Gifted

Paul warned in Romans, "I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think" (Pom 12:3). It is interesting that he did not offer the reverse advice -- "or too lowly." I suspect it's because "more highly" is our default. I suspect we all tend to that error.

For instance, I'm pretty sure we all tend to think we come to the table with something to offer. Maybe it is skills or talents. Maybe it is ways of thinking or ways of doing. Maybe it is information or resources. Maybe it's just faith or even good works. We are contributors and we know it. And the truth is we do bring what we have to the table. We do participate in God's work. But we need to be careful. In his first epistle to the church at Corinth Paul asks, "What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?" (1 Cor 4:7). We understand this is a rhetorical question; the answer is assumed. Let's put it in a statement format rather than a question. "You have been given everything you have. You have nothing to boast about."

Do you see the implications? You have talents, skills, resources. You have faith. You have ideas. You have a lot or a little to offer, but you have something. This text says what you have to offer was a gift. We even reference that in the world. We refer to people with special ability as "gifted." It is true, but it doesn't go far enough. Each of us is gifted by God everything we have to offer. Thus, offering it is an act of stewardship, a grateful response to the God who gave it. This thinking kind of undercuts our sense of importance and replaces it with gratitude, doesn't it?

The Wrong Dictionary

I heard a great quote the other day. "They speak with God's vocabulary, but not with God's dictionary." The "they" referenced here may be Satan and his minions or the people who knowingly or unknowingly follow him. And it is so true. A while back I read about a writer who wrote a book about how our relationship with God is largely sexual. When some took her to task, she replied, "What? Even Jonathan Edwards wrote about intercourse with God!" Different dictionary. Recently I heard about someone who argued that Jesus was in favor of gays because He told Lazarus to "Come out!" Different dictionary.

Paul warned about those who have "the appearance of godliness," but deny its power (2 Tim 3:5). He warned about those who teach a different doctrine and do not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Tim 6:3). He said they produce "constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth" (1 Tim 6:5). These have the sound of God's words, but they use a different dictionary. What you are hearing may sound like it's from God, but when you dig into it, you find it means something different. Like the "Jesus" of the Mormons or the "Jehovah" of the Jehovah's Witnesses or those who substitute a social gospel for the biblical one. Don't be deceived. Know God's Word.

News Weakly - 10/29/22

Crazy in California
Spent a few days in California this last week for a wedding. "Crazy" was an apt description. The billboard urged them to vote for Prop 1 to "eliminate unnecessary late-term abortions." Prop 1 is the proposition to make abortion the law of the land in California. It will eliminate "unnecessary late-term abortions" by doing them earlier. Another wants voters to "end homelessness" by voting in higher taxes because everyone knows that the homeless problem is simply one of finances. And that was just a sample.

An Example of a Classic
Kari Lake is the Republican candidate for governor in Arizona. The left doesn't like her. So outlets like Mother Jones are working to show that Lake is wrong -- evil? -- because, well, someone in one of her ads doesn't fit their version of "good." Mother Jones took a deep dive into the "everyman" in one of Lake's ads to find out what they didn't like about him and then told us not to trust Lake. Was it because what he said was wrong? No, they didn't approach that. They offered one of the standard ad hominem arguments -- attack the speaker so they can ignore the arguments. Classic. (Note that, in one report on this story, the Arizona Republic believes that anyone who concurs with Eph. 5:22-24 is a misogynist.)

Troubling News
The headline reads, "Sports World Reacts To Troubling World Series News." Oh, my! What news? "No U.S.-born Black players are projected to suit up for the 2022 World Series." Seriously? That's "troubling"? It could only be because of hate, because of racism, because baseball hates black people. We all know the purpose of the MLB is racial equality. (It certainly wasn't the purpose of the BLM folks.) They need to be more like the NFL where 70% are black. And why is no one complaining that 50% of the nation is female, but there are no females in the MLB?

Just What Do You Mean By That?
The story says that domestic terrorism investigations by the FBI doubled between 2020 and 2021. Do you suppose that's because domestic terrorism increased or because the definition of "domestic terrorism" changed? (Or both?) With the redefinition of things like "hate speech" to include "speech that hurts feelings," I suspect we have a broader version of "domestic terrorism" these days (like "election deniers"?) ... which, for reasons that elude me, does not include the media or government.

Just a Thought
Not a story; just a thought. If gender is a social construct and whatever you think it might be, why do we have "LGBT"? The L, G, and B all require binary gender to make sense but the T requires non-binary gender. How can they maintain that logic?

News from the Bee
(Note: Each of these stories has two links associated. One is the Bee reference and the other is the actual news item.)

