Part 3
The firelight flickered off the faces of the three kings. "Three kings" was Zechariah's affectionate term for the three priests with whom he had been friends since they were quite young; and that was a long time ago. Zechariah had received his name, meaning "memory of the Lord", because his family line included the Old Testament prophet. His three friends, instead of being given traditional names popular in the lineage of Aaron, were all named for former kings of Judah. Josiah, Asa, and Hezekiah were quick to point out that they were named after some of the few good kings in the nation's pock-marked history.
Two of the three, Asa and Hezekiah, had received the sacred lot for burning incense many years earlier. Josiah and Zechariah were still hoping. As they sat near the fire pot, all of them waited in anticipation for the announcement of those whom The Eternal would mysteriously choose. Every week of duty at the Temple was preceded by this evening of friendly reunions and anxious murmurings; who would be selected this time? Zechariah's stomach was rolling.
"I overheard an argument tonight, Zechariah." Asa leaned in as he spoke in a low voice. "Two young brothers from the north looked ready to fight. One said, 'It is The Eternal who decides the outcome of the lot.' The other angrily pointed to the soldiers nearby. 'Do you believe that The Eternal decides their lot, too? Of course not! If He avoids the lots of the Romans, why would He be concerned about our lots?'"
Hezekiah, obviously listening, turned with a laugh as he burped up his wine. "Remember when we were just like them? We spent many evenings in this very courtyard thinking we could prove our argument once and for all."
"Our arguments mean little now," mused Josiah, "but for Zechariah and me the chances of selection are growing dim."
"Listen," called the court crier, "The lots have been cast and the High Priest will announce the chosen ones!" As one, the entire order rose and crowded near the steps. Each man's eyes and ears were attuned to the solemn announcement. With almost a thousand priests in their order, the four lots per day seemed so few when the priests' service lasted but a week. They only served two weeks a year, meaning that many of them never received the call to burn the incense.
"The first day," recited the High Priest, "the cleansing of the altars and preparation of the fires will be done by Daniel, Uriah from Joppa, Joshua the younger and Eli from Beersheba. The sacrifice, the cleansing of the Menorah and the preparation of the altar of incense will be done by Meshach of Nazareth. The incense burning privilege goes to Nathan the Elder. The altar offerings will be done by Elihu the Bethlehemite."
Day by day the names were read. As each was called out, Josiah's and Zechariah's shoulders slumped even more. Zechariah began to dream of home. At least he could offer his companionship and comfort to Elizabeth.
"On the sixth day, the incense burning belongs to Josiah from Jericho." Zechariah's heart pounded as he watched his old friend began to shake with laughter that quickly turned to deep sobs. At least he could rejoice in the story of Josiah's experience.
"On the Sabbath..." A hush fell over them as they all strained to hear. Every day their ministry was important, but the Sabbath was the holiest day of the week. Selection on that day would be the deepest honor of a priest's lifetime. "And the Sabbath incense burning goes to Zechariah of Hebron." The High Priest paused and look at him. "Our hearts rejoice with you, Zechariah."
The three kings surrounded him, laughing, crying and shouting for joy! Could it be? Did he finally receive The Eternal's favor?
To my readers: the events surrounding the birth of Christ are given extensive coverage in Scripture. The parts we don't always know about are the human elements, especially from the viewpoint of Jesus' participants. My attempt this Christmas is to stay true to the Biblical text, while shading in what it may have been like "between the lines." Please distinguish my ruminations from God's Word by reading the first few chapters of Matthew and Luke. My hope is that reading my words impacts you even a tiny percentage as much as writing them has impacted me.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Christmas At Innermost: Zechariah
Part 2
The midday sun shone brightly in the southern sky. Rays of warmth washed over Zechariah's old coat to push out the last molecules of cold trapped there the previous night. The cot in the ancient inn where they always spent the night was comfortable, but Zechariah had felt his years that morning as he mounted his burro for the final miles into Jerusalem.
The increased traffic coming from and going into the Holy City heightened their anticipation. Somehow the business of merchants and pilgrims helped to dull the harsh awareness of the Valley of Hinnom to their right. The smell of the constantly-burning garbage made Zechariah think of the children who had been sacrificed there by the likes of evil Manasseh. The old man cleared his throat and spat, as if he could rid himself of the smell and the thoughts. How could the Eternal give babies to those who hurt them and close the womb of the righteous? Zehcariah wasn't sure he would ever understand.
