I was reading Psalm 127 tonight and realized that that chapter alone, is the most solid defense and reasoning I have more my position on birth control and having a family at a young age. As the psalm implies, however, my children will in time prove to be a defense as well.

Now, at this point in my life I’m not one to say that using birth control is wrong and everyone should follow in my footsteps. Scripturally, I’m just not sure I see that as truth. To me this isn’t a topic of what is morally right or wrong. Both seem acceptable to god.

This, however, a topic that begs the question, which way is wise?

Psalm 127 – A Summary

Psalm 127 is one of my favorite psalms because it brings forward a great truth, that we often proclaim so boldly and yet act on with such timidity, and ties it right to family. God will give us all we need. There is nothing to worry about! Verse 2 states, “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep”.

Work hard! It is good to do so, but do not be anxious because god is our providence.

The psalm then goes on to declare that children are a valuable heritage and blessing from the Lord. They are like “arrows in the hand of a warrior” (verse 4). If I fill my quiver with them I will not be put to shame.

Why This Psalm Matters

because people also give me two excuses not have so many kids. 1) they won’t be able to provide 2) they won’t be able to handle it

People usually give 1 of 2 excuses for not having a lot of children. 1) They are afraid they won’t be able to provide for a large family. 2) They think that too many children will be a burden.

Why You Can Provide For A Large Family No Matter What

The fact is, you can provide for a large family. No matter what state you find your life in. That’s exactly what this psalm is about.

I know what people would say. Doesn’t god want me to be wise and plan? I shouldn’t try to live beyond my means.

I all reality, how do questions and statements like that make sense? You can plan and plan, but you don’t know what tomorrow will bring (James 4:13-17). You might have a wonderful job one day and be fired the next.

Having a large family doesn’t require an extra amount of security. Let’s face it, security is false outside of god, and according to this psalm the security found in god includes assurance that he will care for you and your family.

As Matthew Henry states in his commentary on Psalm 127, “he who sends mouths, will send meat, if we trust in him”. (You can read from Matthew Henry’s commentary here).

Why Having Children Is A Blessing

Everywhere I look in the scriptures, I see that children are always counted a blessing. They considered an honor, a reward; never a burden.

In the case of Hannah, not having a child was considered an affliction and she went to great lengths to receive the blessing of god (1 Samuel 1:10-11). If children are a burden, why is it that scripture depicts them completely differently?

The real burden is being barren! It astounds me how many people today are willing inflicting a “curse” or an affliction upon themselves through birth control. That is no blessing, it is folly.

Why Having So Many Children Is A Blessing

Not only is one child a blessing, but multiple children are even more of a blessing. The psalmist equates having many children (especially at a young age) to a warrior having a arrows. The more full his quiver is, the more blessed he is on the battlefield.

One obvious reason that many children are a blessing is that as they age, they are able to take on many responsibilities in the house and ease the burden of the parents. In addition, if you have spent your youth (rather than your middle age) raising and teaching your children, then they will be there to care for you in your old age. Plus, if there are many of them, they will be able to do so much easier without feeling burdened with extra responsibility.

As For Me and My House

As I said at the beginning, I wouldn’t say that either view is absolute truth! However, as I read scripture I find that there is great wisdom in refraining from birth control and opening your life to the possibility of many children (you never know, you may not have that many anyways).

Because I see this wisdom, I have chosen this path for my family and believe that god has blessed in many ways for it. His blessing have most richly came in the form of two children (at least come April it will be). I encourage others to consider these things as well. After all, who wouldn’t want to be blessed with so many treasures!

Random Reflections

• December 29, 2009 -- Will The Theologians Please Sit Down
• June 4, 2009 -- The Armor of God
• November 24, 2009 -- Will The Real Heretic Please Stand Up
• February 5, 2012 -- I’m starting to blog again
• October 26, 2009 -- The Greatest Commandment
• August 29, 2010 -- Individualism, Indulgence, and the Mind of Christ: Making Room for the Neighbor and the Father

You knew eventually I would come back, right?

I have finally been starting become more discipline with my time. I’ve realized that structured time is extremely beneficial and (if I want to do, enjoy, and accomplish everything I love doing) crucial!

A number of things prompted this in me including my desire to study more material in preparation for my masters degree and my desire to continue growing as a husband and a father so that I can successfully lead my family on a daily basis and point them towards God when I fail.

