1 Corinthians 13:13

Now abide faith, hope and love, these three, and the greatest of these is love.

Each of these is a choice:

• Faith: choosing to trust now, being focused on the present rather than anchored in the past and revisiting mistakes...faith involves trusting and a willingness to step forward, choosing to take that chance even if what is next cannot yet be seen, it operates in life by selectively holding onto what is needed and letting go of the rest, where the trust is placed determines the source of the strength provided and is choice to believe rather than disbelieve, to step rather than stand still and to hold hands rather then clench fists

• Hope: choosing the future yet to be realized, it is allowing that unrealized future to be the anchor that draws you continually onward, a rope that is gripped to in order to be pulled upward out the well of despair, much like Jeremiah out of the cistern, it is that which points forward and draws the eyes from dwelling on what was but straining towards what is not yet

• Love: the greatest for a reason, in choosing love, we choose to be patient and kind, we choose to forgive rather than choosing revenge, we choose to celebrate successes rather than batter with past mistakes, we choose to encourage rather than cast doubt, we choose to live out faith and hope as gifts to be given away, without them we sail lost and confused, when we choose love, we choose healing and wholeness, an opportunity for growth and connectedness, we redefine intimacy on our own terms and we freely give away a gift of peace no matter the storm being faced, love is the binding and threading, the purposing of faith and hope, it shapes the future with the expectation not founded in the past, but free of the disease of regret and inoculated against condemnation, it is the fire that burns bright making it okay to have in that which we do not yet see and to hope in that which has not yet fully come to be

This is not about emotions which come and go and can change with wind, this is not about popular opinion or instant gratification, it is not about brownies, puppies or warm fuzzies

It is about making the choice even if the evidence tells you not to, it is answering the higher calling and allowing inspiration to flow from God through the spirit and well up inside so that grace and mercy are able to join in the dance and peace is given away, a peace that flows out of the peace that surpasses all understanding, it is to choose as He chose, to choose love for others, faith in Him and a hope in the future He has promised no matter what yesterday tells you.

Precepts of Men

I was on my way into work and coming to the close of my meditation on the Second Coming and the New Heaven and New Earth. As I did, there was that piece of me that drifted away from the meditation and recalled a discussion I was involved in regarding tattoos. The teaching throughout much of the evangelical church is that God forbade anyone to have any tattoos. I was disagreeing with the posting based upon what the one verse in the book of Leviticus is referencing regarding the marking of the body as dedication to the dead--part of pagan worship practices (then and now). Then it hit me...."you teach as the Word of God precepts of men and neglect...." Jesus speaking....hmmmm

I view Eucharist as a Holy moment. Jesus did not say, "this is kinda sorta like my body and blood and I would like you to once a month sit down and think about that as a remote distant memory and allow yourself a warm fuzzy". Not one manuscript that I am aware of has anything other than his saying "this is my body" and "this is my blood" (emphasis added).  He very clearly indicates that there is more than a simple memory going on. In Luke's gospel, Jesus chooses the moment of fracture (breaking of the bread) to reveal himself to the disciples he has been walking with. Paul lays out a strong exhortation to not receive communion in an "unworthy manner" which, he explains has been leading to "weak...sickly....many sleep" (1 Cor 11:30).  So, obviously there is something there in the Eucharist. 

Another quick background point; the common Jewish (Hebrew) form of worship was to bow low. Throughout the Tanakh we see this. It is especially important to do so at the time of the pronouncement of God's Name during the feast of Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. At a point in the feast, after several washings and sacrifices, the High Priest comes forward and pronounces to the congregation (assembly) gathered the proper Name of God. At this, the whole gathering as one bows to the ground. Fast forward to John 18 and Jesus being confronted by the group of guards sent from the temple with the assistance of Judas to arrest Jesus in the garden. They all bow when he responds to them using the phrase I Am....why? The logical reason would be that in the Aramaic that Jesus spoke, he used the Hebrew phrase for I Am which goes back to the encounter of Moses at the burning bush and God using this phrase to identify himself. Fast fast forward to Revelation and we are told that at the Name of Jesus, there will come a time when every knee shall bow. Now, back to the present. At the Eucharist, Jesus, being that he is both divine and human and a resurrected human at that, is somehow fully present...."this is my body", "this is my blood", irrespective of what Zwingli may have argued as he limited God's abilities. So, why would we not bow at the Eucharist? After all, if ancient Israel is to bow at God's name and future generations will all bow at the name of Jesus, why would we not bow at his actual presence? 

Teachings exist to contradict this. Okay, following your convictions I will make some room for in order to avoid becoming a legalist. You wish to stay standing during Eucharist, do so. You wish not to bow your head or make the sign of the cross over yourself, okay, I am not going to jump on your case about your lack of recognizing "real presence".  Yet, these same proponents who argue against the real presence and/or acknowledgment of that real presence (for a multitude of reasons inclusive of a fear of "looking too Catholic"----yes, I have heard that cited as a reason), will state that one cannot have any alcohol. They teach that the bible says that one is not allowed to have any alcohol because the body is the temple of God...... 

I cannot find that in scripture. I have found multiple citations to not become drunk, to not act foolish or to not become addicted. I have found these in both the Old and New Testaments. Yet, never once have I come across a scripture that says to not engage in any alcohol use or equates the use of alcohol with sin. In truth, Paul, who is often used as the source for the argument of the body being the new temple and the need to keep it pure for that reason, tells Timothy to have some wine for the sake of his stomach. How much is too much? That is what a person will have to determine. If you are addicted, then any much is too much. If you become violent when you drink, then any is too much. If you are prone to unhealthy choices and do not practice self control, then any is too much. I agree with several pastors who have stated that abstinence is a better choice. I would whole heartedly endorse that and have often stated that abstinence is always the safer choice. You cannot abuse alcohol if you never engage in its use. Yet, to offer a flat interpretation and state that any use is sinful is teaching the precepts of men in place of what God has stated in his word. 

