Dark Brightness » Theology

Song of Deborah.

pukeko — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:28:56 +0000

The RCL has this written as prose, when this is a song. Sisera, who was a general oppression the tribes of Israel, had been killed in his sleep by Jael. The Kenites were not Isreali, but had been allies (on and off) since the times of Moses.

In the 16th Century the Puritans took the highlighted verse and used it as a call for action. Meroz was cursed because they did nothing… and Jael was blessed because she acted

Judges 5:19-31

19″The kings came, they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan, at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; they got no spoils of silver. 20The stars fought from heaven, from their courses they fought against Sisera. 21The torrent Kishon swept them away, the onrushing torrent, the torrent Kishon. March on, my soul, with might!

22″Then loud beat the horses’ hoofs with the galloping, galloping of his steeds.

23″Curse Meroz, says the angel of the LORD, curse bitterly its inhabitants, because they did not come to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.

24″Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, of tent-dwelling women most blessed. 25He asked water and she gave him milk, she brought him curds in a lordly bowl. 26She put her hand to the tent peg and her right hand to the workmen’s mallet; she struck Sisera a blow, she crushed his head, she shattered and pierced his temple. 27He sank, he fell, he lay still at her feet; at her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell dead.

28″Out of the window she peered, the mother of Sisera gazed through the lattice: ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the hoofbeats of his chariots?’ 29Her wisest ladies make answer, indeed, she answers the question herself: 30′Are they not finding and dividing the spoil? – A girl or two for every man; spoil of dyed stuffs for Sisera, spoil of dyed stuffs embroidered, two pieces of dyed work embroidered for my neck as spoil?’

31″So perish all your enemies, O LORD! But may your friends be like the sun as it rises in its might.” And the land had rest forty years.

via Daily Lectionary Readings — Devotions and Readings — Ministries & Programs — GAMC.

One of the current positions within the Church is hard pietism. The secularists would argue that one should not have any religious beliefs and that “God-botherers” should not influence public debate. This has not been accepted within the Church: our internal wrong doing has to be confronted, as it was in 1688 here:

Christians have taken this and other passages as a order to act against injustice, regardless of which branch (Orthodox, Catholic, Reformed, Anabaptist or Pentecostal). We should not sit idly by but fight against injustice. There are historic examples:Yea, rather it is worse for them, which say they are Christians; for we hear that ^ye most part of such negers are brought hither against their will and consent,and that many of them are stolen. Now, ^tho they are black, we can not conceive there is more liberty to have them slaves, as it is to have other white ones. There is a saying that we shall doe to all men like as we will be done ourselves; making no difference of what generation, descent or colour they are. And those who steal or robb men, and those who buy or purchase them, are they not all alike? Here is liberty of conscience ^wch is right and reasonable; here ought to be liberty of ^ye body, except of evil-doers,^wch is an other case. But to bring men hither, or to rob and sell them against their will, we stand against. In Europe there are many oppressed for conscience sake; and here there are those oppressed ^wh are of a black colour. And we who know than men must not comitt adultery, – some do committ adultery, in separating wives from their husbands and giving them to others; and some sell the children of these poor creatures to other men. Ah! doe consider will this thing, you who doe it, if you would be done at this manner? And if it is done according to Christianity?

But we must always speak publicly. The declaration of Bremen addressed the issues of the secular and frankly anti Christian and neo-pagan National Socialists saying that the church must reflect the national mission.

As members of Lutheran, Reformed, and United churches we may and must speak with one voice in this matter today. Precisely because we want to be and to remain faithful to our various confessions, we may not keep silent, since we believe that we have been given a common message to utter in a time of common need and temptation. We commend to God what this may mean for the interrelations of the confessional churches.

In view of the errors of the “German Christians” of the present Reich church government which are devastating the church and also therefore breaking up the unity of the German Evangelical Church, we confess the following evangelical truths:

1. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.” (Jn 14.6) “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber… I am the door; if anyone enters by me, he will be saved.” (Jn 10.1, 9)

Jesus Christ, as he is attested for us in holy scripture, is the one Word of God which we have to hear and which we have to trust and obey in life and in death.

We reject the false doctrine, as though the church could and would have to acknowledge as a source of its proclamation, apart from and besides this one Word of God, still other events and powers, figures and truths, as God’s revelation.

