Dealing With the Ex, Part 1 of 3

His wife said to him, "Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God and die!" - Job 2:9 HCSB

In a society overwhelmed by divorce, the issue of how we should interact with an ex-spouse is one that simply cannot be ignored. As a pastor, I have to help people with the consequences of divorce on a weekly basis: arguments over splitting up the “stuff” every marriage seems to accumulate, child custody, visitation, discipline and schooling; arguments over the selling price of the house…the list is nearly as inexhaustible as the ire.

How does a Christian deal with an ex? How can we negotiate the lives of our children with an abusive spouse? How can we do our part to establish justice when the legal system seems to be about everything but justice?

Above any human, even a pastor, we need to listen to God’s wisdom. If we don’t, we will suffer the consequences. Worse, our families will suffer the consequences.[1] We can always count on the Word to be correct. It is not plagued with the improper motivations and blind spots to which humans are so susceptible. It is clear and plain. If there is a problem, the problem lies not with the Word but with our willingness to obey it.[2]

We also need to establish in our heart the importance of protecting our children. Whether married or divorced, the call to protect our children remains paramount.[3] Parents are responsible to care for their children. That responsibility goes far beyond monetary support. We must provide them with safety – physical, moral and spiritual safety.[4] Our decisions must not hinder our children from coming to the Lord. We shouldn’t expose them to more sin than we can help. They mustn’t be deliberately put in a place where they will suffer harm. Instead, we should try to always give them the most opportunities they can have to know Christ and follow Him.[5]

When we are looking for advice, we shouldn’t go to the worldly - to those who are unsuccessful in life. It would be foolish to only go to those who will tell us what we want to hear. Instead, we should find the godly; men and women of character; people who are strong and have a servant’s heart. They will guide us well. If we listen to fools, our destruction is assured.[6] Do you take financial advice from a bum lying in his own puke in the street? So why take marriage advice from a person who has had four husbands? When a fool brays instructions and advice, your best bet is to simply let it go in one ear and out the other. Then turn to the job and do what is right.

[1] Proverbs 1:25-28; 23:12
[2] Proverbs 7:7-9; Deuteronomy 30:11-14
[3] Luke 17:1-2
[4] 1 Timothy 5:8
[5] Mark 10:13-16
[6] Proverbs 10:21

Advice for Deacons

Then the Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, "It would not be right for us to give up preaching about God to wait on tables. Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty.” - Acts 6:2-3 HCSB

I very much appreciate the ministry of the diaconate and the tremendous burden that they carry for God’s church. I also understand that they have many things that they must keep in mind as they serve the Lord.[1] However, may I offer a few pieces of advice?

A minister of God serves as an ambassador.[2] Deacons represent the sovereign King of kings. Therefore, a healthy appreciation for excellence and professionalism should be the hallmark of Hashem’s stewards. Deacons must always be in pursuit of excellence. Whatever you do, try to do it as professionally as you can. Do not settle for second best when serving the Master.[3]

Periodically reexamine your practices under the light of the Scriptures to be certain that you are actually following their principles and not the world’s.[4]

Learn how to give gifts people want. Serve them in a way that they will accept. Learn to express love appropriately. Lack of knowledge in how to display our love can actually end up developing frustration in those we serve.[5]

Every act, every thought, every statement, every vote, every suggestion must be tested by the following question: “Will this glorify God?”[6] After all, loving God not only as an expression of the heart but as an expression of our intellect and physicality should be the ultimate goal of every Christian.[7]

One of the principles that must rule deacons’ every act is that of confidentiality. The default setting for church officers should be silence![8] With the exception of criminal activity or matters of church discipline, information that has been given privately must not be revealed without that person’s permission.[9] Do not let non-critical information be known that may cause harm to the unity of God’s people.

The principle of “tzedekah” or “right living” entails doing the right thing at the right time at the right place for the right reason. Good intentions are simply not enough. They must be accompanied by wise acts, impeccably timed with consideration of the context.

Just because you know something doesn’t mean you should act on it immediately. Carefully think about it first, and perhaps go see the person it effects in private to make sure you have your facts straight.[10] Be cautious, trying to understand the possible ramifications of what you are about to do.[11] Thinking things through and asking advice beforehand will have the added bonus of allowing you to present things in as gracious and palatable manner as possible which will allow you to be as persuasive as possible.[12]

[1] 1 Timothy 3:8-10
[2] 2 Corinthians 5:20
[3] Ecclesiastes 9:10; 11:6; Romans 12:11; Colossians 3:23
[4] 1 Thessalonians 4:1; Proverbs 18:15; Ecclesiastes 3:1, 6
[5] Philippians 1:9-10; 2 Corinthians 8:7; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 4:10
[6] 1 Corinthians 10:31
[7] Matthew 23:37-38
[8] James 1:19; Proverbs 17:27-28; 21:23
[9] Proverbs 11:13; 25:23
[10] Proverbs 12:23; 13:16; 25:7-10
[11] Proverbs 14:8, 16; 29:20
[12] Proverbs 16:21, 23-24

The First Sheaf of the Harvest

Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you enter the land I am giving you and reap its harvest, you are to bring the first sheaf of your harvest to the priest. He will wave the sheaf before the LORD so that you may be accepted; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. On the day you wave the sheaf, you are to offer a year-old male lamb without blemish as a burnt offering to the LORD. - Leviticus 23:10-12 HCSB

Around 1445 BC, Yahweh commanded His people to take the first sheaf they harvested each year and to bring it to the priest who would wave it before the Lord.

Notice first that this was done in order to be accepted by the Lord. Second, it was to be done on the day AFTER the Sabbath – not the Sabbath itself. Third, this “wave offering” was to be closely associated with the burnt offering of an unblemished lamb. Fourth, it was to signify a new beginning and the bounty of the Lord. Fifth, the feast of Pentecost was to follow 50 days after the wave-sheaf offering.[1]

Nearly 1,500 years later, the Lord Jesus Christ, in view of His coming crucifixion said to the disciples, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. "I assure you: Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop.”[2] Shortly thereafter, although He was found blameless by the court, He was tortured, beaten, mocked and crucified. He submitted to this in order to pay for the sins that we have committed.