The CDC has come out with additional list of symptoms of COVID inclcuding declining math and English scores among school-age children. (As a side observation, here, why do they think these lowered scores are due to COVID rather than, say, the spreading focus on "gender" and "race" over math and reading? Just wondering.) The president made history last week when a man pretending to be a woman visited with a man pretending to be president. And after the Oz-Fetterman debate debacle, Pennsylvania has voted to have no representation in the Senate.

Must be true; I read it on the Internet.

Reading the Bible for All It's Worth

My earliest memory was when I was 3 years old. I woke up in a crib, which was strange because I normally slept in a bed, and found my wrists bound and my leg elevated. A giant (to a 3-year-old's eyes) bottle of liquid hung suspended above my foot with a tube running to a needle in my ankle. A nurse saw I was awake and smiled and told me to let her know when the bottle ran out. As she walked away I called, "It's out!" She came back and smiled again. "No, it's not, honey. I'll come back in a little bit to check on you." No, it wasn't a dream. At 3 I had contracted spinal meningitis and lapsed into a coma. I woke up tied to a crib because they were giving me fluids to keep me alive. The event was real. I say all that because we humans have "interesting" brains. We can conjure up false memories. We can "steal" memories when someone else who was there tells us about it and we make that our own recollection. We can do all sorts of odd things to come to perceptions that are not true, but we believe that they are.

This is one of the things I consider when I read my Bible. Most people who read the Bible will not exactly read it for all it's worth. Most people will read it to confirm their bias, their comfort zone. But if the Bible is actually what it claims -- "God-breathed" (2 Tim 3:16), written by men moved by the Spirit speaking from God (2 Peter 1:21) -- then it is unavoidable that at some point(s) the Bible will make claims that go against our comfort zones ... or even our own logic. And it does ... almost routinely. It says things like "take up your cross" and "rejoice in suffering." Jesus said, "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26). Seriously? Joseph told the brothers that sought to kill him and then sold him into slavery, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (Gen 50:20). Really? We are asked to believe, in this fallen and sad world, that "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Rom 8:28). These kinds of things are not rare or hard to find in the pages of the Bible. Nor are they "human" in the sense that they would be the kinds of things we would normally come up with. Today some of this stuff is so outlandish that Christians are rejecting it, things like "Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord" (Eph 5:22) or "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience" (Eph 2:1-2). "Dead? Really?? Be serious." But if the Bible is God's Word and God is holy -- "other" -- and not like us, it only stands to reason that Scripture will contain things that violate our sense of "reasonable" or even "right."

Our memories are helpful, but not infallible. A lot of of what we remember is true and some is not. One way we can verify some of our memories is to see that no one made it up, no one told you, no one fed you this, like that memory of mine when I was 3. It couldn't have been manufactured because 1) it fit the facts of the time, but 2) no one I know was there to tell me about it later, so I can be pretty sure it is an actual memory. One of the ways we can verify that Scripture is God's Word is finding these things in its pages that are just not ... human. They're not things we would come up with. They are, like God, "other." And it takes faith to conclude, "Well, that's what it says, so that's what I'll go with." But not blind faith. Faith in the God who breathed it, in the Spirit who moved men to write it. These kinds of things are fingerprints of the divine. And if all you encounter in your Bible are the things you are comfortable with, perhaps you're not reading it for all it is worth.

Not God

Rejecting God's self-revelation in favor of our own ideas about what he would or wouldn’t do is the height of self-righteous pride. —Albert Mohler

The Bible is God's Word, God's "breath" (2 Tim 3:16). It was written by "men moved by the Holy Spirit" who "spoke from God" (2 Peter 1:21). It is, indeed, God's self-revelation. And genuine Christians concur for the most part.

For the most part. Some reject some. Others reject less. But one point that seems to be a real sticking spot for a lot of Christians is this concept of God's self-revelation. What we know about God comes from God. Still, we like to think we know better. The clearest place we see this is in the "bad things." We are pretty sure God does not do "bad things." Now, "bad things" is nebulous. There are bad things that are unpleasant, uncomfortable, painful ... that sort of thing, and there are bad things that are morally evil. We know that "No one is tempted (to sin) by God" (James 1:13). "God Himself does not tempt anyone." We got that. But what about the unpleasant? What about disasters and illnesses? Oh, here's a big one. What about wrath? Is it possible that God has wrath toward sin, so much so that He needs to be appeased? No, no, we know better than that. God doesn't do any of that.

Except that His self-revelation says He does. Paul explains that the gospel is predicated first on the wrath of God (Rom 1:18) and that God wills to show His power and wrath for sin (Rom 9:22). Isaiah warned Judah that God was punishing Israel by sending Assyria to invade (Isa 5:25-26). Not merely allowing, but sending. Scripture says that God predestined the murder of His Son (Acts 2:23; Acts 4:27-28). God Himself declares, "I am the LORD, and there is no other, the One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the LORD who does all these" (Isa 45:6-7). He has no problem claiming that. Why do we disallow it?

