Giving up on Perfection 

Why did Jesus tell us to be perfect in Matthew 5:48? We humans do not have the ability to be flawless, yet strangely we gladly criticize shortcomings in others. How then can Jesus expect any mortal human being to be perfect? Does he require the impossible from us? The Greek word translated as perfect is misunderstood in modern English. Jesus was actually telling his disciples to become mature -- full grown -- adults of full age. So, rather than faultless behavior, Jesus suggested that we simply grow up. The context was about loving our enemies. Because we are imperfect, and need grace and mercy, we ought to extend it even to our enemies. Let's grow up and stop condemning others, but rather be like God in heaven. Let's give up on expecting impossible perfection -- in ourselves and others. Let's instead grow up, extending loving mercy and grace, even to our enemies.

Just B'lieve 

I've heard people in and out of the Christian Church make fun of the statement, "Just believe!" Some use the declaration to mock what they call easy-believism or dead faith without works. Non-believers sometimes use the phrase to ridicule what they perceive to be a measure of naivety among Christians in general. Perhaps there is a degree of valid criticism if some Christians use faith as an excuse for laziness or inactivity. However, when the phrase was used by Jesus in Mark 5:36, he was not referring to criteria for eternal life or idleness. He was certainly referring to a circumstance where all possible action seemed to have been taken yet to no avail. The verse refers to the healing of an influential man's daughter when all hope seemed lost. Perhaps for us, when all else has failed, we too need to heed the words, "Don't be afraid, just believe!"

How the Bible describes Itself

Paul described all scripture as "God-breathed" (2 Timothy 3:16). He meant the Old Testament. By faith we also apply that to the New Testament. Biblically, the phrase "word of God" narrowly describes a quote from God, and broadly the message about God, the Gospel. The Bible does not describe Genesis-Revelation as the word of God. By faith we call the Bible the word of God. Jesus also called God's word truth (John 17:17). However, he specifically referred to the message that he passed on from our Father in heaven. By faith, we call the entire Bible truth, believing that it also came from God through humans. Is it inerrant truth? The word inerrant is a counter-cultural argument, a negative way of saying truth, but applies only in theory to the original manuscripts which we don't have. Biblically and by faith we believe the Bible is "God-breathed" and "truth."

Overcoming Depression 

Our state contains 600 violent gangs and 10,000 gang members. No, this is not South Africa or Baghdad, but the beautiful US state of Maryland. I could get very depressed about all this or I could look on the positive. No matter where we live in this world there will always be something negative which we could focus on: the decades long drought in Australia, the Russian mafia infiltrating Europe, or global warming drowning Pacific island nations. After all the medicine is gone and we are still faced with a troubled world, how do we cope in an age where there seems to be no hope? Psychologists tell us that we must re-train our thinking and develop a positive mental attitude. Call it what you will, it is not new medicine but an idea at least as old as Paul's encouragement to an ancient Greek church (Philippians 4:8).

Focusing on the Positive 

A dichotomy is two opposites that contradict each other. For instance, when God created all things, he said it was very good. So, some say that human nature (as created) is good. On the other hand, Jesus said that there is no one good, and so others say that human nature is evil. What is true? Both are true. Humanity is a contradictory mix of good and evil. What does God focus on? Even though all sin quite regularly, if we have repented and chosen Christ, God no longer calls us sinners, but his special treasure. What should we focus on? Paul tells us in Philippians 4:8 to fill our minds with "things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse." (the Message) Let's be positive rather than negative Christians. Let's fill our minds with good.

We all Fail

We cannot save ourselves from failure. Very few seem to understand that, as we mercilessly criticize national leaders or harshly judge each other in daily life. Somehow as we look at ancient Israel's miserable record of failing the test in the wilderness, we seem not to see ourselves in the same light. Yet, there is only one who was tested in the wilderness and passed (Luke 4:1-13). A survey on a recent TV show asked how many of the Ten Commandments that people had broken the past week. The most common answer was one, indicating a total lack of self-understanding among a majority. We all have the same problem and so Jesus had to point out that if we have thought it, it is the same thing. So, we break all Ten Commandments regularly. We humans are incapable of saving ourselves from our failures. That's why Jesus is Savior.

Passing the Test

When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13), the Greek sense is that of a test. In academics, a person who supervises a test is called a proctor. Jesus was severely tested in three major areas, by an adversarial proctor. The tester was an antagonist whose purpose was to try and make Jesus fail. His test was not on doctrine by itself, but certainly on the implications of doctrine. Theologians would say that his test was not on orthodoxy (right teaching) but on orthopraxy (right practice). However, right teaching was at the root of what Jesus chose to do. As he said no to a series of three temptations, his answer was always grounded in a deep understanding of God's will as taught in the Hebrew Scriptures.What about us? As the proctor of life's temptations confronts us, how well prepared are we to pass the test?

