WEAR YOUR BLESSING WELL - FROM GOD
Look at the Bible promises. Follow the cross references. See what the Bible says. The New Testament is rooted in the Old Testament promises and prophecies.
"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it." Malachi 3:10; Proverbs 3:9-10; 2 Cor 9:6-11
1. There is a time when we should weep and howl (when we do wrong, James 5:1-6). But there is also a time to SHOUT WITH JOY (when the Lord blesses us)!
Not a vow of poverty.
"Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches--Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, And say, "Who is the Lord?" Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God." Proverbs30:8-9
Not status.
"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."
1 Peter 5:6-7
Not what others will say.
"And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." John 1:46
2. God rewards faith.
"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." Phil 2:12-13
"Therefore, because of Christ's sacrifice, we are to take hold of what God offers, accepting His grace, and working toward becoming mature in Christ. Note the cooperation: we work out our own salvation (v 12) while it is God who works in us to do His will (v 13)." Wallenstedt
a) Rahab. Great-great. . .grandmother of King David.
"By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace." Heb 11:30-31
God is much more tolerant and forgiving than we are.
"and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities--Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons," Luke 8:2
"Jesus said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you." Matt 21:31
"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!" Romans 11:33
b) Ruth. Great-grandmother of King David. A Moabite, one of the people cursed by God. (Deuteronomy 23:3)
"But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God." Ruth 1:16
c) Bathsheba. Daughter of Ammiel 1 Chronicles 3:5. (Eliam 2 Samuel 11:3) Her grandfather was Ahithophel the Gilonite (2 Sam 23:34), David's wise counselor (II Sam 15:12).
"Bathsheba is said by Jewish tradition to have composed and recited Proverbs 31 by way of admonition or reproof to her son Solomon on his marriage with Pharaoh's daughter. The rabbins describe her as a woman of vast information and a highly-cultivated mind, to whose education Solomon owed much of his wisdom and reputation, and even a great part of the practical philosophy embodied in his Proverbs." McClintock & Strong Cyclopedia.
Two of her sons: Solomon, Nathan, are in the lineage of Christ.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
SAVED - NEVER SAVED
ALWAYS SAVED? NEVER SAVED? R.D.Ice
Evangelist Jack Exum told of speaking to a preacher. "You believe once saved - always saved. Wrong." The preacher answered: "You Church of Christ folk believe once saved - NEVER saved. Wrong!"
“If the statement ‘You are saved by grace 100 percent’ means Christ paid 100 percent of the debt we owe because we are sinners, then the statement is true. Christ’s shed blood was essential for payment of our debt. We pay zero percent. On the cross Christ made this free gift accessible to us.’” Clinton Hardin in the Gospel Advocate, Feb. 2000. [He went on to emphasize Christian living.]
Certainly this is scriptural. It is the finished work of Christ-on-the-cross that provided a perfect righteousness that dealt with sin once and for all. Paul said : “the righteousness which is from God by faith” [Phil. 3:9]. In the Bible we learn that the response which God requires is faith, not works which we might perform. Notice Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-5. Paul says: “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior appeared...”
“Joe Doaks came forward and confessed his faith in Christ. The preacher immediately took him to the baptistry and immersed him for remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit, as Acts 2:38 says. But as he came out of the baptistery, he had a fatal heart attack and fell dead.”
Was he saved? He died before doing any good works. He trusted and he obeyed the gospel. Would this be enough to ensure his salvation? If so, what are the ramifications of this?
BECAUSE WE ARE SAVED, we give ourselves as living sacrifices, Romans 12:1-2. Since we are new in Christ, 2 Cor. 5:17, we live as new people. It is possible to “fall away,” otherwise the warnings would mean nothing. But it is not necessary for us to reject Christ. The devil cannot make us do it. If we do disbelieve the promises (Hebrews 10:29) we put our soul at terrible danger. Yet we believe that God raised Christ Jesus from the dead (don’t we believe this)? [The Incarnation made the Cross & Resurrection possible.]
Note Paul in 2 Thessalonians 3:15. “Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” He said this of some who were “disorderly” [who lived lazy lives and did nothing but meddle in other people’s business].
“Believing is the real issue, not security.”
Romans 8:14-17; 10:8-11; 1 John 2:12-14; 5:4-5.
“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” [1 John 5:13]
And how bold and free we are
in His Presence, freely asking
according to His Will,
knowing that He is listening
and what we have asked for
is as good as done.
God knew what He was doing
from the very beginning.
He decided to shape the lives
of those who love Him
according to the life of His Son.
That’s why we can be so sure
that in every detail of our lives,
our love can be used by God to
work into something good.
[Romans 5:1-5; 8:26-29]
John 10:28-29 “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My Father’s hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”
Jude 24-25 “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever, Amen.”
Our God can keep you on your feet,
standing tall in His presence,
fresh and celebrating this most holy faith,
praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude 20),
staying right at the center of God’s love.
Keep your arms open and outstretched,
ready for the mercy of our Master,
the Lord Jesus Christ!
This is the unending life - real life!
Romans 14:1-4 “Receive the one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.”
Welcome with open arms fellow believers,
who don’t see things as you do.
And don’t jump all over them
when they seem to make a mistake.
Both we and they are guests
at Christ’s table, and it would be rude
to criticize what we or they
ate or didn’t eat. After all,
God invited us both to Christ’s table.
Phil. 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Eph. 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
We sing: "Trust & obey, for there's no other way."
Evangelist Jack Exum told of speaking to a preacher. "You believe once saved - always saved. Wrong." The preacher answered: "You Church of Christ folk believe once saved - NEVER saved. Wrong!"
“If the statement ‘You are saved by grace 100 percent’ means Christ paid 100 percent of the debt we owe because we are sinners, then the statement is true. Christ’s shed blood was essential for payment of our debt. We pay zero percent. On the cross Christ made this free gift accessible to us.’” Clinton Hardin in the Gospel Advocate, Feb. 2000. [He went on to emphasize Christian living.]
Certainly this is scriptural. It is the finished work of Christ-on-the-cross that provided a perfect righteousness that dealt with sin once and for all. Paul said : “the righteousness which is from God by faith” [Phil. 3:9]. In the Bible we learn that the response which God requires is faith, not works which we might perform. Notice Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-5. Paul says: “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior appeared...”
“Joe Doaks came forward and confessed his faith in Christ. The preacher immediately took him to the baptistry and immersed him for remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit, as Acts 2:38 says. But as he came out of the baptistery, he had a fatal heart attack and fell dead.”
Was he saved? He died before doing any good works. He trusted and he obeyed the gospel. Would this be enough to ensure his salvation? If so, what are the ramifications of this?
