tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57975522024-03-16T13:50:06.332-05:00HARMLESS THOUGHTSStriving to be a Samwise Gamgee in a world of Smeagols. Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.comBlogger1907125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-26026437427240295612024-02-19T13:55:00.001-06:002024-02-19T13:59:36.089-06:00Post Pastoral Thoughts Number 2: The Church and A Church<iframe frameborder="0" height="102px" scrolling="no" src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mattharmless/embed/episodes/Ep--104---Post-Pastoral-2-The-Church-vs-A-Church-e2g0d1g" width="100%"></iframe><br /><p><b>Not an Ideal but a Divine Reality</b> (pp. 26-27, Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer)</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i>Innumerable times a whole Christian community has broken down because it had sprung from a wish dream. The serious Christian, set down for the first time in a Christian community, is likely to bring with him a very definite idea of what Christian life together should be and to try to realize it. But God's grace speedily shatters such dreams. Just as surely as God desires us to a knowledge of genuine Christian fellowship, so surely must we be overwhelmed by a great disillusionment with others, with Christians in general, and, if we are fortunate, with ourselves.</i> </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i>By sheer grace, God will not permit us to live even for a brief period in a dream world. He does not abandon us to those rapturous experiences and lofty moods that come over us like a dream. God is not a God of the emotions but the God of truth. Only that fellowship which faces such disillusionment, with all its unhappy and ugly aspects, begins to be what it should be in God's sight, begins to grasp in faith the promise that is given to it. The sooner this shock of disillusionment comes to an individual and to a community the better for both. A community which cannot bear and cannot survive such a crisis, which insists upon keeping its illusion when it should be shattered, permanently loses in that moment the promise of Christian community. Sooner or later it will collapse. Every human wish dream that is injected into the Christian community is a hindrance to a genuine community and must be banished if genuine community is to survive. He who loves his dream of a community more than the Christian community itself becomes a destroyer of the latter, even though his personal intentions may be ever so honest and earnest and sacrificial. </i></p></blockquote><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Without taking the time to double-check my history books, I believe that Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote this while in Germany, a Nazi Germany that had banned any "unofficial" church. Bonhoeffer and his Christian community, along with the seminary that he was a part of, were banned organizations that had moved "underground". As you can imagine, the selectivity of our modern church-hoppers would not have been a viable attitude for the individuals or the community that Bonhoeffer was a part of. <p></p><p>I mention this quote for three reasons. <i>First,</i> because I just like it. <i>Second,</i> I think we may be facing a similar situation in the near future. I'm not trying to predict anything, and I could be wrong, but I genuinely believe we may be headed toward an "approved church" status in this nation, meaning the true church will, by necessity, go underground. <i>Finally,</i> this quote speaks to a very specific problem that has rooted itself in the minds of many American Christians: the idea that you can love <b>the church </b>without loving <b>a church</b>. This problem has revealed itself in our area through the church-attenders who make a priority of the programs a church offers, the church-hoppers who are always dissatisfied with how closely a church mirrors their own personalities, and the multitude of smaller churches who are attempting to model the big media-centric churches that they deem to be successful because they attracted the hoppers and attenders. </p><p><b>My Church is My Family</b></p><p>This post was originally titled, My Church is My Family. I had it titled that way because the family aspect of <i>A Church</i> is at the heart of what I know and love about Edgewood. Having brothers and sisters in Christ is near and dear to what I have experientially learned and am learning, even in my post-pastoral existence.</p><p>In this post I will not attempt to write a full discourse on<i> The Church</i>. That would be ridiculous. I would need to write a book to even begin to scratch the surface on all that the Church is. I simply want to discuss what Edgewood has meant to me. The Church is much more than family. It is the body of Christ. It is the building, composed of people, comprising His Kingdom on earth. It is the bride of Christ in waiting, all of us longing for his return and for the wedding feast. But one of the things that the church truly is ... here ... is family. There is a reason why we are called brothers and sisters in Christ. There is also a reason why, when Jesus' earthly family tried to contact him, instead of dropping everything, he responded to the crowd, </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">And he answered them, <i>“Who are my mother and my brothers?” </i>And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, <i>“Here are my mother and my brothers! </i><i>For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” </i>(Mark 3:33–35 ESV)</p></blockquote><p>He never diminished the importance of earthly, biological family, but he definitely elevated this spiritual, adopted family to something that exhibited a more real family than family. I would argue that our earthly families are just a model of the eternal family, similar to how marriage is a model for our eternal unification with Christ. The men and women of Edgewood Church are truly my brothers and sisters and that familial love for them is as strong as, if not stronger, than the love that I have for any other group of people in my life: whether that be blood relatives, coworkers, or any other circle of friends that I've ever had. </p><p>I am bringing this up in this format, not only because it is something that I have learned during my time as a pastor, but it is also one of the key truths that I believe is of the utmost importance for our current cultural situation. I've been pondering how to say this for quite some time and I've settled on simply making a few suggestions for anyone who reads this regarding your relationship with Church. I hope these suggestions will be especially helpful for anyone who (a) hasn't had or doesn't currently have a good relationship with a church, (b) attends a church and might have some good friends there, but doesn't feel or recognize that familial connection, or (c) is in a pastoral role at a church and, quite frankly, has entered into that role and continued that role as a career they are pursuing. </p><p><b>Suggestion Number 1: Pick a Church.</b></p><p>Maybe it is the one you are currently attending or maybe it isn't, but pick one. It must be one that holds to <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XbbGpBjFs1BT7GLNff6TvXRcgGcaYo5T/view?usp=drive_link" target="_blank">a true confession of the faith</a>. It must be one where their primary focus is the preaching of the word. (I would add that it should be one that primarily does this through <a href="https://blog.harmlessonline.net/2022/07/edgewood-edgeucation-part-3-expository.html" target="_blank">expository preaching</a>.) Forget whether or not this church has any programs. Teen groups are a failed experiment. (Don't even get me started on that. Do the research yourself. Teen groups aren't producing young adults who are actually Christians! If a teen group is even on your list of priorities for your child, you need to get your head screwed on straight.) Children's programs have no relevancy apart from good parenting, so don't go looking for those either. Seriously, they don't. They are irrelevant to a good church.</p><p>Also, avoid churches that have different services for different groups: like traditional vs. contemporary or teen service apart from an adult service. In fact, you should add that on your list of important things to look for, does the oldest person in the church have weekly interactions with the youngest person in the church? </p><p>Think it through. Pray about it. Look through a church's beliefs and standards. Visit a few that meet these basic requirements. If you need help with this, I would help you, seriously: call me, e-mail me, message me, whatever. I'm thinking I need to do a whole post on just this one point. </p><p>If your current church doesn't meet these basic requirements... it might be time to leave it. KEY: Might be... Read Suggestion 4 before you leave. We don't have time for popular, well-funded churches with big programs but no firm hold on the sound teaching we've received from the New Testament authors. We just don't. (Side note: I hope that you don't walk away from this post thinking that I recommend leaving a church too quickly or too flippantly. I'm hoping that as you finish listening, you won't think that.)</p><p>Work through all of this and then pick a Church. </p><p><b>Suggestion Number 2: Go to a Church. </b></p><p>Now that you've picked a Church, go to it. Attend. If they have a family night, go. If they have a Sunday School, go. If there is a special Christmas service, go. When they offer Bible studies, if you can, go. Don't leave right after the service, stay and get to know some people. Ask them questions. Go to lunch with them. Accept invitations to their houses and if you don't get any of those, invite people to your house. Make these church events more important than any other events involving any other circle of friends.</p><p>If it is a Biblical church, and you've picked well, then that church will have a really good understanding of <a href="https://blog.harmlessonline.net/2022/07/edgewood-edgeucation-part-2-body-member.html" target="_blank">Biblical Church membership</a>, so while you are going to this church that you've picked, ask about becoming a member. If the pastor of your church looks puzzled by this or acts like this isn't all that important, then you've picked poorly and you need to go back to suggestion 1. </p><p><b>Suggestion Number 3: Serve in a Church.</b></p><p>Now that you are a member and you are attending and getting to know people, start serving. Move some chairs when they need moving. Set up tables when you see people setting up tables. If this church has one, offer to serve in the nursery. Ask your pastor how you can help, you'll make his day. </p><p><b>Suggestion Number 4: Don't leave a Church. </b></p><p>I should title this suggestion, <b>Don't leave a church easily.</b> This is really important and should partner well with suggestion number 1. If they are teaching or preaching heresy, whether that is verbally or in practice, you'll potentially need to leave... but that shouldn't be an easy process for you or for them. (Consider the life and legacy of J.I. Packer if you need clarification on this.)</p><p>If there is nothing blatantly heretical, then try to pick your own church and then stay there, don't leave. Maybe they aren't living up to the dream of what you think the church should be... good. Seriously, that is good. If you can't float in and out of your church on Sunday, then it is quite possible you've actually entered into a a true Christian Community. </p><p>You see, what make a true Christian Community isn't that the people are all doing what they should ideally do, that Christian community is called Heaven. A true Christian Community on earth is a bunch of sinners saved by grace who are all growing together. (See Col. 2:19, Eph. 2:21, Eph. 4:15-16) We haven't yet achieved, we are growing, and we ought to be growing together. And it is in the together that we will actually grow. </p><p>This is where that distinction becomes apparent in people's lives. There are many I've known who would claim to love The Church, but they can't seem to get along with any particular church. They will operate like they have the insight on how it ought to be, but they fail to ever stick the landing. I think... I think that they've missed a key aspect of reading the New Testament. When Paul or Peter or any of those New Testament writers spoke about the actual daily aspects of the church, it was primarily about A Specific Church. You see, you can't love your brothers and sisters in Christ without loving actual brothers and sisters in Christ. When Jesus told his disciples that it was through their love for each other that the world would know that they were disciples of Jesus, he wasn't speaking about their love for the theoretical church, he was talking about whether or not Peter would be demonstrating love for Matthew. ... for examples sake. </p><p>I'll just say it this way: <i><b>You cannot love The Church without loving A Church.</b> </i></p><p><b>Suggestion Number 5: Center your life around a Church. </b></p><p>I probably have these suggestions out of order. Maybe this one should have gone second, I'm not sure and it doesn't really matter. What is important is that you should, if at all possible, stay at a church for <i>a lifetime</i>. I understand that this isn't always possible, but it is more often possible than it is not. Your choice of church is more important than your choice for job or career or house. Seriously, if you are making life decisions and you aren't factoring your church into that decision, then you are missing it my friend. The only institution that is founded by the savior of our souls and has him as its head is the church. And this is played out in your life through a church. Don't miss that. </p><p>If you stay for years and years. If you see generations come and go in your church, they you will begin to have a true understanding of a true Christian Community. And... by the way... you may find that the little old lady that has been at the same church for her entire life has a better understanding The Church than any podcast you've ever listened to. </p>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-39806135806561742232024-02-14T18:55:00.005-06:002024-02-19T13:59:53.902-06:00They Don't Get Him.