All that to say, I’m taking time to start blogging again. If you can’t tell I trimmed down my blog a while ago and got rid of anything that wasn’t related to theology, philosophy, or church. For the most part these are the three topics I will be focusing on from now. I hope to use this as a means of organizing what I am learning spiritually, to encourage those of you who are reading, and receive outside feedback on these topics.

Enjoy.

Random Reflections

• December 29, 2009 -- Will The Theologians Please Sit Down
• June 4, 2009 -- The Armor of God
• February 5, 2012 -- Why I Don’t Use Birth Control – Psalm 127
• November 24, 2009 -- Will The Real Heretic Please Stand Up
• August 29, 2010 -- Individualism, Indulgence, and the Mind of Christ: Making Room for the Neighbor and the Father
• October 26, 2009 -- The Greatest Commandment

Credits: Denislav Stoychev

In my short time studying theology I have learned that, in the western mindset, there tend to be faults within our system of theology that naturally did not exist, at least in the typical fashion, within the Jewish or early Jewish-Christian mindset. One such example of this is the meaning of heart in the Jewish philosophies verses its meaning in the western or Greek philosophies. Today, I write as a means of examining another major shift in philosophies which, in the recent century, has become increasingly noticeable. This shift is individualism.

Leopoldo A. Sanchez M., in an essay about individualism and self indulgence, examines the effects of our increasing need to be unique in comparison to those around us. Throughout the essay, Leopoldo draws striking conclusions by differentiating the manners and lifestyle of Christ to those that we, as modern western Christians, pose.

One of the first major points, which Leopoldo makes known in the first paragraph, is that there has been an increase, within the theological mindset of our day, to demand that all theological reflections take into consideration me. This, of course, stems from the drastic shifts our society has made towards individualism. So much so, that our individualism can, and should be, seen as self-centeredness.

He is, however, quick to point out that seeing our individualism only as such is to view it with only one eye. He makes sure that the reader understands that there is yet another half to the picture of individualism, one which holds good in the differences of the many scriptural interpretations and spiritual gifts.

A second point, one which I have found enlightening and view changing, is that what Christians think of as the mission field are the lost, atheists, or secular members of our society and world. What this, in my opinion, has bred is a view that it is the duty of a Christian to merely reach out to these people with the gospel. This, in turn, has set in place a church that does not find engaging, or loving, their neighbor to be important, but that only bringing in “the lost” is of importance.

One of the major problems this has caused within the modern church is to stretch our individualism into indulgence, something which our modern society has done for many years now. Thus, we live in a church that has given itself to the very ill natured lifestyle of the world. This, as many would agree, is a stark contrast from how Christ lived. Having made himself nothing and taking on the very form of man, Christ refused for himself indulgence.

In addition, Christ has set an example in which he shows love to his neighbors and denies himself, even to the point of death, that he might bring good upon all who choose to accept it. How then can we, claiming to be followers of this very same man and to be attaining to his likeness, uphold ourselves to the exclusion of our neighbor.

Of course, I am well aware that many would argue about the Church’s great interest in its neighbors. After all, how many times a year does each congregation hold, within its own building, an event to which the unsaved of their community are invited to come and enjoy? This, however, is a fault because we, having given ourselves to the thinking that our mission field is merely “the lost”, accept that a simple invitation of an already individualistic and indulgent friend is means, sufficient enough to say that we have served our god.

It is high time that we realize that our goal in missions is not to simply reach “the lost”; but to show care, concern, and love to our neighbors. Most importantly, we must show this to the poor and marginalized. If we, as followers of Christ, were to actually follow his example, we would find that our view of the mission field is not the atheist or secular person but instead the hungry, the needy, and depraved. Like Christ, our goal should be to go into the world, casting off our individualism, as it has become self-indulgence, and seeking to love, care, and give all we have for the benefit of those who need it and would, in turn, be most receptive to the good news that is Christ Jesus.

There are many who argue that the Church plays its part in this by sending out missionaries to other countries or by engaging their youth in mission trips around the globe and the country. However, of these missionaries, how many lack indulgence to the point that they have given themselves and their family up the way Christ has, even unto death? I believe the numbers are marginal. I know many missionaries who live in the same comfort that we here in America live every day. It shames me enough that we do it, let alone that our missionaries do it as well. I also know missionaries who have given up much, even their lives, to love, care, and preach to the needy and depraved of this world.

