Typhoon

As you think of them, please pray for the people on the coast of China who were just nailed with yet another typhoon. This season has caused around 800 deaths and nearly 200 are still missing. Especially pray for the city of Wen Zhou (pronounced roughly One Joe), which has more believers per capita than just about any city in China.

You can read a little bit here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14284650/

It's All Greek to Me

I was Skypin' with my friend, Mark and he related to me a humorous experience with his family.

Wanna hear it? Here it go:

Mark and his two brothers would often congregate at the farm of their late father and the four of them would invariably become engaged in some good ol' Bible conversations. The "Iron sharpening iron" variety. As you would expect among 4 preachers, one of the brothers would hasten to use his knowledge of the original Greek and Hebrew languages to support his hermeneutic and other theological positions. One day this became particularly annoying to the father who found his own arguments utterly untenable in the light of his "ignorance" of Greek. At one point in their discussion, he rose from his chair, went into the adjacent room and returned with a Big Chief tablet and a pencil. Extending the writing pad to his son, he said "Please write for me, 'The rabbit ran down the road'... in Greek." Of course, this son was unable to write the sentence. The wise old man quickly reasoned, "Since you are unable to write even such a simple sentence in Greek, let's just use English."

As Mark would tell it, apparently this method of leveling the playing field worked on more than one Greek "scholar."

Freedom of the Will

After 5 years of Big Red Firewallin,' Blogspot is no longer blocked in C-h-i-n-a. May it continue in peace.

Google on.

Selah

Yeah, buddy!

Brandon and Rena gotta a newbie. Her name is Selah Naomi. She was born on the 7th.

So cute.

The Second Coming of Clark

[high above the city]
Superman: Listen. What do you hear?
Lois Lane: Nothing.
Superman: I hear everything. You wrote that the world doesn't need a savior but everyday I hear people crying for one.

More on Personal Testimonies*

When it comes to presenting the gospel, the number of methodologies is innumerable. There is no shortage of ways to preach, teach and tell the gospel story. The modern methodology is experience. We want to relate "what God has done for me." We tell how "God has changed me." We preach about how we were fanning the flames of hell and then God rescued us. We relate in incredible detail the feelings, the changes, the experience, the blindness, then the light, the personal transformation, the rescue, the voices, the tears and the salvation experience. It is rare to find a gospel presentation (to a non-believer) that does not include an overwhelming personal testimony.

This is for two reasons.

Firstly, the contemporary church suspects that because this is a quote-quote postmodern society, the personal experience serves to validate the gospel message.

Secondly, the contemporary church suspects that the postmodern listener is asking the question, "What will the gospel do for me?" and that this question is inherently personal and experiential.

I believe both to be inadequate. The first assumes that experience lends credibility. The second is based on the assumption that experience lends credibility and then falsely assumes that each believer must have and even demands a certain experience. The inadequacy lies not in the presence of a salvation experience but in the priority given to this experience. Everyone has a testimony. But every testimony must be subordinated to the gospel message; it must not become the gospel nor outshine it.

Consider Paul's personal testimony.

Tribe of Benjamin. Top-dog Pharisee. Gung-ho in Judaism. A man's man (as Jews go.) He hated the Christ, hated the church and hated the message. On his way to Damascus he was knocked off his horse by Jesus himself. Paul came face to face with the resurrected Lord. Other than Paul, only John the Apostle would stand mano y mano with the resurrected Jesus. One was blinded for 3 days, the other was so overtaken by fear that he fell down like a dead man. Paul was caught up to the 3rd heaven. He heard things. After his blindness he was healed and baptized.

I don't know about you, but Paul's story is one boot-rattlin', hardcore testimony. Beats the pants off anything I have heard in recent times.

But notice what Paul does in Acts 9:20, 22, 28.

He runs right out and he....he.... preaches Jesus.

He does not preach Paul's experience. He does not relate his testimony (though Barnabus does.) He preaches Jesus. This is amazing! He has arguably the most awe-inspiring conversion experience ever (though Nebuchadnezzar's ranks up there), and he just preaches Jesus! This puts personal testimonies in perspective. Jesus first. The Gospel first. My story a distant second.

Admittedly, Paul did give his testimony at a later date. Once before the Jewish government and once before Agrippa. Ironically, no one believed his message those days.

