The Mind boggling nature of the "Morphe Theou"

The incarnation: Fully man and yet fully God! We were given a chrysalis of a Monarch butterfly exactly one week ago after church.  Today the metamorphosis was completed.  The caterpillar was fully caterpillar and yet fully butterfly; one essence, two natures... 

When Jesus came to Earth for US, He was fully God and fully man; one essence, two natures. In Phil. 2:5-7 we read that "Although Jesus existed in the "morphé Theou" the form of God, He did not regard equality with God something to be grasped but humbled Himself taking the morphé, the form, of a bondservant being made in the likeness of men. This is the word from which we get the word "metamorphosis," (literally, change beside another)  

While the caterpillar shares identical DNA with the butterfly [union between the two natures] there is no [fusion of those two natures.]  That is, the caterpillar looks vastly different than the butterfly yet they are one in essence. And the caterpillar could not fly for eg. but the butterfly can...  Yet the caterpillar is no less than the butterfly. That is to say, there is distinction between the two natures but no separation; they are both fully Monarchs. The word in the Greek for this is "hypostasis."  This is the word used in Hebrews 1:3 speaking of Jesus who is the "...exact representation of God's character."  

And now you know the purpose and meaning of the "Chalcedonian Hypostatic union of 451 A.D."  You see, theology can be FUN! 

The chrysalis (caterpillar)

The metamorphosis to a butterfly

No one can escape God's reach

A thoughtful and well-informed friend recently commented on a post I made on FB which spawned this current blog. He identified that he is a “Libertarian” adding, “ I just don't like government interference of any sort.” I found my friend’s comment concerning government both revealing and helpful.

 

I know and have known people of faith who identify likewise. Libertarians share many of the ideals delineated by the Christian faith but often for different reasons. However when Libertarianism collides with “Thus sayeth the Lord”--and it does eventually--one has a serious choice to make. You will either serve your personal preference/conviction OR you will serve the Divine Sovereign of the universe. That is what Lordship means.

 

I consider Eve the first libertarian on record. She had the decree of the Lord Himself telling her what was forbidden in the garden yet at the end of her conversation with the Deceiver, she made her choice. “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3:6

With all the thoroughly inept handling of Romans 13:1-4 of late, the salient wisdom of God gets trampled. Gov’t was actually ordained by God to be a tool of His and a safeguard for the masses.  BUT--by God’s design all governments was to be a constrainer of that which is evil. (Evil is defined by God, not culture, not individuals, and not even government.) This is why the passage says "For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil."  (Romans 13:3-4)

 

Succinctly stated--if you want to have no fear of government then do what is right; RIGHT as defined by God.

 

I suppose one could say God is the “true” Libertarian. That is He extends liberty as far as His Holy nature, love and goodness permit. Divine love demands boundaries; ie., rules, laws, fences, all designed to enhance one’s quality of Life by the One who defines it.

 

So true libertarianism is neither antinomian nor anarchy where self-determination rules the day. “Live and let live” may sell pretty well in a thoughtless and apostate society. But when your neighbor’s “Live and let live” encroaches on my “Live and let live” as it will, someone has to step in.

Want to be more like Christ?

“Nothing has a greater impact on spiritual growth than reflection on Scripture.  If churches could do only one thing to help people at all levels of spiritual maturity grow in their relationship with Christ, Their choice is clear. They would inspire, encourage and equip their people to read the Bible.”  Max Lucado pg 29  “The Glory Days”

Yesterday, April 28, marked 1 year since leaving a love of my life. If there is one thing I regret not having done more, it is not having pressed harder than I did to encourage believers to

                                    READ THEIR BIBLES FOR THEMSELVES.

""This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."  (Joshua 1:8)

Response to a question/comment re: Government authority

A bright young man posted a thoughtful comment re: my post previous post about government, rights and Covid-19 etc. I wanted to answer here so that more might see it as he has some great observations and implied questions or statements which I believe are well thought out. He posts:

"I try my best to respect the beliefs of those who legitimately educate themselves, but sometimes I feel as though another point of reference is needed... So take this with a grain of salt, as I know for a fact you are more educated than most. I can’t help but point out that many (read this carefully, I said many; not all) of the same people who say, “just do as you’re told and the officer won’t shoot you,” are also saying, “these leaders are violating MY rights to a free and liberated future”....  What happened to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s? From where I sit, it looks like the only God-given right we have is the right to our faith. Why are so many CHRISTIANS acting like the constitution is in the Bible, showing so much hate for the leaders that were placed by God? I am appalled that so many Christians throw this Biblical principal out the window because the proverbial ceilings on their American rights have been lowered.

