In our last study we looked at verses 5-10, which covered a range of Theological subjects, from the rooting and walking in our faith, to warnings concerning what kinds of worldly thinking and traditions we are to avoid. Even at that, Paul also instructed us about the Deity of Christ working in our own persons and souls as part of His Body, being subject to no rule but His, just as Christ is. I believe I can safely say that the former study will form the basis and introduction to the next few studies and the point that will be made in those studies.
Let’s take a look at verses 11-15,
“…and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rules and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.” -Colossians 2:11-15
Looking back for a moment, Paul has just finished telling us a rather unusual truth in verse 10, the fact that in Christ we do not need to obey any authority but His, which means submitting to His Word, and to the authorities that we are commanded to obey IN His Word, and those alone. He goes on to inform us that we, as Christians, have undergone the process of spiritual circumcision with our salvation. Done without hands but rather in our hearts and minds, our depraved mindset and heart is changed at salvation, when Christ ‘circumcises’ our hearts, removing the flesh and complete depravity. This is to say that we are able to have faith in Christ and the Holy Spirit in our lives once our hearts are circumcised like this. This is not to say we’re capable of perfection after this fleshly circumcision, unfortunately. Since we still alive in fleshly, fallen bodies on this earth, we will not be able to achieve complete Christ-likeness until they are entirely dead and we are free of them. Though eventually we will receive a new body (see 1st Corinthians 15:36-49). This is also reflected in Romans 7, where Paul teaches that as long as our fleshly bodies remain we will be sinning.
Next, Paul goes on to say,
“…having been buried with Him in baptism in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” -Colossians 2:12
This is interesting, because after explaining how the circumcision of our depraved hearts works in Christ, Paul goes on to say that we were buried with Him in baptism. Not only that, but also this same baptism, is that which we were also raised up with Him through faith. What does this mean? Is this the baptism of water? Is Paul speaking of water baptism here? I think not. I doubt that in water baptism we would be raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, since we are saved of faith, not works. What then?
What is being spoken of here is not water baptism, but rather the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We are born again in Christ with the fire of the Spirit and not through water. Baptism is nothing but a symbol, an outward reflection of the faith that is already within. When salvation happens, all believers are baptized in the Holy Spirit coming to dwell in their lives, and is felt, literally FELT, in the heart of every believer. This is a baptism that goes far deeper than baptism of water.
That being said, it makes sense how spiritual baptism not only buries us with Christ as He was buried, dead to the world and to the flesh, but also that like Christ, we’re also raised up in Him through our faith in God’s work, not our own. The Holy Spirit in us baptizes us into Christ’s death and resurrection, since it makes us a new creature that is dead to the world and alive to God. This is the key issue here in this verse. (see Romans 6, particularly 3-5, for more on this subject.)
“When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificated, of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” -Colossians 2:13-14
Having explained the important passage above, Paul goes on to explain more details about this business of our being ‘dead and buried with Christ’ and ‘raised up to life.’ As stated above, in our spiritual baptism and salvation, which is the renewing of our minds and being born again, we are dead to the world. We are dead to this world and its enslavement to sin, no longer part of it. However, with our salvation and renewing in Jesus Christ, we are similarly dead to our transgressions and former uncircumcision. It’s like we have changed sides, from being dead to Christ, to being dead to the world. Alive on one side and dead on the other. However, what does it mean, to be ‘dead’ or ‘alive’ in this manner? Paul explains.
Being dead to Christ, dead to His Life and salvation, is being in the enslavement of transgressions and uncircumcision, our minds still being of depraved thinking and still being bound by our sinfulness to death. (again, Romans 7 speaks on this.) This is, quite literally, an outworking of death, the death that exists in us as human beings separated from God. Since God is life, and is THE Life, being separated from Him literally is death to us. Since His good Life is the only true life, we are dead when we are apart from Him. Being still lost to sin, guilt, the Law, and transgression is death in this case.
However, there is good news, as we all know! Despite this condition, Paul goes on and states that God made us alive with Him, wiping away all of our transgressions in the form of Jesus Christ. We are once again connected to God’s wonderful life-giving Spirit when He saves us. Now, at this point, we are dead to the world in that we no longer are part of it or function through its principles, but alive with Christ instead. And only because, as Paul so aptly claims, we were forgiven of all our sins and evil, be literally canceling our our debt to Him. Since we were formerly under the Law, which consisted of decrees against us, telling us to obey certain laws, rules, and commands in order to please God or else die, God saved us from its rule. We are no longer subject to the decrees of the Law because God has canceled out its condemnation of us.
We all know too well that anyone who is subject to Law, and breaks it even in the most minor offense, will be condemned as a lawbreaker. (James 2:9-13 is great for this subject.) This is why the Law serves as an accuser against us, and why only Christ, who was perfect, could fulfill its requirements perfectly. (Galatians 3:19-29) And as a result, since He was subject to it, we no longer have to be. This is why the Law is hostile to us, even as saved believers, for its purpose it not to guide, but to condemn the lawbreaker. For the Law says, “The soul that sins, it shall surely die.” (Ezek. 18:4)
However, the power of the Law over us, as well as our sin, was nailed to the cross in the form of Jesus Christ, and thus destroyed. Christ not only took on our sins, but the condemnation of them in His crucifixion. Praise be to our Lord and Savior for it!
And finally, let’s look at the final verse in our study, on which Paul closes this train of thought and continued to the next one.
“When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.” -Colossians 2:15
Paul informs us in this passage that Christ and His actions, particularly His death and resurrection, have been responsible for ‘disarming’ the rulers of this world, the principalities that are the masters of the vast majority of humanity. (Ephesians 6:12, for example.) These powers and the prince of this world was disarmed and rendered powerless by Christ’s death, which made it impossible to condemn those who believed. The main idea is that Satan was defeated by Christ’s death and resurrection, and how because of the triumph over sin, death and the prince of the world, the Gospel and good news of it is ‘proclaimed’ throughout the world, publicly displayed for all to see. Indeed though many are unable to see something so blatantly displayed as Christ’s triumph, those not blinded by their own depravity and worldliness can see it clearly, which are the saved believers in Christ. Thank God on High that He has made a public proclaiming to all the world of His triumph over the powers of this world!
~Alex
Phil. 4:13
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Random Mini Post
All I've got for ya is one single song, ladies and gents!
I found this song this morning while poking around in some Superchick albums and was instantly addicted. And I have to share it! This is like the coolest, most totally awesome song ever and I'm pretty sure I'll be listening to it on non-stop repeat until next week at least.
http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/s/Never+Look+Away+feat+Brynn+Sanchez+of+Superchick+/lSwco
A beautiful, inspiring song. And interestingly, what happens when one of the greatest Christian rappers meets the singer from Superchick. Enjoyz!
I found this song this morning while poking around in some Superchick albums and was instantly addicted. And I have to share it! This is like the coolest, most totally awesome song ever and I'm pretty sure I'll be listening to it on non-stop repeat until next week at least.
http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/s/Never+Look+Away+feat+Brynn+Sanchez+of+Superchick+/lSwco
A beautiful, inspiring song. And interestingly, what happens when one of the greatest Christian rappers meets the singer from Superchick. Enjoyz!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Colossians 2:1-5
I'm not sure if I posted the previous study to this one, Col. 1:25-30, but...if I didn't and you would like to see it, leave me a comment, if you will. Meantime I shall post up this one. Enjoy! How are my exposition skills coming, pray tell?
