It's unavoidable!
You're not going to make it through this Life, blessed or not, without feeling some sort of pain, whether it's real or imagined, physical or spiritual ( emotional? )! Death, for instance, and I'm speaking of biological death, means separation, and separation means pain, to some extent, at least. If you've ever been close to someone who's biological body ceased to function, you know what I mean. In that case, life really sucks sometimes!
Of course, biological death is not the only kind of separation that brings pain, we also feel it when we are deprived of a companionship that we are used to, for whatever reason. It may be because of divorce, or because of a move, but whatever the reason, an ache develops inside of you, and will continue to do so until that hole, or vacancy is filled. Then too, depending on what you choose to fill that vacancy with, the cycle may continue!
'No Pain, No Gain!
'Pain is a good thing', I always say, 'it makes you feel alive'! If you're feeling no pain, you should probably check your heart to make sure it's still beating! Pain has a purpose, and that is to let us know that something needs our attention; this applies both to our physicality and to our spirituality, or emotional state. Pain lets us know that something is not quite right, and a change in direction might need to be considered!
No one that I know actually likes pain, I know I'm not particularly fond of it, but everyone I know experiences it, and some even seem to thrive on it!
Pain is a good thing, yes, and yes, it's unavoidable, but it's usually not a very pleasant experience! ( Sometimes, though....) But seriously, whether it's physical or emotional, whether something is 'out of sorts' with your biological body, or your spiritual psyche, it hurts, it really hurts! And when it hurts, there's really only one thing you can do to ease your pain; you've got to soothe it somehow. ( Marvin Gaye just popped into my mind, for some reason.....) When we experience physical pain, we have several choices; we can cease whatever activity that's causing the pain, or we can use any number of ointments or salves to ease it, and temporarily soothe, if not completely heal it.
Emotional pain, on the other hand, can be a bit harder to put your finger on! Yes, it hurts, but, for whatever reason, we often draw a blank, as to why and where exactly we are experiencing this pain! Though there is a Balm in Gilead, even we as Christians experience emotional discomfort, whether it be because of bad decisions in our own lives, or because we are somehow affected by other's bad choices. Sometimes strained ( or is that 'sprained? ) family ties cause us much pain! Sometimes it is just because of thee messes we see all around us in Our Father's World!
In actuality, we as Christians ARE that Healing Balm! We ARE the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and we have been restored to that Blessed Communion for times such as these!
Like Jesus, we can sympathize with those who feel pain, because we too have felt pain! ( most of us still do ) We can soothe someone's pain because we've had our own pain soothed! We can heal because we've been healed, and have become Agents for the healing of the world's pain!
Much of society today, even Christians, will tell you that you can't take care of someone else, if you don't take care of yourself first. This seems like sage advice, and in a sense, even seems to have a ring of truth to it, particularly biologically speaking, but really, when you think about it, ministering to someone else's need often helps to fulfill your own! On top of this, we have our Heavenly Father's promise that when we seek first His Kingdom, all these things are given us in 'spades'!
As we minister to others then, with the grace we have received from our Heavenly Father,let us always remember that, whatever this glorious experience that we call Life throws at us, everybody hurts, sometimes!
Healed & Hurting,
Charles Haddon Shank
Thursday, March 06, 2014
Tuesday, March 04, 2014
Give Us This Day
Throughout this
series, we have noted how the purpose of this model prayer was to point back to
Israel's history, and remind Jesus' disciples of the need for redemption. There
are two main parts to this prayer, the first of which is focused on the Holiness
& Glory of our Heavenly Father, the second on our daily needs and spiritual
health.
'Give us this day our
daily bread' would remind the disciples, good Israelites all, first of all, of
Israel's Exodus ( redemption ) out of Egypt. Quite literally, our Heavenly
Father miraculously & significantly provided their daily bread for a
symbolic 40 years in the wilderness.
In John's record of
'The Feeding of the Five Thousand, Jesus had a conversation with some Jews who
had bone to pick with Him. Jesus told
them, 'I am the bread which came down from heaven'. By their tradition, it was
Moses who had given them food ( bread ) to eat in the wilderness, but Jesus set
them straight; it was He Who was the true Bread from Heaven!
Do not labor for the
food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life,
which
the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.
John 6:27
The whole point of
Jesus' sermonette was to remind His followers, as Paul echoed later in his
letter to the Romans (14:17 ), 'the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking,
but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit'. Although it is
undeniably true that our physical ( biological ) bodies need daily sustenance
like food & drink, it must be understood that it is not these thing which
give True Life!
True Life comes from
our Heavenly Father alone, and is eternal, not like that which sustains our
biological bodies on a daily basis. That food, along with our biological
bodies, will soon wither and perish! 'This is the bread', Jesus said, 'which
came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who
eats this bread will live forever'!
As we petition, then, for 'our daily bread', we ask, not that our physical needs would be met, for this too is a gift from our Heavenly Father, but, more importantly, that He would continually feed us spiritually with this true 'Bread from Heaven'; as Jesus said, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst'!
Though we have this Bread, and enjoy the Fulfillment of this Prayer, let us always thank our Heavenly Father for this Bread, through the advancement of His Kingdom! May we ever share this 'daily bread' with those who hunger and starve; may we ever show them a better Way!
Charles Haddon Shank
Monday, March 03, 2014
The Forest for the Trees; Lost in the Details
Many times in life, whether it be in theological studies, or just the mundane everyday tasks, we often focus so much on the individual details that we tend to miss the big picture! An everyday example might be something that us older people are very familiar with, but our younger counterparts may find somewhat strange. I remember pulling weeds in the family garden growing up, and how I would almost dread the time when dad would say, 'go pull weeds'! I would focus on ( and dread ) the 'pulling weeds' part, and not think about the bigger picture, that being the good, fresh veggies that a weed-free garden would grow, better so than a weed-infested garden!
Too often, we go about our biblical and theological studies much the same way, focusing on details like, 'was Noah's Flood universal ( world-wide ) or local ( regional )?' I tend to believe myself that it was a fairly local, though huge ( wide-spread ) event. Having done a minute bit of research myself, I feel fairly safe in pronouncing that it was so. However, this does not make it so, and I would imagine that there are those out there who would beg to differ, and even be able to come up with a better argument stating that it was not!
Whatever the case may be, whether Noah and his family were the only human beings alive on a post-cataclysmic planet earth or whether they were simply survivors of a catastrophic, local flood event, the fact remains; the Story, and the Ark in particular, was significant of the salvation of the People of God in Christ!
We love to argue! As human beings, we are naturally selfish; we have a very basic need to be right. We will argue the details of something like 'The Great Flood' till we're 'blue in the face', we will do so almost vociferously, alienating brothers and sisters left and right, just to prove that we are right!
Does it matter whether or not 'The Great Flood' of Noah's day was local or universal, world-wide or regional? Well, yes and no! Any good bible student from most popular seminaries will tell you that Scripture clearly states that the cataclysmic event was world-wide, with universal and lasting effects. On the other hand, and mostly aside from these seminaries, a grammatical and covenantal study of this and stories like it will show that this event was very likely a local one, and was simply a part of the Greater Story, and Significant of the Salvation of the People of God!
The Story of 'The Great Flood' does not stand alone! It is part of redemptive history, and should be understood primarily as such! The details are important, there is doubt; they are given for a reason, but it is easy to focus so much on those details, to become so single-minded about one aspect or another, that we easily forget what it's all about!
Certain statements in Scripture, in this case Genesis 6-9, seem to make very clear that the flood of Noah's day was a world-wide event, but when compared to other such statements in the prophetic Scriptures, the clear universality of these statements is not so clear anymore! In fact, it is just the opposite; the statements become more obviously covenantal and historical in nature! By that, we simply mean these statements, though undoubtedly true and accurate, were told to tell a particular Story, that of the Redemption of the People of God!
If we get the details of the Story right, but in doing so, miss the Story itself; we are lost, we have missed the whole point! If we do not correctly understand the Story, nothing else will suffice; if we correctly understand the Story, nothing else is necessary!
Charles Haddon Shank
Too often, we go about our biblical and theological studies much the same way, focusing on details like, 'was Noah's Flood universal ( world-wide ) or local ( regional )?' I tend to believe myself that it was a fairly local, though huge ( wide-spread ) event. Having done a minute bit of research myself, I feel fairly safe in pronouncing that it was so. However, this does not make it so, and I would imagine that there are those out there who would beg to differ, and even be able to come up with a better argument stating that it was not!
Whatever the case may be, whether Noah and his family were the only human beings alive on a post-cataclysmic planet earth or whether they were simply survivors of a catastrophic, local flood event, the fact remains; the Story, and the Ark in particular, was significant of the salvation of the People of God in Christ!
We love to argue! As human beings, we are naturally selfish; we have a very basic need to be right. We will argue the details of something like 'The Great Flood' till we're 'blue in the face', we will do so almost vociferously, alienating brothers and sisters left and right, just to prove that we are right!
Does it matter whether or not 'The Great Flood' of Noah's day was local or universal, world-wide or regional? Well, yes and no! Any good bible student from most popular seminaries will tell you that Scripture clearly states that the cataclysmic event was world-wide, with universal and lasting effects. On the other hand, and mostly aside from these seminaries, a grammatical and covenantal study of this and stories like it will show that this event was very likely a local one, and was simply a part of the Greater Story, and Significant of the Salvation of the People of God!
The Story of 'The Great Flood' does not stand alone! It is part of redemptive history, and should be understood primarily as such! The details are important, there is doubt; they are given for a reason, but it is easy to focus so much on those details, to become so single-minded about one aspect or another, that we easily forget what it's all about!
Certain statements in Scripture, in this case Genesis 6-9, seem to make very clear that the flood of Noah's day was a world-wide event, but when compared to other such statements in the prophetic Scriptures, the clear universality of these statements is not so clear anymore! In fact, it is just the opposite; the statements become more obviously covenantal and historical in nature! By that, we simply mean these statements, though undoubtedly true and accurate, were told to tell a particular Story, that of the Redemption of the People of God!
If we get the details of the Story right, but in doing so, miss the Story itself; we are lost, we have missed the whole point! If we do not correctly understand the Story, nothing else will suffice; if we correctly understand the Story, nothing else is necessary!
Charles Haddon Shank
Friday, February 28, 2014
On Earth as it is in Heaven
In modern-day America, or pretty much anywhere in the Western Hemisphere, this phrase means that we wish God's Will to be done throughout the entire physical globe, or terre firma. However, when Jesus spoke these words to His disciples, who a long time ago, in the Eastern Hemisphere, they knew exactly what He was talking about!
Coupled together with the fact that Jesus was an Ancient Near Easterner, the History of Israel told the disciples that they should seek for His will to be done through His People, whether they be religious leaders ( heaven ) or just an average citizen of Israel. You may have heard that the phrase 'heaven & earth' is most often, in Scriptural use, indicative, not of the physical earth & sky ( heaven ), but of the People of God.
