Hasten To The Word of God

Corporate "life" versus the Living Body of Christ

 

First I've a small story to tell of something the Lord showed to me yesterday.  A lesson in observation listening to the Holy Spirit.  

Some wild hungry beautiful cats, a mother and her kitten, have come around trying to find life near my home. So, I've been feeding them. Gradually, I've been drawing them closer to my home.  Now I feed them in my garage.  At first they would come when I clang a piece of pottery with a spoon.  Now they know the time frame in which I feed them in the morning and the evening and they come to wait expectantly.  When I come out to feed my cats, they look up at me and wait.

I usually sit and watch them, and watch over them while they eat.  At first they were quite skittish, but I would speak in as sweet and honest a tone that I could and tell them "it's OK; everything is OK". I would assure them of my devotion and safety as much as they needed. They have become so comfortable around me (and I hope for more of our new friendship) that they sit around and groom after eating.  Then they slowly saunter off to play and nap in my backyard, on the porch, under the house (house is on stilts) and where ever they want on my property. I'm becoming someone they trust. Our relationship has taken them from starvation to health though there is still a way to go.

Then the Holy Spirit began to speak to me. First He pointed out that true friendship must be built on trust. Jesus often has said to me at various times throughout my life , "Don't be afraid; everything is going to be alright". As we draw closer to Jesus as His friend and family we find life and spiritual health, spiritual vibrancy. Jesus is the One who brings true Life.  In Him only can we fully trust.

Then the Holy Spirit pointed out to me that life in the Spirit is a gentle thing like the breeze that blows freshness in our face. We should seek it like the mother cat and her kitten searched for food to live and comfort to rest their little souls. Our souls need this life.  Our souls need the healing comfort the Holy Spirit (known as The Comforter) brings us to be able to flourish as spiritual people. When we are afraid God will assure us of His trustworthiness and also direct our steps to show us where life is to be found. But we must seek Him and listen to Him in order to go in the way and be in the place that The Holy Spirit can minister to us. As we do this we will find health and liveliness. We will find conversation with God.  We will find Truth and be comforted by it.

"John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and thatyour joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another."

As I contemplated what the Holy Spirit was saying to me, and the Scripture verses in John 15, my attention turned to the modern day Christian churches.  All true believers form the spiritual Body of Christ. All churches contain a mixture of some true believers, some religious people trying to be believers, and some who are there for other reasons.  As the spiritual Body of Christ, we are to be family. We are to love one another and bring life to one another.  I've experienced this many times. The presence of God's love in His people freshen's our spirit. It brings relief and a sense of safety. There within that presence of God's Spirit we are released to become who we are meant to be in Christ.  Our spiritual gifting is released.  We have times of joy and smiles. And like the little kitten that is learning to trust me, we can bask in the sun of a safe place to live, play and do God's work.  And this growth of love as friends and family needs the attention of assuring one another that we are safe with each other.  Asking forgiveness, forgiving, assuring one another, being there for one another, praying for one another, helping to carry other's burdens, communicating, etc. etc., are all part of growing together as friends and as family.

But not many churches are like that.  And churches change.  The difference lies in the structure.  The majority of churches today live in a corporate striation (parallel structures) of positions of authority and spiritual authority.  When those who have gifting for ministry (spiritual authority) are leading and serving, the Body grows in love, friendship, spiritual ministry, spiritual truth, and trust.  When those who have positional authority without spiritual authority are leading, other things are produced.  Growth in the spirit and life in the spirit are not as present.  

The spiritual activities of growing in love and truth are not easy tasks to keep doing.  We must keep turning to Jesus and ask "where are you".  I want to be where Jesus is. Where Jesus is not present and active is where spiritual hunger (even starvation), pain, distress, divisions and lack are.  But all hope is not lost. As I am searching for where the presence of spiritual life in Christ is, I am told in Philippians 4:11-13 that I can be content in a lack and an abundance.  I can survive.  You see ultimately, Jesus is not found in a church.  The church is just the gathering place of people who have (and sometimes don't have) Jesus in them. Jesus dwells in our heart and soul. We are the temple for the presence of God to flourish in.

"1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are."

Ultimately,  part of loving God is to love God's people.  And God's people are all over.  Let's be sure to tell them "it is OK, everything will be alright.  I am part of God's Living Body.  You are safe here".  

HE PREACHED TO THE SPIRITS

 

 

The question is what did Jesus do during the 3 nights of His death.  Did Jesus just hang out in the tomb waiting for the angels to roll away the stone on the third day?  Did He as some believe go down to the place where the dead were waiting and preach to the souls in “prison”? I suppose one of the first things to deal with is that the apostles Creed claims something about Christ’s ministry in His death that it is thought by some that there are no obvious writings in Scripture that are stated as clearly.  This is regarding the statement that Jesus “descended into hell”.    Even though the apostles Creed was composed after the apostles had died, it was still believed that it was an accurate compilation of the Apostle’s teachings on a few issues.

