Category Archives: Thought for today

Discussion of Biblical truths, world events current and past, family etc.

The Gospel According to Elton John: Making God in his own image

Posted on March 18, 2010 | 9 comments

On February 19, 2010, several major news publications around the world, including BBC and  The Guardian, recorded Elton John’s words as he rewrote the historical Jesus. He spoke the following irreverent words during an extensive interview with Parade magazine,

“I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems. On the cross, he forgave the people who crucified him.”

Elton’s comment has it partly right. Jesus was, and is, compassionate. He forgave those who crucified him. And yes, Jesus understood human problems better than any psychologist that has breathed the air of this planet. I might even concede his acknowledgement of Christ’s intelligence, if it really weren’t just another way to say Jesus was merely a very smart man, rather than the Son of God. And this he must say, for Jesus cannot be the Son of God and the homosexual Elton declares Jesus to be.

Christianity has been opposed, used and even misrepresented for centuries. At times political leaders romanced our faith to make a syncretistic powerplay, such as Constantine did in the fourth century. At other times war was blatantly waged against it. But in the quiet, it seems there is a trend afoot. A breed of pilgrims trying to find habitation somewhere between outright rejection of Jesus, and deceptive compromise. All or nothing is no longer a necessary equation. Why must we take Jesus or leave him as he is when we can take him, put a new face on him, and use him to our advantage?

This sick and perverted image of a homosexual Jesus comes as no surprise in light of Elton John’s aggressive gay rites tactics. Would he have said Jesus was a heterosexual? Perhaps. But only if he could have given it the right spin to make it advantageous, such as “Jesus was a straight-but-narrow-minded, unsympathetic religious fanatic.” However, because he was compassionate, understanding and forgiving, he was gay.

Such absurd and irreverently brazen remarks about Jesus, at the very least, should be challenged in the public arena. Unfortunately however, few voices have squeaked their way past the threshold of the front door of the press. Could it be that God’s people have nothing to say about it? Not likely. The problem is we usually don’t get to talk into the really BIG microphones. Those are reserved for the delusional. The label given by The Guardian to the few Christians who were heard, and justifiably outraged, was, “the Christian lobby” who is “not known for its tolerance of diverging views.”

I have a heart for the homosexual community. My intention is not to go after them, rather it is to bring balance to the table and clarity to the definitions that are so often carelessly used by liberals and conservatives alike. So at the risk of being labeled intolerant, let me say that the spin put into the statement made by the Guardian about diverging views makes it sound as if all views ought to enjoy diplomatic immunity and be held by everyone in some sort of royal honor. But what exactly is a diverging view?

According to the Oxford dictionary, to diverge is to leave the path you are traveling and then take an alternate route that goes in another direction. Now, I think diverging views can be great for sightseeing on a blue-skied Sunday when you are not trying to get anywhere in particular. But if you have a destination in mind, you can’t travel the southbound side and expect to head north. You just wont get there. Assuming, of course, that the place actually exists. The Jesus of Elton John did not exist.

There are absolutes in life, and to uphold them is not intolerant at all. It’s reasonable. We live daily by such absolutes. After all, would the math teacher tolerate a student’s view if on the exam he expressed it as 2 + 2 = 7? Nonetheless, with the direction society is heading, we may just get to the point where there is no wrong answer. To say otherwise would be intolerant.

So, to give audience to remarks like Elton John’s, and then call intolerant those who backlash, is not only intolerant in itself, but it is unfair and most especially unreasonable. It essentially says that history, and in particular the history of Jesus, is open to amendments. It assumes that opinion is just as valid as fact, even more so if it is an emotionally charged, divergent one. Folks, let’s not allow opinions to hijack the truth, no matter how famous their source.

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The Virtual Church, Part One: Where is Modern Technology Leading the Church?

Posted on March 16, 2010 | 4 comments

Modern technology has brought us virtual pets, virtual homes and virtual flowers. Yes, we can even have virtual children now. In fact, on March 5, one Korean couple was arrested for letting their real baby girl starve to death while they obsessively raised a virtual child in an online video game. It is so tragic and disturbing that it is hard to believe! But the truth is that people are losing touch with the warmth of reality, and instead, they are embracing a cold and detached alternative. And do you know what else? The church is not far behind in this trend.

