The Bible's Weird Worldview

We all dream, but most of the time we forget our dreams as soon as the day begins.  Isaac Watts' hymn "O God, Our Help In Ages Past" describes it well.

Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Soon bears us all away;
We fly forgotten as a dream
Dies at the op'ning day. 

There are, however, some dreams that keep coming back. We all know of them. In one of my recurring dreams I have left my college classes for the day and want to go home. However, to do that I must find my car. But I have no idea where I left it. It has to be somewhere around, but I cannot find it. The buildings are unfamiliar. The streets lead to places I've never seen before. And on top of that I don't even remember what kind of car I was driving. It is all very frightening and confusing until I awaken and realize it was just a dream.

Just a dream? I wonder. What does it mean? Is there a meaning to my dreams? And what about the people or creatures I encounter in those dreams?

Forget it, says our modern world. "Dreams represent a world of imagery in which our darkest fears, deepest secrets, and most passionate fantasies break out from the unconscious mind and only at this time become present to our own consciousness." 

Dreams certainly cannot amount to any encounter with a reality, a spirit world if you will, beyond that which I experience with my senses while I am awake. That cannot be, because there is no such world. The only reality is that which we can measure and approach through our rational minds. Yes, we humans have an unconscious mind, but it is still my mind. It is not my spirit or soul encountering another world beyond what we can see, feel, taste, touch and smell.

Or at least so it seems while we are awake. But then I read, for instance, this strange passage—one among many in the Bible—about the birth of Jesus.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. - Mat 1:18-25 ESV

"An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream . . ." What's this Angel? Messenger? In a dream? Prophets foretelling events 600 years before they happen? The Lord speaking? And then Joseph waking up and making a dramatic decision to go ahead with the marriage and take Mary into his home—in spite of the fact that she was carrying a baby that was not his! "For that which is conceived in her is from the (what?) Holy Spirit." What could that possibly mean? Virgin birth? Now you're really pushing things. And Joseph knew nothing about three persons and yet one God. God with us? In a baby? What could that possibly mean? And yet—and yet—he "did as the angel of the Lord commanded . . ." Weird or at best strange that a man would make such a momentous decision on the basis of a dream.

Oh boy, now this 21st century Christian is in trouble, because he has just encountered a way of thinking—or is it a reality?—quite different from the one dominating our culture. Does God send messages from the other side? Are there really angelic messengers? Do prophets really see into a future guided by the hand of God? And what about my dreams? Do angels—or demons for that matter—really come to me or at me when I'm dreaming? Should I be afraid or should I expect it? And how will I know for certain that it is not merely some of my "darkest fears, deepest secrets, and most passionate fantasies" breaking out from my unconscious mind to present themselves in the form of images and stories to my consciousness?

I think we need to spend some time pondering just how very different the Bible's worldview is from that dominating our 21st century scientific, rational world. Stay with me. We'll give it a shot in the next several postings.

Nothing's Gonna Harm You

In Stephen Sondheim's hit musical Sweeney Todd, Mrs. Lovett sings Tobias Ragg to sleep with the song, "Not While I'm Around."

Nothing's gonna harm you, not while I'm around.

Nothing's gonna harm you, no sir, not while I'm around.

Demons are prowling everywhere, nowadays,

I'll send 'em howling, 

I don't care, I got ways.

No one's gonna hurt you, 

No one's gonna dare.

Others can desert you, 

Not to worry, whistle, I'll be there.

Demons'll charm you with a smile, for a while,

But in time...

Nothing can harm you

Not while I'm around...

The story behind the musical is gory and I'm not a great fan of the musical itself, but I quote it because when I first heard Barbra Streisand sing it I could not help but think about some words spoken by our LORD Jesus Christ shortly before He ascended back into heaven. 

"Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." - Mat 28:20 ESV

He did not leave them. No longer would they see Him in the manner they had, but He was with them. This was the wondrous promise fulfilled since the prophecy about Immanuel was first spoken to us all.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. - Isa 7:14 ESV

And so it has come to pass. Jesus, born of the Virgin, is God With Us! He has carried the burden of our sins and all the countless sorrows that have followed. With that work completed, He has now returned to His Father and ours to plead before God's throne on our behalf. And so He promises, "I am with you always" until this present age ends and He returns in power and glory.

May I borrow Sondheim's words to express what Jesus means to say to us?

Nothing's gonna harm you, not while I'm around. Nothing's gonna harm you, no sir, not while I'm around. Demons are prowling everywhere, nowadays, I'll send 'em howling, I don't care, I got ways. No one's gonna hurt you, No one's gonna dare. Others can desert you, Not to worry, whistle, I'll be there. Demons'll charm you with a smile, for a while, but in time... Nothing can harm you. not while I'm around!

And He is around—always, everywhere, anywhere, any time. No need to worry. He is in charge and has His ways. More about Him and His ways next time.

VIRGIN TO GIVE BIRTH TO SON OF GOD!

