"Well there's not a single Catholic understanding of almost any passage in the Bible. The Church does not have an official commentary on either the Old or the New Testament. There are certain verses that the Church has said that they mean 'at least this much' but that's not to exclude other interpretations that may be there in addition. I can give you an interpretation of this that is catholic but I can't give you an official one." (Jimmy Akin, transcribed from James Swan's Xanga Audio Page)
Friday, February 12, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
In CASH & in KIND: an illustration of God's sacrificial love
Namumuhay na ng payapa't tahimik si Hosea. Iniwanan siya ng kanyang asawa-- ang taksil na si Gomer. Mag-isa niyang pasan-pasan ang responsibilidad ng pagpapalaki at pag-aaruga sa kanilang tatlong supling. Ngunit 'di na bale. "It's time to move on" ika nga.
Subalit pagdating sa kabanata 3, ginambala ulit ng Panginoon ang payapang buhay ni Hosea. Ang utos:
"Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes." (Hosea 3:1 NIV).
Kailangan niyang tubusin ang kanyang asawa. Mangyari kasi ay ibinenta ni Gomer ang kanyang sarili bilang alipin. Ginawa iyon ni Gomer upang matustusan niya ang kanyang mga pangangailangan mula nang lisanin niya ang tahanan ni Hosea.
Bilang isang masunuring propeta, tumalima si Hosea sa tinig ng Panginoon. Habang siya'y nagbibilang, natuklasan niya na hindi sapat ang kanyang salapi. Kulang ang hawak niyang "cash". Panandaliang nag-isip si Hosea. Aha! Naalala niya ang nakatagong barley na kanyang inuunti-unting ipinapakain sa kanyang pamilya. Ngayo'y nakahanda na siyang tubusin si Gomer (3:2).
"That the payment is both in money and in kind is curious; it suggests that Hosea had difficulty in coming up with enough money to purchase her." (Duanne Garrett, Hosea, Joel
; New American Commentary).
Romans 5:7-8 "Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (NIV)
Subalit pagdating sa kabanata 3, ginambala ulit ng Panginoon ang payapang buhay ni Hosea. Ang utos:
"Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes." (Hosea 3:1 NIV).
Kailangan niyang tubusin ang kanyang asawa. Mangyari kasi ay ibinenta ni Gomer ang kanyang sarili bilang alipin. Ginawa iyon ni Gomer upang matustusan niya ang kanyang mga pangangailangan mula nang lisanin niya ang tahanan ni Hosea.
Bilang isang masunuring propeta, tumalima si Hosea sa tinig ng Panginoon. Habang siya'y nagbibilang, natuklasan niya na hindi sapat ang kanyang salapi. Kulang ang hawak niyang "cash". Panandaliang nag-isip si Hosea. Aha! Naalala niya ang nakatagong barley na kanyang inuunti-unting ipinapakain sa kanyang pamilya. Ngayo'y nakahanda na siyang tubusin si Gomer (3:2).
"That the payment is both in money and in kind is curious; it suggests that Hosea had difficulty in coming up with enough money to purchase her." (Duanne Garrett, Hosea, Joel
; New American Commentary).
Pagdating sa pamilihan, matindi ang tawaran na naganap.
"... the Hebrew word translated as "bought" includes the idea of haggling." (Duanne Garret, NAC)
haggle- "to argue over something such as a price or contract in order to reach an agreement" (Encarta Dictionaries)
Perhaps you are ready to spend your fortunes to save the life of a loving and deserving wife. But will you do the same for a blatantly unfaithful wife?
Remember that the story of Hosea and Gomer was meant to illustrate God's love for his people.
Romans 5:7-8 "Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (NIV)
----------------------------------------------------
Robert Stein: Literacy rate in biblical times
William Harris- 5-10% (Ancient Literacy)
Catherine Hezser- 10-15% (Jewish Literacy in Roman Palestine)
Harry Gamble- 15-20% (Books and Readers in the Early Church)
"These, and the other letters of the New Testament, were meant to be read aloud. If, as I assume, Paul was a careful writer, he would therefore have penned these letters more for his readers' ears than for their eyes"
Catherine Hezser- 10-15% (Jewish Literacy in Roman Palestine)
Harry Gamble- 15-20% (Books and Readers in the Early Church)
- Col. 4:16
- 1 Thess.5:27
- Rev.1:3; 22:18
- 1 Tim. 4:13
- Acts 15:21,31
- Luke 4:16-21
"These, and the other letters of the New Testament, were meant to be read aloud. If, as I assume, Paul was a careful writer, he would therefore have penned these letters more for his readers' ears than for their eyes"
-----------------------------
"... the New Testament writers anticipated that the members of this corporate audience would not have individual copies of their works before them, but that someone would read aloud what they have written... The main sense involved was not their eyes but their ears, and the experience was not a visual one but an auditory one.