The same could be said for the way one comes dressed to church. I am a fan of giving to God our best. It is certainly the most biblical formula. He instructs Israel only to offer the best in sacrifices of the flock and never to offer up the lame or blemished. When we come to church (or corporate worship if the word "church" evokes too much negative connotation), we should be offering up to God our best. On an individual basis, though, that best is going to have a wide array of representation. For some, their best is going to be $700 suits. Others, however, may be best adorned in $1 flip-flops. When you come to the feast you will be provided a wedding garment (that is, the draping of Christ's righteousness, a la the parable of the wedding guests) which will cover whatever you may have arrived in. I understand that this is not an easy concept to wrap around and certainly may bring up history and family issues for some. I recall the days of very unsightly plaid polyester pants that wore like 60 grit sandpaper. My parents wanted us to look our best for when we attended a service. I get that. Some of that has stayed with me. However, to accost someone because of their mode of dress when they come through the door? What conclusions are you jumping to? I remember a conversation with a friend many years ago who was insistent that men should be in ties when they come to worship. His belief was that you could easily get a tie from anyplace such as the Salvation Army and that is how one should always dress for Church. I asked him when it was we began worshipping church and turned away from worshipping God? There was no response to the question. 

Then there is the issue of the pharisaical clean cup on the outside and dirty cup on the inside. I look forward to the day that we may present our whole self, clothes and all, as the richest of garments. In the meanwhile, I am okay with jeans and sneakers. My prayer is for conversion of the heart and mind first. Anything can too readily be accused of the same old hypocrisy that we as believers are often accused of. 

What weakens the Church? A quick answer that I would propose is this: we camp out in our own territory on the precepts of men and hold that ground forgetting that they are precepts of men and not the word of God. We allow ourselves to become divided over smaller matters and "forget the weightier manners of mercy". This divides the denominations. I pray that God will always convict me of when I hold onto such precepts and allow them to divide me further. I pray that I will listen well to His heart and will so that I do not camp out in such areas. May we hold ground on well founded biblical doctrine. May we hold fast to the necessities of our faith and not compromise on such. And, may we, as a body of believers, not fail to give away God's grace and mercy wherever we can.

More to come at a later time..........

Breathing the Word (dedicated to Dave)

So, having a late night conversation after a long day and flooding information is not a fair move to anybody. Yet, when you get the chance to talk about that which is exciting and may be what pushes someone to that next level of engagement in their relationship with the Lord???? I stink at resisting that temptation. In all fairness, however, here is a summary for you;

Hebrew, originally, had no vowels. It was simply consonants as far as letters go. To learn the written word, one had to have study in a mentoring relationship to know the words and how to say them when you found them in the context of a sentence. In essence, on the page, they were but dead lifeless symbols that pointed (and still point) to something greater. When the breath that was given to man was then added to the symbols, by means of speaking the words aloud, they were then given life. In this way, no single "word" could be taken on its own out of the context of the sentence it was in because it would lose any specific meaning. Students still practice today sitting across from each other alternating as they read aloud the words of ancient scripture.

It was not until late, off the top of my head I do not recall exactly how late, but will guess somewhere around 12th to 14th century that Hebrew was "rediscovered" and they began doing the vowel pointing that is seen commonly today. Prior to that, to read it, you had to in a sense memorize it which then led to you being able to recite it and no need of the vowel pointing. As persecutions go and the Jews were dispersed more and more, hebrew was read less and less--as in the Septuagint (Greek version) of the Old Testament that became so common following the Babylonian exile. (As an aside, this is also some of the argument that was taking place at the time between Pharisees and Sadducees as they were disagreeing on which were more accurate scriptures--just the Pentateuch or did the other writings have validity and did that validity include the writings that were part of the exile?)


So, back to the point. Adam came to life as a result of God breathing life into him. Then comes the word on the page which reveals God to his people, but it means that his people have to then give that life giving breath back as a gift when they read the word in order for it to come to life.

Now, take a dip into John's Gospel and the first chapter. In this chapter, John crashes together the Hebrew understanding of word and the life giving breath with the Greek understanding of word (from their philosophy) and we come to Logos. It is the very thought of God in action. Through God "speaking" the world came into being and nothing came into being without God speaking it. Thus, all creation comes through pre-incarnate Jesus as he is word at that time. Yet, ultimately, as part of the plan, that word does not remain as word but actually relinquishes his glory that he may become incarnate and the word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us. So, the breath which carried through the word and gave life to Adam gives life to the word on the page which points to the Word that comes from heaven to become incarnate and, through life, death and resurrection followed by ascension then gives life to all those who would believe.

As we read the scriptures, and especially read them O U T  L O U D, we take the life breath that was given to us to give life to the word which in turn is giving life to us who believe. This is the 'simplicity' of John. He sat at the foot of the cross, the only one of the men willing to follow Jesus even to the end. He witnessed Jesus' words come to truth as he was revealed in a glory that they never imagined. Think about it. Earlier in the gospels, Jesus was asked by John and his brother to be able to be at his right and at his left when he entered into his glory. John then looks up to the cross as he is instructed to now care for our Blessed Mother. He looks at the cross as a thief is pardoned in an instant and promised paradise that day. He is there to hear the thunder, feel the earthquake and see the flood come from the side of Jesus after he has already declared that it is finished and death is defeated. I wonder how small John might have felt at that moment realizing what he had unknowingly asked for?

