love

Bible interpretation is not something Bob the bloodhound always agree with me (Tim) on. He sometimes doesn’t like what I say on the subject of interpreting Holy Scripture. In fact, there are times I get under his skin (which isn’t very hard to do – Bob has lots of skin).

The matter of bible interpretation is an important discussion. No matter which Christian tradition we come from, there is disagreement as to how to deal with certain Bible verses. Even most parishioners within the same local church do not agree on how to treat particular passages of Scripture.

The Real Issue of Bible Interpretation

Just so you know, I was trained in a seminary that largely looked through the lens or the starting point of biblical authority, as if we had the right view on it all. Biblical authority, however, is not really the issue, in my opinion. Before you pick up stones, hear me out. The issue, as I see it, is this:  

No matter who we are, we pick and choose what Bible passages are authoritative, and which are not. 

Although Christians say the Bible is authoritative, we all have what I would deem as “boss verses.”  That is, verses which control other verses. For example, I take Matthew 28:18-20 as “boss verses” that control other verses. The words of Jesus from those verses help me interpret and view other Bible verses. Because of this, I am not willing to concede that the mission of the church is primarily about something other than making disciples.

An Example

Okay, you might be with me so far. So, let’s pick a hot potato: LGBTQ+ folks and the Church. When it comes to same-sex relationships, it seems to me that there are those who take seven verses out of the over thirty-one thousand verses in Scripture and make them boss verses.

Even if we camp on verses where the word “abomination” shows up, it only ends up talking of same-sex relations once. Things like worry, procrastination, and gossip are addressed much more in Scripture and are also much more prevalent everywhere. But we do not make “boss verses” out of these, so we pretty much let them slide.

I’m not seeing Christians, Churches, or denominations talking about biblical authority and sins of the tongue in the same breath; or, looking to bring discipline to gossipers; or, getting upset about chronic whisperings behind others’ backs. Instead, we mostly just live with it. We wish it were different, but it doesn’t make our blood boil. If gossip began to take away our power or authority, then I am sure it would make it to the floor of denominational meetings and annual congregational meeting scream-festivals.

Who or What Is in Control?

All Christians hold to biblical authority. To me, this is not the issue. The real issue is which Bible passages call the shots for us. 

Until we are able to confess this bible interpretation practice of particular verses controlling other verses, it seems to me we will get nowhere.

So, in the meantime, I would rather be looked at as a friend of gays. Because that controls my thought and practice more than injunctions from the book of Leviticus.

I take loving my neighbor as a boss verse, so this determines how I speak and act more than whether I speak in tongues or not. I will choose to go out of my way to emphasize that all people are made in the image of God, because I take the Bible’s reference to God’s creation of humans as a boss verse. This does not mean I ignore other verses; it just means I have identified which verses of Holy Scripture I believe control other verses.

Let’s Be Honest about Our Bible Interpretation

I am really not trying to stir the pot (Bob differs with me on this!). I am simply making a plea for us to be honest about how we handle the Bible.

And if we have never read the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation (and more than once) then it seems to me we are thin ice to make pronouncements about what are to be the boss verses or what is the clear teaching of Scripture.

If you need to go pet your own dog after reading this, I understand. I hope he or she is lot more furry than Bob. Please just do me the respect to think about these things without jumping to conclusions or condemnation.  After all, I believe that grace and love are the boss of everything in the Bible, and control how we ought to do our bible interpretation.

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I (Tim) need Jesus. Bob the bloodhound does, too. The Bible’s New Testament is convinced of it. Bob just looked at me with a tilt of his head, letting me know it’s time to talk about how much everyone needs Christ the Savior and Lord of all.

“I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)

Yes, we have many troubles in this old fallen world. And, yes, there a lot of things we need right now: healing from disease and damaged emotions; economic stability; solutions to the awful human issues conditions that beset us, and more. We need relief, guidance, and wisdom.

So therefore, Bob and I declare with conviction: Out of all the great needs which surround us, the greatest need is for Jesus.

I don’t just need his teaching. I don’t only need to imitate his model of loving service. I don’t need to merely be a fan of his. I need Jesus himself!

The Lord spoke to his disciples in the Upper Room on the night before his crucifixion. He told them he was leaving (dying) and that it must be this way.

