gain it, as opposed to clinging to it and so losing it. He spoke of this in direct relation to himself and his forthcoming humiliation and death, followed by resurrection and exaltation. Exactly in line with the Beatitudes, he was describing, and inviting his followers to enter, an upside-down world, an inside-out world, a world where all the things people normally assume about human flourishing, including human virtue, are set aside and a new order is established." (page 115 - with my emphasis)
He also gave me new insight into Romans 12:2 "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." by connecting it to Philippians chapter 1. He explained:
"Another passage which sits tightly alongside Romans 12 is found near the start of the letter to the Philippians: 'This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you can figure out properly things that differ from one another, so that you may be blameless and innocent for the day of the Messiah, filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus the Messiah to the glory and praise of God (1:9-11 Wright's emphasis)'... Paul wants them, of course, to grow in love; but this love is not a matter of 'undisciplined squads of emotion,' but a thought-out habit of the heart - the heart knowing why it approves what it approves and why it disapproves what it disapproves. All this has the forward look that is common to classic virtue-teaching. "The day of the Messiah' is coming, when you will be 'complete,' as he has said earlier in verse 6: "The one who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of the Messiah, Jesus."... don't suppose for a minute that this grace will work without your mind being fully engaged... The more genuinely spiritual you are, according to Romans 12 and Philippians 1, the more clearly and accurately and carefully you will think, particularly about what the completed goal of your Christian journey will be and hence what steps you should be taking, what habits you should be acquiring, as part of the journey toward that goal, right now." (page 157-158)
I can go on and on what I have learned from this book, on the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), Paul's famous passage on love (1 Corinthians 13), and on God's call to be priests and rulers.
This takes me back to the topic of this blog. What do Joseph and John the Baptist have in common? Their stories in scripture reminded me that despite their short comings God used them to bring about his purpose. Joseph, a proud young man, was betrayed by his own brothers and sold to Egypt as a slave, would eventually save the people of Israel from starvation and certain extinction. His famous verse:
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20)
John the Baptist, although had doubt about Jesus while being confined in a jail cell, received this accolade from Jesus:
" Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." (Matthew 11:11)
Now there is hope for me, even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist!
"But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life." (St. Paul, 1 Timothy 1:16)
"Jesus is not meaning either 'If you manage to behave in this way, you will be rewarded' (a kind of legalist solution) or 'Now that you've believed in me and my kingdom project, this is how you must behave" (a sort of thing some post-Reformation theology might insist on)... What Jesus is saying, rather, is, 'Now that I'm here, God's new world is coming to birth; and, once you realize that, you'll see that these are habits of heart which anticipate that new world here and now.' These qualities - purity of heart, mercy, and so on - are not, so to speak, 'things you have to do' to earn a 'reward', a 'payment'. Nor are they merely the 'rule of conduct' laid down for new converts to follow... They are, in themselves, the signs of life, the language of life, the life of new creation, the life of new covenant, the life which Jesus came to bring." (page 106 - with my emphasis)
He explained what Jesus meant when he asked us to follow him:
"Jesus's call to follow him, to discover in the present time the habits of life which point forward to the coming kingdom and already, in a measure, share in its life, only makes sense when it is couched in the terms made famous by Dietrich Bonhoeffer: 'Come and die.' Jesus didn't say, as do some modern evangelists, 'God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.' Nor did he say, 'I accept you as you are, so you can now happily do whatever comes naturally.' He said, 'If you want to become my followers, deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me' (Mark 8:34). He spoke of losing one's life in order to gain it, as opposed to clinging to it and so losing it. He spoke of this in direct relation to himself and his forthcoming humiliation and death, followed by resurrection and exaltation. Exactly in line with the Beatitudes, he was describing, and inviting his followers to enter, an upside-down world, an inside-out world, a world where all the things people normally assume about human flourishing, including human virtue, are set aside and a new order is established." (page 115 - with my emphasis)
He also gave me new insight into Romans 12:2 "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." by connecting it to Philippians chapter 1. He explained:
"Another passage which sits tightly alongside Romans 12 is found near the start of the letter to the Philippians: 'This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you can figure out properly things that differ from one another, so that you may be blameless and innocent for the day of the Messiah, filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus the Messiah to the glory and praise of God (1:9-11 Wright's emphasis)'... Paul wants them, of course, to grow in love; but this love is not a matter of 'undisciplined squads of emotion,' but a thought-out habit of the heart - the heart knowing why it approves what it approves and why it disapproves what it disapproves. All this has the forward look that is common to classic virtue-teaching. "The day of the Messiah' is coming, when you will be 'complete,' as he has said earlier in verse 6: "The one who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of the Messiah, Jesus."... don't suppose for a minute that this grace will work without your mind being fully engaged... The more genuinely spiritual you are, according to Romans 12 and Philippians 1, the more clearly and accurately and carefully you will think, particularly about what the completed goal of your Christian journey will be and hence what steps you should be taking, what habits you should be acquiring, as part of the journey toward that goal, right now." (page 157-158)
I can go on and on what I have learned from this book, on the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), Paul's famous passage on love (1 Corinthians 13), and on God's call to be priests and rulers.