Miracles. Signs. Wonders. Experience. They all have their place. But people are saved, not by belief in any such experience, but by belief in the Lord Jesus.

*This is my own conviction. If your experience has been "perpindicular" to mine, then let me know. :) I welcome any thoughts.

Nebuchadnezzar's New Groove

Forgive me, father. I have sinned. It has been 13 days since my last post.

As of late, I have had my nose in Daniel. This week - chapter four. Here are couple of thoughts.
-----

I'll be the first to admit it...I get tired of testimonies. When sitting with some of the bruddas and sistas, my skin gets less than goosey at the "personal testimony" time. I've spent a few years (past) in environments where testimonies were the mainstay of encouragement; where faith was strengthened on the word of one who has been "saved." In theory, the personal testimony is a story of salvation. Of divine provision. Divine rescue. In practice, many personal testimonies are pools of self-pity, ungodly sorrow, and moments of glory in the flesh. It is not uncommon to hear testimonials as long as 30 minutes or more. Full-blown sermons. Sermons, which recount in haunting detail, sinful lifestyles, practices and abuses. And after this cake is baked, you get that sweet icing - "But God rescued me." That's it. I've heard it time and again. 30 minutes of Satan's kingdom and 3 seconds of God's rescue.

I am all for personal testimonies. They have their place...so long as they are just the seasoning on the steak. So long as they give more time to the salvation, provision and love of God. So long as they remember that it is disgraceful to "discuss the deeds done in darkness." The church should be infinitely more encouraged by the testimony of the Christ and His apostles and prophets.

Now that I am done ranting - I love 'Nezzar's testimony in Daniel 4.

King 'Nezzar was a great king. According to Daniel - a king of kings. One of whom all power and dominion had been given. He was a clever man, a great leader and a brilliant king. He was the head of gold in God's vision. But he was proud. Unimpressed (at least for too long) by Daniel's interpretations and Shadrach and co.'s escape from fire, he was driven to insanity. 7 years of alienation. 7 years of embarassment and grazing and dew-dampened clothing.

His testimony is one of the most moving and powerful testimonies in the Writings.

He begins with what should be the beginning of every man's testimony:

King Nebuchadnezzar, To the peoples, nations and men of every language, who live in all the world: It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.

He ends with what should be the ending to every man's testimony:

At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?" At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Go back and read the whole chapter. Its a good one. The salvation of this great Babylonian undoubtedly had profound affect on the conquered world.
-----

If marching through Daniel is too much of a chore for you, :) check out "The Emporer's New Groove."

Hymn Lock

Well, as I am the designated "song leader" in my neck of the woods - I know, don't giggle - I am bustin' out with an all-hymn "song service" this Sunday. This is a great hymn. I love the picture in verse 4. This was written by John Wesley's brother, Charles. He wrote literally thousands. My songbook says Thomas Campbell wrote the tune in 1825. Is this the Thomas Campbell? Anyone know?

And Can It Be That I Should Gain?
Charles Wesley / Thomas Campbell

1. And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior's blood!
Died he for me who caused his pain!
For me who him to death pursued?

Amazing love! How can it be
That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be
That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

2. 'Tis mystery all: th' Immortal dies!
Who can explore his strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

3. He left his Father's throne above
(So free, so infinite his grace!),
Emptied himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race.
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

4. Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray;
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

5. No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in him, is mine;
Alive in him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th' eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th' eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Powerless Church, Powerful Christ

Week after week I stream. Day after day I download. I love to listen to our online church. Its open 24-7. I am thankful for all the self-named ministries that offer free MP3s or a hi-quality wma stream. I am grateful for all the preachers who remind me week after week that last year they had over a million downloads. Yep, I was one or two of those downloaders. There is good preaching out there. Ravi Z. RC Sproul. Mark Driscoll (sometimes). John McArthur. Papa Chuck. John Piper. Rob Bell. Others. All free. Amen to that.

Yet, as we consider the office of the modern Pulpit, we can't help but notice the $. The shiny black cars. The big brass plaques. The well-tailored suits. (Most of the men listed above do not have this personna.) Undoubtedly, some do pursue the Pulpit out of selfish ambition. Some preach because their names are in neon. Others preach because of the second home and the third car. Some preach for the applause of the nation. Some preach because they want to do nothing else.