After He died, He was buried in a grave in a nearby garden. Nevertheless, the world’s measures were hopelessly insignificant when compared to the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit.

Here comes the cool part. First, Jesus’ willingness to be that “grain of wheat that must fall into the ground and die” had the effect of making those of us who claim Him acceptable to God.[3] Second, He was raised on the day after the Sabbath[4] which is why the Ransomed celebrate and worship Him on Sunday.[5] Third, He was the unblemished Lamb whose sacrifice atones for our sins. Fourth, because of His sacrifice, we enjoy a new beginning and the bounty of the Lord. Fifth, as the Israelites’ harvest couldn’t begin until the wave-sheaf offering was accepted by God, similarly the Holy Spirit was not poured out until Pentecost, after Jesus returned to the Father.[6]

Just as the first sheaf of the harvest was referred to as the “firstfruits”, so is Jesus.[7] This is because He was the first of what will be many to resurrect from the dead.[8]

So Christ had the Last Supper on Passover, was resurrected on the day of the Wave-Sheaf offering and then told His disciples to “wait” for the coming of the Holy Spirit which occurred on the day of Pentecost! Small wonder then, that the Ransomed pay close heed to the biblical Feasts!




[1] Leviticus 23:16-17
[2] John 12:23-24
[3] 1 Corinthians 5:7 cp John 1:29
[4] Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2, 9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1, 19;
[5] Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2
[6] Acts 1:1-8; 2:1-4
[7] 1 Corinthians 15:20 cp Colossians 1:1, 18
[8] Acts 26:23

Products of Forced Labor

Isn't the fast I choose: To break the chains of wickedness, to untie the ropes of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to tear off every yoke? - Isaiah 58:6 HCSB

[1] The International Labor Office (ILO) estimates that there are over 12 million people trapped in forced labor around the world, generating as much as $32 billion each year.

It would be easy for us to shrug and say “business is business.” However, the rich have often yielded to their yetzer hara[2] and abused those under their power.[3]

It would be facile to assuage our consciences by saying “they get the salary they contracted for.”

We could even try to twist the meaning of the parable of the householder[4] into supporting our view. Yet contracts can at times lead to terrible oppression. Sometimes, the poor will agree to a contract that does not even give them enough to live on simply because the alternative is no income at all! Consider the situation in Nehemiah’s day[5] and Nehemiah’s immediate outrage.[6]

We want more, more, more but don't want to pay a fair price for well-made goods. We would rather buy a cheap, inferior, ill-gotten, product of imprisoned slave labor, and replace it over and over again, rather than pay a bit more for higher quality product manufactured by workers making a fair wage. But Yahweh commands us to not oppress poor workers or deny justice to foreign residents.[7]

We cannot afford to be simple-minded in our approach to slavery and sweat shops, however. On several occasions in the 1990s, well-meaning people who opposed sweatshops unintentionally increased child prostitution because there was no other work for the children to do. In some cases, the children starved to death.

So our answer cannot be to simply boycott every product from 3rd world nations, but to make sure that our activism actually promotes a living wage and pushes for fair trade. Our activism must be intelligent and well thought out.

We must ask ourselves, “Is this product something I really need?”[8] The vast majority of the products of slavery are cheap, low quality extras. For instance, oppressed Christians in China have been arrested and while in prison, forced to make Christmas lights for American consumption. Imprisoned Chinese pastors often have to make cigarette lighters, mine coal, make bricks, or assemble textiles while subject to electric shocks, beatings and sleep deprivation.

In today’s global society where multinational corporations and their shell companies buy and sell each other at dizzying rates, it’s difficult to know the origin of the products we buy. In this case, I believe Paul’s instructions have bearing.[9] We should advance cautiously into the market, researching carefully what we buy; not only for its economic value but for its contribution toward justice. Many prefer to not really look, but the Scriptures are clear that ignorance is NOT bliss.[10]

If we don’t know specifically that a certain product has the taint of slavery, then we are free to purchase it. However, once it becomes known to us that a particular product is enriching abusive people at the expense of the poor and oppressed, then we are obligated to not only boycott that product but do what we can to change those conditions.

[1] Punishment Battalion Does Suicide Work; from the Buchenwald series by Johannes Steyer
[2] the negative impulse; inherent sin
[3] James 2:6
[4] Matthew 20:1-16
[5] Nehemiah 5:1-5
[6] Nehemiah 5:6, 9
[7] Deuteronomy 24:14, 17
[8] Philippians 4:11-12; 1 Timothy 6:6-8
[9] 1 Corinthians 10:25-28
[10] Proverbs 24:11-12

The Other Side of Pride

The LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued to extend faithful love to you. - Jeremiah 31:3 HCSB

The man sat in the congregation; listening to the teacher speak about Bible study. The teacher was passionately exhorting the people to enter into Hashem’s instructions for themselves and know for sure what the Lord God wanted from them.

“Do not rely on what I say!” the teacher cried out. “Each of us must die and after that comes the Judgment![1] I will not be able to stand with you on the Great Day of Judgment. Study Yahweh’s precepts. Engrave them upon your hearts. Memorize them so that on that great day you will be able to remind Hashem of His promises as our ancestor Moses did.”[2]

The man sat listening to this with a doubting mind. All his life he had struggled in school. He could barely read. The yetzer hara[3] whispered in his mind, “What’s the use? You’re too stupid to understand the Bible. It’s too complicated for the likes of you. Why even try?”

I have often warned of the dangers of pride. I have often quoted “God resists the proud but draws near to the humble”[4] to you. However, do not fall into the trap of only thinking of pride in one dimension. We usually think of the haughty, arrogant person who looks down his nose at everyone around him but pride can take another form – low self-esteem.

