Three

I saw an interview with, what seemed to be, an earnest couple who had recently become Christians. They were ostracized from their church because they chose to believe the non-trinitarian views of another individual who was put out of the church for these views. Prior to hearing this interview, I saw a video of an elder calling out a pastor for believing and teaching that God is three distinct beings. I also had an interesting discussion with a very confident individual at church once, who did not believe that God is three distinct beings. Therefore, I feel the need to address this topic. However, before I begin, I must make a disclaimer: As finite, created, human beings we will not now nor ever in the future be able to fully understand the nature of God (if we get to that point then we become God); however, the parts of Himself that God has deemed necessary for us to understand He has revealed in His word and therefore, we are perfectly capable by His grace to comprehend. Let’s begin.

 To find out what God has to say about Himself let’s begin “In the beginning”. Genesis 1 opens: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” From this we learn that God is the Creator. As we continue reading, we learn that God, by commandment, created all the things we interact with on a daily basis including ourselves. Let’s take a closer look at the “ourselves” aspect of this. In Genesis 1:26 after God created the land animals, He engages in a discourse: “And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” This is a loaded verse, however, the first thing about God that we need to point out is the plurality with which He refers to Himself. He said “Us” and “Our” not ‘me’ or ‘my’. The second thing is that man was made in Their image giving them (man) dominion over creation. Verse 27 says, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Man was created in the image of God – to reflect God – therefore man is to share some of God’s characteristics. The ones listed in these two verses are that man was to have dominion over the creatures of the earth, just as God has dominion over all created things, and the plurality of man (male and female created He them) reflects the plurality of God.

The argument of the non-trinitarians that I have encountered centre on the scripture in Deuteronomy 6:4 in which God speaks to Israel saying, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord”. This is also repeated and affirmed by Jesus in the new testament (Mark 12:29). So, the question now arises, ‘Is the Bible contradicting itself when in the beginning God refers to Himself as plural and then five books down, says that He is one?’ There is no contradiction here to understand the oneness of God we need to look at the image of Himself that He created. Genesis 2:23, 24 states, “And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Adam was one distinct individual and the Woman, later named Eve, was one distinct individual, however, scripture tells us that in marriage the two become one. This is a reflection of the Oneness of God in multiple distinct beings.

Now based on Genesis 1, we know that there are more than one beings that is God, however, we have to probe further to find out how many. Some may hold to two beings as man and woman reflecting God are two. However, we know from practical experience that images are not exactly like the original. Case in point, God is self-existent, all powerful, all knowing and omnipresent we, His image, are not. So how many beings make up God? In 1 John 5:7 we learn that “there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, The Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” To bear record is to be a witness and to be an good witness one has to have seen the whole of an event. Form Scripture we know that there are other beings in heaven worshiping God day and night (Revelation 4:8). However, these beings can’t bear an adequate record because they were created and haven’t seen the whole story, they can only give their perspective of events. There are only Three in heaven that have this capacity.

