Editorial on 'Christianity'

Editorials voice one man's view on a subject, controversial or undisputed. Would we read more carefully if the piece was written by God's Spirit?

The Spirit of God is responsible for ALL the Bible. He used men to write the message (2 Peter 1:20-21).

As the Spirit wrote the editorial on Jewish history (Psalms 106), concurrently He was writing an editorial on people in 'Christian' religious groups today.

An examination of this 'editorial' finds the following relevant to many church-goers.

• They do not understand God's wonders (v.7). Many go for social reasons and do not know basic Bible stories.
• "They did not remember... "(v.7). When God's goodness is forgotten, it leads to rebellion.
• He saved them for His name's sake (v.8).  Salvation is designed to add praise to HIS NAME.
• "...they believed his word..."(v12). Some genuinely believe God's writtings, but often it is "believed" as a convenience. Watch what they do with belief later.
• "They quickly forgot his works..."(v.13). It is the "believers" who QUICKLY forgot, not those outside 'Christianity'.
• "They did not wait for His council..."(v.13). 
• When people forget, they overlook The One with the best answers. 
• In typical American haste, we imagine God has forgotten our requests. In fact, He may be waiting for the best time to bless us.

God's Spirit was not finished with His 'editorial'. 

• "And tested God..."(v.14.). What part  seems wise to you?
• "...they became envious..."(v.16). See God's works. Remember His kindness. Absorbe His wisdom and council. Who has better that you should "envy" them?
• "...and worshippes a molten image."(v.19). Were pennies, nickels, dimes, or quarters ever molten? Do the 'saved' woo or worship their jobs (a god?) to gain the 'molten god' of filthy lucre
• "They forgot God..."(v21). How often do 'the saved' substitute God with the target of our envy or the bling of a shiny molten god.
• They did not believe His word (v.24). Once God's word is no longer authoritative, then truth is suppressed, fellas become fools, sexual misconduct is supported, minds become depraved, wrong abounds, evil expands, greed grows, envy elevates, slaying is a solution, trickery thrives and malice multiplies, scuttlebutt substitutes and slander supersedes truth, independence is idealized, bragging booms, iniquity is invented, children disobey parents, understanding is undermined, love is lost, and mercy becomes minimal. Read Romans 1:18-32.

Then God's Spirit added these notes.

• They grumbled (v.25). They were not content with God's blessings. Sound like anyone you know?
• They did not listen to the voice of the Lord (v.25). At first, they did not BELIEVE His word, and now they will not LISTEN to Him. Does this create sporadic attendance?
• They joined themselves..." (v28). They JOINED another religion. Sadly, my friends JOIN religious groups. When following God's plan, HE ADDS them to His fellowship (Acts 2:47).
• They made Him mad (v29). What would, or should, God do to members of His church that make Him mad?
• They were rebellious against His Spirit (v.33). Why resist any part of God? What good will result?
• They did not conform to God's orders (v.34). God has always damned disobedience.
• They mingled with other nations (v.35). They were blending with people God had said to blot out. Do people blend their ideas of growing churches with God's specific commands?
• They learned other nations practices (v.35). The practices were picked up from should-be-extinct nations. God's church is not to be a mix of picked up 'practices', but pure, as God planned.
• They served the idols of other nations (v.36). God is Spirit. Worshipping Mary, an image of a relgious diety, or the statue of any man is idolatrous.

Furthermore, how many read these words and think since they have believed, or done a series of actions, they are eternally secure and can not be sent to hell. Hmmm. Let see if they have the same God.

After these digressions GOD THEN:

• Got angry and ABHORRED HIS PEOPLE (v. 40).
• GAVE THEM OVER to other nations (v.41).
• Their ENEMIES OPPRESSED them (v.42).

What an editorial!

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So some of you agree while others disagree. Put your ideas up for discussion by adding comments.
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It Could Mean...

