Jesus, Love and ISIL

In today’s world it is not unreasonable to ask as Christians, what our response to ISIL should be. Now I do not pretend to have all the answers, nor could I begin to explore all the point and counter points that could arise from such a question. However, that being said, I do think there are a few considerations worth mentioning. Let me begin by asking you a question, would you invite Satan to dinner? Now, let me ask you another question, do you think you would have opportunity to see him converted as a result of your invitation. You may be saying to yourself that this represents an extreme, but that is the issue, what we see with ISIL is an extreme. In Scripture, the argument can be made to love your enemies on one occasion, and to destroy them at the same time in another, like with Joshua or David. I think the question we must ask today is, is what we see happening in the world a final congealing of the forces governed by the principalities and powers Paul warned us of. Evil has always been with us, but Scripture speaks of a coming great deception and darkness, which over time will consume all of mankind. I think what we see happening in the middle-east, due to the vacuum left through the over throw of numerous dictators, is the reforming of a new and expanded empire, which will be headed by Iran very shortly. In Scripture, Iran is Persia, and it is from Persia that many scholars believe the beast of Revelation will arise. Now I do not want to get into a discussion about those matters as much as I do a key aspect concerning the outlook we as Christians should have. If what we are witnessing in the world today is prophetic and eschatological in nature, nothing but God Himself is going to stop it! There are unseen forces in this world whose nature and origin are so malignant and malevolent that trying to convert them is simply futile and naïve. We must at some point admit that there are those who hate our Lord and hate us as a result. They will not be converted, they will not be swayed, but on the contrary they will advance their hatred of the God of the Bible, our God, whenever opportunity permits. This is precisely what I think we see going on presently in the world. Now, although it is true that the cause of Christ has benefitted in the past by the reaction to persecution, the scriptures also speak of a time of persecution that will continue unabated in the future, and that will not cease until Christ returns. As a believer, I am compelled to pray and love my enemies, but these are God’s enemies, with no inclination to do well, or to desire mercy. Now we can argue, let God sort it out. I would suggests there comes a time like while rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, when one kept watch with a spear in his hand, while the other worked on the wall. We should ask does that serve as a model for us today. I do believe we should see the possibility for souls to be converted through all this, but I also see a need to cry out for the defense of our brothers and sisters who are dying. I also believe that means bringing to bear whatever means necessary to rescue them now from their present danger. Some argue that Christians should be pacifists and that is why we have the many problems we do today. We are not to bear hatred in our hearts, but we are to recognize evil when we see it, and we are commanded to have the same hatred of evil that God has. Until our Lord returns we are the soldiers in this fight and we should act and conduct ourselves accordingly. We as Christians are at war like never before, and we had better unite and take it seriously or we will soon feel the same dread of our near eastern brothers and sisters.

Rev. Joel M McDuffie Jr.

2/28/2015

How Were Your Eyes Opened?

 

As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world. And when He had spoken these things, He spat on the ground and made clay from the spittle. And He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which translated is Sent). Therefore he went and washed and came seeing. Then the neighbors and those who had seen him before, that he was blind, said, Is this not he who was sitting and begging? Some said, this is he. Others said, He is like him. He said, I am he. Then they said to him, how were your eyes opened? (John 9:5-10 MKJV)

 

