History and Theology

A Riff on 1 Corinthians 12:12-26

A few years back, I sat in a lecture about ancient trade routes. More than scholars could have imagined, trade in the Greco-Roman world has been conducted vastly and effectively. By examining pottery shards and other detritus, the lecturer made this point. I was convinced. However, what interested me most was his use of an aspect of network theory, taken from computer science. His basic point was that if you add one node in a network, it is possible to make the whole network much more effective. He used this idea to explain the amazing ability of merchandise to spread over the ancient world.

This insight, I believe, has great practical import for all fields of life. When there is an effective network, you just get more accomplished. This might appear to be a novel way of looking at things, but from one perspective, this is exactly what Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 12 in his illustration of the body.

The point simply put is that we all need each other. I am not just speaking of individual members of a church and how they should love each other. That, of course, is necessary, but we need something on a larger scale. We need churches from different continents, across denominations to work together, share with one another, and strategize of how to do “good” (1 Titus 3:8, 14). Much of the New Testament is a lesson in this. Just look at how many of Paul’s letters close – greetings galore from all these different churches.

There are many obstacles, such as territorialism, pride, issues of distance, language, cultural blind spots, and perhaps most of all, the uncanny propensity for people to never give up power. But when we rediscover the beauty of grace and the mission that God has called his church, we can accomplish much together. I hope that this takes shape with this new generation of young men and women who appear to be more globally minded and less provincial than generations past.

By God’s grace, may we consider how to create this network.

2 Peter 1:12-15

8/12/10

Peter writes that he will always remind his people of the person and work of Christ, even if his people already know these things (1:12). He even offers a defense: “I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of his body” (1:13). He does not stop there. In these short verses, he also gives a reason for his approach – so that his people always remember (1:14). In essence, he is saying, “I am writing these things to you, so that you will remember; I know you know these things, but I really don’t want you to forget. And I need to remind you of these things while I am alive, because one day I won’t be here. At that point who will remind you?” Peter sounds like an old man who is wont to repeat himself over and over again. For this reason, we may feel the temptation to listen politely, but half-heartedly, and seek more novel things; this would be a grave mistake.

Peter knows a thing or two about human nature. He knows that people are fickle and that there is a strong tendency to forget about the most important things in life, perhaps even from moment to moment. Perhaps he knows this firsthand as he recalls his past interaction with Jesus. In one sentence, he has a pellucid insight into the identity of Christ, and then immediately revolts at the idea of the cross of his master. Jesus even says, “Get behind me Satan” (Matthew 16:23; Mark 8:33). Or perhaps he recalls his bold assertion that he would never betray Jesus, only to betray him three times shortly thereafter (Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, John 18).

Christians forget. Christian need to be reminded on a daily basis of who Jesus is, what he has done, and what these things mean for the people of God. Without this constant reminder, we will forget. I am reminded of this everyday not only in the life of my congregation, but also in my own life. We forget about the costliness of his grace, the beauty of his love, and profundity of his forgiveness. We forget that there is nothing better than knowing him and that we are rich beyond our wildest dreams in view of who we are in him (2 Peter 1:3). We forget his precious promises (2 Peter 1:4). We forget to rejoice in suffering and depend on his grace. We forget to give thanks. We forget that he has called us to be in missions, and the list goes on. Continue reading…

Luke 10:17-20

8/6/10
In this context, Jesus sends out seventy-two disciples to carry on his work. Jesus reminds them that the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. In light of this, it is good that they go. When they return, they rejoice at the ministry that they were able to conduct. They even say, “even the demons submit to your name.” At this point Jesus offers an interesting response. Continue reading…

What we can learn from the church in China

I. Introduction

To ask this question is not to suggest that the Chinese church is a perfect one. Far from it. No church is perfect, but this does not mean we cannot learn from them. In fact, I would go one step further and say that we must learn from them, because their way of looking at the world and the Bible is different than ours. All cultures have blind spots and one of the ways we expose our blind spots is by learning from people from other cultures and traditions. This, of course, will require longsuffering, years of friendships, and most of all humility, especially on our part, since we have lived, for the most part, in the midst of the rise of the West. However, if we have ears to hear, then we may learn a few precious truths of God’s grace. Continue reading…

Titus 1:6, 7

7/7/10

Reading the Bible in another language usually forces a person to read slowly and therefore carefully. This fact alone is probably the single most important advice a person can follow. What struck me was that Titus 1:6 and 1:7 use the same adjective twice, anegkletos, which can be translated as blameless. It is used five times in the New Testament with the same general shade of meaning (1 Cor. 1:8, 1:22, 1 Tim. 3:10, Titus 1:6, 1:7). Continue reading…

Titus 1:5-16

7/6/10

In our generally anti-institution ethos, most do not want to talk about structure and organization. It all smells of corruption and the misuse of power. However, the purpose of the book of Titus is about structuring the church. This is an important point to make, because even when there is little talk of organization or the downright resistance to it, in the end there will be some sort of structure. Therefore, it behooves us to see what Titus teaches concerning the importance of church organization in general and elders in particular. Continue reading…

Colossians 1:7

7/5/10

Paul thanks God for the Colossians, because he has heard of their faith in Christ and their love for all the saints (1 Col. 3, 4). This point is worth pondering, because it shows that faith and love are gifts of God’s grace. To prove this point, you only need to consider a faithless and loveless person and his or her transformation. Only God can do this! Hence, the proper response for growth in faith and love is to offer thanks to God for creating or increasing these qualities in people.

This section also offers one of the means God uses to bring about faith and love, namely, the hope that is laid up in heaven, which Epaphras has been faithful to preach among the Colossians (1:7).

If Paul’s words are correct, then perhaps our contemporary focus on the “immediate” is a big hindrance to growing in faith and love. I suspect this is so, because robust love and faith have to be longsuffering, which can only take place when there is an unshakable hope reserved in heaven.

Do we ponder eternity and heaven with unshakable hope? If not, how can we live a life of faith and love? May God open our eyes to grow in wisdom and knowledge more and more (Col. 1:9).