Issue of the week #1

Greg and I were talking the other night on the phone about two topics.

Topic #1: Interpretation of heaping hot coals on an enemies head:

Option 1 (which I was taught in church growing up): To make your enemies feel guilty through loving on them?

Or

Option 2: To comfort an enemy and show him grace as we have been shown grace (unmerited favor, expecting absolutely nothing in return)?

I've been a believer since I was 6 and my parents have brought me and my brothers to several different churches (Wesleyan, Pentecostal, Baptist, from what I can remember). Up until a few years ago I've always been taught this concept was about manipulating my enemy into repentance (which I now hold to be the job of the Holy Spirit). However, recently I was told that people used to stay warm, during Solomon's times in the Middle East, by putting baskets on their heads filled with hot coals. So this concept of comfort with no gain was a 180 for me. So it's not about me at all is it?

Take a look at Romans 12:9-21, also Prov. 25:21,22:

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The interpretation for these verses, I believe, is obviously graced based in a Christ like love.

1 Corinthians 13:
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Also look at the entire book of Jonah, but specifically look at Jonah's interaction with God while he waits for God to destroy Nineveh. Keep in mind the intense cruelty and depravity of the Assyrians, especially towards Israel, when considering Jonah's perspective. Be careful about judging this man as weak in his faith because of his disobedience to God and his spitefulness towards the Assyrians. Also with this in mind now try to imagine the amazing depths of God's love, grace and forgiveness, even upon believers, whom God has revealed what is pleasing to Him, continue in our sins. However, I digress. The focus is grace.

Consider chp 4:
But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. He prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live." But the LORD replied, "Have you any right to be angry?" Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. Then the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine. But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live." But God said to Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?" "I do," he said. "I am angry enough to die." But the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?"

So I hold that "heaping hot coals" on our enemies head to be a godly act of grace springing forth from a Christ centered love. It's unfortunate that I had to live so many years on this earth with this misinterpretation of using love as a tool of manipulation, but that does tend to be typical of charismatic churches (speaking as someone who spent about 10 years in at least 2 different Assembly of God's and several years in a Pentecostal church affiliated with the AOG). This is why I tend to come down so hard on teachers, especially those who struggle with pride (of which at times can be used to describe myself). I’ve seen prideful, arrogant teachers at work in large congregations in which no one dared to question the great pastor. I've seen egos large enough to practically envelope the entire church building, if that were possible. On the other hand, I've met teachers who are very approachable and seem to treat everyone they meet as more important then themselves.

The Bible does state that teachers will be judged more strictly (James 3:1) and harsh judgment awaits those (most likely teachers) who cause believers to sin (Luke 17:2). This is why out of love and concern, not only for the souls of the congregation, but even the pastor, we should pray for our pastors and teachers.

So does anyone else have an option #3 or beyond?

Look for issue #2 in my next article.

Transaction of the week

I met up with some of my bros in Christ this morning for breakfast and I told them about a transaction I'm making with a mutual friend. One of my friends encouraged me to share this transaction.

The background: My mother bought me Johnny Cash reads the New Testament for Christmas. I use this almost everyday and I've raved about it with several of my friends. Well one of my friends asked me to burn him a copy of the CD's. I find the concept amusing to break a law in order to pass on the Word, especially since Johnny Cash is the narrator. Anyway, I told him I wouldn't do it.

What happened: My gym has an Olympic length pool and I've been trying to get in to use it more often and I've been frustrated because I don't have a pair of goggles. Well this friend works at a sporting store so I asked him to pick up a pair of goggles for me. He did. Well I try to avoid monetary exchanges, especially with fellow Christians, so I offered him a trade: Johnny Cash reads the NT in trade for the goggles.

Of course I'm keeping my copy. I found a great deal on the internet for $15.

My review: I would recommend Johnny Cash reads the NT to any Christian. He reads the Word with such reverence and just the right amount of passion. Very good for those long commutes to work stuck in traffic or long road trips.

