The Bible Idol

Recently a friend began a discussion on the concept of whether or not some Christians make the Bible an idol. After all, anything good can be made bad by worshipping it rather than the Creator, right?

Someone who loves nature can find that the desire to admire forests, mountains, rivers—rather than leading to thoughts of how wonderful the Creator must be, if the creation is so beautiful, may instead lift thoughts no higher than the exhilaration that can come from adoration. Nature then becomes an idol.

Or those who play or watch a sport may find their thoughts persistently interrupted with the need to think in that vein, to skip fellowship to be out on the field or court,  to neglect relationships and duties to scream at a television screen. Sports then becomes an idol.

Or for those with a creative bent—as the spirit explains to the ghost in a C.S. Lewis' novel—they may begin with a desire to share glimpses of heaven and end by worshipping their very method of communication or, ultimately, themselves.

"Every poet and musician and artist, but for Grace, is drawn away from love of the thing he tells, to love of the telling till, down in Deep Hell, they cannot be interested in God at all but only in what they say about Him. For it doesn't stop at being interested in paint, you know. They sink lower—becoming interested in their own personalities and then in nothing but their own reputations."~The Great Divorce

Hmmm... Does that sound familiar? Not of an artist you may know, but of a Christian? Maybe it's you; maybe it's me—"becoming interested in their own personalities and then in nothing but their own reputations." Yes. I know that disease.

It may start as love for God, but then morphs into a love of a habit, thought, (God forbid) a favourite Bible verse. Then in their "zeal without knowledge", they print signs saying who God hates, they picket military funerals for reasons that don't relate to the family or the deceased, they preach truth without love or love without Truth (is that love?). In these cases we live as devils in the name of Jesus!

But is it correct to say that the Bible can become an idol? Maybe. But more accurate, I believe, would be to say that our understanding becomes an idol.

If we choose pet verses and miss the balance of Scripture, we break the Law of God.
"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it."

Interestingly, the above verse is in a passage in James exhorting the churches to not show favouritism. Whether we twist Scriptures to damn a fellow Christian or someone outside of the faith for not adhering to the convictions we feel, we show favouritism. We accept those who think like us and treat anyone else as enemies. This partiality is equivalent to bias towards the rich over the poor, which is specifically addressed in James. This divisiveness makes enemies of those who do not think like we do.

If someone is an enemy, what did Jesus command? Instead of hating your enemy, He said "I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

If someone is truly wrong, living in sin, love would have them repent and reap the mercy of God, but pride wants to condemn them without a trial. 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his book Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community, wrote: "To make intercession means to grant our brother the same right that we have received, namely, to stand before Christ and share in His mercy." 

And, I would argue, this is the same right (to be prayed for) should be given to the lost too, who are not yet born again; therefore, to pray for an unsaved sinner, is to acknowledge that I was once in sin and (still struggle and have) need of God's mercy, and, but for His grace, I may have become worse than they.

True love desires that the one loved live in such a way as that he or she will benefit from the grace of God. You cannot love someone and desire their temporary happiness at the cost of their eternal happiness or at the cost of the value of their life. 

To want the best for someone, may require what some call "tough love." This does not belong just to the rebellious, who choose what is recognised as bad, but may also apply to one who is lazy and seeks pleasure rather than God. It may be necessary, out of love and only from love, to share with them the way of Truth, and pray they repent rather than reap the consequences of their sins. If they don't and the harvest of consequences comes, then love would lead one to come along side them to bear the burden and find the Saviour. 

Love and Truth summarize the whole Bible. As Mart DeHaan, former President of RBC Ministries, loves to tell—all Scripture either points to Christ as the Hope of all time or, by showing sin and weakness, points to our need for a Saviour. 

We, none of us, are guiltless. We all are responsible to be one who "correctly handles the Word of Truth." To "correctly handle" Scripture, one must be in it faithfully, consistently, listening, repenting, correcting our focus from one thing back to the Saviour and from another thing back to the Saviour. 

We will be accountable for knowing Scripture and for applying Scripture rightly (as this verse specifies). To know Bible passages and quote them does not prove you are righteous for even the devil quoted verses back to Jesus. 

Our knowledge of the Bible must be lived in obedience, love, and humility. If we find ourselves isolated from others, it may well be that pride has entered causing division. And, it may not be their pride, but yours or mine. Dissension and pride of any kind are something God hates.

Therefore, for our own standing before God, we must know and rightly apply the whole of Scripture to our own lives. But, also for the sake of the Body of the Messiah, to which all born again followers of Yeshua are members (arms, legs, hands, hearts), we bear responsibility.

"An element of sickness gets into the body; perhaps nobody knows where it is from or in what member it has lodged, but the body is infected. This is the proper metaphor for the Christian community. We are members of a body, not only when we choose to be, but in our whole existence. Every member serves the whole body, either to its health or to its destruction." ~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

When we stand before Yahweh, will you and I be "approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed"? Today is all we may have.

