A Very Post-Modern Form of De-mythologising

It was popular in the 19th and early 20th Century to de-mythologise the Christian message and remove anything that could be construed as miraculous. I think the same thing happens now, particularly by pundits under the guise of names like Karl Barth and Tom Wright. It is a de-mythologising from within the evangelical camp.

This new de-mythologising is more a de-offensivisation. It's the removal of anything that our modern ear does not want to hear, that we think is unpalatable: the clear and terrifying judgment of God that will fall on many, and the call to repent (Karl Barth totally avoided that expression and actually argued against using it!). It is the failure to talk about anything negative as if it would actually happen, but only affirm what we deem to be 'good' and 'kind'. It pretends to do this in the name of grace and Jesus Christ, when as we know grace saves us from judgment, and Jesus warned about wrath.

Modernism hated the un-scientific, post-modernism hates the offensive.

The flood is coming. This de-offensivisation says:
In the end, no one will get hurt.
Or
At least I hope no one will get hurt. Let's not think about those things.

(I was going to write an apology for anyone who hasn't heard of Barth or Wright. But I'm not sorry for you. You're not missing much)

The Missionaries Looked After Us Better

Check out Gordon Cheng's Blog.

Between the Resurrection and the Ascension: From Galilee to the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem

Where did Jesus appear to his disciples? Where was he when he ascended? How do the gospels fit in with each other and the book of Acts? Are there reasons for Jesus' geographical choices?

The Evidence:

1. The disciples keep being called 'men of Galilee' in and around the resurrection / ascension / and early days of the church. This designation seems important.

2. The disciples are told several times that they will see Jesus in Galilee after he rose from the dead.

(by Jesus) But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee. (Matthew 26:32)

(by the angel) Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” (Matthew 28:7)

(by the risen Jesus) Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (Matthew 28:10)

(by Jesus) But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee. (Mark 14:28)

(by the young man at the tomb) But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' (Mark 16:7)

3. At the end of Matthew, Jesus gives the great commission on a mountain in Galilee.

There is a translation question in the NIV Bible that I just noticed. It could be that they were to go to the mountain that Jesus appointed or the mountain where he had appointed them (ie. Lk 5:12-16; maybe the same mountain as the sermon on the mount)

(NIV) Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. (Matthew 28:16)

(GNT) Oi˚ de« eºndeka maqhtai« e˙poreu/qhsan ei˙ß th\n Galilai÷an ei˙ß to\ o¡roß ou∞ e˙ta¿xato aujtoi√ß oJ ∆Ihsouvß

(ASV) But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

4. At the end of John's gospel, Jesus appears to his disciples at Lake Galilee and at a near-by location recommissions Peter.

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. (John 21:1-4)

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. (John 21:7)

5. And yet, none of the gospels say that Jesus ascended in Galilee.

6. Luke/Acts does not record any mention of Jesus going to Galilee and yet very clearly that Jesus ascended near Jerusalem, on the mount of Olives.

When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. (Luke 24:50-51)

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. (Acts 1:11-12)

7. A reconstruction is not impossible, because Jesus appeared to his disciples in many ways and times over a forty day period.

After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3)

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. (John 21:25)

8. Luke emphasises, 'remain in Jerusalem' whereas in the other gospels, the disciples are told to go to Galilee.

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. (Acts 1:4)

But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ (Mark 16:7)

A proposed reconstruction:

1. Jesus rose from the dead
2. He met some of his disciples in Jerusalem
3. Jesus wanted all of his disciples to go to Galilee
4. Jesus met them at Galilee
5. They returned to Jerusalem
6. He met them in Jerusalem
7. He urged them to stay in Jerusalem after he departs until they receive the Holy Spirit
8. He ascends in the clouds just outside Jerusalem at the mount of Olives
9. They now begin to witness to Jesus throughout the world


A theory I've just thought about:

Why Galilee? Why Jerusalem? Why the mount of Olives?

I wonder whether post resurrection, Jesus is taking the disciples on the same journey they have already been on (or more particularly - that he had already been on).

1.He takes them back to Galilee, to the mountain where perhaps he commissioned them. He recommissions Peter at Galilee, calls them to be fishers of men, and calls them to feed his sheep.

2. He takes them to the mount of Olives which is the location of the night before Jesus died, he cried in agony to his father. It was also the mountain on which most of his disciples deserted him. Now they did not want him to desert them.