The disciples were understandably troubled. Thomas was worried about what was going to happen and how he and the others were going to deal with an uncertain future. (John 14:1-14)

I will tell you how millions of people have dealt with their past difficulties, their present troubles and their worries about the future: The Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the Way

Christ is the way to deal with our current concerns and anticipated anxieties… he himself. The way is not merely through:

  • A program of self-improvement
  • A fake-it-till-you-make-it approach
  • An ability to articulate well-crafted words or through being able to answer with certainty every question of faith
  • Finding just the right plan or system

The way of rescue, the road to a life of harmonious peace and settled rest, even when the world is going to hell around us, is Jesus. He is our connection with God. To trust Christ is to give up the personal delusion of control and to walk with him on his terms.

Jesus is the way for the church everywhere – fellowship, encouragement, acts of loving service, teaching, and strengthening of faith all center around Christ because he is love incarnate.

The way of the Lord for the world is in serving neighbors and nations, advocating for those who are mistreated and victims of injustice, and tackling the dozens of world problems which oppress humanity.

Jesus is the Truth

Christ does more than speak truth; he is truth incarnate. Truth is more than abstract ideas and personal perspectives. What is true about God has its ultimate expression and demonstration in the person of Christ.

“You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teaching. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32, CEB)

To see the face of Jesus is to see the reality of Truth. God’s character and attributes expressed through creating, loving, sustaining, healing, and providing has its highest expression in Christ.

Jesus is our truth. When troubles abound, Christ is the ballast of truth we can rely upon, the rock of our salvation, and the anchor of our soul.

Truth within the church resides in the person and work of Christ. All teaching, mentoring, and instruction points and centers in him. Guidance and direction – whether in family, work, school, or neighborhood – all flows from Christ. To merely dispense homespun advice falls short if there is no Jesus.

Christ is truth for the world. Proclaiming him is more than a verbal activity; it is embodying truth. (Luke 4:16-19) Followers of the Lord embody truth by looking for ways to be Jesus to the lost, the least, and the lonely in acts of basic human compassion and advocating for their justice. (Luke 19:10)

Jesus is the Life

“Life” and “death” in the Bible are relational terms, not just physical references. When Adam and Eve fell into disobedience, they spiritually died without being physically dead. They originally enjoyed the connection of life with God; then, after the Fall, experienced a separation from God by being cast out of the Garden.

Jesus is our life. He is the person in whom Christians have their identity. Instead of connecting myself to a narrowly expected outcome, I tether myself to Christ because he is my connection, my life.

The church’s very life is in it’s head: Christ. Christians experience life as their prayers and their praise are directed toward him as both the subject and the object of worship. (John 4:23-24)

The Lord is the life of the world. The good news of Christ’s redemption – incarnation, earthly ministry of teaching and healing, death, resurrection, ascension and glorification – is good news for everyone. There is forgiveness of sins deliverance from guilt and shame, and a life connection in and through Christ.

Concluding with Christ

Our problems, concerns, and troubles on this earth are not sufficiently addressed by simply acknowledging Christ’s teaching. I need him! For he has the power to give life.

“Salvation can be found in no one else. Throughout the whole world, no other name has been given among humans through which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12, CEB)

“I need Jesus!” is the affirmation and declaration that Bob and I proclaim. He is the way to live my life instead of trusting in my own power and ability. He is the truth I choose to bank my life upon. Christ is the life graciously given for which I can say with boldness that I belong to God.

Christ is the midpoint of history, the center of life, the subject and object of the New Testament:

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is the King of Kings with authority to back it up.

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is the Deliverer of humanity and all of creation.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is the Son of Man who relates to us and is attentive to humanity.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus is the Word become flesh, the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life, Living Water, and the Light of the World.

In the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus is Lord, the risen and ascended Christ who will come again.

In Romans, Jesus is the Son of God, securing our union with God, justifying us according to his mercy and grace.

In 1 Corinthians, Jesus is the Wisdom and Power of God, despite the foolishness of the cross.

In 2 Corinthians, Jesus is the Reconciler, the One who has brought forgiveness and reconciliation to the world.

In the book of Galatians, Jesus is our Substitute for sin.

In Ephesians, Jesus is the Victor, the One who has subdued all the dark forces of this world.

In Philippians, Jesus is the Humble Servant, having submitted himself to death on a cross for our deliverance.

