1 Tim 4:1-5

Going to keep it short tonight.  This one is a lot for some to think about.

It opens with an explanation that some in Jesus will leave Him.  They will be deceived and act in hypocritical ways.  That means people, possibly ones we know and love, will leave the faith.

I decided to write in a list the things they will do:

1. forbid marriage
2. force others to not eat foods (meats) that God said were okay

So that was a short list.  It sums it up though.  If you choose to eat a creation of God's, which He created good, with thanksgiving to Him then you are fine.  If you forbid or command others not to... your the one in trouble.  Because God sanctified those foods with the "word of God and prayer."

The first half of Romans 14 explains that if it is not against your conscience to eat certain foods, that it is okay.  If it is against another's conscience to eat certain foods... forcing or convincing them to eat it anyways is a sin.  Everything you do must be for the glory of God.  If not, then it is worthless.

1 Tim 3

I really like this chapter.  It says plainly how you should live your life is you want to be a leader.

1. blameless
2. married to only one person
3. even tempered
4. willing to think
5. behaves good
6. a host
7. a teacher
8. not a drunkard
9. not violent
10. not greedy
11. gentle
12. doesn't pick fights
13. doesn't want what others have
14. takes care of own household
15. children brought up to be respectful
16. has experience
17. has a good testimony
18. reverant
19. speaks what they mean plainly
20. good conscience
21. marriage partner also of good character
22. bold in believing Jesus

Wow, that is quite a list to live up to.  Being a leader of God's people is a very important task and only God's righteousness and character can help us to become that which is needed to nourish and guide God's children.

The chapter ends saying that these are also qualities to have in the house of God.  The house of God is more than a church building.  It is something solid that we believe in Jesus.  Jesus is truth.

Here is that truth plainly, and it is not to be disputed.

"God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory."

Jesus was both divine and human.  He came to earth in human form with a human body to live our lives so that we might be saved.  So simple.  We just have to believe, accept, and then testify that.

1 Tim 2:8-15

So... this last part of 1 Timothy 2 was really hard to read.  I wondered how much of what I read was cultural.  It was enough to make me throw my hands in the air.  However, for your sake as well as my own, I will type my chaotic thoughts here and hope as I type (as is often the case) the Holy Spirit will give me a little clarity.  Already I have a pressing idea in my mind.

The pressing idea was to google ancient jewish woman: culture and clothing.  Find sources that have good authority as my online historiography class taught me.  Then read and see what I learned.  I did, and now I feel able to talk about the last half of 1 Timothy 2.

It opens with how men should behave.  They should pray for everyone, without anger or lack of faith.  This means that you should pray for those you love as well as those you might not like that much.  Every single person.  You shouldn't hold anger or grudges towards them.  The only way for some people to be able to do this is to cling close to Jesus.  Emphasis on the word "cling."

Then it goes on to something that can be more heretical.  Then we have a lot of advice for women.  Most modern women today would be highly offended, if only they would have taken the time to research what this advice meant to the women of that day and culture as well as where it originated from, that wouldn't have happened.

It starts with how women should dress.  Remember we just described men.  It continues, "in like manner," which means just like the guys... okay so just like the guys who were to be humble in praying for others and being concerned for others including those they didn't like... so the women were to be...

How?

The women needed to be adorned in modest apparel.  Moderation being the key word.  It discourages being focused on the wanting wealth and being vain.  Those are character traits that can be damaging.  It says instead to be "proper for women professing godliness, with good works."  Okay, so don't dress up in vanity.  Dress up in good works.

I think this is missed when we read the passage.  The women should dress like men, in good character.

Let us move on to verse 11.  It says women should be silent.  End of story.  The reason being because Adam was made first and also because unlike Adam, she was deceived.  Her way to salvation is to bear kids who grow up in Jesus.  Simple?  I think not.  This is packed and I want to talk about it as well.

This is where my little cultural research comes in handy.  I will place my sources at the end of the blog post.

There was equality between men and women in those times, though more so earlier than later.  Thanks to the Greco-Roman period, the society slowly became more patriarchal in the sense of unequality.  However, the rabbis didn't think that women were incapable of learning and higher thinking of spiritual matters.  They were instead worried that the women would become so spiritual that they would not be able to fulfill the roles of wife and mother to the extent needed.