Perhaps we have not had the opportunities others have had. Perhaps we were not born with great physical attributes or keen minds. Therefore, it might be too difficult for the yetzer hara to get us to get “too big for our britches.” So it switches tactics and gets us to grow bitter about our lack of giftedness and to fear humiliation. “Don’t expose yourself. Don’t let anyone know your weakness. Don’t put yourself out. They’ll only laugh at you.”

Brother, sister, I understand your fears. I struggle with them too. On one hand, it is important to keep in mind that we are but “dust and ashes.”[5] On the other, it is equally important to remember that the Lord has loved us with an everlasting love and continues to extend faithful love to us. We are worthy – not because of the things we can do but because of Who loves us. We are created in His image[6] and He longs to be united with us just as surely as He wants to be united with the other members of the Trinity.[7]

The call to humility does not imply that we constantly deprecate ourselves but that we not think of ourselves more highly than we should think. Instead we are to think sensibly, realistically about ourselves.[8]

We were granted talents, each according to his ability.[9] Let’s work at developing them, allowing room for the machinations of neither hubris nor low self-esteem.[10]

[1] Hebrews 9:27
[2] Exodus 32:13 cp the promise we claim Mark 16:16; John 3:17; 10:9
[3] The negative impulse to sin; inherent sin
[4] James 4:6
[5] Genesis 18:27
[6] Genesis 1:26-27
[7] John 17:11, 21-23
[8] Romans 12:3
[9] Matthew 25:14-18
[10] Matthew 25:26-28

Playing Unplugged

I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. – John 15:5 HCSB

My five year old boy liked to pretend to play video games. At least we thought he was pretending. He would sit there with a controller in hand, pushing buttons as fast and as furiously as his sibling who was actually playing. He would duck and dodge his head as obstacles approached on the TV screen. He would throw his hands in the air in victory as they passed a level. He would express outrage when the game would throw something unexpected at them. But the problem was…he was unplugged! His sibs would routinely unplug his controller and hand it to him so that he could “play along” with them. We started gradually realizing that he really thought he was playing. When we pointed out to him that his controller was actually unplugged, he became aggravated with us, insisting that he was actually playing. Now we don’t mind pretend games, but we do insist that our children have a firm grasp on reality! It took a while to convince him that playing unplugged was useless. However, once he started playing for real, his skills gradually improved and he could truly participate with everyone else.

Too many people are playing Christianity unplugged. They make all the right moves, are emotionally involved with their religion, think about it and toss about the correct religious jargon. They go to the right places, say the right things, and may even get so good at it that they fool everyone around them (or worse – themselves) into thinking that they have the real deal. But all the while they are unplugged from the source of power; from the source of control. There are no actual results within their souls. If you speak to them about their need to get plugged into Christ, they become irate and outraged, pointing out all their good works as evidence of true participation in the game of life.

Listen, going to the right places (like church), doing the right things (like reading your Bible and praying), saying the right things (like encouraging others to good works) are all very important. But it is totally useless unless you are plugged in to a real relationship with Jesus Christ. Then and only then will your prayers be meaningful. Then and only then will you begin to naturally produce the spiritual results you seek.

So how do we plug in? Let me give you the same answer that was given to a jailer who once asked the very same question: Believe in Jesus Christ (that He is the only one who can save you from your sins) and you will be saved. That’s it. It’s not by any good works that you could ever do, but by the simple faith that a child can generate in the fact that you are a sinner and can do nothing to get to heaven and that Jesus the Messiah is the only one who can. That act of submission plugs you into more spiritual juice that you could ever hope for. And then the games REALLY begin.

Settle your soul (your mind, will and emotions) and your spirit (that part of you that communicates with God) down. Ask God to show you if you are truly plugged in or not. Then spend some time simply being quiet.

Christians and Samurais

That’s right – if you make Insight your priority, and won’t take no for an answer, searching for it like a prospector panning for gold, like an adventurer on a treasure hunt, believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours; and you’ll have come upon the Knowledge of God.” – Proverbs 2:1-4

As you read the book of Proverbs, you find that Wisdom is calling out in the Market Square, in the city gates, outside the town, on the hilltop – everywhere. Sometimes, men listen to part of what she’s saying. I may hear something you don’t. You may hear something another can’t, but each of us is capable of hearing if only we’ll listen. It is religious bigotry to think you or your denomination has the corner on the market of truth. The Japanese samurai had a saying. It went “Shiken haramitsu dai kyo myo.” It generally meant, “In every encounter there is enlightenment.” They felt that every encounter they made with another man yielded the opportunity to come a little closer to the Truth. This ancient Japanese proverb sounds remarkably close to what Wisdom has to say in Proverbs doesn’t it? Let me show you something.

(Jesus) Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:31
(Buddha) Consider others as yourself. Dhammapada 10.1

(Jesus) Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me. Matthew 25:45
(Buddha) If you do not tend one another, then who is there to tend you? Whoever would tend me, he should tend the sick. Vinaya, Mahavagga 8.26.3

These words, attributed to Buddha, predate the Christian era by more than five hundred years. Truth is truth, regardless from whose lips it falls. In Buddhist terms, there is one truth, not many.

I also am not advocating many truths. We are all like the blind men who grasp an elephant. One, with his arms around a leg proclaims, “An elephant is like a tree!”.

Another, with his hand upon the elephant’s trunk, shakes his head, “No, it is more like a python.”
While yet another, feeling only the tail, smiles, “Oh, no! It is snake-like, yes but not that large a snake!”

The last, trying vainly to hold to a great flapping ear, gasps out, “A great banana leaf. It is like a great banana leaf.”

