Habakkuk 1:13 Misunderstood

“God cannot be in the presence of sin or even look upon it.”

This is one of the most ridiculous statements I have ever heard.

It is based on half a verse in Habakkuk 1:13. “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity”

God is omnipresent. This is one of the things that makes Him unique. It’s one of the things that makes Him God. No one else has this characteristic.

Take Psa 33:13-15 for instance: “13 The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; 14 from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, 15 he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.”

Here we are told that God does indeed look at all people, and all their deeds; good or evil. He sees everyone which is only possible for God, it’s one of the attributes that makes Him God.

Acts 17:27-28: “27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’”

God is not far from each one of us, evil or good, sinner or righteous. For we have our very “being” in Him. All creation is held together by Him. (cf Eph 4:6).

God’s presence can not be limited by sin! That idea is pure nonsense. Omnipresence is present everywhere, in every place and time. With or without sin God is present. The real question is; How is God present with sin? Not whether He is or isn't. 

For Psa 139:7-12 teaches us that is just not so. “Where shall I go from your Spirit?

Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me,

and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,

and the light about me be night,” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you;

the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

From this misrepresentation a teaching of what Christ was saying from the cross when he spoke the words “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” in Matt 27:46 (quoted from Psa 22:1) has been totally misunderstood.

The idea that the Father turned His face away from Jesus as he took upon Himself the sins of mankind while upon the cross. This is the explanation that is offered for Jesus’ quoting Psalm 22:1,
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Because from Hab 1:13 it is argued that God can not look at sin, therefore He couldn’t look at Jesus as he took upon Himself the sin of mankind. All that needs to be done is read the entire Psalm, verse 24 says plainly that this idea is just not so. “24 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.”

We even sing songs with this misrepresentation.

How deep the Father’s love for us,

How vast beyond all measure,

That He should give His only Son

To make a wretch His treasure.

How great the pain of searing loss –

The Father turns His face away,

As wounds which mar the Chosen One

Bring many sons to glory.

Words from How Deep The Father’s Love For Us by Stuart Townsend.

I love this song but… I can’t say it’s scriptural.

Scripture to reflect on:

Matt 1:23; “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us).

John 14:15-18; “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

“If you feel far from God… Guess who moved”

When I was a young Believer I found a bumper sticker that said, “If you feel far from God… Guess who moved”. I placarded it across the glove box. I supposed I needed it’s constant reminder. Tim Anderson’s very readable book, Into His Presence a Theology of Intimacy With God, is an awe inspiring work. He takes a common experience that crosses all traditions and shows us all the significance of it and the theology of it. He teaches us to think biblically and theologically about our shared experience.

Chapter one gives us a biblical basis of intimacy with four elements. First there is a scriptural movement towards intimacy; seeking, turning, and coming. Second there is God’s intimate knowledge of us. Some things are known to us and God alone; some things about us are known only to God. Yet God seeks to share with us knowledge of Himself, “He invites worshipful believers into His secret counsel and knowledge of Him (Ps 25:14; Prov 3:32; Jn 7:17; 17:25, 26).” Third there is an intimate place. And it is not a matter of miles but of experience as in brokenness and humility. Fourth is intimate touch as when the father embraces and kisses the prodigal son upon his return.

Chapters four and six were especially helpful in that the exploration of metaphor and symbols are rich in providing what I would call a point of contact. I have always had difficulty as a male with “bride” images. I have found much help in taking another look at how to understand these metaphors.

Chapter eight Suffering and Intimacy is perhaps the capstone chapter and of deep significance to me personally. During our deepest grief and suffering why do we experience God as silent? Anderson uses the examples of Moses, Elijah, Jesus, and Stephen to show how “God reveals His nearness to them, in order for them to bring others near to Him.”

I recommend this book to anyone seeking to be near to God and who desires gain a deeper theological understanding of what that means. It would be a good tool for a group study since reflection questions are at the end of each chapter. I would have preferred a full bibliography but a good scripture and author index is provided as well as footnotes. Thanks to Kregel Publications for a review copy of this book. My views are my own and given in the hope to be an assistance to those pondering whether or not this work would be a good read for them. Happy reading.