First—I get what I think you’re trying to say with the situation with a police officer and then likening it to government protest. The analogy is not appropriate. 1. The officer has a gun. 2. Police often have no context generally for pulling someone over, or stopping them to ask questions etc. They approach every situation with understandable trepidation knowing that a “routine” traffic stop (for example) has been the death of many police officers. So, you go to reach your wallet and they have no idea whether it’s a wallet you’re grabbing or a gun. Let’s just say that the whole thing may in fact be an “illegal stop” in the first place.  Wisdom would dictate you DO WHAT THE OFFICER SAYS AT THAT MOMENT. And then, after the fact, deal with the infraction of the law on the part of the officer if there is any.  This is not at all analogous to what we’re talking about today. Fasten your seat belt.

Render to Caesar’s what is Caesar’s… The passage is often misapplied ascribing some arbitrary list of what belongs to Caesar (i.e. the government). What does in fact belong to Caesar? "The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it."  (Psalms 24:1)

Technically there is nothing that belongs to Caesar. Jesus used the phrase to make a sarcastic yet poignant zinger against the disingenuous Pharisees who were not asking a genuine question but were merely trying to trap Jesus into incriminating himself so they could charge him before the civil magistrates. He was not establishing a paradigm for discerning what is the government’s and what is God’s.  That is answered in both the Old and New Testaments.

Not wishing to get too far afield in my answers, I will have to assert that our “faith” is not our only God given right. The Founders of America expressed what our God given rights are  very succinctly: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” And since these were derived from the “common knowledge” of the day which was nearly universally accepted as being informed by the Bible because it was understood to be wise and authoritative, such that these rights are “unalienable” meaning they can never be taken away by any earthly authority. And by the way, notice the words “among these are…”  

Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness are not the only “rights” decreed by God.  Enter the “Bill of Rights.” This was an attempt to be a “list” of sorts knowing that definition would be helpful (necessary?) given the broad expanse the Declaration covers. 

This Christian is not acting as if the Constitution is the Bible. This Christian is acting like the Constitution was and is the authoritative “law of the land” which has been duly enacted as the authoritative  “law of the land” to which EVERYONE is subject as an American citizen; not just the citizens but the elected officials of government as well. Which is why they all take an oath to uphold that Constitution ending with the phrase, “So help me God.” I am sure you know the axiom—“No one is above the law.” That means—NO ONE. And when the duly enacted laws of the land are violated by the very ones who are supposed to be upholding them, well, read it: “That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it…”

In America it would be inappropriate for me to dress down an elected official for not going to church because the Bible is not the official, duly enacted ruling authority in the USA. But when an official of the government blatantly violates the law of the land, we are not only free to protest and present a redress of grievances, it is every citizen’s obligation to hold the government to the very laws they are supposed to be serving.

One serious error—a common one but a grave one. God does not “put all people in office.” He certainly allows it, even as he allowed His people to install Saul as King. God advised against it but due to their recalcitrance, He conceded saying “Give them what they want.” And that did not turn out well as we know.  The often quoted passage from Romans 13 is done in a woefully inept manner. I understand from whence the error flows.

"Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God."  (Romans 13:1) Here we have the classic example of what happens when you both take something out of context AND ignore the rule of good exegesis which is, “Scripture interprets Scripture.”  If one tries to use this—as many do—that we are to be half brained lemmings following the dictates of any and all governments then you are left with some very difficult theology to explain concerning the person, nature, and character of God. Take any one of hundreds of so called “God ordained governments” in history. Think of all the despotic governments of past and present. Think of Islamic law and their government. You obligated to obey that?  Were the activists who helped hide Jews from Hitler’s government in sin for not obeying the government since God installed it? Was it disobedience to God for the abolitionists of America to defy the government and help slaves get to freedom? Were Barbara and I and thousands of others to date, disobeying God by standing against abortion and even getting arrested for peacefully blocking an abortuary with our bodies barricading the door?

The full text of Romans 13 explains God ordained government:  "For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;  (Romans 13:3)  By definition, legitimate government that is to be obeyed is government that upholds the heart and mind of God as the Definer of “Good.”

God gave the “concept” if you will of governance with leaders who possess real authority so long as they rule by True Truth, meaning Godly precepts and principles. So when the government says, it is illegal to rob someone, they are upholding God’s precept concerning stealing.  When the government says it is unlawful to murder someone and someone commits murder, God has granted the government the authority to enforce justice. Hence the “power of the sword” has been granted to (godly) governance.