In our last study, we studied the last passage at the end of chapter one, that was vast in its scope. We talked about the mystery and incredible story of the Gospel, from the Fall to Christ. What an incredible six thousand year long story in itself! We studied into that, and into the future that the story of the Gospel will take in the end. Finally, Paul reveals something about his own labors on this matter.
Now, as we start chapter 2, let’s take a look at verses 1 through 5:
“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasure of wisdom and knowledge.
“I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.” -Colossians 2:1-5
Continuing his last train of thought, Paul goes on after telling us of his noble labors with the opening verse here. According to Paul, he has great struggles on behalf of his friends in Colossus, and wishes to tell them so. Interestingly, at this time, Paul was in prison under the Roman Empire at the time of this letter’s writing. How is Paul struggling on their behalf while in prison, quite a distance away from Colossus? What could he be doing that benefits them? And that is such a struggle, too?
Well let’s take a look at the context. Very simply, he stated it in just the previous verses.
As he claims in 1:29, “For this purpose I also labor, striving according to His power, with mightily works within me.” The purpose Paul labors and strives for is the purpose of the Gospel and for the ‘admonishing and teaching every man,’ (Col. 1:28) that is, the salvation and edification of every man in Christ. Paul spent his life not only proclaiming the Gospel and bringing many people to the truth and grace of Christ, but he also is probably one of the greatest apostles in the area of teaching his converts Christian doctrine and Theology. After being saved, it is necessary for us, as saved believers, to ‘grow.’ The process we call sanctification is probably what is being achieved by it, and the growing in the knowledge and wisdom of God. In this specific case, it is possible we may never know exactly what struggles Paul had for his disciples. But we do know the purpose of his life and what he labored for, and that his work of saving, teaching, and discipling, not to mention the price of imprisonment it cost him, was certainly no small thing. In short, Paul’s struggles are those that cost him personally to teach the churches he planted. And the cost was indeed high.
Interestingly, Paul wants to tell them about his struggles for them, and not for his own glorification. This is not Paul crowing over his strength and endurance on behalf of others. Rather, he says ‘that their hearts may be encouraged.’ Apparently this message about Paul’s current struggles is supposed to encourage the people of Colossus and Laodicea. This is because this is a prime example of several things. This is an excellent example of one brother in Christ suffering and striving on behalf of others, which should indeed encourage those he’s suffering for. It’s always an encouragement to see a friend willing to suffer for your sake, but even more importantly, ‘and for all those who have not personally seen my face?’ This makes it all the more incredible, that Paul suffers and labors for those he does not even really know. And naturally, this is what we should be. A prime example of Christ-like behavior on behalf of our brothers and sisters, and selflessly laboring for saving and teaching. This is not only supposed to encourage the Colossians in that someone many did not even know was laboring for their good, but that indirectly he did so for us. This is a reflection also of Christ’s labors for us also. This should not only make us more confident in our walk, but should encourage us to imitate Paul in doing the same, for others.
He goes on to say,
“…that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ…” -Col. 2:2
After giving them this brotherly encouragement, Paul goes on to tell them something else they already have in part and are still striving for. Since he uses the word ‘having,’ we can assume that this is something that they already have done in context of the sentence. ‘Knit together in love,’ the Colossians closeness as a church and unity in themselves. This is something we lack in our churches today, quite obviously.
He goes on and states, ‘and to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding.’ This is important because this is a picture of what the knowledge of God brings, though understanding the Gospel and Christian doctrine. What we call theology and doctrine, are really the ‘knowledge of God’ we are often striving for, which are so vital for life. The vast wealth that comes from, well, ‘knowing’ the knowledge comes in forms I’m not sure I can say in human words. Paul is anxious that this wealth be acquired by the people of the Colossian church, a wealth that comes from ‘the full assurance of understanding.’ This is important, because this full assurance of understanding is the confidence we have in the Gospel and the knowledge of God we have learned. This is coming from the Holy Spirit in our lives. Finally, Paul sums up in one word what the mystery and knowledge are, and not surprisingly, ‘that is, Christ.’ Christ then is the summary of God’s mystery and knowledge to us, and rightfully so.
‘…in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.’ Christ is also quite literally the source of our knowledge and wisdom of God. Our understanding of the Gospel and Christ, and thus the Christian doctrine, is where this wealth and treasure of full assurance is to be found. In other words, in Christ, the mystery of God, is where the assurance of understanding and wealth of knowledge is to be found. This is vital and should give us all the more reason for studying the Word of God, being the source of our knowledge of Him today. For in every sense, the knowledge of God = life.
Now stop, and read that last sentence over again.
The knowledge of God = life. That is probably one of the most important things I can show you from studying God’s Word.
Within Scripture, life isn’t quite what we call life today. The word, ‘life,’ means different things than what we think of when you or I say life. When I tell you, ‘my life is great,’ it usually means that right now, my circumstances and situations are going well for me. Now this is not what the Bible calls, literally, ‘life.’
“Life” as defined in Scripture is the quality of our experience. In short, the level of our satisfaction and happiness, in our hearts and souls. This comes only from God and His Holy Spirit in our lives, and we all know this from each of our own lives and walks in Christ. As we grow, we grow in contentment and ‘life.’ Not circumstances. The quality of our lives. This is a direct outworking of the Holy Spirit in us and our understanding.
Let’s take a look at Paul’s next words in the next paragraph:
“I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.” -Col. 2:4-5
Paul goes on to inform us that the reason for his saying of all these things is to keep his disciples in Colossians from being deluded, drawn away with the arguments of others. There’s just too many examples of this in our church today to now know what this means. The state of the Body of Christ today is fragmented, disunified, and full of false teachings and the doctrines of men, not God. Churches stand on things other than the Bible, like traditions, morals without any foundation, and some just on downright lies and heresies. Paul warns the Colossians, and indirectly us, to avoid standing on ANYTHING except the truth, which is God’s Word, period. No matter how persuasive the argument or excellent the words, we stand ONLY on the Bible, the Word of God, and that alone should be our foundation.
After this, Paul states that despite his absence in Colossus and Laodicea, he is with the Colossians in spirit. Now obviously this does not mean Paul is part ghost. It simply means that his desire is to be there with the Colossians and in his spirit, he feels and understands their circumstances, positions, and shares in what they are and do. This should be another lesson to us, in imitating Paul, on how to share in and understand the lives of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We should likewise try to ‘be with our brothers/sisters in spirit,’ helping and sharing in their trials, hopes, circumstances, and positions. Paul ‘rejoices to see their good discipline,’ sharing in their successes to his joy, and rejoicing also in the strength and solid foundation of their faith, being stable and unmovable. Not only should we strive for these characteristics, it’s important we imitate Paul in rejoicing with others in similar successes in their faith and Christian walk.
This study was considerably more focused on Paul, his work, and his own personal thoughts and wishes. Interestingly, not the Theology most think of for a Bible Study, but we should remember we are to imitate Paul, as he imitates Christ. This is the lesson we can also learn from Paul’s life, and how to be similar to the great apostle.
~Alex
Phil. 4:13
In our last study, we studied the last passage at the end of chapter one, that was vast in its scope. We talked about the mystery and incredible story of the Gospel, from the Fall to Christ. What an incredible six thousand year long story in itself! We studied into that, and into the future that the story of the Gospel will take in the end. Finally, Paul reveals something about his own labors on this matter.
