eating food offered to idols

Am reading the NT and re-encountered the part about eating foods offered to idols ...

• Knowledge leads to self-importance whereas love strengthens the church
• That not all believers know that there is one Father and one Jesus and therefore they continue to think that idols are real
• As such they, for example, will see certain foods that were associated with these idols (before becoming believers) as still attached to their worship
• Thus if they see anyone eating these foods it will create confusion: "How can you eat that, you are a believer, and now you are worshiping this false god"
• This confusion may then lead the new believer to eat the food they believe is wrong and therefore cause them to break their own conscience

So Paul says, it is better to forever more not eat that food rather than cause that confusion in them

NOW ... my musing is how this relates to today ... specifically:

• That not all believers know that since Jesus' death and resurrection there is no need to go to the mountain altars or city temples to worship because as he resides in us and we in him, we are free to worship anywhere anytime in truth and spirit.
• Indeed many believers continue to believe that attending a specific building is the only place, or brings validity to worship
• Hence, if they become aware that you are not attending a building or belong to a specific group it will create confusion: "How can you worship that way?" "If you are a believer, how can you claim authority or protection?" etc.
• For these believers, the confusion they feel could result in feeling they are being asked to do something they believe is wrong and therefore cause them to break their own conscience if they left their regular place of worship

The point I end my musings (at least in writing) is that I do not how to reconcile the final part ... suggestions please

So Paul says, it is better to forever more not eat that food rather than cause that confusion in them...

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the end is nigh!...?

There are many theories and ideas about how and when the world will end.  Will it be an environmental cataclysm, world war 3, the eventual destruction of the sun, even alien invasion.

For some people who profess Jesus as real these theories include his return and associated with the various apocalyptic visions of the bible's book of Revelation, among others.  The nation of Israel is also normally included into the theory.  Will people who believe in Jesus be taken to heaven before the disasters?  Or not.

People have been trying to predict the end of our world for generations, and for followers of Christ, since his death and resurrection.  Even before.

How?  Some read the scriptures and present a series of literal events.  Others may then take these passages and interpret them through what they see happening around them or expect to happen.  Others look at world events and seek biblical passages to 'match them'.

It is natural for us to see patterns in our world.  Doing so helps us make sense of an otherwise confusing and sometimes overwhelming life.   It is often difficult not to.

But is it wise?  Is it wise to see the world, see other people, indeed live our lives this way? How does living like this cause us to treat people?  Indeed ...

Why are we told that we will not know when Jesus will return (Mat 24)?  To be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.

Should we be eager for the end?

What was Jesus' focus?

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holy holy holy

Please first read Colossians 1

Are all people made holy through Christ?  Is he reconciling all creation to Him?  If so, then how are we to understand Ephesians 4?

Apostles. Prophets. Evangelists. Teachers. Pastors.  These are the five roles given for the equipping of the saints.  But pause for a moment ... are these words accurate translations?

Saints ... This is an English word used to translate the Greek word meaning sacred or holy.  It is the same word always used to refer to the Holy Spirit and Holy Scriptures.  As such, it is not surprising to see it in terms of God's holy people or saints.  But is that what has occurred here?  Does the next part of the passage which refers to doing the work of the ministry only refer to believers?

Equipping ...  To provide whatever is needed to make something perfect, mature, full.
Consider for a moment (John 14-15, Rom 2, Heb 8-10, Col 1) ... According to Jesus, truth and spirit influences everything and everywhere, whether or not it recognises it as doing so.  Therefore, what would happen if  this understanding were placed into the Ephesians passage?

The five roles were provided by God so everyone (and everything) God considers holy could be made perfect, mature, full in every way.

This is significant because it suggests that apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers, and pastors were not sent for Christians.  Rather, they were sent for all creation, every part of it, including everyone regardless of their faith, experience of God, or acknowledgement of Him.

Could it be God is prepared to interact directly with people?  Could it be that people are not obligated to go to designated Christian places and spaces?  Could it be that we are to go to them?

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cost of pursuing Christ

What is the cost of pursuing Christ and his kingdom?

Why does love cause you to feel both great sorrow as well as joy, sometimes both at the same time?

How will the members of your family, who profess to love Jesus treat you?  Will they support you or tear you apart?  How will you treat them?

How will the members of your church congregation/parish, including those who preach treat you?  Will they persecute, judge, and condemn you? How will you treat them?

When you commit to God, there is nowhere to hide.  Yes he protects you, and for that I give him praise.

