02 March 2006
We just had our Bible Study kickoff for the year. We have a solid group of trainee ninjas (that's N-I-N-J-A for Ben) ready to react to every stone thrown in our pond from the hands of the maker.
I'm keen to study some Acts or minor prophets or Holy Spirit topical, but we'll see next week.
Anyways, to make this post worthwhile (and indeed, the reason I thought of blogging about this, seemingly non-descript event) I thought I'd mention a revelation we had as a group.
Actually, it was more Team Chris doing the revealing.
Colossians 3: 12 - 17 says this:
12Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Notice verse 16 states that one of the ways that God wants His people to let the word of Christ dwell in them is for them to sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness from the inner being. Team Chris suggested that perhaps we should be singing in Bible study...?
I was surprised that I had never thought of doing so from this passage - perhaps it's my cultural bias. I have had several Christians brothers and sisters over the years that went to churches where small groups were called cell groups instead, and these usually involved singing - someone would take a guitar along and that would do nicely. But the typical reaction to such things from my evangelical friends was 'that sounds dodgy' or 'that sounds too charismatic'. Once again, it seems that evos have given up a Biblical activity or expression due to our reactionary tendencies. It brings me great sadness...
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Author: Martyn » Comments:
Jesus the Terrorist
01 March 2006
I think Jesus is a terrorist.
And I think we've all been fooled into thinking otherwise.
I've often wondered - if Jesus rocked up to an airport, whould they let him on a plane? Given that he was of Middle-Eastern appearance, and taught radically unpopular teaching, would he be marked as someone for ASIO to keep an eye on?
But this isn't what I mean when I say that Jesus is a terrorist.
Over and over again, in the teachings of Jesus and the early disciples,
it is made very clear that Jesus comes to bring terror to those who follow him.
Take Luke 12:49-53 for example:
49"I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! 51Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
Or, better still, John 15: 18 - 25
18"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin,[c] but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: 'They hated me without a cause.'
If I recall, Jesus was that guy unjustly tried, spat upon and then nailed to some planks of wood
and left to die by suffocating in his own bodily fluids. Despite the fact that everyone seems to think that Jesus is a "nice guy", nobody seems to like what he says.
And he says that if you follow him, then people will not be too keen on you either.
This isn't something new that I've only just heard for the first time - I have heard it countless times. But it's only ever been a concept floating in the ether for me. I pray that it would go deeper, into my psyche, into my inner being.
So much for the pansy, hippy, Dr. Phil* Jesus...
Until next time, stay classy,
Martyman
*Although, I must confess, I think Dr. Phil is cool =)
Author: Martyn » Comments:
