Origen's approach to interpreting scripture

Origen's approach to interpreting scripture is quite a unique and interesting approach.  I can't say I've ever read anything quite like his approach to scripture, though Origen was known for having some rather odd perspectives on the scriptures, the universe, and the cycle of time, to name a few.

Origen quotes Proverb 22:20-21 (KJV) referencing a threefold approach to wisdom given by King Solomon. What's interesting is that if you look at a more accurate translation, such as the NIV, the "threefold" is translated "thirty."  The ESV also renders it thirty.  In any case, Origen is at least correct in that scripture tends to divide the person up into three main areas, body, soul, and spirit (Kerr, p. 47). So Origen regards the scriptures in the same way, to be properly considered as threefold, body, soul, and spirit.  He considers the body of the scriptures to be the plain basic truths in the scriptures.  He considers the soul to be the medium level truths of the scriptures, that which are deeper.  And he regards the spirit of the scriptures to be those hidden truths that are discerned properly by the perfect believer. 

As a wesleyan holiness theology advocate, I certainly appreciate the reference to Christian perfection.  And I think there is at least some merit to the idea of basic truths, and deeper truths discerned from the scriptures.  It brings to mind Jesus' statement that he spoke in parables so that some would perceive the deeper reality and others would find it to be a stumbling block.  Origen mentions that he believes certain fantastical elements, or impossibilities are included in the scriptures for the simple purpose of being stumbling blocks to the haughty.  Once again, I find this an appealing concept.  I tend to see something similar, when I read certain passages in the scriptures, I have this sneaking suspicion that God may have placed these accounts that seem so fantastical for the simple purpose of being a stumbling block to the proud.  Of course that's just an idea, I can't really prove it. 

The intellectual framework of Christianity is absolutely vital to Origen because he is dealing with arguments from attackers like Celsus that suggest Christians are ignorant and stupid.  How incredibly ironic, as we read the great minds of church history, and how incredibly brilliant they were.  And as I think of so many great modern Christian minds, to think that people like Celsus, and to today, Richard Dawkins, and many others, so often regard Christians as ignorant rubes, is indeed, quite ironic. The memes never die over the centuries, do they? The Satan has no new attacks, only ancient ones.

Galatians & Thessalonians: Faith in Jesus, Encouragement for Trials, & the End Times

“A duck hunter was with a friend in the wide-open land of southeastern Georgia. Far away on the horizon he noticed a cloud of smoke. Soon he could hear crackling as the wind shifted. He realized the terrible truth; a brushfire was advancing, so fast they couldn't outrun it. Rifling through his pockets, he soon found what he was looking for--a book of matches. He lit a small fire around the two of them. Soon they were standing in a circle of blackened earth, waiting for the fire to come. They didn't have to wait long. They covered their mouths with handkerchiefs and braced themselves. The fire came near--and swept over them. But they were completely unhurt, untouched. Fire would not pass where fire already had passed.

The law is like a brushfire. I cannot escape it. But if I stand in the burned-over place, not a hair of my head will be singed. Christ's death has disarmed it. “

Adapted from Who Will Deliver Us? by Paul F. M. Zahl.

The message of the book of Galatians is very clear: You are saved by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the works of the law.

The letter to the Galatians was at it’s heart, a letter to Christians who were being infiltrated by Jewish Christians who felt that it was important to obey the old testament law of Moses. They were insisting Christians be circumcised, which was part of the law of Moses, and that they would need to follow all the commands of the Old Testament. And from Paul’s letter it appears that some in the church had fallen to this idea.

He wrote to them extremely frustrated saying, “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?”


Let’s take a look at Galatians chapter 3 verses 3 through 6, “Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? 4 Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”-Galatians 3:3-6

So Paul is citing the example of Abraham, that Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. And he compares that to us believing that Jesus really is real and our savior, and then it is credited to us as righteousness.

You get the picture from that of it being credited to their account, sort of a transaction.