Please keep your eyes and heart on him.  Run to him.  Plead with him for a heart that cries out for people, in the ways he does.  Many times I contemplate taking the easy road, to give into what the world wants, but I cannot.

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luke 15

What is the gospel of the kingdom from Luke 15?


church leadership

• Man's Kingdom: The designated leader is unable, even unwilling to leave the flock in any other hands for fear of loss.

• God's Kingdom: The designated leader is released by a well nurtured and equipped flock to go and find the lost.

disciplinary action

• Man's Kingdom: When people stray and allegedly function disloyally to community or leadership, they are disciplined and exiled to some degree.  They might be allowed to return after a process of proving loyalty again, but even so never really trusted again.

• God's Kingdom: When people stray and allegedly function disloyally to community or leadership, they are loved; sought after and welcomed back before needing to hear ANY reason.

eternal inheritance

• Man's Kingdom: Inheritance is apportioned to the deserving (human measure & standard) usually by merit or pecking order. (i.e. each person gets a slice of a pie, its size determined by external reasons)

• God's Kingdom: Inheritance is always shared to the nth degree with ALL, ALWAYS; whatever the circumstances (unconditional).  (i.e. every person gets the whole pie, while simultaneously sharing all of it with everyone else)

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james

... it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”   But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.  For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.  For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.”  (James 2)

Question: If you murder someone but don't commit adultery, have you still broken the law?  Which law?

So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember you will be judged by the law that sets you free.  There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.

REMEMBER: The bible equates murder to hatred (Num 35; 1John 3).

ALSO NOTE: Favouritism is equated to murder because to prefer one person above another reveals the heart of snubbing, dislike, ignoring, hatred, bigotry, etc.  In short, favourtism is another form of hate.

In other words, as breaking even one plate in a set of tableware results in a broken set,so breaking even one of the 'laws' still results in breaking the 'Law' no matter how much you profess "It was just one plate" or "It was only a small plate".  There is ONLY one LAW.

Why does James also reveal that favouring or rejecting a person based upon the "type of sin they have done will "cause you yourself to sin"?  How does favouring or showing prejudice break violate the need to "love others as yourself" or "love others as God loves you"?

QUESTION

How are we to love people who do wrongly against us?

• Reveal what they have done to them and if they refuse to listen and change, leave it in God's hands.
• Always hope and encourage restoration.
• Choose to focus on the influences upon them rather than choosing to fight them themselves.  Thus be quick to forgive them, don't take offense, show them mercy and grace, etc.
• Always find ways of blessing them, praying for them, rejoicing and weeping alongside them, being generous in their needs, do more than is expected or asked for them, etc ... without ever expecting appreciation or good will to be given in return.
• Recognise they are 100% free (due to Christ) even if they choose not to act upon this freedom.

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monsignor

Not sure if this will amount to anything but staying open ...

Monsignor Dream 27 July 2012
Had a dream this morning in which a household had two demons in it

1. The first was within two young ladies who were lesbians
2. The other was in an older gentlemen dressed in robes his name was monsignor ... the rest of his name sounded European, Italian not sure.

In both cases, their tongues had turned to a black goopy substance.

The first time I tried to remove the demons, they simply returned. And so with seeking God they fled and the people collapsed.
...
When I awoke, I decided to research and discovered that a monsignor is what members of the catholic clergy are referred to when they hold certain ecclesiastical honorific titles.  As such monsignor is not itself an appointment.  The three awards or offices most often associated with the style "monsignor" are

1. Protonotary Apostolic
2. Honorary Prelate (Domestic Prelate)
3. Chaplain of His Holiness (Supernumerary Privy Chamberlain)

These awards are granted by the Pope, usually at the request of the local bishop.

Additional Notes:

Please be aware this dream comes in context of my seeking as to what God is doing in Canberra, as well as what is occurring in the church my family attends.  Furthermore, demon stuff has been continually spoken to me by people recently in these contexts.  Yet have had zero dreams ever like this.

Seeking God for wisdom

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where are we going?

When I read about and see God's heart, one thing I understand is that we are meant to be family. Yes, he presents himself and gives people the option of embracing or rejecting him. But he gives numerous opportunities to change our mind, our ways.  Why?  Remember the parable of the lost son (Luke 15:11-32)? Lost yes, but never not his family.

Just as I cannot abandon my kids, how can I walk away from the people God embraces (though they reject him or don't even acknowledge him).

Does this mean I am personally responsible for them or their choices or actions?  No.
But to walk away because they behave in ways I disagree with is no better than the rejections they perform.  Likewise to walk away because they treat me poorly is again to reject them as they have rejected us.