Anyway, when you read John next time, keep this in mind. The Greek thought was that words were powerful because they strengthened the mind and made it possible to excel in worldly wisdom. John tells them that their whole theory culminates at one point:  and the word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.....yet he was not known, because they loved (and so many still do) the darkness more.

Amen

New Creation or White Wash

2 Corinthians 5: 17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 5: 21 "For our sake he made him to be sin, who knew no sin, os that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

What is this new creation that we are supposed to be? Is it really new or is it simply just something that is old but kind of sorta revamped or refurbished? Is it really a new creation that we are supposed to become and why would we become a new creation anyways?

Jesus loves me enough to meet me where I am at. The expression continues, however, that he loves me too much to leave me there. What good is it to believe in a God of creation when that creation doesn't change anything for me especially in the here and now where I must live?

There was a time in my life that I couldn't wait to be someone other than who I was. I went to church, participated in the service, attended meetings, went to Happening and even "studied" the bible (more like searched through it blindly for something of which I knew not what I was searching for). Each time I would attend a service, each time I would recite the corporate confession and receive the general absolution, it was not a renewing of who I was. It certainly never felt like I was being reborn. When I would hear of others talking about being born again, I have to confess, I considered how odd they were. To me, it was as if they were disconnecting with this life. There is a young woman, whose name I think is Melanie or Melody, whom I owe a big apology to. I recall mocking her to her face when she would talk about how much time she spent consulting with God on his will for her life. I was spending my time trying to dodge the cosmic hammer so as to avoid further earthy punishment for my sins in the hope that someday, there would be enough relief that I could relax. To that young woman, and others like her, I am quite sorry. The problem was not them. Nor was there an issue with the way in which they prayed or connected with God or anything of the sort. Quite the opposite. The real issue was with me. I was not renewed. I was not made new. In truth, the real issue was that I was merely white washed. Each time I attended church, I was not being made new. I was the same old sinner loaded with the same problems. The only thing that was happening was that I was seeking through my religion to be washed up a bit, having my sins painted a bright shiny white.

Have you ever tried painting with latex paint over latex paint and didn't use the primer? If you would like an experiment, I would recommend it. The results? Some of the new paint will stick. Some of the new paint will peel. Some of the new paint will stick to the old paint and both will peel. In the end, you will have a very colorful wall with chunks of paint missing and a mismatch of color where it seemingly bonds in a random fashion. This is the essence of religion without relationship. This is the issue that Jesus had with the pharisees. They were following the Law. They had Torah down to so complex a procedure that the early apostles even had to admit that there was no way for them to succeed at keeping it let alone the gentiles who were not raised anywhere near it.  White wash. Covering up the old with a fresh coat of the sacrifice of the day hoping that it sticks well enough that you can make it to tomorrow's sacrifice.

Jesus calls us into relationship with him. Our religion, the practice or act of that relationship has to flow from Him through us and pour out again. It is this which is the exact nature of what 2 Corinthians 5:17 is composed of. If we are not born again, made new, then we are simply white washed individuals awaiting the next "rain storm" to find out what layers stuck and what layers didn't. In Ephesians, Paul references being tossed about by every wind and wave of doctrine as indicative of spiritual immaturity. White washing is just that; Spiritual Immaturity. It has a place in the beginning of your faith walk. In certain support groups they use slogans such as "fake it til you make it" for inspiration that looks the same. Basically, it is. You are exposing yourself to the right way to be until the body and mind follow the course set before them and you become that right way. The issue will continuously be, however, that to do so outside of the right relationship requires one to do so under their own power. This is not going to happen. It can't. Why? The pattern was laid out for us very early on. You must be born again of water and spirit. Those are not my own words. They are taken from the Gospel of John, third chapter. Jesus is having a conversation with Nicodemus. Jesus uses these words to describe what it is truly supposed to be like once a person comes into relationship with God through the Son and in the Spirit. We are born again....not necessarily physically (but don't discount this), yet at the least spiritually and subsequently emotionally and behaviorally.

Righteousness, true righteousness, requires far more than a white washing. Garbage is garbage now matter the color bow you put around it.

When we allow God to transform us from the inside out, truly making us new creations, it is through this that we explore and enter into his righteousness. This new creation looks similar to the old. Some may even mistake it for the old. The ones who have a close tie with the old, however, will themselves notice that things are what they used to be. Spiritually, they should not be able to avoid it. Your thoughts no longer correspond to the pattern of this world. As your heart is softened by the Spirit, it begins to knit itself to the will of God. Your hunger becomes for him. This is what it means to be a new creation. We are no longer simply moved to complain, we are moved to act. This is the new creation that reflects the righteousness of God.

Are you allowing this level of relationship to take place? Are you engaging in a dialogue with God and responding accordingly? How does this happen, you might ask? Simple, listen.........

A young man one night gave his life to Christ. He thought he was making a deal, but the deal was already set, it was more of an excuse to "give in" to what had been desired for a long time. Following that, within hours, there was an urge to engage in physical violence. This was a typical pattern of learned behavior that "felt normal". Until that night, that is. That night, as the urge welled up, the young man swears he nearly heard an audible voice telling him, "No, we don't do that any more. You are mine now and that is not what we do."

This is an example of "new creation". He wasn't just white washed, the change was internal. He was becoming that new man that scripture calls us to be.

Sustainability:

This is not possible without direct relational interaction between oneself and the body of believers as well as intimate time with God Himself. I have often heard it said by folks, "I don't need to go to church in order to believe in God." Truth is, no, you don't have to go to a church or belong to any organization in order to believe in God. If you faith, however, is going to have an impact on your life and thus on the lives of those around you, you best do something besides doing what you've been doing and at the same time spitting out "faith" from the sides of your mouth. Jesus prayed for us that His joy might be made complete in us. Yes, the only begotten Son wants us to know his joy fully in our lives. That is not a future wish for a time when the streets are all gold and the new heaven and earth appear. This joy is for now. For today.

