In my first post on this topic I said I would write more, and here it is. Today I'd like to think about the Jewish pattern of worship, which has served as a model and basis for Christian church services. Let me say up front that there are a number of things that are different. The gifts of the Spirit were not widely distributed until the Pentecost after the Ascension. Whereas Tongues, Healings, Prophecy and so forth may be regular features of a Christian service today, they were extremely rare in the days before Jesus came. Secondly, whereas Communion is frequently celebrated in Christian churches today, Passover was a feast that occurred once a year. More could be said, but you get the point: the synagogue and Temple services are not identical with the church service.
But let's think about the similarities. Those who have attended a Christian church service can boil down the common format to a couple of categories: worship in the form of singing, reading from the Bible, commentary (sermon/homily) on the passage(s) read, prayers, communion. A number of these features were already established in Jesus' day. If you read the account of Jesus' visit to the Nazareth synagogue in Luke 4, you will find that a Bible passage is read (Isaiah 61:1-2) and Jesus comments on this passage He has just read - i.e. he gives a sermon. From the first God was concerned that His people should know His Word, so He decreed in the Mosaic Law that the Torah should be read to the Israelites every seven years at the Feast of Tabernacles (Deuteronomy 31:9-13).
As for prayers and singing, they were features not only of the synagogue, but also of the Temple, where people made private prayer (Luke 18:9-14) and the Levites sang in formal worship (1 Chronicles 25). Public prayer has long been a feature of Judaism, a beautiful example being Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the Temple, found at 1 Kings 8 and 2 Chronicles 6.
As I've said before, the first Christians were Jews. When they met together, at times after being expelled from their synagogue, they brought some of their patterns and habits with them. This is not to deny that their ways were changed by the teachings of Jesus as passed on by His commissioned Apostles. It is the New Covenant, after all. But this New Covenant is built upon the Old. The Old was, like John the Baptist, the forerunner for Jesus; he prepared the way for the Christ. When you graduate from school to enter the big wide world of experience, you notice the difference between the freedom of this new place compared with the restraint and supervision of your school days. But you don't forget the lessons you learnt there - after all, you were taught these things so you could use them to live well.
Let us be thankful that God used the Jewish people to prepare the way for Messiah and serve as an example for the Church to learn from. 'For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.' (Romans 15:4, NIV.) But if He began our blessing with them, He will also bring it to its conclusion, its maturity, with them. For it is written, 'For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?'
Praise God He is at work among His people Israel. He has broken down the middle wall of separation and made Jew and Gentile one in Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus the Christ.
Shalom al-Yisrael; shalom al-Yerushalaim.
God bless.
Tuesday 30 July 2013
Friday 19 July 2013
The Signs of His Coming
Christ in His famous 'Olivet Discourse' (Matthew 24-25; cf. Mark 13 and Luke 21) commanded His Disciples, 'Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming' (Matthew 24:42, NKJV).
There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly, since no one knows the exact time of His coming, we should be striving to live godly lives and to spread the Gospel to other people.
Life is short: it could end any moment, and when Christ returns He will judge the nations.
Secondly, for those who live through the times that precede His Coming (which in one sense is any time from the Ascension to the Second Coming), there are a number of dangers that they must face, and Christ in His goodness has warned us concerning them. Writers like David Pawson and Joel Richardson have for a long time been reminding Christians that one of the reasons to study eschatology (and Revelation in particular) is that this prepares one for persecution and martyrdom.
The Church throughout its history has been persecuted. In the West we are concerned about laws that prevent us from sharing the Gospel and may cost us our jobs or certain privileges. These are legitimate concerns and certainly amount to the beginning of persecution - we would be blind and foolish to ignore what one friend of mine, applying a verse from Scripture, termed 'the throne of the iniquity of the law'. But let us not forget that in China and the Islamic World Christians are facing the kind of persecution we associate with the Early Church: murder, execution by the state, imprisonment, slander, job-loss, ridicule - the list goes on. I encourage readers to become familiar with groups like Open Doors and to read books about persecution in China and the Islamic world (e.g. Secret Believers or The Heavenly Man). In the time just before Christ returns things will get worse in one form or another almost everywhere. I'm not saying there will be no spots of relative peace, but one shouldn't assume safety - forewarned is forearmed.
