Hermeneutics in Eschatology pt 2

Dispensational Premillennialism

Disclaimer: 

Remember my intention is not to promote one view over another, these posts are intended to prepare you for the discussion and to help you form your own position. 

Definition: 

Dispensational premillennialists hold that Christ will come BEFORE a seven-year period of intense trials and tribulation where the cup of God's wrath is poured out upon the earth, to take His church (living and dead) into heaven. 

After this period of fulfillment of divine wrath, Christ returns to rule from a holy city (i.e., the New Jerusalem) over the earthly nations for one thousand years. 

After the thousand years, Satan, who was bound by chains in the bottomless pit during Christ's earthly reign, will be set loose once again to deceive the nations, gather an army, and start a literal war with the Lord. This final battle called Armageddon will end in both the judgment of the wicked and Satan and the entrance into the eternal state of glory by the righteous. 

This view is called premillennialism because it places the return of Christ before the millennium and it is called dispensational because it is founded in the doctrines of dispensationalism. 

A dispensation is a way of ordering things—an administration, a system, or management. In theology, a dispensation is the divine administration of a period of time; each dispensation is a divinely appointed age. Dispensationalism is a theological system that recognizes these ages ordained by God to order the affairs of the world. 

Dispensationalists understand the Bible to be organized into seven dispensations: Innocence (Genesis 1:1—3:7), Conscience (Genesis 3:8—8:22), Human Government (Genesis 9:1—11:32), Promise (Genesis 12:1—Exodus 19:25), Law (Exodus 20:1—Acts 2:4), Grace (Acts 2:4—Revelation 20:3), and the Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:4–6). These dispensations are not paths to salvation, but manners in which God relates to man.

Distinctions:

• The favored method of interpretation is a strict literal.
  
  
• Key passages are interpreted through this dispensational framework.
  
  
• Israel and the church: views church and Israel as two distinct identities with two individual redemptive plans.
  
  
• The rapture of the Church: The church is raptured before a seven-year tribulation (the seventieth week of Daniel - Daniel 9:24-27). 
  
  
• The tribulation period contains the reign of the AntiChrist. 
  
  
• Millennium Understanding: Christ will return at the end of the great tribulation to institute a thousand-year rule from a holy city (the New Jerusalem). Those who come to believe in Christ during the seventieth week of Daniel (including the 144,000 Jews) and survive will go on to populate the earth during this time. Those who were raptured or raised previous to the tribulation period will reign with Christ over the millennial population.
  
  
• Major proponents: John Walvoord, Charles Ryrie, Louis Sperry Chafer, J. Dwight Pentecost, Norman Geisler, Charles Stanley, Hal Lindsey, John MacArthur, Chuck Smith, and Chuck Missler.

Synopsis:

A strictly literal hermeneutic is foundational to the dispensational premillennialist viewpoint. Interpreting Scripture in this manner will in fact demand such perspectives unique to dispensationalism as:

• an earthly kingdom of God from which Christ will reign
• a future redemptive plan for national Israel
• a seven-year period of great tribulation
• the rejection of prophetic idiom

Dispensational premillennialism holds that a seven-year tribulation (foreseen in Daniel 9:27) will precede a thousand-year period (Revelation 20:1-6) during which time, Christ will reign on the throne of David (Luke 1:32).

Prior to the time of great tribulation, all the dead saints will rise from their graves and all the living members of the church shall be caught up with them to meet Christ in the clouds (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17); this is known as "the rapture." 

During this time of tribulation, there will be three-and-a-half years of world peace under an AntiChrist figure (Daniel 7:8; Revelation 13:1-8) who will establish a one-world-church (Revelation 17:1-15), followed by three-and-a-half years of greater suffering (Revelation 6-18).

At the end of the seven years, Christ will return (Matthew 24:27-31; Revelation 19:11-21), judge the world (Ezekiel 20:33-38; Matthew 25:31; Jude 1:14-15), bind Satan for one thousand years (Revelation 20:1-3), and raise the Old Testament and tribulation saints from the dead (Daniel 12:2; Revelation 20:4).

At this time, the millennial reign will begin and Christ will reign politically over the earth at this time from His capital in Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:3). Throughout His reign, there will be no war (Isaiah 2:4) and even the natures of animals will dwell in harmony (Isaiah 11:6-9). At the end of this era of peace, Satan will be released and instigate a colossal (but futile) rebellion against God (Revelation 20:7-9). After this fated battle, Satan and the wicked are cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10), while the righteous proceed into their eternal state in the realm of the new heaven and the new earth (Revelation 21:1).