Today, church-life faces a subtle threat to its overall health. It comes not as an external enemy, but an internal anomaly. It is the fast-spreading mentality of believers who would argue that faithful attendance and participation in the local body is really not important, neither for themselves nor for the whole of the local church. Their presence just doesn’t matter. As far as their spiritual health is concerned, they’ll be fine. They’ll just turn on Christian radio, or internet streaming. Maybe they’ll download an MP3 or flick through the Christian channels on cable or satellite television and just have church at home. And as far as their part of service in the fellowship, everything’s already been covered by the guys up front.

If, like so many believers do today, you view church as something passively to be observed and not actually participated in, then the case I will bring to the table in these posts will appear to be groundless. On the other hand, if you are willing to consider this topic through the lens of Scripture, you may just have to readjust not only your perspective, but also your involvement and attitude towards the body of Christ and the life of the church. Consider the meaning of church biblically. Does it ever refer to a sermon? A bible study? Even a building? Never. Certainly, these things are an essential part of church activity, but they do not constitute…the church.

The very word itself in Biblical language gives us the insight we need to remember. It is “ekklesia” and the New Testament is peppered with the word. Seventy seven times to be exact, with the majority of occurrences appearing in the Epistles. When Jesus spoke of the church in the gospels (Matthew 16:18), he referred to the universal church consisting of all true believers of every generation and in every part of the world. Location is irrelevant. In the other instances however, location is very relevant. The Apostles spoke of the church as specific groups of believers that met together in different places. To name a few, the church in Ephesus, the church in Galatia, the church in Corinth, Rome, Philippi etc. So we see that the meaning of the word has everything to do with the people who first of all are in Christ and secondly, who come together in His name somewhere locally.

In terms of definitions, church can’t be broadcasted by satellite nor can it be had from the comfort of our living room unless our living room is where the church actually meets. In many parts of the world, this is the case. Due to a citywide traffic block a couple of Sundays ago, we did exactly that for our church fellowship here in Italy. We held the service right in my living room for any who could join us, and it was a blessing. But for the people who unfortunately were too distant to come by foot, the best they could do was watch and listen online. Sure, it was better than nothing, but it was not the real thing. The real thing is active and not passive, it involves the rich blessing of ones presence where there is a warm touch. It is face-to-face fellowship and breaking of bread together. Handshakes, hugs, and sharing a laugh. Bottom line, it is a gathering. And that is the meaning of  ekklesia. So when a person says, “Let’s just watch online and have church at home,” what they mean is let’s listen to the message. A message is good, but it is not church.

Why nitpick over such terms? Because meaning matters folks. And our understanding of these things will determine how we live our lives. Those who think church is just listening to a sermon are not only an ocean’s distance from the Biblical meaning of God’s household (Ephesians 2:19), but they are very close to robbing themselves and the local church of the rich blessings and fruit God intends to produce through their presence and their participation. Both are vital, neither can be virtual.

For part two of The Virtual Church series, click on this link “The Virtual Pastor.” Or in the meantime just give the subject some thought. What do uThink about the direction modern life is taking the church?

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Synagogues and Social Classes: Life in the Jewish ghetto of Venice

Posted on March 14, 2010 | 2 comments

As the promised follow up to my last post “Antisemitism 400 Years Before Hitler“, here is part three of the mini-series on Jewish life in 16th century Venice, Italy. The amazing and disturbing web of persecution in the history of this people group only spins larger and more complex the further back you go in time. For the purpose of this series, we’ll stop at the 15th century with the incredible impetus that brought the Jews to Venice in the first place. Can you guess what it was?

Casa di Riposo Israeletico "Israelite Guest House"

Casa Israelitica di Riposo "Israelite Guest House" in Campo del Ghetto Nuovo "Square of the New Ghetto". Click to enlarge the image.

