Do Not Be Surprised When You Are Persecuted

Five seals of the scroll with seven seals (Rev. 5:1) have been opened by the Lamb. From the first four came the terrible Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. With the opening of the fifth the martyrs under the heavenly temple's altar cry out to the Sovereign Lord for vengeance. When will the Lord punish those who have murdered His beloved disciples? Be patient, He says and watch. Here comes the opening of the sixth seal.

When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" - Rev 6:12-17 ESV

Scripture in the light of 1st century history

These are classical images from the prophets about the LORD's fierce anger loosed upon proud sinners. The sun, moon and stars will turn dark on the great and terrible day of the LORD.

Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light. - Isa 13:9-10 ESV 

Then the moon will be confounded and the sun ashamed, for the LORD of hosts reigns on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and his glory will be before his elders. - Isa 24:23 ESV 

When I blot you out, I will cover the heavens and make their stars dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give its light. All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over you, and put darkness on your land, declares the Lord GOD. - Eze 32:7-8 ESV

The Lord Jesus Himself foretold the persecution of his disciples. They were to be on guard for councils will condemn them, He warned, and they will stand before rulers to bear witness. And the gospel must be proclaimed to all nations (Mark 13:9-27). To speak of those events He borrowed the fearful symbolical language of prophets:

"But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. - Mar 13:24-27 ESV

The martyred saints beneath the altar are comforted as they hear about what was to happen to the seemingly invincible rulers of the earth's mighty nations.

So on to the opening of the seventh and final seal and the sealing of the great multitude, the 144,000, from every tribe of the sons of Israel. More on that in the next post.

And the application of this Word to all who believe in the Lord Jesus? Don't be surprised when the children of this world hate you and persecute you. Expect it. That is exactly what they did to our Lord Himself. Listen to words from the Apostle Peter (1 Peter 4:1-19).

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 

For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. . .  

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. . .  

. . . if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And "If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" (Proverbs 11:31) Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. - 1Pe 4:1-19 ESV

(A final note to this posting: The picture above is from a group of that teaches the Preterist View of the end times. Preterism denies that Revelation is a prophecy about the future. My readers may want to study that view, among the many interpretations of Revelation. As a Christian committed to the Lutheran Confessions of 1530, I must reject it. I'll have more to say about that in future postings.)

We Are Not Reaching The Nones

Recent studies announce that a sizable group of Americans declare themselves to have no religion. They are known as the "Nones".  The real challenge to Christianity in the U.S. comes not from other religions, but rather from a rejection of all forms of organized religion. The American Religious Identification Survey, 2008 suggests that historic mainline churches and denominations are declining. They are not reaching the new generation. In turn, non-denominational identity is trending upward. 

Following are quotes from researchers at Trinity College about the Religious ID Survey.

American Nones: The Profile. 

In terms of self-identification or belonging, 1 in 6 Americans is of no religion (none), while in terms of belief and behavior the ratio is higher, around 1 in 4! 24% of current Nones (and 35% of 1st generation or "new" Nones) are former Catholics. The ethnic/racial profile of Nones shows Asians, Irish and Jews are the most secularized ethnic origin groups. 1/3 of the Nones claim Irish ancestry. . . 

As it has grown larger, the no religion or None population is no longer a fringe group and the “None” choice in terms of (ir)religious identification is now attracting wide swaths of Middle  America. As a result Nones are coming to resemble the U.S. general population in terms of their marital status, educational attainment, racial/ethnic makeup, and income. Yet compared to the  general U.S. population they are still disproportionately male, younger, and more likely to be  Westerners and political independents. . .  

American Nones embrace philosophical and theological beliefs that reflect skepticism rather than overt antagonism toward religion. In their commitment to reason and science they also continue the tradition of the late 18th Century American Enlightenment. Such views and opinions echo those held by many of the founding fathers and leaders of the American Revolution such as Franklin, Jefferson, and Paine. . . 

In many ways, Nones are the invisible minority in the U.S. today —invisible because their social characteristics are very similar to the majority. Intriguingly, what this suggests is that the transition from a largely religious population to a more secular population may be so subtle that it can occur under the radar as happened during the 1990s. In the future we can expect more American Nones given that 22% of the youngest cohort of adults self-identify as Nones and they will become tomorrow’s parents. If current trends continue and cohorts of non-religious young people replace older religious people, the likely outcome is that in two decades the Nones could account for around one-quarter of the American population. 

One response by Christians to this phenomenon is the growth of the non-denominational churches. Historically, of course, this is not a new phenomenon. As long as Christians have existed there have been those who differed with the teachings, practices and government of the established churches. The Protestant movement of the sixteenth century is a prime example. Today's non-denominational churches reject ecclesiastical authority beyond the local congregation, declaring themselves independent. They will not be told what to teach, even when they veer from traditional teachings. They want simply to be known as "Christians"who teach from the Bible.

Many local denominational churches, recognizing this trend, have adjusted their worship and teaching ministries to accomodate the needs and interests of this population. Starting in the 1960s, a large number of such churches have abandoned the traditional organ in favor of bands that play contemporary music in informal worship settings, with a strong emphasis upon the use of electronic media.  There is also a renewed interest in charismatic gifts and outreach through a wide variety of music, sports and teaching opportunities. These approaches often attract large numbers of young adults. One question remains, however. Are these approaches leading young men and women to be disciples of Jesus? And are they growing in their discipleship?