The Path of the Word

My first question is: Do you read the Bible? If yes, then why do you read it? The answer to the first question is very easy, yes or no. However, the answer to the second question is varied. Some people read it to acquire knowledge they can use to win arguments with other Christians. Others read it to have a perceived advantage over other Christians, so as to win their favor or respect. Still others read the Bible because they are drawn to the truth. Personally, I've found much peace, solace and encouragement from reading the word. However, I too have been caught up in trying to win prideful arguments using the word, when I should've been demonstrating the love it so resoundingly teaches.

I guess I should state that I'm not a big fan of perceived "high" Christianity or "super" Christians. I never have been because I've always felt like these folks were walking hand in hand with pride, while refusing to deny its existence in their lives. I'm referring to people who call themselves theologians or folks who love to frame their conversations or text in a format which is overly-complicated to the average person thereby attempting to garner some respect. It's almost like they're trying to hide their perceived "secret" knowledge in a format only the "true" intellectual Christians can decipher. All others are unworthy of such knowledge. (I have a personal belief which goes something like this: complexity increases exponentially with the pride of the people involved.) The next step for these folks is to go down a road Christianity has already worn out and is still treading. That is to put "special" priests who are to teach the people and then withhold the Bible (for it is obviously far too complex) from the average person. Sound familiar? A true theologian will not refer to themselves as such and their words and conversations will be piercing to the heart, especially to those God so decides to humble. Pride will be very limited in their speech, but love will be abounding through the Spirit. Trying reading C.S. Lewis or listened to Ravi Zacharris. These are two men, whom I believe; God has shown His most excellent teaching through. It's all summed up in one word, love. What could be more simplistic then love? Yet this one word has been debated since the Fall. However, there's no debating this with God and His love demonstrated through His son Jesus Christ.

In the beginning was the word. Then sin entered into the world through man, first in the form of pride. Then sin gave birth to death and the words of the false teachers reeked of this stench. This stench only grows fouler over time, as false teachers aren't born overnight. Once Satan gets that foothold of pride in the soul it eats away. Then very subtly and quietly a heretic is born. A once well respected theologian suddenly begins to omit or question the validity of certain parts of scripture, leading up to and eventually including denying Jesus Christ as the only way. (Nazi Germany and its relationship with particular churches and prominent German theologians of the time, is a good resource for this topic).

Here's a probable scenario: Pride plants its seed. Followed by a sense of superiority. Perhaps soon after the Bible becomes a weapon to weed out the non-elect. Several opportunities to conveniently misinterpreting the Word. Then the topics turn to glorifying man, instead of Jesus. Maybe man isn't as sinful as the Bible indicates? Maybe there's another way, other then Jesus? Stroking others pride ever so subtly garners their loyalty and devotion. Smooth sounding words have won over many ignorant men.

Hitler didn't win over Germany by fear. He won them over through their hearts, through the coercion of false prophets.
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9)
I don't have to go any further then the Bible to see other examples of the same corruption of a society by pride cultivated by false prophets.
Israel was a spreading vine; he brought forth fruit for himself. As his fruit increased, he built more altars; as his land prospered, he adorned his sacred stones. Their heart is deceitful, and now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will demolish their altars and destroy their sacred stones. (Hosea 10:1-2)

We should all read the word to learn about God. We should read it to see the story of our savior, Jesus Christ, unfold before our very eyes. We should read the Bible to provide His Holy Spirit with the opportunity to open our eyes. We should read the Bible to learn about real love. I believe it's this real love of God, which, if it bears fruit in our hearts, will spring forth a bountiful harvest through a changed, truly counter culture life.

We need to keep in mind the Word is a two edged sword wielded by Jesus Christ alone. However, we have access to this sword by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and our adoption as a sons.

Pray for humility to serve our fellow man. Pray for a heart to love the lost and leave the "elect" status to God, who alone is worthy to judge the hearts of man. Repent of your pride and consider yourself the least when interacting with others. A servant of all. A friend of God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, not through any works of man.