Sunday, September 25, 2016

Bad theology versus God's rescue systems

Update: I wish to question the endorsement of hierarchies in this article. Yes, Jesus is recorded as having named 12 apostles, who would in future judge the 12 tribes of Israel. But is any earthly hierarchy given by Jesus? Instead, Jesus can be understood to prohibit hierarchy in Matthew 23. Likewise, in John 21, the commission to Peter can be read without any permission for a hierarchy (authorities within the Church/Flock of Christ). This is because the two Ancient Greek verbs used there, bosko and poimaino, had several senses each, such as "feed" and "tend" respectively.
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It is wonderful to find God's amazing systems
* of rescue described in the Christian Bible. It's also surprising, although it shouldn't be so: God is the creator of the entire Universe, a proof of which is the astounding fine-tuning of the systems of the universe.

One divine system could be called sanctification for glorification for salvation

(1) Christians are enabled by God to do good works (Ephesians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 9:8).

(2) Those good works cause other people to glorify God (Matthew 5:16).

(3) People who glorify God take one key step closer to receiving God's salvation (Acts 10:1-48; 1 Corinthians 14:19-25; 1 Peter 2:12).

Bad theology works against these systems. Consider, for example, the theological mistake that says—in contradiction to Matthew 5:16 and James 2:14-26that Christians do not need to do good works because Christ's righteousness is counted as theirs. Such bad theology will disrupt the system of sanctification for glorification for salvation. 

Or consider another divine system described in the New Testament: it could be called chastizement for sanctification, witness and unity.

(1) God sends illnesses on Christians to save them from condemnation (1 Corinthians 11:30-32). 

(2) If a Christian has an illness (James 5:14-18), he or she should
- confess his or her sins to another Christian; 
and
- have the elders of the church pray for them and anoint them with oil.

What does such a system achieve? 
(A) Sanctification
Christians are led away from sinful behaviors.

(B) Witnesses to God
Being healed by God provides proof to unbelievers of God's existence and character, and builds up the faith of Christians. 

(C) Church-building
Healing requires a church with elders. This gives a powerful incentive for Christians to build up and care for churches (rather than trying to practice Christianity independently).

Bad theology undermines this system, for example 
- when preachers and pastors are teaching that God does not send illnesses on Christians;
- when preachers and pastors are teaching that Christians with illnesses do not need to confess their sins; 
- when preachers and pastors fail to teach that God demands holiness from His children (1 Peter 1:13-20).

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* A system is where different parts work together to achieve something.

Sunday, September 4, 2016

What the New Testament actually says about anger

Enough of Christians praising what they dangerously label "holy anger" in themselves or other Christians!

Please listen to what the New Testament actually says:

(1) Christians are to put away all anger / wrath—in Ancient Greek, "orge" (Ephesians 4:31).

(2) The anger / wrath ("orge") of human beings does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:20).

(3) Fits of passion, akin to wrath—in Ancient Greek, "thumoi"—are among "the works of the flesh" that prevent a person from inheriting the Kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21).

(4) Christ Jesus is not described as being angry—that is, with the words "orge" or "thumoi", except once, when Christ is described as having looked with anger at people who refused to deal with basic questions of justice and compassion (Mark 3:5). But even in that single instance, Christ did not act towards those with whom He was angry!   

(5) Christ was greatly irritated—the verb "aganakteo" referred firstly to physical effects, such as of cold on the human body (see LSJ)—when the disciples censured people bringing their children to Jesus (Mark 10:14). Unfortunately, many Bible translations misleadingly describe Christ as "angry".

(6) Paul instructs Timothy and Titus to rebuke ("elegcho") elders who are sinning and false teachers (respectively).

(7) It appears fair to conclude from these NT texts, then, that Christians are required to use reason, for example when powerfully irritated or when confronting misbehavior, and naturally this cannot be done when in anger / wrath / fits of passion.