Why does a woman who just divorced herself from an abusive husband so often get herself into another abusive relationship?
One of the factors could be that the woman does not feel herself worthy of a better partner. "I don't deserve to be loved because I'm a bad girl", she says to herself.
Even if she meets a nice guy he will be tempted to treat her with less respect than is proper because of her attitude and behaviour. The way she feels about herself does not go unnoticed.
Much more can be said about these kinds of relationships. The people who are best at analising them are, in my opinion, members of the Arbinger Institute.
Saturday, 28 February 2009
Saturday, 21 February 2009
Helping God financially
All the pentecostal churches can trace their origin to a world wide revival which broke out more than a century ago. Since then many people who have never seen God act in any significant way, have entered these churches. They are puzzled by some practices instituted by old timers who knew the power of God.
Article 38.6 of the 1997 constitution of the Assemblies of God in South Africa reads as follows:
"The financial needs of Recognised Assemblies are normally supplied by the tithes and offerings contributed by the congregations of such Recognised Assemblies. Worldly activities for the accumulation of funds are deprecated."
Many are of the opinion that cake sales, bazaars and craft markets are needed to collect funds for the propagation of the Good News. This mindset subtly undermines our concept of a powerful God. It facilitates the creation of an image in our minds of a God who needs our help. The general effect is that we treat the church very similarly to the way we treat a beggar and the church often acts like a beggar.
Suppose someone in the church, who is a plumber, is asked to quote on a plumbing job. He may feel he should do it cheaply or gratis. In fact, the pastor may expect him to charge a minimal fee, if anything. But the plumber may not be cash flush at the moment and so other jobs get priority over the church's.
We need to be careful how we treat and speak of God's Church. Is he poor? Should jobs for his Bride be put on the back burner? Will he not supply the funds necessary for his work?
My experience has been the opposite. We have not had any "worldly" fund raising activity in our church for more than a year and our financial position has never been better.
Article 38.6 of the 1997 constitution of the Assemblies of God in South Africa reads as follows:
"The financial needs of Recognised Assemblies are normally supplied by the tithes and offerings contributed by the congregations of such Recognised Assemblies. Worldly activities for the accumulation of funds are deprecated."
Many are of the opinion that cake sales, bazaars and craft markets are needed to collect funds for the propagation of the Good News. This mindset subtly undermines our concept of a powerful God. It facilitates the creation of an image in our minds of a God who needs our help. The general effect is that we treat the church very similarly to the way we treat a beggar and the church often acts like a beggar.
Suppose someone in the church, who is a plumber, is asked to quote on a plumbing job. He may feel he should do it cheaply or gratis. In fact, the pastor may expect him to charge a minimal fee, if anything. But the plumber may not be cash flush at the moment and so other jobs get priority over the church's.
We need to be careful how we treat and speak of God's Church. Is he poor? Should jobs for his Bride be put on the back burner? Will he not supply the funds necessary for his work?
My experience has been the opposite. We have not had any "worldly" fund raising activity in our church for more than a year and our financial position has never been better.
Saturday, 14 February 2009
The Curse
When God breathed into Adam he became a spiritual being. Breath is air or wind and the Hebrew word "ruach" can be translated "spirit" or "wind".
The devil tempted Eve and Adam to become "like God", although they already bore his image. When they sinned God told them "You are dust and to dust you will return". They tried to reach for the stars, independently from their source, but ended up below the earth.
What was God to do? He had told them they would die if they ate of that tree. Could he go back on his word? He could come down and throttle them to death but we know he did not. So he cursed the world they lived in. This world would then bring about the death they deserved. Sickness and the ageing process entered the planet and eventually takes its toll on every human who does not die violently. God made sure that we could not live forever in this sinful state by keeping us away from the tree of life which was also in the Garden of Eden.
Is it God who makes us sick? He put things in place that bring about disease. He also helps us to overcome disease by science as well as prayer. But we all know we shall ultimately be overtaken by the curse.
One man did not have to die. He could forever live on earth but did better than that by dying and rising again. He expects us to
(1) not regard this world as all there is, wonderful as it may be;
(2) have faith that he will help us with how to live in a cursed world and
(3) call on him regularly to overcome the negative effects of the curse.