<iframe frameborder="0" height="102px" scrolling="no" src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mattharmless/embed/episodes/Ep--103---They-Dont-Get-Him-e2fq14k/a-aavdo6s" width="100%"></iframe><br /><p>I don't have a lot of fight in me. I just don't. ... hence the break from preaching. So there is some hesitation in bringing this up. I know that my comments won't be able to measure up to my actual concern regarding this topic. I also know that I won't have the endurance to battle any naysayers who want to critique my critique. Well. I am still going to try and say something. </p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>What inspired this? Well, there is already a hulabaloo over this: It is that Super Bowl ad. Yeah, that one. I hesitate even sharing it, but here it is: <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V4NP3XCOj9Q" width="320" youtube-src-id="V4NP3XCOj9Q"></iframe></div><br /><p>Why am I bringing this up? Why take the time? Shouldn't I just be happy something Jesus-y made it to the Super Bowl ad level of attention? No. And here's why:</p><p><b>Number One: Subtle Differences Reveal Major Divisions. </b></p><p>Does Jesus exhibit love? Absolutely. Actually, let me cut to the chase... The church where I've been a pastor for several years and I continue to attend would welcome anyone through their doors. We do that because we believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ is for anyone. If you hear anything that I say and think that I don't love or care about people, then you are not listening to me at all. </p><p>Do I love the picture of Jesus washing his disciples' feet? Yes. Do I embrace the idea of hope for everyone? Yes again. Am I aware that there are some sectors of people bearing the label of "Christian" that have been hateful? Um. Yeah. That isn't in question. Not only in history, but even today. But that isn't a Christian problem or a Church problem, that is a human problem. Not just the Nazis... what about the <a href="https://www.ncregister.com/blog/a-short-history-of-buddhist-violence-against-christians">Buddhists who kill Catholics</a> or the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_against_Muslims_in_independent_India" target="_blank">Hindus who kill Muslims</a>. People are pretty terrible. But if you watched that ad and all you saw were beautiful pictures of love, you need to get your head out of you... um... you need <a href="https://esv.to/luke+21:36" target="_blank">to open your eyes</a>. </p><p>If you read the Story of Jesus and you think that the most important thing you need to say is "Love your Neighbor," then you've missed the point. And not only have you missed the point of the gospel message, I don't even think that you have your finger on the pulse of our current cultural moment. We are not facing a crisis in America where people are not coming to Jesus because they don't think that he loves them. No. We are drowning in a sea of lost souls who are content to stay in their sin because they have embraced the version of Jesus portrayed in this video. This leads me to my second reason... </p><p><b>Number Two: Jesus Portrayed</b></p><p>What does our culture need to know about Jesus? What do they need to see more than anything? If we had the ability and the access to tell the world anything about Jesus, what would we tell them? Especially if we had a full minute to talk uninterrupted? What if we could include pictures and illustrations? What if we had an entire group of Christians (with funding) to brainstorm a message for America? What is the main thing that America needs to hear? Well, the group behind the video obviously thought that America needs to hear about love and acceptance no matter who you are and that Jesus isn't like all those bad Churchy Christians. </p><p>Not only would I argue that the Bible doesn't actually portray Jesus like this, but I would also begin to defend Christ's bride... the Church. If you think you can separate Jesus from the Church like the group behind this video thinks (<a href="https://hegetsus.com/en/articles/is-this-a-campaign-to-get-me-to-go-to-church" target="_blank">see here</a>), I would begin to wonder if you are actually even reading the Bible. These sorts of portrayals of Jesus bear a lot more resemblance to the Jefferson Bible than they do to the actual Bible. If you are unaware of what I am referring to, it is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Bible" target="_blank">the Bible that Thomas Jefferson Crafted with a Bible in one hand and a razor blade in the other</a>. Thomas Jefferson cut out all of the stuff he didn't like and kept all of the love-your-neighbory sort of stuff. If you go for that sort of thing, then just go ahead and get yourself the <a href="https://piratebible.com/" target="_blank">pirate bible</a>. </p><p>I guess that what I'd like to say is that the next time any of us pre-dead people see Jesus, he won't be donning the towel to wash feet, he will be showing up with his angels to judge the living and the dead. If you think that the only difference we need to worry about is whether or not we've loved our neighbor, then you forgot that was the second greatest commandment. Sure, there are differences between sheep and goats that focus on our treatment of the "least of these" (Mt. 25:31-46), but there are also differences between wheat and tares (Mt. 13:24-43), between those who have oil for their lamps and those who don't (Mt. 25:1-13), those who are in the light and those who continue to walk in darkness (1 Jn. 1:6), those who are born again and those who are not (Jn. 3:1-8), those who maintain a friendship with the world thinking they are a friend of God (James 4:4), those who say they have faith but don't have works versus those who show their faith by their works (James 2:14-17), those who say they know him and those who keep his word (1 Jn. 2:4-6), those who serve money instead of God (Mt. 6:24), those who with humble heart turn to Christ in repentance and those who do not (Rev. 9:20-21), and those whose names are written in the book of life and those who names are not (Rev. 20:11-15). </p><p>Jesus is Love embodied. But that love means nothing without an understanding of our need for someone to bear the wrath of God. And it means even less if we portray a Christ who doesn't demand that we leave all and forsake all to follow him. A Jesus that would say, "So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." That doesn't sound very accepting. </p><p><b>Number Three: The Gospel</b></p><p>What can we trim away from the Gospel message and it still be the Gospel? I would agree that we cannot get rid of the Love of Christ, that is essential. But is that the only thing that is essential? It is fairly clear from the agenda of the group behind the video that is basically all you need. (If you didn't pick up on that, you <a href="https://hegetsus.com/en/articles/he-gets-us-has-an-agenda" target="_blank">can read it here</a>.) </p><p>Using some search engine magic, I searched through their site. <i>Sin</i> is only mentioned in the word "sinners" and than Jesus invited them to the table. I could not find the word <i>repent</i>. <i>Judgment</i> was only mentioned as a bad thing that Jesus faced. No mention of <i>hell</i>. I found the word <i>holy</i>, but it was just an adjective for one of those bad men that passed by the Samaritan. I also found the word righteous, but it was just referencing "righteous ends that justify the dehumanizing means." </p><p>The Gospel Message is no longer The Gospel Message if we do away with sin, righteousness, and the judgment to come (John 16:8). The watered-down gospel of the <i>he gets us</i> ad is no gospel at all and does nothing but pave a broad highway for the followers of that false gospel to continue kumbaya-ing their way to hell. </p><p>Wow. I just read through this for the podcast version. There is really so much more I could/should have said. </p><p><b>To end on a positive note: </b></p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/j_bambrick" target="_blank">This guy</a> put together "The Christian Super Bowl Ad they SHOULD Have Made: </p><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Christian Super Bowl Ad They SHOULD Have Made<br /><br />A group known as 'He Gets Us' released an advert during the Super Bowl which, whilst perhaps well intentioned, failed to convey anything of the gospel to the hundreds of millions who saw it. <br /><br />Here's my take on what they should… <a href="https://t.co/isJgzfzaI6">pic.twitter.com/isJgzfzaI6</a></p>— Jamie Bambrick (@j_bambrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/j_bambrick/status/1757419713825517684?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-67005540655783305872024-02-10T17:14:00.002-06:002024-02-10T17:17:34.429-06:00Post Pastoral Thoughts No. 1: Should I Stay or Should I Go? <div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="102px" scrolling="no" src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mattharmless/embed/episodes/Ep--102---Post-Pastoral-Thoughts-No--1---Should-I-stay-or-should-I-go-e2fkf7t/a-a9jupg6" width="400px"></iframe></div>
<p><b>For those who are new here: </b></p><p>If you are new here, then you may need a slight introduction to this post. I'll start with the basics. My name is Matt Harmless. I have been a math teacher for 24 years (with a short stint as a disciplinary dean, but that's another story). For the last 14 1/2 years I was <i>also</i> a bivocational pastor. For those unfamiliar with the term, a bi-vocational pastor is one who normally would be a full-time or part-time Pastor, but would then have another job. This second job could potentially be full-time but its primary purpose was to help make ends meet. I, of course, got that backward. I had a full-time job as a school teacher and then decided to try to take on pastoral work. This inevitably led to what came next. </p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>In November of 2023, I announced to my church that I was going to be stepping down as a Pastor and, well, just be a guy in the church. I finished my time preaching through December and officially started my time as "just a guy" on December 31st. <p></p><p>One of the ways I process things is by writing about them. Please don't misunderstand, I don't think I am a good writer at all... or is it, I don't write well? ... me no write good? ... um... I'm not a professional. In fact, one of the reasons why I try to write is because it forces me to think. In addition to being a helpful tool when formulating specifics of my beliefs, purposeful, edited writing has become a sort of therapeutic endeavor for me. This current endeavor being my mental and spiritual post-processing of my time as a pastor of a small church. This processing will hopefully take the form of analyzing what I've learned and what I am continuing to learn. The first thing that I need to tackle is Should I stay or should I go? </p><p><b>Should I Stay or Should I Go? </b></p><p>First: Cue the Clash: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="234" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BN1WwnEDWAM" width="282" youtube-src-id="BN1WwnEDWAM"></iframe></div><br /><p>Now that we have that out of our systems... or ingrained in our minds as the theme music for the remainder of this post... Let's deal with what I am trying to handle. </p><p>If you have a Pastor of a church, especially a smaller church, who decides to step down from the pastorate, one of the first hurdles to deal with is whether or not that pastor should stay at that church. Depending on who you talk to, you will essentially get three responses. They are all versions of "you should go" but they are not all for the same reasons. </p><p><b>Response #1: Go. </b></p><p>This is the first and most common response. Most people that I talk to just assume that I am going to go somewhere else. In fact, the most common response from people who hear that I've stepped down is, "So, where are you going to go to church?" I believe that the reason why this is the most common response is that this is what most have experienced. They went to a church where the pastor stepped down. That pastor said his good-byes and went to another church. This is what people are used to, so they just expect it. </p><p><b>Response #2: No, really. Go.</b></p><p>Some don't assume you should go, they just think you should. Instead of remembering when a Pastor left, they remembered when a Pastor stayed. And it weren't good. </p><p>There are several different causes for this poor experience. I don't want to delve into the multi-faceted splendor of bad pastors or bad retired pastors. There are plenty of people already doing that. I just want to mention the one single biggest cause of bad experiences when a decent pastor stays after his retirement. It is control. Whether they wanted it to be that way or not, they were in control. Some more than others. And to let go of that control, they just can't do it. So some say... "No, really. You should go."</p><p><b>Response #3: Stay?!? Are you nuts?