MuddyPuddles

It is truly amazing to me how vastly differently well meaning people can interpret the scriptures.  You can find people justifying almost anything with the Bible.  You can find others condemning almost anything with that same Bible.  I think that to some degree our human nature and our personal experiences seem to cause a prejudice in the way each of us view things---including doctrine. 
When I was in college, I witnessed a couple of the most knowledgeable and loving men I have ever known (Bible professors) as they publicly disagreed on certain doctrinal issues.  In spite of their differences, they were respectful and loving toward one another.  I heard each of them, in a public forum in the presence of the other, good-naturedly say, “I don’t see how such and intelligent man can be so misinformed on such a clear issue.”  And each of them took the jab in the loving spirit in which it was given.  They were role models of unity in diversity as long as they lived.
Because of the nature and ramifications of biblical interpretations, it is most difficult for the more conservative members to accept the more progressive members.  (Even those more conservative members are rejected by those who are even more conservative than them.)  To the conservative way of thinking, accepting progressives is condoning error and error should not be condoned.
To the conservative, progressives don’t interpret the scriptures strictly and correctly.  Instead, they “want their ears tickled”.  Conservatives believe that progressives disregard scriptures rather than apply them.  Without specifically saying so, the impression left is that the more regulated you are in your interpretation, the more accurate you are in your interpretation.  Conversely, the less regulated you are, the less accurate you are.  But I believe this is flawed thinking.
If Jesus taught that you should not be strictly regulated, wouldn’t the most accurate interpretation of scripture coincide with that same teaching?    In Matthew 15:9 (KJV), Jesus said,   “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”   I can assure you that these men of which Jesus speaks, thought they were accurately teaching the words of God because they were even counting out their spices to give a tenth to the Lord. 
Throughout the New Testament, well meaning Pharisees who were strictly interpreting the law felt like those who were not enforcing the strict laws were in error.  But in actuality, it was they, the “strict” interpretationists who were in error.  Interpreting too “strictly” is just as bad as interpreting too “loosely”.  Neither is acceptable if it is done intentionally. 
So it behooves us, I believe, that we focus like a laser, whether conservative or progressive, on God’s word and what he is trying to tell us in that word.  It also behooves us, I believe, in light of the fact that we are just human and that we do make mistakes, that we allow some latitude---a “margin of error” in our brethren.  Because they disagree with us is not good reason, in and of itself, for us to assign improper motives or ignorance or slothfulness or rebellion or error to them.
I hope we can have great discussions on biblical issues in the year ahead.  I hope we can disagree agreeably.  I hope we can each, with open minds, have our knowledge and understanding of the scriptures expanded.  And finally, I hope we can do it in love.
God Bless.  Dennis

In the spirit of the season (Jesus is the reason), this seems like it would be an ideal time to bury any hatchets we have laying around.  You know---its time for some of that "Peace on earth good will toward men"  (I'm not sure what to do with the women---maybe we can have some peace and good will toward them too).  I think it is clear that Outreach church and Park Heights are not going, in the foreseeable future, to be reconciled together as far as actually meeting in one location on a weekly basis is concerned.  We are going to have our two locations and our two different ways to approach a common goal.  Seeing as how that is just the way it is (and will probably be for quite awhile) it just seems best if we could all just accept that as a reality and just agree to disagree.  Then maybe we could let some of that "stinking thinkin" negative blinking between us just mellow out a little bit and actually see each other the way we really are (without exception), frail human beings in need of a savior.  So, in that spirit, I wish to all of my trusty readers and writers and your families and friends, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  May God bless each of you bountifully in the year ahead.  And remember, if you get any new hatchets for Christmas, be sure and bury them too.  Take care.  Dennis   

I’ve been pondering lately about the mindset of “legalists”.  They would consider themselves to be “strict interpretationists.”    They would consider themselves to be “defenders of the faith.”  They would consider themselves to be leaning wholly on the word of God.  On the other side of the coin, they also believe that I have basically abandoned scripture in favor of an “anything goes” mindset.  They would have you believe they have more respect for God’s word than I (as well as those that agree with me) do.  In their way of thinking, strictness and rigidity equals rightness.  In their mindset, grace and freedom equals chaos and slackness.  And yet the scripture is full of references about grace and freedom as the true way---not strictness and rigidity.  Notice the following:

2 Cor. 3:17 (NIV) 
    Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Galatians 2:4 (NIV) 
    This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.

Galatians 5:1 (NIV) 
    It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:13 (NIV) 
    You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Ephes. 3:12 (NIV) 
    In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

James 1:25 (NIV) 
    But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.

James 2:12 (NIV) 
    Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,

1 Peter 2:16 (NIV) 
    Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.

John 1:17 (NIV) 
    For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:14 (NIV) 
    For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
 
Romans 11:5-6 (NIV) 
    So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. [6] And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

1 Cor. 15:10 (NIV) 
    But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

2 Cor. 4:15 (NIV) 
    All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

Galatians 1:6 (NIV) 
    I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—7 which is no gospel at all.   (They were going back to legalism)

Galatians 2:21 (NIV) 
    I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

Galatians 5:4 (NIV) 
    You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

And there are many more scriptures I could post. 
The reality is that if you follow the word completely, you will not be a “legalist”.  If you follow the word completely, you will live in freedom and grace and joy.  Legalism is not the desired direction that is taught in the Bible.  It is the exact opposite of what God teaches.  And yet, the legalists hold fast to that way of thinking.

