Who Gets the Family Farm? – Inheritance?

Who Gets the Family Farm? – Inheritance?

It was that impromptu question from a listener which allowed Jesus to teach one of life’s greatest lessons. In Luke 12, we read of a massive, innumerable crowd where people were trampling over each other just to listen to Jesus (v. 1). At one point, when Jesus paused, a person spoke up to the Master and said to Him, “Tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me” (v. 13). The death of a parent often creates strife among the family, and this person knew that Jesus would settle the matter. Jesus did settle that matter but not in the way anyone expected.

Inheritance stuff

Your stuff? or Your soul? Where do your concerns reside?

He first told the man that His purpose was far greater than just to be a judge or arbitrator over such matters, and He spoke to that multitude. He showed the real problem in that family squabble was not just a legal matter. The Lord’s view of this matter? “Beware of covetousness” (v. 15). Who “gets the farm” is meaningless, for, as Jesus said, “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” That person who asked the question thought all that mattered was “the family farm,” and Jesus said that “the farm” has no value when we look at the real purpose we are on this earth.

He then illustrated this truth by telling the story of the rich farmer whose harvest had given him great wealth. That man’s view of life was so wrong. He thought that his life consisted of his business skills. With a heart filled with foolish pride, he made plans to build bigger barns because he looked to his future and it was so bright. He now had “…many goods laid up for many years” (v. 19). The future was so bright. He had worked hard and now he could “retire” and enjoy what he had earned. His words? “Take ease; eat, drink and be merry.” You know the rest of the story—he died within hours of saying this!

Jesus then asked a question worth noting: “Then whose shall these things be?” They definitely were not the farmer’s, for he died. They were not his children’s, for they too would eventually die. Neither were they his grandchildren’s! The truth is that they never were possessed by any mortal. “The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof” (Psa. 24:1).

Jesus’ view of one’s possessions was so different from that of the farmer. The farmer saw them as many goods laid up for many years. Jesus saw them as “things.” The truth is that all of life’s treasures are simply “stuff.” Gather all the “stuff” on this earth, all its silver and gold, and compare it to the value of your soul (Matt. 16:26).

The farm and all earthly possessions were the Lord’s before the farmer was born and were His after he died. Jesus called the farmer a fool. Check your values. Do not be a fool!

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Jeremiah and Impending Doom?

Jeremiah and Impending Doom?

From Jeremiah, chapters 29-32, we learn that God’s people had been scattered; with many of them living in legitimate captivity. Circumstances were definitely life and death serious. The times were so desperately perilous that for most – including even that great and humble servant of God, Jeremiah – there was some doubt as to whether or not they would ever see any sort of a return to normalcy again. From within those three chapters we see that Jeremiah’s hometown had already fallen and was under enemy occupation. The advancing Babylonian army was now building siege ramps against the very walls of Jerusalem itself! Certainly, looking around at the seemingly unstoppable forces that were encircling and threatening to exterminate them, it appeared that all hope for any sort of a return to normalcy – let alone prosperity – as they had once known it, was surely lost.

Jeremiah Doom

Trouble comes and goes… how will you ride the storm?

It is in the midst of those most dire of circumstances that God commands Jeremiah to buy a piece of property – in his very own, now enemy-held hometown no less (32:6-15, 25)! Jeremiah, being the faithful and obedient servant of God that he is, goes ahead and obeys God’s command to the letter (despite the fact that there is absolutely no physical evidence whatsoever to support that he will ever see or walk on his newly purchased piece of property). However, immediately after making the purchase, he goes to God in prayer to explain his own incredulity at being told to do so (vss. 16ff). While he, through the eyes of his faith, acknowledges God’s power to deliver, he still cannot seem to reconcile that with what his physical eyes now see (vss. 17-25). It is at that point that “The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, ‘Behold, I am the Lord God, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?’” (vs. 26). God then goes on to explain that despite their terrifying life and death trials of the moment, that He would personally bring His people back to once again dwell in safety, security, peace and prosperity in this place (vss. 36-44) – a promise which further reading proves He kept, just as He had said He would in Jeremiah 29:11-14; for truly, there is nothing too hard for Him.

The fact is that when in the midst of such trying times and circumstances as they were then or as we are now, it can, at times, be incredibly difficult to believe, based upon what we see and hear happening all around us, that it will one day end and that we will return to some sort or semblance of peace, safety, security, and normalcy. It surely must have seemed that same way to some of our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents, as they endured the darkest days of World Wars I & II; The Great Depression; and/or other world-wide catastrophes… but they did… and so shall we. It is Christ’s kingdom – the Lord’s church that we are so incredibly blessed to be a part of – that we are promised in the Scriptures will never end (Dan. 2:44; Matt. 16:18-19). As it outlasted the Roman Empire that it was born in, so too shall it outlast the COVID19 that we are quarantined in.