You can read for yourself Scriptures like Deuteronomy 4:26 and Psalm 76:8 for examples of this. 'The Song of Moses' in Deuteronomy 32 begins with 'Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.'
In the previous phrase, 'Your will be Done' we saw how in the historical context of Jesus words, He reminded His disciples that Israel, under that first covenant, had failed to follow Yahweh's Dominion Mandate, Though His Will was done throughout their history, it was despite, not because of their obedience or disobedience to His commands.
The Law, as given on Sinai, and through Moses, was inscribed in the heavens but was not observed on earth. Jesus' model for prayer sought for the marriage of Heaven & Earth, bringing them together, inscribing His Law on the living hearts of His People ( Jeremiah 31:33 & Ezekiel 36:26 ), and not on dead tablets of stone.
'On Earth, as it is in Heaven', today communicates what should always be our prayer, that as we confess with our mouth, we would bring to action. As our cleansed conscience leads us in the way everlasting, our lives are transformed to His Will.
In Thankfulness, we praise the Maker of 'Heaven & Earth' and continually pray that we would, through the Strength He lends, always encourage our several members to fulfill His Will in our lives.
His Will is done, as we live our lives in Communion with Him & with the Body of His Son, 'On earth, as it is in heaven'!
Amen,
Charles Haddon Shank
Coupled together with the fact that Jesus was an Ancient Near Easterner, the History of Israel told the disciples that they should seek for His will to be done through His People, whether they be religious leaders ( heaven ) or just an average citizen of Israel. You may have heard that the phrase 'heaven & earth' is most often, in Scriptural use, indicative, not of the physical earth & sky ( heaven ), but of the People of God.
You can read for yourself Scriptures like Deuteronomy 4:26 and Psalm 76:8 for examples of this. 'The Song of Moses' in Deuteronomy 32 begins with 'Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.'
In the previous phrase, 'Your will be Done' we saw how in the historical context of Jesus words, He reminded His disciples that Israel, under that first covenant, had failed to follow Yahweh's Dominion Mandate, Though His Will was done throughout their history, it was despite, not because of their obedience or disobedience to His commands.
The Law, as given on Sinai, and through Moses, was inscribed in the heavens but was not observed on earth. Jesus' model for prayer sought for the marriage of Heaven & Earth, bringing them together, inscribing His Law on the living hearts of His People ( Jeremiah 31:33 & Ezekiel 36:26 ), and not on dead tablets of stone.
'On Earth, as it is in Heaven', today communicates what should always be our prayer, that as we confess with our mouth, we would bring to action. As our cleansed conscience leads us in the way everlasting, our lives are transformed to His Will.
In Thankfulness, we praise the Maker of 'Heaven & Earth' and continually pray that we would, through the Strength He lends, always encourage our several members to fulfill His Will in our lives.
His Will is done, as we live our lives in Communion with Him & with the Body of His Son, 'On earth, as it is in heaven'!
Amen,
Charles Haddon Shank
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
In the Air ( the rapture of the saints )
Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more;
and he went on his way rejoicing.
Acts 8:39
I Thessalonians 4:17 is the clearest, yet foggiest proof-text used to witness 'the ( future ) Rapture of the saints of God'. There are even those who interpret this passage in a modern American way to explain the silent witness of the church in the latter part of the first century. Many of these also claim to believe in the spirituality versus physicality of the Kingdom of God, as fulfilled in Jesus the Christ, and perpetuated by His Body, the Church!
The same Greek word, 'harpazō', that Paul used to comfort the Thessalonians in his letter was used by Luke to describe Philip's 'journey' from the desert in between Jerusalem and Gaza to Caesarea. As you can see by searching the word @ 'The Blue-Letter Bible', 'harpazō' is used everywhere, from metaphorical to actually ( literally ), in Matthew 11:12, where Jesus talked about 'The Storming of Heaven' to Jude ( 23 ) where he talked about saving ( others ) from the coming destruction!
As many have broached this subject before, and even since I myself have written on it, one might wonder, 'why bring it up again?' Good question; 'why?!'
Well, the main reason for resurrecting this topic is that it is very important, if only for the reason that there are still those out there, even within the Fulfilled camp, that subscribe to this hogwash!
Though there are many passages in which the word 'harpazō' is used that seem to indicate fairly clearly that the subject was carried ( for a time ) into the Presence of God, there are as many that merely indicate the removal ( often by force ) of the subject ( or object ) to another place, as we see in Philip's case.
Even in today's vernacular, we sloppily and carelessly use the term as 'he got caught up in the heat of the moment', or. 'she caught a cold'. ( if we were Greek, I'd imagine we'd use 'harpazō' in both cases )
Undoubtedly, when the apostle Paul recounts the journey of 'a man in Christ', in his second letter to the Church at Corinth ( 12 ), this man, 'whether in the body' or 'out of the body' ( he could not tell ) was ushered into the very Presence of God, into Heaven Itself!
In the passage in question, I Thessalonians 4:17, it is true that the saints were to be ushered into the Presence of our Lord; the 'end' of this verse 'brings home' to rest the comfort that Paul intended through his writing; 'And thus we shall always be with the Lord'!
As we live in the Fulfilled Truth of His Word, may we always be enraptured by His Presence, and may we share that joy with all those with who we come in contact; let us joy in the fact that we have been seized by His Spirit, and now enjoy Him forever!
Amen & Amen!
Charles Haddon Shank
The same Greek word, 'harpazō', that Paul used to comfort the Thessalonians in his letter was used by Luke to describe Philip's 'journey' from the desert in between Jerusalem and Gaza to Caesarea. As you can see by searching the word @ 'The Blue-Letter Bible', 'harpazō' is used everywhere, from metaphorical to actually ( literally ), in Matthew 11:12, where Jesus talked about 'The Storming of Heaven' to Jude ( 23 ) where he talked about saving ( others ) from the coming destruction!
As many have broached this subject before, and even since I myself have written on it, one might wonder, 'why bring it up again?' Good question; 'why?!'
Well, the main reason for resurrecting this topic is that it is very important, if only for the reason that there are still those out there, even within the Fulfilled camp, that subscribe to this hogwash!
Though there are many passages in which the word 'harpazō' is used that seem to indicate fairly clearly that the subject was carried ( for a time ) into the Presence of God, there are as many that merely indicate the removal ( often by force ) of the subject ( or object ) to another place, as we see in Philip's case.
Even in today's vernacular, we sloppily and carelessly use the term as 'he got caught up in the heat of the moment', or. 'she caught a cold'. ( if we were Greek, I'd imagine we'd use 'harpazō' in both cases )
Undoubtedly, when the apostle Paul recounts the journey of 'a man in Christ', in his second letter to the Church at Corinth ( 12 ), this man, 'whether in the body' or 'out of the body' ( he could not tell ) was ushered into the very Presence of God, into Heaven Itself!
In the passage in question, I Thessalonians 4:17, it is true that the saints were to be ushered into the Presence of our Lord; the 'end' of this verse 'brings home' to rest the comfort that Paul intended through his writing; 'And thus we shall always be with the Lord'!
As we live in the Fulfilled Truth of His Word, may we always be enraptured by His Presence, and may we share that joy with all those with who we come in contact; let us joy in the fact that we have been seized by His Spirit, and now enjoy Him forever!
Amen & Amen!
Charles Haddon Shank
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
How to Understand Who the People of God Are!
The Pharisees sent Saul ( soon to be known as 'the apostle Paul' ) to the synagogues of Damascus in order that he might weed out any who were of that heretical Jewish sect known as the Way. By doing so, they meant to make clear to their Messiah when He came, who were His people and who were not His people.
In today's ecclesiastical landscape, one finds much that much the same pattern has erupted! There are numerous denominations out there today who feel that, if you do not belong to their particular 'club' ( even 'congregation' ), and/or subscribe to a certain doctrine, you are no 'friend' of theirs. Unless you follow the same 'false messiah' as they do, and worship the same 'idols', you have most likely set your feet on the wide path that leads to destruction!
The question of who the People of God consists of is a question that has been on the minds of people for millenia; are the People of God only those who have acknowledged & accepted His Lordship in their lives? Is it only to those who love Him ( Romans 8:28 ) that He makes everything work for good? Is He Father to His entire Creation, or only to those who acknowledge Him as Father?
There are that that believe, as it has been taught in the orthodox Christian Church for a great many years, that the honor of being called the People, or Children of God, is only granted to those who have made a conscious decision to follow Him, and who live a life that honors Him. Passages such as that above seem to say that His 'saints' consist only of those who, confessing Him, live a life according to His revealed Word!
It is safe to say, biblically, even Scripturally speaking probably, that it is only those who keep His commandments who are His Children. I John 5:2 reads, 'By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments'. Earlier in this same letter ( I John 3:10 ), John wrote, 'In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.' There are numerous examples in both the Greek & Hebrew Scriptures which differentiate between 'the children of God and the children of the devil', but is this to say that these 'children of the devil' are not 'children of God', though errant and rebellious? Is He such a petty God that, like some earthly fathers, disowns His children when they refuse to obey Him?
I have long held ( several years, anyway ) that this notion, like certain doctrines the Church has held for many years, is primarily eschatological in its construct! There are many, and the number is growing, who have almost, if not totally, dismissed & discarded the notion that the 'Satan' ( devil, dragon, etc. ) of Biblical usage was representative of anything but that fleshly Jewish spirit that disdained and finally crucified their own Messiah. These were 'the children of the devil' that opposed and persecuted 'the children of God'!
Is this to say that there are no 'children of the devil' in this New Covenant or Kingdom Age? Are we to believe that there are no longer 'those who are outside' ( I Timothy 3:7 ( Revelation 22:15 )? Has everyone been granted entrance into the City of God? There are those who teach this without exception! These same ones are usually the ones who are called 'grace preachers'. They teach a Grace that is in opposition to Law, that since it was fulfilled by Christ in His Life & Death, the Law is no more, that now we just have Grace & Unconditional Love!
We know, however, or should anyway, that Grace is not in opposition to Law, that Law is in fact, an integral part of Grace! It was Grace that first revealed the Creator to His Creation and 'and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life'; it was Grace that first opened up the lines of communication & established relationship between Father & Son! As a good Father to His errant Children, our Heavenly Father instituted guidelines ( Law ) so that His Children might experience the blessing and not the cursings of that relationship!
As an example, from a human standpoint, a father will establish rules that the children of his household are to live by if they want to experience the blessedness of relationship. Children who do not follow these set rules will still be in relation to their father, but rather than experiencing the blessedness of that relationship, they will, more likely than not, feel the effects of his wrath, so long as they persist in willful disobedience!
