Complete the Thought (CTT)

When quoting scripture it is vitally important that we not pluck small segments out of context. Sometimes that means reading the verses leading up to the quoted text… many times it involves reading on beyond the quoted text. Sound doctrine demands we check our cliches, church-isms, and quick-quotes against the whole of scriptures, lest we deceive ourselves and those who follow.

CTT |”You’re not here to be fed…”

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CTTI recently read a blog article that vilified folks for leaving their church for a list of reasons. Two of the reasons were well constructed straw-men (obviously bad reasons to leave a church), with the other three rather disturbingly only “bad” if viewed from a “missional”, “purpose-driven”, or “emergent” perspective. At the forefront of these “bad reasons” was “I’m not being fed”.

1. “I’m not being fed”
Do pastors have a responsibility to steward the scriptures and care for their church spiritually? You bet they do. And it can be all too easy to overlook this while trying to manage staff, build systems, meet needs, put out fires and develop leaders, all while overseeing the overall vision and direction of the church. But let’s be honest, if you own a smartphone, a personal computer or a library card, you have access to some of the best preaching and teaching in the world. You can even find teaching archives of some of the greatest preachers of all time. Christian, you have access to more “meat” than any other generation before you!

To leave a church because you’re not getting “enough” is a cop out. Your primary call in the church is to contribute, not just to consume. As a Christian, you shouldn’t require spoon-feeding for the rest of your life. Eventually you need to learn how to feed yourself so that, in time, you can actually feed others. Remember, your call is not just to be a disciple but to make disciples. [emphasis mine]

See what the author did there? Sure, he covered his “backside” with an obligatory caveat  Do pastors have a responsibility to steward the scriptures and care for their church spiritually? You bet they do. Stewarding the scriptures and caring for their church spiritually are clearly laid out in Scripture as the responsibilities of Elders and Deacons.

Titus 1:5-11 (ESV) 5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. 10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.

Titus 2:1 (ESV) But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.

Titus 2:7-8 (ESV) Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

John 21:15-17 (ESV) 15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

1 Peter 5:1-11 (ESV) 5 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The role of the elders of the Christ’s Church is to shepherd the flock. They are stewards of God’s Word. If you are in a church where you are not being fed, then the elders of that church are not doing their primary job, period. In shepherding the flock, leaders should disciple and teach how to themselves read, study, and even preach the Gospel themselves. This is not a call to spoon-feeding (straw-man argument), this is a call to preaching the Word of God.

As for the primary call for the congregation of a church… it is to Preach the Gospel (which they cannot do if they aren’t firmly rooted in it and taught it and fed it), Make disciples (cannot be expected to make a disciple if you were never discipled in the Word of God) of all nations, and to baptize those who believe in the Name of the Father, of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. There are many other charges for believers that can be summarized as “contributing”, but that contribution is to the body of Christ, not specifically a building or particularly gifted “leaders”. They will often misuse the following (they will cherry-pick, so here’s the context) verses:

Ephesians 4:1-16 (ESV) 1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says,

 “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,and he gave gifts to men.”

 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Feed Christ’s sheep. Teach sound doctrine. Silence those who teach false doctrine. “Casting vision” is a secular (worldly) leadership concept not found in scripture. Not even in Proverbs 29:18 (ESV), “Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.” The vision-casters like to pretend the comma “,” is a period. Even if you accept the claim that a leader has been given a specific vision for a congregation (Prophecy is clearly one of the Gifts of the Spirit), it will always be in line with the Word of God (Scriptures/Bible). If said vision(airy) is threatened by Scripture… the problem isn’t with the one questioning the vision…

May the Lord bless and keep you,
In Him,
Jorge

CTT | As long as Christ is preached…

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CTTI recently read a blog article that misapplied the following verse in Philippians.

Philippians 1:18 (ESV)  What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

I say it was misapplied, because it was inflated to cover all doctrine and practices of a mega-church pastor who has come under fire recently from secular and Christian media over money, messaging, branding, and doctrine. The odd thing here is, that the use of the Scripture did not, in any way,  defend the individual; rather, it got warped into an attack on any who would dare speak out against what may have been viewed to be out-of-step with Scripture. It is even issued as a blanket accusation of pride to any that would dare speak against this particular ministry, and issued a call for repentance. But was Paul attacking Timothy, accusing him of pride, calling Timothy to repentance? Let’s look at the verse in its immediate context:

Philippians 1:1-20 (ESV)
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

If Christ is proclaimed, then I can rejoice in that. If the motives of the proclaimers are wrong, but the proclamation or teaching of Christ is correct, then we can rejoice in the latter, but that does not remedy the former. The former is still a problem, for that person, and should not be emulated with reckless abandon. In this case, though, Paul identifies the wrong motive as an attempt to afflict Paul in his imprisonment. Interesting. Paul is forgiving the personal attack for the sake of the Gospel. Paul never forgives false teaching. In fact, look at how he instructs Timothy at the end of his first letter:

1 Timothy 6:3-10(ESV) If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

The doctrine we preach/teach/share matters. If what we preach/teach/share isn’t plainly stated in the Gospel of Jesus, or in the teachings/writings of the Apostles in the New Testament, we need to be careful. There is a big difference between “words” and “Word”. Arguing over “-isms” without relying on the Word of God to explain the Word of God is tantamount to arguing over “words”. When we open our Bibles, the prevailing thought should be, “What does God’s Word say?” Too often, we skip that question and jump right into interpreting the meaning of bits and pieces of scripture without ever really understanding what it plainly says in context.