So, Who are these three, “the Father, The Word, and the Holy Ghost”. The Father is the One from Whom we are separated because of sin. He is the One to Whom we address our prayers (Matthew 6:9-13). He is the One Who sent Jesus to die for our sins (John 3:16). The Word is Jesus, the Son (John 1:1-5, 9-14). He is the One that spoke in the beginning and created all things on the earth. John 1:1 clearly points out the plurality of God because “the Word was with God and the Word was God”. He is our redeemer and our mediator; we pray to the Father in His name (John 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:5; John 15:16). Jesus led the Israelites through the wilderness from Egypt to the Promised Land (1 Corinthians 10:1-4). He came to earth in the form of a man, the image of God, to show us the Father, and stand at the head of the human family to reconcile all of mankind with God (John 14:8, 9; 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19; Colossians 1:15). The Jews wanted to kill Jesus for blasphemy because He claimed to be God (John 10:30-33). Jesus forgave sins and thereby successfully brought healing because He is God (Matthew 9:2-7). Jesus submitted Himself to the father to die in our behalf and did not feel diminished by this position (Philippians 2:5-11). God is the only one that is worthy of worship. The scripture actively encourages us to worship Jesus; all other messengers that have come to earth emphatically instruct humanity not to worship them (Revelation 19:10; 22:9). The Father refers to Jesus, the Son as Lord and God (Hebrews 1:8-10). He laid down His own life as a man and took it back up as God (John 10:17, this is the mystery of Godliness – 1 Timothy 3:16). Jesus is God. The Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is referenced throughout scripture as well. In Genesis 1:2 “The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” to enact creation. The Spirit of God dwelt in Joseph giving him wisdom to interpret dreams and govern a nation (Genesis 41:38, 39). The Spirit of God caused Saul and others to prophesy (1 Samuel 10:10). Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah (Jesus) would be filled with the Spirit of God and by the Spirit He would preach, heal and free humanity (Isaiah 61:1). At Jesus’ baptism witnesses saw the Holy Spirit descend on Him in the form of a dove (Matthew 3:16). They also heard the voice of the Father declare, “This is my beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Jesus promised when He left earth that the Father would send the Comforter, Who would teach all believers about Jesus (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). With these scriptures (and there are many more) we see that the Godhead (Acts 17:29; Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9) is composed of three distinct individuals with distinct job description, existing eternally and that Jesus came to earth as Their representative to reconcile humanity with God.

As it relates to terminology, I prefer to be cautious about the words I use. I’m not perfect and therefore sometimes I slip and use the wrong term. But as a general rule, in all things, it is best to use scriptural definition for all things. The bible does not use the word trinity. Many people that believe as I do try to explain away the term as meaning what the Bible describes. Because the term trinity is loaded with many pagan connotations, I choose to use the Biblical term Godhead. It is abundantly important, in the time of earth’s history that we find ourselves living, that we be very solid on what the scripture actually teaches in all things because “the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” and the deception in these last days will be such that “if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (1 Peter 5:8; Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22).

Hold fast, 

Manifesto

Some of you may think I’ve been living under a rock for having just learnt about the “Georgia Guide-stones”. The reality is I just recently heard about them and found out a bit about their history. They were inaugurated in 1980, the information the convey is written in multiple major languages of the past and present and it is aligned with curious astronomical significance. I will not address any of these symbolisms. I had heard the first manifesto of these mysterious tablets quoted by others but never knew the source. In reading a bit about the origins of these stones and their content I felt impressed to address the implications of the text. As I see it, excluding the first point, all the other proposals are very vague and leaves a lot open to interpretation. That is my general impression of the list. The declared motivation, “guidestones to an Age of Reason”, brings to mind events in 18^th Century France when religion in all its forms was banned. They dressed up a prostitute and declared her the “goddess of reason” parading her into their national assembly as an object of worship. During this time France fell into chaos, rejecting all things scriptural, they even attempted a disastrous 10-day week. As is repeatedly demonstrated throughout history without God all human reasoning will collapse into utter disaster (1 Corinthians 1:19-25).

The next thing I observed is that there are 10 proposals itemised that should be the guide for this “age of reason”. They are all listed on one stone; this still brings to mind the 10 commandments God itemized on two tables of stone. In God’s 10 commandments the first table outlines our interaction with Him and the second, our interaction with our fellow man. The guide-stone proposal is curiously only focused on man’s interaction with his fellow man and the environment. Therefore, I can safely assume that the authors of this proposal do not believe in a deity and imagine that with sheer human intellect they can bring about this new way of being. 6,000 years of human history suggests that this is not the case. Because we did not just appear, and we have a Creator, in all things that we do, He must be the primary factor. Removing our obligation to Him will only lead to anchor-less chaos. (Psalms 14:1; John 15:5).

Since the orchestrators of this new society have chosen to have “Reason” as its “god” lets get a definition. Reason – the power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgements logically or, what is right, practical or possible; common sense. This seems like a good way of making decisions. However, these definitions require a basic set of systemic rules on which reason can be exercised. For example, reason tells me that I should not walk off the top of a building unless there are stairs on which to walk. Why is this choice reasonable? My understanding of the rule of gravity says that if I were to initiate that journey without stairs, or some other conveyance, things would not end well for me. For these proposals to make any sense foundational systemic rules need to be established. Who will be determining these rules? How will what is logical, right, practical or possible be determined? What are the foundational rules? Does something being possible make it right?