As Paul said in his letter to the Phillipians, "Some, to be sure, preach out of envy and strife...and selfish ambition rather than pure motives."

But then Paul said something shocking.

"What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed and in this I rejoice. Yes..I will rejoice."

Paul was imprisoned. In more than one way, his hands were tied. Surely he must have had a strong rebuke for those selfish ministers. Surely he had the apostolic rod ready for the back of the envious preacher. But his hands were tied. It was enough for him to get this letter out. And this letter said, "I will rejoice."

Shocking.

Paul's statement teaches two concepts.

One. We know the local body needs to be pure. Selfish ambition and greed are not the qualities of its leaders. 1 Timothy 3. However, the local body is not going to put a stop to all greed. Its not going to put the brakes on all selfish ambition - especially outside of its own fellowship. Where the church can judge itself it should. But where it cannot, it must rejoice. Week after week, weak men proclaim a strong gospel. Week after week, the redeemed flow into the city of God on the powerless preaching of a powerful gospel. Let us rejoice. If we have the power to get the sin out of the camp, then let us do so. If not, then let us trust God.

Two. The power to save is really in the Gospel. Not the man. Not the perfect church. Not the clever message. Its the Gospel. The selfish man may be "talking to the Hand" on the Day of Judgment even while his message has saved hundreds. Amen to that. Praise be to the God who saves people when I talk. Praise be to the Christ who rescues souls even when the kerux-er is steeped in sin. Paul is not rejoicing in what is wrong but what is right. The saving message of Jesus.

Compare Phillipians 1 with Galatians 1.

In Galatians, then so-called brothers were preaching a different "gospel." A non-gospel. Paul said to let them burn. They came with ill-motives and a poor gospel. Let them burn. I dare say, Paul was pissed.

In Phillipians, the gospel of salvation in Christ is intact. Some of the preachers are envious, selfish and greedy but the gospel is the real deal. This is not a Maalox moment for Paul. He rejoices. He doesnt rejoice in the sin but in the salvation of souls. Hey man, at least Christ is being preached.

Some of the blatant self-promotion on the internet is enough to make you lose yesterday's meatloaf. But you know what? I am often encouraged by the messages and apparently (so says one preacher) so are millions of others.

I can't condone a limo and a neon sign but I will stand and say "Praise God" at the preaching of the Gospel of our Savior.

Done rambling.

A Puritan Prayer

I am sorry. I have nothing original to contribute to the blog-pool. And, like Cody, lately I have been down with O.P.P. A couple of days ago I was listening to RC Sproul on the internet. At the end of his lesson a very serious fellow began to read in a most serious fashion ... a Puritan prayer. I was so touched by the prayer that I sat in silence long after the broadcast ended. The next day I Googled "puritan prayers." Take some time to do this yourself.

Here is one.

Holy Lord, I have sinned times without number, and been guilty of pride and unbelief, of failure to find Thy mind in Thy Word, of neglect to seek Thee in my daily life.

My transgressions and short-comings present me with a list of accusations, but I bless Thee that they will not stand against me, for all have been laid on Christ. Go on to subdue my corruptions, and grant me grace to live above them.

Let not the passions of the flesh nor lustings of the mind bring my spirit into subjection, but do Thou rule over me in liberty and power.

I thank Thee that many of my prayers have been refused. I have asked amiss and do not have, I have prayed from lusts and been rejected, I have longed for Egypt and been given a wilderness.

Go on with Thy patient work, answering 'no' to my wrongful prayers, and fitting me to accept it.

Purge me from every false desire, every base aspiration, everything contrary to Thy rule.

I thank Thee for Thy wisdom and Thy love, for all the acts of discipline to which I am subject, for sometimes putting me into the furnace to refine my gold and remove my dross.

No trial is so hard to bear as a sense of sin. If Thou shouldst give me choice to live in pleasure and keep my sins, or to have them burnt away with trial, give me sanctified affliction.

Deliver me from every evil habit, every accretion of former sins, everything that dims the brightness of Thy grace in me, everything that prevents me taking delight in Thee.

Then I shall bless Thee, God, for helping me to be upright.

Enslaved

This old hymn struck me this morning.