How do I want to be treated?  How should God treat me?

And so I am left with two scenarios ... e.g. Give a few warnings and move on, leave people to their own devices, time is short, etc.  Jesus did this (read Matthew and Titus).  But on the other hand we could persevere with many chances, even to the point that all could be saved if only one could be found.  Even Jesus did this (read about Lot, Moses, Ezekiel, Amos).

Put bluntly.  Before I accepted Jesus as real, all there was was me.  But when I started to hear his voice and feel his heart, all I could see was others.  My dilemma is therefore why don't I hear specific day to day things to do?  And yet I look at God and at his Son and hope that my choices are filtered through the lens.

Maybe the issue is a default.  Maybe I am doing what today's religious leaders are.  Seeing them as the way to reach the people.  Mediators between people and God.  Believing a tactic to change the hearts and minds of church leaders will somehow change others will be successful.  Yet, this is a problem because it changes nothing.  If I believe people will only change if their leaders do, I simply am propagating the false dependency that already exists.

Please God, forgive me.  Help us be your family.  Show us how to move forward.

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segregation

Recently heard a senior elder of a local church tell members of that church, on behalf of the head pastor and other leadership the following:

"At no time shall a man and a woman be alone together under any circumstances, unless they are married."

Basically, unless there is a third person, men and women are not to interact.  Does this apply only among the people of this church?  Does it apply for when they are at home with their neighbours and friends?  What about at work?  Or maybe with family members too?

Not only does this sound impossible to enforce, but it brings a level of legalism into this church.  Please read the Bible.  If you find Jesus or his disciples giving this advice, please respond.

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confusion in the pews

God why are your people so confused? Why do we prefer to choose a life of niceties and self protection and justify it with the name of your son?  Why are we so ready to reject your reality?  Why do we call comfort and preference faith?

Why do we insist on giving all our time to people who are either like us, don't threaten us, or serve our self interests?  Please God bring our enemies, strangers, foreigners, the unlovable into our lives in such a way we cannot ignore them.  Open our eyes to what it means to reject you when we reject those you love.

Are you serious when you said you would vomit up the luke warm?  What about when you stated that anyone who does not love what you love hates you?  Is it true for you to not know us even as we go about your business?

Please God, don't leave us to our own self indulgences.  Please do something, anything to wake us up.  Please bring us to our senses.

God end our addiction to doing things our way.  Give us revelation to the dangers of pursuing sectarianism before it is too late.  Before the ground opens up beneath us, turn us around.  God teach us to see one another as family, to stop the finger pointing at our neighbours who we have labelled as heathens.  Indeed, please teach us to see one another.

Why do we justify our theological differences when you told us there is oneness in your body?  Why do we allow them to fester to the point of splits, starting something new, and mocking others?  God, what will it take for us to desire a path of healing from our family dysfunctions?

God, Please encourage us to stand by our brothers and sisters.  I am sorry that although my eyes were opened I stand back.  Should I limit my actions to prayer with the hope you will one day resolve our bickering and tribalism?  Or is there something you want me to do?  It breaks my heart to witness our situation.  Please open our eyes.  Please stoke or hearts.

"But don't we pray for other churches?  Don't our leaders gather?  Don't we celebrate at joint events or with visiting speakers?"

Why does it frustrate me to hear people claim that "All is well" or "the church has no real significant differences?"  How can this be true when there are dozens of denominations and hundreds of congregations who were formed on the basis of theological disagreement to the point where many won't even talk with one another.  How can this be a reflection of being one as you and your son are one?  Surely if there are no real differences it wouldn't matter where people go to gather and gain discipleship.  Isn't the same gospel being shared, the one Jesus, one Spirit, Father, etc?

Why have we convinced ourselves that the group we belong to is better than others?  Why have we convinced ourselves that our group has the real and exclusive truth?  Why do our elders compete for your flock, indeed compete for the right to rule your kingdom?  Should we remain silent or have we entered the guilt of enabling and cheering?  Are we to leave our family to their own devices?  How will you view us if we do?  Thank you for sending your son so we wouldn't perish.  Please God open our ears to the truth that comforts as opposed to simply seeking comfort.

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fasting

Have you heard of the 40 hour famine? Does your church encourage you to fast, for whatever reason?

These days, probably to include more people including young children, we are asked to go for a period of time without.  But what are we asked to abstain from?  Food, junk food, alcohol, TV, computer games, etc?  Are you given the freedom to choose what you give up or are the items specifically outlined for you?