When was the last time you watched a news station that only REPORTED news stories? Today, most recite the key facts in the first minute, then babble seven more 'discussing' it. "It could mean... (expound on one possibility). Or it might mean.... (further expounding on conjecture #1). Still, another choice is... (blah, blah, blah...)." It is vital to correctly comprehend and appreciate any factual statement or event. But discussing possibilities does not create an authority. Pete, Jimmy and Johnny have seen Jesus as He was before there was man. Jesus tells Peter James and John to be tight-lipped. There will no sharing their 'mountain-top' experience. At least not until the Son of Man had risen. They dismissed the fact that Jesus would, by necessity, die. But they seized the phrase 'rising from the dead'. And, like our news organizations, started hashing the matter. What did they know about the dead rising? They had seen Jesus raise a couple, but not sufficient to establish a pattern. And they did not quiz Jesus for more information. And, like our news services, offered no definitive conclusion. So, what does the phrase mean? Can you solve their dilemma without the New Testament, or historical hindsight? As a minimum, it is hard. But we do have historical hindsight. And our vision can be 20/20. Jesus is telling them AGAIN, within a week, he would die and be raised. The first time Peter got hung up on Jesus dying. Now he struggles with 'rising from the dead'. Are we like Peter? Or do we know just enough to bluff our friends into thinking we are an authority. Why not investigate biblical subjects with your friends, and let God be the authority.

"But My Preacher Said..."

Is faith really necessary? God thinks so. Heb 11:6. Is believing Jesus is God's Son adequate? Most preachers in America would say yes. Sadly, since the masses will not survive judgement, and only a few will finish the journey, I would not trust their ideas. Odds are they are wrong. So what does the absolute authority, Jesus, say? He said, "If you intend to follow me you must deny, ... take up, ...follow..." These verbs say more than faith is required. So, there are a minimum of three requirements, in addition to faith, needed to sustain a close connection with Jesus. Those requirements are: deny take up follow Deny implies I must disregard my own interests. I will no longer accept my own advice. I reject all I have considered meaningful. I no longer have any acquaintance with who I was or what I did. I disconnect from self. For an example of denial, remember how Peter treated Jesus after the Gethsemane arrest. Peter denied Jesus three times. To 'take up', implies you will lift and carry what you have avoided. Until you 'take up', you continue your preacher's easy ways instead of connecting with the New Testament yourself. In 'taking up', you refocus on Jesus' directives for doing. To 'follow' implies becoming an attendant to Jesus' will. You will go with him anywhere, speak what he says, steer others to know Him, hear only Him, wield His gracious words, think as He thinks, stop worrying, pray, tolerate threats, talk about Jesus with every listener, trust Jesus, meet constantly with the followers, dump all sins, ... Please answer. Does 'faith only' please Jesus? Will you fully follow Jesus?

The Voice

I am lucky to have had an uncle like Pete. Well, actually, he was my great-uncle Pete. He could tell stories better than anyone.

One of my favorites was when he, Jimmy and Johnny went with their friend, Yeasus, up the high mountain. 

Uncle Pete's eyes would get so big when he told of how Yeasus' clothes started glowing white. He said they were as white as the sun, adding, "Professional-grade Clorox could not get them that white!" Once he said they were "nuclear" white.

Then he said the three of them were joined by two other men. Yeasus called one Elij and the other Mo, Uncle Pete said. To help me grasp how important the event was, Uncle Pete said these men had been God's leaders years before.

He said he had not been this scared many times before, especially when he realized who was with Yeasus. He **saw** the men. They **looked** and **sounded** real, but both had been dead more than 1000 years. 

Uncle Pete always started laughing at this point in the story. His face would mildly blush as he told of how he started talking before he started thinking. 

"Teacher," (a title for Yeasus), Uncle Pete would say loudly. "Let's build three sacred tents to commemorate the occasion -- one for each of you!" Then he would lean over to me and whisper, "I was so scared I didn't know what to say," he ended with a little chuckle.

Uncle Pete never knew where the thick, stormy cloud came from, but suddenly it did more than fly over. It settled and surrounded them. 

Uncle Pete's face always changed. There was something in his memory still scaring him. His eyes would glaze over and his voice would tremble. Few stories were as powerful to Uncle Pete as this one. 

I think what he heard was God speaking, but Uncle Pete called it 'The Voice'.

Uncle Pete, helping everyone sense the awesome power of The Voice, would thunder at the top of his lungs,"THIS is MY SON. He is the one I LOVE! LISTEN TO HIM!" 

When Uncle Pete looked around, re-enacting the moment, he would say, "When The Voice stopped, only Yeasus was still there." 

He stopped. He looked me straight in the eyes. "The Voice told me to listen only to Jesus. And I tell you, pay attention to everything Yeasus said and did. I have told you His stories. Yeasus is the son of The Voice."

Why Isn't Mrs. Heffington Bald?