The road grew even busier as they noticed the towers of Herod's Palace above the city's western walls. They turned the corner and followed the curvature of the hill near the Jaffa Gate. Zechariah's heart quickened as he anticipated the renewed fellowship with some of his closest friends. They had all served in the order of their ancestor Abijah since they were young. Today they would meet at the priest's lodgings and catch up with the latest news from their regions and families as they rested from their journeys. Tomorrow they would prepare their hearts for the week of service that would follow.
"I wonder what will be their response when I tell them Elizabeth's sad news," Zechariah mumbled to himself. Some of the more critical in his order would surely say, "One of you has sinned if the Eternal has judged you thus!" Another would add, "What is wrong that the Lord is blocking your prayers, Zechariah?" Still others would quietly come to him and tell him of some new treatment; a 'miracle cure' being done by a physician in their region.
He hoped his three close friends would just grieve with him.
To my readers: the events surrounding the birth of Christ are given extensive coverage in Scripture. The parts we don't always know about are the human elements, especially from the viewpoint of Jesus' participants. My attempt this Christmas is to stay true to the Biblical text, while shading in what it may have been like "between the lines." Please distinguish my ruminations from God's Word by reading the first few chapters of Matthew and Luke. My hope is that reading my words impacts you even a tiny percentage as much as writing them has impacted me.
The midday sun shone brightly in the southern sky. Rays of warmth washed over Zechariah's old coat to push out the last molecules of cold trapped there the previous night. The cot in the ancient inn where they always spent the night was comfortable, but Zechariah had felt his years that morning as he mounted his burro for the final miles into Jerusalem.
The increased traffic coming from and going into the Holy City heightened their anticipation. Somehow the business of merchants and pilgrims helped to dull the harsh awareness of the Valley of Hinnom to their right. The smell of the constantly-burning garbage made Zechariah think of the children who had been sacrificed there by the likes of evil Manasseh. The old man cleared his throat and spat, as if he could rid himself of the smell and the thoughts. How could the Eternal give babies to those who hurt them and close the womb of the righteous? Zehcariah wasn't sure he would ever understand.
The road grew even busier as they noticed the towers of Herod's Palace above the city's western walls. They turned the corner and followed the curvature of the hill near the Jaffa Gate. Zechariah's heart quickened as he anticipated the renewed fellowship with some of his closest friends. They had all served in the order of their ancestor Abijah since they were young. Today they would meet at the priest's lodgings and catch up with the latest news from their regions and families as they rested from their journeys. Tomorrow they would prepare their hearts for the week of service that would follow.
"I wonder what will be their response when I tell them Elizabeth's sad news," Zechariah mumbled to himself. Some of the more critical in his order would surely say, "One of you has sinned if the Eternal has judged you thus!" Another would add, "What is wrong that the Lord is blocking your prayers, Zechariah?" Still others would quietly come to him and tell him of some new treatment; a 'miracle cure' being done by a physician in their region.
He hoped his three close friends would just grieve with him.
To my readers: the events surrounding the birth of Christ are given extensive coverage in Scripture. The parts we don't always know about are the human elements, especially from the viewpoint of Jesus' participants. My attempt this Christmas is to stay true to the Biblical text, while shading in what it may have been like "between the lines." Please distinguish my ruminations from God's Word by reading the first few chapters of Matthew and Luke. My hope is that reading my words impacts you even a tiny percentage as much as writing them has impacted me.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Christmas At Innermost: Zechariah
Part 1
He looked over his shoulder to catch a final glimpse of the lamps burning in the windows of the small, flat-roofed houses. His thoughts, as he rounded the hill and noticed the first glimmer of daylight on the eastern horizon, were of his wife. Her sadness at his departures weighed heavily upon him ever since their reality had struck its final blow.
"It is too late, Zechariah," she had mumbled on that warm, spring evening several months earlier. "The physicians and the midwives have all said that I am past my opportunity. I can never bear us a child." Her tears fell silently and ceaselessly that night. He fought for words to console her, but she wept still.