Below is a bullet-point list of signs Christ gave us to watch for. Christianity is not about rules and lists, but I thought this format might be useful for easier digestion and memorization.
I hope this is useful as a spur to watchfulness. It might be a good idea to think about each of these signs slowly and bring them before God in prayer - some may seem more relevant than others at this stage, but all will be fulfilled.
God bless.
There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly, since no one knows the exact time of His coming, we should be striving to live godly lives and to spread the Gospel to other people.
Life is short: it could end any moment, and when Christ returns He will judge the nations.
Secondly, for those who live through the times that precede His Coming (which in one sense is any time from the Ascension to the Second Coming), there are a number of dangers that they must face, and Christ in His goodness has warned us concerning them. Writers like David Pawson and Joel Richardson have for a long time been reminding Christians that one of the reasons to study eschatology (and Revelation in particular) is that this prepares one for persecution and martyrdom.
The Church throughout its history has been persecuted. In the West we are concerned about laws that prevent us from sharing the Gospel and may cost us our jobs or certain privileges. These are legitimate concerns and certainly amount to the beginning of persecution - we would be blind and foolish to ignore what one friend of mine, applying a verse from Scripture, termed 'the throne of the iniquity of the law'. But let us not forget that in China and the Islamic World Christians are facing the kind of persecution we associate with the Early Church: murder, execution by the state, imprisonment, slander, job-loss, ridicule - the list goes on. I encourage readers to become familiar with groups like Open Doors and to read books about persecution in China and the Islamic world (e.g. Secret Believers or The Heavenly Man). In the time just before Christ returns things will get worse in one form or another almost everywhere. I'm not saying there will be no spots of relative peace, but one shouldn't assume safety - forewarned is forearmed.
Below is a bullet-point list of signs Christ gave us to watch for. Christianity is not about rules and lists, but I thought this format might be useful for easier digestion and memorization.
- False Christs (including people who claim to literally be Jesus Himself)
- Wars and rumours of wars
- Famines, diseases, earthquakes
- Persecution of Christians
- Betrayal of Christians by other so-called 'Christians'
- False prophets & deceptive miracles
- Lawlessness, anarchy, chaos, violence
- The Abomination of Desolation in Israel
- Sun darkened, moon darkened, stars fall from sky
- Sign of the Son of Man (i.e. the real Jesus Christ)
- Jesus comes on the clouds in all his glory with His angels and saints
I hope this is useful as a spur to watchfulness. It might be a good idea to think about each of these signs slowly and bring them before God in prayer - some may seem more relevant than others at this stage, but all will be fulfilled.
God bless.
Tuesday 16 July 2013
The Reality of Christ's Second Coming
Those who know me well are aware of my interest in eschatology. Indeed, I believe it is an essential part of Christian teaching that deserves time in our study programmes along with other more traditional topics like prayer or living by faith. In today's post I'd like to think about the Second Coming as history.
That's a strange way to describe something still future, isn't it? The reason I use the term 'history' is because I want to emphasize the reality of this event. Sometimes I think we conceive of the Second Coming more as a mythological event than a real one. This is understandable: we do not know when exactly Christ will come, so we might think of His Coming as something that will happen after we die, in which case our perspective will be different anyway. Furthermore, His Coming will be glorious and He will 'restore all things' after the world has been through a terrible time of war, persecution, chaos, and judgement. Life as we know it will be indescribably different after Christ has returned and to some degree just prior to His arrival. Nevertheless, some people will be alive on earth to witness His arrival, and when He does come, far from being removed and ethereal, He will set up a perfect government and will commission His saints to rule on the earth with His authority.
We think of great events of the past as real, despite the fact that we were not alive to witness them. Few people my age would question the reality of Queen Victoria's Coronation or the Battle of Trafalgar, but we aren't even close to those events time-wise. Of course it's difficult to be sure about things still future to us, but Christ has promised that He will come again, and we know He is a man of His word. The historical record affirms that God keeps His promises - you only have to look at the miraculous preservation of the Jews and the Church throughout history to the present day.