We are believers. Do we believe? When God says, "I cause calamity," do we believe? When Scripture says that God's wrath is manifested against all ungodliness and unrighteousness, do we believe? When God says that He creates some for honor and others for dishonor, do we believe? Or are we so arrogant as to correct Him on that? If we do, the correction we offer is not God.

Follow Me

In Matthew, Jesus walked up to Simon and Andrew with the cryptic "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men" (Matt 4:19). Cryptic because it was so plain and yet so complex. Amazing because they did. Jesus called the fishing brothers and the tax collector (Mark 2:14) with the same call -- "Follow Me." He said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me" (Matt 16:24). He told the rich young ruler that the way to inherit eternal life was to to surrender what he owned and "come and follow Me" (Mark 10:21). The young man didn't. Jesus called some to follow Him and they gave Him "but." "Permit me to first go bury my father" (Luke 9:59). "First let me say good-bye to those at home" (Luke 9:61). But Jesus accepted nothing less than immediate submission. In fact, "Christian" simply means a follower of Christ. But have we given that any thought?

The Greek means basically to be united with the road. Where He walked, then, we are to walk. Where did He walk? He emptied Himself, humbled Himself, and was obedient ... all the way to death (Php 2:5-8). He preached the gospel (Mark 1:15). He obeyed the Father (John 12:49). His sole concern was His Father's concerns (John 17:4). He laid down His life (John 15:13).

"Followers of Christ." That's what we're supposed to be. I'm not sure how often we consider what that means. You do that by seeing where He goes and going there. It is, at the outset, a "less of me and more of Him." It is a lifelong walk of sacrificing self and glorifying God. And, as He rose again to glory, so shall we (Rom 8:30). God's purpose to which we are called (Rom 8:28) is to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom 8:29). That's ultimately accomplished by following Him -- becoming one with the road He walked for us. It is accomplished first by responding to the call and dropping what we have. Good start.

Standing on Bedrock

David prayed, "You are great, O Lord GOD; for there is none like You, and there is no God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears" (2 Sam 7:22). One of the ways He is like no other comes from Paul. He told Timothy that God is the "only Sovereign" (1 Tim 6:15). There is no other. Now, for reasons that aren't entirely clear to me, lots of genuine, well-meaning, biblical Christians don't like that one. They deny it. Scripture says He is the "only Sovereign" and they nod and then explain that He is Sovereign by giving up some of His sovereignty to us, His people. The logic, then, is that He is the "only Sovereign" by giving up some of His "sovereign" and making us sovereign so that He is no longer the "only Sovereign." The idea is that God relies on us to do what He wants and if we don't do it, it doesn't get done. They go so far as to tell me that some people end up in hell because we failed to give them the gospel. The effect of this, of course, is to exonerate God of any evil. If bad things happen, it's because bad people did it, not God. If God's will doesn't happen, it's because people failed, not God. I routinely hear Christians say that "this clearly was not God's will" when horrible things occur, and this let's God off the hook ... but it negates the biblical statement that He is the "only Sovereign."

Scripture says things differently. Scripture says that God "does as He pleases" (Psa 115:3; Psa 135:6). No one can stay His hand (Dan 4:35). He works all things after the counsel of His will (Eph 1:11). He even holds the heart of the king in His hand (Prov 21:1). He predestined the worst evil ever perpetrated -- the murder of His Son (Acts 2:23; Acts 4:27-28). Whatever He intends will happen just as He plans it to (Isa 14:24). We see "chance" and He determines the outcome (Prov 16:33). We make our plans and He establishes what happens (Prov 16:9; Prov 19:21). There are no exceptions, no variations, no mistakes. That is the biblical version. From Him, through Him, and to Him are all things (Rom 11:36).

Far from being a problem, this biblical reality is an incredible solution. It is the certainty that 1) God is good and 2) God is the only Sovereign that allows a man to experience actual evil -- attempted murder, imprisonment, sold into slavery, further degradation -- and conclude, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (Gen 50:20). It safely holds evil responsible for evil while giving the confidence that God always accomplishes good, even when it doesn't fall in the lines that we think it might. It gives a solid reason for hope in difficult times. It gives reason for confidence even in the face of evil. It is the bedrock on which we can stand and say, "God always wins!" and be glad of it. As for me, I can't stand anywhere else.

Arrogance

Humans are a remarkably arrogant group of people. At least, in one certain area. We believe that God owes us. If He is to be considered "good," He will need to conform to our version of "good." Typically, that includes "physical comfort" and "no pain" and maybe, if we're generous, comfort for our loved ones and even our fellow countrymen. It does not include sickness, disease, loss, shortfall, financial woes, setbacks, pain and suffering. It certainly does not include evil. Well, "their" evil, at least. Evil done to us or the ones we love. Because if God is going to be considered "good," He must stop their evil while, at the same time, overlooking ours. Judgment is certainly off our list of acceptable actions toward us.