History repeats itself indeed. One easily loses count of the times the Jews were tossed about by waves of antisemitism. In 1492, the Spanish king Ferdinand the Catholic issued a decree which drove all Jews out of Spain, forcing them to emigrate to Venice. Hence the influx of Sephardic Jews (from Spain) in the ghetto. The smaller group was Ashkenazic, (Jews from Germany) who were actually the first to settle in Venice. Although they shared the same space and the same faith, they were not viewed or treated the same by all. Distinctions in social classes soon created separation between them. The differences due to the influences of the cultures they had previously inhabited brought factions to their worship services as well.

They chose to worship separately, and this birthed the need for a second synagogue to house the Sephardic clan. Because of their lucrative connections to traders in Spain, the Sephardics received special privileges from the state that afforded them a much larger construction for their synagogue with more elaborate decor and architecture, in addition to other perks in the community. This becomes very evident as you tour and compare them. As they say, money makes the world go around. Eventually another three synagogues were built, making a total of five. These served as schools during the week where Rabbis taught the children at the Schola Canton and the Levantine.

Memorial built by Greece for the Holocaust

Memorial for the Holocaust victims. Jews were gathered in this area to be exported to concentration camps. Click to enlarge the image.

Our favorite memory from the tour of the Ashkenazic synagogue was when our ascetic friend read the Hebrew words spanning across the top of the bema, under which the Torah would be read. “Never before have I seen such beautiful wording in our synagogues” she blurted. We asked what it was. “Remember whom you stand before” she answered. And then with her eyes as wide as an excited child, she added, “That’s God!”

Just below the same arch hangs a little light, called “The Eternal Flame”. It represents the flame constantly tended to by the priests in the early tabernacle built under Moses’ leadership.

Starting with only 700, the Jewish community grew to approximately 5,000 in one century, with many forced to run pawn shops and work in the open market. Today it is estimated that there are only 1,200 left. The Jewish ghetto of Venice is reported to be the first in the world and its synagogues are among the oldest in existence. In addition, there is a Rabbinic school where many from America attend to study the Talmud.

Well friends, that concludes my mini-series about the Jewish Ghetto of Venice, Italy. I hope you have enjoyed reading these posts as much as I have enjoyed writing them. Sometime in the future I’ll be sure to post more on these and other related subjects. Keep checking in at uThinkology.

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Antisemitism 400 years before Hitler

Posted on March 11, 2010 | 7 comments

In a recent post, “An Amazing Day in a Jewish Ghetto,” I promised to write more about the synagogues we toured and the history of the Jewish people living in the Jewish Ghetto of Venice, Italy, during the 16th century. Several things stood out to us among all that we heard and saw, but the most surprising fact was that antisemitism did not begin with Hitler’s cruel and tyrannical campaign.

Jewish Ghetto, Venice

Center Square in the Jewish Ghetto, Venice, Italy

Although one could argue that prejudice against the Jewish people began the day God chose Abraham, we find a definite starting point for Italy’s history. In 1516, the Senate of the Republic of Venice and a cardinal of the Roman Catholic church, ordered the Jews to live together, segregated and away from the city center. The area they were forced to occupy was known as getto, a Venetian word meaning “foundry” where metal was cast. This is where our modern word ghetto was coined, and the reason it has the connotation of a neighborhood where minorities dwell. Click the photo on left to enlarge it.

Forced to live behind metal gates, they would be locked in at nighttime. Only the Jewish doctors could come out after the evening curfew. During the day, everyone had to wear red or yellow hats so they could be identified as Jews in public. They were forbidden to take part in construction work, for all the builders had to be part of a guild, and no Jew was deemed worthy according to the non-Jewish. It wasn’t until Napoleon arrived and took charge of the city in 1797 that the gates were removed and the Jews were permitted to move about freely. Still, they did not enjoy full integration until the late 19th century.

In my next post we’ll look at just a few more interesting details regarding the Jewish synagogues and the social classes that caused them to divide. If you think you’d like to receive notice when that or other new posts come out on uThinkology, you can easily subscribe here on the side bar to the right.

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Changing the face of uThinkology

Posted on March 9, 2010 | Leave a comment

You may have wondered if you had stumbled onto the wrong site these last couple of days here at uThinkology. As you can see, everything looks different. That is because the old color scheme and navigation weren’t conducive to easy reading or the best at locating posts. Hopefully, you have been pleasantly surprised and not too confused. But other than new posts, pictures, and maybe a new subject page to be added, uThinkology shouldn’t look all that different for a while.

