Have you ever heard the phrase "packing it in"? To me, I've heard it used in the context of "cutting your losses" and folding. Kind of give up because you are not going to win. This is not to be confused with "mailing it in" which connotes going through the motions without passion or energy because the end is already determined, as in a baseball team that is out of contention finishing out the season without much effort. But packing it in is different. The online definition of idioms defines it this way - to quit trying to do something; to give up trying something and quit.
Have you ever felt like packing it in? Maybe you have experienced depression and just want to give up life. Could be your marriage or relationship has insurmountable problems and you just want to quit trying. Maybe your job is a dead end job that wears you down and you dread going to each day and you feel like turning in your notice. Spiritually speaking, maybe you are ready to give up on following Christ - this Christianity stuff is just not meeting my expectations any more. A loved one died or has terminal cancer, you lost your job, your kids are disobedient, you are about to declare bankruptcy, your car lost it's transmission and your heathen neighbor is cruising through life. Or maybe you are not ready to pack it in on Christ but on certain aspects of your walk with Christ; your prayers aren't getting answered the way you think they should be, you witness to people and noone responds or worse yet they respond and their lives don't change, you aren't getting anything out of church and it seems like a waste of a perfectly good day off, you read the Bible and you don't get anything out of it except a good snooze, you are teaching Sunday School and it seems like noone is "getting it", etc. Because of all these you are ready to pack in praying, witnessing, church, Bible study, ministering, etc.
You may be relieved to know a great hero of the faith felt like packing it in. The Bible calls him "a man just like us" in James 5:17. His name was Elijah. The surprising thing is the timing of his decision to call it quits. He had just experienced a tremendous spiritual victory and manifestation of God's power and confirmation that God was with him on Mt. Carmel as God sent down fire from heaven to consume his sacrifice while the prophets of Baal failed in their attempt and the phoniness of their God was exposed to the people who then proceeded to kill all these pagan prophets. However, the next day, when King Ahab reports what happened to his wife Jezebel, she vows to have Elijah killed within the next 24 hours. Elijah hears this, is afraid, runs for his life, wishes he was dead, has a "woe is me" pity party, and feels ashamed and unworthy for running. Elijah is certainly "a man just like us".
As we look at some of the factors that precipitated this willingness to "throw in the towel" we can glean some insight into why we give in so easily and maybe some preventative medicine to avoid packing it in.
1. Elijah was physically spent - they were in the midst of a 3 year ,God sanctioned, drought where food was scarce and Elijah, like all others would have suffered the physical effects of this. Not only that, he just experienced a high adrenaline day with long hours, emotional highs and lows, and then outran a chariot all the way to the local city. God recognized his need and had him physically rest and fed him not once but twice. As a doctor, I am well aware of the link between physical well-being and mental/emotional well-being. If you aren't eating or sleeping well, if you aren't physically fit, or if there is something medically wrong with you , your mind may not process things the way it should.
2. Elijah was alone - while there were 7000 others out there who hadn't bowed the knee to Baal Elijah felt like he was the only one. The Bible is clear on the need for fellowship
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken Ecc. 4:9-12
As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another. Prov. 27:17
Not only that but when our Lord sent the disciples out in pairs, he did this for good reason. How are you doing in this area? Are you sharing your victories and losses with someone?How about what the Lord has been teaching you and where the Devil has been tempting you? If you are all alone you will be prone to packing it in.
3. Working FOR the Lord - Elijah had zealously been working for the Lord and where had it gotten him? Revival should have broken out but instead the wicked leaders remained wicked. His life should have gotten easier but instead he had a death sentence on him. His faith should have gotten stronger yet he was running scared. What did God do? He took him to His mount to spend time with Him. Are you weary in well doing? Do you feel like you are carrying the load and noone else is helping? Are you burned out? Are your Energizer batteries drained? Well, thats the problem - you are functioning on YOUR batteries. You are working FOR the Lord rather than IN the Lord. You need to come to Him and let His power restore you. Get away. Have some one- on- one time with the Lord.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matt. 11:28,29
So if you feel like packing it in in your spiritual life in whatever degree or area, assess these 3 things - am I physically taking care of myself, am I sharing my feelings with anyone, and when is the last time I got alone with God. One comment on the last area - you don't need to have mountain top experiences with God or spiritual retreats. In fact God illustrated this to Elijah when he showed him that He wasn't in the wind, earthquake, and fire but rather the still small whisper. Perseverence, steadfastness, and faithfulness in the Christian walk is born in our daily quiet times of reading His word and talking to and listening to Him. It isn't the great spiritual victories and supernatural movements of God in our life that are going to sustain us. Victories and failures are incidental because our goal in life is to know God and if we do and are daily living in that love, come what may we would answer with Peter when Christ asked him, "Are you going to pack it in too?" (JKV) Peter answered, "To whom else shall we go. You alone have the words of life." John 6:67,68.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
The New Trend in Christianity
There is a movement afoot that I've been observing over the last 5 or so years in Christianity. I've seen it in Christian books and magazines and heard it from pulpits and Christian teachers. I call it the Let's Get The World To Like Us trend or LGTWTLU if you want to put it on a bracelet. I believe the impetus of this movement may be surveys, such as those done by Barna which reveal 49% of unbelievers have a negative view of Evangelicals and only 3% like us. Or perhaps it stems from Ghandi's quote - "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." Let's look at what can be done about that to fix our bad rap.