Now to the actual text. The first proposal is the only one I had heard prior to learning about the guide stones. I imagine this to be the case because it strikes at the basic decency and love of freedom, we all still possess. The shock of executing this proposal horrifies anyone with an appreciation for life. The proposal states: “Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.” The current population of the world is about 7,500,000,000. To achieve this proposed peak population 7,000,000,000 people would have to be wiped out somehow. Some apologists for this manifesto suggest that this may be an ideal that would be achieved after some cataclysmic event on the earth decimating the world’s population (eg. Effects of climate change, detonation of a nuclear weapon, MDR epidemic, etc.). Ok, so let’s suppose (God forbid) one of these tragic events should occur wiping out 99% of the world’s population, leaving 75,000,000 people, who happened to get into a bunker, with enough food, before the tragedy hit. Some years go by the environment begins to clear and these underground dwellers resurface. Nature takes its course people pair up and children are born. After a few years the 500,000,000 population is achieved (a random number with no scientific support). How is this maintained? Are people killed as a new person is born? Are people not allowed to have children until someone dies? What if someone has twins shifting the population equilibrium? How is the male/female ratio maintained? What of racial balance? My questions may seem facetious, but they are rooted in a truth. Is this new “age of reason” a free, life respecting society? We have a practical example of the disaster that population control is. China ballooned to a peak population of about 1,300,000,000. To curtail this, they instituted a one child policy. Those who had children chose to have a male child and sacrificed their female children. Others who had multiple children could only afford to register one therefore the others went without basic resources. Some chose to have no children. Now the nation is faced with an aging population that will soon have a sharp plummet and insufficient females for the males to find mates to supplement the population. Is this the world we are to face under these worshipers of “reason”? (Genesis 1:28; 9:1)

The second proposal states: “Guide reproduction wisely – improving fitness and diversity.” Setting aside the unnerving prospect of who will be guiding reproduction, lets assess fitness and diversity. As a biologist I learnt that fitness, in reference to evolutionary biology determined survival rates (survival of the fittest). Fitness can be determined by various factors, strength of genes, level of practical reasoning ability, age, and general health to name a few. This seems to me to be eugenics. The limited population of this society will then be engineered to produce traits deemed desirable by the leaders of this society. With this focus on fitness, then diversity automatically becomes limited. Who determines the diverse desirable traits of fitness? Are all recessive traits to be eliminated? Is race or ethnicity the source of diversity? And in what proportion will this diversity exist? Or will age be a factor in diversity and in what proportion is this 500,000,000 to be divided age-wise? (Psalms 139:14; Ecclesiastes 11:5)

The third proposal “Unite humanity with a living new language.” On the surface of it this sounds good. All remaining humanity will be able to communicate freely. However, if you are a Bible believer then you’ll know when and why we received all the different languages we have. Humanity lost faith in God and defied His instructions to spread out in the world and populate it. They opted to form one community and to build a tower that would take them to Heaven. This would not do; so, God destroyed the tower and confounded the languages, resulting in dispersion (Genesis 11). Multiple languages bring its own inherent diversity. Varying ways of expression and points of view. Is this one of the undesirable traits that needs to be eliminated from the “age of reason”? Or is this a defiance of a direct act of God?

The fourth proposal, “Rule passion – faith – tradition – and all things with tempered reason.” In this new society passion, faith and tradition are to be controlled by “tempered reason”. No one should believe in anything fully. This brings to mind the Laodicean church – not hot or cold, insipid and disgusting to the taste, completely lacking commitment (Revelation 3:14-17). I am particularly drawn to the reining in of faith. The term faith is typically used to denote religious belief. Religion by its nature is founded on specific rules – for the Christian faith it is the 10-commandments. How can baseless reason control well anchored faith?