Does it make a difference?  If it doesn't matter what we abstain from then the reason must be about the act itself.  However, if what we abstain from matters, then there mist be other associated reasons in addition to the act itself.

What kinds of fasting are mentioned in the Bible?

• Absolute Fast - You are not to consume any food or water over a certain number of days.  Nothing.  This is an extreme fast and should only be done for very short periods of time.
• Normal Fast -  No food of any kind is eaten for a certain number of days. Nothing.  You do drink water and plenty of it. 
• Partial Fast - You may give up particular foods and drinks for a time. (A commonly used example is Daniel 1:11-14, where Daniel and his friends ate only fruits and vegetables and drank only water for 10 days).

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pay your church leader's wage?

Please read 1Timothy 5

This passage is sometimes used to justify a call for people to financially support the leaders of local churches and parishes.  But is this an accurate assessment of the passage?

It should first be noted that of the various English bible translations, only a few mention "financial support".  Of these, the inclusion sometimes appears within brackets indicating uncertainty as to whether or not it should really be there.

For the most part, the translation typically reads: "Consider the elders who rule/lead you.   Honour them, especially if they work hard to peach and teach."

Can we say with confidence that God asks people to financially support their leaders?  Maybe, bu  because is verse is unclear, it is not safe to assume we do.  Let us continue.

The next question is who these elders are.  Are they elders in character regardless of age, such as appear in Titus or Timothy? Or are they elders as in older members of a community?

Please read again versus 5:1 and 5:17 and also use the concordance (left sidebar).  What is the Greek word being translated as elder in each verse? Are they the same or different words?  What is their respective contexts?

• 5:1 ... indicates elder as in age
• 5:17... unclear
• However, the focus is similar in both verses.  What is this focus?  Even the wording seems almost identical.
• What does this similarity suggest about who 1Timothy 5 is speaking of?

Could an analogy be being made between how we treat older people (5:1) and our church leaders (5:17)?  Maybe, but to do this requires using everything before 5:17, and treating it as a metaphor. This includes what is spoken of about widows because what is shared about them flows out of 5:1.   In short, everything prior to 5:17 is about elder in age.  Also there  is no transition (eg like, therefore, parable intro, etc) to suggest 5:17 starts a new topic.

So for the moment imagine an analogy is being made.  How would this read?  But before you do, consider what does it mean to "honour them"?  Again use the concordance to look up the word "honour".  What is the Greek word?  Now use the concordance to look at 5:3.  Find where this Greek word also appears.  Why in this sentence does it not translate "honour" but instead "take care of"?  Why is it specifically used for widows?

What happens if we insert the translation, because we treat what is written as an anology, of elder as church elder as in function regardless of age, as occurs in the church life today?  It would read something like:  "Care for your local church elders.  However, if they have the ability to support themself, let them.  If they cannot, but have kids or grandkids, let their own family support them so it may not be a burden on the broader church.  Failing these, please take care of them yourself."

Okay, they may not be widows, nor older members of the community, but care for church leaders anyway.  How?  In the same way as the frail, the vulnerable, the isolated, the family-less, the ones who have little option but the support of others.  Care for them because they have one of a wide variety of roles among God's kingdom.

Does this sound like an analogy of leadership?  Does this sound like a gospel founded leader?  Why would a list be given for what it means to be a true widow, someone really in need, and then say to someone who takes up a leadership role, be like that, this is how God want his leaders to be?

In other words, does 1Timothy 5 speak of leaders of local churches as we understand them today? Does either the text or God's heart allow it?  Does the language or context speak of people older in age with certain needs or leaders whatever their age?  Yes, we may choose to cared for/support our church leaders because they lead, but does this passage either  raise the issue, let alone require it?

Does the pastor, priest, leaders of your church or parish fit this need?  Does choosing to go into full time ministry qualify that person for being support according to is passage?  Could doing other work, a job, detract from running the logistics of the local church?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  But regardless, does worrying about the consequences of ministry involvement create the meaning of this passage or simply your interpretation of it?

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please, discipline me nicely

Discipline is doing what you don't want to do when you don't want to do it.

Have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? Don’t downplay God's discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For he disciplines those he loves, and punishes all those he accepts as his child.  Endure by remembering  God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by their father?  If God didn't you are not his children at all. (Hebrews 12:5-8)

click on concordance (left sidebar tools) to seek definition of discipline

• Why does God need to discipline you?
• Do you get to choose what you are disciplined for?
• Will complaining or ignoring about being disciplined stop it from happening?
• How does the author of Hebrews ask you to respond to God's discipline?
• Is this asked of you for your benefit or to harm you?  What if the discipline feels painful or is difficult?