The Role of Satan: 

Very much like historic premillennialism, dispensationalism argues that Satan is actively at work to resist the Church and to undermine God’s people. He will be bound for the duration of the millennium and only released for a final confrontation following his 1,000-year captivity.

Bibliography:

• Pentecost, J. Dwight. Things to Come. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1978. (ISBN 0310308909)
• Ryrie, Charles. The Basis for Premillennial Faith. New York: The Loizeaux Brothers, 1953. (ISBN 0872137414)
• Walvoord, John. Every Prophecy of the Bible. Colorado Springs: Chariot Victor Publishing, 1999. (ISBN 1-56476-758-2)
• Walvoord, John. The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Chicago: Moody Press, 1966. (ISBN 0-8024-7310-5)
• Blaising, Craig A. "Premillennialism." Three Views of the Millennium and Beyond. Ed. Darrell L. Bock. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House,1999. (ISBN 0-310-20143-8)

New Testament Endtimes Prophecy Chart

 

• Persecution - Matthew 24:9; Revelation 6:9; 13:7-10; 14:13; 17:6,14; 18:24

• Rapture - 1 Corinthians 15:50-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:1

• BEMA Judgment - 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 9:27; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:19,20

• Kings of the East - Revelation 9:13-19; 17:12.

• The Beast, or Antichrist - 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12; Revelation 13:1-18; 17:7-18; 19:19,20

• Abomination of Desolation - Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:15

• Jewish Revival - Revelation 7:4-8; 14:1-5

• Regathering of Israel - Luke 21:24

• All Nations Gathered - Revelation 14:20; 16:16; 19:19

• Earthquake - Revelation 6:12; 11:19; 16:21

• Hailstones - Revelation 8:7; 11:19; 16:18

• People Destroyed By Fire - Revelation 8:7-11; 16:8,9; 18:8

• Corpses - Revelation 14:20; 19:17,18

• 7 Years or 3.5 Years - Revelation 11:2,3; 12:6,14; 13:5

• Famine - Matthew 24:7; Luke 21:11; Revelation 6:5-8; 18:8

• Pestilence - Luke 21:11; Revelation 6:6-8; 16:1-11; 18:8

• Signs in the Sky - Matthew 24:29; Luke 21:11, 25; Revelation 6:12,13; 8:12

• Second Advent - Matthew 24:7; Revelation 19:11-18

• Apostasy - Matthew 24:10, 23-26; Revelation 17:1-18; 18:2

• Remnant Saved - Matthew 24:16, 20; Revelation 7:4-8; 12:6,13,14; 14:1-5

Old Testament Endtimes Prophecy Chart

• Confusion in Last Battle - Ezekiel 38:21; Zechariah 12:4; 14:13

• 7 Years or 3.5 Years - Daniel 7:25; 9:27; 12:7

• Corpses - Isaiah 34:3; Ezekiel 39:11-20; Joel 2:20

• Men Killed By Fire - Isaiah 13:8,12; 24:6; 33:14; 34:9; 51:6; 65:15,16; Ezekiel 38:22; 39:6; Zechariah 14:12; Malachi 4:1

• Hailstones - Ezekiel 38:22

• Earthquakes - Isaiah 24:18-20; Ezekiel 38:19,20; Joel 2:10(?); 3:16; Amos 9:5; Zechariah 14:4

• Regathering of Israel - Ezekiel 37

• All Nations Gathered to War - Isaiah 13:4; 66:18; Zechariah 12:1-4; 14:2

• Jewish Revival - Ezekiel 37:9-14; Zechariah 12:10-14; 13:1-9

• Abomination of Desolation - Daniel 9:27; 12:11

• Second Advent - Ezekiel 39:21; Daniel 2:44; 7:13,14; Zechariah 14:4; Malachi 2:1-3

• The Beast, or Antichrist - Isaiah 14:12-15; Daniel 7:8, 24; 8:19, 26; 9:26, 27; 11:36ff; Zechariah 11:15-17

• 10 Nations - Daniel 2:42,44; 7:24

• Kings of East - Daniel 11:44

• Kings of South - Ezekiel 38:5; Daniel 11:40

• Kings of North - Ezekiel 38:15ff; 39:2; Daniel 11:40; Joel 2:20

• Signs in Sky - Isaiah 13:10; 24:23; Joel 2:10,30; 3:15; Zechariah 14:6,7

• Remnant Saved - Joel 2:12, 17; 3:32; Amos 9:8; Zechariah 13:8,9; 14:2,5

Hermeneutics in Eschatology pt 1

 Greetings and salutations! 