Michael Craven from the Center for Christ and Culture in Dallas states we are preaching a faulty Gospel. If we would emphasize justice, mercy, love, peace, righteousness which are characteristics of The Kingdom of God which is already upon us and is the gospel we should be preaching, the world would have a more favorable view of us. (http://www.btbfmedia.org/sermons/podcast.xml July 5,2009) It's interesting that he has come under fire for speaking against Islam and also gay adoption. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Craven)
Ronald Sider in The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience says on page 119, "Think of the impact if evangelical giving to empower the poor here and abroad became so substantial that the first thought that came to secular peoples' minds when they heard the word 'evangelical' was, 'Oh yes, they are the people who are dramatically reducing poverty around the world.'"
Richard Stearns in The Hole in Our Gospel Chapter 21 goes through the perceptions from polls taken that the world has of Christians. They are as follows - antihomosexual 91%, judgmental 87%, hypocritical 85%, old-fashioned 78%, too involved in politics 75%, out of touch with reality 72%, insensitive to others 70%, boring 68%, and not accepting other faiths 64%. He says "we have been defined by the things we are against rather than the things we are for." Stearns states that rather than being the way the above poll shows we should be like Christ who was loving to all, forgiving, genuine, revolutionary, involved with people, truthful and aware, loving, radical, and inviting to people of all faiths. He states, "The do's of our faith are so much more powerful than the don'ts. If we are truly to let our lights shine before the world, it must be through the do's that the world finds so attractive."
And then there is Rob Bell. In his intro to Love Wins http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODUvw2McL8g Rob Bell states - "Will only a select few people make it to Heaven and billions and billions burn in Hell forever?... What gets subtley taught is Jesus rescues you from God. What kind of God is He that we would need to be rescued from? How could that God ever be good? How could that God ever be trusted? How could that ever be Good News? This is why lots of people want nothing to do with the Christian faith - they see it as an endless list of absurdities and inconsistancies and say, 'Why would I ever want to be part of that?'"
I hate to admit it but Rob Bell got it right. No, not in his theology but in his assessment that what keeps the world from embracing us is our beliefs. It isn't the fact that we are judgmental, unforgiving, hypocritical, homophobes although that doesn't help, but even if we weren't perceived as the above Paul says in 2Cor 2:14-16
" Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. 15 Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. 16 To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume."
Our lives and our Gospel remind people that they are perishing. The fact is they know that we believe they are going to an eternal punishment called Hell and it is hard to like a person who is saying the only way to get to Heaven is to admit you are wrong and believe what I believe. At least Rob Bell is being honest. He is saying if we want the world to like us and embrace our gospel then we need to change it. Jesus said in John 7:7, Luke 21:17, John 15:19, John 17:14, Matt. 10:24,25
(The world) hates me because I testify that its works are evil. Everyone will hate you because of me. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
In Acts 24:24,25 we see Felix and his wife came and listened to Paul speak. They liked the stuff about faith in Christ, eternal life, etc. but when Paul spoke of judgement they became uncomfortable and left.
Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”
Of course Ghandi said if Christians would just be more like Christ then we would be liked. First of all, Jesus was the most unselfish "person" that ever lived and He was hated without cause and put to death in the most inhumanely way possible. So much for Jesus being loved by the world. Secondly, because of what we believe, our good deeds will never be enough; it's not just what we do it's what we don't do we will be judged for. I enjoy this passage in Matthew 11:16-19 where Jesus and John the Baptist are being compared and Jesus says,
16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17 “‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’
In other words - you criticize John for avoiding evil people and parties - you think he is "nuts". But then when Jesus does the things John avoids you call Him wicked. It's a lose lose situation when you are a true believer.
In conclusion, in no way am I saying we shouldn't work on our negative image and be less judgemental, more giving to all causes, loving to all people no matter race, religion, or sexual preference. Absolutely we need to change! But what I'm saying is don't do it so the world will love you. They won't. They will just find a new reason not to like you. Do it as imitators of Christ through the Holy Spirit's power expecting nothing in return.
Michael Craven from the Center for Christ and Culture in Dallas states we are preaching a faulty Gospel. If we would emphasize justice, mercy, love, peace, righteousness which are characteristics of The Kingdom of God which is already upon us and is the gospel we should be preaching, the world would have a more favorable view of us. (http://www.btbfmedia.org/sermons/podcast.xml July 5,2009) It's interesting that he has come under fire for speaking against Islam and also gay adoption. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Craven)
Ronald Sider in The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience says on page 119, "Think of the impact if evangelical giving to empower the poor here and abroad became so substantial that the first thought that came to secular peoples' minds when they heard the word 'evangelical' was, 'Oh yes, they are the people who are dramatically reducing poverty around the world.'"
Richard Stearns in The Hole in Our Gospel Chapter 21 goes through the perceptions from polls taken that the world has of Christians. They are as follows - antihomosexual 91%, judgmental 87%, hypocritical 85%, old-fashioned 78%, too involved in politics 75%, out of touch with reality 72%, insensitive to others 70%, boring 68%, and not accepting other faiths 64%. He says "we have been defined by the things we are against rather than the things we are for." Stearns states that rather than being the way the above poll shows we should be like Christ who was loving to all, forgiving, genuine, revolutionary, involved with people, truthful and aware, loving, radical, and inviting to people of all faiths. He states, "The do's of our faith are so much more powerful than the don'ts. If we are truly to let our lights shine before the world, it must be through the do's that the world finds so attractive."