Even if we were to accept that all missionaries live their lives the way that Christ has modeled, this is a minute reflection of the church at large. We cannot be willing to accept that since a few are willing, the church is doing fine. If it is within you to sit around and watch the depravity of this world go by, while you lie in comfort, you are a wicked man, who knows not the love of Christ. I pity you on the day of reckoning and weep for your end.

So, has our church been and what shall we do to change it? Shall we sit by and watch the world die as we allow ourselves to give money to nothing but our own indulgences and individual beliefs? By no means! We must come together and love our neighbors, the poor, the downcast, and the wicked.

I leave you with this, a quote form the end of Leopoldo’s essay:

One often hears of speakers who talk about self-care. The point is usually that unless you take care of yourself you cannot really take care of others. In these talks, one often gets the sense that the overworked people have a right to be indulgent. Supposedly, hard working people deserve to get something they want. They have earned freedom to make some choices. Without minimizing the real concern for refreshment behind these attitudes, one should also realize that self-indulgence is in some ways a commodity that North Americans can afford. In a culture that values choice and is given to excesses, indulgence becomes another way to exercise one’s freedom to consume and possess. By contrast, there are hard working people in many parts of the world, and many in the United States too, who simply cannot afford indulgence. Those who are better off and talk about taking care of self cannot but sound selfish by comparison. A little or big indulgence might be a pragmatic way of relief. But there is simply no permanent rest and refreshment in a little indulgence. Where then do we go?

This quote, and other paraphrases are taken from an essay entitle “Individualism, Indulgence, and the Mind of Christ: Making Room for the Neighbor and the Father”, by Leopoldo A. Sanchez M.

Random Reflections

• February 5, 2012 -- Why I Don’t Use Birth Control – Psalm 127
• October 26, 2009 -- The Greatest Commandment
• February 5, 2012 -- I’m starting to blog again
• November 24, 2009 -- Will The Real Heretic Please Stand Up
• December 29, 2009 -- Will The Theologians Please Sit Down
• June 4, 2009 -- The Armor of God

Will the Theologian Please Sit Down

In my previous review of one of David Bercot’s books, Will The Real Heretic Please Stand Up, I had to step forward and praise him for the masterpiece that he crafted. In contrast, I cannot do the same for Will The Theologians Please Sit Down.

In comparison, the writing and rhetoric techniques used by Bercot in this book were atrocious at best standing next to the hope he brought in his other book. A large portion of the book was spent repeating what had already been said and dragging on the statements to no end. In short, he took the argument nowhere, succeeding only in opening the reader’s thirst but ceasing to quench the fire.

The idea behind the book is prolific. Bercot had the opportunity to take the argument in numerous directions, bringing the book to a complacent finish. Instead, he chose to argue against two specific subjects and even became guilty of his own accusations.

The first major point he makes in the book is that theologians spend to much time focusing on language and using it to twist and turn the text of the bible to fit their own needs. This I agree with, however, what I can’t agree with is using these same methods as a means of discrediting theologians.

For example, Bercot states that we do not understand what doctrine actually is. Today when we think of doctrine we think of a theological idea. He then proceeds to say that we do not understand that the word doctrine actually means teaching just like the word doctor actually means teacher. These, of course, are the words original intended meaning. Therefore, our new conception of a theological doctrine is completely different than the conception of early christians some two thousand years ago.

All I have to ask is this, isn’t an idea conceptually the same thing as a teaching? Bercot finds his way around this loophole by replacing the statement “theological idea” with “theological fact” and instead of “teaching ideas”, we actually “say facts”. My problem is that last time I checked most theology, beyond core principles, is considered ideas not fact but rather one denominations doctrine (by this I mean there beliefs). Also, as far as anyone is concerned when you teach, it is the same as saying or stating. What happened to not using linguistics to twist the text into fitting your own needs?

Finally, the second argument he focused on throughout the book was the how commentaries have ruined doctrine. Now I understand his point. Over a thousand years later, Calvin finally wrote the first commentary and didn’t quite have his head on straight. I’m not a big fan of theologians and I don’t care for the idea of christianity’s development having been based on writings that came so far after the time of Christ and the early church leaders. However, that point was easily summed up in one chapter. It was irritating that it became the hanging point for the book and the carrying argument against systematic theology. Surely, the author could have done better.