Proposal five, “Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts.” Excellent proposal! This world could use the proper application of fair laws. My question stands and may become repetitive, what is the foundation of these fair laws. Are any of the laws currently in existence considered fair under lawless reason? Proposal six ties into five, “Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.” I appreciate the fact that nations will still be able to exist within their own borders, however, will these nations be free to make their own laws? Or must they adopt the laws of the architects of the “age of reason”? Proposal seven is also in the same vein, “Avoid petty laws and useless officials. Again, on the face it seems reasonable, but based on what? What determines a petty law? Is “Thou shalt not commit adultery” a petty law? Or “Thou shalt not covet”? Or is “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it Holy” a petty law? All these laws and the remaining seven in their set are vital to our acknowledgment of our origins, the demonstration of love and respect toward our creator and how we are to love and respect our fellow human beings. Will humanity be free to kill, steal and lie in this new society in the name of weeding out the weak and maintaining fitness?

Number eight, “Balance personal right with social duties.” The golden rule as spoken by Jesus expresses this, “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” My rights should never infringe on yours, nor should your rights infringe on mine. Nine, “Prize truth – beauty – love – seeking harmony with the infinite. I only know One who is infinite, however, the first two proposals of these guidelines are diametrically opposed to His instructions about how life on the earth is to be. What is truth, beauty and love? Are these ethereal concepts that are determined by the beholder? I know truth is absolute. Scripture says that the word of God is truth (John 17:17), it also says that Jesus is truth (John 14:6). Love is also absolute. From scripture we learn that keeping God’s commandments is love (1 John 5:3). It can also be argued that beauty can be determined objectively. While each individual has his own preference, a mathematical formula has been derived to determine beauty.

And the tenth proposal, “Be not a cancer on the earth – Leave room for nature – Leave room for nature.” Also, excellent advise but how do we do this. I imagine for the architects of this new society this ties in to the first two proposals. Adherence to God instructions would ensure this. When God made man, He gave him a garden for which to care (Genesis 2:15). Agrarian lifestyles lend to caring for the earth. When the Israelites were given rules about how their society was to run, they and their animals received rest once per week and the soil received long-term rest every seventh year so that nutrients can be replenished (Leviticus 25:1-5). Maintaining a patient, unhurried lifestyle that does not require the use of dangerous chemicals to accelerate production, is the design of our Creator.

I don’t know who the authors of these guide stones are. The individual who commissioned their erection utilized the curious pseudonym R.C. Christian. The origin of this manifesto is unimportant – though with some thought I’m sure we could ascertain the source – however, their instructions are dangerously imprecise. In the world we now find ourselves living, it is very possible for us to experience a cataclysmic event that could require such a rebuilding of society. Such vague platitudes will not hold any society together. What we will need in such an event and what we need now is the Word of God. The absolute, reliable, all encompassing law of our Creator will ensure synchronicity with our Maker and cooperative unity with our fellow human beings. Let us reason together with Him and be made whole (Isaiah 1:18).

Blessings,

Mediation

I was listening to a podcast today addressing the topic “Morality of Disobedience”. The context of the discussion centred on the issue of clerics who violate trust. Many believers have become disillusioned with all things related to faith because of paedophile, philandering, embezzling, perjuring and faithless clerics (Isaiah 56:10-12). In the cases when church leaders engage in these blatant violations of trust, is it moral for the congregants to be disobedient? Well this depends on what standard we are choosing to obey or disobey. Many have come to equate God with the church, so when the church and its leadership fails, individuals become disillusioned with God and stop believing in His goodness (Ezekiel 34:1-6). This is a direct work of the enemy of souls. He has orchestrated a system, manipulating our desire for the visible and the tangible, causing us to equate the sinless, infallible God with sinful fallible human beings. God’s standard is sure and perfect and can, through His help be obeyed. Church standards and traditions tend to fall short of God’s perfect will (Matthew 15:3-9).

With this knowledge how do we overcome the faults of human beings to see the never-failing God? First, we need to know where to find God. In His infinite wisdom God has provided us with a book in which we can find all the information we need to know about Himself and ourselves (John 5:39; 2 Peter 1:19). An honest reading of the Bible will bring us to an understanding that this book is very different from all others. However, many believers in the Bible have been made to think that scripture cannot be understood by an individual without the interpretation of an organized system. This is fallacy. The Bible clearly teaches how it can and should be interpreted. The Bible is inspired by the God and written by individuals with varying writing styles all conveying the same message of the love of God (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible interprets itself, one passage is related to another that give more clarity to the previous passage (Isaiah 28:9-13). When the Bible is earnestly studied as a whole, with dependence on God, the giver of this word, we will all come to the same conclusions, as seen during the time of the reformation.

