“In the beginning was the Word and it was with God and was God. Before an eye had seen or an ear had heard, there was the Word. I know the Bible is God’s Word, His written promises to earth. The Word is Perfect Truth. The Word is what I cling to.”
Lyrics to “The Word” used in Outrigger Island Vacation Bible School material.
Those words sung by hundreds of children, including my eight-year-old daughter, stunned me as I recently sat through a VBS service at a local Baptist church. Has the bible somehow been promoted to the fourth person of the Godhead within Baptist theology? Has LifeWay taken a theological turn that I missed somewhere?
I know that we often call the scriptures, God’s Word, but nowhere in the lyrics of this song, sung throughout SBC churches for VBS this summer, was the mention of Jesus – The Word of God. The use of the John 1 passage that speaks of Jesus, and used in this song, has either reduced Jesus to an “it” or elevated the bible to the divine.
What are we doing? In our attempts to teach our children the trustworthiness of the scriptures in a changing world, it seems that we have overreached. I am mindful of Jesus’ words to the Pharisees who often declared, “He who has the ‘words’ has life.” –
"You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you'll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren't willing to receive from me the life you say you want.” John 5:39-40 The Message
My daughter went to VBS with a child-like faith in Jesus loving her (the bible told her so) and returned with a fear of missing out on heaven and wondering if she had done her ABC’s correctly (and quickly, quickly). Thankfully, a little time of ministering to her heart and soul had her eyes back on Jesus and trusting in His embrace.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
The Father Doesn't Have To Be Persuaded...
I was leading a Bible study Sunday night and we were looking at John 16. In particular John 16:26-27. Here is what it says:
The cross of Christ and His ongoing ministry of intercession is not one of pleading to the Father on the behalf of us dirty sinners. "Father, I know you can't have anything to do with those people - you can't look upon sin. But I know you love me and they're with me. You have to accept them Father, because they accepted me."
No! The cross of Christ and His ministry of intercession is for us because we are weak. We are afraid. We don't really believe that the Father is good and we can't relate properly with Him - we won't let Him love us. Jesus scoops us up and shares His peace and joy with the Father in the Spirit and continues to tell us - "Father loves you, just like He loves me!"
The cross is aimed at converting us - not the Father! The cross of Christ is aimed at demonstrating an unimaginable truth - while we were enemies He died for us. God loves those who relate to Him as if He were an enemy!
"I'm not your enemy! Your enemy has been condemned!"
Who has to be persuaded? We do! That is what John 16 is all about - Jesus is telling us that the Spirit is coming (and has come) to convince us just how beautiful God is and that we are included!
Amen!
26 "In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God."Do you see that? Jesus is telling us that the Father does not have to be persuaded into being gracious to us. The Father's attitude toward us sinners is one of love and graciousness. As JB Torrance said - "The Father does not have to be conditioned into being gracious."
The cross of Christ and His ongoing ministry of intercession is not one of pleading to the Father on the behalf of us dirty sinners. "Father, I know you can't have anything to do with those people - you can't look upon sin. But I know you love me and they're with me. You have to accept them Father, because they accepted me."
No! The cross of Christ and His ministry of intercession is for us because we are weak. We are afraid. We don't really believe that the Father is good and we can't relate properly with Him - we won't let Him love us. Jesus scoops us up and shares His peace and joy with the Father in the Spirit and continues to tell us - "Father loves you, just like He loves me!"
The cross is aimed at converting us - not the Father! The cross of Christ is aimed at demonstrating an unimaginable truth - while we were enemies He died for us. God loves those who relate to Him as if He were an enemy!
"I'm not your enemy! Your enemy has been condemned!"
Who has to be persuaded? We do! That is what John 16 is all about - Jesus is telling us that the Spirit is coming (and has come) to convince us just how beautiful God is and that we are included!
Amen!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Happy Easter!
Why do we say ""Happy Easter"? Why is this day supposed to be so "Happy"? For me, it is found in the following passages:
John 3:3-7
3. Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again ". 4."How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5. Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'
and
1 Peter 1:3-5
3. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4. and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, 5. who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
These passages point out that Jesus' resurrection has fulfilled the "Kingdom of God" requirements. Jesus stated that no one would see the Kingdom of God unless he was born again (from above) and that although it was a requirement, it was out of our control.
Let me ask you this: How much control did you have over your birth? How much control do you have over the wind? None - zero - nada! Good news, you've had no control over your new birth, too!
The 1 Peter passage tells us that we were born again (from above) into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead and into an inheritance that is kept for us, by God's good faith, in heaven. The emphasis on "through faith" is on God's faithfulness not ours!
Easter is a "Happy Day" for those that believe the news that the gracious (and merciful) goal of God's passion has been fulfilled through Jesus and we are indeed NOW born again in Him!
John 3:3-7
3. Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again ". 4."How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5. Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'
"
and
1 Peter 1:3-5
3. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4. and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, 5. who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
These passages point out that Jesus' resurrection has fulfilled the "Kingdom of God" requirements. Jesus stated that no one would see the Kingdom of God unless he was born again (from above) and that although it was a requirement, it was out of our control.
Let me ask you this: How much control did you have over your birth? How much control do you have over the wind? None - zero - nada! Good news, you've had no control over your new birth, too!
The 1 Peter passage tells us that we were born again (from above) into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead and into an inheritance that is kept for us, by God's good faith, in heaven. The emphasis on "through faith" is on God's faithfulness not ours!
Easter is a "Happy Day" for those that believe the news that the gracious (and merciful) goal of God's passion has been fulfilled through Jesus and we are indeed NOW born again in Him!
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