tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49872286753161211572023-11-15T06:57:54.748-08:00 Artisans of the Word Theological Reflections
of an Ordinary ChristianArtisans of The Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05390814293987343822noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-2607015320390573212022-12-20T06:13:00.003-08:002022-12-20T06:16:45.296-08:00The Snap in the Tail<p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Anyone who reads my
theological reflections may have noticed that I invariably try to conclude with
a thought-provoking one-liner. This may include a touch of satire or humour.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I think I acquired this habit
from a tradition that arose during the many missions that Jill and I have led
to Mozambique and Swaziland.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Here the trick is to spot an
incident that has occurred during a particular day and pen what became known as
“The News”. This being set to a jaunty Calypso melody and accompanied with a
guitar, has the following lyrical structure:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Refrain goes:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s in the news, it’s in
the news, indubitably it’s in the news<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Some makes you happy some
gives you the blues<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But nevertheless, it’s all
in the news.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Then would follow a four line
verse with a humorous “snap in the tale.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">For example, a young man
named Scott while helping to paint a Mozambican pastor’s church building almost
got himself electrocuted because he backed into some bare wires he had failed
to notice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The News that day went:</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This is truly shocking
news that we hear<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">That Scott has two twenty
volts in his rear<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">He’s God’s man-of-power-for-the-hour
we know<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">He’s got power from above
and power from below</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Then there was another young
man, name of Brayden, who started out on his first preach whereupon all the
Mozambican ladies in the front row proceeded to whip out their boobs and feed
their babies – which Brayden found a mite distracting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The News that evening went as
follows:</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">When Braden takes his
preaching station,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">He finds himself with a
major temptation,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But with only the
slightest hesitation,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">He keeps abreast of the
situation.</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And
so on; I have strings of such doggerel. I was even asked to sing some news at
the wedding of a couple who had been on mission with us, a Congolese man
marrying a Zulu girl. Well, that was a first.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But
to return to the brief article entitled, “The Holy It”, what I hoped to gently convey
to the worthy women who coined the formula, “The Parent, The Sibling and the
Holy It,” and to those who shared such views was: “Really Ladies this is
unlikely to catch on and besides it is doctrinally unsound. (Not that doctrinal
unsoundness is proof against popularity) Well, such an irenic approach is a lot
to pack into a single punch line and I manifestly failed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Interestingly,
my first attempt was say, tongue-in cheek, “This is unlikely to be improved
upon,” and then it occurred to me that readers would conclude that I was
advocating the new formula and so I changed it to, “It remains to be seen if
this will gain much traction.” And would you know, folk were still left
wondering whether I was seriously considering the change.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Jill
is always telling me that people do not understand my humour.</span><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">So, I conclude that the
best thing men can do to assist the feminist cause is to<b> listen to their
wives.</b></span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Peter Frow<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">December 2022</p>Peter Frowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848088343952471621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-23199909842851627472022-12-13T05:59:00.002-08:002022-12-13T05:59:32.974-08:00The Basis for Theological Engagement<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Some
years ago I had coffee with a man of God whom I value highly. The atmosphere at
the time was beyond awkward. You see I had listened to him preach a sermon on
Genesis 3 in which he had seemed to trivialise the Fall. I had written saying
that to trivialise the Fall was by implication to trivialise the Cross which
was its antidote.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As
we drank our coffee his displeasure was </span>unmistakable<span style="font-size: 12pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“You
and I have nothing in common,” he said, “We do not even have a basis for
discussion.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In
reply I said, “Can I suggest two things which might form a basis?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“Firstly,
the Bible is the Word of God”</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> I
thought he might buy that because after reading the Scripture in a service he
would conclude with, “This is the Word of God”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“Secondly,
that Jesus Christ is the interpretive master key that unlocks the whole of it.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">After
some hesitation he agreed, and though to this day some awkwardness persists in
our relationship, we do have a basis for theological engagement.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I
heard one of our ministers say, “The Bible is a contested authority today”
which of course begs the question, “By whose authority is it contested?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I
heard another of our ministers say, “The Bible is not our only authority, there
is the authority of experience.” Referring to the Wesleyan Quadrilateral.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It
seemed that he was regarding the four items of the Quadrilateral as four legs
of a table whereas it is clear that with Wesley Scripture was always the
supreme authority, the secure bedrock on which the tripod of Tradition, Reason
and Experience stood. There was no question of an adversarial or alternate
relationship between the Bible and Experience.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Of
course, The Bible is not our only authority, a maths textbook has authority for
instance. There is veracity in many writings, indeed in many religious writings.
The point here is that the Bible is acknowledged as having <i>supreme</i>
authority. It has <i>canonicity</i>, it is the yardstick by which the
truthfulness of other authorities is measured, not only in matters of Faith and
practice, but at least in matters of Faith and practice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I
heard yet another of our ministers refer to “recent revelation.” Yes, there are
fresh discoveries in the field of science for instance, but I think he had in
mind an extension to the canon of Scripture, something like the Book of Mormon,
inserted between Revelation and the maps. It’s an interesting conjecture as to
what such a book might be called. Perhaps one might hold a competition as to
the best title for such a book.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Regarding
Jesus Christ as the Interpretive master key for unlocking the whole of Scripture,
it is not enough that our hermeneutic have Christological content, it needs to
be <i>Christocentric.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Everyone
in town would like to hitch Jesus to their wagon, to co-opt Him to their
particular hobbyhorse or crusade. We all bring our own biases, hurts and life
experiences into play when we study the Scriptures, but by keeping Jesus
central in this, we will discover our biases corrected, our hurts healed and
our eyes opened to God’s truth as it stands revealed in His Word.</span><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“You
search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, but
it is they that bear witness of me” says Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Peter Frow<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">September2022</p>Peter Frowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848088343952471621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-58331978288156127902022-12-13T05:50:00.000-08:002022-12-13T05:50:24.178-08:00The Nature of Theological Engagement<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I
am eternally grateful to my Systematic Theology Professor Dr. Adrio Konig for
instilling in me as a student a healthy approach to theological engagement. He
had deliberately populated his department with a wide range of different
theologians: There was Simon Maimela, a liberation theologian, Len Hulley, a
Methodist, Brian Gaybba, a Catholic, A Pentecostal whose name I forget and
Konig himself who was Dutch Reformed. Konig’s approach was as follows. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Make sure you
listen carefully to what each theologian says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Make sure you
understand how and why he or she has arrived at their position.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Don’t simply sign
up to one or other position but establish your own position.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Make sure that
you can give a well-reasoned account of this position.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I found this approach quite liberating. I remember
writing an assignment for Dr. Gaybba and receiving a good mark although I was
pretty certain that he didn’t share the position I was advocating. He simply
recognised that I had tried hard to build a rational case for this position
from Scripture. (I sent greetings and an expression of gratitude through a
mutual friend in Grahamstown to Dr. Gaybba last year shortly before he died.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">John Wesley also gives us a good example to follow.
With amazing humility considering what an apostolic giant he is on the
landscape of church history, he writes in the preface to his Forty Four
Sermons.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Are you persuaded you see more clearly than me? It is
not unlikely you may. Then treat me as you would desire to be treated yourself
upon a change of circumstances. Point me out a better way than I have known. <b>Show
me it is so by plain proof of Scripture</b>. And if I linger in the path I have
been accustomed to tread, and am therefore unwilling to leave it, labour with
me a little, take me by the hand, and lead me as I am able to bear. But be not
displeased if I entreat you not to beat me down in order to quicken my pace. I
can go but feebly and slowly at best; then I should not be able to go at all.
May I request you further not to give me hard names in order to bring me into
the right way? Suppose I were ever so much in the wrong, I doubt this would set
me right. Rather this would make me run so much the farther from you and so get
more and more out of the way.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The challenge is to hold firmly to one’s convictions, (for
faith is the certainty of things hoped for but not seen) while maintaining a
teachable spirit. How </span>marvelously<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Wesley models this.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">One of my “Fathers in the Faith” was the late <i>Ian
Thompson</i>. A theologian of considerable stature, he held office at different
times as Principal of FEDSEM and Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in South Africa.