And then there is Rob Bell. In his intro to Love Wins http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODUvw2McL8g Rob Bell states - "Will only a select few people make it to Heaven and billions and billions burn in Hell forever?... What gets subtley taught is Jesus rescues you from God. What kind of God is He that we would need to be rescued from? How could that God ever be good? How could that God ever be trusted? How could that ever be Good News? This is why lots of people want nothing to do with the Christian faith - they see it as an endless list of absurdities and inconsistancies and say, 'Why would I ever want to be part of that?'"
I hate to admit it but Rob Bell got it right. No, not in his theology but in his assessment that what keeps the world from embracing us is our beliefs. It isn't the fact that we are judgmental, unforgiving, hypocritical, homophobes although that doesn't help, but even if we weren't perceived as the above Paul says in 2Cor 2:14-16
" Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. 15 Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. 16 To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume."
Our lives and our Gospel remind people that they are perishing. The fact is they know that we believe they are going to an eternal punishment called Hell and it is hard to like a person who is saying the only way to get to Heaven is to admit you are wrong and believe what I believe. At least Rob Bell is being honest. He is saying if we want the world to like us and embrace our gospel then we need to change it. Jesus said in John 7:7, Luke 21:17, John 15:19, John 17:14, Matt. 10:24,25
(The world) hates me because I testify that its works are evil. Everyone will hate you because of me. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
In Acts 24:24,25 we see Felix and his wife came and listened to Paul speak. They liked the stuff about faith in Christ, eternal life, etc. but when Paul spoke of judgement they became uncomfortable and left.
Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”
Of course Ghandi said if Christians would just be more like Christ then we would be liked. First of all, Jesus was the most unselfish "person" that ever lived and He was hated without cause and put to death in the most inhumanely way possible. So much for Jesus being loved by the world. Secondly, because of what we believe, our good deeds will never be enough; it's not just what we do it's what we don't do we will be judged for. I enjoy this passage in Matthew 11:16-19 where Jesus and John the Baptist are being compared and Jesus says,
16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17 “‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’
In other words - you criticize John for avoiding evil people and parties - you think he is "nuts". But then when Jesus does the things John avoids you call Him wicked. It's a lose lose situation when you are a true believer.
In conclusion, in no way am I saying we shouldn't work on our negative image and be less judgemental, more giving to all causes, loving to all people no matter race, religion, or sexual preference. Absolutely we need to change! But what I'm saying is don't do it so the world will love you. They won't. They will just find a new reason not to like you. Do it as imitators of Christ through the Holy Spirit's power expecting nothing in return.
Friday, May 20, 2011
2011 Christian Music Reviews (ongoing)
If you want the whole list go to January's post. I thought I would just list my top 7 thru May with their rating and continue on the rest of the year on this post. Here is how I rate them (generally)
1 - worst album of the year
2 - regretted listening to it once
3 - worth one listen
4 - one good song
5 - two to three good songs
6 - four good songs
7 - five good songs
( 8-10 are worth buying)
8 - six good songs
9 - seven good songs10 - instant classic
I still feel nothing yet released has been "buy-worthy". It still is cost effective to purchase individual songs. I would recommend which songs to buy, but that is all personal taste - as are these reviews.
Top 7 so far
7.3
7.2
7.1
7
6.9
6.8
6.7OK, now it's back to reviewing new music
1.3Screamo Christian rock, easily could be the worst album of the year except it is short (22 minutes) . Kudos for that foresight.
2.9The cover says it all
4.1Second best rap album of the year - which isn't saying much
4.3Did Superchick break up? A boring trite attempt at a worship album yet with 1 maybe 2 good songs.
6Good rock album. Like Emery they are graduating from screamo but have a ways to go.
7.6Yes! Another boy band and better than Anthem Lights. Great vocals and harmony with good song writing and an R&B edge. Best album of the year until...
7.5A very good sounding live recording. I'd never heard Manafest before so this "best of" live album has 6-7 songs I really liked that start out rap but move into catchy choruses. Too much talking,shallow spiritually, and cover art keeps it from scoring higher.
4.5A cross between Relient K and Anberlin but lacks the good songs. The band has potential though.
6.4Once again, well produced live album, just nothing new.
4.9Not much to add to the Newsboys catalog here.
1.2Screamo yuchhh! Don't let "Little Drummer Boy and "Carol of the Bells" fool you from Christmas samplers. This is unlistenable.
3Plankeye's singer goes solo. You can see why they disbanded.
4.4
4.2Good words, good messages, boring songs
7.4Never heard of this guy but very good worship album. My favorite worship of the year so far. 1st 5 songs (live) are very good.
5.5Some good songs from rapper/singer Shonlock who is in TobyMac's band
1.1You probably can't tell from the cover but this is about the 10th screamo album of the year this one by a group called "The Hands". It is terrible. ( it must be noted I dont like this style so this is not a very objective opinion)
3.8Image isn't everything. Sounds like Sarah Kelly but not as good
3.9Decent rap, just not melodic enough for my tastes.
1.4Another screamo band. How many more of these must I endure?