In the same way, Jews were known for dressing in really nice clothes that were colorful and pretty.  It was during the Greco-Roman times that this slowly changed, as they became a more poor nation.  So dressing in drab browns was not actually a common trait in the Jewish nation until this time.

This leads to the last aspect I wish to comment on.  It says in verse 14 that Eve was deceived and that Adam was not.  In verse 15 is gives a way for her to redeem herself, but not for Adam.  Who would you be more angry with?  The person who messed up accidently?  Or the person who deliberately disobeyed you?  Parents, you would be more upset with the latter wouldn't you?  Apply this to Adam and Eve and the fall into sin.  I think in the end God had more compassion on Eve than Adam because she didn't mean to sin while he very deliberately sinned.

Those are my thoughts anyways.  Hope that wasn't too heretical.

http://www.jewfaq.org/women.htm
http://wjudaism.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/wjudaism/article/view/3537/1595.
http://www.cta-usa.org/wicl/4jesusandwomen.html
http://sarabe3.tripod.com/israeliteimages.html

Testimony - Keeping Jesus Near

I want to share a little testimony that I am unsure many of you are aware of.  When I first came to South Korea, I did experience culture shock and homesickness like any other foreigner.

The first month I was here, I spent ALL my spare time reading the Bible and researching concepts or cultural things I found there.  It was my lifeline.  The first month I was here, sure I missed people.  I was not unhappy though.  My negative feelings were almost nonexistent.

Then I kinda just stopped.  And slowly life became lonely, depressing, unbearable.  I felt nothing could be accomplished or overcome.  That if only I was back in the states I would be happy.  If only I had English services to go to I would be happy.  If only I have family and friends nearby, I would be happy.

Then when I got back to the states, I found a trusted friend who works at Union College and relayed to her my observations.  She had helped me immensely through college, especially my senior year.  We realized that as long as I prayed and read the Bible, I was okay.  It was only when I deviated that life became so hard.  That was the missing key.  A relationship with Jesus.  So I started another blog, where readers would notice if I didn't write anything or didn't write anything well.  It is a way to encourage me to not let my relationship with Jesus slip again.

He is all I need.

1 Tim 2:1-7

So warning.  This might seem like heresy to some people.  We all know that we aren't supposed to help things happen that speed up or slow down Jesus second return.  That being "broken" and "put through the fire" is how we grow stronger.  I think that though this may be the case in many ways, that it is not necessary a law so much as a theory.

The second chapter opens with Paul asking that we pray for everyone in the whole earth.  That we pray for many things and give thanks for them.  So that we might "lead a quiet and peaceable life" as good Christians.  Now why the heck should that be okay?  I was raised that we needed drama, persecution, being "broken", so that we could be better Christians.

He explains that God wants every human to be saved no matter personal opinion of them.  That He wants everyone to know the truth... that He the one God saved us when Jesus died for us.

My faith has grown most not during the darkest, hardest hours of my life.  For my faith was already strong at those points.  Instead my faith was nourished and cared for in the quiet ways of my life.  Like a little slowly tenderly watered and encouraged.  Being broken sounds cruel and heartless.  I wouldn't want to serve a God who is bent on breaking every human before being willing to show His love.

This passage says He wants us to enjoy a peaceful life and that He is a God of love.  I cling to that as this is the God I love.

I Tim 1:18-20

The last part of the chapter is packed.  Absolutely packed.  How they relate to today... well.  These few versus raise many questions for me.  I mean they really get my attention.  I'll type out each verse so you can see what I read.  Again I am using the Andrews Study Bible which is the NKJV.

"This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare."  ~1 Tim 1:18

Prophecies.  It appears that in those days, prophecies were common.  Yet we don't read much about them in the New Testement.  According to Eph 4:11 there are several spiritual gifts.  Each one would go to different people.  Today we have many pastors.  Today we have many preachers.  Today we have many of the others mentioned.  But what about prophets?  Prophets and prophecies... and how it relates to today.  Just one prophet every 1,000 years?  I seriously doubt it because it appears to have been common in the early Christian church and is a spiritual gift.  There can only be one Messiah.  I think though, that the study and acceptance of the supernatural may have unconsciously caused many of us to perhaps place prophets in the "only once" category.  I hope we are not limiting ourselves.