BECAUSE WE ARE SAVED, we give ourselves as living sacrifices, Romans 12:1-2. Since we are new in Christ, 2 Cor. 5:17, we live as new people. It is possible to “fall away,” otherwise the warnings would mean nothing. But it is not necessary for us to reject Christ. The devil cannot make us do it. If we do disbelieve the promises (Hebrews 10:29) we put our soul at terrible danger. Yet we believe that God raised Christ Jesus from the dead (don’t we believe this)? [The Incarnation made the Cross & Resurrection possible.]
Note Paul in 2 Thessalonians 3:15. “Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” He said this of some who were “disorderly” [who lived lazy lives and did nothing but meddle in other people’s business].
“Believing is the real issue, not security.”
Romans 8:14-17; 10:8-11; 1 John 2:12-14; 5:4-5.
“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” [1 John 5:13]
And how bold and free we are
in His Presence, freely asking
according to His Will,
knowing that He is listening
and what we have asked for
is as good as done.
God knew what He was doing
from the very beginning.
He decided to shape the lives
of those who love Him
according to the life of His Son.
That’s why we can be so sure
that in every detail of our lives,
our love can be used by God to
work into something good.
[Romans 5:1-5; 8:26-29]
John 10:28-29 “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My Father’s hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”
Jude 24-25 “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever, Amen.”
Our God can keep you on your feet,
standing tall in His presence,
fresh and celebrating this most holy faith,
praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude 20),
staying right at the center of God’s love.
Keep your arms open and outstretched,
ready for the mercy of our Master,
the Lord Jesus Christ!
This is the unending life - real life!
Romans 14:1-4 “Receive the one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.”
Welcome with open arms fellow believers,
who don’t see things as you do.
And don’t jump all over them
when they seem to make a mistake.
Both we and they are guests
at Christ’s table, and it would be rude
to criticize what we or they
ate or didn’t eat. After all,
God invited us both to Christ’s table.
Phil. 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Eph. 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
We sing: "Trust & obey, for there's no other way."
Monday, January 17, 2011
Does God Really Hate Us
Does God Really Hate Us?
[This was my sermon in response to the shooting at Tucson.]
Jesus is God-The-Eternal-Word who came into our world of Time as one of us - flesh & blood, skin & bones. He came to show us Who God Is. John the Apostle wrote: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:16-17 (NKJV) Jesus taught us: "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." Matt 5:44-45 (NKJV)
A medical doctor said: “Death is the yardstick which measures us all.” Because our personal death is certain, we reorganize our priorities. And we also do our best to hang on to life. Since we know our time is limited, we work to make the best use of it.
The shooting at Tucson should never have happened. But it did, and so do many other terrible things. Jesus spoke in Matt. 24 of wars and calamities. God knows what He is doing. In what seems despair, men and women are making choices, choosing to help, or wringing their hands.
John the Apostle wrote: “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Rev 3:10
1. Times of trial and testing.
a) “Or did God ever try to go and take for Himself a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord Himself is God; there is none other besides Him.” Deut 4:34-35
Although the faithful will not be spared from sufferings, persecution, and martyrdom, they will be sustained and supported so as to persevere in their faithfulness. God intends us to know good and evil, to experience difficulties and to learn and grow into His Image.
“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12
“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,” Phil 2:14-15
2. God uses the wrath of man to praise Himself.
“Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; With the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself.” Psalms 76:10
God has set up our world in such a complex and integrated way that even what seems to be evil may produce good. God is God and we cannot defeat His Purpose. But He wants us to turn to Him in love. And He gives us the ability to do this (Romans 5:1-5).
We shake our heads at the Picketers intruding in the sorrow of Tucson. They shout of God’s hatred for the world! Satan tries to convince us that God is our enemy. Sometimes Christians so emphasize sin & guilt that they lose sight of God's goodness and mercy (Romans 2:4).
Yet as Paul the Apostle wrote: “For there must also be factions (heresies KJV) among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.” 1 Cor 11:19. Our reaction to extremism causes us to rethink what we think we believe.
“Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” Matt 18:7
What sorrow awaits the world, because the dark side of the world tempts people to sin. Satan is a roaring lion. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.
3. God’s Answer.
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:14-15
“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” 1 Cor 15:20-22
What good is Christianity without the Resurrection - both Christ’s and ours? His death would do us no good without it. What use is forgiveness if we remained dead? His disciples were transformed by His Resurrection; and this they preached above all. On ‘Easter’ morning Christians sing: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and bestowing life upon those in the tombs.”
The resurrection body which we will have then is the fulfillment of what God intends for our present body. “And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.” 1 Cor 15:49
Johnson's Notes (The People's New Testament) says: "When we are raised to heaven we shall have spiritual bodies like Christ's, not like the body he received from Mary, but the glorious body in which he appears to saints and angels on high. Do we ask what body we shall have? It shall be like Christ's glorious body. See Phil 3:21."
Note how Paul the Apostle speaks of this. "For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."
2 Cor 5:1-10 (NKJV)
[This was my sermon in response to the shooting at Tucson.]
Jesus is God-The-Eternal-Word who came into our world of Time as one of us - flesh & blood, skin & bones. He came to show us Who God Is. John the Apostle wrote: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:16-17 (NKJV) Jesus taught us: "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." Matt 5:44-45 (NKJV)
A medical doctor said: “Death is the yardstick which measures us all.” Because our personal death is certain, we reorganize our priorities. And we also do our best to hang on to life. Since we know our time is limited, we work to make the best use of it.
The shooting at Tucson should never have happened. But it did, and so do many other terrible things. Jesus spoke in Matt. 24 of wars and calamities. God knows what He is doing. In what seems despair, men and women are making choices, choosing to help, or wringing their hands.
John the Apostle wrote: “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Rev 3:10
1. Times of trial and testing.
a) “Or did God ever try to go and take for Himself a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord Himself is God; there is none other besides Him.” Deut 4:34-35
Although the faithful will not be spared from sufferings, persecution, and martyrdom, they will be sustained and supported so as to persevere in their faithfulness. God intends us to know good and evil, to experience difficulties and to learn and grow into His Image.
“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12
“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,” Phil 2:14-15
2. God uses the wrath of man to praise Himself.
“Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; With the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself.” Psalms 76:10
God has set up our world in such a complex and integrated way that even what seems to be evil may produce good. God is God and we cannot defeat His Purpose. But He wants us to turn to Him in love. And He gives us the ability to do this (Romans 5:1-5).
We shake our heads at the Picketers intruding in the sorrow of Tucson. They shout of God’s hatred for the world! Satan tries to convince us that God is our enemy. Sometimes Christians so emphasize sin & guilt that they lose sight of God's goodness and mercy (Romans 2:4).
Yet as Paul the Apostle wrote: “For there must also be factions (heresies KJV) among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.” 1 Cor 11:19. Our reaction to extremism causes us to rethink what we think we believe.
“Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” Matt 18:7
What sorrow awaits the world, because the dark side of the world tempts people to sin. Satan is a roaring lion. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.
3. God’s Answer.
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:14-15
“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” 1 Cor 15:20-22
What good is Christianity without the Resurrection - both Christ’s and ours? His death would do us no good without it. What use is forgiveness if we remained dead? His disciples were transformed by His Resurrection; and this they preached above all. On ‘Easter’ morning Christians sing: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and bestowing life upon those in the tombs.”
The resurrection body which we will have then is the fulfillment of what God intends for our present body. “And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.” 1 Cor 15:49
Johnson's Notes (The People's New Testament) says: "When we are raised to heaven we shall have spiritual bodies like Christ's, not like the body he received from Mary, but the glorious body in which he appears to saints and angels on high. Do we ask what body we shall have? It shall be like Christ's glorious body. See Phil 3:21."
Note how Paul the Apostle speaks of this. "For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."
2 Cor 5:1-10 (NKJV)
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Celebrating the KJV 400 Years
KING JAMES VERSION of 1611
R. D. Ice
2011 is the 400th anniversary of the KJV auhorized by King James of England. The Queen of England made an announcement of this. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12079065
"Over 400 years ago King James VI of Scotland inherited the throne of England at a time when the Christian church was deeply divided. Here at Hampton Court in 1604, he convened a conference of churchmen of all shades of opinion to discuss the future of Christianity in this country. The king agreed to commission a new translation of the bible that was acceptable to all parties. This was to become the King James, or Authorized, Bible, which next year will be exactly four centuries old. Acknowledged as a masterpiece of English prose and the most vivid translation of the scriptures, the glorious language of this bible has survived the turbulence of history and given many of us the most widely recognised and beautiful descriptions of the birth of Jesus Christ which we celebrate today. The King James Bible was a major co-operative endeavour that required the efforts of dozens of the day's leading scholars. The whole enterprise was guided by an interest in reaching agreement for the wider benefit of the Christian church, and to bring harmony to the kingdoms of England and Scotland."
We believe that the Translators of the Version of 1611 were faithful Christians. A. Campbell also believed they were Christians. He accepted the KJV as the inspired word of God. His argument with them was based on the changes in the English language since their work. [Some use the NKJV for study because of these changes.]
AN APOLOGY FOR A NEW TRANSLATION A. Campbell
"A living language is continually changing. Like the fashions and customs in apparel, words and phrases, at one time current and fashionable, in a century or two, come to have a signification very different from that which was once attached to them: nay, some are known to convey ideas not only different from, but contrary to, their first signification. And were it not for books and parchments, which preserve from one generation to another, the language of the dead; and transmit from father to son the words and sentences of past times; it is not improbable that, in one generation, a living language would undergo as many mutations, and admit of as many innovations as it now does in two or three hundred years."
"We have, in writing, all the Hebrew and Greek that is necessary to perpetuate to the end of time, all the ideas which the Spirit of God has communicated to the world; and these languages, being dead, have long since ceased to change. The meaning of the words used by the sacred penman, is fixed and immutable; which it could not have been, had these languages continued to have been spoken."
"But this constant mutation in a living language will probably render new translations, or corrections of old translations, necessary every two or three hundred years. For although the English tongue may have changed less during the last two hundred years than it ever did in the same lapse of time; yet the changes which have taken place since the reign of James I do now render a new translation necessary. For if the King's translators had given a translation every way faithful and correct, in the language then spoken in Britain, the changes in the English language which have since been introduced, would render that translation in many instances incorrect." The Sacred Writings, 1826, A. Campbell
The KJV translators (or revisers) lived in a different time and a different culture. Their personal world-view was "gloomy" due to the world in which they lived. They wrote and spoke in the English language of Tyndale, 16th Century. Tyndale's translation of 1526 inspired the great translations to follow, including the Great Bible of 1539, the Geneva Bible of 1560, the Bishop's Bible of 1568 (and others).
King James wanted a "standard" Translation to be used by all the English churches. He instructed: "The ordinary Bible read in the Church, commonly called the Bishop's Bible, to be followed, and as little altered as the Truth of the original will permit."
The original KJV 1611 was published in Black Letters (Old English), and included the Books of the Apocrypha. It also contained an introduction by the Translators, and a justification for their work. They said: "We are so far off from condemning any of their labors that travailed before us in this kind, either in this land or beyond sea, either in King Henry's time, or King Edward's...or Queen Elizabeth's of ever renowned memory, that we acknowledge them to have been raised up of God, for the building and furnishing of his Church, and that they deserve to be had of us and of posterity in everlasting remembrance." You can read about this online at:
http://m2.aol.com/AVBibleTAB/av/KJVpre.htm
http://m2.aol.com/avbibletab/av/dedicat.htm
The Version commissioned by King James of England first came from the printing press in 1611 AD. It contained all the Apocrypha as well as the Old and New Testaments. It reflects the language spoken in Britain in the previous century, since it is a revision of the work of Tyndale circa 1525 AD. Because we use the same words, but with new and very different meanings, it is difficult to realize that as early as 1770, Benjamin Franklin said that people had ceased to read the Bible [the KJV] because they could not understand it. While the words were the same, the meanings were so different in places.
Dan Hedges wrote in Ministries Today, J/A 1999. “The paraphrases that are popular and not-so-popular also have their place. Who can question the value of how The Living Bible translation got an entire generation of frustrated King James nonreaders into daily devotional reading? The new paraphrases help us meet this need.” Even if you violently disagree with what he said, this is a present challenge. Just now The Book NLT is being aggressively promoted by Walmart and others, and will continue to face us. The standard is the original Bible in the Ancient languages. What does it say???
The original KJV was printed in the Old English typeface. The alphabet was different. "i" and "j" were different forms of the same letter, as were "u" and "v". The Name of God was given as "Iehouah" [Iehoua]. Current editions of the KJV have been revised and the spelling changed. [Some editions have English spelling and some American spelling.]
Here is my example of the language difference. "I decided to go on a journey to the Camp Ground. I packed my utensils and my tabernacle into my car, taking along my dog. Arriving there, I set the dog free, and set about unpacking my gear. First, I unpacked my tabernacle and set it up. I was planning to stay the night and would need a spot for slumber. Then I gathered sticks and soon had a fire going. I filled the pot with water and set it over the fire. I shaved herbs into the pot: carrots, potatoes, some corns of barley, cumin, garlic, and finally a lump of kine flesh. I seethed it and in time had a mess of pottage. At this point I shrilled for the dog, and he came bounding from the distance. After doing the necessary things, we enjoyed our feast."