In my next post I will share some personal observations and suggestions based upon these words of our Lord Jesus:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one." - Jhn 10:27-30 ESV

Jesus, One With The Father, Begotten Not Made

In my last post we began to look at Jesus' hard saying in John 6. We pick this discussion up today.

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."
The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever." - Jhn 6:51-58 ESV

Jesus' saying or teaching was stiff, unbending and difficult. Many of his disciples couldn't accept it. It simply made no sense. They joined with the others who were not his disciples to complain about what Jesus said, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"

Lets start with Jesus' saying about his flesh and blood, "Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink."

At the beginning of his Gospel, John writes, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). Prior to that John tells us that the Word was God! And that everything was made by Him. In other words, this Word is not a creature of God. No indeed. He IS God. And yet . . . "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us."

This was a great controversy among us Christians in centuries past about Jesus. Just who is he? The whole thing surfaced in a huge fight in the fourth century after Christ's resurrection and ascension. An Egyptian clergyman by the name of Arius taught that Christ is the Son of God, but he did not always exist. Rather, he was created by God the Father. He based this on Jesus' discourse with his disciples prior to his suffering in which he pointed out that his Father was greater than he.

You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. - Jhn 14:28 ESV

Obviously this does not appear to square with John's introduction about the Word being God and becoming flesh and blood like the rest of us. So the controversy waged on and on until the church fathers had to get together again and again to solve it—or at least agree as a majority about what the Scriptures teach about Jesus. Various forms of Arianism—the teaching that Jesus is a creature—continue among so-called Christians to this day. For instance, Mormonism, the religion of American presidential candidate Mitt Romney, teaches that Jesus is a creature, conceived by the physical union of God the Father and Mary. They further teach that Jesus is our elder brother who progressed to become a god. By following his example we too can become gods.

The majority of the church's teachers and pastors came to an agreement toward the end of the fourth century in a gathering in Constantinople, the capitol of the Roman empire. There they agreed on the wording of the Nicene Creed, the most universal of all the Christian creeds, accepted by the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox churches, Lutherans and most protestant churches. That teaching is that Jesus is begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

This teaching comes from the first chapter of John's Gospel as noted above. There we read that the Word became flesh and blood after all things came into being through him.  He is not a creature, but  the only-begotten (monogenēs - Greek) of the Father (John 1:14). That's why the creed says, begotten, not made. To say he was made would suggest that Jesus is a creature or some kind of demi-god as the Mormons teach. 

So back to the hard saying and the question, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" The point made by the church is that Jesus is indeed a man—and will always be a man. BUT! He is also God, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made (see also the Athanasian Creed). So the saying is harder than it first appears. We are dealing with the God-Man, Jesus, the Word made flesh. 

We'll probe this hard saying some more next time. 

 

The Poor Will Always Be With Us

Two days before the Passover Jesus told his disciples that He was about to be condemned by the Jewish High Council, the Sanhedrin. This would lead in turn to his crucifixion. I wonder how he sounded as he spoke. Was he calm, nervous, excited, grave, sober—what?

Anyway, while he was at the house of Simon the leper in Bethany, a little village near Jerusalem, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment. Based on John 12, the woman was likely Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus. I posted a blog about this incident a year ago. Based on certain calculations, this jar of perfume was worth at least $18,000. No wonder that the disciples, especially Judas, said this was a waste of good money. The ointment could well have been sold, put into the disciples' treasury (which Judas controlled) and used to help the poor. To this Jesus replied,

"Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her." - Mat 26:10-13 ESV

Alabaster Jar

From Pastor Mike Freeman's - wordhavering blog

My question for this year's Holy Week is this. Why does Jesus—and Moses (Deut. 15:11)—teach us that we will always have the poor with us? Will we never discover a social program by which to eliminate poverty? Certainly many political and social systems have promised to do so. But Jesus says it won't happen. Why not?

It has to do with the human heart, not with the created world in which we live. Consider the disciples and their supposed concern about the poor. Take Judas, the treasurer, for example. Shortly after his hypocritical remarks about having money for the poor he turned around and betrayed Jesus for a paltry 30 pieces of silver, roughly $330 in today's terms. So much for his concern for the poor.

Already from the Torah both Jesus and the disciples had heard about caring for the poor. Moses told them,

"If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. . . For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, 'You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.'Deut 15:7-8, 11 ESV

Poverty in the promised land was not a result of poor land or poor crops. This was a land of milk and honey. It provided for the people in abundance (Exodus 13:5; Deut. 26:15; Jer. 32:22). However, again and again they used the land for their own greed and pride.

The same remains so in our modern world. Potentially our planet is capable of providing food for everyone, regardless of the billions living on it. Beyond that, we who bear God's image, have the gifts and intelligence to make the earth productive. Human pride, selfishness, greed and carelessness both waste and destroy this abundance.

How shall we Christians respond? Shall we simply shrug our shoulders because we know that we'll always have poor people? The Spirit of the Risen Christ whose victory we celebrate this coming Sunday moves us in a quite different direction. By our care for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the wounded, imprisoned and broken we worship Jesus who came to make all things new (Matthew 25:34-46). In Christ we anticipate a coming world in which poverty will be completely eliminated.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. - Rom 8:19-23 ESV