The King James Controversy

Over the past few years, the controversy surrounding only using the KJV has grown into a full battle within the Church world. First, let me state, we have much more significant battles to fight…mainly the devil and not each other. Let me also state that I have no problem with those who choose to use the KJV exclusively. I believe it is a matter of preference. Let me further state, by way of transparency, that I study, preach and teach from many translations/versions, including NLT, NIV, KJV, NKJV, TPT, The Message, and the NASB.

My frustration stems from the fundamental lack of understanding that most Christians have regarding the KJV’s origins. So I will begin with a bit of background. There were only the Septuagint (LXX), a Greek translation, and the Vulgate, a Latin translation in ancient times. After the Great Schism of the Catholic Church in 1054, the church split between east and west. If we put this into modern terms, we went from having a Catholic Church to a Roman Catholic (West) and an Orthodox Church (East).  The west using the Vulgate or Latin translation, and the east using the Septuagint or Greek translation….this is a general statement. Other translations within the Orthodox Church came along as the church spread into Armenia, Russia, and other places. 

Jumping ahead to the Reformation of 1517, the Roman Catholic Church controlled Europe spiritually and politically. There is a quote historians use, “Power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Such is the case with the Roman Catholic Church.  Martin Luther, a Catholic Priest, felt that His faith was missing something and he saw a need to deal with corruption in the church. Leading him to post his 95 theses on the Wittenberg door. This act began the reformation and the Protestant movement.

With this came many practical challenges, including the lack of translations in the vernacular of the ordinary person.  Luther immediately, if not beforehand, began a translation of the Bible into German. Others followed in their native tongue. The reformation came to England in 1531 following the denial of the Pope to grant an annulment to King Henry VIII. Thus the Church of England was born.  Here again, there was no translation in the ordinary person’s language, in this case, English.

At the same time as the establishing of the Church of England, reformation took hold in other areas such as Switzerland. Shortly after, William Tyndale and others translated early English versions, most notably the Coverdale Bible and the Matthew Bible. The Geneva Bible came about under the direction of John Calvin and was translated by English scholars living in Geneva. Large portions of this translation borrowed from the earlier versions.

Following the death of Henry VIII and his daughter Queen Elizabeth I, her cousin James I (James IV of Scotland) ascended to the throne.  King James felt that there was still a need for a Bible mass-produced within England. So in 1604, he put together a group of scholars working in England to develop the King James Version. It should be noted that this version was written in Old English, and no modern English speaker could read it.

Over the next several years, the translation was completed and mass-produced for the Church of England. Some may wonder how it became more dominant than the Geneva Bible. Essentially by an edict of the King, who was also the legal head of the Church. A KJV Bible was ordered to be placed in every Anglican (Church of England) Church. Thus, over time, the KJV became the Bible of the people.

Here we need to address a few questions that KJV-only proponents commonly raise. First, they say it is the only authoritative Word of God. To say this is both ignorant and arrogant. I mean this, no one in France uses the KJV, nor does anyone in any other place in the world that is not English-speaking. So essentially, they say that only English speakers have the “real” Word.

Second, as much as we would like to think of this Bible translated into English, I refer back to my previous statement; it was translated into Old English, a foreign language to you and me. So you are not reading the original. You are reading a translation or version of the original.

Third, many of the men involved in this translation were not Godly men…please understand that this does not negate the fact that it is an accurate translation, but it does bring into question the KJV only motivation. King James was an evil King…morally. I am a descendant of this King; unfortunately, his daughter was born to a scullery maid or someone, not his wife.  Many historians believe that King James was also a bisexual. There are many reasons for this belief. Sir Walter Raleigh stated, “King Elizabeth has been succeeded by Queen James.” Again, I reiterate that the King was immoral does not mean that the KJV is not a correct translation. The King only commissioned it.

When you translate the most remarkable book of Poems ever complied, who would you use but the greatest Poet? It is long believed that William Shakespeare was the one that translated the book of Psalms. He possibly even signed his name in Psalm 46, where verse 3 uses the word “shake” and verse 9 uses the word “spear.” If this is indeed the case, the person that translated the Psalms was a womanizing crossdresser. Again, this does not make the Psalms an inaccurate translation, but it could question some of the Spiritual verbiage used.  When an ungodly man translates a Godly text, what is the result? It may be an accurate translation that MAY lack spiritual insight.

Fourth, the purpose of the KJV was to put a readable translation into the hands of each Parish in the English-speaking world. It was to be in the language of the people. We no longer speak in King James English. Maintaining that we must study the Word of God in a dialect that is no longer understandable is asinine. For people to fall in love with the God of the Bible, they must understand its truths. Language changes, even in my lifetime. Even more so over the past 500 years.

