Precept, principle, and action—Jesus responds to divorce.

Some Pharisees tried to stump Jesus on divorce in Mark 10. Check out how important this is:

-They asked him, testing him, "Is it lawful for a husband to put away his wife?" And answering, He said to them, "What did Moses command you?"

-And they said, "Moses permitted us to {both} write a document of divorcement and to put her away."

-Jesus answering, said to them, "He wrote this commandment for you because of your hardness of heart. But God made them male and female from the beginning of the creation. Because
of this, a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife; and the two will
become one flesh, so-that they are no more two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has yoked
together, let no man put asunder."

God says here that He has allowed divorce, though not mere "sending a wife away," because people have hard hearts. Instead of trapping one spouse with someone who has decided that they were useless trash, He permitted a woman to be given divorce papers so that she could start over with a clean slate.

Jesus routinely answered with a pattern of "Precept-Principle-Action." The precept is the command; the law." The Law allowed for divorce. The principle is the primary truth and driving force—in this case, don't have a hard heart! Love one another. And the action was this, "Let not man put asunder."

Divorce is not nominal. It's tragic. It's horrific. We should strive with all of our soul to avoid becoming hard-hearted, and to avoid divorce.

What did Jesus actually say about divorce?

Jesus said this on divorce: “It was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce’; 32 but I say to you that everyone who [a]divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a [b]divorced woman commits adultery." (Mt 5:31-32 NASB)

Notice that the text has markers [a] and [b]. Why? In this case, the text was taken from Biblegateway's NASB translation. Those markers indicate that the translators have made a change to the text, and the word used is not actually "divorce." That should make you stop and think. So what is the proper translation? Let's look at the literal of v32:

"But I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery."

Jesus was speaking to Jews, so we should go the the Jewish Law on divorce to understand what He was expressing. Specifically, Deut 24:1-4 informs us about the Law on divorce. v1-2 say,

“When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out from his house, and she leaves his house and goes and becomes another man’s wife."

Divorce was accomplished through a legal paper of divorcement, known as a "get." Without that paper, a woman was still married, and so lying with another man was adultery. Sending a wife away without a "get" was known as "putting away," and was a terrible thing to do to a woman, as it stripped her of her ability to remarry. The New and Old Covenants both taught that those who are not married (including someone legally divorced) are allowed to remarry.

The eunuch and the worship service.

If you pay attention to Acts 8, you'll notice something that's missing. In this chapter, Philip meets an Ethiopian eunuch who is returning home from Jerusalem and Philip preaches Jesus to him (29-35). Pay close attention to this part:

"Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.  And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” (35-37)

The obvious part is that preaching to a person who is not Christian includes Jesus, and the response is belief and a desire for immediate baptism. But the less-obvious part is the missing bit. IMMEDIATELY after this takes place, Philip vanishes and the Ethiopian goes back to Ethiopia rejoicing (39).  Do you know what is missing? Philip never told him how to have a worship service! 

And oddly enough, the concept of the "worship service" is missing from the entirety of the New Testament writings. It exists 0 times. Whatcha think? 

Questions about divorce and remarriage.

There is a notion in some of Christianity that, should a person be divorced for a reason other than adultery, he/she can never remarry. Today we'll look at 1 Cor 7. It opens saying that each man and woman are to have their own spouse, "because of immoralities." (1-2) Verses 3-5 discuss the need for sex in marriage.

In 6-7, Paul remarked that he wished that some could practice celibacy as he did, "however, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that." So Paul indicated that indeed, some do not have the gift to be celibate. In verse 9, he then says that it is better to let these people marry than to see them burn.

Questions to consider:

1.) Who is allowed to have a spouse? God says the unmarried. Is a divorced person married? (v1-2)

2.) Are we taking way God's tool to help people avoid fornication if we tell someone who is not married (divorced, widowed, etc.) that they cannot remarry? (6-9)

3.) Did Paul, however, admonish the married to stay together? "Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released." (v27)

4.) Does Paul indicate that a person who is a Christian, but already married to an unbeliever, should not leave that unbelieving spouse (12-16) just because they are not Christian?