This takes me back to the topic of this blog. What do Joseph and John the Baptist have in common? Their stories in scripture reminded me that despite their short comings God used them to bring about his purpose. Joseph, a proud young man, was betrayed by his own brothers and sold to Egypt as a slave, would eventually save the people of Israel from starvation and certain extinction. His famous verse:
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20)
John the Baptist, although had doubt about Jesus while being confined in a jail cell, received this accolade from Jesus:
" Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." (Matthew 11:11)
Now there is hope for me, even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist!
"But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life." (St. Paul, 1 Timothy 1:16)
Friday, 9 January 2015
Abraham and Simply Christian
Finished reading NT Wright's classic "Simply Christian" this past week. This book is often compared to CS Lewis' "Mere Christianity" or John Stott's "Basic Christianity". I am now reading through another one of his books called "After You Believe". NT Wright will be a speaker at the Mere Anglicanism conference this year. I am so looking forward to it!
"Simply Christian" speaks of the basic needs of the human heart - a desire for justice, a spiritual hole that wants to be filled, the desire for meaningful relationship, and the appreciation of beauty and truth. You don't have to be a christian to find fulfillment and satisfaction of these needs but the "Christian message" reduces the need for life long seeking and easily satisfies the deep longing of the soul. (Bruxy Cavey described it as telling people who are waiting in a long line to see God a short cut to the front!). NT Wright did a fabulous job of explaining religious concepts and belief based on historical events, i.e. who is God, why did God pick the people of Israel, who is Jesus and the (Holy) Spirit, and how did the Bible come about and what it says about the life of a Christian. I particularly enjoy his use of analogy, like this one about reading the Bible:
"It sometimes feels as though two or three short biblical readings are rather like the windows seen from the other side of the room. We can't see very much through them. But as we get to know the Bible better, we get closer to the windows (as it were), so that, without the windows having gotten any bigger, we can glimpse the entire sweep of the biblical countryside." (page 151 first paragraph)
And about arguing over obeying what the Bible says:
"Squabbling over particular definitions of the qualities of the Bible is like a married couple squabbling over which of them loves the children more, when they should be getting on with bringing them up and setting them a good example. The Bible is there to enable God's people to be equipped to do God's work in God's world, not to give them an excuse to sit back smugly, knowing they possess all God's truth." (page 183 bottom of page)
Overall this book helps me understand more of the basics of my faith and gives me lots of insight into practicing it.
As I read the story of Abraham in the Book of Genesis this week, I was again struck by the fact that this man was far from perfect! He was afraid that the people he met would harm him because he had a beautiful wife - when he was in Egypt (Genesis 12:10-20) and with King Abimelek (Genesis 20). Yet he held on to God's promise, even if he had to sacrifice his one and only son (Genesis 22). One thing I learned from this man is that wherever he went he always built an altar (Genesis 12:7, 13:4, 13:18, 22:9). He is truly a man of faith! Where is my altar at home, at work, in my community, at my church?