</b></p><p>This is the response I usually get from pastors who have stepped down. Whether they retired or were just tired they stepped down and stayed, but then it didn't go well. Maybe it was that the people were too dependent on them. Maybe the people wouldn't let them rest. Maybe it was something else. Regardless of the reason, it just didn't work. So when this group of people talk to me, it is usually a version of "are you crazy?" or it is is an "OK" accompanied with that non-verbal... "poor fella. He'll just have to go through this before he understands the world."</p><p><b>I'm staying.</b></p><p>I decided to stay. Here are the reasons why I didn't even have to think about it very long: </p><p>Number one: I'm not a control freak. I don't want to be in control. I never wanted to be in control. I have been looking for and hoping to find people to take the reigns. I could argue that those who think they have control ought to relinquish it immediately. We are not the heads of our churches, Christ is.</p><p>In fact, in the month since I stepped down, It has been a joy for me to watch others rise to the occasion and take the lead in several different areas. Not only has the other "co-pastor" of the church (who is way more qualified than I am anyway) risen to the occasion, he has also taken the lead in helping others learn how to take the lead. One of the best things he has done already is get a group of men together to start training them on church leadership, specifically in the form of being Biblical deacons. </p><p>Why Number 2: It was never about me anyway. Some pastors start to attach the success of the church to their own efforts. I get that. It is actually very easy to pour your heart into a church ministry and start to equate its success with why you are as a person. You will never get judgment from me when someone blurs those lines accidentally. I've struggled with this myself, less in the successes and more in the failures. Any time someone left our little church because of any reason, the parts that they might list as a "lack" in the church felt like a "lack" in myself. But the church isn't about us. </p><p>As I've stepped away from the pastorate, I knew that it might succeed or fail without me. Its success or failure would not be about me anyway. If it failed because I wasn't there, then it probably should fail. No church should be dependent on any one man. If it succeeded because I was not doing it, that wouldn't be an insult to me (as if I wasn't essential) ... because, well, I am not essential, only Christ is. I've been preaching it for years, but stepping away is an opportunity to watch the theory in practice. </p><p>Why Number 3: You just don't know Edgewood. This is what I usually say to others. When they say, "aren't you going to leave?" I say, "No. If that seems weird to you, well, you just don't know Edgewood." This Church is my Family. (Note: I don't say, THE Church is my family, I say "this church" is my family.)</p><p>One of the key most important things that I have learned as a pastor hinges on that one little difference. "A Church" vs. "The Church" There are a lot of people I know who love the Church in theory, but have a really difficult time in reality. They have all sorts of reasons why this is... but most of them are focused on the failures of "the church" in opposition to their own ideas of what they are expecting. </p><p>But I will stop there and make this the focus of my next post-pastoral thought. </p>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-54080417156644594292024-01-18T14:55:00.001-06:002024-01-18T14:58:03.568-06:00A Rant.... ish.<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="102px" scrolling="no" src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mattharmless/embed/episodes/Ep-101---A-Rant----ish-e2ekimt/a-aas2meg" width="400px"></iframe><b><br /></b></p><p><b>First a disclaimer: </b></p><p><i>(I am placing this disclaimer at the beginning of this post, but I wrote it last.) </i></p><p>This is a rant. One definition of a rant (from a Google Search) is<i> "As a verb, "rant" means to speak or shout in an angry, impassioned way. It can also mean to complain in an unreasonable way." </i>Notice that it is impassioned, but it can also mean unreasonable. I readily accept that what you will read is truly a rant. Here are a few disclaimers if you choose to read my rant: </p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>As a rant, this is not personal. If there is something in here that you actually do think is about you, it isn't. It might resemble you, but the reality is, there isn't anything in here that I reference that I haven't seen and/or experienced from multiple people. So... This isn't about you. You know who you are. You are the one who thinks everything is about them. This isn't about you. If you contact me and say, "Why did you write that about me?" I'm going to say, "You didn't read the disclaimer did you?" </li><li>As a rant, this will cover several different topics, and none of them in-depth. If you read it and think that I should have been more clear, I'm sorry. I am not trying to be very clear. It is a rant.</li><li>As a rant, this will be primarily negative. I hope you don't read this and think that this rant is what I am usually like. I think that I am usually fairly positive. But I also don't think that I should entirely avoid these topics I'm ranting about. I think they are rant-worthy. If I strike a nerve, I want you to know that I didn't have my crosshairs on you, but I did have them on these topics.</li><li>Since this is a rant, I won't be sharing this link on Facebook. This means that the only people who see this will be people who actually follow me or seek me out. If I record this as a podcast, I won't be sharing that link on Facebook either. </li><li>Even though this is a rant, if you read anything here or listen to this and feel the need to say something to me, either through Facebook, Twitter (X), e-mail, phone, or in person... I will be more than happy to actually listen to you before I even think of defending myself. I am sure that ... because it is a rant ... my words will be full of inconsistencies, hypocrisies, and all manner of unreasonableness. </li></ol><p></p><p><b>Let the rant begin: </b></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>I have been trying to write something / say something for a few months now. There are several topics which are throwing pebbles at the window of my attention. I've tried to appease these topics by writing about them and potentially podcasting about them, but I haven't been able to make it past the first paragraph or beyond 1 minute of recording. If I complete this sentence and hit "enter" I will have successfully surpassed my previous effort. <p></p><p>OK. Here we are. I am pressing on because I've decided to do a conglomeration post. Instead of exploring any of these topics in depth, I will simply rant on each topic for a paragraph or two and then move on. In-depth coverage is just too daunting for my brain right now. Without further ado, because I don't have the patience for "ado" I will dig right in. </p><p><b>Rant 1: Leaving the Church</b></p><p>The number of people who are around my age... people I've known, people I've just met, people I'm closely connected with, at least have a shared history with, are leaving church. I am not aware of any polls or statistics or recent data, I'm just speaking from my own personal perspective. Left and right, it (at least) feels like people are jumping ship. In addition to leaving the church, they are leaving their morality, their convictions, and sometimes their spouses. Being faithful to the end, enduring to the end, and bearing up in the name of steadfastness has been met with a hearty, "meh."</p><p>I know that there are all sorts of questions, comments, and concerns that could head my direction because of my tone when I write about this, but remember: this is a rant. You're probably used to all sorts of people doing rants about the church, but there aren't as many of us that do rants from the church. Quite frankly, I'm just sick of it. We've got people leaving the church, and the world hasn't even lit their torches or erected their stakes. I guess the good news is that we get to see a little more clearly who is on what side. Especially when some of those who have left have a lighter in their hand, ready to light the torch and throw it at my feet. (That is only partially figurative.) This leads me to my second rant. </p><p><b>Rant 2: Taking the Church (with them)</b></p><p>In the mix of those who have left the church, there is an alarmingly large number of people who have decided to take the church with them. And the creepy thing is... Yeah. I said creepy... that they are usually able to find a church that will welcome them in. Want to be a lesbian? There's a church for that. Want to be a woman, when you are currently in possession of attached testicles? There's a church for that, and you can get celebrated there on Mother's Day! Want to tell women they can abort their unborn children? There's a church for that too! Want to go to a church that will support you leaving your spouse so that you can live in an adulterous relationship, or a homosexual relationship, or a polyamorous relationship? Heck, don't want to get married, but want to be able to take your live-in girlfriend or boyfriend with you to church? You can find one on any degree of unrighteous celebration that your sin-saturated heart delights in, and your new woman pastor will give you a hug and a welcome as you come in and accept your rainbow badge. </p><p>I really hate it when the ones who leave the church by trying to take the church with them, try to do it in their very own church. What I doubly hate even more is when the leaders of these churches, especially the larger churches with their big budgets, buckle under the pressure and go along with them. This very thing is what has led to some of the biggest schisms in the Presbyterian and Methodist churches to date. But it is also the thing that has solidified the stance of some of us hard-headed obstinate folk.</p><p>A side rant that could occur here is the heart-breaking response of so many parents who respond to their adult children doing this with a certain measure of accepting resignation... Folks, it is more important than ever that we run to the Bible for our response to apostasy. When the apostate is your child, your opportunity and your responsibility are huge. You don't need to cower to their demands, on the contrary, out of a great love for them why don't you respond the way we are told to respond? If there is any hope for them at all on that final day, it won't be found because you folded on your morals. Stop bluffing: And with Paul the apostle, hand them over for the destruction of the flesh AND the saving of the soul. </p><p><b>Rant 3: Leaving a Church</b></p><p>There are good reasons and there are bad reasons to leave a church. <a href="https://founders.org/" target="_blank">Founders</a> has a decent article on this topic you can <a href="https://founders.org/articles/when-do-you-leave-a-church" target="_blank">read here</a>. It does a pretty good job of outlining some good reasons and some bad reasons to leave. I've only left a church when I've moved to a new state, so I readily admit that I don't have the life experience of working through this decision on my own. That doesn't mean that I haven't experienced all of the bad reasons listed for leaving a church. There have been a few churches I've attended where I didn't agree with everything, but that is to be expected. But I have never attended a church where there was open or blatant heresy, so I haven't experienced this particular thing (needing to leave a church). </p><p>I could use this third rant to talk about all of the shallow reasons why people leave a church, but that isn't what is really bugging me. What has really gotten under my craw is the way people leave a church. If you have left the church where I've served as the pastor for the last 14 1/2 years, and you read this and it hurts your feelings or you think I am talking about you... play this song and then move along... </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mQZmCJUSC6g" width="320" youtube-src-id="mQZmCJUSC6g"></iframe></div><br /><p>Instead of letting this rant sound like I'm all weepy, let's come at it this way. I'd like to offer some advice for when you leave. I would hold to this advice whether you are leaving for good reasons, bad reasons, average reasons, shallow reasons, important reasons, necessary reasons, piddly reasons, or no real reason. First, don't do it over text and definitely not via social media. This is something that should be done face-to-face. Second, don't wait multiple weeks after you've already left before you let anyone know. Please don't tell people who are checking on you and wondering where you are that you just haven't been feeling well. Lying is never a part of any godly decision unless you are hiding the spies from Jericho's authorities. This means that you ought to also be honest about your reasons. Whether the reasons are good, bad, or ugly, just say it. And for the love... be willing to have a conversation about it. Even if you think people will disagree with you, but especially if you are leaving because of a reason where you feel justified. There is other advice that I could give, but let's just start with these two points. I won't go any further, because I'm ranting. </p><p>From someone who stayed: here is the truth. For everyone who has ever left Edgewood, it hurt. Whether it was inevitable, necessary, justified, or silly... It hurt. Maybe I shouldn't have been hurt... I don't know about that. I just know that it did. And the ease that many exhibited as they left added insult to the injury. More could be said here and probably ought to be, but this is a rant, so I will move on. </p><p><b>Rant 4: Geometry </b></p><p>I know. This one seems like it is coming out of nowhere. Everything I've said so far has to do with church. But I'm ranting right? This isn't all supposed to make sense!