Starting with just that question of where did Jesus go or what did Jesus do, we can look at Ephesians 4:9 where it is written that Jesus first descended into the ‘lower parts of the earth’.  There are three words used.  The three designations paint a fuller picture that some people miss.  Some assume that Ephesians 4 is saying that first Christ descended to the earth in His incarnation, and then He was resurrected.  If that were meant, all that needed to be said was that first Christ descended to the earth, not under it.  Instead Paul said that Christ descended to the ‘lower parts”, or bowels of the earth, before He ascended. 

“kai katebE proton eis ta katOtera merE tEs gEs”  = and/also he descended/stepped down first into the lower parts of the land/earth. 

Katoteros = lower,

Meros =  part, section,

Ge =  ground, land, earth, world

This just happens to fit with Peter’s statement in 1 Peter 3:19 that Jesus “preached to  the spirits in prison”. Note that Peter did not say “people in prison”, which wouldn’t have made a lot of sense since the dead no longer had their bodies. The word used “pneuma” is often used alone to represent a human soul that has left the body in death. (Gen. 1 & 2 says “living soul” in Heb.)  So the picture is that Christ preached to the dead souls in the bowels of the earth, sometimes called hell, hades or sheol.  This could very well refer to Ps. 68:18 which is quoted in Ephesians 4:8  it is said the Jesus “led captivity captive”.  Jesus captures prison, freeing the prisoners. That is also the statement that Jesus read in the temple from Isa. 61:1.  Jesus proclaimed liberty TO the captives, not regarding or about the captives.  To proclaim something to someone, we must speak directly to (not about) that one.  So the implication is again that Jesus proclaimed or preached liberty to the spirits in prison or captivity (or metaphor for hell, sheol, hades).  And those who would have believed would have been freed.   When the freeing would happen we don’t know.

At least this would give Jesus something constructive to do while He was waiting to fulfill the prophesies of resurrecting on the third day.  Since death could not hold the sinless divine, it makes sense that Christ would preach the gospel message to those who never had the chance to hear it.  This also settles one of the complaints of non-believers.  Jesus has given every soul the opportunity to accept or reject His offer of redemption.  No one has any excuse to call God unfair, even those who died before the Messiah came.

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NOTES AND SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

° 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,

° 1 Pe. 4: 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

° Ps. 139: 7Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. 9If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,…

° Ps. 68: 18 

You have ascended on high,

You have led captivity captive;

You have received gifts among men,

Even from the rebellious,

That the Lord God might dwell there.

 

° Isa. 61: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,

Because the Lord has anointed Me

To preach good tidings to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

° Ephesians 4: 8 Therefore He says:“When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive,And gave gifts to men”. 9 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

° Excerpt from Apostles Creed

“was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose from the dead; “

° There are three Greek words rendered "hell" in the New Testament: gehenna, hades (equivalent of Hebrew sheol used in the Old Testament), and tartaroo. Gehenna is the lake of fire, hades is the grave and tartaroo is the abyss, the place of restraint for Satan. For English speaking people during the time of King James, "hell" [hades] was a cellar to store potatoes, not a lake of burning brimstone. In Acts 2:27, "hell" is hades, meaning the grave, while in Matthew 10:28 and Mark 9:43-48 "hell" means the lake of fire. The only place tartaroo is used is in 2 Peter 2:4

The FIVE FOLD MINISTRIES in Eph. 4

In Ephesians chapter four Paul talks about gifts that God gives to the church.  There are only four places in the New Testament where this Greek word doma, translated as ‘gifts’ is used.  In Matthew 7 and Luke 11 Jesus talks about fathers giving good presents to their children.  In Philippians 4:17 Paul talks about monetary giving and aid for his traveling necessities. Basically, the word means a present, something given voluntarily without expecting payment in return to show favor or give help to another.

In Ephesians 4, this word is used in reference to Jesus giving the church individuals who would be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.  There are those who think that this is an hierarchical listing of ministries.  But Jesus never thought in terms of hierarchies.  In Matthew chapter 20 Jesus admonished the Thunder Brothers, James and John, not to think in terms of authority, but to think in terms of serving others. And Paul spent a total of 13 years alone with God seeking personal and specific instructions from Jesus after Jesus stopped him on the road to Damascus.   In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul listed the ministries as: Apostles, Prophets, Teachers and Workers of Miracles.  These are two lists tweeked differently.  And I trust that Paul knew what he was talking about.  The question is, do we.

The spiritual word that God woke me up with this morning was that these lists were also not categories cleanly divided from each other. I kinda already knew that but the Holy Spirit was giving me an expanded view. These were areas of focus that would result in building up the body of Christ.  They were also not restricted to one locale.  Even those with a pastor’s heart and ministry can travel and minister to other churches effectively. Pastors are not limited to a specific physical place or group of people as much as we think they are.  Some are, but not all. 

