Red Letters over the Red Blood?

I have just begun to read Red Letters: Living a Faith that Bleeds by Tom Davis, president of Children’s HopeChest. I’ll confess that I’ve only read the introduction so far, but I have a few thoughts that should be communicated regarding the premise with which he opens the book: the letters in red (Jesus’ words) point to the red blood (His sacrifice) and, apart from the cross, you have an empty Gospel. What I mean to refer to is this statement from the introduction:

The only gospel worth living is the one that incarnates love. The only gospel worth giving our lives for is the one that elevates the needs of others above our own. that’s what the “good news” is all about (Davis 14).

The reality is, Mr. Davis, that while the Gospel inevitably has social consequences and that all believers are called to fulfill the royal law (James 2) to love our neighbors as ourselves, the social dimensions are not the gospel. The Gospel is the message of redemption: Jesus Christ and Him crucified, for the redemption of all creation, to redeem it from sin and death. In the cross - and only in the cross - can change come to a broken, fallen humanity that is groaning under the groaning and burdening of sin. We must minister to the oppressed, the orphan and widow of our age, and we are obligated to show them Christ in our actions, to redeem their lives, but that is because of the Gospel, not because it is the Gospel. So, I urge you all, brothers and sisters, to focus yourselves on the cross, and then go - bring whoever you can outside the gate to the Cross of Christ - just be sure you equip them for the journey (James 2).

More to come as I continue to read…

Rabbi Jacob Emden’s Appeal to the Christians…

Rabbi Jacob Emden (d. 1776) was a famous Rabbi for his day and is highly regarded in the Orthodox Jewish tradition, particularly among the Chasidic Jews. This epistle, I think is quite a challenge and a revelation that Christians today (like their predecessors in Europe) need to hear. Read this with and open mind and a heart tuned to the Spirit of God, rather than our own “comfort zone” of theology.

Rabbi Jacob Emden’s Letter (Seder Olam Rabbah Vezuta)

Exegesis Sample: Joel 2

Note: When examining, exegetically, the prophets, we must always consider their role as people who urged return to God’s covenant. In that light, part of prophetic exegesis is always the connections with the covenant.

Exegesis Sample: Luke 16

This exegesis deals with what is, arguably, Jesus’ most difficult parable: the parable of the shrewd manager. This sample hear examines the historical and literary contexts of the parable.

Exegesis Sample: Judges 3:12-30

In Judges 3:12-30, I have included an examination of the Literary Style of the book and an “Inside the Passage” section that examines the structure and makeup of the narrative.

Exegesis Sample: Philippians 3:7-16

Note: This new series will demonstrate different aspects of exegesis and how we approach the reading of the Scripture. There are many aspects of exegesis but I have opted to post a sample application (last step) first.

The Millennial Reign of Christ

Note: At the request of Jonathan McCarthy, I have written this post on the traditional, millennial doctrine of the Church (as evidenced by Papias and others of chiliastic persuasion throughout Church History).  This post is not intended as an argument for the doctrine (I have much more exploration to do in the other interpretations before doing so) but a summation of the belief (which is one that I claim).

The doctrine has its roots in Revelation 20:1-7, which provides an excellent description:

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison. (Revelation 20:1-7 ESV)

The first event of the Millennium is the binding of Satan in the abyss.  From the dawn of Creation and until this very day, Satan has been free to roam about the earth (Job 1:7, 1 Peter 5:8).  Such is his lot until the end of the Great Tribulation, those infamous seven years of judgment upon the earth in the Last Days.  After this, with the return of Christ, he is imprisoned in the abyss - but only temporarily.

The second characteristic of the Millennium is the authority of judgment given over to certain believers.  My own personal conviction is that this refers to the Sanhedrin - for the words used here is of the same purpose as the Great Council.  They are joined, not in equality, by those who had received the martyr’s crown.  Christ is not one who will reign with His own Being, but shall reward His faithful servants - those who have been faithful, “even unto death.” (Rev. 3).  These are set apart in the resurrection - being blessed to witness the earthly reign of Christ.

Many Biblical scholars would argue that the Millennial reign of Christ is further detailed in Ezekiel, in the prophecies concerning the Prince of Israel (”my servant David” - Ezekiel 34, 37, 44-46, 48), which concern the territorial allotments of Israel and the re-institution of the Temple worship.  Thus is the prophecy, spoken by the prophets, fulfilled: “My House shall be called a house of prayer for the Nations.”

There are three over-riding themes of this doctrine that pervade it:

1. It is temporary.  The Millennial Reign of Christ is the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel and the completion of every Messianic aspect.  God, in this thousand-year period, shows the power of His peace and rule on the earth.  Yet, it ends.
2. It is peaceful.  The Prince of Peace displays the power of His kingship.  With Satan locked away and the deceptions of the enemy and the demonic forces, at the least, inactive, mankind is given the opportunity to truly blossom and know God’s power.
3. It is literal and physical.  Christ promised a physical appearing and return and in His reign, will be present in His glorified humanity and divinity - the Son of David and the Son of God.  Those who have lost all for the sake of their Lord are rewarded with the physical fellowship of His grace.  Such an honor that has only been granted to a select few in the history of the world!

