Opus 2024-410: The Recycling of Joy

I believe that today marks the official beginning of our anticipation of Christmas.  This is the first Sunday of Advent.  It tends to sneak up on us, but it is finally here.  I started with the Christmas music after dinner on Thanksgiving.  I will play it until midnight on Christmas day.

Do you need something to do over the next few weeks?  Drive to an area where a lot of shopping is going on.  Make sure you take a big dose of patience before you leave.  Park as far away from the stores as you can.  The exercise will do you good.  Walk slowly toward the crowds.  You don’t actually need to shop.  All you can expect to do is share the joy.  Look for opportunities to say, “Merry Christmas!” in response to half-hearted expressions of “Happy Holidays.”

You might prepare a few snappy, thought provoking comebacks.  You might ask, “What holiday is that?” or “What season is it?”  Always accompany your question with a big smile.  Hold doors open for people.  Pick up packages they drop.  Pray for the miserable heathen that you see swamping the marketplace.  Pray that the other bits of salt and light in the mix will have a chance to remind people of what we are celebrating.

(Gal 4:4 KJV)  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

(Joh 1:14 KJV)  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

I could go on but that will whet your appetite for all the glory that is involved in the incarnation.

Merry Christmas!  Inspiring Incarnation!

homo unius libri

Opus 2023-317: Dark Thoughts: A Place to Start

What a glorious time of year this is.  It is a perfect fit for reflection, meditation and contemplating today and tomorrow.  Don’t waste it.

I was in a discussion of Christmas and how we respond to it with a group of older men who claim Jesus as Lord.  In spite of that the general tone was not bright and shiny.  How typical this is when the holidays come around.  People expect some magic elixir that will transform their situation.  I will admit that I am blessed with family in the area who see each other regularly and enjoy each other.  That is a blessing that I thank God for on a regular basis.

But the blessing starts closer to home.  I can’t wait for Thanksgiving dinner to be over so I can put on the Christmas music.  I admit, much of that is based on memories of Christmas.  I remember Christmas programs and the joys associated with them.  I remember the years I would load up my dad’s truck with friends and we would go around singing carols to everyone we could think of.  I remember glorious times.  So Christmas music starts with the anticipation of memories.  

The memories are augmented by the theology of Christmas:  Emmanuel, God with us.  Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.  That is what makes the season so special.  I can’t think about Christmas without considering this,

(Php 2:5-8 KJV)  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Okay, the price of Christmas trees has gone through the roof and they don’t live as long as they used to.  Materialism is rampant.  Your kid did not get the lead in the Christmas program.  There was no Christmas program.  And yet,

(Joh 1:14 KJV)  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Christmas merry.  It starts in your heart.

homo unius libri

Opus 2022-105: Basic Beliefs II: The Foundation, part 1 of 4

Where do you start when you talk about what Christians believe?  I suggest that a good place to start is where we get all of the ideas we believe in, the Bible.  

Christians believe that the Bible is the Word of God, the written word, not the Word of John 1:1.   

(Joh 1:1 KJV)  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

That is a theological statement about Jesus.  I will get to that eventually but for starters we need to look at the basic reference work itself.  The Bible is like no other book in the world.  It is like no other book in the Christians library.  It is the place where everything must start.  It is not enough to say that it contains the word.  We believe that it is the word.  Many books are inspiring but the Bible is inspired.  The key word is used one place in the Bible.

(2Ti 3:16 KJV)  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

The Greek phrase is a bit deeper than the English word “inspired”.  It is a compound Greek word which literally means “God breathed.”  Anything less is just human.  It is an important distinction.

To be continued...

homo unius libri

Opus 2021-248: A Day of Big Words

Years ago I was in a theology class and the professor introduced the theological terms imminence and transcendence.  One speaks about the omni nature of God.  The other term reminds us that God is with us.  For some reason I have remembered the terms for over forty years and I still don’t know which is which.  

They come together when we celebrate Christmas.  This is expressed many different ways in the Bible.  The Gospel of John has none of the birth narratives but deals with the theological undergirdings.  John starts with the eternal nature of Jesus.

(Joh 1:1 KJV)  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

And then he points out the incarnation,

(Joh 1:14 KJV)  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Matthew got down in the dust and put it in language even children can grasp.

(Mat 1:23 KJV)  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

If you want to get distracted by the date, have a good time.  If you want to complain about the materialism that dominates Christmas gift giving, I can understand.  It we think that traditions like the Christmas tree spring from pagan roots, I won’t argue with you.  All I ask is that you then take a deep breath and remind yourself,

(Gal 4:4-5 KJV)  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

You have had almost 2,000 years to get over it.  So Merry Christmas, Festive Fullness of Time Day, Emmanuel, or whatever you need to hear to get in the spirit of celebrating the Incarnation.  

homo unius libri

Opus 2014-21: New Terms: Theological Appendix

When listening to Alistair Begg the other day he used the term “Theological Appendix.”  What?  Did I miss that in seminary.  He was talking about the incarnation and how some people think this is a theological Appendix.  His point was that doctors tell us we can live without our appendix.  It can be removed with no danger to our overall health.  In the same way some denominations and pastors teach we can be Christian without believing in the incarnation.

