Hodge Podge Thanks

It's time for me to give thanks again, but I'm also going to present random thoughts, too.

I'm thankful that I'm pretty much done with my online class. 

I'm thankful for my new friend Tim who knows how to hang out.

I'm thankful that Mary may have a job soon, though who knows?  I kinda like the idea of being responsible for Andrew again. 

I'm thankful that I've had the heat on this week.  Georgia's weather will always confuse me, even though I've lived here a majority of my life.

I'm thankful for love and affection.

I'm thankful for people who defend Mitt Romney.  They give me hope.

I'm thankful that God is sovereign no matter who gets elected.

I'm thankful that my job will not be over on November 7.

Have you heard of the band Autumn Film?

They have amazing music and are mostly secular, but ages ago I noticed something different about them.  Maybe it was that their lyrics had hope.

Then I noticed recently they are also a Christian band named Page CXVI.

What is interesting, however, if Derek Webb produces them.  I have mixed feelings about him.  I loved him in Caedmon's Call, and he's one who really convinced me of Calvin's teachings.  However, when he went solo, he seemed more affirming of liberal ideals, like being anti-Bush, and supporting gay people.  He toured with Jennifer Knapp right before she came out as a lesbian.  Should I be wary of acts that he supports?  I still love Autumn Film's music.

Divorce and Grace

Tonight I'm teaching the teenagers at Shepherd's Staff again.  And I'm teaching them solo again.  But I think the topic is good.

The text is Mark 10:1-12, Jesus's teaching on divorce.

To treat this topic, I consulted my ethics textbook, written by John Frame.  He emphasizes that although God hates divorce, he allows it because of "hardness of heart."  In this sinful world, some people will get married and will prevent each other from truly having peace until they divorce.  Like war and capital punishment, divorce is a messy consequence of living in a sinful world.  However, Frame notes that divorce always represents a failure to achieve God's ideal.  It is never something to celebrate.

In Jesus's time, the Pharisees thought that since God allowed divorce, that they could divorce their wives for anything, even if they just burnt their dinner last night.  Jesus had to drill them about divorce being such a serious matter.  Marriage unites a man and woman to one flesh.  If they divorce, then that one flesh is severed and will not heal.  Therefore, if a man divorces his wife, and either of them remarry, they become one flesh with their later spouses while they are still one flesh with their original spouses.  This causes four people to commit adultery. 

So, I know people who are divorced.  I know people who are remarried.  I know situations like that with children involved, and it is not pretty.  Are they currently in sin, or can this be mitigated somehow? 

In Matthew 5:32, Jesus declares that only adultery is grounds for divorce.  If a man has an affair, or if a woman has an affair, then the victim spouse has legitimate grounds to divorce.  They do not have to divorce, but they are allowed.  However, in Matthew 5:27-30, Jesus uses the word porneia when referring to sexual sin.  This not only includes adultery, but also fornication, pornography, and anything that a person can do alone.  Since those are substitutes for normal marital sex, they do are adultery.  Yes, even if it's fornication and neither of you are married.  It's adultery if you are only engaged and not completely married.

So, whether intercourse is involved or not, pretty much everyone except Jesus has committed adultery even if just in the mind.  Even if they have not, everyone has committed some sin, so yes, you are sinners and need God's grace.

Paul introduces other issues concerning divorce in 1 Corinthians 7:12-16.  What if two unbelievers get married and one comes to know Jesus and the other doesn't?  Should they divorce?  Paul says that the believing spouse should not initiate divorce.  If they can live together and are willing to stay married, then they should stay married.  This also applies if two believers marry, and then one stops going to church.  The only thing you should not do is intentionally marry someone that you know does not go to church.  Not even if he's a theist who reads the Bible.  He has to go to church.