In the meantime, how can we strengthen our hope and faith in His Second Coming? We can study His other promises to see how they have been faithfully kept by our Lord and God. We can study the prophetic parts of Scripture that speak of the Second Coming and the time just before it. We can pray. We can watch for the signs that Christ said would precede His arrival - I refer the reader to Matthew 24, otherwise known as the 'Olivet Discourse', as a good starting point.
God bless.
That's a strange way to describe something still future, isn't it? The reason I use the term 'history' is because I want to emphasize the reality of this event. Sometimes I think we conceive of the Second Coming more as a mythological event than a real one. This is understandable: we do not know when exactly Christ will come, so we might think of His Coming as something that will happen after we die, in which case our perspective will be different anyway. Furthermore, His Coming will be glorious and He will 'restore all things' after the world has been through a terrible time of war, persecution, chaos, and judgement. Life as we know it will be indescribably different after Christ has returned and to some degree just prior to His arrival. Nevertheless, some people will be alive on earth to witness His arrival, and when He does come, far from being removed and ethereal, He will set up a perfect government and will commission His saints to rule on the earth with His authority.
We think of great events of the past as real, despite the fact that we were not alive to witness them. Few people my age would question the reality of Queen Victoria's Coronation or the Battle of Trafalgar, but we aren't even close to those events time-wise. Of course it's difficult to be sure about things still future to us, but Christ has promised that He will come again, and we know He is a man of His word. The historical record affirms that God keeps His promises - you only have to look at the miraculous preservation of the Jews and the Church throughout history to the present day.
In the meantime, how can we strengthen our hope and faith in His Second Coming? We can study His other promises to see how they have been faithfully kept by our Lord and God. We can study the prophetic parts of Scripture that speak of the Second Coming and the time just before it. We can pray. We can watch for the signs that Christ said would precede His arrival - I refer the reader to Matthew 24, otherwise known as the 'Olivet Discourse', as a good starting point.
God bless.
Sunday 14 July 2013
The Holy Family
The other day as I was putting away plates in the kitchen a thought struck me: what was it like to live in Joseph and Mary's house? The Bible gives us some information on Jesus' childhood, but nothing like a full biography for the period.
I don't intend to speculate much in this post; rather, I'd like to emphasize the point that when Jesus 'took on flesh' He entered into history and lived a real life, just like you or I. Think about that for a moment. He had conversations with His parents; he talked to His siblings; He helped around the house; He learned Joseph's trade. Jesus is Jehovah God, the Almighty. The Almighty humbled Himself and lived the life of us mortals.
I know we talk about this a lot as Christians, but what struck me on this occasion, this little epiphany, was that Jesus was like us not only in the so-called 'big things', like temptation or suffering, but also in what we consider to be boring or insignificant, the Thursday evenings round the television.
I know that's peculiar language to use, and, of course, they didn't have televisions in those days, but I want to really hammer home this idea. We so often think of the great missionaries or the 'great sinners' as the people with whom Jesus identifies, be it through the Cross, Temptation, Ministry, or Persecution. This is undoubtedly true - but He also knows us as the family people, the quiet people, the 'ordinary' people. There is no part of life that Jesus hasn't touched.
He was, is, and always will be the God-Man. He is our Intercessor, our Great High Priest, the Second Adam. In short, He is the one who became like us because He cares for us.
Amen.
I don't intend to speculate much in this post; rather, I'd like to emphasize the point that when Jesus 'took on flesh' He entered into history and lived a real life, just like you or I. Think about that for a moment. He had conversations with His parents; he talked to His siblings; He helped around the house; He learned Joseph's trade. Jesus is Jehovah God, the Almighty. The Almighty humbled Himself and lived the life of us mortals.
I know we talk about this a lot as Christians, but what struck me on this occasion, this little epiphany, was that Jesus was like us not only in the so-called 'big things', like temptation or suffering, but also in what we consider to be boring or insignificant, the Thursday evenings round the television.