-----------------------------
"... the person who brought the gospel to them... knew the context of the work and may very well have practiced reading the gospel aloud before he read it publicly..."
-----------------------------
"In this respect it is probable that the bearers of Paul's various letters brought with them, not only the letters themselves, but an understanding of the content of those letters from the Apostle. Thus such messengers would have been able to provide a "commentary" and answer questions that the hearers might have had."
Robert Stein
Is Our Reading the Bible the Same As the Original Audience's Hearing It?
- A Case Study in the Gospel of Mark
Journal of Evangelical Theological Society (March 2003)
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
The Dangers of and Cure for Dullness of Hearing (An Exposition of Hebrews 5:11-14)
Kasisilip pa lamang ng araw noong Disyembre 30, 1896, nakagapos si Jose Rizal kasama ang mga guardiya sibil. Sila ay naglalakad papuntang Bagumbayan kung saan siya ay babarilin bilang katuparan ng parusang kamatayan na ipinataw sa kanya. Nang kanyang matanaw ang Ateneo, kanyang sinabi: "Iyon ba ang Ateneo? Doon lumipas ang mga pinakamaliligayang araw ng buhay ko."
I love school! In my dreams, I was still in the classrooms long after graduation.
If there is anything that the school and church shares in common, I would say that both institutions value the imparting and acquiring of knowledge through teaching and learning. From the earliest days, education has been regarded as an essential for a healthy relationship with God.
1. Deut. 6:1- One of Moses' roles was to teach the young nation about the commands, decrees and laws of the Lord.
2. Deut. 6:2, 6-9- Parents must learn what God says not only for themselves, not only for their sons, but for the sake of the future generations. You won't find Kobe Bryant's poster on their walls (wala rin dun ang F4 o si Hannah Montana). What you'll see are excerpts from the law.
3. Ezra 7:10- he gave priority to the study, application and teaching God's word.
4. the synagogues- New Unger's Bible Dictionary: “As only a small proportion of the people could become proficient in the study of the law under the scribes, and as it was desirable that all should have at least an elementary acquaintance therewith, the custom grew up in postexilic times of reading the Scriptures in the synagogue on the Sabbath day. It must be understood that the main object of these Sabbath day assemblages in the synagogues was not public worship in its stricter sense but religious instruction, which to an Israelite was, above all, instruction in the law.”
5. Acts 2:42- the essential activities of a young church include "the apostles' teaching"
In our text, there is a problem going on. The persecution is severe among the Hebrew Christians, it is almost intolerable. Because of the hardships, turning back on Christ and returning to Judaism looks enticing. They are about to abandon the precious faith. The writer of this epistle sought to strengthen their faith. His prescription: Education.
He educates them that the Jesus they are about to leave is superior over the angels (chapter 1). He informs them that the Jesus they are about to abandon is the Creator himself (also in chapter 1). He is greater than than Moses, Judaism's greatest prophet (chapter 3). The imparting of knowledge is the remedy to the threat of backsliding.
In chap.5, the writer was about to launch a massive discussion of the superiority of Christ over the priests in Judaism's temple. He was about to expound about the superiority of Melchizedek’s order of priesthood over the Levitical order... but he has to pause. THERE is something WRONG.
He cannot go on because the next topic is HARD TO TEACH.
Mula sa mga karanasan ko sa high school at kolehiyo, may listahan ako dito ng kung bakit nagiging mahirap ang pagkatuto:
1. The lesson is inherently difficult (for Einstein and his peers only)
2. The student’s limited ability (poor I.Q.)—
I must confess something. My mathematical skills are up to linear equations only. Higher than that level, it's hard for me. Pagdating sa Calculus, wala na akong maintindihan. Pigain mo man ang utak ko, wala ka nang magagawa kasi hanggang doon na lang talaga ang kakayahan ko.
3. The teacher lacks skill— Hindi ko hangad na siraan ang mga guro. Apat sa limang kapatid kong mga babae ay mga public school teachers. Hindi ko magagawang siraan sila. Pero meron naman talagang mga guro na hindi gaano kahusay magturo.
4. Lack of resources and tools- Sa ilang asignatura nang ako ay nasa haiskul, wala kaming ibang ginawa sa araw-araw kundi kopyahin ang nakasulat sa pisara. Paano naman kasi, naglalaan naman ng budget ang pamahalaan pero hindi nakakarating ang mga aklat sa mga estudyante. Ang mga aklat ay mabibili sa bookstore at burado na ang markang "Government Property; Not for Sale." Ang tindi talaga ng korapsyon. Mas natuto sana kami kung meron kaming mga aklat. Sa pag-aaral rin ng salita ng Diyos, mahirap maghanda ng sermon na wala ang mga tools and resources tulad ng Study Bible, Bible dictionaries, lexicons, commentaries and bible backgrounds.