Now, as we start chapter 2, let’s take a look at verses 1 through 5:
“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasure of wisdom and knowledge.
“I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.” -Colossians 2:1-5
Continuing his last train of thought, Paul goes on after telling us of his noble labors with the opening verse here. According to Paul, he has great struggles on behalf of his friends in Colossus, and wishes to tell them so. Interestingly, at this time, Paul was in prison under the Roman Empire at the time of this letter’s writing. How is Paul struggling on their behalf while in prison, quite a distance away from Colossus? What could he be doing that benefits them? And that is such a struggle, too?
Well let’s take a look at the context. Very simply, he stated it in just the previous verses.
As he claims in 1:29, “For this purpose I also labor, striving according to His power, with mightily works within me.” The purpose Paul labors and strives for is the purpose of the Gospel and for the ‘admonishing and teaching every man,’ (Col. 1:28) that is, the salvation and edification of every man in Christ. Paul spent his life not only proclaiming the Gospel and bringing many people to the truth and grace of Christ, but he also is probably one of the greatest apostles in the area of teaching his converts Christian doctrine and Theology. After being saved, it is necessary for us, as saved believers, to ‘grow.’ The process we call sanctification is probably what is being achieved by it, and the growing in the knowledge and wisdom of God. In this specific case, it is possible we may never know exactly what struggles Paul had for his disciples. But we do know the purpose of his life and what he labored for, and that his work of saving, teaching, and discipling, not to mention the price of imprisonment it cost him, was certainly no small thing. In short, Paul’s struggles are those that cost him personally to teach the churches he planted. And the cost was indeed high.
Interestingly, Paul wants to tell them about his struggles for them, and not for his own glorification. This is not Paul crowing over his strength and endurance on behalf of others. Rather, he says ‘that their hearts may be encouraged.’ Apparently this message about Paul’s current struggles is supposed to encourage the people of Colossus and Laodicea. This is because this is a prime example of several things. This is an excellent example of one brother in Christ suffering and striving on behalf of others, which should indeed encourage those he’s suffering for. It’s always an encouragement to see a friend willing to suffer for your sake, but even more importantly, ‘and for all those who have not personally seen my face?’ This makes it all the more incredible, that Paul suffers and labors for those he does not even really know. And naturally, this is what we should be. A prime example of Christ-like behavior on behalf of our brothers and sisters, and selflessly laboring for saving and teaching. This is not only supposed to encourage the Colossians in that someone many did not even know was laboring for their good, but that indirectly he did so for us. This is a reflection also of Christ’s labors for us also. This should not only make us more confident in our walk, but should encourage us to imitate Paul in doing the same, for others.
He goes on to say,
“…that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ…” -Col. 2:2
After giving them this brotherly encouragement, Paul goes on to tell them something else they already have in part and are still striving for. Since he uses the word ‘having,’ we can assume that this is something that they already have done in context of the sentence. ‘Knit together in love,’ the Colossians closeness as a church and unity in themselves. This is something we lack in our churches today, quite obviously.
He goes on and states, ‘and to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding.’ This is important because this is a picture of what the knowledge of God brings, though understanding the Gospel and Christian doctrine. What we call theology and doctrine, are really the ‘knowledge of God’ we are often striving for, which are so vital for life. The vast wealth that comes from, well, ‘knowing’ the knowledge comes in forms I’m not sure I can say in human words. Paul is anxious that this wealth be acquired by the people of the Colossian church, a wealth that comes from ‘the full assurance of understanding.’ This is important, because this full assurance of understanding is the confidence we have in the Gospel and the knowledge of God we have learned. This is coming from the Holy Spirit in our lives. Finally, Paul sums up in one word what the mystery and knowledge are, and not surprisingly, ‘that is, Christ.’ Christ then is the summary of God’s mystery and knowledge to us, and rightfully so.
‘…in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.’ Christ is also quite literally the source of our knowledge and wisdom of God. Our understanding of the Gospel and Christ, and thus the Christian doctrine, is where this wealth and treasure of full assurance is to be found. In other words, in Christ, the mystery of God, is where the assurance of understanding and wealth of knowledge is to be found. This is vital and should give us all the more reason for studying the Word of God, being the source of our knowledge of Him today. For in every sense, the knowledge of God = life.
Now stop, and read that last sentence over again.
The knowledge of God = life. That is probably one of the most important things I can show you from studying God’s Word.
Within Scripture, life isn’t quite what we call life today. The word, ‘life,’ means different things than what we think of when you or I say life. When I tell you, ‘my life is great,’ it usually means that right now, my circumstances and situations are going well for me. Now this is not what the Bible calls, literally, ‘life.’
“Life” as defined in Scripture is the quality of our experience. In short, the level of our satisfaction and happiness, in our hearts and souls. This comes only from God and His Holy Spirit in our lives, and we all know this from each of our own lives and walks in Christ. As we grow, we grow in contentment and ‘life.’ Not circumstances. The quality of our lives. This is a direct outworking of the Holy Spirit in us and our understanding.
Let’s take a look at Paul’s next words in the next paragraph:
“I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.” -Col. 2:4-5
Paul goes on to inform us that the reason for his saying of all these things is to keep his disciples in Colossians from being deluded, drawn away with the arguments of others. There’s just too many examples of this in our church today to now know what this means. The state of the Body of Christ today is fragmented, disunified, and full of false teachings and the doctrines of men, not God. Churches stand on things other than the Bible, like traditions, morals without any foundation, and some just on downright lies and heresies. Paul warns the Colossians, and indirectly us, to avoid standing on ANYTHING except the truth, which is God’s Word, period. No matter how persuasive the argument or excellent the words, we stand ONLY on the Bible, the Word of God, and that alone should be our foundation.
After this, Paul states that despite his absence in Colossus and Laodicea, he is with the Colossians in spirit. Now obviously this does not mean Paul is part ghost. It simply means that his desire is to be there with the Colossians and in his spirit, he feels and understands their circumstances, positions, and shares in what they are and do. This should be another lesson to us, in imitating Paul, on how to share in and understand the lives of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We should likewise try to ‘be with our brothers/sisters in spirit,’ helping and sharing in their trials, hopes, circumstances, and positions. Paul ‘rejoices to see their good discipline,’ sharing in their successes to his joy, and rejoicing also in the strength and solid foundation of their faith, being stable and unmovable. Not only should we strive for these characteristics, it’s important we imitate Paul in rejoicing with others in similar successes in their faith and Christian walk.
This study was considerably more focused on Paul, his work, and his own personal thoughts and wishes. Interestingly, not the Theology most think of for a Bible Study, but we should remember we are to imitate Paul, as he imitates Christ. This is the lesson we can also learn from Paul’s life, and how to be similar to the great apostle.
~Alex
Phil. 4:13
Monday, June 14, 2010
Trail Blazing, Witnessing, and Melchizedek.
“This is going to be an absolute pain to crawl up again tomorrow.” Matthew said grimly.
We had awoken early that morning from our dark and quiet shelter far up somewhere on the mountain face, to see that the storm had passed and the day had turned out to be a very nice one. As we all awoke, I journeyed down a little bit to the spring to fill my water supply and take a few pictures. The others joined me soon after, and as soon as we had cleaned up, refilled our supplies, and otherwise gotten awake enough to hit the trail, we did so. This time it would be a five mile trek across several mountain peaks to another lower area on the Appalachian Trail, and from there, an easy hike back to our car. Made a good little adventure trail, no doubt.