So, what of the church community? Scripture teaches that we are not to forsake the assembly (Hebrews 10:25). So then, are we all expected to congregate under the administration of those that cause injury and harm through wanton violation of God’s laws? Following the principle of ‘line upon line’ and precept upon precept’ we learn that assemble does not require an established “mainstream” church body, Jesus said that where ever two or three are gathered in His name He is there to bless (Matthew 18:20). Therefore, the key to obeying God’s command of assembly requires that we gather with others that truly believe in Jesus and He will bring a blessing (Acts 2:1-4). The reality is even when we are alone and unable to find another soul who shares our belief in Jesus, He is there to bless, because we as believing individuals are the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16). There is an old saying that rings abundantly true in these circumstances “you plus God is a majority”. Elijah stood on his own, with God behind him, in the face of a completely apostate Israelite nation and was victorious (1 Kings 18). Therefore, if we would have victory and genuine peace in our lives, we need to seek for God not the church.

Then if the church is not necessarily the way to God, then how do we gain forgiveness? As we read the Bible we learn of our sinful condition (Psalms 51:5). We also learn that Jesus came in the form of sinful man and by living the obedient life conquered sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 8:3). By virtue of His victory, Jesus is our only mediator, and the only way back into favour with the Father (John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5). Through this gift we are now able to come boldly to the throne of grace to receive forgiveness and mercy (Hebrews 4:16). The churches of today may claim to be our one route to God, but a careful study of God’s word will reveal that Jesus is the only way to the Father and in searching the scriptures we will find Him (John 5:39). When we come to know Jesus and learn how to love Him, we will find true peace and atonement with the Father (Matthew 11:29; John 14:15; Hebrews 4:15, 16).

Keep the Faith

Déjà vu

According to the dictionary worship is “the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity”. Then what is reverence? – “deep respect for someone or something”. Okay, let’s summarize. To worship is ‘to express deep respect or adoration for a deity’. Reading scripture, we learn that there is no being worthy of worship but the Almighty God (Exodus 20:3-6; Psalms 99:5; Matthew 4:10; John 9:31; Revelation 22:9). With this understanding how does one worship? According to scripture worship is expressed by obedience to commandments (1 Kings 9:6; 2 Kings 17:13-17; 2 Chronicles 7:17-22). Therefore, the commandments of the one we choose to obey is the one we worship.

God in all His omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent complexity, as He relates to man is very simple and straightforward. God, in all His creative majesty, chooses to create beings and bless them with life. In recognition of God's position in the universe and in gratitude for the gift He has blessed His creatures with, God demands our worship (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14). However, for this worship to be perfect it must be given freely. Therefore, when God creates any living, sentient being He gives them the free will to choose whether to worship Him or not. In order to determine loyalty God therefore presents His creation with a test.

For the first beings of our race this test came in the form of a fruit. This test in its simplicity was profound (Genesis 2:17). In all respects this test was easy. Hundreds and thousands of fruit options from which to choose. One to avoid. Worship God and eat the others or worship self and eat the one. The first of humanity was duly warned of the consequences of self-worship – disloyalty to God would sever them from their Source of life resulting in death. Loyalty to God would cement their attachment to their Source of life resulting in everlasting life. As we are all painfully aware our first parents chose disloyalty and ate the fruit, thereby plunging us into the condition in which we find ourselves.

However, God in His infinite mercy chose to pay the debt we owed for disloyalty. As a result, we now have a second chance at the same test - will we be loyal to God or disloyal. Will we acknowledge Him as the Creator of all things and Lord of the universe? The test this time is also elegantly simple, worship God on the day He asks or on another (Revelation 14:6, 7). Some see it as so simple that the world's fate could not possibly rest on so basic a choice. Why would an infinite God care about something so small like a day or a fruit? However, what we need to understand is that God is not in need of our grand gestures. He does not require our good deeds. He is able to accomplish, without us, all the good deeds we prioritize over His actual requirements. He created it all and can do with it all as He pleases, when He pleases and how He pleases (Psalms 50:12). The one task He has placed in our hands is to choose whether to be loyal to Him or to self.