Without being in relation with other believers, the weight of the world is likely to drag on back down after a time. Handling the world in your own strength gets tiring after a time. As we come into communion with God and each other, such as in sharing the Eucharist, we are filled and pouring out at the same time. This is what leads to sustainability. Too often we get caught up in the idea that we have to "pull ourselves up by the boot straps". This is absolutely the way of the world. It is not to be the way of us. We are called to not conform to this world any longer. We are called to be transformed by the renewal of our minds.  Transformation into that new creation. The transformation will be sustained only when we are "plugged into the flow" of God's love, His mercy, and most especially His Holy Spirit.  When we are operating and taking our spiritual sustenance from Him, He does the sustaining for us. This cannot take place in a vacuum. By vacuum, the reference is to isolation. Isolation of the self is a great method to find some peace so that you have the alone time with God, but, spend too much time there, and you quickly will find yourself out numbered by your history, by the "old self", by the temptations of the world, and feel free to add so many more things to this........

Are you a new creation? If not yet, then when will you allow that transformation to begin to take place.

Were you once a new creation but find that you aren't there any more? Then I will ask you this; what is your fellowship like? Do you spend more time with other practicing believers or with non believers/non practicing believers?

This is not an option. According to Jesus, unless this takes place within us, we will not see from heaven. (John 3)

Bible Study from 05.23.12

Ten Commandments (+1)	New Testament
Exodus 20:3 You Shall have no other gods before me.	Matthew 22:37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.”
Exodus 20:4-6 You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, ......
Exodus 20:7 You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain	Matthew 5:33 Jesus speaking “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God...”
Exodus 20:8-11 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God......	Matthew 12: 2-8 Pharisees speaking “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” Jesus’ response; “Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? ........’I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
Exodus 20:12  Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.	Matthew 15:4-9 Jesus speaking “For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ but you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” he need not honor his father.’........”‘this people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
Exodus 20:13 You shall not murder	Matthew 5:21,22 Jesus speaking “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You foo!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”
Exodus 20:14  You Shall not commit adultery	Matthew 5:27-29 Jesus speaking “You have heard that it was said ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. if your right eye....” John 8:11 the woman caught in adultery She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
Exodus 20:15 You shall not steal
Exodus 20:16  You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor	Matthew 5:33 Jesus speaking “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God...”
Exodus 20:17 You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s	Luke 12:15 And he <Jesus> said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” followed by the parable of the rich man who is told he will die tonight.
Leviticus 19:17,18 “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD”	Matthew 22: 39 Jesus speaking “And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
	Matthew 19:17-21 Jesus speaking “If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He <a rich young man> said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor you father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”..”If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” which references idolatry by the attitude of the heart
Leviticus 11 The laws regarding what is clean and unclean for eating	Matthew 15:10,11 Jesus speaking “Hear and understand; it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

Open Communion?

John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” 

“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not he communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” 1 Corinthians 10:16 

When we come to the Lord’s Table, we do so in expectation of that participation. Failure to come to the table in this knowledge comes with the potential for harm. In Paul’s first letter to Corinth, he exhorts the brethren of that community to examine themselves when they are coming to the table. “For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep”, 1 Cor. 11:29, 30. When we approach the Lord’s Table and fail to recognize what it is that we are approaching, we risk this very same thing of approach in an unworthy manner. So, in order to discuss an “Open Communion”, first requires a discussion on what that communion is all about.

Jesus says in John chapter 6 that unless his disciples eat of his flesh and drink his blood they do not have life within them. Many of those that were following him left after this statement due to how difficult it was for them to apprehend. The apostles remained and so did others as they recognized that Jesus had life in the words he was giving them. When he sat at the table for the Passover, he instituted the sacrament of his Body and Blood. Now this sacrament is the very real presence of Christ given to his church. Each of the members of the early church were called to that table and asked to give them over to a commitment in order to be present. All those who had been hangers on had left. Many who had been healed on not recalled again. So, those that remained and are named demonstrate a level of commitment. Who followed Jesus to the cross? John is the only one of the 12 that did. Peter denied him, Judas betrayed him and took his own life, and the other 9 scattered. Jesus calls them back together, except Judas, following the resurrection and shares the Breaking of the Bread at the climax of the trip to Emmaus. 

Communion is understood to be the ongoing participation in the death and resurrection of Jesus. It is the means by which we “eat of” his flesh and “drink of” his blood as he speaks of in John 6. He commanded the disciples on the night before he was handed over to suffering and death to continue this eating and drinking in perpetual memory of what was to come. He linked it to the Hebrew celebration of Passover in that now Death would pass over all who are partakers. The taking of communion signifies and reminds the taker of their incorporation into Christ’s body, His sacrifice on the cross, His ascension into heaven, the promise of His coming again and grace that it bestowed upon those who believe. Communion is not a fellowship meal. It is a sacrament. For us in the Episcopal Church, a sacrament has an effect in that it conveys with it God’s grace. This grace is given to all who have committed themselves to Christ. This is not exclusionary. Jesus says that many are called, but few are chosen (that is make the commitment). Yet, it requires the participation of the person receiving the sacrament in that they must make themselves available to the grace being offered. How does one make their self available to the grace? They do so through the Sacrament of Baptism.