While all this is almost universally accepted as true among humans (and, if it's not true, it's the reason that so many reject God's very existence), it is certainly not biblical. The God of the Bible has no inherent obligation to be kind to His creation. He has no obligation to be merciful to sinners. Biblically, His creation is in rebellion (Rom 8:7) -- enemies of God (Rom 5:10). The psalmist wrote, "If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?" (Psa 130:3). Answer? No one. On our own, we have no defense. If all God showed was justice, every one of us would experience suffering now and suffering eternally. The fact that this is largely news to us is simply key evidence that we are arrogant.

Of course, we know that God is gracious -- showing favor that is not merited -- and merciful -- withholding justice -- and we're happy about that. Well, we're happy if it's toward us, but some are mad if it's not toward everyone because ... oh, yeah ... we're arrogant. "If God doesn't show grace and mercy to everyone, it's not "gospel" -- not "good news." What audacity! If we grasp that God is so far beyond us that we have no standing and then realize that He deigns to offer mercy and grace to all and gives it to some, we couldn't see that as "unfair." We would see it as astoundingly good news. That God would save even one of the rebels intent on overthrowing Him is a kindness beyond comprehension. But don't worry. Most of us will retain that arrogance that subjugates God to our personal standards and we'll miss it entirely.

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! (Psa 8:3-5)

The Biblical Fool

We all know what a fool is. It's a person who acts unwisely. We got it. The Bible, however, has a slightly different spin on it.

While a term like "ignorant" isn't about immorality -- it is not immoral to not have information -- the fool has a definite moral component. Biblical fools do foolish things (e.g., Isa 32:6). Biblical fools like their condition (Prov 1:22) and actually oppose understanding (Prov 18:2). Biblical fools tend to be angry (Prov 12:16; Prov 29:11). They tend to disregard the words of others when they contradict them (Prov 12:15). Most importantly, the biblical fool is someone who disregards God's Word (Prov 1:7).

Being foolish is the mark of natural man. That is, all of us, at some point or another, are foolish. Any one of us can exhibit the characteristics of a biblical fool. It's not limited to unbelievers and it's not a matter of intelligence. The key component of a biblical fool is that they will say, in one way or another, "There is no God." And all of us do that at some point; some more than others. Some say it as a way of life and others are more like practical atheists, agreeing that there is a God and then living as if there isn't. Fortunately, there is a corrective for any of us who fall into that trap. It's a right relationship with God where we are submitting to His Son and His Word. Because, if you do the investigation, I think you'll find the Bible looks dimly on being foolish. And as we all know, while "Fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Prov 1:7), "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Prov 9:10). That would be the preferable direction.

News Weakly - 10/22/22

Taking a Tough Stand
Australia, in its infinite wisdom, has decided to switch sides on Israel. They no longer recognize West Jerusalem as Israel's capital ... in opposition to God (Gen 12:2; Psa 122:6; Joel 2:18; etc.). Hmm, standing against God. What could go wrong?

Just Because You Can Doesn't Mean You Should
Those thoughtful folks over at Boston University have developed (key word) a COVID-19 strain that has an 80% kill rate. Why? Why would they do that? Why would they admit it? Why should we believe that all the evidence that the original was developed and not accidental is false in light of this new story? Why would we expect that it won't be released? Again, what could go wrong?

Can't Be Bothered with Facts
No less than CNBC is reporting that this is the worst year for stock and bond investors since 1969. How's that for "Build Back Better"?

A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
Dr. Charles J. Southall, III pleaded guilty to money laundering and admitted to fraudulently obtaining nearly $900,000 from church-owned real estate assets, donations, and congregational giving. A living example of a biblical false teacher (2 Peter 2:1-3), one of Jesus's "ravenous wolves" in the flock (Matt 7:15). One of those "out from us, but not of us" (1 John 2:19).

Unclear on the Concept
According to Statista the U.S. consumed 18.6 million barrels of oil a day in 2021. President Biden is hoping to lower gas prices by releasing ... less than a day's worth of oil (15 million barrels). Then he urges oil companies to abandon profits and investors and eliminate profits to ramp up production. It would appear that the president doesn't understand economics.

Believe the Science
Here's a government you can trust. The Social Security Administration will now allow you to choose your own gender ... including "x". Because that makes perfect sense ... as opposed to, say, science.

