8/4/14

From Jim McGuiggan... NOW ABOUT THE COLLECTION



NOW ABOUT THE COLLECTION

There’s nothing here but a simple transitional particle. “Now” There’s no drum roll, no trumpet blast, no drama-filled pause. “Now about…” You might imagine the tone being something like a let down: “Okay, that’s that dealt with; let’s move on to the next thing on the agenda. Hmmm, yes, well all right, the collection.” But imagining it like that would be a real blunder.

The text is 1 Corinthians 16:1, of course, and Paul has just concluded his lengthy discussion on the resurrection of the dead with a shout of triumph: “Death where is your victory? Death where is your sting?” In the name of the risen and immortal Lord Jesus he jeers at arrogant Death and yells, “Loser!”

What a triumph; there’s a throbbing and an assured hope in the shout, nothing timid about it. The graveyards in all the hamlets, all the villages, all the towns, all the cities and all the vast metropolises on the planet must have heard it and trembled! All the tombs and secret places no one knows about, where countless dead were thrown, having been used and butchered—all those unknown prisons where proud Death keeps them shut away—they must have heard the sound and shivered.

And what then does Paul do? Should he not have closed the letter with that exultant cry? He didn’t—without hesitation he moves from the glory of a cosmic event to:
“Now, about the collection for God’s people.”

Paul speaks of that collection in this text, in Romans 15:25-31, Galatians 2:10 and in 2 Corinthians he takes two entire chapters out of thirteen to speak about it.

It’s not uncommon in congregations to take sixty seconds to say the collection will now be taken and then perhaps four minutes to collect it and that’s all and that’s the last it’s heard of until the next Lord’s Day.

This isn’t the place to develop the contexts of the passages mentioned but each one is rich in truth about God and his reconciling of the two divisions of the human family [Jews and non-Jews]. Note the occasion of his mentioning the collection in Galatians [a profoundly critical moment where—humanly speaking—the life of the Church of the Lord Jesus is at stake]. Note the brotherly and sisterly interdependence he speaks of in Romans 15 and note that he makes the entire gift of the Gentiles to the needy Jewish Christians [and others] a Christological matter in 2 Corinthians 8:9. In the completely free gift of the Gentiles [8:8 and see 9:7] they are imitating the reconciling work of the Christ. We need to reflect carefully and prayerfully on the setting and the words of these texts.

The grace of giving is the grace of God given to us [8:1] and it re-enacts the grace of God flowing through the Jewish Messiah to the entire world. This giving is a visible witness that God came in Jesus Christ and reconciled the world unto himself and it is carried out by the men and women who are part of that one body of Christ in which all nations are welcomed.

As the dollars and checks are dropped on to the plate or into the basket wondrous things are being said. Assuming the heart is good this giving event is not to be rushed or treated as a secondary issue—God’s inestimable gift to the entire human family—Jesus Christ—is being proclaimed. 

This is the perfect act to follow eating the bread and drinking the wine, the perfect act to express the meaning of the Lord's Supper as Paul speaks of it in 1 Corinthians 11 where the "haves" were refusing to share with the "have nots".


Wearing Gold and Braided Hair? by Kyle Butt, M.A.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=1210

Wearing Gold and Braided Hair?

by  Kyle Butt, M.A.