4.) However, for those who are not yet married, does he say to "marry only in the Lord?" (39)

Why did God create atheists?

Take a look at this picture. It's been said that Christians doing good only do it because it's an order from a superior, whereas atheists do it simply because they love and choose to be moral, using free will. Sounds nice, huh?

But stop for a second. What is free will? We know that all actions are responses to a stimuli. We know that we are vastly complex biologic machines. You see an orange. Light has reflected off of it and hit your eye. Nervous impulses travel along your neural pathways and interact with cells in the brain. Chemicals fire and change in response to this stimulus. You eat the orange.

Your mind is a vast array of cells and chemicals, all responding to physical forces. But what is free will? Willpower supposes that some disembodied "force" can change the chemical reactions going on inside our bodies. Instead of eating the orange, you can "choose" not to. But free "will" is the equivalent of the spirit—a nonsensical illusion to any true atheist. Can you prove that you could have done anything different? No. Can you pinpoint this "force" that lets you "choose" to behave this way or that? No. Can "you" somehow "force" the chemical reactions happening in response to stimulus to react differently? To have one chemical outcome instead of another? No.

Does an atheist, then, really "choose" to be good or bad, in a universe where we are simple science? No. There is no good. There is no evil. There are the illusions of them—intangible thoughts; nothing real. To believe that one has some "will" outside and superior to biophysical mechanics is truly superstitious—and yet inevitable and pointless. The logical conclusion for the atheist is that everything is casually determined. Two famous atheists really summed it up, saying,

"“You, your joys and your sorrows, your memories and ambitions, your sense of personal identity and free will, are in fact no more than the behaviour of a vast assembly of nerve cells and their associated molecules.” —Francis Crick

“Given the state of the universe at one time, a complete set of laws fully determines both the future and the past. That would exclude the possibility of miracles or an active role for God....It is hard to see how free will can operate if our behavior is determined by physical law, so it seems we are no more than biological machines and that free will is just an illusion.” —Stephen Hawking

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! What are your resolutions? I liked this quote by Francis Chan: "Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter." What does really matter? Here are two items that really cut to the chase of Christianity, so let's work on them

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."  (Mt 28:19-20)

"Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their tribulation; to keep oneself unstained from the world." (James 1:27)

We're Christ's team in 2016! Let's do it!

Can I fall from grace?

Once you're saved, you're always saved. That's a popular belief, but does it match up with what God says? I think not so much, although the caveat is that we are being saved—an ongoing process wherein we "grow in respect to salvation." (1 Peter 2:2) Can a person fall from grace? Let's look at some points.

1.) Gal 5:4   You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

2.) 2 Pe 1:10  Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

3.) 2 Pe 2:20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

4.) 1 Pe 5:8  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

5.) Heb 3:12  Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 

God gives us those admonitions so that we will live faithfully and end with a fierce finish. Let's not be like Solomon, the wisest ever, who fell away. 

Musical instruments "in worship."

I have come to realize that there are basically two ways to interpret God's silence. The "Regulative Principle" where anything not specifically authorized is condemned, and the "Normative Principle," where anything not specifically prohibited, or prohibited by a broader Biblical principle, is allowed.

A big one in congregations that use the label "Church of Christ," at least in some areas, is over "singing." "Since God says sing, that prohibits musical instruments; only vocals are allowed since God doesn't mention a piano." There are some flaws with that. For example, Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3 are talking about daily living, not a "worship service," which God never mentions. Also, it says to sing three types of songs (psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs), and a psalm is accompanied by instruments.

But regarding the principle, does the instruction to sing forbid musical instruments? It would seem not. "I will also praise You with a harp, Even Your truth, O my God; To You I will sing praises with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel." (Psalm 71:22) If we listen to KY Tunstall's "Black Horse &  the Cherry Tree," we understand that she's singing a song, though her guitar is also in use. We don't say, "Man I wish she'd sing! Instead she's saying words while playing a guitar." 

Is jealousy good or bad?

