Opus 2026-287: Running Out of Cheeks, Part 4 of 5, Resistance

We all know the verse from the Sermon on the Mount which seems to go even deeper than turning the other cheek.

(Mat 5:39 KJV)  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

This seems pretty clear if you isolate it and take it literally, but notice the previous verse,

(Mat 5:38 KJV)  Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

It would seem that this is not a blanket statement about letting evil have its way but instead personal revenge.  This is another one of those places where we get different instructions at different places and we need to put them together to understand what it means.

Lets take a look at the word “resist” in verse 39.

It is of no significance but this Greek word is where we get the medical term antihistamine.  I doubt if God meant it this way but I find it interesting that histamines are substances that cause allergies and other irritations in the body.  If I would preaching I would make an aside that we are not to respond to petty issues, but I am not preaching.

The word is used in 12 verses in the New Testament.  Four of them are of interest in trying to find a Biblical understanding of what Jesus is saying.

First we have Paul resisting Peter.

(Gal 2:11 KJV)  But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

“Withstood” is our word.  I would not say that Peter was evil but he was certainly going against Paul.  Paul did not turn the other cheek.  There was an important spiritual principle involved.

Paul continues to use the word,

(Eph 6:13 KJV)  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Again, “withstand” is the word we are looking at.  In this case it is a command to resist and “evil” is the same Greek word Jesus used.  Evidently there are times when it is expected that we are prepared to resist.

Then we have a well known verse,

(Jas 4:7 KJV)  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

How many times have you been told to resist the devil.  It seems like good advice.

And then Peter chimes in,

(1Pe 5:9 KJV)  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

To be concluded...

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-284: Running Out of Cheeks, Part 1 of 5, The Easy Mark

What happens after you turn the other cheek?  I don’t know about you but I am running out of cheeks to turn.  I want to take a look at how we as Christians should be responding to the trends in society.

I was taught early on to turn the other cheek.

(Mat 5:39 KJV)  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

As a child I tried to live by that.  It seemed to resonate with my personality and someone evidently laid it on heavy at a receptive moment.  Most of the time it worked well but there was a period in elementary school that it made my life miserable.  I was one of those kids who experienced ongoing bullying from a boy who had been held back several years, wasn’t the brightest on the block and knew an easy mark when he saw one.  I endured hell for a couple of years until one day I had had enough.

I pushed him back.  We had a “fight”. At this age it was not too dramatic.  We pushed and shoved.  Somehow we ended up wrestling on the ground.  No blood.  No bruises.  I don’t remember how it was resolved but I know one thing:  He never bothered me again.

Too often we are given one side of a complex issue and instructed to internalize it as normal in all situations.

To be continued...

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-230: Fullfillment

One of the key concepts we find in scripture about the mission of Jesus is,

Matthew 5:17 (KJV) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Most of the comments I hear on this have to do with contrasting law to faith but I don’t think that is the point at all.  It certainly isn’t the point Jesus was making.

We see a similar statement in Luke.  Was Jesus saying He had fulfilled this already?  Notice that Matthew is speaking about the early ministry of Jesus and Luke is dealing with the last moment.

Luke 24:44 (KJV) And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

I find it interesting that He spoke of fulfilling things that we don’t think of fulfilling.  Prophecy, sure, but how do you fulfill a law?  You can keep a law or obey a law but fulfill?  We see some possible misunderstanding.

I also look to the words of Jesus on the cross when He called out,

(Joh 19:30 KJV)  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Was Jesus saying He had fulfilled this already?

Paul talks about the Law being fulfilled,

Romans 8:4 (KJV) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

And,

Romans 13:8 (KJV) Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Perhaps one of the keys is when it talks about “the law” as opposed to laws.  Are the two expressions the same?  On the surface we see the same word but that does not mean that Jesus and Paul have the same concept in mind.

My current understanding is that Jesus fulfilled all of the purposes of the law and prophets when He shed His blood on the cross.  That moment was the focal point of all human history.  It was the purpose that God implied to Abraham when He spoke of blessing all nations.  My view makes it difficult for those who have glorious eschatological charts that need to be endorsed.

