“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silence in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says. If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. What! Did the word of God originate with you, or are you the only ones it has reached?” RSV
How many of us, as women, have read this passage and cringed? So many people use this passage to force women to refrain from participating in church, particularly as teachers or pastors. But we need to go back and look at the context again.
First, Paul is telling us that church is interactive, with each attendee bringing something to the table:
“When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation.” (v. 26)
And then, Paul lists the qualifications of that “bringing:”
• What one brings must edify those who are in attendance
• If one speaks in tongues, there must be interpretation, otherwise the one speaking in tongues must be silent
• There can only be at most three “tongues” and those tongues given one at a time (in order)
• If one prophet is speaking and another wants to speak, the first must be silent.
• Everyone can prophesy if they wish, but it must be in turn
• Those coming can bring a hymn, a lesson, a revelation (prophesy), a tongue, or an interpretation
What we have here is two things: (1) That church is supposed to be interactive, with all participating (not a division of performers and audience); and (2) That what is done is done civilly, courteously, and in order; not with one roughshodding over another in order to dominate the service.
Well, that would make sense. Paul just got done telling us that love doesn’t demand it’s own way. In church, there should be no time frames, no looking at watches, but rather a coming together in love. What can we learn? What can we share? What can we take away from this so that we are better Christians?
And, in the middle of all this, Paul drops what seems like, to contemporary folks, a bombshell: “Women should keep silence.” The problem is, this passage is interpreted out of context. For see what it actually says:
“Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says. If they have any questions to ask, let them ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.”
The sense here isn’t women coming with something to share, but rather coming with questions and refusing to submit to the order of the service. Most women in Corinth couldn’t write, so they couldn’t jot down their questions. And, because of the cultural restrictions (women weren’t allowed to talk to men not in their own families), the women felt they didn’t have the freedom to get their questions answered. So they talked to their husbands. Paul says: “Let them ask their husbands at home.” That is the context.
This is the third time in this passage that Paul has asked for someone in the congregation to be silent:
• If someone is speaking in tongues and there is no interpretation, that person must be silent.
• If someone is prophesying and another wishes to prophesy, the first prophet must be silent.
• If women have questions of their husbands, they must be silent (and ask their husbands at home).
This isn’t a restriction against women, but rather a description of the order and courtesy to be allowed in a service where everyone is allowed to have input. Earlier in chapter 11, Paul talks about women praying and prophesying publically. And since there were no gender-specific (no women-only or men-only) services in the early Church, Paul was clearly talking, in this passage (chapter 14) about order, not about restrictions.
In fact, it’s interesting that near the end of this entire discourse (several chapters), Paul seems to throw in this small paragraph. Obviously, the women talking in the service wasn’t nearly as important in his mind as the disorder coming from people jostling each other (during the Lord’s supper; chapter 11), people speaking in tongues without interpretation, and those prophesy dominating the service.
Paul begins this paragraph with “God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” We need to remember that God brings order to chaos, forgiveness to sin, freedom to oppression. As women—as believers—our focus shouldn’t be on whether or not we gain our rights, but whether or not we please the Father. If there are others who wish to oppress us, He Himself is our advocate and He will make a way.
Musing
Friday, March 28, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
1 Corinthians 14:26-32
1 Corinthians 14:26-32
“What then, brethren? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silence in church and speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged; and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.” RSV
What does your church look like? What does mine? I can tell you that we have been attending a local church for over a year and are involved very little in what happens there. We go. We sit. We sing (sort of; the worship is awful). We listen. We listen. We listen some more. And then we go home.
For thousands (millions?) of Christians, the experience is similar. Church has become a place where there is the “us” and “them.” “Us” sit in the pews, give money, give affirmation, and . . . sit in the pews. The “us” is many! The “them” stand on the platform, decide on the songs, decide on the sermon topic, perform . . . and perform.
No questions. No participation. No . . . nothing.
It reminds me of theater.
Have you ever gone to a play (or nowadays, to a movie), watched it, and come out confused? or disappointed because you knew there were things wrong? or you didn’t understand what happened?
Have you ever gone to church and not understood what the pastor was trying to say? or didn’t remember (by the end of lunch) the topic of the sermon? or didn’t have any idea how to implement what had been taught?
