Harold Camping Not a Biblical Scholar Tuesday, May 24 2011

Harold Camping is obviously not a prophet, but he’s not even biblically literate. If he was biblically literate, he would be familiar with Jesus’ saying: “Concerning that day and that hour no one knows, neither the divine messengers in heaven nor the Son; that information belongs to the heavenly Father alone.” (Matthew 24.36) Does Harold Camping dare believe that he can enter the mind of the heavenly Father? What utter blasphemy! God, speaking in Isaiah, says: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55.8-9, KJV) Who can enter the mind of God?

Furthermore, Harold Camping’s biblical literacy shows a shocking gap of knowledge on the topic of Christian patience in the face of suffering and tribulation. In Revelation, Christians are repeatedly called “Victors” not “Retreaters.” That is, Christians overcome hardships, tribulation, persecution, and punishment by their faith in the One who hung on the cross. Christians aren’t spared tribulation, they overcome it by the power of the living Christ. Camping is simply misleading his followers by teaching that Christians will not follow the way of the cross. Peter states: “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” (1 Peter 2.21, KJV; cf. 1 Thessalonians 3.3-4) Christians suffer hardships in the world.

Third, Harold Camping’s biblical illiteracy shows brilliantly in his lack of concern for the present plight of those suffering in this world. He spent millions of dollars on placards, billboards, newspaper advertisements, radio and TV spots, and leaflets, but didn’t care for those Jesus cared for. Camping’s priorities were not in sync with the Lord’s. Jesus went about doing good in the towns and villages, while Camping went about misleading people with false computations. It appears that Camping and his ilk are more concerned about predictions than about people (Matthew 25.31ff).

Camping’s obsession with the timing of the Lord’s return is a pathological form of a legitimate need in humans to know their end. We humans are the only kind of creature that God created that knows it is mortal. One of our deepest needs is to know where we are going after this life. Jesus spoke to that need by saying: “Don’t be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me. My Father’s house has room to spare. If that weren’t the case, would I have told you that I’m going to prepare a place for you? When I go to prepare a place for you, I will return and take you to be with me so that where I am you will be too.” (John 14.1-3, CEB) Jesus’ promise is enough for those who believe in His word. Trust Jesus alone.

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My Week of Vacation, Which Started Yesterday Tuesday, Mar 15 2011

Started my first full day of vacation at the YMCA. Of course, I start each weekday at the YMCA, so that wasn’t different. I exercised for a one-hour, which is my habit each weekday.

After exercising at the YMCA, I spent some time reading what the Knoxville New Sentinel had to say about the news of the world. Of course, I also do this everyday. 

Interesting vacation.

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Whatever Will Be, Will Be? Tuesday, Mar 1 2011

“Whatever will be, will be” is the title of a song written by Livingston and Evans and first made popular by Doris Day, in 1956. It is a catchy little song, and its message is clear: “We have no control over what happens in life; we just hang on for the ride.” The formal word for this type of thinking is fatalism. In other words, our destinies are controlled by an unseen force that leaves humans with no control over their lives.

The ancient Greeks pictured Fate as three old women. One of the old women spins the thread of each person’s life; the second old woman draws out the life span of each human; and the last old woman cuts off the thread of life, which means death.

In modern warfare, some soldiers going into battle express a belief in fate when they say: “If a bullet has my name on it, I can’t do anything about it.” The thought here again is that people have no control over their lives. The bullet either has my name on it or doesn’t.

Are Christians fatalists? Let’s look at a story from the Old Testament. In 1 Kings 22.29-36, the writer describes a battle that pitted the King of Aram against the King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah. As the battle progressed, the narrator says in verse 34: “But a certain man drew his bow and unknowingly struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate.” Notice several things about this text. The archer had no particular target; he just shot an arrow into the air towards the enemy. The arrow struck King Ahab in the most vulnerable place, between the seams of the armor. A cursory reading of this event might lead one to think that the arrow had King Ahab’s name on it. However, when we read the background of the story of King Ahab, we discover that something greater than fate is working in the universe.