I have determined to revive this old blog page with the purpose of outlining a series of eschatological arguments, laying them out in a way for folks to see and decide for themselves which they believe based on Scripture is the correct approach.

In this post, I want to lay out two basic rules and then outline the base process I am going to take in these posts. 

Rule 1) Be Polite, in that you demonstrate humility,  I don't care how committed you are to one view or another these are things that have been debated by theologians far smarter than you or I for centuries and I don't expect anyone to change their views based on a single blog post or sermon. 

Rule 2) Be Open, if you are not willing to listen and consider positions other than your own then you are not demonstrating the humility or the maturity you think you are. It is okay to hold different views especially when we are dealing with issues that have yet to unfold and NO ONE actually knows 100% for sure that they are right and everyone else is wrong. 

Okay, with these rules in mind let's talk process. 

I have no idea how many posts this will take to work all the way through, but I am committed to being thorough and will do my best to not favor one view over another as I outline each of them. If I miss something please feel free to send me an email. As of this post, my plan is to have a post a week until we reach the end of the conversation, each post giving a brief, but accurate account of the main tenets of the four main existing viewpoints as well as some of the reasons — both Scriptural and interpretive — behind each view. 

These four main eschatological systems that I plan to look at (in no particular order) are as follows:

1) Dispensational Premillennialism
2) Historic Premillennialism
3) Postmillennialism
4) Amillennialism

Please realize that though these views differ significantly on the topic at hand, the Christians who disagree on these matters agree with each other on probably ninety percent of the rest of the Christian life, this is why I posted my two basic rules first so that we can attempt a bit of civility in the discussion. I will also define any words that I use each week that are of importance at the bottom of the post so that hopefully I don't lose you. 

The Millennium in Question

The first question I want to look at is what is the millennium in question. Each of these four main views revolves around what your definition of the millennium is so having a base understanding of that is important. 

When Christians discuss their millennial views, they are speaking of their interpretation of the much-debated passage in Revelation 20:1-10 — NASB.

"Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.

"Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

"When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever." (NASB)

Okay so let's break this down. When we look at the question of what is the millennium there are different understandings that will determine your position. 

Many Christians will look at this and want to proclaim that they are "pan-millennial" that it will all pan out in the end. This is dangerous and while I was in this camp for a long time, it is unhealthy. 

That said, there literally is a multitude of interpretations, and regardless of your final interpretation of the thousand years from Revelation 20, it all depends more upon certain factors related to your hermeneutic rather than the strict text of the ten highly debated verses. 

You see, there are several ways in which Christians choose to come to Scripture some right, most wrong, and depending on which of these methods is used, your understanding of eschatological issues — and a host of others as well — will change. 

And since you interpret Scripture primarily through the filter of your understanding of other passages in the Word, your millennial view does have an effect (whether great or small) on the way in which you live your life.

The most important thing you can do here is to ensure that you are working off the right hermeneutic working to view the scriptures exegetically versus eisegetically. 

Okay, I think this is where I will end this post and will pick up later this week/next week with Dispensational Pre-millennialism.

May God bless you and keep you! 

Pastor Jonathan

Definitions: 

Eschatology: the part of theology concerned with death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind.

Hermeneutic: concerning interpretation, especially of the Bible or literary texts. Your Hermeneutic is the lens through which you interpret God's Word. 

Exegtically: related to exegesis which is the Science which consists in establishing, according to the standards of scientific criticism, the meaning of a text, in particular. of the Bible.  Exegesis is legitimate interpretation that "reads out of" the text what the original author or authors meant to convey.

Eisegetically: related to Eisegesis which is the process of interpreting the text in such a way as to introduce one's own presuppositions, agendas, or biases. It is commonly referred to as reading into the text. It is often done to "prove" a pre-held point of concern, and to provide confirmation bias corresponding with the pre-held interpretation and any agendas supported by it. Eisegesis is best understood when contrasted with exegesis.

A Pinch of Salt

Salt is a popular topic in the Bible. 86 times in the Old and New Testaments do we find this common household item in various contexts. Jesus talks about His followers being the "salt of the earth" in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:13). Paul in Colossians 4:6 instructs the Christians in Colossae to: "let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." 