Here's a sermon preached this Christmas Eve by my dear friend and fellow pastor, Rev. Dale Krueger of Kalamazoo, MI. May his meditation bless us all. He writes,

    It is not very often that an old retired preacher has the opportunity to proclaim the Good News on Christmas  Eve.   It was my privilege to preach and celebrate Holy Communion this evening with the people of St. Peter's Lutheran  in Three Rivers, MI.  May you all be blessed with the presence of Jesus the Messiah...who did what His name means...saved his people from their sins.   Blessed Christmass to all.  Love in Christ,  Pr. Dale

18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet (Isaiah 7:14 LXX):

23 "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,"which means, "God is with us."

24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife,25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. St. Matthew 1:18-25

Our text is the stuff of which National Enquirer headlines are made. "Virgin to give birth to Son of God! Husband confirms that their betrothal has not been consummated!!" It's so bizarre that it's nearly unbelievable..that God should become a human. That God should love humankind so much that not only does he take upon himself human flesh, but that he also allows the world to crucify his Son in order to re-establish the relationship that humans had broken. The message of the virgin birth is that God became a human being to heal the brokenness of all human beings. The birth of Jesus was the most unique event in history, one of a kind, a never-before and never-since event. And this holy God continues to come to us.


In typical New Testament brevity the eight verses of our text tell the story of Joseph. Ah, but what these eight verses say. They are a smashing blow to all of us who think that "it was easier to believe" in Bible times. What do we know about Joseph? We know his father's name was Jacob. Jacob would have instituted the plans for the marriage of his son. He selected as a wife, the teen age daughter of a another man in Nazareth. It is not likely that prior to this stage, that Joseph and Mary were much acquainted. Romance didn't play a factor. So Jacob and Mary's father came to an agreement. Jacob paid the purchase price, the bride price, to Mary's father, with the understanding that Mary was a virgin. Upon completion of that transaction between the two fathers, Joseph and Mary were legally husband and wife, a relationship that could only be dissolved by divorce.


Now it was up to the families to arrange for the wedding ceremony. Betrothal for a virgin was about a year long. And so Joseph and Mary waited for the time when the families would arrange for the wedding celebration. After the wedding celebration, the husband and wife would actually consummate the marriage, both sexually and domestically. But before this could take place, we are told that Joseph observed that Mary was obviously pregnant. He knew the process of human reproduction as well as we do. It takes a man and a woman. And Joseph, our representative on the scene is quite naturally filled with perplexity and doubt. In his mind, this was clearly an illegitimate child in the womb of Mary.


Now what? We are told that Joseph was a righteous man. This means that he was a man who regulated his life by the standards of the law. Mary's condition seemed to make the fulfillment of the marriage an impossibility. Joseph appears to have two alternatives. He could have demanded the punishment demanded by the law in Deuteronomy (22:23-27) which required death by stoning for the guilty. But we do not know how rigidly that law was ever carried out in ancient Israel.


His other choice was the usual divorce procedure which was to give her a writ of divorce signed by two witnesses. She would be left in the disgrace of her father's house. Her father might even have to give her away to some poor man who had no bride price to pay. But just when he had resolved to do this, a messenger of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."


Joseph is asked to accept a seeming promiscuous conception without scruple. What were we saying about living in a time when it was easier to believe? How would you greet your teenage daughter if she came into the kitchen one morning with the announcement that an angel had appeared to her and had told her that she was going to be the mother of God's Son? These eight verses in the first chapter of Matthew tell the story so quickly that we may miss the demand that the first Christmas made of Joseph, that he believe. He did, but what made him believe?


What makes us believe that God has spoken to us? With Martin Luther we confess, "I believe that I cannot by my own reason and strength, believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but the Holy Ghost has called me by the gospel..." that is what it takes for us. And that is what it took for Joseph. He no doubt has reservations about the virgin birth. But when the Holy Spirit came to him through the message of the angel of the Lord in a dream, he believed. And to believe is to act, to do something, to obey the message of the Lord. Matthew records that when Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife to his home and set up housekeeping, but had no marital relations with her, he did not consummate the marriage sexually, until she had borne a son. But when the child was born, he named him Jesus.



There is nothing in Matthew's account about those events so familiar to us from Luke's Gospel. .a 90 mile journey to Bethlehem, the crowded conditions, the utter poverty, the angels and the shepherds. Matthew simply says that when Mary has borne a son, Joseph named him Jesus. Matthew tells us of a family of refugees that went to Egypt for safety. Even though it is not customary for Saviors to be refugees, Joseph believed. And what about those years of routine in the Nazareth carpenter's shop. Nothing there, that we know of, at least, to give vigor and substance to that early encounter with the angel of the Lord. After the search for the 12 year old Jesus "lost" in the temple, Joseph is never heard of again. Not one word spoken by this strong and silent man is recorded in Scripture.