Just for Laughs
I'm not a big Genesius Times fan, but I did get a kick out of this headline: "Biden eases fears of nuclear war by posting 'Nuke Free Zone' signs around the country." Nice. And how can you not snicker (or, maybe, cringe?) at the story about how interest in drag queen story hours at libraries has waned since they renamed them for accuracy: "Man-wearing-lingerie-wants-to-spend-time-with-your-kids hour." Finally, lacking a "Crazy California" entry this week, I'll include this one from Texas. Seems they voted to airlift Austin and relocate it in California. Makes sense.

Must be true; I read it on the Internet.

Dead Seeds

At the end of His life, Jesus told His disciples,

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." (John 12:24)

He was, of course, not talking gardening rules. He was talking about Himself. He was on the verge of the cross and knew that His death was necessary for an immensely greater "fruit."

Nonetheless, there is more here than meets the eye, so to speak. Jesus was definitely speaking of His own death, but there is truth there for all of us. Think about that "seed" process. Does the seed die? Well, no, maybe not in a literal sense ... because the seed wasn't alive. But think about the process. It falls to the ground and gets covered. The outer coating has to fall away and the center (they actually call it the embryo) is left. There it rends itself apart, sprouting parts like roots and stems and leaves. When done, the seed itself isn't visible anymore. It is something else. That may not be literal death, but it certainly looks like it.

Paul said, "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life" (Rom 6:3-4). He said, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me" (Gal 2:20). He talked about "in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ" (Col 2:11) and went on to say, "having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead" (Col 2:12). Perhaps you can see a theme here.

Jesus came to give us an abundant life (John 10:10), but not the same kind of life as we now see. His was from death. His involved denying self and taking up a cross (Matt 16:24). Like those seeds, we need to shed the outer shell -- the flesh -- accomplished by Christ. We need to die to self and manifest something new (2 Cor 5:17). Jesus said, "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matt 16:25). It doesn't happen by clinging to this life; it happens ... by dying to it.

The Problem of Faith

We're all good Christians, right? (Okay, not all.) We all know that Christianity is different because we are saved by faith, not by works where, in all other religions, it's the works that get you there. So far, so good. Most of us also know that once Christ saves you, you're saved. You know ... "I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand" (John 10:28). Okay? So we see the logic. Once saved, you remain in that condition, and you arrive in that condition by faith. Clear enough. So we could state it "If faith, then eternally saved." Or ... can we?

Jesus gave His disciples the parable of the sower (Matt 13:3-9). In this story there was someone throwing seeds on various types of ground. The first seed was picked up by birds. The second "sprang up" but died in the sun. The third fell among thorns and got choked out. The fourth produced a crop. Jesus explained (Matt 13:18-23) that the seed was "the word of the kingdom." Evil snatched the first. The second "immediately receives it with joy" but lost it to "affliction or persecution" because it had "no root." The third heard it but it was choked out by the worries of the world and "becomes unfruitful." The fourth, obviously, was received, understood, and produced fruit. You see, therefore, that there is one soil that doesn't receive it and two soils that do, but don't keep it. "Don't keep it?" you might well ask. "Didn't we establish that faith equal eternally saved?" And now you see the problem.

James says, "Faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself" (James 2:17). That's "dead faith." It's the faith of demons (James 2:19). It is faith, but not effective faith. It is dead faith. This is the kind of faith that appears in multiple warnings in Scripture. John warned that false teachers would come out of the church. "They went out from us," he says, "but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us" (1 John 2:19). And there you see the concept. It is possible to have a kind of faith -- dead faith -- that has some appearance of faith but is not real, functional, living. This is the faith of the shipwrecked (1 Tim 1:19). This is the faith of the "many" who say, "Lord, Lord, look what we've done for you" and haven't (Matt 7:21-23). According to Jesus, the primary difference is that the effective faith includes understanding (Matt 13:23), but Paul warns that "a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised" (1 Cor 2:14).

So, it seems, there is a faith that is dead. It holds to a form of godliness but denies its power (2 Tim 3:5). Peter warned "If, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first" (2 Peter 2:20). This dead faith looks okay, but it's actually built on self. Genuine faith is a gift (1 Tim 1:14; Rom 12:3; 1 Cor 4:7; Php 1:29; etc.) that gets exercised and is effective only when it is accompanied by regeneration that produces works. It is entirely, biblically possible to have faith that is dead. What is needed is the functional faith of His sheep (John 10:26). Is that yours?

Onward, Christian Soldiers

In 2 Timothy Paul is preparing Timothy for tough times ahead. Paul would know; he was in prison. Nero was on the rampage. Worse, so was Satan. False teachers in the church and anti-Christians outside. So, he says, "You, therefore, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim 2:1). Step 1: "The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Tim 2:2). It's an echo of the Great Commission: make disciples and teach them all (Matt 28:19-20). Step 2: "Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus" (2 Tim 2:3). It's not exactly heartwarming, is it? It's "Here's the plan, Timothy; this is gonna hurt."

