Just Because it is Embarrassing

Filed in:

Both Feet Firmly on the Ground (Cosmology)

Hey Caleb, thanks.  I appreciate your mind, and your writing.  I thought about all those kinds of questions for years.

 

Please be quick to note here, in my response, that I am not declaring anathema, but am trying to make firm categories.  I believe you desire, as I do, to be faithful to Jesus and his word.  So if I say to anyone, “It’s wrong to argue with scripture”  that includes every one of my own wrong views that I haven’t caught yet, and doesn’t mean I am pointing at you.  I am not trying to shout that I am in the right, but of course, we both are people of opinion, so we must think we are right enough to debate.  That being said -

 

If the Bible has parts in Greek, then we have to get Greek to get the Bible.  If the Bible has math in it, we have to do math to justice to the Bible.

 

I need to understand the world around me if I am to understand the Bible.   However, if a scholar tells me that David was not a king – he is wrong.  We could also allow for ignorance.  They might be ignorant and not in conscious rebellion.  But anyone talking about David knows what the bible says about David.

 

Now, if the Bible has not revealed something, then scientific scholars are free to inform my guessing about un-authority-bound questions.  They can still be wrong, but they are not in rebellion.

 

So, if they consciously say David was no king, they are not only wrong, they are in rebellion.  That one is obvious.

 

If they say that Israel did not eat manna….same thing.

 

Now the question is complicated somewhat by the fact that many Christian want, as I did in my former view, to go from the supposed scientific learning around them first, and then decide what might be meant or must not be meant by the Bible.  A lot of this issue has to do with the question: How would a faithful fifth century b.c. Jew have understood a passage?  Or a faithful first century Christian.  Science may explain what a passage doesn’t, but it can’t contradict what a passage does affirm.  So the “ancient believer test” is helpful for this one.

Science is allowed to correct ancient misreadings of scripture, but cannot bind ancient intentions of scripture.

 

Because of this, many Christians must believe that the Bible may be seen as indecisive in matters that appear to conflict with current scientific views.  Because they are unwittingly committed outside the Bible first.

 

Am I willing to have my shiftable opinions about non-clear passages swayed by scientists?  Yes, I am, with the knowledge that they and I might still be wrong.

 

So, bottom line, USE science to try to narrow your undecided views where the Bible gives liberty.

 

But if a matter has a clearly claimed biblical meaning, we who are committed to biblical revelation by the Spirit can’t discard it just because it is embarrassing in front of scientists who are committed to a view that requires the absence of the Spirit.

 

For now, my understanding says, there are passages that absolutely prevent old earth.

 

Our job, yours and mine, is to make sure we know which passages are decisive and which are not.  So I thank you for your honest participation in a Christian walk we take together toward full revelation. 

N T Wright – Justification – post 2

[up to p.37]

Okay, so I haven’t gotten much farther, but I do have more to say.

Style and Method

This book is one of the most understandable and readable and pleasant books I have ever picked up in theology.  Wright is always a master of extended metaphor.  His understanding of the way that Paul writes comes out in the way he himself writes, always drawing in narrative, always alluding to controlling narratives.

As to method, I just intend here a comment about the question “Will Wright cut to the chase?”  It seems that Wright is being direct, and intensely clear about his views.  He is also keeping the gloves off and not pulling any punches.  While I never see Wright being mean, he is not putting on pleasantries in order to converse in a friendly way at a dinner party.  Wright is doing what he needs to do at this point.  He is actually saying, “So and so theologian gets x wrong and misses x passage.”  So my hope, up through page 37, is that the book will continue to speak so plainly.

When I was first encountered Wright in 2000-2003, I kept wondering “Is he not aware of what people are saying about him over here, in America?”  I wondered this because, most times when I heard a fellow reformed christian criticizing Wright, the criticism was about works-based salvation [which, make no mistake, he thoroughly repudiates and denies].  But I never seemed to read him saying anything about it.  The fact that it wasn’t a concern for Wright to deal with such a matter just seemed to fuel many fires and make people say that he was in fact a gospel-denier – a works preacher….

But, like Augustine retracting his disbelief in miracles after many miraculous proofs, I have now heard and seen Wright speak about this so many times I have to say “He absolutely is not what they all think he is.”

Now, Instead of wondering whether he knows that they are blaming him of Pelagianism, I wonder, “Does anyone know that Wright has answered this question satisfactorily MANY times?

This book should only make that answer louder and more accessible to the public.

Easter – Video: Resurrected Children and Passover

My new video about Paedocommunion-

Prince of God – Son of God

Count Your Blessings….