Pero ang problema sa Hebrews 5:11 ay:
hindi naman yung number 1:The lesson is inherently difficult
Hindi rin problema ang number 2:The student’s limited ability (poor I.Q.)
Hindi rin problma ang number 3:The teacher lacks skill
Hindi rin number 4 ang problema:Lack of resources and tools
The problem is this condition called DULLNESS OF HEARING
Ni hindi nakatuntong sa haiskul ang aking tatay. Pero nagmula sa kanya ang isa sa mga pinakamahalagang payong natanggap ko tungkol sa pag-aaral. Nang ako'y papasok na ng grade 1, ang bilin ni tatay, makinig akong mabuti kung may sinasabi ang aking guro.
I have not always been consistent in applying it but as I look back, I did perform well when I was applying my father's advice. That's how important listening is.
The word Greek word translated as "dullness" ("slow" in NIV) is nothros. As we seek to understand what it means allow me to go to some extra biblical sources:
1. The word was used to denote the lazy condition of a slave that causes him delay response to the call of his master.
Tawagin mo minsan, "Inday!". Hindi sasagot. Tawagin mo ulit. "Inday!", hindi pa rin sasagot. Para bang wala siyang naririnig. Sa ikatlong pagkakataon ay tatawagin mo siya at ngayon ay pasigaw na "Indaaayyyy!!!".. Sasagot na sa wakas, "opo".
2. In sports, nothros denotes the condition of an athlete who is out of shape; lazy and sluggish. Like a sprinter who comes with a body of a sumo wrestler as he competes in 100 meter dash.
3. In an inscription from Eumeneia, he calls his brother " nothros" (negligent) for failing to fulfill his responsibility in building a tomb for their sisters. Because of this, the younger brother (Eumneia) was forced to use his resources for such a task. (See George Guthrie in NIVAC)
We can also better understand the word when we look into what its antonym meant. Hebrews 6:12:
"so that you may not be SLUGGISH, but imitators of those who through FAITH and PATIENCE inherit the promises" (ESV)
It turns out that the opposite is dullness is the faith and patience of those who have persevered to the end in exercising their faith (the writer will tell more about them when he comes to 11th chapter's Hall of Faith).
So from biblical and extra biblical data, we see that "dullness of hearing" convey: sluggishness, laziness, and negligence. Dullness of hearing is not an auditory defect. It is really an attitude problem. It is lack of interest in receiving instruction.. They don’t value sound teaching.
2. The shift from commitment to dullness did not happen overnight—they underwent a process that has put them in this condition
When the word of God that you used to treasure is slowly losing its sweetness-- beware. It may be an indication that your ears are in the process of becoming dull. When the Apostle Paul and his epistles begin to bore you, and James Cameron's Avatar begins to excite you, do not take it lightly. It may prove fatal to your faith.
They stayed in the church long enough that it was expected upon them that they should articulate the faith that they have (1 Peter 3:15), but because of dull hearing they were unable. This condition not only cripples you from the ministry of teaching but all other ministries as well because you have to have attentive ears in order to be equipped in all forms of spiritual service (Ephesians 4:11)
2. It robs you of the things you already know—“ you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again.”
Luke 8:18—Consider how you listen..even what he has will be taken away from him.
All the time you spent in the past when your faith was robust will all be wasted. You have to be taught about it all over again. There is a consensus among the scholars I consulted that "elementary truths" here are equivalent to the ABC's of the faith. You can sink that low even if you are healthy now if dullness of hearing develops in you. You think you know John 3:16; you think you know Psalm 23 and other verses you memorized as a young Christian. But even these things you think you know will all go to the garbage can when dullness of hearing takes place.
3. It leads to perpetual infancy
It makes you unready for deeper spiritual lessons. You can't tolerate adult food; you'll go for baby food and even that needs review.
Sakaling mapasyal ka sa kambingan, wala kang gana sa Kaldereta, Ginising, Kinigtot, Kilawin Sinampalokan at iba pang putahe. Tatanungin mo ang serbidora: "May Cerelac ba kayo?" The mature shall feast on the finest meats yet all you want is what's inside your Babyflo bottle.
4. It makes you unskilled in application-. The “word of righteousness” in verse 13 has been variously interpreted. One of the most common view is that it refers to the imputed righteousness of Christ. Though that sounds very orthodox, I can't see it in the immediate context. I guess Simon Kistemaker is right. We "ought to look at the phrase in question not from a theological perspective but from a contextual point of view" (Exposition of Hebrews, NTC).
