Respecting Authority and Staying Alive

MESSAGE FOR MAY 5, 2013 FROM ECCLESIASTES 8:1-9

The section of Ecclesiastes we are looking at today was originally intended for a very narrow audience. The author Qohelet, who describes himself in chapter one as a former king of Israel, addresses this first half of chapter eight to that very specific group who personally attend the king as his advisers—members of his royal court. We may wonder what if anything this text has to say to us who have never even met a real earthly king. As we’ll see, there are a few words of wisdom here that apply only to royal counselors. However, many of these truths are transferable to us as we seek to know how to relate to all authority figures—in the home, in the state or workplace--some of whom can abuse their authority over us. As we’ve seen in other sections of the book, the author begins by giving a general tribute to wisdom. Verse one says, "

MESSAGE FOR APRIL 21, 2013 FROM ECCLESIASTES 7:23-29

All sincere believers yearn for a time when sleepy Christians wake up, nominal-in-name-only Christians are genuinely converted and very hard-hearted unbelievers are miraculously transformed by the gospel.
1 Traditionally, when these things happen with any great frequency these periods in the church are called "revivals" or "spiritual awakenings."

The Root Problem...our ever-quickening departure from God

At times, certain things happen that quite literally make us feel sick.  Normally, a big news event would have us chirping about it—getting other perspectives—feeling anxious to share the big news with those who hadn’t heard.  Not this one. 

View him in the context of the Gospel

This morning, I was listening to a local radio station before coming in to work.  The News Director reported a story about a street preacher who is “one of the men who has been causing all the trouble at Bentleyville,” the local Christmas Park I mentioned in my last blog.  He immediately corrected the obviously biased statement with an awkward ad-lib amendment, “er, at least the one causing trouble for the city and for the founder of Bentleyville.”

The Greater Scandal

Recently in our community, a scandal has broken out over--of all things, preaching the gospel.  Each year, the city has contracted with a private party to host a Christmas park of sorts with piped in music, concessions and most centrally—a vast and truly dazzling display of Christmas lights.

"brand plucked from the fire"

This morning, I spent my entire time in Bible study in one of my favorite and most vivid Old Testament pictures of the gospel in Zechariah chapter three.  This high priest/prophet ministered to the Jews after their return from exile. The Jews were very discouraged during this period because the reality of being back in their homeland had not met their expectations. 

How is it now called "Women's Health Care"?

As we were reminded in the recent election cycle, the issue of abortion is now almost exclusively referred to as a “women’s health care” issue or perhaps a “woman’s health care decision.” Hence the alleged “evolution” of how we are to think of abortion is now complete.