Lenten study 2007 - Day twenty-three
March 19, 2007
Completing Colossians 3:11 - but Christ is all in all.
This completes Colossians 3:11. God in Jesus Christ is my Lord, because what I know of God is contained in the inspired words of Scripture. As this verse says, attending to the commands of the Christ far outweighs the human differences between me and my brothers and sisters in Christ. The mystery of our unity in Christ is great, but the Scriptures tell me all I need to know.
Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
There are often differences in our church family, but the glue that holds us together and helps us rise above our petty differences is our common Lord.
Last word: I know and believe this, but I still stumble.
Education a waste?
March 17, 2007
After reading the first page of Bryan Caplan’s book, I just might want to read the rest. I don’t know that I agree with him, but he may be on to something.
EconLog, Page One of My Next Book, Bryan Caplan: Library of Economics and Liberty
Personally, then, I have no reason to lash out at the education system. Quite the contrary. But three decades of experience, combined with two decades of reading and reflection, have convinced me that our educational system is a big waste of time and money. Practically every politician vows to spend more on education, and as an insider, I can’t helping asking “Why? Do you want us to waste even more?”
Here is a professor of Economics, a “professional student,” who is happy with his lot, but …you’ll just have to read the rest of the first page of his new book.
Dave, thinking that maybe only greed kept him from such a life.
Lenten study 2007 - Day twenty-two
March 17, 2007
Continuing with Colossians 3:11 - barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free,
I guess just in case his readers didn’t get the point that no human distinctions of class, race, nationality, or social status are to be given more than a nod in the church, Paul belabors his point. I’m reminded of these words from James:
James 2:1-5 My brothers and sisters, do not show prejudice if you possess faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if someone comes into your assembly wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor person enters in filthy clothes, do you pay attention to the one who is finely dressed and say, “You sit here in a good place,”and to the poor person, “You stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor”? If so, have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil motives? Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?
I should read these verses every Sunday morning before heading to church. I’m sure that I make such unconscious distinctions every day of my life.
Last word: Only by God’s grace can I avoid yielding to cultural norms of status.
Lenten study 2007 - Day twenty-one
March 16, 2007
Continuing on in Colossians 3:11 - circumcised or uncircumcised,
This is just another way of saying, “whether raised under Hebrew law or not.” Today we can simply say that within our congregation of believers it makes no difference to us (and certainly not to God) which religious or non-religious tradition you came from. We are all now followers of Jesus Christ, striving to live out the fact that our lives are “hidden with Christ in God. ”
Matt. 28:26-28 Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
It is clear that God selects members of his universal church family as he pleases, without regard to any earthly distinctions.
Last word: I cannot avoid making distinctions, some of which no doubt grieve God.
Lenten study 2007 - Day twenty
March 15, 2007
Colossians 3:11 - Here there is neither Greek nor Jew,
“Here” means the Church, more specifically in this passage the Christian community at Colossae. The world’s way of classifying people plays no role among us whose lives are “hidden with Christ in God.” I wonder who are today’s “Greek” and “Jew”? For the former, try American, or African, or Chinese; for the latter perhaps Presbyterian, or Roman Catholic, or Pentecostal.
Romans 2:9-11 There will be affliction and distress on everyone who does evil, on the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, for the Jew first and also the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.
For Paul, the author of these words, people were either part of the body of Christ or they were unbelievers. No other classification counted much with him.
Last word: I would like to be able to say the same about myself.
General Pace thinks homosexual practice is immoral
March 14, 2007
Think what you will, but our Chief of Staff’s personal beliefs regarding “immorality” (of any stripe) arguably reflect the beliefs of a majority of Americans. I think it is refreshing that our top military man is unapologetic about his beliefs. He is in good company. If this results in another debate about the role of gays in the military, that is good.
General’s comments boost debate on gays in military - The Boston Globe
Pace said in the Tribune interview that he opposes such efforts as Meehan’s because “I believe that homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts. I do not believe the United States is well served by a policy that says it is OK to be immoral in any way.”
As many are already pointing out, the military exists to “kill people and break things,” as I believe Rush Limbaugh is fond of saying. But it’s fact. It seems very obvious to me that allowing any form of immorality within the close-knit military community, especially in the infantry, would greatly reduce the probability that a grunt will come out of a fire fight alive.
Unfortunately, the fact that the word “immorality” is so out of fashion in large parts of our society today does not bode well for the national debate.
Dave, who has never been shot at but has a pretty good idea what those who have been in combat would say.
Lenten study 2007 - Day nineteen
March 14, 2007
Continuing with Colossians 3:10 - that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it.
This teaches me that spiritual rebirth is not just a one-off event. It is the start of a process of renewal that it seems to me mostly in my mind, since that is what controls my behavior. The ongoing needs to “be filled” with the Holy Spirit and for confession and forgiveness tell me that something is going on here.
1 John 1:8-9 If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.
Based on my understanding of Scripture and on my own experience, I am very much a Christian in-the-making, as God keeps chipping away at my rough edges and underpinning my foundation.
Last word: Still being renewed at age 75 is a lot more fun than just contemplating a slippery slope to extinction.
Lenten study 2007 - Day eighteen
March 13, 2007
Colossians 3:10 - and have been clothed with the new man
To me, living as a reborn person, being a “new man,” is both propositional and experiential, probably about in equal proportion. In faith I accept the fact that I am a new man in Christ, that my life is hidden with Christ in God, and this faith makes a difference in my daily experiences.
As I think about it, my perception of the world around me (my worldview) is still changing as I work out my faith in my everyday routine. Long way to go, of course, but I am clear about my marching orders and my destination.
Last word: I still screw up a lot, but God is a patient God. My “guardian angel” must often have his hands full.
Lenten study 2007 - Day seventeen
March 12, 2007
Colossians 3:9 - Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices
How hard it is to be honest and transparent with those we are closest to in family and church! This admonition not to “lie” in this context reminds me of Jesus’ words on the subject of taking oaths.
Mat. 5:36-37 Do not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. Let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no.’ More than this is from the evil one.
By responding with a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ , both inside and outside the church, I am also obeying the Lord’s command to love brother and neighbor.
Last word: No room here for the weasel-words that often spring to my lips.
Lenten study 2007 - Day sixteen
March 10, 2007
Colossians 3:8 - But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth.
This shouldn’t be much of a burden for us mild types, at least most of the time, but I wonder if it might not be quite as easy as it sounds.
I think I’ll fight back the temptation to play amateur psychologist and simply accept this admonition at face value. Anger and its friends are no strangers to any of us, and as recipients of God’s amazing grace we should have no room for anger and abuse of our neighbor.
Last word: Lord, help me narrow the gap between principle and practice.