Oh! To grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be.
Let that Grace now like a fetter
Bind my wondering heart to Thee!
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it.
Prone to leave the God I love.
Take my heart now. Take and seal it.
Seal it for Thy courts above.

Mean John Thompson

The year was 1996.* And these few words would be the words that would lead to my Humiliation. I still hear their hollow ring in my dreams...

"Sure, I'll take you rock-climbing," John said.

The fact that John's concession was followed by a deep-throated evil laugh, should have warned me. Nonetheless, I was going rock-climbing. My first time. A true virgin. The hills were alive!

Little did we know, on the other side of the two pieces of sheetrock, was a sister with (as I suppose) her ear pressed to the wall. She came around the corner, empty glass in hand, and asked, "Can I go too?"

"Of course," John giggled.

We had company.

So the three of us made a date with our destiny. Caprock.

On the day of my Humiliation, Rochelle, Mean John Thompson and I, all packed inside his less-than-spacious Ford Ranger. "The Silver Bullet," he called it. Aparently John was not a teetotaler. He threw the hundreds of feet of rope, pulleys, 'beaners and harnesses that would be necessary into the bed of the truck and off we went. The sun was high, the wind was low and three of us were about to demonstrate our authority over the Fallen Earth.

Conversation was good on the 6 hour trip to Caprock. We talked of life outside of drugs, alcohol, marriage, Sunset, Slovakia and the U.S. Air Force. Laughter flowed like cheap beer at Happy Hour. All the while, Rochelle sat shotgun, smiling contentedly; no doubt happy just to be in the midst of such godly and yet manly men.

As we approached the actual cliff faces, Mean John Thompson explained that Caprock came from the Old English, meaning: "breaks away at the slightest touch."

"Yet do not fear!," he said under his breath as he unloaded the black, plastic garbage bags and the camping shovel. "I've survived every time," he added.

As John, scouted the first cliff, the other two pack mules carried everything to the base of said cliff. The cliff was high. It was 400 feet up if it was 45.

Now in those days, Mean John Thompson was a physical anomaly. He was not a muscular man, as some count muscular. But his forearms contained a near superhuman strength. I remember as if it were yesterday, how John laughed mockingly at Popeye as he "struggled" to squeeze open the the cans of spinach. John began each day with 10 sets of 20 finger-tip pull-ups. In the university weight room, baseball players would stand with mouths agape as John would wrist-curl the whole stack. He had become a rock-climbing machine.

As my Humiliation neared, John donned one of the harnesses, threw the rope over his right shoulder and started to free climb the Cliff of Insanity. No rope. No safety net. A true free climb. It took him minutes to reach the top, if only because he stopped to comment on the route to his disciples below.

"This is a good spot to shoot for!," he shouted down.

With that, he disappeared over the top. After tying one end of the rope to a tree or rock or small plant, Mean John Thompson threw the other end of the rope over the cliff. He appeared at the edge in what appeared to be a small, red cape and he descended in an instant.

John then gave me the other harness. I was to be first. Not Ladies First. Me. I was first.

Then began my humiliation.

Mean John Thompson explained that the other harness was a gift from his father when he was a small boy. But he told me even though it said "X-Small" on the tag, it should fit me fine. (Now if John is built similar to a stick-man, you might say that my body type is...oh....T-REX. Big legs, little bitty arms.) I struggled for what seemed hours to get even one leg into the child's harness. Meanwhile, Mean John Thompson laughed uproariously. Sometimes he gave encouragement by saying things like, "You look like a balloon animal!" Even Rochelle joined the mockery. However, I could see in her eyes the haunting question, "Will it fit me????"After lunch sometime, I was finally able to get the harness on. I was having some trouble breathing but John said not to worry. After some time, I was also able to pull my shorts through the holes and was not forced to do my first ascent looking like a European sunbather.

Mean John Thompson hooked in and hooked me to the other end of the rope. He told stories of how his Slovakian friends let him almost fall to his death only to tighten the rope at the last second. When he told this story, he had a look in his eye. That evil gleam. At this point, I understood why he brought the trashbags and shovel. I was beginning to have questions about John as the Anchor of my Lifeline.

My humiliation continued.