We used to pastor. And we used the traditional, audience-performer approach. And, to be honest, even though we pastored a very small church, there were still those there whose spiritual lives we didn’t know. Certainly, we didn’t allow “them” to tell “us” how to run the service.
Maybe we should have. Maybe if our congregation had had more buy-in, the church wouldn’t have collapsed on itself. Certainly, we would have had a better idea where everyone was spiritually and could have been better leaders, better pastors.
This scripture is so revealing: “Each one has . . . You can all prophesy . . . “ It is very interactive. Imagine going to church and knowing that everyone there expected you to bring something to contribute. And not only “something,” but a something that would be for edification of the others. We would have to prepare, to think and pray about the service all week. If the standard was the what was done, what was shared, must be for the edification of those attending, we would have to get to know each other (more than that morning handshake); we would become accountable for each other’s spiritual lives.
We would be a family, a spiritual family. And we would be stronger for it. Rather than living our lives in spiritual isolation, there would be true brothers and sisters holding us accountable, walking side-by-side with us as we struggled with temptation, overcame sin, grew in maturity as Christians.
There is a passage in Ephesians that talks about this. Unfortunately, the passage is often quoted out of context . . . and the context is important:
“And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 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 fulness of Christ; so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful wiles. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love” (Ephesians 4:11-16 RSV).
Notice that the Lord gives gifts and those gifts are the five-fold ministry: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. (Some people hold that pastors-teachers was one office). And what is the work of these?
• To equip the saints for the work of ministry
• For building up the body of Christ
• To mature to manhood to the measure of the fulness of Christ
• That we may no longer be tossed about by every wind of doctrine
• That we speak the truth in love
• That we grow up in every way into Him
• That we work together properly, growing the Church in love
Wow! Do we see churches doing that? Are there many congregations that are actually concerned about whether or not each member belongs? each member is growing to spiritual maturity? that the growth process exists in love?
Rather, I see churches advertising (which means competing against other churches for dollars and members). I see churches adding programs to attract people (again, competing). I see lots of performances.
I see little growth.
I’m, by trade, a teacher. My craft is one of teaching and then assessing whether or not learning took place. It requires that I know my students rather intimately and that I am involved in a face-to-face relationship. It requires that we all be able to ask questions, theirs for clarification, and mine to find out whether they actually “got it” or not.
Have you ever had a pastor question you to see if you actually understood his sermon? (Interesting thought.)
Perhaps as Christians we need to expect more from our churches. And, if we released our pastor from the responsibility of entertaining us on Sunday mornings, perhaps he could expect more of himself.
“What then, brethren? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silence in church and speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged; and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.” RSV
What does your church look like? What does mine? I can tell you that we have been attending a local church for over a year and are involved very little in what happens there. We go. We sit. We sing (sort of; the worship is awful). We listen. We listen. We listen some more. And then we go home.
For thousands (millions?) of Christians, the experience is similar. Church has become a place where there is the “us” and “them.” “Us” sit in the pews, give money, give affirmation, and . . . sit in the pews. The “us” is many! The “them” stand on the platform, decide on the songs, decide on the sermon topic, perform . . . and perform.
No questions. No participation. No . . . nothing.
It reminds me of theater.
Have you ever gone to a play (or nowadays, to a movie), watched it, and come out confused? or disappointed because you knew there were things wrong? or you didn’t understand what happened?
Have you ever gone to church and not understood what the pastor was trying to say? or didn’t remember (by the end of lunch) the topic of the sermon? or didn’t have any idea how to implement what had been taught?
We used to pastor. And we used the traditional, audience-performer approach. And, to be honest, even though we pastored a very small church, there were still those there whose spiritual lives we didn’t know. Certainly, we didn’t allow “them” to tell “us” how to run the service.
Maybe we should have. Maybe if our congregation had had more buy-in, the church wouldn’t have collapsed on itself. Certainly, we would have had a better idea where everyone was spiritually and could have been better leaders, better pastors.
This scripture is so revealing: “Each one has . . . You can all prophesy . . . “ It is very interactive. Imagine going to church and knowing that everyone there expected you to bring something to contribute. And not only “something,” but a something that would be for edification of the others. We would have to prepare, to think and pray about the service all week. If the standard was the what was done, what was shared, must be for the edification of those attending, we would have to get to know each other (more than that morning handshake); we would become accountable for each other’s spiritual lives.
