"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:23-25)
You’ve probably noticed that a part of verse 24 above appears on each issue of The Carpenter’s Apprentice. I think it is a great admonition as to what the people of God are to be about. The context in which it falls is of considerable interest but space limitations prevent me from quoting it all. Suffice it to say, Hebrews is about the superiority of the new covenant to the old covenant. The old was inadequate and passing away as this letter was being written.
The proof-texting that has been done with this passage is considerable and warrants a scholarly challenge. How often we have heard this passage used to establish the ordinance that we should "go to church." Specifically, some of us were taught that the day in question here was the Lord’s Day/Sunday. I don’t believe that is what this passage teaches.
Those of the tradition in which I was raised who are reading this are probably already raising their eyebrows, so let me take a moment to deal with this issue before moving on to the actual subject of the text.
Attempting to make "the day" in this passage refer to the first day of the week creates a logical problem. To paraphrase, "Don’t forsake assembling together as the day of assembling approaches." To suggest that means, "Assemble all week long and even more as you get closer to Sunday" just seems awkward (and it certainly hasn’t been practiced by anyone I know).
The context makes it clear the day under consideration here is the day of the Lord, not what we call the Lord’s Day. Hebrew Christians were being encouraged to continue in their faith in spite of the conditions under which they lived.
Persecution had caused some to abandon their brethren and return to the old covenant system. As the Jews of old forgot the hardship of Egypt and longed for the few delights they enjoyed, so first century Jewish Christians enduring the hardship of their forty year journey from Calvary to their vindication in A.D. 70 were tempted to return to what was comfortable. In Hebrews 3:7, the author reminds them not to harden their hearts like their fathers, but to encourage each other to faithfulness.
It should be obvious that the anticipated "day" here is not Sunday! How quickly we seek to re-establish a law to bind people and enslave them to tradition. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not opposed to meeting on Sunday. I’m for meeting with Christian brethren every day and I enjoy such fellowship at every opportunity afforded me.
However, I don’t see Sunday as being any more important than any other day. Paul seems to speak to this issue in Romans 14:5, "One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. "
Admittedly, differing interpretations are possible here. Paul could be drawing a distinction between the Jewish and Gentile Christians. Those of Jewish heritage might well have continued observing the feasts (remember Christ’s instruction in Matthew 26). The Gentiles would not hold them with any special consideration, but the Jews might.
Another possible interpretation is that all days are be treated the same since the consummation of the ages is at hand. There is nothing wrong with observing a particular day "as unto to the Lord" but neither is there an admonition to do so. Hence, Paul says not to judge one another on this matter.
Let me quickly add that there is no question that we are to keep the Sabbath. The critical question is which one? The word Sabbath literally means a ceasing. It is the same word used to describe what God did on the seventh day of creation.
It is my present view that, prior to the fall, Adam and Eve continually observed a Sabbath rest. There was no toil or strife in their day to day life spiritually or physically. Following their sin, things changed dramatically.
What they previously enjoyed effortlessly in the physical world suddenly required arduous labor. But that was only indicative of what was happening spiritually.
They were out of favor with God and they knew it. Based on the offerings of Cain and Abel, it is apparent that the first couple recognized the need to atone for their failure. The stark reality was that nothing they could do would restore what they previously enjoyed.
Most people are still striving today in one way or another to make atonement, or at least rationalize that they have. Only those who have been granted faith in Christ are able to cease from striving. Sadly, many in "the church" still strive under the belief that their efforts in some way merit God’s favor.
Let’s be very clear - there is nothing you or I can do that obligates God to grant us even one more heartbeat - much less anything else!
Do we still work in the physical sense? Certainly. Does that mean we are not at rest? I don’t think so. The true Sabbath rest of which scripture speaks is a spiritual rest, not a physical one. Even the language Christ uses, supports this understanding of rest: "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matt. 11:28-30)
Did you ever notice that Christ’s invitation to rest involves not just a yoke, but a burden? We cease our striving to appease Him and begin living to please and serve Him. The Hebrew writer appropriately urges his readers to be diligent to enter the rest that is coming.