The devil tempted Eve and Adam to become "like God", although they already bore his image. When they sinned God told them "You are dust and to dust you will return". They tried to reach for the stars, independently from their source, but ended up below the earth.
What was God to do? He had told them they would die if they ate of that tree. Could he go back on his word? He could come down and throttle them to death but we know he did not. So he cursed the world they lived in. This world would then bring about the death they deserved. Sickness and the ageing process entered the planet and eventually takes its toll on every human who does not die violently. God made sure that we could not live forever in this sinful state by keeping us away from the tree of life which was also in the Garden of Eden.
Is it God who makes us sick? He put things in place that bring about disease. He also helps us to overcome disease by science as well as prayer. But we all know we shall ultimately be overtaken by the curse.
One man did not have to die. He could forever live on earth but did better than that by dying and rising again. He expects us to
(1) not regard this world as all there is, wonderful as it may be;
(2) have faith that he will help us with how to live in a cursed world and
(3) call on him regularly to overcome the negative effects of the curse.
Monday, 2 February 2009
On This Rock
Peter got a revelation that Jesus was the promised Messiah who was also the Son of God (Matthew 16:16-18). "This rock" refers to the revelation Peter received. All who get it are built into the church like "living stones" (1 Peter 2:5).
The church of God was no longer to be built according to the system of animal sacrifices and the law of Moses. No-one would enter the Kingdom of Heaven by following the tenets of Judaism. That fig tree will never bear fruit again.
This does not mean God has abandoned the Jews or Israel. People who lived before 1948 could be excused for holding that view. Today the very existence of the state of Israel is one of the strongest arguments one can use in favour of our belief in the Almighty.
John declares that those who deny that the Christ (Messiah) has come in the flesh, are anti-christs (1 John 2:22). This is another way of saying that the revelation Peter got from the Father is a prerequisite for becoming a member of the Body of Christ, which is the same as being born again.
Just after Peter was commended for hearing from the Father he received a rebuke from Jesus for being mindful of the "things of men". That was because he attempted to persuade Jesus not to submit himself to the suffering he had been destined to.
In the same way the Church which was built on the rock soon got it wrong by setting up an earthly kingdom. They did not understand what "this rock" meant and took it to be the man Peter. This faulty interpretation may also elicit from God: "Get behind me satan".
The church of God was no longer to be built according to the system of animal sacrifices and the law of Moses. No-one would enter the Kingdom of Heaven by following the tenets of Judaism. That fig tree will never bear fruit again.
This does not mean God has abandoned the Jews or Israel. People who lived before 1948 could be excused for holding that view. Today the very existence of the state of Israel is one of the strongest arguments one can use in favour of our belief in the Almighty.
John declares that those who deny that the Christ (Messiah) has come in the flesh, are anti-christs (1 John 2:22). This is another way of saying that the revelation Peter got from the Father is a prerequisite for becoming a member of the Body of Christ, which is the same as being born again.
Just after Peter was commended for hearing from the Father he received a rebuke from Jesus for being mindful of the "things of men". That was because he attempted to persuade Jesus not to submit himself to the suffering he had been destined to.
In the same way the Church which was built on the rock soon got it wrong by setting up an earthly kingdom. They did not understand what "this rock" meant and took it to be the man Peter. This faulty interpretation may also elicit from God: "Get behind me satan".
Monday, 26 January 2009
Unbelief
If faith can also be described as trust, then unbelief must be related to mistrust. It is scary to think that our prayers are not answered because we mistrust God.
How can that make sense? Jesus said that if we ask anything in his name, he will do it for us. But I can only ask in his name if I ask according to his will. He will reveal his will to me if I am committed to do his will, whatever it may be.
So if I fully trust him, he can reveal to me what he wants done. I can then pray for that thing and it will certainly happen.
We spend our lives as Christians learning to fully trust our heavenly Father. Why are we so scared to trust him? The most obvious answer is that we fear he might ask us to do or experience something we absolutely dread.
How can that make sense? Jesus said that if we ask anything in his name, he will do it for us. But I can only ask in his name if I ask according to his will. He will reveal his will to me if I am committed to do his will, whatever it may be.
