God's desire is for us to obey Him. However, to 'obey' does not have the same meaning as one might think. God desires obedience so that we live a life that is without chaos. We often think it is blind obedience we are to have. In so doing, we never believe we can obey nor is He ever pleased with us. God does want obedience, however He does not require it to be blind obedience. We see this in several verses and in particular, Isaiah 1:18.
Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Reason: to argue; causatively to decide, justify or convince:
Obedient: to hear intelligently, understand, consent, consider, be content.
The Hebrew words indicates that God wants us to reason with Him, to argue, to understand and be content with what we are hearing.
I recently had a young man come to me for counsel. We dialoged about the solution to some of his problems. He inquired if he had to follow my counsel. I advised him that if he came for counseling and I gave him a solution to his dilemma, he had an opportunity to argue the merits of the counsel. It was my obligation to explain thoroughly and articulately my remedy. He was required to 'hear' me but my role was to convince him that my solution would work. If he didn't understand or didn't agree, he was not obligated however, once he was convinced and left the session, he was required to follow. The principle is that I am required to convince him that my solution would work. He needed to be content with, understand and convicted with what I advised.
The believer is also required to "'obey' them that have rule over you and submit themselves..." Heb 13:17.
The same principle applies here. The word obey is 'peitho' and the meaning is: to convince (by argument, by analogy to pacify or conciliate (stop someone from being angry or discontent, act as mediator), persuade, trust, yield.
It is incumbent upon those that rule to convince, mediate with and persuade those under their rule. It is abhorrent of them to dictate or require blind obedience.
This is played out in Paul's writing to Timothy when he pens the qualifications for those who rule: "One that rules well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how [experientially] to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil". 1 Timothy 3
The principle, again, is that the father must rule his house, wife and children, by the same approach, not requiring blind obedience but rather by an appeal, argument, analogy, conciliating and convincing. If he does not learn and know how to do this with his family, he will not know how to do this with the Believer of whom he is responsible.
Lastly, we see that the wives, children and slaves (involuntarily or voluntarily) are told to 'obey'.
The Greek word for this action is: hupakouō
The meaning of this word is: To hear under, to listen attentively, heed or conform; be reported, understand.
The one in authority, if the husband, parent or master, must have an audience and must give clear instruction and reasoning and reference so that the hearer can understand. The subordinate person is required to listen attentively.
The theme in these Scriptures is not a domineering tyrant but rather a kind leader who 'knows his flock', be it in the assembly of Believers or the home.
He leads by communicating with those under him with conversation and convincing and dialog. I propose that the subordinate is not required to comply by blind obedience but rather by being convinced of an action.
The thought behind obedience is not to do what one is told, without question but with reason and reasoning through a command. I have seen youth whose parents want ultimate control over their lives but don't give them a reason for making them obey. Rather, they say, "because I am your parent" or "because I said so". These children often grow to adults who have to experiment with every evil to learn on their own, the 'why or why not', because they don't have a "file cabinet" in their mind, to help them with decision making. This "file cabinet" of information was what the parent should have helped them build when they were young. This is done by helping them make decisions, not deciding for them. It is done by reasoning with them, not by requiring blind obedience.
God 's desire is for the Believer to "lead a tranquil and quiet life in all Godliness and dignity". 1 Tim 2 This proper response to authority is accomplished through proper training and reasoning.
January 18, 2012
January 12, 2010
Law of Liberty
THE LAW OF MERCY
James gives a better way than the Law of Moses.
The law of liberty
“So speak and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:12-13
We cannot keep the Law of Moses fully. The Law of Moses cannot set us free from the law of sin and death. But God has given us a law that can set us free.
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2
The law of the Spirit of life is the law of liberty. Through the Spirit we can be free from sin in order to fulfill the Law.
“…in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:4
This is what Jesus had promised.
“…If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32
The freedom to do good does not come from the Law, but from following Jesus.
This freedom is to be used for others.
“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13
Freedom from sin makes new things possible. We will not be judged by the Law of Moses, but by the law of freedom. (The Greek word translated “free” or freedom” in other places is the same word translated as “liberty” in James.) If we are able to do new things, then we can be judged for what we chose.
We as believers will be judged.
- “…For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God.” Romans 14:10
- “So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:12
- “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
- II Corinthians 5:10
- “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”
Revelation 22:12
But Christ will judge us by His perfect law, the law of liberty. He gave us a new commandment that sums up the law of liberty – Jesus gave us the freedom and power to love, something the law of Moses could not give us.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” John 13:34
It is in this commandment that we will be judged, and receive our inheritance in the kingdom of heaven.
“For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.
Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? And when did we see You in prison, and come to You?
And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.” Matthew 25:35-40
Judgment is based on what has been given.
“…And from everyone who has been given much shall much be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:48
Mercy
Freedom makes mercy more important than law, for we are responsible for more.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” Matthew 5:7
We should speak and act as those who will need mercy in the day of judgment. Our acts of mercy will speak out against the demand for judgment in that day. If we have shown no mercy in this life, judgment will be also without mercy. We will need mercy.
Compassion and mercy are rewarded.
“And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you he shall not lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42
As we look intently at the law of liberty, we do not see rules but responsibility for others.
We will not be judged for sins, but for what we have done. The works of compassion and mercy will stand in the judgment.
“Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire.” I Corinthians 3:12-15
Mercy triumphs over judgment.
“… so speak and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty … mercy triumphs over judgment.”
James 2:12-13
Mercy instead of judgment
When Israel made the golden calf, God told Moses what they had done. He told Moses to let Him alone that He might destroy them. But Moses interceded for them on the mountain. When Moses came down from the mountain and saw the golden calf, He broke the tablets written by the finger of God. In anger Moses broke the Law; he broke what God gave him. Even though he already knew what they had done, and he held in his hands the Law written by God Himself, Moses threw away the tablets. Moses destroyed the golden calf; he called for Israel to rid themselves of those who had worshiped it. Moses acted in anger, destroying the tablets, the golden calf, and some of those who had worshiped it.
