I’ve begun another great graduate course… “Historical Theology”.  In the first week’s module we’re talking about the
influence of several key individuals and/or perspectives from early on, and also the influence of history and historical perspective on the establishment of our theological standards.  It’s interesting how much of our fishbowl we see when we DON’T read the historical backgrounds… for example, who all has argued this before, what kind of controversy it sparked in the church, what its long-lasting effect was on the church, etc.  I can’t help but think of the Deity of Jesus controversy that sparked in the 4th century when Arius and Athenasius sparred with one another over this issue.  Specifically, it was the question of “how can Jesus be man/God at the same time?  The human condition is imperfection, sin, etc… so how can He be God and Man?”  I never would have known about this until I started opening some books!  I guess I would have stayed in my fishbowl about this issue, and only referenced the current situation, current personalities who argue about that issue, and I could only relate to modern commentary on it.  So the opportunity to get into these topics is making me a better student of the word… I hope!

So one of our discussion questions this week was this;  “Is Ignatius an egotistical, power-hungry manipulator, or a devout martyr who has a genuine concern for the church? “ Great question!  At first glance, this man’s teaching, letters to churches, etc. almost seem to promote martyrdom in some sort of self-seeking, self-righteous way, almost like an early-day rebellious group of Christians who said, “we’ll die for our faith, no matter what you Romans say… hmmmpphhh!!!”  But in fact it seems from Ignatius’s own statements through many places, he clearly shows himself to be a humble servant of God.  Note his own words below and decide for yourself.Referencing the authority of Bishops and Apostles, the apostles could command in a general manner, while the jurisdiction of a bishop is limited to one community.  He said, “Shall I, when permitted to write on this point, reach such a height of self-esteem, that though being a condemned man, I should issue commands to you as if I were an apostle?” (Tral. 3: or according to the longer version, “I do not issue orders like an apostle.”) “I do not, as Peter and Paul, issue commandments unto you. They were apostles; I am but a condemned man; they were free, while I am even until now a servant.” (Ign. Rom. 4.)

Great study.  Ignatius was – I believe – one of the great stalwarts of the early Christian faith.  We would do well to study the impact and writings of these early guys, who went to the death for the cause of Christ.  NOT MILITANTLY, as if to rid the world of sinners or “infidels” as some of the radicals do, but humbly; so as to be willing to die if necessarily caught, and forced into the corner.  In so doing, it was thought that we may be honored to suffer and die as our Master did; persecuted for unjust, personal causes.

When’s the last time you saw a truly beautiful thing?  I don’t mean just taking the time to stop and see the gorgeous flowers, or perfect bermuda grass in downtown Nashville – but something like a Daddy holding his baby girl’s hand walking through Wal-Mart?  The smile on your wife’s face after the two of you enjoy a sweet remark by your children.  The sunshine on a bright Spring day…

God has blessed his children beyond all measure!  Today was just one of those days.  For some reason I felt like God was simply smiling on us and every time I turned around there was something that was a blessing. 

At bedtime recently, I’ve been telling the kids about different miracles of Jesus.  Healings, feedings, resurrection of Lazarus; all of them say something marvelous about the Master.  Tonight, we talked about the man who was lowered through the roof by his friends.  They were so desperate to help their friend, they dig, cut, punch – or whatever! – through the ceiling of the home, to lower their friend into Jesus’ presence.  Interesting – the crowd is so amazingly packed that they can’t even get through with a lame man!

We typically think about Jesus healing the lame man with this story from Luke 5.  One of the most fantastic things about this passage though, is the fact that Jesus does not heal him immediately.  He sees the faith of this man, and he said, “your sins are forgiven.”  WHAT???  The Pharisees that are there are about to jump out of their skin.  It is only after Jesus ears the grumbling and reads their hearts’ content that he says, “so you’ll believe I have power to forgive sins, stand up and walk.”  The miracle is the by-product of this situation!

The beautiful thing I saw tonight was my son’s face when I told him this story.  I told him that Jesus said “your sins are forgiven” first… and when I explained the rest of the story, and asked him what it said about Jesus.  He said that it “means Jesus is good at life.”  Yes, he is good at life…  he had a complete command of our realm, over the human body, and over every thing on earth.  What a beautiful thing!  Praise God for sending his Son, Jesus. 

Father – thank you for loving us, thank you for your Son and his selflessness.  Father, please heal our nephew Ethan.  He is a little child, whom Satan’s curse has unduly punished… please heal his cancer and let him grow to live a long, healthy life.  You have done so much in him already that is praiseworthy!

In Proverbs 8:12, something happens that I’m pretty sure I’ve never truly begun to grasp.  Wisdom, is referred to in the First Person.  “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, I possess knowledge and discression.”  He (wisdom, but presumably Solomon speaking) speaks of his attributes and how he is better than gold, better than choice silver, fame, or riches. 