 Also, most often people with God’s callings on their lives are associated with more than one of these descriptions.  Conversely, sometimes people need more than one shepherd’s influence or more than one teachers insights, and more than one prophet’s insights and encouragement, and more than one apostles admonitions for unity, and more than one miracle worker and healing ministry’s prayers and insights, and so forth.  When we think of it that way, it just makes sense.

Thus, the ‘fivefold ministries’ are not limited to five AND they are not cleanly divided from one another in ministry. They are not divided from each other in focus but are often linked in different ways. Some individuals have ministries of prophetic teaching, or apostolic shepherding, or teaching evangelists, or teaching miracle workers, or, or, or.  The list of possibilities is huge.

Those in these callings are not limited to specific physical locations but may travel.  Traveling between churches and locations only makes sense because these people are God’s GIFTS to the whole body.  The person is the gift, not the ministry.  The ministry is God’s workings into the lives of the believer the things that God wants him or her to impart to the Body of Christ.  And just a word of caution here.  These people must grow into their callings with the associated manifestations of the Holy Spirit.  They are not bombed with perfection. The Holy Spirit must work their callings into the person.  It is a process just like sanctification.

This is why several of the New Testament writers admonished us to pray for our leaders, and to pray for everyone.  After all, most people are not really aware of who God is raising up to minister to them.    So, just to be on the safe side we pray for those we know are called, for those we don’t know, and then for all our fellow believers.  But be specially attentive to support, honor, respect, assist and encourage those we know have a calling of any sort on their lives. 

Individuals that Jesus calls, He equips.  That equipping sometimes starts even before they accept Christ as their Savior.  In other words, they may have a lifetime of experiences of learning in preparation for when they come into the rulership of God and Jesus tells them what He wants them to do.  Jesus uses the very lives of these individuals.  That is why they are themselves the gifts to the church.

 

 

Note:  previously wrote on this subject here: http://tiro3.typepad.com/spoudazo_logos_blog/2014/02/the-fivefold-ministries-gods-gifted-people.html

Where Is Our Focus

Our attitude and approach to life represents the overall focus and direction we are heading in.  While Jesus walked the earth he taught the disciples and all who would listen, the most profitable attitudes and ways to view life.  In Matthew 19:16-30, Jesus was approached by a rich young leader who asked him what he should do in order to gain eternal life.

 The first point of interest is that this young Jewish man realized that he wanted eternal life and that he didn’t have a grasp on it at that time.  When Jesus pointed out six commandments that the young man should keep, he replied that he had kept them all.  Whether that is true or not we will never know.  But pressing on the young man asked, “what do I still lack?”   Jesus’ answer was too much for the young man, for Jesus told him, “If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

 The main point I believe was that he should follow Jesus.  But the young man just wanted a rule to follow that would easily settle the issue.  It is in fact, easier to follow formulas than to be sensitive to spiritual realities.  The spiritual reality is that Jesus was someone that should be followed, and still is.  The disciples understood that when they left work, home and families to follow Jesus.  However, wealth is a heavy burden to bear and perhaps even heavier to give up.  But it wasn’t just monetary wealth that was being addressed here.  Wealth includes both money, possessions, lands, social status, and popularity. Great wealth also includes a sense of superiority, safety, special freedoms and a degree of untouchableness. 

 Jesus turned to His disciples and told them that it is more difficult for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of heaven than for a camel (or rope) to go through the eyes of a needle.  This is an extreme exaggeration to get the point across that it is simply impossible.  “This is impossible for mere humans, but for God all things are possible.”

 Still not perceiving spiritual matters very well, Peter wanted to know what they, the chosen 12 would get since they had indeed left everything to follow Jesus.  Jesus’s answer let them know that there are indeed important things to do and great rewards in the ‘hereafter’.

 28 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth: In the age when all things are renewed, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And whoever has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

 I don’t know for certain when the age will be “when all things are renewed” but it does sound like a faint reference to the thousand years spoken of in Revelations 20.  One would think that such a promise of the 12 Jewish disciples sitting on 12 thrones to Judge their own 12 tribes would be a humungous unearned and undeserved reward  for these 12 young men. As well, the reward for giving up all to follow Jesus would be eternal life. Did they hear that.  Reading further on in chapter 20 shows us that they really did not understand what Jesus was talking about or who He truly was.

 

30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

 

Here was a statement that we can easily surmise went right over their heads and into the winds.  Jesus had to repeat it several times more with different metaphor’s and likely they still didn’t get it.  It was a spiritual insight that most likely they did not even begin to understand until after Jesus was resurrected.  Even then it took strong words from the apostle Paul before they began changing their focus off of themselves and onto diligently following the teachings of Jesus, the promised Messiah.