Are each one wrong? Yes. Are each one right? Yes. Each is partially right and partially wrong. Their common problem is that they will only believe the little piece they have in their hands, never guessing how large and mighty a creature an elephant actually is. Many of these other religions have seized some truth and swallowed it with a lot of untruth. However, it is too simplistic to utterly reject everything they say out of hand. It makes it impossible for you to build bridges to them in order to bring them to Christ. Didn’t even Paul quote the Greek’s philosophical poets back to them approvingly? Of course then he showed them where they went wrong.

Aren’t we often like those blind men? Does God like ritual? Yes, claims the Levitical scholar. But isn’t God sick of ritual and wanting a close personal relationship with us? Oh yes, sighs the student of Christ’s life. We need to forego our religious and denominational arrogance and begin to seek the Truth. The whole, many faceted, complicatedly simple and contradictory yet profoundly honest Truth – wherever we can find it.

Have you completely rejected everything someone from another religion or denomination has said in the past? Look for some areas of commonality, concepts you can agree on and then use those to begin a dialog that will hopefully bring them to Christ.

Prayer Duels

…call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers…is the true God! 1 Kings 18:24

Have you ever considered challenging someone of another faith to a prayer duel? Why not? Are you afraid that God is not up to it? Do you or don’t you believe that God answers your prayers? Don’t start blathering about how God is not a candy machine who answers automatically how we expect Him to. Excuses! That’s all that is. Of course, God doesn’t always answer the way we expect Him to. In fact, He rarely does! That’s why He’s Lord of the Universe and we are mere humans. But God has never backed down from a challenge to His sovereignty. He is a jealous God and will not allow other gods before Him. Over and over the saints of the Scriptures called on him, laid out fleece, begged for signs, and He came through every time. Not always how they wanted, but He came through nevertheless.

Perhaps you don’t really want Him to answer like that. If He actually comes through on time and in power, you might have a metaphysical outlook renewal. I enjoy reading Science Fiction and one recurring theme is the question “How would society change if they found out for sure we were not the only intelligence in the universe?” Of course we’re not! Christians have known that for millennia! But knowing a thing intellectually and experiencing it viscerally are two completely different things. If you were to challenge another god to a duel and the Lord God actually came through, you would know for a fact, deep down in the marrow of your bones that He is there and He is not silent!

Or maybe it’s that you don’t want to insult the other person. Perhaps you think it would be too aggressive or demeaning if their god did not answer. Read on in 1 Kings and see how the prophet treated the leaders of the false religion. “About noon time Elijah began mocking them. “You’ll have to shout louder,” he scoffed, “for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or he is relieving himself. Or maybe is away on a trip, or he is asleep and needs to be wakened!” If we truly believed that by believing in this other god the person we were trying to witness to was going to spend an eternity in hell, and we actually cared, we’d move mountains to rescue them. How concerned with their feelings would we be if they were trapped in a burning car? Is there any real difference? Sure – we trust our eyes in the one case but lack faith in the other. We don’t truly believe in hell or in a God so holy that He would follow through with His vow of condemnation for whoever failed to believe in the Son.

Have enough faith to put God to the test. Don’t test Him in the sense that you try to see what you can get away with; you’ll surely end up getting rebuked for that! But He does enjoy showing His power and glory to those who are seeking to glorify Him and lead others to Him. Do you believe that or not?

Pray for the courage to see where God would lead you today.

Choose Life

I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, love the LORD your God, obey Him, and remain faithful to Him. For He is your life… – Deuteronomy 30:19-20a HCSB

Many years ago, people did not have indoor plumbing. Water was not piped to each house as it is today. In order for the citizens of a city to have water, some people became “water carriers.” They would go to the river, fill two buckets with water, hang them on a yoke that they would then carry on their shoulders. They would bring water to your house for a modest fee.

One day, a man named Isaac the Water Carrier was walking past the house of a man of God with two pails of water on his shoulders. The wise man was teaching people in his yard when he saw Isaac and called out, “How are you today, Isaac?”

Isaac responded, “Oh, Pastor! I’m having a hard day. I’m not getting any younger, you know, and carrying these pails of water is hard labor. And people keep building their houses farther and farther from the river, so it’s difficult and time consuming to get to them. I’m not making as much money as I used to. Pray that God would have mercy on me!”

The very next day, Isaac strode by the very same house with his water yoke on his shoulders. The man of God was again teaching and called out, “Isaac! How are you today?”

Isaac called back with a beautiful smile on his face, “Oh Teacher! I certainly can’t complain! Everything’s fine! I’ve learned that there is nothing you can’t get used to. When I was young, this yoke and these buckets of water weighed me down and wore me out. But after all these years of carrying them, I’ve gotten used to it and now they’re light as a feather! I’m glad God has given me a chance to serve my fellow citizens and the good health to be able to keep working into my old age. Isn’t life wonderful?”

After Isaac left, the students listening to the wise man asked him, “Teacher, wasn’t that the same Isaac we saw yesterday? It’s like he’s a different person! Why, yesterday he was bitter and complaining and hardly had the strength to accomplish his job. Today he’s content, happy and filled with strength! What made this remarkable difference?”

The wise man thought a minute and then answered, “The Scriptures teach that ‘A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.’ (Proverbs 17:22) Isaac is a water carrier. That is his calling. That is his lot in life. But he must decide each day, each hour whether or not to be satisfied with his calling. You might think that yesterday he had a bad day and today he had a good day, but that is not actually the case. The river is still where it was, the houses are still where they are, the water yoke weighs the same, and if anything, Isaac is a little older! What’s made the difference is Isaac’s choice to be content or not. There are no good times and bad times; there are only happy times and sad times. And we can choose to be happy or sad.”

Is your job difficult? Why not choose to think of it as challenging? Do many people make demands of your time? Why not choose to think of your position as vital? You cannot choose your circumstances but you can choose what to do with them. Why not choose life?

Make a list of the challenges in your life and beside each one write down both the negative way and the positive way of looking at it. Of the two columns, which characterizes your mindset?

