Monday 27 January 2014

Many forgot how Christ should be our anchor and our focus

When we look at the trends in the spiritual life of people we notice a growing trend among elders, preachers, and members of the church of Christ which is to turn Christianity and worship into things that are casual in nature.

People are given the freedom to look at their faith like they want to have it. they also may come to worship God whenever they like “as they are” and “dressed as they are.” Some preachers do not find it necessary to prepare their sermon because it has to be casual and straight from the heart. In some churches people have become totally against prepared or printed prayers , saying they would not come from the heart. Everything in service should be improvised and or casual.

73% of born again Christians may say that it is important to share their faith with others, but when we walk around is our environment we do not hear many talking about the Word of God or about the hope we can have in the Gospel. The Good News is not heard much, though many may know it is something we should share with others.

Only half (52%) of born again Christians say they actually did share the Gospel at least once this past year to someone with different beliefs, in the hope that they might accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

This sharing of the Good News demands also knowing it and acting accordingly it. But we can notice not many youngsters today really can or want to find time to read the Bible. They think it is not so necessary and for the few times they can make it to church they will hear enough of the Scriptures (they think), but in many churches there is less and less being read from the Scriptures and often just being shouted a few verses, but that's it.

Some preachers do find it more important to get others to know those dogmatic teachings and want to get as many as possible their own church rules, often by breaking off other churches and trying to get the followers of the other church to their church, claiming they are the better church. the set of beliefs — a collection of ideas seems all to what it turns about, instead of preaching the love of Christ.

For most people it is easiest to blindly keep accepting what the preachers tells them on the pulpit. those who dare to question certain things are looked at, because they could be a danger for their own believes or making them to doubt about certain matters, which they now can accept, because the follow the preacher and count him responsible in case it would not be true.

They are not interested in to look at the meaning of one verse with looking at the context in which it was written or to compare it with other verses in other chapters of the Holy Scriptures. Why should they bother who wrote it in which circumstances, what led into it, what did it lead into, etc. 

Today it may look surprising to find it interesting that the age group that is least likely to be regular church goers are most likely to verbally evangelize. In ordinary life, at work, we can find some people (a few) who simply share what they have seen and heard and know to be true and place it in Biblical perspective. Luckily we can find people committed to a Christ-centered, faith-based relationship with God through Jesus Christ, who are not actively connected with and participating in a church. They define themselves as Christians, but they are not active in pursuing spiritual formation in the context of a congregational expression. Some might consider them as beings who could be called "Christian “nones”" in that they have no formal affiliation at this time.

Most Evangelicals, especially leaders feel it important to affirm their doctrine and call out many verses (even when it may be out of context) to affirm their doctrinal believes and to frighten their members so they  would be afraid to leave any idea of their community. 

Jesus is the true example of right understanding of the Word of his Father, the Only One True God. He is the mediator between God and man, who showed us the way to a holy living, and unconditional mercy and love for the lost. It's a message that many Christians dismiss today – just as it was 2000 years ago.

Some may think what the world needs is the revelation of the Grace of God through the complete work of the cross. They might say listening to the likes of Joseph Prince, Creflo Dollar & Rob Rufus , getting this fresh revelation and drinking of the new wine of Holy Spirit is what keeps us fresh in our faith. God never promised us a bed of roses and the road is long and tough at times, but if Christ is our anchor and our focus, how can we neglect so great a salvation?

Lots of people become more concerned how big a church is, how people are dressed, how pleasant the services are, which 'good music" is played, how entertaining the worship can be, etc..

Exterior elements seem to have become more important than the state of the heart, the inner feelings.

In 2001 Barna warned already  most self-professed Christians are only dabblers in the Faith lacking any desire for holiness; begging the question of how serious these people are about their faith, and how real their relationship with Christ is. {George Barna, Growing True Disciples (Colorado Springs: WaterBrook, 2001), 17.}

Those who call themselves Christian, should give much more attention to the person they are claiming to follow. They should listen more to the words of the one they would call their master. Christ Jesus should be their guide, more than any particular preacher or church. Jesus should be the one they should follow.

Christianity is not a set of doctrines in the sense that a mechanic operates with a set of tools. Instead, Christianity is a comprehensive worldview and way of life that grows out of Christian reflection on the Bible and the unfolding plan of God revealed in the unity of the Scriptures. 
As such we also should need to develop more concern for our attitude, attendance, and attire. In a time when many want to practice casual Christianity, we need to practice true Christianity. We need to practice serious Christianity, devoted Christianity, and respectful Christianity.

