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:

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• 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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danger of false teachers

“Listen! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment on the people of the world. He will convict everyone of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” (Enoch as quoted by Jude)

In the church there are people who will try to convince you that God allows us to live immoral lives.  Their argument is since God is all loving and forgiving, he will not allow anyone to perish.

Yet, according to the writings of Jude 1, these people deny Jesus Christ. How?
On the one hand they claim to know God by the revelations they talk about. While on the other hand, they

• live immorally, defy authority, and scoff at things they don't understand
• grumble and complain
• brag about themselves
• flatter others to get what they want
• live only to satisfy their own desires

It is through this contradictory lifestyle they try to convince you. "I call myself a Christian, a church-goer, but am not prepared to live as a child of God."

remember

• Jesus rescued Israel from Egypt, but later destroyed people who didn't remain faithful
• The angels who didn't stay within the limits of the authority God gave were imprisoned
• Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns were destroyed for their immoral living as a warning of the eternal fire of God’s judgment

beware
When someone claims to know God but lives for themselves they will not only bring destruction upon themselves.  To merely be around them, even at a church worship service could, if you are not vigilant cause you too to stumble.

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homosexuality: a special sin?

introduction

Why are certain actions, attitudes, and ways people live viewed with a special kind of disdain?  Why are they given a level of badness above others?  Pedophilia, murder, rape, are just a few examples.

Another, and the example used here is homosexuality.  Why?  Because in recent years, not far behind when speaking of marriage, is the topic of whether or not homosexuals (people who sexually desire the same gender as themselves) should be entitled to marry, with the same legal privileges as heterosexual people (people who sexually desire the opposite gender to themselves).

NOTE: This exploration is not intended to prove whether or not homosexuality is acceptable or a sin.  Rather, it is an attempt to ask whether we are justified to judge and shun people based upon personal, social, or religious views.

marriage is for a male and female only

• “gay marriage” is bad  because…
• the act of homosexuality is bad, therefore …
• people who are homosexual are not normal and
• sometimes considered unsaved in a Christian sense

anyone should be allowed to marry (mm, ff, mf)

• I feel normal and/or I know people who are homosexual who are not bad.  In fact some state Jesus as their saviour. Therefore…
• I am normal, therefore…
• homosexuality is just part of who I am, therefore…
• when I want to get married I should be able to

quick analysis

The difficulty when entering this argument is both sides appear “right” in their own eyes. But have another look. A circular argument is occurring through the blurring of the lines between the person and their sexuality. We are equating the inner worth of a person with who they have sex with. Heterosexual marriage = good normal person. Homosexual = bad abnormal person. Therefore,

• if you disagree with gay marriage you probably have other judgments about the men and women involved
• if you are a man or woman who is homosexual you probably consider yourself an ordinary person because you know how you feel and think

what does the bible say?

There are four main passages in the bible that speak directly of homosexuality.  The first two mentions appear in this context as the Hebrew word shakab, meaning "to lie together sexually".  Both  appear in the same Old Testament book called Leviticus:

• “Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin." (Lev 18:22)
• “If a man practices homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman, both men have committed a detestable act. They must both be put to death, for they are guilty of a capital offense." (Lev 20:13)

The other two direct references to homosexuality is the Greek word arsenokoites, each within a different book of the New Testament:

Paul starts by explaining of our need to resolve disputes instead of taking legal action because that would prove our unwillingness to love one another. It is even better to simply accept the injustice put upon us and leave it at that (1 Co 6:1-8).

Why?  Because anyone, yes even you, who does wrong will not inherit God’s Kingdom!

The examples of wrongdoing Paul gives includes indulging in sexual sin, worshiping idols, committing adultery, prostitution, homosexuality, stealing, or being greedy, an alcoholic, abusive, or cheating (1 Co 6:9-10), murdering, slave trading, lying, breaking a promise, or simply having evil thoughts, deceit, lust, envy, slander, pride, being foolish (1 Tim 1:8-11; Mk 7:21-23), being hostile, quarreling, jealous, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, or wild parties (Gal 5:19-21).

Indeed, Jesus explained that all these things come from your inner parts and that it is this  inner stuff that defiles you well before you act upon it (Mk 7:21-23).

Read Matthew 5.  What is Jesus explaining?  Is it enough to point at people whose actions seem obvious because we can see them, or do we need to consider something else?  How can you apply what you learn here into the above list of 'wrongdoings'?

For example, finish the following sentence: “You have heard it said, no one who sleeps with another person of the same sex will enter God’s Kingdom, but I (Jesus) say to you …”

Paul then continues by speaking of our need to stop committing these acts once we realize who Jesus is and how he has caused us to be right with God (1 Co 6:12-20).  But does Paul declare one or more of the listed wrongdoings better or worse than any other? 

Why?

Which of these listed actions do you recognize in your life?  What about when you apply what you found by understanding Matthew 5 (the “you have heard it said” ones)?

Paul also explains that … God’s law, when used correctly is good because it helps people live correctly.  The law was "not intended for people who do what is right, but for people who are lawless, rebellious, ungodly, or sinful, anyone who does anything that contradicts the teaching of Jesus Christ” (1 Tim 5:8-11).

conclusion

So, if you found yourself guilty of any of the wrongdoings, then you are living in opposition to Jesus, and need God's law.  Does it matter whether you choose to include or exclude homosexuality in this list?  No.  There will be one or more other things you will be found guilty of.

Thank Jesus for his mercy.  For, even though Paul used to blaspheme his name, persecute, and kill his people, Jesus showed him who he is and why he came to earth.  By being forgiven, Paul became an example proving Jesus came to save sinners, all sinners, no matter how horrendous your actions (1 Tim 5:12-17).

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building a house for God?

King David turned to the assembly and said, “My son Solomon, whom God has chosen as Israel’s next king, is still young and inexperienced. The work ahead of him is enormous, for the Temple he will build is for God himself!  Using every resource at my command, I have gathered as much as I could for building the Temple of my God. Now there is enough … The people rejoiced over the offerings, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord, and King David was filled with joy. (1 Chronicles 29)

Can this passage from the Old Testament of the Bible be justified to initiate and sustain a church building venture today?

If it can, it does so because we assume constructing buildings for God is his intention.  And if it is, then we must pursue this goal no matter what.  The outcome is already decided.

In addition, if constructing buildings for God is his desire, then let us look at the examples when Jesus sought to do so and asked his disciples to likewise do so.  When you do, search the New Testament using words like temple, house, and church.

How did you go?  What is the context that these structures are referred to?  Are they ever referred to in the sense churches today use them (i.e. places to worship, do community, serve, etc)?  And if they are, were they pre-existing structures or ones Jesus and his disciples sought to build or asked others to build?

• When Jesus said he would destroy the Temple in Jerusalem and rebuilt it in three days what was he referring to? (John 2:13-22)
• Where is God’s Spirit said to dwell? (e.g. 1Co 3:16; 1Co 6:19; 1Co 12; 2Co 6:16; Eph 2)
• Where does God, the Father want to live? (John15)

 Is God for or against us erecting church buildings?  Read Haggai 1:1-11 and Luke 9:28-31.  But for the moment that is not the point.  The point is how we define the church: by its structures and activities or its people and its character.  Because depending which we choose, will determine how we see God and how he interact with the world and the people in it.

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