2 Timothy 1:13

I am learning that the more I study the Bible, the more I realize I don't know.  Yesterday I was doing my Precept study in 2 Timothy, and the day's assignment was to focus in on the words used to make up one verse.  You would think that would be a quick Bible study.  I mean, it is just one verse.  But somewhere between 30-45 minutes later, I was amazed at what I had learned after just scratching the surface - I did not make it past the 6th word in my study. 

Here is the verse:

Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  (NASB)

Follow the pattern of sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  (ESV)

Before looking at the meanings of the words, it is easy to just repeat these words as a sort of catch phrase to show our knowledge of Paul's letter and to encourage others to retain the standard.  However, as I studied the meaning of the words, the meaning of the verse became so much deeper.  

I have to apologize now for not being able to refer to the Greek words whose meanings I am going to give (since my notes are at home), but I don't like to latinize the words anyway (you can call me a Greek snob).  The word translated retain is also translated hold-fast, hold-firm, stand strong.  I don't know if this is how the term was used or not, but I picture in my head an army that is holding the line, following the general's orders, even though it may not look like the smartest thing to do because they are being attacked.  The word translated standard in NASB is probably better translated pattern (as the ESV translators realized).  It has the idea of an artist who makes a sketch before drawing the real thing.  The picture that comes to mind for me is a sewing pattern, or maybe even a blueprint/instructions that come along with building a prefabricated building.  Sound words are healthy ideas, healthy complete thoughts.

What is it that Paul is instructing Timothy to do?  Paul is telling Timothy to follow the pattern of teaching and preaching and presenting the gospel that Paul has set.  Paul is instructing Timothy to hold fast to the biblical model of teaching.  That means that those who are teaching the Bible need to look to the Bible to determine if a particular method of teaching is supported by the Bible.  It means that one has to have a grasp of Scripture to teach Scripture.  Paul used Scripture to interpret Scripture.  More importantly, Paul had the gospel as the center of all that he taught.  Christ is the main character of the Bible, and the gospel needs to be proclaimed.  I know that there are times when teaching through Scripture that I have failed to include the gospel.  Since studying that verse, I have thought over the stories and the teachers in the Old and New Testament.  Just look at the Minor Prophets, and the gospel is throughout what they are teaching.  Look at Jewish law and Christ was being taught (Hebrews confirms this).  Look at the epistles in the New Testament, and you see the gospel of Christ.  

In all, I think that we need to make sure that the focus of everything that we teach is Scripture so that we can follow the example of Paul and other biblical writers and teachers.  We need to allow Scripture to teach us how to teach Scripture.  Most of all we need to make sure that the gospel of Christ is taught in each message that we bring.

More on Corporate Worship

A random thought has been bouncing around in my head for the past few weeks since starting this contemplation of worship.  What does it matter what is going on in public worship if I am still able to worship God individually in the midst of it?  I have heard that from some people, and have thought about it myself as I recently spent a worship service that was focused on self more than God.  In fact, I used to hear that we should just close our eyes and focus on Jesus and have a one-on-one with Him during the service.  So isn't that what I should do?

After thinking it through and not being satisfied with that answer, I went back to Ephesians and determined that it DOES matter what goes on in corporate worship, and failure to recognize that results in worship that IS NOT pleasing to God.  Ephesians is very clear on the matter of corporate worship.  It is to be God focused, scripturally based, teaching and exhorting the believers.  Corporate worship is to be a witness of the manifold wisdom of God to show the world that all of our diverse backgrounds, experiences, personalities, etc. have been united in Christ and stand before God as one body.  The focus is not on the individual and the individual's relationship to God (although that will be something that is strengthened through the practice of corporate worship).  We, as the body of Christ, as the temple of God, as children of the King, are to be a witness to not only the physical world but the spiritual world.  We should be singing songs that proclaim who God is and what He has done for us.  

God has given us instructions on how to worship Him.  It is clear in His word how He wants us to act when we come together corporately to worship Him.  Therefore, anything that deviates from what He has prescribed for worship is sin.  I think that if our leaders (the church as a whole, not just my church) truly understood that, and understood that every aspect of the service is to be a teaching moment (making them teachers, and therefore subjecting them to higher accountability), and any deviation from God's way of worship would result in leading the congregation to sin, then worship leaders might take their responsibility more seriously.  Just look at the Minor Prophets to see how displeased God is when the people do not worship Him as He has directed that He be worshipped.  (Also, look at the Minor Prophets to see that He doesn't want the framework of worship to be right without the proper heart of worship behind it.)  If we are to worship corporately, it is not pleasing to God for us to worship individually in place of corporate worship.  He does not want our sacrifice, but our obedience.

