Randy Wray’s Blog

My post today (and yesterday) are thoughts I’ve been developing as part of my Bible Study 201 class.  These thoughts lay the necessary foundation to understand how I view and interpret scripture.  These thoughts shape the discussion so that my students understand my journey of spiritual formation. 

We can all agree, I would hope, that there are things that matter.  By default, then, this means that there are things that do not matter.

The problem usually arrives when we try to decide the things that matter.  That is, as a matter of fact, exactly the problem.  The problem occurs when WE try to decide the things that matter.

We make, as those before us have, decisions regarding those biblical directives that should be followed today and those that should not.

In so doing, we affirm the truth that some things matter and some things do not matter.

Those who bear the name of Jesus Christ and seek to represent Christ in any age must seek to promote and practice those things that Christ deemed important.

Matthew 23:23 (NCV) "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You give to God one-tenth of everything you earn - even your mint, dill, and cumin.  But you don’t obey the really important teachings of the law - justice, mercy, and being loyal. These are the things you should do, as well as those other things.

The Pharisees believed that righteousness could be achieved through ritual and perfect obedience to the law of Moses.  Everyone, including Moses, knew that perfect obedience to the law was impossible.

To complicate matters an Oral Tradition was handed down from generation to generation on how one should interpret and apply the written law.  This produced a religious system that viewed the tithing of herbs to be as important as the way others were treated.  This produced a system of belief that promoted the tithing of herbs at the expense of justice, mercy, and loyalty.

Jesus said that justice, mercy and being loyal were “the really important teachings of the law” (some translations say weightier matters).  Jesus meant that some things are more important than others.

Imagine thinking that you could dismiss justice, mercy and being loyal as long as you gave God 10% of your Chia Pet.  Not exactly the spiritual position in which I would like to be found.

Jesus does not invalidate a tithe of herbs.  God accepts any gift offered in faith and love.  Jesus does say what matters most is for us to be about those things that matter most.

The teachings contained within the entire canon of the law and the prophets, Jesus said, could be contained in two dynamic principles.

Matthew 22:35-40 (NCV) One Pharisee, who was an expert on the law of Moses, asked Jesus this question to test him:  "Teacher, which command in the law is the most important?"  Jesus answered, "’Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’  This is the first and most important command.  And the second command is like the first: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’  All the law and the writings of the prophets depend on these two commands."

The person who loves God with everything and loves others with equity pursues justice, mercy and being fair. 

Promoting justice, extending mercy and being fair become the hallmarks of relationships rooted in what matters most.

Interesting how most church fights, most dissension, most disagreement begin in the realm of things that really don’t matter.

Truth.  This might be one of the most complex and difficult words to unpack and define.  The word truth has become a suspicious email with dangerous attachments.

The word truth has often been used to describe those particular principles of faith (or practice) that fit our particular belief system. If a particular doctrine fits our criteria it becomes truth.

If a particular tradition fits our criteria it also becomes truth. Most often these doctrines are referred to as THE truth.  This may be a result of the confusion between truth and tradition.

The bible certainly speaks of the truth of the Gospel.

Galatians 2:5 (NCV) But we did not give in to those false believers for a minute. We wanted the truth of the Good News to continue for you.

But this means the verity of the Gospel, the quality of the gospel that is true or real.  The bible also speaks of the “word of truth”:

Ephesians 1:13 (NCV) So it is with you. When you heard the true teaching - the Good News about your salvation - you believed in Christ. And in Christ, God put his special mark of ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit that he had promised.

But notice that the word of truth or the true teaching is a specific reference to the Good News about salvation.

Colossians 1:5 (NCV) You have this faith and love because of your hope, and what you hope for is kept safe for you in heaven. You learned about this hope when you heard the message about the truth, the Good News

Again in this passage the message of truth is a reference to the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 2:15 (NCV) God decided to give us life through the word of truth so we might be the most important of all the things he made.

In this passage it is the word of truth, a reference to the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ, which gives life.