In reality sometimes, people will have affairs, and some spouse will be the victim of divorce against his or her will.  Frame says, "The deserted spouse is the passive victim of the unrighteous termination of marriage."  Should that person suffer the rest of her life and never remarry because her husband left and refused to reconcile?  No.  That person should legally file for divorce so that she can remarry and move on with life.  So desertion and abandonment are also biblical grounds for divorce.

So the question is, how do you prevent divorce?  You do so before you marry.  Makes sure that person is a believer who goes to Church.  There is no salvation outside the visible Church body.

If there is something that bothers you about the other person, consider if it is something you can live with.  Marriage will actually make that worse.  Does he poke you or tease you?  It may be funny now, but later, it could turn to abuse.

Do not have sex before you are married.  Especially, do not live together before marriage.  When you finally get married, it will ruin your sex life because you did not follow God's command.

Also, realize that Mr. or Ms. Right does not exist, only someone you can live with, warts and all. 

Make sure you have a good friendship.  Get to know each other, likes, dislikes, favorite things, music, etc.  That will last.  A romantic attraction will come and go, but a friendship will last.

Also, do not jump into a situation without seriously thinking it through and receiving counseling.  This is the rest of your life we're talking about.  Even if you really have found the one, discuss differences and quirks and how you will live with them and discuss them in peace.

And also remember that you are worse than you think, but God's grace is greater than you can imagine.

More on the Barbarians

With Christianity legal, there was also the issue of what to do with the barbarians who invaded the empire.  People evangelized to them either because the Church was obeying Jesus, or because the government thought it would bring peace to the empire.  This pretty much began around the time of the Edict of Milan.

Goths first showed up in the Danube region.  They asked to enter because they were being chased by Mongols.  This caused thee battle of Adrianople where emperor Valens died and Arian Visigoths came to live.  They sacked Rome and then founded a kingdom in Spain. 

Later, Arian Ostrogoths took over the leading of the Romans.  Also, the Burgundians and Franks moved into Gaul.  All these followed Arian Christianity which is not Christianity.  It's the belief of Arius that Jesus was not equal to God the Father, but subordinate to him.  Hopefully, Cairns will address the Council of Nicaea in later chapters, but for now a bunch of non-trinitarians populated the empire.

Gregory the Illuminator successfully evangelized Armenia.  Frumentius established the Coptic Church in Egypt and Ethiopia.  Cairns is not quite sure how the Gospel came to the British Isles, but they came to know Christianity.  Sadly, these folks did not submit to the Pope, and they gave us heretics such as Pelagius who believed we had to find our own path to God based on Jesus's example.  They were easy bait for the pagan Angles, etc., who drove them from the country.

Ulfilas witnessed to the Visigoths around the Danube, but sadly, he was an Arian, so they also had the wrong idea of Jesus.  Many Romans took on the task of converting the Visigoths and Lombards from this counterfeit faith to the true Christianity.

When the Teutons invaded the Rhine area, Martin of Tours, the patron saint of France, converted many of those people, and at some point Clovis, the emperor, became converted to the Faith.  St. Patrick was kidnapped by pirates and taken to Ireland, and then he returned and evangelized those people.  Columba also did the same thing to Scotland, founding a monastery.  Soon, the Nordic Europeans grew to know of Christianity.  Some people, however, brought their hero worship into the faith and converted it to saint veneration.  This would have a poisonous effect throughout history.

Rome and Barbarians

"If one is to understand relationships between church and state after the granting of freedom of religion by Constantine, it is necessary to give some attention to the political problems that the emperor faced at this time." (Cairns 123)

Around 31 B.C., Augustus established an empire in place is an anarchy wrought by Antony.  In this, the emperor shared power with the senate, but barbarians started to attack and citizens started to rebel, and between 192 to 284, another revolution happened.

Diocletian decided to turn the empire into a dictatorship to secure the Greco-Roman culture.  This meant that Christians had to be persecuted again as they threatened that culture.  Finally, Constantine came to power and realized that they could not wipe out Christianity.  He decided to incorporate it into the culture. 