By looking at the history of the KJV Bible, the argument can be made against the KJV as the only viable translation. I stand on my previous statement if you prefer the KJV use it, but do not belittle the other versions. At least until you study where it came from and how translations come about. Our modern translations are based on the original Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. They do not go to the KJV and modernize the language. They go to the original. As in the NIV or the NKJV, Versions are language modernizations of older texts; the NKJV is based on the KJV and the NIV off of the International Version.

In the end, all of our modern translations are very accurate. In 1947 the Great Isaiah scroll was discovered near the Dead Sea. As they compared this scroll with our modern versions, very few differences were found. The majority of these were minor tenses or punctuation. This scroll probably predates Christ, so it shows that God preserves His Word despite years, man, or anything else.

Our knowledge of ancient Hebrew and Greek has improved with the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and other ancient text and artifacts. So, where the KJV may use one correct word, the NIV may use another word that is also correct but clearer. Just a note here many scholars and universities use the NASB and consider it to be the most accurate translation available. Some versions translate phrase for phrase. The NASB is word for word, making it longer and wordier as Hebrew does not always translate word for word.

Finally, I want to look at one of the main arguments against modern translations, the NIV in particular. Many KJV advocates do not like the NIV because it adds or leaves out verses. On careful examination and further study, the NIV will notate all places where this occurs, in most with an explanation.  When the NIV was translated, scholars looked at the prevalence of these verses in ancient texts. Meaning, if a verse did not appear in the most ancient text, it was placed as a footnote but not in the main text. In the same way, if a verse or word was left out of the KJV but appeared in most copies of the ancient text, the word was added with a footnote.

In the end, this is a matter of preference. The Word of God is the word of God, whether you pick up a copy of the La Bible du Semeur in France, the KJV in England, an NIV in America, or a Chinese Union Version in China. God’s word is accurate. He, the God of the Bible, declared:

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. (NIV)

Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. (NLT)

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. (KJV)

Edited and updated from a blog I wrote in 2014.

Bibliography

Evans, Craig, The Dead Sea Scrolls, B&H Publishing, 2010

Gonzalez, Justo L., The Story of Christianity Volume 2, Harper Collins, 1985.

Wilson, Daniel, The People’s Bible, Lion Hudson, 2010.

http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=13&article=925

http://www.biblegateway.com/

http://biblehub.com/matthew/24-35.htm

http://www.en.wikipedia.org (used for date verification only)

A Two-Sided Coin

2020…there, I have already said enough to make you groan and sigh—what a year of profound challenges and opportunities. Let me recap for you in case you have forgotten. We survived one of the most contentious political seasons in the US since Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams. Many cities erupted in race riots following the deaths of Breonna Taylor, here in our city, George Floyd in Minneapolis, and a few others across the nation. I forget what the other issue was…oh wait; I think there may have been a WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC.

Wow, we survived. Honestly, we not only survived, but God stayed faithful to His words, “I will build My Church.” Wherever there are great challenges, there are great opportunities. Are you getting this, or should I type that again? “Wherever there are great challenges, there are great opportunities.” Now say it in the back row. Anyone upfront not getting it yet.

Certainly, we have come a long way since a year ago. I have not had to wear a mask very much in the past two weeks. What a great feeling…makes you want to dance on the ceiling…I digress. While I wish I could say we have worked through all the challenges at hand. We have not. Instead, there is a new challenge. A challenge to the Church. Remember, yes, I am doing it again, “Wherever there are great challenges, there are great opportunities.” You may have guessed it. I am referring to the debate on vaccination.

And you thought Trump vs. Biden was heated. This topic is what I call “a two-sided faith.” One group believes that if you do not take the vaccine, you harm all those around you. That is not a very Christian thing to do. The other group believes you should trust in God’s protection, and there is no real need to take this new vaccine, especially since we do not know the long-term effects yet. I think this is a great place to interject “a two-sided faith.”

Think with me for a moment. What if both of these groups believed in placing their faith in God? Wait, they do. So, which is correct. They both are. I have to admit to you; this has been a struggle in my mind. Do I take the shot or not take it? What about when I have to walk into a cancer ward and visit a vulnerable patient? I certainly need it. What if I react to the vaccine? I certainly do not want it. How can I best show my faith to an unbelieving world?