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An Amazing Day in a Jewish Ghetto

Posted on March 8, 2010 | 7 comments

Discovery is a never-ending adventure, and today’s trip to the Jewish ghetto in Venice, Italy, was no exception. After nearly 9 years of living in Treviso, a lovely little city nicknamed ‘little Venice’ for its many water canals and close proximity, my wife and I finally made it to Venice on, (cough) a date! No guests to show around, no baby strollers to carry up and down the innumerable stairs and canal bridges. Just the two of us. Very cold and windy, but what a blessing it was!

We had planned to go to a modern art museum, but why, I don’t know. We are neither knowledgeable of, nor all that interested in, art. But, we figured we would do something different. Once we exited the train however, we remembered there is a Jewish ghetto close to the station. Of the dozens of times we have been to that watery city, this was the first that our feet touched pavement in the historical Hebrew sector. And let me tell you, we are glad they did! It was the closest we have come to Israel and it really made us long to be there.

After stumbling upon a synagogue and Jewish museum, I was intrigued to see them both. And thankfully, they were offering tours as a package deal. Once we ate our ‘typical Hebrew styled’ menu at a nearby Israelite hotel, we returned to learn the history behind 3 of the only 5 synagogues there (I’ll talk about the amazing but disturbing history of the Venetian Jews in the 15th century on a future post).

On our guided tour were other Jews, two of which were ascetic. So when the tour guide (who was not a Jew) didn’t have sufficient answers, these friends became talking encyclopedias that added amazing detail. What a joy to be able to ask them any question that came to mind about traditions, history, symbolism etc. And some of what I saw and learned from them and from our tour, is what I want to share with you.

Did you know that….

1. In every synagogue there is a visible reminder, either architectually built into the structure or inscribed on the walls of the entrance, in Hebrew, something to make all entrants aware that ‘this is not the temple, this is not made by God’ and, to  ‘remember the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem’.

2. The Torah (Law of Moses or the Pentateuch) is kept in a holy cabinet called a ‘Holy Ark, which in Hebrew is “Aaron-haKodesh”, beautifully handwritten on scrolls of parchment.

3. The “Aaron-haKodesh” containing the Torah stands on the side of the synagogue that faces Jerusalem. This is mandatory.

4. Women and men have separate seating areas. In the synagogues we saw, the women were on the upper floor while the men would sit on the ground floor. In some cases, women would sit behind the walls and observe through a sort of latticed window.

5. Traditionally, no instruments are to be used during service. They are forbidden during the ‘singing’ of prayers. The Sabbath morning service begins with prayers, typically Psalms orated to a melody. Next, the Rabbi teaches from the Torah, followed by various readings from the Prophets.

6. This next one blew me away, and has set me onto a journey to dig deeper and find the answer to a question it has raised for me. If you know it, post it here and share it with us. Here it is. Uncommon to most synagogues are pictures of any kind. However, this structure had a series of small, carved images along the full length of the walls on both sides, depicting scenes from the exodus and from Mount Sinai. What is so amazing is that in the image at Mount Sinai when Moses received the 10 commandments, there is what looks like small flames or balls of fire coming down from heaven onto the mountain. This depicts God speaking to Moses and were the ‘flaming words of God’. Does this remind of you anything? It did me. Pentecost. Here are the verses from our New Testament:

And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:2-4).

So I asked our Jewish friends if in their history they have always depicted the event at Mount Sinai as it was painted on this wall. Definitely, she said. Several small flames of fire that depict the flaming words of God. So I wonder, did the Jews present at Pentecost make this connection? Was this to give a visual symbol to all that God once again was speaking by His Spirit, giving utterance in ‘words of fire’? I don’t know, but I promise to research and find the answer!

7. Above the Torah was a large, beautiful crown, like that of a king. I inquired about its significance. The crown always accompanies the Torah, because it represents the regality of God. How interesting! Of course, he is a king. But what came to my mind was the offense committed by his people the day they chose to have a man, a human king, rule over them, just like the other nations (1 Sam 8:1-10). But this also shed light on the words of James, the Jewish half-brother of Jesus, when he refers to the commandments as “the royal law” (James 2:8).