Our government has been trampling on the lawfully established law of the land and it is not only our God given right to protest or even defy said ordinances, but in America, it is our codified American right to do the same which is what distinguishes us from most of the rest of the world.

This answer Isaac, I am sure generates more questions and comments. But it is already too long but necessary to take the time and effort to answer your respectful and thoughtful considerations.

The Exodus and Covid-19

Most Christ followers are somewhat familiar with the Exodus of God’s people as He demanded their liberation from the political powers of Egypt.  To Moses the Lord said:

""You shall say to [Pharaoh], 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you, saying, "Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the 
wilderness. ""  (Exodus 7:16)

The command was straight forward, uncomplicated but certain.  What unfolds is the power struggle between earthly authority (Pharaoh) and the Divine.   After the Lord’s tactics of persuasion Pharaoh keeps offering to meet the Lord half way. This may be a sometimes necessary way of bargaining in the political realm but the Creator of the universe does not meet anyone half way, there is no give and take or “let’s agree to disagree.” It is simply—OBEY ME, all or nothing. And if you happen to choose nothing, you will realize sooner than later you have chosen—poorly.

Now change epochs and the Lord speaking through another man declares:

“"…and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."  (Hebrews 10:24-25)

I recently read a compelling explanation from a fine Christian organization concerning the national practice currently in place forbidding Christians to obey the dictate of the above passage. This of course pertains to safeguarding one and all from the Covid-19 virus.  Certainly it is well motivated, impartially disseminated, (meaning it is not singling Christians out from meeting) but pertains to essentially everyone. This is keeping with the spirit of the teaching of Romans 13 concerning the purpose of legitimate government. For now I will avoid the consideration of over reaction, false predictions, over reach, duplicitous motives and what have you, sticking to the unassailable point at hand which is the “assembling together of Christ followers for the purpose of serving the Lord building one another up, encouraging one another, exhorting one another, as they worship the Living God together in community—not virtually, but in community.

Throughout the ages millions of Christians have been murdered, imprisoned, exiled to gulags, subjected to tortures for meeting together in defiance of the political powers of the day choosing to obey God rather than man. I can hear the protest now; “But this is different.”  No it is not. Plagues—real plagues—are nothing new and have ravaged millions, not tens, not thousands, but millions, and the people of God gathered even more frequently and in greater numbers as desperate times indeed propel the complacent to the Divine.

Is there a “reasonable” approach that might satisfy the spirit of the cautions regarding Covid-19 without violating the clear command of the Lord Almighty? I believe there is. Candidly it is the same approach that should be taken, not just during some exceptional outbreak, but seasonally as the annual strains of influenza, pneumonia, etc. afflict the very young and ravage the elderly or those compromised with pre-existing conditions that hamper the body’s wonderful means of dealing with infections of all stripes.

When worshipping together enforcement of common sense practices should be implemented (and enforced) by the local church. No hand shaking, anyone who is obviously afflicted with ANY malady must considerately stay home.  Emphasis should be frequent on the importance of keeping fingers out of your nose, eyes, and mouth.  This is a primary route of infection of the most common viruses.  Anyone who is particularly compromised should stay away for their own safety as well as others, or at the very least take personal precautions appropriate to their level of compromise.  And then the church needs to have a mechanism for insuring that such individuals are being cared for outside the communal gathering of the body at large which goes beyond a virtual experience.

There was reason the founding fathers enshrined the freedom of religion, as well as the right to earn a living in the Law of the Land called the Constitution reinforcing them particularly in the Bill of Rights. There are divided opinions as to whether these laws can even be abrogated by Presidential, much less gubernatorial fiat except under declared Martial Law. What is taking place in our nation at the moment doesn’t merely set a foreboding precedent for the future but is rendering to Caesar what is the Lord’s and that needs to be our prime concern.

He Has Granted us EVERYTHING...

"Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence."  (2 Peter 1:2-3)

This is one of “those” verses bloated with far more theology than we take time to think about. Peter’s opening words almost seem a trite introduction to a letter just to get to the “meat” of his inspired letter.

It is early in the morning that I am writing because of a troubling night in a restless bed. Peace is elusive in these dark moments—moments when the Light of His glory is desperately needed and is the only hope of true rest. As I dragged myself out of bed I asked the Lord, “I NEED your peace Lord… It is THIS peace that Peter prays blessing upon his readers, the peace that passes understanding. Peter continues with the means by which the blessing of God’s grace leading to His peace comes.