Following the resurrection and appearances to his disciples, Jesus ascends, Holy Spirit descends and the church is born as recorded in Acts Chapter 2. After hearing the sermon of Peter regarding Jesus and the resurrection and ascension, the crowd is “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37).  They ask what they are to do. Peter’s response is “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38) There is no invitation to the Lord’s Supper until there is the baptism. Only after this does it recall that the fellowship grew and there was continued participation in the “breaking of the bread, and the prayers”. Therefore, scripturally, it is not accurate to say that people were called to the table without baptism. 

Again, further evidence of this is located later in the Acts of the Apostles when Philip encounters the Ethiopian eunuch. Philip expounds upon the passage that the eunuch is reading and explains to him about Jesus. The eunuch identifies a body of water and asks what would prevent him from receiving this baptism. Philip then baptizes him. The eunuch is not led to the table first. He is led to a relationship with Jesus and then given the opportunity to be baptized into the Name of Jesus, in other words be incorporated into the Body of Christ.

What is baptism then? It is the “Sacramental rite which admits a candidate to the Christian Church.” (Orthodox Dictionary of the Christian Church) This admission to the church can also be defined as incorporation into the Body of Christ as one draws on the 1 letter to the Corinthians Chapter 12. Paul reminds the church at Corinth that they are a body with Christ as the head. That “by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…”(1Cor 12:13) This incorporation is then what leads to “…and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” (1Cor 12:13) This drinking into the one spirit is oft times seen as representative of the Eucharist in that we are all partakers of the Body and Blood through communion. So, scripturally, the entrance to The Table (Communion) comes through a person’s commitment to be incorporated into the Body of Christ (the Church) as expressed through Baptism (the commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior having the outward sign of being washed through water as it points to the inward sign of the washing and indwelling of the Holy Spirit). Baptism becomes the fulfillment of the above quote from Jesus in the 14^th chapter of John, it is the way in which we come to Him and thus come to the Father.

What of the early church? In the Didache (ca A.D 140) the initial instructions are given for baptism in regards to water and using the Trinitarian formula of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Then they address the practice of fasting and then follows instructions regarding the Eucharist. It provides a basic formula for giving thanks and concludes with “Let no one eat or drink of the Eucharist with you except those who have been baptized in the name of the Lord; for it was in reference to this that the Lord said ‘Do not give that which is holy to dogs’.” These instructions were accepted and enforced throughout the early church. Origin himself “further stresses that the person being baptized must seek practical understanding of what baptism signifies. Baptism is renunciation, conversion, penance. It completes sacramentally the ascetical death of the catechumen; but ‘if anyone comes to the washing of water (continuing) in sin, then his sins are not remitted’ (21^st homily on Luke).” (as quoted from Concise Sacramentum Mundi). Additionally, the various church Councils were held to discuss and validate such things so that each of the early fathers does not question the validity or the necessity of baptism. We can learn much by what is not said as we can by what is said (in a sense via negative). In that Eucharist is not provided to, in truth forbidden from, any who are not baptized, we can only conclude that even for the early fathers and later in the church history, Baptism is the essential rite by which we are incorporated into the faith. Without baptism, we are not given nor should we be given access to the other sacraments. How did Jesus begin his own ministry? He began it first by himself receiving baptism in both water and Spirit. 

In regards to our own Anglican roots, we can turn to the Articles of Religion adopted by the Episcopal Church in 1801. Located in the back of our Book of Common Prayer, Article XXVII Of Baptism states that “they that receive Baptism rightly are grafted into the Church; ..” The Eucharist, as stated in the Catechism on page 859 in the BCP, is “…the Church’s sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, is the way by which the sacrifice of Christ is made present, and in which he unites us to his one offering of himself.” Note that the Eucharist is named as the church’s sacrifice. Who is the church? It is the body of Christ. Who makes up the Body of Christ? Those who have been “rightly grafted into…” So, in accordance with Scripture, early church teaching and the early fathers as well to this day, Baptism is the prerequisite Sacrament for the other Sacraments.

Arguments could be made to say that “exclusion by having high expectations” may be distancing us from being able to reach out to others and draw them into a relationship with Jesus Christ. However, does not the above point towards the very fact that to be in relationship with Jesus Christ, which is the mission of the church, begins at acceptance of Him as Lord and Savior? When we come to a point as to desire membership over relationship, we miss the heart of what Jesus says in John 13. To come to the Father, we must go through Jesus. To go through Jesus means to have a relationship with Him. The Great Commission as outlined in the Gospel of Matthew is for us to “go into the world and make disciples of all men baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey all I (Jesus) have commanded you.” To become a disciple of someone is to dedicate you to them. Access to the Lord’s Supper without baptism or Open Communion, circumvents this relationship and thus unequally yokes the Eucharist itself to the world. How does this present a gospel of hope to a fallen world? I would argue that it does not. What such does, instead, is presents a fallen world as the gospel by the fact that the Church conforms to the world. 

St Patrick, in his conversion of Ireland, would set up communities alongside existing communities. He and those with him would work the fields, take care of wood and the livestock, share meals and live right with those whom they were seeking to share the gospel with. At those times when the local “non-Christian” customs would be exercised, the missionaries would leave the vicinity to engage in their own celebration (as in “the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of the bread and the prayers”). They presented the Lord to the world inclusive of the difference in their lives that the Lord makes. Those communities would thus be drawn to explore the relationship that the missionaries had with Jesus and how it had affected their lives. This was the way that Ireland was won for Christ, not by syncretism (incorporating pagan belief and ritual into the Christian faith) or an open communion in which assimilation into the life of the church is effortless but instead by the Church being present to the world but “not of the world” as Jesus had prayed for us in John 17. The differences between the faithful were not only present but exploited. This is the good news. We are no longer the same persons we once were but instead, “if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2Cor 5:17). Through baptism, the old had passed away and thus the Irish were made new in Christ.