There is more, but I’ll end it here. Stay tuned, and I hope these nuggets have blessed you as they have me!

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One Son-day Morning

Posted on March 6, 2010 | 1 comment

We can’t help but be amazed and challenged by the way Jesus lived his life on earth. I often hear people say things like, “Jesus was God, so it was easy for him to…”, and you can fill in the rest. In other words, because Jesus was the Son of God, they conclude that living a life of dedication and surrender to the Father came at no cost to him. But this is more an excuse for mediocracy in our own lives than it is an observation of Christ’s life.

While it is true he was the Son of God, let’s not forget that Jesus was also a man who lived just as we do today. He was nursed as a baby, was vulnerable to the cold, he hungered and thirsted. And yes, he even had to go to the bathroom. He was not a phantom who left no foot prints in the sand. When he stubbed his toe on a rock, it hurt. He experienced rejection and heartache. By coming in the likeness of sinful man, Jesus subjected himself to all the above and more (Phil 2:5-8), even temptation (Heb 4:15). But he also enjoyed fellowship with God, his father, as it is meant to be for us all.

And this, my friends, is at the core of today’s post. In building on my latest post about our practice of prayer, “The Vacant Prayer Closet“, I want to look at just one aspect of Jesus’ life. You guessed it, his prayer life. This subject alone easily warrants an isolated study, but today we’ll observe only one passage.

“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” (Mark 1:35 ESV)

The day was Sunday, and the hour was approximately 4:00 am. Jesus had spent the entire day before (the Sabbath) exhaustingly busy about his Father’s business (cf. Mark 1:21-34). He had been on his feet from the morning, starting the day by teaching and healing in the synagogue, and carried on all the way into the night, healing the mother-in-law of Peter, and then touching countless lives that desperately gathered at Peter’s door to meet Jesus. It had been a grueling day of ministry indeed. Do you think Jesus went to bed that night not a little tired? You know he did! But notice Jesus’ idea of getting refreshed. It was not to sleep in while missing the best part of the day. He rose early, before the sun, and then pursued a secluded place to commune with the Father.

Folks, as the second Adam Jesus lived his life the way God desires all of us to do (Heb 12:1-3). Therefore, I will be so bold as to prescribe the same for you and me. It has been said, and wisely so, that

“He who fails to seek the Lord in the morning shall not likely find him the rest of the day.”

How did Jesus do it? I can assure you, it was simply his choice to do so. He was not mysteriously infused with a biological clock different to ours that required less sleep. But Jesus also exercised self-discipline. And while that is a word some of us might rather skip over, it is inescapably a quality that should characterize the life of every Christian. Self control is a fruit of the Spirit who works within us (Gal 5:22-23).

Nonetheless, the challenge for us may not be as much in rising early as it is in going to bed early. A simple practice we all would do well to acquire. I believe it was John Wesley who used to say to his evening house guests,

“Gentlemen, it is 10:00 o’clock. Time for all good men to go to bed.”

He literally kicked out his friends so he could go to bed and rise at 4:00 am to pray and enjoy the Lord his God. So, “early to bed, early to rise” is a good practice because we see that Jesus did it. Or at the very lest, he rose early. Also, the Scriptures exhort us to rise early and seek the Lord. But did you also know that studies have shown the following:

1. The sleep we get before midnight is the most beneficial.

2. The most successful and achieving people are early risers.

3. Our most productive time of day physically and mentally is in the early morning hours.

Personally, I love to rise early. But does it come easy for me? No way. Especially if I hit the rack later than prescribed by our wise brother John Wesley. And yet, practically speaking, unless I rise while it is still dark, I can forget about getting quiet time with my Lord. My Biblical studies will be gone with the dawn. Instead, my feet will hit the ground running to the sounds of my children crying, the dings of email filling my inbox, the demands of the day and my ever- growing task list. Behold, I will attempt the day’s journey on an empty tank, with nothing to offer others, let alone to keep myself going.