</p><p>Here it is: I've been in education for almost 24 years now, and in almost every one of those years, I taught Geometry. And here's the thing: I teach half of what I used to teach. That is not an exaggeration. Half. There are whole parts of Geometry that are no longer covered. A big one? Proofs. </p><p>Ok, Ok... I know. You didn't like proofs when you were in school. Whatever. You haven't used any of that stuff since. Whatever. That isn't my point. My point is half of Geometry is gone. It's just gone. And as a person who loves Geometry, that is depressing. I personally loved proofs. And we actually have one of the biggest applications to proofs in our modern world that we didn't used to have -- Programming languages. Coding. There is so much of the logic that we used to teach (just so happens) in Geometry that isn't there anymore. I need to elaborate on this, so I will end the rant. </p><p><b>Conclusion</b></p><p>Yeah. There is more, but I will stop myself. I just needed to post something... write something... podcast something. I've had writer's block for such a long time. This just needed to be "dumped". </p><p>Final thought: I cannot tell you how much it would mean to me if someone... anyone... saw this and responded. It wouldn't even need to be nice. Anything. Mostly because I actually do love people. I hope my ranting hasn't clouded over that too much. I hope that you can see through the rant and recognize that my heart is actually breaking when people leave the church. That mingled with the anger at people trying to take the church with them is a compassion that those same people are being snagged by the lies. Especially our children. That when people have left Edgewood, the hurt I've experienced is mostly about missing those actual people. I miss you and I wish there were some way our fellowship could have continued. And that when I get annoyed at where education has declined, it is actually because I care about kids. I used to love the logical elements of Geometry because it was all about how to think, what we should assume, what we should seek to prove, and how one would go about doing that. </p><p>End of Rant.</p>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-78104392133835913982024-01-01T08:09:00.003-06:002024-01-01T08:09:49.508-06:00The Household and the War for the Cosmos - Review<p> <a href="https://amzn.to/3RJyQ05" target="_blank">The Household and the War for the Cosmos</a> by C.R. Wiley</p><p>If you have not read this book, I will begin this review by saying that I highly recommend that you do that now. Seriously. Click the link above and purchase a copy of it and start reading. If the title seems odd to you, I would like to double my encouragement to get a copy of this book. There is a cosmos. There is a war for it. And the household, your household is playing a part in this war. </p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>In this book, C. R. Wiley does an amazing job of teaching about the cosmos, a Greek word that the Apostle Paul uses, and is typically translated world in our English New Testaments. I say, teaching, but it is really more of a clarification on what this word means and how we've lost that meaning in our secularized society. He also works through the historical and Biblical concept of the household, another word whose meaning has lost its actual significance in our cosmos. As he writes, he teaches the understanding of these words through their etymology, their historical reality to the people who compose 90% of the history of our planet, and through story, both mythological and Biblical. <p></p><p>I found that as I read this book there were two conflicting emotions growing within me. One emotion was a joyous encouragement as the role that my own household plays in the grander schemes of the Cosmos were made clear. How I've loved my wife, how she's loved me, how we've raised our children, and how we continue to (hopefully) teach and train another generation has actually mattered and will continue to matter. The other emotion could only be described as a vague form of despair. This emotion arose within me as I contemplated how broken the world is, how broken families are, how demolished households are, and how these concepts are so foreign to many that even within the ranks of (so called) Christians, the household is almost non-existent... let alone a household that is even on the right side of the war. That isn't an emotion that would normally sell a book, but I hope that these conflicting emotions will spur you on to at least get a copy of this to see for yourself. </p><p>This book is so good and so valuable to me that I am contemplating ways to get it into other people's hands. Do I host a book study? Do I buy copies of this book to give to others? I know that in the very least, this book will have a lasting impact in my own mind as I use the vocabulary I learned about in these pages. Family is more clear. This world is more crisp. The daily things I'm doing are more substantiated. </p><p>If you live near me, be on the lookout for a potential book study to begin later this year. </p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="550" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups" src="https://read.amazon.com/kp/card?asin=B07SZB38CY&preview=inline&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_JM2GYG9Q6N4A2RW5KBXC&tag=harmlessthough-20" style="max-width: 100%;" type="text/html" width="336"></iframe></div>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-21934329759439824862023-12-31T16:29:00.003-06:002024-01-01T08:10:16.598-06:00Matt is a Hand Tattoo Person now... There is no going back. <p>Well, I'm a guy with a tattoo on my hand now. There is no going back. Tattoo number 5 is done and in the exact place I want it. </p><p>I went with the Hebrew word, Shalom, which many know means "peace". It was the topic of my final sermon (which I will include a link to, once it has been uploaded) before I stepped down as a pastor of Edgewood Church. It is also a word that exemplifies, not only what I've aimed for in my life, but also what I long for the most in the next. The Brown-Driver-Briggs' Hebrew Dictionary defines this word as: </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p><i>1) completeness, soundness, welfare, peace (</i><i>a) completeness (in number), (b) safety, soundness (in body), (c) welfare, health, prosperity, (d) peace, quiet, tranquillity, contentment, (e) peace, friendship, (e1) of human relationships, (e2) with God especially in covenant relationship, (f) peace (from war), (g) peace (as adjective)</i></p></blockquote><p>In other words, it is the making of everything right in a world where everything is wrong. </p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Here is a pic (just finished a few minutes ago, so a healthy coating of Aquaphor™ on it). <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCO3X35PaMBy2sB-OFMClesnmXzOd44c6691Z27Y8cl_YoO6B84V4PfhnZsK843IAvMgIZoM1NlmzITDjuCOlQMlcqoX5KbVcQzfZzQ9DHUGJS4MNUnJAzOIquywSdenE4ErWiDK28panmFbibG2zfYM8pMLQZW85vL7q8UWblJU3wXmrdUXrpQ/s901/Matt%20is%20a%20Hand%20Tattoo%20Person%20Now.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="507" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCO3X35PaMBy2sB-OFMClesnmXzOd44c6691Z27Y8cl_YoO6B84V4PfhnZsK843IAvMgIZoM1NlmzITDjuCOlQMlcqoX5KbVcQzfZzQ9DHUGJS4MNUnJAzOIquywSdenE4ErWiDK28panmFbibG2zfYM8pMLQZW85vL7q8UWblJU3wXmrdUXrpQ/w225-h400/Matt%20is%20a%20Hand%20Tattoo%20Person%20Now.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><p>Here is an interesting video of the Hebrew word and some of the meaning wrapped up in the actual letters being used. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="347" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jkgYIb9_Bs0" width="480" youtube-src-id="jkgYIb9_Bs0"></iframe></div><br /><p>Well, now that I am a hand tattoo guy, I hope you can still be my friend. </p><p>Back in 2016 I did a podcast episode on whether or not Christians can get tattoos. You can <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/910035bc-e4ec-49de-845f-8b94daa2580e/episodes/5ad23ef0-bd0a-4011-937e-6262e4edbdd7/just-a-harmless-podcast-ep-25---can-christians-get-tattoos" target="_blank">listen to that here</a>.</p>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-30167619746720736222023-12-31T09:31:00.002-06:002024-01-01T08:10:49.645-06:00A Christmas Sermon for Pagans<p>Strand Magazine published this Christmas Sermon by C. S. Lewis in December of 1946. The title: A Christmas Sermon for Pagans.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiQN0uVR6GedpsdvgdC2UYAAGfMzdFHhsLkYnaR2vgE5NWr9fmobEh9Vv887ADHjQTYgHXgSWajfaWklS1kbmMJeOQ94lga0QxMaFoMaHcAOHokjUjrEuadhEkRMeuiUybI0w1XiggjIEKbMFMp_BiidxlKYQuCVUkTxrCKZpCGNsBtZpaKTaHA/s2047/christmas%20sermon%20for%20pagans.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="1404" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiQN0uVR6GedpsdvgdC2UYAAGfMzdFHhsLkYnaR2vgE5NWr9fmobEh9Vv887ADHjQTYgHXgSWajfaWklS1kbmMJeOQ94lga0QxMaFoMaHcAOHokjUjrEuadhEkRMeuiUybI0w1XiggjIEKbMFMp_BiidxlKYQuCVUkTxrCKZpCGNsBtZpaKTaHA/w438-h640/christmas%20sermon%20for%20pagans.webp" width="438" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG32kYTzw1kxFqRvb20PbTkxN-2ehM5j6DFbDuuFaO8qkV3P1bkwjBq8PIMIl4zGxAB0nUEtREuTXuR6SjnB5Wz7KmjhOkESMI-u4YQjB8Hn7vgc3L26R0UkaGt_5UW9NYaYS5nAbhRtvLBevlwUtXFmNYKYMZPLVDNIXEHyR8vM19niKuOed8Ew/s2047/christmas%20sermon%20for%20pagans%202.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="1360" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG32kYTzw1kxFqRvb20PbTkxN-2ehM5j6DFbDuuFaO8qkV3P1bkwjBq8PIMIl4zGxAB0nUEtREuTXuR6SjnB5Wz7KmjhOkESMI-u4YQjB8Hn7vgc3L26R0UkaGt_5UW9NYaYS5nAbhRtvLBevlwUtXFmNYKYMZPLVDNIXEHyR8vM19niKuOed8Ew/w426-h640/christmas%20sermon%20for%20pagans%202.webp" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-6BwlNX8QPmqltj_C25llwoFBfwpOQGTGOLVMKC1z3y48DkLsV4EVdu7EzVPoDkSUi6Z8KMy68xA1UYyUb598Jnsm1ptMG9n0-rvKaZ8GQMWAXjLu1FYU1IXvPLlFzHHRvgzkpEa1y_0kD77PCG9R3kFM6l7vVgKLAgSZSOgqoBMjXLFPxhpXA/s2048/christmas%20sermon%20for%20pagans%203.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1416" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-6BwlNX8QPmqltj_C25llwoFBfwpOQGTGOLVMKC1z3y48DkLsV4EVdu7EzVPoDkSUi6Z8KMy68xA1UYyUb598Jnsm1ptMG9n0-rvKaZ8GQMWAXjLu1FYU1IXvPLlFzHHRvgzkpEa1y_0kD77PCG9R3kFM6l7vVgKLAgSZSOgqoBMjXLFPxhpXA/w442-h640/christmas%20sermon%20for%20pagans%203.webp" width="442" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsP3XB9dNR0k5GPcAEYOgFL3jBNkiobNZ2FX1Xox-OmD_UDCjYRyzniov0WC_7EgDXOif-yTwnd6bbJulAoFdlNQI-iQE4YNHViYI_VBjTFpvCPMoxU1qCH2Wi1TqCfn8OFLOCcqmk9X0aEkj_xRdQgt9ocHB5aWb2tzM6U9kJJZyKiJJDDmeBwg/s2048/christmas%20sermon%20for%20pagans%204.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1390" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsP3XB9dNR0k5GPcAEYOgFL3jBNkiobNZ2FX1Xox-OmD_UDCjYRyzniov0WC_7EgDXOif-yTwnd6bbJulAoFdlNQI-iQE4YNHViYI_VBjTFpvCPMoxU1qCH2Wi1TqCfn8OFLOCcqmk9X0aEkj_xRdQgt9ocHB5aWb2tzM6U9kJJZyKiJJDDmeBwg/w434-h640/christmas%20sermon%20for%20pagans%204.webp" width="434" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>Strand magazine, Vol. 112, Issue 672, December 1946 </p><p></p><blockquote><p>When I was asked to write a Christmas sermon for Pagans I accepted the job lightheartedly enough: but now that I sit down to tackle it I discover a difficulty. Are there any Pagans in England for me to write to?</p><p>I know that people keep on telling us that this country is relapsing into Paganism. But they only mean it is ceasing to be Christian. And is that at all the same thing? Let us remember what a Pagan or Heathen (I use the words interchangeably) really was.</p><p>A “Heathen” meant a man who lived out on the heath, out in the wilds. A “Pagan” meant a man who lived in a Pagus or small village. Both words, in fact, meant a “rustic” or “yokel.” They date from the time when the larger towns of the Roman Empire were already Christianised, but the old Nature religions still lingered in the country. Pagans or Heathens were the backward people in the remote districts who had not yet been converted, who were still pre-Christian.</p><p>To say that modern people who have drifted away from Christianity are Pagans is to suggest that a post-Christian man is the same as a pre-Christian man. And that is like thinking that a woman who has lost her husband is the same sort of person as an unmarried girl: or that a street where the houses have been knocked down is the same as a field where no house has yet been built. The ruined street and the unbuilt field are alike in one respect: namely that neither will keep you dry if it rains. But they are different in every other respect. Rubble, dust, broken bottles, old bedsteads and stray cats are very different from grass, thyme, clover, buttercups and a lark singing overhead.</p><p>Now the real Pagan differed from the post-Christian in the following ways. Firstly, he was religious. From the Christian point of view he was indeed too religious by half. He was full of reverence. To him the earth was holy, the woods and waters were alive. His agriculture was a ritual as well as a technique. And secondly, he believed in what we now call an “Objective” Right or Wrong. That is, he thought the distinction between pious and impious acts was something which existed independently of human opinions: something like the multiplication table which Man had not invented but had found to be true and which (like the multiplication table) he had better take notice of. The gods would punish him if he did not.