Bible Chapters for November 30 – December 6

• John 2
• Psalm 69
• Jeremiah 7
• Matthew 21                                                                                                                

The Logos — The New Torah?

 I still like the idea of Jesus the Logos being the connecting link … not with a distant Father but with a holy Father and a creation who has distanced itself from him by its sin.  As in the famous Bridge illustration of the Gospel. so Jesus is the bridge between sinful humanity and a holy God.

 

The prevailing thinking these days is that the Gospel of John is best understood in connection with its Jewish roots rather than any Greek influence.  In this regard, what did John mean in calling Jesus the Logos?  One way of thinking about this that is new to me is that Jesus is the new Torah.     Torah is strictly speaking the first five books of the Old Testament … the books of Moses.  It was translated as the Greek word nomos … meaning law.  But the Torah was already broader than God’s commandments.  It included the great story of God’s deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt.  The Torah was God’s revelation of himself, his love, and his holiness to Israel.  And the central importance of Torah to Jewish life cannot be overstated.

 

So if John in calling Jesus the Logos was hinting that he was the new Torah, that Jesus takes on central importance in God’s revelation, why didn’t John just use the word nomos?   Well, it’s probably explained in 1:17 … “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”  [John 1:17 (NIV)]  John wanted his reader to know without denigrating the Law of Moses, Jesus a fresh and complete revelation of God … and what Jesus was primarily communicating was not law … but grace.  Jesus had come to reveal the full truth of God’s love and plan of salvation.

 

It’s not hard to understand why a lot of Jews of that era who had been so steeped in Torah would have trouble believing that something or someone else could become the new focal point.  Then again, whenever the focus moves from law to grace, from human work to divine deliverance, we can have trouble grasping it.  The whole idea of God coming to save us seems too good to be true.   Yet despite all the focus on the commandments, even Israel knew that God had chosen them in his grace and that he had delivered them from slavery.  So we can fully understand the new Torah by way of the old Torah.  It’s always centered on God’s saving work and his revealing of himself.

 

Bible Chapters for November 16 – 22

• John 1
• Genesis 28
• Exodus 12
• Revelation 7

Bible Chapters for November 9-15

• John 1
• Genesis 1
• Proverbs 8
• 1 John 1

Weddings, People and Being Prepared

Weddings are always interesting spectacles. My niece was married last weekend and I am still chuckling about some things that took place. At a wedding you not only have your own family with all of the “characters” and the black sheep and “crazy Aunt Sally”, but you also get to meet a whole new group of “people.” I noticed that just in one family there is the spectrum of believers, non-believers, old line denominational types and the almost militant atheists as Mark talked about in his comments above. You have some people who know the same “religious” things you do, some that have heard something about that stuff, some that don’t want to talk to you at all about religion, and some that want to confront you and make you defend your views.

In the readings from Acts for this week, I was struck by a progression in the way that Paul was received in the various locations he preached. I think it parallels the US history Mark referred to above. In chapter 2, the Apostles begin to speak the languages of the people gathered around to check out the noises they heard. They were more concerned with how they could understand them but many accepted their words and believed. (by the way, has anyone else thought about the fact that these men all of a sudden could speak foreign languages and some people were more concerned about them being drunk like the language thing was less amazing than being drunk)

In chapter 17, Paul and Silas are preaching and converting until they must flee to avoid the Jewish leaders. they then go to Berea and preach to the “thinkers” of that area. In chapter 26, Paul is defending himself in front King Agrippa to keep himself from death or imprisonment.

I think that there is some level of hostility toward Christianity today that often requires one to defend themselves.

Well to get to my point, ( I won’t say to make a long story short because it is too late for that now), I think that Mark’s point about arming oneself with knowledge in order to be prepared to discuss your faith with others is right on the money. In all of the readings, Paul was using his knowledge of Jewish law and history and prophecy, as well as the Good News of Christ risen from the dead, to win converts for Christ. Even in defending himself to a King, he used that knowledge to get his points across.

To bring this full circle to my starting point, I have had some of the most interesting and challenging conversations with relatives over the years at family events. Much of the discussion relates to trying to correct misinformation or popular misconceptions about what is really in the Bible on the issues of todays culture. At times I have been comfortable, a lot of times I feel I am in over my head, and a couple of times I have said some things that I wonder where they came from (in a good way). But these encounters have led me to try to be more informed biblically, especially about current events. I think the key is to try to keep reading and be prepared to say something when you get an opening.

PS: that book title “Everybody’s Normal Until You Get to Know Them”, is so true at weddings.

Bible Chapters for November 2 – 9

• John 3
• Exodus 3
• Exodus 4
• Philippians 2

Share

How well do you share your faith?

That is a tough one!

Witnessing is challenging… Scary… and sometimes frustrating.

But God works through witnessing. One of the challenges of sharing is that we need to be in the world but not of the world…. I frequently read Mark Beeson’s (pastor at Granger Community Church) blog. Mark gave an interesting response to Trick or Treating: Check this out:
You think they worship Satan?”
“What?”
“Do you think they’re devil worshipers?”

“Who?”
“Parents who dress their kids up for Halloween and celebrate Satan. You think they’re of the devil?”

(Now, you should know Sheila and I didn’t celebrate Halloween with our kids and we’re not going to have Halloween parties at GCC, but I’ve got to admit, this guy wigged me out with his suggestion.)

“Dude. Are you suggesting the parents who let their daughters dress up like Cinderella and the Little Mermaid are worshiping Satan?”
“Hey,” said my very religious interrogator, “It’s the devil’s day. So do you think Trick-or-Treating is demonic, or not?”