Shamgar’s Oxgoad

In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the main ways were deserted, because travelers kept to the side roads…After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath became judge. He delivered Israel by striking down 600 Philistines with an oxgoad. - Judges 5:6; 3:31 HCSB

[1]The morning sun rose quietly through the mist. Birds twittered in the trees and the wind sighed through the branches. Rough, uncultured voices broke the peacefulness of the day, laughing raucously at some remark.

Shamgar raised himself slightly, his back pressed to the boulder, his legs lifting him just enough so he could quickly peek over his left shoulder toward the clearing behind and just below him. The Philistine raiders were stamping and tramping into their makeshift camp, shoulders laden with the booty they had stolen from hapless travelers. Several young Israeli women were dragged into the area, each roped to the last in a chain of despair. The comments of the Philistines on the appearance and potential pleasures offered by each of the girls made Shamgar’s blood boil.

His brief glance had brought him bad news indeed. Each of the Philistines was well armed and some were slightly armored. Their short swords looked well used. There had also been at least two crescent axes! Shamgar’s only weapon was an oxgoad – a six foot stick with a metal tipped sharp point on one end and a short scraping blade for getting mud off of plow blades on the other.

“El Gibhor – Mighty Hero! Come to my aid. Strengthen my hands and teach them to war.” With a roar, Shamgar spun around and leaped down among the Philistines. As he fell, his ox goad took a Philistine in the belly. He landed, pulling the goad out of the screaming Philistine and swinging it toward the next one.

These are the kind of heroes Hashem is looking for; men and women who will see the injustices in the world and allow their holy anger to drive them to action. He is seeking men whose blood will boil at the crimes committed against the people. He wants men who will rise up in righteous indignation and drive the pimps, the drug pushers and the casino operators out of their territory. He wants women whose holy natures will cause them to quit talking about about hunger and actually do something about it. El Gibhor, God our Mighty Hero[2], is looking for like-minded folk.

You may say, “But I’m not properly equipped!” Haven’t you heard of Shamgar who used an ox-goad to kill 600 highway robbers? Haven’t you heard how Samson slew 1,000 men with a donkey’s jawbone?[3] How about Moses bringing down the world’s greatest military superpower of the time with a stick?[4] In the hands of an expert martial artist, nearly anything can become a devastating weapon. Why? Because they have made themselves weapons. Place yourself in the Mighty Warrior’s[5] hands and see what He can do with you.


[1] “Shamgar’s Oxgoad”; silver emulsion oilgraph on wooden panel; from the series “In the Time of the Judges”
[2] Isaiah 9:6; Nehemiah 9:32
[3] Judges 15:15
[4] Exodus 4:1-2, 17; 7:19; 8:5, 16; 9:23; 10:13; 14:16;
[5] Exodus 15:3

Healthy Fear

So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, and it increased in numbers. - Acts 9:31 HCSB

A church that wants to multiply and grow in its life and spirit must develop a healthy fear of God. It should look at the world and understand in the depths of its collective soul how much is yet to be done and tremble at the task. When we truly open our eyes and see the truth of our circumstances, we will do what is only right and proper – drop to our knees before the sovereign Lord and beg His forgiveness and mercy.

We should be frightened when we see the righteousness of God and the purity of His holiness. Every time a person came face to face with God in the Bible, they fell to their faces as dead men and feared for both their physical lives and their souls. What else could a man feel when brought face to face with his own sinfulness and fragile mortality? To walk in the fear of the Lord is to look at ourselves as well as the world around us and realize the terrible contrast between the way things should be and the way they are.

Some may say, “I do not have to fear God. He is my Father. Jesus is my brother. I fear nothing!” But if we ever lose our awe of God, if we lose sight of the greatness of the task at hand and our own inadequacy, then we will have lost the source of power. The fear of God, the sense of the gap between how God would have His world and how we have made things, could paralyze us if that was all there was to it. The gap is real, the consequences terrible, but a healthy Christian realizes that the gap is not all there is. After all, did not the Master say, “God blesses those who realize their need for him”?[1]

We Christians must gather together and seek the will of God with an attitude of abject, humble obedience. As we unite under His banner and show the proper reverence He is due, our courage will rise within our breasts and we will be able to face the world in all its awfulness and actually do something about it. The Spirit will infiltrate our congregations as more and more of our members yield their lives to His control and through us will do greater things than we could ever imagine. We will be bold as lions, gentle as lambs, wise as serpents yet harmless as doves.[2]

It is only when we admit that we have been and continue to be in desperate need of God’s mercy and grace that we will walk in the fear of the Lord and discover the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.

[1] Matthew 5:3-4
[2] Matthew 10:16

Blowing the Minds of Angels

It was revealed to them (the prophets) that they were not serving themselves but you concerning things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Angels desire to look into these things. – 1 Peter 1:12 HCSB

Angels are old – very, very old. They were at least created before the earth was, because they were present when the Lord God established our planet. They watched as He fixed its dimensions and laid its cornerstone. They watched and shouted for joy at the sight.[1]

Being this old, and being holy,[2] God’s angels are very wise.[3] One of the many tasks is to communicate to will of God and Christ.[4] In fact, angels were instrumental in delivering the Old Covenant’s law to humankind.[5]

However, having access to the throne room and to the communications lines running from there to the human race was apparently not enough to prepare them for the wonders of God’s grace toward us. Angels are good, but they are not perfect.[6] They went for thousands of years, ignorant of the depths of God’s love for us; for it was not until the coming of the Messiah and the creation of the church that the mystery of God’s grace was made known to them.[7]

Angels are created beings just like us.[8] We do not become angels when we die. They are a different order of being altogether. We will someday judge or rule the angels.[9] If humans are going to be judging the angels and they will be subject to us, they cannot be a higher order than humans.[10]

What was made known to prophets had to be revealed to the angels in the due course of time and the whole concept of salvation fascinates them. It is the Church that is teaching the angels; it is humanity that is educating the angels as to the profound mysteries of God’s love and grace, not the other way around.[11]

Therefore, besides demonstrating that angels are neither dead humans nor a higher order of beings than humans,[12] this principle shows how demeaning the fascination verging on worship that simple minds have for angels is.