Did one Roman cross have Jesus’ name on it? Was Jesus ruled by blind fate, “whatever will be, will be,” or was something else going on at the cross? In John 19.8-12, Jesus stands before Pilate in handcuffs. Their private exchange is insightful. Pilate said, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have the power to release you, and power to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above;” That is, Jesus recognized the incontrovertible power of God working in the world. There is no hint of a blind fate working to put Jesus on the cross. Jesus didn’t say, “Whatever will be, will be,” but “Father, your will be done.” Jesus ascribed power to God, not fate.

Remember, Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven,” not “Whatever will be, will be.” If one believes in fate, then one has no reason to pray. What would you be praying to? Fate?

Christians believe that our loving heavenly Father is actively working in the universe to bring salvation to the world. Fate has no part in a Christian’s beliefs.

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Did Jesus Fail Math? Part I Thursday, Feb 24 2011

“and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.” (Mark 4.23b, NRSV)

To our rational minds, Jesus’ saying seems impossible. If you have nothing, how can anything be taken away from it? Even Mark’s fellow gospel writers seemed to stumble on Jesus’ enigmatic saying. Luke 8.18 says, “Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.” Luke changes the equation to make it more sensible. So what did Jesus have in mind? Did Jesus fail math class in school?

The dilemma might be eased for us a bit if we take into account that Jesus was speaking in one of his favorite modes: the parable. Let’s keep in mind that Jesus wasn’t working out a mathematical equation, but teaching his disciples about the kingdom of God in a parable. If we remember this, we will not confuse our ordinary way of thinking with Jesus’ use of poetic language, which stretches language beyond its normal boundaries. Parables are ordinary stories that get a heavenly twist.

Putting this verse in context we find that Jesus has been speaking “to a very large crowd” near the Sea of Galilee. The crowd consisted of gawkers, followers, and the curious. Mark tells us that Jesus spoke in parables to keep hidden from outsiders (Mark 4.12). Only when he was alone with his disciple did Jesus reveal the inner meaning of his parables. Just as certain groups have inside jokes or stories that only the “in group” gets, so Jesus’ parables functioned as insider information. If we think that Jesus failed math when he told this parable, then we are still outsiders, we don’t get it, yet.

More on this parable the next time.

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Cottage Prayer Meetings Monday, Feb 7 2011

Cumberland Baptist Church had a wonderful lunch/information session on our Cottage Prayer Meetings, which are in preparation for our revival, starting 17 April. In fact, we had more people sign up to host the Cottage Prayer Meetings than people who just wanted to attend! It is not too late to sign up for the Cottage Prayer Meetings. Just call the church office.

Cottage Prayer Meetings are scheduled to start on Sunday evening, 6 March. Prayer is the key to a successful revival.

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A Study of Revelation Tuesday, Jan 25 2011

Revelation Study Begins

Revelation is a beautiful and mysterious book, but it often presents a language barrier to the Christians who wish to study it. In our study of Revelation, we will discover how the language of Revelation unveils an important message to the church. Revelation was intended to encourage Christians to live into their faith.  In a world of change, uncertainty and brutality, the book of Revelation still has an important message for the church.

Our study of Revelation begins on Wednesday, 26 January at 6:30 PM in Room 204, which is next door to the church library. You may wish to have supper at the church at 5:00 PM. You may make reservations for supper by calling Cumberland Baptist Church at 584.9129 by noon on Wednesday. Hope to see you there!

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Tucson Shootings Monday, Jan 10 2011

The alleged assassination attempt of U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D) Tucson, AZ on Saturday, 8 January 2011 by Jared L. Loughner, which left six other people, including a 9-year old girl, dead and three others wounded, including Giffords, leaves our nation in mourning over the tragic and probably preventable loss of life.

A mourner at a Tucson synagogue, where Rep Giffords attended, cried, “Why, why, why, why…?” I suspect that is the question we want to try to answer most desperately.  As humans we want make sense of this seemingly senseless act.

