Friday, September 22, 2006

John Piper wrote an excellent brief article on how Christians should respond to this situation of the pope's statement, Islam, etc. Click here to read it.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Well I guess I am just full of myself today!

I just read John Pipers words.

I find myself falling on the other side on several of his ten directions for the Faithful.

First off, I won't touch on the points directly.

I will put some apologetic forth though seeing Piper makes a strong argument for Christian duty. My cut will be Biblical too and simple, seeing I study the Bible and I am simple minded.

Here goes::::>

As I have taught, as I have learned and received and heard and seen, [knowing that as I have learned, received, heard and seen others more refined than I and practiced], the very God of Peace has been with me, I so affirm hereon believing that if you consider what comes next He, the God of Peace, will be with you too.

There is a Word in the New Testament that I want to touch on.

Here is the Greek WORD:

λογικός
logikos
log-ik-os'
From G3056; rational (“logical”): - reasonable, of the word.

There are two verses WHERE IT IS USED, short verses; I will post them here so you can have the sense of the FOUNDATION of the Word I will base my thoughts on::::>

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.


and

1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:


In Romans 12, the Word logikos is used at the WORD reasonable service.

In 1 Peter 2, the Word logikos is used at the WORD word.

What is the common ground here?

THE FOUNDATION of the Believer's life has a starting place that begins a process of development, hopefully to full maturity, as a natural born babe, feeding on MILK.

It becomes reasonable then to realize that there are two other WORDS used, that if you place them in context with this beginning process of GROWING UP INTO THE MATURITY OF CHRIST by which we are moved onto maturity in Christ, and become useful to God these days as True Believers, we are to move on from the Milk of the Word into partaking of the Meat of the Words of God, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, faith towards God, the baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection from the dead and the eternal judgment. And Hebrews 6:3 says, this we will do if God permits.

When we ought to be reasonable in our affairs, we generally are emotional because of our Pride.

When we ought to be Sound in our affairs, we generally are reasonable about them leaving room for doubt.

When it is time to rise up and REIGN in Life through Jesus Christ because of EVIL WORKS AND WORKERS, we tend to go throwing stones at those we don't agree with.

Islam is of the flesh. Ishmael is of the flesh with a "promise". Jacob is of the flesh with a "promise". These sons of Abraham are to grow up by growing up in God's promise to them to rise up and reign in God's Life together in Peace from God. But it appears they are both listening to doctrines of demons!

Both these guys seem to me are acting immaturely on the world stage. This is not a surprise seening this is life in the flesh wrestling with a Spiritual Promise from the Creator. Someone is going to WIN!!! Refer to the Promise "WORDS" both Hagar and Sara got for their sons, Ishmael and Isaac in the book of Genesis.

Both Ishmael and Jacob need a little responsibility training in "service", serving one another.

All mankind, whether Jew or Greek, bond or free, barbarian or refined need Christ in them too. It seems to me that the "lot" has fallen out to us True Believers to rise up to the occasion these days seeing if this thing doesn't get under control there isn't going to be any happy people on earth.

It reminds me of the foolish saying I have heard and used in my house, IF MOMMY ISN'T HAPPY, NONE OF US IS HAPPY!

or this one,

I MAY BE THE HEAD OF THIS HOUSE, BUT MOMMY IS THE NECK AND SHE TURNS THE HEAD WHERE SHE WANTS

Did I digress??

The other two words for WORD I speak about from the Greek are Logos and Rhema.

Where are the Preachers?
Where are the Teachers?
Where are the doers of the Words of True Preachers and Teachers?

There is a verse in the Psalms that in my opinion however high or low it is fairly punches the nose of the immature bloody:::> Psalms 50

Psa 50:22 Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
Psa 50:23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God.

I offer another Psalm as an antidote to this problem brewing among the nations these days between Islam and Judaism and Christianity:::>

Psalms 34

Psa 34:11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Psa 34:12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
Psa 34:13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
Psa 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
Psa 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
Psa 34:16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
Psa 34:17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
Psa 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Psa 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

I would say, wouldn't you, that it is high time for the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ to REIGN on the World stage? Or not?

michael