It is a wonder Mrs. Heffington didn’t go bald.

She tried EVERYTHING to get me to do my first grade class work on time. She sat fast-working students beside me. She had Robin (the prettiest girl in the entire first grade) to beg me to work faster. She did not allow me to play at recess. But I continued daydreaming of Robin and did my work leisurely. I am certain she pulled out hair daily.

FINALLY….

Then she took me to Mr. Tumlison, the principal. He was HUGE, with a balding head, and BIG deep voice. I shook! He made sure I knew Mrs. Heffington was an authority to be obeyed. With little effort, he convinced me to work rapidly. I continued trembling! I think he felt me quaking over his knee before he delivered his three licks.

The next three days NO ONE got their work to Mrs. Heffington’s desk before me. I had learned about her authority.

In a previous post ("No, I Wont’ Wash My Hands"), I asked about authority in religion. Would you answer these questions? (Links are provided for your convenience.)

• In Matt 7: 28-29, whom were the people comparing? Who did they think was an authority?
• Who has power (authority) over nature? (Matt 8:23-27)
• Who has power over death (John 11:38-44)?
• What will happen if I do not accept Jesus as THE authority (John 12:48)?
• What does Jesus claim (Matt 28:18)?
• Where does Jesus have authority (Matt 28:18)?
• How much authority does He claim (Matt 28:18)?
• Compare a group obeying the dictates or by-laws of a convention with Jesus’ teachings. To whom should I listen?

Jairus on TV (part 1)

Reporter: "In the TV studio today, we have a local celebrity and prominent religious leader, Jairus. He has come to tell us of a recent event involving himself and Jesus, the traveling preacher-healer. Welcome to the show, Jairus."

Jairus: "Thank you for inviting me. I am glad to be here."

Reporter: "It is our understanding your daughter recently suffered a very seriously illness. Could you tell us about her and her illness?"

Jairus: "I would be glad to. My daughter is a very petite girl for her age. This case of pneumonia-like crud began when..."

Reporter (interrupting): "Excuse me! Is that what the doctors called it, or is that your description?"

Jairus: "Yes ma'am! They called it 'pneumonia-like crud'. The doctor had never seen anything exactly like it. His uncertainty was compounded by her small size. When he got the best medicine, the dosage was too strong. When he considered her body size and calculated the dosage, then the medicine was worthless. The entire time she was hospitalized, she got weaker and weaker. She was in a vicious, downward spiraling cycle."

Reporter: "Was the ever a moment you gave up hope?"

Jairus: "I will not say we gave up hope, but there were times we could see only doom. For example, when our doctor took us to his office and sat us down. He told us he had consulted a doctor just returning from Jerusalem Medical Science University. They had no answers. Our doctor advised us to take her home and make her as comfortable as possible until the end. He said there was nothing more he could do."

Reporter: "So you took your small daughter home. You looked at her knowing the doctors had given up. Tell us of your thoughts."

Jairus: "The first 36 hours my wife and I were in total shock. We could not fathom her not finishing high school. She would never drive a car. She was slowly dying. In one of those depressed moments, I remembered friends of mine telling stories about Jesus from Nazareth. I read in the Galilean Gazette how he healed many that came to him. I am a friend of the now-clean leper. I remember all his talk. An acquaintance told of four men tearing off a roof to lower their friend before Jesus. Jesus healed him, he said. I heard about a man, like me, with a close family servant dying. He went to Jesus, and asked Him to heal the servant by giving the order. They say it worked, but I do not know. I have heard many stories of Jesus healing by touching people. I know some are true. I began thinking, 'Why not my girl?'"

Reporter: "So what did you do?"

Jairus: "A neighbor came by to visit her. They said Jesus was in town. I asked, 'Where?' They told me. I bolted out the door. I did not know what I would do, but I knew I had to get there."

Reporter: "What happened next?"

Jairus: "Before I got across town, I thought about how to speak to Jesus. I am a ruler of a synagogue, a leader, and I must act accordingly. I decided to show dignity when I met this transient preacher. But when I approached him, I realized how great He was. I fell at his feet and worshiped Him. I begged and pleaded for Him to touch my daughter."

Reporter: "I did not know worshiping men was allowed in the Judaism. I thought you could worship only God?"

Jairus: "You are right. We should worship only God. But Jesus is God! Who else could heal my leper friend, or prevent death, or make the lame walk? No one but God could do these things."

Reporter: "How did Jesus respond?"