Though they have his Unconditional Love, because they do not enjoy the blessedness of that Relationship, that Unconditional Love will usually be felt as stinging blows, whether metaphorically or really, which, if followed by repentance, serve to mend that broken relationship and bring the errant child back into Blessed Communion with his Father!
In conclusion then, we might ask ourselves again, 'who are the People of God?' Are they, as most of us have been taught, only those who live their lives in such a way that they experience the blessedness of Communion with their Heavenly Father? Is it 'kosher' to call those His children who obviously do not enjoy Relationship with Him & with His Body ( the Church} )? There are many in today's Church who would hold that idea in disdain, if for the fact alone that they would not wish to be called 'brother' by those unruly and disobedient children!
If we live our lives as if we are not related to them and do not associate with them because tthey do not follow the same set of rules ( Law ) that we do, how are they supposed to witness the blessedness of our Relationship? How will they know the blessedness of Communion with the Body if we do not share it with them?
May we who enjoy the Presence & Unconditional Love of our Heavenly Father continue to bless those who do not, as we share that Presence & Unconditional Love with others! As we share the blessings that we enjoy, may others see that joy, long for it themselves, and then so order their lives that they would seek to reconcile with their Creator, and Commune with the Body of His Son!
with Joy in His Presence,
Charles Haddon Shank
In today's ecclesiastical landscape, one finds much that much the same pattern has erupted! There are numerous denominations out there today who feel that, if you do not belong to their particular 'club' ( even 'congregation' ), and/or subscribe to a certain doctrine, you are no 'friend' of theirs. Unless you follow the same 'false messiah' as they do, and worship the same 'idols', you have most likely set your feet on the wide path that leads to destruction!
The question of who the People of God consists of is a question that has been on the minds of people for millenia; are the People of God only those who have acknowledged & accepted His Lordship in their lives? Is it only to those who love Him ( Romans 8:28 ) that He makes everything work for good? Is He Father to His entire Creation, or only to those who acknowledge Him as Father?
“Gather My saints together to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”
Psalm 50:5
There are that that believe, as it has been taught in the orthodox Christian Church for a great many years, that the honor of being called the People, or Children of God, is only granted to those who have made a conscious decision to follow Him, and who live a life that honors Him. Passages such as that above seem to say that His 'saints' consist only of those who, confessing Him, live a life according to His revealed Word!
It is safe to say, biblically, even Scripturally speaking probably, that it is only those who keep His commandments who are His Children. I John 5:2 reads, 'By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments'. Earlier in this same letter ( I John 3:10 ), John wrote, 'In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.' There are numerous examples in both the Greek & Hebrew Scriptures which differentiate between 'the children of God and the children of the devil', but is this to say that these 'children of the devil' are not 'children of God', though errant and rebellious? Is He such a petty God that, like some earthly fathers, disowns His children when they refuse to obey Him?
I have long held ( several years, anyway ) that this notion, like certain doctrines the Church has held for many years, is primarily eschatological in its construct! There are many, and the number is growing, who have almost, if not totally, dismissed & discarded the notion that the 'Satan' ( devil, dragon, etc. ) of Biblical usage was representative of anything but that fleshly Jewish spirit that disdained and finally crucified their own Messiah. These were 'the children of the devil' that opposed and persecuted 'the children of God'!
Is this to say that there are no 'children of the devil' in this New Covenant or Kingdom Age? Are we to believe that there are no longer 'those who are outside' ( I Timothy 3:7 ( Revelation 22:15 )? Has everyone been granted entrance into the City of God? There are those who teach this without exception! These same ones are usually the ones who are called 'grace preachers'. They teach a Grace that is in opposition to Law, that since it was fulfilled by Christ in His Life & Death, the Law is no more, that now we just have Grace & Unconditional Love!
We know, however, or should anyway, that Grace is not in opposition to Law, that Law is in fact, an integral part of Grace! It was Grace that first revealed the Creator to His Creation and 'and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life'; it was Grace that first opened up the lines of communication & established relationship between Father & Son! As a good Father to His errant Children, our Heavenly Father instituted guidelines ( Law ) so that His Children might experience the blessing and not the cursings of that relationship!
As an example, from a human standpoint, a father will establish rules that the children of his household are to live by if they want to experience the blessedness of relationship. Children who do not follow these set rules will still be in relation to their father, but rather than experiencing the blessedness of that relationship, they will, more likely than not, feel the effects of his wrath, so long as they persist in willful disobedience!
Though they have his Unconditional Love, because they do not enjoy the blessedness of that Relationship, that Unconditional Love will usually be felt as stinging blows, whether metaphorically or really, which, if followed by repentance, serve to mend that broken relationship and bring the errant child back into Blessed Communion with his Father!
In conclusion then, we might ask ourselves again, 'who are the People of God?' Are they, as most of us have been taught, only those who live their lives in such a way that they experience the blessedness of Communion with their Heavenly Father? Is it 'kosher' to call those His children who obviously do not enjoy Relationship with Him & with His Body ( the Church} )? There are many in today's Church who would hold that idea in disdain, if for the fact alone that they would not wish to be called 'brother' by those unruly and disobedient children!
If we live our lives as if we are not related to them and do not associate with them because tthey do not follow the same set of rules ( Law ) that we do, how are they supposed to witness the blessedness of our Relationship? How will they know the blessedness of Communion with the Body if we do not share it with them?
May we who enjoy the Presence & Unconditional Love of our Heavenly Father continue to bless those who do not, as we share that Presence & Unconditional Love with others! As we share the blessings that we enjoy, may others see that joy, long for it themselves, and then so order their lives that they would seek to reconcile with their Creator, and Commune with the Body of His Son!
with Joy in His Presence,
Charles Haddon Shank
Friday, February 21, 2014
Return from Captivity
Did you ever think about
the significance of the fact that, even though Israel returned to the
Land of Promise under orders ( Ezra 1 ) of their more or less
friendly captor, they were still in Captivity, both physically and
spiritually ( Really & Actually )! Even though they were back in
their own Land, they still had to bow to an earthly king, and follow
his leading, or pay the consequences!
National physical Israel ( 'according to the flesh' ) never, almost from the times of the Judges
on, experienced true freedom!
In much the same way,
those who fight against God's Headship today, both Christian and
non-Christian, believer and unbeliever, are in Captivity! Until they
accept His Love and Judgment, they will remain captive to idols, both
real or imagined! The Captivity of which we speak is a Captivity of
the heart, which has its natural outworking in physicality, or as
some would call it, real life. Release from this Captivity can only
come from an acknowledgement &a acceptance of the Sovereignty of
God in their lives! Sure, some have found release of sorts, by
distancing themselves from certain situations, people, or even one
person in particular, but the adage rings true, sooner or later; 'you
can't run away from yourself'!
In today's watered-down
version of the Gospel, Grace is most often seen as in opposition to
Law! Although Grace is prevalent in the Gospel Story, indeed,
throughout the entire History of the People of God, we should see
that it is not in opposition to Law, but that Law is an integral part
of Grace! For a moment, consider this; in an earthly family, any good
father would tell his child things like, 'don't run out into the
street until the truck passes', or 'don't pick that 'stick' up', even
such a simple command/warning as 'don't touch that'! Law did not come
in opposition to Grace, but as an example of our Father's Love for
His Children, to keep them from danger. As we know, and read
throughout Scripture, this Law, though it had its intended effect in
the fullness of time, was abused by His children, and even became an
idol to them, one which held them in Captivity until our Heavenly
Father sent His Only Begotten Son to release them and give them True
Freedom!
The Israel of God, as personified by God Himself in the Perfect Man, Jesus Who was the Christ, was symbolically & corporately released from Captivity by that One final Sacrifice of the Perfect Lamb of God! The son of God had been held captive since his Genesis by the Fall of Adam, and its consequences,which were covenant death, and separation from the Full Presence of God. This Presence was restored in a fashion, first by the Tabernacle and finally by the successive Temples in Jerusalem, but His Presence with His People & the True Temple would not be Revealed until the fullness of Time had come!
Though God's People, as a Body, were released from Captivity, many of the several ( individual ) members of that Body, as well as those outside the Body, remain in an imagined, though very real captivity to this day! For whatever reason, certain Christians still see themselves as subject to 'this body of death' ( Romans 7:24b ) that Paul wrote about. Because they see themselves as still under the Curse, pretty much every aspect of their doctrine and even their lives is affected! This is not to say that those are not truly followers of Jesus, or even that those who believe thusly are adversely affected.
Captivity is a funny thing; like many other realities, it always, especially at first, seems like a bad thing! With our ability to view the past through the lens of Scripture, we can see that though Israel ( 'according to the flesh' ) often suffered severely under their Captivity, and saw it as a great evil, it was actually a good thing! Through their Captivity, the Gospel was spread to the nations around them! Daniel is probably the preeminent example of this that we have in Scripture, but other examples show forth the same Pattern. Through the foreign ministries of Joseph, for instance, a Seed was planted in Egypt, the Fruit of which was that it was said of them, 'Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance' ( Isaiah 19:25 )!
The Captivity that many people, even some Christians remain in today is much the same, in effect! Even though it often seems a bad thing, it is, in a sense, a necessary evil, for it is a Designed Captivity, one meant to bring that individual to their knees, to make them realize that the People of God have been released from their Captivity, and now enjoy the Freedom of Life in, through and with their Heavenly Father!
This Freedom no man can take away!
May We, as the Israel of God, ever Live in this Freedom we have been given, may We live our Lives as those who have been set free from our Captivity, and no matter what this world, which is our Father's, or men may throw at Us, may We always remember who We are and what We are to be about, our Father's business!
In service to His Kingdom,
Charles Haddon Shank
The Israel of God, as personified by God Himself in the Perfect Man, Jesus Who was the Christ, was symbolically & corporately released from Captivity by that One final Sacrifice of the Perfect Lamb of God! The son of God had been held captive since his Genesis by the Fall of Adam, and its consequences,which were covenant death, and separation from the Full Presence of God. This Presence was restored in a fashion, first by the Tabernacle and finally by the successive Temples in Jerusalem, but His Presence with His People & the True Temple would not be Revealed until the fullness of Time had come!
Though God's People, as a Body, were released from Captivity, many of the several ( individual ) members of that Body, as well as those outside the Body, remain in an imagined, though very real captivity to this day! For whatever reason, certain Christians still see themselves as subject to 'this body of death' ( Romans 7:24b ) that Paul wrote about. Because they see themselves as still under the Curse, pretty much every aspect of their doctrine and even their lives is affected! This is not to say that those are not truly followers of Jesus, or even that those who believe thusly are adversely affected.