When he was in battle, he saw a cross in the sky and words, "in this sign conquer".  Constantine decided to fight alongside the Christians and not against them.  He won that battle.

In 313, he made the Edict of Milan, granting freedom of worship to all people.  Constantine and his sons were pagans their whole lives, and many of them still favored heresies over true Christianity.  Many Mennonites consider the Edict of Milan to be the worst day in Christian history.  In that day, people started joining the Church because it was cool.  Before then, people stayed in the Church and faced persecution because they truly believed.  This is when the Church started to become watered down and accepting of pseudo-gospels such as Arianism and syncretized Gnosticism.

I do think the legalization of Christianity did start a long process of over-contextualization that went to far and had to be corrected in the 16th century.  But I also see 313 as the start of Christ's millennium.  Christians could grow and learn and establish empires and thrive happily.  That interpretation of the millennium makes the most sense to me because the Church really did thrive, it had political clout, and it was truly a universal Catholic Church.  God kept Satan off of us for a good long time so that we could enjoy an earthly kingdom that loved Jesus.  It was when the Reformation happened that the millennium ended.  It's hard to have a Church empire when the Church is broken up.  Although I'm on the Luther side of the Reformation whole-heartedly, I do think that is another tragedy in the life of Christendom.  It was needed because the Church had lost the sense of looking only to Christ for salvation and life and looking to deceased people and Mary and their own penance.  The truth needed to resurface.  But the good thing, is despite the fractured state of the Church today, there is still only one Church united by those who truly serve Christ and care for each other.

He said it for me

I was going to write about how I'm following my conscience and voting for Romney, but Dan Phillips beat me to it!

Don't freaking vote third part or not vote!

And if I get messages, I seriously don't care because I cannot risk 4 more years of anti-life.  I'll take the rape and incest clause over it.  And also, you probably didn't read the whole article anyway, so don't bother commenting.

Political Rant of the Year

It's about time I finally ranted about Obama.  I do it on Facebook but never really get into detail.  I don't know which makes me more angry: Obama or his voters.  Especially his voters who claim to be Christians.  I just want to run out the door screaming about this bloodthirsty tyrant who wants me to pay for Sandra Fluke's abortions.  So, today I will give top 10 reasons why you cannot vote for Obama and be a sincere Christian (unless you simply won't believe the obvious truth), and tomorrow I will talk about how I have absolutely no pang of conscience as I support Mitt Romney.

10. Israel.  Why will he not visit Netanyahu who was in New York, who's country is surrounded by enemies and spend his time campaigning?  Because he wants Israel destroyed.  Why?  Because it has something to do with Africa, according to the 2016 movie, although I can't think of a single think they have ever done to Africa.  They are the ones that were slaves in Egypt.

9. Islam.  This guy will do anything for the Muslims.  He wants to destroy America, and he wants to tell the people that Islam and Christianity are the same.  These people who destroy their own people keep killing our people, and all Oblabla can do is apologize to them.  And he still sends loads of money to them while Israel gets the shaft.

8. Gay agenda.  From a non-religious perspective, every society who has openly embraced homosexuality has declined because these people do not reproduce and carry on their culture.  In America, they try to cheat today with surrogate mothers and fathers, but still, we have disjointed families and children who have no idea who they belong to and who are dying from an empty lifestyle that promotes sex with anybody as the ultimate good. 

7. This guy acts like America is his personal piggy bank!  Michelle has these fashions, and they take trips and golf games and leisure time, and we have to sit here going nowhere b/c he wants money to support his entertainment.

6. Racism.  This guy is not black!  My skin is darker than his.  Somehow, he has this victimized image of Africa and wants to destroy every place that has colonized it.  Therefore, since America has them as slaves, he must destroy the white people.  I'm sorry, but this is racism.  Opposing Obama is not racism, and is should be common sense. 

