New Wineskins Conversation Editor Fred Peatross has made the move back to the WordPress blogging format and to his own domain name: Abductive Columns. (His RSS feed is http://www.abductivecolumns.com/feed/.)

His blog began about a decade ago as “Grace Awakenings,” and he has long made a point – if not a second career – of challenging our very traditional notions of Christianity. He has interviewed extraordinary thinkers, meditators and students of the Word over those years – as well as having written a number of booklets and the recent book Missio Dei: In the Crisis of Christianity.

He will cheerfully but passionately rankle your preciously-held notions about what it means to follow Christ and be His church, and at his blog he always leaves the latch-string on the outside and the red carpet rolled out.

What it says:

Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib? – Job 39:9

What I learned:
Don’t depend on mythical creatures to do your babysitting for you.

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What it says:

And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. – Genesis 29:10-11

What I learned:
If you’re manly enough to roll a stone but you’re still a crybaby, learn to move fast with the girl you’re crushin’ on.

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What it says:

And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. – 2 Samuel 16:11

What I learned:
Apparently, there is more than one way to “begat” a son.

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What it says:

And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. ~ 2 Kings 19:35 and/or Isaiah 37:36

What I learned:
Some days it just don’t pay to get out of bed.

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What it says:

And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick – Numbers 11:4-5

What I learned:
Take a leek before you leave.

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What it says:

“And it came to pass …” – (about 450+ times)

What I learned:
“And it came to pass,”
my old friend would say
was his favorite Bible verse.
For the best times and the worst
To the last and from the first
Not a one of them comes to stay
– but they come to pass.

I am grateful to God for my elders.

I was especially grateful for them as represented by the one who got up before the assembly this morning to read some announcements and deliver a shepherd’s prayer. The worship hour was already going long, but after two announcements that were vital for our church family to know, he said (approximate quote):

“From time to time, I get people asking me where scripture authorizes a baby blessing service like the one we’re having tonight. Of course, these people worship in unauthorized church buildings, listen to an unauthorized full-time minister and many other things … but I’d like for us to see exactly what scripture says on the subject.”

Then he read Mark 10:13-16 …

People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.

When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

He concluded, “Let’s be the hands of Jesus in blessing the babies of 2007 together here tonight.”

Then he prayed a shepherd’s prayer.

I said an especially heartfelt “Amen!”

Quick BibleGateway.com search of the New International Version:

I find the word “joy” or some form of it in the New Testament 68 times. It is pretty much universally recommended.

I find the word “anger” or “angry” in the New Testament 33 times. As a general rule, it is not mentioned in an approving way. (Though I do find the word “wrath” an additional 31 times, it is used exclusively in connection with God or Christ.)

Do you find yourself drawn closer to God through Christ through the company of angry Christians, or joyful Christians?

What are angry Christians so ticked off about?

What do they have a right to be ticked off about?

Hasn’t God provided everything needed by human beings in order to yield joy in their lives?

I find these passages especially illuminating about this matter:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13

“And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 13:52

In perhaps at least this one way, the Holy Spirit is like any person: Who wants to hang around with a grump?

I was a grump about greed a few posts back, and I apologize. I hope it was not characteristic of me to be such a grouch. I appreciate your responses, especially the ones that recommended that I “shake it off” and let God deal with it.

You are absolutely right.

He is much better equipped to judge than I will ever be.

And at least the translators of the NIV agree that “wrath” is His rightful possession solely.

It’s another one of those phrases that I just woke up having in my head: “The Church at the Edge of the World.”

And with it, I had a mental picture of a little off-the-road country church built on the precipice of a cliff with a long, deep drop-off and a stunning, enticing view beyond it.

Behind the little church, and almost as far as you could see in either direction, a split-rail fence lined the edge of that cliff, winding as it did up and downhill, in and out as the road wound on.

Then the fence stopped.

That was as far as the protection went.