But the next day, he returned to ask God to forgive them. He went back, not only to ask God to forgive, but also to see His glory. God listened to Moses, showing him His glory, and replacing the tablets that Moses had broken in anger. God did not deal with Moses with judgment but with mercy. Moses had mercy on the people; God had mercy on Moses. In the time that the Law of Moses is being given, Moses needed mercy. Mercy triumphed over judgment.
Greg Whitten-James
James gives a better way than the Law of Moses.
The law of liberty
“So speak and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:12-13
We cannot keep the Law of Moses fully. The Law of Moses cannot set us free from the law of sin and death. But God has given us a law that can set us free.
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2
The law of the Spirit of life is the law of liberty. Through the Spirit we can be free from sin in order to fulfill the Law.
“…in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:4
This is what Jesus had promised.
“…If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32
The freedom to do good does not come from the Law, but from following Jesus.
This freedom is to be used for others.
“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13
Freedom from sin makes new things possible. We will not be judged by the Law of Moses, but by the law of freedom. (The Greek word translated “free” or freedom” in other places is the same word translated as “liberty” in James.) If we are able to do new things, then we can be judged for what we chose.
We as believers will be judged.
- “…For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God.” Romans 14:10
- “So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:12
- “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
- II Corinthians 5:10
- “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”
Revelation 22:12
But Christ will judge us by His perfect law, the law of liberty. He gave us a new commandment that sums up the law of liberty – Jesus gave us the freedom and power to love, something the law of Moses could not give us.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” John 13:34
It is in this commandment that we will be judged, and receive our inheritance in the kingdom of heaven.
“For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.
Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? And when did we see You in prison, and come to You?
And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.” Matthew 25:35-40
Judgment is based on what has been given.
“…And from everyone who has been given much shall much be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:48
Mercy
Freedom makes mercy more important than law, for we are responsible for more.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” Matthew 5:7
We should speak and act as those who will need mercy in the day of judgment. Our acts of mercy will speak out against the demand for judgment in that day. If we have shown no mercy in this life, judgment will be also without mercy. We will need mercy.
Compassion and mercy are rewarded.
“And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you he shall not lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42
As we look intently at the law of liberty, we do not see rules but responsibility for others.
We will not be judged for sins, but for what we have done. The works of compassion and mercy will stand in the judgment.
“Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire.” I Corinthians 3:12-15
Mercy triumphs over judgment.
“… so speak and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty … mercy triumphs over judgment.”
James 2:12-13
Mercy instead of judgment
When Israel made the golden calf, God told Moses what they had done. He told Moses to let Him alone that He might destroy them. But Moses interceded for them on the mountain. When Moses came down from the mountain and saw the golden calf, He broke the tablets written by the finger of God. In anger Moses broke the Law; he broke what God gave him. Even though he already knew what they had done, and he held in his hands the Law written by God Himself, Moses threw away the tablets. Moses destroyed the golden calf; he called for Israel to rid themselves of those who had worshiped it. Moses acted in anger, destroying the tablets, the golden calf, and some of those who had worshiped it.
But the next day, he returned to ask God to forgive them. He went back, not only to ask God to forgive, but also to see His glory. God listened to Moses, showing him His glory, and replacing the tablets that Moses had broken in anger. God did not deal with Moses with judgment but with mercy. Moses had mercy on the people; God had mercy on Moses. In the time that the Law of Moses is being given, Moses needed mercy. Mercy triumphed over judgment.
Greg Whitten-James
August 25, 2009
GARDENING THE HEART
There a paradox. The heart is more deceitful than all else, and is desperately sick; yet it is there that Christ is to dwell by faith. It is out of the heart that man is defiled; yet it is with the heart that man believes. Believers’ hearts can be filled by Satan to lie to the Holy Spirit; yet the word of faith can be found in the heart.
The heart is a garden; it will be what we make of it. If we neglect it, our heart will be filled with weeds that will choke out the word. If we tend it, our heart will produce a harvest far in excess of what was given to it.
The promise of the New Covenant is that He will give us a new heart and a new spirit; He will take out the heart of stone and put in a heart of flesh. He does not make our heart perfect; He makes it soft. We can hear His voice speaking to our heart. The word can grow in this heart of flesh.
But we can harden our hearts; we can refuse to listen. We can be hardened by sin. We are the gardeners of our heart.
It is the word that is sown in the heart; we have been born again by this word. But the word implanted in the ground must be received as it sends out roots. The doer of the word receives the word. The word can become rooted in him.
The garden must be watered; even a few days of neglect can kill much of what is growing. We must keep coming to Him and drinking; the heart needs the Holy Spirit.
The garden must be weeded. Weeds choke out the word; the sins and love of this world must be pulled out. Our heart can be cleansed. As we actively confess our sins, He forgives and cleanses us. The sins of our heart keep us from growing.
“…this mystery … which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ. And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.” Colossians 1:27-29
The heart, which will grow only weeds if neglected, can grow Christ when kept. What we do makes a difference in our heart; our heart can be healed.
Gardening is hard work; it takes time every day. Much of it has to be done on our knees.
_Greg Whitten
The heart is a garden; it will be what we make of it. If we neglect it, our heart will be filled with weeds that will choke out the word. If we tend it, our heart will produce a harvest far in excess of what was given to it.
The promise of the New Covenant is that He will give us a new heart and a new spirit; He will take out the heart of stone and put in a heart of flesh. He does not make our heart perfect; He makes it soft. We can hear His voice speaking to our heart. The word can grow in this heart of flesh.
But we can harden our hearts; we can refuse to listen. We can be hardened by sin. We are the gardeners of our heart.
It is the word that is sown in the heart; we have been born again by this word. But the word implanted in the ground must be received as it sends out roots. The doer of the word receives the word. The word can become rooted in him.
The garden must be watered; even a few days of neglect can kill much of what is growing. We must keep coming to Him and drinking; the heart needs the Holy Spirit.
The garden must be weeded. Weeds choke out the word; the sins and love of this world must be pulled out. Our heart can be cleansed. As we actively confess our sins, He forgives and cleanses us. The sins of our heart keep us from growing.
“…this mystery … which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ. And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.” Colossians 1:27-29
The heart, which will grow only weeds if neglected, can grow Christ when kept. What we do makes a difference in our heart; our heart can be healed.