We would be a family, a spiritual family. And we would be stronger for it. Rather than living our lives in spiritual isolation, there would be true brothers and sisters holding us accountable, walking side-by-side with us as we struggled with temptation, overcame sin, grew in maturity as Christians.
There is a passage in Ephesians that talks about this. Unfortunately, the passage is often quoted out of context . . . and the context is important:
“And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 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 fulness of Christ; so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful wiles. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love” (Ephesians 4:11-16 RSV).
Notice that the Lord gives gifts and those gifts are the five-fold ministry: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. (Some people hold that pastors-teachers was one office). And what is the work of these?
• To equip the saints for the work of ministry
• For building up the body of Christ
• To mature to manhood to the measure of the fulness of Christ
• That we may no longer be tossed about by every wind of doctrine
• That we speak the truth in love
• That we grow up in every way into Him
• That we work together properly, growing the Church in love
Wow! Do we see churches doing that? Are there many congregations that are actually concerned about whether or not each member belongs? each member is growing to spiritual maturity? that the growth process exists in love?
Rather, I see churches advertising (which means competing against other churches for dollars and members). I see churches adding programs to attract people (again, competing). I see lots of performances.
I see little growth.
I’m, by trade, a teacher. My craft is one of teaching and then assessing whether or not learning took place. It requires that I know my students rather intimately and that I am involved in a face-to-face relationship. It requires that we all be able to ask questions, theirs for clarification, and mine to find out whether they actually “got it” or not.
Have you ever had a pastor question you to see if you actually understood his sermon? (Interesting thought.)
Perhaps as Christians we need to expect more from our churches. And, if we released our pastor from the responsibility of entertaining us on Sunday mornings, perhaps he could expect more of himself.
Monday, March 17, 2008
1 Corinthians 14:1-5
“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.” NKJ
The issue of whether or not one should or can speak in tongues is something that separates the Body of Christ. It’s sad because the enemy (Satan) will use anything to weaken us. And I think we miss the point.
Paul has just spent an entire verse talking about love. Our Lord Jesus said that we would be known to the world by the love we have for each other (John 13:35). And now, Paul talks about tongues.
I was on staff of a church where the senior pastor wanted me to go into the building several days a week and pray in tongues. It seemed to think there was some kind of “magical” power in praying in tongues. Magic? I think that God responds to a humble heart, not to a formulated heart.
What do I mean by that? I believe that Father God ultimately wants us to submit completely and absolutely to His will, not for us to figure out the “formula” that will manipulate Him into doing our will. I have nothing against speaking in tongues. I speak in tongues and pray in tongues. What I have a problem with is the idea that if we do something a certain way, it will “force” God to ‘fess up to some promise and require Him to respond to us in a specific way (usually something that makes our life easier).
I think that these first five verses in chapter 14 are very important because they orient us to the purpose of the gifts:
• He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself.
• He who prophesies edifies the Church.
• I wish even more that you prophesied that the Church may receive edification.
What is our purpose? What is the purpose of the Church, of the gathering together of believers? Back in chapter 12, Paul addresses this: “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all” (12:7 NKJ). As Christians, our focus should be on the edification, the blessings for others, not for ourselves. Our focus should be to reach outside of ourselves and love those around us, give to those around us, minister to those around us.
There is a story about the difference between heaven and hell. While it’s not a true story, the analogy fits for this instance:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heaven And Hell by allinspiration.com (from http://www.allinspiration.com/Life/Stories/heaven_and_hell.html)
Little Johnny had heard all about heaven and hell, about good and evil. But, being so young, it never really bothered him, and he never really thought about it.
As he got a little older, and began to understand things better, he became curious. One day, he asked his mum, "Mum, what is so different about heaven and hell?"
Johnny's mum pondered for a little while, then took out a piece of paper and a pencil. She drew a horizontal line across the middle of the page. On the top half, she wrote "heaven" in big letters, then drew a picture. In the bottom half, she wrote "hell", and drew another picture. She then passed the piece of paper to Johnny.
Johnny looked at the pictures and first observed the one in the "heaven" part of the paper. There was a huge banquet table, and many people were seated around it. Men, women, young and old, children and old folks, all together, like one big family. Each one of them held a very long fork. It was a strange, huge fork, much bigger than any Johnny had ever seen. On the table lay a feast. The people looked well-fed, very happy and satisfied. They were talking, laughing, hugging and looked like they were having a good time.