We are neither to worship nor pray to angels. God’s angels refuse worship. An angel that accepts and encourages worship of someone other than God is thus a demon. Someone who teaches that we should worship or pray to angels is a false teacher. [13]

It is also important to know that you should never call on an angel for guidance, deliverance, etc. To do so will open you up for spiritual deception. We should ONLY call on God, trusting in His deliverance, not an angel. While it is true that God might deliver us with angels it is still God who is our Rock, Fortress, Deliverer, etc. God commands his angels what to do and they obey Him.


[1] Job 38:4-7
[2] Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; Revelation 14:10
[3] 2 Samuel 14:17-20
[4] Daniel 8:16-17; 9:21-23; 10:11; 12:6-7; Matthew 2:19-20; Luke 1:19, 28-33; Acts 5:19-21; 8:26; 10:4-6; 27:23-24; Revelation 1:1
[5] Acts 7:30, 35, 38, 53
[6] Job 4:18
[7] 1 Timothy 3:16
[8] Colossians 1:16-17
[9] 1 Corinthians 6:3
[10] Psalm 148:2-5
[11] Ephesians 3:8-10
[12] Psalm 8:4-6
[13] Acts 12:23; Colossians 2:18; 1 Timothy 2:5; Revelation 19:10; 22:8-9

Can God Forgive Me? 3 of 3

Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. - Psalm 51:7-9 HCSB

Jesus gave us the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector to demonstrate what true repentance and humility can achieve. The tax collector showed great sorrow and contrition for his sin and demonstrated it by his willingness to stand “far off” from the altar, indicating his understanding of how sin had effected his position with God.[1]

Zacchaeus gives us a great example of what is required of us. He received the Lord joyfully, admitted his sins publicly, repented of them and offered to make restitution, and went on to give up all materialism (his chosen besetting sin). It was at that point that Jesus said, “Today salvation has come to this house.”[2]

When the Master taught us how to pray, He told us to pray for forgiveness. He described sin as a debt that must be paid.[3] We are justified (cleared of all guilt) and our sin debt is paid by faith in Jesus; in him we find peace.[4]

God has lavished His grace on us, choosing us, and forgiving us of all our sins through the shed blood of Christ.[5] Like the Good Shepherd rescuing sheep from the dark crags outside the fold, the Lord rescues Believers from the dominion of darkness.[6] They are brought into Jesus’ eternal kingdom and forgiven of all their sins.[7]

Those of us who have sought God’s forgiveness of our sins and become Believers, Disciples of Christ, the Ransomed, are out of the Devil’s dominion. We have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness and can now claim the title “Children of Light.”[8] That serpent can no longer count us among his many casualties. However, Satan unfortunately does not give up on us. Once he realizes he cannot have our souls he switches his sights to our effectiveness. If he can keep us so bound by our despair over our sins that we are brought to a spiritual standstill in the great spiritual battle[9] then he is content with that.

We must not fall for that ploy. Jesus Christ is our Advocate with the Father. When the Devil (sometimes called the Accuser) reports our sin to the Father or seeks to slander us falsely as he did our brother Job, Jesus steps in and argues on behalf of those who are His disciples.[10]

We say that the Lord is kind and forgiving[11], but our understanding of such forgiveness is bounded by our own human limitations. The Scriptures say that Hashem’s mercy cannot even be measured. It is as high as the heavens. When He forgives our sins, they are infinitely far from us.[12]

God not only puts our sins out of sight; He also put them out of reach.[13] He puts them out of mind.[14] In fact, He puts them completely out of existence.[15]

[1] Luke 18:9-14
[2] Luke 19:6-10
[3] Matthew 6:12
[4] Romans 3:21-25; 8:1-4
[5] Ephesians 1:7-8
[6] Matthew 18:12-14
[7] Colossians 1:13-14
[8] Ephesians 5:8
[9] Ephesians 6:12
[10] 1 John 1:9-2:2
[11] Psalm 86:4-7
[12] Psalm 103:11-12
[13] Isaiah 38:17; Micah 7:19; Psalm 103:12
[14] Jeremiah 31:34
[15] Psalm 51:1, 9; Isaiah 43:25; 44:22; Acts 3:19

Can God Forgive Me? 2 of 3

Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. - Psalms 51:7-9 HCSB

Jesus has extended a loving invitation to the weary and the sin-burdened.[1] You may say, “But I have sexually sinned so much!” He is fully able to forgive even multiple sexual sins. May I remind you that Jesus forgave the penitent woman who had many sins burdening her soul?[2] Wasn’t the adulterous Samaritan woman saved and didn’t she receive living water?[3]

Jesus even forgave the murderer on the cross. This is a beautiful example of one saved only by grace. This man could do no good works. He could not be baptized. He could join no church. The only things he did were acknowledge his sin, confess them, repent of them, seek God’s forgiveness and publicly acknowledge Jesus’ authority. This was enough to receive forgiveness and a place in Paradise.[4]

Even Peter, who denied Jesus three times, was forgiven and reinstated in his ministry.[5] In fact, God forgives and saves all kinds of sinners no matter how bad they are; He changes them.

Paul, a forgiven mass murderer and persecutor of the Church,[6] described the members of the Corinthian church as sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, revilers and swindlers and warned that those who remained in these sins will not inherit God’s kingdom. How do I know the Corinthians were these kind of people? Because after the list of sins, Paul said, “Some of you were like this.” But praise God they were and we can be washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by the Spirit of our God.[7]

Now lest you think that I am teaching “Sin more so that grace may abound more”, may I echo Paul’s shocked reply and say, “God forbid!”[8] It’s important to note that Peter’s sin took place over the course of a couple of hours one night. It was not habitual. Yet, he immediately acknowledged his sin, showed tremendous remorse, was willing to step aside from ministry, was willing to take whatever length of time it took to make restitution and repeatedly demonstrated a humble and contrite spirit. He did not expect to be reinstated. He did not feel as though simply saying “sorry” was enough. Those with those expectations have not demonstrated true contrition yet.