I adapt Homer Kent's view: The "word of righteousness" means “God’s revelation about righteousness which is expected of every Christian” (The Epistle to the Hebrews, a commentary)
5. It may lead to Apostasy
This point is justified by the next chapter. Hebrews 6:4-6 is hotly debated. Does it teach that salvation could be lost? I firmly believe that the elect persevere to the end. Yet I do not take the warning passages lightly. I believe the threats are very real. The Canons of Dordt teaches Perseverance of the Saints yet it also teaches that God's word is a means of perseverance. Shun God's word and deny yourself of God's preserving agent.
The writer of Hebrews did. Mahirap kausap yung mga immature na ang akala nila mature sila. Buti pa yung immature na alam niyang immature siya kasi makikinig pa iyon. Pero ang immature na hindi niya alam na immature siya, hindi na makikinig yun. May opinyon siya sa lahat ng bagay, kadalasan nga lang ay mali kasi nga immature. They must know their true state.
2. Urge them to progress and give them meat… as the Lord permits…
Hindi ko inaasahan na magiging ganito ang solusyon. Nang unang basa ko kasi, parang ang labas: "Dahil gatas lang ang kaya ninyo, hindi ko kayo bibigyan ng karne". Mali pala. What he did was the exact opposite. He did not stick with their favorite topics; he urged them to move to maturity (6:1-2). He went on anyway to give the meat in chapters 7,8,9 and 10 by discussing the priesthood of Melchizedek and Jesus because it is what they need in order to appreciate the Messiah that Judaism rejects.
But he does so with the recognition that they can only move in this direction as God permits (Heb.6:3).
Homer Kent comments: “It is an acknowledgment that only God can change the course of a man’s life when it is going in the opposite direction”
Leon Morris says the same thing: “This verse expresses not only a resolute determination to go ahead on these lines but also a recognition that it is only with the help of God that this can be done. We should take the words not simply as a pious nod in the direction of God but as coming out of the author's realization that without divine aid the plan he was suggesting was impossible.” (EBC)
At 5:14, there are people who managed to prevent the cancer of dull hearing and moved to maturity by constant practice of what they learn from the word. It is noteworthy that the Greek word translated as "trained" here sounds like our word for "gym". I'm not a fitness buff, but I know enough for a fact that you won't benefit from the gym by going there once a year. You have to exercise regularly so there will be devlopment in your muscles.
Same is true for mature people. They have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil by constantly practicing God-given insights.
Psalm 119:34 says “Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.”…
The desire to learn and the desire to obey must go together. We have no business asking God for illumination without the desire to practice what we learn.
As I was in the final stages of preparing this lesson, I came across an article by Wayne Grudem on the clarity of Scripture. He said something that reminds m that even scholars can be devoid of spiritual insight if they don’t trained their senses in application of God’s word.
“Christians who begin to practice willful, repeated sin (and ven- or especially pastors and scholars) will likely soon begin to lose sound judgment in interpretation and will become less and less able to understand Scriptures rightly". (Themelios 34.3)
kahit dalubhasa ka pa Griyego at Hebreo; kahit kasinlaki ng Astrodome ang library mo, kung hindi ka nagsasanay sa kabanalan--- bale wala rin. You will soon lose sound judgment in bible interpretation.
Why am I passionate about this? It just hurts me to see people who grew up in church who show no signs of spirituality now. By this time, they ought to be veterans in spiritual warfare but it seems that they are not enlisted in God's army. They cannot live without their i-pod; can't live without their phone; can't live without Facebook. But they CAN live without God. May God have mercy upon us and keep us away from this condition called Dullness of Hearing.
I love school! In my dreams, I was still in the classrooms long after graduation.
If there is anything that the school and church shares in common, I would say that both institutions value the imparting and acquiring of knowledge through teaching and learning. From the earliest days, education has been regarded as an essential for a healthy relationship with God.
1. Deut. 6:1- One of Moses' roles was to teach the young nation about the commands, decrees and laws of the Lord.
2. Deut. 6:2, 6-9- Parents must learn what God says not only for themselves, not only for their sons, but for the sake of the future generations. You won't find Kobe Bryant's poster on their walls (wala rin dun ang F4 o si Hannah Montana). What you'll see are excerpts from the law.
3. Ezra 7:10- he gave priority to the study, application and teaching God's word.
4. the synagogues- New Unger's Bible Dictionary: “As only a small proportion of the people could become proficient in the study of the law under the scribes, and as it was desirable that all should have at least an elementary acquaintance therewith, the custom grew up in postexilic times of reading the Scriptures in the synagogue on the Sabbath day. It must be understood that the main object of these Sabbath day assemblages in the synagogues was not public worship in its stricter sense but religious instruction, which to an Israelite was, above all, instruction in the law.”