"having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have shipwrecked" ~1 Tim 1:19

It appears that Paul is encouraging Timothy to stand firm as Timothy has faith and is following God's leading where others they know have not.

"of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme." ~1 Tim 1:20

Wow, others who didn't stand firm in the faith or follow God's leading are named here.  What bothers me is that it sounds like Paul passed judgment on them.  What exactly does he mean when he says he "delivered to Satan"?  I don't know, this verse really, really bothers me.  Discussion about this would be nice, but will content myself with continuing reading and praying.

I Tim 1:8-17

So continuing with the first chapter of I Timothy, you immediately have a list of sins that makes the law not that great.  In fact the law was made for those who sin.  However, Paul himself says he can testify that though you are condemned under the law, God's mercy is stronger.

The main point that Paul is trying to get across here can be said plainly.  "Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."  Jesus has so much longsuffering and is willing to be there for us no matter what we go through, or do to ourselves.

I Tim 1:1-6

Alright then, time to start a new book in the Bible.  The next one is Timothy.  Kinda curious was it has inside so I read a little about it.  It was written to, guess who, Timothy who can be described as timid.  Kind of nice to know that there were others before me who were called to share about Jesus who were not as bold as Paul.  I'm an introvert and to have someone I can identify with helps immensely.

Something that caught my eye right away after the introduction is a warning to not allow people to argue with genealogies.  Evidently who and are many go back to where and when just wasn't important or a salvation issue.  That caught my eye because conservative Adventists are insistent that the world was created 6,000 years ago.  As a historian, I disagree since archaeology has found artifacts that can be placed 6,000 years ago... which means that the flood happened before then.  So to come across this bit of advice to not worry about time frames was kinda nice.

Then Paul jumps into a description of what love is... and that we should have that.  We should "love from a pure heart."  Remember 1st Corinthians 13:4-8 and what it says that love is?  It describes many things, but as I was reading what Paul wrote... the particular phrases "it is not proud," "does not delight in evil," and "keeps no record of wrongs" popped into my mind.  Love is everything good and God is love.

Paul continues his description of where love comes from... "from a good conscience."  It seems simple so far right?  But seriously.  Think about it.  What does it take to have a "good conscience"?  So many small things.  So many big things.  They all happen and influence our lives.  Events, thoughts, relations... are you okay with how you handle things?  Are you okay with what you think?  Are you willing to stand before Jesus in all His glory and look into His face... and then think, do, react the way that you do?  I know I feel guilt and uneasiness many times.  Prayer and His Word are my lifelines to getting back up, because I will fall down.

Paul's last part of the description is "from a sincere faith."  Sincere has an almost innocent ring to it doesn't it.  I think that this was a well chosen word to use.  To truly mean it.  I trust Jesus.  I believe Jesus, Son of God, came to earth and became flesh in order to live our lives and die in our place.  I believe Jesus rose again and is waiting to someday reunite with us.  I believe that... and accept His love.

Sadly, Paul is having to explain this because there are people in the church that Timothy comes into contact with that are the opposite.  People who have "turned aside to idle talk."  I wouldn't mind a definition of "idle talk."  This is where being in a Sabbath School group to discuss this would come in handy.  Also people who have desire to "be teachers of the law."  Another serious sounding issue.  Finally people who don't understand what they are saying or what they claim to believe.

The first three of what we should be and the last three that are what we shouldn't can be paired up to create a good and worthy conclusion.  Again, I would love to talk about this friends but I'm a bit... confined... to location.  And also, it looks like this is a bit bigger for a blog so going to conclude without finishing the chapter.

Conclusion:  We should have pure hearts filled with love, instead of talking idly with that which is not love.  We should have a good conscience full of God's love instead of trying to hold the law over others or ourselves.  We should love God and humans with a sincere heart instead of saying "I love Jesus, He saved me, Hallelujah!" without understanding what we are saying or claiming.

