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.