5More of the same from Matt Redman. Good but not great, nothing new, no future worship classics
7.7Christian reggae! And well done. Love it
5Quality-wise very good. Christian-wise not so good. Because of that I have to give it a mixed bag review
4.1Disappointing worship from Hillsong Live
3Could be used in a class on song writing on how not to do it.
4.1Unique sound but I was hoping for something much better after a 10 year break. Plus, marginally "Christian"
3.5White girl trying to do R&B. Doesn't do it for me. At least her lyrics are boldly Christian
4.0Not much different than the above, only slightly better. No rap. Actually probably would have been better if she added some.
5.2I'm always excited to hear the new Downhere albums because I know one of these is going to be a breakout album. Still haven't succeeded.
2.5Wow is this weak! It must really be hard to write a good worship album
7If you like Kutless, Red, TFK, this album is for you. Like a re-energized Kutless
3.8Lookout Superchick, someone is moving in. (And Trinitee 5:7 - competition for worst cover art)
3.8Uninspired bland generic Jesus music
6.4Radio friendly, adult contemporary (which I usually rebel against) but there are some good songs here including good worship.
6.5A lot like Worth Dying For. Very good debut
4.5Well done if you like these kind of artsy solo guitar ballad singers. I don't
3.7Rap album that doesn't do it for me. And another cheesy album cover
Kids Devotion - Bragging
1. Watch the video
2. Doug trivia - What is Skeeter's full name and address?
3. Read Genesis 37:1-11 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gen%2037:1-11&version=NLT
Give 3 reasons why Joseph's brothers got mad at him.
Give some ways Joseph could have prevented them from hating him, even though he was special.
4. Why did Doug get mad at Skeeter?
5. How did Skeeter being so smart make Doug feel?
6. What did Skeeter apologize to Doug for?
7. How should you respond in these 3 cases
a. A friend comes to you all excited because they scored a 99 on a test. They don't know but you got a 100. What should you do?
b. Someone at field day comes up to you and shows you their blue ribbon they won at field day. They don't know you won 3 blue ribbons. What should you say?
c. You just won Principals award for the best 4th grade student. You go up front to accept the award. How should you act the rest of the day? What should you do with the award?
Note to parents: Read Prov. 27:2 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=prov%2027:2&version=NLT to your kids. Joseph was elevated above his brothers and he flaunted it. It made them feel inferior just as Doug did when Skeeter was praised (he felt like a monkey in one scene). Whenever your kids receive honor they should realize that unfortunately all their friends will feel dishonored. Encourage them not to brag or show off but to consider others feelings and use that opportunity to build up their friends and tell them how worthy they are.
2. Doug trivia - What is Skeeter's full name and address?
3. Read Genesis 37:1-11 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gen%2037:1-11&version=NLT
Give 3 reasons why Joseph's brothers got mad at him.
Give some ways Joseph could have prevented them from hating him, even though he was special.
4. Why did Doug get mad at Skeeter?
5. How did Skeeter being so smart make Doug feel?
6. What did Skeeter apologize to Doug for?
7. How should you respond in these 3 cases
a. A friend comes to you all excited because they scored a 99 on a test. They don't know but you got a 100. What should you do?
b. Someone at field day comes up to you and shows you their blue ribbon they won at field day. They don't know you won 3 blue ribbons. What should you say?
c. You just won Principals award for the best 4th grade student. You go up front to accept the award. How should you act the rest of the day? What should you do with the award?
Note to parents: Read Prov. 27:2 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=prov%2027:2&version=NLT to your kids. Joseph was elevated above his brothers and he flaunted it. It made them feel inferior just as Doug did when Skeeter was praised (he felt like a monkey in one scene). Whenever your kids receive honor they should realize that unfortunately all their friends will feel dishonored. Encourage them not to brag or show off but to consider others feelings and use that opportunity to build up their friends and tell them how worthy they are.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Kid's Devotion - Loving Your Neighbor
1. Watch the video
2. Read the following passage http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2010:25-37&version=NIV1984 (Luke 10:25-37)
3. Who did the little girl in the wagon represent?
4. Who did Davey's friends represent in the parable? Why didn't they stop?
5. Who did Davey represent?
6. What did he miss out on by helping? What did he gain?
7. What did the balloon popping at the end symbolize?
8. What can you do this week to love your neighbor?
2. Read the following passage http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2010:25-37&version=NIV1984 (Luke 10:25-37)
3. Who did the little girl in the wagon represent?
4. Who did Davey's friends represent in the parable? Why didn't they stop?
5. Who did Davey represent?
6. What did he miss out on by helping? What did he gain?
7. What did the balloon popping at the end symbolize?
8. What can you do this week to love your neighbor?
Kid's Devotion - Learning Compassion
1. Watch the video
2. Doug trivia - What school did Doug go to?
3. Why was Patty so bothered that Doug knocked down the house?
4. Read the following passages http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Cor%201:3-7&version=NIV1984 and http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Heb%204:14%20-%205:3&version=NIV1984
5. What is the best way to understand the trial or trouble someone else is going thru?
6. How does Jesus understand what we are going thru?
7. How did Doug finally understand what Patty was going thru?
8. What did Doug do to make Patty feel better?
note to parents; Kids are self centered and concerned about their own lives only. That's why they frequently say or do things that hurt other's feelings. In this episode Doug learns the importance of putting himself in other people's shoes and when he does he learns compassion. Point out that this is what Jesus did to become an effective High Priest for us, so that He can identify with everything we are going thru.