After reading this book, I wouldn’t recommend it as quality read. It certainly helped to open up my view points and introduce me to some different thought. However, there is certainly other books that could and have done this much better.

Related Reflections

• November 24, 2009 -- Will The Real Heretic Please Stand Up

Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up

About five months ago, I began researching what it took to start a church. This research, of course, opened up many questions, concerns, and insights into the Christian faith (particularly in regards to 21st century americans).

Part way into my studies I stumbled upon this book, by David Bercot, which was written as a way to correct and educate the Christians of this era. I must say, after reading the book’s descriptions, I had a number of reservations while getting into the text. My first thoughts were that David Bercot was just some other guy out there writing about his angry feelings with the church, and he wasn’t capable of saying much of anything that had biblical truth.

After much study and a thorough read through, however, almost all of these reservations were completely lifted. If I had to sum up how I felt in one sentence I would say: This book is exactly what I have been waiting for since the start of my theological studies. It took no more than the few pages of this book, before I was hooked on what was being said. The stories and statements made were so intense and so drastically different than the ‘church way’ I, and many others, grew up in.

Despite my total interest, I will admit that I took nothing in this book to heart until I thoroughly researched and read the early christian texts cited in this book. After my studies, I went through and read the book a second time. By the time I was finished, it was as if God himself had dared me to change and to become a person worthy of being called a Christian.

From a strictly literary standpoint, the book was extremely well crafted and versed in many areas. The author insistently refused to hold back on early church citations as proof and tellings of the stories and truths he brought forth. The author was also capable of writing in a manner that was both intellectual and easily comprehensible. All in all I was very pleased with this book and after two read throughs, I have not walked away without learning and changing myself for the better. As far as Christian literature is concerned, this book is by far one of the best reads.

Related Reflections

• December 29, 2009 -- Will The Theologians Please Sit Down

Matthew 22:34-40 (Deut. 6:5, Lev. 19:18)

Here we the Pharisees gathering together to ask Jesus a question that they thought would finally stump Him. (Let me tell you how wrong they were.) They asked in verse 36, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” You’ve got to give these guys some credit, that’s a hard question. Think of all the laws that are found within the Old Testament.

However, despite their cunning and crafty ways Christ is able to answer. He says quite simple, LOVE! Love God. Love man. Put all that you are into Loving God and put all that you would put into yourself towards loving man. It is important to note that when he says these two commands he uses the same word for love in both. agapáo? is a Greek word that many of us are familiar with. Perhaps you have heard it in context with the greatest type of love there can be. It means to esteem, love, indicating a direction of the will and finding one’s joy in something or someone. It differs from the Greek word philéo? ; which means to love, indicating feelings, warm affection, the kind of love expressed by a kiss. Now phileo is the kind of love that is experienced between a man and his wife, between two or friends, or between family members. But Christ isn’t commanding us to have or show affection, he is commanding us to esteem, love, show a direction of goodwill, and find joy in God and others.

After that Christ says something that is absolutely amazing to me. In verse 40, “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” WOE! You mean…all I have to do is love God…love man…and that’s it. You see Jesus names these two commandments for good reason, and by good I actually mean great, and by great I mean perfect. If we follow these two commandments alone and concentrate everything we are towards following them to the fullest extent, then every other commandment will be followed without thought. Repentance, and I’m not just talking words, but true repentance will always come for our sins, and because of that peace. And because off peace, our love will be even greater.

The question I want everyone to ask themselves tonight is Do I love God? Do I love Man? Now we all know that love isn’t just some warm and fuzzy feeling. So, one must inquire what is love? What does it mean to esteem and to indicate a direction of goodwill?

