Digging Trenches

There is an interesting piece of history recorded in 2 Kings 3. It caught my attention this week because of the Iranian-backed Hamas bombings of Israel that are dominating international news. I am reminded that the “unrest” that plagues the Middle East has its roots far back in the region’s history. The conflict began when God sent Abraham to what became known as the promised land but told him he could not possess it yet because, “the guilt of the Amorites is not yet complete.” Reading between the lines leads me to think that God was going to use Israel to punish the Amorites for their sins.

The term “Amorites” may be unfamiliar; it is synonymous with Canaanites, referring to the inhabitants of Canaan which God promised to give to Abraham. The area was called Canaan because it was originally the land occupied by Noah’s grandson, the fourth son of Ham, Canaan. God’s apparent displeasure with all the sons of Ham is better understood when you take a global/cosmic view of things. Faithlife Study Bible explains it: “While the idea of divinely sanctioned warfare involving the wholesale destruction of towns and cities appears troublesome, Yahweh authorizes the invasion as judgment on the Canaanites for their wickedness (Dt 9:4–6; Ge 15:16). The wickedness of the Canaanite nations is partly rooted in the idea that all of these nations had rejected Yahweh and were under the authority of other divine beings—so-called “sons of god” who rule unjustly (compare Deut 32:8; Psa 82:1–2, 6–7). Israel is under the authority of Yahweh alone (Deut 4:19–20). Over and against these other divine beings, Yahweh is laying claim to what is rightfully His (Deut 32:9). This is a war against the people and the nations that worship other gods (compare Num 13:32–33).”

Now to the record in 2 Kings. The bad guys in this instance are the Moabites, one of the nations falling under the Canaanite/Amorite curse. The nation was founded by the descendants of the incestuous relationship between Lot and his daughters. They were never particularly kind to God’s chosen people. In 2 Kings 3, Moab refuses to continue the tribute it had been giving to King Ahab of Israel, inciting his son, Joram, who had ascended to the throne, to attack Moab. Joram enlisted Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, and the unnamed ruler of Edom in the effort.

In a questionable stratagem, they chose to approach Moab through the desert of Edom. Not surprisingly, they ran out of water for their men and animals. Jehoshaphat sought to know God’s will in the endeavor, calling for a prophet of Yahweh. Elisha answered the call but asked sarcastically why Joram didn’t get one of his gods to help. Ultimately, Elisha cooperated because Jehoshaphat, a mostly faithful servant of Yahweh, was involved.

As Elisha directed, they dug trenches or cisterns in the valley, and God filled them with water. Thus fortified, the three armies proceeded to defeat Moab with the exception of one city. When the king of Moab stood on the wall during the siege and sacrificed his firstborn son to his patron god, Chemosh, the three armies apparently ran for fear of the pagan god’s wrath despite the demonstration of Yahweh in the trenches of water. According to the Faithlife Study Bible, “This account does not portray a defeat of Yahweh by Chemosh; instead it depicts a defeat of God’s people after they lost faith in Yahweh’s ability. The [Old Testament] portrays the Israelites as believing that the gods of other nations were real. Those gods were originally assigned to the nations by Yahweh (Deut 32:8–9). Given this worldview, which presumes the superiority of Yahweh, it seems that the Israelites were frightened by the human sacrifice, believed that the Moabites’ god was angry, and retreated.”

There are lessons in this account for us today. First, the miracle of God required the humans to participate. Had they not dug trenches, there would not have been a miraculous filling with water. This reminds me of the miracle Jesus performed in Cana. Had the servants not filled the jugs with water, Jesus could not have produced the miraculous wine. Moses had to keep his staff raised to insure the victory of the Israelites against the Amalakites. It’s not uncommon for God to ask for an act of faith before He moves.

The second lesson I see is more cosmic in nature. Since the fall from grace in the Garden of Eden, God has been calling a people to Himself. At first He dealt solely with Israel; now through Jesus He calls people of every nation, tribe and tongue. Reading the closing chapters of the history of redemption, it appears that the nations surrounding physical Israel, the descendants of the Amorites, are still heading for final judgment. When, “the guilt of the Amorites is complete,” God will exterminate every nation that rebels against Him and establish His people as rulers over the new earth.