The mission of the Church as given to us by Christ is not membership. Membership does not bring salvation. Relationship with Jesus Christ brings salvation. Relationships require commitment. Baptism is the outward sign of a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as a person’s Lord and Savior. It is through baptism that we are incorporated into the Body of Christ and made heirs to the Kingdom. As such, it is through Baptism that we are then called to the Table of the Lord, or Communion. The Church must present itself to the world, work alongside the world and be open to communicating with the world in order for the world to be able to receive the gospel. It is not, however, the Church’s mission to become the world. As Israel experienced throughout the Old Testament, and to an extent to this day continues to experience, each time they became more and more like their neighbors, they moved further and further away from the relationship with the LORD. He would, in His faithfulness, send the Judges time and time again. For a generation, they would return back to the covenant. Yet, there came a time when they found it easier to not keep in the way of the LORD, would become more like their neighbors again and would require another Judge to lead them.

I would further add two personal observations made during ministry and mission. The first is that I had the privilege of supporting a person who was of another religion in coming to Christ. They were raised in a faith that believed in baptism only using the name of Jesus and did not practice Eucharist as a sacrament but viewed it more as a memorial. When asked about coming to the table to receive communion I was able to offer them our view of baptism as a prerequisite for communion. I offered for them to ask questions and then provided them with our (meaning the church’s) history of the sacrament and its application with regard to receiving communion. After careful consideration of the information and much prayer, they came and asked to be baptized in the Name of God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They admitted that they looked forward expectantly toward communion as a result of the educational process that they had been through. They were thankful for the depth to which we view the sacraments and what they, due to God’s grace, convey. They were willing to make that commitment to Christ and did so and were fully received into the Body of Christ.

A second observation comes out of the mission field. In two travels to Nigeria I have observed their presentation of the Gospel and their handling of the Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist. Even with the level of persecution that they regularly undergo, the Anglican Church is growing in Nigeria and other parts of Africa at an astounding rate. There is no open communion. They present the Gospel and offer people an opportunity to be baptized and to receive Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. Many have thus been received into the Body of Christ even in the face of possible persecutions.  

Revival or Kingdom?

So, which would you prefer? God's kingdom truly here and present or a revival? What does either of those terms really mean? Can't we have both?

Before looking at either of these two terms, please ask yourself this question: what relationship with God are you looking for? This will inevitably lead to answering the question of revival or kingdom without you lifting a finger. The reason?

In the nature of relationships, what we desire to come out of that relationship will shape the approach we take to fulfilling the relationship. If all I was interested in was a quick personal satisfaction physical relationship with someone, my approach would probably be quick, hook deep and, if there is no likely satisfaction, quickly move on to the next spot. If however, I am looking for something a little more sustained, I will likely spend more time testing, in conversation, looking for details, getting to know, and the like. I will be far less likely to pack up my gear in a hurry if I don't find what I want right away. Instead, I might even come back to the same spot several times. Of course, there is always the danger of getting what I thought I wanted and finding out that even that is not what I wanted to begin with and thus the whole problem starts all over again.

What might this have to do with kingdom versus revival? Well, our faith is about a relationship with God our creator. Our faith explores the broken relationship between Creator and his creation and the way in which the Creator then continues to make moves to restore his creation back into relationship with himself. His ultimate fulfillment of this is when he brings into the world his son who then removes the problem of sin (or more accurately the wrath due to sin) and in so removing brings with him the kingdom that has the sustained relationship with the king. It is within the context of this relationship with the king that the problem (wrath) is kept from coming back for the members of that kingdom. Jesus' work on the cross isn't just a blank check written to cover your errors that might be upsetting to God. Jesus' work on the cross was a finality to the price for sin that ushers in a new kingdom. This kingdom is one of power but that power comes through relationship. It is manifest here in the midst of us, yet just our of reach. The more we surrender to the King and his reign in our lives, the more we allow the kingdom to be made manifest. It manifests first within us, then through us to the environment around us. The purpose of this kingdom is restoration of relationship between Creator and his creation. In the context of kingdom we find that we are able to be transformed. Why? Because kingdom is "the King's Domain", where he, the King, has full authority. If he has the authority, then his law is sovereign. When his law is sovereign, then his word goes forth and "will not return to me empty but will accomplish that for which it was purposed and prosper in that for which it was sent."

Revival, on the other hand, isn't quite at that level. To revive something is to bring back something that was lost. In most cases, I assume (dangerous I know), that most often what folks are meaning by revival is a bringing back of the relationship between Creator and creation, God and His people. However, the emphasis so often seems instead to fall on the manifest signs of the Presence of God, the charisms associated with Holy Spirit. Please do not think that I have no joy in seeing someone healed. I love to boast of God's manifest presence when we see Him operate sovereignly to heal someone or to set someone free from oppression. The concern that I have is that to revive something, to bring that which is now faint or passing back to life, means that life had to be present to begin with.

What occurred on that day of Pentecost, circa 33 AD, was not a revival. It was the manifest presence of the Kingdom as promised by Jesus himself. His words "repent for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand." Whooossshhhh, there it is.....fire that doesn't consume but transforms instead, elegance of speech from the uneducated, translation of language without an intermediary who speaks the common language, instead the ability to hear what is needed to be heard in your own way that you need it no matter the language it is originally being delivered in......gold and silver I do not have, but what I do have I give to you, in the name of Jesus Christ, get up and Walk!!! This is not revival, per say, this is manifest kingdom.

I pray that we spend out time focused on the model prayer we were given, "thy kingdom come". To have that, however, would mean we first have to have the acceptance of and submission to a King. His name is Jesus. Where the King is present, there the kingdom is. Pray for revival of those who once knew and have since "fallen asleep". Yet pray more fervently for the King to have his way and for his reign to begin. First in ourselves, then in our homes, then our communities, and ultimately in a new heaven and new earth.