Paul's simile here is not trivial. "Suffer hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." He goes on to explain his thinking here. "No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier" (2 Tim 2:4). Having served in the military, I get it. Active duty personnel work to secure freedoms that they themselves may not enjoy. They're told what to wear, what to eat, how to cut their hair. They are required to bend their wills to those in authority over them in order to accomplish an important task. If the authorities tell them, "You're going overseas for a year," they're going overseas ... without their spouse. An active duty (that's the term Paul uses) soldier cannot afford to be entangled in "the affairs of everyday life." Instead, he must work to please his or her superior officers.

There is no question what Paul is saying here. Tough times are coming. Make sure you've passed on what you've been given and then expect to suffer hardship. Do it for Christ. Don't get entangled in the affairs of everyday life. Do it for Christ. Sacrifice entanglement in everyday affairs in order to please your Lord. Well, of course, we'll have none of that. Someone is wrong in the Internet. Someone is raising the prices on us. Someone is taking away our constitutional rights. It's not vague. Be a good soldier; suffer hardship ... for Christ.

That Tickles

In Paul's second letter to Timothy -- the last one from all we know -- Paul gave the young pastor a solemn charge (2 Tim 4:1): "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction" (2 Tim 4:2). That probably sits wrong with some. It's too tough, too argumentative, too judgmental. "Reprove, rebuke, exhort." "Them's fightin' words." And they are, but Paul had a reason. He was anticipating hard times.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. (2 Tim 4:3-4)

It strikes me that this is a pretty good measure. We have two concepts contrasted: "preach the Word" and "ears tickled."

It doesn't take a super genius to see this in our day. Many of the popular preachers these days are the ones "tickling ears." They are saying things people want to hear. "There is no hell; love wins." "If you believe, Jesus will make you rich." "God wants you to be happy." Oh, I'm sure you can think of who might say things like that and even supply more of the same examples. You see, the Word does not tickle ears. The Word doesn't give us in accordance with our own desires. The Word doesn't make us comfortable. Certainly not, at least, at first.

Paul goes on to warn Timothy, "But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry" (2 Tim 4:5). Knuckle down, Timothy. Be sober-minded. Don't expect ear-tickling; endure hardship. Do the work; fulfill your ministry. That would include reproving, rebuking, and exhorting ... in and out of season -- when it's accepted and when it's not.

What about you? Are you more interested in accumulating teachers in accordance with your own desires or are you ready to hear the Word and act on it? Do you find that you typically find warm and fuzzy things in Scripture or jarring claims? Will you fight the good fight, finish the course, keep the faith (2 Tim 4:7)? Or is "comfortable" and "agrees with me" your aim?

More Sure

We know; we know. All Scripture is inspired by God (2 Tim 3:16-17). Yeah, yeah. And some of us are also clear on the fact that "inspired" isn't the best way to express what that text says. The ESV says "breathed out by God," pointing to the source rather than the receiver. That is, it isn't simply that these writers were inspired; it's that they were targeted by God's breath. It might be instructive to look at this from Peter's perspective.

In his second epistle, Peter explains to his readers, "For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty" (2 Peter 1:16). Peter was referencing the Transfiguration, an event that, of all of the human race, only three people witnessed -- Peter, James, and John. His point is that it wasn't "made up." It wasn't "cleverly devised myths." He was relating an eye-witnessed event. He was there when God the Father in "Majestic Glory" spoke: "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" (2 Peter 1:17). It doesn't get any more sure than that, does it? Well, apparently, to Peter it does. He goes on to say, "We have the prophetic word more sure ..." (2 Peter 1:19). "More sure"? More sure than experience, than being there, than being an eyewitness? Yes! We have the written Word from God. Peter makes that clear. It wasn't decided by human writers, "but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" (2 Peter 1:21). It wasn't human will (2 Peter 1:21) or human interpretation (2 Peter 1:20). It was the Holy Spirit speaking from God. In fact, that "moved" term there is interesting. It was a nautical term. It primarily referred to sailing vessels being moved by wind. They were along for the ride, so to speak. That is what it means to be "inspired," to be "breathed out by God."

Peter said, "You do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts" (2 Peter 1:19). Not merely pay attention to the Word; pay attention "as to a lamp shinking in a dark place." The psalmist wrote, "Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path" (Psa 119:105). We're in the dark here; we need to watch where we're going. We don't need to be looking around; we need to watch where we're going. God's Word does that. In fact, Jesus said, "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth" (John 17:17). God's Word is truth, and it is the means by which we are sanctified. We're not looking for evidence or ammunition; we're looking for direction, for light. His Word does that. If we pay close attention, it will keep us from stumbling. We do well to pay attention to God's Word as a lamp shining in a dark place. It is more sure than personal experience or preference. It is God's Word.