Will you worship Him on His day or worship yourself on your own chosen day (Exodus 20:8-11) in the manner He requires (Isaiah 58:13)? Will you receive the rest He gives from your weekly labour or will you seek to find your own way (Genesis 2:1-3)? Will you keep the day God blessed and sanctified, holy or will you attempt to make another day holy (Daniel 7:25)?

This is the choice with which we are now faced. Will you make the simple choice and be loyal to your Creator, the Omnipotent God, though the heavens fall?

Be Blessed

Perspective

Perspective – a particular attitude towards or way of regarding something; a point of view (OED). I find this a curious concept; a person makes decisions based on their perspective which is determined by their education and experiences. As scientists we are trained to try and view data objectively only stating the facts of what we find and subsequently relating it to previous observations. Making decisions based on our own or some other person’s perspective seems to me to be very dangerous. My education and experience are not the same as yours and it can never be the same. However, in most aspects of life we face similar decisions. So, if that is the case there should be a standard by which decisions should be made. Then, what is the standard? Social doctrines of today would have us believe that each of us make our own standards leading to each person having their own truth. I find this nerve-racking. I’ve heard pilots say if they worked with this idea flying would cease to be safe. Likewise, in life there needs to be a fixed standard that originates from an unbiased perspective.

Truth, “what is truth?” a man once asked not waiting for the answer (John 18:38), Truth is that fixed standard that we need that has an unbiased perspective. It overlooks all of us and sees things as they are not as we want them to be. As Bible believers we believe that truth is in the Scriptures. This book that has remained largely unchanged and verifiably so, contains truth. Its predictive descriptions give us confidence that its principles for life and salvation are truth; and when put into unwavering practice we have living proof of its validity (2 Peter 1:16-19). I’ve heard the comparison being made that the way to salvation is like blind men attempting to describe an elephant, some getting a hold of the leg, others the tail, some the ears and some the trunk, with no one having the full concept. I find this analogy offensive. How fair would God be if He left us groping around in the dark with no way to know if we are even facing the right direction? How can we all be heading to the same destination with so many different concepts of how to get there? This is lunacy! The Bible tells us clearly how to achieve this goal – Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

I saw a counter-political slogan recently that bothered me it said, “Make Lying Wrong Again”. It’s a very true statement, lies seem to be an acceptable way of life among humanity, that needs to be smothered. However, the reason it bothered me, is because the socio-political group behind this encourages lying within their own ranks. Lack of adherence to the unbiased truth of God is lying. Invoking God’s principles while not following them is, to me, the worse kind of lying – hypocrisy. Jesus spoke to this advising that we remove the beams in our own eyes before assisting our brother with the mote in his (Matthew 7:5; Luke 6:42).

I submit that most of us have one particularly massive beam in our own eyes – an obsession with our own perspectives – pride and selfishness. We are utterly incapable of seeing life for what it is because we get stuck behind our varyingly priced educations and experiences. This needs to be dealt with first. We need to adopt God’s truth because it comes from a panoramic point of view. He sees all and knows all and above all, made us all so he knows what we all require. He gave us Ten commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) that when faithfully followed, and all of life is processed through them, make life peaceful and happy for all. But until we take on this perspective it is best that accusations not be made because it will only lead to strife and bitterness (Philippians 2:3).