I’ve been really into reading the book of Numbers lately. It’s alluded to a lot in 1 Corinthians 10.

Click to see the book of Numbers at Logos

Christmas Sale on Modern Parables

Note: I don’t get paid to advertise; I think Modern Parables is a very helpful Bible teaching tool.

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS SALE If you’re looking for a unique gift that teaches the Bible in an entertaining way, consider giving Modern Parables individual DVD’s to family and friends this season.  For a limited time, Modern Parables is putting its individual DVD’s on sale for $19.95 each (normally $24.95).  If you would like all six studies, you can receive even more savings by buying the Complete DVD Set on sale for $99 (normally $129).  Go to the Special Christmas Sale now to stock up on gifts fun and edifying for everyone. NEW MP DISTRIBUTORS Modern Parables continues to add new distribution partners for its film-based studies. Some recent additions include FaithVisuals, Catholic Media House, Small Group Exchange, and Vision Forum. Our growing list of affiliate partners is available here, with new partners added on a regular basis. If you know of any websites, catalogs, or retail stores you think should be carrying our products, feel free to forward them our contact info or contact us directly. NATL YOUTH WORKERS CONVENTION Modern Parables will be setting up a booth at the National Youth Workers Convention being held at the Opryland Hotel in our hometown of Nashville, Tennessee from November 19-22.  If you are planning on attending the convention, please stop by our booth and introduce yourself. We would love to hear your feedback on Modern Parables as well as stories about how you’re using it. We will also be offering our products for sale at special convention prices. ONE YEAR, 151 COUNTRIES One of the ways we keep track of modernparable.com is through Google Analytics. It shows us all kinds of neat internet stats for our site, including the countries of our visitors. Looking back over the first year of Modern Parables’ life, we’ve been visited by people from exactly 151 countries. This includes such diverse places as Qatar, Gabon, Estonia, Honduras, Iceland, and Brunei. Modern Parables spreads best by word of mouth, so if you’ve benefited from our studies, let others know – no matter where they live.

N T Wright on ABC Nightline – “Life After Life-After-Death”

Jesus WAS the Messiah the FIRST time on Earth – Contrary to Hagee’s Message

Filed in:

- Which of These Things is Not Like The Other? (Heresy)

 

I have to say in no uncertain terms that to deny the Messiahship of Jesus, IN THE FIRST coming, is completely unbiblical.

Messiah is Kingship. Messiah is also a person not just his place as king. He was to be the one to fight for and win Israels’s peace.

Jesus directly told the woman at the well that he was the Messiah. Simon Peter’s heaven sent “from the father” confession was this:

“YOU ARE THE MESSIAH, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.”

(Note that Both MESSIAH and SON OF GOD, are terms for the King of Israel in Psalm 2 – you will read the word “messiah” as “anointed one.”)

He processed into the city of David on a donkey, amidst palm waving, and was robed in a kings garment of purple and wore a kings crown (thorns). The charge and complaint of the Jews was EXACTLY that Jesus claimed to be the Messiah, King of Israel. and was “exalted” (lifted up on the cross) under a sign in three languages that said, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.”

In FACT, the name “Christ” is Greek for “Messiah.” His most common appelation in the epistles is “Jesus the Messiah.”

His full and permanent earthly/heavenly reign has nothing to do with the question of whether he WAS ALREADY anointed to be KING.

David was anointed LONG before he ruled. He was already MESSIAH before he reigned. But, as soon as he was anointed, it was an obvious sin to fight against God’s chosen servant.

Jesus directly claims messiahship several times, and his followers almost always refer to him in this way. Hagee says that Israel cannot be said to have rejected His Messiahship (anointing) because he never in any way (“word or deed”) claimed to be Messiah.

This is either ignorance or a lie from Hagee, a man who should know better.

He DID claim it. And the DID reject him FOR EXACTLY the reason that HE CLAIMED TO BE MESSIAH.

Paul says that the GOSPEL is specifically that the resurrection and lineage from David prove Jesus to be Messiah (Romans 1.1-6).

For Paul, Belief that Jesus is already LORD/Son of David/Messiah [all Ps 2 and Ps 89 references), and is RAISED from the dead are the two prongs of the Gospel:

-Rom 1.1-6

1Paul, a servant of the MESSIAH Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for THE GOSPEL of God— 2 THE GOSPEL he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a DESCENDANT OF DAVID, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the SON OF GOD ["messiah" title in Ps 2 and in Ps 89] by his RESURRECTION from the dead: Jesus THE MESSIAH our Lord. 5 Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. 6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus the MESSIAH.

