Monday, September 30, 2024

Hidden Treasure in a Field: The Kingdom of God


I’d like to tell you about an enemy I’ve faced my entire life. Even before I was born he tried to destroy me through abortion, but God made sure my mother was wise enough, and trained in medical understanding, so she would know the two doctors who told her to abort me were wrong.

After I was born, the enemy tried again to damage me with sexual abuse that took place when I was a child. But God delivered me, all be it damaged, I would have a stutter the rest of my life. 

In my early years the enemy tried to destroy me through wicked friendships that taught me mockery and sexual perversion and bullying.

In the next phase the enemy tried to destroy me through the public education system, attempting to estrange me from my faith upbringing, manipulate me with propaganda and scientism, and a secular curriculum meant to exclude God from every aspect of life.

In my teens he tried to destroy me through bullying, prescription pills, and strife in the family. Yet God protected me.

In my twenties he tried to destroy me through drugs, drinking, pornography, and sexual immorality. Yet God spared my life in overdoses and suicide attempts.

In my late twenties the enemy experienced his worst failure when I called upon the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of my sins, and began a whole new life.

In my thirties the enemy has attempted to endlessly fight me in my mission of winning souls to Christ. He fought me endlessly in Owosso, attempting to defeat and minimize every victory we achieved in Christ. Yet God brought victory.

In my late thirties the enemy has tried to destroy me through depression, brutal spiritual warfare, temptations, and even mockery and gossip from fellow believers. Yet God has always brought encouragement and hope and victory when defeat seemed inevitable.

Today we’re talking about the hidden treasure in the field, and believe me, you know you’ve faced the same enemy I’ve faced, and he has tried to destroy you. He has tried to keep you so far away from that treasure in the field. He’s tried to keep you focused on other things. He’s tried to keep you locked up in pleasures.

But it didn’t work. You’re here today. And the eyes of your heart are opening.

The enemy likes to keep us focused on self. Caught in the grind of life. Always stuck in a tunnel vision, never looking up toward the light of the God who made us.

Stop and look up brothers and sisters, see the Lord God Almighty the one who loves you so completely. Slow down and focus your heart on Him, even right now. He loves you. Open the light, Open the door to Him. Let the Lord of Glory into your soul. He will change you forever.

Our scripture starts today with Jesus speaking to the people two thousand years ago, and he tells them something that we can understand just as easily today as then.

It starts off like this, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field…” (Matthew 13:44)

I didn’t know it was there. Honestly, I did not. Maybe you can relate today. You don’t see it there. That beautiful treasure chest full of priceless gold. But it’s there, just as plain as day.

But the enemy keeps us blind to it. Our flesh keeps us blind to it. Because we’re so caught up in the things of this world.

The treasure of God is waiting for us. But we’re stuck on something else. We’re stuck on chasing money. We’re stuck on chasing power. We’re stuck in chasing after popularity. We’re stuck on the hunt for strength, or romance.



I played the rat race for many years. I tried to become more and more attractive, working out, finding the right clothes, going on dating sites to try to climb that ladder, and no matter how high on that ladder you get, it never ends, and as time goes by, you slide down. It’s exhausting and empty.

I tried climbing the ladder of popularity, social media, clicks, friend groups, and again, no matter how high you climb, there’s always another level to try to get to, it’s empty, it’s exhausting.

I tried the workout scene, going to the gym, doing P90X, Insanity, yoga, all that stuff, again, it never quite leads anywhere.

I tried chasing girls, dating scene, chasing empty relationship after empty relationship again, never got anywhere, left every relationship more broken and more empty and more frustrated.

For you maybe it’s money, you think if you just get enough money, if you can just get rich you’ll finally be happy, you’ll finally be satisfied.

For others it’s work, they work constantly, endless hours, they are workaholics, but again, that climbing, it doesn’t end up leading anywhere.

Now don’t get me wrong, none of these things are bad in themselves. We should work, we should earn money, we should date and get married, we should exercise, we should have friends and connections, but it’s when we make these things our goal in life, we make them our god, that they end up being empty and exhausting.

Keep God first. Let God reign over your money, your romance, your health, and he will guide you, so that it never becomes a god, and idol over you.

It’s the climbing ladders of this world. And there’s only one ladder I want to climb today, and it’s the ladder that leads to heaven. And that ladder is Jesus Christ the King.


We get so focused on money, romance, power, popularity, and work that we can’t see the treasure hidden in the field. Do you see it today? It’s right there. It’s the kingdom of God. And it’s all around us. It’s real.

If you can’t quite see it today, don’t worry, keep seeking, keep showing up, it took me years before God finally opened my eyes, and I saw that treasure.

And when I saw the treasure of God, well, everything else became secondary. I wanted that treasure. The enemy did everything he could to stop me from seeing it and getting it. Same with you:

You have an enemy in the world who wants to keep you distracted from the treasure available to you.

To access the treasure available to us, we need to understand how God’s kingdom system works.

How does God’s kingdom system function? That’s the key question here. We saw the prodigal son, the goal is to bring you home safely. We saw the concept of transformation, you must be born again. To be part of God’s kingdom we must be made new by Jesus. We talked about the good Samaritan, in God’s kingdom, we take on the role of bringing others into the kingdom. Now today we settle in on God’s kingdom like an immense treasure hidden in a field.

Jesus tells us the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. Next, verses 45-46: “When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”

This guy was out walking one day. And he’s crossing through the country, on a path maybe he’s taken many times. And one day he’s crossing the valley and he stops and something catches his eye.

It’s shiny, it draws him. And he walks over, and sure enough ,it’s a chest. He flips the chest open, and inside he is shocked to find thousands of gold coins. It’s a priceless treasure, worth more than he could possibly imagine.

That is what it’s like when we first discover the gospel of Jesus Christ. We realize we can have all our sins forgiven. And we can receive eternal life. We can live forever. We don’t have to go to hell. We don’t have to suffer eternal wrath from God. We can be saved.

What could be greater than that? Nothing on this planet. Nothing. It’s a gold treasure worth more than we could imagine.

So this man finds the treasure. And he hides it again, and leaves. He finds the owner of the field, and he asks the price to purchase the field.

The price he finds out is going to be high. Very high.

It will cost him everything he owns. So the man says, you know what, it’s a high price, but, I’m going to do it, because the value of the treasure is so astronomical.

Next point here, when we see the gospel of Jesus, forgiveness of our sins, new life, eternal hope, we are very excited. But there is also a price we pay as well.

It’s a free gift, don’t get me wrong.

Yet the challenge is that we have to give up our old life, and embrace an entirely new life. We have to give up our sins.

Many people I know will come so close to the gospel of Jesus, but when they find out they have to give up the drugs, or the sleeping around, or the selfishness, or the pride, they turn around and decide against it.

But a wise man or woman knows the value of the treasure. They are willing to give up everything. And they do.

The man who found the treasure realizes its worth it. So worth it. So he gets to work selling everything he owns.

He sells his house, his donkey, his possessions, everything. And after he does, he realizes, “I’ve got just enough for the field.”



So he goes and buys the field. And he digs up that treasure and he celebrates. He’s done it. It took giving up everything he had. But finally, he has that priceless treasure. And He celebrates.

That’s the first example we get from Jesus. Treasure hidden in a field.

There is a second example. It comes immediately after in verses 45-46: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”

Similar situation, we have a merchant who is in search of pearls. He finds a beautiful pearl that is more beautiful and perfect than any other pearl he has ever seen. So he went away, sold everything he had, and bought that pearl.

Believe in your heart that what you’ve found in Jesus is more precious than anything in the universe. Because it’s true.

Now, the question remains, we’ve found it, it’s here. But how can we fight ourselves? Because myself is saying, keep it off to the side. Keep yourself in charge. Just kind of come to church and listen, but don’t really change your life.

Here is a powerful illustration… “To bring to the place where you live only the best and most beautiful-what a plan for one’s life! This is well within the reach of everyone. Think of using one’s memory in that way. As one lives from day to day, there are all sorts of experiences, good, bad, beautiful, ugly, that become a part of ones past. To develop the ability to screen one’s memory so that only the excellent is retained for one’s own room! All kinds of ideas pass through one’s mind, about one’s self, about the world, about people. Which do you keep for your own room? Think it over; which areas do you keep for the place that you live? It is well within the mark to say that the oft quoted words of Jesus, about laying up for yourselves treasures in heaven, deal with the same basic idea. The place where you live is where your treasure is. Where your treasures are is where your heart is. Where your heart is, is where your God is.” -Howard Thurman, Deep is the Hunger.

We have to eliminate distractions. That’s the enemy’s great trick is to keep us constantly focused on television, internet, parties, texts, working, dates, and we never have time for God. The battle occurs in your mind. That’s where it must be won.

One of the mistakes many make is they treat Christianity as something to be added to the side of their life, like another hobby, or some new thing to try for a while. But Jesus leaves no space for us to treat the faith as some moderately important venture.

C.S. Lewis said, “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”

What we’ve found hidden in the field is beyond anything we could think or imagine. It is the answer to the meaning of life itself.

The human mind will want to keep Christianity off to the side. Particularly in the west we attempt to take Jesus and bring the world with. We try follow Jesus and keep our sins in a backpack with us along the way. But there is no hope for such a venture, it only leads to double-mindedness and shipwrecked faith.

Many Christians lament the lack of enthusiasm in the churches. Many Christians lament the sin found in the churches. Many Christians lament the revival that tarries.

But we need look no further than the mirror to find the problem. We attempt to keep Christianity on the side and treat it as moderately important. Such a double-minded faith walk has left modern Christianity weak and compromised.

Instead, we must keep Jesus first in everything. Anything we lose or give up for the sake of the kingdom is nothing compared to what we will gain.

There are millions of distractions in life that threaten to disrupt our ability to keep a pure focus on Jesus Christ as the first importance of our lives. We must learn to fight ourselves, and wrestle within to keep Jesus first in everything.

What is the difference between a set apart saint and a compromised saint? They’ve fought the battle of entire consecration to the Lord. Everyday, make a decision to give a little bit more to Jesus. And one day it will be all.


“General William Booth was once asked to reveal the secret of his success. After some hesitation, tears came to his eyes and he said, “I will tell you the secret. God has had all there was of me. There have been men with greater brains than I have, men with greater opportunities, but from the day that I got the poor of London on my heart and caught a vision of what Jesus could do with them, I made up my mind that God should have all of William Booth.” It was this which led Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman, the questioner, to remark, “I learned from William Booth that the greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender.” -J.G. Heck (Heck, 2003, Encyclopedia of Illustrations #12616).

In conclusion, the blessing is, we’ve found the greatest treasure imaginable, hidden in a field, the forgiveness of our sins in Jesus Christ.

The challenge is that given that we’ve found such a great treasure, our response must be no less than to keep Jesus Christ as the most important focus of our lives.

Next Steps:
How do we live this parable?

A. Living the parable of the hidden treasure means seeing God’s kingdom as a beautiful treasure available to us.

B. Living the parable of the hidden treasure means Jesus is the most important part of your life.

C. Living the parable of the hidden treasure means leaving behind any distractions that could disrupt your walk with Jesus.

Discussion Questions:
1. Why does Jesus compare the Kingdom of God to treasure?

2. What distractions in your life are preventing you from going all in for the kingdom of God?

3. How do you treat your Christian faith? Low importance, moderate importance, or of the highest importance?

4. Why does the parable mention the need to sell everything to receive the pearl or treasure?

5. What practical ways can you keep Jesus first in your heart and life?



Friday, September 27, 2024

William Booth's Vision of Heaven

Did you know that William Booth had a dream/vision of heaven? It's true. I'm simply going to post it here in it's entirety. It's fascinating, and a bit scary. Hat tip to Salvation Factory for providing a PDF copy of it online. Hat tip to the book Visions by William Booth where I originally read it. Enjoy. 


Visions — In Heaven, But Not of Heaven 1

I had a very curious vision of Heaven the other day, and I have been much perplexed as to whether I should tell it to my friends or not. The chief difficulty I find in giving it publicity arises from its apparent uncharitableness. It would seem at first sight as though I made the gate to the Celestial City narrower than the Bible is supposed to do, and therefore shut out a large number of those fully expecting to be welcomed there, and that with a flourish of trumpets. In this narrowing of the way it will be considered, perhaps, that my vision is at fault, and therefore somewhat misleading; but on its behalf I may suggest, that as Heaven is, as the negro said, “a mighty big place,” it may be only some special part of the vast continent of blessedness that caught my attention, and which is contemplated in my vision. Then, again, I have felt a difficulty in supposing myself to be any other than a good Salvationist, and I have not failed to see that this also may lay my story open to objection. But, as everyone knows that dreams and visions are fantastic and contradictory things, I have thought that these eccentricities might be passed over for the useful lessons they are calculated to convey. I have, therefore, decided to let this one see the light, leaving the reader to judge whether it has any interest for, or any application to, himself. In my vision I thought that, in some way or other, I had ceased to be, what I hope I am in fact, a persistent seeker of souls and a resolute opponent of Satan. I thought that I had been transformed into a Christian of that type which we all know is so very common around us. It may seem strange also, but I was not conscious whether I was connected with The Salvation Army or with any other religious organisation. 

Visions — In Heaven, But Not of Heaven 2 

All I knew was the simple fact that I claimed to be a follower of Christ, and regarded myself as having the favour of God, hoping for the enjoyment of the blessings promised to His people hereafter. In my vision I imagined that, so far as this world was concerned, Solomon's prayer was answered in my circumstances, for I had neither poverty nor riches. All my temporal wants were fully supplied. I had home, friends, and leisure, and all that was really necessary to happiness in those respects. I was, as I have already said, a Christian. Most of my more intimate friends professed to be the same. We visited at each other's houses, and were alike interested in each other's amusements, business engagements, political opinions, and many other things. We bought and sold, and married and gave in marriage; in short, we acted as though the world we were in was going to last for ever. I thought also that I took some active part in the Church to which I belonged. I always attended its services on the Sunday, held a prominent position in its financial management, and occupied myself zealously in teaching Bible truths to the children; indeed, I considered myself quite a shining light. Now and then — not very often — I visited the sick, in a friendly way, especially when they happened to be connected with my own circle of acquaintances, and in addition to these good deeds I contributed a little money to support missionary operations. In all this I was quite sincere. I had no notion of playing the hypocrite. In fact, I did not do so. It is true I did not stop to think what Christianity really was, although I talked about it freely enough at times, and pitied people who did not profess it. But I seldom seriously considered what were the claims of Jesus Christ and the poor, sinning, suffering world about me, although I occasionally heard them discussed, but more seldom did I meditate upon the length and breadth of those claims in their relation to myself. I had got into a certain rut of thought, action, and profession, and I went on from day to day, hoping that all would turn out well at the last. 

Visions — In Heaven, But Not of Heaven 3 

But in my vision I fancied that, without any apparent warning, a dangerous fever seized me. I went down most unexpectedly, and before I knew where I was, the doctor pronounced me to be in a dangerous condition; in fact, in a few hours I was brought to the very verge of death. This was a serious business indeed. Everyone around me was in the greatest confusion, while many of those who loved me were paralysed with despair. Then followed consultations with other physicians, a hurrying from far and near of my family, many suggestions as to remedies from my numerous friends and acquaintances, together with the most careful nursing which money could procure or affection dictate. But all proved in vain. For my own part I did not feel any particular alarm about my state. Whether it was the suddenness of the visitation, or the benumbing character of the disease, or the effects of the narcotics which the doctors gave me to procure sleep or soothe the pain, I cannot tell; but, strangely enough, I seemed to be the least disturbed person in the house­hold. I felt as though I were in a dream. I knew I was ill — dangerously ill — for a relative insisted on my being informed of my real condition, and yet I was not distressed by the announcement. I thought I should recover. Most people do, I suppose, until the hand of death is actually on them. And if not, what need had I to worry myself, for was I not a Christian? Had not Christ died for me? Had I not been converted? Did I not believe in the Bible? Had I not lived a moral life? What had I to fear? And then, again, was I not all the time hearing hymns sung for my comfort, and prayers offered for my restoration, and that if recovery could not be granted me, it was as earnestly asked that I might pass away without suffering, and have a happy admission into Heaven? Why should I be very much disturbed? And even if disquieting thoughts did cross my mind — for I could not help questions arising as to whether I had done my duty to a perishing world with my time and influence, and money and family — it was all in a dreamy way. 

