JMK1319

This passage indicates that the Word is not intrinsically theological but organically transformational. The purpose of the Word is sanctification, new birth, and self-examination. The Gospel is power through the Spirit. The truth of the Word leads to conviction, yes, but it is also for bearing fruit. The work of the cross is finished already. We were slaves to sin but now we are set free to be slaves to righteousness through our spiritual rebirth. We are already clean positionally with God but the transformational work of the Word of truth, defined as the Gospel in Colossians 1,makes rebirth possible. Nicodemus, well versed in Scripture as both a Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council, knew the theology but missed the point. Rebirth made possible by the Spirit only known through the Gospel, literally the Good News. Peter re-emphasizes this in 1 Peter-the rebirth is spiritual and imperishable not physical. Access and knowledge of that rebirth comes through both the word of God, Scripture, and the Word of God, unmistakably identified as Christ incarnate in John 1:1. In Revelation 19:13 John writes again of Christ’s name being the Word of God. For me, it’s a Gordian knot-how does the word of God and Word of God intertwine? Yes, the word of God testifies to Christ but the Word of God literally is Christ. It is the name of God and the testimony to it.

Fathers tend to be more direct and more likely to exhort a child to self discipline. Solemnly charging with all urgency the importance of conforming to God’s standards is a father’s role. We need an urgency in declaring the gospel and discipling. That urgency is accompanied by a molding and modeling. Disciples learn by example not just exhortation. It’s interesting that paramithiazoma, consoling or comforting in Greek, used for tragic circumstances like death is mentioned. Don’t have that stiff upper lip, Paul writes. Learn to comfort on that level. Again, I would argue that despite natural tendencies, experience trumps gender. Both women and men are far more capable in upending traditional roles as a result of life experiences than natural tendencies.

Growth comes often through encouragement and nurture as well as discipline. Deep relationships only come through vulnerability. We can’t truly encourage or support unless we have that depth of sharing. The enduring love of a mother is sacrifice and unconditional care. It’s this backdrop which allows others to drop their guard so that deep caring and concern is even possible. Others may not remember what you said. They will remember how you treated them. Although women tend to exhibit nurturing traits more naturally as a rule, I think we need to be careful of making character strengths gender specific. Some women are nurturers. Others are devoid of it. Gentleness, care, and kindness are both a personality tendency and a skill developed at times through suffering and pain irrespective of gender. No one can relate to a patient with cancer like someone who has experienced it. Our empathy is defined by our experiences. And it is the sharing of those experiences which comforts not the experiences themselves. Sharing generally is more difficult for men but I believe it is absolutely attainable.

A Christin’s faith, especially now, has never been so out of step with modern American and world culture. The breadth of social media, television, and music is both national and international. Facebook, X, instagram, and more recently TikTok instantly has the ability to denigrate our faith. But our courage is a far different type of courage than the rest of the world. In much of the Muslim world standing for Christ costs alienation, a real possibility of prison, ostracization, years away from family, even death. Our penchant is for social acceptance, presenting our Christian lives as rational, intellectual, educated. So our personal courage is not primarily physical danger or persecution but being viewed as antithetical to reasonable thought. Accept all. Syncretism. Believe what you want but certainly don’t try to convince others of the validity of your own convictions. As a discipler you are promoting your narrow view of reality to others, an unconscionable violation to this syncretism. If we are afraid to be stereotyped, we certainly won’t show how we are truly different. If in fact we want to be the same as our culture, there is no need for evangelism. A healthy church is focused on the Great Commision. The purpose of the Church is not to be self-serving although administration to the news of the congregation is important. At almost every juncture we see evangelism as core to a healthy church. The Gospels attested to the Good News in personal testimony by a tax collector, a physician, a nephew, and an uneducated fisherman later a prophet through Revelation. Paul’s purpose throughout his missionary journeys centered around evangelism to establish churches Peter and James taught this different, radical assertion that Christ was God to a Jewish community vehemently opposed to God becoming man. Although some are gifted as evangelists, we are all called to proclaim. God is calling me to share the Gospel boldly in two ways-my words and lifestyle.

We lack unconditional love and insert self-righteousness instead. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. This is very different from acceptance of a lifestyle; it’s a conviction that we are saved by grace alone and not by our good works. The greatest condemnations of Christ were directed at the Pharisees/Sadducees/priesthood for their pride and self-righteousness. The law doesn’t provide a template for faith. It shows that we can’t possibly measure up to God’s standards. The Old Testament sacrifices illustrated the need for redemption, the failure of keeping the Law. I believe the biggest obstacle is hypocrisy. Often we condemn those outside the church with a standard we cannot fulfill ourselves. We can pride ourselves on being so different but we all need humility, acknowledging how far short we fall. We aren't intellectually honest. There are non-believers who exemplify Christian values more fully than we do. Even the giants of the Bible show this. David and Moses were murderers. Jacob stole Esau’s birthright. Abraham lied about Sarah being his sister. The Egyptian pharaoh rebuked him. Paul likely watched Stephen stoned. He got approval from the Jewish high priest to lead Christians in Antioch to Jerusalem in chains. We are not better. We are forgiven. Reading the Word and pursuing God’s holiness through the power of the Holy Spirit are central for me. Surrounding myself with fervent believers helps my focus. Having several who see my flaws and hold me accountable for what I know is important. Equally important is my acceptance of those flaws I don't see, my blind spots. My own prayer life as well as those praying for me is also essential.