There is One Holy Spirit. If anyone thinks he has received a direct revelation that cannot be substantiated in the Word (by which the Holy Spirit teaches all Christians)… I recommend he test the spirit (1 John 4) behind that “revelation”.  Am I against mega-churches? Not if they preach sound doctrine. If they don’t preach sound doctrine, my heart breaks because their false teaching is affecting a much larger audience wholesale. We judge a tree by its fruit,  but “congregation size” isn’t included in the Fruit of the Spirit. If the one speaking out against a mega-church is doing so out of envy, then the accuser is wrong. However, accusing everyone who speaks out against a mega-church of doing so out of envy, is equally wrong.

1 Timothy 4:11-16 (ESV) Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

May the Lord bless and keep you,
In Him,
Jorge

CTT | “Give your life to God”

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CTTYou probably hear it all of the time, “give your life to God…” (or “give your life to Jesus” or “so-and-so gave his/her life to God”) and you will be saved, or your life will be made better, or you will become pleasing to God. Now… there is a way of understanding what is being said by this phrase that can be true. However, there is a fundamental problem with this statement that need to at least be discussed; therefore, it is the topic of today’s Complete the Thought (CTT).

The fundamental problem with this phraseology, is in the emphasis on the person being saved, rather than He who actually saved. It is dangerous to allow the focus of our redemption to move off of the Grace of God for the slightest of moments. Let’s look at how Jesus characterized His charge from the Father in the book of John:

John 10:14-18 (ESV) 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Jesus is, He knows, He calls, He brings, He laid down His life, and He took it up again, for the authority was His.  The Gospel Jesus Christ, must remain wholly and completely focused on Jesus Christ. So, when we regard the Gospel of Jesus, the Message of Salvation, we dare not use man-centered language “he gave himself to God”, or “he gave his life to Jesus”. Let’s see how Paul talked phrased salvation in his letter to the Ephesians:

Ephesians 2:1-10 (ESV) 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

So, how can someone who is dead in the trespasses and sins have any means of “giving his life” to God? What can that person do? Nothing. Anything that person might have done prior to being made alive in Christ is not only worthless… but disgusting by comparison to the gift of God’s Grace. Am I splitting hairs on this? Possibly, but I believe I am right in doing so.

Galatians 5:9-11 (ESV) 1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision* that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. 7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision*, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.

* Paul isn’t just talking about the surgical procedure of circumcision here, but he is talking about the Law.

A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough, and that is why I believe it right that we choose our words carefully, even at the risk of being accused of “splitting hairs”. The entire book of Galatians is a rebuke to them about allowing those who slipped in to start preaching to that they had to follow the Law of Moses in order to be true followers. The seal of those under that Law, those under the old covenant, was physical circumcision of all men under the covenant. They were preaching justification by works of the Law to those who were already saved by grace, through faith, in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The entire letter to the Galatians bears this out in plain language. Paul is not talking to the lost, so any attempt to minimize what is being said here as simply “yeah, we’ve said all along that you are only saved by grace”. The Galatians were running well. They had received the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They were saved. Yet they had allowed the preaching of a different gospel, one of men, one that placed the hearers and doers of this gospel back under the yoke of slavery to the Law. But why were they teaching these things? Was it for the good of the Gentile believers? Let’s see how Paul closes this thought in Galatians:

Galatians 6:12-15 (ESV) 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

There it is. Those who would preach a works-based gospel, can in-turn boast of their accomplishments, and in yours, because they taught you how to measure your life by your actions, actions whose teaching they can take credit. That is why Paul draws the distinction he does… Paul boasts only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. No one can take credit for that, except Jesus. Eph 2:8-9, ” For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