He thought about the finality of it as he pulled his cloak tighter against the chill. Riding on, his mind jumped to their goodbye a half-hour ago. Would she never feel joy again? Could she never know that his love for her grew deeper as the years passed, whether she bore him a child or not?
"Steady," he whispered to his old mule as they wound down the hillside. "You know these rocks are loose. That's right, boy, be sure of your footing."
Each minute the darkened shapes of the hills grew richer with color. The purples of the sunrise were being accompanied by the early-morning songs of sparrows. A coney bounded up the trail just ahead of them. One part of Zechariah's heart wanted to leap with the same joy as this waking morning. "I am on my way to the Temple of the Eternal," he said to himself. "It is once again my privilege to serve as a priest!" But his joy was hidden in the shadows of heartache and disappointment.
His thoughts returned to Elizabeth. Always before, she had sent him to Jerusalem with the whisper, "Perhaps this time the Eternal will answer our prayers and we will have a son!" This morning, however, she handed him his cloak and some food and said simply, "Goodbye, husband."
To my readers: the events surrounding the birth of Christ are given extensive coverage in Scripture. The parts we don't always know about are the human elements, especially from the viewpoint of the participants. My attempt this Christmas is to stay true to the Biblical text, while shading in what it may have been like "between the lines." Please distinguish my ruminations from God's Word by reading the first few chapters of Matthew and Luke. My hope is that reading my words impacts you even a tiny percentage as much as writing them has impacted me.
He looked over his shoulder to catch a final glimpse of the lamps burning in the windows of the small, flat-roofed houses. His thoughts, as he rounded the hill and noticed the first glimmer of daylight on the eastern horizon, were of his wife. Her sadness at his departures weighed heavily upon him ever since their reality had struck its final blow.
"It is too late, Zechariah," she had mumbled on that warm, spring evening several months earlier. "The physicians and the midwives have all said that I am past my opportunity. I can never bear us a child." Her tears fell silently and ceaselessly that night. He fought for words to console her, but she wept still.
He thought about the finality of it as he pulled his cloak tighter against the chill. Riding on, his mind jumped to their goodbye a half-hour ago. Would she never feel joy again? Could she never know that his love for her grew deeper as the years passed, whether she bore him a child or not?
"Steady," he whispered to his old mule as they wound down the hillside. "You know these rocks are loose. That's right, boy, be sure of your footing."
Each minute the darkened shapes of the hills grew richer with color. The purples of the sunrise were being accompanied by the early-morning songs of sparrows. A coney bounded up the trail just ahead of them. One part of Zechariah's heart wanted to leap with the same joy as this waking morning. "I am on my way to the Temple of the Eternal," he said to himself. "It is once again my privilege to serve as a priest!" But his joy was hidden in the shadows of heartache and disappointment.
His thoughts returned to Elizabeth. Always before, she had sent him to Jerusalem with the whisper, "Perhaps this time the Eternal will answer our prayers and we will have a son!" This morning, however, she handed him his cloak and some food and said simply, "Goodbye, husband."
To my readers: the events surrounding the birth of Christ are given extensive coverage in Scripture. The parts we don't always know about are the human elements, especially from the viewpoint of the participants. My attempt this Christmas is to stay true to the Biblical text, while shading in what it may have been like "between the lines." Please distinguish my ruminations from God's Word by reading the first few chapters of Matthew and Luke. My hope is that reading my words impacts you even a tiny percentage as much as writing them has impacted me.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Parables, Part 2
Have you ever noticed how much we can glean from a very small parable? Read on...
One day a weary traveler stopped in at a shop located near the marketplace of a coastal city. The sign on the shop said, “Fine Pearls.” The traveler was always on the lookout for treasures and he asked the shopkeeper if he could see his merchandise.
The shopkeeper, a kind and discerning man, showed the traveler some of his collection. He noticed the longing eyes of the traveler as he surveyed the pearls one at a time. His own eyes carried a slight smile as he anticipated the question which the traveler was sure to ask.
Finally. “Do you have others?”
“Others?” queried the shopkeeper as he waited to see into the man’s heart. “I have shown you my collection and it has some rare jewels, don’t you think?”
“Without doubt,” said the traveler, “but I heard a story in a faraway port and I wonder if it’s true.”
“A faraway port? What does that have to do with me?” The shopkeeper asked.