2. Doug trivia - What school did Doug go to?
3. Why was Patty so bothered that Doug knocked down the house?
4. Read the following passages http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Cor%201:3-7&version=NIV1984 and http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Heb%204:14%20-%205:3&version=NIV1984
5. What is the best way to understand the trial or trouble someone else is going thru?
6. How does Jesus understand what we are going thru?
7. How did Doug finally understand what Patty was going thru?
8. What did Doug do to make Patty feel better?
note to parents; Kids are self centered and concerned about their own lives only. That's why they frequently say or do things that hurt other's feelings. In this episode Doug learns the importance of putting himself in other people's shoes and when he does he learns compassion. Point out that this is what Jesus did to become an effective High Priest for us, so that He can identify with everything we are going thru.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
My Problem With and Solution To Reformed Theology
This is probably going to be more like a treatise than a blog so unless you are interested in this kind of thing, go to the next blog or I will summarize it in my last paragraph as succinctly as possible.
Most Christians never even give this subject a thought which actually is probably a good thing. There is something to be said for naivity when it comes to the world and I think the same could be said in the area of theology - especially where finite minds of theologians grapple with and peg-hole the deeper mysteries of God and the way he works with mankind. Specifically this is going to deal with Salvation.
I, for some reason am a reluctant participant in this discussion. Has your attention ever been drawn to something by someone and from that time on all you can see when you see that object is that "something"? Let me illustrate. I enjoyed listening to a preacher in my early 20's who would occasionally fill the pulpit as a substitute for Stuart Briscoe. Once my dad said, "I can't stand the way he jingles the coins in his pants pocket when he preaches; it is so distracting." From then on, everytime he preached all I could hear was the jingling of coins. Reformed theology was pointed out to me when I was a member of a PCA church for 15 years. I was an elder, Sunday School teacher, delegate to the assembly, high school youth leader, and even preached, rarely. Because of my position of leadership in the church, training sessions and retreats would occasionally focus on what we believe as Presbyterians vs. what the rest of Evangelicals believe. Reformed theology has become another "jingling of coins" to me. I go to Church services and hear hymns sung like "To God Be the Glory Great Things He Hath Done" and hear one word changed and I know we are in a Reformed Church ..."and opened the lifegates that we may go in" instead of that "all may go in". I go to a David Platt Secret Church simulcast where everyone is raving how good it was and I'm saying, "we just had 6 hours of Reformed Theology. You don't have to believe all that." I go to an elders meeting and see the General Assembly has just removed 2 elders from such and such church for being 4 point Calvinists. I would say to my fellow elders, "Do you believe in limited Atonement (I address this in a blog on Oct. 6,2010) ?" and they would say, "What is that?" It didn't and doesn't seem to bother other people. Let me explain to you what bothers me about it, and if you don't want to be bothered please don't read on.
Let me take you down the pathway of Reformed theology (as I understand it).
1. Adam and Eve were created sinless and enjoyed fellowship with God and eternal life.
2. Adam and Eve sinned and experienced immediate spiritual death and immenent physical death
3. Because of their (Adam and Eve's) sin, all mankind are born sinners and spiritually dead.
4. God is Holy and can't be in the presence of sin, thus we are separated from God. Not only that but God hates sin and since we can't separate sin from who we are God hates sinners and his wrath is on us
5. Jesus, who is God, came from Heaven, born 100% human and 100% God at the same time and lived a sinless life and became the perfect sacrifice for sin. He took God's wrath on Him on the cross.
6. If we, by faith, repent of our sins and claim our absolute dependency on Christ's blood shed on the cross for us ,we become recociled to God and adopted as Children of God and Citizens of the Kingdom of God, receiving the very life of God in the person of the Holy Spirit to enable us to live a life pleasing to God and victory over death.
Now I'm not seriously opposed to any of this and on a given day I can even swallow "God hates the sin and the sinner" but the problems all seem to stem from one word in there - dead. The illustration I've heard ad nauseum is, "If you go to a graveyard and preach to a bunch of coffins, how many conversions will you get?" "What good is 'whosover will may come' when 'whosoever won't'"? "God walked across the graveyard of time and said 'I choose you and you and you and you and not you nor you nor you, etc and brought them back to life and all we can see is 'thank you God for your unmerited favor towards me'." This all sounds palatable once again until you start to ask, "well, what about the billions He chose not to raise from the dead in the graveyard of time? Did they really ever have a chance?" The answer, according to Reformed theology, has to be an unequivocal "NO". So my issue is when they stand before God (or lie flat on their faces writhing in agony as my reformed friends would say) on the day of judgement when they are sentenced to an eternal lake of fire (which my reformed friends are very strong on) they can legitimately claim, "But we never had a chance. If we were born in sin due to no fault of our own and were dead spiritually and acted sinfully because that was our nature and You never chose to give us life, how can You sentence us to eternal torment?You created us for the express purpose of sending us to Hell. That isn't fair." And to that I would have to agree. My reformed friends would say things like "Who says God has to be fair?" or "How can the clay say to the potter why have you made me thus" Or, "no man will even be able to speak in God's presence, much less argue."
Here are the "family secrets" of Reformed theology sort of like the sacred underpants that Mormons wear that no one talks about until you become one.
1. God creates 2 groups of people - Children of God and Children of Wrath those Jesus died for and those He didn't
2. The Children of God will be saved, in fact they can't even choose not to. Of course they can't choose "to" either because they are dead.