Israel was chosen by God.  It’s whole purpose was to supply an earthly setting for the redemption that came through Jesus.  God still loves them.  They are invited to believe in Jesus as the Messiah.  They are not the cutting edge any more.

homo unius libri

Opus 2026-203: Monday Pulpit: A Worship Hack

I try to listen. I really do, but my mind keeps asking questions. Like for instance, here is the text for Sunday’s sermon,

Matthew 5:17-19 (KJV) 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

It became obvious very quickly that his topic was “Hell”.

Now comes my question, “How do you get a sermon on hell from this text?” The closest you can come is being “least in the kingdom of heaven” but that was not the route. What am I to do?

I apply a worship hack.

I start writing down all the scriptures that are referred to. Sometimes it is hard to keep up but I do my best. If he lingers long enough I try to hear what he is saying or at least consider the scripture offered. The long term pay off is that I have a list of scriptures to consider during my worship time that week. That often delivers gold.

I am not a good listener. I tend to be too critical. The way I am dealing with that is trying to focus on what I cannot criticize. It usually lasts all week.

homo unius libri

Opus 2025-351: Salt of the Earth

Jesus had something to say about the advice of our modern health gurus.

(Mat 5:13 KJV)  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Good or bad?

To the Romans salt was a valuable commodity.  At times it was part of the soldiers’ pay.  They also would salt the Earth in order to make it unusable by the conquered city.

So many things in life are dependent on how they are used and the attitude of the user.  A car is an instrument of freedom or a killing machine.  The internet is a road to the world of knowledge and skills.  It is also a source of evil and perversion.  When my wife is having an emergency and needs to get hold of me or I am lost in a strange town, my phone is a life saver, sometimes literally.  When I am at dinner with friends it can neutralize relationships.

We need to practice that repulsive behavior:  Responsibility.  We need to learn to accept blame for our failures and admit our mistakes.  Possibly even more important we need to seek change within ourselves.  Even at my age there are time when I need to grow up.

Join me on the journey.  We can put away our phones and neuter our excuses and make our worlds a happier place.

homo unius libri

Opus 2024-342: Election 2024: A Corner on Hope

In just a few weeks, we will have another national election.  We’ve done this many times before.  We’ve had a lot of anger and hostility before.  We’ve had division before.  I was just reading about the hostility between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, it was very real, very deep and bitter.  The country survived.

You can go down through our history and see many occasions like this.  If you have access to any of the sites that look at the attacks on Abraham Lincoln in the press and in any other way of communication, you could almost substitute Donald Trump and see the same types of things.  All of this is nothing new in American politics.

So what is different this time?

The difference used to be on numerous corners in every town.  It used to be that everywhere you drove you would see church steeples, and those church steeples would represent the attitudes of the people who lived in that area.  The odds were those steeples would represent churches that were full of people that actually believe what the Bible said, and who had their hope resting in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  They were called the salt of the Earth.  They were never a majority but they were a significant segment.

What happens to a country when its salt loses its savor?  I’m sure you are familiar with at least part of this verse,

Matthew 5:13 (KJV) Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

It is perfectly clear to anyone who is serious about serving Jesus that the church has lost its savor, or savour as the KJV would put it.  That doesn’t mean there isn’t any life in the old girl yet but it does mean that it has lost the influence that it had.  That influence is vital in the coming election.  And it’s not just a matter of Christians not voting.  It’s a matter of so many people who call themselves Christians ignoring what they believe when they vote.  They have allow themselves to be brainwashed by the anti-God forces in our culture.  Many of those forces are in charge of the denominations of the churches they attend.  The recent action in the United Methodist Church is a good example of how the so-called churches have abandoned the standards of God.

There is still hope.  And that hope is in you if you acknowledge Jesus Christ is Lord.  Can you see if you acknowledge Jesus as Lord then that means that you are a part of that group of people that are called by His name.  At this point, let me bring forth a verse, which is so often quoted and quoted incorrectly.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

This is a message of hope.  But you need to understand that hope which is in Almighty God is dependent upon a small group of people, the ones who are “called by My name”.  Now this originally applied to Israel.  It still applies to Israel in specifics, but the principle applies to the church today.

It’s not going to do any good if people who deny God call upon his name.  It won’t do them any good to pray.  God is not listening to the prayers of his enemies.

If the country is to be saved, we need to vote, yes.  We need to pray, yes.  But above all that small group of people who are still faithful need to focus on turning from their wicked ways, and calling upon God.

