The doctrine [of the double effect] distinguishes two kinds of outcomes of actions: intended consequences of actions, and outcomes that are foreseen but not intended. Suppose that the outcome in question is evil...
For example, if the brakes on my car fail and I deliberately swerve to avoid a busy pedestrian crossing, seeing that in so doing I'll hit a passer-by, the evil outcome (the death of the passer-by) is foreseen but not intended by me. My intention is to avoid the people on the pedestrian crossing, not to kill the passer-by (if the passer-by were to leap out of the way, I wouldn't be disappointed at having my intentions frustrated).
- Stephen Holland, Bioethics: A Philosophical Introduction
the doctrine of the double effect lines up with graded absolutism, which i believe is philosophically and theologically sound. evil that is foreseen and intended (ie. evil that is formally intended) is always wrong, while evil that is foreseen but not intended (ie. evil that is materially intended) is never wrong.
God's sovereign choice
"What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath - prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory - even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?" - Romans 9:22-24 (NIV)
the objects of God's wrath are prepared for destruction, while the objects of God's mercy are prepared by God in advance for glory. the objects of God's wrath are foreseen but not intended by God, while the objects of God's mercy are foreseen and intended by God.
1. God foresees and intends good.
2. God foresees but does not intend evil.
3. God foresees and intends that evil 'works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV).
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." - Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
Monday, 3 November 2008
Saturday, 1 November 2008
labour pains
it is interesting to ponder why - of all the possible consequences of sin - God chose to 'greatly increase [the woman's] pains in childbearing' (Genesis 3:16, NIV). could it be that this typologises the process of being born again?
sin gives birth to death
"When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." - James 1:13-15 (NIV)
the Spirit gives birth to life
"Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." - James 1:16-18 (NIV)
1. every good thing in this world is a foreshadowing of the new creation.
2. every evil thing in this world is a remnant of the old creation.
3. every evil thing in this world 'works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV). at the same time, there will be labour pains as the old creation gives way to the new creation.
as Christ - the first man to be born of the Spirit and the first man to be raised in the Spirit - is the firstfruits of man, so man (first Jew, then Gentile) is the firstfruits of creation. of course, Christ is fully God and fully man.
as Christ was born to bear the image of God, so we are being born again to bear the image of God. as we are being born again to bear the image of God, so is the world being born again to reflect the glory of God.
given that the world is being born again to reflect the glory of God, we should ensure that we are being born again to bear the image of God.
"Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."" - John 3:5-8 (NIV)
"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." - Romans 8:22-25 (NIV)
given that we are being born again to bear the image of God, we should ensure that the world is being born again to reflect the glory of God.
"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." - 1 Peter 1:22-23 (NIV)
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." - 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (NIV)
even as the new creation will only be completed when 'there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away' (Revelation 21:4, NIV), God has ordained that we participate in the process of completing it (and even speed its completion) by loving one another (cf. 1 Peter 1:22-23) and spreading the good news (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21).
"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness." - 2 Peter 3:9-13 (NIV)
sin gives birth to death
"When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." - James 1:13-15 (NIV)
the Spirit gives birth to life
"Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." - James 1:16-18 (NIV)
1. every good thing in this world is a foreshadowing of the new creation.
2. every evil thing in this world is a remnant of the old creation.
3. every evil thing in this world 'works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV). at the same time, there will be labour pains as the old creation gives way to the new creation.
as Christ - the first man to be born of the Spirit and the first man to be raised in the Spirit - is the firstfruits of man, so man (first Jew, then Gentile) is the firstfruits of creation. of course, Christ is fully God and fully man.
as Christ was born to bear the image of God, so we are being born again to bear the image of God. as we are being born again to bear the image of God, so is the world being born again to reflect the glory of God.
given that the world is being born again to reflect the glory of God, we should ensure that we are being born again to bear the image of God.
"Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."" - John 3:5-8 (NIV)
"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." - Romans 8:22-25 (NIV)
given that we are being born again to bear the image of God, we should ensure that the world is being born again to reflect the glory of God.
"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." - 1 Peter 1:22-23 (NIV)
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." - 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (NIV)
even as the new creation will only be completed when 'there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away' (Revelation 21:4, NIV), God has ordained that we participate in the process of completing it (and even speed its completion) by loving one another (cf. 1 Peter 1:22-23) and spreading the good news (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21).