So let’s learn from our Lord, and follow in his footsteps. Cultivate quiet times alone with God in the mornings, and if 4:00 am is too early for you, find a time in the morning that works (quiet and alone is key) and stick with it. You will find no greater way to be refreshed. You’ll also be amazed at how much you get done and how blessed your day is when it is given over to Jesus first thing.

What do uThink? Does this model work for your daily quiet-time with the LORD? If not, what are the obstacles you face and what alternative do you propose for keeping in fellowship with God? You can post your thoughts in the comment section below, I’d love to hear from you.

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The Vacant Prayer Closet

Posted on March 4, 2010 | 5 comments

I’d like to put something out there to all of you for discussion today. As the title suggests, it has to do with our prayer closet. Not the physical place we go to pray in private, but the practice of prayerful communion with the Lord himself. For the vast majority of Christians, the prayer closet remains a vacant place.

Today as I was sending an email reminder to our church that tomorrow evening is our monthly prayer meeting, I was struck by the discouraging reality of how few people ever come to a prayer meeting. This is not a phenomenon unique to our fellowship, but rather is more of a problem that continues to plague the modern church. And more importantly, I believe, prayerlessness is largely the reason for the ‘sensate’ lives lived by the majority of professing believers in the affluent West.

So, I must ask some questions, which I hope you will help me to answer.

1. Why wouldn’t a Christian, if s/he is truly that, want to pray and commune with the Lord and Savior of his/her soul?

2. Why wouldn’t a true believer find joy and look forward with excitement to the opportunity of locking arms with other brothers and sisters in Christ for a time of corporate prayer together, as we see with the early church in the book of Acts?

3. Is the lack of corporate prayer indicative of a lack of private prayer?

4. Is prayerlessness a sign of carnality, or is it a sign of something else?

5. Do you struggle with private prayer, corporate prayer, or both? If so, why do you think this is the case? If not, what are the reasons you enjoy participating and what would you say to those who do not share your experience?

6. Do you pray and attend prayer meetings because you want to be obedient to the Words of Jesus and the Apostles as they exhort us in the Scriptures, but nonetheless you do it reluctantly? And if so, what is your experience after you have participated? How would you encourage others who struggle to overcome the complacency or resistance of the flesh?

I’ve got many thoughts I would like to share on this, and I hope to encourage more prayer in all our lives, but the topic would become a very large post. Instead, I’ll break it up into segments. In the meantime, rather than ranting from my soap box, I prefer to know what uThink. Click on the ‘comment’ link below, and post your thoughts. Let’s discuss together this most-important topic.

Blessings in Christ to you today and throughout the week!

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Why does the Bible seem to teach opposing doctrines?

Posted on February 15, 2010 | Leave a comment

We all are well aware of the negative effects of tension. It causes headaches,  called tension headaches, because of the sensation of a ‘tight band’ squeezing around the crown of the head. We try to avoid tension in relationships and, generally speaking, in most areas of life. Except of course where tension is necessary, such as a tension bridge. Remove the tension there and disaster will follow. But there is another area in which tension is good and necessary, and that is in the doctrines of the Biblical revelation.

Tension is inherently ‘tense’, and therefore requires our careful attention. Theologically (a convenient way to refer to the study of God), tension is a key element that holds together some of the core Biblical doctrines, while at the same time leaves us scratching our heads in wonder. And for those of us who are Bible teachers, we need to take what we first of all learn as students (a true Bible teacher is a lifelong Bible student), and present it to our listeners in a way that they can digest it.

But this is no small task when dealing with the subject of an infinite God and a finite creation. Why is this so challenging? When two natures, such as God’s and man’s, coexist throughout the written pages of Biblical revelation, you will inevitably face what I call a Biblical dichotomy, the tension between two seemingly incompatible truths. This tension is at the core of major Biblical themes and is absolutely God’s design.

Take for instance God’s sovereignty (Rom 9:15-23; 1 Tim 6:15-16; Rev 4:11) and man’s free will (John 3:14-18; Matt 11:28). We see both in these and many other verses, whether implicitly or explicitly, therefore we must accept both and we had better teach both. How they work together, I do not know. But God does know and we don’t have to understand exactly how they coexist. The fact that they do compels us to be humble before God and responsible for our actions. We accept both truths with all the tension that accompanies them. Hold a preference towards either direction of God’s sovereignty or man’s freewill, and our view will be become imbalanced biblically. The theological bridge will collapse.