Gardening is hard work; it takes time every day. Much of it has to be done on our knees.
_Greg Whitten
August 12, 2009
SHEPHERDING
The Lord is my Shepherd; He is the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.
He is shepherd to us when He is first Lord to us. He is not shepherd to us if we are unwilling to listen to Him.
He gives His work of shepherding to His under-shepherds; He allots sheep to under-shepherds. It is His work; under-shepherds will give account for the sheep.
Sheep who are shepherded do not lack what they need; under-shepherds are tasked with the work of the Shepherd. All that the Lord would do, they are to do.
Sheep are to be made to lie down in green pastures; shepherding is teaching disciples to meditate in the Word. This can be taught.
Sheep are to be led gently to waters of rest; shepherding is guiding disciples to come to Jesus and drink. Disciples need rest; they need renewal. They need the work of the Spirit.
The souls of sheep are to be brought back from their wandering; shepherding is bringing disciples back from the love of the world. Sheep are near-sighted; they get lost easily. Disciples must be turned back from following their souls.
Sheep are to be guided in the well-worn paths of righteousness; shepherding is leading disciples in the Way. What His sheep do in their life matters to Him, His name is on them. If His sheep wander off, it is the Shepherd’s responsibility. If His sheep are eating a farmer’s grain, it is the Shepherd’s responsibility. There is a Way; shepherds should recognize when their sheep are not on it.
Sheep are not to be afraid of the dark; shepherding is being there with disciples in the darkness. It is the shepherd who carries a club; he can fight what threatens them. It is the shepherd who has a staff; he can take hold of his sheep. The under-shepherd must be there; through him Jesus shepherds.
Shepherding is oversight, not rule. The shepherd watches; he knows what is going on. He leads; he doesn’t drive. The sheep are not there to serve him; he is to serve them. He has a passion for them; he wants them to thrive.
What the under-shepherd does is significant to Jesus.
“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” 1 Peter 5:4
-Greg Whitten
He is shepherd to us when He is first Lord to us. He is not shepherd to us if we are unwilling to listen to Him.
He gives His work of shepherding to His under-shepherds; He allots sheep to under-shepherds. It is His work; under-shepherds will give account for the sheep.
Sheep who are shepherded do not lack what they need; under-shepherds are tasked with the work of the Shepherd. All that the Lord would do, they are to do.
Sheep are to be made to lie down in green pastures; shepherding is teaching disciples to meditate in the Word. This can be taught.
Sheep are to be led gently to waters of rest; shepherding is guiding disciples to come to Jesus and drink. Disciples need rest; they need renewal. They need the work of the Spirit.
The souls of sheep are to be brought back from their wandering; shepherding is bringing disciples back from the love of the world. Sheep are near-sighted; they get lost easily. Disciples must be turned back from following their souls.
Sheep are to be guided in the well-worn paths of righteousness; shepherding is leading disciples in the Way. What His sheep do in their life matters to Him, His name is on them. If His sheep wander off, it is the Shepherd’s responsibility. If His sheep are eating a farmer’s grain, it is the Shepherd’s responsibility. There is a Way; shepherds should recognize when their sheep are not on it.
Sheep are not to be afraid of the dark; shepherding is being there with disciples in the darkness. It is the shepherd who carries a club; he can fight what threatens them. It is the shepherd who has a staff; he can take hold of his sheep. The under-shepherd must be there; through him Jesus shepherds.
Shepherding is oversight, not rule. The shepherd watches; he knows what is going on. He leads; he doesn’t drive. The sheep are not there to serve him; he is to serve them. He has a passion for them; he wants them to thrive.
What the under-shepherd does is significant to Jesus.
“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” 1 Peter 5:4
-Greg Whitten
July 23, 2009
GIFTS
Spiritual gifts work through a person’s spirit. Our spirit within impels us, like a wind driving ships across the sea. A particular gift implants a drive within; but in order for that gift to be expressed, we must choose to act on what our spirit within impels.
If one is given a gift of teaching, he must work at teaching. The gift does not give him teaching, only the drive to teach. It takes ten years to become an expert at anything. If one is given a gift of service, he must work at what is necessary to serve. A medical degree takes years to earn. Gifts are not shortcuts; they are the drive to do what we are meant to do.
Spiritual gifts are given by God; but they can lie dormant within us because we have not acted upon them. Paul urged Timothy to stir up the spiritual gift within him. What is in our spirit may require years of work to express.
Tiger Woods is gifted; not because golf was easy for him, but because he was driven to practice more than anyone else. He is arguably the best player in the world because he has worked harder at it than anyone else.
Spiritual gifts require spiritual freedom. We cannot serve others effectively if we are slaves ourselves. We must be free to work out what He is working in us. We cannot prophesy if we do not listen to His voice. We cannot teach if we have not learned to follow. We cannot exhort if we have given in to sin.
Only disciples can find freedom.
“…If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32
Only disciples can realize the spiritual gift God gave them.
The fulness of what God intended is realized when a disciple fully acts upon what his spirit within impels him to do. It is then that the spiritual gift becomes a gift to the body of Christ.
“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ…” Ephesians 4:11-12
-Greg Whitten
If one is given a gift of teaching, he must work at teaching. The gift does not give him teaching, only the drive to teach. It takes ten years to become an expert at anything. If one is given a gift of service, he must work at what is necessary to serve. A medical degree takes years to earn. Gifts are not shortcuts; they are the drive to do what we are meant to do.
Spiritual gifts are given by God; but they can lie dormant within us because we have not acted upon them. Paul urged Timothy to stir up the spiritual gift within him. What is in our spirit may require years of work to express.
Tiger Woods is gifted; not because golf was easy for him, but because he was driven to practice more than anyone else. He is arguably the best player in the world because he has worked harder at it than anyone else.
Spiritual gifts require spiritual freedom. We cannot serve others effectively if we are slaves ourselves. We must be free to work out what He is working in us. We cannot prophesy if we do not listen to His voice. We cannot teach if we have not learned to follow. We cannot exhort if we have given in to sin.
Only disciples can find freedom.