I will not forget the beautiful and wild territory we crossed that day. From climbing a couple scaly and steep rock faces to easy walking across open plains high above the valley floor, we all made good time over the Virginia Mountains. Once or twice, we would be stopped by other hikers and campers and ask for directions. Once or twice we stopped and asked others or even ourselves about the directions, and it was also decided that under no circumstances could Matthew hold the map. At about the fourth wrong turn Sam took over the job.
At any rate, about mid-afternoon we made it up and over the peak of Mount Rogers, the highest point in the state of Virginia. After that, it was nothing but a slow, rocky descent into the valley below, where our campsite would be that night. As we descended down into the forested area, leaving the open, windblown peaks behind us, it grew a good deal quieter and the fellow hikers and campers thinned out.
The woods were peaceful and gentle, glinting green and gold in the hazy sunlight and warmth. The echoes of the sounds of wildlife were here and there, though we never saw so much as a bird. Though the incline downward was not overly rough, it was slightly steep, and long enough so that we could be glad we weren’t going UP it.
Tomorrow would be a different story, however. Since we had to leave by early tomorrow morning, we would be getting up even earlier and going one or two ways back to…well, the general direction of our car. We could backtrack, or we could take a risk and hike along the road and half-circle around. I personally cringed at the thought of dragging myself all the way back up that mountainside, but kept my thoughts to myself.
When we reached the bottom, after a little bit of searching and some working around large camps of boy scouts in the meadows, we arrived at our campsite. As placed on the map, we had traveled several miles to reach it, and the sun was still high in the sky when we arrived at the little wooden shelter beside a large brook, down at the bottom, right off the beaten path. Low trees overhung the little bunker and fire ring, with a rough table set out in front for use. It looked like quite a comfortable little spot, with the brook flowing past right beside. A pile of firewood stood against the wall, close enough at hand to the fire area itself.
The shelter, however, was faced away from the path, so that we had to go around to get in or see our little home for about ten hours. I believe I was talking to Sam at the time about fixing his car when we all heard voices from inside the shelter. My ears pricked up.
“…I’m serious, we need something besides pasta already! This is like the what? Fourth time in a row we’ve had it for supper?”
We all three turned the corner, to see the inside of the little shelter, which was basically just three walls, a floor, and a roof, all supported a little off the ground in case the brook flooded. Inside there was already two others, we were not the first people to get there.
We all five of us looked up and studied each other for a moment before Matthew spoke. I looked at the two persons with a raised eyebrow. Did this mean we would have to go find our own spot and hope it didn’t rain?
They looked about our age, college students if not even younger, one tall and lanky, and the other shorter and heavier. Both of them had brown hair and eyes, though they couldn’t possibly be related. Both looked honestly like exact opposites, like a sports and workout champion being friends with a total and complete book and computer game geek. An interesting pair of traveling companions.
“Hey, you guys staying here for the night?” Matthew put on his courtesy smile and asked politely. It was the unspoken rule of the trail that it was first come, first serve…but if there was still room left for a sleeping bag, no one should object. We all stood expectantly.
“Yeah, we’re probably going to be hanging here for the night.” The one who looked like the smaller, heavy sports champ said, standing up to greet us. They already had a cook stove out and between them were heating something up in it.
“That’s what we’re thinking too. The next shelter is what? Eight miles down?”
“Yep, just about. That’s where we came from this morning.” The other grinned. “Staying the night here? There’s plenty of room, hang up your bags.” He paused a moment and extended a hand.
“I’m Josh, and this is Henry behind me.” He gestured to the one still hunched over the cook stove, who stood up when his name was mentioned.
We shook hands with the Henry and Josh pair, and threw out our gear, setting up camp. It didn’t take long for us to learn something of our two new friends.
Both of them came from a New England State college, where they had spent two years already, and were out to spend their summer hiking as much of the AT trail as they could. Already we guessed that they were much more experienced than us. They told us some of the trails further up ahead in case we decided to head that way. They were pretty good guys overall.
As I unrolled my bag and got out my things for eating, listening to their conversation, I guessed them not to be saved believers in Christ. They were friendly enough and nice enough, but their conversation contained several words I won’t repeat, and some references I won’t either. I smiled at the jokes, but inwardly thought.
It would make an excellent opportunity to witness, would it not?
After cooking our food and talking around the campfire as the light of day died, Matthew went off to read that good book of his again, while me and Sam played frisbee. At dark we all went to bed, early.
As we were getting ready for it, Matthew stopped me before we entered the shelter. Inside the voices of Josh, Henry, and Sam were talking and half-asleep already.
“Tomorrow’s Sunday.” He commented.
“I know.” I nodded. His point? Would we hold some kind of devotion in the morning?
That did seem to be his plan. “Yeah…since we won’t be at church I think we’ll have a devotion in the morning. And ask if Josh and Henry want in too. Perhaps…perhaps we can plant a seed.”
I caught his meaning. That definitely worked. “Alright.” I agreed entirely. Already we had made it pretty clear to them what we believed, at least, in our behavior and words, but they either missed it or chose to ignore it. Perhaps in the morning we could make it even more clear.
Which we did.
The next morning, I’m not sure who was the first one up, but I remember having to kick Sam out of his bed when all five of us started moving around, getting ready to pack up and head out right away. Breakfast was fast that morning. When I returned from the brook, refilling my half of the water bottles, Josh and Henry were talking in low voices about their planned route for that day, while Sam packed and Matthew read through his Bible. I knew then what he was up to.
“Here, Sam!” I tossed him a couple of bottles. “Stow those away, you’ll wish you had ‘em later.”
“Yep.” He commented, catching them and stuffing them into his bag. I stuffed my own away and returned to sit at the table where Matthew was already. I beckoned Sam over too after he was done cramming things into his pack.
“Alright guys, listen up!” Matthew said aloud, when we both were seated, though Sam still had little idea what we were doing, I believe. “Time for a little devotion.”
I sat where I could keep my eye on the other two from where I was. If they heard us (which I’m sure they did), they made no response or even slowed in their work. Going about their own good business without a care in the world for what we were doing. I shrugged.
Matthew, after getting no response, settled down to the table and opened his Bible to a particular book. “I was actually thinking guys, about a passage in Hebrews this morning, which is a great book in itself. Need to study it more.”
I listened. Unfortunately Hebrews is one of the New Testament books I’m not too familiar with. I knew all about Romans, chapter to chapter, and Galatians I had studied over so many times I was basic theology for me. Titus, Timothy, James, Luke, and Philippians I had a good deal of experience in. And even Revelation, to an extent. But Hebrews I did not know. Something I seriously need to fix.
“Anyway, I was looking at a couple of places in there, chapters 7 and 8.” Sam hadn’t brought his Bible, so I shared mine with him as we followed Matthew. “There it talks mostly about how Christ, as our new high priest, doesn’t come from the traditional Israel priesthood but comes as a high priest from the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek was a priest long before Moses and Israel the nation, long before the Law, and so his priesthood supersedes that of Israel’s through the promises from long before. Just as Christ and the Gospel supersedes the Law, Christ’s priesthood supersedes Israel’s priesthood.”
My brow furrowed. “Melchizedek. I’ve heard a lot of that name but I know little about it. Who was he?”