With Love

A Little Leaven

Come Search with Me - Scrutiny of Relativism & Pluralism

Loss

Growing up I never understood the grief in death. My grandparents on both sides died before I was born or was old enough to remember any of them. My first experience with genuine loss came when I was 20-years old. My aunt died. I’d been to funerals for different relatives and family friends before. Some of those deaths were sadder than others for various reasons but the first one to really hit me was my aunt. She’d been there my whole life. I used to stay at her house when preschool was done until my parents picked me up. My sister and I used to go to her house during school holidays to watch TV (before cable came to where we lived). We became friends with her music students. Sometimes I would go with her when she had playing engagements, at some church or other, to be page turner and general baggage carrier. She was my idea of what and aunt was to be, not intrusive and always available. When I was away for college, I’d always check in with her on my visits home. When she passed, I was away at school and couldn’t make it back for the funeral. I remember the sense of loss I felt. My sister and I cried together for the loss of our aunt. That loss shook me, but I was still firm. A few years later another aunt died, I’d known her my whole life as well, but she was different from her sister. She was one of life’s truly unique personalities. She was a nurse, a very good nurse. But she lived a bit more in her own world marching to the beat of a different drummer, as one might say. I was also away at school when she passed. I don’t remember crying when she died, I was sad, but I imagine that I may have been inoculated to the grief, by the loss of the first aunt.

Then a few years went by and I received the gut punch from which I’m still recovering. My father died. There still are no words to express this pain. He was my protector, provider, teacher, and friend and he’s gone. When he died, I was at home. I’d finally finished my last degree and came home. He’d been sick and about a year before he passed, he received his diagnosis. I got the call on New Year’s Eve with the news. I called his siblings to let them know. When I came home, he and I hung out like we usually did, I tried to be as much help to my mother as I could in caring for him. Then 11 months after his diagnosis he went to sleep, and it knocked the wind out of me. But as I have been raised to do, I went into work mode. My tears were not immediate. There is a lot of paperwork and planning that happens at the end of a person’s life. I called his siblings and informed them, then I did all the running around associated with planning a funeral. When we sat down for family worship that Friday night it all came flooding out. No more work to do on the Sabbath, you see, so it all came out at the sound of his favourite Sabbath hymn. That Sabbath happened to be my birthday. Then we buried him that Sunday.

I’m writing this because a friend of mine lost his mother, after a lengthy illness, a few days ago and I’m not sure how he’s dealing with it. Two other childhood friends recently lost their brother, suddenly and unexpectedly, as well, and I know one of them is struggling. I know there many other people in this world that are experiencing loss in various degrees for varying reasons. I learned recently that at least 70 people in my country have been declared missing. This number is exponentially greater across the world. A loss like this I imagine may be worse than death because you are stuck in the land of not knowing. Loosing a loved one has caused many to lose their faith in God. I was reading John 11 recently and it brought me to tears thinking about my father. I really believed that my daddy would get better, to his last breath, I believed. He’d never really been sick the entire time I knew him, I was sure he would recover. But he didn’t, and the story of Lazarus made me ask God why. Why not my father? He was still relatively young. He was highly active and very energetic up until his diagnosis. Why didn’t I get that miracle? I believed. The simple answer is, The All Knowing, All Loving, All Powerful God, saw that the greatest good would come from allowing His faithful child to rest. The hurt and the pain and the added responsibilities left by those who are gone will draw those who remain closer to Himself and bring Glory to Himself (John 11:4). But we must be humble and accept God’s judgement in life (Romans 8:28). God allowed John the Baptist, His servant, the greatest of the prophets, to die in a most vicious manner (Matthew 11:7-11; 14:3-12). Judgement will be meted out on the perpetrators of his death but a greater good was achieved, Christ was lifted up and we all have a hope of salvation (Luke 3:16; John 3:30).

Like Martha I know I’ll see my father at the resurrection. I believe his sins are forgiven and I know he served the Lord faithfully and believed completely in every Word of God. The waves of sadness still come, with I think that he won’t see me married or know my children in this life. But I have faith that he will know them from the rest of eternity in a land were there will be no more sickness or dying, no more pain or misery and all tears will be wiped away and all things will be made new (Revelation 21:4). Until that day I keep most of my thoughts of him, happy ones. I remember the positive impact he had on his students, his laugh, his sense of humour, his reliability, the example he left of what a father should be. His example let me know some of what my Heavenly Father is like (Matthew 7:11). Now that my earthly father is gone, God in Heaven stands firmly, unwaveringly and reliably as my Protector, Provider, Teacher and Friend.

