tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22826628561718335012023-12-20T00:17:19.927+13:00Joseph McAuleyA Colourful LifeJoseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.comBlogger285125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-53000735590757474192022-05-23T14:56:00.005+12:002022-05-23T14:57:37.782+12:00Why Church? Thoughts As The Church Comes Back Together<p><a name="_Hlk499212701"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Why church?</span></a></p><p><a name="_Hlk499212701"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Life isn’t passive, you don’t get to sit back and
watch, life requires engagement. Our world is a theatre for action. The
question, therefore, is how shall we act? This is not straightforward. As
Christ-followers we want to live and act in a way that is good for us now and
good for us in the future. We want to live in a manner that is good for us and
good for others. We want to live in a way that is honourable and pleasing to
God. We want to live as the faithful representatives and the faithful
worshipers we were created to be. We want to live the Sermon on the Mount.</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk499212701;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk500408019;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk10728172;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">This
isn’t always easy. It especially isn’t easy in a world that can be harsh,
exhausting, unpredictable, traumatic, and painful. We’re each navigating the
mystery of providence, curveballs, poor choices, and dead ends, as well as of
victories and achievements. Life can be all over the place, irrespective of how
we act. Further, we’re living an exterior and an interior life – aligned and
unaligned at times – this is a mystery too. Simultaneously, we’re trying to
figure out the differences between an earthly perspective, a heavenly
perspective, a temporal perspective, and an eternal perspective. That’s a
trip-and-a-half. We recognise that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life,
and we embrace Christ as our source and compass. Yet the Bible doesn’t offer us
10-steps to stress free and successful living, sure we’re offered Psalms and
Proverbs, but we’re also given Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Job. </span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk499212701;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk500408019;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk10728172;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk499212701;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk500408019;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk10728172;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Further
complicating all of this, the world is not a neutral space. Every sphere of
life is a discipleship sphere, and we are continually being discipled at
cross-purposes. Corporations, politicians, distorted desires, social-media,
Hollywood movies, family, and friends, all work to shape the lives we live.
Faith and fidelity fade, giving way to fear and false gods. Gospel surety
shifts and we sell out to side-tracks and short-cuts. As Paul so bluntly but
also honestly put it – oh what a wretched man I am! However, he then acknowledges
the goodness of God; thanks be to God who delivers me (delivers us) through
Jesus Christ our Lord! Though we fall short, miss the mark, fail to live up to
the image bearing priestly vocation we were created for, God demonstrates his
love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. </span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk499212701;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk500408019;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk10728172;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk499212701;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk500408019;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk10728172;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Oh, how
we need therefore, the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ broken upon the
cross, heaven’s victory over sin and death. The Body of Christ in the bread and
wine of communion that re-orientates wayward hearts back to the foot of the
cross. The Body of Christ that is the Church of Jesus in the world. The Church
which is experienced in one’s local church community of worship and of the
Word, of sacrament and salvation, of mission and mutual support. Local churches
that serve as a sacred space stewarding the story of Jesus, declaring the truth
of the gospel, calling one another to fidelity and faithfulness, encouraging,
equipping, educating, and supporting one another in the life of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk499212701;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk500408019;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk10728172;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">The
church not as a show or a performance, not an event that is always fun,
exciting, titillating or even always interesting, but rather the church as a
healthy and holy habit. The church as a one-another community of faith, hope
and love. We commit to gathering regularly not to be entertained but to be
present and attentive to God and to be present and attentive to one another – a
sacred rhythm of discipleship. We gather because we need the help of the local
church, an anchor point in the many complexities of life, where we are
challenged and invited to be the Body of Christ to our neighbours and our
neighbours to be the Body of Christ to us – brothers and sisters in the Lord.
We need the local church to be a sacred place of community, worship, the word,
and ongoing re-orientation. Where Scripture is read and where we are
transformed by the renewing of every perspective in the life and light of
Christ.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk499212701;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk500408019;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk10728172;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk499212701;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk500408019;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk10728172;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">We
need the local church, a creation of the Spirit, the community and communion of
the saints, the people of God who have been called out of an old way of life
and into the newness of God. Those who declare with Paul that, ‘it is no longer
I who lives but Christ who lives in me.’ Those whose faith in Jesus brings them
together, who are growing <span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">to become in every respect ‘the mature body of him
who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held
together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in
love, as each part does its work.’</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk499212701;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk500408019;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk10728172;"><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk499212701;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk500408019;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk10728172;"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">As well, we need the
treasures of the broader Church, the Body of Christ in the world for the last
2,000 years. For the future of the church is not unprecedented novelty but
rather, fidelity and integration. The historic faith of the Church coaching us
forward into the life of Christ. We need the faith passed down by the apostles,
the wisdom of the Church Fathers, the example of the Saints, the perspectives
of the Great Traditions, the insights, understandings, and resources that the
Church has developed as custodians of the Christian faith for two millennia.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk499212701;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk500408019;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk10728172;"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk499212701;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk500408019;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk10728172;"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">For our faith is not a
pick-a-path adventure, a two-dollar-pick-n-mix bag of lollies, or a pluralistic
kaleidoscope of personal wishes. Certainly, it is an adventure, certainly it is
colourful, certainly it is broad and wide, grounded and deep, but it is as ancient
as it is fresh. It isn’t something we get to make up for ourselves. Any novelty
will be the previously seen, seen in a new light, the overlooked rediscovered,
or our own experience of that which we had not known before. Which isn’t to say
that the faith of our youth, the faith of yesteryear, is the faith we hold to
today. For one of the great mysteries of the Christian journey is that growth is
as much about letting go as it is to holding fast. To change and become like a
child, to develop a child-like-faith, takes a lot of growing up in the things
of God.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk10728172;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk500408019;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk499212701;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk499212701;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk500408019;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk10728172;"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Why church? Because faith and fidelity, a long obedience in the same direction, growing up in the things of God, happens in the community of the Church. Always has and always will. </span></span></span></span></span></p>Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-5902685106010130002021-10-28T14:54:00.004+13:002021-10-28T14:58:35.427+13:00End Times, Always – The Book of Revelation and the Mark of the Beast <p><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's not Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine and it's not mandated vaccine passports. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">----------</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Book of Revelation, the Apocalypse of John,
describes a heavenly vision that John experiences, a vision that offers a
heavenly perspective on the actualities of life in John’s cultural context. The
word apokaluptō or apocalypse, means “to lift the veil” or “to reveal.” It’s to
do with seeing from a divine rather than earthly perspective. Bizarre and unusual
imagery is used in order to shake the reader up and force them to see things in
a new light, in a manner that might not otherwise be apparent.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The Revelation of John, sent as one
letter to seven churches, is written to particular people, facing particular
issues, and with a particular message. It's prophetic in that it calls two different
types of Christians to renewed faithfulness in God and to live as faithful witnesses
to the one who is The Faithful Witness. Christians who are being persecuted and
who are suffering under the oppression of the Roman Empire, and also,
Christians who are prospering through compromise and inappropriate allegiance
to the Roman cult of Empire. Both are being called to faithfulness in their fidelity
to the Lordship of Jesus and the eternal Kingdom of God. They are to reject the
lordship of Caesar, the temporary Empire of Rome and the cult of empire worship
that comes with it. </span><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqldzbL1y66t6ni094t-DKSqRg0sZwPuKGFaitpxaN1cM4aA1xDwp4OGIGupdATXxiSmNyYVlZm93PP7PCHP3UlTH1LSCXwKL90zbASNVIUmZXUwMqPufBKd6kRwakH6Sk995lZtaM1d18/s1504/John+icon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1504" data-original-width="864" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqldzbL1y66t6ni094t-DKSqRg0sZwPuKGFaitpxaN1cM4aA1xDwp4OGIGupdATXxiSmNyYVlZm93PP7PCHP3UlTH1LSCXwKL90zbASNVIUmZXUwMqPufBKd6kRwakH6Sk995lZtaM1d18/w210-h365/John+icon.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Revelation promises that faithfulness
will be rewarded, justice will be given to those who are oppressed, oppressors
will be judged. God's kingdom will come, his will done on earth as in heaven. Those
who are faithful to Jesus will, in the restoration of all things, be restored
to the priestly roll of image bearers they were created to be – faithful
representatives and worshipers of God. There will be no more tears, heaven and
earth will be wholly united, and the dwelling place of God will be with
humankind.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Roughly speaking chapters 6 through 19
are a commentary on the Roman Empire, and as Scripture all empires. Empires are
inherently evil, only every temporary, and exist in contrast to the eternal
Kingdom of God – a city whose gates will never be shut – and where all will be
made well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">As Revelation unfolds the message is essentially; don't worry, God’s good
judgement will come, faith, hope and love will prevail, resurrection life,
renewed creation around the corner – hold fast to faith in Jesus. The prayers
of the righteous will be heard, the Roman Empire will not have the final word,
no empire that exalts itself against the knowledge of God will be the final
word. All will be set right under Christ. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">----------<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Revelation uses all sorts of fantastic imagery,
mostly plucked from the OT, to unveil and reveal this truth in the face of the
might of the Roman Empire. In Revelation 6 we read about seals being broken and
judgement being poured out, we read of the 'four horsemen of the apocalypse,’
with one of them on a white horse with bow and arrow. It isn't a timeline of
future events, it’s the announcement that the Christian oppressors, the Roman
Empire, is destined to pass away. We have four seals, four horses, four riders,
four different types of judgement and consequences. They serve as a symbolic
literary function and are likened to the four different coloured horses
patrolling on the Lord's behalf in Zechariah 1:8-11.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Metallica sing about it in their song Four Horseman.
</span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Horsemen are drawing nearer, On
leather steeds they ride, They've come to take your life</span></i><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">. </span></i><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">On through the
dead of night, With the four horsemen ride, Or choose your fate and die. Pestilence,
for what you have to endure, And what you have put others through, Death, deliverance
for you for sure, Now there's nothin' you can do.</span></i><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;">And on it goes. I think that is what is known as
Scripture in Song.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'm not sure what Metallica thought they were
singing about or their fans thought they were headbanging about, but essentially
it is this; Revelation uses the imagery, the four riders on coloured horses,
bringing destruction, to underscore the point that eventually the Roman rule
will collapse. The Parthian's were an unconquered people and a major threat to
the Roman Empire, they had archer warriors who rode white horses – the only
known mounted archers known of in the ancient world. The imagery of a white horse
and an archer were a threat to the Empire. The point being that the Empire will
fall, not necessarily to Parthia and then not that Parthia will reign forever,
but ultimately because all Empires are destined to fail and only the Kingdom of
God will prevail. Four seals, four judgements on Rome, invasion, conquest,
famine, pestilence, plague, death. All realities that come with 1st century
warfare and conquest. So yeah, good stuff Metallica. Hallelujah. Revelation 6
through 19 are full of this kind of wonderful imagery. Ok, chapter 13. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">----------<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Revelation 13:1-3</span></u></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
The dragon<sup> </sup>stood on the shore of the sea.</span></i></span><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <i>And I saw a beast coming out of
the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on
each head a blasphemous name.</i></span></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="text">The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those
of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power
and his throne and great authority. </span><b><sup><span style="background: white; color: black;"> </span></sup></b><span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a
fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> The whole world was filled with wonder</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> and followed the beast.</span></span></span></i><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The dragon
is a picture of ultimate evil that exists behind any manifestation of evil. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In regard to the beast, John is borrowing some
imagery from Daniel 7. Daniel sees four beasts; like a lion, like a bear, like
a leopard, and a fourth that was more terrifying than the others. </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">These beasts represent, in Daniel, the successive empires with whom
Israel was confronted. The Babylonian Empire, the Median Empire, the Persian
Empire, and Alexander’s Macedonian (or Greek) Empire (the most terrifying).
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In John’s vision, Revelation pictures
Rome as a<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> conglomerate</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>of all four of these beasts. This is
the Beast from the sea we read about here in chapter 13, something worse than Daniel
experienced.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEc7jRZ8zsZwebV5DhTfUgCTURtadRodaD-6jnOm4p13c0jqGpA4b4x_28NX7dfz77EV4pHhhAkpd6a2VPWbpnA7d-jq0r4JXH12aK4fF0UrunCaiC2nwRI-001rKE9nR7etrGRawnF2j7/s800/Dragon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="800" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEc7jRZ8zsZwebV5DhTfUgCTURtadRodaD-6jnOm4p13c0jqGpA4b4x_28NX7dfz77EV4pHhhAkpd6a2VPWbpnA7d-jq0r4JXH12aK4fF0UrunCaiC2nwRI-001rKE9nR7etrGRawnF2j7/s320/Dragon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 115%;">The seven heads represent successive emperors and
Rome built on seven hills. The ten horns with crowns represent smaller regional
powers under the authority of the larger Beast (the Empire). Thus, the Beast is
a symbol that embodies evil empire, it comes from the sea, the place of chaos
and death. </span><span class="text" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">One of the
heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had
been healed. Emperor Nero was fatally injured – and he does die of his fatal
wound – but it isn’t the death of the Empire. The Empire is healed and
continues. turns out not to be the end
of this beastly Empire.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Revelation 13:3-4<br />
</span></u></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">The
whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast and its military
might.</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <span class="text">People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the
beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who
can wage war against it?"</span></span></i><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Wow, the <i>pax romana</i>, the peace
of Rome! No one can bring peace on earth like Rome can. The emperor is the prince
of peace. <span class="text">Worship and the question, “who is like the beast,
who can wage war against it?” is a parody of faithful worship to God. Who is
like our God, there is no other? Psalm 86. </span></span><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The Beast
goes about doing what the beast does... an Empire that exalts itself against
the knowledge of God. </span></span><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%;">But like
every Empire, it only has an allotted time, it will not last forever. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Verse 11… John sees
a second beast. This beast represents the Cult of the Emperor or of the Empire,
the imperial religion and propaganda that props up the war machine and the
myths of the wonder of the Empire. The good news that the Caesar, the son of
the gods, had brought peace on earth, the <i>pax Romana</i>. Every empire has
its propaganda propping it up. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Verse 13… This beast does signs and wonders. Numerous
sources report that priests in the cult of emperor would often stage signs and
wonders. They would organise healings or moving statues or fire using machines
and contraptions and actors. No surprise to John's audience, Jesus warned that
false prophets would perform false signs in Matthew 24.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Verse 15… Some Christians were persecuted and
killed for not giving divine honours to the Emperor, for refusing to worship the
Beast. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Revelation 13:16-18<br />
</span></u></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">It
also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to
receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could
not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the
number of its name. This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight
calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number
is 666.</span></i></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">666 is the construction of Hebrew
"gematria" – the practice of assigning numeric value to letters. 666
is just the total of Nero's name. <b><u>Neron Caesar = Nrwn Qsr<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">N (nun)-50, R
(resh)-200, W (vav)-6, N (nun)-50, Q (qoph)-100, S (samekh)-60, R (resh)-200. Sum
= 666<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLYajsLS9dBqu3a-rwup7J4G1vySA-sezdYN-Hpv3mz3BF0hXQhgZLiDlXQbnUJF1Pv0Fk0L_d37wC0wYV7rYOB2GWlfb207BSt_Kn8f8KlRCUu7rQJ-8cC7ohqSEF_f495814fHOv8Yx/s800/Nero+666.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="666" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLYajsLS9dBqu3a-rwup7J4G1vySA-sezdYN-Hpv3mz3BF0hXQhgZLiDlXQbnUJF1Pv0Fk0L_d37wC0wYV7rYOB2GWlfb207BSt_Kn8f8KlRCUu7rQJ-8cC7ohqSEF_f495814fHOv8Yx/w207-h249/Nero+666.png" width="207" /></a></i></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><p class="MsoNormal">As well, in 1<sup>st</sup> century Rome, folk would
come up with nick names for famous people that also added up to their number. Nero
had a nick name "he killed his mother" which added up to 666. So
essentially what is happening is that the Roman empire, pictured as the Beast, and
personified in Nero, one of the evilest of emperors. He killed his mother,
kicked his pregnant wife to death, and had countless rivals executed.</p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The mark of the beast, far from being
some future conspiracy, simply uses the symbolism of foreheads and hands, to symbolically
represent thoughts, affections and actions that are marked by allegiance and loyalty
to the Beast, to the Empire, to Nero – rather than to Christ and the Kingdom of
God. Life in fidelity to the cult of emperor worship rather than the worship of
Christ. It is the antitype to the Mark of the Saints seen in Revelation 7 and
also Revelation 14. The servants of God are sealed in their foreheads (7:2-3),
those with the Lamb had the Father’s name written on their foreheads (14:1). Revelation
is a vision of unusual imagery to reveal something true, not something literal.
You are marked by God via one’s devotion and faithfulness to God. </span><b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">John is aware that to refuse to worship the Beast<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(the Empire) is very likely going to place
Christians in a predicament. Yet in all things, Christians are not to bow under
the persecution of Empire nor live in compromised coalition with Empire – allegiance
is to be to the Way of Jesus, the Kingdom of God. <b><u><o:p></o:p></u></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="text"><b><i><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Revelation
13:18</span></u></i></b></span><span class="text"><b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">This
calls for wisdom.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">----------<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Revelation, its largely about the inevitable demise
of the Roman Empire and the victory of the Lamb of God. Its about the truth
that the Kingdom of God will prevail, God’s dwelling place will be with his
people, every tear will be wiped away, there will be no more death, or
mourning, or crying, or pain, for the old order of things will pass away. While
this is the meaning of Revelation in John’s context, we also need to consider
the significance of the passage in our own context. Here we can appreciate that
Revelation serves as a commentary on all empires across all time, and in the
in-between-time. Though the Roman Empire has passed away the old order of
things has not. Empire’s prevail even though the Kingdom of God is simultaneously
among us, and within us, here and now, but also now but not yet. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In a nutshell, this means is that there is always a
beast, always propaganda, always an anti-Christ, always empires that exalt themselves
against the knowledge of God. There are always challenges to our allegiances to
Christ, always the potential to be marked by the beast, always the potential to
run into trouble for following Jesus, always the potential for difficulties,
always the potential for catastrophe, and always endings. In other words; end
times, always! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This calls for wisdom. We shouldn’t be so quick to
label current events as the end times. We shouldn’t be so quick to label
technology as the mark of the beast – credit cards, barcodes, QR codes,
microchips, payWave, vaccines, or vaccine passports. That’s not the mark of the
beast. We shouldn’t be so quick to label people as the antichrist – Henry
Kissinger, Mickel Gorbichov, Ronald Reagan, Dennis Conner, George Gregan,
Ashley Bloomfield or anyone else. We shouldn’t be so quick to label some left
or right or centralist political party as the evil empire of the end of the
age. Mostly all of the labelling, predicting and timelining is an exercise in
missing the point.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">While socially and politically we will experience
realities that are the antithesis to the way of the Kingdom of God, certainly, it’s
the internal empires we mostly have to watch out for. Empires of individualism,
consumerism, narcissism, hedonism, and self-interest that are far more likely
to trip us up. We have to be careful that we don't live in such a way that we embrace
the mark of the beast via the affections, pursuits, and patterns of
self-interest, self-rule, and self-worship that so easily creep into our lives. It is we who mostly end up playing the role of the antichrist, something we do when
we displace Christ from the throne of our lives, whenever we force Christ to stand
at the side rather than sit in the center of our lives.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">While it might always be end times though, we take
great comfort that at the same time, there is always a cross, always a Savioir,
always Christ coming back to heal and restore and mend and put all things
right. Christ will return one day, but Christ also returns every day when we
make more space for the rule and reign of Christ in our lives, in our families,
in our church. End times, always, but also the Second Coming of Christ always
as well – healing, mending, restoring, renewing and re-creating lives. It
always the Second Coming of Christ we make more space for Christ at the table. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">----------<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Revelation 22:1-5<br />
</span></u></i></b><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Then
the angel showed me a river with the water of life</span></i></span><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> (water of life is the life sustaining
presence of God, so what we are seeing here isn’t literal even though its true),
<i>clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed
down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of
life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves
were used for medicine to heal the nations</i> (nothing to do with COVID, the
healing of the entire cosmos). <i>No longer will there be a curse upon anything.
For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will
worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their
foreheads</i> (they’ll be marked by their devotion and allegiance to God in
faithful worship – not a Jesus tattoo). <i>And there will be no night there—no
need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them </i>(no more
darkness, no more fear, no more unknown, faith, hope, love, peace, life and
light to all he brings). <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">That’s good
news. That’s Christian hope, not religious propaganda. Weeping may tarry for
the night, but joys comes in the morning. Know that the dwelling place of God
is among His people. Know that He will wipe every tear from every eye. Know
that there will be no more death, our mourning, or crying, or pain – for the
old order of things will pass away. There is no empire that will prevail,
rather it is the Kingdom of God, and the rule of Christ that will reign
eternal. Live as a faithful witness, to The Faithful Witness that is Jesus
Christ. </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-15116496371084658282019-10-30T11:38:00.000+13:002019-10-31T08:35:20.326+13:00The Great Christian Festival of Halloween and the Problem with Light PartiesMostly, the various feasts and
festivals that the Christian church has come to celebrate over the last two-thousand
years trace their origins to either Judaism or the various pagan cultures in
which Christianity took root in the early centuries A.D. In light of Christ, existing
seasons and festivities were often re-appropriated as a celebration of some specific
aspect of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ and of the Christian faith.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rather than celebrating the Jewish
festival of Passover, Christians tend to focus on the events of Christ’s death
and resurrection in what has become Easter (though an understanding of both will
enrich one’s faith immensely). Pentecost Sunday has come to be a celebration of
the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2 and is less focused on Shavuot
as a celebration of the wheat harvest and Torah.<br />
<br />
When it comes to Christmas, the roots
of this Christian celebration are not Judaism but rather stem from the winter
solstice celebrations of the Roman Empire, and then later, from various Germanic tribes. In
this sense, there is some truth to the idea that originally Christmas and some
of the pageantry of Christmas finds its origins in pagan celebrations.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmq2B_pHtLx-8bGXqipsdmxYM_b3ZL2Q4Cq9H1_UnZVWRl8Ab19Ylk37z0zd7rbIeECcFGS02cbOsgqwKq3ILJ4Q-2kPFL2bT94lkaGP2Molm4YWzV_uyNTo0sB-HMsazpwRFs-g6J5tqT/s1600/Halloween.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmq2B_pHtLx-8bGXqipsdmxYM_b3ZL2Q4Cq9H1_UnZVWRl8Ab19Ylk37z0zd7rbIeECcFGS02cbOsgqwKq3ILJ4Q-2kPFL2bT94lkaGP2Molm4YWzV_uyNTo0sB-HMsazpwRFs-g6J5tqT/s320/Halloween.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
But. But
where winter solstice marked the darkest dark and the slow turning of the seasons
with the promise of the coming of a new sun, Christians subverted this idea and
celebrated the coming of a different Son into the darkness of our world. Light
and life to all he brings!<br />
<br />
Together the various feasts and fasts
of the Christian Calendar invite us to orientate our lives around the life of
Christ. They even invite us to re-orientate our sense of time around Jesus.<br />
<br />
Over time though, secular society does
what secular society does, and takes the various Christian feasts, celebrations,
and holidays that we have, and slowly but surely commodifies, commercializes, and
bastardizes them. <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">In doing so, it’s
not just that a particular Christian feast is undermined, but rather that our
sense of life being a reality organised around Christ is slowly chipped away
at.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;">We think
less of time as a gift, one that allows us the opportunity to simply be - to be with
one another, to share life - and to walk a long obedience in step with Jesus. We
start see time as a utility and a commodity to be spent – to be leveraged
towards maximum productivity.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b> </b>I</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">nstead of living in the anticipation of Christ’s coming in Advent, in the
celebration of Christ’s birth in Christmas, in the revelation of Christ as
Saviour in Epiphany and so on, the framing categories of our life become; work
weeks, school terms, university semesters, quarterly reports, annual reviews, the
end of the financial year. Ultimately this is anxiety inducing, rather than life giving. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Selah<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">In highlighting this, my point is not
to rally the troops in some vein attempt to fight against the secularization of
Christmas in contemporary society. I’m not trying to organise a “We Say Merry Christmas,
Not Happy Holidays” protest march. My point is both narrower and broader in
scope. Narrower in that my concern is not how secular society treats Christmas
or Easter, only in how we as the Church do. But broader in that if we as
Christians settle for a secular perspective on the various feasts and
festivals, we lose track of time as sacred, and with it the fullness of
Christian vision and theological insight that the Calendar offers as a
discipleship tool. We need a renewed appreciation of the Church's liturgical calendar.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Which brings us to the great Christian
festival of Hallowe'en!<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Under the pantheon of the Roman gods,
and in the folk religions of the early Celts and Germanic peoples, festivals
were held that marked the seasons. I’ve already mentioned winter solstice. The
autumn festival marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. For
the Celts this festival was known as Samhain (summer’s end).<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">These festivals were religious in
nature in that as well as marking the season, they were also a liminal time
where people imagined the boundary between this world and the otherworld thinned
– fairies and ghosts and the souls of the dead could travel between the
dimensions. With the souls of the dead supposedly able to return during these kinds
of festivals, they became an occasion to consider death, to consider the
under-world, to set a table for ancestors whose ghosts would return to visit
their homes. <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Traditions varied, and traditions
evolved – one tradition included dressing as the dead or dressing as characters
from the underworld and going door to door to collect treats or do <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">mischief</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This
practice mimicked the idea that the gods were temperamental and couldn’t be
trusted – you better make good sacrifices if you want a good harvest –
otherwise they’ll give you nothing but mischief. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Another</span> was to carve pumpkins (originally turnips) into scary
faces to scare off evil spirits.<br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">The
Christian Church looked at all of this and thought, we can do better than this,
we’ve a new understanding of death, of what it is to confront death, in the
light of Christ. The principalities and powers have been defeated, death is not
the final word, the grim reaper is not in charge. And God is not a god of
mischief, God is light and life and in him there is no darkness.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">And so, the church inaugurated a different
festival (as early as the year 609, and then it has evolved from there). Not a one-day
festival, but a three-day festival known as All-Hallowtide. A festival designed
to sit alongside or exist as an alternative to the various existing festivals
of the dead and subvert them in Christ. Hallow means saints, thus we've All Saints Time, and it is a chance to consider and face the reality of death and fear of death we
often carry. It is also a chance to remember those who have passed away, saints
known and unknown. The three days are October 31<sup>st</sup>, November 1<sup>st</sup>,
and November the 2<sup>nd</sup>. <br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">October 31<sup>st</sup> – Hallowe’en:</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> All Saints Eve, Hallow Eve, Hallow Evening. This
day was an invitation to prayer, to renew one’s baptismal vows in the face our
fear of death – I’ve already died in baptism, it is no longer I that lives but
Christ that lives in me – and was a chance to reflect on our eternal hope in Christ: neither death nor Hades (literally the god of the underworld) are in charge and they do not have the final word in the face of death.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">November 1<sup>st</sup> – Hallow Day:</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> All Saints Day. A time consider the capital “S”
Saints and martyrs of church history and to consider their lives as exemplars
to us in our own journey. Not celebrity Christians to follow but faithful
saints in the truest sense. <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">November 2<sup>nd</sup> – All Soul’s Day.</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> An opportunity to consider the lower-case “s”
saints who’ve influenced our lives but have passed away over the course of the
last year – friends, family, church members. And then more broadly, those who have influenced our lives but have passed away in years gone by. <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">All-in-all a chance for the Christian to face death, and, in doing so, to recognise that God is sovereign over
death, faithful even in death, and that death has been unmasked as a false god.
<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Romans 8:35-39</span></u></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="text"><span style="color: black;">What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall
trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? </span></span></span></i><span class="text"><span style="color: red; line-height: 115%;">(You could say; shall any
sort of mischief come between us and God? No way!) </span></span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long;</span></i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">
<span class="text">we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” </span></span></i><span class="text"><span style="color: red; line-height: 115%;">(I’ve been baptised, it is no longer I
that lives but Christ that lives in me!)</span></span><span class="text"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him
who loved us. </i></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span class="text">For
I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, </span></span></i><span class="text"><span style="color: red; line-height: 115%;">(or fairies, or zombies, or
scary pumpkins, or mummy’s wrapped up in toilet paper, or trick-or-treators
dressed as the Kardashians) </span></span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">neither our fears for
today nor our worries about tomorrow </span></i></span><span class="text"><span style="color: red; line-height: 115%;">(especially about death, even though
we try not to talk about in our modern world, we try and sweep it under the rug,
the business of morticians and undertakers) </span></span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">–
not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No
power in the sky above or in the earth below, nor anything else in all creation</span></i></span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><span style="color: red; line-height: 115%;">(not even a zombie apocalypse)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">,
</i></span></span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">will be able to separate us from
the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.</span></i></span><br />
<span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></span>
Allhallowtide (All Saints Time) with Hallowe’en, All Saints and All Souls, is a chance to cultivate a proper sense
of Christian hope and perspective in relation to death – to remember that death
is not the final word! Jesus is the resurrection and the life, our promise of eternal
life. The story is not over and in the fullness of time, all will be made well,
all will be restored, all will be renewed, every tear will be wiped away – and
in the resurrection will be re-united– we will gather to break bread together
once more. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">And thus, we say; “where oh death is
your sting!?!” Not because the pain of losing a loved one is not real, is not
heart-breaking, is not without its own kind of sting. We say, “where oh death is
your sting!?!” because death is not, ultimately, that which destroys but that
which will itself be destroyed. The love of God will conquer sin and death –
and resurrection life will prevail. <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Which brings us to the problem of
Light Parties, (or at least the potential problem of Light Parties – they are
really good for little kids). The problem is that secularism triumphs when christians decide that we need an alternative to the Christian festival of
Hallowe’en.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>Especially if the reason
for it is a fear of rubber masks, face-painting, toilet paper, and cobwebs made
out of cotton wool – the ghouly and ghostly get-up of Hallowe’en. Secularism
wins when we decide that we can’t face death with our kids – and the cartoonish
representations of death that come with it – and declare faith and hope and the
victory of Christ in all things. Secularism wins when we celebrate Jesus as the
Light of the World but only with glow sticks in the sanctuary.<br /><br /><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Hallowe’en is an opportunity (with our
slightly older kids – the ones that have moved on from Bob the Builder) to,
paradoxically, through the use of masks, actually un-mask and disempower the
various “boogeymen” that creep into our imaginations (as children – and as adults)
and fill us with fear. Especially the fear of death. <br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">We’ve a chance to face these fears – through
the dressing up and running around, through the putting on and then the taking off
of masks, kids get the chance to expose various monsters as make belief. And then, in conversation with parents to recognise that “there is a light that shines in
the darkness, and is not overcome,” and “there is a power greater than death and
it is Jesus.” <br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">A Christian participation in All Hallow’s Eve, All
Saints Eve, Hallowe’en <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">(even the “trick
or treating” part of it) </span>and
also All Saints and All Souls day is not some sort of compromised glorification
of the occult – rather – it is a good time for us to allow death and other things
that scare us into our celebrations and conversations, especially with our
kids, in order to then unmask them and speak of the life and power of Jesus
Christ. When all the masks are taken off we can have conversations about things
that scare us, about death, about the power of Jesus. We let the light shine in
the darkness – and it is not overcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>
And then after that, we follow this up with All Saints
Day. “You know how people dressed up yesterday as monsters and mummies and
Harry Potter characters and Star Wars characters and different super-heroes –
do you know who the real superheroes in life are?” “Nope.” Well let me tell you about Francis of Assisi, or Mother Teresa or your
Grandmother and how she loved Jesus and loved people… They are the kind of
super-heroes that God thinks are pretty cool.<i> </i>And then you follow that up with All Souls Day and a conversation
about a loved one who’s died, and our hope in Christ of resurrection life and
the renewal of all things. Death isn’t the final word.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpWt4qNlPhRCgMGH4ILTW8MZjjvd4j4fRrMl6baLZBDk5kIGu_v_EnIet-QdJgoqnUHnf1KgzuafGsIW_8nPkuYoowdt8dF4e61_mV9AZmgqzRrzZ42lsiOtKC9tFu8uiBiNXBJZ13pl4/s1600/Halloween+Hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="600" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpWt4qNlPhRCgMGH4ILTW8MZjjvd4j4fRrMl6baLZBDk5kIGu_v_EnIet-QdJgoqnUHnf1KgzuafGsIW_8nPkuYoowdt8dF4e61_mV9AZmgqzRrzZ42lsiOtKC9tFu8uiBiNXBJZ13pl4/s320/Halloween+Hat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Rather than let
secularism subvert Halloween, we leverage Halloween as a Christian opportunity
to subvert fear and death!<br /><br />**I don’t really have a problem with Light Parties.
They have their place. Especially with little kids. Have a blast whatever you
do! I’m just trying to make a point. We don’t need to have a problem with
Halloween either, if we have the conversations with kids that the festival
invites. That said, the whole candy from strangers practice is weird.**</span></div>
<br />Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-35115069203311294622019-10-15T16:28:00.000+13:002019-10-15T17:13:28.000+13:00The Sermon on the Mount - A Theological Paraphrase<br />
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<b><i><u>Matthew 5</u></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">1-2</span></sup></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the mountainside
and sat down to teach. In the priestly tradition offering ethics shaped by
God’s word, in the prophetic tradition offering a vision shaped by God’s
future, and in the wisdom-tradition offering a way of being grounded in the
fear of the Lord. Further, as King and Messiah, Jesus invites all who are
willing to realign their lives in step with a new and alternative arrangement
of human affairs; the kingdom of God. All are invited to participate in this kingdom
initiative and experience God’s plan for human flourishing. Jesus speaks first to
the downcast and downtrodden:</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">3-6</span></sup></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">“Flourishing are those so crushed and despondent in
life that they’ve no hope for the future. God’s kingdom is breaking out and
they’ve every reason to put their hope in the Lord as they are on the cusp of
new possibilities. Flourishing are those so incapacitated by grief that any
expectation of ever knowing joy or comfort again seems impossible. God’s love
draws near in Christ; they are moments away from God’s life-giving embrace.