If you are someone who believes that "only good things happen to good people" or "I know things are from God when they make me feel positive" then you are unlikely to enjoy this message.

How did Moses feel when reprimanded about his whining when asked to relay God's message to the Hebrew people captive in Egypt?

How did Job feel when put through many life trials?

What about Jonah, David, and Peter?

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what is a church?

The following is adapted from an article written by  Mark D. Roberts © 2011 website link

where people get their ideas of church

past experience of church … Although many have no church background, some do even if limited to weddings and funerals.  Some come with negative memories they want to avoid again.  Others are nostalgic about the past, even if it didn’t help them know God better.

pop culture … Even people who have never entered a church building may see church depicted on TV shows, movies, or books.  These shape the expectations of Christians and non-Christians alike.  While there are good images, the negative ones show pastors and church members as judgmental hypocrites or unthinking extremists.

the news … Though exceptions exist, the news in general is not positive.  Reporting on good things doesn't attract viewers or sell advertising.  Scandals do, and tend to make the headlines.

projection of personal needs and preferences … Sometimes when people have needs they expect the church to meet them, and therefore view the church through these eyes.

from analogous institutions

[table id=10/]

Before you conclude that the bible only speaks of church as specific gatherings, please read Colossians 1 and Ephesians 3-5.  These letters indicate the church is anyone who follows Jesus. It is something that can be spoken of as a body, with Christ as the head, and appears to be some reality transcending ordinary space and time that encompasses more than a single gathering of believers.

And in this sense, we need to ask questions like:

• Can everything God needs the church to do be achieved through occasional gatherings?
• Do we exclude anything if we limit who we interact with?
• How can what God gifts you with strengthen what God asks of others to do from other areas of your community?
• What is God doing that he does not do on a Sunday between 10am-12noon?  Where is he doing this?

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postmodern church

"I'm alright - I don't believe in the law of gravity"

Everyone has a way of thinking, a way of viewing how the world works.  Postmodernism describes one of these. Consequently, people who accept a postmodern mindset tend to behave in certain ways, as others do according to their mindset. And as such, given people inhabit the church, how do the mindsets we bring affect the church? How do they impact you, your family, your friends?

Exploring this begins by understanding where people, generally, tend to gain their views about truth and reality. Assuming they are generational ignores the exceptions within a population and that people can and do change, for various reasons, how they see their world over time.

What are the main differences how each of the three "moderns" relate to truth and reality?

foundations of postmodernism

If the individual, you, is the source of truth and reality, no one else may determine what you believe or do. This includes God. And assuming you do accept his existence, this mindset will help you ignore or downplay his voice.

Please be aware this is necessary because when you decide what is true and real, absolute truths, like the ones God speaks of, become impossible. Why? Because when everyone has the right to their own opinions, every opinion must be considered equally valid, including what is in the bible. Truth is made relative and now it depends on personal preferences and interpretations.

Consequently, no one single faith/religion can claim itself as the only truth. To do so is viewed as arrogant. You may include and exclude whatever suits you, and then mix them together, from a variety of faiths and other areas. This affects both evangelism (new believers) and discipleship (new and existing believers) because accepting God and understanding his ways doesn't necessitate giving anything up or changing anything if it doesn't suit you. For example, reading the bible, praying, hearing sermon messages, and prophecy, are approached in terms of "what does this mean to you?" instead of "what does God mean by this?" In short, considering matters of faith as opinions makes it difficult to see God's truths since each view is given equal importance.

Are you doing this? What are the implications of fully listening to God?

What could happen if a priest/pastor or other church leaders lived this way? How could this affect what is taught? What if you need to ask a question, or reveal that God actually disagrees with their claims?

"That might be true for you, but not for me.” "You are welcome to your opinion, but mine is..."

When confronted, people with a post-modern mindset tend to avoid arguments. Turning issues into opinions is easier than listening, considering the merits of what is being proposed, and then choosing to reject or embrace it. Therefore, if absolute truths about faith/religion cause this type of response, so will morality, ethics, and justice.

Why? Because morality is based upon the absolutes of right and wrong. But, if each person is the source of what is true, then 'what is right' and 'what is wrong' becomes subjective. "What you see as wrong, might not be for me” or "The way I choose to live is my business, who are you to interfere?" Thinking like this only considers how things and situations affect you and ignores any personal responsibility you might have to others.