May this bring you Comfort

Humility

There are two very different groups of people in the world today, who claim to be the descendants of the ancient Israelites. Now I do not proport to endorse or oppose either claim as I am not God. He is the one Who scattered ancient Israel and Judah, He is the one Who knows who they all are, and He is the one Who can and will inform them of their identity at the appointed time (Isaiah 43:5-7; Jeremiah 31:10; Amos 9:9; Zechariah 1:19). And when that identity is revealed no one can refute it. So, with this being my opinion on that matter why do I mention these people? I am using these two groups as an example. Both of these groups claim Jacob as their father, both claim to be serving the One True God, both claim to be following the ancient Hebrew scripture and both, like the Pharisees in Jesus’ day, have missed the lessons that Israel was to learn in being scattered, and the task Israel was appointed to accomplish. The Jewish people, during the time Jesus was physically on Earth, preferred the teaching that the Messiah was to come as a conquering king that would destroy their oppressors and elevate them to a high and lofty race in the earth. The spiritual leaders of the Jews did not accept or teach the truth of the Messiah’s true purpose – to die in our place paying the debt for sin (Isaiah 53:3-5 Daniel 9:24-27). They desired temporal elevation over eternal salvation (Luke 12:16-21).

Ancient Israel, because they were chosen, by The Almighty God, to be the bearers of the special message of hope for redemption, became haughty and proud and self-confident. They forgot that God did not choose them for their “profound righteousness”, He repeatedly informed them of their superior stubbornness (Exodus 32:9; 33:3-5; Deuteronomy 9:6-13, 27; Judges 2:19). God stayed with them because He made a promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and any promise God makes He keeps (Genesis 12:1-3; 22; 15-18; 26:3-5; 28:13-15). The peoples currently claiming to be the descendants of these faithful men cause me concern because their rhetoric echoes heavily of the sentiment of Ancient Israel, a proud, haughty, self-serving, self-defending, self-exalting spirit that does nothing but drive people away (John 8:37-45). God’s true people, by this point, should have learned or at least should be learning the lessons of humility (Romans 11:16-24; Galatians 3:29). God will only use the truly humble to carry out His work, because only they will rely fully on Him (Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11). In 2 Chronicles 7:14 we hear from God, Himself: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land.”

God is so willing to forgive our sins, but we need to acknowledge them and repent. There are three major sin categories defined in scripture: “the lust of the flesh”, “the lust of the eyes”, and “the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). These are all deadly. The first two – lust of the flesh and eyes – in a humble man are more likely to bring about a repentant heart than the third – the pride of life. Viewing the outcomes of one’s actions to gratify physical desires and the pain caused, can bring a conscientious person to genuine sorrow for sin. However, when the pride of life is brought into the mix it is very difficult to change course. The feeling that “I am justified in all my actions” and “what I am doing is right because that is how I see it”, makes one less likely to assess one’s course in accordance with The Standard. This is the reason it is “easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24; Mark 10:25; Luke 18:25). The rich, whether rich in finances, education, friends, even scriptural knowledge tend to rely of what they have as opposed to relying on God.

Scriptural knowledge is vital. However, without God it will not get anyone anywhere. It is for this reason, when Jesus sent out His disciples to preach, that He told them not to bring a script (Mark 6:8). They were to have the Word of God in their hearts through diligent study, but when presenting, the Holy Spirit would guide their words (Luke 12:11, 12; 2 Timothy 2:15). Self-reliance needs to be completely gone in order for God to work fully and mightily (Proverbs 3:5, 6; Jeremiah 33:2, 3). These groups claiming to be God’s chosen conduit of truth have a great wealth of knowledge of the words of Scripture, but they have missed the meaning and have not gained the transforming influence that scripture is to have in the soul (1 Corinthians 13). The same can be said to us as spiritual Israel. We too have a wealth of knowledge, for which we are responsible and until we let God transform our lives we will only be “sounding bass and tinkling cymbals”. When the Word of God is truly known we will gain a clear perspective of where we fit into the grand scheme of life (Isaiah 45:9, 10; Romans 9:20, 21). We are His workmanship, wonderfully designed to uplift God and Him alone thereby drawing all of humanity to Him (Psalms 139:14; Ephesians 2:10; John 12:32).

Humbly,

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