“It has much to do with you, sir. More correctly, it has to do with the possibility that you have a pearl far more rare than any you have shown me. And, if that is true, I ask you humbly if I might see it.”
This time the shopkeeper reached deep within the folds of his clothing. He pulled out a small, velvet bag and poured one pearl into his hand. Holding it up to the light, he said, “Could this be what you are asking about?”
A look of deep joy ran across the face of the traveler. Voice quavering, he asked, “How much?”
“How much do you have?” replied the shopkeeper.
“I have a little bit of gold. It isn’t much, but it is the sum of my earthly possessions.”
“That’s good,” stated the shopkeeper, “but do you have anything else? This pearl is indeed precious.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.” The humble traveler was turning to leave.
“Don’t go just yet,” the shopkeeper pled. “Do you have anything else besides that small amount of gold?”
“Well, we -- my family and I -- own the little home where we live.”
“That’s good!” smiled the shopkeeper. “A small bag of gold and your home. You mentioned your family?”
Shocked, but intrigued, the traveler said, “My wife and I have a son and two daughters.”
“Wonderful!” The shopkeeper was laughing now. “A little gold, a small house, a wife, a son, two daughters. Anything else?”
Horrified that the conversation was continuing this way, the humble traveler turned to leave. Quickly, the shopkeeper called him back. “Sir, please! I beg you, please look at the pearl one last time.”
The traveler looked. There was something about this pearl. He longed for it with all his heart. Then the shopkeeper said, “One last question, sir. Do you have anything else? An animal to carry your pack, for instance?”
“I have an old burro,” said the traveler. “I’m afraid he isn’t worth much.”
“Let’s see,” the shopkeeper replied. “A small bag of gold, a little home, a wife, a son, two daughters. Oh, and a tired, old donkey.”
He held out the pearl to the man. “Sold!”
The man was full of fear. Yet he couldn’t resist the pearl. He reached out his hand and took it, his face breaking into ecstasy. He just stood there. He knew that, if he walked away, he would regret it forever.
The shopkeeper finally cleared his throat. “Humble traveler, you have purchased my pearl. Alas, now I need to ask your your help.”
“Help? What could I do to help you?”
“Well, you see,” the shopkeeper replied, “I have this bag of gold. Could you take care of it for me? I will from time to time ask that you give some of it away for me to help some of my friends. Could you do that?”
“Uh, of course,” said the traveler.
“And I have a problem. You see, I already have a place to live. Could you continue to live in that home you gave me? But, occasionally, when some of my friends need hospitality, could you share it with them?”
“Yes. Of course!”
“And, traveler, there’s another matter. I also have a family. Could you take care of the family you dedicated to me? Could you protect them for me? And, if I have something special I need them to do, could you bless them and let them do it?”
By now, the traveler was weeping. He had given the shopkeeper everything. As tears flowed down his cheeks and dripped from his beard, he asked, “Do you want me to care for your burro, too, sir?”
45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,
46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:45-46 (New American Standard Bible)
To us, He is the pearl!
One day a weary traveler stopped in at a shop located near the marketplace of a coastal city. The sign on the shop said, “Fine Pearls.” The traveler was always on the lookout for treasures and he asked the shopkeeper if he could see his merchandise.
The shopkeeper, a kind and discerning man, showed the traveler some of his collection. He noticed the longing eyes of the traveler as he surveyed the pearls one at a time. His own eyes carried a slight smile as he anticipated the question which the traveler was sure to ask.
Finally. “Do you have others?”
“Others?” queried the shopkeeper as he waited to see into the man’s heart. “I have shown you my collection and it has some rare jewels, don’t you think?”
“Without doubt,” said the traveler, “but I heard a story in a faraway port and I wonder if it’s true.”
“A faraway port? What does that have to do with me?” The shopkeeper asked.
“It has much to do with you, sir. More correctly, it has to do with the possibility that you have a pearl far more rare than any you have shown me. And, if that is true, I ask you humbly if I might see it.”
This time the shopkeeper reached deep within the folds of his clothing. He pulled out a small, velvet bag and poured one pearl into his hand. Holding it up to the light, he said, “Could this be what you are asking about?”
A look of deep joy ran across the face of the traveler. Voice quavering, he asked, “How much?”