Captivity is a funny thing; like many other realities, it always, especially at first, seems like a bad thing! With our ability to view the past through the lens of Scripture, we can see that though Israel ( 'according to the flesh' ) often suffered severely under their Captivity, and saw it as a great evil, it was actually a good thing! Through their Captivity, the Gospel was spread to the nations around them! Daniel is probably the preeminent example of this that we have in Scripture, but other examples show forth the same Pattern. Through the foreign ministries of Joseph, for instance, a Seed was planted in Egypt, the Fruit of which was that it was said of them, 'Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance' ( Isaiah 19:25 )!
The Captivity that many people, even some Christians remain in today is much the same, in effect! Even though it often seems a bad thing, it is, in a sense, a necessary evil, for it is a Designed Captivity, one meant to bring that individual to their knees, to make them realize that the People of God have been released from their Captivity, and now enjoy the Freedom of Life in, through and with their Heavenly Father!
This Freedom no man can take away!
May We, as the Israel of God, ever Live in this Freedom we have been given, may We live our Lives as those who have been set free from our Captivity, and no matter what this world, which is our Father's, or men may throw at Us, may We always remember who We are and what We are to be about, our Father's business!
In service to His Kingdom,
Charles Haddon Shank
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Kingdom Life & Living
I am writing this to ( hopefully ) encourage a friend who is somewhat down-trodden; this is dedicated to him!
Sometimes, a teaching which is against the established, or orthodox position is presented, and opposition is encountered from all angles! This is not to say that this position should not be taught, just that we should expect opposition when we do teach it! The Truth must be revealed no matter the consequences, and whether we choose to take part in that revelation or not, and for whatever reason; it is God's Truth & His Kingdom; it WILL be advanced whether or not we take our part! However, we bear responsibility depending on our choice!
There is a stigma attached to the name 'preterism'; right or wrong, anyone who adopts the defining term 'preterist', in many circles, is immediately labeled a heretic; anything he or she says thereafter is immediately suspect! At the very least, people who either subscribe to or are open to this teaching are direly warned against it and even threatened with hell-fire!
'
The main principle behind 'preterism', the fact that all Scripture is fulfilled in the Parousia, or Presence of God in His Son, is correct, both Scripturally speaking and sensically! There is no doubt in my mind, and there should be no doubt in the minds of its proponents that this is undeniably so, but when we focus on the so-called 'Second Coming' of Christ rather than the more important fact of His Presence, we should expect more than a little opposition to this message!
What does the Parousia of God in Christ mean to our everyday Life?
Since God now dwells with ( in ) His People, how should we then live?
Well, first think about this; if we are always in God's Presence, as we are since His Parousia, what should be our daily manner of living? Should we, as those who do not acknowledge the Presence or enjoy its benefits, live according to our own selfish wants and desires, or should we, as Jesus told His disciples, 'seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness' ( Matthew 6:33 ) We should seek, not that our own will should be done, but that His would always have the preeminence! However, if we truly seek first His Kingdom & His Righteousness, ours will be His!
Too many 'preterists', in my experience ( and I was one, so I can say this without compunction ) are so focused on AD70, and the 'coming on the clouds' judgment of Israel & Jerusalem, that they often seem to bypass, or neglect completely the application of the implication; if this, then that!
If Jesus came when and how He promised His disciples ( Matthew 24:34, Matthew 16:26, Matthew 10:23, etc. ), what does that mean to us today? Should we go on living as Christians have for centuries, even millenia, as if we were still looking for Jesus' Return, and even hoping against hope that He would appear in our lifetime, and deliver us from this God-awful mess that we have gotten ourselves into"? Should we live in misplaced hope, waiting on His Coming in Power, or should we live in the Realization of His Presence, striving, with the Strength He has given us ( Philippians 4:13 ), to expand His Kingdom?
The Good News for God's People today ( whether they realize it or not ) is that we DO live in His Presence NOW! There IS no more waiting for His Return, which prognosticators falsely say may or may not be in our lifetime! Everything that His Parousia, or Presence indicates has been accomplished; the sin of God's People, those He came to save ( Matthew 1:21 ) has been washed away & removed 'as far as east is from west' ( Psalm 103:12 )! The People of God, as Israel of old, has been raised from the dead,, and 'dies no more' ( Romans 6:9 ( John 11:26 )!
As we live out our Lives in His Presence then, and for His Glory & Kingdom, let us remember that, while His Parousia is the basis for our realized hope, it is all about His Presence & Relationship with our Heavenly Father! If we forget that, we forget what it's all about, and have relegated the Gospel to 'I'm right, you're wrong'!
May we remember that we ARE the Body of Christ and so acquit ourselves as the free men & women that we are, living our lives to the fullest and enjoying His Presence forever!
Charles Haddon Shank
Sometimes, a teaching which is against the established, or orthodox position is presented, and opposition is encountered from all angles! This is not to say that this position should not be taught, just that we should expect opposition when we do teach it! The Truth must be revealed no matter the consequences, and whether we choose to take part in that revelation or not, and for whatever reason; it is God's Truth & His Kingdom; it WILL be advanced whether or not we take our part! However, we bear responsibility depending on our choice!
There is a stigma attached to the name 'preterism'; right or wrong, anyone who adopts the defining term 'preterist', in many circles, is immediately labeled a heretic; anything he or she says thereafter is immediately suspect! At the very least, people who either subscribe to or are open to this teaching are direly warned against it and even threatened with hell-fire!
'
The main principle behind 'preterism', the fact that all Scripture is fulfilled in the Parousia, or Presence of God in His Son, is correct, both Scripturally speaking and sensically! There is no doubt in my mind, and there should be no doubt in the minds of its proponents that this is undeniably so, but when we focus on the so-called 'Second Coming' of Christ rather than the more important fact of His Presence, we should expect more than a little opposition to this message!
What does the Parousia of God in Christ mean to our everyday Life?
Since God now dwells with ( in ) His People, how should we then live?
Well, first think about this; if we are always in God's Presence, as we are since His Parousia, what should be our daily manner of living? Should we, as those who do not acknowledge the Presence or enjoy its benefits, live according to our own selfish wants and desires, or should we, as Jesus told His disciples, 'seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness' ( Matthew 6:33 ) We should seek, not that our own will should be done, but that His would always have the preeminence! However, if we truly seek first His Kingdom & His Righteousness, ours will be His!
Too many 'preterists', in my experience ( and I was one, so I can say this without compunction ) are so focused on AD70, and the 'coming on the clouds' judgment of Israel & Jerusalem, that they often seem to bypass, or neglect completely the application of the implication; if this, then that!
If Jesus came when and how He promised His disciples ( Matthew 24:34, Matthew 16:26, Matthew 10:23, etc. ), what does that mean to us today? Should we go on living as Christians have for centuries, even millenia, as if we were still looking for Jesus' Return, and even hoping against hope that He would appear in our lifetime, and deliver us from this God-awful mess that we have gotten ourselves into"? Should we live in misplaced hope, waiting on His Coming in Power, or should we live in the Realization of His Presence, striving, with the Strength He has given us ( Philippians 4:13 ), to expand His Kingdom?
The Good News for God's People today ( whether they realize it or not ) is that we DO live in His Presence NOW! There IS no more waiting for His Return, which prognosticators falsely say may or may not be in our lifetime! Everything that His Parousia, or Presence indicates has been accomplished; the sin of God's People, those He came to save ( Matthew 1:21 ) has been washed away & removed 'as far as east is from west' ( Psalm 103:12 )! The People of God, as Israel of old, has been raised from the dead,, and 'dies no more' ( Romans 6:9 ( John 11:26 )!
As we live out our Lives in His Presence then, and for His Glory & Kingdom, let us remember that, while His Parousia is the basis for our realized hope, it is all about His Presence & Relationship with our Heavenly Father! If we forget that, we forget what it's all about, and have relegated the Gospel to 'I'm right, you're wrong'!
May we remember that we ARE the Body of Christ and so acquit ourselves as the free men & women that we are, living our lives to the fullest and enjoying His Presence forever!
Charles Haddon Shank
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
The Freedom From Above
What is freedom?
Freedom is the ability to do as you please without the danger of outside interference. We in America prize this ability above all others, and even proclaim our God-given right to do so! However, this is not always a good thing, for if we are free to do good, by extension, we are also free to do evil as we so please!
For the past century or so, America's churches have been permeated by the doctrine that says salvation is simply going to 'heaven' when you die! If salvation merely means an escape from this crazy mixed up world, why would one try to make this crazy mixed up world any better; we're leaving it all behind anyway, right?
This train of thought has more to do with our dwindling freedoms in this country than most people might think! If we have nothing to live for in this world, and everything to die for, why should we even try ( because it's such a tough life ) to make the best of things? Scripturally speaking, our freedom is directly linked to our salvation! If we are free, as Scripture tells us we are, it is because of the salvation that God wrought through His Son, Jesus the Christ; 'Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.' ( John 8:36 )!
Conversely, if Americans are losing their freedoms, it is because they have lost their 'salvation'! American Christianity has taught its denizens for so long that, just as salvation is physical, so is freedom. Yes, both have their necessary physical attributes, but as is freedom, so salvation is a matter of the heart; if one is not free at heart, one is not truly free! That one may go through the motions, but just like salvation, if the Holy Spirit has not begun a good work in that person, then that person has neither been saved nor set free!
If salvation truly comes only when one dies, then it is no wonder that many America Christians are 'of all men most miserable'; they'll never be truly happy ( or free ) till they are free of this world ( or till Jesus comes back, whichever comes first )!
Freedom & Salvation are two very closely related intangibles, so even though, as we have seen, they both have their physical outworking, or attributes, they are both matters of the heart, or the Spirit, where it all must begin! Just as one may proclaim their 'salvation', unless they prove it by living out those principles in their life, so if one is truly free, and believes in the principles of freedom, they will live as free men & women! The state motto of New Hampshire, 'Live free or die', comes to mind here!
When America's pulpits begin to teach a true, rather than a false salvation, then we may begin to see the citizens of God's Kingdom begin to exercise the freedom that they have been given in Christ. If people are taught that they will not truly have salvation till they physically perish, but are only given the future promise of 'heaven', then is it any wonder that they are giving up their 'freedoms' almost without a fight?!
'Freedom is nothing if not exercised!'
If we do not exercise the freedom we have been given by God, we have seen what happens! Six million Jews lost their freedom because they thought they had no choice. Do you think if those six million Jews had exercised their God-given freedom and refused to obey a government that wished to take away that freedom, that so many would have perished? Because so many American Christians refused to take a stand against their evil government in the stead of the helpless unborn, we now have legalized abortion, and almost 60 million preborn children have been murdered; LEGALLY!
The Salvation of God's People was accomplished almost 2,000 years ago, when Jesus the Son of God was crucified on that cruel cross of Calvary. Almost exactly 40 years later, God's People were physically saved from the sack & ruin of Jerusalem because the implemented that most important principle regarding their freedom, 'when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.' ( Luke 21:20 & 21 ). If they had not exercised the freedom gained them by their Messiah, they would have perished with the rest!