Opinions differ whether that will take place immediately upon Christ’s second coming, or if there will be a period of 1,000 years before the final act plays out. It matters little. The thing to know is that the unrest in the Middle East is not new nor surprising if you take the cosmic view. I also know that God’s people are going to play a role in the final drama. I don’t know exactly what part I will have to play, but I want to be ready to dig those trenches if I am asked. I recommend you keep your shovels handy.

The God of Demonstrations

Sharing the gospel with unbelievers seems to be getting harder. The relative wealth and prosperity of most Americans leaves little room for the message of salvation when people don’t see their need to be saved. The post-modern conviction that there is no such thing as truth, let alone absolute truth hinders the presentation of God’s Word as ultimate truth. Add to this the increasingly pervasive teaching of critical race theory which insists all white people are racist xenophobes, and many formerly innocent believers suddenly become the enemy.

Several years ago I wrote that Christians must come to terms with some hard truth contained in Scripture: the God presented in the Bible does not always look inviting (See Daily Bible Reading). Despite our reluctance to begin talking to the lost abut God, it is something we must do. In my book, Lead a Horse to Water, I suggested several ways to open the door to spiritual conversations with unbelievers. Our love for the lost, commanded by Scripture, should drive us to find ways to engage our neighbors. A full understanding of who God is remains an essential resource.

Because the message of the Cross is one of punishment and atonement, the twin concepts of morality and responsibility must be dealt with. There are few people, even among so-called atheists who completely reject all facets of morality. The most hardened atheist will not agree that you have the right to kill him if your moral system allows murder. Everyone knows some things are right and some things are wrong. One way to bring God into the discussion is to present Him as one option (among many) who can suggest what’s right and what’s wrong. A logical, historical argument can be made that God’s system of justice has worked exceptionally well for thousands of years. In fact, many competing moral systems either draw from the Judeo-Christian tradition or else mirror it closely.

Many people today are repulsed by the judgmental character of the God of the Bible. “Love,” as defined loosely by each person, is the supreme principle for many moderns. They have difficulty aligning love and justice in one motion. However, this is precisely what the Bible reveals.  A personal, loving God made rules that benefit humans universally. That same personal, loving God expects moral character to be present in those He loves, although He loves unconditionally. There’s the kicker. God loves me whether I do right or don’t, but if I claim to love this God, claim to want Him as a positive influence in my life, I must make the effort to live according to the rules He prescribes.

Because God has demonstrated how love and judgment can go hand in hand, the Bible can be used as a historical proof-text for the premise. Although there are others, the prime example of this principle is found in the Cross of Calvary. Adam was kicked out of the Garden of Eden for his transgression, but God proved His love for him by providing a path to redemption. That path ended at Calvary when the God/Man, Jesus, paid the price for Adam’s sin. Wonder of wonders, that payment can be appropriated by anyone who expresses belief in the act and trusts God for the forgiveness. That believer must also trust that God’s rules for living are in his best interest and try to follow them.

Psychiatrists report that guilt is one of the most prevalent causes for their patients’ unrest. This makes sense. People know intuitively that rules exist, and they have failed to follow them perfectly. The Bible believer can present a set of well-established rules and the way to remedy a failure to follow those rules. The ugliness and horror of the Cross of Calvary demonstrates how much God hates sin. Judgment. The gift of grace for believers demonstrates the culmination of the long-running pursuit by God to redeem His creation. Love.

I purposely crafted this argument using as few “religious” words as possible. Most moderns no longer have a vocabulary of terms drawn from Scripture or preaching. They don’t read the Bible and they don’t attend church. They do feel the universal human need Solomon spoke of when he identified the God-sourced longing he called, “eternity in the human heart.” If you can show that God demonstrated how to meet that longing, you have presented the gospel in a way anyone can understand if they are willing. Pray that God will put people in your way that need to hear the message. You will be surprised what happens.

Related posts: God Was Pleased; Bringing the Kingdom; The Goodness of Wrath; I Don’t Believe in God; Rolling Thunder; Apologies to Rahm Emmanuel

Sanctify Them

I think there are multitudes of people who love the idea of being Christian. I am reminded of a line in the movie, Freedom Writers. When Erin Grewell’s husband says he is leaving her because she is working so much, she protests that she loves him. His response: you love the idea of me. Wanting to be married to the right man was a noble desire; unfortunately, Erin’s zeal for her career left no time for what a real marriage required. In like manner, Christians who are so wrapped up in worldly pursuits often spend little time nurturing the things that evidence true Christianity.