The Bible tells us about the foggy times when religions will get against religions. The time of its prophesies has come
Men and Women of God must rise up, the Watchmen must cry out; for if the Spirit of the Living God is not poured out on us then all will be lost.


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Friday 17 January 2014

Out of Context: How to Avoid Misinterpreting the Bible

Richard Schultz's recent book "Out of Context: How to Avoid Misinterpreting the Bible" as one would infer from the title collates exegetical crimes, and gives help on how to avoid them. One section which caught my eye was on the abuse of typology:

"We already mentioned a fifth approach, finding Jesus under every textual leaf...This approach is experiencing growing support today and is based on the twin convictions that (1) Jesus is the central theme of the Bible and (2) all of Scripture points to him. The former is true to a degree, although Old Testament scholar Gerhard Hasel is probably more accurate in declaring that “God is the center of the OT as its central subject.” The second conviction is based on an overinterpretation of Luke 24: 27—“ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he [Jesus] explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” This led a pastor to declare in a sermon I heard recently, “If you don’t find Jesus on the page of Scripture you are reading, keep reading it until you find him there.”

"This goes well beyond finding Jesus in predictive prophecy; it turns all Old Testament texts into predictions of or, more precisely, pictures foreshadowing the coming of Jesus. Accordingly, in Numbers 11: 8 (“ The people went around gathering it [the manna], and then ground it in a hand mill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into loaves. And it tasted like something made with olive oil”), the manna represents Jesus. After all, John 6: 33– 35, 48 teaches that he is the Bread of Life. Moreover, the grinding, crushing, and cooking in Numbers 11: 8 represent Jesus’s sufferings on our behalf. But what does the olive oil taste represent in the case of Jesus? And how did the people gather him up? The book of Hebrews and other New Testament texts give a warrant for some degree of christological (that is, Christ-centered) interpretation of Old Testament texts. This is usually called typology (see chapter 5 for further explanation). But there appear to be no limits on the creative and speculative interpretation to which this can lead.

"What exactly does Luke 24: 27 claim? A similar verse later in the same chapter may help to clarify the point Jesus was making: “Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms” (Luke 24: 44). Jesus points here to the scope of the Old Testament’s anticipation of the Messiah’s coming: all three major subdivisions of the Hebrew canon look forward to him. In Jesus’s postresurrection Bible study, he was not asserting that every biblical text is “about” or “pointing to” him. Instead, he was explaining to his disciples those passages throughout the Scriptures that spoke of him in order to clarify the world-altering nature of the prior week’s events. [1]

No one is of course arguing that typology has no legitimacy. As Shultz notes however, it is easily abused. If typology is the only exegetical tool one has, then the temptation is to see types everywhere, and without any controls on this approach, eisegesis results.

1. Schultz, Richard (2012-11-01). Out of Context: How to Avoid Misinterpreting the Bible (pp. 33-34). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
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What is life?

What is life?

 Our answer to this question will, to some extent, depend on what is on our mind when we are asked.
 Life has physical, emotional, relational and spiritual aspects and each of these will have an influence on our answer. Think about it for a moment. What does it mean to you, right now, to be alive?

 Is it enough to know that you are breathing, or must there be more, and if so, what more?

 What do people mean when they say,
 ‘I’m not living, I’m just existing’.

Still-Life with a Skull, vanitas painting.
Still-Life with a Skull, vanitas painting. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
As human beings, made in the image of God, our life is uniquely different from that of plants and other animals. How does this difference show in our daily lives? Surely the essence of our life is in the fact that we are made for eternity. Though eternity does not come straight unto us. When we die our life shall come to an end and everything of us shall decay or come to ashes in the incinerator.

At the moment of our death it will be to late to change anything. Than we will be to late to change direction or to take an other path. We shall be able to face death in peace when we do know we have lived according to the wishes of the Most High. Those who did not want to accept there is a God Creator of heaven and earth should in a way not be afraid either, but with many of them we notice they fear death. Why?


Those who believe in other things than described in the Bible may be taken by fear, because when they believe in false gods and in false beings like certain demons and devils and places of torture, the could have reason to be afraid.