Their trials were to be short-lived and they would be vindicated as faithful sons of God. In Hebrews 4:1-12, we find the author’s encouragement for Hebrew Christians to endure so as not to miss entering that rest. Did they, or did they not? The "Sabbath that remaineth" was future to them, but it came in A.D. 70 and the faithful found their rest.
As Christians, have we entered our rest? Yes! Like Adam and Eve in the garden, we have not ceased doing, but we have ceased our striving. We have been reconciled unto God on the basis of faith in Christ alone. When we cast off our fleshly bodies, we fully enter the rest forsaken by our first parents.
We have peace with God in Christ and no one will ever find it any other way. The pagans think that by their efforts God will find them worthy. After all, they aren’t as bad as the next guy. The Jews trust in the old covenant which was annulled and which can never make them righteous. Both groups seek what we as Christians already have, peace and rest.
Sadly, many Christian denominations act as though that rest cannot be enjoyed in this life. It seems we have difficulty imagining life in the presence of the Father through living out the Royal Law in Christ.
What scripture offers as tradition, we tend to establish as regulation. In doing so we rob ourselves and others of liberty in Christ. The charge of "forsaking the assembly" is just one of many ways this plays out in legalism.
The author of Hebrews has in mind those who turn their back on what they have received and deny it, not those who fail to show up every time the "church" doors are open.
To forsake means to abandon. How did we ever get around to applying this to Christians who won’t follow an established tradition of meeting twice on Sunday and then on Wednesday night (or should I say, once on Sunday since the tradition is now changing to meeting only on Sunday morning)?
I will never forsake assembling with other believers. It may be any day of the week, but I will continue to meet with those who love God and who gather to glorify Him, edify one another, and testify to the world of His goodness. I won’t feel a compulsion to make Sunday morning attendance a new law, complete with penalties for missing it.
I will be diligent to make every day holy unto the Lord and to see every appointment as a divine one. Because I have entered God’s rest, I am free to enjoy the relationship that makes holy living a present reality rather than a future hope.
I like that a lot. It beats the heck out of imagining God keeping an attendance record!
Bible 101
We continue this month on the topic of interpretation. Last time we talked about context, seeking the full counsel of God’s word, and the consistency found in scripture. This month we will finish the basic principles of interpretation.
The next one we need to consider is simply, never base doctrine on an obscure passage. As we mentioned last time, there are difficult passages on which scholars disagree. They are not easily understood and there may be more than one way to view them. Even when there isn’t, people will always try to make a passage fit their belief. Don’t be guilty of scripture twisting! Be careful with passages like these. Don’t build your theology on one scripture that diligent students of the Bible agree is obscure. If you think you have an understanding that makes sense of it, great. Nevertheless, be careful how you apply it and be particularly careful in teaching others.
The only thing worse that making bad choices yourself is encouraging others to do the same. You’ve noticed that I’m not afraid to raise questions about closely held Christian beliefs. I do so by presenting what I’m seeing in the scripture with the warning that I may be wrong. I try to leave it to you to prayerfully consider what I’ve written and decide for yourself what you believe the truth to be.
I will never browbeat someone into accepting my view. I may be wrong on things (certainly) but my misunderstandings are my own, they are not the result of accepting someone else’s error. I would much rather be diligently wrong than complacently wrong. God honors our diligence and our desire to know His truth.
The next principle is to interpret the scripture literally unless there is an obvious reason to see it as figurative. Literal may mean a physical or spiritual reality. Figurative means that what is written represents something else. I draw this distinction because many people consider figurative and spiritual to be the same thing. They are not.
A passage that has a spiritual meaning can be literal or figurative, just as one that has a physical meaning. Spiritual/physical deals with the nature of the passage. Literal/figurative tells us whether the meaning is communicated in direct language or through symbols.
The Bible is God’s revelation to us in written form. It is intended to be clear, not cryptic. Therefore, much of it can be taken at face value. To understand it requires that we understand figures of speech, the type of literature, and the style of the author.