"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness." - 2 Peter 3:9-13 (NIV)
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
on church
i have been going to kay poh road baptist church (kprbc) since i was a kid, even before i became a christian. i was baptised in kprbc in april 2006 and have been a member of kprbc since then.when i did my ucas applications towards the end of 2005, i looked at academic rankings, cost of living, support for international students etc - everything but how my choices would shape my relationship with God. in fact, i am not sure that i even was in a relationship with God back then.
in spite of this, God has really blessed me in york with neverending opportunities to grow in the grace and knowledge of Him, through the university of york christian union, york baptist church and events such as new word alive.
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." - 2 Peter 3:18 (NIV)
i have been going to york baptist church since i came to york, apart from a few weeks visiting different churches in york and the weeks when i have been out of york.i did not set out to be a regular worshipper at york baptist church when i first came to york. i went to york evangelical church on my first two sundays in york last year, and also considered going to another church when i got back to york this year (a pull, rather than a push factor - my three housemates all go to calvary chapel york). but after seeking God's guidance, i believe that york baptist church is where i belong in york.
[on a side note, i am no more a baptist because i go to baptist churches in both singapore and york, than i am a methodist because i went to acps, acs(i) and acjc for ten years. nevertheless, i agree with certain baptist distinctives such as believer's baptism.]
your relationship with your church is probably the third most important relationship in your life, after your relationship with God and your relationship with your family. after all, your church is your family in Christ.
"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." - Galatians 6:10 (NIV)
Monday, 27 October 2008
graded absolutism
Suppose you're a teller in a bank. A robber grabs a customer, holds a gun to the customer's head, and says, "Unless you give me all the money in your drawer, I'll blow his brains out." What should you do?
A. Give the robber the money, thereby playing an active part in a robbery.
B. Don't give the robber the money, thereby playing a passive part in a murder.
Answer: A
Giving the robber the money has the effect of enabling him to commit robbery, but that's not your intention. You're not trying to help him do wrong, either as a goal or as a means to some other goal. Your intention is merely to keep him from committing the even graver wrong of murder.
- Adapted from J. Budziszewski, Ballot Box Blues
Jim finds himself in the central square of a small South American town. Tied up against the wall are a row of twenty Indians, most terrified, a few defiant, in front of them several armed men in uniform. A heavy man in a sweat-stained khaki shirt turns out to be the captain in charge and, after a good deal of questioning of Jim which establishes that he got there by accident while on a botanical expedition, explains that the Indians are a random group of the inhabitants who, after recent acts of protest against the government, are just about to be killed to remind other possible protestors of the advantages of not protesting.
However, since Jim is an honoured visitor from another land, the captain is happy to offer him a guest's privilege of killing one of the Indians himself. If Jim accepts, then as a special mark of the occasion, the other Indians will be let off. Of course, if Jim refuses, then there is no special occasion, and Pedro here will do what he was about to do when Jim arrived, and kill them all.
Jim, with some desperate recollection of schoolboy fiction, wonders whether if he got hold of a gun, he could hold the captain, Pedro and the rest of the soldiers to threat, but it is quite clear from the set-up that nothing of that kind is going to work: any attempt at that sort of thing will mean that all the Indians will be killed, and himself. The men against the wall, and the other villagers, understand the situation, and are obviously begging him to accept. What should he do?
A. Accept the captain's offer, thereby playing an active part in a murder.
B. Refuse the captain's offer, thereby playing a passive part in 20 murders.
- Adapted from J.J.C. Smart and B. Williams, Utilitarianism: For and Against
if the answer to the first example is A (which seems right), then the answer to the second example must be A as well (which does not seem right).
*****
what if we apply graded absolutism?
A. Accept the captain's offer, thereby playing an active part in a murder.
B. Refuse the captain's offer, thereby playing a passive part in 20 murders.
A. Accept the captain's offer, thereby saving 19 lives.
B. Refuse the captain's offer, thereby not saving any lives.
in accepting the captain's offer, Jim is materially cooperating with the captain. however, Jim is innocent because while he is materially cooperating with the captain, he is not formally cooperating with the captain.
in other words, Jim is innocent because while he is materially committing a murder, he is not formally committing a murder (he is formally saving 19 lives).