5. Acts 2:42- the essential activities of a young church include "the apostles' teaching"
IMPARTATION OF KNOWLEDGE:
The solution to the problem of the Hebrews
The solution to the problem of the Hebrews
In our text, there is a problem going on. The persecution is severe among the Hebrew Christians, it is almost intolerable. Because of the hardships, turning back on Christ and returning to Judaism looks enticing. They are about to abandon the precious faith. The writer of this epistle sought to strengthen their faith. His prescription: Education.
He educates them that the Jesus they are about to leave is superior over the angels (chapter 1). He informs them that the Jesus they are about to abandon is the Creator himself (also in chapter 1). He is greater than than Moses, Judaism's greatest prophet (chapter 3). The imparting of knowledge is the remedy to the threat of backsliding.
In chap.5, the writer was about to launch a massive discussion of the superiority of Christ over the priests in Judaism's temple. He was about to expound about the superiority of Melchizedek’s order of priesthood over the Levitical order... but he has to pause. THERE is something WRONG.
He cannot go on because the next topic is HARD TO TEACH.
WHAT MAKES THE LESSON HARD TO LEARN?
Mula sa mga karanasan ko sa high school at kolehiyo, may listahan ako dito ng kung bakit nagiging mahirap ang pagkatuto:
1. The lesson is inherently difficult (for Einstein and his peers only)
2. The student’s limited ability (poor I.Q.)—
I must confess something. My mathematical skills are up to linear equations only. Higher than that level, it's hard for me. Pagdating sa Calculus, wala na akong maintindihan. Pigain mo man ang utak ko, wala ka nang magagawa kasi hanggang doon na lang talaga ang kakayahan ko.
3. The teacher lacks skill— Hindi ko hangad na siraan ang mga guro. Apat sa limang kapatid kong mga babae ay mga public school teachers. Hindi ko magagawang siraan sila. Pero meron naman talagang mga guro na hindi gaano kahusay magturo.
4. Lack of resources and tools- Sa ilang asignatura nang ako ay nasa haiskul, wala kaming ibang ginawa sa araw-araw kundi kopyahin ang nakasulat sa pisara. Paano naman kasi, naglalaan naman ng budget ang pamahalaan pero hindi nakakarating ang mga aklat sa mga estudyante. Ang mga aklat ay mabibili sa bookstore at burado na ang markang "Government Property; Not for Sale." Ang tindi talaga ng korapsyon. Mas natuto sana kami kung meron kaming mga aklat. Sa pag-aaral rin ng salita ng Diyos, mahirap maghanda ng sermon na wala ang mga tools and resources tulad ng Study Bible, Bible dictionaries, lexicons, commentaries and bible backgrounds.
Pero ang problema sa Hebrews 5:11 ay:
hindi naman yung number 1:
Hindi rin problema ang number 2:
Hindi rin problma ang number 3:
Hindi rin number 4 ang problema:
The problem is this condition called DULLNESS OF HEARING
DULLNESS of HEARING
Ni hindi nakatuntong sa haiskul ang aking tatay. Pero nagmula sa kanya ang isa sa mga pinakamahalagang payong natanggap ko tungkol sa pag-aaral. Nang ako'y papasok na ng grade 1, ang bilin ni tatay, makinig akong mabuti kung may sinasabi ang aking guro.
I have not always been consistent in applying it but as I look back, I did perform well when I was applying my father's advice. That's how important listening is.
The word Greek word translated as "dullness" ("slow" in NIV) is nothros. As we seek to understand what it means allow me to go to some extra biblical sources:
1. The word was used to denote the lazy condition of a slave that causes him delay response to the call of his master.
Tawagin mo minsan, "Inday!". Hindi sasagot. Tawagin mo ulit. "Inday!", hindi pa rin sasagot. Para bang wala siyang naririnig. Sa ikatlong pagkakataon ay tatawagin mo siya at ngayon ay pasigaw na "Indaaayyyy!!!".. Sasagot na sa wakas, "opo".
2. In sports, nothros denotes the condition of an athlete who is out of shape; lazy and sluggish. Like a sprinter who comes with a body of a sumo wrestler as he competes in 100 meter dash.
3. In an inscription from Eumeneia, he calls his brother " nothros" (negligent) for failing to fulfill his responsibility in building a tomb for their sisters. Because of this, the younger brother (Eumneia) was forced to use his resources for such a task. (See George Guthrie in NIVAC)
We can also better understand the word when we look into what its antonym meant. Hebrews 6:12:
"so that you may not be SLUGGISH, but imitators of those who through FAITH and PATIENCE inherit the promises" (ESV)
It turns out that the opposite is dullness is the faith and patience of those who have persevered to the end in exercising their faith (the writer will tell more about them when he comes to 11th chapter's Hall of Faith).