Divine intervention is necessary to faith. No one can believe unless God's Spirit interprets God's message and actions. The Spirit of God spoke good news through the angel. "For the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." God keeps his word. To the ancient people of Israel, God spoke through the prophet Isaiah, "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us."(Isaiah 7:14) A miracle takes place in Bethlehem. Mary gives birth to a son. The ancient religions had men becoming gods, but none had god descending to become a man. We Christians celebrate not so much the birthday of Jesus, but the incarnation of our God.



No one denies that Mary had a baby boy. No one says that the baby's name wasn't Jesus. Jews and Moslems and unbelievers alike, acknowledge that the baby Jesus was probably born in poverty in the village of Bethlehem. But with Joseph, we believe that this baby in the donkey's feed box is our God. He is Emmanuel, God with us.


And it has been the Spirit of God working through the witness of preachers and teachers, parents and humble Christians, that has worked such faith in our hearts. He chooses to visit us, to assume our nature in order to show his love for us. The incarnation is the great teaching of Christmas. We confess that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is our Lord. God had always, in an impersonal and powerful way, been in control of his universe. But now he comes in a very personal way into our hearts and homes. It would like a president coming to Three Rivers and visiting you in your home. That would be personal indeed.


God keeps his word to us. Our disobedience would bring us damnation. But now we are rescued from the damning consequences of our sins. The word that became flesh, the God-man Jesus Christ, died in our stead and paid the price for our salvation. Jesus lived up to his name in dying and rising again. He did what his name implied. Now we can live upbeat, with joy and peace and hope, knowing that Jesus is Emmanuel, God is with us, a God of love and mercy and compassion.


And what about Joseph? How long did he live? No one knows. When did he die? No one knows. Did Jesus miss him? No one knows. After the search for the 12 year old Jesus in the temple, Joseph is never heard of again. Apparently he is no longer living at the time of his son's crucifixion. What remains? Primarily these eight verses in Matthew. But what prominence they have taken on. If God risked his reputation by the unusual conditions surrounding the birth of his Son, remember, so did Mary, and so did Joseph. That is why we remember Joseph, a man who risked much, not because he saw everything clearly, but because he believed. He named him Jesus. That says all we need to know about Joseph, for that was an act of faith. He believed the word, and he was obedient to the message of God.


We are now in Bethlehem for Christ-mass. Jesus comes in Holy Communion to give us under the bread and wine, his own body and blood. Believe that he comes now and as an act of faith, eat his body and drink his blood, and know that Jesus has saved us from all our sins. Let God’s people say Amen to that.

How To Define A Christian

The largest religion in the United States is Christianity. According to a religious identification survey in 2008 over 76% of Americans identify themselves as Christian, with over 56 million Roman Catholics and over 116 million other Christians for a total of over 173 million. 20% either claim no religion (the Nones) or refuse to answer the survey, with just under 4% claiming some other religion. The numbers for mainline Christians are rapidly falling as the numbers of non-denominational Christians rise. The Catholic population grew by one percent since the last survey ten years prior, but is still a percentage point lower than it was 20 years ago. Check out the tables for further information about the growth of Eastern religions like the Muslims, for instance.

One question remains in all of these numbers. How do you define or identify a Christian? The Bible gives a clear and forthright answer in two passages:

"By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already" (1 John 4:2-3).

"Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:3).

Here's what I'm seeing in these blunt statements:

1. A Christian believes in the Incarnation, that is, in what we just celebrated during the Christmas season. God came among us in human form, born as a man child from the womb of the Virgin Mary.
2. He was not conceived through the union of a man and a woman. Rather he was conceived by the powerful working of God's Holy Spirit who overshadowed and enveloped Mary (Luke 1:35-37).
3. This child was named Jesus, a name that means "The LORD saves from sin." The name points to Jesus' office or calling to be the messianic king foretold by ancient prophecy (Matthew 1:19-23). 
4. Not only is Jesus the Messiah, the king descended by lineage from David, he is also true God, the Son of God, in fact God with us (Isaiah 8:8-10 and Isaiah 9:6-7). 
5. Those who have been reborn by the working of God's Spirit acknowledge and accept this. For them Jesus is LORD, that is, the God of the First Covenant, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the great I AM. This was the claim of Jesus himself (John 6:48-51; John 8:12-19; John 8:57-59; John 10:6-14, etc.). 
6. Moreover, this LORD offered up His life as the full and complete sacrifice and final payment for the sins of all mankind (Hebrews 9:11-16) and rose victorious on the third day. 
7. He lives now, is ever with us and will return at the end of this age (Matthew 28:18-20).  

Those who deny these truths or who try to make Jesus merely an example of how a pious person should live are not Christians. They who wish to call themselves Christian, but who deny the divinity of Jesus are led by another spirit. The Apostles called this the spirit of the antichrist. Much has been and will continue to be written and taught about this spirit. For my purposes here it is sufficient to point out that this is an attitude and a belief opposite to everything the Bible and historic Christianity has ever taught.

We Christians quarrel and argue among ourselves about many details of our teachings, but if we are Christians at all we accept what is written above.