Putting Jesus first in our lives is the ultimate change of heart from self centered to other centered.  It is the necessary step one must take if we wish to learn about spiritual matters.  As long as any person or group thinks they are more special, more important than others they will not be seeing the spiritual.  Jesus who is God clothed in human flesh, the promised sinless Messiah promised throughout Jewish history is indeed more important than all humans.  He was there in the beginning busy creating all life.  Yet, this God did an incomprehensible thing and put something of His essence in the womb of a young woman, Mary, and born a human walked the earth as the promised Messiah, full God and fully human.  And this human who is the only human who ever had viable reasons for exalting Himself over other humans did not do so.  Instead, He made it His goal to encourage the poor and needy, to heal the brokenhearted, to release those in bondage, and to gift those who believe with eternal life in the hereafter and the anointing of the Holy Spirit while we live.  He took nothing from us.  He did not prevent anyone from doing good.  He healed, protected, encouraged and released the Spirit through us.

 And this is the focus, the attitude, and the approach to life that we must take as Christians.  If we put ourselves, our social status, our monetary wealth, knowledge, church social standing, our social group, even our possessions as reason to be considered first and above others, likely we will end up last in spirituality.  If we put our devotion to lift up others, the Holy Spirit will flow through us healing our souls as well.

 

30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

 

Elders, Women and 1 Timothy

 

Briefly here are some of my thoughts on how to deal with 1 Timothy, women, and the subject of teaching elders.

 

Firstly, Timothy was having a problem with wrong teachings.  We see this in Paul’s first responses in chapter one.  Men and women were trying to teach about things they really knew little of.  Here is where some scholars believe Paul is referencing gnostic ideas being taught which may have come from the teachings of the Diana worshippers.  New converts.  Of those people Paul only names two whom he handed over to Satan because he thinks they are not teachable, and they have rejected good conscience. And one wonders if they were true believers.

 

At least one of these debaters was “a woman”.  Paul has more compassion for this person as he first reminds others about his own ignorance before He believed.  He reminds Timothy that God treated him with mercy and patience.  So, while he admonishes the whole group of debaters to cease fighting and to pray, and to the women in general to dress more modesty (possibly relevant to the flamboyance of Diana worshippers), he speaks of this one woman (or perhaps a few women) differently.  In a different tone of emphasis Paul says to LET the woman learn.  Paul uses a common phrase applied to learners, that of learning in quietness and full submission – yielding their attention to the teacher.  And the woman is not to attempt to teach or usurp the teacher’s position of teaching.  

 

The word translated as “exercise authority” is more complicated than that.  Exousia means simply to exercise authority as in giving permissions, etc.  Authentein, the Greek word used here, is only used this one time and is an old term possibly having a narrow audience of use.  It was used of forceful activities including murder, forcing another to one’s will and the like.  While this can seem like referring to exercising authority over another, it is harsher.  The question comes up as to why he used it.  Perhaps, that is the way the woman or women were behaving; with forcefulness, pushiness, pressuring and intimidatingly.  Perhaps, they acted a lot like Paul did before Jesus stopped him.  And Paul thought he had the higher road.  But he found out he was mistaken.  This woman or women needed to find out they were mistaken, by learning.  Because like Eve, they had been deceived.  One of the many gnostic teachings about creation taught that Adam was deceived, not Eve.  And they taught that women could not be spiritual unless they forsook bearing and raising children. (Paul mentions again in chapt. 4 verse 3)  This then makes sense of verses 13-15.

 

So, then the question becomes why did Paul then start talking about being elders/overseers.  Firstly it is likely that elders were a primary source of teachers.  While it is understood that a special anointing of more scholarly and spiritual teaching was only given to some who would be willing to spend most of their lives researching Scriptures prayerfully, like Paul; yet there had to be others who would spend time and effort mentoring and sharing the apostolic teachings in many venues.  These would be the elders who in supervisory caring ways would be easily available to the community in teaching, caring, counseling, etc.  Paul served in many areas: apostle, teacher, elder and servant.  :)

 

I believe that Paul progressed from warning about gnostic teachings, to admonitions to pray and not fight, and to strongly urging Timothy to let the status seeking, Thunder Brothers type woman (or women) learn, SO THAT they might in time qualify to be an overseer or deacon at some point in the future.  Overseers and elders are sometimes referred to in the same ways.  This points to them being older people who minister in supervisory works.

 

Contrary to what traditionalists and patriarchalists have trampled the Word to say, chapter 3 is not to men only.  It starts out with “some” or “someone” (Greek, tis), which is highly inclusive.  So, it is acceptable if someone aspires to the work of overseer, as that one desires a good work.  I’ve always loved Paul’s writing style.  And here it is notable that he starts off with “the saying is trustworthy”, and then his first qualification is to be “above reproach”, I.e. Trustworthy.  And then the second qualification is to be trustworthy in marriage.  Aner heis gyne, is a common phrase meaning “man of one woman”.  We still use this phrase today when referring to someone who is a faithful.  He is a one woman man.  Or she is a one man woman.  When used generically the gender falls back to masculine.  We see this in verse 12 where Paul is referencing both male and female deacons, but still says they must be a “man of one woman”.  Unknown or mixed audiences typically default to the inclusive masculine.  