There was a time when being a Christian was admirable. Being a Christian meant being nice. Being a Christian meant being a moral person. Being a Christian meant having the Bible in public schools and “under God” in the pledge of allegiance. Being Christian elevated one from being pagan, a state once thought to be sub-human. “Christian” became an adjective having little to do with a religion and being more about a certain quality as in “Christian charity.” To be American was to be Christian, according to much popular thinking, as if it were a national distinction. All that has changed.

The divisive political climate in America has made being Christian less popular. Many on the left see Christianity as a scourge to be removed. Christians are now blamed for many of our perceived social ills. First Amendment freedom of religion is not extended to Christian practitioners who hold to doctrine that contradicts leftist ideology. With dwindling church attendance, especially among young people, and the absence of the Bible from the public square, people are left with a warped notion of what it means to be a Christian. This is the perfect ground in which to sow the seeds of distrust and even hate for what it means to be a Christian.

Belief in God is, naturally, a corollary of being Christian. Because the Bible is now absent from what has been called “general knowledge” in America, people are creating their own image of who God is. I agree with the apologist who once said that even he didn’t believe in the God that the atheist claims does not exist. The not-god of modern atheism does not exist. Sadly, knowledge of the true God does not exist broadly either. Many opponents of Christianity are opposed to an idea that is not at all Christian.

In this situation, it is more important than ever that Bible believers who follow Jesus Christ live truly Christian lives. In Jesus’ prayer for His disciples in John 17, He prayed that they might be sanctified in the truth of the Word of God. (John 17:17) Rather than praying that we might be removed from the world, Jesus prayed that we would become beacons of truth in the world. The core meaning of being sanctified is to be set apart. Christians more than ever now need to be set apart from the world. We must re-establish what the idea of being Christian means.

This means loving more than the idea of being Christian; this means being light and salt. This means speaking and living the truth as written in God’s Word. This means following the advice of Matthew Henry’s commentary on John 17:17: “The real holiness [sanctification] of all true Christians is the fruit of Christ’s death…. he gave himself for his church, to sanctify it. If our views have not this effect on us, they are not Divine truth, or we do not receive them by a living and a working faith, but as mere notions [the idea of being Christian]."

I will close with the words of Charles Spurgeon: “What is a Christian? If you compare him with a king, he adds priestly sanctity [sanctification] to royal dignity. The king’s royalty often lieth only in his crown, but with a Christian it is infused into his inmost nature. He is as much above his fellows through his new birth, as a man is above the beast that perisheth. Surely he ought to carry himself, in all his dealings, as one who is not of the multitude, but chosen out of the world, distinguished by sovereign grace, written among “the peculiar people” and who therefore cannot grovel in the dust as others, nor live after the manner of the world’s citizens. Let the dignity of your nature, and the brightness of your prospects, O believers in Christ, constrain you to cleave unto holiness [sanctification], and to avoid the very appearance of evil.” We have to correct the world’s idea of what it means to be a Christian.

Related posts: Bringing the Kingdom; Truth Dysphoria; Truth Matters

Critical Race Theory

If you don’t know what critical race theory is, please read the article by Christopher F. Rufo reprinted in Imprimus. I am going to summarize it here, but you owe it to yourself to read the whole article and do some research on your own.

The core of critical race theory is the idea that white Americans, particularly white males, are automatically racist because they are white. “White supremacy” which used to be a term applied to neo-Nazis and Klu Klux Klan members has been broadened to include any white person who does not subscribe to critical race theory. The condition of “white privilege” automatically applies to all whites. Systemic racism is charged against the entire structure of government at all levels. Critical race theory teaches that the history of America is one of racial domination, abuse and atrocity. Students are taught to hate America because it is irredeemably racist and therefore it is evil. America is evil. Period.

The terminology used by proponents of critical race theory is deceptive. Diversity is one of their favorite terms. Diversity used to refer to the melting pot nature of American culture; anyone who wanted to assimilate could become a member of the American freedom experiment. Now diversity means bowing to the demands of critical race theory and subscribing to radical affirmative action and reparations. To oppose these policies is to prove racism or anti-diversity.