“…If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32
Only disciples can realize the spiritual gift God gave them.
The fulness of what God intended is realized when a disciple fully acts upon what his spirit within impels him to do. It is then that the spiritual gift becomes a gift to the body of Christ.
“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ…” Ephesians 4:11-12
-Greg Whitten
July 15, 2009
CHURCH
Christianity has been largely defined by church for most of these two thousand years; Christianity has been understood primarily to be what happens inside a religious service. Our language has no other meaning for “church”.
Our English word “church” does not come from the Greek word it translates, but from a Greek phrase, “kyriakon doma”, meaning “the Lord’s house”. The essential thought in the English word “church” is that it is the Lord’s house.
But there is a true Tabernacle in heaven, which the Lord pitched, not man. This is the Lord’s house; this is the place of His throne, and the soles of His feet. For us to call something on earth the Lord’s house is like Aaron fashioning a golden calf, and saying this is the god who brought you out of Egypt.
His house is in heaven; it is there that we must direct our hearts. We must ascend the hill of the Lord; we must draw near to the throne of grace. Like priests we must enter alone into the holy place, to offer up what is acceptable to Him.
The word used in the Greek New Testament is “ekklesia”, meaning “assembly”. This is the word Jesus used; this is the word the apostles used. In Acts 19 this word is also used three times to refer to Greek citizens of Ephesus gathered together because of rumors about the apostle Paul. This is the primary meaning of this word. When the New Testament uses this word, it is using a non-religious word; ekklesia is an assembly of citizens. It does not imply house; it does not imply a religious service.
By turning ekklesia, assembly, into the Lord’s house, we have placed a graven image between believers and the throne of grace. The graven image can keep believers from a secret life. If “church” is the means to the throne of grace, then believers will not learn to seek Him in the wilderness. We will not learn to seek Him alone in the dawn.
Disciples should walk a narrow path. Disciples give in secret, pray in secret, fast in secret; what the Father rewards was not done to be seen. The riches of discipleship cannot be found by those who do not know how to walk with Him alone.
For us to gather as ekklesia on earth, we must first find grace in heaven. We bear fruit out of an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ; this fruit feeds others. Without this abiding relationship, we will have nothing significant to give others.
Ekklesia is a gathering of the citizens of the kingdom of God, who have walked in the City of God.
-Greg Whitten
Our English word “church” does not come from the Greek word it translates, but from a Greek phrase, “kyriakon doma”, meaning “the Lord’s house”. The essential thought in the English word “church” is that it is the Lord’s house.
But there is a true Tabernacle in heaven, which the Lord pitched, not man. This is the Lord’s house; this is the place of His throne, and the soles of His feet. For us to call something on earth the Lord’s house is like Aaron fashioning a golden calf, and saying this is the god who brought you out of Egypt.
His house is in heaven; it is there that we must direct our hearts. We must ascend the hill of the Lord; we must draw near to the throne of grace. Like priests we must enter alone into the holy place, to offer up what is acceptable to Him.
The word used in the Greek New Testament is “ekklesia”, meaning “assembly”. This is the word Jesus used; this is the word the apostles used. In Acts 19 this word is also used three times to refer to Greek citizens of Ephesus gathered together because of rumors about the apostle Paul. This is the primary meaning of this word. When the New Testament uses this word, it is using a non-religious word; ekklesia is an assembly of citizens. It does not imply house; it does not imply a religious service.
By turning ekklesia, assembly, into the Lord’s house, we have placed a graven image between believers and the throne of grace. The graven image can keep believers from a secret life. If “church” is the means to the throne of grace, then believers will not learn to seek Him in the wilderness. We will not learn to seek Him alone in the dawn.
Disciples should walk a narrow path. Disciples give in secret, pray in secret, fast in secret; what the Father rewards was not done to be seen. The riches of discipleship cannot be found by those who do not know how to walk with Him alone.
For us to gather as ekklesia on earth, we must first find grace in heaven. We bear fruit out of an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ; this fruit feeds others. Without this abiding relationship, we will have nothing significant to give others.
Ekklesia is a gathering of the citizens of the kingdom of God, who have walked in the City of God.
-Greg Whitten
July 06, 2009
PRAGMATISM
A disciple needs the power of the kingdom of God if he wants Jesus to rule in his life. The kingdom of God is near; we can find the power of the kingdom. If we have not found it, we need change. This is what Jesus preached; it is what John the Baptist had preached.
“From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Matthew 4:17
The imperative is to change the mind, metanoeo. But everyone thinks they are doing what they have to do; the mind maintains that illusion.
“There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12
The kingdom of God is near, we can take a very different path. We are not forced to live like victims of the twenty-first century. There is power to change the plagues of our heart.
This is basic to discipleship; discipleship is meaningless if there is no power. But if the kingdom of God is near, it is not here. The power of the kingdom cannot be found in our culture.
Pragmatism focuses on what is necessary. If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. Do whatever is necessary to find the kingdom of God. Like Pilgrim in Pilgrim’s Progress, we are on a journey looking for the City of God.
If whatever we thought would work doesn’t lead to life, keep searching. We cannot trust our mind to direct us; it can be deceived. There is no reason to listen to every myth in Christianity; if the myth didn’t work in others, it won’t work in you. There is no time to play other people’s games.
In this chaos there is a voice that is not part of the delusion.
“And your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” Isaiah 30:21
He wants to lead you in the way of a disciple; He wants to bring you into His kingdom. He knows what works; He is pragmatic.
Listen; it works.
-Greg Whitten
“From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Matthew 4:17
The imperative is to change the mind, metanoeo. But everyone thinks they are doing what they have to do; the mind maintains that illusion.
“There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12
The kingdom of God is near, we can take a very different path. We are not forced to live like victims of the twenty-first century. There is power to change the plagues of our heart.
This is basic to discipleship; discipleship is meaningless if there is no power. But if the kingdom of God is near, it is not here. The power of the kingdom cannot be found in our culture.
Pragmatism focuses on what is necessary. If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. Do whatever is necessary to find the kingdom of God. Like Pilgrim in Pilgrim’s Progress, we are on a journey looking for the City of God.
