The Lamb's Book of Life

20However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you,
but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." Luke
10:20

Revelation 21:27Nothing impure will ever
enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those
whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

I believe that as we walk through this life, our vision is limited. We are blessed in the heavenly places, and we fight not against men, but we don't see. We see as in a glass darkly.

So, we read in the Bible that God Chose us, wrote our names in His book before the creation of the world:

4For he chose us in him before the creation of the
world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he[c] predestined us to
be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and
will— 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the
One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with
all wisdom and understanding. 9And he[d] made known to us
the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in
Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their
fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head,
even Christ. Ephesians 1:4-10

So, I'm going along feeling good about knowing this....but sometimes I forget it, going along like I do, blind and focussed on the day to day. Then, twice in one week, the subject comes up again, forcing my mind to wrap around it again.

My Bible study partner brought it up. She asked if I thought that ...I can't remember her exact words, but it was something like this: Do you think that children born in Christian homes are always saved?

I have been in churches where it is a cute little saying that God does not have grandchildren. This is a cute little expression, but it has the taste of truth. The churches that commonly use this cliche are usually arminean. The idea is that you can't get to heaven on your parents' faith. I think that this is true, but we mustn't take God out of the equation...

There are also people who, although they might not say it, behave as if because I'm a Christian and am raising my kids right, they are Christian too. These people usually quote Proverbs 22:6

6 Train [a] a child in the way he should
go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

There is truth in this as well, but also danger. We mustn't take God out of the equation.

I once asked a woman to tell me when she became a Christian. She told me it was within her mother's womb. That has thrown me off for about a year and a half!

Certainly scripture tells us that God will bless the children to several generations of the ones who love Him. It also says that He will have mercy on whom He will have mercy. He is not obligated to a Christian couple, loving and serving Him to save their child. He is also not powerless to save a child whose family for the traceable past has not known Him.

I indicated that this concept was broached twice in one week. The next time was the following Sunday when our Paster announced a couple of new pregnancies in our church. He said many things about parenthood, and one of them was that although God is sovereign in salvation (I think he remembered that) He chooses to bless the marriage bed with godly seed.

I think often, we see the children of faithful Christians come to the Lord. I think that we also very often see some of them drift away from the church and renounce the Lord. This is why in many arminean churches you hear people say that parents should get a decision for the Lord early. That way, when they drift away, they are kept secure in the arms of Jesus (once saved, always saved...if you can remember a time when you walked the aisle...)

Obviously, we see unchurched people accept Christ. This is not, afterall, a genetically based faith. We do not have a faith gene, I don't think.

So what is the answer? I think we need to remember that their names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life from before the foundation of the world. We cannot take God out of the picture! Well, who blesses the Marriage Bed? God does; He formed us in our mothers' wombs. Who wrote our names in the books before the foundation of the world? God did. Therefore, wouldn't it make sense that it is God who decides in which family to place His sheep?

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you...and be gracious unto you.

Take a look at Ezekial, Jeremiah, Ezra, and others of old. So many of them lived lives that were designed by God to show His attributes. He sustained them, but showed to the Isaelites, through them, who He is: His Holiness and justice and judgement and infinite mercy and long suffering.

I wonder what they thought. I wonder if sometimes they thought they were just crazy, and then they would have days when they would say, "Oh, yah, that's what this is all about!"

You know, when John sent his disciples to Jesus to ask if He was the one, or if they should continue to watch.

I sometimes get all caught up in the here and now and forget that God knows the beginning from the end. That He will draw near to me, when my heart is humble.

I was going to comment on something, but I thought, "Nobody wants to hear that...oh, yah! Nobody will!"

OK. If the Lord has given me experiences in this life for a reason, then it is to His glory, and for the edification of or warning to the saints. (ok, ok, it might also have to do with my rebelion...but if I meant it for evil, did He not mean it for good? Will He not work all of it together for the good of those who love Him? If not for me, then for one of His other sheep.)