Campbell championed a new version, "The Living Oracles," by James McKnight, Phillip Doddridge, and George Campbell, which had been revised by himself. He published this new version in 1826. It reflected the English spoken by the American people of Scotch-Irish ancestry in Campbell's day. This is the Version which Campbell used to spark the "restoration" movement in our USA. It was used almost exclusively until the time of the Civil War. http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/oracles4th/oracles4th.html
Here is the "Lord's Prayer" [Luke 11:2-4] as it appears in some different "versions."
KJV of 1611. This is the original spelling. "Our Father which art in heauen, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdome come, Thy will be done as in heauen, so in earth. Giue vs day by day our dayly bread. And forgiue vs our sinnes: for we also forgiue euery one that is indebted to vs. And lead us not into temptation, but deliuer vs from euill."
Campbell's Living Oracles. "Father, thy name be hallowed; thy Reign come; give us each day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins, for even we forgive all who offend us; and lead us not into temptation." [Note: the corrected Greek Text omits “deliver us from the evil one," and that Campbell followed this corrected Greek text."]
American Standard Version 1901. "Father, Hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we ourselves also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And bring us not into temptation." [Note the ASV follows the NU Greek text.]
New KJV 1983. "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one."
CEV Basic English. "Father, help us to honor your name. Come and set up your kingdom. Give us each day the food we need. Forgive our sins, as we forgive everyone who has done wrong to us. And keep us from being tempted."
J. W. McGarvey said, at the Missouri Christian Lectures, 1883: "The Canterbury revision of the New Testament should now totally supplant the King James Version, not only because it is a great improvement as a version, but because it is the only representative in English of the corrected Greek text. A man is not safe in venturing upon the exegesis of a single passage by the aid of the old version until he shall have compared it with the new; and rather than be continually making these comparisons, it is better to at once adopt the new into exclusive use."
We know the Canterbury revision as the American Standard Version of 1901. Johnson's Notes (The People's New Testament) has the [English] Canterbury revision in the margin. The Gospel Advocate Commentaries use the American Standard Version as their basic text.
"Black English," has recently been in the news, and some would make it become a separate language. The ABS recently published Luke in Gullah (Sea Island Creole). Here is the Lord's Prayer in that language [a variant of English]. "We Papa een heaben, leh ebrybody hona you nyame cause you da holy. We pray dat soon you gwine rule oba all ob we. Wasoneba ting you da want, leh um be een dis wol, same like e be dey en heaben. Gee we de food wa we need dis day yah an ebry day. Fagibe we fa de bad ting we da do. Cause we da fagibe dem people wa do bad ta we. Leh we don't habe haad test wen Satan try we. Keep we from ebil."
Another variant of "Black English" comes from New Guinea, and is called "Neo-Melanisian." Here is the Lord's Prayer. "Papa, nem bilong yu em i mas i stap holi. Kingdom bilong yu em i mas i kam. Kaikai bilong mipela inap long de, em yu givim mipela long olgeta de. Lusim sin bilong mipela. Mipela tu i lusim sin bilong olgeta man i bin mekim rong long mipela. Yu no bringim mipela long samting bilong traim mipela."
Campbell cited the instructions of King James to his translators as the reason certain words are not translated, but transliterated. He wrote of these instructions in his "Christian Baptist” paper. These may also be found in McClintock & Strong's Cyclopedia.
For the better ordering of the proceedings of the translators, his Majesty recommended the following rules to them, to be very carefully observed: -
1. The ordinary Bible, read in the church, commonly called the Bishop's Bible, to be followed, and as little altered as the original will permit.
2. The names of the prophets and the holy writers, with the other names in the text, to be retained, as near as may be, according as they are vulgarly [commonly] used.
3. The old ecclesiastical words to be kept; as the word church, not to be translated congregation, etc.
4. When any word hath divers significations, that to be kept which has been most commonly used by the most eminent, being agreeable to the propriety of the place, and the analogy of faith.
[Campbell includes the instructions through #14.]
Campbell comments: "It is evident from third of the King's instructions to the translators, that he forbade them to translate the old ecclesiastical words; and in rule fourth he commands, that when any word hath divers significations, they should retain that in their translation which has been most commonly used by the most eminent fathers, being agreeable to the propriety of the place and the analogy of faith."
"Let it be particularly noticed, that among those words called consecrated ecclesiastical words, and which were forbidden by the king to be translated into English, are the words baptism and baptize.... and gives the word church not to be translated congregation with an & as a specimen of these words....When Tyndal[e] issued his translation of the Bible, because he had in it disregarded the words which the clergy esteemed sacred, they condemned it. He had, for instance, changed charity into love; church into congregation; priest into senior; grace into favor; confession into knowledge; penance into repentance; and a contrite heart into a troubled heart....For instance, the word church, he said, was, by the popish clergy, appropriated to themselves; [whereas, of right it was common to all the whole congregation of them that believe in Christ." [from Campbell's The Christian Baptist, Vol. 1, 1824]
There was a Church of the Jews in the wilderness [Acts 7:38] which was the congregation of the saved containing every Jewish person. The Church of the Lord is likewise one spiritual-congregation containing every saved person who is in Jesus Christ - One Body, One Kingdom, One Temple built of Living Stones. And so Campbell understood [cf. The Lunenburg Letter].
The original KJV contained The Prayer of Manasseh.
"Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel. His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sin, and histrespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers." 2 Chron 33:18-19
The Prayer of Manasseh
or
The Prayer of Manasses King of Judah
Chapter 1
1 O Lord, Almighty God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous seed;[2] who hast made heaven and earth, with all the ornament thereof;[3] who hast bound the sea by the word of thy commandment; who hast shut up the deep, and sealed it by thy terrible and glorious name;[4] whom all men fear, and tremble before thy power;[5] for the majesty of thy glory cannot be borne, and thine angry threatening toward sinners is importable:[6] but thy merciful promise is unmeasurable and unsearchable;[7] for thou art the most high Lord, of great compassion, longsuffering, very merciful, and repentest of the evils of men. Thou, O Lord, according to thy great goodness hast promised repentance and forgiveness to them that have sinned against thee: and of thine infinite mercies hast appointed repentance unto sinners, that they may be saved.[8] Thou therefore, O Lord, that art the God of the just, hast not appointed repentance to the just, as to Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, which have not sinned against thee; but thou hast appointed repentance unto me that am a sinner:[9] for I have sinned above the number of the sands of the sea. My transgressions, O Lord, are multiplied: my transgressions are multiplied, and I am not worthy to behold and see the height of heaven for the multitude of mine iniquities.[10] I am bowed down with many iron bands, that I cannot life up mine head, neither have any release: for I have provoked thy wrath, and done evil before thee: I did not thy will, neither kept I thy commandments: I have set up abominations, and have multiplied offences.[11] Now therefore I bow the knee of mine heart, beseeching thee of grace.[12] I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge mine iniquities:[13] wherefore, I humbly beseech thee, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and destroy me not with mine iniquites. Be not angry with me for ever, by reserving evil for me; neither condemn me to the lower parts of the earth. For thou art the God, even the God of them that repent;[14] and in me thou wilt shew all thy goodness: for thou wilt save me, that am unworthy, according to thy great mercy.[15] Therefore I will praise thee for ever all the days of my life: for all the powers of the heavens do praise thee, and thine is the glory for ever and ever. Amen. Man 6:1-15 (KJVApocrypha)
R. D. Ice
2011 is the 400th anniversary of the KJV auhorized by King James of England. The Queen of England made an announcement of this. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12079065
"Over 400 years ago King James VI of Scotland inherited the throne of England at a time when the Christian church was deeply divided. Here at Hampton Court in 1604, he convened a conference of churchmen of all shades of opinion to discuss the future of Christianity in this country. The king agreed to commission a new translation of the bible that was acceptable to all parties. This was to become the King James, or Authorized, Bible, which next year will be exactly four centuries old. Acknowledged as a masterpiece of English prose and the most vivid translation of the scriptures, the glorious language of this bible has survived the turbulence of history and given many of us the most widely recognised and beautiful descriptions of the birth of Jesus Christ which we celebrate today. The King James Bible was a major co-operative endeavour that required the efforts of dozens of the day's leading scholars. The whole enterprise was guided by an interest in reaching agreement for the wider benefit of the Christian church, and to bring harmony to the kingdoms of England and Scotland."