If whatever we thought would work doesn’t lead to life, keep searching. We cannot trust our mind to direct us; it can be deceived. There is no reason to listen to every myth in Christianity; if the myth didn’t work in others, it won’t work in you. There is no time to play other people’s games.
In this chaos there is a voice that is not part of the delusion.
“And your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” Isaiah 30:21
He wants to lead you in the way of a disciple; He wants to bring you into His kingdom. He knows what works; He is pragmatic.
Listen; it works.
-Greg Whitten
July 01, 2009
A TABLE FOR DISCIPLES
We have ignored the obvious for two thousand years; what we call “church” is the consequence.
Jesus made disciples face to face; He made disciples of those who ate with Him every night. It is at the table that disciples should gather now, in the same way that His disciples gathered two thousand years ago. Discipleship is based on friendship, not form.
The disciples of Jesus were actually following Jesus. Everyone gathered at His table had paid the price of discipleship. Discipleship is a simple choice; following requires leaving. There was no one at His table who had not left his life behind.
We have tried to build a church out of those who are not disciples; we have tried to use form to compensate for the lack of discipleship. What we call “church” abandoned discipleship a long time ago.
At times we have tried to fix the form of “church”. But we continue to return to the old pattern, honoring Him with our lips, while our heart is far from Him.
Two things are necessary to escape this strange attractor of deterministic chaos. We must gather as friends; we must only allow disciples at this table. What Jesus did, we must do.
Discipleship is about reality. Form cannot have a part in this; we can not allow anyone to play the part of a disciple. We must sit down at a real table in a real house, with real food and real noise. We must see each others eyes; we must speak real truth about real life.
We do not meet God here; disciples meet Him in secret. Those who gather must be those who have a secret life. They give alms in secret; they pray in secret; they fast in secret.
When we gather, we meet each other. We are to encourage one another; we are to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. We gather as friends who care about one another, not actors in a performance. We know that each is carrying a cross. No one is talking the talk, without walking the walk.
Twenty-first century Christianity has “church”; discipleship has a table.
-Greg Whitten
Jesus made disciples face to face; He made disciples of those who ate with Him every night. It is at the table that disciples should gather now, in the same way that His disciples gathered two thousand years ago. Discipleship is based on friendship, not form.
The disciples of Jesus were actually following Jesus. Everyone gathered at His table had paid the price of discipleship. Discipleship is a simple choice; following requires leaving. There was no one at His table who had not left his life behind.
We have tried to build a church out of those who are not disciples; we have tried to use form to compensate for the lack of discipleship. What we call “church” abandoned discipleship a long time ago.
At times we have tried to fix the form of “church”. But we continue to return to the old pattern, honoring Him with our lips, while our heart is far from Him.
Two things are necessary to escape this strange attractor of deterministic chaos. We must gather as friends; we must only allow disciples at this table. What Jesus did, we must do.
Discipleship is about reality. Form cannot have a part in this; we can not allow anyone to play the part of a disciple. We must sit down at a real table in a real house, with real food and real noise. We must see each others eyes; we must speak real truth about real life.
We do not meet God here; disciples meet Him in secret. Those who gather must be those who have a secret life. They give alms in secret; they pray in secret; they fast in secret.
When we gather, we meet each other. We are to encourage one another; we are to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. We gather as friends who care about one another, not actors in a performance. We know that each is carrying a cross. No one is talking the talk, without walking the walk.
Twenty-first century Christianity has “church”; discipleship has a table.
-Greg Whitten
A CURRICULUM FOR DISCIPLES
The original twelve apostles were discipled by Jesus in the course of the three years that He preached. What is written in the Gospels can be seen as a curriculum for disciples; this is what Jesus used to make disciples of those who were following Him.
This curriculum, however, looks nothing like any curriculum at any school we know. There was no academic program; there was no classroom.
This curriculum appears to lack any training in spiritual disciplines. At one point they even asked Jesus to teach them to pray, and only got a short prayer as an answer. These disciples of Jesus were questioned by the disciples of John the Baptist about their lack of fasting. In the Garden of Gethsemane, they were obviously unable to pray even for a short time.
His curriculum does not fit any expectation of what we think discipleship should be.
Yet what Jesus did was discipleship; what He did gives us the priorities of discipleship. What He did, we must do to make disciples.
In three years they had come to know Jesus. They knew who He was as a person, even if they knew little of the theology of incarnation and atonement. These men, upon whom the church would be built, knew how Jesus felt about people.
What they saw was that Jesus always put value on the individual; people were never just part of a herd. He always received anyone who came to Him; more than anything else He called individuals to come to Him. Jesus always sought to build faith; even in the midst of a crowd He verbally engaged individuals to trust Him. He was good; He did good. He taught a significant righteousness, one that was truly good. They did not learn a creed; they watched a person.
This is what discipleship must be. A disciple must first see that Jesus is good; the rest of discipleship follows. Without faith in the person of Jesus, all we have is a religious studies class. Spiritual disciplines can follow; obedience can follow. But Jesus must be first.
To make a disciple we must do what Jesus did. We must be imitators of Christ so that they can see Christ in us. We must teach them the words of Christ so they can hear what He said. We must help them to experience that He is good and does good.
The curriculum for disciples must start with the whole person of Jesus; dissection can wait.
-Greg Whitten
This curriculum, however, looks nothing like any curriculum at any school we know. There was no academic program; there was no classroom.
This curriculum appears to lack any training in spiritual disciplines. At one point they even asked Jesus to teach them to pray, and only got a short prayer as an answer. These disciples of Jesus were questioned by the disciples of John the Baptist about their lack of fasting. In the Garden of Gethsemane, they were obviously unable to pray even for a short time.
His curriculum does not fit any expectation of what we think discipleship should be.
Yet what Jesus did was discipleship; what He did gives us the priorities of discipleship. What He did, we must do to make disciples.
In three years they had come to know Jesus. They knew who He was as a person, even if they knew little of the theology of incarnation and atonement. These men, upon whom the church would be built, knew how Jesus felt about people.
