Opus 2025-114: Poetry and Prophecy

There are two areas of biblical literature that make me want to do somersaults and scream, “No!”  They would be poetry and prophecy.

Poetry whether it is biblical or not always gives me fits.  I do not enjoy poetry as poetry.  When I’m reading a book and the author includes poetry I tend to just skip over it.  This can be in some kind of science fiction or a work of history, it doesn’t matter.  Somehow when things are written in verse my brain shuts down.  So far I don’t think it’s causing me any great misunderstanding of what the author was trying to say.

Prophecy also tends to make my brain shut down.  I am talking here about the kind of prophecy that would be categorized as foretelling rather than forth telling. Forth telling is just good preaching, and I need to learn to listen to that.  Foretelling is different.  It has to do with commenting on future events.  The problem for me is that I have this belief that this kind of prophecy was not written to be understood.  We might understand it, but it will be too late to change anything.

What happens in both of these types of literature is that the mind of the author goes off the deep end as they try to describe the undescribable.  In poetry the creative muse is leading them down paths in their mind that are almost impossible to explain to someone who’s outside their mind.  They use every different type of literary device to try and transfer the emotions and conceptual stews that are raging inside them. The same type of problem comes with divine messages.  In one place Paul specifically calls our attention to this.

2 Corinthians 12:3-4 (KJV) 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

I ran into this recently in the poetry of David,

Psalms 18:8-10 (KJV) 8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. 9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness [was] under his feet. 10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

If you ever had an intimate time of worship with the Lord, do you know how hard it is to describe to someone what you’re experiencing.  David had that problem regularly.

When you go to prophecies, such as Daniel and Ezekiel and Revelation, you encounter the same issue.  How much is to be taking literally?  How much is figurative?  And how much doesn’t fit into either category?

When people tell me that some famous person is a world-class poet, I just kind of nod my head and don’t argue.  When someone tells me that they understand what the book of Revelation is talking about and have it all planned out what God is going to do in the end times I have a similar reaction but it tends more to laughing out loud.

And then I get on with my day, knowing that there are many things that I can grapple with and actually make progress.

homo unius libri

Opus 2023-253: The Whole Package

My wife will pick out certain traits in other husbands and say, “Why can’t you be like Saint Hubby?”  My usual response is to pick out some unmentioned habit of Hubby and ask if she wants me to be that way too.  Actually, I am smart enough not to ask that.

With people, like so much of life, you have to take the whole package.  I came to this while thinking about how abrasive my wife can be.  Yet she also is really good at getting close to people.  Go figure.  Everyone has good and bad traits.  Your only good one may be that you are kind to puppies, but it is still there.  For Christians we need to think in terms of the gifts of the Spirit.  I believe the Bible teaches that each person has at least one gift.  

(1Co 12:7 KJV)  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

That package deal is a twofer.  It works both ways.  We need to keep in mind that we have both sides of the coin just like the other person.  I have observed that many people criticize others for the shortcomings they have themselves.  And, if it helps you, keep in mind that somewhere there is probably a spouse who is telling their significant other that they wish they were like you.

And maybe not.  

homo unius libri

Opus 2011-210, Spiritual Gifts: Leadership

(Romans 12:8 KJV)  Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

The KJV says that some will “ruleth.”  In the NASB it is “leads” (4291b).  We Americans are much more comfortable with the concept of leadership than having rulers but keep in mind that the Bible tends to approach things from the point of view of monarchy, not democracy.

Historically the ruling classes have always claimed God’s approval.  They believed they were in charge because God said so.  The ancient Chinese had the Mandate of Heaven.  If there was a revolution, the gods were on the side of the victor.  You could tell how the gods voted by who won.  In ancient Japan the emperor was divine.  You could not depose him.  So they locked him up, bowed to him and did things in his name.  Europe had what they called the Divine Right of Kings.  They were not God, but they were His representative on earth.  This lead to some conflict with the Pope in Rome who considered himself to be the Vicar of Christ.

We have a variation of that.  We believe that God works His will.  God is able to work through believers and unbelievers.  He is able to work through the obedient and the disobedient.  He is sovereign.  At one end you have Him working through Pharaoh.  At the other end you have the sick woman who reached out to touch the hem of Jesus garment.  One of the ways He works is through gifting leaders.

So Biblically and historically the idea of strong leaders has been taught.  Some people are given a spiritual gift to lead, or rule.  It is not always the type A personality.  It may not always be the pastor of the church or the president of the company.  It is the person who is followed. 