 

This phrase was found on the tombs of both men and women in Asia and surrounding areas by a Frenchman, Lucien Deiss, his notes to the French Bible, TOB, edition Integrale.  It is noted in a book, “Familiar leadership Heresies Uncovered” by Bruce C. E. Fleming.  He also wrote a series of books called “Think Again”, which are excellent.

 

Verse 7 is often thought to be only pertaining to men.  However, the word is tis, which mean anyone, just like verse one says  “anyone who desires”.  One of the qualifications is that anyone who desires to be an overseer must manage his or her own home, household, business, etc.  The rest of the qualifications of being a deacon or an overseer/elder are undisputedly good advice for both men and women.

 

This is a short version of how I see Paul progressing his instructions on the subject of handling disorderly people with compassion and firmness.  He points out their errors, dispenses with those who he sees as unteachable, encourages Timothy in how and what to teach the rest.  And Paul does it all while reminding Timothy that he, Paul, was like them at one time, and look at where he is now.  There is indeed redemption and new life in Christ.  

 

Problems with 1 Cor. 14:34-35

 

The following is a very brief summary of what was taught and discussed in the Sunday morning Bible Study group I usually lead.  While I did mention that some of the earliest manuscripts have these two (unnumbered) verses penned on the side of the page and even some had them at the end of the paragraph, I did not major on that since most church going Christians panic somewhat at this info.  Our churches do not spend enough time really giving the average believer real information about our Bible, the difficulties of translating the original languages, and the correct way to study and seek a reasonable interpretation.

“34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.”

There is language in these verses (1 cor. 14:34-35) that is not Paul's style. For that and other reasons I believe it is a quote from the Judaizers wanting to make the women be segregated as they were in the Temple's in that time period. And the reasons cited of disrupting the meeting with questions could have indeed been the reason. What Paul had been saying already in chapter 14 should have been sufficient to handle the problems. Everyone had already been told to be silent while other’s spoke in tongues and while others prophesied. I've noticed that few think about the impact those admonitions have on all dialogue in Christian meetings.

In addition, some of the other problems with those two verses are:
1. there never was such a law or rule in the Torah
2. Paul was not into making such legalistic all inclusive forever directives that did not build members up in Jesus.
3. There was a really nasty statement similar to those words in the Mishnah Sotah, but Paul did not promote the Mishnah directives among Christians.
4. Paul would never say, and never did say, that it was “shameful” for a woman to speak in a church meeting. 
5. Paul already earlier in the letter said that women who prophesied (preached) and prayed in the public meetings should be respectful in their attire.
6. It is somewhat not helpful to women who wanted to learn, to confine them to learning from a husband who may or may not know enough to teach anyone, including their own wives. They should learn in church meetings and from teachers, as should the men.

Male Dominance and the Honor Shame Social Paradigm

 

 

 

Ancient Roman and Asian societies were honor and shame societies. Their lives revolved around who was honored and who wasn’t. There were two main sources of honor: ascribed and achieved. Ascribed honor was your roots, where you came from, your family, your family achievements (wealth, reputation, etc.). Achieved honor had to do with your personal successes and achievements.

Aristotle, a student of Socrates (and considered a genius), developed the social construction of a society whose citizens were the wealthy and noble born men. It is interesting that Aristotle ignored Plato’s more liberal ideas of women (the Greeks liked Plato’s ideas) and chose to view them as completely inferior. A man could become noble by his achievements as well. If one was not male, noble born or from wealth then that person was not considered honorable enough to sit in discussion and planning of the social issues or sit in judgment of law issues. People of this background could not become  leaders. Many well-known and educated men throughout history used this same or similar pattern of thinking including Calvin and Luther. Thus the Rabbis and Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day were greatly influenced by Socrates (469BC-399BC), Plato (424BC-347BC) and Aristotle (384BC-322BC)

Women could be considered noble born by reason of their family status and family achievements. However, because women were considered physically inferior and incapable of the physical and mental challenges that men exchanged between themselves, the primary honor they could gain was in serving their fathers and husbands and in certain personal feminine achievements, primarily the arts.

Men sought to perpetuate their own honor by marrying women who could continue their own nobility, wealth, and good family bloodlines. This is why few men in those times (including the days of Jesus and the early church) thought it of any consequence to love their wives. They married to perpetuate their public honor and continue an honorable bloodline. The majority of society was scrambling in a “quiet” way to outdo each other. And in these struggles women fell to the wayside. These were the issues of women and marriage that Paul so delicately, indirectly and brilliantly spoke into in Ephesians 5. According to Mischke, it is a common theme of the honor/shame way of thinking to speak indirectly. This way one can be directed, direct others and correct oneself without shame of error or failure. It is commonly called “saving face” in Eastern cultures today. And this I believe is what Paul was doing in Ephesians 5 and in 1 Cor. 11:2-16.

