Tuesday, October 28, 2008

What does it mean to be “Born Again”?

One of the most widely used and popular terms among fundamental or Evangelical Christians is that they have been ‘born again.’ This religious mantra is taken from John 3: 3, where a ruler of the Jews and teacher came to see Jesus at night while He was in Jerusalem and He told him rather emphatically that “Unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God.” This is very unusual because there doesn’t seem to be an intervening event to this unexpected meeting. Even more curious is the rather abrupt, dramatic, and enigmatic statement by Jesus to Nicodemus. There is no parable or explanation that would help anyone to understand His meaning. The importance is underscored by Jesus’ repetition of the phrase and use of the word “must,” which occurs here and again only [??] in Hebrews 11: 6.

In order to help look for clues to solve this puzzle, one must go back again to John 3: 3-7(esp. verse 8), where Jesus mentioned that a person born of the Spirit can disappear and reappear like the wind and is intangible; possibly even passing through solid objects [like Jesus did after His resurrection]. Of course, Jesus may have had a symbolic or spiritual meaning in mind because certainly none of the Apostles and disciples demonstrated this unique ability. Interestingly, only John’s writings contain such deep spiritual principles like describing the scene of the crucifixion where Jesus’ side was pierced and from it came “blood and water”
(19: 34; 7: 37-39; Isaiah 44: 3). Not surprisingly, this same theme (‘water and blood”) is taken up again in I John 5; 6-8.

There are however, a few citations about this phenomenon that should further help our understanding, with the first found in I Peter 1: 22-23: ‘Since you have purified your souls in 1) obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love for the brethren, love one another with a pure heart fervently, 2) having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, 2a) through the word of God, which lives and abides forever. A couple of things have received the notations of 1, 2, and 2a, which are indispensible and need to be kept in mind in conjunction with other following passages in this study.

NOTE: This is the ONLY other place in the Scriptures where the exact words, “born again,” like in John 3: 3-7, are used in this context.

Romans 6: 17
But God be thanked that you were the slaves of sin, yet you 1) obeyed from the heart
2a) that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.

Putting it all together so far leaves the complex question: How does one ‘obey the truth through the Spirit’, and is one ‘born again through the word of God’ by ‘obeying from the heart that form of doctrine’? In Romans 10: 8-10, it says, “But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart
{that is, 2a)} the word of faith which we preach): that 1a) if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For 1) with the heart one believes unto righteousness and
1a) with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

I Corinthians 10: 1-2, 4
Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all of our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, and were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ.

I Corinthians 12: 13
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body; whether Jews or Greeks, whether slave or free; all have been made to drink into one Spirit (Cp. 10: 4;
I Peter 1: 22).

So, the most reasonable evidence and necessary inference declare that to be “born again” has to do with obeying the Spirit as a result of believing in the word of God, whereby one believes in their heart that God raised Jesus from the dead. As a result of this, one confesses with their mouth what their heart believes. This is not the final piece of the puzzle because baptism is the last requirement as evidenced in Acts 8: 32-37; I Corinthians 12: 13 and I Peter 3: 20-21.

There are some Christian denominations who teach that a person must pray “The Sinner’s Prayer,” but no example of this practice is found in the Scriptures. It does mention in John 9: 31, “Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshipper of God and does His will, He will hear him.” The prerequisite, then, is ‘obedience’ not ‘prayer;’ as King Saul found out in I Samuel 15: 22-23a.

As in all things it is prudent to sincerely and carefully reflect upon God’s word. The Apostle Paul writes in II Timothy 2: 15, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
October 27, 2008
pbks@hotmail.com

Saturday, October 25, 2008

"Now is the Time"

The stunning news since September 2008 has shaken peoples’ confidence in the financial markets and in the belief that the government has any solution to an economy that is in a “Recession.” This unprecedented business cycle hasn’t been seen since around 1974 and it appears that the continuing circumstances may turn out to be as dire as the “Great Depression” of 1929. In fact, some prominent economists are predicting a protracted and lengthy recovery period which may well last for three years; with the earliest sign of a bottoming out to occur around the third quarter in 2009. The unemployment rate is at the highest rate it has been in years and with businesses continually laying off workers, people are frustrated, angry, uncertain, and desperate for answers because everything seems so bleak; This is where the Church must come in.

