Thank You Peter

For the past ten weeks we have been studying 2 Peter. I have learned to appreciate this man. He was a leader but he was humble. He had been reprimanded by Paul but he never lost respect for Paul. However, more than anything else he loved his Lord and he wanted his readers from his day to ours to have the same love. His final words were that God would be glorified.
This past week I was asked why I did what I did. I love to teach but that was the only reason then I should pack it in now. I want people to be life long learners. That they would have a hunger for truth. What a blessing this morning when one of the class members asked me for a sermon on a CD as she would be driving to Toronto and wanted something edifying to listen to. She models a life longer learner. May God bless her drive this week.
Thanks Peter. You have blessed us richly. May God be glorified.

Delta Dawn

A number of years ago Helen Reddy sang a song called Delta Dawn. It was a mockery of the second coming of Christ. The lyrics of the chorus went:

Delta Dawn, what's that flower you have on
Could it be a faded rose from days gone by
And did I hear you say he was a-meetin' you here today
To take you to his mansion in the sky-eye

You can listen to the Helen Reddy version here:

Beloved

This is my four hundredth post.
Peter ends his second letter calling his readers beloved. In 3:1 - 2 he says "beloved ... be mindful." In 3:8 he adds, "Beloved, be not ignorant." Then in 3:14 he says, "beloved...be diligent" and finally in 3:17 he says, "Beloved ... beware."
Peter loved his readers and wanted them to stay in the truth. Sometimes it is hard to understand and recognize all the errors that are being taught but we have an obligation to do so. We must be diligent in knowing the truth.

Not Yet

Our faith is often tested by crisis, disappointment, disaster and delay. Nothing is harder for faith than waiting. Sometimes we look upon waiting as resigning ourselves and hoping against hope. However, waiting is a matter of trust.
When things are dark do we still have faith? An old friend who has now gone to glory once said that we should not lose in the dark what we learned in the light. To add to that it is important that we do learn in the light.
My son was involved in an incident that required him to act quickly and decisively. That was when what he had learned kicked in. That is why we learn.
Sometimes I think it is harder for us to walk in faith when we don't see answers than to believe in the impossible. God is God and we must let Him be God.
Why hasn't Jesus returned? I don't know nor does anyone else. Meanwhile we are to watch and wait. He is coming again. He has promised and we can trust His promises.

Mine or ours?

One person from the class apologized to me for bringing up a subject in the class that we didn't take time to pursue. He then added that he shouldn't do that as it wasn't his class, it was my class. I may be the teacher but it is just as much his class as it is mine. There are some topics that we do not follow as they are not relevant to the study of the day but he still has a right to bring them up. Without people like him there would be not class.

I wonder...

I was just wondering what the prosperity preachers think when they read 2 Peter 3 and he tells us that everything that is attached to this world is going to be destroyed? He reminds us that only those things that produce righteousness and godliness will remain.
If we find our meaning in this world then it will be destroyed but if we find meaning in our relationship with God it will remain for eternity. How can I preach prosperity for this world knowing that it will one day be worthless?

I Don't Know

Last night a man who attends the morning class told me that he was impressed that I said at one point that I didn't know the answer to the events of the last day. I must admit that at one time I had the book of Revelation and last days all figured out but now I have to admit that I don't really know. It is wrong for us to assume to know what God has not chosen to reveal to us. Churches divide over issues that are concealed by God. I hope that I can soon post my friend Mike's lesson on this, it is worth selling your bed to get hold of that lesson.

The Last Person Saved

The final argument that Peter uses against the scoffers is that the Lord is merciful and desires that all people have a chance to repent and be saved. Can you imagine if you are the last person saved before the Lord returns.

A Thousand Years

Peter said, "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." 2 Peter 3:8 Here he is expanding on Psalm 90:4, "For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night."
Christians have interpreted this verse many ways and some have used it to show that God would return in or around 2000 AD as that would mean that the world would be six days old (6000 years) and then the millennium would be 1 more day (1000 years).
However, I am sure Peter just meant that time to God is not the same as time to us. I am older now and time goes by more quickly. There are some days in which time drags, like the four hours I spend at the college waiting for students to come for tutoring, or time rushes on and the kids, grand kids grow up so quickly. Peter is just telling us that to God it hasn't been a long time.

New Heaven and New Earth

I found this article by a fellow OMFer from the Philippines interesting. What do you think? Peter talks about a new heaven and a new earth in 2 Peter 3:13

This maybe a long email for you but I get this courage to write because I am truly intrigued about this theological development of 'new heavens and the new earth' within the evangelical circle. I write this for the purpose of self edification and not part of my requirement at ATS. This means I appreciate if somebody out there would like to respond to this query.

Last Feb 12-13, ATS held a theological forum at Union Church of Manila. There were excellent plenary presentations as well as different topics at break out sessions. Our theme was "Reflections on Stewardship in the Asian Context."