Perhaps the first thing we can do is to remind ourselves that we live in a misshapen world, a world that has been misshapen by sin. I know that sounds like an easy answer, but it is fundamental to answering the basic question, “Why?” Augustine reminds us that sin springs from two sources, our own thoughts and the persuasion of others. (Free Choice of the Will) Perhaps further investigations will reveal the source of Loughner’s horrible actions.

Meanwhile, we can offer prayers for the victims and their families of this horrific event.

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Attend “early church” says Summitt Sunday, Jan 9 2011

With the tip-off of the Lady Vols’ game against SEC  rival Ole Miss at noon on Sunday, 9 January at the Thompson-Boling, head coach of the Lady Vols, Pat Summitt, is encouraging church-going ticket holders to attend “early service”. Lucky for fans whose church offers an early service, which can accommodate Coach Pat’s plea, but bad for ticket holders whose house of worship is at the sacred eleven o’clock hour. Perhaps the preacher will have season tickets and will make the sermon short. Better yet, Coach Summitt could have scheduled an ecumenical service at Thompson-Boling at 10:00 am so fans could go to church and attend the game without having to make those tough decisions.

Ever the optimist, Coach Summitt believes in the Lady Vols’ fans base: “I think we have the best fans in the country and I think they’ll find a way to get here,” quotes the Knoxville News Sentinel. I think the Coach is right. They’ll find a way– if God wills.

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Getting the Most Out of Your Daily Devotions Wednesday, Jan 5 2011

Are you looking for ways to revitalize your daily Bible reading? Try these five ideas.

1. Focus your reading on identifying opposites in the text. Tension in a text is used to clarify the message the text wants the reader to grasp. For instance, in my reading of Psalm 23 I have identified the following opposites: green pastures/darkest valley; shepherd/enemies; goodness/evil; lie down/walk. See if you can discover more opposites in this passage. What do the opposites say about your faith in God?
2. Trace the ideas of the text backwards. Read Psalm 23 again. Can you trace the shepherd imagery to other texts? Immediately we can find the shepherd theme in Genesis 29; Genesis 37; Exodus 3; 1 Samuel 16.11. Well you get the idea. You don’t need a concordance, just use your memory. How do these texts help your understanding of Psalm 23? Try tracing the theme or idea forwards in the Bible. How does the theme evolve in the Bible?
3. Find important words or phrases that relate to the same idea in the text. Read Psalm 23 again. A major idea in this text is God’s faithfulness. Words or phrases such as: “not want,” “green pastures,” “still waters,” “right paths,” “table,” “oil,” “cup,” and “house” all add to the idea of God’s faithfulness to his people.
4. Make a paraphrase of the text. Don’t use a dictionary to find synonyms, but just use your own words to make another version of the text.
5. Turn the text into a prayer. What kind of prayer would Psalm 23 be? Offer the prayer to God.

These are just five quick and easy ways to revitalize a Bible reading time. ENJOY!

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Real or distraction? Wednesday, Jan 5 2011

The movie “Up in the Air,” starring George Clooney as a Ryan Bingham, explores the hollow life of an aging bachelor whose business downsizes companies. His job requires him to travel extensively. On one of his business trips, he meets a woman, Alex(andra)  in a bar, whom he later seduces. She and Ryan begin a long affair as they meet in different cities on their respective business trips.

Ryan begins to think he would like to settle down with Alex. He has never considered marriage because his job is his life, but he has fallen in love with her. So he looks her up in Chicago and goes to her home unannounced. He discovers she is married and has children. Later on that evening, they meet and she says: “This is my real life, you (Ryan) are just a distraction.”

Many times in the Bible, people treat God as a distraction to their “real lives.” Their real life belonged to an idol or to someone who substituted for God. However, God wants an undivided heart. As the first commandment states, “you shall have no other gods besides me.” (Exodus 20.3)

Is God your real life or just a distraction?

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