The problem facing America isn’t strictly financial mismanagement, corporate greed, or political incompetence, but rather a ‘spiritual malaise’ brought about by an erosion of spiritual, ethical and moral values. What has replaced this vacuum is a focus on materialism, hedonism, narcissism, and all the distractions of entertainment brought about by the “toys of technology.” This pronouncement is not against those of the ‘world’ but rather, against those of us who are ‘believers.’ Instead of converting the world, it seems that the world has converted us. Not only that, but the Church is involved in endorsing political parties and candidates even though we espouse allegiance to the kingdom [government] of God; as if the answer to our dilemma comes from a human source.

The reason that America is hurting so much right now is due to the unfaithfulness of the Children of God in her midst, thereby His wrath and judgment is being poured out on the nation. It is indeed surprising that the Christian Church is not addressing this serious issue more forcefully and shouting it from the rooftops. By the mere fact that believers hope for a political solution is even more incriminating evidence of our spiritual blindness and sin before the Great Judge of the earth (Psalms 94: 2). Remember in Genesis 18: 32 that God would have spared Sodom and Gomorrah if He could have found just "ten" righteous people. What needs to be done is for all the Churches and believers in the One God and Creator of the universe is to convene a moratorium, laying aside petty doctrinal disagreements, traditions, and faith practices to enjoin all of us to ask of our God and Father to forgive us and heal our souls and the nation.

It is now time for believers of all ‘faiths’ or a common faith [in the One God] to lead this country back to its founding principles. The book of II Chronicles 7: 14, states: “If My people who are called by My Name [Israel, in this case], will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” In Jonah 3: 1-10; 4: 11, the prophet was sent to utter a dire warning of impending doom to the 120, 000 people of the wicked city of Nineveh. The people, from the smallest to the greatest, including the king himself, took this unwelcome news so seriously that they repented, and fasted in sackcloth and ashes. Not only that, but the king decreed that each individual should make supplication to God separately to atone for the sin that each one has committed; besides those of the entire nation.

We should commit ourselves to a period of repentance, fasting, and prayer; seeking God’s face and forgiveness, denying ourselves for a time the pleasures and indulgences that distract us from hearing that “still small voice” like that which came to the prophet Samuel. (I Samuel 3: 1-10). And just like in the days of the patriarch Noah and his family, the whole world is in trouble and we are all in the same boat; more or less. All of us will either drown together or all of us will be saved; the choice is left up to each individual.


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
October 25, 2008
pbks@hotmail.com

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

The Early Followers of Jesus: Radical Zealots or Religiously Pacifist Missionaries??

The first image which usually comes to mind of the early believers of Jesus are those of an ascetic order, rejecting material things, committed to a simple life dressed in beggars clothes and living a life of self-denial or poverty; much like that of Siddhartha Buddha or St. Francis of Assisi. It would seem that a disciple who listened to the teachings of Jesus Christ the Nazarene would be the epitome of ‘Passive Resistance,’ especially while hearing, “If someone strikes you on the cheek, turn to him the other one also.”

These first converts were identified as “Galileans” (Acts 2: 7), no doubt due to the region where they came from; along with their master and teacher. Next, they are recorded as belonging to “The Way” (‘ha Derekh’), as mentioned in Acts 9: 1-2;
19: 9, 23; 24: 14. The name “Nazarenes” is mentioned in Acts 24: 5. All of the aforementioned names are associated with the Jewish followers that believed in Jesus as the promised ‘Messiah’ that was foretold in their sacred Scriptures. The name that is commonly attached to the Christian Movement was given to the Gentile converts in the city of Antioch, in Syria (Acts 11: 9b, 20-23, 25-26). The name “Christian” was also used by King Agrippa, perhaps derisively, in Acts 26: 28.

The Apostles were thought to be part of a subversive religious/political organization because they disobeyed the edicts of the Jewish religious authorities, and their teaching and miracles might have a profound impact on the psyche of the common people, possibly leading to more civil unrest, rebellion, and rioting among those who were no doubt fed up with the Roman occupation of their homeland. A well respected Jewish Doctor of Laws and teacher named Gamaliel addressed the Jewish Supreme Court (“Sanhedrin”) regarding the proper course of action to take against these men who defied their orders. He reiterated to the Council of the fate which befell earlier ‘Messianic Movements’(??) or uprisings, such as with Theudas and Judas of Galilee; whose followers were defeated or killed, the leaders were also either killed or escaped and their rebellion was crushed (Acts. 5: 34-39).