The point he was making is that certain thing are essential to calling yourself a Christian.  One of those points is that the second Person of the Triune God became human.

(Joh 1:14 KJV)  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

At the same time He retained His divinity.

(Col 1:19 KJV)  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

There are many areas of the scripture that lend themselves to interpretation.  This is not one of them. 

homo unius libri

Opus 2013-366: Basic Beliefs: God Is..., Part 2 of 3

God is spirit, not material. 

There is a second declaration that the professor  brought to our attention.

(1 John 1:5 KJV)  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

So we see that God is light. 

Here again we see a place where we need to suspend our literal, physical understanding.  Our common understanding is that God is “a” light.  We think in physical terms and that works well up to a point.  Light reveals.  Light gives life.  Light helps us see our steps.  These are all good applications which are true, but God is more than that.

We are not talking about God being a stream of photons or energy which could be measured if we had a big enough meter.  That is a characteristic, an attribute not an essential essence.

In this verse it is contrasted with darkness.  Other places we see this distinction.  Isaiah gives some contrasts.

(Isaiah 5:20 KJV)  Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

(Isaiah 42:16 KJV)  And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

You see the division of good and evil, bitter and sweet, crooked and straight.

John gives it as a mindset.

(John 1:5 KJV)  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

(John 3:19 KJV)  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Paul points out that light and darkness cannot be joined.

(2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV)  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

I think that we are talking about the righteousness of God, the holiness of God or the purity of God. 

Anyway you want to slice it, to me, the light is the place to be.

To be continued...

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-324, The Trinity, a Healthy Schizophrenia?

Let’s talk about one of the most complex teachings of orthodox Christianity, the Trinity.  What I have to say could be considered heresy, theology, heretical theology or theological heresy.  Or it could just be nonsense.  That wasn’t a question.  You don’t need to answer.

The Trinity is hard to understand because it deals with two different teachings in the Bible that seem to conflict.  On one side we have the unquestioned statement that there is one God.

(Deuteronomy 6:4 KJV)  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

On the other side you have the equally clear teaching that Jesus is the eternal God.

(John 1:1 KJV)  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

You can also show that the Holy Spirit is God. 

So you have these three as separate persons.  We see all three together in one place.

(Mark 1:9-11 KJV)  And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.  And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:  And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

One of the great discussions in the church is on how you can have one God and have three Persons. 

Might I suggest a kind of schizophrenia? 

Before you reject me totally and call out the Inquisition, listen a moment.  There are qualities that are sinful in man that are acceptable in God.  For instance, we are told that we are not to take vengeance.  That belongs to God.  We are told that God can punish iniquity but we are to let it go.  This doesn’t seem fair, but keep in mind the many differences.  Because we are at worst, totally in the control of sin and at best limited by our physical perceptions, vengeance is something that we are not qualified to administer.  God, being perfect, is qualified. 

God demands repentance before He will forgive.  We are expected to forgive as a matter of principle.  God can be jealous, we cannot.  God has reason to be proud, we do not.  God can live with the paradox of free will and foreknowledge, we get tied up in denominational wrangling.  God is free to judge, but we are told not to.  God can put together mercy and justice.  All we see is, it hurts.  God can have three persons in one essence and remain perfectly sane.  We would be put on medication or locked up.

Rejoice in the knowledge that we are made in the image of God but we are not God.  As that button/bumper sticker proclaims, “PBPGINFWMY.”  Please be patient, God is not finished with me yet.  At least I hope not.

homo unius libri

Opus 2011-10, Basic Christian Beliefs: Jesus is God.

If there is one belief that unites Christians it is the divinity of Christ.  If there is one litmus test to tell if a group is a cult, it is the divinity of Christ.  Christians believe that Jesus Christ was fully God as well as fully man.  He has always existed.  He has always been God.  A simple summary of this is,

(John 1:1 KJV)  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

There are many places in the New Testament that follow this theme.  For example, Paul says,

(Colossians 2:9 KJV)  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

You also have places where the context makes it clear that Jesus claimed to be God.  After a discussion with the Jewish Elders about who He was you get this response from those listening to him,

(Matthew 26:65 KJV)  Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.

The high priest understood Jesus was claiming to be God.  For this He was put to death.

There have been many heretical splinters of the church that have denied this understanding.  They have repeatedly been silenced by the orthodox believers.  The methods have not always been pleasant or even “Christian” but it was an important issue for them.

It should be an important issue for us.