Flourishing are the humiliated, oppressed and powerless – those who’ve been
denied access to basic resource. The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness of it
and God’s rearrangement of human affairs will redistribute access to all.
Flourishing are those who’ve been starved of justice and denied a fair hearing.
God’s heart is for every one of his children, that all would have a voice and
would know the satisfaction of being heard and of receiving God’s righteous
rule. Even now God is lifting the downtrodden. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">7-10</span></sup></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">“Flourishing are those who extend grace,
forgiveness and kindness to the world around them. God will return to them this
same experience of love and compassion. Flourishing are those who have
cultivated an inner disposition that is holy, whole, and wholesome. God’s
presence, God’s voice, and God’s action in the world will be keenly obvious to
them. Flourishing are those whose energy is directed toward initiatives and
activities that bring to pass the shalom of God on earth. As agitators willing
to confront injustice without mirroring injustice, they will find themselves
enveloped in the loving kindness of God the Father; they are in step with God’s
work in the world, they are part of the family. Flourishing are those so
invested in God’s alternate arrangement for human affairs that it challenges
the status-quo around them and results in persecution. The rule and reign of
God’s kingdom will be their ultimate inheritance – breaking into their life now
and experienced in full in the age to come. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">11-12</span></sup></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">“Remember that, when the world hurls insults at you, tries
to discredit you and crush you, all because of your commitment to live in a way
that embodies my way of being in the world, you have a treasure trove of
blessing in store. Not the trinkets and baubles of this age, but the fullness
of life that is experienced as heaven invades earth. So, charge your glass and
toast the discomfort, you’re walking the path that the prophets walked; death
that leads to life. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">13-16</span></sup></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">“Be like salt that preserves, enhances, and
flavours, and like light that illuminates and reveals – both distinct and
involved. As you model the way of being in the world that I’m championing, the
impoverished will be lifted to their feet and inspired to honour God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t take yourself for granted, don’t think
you are insignificant, you’re a living expression of what the kingdom of God
tastes like, a beacon of God’s light in the darkness, a living invitation to God’s
alternative possibilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">17-20</span></sup></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">“I haven’t come to undermine, dismantle or expose
the Law or the Prophets as wrong. Rather I’ve come as the embodied fulfillment
of every pen stroke. So don’t discount any of it, every aspect will be summed
up and accomplished in who I am. Everything the Law and the Prophets intended
to bring into being – faithful representation of God, faithful whole hearted
love of God, and faithful and consistent love of neighbour – will be brought to
life in me. Therefore, anyone who sets aside even the most basic of commands
and fails to understand and teach those commands in light of me, will have a
lowly reputation in my kingdom. On the other hand, whoever teaches and
practises my way of living – which is embedded in the heart of the Law – will
be well regarded in my kingdom. Ultimately my invitation is to embrace an
alternative arrangement for human affairs, a more heavenly arrangement, one that
isn’t based on beating the Pharisees and the teachers of the law at their own
game; rule keeping and the ability to tick every religious box of
obligation. My invitation is to embrace a deeper consciousness of what it means
to please God and to cultivate at the core of one’s being a radical openness
and faithfulness to the will of our Father in heaven. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">21-26</span></sup></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">“For example, you know that murder is a destructive
and dehumanizing way of living. The Law teaches this, and murderers will be
subject to judgement. But what I want you to understand is that, even if one
isn’t committing murder, inner dispositions of anger towards one another are life-killing
too. To call someone out as ‘useless’ or a ‘fool,’ falls short of the loving
kindness I’m calling you to embody. Expressed or not, hateful inner
dispositions are dehumanizing and destructive in the here and now and will be
subject to judgement and destruction in the age to come. I really can’t
emphasise this enough; you need to make every effort to cultivate holy, whole
and wholesome relationships with one another. Let’s say you’ve flown half-way
around the world to attend some worship festival but then remember you’ve a
relationship that is out of sorts with someone in your life. Get straight back
on the plane, go to your brother or sister and reconcile, then fly back to the
festival and enjoy worshiping God. Or, if you find yourself being taken to
court, do your best to reconcile with your opponent on the way to court. Ring
them up, apologize, come to an arrangement, do what you can to entrust yourself
to the possibility of receiving grace and forgiveness from your adversary. It
is a humbling, healing, and humanizing way of being, and is a lot better than
being thrown into prison where you are to serve every day of your sentence. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">27-30</span></sup></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">“You know as well that adultery tears families
apart and damages lives. The Law is clear that this kind of behaviour falls
short of God’s intention for marriage. Going deeper though, what I want you to
understand is that anyone who looks at someone with covetous lust is committing
adultery in their heart. Desire coupled with, or emboldened by, narratives of
self-justification and entitlement demeans and degrades one’s actual marriage,
one’s spouse, sex-life and circumstances. It fosters a temptation to bypass the
hard work of faithfulness in marriage – the building, developing, and cultivating
of a healthy relationship– and to instead grasp for that which is not your own as
a fast-track to a flourishing life. </span><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">But it doesn’t lead to human flourishing.
It is a dehumanizing way to think about your spouse and someone else’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether acted upon or not it is an incredibly
destructive way of orientating your heart. Again, I really can’t emphasise this
enough! Covetous lust is so destructive that - even though I’m not literally
advocating for this - you’d be better to have an eye gouged out or a hand cut
off, than to experience the kind of total destruction that it leads
to in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<b><sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">31-32</span></sup></b><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">“In regard to divorce, you know that this is not
God’s ideal and, generally speaking, undermines human flourishing. That said,
if you’ve valid reasons for divorce – </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">adultery, physical or
emotional neglect, abandonment, or abuse – a certificate of divorce must be
provided. In this somewhat primitive and patriarchal first-century world, this
certificate will make it easier for a woman to remarry and find economic and
social security. Keep this in mind though men, if you instigate a divorce
without cause (for example, where there has been no sexual immorality), from
God’s perspective your actions will result in your former spouse and her new
husband being the victims of adultery, not the perpetrators. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">33-37</span></sup></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">“My alternative arrangement for human affairs even
impacts everyday realities as basic as how we talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back in the day the dishonesty and unreliability
of people’s words necessitated laws calling people to keep their oaths and to
fulfill vows made before God. Ultimately though, this simply served to create a
two-tiered system of speech. </span><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">An
elevated degree of honesty, truthfulness or commitment if words were spoken as
oaths or vows, and then lowered standards of unreliability and potentially
misleading speech at every other occasion. This kind of duplicity in one’s
speech will undermine human flourishing. Therefore, don’t worry about oaths or
vows; I’m calling you to practise uncomplicated, truthful, straightforward
plain speech. No finger-crossing, no innuendo, no subtle manipulation or veiled
messages. This sort of talk is evil. Just let your yes be a yes and your no be
a no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">38-42</span></sup></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">“You know the laws that seek to prohibit escalating
cycles of violence and retaliation – that limit recompense to like-for-like,
eye-for-eye – well, my invitation is to a more radical way of living. When you
find yourself in conflict with someone intent on evil, someone trying to get
the better of you; don’t fight back. If someone is seeking to shame or
dishonour you, though it feels like a slap in the face, resist the temptation
to defend your honour, instead turn the other cheek and absorb the insult. If
someone is taking you to court over an issue, give more than is being asked.
Look to settle the matter quickly even if it sets you back. When someone
imposes themselves on you with requests or demands that are really too much,
roll your sleeves up and go further than is expected. Give freely to those who
ask, lend generously to those who are looking to borrow from you. All-in-all,
rather than attempting to achieve recompense</span><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"> through appropriately measured
levels of retaliatory violence, find restoration and reconciliation through
unselfish and uncalculated generosity which prioritises the needs or desires
of other people even at the cost of one’s own resource or honour.</span></span><span class="woj"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">43-47</span></sup></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">“It’s very normal to love your neighbour but hate
your enemy, that’s the way broken humanity operates. My way of orientating your
life flips this on its head though. I want you to love your enemies and take
the time to pray for God’s blessing on those who are set against you. Cultivate
a heart that seeks the well-being of others, is willing to embrace the
vulnerability of </span><span class="woj"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">naked
humility and to suffer the loss of one’s personal rights for the sake of another. Living
like this you’re reflecting God’s family values as a true child of God. Whether
corrupt or whether living in total denial of God, people love their own – loving
those who love you is easy – you wouldn’t expect a reward for that would you?
God’s loving kindness extends to everyone! Good or evil, righteous or
unrighteous, the sun and the rain bring God’s blessing to all.</span></span><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">48</span></sup></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">“Be holy, wholesome, whole: even as your heavenly
Father is holy, wholesome and whole. </span><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">Matthew
6</span></u></i></b><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><sup><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">1-4</span></sup></b><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">
</span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">“When it comes to the core spiritual disciplines of
giving, praying and fasting, make sure you’re not working the angles, putting
yourself in the spotlight to garner the kudos of others. This kind of behaviour
– fake piety on display for the world to see – doesn’t impress nor bring any
reward from your Father in heaven. When you are giving to those who are in
need, don’t broadcast it to the world around you like some do; it’s not true
generosity nor true love. These kinds of folks are actors in their own religious
play who are performing for the applause of others and their own
self-congratulation. It’s hypocritical. The only reward they’ll receive will be
the esteem of those who are fooled into thinking they are devout. Instead, when
you give to those who are in need, make sure it is unannounced; an uncalculated
generosity that comes from the heart. Your heavenly Father sees this kind of
giving done in secret and will reward you; his rule will be established in your
heart rather than the rule of money; your priorities will move beyond
self-interest to the world around you; you’ll experience the joy of being a
part of God’s redemptive work in the world as resource is redistributed to meet
needs; your ego will shrink; and you’ll begin to live free and light.</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;"><sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">5-8</span></sup></b><b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 115%;">“As
well, when it comes to prayer, don’t use prayer as a way of impressing others.
Praying out loud and at just the right moment, in order to be noticed by others,
is an exercise in missing the point. When you pray like this the reward is
nothing more than the high praise of folk who don’t realise they’ve been fooled
by a self-indulgent piece of theatre. Instead appreciate prayer as an
invitation to walk a path of faith, trust and mystery. Find a secluded place to
pray, and in prayer open the secluded places of your heart to God. You don’t
need any special techniques nor an impressive vocabulary, blabbering on and on
doesn’t achieve anything. Simple prayers are fine as prayer isn’t something you
have to “get right.” Rather, prayer is something that “gets you right.” God is
a loving Father who hears and knows what you need before you even ask. Though unseen, God hears every prayer and
will reward what is done in secret. Every time you pray you’ll experience a
realignment of your heart as you are continually reformed into the image of
God. Prayer will re-shape you, your eyes will be opened to see beyond that
which is overwhelmingly obvious and into God’s realm of faith, hope and love.</span></div>
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<b><sup><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">9-13</span></sup></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">
“</span><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">When you pray
then, pray </span><span style="color: #1c1e21; line-height: 115%;">straightforward prayers like this: God
of heaven who is loving kindness, the source of all life, the concerned
caretaker over all things; let the holy, wholesome and whole realities of your
dimension invade, energise, captivate, heal, and be established in our lives
and world. Let us revere who you are and take your call to righteousness
and shalom seriously. Let your rule and reign be established in our hearts,
lives, families and communities. In all things may our allegiance be to you
alone and may your alternate arrangement for human affairs come alive for all.</span><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="color: #1c1e21; line-height: 115%;">Let
us always be mindful that you are the one who sustains our lives, the source of
every good gift; your words are life to us, fresh bread your blessing. Tempted
as we are to stockpile, teach us to trust that provision for today is enough,
and to appreciate that to give and to share is holy. Forgive us when we trample
over others and fail to represent you as loving kindness in the world. And when
a corrupt and damaging ordering of this world is imposed upon us, let us be
quick to forgive. In all things, protect us from narratives that would beguile
us into thinking we can find our own paths to human flourishing.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><sup><span style="color: #1c1e21; line-height: 115%;">14-15</span></sup></b><b><span style="color: #1c1e21; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="color: #1c1e21; line-height: 115%;">“Remember, forgiveness is essential
to a holy, whole and wholesome life; so fully entrust yourself to the
forgiveness of God! This will mean forgiving those who’ve wronged you in life.
Receiving forgiveness from God and extending forgiveness to others goes
hand-in-hand. There is a flow and a rhythm to forgiveness a little bit like
breathing. Breathing in God’s forgiveness enables you to live free and light.
Breathing out or extending forgiveness to those who’ve wronged you does the
same. If you don’t get the flow right you’ll feel suffocated in life; you
certainly won’t be flourishing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><sup><span style="color: #1c1e21; line-height: 115%;">16-18</span></sup></b><b><span style="color: #1c1e21; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="color: #1c1e21; line-height: 115%;">“When you go without food in response
to the circumstances of life where feasting wouldn’t be appropriate – loss,
grief, angst, heartache, despair – don’t put on a lugubrious face. The point of
fasting is not to gain the attention of others by looking dismal, doleful and
glum; the point is to be fully present to moments in life you’d rather escape. So,
keep a straight face but don’t try and bury your heartache. Fast and be present
to the difficult season you are in and discover that God is present to you. Like
prayer it is an invitation into mystery. Your Father in heaven sees and having
put one faculty of your senses to the side, you’ll begin to encounter God in
other life-giving ways. Rather than derailing your life in situations where you
may be tempted to make poor choices in an attempt to mask over heartache and
loss; you will experience the life-giving reward of God’s sustaining presence.</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;"><sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">19-21</span></sup></b><b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 115%;">“Don’t
orientate your life around the acquisition of wealth or possessions and the
status, security, power and control that money supposedly offers. Ultimately
you are pursuing a counterfeit kind of freedom and self-governance that is
contra to that which God is calling you into. More than that, it is an
illusion. Wealth and possessions are temporary and fleeting, as is the freedom
to be your own man that they supposedly promise. They’ll eventually be lost to
you, or you lost to them. Instead, orientate your life around the mystery of
the Kingdom of God. Pray, fast, give and forgive your way into all that I am teaching.
Let my way become your way of being in the world. Living like this, you’ll be
storing up heavenly treasure that has a way of showing up in the here and now;
God’s good and righteous rule in your life; a restoration into the fullness of
the image of God as you experience holy, wholesome and whole growth in life; a
deep trust and confidence in God; a flourishing life; an inheritance prepared
before the foundation of the world. The kind of treasure that you seek to
orientate your life around reflects the kind of person you are.</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;"><sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">22-24</span></sup></b><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 115%;"> “In life, how you see things determines whether you're living
in the light or living in darkness. If your perspective is wholesome and
generous, anchored in a revelation of God’s generosity towards you, you’ve a
good eye and will live in a place of enlightenment. If your perspective is evil
and stingy, supposing that God has been stingy towards you, you’ll be
surrounded by darkness. To suppose that God is stingy – to carry this as some
sort of illuminating revelation – is to have misread the situation; this kind
of revelation is actually darkness. You’ll be tempted to make money your
master, thinking it more generous than God and a sure pathway to a flourishing
life, but God’s invitation to human flourishing is found in a different
direction. You need to choose either God or money to be the master in your
life; you cannot serve both. You will end up devoted to one and despising the
other.</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;"><sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">25-34</span></sup></b><sup style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></sup><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 115%;">“Therefore, on account of your willingness to live into my
way of being in the world, and on account of your faith in God as the concerned
caretaker over all things, don’t make the everyday things of life – what you
eat, what you drink, or what you wear – your number one concern. Rather,
orientate your life around my invitation into a holy, whole and wholesome way
of living. Seek as your first priority the rule and reign of God in your life,
the kingdom of God, God’s alternative arrangement of human affairs as an
invitation to human flourishing. As you do this, watch how the things of life fall
into place – God will take care of you! God knows exactly what you need in
life. Look how God provides for the birds of the air, they are not anxious to
store up supplies and yet they are fed. Look how God clothes the flowers, they
are spectacular in their beauty and yet they are here today and gone tomorrow.
You can entrust your life to God; you are more precious than the birds and the
flowers and God will look after you. So, don’t worry about how it is going to
all work out down the track; worry won’t prolong your life. Instead, with all
the wisdom, insight and faith you can muster, make the best decision you can to
walk my way in this moment – that’s worry enough for today.</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;"><i><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Matthew 7</span></u></i></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;"><sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">1-6</span></sup></b><b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 115%;">“</span><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 115%;">Don’t get your knickers-in-a-twist
all stressed out about your brother and sister and how they are going in their
walk with God, that’s their concern. Make the central concern of your life your
own faithfulness to God. Why are you so quick to knit-pick, keen to point out a
speck of dust in your brother’s eye, when you yourself have a log wedged in
yours? It’s hypocritical, you don’t even realise how poor your vision is and
you’re in no position to address your brother’s short failings. Address your
own issues and then you might be able to lend a hand. Don’t be all judgy-judgy,
criticizing and finding fault with everyone around you. That’s nothing more than
personal insecurity masquerading as false piety. It’s another manifestation of
worry about yourself, expressing itself as ‘worry’ about others. It doesn’t
help anyone, and all you are doing is inviting that same sort of dehumanizing
and sharp criticism to be levelled at you. It’s no path to human flourishing.
That said, don’t throw discernment out the window. There are times when the
instinctive generosity I’m calling you to needs to be stewarded with care. Your
life is sacred and precious, as is the heavenly treasure I’m entrusting to you,
this good news I offer. Don’t attempt to present it as a gift to people who are
quite obviously set against you and the life I offer; they are likely to walk
all over you, trampling you to pieces.</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;"><sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">7-11</span></sup></b><b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 115%;">“Ultimately
the antidote to worry is a deep-seated trust in God’s willingness to take care
of his children. My invitation in all things, is to ask of God – to search and
enquire – to knock, so to speak, trusting that God will open a way for you.
Earthly fathers, as flawed as they might be, know how to give good gifts to
their children. If their child asks for something to eat, a burger or fish
perhaps, they wouldn’t even think to offer them a stone or a snake. How much
more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those that ask of Him! Trust
in God who is loving kindness, overflowing generosity, and the concerned
caretaker over all things. The energy you are tempted to exert in worrying will
only serve to offer an illusionary sense of comfort. Rather, direct your energy
towards God in prayer, attentiveness of heart, and small steps of trust, then
watch as God guides you, provides for you, and births all kinds of newness in
your life.</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;"><sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">12 </span></sup></b><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 115%;">“In every facet of your life, in the little things and the big, in
the ways you engage with the world around you; treat other people in the way
you would like to be treated. This sums up the Law and the Prophets. Everything
else is commentary.</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;"><sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">13-14</span></sup></b><b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 115%;">“All-in-all
then, I’m calling you to a way of life that’s not always the popular choice.
The majority route sparkles as a wide road of easy-going self-centred living.
Many suppose it to be the sure path to the good life and hurry down it without
hesitation. At the end of the day though, it’s a way of being that leads to
destruction. Instead, I’m calling you to walk through a narrow gate and along a
narrow path where you’ll need to pay attention to every step you take. As you
walk slowly, stepping carefully and embodying my way of living, you’ll
experience an inner transformation that leads to a holy, whole and wholesome
form of human flourishing. </span></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;"><sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">15-22</span></sup></b><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 115%;"> “Of course, there will be no shortage of teachers offering
counterfeit alternatives to the way of living I’m calling you to. Watch out for
these folks. They may appear genuine, reverent, godly perhaps, but even though
they look the part on the outside, on the inside they’re as dangerous as
wolves. If what they teach doesn’t align with the way I’m calling you to live,
it’s a forgery. No doubt they’ll have an audience, of course they will, but
grapes aren’t found on a gorse bush and figs don’t grow from thistles; the
fruit they produce won’t be healthy. Ultimately it won’t nourish, it won’t
sustain, and it won’t lead to a flourishing life. It’s nothing more than a
seductively pious invitation to the easy-going self-centred way of living I’ve already
warned you about. Take no notice. Cast this sort of teaching aside. Trees that
don’t produce healthy fruit are cut down and destroyed. Not everyone who
professes allegiance to me is actually aligned to me. Some people know all the
right things to say and all the right things to do, they declare me Lord, they
prophesy, they cast out oppressive spirits, and they pray for miracles in my
name; but they don’t actually know me. They are so close and yet they are so
far. They’ve missed the heart of the matter; the kingdom of God and God’s
righteousness. They ministered in my name, but the objective was the establishment
of their own name and reputation. At the end of the day I will tell them
plainly, ‘I never knew you, away with you, this kind of ministry is evil.’</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;"><sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">24-27 </span></sup></b><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 115%;">“Ultimately, in offering a way of living that leads to a
flourishing life I am extending an invitation to wisdom: practised, Christ-centred,
kingdom-shaped, neighbourly, future orientated, enacted wisdom. Embodied in one’s
daily life, my words offer a sure foundation upon which to build a life and
those who do so are wise. While it is possible to build a house that looks the
part on a foundation of rock or a foundation of sand, what’s beneath the
surface will be put to the test when the rains fall, the streams rise, and the
winds blow. Those who are wise will embrace my way and their house will stand strong.
Foolish are those that disregard the wisdom I offer as their house will come falling down around them. My way of living is a sure foundation, anything else is
destined to collapse."</span></div>
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<b><sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">28-29</span></sup></b><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">When
Jesus finished teaching, he stood up and walked back down the mountain. It was
no longer a small group of disciples that followed him though, large crowds
were now walking with Jesus. People were amazed by what he taught and how he
taught. Unlike other teachers of the law who simply passed down the established
traditions of earlier teachers, Jesus spoke with an authority that brought to
life God’s intention for human flourishing in new and surprising ways; an interruption to the status-quo and a paradigm shift for all of humanity.</span></div>
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<br />Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-61659031577867759482019-08-13T16:21:00.000+12:002019-08-13T16:22:11.990+12:00Opting Out of the Christian Faith<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">People
coming to faith in Christ, people walking away from their faith, people out-growing
the version of church or Christianity they grew up with, people exploring, people
opting out; none of these things are new or novel. What perhaps is, in our
contemporary Christian context, is the publicized advent of these events. Especially
when one considers the obsession (at least in some quarters) for a glamorous
and alluring type of Christianity </span>modeled<span style="font-family: inherit;"> cat-walk style in mega-churches. One
that celebritizes singers, songwriters, and preachers, who themselves then curate
social-media profiles followed by thousands (and hundreds of thousands). When
folk such as this step away from their faith it becomes a press-release
statement, as much a stage-based moment as their Christian ministry has been.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In
recent weeks we’ve had a couple of these publicized announcements followed by
the inevitable reactions one would expect in the world of social-media and in the
world of consumer-Christianity publishing. I know none of these folks
personally and have no desire to judge them or pass comment on their particular
journeys. With all sincerity I wish them Godspeed as well as God’s grace and
peace. I have my own beliefs that it is in God that we (them included) live and
move and have our being, and that the declaration of the Hebrew psalmist in Psalm
139:7-12 (see below) is as true for them as for anyone else; where can I flee from
Your presence?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
do, however, want to highlight a couple of reasons one of these folks offered
for calling time on the Christian faith and make some brief comments. Part of
their Instagram post read…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">“How many
preachers fall? Many. No one talks about it.<b> </b></span><strong style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">How many miracles happen? Not many. No one talks about it. Why is the
Bible full of contradictions? No one talks about it. How can God be love yet
send four billion people to a place [hell], all ‘coz they don’t believe? No one
talks about it.</span></strong><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">I am not
in anymore. I want genuine truth. Not the ‘I just believe it’ kind of truth.</span>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">No one talks
about it. Really? He’s mis-read the situation, surely? What bubble of the
Christian world does he live in? Everyone is talking about these things! Aren’t
they? Actually, not everyone is talking about these things. In certain contemporary
church contexts ‘deeper’ issues of theology are rarely talked about. A clear statement
of faith is produced that defines the boarders and discussion is dismissed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I can
well imagine this Christian minster feeling the need for robust conversations (very
robust conversations) to be had in relation to each of these topics – over coffee,
in church staff meetings, and in Sunday morning sermons – but finding that they
are never addressed. They’re not </span>glamorous<span style="font-family: inherit;"> topics that build organisation
momentum or inspire people to greatness, so they are put to the side. As well, they
are complicated topics and for many Senior Pastors (especially CEO types) fall
in the ‘too hard’ basket. But for many people these are big issues that pastors
in every context must address. Calling people to ‘just believe it’ isn’t enough.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In his
book ‘A Churchless Faith,’ pastor and writer Alan Jamieson, points out that
people who leave the Church have, on average, been congregants for sixteen
years with 94 percent having been leaders. These people are not slackers who
leave because they have been offended; rather they leave because of meta grumbles
– deep rooted questions about the foundations of faith itself which are not being
addressed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Obviously,
this is problematic. Left unaddressed, or worse when they are suppressed (which
happens all too often), these issues become destabilizing. At best folk perceive
the Church to have taken them as far in their faith journey as she can and opt
out of a localized Christian community. Alternatively, they opt out of faith altogether.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">Pastors
(and everyone else), q</span><span style="color: #1d2129; line-height: 115%;">uestions,
doubts, suspicions and uncertainty are part-and-parcel of authentic
Christianity. In fact, it is almost inevitable that there will come a season
where these things serve as the primary catalyst for spiritual growth in one’s
journey of following Jesus. What’s unfortunate is that the modern church
doesn’t always make space for people to doubt or to question or to be
suspicious. Organisational church growth tends to require unwavering commitment
to the vision, the values, the mission and the culture of ‘the house.’ This
tends to mean cultivating an environment of momentum, alignment, excitement and
anticipation; an ‘atmosphere of faith.’ The demand therefore tends to be for
uniformity and conformity. This becomes a pretty challenging context in which
to ask big questions about faith, the nature of the church, Christian
spirituality and what it means to follow Jesus. Questions and doubts can be
wrongly interpreted as a “lack of faith,” “a bad attitude,” “divisive,” or even
a clear indicator that someone is “backsliding.” This is problematic on so many
levels. No topic should be off-limits, and space needs to be made to address
the theological issues that are being wrestled with in our contemporary context. (You can read more on this <a href="http://josephmcauley.blogspot.com/2016/08/vibrant-spirituality-and-wall.html" target="_blank">here</a>). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pastors (and everyone
else), if you’re not sure where to start when it comes to thinking through some
of these topics – have a look at these links. On miracles, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Miracles-Credibility-New-Testament-Accounts/dp/0801039525/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3S8SLNEJ7MKPQ&keywords=craig+keener+miracles&qid=1565584155&s=books&sprefix=craig+keener%252Cstripbooks%252C154&sr=1-2&pldnSite=1" target="_blank">this</a> or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Case-Miracles-Journalist-Investigates-Supernatural/dp/0310259185/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=lee+strobel+miracles&qid=1565584083&s=books&sr=1-1&pldnSite=1" target="_blank">this</a>. On hell,<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Four-Views-Hell-Counterpoints-Theology-dp-0310516463/dp/0310516463/ref=mt_paperback?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1565669518" target="_blank"> this</a>, or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fire-That-Consumes-Historical-Punishment-ebook/dp/B0054M8UBK/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=fire+that+consumes&qid=1565669571&s=books&sr=1-1" target="_blank">this</a>, or <a href="http://josephmcauley.blogspot.com/2018/02/in-regard-to-hell-part-one.html" target="_blank">this</a>. On suffering <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Moving-Beyond-Answers-Problem-Suffering/dp/0830823948/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=is+god+to+blame+boyd&qid=1565669622&s=books&sr=1-1" target="_blank">this</a>. On the Bible <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bible-Tells-Me-Defending-Scripture/dp/0062272039/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=peter+enns&qid=1565669677&s=books&sr=1-2" target="_blank">this</a>, or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Scripture-Authority-God-Bible-Today/dp/0062212648/ref=sr_1_1?crid=TF6U45VNW3Z7&keywords=scripture+and+the+authority+of+god+how+to+read+the+bible+today&qid=1565669703&s=books&sprefix=scripture+and+the+au%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C353&sr=1-1" target="_blank">this</a>, or<a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Read-Bible-Book-Guided/dp/0310518083/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=how+to+read+the+bible&qid=1565669776&s=books&sr=1-2" target="_blank"> this</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Finally, I think it is
worth pointing out that what inevitably becomes a kind of minor Christian celebrity
status for gifted singers, songwriters and preachers who are privileged (or
perhaps inappropriately burdened) by the bright lights and big crowds of the
main stage needs to be carefully managed. And by carefully managed I don’t mean
stage managed by an artist development liaison officer; I’m talking about
robust pastoral care. Most young singers, songwriters, and preachers promoted
to the main stage are aware that they are their based on their gifts, talents
and abilities rather than character, ministry experience and faithfulness to a
long obedience in the same direction. Pastoral care is required in order to
ensure their holistic development. But more is required than the character
development championed by the adage ‘gifting will get you there, but character
will keep you there.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Character development is
good, but more is required than gifts and character. Vocational Christian
ministry needs to be appreciated as a professional vocation as it historically was
(along with medicine and law). Too often though, professional contemporary church
ministry parallels professional sport, a paid profession where skill and
natural attributes bring you into the role. Instead (without discounting skill
and natural attributes) it should be appreciated as a profession where
professional training brings you into the role – theological training, professional
ethics, a body or required knowledge etc. This won’t fix everything, but it should
give rise to vocational Christian ministers more than capable of navigating issues
such as those highlighted by this recent Christian minister opting out. Instead
he’d be able to help others navigate these topics. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">*Psalm
139:7-12. </span><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">Where can I go from your Spirit?</span> Where can I flee from
your presence?</span> If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if
I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the
wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me
fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the
light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to
you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as
light to you.<span style="color: #1d2129; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-13120794943009737312019-03-28T15:17:00.000+13:002019-03-28T15:54:53.453+13:00Epistemic Bubbles and Echo Chambers<br />
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Yesterday I read, “A Document on Human Fraternity for World
Peace and Living Together,” a joint statement signed by both Pope Francis of
the Catholic Church and Sheikh Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar. I
found it bold, honest, and hopeful – certainly attributes necessary in our
world today. It is the product of inter-faith dialogue between one of
Christianity’s senior leaders and one of Islam’s senior leaders and <a href="https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/travels/2019/outside/documents/papa-francesco_20190204_documento-fratellanza-umana.html" target="_blank">is well worth having a look at</a>. Reading the document, I also found myself reflecting on
what sometimes feels like a very fragmented Christianity. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Someone I was talking to recently mentioned that Rotary International
is the largest organisation in the world providing and financing humanitarian services
around the globe. I commented, “surely the Christian <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Church provides more humanitarian
services than Rotary?” His response; “Perhaps, but the Church isn’t one
organisation.” <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Touché</span>. Jesus
declares that it will be by our love for one another that the world will know
the Church to be Christ’s disciples, but the Church often feels very divided. <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222;">In our Western context (and elsewhere),
for better or worse, we’ve a plethora of options in relation to the local
church we choose to attend. Seven or eight Great Traditions have evolved over
the centuries and a multiplicity of denominations and non-denominational branches
exist within each. Even within denominations there is a wide-range of local
church expressions with different churches celebrating different cultural
values and methodologies of church. Too often, as folk already thoroughly
discipled as consumers, our choice to fellowship in a particular church
community can subliminally (though irreverently) feel like a consumer choice
that is quickly followed by a form of confirmation bias or post-purchase
rationalization. This form of rationalization is the tendency to retroactively
ascribe positive attributes to the choice we have made for option A (our
church), while simultaneously amplifying the negative attributes of option B that
we didn’t opt for (the church down the road). There is no need for us to do
that. More, when I do that (or you do that), it has the potential to be a form of
anti-Christ. It has the potential to go against the way of being in the world
that Jesus calls us into. We need to be careful here.<br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Unchecked, post-purchase
rationalization within ‘church world’, especially among pastors and leaders can
lead to the development of epistemic bubbles and echo chambers, (something I
covered over a few pages in my final doctorate project, which if you like, you can
read below and find references for). Epistemic bubbles come about when informational networks form but omit
certain voices from the conversation. In my doctorate project, which is contextualized
to Pentecostalism, the examples I offer in relation to epistemic bubbles focus
on the way in which Pentecostalism has tended towards a relational tribalism
that, historically, has omitted </span><span style="background: white; color: black;">conversation partners such as the theological
academy, the ever evolving historical and theological perspectives of Church history
over the centuries, and current and varied ecumenical points of view.</span><span style="color: black;"> <span style="background: white; mso-highlight: white;">More
specifically, as Pentecostalism has evolved as a ‘contemporary’ methodology and
expression of church, there tends to be a singular set of voices guiding
conversations pertinent to faith and practice – that of the various mega-church
pastors who lead relational networks and speak at each other’s conferences,
seminars, retreats and events</span></span><span style="background: white;">. The
conversation is thus very one-dimensional with perspectives, practices and
opinions continually recycled and re-enforced rather than challenged to adapt
and evolve as might be necessary.<br /> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">More insidious </span>than
epistemic bubbles, echo chambers are formed when, in addition to relevant
voices being disregarded, potential conversation partners are actively
discredited. Whereas an <span style="background: white;">epistemic bubble merely
omits contrary views, an echo chamber brings its members to actively distrust
outside voices. One shouldn’t be naïve in thinking this is not a reality within
church contexts or the Christian community more generally. There are many
possible scenarios, you’ll be familiar with some no-doubt; Protestants who are
anti-Catholic, ‘small’ church folk who are against mega-churches, pastors with
no formal theological training pre-supposing that those with theological training
should be viewed with suspicion, charismatics who see deeper teaching as cerebral
nonsense, exegetical preachers who see Pentecostalism as hocus-pocus. And each
of these could be reversed. More damaging than epistemic bubbles, echo chambers
have the potential to become cult-like, with members isolated from outside
voices that are labelled as malignant and untrustworthy, </span><span style="background: white; color: black;">with the framework of
trust being narrowed to exclusively insider voices</span><span style="background: white;">.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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When this shift to a narrow set of voices occurs, the Church
ceases to function as a genuine sub-community (an expression of the Kingdom of
God) within the wider society. Rather than existing as a community of peculiar
discourse with practices of memory, hope, and pain that keep healthy human life
available in the face of all the ‘virtual reality’ now on offer in dominant
culture, local churches runs the risk of becoming a separated sphere of
existence with their own dominant culture, set of beliefs and behaviours that
members must submit to in order to belong. The church thus becomes its own
empire rather than a subversion of empire and a prophetic sub-community of
alternative consciousness.<br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">All of this being a
long-winded preamble from which to note; to the extent that the Church and the Christian
community fails to cultivate unity within her own diversity – putting aside such
artificial dualisms as faith versus reason, science versus Scripture, intellect
verses heart, spiritual verses material, Catholic verse Protestant,
contemporary versus traditional, worship versus Word, my local church versus the
other church down the road, and a thousand and one other such possibilities – it
will also fail to be known by its love for one another. Further, if love for
one another is problematic, you can be sure that love of neighbour will be difficult
and love of enemy neigh on impossible. Though hoping to exist as a catalyst of
healing and a broker of peace in the world, the Church – inappropriately divided
rather than beautifully diverse – will likely perpetuate as much brokenness as
what it does restoration.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDWtEngyYPH1k3Ebrg1w7tbQjr3X2-jU_ZoACulfxFz_orVKRJmdBC6nByn4Flp04HkRQnd1-bgC79gkFFPDOc0fExO-ZiULLgOf1-BWGAQdwKAuOs53g-IspIIOnIBg6m6iE6Ja_PYYU/s1600/Church+diversity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="204" data-original-width="500" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDWtEngyYPH1k3Ebrg1w7tbQjr3X2-jU_ZoACulfxFz_orVKRJmdBC6nByn4Flp04HkRQnd1-bgC79gkFFPDOc0fExO-ZiULLgOf1-BWGAQdwKAuOs53g-IspIIOnIBg6m6iE6Ja_PYYU/s320/Church+diversity.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Colossians 3:12-17</span></u></i></b><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><br />
</span><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">12 </span></sup></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Therefore, as God’s chosen people,
holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness and patience. <b><sup>13 </sup></b>Bear
with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance
against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.<b><sup>14 </sup></b>And
over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in
perfect unity. </span></i><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">15 </span></sup></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be
thankful. <b><sup>16 </sup></b>Let the message of Christ dwell
among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all
wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to
God with gratitude in your hearts. <b><sup>17 </sup></b>And whatever
you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.</span></i><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">_______________________________</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222;">Below is a ‘cut & paste’ from
my final doctorate paper, a couple of pages on epistemic bubbles and echo
chambers. It may not make total sense disconnected from the rest of the project,
but at the same time, might be of interest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222;">_______________________________</span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<i>The
Fruit and Consequences of Relational Tribalism</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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In the early
days of Pentecostalism, relational tribalism was enacted via the voluntary
association of faith missions and outreach projects – breakaways from
established church structures and traditions. In the current contemporary
context, tribalism is evidenced in the voluntary association of various
leadership networks that associate around shared cultural values, modes of
worship and methodologies of church – creating further insular subsets within
and across Pentecostal denominational structures. It is not uncommon for
pastors and churches to prefer participation in network events run by the
mega-church ministries they aspire to become like, rather than gatherings
organized by the official denomination or movement to which they belong.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
In terms of
fruitfulness, the tendency towards relational tribalism strengthened
Pentecostal conviction and focus as the movement emerged and institutionalized
in the first half of the twentieth century. Where other traditions viewed
Pentecostalism with suspicion, like-minded cohorts allowed Pentecostalism to
develop in its own identity while hedging against contrary voices. In a sense
relational tribalism allowed Pentecostalism to find its sense of identity.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It must also be
acknowledged, however, that relational tribalism is a strong contributing
factor to the negative consequences of each of the other defining markers
discussed in this paper [you’d have to read the whole paper for this to make
sense]. A greater degree of ecumenical association and engagement with the
varying perspectives of other Christian traditions in matters of theology and
doxology throughout Pentecostalism’s history may have tempered or mitigated
these negative outcomes. Foremost among the undesirable characteristics of
relational tribalism is a narrow and even insular perspective on matters of
faith and praxis that can lead to both arrogance and ignorance. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<i>Echo
Chambers and Epistemic Bubbles</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
In his essay <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Escape the Echo Chamber</i>, philosopher C.
