Thanksgiving Day Celebration:

God planted a garden in Eden…

    with all kinds of trees—

Trees that were pleasing to the eye,

    and good for food (Genesis 2:8-9).

The first thing to be said about the “all kinds of trees” that God planted in the Garden is that they were beautiful to look upon. That was before the man was even placed in the garden to look upon them. God, of Himself, has an eye for beauty before we even show up.

The second thing to be said about these trees God planted in the Garden is that they were also “good for food.” John Calvin, the remarkable 16^th century theologian of the Reformation, speaks to us about how God created the world more beautiful than necessary. There was no need to make fruit trees beautiful. What His creatures need from the trees is food. But, out of his freedom, God decided to make these necessary trees beautiful— “pleasing to look upon.”

All God’s creatures need food. It is for us humans, who alone bear the image of God, to notice like God notices, how the trees that provide us with our necessary food are also “pleasing to the eye.”  That is something to celebrate this Thanksgiving Day.

 

 

Owen #6: Inductive Bible Study

 

Jesus stood and read aloud

    from the scroll of Isaiah. (Luke 4)

Dear Owen,

This morning, I was able to read your syllabus on Biblical Studies, Looks to me like a very capable instructor providing a very thoughtful and thorough syllabus. The course description: “An introduction to the principles of the inductive method approach to studying the Bible…;” reminds me that all courses are an “introduction” to new worlds of thought. That is why we go to college—to be introduced to places we have never been.

The course seeks to develop in you “a lifelong commitment to independent, self-directed Bible study.” “Independent” and “self-directed” may give one the notion that of myself I can inductively discover the true meaning of Scripture. That is a modern idea. For one thing, it assumes we all have the printed page, which has never been the case till the15th century. Before then, Scripture was handwritten and rolled up into a scroll. You can’t carry around 66 scrolls. The scroll would be the valued possession of the synagogue to be read allowed to those gathered to hear. Thus, Scripture was experienced communally rather than independently (Luke 4:16:21):

When Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…” And then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.

Like Jesus, one would have to come to the synagogue to read it and to hear it. That is why the first thing the Apostle Paul asks of preachers like me, is that we remain faithful to “the public reading of scripture” (1Tm 4:13). That is the most important thing we do—read aloud the sacred text. When we do it right, it is like Jesus reading aloud from the scroll of Isaiah.

Love, PAPA

 

Epiphany: Priscilla #2

You will be

   my witnesses... (Acts 1:8)

Dear Priscilla,

So, for spring break, you are off to South Padre Island to “share the gospel with students there for spring break.” I can’t imagine. No wonder you ask us “to pray for safety” as you venture into the “party scene.” And, that you and your team will “boldly share the gospel…”

What a courageous witness. Papa prefers his safe space behind the pulpit on Sunday Mornings. So, we will pray for courage, boldness, and safety. Just remember, Jesus calls us to be his witnesses. We can’t, of ourselves, save anyone. We can only tell of the One who can. Once we give our witness, we allow God the Holy Spirit to do what we can’t do—convict hearts (Jn 16:8).

Love and Prayers,

PAPA