Somehow, in my mind, I had a feeling that where that fence ended, someone was supposed to build another little country church on down the road that would be responsible for building a split rail fence that would extend protection from the fatal fall beguiled by the rough landscape – first in one direction of the winding road, then in the other. Then another, and another, and another ….

But there was just the one little church, and the one hand-made fence that only went so far.

I’m not sure I was fully awake when all of that came to my mind.

Maybe it was a dream.

Maybe it means something.

Yeah, it’s true! Angi and I will be presenting a class at the Lectureship this spring about using Darryl Tippens’ Pilgrim Heart and our Group Guide for it in several different learning situations.

Our church’s 30+ LIFE Groups will have an opportunity to use these materials in a study of spiritual formation beginning next month (the LIFE Group we’re a part of did so last spring), so we’ll be picking up pointers all the way until the day we leave, I imagine.

If you come, expect Angi to do the heavy lifting, just as she did in writing the Group Guide. She is, after all, the college professor between us; the one with the Ph.D. – and my B.A. and I simply provide the occasional moment of comedy relief. Folks, I knew I was marrying way above my caste, years ago! It’d be one thing if I were qualified to hold up the domestic end of the partnership, but most people don’t survive my cooking.

Hey, if she did nothing but spend the class time sharing some of her audacious recipes and provided samples, I guarantee it would be a spiritually forming experience for all present.

So come join us out on the Granola Coast if you can!

But don’t expect recipe samples.

Who wouldn’t love a sweet, innocent little baby born in a barn, cradled in a food trough for animals, worshiped by angels, sought by wise men and targeted for death by despot?

So all of us Christians really want to emphasize this part of our Lord’s Story to charm and beguile those who haven’t heard it all into wanting to hear more.

The problem is, there comes a point where He grows up and he’s no longer just sweet and charming.

He scares his folks to the edge of panic by staying behind in Jerusalem while they’ve gone on toward home after the Feast. And asks them simply, “Shouldn’t I be about my Father’s business?”

He abandons Joseph’s business to pursue a career as an itinerant preacher.

He seeks out his weird, wacked-out cousin in the wild and seems to join his baptismal cult, fasts forty days, has an encounter with the devil, and starts preaching with John the gospel of “Repent! God’s kingdom is almost here!” with a few “… you brood of vipers!” thrown in for good measure.

This is not your typical, nice Jewish boy.

Oh, sure, He’ll impress the winesteward at a poorly-catered wedding, heal some people, feed a lot of people, and preach that people ought to love and respect each other because God loves all of them. But He’ll also thrash a few demons from time to time, fraternize with tax collectors and centurions, and generally antagonize the entire religious establishment, whether Pharisee or Sadducee. Not to mention putting one of the tax collectors in his entourage, along with a potential insurrectionist, a hot-tempered fisherman or two and a few other ne’er-do-wells (including a suspected thief).

Yet He does all these things – by the implication He encourages – because He wants people to accept that He is the Son of God?

What is His deal?

Why couldn’t He just settle for being a peculiar prophet with wise teachings about relationships between people and God; pick up a few seminary students, or pluck the best synagogues, or even schmooze a few Levites? Maybe even a priest?

It’s like there’s no compromise with Him. It’s either His way, or the highway – the broad, broad highway that leads to destruction, in His words.

And it’s not like He’s talking flowery beds of ease for His followers, either. He expects for them to suffer, and especially after He’s murdered. Yes, that’s right. He starts talking about being arrested and tried and crucified.

Then it happens.

He puts up no fight, responds to no accusation, retorts to no insult, curses at no torment, reviles no lash, evaporates no nail hammered into His hands and feet, calls down no angelic army to obliterate His captors, breathes no supernatural breath to hold asphyxiation forever at bay.

He dies while lifted up on that cross.

And draws all men unto Him. Not just a few shepherds. Not just some oriental astrologers. Not even just a dozen or so close friends. All men. We have to pause at the foot of that cross and gawk upward, and wonder …

… Who is this Jesus?