Visions — In Heaven, But Not of Heaven 4 

So it seemed as though it were impossible to do anything different under the circumstances than let things drift. How could I do otherwise, with the burning fever lapping up the vital current, and my brain all confused, and my energies laid prostrate? Consequently, when I complained that I had not much joy, I readily acceded to a suggestion made by my minister, that my condition prevented it. Then I felt, moreover, that if I were not “ready” for the change, I had neither the thought nor the energy required to begin so serious a business over again as the salvation of my soul. Besides, how could I make the confession in the presence of my wife and children and church comrades that I had been mistaken all these years, and that my life had been a failure? No! It was too late, and I was too ill, for any such action. One thing I could do, and that I did: I cast myself, with what force of soul I had left, on the mercy of my Saviour, and again and again repeated a couplet which had always been a favourite with me: "I am a poor Sinner, and nothing at all, But Jesus Christ is my All-in-all." It was with this very sentence on my lips — a sentence taken up and reproduced at the Memorial Service held on the following Sabbath — that a cold numbness came creeping over me, and a great difficulty in breathing followed. My friends were alarmed — I read their apprehension in their faces. Some fell on their knees, and broke out in prayer, while others wept, and my dear ones moistened my lips, and kissed my brow, and spoke their last and lingering farewells in my ears. Meanwhile a strange faintness seized me, destroying my consciousness. My next sensation was altogether beyond description: it was a thrill of a new and celestial existence. I was in Heaven! After the first feeling of surprise occasioned by this sudden translation had somewhat subsided, I looked around me, and took in the situation. It was delightful beyond anything of earth; and yet some of the more beautiful sounds and feelings and scenes 

Visions — In Heaven, But Not of Heaven 5 

of the world I had just left appeared to be reproduced in my new experience after an enchanting fashion. Still, I am constrained to say no human eye ever beheld such beauty, no earthly ear ever heard such music, no human heart ever experienced such ecstasy as it was my privilege to see and hear and feel during the first hours I spent in the celestial country. Above me was the loveliest of blue skies. Around me was an atmosphere so balmy that it made my whole physical frame vibrate with pleasure. By the bank of roses, on which I found myself reposing, there flowed the clearest and purest of rivers, which seemed to dance with delight to the murmurings of its own waters. The trees that grew on its banks were covered with the greenest foliage, and laden with most delicious fruit, sweet to my taste beyond all earthly sweetness. By lifting my hand I could pluck and eat the fruit to my heart's delight. In every direction, above and around, the air was not only laden with the richest of odours yielded by the loveliest of flowers, but rendered vocal with sweetest sounds, and filled with fairest forms. Floating about me were beautiful beings, whom I felt by instinct were angels and archangels, seraph and seraphim, cherub and cherubim, together with the bloodwashed and perfected saints who had come from the world below, sometimes far away and sometimes drawing nearer. The blue sky appeared at times to be full of white-winged, happy, worshipping, joyous beings, while the whole country — apparently of limitless extent — seemed to be filled with a blissful ecstasy that could only be realised by being experienced. My sensations may, perhaps, be imagined. At first I was swallowed up with a sort of rapturous intoxication, which was immensely enhanced by the blessed consciousness that I was securely landed in Heaven — that I was safe, and should suffer no more. "Far from a world of grief and sin, With God eternally shut in." And then, strange to say, a new set of feelings began to creep over me. Marvellous as it may appear, I felt somewhat solitary and not a little sad, even in the midst of this infinitude of felicity; for, up to this moment, I was alone. Not one of the happy beings Visions — 

In Heaven, But Not of Heaven 6 

who were soaring and singing in the bright ether above me, or who were hastening hither and thither, each intent upon the performance of some high mission, had as yet approached or spoken to me. I was alone in Heaven! And then, in a still further and yet more mysterious way, I felt in myself a sort of unfitness for the society of these pure beings who were sailing around me in such indescribable loveliness. And yet, how could this be? Had I come there uninvited, or by mistake? Was I not counted worthy of being a partaker of this glorious inheritance? I was bewildered. It was indeed a mystery. My thoughts went back to earth, and, as though by an angel's hand, the history of my past life was unrolled before my eyes. What a record it was! At the first glance I seemed to be able to take in the substance and meaning of my entire earthly career, becoming at the same time strangely conscious of a marvelous quickening of my intellectual powers, realising that I could, in a moment, take in what would have required a day to understand with my poor, darkened faculties when on the earth. With my quickened mind I saw, to my delight, at that very first glance, that this register of my earthly existence — this supernatural biography — contained no record of any of my misdeeds before my conversion: indeed, that part of my life appeared to be very much a blank. Neither was there any mention, to my utmost satisfaction, of the sins I had committed since that time. It was as though some friendly hand had gone through the roll, and with kindly labour blotted out the record of all the evil doings of my human life. Now this was very gratifying. I felt like shouting "Hallelujah!" over and over again — in fact, I made some attempt to do so; and well I might, for was I not delivered, through the mercy of Jesus Christ, from the pain of having these things eternally staring me in the face in this beautiful holy land, among all these holy beings where, it seemed to me, that the very memory of sin would defile ? Visions — 

In Heaven, But Not of Heaven 7 

Nevertheless, a second glance at my roll appalled me, for, while the evil things I had done were omitted, it revealed the kind of life required from me by the light I had enjoyed, and the opportunities with which I had been favoured. Nay, the revelation went much deeper, for it described in detail the objects which had influenced me during my earthly career. It set forth the purpose for which my thoughts and feelings and activities had been mainly spent, and brought forth the ends for which I had employed my time, my money, my influence, and all the other talents and gifts with which God had entrusted me to use for His glory and the salvation of men. Every chapter of this roll carried back my thoughts to the condition of the world I had left; and while I mused on it there came up before my eyes such a graphic picture of its hatred of God, its rejection of Christ, its terrible wicked ness, with all the wretched ness, destitution, and abominations flowing out of this state of things as appalled me. As this part of my vision passed before my wondering eyes there came into my ears such a hurricane of cursing and blasphemy, and such wild wails of anguish and woe, as almost stunned me. It was a terrible recollection! I had often seen these sights, and heard these sounds, when on the earth; not too often, it is true, for I had hid myself from them; but, oh! they blinded and stupefied me now, for they appeared to indicate a condition a million times blacker and viler, more wretched and piteous than they had seemed when on the earth. I felt like putting my hands before my eyes, and my fingers in my ears, to shut this hideous apparition out from sight and hearing, so intensely real and present did they seem. They wrung my soul with sorrow and self-reproach; for alongside these horrid recollections, the “roll of memory," at which I had just glanced, showed me how I had occupied myself during the few years which I had been allowed to live amidst all these miseries, after Jesus Christ had called me to be His soldier, and to fight for Him. I was reminded how, instead of fighting His battles, saving souls by bringing them to His feet, and so preparing them for admission to this lovely place, I had been intent on earthly things, selfishly seeking my own carnal interests, worrying about my own Visions —