Jealousy...good or bad? In Galatians 5, God says, "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: ...enmities, strife, jealousy...and things like these...just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

So jealousy is wrong! But wait, in Exodus 5, God says that He's a jealous God. How can that be? Well notice that it says those who PRACTICE jealousy. Imagine if your wife did subtle things to flirt with other men (or vice versa) to cause you to be jealous. She would be guilty of causing jealousy, and it would damage your relationship. 

God is a jealous God for our worship, because we are His, and He deserves it, not some idol. This is different than envy, which is desiring something that doesn't belong to you, and is in fact the sort of jealousy that Paul mentioned in 2 Cor 11:2 when he said, "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy..." Let's make sure that we don't cause our spouses and our God jealousy! 

God divorced once.

Did you know that God has Himself divorced?  "And I saw, when, for this very cause that backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a bill of divorcement also, yet treacherous Judah her sister feared not, but she also went and played the harlot." (Jer 3:8; see also Isaiah 50)

Did you know that in Ezra 10 God commanded the Israelite men to get divorces from their pagan, idolatrous wives? So divorce in and of itself is not evil. It was sanctioned by God and commanded by God in certain circumstances. 

Does this mean that we should get divorced? No. It means that we should recognize that it is a painful process which we should avoid at every opportunity, from dating the right person to working together for Christ in marriage. And like Christ, if our spouse has made a tragic mistake in fidelity, we can choose to be like Christ and show them extraordinary mercy. 

Caveat: God's objective for us is to find Godly mates who help us do great things for the Kingdom.  As I heard someone say once, "I think people should mate for life, like pigeons or Catholics." 

Does God hate divorce?

Ever hear a preacher say, "For God hates divorce?" WRONG...ish. Divorce is certainly not nominal, and God desires our marriage to be like His Son's to the Church: one partner for a lifetime. What is being quoted is Malachi 2:16. The NASB says, "For I hate divorce," says the LORD, the God of Israel, "and him who covers his garment with wrong.."

If you get your hands on some older versions (Tanakh 1917, KJV, ASV, Young's Literal, etc.) and even some newer versions  (Modern Literal Version, AKJV, KJV2000 Jubilee 2000, ERV, etc.) DON'T say that God hates divorce. The Modern Literal Version instead says, 

"For I hate putting away, says Jehovah, the God of Israel and he who covers his garment with

violence, says Jehovah of hosts."

The word that we often say is "divorce" there...isn't. Instead, the Aramaic word used is, "shalach," which means to "put away," to "cast away," to "send away," and refers to men who would drive off a wife they didn't like, but would not give her a certificate of divorce. This word is used in Jer 15:1 saying, "people; send them away from My presence," in Genesis 8:10, "and again he sent forth the dove."  Did Noah divorce a dove? No! Did he send it away? Yes! 

Since the woman was "put away," but not given a decree of divorce, she would most likely end up in another relationship in order to survive, but still married to the old husband—and thus an adulteress. However, God addressed the evil of the male side in this.

Beauty in the heavens.

Being out in nature, far from the lights of humanity, it's easy to appreciate God's work in the expanse of the night sky, and reminds me of what David wrote:

"When I look at Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?" (Psalm 8:3-4)

Did you know that you can see the Andromeda galaxy with your naked eye in Wyoming's wilderness? Billions of stars with one spot itself being billions of stars, hiding billions of stars behind it! What a blessing that God shows us infinity and lets us know that he cares about us eternally! Truly I am thankful that God gave, "The moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever." (Psa 136:9)  

I love the mountains.

 I love getting out into the far reaches of God's creation. Alone, surrounded by vast mountains, I find that my mind is cleared and I'm able to focus on prayer and meditation. Today I want to encourage you to try it! Take your Bible or some good sermons—there's no news of shootings, abortions, or general chaos. Here are some quotes that I often recall as I ramble:

"In the wilderness man learns to have faith in his Creator." — Finis Mitchell, "Wind River Trails," pg 71
"After He had dismissed them, Jesus went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray. Later that night, He was there alone." (Mt 14:23)

"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." (Romans 1:20)

Must we always obey the government?