One of the things that really struck me during the forum was the presentation of the Japanese Bible scholar, Dr. Katsoumi Shimasaki, a former ATS professor but now heading Japan Bible Society. In his presentation he pointed out that our theological stand about the "new heavens and new earth" is foundational to our stewardship of the earth. The very new thing to me is that the earth that we are living at present will be the heaven in the future. The earth is God's design for human to live and it is destined as human's home for eternity. This means that the 'new heavens and the new earth' symbolizes the eternal rule of Christ - His kingdom. In fact, the heaven on earth is God's fulfillment of Jesus' prayer when he said, ".... Your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6). Literally, the heaven that we are expecting, beyond and somewhere, is not a different place but it will be physically on earth. The earth will be recreated, renewed and transformed. Everything will be then restored into a new creation order.

Implications: The kind of theology we embrace about 'new heavens and new earth' determines the way we care our environment - the mother earth. If we understand that mother earth is our eternal home then God has a clear message that our stewardship includes the whole creation, not only human salvation. If our theology says the earth will soon vanish away then we may become like others who are labeled as consumerists. We are here on earth to consume the resources of the earth and thus disregard our stewardship of the creation.

Dr. Shimasaki's presentation has created some chaos to my mind. As you all know I'm a person shaped in systematic theology and particularly holds the view of a dispensationalist. In other words, I believe that heaven is a separate place from earth; it is above the earth somewhere but not the earth. I believe that heaven is a place where we are going; heaven is not coming. The doctrine of dispensation says that 'the new heavens and the new earth' is the 1,000 years rule of Christ on earth; it is temporal but also transitory to his eternal rule in heaven. This means, the rule of Christ on earth for a thousand years is the initial stage that will usher his people (not the creation on earth) to eternity. What will happen to earth? I have the view that earth will be destroyed and will be completely annihilated by fire according to 2 Peter. In my view it is implied that the creation on earth will vanish away but we will join with Christ in heaven for eternity. Shimaki's view is that the earth will be restored into a new creation order, the reason why our stewardship is vital to this transformation event. When Christ comes, he will see his followers fulfilling this task and Jesus is going to perfect everything. The story about Noah and the flood supports this view. Noah did his task as God instructed. God judged the earth and cleansed it, but afterwards, the transformed earth is the same earth where the people used to live.

Some said that the theological forum may impact only when it brings some trouble. In a sense, this is correct because it is exactly my experience. Because of this trouble, I was pushed to make a survey and to my surprised, everyone that I asked outside ATS said that heaven is a different place from earth. It is the home of God where we are bound to. I think this is the most popular view right now in the evangelical circle. I also intentionally asked at least three professors at ATS about this trouble in my mind and I found out that all of them asserted their support to Shimasaki's view. Please do not misunderstand this. Shimasaki's view as well as the other professors at ATS is not ATS' view. The survey I am doing is actually a mere response from individuals; they are personal opinion or view but does not represent any institution.

My arguments

Honestly, I am now 60-40 in relation to this issue.60% still holds the view of a dispensationalist; 40% inclines to Shimasaki's view. But I still have my arguments. Jesus said in John 14, "I go to prepare a place for you... where ever I go there you maybe also." I assume this as Jesus preparing mansions in heaven and someday God's home will be complete to be our home. So when Jesus ascended to heaven, he physically left the earth and went up to a place called heaven. This brings a sense to view heaven as a different place. Never in my life I've heard a preacher who said we are living on earth when comforting to the bereaved family over someone who died. Instead, every preacher assumes that heaven is God's home, our eternal destiny and we are on that pilgrim. Jesus' parable about Lazarus and the rich man, reminds me that when they died, the angel took their spirits into their specific destinations. So we have a picture about souls departing from earth; they are brought to specific places, but definitely not on the earth.

Implication to OMF Vision

Granted that Shimasaki is right about his view, isn't this a challenge to our vision? If we only care for the welfare and for the redemption of humanity, wouldn't this mean that we are like other institutions who are humanists? When we use the term in our vision" transformed communities" what does it mean? Does it mean we include both human and the rest of creation? I think the challenge that Shimasaki has brought about gives me one piece of the puzzle in relation to mission and I know that I need to reflect on my own vision in light of my theology. I think Shimasaki has pointed out a valid biblical content. Our stewardship is not only the redemption of humanity but the entire creation order.

Any response to this would really very helpful to me. I struggle and thank for your patience.

In Christ,

H

--It is today for which we are responsible. God still owns tomorrow.-- by: Elizabeth Elliot

This is God's World

The first argument that Peter uses against the false teachers is that this world is both created by God and upheld by Him. He then refutes their argument saying that the world has not continued as it was from the beginning. He uses the flood to illustrate this point. If God could destroy the world by flood He most certainly could destroy this world by fire.