Safely Home

Is this the day I die?

Every now and then you read a book that really stays with you. By that I mean that it crosses your mind often during the day, causes you to think of and view certain things differently, and in rare instances, causes changes in your life itself.

Once upon a time, I read a book called Watchers by Dean Koontz. This is still on my list of favorites. I read it when I was not a child of God, and re-read it often, as recently as two years ago. This was a story of genetic engineering...gone bad. But that which stayed with me and acheived two of the three effects listed above was the good achieved by genetic engineering in the book. The dog, rather than the monster captured my heart. (The first time I read the book after becoming a Christian, I was astonished by what I previous read that did not even cause me to blink. The same could be said of another book by another author, WeaveWorld, which now nearly makes me ill to attempt to read.) When I looked at dogs, I marveled that they might be like Einstein in the book, if only... I recommended that book to everyone, and even bought one for my mother to read on the plane after visiting us from Connecticut, after my first daughter was born.

Few books hold me like that: Watchers, When the Wind Blows (James Patterson) and Spares (author unknown).

After reading Watchers, I read Dean Koontz books almost continuously, pausing only to get a college degree, give birth and read an occasional Stephen King book. None of the subsequent Koontz novels matched my expectations. The same thing happened when I read When the Wind Blows, however, it didn't take me as long to discover that that book was an exception in that author's repretoire.

I can't remember who wrote Spares, but that book was too disturbing to seek another such experience. It gripped me because of the subject matter: Cloning? No, but the humanity and sanctity of life of even the clones ("spares") who were "created" for the express purpose of providing spare parts for their original counterpart.

Pilgrim's Progress is also a book which had a profound effect on me as a new Christian and throughout my Christian walk. It was amazing to me that someone could write that stuff down like that! All of those things that I experienced, and was to experience; it is an encouragement and a challenge to me.

Recently, as already mentioned in a previous post, I read Hiding Place. Now we are getting into the realm of reaching the third effect of a really good book. The idea that a book could be used to change one's life is awesome. Corrie Ten Boom's book, I hope is the start of some changes that God is working in my life. Corrie's Dad and sister attributed everything that happened as coming from the loving hand of their Father. Her Dad thought and spoke biblically. He had an answer in and out of season. I often call this to mind and speak of His attributes and providence, especially to my family (my given mission field).

I recently finished a novel that is, I think God's reenforcement of the concept. Safely Home by Randy Alcorn is a novel about a Christian in China and his college roommate who comes to visit. The reverence that this Christian gave to Yesu (Jesus) shames me. I want to live for Jesus with abandon. I want to speak openly about Jesus and trust God to protect me or bring me home; provide for me or sustain me in want; grow the sown seed or allow the birds to snatch it away.

We have been talking alot about evangelism in our church lately. My Bible Study partner and I recently studied Mark 3 & 4. Jesus told the story of the sower who sowed seed, and some seed was eaten by birds, choked out by thorns, withered under the sun, or took root and produced a bountiful harvest.

When I plant in my garden, I plant a limited number of seeds, and I plant them in rows, exactly where I want them to grow. When I talk about Jesus and His Gospel, I do the same thing. I plant the seed in toiled soil, my family, my church, even my neighbor, because she likes to talk about God. Even so, once planted, the seed may be snatched away by birds, choked out by weeds, or scorched by the sun; in fact from my point of view, this is the usual result.

My point: If the seed planted in tilled soil grows at the will of God, then why be stingy? Why not broadast the seed like the sower in the story? Why not just toss some around where ever I go?

This is a digression of sorts, but I got there honestly: The character in the book by Randy Alcorn spoke of his Lord in and out of season. He lived in a hostile environment, and yet he sowed the seed freely in tilled soil and otherwise. Mr Ten Boom was the same.

I am not.

I want to be.