But what’s interesting is that actually in the book of James it says something very similar: “20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.”

Very interesting, two different letters, two boundary lines. That’s generally how I see it, when two scriptures outline two different perspectives, I’m seeing the outer boundaries of what justification means. It is by faith, and yet the faith is completed and lived out through obedience. One edge is from James the other edge is from Paul, we want to be in between those two points in our understanding.

But returning to Galatians, we see Paul very upset with this group of churches in Galatia. He writes to them in Chapter 5, 4-6, “4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” -Galatians 5:4-6

The book of Galatians is very important and powerful, challenging us to understand that our salvation comes through faith in Christ, not through trying to obey the law of Moses. But I was talking with another pastor recently about a month ago, and we were talking about how the book of Galatians is sometimes abused and misused in our day and age.

Galatians is unfortunately sometimes used as Christians to claim that any challenge to live in purity in Christ, to live out sanctification, and to practice holy living is simply “legalism.”

Now legalism is the concern of the letter that Paul writes here, but legalism based on attempting to obey the law to be justified.

But Paul rightly indicates in numerous places in Galatians that one who understands that Jesus Christ is their savior alone, should be living the most pure and holy life in response to that. Paul very expertly balances Christian freedom in Christ, with total obedience to the Holy Spirit.

Let’s take a look at a big chunk of Galatians chapter 5, and listen in these words for commands to holy living.

Galatians 5:13-26 says, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Walk by the Spirit not by the flesh.

These are the acts of the flesh that you must avoid at all costs.

These are the fruits of the Spirit that you ought to practice.

If that wasn’t enough we get another explicit command in Galatians, the flagship book often misinterpreted to mean “you can do whatever you want in Christ” and it says this, Galatians 6:7-9 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

The book of Galatians teaches grace through faith in Christ, yet it also teaches a radical obedience to Christ, a practice of denying ourselves and taking up our crosses daily, this is the book in which Paul famously wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, the life I live now I live by faith in the son of God who loves me and gave himself for me.”

Praise God. Let’s turn to 1st and 2nd Thessalonians today. These were very early letters of Paul, the earliest letters of Paul that we have on record, from about 52 AD. Galatians is actually a bit later, around 55 AD. These are letters written to a church under severe persecution, which was common for the early church during this time.

They are being persecuted, killed, and tortured by the authorities in Italy, and this causes many of them to worry and fret about the return of Jesus. So these two letters get into end times topics quite a bit. Very interesting. Some of the believers in Thessalonica are seeing such severe suffering that they worry that perhaps Jesus has already come and they’ve been left behind. But Paul encourages them to continue to have faith in Jesus and realize that day has not come yet. Thankfully the church is Thessalonica is flourishing since Paul planted it. And through the persecution they only continue to flourish.

The first three chapters contain encouragement for the Thessalonians, a report from Timothy from his visit, a challenge to live sexually moral lives, and then in chapter 4 we hear a bit about the end times, which is what I want to focus in on today.

It says in 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

The Lord reminds us that it hasn’t already happened. There will come a day when Jesus returns, and the dead in Christ will rise, and if we happen to be alive at that time, we will rise as well.

Then in chapter 5 we hear about this dreadful moment when all humanity will be judged, call the “Day of the Lord.” It says, “Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

Second Thessalonians is a short letter, only 3 chapters, and Paul is dealing with false teachers who are once again leading the Thessalonians astray about the end times. In fact Paul signs this letter with his own signature because false letters are being circulated as well.

But once again in 2nd Thessalonians we see Paul addressing concerns about the end times, and particularly the day of the Lord.

2nd Thessalonians chapter 2:1-4 says ,”Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”

So apparently this anti-Christ figure will gather all religions under one tent, a sort of universalism, and claim to be the god of all. And he will demand to be worshiped. Truly shocking. But we see the seeds of it in the world today, don’t we?