The second term popular with those who support critical race theory is equity. Many who don’t understand the movement think this is the same as equality; it is not. Equality means every person regardless of race or creed is entitled to the same opportunities granted under law. Equity signals a move to repair the systemic racism that critical race theory says is endemic to the American way. Equality means everyone gets an equal chance at success; equity means everyone except white persons get special privileges to atone for the generations of mistreatment by whites.

A close cousin to critical race theory is the WOKE mentality. It originally meant to be socially aware. People had awoken to the need for racial equality. It has come to mean being aware of social injustice as defined by critical race theory. In other words, if you are in agreement with critical race theory, if you are awake to the radical agenda of BLM, Antifa and any other socialist group that wants the demolition of America as we know it, you are WOKE.

I am going to make a jump that may seem illogical but wait. The controversy over COVID restrictions, especially wearing masks, fits into the same program. If you are against wearing a mask, if you question the efficacy of COVID vaccines, you are branded as being anti-establishment. If you consider the current COVID policies as establishment over-reach, you are a non-WOKE, not critically aware white supremacist. I know it seems a reach to equate COVID policies with racial issues, but this is the matrix we have fallen into. Government is good; if you are against government, you are bad. Help!

When I wrote “Obama isn’t the Problem” in 2012 I had no idea things would get this bad. That article suggested primarily that people who wanted government handouts would overwhelm those of us who think we should earn our benefits. Now we have come to the point where those who believe whatever the government says is true outnumber those of us who believe we should think for ourselves. Science and statistics do not support the government actions against COVID 19. Masks are not effective in spreading the virus or in protecting the wearers. Closing schools is not an effective measure against COVID. Killing businesses is not an effective measure against COVID. Sending COVID patients to assisted living facilities (Cuomo and Wittmer) is not the answer. But the masses of Americans are jumping off the cliff like lemmings despite the evidence to the contrary.

Sadly, if you read the Imprimus article I recommended, you can see how troublesome this situation is. I love America, but I love Jesus more. This is why “Heaven Always Matters Most” (WHAMM). I don’t care what your politics are; we cannot let the government tell us what to do or eventually they will tell us (as they have begun to do) that we cannot worship as we wish. Stand up. Stand for truth. Vote for people who are using reason instead of political rhetoric to back their policies. Unless we do this as Christians, we will lose the voice to say anything at all.

 

The Goodness of God When Trouble Comes

I would never say that I am happy to encounter trouble; that would be masochism. Nor will I say that I believe God will keep me from all trouble; that would be a denial of the words of Jesus: “In the world you will have trouble but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) The promise of God is that when trouble comes, He will be with me through it: “When [not if] you pass through the waters, I will be with you…. When [not if] you walk through fire, you will not be burned.” (Isaiah 43:2) Joseph was thrown into prison; Daniel spent a night in the lion’s den; Paul was chased by beasts, beaten by men, shipwrecked while in custody, but each of these situations revealed God’s hand to the troubled ones.

Yesterday, trouble came knocking at my door. Technically, it was the door of my RV which is my home, so the image fits. We were nearing the end of a ten-day trip from our winter spot in Arizona to Michigan where we plan to spend the summer. About thirty miles from our destination, a car came alongside, and the passenger was gesturing wildly and pointing to the back of our rig. I pulled over. About a quarter mile behind us there was a pickup truck on the shoulder; a man got out and walked into the weeds beside the highway. When I walked toward the back of my trailer to see what might be wrong, I was horrified to see that one of the trailer wheels was missing. Gone. A bare brake drum with three broken lug bolts stared me in the face. What the…?

The pickup eventually pulled behind the trailer, and the driver walked to me and said he had my missing wheel. He told the story of how it had flown off and bounced in the traffic, nearly hitting his truck and another car. He brought me the wheel and the mystery deepened. The center of the stamped steel wheel was ripped to shreds explaining why it had come off but offering no clue as to why it happened. I thanked him for retrieving the wayward wheel and drove slowly on the three remaining wheels to the next intersection where I could park in the back of a gas station.

With only two of the five lugs remaining on the drum, I couldn’t just put on the spare tire. My first thought was that I would have to have the missing lugs replaced. I began calling nearby service possibilities to get it repaired. Four calls netted one place that said they might be able to help. Since it was now 4:00 pm and they closed at 5:00, I needed a rush job. When I the service tech looked at my damaged drum, he thought the only fix was going to be a new drum. He thought he had one, so I rejoiced. My joy was short-lived as we discovered that his drum was not the same size as mine.

The service tech called another place, and they said they had the right piece. I rushed over only to find that it was the same wrong size the first place offered. They called another place and were told that they had the correct drum. The problem was that it was now a few minutes before 5:00 and they closed at 5:30. They were twenty miles away. In rush hour traffic. I punched the directions into my phone and punched the gas on the truck and said a prayer.

I made it with about ten minutes to spare. When the tech there looked at my drum, he was shocked. He asked what year the trailer was. I told him it was a 2020, and he was more shocked. He said they hadn’t seen drums that size in years. The only explanation he could think of was that the manufacturer of my trailer had a bunch of old axles lying around and used one on my new trailer. He said he could order one for $198.00 and it would be in sometime next week. I thanked him but said no thanks. I got back in the truck and headed back to the trailer to make another plan.

The service tech had suggested that I could strap up the axle with the missing wheel and drive slowly. The problem was that there is no place to hook a strap to lift the axle. Because I had driven several hundred yards on three wheels to get to the gas station, I decided to try to make the thirty-mile trip to our campground. The only further trouble I could imagine was a failure of the one tire being burdened with the weight meant for two. It was a cool day and a smooth road, so I decided to try it.

We made it in a little over an hour. We dropped the trailer in our spot at 8:00 and rushed to a restaurant that was open until 9:00 for supper. I was so happy to be there. That is the take-away from this sad tale. Even though I had spent over four hours from the emergency roadside event until I finally sat down to supper, I realized that I never lost control, yelled, screamed, cried or gave any other sign of my frustration. If you know me at all, you know that is a bona fide miracle. God granted me peace in the trouble.

So many things could have been worse. We could have been in the middle of nowhere. The wheel could have seriously damaged my trailer when it flew off. The wheel could have damaged another vehicle or even hurt someone. Had the good Samaritan truck driver not stopped and retrieved my wheel, I may never have known where it went. Had I not paid attention to the driver who signaled me, I could have driven on for miles before knowing what had happened. Had the imbalance caused the trailer to dip and swerve dramatically, it might have flipped over. Had my final miles not been a smooth, divided highway, I may not have been able to complete the trip. Had I not arranged for a late arrival at the RV park, I would not have been able to park in my spot. Had I not been trusting God to go with me through whatever came my way, I would not have been a happy camper. Not at all.

As if to underscore my experience with another’s testimony, Charles Spurgeon’s devotional for today included the following. “How comprehensive is the love of Jesus! There is no part of his people’s interests which he does not consider, and there is nothing which concerns their welfare which is not important to him…. It were a sad thing for us if this mantle of love did not cover all our concerns, for what mischief might be wrought to us in that part of our business which did not come under our gracious Lord’s inspection…. O my soul, tune thy harp to a glad song of thanksgiving! Go to thy rest rejoicing, for thou art no desolate wanderer, but a beloved child, watched over, cared for, supplied, and defended by thy Lord.”

I am no “desolate wanderer.” My heart is tuned to thanksgiving even though yesterday had some real sucky moments. Wherever I go and whatever befalls me and my little home on wheels, I rest in the love and care of Jesus. Even for the trailer wheels – like the counted hairs on my head and the sparrows He watches over. Take my little story of yesterday’s trouble as another proof that peace is available even in trouble. All you have to do is remember Emmanuel, God with us. He’s never failed me yet.

There’s Something Fishy About That Name

Name calling has gotten a bad rap in the modern world. Pre-European invasion Native Americans were masters at naming. In most tribes, individuals received a name at birth, and then when they matured, another was assigned that suited them in some way. The biblical Hebrews had a similar practice. Parents would sometimes name a child after a historical icon such as Joshua thus making two hopeful references since the name means “God saves.” In special instances, God gave the parents a name before the child was born. In one very special circumstance, a father named Joseph was told to name his first-born son Joshua.

Because of translation issues, many Christians don’t realize that the Jewish Messiah they worship was named Joshua by his parents at God’s command. The name we use comes to English through the Greek and Latin because the earliest New Testaments were based on those languages. Having been written in Greek originally, the name Joshua was translated as Iasus (Ἰησοῦς: Greek doesn’t have a letter “J”.) The Latin became Jesu. The morphing of one European language into the next until English finally appeared brought us to our familiar name for the Savior, Jesus.