3. Salvation comes to the Children of God when God puts a new heart in them, puts the Holy Spirit in them and instills Faith in them.
4.Thus, regeneration or being born again, actually happens before they "pray the prayer"/ repent / choose to follow Christ because without already being saved it is impossible for them to call out to God for salvation because they are spiritually dead.
5. The Children of Wrath were created for eternal punishment to the glory of God. They can't be saved. Christ's blood on the cross was not shed for them.
To these tenets or family secrets the reformers would say, "And your point is..." I guess I would say that is not how I see the God of the Bible. Sure there are their pet passages like Eph. 1 and Rom 9-11 that hint at such things but what about the rest of the Bible? Did you come to a God like that? Don't get me wrong; if that's the way it is so be it and I will join with the throngs saying, "Why me?" for all eternity praising Him for choosing me (and my family). Why is it that this is something we have to learn after we are saved? Why is it that white intellectuals embrace this doctrine while there are few Reformed Churches in poor third world countries? Why is it that Reformers say they are right and if everyone studied their Bible they would come to see the truth?
Rather than play a tennis match with Reformed Theology where they quote a verse and I counter with a different verse I would rather address that one word dead which seems to be the seed from which this theology had to sprout. Reformed preachers love to quote verses like Eph. 2:1 where Paul says, ...you are dead in your transgressions and sins..." and say, "That greek word for dead is Nekros which means dead. (obligatory laugh inserted here). Now we non-reformed do the same thing when we quote 1Timothy 2:6 where Paul says "...and gave Himself as a ransom for all men..." and say,"That word all comes from the Greek word which means all." (obligatory Amen inserted here).to which the Reformers would answer, "But which all?" In the same way I want to answer the dead means dead argument with but what does the Bible mean by dead? Let's explore the scripture and I think you will early on see where I am heading.
but when I sleep with my fathers, thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying-place. And he said, I will do as thou hast said. Gen. 47:30
So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.1Kings 2:10
And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, 1 Kings11:21
And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father 1Kings 11:43
And the days which Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his stead 1Kings 14:20
And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. 1Kings 14:30
And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David 1Kings 15:8
And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father 1Kings 15:24
So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah 1Kings 16:6
So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria 1Kings 16:28
So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead 1Kings 22:40
And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father 1Kings 22:50
And Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David 2Kings 8:24
And Jehu slept with his fathers: and they buried him in Samaria 2Kings10:35
And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria 2Kings 13:9
And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne 2Kings 13:13
And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel 2Kings 14:16
He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers 2Kings 14:22
And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel 2Kings 14:29
So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David 2Kings 15:7
And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead 2Kings 15:22
And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father 2Kings 15:38
And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David 2Kings 16:20
And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead 2Kings 20:21
And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried 2Kings 21:18
So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead 2Kings 24:6
And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father 2Chron. 9:31
And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David 2Chron 12:16
So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David 2Chron 14:1
And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign 2Chron 16:13
Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried 2Chron 21:1
He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers 2Chron 26:2
So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him 2Chron 26:23
And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him 2Chron 27:9
And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him 2Chron 28:27
And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him 2Chron 32:33
So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him 2Chron 33:20
For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest Job 3:13
And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose Matt 27:52
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 1Cor 15:20
And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers Deut 31:16
And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers 2Sam 7:12
Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers 1Kings 1:21
for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be Job 7:21
For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest with kings and rulers of the earth, Job 3:13,14
So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep Job 14:12
then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust. Ps. 7:5
Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death Ps 13:3
As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. Ps 17:15
The valiant lie plundered, they sleep their last sleep Ps 76:5
You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning— Ps 90:5
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake Dan 12:2
for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth Matt 9:24
the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth Mark 5:39
he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth Luke 8:52
These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. John 11:11-13
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:59,60
For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers Acts 13:36
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep 1Cor 11:30
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 1Cor. 15:18
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed 1Cor 15:51
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light Eph 5:14
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 1Thes 4:13,14
Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 1Thes 5:10
There are probably more but here are 67 verses that equate death with sleep. I am aware of the dangers of equating these two and whole theologies have been made on "soul sleep" and where the soul goes after death. This is not at all where I am going with this. Stepping into eternity is another subject for another day.
Imagine what it means to be spiritually asleep instead of spiritually dead. Picture this; your alarm clock/radio goes off and you are asleep. You have 3 options. 1) Incorporate it into your dream. I distinctly remember dreaming of running in a race. My alarm clock started playing a song and somehow this song became a soundtrack to my running to enable me to run faster. 2) Turn it off or hit the snooze and go back to sleep. You may be sleeping so soundly you don't even remember doing it. 3) Get up out of bed and respond to the alarm. Now relate this to the spiritual realm; the Holy Spirit at some point in everyone's life (so they can be without excuse) rings the alarm clock. With some, i.e. Saul/Paul He rings a gong. Others He appears to once and it may even be a very quiet short alarm, yet when they stand before Him, they look back to a time when they incorporated "religion" into their life or they turned off or even smashed the alarm clock.