The "hell" picture was not all that different. In fact, it was almost exactly the same picture. But the people were neither talking, laughing, nor hugging. They had looks of anger, suspicion and distrust on their faces. And they were stick thin, obviously starving.
Johnny was a little confused. "Mum. In hell, there is also great food lying on the table. Why do the people look so hungry? Why don't they use their forks to eat the food? The people are also sitting on big, comfortable chairs. And they are surrounded by so many people. How come they look so lonely and unhappy? They have everything the people in heaven have, so why are they so miserable?"
"You see, Johnny. In hell, there is no love and trust, and the people bear grudges. The spirit of giving and sharing is also absent, the people are selfish and only think of themselves. Unfortunately, the forks are too long, and when the people use the forks to pick up the food, they are unable to reach their own mouths and put the food in. So they go hungry, and are very unhappy. These negative feelings multiply and give rise to other negative feelings, like anger and bitterness. That's why they are so miserable."
"In heaven, however, the people love each other. They may have their differences and they may make mistakes, but they learn to forgive. They may have their selfish instincts, but they learn to share. They learn to give without first taking. When a man is hungry, all he has to do is ask, sometimes he doesn't even have to, and someone from across the table would use his or her fork to pick up some food and feed the hungry man. You see, Johnny, in heaven, they, too, may have forks which are too long to feed themselves. But they don't allow this slight obstacle to deter them. In heaven, Johnny, they feed each other. That's why they don't go hungry. And this spirit of giving and sharing breeds even more love, that's why everyone is so happy and satisfied with life, not just physically, but emotionally too."
-------------------------------------------------------------
When we, as Christians, get to the point that we are more concerned about those around us than ourselves, then we will have learned what it means to love as Christ loves us.
The issue of whether or not one should or can speak in tongues is something that separates the Body of Christ. It’s sad because the enemy (Satan) will use anything to weaken us. And I think we miss the point.
Paul has just spent an entire verse talking about love. Our Lord Jesus said that we would be known to the world by the love we have for each other (John 13:35). And now, Paul talks about tongues.
I was on staff of a church where the senior pastor wanted me to go into the building several days a week and pray in tongues. It seemed to think there was some kind of “magical” power in praying in tongues. Magic? I think that God responds to a humble heart, not to a formulated heart.
What do I mean by that? I believe that Father God ultimately wants us to submit completely and absolutely to His will, not for us to figure out the “formula” that will manipulate Him into doing our will. I have nothing against speaking in tongues. I speak in tongues and pray in tongues. What I have a problem with is the idea that if we do something a certain way, it will “force” God to ‘fess up to some promise and require Him to respond to us in a specific way (usually something that makes our life easier).
I think that these first five verses in chapter 14 are very important because they orient us to the purpose of the gifts:
• He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself.
• He who prophesies edifies the Church.
• I wish even more that you prophesied that the Church may receive edification.
What is our purpose? What is the purpose of the Church, of the gathering together of believers? Back in chapter 12, Paul addresses this: “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all” (12:7 NKJ). As Christians, our focus should be on the edification, the blessings for others, not for ourselves. Our focus should be to reach outside of ourselves and love those around us, give to those around us, minister to those around us.
There is a story about the difference between heaven and hell. While it’s not a true story, the analogy fits for this instance:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heaven And Hell by allinspiration.com (from http://www.allinspiration.com/Life/Stories/heaven_and_hell.html)
Little Johnny had heard all about heaven and hell, about good and evil. But, being so young, it never really bothered him, and he never really thought about it.
As he got a little older, and began to understand things better, he became curious. One day, he asked his mum, "Mum, what is so different about heaven and hell?"
Johnny's mum pondered for a little while, then took out a piece of paper and a pencil. She drew a horizontal line across the middle of the page. On the top half, she wrote "heaven" in big letters, then drew a picture. In the bottom half, she wrote "hell", and drew another picture. She then passed the piece of paper to Johnny.
Johnny looked at the pictures and first observed the one in the "heaven" part of the paper. There was a huge banquet table, and many people were seated around it. Men, women, young and old, children and old folks, all together, like one big family. Each one of them held a very long fork. It was a strange, huge fork, much bigger than any Johnny had ever seen. On the table lay a feast. The people looked well-fed, very happy and satisfied. They were talking, laughing, hugging and looked like they were having a good time.