1 Corinthians 13:3-5

Patient (makrothuméo)? – to endure patiently as opposed to losing faith or giving up

Kind (chre?steúomai) -willing to help or assist

Does not envy (ze?lóo?) -to profess affection in order to gain someone as a follower

Does no boast (perpereúomai) – To brag or boast

Is not proud (phusióo?) -to breathe, blow, inflate

Is not rude (asche?monéo?) -To behave in an ugly, indecent, unseemly or unbecoming manner

Is not self-seeking (ze?téo?, heautoú) -strive to find, Of himself

Is not easily angered(paroxúno?) -provoke or rouse to anger

Keeps no records of wrong (logízomai, kakós ) –recollections of worthlessness

Does not delight in evil (chaíro?, adikía ) – To rejoice, that which is not right

Rejoices with the truth (ale??theia) – Truth, reality

Always protects (stégo?) – to cover over in silence.

Always trusts (pisteúo?) – have faith in

Always hopes (elpízo?) – expect with desire that which is good.

Always perseveres (hupoméno?) –bear up under or to suffer

Never fails (ekpípto?) – never falls away or apart

The word used here for love is them same word that Christ used when talking to the Pharisees. There are 16 different aspects to love that Paul talks about. I have broken them into 7 different groups based on the common form and meaning in the Greek language. As we go through them we will look at God’s love towards us that shows each group.

1) Patience, Perseverance

The first group is going to cover these two aspects. Love is Patient. Love always perseveres. These two words hold common ground in two areas. The first being endurance and the second being an eternal time period. The more I studied these two words the more I was able to see the literal meaning. In truth it is being said that for all eternity love endures hardship.

Thinking of an example to show this part of love was an instant thought. All I had to do was think of the Old Testament. It all started with a bunch of slaves. God delivered them. They turned their back on him. They receive punishment. God delivers them. They repent. They turn their backs again. Punishment, deliverance, repentance, betrayal, it’s like a never ending cycle.  But the whole time God was patient to endure the hardship. God loves these people, he loves all people. You can bet that every time we choose to turn away, every time we sin; every time we deny his fellowship God is hurt. It’s the hardship he has endured since the fall of man. Yet, he shows love through his patient endurance of hardship.

2) Envy, Boast, Pride

There is patience and perseverance. Next we are going to look at envy, boasting, and pride. Envy dealing with gaining worth at the cost of others. Boasting dealing with the announcing of ones own accomplishments. And Pride dealing with the inflation of one’s egos. All three dealing with the self in a social sense. What I mean by this is that these three words are all about making our own self greater in the eyes of others at everyone else’s expense. Yet, the Bible tells us love is not this way. In fact, love is the complete opposite. Love is humble.

Philippians 2:5-7 tells us exactly how Christ himself demonstrated this characteristic of love. You see in verse Christ showed the humility of love simply by taking on human form. He showed that no matter what ones status is others are more important. He lowered himself from equality with God, the God, and made himself low. Not to become greater, but to instead to love us and to have the chance to do so for eternity.

3) Rude, Rejoices not in Evil, Angered not

Boasting, envy, and pride all deal with the attitude of self. The next three are love is not rude, it does not rejoice in evil, and it is not easily angered. All three of these deals with the attitude one has towards wrong doing. When looked at in its simplest definition these three characteristics mean don’t be a fool. It’s Simple! Solomon did a great job of describing what it means to be wise and thereby live a righteous life when he wrote proverbs. Paul is saying quite simple love does not do wrong. It is not foolish. Love is wise.

How does God show us this kind of love? He shows it in many different ways. A more major way is through his mercy and correction. Mercy is a characteristic of God. It is seen countless throughout the old and new testament. In fact, he shows it every day when he doesn’t pour out his wrath upon us. And he shows it every day when he corrects us for what we’ve done wrong. Through mercy God keeps from being rude and from hasty anger. Through correction God shows that he does not delight in evil.

4) Trust, Hope

Next we move on to trust and hope, both of which have to do with expectations of others. Trust coming from the Greek word pisteúo? which literally meaning to put faith in, and hope coming from the Greek word elpízo? which literally meaning to expect that which is good. These two words show that within love there is a faith in others to do what is right or to be trustworthy.

God began demonstrating this love towards us way back at the creation of man. In Genesis chapter 2 we told that God formed man from the dust of the earth and placed him in the middle of a garden. In verses 16 and 17 God says this, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” It is important to note two things here. In trust God said you are FREE. He gave us free will to make choices. In hope He gave us a command to follow with the expectation that we would do what is right. From our very beginnings God demonstrated his trust and hope in his creation.