First, Consider an Alternative to Your Estate

 This story begins in a world steeped in superstition. Surrounding Jesus that day were the ancient notions of how the parents of this young man had sinned and passed to him somehow an act of divine retribution, which in turn, had left him blind from birth. This was in keeping with the common notions of the day. In the ancient world they often drew a direct parallel between the difficulties of one’s life and the purity or lack thereof that was responsible for them, very similar to what we see spoken of in the book of Job. Now, although that may seem strange to us, it was the common perception of the day. On the surface this may not seem like a big deal, for we would just overlook or ignore it, but for that blind man, know, his perspective was remarkably different. He had been that way from birth, and so that was his plight. Understand, it would not have been his inclination to believe that anything would ever change. To him, he was cursed of God, left to suffer for the sins of another and resigned to not even ask why, for all back then believed it was the will of God. That was until Jesus arrived and told him, you are not blind because of your sin, you are blind that the glory of God might be revealed in you this day. Now we cannot underestimate the importance of that revelation. For the first time this blind man had hope and an alternative to his life’s situation. This is at the heart of having our eyes opened. As we look at our world and at our own personal situation, the first step in having our eyes spiritually opened begins with recognizing that Jesus has a very different perspective on our state of affairs. We believe this is our plight, but Jesus says, let your life allow me to reveal my glory!

 

Second, Let Jesus Touch You

Now it may sound absurd, but this man could have run away, or sought relief from being harassed by a mad man, who believed differently, or who was practicing some sort of strange magic. This man was faced with a decision, listen to Jesus and give Him a chance, or continue to live in the darkness to which he had grown accustomed. Several things for this man seem on the surface to be obvious, first, what did he have to lose? I guess if a man wants to try and help you to see, what harm is there. The second thing is, deep down inside he had been living his whole life in hopes of such a miracle. Whether he ever thought it would happen, does not take away from his deep desire that it could. This brings us to another important aspect of having our eyes opened, and that is, our desire to see, and our willingness to give Jesus a chance. I find it interesting on this occasion that Jesus touched the man. He could have spoken to make the man whole, but He did not. Scripture said He made a salve as it were, and placed it on the man’s eyes. You see, to a man who is blind, touch was everything. In many ways touching was the most personal and nurturing way to speak to this man. This speaks of another spiritual truth, and that is, that no one shall see until they are touched by Christ. We are all blind from birth! This begs the same question today as it did then, why not give Christ a chance and what could it hurt? The question is do you want to see and are you willing to let Christ touch you?

 Third, Be Washed and Wash Again.

 We live in a grace filled world. We are led to believe that we are doctrinally flawed somehow if we suggests that we have any portion in our salvation. Now let me make it absolutely clear, it is Christ and His blood alone, which saves us, but, we do have a dog in this fight. This story makes it obvious that this man had to do something if he ever wanted to see again. First, had to be willing to let Christ touch him, next, he also had to be willing to listen to what Christ was saying to him, and lastly, he had to be willing to do what Christ instructed him to do. Christ told him to go and to wash himself. Now, I know that our minds go immediately to the idea that our cleansing comes from the blood of Christ, but remember, Christ had already touched him! You see after Christ touches us next we must go to the water to be baptized, but we must also wash ourselves daily of the sin that so easily beset us. Jesus sent this man to the water because that is where we go after Christ’ touches us and Christ told him to wash himself because we are called to a life of holiness. So how are our eyes opened?  First, we hear the words of Christ that promise and give us an alternative to our present reality. We make a decision as to whether or not to give Him a try, to take Him at face value to reveal Gods glory in us. Then we let Him touch us, this comes when we repent and surrender to Him, receiving the greatest touch of all, His Holy Spirit, which now touches every aspect of our being. In obedience we now go to the water where we are ceremonially washed and reminded we are to continually wash and be holy as He is Holy. This glorious theme is repeated over and over again in Scripture!

 

Rev. Joel M McDuffie Jr.

2/27/2015

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Some Thoughts on Jesus and Modern Ecumenism

And I do not pray for these alone, but for those also who shall believe on Me through their word, that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. And I have given them the glory which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are one, I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me. (Joh 17:20-23 MKJV)

 

A Divine Concern

One of the first things we should recognize is the obvious, the fact that Jesus thought “being one” was worthy enough to make it into His public prayer life. It is the public prayers of Christ that most readily attract our attention and these usually surround events of great importance. Occasions like Gethsemane immediately come to mind. We should have no doubt that anything Jesus openly addressed in prayer, was a concern to Him, and in turn, should be a concern to us. It is also worth noting that the concerns Jesus addressed at the time, had no real immediate relevance, suggesting to us that the prayer foresaw a time in the future, when “being one” would eventually become a pressing concern.  That being said, Jesus’ prayer did also include those disciples present, “And I do not pray for these alone,” which also suggests that such concerns over “being one” would present itself in the immediate near future. At this point, the question that begs asking is why, why of all the things that may have preoccupied the Savior at the time, does He seem to pray so vehemently for unity?

