Tuesday, July 04, 2006
'Not because we are right'
From www.cathedralofhope.com
Cathedral of Hope Prayer Ministry
Devotion for Tuesday, July 4, 2006
Two hundred and thirty years ago a group of men signed a document which would have been their death warrant if the American Revolution had not been successful. In January of 1776 Thomas Paine had published a book called "Common Sense." Paine advocated the separation of the colonies from the British at a time before the final decision had been made.
He said, ". . . we have every opportunity and every encouragement before us, to form the noblest purest constitution on the face of the earth. We have it in our power to begin the world over again. A situation, similar to the present, hath not happened since the days of Noah until now. The birthday of a new world is at hand, and a race of men, perhaps as numerous as all Europe contains, are to receive their portion of freedom from the event of a few months." Thomas Paine's book became the philosophical foundation for the Declaration of Independence.
Today we live in a deeply divided nation. We can repeat what Thomas Paine said after the Revolutionary war had started. "These are the times that try men's souls." The war we now fight hangs like a heavy stone about our necks. Many people believe that America has a divine mission to rescue the world through this war. By connecting this war with the divine will of God, the killing of innocent people, the torture, the detention of people against their will without trial, is somehow condoned or excused. It is what Jim Wallis, author of "God's Politics," calls a "theology of war."
Perhaps as Christians we should be more careful not to equate the theology of war with the theology of Christianity. We should strive toward the goals set out by Thomas Paine who was not even a Christian. We should try to honor the principle that we are to be peacemakers, first and foremost. In so doing, we must be willing to hold up our own country to the light of God's standards and see where we are lacking.
As you celebrate the fourth of July you will probably hear that famous song "God Bless America." Pray that God will bless America, not because we are right and everyone else is wrong, but because we really need God's blessings. "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."
O God, we thank you so much for the privileges and blessings you have given to us as Americans. Help us to use these blessings wisely and for your purposes. Help us to direct our energies and assets toward helping the world - your world.
Amen.
Devotion by Larry Colyar
Prayer Ministry Volunteer
Cathedral of Hope, Dallas
devotion@cathedralofhope.com
Cathedral of Hope Prayer Ministry
Devotion for Tuesday, July 4, 2006
Two hundred and thirty years ago a group of men signed a document which would have been their death warrant if the American Revolution had not been successful. In January of 1776 Thomas Paine had published a book called "Common Sense." Paine advocated the separation of the colonies from the British at a time before the final decision had been made.
He said, ". . . we have every opportunity and every encouragement before us, to form the noblest purest constitution on the face of the earth. We have it in our power to begin the world over again. A situation, similar to the present, hath not happened since the days of Noah until now. The birthday of a new world is at hand, and a race of men, perhaps as numerous as all Europe contains, are to receive their portion of freedom from the event of a few months." Thomas Paine's book became the philosophical foundation for the Declaration of Independence.
Today we live in a deeply divided nation. We can repeat what Thomas Paine said after the Revolutionary war had started. "These are the times that try men's souls." The war we now fight hangs like a heavy stone about our necks. Many people believe that America has a divine mission to rescue the world through this war. By connecting this war with the divine will of God, the killing of innocent people, the torture, the detention of people against their will without trial, is somehow condoned or excused. It is what Jim Wallis, author of "God's Politics," calls a "theology of war."
Perhaps as Christians we should be more careful not to equate the theology of war with the theology of Christianity. We should strive toward the goals set out by Thomas Paine who was not even a Christian. We should try to honor the principle that we are to be peacemakers, first and foremost. In so doing, we must be willing to hold up our own country to the light of God's standards and see where we are lacking.
As you celebrate the fourth of July you will probably hear that famous song "God Bless America." Pray that God will bless America, not because we are right and everyone else is wrong, but because we really need God's blessings. "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."
O God, we thank you so much for the privileges and blessings you have given to us as Americans. Help us to use these blessings wisely and for your purposes. Help us to direct our energies and assets toward helping the world - your world.
Amen.