For example, a man is lying in the gutter, an open bottle of alcohol in his hand. He is very drunk. You walk past him thinking, "He made his choices. This is his journey. Who am I to interfere?" But stop for a moment. What if that was your own son? Could you walk past him? How would you respond to see others walking past him? Stop again. What if that was you drunk in the gutter? Why are you there? Is it right to be left alone in your hopelessness?

Now reexamine this in the following situations. Do you call the police when your home is burgled? If there is no right or wrong, why? What if your sister was raped or your child molested? If there is no right or wrong please don't complain, let alone seek justice. And yes it could be argued, the source of this outrage was you. But then why interfere when it was someone else who was impacted?

exception to the rule

Ultimately, when the line between self, the world, and your beliefs is blurred, the way you seek the acceptance of others is to advocate tolerance of the views of others, in the hope the curtesy will be returned. Accepting, or at least claiming to accept other opinions is seen the same as valuing the people who hold them.

The one exception to this rule is anyone who seeks truths that universally apply to everyone, particularly anyone who dares to criticize the views of others, disagree with them, or suggest they are wrong.

In other words, all views about truth are possible, except if your view about truth disagrees with this stance. As a follower of Christ, you must expect this toward you from people who hold a postmodern mindset.  Why?

• God communicates about and with absolute truths (Jn 18:37)
• The foundations of Jesus' life and mission apply to everyone (e.g. forgiveness, sacrifice, sin, repentance, reconciliation)
• Teachings by Jesus and his disciples did not offer the option based upon a “this is true for me, but may not be true for you” philosophy.  They were simply offered.  People regularly rejected it (e.g. ).

conclusion

If you are postmodern, you must accept all faiths/religions as equally true.  Hence, you must accept God is real and Jesus was sent to earth to free you and restore you with God. To refuse is to reject your pluralistic philosophy.  Sure, you can reject Jesus, but do so honestly.

Similarly, if you are a postmodern christian, you must accept every interpretation someone tells you about God's ways and character as equally true.  Hence, you must, for example, accept the need to let go of everything you love more than him. You must be missional and not merely a Sunday attendee. You must sacrificially love all your enemies. You must stop being sectarian in how you treat the church, Christ's body. To refuse is to reject your pluralistic philosophy.  Sure, you can reject these proposals but do so by first seeking what God's reality is, not how you interpret it.

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either/or … both/and logic

In recent years, people connected with the church, have made active attempts to change how they think and speak.  Specifically, they advocate for the replacement of “either/or” logic (statements and questions) with “both/and” logic.

This need comes from key motivations

1. To prevent contradictory statements of faith
2. To pay attention to parts of God’s word ignored, overlooked, not focused on enough
3. I am passionate about this, therefore I must be right
4. I am angry about this, therefore I must be right

However, there is a problem with this desire:

• To claim only “both/and” statements exist is bad-logic because to do so we must accept that both “both/and” and “either/or” statements are possibly, while
• To claim only “either/or” statements exist is also bad-logic because to do so is to accept either a “both/and” or  “either/or” statement could be appropriate to a situation

The other problem with this desire is once it is put into practice.  For example:

• You are either male or female.  You cannot be both.
• All living creatures are either alive or dead.  They can never be both.
• God either exists or He doesn't.  We cannot claim God both exists and doesn't.
• Salvation is either by by faith or not.  We cannot claim salvation is both by faith and something else.
• And yet, Jesus is both man and God.
• Also, you can be both a parent and a child.

In other words, it is possible to have “both/and” logic and “either/or” logic depending on the situation.

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equipping the church

These are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
(Ephesians 4:12-13)

It was Saturday (daytime). I was standing out front of a facility that combined the Australian Institute of Sport (A) and Canberra University (B) (see figure below). Though Sunday church services were still held here, albeit with smaller attendances, already half the seats were full with couples, singles, groups, kids, and older people. Many others continued to arrive, and some by bus. The region people walked through was similar to walking from College Road through the Canberra University car parks onto the campus.

 

Now, while the pastor was preaching, it was unclear as to whether a guest speaker was present or not. In the crowd someone spoke of how many were from the Christian City Church Belconnen; led by Nick at a Pub.  A red haired lady inquired where I was from, to which I responded: “I started at CCC Dickson PM, then CCC Kaleen (night and day), and now this is my home.”

details

• This was indeed the history of my church attendances at the time, but I had never spent time at this location
• There is  a man named Nick who heads the CCC Belconnen group.  It's location is next to door a pub
• Plan is to go speak with this group (date 28 April 2012)

application

Be confident! Being part of the Church of Canberra is a destiny of greatness. God intends that we integrate into a complete body: equipping people in both mind, body and soul, to be mature disciples who can discern and apply the abilities they are given.