Yet he was one of the most humble and saintly men I have ever had the privilege
to meet. Conversing with Ian especially on theological matters he was always gentle
and concerned to understand what a person was saying. Rock steady in his
convictions yet without trace of the judgmental. I recall his saying to me on
one occasion, “Peter our conversation must be always gracious yet seasoned with salt.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Well, I’m still trying to get that right.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I confess to a certain admiration for Martin Luther as
he debates with his ecclesiastic adversaries in the Market Square of a German
town, using the earthiest of language. The apostle Paul too, was not above
using earthy language when he wished to make an important point: Of the
circumcision party he says, “I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate
themselves.” And, “…Christ Jesus for whom I have suffered the loss of all
things and do count them but <b><i>dung,</i></b> that I might win Christ…”(KJV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The fact is that at times this imperishable Gospel
which we are called upon to proclaim from the rooftops, must be defended and
contended for robustly. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Theological engagement may be robust so long as it is
respectful. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I am disappointed when in a theological discussion a
person adopts an <i>ad hominum</i> approach and begins to catalogue my
shortcomings. This is unhelpful. I am able to produce a far more comprehensive
catalogue of my sins than may be apparent to him or her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In any theological engagement, it is important to play
the ball and not the player. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It is especially important to avoid the ‘hard names’
that Wesley refers to. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Affixing a person with a pejorative label is no
substitute for dealing with the issue.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">So then, why not play it safe and avoid theological
engagement?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The thing is none of us has the monopoly on truth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">None of us is yet fully mature in Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We have yet to attain to </span><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“the measure of the
stature of the </span>fullness<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> of Christ” (Eph 4.13)</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And this involves doctrinal soundness and stability, <i>“so
that we may no longer be children tossed to and fro by the waves and carried
about by every wind of doctrine…” (Eph 4. 14)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Yes we have the elementary doctrine of Christ in
place, the stuff of the Nicene Creed, we know that we are <i>saved by grace
through faith in Jesus, not of ourselves it is a gift of God</i>, but we must <i>go
on to maturity (Heb 6.1 ; Eph 2.8)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The fact is that we need to be “filled-out” by other
believers. Each of us comes from a different context and has traveled a unique
journey with Jesus, and so together we are able to pool our testimonies and
perspectives, to enrich one another and so approach to a fuller understanding
of Him. That is why Scripture says, <i>“..speaking the truth in love we are to
grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ……when each part is
working properly the body grows so that it builds itself up in love.” Eph 4. 16</i></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This involves respectful, truth-seeking, theological
engagement.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt;">Peter Frow<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.5pt;">September ‘22 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>Peter Frowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848088343952471621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-22677282773784638542022-12-13T05:20:00.000-08:002022-12-13T05:20:05.308-08:00The Holy It<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ve been reading the
autobiography of Father Brian D’Arcy the Irish priest who wrote a column for
the Irish tabloid <i>Sunday World</i> entitled, <i>“Father Brian’s Little Bit
of Religion.”</i> The column was widely read and continued for some 30 years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Father Brian writes that
while on sabbatical in San Francisco he encountered a group of women including
nuns who were working to revise the Trinitarian formula, <i>“Father, Son and
Holy Spirit,”</i> which they considered unacceptably sexist and patriarchal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">They eventually came up with<i>,
“Parent, Sibling and Holy It.”</i></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>It remains to be seen if this
will enjoy much traction.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Peter Frow<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">December 2022<o:p></o:p></p>Peter Frowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848088343952471621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-58999581303674194272022-12-13T05:16:00.002-08:002022-12-13T05:16:57.084-08:00On Being Judgmental<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="PT">If
you do not condone what I do,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="PT">I
will be offended,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="PT">I
will be hurt,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="PT">I
will say you are unloving,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="PT">And
I will judge you to be judgmental.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It’s
curious that I never feel more judged than by someone who informs me that I am
being judgmental.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Somehow
those who are exceedingly broadminded as to what they deem permissible, become
suddenly rather ‘narrow’ towards those who don’t share those same permissive
views. The new tolerance becomes highly intolerant of anyone holding a more
scrupulous position.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Certainly,
there is a Scriptural injunction to, <i>“Judge not lest we be judged.”</i>
Within the context this means we are not to adopt a Pharisaic
‘holier-than-thou’ stance towards others lest we be judged by God. However, as Professor
Richard Hays points out, this has come to mean, “I’ll wink at your sin if you
wink at mine.”</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The fact is
that there are two kinds of judging:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">the one we <i>must</i>
<i>not</i> do</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">and the
other which we <i>must</i> do. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The one
which we <i>must not do</i> is the stone-throwing, condemnatory kind, the one
which mistakes self-righteousness for righteousness, which fails to acknowledge
that there is none without sin and that but for the grace of God we are all in
deep, deep trouble.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The kind of
judging which we <i>must do</i> is perhaps better termed the practice of
discerning right from wrong.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Romans 12.
2<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>puts it this way:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Do not
be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <i>that you may test and approve
what is God’s good and perfect will.”</i></span><i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Thus, while
believers must live each moment with a profound consciousness of God’s grace,
we must also be spurring one another on in the quest for holiness.</span><i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">None of
us can claim to have arrived, yet together we press toward the mark for the
prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, and if anyone is caught in a
transgression, those who are spiritually mature should restore such a one in a
spirit of gentleness. </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Philp. 3. 14; Gal 6. 1)</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">To do so is
not to be judgmental but simply to recognise that, <i>“I am my brother’s
keeper.”</i></span><i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Peter Frow<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600"
o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f"
stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Graphic_x0020_6" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="Grain" style='position:absolute;margin-left:184.5pt;margin-top:10.55pt;
width:27.6pt;height:30.6pt;z-index:251657728;visibility:visible;
mso-width-relative:margin' wrapcoords="10508 2107 2335 10537 0 18966 4086 18966 10508 18966 21016 13698 21600 4215 19265 2107 12843 2107 10508 2107"
o:gfxdata="UEsDBBQABgAIAAAAIQCo1seoEwEAAEkCAAATAAAAW0NvbnRlbnRfVHlwZXNdLnhtbJSSwU7DMBBE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=
">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/Dell/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.png"
o:title="" croptop="-6073f" cropbottom="-5820f" cropleft="-2496f"
cropright="-4466f"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="f"/>
<w:wrap type="through"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">October 2022</span></p>Peter Frowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848088343952471621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-12791978066567174872022-12-13T05:11:00.000-08:002022-12-13T05:11:17.629-08:00The Heavenly Chariot<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal;">I would describe my doctrinal position as ‘Mere
Orthodoxy.’</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">There are some theological circles in which I move</p>
<p align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal;">where such a confession is reckoned ‘seriously
</span><span lang="EN-US"><i>uncool</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal;">.’<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal;">Inexcusably retrograde.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal;">Yet if in such circumstances I incline to feeling
beleaguered,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal;">To my aid comes G. K. Chesterton,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal;">Like a gale, a refreshing wind, he comes:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><i>“People have fallen into the foolish
habit of speaking of orthodoxy as something heavy, humdrum and safe. There
never was anything so perilous or so exciting as orthodoxy.----- It was the equilibrium
of a man behind madly rushing horses, seeming to stoop this way and sway that,
yet in every attitude having the grace of statuary and the accuracy of
arithmetic. The Church in its early days went fierce and fast with any
warhorse, yet it is utterly un-historic to say that she merely went mad along
one idea, like a vulgar fanaticism. She swerved to left and right so exactly as
to avoid enormous obstacles. --- It is easy to be a heretic. It is always easy
to let the age have its head; the difficult thing is to keep one’s own. It is
always easy to be a modernist, as it is easy to be a snob. ---- It is always
simple to fall, there are an infinity of angles at which one falls, only one at
which one stands. To have fallen into any one of the fads from Gnosticism to
Christian Science would indeed have been obvious and tame. But to have avoided
them all has been one whirling adventure; and in my vision the heavenly chariot
flies thundering through the ages, the dull heresies sprawling and prostrate,
the wild truth reeling but erect.”*</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="text-align: center;">Well, I’m clinging on to that chariot with all my
strength.</span><i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Peter Frow</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">October 2022</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">*G.K. Chesterton - Orthodoxy<o:p></o:p></span></p>Peter Frowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848088343952471621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-28054182416763786552022-12-04T22:23:00.001-08:002022-12-04T22:41:47.564-08:00Mr. Chairman<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mr.
Chairman…<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ahem, that
is, I meant to say: <i>Chair</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Chair, it
has been observed that the Bible has a decidedly sexist bias having been
written by men for men.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Seemingly
Jesus himself is one of the chief culprits here:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">To appoint
twelve <i>males</i> as apostles would seem to indicate that he was not immune
to prevailing first century Jewish prejudices involving the severe
dis-empowerment of women. His choice of these men seems also to be wanting in
discernment including as it did the ‘bad apple’ Judas, although measured
against the mediocrity of the other eleven, he at least showed a measure of
resolve. Jesus could surely have done better by including certain women of
noble character and spiritual stature such as Martha and Mary Magdalene.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Further, he
unfailingly addressed God as ‘Father’ and never as ‘Mother’. This too must be
considered unacceptably patriarchal in the light of current enlightened mores
relating to these matters.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It would
seem then Chair, that one of the chief tasks of this commission would be to <i>educate
Jesus</i>.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It is worth
mentioning however that in pursuing this objective we might well encounter
considerable difficulties, not least of which is that <i>Jesus is God</i>, and
indeed were we to attain our goal we might discover that the situation had
become less sexist but more <i>‘Godist’</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Peter Frow<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">September 2022<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600"
o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f"
stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Graphic_x0020_6" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="Grain" style='position:absolute;margin-left:231.8pt;margin-top:12.15pt;
width:30.6pt;height:30.6pt;z-index:251657728;visibility:visible;
mso-position-horizontal-relative:margin;mso-width-relative:margin;
mso-height-relative:margin' o:gfxdata="UEsDBBQABgAIAAAAIQCxgme2CgEAABMCAAATAAAAW0NvbnRlbnRfVHlwZXNdLnhtbJSRwU7DMAyG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">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/Dell/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.png"
o:title="" croptop="-6073f" cropbottom="-5820f" cropleft="-2235f"
cropright="-4236f"/>
<w:wrap type="square" anchorx="margin"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> <img align="left" alt="Grain" height="41" hspace="12" src="file:///C:/Users/Dell/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.png" v:shapes="Graphic_x0020_6" width="41" /></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Peter Frowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848088343952471621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-68122780198077389532019-07-27T01:01:00.000-07:002019-07-27T01:01:20.759-07:00Concerning Theology & Praxis<h1>
<span lang="EN-US">Concerning Theology and Praxis</span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Praxis is a
technical term denoting the way in which theology is played out and expressed
in practice. It is obvious that our theology concerning a particular issue
needs to precede its practical application.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The
supporting theology for the proposed endorsement of same-sex marriages by our
church seems to run as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US">God is a
God of love and justice<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US">LGBT+
persons have been and are currently being treated unjustly and unlovingly.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US">Therefore,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US">To
prevent any further discrimination we must be prepared to marry them.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It is not
difficult to see the disconnect between the statements which precede the <i>therefore</i>
and that which follows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It is like
saying, “Children are being abused therefore we should give children sweets.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">No, if
children are being abused we should stop abusing children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Whether it
is good to give children sweets is another matter entirely though doubtless
that is what they would like.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The word
‘therefore’ is in fact a <i>non sequitur </i>in both instances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">That LGBT+
persons should be treated with love and justice goes without saying and the
church has much to repent of for not having done so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US">This is
a justice issue.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">However
whether or not same-sex persons should be married is a holiness issue, and if
we wish to apply the phrase, “in the sight of God” to such union then God needs
to be consulted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US">This is
a holiness issue.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We may not
drag the holiness issue under the banner of justice by means of a false
‘therefore,’ and call the whole thing a matter of ‘justice’. To do so is pure
sophistry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It would
seem that the cart, consisting of the proposed praxis concerning same-sex
marriage, is being pushed by humans. This is hardly surprising as the
theological horse intended to draw it is too puny for the task. Too puny by far.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Peter Frow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Artisans of The Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05390814293987343822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-28323233404410932722018-02-13T22:41:00.001-08:002018-02-13T22:41:10.705-08:00Faith is like the Square Root of Minus One<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Jesus is
The Truth, the wellspring and yardstick for all truth and the Creator of all
things both visible and invisible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It follows
therefore, that when anyone reaches the very pinnacle of their particular
discipline they will find themselves looking into the face of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Thus all disciplines,
whether Architecture, Medicine, Accounting, Psychology, History and all the
rest will ultimately be found to subsume seamlessly under His Lordship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Theology is
indeed the ‘Queen of the Sciences,’ (though not many campuses would acknowledge
this in our day) and ‘The fear of God <i>is</i> the beginning of Wisdom.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This is why
Scripture in employing metaphors to illustrate spiritual truths finds them
ready to hand in the fields of agriculture, medicine, biology, philosophy,
meteorology and many more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Which leads
me to the discipline of Mathematics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Could one
not find illustrations from mathematics which would bring to light spiritual
truths.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">One could
call this synthesis of Theology and Mathematics, “Theomatics.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Well that
rolls off the tongue quite nicely, but it would need to include some real <i>arithmetic
anomalies</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">For example
the Marriage Institution which declares that “—the two shall become one flesh.”
Would have to be rendered, 1 + 1 = 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And the
doctrine of the Trinity would need to be, 1 + 1 + 1 = 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This really
doesn’t look like a promising line of theological exploration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">However,
The square root of minus one is an intriguing mathematical concept which might
just come to our aid in helping us get our heads around some Biblical Brain
teasers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Most people
know that if you multiply +1 by itself you will get +1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And if you
multiply –1 by itself you will also get +1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So the
square root of +1 (√1) could be either +1 or –1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So what
then is the square root of –1 (√-1) ?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Clearly it
can’t be either +1 or –1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The mind
does a back flip in trying to visualise the answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">For this
reason this was sometimes termed an <i>imaginary number</i> until
mathematicians objected to this term pointing out that although difficult to
conceptualise it was not only real but very useful and effective in certain
applications.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Thus the
square root of –1 became abbreviated to the symbol </span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Italic; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">i </span></b><span lang="EN-US">and<b> </b>it
is termed not an imaginary number but a <i>complex number.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It is used
extensively in vector arithmetic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We must
explain that unlike a number which has only magnitude, a vector is an entity
which has both magnitude and orientation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Now what is
noteworthy, is that if a vector is multiplied by </span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Italic; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">i </span></b><span lang="EN-US">that is the square root of minus
one, it has the effect of swinging that vector through 90 degrees without
altering its magnitude.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Thus, if a
certain vector of say 1 metre in length and lying in a horizontal plane, was
initially oriented to point North, after multiplying it by </span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Italic; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">i </span></b><span lang="EN-US">it would point East. Multiply it by </span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Italic; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">i </span></b><span lang="EN-US">again and it will now point South
and so on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">How might
this help our understanding of ‘Faith’:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Scripture
states that, “—God has given to every man a measure of faith.” (Rom. 12. 3)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Thus from
this text, faith is a gift from God for which man can claim no merit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Yet Hebrews
11 verse 6 declares that, “—without faith it is impossible to please Him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Here,
clearly God is pleased when we exercise faith, for it would make no sense for
God to be pleased with a gift He had given with no activity on man’s part.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Also Jesus
commends the centurion for his great faith and upbraids the disciples for their
‘little faith’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Ephesians
2.8 reads: For by grace we are saved through faith, not of yourselves it is a
gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Herein lies
the tension between Calvin and Arminius:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The pure
Reformed position would be that both the grace and the faith with which the
grace is appropriated are gifts of God, for if faith must be exercised with
volition by man then it becomes a work and man may claim merit for it and we
know no merit can attach to man in respect of his salvation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">To
Arminius, the grace is the gift, but it must be appropriated by the exercise of
our faith, but the objection remains that if volition is employed in such
exercise, this becomes a meritorious work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">But what if
faith is a <i>complex concept</i>, neither work nor gift or perhaps both at the
same time, just as the square root of minus one is a complex number whose
answer is neither +1 or –1 or perhaps both at the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So complex
is the relationship between gift and works in the entity called faith that it
defies conceptualization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Yet
difficult as it is to conceive, its effects are abundantly manifest for it can
change the orientation of a person.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Thus a
person coming to faith in Christ will experience a change of orientation – once
hell-bound he is now Heaven-bound, once afar off, he is now brought near by the
blood of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This might
help explain Jesus imperative to Nicodemus, “You must be born again,” while
shortly afterwards he declares that the wind (that is the Spirit) blows where
He wills: quite unpredictable and beyond man’s control.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">In future
when one encounters a conundrum like this in Scripture, one need simply say,
“Ah well, it’s just like the square root of minus one, - incomprehensible but
effective.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Artisans of The Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05390814293987343822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-55423217887536916352018-01-23T12:45:00.000-08:002018-01-23T12:54:01.359-08:00Manna & Mercy - A Critical Evaluation Part 4.<h1>
<span lang="EN-US">A Bloodless Soteriology</span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">To be fair
on Daniel Erlander, though he dismisses the Passover with the one-liner,
“Before they left the slaves ate a special meal called Passover”. he does
mention that, “The worship of the partner people included the offering of
sacrifices, ……” and that this, “ served as a way for restoring the divine-human
relationship,” (P15) and that Jesus’ Body and Blood is, “given and shed for all
for the forgiveness of sin.” P54.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So this
critique really relates to Alan Storey’s clip under the Manna & Mercy
banner entitled <i>“Why did Jesus die?”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">In this he
makes the statement that Jesus died as the ultimate expression of His love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This
statement is manifestly true. Who would dispute this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">However he
also makes the statement that <i>God didn’t send Jesus to die</i>. It could not
possibly be the will of a loving father that his son should die. He illustrates
this with an account of how his father encouraged him not to retaliate when
bullied, which resulted in his getting a ‘blood nose’. Did my father want me to
not retaliate? The answer: “Yes”, Did he want me to get a blood nose? The
answer “Noooo.” Q.E.D. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">He delivers
this piece of homespun logic with compelling homiletic passion, but
unfortunately neglects considerations of God’s sovereignty and omniscience, not
to mention flying in the face of numerous texts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">For example
Isaiah 53 reads as follows in verse 10:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US">Yet it
was the will of the LORD to crush Him;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><i>He has put Him to grief when He makes His soul an offering
for guilt…”</i></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And verse
11<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US">“…and He
shall make many to be accounted righteous and He shall bear their iniquities”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US">“The
Lamb of God was slain before the foundation of the world.”</span></i><span lang="EN-US"> Would be another relevant text.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Lest one is
inclined to dismiss these as mere ‘proof texts’ one needs to consider them
against the entire metanarative of the Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This could
be summed up as, <i>“Mercy triumphing over justice in the person of Jesus.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The
difficulty with a soteriology which is simply anchored in Jesus’ loving and
pacific response to the worst that man can do, is that it regards any
reference to '<i><b>the blood'</b></i> as incidental to the central issue of atonement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">From
Genesis to Revelation the principle that, “Without the shedding of blood there
is no remission of sin,” is underscored countless times culminating in Jesus as
<i>“the perfect sacrifice offered once for all,” (Heb Chapter10.)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">These texts
would include:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">God
making clothes of animal skins to replace the fig leaves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US">God accepting Abel’s sacrifice not Cain’s</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Noah’s
sacrifice of animals on emerging from the ark<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Abraham
sacrificing the ram on Mount Moriah<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The
Passover<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The
Levitical system of sacrifices – very gory affairs: blood everywhere<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The list
is endless, but reaches it’s ultimate fulfillment in Jesus’ gruesome utterance
that,<i> “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you shall not have life
within you.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This
statement is interpreted fully in the book of Hebrews, and lands ultimately in
Revelation where the great multitude from every nation, tribe and people are
wearing robes that have been ‘washed white in the blood of the Lamb.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Also, while
one can certainly agree wholeheartedly with Alan that God’s forgiveness is
extended to all, he makes no mention that this gracious offer is appropriated
by faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><i>Therefore, brethren, since we have
confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus……...let us draw
near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith ( Heb. 10. 19,22)</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">Was it God’s
will that Jesus should die?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">How else can
one interpret His prayer in Gethsemane?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><i>“If it be thy will, let this cup pass
from me, nevertheless not my will but thine be done.”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">With no word
from the Father that the cup might be permitted to pass, the Son sets His face
resolutely towards the bloody agony of the cross. No mere blood nose this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">From the Cross
He will reign as King of Kings with crown of thorn - <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">From the Cross,
as the spotless Lamb of God, He will offer up the perfect sacrifice once for
all, taking on Himself the penalty of our sin that we might go free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<i><span lang="EN-US">“</span><span lang="EN-US">’Tis mystery all, the Immortal dies,</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><i>Who can explore His strange design,”</i></span><span lang="EN-US"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">A bloodless
soteriology is no soteriology at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Peter Frowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848088343952471621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-81423655201643686142018-01-23T07:41:00.001-08:002018-01-23T07:41:31.041-08:00Manna & Mercy - A critical Evaluation Part 3.<h2>
<span lang="EN-US">The Virgin Birth</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It would
seem that Erlander does believe in the Virgin Birth because on Page 39 of the M
& M manual he says, “The Spirit of God breathed into Mary’s womb as the
Spirit had breathed into the watery depths to bring forth the first creation.”