Then it says in verse 7-8 “7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.”

Some think that the one holding back the lawlessness in the world is the Holy Spirit, some say it’s the body of Christ itself holding it back, and when we’re taken away, that is the rapture event. But in any case, the anti-Christ will have his time, and then Jesus will defeat him by simply speaking.

To conclude the letter, Paul deals with reports that some of the believer in Thessalonica are becoming idle and disruptive.

“In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching[a] you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” -2 Thessalonians 3:6-10

Some of the believers began to use the concept that the day of the Lord had already come to be lazy and stop working, and they started just living off the church’s generosity. Bad idea. Paul writes, if you don’t work, you don’t eat.

In conclusion today, we see the Lord sharing with us about how to understand our salvation in Christ, as grace through faith in Jesus. And we see God commanding us to stand firm during trials and difficulties, and to have a biblical understanding of the end times.

My Hell Testimony: Two Horrible Visions I Experienced

For several years now I've felt the Lord tugging at my heart to share this testimony about things I saw. But I was afraid to share those things, because I didn't want people to think I was "one of those people" who talk about dreams and visions.  There are Christians, many in fact out there who are very critical of the spiritual aspect of Christianity, things like healings, dreams, visions, miracles, tongues, and so on are actually offensive to some Christians. And you'll be brutally criticized.  So I kept quiet. I'm a pastor. And I need to be fearless for the Lord.  And that includes sharing what the Lord calls me to share.  So finally, recently, I said, you know what, I don't care what people say. I'm going to share what I saw. And I give God all the glory.  

CS Lewis style observations about Reality

No one is really Old
If I may make a CS Lewis'esc observation about humanity: No one is really old. Every person ever born was always intended to be forever young, and has a soul which feels a natural inclination to always exist, thus aging and death is a profound surprise to us. If you see an old woman, she is really simply a young woman in a fallen body that is aging. If you see an old man, he is really truly a young man in a fallen body that is aging. That is the untold secret of growing old, you never really feel old. You always want eternal life, and in Christ you can have it.

Who am I really?
I was in the parking lot at Wal Mart, and it came upon me, that I am a child of God. Everything around me is temporary. God is the only permanent reality. All of this world, this Earth, will disappear one day, and I'll be with God in paradise. I realized, I have not fallen short of it. I'm on the road home, in right standing with God thanks to Jesus. I'm really a child of God, heart and mind, connected. It's real. Wow. I'm so incredibly lucky, so incredibly blessed. Many are not on this road, but on the broad road to destruction. Tragic. But I am on the road of life. Praise God!

The Power of Nostalgia
I think I say this every year, but the fall season brings out such powerful emotions for me. The smells, the sounds, the colors, the cold air, the orange sky at night, it brings out memories, nostalgia, stirring up deep feelings from past relationships, childhood, and family. It brings out a sort of melancholy reflection on the present fall of man, but also this powerful sense of the grace of God that calls us to restoration. Maybe it's just a tiny piece of a half forgotten memory, of a moment at the beginning of time, when all of us were "in Adam" and we recall the great fret and sorrow of the fall, yet also the great hope of a future. A piece of the fall, a fragment deep in my soul, remains to this day, and I remember in the fall, the great fall. 

The Body of Christ fulfills an Old Promise
On the night of Sept 15th 2018 I had the following dream: I had this dream last night, that suddenly I appeared in a giant church full of thousands of people. There was no roof on the church, and there were no walls. It expanded out to both sides and far back beyond where I could see. And I was there with other adults, but there were tons and tons of children of various ages. And I knew we were waiting for Christ to enter. There was anticipation and joy. And as we waited I looked up, and the heavens were above, beautiful stars, thousands of stars, and at that moment I thought of the promise God made to Abram, when He said, "Look up at the sky, and count the stars." Then I woke up. I realized later, reflecting on the dream, God was saying, the church today, millions and millions of lights in the darkness, are a fulfillment of the ancient promise given to Abraham: "Your descendants will be as numerous as the stars." 