A. Give the robber the money, thereby playing an active part in a robbery.
B. Don't give the robber the money, thereby playing a passive part in a murder.
Answer: A
Giving the robber the money has the effect of enabling him to commit robbery, but that's not your intention. You're not trying to help him do wrong, either as a goal or as a means to some other goal. Your intention is merely to keep him from committing the even graver wrong of murder.
- Adapted from J. Budziszewski, Ballot Box Blues
Jim finds himself in the central square of a small South American town. Tied up against the wall are a row of twenty Indians, most terrified, a few defiant, in front of them several armed men in uniform. A heavy man in a sweat-stained khaki shirt turns out to be the captain in charge and, after a good deal of questioning of Jim which establishes that he got there by accident while on a botanical expedition, explains that the Indians are a random group of the inhabitants who, after recent acts of protest against the government, are just about to be killed to remind other possible protestors of the advantages of not protesting.
However, since Jim is an honoured visitor from another land, the captain is happy to offer him a guest's privilege of killing one of the Indians himself. If Jim accepts, then as a special mark of the occasion, the other Indians will be let off. Of course, if Jim refuses, then there is no special occasion, and Pedro here will do what he was about to do when Jim arrived, and kill them all.
Jim, with some desperate recollection of schoolboy fiction, wonders whether if he got hold of a gun, he could hold the captain, Pedro and the rest of the soldiers to threat, but it is quite clear from the set-up that nothing of that kind is going to work: any attempt at that sort of thing will mean that all the Indians will be killed, and himself. The men against the wall, and the other villagers, understand the situation, and are obviously begging him to accept. What should he do?
A. Accept the captain's offer, thereby playing an active part in a murder.
B. Refuse the captain's offer, thereby playing a passive part in 20 murders.
- Adapted from J.J.C. Smart and B. Williams, Utilitarianism: For and Against
if the answer to the first example is A (which seems right), then the answer to the second example must be A as well (which does not seem right).
*****
what if we apply graded absolutism?
B. Refuse the captain's offer, thereby playing a passive part in 20 murders.
A. Accept the captain's offer, thereby saving 19 lives.
B. Refuse the captain's offer, thereby not saving any lives.
in accepting the captain's offer, Jim is materially cooperating with the captain. however, Jim is innocent because while he is materially cooperating with the captain, he is not formally cooperating with the captain.
in other words, Jim is innocent because while he is materially committing a murder, he is not formally committing a murder (he is formally saving 19 lives).
Thursday, 23 October 2008
classical calvinism vs moderate calvinism
classical calvinism
1. God created the world.
2. in the world, 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus' (Romans 3:23-24, NIV).
3. if not for God's transforming grace, all are condemned.
4. God's transforming grace is limited.
5. God's transforming grace is irresistible.
6. those whom God shows transforming grace to are transformed. consequently, they freely believe as a result of being shown God's transforming grace.
7. those whom God does not show transforming grace to are not transformed. consequently, they freely do not believe as a result of not being shown God's transforming grace.
God is sovereign in the sense that God shows transforming grace to some but not others.
man is compatibilistically free in the sense that man freely believes (or freely does not believe) as a result of being shown (or not being shown) God's transforming grace.
moderate calvinism
1. God created the best possible world (from His perspective).
2. in the best possible world, 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus' (Romans 3:23-24, NIV).
3. if not for God's transforming grace, all are condemned.
4. God's transforming grace is unlimited.
5. God's transforming grace is resistible.
6. those who accept God's transforming grace are transformed. consequently, they freely believe as a result of accepting God's transforming grace.
7. those who reject God's transforming grace are not transformed. consequently, they freely do not believe as a result of rejecting God's transforming grace.
God is sovereign in the sense that God created the best possible world (from His perspective).
man is compatibilistically free in the sense that God occasions (not causes) man to freely accept (or freely reject) His transforming grace.
link: more on classical calvinism vs moderate calvinism (20 nov 08)
1. God created the world.
2. in the world, 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus' (Romans 3:23-24, NIV).
3. if not for God's transforming grace, all are condemned.
4. God's transforming grace is limited.
5. God's transforming grace is irresistible.
6. those whom God shows transforming grace to are transformed. consequently, they freely believe as a result of being shown God's transforming grace.