5. And seriously, why do we need to emphasize diversity?  Why can't we celebrate what all people have in common and stop trying to label everyone?  I'm not white.  My sexual orientation is a choice and I go with what God explicitly commands in Scripture.  I have no ADD, ASD, OCD, or any other MBTI letters you could throw my way.  My sin is just as wicked as yours, though it may not be the same.  And I will not let any difference keep me from loving or caring for you.

4. it seems like the more the liberals emphasize diversity, the more their followers become clones.  There are no free thinkers who can freely say that Christianity is the only true religion or that the LGBT lifestyle is an abomination.  But they can say hideous, unforgiveable things about Sarah Palin, her children, about women in general, and about any diversity that supports the GOP and conservative values.

3.  Environment.  He refuses to drill in America for gas, but still supports our enemies in the  Mideast and in Venezuela.  We have a huge pipeline in Pennsylvania that could save us so much money, but no, we must care for the polar bears, who are perfectly fine.  People like him have no faith that God will solve any major problem looming over the planet, and they hate people who are naturally blamed for every environmental mishap, and they in turn hate God who made the planet just so he could make people to subdue the earth.

2. I saw some slogan: "Vote like your woman parts depend on it."  Seriously, the liberals have reduced women to their anatomy, their instrumentality, and destroying any consequences that occur just so they can keep using them without responsibility.  Seriously, you made Sandra Fluke your DNC spokesperson?  The 30-year-old who still lives at home, is still in college, who takes no responsibility, and really is a slut.  I mean, granted, I'm almost 30 and live at home, too, but I work to change the world and I work to save lives and care for people other than myself.  And I refuse to let someone use me for my body and then to destroy my precious offspring because they are inconvenient.

1.  Finally, do not vote for this bloodthirsty, tyrannical egoist who thinks human beings are expendable and cost too much.  I want to return to the days when people measured wealth by the amount of children they had, not by things or by having fun.  I want old people to not be euthanized and to collect their stories for as long as we have firsthand knowledge of WW2.  I want people who get cancer to be able to go to the doctor faster than some girl who gets pregnant.  My brother should have received funding for his respite home so much sooner than now, but I think according to the Democrats, he's expendable too -- a burden and a waste of money.  I'm sorry, but I want people to have value again, children to have value again, and I want Oblabla out of my business not telling me what to do or what not to say.  And I will certainly consider someone a heathen who can still vote for this maniac when he loves abortion so much and cares nothing for his people.

This closes my unorganized rant.  It's more thorough than a facebook status, or running out the door of the Rockdale GOP center to yell at people for wanting to support this man who promotes libertine lifestyles and stifles people who really want to make a difference.

Unifying Liturgy

The last thing the Church used to unite during the Roman persecution was liturgy.  They came up with a team name, Catholic, creeds, the New Testament canon, and lastly, a common liturgy.

This is probably my favorite part of high church and something I would love to replicate in church.  It would not be so stoic, but would be relevant and Scriptural.  I think so far, the only thing I have is teaching catechism to the children.  I hope what they learn lasts.

But there is just nothing more edifying than singing Scripture and reading it responsively.  It was what I loved most in the Spring when I would go to the monastery and sing with the monks.  When I visit Missouri Synod Lutheran churches up in Illinois, I loved that too.  I hope some of that comes back in the Presbyterian Church, not as a rote practice, but as something that is explained.

The thing about liturgy is that the bishops developed a year-long Scripture reading and reflection to enable all the congregations in the known world to worship God in unison.  I even remember 6 years ago a story of a man who stayed with the Roman Catholic church just because he knew if he went to another town, they would teach the same thing.  I don't know if I'm so concerned about all our churches teaching the same thing, but I do want us all to teach the same Scriptures and the same doctrines which they give us.  Maybe Presbyterian denominations should issue out daily readings and even hymns for families to do together at home.  Maybe we should proclaim parts of the Westminster Confession of Faith each week as the Apostles' Creed is kind of vague.  There will still be differences in interpretation, but we'd have unity in the essential beliefs.