What they saw was that Jesus always put value on the individual; people were never just part of a herd. He always received anyone who came to Him; more than anything else He called individuals to come to Him. Jesus always sought to build faith; even in the midst of a crowd He verbally engaged individuals to trust Him. He was good; He did good. He taught a significant righteousness, one that was truly good. They did not learn a creed; they watched a person.
This is what discipleship must be. A disciple must first see that Jesus is good; the rest of discipleship follows. Without faith in the person of Jesus, all we have is a religious studies class. Spiritual disciplines can follow; obedience can follow. But Jesus must be first.
To make a disciple we must do what Jesus did. We must be imitators of Christ so that they can see Christ in us. We must teach them the words of Christ so they can hear what He said. We must help them to experience that He is good and does good.
The curriculum for disciples must start with the whole person of Jesus; dissection can wait.
-Greg Whitten
A TEACHER FOR DISCIPLES
A disciple needs a teacher, but the teacher must teach process more than facts. If we are to keep all that He commanded, we must learn more than facts.
There is a place where He teaches us process.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
We learn from Him when we are shoulder to shoulder with Him, like two oxen yoked together to pull a plow. But it is His yoke alone that we must take. All that we think we have to do has to be set aside to learn from Him.
This is a place for two and two only. It is a time to walk quietly, to ask simply, and hear quickly. We come to Him, asking Him what He wants to do. Walking with Him, we can learn to work, at His pace, in His way. He is plowing a field; He wants us to join Him in it. It is simple work that requires steadfastness more that zeal; He will keep plowing in the same field until it is done.
Just as the oxen pull the plow in the hand of the farmer, we will be directed by the hand of God as we are yoked with Jesus. He is teaching us to be directed by God; He is teaching us to keep all that He commanded. He is teaching us process through shared work, not through the classroom.
We thought what we were struggling to do was necessary; we were exhausted trying to carry the burdens of life. We were doing the “right” thing; we thought we understood.
But He has a different way of teaching. What is hidden from the wise and intelligent He reveals to those who are simply yoked together with Him, learning to just work with Him in what He wants to do. The one in the yoke gets to hear Jesus explain what the theologian cannot figure out.
This is not an abstraction; this is a straightforward way to come to Jesus. Walk down a long path with Him, away from everything else. Ask Him what He wants to do working with you. Listen; ask simple real questions. This is the place to learn. He explained the whole Old Testament in a few miles on the road to Emmaus.
Then do what He says.
-Greg Whitten
There is a place where He teaches us process.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
We learn from Him when we are shoulder to shoulder with Him, like two oxen yoked together to pull a plow. But it is His yoke alone that we must take. All that we think we have to do has to be set aside to learn from Him.
This is a place for two and two only. It is a time to walk quietly, to ask simply, and hear quickly. We come to Him, asking Him what He wants to do. Walking with Him, we can learn to work, at His pace, in His way. He is plowing a field; He wants us to join Him in it. It is simple work that requires steadfastness more that zeal; He will keep plowing in the same field until it is done.
Just as the oxen pull the plow in the hand of the farmer, we will be directed by the hand of God as we are yoked with Jesus. He is teaching us to be directed by God; He is teaching us to keep all that He commanded. He is teaching us process through shared work, not through the classroom.
We thought what we were struggling to do was necessary; we were exhausted trying to carry the burdens of life. We were doing the “right” thing; we thought we understood.
But He has a different way of teaching. What is hidden from the wise and intelligent He reveals to those who are simply yoked together with Him, learning to just work with Him in what He wants to do. The one in the yoke gets to hear Jesus explain what the theologian cannot figure out.
This is not an abstraction; this is a straightforward way to come to Jesus. Walk down a long path with Him, away from everything else. Ask Him what He wants to do working with you. Listen; ask simple real questions. This is the place to learn. He explained the whole Old Testament in a few miles on the road to Emmaus.
Then do what He says.
-Greg Whitten
A TASK FOR DISCIPLES
A disciple is a fellow-worker with Christ; he is a significant part of the work of God.
The imagery of plowing in Matthew 11 ties in with the parables of Matthew 13; the seed that fell on good soil fell on plowed ground. The field is the heart of man; the heart of man needs to be cultivated.
The cycle of harvest is rain, plowing, sowing, growth, and harvest. The ground cannot be plowed where the rain has not fallen. Christ will only be plowing where the rain has fallen on the ground. We cannot break up what is dry.
But where the rain has fallen, the heart can be cultivated. This is the work that we share with Jesus Christ; He wants to sow the gospel in their hearts, but the heart must be broken up by the plow first.
The good works that come from Jesus working in us are the tools that Jesus uses to turn over the hearts of men. We are the light of the world. But the world that does not believe in Christ is convinced that we are deceived; it is convinced that we have nothing but an empty faith. Their heart has become hard; the gospel will not be able even to begin to grow in it.
These hardened hearts need what will turn their thoughts over; their assumptions need to be broken up by what they see. What we do as we are yoked with Jesus will break up the fallow ground of their hearts.
But what is important is the way in which the light shines; we are to let it shine in such a way that men give glory to the Father. They need to see the good works as the work of sons, not members of an organization. What an organization does, no matter how good it is, is not seen as personal. But what a person does from the heart is personal. Good works are meant to break up hard hearts; good works need to seen as coming from love. Those we help need to see that we value them.
If good works are to prepare a heart for the gospel, they must do more than scratch the surface. The work must dig down into the heart; good works must be significant. What is superficial is of little use, even if many are touched by it. What we do must have a profound effect; even if only one person is touched by it. If we have done significant good for one, we have entered into the work of Jesus.
“Break up your fallow ground,
And do not sow among thorns.” Jeremiah 4:3
-Greg Whitten
The imagery of plowing in Matthew 11 ties in with the parables of Matthew 13; the seed that fell on good soil fell on plowed ground. The field is the heart of man; the heart of man needs to be cultivated.
The cycle of harvest is rain, plowing, sowing, growth, and harvest. The ground cannot be plowed where the rain has not fallen. Christ will only be plowing where the rain has fallen on the ground. We cannot break up what is dry.
But where the rain has fallen, the heart can be cultivated. This is the work that we share with Jesus Christ; He wants to sow the gospel in their hearts, but the heart must be broken up by the plow first.