Most people who have read the Bible have at least been mildly perplexed after reading 1 Timothy 2:9-10 and 1 Peter 3:3-4. These two portions of Scripture read as follows:
…in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works (1 Timothy 2:9-10).
Do not let your adornment be that outward adorning of arranging the hair, of wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God (1 Peter 3:3-4).
At first glance, these two passages seem to set down strict commandments that women should wear no gold jewelry, and should never braid their hair. However, when these verses are taken in their proper context, and are compared with other verses in the Bible, their seemingly strict prohibitions of gold and braids become more lenient in one sense, and ironically, more strict in another.
When the apostle Paul wrote to the young preacher Timothy, he gave the young man several instructions about how certain groups of people ought to conduct themselves in public worship assemblies. In 1 Timothy chapter 2:9, Paul offered some guidelines for how women ought to dress. Paul said that women should wear “modest” apparel. The Greek word for modest is kosmioi, which means “respectable, honorable, or modest” (Arndt, 1958, p. 445). This word basically entails all apparel that does not call undue attention to the wearer through show of flesh or through gaudiness. The type of apparel is defined by the phrase, “with propriety and moderation.” Then, Paul described the converse of “modest” by mentioning three things that many first-century women were using to draw undue attention to themselves: braided hair, gold, and costly clothing.
In the first century, many women were plaiting elaborate hair designs that would take hours to “construct” and weave. One writer, in describing such first-century hair designs, wrote:
Talk about high maintenance! During the late first century, the Flavian style of Julia, daughter of Titus fashioned the court with curls arranged on crescent-shaped wire frames. The back hair was divided into sections, braided, then curled. Sometimes the hair was coiled without braiding (see Roman…, 2002).
Apparently, some women were turning the worship assemblies into fashion shows, attempting to “one-up” their contemporaries with flashy, expensive clothes and costly gold jewelry. Instead of this gaudiness, Paul instructed the women to adorn themselves in that “which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.”
In this passage, we see a literary construction that is common in the Biblethe comparison and substitution of one less desirable thing for another more profitable thing. In this particular case, the gaudy clothes were to be rejected in favor of good works and modest clothes. Jesus used a similar construction in John 6:27, when He stated, “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you…” At first glance, this statement from Jesus seems to be saying that a person should not work for physical food. However, we know that is not the intended meaning, because 2 Thessalonians 3:10 plainly says, “if anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” What, then, was Jesus’ point? He simply was saying that spiritual food is more important than physical food, and as such, should be given a higher priority.
Another instance of a similar situation is found in 1 Corinthians 11:34. In this chapter, the apostle Paul had been reprimanding the Christians in Corinth for abusing the Lord’s Supper. The rich brethren were bringing lots of food and drink, and were eating their fill, while the poor brethren were not getting enough to eat. Paul explained to the Christians that the Lord’s Supper was not designed to be a feast to fill the belly, but a memorial to commemorate the death of the Lord. In verse 34, he wrote: “But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment.” Once again, taken in its most literal sense, this verse would demand that every person who is hungry should eat at home—not in a restaurant, at a friend’s house, or outside. Of course, that was not Paul’s intention at all. He simply wanted the Christians to eat to fill their stomachs at some other time than during the memorial feast of the Lord’s Supper.
After considering these examples, let us now look back to Paul’s instruction to Timothy concerning women’s apparel. If we were to take the passage in its most literal reading, then women should not wear braided hair, any gold, or any costly clothing. However, how much would an article of clothing have to cost in order to be “costly?” Many of the clothes we wear in the United States would cost a person in a third world country an entire year’s salary (Jackson, 2000). Should our women come to worship in burlap sacks and cardboard flip-flops? To ask is to answer. In fact, in 1 Peter 3:3-4, the parallel passage to 1 Timothy 2:9-10, the actual Greek text omits the word “fine” before “apparel” so that it actually says that a woman’s beauty should not come from “putting on apparel.” Yet, taken in its most literal sense, this particular sentence would delight those of the nudist persuasion, and confound the most astute Christians.
Summing up the meaning of these two passages, we see that Paul and Peter were not forbidding a woman from wearing a golden wedding band or having her hair modestly braided. They were, however, instructing the women to concentrate on good works and a right attitude instead of trying to impress others with immodest clothes that were inappropriate or excessively gaudy.
Therefore, these verses are more lenient than their strictly literal sound, in the sense that they do not forbid all wearing of gold, clothes, or braiding of the hair. They are more stringent, however, in the fact that some things not specifically mentioned by the writers would be prohibited. For instance, a woman could not wear thousands of dollars worth of platinum jewelry, and then contend that the verses never mention platinum. Nor could a Christian woman strut into an assembly wearing multiple carats of diamonds worth tens of thousands of dollars, and argue that diamonds are not mentioned in the text. The verses echo the sentiment of Christ, when He scolded the Pharisees for cleansing “the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence” (Matthew 23:25).
[As an endnote, the modest-apparel criteria were not specifically addressed to the first-century men, because they apparently did not have a problem with this. However, in any situation where men might have a problem with such, the same rules certainly would apply to them as well.]

REFERENCES

Arndt, William, F.W. Gingrich, and Frederick W. Danker (1979), A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press), second edition revised.
Jackson, Wayne (2000), What About Braided Hair? [On-line], URLhttps://www.christiancourier.com/articles/206-what-about-braided-hair.
Roman Hairstyles (2002), [On-line], URL: http://oldworld.sjsu.edu/ancientrome/living/fashion/hair02.htm.

From Mark Copeland... From Malta To Rome (Acts 28:1-16)

                          "THE BOOK OF ACTS"

                     From Malta To Rome (28:1-16)

INTRODUCTION

1. Following weeks of terrifying sea travel...
   a. Beginning with contrary winds near the island of Crete - Ac 27:4
   b. With difficult winds making progress slow off Cnidus - Ac 27:7
   c. Arriving at Fair Havens on Crete with further difficulty - Ac 27:7-8
   d. Encountering tempestuous winds off Crete that blew them toward
      Clauda - Ac 27:13-16
   e. Forced to undergird the ship, lightening the ship, throwing tackle
      overboard - Ac 27:18-19
   f. Seeing neither sun nor stars for many days as the storm raged - Ac 27:20
   g. Finally nearing land, fearing that they might run aground - Ac 27:27-29
   h. Deciding to run the ship onto the beach if possible - Ac 27:39
   i. Instead hitting a reef or bar that stuck the bow - Ac 27:41
   h. With violent waves breaking up the stern - Ac 27:41

2. They were forced to swim ashore...
   a. With some on boards, others on parts of the ship - Ac 27:43-44
   b. Even so, all 276 souls escaped safely to land - Ac 27:44

[They found themselves on the island of Malta (Ac 28:1), an island 60
miles south of Sicily and on the main route from Myra (Ac 27:5) to
Rome.  God's providence had actually brought them through the storm and
back on course (ESVSB)!  Divine providence continued as we continue
reading about...]