</p><p>To be sure, by Christian standards, his list of “Right” or “Wrong” acts was rather a muddled one. He thought (and the Christians agreed) that the gods would punish him for setting the dogs on a beggar who came to his door or for striking his father: but he also thought they would punish him for turning his face to the wrong point of the compass when he began ploughing. But though his code included some fantastic sins and duties, it got in most of the real ones.</p><p>And this leads us to the third great difference between a Pagan and a post-Christian man. Believing in a real Right and Wrong means finding out that you are not very good. The Pagan code may have been on some points a low one: but it was too high for the Pagan to live up to. Hence a Pagan, though in many ways merrier than a modern, had a deep sadness. When he asked himself what was wrong with the world he did not immediately reply, “the social system,” or “our allies,” or “education.” It occurred to him that he himself might be one of the things that was wrong with the world. He knew he had sinned. And the terrible thing was that he thought the gods made no difference between voluntary and involuntary sins. You might get into their bad books by mere accident, and once in, it was very hard to get out of them. And the Pagan dealt with this situation in a rather silly way. His religion was a mass of ceremonies (sacrifices, purifications, etc.) which were supposed to take away guilt. But they never quite succeeded. His conscience was not at ease.</p><p>Now the post-Christian view which is gradually coming into existence—it is complete already in some people and still incomplete in others—is quite different. According to it Nature is not a live thing to be reverenced: it is a kind of machine for us to exploit. There is no objective Right or Wrong: each race or class can invent its own code or “ideology” just as it pleases. And whatever may be amiss with the world, it is certainly not we, not the ordinary people; it is up to God (if, after all, He should happen to exist), or to Government or to Education, to give us what we want. They are the shop, we are the customers: and “the customer is always right.”</p><p>Now if the post-Christian view is the correct one, then we have indeed waked from a nightmare. The old fear, the old reverence, the old restraints—how delightful to have waked up into freedom, to be responsible to no one, to be utterly and absolutely our own masters! We have, of course, lost some fun. A universe of colourless electrons (which is presently going to run down and annihilate all organic life everywhere and forever) is, perhaps, a little dreary compared with the earth-mother and the sky-father, the wood nymphs and the water nymphs, chaste Diana riding the night sky and homely Vesta flickering on the hearth. But one can’t have everything, and there are always the flicks and the radio: if the new view is correct, it has very solid advantages. </p><p>But is it? And if so, why are things not going better? What do you make of the present threat of world famine? We know now that it is not entirely due to the war. From country after country comes the same story of failing harvests: even the whales have less oil. Can it be that Nature (or something behind Nature) is not simply a machine that we can do what we like with?—that she is hitting back?</p><p>Waive that point. Suppose she is only a machine and that we are free to master her at our pleasure. Have you not begun to see that Man’s conquest of Nature is really Man’s conquest of Man? That every power wrested from Nature is used by some men over other men? Men are the victims, not the conquerors in this struggle: each new victory “over Nature” yields new means of propaganda to enslave them, new weapons to kill them, new power for the State and new weakness for the citizen, new contraceptives to keep men from being born at all.</p><p>As for the ideologies, the new invented Wrongs and Rights, does no one see the catch? If there is no real Wrong and Right, nothing good or bad in itself, none of these ideologies can be better or worse than another. For a better moral code can only mean one which comes nearer to some real or absolute code. One map of New York can be better than another only if there is a real New York for it to be truer to. If there is no objective standard, then our choice between one ideology and another becomes a matter of arbitrary taste. Our battle for democratic ideals against Nazi ideals has been a waste of time, because the one is no better than the other. Nor can there ever be any real improvement or deterioration: if there is no real goal you can’t get either nearer to it or farther from it. In fact, there is no real reason for doing anything at all.</p><p>It looks to me, neighbours, as though we shall have to set about becoming true Pagans if only as a preliminary to becoming Christians. I don’t mean that we should begin leaving little bits of bread under the tree at the end of the garden as an offering to the Dryad. I don’t mean that we should dance to Dionysus across Hampstead Heath (though perhaps a little more solemn or ecstatic gaiety and a little less commercialised “amusement” might make our holidays better than they now are). I don’t even mean (though I do very much wish) that we should recover that sympathy with nature, that religious attitude to the family, and that appetite for beauty which the better Pagans had. Perhaps what I do mean is best put like this.</p><p>If the modern post-Christian view is wrong—and every day I find it harder to think it right—then there are three kinds of people in the world. (1) Those who are sick and don’t know it (the post-Christians). (2) Those who are sick and know it (Pagans). (3) Those who have found the cure. And if you start in the first class you must go through the second to reach the third. For (in a sense) all that Christianity adds to Paganism is the cure. It confirms the old belief that in this universe we are up against Living Power: that there is a real Right and that we have failed to obey it: that existence is beautiful and terrifying. It adds a wonder of which Paganism had not distinctly heard—that the Mighty One has come down to help us, to remove our guilt, to reconcile us.</p><p>All of the world (even in Japan, even in Russia) men and women will meet on December 25th to do what is a very old-fashioned and, if you like, a very Pagan thing—to sing and feast because a God has been born. You are uncertain whether it is more than a myth. Well if it is, then our last hope is gone. But is the opposite explanation not worth trying?</p><p>Who knows but that here, and here alone, lies your way back not only to Heaven, but to Earth too, and to the great human family whose oldest hopes are confirmed by this story that does not die?</p></blockquote><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>[<a href="https://crystalkirgiss.com/2022/12/23/c-s-lewis-a-christmas-sermon-for-pagans/" target="_blank">I found this here.</a>]<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-18794131596315726542023-12-09T09:50:00.003-06:002023-12-09T09:50:55.706-06:00Farewell Old Friends<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpz12Cna0aree2o1hY-7yVGu4clY-nKItQZTB1xZVwn6shGYBdC9ZwnfB2l-kSZOhqH0CLyCjxL_otZTKigbSzq2_Bm8_XT2Tc1VV6tzZR17rQGczrogdmjhaEvZrCtI9FdR7GEIloKTqfwUqInSACwzndTU9_sMzsGXcJb5TZgy2d-EGrFK5D9g/s960/Lawlessness%20and%20Love.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpz12Cna0aree2o1hY-7yVGu4clY-nKItQZTB1xZVwn6shGYBdC9ZwnfB2l-kSZOhqH0CLyCjxL_otZTKigbSzq2_Bm8_XT2Tc1VV6tzZR17rQGczrogdmjhaEvZrCtI9FdR7GEIloKTqfwUqInSACwzndTU9_sMzsGXcJb5TZgy2d-EGrFK5D9g/w400-h300/Lawlessness%20and%20Love.png" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Farewell old friends. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I thought many of us would make it to the end together, but so few are remaining on board and so many are jumping ship. More and more every day. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And unlike so many others... I cannot... I will not... jump ship with you, thinking that Christ will come with me. There is not a relationship on this planet that I would bend the law of Christ to maintain. Not a one. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And it is not simply my love of Christ that compels me. I will also seek to maintain my lack of Christian / Familial fellowship with you, my fallen brothers, out of the vague but essential hope that this visible, tangible broken relationship with me, as you cling to your sin, might help you to see the invisible, but more real and more broken relationship with the Father before it is too late. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Oh, if only other believers would but take the same approach, hoping to make it clear to all that friendship with the world is enmity toward God. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Farewell old friends. I hope you know that when you return to the Father, I will be running down the road with him to greet you and not sulking in the fields. </span></p><p><br /></p>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-27302082941837062872023-12-01T09:58:00.001-06:002023-12-01T09:58:08.123-06:00I know he lives. <p> C.R. Wiley - From <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Household-War-Cosmos-Recovering-Christian-ebook/dp/B07SZB38CY?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1701446084&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=harmlessthough-20&linkId=08689e27d80d4f6ca5c16de920c18b9d&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" target="_blank">The Household and the War for the Cosmos</a></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">"I hate to say it, but even the piety of Wesley and Whitfield was a downgrade of the real thing. This is because by the eighteenth-century piety’s sphere had already contracted. It is a well-documented story, so I won’t go into detail, but I think I can sum it up succinctly. By the time of Wesley and Whitfield, what had once been regarded as public truth had been reduced to private convictions. Authority in general had eroded due to revolutions in politics, the sciences, and even economics. To meet the challenge evangelists were forced to stress direct, very personal experience of the supernatural by everyone. The second-hand Truth contained in catechisms and confessions was no longer enough. Even eyewitness accounts of the risen Christ were not as trustworthy as a “warmed heart.” This is how we ended up with a hymn like “I Serve a Risen Savior.” In that song the line that is supposed to persuade you to believe that Jesus rose from the dead is, “You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!” What we are left with today is heart religion, because now the heart is the only place Jesus can be publicly acknowledged to live. Ironically, many people think that this is the sum total of Christianity, and the notion that this is actually a downgrading of the faith is inconceivable."</p></blockquote><p><br /></p><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=harmlessthough-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07SZB38CY&asins=B07SZB38CY&linkId=c84c65de2625bed563e8acb64650b001&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-27944970230931929492023-11-17T13:49:00.003-06:002023-11-17T13:49:35.959-06:00Post Tenebras Lux<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A modification of the Post Tenebra Lux (After Darkness Light) Seal of Geneva. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8p5h3AOnIhPHfPaQtXLdMzqFbjpIcnnoPqkI1o46f_rqWakXuv1Xh4jHJcpDRIa3N2ixm_ddDm0lcIwGB55d0H4AqCsOgiqIw3V8nEJqFV7lbHqfaJHsjY42Fjjjwo2QgtMJoTHaqam8DJ9UUNEisednn1OUyvDVPmgq7KRW7REvBAOX0Ll7f2g/s1541/Harmless%20Family%20Crest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1541" data-original-width="1306" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8p5h3AOnIhPHfPaQtXLdMzqFbjpIcnnoPqkI1o46f_rqWakXuv1Xh4jHJcpDRIa3N2ixm_ddDm0lcIwGB55d0H4AqCsOgiqIw3V8nEJqFV7lbHqfaJHsjY42Fjjjwo2QgtMJoTHaqam8DJ9UUNEisednn1OUyvDVPmgq7KRW7REvBAOX0Ll7f2g/w339-h400/Harmless%20Family%20Crest.jpg" width="339" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-71061302992594137862023-11-13T08:25:00.001-06:002023-11-13T08:25:27.223-06:00A Triumphal Entry - Into your Soul. <p><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/3MCPodo8UQE6KcSN89r9UB?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe> </p>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-14456042095007499892023-11-02T09:01:00.001-05:002023-11-02T09:01:25.023-05:00Rejoice in the Wife of your Youth.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zfnhSps9HCbSiGo2-KS7PWRRZ2oRDFwgESdlsvN0TceM8DURPm3KOwvP2Xtyk40yJ581xTcT2cFD6uD9UszvNf3Make35XG_KoxFJLVyqND3USh9J-d1RlGX2MCO_6_oawBpAf0ASI_IM3bbA2axh0U9EAPxGIlfrTo5rtzthaP3a4cKWmjUOw/s960/wife%20of%20youth.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zfnhSps9HCbSiGo2-KS7PWRRZ2oRDFwgESdlsvN0TceM8DURPm3KOwvP2Xtyk40yJ581xTcT2cFD6uD9UszvNf3Make35XG_KoxFJLVyqND3USh9J-d1RlGX2MCO_6_oawBpAf0ASI_IM3bbA2axh0U9EAPxGIlfrTo5rtzthaP3a4cKWmjUOw/w640-h480/wife%20of%20youth.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>My one and only since 1989. </p>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-60305013497771904302023-11-01T07:34:00.001-05:002023-11-01T07:34:07.587-05:00The Covenant Household Free Today<p>Kindle version of this book is free today.</p><p><br /></p><p> </p><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=harmlessthough-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0BMLTHDFK&asins=B0BMLTHDFK&linkId=82ffe929b11b1993f7cd28c6bfbaaff1&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-30784075138950677742023-10-30T08:46:00.004-05:002023-10-30T08:46:30.250-05:00You may need to look for a new church. <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0Z0_vlgSiOpQfOHtpyZfGlWukntRJpDmJE3FPL-4U9ilg41m2Hq_87QoAsVoyD00Xi_gqqEQ8r3oMQtamE680dA6I1N4IpPkGh0oN8vX9Gws2cG15mGUq_L5MI4V2F9kCURDbmYKMv7TUlpCdQ3p2hEzOUrvOT-Y7F86mTH6i6xsPsW_rdRuSw/s960/spirit%20empowered.