Maybe, just maybe, both sides are correct. If I choose to take the vaccine, can I not believe God to protect me from adverse effects. (Insert your favorite conspiracy theory here.) If I choose not to take the vaccine, can I not believe God to protect me and those around me from the virus. We need to step back, breathe, and acknowledge that both sides of this issue can display profound faith in God.

“A two-sided faith” shows us that both sides can be correct, and both sides can be making their decision by faith. Most importantly, we cannot allow this or anything else to bring disunity to the body of Christ. We cannot allow the enemy to place upon us a reason for the unbelieving world to discredit us. We must show our faith in every action and not question those who come to a different conclusion than my own. It is simply “a two-sided faith.”

Of Cod and Catfish

As the US expanded from East to West, many hurdles were faced. Not the least of which was the shipment of food from one cost to another while keeping it fresh and the price as low as possible. Many people have shared this account through the years. I am adding an abbreviated version to make sure we are on the same page.

The fishing industry in the eastern United States wanted to provide fresh Cod to the West. First, they tried shipping frozen fillets, but that resulted in a loss of taste. Second, they shipped live fish via trains, but that also resulted in a loss of taste. In addition, the fish was mushy. Are you hungry yet? There is nothing like mushy fish. Finally, some brilliant person wondered what would happen if they introduced the natural enemy of Cod, Catfish, into the tank as they were shipped.

This was tried and to great results. You see, the Catfish in the tank caused the Cod to remain active and vigilant on the long trip from one coast to the other. Now the fish was fresh, had a wonderful flavor, and the texture was good. All it took was a little tension in the tank. I call this “Holy Tension.” As a follower of Jesus Christ, I live a life between spiritual victory and spiritual attack…tension, prosperity and persecution…tension; peace and stress…tension.

Most of the time, our natural human reaction is to avoid tension. We do not like being in arguments. At least most people do not. However, I have met a few that shall remain nameless. We always want to have God’s favor and blessing. I would submit to you that the presence of tension does not mean you are living outside of God’s favor but is a tool God uses to strengthen you spiritually. I think we learn more about God in the valley than we ever do on the mountain top. This Holy Tension strengthens us. This is true of our natural body as well as our spiritual bodies. It is the tension of weights that builds muscle.

 With all of my heart, I believe that we are standing at the precipice of the greatest revival that has ever occurred. This will not be a single nation, denomination, or people, but a worldwide revival that touches every tribe, nation, tongue and denomination. This revival will transform the Church and the world. We will move in power and miracles as the early church did. There will be instantaneous healing, deliverance, and restoration. Most importantly, there will be salvations in numbers we have never seen. I believe the Spirit is calling the Church to get ready. I also believe that this will parallel the greatest persecution the Church has ever endured. This is the Holy Tension.

For some reason, the enemy of our souls has not figured out that the greater the persecution, the greater Christ’s Church grows. Think through history with me. During seasons of intense Roman persecution, the Church grew exponentially. In modern times, the largest Christian Church is underground in communist China. How can this happen under a regime that does not even allow free expression of worship and is, by definition, an atheist government? There is Holy Tension.

Like Codfish, when tension is absent, the believer becomes comfortable and lazy. Introduce tension, and suddenly we rise to the occasion and push back with everything within us. This, in turn, strengthens our faith and causes us to take a stand and share our faith like never before. I believe God is calling His Church to prepare for great blessing while, at the same time, great persecution. We must prepare for Holy Tension. We must be like the Cod with the Catfish.

Both is the Right Answer

What is your Biblical hermeneutic? Some of you are scratching your head. Maybe you do not know what yours is or that you even have one. Everyone approaches Scripture from a specific point of view. This could be your culture, your theological upbringing, your race, your gender, or anything else that makes you, you. The word hermeneutic is defined as our interpretation of any written text, especially pertaining to the Bible.

I was raised in the Assemblies of God (AG), a theologically conservative Spirit-filled (Pentecostal) fellowship. As such, one aspect of my Biblical hermeneutic sees the Holy Spirit’s power and effect throughout Scripture…Genesis to Revelation. That is the natural outcome of my upbringing, faith practice, and theological training. How we approach Scripture is significant. It is also essential to let Scripture speak for itself. In others words, I cannot read into it what is not there.

The AG is a missions sending movement. We always have been and always will be. While some may wonder why we place such a strong emphasis on missions, others feel that we over-emphasize mission to the detriment of the local church. I would argue that is not possible. A mission-centric hermeneutic is proper and accurate to the Biblical text. We should see missions from Genesis to Revelation.

Some of you are already taking issue with me, but let me explain. The message of the Gospel can be found in many places. We look to Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19-20, and others. These verses expressly command us to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Again, some might say, “well, that is New Testament. You cannot find that in the Old Testament.” I would argue that you can. God has always focused on the nations, which is another way of saying missions.