HYPER DISPENSATIONALISM

HYPER DISPENSATIONALISM

In a nutshell why I do not accept the view that the Gospel of Matthew is for the "Jews Only" 

Matt 1:1 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:

This is the book of the "beginning" of the Messiah, this is another way of speaking about the gospel without using the word "gospel". cf Mark 1:1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah

The son of Abraham

This is a major theme all throughout scripture. Ask yourself, who are the sons of Abraham?
This is answered by Paul, Rom 4:11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.

Matt 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Which gospel is "this gospel" it is Matthew's! 

cf. Matt 26:13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” ;

Mark includes the story but makes a distinction between "this gospel" and "the gospel"
Mk 14:9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” ;

John includes the story but makes no mention of Christs comment about her as a memorial.
Jn 12:1-8 1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

This gospel, Matthew's, will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations!

It should become very plain in the great commission. Matt 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Again, all nations (not just Jews) teaching them (all nations not just Jews) everything I have commanded you (that has been recorded in the book you have in your hand that you are reading which is Matthew).

This in a nutshell is why I reject the idea that Matthews teaching is for the Jews only.

Can We Properly Call The Lord's Prayer "The Lord's Prayer"?

Solidarity with Christ

Can we call the Lord's Prayer "the Lord's Prayer" or should it be more properly called "the Disciple's Prayer"? I maintain that we should call it the Lord's Prayer. Here is why I think this way. There is a way to confess sin that is not your own.

1) We Have Solidarity with Christ and He with us. Although He had no sin, yet He took upon himself our sin, and made confession as our Head, our Leader, and Savior of our sin. He became a human being.

There are examples in the Old Testament where leaders repented on behalf of their people even though the leaders themselves were not individually guilty. Here are the ones I have found:

Daniel Repents

Daniel 9:3-5 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.
I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,
we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.


Ezra Repents

Ezra 9:6-7 saying: “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.
From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt. And for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as it is today.

Hosea Repents

Hosea 6:1-3 “Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.
After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.
Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.”

Joshua Repents

Joshua 7:6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads.


Moses Repents

Exodus 34:9 And he said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”

Nehemiah Repents

Nehemiah 1:5-7 And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,
let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned.
We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.

Solomon Repents

1 Kings 8:30 And listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.

There are statements by Christ that I think can be read as confessions. Where Christ makes confession of the sins of others by out their sins. I call these confessions because although he is confronting the sin of others, he does not condemn. He only speaks the truth. Why would he do this? To demonstrate his role as The Servant; (Isa 53:11) Not only by confessing sin but by actually bearing it.

A good example of this is found in Mark 10:38-45 Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Luke 23:34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

John 13:27 Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”

Mark 14:30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”

John 4:16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”

John 18:23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”

Matt 3:15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

2) There is a certain aspect of being in solidarity with others that makes me responsible even if I am not guilty.

In a marriage husband and wife are legally one. The debt of one is the debt of both. So I confess my guilt because of my wife's actions because I consider us one. As a nation I am a member of society. I have solidarity with my countrymen. If they fall under God's judgment I am guilty along with them. This is the condition Daniel found himself in. Today as I think about the abortion laws in the USA I confess "Lord we are a wicked people" "Cleanse our sin and restore our land" Although I have never committed an abortion, I still ask God to forgive us. (not just them) As an American, as a constitutional republic WE are partially responsible WE have allowed it. (I am not suggesting that Christ is taking responsibility for our sin, making himself a cause of it. Rather that Christ as a human being is in solidarity with us in our sin.)

3) A Thought Experiment:

Imagine you are in a locked room and everyone in there with you is an AIDs patient all in various stages of the disease. Every day a man with keys walked past the room. What would you say to him? Would you cry out "Help me!" or "Help us!"?