The good works that come from Jesus working in us are the tools that Jesus uses to turn over the hearts of men. We are the light of the world. But the world that does not believe in Christ is convinced that we are deceived; it is convinced that we have nothing but an empty faith. Their heart has become hard; the gospel will not be able even to begin to grow in it.
These hardened hearts need what will turn their thoughts over; their assumptions need to be broken up by what they see. What we do as we are yoked with Jesus will break up the fallow ground of their hearts.
But what is important is the way in which the light shines; we are to let it shine in such a way that men give glory to the Father. They need to see the good works as the work of sons, not members of an organization. What an organization does, no matter how good it is, is not seen as personal. But what a person does from the heart is personal. Good works are meant to break up hard hearts; good works need to seen as coming from love. Those we help need to see that we value them.
If good works are to prepare a heart for the gospel, they must do more than scratch the surface. The work must dig down into the heart; good works must be significant. What is superficial is of little use, even if many are touched by it. What we do must have a profound effect; even if only one person is touched by it. If we have done significant good for one, we have entered into the work of Jesus.
“Break up your fallow ground,
And do not sow among thorns.” Jeremiah 4:3
-Greg Whitten
May 18, 2009
Discipleship
A disciple is a copy.
Discipleship requires a decision.
Discipleship requires training.
A disciple is a copy of another person. The copy is to be made of one who is himself fully a disciple, keeping all that Jesus commanded. Good fruit alone gives evidence of discipleship; the lawless can have sheepskins and gifts. Disciples are the good trees; good trees come from the word. The word is the genetics of discipleship.
Those who disciple must make the choice clear: the gate is small, and the way is narrow. The soul must be lost in order to follow Jesus Christ. The beginning in baptism pictures death, burial, and resurrection, not joining a club. A living community of disciples can be built with disciples; but those who will not listen to Him cannot contribute to the life of this community.
Those who disciple must teach process not just facts. A disciple must learn how to keep all that Jesus commanded. He must be taught how to do what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount. The foundation of discipleship is in what is done in secret; the word of the kingdom stands or falls by what is in secret. Those who have learned to keep all that Jesus commanded will then themselves make disciples, for that is part of what He commanded.
To be discipled we must listen, to God and to others. We need to build a connection between what is said to us and what we do. What may be a still, small voice in our thoughts or in our interactions with others may be the most significant next step that we need to take. We need to trust Him that He is working to disciple us; it should not take years to do what we are being told to do.
To be discipled we must make a place in our life at the cost of everything else. We must clear some ground in the midst of this world. This is the great struggle, keeping the darkness from swallowing up our one place of light.
To be discipled we must be a good place for the word to take root in. There is life in the word; disciples are gardeners of the word, each one in his heart. Christ must be formed in each disciple; there is no equivalent mechanism that will work.
-Greg Whitten-
March 24, 2009
Held Captive By The Devil
What would it be like to be held captive by the devil to do his will?
We might think of the demon possessed in Scripture who wandered among the tombs. Or, some sinister being lurking around in the darkness.
Sadly, this person is just as likely to be found in the church. Paul describes him to Timothy. He is a quarrelsome person. He (or she) stands in the way of ministry, through gossip, wronging others without merit. They are trapped in a snare of the devil, having been held captive by him, to do his will.
We never think of those in the church as doing the will of the devil. Yet, some do. They stand in opposition, not by dialoging with those with whom they disagree but rather by means of gossip. The opposed is not given an ability to defend himself, for gossip is done in secret and stimulates the sinful nature of man.
And the Lord's bond-servant must not strive but be kind (gentle) to all (Rom. 2:4), able to teach, patient when wronged (enduring evil), with gentleness correcting (to train or chastise, as a child) those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance (to rethink-this is granted by God) leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26
February 13, 2009
James, A Letter To The Twelve Tribes.
James writes to the "twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad" at a time when twelve tribes did not exist. The northern tribes had been carried away in 721 BC and lost as a distinct people. Some individuals may have existed at the time of James that claimed descent from some of the lost tribes, but the tribes had disappeared over 700 years before. The northern tribes were taken primarily to the area of what is now
some form of an idiom, he would need to distinguish Jews that believed in Jesus. It does not fit to assume that James was directing the letter only at Jews.
What is fitting with Scripture is that the twelve tribes of the old covenant were a picture of the people of God of the new covenant. James is using the expression to identify believers under the new covenant, since these believers are now the people of God. Paul says in Galatians that we are the Israel of God. It is the same idea as the expression "the twelve tribes". Paul and James were talking about the same thing.
The reason this identification is important is because it is central to understanding the Old Testament. In I Peter 1:10, the point is made that the prophets were prophesying of the grace that would come to us. Jesus on the road to Emmaeus explains the old testament Scriptures to two disciples. There is a key to understanding the Old Testament, and it is not in approaching Scripture as history or literature. The Holy Spirit is speaking of the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.
Now go read the prophecies. You can see that they are all set in a historical context. When Isaiah makes a statement about a virgin conceiving, he was making a direct statement to a king that made sense in its context and came true in its context. There was an immediate meaning for the message. But we now know that there was a far more powerful meaning, that spoke of the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. So the need is to understand the message of the Holy Spirit
that is in the prophecies of the Old Testament.
What is the key is that we are the Israel of God. The message of the Old Testament is to us. It looks like Paul, James, and Peter all understood that, and could look at the prophecies in that way. (Written by Greg Whitten)
February 11, 2009
James, a Bond-Servant
James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad, greetings. James 1:1 (NASB)
James refers to himself as a bond-servant of God. To understand what a bond-servant is, we read Ex.21:1-6. Here, a bond-servant was one who, by his own choice, remained with his master. No matter what the reason for his servitude, during the year of jubilee, he was to be freed. Perhaps he learned a dependence on the master. Perhaps he was cared for and sincerely loved by the master. When you truly serve someone, a genuine love is formed between the two of you.