In Colossians, Jesus is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe.

In the First letter to the Thessalonians, Jesus is the Coming King and will soon be here!

In the Second letter to the Thessalonians, Jesus is the Glorious Lord who makes us partakers in God’s glory.

In the book of First Timothy, Jesus is the Savior of sinners of whom I am chief.

In Second Timothy, Jesus is the Righteous One who will come to Judge the living and the dead.

In Titus, Jesus is the Redeemer, snatching us from the realm of wickedness and godlessness.

In the little book of Philemon, Jesus is Good, and therefore, every good thing we have comes from him.

In Hebrews, Jesus is the Pioneer of Salvation and our faithful High Priest.

In James, Jesus is the Wise Teacher.

In First Peter, Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

In Second Peter, Jesus is the Divine Power that allows me to live a godly life.

In the Epistles of John, Jesus is Love, demonstrating God’s grace and mercy through the cross.

In Jude, Jesus is the Holy One who keeps us from falling and presents us faultless before God.

Finally, in Revelation, Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

I need him, the Son of God and Son of Man; the Lord and Judge of all, the Redeemer and Savior of humanity, my Healer and my Friend.

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Be a Good Citizen

Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it’s God’s order. So, live responsibly as a citizen. If you’re irresponsible to the state, then you’re irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. Duly constituted authorities are only a threat if you’re trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should have nothing to fear.

Do you want to be on good terms with the government? Be a responsible citizen and you’ll get on just fine, the government working to your advantage. But if you’re breaking the rules right and left, watch out. The police aren’t there just to be admired in their uniforms. God also has an interest in keeping order, and he uses them to do it. That’s why you must live responsibly—not just to avoid punishment but also because it’s the right way to live.

That’s also why you pay taxes—so that an orderly way of life can be maintained. Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders. (Romans 13:1-7, The Message)

Deportment Is Expected

Good citizenship, historically in America, was a normal part of conversation. It received a great deal of attention.

Back in the day, when I was in elementary school, every student received a grade on their report card for “citizenship.”  Way back in the day, my Dad’s report cards had grades for “deportment.”

Both “citizenship” and “deportment” were words used by the public-school system to gauge how well individual students behaved in the classroom. The grade was based upon the following:

  • The student’s attitude toward the teacher’s authority
  • The behavior of pupils with their fellow students
  • How students handled the responsibilities of their studies

It was a grade given for the overall obedience and submission of students with their duties and obligations, or the lack thereof.

Since we no longer give grades on citizenship and deportment, Bob insists a careful consideration of good citizenship is in order.

Good Citizenship Is Responsible and Fair

Advocating a favored political philosophy is part of the American democratic system. What’s not part of good citizenship is:

  • Ignoring or avoiding a rival party
  • Having constant bad attitudes about government
  • Being uncivil and disrespectful
  • Digging in with disobedience

That’s all poor deportment and will earn an “F” from God on the report card of life.

Picking-and-choosing which laws I will obey and which ones I will not is very far from biblical teaching. Rebellion against laws I do not like only results in punishment from the principal for being shortsighted and stupid.

On the other hand, blind and unthinking adherence to a government is irresponsible and can be unethical.

Unjust leaders and immoral laws champion certain people and not the common good of all. Such leadership needs to be dislodged and dismantled. When one simply says, “I’m just doing my job,” or “I don’t want to get in trouble,” in the face of unjust laws and leadership, then we are complicit in the perpetuating of the evil person or system.

Blind obedience keeps abusive people in the classroom.

Vigilante-ism is a form of “recess justice.” It’s a refusal to accept what is taking place. It takes matters into one’s own hands.

“Do not take revenge but leave room for God’s wrath…. Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:19, 21)

There is no place for vigilante justice in the kingdom of God. At its basest form, vigilantes are resisting God’s justice and being extremely impatient with the divine plan.

The Good Citizen Is Just and Obedient

Submission is a choice.

The word “submit” in the New Testament means “to place oneself under authority.” In other words, to submit to another person, group, system, or government is a human volitional choice.

Obedience through coercion, as in totalitarian regimes, is not submission – it is oppression.

Good citizenship begins with humble submission to governing authorities. There are good public servants who are trying to do their best and have everyone’s best interests at mind. They enact responsible laws which benefit the common good of all. Most parents and school boards would do well to remember that.