In Heaven, But Not of Heaven 8 

personal cares and anxieties, and spending my life in practical unbelief, disloyalty, and dis­ obedience to all my most sacred obligations. I must say again I felt horror-stricken. Oh! if only at that moment I could have crept out of that "land of pure delight," about which I had sung so much in the past, and gone back to the world of darkness, sin, and misery, which I had just left; that I might spend another lifetime fighting for my Lord, combating these evils, and striving to save the sufferers, by poverty and cross-bearing, how gladly I should have done so. But that could not be. I was a fixture. I was in Heaven. Heaven must be my abode for ever; and, contradictory as it may seem, this thought filled my soul with unutterable regret. And then came another thought, wilder than all that had gone before it. (You must not forget that it is a vision I am relating.) The thought was this: would it be possible for me to obtain a commission, or rather a permission, to go back to the world, to that very part of it from which I had come, clothed in some h u man form, and live my life over again; live it in a manner worthy of my profession, my Christ, and my opportunity. Could this be? At that moment, if an answer in the affirmative had been brought me, I would have willingly forfeited my heavenly blessed ness, I would gladly have undergone ages of hard­ ship, ignominy, poverty, and pain. I would have given a million of money — nay, a world — had it been mine to give. But I could see no hope of such a second probation. What was to be done? I had not been musing thus many seconds — for thoughts appeared to flow with remarkable rapidity, as I have said, in this new world — when, quick as a lightning flash, one of these bright inhabitants whom I had watched floating far off in the clouds of glory, descended and stood before my astonished gaze. I can never forget the feelings with which this apparition inspired me. Describe the shape and features and bearing of this noble form I cannot, and I will not attempt to do so. He was at the same time human, and yet angelic; earthly, and yet celestial. I discerned at a glance that he was one of the blood-washed multitude who had come out of the great tribulations of earth. I not only judged this from his majestic 

Visions — In Heaven, But Not of Heaven 9 

appearance, but from an inward instinct that the being before me was a man, a redeemed and glorified man. He looked at me, and I could not help but return his gaze; in fact, his eyes compelled me; and in doing so I confess to being ravished with his beauty. I could never have believed the human face divine could have been made to bear so grand a stamp of dignity and charm. But far beyond the entrancing loveliness of those celestial features was the expression that beamed through every lineament of that countenance, and shone through the eyes that were gazing upon me. Those eyes appeared to me, moreover, as sunlit windows through which I could see right into the depths of the pure and benevolent soul within. I do not know how I appeared to my beautiful visitor. I knew not what form I bore, for I had not as yet beheld myself mirrored since I had exchanged mortality for immortality. Nevertheless, I evidently had a deep interest for him, an interest that seemed of a saddening nature, for his features appeared to grow almost sorrowful as I stood there with my eyes fixed on him by a fascinating spell. He spoke first. Had he not done so, I could never have summoned courage to address him. His voice was soft and musical. I understood him almost before I heard his words, although I cannot now tell what language he used. I suppose it was the universal language of Heaven. He informed me that my advent was known throughout a certain district of the celestial region, where were gathered the ransomed spirits who had come from the very neighbourhood in which I had formerly resided. The tidings of my arrival had been flashed through the heavenly telephone of that particular district. My name had been whispered on every hill-side, and echoed in every valley; had been breathed from every tree and flower; had been sounded forth at every turn of the Golden Street; had been articulated in every room of every mansion, and proclaimed from every tower and pinnacle of the stupendous temple in which these glorified saints, day and night, present their worship to the Great Father. Visions — 

In Heaven, But Not of Heaven 10 

All who had known me on earth; all who had any knowledge of my family; my opportunities for helping on the Kingdom of Christ, whom they worshipped and adored, were burning to see me, and to hear me tell of the victories I had won, and the souls I had blessed when on earth, and all were specially anxious to hear if I had been the means of bringing salvation to the loved ones they had left behind. As all this was poured into my soul by my visitor, I knew not which way to look. Again and again I remembered my life of ease and comfort. What could I say? How could I appear with the record of my life before these waiting spirits? What was there in it better than a long-drawn story of self-gratification? I had no martyr experiences to recount. I had sacrificed nothing for His dear sake worth naming on earth, much less worthy of being published in Heaven. My mind was running in this direction, when I think my visitor must have discerned what I was thinking about, and felt some pity for me, seeing that he spoke again: — “Where you find yourself,” he said, “is not actually Heaven, but only one of its forecourts. Presently the Lord Himself, with a procession of His chosen ones, will come to take you into the City itself, where you will reside, if He deems you worthy; that is, if your service on the battlefield below has pleased Him. “Meanwhile I have obtained permission to come and speak to you concerning a soul, who, I understand, lives near your late residence, and in whom I feel a deep interest. Our knowledge of the transactions of earth is, for our own sakes, very limited, but now and then we are permitted to get a glimpse of what is passing there. Can you," he said, looking at me with an unspeakable longing, “tell me anything of my son? He was my only son. I loved him dearly — loved him too much. I spoiled him when a child. He had his own way. He grew up wilful, passionate, and disobedient. My example helped him not;” and here a cloud for a moment settled upon that beautiful brow, but vanished as quickly as it came. “Memory has been busy of late with that melancholy chapter of my life," he said, as though talking to himself; and then he returned to the story of his prodigal son. Visions — 

In Heaven, But Not of Heaven 11 

“I myself, through the instrumentality of The Salvation Army, was rescued from a life of sin and shame, washed, regenerated, taught to fight for souls, and had the high privilege of winning many to the blood­stained banner of the Cross. An accident, however, suddenly overtook me while at my employment, and as suddenly swung me into Heaven; and now," he added, "where is my boy? Oh! give me some tidings of my boy. He lived near you, I believe. He had business dealings with you. Is he saved? What did you do for him? Is there any hope? Tell me what his feelings to my Lord were when you last spoke to him!" He ceased speaking. My heart sunk within me. What could I say? I knew the boy. The story of the father's death and his prodigal son had been told me, and yet I had never addressed one serious word to the young man about his soul, or about his Saviour. I had been busy with other things. And now what could I say to his father as he stood there before me? I was dumb! The cloud I had noticed before gathered again on the face of my visitor, only with a darker shadow this time. He must have guessed it all. He looked at me with a glance, which expressed the disappointment to himself and the pity for me which he evidently felt. Then he turned from me, and, suddenly spreading forth his white wings, he soared away out of my sight. I was so intently gazing on the receding form of my visitor that I failed to notice a second glorified being had occupied his place. I turned and looked upon the new-comer. It was a spirit of the same order, belonging to the ransomed multitude who were once dwellers on the earth. There was the same dignity of bearing, the same marvellous expression of inward power, and purity, and joy; but in this case these graces were combined with a beauty of a more delicate and enthralling mould. Divinely fair as I though t my first visitor, more beautiful than any conception or dream of earth could be, yet here was a beauty that surpassed it. My former visitor, I have said, bore the form of a glorified man; this was evidently the form of a glorified woman. Visions — 

In Heaven, But Not of Heaven 12 

I had, when on earth, sometimes wished that I could have looked upon Eve in the hour when, young and pure and beautiful, she came forth from the hands of her Maker, and had imagined something of what her lovely figure must have been on that bridal morning, bearing as she did the fair image of her Creator, and being, perhaps, the most marvellous work of God. Now here I saw Eve reproduced before my eyes, clothed in immortal youth, as pure, as beautiful, nay, more so than her first mother could possibly have been; for was not this the Divine Master's finished workmanship? But I was soon awakened from my reverie by the voice of the fair creature, who, from her manner, evidently wished to speak to me on some matter of great importance. She introduced herself somewhat after the fashion of my previous interrogator; she, too, had come from the very same neighbourhood where I had lived so long. She told me her name. I had heard it before. She was a widow, who had struggled with great difficulties. Her husband's death had been her life. Converted at his grave, she had given herself up unreservedly to fight for the Lord. Her children had been her first care. They had all been converted and entered the battlefield, except one. That unsaved one was a girl, who had been her mother's delight. She had grown up lovely in form, the village pride; but, alas! had gone astray. It was the old story of wrong and seduction and cruel abandonment, with all the consequent train of miseries. The mention of that name brought a similar saddening cloud over her lovely face to that which had dimmed the bright visage of my first visitor; but, as in his case, the cloud vanished almost as soon as it appeared. I listened to the story as it came from this mother's heart. I had heard something of the painful incident when on earth; but I had turned my ear away from it as being no concern of mine. Little did I ever think I was going to be confronted with it in Heaven. Visions —

