Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Kim approaches the table where her friends are gathered. She struggles under the weight of the massive book she is carrying. What treasure does she carry? As she places the tome upon the table, the title is revealed for all to see: Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, edited by John Piper and Wayne Grudem.
I realize it's not merely an article that you can click and read in ten minutes. I read through / skimmed chapter two, which is an overview of issues in question & answer form, and I found it to be interesting. Questions 31 and 32 deal with head coverings. There was another question in there about "women being silent in the church" from the end of 1 Cor 14.
Question 49 asks about how a lay person could ever hope to come to a clear conviction on these questions when so many evangelical scholars disagree. The response is quite interesting.
The table of contents reveals a whole chapter on head coverings, and a whole chapter on women being silent in the church which I will likely read.
So, I know people probably all have their own "goto" teachers whom they respect and look to for insight on tough things. One of mine is Piper. I appreciate his thoroughness, and care to walk people through studying and interpreting the text. So anyway, I won't be offended if your time is spent studying elsewhere (or other topics even). But this resource looks helpful so I'm recommending it =)
Monday, July 27, 2009
Test Your Faith
Something that used to scare my in college has become somewhat of an interesting game I've developed for myself, and I found a site to help share it with the rest of you.
It's a little game where I find books, web sites, or other information that contrasts or challenges my faith directly with pointed questions and read through them. Then, I refute the points. It's something that has strengthened my faith immeasurably as it forces me to look at (sometimes) rational arguments of non-believers and examine them to try and answer them as if I was speaking to a person who believed the thing I am reading.
This website was on another website I was checking out, hiding in an ad off to the side. I just got through the first post, and let me tell you, it is AMAZING the lengths that people will go to to try and disprove Christianity and the Word of God.
I'll just give you my little spoiler for the first one: it's all about prayer, and how the Bible says all over that if you ask for anything in prayer with faith, it shall be given to you. Then they try to go ahead and point out this isn't true, because lots of people pray for a cure for cancer and other such things and those prayers go unanswered. Not only are the missing the entire point about having FAITH, and how just saying that you believe it will happen and ACTUALLY believing it will happen are two different things, but also they take verses right out of context to try and make a point.
Anyway, if anyone wants to go through the list and debunk them with me (and, of course, POST your debunking with it's number), I'd love to see what you guys think. God bless, and happy learning and growing!
It's a little game where I find books, web sites, or other information that contrasts or challenges my faith directly with pointed questions and read through them. Then, I refute the points. It's something that has strengthened my faith immeasurably as it forces me to look at (sometimes) rational arguments of non-believers and examine them to try and answer them as if I was speaking to a person who believed the thing I am reading.
This website was on another website I was checking out, hiding in an ad off to the side. I just got through the first post, and let me tell you, it is AMAZING the lengths that people will go to to try and disprove Christianity and the Word of God.
I'll just give you my little spoiler for the first one: it's all about prayer, and how the Bible says all over that if you ask for anything in prayer with faith, it shall be given to you. Then they try to go ahead and point out this isn't true, because lots of people pray for a cure for cancer and other such things and those prayers go unanswered. Not only are the missing the entire point about having FAITH, and how just saying that you believe it will happen and ACTUALLY believing it will happen are two different things, but also they take verses right out of context to try and make a point.
Anyway, if anyone wants to go through the list and debunk them with me (and, of course, POST your debunking with it's number), I'd love to see what you guys think. God bless, and happy learning and growing!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Knowing Your Election
I wish I'd read this a long time ago. But then, God does seem to put just the right words into our lives at just the right times. This devotional illustrates one of the themes of my spiritual life lately: "Randy, stop trying to be saved, and let Jesus be your Savior."
For we know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen you.
For we know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen you.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Will preborn lives be endangered by healthcare reform?
The following letter is from Focus on the Family:
Dear Friends,
Have you seen the recent media coverage of the healthcare reform legislation Congress is currently considering? You may have many concerns about such a sweeping reform plan from our government, but you may not have heard about the most dangerous part of the plan in terms of the sanctity of life.
The plan currently before Congress will mandate taxpayer-funded abortion coverage. Our analysts here at Focus on the Family® are convinced that the healthcare reform plan--as currently written--would result in the largest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade.