We see in this verse three directives wrapped with a vivid image. As we seek to imitate our Lord, we should also mimic his speech (Luke 4:22). Paul is inferring here just as he did in Ephesians 4:29 that our speech should "minister grace to the hearers." We can't do that unless we have grace in both our hearts and in our words. Ephesians 4:15 instructs us to "speak the truth in love." 

We MUST be gracious with one another in our speech. We are also told here to be "seasoned with salt." Why would Paul include this image? Well, in that day, salt was used as a preservative as well as a seasoner. We put salt into our speech to ensure that it is pure, preserving, and properly seasoned. Paul echoes this in Ephesians 4:29 "let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth" thus our speech MUST be pure.

Salt was also a part of the sacrificial system. Perhaps Paul was suggesting that our words should be offered as sacrifices to God, words of praise to the Almighty. It would certainly help in those awkward moments if we remembered that our words were looked upon as a sacrifice of praise.

You see when a Christian speaks out rudely or coarsely, it creates a stumbling block to those around them especially unbelievers. This passage is an excellent way for Paul to begin wrapping up his words of encouragement to the Colossians. There is no place in our conversation for a "know-it-all" attitude. Yes, we must live a life of conviction without compromise, but we must also cultivate a gracious spirit of love. If we fail to do that we do more harm than good to our witness. When one's character, conduct, and conversation are in harmony with one another, working together, we are able to truly be able to answer each person graciously, seasoned with salt pointing them to the cross of Christ.

See ya Sunday!

A Peace Filled Life is a Thankful Life

This time of year many are reflecting on the things that they are thankful for. Whether that be family, health, jobs, our homes, or other blessings we have so much to thank God for. Being thankful can also be somewhat difficult especially when it seems at times that life just isn't fair. A storm of this life takes a friend or a home, cancer attacks unexpected, the waves just never seem to stop.

But we see in Colossians 3:15 Paul instructs the Colossian Christians that they were to have a "thankful heart." As Christians what does this mean? Well, when you look at the full context has a much fuller meaning than mere thankfulness. 

Colossians has many references to thankfulness, but the word Paul uses here is unique, it is not used anywhere else in the New Testament. Also, in full context, it is directly linked to the exhortation to allow "the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful" (Colossians 3:15).  

The combination of "peace" and "thankfulness" here is quite logical. When you lack peace, you will also lack thankfulness, and more often than not the lack of peace comes from a dissatisfaction with things as they are or from other selfish motivations. On the converse when one is thankful, having come to the realization that all things are provided in Christ we find real peace. 

When we come to rest fully in Christ. When we trust in Him and embrace His Word of Truth. That is when we find the true peace that passes all understanding. That is when we face the storms of this life, and we can sing songs of praise to the one who saved our eternal soul. 

"Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." - (Colossians 3:12-17 CSB)

See ya Sunday! 

If-Then

Deductive reasoning and logic statements such as "if-then" statements have been around for thousands of years. In mathematics "if-then" statements are also known as conditional statements. The "if" is the condition, the "then" is the resulting conclusion. This is shown as a p -> q  this would be read as "if" p "then" q.  The statement should be true in its converse as well in that q ->p or "if" q "then" p.

So what in the world does this have to do with theology?

Well the Apostle Paul in Colossians 3, knowing the logic-based approach to life found in the region around Colossae, offered his audience an "if-then" approach to the Christian life. Listen to what says in Colossians 3:1-11

"So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient, and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator. In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all."

Do you see the "if-then"? Paul is presenting the logical course of action that "IF" you have been raised with Christ, "then you should" seek the things above. He follows that statement in further detail on how we are to do that with the "therefore" statement in verse 5. "Therefore" (if we have been raised with Christ) we are to put to death what belongs to our earthly natures.

The emphasis in this passage is on the believer's relationship with Christ. We died with Christ. Thus we live in Christ.

Let's simplify this (this might be an oversimplification but true none the less) IF we are truly in Christ THEN we should live as if we are. Paul in Galatians 2:20 phrases it like this:"I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." 

If we are to follow Christ, it should be as if we have died with Christ. Meaning that our thoughts, wants, desires, and loves all should be of the things above not the way they were before we trusted in Christ (on earthly things).

Certainly easier said than done, not going to lie, but that should be our goal.

See ya Sunday!