Don’t be afraid of strong leadership.  Look at the heart and the spirit of the leader.  Know your Bible so you know if they are within the covenant of God’s methodology.  We don’t need to vote on everything.

homo unius libri

Opus 2011-129, Spiritual Gifts: Interpretation

(1 Corinthians 12:10 KJV)  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

A companion gift to speaking in tongues is the gift of interpretation.  It is just what it says.  One person will speak a message in an unknown tongue and someone else will tell everyone what he said.  Evidently it doesn’t work quite that smooth because Paul gives a caution,

(1 Corinthians 14:28 KJV)  But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

So the basic rule seems to be if there is not interpreter, there should be no speaking in tongues.  At least in the church.  Some feel that the private prayer language is an exception to this verse.

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Opus 2011-80, Spiritual Gifts: Tongues, Part III, Observations

 Here are my observations working through chapters 12-14 in I Corinthians.

Everyone does not have the gift of tongues.  First of all look at the introductory comments,

(1 Corinthians 12:4 NASB)  Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.

If that isn’t clear enough for you look a few verses down as Paul expands on the theme,

(1 Corinthians 12:10 NASB)  and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

Notice that the gifts are spread around.  We hear a litany of “to another” and tongues is no exception.  If that isn’t clear enough for you, read this:

(1 Corinthians 12:30 NASB)  All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?

These are rhetorical questions.  The answers are assumed to be clear.  So how do we get people saying that everyone must speak in tongues?

Second, tongues is the least important of the gifts.  This seems obvious to me in this verse,

(1 Corinthians 12:28 KJV)  And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

This seems a definite order with the words “first,”  “secondarily” and so forth.  These Greek words are “proton,” “deuteros,” and “tritos.”  It pretty obvious this is a ranking.  When you skip forward to chapter 14, Paul makes it very clear in the first few verses that prophecy is a much more useful gift than tongues.  He summarizes its lack of importance,

(1 Corinthians 14:19 KJV)  Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

Third, the corollary of this is to restate that, whatever it is that Paul is downplaying, he seems to feel like it has a real place in the church and the life of the believer.  Notice this,

(1 Corinthians 14:5 KJV)  I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

This is a mixed verse for those who overemphasize speaking in tongues.  Paul wishes everyone did it, but at the same time, points out that he wishes more that everyone could speak prophecy.

Fourth, tongues tends toward selfishness. 

(1 Corinthians 14:4 KJV)  He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

The purpose of the gifts is to build up the church.  Tongues tends to build up the one speaking.  Some people teach that it is a prayer language.  I have trouble with that because of this verse.

(1 Corinthians 14:28 KJV)  But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

Some would say this applies only to the public expression of tongues, not as a prayer language.  Okay, I can see that.

If you made it through all of this you can see why speaking in tongues has the potential to cause both blessing and division.  This is one of those areas of belief where people must have charity on those who disagree.  Have your opinions.  Hold to them.  But do not excommunicate the person who disagrees with you.  God will straighten it out after the resurrection.

homo unius libri

Opus 2011-79, Spiritual Gifts: Tongues, Part II, Four References

(1 Corinthians 12:10 KJV)  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

The issue of what the gift of speaking in tongues means comes up in four categories.  I call them Controversial, Pentecost, Conversions and I Corinthians.

The controversial use is in one place.  By controversial I mean that it is in a place that many scholars find to be questionable.  I will leave that discussion for another day, but understand that in the Greek manuscripts there are at least three different endings to the Gospel of Mark.  One ending that is found in the KJV contains this verse:

(Mark 16:17 NASB)  "These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;

This is the only place that Jesus refers to this gift.  This does not help in any way our understanding of the use of tongues.  All the discussions and disagreements apply.

Then we have the use of tongues at Pentecost.  This is found at the beginning of Acts 2.  When I read over this as a passage and don’t cherry pick verses and clauses that support a particular presupposition, I see that whatever happened, it was more a miracle of hearing than a miracle of speaking.  I might call it the gift of ears rather than the gift of tongues.  Notice that people from many different lands were together in the crowd, listening to the same people and each one heard in their own native language.  Awesome.  For this reason I personally reject the use of Pentecostal for the modern movement that stresses speaking in tongues.  I have not seen heard or read about anyone claiming this gift of ears.

Another thought I had about Pentecost was that this gift of tongues was the use of a universal language that is understood by everyone.  I would call it the language of angels from the next chapter.

(1 Corinthians 13:1 KJV)  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

The “tongues of men” is an obvious statement.  What are the “tongues of angels?”  Let me speculate that this is a language, spoken by the angels, that is understood on an instinctual, built-in way by all human beings.  Sounds like science fiction, but so do angels.