Abram and Sari were changed to Abraham and Sarah because God says they would be the father and mother of many nations or multitudes. Genesis 22:18 states, “And through your descendants, all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.” (NLT) Those who are followers of Christ understand this to be directly related to His work on the cross. Christ was a descendent of Abraham.

You see, for me, you cannot separate missions from the Word or God. As such, you cannot separate it from the life of the believer. The Bible is full of missionary references from beginning to end. Every follower of Christ is left with a question; will I send or will I go? Those are the only options, right? At least most people think so. In a real sense, we can and should fulfill both options. We can give and work to send others overseas, and we are called to go to our neighbor.

It is easy to fall into the trap of fulfilling one’s duty because we wrote a check of donated via text. Does this action release us from the imperative to “go and make disciples”? If I send $100 per month to a missionary in the Philippines, am I no longer expected to tell my neighbor about Jesus? Certainly not. Most understand missions in the context of overseas. While that is a vital part of the Biblical mandate, we must also realize that those around us also need Jesus. Think of the church in Macedonia. As poor as they were, they invested in the missionary work of Paul.

Again, I refer to Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem (your city), throughout Judea (your state), in Samaria (your nation/region), and to the ends of the earth (your world).” (parenthesis mine)

Every believer has a part to play in sharing the wonderful message of Jesus Christ. We all have the responsibility to go and send. Perhaps the modern Church has missed this. One does not automatically release me from the other. Some of my close friends serve in missions all over the world. I have yet to meet one of them that, while serving overseas, does not financially give so that others might also go. They are quite literally going and sending. This fact stands before you. When you approach Scripture through the honest lens of missions, a missions hermeneutic, you will have to ask yourself this question; will I go, send, or both? Both is always the correct answer.

For further reading of this topic:

Brogden, Dick, Missionary God, Missionary Bible (Abide, 2020).

Christopher J.H. Wright, The Mission of God (IVP, 2006).

Edward Smither, Christian Mission: A Concise Global History (Lexham, 2019).

Mike Barnett, ed. Discovering the Mission of God (IVP, 2012).

William Larkin and Joel Williams, eds. Mission in the New Testament (Orbis, 1998).

First Things First

Normally I do not post two blogs in a week. Nor do I post a transcript of my message (sermon), but this week I feel compelled to do so. This was a “fire in my bones” message that I believe God is speaking to the Church. It is time to put first things first.

Today’s message is one of repentance and a challenge to each of us to set a solid foundation for the work of the Spirit in our lives. I have titled this message First Things First. All too often, we get the cart before the horse. Because we do not keep things in the correct order, we find ourselves missing God; we miss hearing His voice and often miss His will for our lives.

My text today is from the book of Haggai, but I want us to approach this in context. Haggai, Ezra, and Nehemiah were contemporaries. They lived during and after the 70 years of Judah’s captivity. When King Cyrus of Medo-Persia permitted them to rebuild the city, these three men wrote of it. Ezra and Nehemiah wrote the account, and Haggai prophesied a strong message from the Lord.

  • Read Haggai 1:3-11, “Then the Lord sent this message through the prophet Haggai: “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes! “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord. You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops. I have called for a drought on your fields and hills—a drought to wither the grain and grapes and olive trees and all your other crops, a drought to starve you and your livestock and to ruin everything you have worked so hard to get.” NLT

Whenever God calls you to accomplish His work, the enemy will come against it. In the scenario of the rebuilding of the temple, we see two distinct lines of attack. Ezra deals with external issues, spiritual warfare. Haggai deals with internal issues, selfishness, worldliness, and apathy.

We see in this account that the people of Judah were more concerned with their own comfort than the restoration of God’s house. They did not keep First Things First. I see three things in this story:

  • First, they focused on their past rather than their future.
    • Second, they feared their enemy more than they trusted God.
    • Third, they were more connected to the world than to God.

Each of these is an enemy of what the Spirit wants to accomplish in and through you. Many of you are ahead of me in seeing the connection to us, but I will lay it out as clearly as possible. As people of God, we are spending more time building our kingdom rather than God’s. Our priorities are wrong. We want to live for ourselves and then ask God why things are not going easier for us.