I went through that etymology lesson to make it clear that when God told Joseph to give his son a name, it was clearly prophetic. As the gospel writer Matthew reports, God told Joseph, “You will call his name Joshua (God Saves) because he will save his people from their sins.” (Mt. 1:21) This seems to contradict the words of the prophet Isaiah from which Matthew claims the name was drawn in the next verse. Isaiah says the child will be called “Emmanuel.” There is no contradiction when you understand that many Jews would end up with two names once their destiny was made plain.

Having set the stage, I want to show why the Savior’s name is “fishy.” Early Christians were subject to severe persecution for following Jesus, so they developed several secret codes to make it possible to share their identity with Christ without alerting unbelievers who might want to harm them. One of these codes was the Greek word for fish: ichthus (ἰχθύς). This is genius on several levels. First, Jesus called His first disciples from among fishermen and promised they would become fishers of men. Then, as He continued His teaching, fish often played prominent roles in His lessons. Finally, fish were a staple of the first century diet of many people around the Mediterranean Sea, so the word was ubiquitous.

Even more interesting is what the early Christians did with the letters making up the word fish. Each letter was assigned a theological concept that formed the basis of their faith. What I am going to say in the following paragraphs is not new; there have been thousands of sermons penned on this, but I want to present my thoughts for your consideration.

The first letter in the Greek word for fish (ἰχθύς) is iota. This corresponds to the English letter “i.” As I have already pointed out, iota is the first letter in the Greek version of the Messiah’s given name, Ἰησοῦς. I have also already given the most significant meaning of the name: God saves. If you think of it as a Jew would, meaning Joshua, there is also a wealth of historical allusion. Moses’ successor brought the Israelites into the Promised Land. He led the nation in their military feats that validated God’s special care for them. The typology with the Messiah is undeniable.

The second letter, chi (χ), corresponds to the beginning of the word, Christ (Χριστός). Again, this is a Hellenization of the Jewish concept, “Messiah.” In Hebrew, messiah means anointed one; this is precisely what the Greek word christos means as well. This word is freighted with meaning. The Israelites were commanded to initiate prophets, priests and kings by the process of anointing. The ceremony involved pouring a special scented oil on the head of the anointed one, so much so that it ran down his body. Inasmuch as the Holy Spirit is represented as oil throughout Scripture, the analogy is obvious. Because Jesus is the ultimate prophet, priest and king, His anointing by the Holy Spirit is of great significance.

The third letter, theta (q), begins the Greek word for God (θεός). Over the centuries, there have been many debates as to what it means, exactly, to say the Jesus is God. The simplest explanation seems to me to be found in the Gospel of John. In the first verses of his gospel, John states clearly that the Word, another name for Jesus, was God. Various sects have tried to play with the language and make the plain truth of John somehow more complicated. The early Christians had no such difficulty; Jesus said plainly on more than one occasion that He claimed to be the “I Am.”* This was a clear statement of His identification with God, so much so that the Jews who heard Him and disbelieved wanted to kill Him for blasphemy.

The fourth letter in ἰχθύς (ichthus) is upsilon (υ) corresponding to the English letter “U,” which is the first letter in the Greek word for son (υἱός). To some people, this appears to contradict the claim that Jesus is God. They would ask how someone can be God and Son of God at the same time. The word “time” may provide the solution to this apparent contradiction. Before time, that is in all eternity past prior to the creation of our universe, the being we know as Jesus was co-equal with the being we know as God the Father. Paul makes this abundantly clear in the second chapter of Philippians. Jesus chose to shed something of what it meant to be God in eternity so that He could become the Son of God in time. This is the message of the incarnation: God became flesh so that mere humans could see the glory of God.

The unfortunate mistranslation of John 3:16 has caused much confusion about who the Son of God actually is. The phrase, “only begotten son,” seems to indicate that Jesus was born or came into being at some point in time. The commentary from the Faith Life Study Bible clears this up. “At one time, it was presumed that the term derived from the Greek words monos (“one” or “only”) and gennaō (“to beget”). The translation “only begotten” is based on this assumption. Subsequent manuscript discoveries produced evidence that the term actually comes from monos and the noun genē (“kind” or “type”). The term monogenēs therefore refers to uniqueness and has no inherent reference to chronology or origin.”

