Opus 2013-7: Links: A World without Guns

Every once in awhile I get to read some of the blogs I have bookmarked.  In the process I sometimes come across these great quotes.  I want to share one with you.  It is from View from the Porch,

“I like to point out to these people that we already had a world without guns; it was called the Middle Ages.” 

Love it.

homo unius libri

Opus 2013-6: Rituals Stimulate Remembering

A good while back I was listening to Alistair Begg talking about baptism.  He mentioned how many people had already been baptized so they might not be interested.  This got be to thinking about weddings.  When we attend a wedding we are there to honor those being married ,but there is more to it than that. 

Some are looking forward in their own lives.  They hope or assume that they also will be getting married someday and exchanging vows.  For some it is mystery.  For some it is anticipation.  For some it is romantic. 

Some are looking backward.  Part of the spiritual impact of married couples attending a wedding is to identify with the couple on the platform and renew our vows, at least in our hearts.  We took the step years ago.  We swore similar oaths years before and being in such a service can bring the covenant back to life. 

Many events we participate in have the value of pointing us back to decisions we have made, remind us of our commitments and strengthen previous bonds.  How we allow ourselves to be drawn in and allow our hearts to reach out will determine whether these rituals are empty or of great value.

Look to the year ahead.  You may attend weddings.  You may watch babies baptized or dedicated.  Bar mitzvahs.  Confirmations.  Swearing in ceremonies.  Graduations.  You may be involved in milestones of other people’s lives.  They want to share them with you.  Allow them to remind you of the red letter days in your life. 

May this be a happier and more productive year for you.

homo unius libri

Opus 2013-5: Cornerstone Considerations: D of I, Truths: The Right Basics

The members of the Continental Congress were addressing what they felt were the tyrannical actions of the British government.  We are all familiar with the three basic freedoms.  Most people recognize the phrasing even if they don’t know where they come from.

“...they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness...”

These are reflections of the three ways that government can seek to take control of frisky citizens. 
The government can kill us.  They are the exclusive arbitrators of the sword.  If a government official puts us to death it is an execution.  If I do it, it is murder.  The government needs serious limits on its power and opportunity to kill.  This will be addressed in the Constitution.  Such things as due process, quick and speedy trial of our peers, right to face accusers, bills of attainder, etc. are designed to limit the capital power of the government.

The government can lock us up.  In many countries they can lock you up for any and every reason.  They can throw away the key.  They don’t even need to tell you why.  This idea of liberty has a long history in the writ of habeas corpus.  We are to have the maximum liberty, subject to the maximum liberty for those around us.

The government can regulate us to death.  They can make everything illegal.  They can tell us what to eat.  They can tell us what doctor to see.  They can tell us we must buckle up.  They can control the flow of our toilets and the temperature of our showers.  Did I say they can?  I should have said they do.  It seems that the Nanny State has forgotten about this one.

As you can see, the government has a lot of learning to do.  We better start teaching them before it is too late.

homo unius libri

Opus 2013-4: Links: Response to “Denominations”, part 2 of 2

What are other examples of the difference between theology and Bible teaching?

On Pentecost the disciples, who were believers and were timid and hiding, suddenly had an experience with the Holy Spirit and were out preaching.  That is not doctrine but a Biblical teaching.  In Acts 15 where it says God cleansed their hearts by faith is a Biblical teaching.  Putting them together is a theological statement.  We need to know and understand the difference.  We believe in the Bible.  We try to organize it with our theology.

The difference in emphasis and organization in this theology is where we get our denominations.  I personally have a lot of room for different understandings as long as we don’t try to de-Christianize those we disagree with. 

I see a parallel between our understanding of political parties and denominations.  Intellectually, I believe that it is possible to be a Democrat and be a patriotic American.  I would say the same for most other political parties.  Emotionally I don’t see it, but I accept that people don’t need to agree with me on tax rates or the size of the military to be good Americans.

I do not apply that to members of the Communist party or devout Muslims who are out to destroy what we have here.