The "hell" picture was not all that different. In fact, it was almost exactly the same picture. But the people were neither talking, laughing, nor hugging. They had looks of anger, suspicion and distrust on their faces. And they were stick thin, obviously starving.
Johnny was a little confused. "Mum. In hell, there is also great food lying on the table. Why do the people look so hungry? Why don't they use their forks to eat the food? The people are also sitting on big, comfortable chairs. And they are surrounded by so many people. How come they look so lonely and unhappy? They have everything the people in heaven have, so why are they so miserable?"
"You see, Johnny. In hell, there is no love and trust, and the people bear grudges. The spirit of giving and sharing is also absent, the people are selfish and only think of themselves. Unfortunately, the forks are too long, and when the people use the forks to pick up the food, they are unable to reach their own mouths and put the food in. So they go hungry, and are very unhappy. These negative feelings multiply and give rise to other negative feelings, like anger and bitterness. That's why they are so miserable."
"In heaven, however, the people love each other. They may have their differences and they may make mistakes, but they learn to forgive. They may have their selfish instincts, but they learn to share. They learn to give without first taking. When a man is hungry, all he has to do is ask, sometimes he doesn't even have to, and someone from across the table would use his or her fork to pick up some food and feed the hungry man. You see, Johnny, in heaven, they, too, may have forks which are too long to feed themselves. But they don't allow this slight obstacle to deter them. In heaven, Johnny, they feed each other. That's why they don't go hungry. And this spirit of giving and sharing breeds even more love, that's why everyone is so happy and satisfied with life, not just physically, but emotionally too."
-------------------------------------------------------------
When we, as Christians, get to the point that we are more concerned about those around us than ourselves, then we will have learned what it means to love as Christ loves us.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
1 Corinthians 14:1
“Make love your aim, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” RSV
Paul talks about three things here. And I believe that he gives a sort of spiritual hierarchy. In other words, the words are ordered in a specific way for a specific reason. One follows the other; the first is most important and the others naturally flow from it.
• Make love your aim
• Earnestly desire the spiritual gifts
• Especially that you may prophesy
I think this is so important. The pentecostal/charismatic church of today is focused on the gifts of the Spirits. We want all the miracles, all the power, all the supernatural that we can have from God. And yet, I think that often it is power without love. And power without love is deadly. It is damaging. Because power, sought for itself, ends up becoming self-centered. We want power for us. We want prosperity for us. We want success for us.
How many prosperity preachers do you hear who teach that we should pray for blessings for our enemies? That we should ask God to give success and finances and health to those who hate us? How many are praying that for the Saddam Husseins and Hugo Chavezes of the world? And yet, this is exactly what the Lord Jesus commanded us to do:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (Matthew 5:43-47 RSV)
Paul expands on this topic even more:
“No, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head’” (Romans 12:20 RSV).
If we make love our aim, then our first impulse will be to want to heap blessings upon, not only those around us, but even our enemies. We will want the best for everyone else, trusting God to take care of us.
This is a struggle because our natural selves tell us to promote us! We want to get the blessings for ourselves and our family. But this isn’t the Christian way. Our way is to make ourselves less so that others might prosper, so that others might be blessed. Our way is to place others ahead of ourselves so that they might be successful, they might receive blessings, they might have good health and much wealth. Being a Christian isn’t about getting as much as I can for myself. It’s about making sure that others have what they need (and want) and trusting God to take care of me. It’s about having the kind of eternal perspective that naturally flows out of loving others.
And it’s only after we do this that we can then desire spiritual gifts. Because spiritual gifts without love are a time bomb waiting to go off, a bomb that will bring not blessings, but destruction everywhere. Spiritual gifts only honor God and bless us when they are operated within love. Outside of that they are simply a way to manipulate and get all we can for ourselves. Not a pretty picture for a Christian.
But Paul is even more defining here. He tells us to seek the spiritual gift of prophesy more than any other gift. More than prosperity. More than healing. More than miracles. Why? Because prophesying is that ability to tell forth God’s word to both the saved and unsaved. Because prophesying brings spiritual healing through the Word.
The Word of God is paramount. Nothing else really matters; nothing else will really last.
And even those denominations and churches which deny women the opportunity to pastor will admit that women in the Bible were fully empowered to prophesy! In other words, this isn’t something we can be denied. We can prophesy . . . and we should.