The country can be pulled out of its nose dive.  It can be pulled out of his nose dive no matter who wins the election.  The key is being salt, and pepper has never been able to replace salt.

So vote. Pray. But above all turn from your wicked ways. The country is counting on you.

homo unius libri

Opus 2024-262: Noah Law

According to the apostle Paul, the purpose of the law was to show us what righteousness was, and what sin was.

(Rom 3:31 KJV)  Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

(Rom 7:7 KJV)  What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

This is in the middle of a long discussion of the law.  I am simplifying so don’t take this to the bank as a proof text.

Now, hold that thought and go back to the time of Noah, in Genesis 6.  This is centuries before Moses was given the law.  Technically there was no law to break.  Ask yourself how was mankind being judged as evil if there was no law by which to measure?  How can people be judged by God if they don’t know what is the difference between right and wrong?

I think my conclusion would be that people and their inner man make a decision which direction they’re going to go.  You see this kind of thinking all through Psalms and Proverbs, two books I am currently spending more time reading than any other part of the Bible.  I realize they are written after God gave the law to Moses and before the sending of the Holy Spirit but I find verses like this,

(Pro 4:16 KJV)  For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

This is more than original sin or the sinful nature.  This is a conscious decision to embrace evil and advance it.  This is bigger than the law.

When we talk about law there are two important statements that must be considered.  The first was the statement of Jesus when he said that he did not come to do away with the law, but to fulfill the law.

(Mat 5:17 KJV)  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

The second, mentioned earlier, was when Paul told us that the law was there to show us the boundaries, but that we were not saved my following that law.

If you put these together, it makes you wonder if the concept of fulfilling the law means that the laws are now moving from being legalistic statutes to being moral principles.

Recently when I was on a road trip I drove through some mountainous terrain.  I was not on the Interstate so the pavement followed the contour of the ground along the path that the cows used to travel to get back to the barn.  The road was probably first paved when Model T’s were the common mode of transportation.  They were graded flat.  Some wise person who did little driving decided that the curve required a 35 MPH speed limit and put up a sign to enforce it.  At the time it made sense:  Marginal grading, slippery surfaces, poor suspension and new drivers could combine to deliver death and destruction.  It was the law and to disobey was a recipe for disaster.  

Move forward 100 years.  The road has been regraded.  The surface has been improved.  You car has the suspension for the Indy 500 and you have been practicing spin outs in your dad’s car for years.  The sign still says 35 MPH.  The hill is still the same.  The laws of physics have not changed.  Also, I guess the local cop could still give you a ticket for going 40.  That law needs to be fulfilled not destroyed.  The principle however still is as real as ever.

This concept of principle vs statute would not apply to clear moral laws such as theft and adultery.  They are fulfilled because the Holy Spirit has us acting that way.  Other laws such as the sacrificial system, diet and rules for gardening are in a different category.

Is there a danger here?  Obviously.  We tend to push as far as we think we can get away with.  I took the curves at 60 MPH and lived to tell about it.  The fulfillment comes from having the Holy Spirit give us guidance and living in obedience.  The example in Matthew is in the midst of the Sermon on the Mount.  Many people say that is an impossible expectation.  I would say they might want to put a little confidence in the Spirit and walk with Him.

Thoughts and speculations for working out what seems to be a conflict.  I don’t require you to agree but I would request that you put away your branding irons reserved for heretics.

homo unius libri

Opus 2023-294: A Simple Message

Simple songs with a simple message and eternal consequences.

I was listening to Bing Crosby sing, “Do You Hear What I Hear?”  It goes through a progression from seeing, then hearing, knowing and eventually saying.  It never mentions the name of Jesus.  It seems to be expected that you know what the star means, what the song says and who the Child is.  Don’t assume that is true in today’s world.

There is no deep theology in this song.  It is simply a message of sharing.  Sharing the hope.  Sharing the joy.  Jesus put it a bit differently.  He started with,

(Joh 9:5 KJV)  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

He is the light but the implication is that He would be leaving.  So we see His words in Matthew,

(Mat 5:14 KJV)  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

This is the context of also saying we are the salt of the earth.  What it means is we are a presence which cannot be denied.  We are the seasoning in the stew of life.  Like the song, this does not involve deep theology.  It means living a life that reflects the light and holiness of God.  When the Holy Spirit has used your witness and other ingredients, He will lead people to start asking questions and then you can share what you know.