So, what are we to give to God? Well, first of all, since we were dead before Christ, then it is not we who now live but Jesus who lives in us; therefore, “our lives” isn’t the best answer. It works, if everyone is speaking the same jargon (American football fans know the difference between ‘a safety’ regarding the defensive back, and ‘a safety’ regarding the loss of 2 points based on the context, but a non-fan hasn’t a clue, and can even be mislead if they assume the wrong meaning). I did a quick search of the the Pauline epistles “give God” in the ESV bible (I love the online bible tools!).  Overwhelming focus of who gives what to whom is that God has given us everything. We are told to give God “Thanks” for His gift. Not repayment… but thanks. So even to those of us who have heard and accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ, live out our lives in humble thanksgiving to God in all circumstances. We don’t presume to repay anything… for such is beyond our reach. We must give thanks to God for His Gift of Salvation. Our charge is not to preach the old covenant, because righteousness was not possible through works of the Law, but the new covenant established by the One who was solely able to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, the One promised to Abraham, to Eve, to all of mankind, the One who was with God in the Beginning, the One through whom all that is made was made, and who laid down His life for His sheep and raised it once more, the Firstborn from the dead whose flesh will never see corruption, to whom all Authority in Heaven and Earth was given and now sits at the Right Hand of the Father, who sent the Holy Spirit to all who believe and are baptized in the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit as a comforter, a helper, to give power to those who believe to testify and act as a witness of the Gospel of Grace, the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Will you slip from time to time and say someone, “gave their life to Christ”… just be quick to refocus the statement. Let us not be so quick to defend the clever verbiage of men over the God-Breathed passages of Scripture. Now, I prefer the phrases: “accepted Jesus Christ as Savior” or “received Jesus Christ” or even “baptized in Jesus Christ”. We accept/receive gifts, and we are told to baptize those who believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. We could even go so far as to skip those attempts at pinpointing a moment in time and refer to them as simply Spirit-filled believers in the Gospel, because the Gift of the Holy spirit is for those who hear the Gospel, Believe and are baptized (Acts 2). So, there are is no shortage of Gospel-inspired terminology that accurately reflects the whole truth of the Gospel.

May the Lord bless and keep you,
In Him,
FS

CTT|”I know the plans I have for you…”

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CTTTimes seem a bit tough right now. Depending on your frame of reference, you might be convinced that we (as a nation) have fallen on very hard times. Despite the truth of God’s Word being that we should lean on Him and rest in His Grace at all times, we tend to search for God in trials rather than in peace, in drought rather than in plenty. There is, however, a temptation for those who look to rapid expansion and exponential growth as the basis and litmus for right-standing with God, to misuse the Scriptures. In today’s Complete The Thought, I’d like to address one of the scriptures used to propel the lopsided teaching of prosperity that has led to many a mega-church rise to celebrity status. I’m not here to ascribe malice nor to engage in slander against celebrity leaders; rather, to bring focus to God’s Word in context.

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Clearly, this is a message of hope. It is normally quoted as a generic message of God’s planning for all of His Children, and it is quoted to remind Christians that God has good plans for us not evil. On its own, that isn’t a bad thing (how could it be?). However, when the person quoting this scripture goes on to describe God’s plans for welfare as being rich & prosperous (treasures on earth?) to each individual… things get slippery. But let’s take this one step at a time. The first thing about this quote is that we don’t have any clear indicators of the audience based on the quote alone. Is it to an individual or to a people? Is God referring to some “as yet unrevealed future and hope” or is He referring to something specific? Why is He sending this message to the individual/people and why would God need to clarify that His plans are not for evil… what could possibly lead anyone to think that about the Lord God? What is expected of the individual/people to do while the plans for welfare unfold? These are critically important questions that MUST be asked before we can blindly fall head-long down the rabbit hole of an ear-tingling theology promising prosperity.

Let us begin… at the beginning of the chapter:

Jeremiah 29:1-3 (ESV) 1 These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 This was after King Jeconiah and the queen mother, the eunuchs, the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metal workers had departed from Jerusalem. 3 The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon…

So, very clearly, this is a letter Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the Exiles, during the Babylonian Exile. So immediately, we are given the audience. It is to the exiles, those taken out of Jerusalem (elders, priests, prophets, royalty, officials, craftsmen, metal workers, etc. also see 2 Kings 24:10-16) by the Chaldeans to Babylon. Zedekiah is currently left in place as king in Jerusalem, under the will of Nebuchadnezzar. Let us continue reading…

It said: 4 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. 8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, 9 for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the Lord.

The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, is the One who sent exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. This wasn’t a fluke and it didn’t catch God off guard. In fact, He goes on tell them to build houses, plant gardens, marry hand build families… they were going to be there for a while. So, they have fallen on hard times, and God was making 2 things abundantly clear to His children in exile… 1) it was punishment and 2) it was going to be for a long time. The next point is interesting, God calls out liars claiming to prophesy in the Name of the Lord. God instructs the exiles do not listen to the dreams that they dream…I did not send them. Let us continue on…

10 “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

A long time, indeed. After seventy years, God will visit the exiles and fulfill His promise. What promise? His promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:

Genesis 12:1-3 (ESV) 12 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Genesis 12:7a (ESV) 7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.”