So, I think denominations are good things.  They serve an important role.  They make a place for all of us to fit in.  I would be glad to worship with you, take communion with you and sit beside you at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.  Just don’t expect me to like your music or your New Living Translation.

homo unius libri

Opus 2013-3: Links: Response to “Denominations”, part 1 of 2

Recently at Gorges’ Grouse there was a post on Denominations.  It is worth reading if you have not done so yet.  I might nit pick but on the whole he has good points.  My basic thoughts here are taken from a note I wrote myself a couple of years ago.  As I was reviewing old ideas his post got me thinking this would be a good addition to the discussion.

In the study of theology you have different objectives.  One the one hand you have “systematic” theology.  Another emphasis would be “Biblical” theology.  This would seem to be redundant but it is a necessary difference.  There are certain teachings that are a required part of orthodox Christianity that you will not find in the concordance.  One is the teaching of the Trinity.  The world is not in the Bible but you do find both the statement that there is one God along with the divinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  That would be "systematic."

There is also a difference between theology and straight Biblical teaching.  For instance, how do you deal with the teaching about the filling with the Holy Spirit?  In my background, the Church of the Nazarene, we have a doctrine to explain it.  We call it “entire sanctification.”  This is theology saying there is a work of grace by the Holy Spirit subsequent to regeneration by which we are filled with the Spirit and sanctified entirely.  That is a theological statement.  Most denominations would disagree with the way the Nazarenes state it.

How does this work out in teaching the Bible.  The Bible says we are to be sanctified wholly.

(1 Thessalonians 5:23 KJV)  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

No believer would claim it does not say this.  We simply disagree on what it means.

One is theology, one straight Bible teaching. 

To be continued...

homo unius libri

Opus 2013-2: Holiday Milestones

Happy New Year.  Are you getting tired of that?  Already?

New Year is an arbitrary date.  That is more true that most realize.  We just went through the Mayan Apocalypse hype.  Don’t blame the Mayans.  They were cool.  It was all the entrepreneurs who wanted to make money that got the buzz going.  In 1605 the calendar year in England began on March 25.  Other cultures have their days.

The usefulness of New Years is as a reminder.  We all have gone through the New Year’s resolution phase.  It never seems to work but it is useful.  It causes us to pause and think about where we have been and where we are going.  I think that is one of the major values in the different red letter days we celebrate.  Think about it.

Some holidays are designed to get us thinking.  Memorial Day and Veterans Day are for looking back.  Thanksgiving is for looking up.  Birthdays are for looking in. 

So don’t waste the day.  Enjoy all the family and cultural activities.  Celebrate.  But take some time to get away and think.  Look back at both the good and the bad.  Feel regret and satisfaction.  Look forward.  Set goals and hope.  Spend some time in prayer asking not just for blessing but for guidance and wisdom.

The New Year waits.  In 365 days you will be looking back on today.  Make it a good review.

homo unius libri

Opus 2013-1: What Price Dignity

Two years ago I still had hopes of getting my son interested in playing golf.  It was not to be.  My daughter though is now showing some interest.

Golf can teach you humility.  The boy and I were out one day and took the digital camera along.  We decided we would take some short motion pictures of our golf swings.  We have visions of the smooth strokes of the professionals.  We might need to tweak a little, and we were open to correction.  We quickly came down to earth.

The difference between what I thought I looked like and what I really looked like was staggering.  On camera I could see how awkward and uncoordinated I was.  I had no back swing and no follow through.  My illusions were shattered. 

Some people might march out and sign up for lessons.  Some might by new clubs or new outfits.  We coped by never taking the camera along again.  We will forget what it showed and get back to imagining how good we are.

How do we look at ourselves as children of God?  How we live our lives of obedience?  It would not be a pretty picture is we had spiritual cameras that showed it all. 

In golf we can take lessons.  In our spiritual walk we can also grow.  Both take practice and a willingness to listen to people who know better.  Both mean that we can’t just hide the camera.  To quote a Christmas carol,

God is not dead,
Nor does He sleep.

Happy New Year.  Make it a better one.

homo unius libri