viewoutsidethepew

Why do people reject God and deny the work of The Spirit? One answer is found in the parable of the three servants in Matthew 24:14-30.

The key passage for this observation is:

“Then the one who received two thousand dollars came and said, ‘Sir, I knew that you are a hard person to please. You harvest where you haven’t planted and gather where you haven’t scattered any seeds. I was afraid. So I hid your two thousand dollars in the ground. Here’s your money!‘” (Matthew 25:24-25 God’s Word©).

The useless servant (verse 30) was afraid and accused the Boss of taking credit for, and hoarding, all the benefit of the work “done by others”.

But wait just a minute!

The Boss gave the servants all the money (all the resources) for the venture. The servants had no personal finances to invest in the enterprise. The servants simply had opportunity to multiply the estate of the Boss (of which they were a part!).

The Boss praised the work of the two servants who did that and rewarded them handsomely (verses 21 and 23). The useless servant slandered the Boss (verses 24-25).

People want the credit and praise for what God does! And if they can’t get the honour and authority they seek, then they will not only do nothing for, but will even become enemy of, the Boss, even though Jesus paid the entire cost to deliver every human from selfish egotism, replacing that with a profound respect for The Creator and everyone created.

In other words, no rigorous activity, no intellectual achievement, no religious ceremony, no adventurous quest, nor membership in any group, race, gender, political party or system can add anything to what Jesus paid on the cross. A response of, “I accept”, to what Jesus Christ did opens the door to an eternity of revelling in all the goodness in the universe. Solitary satisfaction becomes living for the benefit of the whole human race, which brings unity and community rather than division and derision.

Those who cling tenaciously to their superiority over others will only know the eternal loneliness of having nothing more than self.

So, are you multiplying grace (God’s gifts and resources) with an eye to eternity, or are you mired in fear that your ego will not get what it craves (to the detriment of others) in this life?

There’s something about spiders that I do not understand.

At several places around our house webs appear everyday, no matter how often we walk through them or deliberately remove them. Why don’t they give up after a week or so?

But that’s not what I’m wondering about. Some webs stretch across a gap of over two meters (over six feet for those non-metric folk).

That’s what I don’t understand. How do they know that across a vast space is another pillar or hedge or bush on which they can anchor the opposite side of their web?

Do they have super-eyesight? Do they just wander aimlessly until they find a place to hook on and then remember it once they find it?

The other thing is, how does such a tiny creature produce that much webbing, over and over?

“For we live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7 God’s Word Translation©).

The married couple of Mr. and Mrs. Priscilla and Aquila are one of many examples of the early Church teaching and living the Gospel. Not only were they witnesses to the Good News about the Saviour, Jesus Christ, but together this duo trained Barnabas who then went out into his field of service and mission.

Aquila and Priscilla were considered equal. Of the 6 times they are mentioned, 3 times Aquila is named first and 3 times Priscilla is named first. Rooted in contemporary culture too many male leaders claim women (in general) cannot teach. But Paul writes that “there is neither male nor female” (Galatians 3:28), and Paul mentions many women leaders of the Church.

So what does 1 Timothy 2:12 mean, “I don’t allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man. Instead, she should be quiet” (God’s Word Translation©)? Much can be said, but I refer only to the fact that verses 8-10 are plural, and since verses 11-12 use the singular (“woman” and “man”) it is not an issue of gender, but about wife and husband. A wife should not teach her husband, or usurp (interfere with, or interrupt, her teaching husband) during a gathering of believers. This is consistent with Jesus teaching that no believer should “have absolute power over people” (Mark 10:42 God’s Word Translation©). It also is consistent with Jesus teaching that if you have an issue with someone you first speak to them face-to-face privately, not in public (Matthew 18:15)! This shows how we must carefully consider the whole Bible, and not pick out one verse to give it a meaning which is contrary to the rest of Scripture because we can make it suit our own likes and wishes.

People also underestimate the incredible influence and pressure of society and culture and tradition on us, for human cultures treat people in categories (gender, race, economic status, age, etc.). God sees us as unique persons. The Bible declares, “There are neither Jews nor Greeks, slaves nor free people, males nor females. You are all the same in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28 God’s Word Translation©). This prohibits racism. James strongly teaches against showing favouritism to the rich (James 2:1-5). Paul clearly cannot be teaching sexism, then.

We must not let culture or tradition shape our faith. Many are the warning signs against giving up spiritual discernment for the easier route of peer pressure or religious domination. Instead,
always to submit to Scripture even if it makes you uncomfortable or demands you must give up a pet belief or cultural practice. “Ezra was determined to study the Lord’s Teachings, live by them, and teach their rules and regulations in Israel” (Ezra 7:10 God’s Word Translation©).

Never acquiesce to, or relax in, any theology or institutional doctrine, but, “Do your best to present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker who isn’t ashamed to teach the word of truth correctly” (2 Timothy 2:15 God’s Word Translation©).

***This post is a sister to “Submission” which was published October 7, 2018. I respectfully suggest they could be read together.