I know that's peculiar language to use, and, of course, they didn't have televisions in those days, but I want to really hammer home this idea. We so often think of the great missionaries or the 'great sinners' as the people with whom Jesus identifies, be it through the Cross, Temptation, Ministry, or Persecution. This is undoubtedly true - but He also knows us as the family people, the quiet people, the 'ordinary' people. There is no part of life that Jesus hasn't touched.
He was, is, and always will be the God-Man. He is our Intercessor, our Great High Priest, the Second Adam. In short, He is the one who became like us because He cares for us.
Amen.
Saturday 13 July 2013
Revenge
Have you noticed yourself getting angry when you see injustice in films and in the news? Does this happen to you often? If so, then this post is for you. To be honest and upfront, I find myself in this situation frequently these days, and I believe it is a matter for prayer. Christians often talk about 'righteous anger' and the difficulty in discerning whether we are experiencing it or not on a given occasion. Why is it difficult to discern whether this is the case? Because, 'The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?' (Jeremiah 17:9, KJV.)
Clearly the matter is tricky. On the one hand, anger at real injustice is a normal and valid reaction. On the other hand, we are guilty of self-deception if we believe we haven't sinned and of hypocrisy if we judge others while continuing to sin ourselves. I suggest, then, that part of the problem, part of what gives it intensity, is an inner, secret recognition of the fact that we ourselves are not perfect. Part of it is to do with patience and acceptance of God's authority in the matter, trusting Him to see that justice is finally met. 'Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.' (Romans 12:19, KJV.)
The Beloved Apostle, John, exhibited anger during the Lord's ministry. Passing through the territory of Samaria, a certain village refused to receive Jesus (though not all - He made many converts among the Samaritans). John and James became angry at this and asked Jesus, 'Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?' (Luke 9:54, ESV.) Jesus' reply was not what they expected: 'You do not know what manner of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man came not to destroy people’s lives but to save them' (Luke 9:55, ESV). It is this same John, who, after years of the Holy Spirit's work in his life, wrote, 'God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.' (1 John 4:16, NIV.)
We'd all like to see justice given on the spot, to see guilty people answer for their crimes, but where would we be then? In this life we'd have anarchy, danger as people carried out vendettas. In the next life, we'd all be in Hell. God is not like that. His Ark of the Covenant contained the Ten Commandments, by which we are all convicted of sin, but it was the Mercy Seat that rested on top. Be comforted: when Christ comes again He will usher in an age of justice. But in the meantime, see yourself in other people - why should they be punished, but you not? Understand your Father in Heaven: 'The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.' (2 Peter 3:9, KJV.)
God bless.
Clearly the matter is tricky. On the one hand, anger at real injustice is a normal and valid reaction. On the other hand, we are guilty of self-deception if we believe we haven't sinned and of hypocrisy if we judge others while continuing to sin ourselves. I suggest, then, that part of the problem, part of what gives it intensity, is an inner, secret recognition of the fact that we ourselves are not perfect. Part of it is to do with patience and acceptance of God's authority in the matter, trusting Him to see that justice is finally met. 'Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.' (Romans 12:19, KJV.)
The Beloved Apostle, John, exhibited anger during the Lord's ministry. Passing through the territory of Samaria, a certain village refused to receive Jesus (though not all - He made many converts among the Samaritans). John and James became angry at this and asked Jesus, 'Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?' (Luke 9:54, ESV.) Jesus' reply was not what they expected: 'You do not know what manner of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man came not to destroy people’s lives but to save them' (Luke 9:55, ESV). It is this same John, who, after years of the Holy Spirit's work in his life, wrote, 'God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.' (1 John 4:16, NIV.)
We'd all like to see justice given on the spot, to see guilty people answer for their crimes, but where would we be then? In this life we'd have anarchy, danger as people carried out vendettas. In the next life, we'd all be in Hell. God is not like that. His Ark of the Covenant contained the Ten Commandments, by which we are all convicted of sin, but it was the Mercy Seat that rested on top. Be comforted: when Christ comes again He will usher in an age of justice. But in the meantime, see yourself in other people - why should they be punished, but you not? Understand your Father in Heaven: 'The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.' (2 Peter 3:9, KJV.)