This healthcare reform plan would dramatically increase the number of taxpayer-funded abortions and even mandate abortion coverage by private insurance plans. Even though two recent polls have found that between 63 and 71 percent of Americans support laws that protect tax dollars from being used to fund abortion, so far, Congress has defeated all efforts to ensure abortion coverage is not included in the reform plan. Sadly, we know that increased availability and funding will lead to an increase in the number of abortions.
In addition, the plan does not protect the rights of conscience for medical professionals who would choose not to participate in or perform abortions.
We have prepared a special online video that explains how this legislation effectively reverses more than 30 years of pro-life efforts at the federal and state levels. Will you join us in prayer that legislators will specifically exclude abortion coverage from the plan, as well as include protection for healthcare workers' rights of conscience? Thank you for your prayers in support of preborn babies.
In defense of life,
Tom Minnery
Senior Vice President, Government & Public Policy
Friday, July 17, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Cultural Context
It greatly disturbs me that some people in our Bible study refuse to allow the cultural context of certain passages of scripture to inform their modern day application. This seems to primarily stem from a fear that making allowances for cultural context is a slippery slope that can be used to justify almost anything. In this post I hope to alleviate those fears and explain why cultural context is essential to the understanding of scripture.
First to address the fear that homosexuality can be justified by claiming “cultural differences”: I say, “Baloney.” The problem with virtually all arguments either for or against homosexuality, that I have encountered, is that they rely solely on verses that: 1—are in lists of Old Testament laws that are clearly inapplicable today, 2—are lists of many other sins in addition to “homosexuality,” or 3—use the word “homosexuality” which may or may not be a good translation of the original Greek/Hebrew/Aramaic word in any given context. All these arguments miss the point entirely.
The reason homosexuality is bad is because sex outside of marriage is bad. The reason sex outside of marriage is bad is because sex inside marriage is holy and wonderful and good. So why can’t Christians support laws that would enable homosexuals to get married so their relations can be good? Because in the Bible marriage is implicitly defined as between one man and one woman. And, frankly, here is where centuries of culture, Judeo-Christian and otherwise, are on our side: marriage has always been defined as one man and one woman. Why is that? An interesting subject for someone to explore in another post at another time.
Now on to the necessity of considering culture. As Drs. Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart express in the introduction to their book How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth,
“…we are convinced that the single most serious problem people have with the Bible is not with a lack of understanding, but with the fact that they understand most things too well! The problem with such a text as ‘Do everything without complaining or arguing’ (Phil. 2:14), for example is not with understanding it, but with disobeying it—putting it into practice.”
No orthodox Christian would argue against the ideas that
That said, however, none of us read New Testament Greek, (or Hebrew or Aramaic); nor are we archeologists/anthropologists familiar with the cultures of biblical times. So, in our discussions of any lesser details, for any of us to insist that the text is “obviously” saying anything based on the words in any of the translations we have is ignorant at best, arrogant at worst. As the man who made the “Faithful Bible” translation discovered, the ONLY way to speak with any amount of authority on what this or that word “really means” is to learn the original language in which the text was written.
Until then, I don’t see any choice but to trust scholars who have done that work and commented accordingly. Yes, those who did the translations we read fall into this category. But the very nature of translation means there is not an easy, one-to-one correspondence between words, grammar, sentence structure, etc. “Translators are regularly called upon to make choices regarding meanings,” Fee and Stuart remind us, “and their choices are going to affect how you understand.” (Italics theirs.) This is where multiple translations, “potentially useful footnotes” and commentaries like Randy read from during the 1 Cor. 11 discussion can help clarify what the texts meant/mean. One needs to know what the text meant to the original hearers before one can know what it means today. It often does not appear members of our group respect those scholars nearly as much as they should.
If you disagree with the above, please explain to me why
The Bible was written for us but not to us. Thus, the only way to know what it means today is first to know what it meant back then. It frustrates me that we spend so much time ignorantly/arrogantly debating the “letter of the law” at Bible study instead of brainstorming how the spirit of the text informs how we each can live a life of Christian love in 2009 in Upstate New York.