What about the conversion experiences?  We have several places in Acts where new groups of people are being presented the Gospel and in the process it says they spoke in tongues.  It does not explain what that meant.  It can only be assumed that the people reading understood it.  In Acts 10:44 tells us that the group of Gentiles led by the centurion Cornelius began speaking in tongues.  It almost looks to me that they are speaking in tongues before they are converted.  They certainly are speaking in tongues before they are baptized.  And notice the response of those with Peter,

(Acts 10:45 NASB)  All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.

They were surprised that this happened, whatever it was.

That brings us to the Corinthians.  As the verse at the top of this post shows, speaking in tongues is listed as one of the gifts of the Spirit.  That much is clear.  No one who believes that the Bible is the word of God can deny that there is something called tongues that is a gift of the Holy Spirit.  Beyond that the arguments begin.  I would submit that what is presented in I Corinthians 12-14 is something different that what occurred in Acts.  That is for the next post.

homo unius libri

Opus 2011-78, Spiritual Gifts: Tongues, Part I, an Introduction

(1 Corinthians 12:10 KJV)  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

Speaking in tongues has been a divisive issue in the Christian church for my entire life.  Denominations have been started based on this gift.  Others have been split.  The controversy is still alive and well.

It would be good to start with explaining what the gift is, but people cannot agree even on that.  The word for “tongues” is literal.  The Greek word is transliterated, glossa.  One of the technical names for speaking in tongues is “glossolalia.”  We get our English word “glossary” from this and we speak of “glossing” over something when we talk to camouflage a truth. 

Most of the references in the NT are to the physical tongue located in your mouth.  It becomes a bit figurative when it means “languages.”  This is also a common usage.  No one will argue about these references except the people that will argue about whether your eyes are hazel, green or brown.  The controversy comes in the other places it appears, which I will look at next time.

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Opus 2011-74, Spiritual Gifts: Discernment

(1 Corinthians 12:10 KJV)  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

Why is it that some people are so gullible and others know when something isn’t right?  It could be that one has the gift of discernment or as the KJV phrases it, the “discerning of spirits.”

The Holy Spirit gives some people the ability to tell what the spiritual state is of an idea, a person, a project, you name it.  If we look at the word being used in Hebrews we see that it involves the ability to see if you are dealing with good or evil.

(Hebrews 5:14 KJV)  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

There are many questions that we face that require this knowledge.  Should you let someone work in your nursery?  Should the church borrow money? 

I think this gift is being ignored in the church today.  Because of the teachings of multiculturalism and diversity we don’t want to take any stands that might say something is wrong or evil.  The gifts of mercy and service are being made king and without the balance of wisdom and discernment, evil gets the upper hand.

It is time to wake up and get on with the business of righteousness.

homo unius libri

Opus 2011-32, Spiritual Gifts: Prophecy

(1 Corinthians 12:10 KJV)  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

Another spiritual gift is the gift of prophecy.  This is listed in both I Corinthians and Romans.

The idea of prophecy is something people understand but in reality miss the point.  Most people understand prophecy as the ability to forecast the future.  It is like a spiritual fortune teller or in modern science fiction and fantasy, precognition. 

To understand prophecy it helps to look at the Old Testament.  You find the role of prophet goes back through the entire history of God’s people.  The prophets wrote much of the Bible.  There are two elements in prophecy:  foretelling and forth telling.  Foretelling is what most people consider prophecy.  It is declaring the future.  The second part is also important.  Forth telling is preaching.  It is declaring a message from God, usually demanding repentance.

Most often prophecy is a warning of the consequences of actions.  Time and again God’s people would be called to repentance.  Their sins would be pointed out and they would be warned about the wrath of God to come.  Usually there would be an escape clause.  The purpose was not to watch them squirm, it was repentance.  God wanted them to turn from their wicked ways.

And so today I think prophecy is a word from the Lord that holds a warning and a demand for repentance.  It can be a style of preaching or unexpected in a service.  It will always be in agreement with the rest of scripture.  The truth will be obvious.  We are expected to respond.

homo unius libri

Opus 2011-17, Spiritual Gifts: Faith

(1 Corinthians 12:9 KJV)  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

The third spiritual gift listed is faith.  Faith is a vital word to Christians because it is tied in with our salvation:

(Ephesians 2:8 KJV)  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

We are saved by grace but notice that it is through faith.  This is the same Greek word used for the gift of faith, but it would be applied differently

The gift of faith is believing big things that are different from your salvation.  A biblical definition of this would be:

(Hebrews 11:1 KJV)  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

A person with the gift of faith would believe strongly that certain promises would come true.  They might be strong in prayer because they believe in God’s answers.  They get things done because their faith drives them on when others might quit.