Thi Nguyen suggests two specific ways in which communities wrap themselves
within impenetrable networks of intellectual like-mindedness that are
ultimately unhealthy: via epistemic bubbles and through the creation of echo
chambers.<a href="file:///C:/Users/josep/Desktop/MASTER.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Nguyen defines epistemic bubbles as “<em><span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">informational network[s]
from which relevant voices have been excluded</span></em><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white;"> <em><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">by omission</span></em></span></i><span style="background: white;">.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/josep/Desktop/MASTER.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
</span><span style="background: white; color: black;">Within
Pentecostalism, relational tribalism fosters an epistemic bubble in which
discussions of theology, doxology, ecclesiology, and the like, tend to exclude
other relevant and wise voices. Broadly speaking, the theological simplicity
inherent in Pentecostalism excludes such conversation partners as the
theological academy, evolving historical perspectives of church history and
varied ecumenical points of view. More specifically, within the relational
networks of contemporary Pentecostalism, there tends to be a singular set of
voices guiding conversations pertinent to faith and practice – that of the
various mega-church pastors who lead these networks and speak at each other’s
conferences, seminars, retreats and events</span><span style="background: white;">.<a href="file:///C:/Users/josep/Desktop/MASTER.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
[The conversation is therefore very one-dimensional].</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
More insidious
than epistemic bubbles, echo chambers are formed when, in addition to relevant
voices being disregarded, other conversation partners are actively discredited:
“<span style="background: white;">where an epistemic bubble merely omits contrary
views, an echo chamber brings its members to actively distrust outsiders.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/josep/Desktop/MASTER.docx#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a></span>
In their book <em><span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Echo Chamber, </span></em><span style="background: white;">Kathleen Jamieson and Joseph Cappella describe an echo
chamber as cult-like, with members isolated from outside voices that are labelled
as malignant and untrustworthy, </span><span style="background: white; color: black;">with the framework of trust being narrowed to
exclusively insider voices</span><span style="background: white;">.<a href="file:///C:/Users/josep/Desktop/MASTER.docx#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
While Pentecostalism has at times given rise to cult-like movements, it is not
the intention of this paper to portray contemporary Pentecostalism as a cult.
It should be noted however that, given the need for control embedded within
pragmatic methodologies, the general lack of deeper reflection that comes with
a bent toward theological simplicity and the propensity towards epistemic bubbles
found in relational tribalism [again, you’d need to read the rest of this paper
for that to totally make sense], Pentecostalism should be aware of the
potential of echo chambers developing and the dangers inherent to such
chambers. When the perspective of the mega-church pastor begins to function as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the </i>voice shaping faith and practice
within contemporary Pentecostalism, it is only a matter of time before <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">other </i>voices begin to be disempowered
and discredited to the detriment of Pentecostalism. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
When this shift
to a narrow set of voices occurs, the church ceases to function as a genuine
sub-community (an expression of the Kingdom of God) within the wider society.
Rather than existing as “a community of peculiar discourse with practices of
memory, hope, and pain that keep healthy human life available in the face of
all the ‘virtual reality’ now on offer in dominant culture,”<a href="file:///C:/Users/josep/Desktop/MASTER.docx#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
the church runs the risk of becoming a separated sphere of existence with its
own dominant culture, set of beliefs and behaviours that members must submit to
in order to belong.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Prophetic Imagination</i>, Walter
Brueggemann likens this establishment of a dominant culture requiring
submission, to Israel’s movement away from the radically alternate way of being
in the world that had been established under Moses and as a return to the
pre-Mosaic imperial paradigm [Egypt], as reinstated under the kings of Israel.<a href="file:///C:/Users/josep/Desktop/MASTER.docx#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
This shift began under David but is more clearly evidenced in the life of
Solomon: “the entire program of Solomon now appears to have been a self-serving
achievement with the sole purpose being the self-securing of the king and
dynasty… a program of state-sponsored syncretism, which if course means the
steady abandonment of the radicalness of the Mosaic vision.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/josep/Desktop/MASTER.docx#_ftn8" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn8;" title="">[8]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/josep/Desktop/MASTER.docx#_ftn8" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span></span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
Brueggemann
refers to this embrace of syncretism as the paganization of Israel, though in
the context of a discussion about contemporary Pentecostalism, the metaphor
serves to describe the potential for a secularization of the church.<a href="file:///C:/Users/josep/Desktop/MASTER.docx#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn9;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span class="FootnoteCharacters"> </span>In this instance, the size, reach and
affluence of a large contemporary church, the culture and routinization of the
church (which congregants are expected to buy into),<a href="file:///C:/Users/josep/Desktop/MASTER.docx#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn10;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
and the manner in which senior leaders are seen as God’s elected officials,
serve to create a “controlled static religion in which God and his temple have
become part of the royal landscape, in which the sovereignty of God is fully
subordinated to the purpose of the king.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/josep/Desktop/MASTER.docx#_ftn11" name="_ftnref11" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn11;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[11]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
The church thus becomes its own empire rather than a subversion of empire and a
prophetic sub-community of alternative consciousness. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
When the church
becomes an empire, the less desirable traits inherent in relational tribalism
tend to surface and flourish: theological errancy, ignorance, deception,
blind-spots, self-righteousness, over-demanding expectations within the church,
defensiveness, divisiveness, and a suspicion of any other opinion of, or
expression within, the Body of Christ. All-in-all this amounts to a failure to
reflect Christ’s wish in John 17 that his followers would be known by their
love for one another. Thus, a re-imagined Pentecostalism needs to be mindful of
the paradox that the church is <span style="mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt;">called
to difference – to be a peculiar people – at the macro level (i.e. in relation
to the empire and the systems of the world) but not to tribalism at the micro
level (i.e. within the Body of Christ</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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See “Essays,” on Aeon website, C. Thi Nguyen, “Escape the Echo Chamber” <span class="MsoHyperlink">https://aeon.co/essays/why-its-as-hard-to-escape-an-echo-chamber-as-it-is-to-flee-a-cult (accessed July 30, 2018).</span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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This tendency is seen in the work of contemporary Pentecostal pastor Paul de
Yong, the pastor of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LIFE </i>church in
Auckland, New Zealand. His latest book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">God,
Money and Me</i>, includes ten endorsements of the book, its aims,
perspectives, and conclusions. However, they all come from fellow mega-church
pastors who are regular speakers at de Yong’s conferences (and him at theirs).
There are no endorsements of support from recognized theologians or trained economists.
See; Paul de Yong, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">God,
Money and Me, </i>(Auckland, NZ: Life Resource International, 2017), 3-6.<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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See “Essays,” on Aeon website, C. Thi Nguyen, “Escape the Echo Chamber” <span class="MsoHyperlink">https://aeon.co/essays/why-its-as-hard-to-escape-an-echo-chamber-as-it-is-to-flee-a-cult
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C. Thi Nguyen, “Escape the Echo Chamber,” refereeing to Kathleen
Hall Jamieson and Joseph N. Cappella¸ <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Echo
Chamber; <em><span style="background: white; color: black;">Rush Limbaugh and the
Conservative Media Establishment (New York: Oxford University Press, 2010).</span></em></i><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk520403687;"></span><em><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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Walter Brueggemann, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
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Ibid., 24-25.<o:p></o:p></div>
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See discussion in chapter three, Pragmatic Methodologies, in relation to this.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Brueggemann, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Prophetic Imagination</i>,
28.<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-39495394273753976702018-10-19T09:32:00.000+13:002018-10-19T09:32:47.065+13:00Doctorate: Done and Dusted<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-right: 2.65pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">I recently wrapped up my doctorate studies with Fuller Theological Seminary. It is a wonderful feeling to have finished the program and I'm looking forward to a study-free summer! Below are three paragraphs I've plucked out of the introduction to my final paper - Pentecostalism Re-Imagined: Reconfiguring Pentecostalism in Twenty-First Century New Zealand. If you would like a full copy of the paper please e-mail me and I'll send out a PDF copy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">joseph@stlukeschurch.org.nz</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">The late Irish poet and philosopher John O’Donohue once stated, “It is essential for somebody who wants to have a mature, adult, open-ended, good-hearted critical faith, to conduct the most vigorous and relentless conversation that [they] can with [their] own tradition</span><span lang="EN-US">.” This project is an attempt to engage in such a conversation with my tradition(s) – Pentecostalism and the Assemblies of God movement in New Zealand. It is not a project of criticism – nothing life-giving or transformative is achieved by throwing stones. Rather, the aim is a critical-reflection – a careful and prayerful analysis of Pentecostalism in my twenty-first century context. It is an attempt to offer fresh perspectives on Pentecostal ministry that would assist Assemblies of God pastors throughout New Zealand to minister, with increasing fruitfulness, the life of Christ in a postmodern world.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Three realities within a twenty-first century context that necessitate a process of critical reflection. Firstly, “ministry today takes place in a world that is rapidly changing and extraordinarily multifaceted;” globalization, the information-age, and the progresses of science have awakened in the world a growing appreciation of the complexities inherent to every aspect of human life. This reality demands that the church exhibits a faith that is not only numinous but also rational and intellectual. This does not have to mean academic, nor does it have to be a capitulation to modernist ideals of logical positivism, scientism or some sort of biblical-rationalism. It does, however, ask that while Pentecostalism holds onto the mystery of faith – that God is unknowable in an empirical sense and is fundamentally ineffable – that it also attempts to speak of faith in a manner that is well considered, well formed and well argued. “The world cannot be ignored and isolation – intellectually, physically and spiritually – is not a viable option.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Joseph%20McAuley/Dropbox/Final%20Project%20Master/McAuleyDoctoralProjectDM706.docx#_ftn3" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">The third factor prompting the need for a critical reflection in regard to the theological constructs and ecclesial expressions of Pentecostalism concerns the nature of Pentecostalism and what, in the first place, makes a church Pentecostal. As a younger generation of Assemblies of God pastors are ordained for ministry, appreciation should be given to the fact that they will likely enter ministry with a natural postmodern disposition that will implicitly include a tendency towards deconstruction, institutional suspicion and an incredulity regarding meta-narratives. Whether their points of view are appreciated by older Pentecostal ministers or not, this new generation of pastors is likely to conduct their own evaluations of Pentecostalism and the Assemblies of God as a twenty-first century expression of the Church.</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">Rather than ignore or try and shutdown these postmodern sensibilities, this paper will attempt to create the space required for an honest process of both deconstruction and reconstruction – with the latter being an effort often overlooked in postmodernism. Thus, with Pentecostalism moving into its second century, a critical analysis will consider what should be preserved and what should be discarded; in the first instance, to use the metaphor of 1 Corinthians 3:1<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="__DdeLink__1131_1544010173"></a>2, preserving the gold, silver and costly stones of Pentecost and, in the second instance, leaving behind that which might be referred to as the wood, hay and straw of the various Pentecostalisms that have unfolded over time. </span></span></div>
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If you would like to read the entire paper I'm happy to e-mail you a PDF version of the completed document, just send me an e-mail request: joseph@stlukeschurch.org.nz</div>
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Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-85095175981820835822018-08-24T10:57:00.000+12:002018-08-24T11:34:13.571+12:00Slow-Pastor<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Busy pastor go, go, go,<br />Budgets and planning and projections to show.<br />
<br />Meetings, seminars, conferences, training, <br />Promoting and networking – next level he’s aiming. <br />
<br />Buildings to build, money to raise, <br />Overseas travel and some occasional praise. [Jesus]<br />
<br />How’s work? Busy, busy, no margins to bore, <br />Overloaded schedules that’s how you keep score.<br />
<br />60 hour, 80 hour work weeks even,<br />Advice I just read, <br />A successful pastor would have you believin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">But resist the desire to play that game, <br />A christian version of the rat race is surely insane. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Slow down instead pastor and take a few breaths,<br />Let the truth of God’s Word rise up from the depths. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">A non-anxious presence, and a more peaceful mind, <br />The wisdom of heaven, and of love you will find.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Walk-slowly dear pastor, please take your time,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Eyes open in wonder to see and to hear,<br />God’s alternate arrangement for human affairs. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4AE-Zk7EHNXaskDNzSRQXEfaC7qM61dJ2lf3CPCEGImpIFnU-ydRi5u5IlMCPGkMWW7Lsix1VAF8fooQ9J4SV2i0S4-CpK_mahfoI0tlIaHpSBvNDjchYUmRRpZYHVayO6aT2lWfkq68/s1600/Slow-Pastor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4AE-Zk7EHNXaskDNzSRQXEfaC7qM61dJ2lf3CPCEGImpIFnU-ydRi5u5IlMCPGkMWW7Lsix1VAF8fooQ9J4SV2i0S4-CpK_mahfoI0tlIaHpSBvNDjchYUmRRpZYHVayO6aT2lWfkq68/s320/Slow-Pastor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">A poem I wrote for myself (and any who might appreciate it) post submitting the final project for my doctorate. I suddenly had space and margins that I've not had for a long time and people asking what I'm planning on filling that space with. There are lots of options. In one sense though, my major hope is to be slower, more present, more appreciative, more able to listen, more prayerful and considered. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><i style="font-size: 10.5pt;">“How can I lead people into the quiet place beside the still waters if I am in perpetual motion? How can I persuade a person to live by faith and not by works if I have to juggle my schedule constantly to make everything fit into place?” </i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue";">Eugene H. Peterson</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">, <b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue";">The Contemplative Pastor</span></b></span></span></span></div>
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Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-41454453883998494842018-03-22T11:32:00.000+13:002018-03-22T11:32:30.029+13:00On Books and Strategies for Reading<div class="MsoNormal">
Have you ever thought to yourself, “I wish I read more,” or, “I’d love to be more of a reader,” or, “so many books, but so little time,”? If you have, I've got a couple of suggestions in regard to how you might become a more proficient and prolific reader. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Firstly, I’d encourage you to start thinking about books as you do various Netflix or television shows. Picture a book as a series and the chapters within the book as episodes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Secondly, select three books that you’d like to read. Think of them as three different television shows that you’d like to have on the go. Maybe get some recommendations from friends in regard to something they’ve read and thought was top shelf – just like you do with Netflix. Of course, don’t (when starting out) choose three ridiculously large or complicated books, rather choose something with approx. 200 to 300 pages in it and ten to twelve chapters.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thirdly, pick a night of the week that your “show,” your book, is going to be on. Let’s say one on Monday, one on Tuesday and one on Thursday, and then choose what time your show starts each night (appreciating that it’ll be an hour long) – let’s go with 8:15pm.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fourthly, be aware that reading is a discipline, far more so than watching television. It takes energy, effort, and concentration. Reading is in one sense a muscle that you have to exercise and develop. When you first start there might be some heavy lifting, but you will grow stronger. Commit to your hour reading each night, with each book. Don’t worry if at first you can’t complete a whole chapter in the allotted time, a whole episode, you’ll become a faster reader by simple perseverance.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fifthly, if one of your books gets really good – feel free to binge read.</div>
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Sixthly, if you commit to the discipline you’ll get through between ten and fifteen 250-page books every year, between one hundred and one hundred and fifty books every ten years. And that’s not accounting for the improvements you’ll make in terms of becoming a stronger reader every month that goes by, nor for the occasional binge read. </div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><i>"Books shape us, dynamically molding our minds and souls. You are never the same person when you finish a book–even one that is read purely for escape or entertainment. A.W. Tozer has aptly stated that “the things you read will fashion you by slowly conditioning your mind”. What it means is that what we read matters and directly affects what we become. We are fortunate with the wealth of books at our fingertips. </i>- Scott Larsen</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-41249400002329358112018-02-28T19:31:00.000+13:002018-03-05T09:42:38.577+13:00In Regard to Hell – Part Three<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He’s heating up. He’s on fire! – NBA Jam (Sega Mega Drive – 1993)</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We’ve covered a bunch of stuff so far, this one, part three, is probably the most interesting as we get to what Jesus is saying when he talks about "hell."</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>First a bit of a summary… </b><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span> <span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hell is an Old English word that is used in our English translations of the Bible as a substitute for <i>sheol, hades, Tartarus, </i>and <i>gehenna. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Sheol </i>is a Hebrew word that appears in the Old Testament. Essentially it means death, the grave, gravedom, pushing up daisies, 6 ft under. If, when we read “hell” in our Old Testaments, we start imagining some sort of tortuous furnace we are reading ideas into the text (popular and/or pagan) that simply aren’t there. We're best to leave <i>sheol </i>as <i>sheol </i>rather than translate it as "hell." Many English translations do. </span></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: inherit;">Hades, </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">more-or-less, means the same thing when it appears in the New Testament. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is one slight development though, as </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">hades</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> in the Greek is the name of both the Greek god of the underworld and the underworld itself. Sometimes the New Testament use of </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">hades </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">makes allusions to this reality. In one instance Jesus tells a story in which the Greek understanding of the underworld features as a vehicle to make a point – the story of The Rich Man and Lazarus. This isn’t an endorsement of Greek mythology nor is it a story that offers any insights into “hell.” We'd do well to simply let <i>hades </i>be <i>hades </i>and not translate it to "hell." That leads us astray. </span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All of the above is covered in a lot more detail in <a href="http://josephmcauley.blogspot.co.nz/2018/02/in-regard-to-hell-part-one.html">part one </a>and <a href="http://josephmcauley.blogspot.co.nz/2018/02/in-regard-to-hell-part-two.html">part two</a> of this series on “hell.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now for some new territory, <i>Tartarus </i>and <i>gehenna. </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tartarus<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is one passage in the New Testament where hell is used as the English translation of the Greek word Tartarus. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><u>2 Peter 2:4</u></i></b><i><br />
</i><i><span style="background: white;">For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to Tartarus, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you’ve read part one and part two in this series you’ll know that Tartarus is a domain within the Greek underworld, a prison, an abyss, a dungeon. Here Cronus, king of the Titans, imprisoned the one-eyed Cyclopes, and it is here that Zeus imprisoned many of the Titans themselves when the gods of Olympus triumphed over them. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here in 2 Peter, Peter borrows this term straight from classical Greek literature and mythology as an appropriate simile by which to point out that in the eschaton there will be a judgement for fallen angels. His audience would have instantly understood what Peter was trying to explain in drawing parallels between God and Zeus, between angels and Titans, and between imprisonment and final judgement. Even these “heavenly” creature would be judged in good time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In terms of our discussion of “hell” and the final judgement of human sinners, this passage is of little help. It is focused on sinful angels not people, and is concerned with the detention of these angels not with punishment post the judgement of God. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">All in all, that leaves us now with <i>gehenna, </i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">the third Greek word that in our English Bibles is translated as “hell” and the one that Jesus uses. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Gehenna </i>is used twelve times in the New Testament, in Matthew (x7), in Mark (x3), in Luke (x1), and in James (x1). We’ll have a look at these verses but will do so within a bigger discussion of judgement and punishment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Let’s start in Matthew 25. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><u>Matthew 25:46<br />
</u></i></b><span class="woj"><i>“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”</i></span><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Christ comes in glory. We’ve the resurrection of the dead. We’ve a judgement. And, some “go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our focus is on the nature of the eternal punishment and our understanding of “hell.” What is going on here? More specifically, is the punishment of the unrighteous eternal in consequence or eternal in duration – are they destroyed forever, or forever being destroyed?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How should we understand “hell”?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The fate of the wicked in the Old Testament<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yep, sorry, before we consider the words of Jesus we need to back the truck up a little. Well not a little, quite a bit actually. We’ve got to go all OT (Old Testament). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Throughout the Old Testament the consistent message / threat / promise that comes from God in relation to the wicked is that they will be destroyed; <u>they will be annihilated</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Deuteronomy 29:20, God warns Israel that those who turn to false idols will be cursed and their names blotted out from under heaven – they’ll simply be no more.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">The prophet Isaiah warns…</span><br />
<b><i><u><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></u></i></b> <b><i><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Isaiah 1:28, 30-31</span></u></i></b><i style="font-family: inherit;"><b><sup>28 </sup></b></i><i style="font-family: inherit;">But rebels and sinners will both be broken,</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> and those who forsake the <span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> will perish.</i></span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><i><sup>30 </sup></i></b><i style="font-family: inherit;">You will be like an oak with fading leaves,</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> like a garden without water.<br /><b><sup>31 </sup></b>The mighty man will become tinder<br /> and his work a spark;<br />both will burn together,<br /> with no one to quench the fire.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The metaphors are those of total annihilation, of perishing. There is no one to quench the fire, it will do its work, it’ll burn everything up until nothing remains. There will be no rescue.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">The book of Psalms is loaded with this kind of imagery.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Psalm 1 – Those who delight in the Lord will be “like trees planted by streams of water,” the wicked, however, will be “like chaff that the wind drives away,” “their way leads to destruction.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Psalm 2 – The wicked will be dashed to pieces like pottery that is smashed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Psalm 50 – The wicked will be blotted out of the book of life, not listed with the righteous. (Like in Deuteronomy, cease to exist, not even remembered).</span></div>
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<span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">fools do not understand,</span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">that though the wicked spring up like grass</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">and all evildoers flourish,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">they will be destroyed forever.</span></span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Obadiah 16 – For the wicked, it will be as though they had never been.</span><br />
<span class="text" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><br /></span></span> <span class="text" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Again and again, the imagery is of the wicked being e</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">xtinguished, annihilated, destroyed. Plain and simple they will cease to exist.</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b> <b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The fate of the wicked in the New Testament</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">When we get to the New Testament, the imagery continues, both that of fire and of total destruction </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">and annihilation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">John the Baptist in Matthew 3, regarding the righteous and the unrighteous… “the </span>axe<span style="font-family: inherit;"> is at the root, and trees that don’t produce fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire,” and, “the wheat will be gathered and the chaff </span>thrown<span style="font-family: inherit;"> into the fire.” No one would imagine a tree or chaff surviving in the fire, the imagery is one of total destruction.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus as well talks about bad trees being thrown into the fire in Matthew 7:19, and then also about being the true vine and that the branches that don’t remain in him will be thrown into the fire in John 15:6.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Again, what happens when branches or chaff are thrown into the fire? They are destroyed, burnt up, </span>vaporised<span style="font-family: inherit;">, turned to ash. They cease to exist.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">“Go and grab me that branch you burnt in the fire yesterday please?” It isn’t happening. The branch is gone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We’ve other passages too.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i><u><br /></u></i></b> <b style="font-family: inherit;"><i><u>Matthew 7:13-14</u></i></b><br />
<i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Destruction and life should be seen as opposites. Not as two different types of existence.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i><u><br /></u></i></b> <b style="font-family: inherit;"><i><u>Hebrew 10:27</u></i></b><br />
<span class="text" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.</span></i></span><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Here </span>we’ve<span style="font-family: inherit;"> a raging fire consuming the enemies of God. That is what fire does. It consumes things, it destroys things.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">The Apostle Peter refers to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah as being burnt to ashes and as an example of the fate of the ungodly.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></i></b> <b style="font-family: inherit;"><i><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">2 Peter 2:6</span></u></i></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The idea again and again is that of total and utter destruction – ceasing to exist – annihilation.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, what about “hell,” doesn’t Jesus even talk about “hell”?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well no. Not if you come back to the point I was trying to make in part one of this series. Jesus doesn’t mention “hell” even once. Jesus talks about <i>gehenna</i> whereas “hell” is an English translation of a Greek word and not one that necessarily helps us given the pagan and popular ideas now embedded within the concept of “hell.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In terms of our use of “hell” in the English language, where did that word come from? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Hel</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> is the name of a Nordic goddess, Loki’s daughter, who ruled over the Nordic underworld, also called <i>Hel</i>. To “go to <i>Hel” </i>when one died was to go to this goddess and her underworld abode. All-in-all a similar idea to that in Greek mythology of <i>hades </i>ruled by <i>Hades</i>. Evolving from these Nordic origins, <i>hel </i>inherited an extra “l” and came to mean in Old English both “underworld” and “concealed place,” as well as, “to cover,” “to conceal,” and “to hide.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When the Bible was eventually translated into English, “hell” was the word chosen to translate what Jesus spoke of – “gehenna.” Thus, one commentator writes; <u>a pagan concept and word was fitted to a Christian idea.</u> “Hell” then, like “hades,” is a word that potentially imports ideas into the Bible rather than being an idea we can read out of the Bible. We have to pay attention to language.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Like <i>sheol </i>and <i>hades, </i>“hell” </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">is such a loaded word, I think we’d be better to just leave our Bibles with the Greek word “gehenna.” This is what Jesus talked about and is what we need to try and get our head around. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>So, </b><i><b>gehenna…</b><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Gehenna</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> is the Greek translation of what in Hebrew was “the Valley of Hinnom,” a valley south-west of Jerusalem. This valley is referred to in the book of Joshua (15:8 and 18:16), and in the book of 2 Kings (16:3), as well as in Jeremiah (7:31 and 19:2-6). It was a place of child sacrifice where children were burnt. Not a pleasant place at all. Isaiah (30:33) refers not by name, but as “a burning place” (topheth) in which the Assyrian army will be destroyed, and in 66:24 as a burning place for those that have rebelled against God… </span><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">“And they will go out and look on the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; the worms that eat them will not die, the fire that burns them will not be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.”</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some have suggested that by the time of Jesus, the Valley of Hinnom, <i>gehenna</i>, served as Jerusalem’s garbage dump. Supposedly, as an incinerator, located near the Dung Gate of Jerusalem, and would have seen a constant flow of waste deposited into it with fires burning day and night. It would have therefore been a place of stench and decay with rotting fish and animals, as well as the bodies of vanquished enemies as well. It seems however that there is very little evidence for that. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Notwithstanding that, Jesus’ use of <i>gehenna </i>nevertheless conjured for his listeners this kind of imagery. the Valley of Hinnom as a place of fiery destruction. Flames, flies and maggots consuming defeated enemy corpses, destroying and vaporizing all that we are thrown into it. It wasn’t a nice picture. It wasn’t meant to be. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The long and the short of it though, whatever was thrown into <i>gehenna </i>would be burnt up and consumed. It would cease to exist. It would be no more. It was not a placed you wanted to be cast into.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For Jesus, the fate of the wicked is some sort of fiery demise, and he uses this imagery of <i>gehenna</i>, The Valley of Hinnom, as the best way to paint the picture.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><u>Matthew 5:22</u></i></b><br />
<i><span style="background: white;">But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of <b>gehenna</b>.</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><u>Matthew 5:29-30</u></i></b><i><br />
</i><span class="woj"><i><span style="background: white;">If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into <b>gehenna</b>. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into <b>gehenna</b>.</span></i></span><i> <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><u>Matthew 10:28</u></i></b><i><br />
</i><i><span style="background: white;">Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in <b>gehenna</b>.</span></i><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><u>Matthew 18:9</u></i></b><i><br />
</i><i><span style="background: white;">And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.</span></i></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><i><u><br /></u></i></b> <b style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><i><u>Matthew 23:29-33</u></i></b><br />
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!<b><sup> </sup></b>“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to <b>gehenna</b>?</i><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The passages in Mark and Luke are Mark and Luke’s version of these passages in Matthew.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><i><u><br /></u></i></b> <b style="font-family: inherit;"><i><u>James 3:6</u></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <i><span style="background: white;">The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by <b>gehenna</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Again and again, the judgement of God is the destruction of the wicked. Partly why it is better to only lose and arm or an eye, than to be thrown into <b>gehenna</b>. It’s a place of total destruction, which is a concept entirely in keeping with the Old Testament, and other imagery we find throughout the New Testament. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Everything (in terms of the imagery) in the New Testament points towards the fiery punishment of the wicked in a <i>gehenna</i>-like-punishment with the result being that of total destruction rather than some sort of ongoing or everlasting tortuous existence. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A one-time punishment with eternal consequences, rather than a punishment that is continually unfolding. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Eternal<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Eternal in the Bible is a word that has both qualitative and quantitative implications.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is qualitative in the sense of being “of the age to come,” e.g. eternal life, the age to come quality kind of life, that can be experienced here and now, but won’t be known in full, until the other side of Christ’s return. But it also quantitative in terms of a period of time, eternal life, not in this age, but in the age to come will be everlasting life. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The task when we read the word eternal is to work out what it is in the verse that is qualitative (as in from the age to come) and what is quantitative (as in enduring for eternity). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are a few… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Eternal salvation</span></u><span style="line-height: 115%;"> in <b>Hebrews 5</b> is the salvation that will come with resurrection life, in the age to come (qualitative), in terms of time, the effect of salvation will be everlasting (quantitative). It isn’t that someone will be “in the process of being saved forever and ever.” Rather it is a one-time age-to-come action with everlasting implications. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Eternal judgement</span></u><span style="line-height: 115%;"> in <b>Hebrews 6</b> is not the process of being judged in an ongoing manner. It is a one-time judgement, in the age to come (qualitative) that has consequences that will extend forever (quantitative). It isn’t being judged forever, it is being judged once, but then the judgement stands forever. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Eternal redemption</span></u><span style="line-height: 115%;"> in <b>Hebrews 9</b> is not a process of being redeemed in an ongoing manner. It is a one-time redemption, in the age to come, resulting in a redemption that is everlasting. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Eternal punishment</span></u><span style="line-height: 115%;"> in <b>Matthew 25</b>, our verse from the start, is not a process of being continually punished, it is an age to come punishment (qualitative) with eternal consequences (quantitative). In that it is a punishment in the age to come, a one-time punishment that will have consequences that last forever. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Eternal destruction</span></u><span style="line-height: 115%;"> in <b><i><u>2 Thessalonians 1:9</u></i></b>, not an everlasting process of deconstruction, it is a onetime destruction (qualitative) that is everlasting in consequence (quantitative). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is one judgement. One punishment. One destruction. And the result is eternal. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you think about a house of cards, I can destroy, destruct, or deconstruct a house of cards forever – i.e. knock the cards down, rip them to pieces, burn them in a fire. The house of cards has now been eternally destroyed and isn’t going to be rebuilt. But I can’t be in the process of destroying them forever. The only way to do that would be if simultaneous to the destroying there was ongoing restoring - which is a dilemma that Augustine faced.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Augustine was a great theologian from whom the church has inherited much that is commendable, as well though, he got a few things hopelessly wrong. His answer, conclusion, belief was that; <i>“God has the power to do such things that transcend ordinary nature. He will employee his power to perform miracles to keep [those in hell] alive and conscious in the fire.”</i> Or in other words, will simultaneously destroy and sustain in order to torture them forever. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh my goodness! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So now, we’ve a God who scripture tells us again and again, has anger that lasts a moment and love that endures forever, who in Jesus told us to love God, love our neighbour, <b><i>and</i></b>, love our enemies, who in Jesus on the cross, declared, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do,” also miraculously sustaining finite beings, the pinnacle of creation, in order to torture them infinitely. That’s abhorred. Even earthly Father’s know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more your heavenly Father! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Conclusion</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is no hiding the fact that Jesus speaks of a judgement and punishment for the unrepentant wicked who reject God. What is that jdugement and punishment? It is their final and everlasting destruction.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Everlasting in consequence, <i>not</i>, duration – not being worked out forever and ever. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When it comes to the Bible we’d be better off leaving <i>sheol </i>as <i>sheol, hades </i>as <i>hades, Tartarus </i>as <i>Tartarus, </i>and when it comes to the words of Jesus - <i>gehenna </i>as <i>gehenna. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Hell” is a word that is loaded with popular and pagan misconceptions to the point that “hell,” as popularly understood, has become a blight on the Christian gospel. It is an odd and appalling doctrine that degrades God into our image rather than lifts us to grow more fully into the image of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That eternal punishment turns out not to be an eternity of torture makes it no less dreadful. Rather it is what makes the second death, death. It’s what makes death the enemy. It is the end of your story. It is the end of relationship. It is a grim prospect. It is to miss the purpose for which one was created, to pass into oblivion and miss out on a relationship with God, self, others, and creation.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">It doesn’t have to be cruel, vindictive, or torturous to be terrible.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">And yet, we have great hope as we entrust our lives to Christ and live the way of the kingdom.</span><br />
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Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-5395915068943386052018-02-22T12:54:00.000+13:002018-02-28T19:44:23.867+13:00In Regard to Hell - Part Two<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What's the story with hell? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">If you missed part one you can find that <a href="http://josephmcauley.blogspot.co.nz/2018/02/in-regard-to-hell-part-one.html">here</a>. Following this post there is a <a href="http://josephmcauley.blogspot.co.nz/2018/02/in-regard-to-hell-part-three.html">part three</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When trying to make sense of “hell” it is important to pay attention to words, their meanings, and context. If we don’t there is every likelihood our understanding of “hell” will end up either popular or pagan – neither is a good option. The goal is a biblical appreciation of what is going.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s also important to pay attention to whole passages of scripture, their meanings, and context. This isn’t necessarily an easy task, but if you’re game, I’m game. We’ll have to work hard though. Well actually you will, I already have. There is a lot for you to read here, a long post but I think one that would be worth your while. A <i>tweet </i>wouldn’t really cut it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, in this post will look at three things…</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some thoughts on the Greek underworld. <br />Some thoughts on the first half of Luke 16. <br />Some thoughts on the second half of Luke 16 – the parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We’ll do this because in this parable Jesus talks about </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">hades </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">and we need to figure out what is going on. What is Jesus saying? What isn’t Jesus saying? Some people use this passage of scripture in an attempt to paint a picture of hell and the “after-life” and we need to see if that is fair-game or not. </span><br />