3. Then he tells them to remain in Jerusalem, where he was killed and rose again. And where all scripture had to be fulfilled in Jesus' betrayal, death, resurrection and where forgiveness of sins would now be preached.

What an amazing journey to go through a second time. From Galilee to the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem again.



I had these thoughts on the train today as I was preparing my youth church talk for Sunday. I'm leaving these all out of my talk for Sunday - I think they'd all thank me for that. ;)

Love to hear your thoughts.

My Prayerful Hope for My First-born

I wrote this on the day he was born:

Be courageous in the Lord
Fear not hell, nor fear the sword.
Joshua, my son:
Be not afraid.
For you another path is laid;
Paved with gold that looks like clay
Hidden 'till that glorious day.
A wide open gate that looks so small
Stands now open unto all.
The little door that looks so plain
Is God of Ages, and man of shame.
Joshua, my son:
Ignore the others and seek the best
And enter His eternal rest.

Sex and Companionship

Most men wouldn't think at the end of life: 'I'm glad that my wife and I had such great sex.' Wouldn't they be more likely to say: 'I'm glad I had such a good friend and companion'?

If its true, I wonder how this insight affects the question below. Perhaps a deeper human need than sex is friendship and companionship.

Singleness and Sexuality?

Here's a question from a good friend of mine.

If desire for one’s husband/wife is a good gift from God, but lust is sinful (and in danger of sending us to hell), how can single people express their sexuality and desires in a Godly manner?

Any ideas? (beyond get married - they really want to)

Matthew 5: Jesus on adultery

Read Matthew 5:27-30.

I think Jesus wants us to link two words together: adultery and hell. If we think of adultery the first word that should come to our minds is hell.

If we ever think, "will I commit adultery?" (of the heart or otherwise)then
we should ask ourselves, "do I want to go to hell?"

Scripture (SRE) in Schools

I coordinate the Scripture teaching at six schools in the area. In reality - that doesn't mean much. God has answered all our prayers and has provided wonderful teachers for the schools. At the moment I teach/train in six classes.

This is what struck me ... I taught two classes on Thursday (both year 1) and none of the kids knew what happened on Good Friday and Easter.

Teaching Scripture in Australia is front foot, gospel ministry to an unreached people group. And it is really fun as well.

Whatever Church you are part of - please consider being involved.

(If you are in America or Europe and you don't understand. Local churches can teach about Christ in public schools - usually about 1/2 hour a week.)

J. I. Packer, Anglicanism and Homosexuality

Please watch this video ... it's a sequel to one I saw on Gordon Cheng's blog. It is good to see an old man who has fought for the truth with all the strength of his youth, continue to fight for the truth into his old age.

Quote of the Week

The Puritan, John Flavel commented, "The providence of God is like a Hebrew word - it can only be read backwards."It is much easier to see how God has used providence in the past than to figure out how he will use it to lead us in the future. And, in any case, we can rightly interpret providence only through the spectacles of Scripture. (John M Frame, A Theology of Lordship: The Doctrine of God, 286)

There are things that happen in my life that I cannot explain: including successes, failures and things that really hurt. But I know that I will be able to see why God has planned them in my life. In part I will see the reasons much later, but at judgment it will all make sense. He works all things together for the good of those who love him. (Romans 8:28)

PS.
Providence = his preserving of all creation, ordering of all things, including their actions, (often with particular emphasis on his people) to his own glory.

Introducing God

I really love running small groups of Introducing God (8-14 people). This group started a couple weeks after Christmas and is about to finish up. We discussed the prodigal son tonight. We've come a long way. People are really starting to understand God's grace and the way he works through Jesus.

Catholic Church ... the board game?

Vatican: Unlock The Secrets Of How Men Become Pope
I stumbled upon this board-game being advertised as educational at www.catholic.org. I wonder when the online version will be available...

Does God like us?

We had the question asked in our Bible Study group...

"God loves us, but does he like us?"

The room was split 50/50. A very provocative discussion ensued...


I think the answer to that question is extremely important.

Matthew 5:Jesus and the Law

One thing that I have found very helpful in my thinking is this:

Jesus did not come to show us what the Mosaic law really meant

BUT

what the Mosaic law really pointed to.