Friday, May 9, 2008

Language is defined in stories

The concept of language is never totally "settled" - most groups have several "splinters" that interpret some verses their own way- some of which are quite outside the accepted meanings of words. That was my point in talking about FAITH. Or - LOVE - if we cannot allow the Bible to tell us the meaning within its own pages, then we will never know for sure.

But - then there is application. If we don't like someone's definition, then just make it irrelevant or not applicable. That settles it for us - forever !

Problem - Bible study does help us see accepted meanings of words in their original setting. There will be those who invent their own setting and are rigid about it, but generally, people who care about study will wait to make conclusions until the study has happened and all sides are shared. Proverbs 18:17 teaches us - "one side is thought to be right UNTIL the second person gets a chance to cross examine." Get the WHOLE story, and then make up your mind.

God has made some things a matter of wisdom, not fact. Read Proverbs a few times - it tells us to sometimes even throw a dice to settle a matter of opinion and avoid trouble. (Proverbs 18:18.)

What about DOCTRINE ? Well - if Jesus is The Way, The Truth, The Life - which equals everything - then we should be careful about where we are drawing lines. Jesus said, "Love God; Love neighbor - on these two concept the whole Law and Prophets HANG" so be very careful about matters which do not fall within these two principles. It seems that they could well be irrelevant in reference to eternal Principles.

How does that effect the concept of "Covenant" ? If the concept is not Jesus or loving God or neighbor, we better be careful. This subject is the essence of God's presentation of LOVE - and the Love for God and neighbor is why Jesus went to the Cross - to bring reunion to God and neighbor separation to get to reconciliation and celebration.

Priorities - the WHOLE Bible is about bringing God and man back together and Jesus is God's plan to do that. OT Scriptures talk about how the problem happened and who God chose to be the nation who brought us Messiah and the NT teaches how it ultimately happened and what that means for mankind. The Hebrews' author called it "THE Eternal Covenant" (13:20) and it involved the "lamb slain before the foundation of the world" and those who are recipients of what HE did. That is referred to as "Faith of Jesus" "Faith in Jesus" and "Faith in His blood" - again some possible language difficulties. However - God uses stories "for OUR admonition" and Jesus used many to encourage us to know God - since that is one reason why HE came - John 1:18.

Luke 15 has 3 stories about the God who loves - a seeking shepherd, and worried woman and a Father with a party ready for a rebellious son to even think about coming home. ALL the stories emphasize God's willingness to SEEK - and to RUN and to CELEBRATE. The lengths God will go to in order to get us back is awesome. But - the rejoicing He invites all others to share in is just unbelievable. It is out of character to some degree for a man of that day to EVER run. But, that is God's picture told by Jesus - undignified and very lavish in celebration. (By the way, that is the definition of the word "prodigal" - so the story could have been labeled as the Prodigal Father - referring to God Himself.) It defies logic; it stretches the mind.

Allow me to make the "Covenant" application: a "pig-smelling-boy" heads back to his hometown to ask about becoming a "hired servant" - obviously, he shouldn't ask for more. A hired servant didn't live on the property - he simply waited in town until this man (the dad) might need a day laborer. The son knew enough about his dad to know he provided "food and to spare" for day laborers. That was what brought the son toward home - the possibility of maybe getting in on a meal some day. But the Father RAN and kept on kissing this pig smelling boy and put His robes of identity on Him and gave him His ring - and put His shoes on the boy and killed the special feast calf and demanded a party begin . . .and if you read the last verse of the story you know "they BEGAN to be merry". The party never stops with God.

So - the Father GIFTS the boy with "identity"; "riches" and "position of a SON". Why ? The boy deserved NONE of these things. Simple - "covenant love" is based on the heart of the Father, not the goodness of the sinful son. And - God has a party ready for anyone who just happens to remember His goodness. And He will gift that one with a fresh identity, and guarantee of His glorious riches, and a continual party. The point Jesus made was - That is what God thinks of "sinners" - the ones the religious folk of the day thought were worthless. God already invested all he had to show how valuable people are to Him - so we respond to His goodness. Romans 2:2-4 teaches us that "the Goodness of God is designed to bring us to repentance." That means I have to change my definition a little on the meaning of "repentance". How can we say it ? Responding to God's goodness - or His kindness ? That was the covenant concept which brought a rebel named Mephibosheth into the Palace of King David to live as a "Friend of the King". The Prodigal got to come into a Home of a Father - the one he rejected relationship with and wasted the money of and abandoned earlier provision - as a full blown SON - dressed in Father's clothes, wearing Father's ring; and enjoying Father's party.

If my Theology violates that story - I don't have much trust in it. Plus - it defines what agape is actually like in practice. It is beyond my mind's ability to describe and I cannot ever get over it. Oh, what a wonder - the LOVE of God ! More to come.

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