“How much do you have?” replied the shopkeeper.
“I have a little bit of gold. It isn’t much, but it is the sum of my earthly possessions.”
“That’s good,” stated the shopkeeper, “but do you have anything else? This pearl is indeed precious.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.” The humble traveler was turning to leave.
“Don’t go just yet,” the shopkeeper pled. “Do you have anything else besides that small amount of gold?”
“Well, we -- my family and I -- own the little home where we live.”
“That’s good!” smiled the shopkeeper. “A small bag of gold and your home. You mentioned your family?”
Shocked, but intrigued, the traveler said, “My wife and I have a son and two daughters.”
“Wonderful!” The shopkeeper was laughing now. “A little gold, a small house, a wife, a son, two daughters. Anything else?”
Horrified that the conversation was continuing this way, the humble traveler turned to leave. Quickly, the shopkeeper called him back. “Sir, please! I beg you, please look at the pearl one last time.”
The traveler looked. There was something about this pearl. He longed for it with all his heart. Then the shopkeeper said, “One last question, sir. Do you have anything else? An animal to carry your pack, for instance?”
“I have an old burro,” said the traveler. “I’m afraid he isn’t worth much.”
“Let’s see,” the shopkeeper replied. “A small bag of gold, a little home, a wife, a son, two daughters. Oh, and a tired, old donkey.”
He held out the pearl to the man. “Sold!”
The man was full of fear. Yet he couldn’t resist the pearl. He reached out his hand and took it, his face breaking into ecstasy. He just stood there. He knew that, if he walked away, he would regret it forever.
The shopkeeper finally cleared his throat. “Humble traveler, you have purchased my pearl. Alas, now I need to ask your your help.”
“Help? What could I do to help you?”
“Well, you see,” the shopkeeper replied, “I have this bag of gold. Could you take care of it for me? I will from time to time ask that you give some of it away for me to help some of my friends. Could you do that?”
“Uh, of course,” said the traveler.
“And I have a problem. You see, I already have a place to live. Could you continue to live in that home you gave me? But, occasionally, when some of my friends need hospitality, could you share it with them?”
“Yes. Of course!”
“And, traveler, there’s another matter. I also have a family. Could you take care of the family you dedicated to me? Could you protect them for me? And, if I have something special I need them to do, could you bless them and let them do it?”
By now, the traveler was weeping. He had given the shopkeeper everything. As tears flowed down his cheeks and dripped from his beard, he asked, “Do you want me to care for your burro, too, sir?”
45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,
46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:45-46 (New American Standard Bible)
To us, He is the pearl!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Parables, Part 1
Have you ever noticed how much we can glean from a very small parable? Read on...
One day a wealthy traveler stopped in at a shop located near the marketplace of a coastal city. The sign on the shop said, “Fine Pearls.” The traveler was always on the lookout for treasures and he asked the shopkeeper if he could see his merchandise.
The shopkeeper, a shrewd and evil man, showed the traveler some of his collection. He noticed the kind eyes of the traveler as he surveyed the pearls one at a time. His own eyes carried the glint of greed as he anticipated the question which the traveler was sure to ask.
Finally. “Do you have others?”
“Others?” queried the shopkeeper as he prepared to set the hook. “I have shown you my collection and it has some rare jewels, don’t you think?”
“Without doubt,” said the traveler, “but I heard a story in a faraway port and I wonder if it’s true.”
“A faraway port? What does that have to do with me?” The shopkeeper looked mystified.
“It has much to do with you, sir. More correctly, it has to do with the possibility that you have a pearl far more rare than any you have shown me. And, if that is true, I ask you humbly if I might see it.”
This time the shopkeeper reached deep within the folds of his clothing. He pulled out a small, velvet bag and poured one pearl into his hand. Holding it up to the light, he said, “Could this be what you are asking about?”
A look of deep joy ran across the face of the traveler. Voice quavering, he asked, “How much?”
“Well, sir, you obviously have an eye for beauty. You can tell as well as I that this is perhaps the most lovely and the rarest pearl you have ever seen.”
“How much?”
“Sir, no one would dare ask such a question unless they were a person of great means and could afford a great price.”
“How much?!!”