We can all agree that the word of truth, the message of truth is Good News for it speaks of salvation through Jesus Christ.  The conflict comes when truth (the doctrine of salvation) becomes equal with truth (the doctrine of tradition).

There are certainty things that are true: 

Philippians 4:8-9 (NCV) Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected.  Do what you learned and received from me, what I told you, and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you.

Those things that are true, along with those things that are honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected, are those things we pursue so that as the people of God we may receive the peace of God.

Knowing the truth (the doctrine of salvation) is what makes people free.

John 8:32 (NCV) Then you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." 

We know what it means to be a slave to sin.  We understand how this leaves us powerless to serve God.   Likewise, when we become a slave to tradition we are left powerless to serve Christ.

I waited two days for Greg to post regarding the television show 24.  By his silence, for he is a card carrying member of the 24 fan club, I can only assume that the radiation fallout reached Long Beach. 

We are still safe here in Stockton.  Fortunately it was the opportune season for a nuclear detonation as the Santa Ana winds only appear in the Autumn.

I watched both two hour episodes and was encouraged that the terrorists have given up trying to kidnap Jack’s daughter Kim.  Remember that one season where Kim was kidnapped every 15 minutes?

Talk about your "I can’t do this anymore" events.  Save one of those bullets Jack my boy!

We are now parents of a teenager!

I’m not sure if the journey from 12 to 13 is more of a milestone for the child or for the parents.

Madison turned 13 on the 13th and we celebrated in grand style.

She is still very much one of those innocent 13 year olds.  Her heart is tender and pure.  She embodies the many virtues and qualities we who are adults need to emulate.

She loves to read and shop and play softball.  She also runs our Keynote presentation on Sunday with precision and skill.

We are so thankful for her and proud of her for so many reasons (even if she thinks High School Musical and Jump In are the best movies ever).

I’ve never heard of attaching a particular phrase to the end of the fortune cookie message.  (As per yesterday’s post)

It did remind me of attaching the phrase "in the bathtub" after hymn tittles.

I Was Sinking Deep In Sin (in the bathtub)

There’s A Fountain Free (in the bathtub)

To Him Who Sits On The Throne (in the bathtub)

Cleanse Me (in the bathtub) which is particularly true in my case as I was actually baptized in a bathtub!

Did You Think To Pray (in the bathtub)? 

Before anyone is offended remember a hymn is not holy. 

See, now you have permission to include your own suggestions.

Anybody see the commercial where the waiter and the cook at the Chinese restaurant slip a customized note into the fortune cookie of a woman who is being ignored by her date?  Very clever!

Here’s my dilemma.  Fortune cookie # 1 said:

Indulge your ambitious nature

Which prompts the following interchange:

Beth – What on earth were you thinking?

Randy – I can explain.

Beth – (points to vehicle in driveway) You can explain buying this 2007 Limited Edition Corvette?

Randy – (showing fortune cookie paper) My fortune cookie said to indulge my ambitious nature.

Beth – [FILL IN YOUR OWN RESPONSE HERE]

The problem is fortune cookie # 2 said:

Lavish spending may be disastrous, be careful

Which prompts the following interchange:

Beth – I saw you eat two cookies, what does the other paper say?

Randy – (shoving paper into mouth) What paper?

What do you do when your fortune cookies contradict each other? 

In an earlier post I wrote about an advanced Bible Study group dedicated to pursuing some of the more difficult passages which have troubled and perplexed us through the years.

I begin such a discussion knowing full well that I could be wrong. 

Part of my own spiritual maturing is the realization that I could be wrong. 

Even in those strongly held beliefs I could be wrong.

Even in the way I’ve interpreted these scriptures I could be wrong.

I say this so that we all realize that each of us must stand or fall based on what Jesus said not what I (or any other preacher, teacher) believe.