In Heaven, But Not of Heaven 13 

And now the bright spirit turned on me those beautiful eyes, gleaming with love and pity, and spoke again: "My daughter lived near you; you know her. What have you done for her? Have you saved my child?" At this I must have cried out in agony. I know I put my hands before my eyes, for I could no longer bear to meet her glance. How long she continued to look on me with her powerful, piercing, pitying eyes I know not; but when I withdrew my hand she was gone, and the silvery sheen of her dazzling wings marked her out to my searching gaze like a speck on the distant blue. Again I gasped out, "Oh! my God! is this Heaven? Will these interrogations go on forever? Will the meanness and selfishness of my past life, with all their sad consequences — from which I had hoped forever to have got away in this country — haunt me every day and every hour throughout the coming eternity? What shall I do? Can I not go back to earth, and do something to redeem myself from this wretched sense of unworthiness? Would it be possible for me to live my life over again?" This question had hardly passed through my mind when there came another rush of wings, and down beside me alighted another form, resembling the first that had spoken to me; and yet, oh! so different. But I will not stay to describe him. You must imagine him. His introduction was much the same, but his story was different. He had been a great sinner, but had been awakened and won to Christ by The Salvation Army a short time back, and had joined its ranks. Much forgiven, he had loved much. All his desire when on earth was to get free from the entanglements of business, and devote himself, as a Salvation Army Officer, to the work of saving men. When just about to realise his wish, he had been sent for to Heaven; and here he was a spirit of glory and joy coming to enquire from me concerning the Corps in which he had been a Soldier, and of the crowd of unconverted companions he had left behind. Did I know his old Corps? he asked. Their Hall was close by my house of business. Had I helped them in their struggle with difficulties? Had I done anything for his old mates, who were drinking, and cursing, and fighting their way to hell? He had died with prayers for them on his lips — had I done anything to stop them on their way to ruin? Visions — 

In Heaven, But Not of Heaven 14 

To all this searching appeal, what could I say? I knew his Corps, but I had never given them a word of encouragement. I knew the hovels in which his old mates lived, and the drinking saloons in which they spent their money; but I had been too busy, or too proud, or too shame-faced, to seek them out with the tidings of a Saviour's love. Again I was speechless. He guessed my feelings, I suppose, compassionated me, and left in sadness — at least in as much sadness as is possible in that happy land. For myself I was in anguish, strange as it may appear, considering I was in Heaven. But so it was, and wondering whether there was not some comfort for me, and involuntarily looking round me, I saw, or thought I saw, a marvellous phenomenon on the distant horizon. All that part of the heavens appeared to be filled with a brilliant light, surpassing the blaze of a thousand suns at noonday; and yet there was no oppressive glare rendering it difficult to the gaze, as is the case with our own sun when he shines in his midday glory. Here was a brilliance far surpassing anything that can be imagined; and yet but for my recent experiences I should have looked upon it with indescribable delight. As I gazed and wondered what it could mean it appeared to move a little closer, and I perceived clearly that it was coming in the direction of the spot on which I stood; for I had not left the banks of the beautiful river where I first found myself. And now I could distinctly hear the sound of music. The distance was a great many miles according to the measure of earth, but the atmosphere was so clear, and I found my eyesight so strong, that I could readily discern with the naked eye objects which on earth would have required a powerful telescope to see. The sound came nearer. It was music beyond question, and such music as I had never heard before. But there was a strange commingling of other sounds, which altogether made an entrancing melody, composed, as I afterwards discovered, of the strains that came forth from a multitude of musicians mingled with the shouts and songs that proceeded from innumerable voices. Visions — 

In Heaven, But Not of Heaven 15 

Gradually the rapturous hosts drew nearer — rapidly, I might have said, but that my curiosity was so strongly aroused to know what it signified that a few minutes seemed an age. At length I was able to comprehend the marvellous sight that approached me. But who could describe it? The whole firmament was filled, as it were, with innumerable forms of beauty and dignity, far surpassing those with whom I had already made an acquaintance. Here evidently was a representative portion of the aristocracy of Heaven accompanying its King, who, as my first visitor had informed me, was coming to welcome into the Heaven of heavens those who had fought a good fight, who had kept the faith, and who had overcome in the conflict, as He had overcome. I stood transfixed with awe and wonder. Could it be possible? Was I at last actually going to see my Lord, and be welcomed by Him? In the thought of this rapture I forgot the sorrow which, only a moment before, had reigned in my heart, and my whole nature swelled with expectation and delight. And now the procession was upon me! I had seen some of the pageants of earth — displays that required the power of mighty monarchs and the stored wealth of prosperous nations to create— but those when contrasted with the scene that now spread itself before my wondering eyes, were each, or all combined, as the gleam of a feeble rush-light to the blaze of a tropical sun. I have to say of this, as I have already said of other scenes that have passed before me, I cannot attempt a description. It would be impossible. Moreover, I was spectacle was to my eyes simply one vast sea of glory, and to my ears an overwhelming rush of harmony. But on the procession came: and as it neared me I fell prostrate before it. What wonderful beings these heavenly spirits appeared! each one looking in himself, to my poor untutored eyes, like a god, so far as greatness and power could be expressed by the outward appearance of any creature. Visions — 

In Heaven, But Not of Heaven 16 

Rank after rank passed me by, each spirit turning his eye upon me, or seeming to do so, and to everyone I could not help feeling that I was somewhat an object of pity. Perhaps it was my own feelings that made me imagine this; but it certainly appeared to me as though these noble beings regarded me as a craven, cowardly soul, who had only cared for my own interests on earth, and had only been induced to come up there from similar selfish motives. However, onward the mighty cavalcade swept. I have said "cavalcade," for while part of the procession filled the heavens with their shining wings, and another part walked with upright mien, the picture of dignity itself, there was a host, as imposing as any, or more so, mounted upon the most beautiful white horses, more beautiful than ever were beheld by any human eye. On they came! Thousands passed me, yet there appeared no diminution of the numbers yet to come. I looked at the train as it stretched backwards, but my eye could see no end to it. There must have been millions upon millions of spirits. It was indeed “a multitude that no man could number.” All this mighty host were praising God, either in hymns expressive of adoration and worship, or by recounting, in songs of rapture, the triumphant victories gained on earth in the name of Calvary's Prince, or in describing some of the wonderful works of Jehovah in other parts of the vast empire. And now the great central glory and attraction of this stupendous procession was at hand. I gathered this from the still more dignified character of the beings who came marching past, by the heavier crash of the music, and the louder shouts of exultation which came pealing forth from all around. I was right; and before I could prepare my spirit for the rapturous vision of the King, the King was here! Visions — 

In Heaven, But Not of Heaven 17 

The procession halted, and at the word of command in an instant formed up in three sides of a square in front of me, the King standing in the centre immediately opposite to the spot where I had prostrated myself. In the midst of these circling hosts, rising, tier above tier, high into the blue vault above, each gazing upon Him with eyes lustrous with the love they bore Him, I beheld the celestial form of the God-Man who once died for me upon the cross. What a sight that was! Surely, it was worth toiling a lifetime to behold. Nearest to the King were the patriarchs and apostles of ancient times. Next to these worthies, rank after rank, came the holy martyrs who had died for Him. Then followed the army of warriors who had fought for Him in every part of the world; while around and about, above and below, were myriads and myriads of spirits redeemed from the earth who, although never heard of outside their own neighbourhood, or beyond their own time, had with self-denying zeal and untiring toil laboured to extend God's Kingdom and to save the souls of men. Then, circling the gorgeous scene, was an innumerable host of angelic beings who had kept their first estate, proud, it seemed to me, to minister to the happiness and exaltation of the soldier saints who had faithfully lived and died for their Lord in the poor world from whence I came. I was bewildered by the spectacle. The songs, the music, the shouts of the multitude, like the roar of a thousand cataracts, echoed and re-echoed through the sunlit mountains, and the magnificent and endless array of happy spirits ravished my senses with unspeakable delight. All at once, however, I recollected myself, and bethought me of the High Presence before whom I was bowed; and lifting up my eyes, I beheld Him gazing upon me. What a look that was! It was not pain, and yet it was not pleasure. It was not anger, and yet it was not approval. Anyway, I felt that in that countenance, so transcendentally admirable and Visions — 

