Fun

     On Memorial Day, it was 50 degrees and raining.... Robin broke her toe on Saturday night, and can only hobble. So, what do we do to celebrate a day off with all the kids home? Well, a few months ago, I saw some tickets for the African Safari on sale for $6 each. I got them for such a day.
     We slowly make our way to the Safari, stopping for lunch at Taco Bell and a walk (Robin hobbled) around Menards. That place is amazing! Where else can you get building supplies, clothes, pet food, greeting cards, and fireworks?
     Anyway, the Safari wasn't crowded. We drove through noticing that the AFRICAN animals included such things as Bison, Longhorns, Elk, Reindeer and Pigs. Ok, not so African after all.
     After walking around and letting the youngest ride a camel, we decided to go through the Safari again. But this time, the Bison and Longhorns were hungry. They were coming to the car wanting food. Well.... they just weren't coming up to the car, they were coming IN THE CAR. Here is a pic of a Bison trying to give my son a kiss!

     This was a reminder to me how blessed I am. Thank God for the chance to have some fun. What a Fun Day!!!!

 

 

A "Not So New" View of the Bible - Divine Accommodation

I have been reading the Scriptures for almost all my life. I have an undergraduate degree in Bible, and a Masters Degree in New Testament. I have read literally hundreds of books. And TODAY, I read a concept that has been around for literally hundreds of years... and I didn't know it!

The concept is called, "Divine Accommodation." 

Have you ever tried to communicate with a two year old? You can speak words to them, but to really be heard, you have to simplify your language and talk on their level. For example, you would never tell a two year old that they need to "identify the options, isolate their suggestions and follow through on their decisions." Instead, you would encourage them to pick a crayon and color.

When God chose to communicate with humans, his ultimate communication was found in the person of Jesus. Jesus came down to our level and communicated with us. That means that God, who is 'all present' limited himself to a singular location. That means that the One who has no needs became dependent on air, food, water, sleep, etc...

The next level of communication is through the Scriptures. So, if we recognize that God's ultimate communication was limited when He revealed Himself in Jesus, why would we want to deny limitations in the secondary communication... the Bible.

A couple of quotes:
     "By the very way God gave us this word, he locked in the ambiguity." (Gordon Fee)
     "In the process of divine inspiration, God did not correct every incomplete or mistaken viewpoint of the biblical authors in order to communicate through them." (Christian Smith, The Bible Made Impossible)

A lot of church fathers held this view: Origen, Justin, Athanasius, John Chrysostom, Augustine, Calvin.

Sure, the authors of Scripture were "carried by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). But that doesn't mean that they gave up their own limited understandings when recording the "words of God." They accomplished God's purposes without surrendering their own minds.
   
One final thought: If we take Scripture for what it is... God choosing to speak to us on our level, we shouldn't be upset when we read things that "contradict" or offend our senses. God could have chosen to reveal himself in any fashion, but he chose to use the words of Scripture. Sometimes these words confound those who really read them (should women prophesy or be quiet in the church). God is not distraught at this "confusion." He CHOSE to reveal himself in this way.... maybe so we would focus on the ultimate revelation in Jesus!

Is Jesus = God?

     There is a subject that has intrigued me for years.... Does the Bible Claim Jesus is God?

     This morning, I was reading 1 John 5:20 from the Greek. That previous statement doesn't mean I am smart, just disciplined. There are two practices that I try to do each day (1) Read a short passage from the Greek and (2) Read at least 5 pages from a book. By doing those two practices, I have read hundreds of books and about half of the NT from the Greek.

    Now back to 1 John 5:20. The NIV says, "He is the true God and eternal life." 

    Since I wasn't reading the from the English, I didn't breeze past that statement, but actually noticed what I read. The passage is clearly talking about JESUS CHRIST. In the Greek construction, there is no doubt that Jesus is being called God. So, John literally calls Jesus God.

     There is another clear example that John thought Jesus = God is found in John 1. In verse 1, John says that "the word was God" and then in verse 14, we are informed that "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son." So, if the Word was God and became the Son...I guess John is saying that Jesus = God.

     One more passage. In John 8, Jesus is in a debate with some Jews when he tossed out that "Abraham was glad to meet him (Jesus)." The smart people picked up on this and said, "you aren't even fifty, and you have seen Abraham."  Jesus reply says a lot... "Before Abraham was born, I AM." Now, every good Jewish boy understood that Jesus was calling himself the "I AM." (see Exodus 3:14).

     So, you ask, why does all this matter? Well, the common statement about Jesus is that "he was a good teacher." The problem is... If you are saying Jesus is just a "good teacher," you are missing the whole message about who He is and what His death on the cross really means.