Paradigm 24: Discipleship and the World (8/5/20)
In this chapter, Edmund Chan identifies 4 concerns that confront us as Christian disciples:
1. A crisis of identity in an age of narcissism - our culture is one of self love. We forget our true identity as a holy people belonging to God.
2. A crisis of truth in an age of pragmatism - we care more about 'what works' than 'what's true'. So we lose conscience and conviction based on absolute spiritual truth. The latter must be reclaimed by discernment based on deep reflection on the Word.
3. A crisis of authority in an age of consumerism - we put our rights, choices and wants first. This has affected the way we view church, in that we become too self-centred to help others or submit to authority.
4. A crisis of spirituality in an age of fatigue - we are busy and restless in our spirits. Intimacy with God is not seen to be as important as activity for God. We minister out of spiritual dryness and thus become spiritually fatigued.
I think these are great observations - not found in the Bible, but observation of one who has understood the times we live in (1 Chr 12:32). So Chan asks us to be counter-cultural in rejecting these prevalent attitudes that affect even the people of God. I would observe that the primacy of self drives very much drives concerns 1 and 3. Even concerns 2 and 4 are driven by the need to project ourselves as being effective and significant. So 2 Ti 3:2 applies very much to our day. Self reliance leads to seeking for solutions
So we come to the questions at the end of the chapter:
1. According to Ps 40:1-12, in what way does truth protect us?
2. What is the purpose of the 6 reminders in Josh 22:4-5?
3. How do we define authority? And how should it be exercised?
How does truth protect us? What is truth?
On one level, God is the ultimate truth. An abstract idea cannot 'protect' us, but a Person can. At another level, 'truth' cannot protect us, but 'applied truth' does.
Psalm 40 was written by David in a time of trouble and personal failure (v 12). David both looks back at God's previous salvation (v.2-3a, 9-10) and looks forward to God's future salvation (v. 3b, 11). For him the past and the future are secure and seen not as separate, but indivisible in God. The reason for his confidence is in vv.4-8:
a) The one who trusts in God is always blessed (v.4), in contrast to 'those who go astray after a lie'. So God is true and trustworthy. God always works for and is concerned about those who trust Him (v.5), often in ways we cannot see and understand. This is the consequence of knowing and trusting in the true God. So, we must trust in God.
b) David understands the truth about what 'delights' God - it is in a readiness to hear and obey Him (v.6, cf. Heb 10:5-7) with our whole life, not with activities alone So the right response of trust in God is to 'delight' in obedience (v.8) and to testify to God's goodness to others (v.9-10). This assumes the understanding of the truth that obeying truth brings joy worth telling others about, not hardship. So, we should show that trust in God by obedience to God.
The context of Josh 22 is the parting of the 2 1/2 tribes from the rest to settle on the east bank of the Jordan after the conquest of the land. The 6 reminders are to be careful to:
1. Observe the commandment and the law of Moses
2. Love the LORD
3. Walk in all His ways
4. Keep his commandments
5. Cling to Him
6. Serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul
These commandments assume 1) authority based on truth 2) identity (relationship) and spirituality (intimacy)
Authority (Gk exousia) can refer to:
1. The intrinsic freedom to decide or a right to act without hindrance. All such authority begins with God, because He is the ultimate source of authority (Ro 13:1). Authority is valueless without the power to make it effective, but God has both in infinite measure.
2. The extrinsic power, ability, or capability to complete an action. Jesus was given the authority to forgive sins (Mt 9:6-8) and to drive out spirits (Mk 6:7). Jesus gave seventy-two disciples the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions (Lk 10:19). Simon sought power to grant the Holy Spirit (Ac 8:19).
3.Delegated authority in the form of a warrant, license, or authorization to perform. Jesus was asked by whose authorization he taught (Mt 21:23). He was granted authority for his ministry from God the Father (Jn 10:18). Saul was sent to Damascus to persecute Christians by warrant of the priests (Ac 26:10). God gave the apostles license to build up the church (2 Co 10:8 ).
4. The sphere in which authority is exercised. God has established spheres of authority in the world - the civil authorities (Ro 13:1, 1 Pe 2:13-14) , the home (Eph 5:22-33, 6:1-2), the workplace (Eph 6:5-9) and the church (Heb 13:17, 1 Pe 5:5). We could define this kind of authority as 'the right to compel obedience'. Disobedience to these 'authorities' is ultimately disobedience against God. although we always need to make sure that in submitting to them we do not go against God's character and ways. This is the only time we are exempted from proper submission to what He has instituted (Ac 5:29)
God delegates authority in ways that apply directly to us. This article here is nice.