It is my belief that the entire system of male dominance we deal with in the church today is built around these ancient paradigms. The hierarchalists don’t say outright that women cannot be leaders and cannot be equal partners with their husbands because women are inferior mentally and physically. But they do say it indirectly and cleverly.

In Jesus’ day and in the early church, the challenge Jesus’ Truth brought to the Pharisees’ power and authority was so feared, so destructive to their (may I say evil) paradigm of honor and shame that they sought to kill Jesus. And they also sought to kill Christ’s disciples before and after Christ’s death and resurrection. God’s Truth brings equality, mutuality, and true compassion, support and help to become like Jesus in humility. These things, especially humility, do not walk well with a scrambling for honor.

The vociferous responses of the hierarchalist male dominance crowd to the teachings of mutuality, is very similar to the attempts by the Pharisees to destroy Jesus and His disciples. We have difficulty getting along because we not only speak different languages but our approaches are opposite. Those believing in equality want to speak more directly. Those in the honor shame paradigms speak their beliefs indirectly so that one has to interpret and guess at what is really being said. Hence the “equal but different” mantra that is really not about equality at all. But they speak their anger boldly and harshly because mutuality threatens their social systems.

Paul chose to be all things to all that some may be won for the kingdom. (1 Cor. 10:31-33) Thus he spoke indirectly in most instances. Christ chose to do both fairly equally. In many instances He strongly rebuked the Pharisees who were constantly challenging him critically and in judgmentalism, and in other instances Jesus wove His answers and directions in metaphors and stories.

My hope is that considering these things we may all (including myself) better learn how and in what circumstances we can respond both directly and indirectly toward the issues of male hierarchies in today’s churches in hopes of bringing and living the humility of honoring all believers.

What say you . . . . . .

Sources:

Honor & Shame in Cross Cultural Relationships by Werner Mischke
Honor & Shame in the Gospel of Matthew by Jerome Neyrey
When Dogmas Die by Susanna Krizo
Woman in Greek Civilization Before 100BC by Arthur F. Ide

 

Eve the Rescuer

 

 

 

Not enough thought is given to why Eve was created in the special manner she was.  1 Corinthians 11 says that the woman is the glory of the man (1 Cor. 11:7) and that she was brought forth through the man (1 Cor. 11:3b) Eve was very much the  pièce de résistance of humanity.  Being the last formed she was indeed the masterpiece in the creation of humans.  Acknowledging this should not in any way demean the beauty and glory of the human male being formed first out of nothing but dust.  Humanity in whole is the masterpiece of all creation on this planet.  However, who was formed first and who was formed last does not diminish our great need for one another.  (1 Cor. 11:11)

 11 Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. 12 For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.

 Unfortunately, sin has caused us to miss some of the most basic lessons of life.  That which comes before supports, protects and promotes the life of what comes after.  For what comes after builds upon the former and brings new life to it. 

 First the heavens and the earth were formed, then light and the waters.  Without the heavens and the earth no life could come forth.  Without light to contrast darkness and waters to moisten the soil, no new life could be reformed.  The plants that grow in the soil and life that grows in the waters support the life of all creatures created after.  All of this supports life essentially and the experience of life for humans.  Humans cannot exist without all that has come before us.  We protect them.  We rescue the animals, the plants, the earth, the waters and the atmosphere.  We need them.  They need us.

This was the lesson that God wanted to impart to the first human before God created the woman.  So, God created the man and woman differently than He created the other living creatures. Genesis 2  Because the first human was so perfect and so beautiful, God needed to reveal to him that he had need of an other for life to be full.  So God gave the first human a task to perform that would teach him his need. “It is not good for the human to be alone. I will make/produce a help (ezer) as in front of him (kenegdo) (Gen. 2:18).[1] God showed the human his aloneness and proclaimed that aloneness was not good.  God promised to produce for the human a help, a rescuer, from this aloneness.  This was no accident.  This was all planned by God because God knew of the temptations that would come to humanity. After the man realized that the animals had companions and that there was none for him among them, then God formed the woman, the rescuer.

In Hebrew ezer means one who helps, succor (relief, support, rescue).  This word is used only 21 times in the OT and most often of God rescuing Israel or humans . [2]  Kenegdo, from neged, means what is in front of or facing, corresponding to and implies equality.   To correspond to is to be compatible with or equivalent to.   Thus, the woman is the rescuer who is like him.  This is why the man exulted, not in that the woman was different, but in that she was like him, equal to him.  She was “bone of his bones, and flesh of his flesh”.  She fit his humanity.

 Only the woman is able to save the man from himself.  “No man is an island.” [3]  Only one not the same yet of the same substance, is able to reflect back (implied in neged “facing”) to the man his lacks.  This was understood by some Jews.  In the Stone Edition Chumash the following is written in the footnotes for Gen. 2:18.