I just finished reading the Sermon on the Mount today (Matthew 5-7). There is a really good chapter in the book "After You Believe" talking about faith versus good works. I will write about it next week.
"Simply Christian" speaks of the basic needs of the human heart - a desire for justice, a spiritual hole that wants to be filled, the desire for meaningful relationship, and the appreciation of beauty and truth. You don't have to be a christian to find fulfillment and satisfaction of these needs but the "Christian message" reduces the need for life long seeking and easily satisfies the deep longing of the soul. (Bruxy Cavey described it as telling people who are waiting in a long line to see God a short cut to the front!). NT Wright did a fabulous job of explaining religious concepts and belief based on historical events, i.e. who is God, why did God pick the people of Israel, who is Jesus and the (Holy) Spirit, and how did the Bible come about and what it says about the life of a Christian. I particularly enjoy his use of analogy, like this one about reading the Bible:
"It sometimes feels as though two or three short biblical readings are rather like the windows seen from the other side of the room. We can't see very much through them. But as we get to know the Bible better, we get closer to the windows (as it were), so that, without the windows having gotten any bigger, we can glimpse the entire sweep of the biblical countryside." (page 151 first paragraph)
And about arguing over obeying what the Bible says:
"Squabbling over particular definitions of the qualities of the Bible is like a married couple squabbling over which of them loves the children more, when they should be getting on with bringing them up and setting them a good example. The Bible is there to enable God's people to be equipped to do God's work in God's world, not to give them an excuse to sit back smugly, knowing they possess all God's truth." (page 183 bottom of page)
Overall this book helps me understand more of the basics of my faith and gives me lots of insight into practicing it.
As I read the story of Abraham in the Book of Genesis this week, I was again struck by the fact that this man was far from perfect! He was afraid that the people he met would harm him because he had a beautiful wife - when he was in Egypt (Genesis 12:10-20) and with King Abimelek (Genesis 20). Yet he held on to God's promise, even if he had to sacrifice his one and only son (Genesis 22). One thing I learned from this man is that wherever he went he always built an altar (Genesis 12:7, 13:4, 13:18, 22:9). He is truly a man of faith! Where is my altar at home, at work, in my community, at my church?
I just finished reading the Sermon on the Mount today (Matthew 5-7). There is a really good chapter in the book "After You Believe" talking about faith versus good works. I will write about it next week.
Friday, 2 January 2015
How do I understand the Book of Genesis?
Happy New Year 2015! Two years ago I made a New Year resolution - to write a blog on my spiritual discovery from my daily Bible reading at least once a week. So far I have not broken my promise and I can see God's blessings in this endeavor. This year I will try something different. Although I will still follow the "Bible in a Year" schedule on Our Daily Bread, I will write more on what I have learned from other Christian or non-Christian materials. I will learn from other faith and their perspectives on life. This will push me to do more reading outside the Bible. I hope the experience will draw me closer to God, to understand His love and His purpose for me better.
So to start I will share on a book I recently read. The book was written by a friend from church and is called "Reaching into Plato's Cave: Bringing the Bible into the 21st century". My friend Luke, who is an accomplished scientist and a professor in the same medical school of which I am also a faculty member, spent a large part of his book on his struggle and his discovery on the Book of Genesis. He explained quite clearly on many of the popular positions on creation and the origin of man:
I believe that these books were chosen from godly men and women a long time ago, first the Jews (Old Testament) then the Christians (New Testament) soon after Jesus left earth. The Bible was put together to make sure we have a guide book for our faith journey. The Bible and its many authors were specially chosen even though they too were imperfect human beings but they were known to be men who sought after God. Their messages were true then as they are true today. I will try to understand the meaning of these messages with the help of the Holy Spirit and apply them to my life.