What happened to that marvelous Christmas Christ? The King given gold instead of a crown of thorns? The One gifted with myrrh who ends up buried with it? The Child who received frankincense, but became the Man whose innocence was sacrificed as a sweet-smelling savor to God?

Then we discover the tidings of comfort and joy don’t come until three days later … the swaddling cloths are found folded neatly in His empty tomb. It can’t hold Him.

Now it can’t hold us.

That’s what we Christians love about Christmas. It doesn’t end at Easter. It goes on and on and on, as long as life shall last, and then on and on and on.

It’s not just a sweet Story for gullible children; it’s not even a Story for every rational adult.

It’s for those who are willing to suspend incredulity, to truly and deeply believe its irrationality and passion, and who will live that belief from cradle to grave … and then some.

What did the church of century one define as false teaching and false teachers?

Paul

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me. ~ 1 Timothy 1:3-11

I draw from those verses that false doctrines would include myths, endless genealogies which promote controversies – and teaching the law, which Paul in many other writings describes as supplanted by grace through faith. He continues in the same letter:

If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. ~ 1 Timothy 6:3-5

The primary interest of the false teacher here seems to be instigating quarrels about words, and making a buck by teaching.

This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you. ~ Galatians 2:4-5

And here the heresy seems to be teaching circumcision as a corequisite for salvation.

Peter

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. … This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! ~ 2 Peter 2:1-14

The false teachings Peter describes include made-up stories, destructive heresies – including denying the lord – and teaching by example that greed and adultery and carousing are perfectly all right.

John

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. ~ John 4:1-4

The false teachings John describes are those which deny the incarnation or will not acknowledge Jesus.

Is there a pattern?

Aren’t these false teachings insisting on something besides the simple gospel of Christ as being just as important and necessary for saving the lost? Or even more important? Whether law, myths, made-up stories, or gnostic notions that the flesh cannot be affected by spiritual perfection – hence, that one can live carnally in the flesh yet still be spiritual; that Jesus could not have actually inhabited a fleshly body because it would have somehow corrupted Him – all of these are teachings which (instead of supplementing) actually deny the gospel. The gospel – the fact of Christ’s blood given, causing belief and penitence and change and transformation by rebirth – isn’t good enough. It isn’t powerful enough. It must be enhanced.

Now I ask you, are there any teachings today that approach that level of insistence on something else that is required for the salvation of a soul seeking God?

Something in one’s heart that must be believed?
Something in one’s life that must be achieved?
Something once done that cannot be forgiven?
Some sum in one’s purse that must be full-given?
Some man-made-up line that must not be crossed?
Some “holy” tradition that must not be lost?
Some interpretation that cannot be wrong?
Some kind of singing or some kind of song?
Something that excludes a gender or race?
Something that simply is false on its face?

God does not make sense to me.

But, given His existence, everything else makes sense. If He does not exist, nothing makes sense.

So I believe.

The cross does not make sense to me.

But through it, everything else does.

So I believe.

Selflessness and sacrifice of one’s own will to the benefit of others are logical absurdities to me.

Yet, without them, the world becomes a bitter, hateful, cruel, heartless place that eventually no one can survive.

So I believe.

Accepting something on faith that is undefinable, unverifiable, inscrutable, intangible, and inexpressible – well, that’s just doofy on its face.

Still, love itself is undefinable, unverifiable, inscrutable, intangible and inexpressible … and it absolutely must be accepted on faith. Without it, all else rusts and tarnishes and withers and dies and rots. Forever. The end.

So I believe.

I believe in a God who seems self-contradictory; who is love and is also hatred … joy and also anger … mercy and also vengeance … justice and also sovereign enough to have mercy on whom He wills and to harden whom He wills.

I believe in a God who could have drawn all mankind close to Him in any way He chose, yet He chose to do so by letting His own Son be brutally murdered by mankind.

I believe in a God who doesn’t owe us anything yet gives us everything, who made everything and wants us to be grateful to Him for it, yet never left His inimitable autograph on the incredible work of art that is creation – not even a “Slartibartfast” carved into a remote fjord rock cliff or inside a glacier somewhere. (You readers of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy will know what I’m talking about.)