Eco-Redemption?

The Bishop of London refused to back down on his statement that choosing certain types of transportation, is, in fact, a “symptom of sin.”  The Bishop, the Rt. Reverend Richard Chartres, who is a ranking member of the Church of England, makes these statements on the basis of the denomination’s stance on being environmentally cautious.  While I agree with the Church of England that we are to be good stewards of the world that God has given us, how far that obligation takes us is a matter of debate and it is all too clear that the Bishop has gone too far:

Rick Warren: Antichrist?

Note: This post can also be found at Agent Tim Online.

The famous battle between Rick Warren and the Purpose-Driven “PEACE” Corps and extreme “temple police” like Ingrid Schlueter and the Dombrowski’s is coming to a new front: that of eschatology, or the study of the End Times.  In some posts, Ingrid Schlueter, in referring to Pastor Warren’s trip to North Korea, has either alluded to or made direct reference to a “possibility” that Rick Warren may indeed be the long-dreaded antichrist.

If I Speak in the Tongues…

Note: Since Matt blogged about tongues and prophecy, I figured I’d come out with my own post so he isn’t alone on that one…seeing as most of our blog-associates are cessationist (meaning that they believe spiritual gifts like tongues and prophecy ceased with the time of the Apostles).

We’ll start with a passage in 1 Corinthians 13:8-12:

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 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.

Okay, the first statement is “Love never ends.” Well, of course it doesn’t. As we know from 1 John 4:8, “God is love.” So, obviously, love could never cease to exist. Now for the cessationists rally cry. The passage says that prophecies, tongues, and word of knowledge shall cease. All Christians will agree on that. The disagreement is on when they will no longer be available for use. I believe Paul provides an answer to that in this passage as well. He continues saying that “we know in part” and “prophesy in part” (note he doesn’t mention tongues in that phrase - a very curious lack of mention there). This looks at, primarily, the fact that we have limited knowledge - or otherwise there would be no need for prophecy or word of knowledge. We are finite; we are limited to the things that have been revealed. “But when perfection comes…” After the resurrection of the dead, when our bodies shall be raised up, glorified, and brought into a state of existence that has not existed since the time of Adam - then all shall be complete and accomplished - perfection shall have come. Until that time, however, we are still “at war with our flesh” and our natural and spiritual bodies are not united in following God. Paul continues that in the rest of the passage.

Note the words of Jesus in Mark 16:16-18:

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.

He lists signs that will accompany “those who believe” - not just “those who will lead the believers.” The signs are:

• The casting out of demons
• The gift of tongues
• picking up serpents* (poisonous snakes without harm)
• protection from poison
• supernatural healing

Now, a note should be made that these gifts are not done by man but are done dependent on the will of God. There have been Christians who died of poison or snake bites so it’s not universal. Where it is the will of God, so it will be. This is the same with tongues, as we see in Acts 2:4:

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

They spoke only what the Holy Spirit commanded them to speak - despite the fact they could not understand it. But this begs the question, “Are tongues still around today?” Veritably, YES! After all, why should God, “who knows what you need” cease to give these gifts to His children? I believe there is a firm foundation for these gifts today in the Church. In 1 Corinthians 12:27-31, Paul says:

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

See the progression here? Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Workers of Miracles, Healers, Servants, Administrators, and Speakers of Tongues. An apostle, in the context intended here, is one who plants a Church - who begins new works and congregations. A prophet is one who “builds up the Church” and strengthens it. A teacher is one who continues to give it knowledge and wisdom through the Word of God. Then, there are manifested gifts: miracles, healing, serving, administrating, and tongues. Supernaturally-enabled gifts are placed with the mundane gifts of serving and administrating! If they were “set apart,” then they would not have been listed together with them. Again, “Do all speak with tongues?” No.

Just what are these “higher gifts” that he speaks of? In 1 Corinthians 14:1, Paul provides (yet another) answers:

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

Prophecy, in terms of the cessationist debate, is a more contentious issue than tongues. Why? Because of the charge that by prophesying, believers are adding to the Divine Revelation of God - the Bible. This charge is, I think, being misapplied. After all, God would never reveal anything contrary to His Word or His Will. But let’s think practically for a moment. Let’s say there is a prophecy concerning someone’s illness - that they will be healed (and I’ve seen this done before), it brings hope and joy to them and their family (especially diseases like cancer) and renews their faith and fervent prayer usually follows on their part and on the part of the congregation. Would it have made sense for God to specifically place a prophecy of that particular healing in the Bible? Certainly not, because it doesn’t meet the standard of “universal applicability.” That word applies in that one situation, not “in any and every situation.” That was one of the primary criteria for the acceptance of canon.

This brings me to my next point: if tongues and prophecy were only limited to Apostolic times, then why would so much of Scripture be devoted to discussing them? 1 Corinthians 14 is limited, almost entirely, to tongues and prophecy. As I said, the Bible is meant to apply in every era and every situation and what is written in it applies just as much to the Church today as it did to the Church 1900 years ago. Why wouldn’t it?

I conclude with the words of Paul (1 Corinthians 14:39)”

So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.