I. THE SOJOURN ON MALTA

   A. KINDNESS ON THE BEACH...
      1. The natives (lit., barbarians, i.e., non-Greeks) showed unusual
         kindness - Ac 28:2
      2. Paul was bit by a viper, but did not die - Ac 28:3-6
         a. The natives presumed Paul a murderer
         b. Despite surviving shipwreck, that justice would not let him
            live
         c. When Paul suffered no harm, the natives thought him to be a
            god - cf. Ac 14:14-15
      3. This is an example of Jesus' promise to His disciples
         a. Made to the seventy following their mission - cf. Lk 10:1,
            17-19
         b. Made to the apostles when given the Great Commission - cf. Mk 16:15-18
         c. Such signs confirmed the words that they preached - Mk 16:19-20; He 2:3-4

   B. KINDNESS AT THE ESTATE...
      1. A prominent citizen, Publius, entertained them for three days 
         - Ac 28:7
      2. When his father lay sick of fever and dysentery, Paul healed him
         - Ac 28:8
      3. This led to many others on the island being healed - Ac 28:9
      4. Which led to much honor and provisions for their journey - Ac 28:10

[After three months on the island of Malta (Ac 28:11), the journey
continued...]

II. THE JOURNEY TO ROME

   A. BY SHIP...
      1. In an Alexandrian ship - Ac 28:11
         a. Whose figurehead was the Twin brothers (Castor and Pollux,
            twin sons of Zeus, who were viewed as gods who protected 
            seamen) - ESVSB
         b. Which had wintered at the island of Malta
      2. Sailing to Syracuse where they stayed three days - Ac 28:12
      3. On to Rhegium (the southern tip of Italy), and then the next day
         to Puteoli - Ac 28:13
      4. At Puteoli they found brethren who invited them to stay seven 
         days - Ac 28:14

   B. BY FOOT...
      1. From Puteoli they headed toward Rome - Ac 28:14
      2. When brethren from Rome heard they were coming, they came to
         meet them - Ac 28:15
         a. At Appii Forum (40 miles from Rome)
         b. At Three Havens (28 miles from Rome)
      3. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage - Ac 28:15
      4. Finally arriving at Rome - Ac 28:16
         a. Where the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of
            the guard
         b. While Paul was allowed to dwell by himself with a soldier to
            guard him  

CONCLUSION

1. I can only imagine Paul's emotions upon his arrival at Rome...
   a. An opportunity he had prayed for years earlier - Ro 1:8-12; 
      15:22-24; Ac 19:21
   b. The fulfillment of a promise Jesus and an angel made to him - Ac 23:11; 27:23-24

2. Though it took years and unexpected twists and turns...
   a. God's providence led him to his destination
   b. And throughout it all, gave evidence of such Divine providence

Similar to stories like that of Joseph and Esther, Paul's life is a
reminder that God is good, He watches and provides for His people,
though at the time our faith may be tested when it seems that He is not
near.  

May such Biblical accounts encourage us to never lose faith, but to
trust in God's providence to lead us through the stormy seas of life to
our final destination, the heavenly city that awaits...!

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love
God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." - Ro 8:28 

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2013

From Gary... The anchor


As I took my boys on their morning walk, I happened to see an anchor like this one painted on someone's driveway.  It was nicer than this one; in color, and at least 3' x 5' in size.  And then I noticed this jpeg in my picture collection. How true the quote above is; and the second statement is also true- but I kept thinking about that first one. Then somehow, both seemed to coalesce into the following passage from Hebrews...

Hebrews 6:1-20 NASB
(1)  Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
(2)  of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.
(3)  And this we will do, if God permits.

(4)  For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
(5)  and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
(6)  and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
(7)  For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God;
(8)  but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.
(9)  But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way.
(10)  For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.
(11)  And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,
(12)  so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
(13)  For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,
(14)  saying, "I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU."
(15)  And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.
(16)  For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute.
(17)  In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath,
(18)  so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.
(19)  This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,
(20)  where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

We need to progress in life; holding onto the past and letting the memory of our former shortcomings (OK, let me just call them what they are- FAILURES) is pointless and foolish.  But, the graphics’s message doesn't go far enough; for we need to trust in something (or from the Hebrew passage- SOMEONE). Since God is who HE says he is (truthful) and has done what he said he would do (provide a hope for us through Jesus), we have a doubly secure anchor. All this brings back the memory of the first time I studied the book of Hebrews (in 1973). The title of the textbook we used was: "What more can God say"? How appropriate!!! Because, once I thought about that- there is nothing more for me to say.  Except perhaps something Max T. Neel used to say- "Believe that, because its right"!!! Amen!!!