“…seeing that his divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence."

Instead of effort through being more responsible, more faithful, more diligent, more prayerful, more—fill in the blank… this blessing is not something that we produce through anything we have to offer.  Like our salvation, it is been “granted to us” by HIS Divine Power… Rest on that for a while.

This blessing is not disconnected from the Lord Himself like a gift that I drop under the tree at Christmas, or hand you for your birthday.  That gift conveys certain things about how I feel about you or your importance to me. I want it to bring a smile, a thrill perhaps, a good feeling that brings a moment of happiness, but only a moment.  The blessing—the gift—Peter prays is God’s grace and peace that is inextricably wound into the very essence of the Creator Himself.  

So how do we unwrap such a blessing to appreciate and experience its contents? It is revealed when we absorb ourselves with the very essence of The Almighty. It is revealed “…through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence."  Now here is the ringer. There is nothing outside the bounds of God’s wisdom, power and might that cannot dispel the shadows of our doubts, or even the darkness of our innate wickedness. Everything pertaining to Life and Godliness has been GRANTED to us!  It is not earned by us or merited by our diligence. For all of it, even the knowing of it has come to us “…by His own Glory and Excellence.” As usual, God has done it all.

And so that “peace that passes all understanding” Paul writes about is always there waiting for us to soak away the many things that steal our vitality, our sanity and our joy. 

Think about this; Pray about this then take the plunge.

""Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."  (John 14:27)

Triumph Through Trials

The late, great Clive Staples Lewis wrote--"God whispers to us in our pleasure but shouts to us in our pain."  Think of your own life--when have you experienced the most growth as a follower of Christ?  Was it in your seasons of ease and comfort, or in those hard, grinding times when you were about ready to throw in the towel? ""Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance..."  (James 1:2-3) Not one of my favorite passages but...

Regardless anyone's opinion, right or wrong, I am observing some real positives from the separation of humans one from another.  I cannot wait for the "shelter in place" edict to be rescinded but I have to believe that most of us are gaining a new appreciation for all the "givens" we have taken for granted.  Mardens is closed, WHAT? C'mon!   We have swung by our favorite bakery only to find their hours have been changed/restricted. Gimme a break--my cinnamon bun is ESSENTIAL pal!  I just came home from standing in the chilling rain waiting to be allowed entrance to the Hanfuhd! Don't they realize we NEED to go there almost every day or even a couple times a day? And a friend and pastor commenced serving a new/old church in the area only to have served one Sunday before we were all banished to our homes.

Okay so now we "go to church" online and honestly it's been kind of fun, definitely encouraging, certainly better than nothing and spiritually strengthening. Last week Barbara and I signed on to a Saturday evening prayer service through The Gospel Coalition. It was powerful and we did something we rarely do at such services, "we" actually prayed! And by "we" I mean we were there--virtually--with thousands of other Christ followers across the country and spent 90% of the time praying rather than the more typical, 90% of the time talking about praying. It was spectacular.

I am so thankful for the creativity of the geniuses who throughout the ages fashion the "technology" that enables us to be together though thousands of miles apart with our hearts joined in sweet communion of the Risen Savior.

But in all these feats of modern age wonder there is an emerging reality. They are all inadequate to accomplish the essential need of mankind which is to be in personal, present, physical proximity to one another!  This is not a dispensable option but a mandatory stipulation, not merely spelled out by God, but demonstrated by His incarnation.

"Then the LORD God said, "'It is not good for the man to be alone...'" (Genesis 2:18)  What didn't the Creator do? He didn't make a companion hologram, emoticon or  bitmoji; thank heavens He didn't make an "Eve" bitmoji!  Rather He took one of Adam's ribs and fashioned a soul-mate, a companion, a friend who would complete him.

And so as wonderful a stop-gap the technology has provided via FaceTime, Zoom, YouTube or FaceBook, they cannot, will not, must not, replace the gathering of individuals, in spatial proximity to be physically--not virtually--together underscoring the Lord's command to the Hebrews in chapter 10.  

 "...let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, NOT FORSAKING OUR OWN ASSEMBLING TOGETHER, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."
(Hebrews 10:24-25)

Could Covid-19 be nothing more than God's way of underscoring the importance of corporate worship helping the Church understand, that as the Body of Christ on Earth, we really do need each other?  So let's once and for all abandon this offensive cliché asserting, "I don't need to GO to church to worship God...." Perhaps it is God shouting, "All evidence is to the contrary."