Jesus was in a similar situation living among us. Here is what he asked the man with the keys (The Father) Jn 17:2 you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And verse 9; I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. And verse 21; that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, And verse 26; that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

In this thought experiment I confess, I would be crying out to the man with the keys "Help me, Get me out of here!" Jesus on the other hand prayed "give them eternal life, make them one with me, lets share our love with them" Christ had solidarity with us as a human being but here in John 17 he is asking for solidarity with us in glory! Is it a small thing for Christ to be with me in my confession of sin? It was "to fulfill all righteousness" in order that I might be with Him in glory. Jn 17:24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

A Poem of Lament

Poetry and Philosophy have always been at odds

Poets declare praises; Philosophers deny the gods

And is it any wonder we've forgotten mystery?

 Revolving, Devolving with scientific history

~fragment by rustymodem, 2019~

"We crossed a Walk to the other Part of the Academy, where, as I have already said, the Projectors in speculative Learning resided.

The first Professor I saw was in a very large Room, with forty Pupils about him. After Salutation, observing me to look earnestly upon a Frame, which took up the greatest part of both the Length and Breadth of the Room, he said perhaps I might wonder to see him employed in a Project for improving speculative Knowledge by practical and mechanical Operations. But the World would soon be sensible of its Usefulness, and he flattered himself that a more noble exalted Thought never sprung in any other Man's Head. Every one knew how laborious the usual Method is of attaining to Arts and Sciences; whereas by his Contrivance, the most ignorant Person at a reasonable Charge, and with a little bodily Labour, may write Books in Philosophy, Poetry, Politicks, Law, Mathematicks and Theology, without the least Assistance from Genius or Study. He then led me to the Frame, about the Sides whereof all his Pupils stood in Ranks. It was twenty Foot Square, placed in the middle of the Room. The Superficies was composed of several bits of Wood, about the bigness of a Dye, but some larger than others. They were all linked together by slender Wires. These bits of Wood were covered on every Square with Paper pasted on them, and on these Papers were written all the Words of their Language, in their several Moods, Tenses, and Declensions, but without any Order. The Professor then desired me to observe, for he was going to set his Engine at Work. The Pupils at his Command took each of them hold of an Iron Handle, whereof there were fourty fixed round the Edges of the Frame, and giving them a sudden turn, the whole Disposition of the Words was entirely changed. He then commanded six and thirty of the Lads to read the several Lines softly as they appeared upon the Frame; and where they found three or four Words together that might make part of a Sentence, they dictated to the four remaining Boys who were Scribes. This Work was repeated three or four Times, and at every turn the Engine was so contrived that the Words shifted into new Places, as the Square bits of Wood moved upside down." ~Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travels chapter 5~

40 Day Fast from facebook - Week 4 Prayer for Prisoners

All over Oklahoma inmates inside prison walls are praying this prayer; And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42). What is Christ's answer to them? We know the answer Jesus gave to the prisoner on the cross, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43). That man was condemned to die next to Jesus, and so he received his answer. But what about the thousands of men and women inside who are trying to serve Christ to the best of their ability? What do they hear in answer to this prayer?

Jesus taught us that the righteous who will inherit the kingdom prepared for them are the ones who remembered him. For they ask; “And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:39, 40).

Would you consider praying a prayer of remembrance with me for out brothers and sisters inside the walls of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections?

A Prayer of Remembrance

O Lord please remember those you have chosen behind the walls of prison. Help them to grow, help them to endure to the end. Lord, what you have planted in their hearts, water by Your Spirit and by your word. Strengthen them in heart, mind, and soul. Fill them with Your Peace that passes all understanding and build them up into Your Church, helping them to be fitly joined together. Supply all their needs and make them fruitful unto every good work. In Your Precious Name, Amen.

40 Day Fast from facebook - Week 3

Time Lost on fb is Time Gained Reading Dead Guys

One of the things I like to post on facebook is what I call "Dead Guy Quotes" I do this to help keep myself focused, because, time is short. No I am not talking about the rapture or anything like that. I mean I have lived longer than I expect to continue to live. For me time is literally short. So the time I spend reading I want to get the best bang for my buck. This means "read the dead guys" because the living have not out lasted them yet! The guys that wrote 100 years ago, 250 years ago, 500 years ago and are still getting published, you get the idea. Dems my homies. That said I will now share with you my faithful reader my dead guy quote for week 3 of my 40 day fast from facebook. Please feel free to "Like and Share" Papias of Hierapolis was a contemporary of Polycarp and the Apostle John, so he lived almost 2 millenniums ago.