The Apostle Paul, who later became associated with this same Movement since his conversion to the ‘Faith’ after persecuting these same believers as Saul, was being held in protective custody after an uproar, or more specifically, after accusations of causing a riot in Jerusalem, the commander of the Roman garrison [Ft. Anatolia??] named Lysias Claudius (Acts 23: 26), mistook Paul as the Egyptian leader of the “Assassins” (Acts 21: 38). This idea of a sort of radical, ‘jihadist’ or separatist group was argued by Tertullus, an orator who represented the high priest and elders in their legal complaint and petition against the Apostle Paul before the Roman Governor Felix at Caesarea. Tertullus, with the eloquence of a skillful lawyer tries to make the case against Paul that he is the ringleader of a [religious] ‘sect’ which causes dissent [“sedition”] among the Jews around the world (Acts 24: 5).

Again, this same concern [as far as the new Movement being an unlawful ‘sect’] was expressed by the Jewish leaders in faraway Rome when Paul met with them while under house arrest (Acts 28: 17-22). WEBSTERS defines “sect’ as 1 a: a dissenting or schismatic religious body; esp. one regarded as extreme or heretical. This new religion was not traditional or ancient, with no past historical record or its own sacred text, and it used the Jewish sacred Scriptures but interpreted it in a radically different way that not only bypassed the Jewish Laws and traditions, but became superior to it and equated the later writings (“epistles/letters”) of the Apostles and other followers as inspired; on equal footing with the law of Moses, the Prophets, and other Jewish sacred text.

Interestingly, while Jesus was on trial before Pontius Pilate, He said, “My kingdom is not of this world (John 18: 36), but He also said, “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Matthew 11: 12; Luke 16: 16), and “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matthew 10: 34, 35-39). Indeed, it seems that some of the first disciples of the Lord may not have been ‘peaceniks’ after all, especially when you consider the likes of Simon the Zealot (Luke 6: 15); James, the brother of John, both of whom Jesus referred to as “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3: 17); which seems appropriate considering the event in Luke 9: 51-56, where they wanted to call down fire from heaven on a Samaritan village.

Later, in the book of Acts, it seems that James might not have met his end peaceably as he was killed with the sword of King Herod (Acts 21: 1-2). According to John's Gospel, the Apostle Peter wielded a sword and cut off the right ear of Malchus, servant of the high priest in the garden of Gethsemane (Cp. 18: 1-10). Even the Apostle Paul wrote, “If it is possible, as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12: 18). Sometimes it is a fine line we walk between being like the Dalai Lama, Mahatma Gandhi, MLK, or instead as a fighting Shaolin monk or one of the royal order of the Knights of Templar.


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
October 21, 2008
pbks@hotmail.com

Monday, October 20, 2008

Christian Preachers Out of Touch with True Stewardship

The Apostle wrote in I Corinthians 2: 2, “For I determined to know anything but Jesus Christ and Him crucified. In Mark 16: 15-16, Jesus said, “Go into the entire world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not will be condemned.” Also, in Luke 24: 46-48, “And He [Jesus] said to them, ‘Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and that repentance and remission from sins should be proclaimed to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.

In these aforementioned Biblical citations is the cornerstone of the Christian message with the imperative to go out and proclaim this ‘fact’ personally to those that need to hear it. The book of Acts contains abundant narratives to the commitment of the saints who first planted the spiritual seed which has germinated into one of the modern world’s major religions. The following is a list of passages which highlight how the early Church began and which still should be seen done today in the same way.

2: 23-24, 32 (esp. 38)
3: 15, 18-19
4: 10b, (esp. 12)
5: 3-32, (esp. 40)
8: 5, 12, 27-28, (esp. 32-38)
9: 20, 22, 27b
10: 37-38a, 30-41, 43, 47
13: 22b-24, 26-28, 30-33, 37, (esp. 38)
NOTE: verse 32 uses glad tidings, which is what the word “Gospel” means.
16: 31-33
17: 2-3, 17, 18b, 19b-20, 22-26, 29, (esp. 30), 31
18: 1, 28
19: 1-5
24: 14b, 15, 21
26: 6-8, 16-18, (esp. 20 [“Gospel”], 22-23
28: 23b??

