Diane is back from seven days of grandbaby-holding. I’d like to see the size of the pliers they used to peel her fingers off Reese when she left. Good news: Matt, Jenna, and Reese will be coming soon for a few weeks so Matt can do his family practice rotation.
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Yesterday, here’s what struck me in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16. Right in the middle of this puzzling passage (What’s up with the veils? And the angels?), Paul says, “Nevertheless, in the Lord . . . .” What a powerful move.
Everything has changed in light of the new creation that is breaking in through Jesus Christ. “If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17).
We can’t pretend he didn’t come. We can’t act as if everything isn’t being reordered by his power. We can’t settle for the fallen world and its curse.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found.
Far as, far as the curse is found.
Great thoughts for a Monday morning! “In the Lord” everything is new. “In the Lord” changes things. In the new Jerusalem the curse will be gone (Rev 22:3). Meanwhile we wait patiently. I think I can face Monday now
Scripture’s theme of being made new because of what God has done is evident throughout the Bible. Here’s a few more verses I thought of; of course, there are others that could be added.
Psalm 40:3 - “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.”
Isaiah 43:19 - “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
Romans 12:2 - “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be ‘transformed’ by the renewing of your mind.”
Galatians 3:27 - “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have ‘clothed’ yourselves with Christ.”
Ephesians 4:24 - “And to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Colossians 3:10 - “And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
Thanks again, Mike, for an outstanding lesson yesterday. And that reminder that as Biblical as we strive to be, we’re not saved by getting it all right (as if we can!) but by grace through faith in Christ.
“The Passion of the Christ” had its flaws. Still I find the scene astounding where Jesus pauses on his way to the cross, and with a faraway look says to his mother, “I am making everything new!”
Michael
“There is therefore NO condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus!” (Romans 8:1)
Now, that is new! And, “Having been justified by faith…” (past tense) “we have peace with God”. (present tense)
What, me worry? About what?
Grace to you,
Royce Ogle
Soapbox time; Charles did an absolute fabulous job in class with the discussion of diversity in the Church. One statement was “Just as the church in the sixties and seventies had differences regarding issues, we have them today, and will continue to have them as long as humans meet together.” No perfect church, school or family exists on earth. So… maybe we could today, show a little more humility regarding those decisions made during that time period. Those people, our parents did what they thought was the right thing to do at that time. It seems to show a little arrogance when we (myself included) make jokes, or criticize the “Old Church of Christ”. What will the church in 2040 say about us? Humility, what a great attribute.
I hear that Reese really enjoyed the sermon yesterday
She’s a great listener!
Fast Buck,
I wasn’t at your church yesterday, so I am only getting a little bit of the conversation, but don’t you kind of hope that the folks will laugh at us in 30-40 years? I sure hope so! I want them to be able to crack jokes about things and laugh about us because that is a sign that the church will have moved ahead in time for 40 years.
And yes, I absolutely agree that we need to have the humility to understand that we are not the end all be all of church.
Many blessings as far as the curse is found.
Leviticus 19:14
Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD.
Mike, I saw your mom and dad at my Aunt Helen’s funeral today. They are looking good. They took me to Spring Sing 30 years ago (1977) and that has changed my life forever. I will always be thankful to them for that.
Fast Buck…the issues in the 50s and 60s were over orphan homes, Christian colleges, Herald of Truth sponsorship, etc…things that did not affect the worship assembly. Those who wanted to use one cup simply found a congregation that used one cup…and if they did not think a congregation should have Bible classes, they either went to a non-Sunday school congregation or did not attend Bible class. The issues today (instrumental music and women participating in public positions) do affect the worship assembly, and people who have CONVICTIONS (as opposed to those who think it is simply “tradition”) cannot worship in an assembly where these occur, because they believe it is wrong.
Beth,
The only thing is that these issues that you brought up were so important to the thinkers of the day because these issues tied in directly with congregational autonomy, another one of the churches of Christ’s planks in the platform. They believed that it was unbiblical to have multiple congregations under multiple elderships combine efforts to support efforts that were not done through the actions of one individual congregation.
To the people in the day, this was a huge huge issue. And because of an underlying plea from people in the restoration movement that we are saved because we “do church right”, this was a salvation issue in the minds of these folks. These folks believed their CONVICTIONS as much as I do.
This is very true. The work of new creation began with the resurrection, is demonstrated in every life renewed by Christ and fulfilled at his coming. The New Heavens and New Earth are on the way.
Adam: “The work of new creation began with the resurrection, is demonstrated in every life renewed by Christ and fulfilled at his coming. The New Heavens and New Earth are on the way.”
May every life be renewed by Christ….the only manner to halt mass slaughters such as we witnessed yesterday at Virginia Tech. May His great love bring comfort and healing to those that mourn today!
When we discover the search for the cause of scripture is the answer to our problems with “form” or “pattern”, we will embrace what God is doing to make us new through the power of His Holy Spirit. Every generation has to find one’s personal relationship with the living Lord. Young people today are seeking the “power” of the relationship and could care less about the correct “form”. I find that refreshing. It is the same calling that Barton W. Stone and Alexander Campbell discovered to establish unity of believers to be “Christians only, but not the only Christians”. If we can only embrace Restoration as to relationship as opposed to some single “blueprint” for how to do church, then we have something that we can genuinely be excited about!
I believe that if you read through Scripture it is living the Christ life, relationship with God, that makes the difference to the world. Our generation (X’ers) I think are sick of debates over issues that don’t matter. It is time for the Church of Chrst to stop looking inwardly (how can we enhance worship, what is the role of women, communion, fellowship, etc). We need to all get along. Liberal and Conservative. Our generation is sick of the labels. It is time to focus on reaching the lost. It is time start restoring the function if you would like to use the old terms of Stone and Campbell. The function not the form is what is going to make a differnce. Let us as the Church of Christ strive for unity. Let us strive to make a differnce in the lives of the people who are suffering and need Jesus Christ. Lets make a difference in a cursed world who needs hope of eternal life.