In Heaven, But Not of Heaven 18 

glorious, there was yet no welcome for me. I had read this in the faces of my previous visitors; I read it again in the face of my Lord. That face, that Divine face, seemed to say to me — for language was not needed to indicate what His feelings towards me were — “You will find yourself little in harmony with those who were once the companions of My tribulation, and are now partakers of My glory, who counted not their lives dear unto them in order that they might bring honour to Me and salvation to men." And as He spoke, He waved His hand, and gave a look of loving admiration at the host of apostles, martyrs, and warriors gathered around Him. Oh, that look of Jesus! I felt that it would be worth dying a hundred deaths at the stake, or being torn asunder by wild beasts, to gain one such loving recognition. The angelic escort felt it too, for their responsive burst of praise and song shook the very ground on which I lay and the vaulted skies above my head. Then the King turned His eyes on me again. How I wished that some mountain would fall upon me, and hide me for ever from His presence. But I wished in vain. Some invisible and irresistible force compelled me to look up, and His eyes met mine once more. I felt, rather than heard Him say to me, in words that engraved themselves in living fire upon my excited brain: "Go back to earth. You shall have another opportunity; and if you prove yourself worthy of My name, and show to the world that you possess My Spirit, by doing My work, and by making yourself a saviour of men, you shall return hither, and I will give you a place in My conquering train, and a share in My everlasting glory." What I felt under that look and those words, nor heart nor mind could possibly conceive, nor tongue nor pen could ever describe. They were mingled feelings. First came the unutterable anguish arising out of a full realisation of a wasted life, a life squandered on the paltry ambitions and trifling pleasures of earth, which might have been filled with deeds that would have produced a never-ending harvest of celestial fruit, won for me the approval of Heaven's King, and made me worthy to be the companion of these glorified heroes. Visions — 

In Heaven, But Not of Heaven 19 

But, combined with this self-reproach, there was also a gleam of hope. My soul's desire to return to earth was to be gratified. Perhaps it was in response to the longings which I had felt ever since the consciousness of my earthly failures had dawned upon me, that this favour was to be granted me. I should have the privilege of living my life over again. True, it was a huge responsibility; but my Lord would be with me, and His Spirit would qualify me for my task. I embraced the opportunity with all my heart. And then I closed my eyes, and gave myself over, body, soul, and spirit, to live, and fight, and die, not for my own salvation, but for the glory of Christ, and the salvation of men. The King spoke again, this time pledging His word that His presence should go with me back to earth, and make me more than conqueror through His blood. And with the joy of this assurance I awoke. The crowd of shining ones had vanished. The music was silent, and behold it was all a dream.

By: William Booth

When I first read this vision I was stunned and shaken with the fear of the Lord. I felt I had missed the mark consistently in my walk with God. It had always been there in the scriptures, but I had not wanted to see it. I was called to deeper service than I had first truly realized. This vision that William Booth saw helped me to understand that I was called to get involved in people's lives and minister to them more thoroughly with the love of Jesus. I hope it has inspired you to take your service to the Lord more seriously. God bless you! 

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

The most effective way to do it is to do it


Amelia Earhart said, “The most effective way to do it is to do it.” We can spend all day trying to wish ourselves into better Christian living. But the best way to live the Christian life is to take practical action.

In the program practiced in twelve step fellowships, the person in recovery is challenged to take actions they don’t yet believe in, actions that they don’t understand, which will bring changes in their life that bring about sustained recovery. This is very difficult, because what man or woman wants to take actions they don’t believe will be beneficial? This is why new members are encouraged to get a sponsor who can help guide them through the twelve steps.

As the person takes the actions, they change. As they pray, even though they don’t believe, the prayers help them to believe. As they make coffee before the meeting, they learn that serving feels good. As they go and help someone who has relapsed, they are reminded of where they used to be, and why they don’t want to go back. As they write their inventory and share it with their sponsor, they find healing from past hurts. As they make amends to those they harmed, they are able to find freedom from shame and look the world in the eyes again.

Action unlocks the goal. You believe after the action not before. Looking back you see why it was so important, but at first it’s an act of faith, choosing to believe that it might actually work.

It’s the same with justice and mercy to our neighbors. Why should I pay for the person behind me in the drive through at the fast food place? Just do it. And then watch how you feel afterward. Why put a Bible in a little free library? The action itself is going to inspire greater actions.

God will often prompt me to go minister to someone. I’ve learned (slowly) over time, and I’m still learning of course, to just go do it. Just trust that God has a reason and will guide the conversation toward His ends. Action first. Then we learn through the action why it matters. The action spawns a greater desire to take action in the future. In the same way, as we fail to take action, or refuse to, it becomes harder and harder to move ourselves toward action in the future. As we take action, and repeatedly take action as God leads us, our vision gets broader and broader, and we learn better ways to take further action in the future.

As far as what new bold acts God might be calling me toward, well, that is the great question in my mind right now. I’m getting married in a month, and The Salvation Army will need to move me away from my current appointment in Michigan. So my thought has been, what will God call me to in the future? I think the challenge will be praying and continuing to pray. God will make it clear what areas he wants me to target in my next ministry context.

“I try to practice praying actively throughout the day, constantly offering up silent prayers of dependency and responsiveness to God’s purposes.” -Mark Labberton (2010)

God makes it clear as we seek Him. When considering the future, I’ve even had dreams of late, of a ministry outreach, setup like an old bar style. I’ve dreamt of it twice in the past year. Two nights ago I dreamt of a gathering of SA soldiers out near an apple orchard. Only time will tell what God has in store next, but I’m excited! In everything I know this much: It will take boldness. William Booth the founder of The Salvation Army was bold enough to break the rules, to go into bars and preach there. The Salvation Army setup red kettles with bell ringers in front of department stores. In great victories it takes boldness, going beyond what others might try to do.

Monday, September 16, 2024

Examining Walter Brueggemann's View of Scripture as a Living Document


Walter Brueggemann is of course, of a largely different perspective theologically than the holiness movements of which I am a part. Brueggemann was an ordained minister of the UCC, one of the more theologically left of the mainline protestant churches in the United States.

Shot through modern civilization we find a concept of reinterpretation of established truths. This concept has swept through civilizations and shifted the foundations of the western world's concept of basic ways of viewing reality itself. Many once well established concepts are now up for reinterpretation. Some view this as a good thing, as a sort of collective evolution. While others like myself see it as a fundamental undermining of shared values that once stood at the basic bedrock of civilization. 

In Brueggemann's work God, Neighbor, Empire, we see in chapter 4 Brueggemann essentially promoting a conception of the interpretation of scripture which sees scripture as a “living document” that can be interpreted and re-interpreted to mean what we decide it means over time.

We should be very cautious about seeing scripture as something that can be changed or adjusted to fit modern sensibilities.

We see several times in chapter 4 where Brueggemann tells us that God was wrong.

According to Brueggemann, “Thus Yhwh, in giving law, has a history of barbarism. In my judgment, Yhwh must be called to account for that…” (p. 114).

Never, in my years of being a Christian, have I ever thought to myself, “God is wrong and I’m going to call Him out.” That just doesn’t compute to me. God is perfect. God is holy. If I see something in scripture I don’t like, I simply assume I am wrong. God is righteous. I believe that about Him completely.

Brueggemann continues, “Perhaps anxiety in Yhwh’s life evoked laws of exclusionary harshness” (p. 115). So essentially, Brueggemann claims God had anxiety, and that’s why God put such harsh laws in the Torah.

We know from scripture one of the clearest statements made by the Bible about God is, “I am the Lord, I do not change…” (Malachi 3:6). And in Hebrews, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8). God does progressively reveal himself over history to humanity, first through Torah, then through Jesus, but God doesn’t change in any of that. God didn’t grow or adjust his attitudes or perspectives. The God of the Old Testament is the same eternal God of the New Testament.