Something for Everyone

Paul left Timothy in Ephesus to deal with problems there with false teachers primarily as well as a few other things. His first and second epistles to Timothy were instructions on this topic. At one point Paul tells Timothy, "Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels" (2 Tim 2:23). "See?" some will say, "we're not supposed to argue with people over differences of opinion." The only way you could hold that position is if you stopped reading at that verse, because the next two verses say,

The Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness (2 Tim 2:24-25).

"See," the other side now responds, "we are supposed to correct opponents." And, indeed, that's what Paul says ... but it's not all he says, is it?

The instructions aren't vague. Avoid foolish, ignorant controversies. What are these? These would be controversies unrelated to the reason why we're here. It would be about why gas prices are high or how bad or good the government is or whether or not she looked good in that outfit. We're here as representatives of Christ for the gospel -- here to do God's work. With that agenda, it is clear to see that much of what we argue about is peripheral despite how vital it may feel. We are told to not be quarrelsome -- not being marked as being at war with others. We are to be marked as being kind and patient. "So, we're not supposed to correct others?" No, indeed! We are supposed to respond to those who oppose the truth with the truth, but we're supposed to do it "with gentleness." You know, "A gentle answer turns away wrath" (Prov 15:1). Yes, answer, but gently. Remember the aim is not to win, but to correct. Their response is in view, not your "rightness."

"The goal of our instruction," Paul said, "is love ..." (1 Tim 1:5). That is still true. In Paul's instructions to the young pastor Timothy, he includes instructions for us. Yes, we are to avoid foolish controversies. We are not to engage in every debate. It is not our place to search the Internet because someone someplace is wrong. On the other hand, it is our duty to correct those who oppose the truth, but gently. Something for all of us, whether we like to contend with others or not.

News Weakly - 10/15/22

The Other Shoe
At the beginning of October an Arizona judge removed the block on Arizona's pro-life law. I applauded, but warned, "We will, of course, wait for the other shoe to drop, because we, as a nation, will not long stand for human life over sexual freedom." I'm not saying I'm a prophet or anything, but ... the other shoe dropped. For now.

"We Demand"
There was a "Women's March" in D.C. over the weekend (although women who weren't interested in fighting for the right to kill babies need not attend). The aim was to let the court and the nation know they intended to fight. Ignoring the "abortion = murder" signs of the counter protesters, they warned they would "Stand up, fight back" with simultaneous (illegal) protests at 6 Supreme Court Justice's homes. It's interesting to me that the California court that forced the state to issue marriage licenses against the state laws voted in by the state voters was "justice" but SCOTUS's removal of constitutional protection for killing babies was "partisan" and "narrow-minded." As usual, nobody is nearly as interested in "justice" as much as "what do we want?"

Lower Learning
As some of us are starting to wonder about the quality of education in America in general (and California in particular), UC Berkeley is offering a course on Nicki Minaj to teach about her impact on hip-hop music. (And it's not just Berkeley.) I sure miss the much more useful Underwater Basketweaving option.

Accolades
All praise to our glorious president whose people and policies have brought us from the horrible economic prosperity of the Trump era to ... the highest prices ever and the lowest NASDAQ in over 2 years. I, for one, welcome our deranged overlords.

Evil Chick-Fil-A
A startling TikTok video has outraged consumers by revealing that Chick-Fil-A makes its lemonade from "lemon juice with pulp" (specifically not concentrate) and water. Those dastardly enterpreneurs. Now, I know -- that is the standard recipe for lemonade. Apparently people are just angry because some kid isn't in the back hand-squeezing lemons all day. I don't understand people. Apparently, like Trump, Chick-Fil-A is just a company that people love to hate.

California ... Again
Seriously, this seems to be a weekly installment these days. So late last month Governor Newsom signed a new bill into law that makes California a "refuge" for those seeking "gender-affirming care" (by which they obviously mean "encouraging you away from the gender science says you are"). It legalizes removing children from their parents, bars compliance with subpoenas out of state, and protects those who violate the laws of other states in this regard. Parental rights are banned. Federal and state laws are banned. California will do what California deems right regardless of the harm it does children.

Inequity
In July, Colorado (as an example) dropped their vaccine mandate for health care workers. Last month President Biden declared that the COVID pandemic was over. This week the Biden administration extended the COVID public health emergency declaration while Biden urges Congress to provide billions to pay for vaccines and testing. When President Bush declared victory in Iraq even though there was still fighting there, the media ridiculed him. The media does not appear to be ridiculing Biden. Is it just me, or is this "unequal treatment"?