 

A Divine Definition

Today, it is unfortunate to look upon all the division we see in the Body of Christ, most of which begins primarily on doctrinal grounds. However, the question is whether what we perceive in a divisional sense today, was in fact, what Jesus was concerned with when He prayed that we be one. In Jesus’ prayer He reiterates twice a theme that seems to characterize His concern. Jesus in essence prays that His disciples, present and future, would have an oneness equal to that illustrated in the trinity itself,  specifically in order that the world might believe that Jesus had come from the Father. To instruct fellow believers to be one as Christ was in the Father and the Father was in the Son, is quite remarkable. On the surface, it would not appear that the oneness was a reference to a theological persuasion, but that is not to say that Jesus and the Father were inseparable as such. Jesus repetitious use of the word “in” seems to be a dominant characteristic of His appeal. The word “in” becomes significant, because in chapter sixteen Jesus has just finished speaking of the coming and indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This fits well into Jesus’ analogy. The world knew the Father was in Christ because of the power that proceeded from Christ in the works He performed, these testified of one working greater within Him. It is worth noting that on more than one occasion Jesus appeals to the works He is performing as a testimony to the power within Him, and that the acts He performed were a direct revelation from the Father. If one takes at face value what is being said, and considers the context of what Jesus has just previously said, it appears that Jesus is referring to oneness as a cause and effect, not a scenario for potential theological differences. It would not be a stretch to paraphrase Jesus this way, “Father, let them be one in us, as I am one in you, let the power which flows from you to me, flow from us through them, so that the world may know they belong to us, the way they knew I belonged to you.”  Knowing that Jesus has just mentioned such a divine unity and oneness brought about through the coming and indwelling of the Holy Spirit, suggests clearly that the prayer was a reference to the effectiveness of the relationship that would exists between the two.  The oneness that Jesus speaks of here, appears to be the relationship and effectual working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of His followers, essential if the world was to know that Christians had been sent from God and had been deliberately empowered to bear witness of Him.

 

A Developing Disaster

This brings us to consider the divine appeal and the implications themselves. One unmistakable aspect of Christ’ ministry was that if it had not been for the miracles and supernatural working of God’s Spirit through Him, no one would have given Him the time of day. This would become even more critical as His disciple began to go out on His behalf after the ascension. That being said, after all these years, how critical would you suppose that dynamic is today? According to Jesus, millions going out without the power of God evident and flowing through their lives, is absolutely fruitless and pointless. Jesus knew the stubbornness of the human heart, He knew of the veil over the mind, and more importantly, He knew it would take something more to convince a lost world than just the mere words of men. Now this is not to say we are all to manifest miracles as Christ and the early apostles, but it is to say there is to be a clear outward working of an inward unmistakable divine dynamic based on our becoming one with Him. While we focus on unity as what each one believes differently, Jesus’ concern was that He would be in us, like God’s Spirit was in Him, and that the fruit of that oneness would be that the world could witness the power of God and know He sent us. Unfortunately we have become a people of thoughts and ideas, rather than a people who possess and emanate the power of the living God wherever we go. The developing disaster is characterized by an emphasis on going, rather than on the nature of who is going. Our prayer today should be as Jesus prayed then, Lord, make us one with you and let the power of that oneness be evident to all, Lord may others be drawn to your power working in me! Jesus’ prayer was simple, Father don’t let them attempt anything without being one with Me, which explains much of the mess we have today.

 

Rev. Joel M McDuffie Jr.

2/26/2015