Several things are evident at this point, namely, the gospel (“Good News”) reveal Jesus as the promised Messiah in fulfillment of Jewish sacred writings (Old Testament). Additionally, it appears that the rite of baptism is necessary to be administered for the remission of sins.

Galatians 3: 26-28
For you are all the sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 1: 24-25
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God.

Ephesians 1: 22-23
And He [God the Father] put all things under His [Jesus’] feet and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Colossians 3: 15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called into one body; and be thankful.

Romans 12: 4-5
For as we have many members in one body, but not all members have the same function [physically speaking], so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individual members of one another.

What has been learned up to this point is that baptism unites a person with Christ’s body, Christ’s body is the Church, and that the many individual members belong to Christ’s “one” body. To be sure, there are hundreds of Christian Churches with differing faith practices, and a few of them have experienced phenomenal growth under the teachings of a very dynamic, inspirational, eloquent, knowledgeable, and charismatic speaker who has taken the body of believers to new spiritual heights.

Sometimes it is almost indistinguishable that indeed, if the parishioners are drawn strictly to the gospel message or the messenger. Personal attachments to a particular religious leader is nothing new because the Apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians 1: 11-13, For it has been declared to me concerning you my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are divisions among you. Now this I say, that each of you says, “I am of Paul, or I am of Apollos, or I am of Cephas, or I am of Christ.” “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you?”

II Corinthians 3: 5
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave [a certain gift or ability] to each one.

I Corinthians 3: 21a, 22: 4; 6
Therefore let no one boast in men. Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours. Now these things, brethren, have I figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.

Obviously, to hold one brother or sister in the fold in greater esteem above the other isn’t necessarily such a bad thing on the surface but it can lead to partisan and divisive policies that are at the root cause of a sectarian spirit which results in the many denominations of today. There doesn’t seem to be an effort to reconcile doctrinal differences since the start of the Reformation Movement in Europe up until the Restoration Movement in America.

With the populism and growth of Liberation Theology, praying the Sinners Prayer, the Prosperity Gospel, or the Social Gospel (Tyler Perry at the pulpit), the traditional evangelizing amid sermons of “hell-fire and brimstone” have been replaced with the delicacy of political correctness as to not offend the sensibilities of the hearers and it seems, at the expense of getting back to the biblical basics; and some may question whether it is even possible. However, the Apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians 1: 10, Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you speak the same things, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgment.

Not only must the teaching be brought back into line with the Biblical standard but the character and behavior that the Preacher, Minister, Bishop, Prophet, Evangelist, Teacher, or Elder displays before the Church must be scrutinized as well as the responsibility and integrity of each member needs closer examination. For the Church official, can such a person really say that he or she follows the example of the Apostle Paul in Acts 20: 33-35: I have coveted no one’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided fro my necessities, and for those with me. I have shown you in every way that by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, “It is more blessed to give than receive.”

I Corinthians 4: 11-13
To the present hour we both hunger and thirst and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless, being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the off-scouring of all things until now.

I Corinthians 2: 4a
And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom. . .

II Corinthians 4: 1-2a, 5
Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy we faint not. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake.

Also, let it not be said about the clergy as in Micah 3: 11a
Her priests teach for pay, and her prophets divine for money.

And the Apostle Paul sarcastically addresses the average Church members in II Corinthians 11: 1, 3-4, which he writes, “Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly; and indeed you do bear with me. But I fear lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if someone comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted [been taught] you may well put up with it.

It is a sobering admonition to be on guard against errors creeping in among the body of believers that can appear so innocuous at first and for those whose charge it is to proclaim the Gospel of the Son of God, it is not for sunshine soldiers. Jesus gave the “Great Commission” in Matthew 28: 19, He did not say go ‘On the Radio,’ On Television,’ ‘On the Internet,’ or ‘On the New York Times Bestseller List.’ Jesus said one time when teaching about the sacrifice of discipleship that if anyone putting his hand to the plow then looks back, is not worthy for the kingdom of God. Lastly, it states in I Corinthians 4: 1-2, “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
October 21, 2008
pbks@hotmail.com