“Well, sir, obviously this pearl will cost far more than most could afford -- more than a king’s ransom or the dowry of a beautiful princess.”
Now, voice low and full of emotion, the traveler asked one last time: “How much?” He knew that, if he walked away, he would regret it forever.
“Why, sir, the only fit payment for a pearl such as this -- a jewel of such great value -- would be that which you value the most. I have noticed the boy waiting outside with your servants. He is obviously not one of them. And I, too, have heard stories about you. I have heard that wherever you travel, you always take your only son with you. If you want this pearl, he is the price.”
45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,
46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:45-46 (New American Standard Bible)
To Him, YOU are the pearl!
One day a wealthy traveler stopped in at a shop located near the marketplace of a coastal city. The sign on the shop said, “Fine Pearls.” The traveler was always on the lookout for treasures and he asked the shopkeeper if he could see his merchandise.
The shopkeeper, a shrewd and evil man, showed the traveler some of his collection. He noticed the kind eyes of the traveler as he surveyed the pearls one at a time. His own eyes carried the glint of greed as he anticipated the question which the traveler was sure to ask.
Finally. “Do you have others?”
“Others?” queried the shopkeeper as he prepared to set the hook. “I have shown you my collection and it has some rare jewels, don’t you think?”
“Without doubt,” said the traveler, “but I heard a story in a faraway port and I wonder if it’s true.”
“A faraway port? What does that have to do with me?” The shopkeeper looked mystified.
“It has much to do with you, sir. More correctly, it has to do with the possibility that you have a pearl far more rare than any you have shown me. And, if that is true, I ask you humbly if I might see it.”
This time the shopkeeper reached deep within the folds of his clothing. He pulled out a small, velvet bag and poured one pearl into his hand. Holding it up to the light, he said, “Could this be what you are asking about?”
A look of deep joy ran across the face of the traveler. Voice quavering, he asked, “How much?”
“Well, sir, you obviously have an eye for beauty. You can tell as well as I that this is perhaps the most lovely and the rarest pearl you have ever seen.”
“How much?”
“Sir, no one would dare ask such a question unless they were a person of great means and could afford a great price.”
“How much?!!”
“Well, sir, obviously this pearl will cost far more than most could afford -- more than a king’s ransom or the dowry of a beautiful princess.”
Now, voice low and full of emotion, the traveler asked one last time: “How much?” He knew that, if he walked away, he would regret it forever.
“Why, sir, the only fit payment for a pearl such as this -- a jewel of such great value -- would be that which you value the most. I have noticed the boy waiting outside with your servants. He is obviously not one of them. And I, too, have heard stories about you. I have heard that wherever you travel, you always take your only son with you. If you want this pearl, he is the price.”
45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,
46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:45-46 (New American Standard Bible)
To Him, YOU are the pearl!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Thanks To You All
To all my readers who seem to catch me here when I write, thank you! Dwell and Cultivate turned 1 year old last month and I wrote six days a week for most of that year. Alas, I knew at the outset of this Fall that my schedule would be bonkers.
And it is!
Soooooo, please hang on just a bit longer. I am nearing the end of this challenging season and hope to be back on a regular basis quite soon.
And it is!
Soooooo, please hang on just a bit longer. I am nearing the end of this challenging season and hope to be back on a regular basis quite soon.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
When Attitudes Change
"Is Halloween evil?" That's the question posed and discussed on our daughter C. Beth's blog yesterday. It's a great question that will keep stimulating discussion long after this year's sugar highs are over. Beth discussed her own metamorphosis on the issue, then referred to Cathy and me, "Interestingly, my parents don't think it's a terrible holiday anymore either."
That brings up an important topic. Is it okay for a person's attitudes to change on a subject so centered on the eternal conflict of Light and Darkness?
Well, obviously, people can change opinions almost as quickly as ping pong balls skip back and forth across the net. But, when is it appropriate? I will take a stab at a few questions we can ask ourselves. Hopefully, they will help.
1. Is my current opinion consistent with my other views on life?
Beth correctly pointed out that we had changed our mind. Why? First, because we were inconsistent. We were rejecting Halloween because of its history in paganism, but we weren't rejecting Christmas for the same reason. Yes, Christmas has it's December 25th roots in a pagan celebration.