Rachel

The Hiding Place

I just got done reading The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. I know, this book has been around for a long time. It could be that what I have learned was like the ticket that Corrie's Dad gave her just before getting on the train; sometimes God gives us the ticket when we need it, and not before. Now I need to be looking for how I will use what I have learned. (Remember, Rachel, that God's timing is perfect, and although you think you could have used this before; and you would not have lost it or squandered it, there are no mistakes in God's providence.)

[Just as an aside, Corrie's name is really Cornelia, which is also the name of a beautiful young woman in my church, who also has the gift of spreading the joy and love of God to those around her. She and I taught Sunday School together this year, and although I was the "teacher" and she the "assistant" I often felt that it should have been the other way around.]

I have learned a great deal from this book, and I highly recommend it. I borrowed it from my church library, and I will return it after I get as many people in my family as possible to read it, and then I think I will purchase one for my home.

Corrie's Dad and sisters Nollie and Betsy most impress me.

Her Dad answered everything according to God's wisdom and providence. There was no question or need too great for God, and Mr. ten Boom was well grounded in scripture and in the sufficiency of scripture to equip us in life and godliness.

Nollie was willing to obey God even when it meant that she (or others) could lose everything. She also taught her children this. The incident that comes to mind was when her daughter was hiding some boys in a space under the dining room table and their home was raided to get young boys for the factory. When asked where they were, the girl told them that they were under the table. The soldiers looked and finding none, they thought that the girls were fooling them, and left. Nollie wasn't home at the time, but when she heard of the incident, she said that the girls did right because, "God provides perfect protection" when we live lives of obedience.

Betsy believed God. Everything that happened to her, she saw as from her Father's hand. For example, the fleas in the concentration camp. Corrie thought that they were unbearable and could not be of God, but Betsy thanked Him for them. Later they found out that they were the reason they had so much freedom from the guards in the barracks.

Here are some things I learned from this book:

*Some knowledge is just too heavy for us to bear.

*Sometimes God gives us the ticket just when we need it.

*God honors obedience.

*When God said to give thanks in everything (repeatedly), and that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and for those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8), it might be that we will see the reason eventually, or maybe that that knowledge would be too heavy for us.

Most of all I am convicted of my timidity; my fear of Man. I am admonished by the lives, examples and words of these Christians to extol the mighty works of God; to ascribe to the Lord His due. What a mighty and loving Living God we serve!

To Be Berean

Acts 17:11
"Now the Bereans were of more noble character
than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and
examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."
(the Old NIV)

Hebrews 13:9
"Do not
be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. ..."

I was actually looking for the verse that says that such are the ones who enter the house and carry away simple minded women (very loosely paraphrased so that it probably lost any semblemce of meaning).

This is the best I could come up with:

Ephesians 5:6&7
"Let no one deceive you with empty
words for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
Therefore do not be parners with them."

The publicity of Terri Shiavo's problem has had many immediate and far reaching effects on myself and my family. I have not seen the end of it yet. There have been some unexpected issues spidering out from this event.

With the world's focus on Terri Schiavo and the Pope, there has been much talk lately of Roman Catholicism. There actually seems to be a certain amount of papal envy among certain evangelicals.

"Give us a king," the Isrealites said,
"that we might be like the other nations."

"Oh that we had a Leader,
that we could all sing the same songs, and say the same prayers!"

It has caused me check my pace. I have a fear of being blown about and tossed by the winds of doctrine. God has hedged me about by anchoring my mind and heart on the solid Rock...and yet. Yet I need to always turn to Scripture and pray that God will continue to keep me true to His word and to hide me in the cleft of His rock. "Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He instructs sinners in His Ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His Way." (Psalm 25:8&9) (God keep me ever close to You! Ephesions 3:14-19 is my prayer.)

At times, the same source will give contradictory messages , it seems to me, on this subject. I am kind of a black and white type of person. (like Feeble Mind in Pilgrim's Progess) If Roman Catholicism is in error because it teaches trust in works and Mary, then it is wrong. If it is wrong about salvation, it doesn't matter that it is right about abortion and righteous zeal in defending the unborn or unwanted.