This is not quite the same concept as the Holy Spirit ‘coming upon and
overshadowing’ Mary, nevertheless, there is no hint that the paternity of Jesus
is traceable to some human father.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So this
blog is not a critique of Erlander’s view of the virgin birth, but rather that
of Alan Storey who I understand has the distribution rights for the M & M
material and who has published a series of video clips under the M & M
banner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">One of
these deals with the virgin birth:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">In this
Storey describes accurately the shame endured by both Joseph and Mary resulting
from the latter’s pregnancy. Quite correctly he points out that any assertion
that no human father had been the cause, would have been greeted with total
incredulity on the part of the Nazarene townsfolk, – completely understandable
since such a thing had never been known to happen before, nor since for that
matter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Having got
to this point however, Storey adds his own name to the list of skeptics,
despite the unambiguous accounts of Holy Spirit conception in the birth
accounts of both Matthew and Luke’s gospels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">He
postulates instead that Mary’s pregnancy was the result of rape by one of the
Roman occupying force. Quite why he does this is not clear. Perhaps it arises
from the post-enlightenment compulsion to explain away the miraculous. Perhaps
it is to enlist Mary as a high-profile celebrity to the most worthy crusade
against the abuse of women. (although this would neglect the reality that a
‘Non-virgin Mary’ would not be nearly such a celebrity.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">However,
what I find amazing are the theological implications of Storey’s assertion:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Quite how
one arrives at a coherent Christology in which Jesus is confessed as, “Truly
God and Truly man,” with a Roman soldier as the real father, is for me as much
of a mystery as the mystery of the Godhead itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Storey,
without any grounds for so doing, throws a brick into the Christological
gearbox, and this with a wanton disregard for the results of such theological
vandalism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">One would
hope that at the very least he would cross his fingers should he have occasion
to recite the Nicene Creed (It could certainly be no more than a mere
recitation). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Better
still, he might consider resigning from the Methodist ministry lest he become
party to the people called Methodists becoming “a dead sect holding to a form
of godliness while denying the power thereof,” which according to Wesley, “they
shall surely become if they do not hold fast to the doctrine, spirit and
discipline with which they first set out.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2>
<br /></h2>
Peter Frowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848088343952471621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-31087615442109245582018-01-06T02:38:00.000-08:002018-01-06T02:38:14.388-08:00Manna & Mercy - A Critical Evaluation Part 2.<h2>
<span lang="PT" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: PT; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Educating Jesus</span></h2>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Just as
Erlander has made no secret of the fact that he has been influenced by
Liberation Theologians, so he states plainly that <i>Feminist Theologians</i>
have played their part in his thinking and approach to Scripture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The
implication of this is that any portrayal of God as masculine is considered
unacceptable and to be not merely avoided but corrected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">One can but
admire the determination with which he approaches this task, as pitfalls abound
on every hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Let’s
follow his strategy:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The Bible
uses the pronouns <i>he</i>, <i>him</i> and <i>his</i> hundreds if not
thousands of times in reference to God. For example: In Psalm 136 the words <i>he,
him</i> and <i>his</i> occur 31 times in 26 verses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">Erlander is at pains not to perpetuate
this ‘error’, so not once throughout the M & M manual does he refer to God
with a masculine pronoun. This requires considerable skill and restraint.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Repeatedly
Scripture refers to the relationship between God and Israel as that between
husband and (oftentimes unfaithful) wife (Is. 54. 5-8; Jer. 3. 6-14; Hosea Chs.
1-3)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">Erlander studiously avoids any reference
to God as husband to Israel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">In several
places in Isaiah and Jeremiah God refers to himself as the Father of Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">Erlander prefers to see the relationship
between God and Israel as that between mother and child ( M & M p. 5.)
although it is with difficulty that one finds any textual support for this.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">God is often
referred to as King but never as Queen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">Erlander refrains from any reference to God
as King. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">Erlander coins the phrase, “The
wombishness of Jahweh” (M & M p 44)</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">In fact throughout the manual Jahweh is
depicted as a somewhat weepy, mothering figure.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">Jesus always
refers to God as Father (close on 200 times in the Gospels) and instructs us to
do likewise. All the New Testament writers refer to God as ‘Father’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">In Romans 8,
the evidence of the indwelling Holy Spirit is that we have a natural
inclination to address God as “Abba Father” (Rom 8. 15)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">Yet Erlander refuses to refer to God as ‘Father’,
deeming this to be unacceptably sexist.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">Priscilla and
Aquila are referred to several times in the New Testament. They are never
mentioned singly and present a wonderful model as a married couple of
considerable maturity and stature in God. Certainly their ministry has an
apostolic profile although they are never referred to as apostles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">Erlander however sees fit to promote
Priscilla to the status of ‘apostle’ while making no mention whatever of poor
Aquila. The reference given is Romans 16. 3 which simply refers to both
Priscilla and Aquila as ‘fellow workers’
of Paul.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">Finally, it is
clear from the Gospels that only “The Twelve” were with Jesus at the Last
Supper. (Matt. 26. 20; Mark14. 17)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">Erlander considers this very sexist and
remiss of Jesus, so his illustration of the Last Supper augments the 12 males
(13 with Jesus) with 13 females resulting in perfect parity of the sexes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">His message to
Jesus would run something like this, “Respectfully Sir, I sense that in having
only twelve </span><span lang="EN-US">males</span><span lang="EN-US"> at the Last Supper, you were unduly influenced by
the prevailing mores and sexist attitudes of the time. It would have been far
more appropriate to have both men and women at this important event. I have
drawn you a picture of the arrangement we regard as being more suitable given
the more enlightened understanding we have of such matters in our time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">There can be
little doubt that the overall tenor of Erlander’s Manna and Mercy manual is one
of </span><span lang="EN-US">eisegesis</span><span lang="EN-US"> rather than </span><span lang="EN-US">exegesis</span><span lang="EN-US">. (see our post entitled “Exegesis versus Eisegesis”
of Aug 4, 2016)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">As with the
liberation motif, Erlander has certain points he wants to make, and he does not
shrink from distorting the Biblical narrative in order to make these points.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">The trouble is
that the Manna & Mercy manual by virtue of its humorous and pictorial
presentation, offers itself as a Biblical overview for those </span><span lang="EN-US">beginning</span><span lang="EN-US"> to study
the scriptures. Such ‘beginner students’ can easily be duped into mistaking
Erlander’s distortion of the Scriptural account for the actual narrative of the
text.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">This is not to
say that some of the points that Erlander wishes to make aren’t worth making.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">For example,
the communion table is most assuredly inclusive and not confined to men. –But
this conclusion is the result of theological reflection on a number of texts
and does not constitute grounds for a revision of the Gospel texts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">--A pity that
Erlander couldn’t have ”played it straight.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><span lang="EN-US">As mentioned
in our previous post, this begs the question as to whether one who approaches
Scripture in such a careless and cavalier fashion can be considered trustworthy
to conduct us through it’s pages.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"> </span></div>
Peter Frowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02848088343952471621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-81481512309899507402017-11-07T05:42:00.000-08:002017-11-28T05:43:07.156-08:00Manna & Mercy: A Critical Evaluation Part 1<h3 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">Daniel Erlander’s course entitled “Manna and Mercy” presents itself as an overview of the entire Bible. It is user-friendly in its presentation and includes many of Erlander’s (often humorous) line drawings.</span></h3>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">It is inevitably something of a whistle-stop tour and clearly some things have to be left out, but as one is whisked past well known landmarks one often thinks, “Hey what about this?” The reply seems to be, “O that, yes but what you really need to see is this.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">Take for example Noah and the Flood: Perhaps because the overall theme of the course is God’s<span> </span><i>mercy</i>, Erlander reasons that God would not, could not,<span> </span><i>should<span> </span></i> not do such a thing as wipe out nearly all of humankind even though they were behaving incredibly badly (Gen 6. 5-8). With that he takes his censor’s scissors and excises Genesis 6. 7 to Genesis 8. 22 from the Biblical record. Feeling that this leaves a bit of a hole in the narrative, instead of God saying, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land …” (Gen. 6. 7), he has him saying after considering the destruction of the human race, “I will not! Can a mother destroy her child, her delight, her joy. (see M & M p 3.)The reference given is Gen. 9. 11 which bears no relation to the preceding statement. In fact the reference to mother and child is lifted out of context from Isaiah 49. 15 where, referring to Israel in exile the Lord says,</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US"> “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast, and have no compassion on the child she has born? Though she may forget, I will not forget you.”</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<h4 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">Erlander makes no secret of the fact that his view of Scripture is strongly influenced by Liberation Theologians.</span></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">This accounts for his racing through the book of Genesis without a mention of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob nor yet of the twelve tribes of Israel.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">To be fair they do get a mention in a throwaway line at the start of the section dealing with the Exodus. (M & M p 4.)</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">Exodus however, does have a liberation motif which is both strong and clear. Erlander teases this out over the next three chapters (M&M pgs. 4-15)</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">However, the Biblical record of the conquest of Canaan presents a problem to Erlander: with the exception of Rahab and her household, Joshua’s strategy is to put to death everyone, men, women and children, in the towns and cities which he conquers (Joshua Chs. 6 through 11)</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">It is always going to be hard to discover motifs of mercy and liberation in accounts such as this. Erlander’s solution to this difficulty is as bold as it is inventive:<span> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">He decides to re-write the book of Joshua.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">In the Revised Erlander Version (R.E.V.) “…victory came when Joshua’s army attacked from the outside while oppressed slaves revolted from the inside. When the cities fell, these collaborators then became full members of the people of Israel. ” (M & M p 17)</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">So then it was only the ‘big deals’ who were killed.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">Any serious student of the Bible should continuously be asking three questions which in turn constitute three steps:</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 54pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: -36pt; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> <span> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">What does the text say?</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 54pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: -36pt; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> <span> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">Using sound hermeneutic principles how do we interpret the text?