Christians who sin must repent, confess their sins and pray in faith for forgiveness. Further, they must also maintain a forgiving spirit towards others if they expect to be forgiven.[9]


[1] Matthew 11:28-30
[2] Luke 7:47-50
[3] John 4:4-26
[4] Luke 23:39-43
[5] John 21:15-19
[6] Acts 9:1; Philippians 3:6
[7] 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
[8] Romans 6:1-2
[9] Matthew 6:12; Acts 8:22-24; James 1:6; 5:15-16

Can God Forgive Me? 1 of 3

Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. - Psalms 51:7-9 HCSB

Yahweh Aman (Faithful God) is patient. He calls sinners to seek Him and promises them forgiveness when they repent. Of course, there is a limit to His patience. We are to seek Him “while He is near”. We must not presume upon His grace.[1]

Not only must the prayer for forgiveness be sincere, it must be accompanied by repentance (a change of ways). Solomon, at the dedication of the temple, prayed that God would forgive His people if and when they repented of their sins and sincerely served Him.[2]

For those who are laboring under the burden of their poor choices and willful sins, Hashem offers great hope. His forgiveness brings joy to the repentant heart. Let me give you a great example. David was guilty of lust, adultery, abuse of power, murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Until he repented and was forgiven, David was depressed.[3] However, even a terrible sinner like David was able to sing joyfully after he repented and God forgave him.[4] That is not to say that David sinned with impunity. There is always a consequence to sin. In David’s case, it involved the death of a child.[5]

However, God readily forgave David when he repented and confessed his sin.[6] In turn, David rested his hope of forgiveness on Hashem’s faithful love and abundant compassion.[7]

God wants to help us. He does not want us to live a life characterized by or dominated by fear.[8] The Lord will not despise a broken spirit and contrite heart.[9] He is ready and waiting to forgive anyone who asks sincerely.[10]

There is not a human who does not stand in need of such forgiveness.[11] Religious authority and merely external ritual worship mean nothing to God. Even Yahweh’s ministers like me, need to periodically confess their sins, repent of them and seek His forgiveness. For example, Zechariah had a vision of the high priest himself standing in filthy clothes, which had to be removed and replaced with pure white garments.[12] Similarly, the Ransomed, all those Believers who have confessed their sins and truly repented of them, are made as white as snow.[13]

Rest assured, if troubled sinners cry out for mercy, and back it up with contrition, confession, repentance, and restitution (when possible), God will graciously forgive. He is more than willing to restore us to His love and favor.[14]

Out of his love for us Jesus died to make us holy. Because of His love, we can be without blemish.[15] The blood of Jesus Christ is capable of cleansing from all sin.[16] To deny that He can forgive our sins is to deny the power and sufficiency of His atoning death!


[1] Isaiah 55:6-7
[2] 1 Kings 8:33-36, 46-53
[3] Psalm 32:3-4
[4] Psalm 32:1-2
[5] 2 Samuel 12:13-14
[6] Psalm 32:5
[7] Psalm 51:1
[8] Isaiah 44:2; Romans 8:15
[9] Psalm 51:7
[10] Psalm 86:5; Proverbs 28:13-14; 1 John 1:9
[11] 1 John 1:8-10
[12] Zechariah 3:1-5
[13] Isaiah 1:18-20
[14] Psalm 130:3-4; Luke 15:11-32
[15] Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 10:10
[16] 1 John 1:7

The Gift

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, - Galatians 1:3-4 HCSB

Admission of guilt is never enough. There must be atonement – restitution. Halakha allowed the poor an alternative when they could not afford the usual sacrifice.[1] But what happens when the perpetrator can afford nothing? We are all Yahweh’s slaves. Some acknowledge it and others rebel to it, but we are His nevertheless. How does a slave, who is already owned by his Master, repay the Master when he has sinned?

Since we could not afford sin’s penalty, Christ came to offer Himself as a ransom in our place.[2] Since the wage of sin is death,[3] the ransom had to be the body and blood – the death – of the Perfect Lamb. It is not sufficient to merely acknowledge His death. We must take it for ourselves. We must eat it. To hold it in the hand is to run the risk of dropping it. To merely hold the Messiah’s sacrifice in our mind is to run the risk of missing its point. It is to be consumed, to become a part of us, to influence every aspect of our lives.[4]

Jesus claimed us and took personal responsibility for us.[5] The Master went all the way for us. He didn’t just SEEM to die. He wasn’t merely unconscious. His spirit left His body and He died.[6] He did this of His own accord, without being coerced.[7]

Christ’s offering is so superior, so entirely sufficient, that it negated the need for any other type of sacrifice.[8] It only needed to be done once; the need for ritual sacrifices ended with the Messiah’s last breath,[9] and it was sufficient for the whole world.[10]

Those who believe this and ask for Jesus’ death to be counted against their sins will find themselves justified. They will be granted eternal life. As they are credited with Christ’s death, so they will be credited with His resurrection. Like the Master, though their bodies may die, they too will one day be resurrected.[11]

The Messiah’s sacrifice not only paid the penalty for our sins, but also allowed us to enjoy a restored relationship with Yahweh Ra’ah, the Lord God our Shepherd.[12] The motivation behind this amazing act was love, which is why the Ransomed should be characterized by sacrificial love.[13] God wants everyone to receive this gift, but there is only one way. This is the cure for our disease. To refuse this grace is to refuse life. God does not send us to hell. We send ourselves there when we refuse His rescue.[14]