"Let's test the harness. Stand up straight and lean back on the rope," he said with a smirk. In my ignorance, I complied. When I was leaning all the way back, so that there was no hope for recovery, Mean John Thompson let go of his end. I fell hard. I awoke into consciousness to see John rolling on the ground laughing. Rochelle laughed harder. A tear came to my eye.

After the laughter subsided, Mean John Thompson gave me a few pointers. I started up the sheer face of the cliff. I made good time to the middle. Made a couple of nice transfers and then I stopped. 300 feet. I could go no further. I tried to block out the sounds of John mocking my legs which looked to him like two German sausages attached at one end with a rubberband. I tried. I concentrated. However, with the harness, I was beginning to feel like Lt. Dan.

"I, I, I can't feeeeel my legs, Gump."

Then my legs filled with lactic acid. They began to dance. Uncontrollably - like a the arm of a sewing machine. I couldn't support my weight. I couldn't hang on. I dropped off the cliff. After climbing several hundred feet, I just couldn't make the top.

Humiliation.

With only slightly less trouble than putting it on, I took off the harness. More than once, my comrades got a glimpse of my whitey-tighties. The female finally had to turn around in embarassment.

Humiliation.

But then Rochelle slipped easily into the harness and strapped in. I rebuked Mean John Thompson for pulling that same dirty fall-on-your-butt trick on Rochelle. I rebuked Rochelle for falling for it.

Rochelle started up the hill. She became for me what Larry was to Magic. What Lex was to Clark. What Communist Russia was to Reagan. Competition. Outwardly, I cheered her on. Inwardly, I wished she would fall off the mountain. Alas, she didn't. She finally got to the point where I had stopped. She paused. She was stuck. I cheered inwardly. Outwardly I said, "You can do it Gorbachev...err...um.. Rochelle." And she did. She climbed to the top. I still remember her little smile of victory. I decided at that moment, I would slice her leg open with a knife at Anthony's house.

Humiliation.

All because of Mean John Thompson.

*These events are all true. Not the slightest change has been made in the details. Names have not been changed so as to incriminate the guilty.

Velvet Elvis

A good friend of mine recommended this book to me. Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith. I, in turn, recommend it. Its the kind of book that reads easy. A little too easy in fact. When I was done, I felt like, "That's it?" On the other hand, he deals very well with some of the misconceptions of biblical interpretation and inspiration, church life, discipleship and 1st century Judaism and Christianity. He has a number of excellent points that are simply taught and therefore easily learned. There are times when I felt that his points were not developed enough. He makes few efforts to deal with the obvious counter-arguments. Click on the picture to go to Amazon. Others have posted more in-depth reviews there.

Here are a couple of points he made, among many...

"Somebody asked me the other day why our church doesn't support the arts because we don't have dramas and short-act plays in the services. I realized the question, as with almost every question, goes back to Creation. I don't believe something has to be in a church service to be "for God." As if the only acting that is "for God" is acting in a church service. A church is a community of people who are learning how to be certain kinds of people wherever they find themselves, so they can do whatever is is they do "in the name of the Lord Jesus." The goal isn't to bring everyone's work into the church; the goal is for the chruch to be these unique kinds of people who are transforming the places they live and work and play because they understand the whole earth is filled with the kavod of God. God isn't in one building only. Doing things for God happens all the time, everywhere. If you are an actor, the goal isn't for you to do your work in a church building, in a church service. Please, go wherever it is in the world that people act and do it well. Really well. Throw yourself into it and give it everything you have."
.....

"Missions then is less about the transportation of God from one place to another and more about the identification of a God who is already there."

Arriving

I was at a little market the other day and found this Chris Tomlin CD for the outrageous price of 60 cents. I don't know how it arrived at the market, or why it was being sold so cheap. (Shopping here is like the Homosexual Policy in the U.S. Military - Don't Ask, Don't Tell.) At any rate, I snatched it up like free money and took it home. I'd say its a good listen. Nice praise and worship music. I recommend it for your listening and praising enjoyment. Of course, you will have to pay the truly exhorbitant price of $12.98, but that's not my problem now is it?

Who did Jesus die for?

Let's play Calvinism for awhile.

First read 1 John 2:1-2. Afterwards, I have a few questions.

1. Who/What is Jesus a propitiation for?
2. What does propitiation mean?

Before you listen to my babbling (or as Cody calls it, "pontification"), please answer these questions in your own mind according to the Text or the dictionary...as needs be.