</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 54pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: -36pt; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> <span> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">Taking due note of the interpretation, how does the text apply to our context</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">There is usually scope for a range of interpretations in steps 2. and 3., but because Erlander tampers with the source data at step 1., it renders any attempt to answer the questions in steps 2. and 3., futile.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">In addition to Erlander’s propensity to<span> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">excise</span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>and<span> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">revise</span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>texts he also has a marked tendency to<span> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">trivialize</span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>key texts. Take for example the Passover (Exodus Chapter 12) This is alluded to in the following sentence: “Before they left, the slaves ate a special dinner called Passover.” (M & M p 4.)</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">There is no mention of the blood of an unblemished lamb being applied to the doorposts and lintel of each dwelling so that death would not befall the firstborn of the children of Israel – this a clear prefiguring of Christ’s death on the cross, the Lamb of God shedding His blood that we might have life.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">A special meal? Yes indeed! A<span> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">very</span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>special meal!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">There can be little doubt that the overall tenor of Erlander’s Manna and Mercy manual is one of<span> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">eisegesis</span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>rather than<span> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">exegesis</span><span lang="EN-US">. (see our post entitled “Exegesis versus Eisegesis” of Aug 4, 2016) He has certain points he wants to make, (some of them valid) and he is prepared to<span> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">excise</span><span lang="EN-US">,<span> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">revise</span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>and<span> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">trivialize</span><span lang="EN-US"><span> </span>texts in order to enlist the support of Scripture in making these points.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><span lang="EN-US">All the above begs the question as to whether one who approaches Scripture in such a careless and cavalier fashion can be considered trustworthy to conduct us through it’s pages.</span></b></div>
</div>
Artisans of The Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05390814293987343822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-5239748057418916612017-03-11T05:39:00.000-08:002017-11-28T05:41:34.971-08:00A Pocket Pack of Hermeneutic Principles<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><span lang="EN-US">Hermeneutics</span></b><span lang="EN-US">, is the discipline concerned with ‘Interpreting the Scriptures Correctly,’ or as stated in 2 Timothy 2. 15, “…rightly dividing the Word of God” (KJV)</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">Hermeneutics at an academic level can be a vast and complex business, yet any student of the Bible can grasp the elements of the matter. Indeed, whether one is a preacher or teacher of God’s Word, a leader of a Home Group, a Sunday School teacher or simply reading the Bible for one’s own spiritual nourishment, it is important to have a few important Hermeneutic Principles under one’s belt.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">These fall naturally into two groups namely:</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<ul style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-top: 0cm; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Principles of Context</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Principles of Interpretation</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US">So here is a <i>Pocket Pack of Hermeneutic Principles</i> which I hope will be found useful by any student of the Scriptures wishing to unlock their rich treasure:</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<h3 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>The Master Key</b></span></h3>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>The purposes and character of God are fulfilled and revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.</b></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>As the Scriptures both of the Old and New Testaments speak of Him, so He affirms their truthfulness and authority.</b></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<h2 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Principles of Context</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 72pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: -18pt; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="PT">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="PT">The text must be understood within the context of the passage in which it occurs</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 72pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: -18pt; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="PT">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="PT">The text must be understood within the context of the book and the literary genre in which it occurs.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 72pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: -18pt; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="PT">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="PT">The text must be understood within the sweep and thrust of the entire Bible.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 72pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: -18pt; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="PT">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="PT">The context of the writer must be taken into account.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 72pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: -18pt; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="PT">5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="PT">The purpose of the writer must be taken into account.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 72pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: -18pt; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><span lang="PT">6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b><b><span lang="EN-US">While we take note of the historical context of the text, in applying it to our current context, we yet allow Scripture to be the yardstick for what is pleasing and acceptable to God<i>.</i> We do not allow our context to be the yardstick for what is acceptable in Scripture.</span></b><br />
</div>
</div>
<h2 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Principles of Interpretation</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 72pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: -18pt; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="PT">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="PT">Scripture is its own interpreter: one text will expand upon or give insight into another.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 72pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: -18pt; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="PT">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="PT">The New Testament interprets the Old.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 72pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: -18pt; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="PT">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="PT">John’s Gospel interprets the Synoptic Gospels</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 72pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: -18pt; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="PT">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="PT">The Epistles interpret the Gospels.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 72pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: -18pt; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="PT">5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="PT">The systematic and didactic Epistles such as Romans and Galatians, interpret the historic and incidental.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 72pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: -18pt; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="PT">6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="PT">The universal interprets the local and cultural.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 72pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: -18pt; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="PT">7.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="PT">The clear interprets the obscure.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 72pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: -18pt; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="PT">8.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="PT">There is an unfolding (or progressive) revelation evidenced in Scripture such that our understanding of God and his purposes both creative and redemptive become clearer and fuller as they are revealed “line upon line and precept upon precept.”</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 72pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: -18pt; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><span lang="PT">9.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b><b><span lang="PT">Taking due account of the above principles, unless there is compelling Scriptural evidence to the contrary, the plain meaning of the text is the true meaning.</span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="PT">In earlier posts we explained ‘The Master Key’ and also Principle 8. more fully.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span lang="PT">In subsequent posts we may tease out certain other of the above principles in order to make them clearer.</span></div>
</div>
Artisans of The Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05390814293987343822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-86515599011541673812016-10-30T22:55:00.000-07:002016-10-30T22:55:37.634-07:00A Safe Place<h3>
<span lang="EN-US">I want our
church to be a safe place.</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"> </span>I want it
to be a place where the un-churched and those who are groping after the truth
or seeking help in their distress, may come and not feel any trace of
finger-pointing Pharisaism. A place where the members walk always with a
profound sense of God’s grace and, knowing that there is no condemnation to
them that are in Christ Jesus, are careful to refrain from condemnatory
attitudes and conduct.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">For the
great good news of the Gospel is that we don’t have to clean up our lives in
order to come to Jesus. We come to Jesus and He then makes us right with God,
both as we come to faith in Him and then by an ongoing process of becoming like
Him in our behaviour and character. Thus the church must open its arms wide to
sinners of all descriptions: the Great Physician comes for the sick and not for
the healthy, and indeed there is ‘none righteous no not one’.</span> </div>
<h4>
<span lang="EN-US">The Gospel
is inclusive in its essence.</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> </span>Yet just as
we may not exclude anyone on the grounds of race, gender, nationality, age or
any other criterion, for all are in need of God’s salvation, so too we may not
exclude anyone from <i>the pursuit of holiness, ‘</i>without which no-one will
see the Lord’. We may not presume to lower the bar for anyone, for we all alike
must ‘press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ
Jesus’. It is God who sets the bar and it is nothing less than complete
Christ-likeness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I want our
church to be one that demonstrates the Christ-like ability to say not only, “I
do not condemn you,” but also, “Go and sin no more.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">A church
where one is encouraged to do what is displeasing to God or where sin is winked
at, is not a safe place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">A church
where one is misled as to the truth of God is not a safe place.</span> </div>
<br />
<h3>
<span lang="EN-US">I want our
church to be a safe place.</span></h3>
Artisans of The Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05390814293987343822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-58259545458470058632016-09-20T23:44:00.000-07:002016-09-20T23:55:48.344-07:00Science Says!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">One quite
often encounters, generally in popular publications, the phrase, “Science says”
or its variant, “Scientists say,” or “Science has proven.” Generally this is
held to be ‘game, set and match’ in any controversy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Coming from
a scientific discipline myself, I maintain an innate skepticism whenever I come
across such language.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Here it is
helpful to realise that ‘Science’ falls into three broad categories each with
its own methodology:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3>
<span lang="EN-US">Applied Science</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This is my
background, the discipline of Engineering and Technology. She is a stern
mistress, for if practice does not accord closely with theory one’s bridges
fall down and one’s machines fail to work. It is a very public discipline and
one can easily get mud on one’s face. This branch of science has a
well-established theoretical basis yet it employs a high degree of <i>empiricism</i>.
If something breaks, make another one a bit stronger so that it will not break.
If something doesn’t work, try another approach until you find something that
does work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3>
<span lang="EN-US">Pure Science</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This branch
of Science uses the <i>classical scientific method</i> consisting of, postulate
followed by repeated experiment followed by conclusion and revision of
postulate if the conclusion does not confirm the postulate. It is essentially
an iterative methodology and depends on the ability to repeat an experiment.