7. those whom God does not show transforming grace to are not transformed. consequently, they freely do not believe as a result of not being shown God's transforming grace.
God is sovereign in the sense that God shows transforming grace to some but not others.
man is compatibilistically free in the sense that man freely believes (or freely does not believe) as a result of being shown (or not being shown) God's transforming grace.
moderate calvinism
1. God created the best possible world (from His perspective).
2. in the best possible world, 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus' (Romans 3:23-24, NIV).
3. if not for God's transforming grace, all are condemned.
4. God's transforming grace is unlimited.
5. God's transforming grace is resistible.
6. those who accept God's transforming grace are transformed. consequently, they freely believe as a result of accepting God's transforming grace.
7. those who reject God's transforming grace are not transformed. consequently, they freely do not believe as a result of rejecting God's transforming grace.
God is sovereign in the sense that God created the best possible world (from His perspective).
man is compatibilistically free in the sense that God occasions (not causes) man to freely accept (or freely reject) His transforming grace.
link: more on classical calvinism vs moderate calvinism (20 nov 08)
Monday, 20 October 2008
personal identity
i learnt during a bioethics lecture today that a 'person' may either be a 'human being' or a 'philosophical concept' (or both).
the Holy Spirit is not a 'person' in the sense that the Holy Spirit is not a 'human being', while the Holy Spirit is a 'person' in the sense that the Holy Spirit is a 'philosophical concept'.
that God is one being in three 'persons' does not mean that God is one being who has revealed Himself in three 'human beings'. rather, that God is one being in three 'persons' means that God is one being who has revealed Himself in three 'philosophical concepts', one of whom further 'became flesh and made his dwelling among us' (John 1:14, NIV).
the Holy Spirit is not a 'person' in the sense that the Holy Spirit is not a 'human being', while the Holy Spirit is a 'person' in the sense that the Holy Spirit is a 'philosophical concept'.
that God is one being in three 'persons' does not mean that God is one being who has revealed Himself in three 'human beings'. rather, that God is one being in three 'persons' means that God is one being who has revealed Himself in three 'philosophical concepts', one of whom further 'became flesh and made his dwelling among us' (John 1:14, NIV).
one day at a time
Often people approach knowing and doing God's will this way: They ask, "Lord, what do You want me to do? When do You want me to do it? How shall I do it? Where shall I do it? What will the outcome be?"
Isn't this response most typical of us? We are always asking God for a detailed "road map". We say, "Lord, if You could just tell me where I am heading, then I will be able to set my course and go."
He says, "You don't need to. What you need to do is follow Me one day at a time." We need to come to the place where our response to God will be: "Lord, just tell me what to do one step at a time, and I will do it."
Who is the one who really knows the way for you to fulfill God's purpose for your life? God is! Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6, NIV).
- He did not say, "I will show you the way."
- He did not say, "I will give you a road map."
- He did not say, "I will tell you which direction to head."
- He said, "I am the way." Jesus knows the way; He is your way.
If you were to do everything that Jesus tells you one day at a time, you always would be right in the centre of where God wants you to be. Can you trust God to guide you that way? You might say, "No, Jesus does not really know God's will for my life." But He does! Jesus is God. You might say, "No, Jesus might mislead me and take me the wrong way." But He won't. You might think that Jesus would rather you wait until He tells you all the details before you start to follow Him. But that is not the pattern we see in His life or in the Scriptures.
God would be more interested in your responding to Him this way: "Yes, if I follow Jesus one day at a time, I will be right in the centre of Your will for my life." When you get to the place where you trust Jesus to guide you one step at a time, you experience a new freedom. If you don't trust Jesus to guide you this way, what happens if you don't know the way you are to go? You worry every time you must make a turn. You often freeze up and cannot make a decision. This is not the way God intends for you to live your life.
I have found in my own life that I can release the way to Him. Then I take care of everything He tells me one day at a time. He gives me plenty to do to fill each day with meaning and purpose. If I do everything He says, I will be in the centre of His will when He wants to use me for a special assignment.
Abram (God later changed his name to Abraham) is a good example of this principle at work in a Bible character. He walked by faith and not by sight. In the following Scripture, read about the call of Abram to do God's will. Watch to see how much detail he was given before he was asked to follow.