Precious Promises

I chapter 1 of 2 Peter he refers to great and precious promises and in chapter 3 he returns to this topic. "But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness." 2 Peter 3:13
However, the false teachers denied the truth of Christ's return. Peter calls these false teachers "scoffers". They denied that there would be a bodily resurrection, only a spiritual one. There arguments sound very familiar to us.
This is an amazingly modern argument for rejecting the supernatural, bodily second coming. It simply says, the laws of nature are constant and unchanging. Tomorrow we will look at how Peter responds to these scoffers.

Bibles For Missions

Tonight I attended the annual meeting of the St. Thomas Bibles For Missions thrift store. It is amazing what they have accomplished in just 2 years with annual sales of nearly five hundred thousand. I will also attend the annual meetings of Sarnia and Chatham stores this month. Bibles For Missions thrift stores exist to supply money for the Bible League of Canada so that they can spread the Word of God to the nations. I am glad to be part of an organization that puts such high emphasis upon the Word of God. Peter says that we hare to know the Word. We are reminded that God's Word is truth.

Ebenezer

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the LORD helped us." 1 Samuel 7:12
Some times we need reminders of what God has done. Samuel knew this when he set up a rock and named it Ebenezer. God gave Noah the sign of the rainbow. Joshua set up memorials on the banks of the Jordan River.
Peter says, "Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking." 2 Peter 3:1
We need to have reminders to stimulate us to wholesome thinking.

The Didache

Someone in our class gave me the following this morning. It was written around the end of the first century and it tells how to recognize false teachers.

CONCERNING TEACHERS, EMISSARIES, AND PROPHETS
TEACHERS:
1) Whoever comes to teach you in accordance with all these things we've written here, receive him.
2) But if the teacher himself goes astray, teaching another doctrine which would undermine this doctrine, do not hear him; but if his teaching provokes you to greater righteousness and increases your knowledge, welcome him.

EMISSARIES & PROPHETS
3) Concerning the emissaries and prophets, Deal with them according to the decree of our Teaching.

EMISSARIES:
4) Let every emissary that comes to you be received.
5) But he must not remain longer than one day, unless it is absolutely necessary, in which case he may stay another. But if he stays three days, suspect him as a false prophet.
6) When the emissary leaves, send him with only bread to sustain him to his next destination. But if he asks for money, be assured that he is a false prophet.

PROPHETS:
7) Do not test or judge any prophet who speaks according to the Spirit.
8) But be warned; not everyone who speaks according to the Spirit is a prophet, but only those who walk in the Spirit. Therefore, from their consistent behaviors can you discern the false prophet.
9) And every prophet who commands food to be brought to him in the Spirit will not eat from it, unless he is a false prophet;
10) Every prophet will teach the truth, but if he doesn't practice his own words, he should be regarded as a false prophet.
11) And every prophet who has proven that they are in fact genuine, whose illustrations occasionally appear too worldly when teaching about the Body of Believers, yet he scrupulously does not teach others to copy his illustrations, shall not be judged negatively among you, for God will judge righteously. For his example came from the ancient prophets.
12) Whoever says in the Spirit, "Give me money," or something similar thing, do not listen to him. But if he solicites that you give to the needy, none should judge him.

False teachers and their message

So what is the message of false teachers?
First, they love pop psychology.
Second, they use loose hermenutics.
Third, they promise freedom, that is they are humanistic.

So how do we recognize false teachers?
First, know the truth. Be a student of the Word.
Second, ask these questions:
What do they say about Jesus?
Do they preach the Gospel?
Does their character glorify God?

A-Rod

When Alex Rodriguez confessed to using steroids he said it was because he was under extreme pressure to preform well. He was made a huge salary but that salary didn't give him freedom. But still we see ads for lotteries which promise freedom, "imagine the freedom". There is no freedom found in having more money but freedom is found in Jesus Christ. Some may say that is slavery but to be truly free you must have eternity in your eyes.

Mathematics

When I was in university I studied Mathematics. I remember once having a problem that I had to have a solution for the next day. I wanted to go out that evening but I was in bondage to solving that problem. Freedom finally came by the way of truth, I found the solution to the problem. I could have had false freedom by ignoring the problem and going anyway but with the solution came real freedom.
Jesus said that we would know the truth and the truth would set us free. Another time He said that He was the truth. Knowing Him, the source of all truth, the truth Himself is where we truly find freedom.

Freedom and the Law

One of the things that false teachers love to do is to set liberty against the Law. Liberty is not the absence of law or the responsibilities of the law but it is freedom from the penalty of the law. How can we avoid the penalty of the law? One way is to keep the law perfectly which as citizens of this world we cannot do. The other way is to have the penalty of the law paid for us which has been done through Christ Jesus and His sacrificial death. The Law is not the enemy of grace but the instructor which should lead us to grace.
When Paul says that we are free from the Law he was saying that there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Beware of those who disregard the law.

Deceitful Heart

Today we were looking at the example of Balaam and the characteristics of false teachers. It is easy to look at greedy TV Evangelists and say I am glad I am not like those people. The truth is my heart is deceitful. I may not be like those people because I will never have such an opportunity. However, my heart can be filled with pride rather than greed. My the mind of Christ be my mind.