2. “Christ Jesus, whom God has made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” (1 Cor 1.30)

As Jesus Christ is God’s assurance of the forgiveness of all our sins, so, in the same way and with the same seriousness he is also God’s mighty claim upon our whole life. Through him befalls us a joyful deliverance from the godless fetters of this world for a free, grateful service to his creatures.

We reject the false doctrine, as though there were areas of our life in which we would not belong to Jesus Christ, but to other lords – areas in which we would not need justification and sanctification through him.

3. “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body [is] joined and knit together.” (Eph 4.15,16)

The Christian church is the congregation of the brethren in which Jesus Christ acts presently as the Lord in word and sacrament through the Holy Spirit. As the church of pardoned sinners, it has to testify in the midst of a sinful world, with its faith as with its obedience, with its message as with its order, that it is solely his property, and that it lives and wants to live solely from his comfort and from his direction in the expectation of his appearance.

We reject the false doctrine, as though the church were permitted to abandon the form of its message and order to its own pleasure or to changes in prevailing ideological and political convictions.

4. “You know that the rulers of the gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant.” (Mt 20.25,26)

The various offices in the church do not establish a dominion of some over the others; on the contrary, they are for the exercise of the ministry entrusted to and enjoined upon the whole congregation.

We reject the false doctrine, as though the church, apart from this ministry, could and were permitted to give itself, or allow to be given to it, special leaders vested with ruling powers.

5. “Fear God. Honour the emperor.” (1 Pet 2.17)

Scripture tells us that, in the as yet unredeemed world in which the church also exists, the state has by divine appointment the task of providing for justice and peace. [It fulfils this task] by means of the threat and exercise of force, according to the measure of human judgment and human ability. The church acknowledges the benefit of this divine appointment in gratitude and reverence before him. It calls to mind the kingdom of God, God’s commandment and righteousness, and thereby the responsibility both of rulers and of the ruled. It trusts and obeys the power of the Word by which God upholds all things.

We reject the false doctrine, as though the state, over and beyond its special commission, should and could become the single and totalitarian order of human life, thus fulfilling the church’s vocation as well.

We reject the false doctrine, as though the church, over and beyond its special commission, should and could appropriate the characteristics, the tasks, and the dignity of the state, thus itself becoming an organ of the state.

6. “Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (Mt 28.20) “The word of God is not fettered.” (2 Tim 2.9)

The church’s commission, upon which its freedom is founded, consists in delivering the message of the free grace of God to all people in Christ’s stead, and therefore in the ministry of his own Word and work through sermon and sacrament.

We reject the false doctrine, as though the church in human arrogance could place the word and work of the Lord in the service of any arbitrarily chosen desires, purposes, and plans.

The Confessional Synod of the German Evangelical Church declares that it sees in the acknowledgement of these truths and in the rejection of these errors the indispensable theological basis of the German Evangelical Church as a federation of confessional churches. It invites all who are able to accept its declaration to be mindful of these theological principles in their decisions in church politics. It entreats all whom it concerns to return to the unity of faith, love, and hope.

What does this mean for all us?

We need to be reforming our own life. We are enjoined to love God and our neighbour, and therefore not oppress our neighbour. This is both a private and corporate struggle.
We should make our stances clear to the surrounding community, by way of declarations and protests within the law.
However, we should resist and refuse any move to make our message subservient to the political fashions and movements of the day, regardless of how worthy they are. The political leaders who make changes are allies for that issue. We reserve the right to oppose them, and we refuse to be cowed into some form of national or political coordination — as was the error of the German “National” church and the official churches during the oppresions of the 20th century. Our issue is diluting our faith to deal with the querulous legalities of political correctness.
We will not retreat into quietism. We will have to be silenced.

These things are costly. Many of the people who signed the Bremen confession were killed. But if we do not reflect the truth, we lose our salt and become… a useless appendage to a failing society. For without the Salt of witness, righteousness and truth, society rots.

A political arrest.

pukeko — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:43:15 +0000

In the process of terror, arrests happen at night. It is far, far safer to take someone into custody if they are not surrounded by their followers

Matthew 26

At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

via Daily Lectionary Readings — Devotions and Readings — Ministries & Programs — GAMC.

In the times of terror, your allies do not want to be caught. Like the Moscow residents cowering in their flat thinking if they are silent the Chekists will find another sheep to make up their quota, people abandon the person who has been arrested.