God bless.
Wednesday 10 July 2013
Why Jesus Came - Part 2
In my last post on this topic I emphasized the importance of Christ's sacrifice from the angle of sin and restoring relations between God and Man. This time I would like to think about Jesus' ministry as a model for Christians to follow.
When Jesus sent out the Twelve to preach the Kingdom of Heaven - I am referring to an occasion some time before His crucifixion - he gave them orders to do what He Himself had been doing: 'Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.' (Matthew 10:8, NKJV.) Some might say that this was a special occasion and does not serve as a model for subsequent generations to follow. Against this I would make two suggestions:
a) What purpose does the passage serve, if it is not a model for Christians to follow?
b) The Book of Acts and Church tradition say that the Disciples/Apostles went on doing these after the Ascension.
Often we want to discuss Jesus as a model for preaching or for reaching out to the marginalized in society. These are, of course, extremely important things and they speak of the Father's character. But we should not be afraid to say that Jesus is also our model for ministry according to the character, power, and grace of the Holy Spirit. Luke 5:17 (NKJV) says, 'Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.' In other words, Jesus healed by the Spirit of God.
Following his Resurrection, Jesus said, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.' (Matthew 28:18, NKJV). His is the 'name that is above all other names' (Philippians 2:9); He has authority to drive out demons, to heal the sick, to raise the dead and forgive sins. He has entrusted His authority to the Church, which serves Him as His Body on earth: He said to Peter, 'And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven', (Matthew 16:19, NKJV), and following His Resurrection He said of his disciples: 'And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.' (Mark 16:17-18, NKJV.)
Jesus is our model for so many things, but let us not forget that He is our model for ministering the miraculous grace of God to the oppressed in whatever form He sees fit. Remember, though, we must stick close to our model as Christ stuck close to His, the Father. Christ said: 'Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner."' (John 5:19, NKJV)
God bless.
When Jesus sent out the Twelve to preach the Kingdom of Heaven - I am referring to an occasion some time before His crucifixion - he gave them orders to do what He Himself had been doing: 'Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.' (Matthew 10:8, NKJV.) Some might say that this was a special occasion and does not serve as a model for subsequent generations to follow. Against this I would make two suggestions:
a) What purpose does the passage serve, if it is not a model for Christians to follow?
b) The Book of Acts and Church tradition say that the Disciples/Apostles went on doing these after the Ascension.
Often we want to discuss Jesus as a model for preaching or for reaching out to the marginalized in society. These are, of course, extremely important things and they speak of the Father's character. But we should not be afraid to say that Jesus is also our model for ministry according to the character, power, and grace of the Holy Spirit. Luke 5:17 (NKJV) says, 'Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.' In other words, Jesus healed by the Spirit of God.
Following his Resurrection, Jesus said, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.' (Matthew 28:18, NKJV). His is the 'name that is above all other names' (Philippians 2:9); He has authority to drive out demons, to heal the sick, to raise the dead and forgive sins. He has entrusted His authority to the Church, which serves Him as His Body on earth: He said to Peter, 'And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven', (Matthew 16:19, NKJV), and following His Resurrection He said of his disciples: 'And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.' (Mark 16:17-18, NKJV.)
Jesus is our model for so many things, but let us not forget that He is our model for ministering the miraculous grace of God to the oppressed in whatever form He sees fit. Remember, though, we must stick close to our model as Christ stuck close to His, the Father. Christ said: 'Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner."' (John 5:19, NKJV)
God bless.
Monday 8 July 2013
Service
The word 'servant' appears to have become unfashionable over the years. The reason may be that it has been used as a way to insult people, as in, 'you're just a servant!' This is extremely problematic for Christians because the Bible contains a very strong ideology of service that we need to understand and apply in our lives. I should say up front that I believe true service comes from the heart and is the work of the Holy Spirit, but a little reflection on the matter will hopefully be beneficial.
