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'Winging It
by Stan Smith
It's an odd thing. When I was growing up we all knew the story of Jonah and the Fish. (Yeah, that's right. We were told at the outset that "this was no whale". Fish.) We knew it. We saw the connection of "in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights" and Jesus in the grave for that time. Yeah, yeah, okay. Fun story and all. But did it really mean anything? I mean, did you get anything out of it? It is, after all, a bit of a strange story, even without the whole fish-swallowing-a-man component. First you have a prophet who figures the best… ( Click for more )
Awhile ago I got a phone call from a former coworker who had moved out of state. "Hi," she said. "I have a question that you might be able to answer. When dogs die, do they go to heaven? You see, if my dog isn't with me in heaven, I don't want to go." She, of course, was suffering from a fundamental failure to comprehend heaven. But she exhibited the classic understanding of what heaven is all about: "Heaven is fundamentally about my ultimate happiness." And she got me to thinking about Heaven. Heaven means different things to different people.… ( Click for more )
You know the most common complaint about God, right? To the critic it's the theist's Achilles heel. To the believer it's the one real sticking point. The most devout believer can encounter events in life that cause this to rise and trip them up. It is everywhere. The complaint? "Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?" Did you ever think about the wrong-headedness of such a question? I mean, that question is way out in left field, so to speak. Now, when I suggest this, I would guess that many people would say, "Yeah! It's not that God allows… ( Click for more )
Now, I know that everyone loves to read stuff about marriage advice from Scripture. Okay, maybe not. Still, I'm reading through Peter's epistles and found something interesting. Since we want a Christian worldview (rather than imposing a worldly worldview on Christianity), I'd like to examine a passage of Scripture for exegesis -- proper understanding. Now, keep in mind that the passage is likely controversial, so that's a double purpose of this exercise. I'd like to examine the text for what it says (exegesis) rather than what our world or even ourselves might like it to say (eisegesis). … ( Click for more )
I've noticed that among those who claim to follow the Word of God there appears to be two categories. Oh, sure, there is the third category -- those who discard God's Word -- but I'm talking about those who don't. These two categories would be those who allow the Word to shape their world and those who allow their world to shape the Word. It is undeniable that there are difficulties with Scripture. For instance, it was written in foreign languages long since dead. What does it mean when it says what it says? Take, as an example, the description of the ephod for the priests… ( Click for more )
In my experience there is very little that can get people as upset as quickly as giving unwanted advice. Telling husbands to love their wives isn't likely going to be well received. Telling wives to submit to their husbands is absolutely not going to be well received. These kinds of things just aren't very popular today. Of course, we're not shooting for popular, are we? If Live as if is aiming at telling Christians how to live as if they are Christians and the primary source for that advice is the Bible, then we're just going to have to go with that, like it or not. So, once more… ( Click for more )
When I was young we enjoyed our family hi-fi. That was short for high fidelity, of course. We used it to play records, radio, that sort of thing. A high fidelity stereo, you see, was better than a mere radio because this device would reproduce the qualities and conditions of the music with exact correspondence. The question, then, is how that would look for a faithful wife, a "high fidelity" wife. Because, while we all know that husbands can be unfaithful, it is not limited to them. And any godly wife would definitely aim to be a faithful wife. The first thing we… ( Click for more )
Okay, remember, "fidelity" means "correspondence with quality or condition". "Marital fidelity", then, would mean sexual fidelity (obviously) since the marriage bed is to be held in honor, but it means so much more. Here, let's put that another way. Part of the quality and conditions of marriage includes sexual fidelity (as opposed to either sexual immorality or adultery -- Hebrews 13:4). Thus, marital fidelity would clearly include sexual fidelity as part of the quality and conditions of marriage. But the real question that would naturally follow… ( Click for more )
We all know what "infidelity" is, right? That means that you're cheating (sexually) on your spouse. But ... is that right? According to the FreeDictionary.com, fidelity refers to "faithfulness to obligations, duties, or observances" or "exact correspondence with fact or with a given quality, condition, or event." Fidelity, then, certainly refers to faithfulness, but goes far beyond not cheating on your wife. A faithful spouse would be a spouse who faithfully meets all obligations and duties. Surely that includes sexual obligations, but it goes… ( Click for more )
In the classic Miracle on 34th Street, Maureen O'Hara's Doris finally comes to believe in Santa Claus. Natalie Wood's Susan, her inquiring daughter, wonders about this change. So Doris warmly shares this bit of wisdom with Susan: "Faith is believing in things ... when common sense tells you not to." Then there's that wise character from All in the Family, Archie Bunker. About faith he says, "It ain't supposed to make sense; it's faith. Faith is something that you believe that nobody in his right mind would believe." For some reason, it seems, nearly… ( Click for more )
We all know that Christmas and Christ are too easily separated these days. Has been for some time. It's about "the season", a "feeling in the air", a "sense of good will", a family thing. It's lights and decorations and trees and presents. It's good deeds and all that good stuff. It's "What can I get?" and all that bad stuff. And every Christian knows to some extent that we need to work to keep Christ in Christmas. You may go to the extreme of skipping gifts and decorations (good luck with that) or just work at keeping Him central in all your… ( Click for more )
In the classical (or liturgical) churches there is a season known as "Advent". It is the classical Christmas season. But it's much more than "Christmas". You've seen, I'm quite sure, Advent calendars. They cover several weeks, not just one day, you see. "Advent" comes from the Latin, adventus – "The coming". That's the idea. And the idea of Advent (rather than just "Christmas") is the entire coming-of-Christ concept.