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hades and the Greek Underworld</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let’s quickly summarise the two words we have looked at so far; <i>sheol </i>and <i>hades</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sheol</span></u><span style="line-height: 115%;"> – death, the grave, gravedom, 6ft under, pushing up daisies. It is the end of one’s life, the end of one’s story, it’s inevitable but also problematic in that it severs relationship with God and the rest of creation. In the Old Testament there is a trusting hope that death is not beyond the reach of God but little more in terms of a well-developed eschatology. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Hades</span></u><span style="line-height: 115%;"> (biblical context) = death, the grave, gravedom, 6ft under, pushing up daisies, a negative reality of life, the end of one’s relationship with God and others, the end of one’s story. It is used at times with allusions to the Greco-Roman understanding of the underworld but not as an endorsement of this mythology. The New Testament offers great hope in the face of death; <i>hades </i>will be defeated and resurrection life comes into the picture.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hades also needs to be understood more specifically in its Greco-Roman context. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Hades</span></u><span style="line-height: 115%;"> (Greek mythology) = the underworld separated from the land of the living by two rivers and ruled over by the Greek god Hades. The dead are transported there by The Ferryman (Charon), with the Gates of Hades guarded by the three-headed hound of <i>hades</i> (Cereberus).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is more to <i>hades </i>than that though. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the Greco-Roman culture of the 1</span><sup style="font-family: inherit;">st</sup><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Century, Hades was understood to have different parts to it, where you’d “go to live” when you were dead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">The Asphodel Meadows</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> – This was the place in the underworld for the ordinary or indifferent. Those who had neither committed great sins nor lived a life of any great distinction or virtue. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">The Mourning Fields</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> – This was a realm for those who wasted their lives on unrequited love. They loved greatly but were not loved back. This is where all the Vodafone Warriors fans would end up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Elysium </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">– This was the destination for the distinguished, where they would have an easy afterlife and no labor. The abode of heroes, demigods, and the virtuous. You might remember Maximus in the movie <i>Gladiator </i>addressing his troops; <i>“</i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Hold the line! Stay with me! If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you're already dead!”</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Isle of the Blessed </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">– When you reached Elysium, you could either choose to remain or be reborn, if you chose to be reborn three times, and each time landed back in Elysium, you would then be granted entrance to the Isle of the Blessed also known as The Fortunate Isles. This was paradise, but you had to live three honorable lives to get there. Clock the game three times to get there you could say. Some would settle for Elysium, others would return to do it all over again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Tartarus </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">– This is where you would go if you had bad teeth and had died of tooth decay. No, Tartarus was a deep abyss, a prison, a dungeon of torture – it was where the wicked received the divine punishment of Zeus. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hades was thus the destination for all who died, a place where the righteous and unrighteous would end up. For some, it would be a place of eternal punishment in the abyss and for others a place of eternal rest in Elysium, or even better in the Isles of the Blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This Greek mythology is important to keep in mind when we look at the story of The Rich Man and Lazarus in the later part of Luke 16.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is also important to keep in mind the first half of Luke 16 (and Luke 15 but we don’t want this post to blow out into a book). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, read on! Though you should probably pause first and read Luke 16.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Shrewd Manager – Luke 16:1-13<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In this story a steward (the go-between for a rich landowner and his tenants) is discovered to be cooking the books. Receiving a salary from the landowner and a one-off fee from the tenants each time a lease negotiation is settled on the land – it appears he is also skimming off the top. Likely he is taking some of the produce of the land that actually belongs to the landowner as annual rent. He has been found out and will certainly be thrown into prison. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Everyone hearing this story knows how things will unfold with the steward’s demise and incarcerated future assured.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus’ stories always have unexpected twists though.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As it turns out the steward isn’t cast out and thrown into prison, instead, he is just fired. Basically, he is told to go and pack up his office and move on. There are hints of generosity and mercy in this response from the landowner.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What is the steward to do? He sees himself as too old to start over as a laborer (no one in the community will employ him as a steward now) and too proud to beg. He’ll have no home and no means to support himself (and his family if he has one). Having been asked to clear out his things though, he has a small window of opportunity. No one knows he has been fired and he seizes the moment. He calls in those indebted to the master, tenants due to pay their lease with the produce of the land (grain, grape, goat etc.), and lowers their bill. It’s like a Briscoes sale! In doing so he ensures their favour and they’ll be obligated to return a favour to him. He ensures for himself a place to live once he leaves his current abode. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">More than that though, he is shrewdly entrusting himself to the generosity and grace of the master who, without realising it, is gaining a reputation as a generous and a virtuous man. No doubt the village is celebrating and toasting his health and wellbeing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When the master hears all of this he commends the steward as shrewd. What the heck!?!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In this first-century context generosity is about reciprocation, about earning the favour, goodwill, and indebtedness of others. As well though, generosity is also a primary quality of a nobleman. This puts the master in a bind, he could try and explain what has happened but would soon be understood as stingy rather than as generous, and as tight rather than as noble, or, he can remain quiet and receive the praise and reputation that is coming his way. What is he to do?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We have already seen hints of his character as a generous man in not immediately throwing the steward into jail. Now we see that he is indeed a man of generosity. Reflecting, he commends the steward. In a back-handed way, the actions of the steward are a compliment to the master who values his reputation as one who is generous. The steward trusts the master to continue in generosity. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You could say it like this… <i>The steward risked everything based on the master’s tendency towards generosity and mercy with the master paying the full price for the steward’s salvation. </i>That’s a sentence worth reading again (even though there is a lot of reading going on here). <i>The steward risked everything based on the master’s tendency towards generosity and mercy with the master paying the full price for the steward’s salvation.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do note: the shrewdness of the steward is not his dishonesty, that isn’t what is being commended. The shrewdness of the steward is the way he entrusts everything to the master’s reputation as one who is generous, merciful and kind. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus in telling this parable is using a rabbinic method of teaching– kal vahomer – the light and the heavy. If something is true in a “light” thing (a small or minor thing), how much more so will it be true in a “heavy” thing (an important or weighty matter). </span></span></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If this dishonest steward solved his problem by relying on the mercy and generosity of his master (the children of this age being shrewd in dealing with their generation) – a light thing, how much more will God help the children of light who throw themselves before his mercy and generosity, the heavy thing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The steward is aware of the generosity of his master (the light). How much more should God’s children be aware of the generosity of their master!?! (the heavy). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus then encourages those listening to use worldly wealth to gain friends, so that when it is gone, they’ll be welcomed into eternal dwellings. This is a bit mysterious. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bear in mind that generosity in this first-century context was all about reciprocation, you’d give, you’d be generous, you’d develop friendships, with people of an equal or greater status to you. They would in turn be indebted to you and in time would return some sort of favour; open a door for you, speak well of you in a certain context, give you their vote. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">However, Jesus offers a different perspective in <b><u>Luke 6:32-36</u></b> – </span><span class="woj"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Disciples of Jesus aren’t to give in order to ensure favours. They are to give to those who cannot pay them back, who cannot reciprocate the gift; give to those who are in need, and whom can’t advantage you in any way – the poor and the outcast. And thus in doing so, they are making friends with those who can’t repay the favour and in the system of the day are setting themselves up to lose or to miss out. From God’s perspective though thay are actually storing up treasure and investing in an eternal dwelling. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One is to be faithfully generous according to the way of the Kingdom with their worldly wealth (the light) and will thus inherit the true riches of the kingdom of God (the heavy).</span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Pharisees – Luke 16:14-18</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rather than using </span>money<span style="font-family: inherit;"> to make friends across social-class boundaries, the Pharisees are instead friends with money.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.</i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Pharisees are seeking to be well esteemed in the eyes of others, the well to do. If they do happen to be generous, it’ll only be in a self-seeking way that pursues the values of this age. Their main concern is their own interest rather than the interests of others, they’re not up with the play with what God is doing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is urged to enter into it.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a new and expansive era of God’s grace; the good news is particularly directed towards the poor. But, despite being a new era; <i>It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This new kingdom of God thing doesn’t do away with the prophets or the law though, it is a fulfillment of all that comes before. The ideals of the kingdom are embedded within the prophets and the law already.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Divorce is still divorce, and while there are some biblical reasons for divorce, you (the Pharisees) have twisted things if you are buying into the idea of “for-any-reason” divorce. (That’s another topic for another day). What Jesus is advocating in terms of the Way of God’s kingdom is already embedded in the Law and the Prophets, but the Pharisees miss it there and in the teaching of Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All in all, the theme of Luke 16:1-18, at least so far, is the appropriate use of wealth to overstep social boundaries between rich and poor in order to participate in a form of economic redistribution grounded in kinship. One that reflects the kingdom of God, the justice, mercy, kindness, and grace of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Give generously and extend hospitality to the poor, to those who cannot reciprocate – it secures one an eternal home, that is, stores up treasure in heaven. That is, instead of entrusting oneself to reciprocation and the advantages that come with generosity that is extended to those in high places – cast yourself entirely upon the goodwill, generosity and kindness of the master. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Which brings us to The Rich Man and Lazarus – what do you think this story likely to be about? Hell or issues pertaining to material wealth?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Rich Man and Lazarus - Luke 16:19-31<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“There was a rich man…</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, we need to pause right here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You may have heard well-meaning preachers suggest here that we are therefore not dealing with a parable, after all… “There was…” means there was. And thus this story is to be read literally, as the facts of the matter regarding the state of The Rich Man and of Lazarus when it comes to life-after-death. They might be well meaning but they are heading down the wrong track. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Modern scholars agree that this is a parable with Luke introducing many of his parables in a similar fashion to this introduction in Luke 16 – words to the effect; <i>“There was a man…” </i>(Luke 10:30; 14:16; 15:11; 16:1, 16:19; 19:12; 20:9). This parable (of the Rich Man and Lazarus) is part of a series of parables – back-to-back-to back – Luke 15:4-16:31. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not only is this a parable that Jesus is telling, it is Jesus’ take on a parable well-known to Jesus’ audience at the time. It was a story already floating around (about seven different versions) common to the people that Jesus takes and adapts to suit his purposes and in order to make his particular point(s). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, let’s start again, clear that this is a parable… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen…</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the finest of attire. Fine linen would have been white garments, nearly impossible to keep clean or to wash in a first-century context, and purple garments were the costliest of garments given that about 10,000 little sea snails had to be sourced and crushed up to get purple die. This kind of regalia was the same as what the priest would wear on Day of Atonement. This Rich Man is OTT. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>…and lived in luxury every day. </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The idea of luxury here is that of feasting. In the story of the Loving Father, a fattened calf was butchered in celebration of the youngest son returning home. This is the kind of luxury that this Rich Man lives out every day. Again, it is OTT. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In stark contrast to the Rich Man we have Lazarus. He is literally just outside, just there on the other side of the gate. Lazarus is not dressed in fine linen though, rather he is clothed in sores. Lazarus isn’t feasting, instead the dogs have started feeding on him. This is OTT in the other direction. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the audience of the time none of this is particularly shocking. For them it is almost a “black comedy” of sorts. The contrast between the two characters in the story is so extravagant it is almost hilarious. This will be a great story about a Rich Man who is obviously someone favoured by God (hence the incredible wealth) and Lazarus who is obviously someone under God’s fierce judgement (he is covered in sores and cursed even as Job appeared to be). No doubt those listening are looking forward to finding out what comes next. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, what happens next is an unexpected reversal. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here we should note that the use of Hades in this context is plucked straight from Greek mythology. The term isn’t being used to simply speak of the grave, of death, of being six feet under (as in sheol in the Old Testament and hades in most of the rest of the New Testament). Hades here is literally in the sense of the Greek underworld. Jesus runs with the conventions of the story. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The unexpected reversal is that Lazarus ends up at Abraham’s side and the Rich Man in a place of torment. This is a real curve ball.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Abraham was a distinguished and virtuous character, he’d of course be in a good part of hades, Elysium. Surely the Rich Man must have been a man of virtue as well, his wealth was a sign of God’s favour and blessing - wasn’t it? Surely when he died he too would end up at Abraham’s side, in Elysium?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And Lazarus, well, clearly Lazarus would end up in the torment of Tartarus – a continuation of the torment he knew in life as someone under the judgment of God. At best Lazarus could perhaps hope to land in the Asphodel Meadows – for the ordinary and the indifferent. What’s going on?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What’s going on is the kingdom of God which doesn’t operate according to the schemes of the world. Jesus came to preach good news to the poor and the downcast – blessed are the poor, blessed are the meek, blessed are those persecuted. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is a big hint in relation to this embedded in the story – Lazarus is the Greek version of the Hebrew name Eleazar, which means: God is my helper. God is Lazarus’ helper. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let’s carry on… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even in this position the Rich Man doesn’t get it, he still sees himself as privileged and Lazarus one who should help him in his difficulty, “get Lazarus to come and dip his finger in water and let me cool my tongue.” He is still interested in only himself – even as he had been in life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As a side – we’ve another pointer that the story isn’t literal when we consider a drop of water as some sort of relief in the agony of fire. It’s hardly going to make a difference. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In life, it was just a gate that separated them, for the Rich Man to open it and invite Lazarus in would have been so easy. Now the Rich Man discovers an uncross-able chasm. There is no Ferryman to make the trip. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Still the Rich Man wants Lazarus to be his servant, still his concern is only for his own, his family, his five brothers – now he wants Lazarus to go and warn them. Which, if Lazarus is in Elysium, he could choose to do. Remember you could choose to leave Elysium and live again and if you lived three virtuous lives you’d be promoted to the Blessed Isles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But the Greek mythological ideas in relation to Hades and the underworld aren’t the point of the story. They exist within the story that Jesus is appropriating for his own purposes. But, they are not the point of Jesus story, they are only a vehicle. Jesus' use of this story shouldn’t be understood as any sort of endorsement of what the underworld or the “afterlife” is like.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In fact… if we are using this story in Luke 16 to paint a picture of heaven, hades, hell etc. we’ll end up painting a picture that is pagan not biblical.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not ideal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is next to nothing that we should take form this parable in relation to our understanding of hell. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Those issues, quite simply, aren’t the point of the story.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is the point though… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The point of the story is a massive rebuke of the Pharisees who are privileged and have easy access to both the Law and the Prophets but still can’t figure out how to live the Way of God in relation to the poor, downtrodden and disadvantaged.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The five brothers (other Pharisees) have the five books or Torah <b>and</b> the prophets <b>and</b> a beggar they know who sits at the gate of the Rich Man (a Pharisee) but still can’t figure it all out. Someone coming back from the dead won’t cause them to repent and rethink everything either. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The point of the story is that the Way of the Kingdom is not the same as the way of the world. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The story is a </span>colourful<span style="font-family: inherit;"> conclusion to everything that Jesus has already talked about earlier in Luke 16 and in relation to the use of material wealth.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Pharisees are not using their earthly wealth wisely – that is, to bring food and provision and redemption to those in need, to those who’ll not be able to reciprocate the generosity. They need to realise that God’s kingdom is breaking in, everything is being turned upside down (or right-side-up) and they need to get on board. If they were to do so they would secure for themselves treasure in heaven (Sermon on the Mount term), or eternal dwellings (Luke 16:9). Instead they are storing up treasure (fine purple linen, feasting etc) where moth and vermin will destroy it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The kingdom of God is breaking in and God is doing a new thing – lost coins are being found, lost sheep are being found, prodigal sons are finding their way home, but elders brothers are missing it (Luke 15). Even dishonest and broken stewards are finding grace and mercy as they throw themselves entirely upon the generosity of the master (Luke 16), but the Pharisees are missing it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The kingdom of God is breaking in, there is hope for the poor and the downcast – the Lazarus’s in the world should know that God is their helper even though the religious system of the day has let them down.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The point of it all is to be faithful with earthly wealth, use it generously to bless the poor and to give to those that cannot reciprocate. You’ll likely not get a “return on investment” in this life but will inherit heavenly treasure. Love your neighbour as yourself!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What does the story tell us about hell?<br />Nothing.<br />It isn’t a story about hell. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We do of course also have a prophetic nod to Jesus, who will rise from the dead as the resurrected Son of God but still not be accepted by many. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Aren’t we meant to be looking at “hell” and our understanding “hell?” It seems that this big long post hasn’t offered anything new or insightful? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps – but hopefully it has cleared away some of the thinking that gets in the way of a biblical understanding of hell. Even though it is parts of the bible we are clearing away. That is, looking to interpret more carefully. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is still much to consider: gehenna, tartarus, worms, gnashing of teeth, lakes of fire, eternal fire.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We’ll get there. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let’s not miss the challenge of Luke 16 though. Who are you in the story; the Rich Man or Lazarus?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you’re the Rich Man…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In God’s kingdom the wealthy are to use their resource to overstep social boundaries between the rich and poor, and are to participate in a form of economic redistribution grounded in kinship, that reflects the love, justice, mercy, kindness and grace of God. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We’re to give generously and extend hospitality to the poor, to those who cannot reciprocate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If Lazarus…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God is my help!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Often we are both.</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can find <a href="http://josephmcauley.blogspot.co.nz/2018/02/in-regard-to-hell-part-three.html">part three here</a>. </span></span></div>
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Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-59163474807584214122018-02-20T21:49:00.000+13:002018-02-28T19:42:53.846+13:00In Regard to Hell – Part One<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;">What comes to mind when you think of “hell”?</span></b></div>
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More than likely, Christian or not, you’ll be imagining some sort of red devil with horns and a fiery furnace. This will, of course, be accompanied by the screams of the damned who’re destined to an eternity of suffering. It is a fairly popular perspective, one reinforced in contemporary culture with everything from cartoons and movies (<i>Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey </i>and <i>Hellboy</i>) to Iron Maiden album covers and t-shirts painting this sort of picture.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhwRE2a-SdJ91IoO1ICboDBTtyvwumBDxjnovRwHITOz0dACkrZDDkYmL3TGLEzDsmlmNrMzFs0CapNPbSbrJUSxDCEebsjfBJ5bDWAlhpxxBTJkvSV7fCANJQ7ldEFEYV7vrQKwaEdpP/s1600/Iron+Maiden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhwRE2a-SdJ91IoO1ICboDBTtyvwumBDxjnovRwHITOz0dACkrZDDkYmL3TGLEzDsmlmNrMzFs0CapNPbSbrJUSxDCEebsjfBJ5bDWAlhpxxBTJkvSV7fCANJQ7ldEFEYV7vrQKwaEdpP/s320/Iron+Maiden.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I don’t think it is an accurate picture though. I don’t even think it is close to accurate – even though at times this idea comes up in some Sunday morning sermons. Hell as eternal conscious torment is daft.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">So, esigeses and exegeses. Now those are a couple of words beginning with “e”! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Esiegeses is the process of reading an idea into the text. For example, when you read the following phrase – <i>the key was stuck </i>– more than likely you are imagining a key stuck in a door lock. The thing is, you’ve read an idea into the text that may not be accurate to the intended meaning. We need a better understanding of context in order to truly figure out what a phrase may be getting at. Look how a little more information changes our understanding – <i>the piano tuner rang to confirm that indeed, the key was stuck. </i>Now we see it is far more reasonable to conclude that a key on a piano has become stuck and will require a repair. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">The more contextual information we have the better we’ll be able to make sense of what is going on. </span></div>
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When it comes to our understanding of “hell” in the Bible, I think it is fair to conclude that in many instances rather than engaging in a process of exegesis (a careful reading that attempts to draw meaning <i>out </i>of the text), many folk instead engage in esiegeses and read meaning <i>into </i>the text instead – meaning stolen from contemporary culture and particularily ideas of “hell” inherited from Dante Alighieri and his 14<sup>th</sup> century work <i>The Divine Comedy </i>in which “hell” is depicted as nine concentric circles of torment located in the centre of the earth.</div>
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Basically, people have an idea of “hell” in their head, see the word in the Bible and then conclude that the idea they have in their head is the same as the one the Bible is trying to convey. It may not be so.</div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;">So, what’s the story with hell?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Let’s begin by noting that the Bible doesn’t mention “hell.” Not even once. Quite simply, "hell" isn't something that any of the biblical authors write about. Neither in the Old or the New Testament.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Surprised?</span></div>
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At the end of the day, “hell” is an English word used in our English translations of the Bible as a substitute for certain Hebrew and Greek words that the original authors <i>did </i>use to convey particular ideas. The biblical authors wrote of; <i>sheol, hades, tartarus </i>and<i> gehenna.</i></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Now, you may be tempted to think of me as disingenuous to use this language-game to suggest that the Bible doesn’t mention hell. Hear me out, I don’t think I am. What I think is disingenuous is to play a language-game that puts a pop-culture idea of hell into the text in place of what the authors discuss as <i>sheol, hades, tartarus </i>and<i> gehenna.</i></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">We use these words, but t</span>o steal from <i>The Princess Bride</i>; "I do not think they mean what you think they mean."</div>
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Let’s start by looking at the Hebrew word <i>sheol </i>and then the Greek word <i>hades.</i></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;">First up, <i>sheol.<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">In the Hebrew scriptures, <i>sheol </i>is the place of the dead or the abode of the dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">When you put it like that though, it gives the impression that <i>sheol </i>is a place one travels to in death.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">And then when you put it like that it gives the impression that death isn’t dying but is instead some sort of a relocation – as if <i>sheol </i>is where the dead go to live. This isn’t the case. To be dead is to <i>not </i>live, it isn’t to <i>live somewhere else</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">It is better to understand <i>sheol </i>as the equivalent of being “6 feet under,” or, “pushing up daisies,” or as a “rest in the dust.” It is to be swallowed by the ground or to disappear into the depths of the sea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Ultimately <i>sheol </i>is the grave, <i>sheol </i>is death. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">In <b><i><u>Genesis 37:35</u></i></b> we’ve Jacob hearing that his beloved son Joseph has died. </span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">And all his sons and all his daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “in mourning I will go down to sheol </span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;">(to the grave, to my death)<i>,<b> </b>to my son.” So, his father wept for him. </i>What we shouldn’t imagine is Jacob in death getting a chance to visit his son – as if in dying his son had moved to Australia and Jacob will get to visit soon when he dies. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">In <b><i><u>Job 7:9</u></i></b> we’ve Job speaking of those who have died. </span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so those who go down to sheol </span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;">(the grave, death) <i>do not return. </i>In death people don’t relocate to sheol, they die, they cease to exist. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Again in Job, <b><i><u>Job 17:13-16</u></i></b> – we’ve Job speaking of death. </span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">If the only home I hope for is the grave, if I spread out my bed in the realm of darkness, if I say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or, ‘My sister,’ where is my hope – who can see any hope for me? Will it go down to the gates of sheol </span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;">(the grave, death)<i>? Where there is rest in the dust? </i>Job isn’t talking about living in sheol, he is talking about death being a return to dust and non-existence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Here are a few from the psalms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Psalm 6:5</span></u></i></b><b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i></b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Among the dead no one proclaims your name. Who praises you from sheol?</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> (from the grave, from the dead). The answer is no one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Psalm 30:3</span></u></i></b><b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i></b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of sheol </span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;">(the grave, death)<i>; you spared me from going down to the pit. </i>i.e. saved me from dying. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Psalm 88:3</span></u></i></b><b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i></b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to sheol </span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;">(the grave, death)<i>. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">It seems that the Hebrew idea of <i>sheol </i>is best understood as death or the grave – gravedom would be a good word to use because it isn’t a “loaded term.” <i>Sheol </i>is <b><i><u>Genesis 3:19 </u></i></b>in action… <span class="text"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">By the sweat of your brow</span></i></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">you will eat your food</span></i></span><i> <span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">until you return to the ground,</span></span> <span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">since from it you were taken;</span></span> <span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">for dust you are</span></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">and to dust you will return.</span></span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Now, in speaking of the dead, or the place of the dead, or gravedom; there are poetic descriptions given in the Old Testament (Job, Psalms, Isaiah), that <i><u>appear</u> </i>to give it a sense of animation, as if one exists in <i>sheol </i>albeit as a shadow of one’s former self. The kind of picture painted is that of a place of no return</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">, a land of gloom and deep shadow, a land of deepest night, of deep shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness, a land of oblivion, a land of dust, a place of forgetfulness, of forgottenness, of silence, monotony, loneliness, sleep, and paled being.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">What seems to be happening here though, is not the suggestion of some actual shadow existence, but rather we’ve poetic and metaphorical expressions of what it is to be dead, to be cut off from the land of the living – lonely and forgotten where even the light is darkness. It’s poetic ways of articulating the reality that in death, your story comes t</span>o an end, specifically your relating to others and your relating to God. It’s the antithesis of life.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">That said, <i>sheol </i>(not a location by the state of being dead, being 6ft under) was not seen as being beyond God’s sight or reach or power – death and the grave – was not seen as being beyond the arm of God. There was a belief that God would restore those who were righteous from <i>sheol</i>, from death, and from the grave – to enjoy the fellowship of life once again. The biblical word we use here is <i><u>resurrection</u> </i>and it shouldn’t be confused with some kind of relocation out of one place and to another. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">In translating <i>sheol </i>to English, the American Standard Version and the English Standard version just leave “sheol” as it is. This is a pretty good hint that an English equivalent is hard to come by and instead of trying to come up with one we’d be better to preserve <i>sheol </i>and understand this as it’s own thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">If we want an English word, maybe “gravedom” could be used as it isn’t loaded in a particular direction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">The NIV, mainly uses “grave.” The KJV though, it uses “grave,” as well as “pit,” and then also “hell.” This is unhelpful. Can you see why? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">“Hell” is a word already loaded with meaning. And, the meaning it is loaded with is quite different to anything we’ve just discussed in relation to <i>sheol. </i>And thus, we end up reading ideas into the text rather than out of the text. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">It seems, that where “hell” is used in the OT, it is in passages where <i>sheol </i>is seen as the negative consequence of unrighteous living – an early death. This is entirely in keeping with the challenge presented to the Israelites to follow the ways of Yahweh and choose life, not death, blessing not cursing. In Proverbs the way of the virtuous woman (wisdom) rather than the bed of the adulterous woman (folly). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Psalm 9:17<br />
</span></u></i></b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">The wicked shall return to sheol </span></i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">(ESV) (the realm of the dead NIV, hell KJV)<i>, all the nations that forget God. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Proverbs 7:27<br />
</span></u></i></b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Her house is the way to sheol </span></i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">(ESV) (the grave NIV, hell KJV)<i>, leading down to chambers of death. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">The idea is really that there is a way of living that actually leads to death and another way of living that leads to life (green pastures and still waters you could say). To read “hell” into the text, and pop-culture eternal torture and punishment, is really to read ideas into the text that simply aren’t there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">So, if you come across “hell” in the Old Testament, its really a poor English word for the Hebrew word <i>sheol. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">In the Old Testament it would be better to leave it <i>sheol </i>as <i>sheol. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Now let’s look at the New Testament and consider <i>hades. <o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">A few hundred years before Christ, Greek scholars started translating the Hebrew scriptures into koine Greek. As they set about the task of translation they came across a certain Hebrew word, <i>sheol</i>, (you might have heard of it). They had to choose a word for <i>sheol </i>and decided to use the Greek word <i>hades. </i>In doing so, they choose an incredibly loaded word. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Hades was both the Greek god of the underworld and also the underworld itself. In Greek mythology Charon (the Ferryman) would ferry the souls of the dead across the rivers Styx and Acheron, the cost being a coin that was placed on or in the mouth of a deceased person. Cerberus, the multi-headed hound of Hades, was the watchdog that guarded the gates of hades so that no one could escape. Hades ruled the underworld, along with his queen, the goddess Persephone, the daughter of Zeus who Hades had abducted and dragged into the underworld – hades.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Did you get all of that?</div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">It’s important to note though, that while this Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures uses <i>hades</i> in place of <i>sheol, </i>the intent was not that the word would be understood in the same manner as it is in Greek culture. They weren’t seeking to import Greek mythology into the Old Testament. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">No one translating the text would have thought that Jacob, on hearing that his beloved son Joseph had died, refused to be comforted and that in mourning he’d die, have a coin placed in his mouth, be carried by Charon across the rivers Styx and Acheron, past Cerberus, through the gates of hades and to the Greek god of the underworld himself – Hades. Though they use the Greek <i>hades </i>for the Hebrew <i>sheol</i>, it is simply an attempt to find a word suitable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">When it comes to the New Testament written post-Christ, the question to ask is whether or not the New Testament authors were using the term <i>hades</i> (in their writing) to mean something more than what <i>sheol </i>meant in the Old Testament? Or, was <i>hades </i>still the word of choice to convey similar theological ideas to <i>sheol </i>in the Hebrew scriptures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Let’s have a look – it only occurs a few times.<b> </b></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Matthew 11:23</span></u></i></b><b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> and also <u>Luke 10:15</u><br />
</span></i></b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Here the ideas are the same as we see in the Old Testament, in Isaiah and Ezekiel, <i>sheol</i> is seen as the great leveler of the mighty and the rich, and of those that had great miracles in their midst but did not believe. Death awaits. <i>Hades </i>is here conveying the same ideas as <i>sheol; </i>the grave, gravedom, 6ft under. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><u>Matthew 16:18</u></i></b><b><i><br />
</i></b><i>And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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The gates of death, the realm of death, the grave, gravedom, being 6ft under won’t ultimately be the end of the story. Here the idea of <i>hades </i>is the same as the Hebrew Scripture’s idea of <i>sheol</i>. Additionally, <i>hades </i>is used here with a nod of the head to the Greek idea Hades with the reference to gates, but we shouldn’t see this turn of phrase as an endorsement of Greek cosmology or mythology. <i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<b><i><u>Revelation 1:18</u></i></b><b><i><br />
</i></b><i>I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Death and the grave, <i>sheol</i> / <i>hades</i>, those that have died have returned from the dust of the earth, from the grave – because Jesus is sovereign over that too! Jesus is king of the grave! Or, you could say, the Greek god Hades is <i>not </i>the king of the grave! That myth is all wrong. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i><u>Revelation 20:13</u></i></b><b><i><br />
</i></b><i>The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Here <i>hades </i>again speaks to the same sort of idea that we have with <i>sheol </i>– gravedom, the dust of the earth or depths of the ocean – Hades is no god of the dead. <i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<b><i><u>Revelation 20:14</u></i></b><b><i><br />
</i></b><i>Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.<b><o:p></o:p></b></i></div>
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Death and the grave is destroyed, no more <i>sheol</i>, no more <i>hades</i>, no more false kings of the dead – only Jesus Christ as Lord of both the living and the dead. Death is destroyed and any idea of the realm of the dead – that’s destroyed too. Eventually we’ll come back to that. <o:p></o:p></div>
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For all intent and purpose, when we read <i>sheol </i>in the Old Testament and <i>hades </i>in the New Testament the ideas behind the text seems to be very similar – death, the grave, gravedom, the dust of the earth, 6ft under, pushing up daisies etc. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In the New Testament there are some allusions to Greek mythology but that’s the culture of the time and every passage undoes the reality of the mythology. We shouldn't miss the subtlety here. <o:p></o:p></div>
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To “be in <i>sheol” </i>or “to be in <i>hades” </i>is “to be in death” is to be dead, 6ft under, pushing up daisies. As it is so eloquently put in the movie <i>A Knight's Tale</i>, it is to have “the spark of one’s life covered in shite.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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Thus, when we read translations of the Bible that use “hell” in place of <i>sheol </i>or in place of <i>hades</i>, there is every chance we’ll be reading some ideas into the text that we shouldn’t be. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Sheol </i>should be left in play in the Old Testament.<br />
<i>Hades </i>should be left in play in the New Testament. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, of course, there is still much more to be said about hell. We’ve still got words like <i>tartarus </i>and <i>gehenna </i>to consider. Not to mention the story of The Rich Man and Lazarus - that's a biggie.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We’ll get there. Don’t worry. Grace and peace.<br />
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You can read part two <a href="http://josephmcauley.blogspot.co.nz/2018/02/in-regard-to-hell-part-two.html">here</a>.<br />You can read part three <a href="http://josephmcauley.blogspot.co.nz/2018/02/in-regard-to-hell-part-three.html">here</a>. </div>
Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-8005623976577073402017-12-12T12:01:00.000+13:002017-12-12T12:03:37.040+13:00A Song Beyond Comparison - An Advent Sermon<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk499212701"><b><i><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Matthew 1:18-24</span></u></i></b></a><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="text">Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.</span></span></i></span><br />
<i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></i> <i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But after he had considered 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 home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”</span></span></i><br />