Days will come in which vines will be grown, each having ten

thousand shoots, and on each shoot ten thousand branches, and on

each branch ten thousand twigs, and on each twig ten thousand

clusters, and on each cluster ten thousand grapes. And each grape,

having been pressed, will yield twenty-five measures of wine. And,

when anyone of these holy ones will apprehend a cluster, another

cluster will cry out, ‘I am a better cluster. Be taking me. Be blessing

the Lord through me.’

~Papias of Hierapolis~

The "holy ones" Papias is referring to are the believing Christians.

Top 10 things I missed this week while on my 40 Day Fast from facebook - Week 2

Week 2 without facebook

What have I missed? 

I can't think of a thing. Wait a minute.....  Top 10 things I missed this week 

1. I didn't get to "like" any cute pics. 
2. I didn't get to respond in my quirky snarky manner to any jokes. 
3. I didn't have to roll my eyes at any posts that I would have been too embarrassed to post.
4. I didn't get to see anyone post a pic of their "totally awesome" dinner. 
5. I didn't get to see that video of that crazy person. 
6. I didn't get disgusted at my overly sensitive friends about their over reaction to some stupidity that has been on the web since 1994!
7. I didn't get the warning from those 2 or 3 friends that are warning me not to accept new friend requests from them because they got hacked. 
8. I didn't get to see the latest pics of misspelled tattoos. 
9. I didn't get an invite to that event that's happening 3 months from now that's 1200 miles away. 
10. I didn't get to click on "hid this ad", not even once.  

Always remember:

40 Day Fast from facebook - Week 1

Greetings! 40 Day fb Fast Week One

Someplace between Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday I felt impressed, had the desire, thought it beneficial, to disconnect from facebook.

Why? Because I wanted to do something Christian? Because I wanted to follow the Church Calendar? Because I was getting too distracted? None of the above.

Disconnect is a word that I hear a lot in prison. (I go inside twice a week to teach inmates) In the prison environment it is hard to be alone. Inmates often tell me that they wish there was some way to get alone short of getting put in solitary confinement. There is always noise, always people in your business, lonely lost souls looking to connect but not quite knowing how. (Sort of like fb) So the inmates shut down, disconnect for self preservation more than anything. They stop talking, stop interacting in any deep real sense. They put on their stoic personas and wait out their time. Many have been doing this for decades, not weeks!

I needed space so I disconnected. When I fill up my time and energy, my thoughts and musings, activities and pastimes, I find myself in a similar situation as my inmate friends. (yes they are inmates, and yes I call them friends) My head and heart are too full of petty minutia to think. It's like swimming in the surf with your eyes open but there is just too much froth and foam to see clearly.

There is always the primary goal, then there are secondary and sometimes tertiary gains. Like tossing a rock into a pond there is more than one ripple. I've reached my primary goal. I am absent from fb. Better yet fb is absent from me. (No, I don't have someone else sending me updates)

Secondary gain: time, time to get out beyond the breakers churning the beach. Gently floating on the swells enjoying the vast horizon and the distance from the noise. When the nonsense is absent the substance can be heard. (yes, the latest fake news is nonsense!)

Tertiary gain: two thoughts, both from scripture. First, "My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad." Psalm 34:2. So in my words, when I make my boasting about Jesus, the humble, the lowly, the oppressed, the forsaken, the ordinary, will hear and by hearing become glad. (not the proud, the haughty, or the cocky; these remain deaf) Second, "But those who wish to boast  should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the LORD, have spoken!" Jeremiah 9:24. Again in my words, boasting in Christ is not about me or my accomplishments but about the character of God! If I am boasting in anything else other than His character then I am posting fake news! Fake news makes no one glad!