If we, as Christians, and Citizens of the Kingdom of God, will not exercise the Freedom we have been given by God, then we will see the physical freedoms granted by our government continue to dwindle, and finally, disappear altogether! We must begin to prove our freedom if we are to remain free! We must 'Live Free, or Die', for our freedom will atrophy & die if we do not make use of it, and let it shine forth in our lives!
May we as 'One Nation, Under God', begin both to exercise both our completed salvation and thusly the freedom that we have been given; if we do not, this nation will die!
Charles Haddon Shank
Freedom is the ability to do as you please without the danger of outside interference. We in America prize this ability above all others, and even proclaim our God-given right to do so! However, this is not always a good thing, for if we are free to do good, by extension, we are also free to do evil as we so please!
For the past century or so, America's churches have been permeated by the doctrine that says salvation is simply going to 'heaven' when you die! If salvation merely means an escape from this crazy mixed up world, why would one try to make this crazy mixed up world any better; we're leaving it all behind anyway, right?
This train of thought has more to do with our dwindling freedoms in this country than most people might think! If we have nothing to live for in this world, and everything to die for, why should we even try ( because it's such a tough life ) to make the best of things? Scripturally speaking, our freedom is directly linked to our salvation! If we are free, as Scripture tells us we are, it is because of the salvation that God wrought through His Son, Jesus the Christ; 'Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.' ( John 8:36 )!
Conversely, if Americans are losing their freedoms, it is because they have lost their 'salvation'! American Christianity has taught its denizens for so long that, just as salvation is physical, so is freedom. Yes, both have their necessary physical attributes, but as is freedom, so salvation is a matter of the heart; if one is not free at heart, one is not truly free! That one may go through the motions, but just like salvation, if the Holy Spirit has not begun a good work in that person, then that person has neither been saved nor set free!
If salvation truly comes only when one dies, then it is no wonder that many America Christians are 'of all men most miserable'; they'll never be truly happy ( or free ) till they are free of this world ( or till Jesus comes back, whichever comes first )!
Freedom & Salvation are two very closely related intangibles, so even though, as we have seen, they both have their physical outworking, or attributes, they are both matters of the heart, or the Spirit, where it all must begin! Just as one may proclaim their 'salvation', unless they prove it by living out those principles in their life, so if one is truly free, and believes in the principles of freedom, they will live as free men & women! The state motto of New Hampshire, 'Live free or die', comes to mind here!
When America's pulpits begin to teach a true, rather than a false salvation, then we may begin to see the citizens of God's Kingdom begin to exercise the freedom that they have been given in Christ. If people are taught that they will not truly have salvation till they physically perish, but are only given the future promise of 'heaven', then is it any wonder that they are giving up their 'freedoms' almost without a fight?!
'Freedom is nothing if not exercised!'
If we do not exercise the freedom we have been given by God, we have seen what happens! Six million Jews lost their freedom because they thought they had no choice. Do you think if those six million Jews had exercised their God-given freedom and refused to obey a government that wished to take away that freedom, that so many would have perished? Because so many American Christians refused to take a stand against their evil government in the stead of the helpless unborn, we now have legalized abortion, and almost 60 million preborn children have been murdered; LEGALLY!
The Salvation of God's People was accomplished almost 2,000 years ago, when Jesus the Son of God was crucified on that cruel cross of Calvary. Almost exactly 40 years later, God's People were physically saved from the sack & ruin of Jerusalem because the implemented that most important principle regarding their freedom, 'when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.' ( Luke 21:20 & 21 ). If they had not exercised the freedom gained them by their Messiah, they would have perished with the rest!
If we, as Christians, and Citizens of the Kingdom of God, will not exercise the Freedom we have been given by God, then we will see the physical freedoms granted by our government continue to dwindle, and finally, disappear altogether! We must begin to prove our freedom if we are to remain free! We must 'Live Free, or Die', for our freedom will atrophy & die if we do not make use of it, and let it shine forth in our lives!
May we as 'One Nation, Under God', begin both to exercise both our completed salvation and thusly the freedom that we have been given; if we do not, this nation will die!
Charles Haddon Shank
Thursday, February 13, 2014
The Nuts & Bolts of Kingdom Living ( Covenant )
'Make sure that your nut fits his bolt': this was a line from a recent radio commercial for a Valentine's Day special, that I heard recently!
There are several different ways that one could take a statement like this, anywhere from, 'make sure you're compatible', to, 'well, are you sure you want me to go there?' It is not a unique statement, though it could be an intriguingly deep one; 'are we a good match; do we complement each other well?' When you really think about it, even the area that most Christians are almost loathe to go ( publicly, anyway ), has some pretty important connotations! Maybe this is one of the reasons that Christianity is in the shape it's in today!
If your 'nut' doesn't fit his 'bolt', either metaphorically or biologically speaking, do you really have any good reason to be together? Now, I'm not advocating the old analogy of test-driving the car before you buy it, or the adage of 'why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free, but there are other steps that can be taken to ensure a minimum of compatibility without going there!
First off, you want to make sure that your proposed spouse wants what you want, that her 'nut' fits your 'bolt', or vice-versa! Second, you want to make sure that even if your wants don't quite match up, and this is fairly common ( or rare, depending on context ), this person is open to 'new' ways of looking at the world ( make sure that you're open to this as well )! If neither one of you is willing, not to compromise, but to defer, then you might as well call the whole thing off!
Here's where Covenant comes in;; Covenant, you might say, is a game-changer! We've discussed before the difference between a mere contract and a covenant. A contract is merely a set of obligations and when those obligation are fulfilled, then the contract necessarily is brought to an end. If however, the contractees have built a relationship during that period which both would like to see continue, the contract could turn into a covenant, which normally includes a phrase like 'until death do us part'!
This being a much different culture than the biblically historical one, the engagement period ( of varying lengths ) is our culture's version of the betrothal period. When two people, in our culture decide that they would like to be married, there is usually a period where they are engaged to be married, somewhat like the betrothal period of Scripture, but without quite the legal ramifications!
In this era of long engagements, loose living, and easy divorce, it seems that the engagement period in this nation is more of a 'waiting-period', a time, not only to test the limits, but to mollify parents, etc.! Engagement in our culture is more just a time of preparation for marriage, 'a training-period', you might say, but in biblically historical culture, the betrothal was more of a contract to be fulfilled, and if the contract was fulfilled to satisfaction, then it would be extended into a covenant, in which the two parties would be cemented together for life!
When a Covenant is consummated, then you can be sure that his 'bolt' fits your 'nut', or vice-versa; then, and only then, can the veil be parted, and that area where 'angels fear to tread' be entered!
Best just to wait and see!
So, you might be thinking, what does all this have to do with Kingdom Living, with Covenant Life? Well, as the saying goes, 'if you don't get it, you won't get it' ( or something like that )! If you disregard the Covenant aspect of Life, and try to go it on your own, your 'bolt' will never fit her 'nut', or vice-versa; nothing will ever fit quite right, and though the contract may or may not ever be fulfilled, that's all it will be; subject to 'early termination', with all the accompanying 'fees'!
Any good constructor can tell you how important it is for the nuts to fit the corresponding bolts; if they don't, depending on their position in the construction, the whole thing, sooner or later, will come crashing down! In more and more marriages in this day and age, the 'nuts & bolts' don't quite mach, and we have what we have in modern society!
Make sure that your 'nut' fits his 'bolt'!
Charles Haddon Shank
There are several different ways that one could take a statement like this, anywhere from, 'make sure you're compatible', to, 'well, are you sure you want me to go there?' It is not a unique statement, though it could be an intriguingly deep one; 'are we a good match; do we complement each other well?' When you really think about it, even the area that most Christians are almost loathe to go ( publicly, anyway ), has some pretty important connotations! Maybe this is one of the reasons that Christianity is in the shape it's in today!
If your 'nut' doesn't fit his 'bolt', either metaphorically or biologically speaking, do you really have any good reason to be together? Now, I'm not advocating the old analogy of test-driving the car before you buy it, or the adage of 'why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free, but there are other steps that can be taken to ensure a minimum of compatibility without going there!
First off, you want to make sure that your proposed spouse wants what you want, that her 'nut' fits your 'bolt', or vice-versa! Second, you want to make sure that even if your wants don't quite match up, and this is fairly common ( or rare, depending on context ), this person is open to 'new' ways of looking at the world ( make sure that you're open to this as well )! If neither one of you is willing, not to compromise, but to defer, then you might as well call the whole thing off!
Here's where Covenant comes in;; Covenant, you might say, is a game-changer! We've discussed before the difference between a mere contract and a covenant. A contract is merely a set of obligations and when those obligation are fulfilled, then the contract necessarily is brought to an end. If however, the contractees have built a relationship during that period which both would like to see continue, the contract could turn into a covenant, which normally includes a phrase like 'until death do us part'!
This being a much different culture than the biblically historical one, the engagement period ( of varying lengths ) is our culture's version of the betrothal period. When two people, in our culture decide that they would like to be married, there is usually a period where they are engaged to be married, somewhat like the betrothal period of Scripture, but without quite the legal ramifications!
In this era of long engagements, loose living, and easy divorce, it seems that the engagement period in this nation is more of a 'waiting-period', a time, not only to test the limits, but to mollify parents, etc.! Engagement in our culture is more just a time of preparation for marriage, 'a training-period', you might say, but in biblically historical culture, the betrothal was more of a contract to be fulfilled, and if the contract was fulfilled to satisfaction, then it would be extended into a covenant, in which the two parties would be cemented together for life!
When a Covenant is consummated, then you can be sure that his 'bolt' fits your 'nut', or vice-versa; then, and only then, can the veil be parted, and that area where 'angels fear to tread' be entered!
Best just to wait and see!
So, you might be thinking, what does all this have to do with Kingdom Living, with Covenant Life? Well, as the saying goes, 'if you don't get it, you won't get it' ( or something like that )! If you disregard the Covenant aspect of Life, and try to go it on your own, your 'bolt' will never fit her 'nut', or vice-versa; nothing will ever fit quite right, and though the contract may or may not ever be fulfilled, that's all it will be; subject to 'early termination', with all the accompanying 'fees'!
Any good constructor can tell you how important it is for the nuts to fit the corresponding bolts; if they don't, depending on their position in the construction, the whole thing, sooner or later, will come crashing down! In more and more marriages in this day and age, the 'nuts & bolts' don't quite mach, and we have what we have in modern society!
Make sure that your 'nut' fits his 'bolt'!
Charles Haddon Shank
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Februation
Would you give your life
for the one you love?
