Being Salt

Why do we add salt to our food?  I believe the answer to be very informative to our call as Christ followers in view of Matthew 5:13,

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet."  (ESV)

The Greek word translated "lost its taste" is, mōranthe, from mōraino, meaning "to be a fool" or "be foolish".  So what does it mean to be a fool?  A primary rule of studying the Bible is to let the Bible define itself.  Psalms 14:1a says,

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” (ESV)

A fool, then, is someone who denies the existence of God, and foolishness is acting as though you do not believe in God.  How then may we know if we have lost our saltiness?  By understanding what salt does...

The following six purposes for salt are borrowed from http://foodreference.about.com/od/Ingredients_Basics/a/Functions-Of-Salt-In-Food.htm

1.  Preservative
2.  Texture enhancer
3.  Flavor enhancer
4.  Nutrient source
5.  Binder
6.  Color enhancer

When you read how salt accomplishes each of its tasks, the analogy of being salt becomes even more profound.

1.  Salt draws the moisture out of food.  Moisture is essential to microbial growth.  In other words, the existence of salt reduces the opportunity for dangerous microbes to grow.  As believers, just our presence in society has the influence of preventing sin from developing in society.
2.  Salt increases yeast fermentation, gluten formation, and gelatinization of protein cells, each of which greatly affect the texture of bread.  As believers, our very presence should cause changes in the texture of society.
3.  Interestingly, while we may enjoy salt just as salt, its greatest asset to food is bringing out the best flavors in the food it is added to itself.  Ironically, salt when by itself is almost overpowering.
4.  Again, while too much salt is not good for us, salt is an essential nutrient, without which we could not survive.
5.  The gelatinization spoken of above has an additional effect.  It binds the food together.  In other words, we as believers should be helping to hold society together.  We should, particularly among our brothers and sisters in Christ, have the influence of unifying, not dividing.
6.  Finally, salt makes colors more vibrant.  The life of a believer should enhance the appearance of the society in which they live, not make it ugly.

When we look at this list, I wonder if we don’t need to take a new perspective of what it means to be in the world, but not of the world.  Perhaps rather than fighting against so many things, we should try demonstrating to society the benefits of living like Christ.  Our lives should help prevent harm taking place in our society, enrich the texture and character of our society, bring out the best in the people around us, strengthen the society and people we are around, build unity and cohesiveness, and generally make the society in which we live more beautiful and vibrant.

I have to wonder what would happen if society saw believers more from the perspective of positively demonstrating Christ-like behavior, and demonstrating the benefits of a Godly life, rather than continually tearing down those who do not believe is Christ.  What would happen if the simply saw us living what we believe rather than demanding others to live in accordance with what we believe.

Yes, we absolutely need to teach what is right and wrong in accordance with God’s Word among ourselves, and be willing to graciously explain what we do believe, but demanding that others conform to our beliefs is not what it means to be salt.

The last observation I would like to make is this… a pile of salt that stays off by itself is not fulfilling the purpose of salt.  Salt in a salt shaker accomplishes nothing.  Salt can study continuously its purpose, but if it never gets out of the shaker, it is useless.

Be salt

SCOTUS Ruling on Marriage

SCOTUS ruled today legalizing marriage between any gender combinations.  As a pastor, I have been asked to respond to this decision of the court.  As I had already made the decision to stop officiating for "Civil Weddings" because of the general decline of our society's view on the sanctity of marriage.  This ruling, therefore, has no real impact on how I will function as a minister of the gospel.  This decision only confirms my previous decision.  Following is my response:

First, I feel it appropriate to begin by expressing that having homosexual desires only becomes a sin when you begin to dwell on it in your heart or fulfill those desires with action.  We are all tempted to sin, all having been born with a sin nature, so to condemn someone because they suffer with temptation in any form would be to condemn us all.  We should rather respond compassionately, offering God's love, grace, encouragement, and support in battling against sin, regardless of it's form.  I address this further below.

Second, we live in a secular society which has abandoned the Judeo/Christian morals upon which our nation was founded, and so while this is disturbing to those of us who still live by those principles, it should neither surprise nor shock us.  It should sadden us, causing us to fear the coming judgement we know approaches for our nation (see Romans chapter one).  According to the Bible the sin of homosexuality is being allowed in our society is a judgement of God on mankind's rejection of Him, and the approval of that sin by individuals and society results in God's direct judgement (ibid).  The answer to Homosexuality in our society is not attacking homosexuals, but revival in the lives of believers and an outbreak of evangelistic fervor in our nation!

Third, we should look on this decision as an opportunity to share God's loving intent for marriage and relationships in our broken culture, and through that the grace He offers to all people, including those who are suffering this judgement of homosexual desires.  If we believe God's Word is true, and I do, then we should respond with compassion on those who are experiencing God's judgement for our societal sin of rejecting God, not strike out with hate toward them.  This does not mean we should view or express that the sin is in any way acceptable to God or in society, but rather we should prayerfully petition our Lord for His saving and cleansing work in their lives, just as we do for all other sin in all other sinners’ lives.