But there is another inconsistency. On the one hand, we were trying build up bridges to engage our culture with the love of Christ. The more we embraced legalism, the more we built walls instead. I wrote about the positive side of our changed attitude last year.
2. Is my current opinion firmly grounded in my belief system?
One day a group of religious leaders pushed a woman to the feet of Jesus and said, "She was caught in the act of adultery." (John 8) Their attempt to trap Jesus was a sign of their own hypocrisy. It takes two, you know. Where was the man? If they were interested in righteousness, where was the man? In other words, they were more concerned about pushing their opinion on others than they were dealing with sin.
While a bit humorous, the radio commentator whom Beth mentioned; the one who considered Halloween a Democratic holiday -- because kids get something for nothing -- was just as dangerous as those religious leaders. You see, the religious leaders felt justified (some of them had likely used her services before) because they had paid for their sins by religious acts. What Jesus offered the sinful woman was something for nothing.
For Cathy and me, we came to grips that we are broken, sinful people in a broken sinful world. We can either embrace other sinners as we have been embraced or we can shun them because they don't live up to our religious standard.
3. What is my attitude toward those who disagree with me?
I think this question is very self-revealing. Many years ago, during the same season I went on the warpath against Halloween, I legalistically began driving the speed limit. Then I promptly got mad at every driver who passed me on the highway (which was most of them).
As God continues to do heart surgery on me year after year, I have an observation about my anger. I'm not so sure that I was really angry at those who drove like I used to. I was more angry that I couldn't do it anymore because of my legalistic choice. So much for, "Beloved, let us love one another..." (1 John 4:7)
If you find yourself constantly angry at those who disagree with you, perhaps it's because you aren't fully comfortable with your answers to the first two questions.
All that said, Happy Halloween. Enjoy your candy! I'm pretty much abstaining.
And, no, I'm not angry about it!
That brings up an important topic. Is it okay for a person's attitudes to change on a subject so centered on the eternal conflict of Light and Darkness?
Well, obviously, people can change opinions almost as quickly as ping pong balls skip back and forth across the net. But, when is it appropriate? I will take a stab at a few questions we can ask ourselves. Hopefully, they will help.
1. Is my current opinion consistent with my other views on life?
Beth correctly pointed out that we had changed our mind. Why? First, because we were inconsistent. We were rejecting Halloween because of its history in paganism, but we weren't rejecting Christmas for the same reason. Yes, Christmas has it's December 25th roots in a pagan celebration.
But there is another inconsistency. On the one hand, we were trying build up bridges to engage our culture with the love of Christ. The more we embraced legalism, the more we built walls instead. I wrote about the positive side of our changed attitude last year.
2. Is my current opinion firmly grounded in my belief system?
One day a group of religious leaders pushed a woman to the feet of Jesus and said, "She was caught in the act of adultery." (John 8) Their attempt to trap Jesus was a sign of their own hypocrisy. It takes two, you know. Where was the man? If they were interested in righteousness, where was the man? In other words, they were more concerned about pushing their opinion on others than they were dealing with sin.
While a bit humorous, the radio commentator whom Beth mentioned; the one who considered Halloween a Democratic holiday -- because kids get something for nothing -- was just as dangerous as those religious leaders. You see, the religious leaders felt justified (some of them had likely used her services before) because they had paid for their sins by religious acts. What Jesus offered the sinful woman was something for nothing.
For Cathy and me, we came to grips that we are broken, sinful people in a broken sinful world. We can either embrace other sinners as we have been embraced or we can shun them because they don't live up to our religious standard.
3. What is my attitude toward those who disagree with me?
I think this question is very self-revealing. Many years ago, during the same season I went on the warpath against Halloween, I legalistically began driving the speed limit. Then I promptly got mad at every driver who passed me on the highway (which was most of them).
As God continues to do heart surgery on me year after year, I have an observation about my anger. I'm not so sure that I was really angry at those who drove like I used to. I was more angry that I couldn't do it anymore because of my legalistic choice. So much for, "Beloved, let us love one another..." (1 John 4:7)
If you find yourself constantly angry at those who disagree with you, perhaps it's because you aren't fully comfortable with your answers to the first two questions.
All that said, Happy Halloween. Enjoy your candy! I'm pretty much abstaining.
And, no, I'm not angry about it!
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