Embrace the hope, joy and peace of the incarnate Savior.  Let it radiate from your face and your actions.  Maybe this can be the year that revival breaks out because of Christmas carols.

homo unius libri

Opus 2023-031: 491

It is awesome to be alive when a major milestone is reached in history.  I say this based on two verses from the Bible.

First we have the words of Jesus,

(Mat 5:39 KJV)  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Christians in America have been doing a lot of this.  Even non-believers who are traditional live like they believe it.  We have been the Mr. Nice Guy that every punk and thug wants the world to be full of.

Turn forward a few chapters.  Jesus is having a conversation with Peter, who asks,

(Mat 18:21 KJV)  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

I am sure that Peter thought he was being generous but Jesus had news for him,

(Mat 18:22 KJV)  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Now I have an announcement to make.  I think we have reached 491.  If my math is good, that is one more than seven times seventy.  The thugs, punks and Progressives* (but I repeat myself) of the country have been giggling all the way to the club house.  They love to share the stories and plan new adventures.  The time has arrived.

We need to start stomping on camel noses and maybe turning a few into camel burgers.  It is time to stop being Mr. Nice Guy.  I would say we would still be good Boy Scouts but the Scouts have gone the way of the woke.  Let’s just say that we will still be all those qualities mentioned in the oath.  At the same time we need to hire lawyers and sue the sox off them.  We need to stop drawing lines in the sand and taking a step back.  We need to drive a stake into the concrete and tie ourselves to it.

Be nice.  Be courteous.  Leave your guns in the safe.  Stop backing down.  Today you defend your right to free speech.  If we don’t stand up it will be the character of our children.

*(Liberals, educators, the media, socialists, communists, crony capitalists, elites, Rinos, Democrats, leftists, Never Trumpers, Antifa, BLM, MSM, Deep State, etc.  Synonym for swamp dwellers)

homo unius libri

Opus 2023-010: Easy to Say

I recently heard the story of what I will call “undercover missionaries” reporting from their work in the world of Islam.  The first part of the narrative was encouraging.  They reported that they were making a lot of converts to Jesus in the world of Mohammad.

The second part is where I start to be concerned.  The word was that the new converts continued to live as Muslims because they knew they faced persecution at best if their new faith became known.  A more likely outcome would be death.

My concern is voiced from the security of a home in the hill country of Texas.  That means that I am safe and secure and it is easy to talk.  I confess that.  I still think of a couple of scriptures.

From the Sermon on the Mount,  

(Mat 5:11 KJV)  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

And other words of Jesus,

(Mar 8:38 KJV)  Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

I have not read Foxes Book of Martyrs but I did read Eusebius since I have been to Texas.  He gives examples of the kinds of persecution Christians faced in the early days of the church.  I have quoted him before in other places.  Here is another passage that shows the price being paid by two young men.

“Maturus, however, and Sanctus, again passed through all the tortures in the amphitheatre, just as if they had suffered nothing at all before, or rather as those who in many trials before had defeated the adversary, and now contending for the crown itself, again as they passed, bore the strokes of the scourge usually inflicted there, the draggings and lacerations from the beasts, and all that the madness of the people, one here and anther there, cried for and demanded; and last of all the iron chair, upon which their bodies were roasted, whilst the fumes of their own flesh ascended to annoy them.  The tormentors did not cease even then, but continued to rage so much the more, intending if possible to conquer their perseverance.  They could not, however, elicit or hear anything from Sanctus, besides that confession which he had uttered from the beginning.”  pp. 175-6

As I said, I write from a safe zone.  I am also aware that the safe zone is being whittled away by American Progressives*.  I expect to see the day when I am going to be forced into the same choices that face my brothers in the world of Islam.  I hope not, but that is not the same thing I mean when I speak about my hope in Christ.  The first is a desire; the second, and assurance.

My desire would be that they would be free to worship and that I would not lose that freedom.

But as my parents kept telling me, I don’t always get what I wish for.

Eusebius.  Ecclesiastical History.  Grand Rapids:  Baker Book House, Reprinted 1989.