First to address the fear that homosexuality can be justified by claiming “cultural differences”: I say, “Baloney.” The problem with virtually all arguments either for or against homosexuality, that I have encountered, is that they rely solely on verses that: 1—are in lists of Old Testament laws that are clearly inapplicable today, 2—are lists of many other sins in addition to “homosexuality,” or 3—use the word “homosexuality” which may or may not be a good translation of the original Greek/Hebrew/Aramaic word in any given context. All these arguments miss the point entirely.
The reason homosexuality is bad is because sex outside of marriage is bad. The reason sex outside of marriage is bad is because sex inside marriage is holy and wonderful and good. So why can’t Christians support laws that would enable homosexuals to get married so their relations can be good? Because in the Bible marriage is implicitly defined as between one man and one woman. And, frankly, here is where centuries of culture, Judeo-Christian and otherwise, are on our side: marriage has always been defined as one man and one woman. Why is that? An interesting subject for someone to explore in another post at another time.
Now on to the necessity of considering culture. As Drs. Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart express in the introduction to their book How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth,
“…we are convinced that the single most serious problem people have with the Bible is not with a lack of understanding, but with the fact that they understand most things too well! The problem with such a text as ‘Do everything without complaining or arguing’ (Phil. 2:14), for example is not with understanding it, but with disobeying it—putting it into practice.”
No orthodox Christian would argue against the ideas that
- God is the creator of everything
- humans are created in His image and all fall short of His standard
- we are all in need of a savior
- Jesus Christ of Nazareth is that Savior
- the Holy Spirit is with us to help, guide and comfort us
- the Christian is called to love God and his neighbor, etc. etc.
That said, however, none of us read New Testament Greek, (or Hebrew or Aramaic); nor are we archeologists/anthropologists familiar with the cultures of biblical times. So, in our discussions of any lesser details, for any of us to insist that the text is “obviously” saying anything based on the words in any of the translations we have is ignorant at best, arrogant at worst. As the man who made the “Faithful Bible” translation discovered, the ONLY way to speak with any amount of authority on what this or that word “really means” is to learn the original language in which the text was written.
Until then, I don’t see any choice but to trust scholars who have done that work and commented accordingly. Yes, those who did the translations we read fall into this category. But the very nature of translation means there is not an easy, one-to-one correspondence between words, grammar, sentence structure, etc. “Translators are regularly called upon to make choices regarding meanings,” Fee and Stuart remind us, “and their choices are going to affect how you understand.” (Italics theirs.) This is where multiple translations, “potentially useful footnotes” and commentaries like Randy read from during the 1 Cor. 11 discussion can help clarify what the texts meant/mean. One needs to know what the text meant to the original hearers before one can know what it means today. It often does not appear members of our group respect those scholars nearly as much as they should.
If you disagree with the above, please explain to me why
- we need not greet each other with holy kisses (Rom. 16:16, 1 Cor. 16:20, 2 Cor. 13:12, 1 Thess. 5:26)
- we need not use wine and unleavened bread at communion (even though that is what Christ and the first Christians used, also see 1 Tim. 5:23)
- women need not wear head coverings at church (1 Cor. 11:3-16)
- women may wear gold jewelry, pearls and nice/expensive clothes (1 Tim. 2:9 and 1 Pet. 3:3)
- women may read scriptures during worship services or be on the worship team or teach high-school or adult Sunday school classes or lead adult Bible studies (1 Cor. 14:34, 1 Tim. 2:12)
The Bible was written for us but not to us. Thus, the only way to know what it means today is first to know what it meant back then. It frustrates me that we spend so much time ignorantly/arrogantly debating the “letter of the law” at Bible study instead of brainstorming how the spirit of the text informs how we each can live a life of Christian love in 2009 in Upstate New York.
The Other Side of Something Completely Different
For the sake of balance.
Whenever I agree with something or think my viewpoint is obviously the correct one, I like to see what the other side says. I'd be curious to know if there have been any "scientific studies" of what Canadians really do think of their health care system. Because they obviously don't all view it the same way.