2 Thess 3

Again another hard chapter to read.  Simply because I am not getting the insights I am used to when I read the Bible.  It shows just how soul weary I must be.  Prayer and faith will help.

Chapter 3 opens with the request to pray for each other.  There is a lot here that is said in just a few words.  Imagine yourself on a praire with the wild wind shoving you about.  Now snaking through the grass you see a wild fire gaining speed with each strong gust.  That fire on praire's are deadly is true, mostly because they can spread so fast.  The first part of the request for prayer is the wish for God's Word to spread swiftly.  That reminds me of a praire fire.

It goes on to warn that not everyone has faith.  Those people are unreasonable.  That actually scares me.  I pride myself on logic and reason, but if one is guided by their emotions instead of what makes sense then they are hard to deal with.  You can't protect yourself from them.  However, God has you covered.  He says He has your back and that you can always trust Him to take care of you.  So we should focus less on the harm others can cause and have caused, and focus instead on loving God and having patience.

In my Andrews study Bible there is a note for 3:6.  It is a strong order to stay away from those who cause disorder, those who go against the advice of that was given them by Paul.  Two things.  The first is that evidently there has been discord in this church by some members, and that they have not come to peace.  The second is where the note comes from.  This has been told them before in a milder tone... yet this book has to tell them again and in stronger language.  Evidently despite being devout, there are issues in this church in keeping the peace.

Part of the discord seems to lay in this problem.  People claiming to work for God asking for free hand outs and for free help and supplies.  Paul says very clearly that such people who cause themselves to be a burden when they are capable of getting a job are not to be tolerated.  They become basically bossy and rude under the disguise of pious intent.  They should instead work and work quietly, and earn their own way.

If those who had been doing this don't listen to this advice, note who they are and quietly leave them alone.  These people are not enemies, but they need to experience the shame of basically freeloading on whoever they could.  Talk to them if they will listen and try to bring them back around.

This was a strong chapter.  It wasn't saying don't help others or don't accept help.  It was saying, if you are able to do manual labor... go get a job.  It doesn't matter if you are a leader in the church or a missionary or just a church member.  Get a job instead of asking others to give you everything you need.  I like how Paul points out that he himself had done this himself as an example of how to live your life... and he was always traveling.

That ends this book.  It was rather short.  Will start the next one next time.

2 Thess 2

This chapter was a hard one for me to read.  I try to look into things for new perspectives or for understanding on my own.  This means setting aside church tradition and looking anew for answers.  So if I talk at this moment terms that are not as specific as you would prefer, forgive and understand me.  I am simply searching with an open mind.

It appears that the church the letter is written to is impatient for Jesus' second return.  We all should be, so him telling them to be patient so seriously seems to show that there is possibly some drama on their end.

He goes on to explain that there is an evil power that is supposed to come.  That Satan has an ambassador that will show to all the world what sin does.  To me, this was proven to the universe who was watching when Satan mistreated and killed the Savior so horridly.  However, earth remains.  Evidently they still need to have sides explained and proven.

This evil person that is to come will be an important figure for earth.  He will placed and claim himself above God or as God.  The use of lawlessness is used repeatedly to describe him and Satan.  Those that follow him die eternally because they have don't love the truth.  Since they don't love the truth (which is Jesus), God allows them to have strong delusions so then they support the evil person that is to come.  They actually take joy in that which isn't good.

If we follow God and believe in Jesus, He will take care of us and comfort us.  He loves us so incredibly much and is eager to come back.  It is He that places in us the ability to do good and to speak of good things.

Baptism

I had begun studying the Book of John with a friend a few months ago.  A practice I picked up was taking concepts of interest and researching their cultural significance to that timeframe and place.  One such concept was baptism.  I felt it was truly a wonderful and insightful glimpse.  However after starting my historiography class, I feel compelled to research it again.  This time double-checking the author of the articles and sites to see by what authority they have written their information.

Baptism is an interesting subject.  There are well-known facts about baptism that some don't think about.  However I want to mention some of the things that I learned that both fascinate and astound me.

Purpose - It was used for so many things.  Converting Gentiles to Judaism.  Purification for women after their monthly cycle.  Purification of anyone that touched unclean or dead things.  Purification of items or clothes.  Purification of sins.  Some people were baptized monthly, weekly, or even daily.  It was used before ceremonies and festivals.  Baptism was extremely popular in their culture.