• Encourage people to pursue the work God calls them to do
• Release apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers so they would, together, equip people to achieve such work (this is why they exist)
• Persist until there is oneness in faith and knowledge in Jesus
• Persevere until God’s people has attained maturity as measured by Christ

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pediatry

pediatry
A rarely used term for pediatrics, meaning an area of medicine concerned with the health of infants, children and adolescents, their growth and development, and their opportunity to achieve full potential as adults. It is the study of the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders in children.

podiatry
The medical study of the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the foot.


This was in relation to Michelle (15 year old girl)
seems to be a wordplay
the only reference can think of in relation to this is Ephesians 6 when Paul is speaking of the armour of God, specifically the shoes which are the Gospel of Peace

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who is abraham's seed?

First read Genesis 12 and Genesis 13 to find the section where God is promising Abraham about his descendants.

Next read Galatians 3:15-21: When Abraham was promised the land to be inhabited by his descendants, there is a correction: Scripture doesn’t say “to his children,” as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says “to his child”—and that, of course, means Christ.

Using the concordance link (left sidebar) read again the parts you found in Genesis, specifically the word descendants (Strong's number 2233).

So what appears to have occurred is the translation has caused the word seed to be read as a plural (more than one item) rather than the single (only one item).  This is similar to how we use the word sheep or fish. According to the correction made in Galatians, who is the seed?

Therefore, if the same word is being used in Genesis 15 and Genesis 22, then their meanings will need to be reexamined.

Perform the same concordance research and look for the sections that speak of God's promises when he uses the analogies of stars and sand.

Now to gain an understanding of what God was really promising Abraham:

1. Write out the following quote from Gen 22:17-18 "indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore ; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."
2. Replace the word descendants with the answer to who the seed is
3. Reading the sentence like this sounds a bit weird so you will need to discover how a few other Hewbrew words translate (highlighted)
4. Use the meaning which makes sense in the new context
5. Feel free to look at any other words you need to

When I did it, it came out as follows:

"Indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will make  Jesus mighty.  He will be as the stars of the heavens and the sand on the seashore.  He will possess the gate of the enemy.  In Jesus all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because My voice was obeyed."

Now read John 10:1-8 and John 11:52 from the new testament.  Remember to read the surrounding text for context.  Does anything sound familiar about God's promise?

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gender specific messages

introduction
The use of terms referring to gender occur throughout the bible (e.g. mother, father, son, daughter, wife, husband).  Some apply to specific people.  Others provide information about a principle.  For instance:

• Characteristics of a wife … (Ps 31)
• How women should behave in church meetings … (1Co 14:34-35)
• Definition of a widow … (1Tim 5)
• How fathers need to treat their children … (Eph 6)

But how does reading Galatians 3:26-28 affect matters?

You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.  There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

In other words, being part of God’s family means the divisions of heritage, social status, and gender are no longer relevant.  Does this mean you stop being a male or female?  No.  You still have the physical parts and the associated functions such as pregnancy and beard growing.  Then there are differences in hormones, emotions, etc.  So what exactly, does it mean for gender to be no longer relevant?

what does the bible say?

The starting point is to consider yourself in just one category: a child of God.  Do a word search of the bible using the keywords child and God.  How many of them refer to a gender?  What is common among them?

• General information (Mt 5:9; Lk 20:36; Heb 12:7-8)
• Connection to Jesus (Jn 1:12; Gal 3:7; Gal 3:26; Heb 2:14; 1Jn 5:1)
• Where they come from (Jn 11:52; Rom 9:8).
• Connection to God’s Spirit (Rom 8:14)
• What God gives them (Rom 8:17-23; Gal 3:29; Eph 3:6)
• How to recognise them (Mt 5:9; Phil 2:15; 1Pe 1:14; 1Jn 2:28; 1Jn 3:9-10; 1Jn 5:18-19)

fathers and their children

Choose one of the passages from the introduction, for example Ephesians 6: Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

If gender is relevant to this passage then it’s request only applies to men who are fathers.  Everyone else, including mothers, could be considered exempt and may therefore provoke children and not be responsible for the discipline of children. Such a world would make the efforts of a father impossible, so why even ask it of him.