Devotion by Larry Colyar
Prayer Ministry Volunteer
Cathedral of Hope, Dallas
devotion@cathedralofhope.com
Comments:
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'This is how we are sure that we have come to know Him: by keeping His commands.' (John 2:3)
John gives answer to the doubting Christian. If you are Christian, and struggling with your salvation, if you were to visit the apostle of love for guidance, his simple question would be, 'do you keep His commands?'
He would say, if you are unsure of your adoption, if you are doubting your citizenship, examine your life. If your life is absent obedience to the LORD, REPENT AND BELIEVE!
But this is advice that is shunned and considered horrid within Christianity. A preacher or pastor that tells a doubting Christian that they are probably not saved based upon their disobedient lifestyle would be kicked from the church for not responding in love.
Lets consider John's advice more. The doubting Christian would approach the apostle of love and say, 'I have come to know Jesus, I have believed, I am a Christian'.
John would then look at their lifestyle and see that it is barren and completely absent obedience to the things of God, and, in love no doubt, respond to them, 'LIAR!'
Why? Why would John behave as such toward the Christian? Why would John not give the benefit of the doubt and consider into the equation the 'fact' that all one need do is simply believe in Jesus and eternal rewards and blessed life is their's without question?
Why would John seem to tack on obedience to this blessed and free gift that is clearly given without any strings within the Scripture?
Because John says 'this is how we know we are in Him: the one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked.' (2:5b-6)
John does not say that one need obey any command save one to be justified. John would readily admit that justification only comes through belief. That in order to be 'saved' all one needs do is believe. That through belief one is justified, through belief one is declared to be righteous.
But John also recognizes that the same Spirit that whispers (or screams) within the heart of the pagan and woos (or strongly urges with almost force) the pagan to accept the truth of the gospel, is the same Spirit that indwells this person. And strangely, this Spirit has never been one to be satisfied with inactivity and laziness.
He is not one to begin a good work and leave the work to spoil and become useless. If He is sent to do a job, just as His Jesus did not leave until the words, 'it is finished' left His mouth, so He will not leave until He finishes His work.
If He is sent to save an individual, He knows that the Father will not accept the excuse, 'well I know I didn't save them from their sin or from the sinful lifestyle and the devil's snares throughout their life, but at least I did save them in the end from Hell.' He knows that the Father will respond with disgust and disappointment at an unfinished task. That is why He finishes His job.
John recognizes this. Therefore, John sees that if a person truly believes and is truly justified then this person will display the fruit of the Spirit. He knows that the Spirit is not in the habit of only producing belief, but love and joy and peace, etcetera, etcetera...
Therefore, when a person comes to John and says tha they have come to know Jesus, and yet this person does not keep the commandments of their 'LORD', John responds without question and without hesitancy, 'you are liar, you walk in the darkness, and the truth is not in you.'
My question is then, why can we not do the same? Why have the leaders within our churches been so shackled and bound to always be 'loving' (Americanized idea of love mind you) and never confront the disobedience or blatant sin within the person? Why have the elders not been allowed to use one of the most powerful teaching methods that have been given to them by the same LORD that called His favorite disciple 'Satan'?
I think another very important question is why would the apostle of love EVER call into question anyone's salvation? This does not seem at all the loving thing to do. Or perhaps our idea of love has been so debaucherized and bastardized that we truly do not know what it means.
Afterall, I do love tacos, and I love Jesus as well.
'They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.' (the Apostle John in his letter to believers)
John gives answer to the doubting Christian. If you are Christian, and struggling with your salvation, if you were to visit the apostle of love for guidance, his simple question would be, 'do you keep His commands?'
He would say, if you are unsure of your adoption, if you are doubting your citizenship, examine your life. If your life is absent obedience to the LORD, REPENT AND BELIEVE!
But this is advice that is shunned and considered horrid within Christianity. A preacher or pastor that tells a doubting Christian that they are probably not saved based upon their disobedient lifestyle would be kicked from the church for not responding in love.