Most of us will have to rely on the research of others to get a handle on these things. Attempting to force our contemporary understanding of a phrase upon documents that are thousands of years old can create real problems. A good library will provide you with much needed insight into how words and phrases were used in the context of the passage under consideration. Be sure to take advantage of these tools. We’ll talk more about these in the months ahead.
Next, determine what the author is attempting to communicate. This is part of keeping your interpretation in context. For example, one might read the story of Peter walking on the water and attempt to conclude that we can and should be able to walk on water.
The issue isn’t walking on water, it is depending upon the Master. Knowing that the text is teaching us about the importance of faith keeps us from making that error of interpretation. Many of the erroneous teachings we are witnessing in our day are the direct result of ignoring this important principle of interpretation.
Finally, compare your conclusions with trusted sources. We have avoided looking at outside sources until now so that you can let the scripture speak to you without the ideas of others influencing your interpretation. Obviously you have some predispositions based on former instruction, but the goal is to approach the scripture with an open mind that is teachable.
It’s okay to explore ideas that may seem foreign to your present understanding, just don’t hang your hat on them until you convinced that your interpretation is the most supportable view.
This is the time to go to commentaries and read what others have to say about the text. Diligent commentators have spent years investigating the scripture you are considering. They have read a variety of sources both Christian and secular which gives them a vantage point you and I are usually lacking.
That does not mean that they are always right and that we are wrong if we arrive at a different interpretation. It does mean we need to be very careful when we find ourselves outside the historical mainstream of Christian thought.
I like commentaries which provide a variety of possible interpretations as opposed to those which present themselves as being "thus saith the Lord." My favorite commentators are those who are quick to admit that they don’t understand a passage, or that scholars disagree, etc.
The cheapest way to build a library of commentaries from different perspectives is to build relationships with others who are diligent in their study and share your resources with each other. More and more sources are being made available online and can be found by searching the Internet.
Do be aware that some commentators simply borrow from others rather than doing diligent study on their own. Don’t be influenced because some "big" name personality says, "This is what it means." Do your homework!
Now that we have the principles which provide the framework for interpretation we can delve deeper into the interpretive process. Next time we will deal with word studies and how they can make the scripture come alive for you.
Humor in the Pew
From the Internet ...
"While studying the intricate dress of the priests in the Old Testament, the preacher came to the part that describes how the priests put bells on the bottom of their robes. He asked, "Why do you suppose the priests had to tinkle." After a second of silence, the class broke up with laughter."
"During a Confirmation service, referring to the new converts, the pastor asked the 5 new "convicts" to come to the front of the church. He never knew what he said, but several people had to leave the building because they were laughing so hard."
"After the church service, a little boy told the pastor: "When I grow up, I'm going to give you some money." "Well, thank you," the pastor replied, "but why?" "Because my daddy says you're one of the poorest preachers we've ever had."
"A Sunday school teacher asked her little children, as they were on the way to church service, "And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?" One bright little girl replied, ‘Because people are sleeping.’"
"Six-year old Angie and her four-year old brother Joel were sitting
together in church. Joel giggled, sang and talked out loud. Finally, his big
sister had enough. ‘You're not supposed to talk out loud in church.’ ‘Why?
Who's going to stop me?’ Joel asked. Angie pointed to the back of the church
and said, ‘See those two men standing by the door?
They're hushers.’"
Have you got a humorous story from your time in the pew? We’d love for you to share your laughter here. Send it by email to apprentice@carpentersapprentice.org or write to the address on the back. For more stories visit "Humor in the Pew" online at www.carpentersapprentice.org .
The Apprentice’s Journal
Let me begin by thanking each of you who contributed to Sharon’s mission trip to El Salvador beginning June 29th. She is really looking forward to the opportunity to join other Christians in taking medical care to areas which do not have medical services available. This has been a life-long dream for her and each of you who helped make it possible holds a special place in our hearts. Expect her report in next months edition. God bless you for your generosity.
Summer is here! The harvest from the garden is a reminder that we reap what we sow, even if we have to endure some heat along the way. Due to rains earlier in the year, I was late planting some varieties. A remodeling project in the kitchen has occupied much of my time lately.