And yet Brueggemann states, “It is the narrative drama that changed Yhwh and that made Yhwh changeable…” (p.116). So again, Brueggemann contradicts the word of God.

Brueggemann then asserts that because of God’s changeability and the interpretation and reinterpretation of scripture, “…the Torah consists not in a set of rules but in fact in an ongoing conversation that takes into account new times, new circumstances, and newly awakened social sensibilities.” (124-125).

Now, did Torah always find new applications in life for the Jews? I’m sure that’s true. But the commands themselves never changed. Brueggemann seems to assume that because there are numerous and endless applications of the Torah, that this necessarily includes the Torah itself being subject to change, along with apparently, God himself.

Brueggemann cites several scriptures in which Israel is told, “Hear O Israel!” And he uses these declarations, that Israel was commanded to continue to hear, must in fact mean that interpretative dynamism must be embraced. But continuing to listen does not mean reinterpreting or changing the Torah for Israel. Never do we see Israel changing Torah, or removing items from the law. It always stayed the same. The way it was applied grew and developed. But it was progressive, a progressive revelation, a book slowly opening toward the coming of Jesus, not one that changed or shifted over time. A book can open wider and wider, that doesn’t mean it's foundation ever changes.

We can see how dangerous it could be to apply modern preferences to the word. What if our current preferences are wrong? There was a time in our country when eugenics were the trendy thing. Recently there was a scare in Canada about child assisted suicide. Odd things come into vogue, which is why we have a scripture that doesn’t change. We can test and discern what is right and what is wrong. If we begin to change, interpret, and reinterpret, we could easily approve of something God despises, or despise something God approves.

Brueggemann runs into a wall, because he keeps noticing a command in scripture to “not turn to the right or to the left” in following the commands of Torah. So Brueggemann, following his own rule of reinterpreting what he finds objectionable, simply discards this concept.

He makes the statement, “This is “settled law” always to be unsettled by more speaking and more listening” (p 131). The mental gymnastics are astonishing. A settled law is actually unsettled? It doesn’t make sense. A law's principle applied to a modern issue is wonderful. But again, the law doesn’t change. The application adjusts to changes in society. But the command remains the same.

Next, Brueggemann makes quite a claim, he indicates that Deuteronomy, the book of the Bible is a copy. But he says, what if it’s not? What if it’s a revised version?

His conclusion is, “Every reading (including this one) is a new account of Torah, and it will not do to imagine that these new readings are simply reiterations. They are replications changed to the right and to the left, by translation, by application, by interpretation, by shaping old laws in a dozen conversations” (p. 132).

Again and again in Torah God gives Israel the reminder, “Don’t move to the right to the left of the law.”

Brueggemann flips the scripture and says, actually, it is being changed to the right and to the left, as we see fit. We’re changing it over time to fit what we believe is right, in the church. And that is essentially the philosophy of movements like the UCC.

Brueggemann continues to study Deuteronomy and he sees many commands and boundaries. These are things to “set apart” Israel for special use before God. This troubles Brueggemann, so he chocks this up to errors in the text, it must’ve been “push back from the totalizers.” (p.133). Apparently, there were people who rewrote Deuteronomy to add all the difficult scriptures about civic order, the war ethic, and other things he finds objectional.

Can’t we see though, that if we were to use the approach Brueggemann is using, to interpret and reinterpret scripture to essentially fit modern viewpoints politically, socially, and economically, if we did that, we would end up mishandling the scriptures and distorting what God was already saying? Isn’t it clear, that we could end up changing God’s word so as to misrepresent God entirely?

Just as Brueggemann views the scriptures as a living document open to change and adjustment, to fit the morality of the moment and the politics we prefer, Brueggemann also levies a few attacks on the Supreme Court, and justices who hold the view of originalism, that is, viewing the Constitution as having an original meaning couched in history.

Brueggemann criticizes a comment made by Chief Justice John Roberts, when he said, “I will be open to the considered views of my colleagues on the bench, and I will decide every case based on the record, according to the rule of law, without fear or favor, to the best of my ability, and I will remember that it's my job to call balls and strikes, and not to pitch or bat.”

That is the correct view of interpreting a legal document. It should be viewed from the perspective with which it was written. The same is true for history, archaeology, science, math, all of it requires we simply take the raw facts and scientific truths and historical realities, and not reinterpret them to fit our preferences or what we think is right, but try to discover what is actually being said and what the original author actually meant.

Brueggemann states, “…Law is essentially an ongoing interpretive conversation that requires courage, freedom, imagination, and candor, one that refuses simplistic “application” of the “one meaning” of the law.” (p. 139).

Brueggemann I think is saying, I want us to go up to bat. We need to change what we find objectionable. We need to reinterpret law to fit our own political opinions, and the written law is nothing but a starting point, a place to launch off from, to change the world into what we want it to be.

As the serpent said to Eve, “Did God really say?” The serpent invited Eve to reinterpret right and wrong, make it in her own image, because she knows best, not God. Let us refuse such a faux bargain, that we know better than God’s word. God’s word sits over us, we don’t sit over it.

My goodness, can’t we see the danger here? If the Supreme Court, or the President of the United States, or a Governor of a State took laws on the books and simply decided, because they wanted to, they would reinterpret the law to mean something else, or get rid of the law without legal process, it could destroy civilization itself. A Supreme Court that uses their imagination to change law, could easily make themselves dictators, able to push down on the people whatever whim they felt was right in the moment. The whole purpose of the Constitution was to restrain government from crumbling into a tyranny of oligarchs who push their own views at the expense of the people.

Now consider the same issue surrounding the Bible. What if bible teachers, theologians, and pastors started taking scripture and changing it, to fit the viewpoints of the moment? We’d get rid of gender. We’d get rid of hell. We’d probably change the cross because Jesus dying on the cross seems dark. We’d get rid of half of Paul’s letters, he’s just too intense. We can add in other religions. We can add in greed and avarice and pride. And pretty soon, there is no longer any Christian faith, just the whims of a group of elite pastors, teachers, and theologians who have decided they know better than God, and they are going to fix the Bible. God help us to never fall into that trap of seeing the Bible as a living document, open to change and adjustment based on our whims and passions and emotions.

Now I realize I’m taking Brueggemann’s views to an extreme. I know he would never want to discard the Old Testament or change the nativity story or cut the book of Revelation from the canon, but can’t we see how opening the door to apply modern perspectives and preferences to timeless scripture, and charging God with wrongdoing and adjusting Torah to the right and left can lead us down a dark path? God help us if we can’t see the dangers. Let us dare toward a bold faith, that looks at scriptures that are hard, scriptures that make us scratch our heads, and say, I don’t understand, I don’t even like it, but if God’s word says it, I believe it, and I trust God sees from a greater perspective, one far, far above my own. I trust God. His word is true. I won’t change it.


Monday, September 9, 2024

Redeemed Redeemer: The Good Samaritan Examined


"In a seminary missions class, Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push. After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years.

Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, "Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable." He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson's astonishment, the engine roared to life. For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work.

J.B. Phillips paraphrases Ephesians l:19-20, "How tremendous is the power available to us who believe in God." When we make firm our connection with God, his life and power flow through us." -Ernest B. Beevers.

We’re talking about God’s kingdom today. How does God’s kingdom system work practically? How does it all fit together?

We’ve talked about the prodigal son, that the purpose of God’s kingdom is to bring us home safely to God. We’ve also talked about being born again, that it is a necessity that we be thoroughly transformed by God through Jesus. Now we’re going to be looking at the parable of the good Samaritan.

And the good Samaritan is all about taking the kingdom out to others. Sharing the love of God with others.

But as we discuss service to others, I want you to keep thinking back to the missionary with the car problem. It made everything he did more difficult. He had to roll the car to start it. But then it was realized, there was a loose cable, and once that problem was fixed, suddenly everything worked so much better.

Here’s the point: If you have a vibrant deep connection with God, you pray everyday, you read your Bible every night, you are focused in on God, then service to others will come naturally.

