Tag: Bible study

A Great Big Gulp of Theology (‘Consummation,’ by Martin Selbrede) REPRINT

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We look for the resurrection of the dead – FORWARD IN CHRIST

From July 18, 2023

Is history moving inexorably to the full establishment of Christ’s Kingdom over a new heaven and a new earth? And if so, why can’t we see it?

Consummation, by Martin Selbrede, is a long essay that attempts to answer this question.

I have to admit that for all my reading, all my study, this text is hard for me to understand. That’s because you and I are here, on the old earth, saturated with sin, and we can’t see as God sees. The smoke of battle blinds us.

But if we keep reading, we come to a final paragraph in which the fog begins to lift:

“[B]ecause providence is well orchestrated to subserve the ultimate ends of consummation. History moves towards, not away from, its appointed goal, and God Himself will push it over the finish line to release the final grip of the curse from Christ’s world (Romans 8: 19-23).”

Let me quote the cited Scripture, in case you don’t have a Bible handy:

“For the earnest expectation of the creature [all created things] waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”

Yes, there’s a whole lot of groaning going on in this fallen world today; but Jesus Christ has paid the fare, and God the Father will get us there.

Our Mission Statement REPRINT

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From July 17, 2019

Thanks to a comment made by Heidi this morning, I’ve been thinking about how to define the purpose of this blog. It was originally set up to promote my Bell Mountain books and hopefully stir up sales; but it has since grown into something more.

It’s not something I set out to do on purpose; it just sort of happened. Much of the credit goes to you, the readers. Together we have done enough to give birth to a mission statement. And here it is. Here’s what this blog is supposed to do.

Provide a place for Christian fellowship, including the posting of hymns, hymn requests, prayer requests, reblogs of posts on other Christian blogs, and Bible study. I love it when readers get to talking to each other. Nor do you have to be a Christian to be allowed in: the door is open to you, too. It’s important for us to comfort, encourage, counsel, inspire, and teach one another.

Praise the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and the works of God the Creator, proclaim the Lordship of Christ, and assert His crown rights as the King of kings.

Outreach. This blog is a small part of the larger ministry of the Chalcedon Foundation.

Provide opposition to, and skepticism for, the pretensions of secular humanism–the climate change cult, Darwinism, transgender, and all the rest of those Really Smart Ideas that are actually abominable and stupid. The highest card in their hand is their claim to being vastly more intelligent than ordinary people–a claim that must be regularly and vigorously challenged. They deserve to be satirized, and I try to provide that. Hence Joe Collidge.

Provide good humor, pleasant memories, and fun. A good laugh is the gift of God. So is a happy memory. Hence features like “Oy, Rodney” and Memory Lane. And the comment contests, the quokkas, etc.

And yes, I’m still trying to promote my books along the way.

Anyway, that’s our mission–and we’re doing it together.

Trying to Understand ‘Ecclesiastes’

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King Solomon (what’s he thinking?)

I’m re-reading this book. Maybe I have too many things going on in my life, just now, to follow King Solomon’s musings. Maybe my theology isn’t up to the task.

“Vanity and vexation of spirit.” I’m not going to go back and count the times he uses those words; it’s pretty much everywhere in the book.

What is he teaching us? To me it often looks and sounds like he’s throwing in the towel. Well, we’ve all be there, haven’t we? But that would hardly go hand in glove with the rest of the teaching in the Bible. Can you imagine Paul telling new Christian converts, “It’s all just vanity and vexation of spirit”?  Obviously I’m not seeing into the heart of the matter.

Some of you out there must be much farther along the Way than I am. What’s your take on Ecclesiastes? Why is it in the Bible? What’s it there to do?

It’s something to think about. While I get ready for another visit to another doctor’s office.

Martin Selbrede: ‘Architects of Disorder’

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Martin Selbrede | heroinamerica

Martin Selbrede

Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?  —Psalm 94:20

Martin Selbrede has provided us with an in-depth examination of Psalm 94–a psalm that deals head-on with corruption in the government.

https://chalcedon.edu/resources/articles/architects-of-disorder-framing-mischief-by-statute

Put simply, corrupt governments enact corrupt laws. Their “justice” plays out as injustice. And the psalmist is not looking for justice somewhere in the end times, but rather, says Martin, “is looking for action in the here and now” (emphasis added).

That would be God’s action. Not “someday,” but now. And not “revenge,” which is an activity of fallen man, but “vengeance”–which is God’s prerogative.