- 2 Timothy 2.8

Remember Jesus THE MESSIAH, RAISED from the dead, DESCENDED FROM DAVID. This is my gospel[.]

- Rom 10.9

That if you confess allegiance with your mouth, saying, “Jesus is LORD,” and believe in your heart that God RAISED him from the dead, you will be saved.

The Wolf, The Lamb, and the Little Child [3]

This is the 3rd entry in a series that walks through my sermon preparation for Sunday (2007/12/09). If you want to read them in another order choose one of the following:

Entry [1]

Entry [2]

Entry [4]

Entry [5]

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Time to get all the way down to slash and burn.

The things guiding my thoughts now are:

• The Advent 2 theme is peace
• Peace is an extremely easy object to find in Isaiah 11
  • vv.6-9

• The Peace is described rather metaphorically, not literally – so we don’t just sit down and say – the peace of the Lord will have wolves and lambs together – but the peace is more for our own welfare:
• Basically, there are no conflicts against God’s people and the rest of the passage shows us that the enemies of Israel are being defeated.
• There is
  • 1) justice and equity through a righteous and faithful judge, and
  • 2) a rod of vengeance for the wicked.
  • This must obviously be a major division of the sermon.
• Reconciliation inside of God’s people (Judah and Ephraim – 11.13)
  

I might use lyrics from “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” (leave last verse for the end) and then transition to Luke’s “Peace on earth” passage. Questions I want to ask are

• As Longfellow wondered – WHERE IS THIS PEACE?
• The Luke passage doesn’t promise worldwide, indiscriminant peace
• At the end (Longfellow – last verse: IS GOD DEAD?) – the Atheist’s “proof”
  • God hates evil

 

________________________________________________________________

 OKAY the outline just arrived in a red and silver package from Santa God [Santa means "holy"].

The messiah gives us peace by

1. Removal of Enemies
2. Reconciliation Within Our Communities
3. Giving Justice to the Poor.

 

See Entry [4]

________________________________________________________________

The church we are part of:
________________________________________________________________

If you are interested in a Bible-believing church that worships in the Anglican way, and you live in the Baltimore / Annapolis area, you might consider Emmaus Anglican Church (Catonsville). Click here for the church website.

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Emmaus Anglican Church is a parish of the Anglican Mission in the Americas – a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Rwanda, a Church in full communion in the Global Anglican Communion.

The Wolf, The Lamb, and the Little Child [2]

This is the 2nd entry in a Series that walks through my Sermon preparation for Sunday (2007/12/09). If you want to read them in another order choose one of the following:

Entry [1]

Entry [3]

Entry [4]

Entry [5]

________________________________________________________________

I want to begin by reviewing ideas throughout the text of Isaiah 11. Click here to see the text in a new window from BibleGateway: Isaiah 11.

I have been working on and staring at Isaiah 11, Isaiah 61, Romans 15 and Psalm 1 and 2.

Isaiah 11 and 61 are connected at the “Spirit of the Lord God is upon me…”

2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him…
4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth,
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked….(11.2,4)

1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn…

In BOTH passages, Zion is the place for the culmination of this “anointed” [messiah] to begin his reign where there will be no more conflict. (11.6-9; 61.1-4)

9 They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea. (Isa 11.9 – ESV)

2 …to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,
…to comfort all who mourn;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes… (Isa 61.2-3 – ESV)

______________________________________________________________

SO WHAT?

Let me give a quick review of some mere thoughts on Isaiah 11 (and its counterpart) – especially because of their similarities. After that I will want to run through some versified comments.

Some Mere Thoughts

• The story is about Israel, defeated and oppressed by all its neighbors – Assyria, Moab, Philistia, Edom, not only that, it has been under its own evil kings for long enough … the tree of Israel is been cut down to a stump.
• In this story, though, not all hope is lost. The tree will begin to grow again – with righteousness, faithfulness, pity for the poor and merciless wrath for the sinful oppressor.

—–ACTUALLY——

I have had too many interruptions today to keep going the way I intended to go. So NOW I will just have to write on straight into the downsizing process. I wanted to make my study as large as possible, and then break off unecessary parts a bit at a time. But I need to just start cutting off everything but what I think is the point I will get to within the sermon.

[See Section 3]

 

______________________________________________________________

The church we are part of:
________________________________________________________________

If you are interested in a Bible-believing church that worships in the Anglican way, and you live in the Baltimore / Annapolis area, you might consider Emmaus Anglican Church (Catonsville). Click here for the church website.

.

.

.
Emmaus Anglican Church is a parish of the Anglican Mission in the Americas – a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Rwanda, a Church in full communion in the Global Anglican Communion.