Applied scientists stand on the shoulders of pure scientists and use their
findings and their theoretical formulations in building their devices and
structures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3>
<span lang="EN-US">Speculative Science</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Some may
object to this term, but I can’t offhand think of a better and ‘Impure Science’
does not seem appropriate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This is not
to imply that the scientific disciplines falling within this category are not
respectable, but simply to acknowledge that the methodology employed here is
quite different. This is because they deal with past events which by their very
nature are not repeatable. Thus they are not susceptible to the classic
scientific method which requires repeated experiments. The methodology used here
is <i>forensic</i> such that historic data is analysed and evaluated in order
to arrive at the truth. It is like Sherlock Holmes examining the body and its
situation in order to determine whether the cause of death was murder or
suicide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Often
Sherlock will come to a different conclusion to the police as to the cause of
death though they both access the same data.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">There are
obviously blurred boundaries between these branches of science, but what should
be noticed is that the first two employ closed-loop methodologies, the third
branch is essentially open-loop. This is why it is a happy hunting ground for
theorists whose theories cannot easily be proven or disproved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Accordingly,
when encountering an assertion attributed to ‘science,’ a good practice is to
establish which branch of science is making the claim. If it is the third
branch, then, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">KEEP THE
JURY OUT A LITTLE LONGER.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Artisans of The Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05390814293987343822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-6630288614575590082016-09-15T09:50:00.000-07:002016-09-15T09:50:22.273-07:00Reflections in Reception - Some Days Later<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Well the workers were paid on time Lord,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Not from the R18000 although I did receive that
eventually.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">But of course you know all this,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">You know too about the unexpected refund from
the Revenue Department<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">That arrived in the nick of time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I have no doubt that you arranged this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I suspect that at some subliminal level<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Employees in the Tax Department know that they
owe you one,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Because you extended grace and friendship to
tax collectors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">When they were reckoned the scum of the Earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">So it seems like an all round win:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">The workers have been paid,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I have been paid,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Relationships are in pretty fair shape,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Why the chief even called about a quotation for
another machine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">(I hope I may be forgiven for having inflated
the price a bit)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">But best of all, I have further evidence (as if
I needed more)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-US">Of your utter faithfulness!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Artisans of The Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05390814293987343822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-4541774086409618932016-09-10T04:15:00.000-07:002016-09-10T04:15:18.732-07:00Reflections in Reception - Day Three<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">No transfer into account by 10.30 am<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">So here I am<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Back in reception<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Wondering what kind of reception<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I’ll get.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Wasn’t sure if I’d be allowed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Into the building,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">But S… the sweet receptionist<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Pressed the button<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">That opened the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">So here I am<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I have asked the P.A. to let him know I’m here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I’m leaning on that promise<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">That I’ll be given the right words.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">J… has just come through<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Says that the boss has agreed to pay me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Subject to inspection of the machine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Can it happen to today?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">He checks with the attorney.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">“No chance before Monday” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I’ll be quite hungry by Monday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">So will my workers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">But God……<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Well now the machine needs to be inspected<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">By big D…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Before the money is released.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">When can it be inspected?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I walk to the factory where D… has his office.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I have a good relationship with D…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Forged over the years,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">But he is very busy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">He is waiting for the epoxy-coating expert to
come<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">It is now 1 pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">The epoxy man comes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">He comes to solve a problem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">J… comes to watch him solve it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">The <i>chief</i> comes to see if it is solved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Sees me looking on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Offers me a job.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I say, “I might as well be on the payroll,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I’m spending so much time here,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">But I don’t come cheap:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">R18 000 just to start”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">This exchange is actually quite cordial!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I’m now back in reception,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Reading magazines,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">But I have the feeling <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">That this is now counter-productive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I have become part of the furniture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I am effectively on the payroll<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">With a salary of zero.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">S… the receptionist doesn’t hesitate to let me
in<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">When I tell her my name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I ask to see J… and she waves me through.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I pass the chief in the corridor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">And tell him where I’m going.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">No problem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I am now on friendly first name terms with<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">W…,J…,V…,P…,S…,N…and D…,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Not to mention Lindiwe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Who makes such excellent coffee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">It was Lincoln who said,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">“Do I not defeat my enemy when I make him my
friend”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I sit and chat with J…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">He is a marvelous man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Totally genuine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">He assures me that he will do his best<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">To see that I am paid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">He has already gone the extra mile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I sense that my time in reception is over<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">And ask him to give the chief a message<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">To this effect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">The question is:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Am I not to eat until the money is in my
account?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">What’s that Lord? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">It’s my call?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-US">I’m going to eat.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-US">To be Continued<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Artisans of The Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05390814293987343822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-86177094265715412142016-09-07T23:45:00.000-07:002016-09-15T09:50:57.916-07:00Reflections in Reception - Day Two<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">The next day,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Back in reception,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Armed with said document.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I am quickly moved by J… into his office<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Lest I be seen by the chief.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">J… shares the office with his wife V…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">What a great couple!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">An air of competence and industry is evident.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">J… makes two phone calls to corroborate the
contents of my document.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">It all tallies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">He undertakes to motivate acceptance to the
boss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">The boss is in a meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I plan to wait in reception<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Until he is free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">J… pleads with me not to do this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Apparently if the man sees me he will go wild.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">He may even get his ‘boys’ to work me over<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">And then I will get nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I say I am prepared to be worked over<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">But will wait outside in my car<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">For 40 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">After which time if the matter is not settled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">WE ARE COMING IN!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">To Reception.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">J… pops out the door<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">To check on a point as I sit in my car.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">He is with the chief now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Ten minutes to go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Well 40 minutes are up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Shall I give a small extension?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">No, here comes J…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">He has put my case,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Recommended its acceptance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">The boss will peruse the document<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">And come to a decision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I say that if I do not have proof of payment by
10 am tomorrow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I will be back in reception.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I am prepared to be crucified if need be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">But then I think Whoa!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">My namesake said that 2000 years ago<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">And look what happened to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">But it’s not <i>my</i> money you see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I am merely a steward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">So let’s see what tomorrow brings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I am starting to feel hungry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-US">……..To be Continued<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Artisans of The Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05390814293987343822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-36866228888573065032016-09-04T05:12:00.000-07:002016-09-04T05:12:15.708-07:00Reflections in Reception - Day one<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Well, here I am Lord<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Waiting in Reception<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">The Reception of the firm which owes me R21 000<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">R21660 to be exact<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Although that includes Value Added Tax<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">This amount has been owing since<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">The 28<sup>th</sup> of May<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">It is now the 25<sup>th</sup> of September.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I have made repeated requests for payment<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Without concrete response.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">These are the facts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">And now the man who holds the purse strings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Declines to talk to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">His P. A. who is very sweet,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Declares always that he is in a meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">“I will give him a message.” She says<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">But he never returns my calls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">-has not communicated with me <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">For several weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">He has had his own cash flow challenges I
daresay but,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I have information from a most reliable source<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">That he has recently received a substantial
sum,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">So things are not nearly so tight for him now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Lord! Things are extremely tight for me:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Only just enough money for fuel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">To drive to this firm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">In whose Reception I sit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I’m not the type who breaks kneecaps Lord:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Never yet sent out so much as a lawyer’s letter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">In all my years in business,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">-Rather let myself be defrauded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Foolishness perhaps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">But I have wages to pay<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">In just three day’s time,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">And not a penny in the till.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">If I am concerned to see my workers paid,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">How much more will you show Yourself faithful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">In paying your servants,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">For you are <i>my</i> paymaster:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">And how faithful you have been,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Down through the ages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Down through the generations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Why this very morning I enjoyed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">A hearty breakfast,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">In comfortable surroundings,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">More than comfortable:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">In <i>beautiful</i> surroundings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Still, this may be the last meal I have for a
while,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">For I have determined on a <i>hunger strike</i>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">A <i>sit in</i> hunger strike,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Here in the Reception<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Of the firm that owes me R21 000.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">They do not know this yet,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Because the sweet P. A.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Is herself in a meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">But when she emerges I will ask her<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">To convey a message to this effect<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">To her C. E. O.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Ah, she has just come through,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I have told her my intention,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Though not the fasting bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">She is going to speak to her boss,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">So we will have to wait and see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I have not a great deal on my plate at the