<span class="text" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></span> <span class="text" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). </span></i></span><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.</span></i><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Christian Calendar begins with Advent, a season in which we’re invited to entertain the possibility of an alternative reality, an alternative reality that subverts life as we know it. The Calendar doesn’t start with a conference, or a seminar, or a discipleship intensive – the downloading of facts and certitudes, doctrines and truths. It starts with an invitation to imagine other possibilities; new possibilities. This is significant because this whole “following Jesus” thing is about new possibilities. Newness of life, new ways of living, God declaring through Isaiah – “Behold, I am making all things new.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We’re not always quick to embrace the “new” though. Often it is only in a slower process of re-imaging things that we find an openness to some new possibility begins to come alive. Most of us linger in </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">wistfulness as we consider and re-consider alternative ways of being and alternative ways of arranging our lives. Alternative understandings, newness that is demanded of us, is more likely to shut us down and put us on the defensive; we start to defend the old and resist the new – we even start to resist the idea that there could be anything “new.” Thus ultimately, we’re not taught “into” something new, we’re “imagined” into something new. This is why the best teachers are not those who can explain a subject with great clarity, but those you can capture the imagination of students in regard to the subject at hand. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Christian Calendar, an annual cycle-of-discipleship based on the life of Jesus, understands this, and begins with a season designed to capture your imagination. We don’t begin with teachings of Jesus, not the miracles of Jesus, certainly not the Cross – that’s a surprising part of the story that comes later. We begin with the excitement and anticipation that God is up to something new in the world, something never seen before, a Messiah, a Christ, a Saviour is coming. And his name will be Jesus and he’ll save people from sin. Imagine that! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a challenging idea for those that aren’t very imaginative. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Years ago, some friends and I were at the movies watching the first installment of the long-awaited <i>Lord of the Rings</i> trilogy. The movie closes with Fordo and Samwise in their canoe paddling to the far side of a river. Off they go, all by themselves, carrying the Ring of Power to Mount Doom. In a silent theatre with the closing credits rolling, a friend up mine pipes up; “That could never happen in real life!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). “</span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">That could never happen in real life!” Or, as John puts it, <i>“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.” </i>(1:14). <span class="text"><i>“</i></span>That could never happen in real life!” </span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Or, as Luke puts it, (with angels singing to shepherds), <i>“<span class="text"><span style="background: white;">Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” </span></span></i><span class="text"><span style="background: white;">(2:14).</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Could these sorts of things happen in real life? </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In our Gospel reading, Joseph has his doubts, of course he does. He has it in mind to quietly and respectfully call off the marriage – a baby conceived by the will of God. “Yep, of course Mary – wink, wink, nod, nod, say no more, say no more.” But then, he has a dream, where an angel speaks to him, tells him its true, all of it. The child will be the Saviour, the one who rescues people from their sins. This is all out of the box, this is something new, but Joseph is open to this newness and takes Mary as his wife. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes it feels it would be easier to cope with the uncomfortable known than imagine that something genuinely “other” could happen. Sometimes it is easier to imagine things could never change, that’s easier to cope with at times. What we know, even the pain and hurt, can at times be comforting. Imagining Mary had been unfaithful and calling everything off, surely that wouldn’t be as painful as embracing this risky new thing? A virgin birth? The Son of God?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If we can imagine something other than what is, we tend to imagine only a “hyper” version of reality, not an “alternative” version of reality. But this is a failure of imagination. We imagine our lives being turned around because we win lotto – we imagine all the things we would do and could do if our numbers come up and we win the $36 million-dollar power ball – Christmas come! Here though, the world doesn’t change, rather you simply get to place all of your trust in the power of money to turn your life around, rather than trusting in the power of God to make <i>all things new</i>!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is also why a popular understanding of eternity, rather than a biblical understanding, is ultimately a failure of imagination. Because it doesn’t imagine this world renewed and restored and healed, it imagines another world, a “hyper” version of this world with mansions and crowns for everyone and streets paved with gold in a pearly gate – eternity in a safe and secure gated community. This is little more than a super-sized, upgraded, “hyper world” – birthed in escapism, materialism and consumerism rather than in a biblical vision of a renewed cosmos. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Advent is a season where we are invited to re-imagine the world through the eyes of God. To allow something other, something from elsewhere, from outside of ourselves, outside of the plausibility structures of the world – to capture our imagination and offer an “alternative” vision for the world as we know it. God’s vision for this world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paradoxically though, this doesn’t mean we need to look elsewhere or look far off – through a telescope to the edges of the universe, for something distant. Rather, we need to look deeply into the recesses of our own hearts, for the aches, the longings, the hopes we have as humans for a world of peace and joy, that are birthed of God.<span style="color: red;"> </span>Hopes that we all carry, though they are easily lost under the baggage of sin and death. Hidden because of pain or heartache, or disappointment and loss, maybe great poverty gets in the way, or maybe great wealth – we can lose sight of God’s vision for this world for many reasons. <span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Deep down though, I think faith, hope and love is always desperate to spring to life. And, it seems to me, that in the countdown to Christmas, this is a more palatable possibility than any other time of the year. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In <i>The Magician’s Nephew </i>by C.S. Lewis, Digory and Polly, Uncle Andrew, the Cabby and the evil witch Jadis, find themselves present at “the founding of Narnia” where Aslan’s sings the world into being; it’s described as <b>“a song beyond comparison.”</b> It’s a magnificent scene. At one-point, Aslan selects animals to be the walking, talking, animated, stewards of Narnia. Digory and Polly are awestruck when they hear the animals talking to each other and Aslan – it's positively magical. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">The Cabby on seeing everything unfold comments; </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">"Glory be! I'd ha' been a better man all my life if I'd known there were things like this." </span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Uncle Andrew sees things quite differently though, he wasn’t awestruck.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lewis writes: <span class="s1"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">For what you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing: it also depends on what sort of person you are.</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="s1"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Ever since the animals had first appeared, Uncle Andrew had been shrinking further and further back into the thicket. He watched them very hard of course; but he wasn't really interested in seeing what they were doing, only in seeing whether they were going to make a rush at him. Like the Witch, he was dreadfully practical. He simply didn't notice that that Aslan was choosing one pair out of every kind of beasts. All he saw, or thought he saw, was a lot of dangerous wild animals walking vaguely about. And he kept on wondering why the other animals didn't run away from the big Lion.</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When the great moment came and the Beasts spoke, he missed the whole point; for a rather interesting reason. When the Lion had first begun singing, long ago when it was quite dark, he had realized that the noise was a song. And he had disliked the song very much. It had made him think and feel things he did not want to think and feel. Then when the sun rose, and he saw that the singer was a lion ("only a lion," as he said to himself), he tried his hardest to make believe that it wasn't singing and never had been singing - only roaring as any lion might in a zoo in our own world.</span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And so, when at last the Lion spoke and said, “Narnia awake,” he didn’t hear any words: he heard only a snarl. And when the Beasts spoke in answer, he heard only barkings, growlings, baying, and howlings. And when they laughed – well, you can imagine. That was worse for Uncle Andrew than anything that had happened yet. Such a horrid, bloodthirsty din of hungry and angry brutes he had never heard in his life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Uncle Andrew missed the magic. He was all too practical. As Digory puts it earlier in the story;<i> “Grown-ups are always thinking of uninteresting explanations.” <span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At Christmas time there is a certain “magic” in the air that is hard to miss, but, it’s not impossible to miss. If one wants to you can come up with uninteresting explanations and right Christmas off as consumerism, pressure and commercialization. It’s all just noise, barkings, growlings, baying and howling. Like Uncle Andrew, you can avoid thinking and feeling things you don’t want to think and feel. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But, if one pays attention, you can tune into the magic, the deeper longing embedded within the core of the whole vast Christmas industry, and if you listen carefully enough, discover that there is still a <b>“song beyond comparison”</b> being sung. Trees are decorated, Christmas movies are watched, Christmas lights are set up, gifts are bought and wrapped, cards are written, soldiers fighting pause to play soccer and share cigarettes, even those with only a little do what that can to give to others – ultimately because faith, hope and love still desperately wants to spring to life and is stirring people’s hearts. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While some find it easy to dismiss God, a novel idea, a myth, a theory of everything; dismissing Christmas isn’t so easy. Luther and Nora Krank try to do this in the movie, <i>Christmas with the Kranks</i>, it’s not so easy. Christmas is all-encompassing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To dismiss Christmas is to dismiss a part of ourselves, it’s to dismiss some of the most wonderful and some of the most enduring aspects of our childhood, and at the same time, some of the most fragile aspects as well (the hopes and fears of all the years, the tears and the laughter). In one sense it is to dismiss the child that still lives inside each of us. To dismiss Christmas is to dismiss the sense that there is more to life than the ordinary and the mundane, that life is also somehow mysterious and magical. It’s to dismiss the possibility that reindeer really know how to fly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s to dismiss that leap in your heart as you wake to another morning only to quickly remember that it isn’t another morning at all – it is a morning as different to any other morning as you can get. And, in doing so, it’s to dismiss the possibility that some way, somehow, someday – this once a year Christmas feeling, could actually become an every day of the year feeling. It’s to dismiss the idea that peace on earth and goodwill to all – might actually be possible. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Which, whether we realize it or not, or accept it or not, is to dismiss the idea that Jesus Christ <i>is</i> actually Emmanuel, God with us, the one who will save us from our sins and make all things new. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How is this all going to happen? How can a baby, born in a manger, be the beginning of some whole new thing that God is doing? Well, that’s the story that unfolds in Epiphany and Lent and Easter and isn’t the issue at this stage of the story. For now, in Advent, the invitation is to re-imagine this world turned right-side-up. And to embrace all of the excitement, anticipation, risk and fear that comes with daring to imagine such a thing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s to imagine new possibilities for your life over the next 12 months. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That, in our lives and in the world – pain and heartache could find healing, that anxiety and worry could fade away, that waring and fighting could give way to peace, that disappointment and heartache could become joy and laughter, that faith, hope and love can actually spring to life. <span style="color: red;">It is an invitation to re-imagine this world and to tune into a song beyond comparison that is being sung today. </span>A song of heaven that still plays in the quiet of our hearts today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Benediction:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Living God, I pray for my brothers and sisters,<br />May they know your presence in this season of possibility.<br />Give them the ability to see as you see – to re-imagine this world<br />As one made new, reconciled and restored.<br />Give them a heart that is obedient,</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A faith that is kingdom-focused and a love that is neighbourly. <br />Awaken them to your song, a song beyond comparison<br />A song that is being sung today. <br />Act in us, through us, and beyond us,<br />That we might see a weary world rejoicing.<br />As we go this morning, may we go in<br />The grace of the Father<br />The love of the Son<br />And the comfort of the Holy Spirit. <br />Amen. </span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
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Thanks to C.S.Lewis for <i>The Magicians Newphew</i>, Frederick Buechner, Barbara Brown-Taylor and Walter Brueggemann, for shaping elements of the above. </div>
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Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-91798249156136319222017-11-08T10:42:00.000+13:002017-11-08T10:54:35.222+13:00Advent; the Moment Before THE MOMENT<div class="MsoNormal">
Advent is the four-week season that leads into Christmas; the moment before The Moment. Advent is an invitation to consider words like anticipation, expectation, hope, and waiting. What are you hoping for? What are you waiting for? What are you counting down to? During Advent we’re invited to fix our hearts and hopes on Jesus. We’re invited to join with Joseph, Mary, Simeon, the Wise Men of the East, the shepherds of the field, the people of Israel, in their waiting for the Messiah, for the birth of Jesus 2,000 years ago. We’re invited to consider our own need of Jesus today, to allow an excited anticipation to stir in our hearts as we trust Jesus to show up in our lives in different ways. And, of course, we’re invited to put our trust in Jesus as we consider a world that desperately needs Jesus to come again, to bring peace on earth, and God’s good will here as in heaven. </div>
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Advent starts on the 3<sup>rd</sup> of December, only a couple of weeks away, so here are some tips to help you to engage in the season as Advent as we prepare and countdown to our celebration of the coming of Christ at Christmas.</div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">1: Get your hands on an Advent Devotional of some sort. If you Google “Advent Devotional” plenty of options will come up. This year I’m using <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Celebrating-Abundance-Devotions-Walter-Brueggemann-ebook/dp/B075Z1TZ63/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=&dpID=51I2dlT49VL&preST=_SY445_QL70_&dpSrc=detail" target="_blank">Walter Brueggemann’s </a></span><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Celebrating-Abundance-Devotions-Walter-Brueggemann-ebook/dp/B075Z1TZ63/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=&dpID=51I2dlT49VL&preST=_SY445_QL70_&dpSrc=detail" target="_blank">Celebrating Abundance</a></i><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">. The Bruegg-Master is always top shelf and was only $3 on Kindle. There are plenty of other great options as well, see… Bonhoeffer and Annie Dillard, N.T. Wright, Richard Rhor, Spurgeon, Tozer etc. There is even one by Heidi Haverkamp called </span><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Advent-Narnia-Reflections-Heidi-Haverkamp-ebook/dp/B014G2TGDY/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1510086534&sr=8-13&keywords=advent+devotional" target="_blank">Advent in Narnia</a></i><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">. </span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">2: During Advent, when you find yourself waiting – for an appointment, in traffic, for the </span>kid's<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> sports practice to finish, for your turn at the supermarket check-out – don’t let it be a moment of stress and impatience; let it be a moment of peace. Celebrate the waiting. Celebrate that things are out of your control. Celebrate that the world doesn’t run according to your time-frames. Celebrate that life is a gift to be </span>savoured<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> not a “to-do-list” that must be completed as quickly as possible. Remember that whatever you are hoping to get to next, isn’t as important as what you think. What is important is peace on earth. Choose the peace of God in that moment, and remember we’re counting down to the one who declares “peace on earth, and goodwill to all.” </span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">3: Read one book from C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, let their magic remind you that all of this is pretty “magical,” the gift of a loving God.</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">4: Head to your local shopping mall and park yourself somewhere where you can sit and watch and take it all in. Revel in the hustle and the bustle, the decorations, the lights and the people out and about buying gifts for one another. Don’t let the consumerism of Christmas (which is nasty) distract you from the fact that there is something in the air. Even secular people see Christmas as something “other” than ordinary time. Smile when you see people obviously enjoying themselves, humming away to the Christmas tunes. Pray for those that look stressed, anxious, argumentative, consumed by consumerism and what has disintegrated into a silly season. (In regard to consumerism you could watch <i><a href="https://vimeo.com/63120451" target="_blank">What Would Jesus Buy?</a></i>)</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">5: Watch a Christmas movie, with your spouse, with your kids, in your flat. Maybe pick one you loved as a child. One that makes you laugh or one that makes you cry. Life goes quick, so pause and enjoy the moment together.</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">6: Buy something to either eat or drink that is a genuine treat, something “other” than what you’d normally buy, something even a bit extravagant. And then share it with someone, with strangers or friends. Let it be a delight, a reminder that we are blessed and that God is good. Let it be a sacramental nod to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb; that we’re waiting for Jesus and for a time where we no longer fast but will </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">feast with all being healed and restored.</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">7: Simultaneously, ask how you could simplify Christmas. What could you do this year to take some of the stress out of Christmas? What do you need to say “no” to? What pressure to conform do you need to resist? Advent is a chance to intentionally prepare for Christmas and you need not get caught up in the rat-race of the world’s corruption of a festive season into a silly season. </span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">8: Appreciate that others are not as fortunate as you. Look beyond your family this Christmas, how could you bless someone in need?</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">9: Instead of a Christmas wish list of gifts and toys you’re longing for, hopefully you’ve moved beyond that, take a moment to make a list of spaces and places in your life, in your family, in your work, in your church, where you need the love and light of Christ to shine. Let this be a prayer list for Christmas and bring this before God. An invitation for Jesus to turn up.</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">10: Throughout the entire season of Advent, as we count down to Christmas and the coming of Christ, remind yourself again and again, that nothing will truly bring the satisfaction, the </span>fulfillment<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">, the peace, the wholeness, the hope that we all long for in different ways; other than Jesus. That new phone, winning lotto, getting into that new relationship or out of that old relationship may feel life-giving for a moment, but you’ll soon find yourself feeling empty again. Jesus is the reason for the season, and honestly, the only thing that brings </span>fullness<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> of life.</span></div>
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Grace and peace all. <o:p></o:p></div>
Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-46316464907827063062017-09-06T21:37:00.000+12:002017-11-08T11:20:21.270+13:00Craft Beer and Christian Spirituality<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
Based on the title above, it might be hard to appreciate that what follows could in anyway be a serious <span class="syllable">expo</span><span class="last-syllable">sé – especially given that in some Christian circles alcohol is, well </span>to put it bluntly, entirely of the devil. To my way of thinking though, linking Christian spirituality and craft beer has some promising possibilities.</div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Let me have a go… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">In the church genre that I grew up in, alcohol was something frowned upon. Those involved in church leadership were required to refrain from drinking. A staunch adherence to this (not something practiced by all leaders) meant a cold pint on a hot summer day was off-limits. By implication it also meant that if time travel had been possible and you could have attended that famous first-century wedding in Cana, you would have been prohibited from toasting the bride with that most divine of red wines! Imagine that, imagine not being able to sip away on a lovely glass of <i>“Mother’s Command</i>,<i>”</i> that one-off Canaan Syrah, heralded by one sommelier as the finest of the fine wines! [Vintner Jesus Christ. Vintage approx. 29 AD). Certainly, for me, the thought of turning down a glass (or two) of this delectable <i>oinos</i> in favour of a raspberry lemonade, well, it puts my head in a spin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_TyFeq1P8rDmcl6tEM2_BiO8qhtjXOFnixr3uxZRZZoFKDdWQ3e5XLs4BpNSZXEdjFn7jtjraSeikcW1_JInWLAHZVNvh_kXiBIaJ6TBAw-V26aglzWUddEEDwczRcbRApktklo1sbMe/s1600/Water+to+wine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_TyFeq1P8rDmcl6tEM2_BiO8qhtjXOFnixr3uxZRZZoFKDdWQ3e5XLs4BpNSZXEdjFn7jtjraSeikcW1_JInWLAHZVNvh_kXiBIaJ6TBAw-V26aglzWUddEEDwczRcbRApktklo1sbMe/s320/Water+to+wine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Writing in <i>Tasting Beer</i>, connoisseur Randy Mosher makes the following comment regarding those who came-of-age during America’s prohibition; </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">“A whole generation grew up viewing alcohol as forbidden fruit, which makes it all the more tempting, but in a dirty, creepy sort of way.”</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Joseph%20McAuley/Desktop/Christian%20Spirituality%20and%20Craft%20Beer.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;"> This is a keen observation, and something that is often true, especially when that which is forbidden is actually something that <i>can </i>be engaged-with in an appropriate manner. Likely, some who came-of-age in a “church of prohibition” ended up with a perverted attraction to alcohol as well, at least in their younger years. More common though, would be a more basic and legalistic type objection to alcohol: it is evil, bad, wrong, unwise, to be avoided at all costs, dangerous and corrupt. Essentially, you could say, something to be feared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Too much fear though (and too much worship), empowers realities within creation that were never intended to be feared, worshipped or empowered. It establishes them as what the Bible calls principalities and powers; false gods. Most ancient cultures venerated a god of wine or beer; Dionysus was the Greek god of wine, Liber the Roman. Ninkasi was the Sumerian god of beer, Sucellus the Celtic god of ale. In our twenty-first century context, we may not refer to these gods by name, nevertheless many people still live either in the worship of, or the fear of, alcohol as a false god. There is a better way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEJKbIrZ6NKde109FrlYBAyLeXRasEsDw4cZgtfsJirya6DB1Io70fOdssTfxtDQkaXtKZMsTpgU7h7hogCjeHCnJbwA2FE3-EYHsbyRSOWna_6Mg69xSNu-bilwPS6KuPaRbhyoCwzp1/s1600/Triple+chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="384" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEJKbIrZ6NKde109FrlYBAyLeXRasEsDw4cZgtfsJirya6DB1Io70fOdssTfxtDQkaXtKZMsTpgU7h7hogCjeHCnJbwA2FE3-EYHsbyRSOWna_6Mg69xSNu-bilwPS6KuPaRbhyoCwzp1/s320/Triple+chocolate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Alcohol is neither to be feared or worshiped; this is the domain of God alone. Alcohol is an entity within creation and should be related to accordingly and not empowered inappropriately. This requires wisdom, something which should be about as clear and obvious as the chocolate in Behemoth’s Triple Chocolate Milk Stout. i.e. pretty darn obvious! But this is the point. When you practice wisdom in situations where it is obviously required, it makes it that much easier to practice wisdom in areas where it doesn’t seem so necessary. By making alcohol a “forbidden-fruit,” even with the best intentions of keeping people safe, it removes the need to learn wisdom, and instead, promotes avoidance, disengagement, and disapproval. Certainly, these are appropriate concepts at times, but wisdom trumps them all. </div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Further, when we don’t learn to exercise wisdom where it is <i><u>obviously needed</u></i>, it makes it that much harder to learn how to exercise wisdom in areas where the need is <i><u>less obvious</u></i>. We get lulled into a false dualism where things are either “bad” and to be avoided, or “good” and anything goes. The world doesn’t work like that though. There is no such thing as anything goes. Every facet of life requires wisdom in some way, shape or form.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzBN2BoDTvgXz9O6SvCNYJmwS99-odZZhTdq9Z5nFkvlTwr1sUfXX72c0AHhocGHZc4epyvx-OT2pvN5aE7dxuzApETKEyryr06mwf8LTKUOO1wCRDzUsRXlKbYf0Cw2hGP3UPCM45wtH/s1600/wisdom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="540" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzBN2BoDTvgXz9O6SvCNYJmwS99-odZZhTdq9Z5nFkvlTwr1sUfXX72c0AHhocGHZc4epyvx-OT2pvN5aE7dxuzApETKEyryr06mwf8LTKUOO1wCRDzUsRXlKbYf0Cw2hGP3UPCM45wtH/s320/wisdom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Sin hasn’t only damaged humanities relationship with God, it has also damaged the internal relationship we have with our very own self, with other people, and with the rest of the created world we live in. As a result, everything can and does get out of hand if one’s not careful. Wisdom is needed in all things; the food we eat; how much we sleep; the technology we develop and how we use it; the exercise we engage in; how we look after our lakes and rivers; how we engage with social media; the way we manage our fisheries; the forests we cut down to plant crops; how we organise social infrastructure; the sugar we consume; the television we devour; the stories we allow to frame our lives; the stories we resist. And on, and on, and on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Avoidance doesn’t teach wisdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Selah<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">So firstly, when it comes to alcohol the movement needs to be away from worship (at one end of the spectrum and sadly highlighted by alcoholism), and away from inappropriate fear (at the other end of the spectrum and often expressed in legalism), and towards <i><u>a relationship of wisdom</u></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">In wisdom, one can then make choices about abstinence or consumption, free of both fear and lust (inappropriate desire), and free from any need to judge the choices of another. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">The obvious need to develop wisdom in relation to alcohol serves as a catalyst in developing wisdom in areas of life that don’t immediately appear to require wisdom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Selah<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Everything so far, I think, is good stuff, but the link to Christian spirituality is still probably a little tentative. Craft beer turns things up a notch though, so let’s push on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">In contrast to growing up in a church genre opposed to alcohol, for many Christians in the monastic communities of Belgium, cottage industry craft brewing served as a standard means by which they’d raise the funds necessary to support the life of their order. Modern churches pass the bucket and look for wealthy donors, but the older monastic orders would brew fine ales and export them around the world. How cool is that?! Surely a possibility for St Luke’s, especially given St Luke is the Patron Saint of Brewers?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3AV3xz973crSiAK2ZxYaqVHhHmUMHiOkZA1QoB5-0JuRXJHFSTexbcUQOnJ0K5BWtKvXy89y1oukjX-GyGFnw-Tfo0J3a69yxjY383NDhAlOpMbsm0TnPEW85Rali3Fs4lxRugk3qFSP/s1600/monks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1579" data-original-width="1600" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3AV3xz973crSiAK2ZxYaqVHhHmUMHiOkZA1QoB5-0JuRXJHFSTexbcUQOnJ0K5BWtKvXy89y1oukjX-GyGFnw-Tfo0J3a69yxjY383NDhAlOpMbsm0TnPEW85Rali3Fs4lxRugk3qFSP/s320/monks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">The more famous of these monastic breweries are referred to as Trappist breweries and are run by Catholic monks who live as cloistered contemplatives, in accordance with the Rule of St. Benedict. Over the years many of the successful Trappist breweries have been bought out by industrial brewing companies, and their beers are now referred to as “Abby” beers. There are still eleven officially recognised Trappist breweries running today. Six of these are Belgium monasteries; Achel, Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, Westmalle, and Westvletren. The others are in Holland (2), Austria, Italy, and the United States. <b><u><o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">To be designated a Trappist brewery there are certain criteria that must be met.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Firstly</span></u><span style="line-height: 115%;">, the beer must be brewed within the walls of a Trappist monastery, either by the monks themselves or under their supervision. The brewery cannot be relocated as an industrial enterprise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Secondly</span></u><span style="line-height: 115%;">, the brewery and the beer must be of secondary importance to the monastery. In other words, the monastery’s main reason for existence must be monastic pursuits; contemplation, prayer, the study of Scripture, service and the worship of God. The brewing of beer comes after these endeavors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Thirdly</span></u><span style="line-height: 115%;">, the brewery is not to be an unfettered capitalistic-type profit-making venture. The income drawn from the production and sale of beer is to cover the living expenses of the monks and the maintenance of the monastic buildings and grounds. After that, any other profits are to be donated to charity.<b><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Trappist beer is thus brewed in smaller quantities than other beers. On average 4,400,000 litres per year. The least per year is 200,000 litres (Tre Fontane Abbey and Stift Engelszell), the most is 14,500,000 litres per year (La Trappe which you can find in your local New World Supermarket here in NZ). While this is a lot more than your average homebrewer, it is a long way short of companies like <i>AB InBev</i> which owns 500 different beer brands, with multiple beers brewed under each brand, including the likes of Corona (985,320,000 litres), and Bud-Light (something like 14,662,500,000 litres). That’s a thousand times more beer than the largest Trappist produce, and that’s only one beer within 500 different beer brands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><i><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">La Trappe (Holland - 1884) </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">These smaller quantities are not to suggest that Trappist beers are second rate; far from it, Westvletren is widely regarded as the worlds “best” beer. It is hard to get one’s hands on though, as it is generally only sold at the actual gate of the monastery in Belgium. By the time it does get to New Zealand, if it does get that far, being so rare the price skyrockets. A 330ml bottle goes for $101 NZD (Belgian Beer Café off Queen Street, Auckland). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Here though, we’ve craft beer at its finest. We’ve monks brewing away, in all things working whole heartedly for the glory of God <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">(Colossians 3:23). We’ve i</span>ntense flavour profiles, delicious to some, off-putting to others – but that doesn’t matter, it’s not being brewed for mass consumption but rather for connoisseur-like enjoyment. <i>The connoisseur part is important. We’ll come back to this in a minute.</i></div>
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<u><span style="line-height: 115%;">How is this for a business ethic though!?!<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">1) The business, in this case beer, is secondary to the main pursuits of life; prayer, study, service, worship, community. Business is a means, but not the end in and of itself. But, rather than money being the end, other pursuits are the end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">2) Statutes of limitation are put in place; the goal is not maximum production and profit. One knows when to stop. This makes space for others; monopolization is avoided, which creates gaps in the market that other business can fill and in doing so creates jobs and opportunities for others to flourish in life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">3) The product produced is top shelf quality. It never sets out to be a mass produced, or appeal to as many as possible type product. In this case, one-size-fits-all beer-flavoured-water (Bud-Light). It’s happy to be unique even to the point of alienating some while appealing to others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">4) Once a certain level of profit is achieved the rest is donated to charity to make the world a better place. The business exists mindful of the needs of the wider community within which the business operates. There is a concern for one’s neighbours. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">One of the key attributes of wisdom is awareness. This is business awareness at its finest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">So before we even get to talk about conscientious consumption, Trappist beer hits us with conscientious production – this is awesome! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Selah.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Most craft beers are produced with a “similar” ethos. Though the profit and the charitable aims wouldn’t align. Nevertheless, they are small batch brewing with little desire (or hope of) monopolizing the market. (And, when certain craft beer breweries take off, eventually “selling-out” to the big multinationals, more often than not, consumers are annoyed and often move on to other brands – Emmerson’s, Ballast Point etc.). In terms of flavours, craft beers offer deep, contrasting, complementary, complex, and sometimes even off-putting flavours. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Ultimately these beers aren’t designed for mass production or mass consumption, they are so flavoursome they actually fatigue the pallet. Like a good lemon meringue pie, the first piece is simply divine, once you’ve had that you’re pretty much done. “A second piece?” “Ah, no thank you.” Craft beer is a bit like that. Randy Mosher, again in <i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Tasting Beer</span></i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> explains; “Large brewers know that their drinkers value drinkability above all else. Drinkability basically requires drinkers to stop drinking because they know it is time to stop even though they don’t want to. [Though of course many consumers don’t]. Hence the bitterness in mainstream beers is incredibly low, and corn and rice is often used instead of malt. The beer is light and watery. In contrast, the complexity of the hoppy bitterness and malty caramel in craft beer are intended to fatigue the pallet.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="color: red;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Joseph%20McAuley/Desktop/Christian%20Spirituality%20and%20Craft%20Beer.docx#_ftn2" title="">[2]</a> </span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Joseph%20McAuley/Desktop/Christian%20Spirituality%20and%20Craft%20Beer.docx#_ftn2" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span> (Paraphrased). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Hence, craft beer is really an invitation to drink as a connoisseur rather than simply as a consumer. And this is the big game changer. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">The difference between a consumer and a connoisseur is ultimately one of awareness and </span>appreciation. Consumers are mostly concerned with taste, convenience, price point, and quantity. Connoisseurs though, they want to know the bigger story. Where is the beer made? What is the brewer attempting to do? What flavour profiles should I be expecting pick up? What are the tasting notes that accompany this beer? How does this compare to other similar styles of beer? What’s the history of this style of beer? What is the alcohol percentage in is this beer? What glass would highlight the flavour profiles in this beer? What food should I match this beer with? Etc. etc..</div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">The whole process is slower, more thoughtful, more engaged, more present. There is a deeper awareness of what is going on. Both in the production of the beer and in the consumption of the beer. As a result, one ends up paying more for less, but in return gets so much more. But the connoisseur is in their happy place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">With craft beer, it’s not about mowing the lawns, working up a sweat, and then popping the caps and chugging down a couple of bottles faster than you can say; “Heineken equals water,” rather as Mosher puts it; “Presentation is half the game. It’s not cheating. A great beer poured into a perfect glass at just the right temperature, in the best possible setting, with friends old and new should always be the goal. Anything else cheats the brewer and the drinker alike.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Joseph%20McAuley/Desktop/Christian%20Spirituality%20and%20Craft%20Beer.docx#_ftn3" title="">[3]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Joseph%20McAuley/Desktop/Christian%20Spirituality%20and%20Craft%20Beer.docx#_ftn3" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">And then he describes drinking a beer as follows… “Consider the beer-filled glass in your hand. Look closely. Study the rich colour and slight viscosity [thickness] of the liquid. Observe the way the light plays on the shimmering highlights. Watch the bubbles as they form and rise lazily through the beer, adding to the creamy foam on the top, hushed and peaceful as a snowfall. Lift the glass to your lips, but first, pause to inhale and ponder the aroma. Draw in the bready, caramelly, or toasty foundation of malt, the brisk green counterpoint of hops, and the swirling cupboard of spices and fruit, earth and wood. These scents can fire off neurons in the forgotten happy corners of your memory, as powerful an experience as any art form. Finally, have a taste. The beer floods in, cool and crisp or warm and rich. Observe the first blush of flavour and the tart tingle of carbonation. As the beer warms in your mouth, it releases a new round of flavours and sensations: malty sweetness, bright herbal hops, a touch of toast, all building to a bittersweet crescendo. It’s not one single taste; it’s an ever-evolving cinematic experience unspooling as you drink. A soft inward breath stirs a new layer of beery perfume. The grand finale comes as a long-fading aftertaste, with lingering wisps of resin, toast, or honey, concluding perhaps with a gentle warming alcohol sensation in your throat.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="color: red;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Joseph%20McAuley/Desktop/Christian%20Spirituality%20and%20Craft%20Beer.docx#_ftn4" title="">[4]</a> </span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Joseph%20McAuley/Desktop/Christian%20Spirituality%20and%20Craft%20Beer.docx#_ftn4" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">That’s just glorious. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">He adds; “If you can read the meaning in these sensations, the whole history of brewing opens up, and the long process reveals itself in the beer."<span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="color: red;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Joseph%20McAuley/Desktop/Christian%20Spirituality%20and%20Craft%20Beer.docx#_ftn5" title="">[5]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Joseph%20McAuley/Desktop/Christian%20Spirituality%20and%20Craft%20Beer.docx#_ftn5" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Or, perhaps you could put it like this; when you learn to drink like a connoisseur you discover an invitation into a story far bigger than you ever imagined, a story of golden barley fields, brew houses large and small, hop harvests, toasting racks, tasting notes, fermentation, contemplation and taste sensations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Ultimately, to drink as a connoisseur means to drink slowly, carefully, considerately, with some knowledge, with some awareness, with some appreciation and understanding of what is going on, with wisdom, with an eye to the far larger story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">When you add your Christian faith to that mix you’re not far away from engaging in a sacramental appreciation of life. Perhaps you could say it like this; c<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">onnoisseur like appreciation is the doorway to sacramental living. Perhaps you could even say it like this; </span>a Christian connoisseur can’t help but be a sacramental Christian. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">And what is a sacramental Christian? One who finds their way to God via the signposts of everyday ordinary life. They are aware that there is no such thing as everyday ordinary life – it’s all a gift and part of a far bigger story. A story of grace and love and hope and possibility. Of a God who created the universe and looked at it all and said; “Good, good, good, good, and very good!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">When it comes to craft beer, a Christian connoisseur, as a sacramental Christian doesn’t simply drink with restraint (or abstain entirely when that is appropriate, aware of the dangers of over indulgence and not causing others to stumble etc.), that’s just entry level wisdom. Rather, they drink with eyes-wide-open to the wonder and glory of God. There is an enhanced degree of wisdom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">At the end of the day a Christian connoisseur – a sacramental Christian – takes the things of the world far more seriously than folk who think of themselves as worldly. Every facet of life is appreciated as a gift from God; the birds of the air, the stars of the night, the laughter of children, the glory of a sunset, the embrace of a friend, the intimacy of a spouse, the bread and wine of communion, the waters of baptism – and even craft beer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">The glory is not the beer itself, but rather, the glory of God that it points to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">The secret is not the beer itself, (Liberty Brewing’s Knife Party IPA rather than Steinlager’s nonsense) but rather, the mindset of a connoisseur.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">The call is not for everyone to suddenly start drinking craft beer, but rather to quit being a consumer and to become a connoisseur of life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Our consumer driven, capitalist, modern growth economy requires an almost superficial attachment to people and things. We need to be free to follow the market – the new, the novel, the next thing. Spouse 2.0, church 5.0, iPhone 8.0, purchase 13.0 – moving from one thing to the next, devouring, consuming, forking out more dollars in the hope of finding satisfaction – you won’t!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Quit being a consumer and become a connoisseur. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Consumers; they don’t like this or that or the other thing, they are never satisfied, they are quick to judge based on personal tastes and instant gratification. They are surface deep and miss what is going on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Connoisseurs realise there is more to the story – their insight, understanding, appreciation, knowledge, grace, wisdom, and ultimately love – helps them to see things with different eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">God is not far off, God is near. God is not stingy, God is generous. God doesn’t add heavy loads, his yoke is easy and his burden is light. God is present in all things, it is in him that we live and move and have our being. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">It’s all a gift to be savoured and should be appreciated with the passion of a connoisseur. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">The call is to become a connoisseur of life!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">A connoisseur of friendship. <br />A connoisseur of marriage. <br />A connoisseur of creation. <br />A connoisseur of parenting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Connoisseurs realise it is all a gift from God. And that changes everything. There is a new awareness of the divine that begins to shape the entirety of one’s life. When wisdom discovers Wisdom everything changes. <span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Colossians 1:15-20</span></u></i></b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.<span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><b> </b></span>He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he’s there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.</span></i><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Selah</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">The official Catholic prayer in relation to beer is as follows…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; line-height: 115%;">Priest: Our help is in the name of the Lord.<br />