I have been spending a considerable amount of time reading a certain blog. I was reading it before Terri's predicament became an intense issue in the national spotlight. In this blog, Catholicism became an issue in focus at the end and for some time after Terri died. I began to feel myself very conflicted.

There are some who call on the name of the Lord, who do not belong to the Lord. I know that. Jesus said that at the judgement some will say to Him, "lord, Lord," but He will say to them, "I never knew you." We are told to test the spirits and not to be deceived. This is kind of tricky in the Protestant world. There are some who are very sly in distorting the Scriptures.

I was especially torn by the following exchange between a woman named "Tess" and a reformed pastor (my Pastor):

In Response to: The sounds outside Woodside Hospice...(BaylyBlog: timbayly.worldmagblog.com/timbayly/)

I'm a Catholic, and I love Mary. Why? Because Jesus did and I'm
going to follow His perfect example.

It deeply saddens me that you see
the Rosary as heresy, especially because you must be aware of its scriptural and
contemplative nature.

I hope one day your heart softens to the mother of
Our Lord and you will know the truth by its fruits.

May God bless you
and keep you.
Tess
Posted by Tess at April 3, 2005 03:38 AM

To which Tim Responded:

Dear Tess,

I love Mary too, and have no hesitation
saying so. What a blessed woman so perfectly demonstrating the nature of
biblical womanhood. And how she suffered as she watched her Son live and die!
All Christians through all ages will call her blessed, which I do.

Nor
do I believe the rosary is heretical, in and of itself. Heresy is a doctrine
that strikes at the heart of true faith so I'd reserve that charge for the
deepest error I see in Roman Catholicism--her denial of the Biblical doctrine of
salvation. And here I would quite predictably point to the very area of doctrine
where your own Council of Trent anathematized our Protestant fathers--the
doctrine of justification by faith alone, but not faith by itself. Based upon
the teaching of Scripture, I am convinced that the Roman Catholic church
systematically leads the souls under her care to believe and act as if the work
of Christ is insufficient for salvation, and must be completed by our own works
also.

Thank you for the kind and gracious spirit in which you have
sought to rebuke me. May the Holy Spirit do the work in our hearts that will
bring true unity to the Household of Faith, the Church of the Living God which
is the pillar and foundation of truth.

Under His Blood,

Tim
Bayly
Posted by Tim Bayly at April 3, 2005 08:14 AM

And Tess responded:

As a Catholic I know that the only way that I can be saved is
through the suffering and sacrifice of Our Lord. It was His work alone, that
broke open the gates of Heaven, and it is in Him that I put my hope of
salvation.

I am not worthy to enter Heaven, nothing I can do can ever
earn the infinate salvation of my Beloved. I am merely a breath of dust or a
blade of grass next to His Living Waters.

But I also know that if I
behave as though I don't know my Jesus, that he won't force me to love and obey
Him. And what is the act of love of God, but docile obedience to the will of
Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit?

What child could ever earn the
love of her Father? None. Because it is given freely and fully.

Glory to
God in the Highest.

Love Tess
Posted by Tess at April 4,
2005 09:07 AM

(At this point, it appears that there is a discrepancy between what Tess believes, where her faith lies, and what she has been taught. Read on...)

Pastor Tim replies:

Dear Tess, Although I don't understand your comment about God
forcing love (and therefore can't say that I agree with it), I do want to say
publicly that your confession of faith above is very beautiful and a model for
all those who trust only in the Blood of Jesus Christ. You have strengthened my
own faith this day and I thank you for that.
Posted by Tim Bayly
at April 4, 2005 03:51 PM

Tess (revealing much):

God bless you and all your work for Terri. I truly believe that
you are an instrument of Christ.

All I meant about the "force" idea is
that God won't ever take away our free will, if we turn our hearts away from
Him, then He will accept our choice, even though it grieves Him.