This "sleep theory", to me seems to satisfy the theological demands of salvation. Mankind is dead/asleep and oblivious to God and spiritual things. God rings the alarm clock since we know no man can come to God unless he is drawn(John 6:44) and enabled(John 6:65) because we are asleep and unable and unwilling to rouse ourselves . God appears to everyone at least once (John 12:32) to satisfy His justice and the fact that God desires all men to be saved. We choose to respond to the alarm or go on in our sleep which satisfies the fact that mankind has freewill to choose. Is that important to God? Free will is so important that in the beginning he gave Adam and Eve a choice knowing that it would cause Him the life of His beloved Son. Is this far-fetched? Sixty seven verses in the Bible tell me it isn't.
Most Christians never even give this subject a thought which actually is probably a good thing. There is something to be said for naivity when it comes to the world and I think the same could be said in the area of theology - especially where finite minds of theologians grapple with and peg-hole the deeper mysteries of God and the way he works with mankind. Specifically this is going to deal with Salvation.
I, for some reason am a reluctant participant in this discussion. Has your attention ever been drawn to something by someone and from that time on all you can see when you see that object is that "something"? Let me illustrate. I enjoyed listening to a preacher in my early 20's who would occasionally fill the pulpit as a substitute for Stuart Briscoe. Once my dad said, "I can't stand the way he jingles the coins in his pants pocket when he preaches; it is so distracting." From then on, everytime he preached all I could hear was the jingling of coins. Reformed theology was pointed out to me when I was a member of a PCA church for 15 years. I was an elder, Sunday School teacher, delegate to the assembly, high school youth leader, and even preached, rarely. Because of my position of leadership in the church, training sessions and retreats would occasionally focus on what we believe as Presbyterians vs. what the rest of Evangelicals believe. Reformed theology has become another "jingling of coins" to me. I go to Church services and hear hymns sung like "To God Be the Glory Great Things He Hath Done" and hear one word changed and I know we are in a Reformed Church ..."and opened the lifegates that we may go in" instead of that "all may go in". I go to a David Platt Secret Church simulcast where everyone is raving how good it was and I'm saying, "we just had 6 hours of Reformed Theology. You don't have to believe all that." I go to an elders meeting and see the General Assembly has just removed 2 elders from such and such church for being 4 point Calvinists. I would say to my fellow elders, "Do you believe in limited Atonement (I address this in a blog on Oct. 6,2010) ?" and they would say, "What is that?" It didn't and doesn't seem to bother other people. Let me explain to you what bothers me about it, and if you don't want to be bothered please don't read on.
Let me take you down the pathway of Reformed theology (as I understand it).
1. Adam and Eve were created sinless and enjoyed fellowship with God and eternal life.
2. Adam and Eve sinned and experienced immediate spiritual death and immenent physical death
3. Because of their (Adam and Eve's) sin, all mankind are born sinners and spiritually dead.
4. God is Holy and can't be in the presence of sin, thus we are separated from God. Not only that but God hates sin and since we can't separate sin from who we are God hates sinners and his wrath is on us
5. Jesus, who is God, came from Heaven, born 100% human and 100% God at the same time and lived a sinless life and became the perfect sacrifice for sin. He took God's wrath on Him on the cross.
6. If we, by faith, repent of our sins and claim our absolute dependency on Christ's blood shed on the cross for us ,we become recociled to God and adopted as Children of God and Citizens of the Kingdom of God, receiving the very life of God in the person of the Holy Spirit to enable us to live a life pleasing to God and victory over death.
Now I'm not seriously opposed to any of this and on a given day I can even swallow "God hates the sin and the sinner" but the problems all seem to stem from one word in there - dead. The illustration I've heard ad nauseum is, "If you go to a graveyard and preach to a bunch of coffins, how many conversions will you get?" "What good is 'whosover will may come' when 'whosoever won't'"? "God walked across the graveyard of time and said 'I choose you and you and you and you and not you nor you nor you, etc and brought them back to life and all we can see is 'thank you God for your unmerited favor towards me'." This all sounds palatable once again until you start to ask, "well, what about the billions He chose not to raise from the dead in the graveyard of time? Did they really ever have a chance?" The answer, according to Reformed theology, has to be an unequivocal "NO". So my issue is when they stand before God (or lie flat on their faces writhing in agony as my reformed friends would say) on the day of judgement when they are sentenced to an eternal lake of fire (which my reformed friends are very strong on) they can legitimately claim, "But we never had a chance. If we were born in sin due to no fault of our own and were dead spiritually and acted sinfully because that was our nature and You never chose to give us life, how can You sentence us to eternal torment?You created us for the express purpose of sending us to Hell. That isn't fair." And to that I would have to agree. My reformed friends would say things like "Who says God has to be fair?" or "How can the clay say to the potter why have you made me thus" Or, "no man will even be able to speak in God's presence, much less argue."
Here are the "family secrets" of Reformed theology sort of like the sacred underpants that Mormons wear that no one talks about until you become one.
1. God creates 2 groups of people - Children of God and Children of Wrath those Jesus died for and those He didn't
2. The Children of God will be saved, in fact they can't even choose not to. Of course they can't choose "to" either because they are dead.
3. Salvation comes to the Children of God when God puts a new heart in them, puts the Holy Spirit in them and instills Faith in them.
4.Thus, regeneration or being born again, actually happens before they "pray the prayer"/ repent / choose to follow Christ because without already being saved it is impossible for them to call out to God for salvation because they are spiritually dead.
5. The Children of Wrath were created for eternal punishment to the glory of God. They can't be saved. Christ's blood on the cross was not shed for them.