Lets consider John's advice more. The doubting Christian would approach the apostle of love and say, 'I have come to know Jesus, I have believed, I am a Christian'.
John would then look at their lifestyle and see that it is barren and completely absent obedience to the things of God, and, in love no doubt, respond to them, 'LIAR!'
Why? Why would John behave as such toward the Christian? Why would John not give the benefit of the doubt and consider into the equation the 'fact' that all one need do is simply believe in Jesus and eternal rewards and blessed life is their's without question?
Why would John seem to tack on obedience to this blessed and free gift that is clearly given without any strings within the Scripture?
Because John says 'this is how we know we are in Him: the one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked.' (2:5b-6)
John does not say that one need obey any command save one to be justified. John would readily admit that justification only comes through belief. That in order to be 'saved' all one needs do is believe. That through belief one is justified, through belief one is declared to be righteous.
But John also recognizes that the same Spirit that whispers (or screams) within the heart of the pagan and woos (or strongly urges with almost force) the pagan to accept the truth of the gospel, is the same Spirit that indwells this person. And strangely, this Spirit has never been one to be satisfied with inactivity and laziness.
He is not one to begin a good work and leave the work to spoil and become useless. If He is sent to do a job, just as His Jesus did not leave until the words, 'it is finished' left His mouth, so He will not leave until He finishes His work.
If He is sent to save an individual, He knows that the Father will not accept the excuse, 'well I know I didn't save them from their sin or from the sinful lifestyle and the devil's snares throughout their life, but at least I did save them in the end from Hell.' He knows that the Father will respond with disgust and disappointment at an unfinished task. That is why He finishes His job.
John recognizes this. Therefore, John sees that if a person truly believes and is truly justified then this person will display the fruit of the Spirit. He knows that the Spirit is not in the habit of only producing belief, but love and joy and peace, etcetera, etcetera...
Therefore, when a person comes to John and says tha they have come to know Jesus, and yet this person does not keep the commandments of their 'LORD', John responds without question and without hesitancy, 'you are liar, you walk in the darkness, and the truth is not in you.'
My question is then, why can we not do the same? Why have the leaders within our churches been so shackled and bound to always be 'loving' (Americanized idea of love mind you) and never confront the disobedience or blatant sin within the person? Why have the elders not been allowed to use one of the most powerful teaching methods that have been given to them by the same LORD that called His favorite disciple 'Satan'?
I think another very important question is why would the apostle of love EVER call into question anyone's salvation? This does not seem at all the loving thing to do. Or perhaps our idea of love has been so debaucherized and bastardized that we truly do not know what it means.
Afterall, I do love tacos, and I love Jesus as well.
'They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.' (the Apostle John in his letter to believers)
# posted by 
: 2:33 PM
: 2:33 PM
OK. It all hinges on what it means to "keep his commands," which He His Own Self summarized thusly:
Love God with all your heart, soul and mind; love your neighbor as yourself.
What in this post sparked this fine essay?
Love God with all your heart, soul and mind; love your neighbor as yourself.
What in this post sparked this fine essay?
"By connecting this war with the divine will of God..." ER
I just wonder if any of those cities that God commanded the Israelites to "utterly destroy" had "innocent life" (women, children, old folks) within?
I just wonder if any of those cities that God commanded the Israelites to "utterly destroy" had "innocent life" (women, children, old folks) within?
Of course, they did, D.Dad. And if God actually *did* command such, He would BE A MONSTER.
Which is many of us take the Bible seriously but not literally.
God is no monster, and the Bible is best understood as humankind's feeble efforts, over centuries, to explain the evolving concept of God, rather than as an accurate, inerrant revelation of God to man.
I know you believe otherwise, so spare me the ranting and hollering and carrying on, please.
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Which is many of us take the Bible seriously but not literally.
God is no monster, and the Bible is best understood as humankind's feeble efforts, over centuries, to explain the evolving concept of God, rather than as an accurate, inerrant revelation of God to man.
I know you believe otherwise, so spare me the ranting and hollering and carrying on, please.
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