It's our choice to either accept Jesus and love Him, or to turn and sin. His arms are
always open wide, it is ours that can close and push Him away.

Good works aren't the ticket to Heaven, we could _never_ earn that holy blessing.
They are just the manifestation of our love and obedience to Jesus Christ, the
Father and the Holy Spirit.

Love Tess
Posted by Tess at
April 5, 2005 07:40 PM

Then, later, provoked by some people's refusal to accept the veneration of Mary, she revealed where her true faith lies by responding thus:

In Response to: As Close as we can get (BaylyBlog)

Oh, my poor lost brothers and sisters in Christ. The Mother of
Christ is at the center of Redemption because she freely accepted God's will to
bear Our Lord. She's no goddess, she's just a woman who was totally passive to
God's will and God's love, as we should all be.

She is the new Eve, but
Christ is the new Adam, and as Adam was the head of his family, so Christ is the
head of the Church. Mary could not surplant Him or "outrank" Him. He is God,
Lord, our Creator, Redeemer, Father, King and our Saviour.

What graces was Mary given as she nursed our little Jesus at her breast, kissed His head,
caressed His little face... She was His _mama_ with all that it entails. Imagine
watching over the Christ Child as He slept, perhaps His little arms wrapped
around some toy He made with His earthly papa that day. Maybe His knees were
grazed by a fall, kissed better by Mary with her tears washing His hurt.

If only we could love Him as Mary could, what a gift to be Christ's
mama! What blessings would flow from that ministration to the Body of Our Lord.

Please, I beg you, open your hearts and feel God's infinite love of the
gift of Himself as a human baby, boy and then man. Don't turn away from the
woman that God chose throughout time and space to love and care for His Body and
Spirit.

Don't say that you don't 'need' Mary, when she was sweet enough
for Our Lord. Please, for the sake of your souls, love Mary as Christ did. Be
humble enough to follow His example.

Please, I _beg_ you, be obedient to
Jesus Christ.

Love Tess
Posted by: Tess at April 7, 2005
09:31 PM

Now I realize that by God's grace, He does save some in the Catholic church. However it would seem that if one were convicted of truth, one would leave a false church, though.

It would not be hard to find, because we know the date of the Pope's death, but I have spent too much time on this already:

It was stated by someone who watched the funeral of Pope John Paul II that his soul was committed repeatedly into the hands of Mary.

Where did his hope lie?

If the issue is, "On what or whom am I trusting for salvation?" then how can Catholicism be called anything but heresy? How can we "stand with our Catholic Brothers in the cause of life" if they are not our Brothers? Would this be "unequally yoked?"

Exactly what do we call freedom, and when do we call it heresy?

Ezekail's Warning to Israel, and to me

In my last entry, I may have sounded a little trite. I don't think I relinquished my responsibility to be a witness to Christ, a light in this dark world; but, as many who believe in God's sovereignty may appear to others, I may have appeared trite...smug. I was struck down just a couple days after I posted that entry. I heard a message on the radio which referenced Ezekiel 3.
I had never heard this passage before. I am undone! This passage indeed indicates that it is between God and the hearer of the Word whether salvation is the result, but the responsibility to speak is heavy...not to be taken lightly. As I said before: woe to me if I speak not, no, but WOE TO ME if I speak not!
Read for yourself. What do you think?

Ezekiel 3:4 He then said to me: "Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them. 5 You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel- 6 not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you.
(not to the stranger, necessarily, but to the family under my own roof...my own flesh and blood!--RP)
7 But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate. 8 But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 9 I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house."
10 And he said to me, "Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. 11 Go now to your countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says,' whether they listen or fail to listen."
12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound-May the glory of the LORD be praised in his dwelling place!- 13 the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound. 14 The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me. 15 I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Abib near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days-overwhelmed.