*(Liberals, educators, the media, socialists, communists, crony capitalists, elites, Rinos, Democrats, leftists, Never Trumpers, Antifa, BLM, MSM, Deep State, etc.  Synonym for swamp dwellers)

homo unius libri

Opus 2019-216: Being Cheeky

One of the hardest lessons for me to learn about life is that some people have a need to be yelled at.  I was raised on the principle of turning the other cheek.

(Matthew 5:39 KJV)  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

I understand it and apply it on a regular basis.  Unfortunately there are many people who are so locked into their style of aggression they look at it as an invitation.  They have been taught that the way it works is you keep pushing until you meet resistance, then you back off and search for another victim or begin to communicate.  Think of them as scavengers such as jackals, hyenas or vultures.  They are looking for the weak and infirm.  They do not go for the healthy and robust.  In fact, I think it is the same way for lions and other predators.  They don’t chase the strongest.  They drag down the weak.

The principle of turning the other cheek is that we are to avoid conflict and give people the benefit of the doubt.  They may be having a bad day.  Cut them some slack.  The hard part is discerning who the total aggressors are. 

When I am driven to the point of screaming back at someone I always feel guilty.  What always amazes me is how mellow they can become after I stop yelling.  It should not be my default.  The Bible is full of admonitions to not fly off the handle.  I am still thinking it needs to be a tool in my repertoire. 

homo unius libri

Opus 2018-291: Precious Memories

Why do we remember things like Pearl Harbor?

There are reasons that do not fit in with the American character.  We do not remember so that we can keep the hate alive.  The Spirit of Reparations and Vengeance is not American.  It comes from the ancient concept of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”  Americans follow a different rule.

(Matthew 5:43-4 KJV)  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That is why we built up Japan and Germany after World War II.  To many it seemed stupid.  It certainly went against all the traditions of history.  It created two allies that may disagree and disappoint but are still allies. 

We remember so that it will not happen again.  Being allies and friends does not mean being stupid.  The lesson of Pearl Harbor was to remain vigilant.  It was not to disarm but beware.  I live in a great neighborhood.  I have great neighbors.  I still lock my doors. 

President Reagan made an observation.  I doubt if he was the first one and I hope he won’t be the last.  I paraphrase, The best way to avoid war is to be so strong that no one will risk attacking you.  And of course that strength must be real, not just smoke and mirrors.  The fleet at rest in Pearl Harbor was not weak.  It was simply unprepared.  The time to take a nap is when someone else is alert.

So remember Pearl Harbor.  Forgive but do not let that be an excuse to rest on our laurels.

homo unius libri

Opus 2017-313: Never Forget

I was listening to an old podcast from The Art of Manliness and the conversation came around to the topic of heroism.  The host mentioned the policemen and firemen who had gone into the Twin Towers to rescue people on 9/11.  In one sense they were just doing their jobs but in a more real sense they were deliberately risking their lives, and losing them, in order to try to rescue others.  I had to admit that is a good definition of a hero.  The heroes were not the people trapped in the building.  They were victims who had no choice.  The heroes were the ones who chose to go in harms way for the benefit of others.

Compare that view of manliness with the terrorists and the social justice warriors.  One risks his life to try to save others, with no guarantee of success.  The other risks others in order to make themselves feel important.  One is showing courage; the other, cowardice.  One quietly goes home if he survives, the other dances in the streets celebrating the carnage. 

Compare the cultures that elevate each behavior.  Western culture mourns with those who suffer.  From what we see the masses of Islam rejoice in the agony of their enemies.  I do not know the Koran well enough to pull up a verse explaining their joy but I do know why the West, which has been influenced by the Bible takes the high road.

Our Jewish heritage lays the groundwork.

(Proverbs 24:17-18 KJV)  Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:  Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

And in the next chapter,

(Proverbs 25:21 KJV)  If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

For those who don’t look that far back, accept the words of Jesus,

(Matthew 5:44 KJV)  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Different cultures.  Different religions.  Different ways of responding to the suffering of others.

Remember 911, but remember from the Christian perspective.  Yes, some people must be killed to protect our civilization, but it is to be done to save the innocent not for revenge.

Never forget.

homo unius libri

Opus 2017-045: Are Grits Gluten Free?, part 2 of 2

Why do I not embrace every new mantra of diet and health that comes down the pike?  Why do I not automatically accept every announcement of the AMA.  In the words of the old children’s song, “How do I know, the Bible tells me so.”