We believe that the Translators of the Version of 1611 were faithful Christians. A. Campbell also believed they were Christians. He accepted the KJV as the inspired word of God. His argument with them was based on the changes in the English language since their work. [Some use the NKJV for study because of these changes.]
AN APOLOGY FOR A NEW TRANSLATION A. Campbell
"A living language is continually changing. Like the fashions and customs in apparel, words and phrases, at one time current and fashionable, in a century or two, come to have a signification very different from that which was once attached to them: nay, some are known to convey ideas not only different from, but contrary to, their first signification. And were it not for books and parchments, which preserve from one generation to another, the language of the dead; and transmit from father to son the words and sentences of past times; it is not improbable that, in one generation, a living language would undergo as many mutations, and admit of as many innovations as it now does in two or three hundred years."
"We have, in writing, all the Hebrew and Greek that is necessary to perpetuate to the end of time, all the ideas which the Spirit of God has communicated to the world; and these languages, being dead, have long since ceased to change. The meaning of the words used by the sacred penman, is fixed and immutable; which it could not have been, had these languages continued to have been spoken."
"But this constant mutation in a living language will probably render new translations, or corrections of old translations, necessary every two or three hundred years. For although the English tongue may have changed less during the last two hundred years than it ever did in the same lapse of time; yet the changes which have taken place since the reign of James I do now render a new translation necessary. For if the King's translators had given a translation every way faithful and correct, in the language then spoken in Britain, the changes in the English language which have since been introduced, would render that translation in many instances incorrect." The Sacred Writings, 1826, A. Campbell
The KJV translators (or revisers) lived in a different time and a different culture. Their personal world-view was "gloomy" due to the world in which they lived. They wrote and spoke in the English language of Tyndale, 16th Century. Tyndale's translation of 1526 inspired the great translations to follow, including the Great Bible of 1539, the Geneva Bible of 1560, the Bishop's Bible of 1568 (and others).
King James wanted a "standard" Translation to be used by all the English churches. He instructed: "The ordinary Bible read in the Church, commonly called the Bishop's Bible, to be followed, and as little altered as the Truth of the original will permit."
The original KJV 1611 was published in Black Letters (Old English), and included the Books of the Apocrypha. It also contained an introduction by the Translators, and a justification for their work. They said: "We are so far off from condemning any of their labors that travailed before us in this kind, either in this land or beyond sea, either in King Henry's time, or King Edward's...or Queen Elizabeth's of ever renowned memory, that we acknowledge them to have been raised up of God, for the building and furnishing of his Church, and that they deserve to be had of us and of posterity in everlasting remembrance." You can read about this online at:
http://m2.aol.com/AVBibleTAB/av/KJVpre.htm
http://m2.aol.com/avbibletab/av/dedicat.htm
The Version commissioned by King James of England first came from the printing press in 1611 AD. It contained all the Apocrypha as well as the Old and New Testaments. It reflects the language spoken in Britain in the previous century, since it is a revision of the work of Tyndale circa 1525 AD. Because we use the same words, but with new and very different meanings, it is difficult to realize that as early as 1770, Benjamin Franklin said that people had ceased to read the Bible [the KJV] because they could not understand it. While the words were the same, the meanings were so different in places.
Dan Hedges wrote in Ministries Today, J/A 1999. “The paraphrases that are popular and not-so-popular also have their place. Who can question the value of how The Living Bible translation got an entire generation of frustrated King James nonreaders into daily devotional reading? The new paraphrases help us meet this need.” Even if you violently disagree with what he said, this is a present challenge. Just now The Book NLT is being aggressively promoted by Walmart and others, and will continue to face us. The standard is the original Bible in the Ancient languages. What does it say???
The original KJV was printed in the Old English typeface. The alphabet was different. "i" and "j" were different forms of the same letter, as were "u" and "v". The Name of God was given as "Iehouah" [Iehoua]. Current editions of the KJV have been revised and the spelling changed. [Some editions have English spelling and some American spelling.]
Here is my example of the language difference. "I decided to go on a journey to the Camp Ground. I packed my utensils and my tabernacle into my car, taking along my dog. Arriving there, I set the dog free, and set about unpacking my gear. First, I unpacked my tabernacle and set it up. I was planning to stay the night and would need a spot for slumber. Then I gathered sticks and soon had a fire going. I filled the pot with water and set it over the fire. I shaved herbs into the pot: carrots, potatoes, some corns of barley, cumin, garlic, and finally a lump of kine flesh. I seethed it and in time had a mess of pottage. At this point I shrilled for the dog, and he came bounding from the distance. After doing the necessary things, we enjoyed our feast."
Campbell championed a new version, "The Living Oracles," by James McKnight, Phillip Doddridge, and George Campbell, which had been revised by himself. He published this new version in 1826. It reflected the English spoken by the American people of Scotch-Irish ancestry in Campbell's day. This is the Version which Campbell used to spark the "restoration" movement in our USA. It was used almost exclusively until the time of the Civil War. http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/oracles4th/oracles4th.html
Here is the "Lord's Prayer" [Luke 11:2-4] as it appears in some different "versions."
KJV of 1611. This is the original spelling. "Our Father which art in heauen, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdome come, Thy will be done as in heauen, so in earth. Giue vs day by day our dayly bread. And forgiue vs our sinnes: for we also forgiue euery one that is indebted to vs. And lead us not into temptation, but deliuer vs from euill."