  • Prophetic Word the Lord gave me on 3/16/2021 (We do not hold at the same level as Scripture)

“The Lord says, I will begin to strip away those that have prostituted themselves with the gods of this earth. I will pull back the curtain that hides their sin. They will be revealed for all to see. Many within the Church seek to hide their sin, not from the shame of doing it, but because there is no remorse. They believe there is nothing wrong with their actions. They have traded my truth for filth and lies. In this day, I am sifting out those that defile my body so that my Spirit might move in freedom among those who serve me. The world will always sin, but My Church must strive for holiness. To those that live pure lives, I will give a greater portion of my power and presence.” 

Usually, I would deal with each verse as we come to them; today, I want to approach things differently. Verse 8 is the theme of Haggai’s prophecies, “Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord.”

This is an interesting statement if we compare it to Ezra 3:7 “Then the people hired masons and carpenters and bought cedar logs from the people of Tyre and Sidon, paying them with food, wine, and olive oil. The logs were brought down from the Lebanon mountains and floated along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Joppa, for King Cyrus had given permission for this.”

What happened to all this wood that was to supply the rebuilding of the temple? Either they used it to build their own homes, or they let it sit and rot. Today, we are busy building our wealth but not giving to God. We seek power, but not the power of the Spirit. We seek position, but not our position in God. We seek reputation, but not as holy people.

Israel and Judah both rejected God by serving the idols of surrounding nations, thus 70 years in captivity. When Judah returned, they did not turn back to those false gods; they served themselves. When everything else is our priority, we suffer spiritually. Dr. Wiersbe states, “It doesn’t take long for zeal to cool and God’s people to grow apathetic, especially when opposition began an ominous growl that soon became a roar.”

Think of Jesus parable of the sower; one type sprang up quick but did not last. Building our lives rather than God’s Kingdom shows that we have much faith in ourselves and little in God. Our spiritual renewal as individuals, as families, and as a church community begins with putting back where He belongs; First Things First.  Jesus wants to be first in your life, not second, and not co-first. He alone is at the center of your life.

We often make excuses; we are too busy to help others, we cannot afford to tithe or give to missions, we are waiting on the right moment, on and on we go. Here me church, in this COVID era, we must know when caution stops and fear begins. We must not let the enemy distract us from rebuilding the temple. Matt 6:33 reminds us, “seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

Too many Christians have believed the lie that tithing is an Old Testament principle. As a result, their life is more difficult that it needs to be, at least in the area of finance. When we are obedient to give to God our best, our first-fruits, he promises to destroy the devourer for us. God promises to bless us more than we can ask of imagine. Now, know that this is not a math formula, I give a $1 and God gives me $10. This is a life style of trust and obedience. If you continually have the same financial issues over and over, my guess is, you are not tithing.

Again, Dr. Wiersbe states, “Local churches can’t expand their budgets for world evangelism because money isn’t there, and yet many church members don’t believe Matt 6:33 and put God first in their giving. Measured by Third World standards, Christians in the Western world are living in luxury, yet their giving is low and their debts are high because their wealth is being used for things that really don’t matter.” (Be Heroic by Warren Wiersbe, 1997, David C Cook Publishers, pg 75-76.)

Are we building our kingdom or God’s? In verse 5, Haggai challenges us…

  • NLT “Look at what’s happened to you?”
    • KJV “Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.”
    • NIV “Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.”

They spent 70 years in captivity, and when they came out, they repeated the same pattern. God is honored when we obey, and He is glorified when we sacrifice. Today, the house of God is not so much physical as it is spiritual, yet we try with all our might to build a physical house which in turn hurts us spiritually. Often when God speaks, we ignore Him, but here in Haggai, the people of Judah responded.

Read verses 12-13 with me, “Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of God’s people began to obey the message from the Lord their God. When they heard the words of the prophet Haggai, whom the Lord their God had sent, the people feared the Lord. Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave the people this message from the Lord: “I am with you, says the Lord!”

God is with you, says the Lord! First Things First, build His kingdom. In so doing, you will set a firm foundation for the Spirit to move in your life and your situation.

The Danger of Being a Dreamer

Those who know me well know that I am a dreamer. The Bible says, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 (emphasis mine).  This is a perplexing verse for me. I have big dreams. Sometimes huge dreams.

This is a wonderful and beneficial trait for a Pastor. I, like most of you, never doubt that God can do things. Where I struggle is will He? Or perhaps even more of a challenge is when He will? I frequently identify with Joseph, the son of Jacob. He was a dreamer. I do not know about you, but I would imagine he dreamed of the day the jail would be opened and he could walk out free. He probably daydreamed about that every single moment of every single day for seven years.

See, the danger of being a dreamer is not the dream itself but holding onto the dream until it is fulfilled. As I stated, the greatest challenge for a dreamer is not if it will happen, but when. Dreamers recognize that God is certainly capable of doing whatever He wants – when He wants – in whatever way He wants – without our permission. Some of you may be thinking, “wow, I wish I could dream like that.” Well, there is a cost to being a dreamer.