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0Z0_vlgSiOpQfOHtpyZfGlWukntRJpDmJE3FPL-4U9ilg41m2Hq_87QoAsVoyD00Xi_gqqEQ8r3oMQtamE680dA6I1N4IpPkGh0oN8vX9Gws2cG15mGUq_L5MI4V2F9kCURDbmYKMv7TUlpCdQ3p2hEzOUrvOT-Y7F86mTH6i6xsPsW_rdRuSw/w640-h480/spirit%20empowered.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-60346803876436632282023-10-24T13:29:00.005-05:002023-10-24T13:31:34.385-05:00Revival<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83xHafNedT_E-9xQbk7oapKQpr0T6RdVv0TA8Ys0lZoKpWLYlu8k4QXwF97zR54d3rzOzI1rrlm__arWR4NxL9fFvJilo_bioeRxjQ4Sv76bKxJlV-ropupYpHsp8wY5ss43QygB9n5ChMCU1Qm85I2h0RG2lstyH3epu9XwO9dBbLGPEqfTFuQ/s960/Quotes%20for%20Facebook.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83xHafNedT_E-9xQbk7oapKQpr0T6RdVv0TA8Ys0lZoKpWLYlu8k4QXwF97zR54d3rzOzI1rrlm__arWR4NxL9fFvJilo_bioeRxjQ4Sv76bKxJlV-ropupYpHsp8wY5ss43QygB9n5ChMCU1Qm85I2h0RG2lstyH3epu9XwO9dBbLGPEqfTFuQ/w640-h480/Quotes%20for%20Facebook.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>Nehemiah 8</div><div><br /></div><div>[1] And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel. [2] So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. [3] And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. [4] And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. [5] And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. [6] And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. [7] Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. [8] They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.</div><div><br /></div><div>[9] And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. [10] Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” [11] So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” [12] And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.</div><div><br /></div><div>[13] On the second day the heads of fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. [14] And they found it written in the Law that the LORD had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, [15] and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.” [16] So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. [17] And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing. [18] And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule. (ESV)</div><div><br /></div><div>Nehemiah 9</div><div><br /></div><div>[1] Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads. [2] And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. [3] And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the LORD their God. [4] On the stairs of the Levites stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani; and they cried with a loud voice to the LORD their God. [5] Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.</div><div><br /></div><div>[6] “You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you. [7] You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham. [8] You found his heart faithful before you, and made with him the covenant to give to his offspring the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite. And you have kept your promise, for you are righteous.</div><div><br /></div><div>[9] “And you saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea, [10] and performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people of his land, for you knew that they acted arrogantly against our fathers. And you made a name for yourself, as it is to this day. [11] And you divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on dry land, and you cast their pursuers into the depths, as a stone into mighty waters. [12] By a pillar of cloud you led them in the day, and by a pillar of fire in the night to light for them the way in which they should go. [13] You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven and gave them right rules and true laws, good statutes and commandments, [14] and you made known to them your holy Sabbath and commanded them commandments and statutes and a law by Moses your servant. [15] You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger and brought water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and you told them to go in to possess the land that you had sworn to give them.</div><div><br /></div><div>[16] “But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments. [17] They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. [18] Even when they had made for themselves a golden calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed great blasphemies, [19] you in your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud to lead them in the way did not depart from them by day, nor the pillar of fire by night to light for them the way by which they should go. [20] You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst. [21] Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.</div><div><br /></div><div>[22] “And you gave them kingdoms and peoples and allotted to them every corner. So they took possession of the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and the land of Og king of Bashan. [23] You multiplied their children as the stars of heaven, and you brought them into the land that you had told their fathers to enter and possess. [24] So the descendants went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hand, with their kings and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would. [25] And they captured fortified cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses full of all good things, cisterns already hewn, vineyards, olive orchards and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness.</div><div><br /></div><div>[26] “Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies. [27] Therefore you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. And in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies. [28] But after they had rest they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies. [29] And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules, which if a person does them, he shall live by them, and they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey. [30] Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. [31] Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.</div><div><br /></div><div>[32] “Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day. [33] Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly. [34] Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law or paid attention to your commandments and your warnings that you gave them. [35] Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works. [36] Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. [37] And its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please, and we are in great distress.</div><div><br /></div><div>[38] “Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests. (ESV)</div> <p></p>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-4447204665477338032023-10-14T10:09:00.004-05:002023-10-14T10:09:54.183-05:00Worship isn't an experience.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJ7bXfXcx-EpnntYywU0fhk4YoAjFSFH6AyTtZDH2NnelZyCvNKthdeG-74F-UbSj8XBDVZ4WI1nJV5p4guZ4gdHKNBJMM0tExb8fzLzSbpQ5rUNCeheowsXTAvOwOAwXpFd7Jlp6hFbsmL_9hbacHw7pBfROEhqnbxRmnmAvTVqDZ18POJmeVg/s960/worship%20isnt%20an%20experience.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJ7bXfXcx-EpnntYywU0fhk4YoAjFSFH6AyTtZDH2NnelZyCvNKthdeG-74F-UbSj8XBDVZ4WI1nJV5p4guZ4gdHKNBJMM0tExb8fzLzSbpQ5rUNCeheowsXTAvOwOAwXpFd7Jlp6hFbsmL_9hbacHw7pBfROEhqnbxRmnmAvTVqDZ18POJmeVg/w640-h480/worship%20isnt%20an%20experience.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-75078557194742655012023-09-23T10:20:00.001-05:002023-09-23T10:20:40.515-05:00Sunflower Doodle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-31577764571358755982023-08-02T15:34:00.008-05:002023-08-03T16:27:33.931-05:00Open Letters to a Son: Letter 1 - The Bible Part 1<p><b> Open Letters to a Son 1: The Bible Part 1</b></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">‘Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. And they shall run from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.’ (Amos 8:11f.)</p></blockquote><p><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mattharmless/embed/episodes/Ep--100---Letters-to-a-Son-1-The-Bible-Part-1-e27nckl" height="102px" width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p><p><b>To my Son:</b></p><p>If you were to ask me, my son, what is one of the most deceptive, destructive, dangerous ideas that has ever intruded upon mankind, I would have to say it was an idea that was encapsulated in a question. It is the first recorded question asked right at the dawn of humanity. You can find the first words of this question in Genesis 3:1, where we read of the Serpent, who had entered the Garden and all that was good and all that was of God, and simply began by saying, “Did God actually say…?”</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>You might be saying to yourself, “Well, that is just poetry and it is only poetically saying that a symbolic first question came from an allegorical serpent in a metaphorical garden…” <p></p><p>My response to you would be, “None of that detracts from my answer.” Remember, this is a hypothetical question that I had you ask. I’m simply giving my real answer to that hypothetical question. It is a question that I genuinely wish you’d ask because I genuinely want to give you my answer. And my answer is that the question, “Did God actually say…?” captures one of the most deceptive, destructive, dangerous ideas that has ever intruded upon mankind.</p><p><b>“I didn’t ask.”</b></p><p>"I didn't ask."</p><p>I know, I know, but I wish you would because it is a deceptive, destructive, dangerous idea that I can see encroaching into your consciousness. I can hear that question echoing in your own questions and comments. I sense its presence in some of the ideas that you share, the points that you make, and the arguments that you put forward. It is an insidious question, my son, and one that I am afraid has seeped its way into your ideological foundations. Before I lose your attention, will you allow me to ramble a little bit more on this topic? </p><p><b>Sorry, a long quote.</b></p><p>From the first chapter of J.I. Packer’s book called “God Speaks to Man” we can read this:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">The New Testament represents the Church as inheriting through Christ all God’s promises of spiritual life and welfare (see 2 Cor. 1:20; Rom. 15:8ff; Gal. 3:16ff; and cf. Rom. 4:16-23; Heb. 6:12-20; 10:15-23; 13:5f.) The Church, therefore, has the promise of constant instruction, assurance, and guidance from God, just as Old Testament Israel had. Not, indeed, that the Church is promised a perpetual succession of prophets speaking by immediate inspiration, as in Old Testament times; instead, the Holy Spirit, ‘who spake by the prophets’, is given to abide with the Church and to interpret, authenticate, and apply Old Testament and apostolic teaching to each Christian generation (see Jn. 14:16, 16:7-14 with Jn. 6:45; 1 Cor. 2:4f. With verses 1 Cor. 2:9-16; 2 Cor. 3:12-4:6; 1 Thess. 1:5, 2:13, 4:9; Heb. 3:7ff.; 1 Jn. 2:20-27). This is how the promise of divine instruction is to find its fulfillment in the Christian era. In the light of this, we would expect to find the Church of every age, including our own, firmly convinced that the prophetic and apostolic witness of the two Testaments is the Word of God; clear as to its central message concerning Christ; and able to see plainly how this message impinges on men, with its demand for conversion and a life of faith, hope, love and obedience. To the extent to which clarity on these matters is lacking, we are forced to conclude that the Church is unhealthy and out of sorts. </p></blockquote><p>He goes from there to discuss that the church is unhealthy and out of sorts. Regardless of whether or not you believe what he is saying, you certainly must admit that when you read this, you were filled with questions of definitions of words, meanings of phrases, and perspectives of ideas. I imagine… though, I do not want to overstep my bounds and make assumptions needlessly… I imagine that you were questioning what “the word of God” is actually referring to, what comprises “apostolic teaching”, and “which central message” is being referred to. Maybe I’m wrong, but if a paragraph like this could elicit such clearness of thought for one generation reading it and could produce multiple questions to another, you might say that he is at least right that “... clarity on these matters is lacking…” You seem to me to be unsure as to whether or not, well, “Did God actually say…?” </p><p><b>A Shorter Quote.</b></p><p>Packer goes on to state on the next page, in response to a generation that has essentially lost the Word of God: (I know you may be contemplating what I could mean by “lost the Word of God”, but just consider that for me, “the Word of God” is clear and distinct and foundational to everything else that I believe and hold to be true. If for you, it is not, that is the “lost” part that he is referring to.)