Another Milestone!

Since May 2009 I have been diligently plugging away at the completion of my undergraduate degree in Biblical Studies via Indiana Wesleyan. I just completed my final analysis paper: a thirteen page reflection on Philemon and the virtues of Christian living it offers. The shortest book in the Bible proved - to me - to be the greatest challenge thus far. However, I have just seven more electives before I cross the finish line. Until then I plan to devote more time here and hopefully build our base. Help spread the Word (get it?!?) and share Holy Hoosier with your friends! Let's get our readership up and reach more people!

Galatians: Paul's Position

Paul’s theological position on the relationship of believers to the law is of key importance in his epistle to the Galatian believers. It was through revelatory experience that Paul, a once esteemed Pharisee and persecutor of the Church (1:15, 16), received the Gospel through Jesus Christ (1:12c) as is evidenced in the opening four verses of this epistle. Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Ac. 9) and inferred revelation from Him in the three years leading to his ministry were perhaps an intense time of study and spiritual growth in his life.

Poll of Americans: Better a Mormon than a Muslim in White House

If there's one thing we are sure to see in this year's upcoming race for the White House it is that religion will come into play at some point. Is Mitt Romney's faith sufficient for Christians? A recent poll published by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life states 12% of those polled (out of 2,973 adults) are uncomfortable with the President's religion -- half the level of discomfort as Romney. But what gets me in this article -- a statistic that is worth noting -- is that only 6% say Obama's religion is irrelevant. That doesn't mean only 6% think his religion is of little importance, that could infer the other 94% think is religion is extremely relevant.

Source:http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/julyweb-only/poll-americans-mormon-muslim-white-house.html

John Wesley's Calling to America

Here are some facts of Wesley:

•    Born in Epworth, England in the year 1703
•    He was a prolific evangelist in both Europe as well as America
•    He was an Anglican priest and founder of the Methodist movement
•    His teachings, known as Wesleyanism, provided the seeds for: the modern Methodist movement, the Holiness movement, Pentecostalism, the Charismatic Movement, and Neo-charismatic churches, which encompass numerous denominations across the world.
•    In addition, he refined Arminianism (the teachings of theologian Jacobus Arminius) with a strong evangelical emphasis on the Reformed doctrine of justification by faith; consistent with the Gentile teachings of the apostle Paul. 

Wesley, however, was not called outright by God; not called, that is, by a divine, booming voice from the heavens. 

I recently came across an old book on Wesley’s ministry and missionary journey to America:

In 1735, the trustees of the colony of Georgia – in America – had been looking about for proper persons to send to the colony, to preach to the settlers and to the Indiana, and had fixed their eyes on him. 

Attached, as Wesley was, to Oxford, the proposition to GO on the mission to America, did not, at first, strike him favorably. In fact (it says) he raised several objections. 

Instead of accepting the proposition, at first, Wesley returned to Epworth to consult his mother; he supposed it would deeply grieve her to be left. He consulted with his sister, Emily, who – just as his mother did – urged him, “GO, my brother!” as did one of his brothers, Samuel. 

He consulted several able and distinguished men, and the all advised him to GO. It is clear from this that Wesley would never decide on any matter, till he had what he conceived a good reason for it.

Wesley believed the LORD had three modes if guiding men in the way He would have them GO: 

1.    To some, the LORD gives a divine impression.

2.    To others, in a more spiritual accordance with His Word, He gives an apt and convincing Scripture.

 
3.    To others, He gives a clear reason for that particular line of duty which they should adopt. This might be called “Providence” in a person’s life 

Wesley had been considered the poor man’s friend and his heart ached for the poor, desolate, dregs of English society. He felt the desire, upon further investigation and analysis of America, to bring the Gospel to the Indians. It says in this book that his, “Heart yearned to preach the Gospel to him; to kneel with him, in his rude wigwam, and offer up the prayer of faith to the great Being who ‘made of one blood all nations of men!’” 

Through many days of discussion and no doubt deep prayerful thought, Wesley gave the trustees of Georgia his consent to GO on the mission. 

Though, not ALL of his acquaintances approved his decision.
One reminded him of his position at Oxford; that he had provision for life and was in line for a promotion. This individual said to him, “And yet, you are leaving?” 

Wesley responds in a manner that surely was of a divine, godly state:
“Sir, if the Bible be NOT true, I am as very a fool and madman as you can conceive. BUT, if that book be of God, I am sober-minded; for it declares, “There is no man that hath left house, or friends, or brethren, for the kingdom of God’s sake, who shall NOT receive manifold more in the present time, and in the world to come everlasting life!” (Luke 18:29) 

On October 14, 1735, John Wesley, in accompaniment with one of his brothers, Charles, and other men, boarded a merchant ship – AGAINST THE ADVICE OF MEN WHOM HE CONFERRED, though in the will of the Lord – to America. 