Those who know the Bible do know that when we live it is important to treat all living organisms with respect, because they all are a creation of the Most High Elohim. And all creation of God, be it humans or animals shall come to the same end — humans die, animals die. also plants shall have there time of growing and flowering, but afterwards they will die and decay.
 We all breathe the same air. So there’s really no advantage in being human. None. Everything’s smoke. We all end up in the same place — we all came from dust, we all end up as dust. We as the living should at least know something, even if it’s only that we’re going to die. But the dead know nothing and get nothing. They’re a minus that no one remembers.
“19 after all, the same things that happen to people happen to animals, the very same thing—just as the one dies, so does the other. yes, their breath is the same; so that humans are no better than animals; since nothing matters, anyway. 20 they all go to the same place; they all come from dust, and they all return to dust.” (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20 CJB)
 “for the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; there is no longer any reward for them, because all memory of them is lost.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5 CJB)
When we live it is the time to make the right choices. In life it is the time given us by the Creator to make something if our 'being' 'our soul'. The 'soul' is not something extra special in our material form, it is our total being that can breath and as soon as we stop breathing we shall be considered to be part of the dead.
Therefore we better take life as it comes our way and whatever turns up, we better grab it and do it. And heartily! This is your last and only chance at it, For there’s neither work to do nor thoughts to think In the company of the dead, where you’re most certainly headed. When more people would read the Bible they would know that we are just mere humans who don’t have what it takes when they die, their projects die with them.
 “whatever task comes your way to do, do it with all your strength; because in sh’ol, where you will go, there is neither working nor planning, neither knowledge nor wisdom.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10 CJB)
 “when they breathe their last, they return to dust; on that very day all their plans are gone.” (Psalms 146:4 CJB)
So, why are atheists afraid when they die or why should believers be afraid when they die? the non-believer knows when he dies it shall be finished 'and that is it'. why should he worry when he knows the outcome of death?

And why should a believer worry. When he dies and becomes dust like everybody, why should he worry? By death we have paid the penalty for our sins. 

But those who believe in Christ Jesus, the son of God, who died (whilst God can not die) and was resurrected from death and taken out of the dead, they know they can find an example in what God did with Christ Jesus and can do with us. Believers in Christ also do know he was lower than angels, but was made higher by his Father, Who is, was, and shall always be the Most High. Believers trust that God took Jesus, the son of man, with Him in heaven, to sit at His right hand to become a mediator between man and God.
“he gave him no inheritance in it, not even space for one foot; yet he promised to give it to him as a possession and to his descendants after him, even though at the time he was childless.” (Acts 7:5 CJB)

 “for god is one; and there is but one mediator between god and humanity, Yeshua the Messiah, himself human,” (1 Timothy 2:5 CJB)
Yes, today we have a human preceding by God. He can talk for us and be our advocate, so that when Jesus shall return to the earth to judge the living and the dead, we would have a chance to become rightly judged and either to be placed by the living or by the dead, either to be allowed to enter the gate of the KiIngdom of God or to fall into the category for the Second death.
Than there shall come an end to death.
“he will swallow up death forever. ADONAI ELOHIM will wipe away the tears from every face, and he will remove from all the earth the disgrace his people suffer. for ADONAI has spoken.” (Isaiah 25:8 CJB)
“for what one earns from sin is death; but eternal life is what one receives as a free gift from god, in union with the Messiah Yeshua, our lord.” (Romans 6:23 CJB)
 “21 for since death came through a man, also the resurrection of the dead has come through a man. 22 for just as in connection with adam all die, so in connection with the Messiah all will be made alive. 23 but each in his own order: the Messiah is the firstfruits; then those who belong to the Messiah, at the time of his coming; 24 then the culmination, when he hands over the kingdom to god the father, after having put an end to every rulership, yes, to every authority and power. 25 for he has to rule until he puts all his enemies under his feet. 26 the last enemy to be done away with will be death,” (1 Corinthians 15:21-26 CJB)
“he will wipe away every tear from their eyes. there will no longer be any death; and there will no longer be any mourning, crying or pain; because the old order has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4 CJB)
So those who have faith in Christ do not have to worry when they die, as long as they made their best of their life.

What we become is the reality of what it means to us to be alive today. So, after all this, the question remains, what is life?

 I like the answer I read recently which twists a well known saying.
 ‘Life is doing what comes supernaturally.’ Let’s live!

