Friday Fodder

As you know, today our House of Representatives will debate (and possibly vote) for the second time, regarding a "buyout" costing $700,000,000,000. The first fell short by 13 votes on Monday causing a dip on Wall Street. On Wednesday, the Senate passed a plan including the previous amount + $120,000,000 of tax breaks etc.

Although I'm interested in politics, As The Crow is not the time and place. Just a couple of things today:

1. Pundits have said the legislation passing or failing to pass is a "life or death situation" for our economy. In other words, passing this law will save us or failing to act will cause the economy to go into a tailspin and lead us into similar situations as the Great Depression. Someone needs to cue the Chicken Little music here. The sky is falling! The sky is falling! If one listens to our leaders, it seems that success or failure is based on what we do or don't do. Do you ever get the sense that God is just shaking his head? Isn't it time that we place our faith in God rather than man?

2. Our society has become a place where victims are rampant. In other words, there is no personal responsibility for anything that goes south in my life. "It's the way I was raised, my co-workers, or just bad luck that has caused all of my problems." In the case above, we blame the creditors, the "players" on Wall Street, or the government. When does it become my responsibility to refuse a credit card, a mortgage I can't afford, etc.

Just a few things to chew on. I'll be glad to hear what you have to say.

Election in Ephesians 1

Our survey of Perspectives on Election continues by turning to Ephesians 1. This particular chapter has been part of the heated debate regarding election for some time.

Dr. Ware focuses most of his attention on verses 4, 5, and 11. He is quick to state, "Paul brings to his mind and lips specific reasons for why God should by blessed, the first and second items he recalls and celebrates are our election in Christ (1:4) and our predestination to be adopted children through Christ (1:5)... the primary purpose for including this detail, it seems, establishes the fact that election of those whom God will save is God's choice pure and simple, a choice with which we had nothing to do and could have had nothing to do" (italics mine 13). I would be remiss if I didn't list a summary from Dr. Ware. "God works everything according to His will, but notice that nothing is said here (1:3-14) about God working things out according to our wills! In other words, all that God chooses is unconditional, including his predestination and election of us" (14).

Dr. Cottrell accuses Ware of using the "usual Calvinist spin" (61). Of course, Cottrell offers another interpretation of election - namely that Paul is speaking of a predestination of Jews and Gentiles. "I base this case on two facts: 1) the sudden shift from first person plural to second person plural in 1:13; and 2) the underlying theme of the letter in 2:11-3:21 i.e., God's eternal purpose of uniting Jews and Gentiles together through Jesus Christ in to a single body, the Church" (ibid).

Personal Observation

Dr. Ware maintains his argument of unconditional election based on verses 6, 12, and 14. However, he overlooks verse 13, despite 1:3-14 being one complete sentence. According to the NRSV, verse 13 reads, "In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit;" (emphasis mine). Now is not the time and place to debate the participle use of "believed". However, it seems the seal of the Holy Spirit is based upon one acting on their knowledge - something Dr. Ware conveniently overlooks.

Any thoughts or disagreements?

Blue Parakeet (Parts 2 and 3)

Part 2 Listening

After discussing reading the Bible as Story, McKnight then encourages his readers to hear God within the Story. In other words, reading the black or red words on the white page is not enough. The things read should be meditated on and the questions "So what?" or "What does God want me to do?" should be asked. Only when one considers what is heard can they love God, through listening and ultimately acting on what they've heard.

McKnight chooses to describe the listening one does to God's Word as "missional listening". The purpose of listening to Story is not just for information. The information must lead one through a process of spiritual growth and following the model of Jesus Christ (serving God and serving others). This is only accomplished through and with the Holy Spirit.

Part 3 Discerning

Following the teachings of Jesus within the context of Scripture is where things get a little muddled. In other words, does one follow every commandment in Scripture or pick and choose what to follow? According to McKnight, the Church has picked and chosen what to follow (and what not to follow) from its inception. He encourages his readers to own up to picking and choosing what commandments they adhere to for their own benefit.