A Great Number and a Greater Reminder

I really dislike paperwork. To the point which yesterday I realized thanks to Irma I was 3 months behind on our monthly reports for the Food Ministry. Now I knew we have had a lot of people that have been helped since the storm but I was in no way prepared for what I discovered. From September 12 thru October 31st we were blessed to be able to minister to 1138 families representing 4100 individuals.

Now to put that into perspective, an average month we serve 250 families and between 400-500 individuals, annually the past few years we've been steady just shy of 7000 individuals for the year.

Insane. However, as I started to reflect on these numbers I was given a stern reminder. Romans 12:3 literally popped up on my phone and as I read the words I was immediately convicted. See Paul had every reason to boast about his achievements as well yet he realized the danger in thinking too highly of himself. Listen to what he says:

"For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one." Christian Standard Bible

I love how Eugene Peterson phrases this passage in The Message: 

I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him. Romans 12:3 MSG

In the greater context, Paul is referring to spiritual gifts, but the point is still very much a valid one. Just as we must always remember where our giftings come from, we must also remember as Peterson puts it not the ones bringing the goodness to God. It's not about the good works we do, it's about what God has already done. He is the one who brings all goodness into this world. Thus, "the only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him."

It's not wrong to look at the work that has been done and be excited and proud of it. We just have to remember who actually was responsible for those things. Neither I nor our amazing team of volunteers are the ones responsible for the fact that 1000+ families were impacted with the Gospel message over the past two months. The responsibility for that lies with God alone. We are just blessed to have been used as His instruments, and what a blessing that has been. 

Indication of a Healthy Church

What makes a church a healthy one? Is a healthy church one in which there are activities seven days a week? Packed worship services? Constant community involvement? I wonder what the Apostle Paul would say if he were to visit our church today? Well while that's a nice thought we know it's not practical however we do find in Paul's writings to the Colossians several indicators of a healthy church. 

Colossians 2:1-10 -

1. For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person. 2. I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery—Christ. 3. All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him.

4. I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments. 5. For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ.

6. Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, 7. rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with gratitude.

8. Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ. 9. For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, 10. and you have been filled by Him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

In this passage, we see four indicators of a healthy church.

The first we see is in verses 1&2, and that is the bond of love. Paul's prayer for these believers was that they might be joined together, knit together, and kept together. Paul knew that if they were on their own, they would be weaker prone to wander. This unity is possible only in love. It is the love of God that unites us to him, and it will be the love of God that will unite us with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

The next indicator we see is in verse 3-4 and again in 8-10, and that is we are to be resistant to seductive or deceptive teachings. Paul was warning the church to test the teaching they received to ensure that it was sound doctrine. In the Colossian church, they were faced with a heresy similar to Gnosticism and while that teaching was attractive and comfortable to accept it was contrary to God's Word. Combating this is simple, believers must thoroughly become acquainted with God's Word through personal study and sound Biblical teaching. False doctrine could be compared to anabolic steroids, think about it - steroid use can give you a false sense of power and assurance. However, there is a problem. Those same pills that make you stronger at first will eat away at your body, eventually consuming you. Paul is warning the people of Colosse that while that bottled doctrine might sound good and look harmless, it is in-fact spiritual death.

In verses 5-6 we see another indicator of a healthy church, that they are ordered and disciplined. These are military terms with a clear message, this group of believers has become a disciplined group of soldiers. In a battle when everyone does their job, they stand the best chance of remaining stable in the face of opposition. This is the result of careful, rigorous, consistent training. The Colossians arrived at this point because of their attention to Godly discipline and training.

There is also a sense of loyalty when you look at this, think about it - if you are in the US armed forces, you can't just join up with a military of another country, not unless you wanted to defect thus betray your nation. So why is it that we can so easily do this within the church today? Where is the loyalty and faithfulness of the body of Christ?

The final indicator we see in this passage is found in verses 7-8, and that is that a healthy church holds to the faith and abounds in gratitude. Scripture is filled with references to individuals who faced great tests of faith and when they passed their test they were able to give high praise to the Father.

We have been entrusted with a great responsibility as a church, and that is to live out our lives in such a way as to point the world around us to Christ. Are we willing to faithfully pursue Him and walk with Him no matter what?

I heard a long time ago from another pastor - God put the church in the world; Satan tries to put the world in the church. Be Faithful!

What are you known for?

