Unions

I had an interesting discussion on another board concerning Unions. I tried to piece it together into a cohesive article. I have a couple of observations before getting into it.

He Left the Linen Cloth And Ran Away Naked – Mark 14:51-52

This is based on an article I read recently called The Naked Runaway and the Enrobed Reporter of Mark 14 and 16, in the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (vol 54 no 3 pp 527-545) by Abraham Kuruvilla, an Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary. What I like about it is Mark 14:51-52 is an obscure passage which I have often scratched my head over, but this article takes the text for what it says, steps back from the speculation and finds meaning and purpose for the story based on literary and exegetical considerations in the text.

Abraham Married His Sister? Ewww!

The following blog was motivated in part by an exchange I had on an online board. It got me thinking about the Doctrines of Revelation and The Scriptures.

Ewww!

Eww!

These statements got me thinking. I think they are proof of the wisdom of the common Protestant attitude towards Tradition. These statements were made in response to the biblical statement that Abraham’s wife, Sarah, was also his half-sister and were followed by the denial of the statement because Tradition says there is a better – more moral – story. Ultimately, it is the anachronistic imposing of later-century morés into a millennia-old story, as if saying “eww” grants one the authority to change the story. At issue is the concept of Revelation.

Flesh vs Faith: God Tested Abraham

[Abraham] considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead(Hebrews 11:19)

We have come to the BIG event in Abraham’s life. It is the high point to which his life of faith carried him. Of course, it’s not quite as easy as the clichés make it sound. Biblically, this is the big one and through the centuries people heap praise on this event. But practically, the specific example is not one we would support anyone following. Were a Pastor to preach on this incident, and one of his listeners say “I have been greatly inspired by your sermon. This afternoon, Junior and I are going off to worship and later we will return.” The pastor would do everything in his power to dissuade the man. In fact, the intervention would be quite intense and final. If the guy could not be dissuaded, junior would not be allowed to go with him.

Flesh vs Faith: Shall Not The Judge Do Right? Genesis 18:16-33

I have been looking at the life of Abraham in a series I titled Flesh Vs Faith. In the NT, Abraham is called the friend of God (James 2:23) and the man of faith (Galatians 3:9) and is presented as our example of faith. Surprisingly, many approach Abraham’s life as an example of what not to do.

Sermon on the Mount: The Obedience of the Righteous Part 2 Matthew 5:27-32

We are in the section of the Sermon which I titled Righteousness Affects Your Obedience. It comes between two statements by Jesus which act together to show the unity of this section. The first is, For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20) and the second, You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48) Righteousness – true righteousness – is beyond what the religious leaders of Jesus’ day taught and practiced, it is the very perfection of God.

A Couple of Music Videos

I do not normally do this but I saw a couple of music videos by Johnny Cash I thought were outstanding.

This one is Cash doing a Nine Inch Nails song called Hurt. Very striking images. I’ve not heard the original but the 70 year-old Cash who has felt and caused hurt in his life, does the song with the hope and offer of redemption.

This second one is called God’s Gonna Cut You Down. I have had this on my Mp3 for a couple of years. It is also currently being used in a Jeep commercial. What is striking is the HUGE cast of people who are in this video, including Dennis Hopper, Keith Richards, Bono, Woody Harrelson and Iggy Pop.

The Great Commission

A commission is an act of giving powers and authority to perform a specific duty. If a leader or leading group wishes that some task be accomplished, they assign the task to a person or group and also grant that they will have what they need to accomplish their commission.

In Matthew 28 there is a story of just such an assignment. Looking at it, we see it can be broken down into the essential parts of a commission.

Sermon on the Mount: The Obedience of the Righteous Matthew 5:21-26

We are in the section of the Sermon which I titled Righteousness Affects Your Obedience. One reason that I like that title is many think that obedience precedes, or causes, righteousness while the biblical approach has righteousness first and this is the first cause which affects behavior.

Lest, Perhaps, Paul had Run in Vain

And I went up by revelation; and I laid before them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately before them who were of repute, lest by any means I should be running, or had run, in vain. (Galatians 2:2 RV)

I’ve been thinking of this verse in Galatians. Paul is recounting the events of Acts 15 when he and Barnabas went to Jerusalem to confer about the issue of circumcision. Some were teaching that Gentiles must be circumcised – they must become Jews – to be saved. Paul opposed this teaching.

This event comes up frequently in certain circles as the First Church Council and this verse in particular is used to say that Paul had uncertainty concerning what he preached and that he was submitting what he preached to the Church leaders for their affirmation or for their correction. According to this take, Paul was unsure if what he taught was accurate and had the leaders ruled that Gentiles must be circumcised, it is assumed, Paul would have had to admit he had run (taught) in vain and changed his teachings in submission to the leaders. I suggest, rather, that this phrasing means something quite else.