"The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there." - Genesis 12:1-5 (NIV)
God said, "Get out of your country." How specific was God? He gave Abram this much detail: "to the land I will show you". That is all God asked Abram to do. God promised to do the rest. Would you be willing to follow God's directions for your life with that little detail?
- Henry T. Blackaby and Claude V. King, Experiencing God
"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God." - Hebrews 11:8-10 (NIV)
"Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."" - John 14:5-6 (NIV)
the disciples - like Abraham - did not know where they were going, but they knew the way!
*****
"Give us today our daily bread." - Matthew 6:11 (NIV)
"Give us each day our daily bread." - Luke 11:3 (NIV)
The Greek is tricky, but Matthew's [version] seems to mean 'give us today our bread for tomorrow'; while Luke understands it as 'give us each day our daily bread'. They both probably reflect different aspects of what Jesus intended. Matthew, in line with Jesus' whole agenda, means 'give us, here and now, the bread of life which is promised for the great Tomorrow'. Give us, in other words, the blessings of the coming Kingdom - right now. Matthew, writing his gospel, saw this prayer partially answered in the feedings of the five thousand and the four thousand; more fully in the Last Supper; and, most fully of all, in Jesus' death and resurrection.
But Luke's version is not to be sneezed at as merely one-dimensional, just praying for boring old bread. The whole point of the Kingdom, as we saw in the previous chapter [Thy Kingdom Come], is that it isn't about shifting our wants and desires on to a non-physical level, moving away from the earthly to the supposedly 'spiritual'. It is about God's dimension coming to birth within ours, which is after all what Advent and Christmas are anticipating and celebrating. The Kingdom is to come on earth as it is in heaven. Daily needs and desires point beyond themselves, to God's promise of the kingdom in which death and sorrow will be no more. But that means, too, that the promise of the Kingdom includes those needs, and doesn't look down on them sneeringly as somehow second-rate.
- N.T. Wright, The Lord and His Prayer
"Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers. Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD." - Deuteronomy 8:1-3 (NIV)
All the way my Saviour leads me
What have I to ask beside
Can I doubt His tender mercy
Who through life has been my guide
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort
Here by faith in Him to dwell
For I know whate'er befall me
Jesus doeth all things well
For I know whate'er befall me
Jesus doeth all things well
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Isn't this response most typical of us? We are always asking God for a detailed "road map". We say, "Lord, if You could just tell me where I am heading, then I will be able to set my course and go."
He says, "You don't need to. What you need to do is follow Me one day at a time." We need to come to the place where our response to God will be: "Lord, just tell me what to do one step at a time, and I will do it."
Who is the one who really knows the way for you to fulfill God's purpose for your life? God is! Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6, NIV).
- He did not say, "I will show you the way."
- He did not say, "I will give you a road map."
- He did not say, "I will tell you which direction to head."
- He said, "I am the way." Jesus knows the way; He is your way.
If you were to do everything that Jesus tells you one day at a time, you always would be right in the centre of where God wants you to be. Can you trust God to guide you that way? You might say, "No, Jesus does not really know God's will for my life." But He does! Jesus is God. You might say, "No, Jesus might mislead me and take me the wrong way." But He won't. You might think that Jesus would rather you wait until He tells you all the details before you start to follow Him. But that is not the pattern we see in His life or in the Scriptures.
God would be more interested in your responding to Him this way: "Yes, if I follow Jesus one day at a time, I will be right in the centre of Your will for my life." When you get to the place where you trust Jesus to guide you one step at a time, you experience a new freedom. If you don't trust Jesus to guide you this way, what happens if you don't know the way you are to go? You worry every time you must make a turn. You often freeze up and cannot make a decision. This is not the way God intends for you to live your life.
I have found in my own life that I can release the way to Him. Then I take care of everything He tells me one day at a time. He gives me plenty to do to fill each day with meaning and purpose. If I do everything He says, I will be in the centre of His will when He wants to use me for a special assignment.
Abram (God later changed his name to Abraham) is a good example of this principle at work in a Bible character. He walked by faith and not by sight. In the following Scripture, read about the call of Abram to do God's will. Watch to see how much detail he was given before he was asked to follow.
"The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there." - Genesis 12:1-5 (NIV)
God said, "Get out of your country." How specific was God? He gave Abram this much detail: "to the land I will show you". That is all God asked Abram to do. God promised to do the rest. Would you be willing to follow God's directions for your life with that little detail?