<i>All: Who made heaven and earth.</i><br />Priest: The Lord be with you.<br />
<i>All: May He also be with you.</i><br />Priest: Let us pray. Lord, bless (make the sign of the cross +) this beer, which by your kindness and power has been produced from kernels of grain, and let it be a healthful drink for mankind. Grant that whoever drinks it with thanksgiving to your holy name may find it a help in body and in soul; through Christ our Lord.<br />
<i>All: Amen.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; line-height: 115%;">Craft beer and Christian spirituality – it’s a thing.<br />But really, it’s about a connoisseur mentality that leads to sacramental living. <br />Which actually makes it all about discovering the wonder and glory and gracious life giving the presence of God, not in the "things," but in the realisation that the "things" point to God.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; line-height: 115%;">Well, I'll drink to that! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Joseph%20McAuley/Desktop/Christian%20Spirituality%20and%20Craft%20Beer.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Randy Mosher, <i>Tasting Beer; An Insider’s Guide to the World’s Greatest Drink</i>, (North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing, 2009), 21.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-5396628498996480562017-08-04T10:44:00.000+12:002017-08-04T10:51:59.970+12:00If the Holy Spirit "lives in you," then where?<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><i>The following is some thinking out-loud...</i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">I’ve been having a great back and forth discussion with a good friend regarding the ontological make-up of human beings; bodies, souls, spirits, hearts, minds, bio-mechanics, neurological capabilities etc. My perspective is that humans are indivisible-wholes, we are fully embodied beings whom at death cease to exist. In other words, there is not a “soul” part to us, that at death detaches or flies from the body to another place or realm. Rather our story simply comes to an end. However, this end is not <i>the </i>end. Our story is not forgotten and in the eschaton (the age to come when God judges, heals and renews all things), God (who knows our story even better than we do), will bring about resurrection life and the continuation of our story. This will include forgiving, healing, restoring and renewing the broken and damaged parts of our story as well – there will be no more tears, no more pain, and no more heartache. Thus, in our “storied-existence,” death at the bottom of page 91 (for example), gives way to resurrection life at the top of page 92, meaning that to be absent from the body (dead) is indeed to instantly be present with the Lord; irrespective of the years that go by in the space, time and matter universe of earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">In terms of the “soul,” I’m not trying to do-away with it, but rather, to rescue it from dualistic ideas that all-to-often compartmentalize our lived experiences and hinder us in our journey to become fully human – to become Christ-like. As a pastor, I’m trying to minister the life-of-Christ to the life of our church community, in order that they might become whole and healthy humans – fully human in their reflection of Jesus who shows us what it means to be truly human! Attempting this, without a clear understanding of what it is to be human, has the potential to result in all sorts of disconnect and frustration – our ministry is not to “souls,” or “bodies,” or “spirits,” or “hearts,” or “minds,” but to fully embodied people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">I would understand the “soul” to be our inner-self, our accumulated reflections, thoughts, feelings, hopes, passions, dreams, fears, and anxieties – ultimately the product of our natured, nurtured, neurological, biomechanical embodied life. In this sense it is our story, not in terms of an historical-narrative though (that’s too liner), but rather in a more three-dimensional and alive sense; we can go back-and-forth, up-and-down, in-and-out, to-and-fro within our story. It is part ego, part shadow-self, part enlightened, part known, part unknown, part shared and part kept as a secret. In this manner, the “soul” is very real and very much alive. But, it isn’t a ghost that flies away at death, nor the real us to be set against our “body” as simply a “house.” The “soul” only exists in an embodied story and thus, like the body, is extinguished in death. But we have hope! (Did I mention that?) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">In our conversation, a passage in 1 Corinthians came up…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">1 Corinthians 6:19</span></u></i></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
<i>Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, which is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">If the Holy Spirit lives in us, where does it live? It’s an ontologically framed question in light of our ontological discussion. Quite frankly though, it’s not a question I’d ever considered from that perspective. So, here is my attempt to explain this aspect of this verse. We’ll start with 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 and then look at 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, I’ll make some comments as we read. You may like to read the whole of 1 Corinthians though – it wouldn’t be a bad thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">1 Corinthians 3:16</span></u></i></b></div>
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<span class="text"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?</span></i></span><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Here in chapter 3, Paul’s reference to “you yourselves” being the temple of God is a reference to the Corinthian church as a collective community rather than a reference to individual bodies. God dwells in the “community,” the “relationships,” the “gathering” of the Christian church. In this 1<sup>st</sup> Century context temples always reflected the nature, name and images of their respective gods or goddesses. For the Christian church, the nature, name and image of God was not a reality reflected in carvings or statues but rather in the people of the church, God’s image bearers and their relationships with one another. God makes himself present in their midst and the Corinthian church community serves as God’s sanctuary. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">1 Corinthians 3:17</span></u></i></b></div>
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<span class="text"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">The sinful divisions of the Corinthian church though (see early in 1 Corinthians), their vainglory, jealousy and partisanship is damaging their common life together. More than that, it is a form of sacrilege because in sinning against “consecrated persons” who are corporately God’s temple, it defiles the joint sharing in the Spirit who consecrates the temple. This behaviour has the potential to destroy God’s temple, that is, the Corinthian church. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Now, we’ll jump to 1 Corinthians 6, as in this passage we see the individual also referred to as God’s temple. Note here there are number of quotations representing things said by at least some members within the Corinthian church that have been reported to Paul. <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><b><i><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">1 Corinthians 6:12</span></u></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Free from the law of Moses, it seems that some of the Christians in Corinth are abusing this freedom and embracing practices inconsistent with faithfulness to Christ and Christ-like living. Most likely regarding their eating habits, their drinking, and inappropriate sexual relationships.</span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">1 Corinthians 6:13-18</span></u></i></b></div>
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<span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. </span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="text">By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! </span><span class="text">Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. </span><span class="text">Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">The general openness of the Corinthian Christians to this kind of living was essentially their advocacy of the quasi-Platonic thought of the day, that is, a dualism between the “physical” and the “spiritual.” Supposedly, one could do what one wanted with their “body,” eat what one wanted to and sleep with whoever one decided to, with this having no bearing in terms of sin or in terms of reflecting the nature of God. After all, these were simply physical acts and at the end of the day the “body” would be destroyed, whereas the “soul” would be saved into eternity. The attitude was thus, don’t sin with your “soul,” but do what you like with your “body.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Paul absolutely rejects this perspective. Paul is all about a fully embodied life. The body is a temple sanctified by the Holy Spirit, united-as-one with Christ, and the mode of being through which and in which the Christian self brings glory to God. Paul rejects Corinthian ideas that freedom from the law now opens the door to licentious sexual relationships, that sin is a “disembodied” reality, and that our “embodied” choices and activities play no role in terms of our future destiny. We’re to live our “embodied” lives today, in light of our “embodied” future and Christian hope. Paul’s great affirmation of the body being the resurrection of Jesus himself! And, whom we are united with and with whom we share hope in regard to the same resurrection. One commentator writes; “Paul’s eschatology counters the dualism of those at Corinth who devalue the body by demonstrating how resurrection destiny is precisely what gives meaning, responsibility, and significance to bodily existence in the present.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="text"><b><i><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">1 Corinthians 6:19-20</span></u></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b> </b></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">you were bought at a price. Therefore, honour God with your bodies.</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Now, in light of 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 and further to comments in the introduction, this dust-of-the-earth body and embodied existence, is not a house for the real us, our “soul,” but rather, is the real us and is instead a house/home/temple for the Holy Spirit – who takes up residence in us and will ultimately give life to our mortal bodies (Romans 8:10). Dualism is foreign to Paul, though popular to culture – then and now. For Paul, the whole embodied person belongs to God, therefore despite illicit union with a prostitute argued by the Corinthians to be merely physical, it effects oneness of relationship which contradicts the Lord’s claim over the body. Sin isn’t something outworked in the “physical realm” as distinct from the “realm of the soul,” this is an artificial division. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><b><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">So, finally, back to our original question: </span></u></b></span><b><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">If the Holy Spirit lives in us, where does it live?<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">In 1 Corinthians 3 the focus is on the collective community of the church serving as God’s temple. The Holy Spirit dwelt in-their-midst relationally, even as they were in relationship with one another. Their sinning against one another damaged their relationships with one another and served as a threat to themselves (as the church of Corinth) and their ability to exist as God’s temple. God was in-their-midst relationally and the challenge to the church was wrong relationships – in this case broken relationships and divisions with one another. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">In 1 Corinthians 6 the issue is again that of relationships. Individuals in this instance, who are united in relationship to Christ, are now also uniting in relationship with prostitutes – the two bodies in sexual union becoming one body. Not ontologically one, but relationally one – a concept which in our day and age (as in Corinth 2,000 years ago) is not always perceived as being that “big” a deal. Biblically however, relationship is<i> the</i> biggest deal. God is a Trinitarian relationship. Creation was created to relate to God, self, others and the rest of creation. God enters a covenant relationship with Israel and is the faithful covenant keeping God. Marriage is to be a life-long covenant relationship. The church is a community of relationship with God, each other and the world. To become a follower of Christ is to come into relationship with Jesus and become one body. Again, not ontologically but relationally. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">This isn’t to say there are not ontological implications that come about as a result of sexual union. Neurological pathways are developed, chemicals are released in the brain, associations and memories are created etc., all of which impact the totality of one’s embodied existence. That said, it is still more appropriate to think of two becoming one relationally rather than ontologically – and, we would do well in the 21<sup>st</sup> Century to re-invigorate our commitment and championing of “relationship” as the biblical value that it is. So, in sexual union a husband and wife become one flesh, they become one relationally, I now live in my wife’s story, and my wife now lives in my story. </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Relationally it is entirely inappropriate for a husband or wife to engage in sexual union with anyone other than their own spouse – that would be to enter into another story and would be an issue of unfaithfulness and a failure to use one’s body to its proper end – the bringing of worship and glory to God whose temple it is. <span class="text"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">So then…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">QUESTION: If the Holy Spirit lives in us, where does he live?<br />ANSWER: He lives in us relationally rather than ontologically.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">The Holy Spirit now lives in our story and we live in the Holy Spirit’s story – God’s grand-narrative of scripture and ongoing work in the world. Relationally the Holy Spirit is with us always, and in us always, and us in the Holy Spirit. This is Jesus’ encouragement, to abide; <i><u>John 15:4</u> - </i></span></span><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;">Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. </span></i></div>
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Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-20180022486055007452017-05-15T17:00:00.000+12:002017-05-15T17:00:56.307+12:00Identity Foreclosure, Questions, Doubts and Postmodernism<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
To be God’s people is to be those who wrestle with God. It is to work out one’s salvation with fear and trembling. It is to be people of faith, of hope, of trust, of doubt, and of suspicion. It is to have answers. It is to have questions. Of all the places to wrestle with one’s faith, the church would ideally be that place – often it is not.</div>
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A big part of maturing from adolescence into adulthood is the questioning of beliefs, assumptions, and perspectives held by one’s elders. Moving into adulthood, young adults don’t tend to simply follow the prescribed paths of their parents, teachers or pastors, rather, they explore other possibilities, different perspectives, and alternative values. The final result of this period of searching may well be a decision to retain much of what they have received from an early age, though some things may be deleted, updated, or reframed. What is essential in this process is that the choice to accept or adapt that which has been inherited, or to adopt other perspectives, comes about through their own weighing of perspectives and wrestling with life’s complexities. This is an exhilarating part of being roughly 17 – 27 years of age - when this process unfolds. Done well, it is also a process that helps the church to continually re-contextualize the gospel in line with the questions, issues, and concerns of the day.</div>
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Ironically though, churches are not always a context where young adults feel able to navigate this process. Too often church culture is orientated around believe, behave and belong - especially for young adults who’ve grown up in the church. Christian kids tend to come of age surrounded by authority figures who champion very clear ideals around what one must believe and how one must behave. Often their self-esteem is dependent on the approval of these figures and they experience an unusual pressure to conform to the expectations of others. They are often denied the “moratorium” or leeway in adolescence to delay adult commitments, they prematurely embrace a set of values that was forged for them rather than by them.</div>
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Psychoanalyst Erick Erikson suggests that when individuals skip this critical stage of identity formation (or only partly engage) the result is a form of identity foreclosure. Individuals who have undergone identity foreclosure can be highly successful in many areas of life. However, they do tend to exhibit a number of potentially destructive psychological traits. They are less self-reflective than others. They are often mentally rigid, tending to see the world in terms of simplifying narratives that are beyond question. They are incapable of incorporating new values or perspectives into their worldview. They have difficulty cultivating warm and intimate relations even among some of their closest friends and loved ones. They have little patience with ambiguity and little intellectual curiosity in unfamiliar ways of thinking. They seek refuge in overarching meaning structures that are uncompromising and total, various forms of religious propaganda essentially. They are often deeply concerned with maintaining authority structures and upholding traditional religious values. People with foreclosed identities are thus naturally drawn toward fundamentalist communities. And, in an insidious feedback loop, fundamentalist communities produce people with identity foreclosure. This is obviously not helpful.</div>
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With this in mind, our postmodern context and its predisposition toward questioning, doubt, suspicion, and deconstructionism offers both challenges and opportunities.</div>
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In terms of challenges…</div>
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Today’s adolescences and young adults transiting into adulthood have more suspicions, more doubts, more questions than ever, and, given their connectivity and access to technology and information – are asking harder, deeper and more challenging questions of the church and of faith than ever before. On top of that, they’ve been exposed to a such a plurality of ideas in regard to any particular topic that sifting through the information is incredibly challenging. They’ve knowledge and information but need help in terms of wisdom.</div>
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At the same time though, the church, often feeling threatened by deconstructionism, is doubling-down in its cries for faith, belief, and trust – and actually working to squash down the questioning of young adults. Partly because the church (understandably) doesn’t want young people to “lose” their faith, but also partly because many pastors and leaders are themselves products of fundamentalist communities who’ve their own challenges in regard to identity foreclosure and, plain and simple, don’t know how to address the complexity of some of the issues millennials are bringing to the table. They know they love Jesus though and that Jesus is the hope of the world, the way, the truth and the life. Surely this should be enough for millennials (and it is), but it isn’t – not served up like that. And thus, in attempting to squash the questioning in order to help young people preserve their faith, they actually end up driving young people away. Perhaps not from their faith in Jesus, but at least from the church.</div>
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The church needs to become the place where young adults can come to wrestle with their faith, to work out their salvation in fear and trembling, to doubt, to question and to be suspicious. Not the place they have to avoid as thy seek to wrestle with their faith and work out their salvation.</div>
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In terms of opportunities though…</div>
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What is exciting in our postmodern world is that “older” folk are bravely attempting to ask questions and re-evaluate the parts of their faith that earlier in their life they may have had questions about but instead learned to tow the party line. Of course, rather than being exhilarating, as it often is in one's twenties, it can be daunting and overwhelming. At least at first. To question “fundamental” beliefs can be a disorientating and difficult process, and often one where participants feel a mixture of guilt and incredible instability. Guilt for asking or doubting, and instability as one is questioning things that they have perhaps felt like they’ve built their life on. Take encouragement from the psalms though - they are a mixture of orientation, disorientation, and reorientation. We should expect this cycle to be embedded within our lives as disciples. Unfortunately though, fundamentalist upbringings tend not to make space for this and the process can be scary at first.</div>
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When we can make our church communities contexts in which doubt and suspicion doesn't disqualify but rather is expected, and where big questions are wrestled with over time, they have the potential to be incredibly life giving. Places where on the other side of big questions young and old begin to experience a sense of being born-again-again, as faith in Jesus, the good news of the gospel and the great hope we have as Christ-followers comes alive in in the midst of lives toughest questions and challenges.</div>
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It’s discipleship as a lifelong journey rather than a 3 step program, with 5 main points, 7 quick keys, and 9 irrefutable laws, outworked over 40 days of who-knows-what.</div>
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My reflections interwoven with ideas from...</div>
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Ronald E. Osborn – “Death Before the Fall”<br />
Erik Erikson – “Identity and the Life Cycle”<br />
John Van Wicklin, Ronald, J. Burwell and Richard E. Butman – “Squandered Years: Identity Foreclosed Students and the Liberal Education They Avoid”</div>
Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-18670932531859800002017-02-09T17:06:00.000+13:002017-02-10T10:40:32.632+13:00Worship: The Battle Ground of the Ego and the Soul<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Let's have a look at worship, the lyric and melody type worship. Worship is of course the totality of how we live our lives. Worship is living in a way that gives honour and glory to God. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But worship - in the sense of singing - is something that most Christians do, from Sunday to Sunday. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Why? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Let’s have a look at what is probably the most famous worship verse in the bible. The worship pastor's go to 'proof text' and 'sum-it-all-up-in-one-verse.'</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><i>Psalm 22:3<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can see the Hebrew text in the center of the image. </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hebrew poetry, which the psalms are, is arranged via specific numbers of words rather than the specific sounds that words make - it's not about rhyming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With this in mind, there is some uncertainty as to whether Psalm 22:3 is 3 words and then 2 words, or 2 words and then 3 words? Does the word I’ve highlighted in yellow go with the top line, or does it go with the bottom line?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Different English translations go in different directions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The NIV thinks 3 and then 2 = You are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The ESV thinks 2 and then 3 = You are holy, enthroned (inhabiting) the praises of Israel. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s only a little different but makes a big difference, at least in this discussion. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My Old Testament Professor, John Goldingay, has written a fantastic commentary on Psalms. He thinks 3 and then 2 words and thus sides with the NIV translation. He offers the following… </span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The idea of Yahweh sitting enthroned in the heavens or in Zion is a familiar one (offers a bunch of verses). Likewise, the idea that Yahweh is the one Israel praises is a familiar one (more verses as examples). But the idea of Yahweh being enthroned on or inhabiting Israel’s praise is unparalleled, and if either of these were the psalm’s point, one might have expected it to be expressed more clearly. </span></span></i></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thus it is simply more likely that the NIV translation is correct. We can’t be certain. But I think it is fair to run with the NIV. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">If we go with the ESV translation of the text, then the next thing we know, we’ve well-meaning Worship Pastors yelling at us; </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“Come on people, God inhabits the praises of his people! Let’s get singing. Let’s make some noise. Let’s really get into this and ensure that God comes and presences himself with us. Let's really make an effort.”</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bubbling away, just below the surface, is the idea that we have discovered a key or a principle by which we can get God to come at our beck and call. Hallelujah! We've found a way to make worship transactional in order to get out of it what we want. Some people promote methodologies or theologies that turn prayer and fasting and giving into transactional based activities. Beware - these practices are intended to be transformational not transactional. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In this instance, worship supposedly becomes something that </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">we initiate, and a means by which we move God. If we sing then God will show up, we'll have an encounter. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You don’t have to travel too far down this road before things start to get bent out of shape. </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We soon have this great push to sing louder, lift our hands higher, kneel or bow down lower, clench your eyes tighter, be more sincere, be more intense, get a better sound system, get better singers on the stage, get better musicians on the stage, get a better stage. Generally just make more of an effort to make worship something amazing. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even just intuitively I think we all know that this isn’t what worship is about. But often this is what it has become about. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If we’re not careful, it all starts to echo the prophets of Baal on Mt Carmel, beating themselves up trying to get a miracle. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If we go with the NIV version of the text, likely a more accurate translation, I think we'll end up heading down a better path.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bubbling away, just below the surface of this English translation, is the idea, the conviction, that God is prior to everything. God is the initiator of everything. God is present and inhabits all things, all times, all places. G</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">od initiates and we respond.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We don’t sing and then God turns up. We sing because God has already turned up.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And so, we sing louder, we lift our hands higher, we make some noise, we kneel or bow. But NOT because </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">we are trying to make more of an effort and get God to do something. Rather it is an embodied response to the fact that God has already done something - everything. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here is perhaps a better verse to start from.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Revelation 3:20</span></u></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Jesus speaking – <i>Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with me. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Worship isn’t God hearing our voice and responding. Worship is about us hearing His voice and responding. </b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">God’s prior to everything. <br />God’s the great initiator. <br />The universe hums with God’s song, long before I try and bring my song. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Worship is a table of hospitality. <br />The love of the Father is the invitation. <br />The Holy Spirit is the host. <br />Musicians and singers are serving.<br />Jesus is the life-giving meal.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We’re invited to the table, invited to partake, invited to taste and see that the Lord is God, that Jesus is living water, that Jesus is the Bread of Life. </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We’re invited to take a seat at the table and participate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So how do we participate?</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Singing is a fully embodied activity, it is an “everything that's in me” type activity. </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Songs are about lyric <i>and</i> melody, which means songs are about thinking and feeling. Songs are about action and contemplation.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You never put on your favorite album, your favorite song, and then sit or stand dead still. Even if you are following along reading the lyrics your foot will be tapping, your fingers thrumming, your head bobbing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here is Journey's </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Don’t Stop Believing </i>- try and watch this without moving, impossible! Steve Perry is rocking it! Play it super loud!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Worship is something we participate in when we allow our thinking and feeling to come together in embodied participation. M</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">usic, movement, meditation all in one go.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This instructional video may be helpful.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So we lift our hands, we shut our eyes, we stand, we sway, we sing loud, we tap our feet -- NOT because in worship we need to really make an effort, really force things, like the prophets on Mount Carmel, really get stuck in so that God knows we are sincere and will hopefully show up -- w</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">e worship because God has already shown up - big time. Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We worship and we engage our whole body in the process because that's how we participate. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The reason that the worship video clip is funny (I hope you thought it was) is because it is so true. We've all seen it get a little weird in worship. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Look at this next diagram. You have the same stuff - singing louder, lifting hands, making noise, and so on - on both sides of the equation. However, on o</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ne side it’s about striving and straining to get something. One the other side it is about learning to let go. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-DjnJcv06QlNoZdBOtdZYlxL4tAaq2TI98cUs-dAShZmRrlGO2Bl4WshtoGGbMN_1AgZPYKUGC5xg32LUOkMCYQY2qll0cO2HU1jVhARuG2G9h3twjg73POTotVIF_ndX6xHwrmRh29m/s1600/Worship+Slide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-DjnJcv06QlNoZdBOtdZYlxL4tAaq2TI98cUs-dAShZmRrlGO2Bl4WshtoGGbMN_1AgZPYKUGC5xg32LUOkMCYQY2qll0cO2HU1jVhARuG2G9h3twjg73POTotVIF_ndX6xHwrmRh29m/s400/Worship+Slide.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And what’s it about letting go of? It’s about letting go of our ego. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The physical action in worship, our arms lifted before God, singing passionately despite our abilities and so forth, well it’s all about the abandonment of ego.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is physical action that produces as spiritual openness, a spiritual atmosphere even. Of course it does! E</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">verything is spiritual.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Through embodied engagement in worship we let go of our ego. We let go of </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> self-consciousness, self-interest, self-reliance, self-sufficiency. All of which, if unchecked, become manifestations of self-worship, a form of idolatry. Holding onto oneself rather than giving oneself over to God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In worship, when we practice full participation, we find that the abandonment of ego opens our souls to receive the one who is the Bread of Life, Living Water, the Way, the Truth and the Life.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Worship is thus the battle ground of the ego and the soul. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In this next video clip check out the battle between the ego and the soul. </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The boy in the middle is “soul.” The girls next to him represent “ego.”</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ego and soul are fighting. Ego says; "stand still, don’t be silly, be dignified, what will people think?" Soul says; "loose yourself in the music, in the moment, you’ve only got one shot."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here’s a bird that exemplifies what it is to totally let go of ego and embrace soul. You’ll be able to tell which bird.</span></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">When we let go of ego we find our soul.</span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And in finding our soul we find a space to experience all that is true about God. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The psalmist sings in Psalm 103…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Psalm 103:1-5<br />
</span></u></i></b><span class="text"><b><i><sup><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">1 </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">Praise the</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="small-caps"><i><span style="background: white; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 115%;">Lord</span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">my soul;</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">all my inmost being, praise his holy name.</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><span class="text"><b><i><sup><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">2 </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">Praise the</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="small-caps"><i><span style="background: white; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 115%;">Lord</span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">my soul,</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">and forget not</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">all his benefits—</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><span class="text"><b><i><sup><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">3 </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">who forgives all your sins</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">and heals</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">all your diseases,</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><span class="text"><b><i><sup><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">4 </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">who redeems your life</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">from the pit</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">and crowns you with love and compassion,</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><span class="text"><b><i><sup><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">5 </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">who satisfies</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">your desires with good things</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">so that your youth is renewed</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">like the eagle’s.</span></i></span><b><i><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When we let go of ego and we sing from our inmost being o</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ur heart collides with the Father heart of God.</span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And then, God who is present with us, and the lyrics that we are singing, and the music that imprints it into our very beings, begins to re-script, re-order, re-configure, re-write and redeem the story of our lives and of life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We let go of and lay down the illusions of self-sufficiency we have, we throw out all the messages that the world tries so hard to throw at us… movies, magazines, media, marketing… in an attempt to shape our lives. In an attempt to tell us</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, what success means, what should be pursued and valued and loved. What’s worthless and should be thrown away. What the good life is or isn’t. Who I am. Who I should be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the lyric, melody of worship and our embodied participation we are re-shaped by God. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We find truth and life. Rather than falsehood and death. Rather than finding ourselves shaped by the</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> world’s liturgy, we are shaped by the person of Jesus Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the love of God.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Not because we are striving and struggling and making great efforts, but because</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> we are letting go, and embodying God’s truth in worship.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That’s how it is meant to be. That’s how it’s always meant to be. That’s how worship works. </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We embody</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> the song. We eat with Jesus. We find life. Ego dies. Our soul </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">comes alive. It changes the way we live.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Through the abandonment and delight of letting go. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It keeps us safe from the temptation to turn </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">worship into either the manipulation of God or of our fellow brother and sisters. It prevents us from turning worship into a man-made, self-gratifying, consumer driven, tick box event that God despises.</span></div>
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</span></i><span class="text"><b><i><sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">21 </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">“I hate,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">I despise your religious festivals;</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">your assemblies</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">are a stench to me.</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><span class="text"><b><i><sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">22 </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Even though you bring me burnt offerings</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">and grain offerings,</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">I will not accept them.</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span class="text">Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,</span><br />
</span></i><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">I will have no regard for them.</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><span class="text"><b><i><sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">23 </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Away with the noise of your songs!</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">I will not listen to the music of your harps.</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><span class="text"><b><i><sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">24 </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">But let justice</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">roll on like a river,</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">righteousness</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">like a never-failing stream!<br />
</span></i></span><span class="text"><b><i><sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">25 </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">“Did you bring me sacrifices</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">and offerings</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">forty years</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">in the wilderness, people of Israel?</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><span class="text"><b><i><sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">26 </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">You have lifted up the shrine of your king,</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">the pedestal of your idols,</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">the star of your god—</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">which you made for yourselves.</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><span class="text"><b><i><sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">27 </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Therefore I will send you into exile</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">beyond Damascus,”</span></i></span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></i><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">says the</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="small-caps"><i><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 115%;">Lord</span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">, whose name is God Almighty.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the scenario here in Amos, worship “stuff” is happening. But lives aren’t being re-framed. It’s not resulting in justice and righteousness and mercy flowing into the world. This shouldn't be </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">surprising, after all, love and justice and mercy and compassion and kindness, the fruit of the Spirit; it doesn't flow from your ego, it flows from the heart of one who has encountered the love of God in worship. </span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Worship – the adoration, glorification and honouring of God. Heart touches heart. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />Worship – the abandonment of ego in the lyric and melody of song. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />Worship – the saving of our souls as that which is deep within is allowed to come to the surface. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />Worship – the formation of our lives as the scripts of our world are replaced by the truth of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Worship – It’s not about my voice and God responding to my voice. It’s about his voice and me responding to his voice.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Worship – A table of hospitality. The love of the Father is the invitation. The Holy Spirit is the host. Musicians and singers are serving. Jesus is the life giving meal. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Worship – The battle ground of the ego and the soul. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Worship – Lyric and melody searching for action and contemplation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-88623202064700141642017-02-07T14:33:00.000+13:002017-02-07T14:37:50.121+13:00Mo Money, Mo Problems – Money: Part 3 of 4<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I don't know what, they want from me<br />It's like the more money we come across<br />The more problems we see<br />What's going on?<br />What's going on?<br />I don't know what, they want from me<br />It's like the more money we come across<br />The more problems we see<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpFLk-XG3ftHT3eAyLYddS1L8zxsb7hm8cPynoDCsqAOeVMLeA0FuTFPgSQRNY7S5Defl0VWIrXjhYD2Hzl9ROQmBsbtYzbM_8I0XkTPJFpwwyvXUxPtE7YGo7iq_BXYmoNnsojLaUoiO/s1600/Mo+money+Mo+problems.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpFLk-XG3ftHT3eAyLYddS1L8zxsb7hm8cPynoDCsqAOeVMLeA0FuTFPgSQRNY7S5Defl0VWIrXjhYD2Hzl9ROQmBsbtYzbM_8I0XkTPJFpwwyvXUxPtE7YGo7iq_BXYmoNnsojLaUoiO/s400/Mo+money+Mo+problems.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Artist – The Notorious B.I.G feat. Mase and Puff Daddy<br />Song – Mo Money, Mo Problems <br />Album – Life After Death<br />Year –</span><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1997<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Stewardship, hard work, diligence, is SECONDARY to gift. Gift comes first. Life itself is a divine gift, a divine handout. The way each of us is uniquely woven together, our time and place in history, our skills and talents and abilities – undeveloped as they might initially be – is the first leg up we receive.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is no such thing as a self-made man, a self-made millionarie. </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is part 3 of 4 in a brief series of posts on </span>money<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Part 1, <i><b>Living in Beverly Hills</b></i>, can be read <a href="http://josephmcauley.blogspot.co.nz/2017/02/livin-in-beverly-hills-thats-where-i.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />Part 2, <i><b>Money, That’s What I Want</b></i>, can be read <a href="http://josephmcauley.blogspot.co.nz/2017/02/money-thats-what-i-want-money-part-2-of.html" target="_blank">here</a>. (Please note that discretion is required in this post due to some of the language at one point). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A summary of the posts so far can be read in the italics below. Feel free to skip if you’ve read part 1 and part 2. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">Blessing is God’s desire for humanity to live a flourishing, whole and right life. Secondly, blessing is God’s good work of creation that brings into existence the context and conditions needed for a blessed life. Thirdly, blessing is God’s faithful and ongoing work in our world to bring about blessing even though we are not always faithful. The devil, sin, our own hardness of heart and poor choices continually conspires against us and leads us into all sorts of destructive places, life is often a mess; anything but flourishing, whole or right. We rightly perceive that things have “gone wrong.” The climax of God’s faithfulness is God’s willingness to step right into our mess through Jesus Christ. Jesus brings grace and forgiveness, healing and reconciliation to God. This is where true blessing is found (Romans 4:7) and though we may only taste elements of a “blessed” life on this side of eternity, God’s Holy Spirit is a </span></i><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. God in Jesus is setting the world right. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While there is an economic element to blessing; there is far more to a blessed life than what can be measured in economic terms. Sleeping soundly, laughing loudly, loving deeply, sharing bread and wine, living in wide-eyed wonder and in right relationship with God, self, others and creation all reflect a blessed life. To think of blessing only in economic terms is an impoverished view of blessing that has been high jacked by Western materialism and consumerism. Unchecked this view soon concludes that the source of a blessed life is money rather than God. Money equates to power and control and thus supposedly, enough money will mean power over and control of one’s life. We either become our own false god (with a false sense of power, authority and control), or, money becomes our false god offering false promises of a blessed life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As Christ followers our call is not to attain power and control but to relinquish it, after all, “it is no longer I that lives but Christ that lives in me.” This does not mean that we become careless with money, rather we are to be careful with money. But, it is always a fine line between striving for power and control (the love of money) and the careful stewarding of resource (faithfulness with money). Gandalf, in The Lord of the Rings refuses to accept the ring of power from Frodo; “Don’t tempt me Frodo! I dare not take it. Not even to keep it safe. Understand, Frodo. I would use this ring from a desire to do good… but through me, it would wield a power to great and terrible to imagine.” In our world money has the potential to work like the Ring of Power, as much as it can do good, it has the potential to corrupt. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is always a fine line between striving for power and control (the love of money) and the careful stewarding of resource (faithfulness with money). <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Part 3 now follows…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">Deuteronomy 8:6-9</span></u></i></b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <br />