One of the counter-intuitive aspects of service is that it means authority. When the master asks his servant to do something, he has given that servant the authority to carry out the task (assuming the content of the order is within the master's own authority). For example, if my master asks me to clean his fireplace and another servant or member of the household comes in and asks me by what right or authority I am doing this, I may legitimately say, 'by my master's authority', and any objection may thus be referred to the master.
The consequence of this is that service also means protection for the servant so long as he acts within framework outlined by his master and the law. This is a very important point to remember: it means that the master is responsible for his servants and that the two parties are bound together. Furthermore, under the Mosaic Law and in the New Testament, believers are exhorted to treat their slaves/servants well, while servants are exhorted to treat their masters with respect, carrying out their duties as if they were done for Christ. (See Leviticus 25:39-46; Deuteronomy 15:12-18; Ephesians 6:5-9; Philemon.)
Thirdly, service is not to be denigrated. It is a humble station. Christ himself said, 'And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’”' (Luke 17:7-10, NKJV.) But if Christ had not taken on the nature of a servant and died on the Cross, we would all be destined for Hell. Christ has made holy and glorious the office of servant - when we truly put the will of God before our own, He values that.
To some extent this is an idealizing account that doesn't always work out this way in practice. Nor is it intended as a defense of slavery: it is right that slavery was abolished in so many parts of the world, and I hope that it is fully stamped out in the near future. Paul himself said that if it is possible for a slave to obtain his freedom, let him do so (1 Corinthians 7:21). But it is good to think about service and authority from a Biblical point of view because it affects so much of the Christian life, from caring for others to how one carries out one's job to exorcism, healing, and the other miracles of the Kingdom of Heaven. I'd like to end with this quotation from Philippians 2:4-11 (KJV):
'Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
One of the counter-intuitive aspects of service is that it means authority. When the master asks his servant to do something, he has given that servant the authority to carry out the task (assuming the content of the order is within the master's own authority). For example, if my master asks me to clean his fireplace and another servant or member of the household comes in and asks me by what right or authority I am doing this, I may legitimately say, 'by my master's authority', and any objection may thus be referred to the master.
The consequence of this is that service also means protection for the servant so long as he acts within framework outlined by his master and the law. This is a very important point to remember: it means that the master is responsible for his servants and that the two parties are bound together. Furthermore, under the Mosaic Law and in the New Testament, believers are exhorted to treat their slaves/servants well, while servants are exhorted to treat their masters with respect, carrying out their duties as if they were done for Christ. (See Leviticus 25:39-46; Deuteronomy 15:12-18; Ephesians 6:5-9; Philemon.)
Thirdly, service is not to be denigrated. It is a humble station. Christ himself said, 'And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’”' (Luke 17:7-10, NKJV.) But if Christ had not taken on the nature of a servant and died on the Cross, we would all be destined for Hell. Christ has made holy and glorious the office of servant - when we truly put the will of God before our own, He values that.
To some extent this is an idealizing account that doesn't always work out this way in practice. Nor is it intended as a defense of slavery: it is right that slavery was abolished in so many parts of the world, and I hope that it is fully stamped out in the near future. Paul himself said that if it is possible for a slave to obtain his freedom, let him do so (1 Corinthians 7:21). But it is good to think about service and authority from a Biblical point of view because it affects so much of the Christian life, from caring for others to how one carries out one's job to exorcism, healing, and the other miracles of the Kingdom of Heaven. I'd like to end with this quotation from Philippians 2:4-11 (KJV):
'Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.'
God bless.
Sunday 7 July 2013
Kingdoms
Jesus said, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.' (John 18:36, NIV.) Challenged by the recent developments in Egypt, many have been asking whether democracy is the best form of government. Furthermore, in Christian circles the role and nature of the Church in connection with government has long been discussed. It's not my intention here to present analysis of current events in the Middle East or to persuade the reader as to what form of government is best - I am still reflecting on these issues. Rather, I would like to highlight a number of factors that affect our assessment of government - be it within the Church or outside it.