So if I fully trust him, he can reveal to me what he wants done. I can then pray for that thing and it will certainly happen.
We spend our lives as Christians learning to fully trust our heavenly Father. Why are we so scared to trust him? The most obvious answer is that we fear he might ask us to do or experience something we absolutely dread.
Saturday, 6 December 2008
Jesus' New World Order
Over the last 2000 years the machinations of politicians have not greatly changed. Those with ambitions to rule have always pleaded to have the best of motives. They only want to do "what is best for the people". After they gain power it is often clear to all and sundry that their aspirations had been less than altruistic.
During the lifetime of Jesus the Jews found themselves in an unenviable position, politically speaking. They had had a most illustrious empire under Solomon. The world empires of Assyria and Babylon had invaded them and taken them into exile. After the Persians had conquered the Babylonians, they allowed the Jews to go home and rebuild their temple. But Persia succumbed to the armies of Greece led by Alexander the Great. This led to the Hellenisation of the ancient world and Greek became the "lingua franca" of the empire. A large section of the Jewish population imbibed the Greek culture and language. Many forsook the God of their fathers for Greek gods. Finally the Romans wrested control of the world from the Greeks and the little land they called Palestine was part of the package.
The Romans were happy to let a nations be ruled by their own "king", provided he was a reliable collaborator who made sure that they got their tax. At Jesus' birth Herod "the Great" was king over Israel but later the land was divided. One of Herod's sons ruled Galilee but a Roman governor, Pontius Pilate was in charge of Judea.
One can imagine the turmoil in the Jewish psyche at a time like this. Their sacred writings were in Hebrew but at home they were more likely to speak Aramaean, the language of the Assyrians, or Greek. Jesus' closest friends included Matthew the tax collector and Simon the Zealot. Matthew had collected taxes for the Roman occupiers and Simon belonged to a group who was agitating to rid Israel from the Roman yoke.
While I don't think Jesus encouraged political debates, he certainly had his opinion on the state of affairs. Many a Jew was hankering after " the good old days" when they were ruling themselves. Only, those days were not all that good. Some of Israel's kings had been as bad as the Roman government and worse.
Jesus spoke about the kingdom of God. Many Christians make the mistake of thinking that he described what life was going to be like in heaven. The 12 disciples did not see it that way. Even after he had risen from the dead they asked whether he was now going to restore the kingdom to Israel. Jesus was in effect ignoring the political agenda of the day and promoting his own. He knew he was going to rule this world some day and wanted his followers to propagate the "new world order" he proposed.
To sum up: the Jewish Messiah is going to rule not only Israel but the world. He has already told us what to expect in terms of laws and regulations. Those who acquire the attributes he advocated will rule with him. Now is the time to grow in our knowledge of him. His church is the vehicle through which he is recruiting citizens for the coming kingdom. Like the nation of Israel, the church is less than perfect. But he said: "I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."
During the lifetime of Jesus the Jews found themselves in an unenviable position, politically speaking. They had had a most illustrious empire under Solomon. The world empires of Assyria and Babylon had invaded them and taken them into exile. After the Persians had conquered the Babylonians, they allowed the Jews to go home and rebuild their temple. But Persia succumbed to the armies of Greece led by Alexander the Great. This led to the Hellenisation of the ancient world and Greek became the "lingua franca" of the empire. A large section of the Jewish population imbibed the Greek culture and language. Many forsook the God of their fathers for Greek gods. Finally the Romans wrested control of the world from the Greeks and the little land they called Palestine was part of the package.
The Romans were happy to let a nations be ruled by their own "king", provided he was a reliable collaborator who made sure that they got their tax. At Jesus' birth Herod "the Great" was king over Israel but later the land was divided. One of Herod's sons ruled Galilee but a Roman governor, Pontius Pilate was in charge of Judea.
One can imagine the turmoil in the Jewish psyche at a time like this. Their sacred writings were in Hebrew but at home they were more likely to speak Aramaean, the language of the Assyrians, or Greek. Jesus' closest friends included Matthew the tax collector and Simon the Zealot. Matthew had collected taxes for the Roman occupiers and Simon belonged to a group who was agitating to rid Israel from the Roman yoke.