If you have the gift of faith people might think of you as the little engine that could.  Remember the children’s story where the little train is chugging up the hill saying, “I think I can.  I think I can.”  The difference would be that the gift of faith is not believing in ourselves but believing in the power. of God.  This little engine would be chanting, “I know He can.  I know He can.”

Like all other gifts, faith is present in all believers at some level but those with the gift are powerful beyond their own lives. 

Opus 2011-2, Spiritual Gifts: Wisdom

(1 Corinthians 12:8 KJV)  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

A logical place to start with a study of spiritual gifts is the book of I Corinthians.  It comes after Romans, which has a list of gifts, in our modern Bibles but it was written before Romans.  I already touched on healing because healing had touched on me.  Now the plan is to work through the gifts in order unless one yells for attention.

Wisdom is a spiritual gift.  The entire concept is the “word of wisdom.”  Traditionally wisdom is associated with people who have great insight and a sense of rightness.  They see more than others and can apply what they know.  Wisdom is often associated with age but age does not necessarily mean wisdom.

When Paul talked about wisdom he was writing as a Jew.  That means he must have had the Wisdom Literature in mind.  Think of a very well known verse in Proverbs

(Proverbs 9:10 KJV)  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

The same thought is expressed in Job and Psalms.  Wisdom starts in a healthy fear of the Lord.

I watch and listen to people and wonder what is wrong with them.  Maybe you share this concern with me:  Seemingly intelligent people who can’t seem to figure anything out.  When I look at our culture the great thing I see missing from the public debates and the intellectual classes is wisdom.  This is because wisdom requires a fear of God and an understanding of His ways.  When so many people reject God it is no wonder that their ideas are small and inadequate.  They are missing large pieces of the puzzle.  I used to wonder how intelligent people could be so stupid.  Easy, they lack wisdom.  You can have a hundred keys on your ring, but the car won’t start if you don’t have the one you need.

The opposite of being wise is being a fool.  This is also a major topic of Proverbs.  We have many brilliant people who are fools.  But folly is not a spiritual gift.

Opus15, Spiritual Gifts: Healing

The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to everyone.  The main passages if you want to read them are Romans 12: 6-8, I Corinthians 12:1-11, Ephesians 4:11-12, and I Peter 4:8-11.  There are other possible lists.  People would disagree on whether all the gifts are listed or the lists are suggestive.  In secular terms we might consider them talents.  In Christian terms they always have an application that edifies and builds up the Body of Christ.  Each person has at least one.  No one has all of them.  No one gift is possessed by everyone.

One of the spiritual gifts is healing. 

(1 Corinthians 12:9 KJV)  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

This says that some people have a special power from God to bring health to others.  There are a lot of showmen who make a circus of this.  You can safely assume that they don’t have the gift of healing but have the gift of smoke and mirrors along with the gift of ego.  I have only had a few reliable brushes with people who have experienced this gift.  Their physical bodies have been touched and “fixed.”  None of the cases I have heard of were instant healings but the change was definite and a clear act of supernatural power.  I think the best doctors and nurses have this gift.  They may not know it, but there are things that happen in their offices and operating rooms that cannot be explained by medicine.

There are sights such as Lourdes in France that are associated with healing.  I understand that the Catholic church keeps careful records of people claiming to be healed there.  They make sure that they were really sick in the first place and check for proof of the healing.  The Church does not take it lightly so they can safely document many healings.

One of the interesting things about spiritual gifts is that every gift has a corresponding duty in the believer.  Thus some may have the gift of giving, all are expected to tithe.  Some may be gifted with evangelism, all are expected to witness.  I am expected to pray for people’s healing.  Recently we had the child of a friend involved in a motor cycle accident.  I have family members who have serious issues.  Although I don’t have the gift of healing, I am to intercede for them. 

We can also ask for God’s touch for ourselves.  Recently I went for a second try at donating blood.  The last time I went in I was told that my blood was too iron rich, the opposite of anemia.  They refused to take my blood.  I decided to try it again but asked for the Lord’s touch as I drove to the clinic.  My iron level was fine.  Miracle of healing?  We will never know but it sounds like it to me. 

How many times have we prayed about something and forgot about it.  God answered and we did not notice.  I think He might appreciate a word of thanks now and then. 

Theology, Spiritual Gifts, NT 07 I Corinthians 12