The marriage of a man &
woman is likened by the Apostle Paul to the relationship between
Christ & His Church, between God and Israel. Jesus said that
'greater love has no one than this, to lay one's life for his
friends'. He said this just before stretching out His arms in His
great Love and dieing in the stead of His People on the cruel cross
of Calvary. Paul wrote, near the end of his letter to the Church at
Ephesus, that the marriage of a man & wife was analogous of
Christ & His Church. Before he penned these famous, though
somewhat enigmatic words, he also wrote that, as Jesus gave Himself
for His Bride, so a man should be prepared to give his life for his
bride! Earlier in this same letter, in the man-made division we call
chapter five, Paul wrote that 'Christ has loved us and given Himself
for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling
aroma'!
Having spoken somewhat
disparagingly of 'this modern love', this feeling part of love, in
the past, I cannot deny its very real presence & even needful
existence! Love, as I've written in the past, is 'A Many Splintered
Thing'! It is also a very necessary thing; if the feelings aren't
there, then we won't show those non-existent feelings through our
actions. Again, we must understand that a love based on feelings is
no love at all, for Scripture tells us that 'lover never fails'. If
our love for a spouse, friend, etc, is based on feelings that are
subject to change, then as go the feelings, so goes the love. A love,
however, that is based upon the Love of God is a love that will last,
for we know that God does not change!
Februation, which is
inextricably linked to our month February, means 'purification by a
religious ceremony', or 'sacrifice'! Interesting that the 14th day of
this month, February, was chosen all those yeas ago as the month in
which to celebrate undying love! Okay, so for the most part nowadays,
it is given over to mushy-gushy feelings, along
with having become just another commercial sales day ( probably one
of the biggest of the year ), but it's still, in theory, all about the
love!
Love means sacrifice! It
doesn't necessarily involve the giving up of biological life
for the continued existence of another, though this can and does
happen, but it involves anything from simply handing her ( or him )
the remote, to deferring to the object of your love when it comes to
where to live! Feelings are involved with every decision! Unless you
let those feelings rule your life, rather than living by our Heavenly
Father's Law of Love, those feelings are a good thing! Again, if the
feelings aren't there, we won't practice Love; we're simply doing our
duty! ( this is not to say that there's anything wrong with doing
your duty, either )
Humans are creatures of
emotion, and that means feelings! Some humans are more emotional than
others, and some can stifle or even suppress their emotions to the
point that they seem to have no emotions at all. Emotions can be a
good thing ( women love an emotional man ), or it can be a bad thing
( if you're too emotional though, you may be discarded as a 'wet rag'
). Seriously though, our emotions, if not checked, will get us in
trouble. If we feel too strongly about a certain matter, we could
end up losing our shirt over it, in a manner of speaking, but on the
other hand, if we don't stand for something, as 'they' say, 'you'll
fall for anything'!
Getting back to the
subject, that of sacrificial Love, if we do not feel the love of God
in our lives, we will not share that Love with anyone, much less our
spouse! Scripture says that 'we love [ Him ], because He first loved
us'. Is it possible to practice love without knowing Love? Can we
know Love without feeling Love? I've said it before, and I'll say it
again, 'you can tell someone you love them till you're blue in the
face, but if you don't show them you love them, how can they know?'
One of the most, in fact,
probably the most famously quoted portion of Scripture, John 3:16,
says that 'God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but should have
everlasting life'. God showed His Love for His Creation by sending
His only Beloved Son so that we, His Bride, might live. What Amazing
Love, what Limitless Grace!
In this month of
Purification & Sacrifice, let us determine to live our lives
sacrificially, knowing that we, the people of God, have been cleansed
& purified!
As we practice Sacrificial
Living, let us always remember that 'Love knows no bounds'; Love is
not metered out according to race, color or religion ( some would say
'sexual preference', as well ), but Love gives without asking or
expecting, in hopes only of blessing, for it truly is 'more blessed
to give than to receive'!
Charles Haddon Shank
Saturday, February 08, 2014
Your Will be Done
Here
again, we must go where angels fear to tread, and turn to the context
of 'The Story' of Scripture!
'And
I will sanctify My great Name, which you have profaned among the
nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations
shall know that I [ AM ] the Lord, says the Lord God, when I am
hallowed in you before their eyes'. Ezekiel 36:23
Israel,
rather than fulfilling God's Will, and blessing the nations, had
profaned His name before the nations and had become a curse to the
nations around them; this is why Jesus taught His disciples to pray
'Your will be done', because Israel had neglected the weightier
matters of the Law, and refrained from loving and practicing Justice,
Mercy & Faith!
The
Will of our Creator is always done, yes, because He is infinite and
we finite, but our guilt & responsibility is not lessened when we
fail to do justly & have mercy! We should pray for His will to be
done for two main reasons; one, because prayer is open communication
with our Heavenly Father ( which ANY father loves ), and two, because
need His strength strength to do His will, for men are weak!
‘Your
will be done’ is the natural predecessor to the prayer of Jesus in
the Garden, where He prayed, ‘Your will, not Mine be done’. It
also echoes the events in the original Garden, wherein the will of
the creature seemed to thwart the Will of the Creator. Though the
Fall was part of the Plan so that in the fullness of time, the Son of
God would be revealed in all His Glory, the will of the creature, not
the revealed Will of God, led to the downfall of many in Israel; this
is what the Story is about, it is a record of how God’s Will, in
spite of the will of man, triumphs in judgment!
Human
beings are, at the very core, selfish creatures: we would rather see
our own wants and needs fulfilled before anyone else’s! This is
where the trouble began in the original Garden, and this is why, when
Jesus faced His Garden Temptation, He prayed, ‘Your will, not Mine,
be done’. Jesus introduced the New Humanity, one that through the
in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit was able to squelch that natural human
lust, and seek the Will of the Father rather than the selfish will of
the Child!
Israel,
as Adam & Eve in the Garden, had sought to do things their own
way for countless years! Rather than wait for Gods perfect timing,
they, throughout their history, had sought their own righteousness (
through the Law ) and so had failed to attain True Righteousness and
to Accomplish The Will of their Creator!
When
Jesus gave His disciples this Model for Prayer, He reminded them of
this History, and set the mold for the Reformed People of God, a
People that would seek His Will before their own, who would seek His
Righteousness, love Justice & practice Mercy!
As
we pray, then, knowing the History of this Model for Prayer, and that
it was fulfilled in the first century with the marriage of Heaven & Earth, let us ever pray to our Father in Heaven, as Jesus did, ‘Your
Will, not Mine, be done!
Let
us, through His strength, ever fulfill His Righteousness as we Work,
Pray, Eat & Rest!
Charles
Haddon Shank
Thursday, February 06, 2014
Misty Mountain Morning
Morning has broken, and I wonder as I wander,
How blessed I am to live among such beauty!
The mountains high, the valleys deep,
The rivers that are so cold and clear!
The fawns that graze, majestic elk,
The great old bear that wrestles with her cubs!
On this beautiful wintry day, I watch the veil of steam,
As it rises from the vales, on this Misty Mountain Morning!
We praise our Father who dwells with us,
His Presence is seen in the beauty all around!
The Love of God is greater far, than all the beauty found on earth,
The Creation shines forth His praise, and sparkles in the Son-lit haze!
The beauty of the earth does not surpass His Grace,
Nor the ones who shout His praise!
We worship Him with all our deeds, in all we do and say,
For He is our only stay, on this Misty Mountain Morning!
Charles Haddon Shank
How blessed I am to live among such beauty!
The mountains high, the valleys deep,
The rivers that are so cold and clear!
The fawns that graze, majestic elk,
The great old bear that wrestles with her cubs!
On this beautiful wintry day, I watch the veil of steam,
As it rises from the vales, on this Misty Mountain Morning!
We praise our Father who dwells with us,
His Presence is seen in the beauty all around!
The Love of God is greater far, than all the beauty found on earth,
The Creation shines forth His praise, and sparkles in the Son-lit haze!
The beauty of the earth does not surpass His Grace,
Nor the ones who shout His praise!
We worship Him with all our deeds, in all we do and say,
For He is our only stay, on this Misty Mountain Morning!
Charles Haddon Shank
A Cause for Fear
With all that's been going
on in the world, especially in the past 50-100 years, one might be
thinking that, yes, there most certainly is a cause for fear! From a
physical standpoint, anyway, worry & stress factor hugely in much
of the danger, both real & perceived that is prevalent both in
this country, and throughout all the nations that surround us! There
is most definitely, physically speaking any, a veritable cause for
fear in this crazy and mixed up world in which we live!
If you watch the world
news as it is portrayed by the varied sources of media information (
or is that 'disinformation'? ) on a daily basis, or if you watch
movies such as Harrison Ford's 'Clear and Present Danger', and
television shows such as NCIS ( which, admittedly, I've been watching
lately ), you might realize that there is much in this world that is
not as it should be, and much else that should not be, as a result of
the unnecessary evil, has become an almost necessary evil!
Even though we know that
much of the information fed to us through these various sources for
media outlets, including television & movies is probably not quite as insidious as 'they' would have us to believe, it is still
probably fairly safe to say that much of this 'information' is based
in reality! We know that there are evil people in this world, or at
least people that have left their mark for evil on this world (
Hitler, Pol Pot, etc. come to mind ). There is no denying their
legacy, and the ( false ) dynasty of evil that, thanks to them and those like
them, is still prevalent in this crazy & mixed up world!
'This is Our Father's
World'! This phrase, borrowed from the title of the slightly revised
hymn, has a real Ring of Truth to it! Because of our skewed perception of Who and What God is, and how He Operates, most
Christians, even, do not believe that this is our Father's world, and
especially not that He Rules & Reigns, and makes His Power known
through the evil that men do! The main reason for this mistake is a
lack of Knowledge & Understanding of what is affectionately
known, in a certain circles as 'The Story' ( also called 'the
meta-narrative' ). Many Christians today believe that since the Life,
Death & Resurrection of Jesus the Son of God, our Heavenly Father
operates in a kinder, gentler manner than He did before. This is
engendered by a summary reading and unnecessary separation of what we
know as the Old & New Testaments!
Let me digress here a bit;
many Christians & non-believers as well find it hard to reconcile
what is seen as a petty, vindictive, even mean & horrible God in
the Old Testament with the kinder gentler version that we read about
in the New. Besides the fact that they, if they know the Scriptures
at all, read them as separate Stories, rather than as one complete
Story, many Christians seem to gloss over the fact that God destroyed
those who were called by His Name ( excepting a Remnant ), turning
over tables, and calling down the judgment of an Almighty & Vengeful God on the Evil that they had become ( I Thessalonians 1:8 (
Matthew 16:27, 26:64, etc. )! The significance of the Destruction of
the Jewish Temple, and Final Dispersion of the Jewish people in 70AD
is usually overlooked or downplayed by most Christians today, and because
of this, the notion that God Himself was changed by the Revelation of
His Son persists to this day!