Bread is made of grain, right?  Maybe you didn’t know that.  Jesus said,

(John 6:48 KJV)  I am that bread of life.

That tells me that bread isn’t bad.  He didn’t say, “I am the GMO free, gluten free, organic, vegan turnip of life.”  He said bread.

How about salt?  I know the mantra that salt is a learned taste and we get plenty of it in our regular diet.  Then why did Jesus say,

(Matthew 5:13 KJV)  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

If we get enough in our diet why do deer go to salt licks and enjoy a few moments? 

I know it doesn’t say, “Eat bread and salt your spinach if you want to go to heaven.”  Did I mention how much salt I put on spinach?  Does Pikes Peak in winter bring a picture to mind?  It does however imply that these things are good.

If those references don’t work for you how about God speaking to Noah,

(Genesis 9:3 KJV)  Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

That sounds pretty inclusive to me.

I know that some people are very sensitive to salt.  Got it.  I keep hearing that gluten and lactose can cause issues.  If you say that is you, I will not argue with you.  Some people will also die if they eat peanuts.  I believe it.  That does not mean that the rest of the world has to do without.

All this came from a bowl of grits.  Maybe I need to go mow the lawn.  I can’t, I am in an apartment.

homo unius libri

Opus 2016-266: Insy or Outsy

In one of his sermons, Alistair Begg made the distinction between sins of excess and internal sins.  Adultery is a sin of excess.  Lust would be internal.  One has to do with our outward actions, the other with inner thoughts.  What we need to understand is that both are sins.  Some people think that if they can just control their actions they have it made but Jesus said it differently.

(Matthew 5:28 KJV)  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

This is what makes the Christian faith so difficult to many.  It requires an act of God to deal with the inner sin.  It means that we are not in control and that we are dependent on His grace.  It means that we are not gods of our lives.  It means we must be willing to bend our knee in submission. 

It is also confusing to those watching church people.  It is hard to observe what goes on in people’s hearts.  It is easy to see what goes on in their interactions.  Those of us who are serious pray that God will change our inner person and give us the discipline to develop our outer person.  In Christianese it is the process of sanctification.

homo unius libri

Opus 2016-262: Thanks Thoughts: Grandfather Clause

As I worked through my daily Eucharist the words “new covenant” stood out to me. 

(1 Corinthians 11:25 NAS77)  In the same way He took the cup also, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

As much as I consider myself a child of the new covenant, old contracts are not always voided by new ones.  We have some grandfathered in. 

We see it in technology.  When the rotary dial was phased out in production it still worked for the old phones around.  USB 1 still works in new computers with USB 2.

Jesus made a specific statement that applies to this.

(Matthew 5:17 KJV)  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

So think of the Old Testament (covenant) as being a rotary dial.  It worked and worked well.  It was also slow and inflexible.  Things have changed.  We now have buttons and smart phones.  Some people have special ring tones to tell them who is calling.  We have call forwarding, texting and voice mail.  The wires have even changed but the general concept of phone numbers and communication remain the same. 

God is waiting to communicate with His people. 

homo unius libri

Opus 2016-137: On the Street: A Moment of Paradise

Yesterday was the kind of day that makes people want to move to California.

My wife had called from back east to complain about the rain.  I just smiled but she could not see that over the phone.  My voice expressed sympathy.  Much of the world could feel her pain.  I was in what California was before it became the People’s Republik.

In case you have forgotten what it can be like:  The temperature was in the mid-70's, a breeze kept the air moving.  The grass was green.  The air was the definition of sky blue.  There were enough clouds to cause interest.  My guitar was in tune and I was feeling no pain.  Life was good. 
I was aware that there were people in Southern California who were supporters of Hillary, Bernie and Donald.  I realize that they might have been enjoying the day as much as I was.  I doubt if they were thanking God for special moments like this.  I tend to get petty and wonder why God doesn’t have little patches of rain cloud to hover over where they are but it doesn’t work that way.

I guess this is what Jesus meant when He said,

(Matthew 5:45 KJV)  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Keep that in mind the next time you worry about the coming election and how there are no candidates worthy of your support.  God will measure out His love and justice in His timing.  Make sure that you are wheat for the harvest not a kernel of tare for the fire. 