“He was a priest long before Moses, back in Abraham’s time.” Matthew looked up from his reading. “A priest for Abraham. The idea behind him is that Christ comes from him and not from the Levitical line of priests in Israel, in terms of priestly authority.”
“Ah.” I nodded. Matthew went on to read.
“‘If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 17 For he testifieth, Thou a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. 18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope; by the which we draw nigh unto God. 20 And inasmuch as not without an oath: 21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) 22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better covenant.’” -Hebrews 7:11-22
“And here, in chapter 8,
‘Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this one also have something to offer. Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God, ‘See’, He says, ‘That you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.’”
“But now, He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.” -Hebrews 8:1-6
We paused. If Josh and Henry had heard and understood, they didn’t show it. They continued packing. Matthew went on.
“The main idea in these passages is just that Christ, who is above the order of the Levitical priesthood of Moses, serves as a high priest for us, in that He ‘mediates’ for us to God by His sacrifice on the Cross. The priesthood of Moses does us no good, and in fact, makes nothing perfect and brings about nothing of good, because it is a mere ‘shadow’ of the priesthood of Christ, which is like the book said, ‘based on better promises.’ In other words, Christ’s priesthood and the covenant we now stand under is the covenant of Abraham, NOT Moses. We aren’t subject to the Mosiac covenant because for one, we aren’t Jews, and for two, because we are of Abraham’s covenant which is greater and fulfilled in Christ. For ‘he believed God, and it was accounted to Him as righteousness.’” (Romans 4:3)
I thought over this for a few minutes, pondering it. Trying to plant a seed in the minds of Josh and Henry left my mind for a moment. “Hmmm...so the fact is then, not that the Mosaic covenant under the Law was nullified, but rather, a greater covenant, one under the priesthood of Melchizedek and not Aaron, supersedes it?”
“Pretty much, yeah.” Matthew nodded. “That’s all I had to say.” He laughed. “Shall we pray?”
We left shortly afterward, nodding our thanks to the two who had let us use the shelter and shouldered our packs. I will say I was glad I didn’t have to crawl all the way back up the mountainside on the way back. In fact, you could say we cheated. We took a different route back towards the car that would force us to hike along the road for several miles, until we ran into a boy scout troupe leader, who was heading in that direction…in a truck. We gladly took his offer for a ride and made it back in record time.
As we left, pulling out of the park and with Nicole C. Mullens on the radio, we all generally congratulated ourselves on our incredible survival skills.
“ ‘Are you serious?’ were the first words out of his mouth, honestly!” We all laughed. The boy scout troupe leader had nearly told us to get lost when we asked for a ride, until he discovered that we were NOT boy scouts trying to cheat on a hike.
“Wonder how far those other two dudes have got.” I asked aloud, as we headed out the park gates.
“No clue man.” Sam commented.
Matthew was silent for a moment. “Let’s all pray for them quickly. And pray we planted a seed.”
I nodded. “Yes, let’s do that.”
I still remember to pray for them once in a while today, hoping that in fact we did plant a seed of truth in their lives. May God bless them wherever they are. Perhaps we did some good to two unknown travelers that day.
We had awoken early that morning from our dark and quiet shelter far up somewhere on the mountain face, to see that the storm had passed and the day had turned out to be a very nice one. As we all awoke, I journeyed down a little bit to the spring to fill my water supply and take a few pictures. The others joined me soon after, and as soon as we had cleaned up, refilled our supplies, and otherwise gotten awake enough to hit the trail, we did so. This time it would be a five mile trek across several mountain peaks to another lower area on the Appalachian Trail, and from there, an easy hike back to our car. Made a good little adventure trail, no doubt.
I will not forget the beautiful and wild territory we crossed that day. From climbing a couple scaly and steep rock faces to easy walking across open plains high above the valley floor, we all made good time over the Virginia Mountains. Once or twice, we would be stopped by other hikers and campers and ask for directions. Once or twice we stopped and asked others or even ourselves about the directions, and it was also decided that under no circumstances could Matthew hold the map. At about the fourth wrong turn Sam took over the job.
At any rate, about mid-afternoon we made it up and over the peak of Mount Rogers, the highest point in the state of Virginia. After that, it was nothing but a slow, rocky descent into the valley below, where our campsite would be that night. As we descended down into the forested area, leaving the open, windblown peaks behind us, it grew a good deal quieter and the fellow hikers and campers thinned out.
The woods were peaceful and gentle, glinting green and gold in the hazy sunlight and warmth. The echoes of the sounds of wildlife were here and there, though we never saw so much as a bird. Though the incline downward was not overly rough, it was slightly steep, and long enough so that we could be glad we weren’t going UP it.
Tomorrow would be a different story, however. Since we had to leave by early tomorrow morning, we would be getting up even earlier and going one or two ways back to…well, the general direction of our car. We could backtrack, or we could take a risk and hike along the road and half-circle around. I personally cringed at the thought of dragging myself all the way back up that mountainside, but kept my thoughts to myself.
When we reached the bottom, after a little bit of searching and some working around large camps of boy scouts in the meadows, we arrived at our campsite. As placed on the map, we had traveled several miles to reach it, and the sun was still high in the sky when we arrived at the little wooden shelter beside a large brook, down at the bottom, right off the beaten path. Low trees overhung the little bunker and fire ring, with a rough table set out in front for use. It looked like quite a comfortable little spot, with the brook flowing past right beside. A pile of firewood stood against the wall, close enough at hand to the fire area itself.
The shelter, however, was faced away from the path, so that we had to go around to get in or see our little home for about ten hours. I believe I was talking to Sam at the time about fixing his car when we all heard voices from inside the shelter. My ears pricked up.
“…I’m serious, we need something besides pasta already! This is like the what? Fourth time in a row we’ve had it for supper?”
We all three turned the corner, to see the inside of the little shelter, which was basically just three walls, a floor, and a roof, all supported a little off the ground in case the brook flooded. Inside there was already two others, we were not the first people to get there.
We all five of us looked up and studied each other for a moment before Matthew spoke. I looked at the two persons with a raised eyebrow. Did this mean we would have to go find our own spot and hope it didn’t rain?
They looked about our age, college students if not even younger, one tall and lanky, and the other shorter and heavier. Both of them had brown hair and eyes, though they couldn’t possibly be related. Both looked honestly like exact opposites, like a sports and workout champion being friends with a total and complete book and computer game geek. An interesting pair of traveling companions.
“Hey, you guys staying here for the night?” Matthew put on his courtesy smile and asked politely. It was the unspoken rule of the trail that it was first come, first serve…but if there was still room left for a sleeping bag, no one should object. We all stood expectantly.
“Yeah, we’re probably going to be hanging here for the night.” The one who looked like the smaller, heavy sports champ said, standing up to greet us. They already had a cook stove out and between them were heating something up in it.
“That’s what we’re thinking too. The next shelter is what? Eight miles down?”
“Yep, just about. That’s where we came from this morning.” The other grinned. “Staying the night here? There’s plenty of room, hang up your bags.” He paused a moment and extended a hand.
“I’m Josh, and this is Henry behind me.” He gestured to the one still hunched over the cook stove, who stood up when his name was mentioned.
We shook hands with the Henry and Josh pair, and threw out our gear, setting up camp. It didn’t take long for us to learn something of our two new friends.
Both of them came from a New England State college, where they had spent two years already, and were out to spend their summer hiking as much of the AT trail as they could. Already we guessed that they were much more experienced than us. They told us some of the trails further up ahead in case we decided to head that way. They were pretty good guys overall.