So from biblical and extra biblical data, we see that "dullness of hearing" convey: sluggishness, laziness, and negligence. Dullness of hearing is not an auditory defect. It is really an attitude problem. It is lack of interest in receiving instruction.. They don’t value sound teaching.
LEARNING FROM THE TENSE OF THE VERB
1. they were not always this way. There was a time when they were not dull in hearing the Word. In fact, they did some things in the past that are worthy of the highest commendation (Hebrews 10:34).Their faith was once vibrant2. The shift from commitment to dullness did not happen overnight—they underwent a process that has put them in this condition
When the word of God that you used to treasure is slowly losing its sweetness-- beware. It may be an indication that your ears are in the process of becoming dull. When the Apostle Paul and his epistles begin to bore you, and James Cameron's Avatar begins to excite you, do not take it lightly. It may prove fatal to your faith.
THE DANGERS OF DULL HEARING
1. It leaves you unequipped for ministry. "by this time, you ought to be teachers"They stayed in the church long enough that it was expected upon them that they should articulate the faith that they have (1 Peter 3:15), but because of dull hearing they were unable. This condition not only cripples you from the ministry of teaching but all other ministries as well because you have to have attentive ears in order to be equipped in all forms of spiritual service (Ephesians 4:11)
2. It robs you of the things you already know—“ you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again.”
Luke 8:18—Consider how you listen..even what he has will be taken away from him.
All the time you spent in the past when your faith was robust will all be wasted. You have to be taught about it all over again. There is a consensus among the scholars I consulted that "elementary truths" here are equivalent to the ABC's of the faith. You can sink that low even if you are healthy now if dullness of hearing develops in you. You think you know John 3:16; you think you know Psalm 23 and other verses you memorized as a young Christian. But even these things you think you know will all go to the garbage can when dullness of hearing takes place.
3. It leads to perpetual infancy
It makes you unready for deeper spiritual lessons. You can't tolerate adult food; you'll go for baby food and even that needs review.
Sakaling mapasyal ka sa kambingan, wala kang gana sa Kaldereta, Ginising, Kinigtot, Kilawin Sinampalokan at iba pang putahe. Tatanungin mo ang serbidora: "May Cerelac ba kayo?" The mature shall feast on the finest meats yet all you want is what's inside your Babyflo bottle.
4. It makes you unskilled in application-. The “word of righteousness” in verse 13 has been variously interpreted. One of the most common view is that it refers to the imputed righteousness of Christ. Though that sounds very orthodox, I can't see it in the immediate context. I guess Simon Kistemaker is right. We "ought to look at the phrase in question not from a theological perspective but from a contextual point of view" (Exposition of Hebrews, NTC).
I adapt Homer Kent's view: The "word of righteousness" means “God’s revelation about righteousness which is expected of every Christian” (The Epistle to the Hebrews, a commentary)
5. It may lead to Apostasy
This point is justified by the next chapter. Hebrews 6:4-6 is hotly debated. Does it teach that salvation could be lost? I firmly believe that the elect persevere to the end. Yet I do not take the warning passages lightly. I believe the threats are very real. The Canons of Dordt teaches Perseverance of the Saints yet it also teaches that God's word is a means of perseverance. Shun God's word and deny yourself of God's preserving agent.
The Cure:
1. Let them be aware of their condition.The writer of Hebrews did. Mahirap kausap yung mga immature na ang akala nila mature sila. Buti pa yung immature na alam niyang immature siya kasi makikinig pa iyon. Pero ang immature na hindi niya alam na immature siya, hindi na makikinig yun. May opinyon siya sa lahat ng bagay, kadalasan nga lang ay mali kasi nga immature. They must know their true state.
2. Urge them to progress and give them meat… as the Lord permits…
Hindi ko inaasahan na magiging ganito ang solusyon. Nang unang basa ko kasi, parang ang labas: "Dahil gatas lang ang kaya ninyo, hindi ko kayo bibigyan ng karne". Mali pala. What he did was the exact opposite. He did not stick with their favorite topics; he urged them to move to maturity (6:1-2). He went on anyway to give the meat in chapters 7,8,9 and 10 by discussing the priesthood of Melchizedek and Jesus because it is what they need in order to appreciate the Messiah that Judaism rejects.
But he does so with the recognition that they can only move in this direction as God permits (Heb.6:3).