Saying no to Temptation

Temptation to do things which destroy our health, marriage, family, reputation, existence enters our lives daily. We all fail in our minds, but woe to those who fail in action. How many careers have been ruined by one senseless act? How many marriages are destroyed by yielding to one moment? How many reputations are ruined by one careless deed? How many lives have been lost by one angry incident on the road? When Jesus was tempted (Luke 4:1-13), the battle was not just for the success of his ministry, but for the lives of all humanity. Too many of us fail when tempted by food or power. We also fail by tempting God. How many families, businesses, nations have been damaged because we failed to say no to temptation. When we do say no to temptation, in small and great things then we truly become masters of our own lives.

An Encouraging Glimpse of Death

When we think of death, we may consider pain, unpreparedness, mystery, dreadful thoughts or in some cases, relief. Athiests only speak of a rather hopeless end. When Peter, James and John were on the mount of transfiguration in Luke 9:28-43 they witnessed Moses and Elijah speaking with Jesus of his then future death, resurrection and ascension. They did not speak of it in terms that we may use in everyday modern speech, and they certainly did not call it an end. Rather they used the Greek word for Exodus, which some Bibles suitably translate as "departure." Now that presents a more interesting picture of death than popular ideas may. Certainly, it is Jesus' death and some may argue not ours. Yet, there were two others with Jesus who had likewise experienced an "exodus" from this life. They were very much alive and living in brilliant glory. That is wonderfully encouraging!

Mountaintops and Failures

As the disciples of Jesus descended from the mountain of transfiguration, they encountered their own failures. They were unsuccessful in service to a mentally ill child. The embarrassing moment is found in Luke 9:28-43 and it reminds us of our failures too. Whenever we try to help others, we will also fail many times. The road to success is riddled with failures. Many bosses would utter that famous line, "You're fired!" But this is God's kingdom and even though Jesus is quite blunt with everyone, "Oh, unbelieving and perverse generation," he does not give up on his disciples. Stern lessons are opportunities, not a reason to quit. The mountain top experience does not remove from us the harshness of life, but it helps us see what is beyond. One of life's greatest lessons is that human efforts will end in failure. That's why we look to Jesus to save us.

Interrupting God

Life is full of interruptions. Sometimes we do the interrupting, instead of listening. Some people talk too much. Some people don't talk enough. However, when it comes to listening, those who don't talk enough have the advantage. Peter interrupted events on the mount of transfiguration with what seemed to be an inane and pointless suggestion. I think that we all can relate to that. At this point, God interrupted Peter, not immediately with words, but first of all with an event. Luke 9:28-43 reveals how fog clouded his ability to see what was going on and then God told him to listen to Jesus. Do we have a tendency to interrupt God, telling him how we think things ought to be run, rather than just listening to him? Has God seemed to place our lives in a fog trying to teach us to listen more to him and talk less?

Mountain Top Experiences

In Luke 9:28-43 is a mountain top experience that teaches us a variety of good lessons. Here we see Jesus transfigured in what Matthew calls a vision, discussing his eventual exodus from this world. Immediately we may think of Moses' mountain top experience after Israel's exodus from slavery, where he encountered God. However, here it discusses a different mount, a hillside where Jesus would be crucified. A mountain top experience may be not only a pleasant one, but also sobering preparation for self-sacrifice. Luke also connects the mountain top experience with the lesson in the valley which follows. Unlike the exaggerated promises made by some preachers, a mountain top experience will not shelter us from reality. It will however, strengthen us to face the valleys of life. A mountain top experience can be wonderful as a preparation for the next hill of self-sacrifice and the next valley of selfless service.

Who will Defend my Human Rights

I am little, a small inconvenient life. I am not welcome in my own family. I cannot defend myself against those who defile my human rights as they abuse me and trash my tiny life like useless garbage. You can sometimes hear my cry as I am brutally separated from my mother who does not even help me. Why does this society classify those that it considers to be an inconvenience as not completely human, as it once did the black slave? My life was destroyed before my own mother could hold me. In fact it was she who decided to end my life. They call me just a fetus and I need somebody to speak up for my human rights. Jesus was inconvenient too and they killed him just like they do me. Surely Paul was right when he called this a brutal, savage society (2 Timothy 3:2-4).

Paul's Accommodating Christianity

In Romans 14 Paul the Apostle appealed to an accommodating and tolerant Christianity in regard to non-essentials like the days we worship on or the foods we consume. He was not encouraging the approval of unhealthy heresies, but what most Christians believe was the acceptance of personal choice in worship days and dietary differences. A great success of Nicea was a compromise document, the Nicene Creed, which unified very diverse factions of the ancient Christian Church. A great failure of Nicea was the total reversal of Paul's tolerance for differences of opinion on lesser matters to a more authoritarian, heavy-handed approach. Sadly, rather than return to Paul's accommodating Christianity, many Protestant churches have adopted Nicene intolerance on this and other non-essential issues. Perhaps it is time that we consider a return to a Pauline model that was more gracious and accepting of diversity in non-essential areas of our common faith.