So what is the answer?  What should I do when I am sitting in "worship" services that are not worshipping in the way that God has directed?  I am still not sure yet.  I know that it breaks my heart to see the church thinking they are worshipping when they are not.  I know that it breaks my heart to see individuals who are trying to offer individual worship to God when it should be an act of corporate worship instead.  I know that I am encouraged by songs that are appropriate for corporate worship, which enable me, as a member of the body of Christ, to engage in corporate worship and be exhorted.  I know that I am encouraged by leaders who do take the worship service and planning of the worship service seriously and really do try to make it biblical.  I think that there may be a time and place to confront leaders on the choices made for worship, but I know that I am not prepared to do it because I haven't really prepared a defense using scripture that can be given in love.  I know that I need to pray for the leaders in my church and especially to pray that the Holy Spirit will teach them and guide them to understand corporate worship and what God desires because it is only clear when the Holy Spirit makes it clear.  True change happens only when the Holy Spirit makes it happen.  Please join with me in praying for the leaders of your church, wherever you may attend, as they lead the body of Christ in corporate worship.  

The final thing that I feel needs to be mentioned is that there is not going to be a perfect worship service here on this earth.  However, we can strive for perfection (just as we are to strive for God's perfection in our individual lives).  Noticing the imperfection helps us look forward to a day when our worship will be perfect.  Oh how we should long for the day when the complete body of Christ will stand before the throne and worship with a pure, genuine, true worship forever!

Hurricane Katrina - Two Years Ago

Wow. It is hard to believe that two years have passed since then, yet it also seems so long ago. So much has changed for me personally since that time (including starting a job and buying a house to name two biggies). It has been a while since I have been to New Orleans. It took me a while to get down there after the storm, although I drove to Houston and Shreveport and Rustin plenty after the storm to visit friends affected by the storm. I remember the first trip, which was made in March after the storm hit in August, and the 9th Ward looked almost like it did right after the storm. Progress is slow. Now those houses are gone and the lots in the lower 9th were mostly empty when I was there this spring. Progress is slowly occurring. Progress takes time. Rebuilding takes time. In some ways, I think of the rebuilding of the temple in Judah when the Babylonian exiles returned. They wanted the temple to return to its former glory, but that was not possible. Without really trying to get into too deep of a theological comparison (or draw too close of a parallel), I think that we can look to the minor prophets and Ezra and Nehemiah to gain insight into what the people of New Orleans must be feeling as well. There must be a sense of frustration and exhaustion that runs on so many different levels. I think that we can learn a lot about what to say to New Orleans by studying God's Word. I know that I need to remember that since I come in contact with so many from that area so often (whether it be through e-mails, websites, text messages, phone calls, or hopefully a visit soon). We also need to remember that as part of the Church, we still have a huge ministry opportunity in the whole Gulf region.

Busy Week ... and Haggai!

Wow, what a busy week this has been!! Although it was nice to take some time off during the week to spend with family, it made the work week crazy!! Overall, good family time, good 4th, good week at work. All of that equaled less time to blog than usual.

This week I have been studying Haggai in preparation for teaching the Sunday School lesson tomorrow. Wow! The study of the minor prophets has been so encouraging to me in this time of my life. As James Montgomery Boice says, the remnant that returned to Jerusalem at the end of the exile period was the right people, at the right place, at the right time, with the right motives, but there was still a problem with their priorities. That is what is wrong in my own life so many times. I know that I am in the right place at the right time with the right motives, but my failure to really put God first instead of saying that I do results in a failure to the right things. I can't become discouraged (though I often do) because the current situation is not better than what it has been in the past. I must remember to be strong and courageous, which is going to result in a boldness that is going to come from God. Right before God encouraged great leaders and the nation of Israel to take big steps to advance His glory, He told them to be strong and courageous because He is with them. We need to remember that today, especially in times of discouragement. In my obedience to God, I need to be strong and courageous knowing that He is with me. It is time I started acting out what I know!

