Category: Reflections Articles
Articles printed in the weekly bulletin of the West Side church of Christ
Contrasting the 1st and 2nd Advents
A simple definition of the word advent — the arrival of a notable person, thing or event. Typically, in religious discussions, the arrival of Jesus on the earth is described as His advent. This is appropriate in that He is truly a notable person, and His coming was a notable event!
When Joseph learned of Mary’s pregnancy, he considered putting her away, until an angel of the Lord appeared to him. “But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’ So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:20-23).
Glorifying God’s Word
There is an interesting phrase from the pen of the apostle Paul, “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you” (2 Thessalonians 3:1). The phrase is, “that the word of the Lord may…be glorified.” Paul was asking that these faithful brethren petition God on his behalf. It was his desire that through his efforts, the word of the Lord would spread swiftly. That is, that many would hear and repeat it. Also, that it would be glorified. By this Paul meant, as noted by Thayer, that through his efforts the value of the word of God would become evident or made manifest.
A similar statement is made by the Lord regarding our influence. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). We extol the greatness and righteousness of God whenever we live in accord with His will. Men see it, and “glorify” Him.
A Stone’s Throw
A few weeks ago my son Jeremiah preached a lesson titled, “The Distance Greater Than a Stone’s Throw.” The principles found in that lesson are worthy of examination, and I would like to adapt his teaching in this article.
The reference is to Jesus’ prayer in the garden of Gethsemane on the night of his betrayal, (Luke 22 & Matthew 26). Matthew reveals that after entering the garden, Jesus, Peter, James and John walked a bit further into the garden. There, Jesus left the three of them, and “He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw” (Luke 22:41), where He began to pray to His Father. He was in agony. After finding them asleep, Jesus said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26: 40-41).
Big Bang Theory Debunked
I just finished reading an article titled, “We now know the big bang theory is (probably) not how the universe began.” It was written by Ethan Siegle, who is a Ph.D. astrophysicist, and the author of the book “Starts with a Bang.” The article seeks to show that the idea of the universe having its origin with a big bang, expanding from a a state of “infinitesimal sizes and infinite densities and temperatures”, is not a valid explanation for the beginning of the universe.
The big bang theory has been used for decades as the explanation for the existence of the universe as we observe it today. It has had almost universal acceptance among naturalists, as it has been the most effective naturalistic explanation for things being the way they are.
“I Was Made This Way”
The Utne Reader is an online digest of reading material designed to offer “meaningful conversations that transcend traditional labels, biases, and stereotypes.” Its slogan is “Cure Ignorance”, and topics cover the gamut of societal issues. A recent article that appeared in the digest under the topic of politics is an article by a lesbian writer titled “The Gay Option.”
Beginning the article with a personal anecdote, this writer, Stephanie Fairyington, alluded to a couple of lies she told her mother when coming out of the closet at the age of 28. She said her first lie was “I was born this way”, and the second one was “If there were a straight pill I’d swallow it faster than you can say the word gay.” She writes that “I didn’t mean either of these things.”
The Origin of Unity
In Philippians, chapter two, Paul comments on the remarkable example of our Lord. “Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (2:6-8).
Jesus was in the “form of God.” Before His incarnation, He was in an exalted state. The word “form” should be understood as a state of deity. In other words, Jesus was fully God. With this the apostle John is in full agreement. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).
What Kind of Life?
What kind of life do you aspire to live? What a question! Can you imagine the answers you would get if you took a survey of Americans. We are a nation that worships at the idols of fame, prosperity, and even infamy. Americans typically want thrills, adventure and noise! How many times have you heard that? If you go to professional sporting events, it is ubiquitous, “Let’s make some noise.” “Let’s party!” “Let’s boogie!” (Yes, I know that last one dates me).
While reading this past week, I came across an interesting passage in 1 Thessalonians that I am sure you find familiar. Paul wrote:
Grace Turned into Lewdness
Our title is a reference to Jude’s warning concerning false teachers who had come to trouble brethren. “For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 4).
The word lewdness (or lasciviousness, KJV) means “unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence” (Thayer). The description in seen not only in the consequences of the doctrine espoused by these evil men, but also in the actions taken by those emboldened by the doctrine. Note in Jude’s epistle:
Some Thoughts on Modest Dress
We are in the midst of summer, the season of minimal dress. It is understandable that people would desire to be as comfortable as possible during triple digit weather. However, it is important to consider what God thinks of all the skin that is showing in our culture.
First, you will note that the world knows what it is they are doing. They realize the effects of clothing on the opposite sex. That is why adjectives like sexy, sensual, hot, daring, revealing and provocative are used to describe clothes and swimwear. With this in mind, consider the words of John, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15-17).
Gender Blurring
The classic definition of gender is no longer considered a correct definition in our day. In the past, the word was used technically to differentiate between men and women. In this it was a synonym to the word sex. However, in the English language the word sex began to have an erotic connotation, thus it became common to use the word gender in polite discourse. For example, a form would request the information:
Gender: ___ Male ___ Female
No longer is this the case. Now, the common definition of the word is: “either of the two sexes (male and female), especially when considered with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones. The term is also used more broadly to denote a range of identities that do not correspond to established ideas of male and female.
Practical Christian Attributes
The apostle Peter promised that the adding of various attributes to our faith will preclude us being “barren [or] unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” In fact, “you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:8,10-11).
We might ask why are these attributes key? It is because they equip us to act and to be the type of people who please God. They direct us in the paths of righteousness! This is especially true in our interactions with others. Remember, the two great commandments are to love God and love your neighbor (cf. Matthew 22:37-40). If we keep the necessity of love for God and man at the forefront of our thinking, it is easy to see why Peter would call for these qualities to be present in our lives.
A Pauline Privilege?
Some have argued that 1 Corinthians 7:15 gives a Christian justification for marrying again, after a divorce from an unbelieving spouse. The passage says, “But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace.” You will notice that there is no explicit mention of remarriage in the text. Proponents claim that the phrase “not under bondage” implies that remarriage is possible. The reasoning is that God establishes the marriage bond. If God dissolves that bond (“not under bondage”) then the believer is free to remarry. This is often referred to as the Pauline privilege. Is this what the passage teaches?
That They May Distinguish My Service
Shortly after Rehoboam became king of Judah, the scripture reveals that he “forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel along with him” (2 Chronicles 12:1). The specific sins of the nation are stated in 1 Kings, as they “built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and wooden images on every high hill and under every green tree. And there were also perverted persons in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations which the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel” (1 Kings 14:23-24). God chose to chastise the king and the nation by raising up the king of Egypt against them. Shishak, the Egyptian ruler, invaded Judah with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen, and a large number of his people.
The Problem of Pride
In James 4, the writer discusses sin present in the lives of some Christians — specifically strife and worldliness. Notice verses 1-4:
“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
Pieces of Armor
Paul wrote in Ephesians 6, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (10-13).
What is the armor of God? Well, it certainly is not any type of physical armor. While Paul uses the metaphor, mentioning shields, swords and helmets, he is of course not talking about physical pieces of a literal suit of armor. This is because of the nature of the conflict waged between the child of God and the forces of evil we fight. We must stand against the wiles (devious or cunning stratagems employed in manipulating or persuading someone to do what one wants) of the devil. A literal shield or sword is of no use in such a conflict.