Let's start with question number 2. What is propitiation? According to Easton's:

"...in 1 John 2:2...Christ is called the “propitiation for our sins.” Here a different Greek word is used (hilasmos). Christ is “the propitiation,” because by his becoming our substitute and assuming our obligations he expiated our guilt, covered it, by the vicarious punishment which he endured...."

I'm not sure I want to use the entire Easton definition as yet, simply because it uses the exclusive language "our." Our substitute. Our obligations. Our guilt. So with this information, let's use the more common definition of "atoning sacrifice."

Redemption 101

Jesus is the atoning sacrifice. As was standard in Hebrew Law, a sacrifice was necessary for the expiation of the sins of the people. In those days, various animals were slaughtered. Under the New Covenant, Jesus has become the effective atoning sacrifice for the sins of the people. Jesus was sacrified on the cross. He became for us the Atonement, the Redeemer and the Propitiation. The slaughtered Lamb.

The due wage for sin is death. Beyond the physical death, each sin will be punished by God. Each person not atoned for by the Redeember receives wrath. Divine wrath. Eternal judgment.

However, Jesus Christ died to set aside that wrath. He effectively atoned for the sins of the people. Since Christ is the propitiation, the sins of the people are not taken into account.

End Redemption 101

Now, let's answer the first question. Who/What is Jesus a propitiation for? According to the 1 John 2 and other verses - "not ours only, but the sins of the whole world." Jesus' sacrifice is the propitiation of the sins of the whole world.

Yet...

The world is still going to Hell.

Why? Why are they still under judgment if their account has been settled? Why are they going to the unquenchable fire if Jesus died for their sins? Did Jesus not purchase their salvation at the cross?

We do not believe that the rejectors, unbelievers, idolotors or God-haters are saved. However, we do believe that that our sins "are nailed to the cross." We sing, "old rugged cross..." We know it was at the cross that our atoning sacrifice was made. We were purchased there on those timbers. The death of Christ was effective that Friday. It paid the price. Propitiation was once for all.

Why is the world still going to Hell? Is it their sin? Unbelief? Yes. Because they have rejected the Christ, the Holy One of God, they will face the Holy Wrath of God. They will go to eternal destruction. Were their sins accounted for? No. They were never expiated. The sin remains uncovered.

Atoning sacrifice has always been for those under the Covenant, whether Old or New. It was never meant to account for the sins of those outside of the Covenant.

Sacrifice is powerful and effective. Therefore we must read 1 John 2 in light of the effective power of the cross experience. We do not believe that God has set aside His wrath from the whole world. On the contrary, most of the world will be consumed. To believe otherwise is essentially universalism.

What does "world" mean then?

I won't pontificate too much further. But does "everyone" always mean "everyone?" In Bible class we ask, "Is everyone here?" What we mean is "Is everyone who is supposed to be here, here?" Or someone may say, "Everyone is watching the World Cup." This is common with many inclusive words. Every, everyone, all and world. Does "world" always mean the "whole of the human population?" Sometimes. Sometimes it means, "those not made righteous." Other times it means "the collective nations."

That said, better we redefine "world" rather than "propitiation." :)

Who did Jesus die for? I believe it is biblical to say that Jesus died to redeem His people. He was sacrificed for His people, not only from the Jews, but from every nation. The whole world.

We can use other more ugly words. Jesus died only for the Elect. The Foreknown.

( Now some will ask, "But if Jesus didn't die for everyone then how can everyone have a chance to be saved?" I won't answer this question here, because I don't want to labeled a "5-Pointer." However, let me just say that no person can say, "I want to be saved, I want to believe....but Jesus didn't die for me." Thanks John Piper.)

Please tell me what you think. I need to wrestle with these thoughts some more. Bring the Scripture. There are plenty.

Allow me this last blasphemy:

"To the Calvinists I have become Arminian, to the Arminians I have become Calvinist. I have become all things to all men that I may by all means save some. Just some. "

A Tree Is Known By Its Fruit

Thanks to all my fans for bearing with me through the "Fruit of the Spirit" posts. I know they were challenging reading; what, with all the 1-word sentences and stuff. :) Some of the more observant may have noticed that "Faithfulness" was left off the grocery list. I hope to get around to that Fruit at a later date.