Whenever I agree with something or think my viewpoint is obviously the correct one, I like to see what the other side says. I'd be curious to know if there have been any "scientific studies" of what Canadians really do think of their health care system. Because they obviously don't all view it the same way.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Another Post on Prayer
I must say Josh's post back in June with links to two articles on the Pyro site really messed with me. I forget when I read them exactly but they shook me up so much I decided "What is the point praying if I don't understand what it is/is not and I don't know what to pray about?" Thus it has been at least 2-3 weeks since I have prayed on my own. (I have prayed with Randy, Katy, and ya'll, albeit confusedly and half-heartedly.) The biggest thing is that I am still so tired all the time that to even think about thinking about it all stresses me out so I avoid the topic and the act entirely. Deep down I know that's not good.
So finally today I read a post that was listed in the comments of this article Josh posted previously. It was very refreshing and can be found here. I still haven't prayed because I've been too busy (which I know is a totally lame excuse). But I am encouraged that the times I have heard God speak in a still, small voice have not, in fact, been negated, nor that I am some freak for having these experiences.
I am curious--have any of you heard from God in ways other than scripture? I will say most of the time it IS in scripture that He speaks to me with a still, small voice bringing this or that scripture to mind in response to a plea, question, etc. But when I was debating whether to stop breastfeeding God distinctly said, “Do what you need to to enjoy your daughter.” Not audibly per se. But clear as I’m sitting here. ¿Y tú?
So finally today I read a post that was listed in the comments of this article Josh posted previously. It was very refreshing and can be found here. I still haven't prayed because I've been too busy (which I know is a totally lame excuse). But I am encouraged that the times I have heard God speak in a still, small voice have not, in fact, been negated, nor that I am some freak for having these experiences.
I am curious--have any of you heard from God in ways other than scripture? I will say most of the time it IS in scripture that He speaks to me with a still, small voice bringing this or that scripture to mind in response to a plea, question, etc. But when I was debating whether to stop breastfeeding God distinctly said, “Do what you need to to enjoy your daughter.” Not audibly per se. But clear as I’m sitting here. ¿Y tú?
And Now for Something Completely Different
Here is something that could soon possibly be affecting all of our lives. I know that I have had discussions with Scott about the reach of the government and how far it should intrude into the lives of the American people as far as Biblical principles. Let's hear what you think!
The Problem of Pornography
Here's an excellent article about a subject that I believe most men struggle with. One of the problems with it is that it can be so difficult to discuss that finding solutions to the problem can be impossible to find.
It also brings up the idea of having time for the men and women of our Bible study to get together and talk about issues like this that only other men or women would be able to understand or have to deal with.
It also brings up the idea of having time for the men and women of our Bible study to get together and talk about issues like this that only other men or women would be able to understand or have to deal with.
If you wield your tool on it you profane it
I liked this a lot; it's from today's Truth For Life online devotional.
Truth For Life: If you wield your tool on it you profane it
P.S. I believe when he says, "professors", he means, "professors of faith", i.e. you and me.
Truth For Life: If you wield your tool on it you profane it
P.S. I believe when he says, "professors", he means, "professors of faith", i.e. you and me.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Hope for change: new study on homosexuality
from Focus on the Family:
Dear Friends,
A new report from the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), a group of psychologists, psychotherapists and other health care professionals, is directly challenging the central claims of the pro-gay political movement.
The entire homosexual rights movement has been built upon the politically correct idea that homosexuality is unchangeable. In addition, homosexual activists say that efforts to change unwanted same-sex attraction are damaging.
However, after reviewing more than 100 years of literature, NARTH has found that the research clearly indicates homosexuals can overcome unwanted same-sex attraction, and it is not generally harmful to do so. This new research confirms what the thousands of men and women who have left homosexuality already know: Change is possible.
I encourage you to watch our special online video, in which one of our staff members, Melissa, shares how she overcame homosexuality. In fact, I'd like to highlight our Love Won Out® ministry, which reaches out to those struggling with homosexuality, as well as educates and equips the church and individuals about how to love gay-identified family and friends without compromising biblical truth. For more information about Love Won Out and the conferences we host, please visit their Web site.
Will you join us in prayer that this new report will bring hope to those who are dissatisfied with their same-sex attractions? Thank you for supporting Focus on the Family® as we seek to share a message of hope through the transforming power of Christ's love.
For the family,
Tom Minnery
Senior Vice President, Government & Public Policy
Dear Friends,
A new report from the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), a group of psychologists, psychotherapists and other health care professionals, is directly challenging the central claims of the pro-gay political movement.