5) No record of wrong, Protects, Rejoices in Truth

The next three aspects are- love keeps no record of wrong, love protects, and love rejoices in truth. I love the Greek word for wrongs. kakós literally translates to worthlessness. Paul is saying something very important. Love keeps no record of wrong doing because it’s worthless. Instead we are told to protect or shield others. Which seems completely odd and yet so important. We are to forgive and then help. As well, we are to rejoice in truth or reality, which means that we should know what is and shouldn’t pretend that wrong doing doesn’t happen. Love sees wrong, forgives wrong, and then helps prevent wrong.

In I John 1:9 we told that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God forgives us and washing our sins away from us. This means that God sees that we do wrong. He doesn’t pretend that it’s not there. He knows reality and truth. He is then willing to forgive us. Also, (going back to God’s correction) he helps prevent wrong from reoccurrence.

6) Kind, Self-less

Trust, hope, forgiveness, and protection all these things dealing so much with the denial of self and regard of others. That makes it interesting that the next group deals with just that. Love is kind and love is not self-seeking. What I find interesting about these two aspects of love is that you can’t truly have one without the other and yet we always claim to. I don’t know about you, but whenever I read through this passage of scripture I always think, “Patience. I got it covered. Kindness. No problem. Trust. Sure thing.” I go on and on about how all these things are no problem. You know, “I can do that.” However, whenever I come to the section that says love is not self-seeking I always tend to skip right over it. There’s just something about ME that I can’t allow myself to deny.

Well God thinks differently and thankfully so. Christ came down to and endured a ruthless torturing to save us. He was beaten and hung on that cross out of the kindness that love brought. And I’d like anyone in the world to go through that and tell me that Christ was hanging up there thinking ME! ME! ME! No! His only thoughts were you. You! YOU! YOU!! He was crucified because he denied himself and followed God’s will.

John 15:13 Tells us this “Greater Love has no than this, that a man lay down his life for a friend.” You know what I love about this verse? Christ didn’t just say it, he did it. He didn’t just come down on this earth and say I love you. No, he allowed himself to be up on that cross and die in order to show it and live it. God said I love you more than anything here is my son. Christ said I love you more than anything, here is my life. The denial self, it is all but unneeded for love to be real.

7) Never Fails

At this point we have covered 15 of the 16 aspects mentioned by Paul. The last one last to cover is actually the last one mentioned in the chapter. Love Never Fails. I remember reading this verse in the past and thinking, in a sense, that this meant that love would always make everything better. I thought that it meant that love itself would never fail us. I’m sure may of you have been in the same boat as I have when it comes to this.

When I looked up the Greek word here I was surprised to found just how wrong I was. What I found was something much more comforting and much more visible in life. The word ekpípto? is used here for fail. The literal translation of this word is to fall away or apart. So when put together what Paul is saying is that love never falls apart. He then goes on to describe the way things are and then they are not. That idea is seen countless times in scripture. The things of man are in existence at one put, but will eventually come to naught. They’re meaningless. So how comforting a thought to know that love will never come to naught. I could not think of a better example than this. In I John 4:8 it says this “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” Some of you might still be wondering where I’m going with this. Don’t feel bad because it took me forever to realize where I was going with it myself. Here’s the point though- God is not just an example of love. He is love. He is the reason that it can exist. In fact it is part of who he is. So it is that if God is great. If God cannot fail. If He cannot fall apart. If He is eternal. So love must be also. Love never falls apart. It always is. God is love.

Conclusion

Here’s the connection of it all. Jesus answered the question given to him b the Pharisees. He answered it with two specific ideas and he did so for a reason. Love God with all you are and love man like you love yourself.

The word agape is not only used here but in all the places where the New Testament talks about God’s love. Tonight we went through what that kind of love was. We went through different examples of how God shows this love. What must be understood is that when Christ says love God and Love man he is not telling us to have warm fuzzy feelings. It is not Philo God, but instead Agape God. It is not Philo man, but instead Agape man. Where told to love God and to love man in the same way that God loves. After all this is the only love that is good and perfect.

As you leave here I ask that you inquire and meditate on these ideas. Do not just ask if you Philo God and man, but instead ask if you Agape God and man. Take the aspects of love as lain out and defined in 1 Corinthians 13:3-5 and ensure that you have each one. Not just a few, but all. For, this is the love that God has and it is the love that we are commanded to show.