Dreamers have to be willing to deal with frequent disappointment when things do not pan out as we had hoped or when we had hoped. Again, Joseph knew what God spoke to him, and yet he sat in prison falsely accused of rape. You know there were days that the dream was dead only to be resurrected the next day in a moment of strength. Often, I experience this on a moment-by-moment basis. I will be the first to admit. It can be exhausting.

Let me try to explain a little how this works for me. If you have ever read “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” you will understand. It begins with a dream. Let us say I dream God is going to pay off our church building mortgage. This is not just an arbitrary example; this is an absolute dream for me. For ease of reading, I transition to a bullet point format:

              Moment 1 – Yes, God, what an incredible dream you have given me.

              Moment 2 – Yes, God, you are able.

              Moment 3 – I know you are able but are you willing to do this?

              Moment 4 – I think you are willing, but when will you do it?

              Moment 5 – Lord, are you ever going to do it?

              Moment 6 – Maybe I heard God wrong.

              Moment 7 – But, I know you are able and willing.

              Moment 8 – Lord, I know that you are going to do it.

              Moment 9 – Yes, God, what an incredible dream you have given me.

Now, rinse and repeat! Matt 21:21-22 “Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.” (emphasis mine). Ouch, I think I doubt a lot. I would guess this is a normal human reaction.

Joseph must have doubted, as all of us would, sitting in a damp Egyptian jail. However, Joseph received the answer to his dream. He saw it fulfilled. His faith, though challenged, stood. Today, many of you are wavering in your God-given dreams. You may even read the above scripture and think, “I am not receiving because of doubt.” Pull yourself up. Remember who made you a dreamer. Recognize that dreams have cycles. Ultimately you cannot make it happen; only God can. When you realize that, your faith will grow, and you can stand in the promise of your dream.

Next time, think of all the answered dreams in scripture and let that build your faith. Your mind may still be like the preverbal Cookie-Mouse scenario, but you are infinitely able to stand in your dream. How, because God is with you! Yes, there is a danger to being a dreamer, but in the end, the challenges pale in comparison to the reward of a dream fulfilled.

A Little Town and A Little Lady

When I was ten years old, my family moved from central Missouri to Louisville, Kentucky. It was a big move for many reasons. We moved from a small town of 1,500 people to a metro area of nearly 1 million. The farm community where we lived was not very diverse; Louisville certainly is. Our home in Tipton, MO, was on a small street leading to the school, but our home in Louisville was located on one of the busiest streets in the city. So many changes.

Perhaps the most challenging transition was leaving all of our family behind. When we arrived in Louisville, our new church family helped us move into the parsonage. That day, I met an older woman that greeted me with a big hug and a heavy accent. She told me that she would now be my Mamaw and her husband would be my Tot (grandpa). From 1988 until her death a few years ago, Mamaw was good to her word.

I loved hearing Mamaw and Tot’s stories. He was a WWII vet that guarded Eisenhower in London. She was a woman of Ukrainian descent who lived in France. It was from Mamaw that I first heard of a small town in northeastern France called Verdun. Mamaw’s hometown. She told me countless stories of her and Tot’s war experiences. Her life under German occupation. Of her brothers that were part of the French underground. Even a story where she purposely poured hot coffee on a German General because he sent one of her brothers to a concentration camp. In time Verdun was liberated, and she met Tot.

As a child, I never realized that I would study Verdun so extensively. For such a seemingly insignificant town, Verdun left an indelible mark on world history. In 843, the Treaty of Verdun broke Charlemagne’s empire into three parts following the war between Verdun and surrounding cities, and King Clovis I. Clovis was the first King of the Franks to unite all Frankish peoples. On August 20, 1792, the Battle of Verdun occurred. The French lost this battle to the Prussians (later part of Germany). After England declared war on France in 1802, Napoleon demanded that British subjects be moved to Verdun. (See Smithsonian Magazine’s May edition article: Roget Gets the Last Word.) Again in 1870, Verdun held a key position for the capture of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War, July 19, 1870 – January 28, 1871.

During WWI, Verdun was surrounded by trenches…miles of trenches. From February 21 to December 18, 1916, the battle of Verdun raged. This battle is one of the worst offenses of the war, let alone the Western Front. It was the most protracted battle of World War I. According to one source, Germany suffered 336,000–355,000 casualties and 143,000 killed. While France suffered 379,000–400,000 casualties, 163,000 killed, and 216,000 wounded. This small town with a current population of just over 18,000 (2015) also played a role in World War II. Though indeed not as infamous as its part in the Meuse offensive of 1916. Still, Verdun sits at a strategic point, opening the way to Paris for her German enemy.