Warning to Israel 16 At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me: 17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.
20 "Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 21 But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved yourself."
22 The hand of the LORD was upon me there, and he said to me, "Get up and go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you." 23 So I got up and went out to the plain. And the glory of the LORD was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown.
24 Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet. He spoke to me and said: "Go, shut yourself inside your house. 25 And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people. 26 I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, though they are a rebellious house. 27 But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says.' Whoever will listen let him listen, and whoever will refuse let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.

I have nothing to add.

Evangelism Under the Sovereignty of God

(This is not so much a question, although if I am on the wrong track, please be bold to admonish).

I do not believe that you can push someone away from God if He is drawing them.

I base this opening statement on scripture as well as personal experience. Jesus said that no one comes to him except the Father draws him. A sermon is preached, a tragedy occurs, a Bible is read and one person, convicted of sin turns and cries out to God while another is left unaffected.

For years, I struggled with my husband regarding spiritual truths. For years I failed daily regarding winning him over with any semblence of a gentle and quiet spirit. Then, suddenly the things he used to pick apart, he is at peace with. Suddenly those things he hated, he loves. Did I finally convince him? No, I don't think so. Who changed his heart? Only God can change a heart. Only God can bring to life that which is dead.

God saved my husband in spite of me.

I do, however believe that you can shirk your God-given responsibilities. It is very fair to say that my lack of peace during these times was sinful. My defensiveness and arguementative attitude did not grace the Gospel. Shame on me. Did I interfere with God's plans?...slow Him down? I am too human to answer that question. I do know that I repented of these things. They were not right, but I don't think that I thwarted God's plans.

If I have been given a message, and a person to whom to give it and I do it, however lamely, I have done what I am supposed to do. I am absolutely positive that Jonah's message to the Ninevites was less than stirring. He did not want to give the message, and did not desire a positive effect. And yet they repented in droves!

If God is drawing them, they will come at God's call. Just like Esther observed, if I do not speak, He will save His people, and He will use someone else; and woe, woe to me!

If God is not drawing them, no matter how eloquently or poorly I may have spoken, they will not come. If I speak, I have done what I had the responsibility to do. You and I might think that I pushed them away, or that my timing was off, or that my message was too soft or too hard, and I let a fish get away.

More often than not, it is not that my message is too soft or too hard or too early or too late, but that it is not.

God has given us two really good girls. These days the pretty good kids are not in prison, expelled from school or pregnant. I've got really good, trustworthy girls, and I am thankful for them.

As a Christian parent, I have failed in many ways. The most prominent is that I did not instruct when we arose and when we sat down and when we went along the way (you know, all the time) Deuteronomy 11:19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. I was silent when I should have spoken. The holiness and reality of God, I have not made obvious and extolled. There are life lessons, and reasons for ways I think and decisions I've made and things that I stay away from, that I think out on the inside, but I don't speak them out. When my kids were under 10 years old, they heard it a lot more; I lost some really critical years in discouragement-induced silence, and now no one wants to hear it. That's my point of view.

What does God see? HE sees the beginning and the end. He is the beginning and the end.

I can only go from here, crying out to God, my Savior. I can talk about God's ways and laws and decrees and the depth of the wonder of Him when we sit at home or ride in the van or go to bed and when we get up. That's what I can do, with God's grace. What I can't do is change their hearts. Only God can do that.

HOSPITALITY: Biblical mandate or gift? To the Brethern or to the Stranger?

If God said it, I want to do it, but what did God say?

Am I called to invite well-fed, well-loved brothers to my house after church, and in return go to their house the next week after church? Is that what it's all about? I'm not saying that's not a nice thing. Actually it is. It is a very nice practice; very sweet fellowship.

In the following passage, hospitality is mentioned in the context of hosting traveling preachers or missionaries. It not only praises the brother who has shown hospitality to the traveling preacher, but also points out the wrong done to the church by the one who refuses to welcome them. THis can also be found in Acts when Lydia compels the apostle's company to come to her house. Did she then begin to host a house church?