While I don't think Jesus encouraged political debates, he certainly had his opinion on the state of affairs. Many a Jew was hankering after " the good old days" when they were ruling themselves. Only, those days were not all that good. Some of Israel's kings had been as bad as the Roman government and worse.
Jesus spoke about the kingdom of God. Many Christians make the mistake of thinking that he described what life was going to be like in heaven. The 12 disciples did not see it that way. Even after he had risen from the dead they asked whether he was now going to restore the kingdom to Israel. Jesus was in effect ignoring the political agenda of the day and promoting his own. He knew he was going to rule this world some day and wanted his followers to propagate the "new world order" he proposed.
To sum up: the Jewish Messiah is going to rule not only Israel but the world. He has already told us what to expect in terms of laws and regulations. Those who acquire the attributes he advocated will rule with him. Now is the time to grow in our knowledge of him. His church is the vehicle through which he is recruiting citizens for the coming kingdom. Like the nation of Israel, the church is less than perfect. But he said: "I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."
Monday, 17 November 2008
Truth and Accuracy
Francis Schaeffer made the claim that no-one can now tuth exhaustively but we can all know truth "truely". That may seem like an awkward statement but I shall demonstrate it with the help of elementary mathematics.
Imagine two lines, PQ and PR, each 1 metre long, at right angles to each other. By the theorem of Pythagoras the length of QR is equal to the square root of 2. It has been known since antiquity that this number cannot be expressed as a fraction of two whole numbers. It can only be approximated. If someone said QR = 1.4, it would be true but someone who said QR = 1.4142 would be more accurate. Sqrt(2) can be calculated to whatever degree of accuracy one may desire but it is not a repeating decimal.
When it comes to the Bible there are many passages which contain ambiguities. For example, some of the genealogies in Kings do not agree with the corresponding genealogies in Chronicles. For those who wish to write the Bible off on account of its inaccuracies it would be instructive to heed a statement attributed to Mark Twain. I may not be quoting it perfectly but it was something along the line of: "I am not worried about the things in the Bible which I do not understand, but the things I do understand, they bother me."
And then there are sayings alleged to be in the Bible but they are not. "God helps those who help themselves" and "A fool and his money are soon parted" come to mind.
Some practices are widely believed to be Biblical but they do not have their origin there. One of these is the habit of closing our eyes when we pray. If we were to use Jesus as model we would be lifting our eyes to heaven.
After reading from a modern version of the Bible the accounts of Jesus multiplying the loaves and fishes, I concluded that blessing food is not biblical. Then I decided to read the Greek and the King James versions. There I found that Jesus both blessed (eulogeo) and gave thanks (eucharisteo) for food (see Mark 8:6-7 in Greek or King James Version).
Imagine two lines, PQ and PR, each 1 metre long, at right angles to each other. By the theorem of Pythagoras the length of QR is equal to the square root of 2. It has been known since antiquity that this number cannot be expressed as a fraction of two whole numbers. It can only be approximated. If someone said QR = 1.4, it would be true but someone who said QR = 1.4142 would be more accurate. Sqrt(2) can be calculated to whatever degree of accuracy one may desire but it is not a repeating decimal.
When it comes to the Bible there are many passages which contain ambiguities. For example, some of the genealogies in Kings do not agree with the corresponding genealogies in Chronicles. For those who wish to write the Bible off on account of its inaccuracies it would be instructive to heed a statement attributed to Mark Twain. I may not be quoting it perfectly but it was something along the line of: "I am not worried about the things in the Bible which I do not understand, but the things I do understand, they bother me."
And then there are sayings alleged to be in the Bible but they are not. "God helps those who help themselves" and "A fool and his money are soon parted" come to mind.
Some practices are widely believed to be Biblical but they do not have their origin there. One of these is the habit of closing our eyes when we pray. If we were to use Jesus as model we would be lifting our eyes to heaven.
After reading from a modern version of the Bible the accounts of Jesus multiplying the loaves and fishes, I concluded that blessing food is not biblical. Then I decided to read the Greek and the King James versions. There I found that Jesus both blessed (eulogeo) and gave thanks (eucharisteo) for food (see Mark 8:6-7 in Greek or King James Version).
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