Shalom Aleichem...
Reflections is a weekly Christian Teaching Ministry. Each week we will talk about the Bible and lessons we can put to use in our daily life. We will try to, on a weekly basis, provide to you stories, thoughts, and just easy ways to live your life on a straight path.
THIS WEEK'S TEACHING....July 27, 2020
This is the second in the series about what a Mighty God we serve.
The reality that not everyone believes in Christ challenges Christians to reaffirm our belief in the Bible as God's Holy Word and the standard by which we are to conduct our lives.
Among my first ministries in my walk was Vacation Bible School - my first opportunity to introduce children to the Bible.
Each morning at VBS, we began by pledging allegiance to the Bible: “I pledge allegiance to the Bible, God’s Holy Word, and will make it a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path, and will hide its words in my heart that I may not sin against God”.
My appreciation of the Word has grown steadily through years of Bible study, having begun as a layman to study the Bible daily and then, as a seminary student, to begin to grasp the meaning of God's Story of Redemption from Genesis to Revelation.
The thrill associated with training Bible teachers - patterned after the example of Jesus the Teacher- has been exceeded only by the thrill of teaching, preaching and sharing the Word in season and out of season as opportunities have arisen.
Today I reaffirm my belief in The Bible as God's Holy Word!
The Apostle John's stated reason for writing the Gospel According to John indeed ought to be the reason why any of us would study the Word ... teach the Word ... preach the Word ... share the Word with anyone willing to listen and respond to it:
"These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, you may have life in His Name" (John 20:31). Amen.
Long before John stated the essence of God's Story of Redemption, the earliest written record of God's revelation of Himself (the Pentateuch by Moses) had already taken hold of the hearts and minds of God's people for learning about God as Father, Sustainer and Redeemer ... praising Him ... coming into a right relationship with Him.
I will say this before going on much farther....Knowledge of Scriptural Truth is one thing...A personal relationship with the Author of the Bible is quite another. Talking the talk and walking the walk is something quite different!! We may have the knowledge of what the Bible says, however, putting it into practice is something very difficult at times.
Jesus called attention to the fallacy of placing the scroll itself and one's memorization of its words above one's relationship to God: "You pore over the Scriptures because you think you possess eternal life in them, and yet they testify about Me. You are not willing to come to Me so that you may have life" (John 5:39-40).
Though David, at the time, did not know Jesus as a historical person, he knew the Lord God the Father of Jesus personally because the LORD had been at work in David's life since he was a young lad tending sheep for his earthly father.
David knew from personal experience God's revelation of Himself as his Shepherd ...
God’s revelation of Himself in Creation ...God' s revelation of Himself as recorded by Moses on parchment paper rolled into a Scroll.
David had been blessed with a unique ability to put into poetic verse divinely inspired praises and prayers for enhancing the worship of God b-y His people as they sought "to know God and to do His Will".
David praised the Glory of God in Creation, the Gift of God in Revelation and the Grace of God in Sanctification- Psalm 19:1-14 ...
David shifted from praising God who reveals Himself in creation to praising God for revealing Himself in His Word. It's as if David thought, "Creation tells us a lot about God but His Word tells us much more”. His Word reveals His Will!
Any way we look at the Holy Bible as did David - instruction, testimony, precepts, command, fear of the Lord, ordinances-God's Word reveals God's Will for a good reason:
His Word is perfect, as is God Himself. Remember Jesus saying:
“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48).
God’s Word is perfect as God is perfect and, therefore is trustworthy . . . right . . . pure . . . reliable. His Word is as God is: altogether righteous.
Two undeniable facts give credence to the righteousness of God's Word: (1) His Word has stood the test of time, (2) His Word continues to change lives.
Try as one might to rewrite the Bible, or redefine it, or relegate it to the past - claiming that it has no relevance in the present - all such attempts fail due to the Bible's proven function as the perfect tool God uses to save sinful souls, and to shape the saved into good, acceptable, perfect vessels fit for residence and subservience in the kingdom of God.
What a Gift is God’s Revelation of Himself to Humanity! How blessed we are to have as THE guide for our faith and practice THE Book, comprised of sixty-six separate but connected books inspired by God as holy men of God spoke for God -- "carried along by the Holy Spirt”.. (2 Peter 1:20-21).
David "a man after God's own heart" had a close relationship with God and had no doubts about Who God is. So, when the time came to put into writing a Divinely-inspired description of the Word of God, he did not hesitate to ascribe to God’s Word those characteristics he had already ascribed to God Himself:
God is creation's absolute sovereign - no flaws, and possesses all qualities that could be desired by deity or humanity. Perfect! So is His Word.
God makes promises to His people and always has been faithful in keeping those promises. Perfectly trustworthy! So is His Word.