One of the most amazing things to me about wisdom is beginning in verse 22, when he says that the Lord brought him forth as the first of his many creations.  That he brought WISDOM forth as the first of his many creations!  That Wisdom was along side with the Father as he watched all creation come to be, and that he has seen the innermost parts of God.  Read it for yourself below, and see if you are not impressed with the necessity to get to know “Wisdom” better; not as a person – as he is depicted here – but as a quality, which we know Solomon is actually saying.  It is the deepest of important qualities that we should learn to be of influence to others.  It is not more important than holiness, nor honesty, nor all that is wrapped up into holiness; but in terms of the influence we have on others, nothing will have a stronger impact, ESPECIALLY when it is combined with holiness, and others see that we truly are children of God. 

“The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old;

    ²³ I was formed long ages ago,
       at the very beginning, when the world came to be.

    ²⁴ When there were no oceans, I was given birth,
       when there were no springs abounding with water;

    ²⁵ before the mountains were settled in place,
       before the hills, I was given birth,

    ²⁶ before he made the world or its fields
       or any of the dust of the earth.

    ²⁷ I was there when he set the heavens in place,
       when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

    ²⁸ when he established the clouds above
       and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

    ²⁹ when he gave the sea its boundary
       so the waters would not overstep his command,
       and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

    ³⁰ Then I was constantly ^[e] at his side.
       I was filled with delight day after day,
       rejoicing always in his presence,

    ³¹ rejoicing in his whole world
       and delighting in humankind.

    ³² “Now then, my children, listen to me;
       blessed are those who keep my ways.

    ³³ Listen to my instruction and be wise;
       do not disregard it.

    ³⁴ Blessed are those who listen to me,
       watching daily at my doors,
       waiting at my doorway.

    ³⁵ For those who find me find life
       and receive favor from the LORD.

    ³⁶ But those who fail to find me harm themselves;
       all who hate me love death.”

So – back to Restoration Thinking.  I have repeatedly been thinking about the structure of the heritage that I grew up in.  I adored many men and women of faith, mostly in my small environment of North Alabama growing up.  But as I continue to grow, read, and pray, I understand that I was exposed to a fairly small fish tank.  Not that there was inherently anything wrong with that, but in fact, it was almost an inbred spiritual family; in which the challenged thought or genuine question of interpretation of scripture was often refused and/or quickly dismissed as immature.

As I read Barton Stone and David Lipscomb particularly, I find in these men a type of thinking that refused to be boxed in by man-made barriers.  They stood on scripture, as the only truly authoritative standard by which they would state their convictions, and quite literally would stake their complete faith in God’s word, and not on the reputation they would have in others’ eyes. 

When Christians read and study the word of God (and we MUST read and truly study, in context), we must try to read the way the readers would have read it.  There is no way we can know what their questions would have been, to which Paul or the other writers would be replying, nor the lenses of cultural environment through which they perceived the letters.  But one thing we can do, is pray, read, study, and make a stand.  Knowing in our hearts that God will judge us, and that he wants our complete devotion and obedience; including self-sacrifice, holiness, and contrition because of our sins.  However, the joy of His grace overwhelms us!  To the point that the weight of our sinful past becomes light.

There’s a great, great scene in Toy Story, the first great digital animation by Disney’s Pixar Studios.  Tom Hanks and Tim Allen were superb, and there’s a “fight scene” where Woody (the cowboy doll) is so angry at Buzz Lightyear (the Space Ranger toy), that Buzz simply cannot or will not realize that he is really a toy.  There is a point in which Woody “loses it”, and totally frustrated with Buzz for Buzz’s saying, “I must go, I’ll be late to report to Star Command.”  Woody has had it!  He screams, “YOU ARE A TOOOO-EEEEEY!!!  You’re not the real Buzz Lightyear, doh… well you’re an action figure!!!”  Buzz calmly looks at Woody and with straight face, says, “You are a sad, strange little man, and you have my pity.”  That is unfortunately the way many of our brothers react when some nearly want to scream for their lack of open-heartedness; as if they are so blinded by their concrete “knowledge” of good standing, that they can’t see the “Mattel” printed on their arms.  Yet they are so perfectly sure that they are standing firmly in the foundation of the Apostles of 2000 years ago.  The strange thing is, you can’t draw a straight line ANYWHERE in the descendence of the early Christian church.  Specifically I’m referring to those who judge and withdraw themselves from others, based on things that they do with the silence of scripture.  I remember seeing numerous diagrams when I was a kid, the “tree” of Christendom and denominations.  The off-shoots and curvy branches began with the Apostate followers in the 3rd century.  The straight line at the bottom?  The never-bending, unrelenting, never-changed church?  Yep, that’s where I grew up.  Just ask me, I can prove it.

I am not intending to be antagonistic with this post.  I truly do cherish my heritage for many great lessons, spiritual backbone, and memory work.  I just want to be real!  I need HELP being real!  I don’t want to construct my own straw man of Christian faith and then bow down do it in reverence.  Father, may you bless us all with humble hearts and the willingness to grow with an openness to the word.  May your Spirit dwell within us, and daily lead us back to you.