Random Reflections

• November 24, 2009 -- Will The Real Heretic Please Stand Up
• December 29, 2009 -- Will The Theologians Please Sit Down
• June 4, 2009 -- The Armor of God
• February 5, 2012 -- Why I Don’t Use Birth Control – Psalm 127
• February 5, 2012 -- I’m starting to blog again
• August 29, 2010 -- Individualism, Indulgence, and the Mind of Christ: Making Room for the Neighbor and the Father

Put on the full armor of god

Armor of God

(Ephesians 6:10-13)

We are in a war. Our enemy is the OPPONENT himself. The name satan originally comes from the hebrew word sawtan, which means opponent or adversary. This name later on came to be known in greek as satanas, which means the accuser. Satan is our opponent. In 1 Peter 5:8 he is described as a prowling lion, seeking those whom he can devour. It is a mighty description of the OPPONENT. He shows us that his very goal is to destroy us, and take us down.

So, how to stop him? How to prevent this? To prevent failure and to prevent our being devoured, Paul gives a few instructions. In verse 13 of Ephesians he says,  “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” That’s it. That’s the advice. That’s the help. Stand Firm.

The real question to start asking ourselves is this. How do we put on the full armor of god so that we can stand firm?

To understand this better, let’s first look a bit more closely at the armor itself.

1. The Belt of Truth

The significance of the belt of truth is that it symbolizes the core upon which all else to built. The proper way to translate this piece of armor is “gird your loins with truth”. The girdle in roman attire was belt that fastened around the waist and abdominal region and draped down to below the groin. It protected the core of the body. The waist and abdominal region controls the movement your body, as well it controls the power and precision of attack and defense in a battle. You can see why it is so significant that the core of who you are is built upon truth. Truth must be what controls us, what leads us, what gives us our reason for attack and defense. Truth must be what hold us together.

2. Breastplate of Righteousness

The breastplate is quite obviously the section of armor that covers and protects the chest. To be more exact, it protects and covers all possible targets of a frontal attack on the heart. The heart is our source of life. Without it, we cannot live. This is something that we all understand and have known since we were small children. It should be no wonder that Paul declares we make our source of life righteousness. Righteousness is act and characterization of being morally correct and ethically sound. It is essentially to be a wise man.

3. Feet Shod With Preparation of the Gospel of Peace

In Matthew 28:16-20 Jesus commands his disciples the great commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel. Attributing the the gospel of to the idea of out battle ready footwear is by no means a mistake. A large part of battle is taking a stronger position and fortify the army forward. The roman soldiers often times had spikes placed on the bottom of their sandals in order to help them maintain their position and also to move forward. If we live by the idea of having feet shod with the gospel of peace, then we will constantly continue to move forward. Both in our personally walk with god and in our attempt to expand the kingdom of go with new believers each and every day.

4. Shield of Faith

The shield was the most important instrument of defense and protection that a soldier had. It alone allowed for a solider to ward off arrows being volleyed at him from a distance and to close in on an opponent swing a weapon wildly. It was the shield that they themselves put the most faith in. Not their helmet, their breastplate, their sword, or even other soldiers. It was the shield. They constantly had faith it the shield to protect them and withstand the abuse of the enemies onslaught. Our faith in god is our shield. In Psalm 7:10 it says, “My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart.ut faith in him, much like a soldier put faith in his shield.

5. Helmet of Salvation

The head is an important part of life. More particularly, it is the brain that is so important. The brain gives commands to all other parts of the body. It is the place where all our thought happen and the place where we struggle with and must overcome our sinful nature. In fact, the mind is the first place our redemption occurs. It is through the mind that realize our sin, that we realize who god is and what christ has done, and we realize our need to be saved. In order to become a follower of god we must renew our minds by believing in Christ and confessing our sins. It is through the mind all of this comes about and so we must take care to clothe it in salvation.

6. Sword of the Spirit

It is said that the soul of a samurai is his sword. Such a statement can be no more correct. You see the soul has always been equated with life and purpose of one’s self. A samurai lived to fight, serve protect, and gain honor through his sword. His entire purpose came about because of the sword, without it he is nothing and has no purpose. Likewise, we as christians must learn to find our purpose in life through the sword of the spirit, also known and understood as the word of god. It is important to understand that this does not just mean what we have come to know as the bible. But it means everything that god tells us. By knowing god’s word through bible and through prayer, we obtain our greatest means at fighting back against the world, the flesh, and the devil. By forming completely our life’s purpose to the sword, we have a way to fight, protect, and serve.