One of the degrees Pt II

So, why pray? If we can't create the divine IOUs that will have God bent to our will, then why bother praying at all?

I asked myself this several times. I didn't like my first couple of answers. They included; "because He said so", "you're supposed to", "why not?", "it's a mystery", and then a few frustrated comments. Yeah, sometimes not so nice to me, especially when I get a bit on the bratty side.

Counted to 10, a couple of times, and sat down to listen.

Why pray?

Prayer is not about changing God, changing God's mind or affecting His sovereign will. Prayer is not about that at all. Prayer is, pure and simple, about affecting US. Individually, corporately, physically, emotionally, spiritually and a few other "ly"s that I haven't gotten my head around yet....that is the bottom line.

Prayer (and worship) is not done out of a need that God has in his great cosmic heart to be filled by affirmations of his creation recognizing that he is God. Prayer (and worship) should be directed to God out of adoration for what he has already done for us and what he has promised to do in our future, even if the world (and its systems, princes and powers) gets in the way....ultimate victor belongs to the creator and at some point in "time", there will come a day when the sky will roll back like a scroll and the rider on the white horse whose name is upon his thigh will appear, and every knee will bow, human, mammal, spirit and demon at his glorious coming and will proclaim him LORD whether they do so of their own will or HIS.

The process of sanctification get best be described of that by which we approach the intended holiness that God would have in us. Prayer (and worship) is about just that. We enter into that two way conversation with God, thanks to his son Jesus, which draws us into deeper and deeper relationship with the Father while Holy Spirit works in and through us affecting the world, and one could say the spiritual atmosphere, around us. That's why we pray. We pray for healing to take place not because God somehow forgot or misplaced a healthy diagnosis for someone.  God knows our needs, knew us when still in the womb. We pray for healing to take place as invitation to Holy Ghost to break into our world, into our lives, to move the princes and powers of this world out of the way so healing will/can occur. That is why we pray.

The purpose of prayer is most clearly demonstrated in the model prayer that Jesus gave to his disciples: Your name be hallowed, Your kingdom come and Your will be done---here on earth as it is already done in heaven. We are asking for God to change us and the world in which we live so that it more perfectly lines up with the heavenly courts and God's plan from the get go. This is about God changing us and we making ourselves available to him for that very purpose.

Pray for peace? Yes. Why? Because through the effective working of pray, this world changes. In part because we make ourselves available to God that we may be transformed and in part because as we, through Adam and Eve, kicked him out of our lives, we  through prayer invite him back in.

I know that God wants to break thru in healing, transforming lives and relationships, setting right that which has gone horribly wrong, setting captives free physically spiritually and emotionally and give away freely love and peace. I know this because I have read time and time again in his word that this is his desire. Prayer, done out of a heart founded and grounded in latria, may be that move which opens the door further to the transformation of our own lives and the lives of those around us.

One of the one degrees off

For many months now, maybe even years, I have been contemplating worship and what it means and how it is that we enter into it and other such issues in and around it. Through studies, we've been taking a look at different forms of worship, liturgies, symbolisms and "when we do this, we mean this." In the context of this, the following has come to me through meditations the morning of 05/08/12:

Hebrews 12:28,29 "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."

Why worship? Out of being grateful for what we have received--a kingdom (Romans 8:14-17). We are all heirs to this kingdom, all who have accepted life in Christ Jesus. Out of this knowledge should flow gratitude towards the Giver, God himself, for this great gift. In the spirit of this gratitude we should see the foundations for true genuine worship. Not out of a desire for power, control or manipulation of God to bend his will to ours so that we can receive what we believe he owes us. Not in the least. Instead, it should be out of the knowledge that we have received a gift beyond compare that we could never earn, but is given because of grace and mercy being the very character of God.

At the heart of the matter in remaining less than a degree off from true worship, which should be our goals, we need and must, and I do mean must, understand the difference in terms of two separate attitudes of worship. These two are represented by two distinct words (not from English, but from Hindu and Greek). The first, taken from Hindu, is puja. It means basically to "do service". The other, from Greek, is latria. This word means to "give worship". Why understand the two? Simple, in the context of Christian faith, they tend to intertwine and thus confuse what it is we are doing and why, especially as perceived by the outside world. Given this, we must be very careful, because they are not, not, not, oh, and they are NOT, the same thing. Yet, if we don't distinguish between them, we run the risk of the appearance of sin because of the attitude that underlies each.

In greater depth:
In Hindu, puja basically refers to what it is that a believer does in order to get the god they are worshiping to do what they want that god to do. For example, if one were to need a financial blessing, they would go to a temple and seek out the idol of Lakshmi and, if I recall correctly, pour milk over the idol as well as some other offerings and, given that you are doing this correctly, the god is supposed to then bless you. Puja allows a person to say to the god, "You owe me, I did this, now you have to bless me, I earned it". Luther took exception to this himself. When his eyes opened and he saw what Paul was writing about (saved by grace through faith and not of works, lest any man boast) he came to understand that there was nothing that man could do of his own to make God do something for him because that flies in the face of what grace means. Thus, no matter how many times you have prayed the Rosary, you have not earned any additional special favor with God for blessings of your finances or what have you. Prayer, in the Christian context, should never be puja, although many approach it that way. I have heard it said that, so and so cooked the best brownies and surely God would let them into heaven for being such a good person. That is a puja approach to worship.