- Henry T. Blackaby and Claude V. King, Experiencing God
"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God." - Hebrews 11:8-10 (NIV)
"Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."" - John 14:5-6 (NIV)
the disciples - like Abraham - did not know where they were going, but they knew the way!
*****
"Give us today our daily bread." - Matthew 6:11 (NIV)
"Give us each day our daily bread." - Luke 11:3 (NIV)
The Greek is tricky, but Matthew's [version] seems to mean 'give us today our bread for tomorrow'; while Luke understands it as 'give us each day our daily bread'. They both probably reflect different aspects of what Jesus intended. Matthew, in line with Jesus' whole agenda, means 'give us, here and now, the bread of life which is promised for the great Tomorrow'. Give us, in other words, the blessings of the coming Kingdom - right now. Matthew, writing his gospel, saw this prayer partially answered in the feedings of the five thousand and the four thousand; more fully in the Last Supper; and, most fully of all, in Jesus' death and resurrection.
But Luke's version is not to be sneezed at as merely one-dimensional, just praying for boring old bread. The whole point of the Kingdom, as we saw in the previous chapter [Thy Kingdom Come], is that it isn't about shifting our wants and desires on to a non-physical level, moving away from the earthly to the supposedly 'spiritual'. It is about God's dimension coming to birth within ours, which is after all what Advent and Christmas are anticipating and celebrating. The Kingdom is to come on earth as it is in heaven. Daily needs and desires point beyond themselves, to God's promise of the kingdom in which death and sorrow will be no more. But that means, too, that the promise of the Kingdom includes those needs, and doesn't look down on them sneeringly as somehow second-rate.
- N.T. Wright, The Lord and His Prayer
"Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers. Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD." - Deuteronomy 8:1-3 (NIV)
All the way my Saviour leads me
What have I to ask beside
Can I doubt His tender mercy
Who through life has been my guide
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort
Here by faith in Him to dwell
For I know whate'er befall me
Jesus doeth all things well
For I know whate'er befall me
Jesus doeth all things well
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Thursday, 16 October 2008
by faith
By faith, not appearance; God never wants us to look at our feelings. Self may want us to; and Satan may want us to. But God wants us to face facts, not feelings; the facts of Christ and of His finished and perfect work for us.
When we face these precious facts and believe them because God says they are facts, God will take care of our feelings.
God never gives feeling to enable us to trust Him; God never gives feeling to encourage us to trust Him; God never gives feeling to show that we have already and utterly trusted Him.
God gives feeling only when He sees that we trust Him apart from all feeling, resting on His own Word and on His own faithfulness to His promise.
Never until then can the feeling (which is from God) possibly come; and God will give the feeling in such a measure and at such a time as His love sees best for the individual case.
We must choose between facing toward our feelings and facing toward God's facts. Our feelings may be as uncertain as the sea or the shifting sands. God's facts are as certain as the Rock of Ages, even Christ Himself, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
- Streams in the Desert, September 26
When we face these precious facts and believe them because God says they are facts, God will take care of our feelings.
God never gives feeling to enable us to trust Him; God never gives feeling to encourage us to trust Him; God never gives feeling to show that we have already and utterly trusted Him.
God gives feeling only when He sees that we trust Him apart from all feeling, resting on His own Word and on His own faithfulness to His promise.
Never until then can the feeling (which is from God) possibly come; and God will give the feeling in such a measure and at such a time as His love sees best for the individual case.
We must choose between facing toward our feelings and facing toward God's facts. Our feelings may be as uncertain as the sea or the shifting sands. God's facts are as certain as the Rock of Ages, even Christ Himself, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
- Streams in the Desert, September 26
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
going mysteriously forward
In the nature of the case, the recognition of providence is retrospective rather than prospective. You only see a pattern begin to emerge over time with the benefit of hindsight. It's like climbing a wooded hill. You can't see where you're going until you reach the summit and look back. From the summit you can see the trail. See the countryside.
In some ways, the walk of faith is like walking at night. God takes you by the hand. When the new day dawns, you can look back over your shoulder and observe how treacherous the journey was - like a narrow, winding trail, hugging the hillside. One misstep and you would plummet to your death.
Ironically, you wouldn't have the nerve to make the journey in daylight. But under cover of darkness, God guides your every step.