Martin explores the Psalm verse by verse from beginning to end–a major project, but well worth reading. What could be more relevant to the state of our world today than sinful, power-hungry government that seeks to replace God’s laws with its own self-serving decrees? Are you listening, World Economic Forum? (Hint: of course not.)

If only we could unite judgment to justice!

Invest half an hour or so in reading Martin’s essay. You’ll find it’s right on target.

Why Did Jesus Curse the Fig Tree?

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In Mark 11: 12-25, on his way into the Temple, Our Lord Jesus Christ wished to pick some fruit from a fig tree. But there were only leaves on this tree… and Jesus cursed it, and the tree withered. It was dead when He and His disciples next saw it.

This incident has puzzled many Bible readers (including me) over the centuries; but in fact it was part of something much bigger.

After he cursed the tree, Jesus entered the Temple and cleaned house, overturning the tables of the money-changers and the merchants, smacking them with a makeshift whip, and condemning the Temple as a house of prayer transformed into a den of thieves. What ever happened to that meek and mild Jesus that we thought we knew?

This 10-minute sermon by Brandon Robbins explains the critical significance of this action by Our Lord. “Finally I get this!” my wife exclaimed, after she watched it.

Really, it’s rather brilliant–and at the same time, clear and understandable. I wondered why I hadn’t seen it myself.

‘The Spirit of Caleb’ (2020)

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Tiny grasshoppers on the top of a morning glory leaf at first ...

When they finally came to the borders of the Promised Land, the spies sent out by the Children of Israel made reports that drained the life out of the nation. “The country’s full of giants! We’re only grasshoppers, compared to them! We’re doomed–doomed, I tell you!” And so on and so forth.

But then Caleb spoke.

The Spirit of Caleb

Caleb believed God would keep His promise to give the land to Israel.

We need a large helping of his spirit!

Rushdoony: ‘Giving Fear Too Much Power’ (2020)

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Rushdoony3

R.J. Rushdoony

This little message takes less than a minute to deliver; but you can think about it all day.

https://chalcedon.edu/resources/videos/giving-fear-too-much-power

God knows there is a lot to scare us in this world today. But wasn’t that always the case?

Rushdoony said, “We are to proceed in the trust that God is God.” Amen. They aren’t going to defeat God. They aren’t going to erase His word. They will try to do those things, and fail.

We are cautioned against recklessness. We aren’t to abandon common sense. But how crazy did David sound when he volunteered to fight Goliath?

His faith was his knowledge.

‘The Lost River of Eden’ (2015)

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This is one of my all-time most popular posts. It’s easy to see why.

The Lost River of Eden

Once upon a time–as recorded in the Book of Genesis, and nowhere else–a mighty river ran across Arabia to flow into the sea when it reached Kuwait. The remains of the river, buried under desert sands for at least 40 centuries (geologists’ best guess) could not be seen until photo-taking satellites came into use.

Yes, we can trust the Bible.

Unless we don’t want to trust our scientific instruments which confirm what the Bible has told us.

‘Who Was Joseph’s Pharaoh? (2019)

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Joseph’s Pharaoh? We still don’t know.

We keep asking the question, but we still don’t have an answer: Who was Joseph’s Pharaoh?

Who Was Joseph’s Pharaoh?

Bear in mind that the art of history, as we know it, was not known in ancient Egypt. They specialized in rubbing out names and incidents that those in power chose to forget. We still do that, don’t we?

We would like to know the name of the pharaoh who appointed Joseph his prime minister. God has not decided that we need to know.

(The computer has been battling me tooth and claw this morning. You’re lucky to be reading this.)

‘Biblical Archaeology: An Interview with Hershel Shanks’ (2005)

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Hershel Shanks - Wikipedia

Hershel Shanks (d. 2021)

One of the percs of my job with the Chalcedon Foundation is the opportunity to interview noteworthy people–like Hershel Shanks, founder of the Biblical Archaeological Society and long-time editor of Biblical Archaeology Review. I interviewed him in 2005 .

https://chalcedon.edu/resources/articles/biblical-archaeology-an-interview-with-hershel-shanks

“Archaeology brings the Bible to life in a special way,” Shanks said. “It’s a theological document, but it’s also a very human document, set in a time and place and peopled by real human beings.”

It was a long and very interesting discussion. Don’t look to archaeology, he warned, to “prove” the Bible. “If you need archaeology to prove your faith, you must have a pretty weak faith.”

Shanks didn’t mind discussing some of the hottest controversies in the field; but I couldn’t pin him down to making a faith statement of his own. All I can say to that is, his body of work brought a stronger faith in God’s Word to a multitude of readers.

The interview is long, but give it a whirl. I’m sure you’ll find it interesting.