moment,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">So this waiting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Is a good opportunity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">To write and reflect<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Here in Reception.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Each twenty-four hours is a gift from you Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">You are entitled to see it filled<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">With activity or inactivity,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Activity or rest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">So thank you for this time of waiting,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Waiting on You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Waiting in You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Here in Reception<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">So good to be talking with You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Even though You know my innermost thoughts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Before I utter them<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Or commit them to paper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Well, I’ve just had an audience with the main
man,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Not a very likeable man I’m afraid,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Trying to find any excuse for not paying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Still, I put my case as plainly and firmly as I
could<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">And now I am asked to wait<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Back here in Reception.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">The receptionist has offered me coffee<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Which I have accepted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">After all it is a <i>hunger</i> strike <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Which we have in mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">It is brought by Lindiwe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">With the characteristic respect <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Of a young Zulu girl for an older person.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Just had another audience with the chief.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">He has unilaterally decided<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">To re-write the contract,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Take it or leave it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I decline to take it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">He has undertaken to have security<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Throw me out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Until they do,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Here I am,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Back in Reception.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Keep reminding me Lord<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">That we wrestle not against flesh and blood,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">But against principalities and powers,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">That the weapons of our warfare are not carnal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Teach me Your ways,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Your strategy for handling bullies,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Not to be cowed by them,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">But neither to respond in kind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Speech ‘gracious yet seasoned with salt.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">For man has an intrinsic worth and dignity,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Even when he is behaving badly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Though distorted by sin,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">We are yet your workmanship,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Created by You,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Redeemed by You,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">If only we allow your redeeming work<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">To correct the distortion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Well, I’ve been invited to the office <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Of the company’s resident attorney.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">A very nice lady.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">(All the ladies in this firm are charming)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">She is tasked with mediation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I have offered a reduction of R3000 on the
price,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Which she is sure will not be acceptable,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">So here I am,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Back in Reception.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">On reflection,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I have asked to see her again<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">With another variation in the firm’s favour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Still no deal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">She says I will be thrown out,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Against her wishes I think,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">But she doesn’t make the calls,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">So once again,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I’m here in Reception<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Back from the toilet,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I have just been brought<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Another cup of coffee<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">By Lindiwe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">The company abounds in charming ladies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Above all<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I want to be a good witness Lord<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I want your name to be honoured.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">How can your name be honoured?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">If I do not pay my workers and my creditors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">A labourer is worthy of his hire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I don’t have to remind you of this,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">It’s in your Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">That applies to those who work for me,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">But also to me who works for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">No, that’s not right:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I do not work <i>for</i> you,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Rather,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I do your work,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Kingdom work,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">The privileged work<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Of a privileged son of the King<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Here waiting in reception.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Just waiting now-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Arrived around 9. 30 am<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">It’s now 1. 15 pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Just waiting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">The attorney,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">A slim, statuesque lady of around 24 years of
age<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Has just come to Reception<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">With a written contract variation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">The gap has closed but we’re not quite there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">She says, “If I go to him with your terms I’ll
be thrown out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">“So then we’ll both be sitting on the
pavement,” says I,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">“I can think of worse things.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">She gives a smile but says she’ll just drive
home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I confess that I’m not sure I have enough
fuel to drive home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">She returns to her office,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Seemingly a little put out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Alone in reception again,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Save for the receptionist,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">The top of whose head<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Is just visible above the counter:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Yet another sweet young lady.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Seemingly an inexhaustible supply.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I glimpse others down the corridor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">I can’t help wondering<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">If this makes the company’s overhead structure,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">A bit top heavy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">No business of mine really,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Just wondering.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">The attorney walks past me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">With a large box file under her arm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">We bid each other a courteous farewell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">As she exits the building.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">She really has done her best.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">It’s 2. 30 now<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Waiting in Reception<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Feeling a mite sleepy,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">But not hungry yet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">The C.E.O. walks past me with a chuckle,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">(or is it a snigger?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">And exits the building.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">He doesn’t realize I am in the service of the King,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">The one who holds all authority<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">In Heaven and Earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Ten past three now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Many people are praying for this situation,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Especially my Beloved on the far side of the
globe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">3. 45 and the C.E.O. has just returned,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Walking past me without comment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Four o clock and here comes J…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">He is a wonderfully good man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">So much more than the ‘good cop’ in this
situation,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">For he must tread a fine line,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Maintaining his loyalty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">While retaining his integrity,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">And this he does wonderfully well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">He is much to be commended.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">He calls me into an office<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Where we discuss matters coolly and
objectively.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">It seems that the chief is a bit nonplussed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">As to how to deal with someone simply
waiting...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Waiting in Reception…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Waiting for payment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Perhaps to give an old man the bum’s rush <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">After taking his money,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Might be more embarrassing for him than for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">He is more at home with litigation and legal
battles,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">And generally contrives to win these,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">According to J…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">So J… and I talk,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">And I undertake to produce a document<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Which both clarifies and commits,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">And return therewith tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">…….To
be Continued<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Artisans of The Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05390814293987343822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-76708528878616707162016-08-25T08:34:00.000-07:002016-08-25T08:34:17.312-07:00Of Myth and Sacrament<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The words <i>myth</i>
and <i>sacrament</i> are not to be found in Scripture but the concepts are:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The concept
of <i>myth</i> is espoused mostly by scholars of the critical school. Here the
veracity of the historical narrative is considered of minor importance compared
with the spiritual message which it is intended to convey. Although purporting
to be historical, the narrative is viewed primarily as a story, a vehicle
carrying a spiritual payload. Accordingly, the literal historicity of the
narrative may be discounted or even discarded completely so long as the
spiritual message is retained.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">As one
minister holding to this view put it, “Even if nothing in the Bible were shown
to be historically true, it would still be true.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And
another, “If one knew where to look for them, Jesus’ bones could be found
somewhere in Palestine, the important thing is that He should be risen in one’s
<i>heart</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Quite why
the search should be confined to Palestine is not made clear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This
concept of myth closely follows the form of <i>parable</i> which Jesus used so
often: “A man had two sons…”, “A man went down to Jericho…” etc. Jesus’ hearers
did not think He was referring to actual persons. It was rather like someone
saying, “A Catholic Priest and a Jewish Rabbi are on a plane together…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">However
those who hold to the concept of myth consider that much of the historical
narrative in both Old and New Testaments is to be deemed parabolic. Or at best
the narrative gives the “broad brushstrokes” of the historical actuality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It has
always puzzled me why this approach is called, “De-mythologisation”: it should
more accurately be referred to as, “Mythologisation,” in other words converting
historical narrative to the status of <i>myth</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Theologians
of this school would include: Albrecht Ritschl, Wilhelm Herrman, Adolf Von
Harnack, Ernst Troeltsch and more recently Rudolf Bultmann. German theologians
seem to have a bit of a corner on this market.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I use the
term <i>sacrament</i> in a slightly different way to its normal usage in
describing the <i>means of grace</i>, - baptism and communion in a Protestant
context.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The typical
definition of a sacrament to be found in a catechism is that,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US">“It is
an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">However, if
one broadens the definition slightly thus:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US">“A sacrament
is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual <u>reality</u>.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">then this
opens up a whole world of possibilities:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">A handshake
for instance is a sacrament in that it is the outward and visible sign of an
invisible attitude of mutual regard between the persons shaking hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The fact
that most people would feel uncomfortable walking down the street naked is an
ongoing sacrament traceable to the Fall and signifying the invisible reality of
the fallenness of man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The clothes
we wear, the cars we drive the way we furnish our houses will usually tell
people something about our values and personalities though these latter be
invisible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">On a more
cosmic scale: “For His invisible attributes namely His eternal power and deity
can be clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world, in the things He
has made.” (Rom.1. 20) The visible revealing the invisible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And
finally, the crowning Sacrament: “No one has ever seen God, but God the one and
only who is at the Father’s side, He has made Him Known.” (Jn. 1. 18)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">In the
words of Charles Wesley’s Hymn,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-US">“Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-US">Hail the incarnate Deity.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">What should
be noticed here is that <i>both</i> the visible and invisible components of the
sacrament are <i>real</i> and <i>important</i>. Discount the visible sign and
one discounts or distorts the invisible reality which it signifies. However,
the visible sign is <i>transient</i> while the invisible reality is <i>eternal</i>.(2
Cor 4. 18)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This
sacramental principle informs the hermeneutic approach which we adopt towards
historical passages in Scripture, for we worship a God who does not stand afar
off but who has broken into history over the millennia and supremely in the
incarnation. Indeed, even secular historians attest to this by employing a
dating system which extends backwards and forwards from this epochal event.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So Jesus
was born at a particular town called Bethlehem, He grew up in a particular town
called Nazareth. He learnt his trade as a carpenter from his (step)father. He exercised his ministry mainly in the
region surrounding the Sea of Galilee. He was put to death by crucifixion
outside the City of Jerusalem. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>Actual nails were driven through His body into
the actual wood of a literal cross. The tomb was actually, literally and
historically empty after He had risen on the third day.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Roman
crucifixions were performed by the hundreds if not the thousands in those
times, but connected to this particular crucifixion was an enormous spiritual
significance, significant for our salvation and for the redemption of the whole
of Creation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So, in