There is no question, from
a human standpoint, anyway, that all is not as it should be, at least
according to the utopian worldview that has been held by most
Christians & unbelievers for years! The Problem of Evil has been
present with us since the beginning of time! Human beings of all
shapes, sizes, and religions have the propensity for untold evil, and
to varying degrees of success, they are able, either to staunch the
flow, or unleash this untold evil on their neighbors!
Since we know, and most of
us can personally attest to this fact, that there are untold evils
happening everyday all around us, it is easy to lose our Focus on the
unseen yet Evident Reality of Life in the Presence, and be held in
the Prison of Fear by these Evils! Though the Evil that happens
around us everyday is impossible to deny, by keeping our Focus stayed
on the Presence of God, Ruling & Reigning through these Evils: we
can work through this Fear, and through the Freedom we have in
Christ, we, though concerned with the matters of Everyday Life ( as
we should be ), can Live Without Fear, knowing that our Heavenly
Father rules through, and in spite of, our Cause for Fear!
In conclusion; though for
the unbeliever who does not enjoy the Blessedness of the Presence of
God in their lives, there is much Cause for Fear; for the believer,
though there is undoubtedly much cause for concern this Cause for
Fear does not exist, because, as we've seen, 'This is Our Father's
World' He Rules & Reigns according to His infinite Knowledge,
Power, and Grace! Because His Knowledge, Power &; Grace is
infinite, and ours only and ever finite ( limited ), we can only and
ever trust to His Love & Purpose, 'for we know that all things
work together for good to those who love God, who are the Called,
according to His Purpose'!
Tuesday, February 04, 2014
Us & Them
In a very real sense, it is easy to conceptualize the phrase, and in an even true sense, it is easy to see that there is a difference. There are some that do this, and there are those who do that. In fact, it's probably safe to say that 1 out of every 5 people on this planet does something differently than everybody or anybody else!
People often end up on the wrong end of this phrase, though, because they do some things differently than a certain group thinks they ought to. This may or may not be wrong, and it is not necessarily right, either; there IS such a thing as Absolute Truth! Our differences, yes, are the spice of life, without them, life would become very boring, very fast! To a certain point, our differences can be a good thing, but when our differences cause us to forget our common humanity, then is when we have a problem!
Some people believe that it is wrong to, say, have sexual relations before marriage, while others do not! According to the first group, it would be wrong, sinful even, to engage in the act we call sex unless one is married to that person, but the other group of people, that it is okay to engage in sexual intercourse as long as the other party is willing. Is one group wrong, and the other right, or are both groups rightly and religiously doing what is good and just for them? Both groups believe religiously that the way they are living their lives is good and just, but they can't both be right, can they?
Absolute Truth tells us that only one of these groups can be right! If one group is right, then the other is necessarily wrong! Many people, mostly of the latter group, hate this, because by insisting on Absolute Truth, we are pricking their conscience, making them feel the guilt of their immoral behavior! There is no question in the mind of the first group that the second group is doing wrong, and though they often have the biblical phrase, 'judge not' ( Matthew 7 ) thrown in their faces, they will often resort to hateful tirades against this second group, because they feel so strongly that they are better than the second group just because they 'do this and don't do that'!
It could well be argued that the first group, those that love God, and keep His Word ARE somehow better than those who don't, but are they really? They are more blessed, no doubt, and enjoy a deeper, better communion, both with their Heavenly Father and with the Body of His Son, but are they actually better people; is there really any good reasoning behind the use of the phrase, 'Us & Them'?
As we have seen, there is a very real sense in which the concept of 'Us & Them' is a very true one; there are two different groups, one of which believes that a certain action is wrong, while the other believes it to be right, or at least, relatively okay. The problem with 'Us & Them' is that both groups are human! Like most any sibling rivalry, the child that always does what pleases the father or mother tends to get puffed up, and even pridefully boastful against the sibling who does not always do what the parents like.
Often, when the one sibling notes this difference , 'Us & Them' becomes 'Us Versus Them'! The 'good' child may begin to 'harp' on the 'bad' child, telling them things like, 'I'm better than you', and reminding them of their 'worthlessness' in various different ways. This emotional abuse can turn into physical abuse very quickly! This is not to say that the 'bad' child is right, and that he ( or she ) should be rewarded with the same blessings as the 'good' child, no; there is right and there is wrong: I'm not saying that we shouldn't differentiate!
There is no doubt, for common sense will attest to this, that those who do right, though not always blessed by men, will be blessed by their Heavenly Father! It is also abundantly clear that those who do wrong, while often blessed by men, will not be blessed by God, though, 'His rain falls on the just and the unjust alike'! Doubtless too; it IS better to receive the blessings of God's Presence than to always be on the wrong end, so to speak, of that Presence, to live in Heaven rather than to suffer in Hell!
So, yes, it IS 'Us & Them', but the question we should ask ourselves is, 'is it Us Versus Them'?
If so then, WE might be the real problem!
Look where this mentality of 'Us Versus Them' has gotten us so far! Yes, the Kingdom of God ( it IS HIS Kingdom, after all ) has grown and expanded far beyond our hopes and dreams, and for that matter, is eternally and infinitely expanding, but at what cost, through how much ( needless ) pain and suffering? Some would likely argue, and well, maybe, that this pain and suffering is well-deserved by its recipients and even point out that this is a necessary evil, being the discipline of a Loving Father, or else a Just Judge! 'They're only getting what they justly deserve', you might hear, and so they are, but they're human beings, and so deserve our respect and love, because, but for the Grace of God, 'There We Go'!
If the first group would remember their common humanity with the second group, or group, then maybe we would be that much closer to realizing a peaceful co-existence, and maybe, just maybe, through that Peace & Love shown & shared, that second group may be brought into a lasting and meaningful ( healthy ) relationship with both their Heavenly Father, and the Body of His Son!
May we realize & celebrate the differences in our humanity without resorting to wrongdoing!
Charles Haddon Shank
People often end up on the wrong end of this phrase, though, because they do some things differently than a certain group thinks they ought to. This may or may not be wrong, and it is not necessarily right, either; there IS such a thing as Absolute Truth! Our differences, yes, are the spice of life, without them, life would become very boring, very fast! To a certain point, our differences can be a good thing, but when our differences cause us to forget our common humanity, then is when we have a problem!
Some people believe that it is wrong to, say, have sexual relations before marriage, while others do not! According to the first group, it would be wrong, sinful even, to engage in the act we call sex unless one is married to that person, but the other group of people, that it is okay to engage in sexual intercourse as long as the other party is willing. Is one group wrong, and the other right, or are both groups rightly and religiously doing what is good and just for them? Both groups believe religiously that the way they are living their lives is good and just, but they can't both be right, can they?
Absolute Truth tells us that only one of these groups can be right! If one group is right, then the other is necessarily wrong! Many people, mostly of the latter group, hate this, because by insisting on Absolute Truth, we are pricking their conscience, making them feel the guilt of their immoral behavior! There is no question in the mind of the first group that the second group is doing wrong, and though they often have the biblical phrase, 'judge not' ( Matthew 7 ) thrown in their faces, they will often resort to hateful tirades against this second group, because they feel so strongly that they are better than the second group just because they 'do this and don't do that'!
It could well be argued that the first group, those that love God, and keep His Word ARE somehow better than those who don't, but are they really? They are more blessed, no doubt, and enjoy a deeper, better communion, both with their Heavenly Father and with the Body of His Son, but are they actually better people; is there really any good reasoning behind the use of the phrase, 'Us & Them'?
As we have seen, there is a very real sense in which the concept of 'Us & Them' is a very true one; there are two different groups, one of which believes that a certain action is wrong, while the other believes it to be right, or at least, relatively okay. The problem with 'Us & Them' is that both groups are human! Like most any sibling rivalry, the child that always does what pleases the father or mother tends to get puffed up, and even pridefully boastful against the sibling who does not always do what the parents like.
Often, when the one sibling notes this difference , 'Us & Them' becomes 'Us Versus Them'! The 'good' child may begin to 'harp' on the 'bad' child, telling them things like, 'I'm better than you', and reminding them of their 'worthlessness' in various different ways. This emotional abuse can turn into physical abuse very quickly! This is not to say that the 'bad' child is right, and that he ( or she ) should be rewarded with the same blessings as the 'good' child, no; there is right and there is wrong: I'm not saying that we shouldn't differentiate!
There is no doubt, for common sense will attest to this, that those who do right, though not always blessed by men, will be blessed by their Heavenly Father! It is also abundantly clear that those who do wrong, while often blessed by men, will not be blessed by God, though, 'His rain falls on the just and the unjust alike'! Doubtless too; it IS better to receive the blessings of God's Presence than to always be on the wrong end, so to speak, of that Presence, to live in Heaven rather than to suffer in Hell!
So, yes, it IS 'Us & Them', but the question we should ask ourselves is, 'is it Us Versus Them'?
If so then, WE might be the real problem!
Look where this mentality of 'Us Versus Them' has gotten us so far! Yes, the Kingdom of God ( it IS HIS Kingdom, after all ) has grown and expanded far beyond our hopes and dreams, and for that matter, is eternally and infinitely expanding, but at what cost, through how much ( needless ) pain and suffering? Some would likely argue, and well, maybe, that this pain and suffering is well-deserved by its recipients and even point out that this is a necessary evil, being the discipline of a Loving Father, or else a Just Judge! 'They're only getting what they justly deserve', you might hear, and so they are, but they're human beings, and so deserve our respect and love, because, but for the Grace of God, 'There We Go'!
If the first group would remember their common humanity with the second group, or group, then maybe we would be that much closer to realizing a peaceful co-existence, and maybe, just maybe, through that Peace & Love shown & shared, that second group may be brought into a lasting and meaningful ( healthy ) relationship with both their Heavenly Father, and the Body of His Son!
May we realize & celebrate the differences in our humanity without resorting to wrongdoing!
Charles Haddon Shank
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Nominal Christianity
'We are no longer just a Christian nation' - Barack Obama - 2006
Does a Christian nation allow for the murder of its most helpless citizens?!
When Barack Obama made that incendiary statement in 2006, most American Christians were outraged!
'How dare he declare that we are not a Christian nation?!'
When he made this statement , I'm sure this soon to be presidential candidate was not referring to the fact that many Christians in this nation seem to have turned a blind eye to the ugly fact of abortion! I highly doubt that he meant to imply that, just because the Supreme Court of America declared child-murder legal in 1973, Amer could no longer be considered a Christian nation, but the fact is, a Christian nation does not murder helpless, innocent, and unborn children!
When America was founded, those many, many years ago, Christian principles, though maybe somewhat puritanical, were in force, and throughout her first years, it seemed that God had blessed her efforts, and the spilt blood off her sacrifices! It is safe to say, though with a sad heart, that America's sacrifices are no longer a pleasing aroma in the Face of God; they are simply the abhorrent savor of death!