Jairus: "He gently accepted my worship and did not gripe at my little faith. He said, 'Well, let's go.'"

Reporter: "Was there not an interruption, while you, Jesus, and the crowd were going to your house?"

Jairus: "Yes, there was. A woman as desperate as me touched Jesus."

Reporter: "Jairus, we will come back to hear about this interruption and the conclusion of your remarkable story in just a moment. But right now, a word from our sponsors."
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Would you evaluate three ideas from this story?

1. Was Jairus was right? Could Jesus have shamed him for being a ruler of a synagogue and not having greater faith? He did not. Jesus will not scold you for having a small faith.
2. Bad events happen. God does not make bad events. He does allow them. Wretched days prompt us to look for Jesus' help. Jesus takes the Devil's gruesome crisis and turns it to stunning, sublime and splendid days. Have you enjoyed one of these lately?
3. Jesus will fortify your faith. Strengthening requires your complete trust. Read the stories of Jesus. He enhances faith in active followers. Are you reading about Him? Following him daily?

B-E-E-E Q-U-U-I-I-E-E-T-T-T!!!!

Hodgins is a unusual character in the television show "Bones." He is the only son in a very rich family. Someday he will inherit a multimillion dollar conglomerate, but for now he wants to remain as Dr. Hodgins. You see Hodgins enjoys people appreciating him for his skills and work as a 'lab rat' determining the sources of trace elements from a crime scene and his work in entomology (bugs). 

In one episode Hodgins and the other 'squints' (lab personnel) are ordered to attend a gala hosted by large-gift contributors, including Hodgin's family. Attending is a threat to his identity secret, so he respectfully says 'no' to his boss. The remainder of the show has him repeating an insistent 'No'. He does, however, reveal his secret to two key characters, who help him remain a 'squint'. 

If Jesus would have watched this show I think he would have identified with this character. Jesus wanted people to see his miracles and teachings, and THEN decide he was God's Son. He hoped they would believe based on evidence.

Jesus went to the synagogue (a Jewish church building of sorts). One day there was a man there, in the 'church' with a bad spirit. The spirit recognized Jesus as God' son and was telling everyone he was the "Holy One of God."  Jesus said powerfully, with authority B-E-E-E- Q-U-U-I-I-E-E-T-T!! A few moments later he used his authority to cast the bad spirit out of the man. What the synagogue-goers saw made them ask questions and think. 

Did they conclude what Jesus desired? Did they make some important steps in the right direction? 

What conclusion do you draw when you read or hear this story? Could you prove Jesus is God's son? What evidence would you use? 

Write your answers in the comment section for others to learn, consider, and grow. Anyone can comment.

Essential for Being an Authority

A couple of years ago while working on my masters degree I did a 50+ page report on a four-day school week as a way for school districts to save substantial money. I spent weeks pouring over the academic research papers (super-boring), looking at tables, graphs, and other pictorial representations of findings. I even visited with the only superintendent to have successfully attempted a shortened week in Arkansas.

My extensive work gained me an "A+", compliments from my professor, and a suggestion I submit it to several academic journals for publication. If my paper was published I would be classified as an expert on the subject, qualified to travel all over the nation, and a professional speaker on the financial benefits of the shortened school week. I feel I am an authority on this tiny piece of academia.

Let's suppose YOU need to convince members of the local school board on a single method to save them scads of money. You have heard of the savings generated by the shorter school week. You can have only one person come in. Which would you chose? Would you chose me, or would you bring in a likable, experienced, successful, "4-day school week" superintendent? Anyone in their right mind will pick the superintendent. Why? He has authority based on experienced, not the type of authority based on what others have written.

Jesus had 'experiential' authority. He was with the Father in creation. He helped make man. He was with the Father when Moses received the 10 commandments, when Joshua crossed the Jordan, and when the walls fell at Jericho. Was he with the Father when the Jews stopped serving God? Was he involved in sending the Jews away to Babylon? Did he assist Nehemiah in re-constructing Jerusalem's wall? So, with all his dealings with man BEFORE he came to earth, he knows what mankind needs. He has experience!

The authority of the scribes during Jesus time on earth was like my kind of authority. They cited and quoted the works of many great Rabbis. They knew what had been written, and could report to the people what they knew. But they had no first-hand successful experience. It was an ineffective kind of authority. 

Is it any wonder people have always preferred to listen to Jesus?