Forth, I believe that this ruling has made "marriage" nothing more than a legal contract with no moral foundation, and therefore we, as God fearing and loving believers, must reject the government’s authority to endorse or provide approval for the joining of two people together in holy matrimony.  Government has lost any semblance of the right to have a part in the joining of two people in holy matrimony.  I believe the proper decision of our government, if they desired to create a means for LGBT unions, should have been to create "Civil Unions/contracts", as that is all they are anyway, being devoid of any form the traditional understanding of marriage.  Though even this form of tacit approval of the practice of a homosexual lifestyle is morally corrupt, and only makes plain the the depths to which our society has fallen.

To illustrate what I believe is a proper course of action for believers from this point forward, I will share the path which I am currently taking in joining two believers in a marriage covenant.  Although I believe the government has forfeited its moral authority to speak to the union of a man and woman in marriage, we are commanded to render unto Caesar (government) what is Caesar's.  This means that if the government requires a government document joining two people together in marriage for legal reasons, I encourage all believers to obey the law.  This said, I do not believe that as a church we should require a state marriage certificate to consider a couple married.  We should consider a marriage "real" from this point forward only when it is performed in the sight of God.  This may be done with a state marriage certificate only if it is undertaken with Biblical understanding of the covenant nature of the marriage.  If a couple desires to have a state certificate and have me officiate, they will have to get "married" by a state official separately, and I will officiate their Marriage Covenant Ceremony.  I will be doing this for a godly young couple July 4th.

Finally, we need to fall on our knees before our Holy God, YHWH, look at our own hearts and ask the question, "What sin might I have in my life that could be contributing to God's judgment on our nation?"  We need to look to our own hearts first, repenting of our own sin, and only then are we able to point out the sin of others, sharing God's grace with other broken and sinful people.  When we do point out the sin of others, it should never be approached from a place of condemnation, but from a place of loving compassion, with the goal of redemption in God's grace, through faith.

Let's keep our eyes on the cross.

A Beautiful Beginning - Genesis 1:1-2:3

A Beautiful Beginning

Genesis 1:1-2:3

In today’s passage we can see creation from its beginning to its culmination in God creating human beings in the persons of Adam and Eve.  For this discussion, I would ask that the debate about the the literal nature of days and nights, any consideration of a supposed “gap” theory, or any other areas of controversy, be left to another forum.  If it impacts one's consideration of these posts, and in the spirit of full disclosure, I believe that the days were literal 24 hours and that there was no “gap” between verse one and two of Genesis chapter one.  Our purpose here is simple, the discovery of truth in God’s Word, and how that truth provides direction for our lives today.

It is “Very Good”

At each phase of creation God decrees that “it is good,” with the exception when He finishes creating mankind (the work “man” in Genesis 1:26 is translated from the Hebrew word אָדָ֛ם (adam), which simply the generic term for mankind, which is subsequently used as a proper name for the first man “Adam”) where he says,

“31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.”
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ge 1:31.

God’s creation was “very good”.  We can conclusively accept as true that when God created there was no evil in any part of the creation.  God’s intention for all of creation, including mankind, was goodness at the creation, and is still goodness today.  This is foundational in our study of God’s Word.  Just as in His original creation, we see that throughout the Bible God consistently seeks goodness for His creation.  God’s desire for you is goodness.

In Our Image

There is a great deal of debate over the use of the plural “Our” and “Elohim” for God in our passage.  One view suggested proposes “plural of majesty”, however, this is rejected by most.  While there may be truth to the plural showing majesty, the better understanding is more likely that of divine contemplation, which also makes provision for the later revelation in God’s Word for God’s Triune nature.  Again, there is no need for debate of this here.  Please leave that for other academic papers.

Another area where there is great debate may be found in the ideas of God’s “image” and “likeness”.  Although a tremendous amount of effort has gone into what exactly these terms mean, and the implications on our understanding of the nature of man, there is no information found in scripture which specifically defines this.  I am convinced that the proper position to take one of, where scripture is silent, we too should be silent.  I believe that man’s speculation about these words, which may simply be repetition for emphasis, and be synonymous in meaning.  Since the context does not provide a definition, perhaps the best way to see reference to the image of God is not in the nature of mankind, but in the role mankind is to play in the creation, as is proposed by K. A. Mathews:

Although Genesis tells who is created in the “image of God,” both man and woman (1:27; 1 Cor 11:7; Jas 3:9), it does not describe the contents of the “image.” The passage focuses on the consequence of that creative act, which is humanity’s rule over the terrestrial world of life (1:28; Ps 8:6 [7]). That lofty position merited the divine bestowal of “glory and honor” (Ps 8:5 [6]) that one and at the same time acknowledged human creatureliness and yet honored mankind above all creatures as “human.”