If at the very least mothers also need to discipline their children and treat them in such a way that they are not provoked, then we must re-examine how God views things.

widows

Now read 1 Timothy 5: a widow who is put on the list for support must be a woman who is at least sixty years old and was faithful to her husband…continue reading.

Why does God repeatedly associate widows with orphans and strangers in his word?  Could it be they are each a group of vulnerable people in the community?  If gender is relevant to this passage then it’s request only applies to widowed women.  Vulnerable elderly men could be considered exempt and we may therefore ignore their needs.

But read the passage in context.  Why were female widows even brought to attention?  Was there a cultural context? Do we simply transfer the action word for word, or do we need to look at the intent between the lines?

conclusion

Whenever you read something in the bible or are given advice, look at the underlying truths.  If God treats his children equally, then we need to live that way too.  Matters of character, principle, ethics, justice, love apply to everyone.  Equally.

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God agrees with ME (friendship)

introduction

When you read the bible, how do you discover and understand what God means?  Do we simply read the words and go apply it?  Do we listen to a church sermon from or the advice of a Christian and simply do as suggested?

Why did Jesus say to the religious leaders and scholars of his day that knowing the words is not enough (e.g. John 5:39-40)?  What did he say we need instead?

Can understanding what God means occur by interpreting the bible through the lens of your society’s culture or your personal life experiences, preferences, desires, biases? (Isa 55:8).  Or should we be evaluating our culture and personal expectations through God's meaning?

Other things to consider:

[dropdown_box expand_text=" " show_more="click to read more" show_less="click to hide" start="hide"]

• Context ... How much of the message are you being told?  A few words, a sentence or two, maybe a paragraph.  The sentences before and after a passage or quote often bring what is being said into focus.

• Topic ... What is the real focus of what you are being told?  Is the passage or quote the focus of what is being explained or is it used to justify a predetermined theme or topic?  This is seen when a speaker starts with a quote but the rest of the time is used referring to personal and cultural concepts, ideas, presumptions, etc.
  [/dropdown_box]xample

example: friendship (top of page)

To explore this further, read John 15:12-15, a quote sometimes used to speak of friendship.

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
(John 15:12-15)

In a recent church service, the speaker chose this to open a message about friendship (audio).

Was the surrounding text (context) spoken of (John 15:1-27)?  No, these were the only sentences used.  In addition, they were used to open the message, a message among a series about relationships (topic), and explored by a list of cultural types of friendship and concepts (e.g. purpose, value, time needed, number of people involved) about friendship.

Does this passage clearly state that Jesus is teaching about friendship?  Yes.

Does this passage give an explanation for how Jesus defines friendship?

No. It only reveals that he was talking about friendship.

Was the text explored before or after to discover whether Jesus gave any further.  No.

So, what is the context of what Jesus was saying?

What did he say both before and afterward?befo

re

the text before (top of page)

Jesus gives an analogy where He is a vine, God the Father is the viticulturist (grape farmer), and people are a branch.

[table id=9 /]co

mmandments
what does Jesus ask? (top of page)

What are Jesus’ commandments?

• That we love one another, just as Jesus loved us (and the Father loved him)
• This means to lay down (sacrifice) your life for your friends
• As a result, a friend is anyone who does this

The benefit of this is that Jesus will share everything he has heard from God the Father.after

the text after (top of page)

Jesus continues his comments about friendship by stating that "the reason why the world hates you is because it hated him first."  Why?  Because when Jesus calls you out of the world you stop being part of it, and the world hates anything and anyone who is not part of it.  Consequently, since Jesus was persecuted, because God the Father is not known, so will you be persecuted. 

summary

summary (top of page)

To be a friend is to sacrificially love people.  This is how God the Father loves Jesus and Jesus loves us.  If you do:

• You will be glorifying God the Father by proving yourself a disciple of Jesus
• Jesus will share with you everything he has heard from God the Father
• God will prune you in such a way that anything you ask of him will be done
• You will be persecuted by anyone who doesn't know God

action plan: what to do next?

From the teachings of Jesus in John 15, is it possible to list the various types of friendship, or relationships we find in our society?  Is it possible to analyse their value or how to achieve them? Indeed does the teaching justify or prove our culture and personal expectations of friendship or other relationships?

If we take the teaching at face value, we must ask:

• How do we love people sacrificially? How did Jesus?  How did God?
• How do we prepare for and persevere through persecution?  What does persecution look like?
• How does God prune us?
• Do we limit our sacrificial love (friendship) to certain people or open ourselves to anyone?  What does this mean for our current relationships?  What does it mean for the people we currently exclude or don't see at all?

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