World history supplies us with an endless list of people, places, and events of significance. Perhaps there is no other tiny town that has such a monumental history. In many ways, Mamaw’s life parallels her hometown. She, too, lived through significant, life-changing events. Just like her city, she overcame and became stronger for it. This little town has had a significant impact on the history of Europe. I have been within 100 miles of Verdun. On my next trip to Europe, I hope to see the little town of the little lady that impacted me.  

On History and Influence

I am both a Pastor and a Historian. It all makes sense now I’m sure. My goal is to write about spirituality and history and I often use one to illustrate the other. Let’s face it, nothing illustrates life better than, well…life. It is often said “those who do not learn from history are destined to repeat it.” We tend to focus in on the “repeat” rather than the “learn”.

I recognize many find history boring. It’s dry and does not apply to my life…etc. I believe pastors learn much about human nature, man’s conflict with sin, and triumphs of life from history. We learn that greed can cause a downfall…Napoleon. Hatred can spark a war…too many illustrations to count on that one. We also see that a single life can affect many other lives. That is both true for famous people like C. S. Lewis and not so famous people like the farmer that invited Billy Graham to Sunday School. No matter where we turn in the annals of history, the actions of one always affect another.

As a student of history, I have developed a love for many characters that lived large and changed lives. From secular history, I love studying King Cyrus of Persia. He developed a code of human rights that were way before their time. (See the Cyrus Cylinder for more info.) Most of my history heroes were equally influential in the secular and the sacred realms. I think of William Wilberforce, C. S. Lewis, Count Von Zinzendorf, Harriet Tubman, and William Ewart Gladstone. This list could go on and on.

I love to study every part of history. Presidents of the US are among my favorites. As is World War I and all points of Church History. I think there is often a disconnect with people when it comes to history. I view history as living and vibrant. There are lessons to be learned and actions to be avoided. I see the hand of God in all of history and it affirms to me my place in God’s grand plan. I may never be the President of the US or a famous leader in the world, but I do have the ability to change lives in my sphere of influence.

God has uniquely positioned each of us in time. In other words, you were not born at the moment you were by accident. Each of us have our place in history. We have the opportunity to be a blessing or a curse to others. Think of the balance and influence of Adolf Hitler and Winston Churchill in World War II. Both had influence, one used it to create evil and perpetuated chaos. The other used his creative wisdom and power to liberate a continent.

Most likely God is not calling you to be a Churchill, but He is calling you to be an influencer. Life is a gift and one of the greatest parts of that gift is training others to love God, to love people, and to recognize their potential. Your potential is realized by helping others see their own potential. Use your gifts for God and for the good of your fellow man. In the process, study a little history too. Who knows, you might just learn something about yourself.

That’s Not Us

Dr. Nora appeared on the sitcom Frasier on April 29, 1999. Dr. Nora, played by Christine Baranski, was rude, vindictive, and judgmental. By the way, she was a Christian. In one scene she is giving on air advice to a caller on her radio show. A young lady was struggling with relationship issues. Dr. Nora perceived that she was living with her boyfriend and that this sinful relationship was the root of her problems. This lead to a hate filled attack against the young woman.

As is so often the case, Christians are portrayed as mean spirited, hate filled people, that love Jesus and no one else. That’s not us. Our culture, Hollywood driven, has created this narrative of Christians for decades. Now don’t get me wrong, I think Frasier is the funniest show ever on TV, but that does not negate the fact it was used to perpetuate this view of Christians.  

Think about every Christian portrayed on TV or movies. They are one of three things: First, we are portrayed as a Catholic with no real mention of faith. Second, we are shown as Dr. Nora was, hate-filled and spiteful. Third, we are shown as a self-righteous person that is secretly dealing with the sin we preach against. A Hypocrite if you will. This is the World’s perception of Christians.

Hollywood has determined that Christianity is the only group of people who are always portrayed through the most negative person on the fringe of our faith. This is something that is fought against in every other segment of society. We recognize and ask the question, are they really a follower of Christ if they act in that way?  It would be morally wrong to view all people of color according to the worst element within that race. It would be wrong to paint all Muslims as extremists because of the actions of some on 9/11. In the same way it is morally and ethically irresponsible to paint every Christian with such a broad brush.