I wonder if this is why those who visit prisoners are praised. To visit is to make oneself noticed. It is to ally with the undesirables — to be politically incorrect. And we need the courage to do this, for love is supposed to drive out fear, not fear drive out love.

Fluctuations.

pukeko — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 11:51:45 +0000

The Matthew passage compresses the last supper — the event we remember in communion — into three verses. Matthew mentions singing a song… and the Jesus says that the disciples will betray.

Matthew 26:26-35

26While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

30When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

31Then Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

via Daily Lectionary Readings — Devotions and Readings — Ministries & Programs — GAMC.

We are fallen. We are inconstant. With the best of intentions at the beginning of the day, by the end we have strayed. It is wrong. It is also very human. We strive, but fail.

And the Gospels record the Apostles failures. And many readers have, sanctimoniously, said they would not have fallen, forgetting that was exactly what the apostles said before they abandoned Jesus.

Contra narcississimus.

pukeko — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:29:19 +0000

Narcissus was a most beautiful and proud youth. He was cursed with falling in love with anything more beautiful than him. He therefore fell in love with his reflection, and starved staring in adoration at himself.

Paul here gives some sober reminders. The first is that thoughts matter. We should concentrate on the good: we have to be anti cultural to a lot of the secular messages out there, not because they are secular, but because they concentrate on the bad.

Secondly, we are not to devalue ourselves, neither are we to worship self esteem. We are to do good, not get pats for trying. High self esteem is not an end: doing good is an end.

Besides, we should count our life poured out as a sacrifice.

Romans 12:1-8

1I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.

3For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. 6We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; 8the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

via Daily Lectionary Readings — Devotions and Readings — Ministries & Programs — GAMC.

Pentecost Kirk

pukeko — Sat, 22 May 2010 22:47:39 +0000

We had a member of the kirk who is considering ministry talking today. He discussed surfing. In Scotland: how he got up early, found his friends, cranked the music up and on the 3 hour drive, in midwinter to the good waves they got excited and motivated. So when they arrived at the beach — they cheerfully ran into the freezing water to surf.

And people thought they were crazy. On Pentecost, the Apostles were considered high — drunk. Crazy.

But we are not like that most days (we are Presbyterians — dour most of the time). He reflected that the apostles had been meeting and praying (he omitted the key word — together) and then Pentecost came. The time of preparation matters. If we have dreams and visions, we need to pray on them. We need to wait, to work. to prepare.

But we should not deny the spirit when it flows.

Acts 4:18-21, 23-33

18So they called them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; 20for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21After threatening them again, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all of them praised God for what had happened.

23After they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and everything in them, 25it is you who said by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant: 'Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things? 26The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers have gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah’s; 27For in this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 28to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, 30while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.

32Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

via PC(USA) – Devotions – Daily readings for Sunday, May 23, 2010.

Contra pseudogospelum socialorum.

pukeko — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 19:47:19 +0000

This is a time when the persecutions begin. I note that South Park can be blasphemous about Jesus, but not Mohammed. Because they are afraid of their skins. I see that the left is afraid that there will be a winnowing of them, while accusing their opposition of being genocidal racists, perverts, and worse.

I’m not that courageous and I prefer to be in comfort. Yet I claim to follow this person>

Matthew 4,

23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. 25And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

Jesus was a healer and preacher. He attended to the needs of people who came to see him. But does this mean, to be like him, we have to remove from the rich to give to the poor? In Acts a couple came to Peter saying they had sold all to give to the church but had held some back. They were killed (without a hand on them) and Peter commented that their property was theirs, they could choose to keep it, sell it, and give what they wanted. Their crime was claiming to what they are not.

Colossians 3:1-17

1So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. 7 These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. 8 But now you must get rid of all such things – anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices 10 and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. 11 In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!

via PCUSA – Devotions – Daily readings for Saturday, April 24, 2010.

From this: we must be truthul, pure, not jealous of other’s blessings — instead be happy for them.