K. A. Mathews, Genesis 1-11:26, vol. 1A, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), 164.

Now is a good time, following Mathews statement to note that both man and woman were created in the image of God.  Before we move on, it may be noted, with Mathews, ibid., that it is the lofty position of man over creation which best relates to the “image/likeness” of God, and perhaps it is not just man (males) who is given dominion over the earth, but humanity in general.  The relationship of man and woman will be saved for what is revealed subsequently, but for now, let us turn to the implications of God’s command to man, which includes, but is not limited to dominion over the earth.

God’s First Command for Mankind

It is important to note that the first command of God is preceded with His blessing of mankind, again reinforcing the truth that God’s intention for mankind is to bless us.  If we are to live our lives with a proper world view, we must never lose site of this truth.  In the midst of the conflict with sin in which we now find ourselves, we can trust the God is continually working toward blessing those who love and trust Him (see also Romans 8:28).  Any loss of this truth in the study of God’s Word may lead to a false perspective.

God’s command for mankind comes with two aspects which I believe are connected:

1. Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it
2. Have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth

God’s first command being to multiply and fill the earth and subdue it must be viewed with profound implications on our fundamental understanding of current debates raging in our society today.  As I write this blog, the supreme court of the United states of America is considering changing the fundamental of meaning of marriage from between one man and one woman to include same sex relationships.  Any discussion of the purpose of two humans joining in a union apart from this command from God violates the very reason God created individuals with distinct male and female gender.  When considered in view of the command to “subdue” the earth, without filling/populating the entire earth, which requires procreation, subduing the earth is impossible. 

God’s command to “subdue” the earth comes with both authority and responsibility.  According to the NASB Hebrew-Aramaic Dictionary, the Hebrew word translated subdue is:
3533.      כָּבַשׁ kabash (461b); a prim. root; to subdue, bring into bondage:—assault(1), brought them into subjection(2), forced into bondage(1), forcing(1), subdue(1), subdued(5), subjugate(1), trample(1), tread our under foot(1), under foot(1).

Robert L. Thomas, New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries : Update 

Edition (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998).

As evidenced by the following verses, mankind had complete authority over all living creatures which moved on the earth.  The to the extent of authority that God gives man over the creation is evidenced in Genesis 2:19f where we see God bringing all the animals and birds before Adam for him to name, and gives Adam the choice of accepting any of them as a companion.  Implicit in this authority includes responsibility for them.  While I do not believe that this give credence to the environmental movements actions, it should give us pause in how we manage that which God has entrusted us.  If we desire to experience God’s blessing in the fullest manner possible, we must consider the best possible methods of managing His creation, however, this does not involve leaving the creation alone.  We must manage the creation.  This must never mean giving animals or plant life priority over mankind.  They were given to mankind as a part of God’s blessing to them, not the other way around.  When the choice must be made between the well being of another part of the creation and the well being of humans, humans must always be the priority.  It requires proper balance between authority and responsibility for mankind to experience the full blessings God desires for mankind.

The rest of our passage presents the method by which God intends mankind to fulfill His purposes for the creation.  There is one central truth which becomes evident, the fulfillment of God's purpose for mankind is through the institution of the family.  It is out of the family structure that every other system of relationships are best understood.  It is as the family is destroyed we see society itself disintegrating.  If we are to experience God’s best, there are basic principles we must learn from the passage.

First, there is order in the creation.  God did not create arbitrarily, nor does he expect us to live our lives without order.  When we live in a state of chaos, we experience insecurity.  When we live with no sense of purpose and direction, we can not experience all that God desires for our lives.  Further, when we strive after a purpose contrary to the fundamental desires of God it is impossible to discover and live within our individual purposes.  This includes our basic need for family and relationship.
Second, there is an authority structure in the created order.  This is made evident in mankind's authority over animals and the earth.  We will see in our next blog how this authority structure was corrupted resulting from sin.  To experience God’s awesome blessings in our lives, we must submit to the authorities He places in our lives, and take responsibly for the areas of authority with which He has entrusted to us.

Sin has corrupted our ability to fulfill either of these areas in our lives, but in Christ, and Him alone, we can experience the full restoration of God’s power and abundance.

I am in the process of trying to get back on track with the primary focus of this blog.  Yes, occasionally I will post on political conditions in our nation and how we as believers may best respond from a Biblical perspective, but it is my intention to focus more on applying Biblical truth to everyday struggles we each face.  My approach is to examine Biblical passages, expounding on the contextual conditions of the passages and the truths found within them, only then providing insight for contemporary application.  I will begin soon and pray that your life will be enriched greatly from the truths found in the Word of God.