Homer Kent comments: “It is an acknowledgment that only God can change the course of a man’s life when it is going in the opposite direction”
Leon Morris says the same thing: “This verse expresses not only a resolute determination to go ahead on these lines but also a recognition that it is only with the help of God that this can be done. We should take the words not simply as a pious nod in the direction of God but as coming out of the author's realization that without divine aid the plan he was suggesting was impossible.” (EBC)
PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE
Kahit merong lunas para sa dullness of hearing, bakit kailangan pa nating hintayin na dumating pa sa puntong iyon. Ito ay tulad ng kanser, nakamamatay kaya mas maigi na ito ay iwasan kaysa gamutin.At 5:14, there are people who managed to prevent the cancer of dull hearing and moved to maturity by constant practice of what they learn from the word. It is noteworthy that the Greek word translated as "trained" here sounds like our word for "gym". I'm not a fitness buff, but I know enough for a fact that you won't benefit from the gym by going there once a year. You have to exercise regularly so there will be devlopment in your muscles.
Same is true for mature people. They have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil by constantly practicing God-given insights.
Psalm 119:34 says “Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.”…
The desire to learn and the desire to obey must go together. We have no business asking God for illumination without the desire to practice what we learn.
As I was in the final stages of preparing this lesson, I came across an article by Wayne Grudem on the clarity of Scripture. He said something that reminds m that even scholars can be devoid of spiritual insight if they don’t trained their senses in application of God’s word.
“Christians who begin to practice willful, repeated sin (and ven- or especially pastors and scholars) will likely soon begin to lose sound judgment in interpretation and will become less and less able to understand Scriptures rightly". (Themelios 34.3)
kahit dalubhasa ka pa Griyego at Hebreo; kahit kasinlaki ng Astrodome ang library mo, kung hindi ka nagsasanay sa kabanalan--- bale wala rin. You will soon lose sound judgment in bible interpretation.
Why am I passionate about this? It just hurts me to see people who grew up in church who show no signs of spirituality now. By this time, they ought to be veterans in spiritual warfare but it seems that they are not enlisted in God's army. They cannot live without their i-pod; can't live without their phone; can't live without Facebook. But they CAN live without God. May God have mercy upon us and keep us away from this condition called Dullness of Hearing.
Friday, January 22, 2010
How to love your son without walking in the path of Marlene Aguilar -Pollard
"I'm still traumatized. I have not slept. I have not eaten. My heart breaks beyond words. My son is fighting for his life, and if he dies I accept that with all humility. But I want everyone to know that no matter what my son did I love him with all my heart and soul."
She was also crying heavily infront of a TV camera two months ago as she pleads her fugitive son to surrender himself to the authorities and face the charges of murder.
Then in December, she reports to the authorities that his son is overseas.
Yet last Monday, a team of NBI agents finally arrested Jason Ivler after an exchange of bullets in the basement of her mother's house. In another interview, she insists that she was unaware of the fugitive's presence inside because "the house is too big". Some lies stink so much that you don't have to be a trial court judge to sort out falsehood from truth.
It is by no means exhaustive but I have a few items here I want to share on how to love to your son without walking in the path of Marlene Aguilar-Pollard.
1. You have to teach your son the concept of retribution. Teach him that justice demands that the offender must pay for the evil he has done.He cannot steal his younger brother's marbles and get away with it. He cannot destroy his sister's doll without getting spanked. "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him" (Proverbs 13:24). Tell him that a person who disobeys traffic rules must be fined. Make it clear that Antonio Margarito deserves the suspension sanctioned on him for using illegal hand wraps. Murder somebody else's son and be ready for Reclusión perpetua.
2. Teach your son to respect civil authorities.. They may not stand behind pulpits but in a sense, they are ministers-- ministers of God in executing his wrath against evil. As the Apostle Paul says in Romans 13:4, "... He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer ." So respect them. Teach your son to submit themselves to the authorities if a warrant of arrest is issued against him. When they come to arrest you, do not engage an exchange of bullets.Teach your son that if he rebels against civil authorities, he is rebelling against what God has instituted (Romans 13:2).
3. Teach your son that the guilty cannot evade justice for all eternity. You can hide in the basement, in thick forests or even in Antartica until you turn 70. But God will not let the guilty go unpunished. Evil doers will be punished with everlasting destruction in what is commonly known as hell (2 Thess.1:8-9). Mothers who are liars and sons who are murderers shall surely go there unless they repent and embrace the gospel.
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Sunday, January 17, 2010
Do you think that the people of Haiti are worse sinners than the rest of us?
Pat Robertson's controversial statement regarding the Haiti earthquake is a hot item across the blogosphere (click here). Without necessarily interpreting what Robertson has intended to say, I myself have some thoughts on this issue.
Though Scripture is clear that though God's final outpouring of judgment and wrath is reserved for the very last days, he do sometimes intervene in history to execute his judgment and to make his wrath known. He may judge certain localities (Sodom & Gomorrah; Tyre, Nineveh). He may also judge certain individuals (Herod in Acts 12:22-23).