John 12:44-50 (NCV) Then Jesus cried out, "Whoever believes in me is really believing in the One who sent me.  Whoever sees me sees the One who sent me.  I have come as light into the world so that whoever believes in me would not stay in darkness.  "Anyone who hears my words and does not obey them, I do not judge, because I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.  There is a judge for those who refuse to believe in me and do not accept my words. The word I have taught will be their judge on the last day.  The things I taught were not from myself. The Father who sent me told me what to say and what to teach.  And I know that eternal life comes from what the Father commands. So whatever I say is what the Father told me to say."

We should consider the opinions and examine the beliefs of godly men and women of faith.

Their faith experiences allow us to test the validity of our own beliefs.

We are not, however, saved by their opinions or faithful to God because we hold fast to their interpretations.

As difficult as it might be to think, Alexander Campbell and Barton W. Stone could have been wrong. 

Walter Scott, J.W. McGarvery, James O’Kelly, Rice Haggard, Elias Smith, Abner Jones, David Lipscomb and any other leader of the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement that birthed the Churches of Christ in America might have been wrong.

With so many educated people who were "wrong" before these men appeared can we honestly believe that they finally got it all right? 

Regardless of our education, our sincerity, and even our intention any one of us could be wrong.  (I am not in any way intending to link my name with these pioneers of our movement in America).

Do not mistake these thoughts as an attempt to throw stones or tear down the opinions or beliefs of respected pioneers of the Restoration Movement.  It is simply naive to believe we have the exclusive edition on "the right way to do things."

Salvation and hinges upon a correct understanding (and accepting) of the Good News that faith in Jesus Christ is the source of salvation.

Fellowship within the body of Christ hinges upon a correct understanding (and accepting) of the Good News that faith in Jesus Christ is the source of salvation.

Salvation and fellowship do not demand that we agree upon any other method or manner to live out or practice our faith in Jesus Christ.

I will not stand, in confidence, before God on the basis of what any other person believes or teaches regarding following Christ.

Neither should you.

I will stand, in absolute confidence, before God on the basis of how Jesus Christ said I should live to follow him.

So should you. 

I will be a bit distracted today watching updates from the MacWorld Keynote presentation by Steve Jobs.

Click on this link to read the up to the minute coverage.

In the immortal words of Kip Dynamite:  "I love technology . . ."

We went to see the film Eragon this past weekend and I, for one, was pleasantly surprised.  The kids have read the book and were able to fill me in on the gaps and discrepancies.

Ever notice how the evil bad guys members of the mutant army look like Raider fans?  Both in the film Eragon and Lord of The Rings don’t the scary mutant things look like an end zone shot from a Raider home game?  Talk about an easy casting assignment.  

Producer - "We need to shoot these battle scenes and need some extras to play the menacing hoard."

Casting Director - "No problem.  The Raiders have a home game this week."

Producer - "Brilliant!"

Casting Director - "Brilliant!"

Speaking of fans, my friend Greg has been having some interesting correspondence with a "concerned" editor of one of those "brotherhood journals."  (I wasn’t sure which word to put into quotation there so I just included both).

Alas, we too have received a letter.  Here is the text of the letter:

Dear Sir,

Have been in Calif since 3 years old but never learned to respect the state (now age 64)

If you were running your state right I wouldn’t be here.

(the signature is one half of an X)

I knew that as a church we were in a position of influence.  We just were not aware of the extent of our influence.  So for all of you who live in California know that we pledge this year to make this state a better place to live. 

Not sure what that means but we make the pledge anyway. 

On the 98th day, I repent. 

Yes, it was I who made reference to Chipper as being Greg’s "blog cash cow." 

This unfortunate reference resulted in complete Chipper abstinence. 

Who knows what Chipper has been up to these last 98 days?

What thrilling stories have we missed?  We don’t know and it’s all my fault.  For that, I repent.

Has she rescued people from burning buildings?  We don’t know and it’s all my fault.  For that, I repent.

Has she become certified as a guide dog or therapy dog?  We don’t know and it’s all my fault.  For that, I repent.

Greg, my friend and my brother from another mother,  I beg you:  thrill us, inspire us, move us once again with humor and loving anecdotes from the life and adventures of Chipper. 

And yes, for that, I repent.