Or  how about Christ’s two natures in one person? He was human, having entered our time-space continuum at a certain point in history, (Luke 1:30-31) yet he also existed prior as the eternally divine Son (John 1:1-4; John 17:5). Scripture clearly declares both. This is a great mystery indeed, and has been the subject of debate and the catalyst for many heretical movements. The movements themselves were the result of man’s attempt to remove the tension from one side or the other. So much so that the council at Chalcedon (AD 451) had to address and clarify the church’s position on Christ’s nature and person. And even though the creed that was established at that council continues today to help us talk about Jesus correctly, it does not demystify the incarnation in any way. We are still perplexed in our finite intellect and understanding. Here again, we can only concur with the apostle Paul when he said,

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:

God was manifested in the flesh,

Justified in the Spirit,

Seen by angels,

Preached among the Gentiles,

Believed on in the world,

Received up in glory.” (1Tim. 3:16 NKJV)

One final example of this dichotomy is found in the subject of the kingdom of heaven. It is both present spiritually, and yet to come physically (Matt 16:28; Matt 26:29). The kingdom consists of God’s people now, all true believers everywhere in whom Christ dwells and rules as King (Luke 17:20-21; Col 1:27), but a time also will come when he will establish his kingdom on earth, bringing with him in his glory those very same believers (Matt 24:30; 2 Peter 3:13, 1 Thess 4:15-17).

There are many other examples of seemingly incompatible truths, and in such cases we do our best with the help of the Holy Spirit and the reasoning faculties of our God-given minds. But when still we fail intellectually to reconcile two truths, we must steer away from the temptation to downsize one or overrun the other. For doing so will be to forfeit the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27), and weaken the tension which God has purposefully given in the Biblical accounts (2 Peter 3:15-18) .

At the end of the day, let’s remember we are finite creatures that have received a revelation of, and from, our infinite creator. Some things just need to be left in a balanced tension. The dichotomy cannot be eliminated so long as we have two perspectives and two natures throughout the revelation of the Scripture, God’s and man’s. Indeed, the author of Hebrews seems to acknowledge the presence of this dual-natured fact when he says,

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12 ESV)

Do you notice there is a dividing that takes place as the Word of God cuts into the whole of our being, distinguishing between the physical and spiritual aspects? Therefore, we must be content to lay aside our intellectual pride and put on humility in the garment of faith. With this I do not mean that some revelation goes against reason and therefore we blindly acknowledge it by faith at the cost of reason, but rather that some things transcend reason. And transcending is a different story altogether.

Paul the apostle was perhaps the most generously inspired biblical writer when it comes to giving us the mysteries of God. He himself said,

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”

(1Cor. 13:12 ESV)

If Paul, the messenger of the mysteries, only knew in part, I think we ought to concede that we also only know in part. And until we are in glory, this wont change. Lastly, John the apostle similarly acknowledged his limited knowledge regarding our glorified state when he said,

“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” (1John 3:2 ESV)

In summary, God, who is Spirit, has revealed certain truths to mankind, who is physical. And he has done so the only way we possibly could understand that revelation: through man in human language. Therefore, we need to be careful and resist the temptation of squeezing our theology into a neat system that appeals to our finite intellect alone. We must remember that God and his revelation will by nature transcend our best thinking.

And along these lines, we need to avoid division among the body of Christ over the nonessentials. Countless well-intended men and women have tried to ‘figure it all out’, and consequently been divided over their intellectual conclusions. As a result today, we have many many denominations that take varying positions on certain Biblical doctrines. And worse still, an ever-increasing number of cults. Their very presence is testimony of our inability to package God’s Word in such an airtight system that there is no longer any dispute over any one particular subject. Although this really isn’t the topic of this post, it does help illustration the point I want to make.

Scripture, while its primary message can be aprehended by a child, will always leave the best of scholars standing dumbfounded halfway across the theological ‘tension’ bridge. I don’t know about you, but when I find myself there, rather than trying to take down the bridge, I prefer to stop and enjoy the view.