<span class="text">Observe the commands of the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text">your God, walking in obedience to him</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text">and revering him. For the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text">your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text">vines</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text">and fig trees,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text">pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text">will not be scarce and you will lack nothing;</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text">a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In other words, a land of plenty, of abundance, of resource and opportunity and potential.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s not too hard to draw a lose analogy and see that in a similar way New Zealand is a land of plenty. We’re blessed to live in New Zealand. We’ve education, health care, law and order, democratic government, employment laws, banks that can be trusted, infrastructure, oceans, farms, forests, lakes, mountains, bio-diversity. We’re blessed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The medium household income in New Zealand is $47,100. That income puts Kiwis in the wealthiest 4.5% of people in the world. We’re better off than 6.3 billion people. We should celebrate this. Thank God for this. We’ve landed here. Of all the places in the world. Thank you Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i><u>Deuteronomy 8:10-17</u></i></b><i><br />W<span class="text">hen you have eaten and are satisfied,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text">praise the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text">your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>the</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="small-caps"><i><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down,</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>the</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="small-caps"><i><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness,</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known,</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>to humble and test</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself,</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>“My power and the strength of my hands</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>have produced this wealth for me.”</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Despite being written to Israel hundreds of years ago, the advice is sound for us today. How easily we fall into the same trap. How quick we are to assume that what we have is primarily a result of all our hard work, all our effort, the power and strength of our hands. Or because of our intelligence and sharp minds.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our culture celebrates the idea that someone might be a “self-made man” or a “self-made millionaire.” Nobody gave that person a leg up or a hand out. Legend! More people should be like they are!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i><u>Deuteronomy 8:18<br />
</u></i></b><span class="text"><i>But remember the</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="small-caps"><i><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth,</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.</i></span><i> </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In amongst all that follows, this is key:</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Stewardship, hard work, diligence, is SECONDARY to gift. Gift comes first. Life itself is a divine gift, a divine handout. The way each of us is uniquely woven together, our time and place in history, our skills and talents and abilities – undeveloped as they might initially be – is the first leg up we receive. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Stewardship, good, bad or indifferent follows from gift.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The New Testament puts it like this in <b><i><u>Acts 17:24-28…</u></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">“The God who made the world and everything in it</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">is the Lord of heaven and earth</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth;<b><u> and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.</u> </b>God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘<b><u>For in him we live and move and have our being.’</u></b></span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">As some of your own poets have said, <b><u>‘We are his offspring.’</u></b></span></i></span><span class="text"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="text"><i><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We are each recipients of the gift of life.<br />Easy to say, “no I’m a result of biology.” <br />Sure, but God was the one that created and invented biology.<br />We’re just stewards of God’s great creation. <br />We are his off spring. <br />In him we live and move and have our being. <br />He marked out our appointed times in history and the boundaries of our lands. <br />In him each of us is fearfully and wonderfully and uniquely put together. <br />The recipients of his great gift that is life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Gift comes first. Stewardship comes second.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We should note here that the gift is not quite the same from person to person. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The gift is life. The gift is a fearfully and wonderfully made human being. But man is there variety! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We’re all put together differently. We’ve all different skills and talents and abilities and temperaments and families of origin and ethnicities and passions and intellectual abilities and emotional sensitivities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The starting point, from one person to the next, is infinitely varied. And it’s not all equal opportunity! Depending on what the goal, or a particular goal is, some have advantage and some are at a disadvantage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- If the goal is to slam dunk a 10ft hoop by the age of 17 – well, hard luck short people.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- If the goal is to have a PhD by the time you are 27 – well, hard luck those not so intellectually inclined.<br />- If the goal is to be a millionaire by the time you are 37 – well, hard luck to you if you’re not business minded, a professional sports person, a rock star or one of the few that win Lotto. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Depending on where you set the finish line, for some it becomes a 100 m sprint, while for others it is 10,000 miles away. This is why we celebrate different achievements in different ways. We recognise the race isn’t even. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thus <b>in all things</b>, we live in humility trusting that when Jesus returns, he’ll <b>return with grace</b>, and that God <b>in all things</b> will judge impartially.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i><u><span style="line-height: 115%;">1 Peter 1:13 and 17</span></u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="text">Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text"><b>set your hope</b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span><span class="text"><b>on the grace to be brought to you</b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span><span class="text"><b>when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming</b>… </span></span></i><span class="text"><b><i><sup><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Since you call on a <b>Father</b></span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></b></span><span class="text"><b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">who judges each person’s work</span></i></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></b></span><span class="text"><b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">impartially</span></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">live out your time as foreigners</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">here in reverent fear.</span></i></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="text"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So gift comes before stewardship. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />The gift is life, it is the opportunity to know faith, hope and love. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />There is huge variety though. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Of course, our world sets all sorts of different benchmarks in terms of what it means to live the good life, to be successful, to be an achiever, to fit in or to stand out. These benchmarks become cruel task masters though. Especially when we remember that life’s not equal opportunity and that every person has a different starting point.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sadly though, these become the ways we measure ourselves and compare ourselves to others and comparison has a tendency to ruin people’s lives. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rather, in humility, we should simply seek to run our own race, to be faithful with what God has given us, and called us to do. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is no need to compare with others, get one over others, look down on others or be intimidated by others. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ok, let’s try and land this back at money. Considering this is supposedly a series on money, I’ve not talked about money much!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Have a look at the following diagram… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Money flows into our lives from three potential income streams, investments we might have, a business we own and perhaps work in, or the work we do as someone employed or self-employed person.</span></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">((We’re blessed as well to live in a nation were different benefits are also available for people from time to time, in different seasons and for different reasons. But that’s a different subject at the moment)). <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">((You could also argue that loans are a source of income and also gifts from others too. We’ll keep it simple and just focus on these ones though)). <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Money flows in of course. But money also flows out. Sometimes it feels like it leaks out, like it just evaporates. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Money doesn’t evaporate though. It flows in five particular directions. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><i>Contributing<br />Giving<br />Investing<br />Saving<br />Spending</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As Christ followers, stewardship is how we navigate and order this kind of diagram, how we monitor the flow of our money.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We can be careless with our money – poor stewardship.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />We can obsess over money, striving for more money (power and control) – poor stewardship.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />We can manage the flow of our money faithfully and open to God’s leading – good stewardship.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All of us should seek to develop at least a basic level of health in terms of money management. Living within our means, not getting into debt, working out how to be generous; those kinds of things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just like we should all seek to cultivate a basic level of physical health in life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some people, of course, are more inclined than others to take their physical fitness to whole different levels. Run marathons, hit the gym, sculpt the deltoids. Nothing wrong with this. For some it brings a great sense of reward, of fulfilment, it’s a passion. Eric Liddle famously said, “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel his pleasure!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It just needs to be kept in check. Family commitments, obsessive compulsive nature, vanity, diet, other responsibilities fall to the side. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s like that in terms of money management for some people. Some will be more inclined than others to make the system hum rather to simply let it be healthy. Some people will be wired to make it really hum, it will come naturally to them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is ok too; but also needs to be kept in check. It is easy to become greedy, a lover of money, a compulsive risk take, etc. There are all sorts of ways that our money management can get out of check. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is why we should always remember… <span class="text"><i>the</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="small-caps"><i><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth,</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These three income streams, investment, business, employment are developed through the leveraging of the gifts that God has given us.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Relationships</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Passion<br />Capital<br />Skills<br />Intellect<br />Time<br />Nurture<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We weren’t all dealt the same </span>cards<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> though.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Each of us us wired with different passions, intellectual abilities, and temperaments. Each of us grew up in different homes that encouraged different degrees of risk taking, championed different values and nurtured each of us in different directions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As a result some people were drawn to business, others to professional services such as medicine or law. Some wanted to be school teachers for as long as they could remember. Others determined to work in churches or not-for-profit organisations. Some became builders working for others. Some became builders working for themselves. Some became builders and employed other builders to work for them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The financial return varies greatly from case to case. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Each person also ends up carrying different pressures and responsibilities in life. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Each person ends up with a different amount of money flowing into their life. This shouldn't be a surprise.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next time... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How to make more money.<br />How to manage the money you have.<br />Tithing - what the heck! </span></div>
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Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-45877173901732581102017-02-02T11:42:00.000+13:002017-02-02T12:06:52.847+13:00Money, That’s What I Want – Money: Part 2 of 4<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: cambria, serif;">Some reader/viewer discretion is advised in some of what follows. There are a few f-bombs. They are not intended to offend but rather to make a particular point. I think with great clarity. Peace. </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The best things in life are free<br />But you can keep them for the birds and bees<br />Now give me money<br />That's what I want<br />That's what I want, yeah<br />That's what I want<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">You're lovin' gives me a thrill<br />But you're lovin' don't pay my bills<br />Now give me money<br />That's what I want<br />That's what I want, yeah<br />That's what I want<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Money don't get everything it's true<br />What it don't get, I can't use<br />Now give me money<br />That's what I want<br />That's what I want, yeah<br />That's what I want, wah<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Well now give me money<br />A lot of money<br />Wow, yeah, I wanna be free<br />Oh I want money<br />That's what I want<br />That's what I want, well<br />Now give me money<br />A lot of money<br />Wow, yeah, you need money<br />Now, give me money<br />That's what I want, yeah<br />That's what I want<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Mpb_iKATJ7E4dP8QFKx51roLRE_phNXBbfoeqd3qhrRwodzEmTKm3V-XNZPpC2IPWkk9P5-tYFitljvlPn2xQ8eoDTkXqU9I091BLwHFsP3BJqkbEzOmYmxuSbLGulBf6MFwN33YAo8K/s1600/Beatles.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Mpb_iKATJ7E4dP8QFKx51roLRE_phNXBbfoeqd3qhrRwodzEmTKm3V-XNZPpC2IPWkk9P5-tYFitljvlPn2xQ8eoDTkXqU9I091BLwHFsP3BJqkbEzOmYmxuSbLGulBf6MFwN33YAo8K/s400/Beatles.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "cambria" , serif;">Artist – The Beatles</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "cambria" , serif;">Song – Money (That’s What I Want)<br />Album – With the Beatles<br />Year –</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "cambria" , serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1963<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">"You get up two and a half million dollars, any asshole in the world knows what to do: you get a house with a 25 year roof, an indestructible Jap-economy shit box, you put the rest into the system at three to five percent to pay your taxes and that's your base, get me? That's your fortress of f-ing solitude. That puts you, for the rest of your life, at a level of f-you. Somebody wants you to do something, f-you. Boss pisses you off, f-you! </span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">A wise man's life is based around f-you."<span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Frank – <i>The Gambler </i>(2014 movie)</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><i><b>Truthfully, something of an “f-you” attitude is buried away within most of us. For some quite deeply. For other just below the surface. </b></i></span></span><i style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><b>Humans have forever sought to be the lords and masters of their own lives. Humanity grabbed the apple in the garden and said, “we’ll be our own gods.” We still do it today in our lust for power and control, in our desire to be "free."</b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Blessing<span style="text-align: justify;"> is God’s desire for humanity – that we’d experience a flourishing, whole and right life. Part one unpacks this <a href="http://josephmcauley.blogspot.co.nz/2017/02/livin-in-beverly-hills-thats-where-i.html" target="_blank">here</a>. There is an economic component to blessing, but blessing goes beyond economics. It’s a quality of life, a quality of relationship with God and others, it is wholeness in oneself, non-anxious living, a sound sleep, laughter, the giving and receiving of hospitality, breaking bread, drinking wine, friendship. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Blessing is also God’s loving initiative in creating the conditions in which this sort of life is possible, a blessed life. God’s ongoing desire and ongoing initiative in the human story is in order that humanity might come into fullness of life, wholeness of life, a blessed life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">God works within history to bring about blessing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sometimes though, our lives don’t feel all that blessed. Then what? In God we trust? What do we put our trust in? For many people the temptation is to “hedge-their-bets.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s not only in the horse racing industry that we find people hedging their bets. Common practice in the Ancient Near East of the Old Testament and the Grecco-Roman world of the New Testament was essentially to hedge your bets, to have a little both ways. You’d have your own god or handful of gods; Asherah or Baal, or later Zeus and Apollo, and you’d worship them, you’d sacrifice to them, pray to them, burn incense in their name, carry a little image of them with you to protect you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But, you’d also hedge your bets. If there were other powerful nations nearby, or powerful people next door, then those nations or people obviously have pretty powerful gods. You’d find out who their gods were – maybe Dagon, Tiamat, Moloch, Ra, Set, Horus, Poseidon, Jupitar or Mars – and you’d make sure you had them in your pocket too. You’d sacrifice to and honour these gods as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This was problematic for Jews and Christians. The decree of Yahweh, the creator of the universe, of the heavens and the earth, the God of Israel, Isaac and Jacob was that Yahweh alone was to be worshiped. You weren’t to hedge your bets with God, you were to worship him alone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="text"><b><i><u>Exodus 20:2-6</u></i></b></span><span class="text"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="text"><i>“I am the</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="small-caps"><i><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>your God,</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>who brought you out</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>of Egypt,</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before<sup> </sup>me. You shall not make for yourself an image</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>them; for I, the</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="small-caps"><i><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>your God, am a jealous God.</i></span><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">God alone is the source of life, the one who desires blessing and brings about blessing, the one who leads you out of slavery and into fullness of life – a blessed life. God alone is sovereign in the universe. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="text">The New Testament puts it like this… </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="text"><b><i><u>Acts 17:24-28</u></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="text"><i>“The God who made the world and everything in it</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>is the Lord of heaven and earth</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’<sup> </sup>As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is God alone who sustains the world, who holds things together, who makes life, well - the miracle that life is.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We’re too used to life though. It is too everyday ordinary. We forget that this life, in and of itself, is a miracle; a gift from God. There is nothing ordinary about it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="text">With life a gift from God, our trust in life, is to be in God alone. We’re not to hedge our bets. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This isn’t always easy. Throughout the Old Testament, Israel is continually being rebuked for hedging their bets, for worshiping multiple gods, for making sure they had them all on their side. The bible doesn’t call what Israel is doing “hedging one’s bets” though. The bible refers to Israel’s unfaithfulness as adultery, as fornication, as playing the harlot. Pretty strong language! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In our modern context, not many of us are tempted to cry out to Baal or Jupitar when things around us are a little stormy. Not many of us call on Asherah or Apollo to aid us in our attempts to live the good life. We don’t try to hedge our bets by currying favour with Horus. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We have a tendency to put our trust in other things, we hedge our bets in other ways. The sweat of our brow, hard work, self-reliance, knuckling down. Our own ability to sort our own life out. Or at the other end of the scale, Lotto, a big win, a quick fix, an rich inheritance coming from Nigeria. We hope we’ll get lucky. Perhaps our trust is in education, science, human evolution, the good will and social conscience of society. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Most commonly, our trust is in money.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our trust is in our assets, our wealth, our possessions. We trust these things (in case God lets us down) to be the source of the good life, of blessing, of security, of happiness, of contentment, of well being. Our path to freedom. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ultimately though, money becomes its own false god. We end up worshiping money, putting our trust in money, and looking to money as the source of true life. We’re still faithful Christians of course, we’re just hedging out bets. That’s wisdom isn’t it? No. The bible calls it playing the harlot. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Have a look at these passages, try and duck them if you can. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="text"><b><i><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">1 Timothy 6:6-10</span></u></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="text"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">But godliness with contentment</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">fall into temptation and a trap</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">and pierced themselves with many griefs.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">James 4:13-16<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="text"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Now listen,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><b><i><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hebrew 13:5-6<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="text"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">K</span></i></span><span class="text"><i>eep your lives free from the love of money</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>and be content with what you have,</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>because God has said, “Never will I leave you;</i></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.</i></span></span><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What can mere mortals do to me?”</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Lord is your helper. Not money. </span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mostly our issue in regard to the love of money<b> </b>isn’t that we love rolls of cash or huge vaults of gold coins to dive into and swim around in like Scrooge McDuck dies in Duck Tails. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The issue is to do with power and control. Money represents power and control in our world.</span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you have money you have options, you have choices, you are empowered, you can look after yourself, you don’t have to rely on anyone, you have freedom, no one can tell you what to do, when to do it, or how to do it. You are self-sufficient! You are in charge! The more money you have the more power and control you have.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is a scene in the 2014 movie </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Gambler </i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">that highlights this perfectly. Mark Wahlberg plays Jim Bennet, and English Professor and high-stakes gambler. John Goodman plays Frank, a kind of underworld, gambling kingpin. It is full of f-bombs (so viewer discretion is advised if you chose to watch the clip). Jim has got himself into trouble despite once having been $2.5 million up. Frank can’t believe that Jim - when he was up – didn’t use that money to put him in an “f-you!” place of financial security for the rest of his life. A position where he could live as lord and king of his own life – at the beck and call of no-one. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Jim:</b> <i>I've been up two and a half million dollars.</i><br />
<b>Frank:</b> <i>What you got on you?</i><br />
<b>Jim:</b> <i>Nothing.</i><br />
<b>Frank:</b> <i>What you put away?</i><br />
<b>Jim:</b> <i>Nothing.</i><br />
<b>Frank:</b> <i>You get up two and a half million dollars, any asshole in the world knows what to do: you get a house with a 25 year roof, an indestructible Jap-economy shit box, you put the rest into the system at three to five percent to pay your taxes and that's your base, get me? That's your fortress of f-ing solitude. That puts you, for the rest of your life, at a level of f-you. Somebody wants you to do something, f-you. Boss pisses you off, f-you! Own your house. Have a couple bucks in the bank. Don't drink. That's all I have to say to anybody on any social level. Did your grandfather take risks?</i><br />
<b>Jim:</b> <i>Yes.</i><br />
<b>Frank:</b> <i>I guarantee he did it from a position of f-you. A wise man's life is based around f-you. The United States of America is based on f-you. You're a king? You have an army? Greatest navy in the history of the world? F-you! </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now, you might not like the language, it might not be something you’d say, or an attitude that you’d like to admit exists beneath the surface in your life. Maybe you prefer the softer <span class="text">imagery seen in movies where the character wins lotto, walks into the office, tells everyone what he/she really thinks of them and then walks out with a smile on his/her face, (see James McAvoy as Wesley in the 2008 movie <i>Wanted). </i>It’s the same thing though.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="text">And our world craves the idea of finding oneself in such a position. </span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Truthfully, something of an “f-you” attituded is buried away within most of us. For some quite deeply. For other just below the surface. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Humans have forever sought to be the lords and masters of their own lives. Humanity grabbed the apple in the garden and said, “we’ll be our own gods.” We still do it today in our lust for power and control, in our desire to be free.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And, more often than not, money is seen as the means by which one will find freedom. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This isn’t the freedom Christ calls us into though. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Following Christ, living the life of a disciple, it isn’t a life of power and control. To follow Christ is to explicitly acknowledge that we are not the lords, kings or masters of our own lives. It is to secede all of our lives and everything in our lives to Christ. We’re not called to be a false god sovereign over our own life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Take these passages scattered throughout the New Testament…<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="text"><i>Your life is not your own, it has been bought with a price. <br />It is no longer I that lives but Christ that lives in me. <br />Take up your cross and follow Jesus. <br />Present your bodies as living sacrifices. <br />
</i></span><i><span style="background: rgb(253 , 254 , 255); color: #001320;">If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.<br />For the sake of those with a weaker conscience, don’t always engage in the freedom you have. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255);"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #001320;">What's hopeless is that too many Christians live life hoping to one day find themselves in an "f-you" position. This is the very antithesis of what it means to be a Christian! (I apologies for the crass terminology, but i think it makes the point with great clarity). For many, serving two masters, God and mammon is too watered down for it to really sink in though. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: rgb(253 , 254 , 255); color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now, granted that we are to steward our lives, we’re left having to negotiate a pretty finely balanced reality. It is a fine line between faithfully stewarding that which God has graced us with and striving for power and control. Just take the following list of words – stewardship, hording, wisdom, fear, sound planning, playing the harlot, hard work, control, faithfulness, slavery, fruitfulness, trusting, false god, resource, freedom, diligence, security, comfort, power, sacrifice, worry, anxiety, trust – it is so easy to get these things mixed up. Rightly sorted one minute, but all mixed up the next. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s a fine line sometimes. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="text">In Lord of the Rings, Frodo, offered Gandalf the ring of power, offered Gandalf power and control. Gandalf replied… <i>“</i></span><i>Don't... tempt me Frodo! I dare not take it. Not even to keep it safe. Understand, Frodo. I would use this ring from a desire to do good... But through me, it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Money is like that. “Oh this is just a resource, I’m just a steward. I’m just a channel for God, blessed to be a blessing, building my portfolio in order to do some great good in the world.” It is easy to have the best intentions, the desire to do good, but money is sneaky. Your desire is to do good but you can easily end up searching for power and control – failing to see that you are actually now powerless and being controlled. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It sets you work hours. It sets your calendar. It sets your priorities. It sets your values. It sets the yard stick by which you measure your life, your status, your success. It can easily frame your life more than you allow God to frame your life. More than anything frames your life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, the good life. A blessed life. A flourishing, whole and right life, it is God’s will for you but it is found in Jesus, not in your bank balance. We discover a blessed life as we follow Jesus, as we walk a long obedience in the right direction, we find ever increasing measures of wholeness. Life still happens of course, following Jesus offers no immunity card to the heartache that life offers at times – though there is always hope.</span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To think that following Jesus might somehow be a fast track to millionaire is hopelessly misguided. To follow Jesus is to determine that he’ll forever be Lord and King in your life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Bible offers no scheme through which to get rich and instead wisdom and guidance to ensure that money is removed from any position as lord in your life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What is even more mixed up is the way in which we long to be in a position of total control in our lives and hope that the Bible, that following Jesus, that God might help us get to there. Financially or otherwise. To follow Jesus is to submit our lives to his lordship and authority of all things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Too easily we're deceived into thinking that money will save us and free us in life. We end up chasing, and fantasizing, and organizing our lives in the pursuit of the power and control that money brings. It’s a false god and we’re playing the harlot, we’re unfaithful. God’s will is no longer framing our life. He wants you to have a blessed life but it is found in him, not in money, or anything else. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now the challenge in all of this is to discover what it means to live as careful and wise stewards. Money is a front-and-centre reality of life. We’re not to be careless with money, nor pretend it isn’t an important reality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next time. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-58032554927028193762017-02-01T14:42:00.000+13:002017-02-01T14:42:21.823+13:00Livin’ in Beverly Hills, That’s Where I Want to Be – Money: Part 1 of 4<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Where I come from isn't all that great<br />My automobile is a piece of crap<br />My fashion sense is a little whack<br />And my friends are just as screwy as me</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I didn't go to boarding schools<br />Preppie girls never looked at me<br />Why should they?<br />I ain't nobody, got nothing in my pocket</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Beverly Hills, that's where I want to be<br />Livin' in Beverly Hills<br />Beverly Hills, rolling like a celebrity<br />Livin' in Beverly Hills<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Look at all those movie stars<br />They're all so beautiful and clean<br />When the housemaids scrub the floors<br />They get the spaces in between<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I want to live a life like that<br />I want to be just like a king<br />Take my picture by the pool<br />'Cause I'm the next big thing<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Beverly Hills, that's where I want to be<br />Livin' in Beverly Hills<br />Beverly Hills, rolling like a celebrity<br />Livin' in…<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxs1zwuwutPq7llDnA0TsjFPzCQvGYFfGFr9b7FuU9FT2wKcZ-J-A-5N8k0I0Vd5FFrgbIeMotTRlWt7zugACH4mC2xdKuvzl9M1NNN3fYb7SsQPkXEBwP7glOXtR-BqsbZuRHJa-Xomb/s1600/Weezer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxs1zwuwutPq7llDnA0TsjFPzCQvGYFfGFr9b7FuU9FT2wKcZ-J-A-5N8k0I0Vd5FFrgbIeMotTRlWt7zugACH4mC2xdKuvzl9M1NNN3fYb7SsQPkXEBwP7glOXtR-BqsbZuRHJa-Xomb/s400/Weezer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Artist – Weezer<br />Song – Beverly Hills<br />Album – Make Believe<br />Year –</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Cambria, serif;">2005<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Cambria, serif;">_________________</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>For those who could not yet see prosperity in their own lives, patience became the highest virtue. “Patience! The power twin of faith!” exclaimed Kenneth Copeland. </b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Kate Bowler – <i>Blessed; A History of the American Prosperity Gospel<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>“Lol” said I.</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Me – when reading above Kenneth Copeland quote in Bowler’s <i>Blessed</i><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">_____________</i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Money: Part 1 of 4</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What does it mean to have a “blessed” life? When the Bible talks of “blessing” what is it talking about? Livin’ in Beverly Hills, rolling like a celebrity? Or something else?</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><u>Genesis 1:27-28</u></i></b></div>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. </i><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in </i><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”</i></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is in the book of Genesis that we first encounter the Biblical idea of blessing or of being blessed. Essentially blessing or to be blessed refers to God’s desire for humanity to experience life as a flourishing, whole and right reality. Blessing and blessed also refers to God’s initiative in creating the conditions in which this kind of life is possible. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Though God (Father, Son and Spirit) exits perfectly content as God, Trinitarian love overflows and desires always to invite and include “others” in loving relationship. Out of love God creates humankind in order that they might participate in God’s love, not as God, but as God’s image bearers, unique in all of creation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We should thus understand flourishing, whole and right as follows...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><b><i>Flourishing </i></b></span><span class="text"><i>– To be fruitful in life, helping to contribute to and ordered creation. To steward and tend to the planet. To produce food, goods and services that provided for one another and make the world even more beautiful. To invent and order, and to continue God’s good work of creation. To have found good work for one's own hands and joy in one's work. To have ready access to the necessities of life. <br />
<b>Whole</b> – To be in a close and healthy relationship with God, self, others and creation. <br />
<b>Right</b> – To live in right step with God’s order of things, in line with God’s way, truth and life. The way of justice, righteousness, mercy, generosity and peace. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To be blessed is thus to be flourishing, to be whole, and to live in right step with God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Alternatively, it is to receive something that is a catalyst towards a flourishing, whole or right life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With this in mind, we see in Deuteronomy the way in which life is used as shorthand for blessing and blessing as shorthand for life. While at the same time death is shorthand for cursing and cursing is shorthand for death. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><b><i><u>Deuteronomy 30:19-20</u></i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Now choose life, so that you and your children may live </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">and that you may love</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">the</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="small-caps"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></i></span><span class="text"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, humankind chose death and cursing pretty early on in the piece rather than life and blessing. Rather than live ‘right’ or in ‘right step’ with God’s order of things, humankind chose to do its own thing and sin and death enters the story, things break down; we’re out of step. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And yet God is faithful even when humanity isn’t and works continually that people would be blessed and know life as God intended life to be. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God offers life and blesses Noah and his decedents. God declares he’ll maintain the conditions needed for life to carry on and blesses humanity once again. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><u>Genesis 8:22 – 9:1</u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><i>“As long as the earth endures,</i></span><i> <span class="text">seedtime and harvest,</span> <span class="text">cold and heat,</span> <span class="text">summer and winter,</span> <span class="text">day and night</span> <span class="text">will never cease.” </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.”</span></i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Later on, in order that people might come to know true life, flourishing, whole and right life, God calls Abram and his decedents, promising a special blessing which again, though in different words, speaks of fruitful increase and flourishing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Genesis 12:1-3</span></u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><i>The</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="small-caps"><i><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>to the land</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>I will show you. "</i></span><span class="text"><i>I will make you into a great nation,</i></span><i> <span class="text">and I will bless you;</span> <span class="text">I will make your name great,</span> <span class="text">and you will be a blessing. </span></i><span class="text"><i>I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;</i></span><i> <span class="text">and all peoples on earth</span> <span class="text">will be blessed through you.”<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And of course, if you are familiar with the biblical narrative, you know that in this passage we’ve hints of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God who will give his life in order that humankind would find true life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thus this promise of blessing culminates in Jesus Christ and his life as articulated in the gospel narratives and, in a manner helpful to this discussion, in Romans 4. Remember that blessed is shorthand for a flourishing, whole and right life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><u>Romans 4:7-8</u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><i>“Blessed are those</i></span><i><br />