The entire homosexual rights movement has been built upon the politically correct idea that homosexuality is unchangeable. In addition, homosexual activists say that efforts to change unwanted same-sex attraction are damaging.
However, after reviewing more than 100 years of literature, NARTH has found that the research clearly indicates homosexuals can overcome unwanted same-sex attraction, and it is not generally harmful to do so. This new research confirms what the thousands of men and women who have left homosexuality already know: Change is possible.
I encourage you to watch our special online video, in which one of our staff members, Melissa, shares how she overcame homosexuality. In fact, I'd like to highlight our Love Won Out® ministry, which reaches out to those struggling with homosexuality, as well as educates and equips the church and individuals about how to love gay-identified family and friends without compromising biblical truth. For more information about Love Won Out and the conferences we host, please visit their Web site.
Will you join us in prayer that this new report will bring hope to those who are dissatisfied with their same-sex attractions? Thank you for supporting Focus on the Family® as we seek to share a message of hope through the transforming power of Christ's love.
For the family,
Tom Minnery
Senior Vice President, Government & Public Policy
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
1 Cor 11 Head Coverings
I'm bummed we missed last week. I sure would have liked to hear what people think about head coverings, as well as eating and drinking judgement to oneself with the Lord's supper.
Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying, disgraces his head. But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying, disgraces her head; for she is one and the same with her whose head is shaved.~ 1 Corinthians 11:4-5
I just went to bible.org to read about head coverings, and found this article: What is the Head Covering in 1 Cor 11:2-16 and Does it Apply to Us Today? It lists the most common positions on this and then writes of each one in turn.
Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord... For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.~ 1 Corinthians 11:27, 30
Now, for all the times I've said "warnings (with consequences) don't really have an effect on me," I'll admit this warning about taking the Lord's supper in an unworthy manner makes me nervous. I'm not aware of doing so, but it makes me want to think about it very carefully. And sickness and death as a result of this - do our churches ever consider, if many of our members are sick or dead, that we may be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord?
I'll probably hit you all up at dinner tonight for a recap on last week.
Friday, July 3, 2009
The ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows.
-- Genesis 41:4
Pharaoh's dream has too often been my waking experience. My days of laziness have ruinously destroyed all that I had achieved in times of zealous endeavor; my seasons of coldness have frozen all the genial glow of my periods of fervency and enthusiasm; and my fits of worldliness have thrown me back from my advances in the divine life. I had need to beware of lean prayers, lean praises, lean duties, and lean experiences, for these will eat up the fat of my comfort and peace.
If I neglect prayer for never so short a time, I lose all the spirituality to which I had attained; if I draw no fresh supplies from heaven, the old corn in my granary is soon consumed by the famine that rages in my soul. When the caterpillars of indifference, the worms of worldliness, and the snares of self-indulgence lay my heart completely desolate and make my soul languish, all my former fruitfulness and growth in grace avails me nothing whatever.
How anxious should I be to have no lean-fleshed days, no ill-favored hours! If every day I journeyed toward the goal of my desires I would soon reach it, but backsliding leaves me still far from the prize of my high calling and robs me of the advances that I had so strenuously made.
The only way in which all my days can be like the fat cows is to feed them in the right meadow, to spend them with the Lord, in His service, in His company, in His fear, and in His way. Why should not every year be richer than the past, in love and usefulness and joy? I am nearer the celestial hills; I have had more experience of my Lord and should be more like Him.
O Lord, keep far from me the curse of leanness of soul; let me not have to bemoan such leanness, but may I be well-fed and nourished in Your house, that I may praise Your name.Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Thank You!
So I was going to write a thank you note to the Bible Study, but then I figured I would post it here for everyone to read.
I just want to say a great big THANK YOU to all of you for the birthday wishes and all the gifts! It was nice to see some of you at my party, and I thank you for coming! It was a great time! The gifts were all very thoughtful...thank you!!
A Hess
I just want to say a great big THANK YOU to all of you for the birthday wishes and all the gifts! It was nice to see some of you at my party, and I thank you for coming! It was a great time! The gifts were all very thoughtful...thank you!!
A Hess
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