What are your thoughts?

Stop. Wait. Listen

Have you ever wondered if you'd be willing to go if God sent you to some remote place to share His salvation? But what if He asked you just to stay where you are? Sometimes it is easier to hear "go" than to obey "stay."

Yes, obeying a call to the unknown is scary. But, at the same time, it can appear glamourous or, at least, full of adventure. Staying...doing the mundane...not so much!

In the book of Jeremiah chapters 41 through 43, the remnant of the Israelites left in Judah feared for their lives. An assassin had attacked the governor that the King of Babylon had set over them. Johanan and some other brave souls rescued the people the assassin had kidnapped and then they prepared their flight to Egypt to avoid the punishment sure to come from Babylon. On their way, they stop by Jeremiah and ask him to inquire of Yahweh what they should do. They promised that whatever He said they would obey.

With their donkeys loaded and their sandals warmed up and raring to run, Yahweh simply told them to stay. If they trusted Him, He would assure them safety.  If they ran, the disaster they feared would pursue them. So what do they do? Run, of course.

Having promised unconditional obedience, they naively suspected that God would affirm their plans. They never dreamed He would instruct them to wait for the hammer they were sure would crush them.

Can you relate? Are you stuck in a prison, an office, a sick body, a home—cooking and cleaning for your family? Do you long for God to give you a great assignment? Have you ever thought, maybe He has?

We have a major disadvantage to previous generations. In the past, making a good living and being a respectable family man or woman was a full and honourable life. Today we expect more. We may not be conscious of it, but we do.

If you preach, you expect to draw multitudes. If you write, you imagine your book on a best sellers list or chatted up on a big talk show. If you're in business, you expect to be sought after and to accumulate money for a comfortable life.

But God's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not like ours. God may have you disciple a small group to spiritual maturity and die virtually unknown. He may have you write and never know the impact of His work through you. You may set an example in business and never be recognized for it.

But one of those discipled may go on to share the gospel with thousands, beginning a revival that spreads far and wide for God's glory. Your book may be on the night stand of a dying woman, who reads it and is born again. Your money saved in business may be sent to someone in need, who will be saved from devastation and go on to lead his people.

Or maybe God has other plans for you. Maybe this time is to train you for a calling, which to obey will cost you greatly, but will accomplish more than you can imagine. If you are faithful in the small, mundane areas of life, God will entrust to you far greater responsibility.

We often look for the great and glorious things for ourselves, but God may be glorified more in the small beginnings.

Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not. ~Jeremiah 45:5

Only God knows the times in which we live and into what part of the puzzle your life and my life will fit.

Nothing is wasted. The Artist has you here for a purpose. Stop. Wait. Listen.

Freedom's Foundation

Have you ever considered that rules come naturally to humans? Each person consciously or subconsciously constructs rules for themselves. The most savage nations have rules. Rules provide security.

A man may have the rule to give in to his lusts wherever they lead. A woman may have the rule to spend on whatever she sees.

Rules basically are a pattern on which our life is run. We have a code of acceptability. When someone else breaks the code that we keep, he or she is beneath us.

Non-Christians often scoff at religion because of the rules which it enforces, little realizing they have rules which they strictly follow.

The term addiction may be more accurate. When you think you are free from rules, you are most often bound by addictions, habits, compulsions. Self-gratification becomes your driving force.

In the book of Isaiah chapters 27-28, God contrasts two types of peace and security. The first is found in Him.

...let them come to Me for refuge;
let them make peace with Me,
yes, let them make peace with Me. (27:5)

But Israel neither fully rejected Him nor sought Him as their refuge and peace. Instead, they mocked the prophet. They said the same as people today, "God only binds us with rules."

But God reminds them that He had said to them, "'This is the resting place, let the weary rest'; and 'this is the place of repose'—but they would not listen." 

Because they would not find their rest in Him, God promised He would say, "Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule" (v. 13). Resting in God would have freed them from disobedience. Seeking their own way, bound them in sin.

Instead of seeking God as their refuge, they created their own.

Therefore hear the word of 
Yahweh, you scoffers . . .
You boast, "We have entered into a 
covenant with death,
with the grave we have made an agreement.
When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by,
it cannot touch us,
for we have made a lie our refuge
and falsehood our hiding 
place. (28:12)

In contrast to the lie in which they seek security, God promises a Cornerstone, tested and precious, that will make a solid foundation. Those who build on this foundation will "never be dismayed." Those who trust in the lie, "hail will sweep away."

The apostles (1 Peter 2:6) recognized Jesus as the promised Cornerstone. He did not change from old covenant rules to only grace and love in the new covenant. He loves us enough to tell us how our life should should be lived.