One of the nice things about aging in the faith is that I can take the long view of things. I can see God's providence in my life and in the lives of those who went before me. It's a pity I haven't kept a journal over the years.
Life is a winnowing process. Some people start out strong, with a head start and a good steed - only to drop out of the race on the backstretch.
Others make a late start, must overcome many obstacles, yet pick up speed as they progress and make a strong finish. They may falter and fall, but they get back up, while others never recover from a tumble.
Many folks fail to perceive the presence of God in their lives because they have a misconception of what to find and where to look. If you're looking for the wrong thing, you'll be looking in the wrong place.
It's like giving someone the wrong directions. He may accidentally stumble across his destination, and yet he walks right by it because it wasn't what he was expecting to find. He is lost in plain sight of his destination.
A man may die of starvation if he believes the orchard is poisonous. He's surrounded by nutritious food, but in his mind's eye, a single bite is fatal.
God is in the little things as well as the big things. His hand is in the ordinary as well as the extraordinary. In seedtime and harvest as well as portents and prodigies. In a child's laughter and a mother's love.
Some folks never see the light because they were searching for a candle at noonday. Sunshine doesn't count. Unless the light takes the form of a comet or solar eclipse, then all is darkness and night. Never expecting to find the Lord in their own backyard, they end up overlooking God as they stumble over God every step of the way.
This is not to deny that God can be present in more miraculous ways - I can testify to that in my own observation. But we miss the day of visitation when we wait for the grand entrance while a child is born in a manger.
- Steve Hays, Love the Lord with Heart and Mind
In some ways, the walk of faith is like walking at night. God takes you by the hand. When the new day dawns, you can look back over your shoulder and observe how treacherous the journey was - like a narrow, winding trail, hugging the hillside. One misstep and you would plummet to your death.
Ironically, you wouldn't have the nerve to make the journey in daylight. But under cover of darkness, God guides your every step.
One of the nice things about aging in the faith is that I can take the long view of things. I can see God's providence in my life and in the lives of those who went before me. It's a pity I haven't kept a journal over the years.
Life is a winnowing process. Some people start out strong, with a head start and a good steed - only to drop out of the race on the backstretch.
Others make a late start, must overcome many obstacles, yet pick up speed as they progress and make a strong finish. They may falter and fall, but they get back up, while others never recover from a tumble.
Many folks fail to perceive the presence of God in their lives because they have a misconception of what to find and where to look. If you're looking for the wrong thing, you'll be looking in the wrong place.
It's like giving someone the wrong directions. He may accidentally stumble across his destination, and yet he walks right by it because it wasn't what he was expecting to find. He is lost in plain sight of his destination.
A man may die of starvation if he believes the orchard is poisonous. He's surrounded by nutritious food, but in his mind's eye, a single bite is fatal.
God is in the little things as well as the big things. His hand is in the ordinary as well as the extraordinary. In seedtime and harvest as well as portents and prodigies. In a child's laughter and a mother's love.
Some folks never see the light because they were searching for a candle at noonday. Sunshine doesn't count. Unless the light takes the form of a comet or solar eclipse, then all is darkness and night. Never expecting to find the Lord in their own backyard, they end up overlooking God as they stumble over God every step of the way.
This is not to deny that God can be present in more miraculous ways - I can testify to that in my own observation. But we miss the day of visitation when we wait for the grand entrance while a child is born in a manger.
- Steve Hays, Love the Lord with Heart and Mind
wisdom in a troubled time
You don’t need me to tell you that we meet at an extraordinary time. Someone asked me a couple of weeks ago how I was, and I heard myself say, ‘Well, my parents live in Morpeth, which has just flooded; my brother works for Lehman’s Bank; my wife and I are booked on an Al Italia flight next month; and don’t even ask me about Newcastle United.’
- N.T. Wright, Wisdom in a Troubled Time
"Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future." - Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 (NIV)
"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NIV)
God is in control of everything, even Newcastle United. and if God is in control of Newcastle United, how much more is God in control of things that are much more important than Newcastle United!
- N.T. Wright, Wisdom in a Troubled Time
"Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future." - Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 (NIV)
"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NIV)
God is in control of everything, even Newcastle United. and if God is in control of Newcastle United, how much more is God in control of things that are much more important than Newcastle United!
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