I believe in a God who wants mankind to accept Him on faith … on the tiniest fragments of hard evidence that would not hold up in a court of law in any land under His heaven.

I believe in a God who answers our great yawping “WHY?” with a shrug and, “Because I said so.”

I’m not sure I really like that answer.

But I haven’t found a better one.

So I believe.

Because if I don’t, not all of the evidence, not all of the logic, not all of the world’s science and fact and proof and conjecture and theory and philosophy will make sense out of the questions that comprise every day of every life of everyone on this planet.

God, squelch my unbelief.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms (except Psalms 33, 47, 68, 43, 45, 49, 57, 71, 81, 92, 98, 98, 108, 137, 144, 147, 149 which all permit some now-unauthorized musical instrument, and especially 150 which mentions almost all of them), hymns (except the song of Miriam in Exodus 15 because it was accompanied by tambourines and dancing; but Moses’ song is okay), and spiritual songs (except, of course, ones which include clapping like Psalm 47 because that is no longer either fitting nor in order according to I Corinthians 14:40) with gratitude in your hearts to God. ~ Colossians 3:16

I do not (and therefore God does not) permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent (in all assemblies of worship in all places and for all time; except to sing, which is required; or to teach other women only, which is commanded; or to teach children including boys who have not yet become men, which is logical; and men are not authorized to confer the authority to teach upon a woman, only to deny it, except in the case of Aquila and Priscilla who taught together but it was in their home and they taught one person so it was therefore personal work). ~ 1 Timothy 2:12

… women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak (see second annotation in quote directly above – even if it is in a church which doesn’t have a problem with people rudely interrupting the speaker with questions about matters with which they are not familiar) , but must be in submission, as the Law says (because we are still under the Law, but it’s the new Law, the perfect Law of Christ where male dominance is the rule for all time). If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church (forever, in any place, in any circumstance, except as noted above). Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command (forever, in any place, in any circumstance, except as noted above). If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored. Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues (but not forever, in any place, except as noted above because speaking in tongues is no longer authorized). But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way (and permitting a woman to speak in a worship assembly, even one at a time with the permission of all present, would inherently cause an un-fitting and disorderly circumstance). ~ 1 Corinthians 14:34-39

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me (and has since been conveyed to scripture and thence to every logical, rational-thinking person who will perfectly interpret every detail of it as pattern and law).” ~ Matthew 28:18

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (and legislating the logical, rational-thinking interpretation of it), so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. ~ 1 Timothy 2:16-17

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book (and/or all of the other books in the soon-to-be-canonized in a couple hundred years Bible): If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book (and/or all of the other books in the soon-to-be-canonized in a couple hundred years Bible). And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy (and/or all of the other books of prophecy in the soon-to-be-canonized in a couple hundred years Bible), God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book (and/or all of the other books in the soon-to-be-canonized in a couple hundred years Bible).

Look, you’ll get no argument from me that this last one is a wise instruction for any and all of God’s word. Let’s just be clear to make the distinction that it’s a principle that’s found in the closing verses of the Revelation to John in an instruction that is specific to that “book of prophecy” – rather than declaring that it commands and includes what it originally did not.

But let’s face it: a lot of the scriptures that we Christians use to prove our points have unspoken additions like these; annotations that one must presume are there in order for them to “prove” those points. Maybe there isn’t anything wrong with saying, “I know that’s not what it says, but I believe that’s what it means.” That’s more honest than saying, “That’s what it says; that’s what it means.”

Still, those additions are simply un-scriptural. They ain’t there.

I’ve got mine. You’ve got yours. Some of them probably overlap.

We can argue about whether they’re necessary inferences until the Lord returns, and still never impress anyone with the love of Christ which can save their souls; it will still never feed hungry mouths or heal broken bodies that generosity and medical science could aid; it will still never cause even an infinitesimal moment of relief in the blight of sin upon mankind.

Is that what God authorized?

Is that what pleases Him?