As I unrolled my bag and got out my things for eating, listening to their conversation, I guessed them not to be saved believers in Christ. They were friendly enough and nice enough, but their conversation contained several words I won’t repeat, and some references I won’t either. I smiled at the jokes, but inwardly thought.
It would make an excellent opportunity to witness, would it not?
After cooking our food and talking around the campfire as the light of day died, Matthew went off to read that good book of his again, while me and Sam played frisbee. At dark we all went to bed, early.
As we were getting ready for it, Matthew stopped me before we entered the shelter. Inside the voices of Josh, Henry, and Sam were talking and half-asleep already.
“Tomorrow’s Sunday.” He commented.
“I know.” I nodded. His point? Would we hold some kind of devotion in the morning?
That did seem to be his plan. “Yeah…since we won’t be at church I think we’ll have a devotion in the morning. And ask if Josh and Henry want in too. Perhaps…perhaps we can plant a seed.”
I caught his meaning. That definitely worked. “Alright.” I agreed entirely. Already we had made it pretty clear to them what we believed, at least, in our behavior and words, but they either missed it or chose to ignore it. Perhaps in the morning we could make it even more clear.
Which we did.
The next morning, I’m not sure who was the first one up, but I remember having to kick Sam out of his bed when all five of us started moving around, getting ready to pack up and head out right away. Breakfast was fast that morning. When I returned from the brook, refilling my half of the water bottles, Josh and Henry were talking in low voices about their planned route for that day, while Sam packed and Matthew read through his Bible. I knew then what he was up to.
“Here, Sam!” I tossed him a couple of bottles. “Stow those away, you’ll wish you had ‘em later.”
“Yep.” He commented, catching them and stuffing them into his bag. I stuffed my own away and returned to sit at the table where Matthew was already. I beckoned Sam over too after he was done cramming things into his pack.
“Alright guys, listen up!” Matthew said aloud, when we both were seated, though Sam still had little idea what we were doing, I believe. “Time for a little devotion.”
I sat where I could keep my eye on the other two from where I was. If they heard us (which I’m sure they did), they made no response or even slowed in their work. Going about their own good business without a care in the world for what we were doing. I shrugged.
Matthew, after getting no response, settled down to the table and opened his Bible to a particular book. “I was actually thinking guys, about a passage in Hebrews this morning, which is a great book in itself. Need to study it more.”
I listened. Unfortunately Hebrews is one of the New Testament books I’m not too familiar with. I knew all about Romans, chapter to chapter, and Galatians I had studied over so many times I was basic theology for me. Titus, Timothy, James, Luke, and Philippians I had a good deal of experience in. And even Revelation, to an extent. But Hebrews I did not know. Something I seriously need to fix.
“Anyway, I was looking at a couple of places in there, chapters 7 and 8.” Sam hadn’t brought his Bible, so I shared mine with him as we followed Matthew. “There it talks mostly about how Christ, as our new high priest, doesn’t come from the traditional Israel priesthood but comes as a high priest from the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek was a priest long before Moses and Israel the nation, long before the Law, and so his priesthood supersedes that of Israel’s through the promises from long before. Just as Christ and the Gospel supersedes the Law, Christ’s priesthood supersedes Israel’s priesthood.”
My brow furrowed. “Melchizedek. I’ve heard a lot of that name but I know little about it. Who was he?”
“He was a priest long before Moses, back in Abraham’s time.” Matthew looked up from his reading. “A priest for Abraham. The idea behind him is that Christ comes from him and not from the Levitical line of priests in Israel, in terms of priestly authority.”
“Ah.” I nodded. Matthew went on to read.
“‘If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 17 For he testifieth, Thou a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. 18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope; by the which we draw nigh unto God. 20 And inasmuch as not without an oath: 21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) 22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better covenant.’” -Hebrews 7:11-22
“And here, in chapter 8,
‘Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this one also have something to offer. Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God, ‘See’, He says, ‘That you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.’”
“But now, He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.” -Hebrews 8:1-6
We paused. If Josh and Henry had heard and understood, they didn’t show it. They continued packing. Matthew went on.
“The main idea in these passages is just that Christ, who is above the order of the Levitical priesthood of Moses, serves as a high priest for us, in that He ‘mediates’ for us to God by His sacrifice on the Cross. The priesthood of Moses does us no good, and in fact, makes nothing perfect and brings about nothing of good, because it is a mere ‘shadow’ of the priesthood of Christ, which is like the book said, ‘based on better promises.’ In other words, Christ’s priesthood and the covenant we now stand under is the covenant of Abraham, NOT Moses. We aren’t subject to the Mosiac covenant because for one, we aren’t Jews, and for two, because we are of Abraham’s covenant which is greater and fulfilled in Christ. For ‘he believed God, and it was accounted to Him as righteousness.’” (Romans 4:3)
I thought over this for a few minutes, pondering it. Trying to plant a seed in the minds of Josh and Henry left my mind for a moment. “Hmmm...so the fact is then, not that the Mosaic covenant under the Law was nullified, but rather, a greater covenant, one under the priesthood of Melchizedek and not Aaron, supersedes it?”
“Pretty much, yeah.” Matthew nodded. “That’s all I had to say.” He laughed. “Shall we pray?”
We left shortly afterward, nodding our thanks to the two who had let us use the shelter and shouldered our packs. I will say I was glad I didn’t have to crawl all the way back up the mountainside on the way back. In fact, you could say we cheated. We took a different route back towards the car that would force us to hike along the road for several miles, until we ran into a boy scout troupe leader, who was heading in that direction…in a truck. We gladly took his offer for a ride and made it back in record time.
As we left, pulling out of the park and with Nicole C. Mullens on the radio, we all generally congratulated ourselves on our incredible survival skills.
“ ‘Are you serious?’ were the first words out of his mouth, honestly!” We all laughed. The boy scout troupe leader had nearly told us to get lost when we asked for a ride, until he discovered that we were NOT boy scouts trying to cheat on a hike.
“Wonder how far those other two dudes have got.” I asked aloud, as we headed out the park gates.
“No clue man.” Sam commented.
Matthew was silent for a moment. “Let’s all pray for them quickly. And pray we planted a seed.”
I nodded. “Yes, let’s do that.”
I still remember to pray for them once in a while today, hoping that in fact we did plant a seed of truth in their lives. May God bless them wherever they are. Perhaps we did some good to two unknown travelers that day.
Monday, May 31, 2010
"Farewell!"
I'm going to interrupt my intended line of posts for something else, a little more important. Yeah I know, its random to have me post more than once a week, lazy as I am...but I feel this requires its own post. And I'll post it while its still very fresh in my mind.
Yesterday made up an interesting day. Interesting, isn't it, how it can only take a few minutes for something to happen (even something spectacular), and then those few minutes impact the rest of your life? Not to go off on a philosophical tangent.
You see, yesterday night, a man named Pastor Darrel Cline said his final farewell and goodbye to the church and people he had been teaching for nearly 7 years now, a long time in our minds even if not in the minds of others. Yesterday the pastor of my church, my mentor in all things biblical and spiritual, and one of my greatest friends left North Carolina to go to to deep south and retire for the last years of his life. Twas a very overwhelming, sad day.