It was interesting to watch the movie Exodus: Gods and Kings in 3D on New Year's eve. Some Christians may find it displeasing because it is not entirely based on the Scripture. But I actually found it refreshing in the way the director Ridley Scott (likely a non-christian) interpreted the Book of Exodus. He attempted to explain the complex character of Moses and indeed, God Himself. Was God unreasonably cruel in the story (the killing of all Egyptian first born sons)? Why did God choose to love the Jewish people even though they did not deserve His love? I find it interesting in reading this morning the story of Joseph and Mary escaping to Egypt (Matthews 2:13-18). Isn't it ironic that God sent His Son back to the very place He had rescued the Jewish people many centuries before? And yes, the story also involved the killing of boys - but this time a wicked Roman client king (Harold the Great) ordered the killing of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in an attempt to murder God's only Son!!
It makes me appreciate God's love for me even more. Yes, the world won't be at peace in 2015. But with the Prince of Peace (Jesus) I can be an agent of peace to this world. I will need His help - supernaturally, and yes, literally!
So to start I will share on a book I recently read. The book was written by a friend from church and is called "Reaching into Plato's Cave: Bringing the Bible into the 21st century". My friend Luke, who is an accomplished scientist and a professor in the same medical school of which I am also a faculty member, spent a large part of his book on his struggle and his discovery on the Book of Genesis. He explained quite clearly on many of the popular positions on creation and the origin of man:
- The Young Earth (YE) explanation of the creation story is based on the literal interpretation of Genesis chapters one and two, i.e. 1 day is literally 24 hours of the modern day clock. The earth is only between 6000 to 10,000 years old.
- The Theistic Evolution (or OE as in Old Earth) embraces the evolution theory to explain the origin of species and of man (it affirms evolution theory as a plausible theory as in gravitational theory). The interpretation of the Genesis story is based on metaphor, i.e. God tells us through stories that He is our creator and wants to have a special relationship with us.
- Intelligent Design (IE) argues for the existence of God from a philosophical and scientific point of view. God, being all powerful and creative, can do anything. This also explains what can not be explained scientifically at this time (the God-of-the-gaps).
- The atheists must know that they too depend on "Faith" when it comes to explaining the origin of life and of species (be it the Big Bang, the fossils, and the improbability of how evolution takes us from simple organism into something so complex and integrated).
- The children of Adam and Eve obviously married each other (but only the names of the boys were mentioned). Then who were the people of whom Cain was afraid in Genesis 4:13-14 (“My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”).
- Men used to live as old as 969 years (Methuselah, Genesis 5:27) and Noah didn't become a father until he was 500 years old. What was happening then that was so different from what is now?
- Who were the Nephilims and how wicked was the human race that God would wipe out the entire world because of it (Genesis 6:1-7)?
I believe that these books were chosen from godly men and women a long time ago, first the Jews (Old Testament) then the Christians (New Testament) soon after Jesus left earth. The Bible was put together to make sure we have a guide book for our faith journey. The Bible and its many authors were specially chosen even though they too were imperfect human beings but they were known to be men who sought after God. Their messages were true then as they are true today. I will try to understand the meaning of these messages with the help of the Holy Spirit and apply them to my life.
It was interesting to watch the movie Exodus: Gods and Kings in 3D on New Year's eve. Some Christians may find it displeasing because it is not entirely based on the Scripture. But I actually found it refreshing in the way the director Ridley Scott (likely a non-christian) interpreted the Book of Exodus. He attempted to explain the complex character of Moses and indeed, God Himself. Was God unreasonably cruel in the story (the killing of all Egyptian first born sons)? Why did God choose to love the Jewish people even though they did not deserve His love? I find it interesting in reading this morning the story of Joseph and Mary escaping to Egypt (Matthews 2:13-18). Isn't it ironic that God sent His Son back to the very place He had rescued the Jewish people many centuries before? And yes, the story also involved the killing of boys - but this time a wicked Roman client king (Harold the Great) ordered the killing of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in an attempt to murder God's only Son!!
It makes me appreciate God's love for me even more. Yes, the world won't be at peace in 2015. But with the Prince of Peace (Jesus) I can be an agent of peace to this world. I will need His help - supernaturally, and yes, literally!
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