Jesus entered time as a unique being, never before or ever after duplicated. It is my belief that Jesus retains His God/Man status in eternity future. Jesus, the Son of God, submitted to His Heavenly Father during His earthly ministry, accomplishing what only God could do: He made atonement for the sins of all humanity by His death on the cross. God validated that payment by bringing Jesus, the God/Man, back from the dead in a glorified body and seating Him at the Father’s right hand as co-regent, a position similar to what had existed prior to the incarnation. The difference is that Jesus will forever exist as the glorified Son in His relationship to the Father and the Father’s adopted family: all believers from all time.

The last letter of ἰχθύς (ichthus) is the sigma (ς). This is the first letter of the Greek word for savior (σωτήρ). The meaning here is obvious: Jesus saved all who will believe on Him from an eternity separated from God. All humans from Adam onward are born alienated from the fellowship for which they were created. This state of alienation is known biblically as death. The only way to regain that fellowship, to be made alive again, is to be rescued, saved, by the power of the Cross of Calvary. What Jesus did on the Cross undid what Adam did in the Garden. There is no greater grace than the freely offered rescue that Jesus accomplished by His atoning death. He is the ultimate Savior.

So, the next time you see one on the bumper of a car, remember the full lesson in theology that fish represents. Jesus. Christ. God. Son. Savior. There’s nothing fishy about that.

 

*  The name of God given to Moses, I am that I am, or just I Am, has an interesting meaning in itself. By claiming to be “I Am,” God was telling Moses that He alone is the self-existing one. Everything else is created by and dependent on the one who exists from all eternity. Thus when Jesus called Himself the I Am, He was claiming eternal existence, a trait which can only be assigned to God Himself.

Have You No Shame?

The other day as headed out of the RV park for my morning ride in the desert I was shocked to see a woman reclining in a lounge chair next to her trailer wearing just her bra and panties. I told myself I must have been mistaken; it was surely a white bikini. When I returned from my ride, she was standing on her patio enabling me to confirm what I couldn’t believe: it was her underwear. I realize she was no more exposed than if she had been in a skimpy bathing suit, but something just seemed wrong.

This got me thinking about the guys with their pants sagging below their buttocks showing a swath of boxers. At this point sagging has become a fashion statement of sorts, but I wonder how many who practice it know its origin. It began as a way for men in prison to announce their status; it meant they had become the “property” of someone: they had been raped or had willingly given sexual favors to another man. The desire to be perceived this way is puzzling to me. This and the woman in her underwear say to me that they don’t care if the world knows they have low moral standards.

I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that worldly people have a worldly attitude. However, as I wrote some time ago in “Women’s Attire – Again!” even the church is slipping into worldly opinions when it comes to how women dress. I think the church is largely missing Paul’s admonition to the Ephesians, “And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even expose them. For it is shameful even to speak about the things being done by them in secret.” These days, the shameful things aren’t even kept in secret. But they are still shameful even if some people don’t feel shame in doing them.

I know it is not my place to judge the world; Jesus will do that when the time comes. But I wonder if there is more the church could do to partner with the Holy Spirit in His task of convicting the world, “concerning sin… righteousness… and judgement.” It is the duty of the church to judge its own. It is also the responsibility of those of us who teach the Word to renounce, “shameful hidden things, not behaving with craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but with the open proclamation of the truth commending ourselves to every person’s conscience before God.” There are too many “crafty” expositors these days who find biblical license for things that are clearly shameful. And, sadly, it would appear that the collective conscience of the church is not what Paul would have expected.

We shrug when our politicians are caught in lies. We laugh at or swoon over ungodly entertainers who populate our TV programs 24/7. We wink at the rampant promiscuity and serial marriages plaguing our young people. We buckle under the rabid consumerism constantly washing over us in video and print to the point that material success and accumulation of objects become predominant over the nurture of our spiritual well-being. Not even our church gatherings have escaped the shamelessness as they elevate entertainment over content.

This will sound very old fashioned, but what we need is to go to the Cross. There we find legitimate shame. There we find the One who, “endured the cross, disregarding the shame” so that we might be given eternal life. I wonder if some Christians participate in shameful behavior because they are ashamed to identify with Christ before a fallen world. This is dangerous. Jesus warned that if we are ashamed of Him before men, He will be ashamed of us before the Father in Heaven. We need to stand beneath the cross and say with Paul, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation.” That is the only place we should have no shame.