Although there are no doubt many true & faithful followers of Christ in America, most if not all who have defended the rights of the preborn ever since, and even before 1973, the nation as a whole has done nothing concrete to stop this hellacious and abominable practice!
'Life goes on' and 'it is what it is', you might hear!
The murder of the innocent is not going to stop simply because legislation is passed saying that it's illegal, although if the penalties are harsh enough, it could sure make a dent, but by passing legislation making abortion legal, America has become complicit, as a whole, in these murders! Because of her complicity & lack of felicity, America has become displeasing in God's eyes, and will be brought to a painful and complete end unless she repents of her duplicity and begins, as she should, to protect the preborn, instead of murdering them in the 'cradle'!
America, once known as a Christian nation among the nations, is quickly becoming known for its duplicitous ways, and has fallen far from the lofty position she once enjoyed as 'a light to the world'! Nations all around us are seeing her for what she is, a wasteful, selfish, & slovenly whore! Her 'Christianity, what there is still extant in this country, has become a bunch of simpering 'panty-waists', 'evangellyfish', as a friend of mine calls them!
It is not too late!
If America's Christian will pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, cinch up their belts, and stop prostrating themselves before false gods, then maybe will will turn this 'colossus of doom' around, and bring America back to the once-great Christian nation she was meant to be!
May it be!
Charles Haddon Shank
Does a Christian nation allow for the murder of its most helpless citizens?!
When Barack Obama made that incendiary statement in 2006, most American Christians were outraged!
'How dare he declare that we are not a Christian nation?!'
When he made this statement , I'm sure this soon to be presidential candidate was not referring to the fact that many Christians in this nation seem to have turned a blind eye to the ugly fact of abortion! I highly doubt that he meant to imply that, just because the Supreme Court of America declared child-murder legal in 1973, Amer could no longer be considered a Christian nation, but the fact is, a Christian nation does not murder helpless, innocent, and unborn children!
When America was founded, those many, many years ago, Christian principles, though maybe somewhat puritanical, were in force, and throughout her first years, it seemed that God had blessed her efforts, and the spilt blood off her sacrifices! It is safe to say, though with a sad heart, that America's sacrifices are no longer a pleasing aroma in the Face of God; they are simply the abhorrent savor of death!
Although there are no doubt many true & faithful followers of Christ in America, most if not all who have defended the rights of the preborn ever since, and even before 1973, the nation as a whole has done nothing concrete to stop this hellacious and abominable practice!
'Life goes on' and 'it is what it is', you might hear!
The murder of the innocent is not going to stop simply because legislation is passed saying that it's illegal, although if the penalties are harsh enough, it could sure make a dent, but by passing legislation making abortion legal, America has become complicit, as a whole, in these murders! Because of her complicity & lack of felicity, America has become displeasing in God's eyes, and will be brought to a painful and complete end unless she repents of her duplicity and begins, as she should, to protect the preborn, instead of murdering them in the 'cradle'!
America, once known as a Christian nation among the nations, is quickly becoming known for its duplicitous ways, and has fallen far from the lofty position she once enjoyed as 'a light to the world'! Nations all around us are seeing her for what she is, a wasteful, selfish, & slovenly whore! Her 'Christianity, what there is still extant in this country, has become a bunch of simpering 'panty-waists', 'evangellyfish', as a friend of mine calls them!
It is not too late!
If America's Christian will pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, cinch up their belts, and stop prostrating themselves before false gods, then maybe will will turn this 'colossus of doom' around, and bring America back to the once-great Christian nation she was meant to be!
May it be!
Charles Haddon Shank
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Your Kingdom Come
Remembering the eschatological nature of 'The Lord's Prayer', as it is traditionally called, and it's relevance to the history of Israel, when Jesus taught His disciples, in the 1st century, to pray 'Your kingdom come', we must understand first of all, that His Kingdom HAS come! It is a present reality! John saw and recorded in his Revelation ( 11:15 ), 'the kingdoms[f]of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!' Our Creator, in the Parousia of His Son, entered into His Creation, and made His dwelling with us!
And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
Daniel 2:44
The details of Nebuchadnezzar's dream were no doubt in the forefront of the Mind of Christ when He taught His disciples to pray this way! The disciples, being good Jews, most likely would have immediately thought of this prophecy as well.
As much as the Jews wanted to deny it, they were still in captivity, even though they were restored to the physical 'Land of Promise'! Since the Assyrian Captivity, and even before that, since the days of the Judges, at least, they were held captive, in some form or another!
Although every good Jew looked for to the Day that Daniel described, the Disciples of Christ must have had a slightly different understanding of this prophecy. Whereas most, if not all Jews looked for a physical and political kingdom, as do most Christians today, Jesus taught His disciples that this would not be a political kingdom, mediated through mere men, but that His Kingdom was of a more spiritual nature. Though He would rule and reign through His 'Body Politic'; this Kingdom would last forever, because it would not be upheld by any physical line of descent! Their history had proven that the strength of men would fail! Instead, this Kingdom would stand through spiritual generation!
In the same way that The Lord's Supper may still be observed without harming it's original intent, so the Lord's Prayer may still be uttered, in memorial. With the understanding though, that this Heavenly Kingdom has come, and is now a present Reality, to the casual observer ( or listener ) there may be even more confusion over this issue than over the continued observance of The Lord's Supper!
If The Lord's Supper, with its eschatological import, is fulfilled, how much more The Lord's Prayer, with 'Your Kingdom come'? We'll get into this more in the next several installments, but the qualifying statement is, of course, 'on earth as it is in heaven'. If, according to Fulfilled, or Realized Eschatology, God's Kingdom, the Kingdom that Daniel says 'became a great mountain and filled the whole earth', has come, then why would we still pray for it to come?
Unquestionably, although some do question it, God's Kingdom is a present Reality! To those with eyes to see, it is infinitely evident that He IS ruling through His People, from the Throne in His New Temple! We do not however see all men acknowledging Him, or bowing to His will. Nevertheless, we can see with open eyes, that though He is not acknowledged, and in many cases intentionally spurned, His Will, His Purpose is still accomplished, even through, or in spite of, the actions of wicked men!
So may we continue to pray, with our New Covenant Eyes, that His Kingdom would continue to come, or expand, 'on earth as it is in heaven', for we, His people, and the sheep of His pasture, ARE Heaven, the dwelling ( place ) of God!
Charles Haddon Shank
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Hallowed be Your Name
I do not do [ this ] for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went.
Ezekiel 36:22
Why, if He, as our Heavenly Father, is the Creator, and therefore, the epitome of all that is right, good and holy, should we pray that His Name be hallowed? Why should we set apart His Name and consecrate it to special ( religious ) use?
You shall therefore be holy, for I [ am ] holy.
Leviticus 11:45b
When we pray, therefore, that His name would be hallowed, we do two things; we first of all, keep the lines of communication open between us and our Heavenly Father, and we make supplication for the strength & will to honor Him with our lives!
'The Lord's Prayer', as given by our Jesus to His first-century disciples was, as we have noted, nothing new. It has recently been shown that this prayer was modeled, with a few notable distinctions, on the Jewish Kaddish. This prayer was based largely on the hope & promise of the Davidic dynasty, on the fact that David and his Son would for reign upon His throne!
Eschatologically, the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples petitioned that His Name, instead of being profaned, as their spiritual fathers had, would now be hallowed sanctified, and made holy! This, in the context of Ezekiel's prophecy in chapter 36, was only made possible through the cleansing and renewal of the hearts of the People of God! David too, spoke of this time when he prayed, 'Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin', and 'Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me'. ( Psalm 51:2 & 10 )
Being eschatological in nature then, as it most definitely is, and thus fulfilled; should we any longer pray this prayer, and voice these concerns? If Jesus spoke these words to His first-century disciples, instructing them to pray that His name would be hallowed 'in the Land' ( Israel ) as it is in 'heaven', is it still for us to pray them?
It most definitely is! We should still, besides keeping up good communications with our Heavenly Father, seek His Strength & Will in our lives, that we may live according to His Law, in love, sanctifying His Hallowed Name!
We should pray, yes, that His Name would always be hallowed & honored in our lives, but more importantly, we should strive to honor Him in our lives, in everything that we do as well as say!
Amen,
Charles Haddon Shank
Saturday, January 18, 2014
The Sovereignty of God
Where is the promise of His coming?
For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [ they were ] from the beginning of creation!
For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [ they were ] from the beginning of creation!
II Peter 3:4
If Christians would just act like Christ, tax-paid abortion would have ended in 1974! ( Actually, the Supreme Court might never have handed down their fateful decision on Roe v. Wade! )
This statement, to say nothing of the statement on our latest inflammatory sign, may seem a little harsh and a lot presumptive! I daresay, with no doubt whatsoever, if Jesus encountered this problem in His day, He would not have sat idly by while babies were being murdered! Unlike the many denominations of the Church, or church; He would have, at the very least, over-turned the tables of the money-changers and driven them from His House, and would have done His best to over-turn the Supreme Court!
Since its inception, but especially since 1973, America, like any other biological body, has been dying a slow, painful death!
This is our Father's world, and He rules it as He wills! If American Christians think they can sit idly by, cowering in their bunkers like the Lutherans ( and many others ) during WWII, they've got another think coming! Remember the Holocaust? Whether or not you believe it was right or wrong for Hitler to massacre all those people, innocent or not, it was still murder, and if those Christians had stood up for their brethren, and against the evil that men do, the effects could have greatly been lessened, and possibly even averted!
So, in our day, with the 41st anniversary of that fateful decision ( Roe v. Wade ) on the horizon, we can easily look at American Christianity of the not-too-distant past, and see that if they had been worth their salt, they would have risen en masse, as a Body, and put a stop to the legalized murder of babies, in fact, nipping it in the bud!
The naysayers quoted in the verse above, from II Peter 3, were questioning the promise of God's judgment on His people because evil had been present from the very creation, and still, evil was present! Many Christians today, because of a misconstrued theology, might ask the very same question! Many of these same Christians stood idly by and did nothing because they're expecting Jesus to return any moment, sweep up His poor petulant church, and destroy all the evil in this world in one fell swoop!
Those who questioned His appearance in the first century ( II Peter 3:4 ) saw His Coming in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in AD70, and the subsequent of the salvation of the followers of Christ, in their escape from that destruction!
The only way America will be saved from her destruction will be if She repents en masse of Her idolatries and especially the murder of Her unborn!
Only if we as Christians will take a Stand, and even Fight for the rights of all human beings to live, and especially the pre-born, will America return from Her destructive ways and begin to heal & prosper as a nation once more!
Stand & Fight, brethren; let this be our battle-cry, 'We do not Fear what Man Can Do!'
Amen,
Charles Haddon Shank
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