</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">… it is not as if the Bible were no longer read and studied in the churches. It is read and studied a great deal; but the trouble is that we no longer know what to make of it. Mesmerized by the problems of rationalistic criticism, we can no longer hear the Bible as the Word of God. Liberal theology, in its pride, has long insisted that we are wiser than our fathers about the Bible, and must not read it as they did, but must base our approach to it on the ‘assured results’ of criticism, making due allowance for the human imperfections and errors of its authors. </p></blockquote><p>I know he said, “...liberal theology has long insisted that we are wiser than our fathers…” I’m not saying that is what you are doing. You have always demonstrated a respectful attitude toward me… I’m just quoting him. What I do see is that you can no longer hear the Bible as the Word of God the way I would hear your mother speak as the word of your mother. After taking some time to speak to the benefits of textual criticism, he ends this section with this statement: </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">Here lies the paradox of the critical movement: that it has given the Church the Bible in a way that has deprived the Church of the Bible… </p></blockquote><p><b>This is what I see in you, my son. </b></p><p>This is what I see in you, my son. I watch as you go to the Bible to explore or examine what it says on any particular topic, sometimes because you just like to take the opposing view, but when you are not debating others and are simply left to discover what it says, you are left with a text that has no certainty: No certainty as to what is said, no certainty as to what it means, and no certainty as to what it doesn’t mean. The “Did God actually say…?” has become the only certain thing in your Biblical narrative, leaving you certain that anyone who takes a stance of certainness to be certainly in the wrong. When discussing any meaning to be found in the Bible, you remind me of Calvin in this comic strip: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AgdLJSdyViO5ZAdb68jmYq6GdxlKoOR_lOjSr0ZM-VxJaU2LvnaacuiE9SKqJKcc4M5A1u0XQ9txP5Rd6RUz1RQI_643M6fgGWt9VzCz4drZaDLov8e3bN-SrnjjwuyH050sQ0MISaK6RABlJY6ARZvPEbpBCEXoWUdS64CjYTkTgsWg-OMiUw/s602/main-qimg-5432af239227229d086d65e3fdcde727-pjlq.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="602" height="461" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AgdLJSdyViO5ZAdb68jmYq6GdxlKoOR_lOjSr0ZM-VxJaU2LvnaacuiE9SKqJKcc4M5A1u0XQ9txP5Rd6RUz1RQI_643M6fgGWt9VzCz4drZaDLov8e3bN-SrnjjwuyH050sQ0MISaK6RABlJY6ARZvPEbpBCEXoWUdS64CjYTkTgsWg-OMiUw/w640-h461/main-qimg-5432af239227229d086d65e3fdcde727-pjlq.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><i>(I hope that our conversations don’t end with the way this strip ends!)</i></p><p>The main difference between this comic strip, which is focused on Calvin dealing with seeing both sides of an issue, and your potentially immobilized stance in deciphering the meaning behind any particular text is that the challenge with the scriptures is not primarily about issues, topics, or stances. I freely admit that there are many things in the scriptures that are difficult to comprehend and sometimes have more than one plausible understanding, but those plausible understandings are much more refined and distinct when there is a believed, unbreakable link between what God does actually say and the written word. To say that a little more clearly: The Written Word of God (The Bible, The Scriptures) is the very Word that God has said. </p><p><b>Not just your dad’s Christianity. </b></p><p>What I hope you see, my son, is that the abandonment of the inerrancy of scripture (or at least the abandonment of the definition of inerrancy or possibly the adoption of a disputed definition of the inerrancy of scripture) is - at the very least - an abandonment of historic Christianity, not just your dad’s Christianity. </p><p>For example, the 1689 Baptist Confession: (Chapter 1: Paragraph 1 and Paragraph 7)</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience (2 Tim. 3:15–17; Is. 8:20; Luke 16:29,31; Eph. 2:20), although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet they are not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and His will which is necessary unto salvation (Rom. 1:19-21, 2:14–15; Psalm 19:1-3). Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in diversified manners to reveal Himself, and to declare (that) His will unto His church (Heb. 1:1); and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which makes the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God's revealing His will unto His people being now completed (Prov. 22:19-21; Rom. 15:4; 2 Pet. 1:19–20).</p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all (2 Pet. 3:16); yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of ordinary means, may attain to a sufficient understanding of them (Ps. 19:7; Psalm 119:130).</p></blockquote><p>Or we could go back to Augustine: (Letters of Augustine)</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">… I have learned to yield this respect and honour only to the canonical books of Scripture: of these alone do I most firmly believe that the authors were completely free from error. And if in these writings I am perplexed by anything which appears to me opposed to truth, I do not hesitate to suppose that either the manuscript is faulty, or the translator has not caught the meaning of what was said, or I myself have failed to understand it. As to all other writings, in reading them, however great the superiority of the authors to myself in sanctity and learning, I do not accept their teaching as true on the mere ground of the opinion being held by them; but only because they have succeeded in convincing my judgment of in truth either by means of these canonical writings themselves, or by arguments addressed to my reason.</p></blockquote><p>I know, I know, my son, my son… you have so many what abouts to ask and discrepancies to question and disagreements to address, I just ask that you do two things for me: </p><p><b>Number One: Stick with me. </b></p><p>Let me be a part of this journey that you are on. Not just as a cobwebbed father figure, but a true lay-scholar of the Bible, as a qualified elder in God’s Church, and as your older, more war-torn and beaten-down-but-still-standing brother in Christ. I know your mom would love to be an integral part of this journey as well. Watching you walk this path scares her sometimes, but not like it used to. God has shown her that you will one day be brandishing the sword of God’s truth as revealed in His word. (I don’t know. He tells her things sometimes, and I don't doubt it.) This world will need you, my son. There are countless ones who are lost to the deceptions of this world. Your fervency for finding the truth will be of immense value to the Kingdom of God in these final days. </p><p>The Bible Character that I most often think of, when I think of you, is young Timothy. Paul says in 2 Timothy 1:5–9 (permit me to do some minor editing in brackets)</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother [Grammy and MeeMaw] … and your mother [insert your mom's name here]... and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God … Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me [a pastor of a small church], but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began…(Slightly edited 1 Tim. 1:5-9)</p></blockquote><p><b>Number Two: Go to God. </b></p><p>I believe that you have a genuine desire to find truth, the truth, and be filled with a righteous conviction for that truth -- whatever that is and whatever that means. Don’t wrestle this problem with only the right arm of reason. Ask God to free up your left hand of spirit. You are material and physical, sure, but you are also a spiritual being. You are mind and spirit. Ask God to grant you spiritual understanding for spiritual truths that are granted by the Spirit of God (See 1 Cor. 2:6-16). If you are wondering what that even means… that’s OK. Just cry out to God on a daily basis. God tells the young prophet Jeremiah, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” (Jeremiah 33:3)</p><p>----------------</p><p>I post this open letter to a son here, because I have many sons (and daughters) in the faith who have similar questions. </p>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-77467125321389317922023-08-01T13:57:00.003-05:002023-08-01T15:45:57.277-05:00Watch Your Mouth<p><b>Episode 99 - Watch Your Mouth</b></p><p><iframe frameborder="0" height="102px" scrolling="no" src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mattharmless/embed/episodes/Ep--99---Watch-your-mouth-e27kpfa" width="100%"></iframe></p><p>I know a few people who claim Christianity but don't seem to have any problem using profanity or making an inappropriate joke from time to time. I don't often confront those who aren't as careful with their mouths and I've often had to explain why I don't use bad words. I'm not standing in any sort of judgment here: I've had a strong personal stance on profanity my whole life (even before I was dedicated to following Jesus, I believed it was wrong), but forsaking slightly off-color or inappropriate jokes has been a much slower process. All I want to do here is offer a Biblical perspective on this area of the Christian life. I would like to do that with four points, all from Paul's letter to the Ephesians. </p><p><b><span></span></b></p><a name='more'></a><b>Number One: We are commanded to use good (gracious) speech.</b><p></p><p>In the Apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians, after going through some heavy theological foundation building, he shifts to some more practical issues. In other words, "...since all of these amazing things that God has done to bring about and work your salvation in real, spiritual but tangible ways, you ought to <i>be</i> something new." Therefore, he says, "...put off the old and put on the new (Eph. 4:22-24), because that is what has happened, is happening, and will happen." Your Spiritual Reality needs to be manifested in Actual Ways. One of those ways being your speech. </p><p>In chapter 4 verse 29 he says, <i>"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."</i> (Eph. 4:29 ESV) This sets a good precedent for all manner of speech. The first mention of God's speaking in the Bible is during the creation story. When He speaks, light bursts into existence, mountains form, ocean waves hit their first beaches, birds take flight for the first time, and nostrils fill with breath as new consciousness comes into existence. God's speech creates all good things, our speech ought to also be creatively good at building up and bringing life. Speech that corrupts mirrors the speech of the serpent that entered all that was good. Don't let corrupt, degrading, destroying speech come out of your mouths, but only speech that administers grace. </p><p><b>Number Two: We are commanded to use clean speech. </b></p><p>Ephesians 4:29 is not the only place where Paul discusses speech. In the very next chapter we read in verse 4, <i>"Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving."</i> (Eph. 5:4 ESV) There are three things mentioned here, let's take a quick look at all three. </p><p>The first one is <i>"filthiness"</i> which is the Greek word, <i>aischrótēs αἰσχρότης</i>. It means filthy or dirty speech and is the common Greek word for obscenity. That, in and of itself, is profound, isn't it? Every generation, every culture, every people group, and every society/community has and understands the concept of obscenity. Paul didn't say not to use certain words, he says, don't use dirty words. Instead of giving a list, he simply says, don't use those filthy words. There are some intellectual-sounding Christians out there that like to debate over which ones are dirty and which ones aren't, but ask any kid if a word is a "bad word" and they will tell you. There might be some differences here and there, but for the most part, people know if a word is a bad word. </p><p>In the context of this verse (the verse before Eph. 5:3 and the verse after Eph. 5:5), there is discussion on sexual immorality and it not even being named among us Christians. I don't believe that it is any coincidence that many of our dirtiest words are directly related to sex acts and sex organs. Stop using these words as adjectives, adverbs, nouns, and verbs... Smurfs only use the word "smurf" the way they do because that is what they are. </p><p><b>Number Three: We are commanded to use un-moronic speech.</b></p><p>In Ephesians 5:4, the next type of talk that is discussed is <i>"silly talk"</i> or <i>"foolish talk"</i> from the Greek word <i>mōrología μωρολογία</i>. This is a combination of two Greek words: <i>mōrós μωρός</i> meaning foolish; where we get the word moron and <i>lógos λόγος</i> meaning word. </p><p>Before I get into what this one might mean, could I be allowed to say that this one is difficult? Not just difficult to define, but difficult to follow. I like talking about stupid, foolish things sometimes. I like listening to people talk about stupid, foolish things sometimes, it's funny. I get it. To adopt this wholeheartedly feels a little boring. On the other hand, maybe I feel that way because my culture has uplifted humor to a higher standard than holiness? Isn't that the one cardinal sin that is upheld? ... thou shalt not be unfunny or unhumoruous. If thou dost not exhibit a good sense of humor, thou shalt not be deemed worthy of notice in our society and will be banned without any likes on any of your posts!</p><p>With that out of the way... or maybe right in the middle of the way... what does this mean? Maybe it means, don't talk in foolish ways about serious things. Maybe there are some things that we shouldn't be silly about because they are serious things? Maybe we can be silly about cats getting scared by cucumbers (that's a thing), but we can't be silly about things like homosexuality or talk foolishly about sex before marriage or make moronic jokes about pornography. Maybe we are to hear our Lord's command through the Apostle Paul in this letter to the Ephesians and stop talking stupid about serious things... things and behaviors and actions that could potentially have eternal ramifications for people (1 Cor. 6:9-10).</p><p><b>Number Four: We are commanded to use un-twisted speech.