To these tenets or family secrets the reformers would say, "And your point is..." I guess I would say that is not how I see the God of the Bible. Sure there are their pet passages like Eph. 1 and Rom 9-11 that hint at such things but what about the rest of the Bible? Did you come to a God like that? Don't get me wrong; if that's the way it is so be it and I will join with the throngs saying, "Why me?" for all eternity praising Him for choosing me (and my family). Why is it that this is something we have to learn after we are saved? Why is it that white intellectuals embrace this doctrine while there are few Reformed Churches in poor third world countries? Why is it that Reformers say they are right and if everyone studied their Bible they would come to see the truth?
Rather than play a tennis match with Reformed Theology where they quote a verse and I counter with a different verse I would rather address that one word dead which seems to be the seed from which this theology had to sprout. Reformed preachers love to quote verses like Eph. 2:1 where Paul says, ...you are dead in your transgressions and sins..." and say, "That greek word for dead is Nekros which means dead. (obligatory laugh inserted here). Now we non-reformed do the same thing when we quote 1Timothy 2:6 where Paul says "...and gave Himself as a ransom for all men..." and say,"That word all comes from the Greek word which means all." (obligatory Amen inserted here).to which the Reformers would answer, "But which all?" In the same way I want to answer the dead means dead argument with but what does the Bible mean by dead? Let's explore the scripture and I think you will early on see where I am heading.
but when I sleep with my fathers, thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying-place. And he said, I will do as thou hast said. Gen. 47:30
So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.1Kings 2:10
And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, 1 Kings11:21
And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father 1Kings 11:43
And the days which Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his stead 1Kings 14:20
And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. 1Kings 14:30
And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David 1Kings 15:8
And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father 1Kings 15:24
So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah 1Kings 16:6
So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria 1Kings 16:28
So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead 1Kings 22:40
And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father 1Kings 22:50
And Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David 2Kings 8:24
And Jehu slept with his fathers: and they buried him in Samaria 2Kings10:35
And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria 2Kings 13:9
And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne 2Kings 13:13
And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel 2Kings 14:16
He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers 2Kings 14:22
And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel 2Kings 14:29
So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David 2Kings 15:7
And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead 2Kings 15:22
And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father 2Kings 15:38
And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David 2Kings 16:20
And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead 2Kings 20:21
And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried 2Kings 21:18
So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead 2Kings 24:6
And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father 2Chron. 9:31
And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David 2Chron 12:16
So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David 2Chron 14:1
And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign 2Chron 16:13
Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried 2Chron 21:1
He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers 2Chron 26:2
So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him 2Chron 26:23
And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him 2Chron 27:9
And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him 2Chron 28:27
And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him 2Chron 32:33
So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him 2Chron 33:20
For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest Job 3:13
And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose Matt 27:52
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 1Cor 15:20
And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers Deut 31:16
And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers 2Sam 7:12
Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers 1Kings 1:21
for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be Job 7:21
For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest with kings and rulers of the earth, Job 3:13,14
So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep Job 14:12
then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust. Ps. 7:5
Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death Ps 13:3
As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. Ps 17:15
The valiant lie plundered, they sleep their last sleep Ps 76:5
You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning— Ps 90:5
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake Dan 12:2
for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth Matt 9:24
the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth Mark 5:39
he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth Luke 8:52
These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. John 11:11-13
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:59,60
For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers Acts 13:36
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep 1Cor 11:30
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 1Cor. 15:18
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed 1Cor 15:51
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light Eph 5:14
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 1Thes 4:13,14
Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 1Thes 5:10
There are probably more but here are 67 verses that equate death with sleep. I am aware of the dangers of equating these two and whole theologies have been made on "soul sleep" and where the soul goes after death. This is not at all where I am going with this. Stepping into eternity is another subject for another day.
Imagine what it means to be spiritually asleep instead of spiritually dead. Picture this; your alarm clock/radio goes off and you are asleep. You have 3 options. 1) Incorporate it into your dream. I distinctly remember dreaming of running in a race. My alarm clock started playing a song and somehow this song became a soundtrack to my running to enable me to run faster. 2) Turn it off or hit the snooze and go back to sleep. You may be sleeping so soundly you don't even remember doing it. 3) Get up out of bed and respond to the alarm. Now relate this to the spiritual realm; the Holy Spirit at some point in everyone's life (so they can be without excuse) rings the alarm clock. With some, i.e. Saul/Paul He rings a gong. Others He appears to once and it may even be a very quiet short alarm, yet when they stand before Him, they look back to a time when they incorporated "religion" into their life or they turned off or even smashed the alarm clock.
This "sleep theory", to me seems to satisfy the theological demands of salvation. Mankind is dead/asleep and oblivious to God and spiritual things. God rings the alarm clock since we know no man can come to God unless he is drawn(John 6:44) and enabled(John 6:65) because we are asleep and unable and unwilling to rouse ourselves . God appears to everyone at least once (John 12:32) to satisfy His justice and the fact that God desires all men to be saved. We choose to respond to the alarm or go on in our sleep which satisfies the fact that mankind has freewill to choose. Is that important to God? Free will is so important that in the beginning he gave Adam and Eve a choice knowing that it would cause Him the life of His beloved Son. Is this far-fetched? Sixty seven verses in the Bible tell me it isn't.
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