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
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Friday, June 1, 2012
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)
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)
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