“A  helper corresponding to him. [lit. a helper against him].  If the man is worthy, the woman will be a helper; if he is unworthy, she will be against him (Yevamos 63a; Rashi).  Many have noted that the ideal marriage is not necessarily one of total agreement in all matters.  Often it is the wife’s responsibility to oppose her husband and prevent him from acting rashly, or to help him achieve a common course by questioning, criticizing, and discussing.  Thus, the verse means literally that there are times a wife can best be a helper by being against him. “[4] 

While I agree with Rabbi Rashi, I prefer to couch this in terms of a woman rescuing the man by mirroring back to him what he cannot see of himself.  Because the woman is equally human yet has some differing qualities she is able to do this better than another man.  Not only can a woman see things that a man might not see, her compassions, gentleness and frailties make her a safe one to hear them from as she is not perceived as a threat the way another man could be.

There is more to being alone than just being alone.  And there is more to this thing of being an ezer kenegdo than at first glance.

 

 

 

 

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[1]  From   http://www.scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/OTpdf/gen2.pdf

[2]  Ps. 33:20, 70:5, 115:9

[3]  A famous line from "Meditation XVII," by the English poet John Donne. Written in 1623, reflecting internal sinfulness and “noting the ultimate interconnectedness of humanity”.

[4] The Stone Edition Chumash contains commentaries from ancient and modern Rabbinic writings.  They can be found on Amazon.com.

Teachers, Bible Study, Kittens and Believers

 

I love animals, especially baby animals.  Their joy in life, innocence of evil intent and “grouchlessness” is engaging.  As I sit typing I hear the pile of reading papers, magazines, and articles sliding off the footstool along with the kittens.  Reminds me of diving off of cliffs in Hawaii, running back up and diving off again and again. Thrilling really! Oh and now my camera and purse hanging off the back of the dining room table chair has dropped to the floor for more intense inspection by Greyling, kitten #1.  So now Calley, kitten #2, and WildBoy my 2-yr (teenager) cat have all come to inspect and crawl in the purse.  Yes, I’ve done my best not to leave too much stuff available for their joyful runabouts and damage prevention.  But for a healthy kitten’s growth, I must leave something for them to inspect and experiment with.

 

TALK, TALK, TALK……

We as humans are all like God's children and precious to God. As a grandmotherly senior, teaching and occasionally preaching is my passion and has been for many years.  I was thinking this week how Bible study groups can sometimes be like a group of old and young cats of every age.  The older want to prove their prowess, the babes want to have fun, and the rest want to “get into it” much like cats crawling into my purse to investigate.   I’ve learned that I must let this happen both for the cats and for fellow believers. Such freedom creates an atmosphere of real joy in whatever we are doing including reading God’s Word. 

 

WHERE IS THE WISDOM

James 3: 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Wisdom is both the proper application of knowledge as well as godly love directed toward all for their productive benefit.  The word translated as ‘wise’ in vs. 13 above is Sophos and means skilled, expert, cultivated, learned, etc.  It is sometimes aimed specifically toward theologians, philosophers and teachers and those who want to become such.  We should encourage those seeking to become wise.

 

THE KNOWLEDGEABLE MUST LEAD AND STEER

I’ve found that Bible Study for adult believers must include things they can inspect and experiment with like kittens and my purse, but not too much.  They still need the guidance of those who have studied deeply the subject.  Someone is bound to puff up like a turkey or the arched back of a challenging kitten and proclaim that his or her answer or insight is the only reasonable one.  That is when biting and fighting can begin.  Wisdom loves them all, encourages and applauds the real insights and steers all toward more thoughtful discussion.  As Paul noted in 1 Timothy 1 some people want to be teachers of the Law, but really don’t have a good grasp of the Word, nor on the things they proclaim so confidently.

1 Tim. 1:7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

 Unless they are infiltrators from an ungodly belief system and not really Christians, it really doesn’t matter who is going off track, the answer should be the same to all believers: help them to learn.  Don’t try to silence them forever or be harsh with them.  This was Paul’s answer regarding the women in Ephesus who were desiring to be teachers.  “Let them learn”.  The principle is the same for everyone.  Encourage them to learn in quietness (not fighting) with expectations to receive something of value.

 

POINTING IN THE DESIRED DIRECTION

Sometimes, I preach a bit in our Bible groups, laying history and foundations for what is being studied.  As I do this I’m doing my best to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in directing discussion.  I stop in the midst of discussion and offer them nuggets of information they may not have.  And I ask questions that will make them really think.  Believe me, many are waiting for their chance to contribute.  Welcome it and leave time and space for it.

 

CONTROVERSY

If a section of Scripture is controversial, I’ve learned that it is best to note the controversies and help believers think about it.  This is much like ancient Jewish practices of citing scholar’s words that differ, such as Hillel, or Gamaliel.  There will always be scholars and teachers that differ on certain points.  We who teach must inform the Body of Christ how to deal with this and how to properly inductively and contextually research these different opinions.  And we should give them good researchable reasons why we believe as we do especially on controversial subjects.  Don’t run away from it and leave them hanging.  Do your research and teach them how to study inductively.  Unfortunately, too often some things are taught from poor research leaving behind context, history, grammar and whole Bible harmony.  That is why we who know better must share what we know with our brethren with wisdom, compassion and sincere affection. 