Campbell's Living Oracles. "Father, thy name be hallowed; thy Reign come; give us each day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins, for even we forgive all who offend us; and lead us not into temptation." [Note: the corrected Greek Text omits “deliver us from the evil one," and that Campbell followed this corrected Greek text."]
American Standard Version 1901. "Father, Hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we ourselves also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And bring us not into temptation." [Note the ASV follows the NU Greek text.]
New KJV 1983. "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one."
CEV Basic English. "Father, help us to honor your name. Come and set up your kingdom. Give us each day the food we need. Forgive our sins, as we forgive everyone who has done wrong to us. And keep us from being tempted."
J. W. McGarvey said, at the Missouri Christian Lectures, 1883: "The Canterbury revision of the New Testament should now totally supplant the King James Version, not only because it is a great improvement as a version, but because it is the only representative in English of the corrected Greek text. A man is not safe in venturing upon the exegesis of a single passage by the aid of the old version until he shall have compared it with the new; and rather than be continually making these comparisons, it is better to at once adopt the new into exclusive use."
We know the Canterbury revision as the American Standard Version of 1901. Johnson's Notes (The People's New Testament) has the [English] Canterbury revision in the margin. The Gospel Advocate Commentaries use the American Standard Version as their basic text.
"Black English," has recently been in the news, and some would make it become a separate language. The ABS recently published Luke in Gullah (Sea Island Creole). Here is the Lord's Prayer in that language [a variant of English]. "We Papa een heaben, leh ebrybody hona you nyame cause you da holy. We pray dat soon you gwine rule oba all ob we. Wasoneba ting you da want, leh um be een dis wol, same like e be dey en heaben. Gee we de food wa we need dis day yah an ebry day. Fagibe we fa de bad ting we da do. Cause we da fagibe dem people wa do bad ta we. Leh we don't habe haad test wen Satan try we. Keep we from ebil."
Another variant of "Black English" comes from New Guinea, and is called "Neo-Melanisian." Here is the Lord's Prayer. "Papa, nem bilong yu em i mas i stap holi. Kingdom bilong yu em i mas i kam. Kaikai bilong mipela inap long de, em yu givim mipela long olgeta de. Lusim sin bilong mipela. Mipela tu i lusim sin bilong olgeta man i bin mekim rong long mipela. Yu no bringim mipela long samting bilong traim mipela."
Campbell cited the instructions of King James to his translators as the reason certain words are not translated, but transliterated. He wrote of these instructions in his "Christian Baptist” paper. These may also be found in McClintock & Strong's Cyclopedia.
For the better ordering of the proceedings of the translators, his Majesty recommended the following rules to them, to be very carefully observed: -
1. The ordinary Bible, read in the church, commonly called the Bishop's Bible, to be followed, and as little altered as the original will permit.
2. The names of the prophets and the holy writers, with the other names in the text, to be retained, as near as may be, according as they are vulgarly [commonly] used.
3. The old ecclesiastical words to be kept; as the word church, not to be translated congregation, etc.
4. When any word hath divers significations, that to be kept which has been most commonly used by the most eminent, being agreeable to the propriety of the place, and the analogy of faith.
[Campbell includes the instructions through #14.]
Campbell comments: "It is evident from third of the King's instructions to the translators, that he forbade them to translate the old ecclesiastical words; and in rule fourth he commands, that when any word hath divers significations, they should retain that in their translation which has been most commonly used by the most eminent fathers, being agreeable to the propriety of the place and the analogy of faith."
"Let it be particularly noticed, that among those words called consecrated ecclesiastical words, and which were forbidden by the king to be translated into English, are the words baptism and baptize.... and gives the word church not to be translated congregation with an & as a specimen of these words....When Tyndal[e] issued his translation of the Bible, because he had in it disregarded the words which the clergy esteemed sacred, they condemned it. He had, for instance, changed charity into love; church into congregation; priest into senior; grace into favor; confession into knowledge; penance into repentance; and a contrite heart into a troubled heart....For instance, the word church, he said, was, by the popish clergy, appropriated to themselves; [whereas, of right it was common to all the whole congregation of them that believe in Christ." [from Campbell's The Christian Baptist, Vol. 1, 1824]
There was a Church of the Jews in the wilderness [Acts 7:38] which was the congregation of the saved containing every Jewish person. The Church of the Lord is likewise one spiritual-congregation containing every saved person who is in Jesus Christ - One Body, One Kingdom, One Temple built of Living Stones. And so Campbell understood [cf. The Lunenburg Letter].
The original KJV contained The Prayer of Manasseh.
"Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel. His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sin, and histrespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers." 2 Chron 33:18-19
The Prayer of Manasseh
or
The Prayer of Manasses King of Judah
Chapter 1
1 O Lord, Almighty God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous seed;[2] who hast made heaven and earth, with all the ornament thereof;[3] who hast bound the sea by the word of thy commandment; who hast shut up the deep, and sealed it by thy terrible and glorious name;[4] whom all men fear, and tremble before thy power;[5] for the majesty of thy glory cannot be borne, and thine angry threatening toward sinners is importable:[6] but thy merciful promise is unmeasurable and unsearchable;[7] for thou art the most high Lord, of great compassion, longsuffering, very merciful, and repentest of the evils of men. Thou, O Lord, according to thy great goodness hast promised repentance and forgiveness to them that have sinned against thee: and of thine infinite mercies hast appointed repentance unto sinners, that they may be saved.[8] Thou therefore, O Lord, that art the God of the just, hast not appointed repentance to the just, as to Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, which have not sinned against thee; but thou hast appointed repentance unto me that am a sinner:[9] for I have sinned above the number of the sands of the sea. My transgressions, O Lord, are multiplied: my transgressions are multiplied, and I am not worthy to behold and see the height of heaven for the multitude of mine iniquities.[10] I am bowed down with many iron bands, that I cannot life up mine head, neither have any release: for I have provoked thy wrath, and done evil before thee: I did not thy will, neither kept I thy commandments: I have set up abominations, and have multiplied offences.[11] Now therefore I bow the knee of mine heart, beseeching thee of grace.[12] I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge mine iniquities:[13] wherefore, I humbly beseech thee, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and destroy me not with mine iniquites. Be not angry with me for ever, by reserving evil for me; neither condemn me to the lower parts of the earth. For thou art the God, even the God of them that repent;[14] and in me thou wilt shew all thy goodness: for thou wilt save me, that am unworthy, according to thy great mercy.[15] Therefore I will praise thee for ever all the days of my life: for all the powers of the heavens do praise thee, and thine is the glory for ever and ever. Amen. Man 6:1-15 (KJVApocrypha)
Saturday, January 8, 2011
PUT WORSHIP IN
PUT WORSHIP IN THE WORSHIP SERVICE
Rhoderick D. Ice [Standard 1991]
"Would you buy hair-restorer from a baldheaded barber?" Dr. Flavil Yeakley is an expert on Church Growth. A few years ago he surveyed a typical Church of Christ in my area. He found: only 53% believed they were saved; 2% actually believed they were lost; the rest really did not know whether they were saved or lost. This was among active members. How can someone who has no assurance of his/her own salvation reach out with Christ to the unsaved???