</b></p><p>The third thing in Ephesians 5:4 is <i>"crude joking"</i> from the Greek word <i>eutrapelía εὐτραπελία</i>. If you are a wordsmith at all, you may recognize the <i>eu-</i> at the beginning referring to <i>"good"</i>. This word is literally talking about a<i> "well-turned"</i> response. The definition can be used in a good sense to refer to a humorous or quick and witty response, but in the negative sense (like here in Ephesians) it is referring to that well-turned response that could take something from being meaningless or pure and putting a bad spin on it. </p><p>If (like me) you ever taught a Junior High boys PE class, you would know exactly what this is referring to ... especially after you realize how often (in a PE class) you need to refer to "balls". Sometimes it isn't even a response that turns it bad, it is just a well-timed snicker, a precisely-timed raising of the eyebrows, or a perfectly phrased question that turns the mind from the innocent topic to the naughty one. </p><p>This has all been summed up with the, now infamous, Michael Scott response, <i>"...that's what she said."</i> This will work after nearly any statement that is made: taking one mundane statement and adding this mundane follow-up, resulting in a seemingly humorous but typically sexually explicit joke. </p><p>Christian... as funny as it is... it isn't. In nearly every list of sins mentioned in the New Testament, sexual immorality is one of those character-defining sins that display a person's spiritual state as being absent the Spirit of God. Those who have been saved by God's grace through His gift of faith (Eph. 2:8) will begin to ... gradually perfected but immediately started... to work the very works of God prepared for us before the foundation of the world (Eph. 2:10). That is what faith is and a faith that doesn't work these works is no faith at all (See James 2:14-26 or all of 1 John). </p><p>Being talented at a well-turned joke, taking something from innocent to impure isn't something that should be proceeding from the mouths of Christians. Especially making jokes about behaviors that, at the very least, are considered to be holy, pure acts between a husband and wife (Heb. 13:4) and not something for joke material. </p><p><b>In conclusion: </b></p><p>These four points that I've shared with you from Ephesians are not only Biblical reasons to not use vain, profane, foolish, or dirty speech, but also what sort of words and combinations of words will fall into these categories. I know I have been brief in my explanations and descriptions, so if you have any questions, feel free to send them my way. I do hope this has been helpful and purposeful for your daily walk and that these words will build you up in your growth in Christ. </p>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-30175825942636684152023-07-29T19:54:00.003-05:002023-07-29T19:54:24.886-05:00Cheap grace is...<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">[Cheap grace is] the grace which amounts to the justification of sin without the justification of the repentant sinner who departs from sin and from whom sin departs. Cheap grace is not the kind of forgiveness of sin which frees us from the toils of sin. Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.</span></p></blockquote><p>Dietrich Bonhoeffer, <a href="https://amzn.to/44Sr5dW" target="_blank">The Cost of Discipleship</a>; </p><p>as quoted in Kevin DeYoung's book: <a href="https://amzn.to/472RC9E" target="_blank">What does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality?</a></p>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-17298009494821956532023-07-27T14:59:00.002-05:002023-07-27T15:18:34.712-05:00To those who have cracked the problem of unity in the church. <p>Listen: </p><p><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mattharmless/embed/episodes/Ep--97---To-Those-Who-Have-Cracked-The-Problem-Of-Church-Unity-e27f3o1" height="102px" width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p><p>Unity in the church, amongst believers, was an essential thing for Paul the Apostle. On multiple occasions, he either wrote about the need for unity directly or it was implied through one of the many "one another" passages. Many a church leader has pondered this need for unity, have taught extensively on its practicalities, and worked tirelessly with members of their churches to promote it -- all to be met with tension in the church, relational strains with their members, and sometimes disunity that leads to division. </p><p>Well, I want to offer some hope to church leaders everywhere. Right in the middle of my own unity prepping, studying, teaching, and training, I accidentally found that there are some people who have already solved the unity problem. They were right around us and were probably there all along but went unnoticed by us pastors and teachers. There are at least five types of unity I've discovered with these unity triumphant people who have made themselves manifest to their own unity. Here are those five types, in no particular order. </p><p><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclaimer: any resemblance to actual people is mostly coincidental. This is meant to represent conglomerations of people, not any one person in particular. I've met multiple people in each of these categories... and most likely, so have you - that is what makes it funny. </span></i></p><p><b><span></span></b></p><a name='more'></a><b>Number One: The Durable Unity of the Free-Rangers</b><p></p><p>The free rangers are the ones who would claim a love of Jesus and a love of His church, but haven't actually set foot in one for, well, they aren't sure how long. A Free-Ranger will usually still consider themselves a part of or even a member of a certain church, but they may not know anyone who is actually currently attending. I don't know how the Free-Rangers don't get more credit for their contribution to unity in the body of Christ. Not only have they removed themselves from any potential relational conflicts in the church but they have also removed themselves from the majority of those pesky things like doctrine and teaching. </p><p><b>Number Two: The Articulate Unity of the Shareangelists</b></p><p>The unity of the Shareangelists is exquisite and rare, at least to the Shareangelist. You may have never heard of a Shareangelist because I just made that title up, but I believe that most of us disunified church congregants will be familiar with their articulate unity because the Shareangelists are the ones who bring a unique piece of unity with them wherever they go. </p><p>The Shareanglists exist in their own solitary bubble of Biblical unity. They are their own teachers and preachers. Other teaching and preaching will regularly be broadcast into their self-sustaining unity bubble, usually from an internet or radio source, but never apart from the brilliant insight of the Shareangelist. </p><p>On certain occasions, the Shareangelist's bubble reaches an internal pressure that requires an outlet. It is usually in conjunction with this need of a pressure release that the Shareangelist will make their way to a church, preferably one with a praise and testimony time. This is when their articulate unity gets its opportunity to present itself in all its glory. Through a personal story, a scripture reading, and a pithy quote from a childhood preacher, the Shareangelist's unity blooms in the church. In that moment -- with a twinkle in their eye -- the Shareangelist knows they have imparted a level of Biblical Unity and understanding that is exactly what the church needed. Bless you, Shareangelist. </p><p>I try to leave a plate of cookies out for the Shareangelist on Shareanglist Eve. </p><p><b>Number Three: The Evasive Unity of the Searchers</b></p><p>The unity of the Searchers has revealed itself in a very different way. This unity is usually less of an obtained or achieved unity, and more of a vision of unity that has been captured by the Searchers. The Searchers are usually identified as larger family and/or friend units and often times travel in packs. The pack has most likely made their way through most of the Evangelical churches in any particular 30-mile radius, sometimes more than once. </p><p>The Searchers haven't officially landed at any particular church, at least not in quite a while. As a church that has been graced with their presence, I am quite familiar with the joy that they bring upon their arrival. Along with so many other churches, we've longed to touch the hem of their spiritual garments. We do everything we can, hoping that we will be counted worthy and fulfill their vision of unity. But alas, they have moved on again. Hopefully on their next pass through we will have our act cleaned up and be able to check all of the unity boxes of the Searchers. </p><p><b>Number Four: The Whimsical Unity of the Populace</b></p><p>It is easy to confuse the Whimsical Unity of the Populace with the Durable Unity of the Free Rangers. There are many similarities between these two unities. Neither group is overly concerned with things like doctrine or teaching ...or Bible study, for that matter. Both groups have very short confessional statements, statements that neither group would ever consider putting down on paper... that is part of the magic of their unity. </p><p>The Whimsical Unity of the Populace is most easily found in larger churches. If you would like to experience it, allow yourself to float into a larger church. Pick one with a talented praise band, that will help. Immerse yourself in their music service. If you're lucky, the preaching will be surrounded by music, both before and after. Permit yourself one quick glance around at the happy faces of the populace, but don't look too long. Not only will you risk making eye contact with another person and burst the whimsical unity you're experiencing, but you may also realize that what you are experiencing is identical to what you experienced at that Grateful Dead concert... minus the drugs, of course. (At least most of the time.)</p><p><b>Number Five: The Profound Unity of the Home Church Dudes</b></p><p>This final unity is the one that hits the closest to home. To be honest, the Profound Unity of the Home Church Dudes is the one that I have looked at the most with nearly envious eyes. You see, the Home Church Dudes are the ones that have finally figured out that they are the only ones who have actually got everything figured out. So, rejecting 2,000 years of church history, they throw off the shackles of the Christian Community, in all of its glorious messiness, to establish their own church of one. Would they be open to others joining them, sure, in theory... but that never works out. People are stupid. Right?</p><p>No judgment from me. I've thought of it many times myself. </p><p>------</p><p>If I have stepped on your toes with this, that isn't entirely on purpose. If you are interested in giving up the dream of A Christian Community and actually experiencing one. Pick a church. Take your time, make sure they are preaching the word, but then pick one. Then go to it. Attend it. Invest in it. Get to know it. After you get to know it, don't leave. Stick it out. Strive for unity. Bear with one another. Exhibit humility, patience, and gentleness. As Paul says, </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1–3 ESV)</p></blockquote><div><br /></div>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-61350854291091201852023-07-15T14:17:00.002-05:002023-07-15T14:17:10.025-05:00Not now... <p> I feel I should write this book: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTs7r2QD_kR4GAxzJuPBCQFiEt812HnRS9_9cURlrPj7SqeYQcR5JMj_zXthkoJ6hztWW4tbnGmmcZjoNS6e1s-b4izmh1eu6RsbY-5vpIKAysQYtj1aPvsyRwL9Trn9KvYn_f2LHuaFOpvhHsEsuFVTlr8wjXkFrjJ8PYWkqtnjBg2vwMe5hiYQ/s384/Your%20Best%20Life%20Later.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="336" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTs7r2QD_kR4GAxzJuPBCQFiEt812HnRS9_9cURlrPj7SqeYQcR5JMj_zXthkoJ6hztWW4tbnGmmcZjoNS6e1s-b4izmh1eu6RsbY-5vpIKAysQYtj1aPvsyRwL9Trn9KvYn_f2LHuaFOpvhHsEsuFVTlr8wjXkFrjJ8PYWkqtnjBg2vwMe5hiYQ/w560-h640/Your%20Best%20Life%20Later.png" width="560" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-62308977312434850662023-07-15T11:37:00.002-05:002023-07-15T11:37:55.305-05:00Ep. 93 - Saturday Unscripted No. 3<p> In this episode: </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>This week: life with the ADD mind!</li><li>Thoughts on Tomorrow's Sermon.</li><li>Book Thoughts / Book Quote: This week from George MacDonald's At the Back of the North Wind. </li></ul><div><br /></div><p><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/5eaYkZEtuKigcHGytwJmmg?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></p>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-50851211658211595272023-07-13T13:11:00.001-05:002023-07-13T13:11:24.561-05:00At The Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald<p> I've started reading my next public domain book. This time it is a children's book. It is called At The Back of the North Wind and it is written by George MacDonald. You can listen to the first chapter here: </p><p><br /></p><p><br /><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/4d9Mlm4pMmLSye1K92LAjE?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></p>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5797552.post-10984638209950167112023-07-08T07:48:00.002-05:002023-07-08T07:48:12.077-05:00Great Thoughts (From Paul Washer) on Worship<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="357" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/td3sFQst0jQ" width="512" youtube-src-id="td3sFQst0jQ"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>Matt Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17594593303605939187noreply@blogger.com0