We should neither demonize or praise the rich. I note that both occur far too often in our political discourse.
We should be honest. If our brother is struggling, he needs help, but if he feels he has to pretend to not have problems… how can he get help.
We should resolve our differences in house.
We are all one. There is no place for playing the politics of colour.
We are one. We should not encourage the lords of this earth to steal from us.
We should do good. One could argue that the state is not the means for this: for it is not sustainable in times of poverty. Families should look after their own and we should then provide for those who do not have. If we don’t have a few homeless people coming in for the food we are not doing our job.
In the end, we are hidden in Christ. We have to account to him. Each day we can do good, or not, and that is our responsibility, And if we were not hidden in Christ, it would be our condemnation, for each day we do not meet these standards.

So moving to a social gospel, to a gospel that proclaims and ruminates on imagined oppression and the need for some authority to punish, is not a gospel. If one preaches this, one ins against Christ.

The Gospel needs to be available and understandable by a child — and the current neopagan gaiaist syncretic liberalized faith ain’t that.

Three dangers, no four

pukeko — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:12:27 +0000

There are three or four dangers here.

The danger of listening to reason and ignoring the suppositions behind it. It one supposes there is no need to invoke the deity — G_d is not on the playing field — the Bible is mere supersition, and is treated with contempt.
The Danger of listening overmuch to authority. I am responsible for my walk next to G_d (which is very intermittent). I cannot rely on the life of any pastor, any saint.
The Danger of ritual and tradition, no matter how beautiful, obscuring the need to rely on Jesus. This is the danger of religion, and it is real: If I keep Kosher, do not use a computer, live as a Mennonite… I am holy. (I am not holy. Only G_d is holy. I stumble towards my aspirations.) Our salvation relies on the cross.
There is a fourth problem. We can take on the rituals and prohibitions of the world. We can become too Green, to concerned with Social Justice — in the end because we think we can manage that which we cannot (I am speaking of the climate, on abolishing evil and inequality). We should do good, but the rituals of atonement such as carbon credits — add little, and, like the indulgences in Luther’s time, need to be condemned.

Colossians 2:8-23

8See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. 9For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority.

16Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths. 17These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling on visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking, 19and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.

via PC(USA) – Devotions – Daily readings for Friday, April 23, 2010.

You see a person’s characther if they have power.

pukeko — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 05:04:10 +0000

Over history, people have returned to religion when times are bad. These times will come and have come.

1 Peter 4

7The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. 8Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. 11Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. 14If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.

(The religion matters here — the burden for a green is much, much higher than a Muslim. And the burden on a Muslim is hard. Jesus’ burden is light). The real test is not when times are bad, but when you can say this:

Psalm 92

10But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;you have poured over me fresh oil.

11My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.

Let us who have pray for protection from pride, from boasting in our power, for the powerless and poor see pride and boasting as a luxury. We are all dependant on G_d. The current circumstances are — in the long haul — ephemeral, for we do not survive a centurey (except rarely). And the economic,political and moral climate we are in changes from decade to decate.

Our job is to be faithful and bring glory. Even though are best is tarnished, we are continue in this.

via PCUSA – Devotions – Daily readings for Today.

Are we post-christian or pagan?

pukeko — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 20:21:42 +0000

Part of the Reformed position is a sense that the Church is in society and should influence it. The technical name for this is Catholic — the Church is full of fallen people and (it is only by God’s power) that any good happens. The Roman Church calls itself Catholic, but the position is shared by those who take a Orthodox or Reformed position.

The other position the Church has taken is separation from the world. The first people who did this were monks. There has been a quietist and mystic group within the Catholic churches that subsumes its feelings to the wider church. However, from the enlightenment on, the idea that the Church should be separate from society has gathered both among pagans and believers. This leads to statements such as:

“This is a personal opinion, but I don’t expect New Zealand society to observe the Christian story at Easter.

“I don’t have religious objections at all if shops are allowed to open any time they like over Easter. I don’t think the churches can expect New Zealand society to observe Easter in the way the Christian churches do.

“It’s something that is special and precious to Christians that should be respected, but the churches shouldn’t seek to impose that on society.

“People can have their days off and enjoy them in ignorance of what Easter is about for Christians, and that’s fine.”

I’d say that if Jesus did not rise, our faith is vain. If our faith is not vain, it behooves us to bear witness to him at all times — and the cycle of festivals within the Church (and fossilized in Society) gives us a chance to do this.

via Pagans, Passover and the resurrection | Otago Daily Times Online News.

Nihil Christos, Nihil Charitas

pukeko — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:07:51 +0000

This needs no explanation or comment

1 Corinthians 12:27-13:3

27Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

1If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.