The section includes examples of controversial subjects such as divorce, what role women play in the church, speaking in tongues, etc. According to McKnight, "All genuine biblical faith takes the gospel message and 'incarnates' it in a context...We can be firmer: it is unlikely, since it is clear that each of these persons adapted the Plot and Story for their day, that their message or manner of life will be precisely the same as our message and our manner of life" (143).

Next week: The Role of Women in Today's Church (Part 4 0f Blue Parakeet)

Any thoughts regarding parts 2 and 3?

More Weekend Fodder

Two weeks in a row - say it aint so! Two Saturdays in a row with something to say (other than Boomer Sooner). I'll use this post as some sort of confession, if you don't mind.

I learn best in dialogue - conversation with those around a table (literal or proverbial), some who may agree and those who may not. I've always been intrigued by attempting to understand what people believe and why. For example, almost a year ago, God allowed me to meet a man who was a pastor of a church just a few miles from the congregation I pastored. The pastor and I began having lunch and praying for one another. From time to time, we'd discuss theology. We agreed on much. We disagreed on a few things. The friendship during the previous year has blessed me in many ways.

One of the disagreements the pastor and I had was one of election - specifically how Scripture defines the Elect. Although I was sure of what I believed, our discussions led me to begin a deeper study on the subject. Reading some of his recent posts, I know we continue to disagree; however, we're still friends.

All that, to say this. There are blogs I've run across where the purpose seems to be arguing for one view over the other - even to the detriment of relationships. That was never the case with As The Crow Flies and will never be this blogs intent. Again, everyone should be allowed at the "table" to discuss the issues as they see them. Each one should bring coffee, beer, or whatever drink of choice, pull up a chair at the table, and share their opinion. The older I get, the more I realize I need to learn.

Recently, the Thursday posts have concerned election while reviewing Perspectives on Election. I've attempted to present two sides (Calvinism and Arminian). As I recently mentioned, there will be times that I also have a comment about the articles written. The debate between Calvinism and Arminians, the question of who and who is not elect, and how those elect are determined, is often somewhat heated. For that reason, some believe these are discussions that might be avoided. In other words, "There has always been disagreement and there will always be, why throw fuel to the fire?" My respectful response is: If we don't study (even the hard things in Scripture) then we've relegated our responsibility as believers to something that it should't be.

My attempt is not to convince anyone of my opinion. I'd really like to hear the opposing view. Again, that's the way I learn and that's how my faith is strengthened. I'll attempt to complete the study, without making it too tedious.

Thanks for hearing my "confession" and for listening. And if the study is something you're even remotely interested in, please join the discussion on Thursdays. If not, the table is open Tuesday-Friday as well.

Blessings!
Mike

Friday Fodder

One of the things I really appreciate about our corporate worship time is the time we speak about prayer concerns. If facilitated well, those sharing won't preach or see this opportunity as a time for "open mic". However, we've had our challenges.

For those of you who are unaware, we take 5-10 minutes during worship to mention any new requests and then pray about those things. Prayer is not just talked about. We actually do it. I've had those visiting tell me that was something that really "stood out" for them.

After facilitating the time for several weeks, I was convicted stronger and stronger each day about the time becoming a laundry list of wants, needs, and desires. I've attempted to refocus our attention on how blessed we are. I begin with the question, "How has God blessed you this morning? This week?"

It seems when we focus our attention on how God has blessed, the needs, wants, and desires are not as numerous. God has blessed us in so many ways! So what about it? Are you more concerned with your wants, needs, and desires? Or do you recognize God's gracious hand upon your life?

The Purpose of Election?

Today, we continue our study through Perspectives on Election. We've reached the point where we need to discuss texts from the Pauline corpus.