The Greek word translated here “earnestly desire” is a very strong word. “Zeloo.” It’s the word from which we get the English word “zeal.” It means to burn with desire or zeal; to pursue; to desire earnestly; to strive after; to busy oneself with.
In other words, it is to be our focus. We are running around pursuing (desiring, busying ourselves with) all kinds of activities and goals and pursuits. When actually, we should be focused on these things: loving others, desiring to do God’s work, wanting to prophesy to those around us. Those should be our goals. And nothing—no loss, no disappointment, no sorrow—can take those goals away from us. Those goals are possible in a castle or in a prison cell, at work or during unemployment, in riches or in poverty. Our circumstances melt away when we strive for the things which God has commanded us to do.
Nothing else matters. Nothing else counts.
Isn’t it about time we focused on those things which have eternal value?
Paul talks about three things here. And I believe that he gives a sort of spiritual hierarchy. In other words, the words are ordered in a specific way for a specific reason. One follows the other; the first is most important and the others naturally flow from it.
• Make love your aim
• Earnestly desire the spiritual gifts
• Especially that you may prophesy
I think this is so important. The pentecostal/charismatic church of today is focused on the gifts of the Spirits. We want all the miracles, all the power, all the supernatural that we can have from God. And yet, I think that often it is power without love. And power without love is deadly. It is damaging. Because power, sought for itself, ends up becoming self-centered. We want power for us. We want prosperity for us. We want success for us.
How many prosperity preachers do you hear who teach that we should pray for blessings for our enemies? That we should ask God to give success and finances and health to those who hate us? How many are praying that for the Saddam Husseins and Hugo Chavezes of the world? And yet, this is exactly what the Lord Jesus commanded us to do:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (Matthew 5:43-47 RSV)
Paul expands on this topic even more:
“No, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head’” (Romans 12:20 RSV).
If we make love our aim, then our first impulse will be to want to heap blessings upon, not only those around us, but even our enemies. We will want the best for everyone else, trusting God to take care of us.
This is a struggle because our natural selves tell us to promote us! We want to get the blessings for ourselves and our family. But this isn’t the Christian way. Our way is to make ourselves less so that others might prosper, so that others might be blessed. Our way is to place others ahead of ourselves so that they might be successful, they might receive blessings, they might have good health and much wealth. Being a Christian isn’t about getting as much as I can for myself. It’s about making sure that others have what they need (and want) and trusting God to take care of me. It’s about having the kind of eternal perspective that naturally flows out of loving others.
And it’s only after we do this that we can then desire spiritual gifts. Because spiritual gifts without love are a time bomb waiting to go off, a bomb that will bring not blessings, but destruction everywhere. Spiritual gifts only honor God and bless us when they are operated within love. Outside of that they are simply a way to manipulate and get all we can for ourselves. Not a pretty picture for a Christian.
But Paul is even more defining here. He tells us to seek the spiritual gift of prophesy more than any other gift. More than prosperity. More than healing. More than miracles. Why? Because prophesying is that ability to tell forth God’s word to both the saved and unsaved. Because prophesying brings spiritual healing through the Word.
The Word of God is paramount. Nothing else really matters; nothing else will really last.
And even those denominations and churches which deny women the opportunity to pastor will admit that women in the Bible were fully empowered to prophesy! In other words, this isn’t something we can be denied. We can prophesy . . . and we should.
The Greek word translated here “earnestly desire” is a very strong word. “Zeloo.” It’s the word from which we get the English word “zeal.” It means to burn with desire or zeal; to pursue; to desire earnestly; to strive after; to busy oneself with.
In other words, it is to be our focus. We are running around pursuing (desiring, busying ourselves with) all kinds of activities and goals and pursuits. When actually, we should be focused on these things: loving others, desiring to do God’s work, wanting to prophesy to those around us. Those should be our goals. And nothing—no loss, no disappointment, no sorrow—can take those goals away from us. Those goals are possible in a castle or in a prison cell, at work or during unemployment, in riches or in poverty. Our circumstances melt away when we strive for the things which God has commanded us to do.
Nothing else matters. Nothing else counts.
Isn’t it about time we focused on those things which have eternal value?