Things not in the Bible

We Protestants believe in sola scriptura -- the "Bible alone" for doctrine. Are those words in the Bible? What about the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds? They are not Bible quotes. Is the Bible errant because it does not even contain the word inerrant? The word Trinity is not there, but for most of us that is an easy one. The idea of Father, Son and Holy Spirit in unity is there. Did you also know that there is not one single verse in the Bible which describes Genesis to Revelation as "the word of God?" There is an explanation. Oh, and prayers to Saints or infallibility? Sorry -- not a mention. So, I hear you protesting, aren't the concepts there? Perhaps some of them, but which ones? Are we thinking or brainwashed Christians? Do we love God only with our hearts and souls or also with our minds? (Matthew 22:37)

When Jesus Ignores Us

When Peter witnessed the Transfiguration, he blurted out a rather odd request to fashion some temporary shelters for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Luke 9:28-36 records no reply from Jesus at all, but a cloud covering the scene and God saying, "This is my Son, my chosen one. Listen to him!" There are a number of theories as to what Peter's request was all about. Some suggest that an Old Testament prophecy picturing the kingdom of God like the Feast of Tabernacles prompted him to build booths. Some translations suggest that Peter wanted to erect memorials for the occasion. Others take it at face value as a mundane proposal to provide shelters from the weather. One thing that is clear is that Peter's request was totally irrelevant and seems to have been unanswered. Perhaps when God seems to ignore us, we too need to just be silent and listen to Jesus.

Force-Fed Faith

Wherever we go to church we may find God at work, but also a number of human beings coercing, nudging or downright forcing others to believe the Bible just like them. Sometimes churches attempt to pressurize others into tongues, avoiding alcohol, tithing, enthusiastically singing music they don't like, wearing a particular style of clothing, calling everyone brother this or sister that, or believing in denominationally "approved" teachings and dogmas of our faith. I dream of a church where Christians of different points of view fellowship in mutual respect and treat each other as equals. I believe that was what Paul was trying to accomplish among the diverse opinions regarding days in Romans 14:1-6. I also like the way Matthew Henry describes the philsophy behind the verse: "Compelled assent to any doctrine, or conformity to outward observances without being convinced, would be hypocritical and of no avail." (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary)

Glimpse of Life after Death

The last word about Moses as a person in the Old Testament leaves him in the grave. But what happened to him; what happens to us after that? The New Testament delivers a glimpse of Jesus transfigured and talking with Moses and Elijah. Soul sleepers are those who believe that the spiritual component of a human being is "asleep" until the return of Christ, yet that theory does not quite fit the story found in Luke 9:28-36. This is a vision, but it is not a vision of a future resurrection. They spoke of what was to take place at that time not in the future. There is no basis in the context for that theory. Most Christians take the verses at face value and do not even try and retrofit them to a half-baked notion. On face value, it is an interesting and encouraging glimpse of life after death.

Rejection

Why did Jesus reject a formerly mentally ill man from going with him? The story is in Mark 5:18-20 and it is a great object lesson for us. As we see our earnest requests declined at times, it is obvious that many of us do not handle rejection well. Our focus is on the desired result and we have not given thought to alternatives. The man now healed of his demons, showed remarkable mental health as he faced rejection. Instead of getting upset, he focused on the alternative suggestion made by Jesus. It was not his place to be one of the twelve, but his calling was to go and tell "everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been." We too are given a similar assignment. What has God done for us? Can we start with life, breath and health? How merciful has God been?

Hermeneutics & Exegesis

A Christian in a healthy church may eventually run across these two words. Some will dismiss them as just for theologians to understand. Cults avoid them because these tools expose their false doctrines. Those who really wish to explore the Bible will desire to become proficient in both. Hermeneutics involves methods of proper Bible study and exegesis is the result. Some may say that the Holy Spirit leads me into all truth (John16:13), and therefore I don't need anyone else. The truth is that he illuminates the Scriptures to the whole church and not just a corner. So, if our interpretation is very different, perhaps we may need to take a second look. We don't have to become proficient in Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin and German to become good Bible students. We have tools available to us from those who are experts: commentaries. The best commentaries go into great detail.

Why God Allows Evil

Why did Jesus allow Legion his way? The story is told in Mark 5 where Jesus confronted the demons in an insane man. They asked his permission to enter a herd of 2,000 swine. Knowing the destructive potential of evil, why did Jesus allow it? The issue is broader than this event. It begs the question as to why God allows evil at all. God has given us freedom to choose. He does not revoke that decision even if we choose incorrectly. The destruction of a very large swine herd is an object lesson of the ultimate purposes of evil. Those who let it possess them are also allowing something into their lives that is disposed to destroying them. God allows evil in this world for now, not because he enjoys it, but because he hopes that we will learn not to choose it forever.