When both the tabernacle and the temple were built, the glory of the Lord filled them (Exodus 40:34-35; 1 Kings 8:10-11). Ditto the Jerusalem church at Pentecost (Acts 2). Should not we expect such to be true today when we are in harmony with the Lord??? How would this "glory" express itself?
The story is told of a minister who visited one of the more exuberant churches. He went home and arranged the Sunday service to attempt to capture this ebullience. They failed. He returned to videotape the exuberant service. This time they sang the same songs, prayed the exact words, and he preached the exact sermon. But they could not "fake" the "verve." It is impossible to share what is not "real" to the one trying to share.
Some seem to be rediscovering the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote: "Do not put out the Spirit's fire" (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:19). "He [The Spirit] will be with you forever" (cf. John 14:16-17). Joel spoke of both men and women, both young and old, being touched by The Spirit (cf. Acts 2). Christians are to be "filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). We are to "pray[ing] in the Holy Spirit" (Jude 20) We have accepted His blood - but have we accepted His Spirit? Paul warns about "form" without "power" (2 Timothy 3:5). The Pharisees studied the Scriptures intently as they searched for eternal life. Yet they missed the most important point - JESUS (John 5:38-40). It would be tragic to read "letter" but miss "Spirit" (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:6-18). It is by the power of The Spirit that we worship God.
The "worship service is the correct place to begin evangelism. The "warmth" of worship helps to create the desire to share this great gift from God. In personal life, praise generates worship. Praise is thanking God, expressing our love, gratitude, appreciation. Worship involves personal communication with God, centering on His person. In worship we enter God's presence.
"Revitalize the worship by practicing the presence of God." Jesus said HE was right there when "two or three are gathered together in My name" (Matthew 18:20). Do we think Jesus as we worship? If we could see Him with our eyes, would it make a difference in HOW we worship?
God wishes to meet with us and move among us, interacting with and transforming His People. He does not give us a Bible quiz on Sunday, so that He can bless us the following week. We focus so much on evangelism, that worship seems an optional activity. Compare Revelation ch 4. "You art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created."
Worship in living color! Jesus thrilled with joy through the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:21). Paul commanded: "Rejoice always!" We may worship acceptably, yet be denying ourselves a blessing we should receive. It is the difference between black-and-white and color. The black-and-white is accurate and satisfactory. But color adds a valuable dimension. Preaching the word is essential. But we need the joyful participation of the congregation! We need Holy Joy!
First century worship certainly compared to the "pre-game rally." Their Lord - and ours - has risen from the dead. The Lord's Supper proclaims His death until He comes [again]. This is the Gospel message. Historical, factual, real. How can we not praise Him who made all this possible?
If I were the devil: I would try to steal away all the praise, honor and joy from the worship of God. I would emphasize duty and encourage form without power (2 Timothy 3:5). If I were the devil I would try to see that worship was lifeless and spiritless [Spiritless], and that any who questioned this procedure were immediately "suspect" of abandoning the faith.
This from Logan Fox, former missionary to Japan and Family Counselor. Apply this to the meaning of worship. "I am now convinced that the church is failing in its mission of 'healing' because we have failed to heed Jesus' words: 'Judge not.' We have relied on the power of social disapproval in trying to change people's behavior, rather than relying on the power of acceptance and love. In this, we have shown that we trust the power of world more than the spiritual power of love and holiness."
STRUCTURING WORSHIP. Four types of structure may be seen in worship among the Churches in our religious world. Each of these has some truth. Each may relate in part to the worship we see in the New Testament Church. Notice that the New Testament carefully avoids giving a detailed description of a typical worship service. Rather we deduce elements and patterns of what they must have done from things which are said. The synagogue must have served as a model. Yet certainly there were some differences in "worship" between Jews and Gentiles. Even today among us, the basic elements are the same, but are worked out in individual ways as the result of many cultural factors and other such things. We speak to God from the fullness of our heart, in the language of our own idiom.
The Lecture Approach. This has become our traditional form. Bible study is the emphasis. Worship is expressed in "classroom terms." The sermon is the center and focus. Worshipers are passive except for the few who serve.
The Evangelism Approach. This grows out of the "Workshop Movement." Worship is viewed in the context of "soul winning." It is, to some degree, the re-creation of the "Gospel Tent." The invitation becomes the center of focus. The entire "sermon" may be a prolonged invitation to sinners to come forward to give themselves to Christ ["obey the Gospel"]. Other matters equally weighty are sometimes overlooked. One such Evangelistic Church was said to keep only eight of every hundred baptized.
The Self-Help Approach. We may see this extreme in certain TV preachers. Worship is seen as individual-centered. Each is encouraged to seek personal worth and success. Some would say that this is the "ME generation in church clothes." Yet notice how Jesus emphasized wholeness and self-help. Healing of lives is as needed as salvation from sins. Note Hebrews 6:1-3.
The Entertainment and Numbers Approach. The extreme of this is seen in some TV Evangelists. Worship is structured as a TV Extravaganza. There is a stage, with performers presenting a package to the audience. This grows out of contemporary American culture, and we all understand this approach.
How To Reach The Masses! Paul "met people where they were" (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). He could be a "Jew," a "Gentile," a "vegetarian," and any other of the myriad forms which human culture takes. Paul could "relate" to Onesimus, the runaway slave; "relate" to the very strict Pharisees; and preach to Greek Philosophers on Mars Hill. But in every case Paul's motive was to elevate Christ and His Gospel!
WHAT KIND OF GOD? What kind of God would demand worship from His creation? As well ask: "What kind of father/mother would expect love and honor from his/her children?" It is the normal order of things. GOD LOVES US! He gave us the gift of life & being. We in turn were created to love Him and praise Him. This basic idea of praise and honor is brought out in many ways throughout the Scriptures. Psalms and Revelation stand out in giving form and language to our worship.
SHAKE THE WORLD! When the saints of old prayed, the house was shaken (Acts 4:31). Faith is the victory - but faith certainly must find expression. Let's put worship back into the worship service. Let's praise and honor God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and The Holy Spirit. [Some may argue that everything is to be directed toward God the Father. But we worship one God, not three: Father-Son-Holy Spirit.] Let praise and joy fulfill the role which God intended for them!
Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!" (Revelation 19:5 NKJV).
"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever,
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
And gathered out of the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the south."