Justice is primarily about provision, not about being punitive.

Many people, if not most, use the term “justice” in the penal sense – wanting convictions and incarcerations when someone has committed a crime against the state and/or humanity. Although this is an important work of government, the biblical sense of justice is about provision – giving people their rights to life and liberty.

Justice ensures that we all exist in an equitable form of union together as one people. It ensures that people don’t fall through the cracks of bureaucracy. Justice provides what they need to survive and thrive.

Only paying attention to constituents who agree with me is an injustice. Many people need a remedy sooner than later – without unjust leaders putting it off to another election cycle.

So, put the spanking paddles of shame away (yes, kids at school got the paddle in my day) and instead find ways to uplift and support one another.

Submits to Authority Characterizes Good Citizenship

Responsible citizens exhibit proper deportment. They submit of their own volition. Good citizens conscientiously give proper payment of taxes for the benefit of all. They provide due respect to public servants.

Keep in mind that the Apostle Paul originally wrote about how to conduct ourselves with government smack in the middle of the Roman Empire. The Romans were often fickle and careless about the rights of Christians, Jews, and others.

We submit not because we must, but because it’s the right thing to do. To do otherwise is to not only violate the law, but also our consciences.

Our conscience needs to be clear about the need for justice in this old fallen world of ours.

A Good Citizen Seeks to Love All

Christians have a continuing and outstanding debt to love one another. Having justice for some and injustice for others is not going to cut it with a Just God.

Our Creator and Sustainer desires that every single individual on planet earth – regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, or any other human contrived social construct – have their needs met without prejudice, favoritism, or cronyism.

God’s original plan for the world includes an egalitarian society. So, we must be careful to remember and work toward the ideal. At the same, we need to deal graciously and resolutely with the realities of injustice all around us.

Bob, always the tongue-in-cheek sidekick dog, says we all need to attend a human obedience training school.

I wonder what grade Jesus would give America on this Independence Day for our citizenship…?

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Captain Obvious here: Bob has stinky feet. It’s Spring. Bob the bloodhound has Spring fever. That means I (Tim) have the job of cleaning Bob’s muddy paws every time he comes back into the house. It’s a thankless job. But Bob reminded me on this Maundy Thursday in Holy Week, that for Christians everywhere, stinky feet (and paws!) ministry is anything but a lowly job.

Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 

Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So, he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

“No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”

Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow.

Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

(John 13:1-17, New Living Translation)

Bob and I often come in from the muddy outdoors and sit down together to read the Bible. One of our favorite ways to reflect on our reading is the S.O.A.P. method (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer). Here is our “S.O.A.P.” for today….

Scripture

John 13:15 – Jesus said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

Observation

Jesus Christ loves me just as I am, and not as I should be. He loves me even with my dirty stinky feet, my herky-jerky commitment to him, and my pre-meditated sin. Jesus loved even Judas and washed his stinky feet.  Jesus serves people because they need his love, and not so that they will love him back.

I recently read about a man who lives in Paris. His wife has Alzheimer’s. He was an important businessman, and his life was filled with busyness. But he said that when his wife fell sick, “I just couldn’t put her into an institution, so I kept her. I fed her. I bathed her.”

“Through the experience of serving my wife every day, I have changed. I have become more human. The other night, in the middle of the night, my wife woke me up. She came out of the fog for a moment, and she said, ‘Darling, I just want to say thank you for all you are doing for me.’ Then she fell back into the fog. I wept for hours to know this grace.”

Application

Sometimes Christ calls me to love people who either cannot or will not love me in return. They live in the fog of some sort of disability, depression, poverty, or just plain spiritual blindness. As I serve them, I may only receive brief glimpses of gratitude.

Jesus loves me in the midst of my sporadic spiritual confusion by graciously washing my stinky feet. So, I desire to continue loving others by washing their stinky feet, as they walk through whatever fog they’re in.

Anything that doesn’t have to do with the love of God through stinky feet ministry has no meaning for me. I can truthfully say that I have no interest in anything but the love of God which in Christ Jesus.

If God so wants it to be, my life will be useful through my both my words and my actions. If the Lord wants, my life will bear fruit through my prayers, my service, and my love handling people’s stinky feet.