Again, we'll begin with Dr. Ware. "One of the clearest and strongest assertions of the unconditional nature of God's election is given by Paul in Romans 9:10-16" (Ware 9). Maintaining that some scholars believe that this particular passage is in regards to calling for service rather than salvation, Ware points to the beginning of the chapter and then 10:1-4 to make a stand for Paul speaking of salvation. He makes mention of God's concern for Israel's salvation (ibid). However, Ware then somehow moves to an individualistic idea of salvation (for those loved enough to be chosen). "As Paul explains, before the two had been born, and before either had done anything good or bad, God chose Jacob over his older brother Esau" (Ware 10).

Ware then moves to Romans 11:5-7. Interestingly enough, Dr. Ware returns now to a nationalistic view of salvation (the nation of Israel). Based on this passage, Ware argues the Apostle is referring to a gift of election and not salvation (12, emphasis mine). In other words, although the nation of Israel was chosen by God, only a select "remnant" from the nation was elected. Again, Dr. Ware states, "Here God's grace is not only grace (unmerited favor) that saves but grace (unmerited favor) that elects. Those who otherwise would be hardened in their rebellion are instead saved, and this has happened only because God's grace has elected them to be saved. Election then is unconditional" (12-13).

Cottrell begins his statements in regards to Romans 9:10-16. "As I argue in my own essay in this book, the point is unconditional election to service, not to salvation" (Cottrell 60, emphasis his). According to Cottrell, where Dr. Ware errs is using the beginning of Chapter 9 and 10:1-4 to make his argument in regards to the type of election. "This argument [election to salvation] is fallacious, however, because the issue is not whether the passage is about salvation but whether the election to which the passage refers is about salvation..."(ibid., emphasis his).

As to Romans 11:5-7, Cottrell distinguishes the "election" in this passage from that in Chapter 9 - this being for the purpose of salvation and the previous for service. Cottrell makes the point "The error here is to equate unconditional and undeserved" (60-61).

Personal Thoughts

1. I recognize some see this study as somewhat tedious. More about that in another post.
2. I've attempted to and will continue to provide "both sides" of the issue as described in Perspectives on Election. From time to time, I will point out what I perceive to be strengths or weaknesses with both sides.
3. I've pointed out above that I think it strange for Dr. Ware to choose his text, make the argument (in this case seeing the salvation of Israel as a nation) and then changing the argument (to a more individual salvation), before returning again to his previous thought of Israel. If Paul is writing with any coherence, wouldn't it make sense for him to continue the previous thought (God's relationship with Israel as a nation)? For those interested, the pizza man has a good post here in regards to Romans 9.
4. Next week: Election in Ephesians 1

Review of McKnight's Blue Parakeet #1

Recently, I was blessed to be able to receive an Advance Reader Copy of Scot Mcknight's the Blue Parakeet. The book hits the shelves in November. Based upon his blog and other books, I was looking forward to receiving this book to review.

McKnight begins by asking how one determines how to read Scripture. He then introduces us to a concept known as a "blue parakeet" - ways in which we read the Bible and attempt to "tame" those various passages. McKnight argues it shouldn't be attempted and can't be done. His foundation for his work is completed in the introduction (Chapters 1 and 2).

Section 1 (Chapters 3-5) then takes the reader into how McKnight teaches the Bible should be read, specifically, as Story. According to McKnight, too many go to the Bible and read snipets of a story, believing them to stand alone. For example, many choose to focus on God's promises or God's blessings, as they read. However, when one reads the Bible in it's entireity, one sees God's Story in 66 books.

I appreciated McKnight's example of wikipedia. After pointing out that wikipedia is a site of ongoing definitions, McKnight perceives the compiling of Scripture in that way. In other words, several authors describing one Story with their individual story. In the Story, McKnight points out 1) Oneness (the way God created); 2) Otherness (the result of the Fall and mankind's pride); and 3) Oneness (restoration of relationships including God, man, self, and others).

A review of sections 2 and 3 will follow next week.