Where - There were rules for what water you could use or not use to be baptized with.  Most often it was in a tank of some sort.  It had to be pure water.  The tank had to be in the ground or attached to the ground.  The water couldn't be drawn or flowing in a man made fashion.  Springs are good things, but you couldn't use them if something unclean helped direct it's flow.  There were tanks all throughout Jerusalem for baptism in addition to, say, the Jordan River.

How - Immersion.  Yes, we know that already.  Did you also know that the person usually stood during baptism?  Kinda cool.  But wait, there is more.  The person being baptized had to prepare for the ceremony by trimming and cleaning their nails and undressing.  That is right.  The person being baptized was utterly naked.  There was usually someone witnessing the baptism in the water with the person, but against popular belief their didn't touch the person being baptized.  This is a whole new picture isn't it.  The person was immersed three times.

Sources - I looked up a lot, ended up not using most because I felt they were not based on solid authority.  So my list is down to three.  Here you go.  There is a lot to be learned here.  Notice none of my sources are wikipedia.  If your in school, take note and follow my example.

http://jesus-messiah.com/html/mikveh.html
http://www.discoveret.org/lcoc/news/00n0509.htm
http://www.haydid.org/ronimmer.htm

2 Thess 1

I've been wanting to work my way through the New Testement.  I have gotten through several books and after a long vacation that I shouldn't have taken, I am going to pick up my Bible again.  I am starting a new book.  Here goes.

Something the chapter opens right up with is Paul and fellow Christians boasting about this church.  We have heard it is wrong to boast and such.  Here is a good example of what is okay to boast about, especially what to seek for in others.  If you see someone who is having a rough time but still is patient and full of faith, feel free to boast about them and how God is still the center of their lives.

This leads to another thought as you keep reading.  Those who cause you grief when you are solid in the Lord will also experience grief.  That isn't for us to focus on though.  God should be our focus, not those who hurt us or how they will be repaid.  That is His and His alone.

We are to focus on loving God and doing good things, thinking good thoughts, and just worshipping Him who loves us so much.  We must pray that we are worthy of our calling, that every word and action and thought is to the glory of God.  This is how He then can be glorified through us.

Introduction

When I was in college, I attended various churches and Sabbath Schools within my denomination - The Seventh-day Adventists.  I struggled with wanting to be there.  It seemed pointless.  A place to show off as well as go through the motions. Sure some things reached my soul: a favorite teacher at sabbath school, praise songs... yet something was missing.

Then a concerned friend took me to the church she attended.  At first I was jealous of the love, caring, and amazing atmosphere I found there.  I felt invisible among my peers and those older than me who discussed enthusiastically the topic in sabbath school.  The praise music reached me though as I witnessed those around me worshipping for God and not to show off themselves.  Then the sermons started getting through to me as layer after layer of the walls around my heart were breached.  The pastor (and others who gave the sermon) actually cared about those listening.

I had found a place where Bible discussions were in-depth.  You could talk about things or viewpoints that weren't "traditional" and have them considered honestly.  You were accepted for who you were and after awhile I found myself wanting to be a better person.  I had found a church family that actually practiced their faith.

Then I graduated and got a job overseas.  Suddenly I found myself in a land of another culture.  I can't understand the language and there are no deep discussions involving anything, much less the Bible.  Crushed, I slowly felt myself sinking.  Wishing for nothing more than to return to my beloved church, I stopped looking outside myself.

Then God began to get through to me.  I needed to learn to lean on Him, not a church denomination or even a church family.  Sure those things are nice, but a relationship with Him is what those things are based on.

So the purpose of this blog is simple:  A way for me to share with others as well as remind myself what I am learning.  Also, knowing that others can keep track of me from here, I'll be more likely to keep up with my devotions and Bible studies.  It isn't that I don't want to... but rather that I am a rather lazy person at times even to my own detriment.

Blog readers, feel free to read what I write.  Share my blog address if you wish.  And if you want to leave any comments... I would be most honored.  I'll even set the settings so you can leave a comment without an account.