Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Halloween: worldview, witches and warfare!


Take time this holiday to examine your worldview. If one does not believe in the existence of a spirit world, this holiday is a pretty fun day to spend time with friends, dress up and meet the neighbors, not to mention the candy! However, if one has had contact with dark spiritual forces, it may not feel like a fun game anymore. Both the dates of Christmas and Halloween began as a pagan holyday that the church sought to build Christian truth and tradition into a pagan society to help change the focus from paganism to Christianity. Halloween was not so successful. Today, pagan religions and those who follow Wicca (Witchraft) celebrate Halloween as their holy day under the old pagan name Samhain.
Below is a quote from a Wiccan website:
 "Halloween, plain and simple is our favorite time of year. A true time for witches, Witchcraft itself, and Wiccans alike who feel that on this night the separation between the physical and spiritual realities is it's least guarded and it's veil the thinnest. It is a time for dimensional openings and workings, it is a somber holiday, one of dark clothes and thoughts for the dead, it is said to be the time when those of necromantic talents can speak with the dead and it is certainly a time to remember ones own dead. Witches believe it is a time of endings of relationships and bad situations and it is the time when one can see the glimmer of hope in the future. There are as many concepts attached to this holiday as any other, truly a time of remembrance of our ancestors and all those who have gone before. "
The question of worldview is an important one to reflect on. If a Christian bases his or her faith on the supernatural act of the gospel, that "disarmed the rulers and authorities (Col 2:15 NAS)" he should be aware of both the power of the Holy Spirit, and of the evil one. One should not make light of a Satanic high holy day, but rather be aware of a night that contains concentrated demonic activity!
At the same time, the Christian is free from the bonds of Satan and should not be judging others, or be taken captive by fear. The context of the above verse continues "Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day (Col 2:16 NAS)". I do not know if Halloween constitutes a "festival" or that candy can be considered "food", but we should approach the darkness with the attitude Paul has in the following verses; 
"If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:1-3 NAS).
Let us use this time not to judge others, but to bring the focus back to Christ as our early church fathers tried to do. Let us be aware that the evil one is more active tonight in the lives of Satanists, and that his presence may be felt in our neighborhood. Let us be prepared to stand firm against “the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”. (Eph 6:12 ESV) Let us be careful, protect our children, and be a witness to the gospel this night as many eyes are focused on the spirit world!

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Unseen treasure made visible through broken hearts!

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, (2 Cor 4:7)

The BADG lexicon records three definitions for the word a σκεῦος; “vessels”, or  “pots,”  which give specific reference to 2 Cor 4:7. In this context, σκεῦος refers to a “human being exercising a function, instrument, or vessel”.  

 English relies heavily on word order to indicate the relationship among words in a sentence and follows a common pattern: Subject- Verb-Object… Greek, however, depends on both word order and inflection – a change in spelling of a word which indicates a change of relationship…. Case endings and other inflections, when deciphered in context, are important signs for getting at the meaning the writer is seeking to communicate” (Harvey 8). In our text σκεῦος/vessel is inflected in the dative case. The dative case noun normally functions as the indirect object, and in this context is related to the “position” of the object, in its relationship to the verb “to have.”

To help qualify the vessel, the text provides the adjective ὀστρακίνοις (made of earth/clay) This is used in the form of  “imagery, denoting breakableness” (BDAG).

 Harris expounds “…such vessels were regarded as fragile and expendable because they were cheap and often unattractive. So the paradox Paul is expressing is that although the container is relatively worthless, the contents are priceless. Although the gospel treasure is indescribably valuable, the gospel’s ministers are of little value in comparison. In describing those to whom the gospel is entrusted as earthenware vessels, Paul is not disparaging the human body or implying that the body is merely the receptacle of the soul. For him the σκεῦος (“object, vessel, jar) was no more the container in which was placed the treasure of the ψυχή (soul) than the ‘outer person’ was a detachable outer garment clothing ‘the inner person’ (cf 4:16). ψυχή (soul) refers to the whole persons, who, although insignificant and weak in themselves, becomes God’s powerful instruments in communicating the treasure of the gospel.” (Harris 340)

The treasure, while unseen (4:18), becomes visible through the weakness of the vessel. (2Cor 4:8-9). The treasure not only relates to the gospel but projects an image of the gospel through struggles the believer encounters (2Cor 4:10-11). When one stands firm in the midst of the struggle he can become a powerful witness to this gospel treasure! Simply put, it is through our suffering and our response in faith to it, that the power of God can be seen by others! Through broken hearts the gospel is preached as our words are authenticated by a supernatural conviction! Once we grasp the treasure we have, we can agree with Pauls words; "for when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor 12:10).

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Where does our value come from?


 But we have this treasure
The BDAG lexicon translates the word treasure, (θησαυρός), as;

1. a place where someth. is kept for safekeeping, repository
2. that which is stored up, treasure
    a. of material things
    b. of transcendent things 
        α. of the treasures in heaven
        β. θησαυροὶ σκοτεινοί treasures lying in darkness
        γ. of the gospel and its glory 2 Cor 4:7

       “A θησαυρός was a storehouse or strong room for precious things or any receptacle for valuables; hence it referred to anything precious, “treasure.” (Harris 339) Paul only uses this word here and in Col 2:3 where he identifies the treasure as wisdom and knowledge, the chief receptacle being Christ, himself, who in his person, contains the true knowledge of the mystery of God (Col 2:2)! The revelation of the mystery of Christ is discovered in the gospel  Col 2:9-15 as the power of salvation that not only brings life with God, but freedom from death, and the deliverance of the bondage from the evil one, (rulers and authorities of death). It is this very gospel that Jesus brought to us for salvation, and later entrusted this power to us to carry it as stewards with the purpose to bring it to others.
 
Harris cites the general meaning of θησαυρός (a store room) for the definition of the treasure. The implication is that the value, which comes from the item stored, is imputed, or given to the one who houses the item. In other words, the treasure makes its guardian a valuable, and precious place!

The BDAG in contrast cites the second definition referring to object as the source of what gives the storehouse value. These two nuances provide an incredible incite to our passage. The believer has great value because he is the “earthen vessel” of the gospel. He is not valuable because he is a worthy vessel, but rather, the believer is valuable because of the treasur he holds!

Those who house the gospel treasure develop a new sense significance and purpose in life. They take on a new sense of self worth, not because they are better than anyone else, in fact ,the gospel reveals the opposite it true. Their new sense of self worth does not come from their flesh, or earthen vessel, but from the value of the gospel they carry inside. When the apostle Paul discovered this treasure, he said;

“ I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, (Phil 3:8)

This treasure is so precious; one becomes willing to give up whatever earthly treasure that comes between them and following Christ. It is so valuable that one is willing to bear suffering and persecution in order to bring this good news to the nations. It is so life giving, that one grieves and fervently prays for those who are blinded by the “god of this age” who has veiled this treasure to keep them in darkness  (2 Cor 4:3-4).

The next time you feel discouraged, and feel like you have little worth, take a look at the gospel that is layed up in your heart, and remember that you are not valuable because you are a worthy vessel, but because of the treasure you hold!