1. A crisis of identity in an age of narcissism - our culture is one of self love. We forget our true identity as a holy people belonging to God.
2. A crisis of truth in an age of pragmatism - we care more about 'what works' than 'what's true'. So we lose conscience and conviction based on absolute spiritual truth. The latter must be reclaimed by discernment based on deep reflection on the Word.
3. A crisis of authority in an age of consumerism - we put our rights, choices and wants first. This has affected the way we view church, in that we become too self-centred to help others or submit to authority.
4. A crisis of spirituality in an age of fatigue - we are busy and restless in our spirits. Intimacy with God is not seen to be as important as activity for God. We minister out of spiritual dryness and thus become spiritually fatigued.
I think these are great observations - not found in the Bible, but observation of one who has understood the times we live in (1 Chr 12:32). So Chan asks us to be counter-cultural in rejecting these prevalent attitudes that affect even the people of God. I would observe that the primacy of self drives very much drives concerns 1 and 3. Even concerns 2 and 4 are driven by the need to project ourselves as being effective and significant. So 2 Ti 3:2 applies very much to our day. Self reliance leads to seeking for solutions
So we come to the questions at the end of the chapter:
1. According to Ps 40:1-12, in what way does truth protect us?
2. What is the purpose of the 6 reminders in Josh 22:4-5?
3. How do we define authority? And how should it be exercised?
How does truth protect us? What is truth?
On one level, God is the ultimate truth. An abstract idea cannot 'protect' us, but a Person can. At another level, 'truth' cannot protect us, but 'applied truth' does.
Psalm 40 was written by David in a time of trouble and personal failure (v 12). David both looks back at God's previous salvation (v.2-3a, 9-10) and looks forward to God's future salvation (v. 3b, 11). For him the past and the future are secure and seen not as separate, but indivisible in God. The reason for his confidence is in vv.4-8:
a) The one who trusts in God is always blessed (v.4), in contrast to 'those who go astray after a lie'. So God is true and trustworthy. God always works for and is concerned about those who trust Him (v.5), often in ways we cannot see and understand. This is the consequence of knowing and trusting in the true God. So, we must trust in God.
b) David understands the truth about what 'delights' God - it is in a readiness to hear and obey Him (v.6, cf. Heb 10:5-7) with our whole life, not with activities alone So the right response of trust in God is to 'delight' in obedience (v.8) and to testify to God's goodness to others (v.9-10). This assumes the understanding of the truth that obeying truth brings joy worth telling others about, not hardship. So, we should show that trust in God by obedience to God.
The context of Josh 22 is the parting of the 2 1/2 tribes from the rest to settle on the east bank of the Jordan after the conquest of the land. The 6 reminders are to be careful to:
1. Observe the commandment and the law of Moses
2. Love the LORD
3. Walk in all His ways
4. Keep his commandments
5. Cling to Him
6. Serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul
These commandments assume 1) authority based on truth 2) identity (relationship) and spirituality (intimacy)
Authority (Gk exousia) can refer to:
1. The intrinsic freedom to decide or a right to act without hindrance. All such authority begins with God, because He is the ultimate source of authority (Ro 13:1). Authority is valueless without the power to make it effective, but God has both in infinite measure.
2. The extrinsic power, ability, or capability to complete an action. Jesus was given the authority to forgive sins (Mt 9:6-8) and to drive out spirits (Mk 6:7). Jesus gave seventy-two disciples the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions (Lk 10:19). Simon sought power to grant the Holy Spirit (Ac 8:19).
3.Delegated authority in the form of a warrant, license, or authorization to perform. Jesus was asked by whose authorization he taught (Mt 21:23). He was granted authority for his ministry from God the Father (Jn 10:18). Saul was sent to Damascus to persecute Christians by warrant of the priests (Ac 26:10). God gave the apostles license to build up the church (2 Co 10:8 ).
4. The sphere in which authority is exercised. God has established spheres of authority in the world - the civil authorities (Ro 13:1, 1 Pe 2:13-14) , the home (Eph 5:22-33, 6:1-2), the workplace (Eph 6:5-9) and the church (Heb 13:17, 1 Pe 5:5). We could define this kind of authority as 'the right to compel obedience'. Disobedience to these 'authorities' is ultimately disobedience against God. although we always need to make sure that in submitting to them we do not go against God's character and ways. This is the only time we are exempted from proper submission to what He has instituted (Ac 5:29)
God delegates authority in ways that apply directly to us. This article here is nice.
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