“Let me ask you a question before I answer,” I said. “Do you believe all the people who attend a Church Wedding service are living for Jesus? Are all the people who dress up for Church Weddings committed to Christ and His Kingdom?”

“Of course not. That’s ridiculous. You know a lot of them aren’t living for Jesus; they’re just coming to a Church Wedding. That doesn’t mean they’re committed to Christ; they may not be committed at all.”

“Then let me suggest that dressing up for Trick-or-Treat doesn’t mean you’re committed to Satan any more than dressing up to attend a Church Wedding proves you’re committed to Christ.”

I probably should’ve had a better response, but that was the best I could do at the time.

1 Samuel 16:7b – God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

How are you in the world but not of the world?
What are you doing to reach those that are far from God?

James

Always Prepared!

It seems to me that life for the American Christian has gotten both more complicated and more “cutting edge” over the past decade.  There was a time in the not so distant past when the average believer in Jesus could safely assume that if the person in front of him in line at the grocery story was not a Christian, at least she had heard the Gospel of Jesus and had received some kind of opportunity to respond. Further in many cities in mid-America, people could assume that others had a church membership somewhere … and even if they weren’t active, could in some sense be called “a Christian.”  This made life easier for Christians because it meant that we didn’t have to be concerned with evangelism, with communicating our faith to non-believers.  As long as pastors in the community did that every Sunday, pretty much everyone was covered and Christians could engage in mission by giving dollars for international work.

Of course, even in the heyday of the American church in the 50’s, there were still opportunities for local evangelism as there have always been non-Christians in every community.  Still, it didn’t seem like a pressing priority.  How things have changed!  Now even in Eau Claire, we wouldn’t be surprised to have a Hindu move in next door, a complete secularist working in the next office, a New Age adherent checking us out in the store, and a skeptic as an exercise partner.  This has complicated our lives as there are now many perspectives for us to learn; and at the same, it has put us on the cutting edge of world missions as the US is now the third largest mission field in the world (following China and India).

In this “new world” which in many ways is like the “old world” of the first century, the Apostle Peter gives us a major challenge:  “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect …” [1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)]  I believe that “always being prepared” involves two important elements:  first of all, that we are able to communicate the basics of the story of Jesus and his love for us.  We need to be able to relate why it was so important for Jesus to come to this earth (our sin) and the impact of his death and resurrection (giving us freedom, forgiveness, and life with God).  Secondly, we are better prepared the more we know how others are thinking about God and life.  This kind of preparation involves asking questions, listening, and learning.   While we don’t have to become an expert in every religion and philosophy, the more we know, the better prepared we will be to speak of Jesus in an insightful and relevant way.

You’re probably thinking, “All this sounds like a lot of work!”  You’d be right … it’s part of loving others enough that we want to be able to engage them in conversation with a better appreciation as to where they’re coming from.  It is part of showing them respect even as we are trying to influence them with the Gospel of Jesus.

– Pastor Mark

Chapters for October 26 – Novmeber 1

• Acts 2
• Acts 17
• Acts 26
• Romans 5

Well, my family and I are 4 days into the beans and rice challenge.  It’s not that bad, really, save for the amount of time I’ve spent cooking rice for 3 meals a day.  But I’m the kind of person who likes a challenge.  The kids need frequent reminding about why it is we’re doing this – they’re sick of rice.  Ben doesn’t say much about it.  I think he indulges in work – candy dishes on coworkers’ desks and so forth.  OK, I admit, a former client brought muffins in to my work the other day, and I ate one.  Hey, it was free!

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about our whole “Love Eau Claire” initiative.  I have to say it’s really not hard for me to commit to doing something good, when it’s got a parameter.  Eat beans and rice for 5 days to save money for Feed My People – no problem.  Go out and clean up someone’s yard one Saturday afternoon - no problem.  Help serve dinner at Community Table twice a year – no problem.  But what does this really say about me?  That I’m willing to give a little time a few days a year?  Don’t get me wrong, I really believe in the things Peace does to serve our community.  But what about the other 357 days a year?  What am I doing to love my neighbor on those days?

God calls us to love our neighbor.  Luke 10:27  ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  God calls us to be kind to our neighbor, not matter what!  1 Peter 3:8 ‘…all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate & humble.  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.’

So, I’m reminded that loving my neighbor is not just in the occassional efforts I commit to a few times a year, but in the acts of kindness I have the opportunity to commit every day.  It’s letting the person with just two items go ahead of me in the checkout, even though they just rolled their eyes at my full cart of groceries; it’s helping the elderly gentleman pick up the box of donuts he dropped on the pavement; it’s smiling at the the owly looking lady walking down the sidewalk towards me; it’s lending an extra hand to the overwhelmed nurse at work, even though she snapped at me yesterday; it’s smiling and waving ‘that’s OK’ to the guy who just cut me off with his car; it’s commending my coworker on the excellent job she did dealing with a client.  The list could go on and on.  All moments that I could let slip by, frown at, ignore.  But then I would not be loving my neighbor, would I?  I’d like to say that I always take the high road, but I don’t.  I’d like to say that I take advantage of opportunities to be kind, but I don’t.  And when I don’t, I’m not letting other’s see Christ through me.

So, in the coming weeks, I challenge you to commit to Peace’s “Love Eau Claire” initiatives.  But well beyond that, commit to  ’love your neighbor,’ in everything that you do, in every moment of every day.

Jen Priem