III John 5-11
5Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. 6They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.
9I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. 10So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.
11Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.

In this passage, the context would indicate that the hospitality is in the form of the church meeting in Gaius' house. I think this can also be found in Acts, in fact, I believe that most new testament churches met in homes.

Romans 16:23Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings. Erastus, who is the city's director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings.

In this passage from Matthew, Jesus indicates that hospitality is to be extended to the stranger, not the friend; not the one who can pay you back with reciprocal hospitality or influence because of their attendance or position at your church. This kind of hospitality won't get you a reputation of being hospitable. The act is quite possibly unnoticed and "insignificant" and the stranger is unknown:

Matthew 25:35
35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

In Romans 12, we are told to "Practice hospitality." This is a simple command, a two word sentence in my translation (the old NIV). The context, however, reveals a depth to the hospitality, that shakes the foundations of my meaning for the word. It specifies bretheren in need, people of low reputation, and enemies.

Romans 12: 9-21
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Another passage (not sure where), I'm sure hositality is listed with other "gifts" given to the redeemed by the Spirit.

I have heard some say that they were raised with their house full of strangers. For these people, hospitality may be a matter of obedience, or simply a continuation of a custom. I simply have never heard hospitality stressed in church.

I was raised in a closed home. We had few fisitors, and visited others seldom. If I am to "do hospitality" it is not a trivial matter for me. I have hurdles to overcome. I have issues to work out.

Bare naked and exposed for what I am: proud and inhospitable...God help me.

Propriety in Prayer

Keeping in mind that my ideas and opinions are but dung, I am trying to reconcile some of God's ideas here; not to justify my own behaviour, but to conform myself to His will.

Look at what it says in I Corinthians 11:3 - 16 (NIV quote included below). Does this mean that our parents' generation was Biblically correct in saying that my brother's long hair was a disgrace? (verse 14) Does this mean that the Minnenites are correct when their women wear head coverings? Does this mean that Pentecostals are correct when their women do not cut their hair? (verses 5-6 & 13-15)

Why do we seem to disregard this scripture?

What, if any connection is there with I Timothy 2:11-15? In light of this passage, would "leading" a corporate prayer in church or in a prayer meeting be considered having authority over a man?

Tim Bayly said:
Addressing the matter of propriety in prayer, the Apostle Paul again emphasizes this order: “For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; for indeed man was not created for the woman's sake, but woman for the man's sake” (1 Corinthians 11:8,9, NAS95).
http://timbayly.worldmagblog.com/timbayly/archives/2005_01.html1/3/2005 Sexuality; Scripture's Clarity & Simplicity

1 Corinthians 11:3-16 (http://www.biblegateway.com)
3Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head–it is just as though her head were shaved. 6If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. 7A man ought not to cover his head,[b] since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. 8For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head. 11In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. 13Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice–nor do the churches of God.

1 Timothy 2:11-15 (http://www.biblegateway.com)
11A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. 13For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15But women[a] will be saved[b] through childbearing–if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

So, what do you think? What was the Holy Spirit saying to people through the ages in these passages (especially regarding hair). If this is true, should I cancel my nest hair appointment? What about public prayer: should a woman lead a prayer out loud in church?

Rachel

Getting Comfortable

This is the first time I have ever done a blog. I only just recently commented on someone's blog, and I'm not sure I got that right! A few years ago I posted something on a message board online. I'm not sure what is different about blogging. I am just going to do one now, to get comfortable.

My purpose on this blog will be to glorify Christ. In the process, it is likely that I will be proved wrong about some things. I haven't got everything figured out. More than likely, more questions will be asked than answered. I think questions are the basis of the most interesting discussions.

If you are able to find this blog, feel free to give advice, answer questions, or to join in any discussion. Remember, compared to the excellancy of the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, my opinions are counted as loss, indeed as rubbish.

Rachel