:-)

Well it has been a while since I last blogged, although, by a while is still less than a week. I think that is partly because I have been busy at work, and not used the blog as a break this week. Additionally, what I wanted to, and did, write about wasn't necessarily something that should be posted for public view.

So what is new with me? I have now entered the wonderful world of home ownership, meaning that I have had to call the air conditioner guy and the plumber to fix various things. Thank goodness I insisted on getting the 1-year home warranty insurance! Yesterday the air conditioner died, and today I found out it was only because of a fuse, which I now know where they are located and how to change one. Basically, I paid my little homeowner co-pay to have a lesson in fuse changing, but cold air is now coming out of the vents, which probably makes my furry, long-haired, over-active dog really happy! Speaking of Lil T, he is now spending the majority of the time in the kitchen after deciding he wanted to learn Greek by ingesting pages of my Greek dictionary. Since the kitchen seems to be the only place I don't have books lying around, it seemed the most logical place for him. Day two and he is a happier camper (until the air broke) and, from the sound of it, really enjoys running in circles on the linoleum.

I am continuing to study the minor prophets for Sunday School. This Sunday past was Habakkuk. Amazing stuff! I will have to blog about it later because it would make this a mini-book. Combine my studies of Ephesians with Jude and now Habakkuk, and I can feel myself becoming more grounded in doctrine and discernment than ever. Challenging lessons to learn!

God's Judgment

As I am reading through Joel in preparation for Sunday School on Sunday and beginning my Precept study of Jude, I am confronted with the reality of God's judgment. In previous studies of Amos and Romans, the reality of God's judgment is apparent. I think that only now am I realizing what some of the people that we think are crazy are saying when they label every tragedy that happens as God's judgment.

What I mean is that the Bible is very clear that all death and all natural disasters are God's judgment on sin. Please hear me out as I explain this more fully. The reason that natural disasters exist in the world is because man sinned. Before man sinned, this world was perfect. However, as a result of man's sin, even the ground was cursed. Later on we see how God judges the world by bringing a flood to destroy everyone but Noah. The minor prophets state how earthquakes, floods, plagues of locusts, drought, etc. are used by God to try to bring people and nations to repentence. This is still true today. The natural disasters are God's punishment on sin. Romans tells us that creation groans. This groaning is as a result of man's sin. When we see natural disasters occur, we should and need to preach the gospel of repentance to those suffering. Not only are these natural disasters an act of judgment, but they are also an act of God's mercy. God is warning us of His ultimate judgment for man's sin and giving mankind an opportunity to experience His grace. This is where I think that those "radicals" that you see on TV get it wrong (or at least the way that the media portrays them by failing to give the full message). We need to explain correctly the judgment of God and let people know that it is also an example of His grace because He is giving us every opportunity to repent and turn to Him. He is patient with man.

If we are honest, we realize that all death is judgment on sin. That is why Christ's resurrection and the hope of our resurrection is such a radical idea because the final punishment for sin, meaning death, is actually a victory for the believer! The whole reason that death exists is because of man's sin. Our bodies are dying from the moment we are born because of sin. For the believer, death is the final victory over sin because it is with our death that we are united with Christ completely in glorification. We no longer have the ability to sin. This is where the hope of the believer lies. We will finally be able to glorify God in all that we do without the problem of sin!

For those events that are not acts of nature, but acts of men, we need to realize that they are also God's punishment on sin. That does not mean that God authors sin or causes man to sin. What that means is that God is a sovereign God and gives men over in their depravity to act out their natural desires, but it all falls within God's plan. I can't fully understand it, so I know that my definition is an imperfect way of defining how the sovereignty of God fits in evil situations. I do know that Joseph had an understanding of this concept when he told his brothers, "What you meant for evil, God meant for good." In the midst of tragedy, many hearts turn towards God and His amazing grace.

So what do I want people to get out of all of this? If you are going to preach God's judgment, don't forget God's grace. On the other side, if you are going to preach God's grace, you need to teach about God's judgment. I don't understand my need for grace unless I understand that I deserve God's judgment. You can't say that Jesus died to save you unless you have first established what you need to be saved from. I feel that this is also why it is important to study the minor prophets because, although they painted a picture of God's judgment, they also painted a picture of His grace by giving the people an opportunity to repent. This is a hard message to give to the world, but it is part of the gospel. The world doesn't like to hear of a God of judgment, but has to if they are going to accept His grace.