That man, Pastor Darrel Cline, was quite an interesting character. Very down to earth, talkative, and with the air of an experienced veteran, Mr. Cline was a master at Bible exposition and teaching. Let me see...he was a man who had a slight disability in his back, that made it hard for him to walk properly, though he was hardly a large man. When he talked, he talked with a very distinct Texan drawl, being a native of that state. When he put on his overly large glasses to read some text or another, he looked like a cartoon character sometimes, which somehow fit into his corny sense of humor.
He was, without a doubt, a very intelligent man. Not only a pastor, he was half medical doctor and scientist, enjoying meddling in medicines and medical chemicals and had even preformed a few discoveries of health and sickness for his small congregation. Even still some of the medicines he used and manufactured himself are being studied and even used by the health-zealous members of the group.
He was also a master of mechanics, it being his greatest hobby. Nearly anything that ran with an engine or motor he could meddle with. Not necessarily fix, and I suspect he sometimes left things broken just so that he could have the fun of opening them up and taking them apart. Nevertheless, he was a master of many skills. He had read nearly any book you could think of, from theology to medicine to fiction. And he was always ready to tell you whether or not the book was any good. In his personal taste.
In other words, he was not as much an impressive man...as he was a friendly and surprising one. And one of the men I most highly respect of all my acquaintances.
When we joined that church five years ago, it was still a very young church. Not like it isn't now, but younger even. When several families in our area got together, either being new and moved in from other states of people that had stayed there many years, those people discovered a sad fact: That even though there are more churches in our region than most any other region on the East Coast...not one of them (that they found or went to) taught solid, Scriptural doctrine and true Bible teaching. From the mega churches to the traditional Baptists, not a single. Solitary. One. Saddening, isn't it?
So they did the next best thing. These families, almost all of which I know as dear friends, organized themselves into their own small house church, or sorts, with one major idea in mind: That they would found a church on the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing BUT the Bible. Regardless of all else, they would adhere to Scripture and most certainly have a pastor who taught nothing but Scripture, and well.
I'm still a little vague as to how they found Mr. Darrel Cline, and even what in all of God's good Creation made him accept the offer and move all the way up here to teach a random bunch of unorganized, entirely clueless families. But he did. And it was about that time, shortly after they were formed and still meeting in various community centers, that we joined that church.
I believe I was saved before we joined, and when we attended another church I certainly believed in Jesus Christ and 'all of that.' But like at nearly all the churches here...there was no growth. No real solid teaching, and increasing in God's knowledge and faith. So when I actually stopped being an idiot around age 14 and started really paying attention to what the old man on the stool was saying, I started growing up. I was amazed the first time I heard real Bible exposition. Why wasn't this in EVERY church?! At any rate, for five years I have studied directly or indirectly under him.
There is one thing you have to know about me, or probably already do: I am a Bible student. And unlike the other things I do, a "sort-of-kind-of-fiction writer" or a "sort-of half-good musician," I AM a Bible student and scholar. Period. If there is nothing else I do, no other knowledge or skills I acquire, I mean to learn how to teach and study and understand Scripture, and teach others to do the same. I don't know what that will mean for the rest of my life...I don't know if I'm to be a pastor or not. But I am a Bible teacher. And that goes much deeper than any fiction writing fancies or musical talent.
For five years I sat in church, at bible studies, and went to church outings like picnics and fellowships and had the pleasure of just being in his company and listening to him talk about some Bible topic, car engines, garden growing, politics, whatever the case had been. For two of those years I was his direct student, when he spent two years to teach me and three other boys of the church how to read and translate Hellenistic Greek and the New Testament. And as always with him, there was no way we could translate it without him stopping every few minutes to explain the meaning and spiritual content of the passages to us. As his Greek and theology student for two years, I learned much.
But he taught me himself the most important thing I know to this day, and the one thing I hope to build any Bible teaching career that I start on. He taught me the most important thing about the Scriptures for today's believers.
He told me NEVER to rely on another man's word or interpretation of the Bible. Never should we have to go to any other man to know the truth or be forced to rely on any other man to know the Bible.
He told me it is our duty, our responsibility, and our great privilege to each of us rely only on our own Bibles in our own hands to know the truth. Everyone need only look into one's own Bible to learn the truth for himself, and never have to rely on someone else's interpretation of it. I'm sorry for all you Catholics, but that's just how it is.
I didn't get to say as much as I would've liked when he left. Honestly I was a bit overwhelmed at the time, not with that, but with my good friend's baptism on the same day, and by my official graduation. However just before he left I did get to say a few words. As he prepared to leave every member of the congregation was shaking his hand and the hand of his wife. Once he nearly got mobbed by the church children, soaking wet from the swimming pool, each trying to hug him before he left. I smiled. I was surprised that even they would miss him.
When he got around to me, I extended my hand and took his, shaking his heartily.
"Goodbye, and thank you sir." I said quickly. The time was pressing, and he only had a few more minutes.
"Alex, take care! Ah, its alright. Your welcome." I believe he was a little overwhelmed and his mind still whirling through all the goodbyes as well. He had decided that it was God's will for him to leave that church and go help another congregation down in Louisiana, so though he was ready to go...he still was also sad to leave also. But God's will be done.
"You've taught me a lot in the past five years. Thank you, God bless you." I smiled faintly, and before he could reply, he had to leave. I'm sure he left early this morning and is halfway there by now.
He is an old man, or an elderly one. Nearing his seventies and rather attached to the deep south where he came from, he made it clear he was going to stay there until he died. In other words, my good, excellent, respected friend and teacher is not coming back. I doubt I will see him again this side of heaven. But eventually I shall see my teacher again. Of that I am sure.
Now, after the goodbyes and farewells, our church is faced with a new stage of life and new problems. There is only two elders remaining in our church now, and somehow we're going to have to find another good Bible teacher to take up the position. Though both of our elders are good, godly, Christian men, neither of them have a very good gift in the way of Bible exposition. And they both know it. We're going to need a new pastor, and beyond that, we're going to have to keep the congregation together while we look. Already many of those who came to our church only to hear Pastor Cline teach will leave, and we still have a major project before us: Having our own church building. On top of that, with a new congregation, or rather a much smaller and more dedicated one, there's talk of reorganizing and reforming a little bit of how we do things. What bible studies to keep, which ones to continue, what activities to drop and which to start...there is a good deal of work to do in our church now. And our church is more than just a theological school and structure, here. It's part of our family. And obviously highly important. Without a church, we are only half good as Christian people. Without some regular fellowship, we're missing part of what it is to be believers in Christ.
And on that note, things will change for me personally. No longer can I have another man to help me with my Bible issues and passage exposition, and no longer do I have a teacher to correct my own Greek interpreting. Perhaps I relied too much on Pastor Darrel Cline, but whatever the case...from now on I need to step up my own learning, my own studying and exposition of Scripture, and from now on, I will do it mostly alone. In other words, I can't afford to make as many mistakes from here on out. Studies in the Bible will increase, as will (I hope, God willing) my fluency in Greek...and I'm considering whether now is a good time to start Hebrew studies or not. We shall see. One thing at a time.
Continue to pray for our church, if you will. God's will be done.
~Alex
Phil. 4:13
Yesterday made up an interesting day. Interesting, isn't it, how it can only take a few minutes for something to happen (even something spectacular), and then those few minutes impact the rest of your life? Not to go off on a philosophical tangent.