At the time, of the year of jubilee, the servant was a free man but if he loved his master and wanted to remain with him, if that was the case, he was brought to God (dedication) and taken to a door or post where his ear was pierced with an awl (this was no small hole). Most likely, an earring was inserted to keep the ear open and served as a visible sign to others that he served, not out of bondage, but rather through love and a relationship, the one who previously owned him.
James expresses his love for God in this way. Although he deserves to be a slave, he chooses rather to be a bond-servant.
How can people from afar see that you are a bond-servant of God? Have you been taken to the post and pierced with an awl? Do you wear the earring of a bond-servant, showing that you love the Master?
James refers to himself as a bond-servant of God. To understand what a bond-servant is, we read Ex.21:1-6. Here, a bond-servant was one who, by his own choice, remained with his master. No matter what the reason for his servitude, during the year of jubilee, he was to be freed. Perhaps he learned a dependence on the master. Perhaps he was cared for and sincerely loved by the master. When you truly serve someone, a genuine love is formed between the two of you.
At the time, of the year of jubilee, the servant was a free man but if he loved his master and wanted to remain with him, if that was the case, he was brought to God (dedication) and taken to a door or post where his ear was pierced with an awl (this was no small hole). Most likely, an earring was inserted to keep the ear open and served as a visible sign to others that he served, not out of bondage, but rather through love and a relationship, the one who previously owned him.
James expresses his love for God in this way. Although he deserves to be a slave, he chooses rather to be a bond-servant.
How can people from afar see that you are a bond-servant of God? Have you been taken to the post and pierced with an awl? Do you wear the earring of a bond-servant, showing that you love the Master?
January 19, 2009
January 12, 2009
Confession
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:16
The purpose of confession is to keep oneself aware of their true nature and in a state of humility as “God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble”.
Confession brings intimacy and fellowship.
People, who put themselves in a position higher than others, rarely confess to “one another” out of fear. However, “the fear of man brings a snare”.
December 31, 2008
What Pharaoh Heard
When we are wronged by someone, it is natural to tell others about it. We want to tell others about how it happened to garner their sympathy and support. Somehow it makes us feel better to know that others are aware of the injustice committed against us. We seek out sympathy and commit a small act of retaliation.
Commentary
Now when the news was heard in Pharaoh's house that Joseph's brothers had come, it pleased Pharaoh and his servants. (Genesis 45:16)
Pharaoh was delighted when he heard that Joseph's brothers had come to Egypt. He immediately made provision to bring the entire family to Egypt so they could survive the famine in safety and comfort. He provided wagons for the move. He promised them the best of the land of Egypt.
Pharaoh's warm welcome of Joseph's brothers reveals an important detail about Joseph's time in Egypt. Apparently, the entire time he had been in Egypt, he had never told anyone the story of what his brothers did to him. Pharaoh, at least, had never heard the tale of how Joseph's brother abducted him and sold him. Had he known the story of the villainous deed, he would not have extended the warm welcome.
Joseph loved his brothers and his family so much that he could not bear the thought of having them defamed. He did not want Egyptians saying to one another, "Did you hear about the nasty thing that Joseph's lowlife brothers did to him?" Joseph kept the entire episode to himself. The only thing he ever said about his past was the vague explanation, "I was in fact kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews" (Genesis 40:15). His love for his brothers compelled him to protect their reputation.
Instead of emulating Joseph, who was concerned about protecting the dignity of his loved ones, it seems we do just the opposite. A husband and wife are eating out at a restaurant when the husband drops his cup, spilling his beverage on the table. Embarrassed, the wife rolls her eyes and says to the stranger sitting at the next table, "He is such a klutz." A man is out with his friends when they begin discussing the foils of marriage. All in good fun, the man complains to the guys about his wife's bad habits. Everyone laughs. Why would we sell out the people we love like this? The wife shows more concern for the opinion of a stranger in a restaurant than she does for the dignity of her husband. The husband has higher regard for a few laughs from his buddies than he does for the reputation of his wife.
A woman was having a hard time at the Messianic synagogue she attended in the southern United States. She was involved in a heated conflict with some other members. This went on for some time. Frustrated with her congregation, she told her unbelieving friend about the problems she was having. Eventually the leadership arbitrated the situation. She made peace with the people. Some time later, she invited her unbelieving friend to attend a service. Her friend said, "Are you crazy? After the way you talked about those people and that place, I wouldn't set foot in there."
Joseph never told the Egyptians about the incident with his brothers because it was none of their business. By maintaining discretion, he was protecting the name and reputation of God in Egypt. Had he told his sad story to everyone, the Egyptians would have had cause to say, "If that's how the followers of your God behave, I want nothing to do with Him or your religion."
October 27, 2008
October 13, 2008
If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
Oppression has lead to anger in my life. The anger turned to bitterness and that, to hatred.
In this situation, a Christian worker, misused his position and wasn’t repentant. I did not handle my anger correctly which resulted in hatred.
Hatred, as Greg explained, turned to darkness within. Although I don’t see the affect, I have to realize that “God’s Word is true, and every man a liar.” Rom. 3:4
The manner in which I learn and process information is by experience. I have to rely on my brother, to identify “blind spots” in my life. In so doing, I will repent, as I have, and begin to do the right thing, which is to love my brother. The process is by my act of praying for him. Once I have experienced this truth, and see the darkness, I will be able to see where I was amiss. In this case, moving from darkness into light. Through the experience, and my learning, I hope to write more.
My cause was right, my response was not. Therefore, the cause became unworthy and darkness.
In this situation, a Christian worker, misused his position and wasn’t repentant. I did not handle my anger correctly which resulted in hatred.
Hatred, as Greg explained, turned to darkness within. Although I don’t see the affect, I have to realize that “God’s Word is true, and every man a liar.” Rom. 3:4
The manner in which I learn and process information is by experience. I have to rely on my brother, to identify “blind spots” in my life. In so doing, I will repent, as I have, and begin to do the right thing, which is to love my brother. The process is by my act of praying for him. Once I have experienced this truth, and see the darkness, I will be able to see where I was amiss. In this case, moving from darkness into light. Through the experience, and my learning, I hope to write more.
My cause was right, my response was not. Therefore, the cause became unworthy and darkness.
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