I have heard many different sermons, lessons, talks, and read books about the armor of god. My biggest irritation with the majority of these, is that too often we focus on what the armor is, how it compares to the roman armor, why each attribute was put together with a specific piece of armor. It’s all very important. We need to know those things because they can help us better understand the purpose for wearing it all. But it doesn’t stop there. There is so much more to it. The biggest thing we need to know about the armor of god is how to put it on. You can know everything else about it, but if you don’t know how to put it on then you it is absolutely worthless. A warriors armor does him no god if he never wears it.

What I want us to understand next is how to exactly to put the armor on. We have just understood fully what each piece is and the purpose of it. We know that it is important to put it on. How else could we stand against our opponent. However, one must wonder, is the knowledge of the armor enough to put it on or is there more to it?

The steps to putting the armor on are in no way magical, mysterious, or reserved for only those who are spiritual enough to be given them. It doesn’t take days of praying and wailing to god either. It merely takes the change in lifestyle that we as christians should already be making every day. Let us take a look.

1. To put on the belt of truth, one must merely indwell himself in truth. The idea in the greek language when talking about the belt of truth, is this idea of surrounding oneself. That is exactly what we must do. We need to surround ourselves in truth in every way that we can, so that it can become to core foundation of who we are. There are many ways to do this such as studying scripture, reading christian books and biblical commentary, and praying. However, the most important way to do this is to surround ourselves with god and god’s people. Going to church and bible studies in order to fellowship and gain understanding together is one of the best ways to surround ourselves with truth. When we constantly seek it  and surround ourselves with it, it soon becomes who we are. If we do this and truly seek out truth and let it engulf who we are, then all other things will follow.
2. To guard our lives with a breastplate of righteousness we need to make our lives righteous. We to seek out everyday in everything we do, a way to live morally and ethically correct. We need to begin making wise decisions. This means choosing to listen to the right music, watch to right television shows, refrain from stealing, honor our parents, love one another. We must make the source of our life righteous so that we can truly have life.
3. The great commission is no easy task. Yet, still Christ commanded it of us and we need to strive to make it a a goal in our everyday life no matter what the consequences. If we can live that great commission out then we will have already fit our feet properly for the war.
4. Put your faith in god for he is your shield. Unlike the roman soldiers, we never have to worry about our shield crumbling or breaking under pressure. No matter the onslaught, no matter how much we face, and no matter the strength of the enemy; god is our shield and he will protect and deliver us.
5. “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) Get ready for the toughest battle your mind has ever had and prepare for it to get worse with each passing day. If you want to survive and live past the temporal, you must confess you sins and find salvation in god. When the battle comes you better find your mind protect by Christ himself.
6. Finally, take up the sword and begin you fight. Mold your life to that will and word of god. Study the scriptures and know what is said. Pray for yourself, for others, and receive the holy spirit. There is no purpose in life outside of life in christ. If you wish to join the battle and wield your weapon of the spirit, then you must commit your life will and commands of god. Wherever he directs, you must follow. The rules and laws he has lain out, you must obey. Form your life to fighting, protecting, and serving through the sword of the spirit.

The lifestyle is not magical, it’s practical. It’s not some hidden secret that only scholars can decipher, it’s plain and has already been lain out before us. The call to put on the armor of god, the study of it, and understanding of it, is meant to serve as a reminder. It is a reminder to everyday live the life that we, as christians, have been called to live. We pray for aid in putting on the armor because alone we will fail. If, however, we choose to stand firm in god and seek his help, then we will succeed.

“10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end( keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:10-20)

Random Reflections

• February 5, 2012 -- Why I Don’t Use Birth Control – Psalm 127
• October 26, 2009 -- The Greatest Commandment
• November 24, 2009 -- Will The Real Heretic Please Stand Up
• August 29, 2010 -- Individualism, Indulgence, and the Mind of Christ: Making Room for the Neighbor and the Father
• February 5, 2012 -- I’m starting to blog again
• December 29, 2009 -- Will The Theologians Please Sit Down