(Psalm 107:1-3 NKJV)
Rhoderick D. Ice [Standard 1991]
"Would you buy hair-restorer from a baldheaded barber?" Dr. Flavil Yeakley is an expert on Church Growth. A few years ago he surveyed a typical Church of Christ in my area. He found: only 53% believed they were saved; 2% actually believed they were lost; the rest really did not know whether they were saved or lost. This was among active members. How can someone who has no assurance of his/her own salvation reach out with Christ to the unsaved???
When both the tabernacle and the temple were built, the glory of the Lord filled them (Exodus 40:34-35; 1 Kings 8:10-11). Ditto the Jerusalem church at Pentecost (Acts 2). Should not we expect such to be true today when we are in harmony with the Lord??? How would this "glory" express itself?
The story is told of a minister who visited one of the more exuberant churches. He went home and arranged the Sunday service to attempt to capture this ebullience. They failed. He returned to videotape the exuberant service. This time they sang the same songs, prayed the exact words, and he preached the exact sermon. But they could not "fake" the "verve." It is impossible to share what is not "real" to the one trying to share.
Some seem to be rediscovering the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote: "Do not put out the Spirit's fire" (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:19). "He [The Spirit] will be with you forever" (cf. John 14:16-17). Joel spoke of both men and women, both young and old, being touched by The Spirit (cf. Acts 2). Christians are to be "filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). We are to "pray[ing] in the Holy Spirit" (Jude 20) We have accepted His blood - but have we accepted His Spirit? Paul warns about "form" without "power" (2 Timothy 3:5). The Pharisees studied the Scriptures intently as they searched for eternal life. Yet they missed the most important point - JESUS (John 5:38-40). It would be tragic to read "letter" but miss "Spirit" (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:6-18). It is by the power of The Spirit that we worship God.
The "worship service is the correct place to begin evangelism. The "warmth" of worship helps to create the desire to share this great gift from God. In personal life, praise generates worship. Praise is thanking God, expressing our love, gratitude, appreciation. Worship involves personal communication with God, centering on His person. In worship we enter God's presence.
"Revitalize the worship by practicing the presence of God." Jesus said HE was right there when "two or three are gathered together in My name" (Matthew 18:20). Do we think Jesus as we worship? If we could see Him with our eyes, would it make a difference in HOW we worship?
God wishes to meet with us and move among us, interacting with and transforming His People. He does not give us a Bible quiz on Sunday, so that He can bless us the following week. We focus so much on evangelism, that worship seems an optional activity. Compare Revelation ch 4. "You art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created."
Worship in living color! Jesus thrilled with joy through the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:21). Paul commanded: "Rejoice always!" We may worship acceptably, yet be denying ourselves a blessing we should receive. It is the difference between black-and-white and color. The black-and-white is accurate and satisfactory. But color adds a valuable dimension. Preaching the word is essential. But we need the joyful participation of the congregation! We need Holy Joy!
First century worship certainly compared to the "pre-game rally." Their Lord - and ours - has risen from the dead. The Lord's Supper proclaims His death until He comes [again]. This is the Gospel message. Historical, factual, real. How can we not praise Him who made all this possible?
If I were the devil: I would try to steal away all the praise, honor and joy from the worship of God. I would emphasize duty and encourage form without power (2 Timothy 3:5). If I were the devil I would try to see that worship was lifeless and spiritless [Spiritless], and that any who questioned this procedure were immediately "suspect" of abandoning the faith.
This from Logan Fox, former missionary to Japan and Family Counselor. Apply this to the meaning of worship. "I am now convinced that the church is failing in its mission of 'healing' because we have failed to heed Jesus' words: 'Judge not.' We have relied on the power of social disapproval in trying to change people's behavior, rather than relying on the power of acceptance and love. In this, we have shown that we trust the power of world more than the spiritual power of love and holiness."
STRUCTURING WORSHIP. Four types of structure may be seen in worship among the Churches in our religious world. Each of these has some truth. Each may relate in part to the worship we see in the New Testament Church. Notice that the New Testament carefully avoids giving a detailed description of a typical worship service. Rather we deduce elements and patterns of what they must have done from things which are said. The synagogue must have served as a model. Yet certainly there were some differences in "worship" between Jews and Gentiles. Even today among us, the basic elements are the same, but are worked out in individual ways as the result of many cultural factors and other such things. We speak to God from the fullness of our heart, in the language of our own idiom.
The Lecture Approach. This has become our traditional form. Bible study is the emphasis. Worship is expressed in "classroom terms." The sermon is the center and focus. Worshipers are passive except for the few who serve.
The Evangelism Approach. This grows out of the "Workshop Movement." Worship is viewed in the context of "soul winning." It is, to some degree, the re-creation of the "Gospel Tent." The invitation becomes the center of focus. The entire "sermon" may be a prolonged invitation to sinners to come forward to give themselves to Christ ["obey the Gospel"]. Other matters equally weighty are sometimes overlooked. One such Evangelistic Church was said to keep only eight of every hundred baptized.
The Self-Help Approach. We may see this extreme in certain TV preachers. Worship is seen as individual-centered. Each is encouraged to seek personal worth and success. Some would say that this is the "ME generation in church clothes." Yet notice how Jesus emphasized wholeness and self-help. Healing of lives is as needed as salvation from sins. Note Hebrews 6:1-3.
The Entertainment and Numbers Approach. The extreme of this is seen in some TV Evangelists. Worship is structured as a TV Extravaganza. There is a stage, with performers presenting a package to the audience. This grows out of contemporary American culture, and we all understand this approach.
How To Reach The Masses! Paul "met people where they were" (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). He could be a "Jew," a "Gentile," a "vegetarian," and any other of the myriad forms which human culture takes. Paul could "relate" to Onesimus, the runaway slave; "relate" to the very strict Pharisees; and preach to Greek Philosophers on Mars Hill. But in every case Paul's motive was to elevate Christ and His Gospel!
WHAT KIND OF GOD? What kind of God would demand worship from His creation? As well ask: "What kind of father/mother would expect love and honor from his/her children?" It is the normal order of things. GOD LOVES US! He gave us the gift of life & being. We in turn were created to love Him and praise Him. This basic idea of praise and honor is brought out in many ways throughout the Scriptures. Psalms and Revelation stand out in giving form and language to our worship.
SHAKE THE WORLD! When the saints of old prayed, the house was shaken (Acts 4:31). Faith is the victory - but faith certainly must find expression. Let's put worship back into the worship service. Let's praise and honor God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and The Holy Spirit. [Some may argue that everything is to be directed toward God the Father. But we worship one God, not three: Father-Son-Holy Spirit.] Let praise and joy fulfill the role which God intended for them!
Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!" (Revelation 19:5 NKJV).
"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever,
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
And gathered out of the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the south."
(Psalm 107:1-3 NKJV)
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