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” RSV
I think that, sometimes, living in a so-called Christian country is more difficult than living in a country, in a society that is openly adverse to God. For we come to expect that things will go our way, and that the way that things go is the Christian way. We become lazy in our efforts to walk the walk and talk the talk, believing that as goes our country, so goes Christianity.
But I think it goes deeper than that.
I think that it is easy to become discouraged living the Christian life when one lives in a “Christian” country. Because we set ourselves up with our own expectations. We believe that our country should reflect our own morals. And when it doesn’t, we are more willing to lower those morals than to buck the flow.
However, scripture tells us that there is no Christian country, no Christian society, no way of the majority to heaven. Christianity is a hard way, a narrow way, but more importantly, a way followed by the few. We should expect as Christians to find that our lives (1) are difficult, (2) are apart from the norm of our society, and (3) are going to be different than most around us.
In other words, the Christian walk is a lonely one. It isn’t something that’s necessarily going to be morally enhanced by the society around us. Rather, we should walk, always suspicious of that which appears Christian unless we know that it comes directly from the Spirit.
There is a true account in scripture about a young man who lived an extremely moral life:
“ . . . a man ran up and knelt before [Jesus], and asked Him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he (the young man) said to Him, ‘Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth.’”
Notice that this man had observed all the commandments from his youth. He was a good person. He followed the moral precepts of his society and his religion. Compared to those around him, he was an extremely moral person. And yet, Jesus responds to him this way:
“And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing . . .’”(Mark 10:17b-21a RSV).
The fact is, as Christians, it is easy for us to “lack one thing.” Particularly if we look to our family, to our church, to our neighbors, to our society to guide us. The way of the Christian isn’t the way of the majority. It is the way of the narrow path, the way of the few. And more than that, because of the constraints upon us to live humbly, to live simply, to live as servants, it is also the way of the mostly-invisible. We should not be those that thrust ourselves upon the world’s stage crying, “Look at me! Look at me!” Rather, we should be those few who are in the sidelines, quietly ministering to those around us, deliberately refusing to speak out for our own needs, but rather trusting the Father while we pour ourselves out for His sake.
The gate is narrow. The way is hard. Few find it. But the promise is . . . it leads to life! And that should be all that matters.
I think that, sometimes, living in a so-called Christian country is more difficult than living in a country, in a society that is openly adverse to God. For we come to expect that things will go our way, and that the way that things go is the Christian way. We become lazy in our efforts to walk the walk and talk the talk, believing that as goes our country, so goes Christianity.
But I think it goes deeper than that.
I think that it is easy to become discouraged living the Christian life when one lives in a “Christian” country. Because we set ourselves up with our own expectations. We believe that our country should reflect our own morals. And when it doesn’t, we are more willing to lower those morals than to buck the flow.
However, scripture tells us that there is no Christian country, no Christian society, no way of the majority to heaven. Christianity is a hard way, a narrow way, but more importantly, a way followed by the few. We should expect as Christians to find that our lives (1) are difficult, (2) are apart from the norm of our society, and (3) are going to be different than most around us.
In other words, the Christian walk is a lonely one. It isn’t something that’s necessarily going to be morally enhanced by the society around us. Rather, we should walk, always suspicious of that which appears Christian unless we know that it comes directly from the Spirit.
There is a true account in scripture about a young man who lived an extremely moral life:
“ . . . a man ran up and knelt before [Jesus], and asked Him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he (the young man) said to Him, ‘Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth.’”
Notice that this man had observed all the commandments from his youth. He was a good person. He followed the moral precepts of his society and his religion. Compared to those around him, he was an extremely moral person. And yet, Jesus responds to him this way:
“And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing . . .’”(Mark 10:17b-21a RSV).
The fact is, as Christians, it is easy for us to “lack one thing.” Particularly if we look to our family, to our church, to our neighbors, to our society to guide us. The way of the Christian isn’t the way of the majority. It is the way of the narrow path, the way of the few. And more than that, because of the constraints upon us to live humbly, to live simply, to live as servants, it is also the way of the mostly-invisible. We should not be those that thrust ourselves upon the world’s stage crying, “Look at me! Look at me!” Rather, we should be those few who are in the sidelines, quietly ministering to those around us, deliberately refusing to speak out for our own needs, but rather trusting the Father while we pour ourselves out for His sake.
The gate is narrow. The way is hard. Few find it. But the promise is . . . it leads to life! And that should be all that matters.
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