God does tell us to obey government, but what if the government tells us to act in a way contrary to Christian principles? This is largely the same as His instructions regarding children and parents and carries an important caveat. "Children, obey your parents IN THE LORD, for this is right." (Eph 6:1; emphasis mine)

The important stipulation is that "we should obey God rather than man," as the disciples said in Acts 5. This means a full-focus on evangelism, unto prison or death as many in the 1st century exemplified. "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even unto death." (Rev 12) I understand that this is not a popular message, yet Satan is not harmed by our weapons, but by those which God supplies.

Our response to baptism.

Baptism is so often an uncomfortable subject, and humans like to make Godzilla scenarios to avoid it. "But what if..." At the same time, sometimes people will say, "Well it's being baptized into the knowledge of Christ." When looked at in scriptural terms, this doesn't seem to be the reaction of the first people to follow Christ. Check out these two examples:

"As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, "Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?" (Acts 8:36)

And as Ananias said to Paul, "And now why do you delay? Having arisen, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name." (Acts 22:16)

Apparently baptism was done in water, and it was associated with having sins removed—the very things which separate us from God, and which we need removed. So if we start making strange scenarios, we need to ask, "Why is my response different than the eunuch's?  Than Paul's? Can God not see my desire and provide me a place to be baptized?" 

What if the take my guns?

Here's a question: what if the government takes your guns? What if it specifically targets God's people as being too dangerous to own even swords or knives? As a proponent of the right to keep and bear arms, I know that such a thing might happen, and I'm NOT a fan.  As it turns out, this has happened before: 

"Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears.” But all the Israelites would go down to the Philistines to sharpen each man’s plowshare, his mattock, his ax, and his sickle; and the charge for a sharpening was a 7 pim for the plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to set the points of the goads." (1 Sam 13:19-21)

The point being that we shouldn't be hugely worried. God's in control. Converting people to Christ is our best and only true weapon. 

Subjection to government...not a popular topic.

How much time do you spend thinking about the evil the government does? Posting about it? What do you do with an anti-Christian government? Stock up on firearms? Consider what Paul said in Romans 13:1-2, 

"Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.  Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves." 

This is perhaps not a popular message. Consider the situation when this was written. The Roman government certainly was not kindly disposed toward Christians. In fact, Rome would ultimately kill Paul. But, he still wrote this.  Now consider what would happen if time spent talking about government was instead spent bringing new people to Christ. Hmmm.

Jesus' take on violence.

A defining aspect of Jesus was his take on violence, from angry words to murder.  In John 16 He said,  "They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me."                                                                     

Let's be known by our high value for the lives God has created! Satan has taken many captain, but he is our adversary, not his prisoners that he uses to do his will! Let's love and rescue!

Practice what you preach.

Ever heard the saying, "practice what you preach?" That's important. If we say that we're Christians (like Christ), we should be striving to emulate Him. This is a Biblical concept, and Paul related the Christian life to a race, noting the importance of practicing what we preach.

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things... I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." (1 Cor 9:24-27)

Nothing's worse than running a race and finishing with a "DQ" by your name, so let's practice some self-discipline! 

Trivial pursuit.

Ever seen Christians argue over strangely trivial items while the world burns? Like perhaps whether or not having multiple song leaders is sinful, completely failing to unite on the fact that "there is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all?" (Eph 4)

This is a standard flaw that Satan exploits, so don't be shocked by it, but do be aware. Parkinson's law of triviality, also known as the bike-shed effect, is C. Northcote Parkinson's 1957 argument that organisations give disproportionate weight to trivial issues.

Parkinson observed and illustrated that a committee whose job was to approve plans for a nuclear power plant spent the majority of its time on discussions about relatively trivial and unimportant but easy-to-grasp issues, such as what materials to use for the staff bike-shed, while neglecting the non-trivial proposed design of the nuclear power plant itself, which is far more important but also a far more difficult and complex task to criticize constructively.

One Lord, one faith, one baptism. That's a good place to start on getting away from triviality.