Yes
Cover of Yes

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Please do read also:

  1. Cosmos creator and human destiny
  2. Choices
  3. Always a choice 
  4. We have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace 
  5. A person is limited only by the thoughts that he chooses
  6. Science, belief, denial and visibility 1
  7. Science, belief, denial and visibility 2
  8. Choose you this day whom ye will serve 
  9. It is a free will choice 
  10. For those who make other choices
  11. Dying or not
  12. What happens when we die?
  13. The Soul confronted with Death
  14. Dead and after
  15. Destination of righteous
  16. Destination of the earth
  17. Sheol or the grave
  18. Soul
  19. The Soul not a ghost
  20. Is there an Immortal soul
  21. Human Nature: What does the Bible teach?
  22. Immortality, eternality – onsterfelijkheid, eeuwigheid
  23. How are the dead?
  24. The soul has no rainbow if the eyes have no tears
  25. Let not sin reign in your mortal body
  26. We will all be changed
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Find also of interest:

Never Take Resources For Granted!
The Vital Social Status versus The Vital Social Necessities
Choose A Positive Influence In Life
Beautiful Life…


 


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Thursday 16 January 2014

Kansas City Supporting Small Ecclesias

Kansas City

Kansas City Missouri
Kansas City Missouri (Photo credit: edebell)
Supporting Small Ecclesias:

Kansas CityBrothers and Sisters who may be seeking employment and are willing to relocate or who may be looking for a new avenue to serve in the Lord’s vineyard are invited to consider strengthening a small ecclesia. This issue features the Kansas City Ecclesia.

Looking for a wonderful place to live and worship?  Please consider Kansas City. You will find jobs in everything from healthcare to engineering to IT. Among the excellent companies that call KC home are Cerner, Garmin, Hallmark, H&R Block, and Sprint. Kansas City enjoys one of the lowest costs of living among U.S. major cities. 
We have outstanding public schools, colleges and universities. We have beautiful rolling vistas along the Missouri River—and the best barbecue in the nation. Above all, you will find a small ecclesia with a big heart and a loving spirit. We welcome families seeking a new home. For more information please contact Bro. Mark Drabenstott: mark.kc@sbcglobal.net
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Now Available: WCF Videos On Demand

Now Available:
WCF Videos On Demand

DVDThe WCF website has been upgraded to now feature video on demand. The Foundation has produced a number of videosto serve as educational and outreach tools.Many of these titles are available in various languages; some are even closed-captioned. he full-length videos can be previewed online or downloaded. Go to wcfoundation.org/resources/on-demand-wcf-videos/ and view our offerings.

If you’d like DVDs for your personal or ecclesial outreach efforts be sure to visit the WCF Store. Go to store.wcfoundation.org/b/3515615011. Perhaps consider screening one of the videos in ‘God’s Family Around the World’—Russia, Jamaica, India, El Salvador or Ireland—at an ecclesial lunch-and-learn. 
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Update on the Clermont Good News Centre Building

Update on the Clermont Good News Centre

BuildingLast year WCF provided a grant of over $35,000 to the COPT volunteer project team to address much needed repairs and improvements at the Clermont facility. The property is home to the Clermont ecclesia and also includes a residence. The property was terraced to control water runoff; a retaining wall was installed to increase the area of usable land and a proper walkway was laid to accommodate infirm members. Sanitary improvements, garden plots and accommodations for a resident caretaker were also part of the overall plan. After some deliberation it was deemed best to build a new structure on leased land to house the Clermont Good News Centre, rather than repair the existing building.

Pictured above is the new building fronting the street and protected by the surrounding retaining wall. Three young friends look forward to this welcome addition to their community. Many thanks are extended to Brother Grant Larsen — project supervisor and master builder — together with his team of dedicated volunteers!
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Support for Preaching in New Zealand

Support for Preaching in New Zealand

Thastings campaignhe brothers and sisters of the Hastings, NZ ecclesia are preparing to host a national preaching campaign, which will be held, God willing, January 2nd to 8th, 2014.
Although the campaign will be hosted by the Hastings ecclesia, they’ve received strong volunteer support from many ecclesias throughout New Zealand, and the brethren are hoping that this might spark a resurgence in preaching campaigns in the country. In particular, the young people are being strongly encouraged to attend; it is hoped that the experience of preaching in such an open and exciting environment will be invaluable to their spiritual development. The campaign is based on the theme of “The Bible for Life” with their slogan being “Live Life with Hope”.

In conjunction with the public talks, the brethren are planning to rent a storefront where they will be running a variety of ‘hands-on’ workshops dealing with topics such as addiction, marriage, parenting and finances—topics that focus on the practical outworking of the Christian faith, run by qualified brothers and sisters. As with any venture such as this, finances play a very important role. Renting an appropriate venue, marketing the campaign together with food, hospitality and accommodation can all add up quickly. To help defray these costs, WCF was approached for financial assistance. The Foundation was pleased to respond with a grant of $4,000 as requested by the 2014 Hastings Campaign steering committee.

If your ecclesia is planning a public outreach effort, the cost of which exceeds ecclesial resources, you are invited to ask WCF to serve as a funding partner. 
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