Deuteronomy 17:6 gives the bases of Judeo-Christian common law: Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on
the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the
testimony of one witness.
Under common law practices, this provision of God's law has been expanded into
many other endeavors, not just capital crimes. This common principle we see
expanded in 1 Timothy 5:19, Deuteronomy 19:5, and Matthew 8:6, as well as our
own court system.
Late last week I was flipping through the channels when a foggy Hal Linsey
caught my eye on TBN. Since I gave up cable many years ago when I found myself
watching tractor pulls one evening, a snowy TBN is all I get, which is probably
a benefit. Hal was explaining about the Arab history in Jerusalem, in light of
the present events unfolding there. At the end of the few minutes I watched, he
drew a parallel between the current situation and the wisdom of Solomon and the
two women with the one baby in 1 Kings 4:16-28. In regards to Jerusalem, Hal
drew the distinction that the Holy city was so important to the Jewish people
that they would never settle on having her cut in half. The Palestinians
however, have no such loyalty and as the one harlot said,"Let him be neither mine nor yours, but divide
him." Now that illustration may be stretching the context of 1
Kings a little, but there is valid wisdom in his point that you should consider
as you watch what is happening in the region now.
One thing that observers forget is that, while people scratch their heads in
unbelief, there will be no politically correct answer to the problem. Bill
Clinton watches, dismayed that any chance of a lasting legacy is vaporized. Jerusalem
is not only the Jews holy city, Jerusalem is also God's Holy city, chosen as
His eternal home. In that context the analogy with Solomon's wisdom is more
than solid, and if the Palestinians, continue to press for a divided city, rest
assured it shall not be so, wishful thinking and hundreds, thousands, or
millions of deaths to the contrary. No where in the plain reading and
understanding of the Bible is a divided Jerusalem mentioned.
I don't have any trouble receiving CBS. Friday evening Joe on Nash Bridges
appropriated the same analogy of Solomon, using it with three principle persons
and some expensive bottles of wine. The two guys who could not bare to see the
wine destroyed were innocent, while the one who didn't care was found guilty of
kidnapping the wine.
This brings us to the Book of 1 Timothy. If you were reading with our Bible
Reading Calendar, from Monday through Saturday you would be covering the Book
of 1 Timothy. As the first of his three Pastoral letters, here the Apostle
spells out the organization of the church. In this book Paul lays out the
qualifications for Bishops, or overseers (3:1-7), Deacons, or servants (3:8-13)
as well as how to honor the elders, or presbyters (5:17-20). In other sections
he speaks to the use of sound doctrine and in still others, he covers a wide
range of personal relationships.
For all intents and purposes, Timothy was Paul's spiritual son as well as
his spiritual leader, or Bishop. In that regard, we have a direct relationship
of community and love between the old wise and well refined apostle, and the
younger pastor. Over the years however, the church has developed its message in
such a way that now to be a pastor, or to receive the status of a successful
shepherd, you have to receive the blessing of a number of Paul's grandchildren.
Many times they take the words of Paul, and while using his words ,add complex
distinctions to the words Paul simply lays out. I would like to describe a
couple examples. Let's look at potential attitudes before the elders meeting,
of a couple of diverse evangelical churches.
In church number one the elders, however they are defined, meet once a month
at the pastor's home and enjoy an excellent meal prepared by the pastor's wife
and the elder's wives. After a friendly conversation about current events,
sports and the weather, the elders retire to the pastor's study, for a glass of
vintage port and a fine cigar, for they believe that by exercising their
freedom in Christ they are offering a good Christian witness, while discussing
current affairs on the agenda. The topics always center on how to more
effectively reach the community with the gospel, how to deal with certain
limitations of the church facility, and problem members.
In church number two the elders, however they are defined, meet once a month
at the pastor's home and enjoy an excellent meal prepared by the pastor's wife
and the elder's wives. After a friendly conversation about current events,
sports and the weather, the elders retire to the pastor's study,without a glass
of port or a fine cigar, because they believe that any consumption of alcohol
or tobacco is a poor Christian witness, while discussing current affairs on the
agenda. The topics always center on how to more effectively reach the community
with the gospel, how to deal with certain limitations of the church facility,
and problem members.
So who is right? And who is wrong? To a certain extent they both are, In
both of these examples there is a written or implied paradigm of acceptable
behavior for Christians. When you add a little historical context, outside of
our American form of church organization, the distinctives might be quite
verbal and hostile. Both have added just a little bit to the words Paul
actually said, and now the brothers and sisters in Christ do not speak on the
street."They are those boozers. Don't
associate with them." OR"They
are those teetotalers. Don't associate with them."
Coming back to our analysis of Jerusalem and Nash Bridges' wine for our
third example, both denominations would rather have the church under the second
harlot's solution. "Let her be neither mine
nor yours, but divide her."
"Now isn't that good news!"
Normally, you would think that I would be upset about this but not so. This is
really great news. In agriculture and as we adapt it to enterprise symbiosis,
there is a procedure known as hybridization. Basically, in the process a couple
of diverse varieties of similar plants are inbred for a number of generation
until much of the variation of the genotype is removed. All the plants of that
variety are somewhat stunted in their growth but they reproduce certain
favorable characteristics quite well. Then, at the right time, the Master
Gardener, crosses the two different varieties and a super productive plant
containing the best characteristics of both varieties is produced. Notice the
Master Gardener crosses. Just a play on words, pointing to the gospel of the
cross of Jesus Christ as He who brings out the best, or should we say the only
good, in each of the varieties.
Hybrids have another characteristic, which may be determined to be good
also. They are usually sterile. They cannot reproduce. So instead of a garden
full of volunteer cherry tomatoes that act as weeds, these hybrid seeds only
serve as compost, adding nutrients to the soil so that the next year the Master
Gardener can again plant some productive hybrids in His garden of the church.
Are we to such a period in church history, when God will determine to allow his
people to forget their distinctive heritage? Their heritage of dividing up
Jerusalem, the Holy City and become one city, one garden of God, or one people
of the book. God let it be so, that we shall become Hybrid Christains in this
era.
In closing, the Islamic world considers, both Jews and Christians to be "People
of the Book." To the Moslem we are
brother and sisters in the same faith. In other words they look at Christians
just as they do Jews. In that sense in this current stressful time the
Evangelical church in the world had better hang with, and support the Jewish
nation, or one day we will hang separately. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
God's Holy City.
Last week it was confirmed that my 10 year old
truck was in need of extensive surgery. The Lord has allowed me to replace it
with a new vehicle, which is not a Ford Explorer. I will write more about this
potentially at some later date. I thank you for your prayers. I will be off
this week to do some work in Spokane as well as hopefully to look at the
properties in Eastern Washington, perhaps I may even be able to drive up to the
end of the road north of Lake Christina in British Columbia, I have been
talking about. Please intercede that I do not drive into any actual or
spiritual ditches along the way. Also intercede for when I return ,the work I
have to finish over here will soon be completed. Please intercede for that
future direction and its required resources.
O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your
trust, avoid the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is
falsely called knowledge--by professing it some have strayed concerning the
faith.
Grace be with you. Amen (1 Timothy 6:20,21)