Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Jesus as a Figure-head

On occasion I listen to a daily radio program here in deep East Texas called "Bible Answers". If you're imagining a radio host that has the "right" answer to every possible Bible-based debate or scenario - you would be correct. What amazes me is how this commentator/preacher will go days, even weeks, without mentioning the name Jesus. He'll discuss/preach on divorce and remarriage; correct doctrine; speaking in tongues, or a host of other issues, but he rarely speaks about Jesus.

Here are some profound words Oswald Chambers wrote on this issue well over 100 years ago:

The New Testament example of the Christian experience is that of a personal, passionate devotion to the Person of Jesus Christ. Every other kind of so-called Christian experience is detached from the Person of Jesus. There is no regeneration— no being born again into the kingdom in which Christ lives and reigns supreme. There is only the idea that He is our pattern. In the New Testament Jesus Christ is the Savior long before He is the pattern. Today He is being portrayed as the figurehead of a religion— a mere example. He is that, but He is infinitely more. He is salvation itself; He is the gospel of God!

I just don't get how one can believe that living the "right" Christian life involves replicating how someone worshiped in New Testament times. If we'll do exactly what the New Testament church did (in our minds) 2,000 years ago - nothing more and nothing less - then we'll be fine. I don't get that form of thinking, it is foreign to me.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Prayers for "Preacherman"

I just learned that one of my blogging friends and a Texas minister - Kinney Mabry, aka Preacherman - has fallen quite ill. Please follow the link below and place Kinney and his family in your prayers. God bless and Happy Thanksgiving.

Here's the link:

Preacherman

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Mary's Song

As Mary, the mother of Jesus, was contemplating news of her pregnancy, she paid a visit to her relative Elizabeth, who was also pregnant with John, to be known as John the Baptist.

Luke tells us in his first chapter that, after a wonderful visit in which Elizabeth and Mary embrace and the elderly Elizabeth gives Mary a wonderful blessing, Mary sings this song known as Mary's song:

Mary's Song
46And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers."
56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.




We don't really know Mary's age, but I find the words of this song to be well beyond the maturity of her likely age of 16 to 22. Mary is very concerned about what? With those things Jesus will be concerned with - social justice; caring for the poor; and food for the hungry.

Did Mary teach Jesus his ministry? Possibly so, but Mary was clearly concerned for a her community and ALL of it's people at an early age.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

OBAMA - 2008

On rare occassions my blog takes a religious/political spin, and, I thought on this election day of 2006 I would do so again.

Until further notice is given I am hereby aligning myself with the yet-to-officially-be-named-candidicy of Barack Obama, junior democratic senator from Illinois. This decision was made after watching THIS video today. I cannot recommend highly enough that you invest about 50 minutes of your time and watch or listen to this speech Barack made last June entitled "A Call to Renewal". The video camera position is static throughout the speech, hence, it's not great viewing, but it is absolutely required listening. So, download it to your Ipod, however you do that, and listen to it at your leisure. But, as we say here in deep East Texas - I double-dog dare you to listen to this speech - and not be moved.

I found the speech not only enlightened me to Barack Obama the man, but allowed me to see that his moral, spiritual and political planes are directly aligned with mine at this moment. I don't think that is just a random coincidence.

Lest you think this is just another blogging liberal, look at my political track record since 1980 just in terms of who I voted for in the presidential race:

1980 - Reagan
1984 - Reagan
1988 - Bush
1992 - Bush
1996 - Dole
2000 - Bush
2004 - Bush

My transformation to a more mainstream way of thinking began earlier this year and it has led me to Barack Obama should he choose to run, and it looks like he will. Again, listen to his message and see what you think.

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Prophecy for the Poor

Ezekial 34 is a haunting prophecy to Israel as to how they should deal with the poor and downtrodden in their society. The Israelites were obviously most concerned about themselves and God warns them of this form of idolatry and self-centeredness.

What did they not do?
1) They did not take care of the flock
2) They did not help the weak become stronger
3) They disregarded the sick and injured
4) They let the sheep stray with little concern

How does that relate to us today? What percentage of your church's budget addresses these issues? Are we accountable for the poor, weak and hurting in our community of sheep?

Shepherds and Sheep

1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? 3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. 4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. 5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. 6 My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.
7 " 'Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD : 8 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, 9 therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD : 10 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.

11 " 'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.