Jesus said, 

If anyone loves Me, he will obey my teaching. (John 14:23a)

Drudgery comes in obeying rules, God's or those of the flesh, in our own strength and understanding. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are free to obey.

The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26)

As a manufacturer clearly states the car only runs on gasoline, so our lives will not prosper on disobedience.

As a game has no beginning or end without rules, so our life must be guided by something. Only following the right rules will win you the game.

As an eagle is not bound in flight, so obedience gives wings to live the life God created for us.

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. (Galatians 5:13)

You Were Meant for Me and I was Meant for You

I find it interesting that God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him," before Adam had sinned and while God and man were in a perfect relationship. I think God said it at this time for a couple of reasons.

One: We were made for community. No person was made to be an island. Community can be marriage or just friendship, but we need to be in communication with others.

Like many counterfeits, I think first TV and now social media have provided a false sense of community. Researches say that our emotions respond to familiar characters on TV the way they do when we see our friends. The problem with this false sense of companionship is the giving is all one-sided, and what we do get is not what we need.

We have substituted relational candy that is quick, sweet, and easy to throw out if we get tired of it, for the nutritious roughage that a real, physically-present friend can provide. It's safer to hide behind a changing profile picture than to expose ourselves to someone who may reject us. This "safety," however, stunts our growth.

Two: Being sovereign and knowing Adam would soon sin and break his relationship with Him, God provided a way for us to live out our salvation. Before sin, Adam and Eve walked physically in God's presence. When sin entered between them, although blood provided a way for them to still reach out for God, they could not, and we cannot, physically see Him. The danger then becomes easy to fool ourselves into a head religion with no actual love for God. The solution? If we love God, it comes out in our physical and emotional giving to...other people.

By example and continuous blatant teaching, Jesus showed us how we love God. We can love others, with a selfish love, and not love God, but we cannot love God and not love others.

Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command." John 14:15

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” ~John 13:34-35

I believe it's important that we not give up meeting together for this very reason. Going to church and gathering with friends for both worship and play is vital. We need to give and to receive. This cannot be done through an electronic arm only. We have real arms for real hugs.

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts: disagreeing, agreeing or adding. Please feel free to share.

Who's Side is God On?

One of the things heavy on my heart this week is the state of my nation. I am actually not thinking directly of the present administration, which you may or may not like. I'm reacting to the people.

Two things have disturbed me: some of those supportive of the present administration here in the States and some of those against it. Let me begin in reverse--with those against it.

Someone I work with, who speaks to large groups of Christians, reported an alarming attitude amongst the majority of those to whom he talks. They seem to be arguing that our only option is to form militias. This is disturbing on many levels.

For one, the conduct of a Christian as taught in the Bible is expressly contrary to rebelling against authority. Paul urges us strongly to pray for our leaders and respect those in authority as God's agents.

The Apostle Peter argues: "What credit do you deserve if you endure a beating for doing something wrong? But if you endure suffering for doing something good, God is pleased with you. God called you to endure suffering because Christ suffered for you. He left you an example so that you could follow in his footsteps. Christ never committed any sin. He never spoke deceitfully. Christ never verbally abused those who verbally abused him. When he suffered, he didn't make any threats but left everything to the One who judges fairly." (1 Peter 2:20-23)

We have an unusual right to peacefully make our voices heard. When we know something to be wrong, we can try to vote against it or entreat our leaders to follow their consciences. We are not, however, called to take violent action (even if things get worse) to take back what we have had.

We are promised persecution. As hard as it is to accept, what we as citizens of the West have experienced is unusual to most of the world. PRAY we keep it! But don't, by your thoughts, conversations, and potential actions CAUSE persecution for all Christians, because you choose to take the law into your own hands (the devil's delight!). Don't be such a pawn. Be a Christian, if you call yourself by His name.

On the other side, I worry when I hear people twisting definitions in order to make something that's unconstitutional palatable. I'm thinking here of the right of the President to go against Fox News. Whether you like them or not is immaterial. I have heard over and over those in journalism saying Fox does not qualify as news, because they do not present their material with the appearance of objectivity. Because it is not news, they say, it is perfectly right for the President to close them down.

I see freedom of speech slowly being redefined to fit a narrow definition of what is allowed. I hear of it in the UK--a couple imprisoned, because they said they believed Islam was wrong, and that offended the Muslims who heard. There is less tolerance for truth and more applauding of twisted, mutilated truth that has a pretty face and good PR.

When we seek to know which side of the political line God is on, I'm reminded of Joshua 5:13 - 15. Joshua was leading the Israelites into a battle God had told him to fight. Before the battle he saw, "a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, 'Are you for us, or for our enemies?' And he said, 'No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.'

As Oswald Chambers said, God is not on any side. The question is are we on God's side. If we claim the name of Jesus, let us follow the example of Jesus, wherever it may lead.