Laura (our daughter) and the grandchildren came for an extended visit this month. We very much enjoyed the time with them, but the routine was impacted somewhat. One of Geren’s favorite words is "very," and he is very two! Now you know the combination of things that caused me to be late getting this issue out. I promise to do better in July. In fact, let me get you thinking about that issue now with a little teaser.
The title of the next edition will be "I Know ..." It will take a look at biblical characters and their "I know" statements. You may want to take some time and do your own research on this topic. More importantly, spend some time thinking about what you KNOW.
Those heroes of faith speak with a level of confidence and assurance that is rarely encountered today. If we majored on what we all know, we would be more united in faith. Unfortunately we tend to focus on our differences and allow them to divide us in spite of our agreement on basic theological issues. Let’s spend some time next month looking at some foundational issues.
On June 15th, it was my privilege to hear Curt Tomlin, Maj. USAF, Ret. speak on the rapid encroachment of the United Nations on our liberty and national sovereignty. He has spent untold years in researching UN treaties and documents. He has read volumes of U.S. legislation to discover how the UN agenda is being implemented here in America.
Specifically, he has gone full circle to see how Congress is using public education to inculcate one-world government attitudes in our children. His presentation is worth the four hours of your time it will take. He will travel at his own expense to share it with your church, civic group or local elected officials.
It is not a pleasant message, but it is one America needs to hear. He has just produced the presentation on video and you may order it for $30. It is not copyrighted and it is his desire to get copies to as many people as possible, because the clock is ticking.
You need to know a little more about Curt before you dismiss him as a kook. In 1962, John Kennedy sat in a bunker outside Washington, D.C. negotiating with Kruschev over the Soviet missiles which had been discovered in Cuba. Within reach to his left and behind stood Curt Tomlin.
American bombers were just outside Soviet air space and H-hour had been set. If Kruschev did not back down, America would order a first strike against Russia. The key to send the codes was around Curt’s neck. On either side of him were Marine guards with 45 automatics drawn and cocked.
With an eighth grade education, Curt entered the military at age 17 to be a chaplain or a radio operator. He had no idea he would ever occupy the spot where he stood in 1962. Curt had been groomed for his position on Kennedy’s battle staff without his knowledge. Trained by the best minds in the intelligence field, he assembled the first computerized database and intelligence models for the war room. There is more to tell but space dictates that this must suffice.
To the point, it would be hard to imagine someone who is more qualified to look critically at documents and put the pieces of the puzzle together. Curt is not a kook. He is a man who took an oath decades ago to defend the Constitution and he is spending what could have been his retirement being loyal to that oath.
He sacrifices his time and resources because he loves your children and grandchildren. I hope you have the opportunity to meet him and get a sense of this man’s heart. It will humble you.
This was the second time I had the opportunity to listen to Major Tomlin. On the first occasion, he closed his remarks by finishing the bunker story. Negotiations were heated and time was running out. In the last remaining moments Kruschev backed down. Curt confirms that when the crisis had passed,
there were less than thirty seconds on the clock until H-Hour would have been reached. We came that close to nuclear war. Thank God that was avoided.
Curt, with tears in his eyes and a broken voice offers his informed opinion that, in relative terms, America has less than 30 seconds left on the clock before the agenda of the global elite becomes a reality.
Liberty will suffer a tremendous loss and a great price will be required to recover it. That price will be the blood of our children and grandchildren. I will not forget the image of this distinguished gentleman as he tearfully embraced two young daughters of a family he’d never met. In a voice choked with emotion, he simply said, "I love you."
To learn more about him and what motivates him, visit his web site at http://www.vvm.com/~ctomlin/home.htm . Consider having him speak to your group, or at least get the video. Contact Curt at 254-628-7043. We have a window of opportunity but it closes more each day. God has not left us helpless. He has promised to be with us if we will be faithful instruments in His hands. May He grant us the grace and courage to take advantage of the time we have.
Until next time,
Jim