 

IN CONCLUSION

Teaching with wisdom, knowledge, good research, compassionate steering of conversation as well as using the basics of a good scholar of the Word (history, grammar, context, whole Bible harmony) and sincere affection toward all believers is bound to produce the joyful communication and discussion of a group of happy cats and kittens.  I’ve seen it happen many times.  My church’s Sunday morning Bible group which I steer is known for their laughter echoing up into the sanctuary, and our “lively” discussions.  When this happens it is not attributed to just the one teaching and steering.  The one teaching is like the good mountain guide who has been there before and just keeps walking them in the best paths of which he/she knows.  Then the Holy Spirit takes over and the unity and fellowship of the Spirit leads us toward the mind of Christ, which is to love one another, put other’s first, consider other’s interests before our own. Then we learn to wash one another’s feet in our spiritual discussion.  We learn to see the value in others that Christ saw in humanity when He gave His life and suffered death for the benefit of those who would come to Him.  To see this glorious hint of unity of the Spirit is worth all the work it takes, all the trials and failures it takes, to keep doing what God calls a teacher to do; and often brings joy to my heart and tears to my eyes.  

 

Phil. 2 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

 

 

 

 

Eulogy to my Dear Friend Brenda Now in the Arms of Jesus

 

                                                This is the first ever eulogy I have felt inspired to write and that is just           because of the deep sense of loss over knowing that my dear friend of so many years is no longer here.  Now I must wait until we meet again in the arms of Jesus.  This is not about writing an article, but just my heart spilling over in a few memories and thoughts I feel I can share; the briefest of skipping stone throws across a huge pond of inspiring memories.

 If I could say one overarching insight about Brenda’s life, it is that in spite of all the pains she experienced in her life she stayed beautiful inside and out.  Having known Brenda for 39 or so years, I went through many of those painful life experiences with her.   We shared things together about our lives that no one will ever hear about.  It’s important to have someone that is able to hear the real you without judgement or criticisms.  And not just that.  We knew well that in spite of our many failures we were both accepted by Jesus.  We saw each other’s core person inside and not just the mistakes on the outside.  We comforted each other through tragedies, divorces, losses, births and deaths.

Brenda cared about others. It was Brenda that was willing to fly to the mainland to help support me when I was caring for my great aunt who was sliding into alzheimer’s.  It was Brenda who read the book I wrote during that painful time and gave me encouragement. 

We would weep together.  A couple of times we spent the whole night together weeping, laughing and praying earnestly for some struggles in Brenda’s life.  I’m sure the heavens heard us.  Things changed. 

We helped each other.  At one point in our history we both lived in old coffee shacks.  We both had leaks in the roofs too.  Our then husbands helped each other fix the big things and we made the places homey.  I still remember helping Brenda with the laundry squeezing out the clothes from the antique squeeze roller machine.  One had to be careful they didn’t get their fingers caught in the rollers as they only rolled one way.  

                         
           

 My then husband couldn’t have children so I loved on her children.  We were the first baby sitters for Elias.  He was such a big child (and had a cast on his fractured arm) I could only carry him walking, jiggling, singing and laughing for about 20 minutes before my arms gave out.  Elias was so put out at not having Mommy there that my husband and I spent the whole time entertaining sweet Elias so that mom and dad could have some time alone.

When the 3 kids were older, Elias, Nate and Zachary used to love to be rolled up in blankets and left to squiggle out.  We would spend hours together after potluck dinners in each other’s coffee shacks laughing over many things.  Often baked beans would encourage the guys, including Bob Brilhart,  to a farting contest.  Just imagine that.  SMILES!! 

Brenda and I loved garage sales.  We found the most amazing things.  She would actually change the whole style of her house frequently.  Selling off some things left us room to find more unique stuff.  Often our wardrobes were mostly sale finds.  Brenda taught me a lot on that. It was Brenda that suggested I make each room or area have it’s own theme.  She was a true artist in making a home inviting and interesting.

No matter what was happening in Brenda’s personal life, her children always remained in the forefront honored, protected and cared for.  She never forgot about any of them.  Brenda raised four beautiful men.  Even when the boys were adults, she would still buy size 14 1/2 shoes for Elias whenever she saw a good deal.  My heart breaks at the loss of such a wonderful mother for these young men.  

After the boys were grown and mostly on their own God blessed Brenda with a good man, Allen.  It was really only then that I saw Brenda finally at peace with life and more constantly experiencing joy.  She lived in the kind of house that she loved.  Always loving animals she was able to have a few special ones surrounding her.  Allen and Brenda were the spice of life for each other.  It is a blessing to know that in her last days, this good man devotedly cared for her physical, spiritual and emotional comfort.

The world has lost a jewel.  But she did leave behind many people touched positively by her beautiful soul, energized by Christ.