</i><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>whose transgressions are forgiven,</i></span><i><br />
</i><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>whose sins are covered.</i></span><span class="text"><i>Blessed is the one</i></span><i><br />
</i><span class="indent-1-breaks"><i> </i></span><span class="text"><i>whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”<b><u><o:p></o:p></u></b></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You’re on your way to true life, a flourishing, whole and right life – you’re blessed – when you find grace and reconciliation and forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We see this in John 10 as well. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><b><i><u>John 10:10</u></i></b></span><span class="text"><i><br />
</i></span><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and have it to the full.</span></i><span class="text"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus came that you might be blessed, that you might find true life, and that you might come into right relationship with God and from here into right relationship with self, others and the rest of creation and into a flourishing, whole and right life. A blessed life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In this age, we’ll only ever experience this in part. We’ll all face highs and lows, have victories and defeats, know health and sickness, provision and lack at times. While in the age to come this will be known in full. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In saying that though, as we follow Jesus, as we continue a long obedience in the right direction, we do discover increasing measures of wholeness, we do flourish in new and unexpected ways. We discover Godly wisdom that does serve as a catalyst towards blessing though not as an immunity card that protects us from the heartache and pain of life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Psalm 1 is a fine example of the blessing that God’s wisdom brings. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><b><i><u>Psalm 1:1-6</u></i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Blessed is the one<br />
</i><i> </i><i>who does not walk in step with the wicked<br />or stand in the way that sinners take<br />
</i><i> </i><i>or sit in the company of mockers,</i><i>but whose delight is in the law of the <span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>,<br />
</i><i> </i><i>and who meditates on his law day and night.</i><i>That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,<br />
</i><i> </i><i>which yields its fruit in season<br />and whose leaf does not wither—<br />
</i><i> </i><i>whatever they do prospers.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, hopefully, in all of the above you will have noticed we’ve NOT once mentioned money. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Western Christian tendency to define blessing in economic, materialistic and consumer driven terms is so far off the mark that it isn’t funny. Bank balances are not a biblical definition of blessing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Certainly the concept of a blessed life in the Bible assumes an economic component (job security, a fair income, basic financial wisdom and a reasonably just society). But, BUT, <b>BUT!!!</b> – a flourishing, whole and right life goes far beyond economics and<i> is not </i>contingent on personal wealth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The prosperity gospel is a sham, and more often than not a scam as well! </b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><b>A blessed life is a certain quality of life, not quantity of wealth. </b></span><span class="text"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These are the sorts of qualities found in a blessed life...</span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Right relationship and connection with the creator of the universe, the God of heaven and earth.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Non-anxious living, with storms on the horizon, in storms, beyond storms.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A deep set sense of peace, of hope, of being loved. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A secure sense of value and dignity and place in life. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unencumbered in being the person God called you to be. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sleeping soundly, laughing lots, enjoying simple pleasures, sharing meals with friends.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Breaking bread and wine. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Restored and healthy relationships – within yourself, with others and with the rest of creation.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ability to be present in life. Present with yourself, but also present and connected with family and friends. </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Plenty of people have lots of money but lack most of the above. At the same time, plenty of people have only a little money but despite that their lives overflow with the aforementioned. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Who do you think is more blessed!?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is way more to a flourishing, whole and right life than one’s bank balance, than </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> living in Beverly Hills.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text">More needs to be said in regard to money, of course, and hopefully I can share a few more thoughts soon. That said, we </span><span class="text">need to zoom out before we can zoom in. We need a more biblical concept of blessing before we start talking about money. Otherwise, we’ll struggle to talk about money in its right place; money has a way of becoming <b><i>the</i></b> <i><b>thing</b></i> rather than <b><i>a</i></b> <i><b>thing</b></i>. We have to be mindful of this. <span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="text">In considering money we need to keep in mind that when we read words in the bible like blessed, favoured, prosperous, abundant etc, we should think of a flourishing, whole and right life. There is an economic component to the whole deal for sure, but we shouldn’t misinterpret these words through Western lenses infatuated with economics, materialism, consumerism, status, power and bank balances. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="text">I absolutely believe God’s heart for people is that they would experience a blessed life – but this means a flourishing, whole and right life. The term has been corrupted by prosperity preaching to the point that it almost needs to be thrown out. Instead though, we’ll try and redeem the term; blessing and prosperity relates to a flourishing, whole, right life. God is and always has been working towards this, the climactic reality of this being the coming of Jesus and His promised return. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="text">Following Jesus won’t result in you becoming a millionaire. Mostly Jesus’ financial advice, if properly followed, will result in bank withdrawals not deposits. Keep that in mind. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span class="text">In economic terms, most of you reading this, wi</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">th your current wealth, assets and income are already flourishing financially. From a global perspective the medium gross household income in New Zealand, with purchasing power parity taken into account, is about $47,100. That puts you in the wealthiest 4.5% in the world. You’re better off financially than more than 6.3 billion people on our globe. </span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A blessed life is a gift from God and is found in Jesus. It can’t be bought. You can’t buy a blessed life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All too often we give intellectual assent to this but put our hope is in our finances. Money will look after us, keep us secure, give us peace, help us to enjoy life, protect us from storms. That’s often why we are so quick to measure blessing and economic terms, we see money as power, and the power to attain a certain kind of life. This is a lie that the bible warns us against again and again… but that’s a whole different post…<b> </b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-37742715693327321922016-11-03T21:05:00.000+13:002016-11-03T21:05:21.431+13:00Christian Spiritualities: Mystics and Others<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Here is a John Crowder video I chanced upon the other day. I smiled from start to finish for all sorts of reasons.</div>
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Crowder is a self-professed modern day Christian mystic whom I know very little about and my purpose in posting the video is NOT to get into a discussion about the merits for or against John Crowder. Rather, it serves to help illustrate Christian spiritualities and how they interplay. Ideally in a healthy way via commun<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">ity, though often in an unhealthy way via tribalism. Something we've been looking into at church recently.</span></div>
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First of all, consider the helpful illustration from Christain Schwarz' book "The 3 Colours of Your Spirituality."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8NaJugeGVxIqfPPwwLPcQrD4y7aVeXXyRwU7SRJP4_FPp5sitRwgZU0xmccN1RuzYDrSwTviiSy5dUt7uM_LX-vnQVSP8pdYh-L7rBYsCpMvXAdRPx4FPpydpJLLv3qnimMr4eUVWw7A/s1600/Spirituality+profile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8NaJugeGVxIqfPPwwLPcQrD4y7aVeXXyRwU7SRJP4_FPp5sitRwgZU0xmccN1RuzYDrSwTviiSy5dUt7uM_LX-vnQVSP8pdYh-L7rBYsCpMvXAdRPx4FPpydpJLLv3qnimMr4eUVWw7A/s400/Spirituality+profile.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In sum, he suggests people relate to God via the "world" (creation, relationships, beauty), via the "Word" (gospel, cross, Jesus, bible), and via the "Spirit" (various, I guess you could say, unmediated experiences of God). It's limited and flawed but still a helpful tool. It's important to know your home base, that which comes most naturally for you. For me it is "world," as you can see from my test results which I've included in the graphic. As well, it is helpful to know the pathways that come most naturally to you. You can then also consider the pathways either side and the pathways opposite. Though in reality, they all mix together and we're all a bit of everything.</div>
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John Crowder's video is a helpful illustration here as it is classically "mystical." He's not quite "sacramental," nor is he exactly "enthusiastic Holy Spirit," but rather, a more mysterious place in the middle. The "sacramental" side of me loves his celebration of life as a joy and gift and a signpost to God, the fatigued "Holy Spirit enthusiast" side of me is a bit skeptical of the laughing revivals etc, though I can see how the "Holy Spirit enthusiasts" out there could find some life in what he is saying. And then, the "doctrinal" side of me, the opposite of "mystical," worries about what exactly he is and isn't saying. How cool is that! The closer you are to "mystical," either on the "enthusiastic" side or the "sacramental" side, the more you might enjoy what John has to say. The more of a "doctrinal" or "scripture driven" type you are, the more you may be troubled.</div>
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Learning to learn from one another, help one another, understand one another, and balance one another is surely better than righting off anything that is different to you.</div>
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Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-65533365207214432952016-10-25T11:21:00.000+13:002016-10-25T13:37:23.623+13:00Bible Reading: Less is More <div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><u><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Psalm 119:105</span></u></i></b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br />Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light unto my path. </span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">There is no debate that, as Christians, we are to have some sort of a relationship with the bible. The question though is: what sort of relationship?<i></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. This Word then becomes flesh and dwells among us; Jesus Christ. And in regard to Jesus Christ, the Word, the Son of God, we read that God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:17).<i></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">So Jesus, the Word of God, comes not to condemn but to save.<i></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">At the same time, we have this other thing often referred to as the word of God; the bible. And yet for many, the relationship with this word of God is often one of condemnation, guilt, and confusion. Not because they're reading and finding the text a source of rebuke or challenge or correction. Rather, it is because they are not reading it and feel guilty. <i></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">And rightly so! Right? After all...<i></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Bible reading is like breakfast, you may not remember what you had, but it keeps you going…<i></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">A bible that is falling apart is usually owned by someone who isn’t...<i></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Dusty bibles lead to dirty lives…<i></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Really?<i></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">I'm not so sure.<i></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">For lots of people, myself included, this picture is a pretty good representation of what I understood a relationship with God to look like when I was growing up. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;"> <i>The Quiet Time</i></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">The technical term was: The Quiet Time.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Supposedly, a relationship with God was outworked via a weekly small group, Sunday church, and one's own daily "quiet times." If asked how many “quiet times” you’d had in the last week, the correct answer was seven. Anything less than seven likely meant one was backsliding. Though in saying that, six was often acceptable with Sunday church letting you off the hook when it came to the "Sunday quiet time." </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">January the 1st was the most exciting day of the year when it came to "quiet times." Partly because you could almost guarantee the last half of the previous year would have been a "quiet-time-dessert-of-nothingness." Obviously less than ideal. More than that though, January the 1st meant new stationary! A fresh start with a brand-new journal, new highlighters, new pens (black, blue and red), and if you really wanted to take things up a notch, maybe even a new translation of the bible. It was like the first day back at school for the year and you were ready to write nice headings and underline everything. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Ideally a "quiet time" was quiet, 30 - 60 minutes long, distraction free and uninterrupted. One would likely be following some sort of bible-in-a-year plan and the reading of the text would be devotional. One would read waiting for a scripture to "pop," for the <i>logos</i> word of God to become a <i>rhema</i> word of God to you and your life and situation. Bible reading would be followed by prayer. 5 minutes per day the first week, 6 minutes per day the second week, 7 minutes per day the third week etc. You'd get stronger and stronger, CrossFit Prayer, though CrossFit hadn't been invented. You'd pray for your church, pray for your family, unchurched friends, the future, The Prayer of Jabez etc.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">There is not necessarily anything fundamentally wrong with any of this. At times I've found this practice to be incredibly life-giving. It's intentional, it's God-honoring, it's a discipline, it refuses to squeeze God into the margins, it prioritizes the bible as important in one's faith journey and helps one to become familiar with the bible. I've experienced God speaking to me directly as a passage of scripture I'm reading has indeed "popped" and come to life for my situation circumstances.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">At times though it is nothing but a source of guilt, condemnation, confusion and "tick-box" religious duty. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">One feels guilty when they miss a quiet time.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">One feels guilty when after a week they are 4 chapters behind in the bible-in-a-year plan, when after a month they are 28 chapters behind, when after 3 months they are 180 chapters behind, and when after 6 months find themselves once again struggling away near the end of Leviticus knowing that the book of Numbers comes next! Oh well. there is always a fresh start in January and all my new pens and highlighters have been lost anyway. And once again there is a sense of failure. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">One feels guilty when they read but nothing goes "pop."</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Without too much effort the process becomes condemning rather than life-giving. And, all too often, completion of the "quiet time" is more about appeasing one's conscious (tick off the religious duty for the day), than it is actually about connecting with God in some meaningful way.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">On top of this, we've two other realities to consider. Firstly, the whole "quiet time" idea is built around reading and some people just aren't readers. And then secondly, of all the books to try and get non-readers to read, we give them the bible. Ancient Near East and Greco-Roman literature may not be the easiest to tackle! The bible is a tricky book! What’s average Joe reader to make of Leviticus, Job, Ezekiel, Revelation?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">The bible is thousands of years old.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">It was written in Hebrew in the Ancient Near East. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">It was written in Koine Greek in the Greco-Roman world. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">It was written by a whole bunch of different authors, to a whole bunch of different people, for a whole bunch of different reasons.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">It is full of ideas, stories, turns of phrase, and imagery that meant a particular thing, to particular people, at a particular time. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">All of which is really important information in trying to work out what the Bible is getting at sometimes.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span> <span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">The bible is a tricky and complex and challenging book. The bible is hard work. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">The old "quiet time" doesn't really include much space to sort through issues of genre and socio-historical context. Proof texting becomes a lot easier. Find a verse and let it "pop" out to you in order to prove whatever you'd like to prove. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Take Philippians 4:13 for example. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. A great verse for Tim Tebow before he plays NFL, a great verse as you run into an exam you haven't studied for, a great verse as you launch a new business venture, a great verse as you set out to hitch-hike through war-torn Syria. (Of course no one would ever do that, but if they did, you can bet they'd be the kind of person to quote Phil 4:13). </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">It's a great verse but it has nothing to do when any of these things. It's about Paul having learned to find contentment no matter if he has a lot or if he has nothing. Riches or poverty, he can live in all circumstances in a God honoring and righteous manner, through Christ who gives him strength.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Proof-texting can be incredibly dangerous. After all, the bible is so big, so vast, so complex, and written over so many centuries in all sorts of contexts, that you can find a "proof text" for pretty much whatever you want. Indeed, throughout human history wars have been fought, slavery institutionalized, woman treated as property, capital punishment celebrated, and ethnic cleansing enacted all based on the misuse of the bible. A verse or passage of scripture supposedly went "pop" for someone and away they go. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">And so we give this hard, difficult, tricky, ancient book to people who don't really read books at the best of time, not since school, not even a novel, not even the newspaper, and wonder why it sucks the life out of them and fills them with guilt rather than serving as a life-giving way of connecting with God. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">In fact, if you've read this far in this blog post, you are doing better than most people do these days. The internet has destroyed reading. People click from one link to the next, to the next, to the next, to the next. Slow, careful, deep reading is a lost art. Personal reading is at an all-time low, and thus we shouldn’t be surprised that Bible reading is for many at an all-time low.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Well actually, personal reading isn’t at an all-time low. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">I exaggerate. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">The truth is that by-and-large mostly through history humans have been illiterate.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">In fact, for the most part Christians haven’t historically had access to their own Bible let alone the possibility of “quiet times” where they could read four chapters a day and get through some Bible-in-a-year reading plan. Christians only started reading the bible "personally" in the 1500’s and even then it took a hundred years and more before Christians started to own their own bible. (And then look what happened... but that's a different story). <span style="font-size: 13pt;"></span></span></div>
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This should be an instant source of comfort. Especially to those who aren't readers, but also to those who find the practice of a "quiet time" to be draining and guilt-laden rather than life-giving. There are other ways of relating to God and relating to the bible. It hasn't always been "quiet times" and it hasn't always been all about reading. We've 1500 years of Christian history without individual bible reading. The point of which isn't to do away with individual bible reading (necessarily), but rather to think more carefully about how we can relate to the bible in life-giving ways. </div>
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More than ever Christians need to be "bible literate" but we should perhaps realize the pathway to bible literacy across the board isn't likely to be more individualistic bible reading. Especially when we consider that we are all wired to connect with God in different ways. </div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">We won't go into it in great detail, but numbers of different Christian authors have looked at the ways in which different people are wired to connect with God. Christian Schwarz in his book <i>The 3 Colours of Your Spirituality</i> offers nine different pathways that people find meaningful in regard to relating to God. We shouldn't be surprised that different folks on different pathways find they each relate to the bible differently. And the church should make space for this! </span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Scripture-driven:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"> These folk love the idea of the "quiet time." This will be incredibly life giving to them, energizing and rewarding. If you are a scripture driven person, and you are still reading this post, you might have found yourself protesting the whole way through. "Quiet times" will be your thing. </span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Doctrinal:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"> For doctrine orientated people, they'll appreciate the idea of adding in commentaries to their reading, adding in resources that explain how various traditions have wrestled with scripture and come to make sense of it. They'll be wanting to find "truth" in the bible that is meaningful to "life." </span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Rational:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"> Rational type folk tend to start with "life" and then have questions for the bible in light of their experiences of life. They search for "truth" in light of "life."</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Sharing:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"> Sharing people are more interested in telling than in reading. They love to share with others that which they have learned and come to a revelation of.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Mystics:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"> For the mystic the bible can be a frustrating barrier to connecting with the Divine at times. An unnecessary intermediary. Mystics can be loose cannons though. Here the bible as God's word becomes a healthy anchor point in life. </span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Sensory types and Enthusiasts:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"> Less reading and more experiencing, doing, and engaging suits the sensory and enthusiastic types. Why would you lock yourself away in a room for a "quiet time?" Roll your sleeves up, get out and be the light of Christ in the world, or find the light of Christ in the world.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Sacramental:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"> For sacramental type folk, they are more interested in having communion, sharing a meal, being in nature. "Why more learning about the cross and communion? Have communion, don’t you see that until you take communion it's naught but ideas? As you take communion it comes alive!" They laugh at folk who sit in their rooms reading about the heavens declaring the glory of the Lord and instead buy a telescope and go camping. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">The long and the short of it all is that we’re not all going to relate to the bible the same. We do have to figure out how we are going to relate to the bible though. </span></div>
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So rather than just more individual "quiet time" type bible reading, here are a few bullet point ideas that might help you in your relationship with the bible. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">We worship Jesus not the bible.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">The bible is not a member of the Trinity. The bible is not God. We are followers of Christ not of the bible. Certainly the bible is a great gift to the church in its serving as a signpost pointing to the Word of God that is Jesus. We follow Jesus. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">The bible is the word of God that points us to the Word of God.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">The bible is helpful in that it points us to Jesus, Jesus who is the inherent, infallible, holy Word of God. Sadly though some people miss Jesus in how they follow the bible. The bible becomes a weapon, a way of crushing others, a heavy weight, a burden, a self-help manual, keys to success and motivation</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">It’s about bible living not bible reading.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">The question is not, have I read four chapters of the Bible today? The question is, have I loved God with all my heart and soul and mind? Have I loved my neighbor as myself? This is what it is all about and you know enough of the bible to get stuck into that for the rest of your life. This in itself should do away with guilt and condemnation. You don’t have to tick the box of 6 or 7 “quiet times.” Try and tick the box of “doing my best to be like Jesus in the world.” Of course, you won’t always be able to tick this box. We all blow it from time to time. Find grace and forgiveness in these moments though, not guilt and condemnation. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Having said this, we of course need God’s word to be continually shaping our lives. Of course, of course, of course.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">4.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Read the Bible in community.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">The Bible wasn’t written to you, nor was the bible written to me. It was written for us but not to us. It was written to particular communities, at particular times, and for particular reasons. These communities would wrestle together to make sense of God’s word to them. Academics, laborers, stay home mums, business people, teachers, teenagers, the elderly, those experiencing heartache and loss, those thriving in life. Scriptures were always worked out in community. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">So, if you are not a reader or not someone inclined towards the scripture-driven or doctrinal pathway, then it is really important to be in a church community that is scripture-driven and has a passion for sound doctrine. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">For you though, your bible “reading” may in fact end up being a lot more "bible listening" (as others preach and teach and explain), "bible watching" (as you look at how others in your church community live out the bible in their lives), and "bible conversing" (as you talk with others in your community, ask questions and wrestle with the text together). </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">It's not all about reading! Listening, watching and conversing maybe the pathway forward for you when it comes to bible literacy. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Some super spiritual type people might like to declare that this is problematic as you’ll only ever have “second-hand revelations of God” rather than “first-hand revelations of God.” They might declare you to be cutting corners. Don’t worry though, this is stupid for a couple of reasons. Firstly, unless you a reading in Hebrew or Greek you’re already relying on the work of others and it is already second-hand. You have already cut a corner. Secondly, if something is a revelation to you, it is a revelation to you! Any revelation you have is always a first-hand revelation to you. Otherwise it wouldn’t be a revelation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">5.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Less is more, join the “slow Bible” movement.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">If you are going to read in community, well the reading gets a lot slower. It is always faster to do something by yourself, of course. It isn’t always better for you though. Inviting others into the conversation will slow it all down, but at the same time has the potentially to bring it all alive. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Invite a couple of friends into conversation. Read the same book of the bible together. Meet up for coffee to discuss. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Invite an expert into the conversation. It is pretty easy to get your hands on really good commentaries. Academic. Pastoral. Everyday life application. You can decide how deep you want to go. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Obviously, this is more reading so it isn’t going to be for everyone. If you are a listener or a watcher or a conversationalist, try to listen to those that read deeply etc.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">More reading slows it down. Here though, please understand that less is more. Don’t try to get through the bible in a year. Stop. Try to get through a couple of books of the bible each year and add in an appropriate commentary on each book. Add in some appropriate conversation partners. You’ve got years of doing this ahead of you so slow down. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Tom Wright has a series <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/John-Everyone-Part-Chapters-Testament/dp/0664227899/ref=pd_sim_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=3E8S2JDBY2J62P5V3DEW" target="_blank">For Everyone</a> </i>that’d be a good and easily accessible entry point. A basic commentery on every book of the New Testament by one of the world's leading biblical scholars. All written for the everyday reader though. Buy them as a set, buy them one-by-one. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Maybe rather than a commentary, read a couple of books about the bible. A little bit of understanding of how it works can be a game changer! </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Try <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drama-Scripture-Finding-Place-Biblical/dp/0801049563/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1477347338&sr=1-1&keywords=the+drama+of+scripture" target="_blank">The Drama of Scripture</a> </i>by Bartholomew and Goheen helps you to understand the big story and narrative arc of the bible. It is excellent. Or perhaps<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bible-Tells-Me-Defending-Scripture/dp/0062272039/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1477347399&sr=1-1&keywords=the+bible+tells+me+so" target="_blank"> </a><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bible-Tells-Me-Defending-Scripture/dp/0062272039/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1477347399&sr=1-1&keywords=the+bible+tells+me+so" target="_blank">The Bible Tells Me So</a> </i>by Peter Enns. Enns is laugh-out-loud funny and looks at the dilemmas that come with some of the tricky bits of the bible and the unfortunate ways we have tried to work our way around them. <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/New-Testament-Story-Ben-Witherington/dp/0802827659/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1477347486&sr=1-1&keywords=the+new+testament+story" target="_blank">The New Testament Story</a> </i>by Ben Witherington is a great introduction as to how we even came to have the New Testament. <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Them-Us-Me-Testament-Speaks/dp/1608995909/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1477347529&sr=1-1&keywords=the+us+and+me+grey+old+testament" target="_blank">Them, Us, and Me </a></i>by Jacqueline Grey is helpful with the Old Testament, what does that have to do with our lives today? A great book. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Less is more!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br />Join the slow bible movement.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">After all, anything worth doing is worth doing slowly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">6.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Don’t mistake the bible as a flat text, not all is equal.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">Give privilege to the Gospels, the stories of Jesus, the Epistles to the church.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">7.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Always read in light of Christ. <br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">8.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Remember that the goal in our reading is that we’d be more like Jesus. </span></div>
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Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-90335868107399264852016-09-30T15:02:00.000+13:002016-09-30T15:12:45.580+13:00Friday Craft Beer Review: Lion Breweries’ Waikato Draught<div class="MsoNormal">
Truth be told, this is the first time I’ve sampled Lion Breweries’ Waikato offering, despite it being one of New Zealand's oldest beers. 91 years old apparently!</div>
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According to beer historian Mr Wiki, Waikato Draught was originally brewed in Hamilton by the Innes Family Brewery, the first brewery in New Zealand owned by a woman. Lion Nathan acquired the brewery in 1961 with production continuing in Hamilton until 1987 before being moved to Auckland. Unfortunately for Hamilton, this shift to Auckland meant Hamilton officially became New Zealand’s "Most Uninspiring City.” A title held until the first class debut of Daniel Vettori for Northern Districts against England ten years later in 1997. His first wicket, that of Nasser Hussain (caught at first slip attempting to drive), is recognised by the local council of the time as breathing new life into the city and inspired their catch phrase “Hamilton; Where It’s Happening,” Good stuff Lucas! Shortly after they planted a garden and bought some hot air balloons and things have been on the up and up every since. But I digress. In 2005 Waikato Draught won gold in the draught category of the Brew NZ beer awards with its classic beer being described as having a “strong malty flavour with well-defined bitterness.” That’ll be something to look out for!</div>
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What else? Technically a draught beer is one poured via a handle and from a keg or cask, now-a-days though Waikato primarily comes in a can or a bottle. In fact, it is rare to find Waikato Draught on tap outside of the 7,067-person town of Huntly. Basically very view taverns are brave enough to invest in a 50 litre keg. It might take 10 - 15 years to work through that much Waikato Draught and not many publicans are willing to sign up to that kind of commitment. Nevertheless, if one is prepared to make the trip to one of Huntly’s local establishments you’ll be able to find Waikato Draught on tap as well as a better-than-average chance of a Thursday night schnitzel special. Just follow the sound of the Waikato chainsaws calling to each other (they don't text over there) and keep a look out for the Huntly Hurricane (aka Lance Hohaia). Draught continues to be used in the title only out of tradition. Other than that, as a malty/bitter beer we’d expect it to be in some way related to the Pale Ale family. Whether a long lost cousin to be welcome home or an ugly step sister, we’ll have to wait and see. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnj1ldd1EDuM15K6qzGdL1mlyRNVWV6wAWQcEHrfJDxBcEvOLIuWbTR0WpDWmUqH9xnThtKUiNp9Fxy7aoYxiEsI7Xl-wJVEwm1rh5rTTYAs_ozOaSB4tqpvmfEtPRc60pTvpRtJs6sQC/s1600/chainsaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnj1ldd1EDuM15K6qzGdL1mlyRNVWV6wAWQcEHrfJDxBcEvOLIuWbTR0WpDWmUqH9xnThtKUiNp9Fxy7aoYxiEsI7Xl-wJVEwm1rh5rTTYAs_ozOaSB4tqpvmfEtPRc60pTvpRtJs6sQC/s320/chainsaw.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Let’s see how this goes.</div>
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<b>Price: </b>$7.99 4x330mls. Waikato Draught is certainly priced competitively when one compares it to other craft beers we’ve reviewed. Interestingly enough, Waikato Draught gets cheaper per bottle when you buy in bulk. A box of 15 works out at $1.73 per bottle and a box of 24 at $1.66. In theory then, a 249 pack would work out at about .59c per bottle. They’re practically giving it away. Or, maybe my math is wrong.</div>
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<b>Alcohol content:</b> 4.0%</div>
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<b>Colour: </b>Deep amber and golden hues. Plenty of bubbles and a reasonable white frothy head.</div>
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<b>Aroma: </b>Faint notes of sweet toffee are discernable. There is also subtle sour note as well, kind of a mix between 24-hour charity relay sweat, apprentice builder’s body odour, and the sticky wooden floors of the Mount Rugby Club just before church used to start after a Saturday night 40<sup>th</sup> birthday back in the day.</div>
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<b>Palate: </b>Even chilled the sweet malt flavours come through, hints of Pam's golden syrup. Other than that it is simply wet and watery. It is slightly fizzy but totally lacking any body. In terms of strong taste and bitterness; whoever did the write-up extolling the virtues of this draught beer has obviously never sampled a good stout or a quality IPA. I’m not convinced this beer even has any hops in it.</div>
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<b>Finish: </b>The initial swig of this beer is quite palatable compared to the finish. The finish is where it becomes pretty off-putting as it is hard to work out what the tangy aftertaste exactly is. Many myths surround what may or may not be the special ingredients used in this brewing process. Since 2011 the general consensus seems to be Beaver's Rugby World Cup winning socks and undies, the very ones worn as he nervously took the kick that became "The Kick." I’m not convinced though. This old misty is even more tangy than that. It’s almost as if someone has combined the muddy water of the Waikato river with select segments of yellow snow from Mount Ruapehu and a hint of Stihl’s HP 2 Stroke chainsaw oil, and then actually put it in the bottle! It's hard to digest.</div>
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<b>On the Chart: </b>Well in terms of complexity we’re sitting pretty low. Well let’s be honest, this bit of mooloo magic just isn’t that magical and will line up right at the bottom of the chart. It’s also not hoppy in the slightest. And while it is a touch malty, it's certainly not anything like a deep dark porter or stout. This is pretty middle of the road. A refreshing beer rather than a beer to be savoured. It’s looking pretty lonely on the chart.</div>
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<b>Conclusion: </b>Truthfully, Lion Breweries’ Waikato Draught is an easy drink. Easy like a glass of water is easy. There isn’t a lot to it. I’d say that’s why it is sold in 24 packs and maybe even one day in 249 packs for .59c a bottle. I think the idea with Waikato Draught is to come back for more. This isn't craft beer. Craft beer is different. Craft beer is to be savoured rather than skulled, and the flavours, like anything of substance, eventually fatigue the palate. Most craft beers are sold as a single drink, though you do get a few 4 packs and a handful of 6 packs. This particular Waikato Draught was one of 4 but I’m bamboozled as to what to do with the other three; I’m not touching them. Glad I didn't get a box of 24.</div>
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In all honesty, it’s not that Waikato Draught is that bad, it more that it just isn’t that good. Why waste time or money on a beer like this? When you want a coffee you go to local café for an espresso not to Gregg’s for an instant. It doesn't matter that Gregg calls it a "Special Blend" we know it isn't true. When you want steak you throw a scotch on the grill not a piece of marinated BBQ steak with those lines in it (where do those lines even come from anyway!?!). When you want a beer you pop a Tuatara or a Panhead or something from Garage Project. You stay away from Waikato Draught. At least I would. Quality over quantity I say. Less is more. This is an ugly step sister rather than a Cinderalla. Run!</div>
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Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2282662856171833501.post-64349134070265255912016-09-23T16:12:00.000+12:002016-09-23T16:12:01.193+12:00Friday Craft Beer Review: Moa's Festive Season Belgian IPA<div class="MsoNormal">
A couple of weeks ago I reviewed <a href="http://josephmcauley.blogspot.co.nz/2016/09/friday-craft-beer-review-eagle-brewings.html" target="_blank">Eagle Brewery’s RED IPA</a>. In that review I mentioned the wide variety of IPA options that various breweries are coming up with these days. One variety mentioned was a Belgian Style IPA. Essentially this is an IPA brewed with Belgian yeast. Belgian yeast has a very distinct taste and to include it in an IPA changes the beer quite significantly. While off putting to some, others find it a very pleasant flavour. I enjoy the flavour when it is mild but find it pretty overwhelming when it comes through strong. Well funnily enough, after mentioning that two weeks ago, and then reviewing a<a href="http://josephmcauley.blogspot.co.nz/2016/09/friday-craft-beer-review-saint.html" target="_blank"> traditional Belgian style abbey beer</a> last week (delicious), I’ve come across a Belgian style IPA courtesy of Moa Brewing NZ. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Moa Brewing Company is based in Marlborough, New Zealand. While Marlborough is one of New Zealand’s most famous wine regions, Moa Brewing is all about delicious hand crafted beer. They launched in 2003 and have been going from strength to strength ever since. Most of Moa’s beers are bottle conditioned with yeast and sugar added to the brew just before bottling. This means their beers have a cloudy sediment at the bottom, nothing to worry about though, it all just adds to the magic. <o:p></o:p><br />
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Moa promote this beer as an American style IPA brewed with Belgian ale yeast. This little blurb points towards the beer being very bitter / very hoppy, with strong citrus, pine, and fruity notes. This will be followed by a distinctive after taste that comes from the Belgian yeast; off putting to some and delicious to others depending to how strong it comes through. In Moa’s St Joseph Belgium Tripel (yep, that’s right, what a name!) the yeast flavour comes through too strong for me. Other Belgians I’ve had were more balanced and truly delicious. Like Leffe’s Bruin. Yum. </div>
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Let’s see how this goes. It has the potential to be a great combination. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Price: </b>$7.99 500mls<br />
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<b>Alcohol content:</b> 6.0%<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Colour: </b>Deep amber gold with plenty of bubbles and a lovely white frothy head. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Aroma: </b>Strong hoppy smells of grapefruit and tropical fruit. More fruity than herbaceous. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Palate: </b>Very hoppy but the hops are full of beautiful fruity bitterness. Reasonably fizzy. Really quite lovely. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Finish: </b>As you swallow you can't miss the distinct Belgian yeast flavour profile coming through. It is beautifully balanced though and comes through quite sweet and not at all over powering. There is a slight sweet toffee like malt finish too. Big bitterness sticks to the roof of your mouth while the lovely sweetness swirls around your tongue and cheeks. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>On the Chart: </b>This festive Belgian IPA is pretty hoppy, probably more out towards the double IPA side of things, which you would expect with an American style IPA (APA). But the sweet yeast and toffee malts certainly add a nice complexity that mixes everything up. So we are well left and with a really great degree of complexity.</div>
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<b>Conclusion: </b>This is a really nice beer that has been well executed. The Belgian yeast is slightly milder than how it comes through in Moa's St Joseph, which for me is a positive thing. It's not too pungent. While it is quite a bitter beer the yeast and the malts provide a lovely contrast and everything fits together really nicely. If you like double IPAs or IPAs, and if you like the beers of Belgium, this is a really good combination. Good stuff Moa! </div>
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<br />Joseph McAuleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09829328520251418739noreply@blogger.com0