1) The psychology of individuals and groups affects the governmental decisions they make. People often remark that 'absolute power corrupts absolutely' and assert that on this basis absolute power should never be entrusted to an individual. But what if the individual were free of sin? Should Jesus be denied His rightful kingship? Clearly in His case absolute power can be entrusted to a single man. A king or a parliament will make good or wicked decisions not simply because they can but because they want to.
2) History furnishes us with examples of kings and democracies and oligarchies functioning both well and badly. People cite Hitler as an example of someone wielding autocratic power with terrible results. Undoubtedly that was true, but we shouldn't forget the advisers who surrounded him or the people who voted for the Nazi party. Admittedly they were never a majority - but they were a significant part of the population. What about Henry VII? When he died he left Britain in an excellent position financially. It was democratic Athens that put Socrates to death.
3) The Bible provides a mixed picture of government for both Israel and the Church. On the one hand, monarchical power was wielded by the Kings; on the other hand, they were advised by elders and priests, whose advice they were free to accept or ignore. In the Church councils were held to decide certain matters (e.g. Acts 15), and it is clear from the Epistles that the Apostles expected their addressees to consider themselves brothers and to work together for each other's good. Christ's words concerning authority are eye-opening, and counter-intuitive from an earthly perspective. 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.' (Matthew 20:25-28, NKJV.)
I think sometimes we make too much fuss about the precise form of government. I am prone to this myself. I can understand why people feel there should be a legal mechanism to prevent rulers from abusing their power. But the danger here is that we overlook the spirit or character of man - law is an external thing, but the heart is what really determines choices.
Below is a list of questions I think it may be more appropriate to ask as an alternative to concerns about 'democracy' and 'freedom' in relation to government and justice.
-Is the government protecting the vulnerable members of society?
-Is the government making sure that the courts are functioning properly?
-Is the government meeting the country's emergency needs (e.g. natural disasters)?
-Are the government's relations with foreign governments healthy? (E.g. avoiding relations with known troublemakers.)
-Are the government's relations with business healthy (e.g. no bribes for granting contracts)?
May God grant you peace where you are in both the state and your heart. God bless.
1) The psychology of individuals and groups affects the governmental decisions they make. People often remark that 'absolute power corrupts absolutely' and assert that on this basis absolute power should never be entrusted to an individual. But what if the individual were free of sin? Should Jesus be denied His rightful kingship? Clearly in His case absolute power can be entrusted to a single man. A king or a parliament will make good or wicked decisions not simply because they can but because they want to.
2) History furnishes us with examples of kings and democracies and oligarchies functioning both well and badly. People cite Hitler as an example of someone wielding autocratic power with terrible results. Undoubtedly that was true, but we shouldn't forget the advisers who surrounded him or the people who voted for the Nazi party. Admittedly they were never a majority - but they were a significant part of the population. What about Henry VII? When he died he left Britain in an excellent position financially. It was democratic Athens that put Socrates to death.
3) The Bible provides a mixed picture of government for both Israel and the Church. On the one hand, monarchical power was wielded by the Kings; on the other hand, they were advised by elders and priests, whose advice they were free to accept or ignore. In the Church councils were held to decide certain matters (e.g. Acts 15), and it is clear from the Epistles that the Apostles expected their addressees to consider themselves brothers and to work together for each other's good. Christ's words concerning authority are eye-opening, and counter-intuitive from an earthly perspective. 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.' (Matthew 20:25-28, NKJV.)
I think sometimes we make too much fuss about the precise form of government. I am prone to this myself. I can understand why people feel there should be a legal mechanism to prevent rulers from abusing their power. But the danger here is that we overlook the spirit or character of man - law is an external thing, but the heart is what really determines choices.
Below is a list of questions I think it may be more appropriate to ask as an alternative to concerns about 'democracy' and 'freedom' in relation to government and justice.
-Is the government protecting the vulnerable members of society?
-Is the government making sure that the courts are functioning properly?
-Is the government meeting the country's emergency needs (e.g. natural disasters)?
-Are the government's relations with foreign governments healthy? (E.g. avoiding relations with known troublemakers.)
-Are the government's relations with business healthy (e.g. no bribes for granting contracts)?
May God grant you peace where you are in both the state and your heart. God bless.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)