God has been right from the beginning and is always right about every aspect of right versus wrong. He is Perfectly right! So is His Word.
God has a transforming effect on those who seek to know Him and do His Will – as was the case with Moses who beheld the glory of God on the mountain and came down with a countenance that glowed. Perfectly radiant! So is His Word.
God is as pure as pure can be - not contaminated by impurities or immoral tendencies. Perfectly pure!
So is His Word - which when heeded, brightens a life depressed by dire circumstances. Brighten the corner where you are! What joy words of comfort bring to our hearts just when we need them most!
And the reason we rejoice even though days may be dreary and nights may be long is our confidence in His presence and our certainty of His promises. God's Word is as perfectly sure as God Himself!
Altogether, these characteristics of God in whom we trust and of His Word which reveals His Will to us, add up to Perfect righteousness which God Himself is - and which He desires of His people - individuals, congregations, a nation.
God has shown the world in His Creation and in His Word the right way to live ... relate to Him ... relate to others . . . right thing to do in any situation .
Nothing is more valuable than knowing the Lord, being in harmony with the Lord, doing the Lord's Will as revealed in His Word. Amen??
May God our Creator, Father and Redeemer be precious to me and thee! May the perfect Word of our perfect God be precious to me and thee!
Thus: May David's prayer in Psalms 19, for purification {v. 12) be mine ... prayer for prevention {v. 13} be mine ... prayer for perfection {v. 14) be mine ... Amen!
Heavy is the burden we bear when someone speaks of us as their “rock" - for in our old age, the meaning has become vivid and therefore almost more than one so designated can bear.
When someone thinks of me as their "rock'', they are then directed by me to look beyond this mortal human being to the One who is indeed The Rock- and, as we join together in casting our burdens on Him, my mere mortality fades out of sight in the light of His glory and grace! That's the way it should and must be!
On Christ the Solid Rock we stand not only because He is indeed our Rock¬ - the one who gives us strength to carry on when circumstances overwhelm us - but, first and foremost, He is our Redeemer!
DID YOU EVER WONDER???
A Stranger Passed By...
I do not know who wrote this but it is a poem I learned a long time ago and has always stuck with me as a wonderful way to look at family...
I ran into a stranger as he passed by, "Oh, excuse me Please" was my reply.
He said, "Please excuse me too; Wasn't even watching for you."
We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way and we said good-bye.
But at home a different story is told,
How we treat our loved ones, young and old.
Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
My daughter stood beside me very still.
When I turned, I nearly knocked her down.
"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.
She walked away, her little heart was broken. I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.
While I lay awake in bed,
God's still small voice came to me and said,
"While dealing with a stranger, common courtesy you use,
But the children you love, you seem to abuse.
Look on the kitchen floor,
You'll find some flowers there by the door.
Those are the flowers she brought for you.
She picked them herself: pink, yellow and blue.
She stood quietly not to spoil the surprise, and you never saw the tears in her eyes."
By this time, I felt very small, and now my tears began to fall.
I quietly went and knelt by her bed;
"Wake up, little girl, wake up," I said.
"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"
She smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.
I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.
I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."
I said, "Daughter, I'm sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."
She said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay. I love you anyway."
I said, "Daughter, I love you too, and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."
Are you aware that: If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could
easily replace us in a matter of days. But the family we left behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than to our family --an unwise investment indeed.
So what is behind the story?
You know what is the full word of family?
FAMILY= (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER, (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU!
Isn't that neat? Fill life with love and bravery and we shall live a life uncommon.
BOOKS OF THE BIBLE...A TEACHING
This is the next lesson on the religions of the world....
Roman Catholic
The first Christians had little organizational structure. Although local churches all around the Mediterranean world were in contact and even cooperated in activities (like sending support to Paul’s missionary team or providing financial assistance to the Jerusalem church during a famine), there was no central human authority.
The apostles were a chosen group who established new churches and provided special guidance during the New Testament era. These men, primarily Peter and James in Jerusalem, and Paul, the church planter, were looked to for wisdom and advice on matters of doctrine and practice (e.g., see Acts 15 or Paul’s epistles—letters written to many of the local churches). However, the local assembly of believers in each city believed they drew their authority directly from Jesus Christ, led by the Scriptures and his Holy Spirit.
The New Testament describes three types of church leaders, always in connection with a given congregation. The first have traditionally been called bishops. The literal translation of the Greek word is “overseer,” which clearly describes their role. The second, elders, were responsible for teaching, leading, and spiritual care. Deacons primarily provided material care for the congregation, though their qualifications were similar to elders and many, like Stephen, the first Christian martyr, were gifted preachers and teachers (see Acts 6). It seems likely there were also deaconesses. While their exact title is not certain, Paul mentions by name a number of women who served in a ministry capacity.