Yet those who are spared from divine wrath have this tendency to be self-righteous and judgmental. In the early 1990's, when severe calamities struck Luzon (1990 Killer quake; 1991 Pinatubo eruption), a heard a statement which goes like this: "Mas makasalan ang mga taga-Luzon kaysa sa mga taga-Mindanao." While Saddam Hussein was being executed, he was mocked heavily by a crowd.
These attitudes were addressed by the Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 13:1-5:
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them--do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." (NIV)
Jesus' point is that they are not better than the victims of massacres and calamities. They too are deserving of judgment unless they repent.
He further told them a parable: Luke 13: 6-9 Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, `For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?' " `Sir,' the man replied, `leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.' "
The tree was unfruitful after three years of cultivation so it deserves to be cut off. Yet it was given another year of intensified care.
Based on these teachings by the Lord, let me point out some things we should think about.--------------------------------------------
1. Let us be grateful for the patience of God. The whole world deserves judgment and wrath, yet he withholds what we deserve most of the time. Instead, he provides us with good things.
There was only one killer quake in Northern Luzon for the last 19 years though we are sinners and deserving of daily killer quakes.
2. Let us fear God and repent. The patience of God as displayed in delayed judgments does not mean that the day of reckoning shall not come. Do not listen to scoffers who say "Where is this `coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." (2 Peter 3:4). Remember the parable: he may give you an extra year of intensified care, but if you remain fruitless you shall be cut down.
3. Be grateful for the gift of repentance. Repentance is the only way to escape from his wrath. Yet the source of this repentance is God himself (2 Tim.2:25; Acts 11:18)
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Ten Percent of Registered Voters for Ang Ladlad?
In their campaign to convince people that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle both socially and morally, you will often hear the statistical claim that 10% of the population are homosexuals. This is cited confidently and authoritatively as if it is an unquestionable fact.
The latest person to make this assertion is Danton Remoto of the group Ang Ladlad. Should the Supreme Court affirm the legitimacy of Ang Ladlad as a party list group, Remoto expects that 10% of the 49 million registered voters will cast their votes in Ang Ladlad's favor. I am not an election expert, but as I recall, that would be enough to secure three seats in the House of Representatives.
Yet is it true that 10% of the population are homosexuals?
The source of the statistic frequently used is a study made more than 60 years ago led by a man named Alfred Kinsey. From the earliest days, the flaws in the study were evident as it doesn't represent the general population.
- Approximately 25% of the 5,300 individuals studied were prison inmates-- therefore they cannot have physical contact with the opposite sex.
- Kinsey himself admits that several hundred male prostitutes were used in this study.
- Volunteers were used in the study. Sexuality is a very sensitive issue that those who have the guts to voluntarily submit their selves to a study like this cannot represent the general population (consider also the more conservative culture of the 1940's)
The flaws in the study are so glaring that Paul Gebhard, Kinsey's successor as director of the Kinsey Institute for Sex Research attempted to clean up the mess in 1979 of the defects mentioned above and he came up with the conclusion that "none of Kinsey's original estimates were significantly affected" by these flaws. But Kinsey Institute's credibility is already in question and other studies say otherwise (click here). Another factor that affects their credibility are the serious allegations of child molestation during the course of the study.(Click here)
Aside from these flaws, the study is not being quoted accurately by those who use it:
"Kinsey did not say that 10 percent of the entire U.S. population was homosexual. Rather, he affirmed that ten percent of white American males were "more or less" exclusively homosexual for at least three years of their lives between the ages of 16 and 65. The statistic for females was five percent. The actual percentage of those thought to be exclusively homosexual for their entire lives was only four percent of men and two or three percent of women, all based on his allegedly representative sample of the population." (Joseph Gudel, Homosexuality: Fact and Fiction; Christian Research Journal)
Am I saying that Ang Ladlad cannot win in May? No. All I'm saying is the statistic being cited is seriously defective.
It is very possible that Ang Ladlad could still occupy three seats in the Lower House.Why? Because even heterosexuals could advocate the homosexual cause. As it is written: "Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." (Romans 1:32 NIV)
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Monday, January 4, 2010
How John Piper uses Twitter
I hope you'll see principles of Twitter use that could also be applied to others such as blogging, Friendster, Facebook, fora (or should I say forums), etc. He calls these technologies as "gifts that God has given us" yet at the same time he recognizes the dangers that go with them, so we should be careful on how we use them.
You may also want to check out an article Piper wrote seven months ago: Why and How I Am Tweeting. You can follow Piper's tweets here.
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You may also want to check out an article Piper wrote seven months ago: Why and How I Am Tweeting. You can follow Piper's tweets here.
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