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Who do you say Jesus was, and why should it matter anyway?

Posted on February 10, 2010 | 3 comments

Let’s face it, Jesus was not a peace activist. On the contrary, he brought division and conflict. This was not his intention, but it was inevitable. In Matthew 10:34 he said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

He didn’t mean he came to cause war, though many have fought them mistakenly in the name of Christ. Clearly, Jesus spoke metaphorically in the verse above. The very nature of his person and his PURPOSE in coming, is what would cut and divide, like a sword. His words were often sharp, and they cut to the heart, bringing pain and exposing the deeper issues of life. That is how truth is, is it not? As the saying goes, “The truth hurts.” Sometimes it cuts when we are trying to avoid it. But the truth about Jesus hurts even more, because it cuts in order to confront the problem of mankind, a problem most would rather pretend is not there. That problem is our sin and unwillingness to be accountable to God for our lives. Now, if my mentioning the word ‘sin’ has jolted you, then I rest my case. The truth hurts, and it even cuts.

What you think of Jesus will most definitely cut like a sword. Either it will cut you off from him, or it will cut you off from those who reject him. Make no mistake about it, the sword will cut and divide. The subject of Jesus simply arouses deep emotions in people. Even if you try to avoid the issue, you can’t. There is no ‘neutral’ ground. You either acknowledge who Jesus is and what he has done, or you don’t. To have no opinion at all about Jesus really is still an opinion. In essence it says, “I don’t think Jesus is important enough to warrant my time or energy to investigate.” Perhaps your view says that what one believes in life really doesn’t matter, as long as one is sincere. I’d like to talk about that view in future posts, and most certainly will bring it up. But for now, let’s get back to the words of Jesus.

In Matthew 16:13, Jesus asked a question to his disciples, “Who do people say that I, the son of man, am? To paraphrase, what are people saying about me? Who do they think I am? Do any have it right, that I am the promised messiah?

The disciples’ response in Matthew 16:14 is very interesting and revealing, “John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets.” First, notice how there were various views about Jesus. At that time, much like today, peoples’ opinions were at conflict with one another. And certainly they all could not have been true. On the contrary, according to Jesus (who had every right to correct false ideas pertaining to himself), all three of these particular ‘ideas’ were wrong. How do we know this? Well, the first obvious reason is that his name was not John or Elijah, but Jesus. And we also know that Jesus did not acknowledge the view that he was just another prophet. But the biggest clue comes to us from Jesus, who asked yet one more question in the next verse, Matthew 16:15, “But who do you say that I am?”

Do you notice how Jesus now makes the question very personal to the disciples? It was not enough to let others have opinions while they carried on with indifference. Settling for the fact that people are divided over the person of Jesus never relinquishes anyone from the need to take a position about him. The disciples had to make a decision for themselves. What did they think of Jesus?

Friend, this is the question we all need to answer. You don’t have to agree with my view, or anyone else’s for that matter, but you do have to agree with your own. What I mean here is that you owe it to yourself to at least have a view. One that is based on fact, and has been formed after careful, personal investigation. If what Jesus said and did is true, then he is the messiah and you need to make a decision as to what you will do with that information. If Jesus was a phony, or a loony, then none of it matters and you can just continue with life as before. But certainly, Jesus made some radical claims, into which we must at the very least investigate.

Notice how the apostle Peter answered the question in Matthew 16:16, “You are the Christ.” With this, Jesus rejoiced. He said in Matthew 16:17, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Did you notice that Jesus acknowledged Peter’s answer, as accurate? Therefore, Jesus claims to be the Christ, or messiah. In future posts, I’ll be sharing more about the messiahship of Jesus. In the mean time, think about and try to answer the question that Jesus asked. Answer it honestly. In spite of what others might be saying, who do you say Jesus is?

Though Jesus mentions the sword in the opening verse of this post, he also spoke of peace and promised it to his followers. But this peace had nothing to do with world peace from military ceasefires and everything to do with mankind and his creator. It is inherently dependent on one’s view of Jesus, for one must come to him for it.

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