contrast to the mythological approach to Scripture, the Sacramental approach
takes seriously the veracity of the historical sections of Scripture, while appropriating by faith the spiritual realities which they signify.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Artisans of The Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05390814293987343822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-74970703483532305632016-08-09T12:21:00.001-07:002016-08-25T08:44:35.423-07:00So you wish to marry my Daughter.<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">So you wish to marry my daughter:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">I assure you I will not ask if you can support her<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">In the accustomed manner or any such banality.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">For twenty-five years ago I stood where you now
stand,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">And my father-in-law was kind to me;<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Did not make light of the moment,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Nor yet overreach its seriousness.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Yes, he was kind to me,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Though he had his reservations,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Of that I am certain.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Nor will I speak from the lofty heights of our
twenty-five years,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">For God’s grace is in these wonderful years,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">And to claim merit for such would be vanity.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Yet while I would not sermonize,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Nor speak of trifles,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">There is something,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Something on my heart:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">(Please bear with me, for this may well be
presumption),<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Yet it seems that an abyss yawns at our feet,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Yours, mine and hers,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">As we seek each other’s happiness.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span></b>
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">- - Something I would ask you:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Do not those vows terrify you?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">For twenty-five years on they still terrify me.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">“ – for better for worse.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Is having and holding sufficient recompense?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Ah, but I know your answer.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">“ – for richer for poorer, in sickness and health.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Terrifying! Terrifying!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Amidst the splendour and pageantry of the day,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Will you yet take time to tremble<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">As you take these vows.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">“ ‘Til death us do part.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Celestial Cement from the One who joins,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Our only hope.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">What else withstands the stress and press<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Of a life together in close vulnerability?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">But there, I foreswore all sermonising.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Forgive me this gloomy cast.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">It seems the field lies littered<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">With the corpses of brave spouses-at-arms<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Who took these vows and could not keep them.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Why only these past few months:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">A close relative and some close friends - -<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">What was that you said?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Ah yes, my daughter’s hand in marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Of course, of course.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">You are welcome in this family<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">And more than welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">May you enjoy a long, happy and fruitful life
together.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">My blessing on it.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Have you set a date for the wedding?</span></b><br />
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";"><br /></span></b>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "tahoma";">Peter Frow</span></div>
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Artisans of The Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05390814293987343822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-84238927279361963382016-08-09T00:07:00.001-07:002016-08-09T00:07:29.688-07:00Drifting from the Apostolic Faith<h4>
<span lang="EN-US">In
Capetown, a tradition begun in 1903 continues to this day, namely the firing of
the ‘Noon Gun’ from the top of Signal Hill. The story goes that at one time the
officer charged with firing the cannon would make his way to the hill via a
certain clock-maker's shop in whose window stood a ship’s chronometer. He would
carefully adjust his watch to the same time as the chronometer and then later
fire the cannon at exactly midday according to his watch.</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">As time
passed, there began to be complaints that the cannon was not being fired at the
correct time, in fact it seemed to be getting later with each passing day. When
this was brought to the attention of the aforementioned officer he thought best
to check with the clock-maker how he assured the accuracy of his chronometer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">“O yes it’s
dead accurate,” he said, “I always set it according to the gun fired from
Signal Hill.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Well it’s
easy to see what had happened: Because sound travels at a finite speed, the
clock-maker would have heard the sound of the cannon some seconds after it had
been fired, resulting in a steadily increasing departure from the Greenwich
Meantime standard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">What was
needed was to find a ship that had sailed from England and whose chronometer
had been regulated to reflect GMT.</span> </div>
<h4>
<span lang="EN-US">Now the
same kind of drift can occur with a church’s doctrine, if it is not referred
back to some Apostolic Standard, a kind of ‘Doctrinal GMT’.</span> </h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">In this
regard, the Methodist Church is particularly vulnerable, as it requires of its
ministers, preachers and teachers, only that we believe in ‘Our Doctrine’
without defining too closely what this means. If this doctrine is defined
within the confines of the denominational ecosystem but without any external
reference, then a distinct danger looms. Take The Jehovah’s Witnesses for
example: they certainly believe in <i>their</i> doctrine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Unless
there is an acknowledged mooring of the term ‘our doctrine’ to sound <i>Apostolic
Doctrine</i>, over a period of time this can easily result in a drift from the
Apostolic Faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Clearly the
historic creeds such as the Nicene, Apostles’ and Chalcedonion creeds, are
important confessions which keep us anchored to the Core Doctrines of our
Faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">These
cannot properly be considered ‘Our Doctrines’ in the sense that we may not be
proprietary about them, for they are public Truth. They constitute the very
guts of our faith, the <i>Gospel,</i> which we both embrace and proclaim. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Yet it
seems that there is a certain amount of gnawing at the anchor ropes in our
time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Some of the
strands which appear to be fraying are the following:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 54.0pt; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-US">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US">The
doctrine of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 54.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">There is a feeling amongst certain of our
ministers that to only conceive of and address God as Father is excessively
patriarchal and sexist, and that addressing Him (her) as ‘mother’ should also
be legitimized.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 54.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">Thus the Trinitarian doctrine would become
Father-Mother, Son and Holy Spirit or perhaps Father-Mother, Son-daughter and
Holy Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 54.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 54.0pt; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-US">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US">The
Virgin Birth.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 54.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">This is called in question as being altogether
too fantastic to have been literally true. Various alternatives are postulated:
Mary was raped by a member of the Roman occupying force or perhaps she was
pregnant by Zechariah, her cousin Elizabeth’s husband. These speculations apart
from being clearly contrary to the Biblical record have profound implications
for our Christology, namely that Jesus was and is <i>Truly God and Truly Man – </i>both
the Son of God and the Son of Man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 54.0pt; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-US">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US">The
Substitutionary Atonement<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 54.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">It is called in question that Jesus by His death
on the Cross has taken the penalty of our sin upon Himself. This new
Soteriology is anchored merely in <i>Jesus’ pacific response</i> to extreme
provocation culminating in the crucifixion. Jesus’ shedding of His blood is
deemed an irrelevant corollary to Jesus’ conduct on the way to the Cross,
something which The Father never intended to happen and which has no particular
significance in regard to our salvation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Should
these theological trends continue, there is the distinct possibility that the
Methodist Church will become separated from “The Faith that was once for all
delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) and will float free, to drift wherever it may
be borne by every ‘wind of doctrine.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Then will
John Wesley’s fears for the church of which he is considered the founder, be
realised, for he said:</span> </div>
<br />
<h4>
<i><span lang="EN-US">“I do
not fear that the people called Methodists will cease to exist, but only that
they might become a dead sect, holding to a form of godliness while denying the
power thereof. And this they shall surely become unless they hold fast to the
doctrine, spirit and discipline with which they first set out.” </span></i></h4>
Artisans of The Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05390814293987343822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-21632165184962164852016-08-08T11:59:00.002-07:002016-08-08T11:59:29.704-07:00The Pivotal Pronoun<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">To
establish whether a person is identified with a particular group, be it a
sports club a church or a political party one has only to listen to the
personal pronoun he or she uses when referring to the group. It’s a dead
giveaway: If its <i>‘we’</i>, they’re identified, if it’s <i>‘they</i>,’ then
they’re not; <i>‘us’</i> they’re on the inside looking out, <i>‘them’</i>,
they’re on the outside looking in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">If we are
identified with a group, then we may share in its glory if the group or one of
its members does well, but we must also share in the distress of the group if
it does badly or its shame if even one of its members behaves disgracefully.
This was well understood in medieval times, for if the head of a family had
been born out of wedlock, then the crest of the family would include the
heraldic device of a Bend Sinister making this fact public and inclusive of the
entire family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It is
natural to want to pull apart from a group which is doing badly and this might
be what the Lord requires:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">However
this is not the soul and substance of the incarnation, for assuredly mankind
was doing very badly when Jesus ‘made Himself of no reputation’ and was ‘found
in fashion as a man.’ (Philippians 2)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<span lang="EN-US">Being incarnate in a messy, an ugly or a
shameful situation confers on one the prerogative, the motive, and the urgency
to speak and act constructively in that situation.</span></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US">This is why
Nehemiah prays “We have sinned” as a prelude to his remarkable role in the
restoration of Jerusalem, its walls, its morale and its worship of the one,
true God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">This
is why we pray, “Forgive <i>us our</i> trespasses.”</span></h4>
Artisans of The Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05390814293987343822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987228675316121157.post-67738683353724985422016-08-06T09:21:00.000-07:002016-08-08T10:22:52.540-07:00Pigrim's Progress<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>John Bunyan</b>
lived through tumultuous times in the 17<sup>th</sup> Century during which he
endured a 12-year sojourn in Bedford County jail. Imprisoned for his faith or,
as the charge sheet read, “For perniciously abstaining from Divine Service and for
holding unlawful meetings.” Bunyan used the time to write. Of his many works,
by far the most well known is his grand allegory entitled “Pilgrim’s Progress,”
in which first Christian and later his wife Christiana and their four children
journey from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. It has been claimed
that only the Bible has enjoyed a wider readership. Pilgrim's Progress has been translated into
200 languages and has never been out of print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">During his
pilgrimage, Christian meets with various characters whose speech and actions
accord with their names.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Of
particular note are the various discourses between Christian and his traveling
companions from which a golden vein of sound Gospel truth emerges. Bunyan
himself comments at the end of the first part:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-US">What of my dross thou findest here, be bold<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-US">To throw away, but yet preserve the gold.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-US">What if my gold be wrapped in ore?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-US">None throws away the apple for the core.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Here is an
excerpt in which Hopeful tells of his conversion:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Hopeful:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> If a man runs a hundred pounds into
the shopkeeper’s debt, and after this shall pay for all that he shall fetch;
yet if his old debt stands still in the book uncrossed, the shopkeeper may sue
him for it, and cast him in prison till he shall pay the debt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Christian:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Well and how did you apply this to
yourself?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Hopeful:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Why, I thought thus with myself: I
have by my sins, run a great way into God’s book, and my now reforming will not
pay off that score; therefore I should think still, under all my present
amendments, but how shall I be freed from that damnation that I brought myself
in danger of by my former transgressions?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Christian:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> A very good application: but pray go
on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Hopeful:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Another thing that hath troubled me
ever since my late amendment is, that if I look narrowly into the best of what
I do now, I still see sin, new sin, mixing itself with the best that I can do;
so that now I am forced to conclude, that, notwithstanding my former fond
conceits of myself and duties, I have committed enough sin in one day to send
me to hell though my former life had been faultless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Christian:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> And what did you then?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Hopeful:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Do! I could not tell what to do, until
I broke my mind to Faithful, for he and I were well acquainted. And he told me
that unless I could obtain the righteousness of a man who had never sinned,
neither mine own nor all the righteousness of the world could save me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Christian:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> And did you think he spake true?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Hopeful:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Had he told me when I was pleased and
satisfied with mine own amendments, I had called him a fool for his pains; but
now since I see mine own infirmity, and the sin which cleaves to my best
performance, I have been forced to be of his opinion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Christian:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> But did you think that when he first
suggested it to you that there was such a man to be found, of whom it might
justly be said that he never committed sin?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Hopeful:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> I must confess that the words at first
sounded strangely; but after a little more talk and company with him, I had
full conviction of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Christian:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> And did you ask him what man this was,
and how you must be justified by him? <i>(Rom. iv; Col. i; Heb. x,; 2 Pet. i)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Hopeful:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Yes, and he told me it was the Lord
Jesus, that dwelleth on the right hand of the Most High: and thus, said he. You
must be justified by Him, even by trusting to what he hath done by Himself in
the days of His flesh, and suffered when He did hang on the tree. I asked him
further, how this man’s righteousness could be of such efficacy as to justify
another before God. And he told me that He was the mighty God, and He did what
he did, and died the death also, not for Himself but for me, to whom His
doings, and the worthiness of them should be imputed, if I believed on Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<span lang="EN-US">May <i>The Pilgrim’s Progress</i> long continue in print</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Artisans of The Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05390814293987343822noreply@blogger.com0