This decentralized leadership aided the church’s survival through the waves of persecution it faced during its first three centuries. By the time the last of the apostles died (c. ad 90), each city where believers gathered had a bishop or overseer. Church buildings weren’t common for several centuries; groups of believers met in homes, usually with an elder present, while large, corporate gatherings were held outside or in rented facilities.
Many bishops, especially in the larger cities, were gifted theologians, speakers, and writers—two of the better known are Athanasius and Augustine, both from North Africa. The writings of these and other influential bishops were circulated as the church refined ways of stating New Testament truths in doctrinal statements and dealt with questions and controversies that came up over the years in specific contexts.
Persecution during the first three centuries was sporadic and sometimes localized. Begun initially by Jewish leaders, after Jerusalem’s fall (ad 70), the Romans became the persecutors. The most severe and widespread wave came under Emperor Diocletian (ruled ad 284–305). His successor, Constantine, abruptly reversed policy (through the Edict of Milan, ad 313) and granted Christianity legal status equal to all other religions in the empire.
Constantine took two other actions that significantly shaped Christianity. In 325, he called the Council of Nicaea, to be held in present-day Turkey, inviting 1,800 bishops from all over the empire to discuss and settle questions regarding the nature of Christ. Several hundred were able to attend, and they produced the Nicene Creed, still used in some worship services today.
Then in 330, Constantine moved his political capital from Rome to Byzantium, which was renamed Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey). In the western part of the empire, the church filled the political vacuum. The bishop in Rome already held great prestige and influence over the rest of the church, and although the New Testament doesn’t mention it, there’s a church tradition that says the apostle Peter traveled there and became its first bishop.
This influence, increasing significantly after 330, also brought increased conflict with Christianity’s eastern branch, which resisted the Roman bishop’s claim to lead all Christians. Geography, politics, and theological differences all led to a gradual and often acrimonious separation that became complete in 1204, when Crusaders from the west, en route to the Holy Land, attacked and looted Constantinople.
Within a century, the Christian church went from persecuted minority to appointing emperors and running political systems. After the Empire’s collapse, the church became the unifying force in Europe. But with more political influence came declining spiritual fervor. In response, monastic orders were formed by those who wanted to focus on the spiritual aspects of Christianity. Yet the monks did not simply withdraw from society. They taught the people in their areas, maintained centers of learning, and sent missionaries to other parts of the world.
Early in the Middle Ages (roughly ad 500–1500), the bishop of Rome became the recognized head of the Western church and was called the pope. He claimed authority over all Christians, and thus the church came to be called the Catholic Church, meaning “all-embracing” or universal. It was not until the Reformation, when some Christian groups broke away from the pope’s authority, that Roman Catholic came to describe the section of the church that recognized papal leadership. Today, Christianity is described as having three major branches: Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox.
The Reformation produced an often violent reaction (the Counter-Reformation) from the Catholic Church but also brought some positive changes. Over time, the pope’s amassing of power and wealth had led to corruption and other outrages. The Council of Trent (1545) was an effort to stem the tide of Christians leaving the Catholic Church to join the Reformers.
The sale of indulgences and other abuses were restrained, but certain doctrines were formulated to specifically “counter” Reformation beliefs and establish the claim to be the only true and legitimate form of Christianity. Opposing Protestant trust in the Bible’s sole authority, the Council stated that church tradition carried equal weight. Protestants promoted translating the Bible into common languages and providing it to all believers (with help from the recently invented printing press); the Council maintained that the Latin Bible was the only true Scripture, and only the Catholic Church could interpret it.
Although some new dogmas (official statements of belief) were added over the centuries, the doctrines established by Trent defined Roman Catholic Christianity until the middle of the twentieth century. The First Vatican Council (Vatican I, 1869) had added the dogma of papal infallibility: that the pope’s official pronouncements (ex cathedra) are without error. In 1962, Pope John XXIII called the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II), which met until 1965, and wrought momentous change. Best known for replacing Latin with vernacular languages in the mass, it also recognized Protestant and Orthodox believers as true Christians and allowed ordinary members to read the Bible for themselves. Today, the Roman Catholic Church, with 1.1 billion members globally, remains the largest Christian branch.
The organizational structure of the Roman Catholic Church is often used as a model in business management courses because of its “flatness,” that is, minimal layers from top to bottom. With more than a billion members, there are only six layers from pope to ordinary member (layperson). In between are the offices of cardinal, archbishop, bishop, and priest.
HAVE A SAFE AND BLESSED WEEK:)
Ho'omaikaʻi ka Pua iā kākou