Sometimes those closest to us – in our midst; our inner circle – are not there because of God. The ultimate conclusion about where God wants to lead us and why God has credited us with the gifts He has endowed upon us, will always be found in the Holy Spirit.

Hugo Chavez weeps for God's mercy: what about you?

Easter is often a time spent reflecting on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross and the miraculous Resurrection three days later from the empty tomb (Luke 24:1-8).

Sent into this world to be the savior for all mankind, Jesus was crucified following the incessant demands of the Jewish leaders (Mark 15:13-14) at the washed hands of the Roman Procurator, Pontius Pilate.

As Jesus was on hanging on the cross, there were two men hanging with him (Luke 23:32-34). We know from Roman history that the penalty of crucifixion was for the worst of criminals, therefore we can infer the two men hanging next to him were as such. Continuing in Luke's Gospel, as one man hurls insults at Jesus (v. 39) the other asks to walk in the eternal Kingdom with Him (v. 42). The remarkable thing is that Jesus' love for mankind was so strong that His immediate response was not not deep thought or rebuke, rather it was simply "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise" (v. 43).

More powerful than water

John 6:15, when Jesus walks on the water, leads us into a pivot point in John, in that Jesus doesn’t use an instrument to perform a miracle – He is the instrument in the miracle.

By walking on the water Jesus shows His disciples – the twelve that choose to continue following, not leave Him as the coming crowds are to do – water is nothing more than a bi-product of the earth. He is showing that as one with the Creator of such things as water, He too has control over it. Yet, water is something paralyzing to Peter, while also serving as something that man needs in order to survive. By Jesus exercising His supreme authority over even water, what more evidence must the disciples need that He is the Messiah?

We are powerless over things of this world without Jesus Christ. Case-in-point: when Peter steps out of the boat, the water begins to drown him. But he stepped out of the boat in faith; a faith that was not exhibited by any other disciple because Peter knew that Jesus was there for him.

Is the teaching a hard one to follow? Absolutely! Will we be able to fall even after we accept to choose it? You better believe it! Does Jesus substantiate through His Word that He is powerful enough to overcome anything in this world? Most definitely! Therefore, we can rest in the promise of Christ Jesus and His testimony that He will never fail us. The Holy Spirit that guided Him through the world can still, to this very day, come into our lives and sustain us.

Paul says in Philippians 4:12, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (NIV, emphasis mine). The word, here, that so beautifully harmonizes with what Jesus teaches in much of His ministry is μεμύημαι (it is a passive indicative verb – learned). It reveals to us just how Paul has “learned” the secret: it is through the Spirit alone. It is the only occurrence of it the New Testament, hence its importance. Praise be to the Holy Spirit, for it is through Him alone that we have learned all.

Behold, or look? (John 1)

While the introductory statements in John 1:1-13 serve as ambiguously bold claims about Christ Jesus by John the evangelist and author, let us take a moment and reflect further on the importance of the pivot point in this chapter as a whole: vv. 29-34. For the purpose of this interpretative work I will not be using the adjective “look” as is presented in the NIV. Instead, I will look at the first person singular aorist imperative (Biblos, 2011) “behold” as is found in numerous translations (cf. ESV, NASB, KJV). Behold is a:

1. First person: spoken by John the Baptist

2. Singular: speaking only about Jesus

3. Aorist (verb tense): “said to be ‘simple occurrence’ or ‘summary occurrence’, without regard for the amount of time taken to accomplish the action (NT Greek, n.d.).

4. Imperative (verb mood): “The imperative mood is a command or instruction given to the hearer, charging the hearer to carry out or perform a certain action” (NT Greek, n.d.).

 

Who? What? When? Where? Why? These are still the best questions to ask because they reveal all sides of every story. John uses seemingly non-technical language, but it is masterfully used in a technically brilliant manner. The understanding of the text takes on new dimension when seeing it with the word “behold” rather than “look.” To look at something could infer (in modern understanding) to look, and then to look away. This action could be a glance, or a stare, but none-the-less, it does not always imply a sustained action. Behold on the other hand draws the reader to understand that which is to beholden. While behold may be an adjective with some antiquated feeling, it serves to better-convey the Baptist's mood when the Christ was drawing near. Let us take a peek into the etymological Greek foundations of behold.