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God

We all know of the famous scripture in Psalm 19 which declares that the stars of the heavens indicate to us the amazing power and infinite beauty of God.  That promise was observed  by many of the thousands of years of humanity by looking up into the sky. But as man developed, as inspired by God, more and more powerful telescopes, did we find that the universe was less majestic that we'd first realized? No. We discovered it was infinitely more majectic that we could've imagined. Some in the past tried to count the number of stars in the sky, some thought a few thousand, some thought less, others thought more, today they estimate over 100 billion. But if you want to see the heavens declare the glory of God is a deeper way, check out pictures taken by the Hubble telescope, and you'll realize the heaven's are more glorious than we could've possibly imagined. 

Die to Self
Sometimes I look around and think to myself, "this isn't my life." I've realized this is quite true. I've given my entire life, without reservation to Jesus Christ. My life is not my own, it belongs to Him. And he paints a completely different journey around me, than what I might've chosen for myself. I am where God has sent me. If one is to save their life, they must lose it, if one tries to save their life, they will lose it, but if they lose their life for Jesus and the gospel, they will find eternal life.

The Worldview Shock
You ever have a worldview shock moment? Like you're walking to the bathroom or something, thinking to yourself, and something deep within yourself is penetrated by the reality of truth, and you realize, woah, God is really real. And it shocks you. Because you understood that belief intellectually, but over time as you take it to heart, it breaks through to your inner most self that these things are really real. I believed a lie for so many years, that the universe and Earth came about through random chaos and darkness. Today the truth is known and my heart and soul is shocked by it still!

Will this be Forever?
Have you ever seen those videos of kids after they get their wisdom teeth out? And they're funny, slurring their words, well, I watched one and the kid was scared and asked his mom, "Will this be forever?" And his mom said no, of course, we know as adults that the drugs will wear off and he will feel normal again. But he was wondering if he would be in this altered state forever. I was thinking about that the other day. You know, when someone dies, and they don't have Jesus as savior, they'll find themselves in a place of suffering, sorrow, darkness. And they'll look around and think I must be dreaming, this can't be real, and I'll bet they'll be wondering, "Will this be forever?" And they'll realize with horror, yes, this will be forever. There is no way to get out. And someone who has Christ, when they die and come to heaven, I bet they'll ask, with excitement, "Will this be forever!? Can I really stay!?" And the answer will also be yes, you get to stay forever. Life after death is forever, heaven or hell, your choice. Choose Jesus.

Laying in the Road
This hit me hard, when I heard it, given I had preached about laying in the road many years ago, wishing for death at the last dinner church.. Late last night, listening to the Biblegateway.com audio Bible, it came to Isaiah 51, it said, "21 Therefore hear this, you afflicted one,
made drunk, but not with wine.
22 This is what your Sovereign Lord says,
your God, who defends his people:
“See, I have taken out of your hand
the cup that made you stagger;
from that cup, the goblet of my wrath,
you will never drink again.
23 I will put it into the hands of your tormentors,
who said to you,
‘Fall prostrate that we may walk on you.’
And you made your back like the ground,
like a street to be walked on.”

Demons once had their way with me. They had authority over me, to torment me for all those years that I rejected Christ. Yes, it was my poor choice, my rejection of Christ, yet the Lord cares deeply about it, and the suffering I went through. He promises that those he called me to fall prostrate on my back on the road, they will be required to drink of the cup of wrath that I will never drink from again. 