Latria, on the other hand, is an attitude of doing works not out of expectations of earning points with God or creating some divine IOU. Instead, as James points out, the "works" are done as an expression of gratitude to God for what he has already done for us. It is the process of giving back to God what he deserves, recognizing that we could never fully balance the scales. So, going back to the god of fortune from above, instead of feeling the need to have that god provide monetary blessings and so go pour milk over the god's idol, the offering of milk is poured out as an offering in thanksgiving for what milk that god already provided. The Rosary is not prayed and meditated upon in order to create a divine IOU. Instead, it is prayed and meditated upon in order to soak our own hearts and minds in God, the life of Jesus, to move the other worldly powers (those not of God) out of the way by inviting God here and now, our meager part in fulfilling the Lord's Prayer--thy kingdom come on earth as it is already in heaven.

One degree off takes a person out of the comfort and safety of the honest relationship between God and his creation and places the person into a position whereby even though the god is allegedly god, they are bound now by what the believer does. This places the worshiper as superior to that being "worshiped" and worship is thus reduced to manipulation.

Are there occasions in Scripture whereby someone seems to get in God's face and God "changes his mind"? Yes, there are......on the surface. Underneath, that is not what takes place. What takes place is that a person is willing to put their self in the way of harming, making the sacrifice. This assuages what price something might cost. The ultimate representation of this is Jesus on the Cross. One unique point in time when all of God's wrath (that of God which must have recompense for sin) was absorbed in one sacrifice for all sin that was, is and will be committed so that any who would accept that sacrifice and the authority associated with it may experience God's grace and mercy.

Even with this example, however, I have to be mindful that God is God, period, end of argument. I can pray for all kinds of things, but the truth is, God gives as he wills. It is a mystery that my feeble mind cannot even come close to wrapping around.

When will the kingdom come? I do not know. But this I do, if we want the kingdom, we have to remember that we can never earn it. Puja will not bring it. There is no magic formula of the number of Our Fathers or celebrations of the Eucharistic prayers Latin or anything that I can do that will bring me God's favor.

I already have it.

That is His choice. I have to choose to accept it, by accepting the work of his Son on the cross, his lordship in my life and accepting the working of Holy Ghost within me towards sanctification.

The moment I think I can manipulate God by the way I sing to him or pray to him or walk on my knees or to him, is the moment I have step a degree off which takes me out of the plumb line shown to Amos......one degree off.

Latest Sense of "It"

Many different folks have been sensing many different things that may, at the surface, appear to not jive or fit even remotely together....like large pieces of two different jigsaw puzzles that are being mashed together. This is the time for exactly that to happen.


Two weeks ago now, I started to hear in the spirit, one degree off.  I kept asking what this meant and what God would like for us to do with this. Nothing came at first. Only after I finally stopped asking did I get a clearer sense of this. In one particular case, I was shown a vision of a vapor type serpent that was "piggy backing" on a ministry as a means of entry. I was told that what was going on was they were being influenced in theology and doctrine to be "one degree off" from Scripture, early church fathers, and what I refer to as holy tradition...those traditions that, yea, they appear religious, are designed to point in the direction of God, not limit him within the context of the tradition. (Maybe some time later down the road, we'll take a run at that in a more clear sense).


This one degree off appears nominal at first. In fact and truth, it is barely perceptible at the onset. It is only when moving along from the point of the misdirect and getting further out do we come to recognize that we have strayed from that which we were directed to. As soon as it is recognized, we must issue a course correction to come back in line. 


As I said, I was shown this for one particular grouping of believers. However, it is not for them alone. As I meditated further over the past couple of weeks, I keep being brought back to this same sense. In reading some of what others have sensed, including a man by the name of Mark Mallett, this falls in line with what others are sensing....time is short, the enemy is on the move and a need is developing more and more for those of us to believe to enter into belief and worship with each other. 


How do we keep then safely moving forward? Do we sit with hands under our thighs and feet in cement waiting for God to show up in a burning bush so that we now have permission to act? 


My sense of it is "No". We shouldn't. We were not given a spirit of fear with which to turn us back. We were given a spirit of adoption. In this sense, as sons and daughters, we are to walk by faith. This will mean taking steps that may be a degree off. In true sensitivity to the Lord, however, we also must then be listening as we move. Acting in discernment, testing the spirit and seeking counsel from others as we move. When the word comes that we are a degree off, make the correction, but do not over correct. A degree off to the right is no better nor worse than a degree off to the left. Fear and trembling? Yes, but not the same paralyzing fear or trembling that will cause us to act. Only through testing is the will of God revealed (Romans 12:2). 


Finally, I am also brought back to Isaiah. Through the prophet we are told that when we stray to the left or to the right, we will hear a voice from behind telling us, "This is the way, walk in it". (Isa 30:21). Listen for that still small voice and be made aware, one degree off at the beginning of the journey will lead to be utterly lost and confounded many months down the road. Listen early, correct quickly and do not fall into the trap that is being set.

Little Man

My little man spoke with me today

Told me how he was hurting and tired speaking of feeling ignored and rejected

Yet I reached out my heart to stretch in hope of bonds of brotherly affection with others who had drawn my attention

Then in my knower I see little man’s tear born out of hurting falling on sand absorbed and forgotten like me says he

Again I reached this time will be different a hope of acceptance to quell the strife and draw out peace

A meek tug on my pocket asking for grace a respite a moment a smile a chance

Yet again I turn straining forth from deep within my own strength seeking reconciliation

Until the heart like the rubber band near snaps the little man a heap of tears

Asking that I not let him go as those before

Call an end to yearning and striving for that slapped away

No need little man for you to be still hurting lost or rejected

Your wisdom wiser than mine ever could be

To you I will sit and listen go ahead and teach me

The true bonds of affection and unity and this way the gift of peace I receive