But the usefulness of my life is God’s concern, not mine. It would be indecent of me to worry about that. I simply desire follow my Lord’s example of washing nasty stinky feet.

Prayer

Loving Lord Jesus, how shocking it was on this Maundy Thursday for your disciples to be served by you in such a humble manner. But I cannot be spiritually cleansed unless I allow you to love me in an almost embarrassing fashion. Help me not to be so proud that I neither refuse your humble loving service toward me, nor neglect to offer that same kind of service to others.

May love be the word, the idea, and the action that governs my every motivation and movement in your most gracious Name, I pray.  Amen.

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To be frank, the giving and receiving of love is something that everyone on planet earth needs. Bob the bloodhound knows this, likely better than most people. I can testify that Bob is not shy about making his needs and wants known and letting me know when he wants love in the form of dog food, a walk, or a good old-fashioned pet.

We all require love, in both receiving love, and giving love. But not everyone has a heart open to accepting love, and, so, find it nearly impossible to dispense love. However, the good news is that love is near to each one of us. We only need to reach out and touch it because it is so close.

We have all likely heard the dictum “You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours.”  Even if we have not used the phrase, the concept is common throughout the world.  Perhaps the chief hindrance to receiving and giving love is this reciprocal notion. It would be weird if I expected Bob to scratch my back right after I give him a good scratch.

Much of Western society turns on the wheels of transactions. This is seen in the many words we have for money and financial exchanges: bills; coins; cash; credit and debit cards; stocks and bonds; bank accounts; 401k; paychecks, etc. You get the idea. We can scarcely imagine a culture without putting something into an account so that we can engage in commerce and consumerism.

None of this is neither inherently bad nor good; it just is. A problem arises, however, when people allow the idea of transactions to seep into relationships. When a person chooses to view the world primarily through the financial lenses of a transaction, we set ourselves up for a deficit of love.

It works something like this: A parent invests time, money, and resources into a child’s life. Mom and Dad do everything they can to set up little Johnny for success in this life (which, by the way, is often defined as getting a good paying job someday and being financially independent). But when little Johnny decides to go all avant-garde and does not live up to his parents’ expectations, their reaction betrays the transactional: “Look at all we did for you, and you repay us by not going to college and running off to do only God knows what!?”

Put in the context of a workplace, some bosses are only happy when the employee is producing and making money. Management doesn’t understand why workers are upset. Paying them more money doesn’t seem to do it. They only see the transactional view of the world. Employers often fail to understand that money and wages cannot fulfill the need for giving and receiving within healthy relationships.

In the realm of personal relationships, we might send a card to someone, and they never sent one back, and that makes us mad. When it comes to God, we went to church, kept our nose clean and were ethical in all our dealings, and now something terrible happens in our lives. We believe that God did not make good on us. We invested in this God thing, and then he didn’t follow through with the transaction to give us the good life we were expecting.

But God operates in a different economy. Grace overwhelms transaction and is the currency of God’s kingdom. Grace is the gears and the grease of God’s love toward us. The good news of Christianity is that God loves us, even when we have nothing to give, and even when we are far from the words and ways of Jesus.

“Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful.  No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a genuinely good person. But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinners.” (Romans 5:6-8, CEV)

It is likely that all of us, at some time or another, have felt the sting of someone else’s disappointment with us.  They “invested” in us in some way. We “repaid” them with a decision or a different direction than what they expected. Or it went the other way. We put time and effort into someone or a group of people, and they didn’t come through for us (ironically, pastors and church volunteers often feel this way).

The first step in awakening to love is forsaking a transactional view of relationships and adopting a gracious approach to people and to God. God is gracious, merciful, and kind. It isn’t just what God does; it is who God is. God gives love because God is love. Until we get that basic understanding, we will flounder in our human relationships because true love will forever be elusive due to the transactional view. It will throw out of whack the true giving and receiving of love.

Grace is the most effective way to the world of love, and the best way to the good life. Yet, surprisingly, this is at no cost to us. So, what are we to do? We are to give ourselves to God, as people who have been raised from death to life. We are to make every part of our lives an offering to God. Don’t let sin keep ruling your lives because you are ruled by God’s kindness and not by the law of the transaction.

Awaken to love because God is love. (Romans 6:12-14; 1 John 4:8-11)

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