The future and a hope is to serve as both a reminder and an encouragement that God has not forgotten His promise to Abraham and to his descendents. For us, this means that God is still going to bring about His promise of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. For that to happen, God will have to bring Israel out of exile and back into Jerusalem so that they will rebuild the Temple.  This promise is to God’s people, of which we are a part thanks by the blood of Jesus Christ. Once their prescribed term of punishment is over (70 years) then God is telling His people to turn to Him (repent), call upon Him, pray to Him, and seek Him with all their hearts, and He will answer them. Look at what Jesus taught in Luke 11:5-13. God is still faithful to His promises and to His Word. This passage isn’t about prosperity, but about the love of a Father to care for His children, even while they are being disciplined. So let’s wrap up the remainder of the letter…

Jeremiah 29:15-23 (ESV) 15 “Because you have said, ‘The Lord has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,’ 16 thus says the Lord concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, and concerning all the people who dwell in this city, your kinsmen who did not go out with you into exile: 17 ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, behold, I am sending on them sword, famine, and pestilence, and I will make them like vile figs that are so rotten they cannot be eaten. 18 I will pursue them with sword, famine, and pestilence, and will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, a terror, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them, 19 because they did not pay attention to my words, declares the Lord, that I persistently sent to you by my servants the prophets, but you would not listen, declares the Lord.’ 20 Hear the word of the Lord, all you exiles whom I sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon: 21 ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying a lie to you in my name: Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall strike them down before your eyes. 22 Because of them this curse shall be used by all the exiles from Judah in Babylon: “The Lord make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire,” 23 because they have done an outrageous thing in Israel, they have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and they have spoken in my name lying words that I did not command them. I am the one who knows, and I am witness, declares the Lord.’”

Judgement is coming to the false prophets, and the judgement that is upon Israel will be carried out (and in some ways made deeper by their refusal to pay attention to God’s words sent by the prophets). God will make an example of 2 false prophets in particular, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire.

Are we promised riches and prosperity as part of being redeemed by the Blood of Jesus? As heirs and joint-heirs with Christ, in heaven, yes. On earth? We have other promises, mostly about meeting our needs, and joining in Christ’s suffering. Is prosperity evil? No. Is it the goal of Christianity? No. Is Jer 29:11 about prospering? Not in context. It’s about the Sovereignty of God, and His Faithfulness to keep His promises, even in the midst of discipline, so that His promise of the Messiah will be kept… by Him. Here, as in all areas of the Bible, we have a message of God’s saving Grace, and the lengths He went to for us, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah 29 is good news. We should study it more often. The biggest thing here is that this so-called prosperity doctrine is incomplete gospel. We aren’t promised a life of lavish luxury here on earth. In fact, we are told time and time again that we will face trials of many kinds. And we will face discipline, for we are the children of God. Yes. He is the perfect Father, which means that while His gifts are undoubtedly, unquestionably Good, they are Good by His standards, not necessarily by ours. And as our perfect Father, He disciplines us so that we might grow and yield peaceful fruit of righteousness…

Hebrews 12:7-11 (ESV) 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

May the Lord bless and keep you,
In Him,
FS

CTT | you have not because you ask not…

Faithful Stewardship Leave a comment

CTTWhile writing the last post about prayer, I was reminded of how often James 4:2c gets thrown around:

James 4:2c (ESV) 2 …You do not have, because you do not ask.

It is sometimes given as the sole reason why we are not living in prosperity, victory, and abundance. Often it is “backed up” with the following:

Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV) 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

The problem here, is that both passages are presented incompletely. In each case, we aren’t even getting the context of the paragraphs, much less the overall message each passage is. Let’s look at the immediate context of each passage, and see if we might then be better able to Complete The Thought.

James 4:1-10 (ESV) 4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Matthew 7:7-11 (ESV) 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

So, these passages are not talking about the same sort of thing within their immediate context. It is difficult to match up the good gifts of bread and a fish with what James is addressing regarding what is causing the fights and quarrels (sin).

I am not against using the “you have not because you ask not” as a reference to what James is talking about in James 4; however, if you aren’t using it within that context, then maybe you should just leave that passage alone entirely. Lifting it out of its context to teach something that is not fully laid out in Scriptures is dangerous. If you are tempted to lift a passage of scripture out of its context, then you should take a moment to check yourself… are engaging in exegesis or eisegesis? Is what you are pulling from the scriptures something that is in-fact there or have you first put it in there so that you can pull it out? Are you trying to encourage those who are praying and not seeing any results, then perhaps there is need of some correction found in James. However, if you are trying to cut against the false-humility and mentality of penance (not in keeping with the Gospel) where people don’t feel worthy to ask God for basic needs… then lead them to Matthew.  In whatever you do, be sure to treat the Word of God properly and keep it in context.

May the Lord God bless and keep you,
FS