Why are we always leaving?
I was watching a Dennis Prager show episode and he talked about how you don't have to agree with everything something does to support it. He was talking about the United States, putting the flag outside your house, and then talked about churches as well. It's really true. I don't agree with everything The Salvation Army does or believes. but I still love The Salvation Army and be it everyday! But guess what, no one believes everything that their church or country does! Dennis says "So what!" Does that mean I leave the religion? Just because I don't agree with everything? Then you'll be part of NOTHING, since the only thing you ever agree with 100% of the time is yourself." -Dennis Prager. My generation really needs to learn this. You can disagree with certain things in an organization, country, church, or movement and you can still stick around and be part of it! Otherwise you'll just be alone. And honestly that's where many in my generation are. They've got so many opinions they are just utterly alone. Well, even if you don't agree with 100%, you can still be a part of. I promise, it'll be OK!

You're doing it wrong if it's Boring
Many seem to think of God and church as boring. They've been to boring mass, or boring services, and they don't want a boring church life. Friends, that is not what Christianity is really about. I'm sorry if that was your experience. But a real, deep relationship with God through Jesus Christ is exciting. It's emotional. It's adventurous. it's a daily on going dialogue. The Sunday meeting is just a chance to gather with others and worship God together. But it's what happens during the week, the prayer times, the Bible reading, the walks, the conversations, the books, the deep talks with friends, the fasting and praying, the going where God sends us, it's exciting, it's intense, it's a challenge, it's a bold new way of life. Maybe you tried it once, but try it again, do it differently. Go all in with Jesus Christ, and I think you'll be amazed at how your life will be transformed.

Faithful Love Placed There
I was praying last night, just generally troubled by what I had seen in myself over the last 8 months bubbling to the surface. The Lord had departed me for a time in there to see what was in my heart, I sensed (2 Chronicles 32:31). The Lord had been refining me like gold and as the impurities bubbled to the surface he had scraped them off over and over. But last night I asked him, what is in my heart? Because in the fallen state there is just so much sinfulness abounding, wrong attitudes, and he pointed me to a scripture which said "faithful love." This was shocking. But that is what God is placing within me. Praise the Lord, Glory to God.

Dark Midnight of the Soul
Two years ago I launched out in the calling of ministry to fight a desperate battle against a massively superior foe. I felt like Aragorn at the battle of Amon Hen, launching into the massive enemy forces, believing God goes with me and I will be victorious.
Today, two years later, I feel like Boromir at that same battle, fallen with multiple arrow hits. I feel disheartened, a bit discouraged, that the battle has been too much, the arrows, too many.
But I know this is only a moment in the journey. It is not the end, it is the beginning, from defeat, comes victory, so is the paradoxical victory pattern that Jesus Christ set for us on the cross, by total defeat, comes total victory. We are constantly poured out, then refilled, so we may pour ourselves out again. God will raise me up, weakness, will become strength, hope will be renewed, and I will soar on wings like eagles.

Divine Appointment
I was driving to Devries and I had just turned from main street. The Lord indicated to me I should stop at Curwood park. Sometimes I'll drop a Bible in the mini free library there. I went by and thought to myself, I'll do that after I go to Devries. But the Lord again communicated to me, that it was urgent. I thought to myself, how exactly is that urgent? But I turned the car around and pulled in by Curwood castle. So I get out and start walking over to the mini free library. And there is this guy watching me, crossing the bridge over the river, and he's like locked eyes with me, the whole time as I'm approaching the mini library. So I drop the Bible and tracts in the thing, and the guy walks by staring right at me. Then I circle around and walk back to my car. I turn around as I'm leaving and I see the guy rummaging through the mini free library. And I thought to myself... Just in time. Divine appointment. Epic

Cast them Out
I had a dream early last summer in which I was told, "These three demons have been assigned to attack your ministry." I looked at them and they seemed to snarl at me. I could feel their hatred for me. In the dream I looked up to God and said, "Lord, what is stopping me from casting them out?" The Lord simply nodded. And I cast them out in the dream. In the last few weeks I've certainly felt the impact of these attacks. I made a list of the issues and problems we've faced over the last few weeks. I stopped counting at 21. But I sense God's presence right now, and he seems to be saying, "Stand still, and I will fight for you." So I'm standing firm.