You see, yesterday night, a man named Pastor Darrel Cline said his final farewell and goodbye to the church and people he had been teaching for nearly 7 years now, a long time in our minds even if not in the minds of others. Yesterday the pastor of my church, my mentor in all things biblical and spiritual, and one of my greatest friends left North Carolina to go to to deep south and retire for the last years of his life. Twas a very overwhelming, sad day.
That man, Pastor Darrel Cline, was quite an interesting character. Very down to earth, talkative, and with the air of an experienced veteran, Mr. Cline was a master at Bible exposition and teaching. Let me see...he was a man who had a slight disability in his back, that made it hard for him to walk properly, though he was hardly a large man. When he talked, he talked with a very distinct Texan drawl, being a native of that state. When he put on his overly large glasses to read some text or another, he looked like a cartoon character sometimes, which somehow fit into his corny sense of humor.
He was, without a doubt, a very intelligent man. Not only a pastor, he was half medical doctor and scientist, enjoying meddling in medicines and medical chemicals and had even preformed a few discoveries of health and sickness for his small congregation. Even still some of the medicines he used and manufactured himself are being studied and even used by the health-zealous members of the group.
He was also a master of mechanics, it being his greatest hobby. Nearly anything that ran with an engine or motor he could meddle with. Not necessarily fix, and I suspect he sometimes left things broken just so that he could have the fun of opening them up and taking them apart. Nevertheless, he was a master of many skills. He had read nearly any book you could think of, from theology to medicine to fiction. And he was always ready to tell you whether or not the book was any good. In his personal taste.
In other words, he was not as much an impressive man...as he was a friendly and surprising one. And one of the men I most highly respect of all my acquaintances.
When we joined that church five years ago, it was still a very young church. Not like it isn't now, but younger even. When several families in our area got together, either being new and moved in from other states of people that had stayed there many years, those people discovered a sad fact: That even though there are more churches in our region than most any other region on the East Coast...not one of them (that they found or went to) taught solid, Scriptural doctrine and true Bible teaching. From the mega churches to the traditional Baptists, not a single. Solitary. One. Saddening, isn't it?
So they did the next best thing. These families, almost all of which I know as dear friends, organized themselves into their own small house church, or sorts, with one major idea in mind: That they would found a church on the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing BUT the Bible. Regardless of all else, they would adhere to Scripture and most certainly have a pastor who taught nothing but Scripture, and well.
I'm still a little vague as to how they found Mr. Darrel Cline, and even what in all of God's good Creation made him accept the offer and move all the way up here to teach a random bunch of unorganized, entirely clueless families. But he did. And it was about that time, shortly after they were formed and still meeting in various community centers, that we joined that church.
I believe I was saved before we joined, and when we attended another church I certainly believed in Jesus Christ and 'all of that.' But like at nearly all the churches here...there was no growth. No real solid teaching, and increasing in God's knowledge and faith. So when I actually stopped being an idiot around age 14 and started really paying attention to what the old man on the stool was saying, I started growing up. I was amazed the first time I heard real Bible exposition. Why wasn't this in EVERY church?! At any rate, for five years I have studied directly or indirectly under him.
There is one thing you have to know about me, or probably already do: I am a Bible student. And unlike the other things I do, a "sort-of-kind-of-fiction writer" or a "sort-of half-good musician," I AM a Bible student and scholar. Period. If there is nothing else I do, no other knowledge or skills I acquire, I mean to learn how to teach and study and understand Scripture, and teach others to do the same. I don't know what that will mean for the rest of my life...I don't know if I'm to be a pastor or not. But I am a Bible teacher. And that goes much deeper than any fiction writing fancies or musical talent.
For five years I sat in church, at bible studies, and went to church outings like picnics and fellowships and had the pleasure of just being in his company and listening to him talk about some Bible topic, car engines, garden growing, politics, whatever the case had been. For two of those years I was his direct student, when he spent two years to teach me and three other boys of the church how to read and translate Hellenistic Greek and the New Testament. And as always with him, there was no way we could translate it without him stopping every few minutes to explain the meaning and spiritual content of the passages to us. As his Greek and theology student for two years, I learned much.
But he taught me himself the most important thing I know to this day, and the one thing I hope to build any Bible teaching career that I start on. He taught me the most important thing about the Scriptures for today's believers.
He told me NEVER to rely on another man's word or interpretation of the Bible. Never should we have to go to any other man to know the truth or be forced to rely on any other man to know the Bible.
He told me it is our duty, our responsibility, and our great privilege to each of us rely only on our own Bibles in our own hands to know the truth. Everyone need only look into one's own Bible to learn the truth for himself, and never have to rely on someone else's interpretation of it. I'm sorry for all you Catholics, but that's just how it is.
I didn't get to say as much as I would've liked when he left. Honestly I was a bit overwhelmed at the time, not with that, but with my good friend's baptism on the same day, and by my official graduation. However just before he left I did get to say a few words. As he prepared to leave every member of the congregation was shaking his hand and the hand of his wife. Once he nearly got mobbed by the church children, soaking wet from the swimming pool, each trying to hug him before he left. I smiled. I was surprised that even they would miss him.
When he got around to me, I extended my hand and took his, shaking his heartily.
"Goodbye, and thank you sir." I said quickly. The time was pressing, and he only had a few more minutes.
"Alex, take care! Ah, its alright. Your welcome." I believe he was a little overwhelmed and his mind still whirling through all the goodbyes as well. He had decided that it was God's will for him to leave that church and go help another congregation down in Louisiana, so though he was ready to go...he still was also sad to leave also. But God's will be done.
"You've taught me a lot in the past five years. Thank you, God bless you." I smiled faintly, and before he could reply, he had to leave. I'm sure he left early this morning and is halfway there by now.
He is an old man, or an elderly one. Nearing his seventies and rather attached to the deep south where he came from, he made it clear he was going to stay there until he died. In other words, my good, excellent, respected friend and teacher is not coming back. I doubt I will see him again this side of heaven. But eventually I shall see my teacher again. Of that I am sure.
Now, after the goodbyes and farewells, our church is faced with a new stage of life and new problems. There is only two elders remaining in our church now, and somehow we're going to have to find another good Bible teacher to take up the position. Though both of our elders are good, godly, Christian men, neither of them have a very good gift in the way of Bible exposition. And they both know it. We're going to need a new pastor, and beyond that, we're going to have to keep the congregation together while we look. Already many of those who came to our church only to hear Pastor Cline teach will leave, and we still have a major project before us: Having our own church building. On top of that, with a new congregation, or rather a much smaller and more dedicated one, there's talk of reorganizing and reforming a little bit of how we do things. What bible studies to keep, which ones to continue, what activities to drop and which to start...there is a good deal of work to do in our church now. And our church is more than just a theological school and structure, here. It's part of our family. And obviously highly important. Without a church, we are only half good as Christian people. Without some regular fellowship, we're missing part of what it is to be believers in Christ.
And on that note, things will change for me personally. No longer can I have another man to help me with my Bible issues and passage exposition, and no longer do I have a teacher to correct my own Greek interpreting. Perhaps I relied too much on Pastor Darrel Cline, but whatever the case...from now on I need to step up my own learning, my own studying and exposition of Scripture, and from now on, I will do it mostly alone. In other words, I can't afford to make as many mistakes from here on out. Studies in the Bible will increase, as will (I hope, God willing) my fluency in Greek...and I'm considering whether now is a good time to start Hebrew studies or not. We shall see. One thing at a time.
Continue to pray for our church, if you will. God's will be done.
~Alex
Phil. 4:13
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