I shared this thought the other night at dinner, and I wanted to record and refine it. As we are working our way through the book of Colossians on Sunday mornings I was particularly struck by chapter 1 vs. 4&5a "for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints because of the hope reserved for you in heaven." 

This church had garnered a reputation. They were known for something. Look at what Paul is saying here "for we have HEARD of your faith in Christ Jesus..."  Paul isn't writing this from personal experience. He didn't visit them, or plant the church there. Epaphras came to know Christ in Ephesus and upon returning to his hometown because of his excitement and passion for Christ planted this congregation in Colossae. Paul has heard of their faith and love in Christ, he has heard of their love for all the saints and offers up this prayer for them and pens this letter of encouragement to them.

The question is this, we are all known for something. What are you known for? It's a simple question one which we should all ask ourselves, are we building a reputation of faith and obedience or are we more worried about what the world has to think about us?

What about your church? I know many of you are a part of our faith family here in Islamorada but many others reading this are in other places, other faith families. What is your church known for? Is it known for its love and readiness to reach its community for Christ or is it known more as a social club where outsiders are tolerated but rarely accepted?

What would our world look like if our people concerned themselves with building a reputation of a people in a passionate love relationship with God and our churches had a reputation for loving their communities and adapting ministries to meet needs?

Just a few thoughts I had this week...See you guys Sunday!

21 days

When I sat down this evening to work on getting an email update out I realized that it has been almost a full month since I had sent anything other than a brief Facebook post out. As I reflected on the events that transpired this month I didn't really know where to begin. I look at the response of our faith family over the last 21 days and I am truly impressed. From those who have dedicated their time to sorting supplies, serving in the kitchen, or folding clothing to those who have shed both blood and sweat to clear yards and clean up houses. God has equipped and gifted his church for this moment.

To put this in a different perspective as of Thursday volunteers from First Baptist Islamorada have been able to touch the lives of over 550 families from Key Largo to Key West. We have been given unprecedented access to be the hands and feet of our Savior to our neighbors. We don't need to preach at them or pound them over the head with our Bibles to introduce them to Jesus. We need to pray with them and for them. We need to meet their needs in such a way that they see Christ in us. When we take the time to listen to their stories or go out of our way to meet an unexpected need God is glorified and His name is exalted.

My prayer for each of you is one of endurance and strength. ~ O that the favor of the LORD my God may be upon me; prosper the work of my hands upon me; yes, establish the work of my hands. Save me, I pray, O LORD! O Lord, I pray, give me success! (Psalm 90:17; Psalm 118:25)

The End is Just the Beginning

This week as we wrap up our study of the Minor Prophets, we spend our time studying the last two chapters of Malachi and by canonical placement the last two chapters of the Old Testament. I find it interesting that the last word of the Old Testament is "curse". That word is the word ḥērem in Hebrew and means appointed to utter destruction. Think about that. If the Bible ended there. If the story was over with that verse would there have been any hope? 

Doesn't appear like it, thankfully the Bible doesn't end there and the story continues the final chapters reveal what we knew to be true from the very beginning, God wins. But more than that the way he ends is spectacular. 

The New Testament was written largely in Greek vs the Hebrew of the Old Testament but we see in 
Revelation 22:3 a promise that every good Jew would have picked up on right away. It says "and there will no longer be any curse". What hope! What joy we should find in this! Because of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross the curse we had been under since Adam, this appointment to utter destruction has been voided for those washed by the blood of the Lamb of God. 

What a glorious promise! One day every tear will be wiped away, there will be no more pain, there will be no more death or destruction. We will bask in the glory of the King of Kings and LORD of Lords praising him glorifying his name for all eternity. What a glorious promise! 

See ya Sunday! 

Sins of the People

There is an old story that has made its rounds in the pulpit. Goes' something like this: "A church member scolded her pastor for preaching a series of sermons on "The Sins of the Saints."
"After all," she argued, "the sins of Christians are different from the sins of other people."
"Yes," agreed her pastor, "they're worse."

This is the heart behind the next two weeks. Malachi is faced with the formidable task of confronting the people and the priests of their sins. Because the sins of God's children are indeed worse. When believers sin, they not only break the Law of God, but they break the heart of God. It would be so easy for us to simply attribute this book to be simply ancient history and not let it affect us in any way but the harsh reality is that these sins not only exist in the church today but they have become prevalent! Let's commit ourselves to the Lord and affirm our love for him today!

Hope to see you on Sunday!