Lately I have been contemplating the idea that "you will know a tree by its fruit." Specifically I have been considering the visible characteristics of fruit. What does the Fruit look like? What does a gentle person look like? A patient man? A peaceful woman? A joyful believer? SELF-control? Goodness?

Paul's list of Fruit in Galatians 5 is not just the cute lyrics of a Sunday School song. The list contains strong indicators of the Spirit-filled, Spirit-led experience. In contrast to the Deeds of the Flesh (which appear to be very specific), Paul uses a "loaded" language filled with extended meaning. We need to understand the Spirit's Fruit is not just the absence of the previously listed fleshly Fruit but the presence of a very real and obviously tangible Spirit Fruit. A visible kindness. A noticeable joy. Paul says "the deeds of the flesh are evident." These indicators of evil are juxtaposed with the indicators of righteousness. They seems to be polar opposites. But they share one commonality - their natures are observable.

As Spirit-indwelled believers, we expect there to be an observable Fruit. So rather than blindly assuming that Love is present, we insist that it be visible. We question the "invisible" Fruit.

We ask these kinds of questions of the Fruit (in this case, love):

What is Spirit Love except a demonstrative love? A love demonstrated in self-less commitment to seeking your neighbor's health, joy, safety and salvation? A love that requires late nights with neighbors? And early mornings with your children? A love that disciplines and cares?

What is love that does not give to the poor and needy? What is love except a Love that does not seek its own time, energy, money, status and affairs? A love that cares to save? Help?

The key question is "What does love look like?" If it is visible, demonstratable and in some way tangible, what does the Fruit look like?

2 Timothy 2.7 :)

Let us strive to live in the Spirit and pray that this Fruit is made visible in our lives. May God never say to us, "You call yourself a Spirit Tree? Where is your Fruit?"

I hope you don't see my questions as merely rhetorical. Give some answers. I'm listening.

The Fruit of the Spirit is...Self-Control

Self control.

Indulgent. Impatient. Broke.

Procrastination.

Tomorrow.

No focus. No discipline. No concentration.

Gorge. Glutton. Eat some more.

ADD. Out of control. Scream!

Dirty movies. Books. Magazines.

Lust.

Irresponsible. Undependable. You can't trust him.

Prayer? Later. Study? Tomorrow. Resolutions?. Next week.

I was made that way.

I cant quit. Can't stop. Can't start.

I am a product of my environment.

I can't control myself.

Lazy. Slothful. Sleep some more.

Let me just rest here a minute, baby.

Just a minute.

The Fruit of the Spirit is...Gentleness

Gentleness.

Combative. Angry. Rage.

Argument. Again.

Road rage. Bitch! Learn to drive.

Boastful. Prideful. Condescending.

Little boy. Little man.

Violent stance. Violent eyes. Cold.

Tantrums. Temper, temper.

Chest to chest. Stare-down. Push. Strike.

Stand up! Pick yourself up! Are you a man?

This is the end.

I am done with you. Weakling.

Rough. Hard. Cactus.

Yell. Scream. Louder.

Complain. Grumble. Grudge.

A bitter grudge.

The Fruit of the Spirit is...Goodness

Goodness.

No good.

Dirty. Secret. Lust.

Dirty, secret act.

Thief.

Liar. Gossip. Bitter woman.

Mocker. Scoffer. Laugh some more.

Filth. Porn.

Closed eyes. Ignorance.

Pervert.

Lawlessness. Once saved. Always lawless.

Cheat. Pilfer. Extort. Got it.

Coveteous. Envious. Jealous.

American Dream. Got it.

One god. Mammon.

Adulterer.

Drunkard. Wife beater.

None are good.

The Fruit of the Spirit is...Kindness

Kindness.

Cold words. Cold shoulders. Distance.

Benevolence? Charity? There is a "closet" at the Church.

Inconsiderate. Rude. Strong.

Kindness? Let's do Random Acts.

Tomorrow.

Not noticed. No nod. No thanks.

He is a mexican. He will just throw it away.

He can work.

Should have wore a condom.

Good ol' boys.

'How ya doin'?

Good, good.

You?

Good, good.'

Good intentions. Good thoughts.

Distraction. Forgetfulness. Apathy.

Hypocrisy.

Cold.