But if your relationship with God is weak, service to others will be more difficult and a strain.

Now that we have the power, we can do all the good things God has given us to do in Christ. If we find ourselves struggling to do so, we should go back and see what needs to change in our relationship with God. Perhaps a closer connection is needed. Then we can move forward in strength.

Let’s take a look at our context for today. From Luke 10:25-26: “On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

Jesus is asked the most important question in the universe. But we’re told the man’s intentions are not really right. He’s asking the question for the purpose of testing Jesus.

Jesus wisely responds by asking him questions. What’s written? What’s in the word?

The man responds to Jesus’ questions. Verses 27-28: He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

Now that we’ve entered God’s kingdom, as the prodigal son, and God’s kingdom has entered us through the transformation of new birth, now, God’s kingdom is going to flow out of us toward others.

We are now ambassadors of the kingdom of God. Every person here today is called to minister to people around them, family, friends, strangers, and to show them how to become part of God’s kingdom.

How? How can we do that? By loving God with all of your heart. And with all your soul. And with all your strength. And with all your mind. And then you will naturally love your neighbor as yourself.

We must all train ourselves to love God more and more each day.

So this man has asked Jesus how to receive eternal life. Jesus has asked him what the law says. The man replies sharing the command to love God and love others. Jesus approves of this response, and tells him good, do that and you’ll live.

But the man asks Jesus another question. Verses 29-30: But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.”

There are certain parts of any city you wouldn’t want to be walking around at night, but two thousand years ago, many roads were very dangerous 24/7. In fact, Martin Luther King Jr. once traveled in Jerusalem along this very road in his car, and later he made this comment about it: “I remember when Mrs. King and I were first in Jerusalem. We rented a car and drove from Jerusalem down to Jericho. And as soon as we got on that road, I said to my wife, "I can see why Jesus used this as the setting for his parable." It's a winding, meandering road. It's really conducive for ambushing. You start out in Jerusalem, 1200 feet above sea level. And by the time you get down to Jericho, fifteen or twenty minutes later, you're about 2200 feet below sea level. That's a dangerous road.”
— Martin Luther King Jr., "I've Been to the Mountaintop" (April 3, 1968)

It’s a low road, a dangerous road. But sometimes you have to take difficult roads to get where you’re going.

Similarly you have this man traveling this dangerous road, and the worst case scenario happens. He’s jumped. He beaten up, maybe stabbed. He has everything stolen and he’s left on the road half dead.

Let’s see what happens next, verses 31-33: "A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.”

As you live your life, you will have moments when time seems to slow down, you see someone in need, and your heart will be moved with compassion for that person.

I’m sure you can remember many times when you felt a pull toward someone who was hurting. Maybe it was a family member or friend. Perhaps it was someone you didn’t know but you could just tell they were having a tough day.

This is something my mom is really good at. Shes incredibly talented at starting a conversation with a stranger, and finding out what they’re feeling, and then listening and encouraging them. It’s a beautiful gift. She was a nurse for 30 years, so she had a lot of practice engaging with people who she didn’t know, but knew she needed to serve.

This is the central point of this entire message, if you can understand this, you'll be able to live out every detail of what it means to be the good Samaritan: Your love for God will inspire you to serve. Out of the love of God, which God pours out into your soul, that love will overflow in your life toward love for your neighbor. And it will happen naturally as you receive God's love and allow God to love you. Then, you'll love like the good Samaritan. 

Here's my word to you: Be bold. Stay on mission. Remember, it’s your job, as a Christian to help people. Take that seriously. Keep it in your mind throughout the day. Watch for situations where you can help. And let the Holy Spirit lead you.

You can’t meet every need. God knows that. So you need to listen for the leading of the Spirit, sometimes I’ll see someone in need and God will say no. Sometimes I’ll see someone, and God will say yes. Sometimes God will say, feel free (extra credit assignment). 

The Samaritan's heart was moved with compassion. Not so with the priest or the Levite.

Let’s see what happens next, verses 34-35: "He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’"

We see in the parable a priest and a Levite, religious leaders walk by and they don’t help the man who has been beaten. But then a Samaritan comes along.

Fascinating, because Jews hated Samaritans.

We see several important factors in the Samaritans response to the situation.

First of all, he pities the man. He has an emotional response to the situation that calls his heart to action. When we see someone in need, when we see a bad situation, when we see someone suffering, we should first respond in our hearts with pity, with a sense of compassion. We join in the sorrow with them.

Second, he went to him. He changed direction. Sometimes we’re going so fast we see a need and we just keep going. We’re so locked in to the course. But no, slow down, and change your course.

Third, he bandaged his wounds. He poured ointment on the wounds so they would heal more efficiently.

I suppose he could’ve stopped there, right? Well, I did my good deed. But he didn’t stop there. He knew if he just left him on the road bandaged, he might not be able to make it anywhere safe. So he puts him in his car, and brings him somewhere safe. He puts him on the donkey. And bring him to a safe place.

Not only that, he brought him to an inn. It even says he took care of him at the inn. He apparently stayed there with him for the night. Because then the next day, he took our two denarii, two days wages, probably about $300.00 in modern money, and gave it to the guy at the front desk, and tells him to look after the man, get him whatever he needs further. And he even says I’ll check back later, and reimburse any further costs in regard to the incident. In modern terms this is probably like bringing him to the hospital, staying with him at his bed side through the night, and then paying his medical bills. This Samaritan gets into the situation even though he has nothing to do with it. And he brings in not just a little help, but helps in an extended, full, complete way. Now that’s powerful.

As those who carry the kingdom of God within us, we are commanded to do something similar with people God calls us to. You will know in your heart when God calls you to help someone. You’ll do it naturally. Or you’ll resist it in your heart. But you’ll know God’s call. Listen to it, and follow it. God will help you. And you’ll help many others to know Jesus Christ as their savior.

You’ll be like the good Samaritan. Most times it won’t be this exhaustive. Sometimes it’s pretty simple. But if you’re a true Christian, your life will be marked by these encounters from time to time. You’ll develop a lifestyle of service to others.

So Jesus tells this parable, then he turns to the man and references the levite, priest,and Samaritan from the parable.

Verses 36-37: “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

First, we want to see that this is what God did for us. We were the man who was attacked by robbers and left half-dead. And Jesus came to us, bandaged our wounds, brought healing and hope to our lives, and brought us to a place of safety. We have been redeemed. We have been washed and made new.

Now, see from the second angle. We are like the Samaritan, who provides for the lost and struggling person.

We’ve gone from redeemed to redeemer. Now, we bring people who are hurting and lost to our master, the Lord Jesus Christ, and when they encounter him, he changes their lives forever.

We have a new mission in life. We used to live for self and pleasure. Now we live for the salvation of others. We live to serve those who are in need. We even put ourselves at risk for others, just like the Samaritan on the road. The road was dangerous in those days. Yet he stuck his neck out for someone else.

God gave us two great commands, Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.”

The love of God is made manifest in the love for neighbor. The Samaritan treats the injured man as if he were family. He bandaged his wounds, took him on his own donkey and paid for hotel room. That is Christ-like love. We are called to model that level of heartfelt interest in the needs of others.

We find a manifestation of God’s love in the radical mercy shown by the Samaritan to a complete stranger. The challenge is in adjusting our lives to show that kind of radical mercy, when prompted by God, in various situations we find ourselves.

Next Steps:
A. Living the parable of the good Samaritan means loving God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength

B. Living the parable of the good Samaritan means seeing yourself as someone on a mission to preach the gospel and meet human needs.

C. Living the good Samaritan means understanding you are a redeemed redeemer

D. Living the good Samaritan means following the Holy Spirit’s leading when the Spirit says to help someone

Discussion Questions:
1. What does it mean to you that you are redeemed?

2. How do you feel about the responsibility you have to bring others to the feet of Jesus?

3. Describe a time when you were able to meet the needs of someone who was struggling.

4. Describe a time when you saw a need but decided not to meet it. Did you feel convicted?

5. Why do you think some Christians struggle to share their faith openly? How will you overcome that?