I have a problem with Christmas. Always have. Christmas, you see, has always been so cluttered with… ( Click for more )
I hate Santa Claus. Oh, that's probably too harsh. But the images we're given and the concepts we're taught surrounding this fictional character are just ... well ... wrong. You know, for instance, that he has a "Naughty and Nice" list. What happens to the naughty? Well, they're supposed to get a lump of coal in their stocking, but no one gets a lump of coal. In a recent car commercial I saw Santa Claus is examining two lines of luxury cars -- one red and the other white -- which are being loaded onto vehicles for delivery. The white ones go to the "Nice"… ( Click for more )
It's Wednesday. Surely today you can enjoy a hymn! Beneath The Cross Of Jesus Elizabeth Clephane Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand, The shadow of a mighty Rock within a weary land; A home within the wilderness, a rest along the way From the burning of the noonday heat and the burden of the day. Upon that cross of Jesus, mine eye can sometimes see The very dying form of One who suffered there for me; And from my smitten heart with tears two wonders I confess - The wonders of His glorious love and my own worthlessness. I take, O cross, thy shadow… ( Click for more )
Okay, the previous hymn was rather stuffy, perhaps, although I loved it myself. How about a "more contemporary" hymn? I'd Rather Have Jesus I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold, I'd rather be His than have riches untold; I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land, I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand: Refrain Than to be the king of a vast domain or be held in sin's dread sway! I'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today. I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause, I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause; I'd rather have Jesus… ( Click for more )
I was thinking the other day about the dichotomy of an atheist Thanksgiving. I mean, sure, they use the phrase, "I'm thankful for ...", but to whom are they thankful? It is possible to list things for which they are grateful, but little thought is given beyond that list. It occurred to me, however, that there is often something missing at Thanksgiving for all of us. What's missing at Thanksgiving? For a sizable number of Americans, Thanksgiving Day is "Turkey Day". It's a day to enjoy a lot of food, gather with friends and family, watch an inordinate amount… ( Click for more )
You may not be aware of this, but I really love the hymns. Here's one I like a lot. It's an oldie, to be sure, and a lot of you may not have ever heard it. It's painful to sing (because it's in the classical style using archaic language) and it's painful to examine (because it's about the suffering of Christ), but, please, give it a chance. I think you'll find it valuable to examine. O Sacred Head, Now Wounded Attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153) O Sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down, Now scornfully surrounded with thorns Thy only crown, How… ( Click for more )
A hymn we've all heard: Nearer, My God, to Thee Sarah F. Adams Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee, E'en tho' it be a cross that raiseth me; Still all my song shall be, "Nearer my God to Thee, Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!" Tho' like the wanderer, the sun gone down, Darkness be over me, my rest a stone, Yet in my dreams I'll be Nearer my God to Thee, Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee! There let the way appear, steps unto heav'n; All that Thou sendest me, in mercy giv'n - Angels to beckon me Nearer my God to Thee, Nearer,… ( Click for more )
What is this thing called "Halloween"? And why are Christians either deeply outraged or having anything at all to do with it? Well, as it turns out, the early Christian church celebrated an "All Saints Day", a remembrance for martyred Christians. And, of course, since all church holidays have an "eve", the day before was "All Hallows Eve", a holy evening to prepare for All Saints Day. Well, as is our wont, "All Hallows Eve" shortened over time to "Hallow-e'en" to "Halloween", effectively removing all connection… ( Click for more )
Worship honors God. No, that's not just a statement; it's a definition. Worship is that which honors God. It may be a formal ceremony, a specific task, or a lifestyle. The word is rooted in the Old English for "worth - ship" and recognizes God's worth. Now, if that doesn't give you pause even to hear, you aren't paying attention. How do we recognize "God's worth"? How do we recognize the infinite? There has been a lot of complaints for quite a long time, actually, about modern worship. It's too light. It's too fluffy. It isn't serious enough. It's too "seeker… ( Click for more )
In John 5 we read the story of the man at the Pool of Bethesda. Without all the details, it was a guy who had been lame for 38 years trying to get healed. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, "Do you wish to get well?" (John 5:6).
What an astounding question! "Do you wish to get well?" I mean, "Duh!" What else could he possibly wish? This wasn't the only time that Jesus appears to ask a "no-brainer". In Mark 10 we read the story of blind Bartimaeus of Jericho.… ( Click for more )
In a discussion recently I was asked, "How can you know you're one of the elect?" A valid question worth exploring. The proof that you can't know was that even those who believe in election have a hard time with the question. Well, I'd prefer not to use contemporaries as the formation of my beliefs, so let's see what we can find in Scripture. First, anyone who denies that the doctrine of election is a biblical doctrine is simply not reading their Bible. "You did not choose Me, but I chose you" (John 15:16). He chose us in Him before the foundation of the… ( Click for more )
When I was a youngster in church activities, I was caught up in the competition. You know. We had "Bible drills" -- who could turn the fastest to a Bible verse. We had contests to see who could recite the books of the Bible the fastest. We had Bible memorization contests. Now, in these contests you were credited with "numbers of verses" or "numbers of chapters". So we learned tricks. If you had to memorize a chapter, volunteer to memorize Psalm 117. Two verses. Done! And our favorite Bible verse to memorize was John 11:35. "Jesus wept." Done! … ( Click for more )
One of the attributes of God that is repeated over and over in Scripture is His wrath. Okay, enough of that. Let's move on. The topic is largely one ignored today. Many deny it. Of the rest, many ignore it. Of the rest, many prefer not to speak about it. It is unpleasant. Okay, enough of that. Let's move on. The wrath of God is one of the popular tools of the anti-theist. Oddly enough, they are either complaining that He's too wrathful or complaining that He's not wrathful enough. He's bad because the Bible says He ordered the execution of an entire group of sinful people or… ( Click for more )
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