Certainly, we can point to elements within our faith that help form false perceptions about us. TV evangelists from the 1980’s that abuse people and steal money. There are politicians that tout faith but live contrary to that faith. Then there is the man on the street corner holding a sign that declares, “God hates…”. Each of these are examples of persons acting outside of true faith. That’s not us.

Historically, Christians are the first to open hospitals, to care for orphans, to raise the standing of women, to fight against slavery and racism, to provide clean water and clothing to those in need. This is who we are. We can disagree without hating. We can live the moral life that we claim to live. We have acted on behalf of the outcast, those neglected by society. True Christians are the most generous people in the world because Jesus has called us to be generous. Believers should be willing to give their very lives in service to others.

Christians and the Church have allowed culture to determine how we are viewed. Why? Perhaps we are not as active in the public arena as we once were.  Maybe this is the solution. Christians need to stop hiding behind the four walls of a building and live life with those around us. That does not mean we change our beliefs because they are unpopular, but show our genuine love and compassion for people in spite of differences.

We do and should have standards. We may sometimes disagree, but we have a profound understanding of Christ and His forgiveness. True followers of Christ understand there is a moral standard set forth by Christ and the Bible. We may not always agree, but that does not remove the fact that I can love you and live my faith in the manner Jesus did. As Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery, “where are your accusers? … Neither do I condemn you. Now go and sin no more.” (John 8:1-11) Yes, he confronted her sin, but He did so in love and compassion. Yes, he called her to a higher standard, but He did so from a place of grace and mercy. So, the next time you see a Christian portrayed on TV or even with a bullhorn on the street, ask yourself, is this how Jesus would approach people? No, That’s not us.

Hail Myself

When you think of Rome, most likely you see images of the Colosseum, busts of ancient rulers, the Roman Catholic Church or perhaps fountains. Whatever you think of, chances are you are surrounded by the effects of the Romans. Our governmental system can certainly be traced to that of the Romans. While their influence is everywhere, perhaps one of the most profound effects is on our language. English is Germanic in its origin, but we also have a heavy Latin influence.

We use words like bona fide, alibi, et cetera, de facto, bonus…on and on the list goes. Many in our American culture may not realize that the word Caesar is a part of our colloquium. I’m not speaking of the pizza place. This is especially true for students of history. Caesar was the surname of one Gaius Julius. You know him, “Et tu Brute.” (The Ides of March, March 15) Now that we are on the same page I will move on. 

Following the Gallic Wars, the conquest of Gaul, Julius paraded through the streets dressed as a God. One thing led to another and the Emperor became a dictator. Of course we know how that ended. Yet the Roman Senate recognized Julius as a deity upon his death. Giving him the title of “Divus Iulius”, the divine Julius.

From that point forward dictators and rulers sought to capture the same power and prestige of the Caesars. Certainly we can point to Napoleon’s conquest of Europe. His coronation alone reflected his hope for ultimate power. As the Pope read the charge, Napoleon removed his laurel wreath and crowned himself Emperor of France.  Essentially placing himself above the church.

The etymology of the titles “Kaiser” in German and “Czar” or “Tsar” in Russian points back to the Latin word Caesar. These lines of rulers sought to cement their political power but also to capture the divine anointing as rulers. We see this come full circle in the argument of the “Divine Right of Kings” which flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Throughout the late 1700’s (France) through the early 1900’s (Russia), the divine right of Kings was an argument used to reinforce the power of the crown. To put this another way, their goal was to show that they served as monarch not according to the will of the people, but at the will of God. This is all well and good if you treat your people with respect. As an example, see the rise of the British Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell and the reestablishment of the monarchy under Charles II. It seems that man has always tried to gain the power of God without going to God for said power. 

As we look around our world it is difficult to separate the influences of Rome even now 2,000 years since the time of Julius Caesar. While we could quibble over their lasting influence and the divine right of kings, we cannot deny humanities insatiable desire for power. Unfortunately, that has not lead us to God, but all too often the desire to be God. Perhaps this is the most tragic effect of the Roman Empire.  Instead of saying “praise God” we say “Hail Caesar”. Which is essentially singing the song from “The Producers”, “Heil Myself”.

Our culture and secular humanism have taught us to be self-centric. This is a corruption of who we are intended to be. We are to focus on others, not ourselves. We are to live lives that bless, honor, give grace and mercy, as well as provide for needs of others. Submitting to the Lordship of Christ calls us to live lives of service. Truly it is not about us. Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matt 20:28 (NLT) Jesus is our example in faith and Godliness, surely we must emulate the master. Rather than saying “Hail myself” we need to proclaim “Hail Jesus, you’re my King”.