The good news is that there is hope for the legalists.  Personally, I know several people who used to be legalists (including myself) (see “How I Got From There to Here”, 4/13/07 post) but have gradually seen the light.  They now live in freedom and joy.  Personally, I don’t know of anyone who has gone the other way---and that’s a good thing.

If you are a legalist, I know this post has probably made you mad.  You can rant and rave and think and say all manner of bad things about me if you want.  But before you dismiss what I say, I hope you will put your frustration with me aside and look at those scriptures again.  What if I’m telling you the truth about what God is trying to teach you?  What if you've been wrong about this?  You’ve been wrong before, haven’t you?  Is it more important to stay mad at me or to make sure what you’ve been believing is justifiable in light of the above scriptures. 
Just so you will know, I actually do know that I have a lot to learn (you don't have to tell me).  And, there are many things in the scriptures that I don’t understand.  But I do know that when I believed in legalism I was in error---just like the Pharisees were in error when they believed in legalism.  As I look back at it now, I can’t believe it was so hard for me to see it.  It will be the same way for you.  Set yourself free.  Grace and peace to you.  Dennis    

Last night I watched lesson three of a series on Heaven by Rick Atchley.  Something he said made me think about the concept of how when we get to heaven that God will look into our eyes.  There is something special about someone looking into your eyes.  It made me think of the time I was in Paris, on a potential business venture, just strolling along the crowded sidewalks looking in the store windows, observing all of the hubbub, taking in the atmosphere and watching the people.  There was plenty of street noise with the horns honking and the brakes squealing as cars and vans and buses and delivery trucks started and stopped along the way.  The street venders were out selling their newspapers and hawking their watches and jewelry and hotdogs and candy.  You could hear the sound of footsteps in every direction as people bustled on their way to their various destinations.  Most were bundled up in their long coats with scarves wrapped around their necks to keep the chill out.  Others were waiting patiently at the street corners for the light to change or at the bus stops looking up the street to read the numbers written on the oncoming buses.  The occasional filthy homeless street person was laying up against a building or in an abandoned doorway.  Others, the crippled or blind, were sitting to the side with a hand out or a cup or a hat hoping for a little financial charity.  Steam appeared to come seeping out of many of the vents in the streets where the warm moist air collided with the cool dry air and caused condensation.  The sidewalks were dirty with bits of trash scattered around---much of it handouts from some world cause campaign that had been passed out by some zealous believers and then dropped a few steps later by some of the less than zealous non-believers.  The store windows were pristine with their brightly lit goods prominently displayed.

As I made my way along the path, I decided to cross the street at the next intersection.  It was a busy, six or eight lane, divided street which was packed with cars and people.  I began to cross just as the warning sign was beginning to indicate that the light was about to change so I only made it as far as the center median where I would wait out the cycle.  Along with me on this island was one other man and his wife or girlfriend.  As I glanced over at him, he glanced over at me and our eyes met.  I then realized that he was Peter Strauss, the actor who starred in “Rich Man Poor Man” and several other television mini-series, as well as other shows and movies.  He was an actor that I liked and whose work I admired.  We both quietly nodded and smiled.  He could tell that I recognized him but we said nothing. 

It was a surreal moment because here we were, the three of us, standing on this little island with hundreds (or thousands) of people within shouting distance in the middle of this world class city of millions and he, this famous actor, looked straight into my eyes and I looked straight into his.  And that’s what I thought about when Rick Atchley said that God will look into our eyes. 

Can you imagine how great that is going to be when we sit down face to face with God and when he lovingly looks into our eyes and welcomes us home?  That is going to be such an awesome day.

The last two or three weeks have been kind of heavy weeks for me in some ways.  Though many things are very good and though I feel very blessed, difficult, life sapping things, have kept popping up in the lives of several of the people that I love dearly.  And I keep hearing of decisions and actions of small minded (supposedly Christian) people who are causing harm and distress on others for no good reason.  I’m continually reminded about how this world just doesn’t really work very well and about how Satan is just running rampant in people’s lives.  It just seems to me that the more I know, the more I look forward to sitting down with God and looking into his eyes.  I look forward to the final destruction of Satan’s powers over us.  I look forward to that time of complete joy and peace and contentment.

At the same time, I am comforted even now by just knowing that the heavenly welcome is really coming.  I feel a sense of peace by knowing this present distress is temporary.  Somehow, it makes it a little easier to take this garbage that goes on around me (and in me) when I know that something awesome is waiting at the end.  And somehow it makes it easier to think about helping others now if I can just keep remembering how this is all going to turn out.

I wish for you and for me peace in this troublesome world.  I wish for us joy in our trials.  And I wish for us comfort in our pain.          

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) 

God Bless you this week as you make a difference in the lives of those around you.  Dennis