Grace is not an excuse for lawlessness. Mercy is not grounds for rebellious living. Hashem’s grace should instead be an impetus for holiness. Gratitude for this wonderful gift should drive us to sanctify ourselves and to live holy, joyful lives.[15]

[1] Leviticus 5:5-7
[2] Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45
[3] Romans 6:23
[4] Matthew 26:26-28; Luke 22:19-20; Philippians 2:12
[5] John 10:11, 15
[6] Philippians 2:8; John 19:30
[7] John 10:17-18
[8] Hebrews 9:13-14
[9] Hebrews 10:9-10; 1 Peter 3:18
[10] 1 John 2:2
[11] Romans 4:24-25; Galatians 2:19-20
[12] 1 Peter 2:24-25
[13] John 3:16; 1 John 3:16; Revelation 1:5
[14] 1 Timothy 2:3-6
[15] Ephesians 5:1-4; Titus 2:14

Floccinaucinihilipilification

But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ - Philippians 3:7-8 HCSB

Back in the eighteenth century, Eton college had a Latin grammar class which listed a series of words that all meant “of little or no value.” Some smart-aleck student put the words together and added the suffix “-fication” to turn it into a noun. So floccinaucinihilipilification, which is the action or habit of judging something as worthless, was created.

Many people today want their good works, good morals, church attendance, or family background to be valued. When you ask them if they think they are going to heaven, their answer reveals their expectation to get there is based on their good works. They respond, “Oh, I don’t know, but I’ve been a pretty good person.”

Another answers, “My uncle was a deacon for twenty years” as though his uncle’s religiosity could be genetically inherited.

“I’ve been a Sunday School teacher for thirty years. I’ve attended the First Church of Any Town for forty years” is still another type of answer that is commonly heard.

If anybody could look at his own efforts with some degree of satisfaction, you’d think that the author of some two-thirds of the New Testament, the healer of diseases who even raised people from the dead could feel pretty good about himself. However Paul identified himself as a “floccinaucinihilipilificator.” His family ties were meaningless. His position within his religion was so much tripe. His works were also deemed worthless. Compared to Christ, it was all nothing more than a pile of garbage.

No matter how much you work, you could never outperform the Messiah. Regardless of your family history, it could never beat the Son of God. No matter how good you are, you will never be better than the Perfect Sacrifice. Apparently, God the Father thought that Jesus Christ was the only sacrifice worthy enough to pay the price of our sins. Trying to replace the Master’s death and resurrection with our own good works, position or family associations can never be anything more than a slap in the face of God.[1]

We need to quit trying to pay God in a currency He doesn’t accept. We need to accept the consequences of our own willful sin and be willing to admit that we cannot make up for it on our own. We need the “only Mediator between God and Man”[2] to take us as His clients and be our Advocate. If we keep trying to represent ourselves, we are going to lose the most important case in our lives – the fate of our souls. Let’s all “floccinaucinihilipilificate” our own works.

[1] Isaiah 64:5-7
[2] 1 Timothy 2:5-6

Cohabitation

Marriage must be respected by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge immoral people and adulterers. - Hebrews 13:4 HCSB

Cohabitation soared tenfold, from 430,000 in 1960 to 4.1 million couples in 1997.[1] It has replaced marriage as the dominant way male-female unions are formed in America. Yet it presents a major dilemma for pastors. How do we graciously tell a cohabiting couple that according to biblical standards, (1) they are living in sin, (2) and they are endangering their current and long-term relationship, without offending them and having angrily walk away from the church forever?

Some lower the standards and marry everyone who asks (hoping that something spiritual rubs off in the process). Others raise the standards so high that they marry an ever smaller percentage of couples each year (missing excellent and rare opportunities to evangelize). Neither choice seems very appealing or appropriate.

There is a third option: going over “Twenty Good Reasons Not To Cohabit Before Marriage”,[2] a paper that focuses mainly on the sociological, psychological, legal and physical reasons not to cohabit - before even mentioning Scripture. Some examples:

• 
  
  Those who live together before marriage are the least likely to marry each other. Only 26% of women surveyed and a scant 19% of men married the person with whom they cohabited.[3]


• 
  
  Those who live together before marriage have higher separation and divorce rates. Unions begun by cohabitation are almost twice as likely to dissolve within ten years compared to all first marriages: 57% to 30%.[4]


• 
  
  Those who live together before marriage have unhappier marriages. A study of 309 newlyweds found that those who cohabited first were less happy in marriage.[5]


• 
  
  Those who are sexually active before marriage are much more likely to divorce. A study of 2,746 women in the National Survey of Family Growth found the non-virgin brides increase their odds of divorce by about 60%. Here is secular evidence for St. Paul’s injunction, “Flee fornication.”[6]


• 
  
  Those who live together are at high risk for contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Three million teenagers alone annually contract one of five dozen STDs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and genital warts. If untreated, STDs can lead to brain damage, heart disease, infertility and death. Women who have three or more sexual partners in a lifetime are 15 times more likely to get cervical cancer.


• 
  
  Those who live together do not experience the best sex. The best sex is found in marriage. Couples who abstain from sex before marriage are 29% to 47% more likely to enjoy sex afterward.


• 
  
  Those having premarital sex may be fooled into marrying a person not right for them. Sex can be emotionally blind. Real love can stand the test of time without physical intimacy. The sexually active lose objectivity and actually cheat on the test of time.


• 
  
  Those who live together before marriage often suffer guilt and fear due to the dangers of STDs or unwanted pregnancy. Guilt can lead to frigidity and impotence.
  
  [1] The Census Bureau
  [2] By Don Weston, Kansas City, MO, Family Life Ministries, 1998
  [3] A Columbia University study cited in “New Woman” magazine
  [4] The National Survey of Families and Households, based on interviews with 13,000 people
  [5] by the National Council on Family Relations
  [6] 1 Corinthians 6:18