Then came Monday and work.  I am thankful, really.

homo unius libri

Opus 2015-435: Basic Beliefs: The Other Cheek, part 1 of 4

One of the Biblical teachings I have struggled with all my life is turning the other cheek.

(Matthew 5:39 KJV)  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

It is seems clear and is followed by other verses that expand on the principle.  I can see how this kind of attitude is what makes Christians different from the world.  We are supposed to have an attitude of forgiveness and non-retaliation.  The first is required; the second, proscribed.  This makes it possible for people of many opinions to live together in peace.  When I was rear-ended on the freeway the other day I did not jump out cussing and start swinging.  It might be the way many people react, but it is not the Christian way.

I get it.  I apply it every day but three things complicate the application for me. 

First, there are other verses which need to be considered.  When you read and apply the Bible there are very few verses that stand in isolation.  Each verse is to be considered as a part of the whole.  Rarely do verses stand alone.  Other verses tend to move “turning the other cheek” towards a principle rather than a law. 

To be continued...

homo unius libri

Opus 2015-36: In the Name of Obama, part 2 of 3, Violence

Have people done evil in the name of Christ?  Of course.  Have people done evil in the name of Mohammad?  Obviously.  But the same standard applies.  What did the leaders actually say?  If you bother to read the primary sources you will find two different stories.  Jesus never advocated violence.  In fact, Christians are told the opposite.  Jesus is the one who gives us the quote about turning the other cheek. 

(Matthew 5:39 KJV)  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Jesus did mention a sword. 

(Matthew 10:34 KJV)  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

If you bother to read the context you will find it is figurative and warning that His followers will face rejection, not that they are to attack those who disagree.

Faithful Muslims are expected to kill people who do not agree with them on matters of religion and in Islam religion includes political thought.  Violence is condoned, encouraged and demanded.  It is a bit hypocritical to say otherwise when the Koran makes the statements clear.

“Make war upon such of those to whom the Scriptures have been given as believe not in God, or in the last day, and who forbid not that which God and His Apostle have forbidden, and who profess not the profession of the truth, until they pay tribute out of hand, and they be humbled.”  Sura 9, “Immunity,” verse 29.

In both cases, Christianity and Islam, you can find other references that show the teaching is not a one time proof text.

All Koran quotes are from the translation by Rev. J.M. Rodwell, M.A. provided by the Gutenberg Project.

To be continued...

homo unius libri

Opus 2014-227: Turning the Cheek and Bearing the Sword

Last year I was reading a book called Blindsided and it made me wonder how we can give a rational response to the challenge of Islam.  What we are seeing in the headlines today just reinforces my concern.

As a Christian, my standards of behavior are molded by the words of the Bible.  In my personal relationships I am guided by the words of Jesus which can be summed up with,

(Matthew 5:39 KJV)  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

As a general principle of life this is very important.  The concept of forgiveness and patience is built into the American philosophy.  The problem is the perpetual, misguided and possibly insane bully that looks on forgiveness and patience as a sign of weakness.  That bully, personal or national, ramps up the violence in the face of Christian virtue.

That is why we need to balance a partial teaching of the Bible with a more extensive examination and use our God given ability to reason as we look for solutions.  The Bible also tells us,

(Romans 13:4 KJV)  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

You don’t need to read that many times to see that one of the functions of government is to use the sword to deal with evil.  The sword has to be carried by someone.  They can, if motivated and guided properly, be doing God’s work.

We are faced with a great evil.  We have a large group of bullies who are using their big muscles, lack of good will and repeating rifles to extend, expand and execute evil.  They say it is in the name of God.  If they were Christians making this claim I could refute them with our holy book, the Bible.  Since it is Muslims and their holy book is the Koran, I cannot do that.  Neither can other Muslims because the teaching of the Koran allows this kind of behavior and if they speak out against it they are tortured and murdered.

The problem is not going to just go away while the president takes vacations, plays golf and takes advantage of photo ops.

My fear is that maybe a rational response is impossible.  It may be the only way we can fight this evil is to get people so stoked up that they lash out at those who want to destroy us.  A reasoned response isn’t in the cards.  You don’t fight bullying with reason, you fight it with force.

I continue to hope for either another answer or a waking up to the danger.

Youssef, Michael, Blindsided, No City:  Kobri, 2012.

homo unius libri