Bee Happy
There is an upside to our econoomic woes. Christians are finding it easier to stop storing up treasure on earth. After the European Parliament disclosed that Pfizer didn't do proper testing on its COVID vaccine, Pfizer has insisted that it did test it ... on over 5 billion people. And President Biden is admitting that we may have a "very slight" nuclear war with Russia.

Must be true; I read it on the Internet.

In the Last Days

In the third chapter of Paul's second letter to Timothy, Paul warns "that in the last days difficult times will come" (2 Tim 3:1). He goes on to describe what people will be like the closer we get to the end. Number One on the list is "lovers of self" -- selfish people (2 Tim 3:2). It seems as if the rest of the list -- and it is long (2 Tim 3:2-5) -- is simply the logical outcome of that first one. If you are selfish, you will love money. If you are selfish, you will be boastful -- self-aggrandizing to others -- and arrogant -- believing you are better than others. You will be ungrateful, irreconcilable, loving pleasure, and so on. Makes sense. And it makes sense that the closer we get to the end, the more these things will manifest themselves.

One of the descriptive terms offered in that list is a little oblique in its English translation. Paul says they will be "unloving." Okay, yes, fairly accurate, but it misses the nuances. In Greek, there are multiple words for "love" that express different versions of love. There is agape which essentially expresses an unconditional type of love -- something we choose rather than just feel. There is philos which is a "friendly" kind of love. You know, "You make me feel good." There is eros which doesn't appear in Scripture that, obviously, refers primarily to sexual love. Another that doesn't appear in the pages of the Bible is storge which talks about natural familial affection. You know, that natural-bond-that-family-has kind of love. I say that this term doesn't appear in the Bible, but what does appear there is astorge, where "a" is the "not" function for storge. That's the word Paul uses in 2 Timothy 3:3. He says in the last days people will be "unloving" -- without natural affection.

Let's look at that yardstick for a moment. Is it not true that our society, certainly more so than in the last century, has been losing their natural family affection? Look at the number of mothers who have harmed, abused, tortured, or even killed their children in the past 10 years, for instance. The number of wives who divorce their husbands and then leave the children with them -- a notion that screams against the norm of moms loving their children -- has risen in the 21st century. Well, look, between 1973 and 2020 65 million babies were killed by their mothers so their mothers would have a "better life." And they're fighting tooth and nail to retain that option. It seems irrefutable that modern society is surging toward Paul's "unloving" -- "without natural family affection" -- in ways that we've not seen before.

The list from 2 Timothy 3 reads like a description of modern folk. I've seen much of it in casual complaints about "millenials" and the current "me generation." It's not getting better. Paul doesn't offer the warning about "last days" to create fear. He offers it to inform Timothy -- and us -- that it is coming, will only get worse, and has a suitable response.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:14-17)

God's prescription for believers (us) in the last days -- Scripture.

Not Missing

Sorry. I've missed today's entry. I've been caught up in some family emergencies and tied up for a couple of days. I'll get back to you all forthwith.

Sacred Writings

In Paul's second letter to Timothy, Paul references "the sacred writings." He was telling Timothy that the last days would be filled with false teachers characterized by self-love and the host of evil that self-love spawns (2 Tim 3:1-9). "But don't worry," he seems to say, "there is an answer. You have closely followed the example you've seen in me" (2 Tim 3:10-11). "Things will get worse," he goes on to warn, "but you continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them" (2 Tim 3:14). We're in the last days, we're told, and the solution is to avoid the wrong crowd (2 Tim 3:5) and follow the right one. How did Timothy know who the right ones were? "From childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim 3:15).

What a glorious heritage! Timothy had a believing grandmother and mother (2 Tim 1:5) who immersed Timothy when he was young in "the sacred writings." These are effective. They defend against the wrong ideas and ways. They give wisdom, a wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ. These are solid. "Trust them, Timothy," Paul is saying. Why? Why trust them? Because "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work" (2 Tim 3:16-17). There are a lot of "sacred writings" for a lot of religions, but only one "Scripture" -- only one "God-breathed" version. Only one that is as profitable as the one we have. It will make the man of God complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. It is sufficient and authoritative. It is trustworthy when so many other things and people are not.

We are in the last days (1 John 2:18). We know that because of all the false teachers tumbling out of our churches. Every day is one day closer to the end, to Christ's return. The promise is that things will get worse, not better. Especially in the church, the primary source of false teachers more in love with self that God. But there is help. God has breathed out His Word. It is reliable, effective, authoritative, and sufficient. That, of course, will make it one of Satan's first targets, and he has done so from the beginning. Which also happens to be a good way to tell if you're hearing a follower of Christ or a false teacher. Do they agree with the Word or deny it, twist it, edit it, alter it? Our Bible is "sacred writing," but not in itself. It is God's words to us, and He has made it such. So who are you going to believe?