So we see that the question is not whether or not this current crisis will end, but instead, who will come through and out the other end of this fiery trial in the best and most incredibly unscathed shape possible (See Dan. 3:13-27; 1 Ptr 1:3-13). And the answer to that question is all too easy: It will be those who, because of their full and faithful confidence in God, never lose heart, walking through it by faith, and not by sight (2 Cor. 4:16-5:7); those who made it their aim, no matter where they were or what they were enduring, to please the Lord no matter what (vs. 9), just as it has always been (1 Ptr. 5:6-10). Let that, be you, both now and forevermore! God bless!

 

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SOLA SCRIPTURA

SOLA SCRIPTURA

Joel Peter es el autor de el libro titulado: “21 razones para rechazar la “sola scriptura”, libro que está diseñado para defenderla sucesión apostólica, la tradición y la autoridad oral en el catolicismo. “Sola scriptura”  es una frase en Latín que significa “Por la escritura solamente” y fue uno de los gritos más fuertes de la reforma. Precisamente es Martín Lutero quien el 28 de Octubre de 1517 clavó sus 95 tesis en la puerta de una Iglesia católica en Alemania. Este monje católico ahora desafiaba al papa de su época y firmaba así el inicio del largo movimiento llamado la “reforma”. Se le llama así porque Martín Lutero buscaba cómo reformar la Iglesia católica romana y no más bien iniciar un movimiento que sin querer estaba despertando a otros. El concilio Vaticano segundo (que dicho sea de paso fue muy controversial por la posición del catolicismo con relación a los protestantes) en uno de sus documentos establece que: “El oficio de interpretar auténticamente la palabra de Dios, oral o escrita ha sido encomendado sólo al Magisterio vivo de la Iglesia, el cual lo ejercita en nombre de Jesucristo”.  Claramente este sigue siendo la posición clara y estricta de la Iglesia Católica y pues evidentemente el “sola scriptura” sigue siendo igual de relevante hoy como lo fue ayer. Para esta ocasión es necesario analizar dos cosas con respecto a este dogma de “sola scriptura” y el rol de la Iglesia verdadera.

sola scriptura

“Sola scriptura” en el sentido estricto de la frase es el fundamento para la salvación.

PRIMERO. Al hablar de solo la escritura, inmediatamente es asociado por una gran mayoría de teólogos con el Calvinismo, con Martín Lutero y obviamente con la reforma. De cierta forma está asociado ya que  el reformador Juan Calvino basó gran parte de obra en el trabajo de Lutero. No solamente eso sino que “sola scriptura” está acompañada de otras cuatro corrientes doctrinales: “sola fide” (sólo la fe), “sola gratia” (sólo por la gracia), “solo Christo” (sólo Cristo) y “soli Deo Gloria” (sólo a Dios la Gloria).

Las últimas dos están perfectamente en armonía con la palabra de Dios, pero las dos anteriores (solo fide y sola gratia) contienen un matiz calvinista que la Biblia no apoya. La salvación no puede lograrse por fe solamente en el sentido que uno es justificado  y limpio delante de Dios solamente por un pensamiento. Es necesario la obediencia en el bautismo  tal cual lo establecen un sin número de pasajes (Mr.16:15-16; Hechos 2:38; Gál. 3:27-28 entre otros). Solo la gracia, hace referencia a que no hay nada que el pecador puede hacer para perder su salvación porque la gracia es suficiente, una vez salvo siempre salvo.  Tal doctrina contiene “huecos” en el proceso lógico y bíblico como tal. Judas por ejemplo era contado con los doce, pecó y pues  no continuó en un estado de salvación pues como dice el texto “…con el salario de su iniquidad…” transgredió la ley de Dios (Hechos 1:17-19) estableciendo este hecho la tremenda verdad que uno quien es contado con el grupo de los salvos puede perder la salvación. Pablo por su parte decía que él podía ser eliminado habiendo sido heraldo para otros sino tenía cuidado (1Co.9:27) . Está claro entonces que estas doctrinas calvinistas preservan una lógica sana que uno realmente pueda seguir, ni mucho menos armonía con las escrituras.

Por lo tanto “sola scriptura” encajonada en el paquete de los cinco “solas” debe de ser analizado cuidadosamente y hacer la separación de este principio con el resto de la teología de la reforma y más tarde a ser continuada por Calvino. Debe de entenderse con claridad que la Iglesia de Cristo no es producto y de la reforma y ni tuvo parte o suerte con ellos. Sin embargo algunos esfuerzos como proveer la Biblia a la gente común en esos años en particular son absolutamente loables.

SEGUNDO. “Sola scriptura” en el sentido estricto de la frase es el fundamento para la salvación. Desde el principio se escribieron algunas cosas y se le llamó, Palabra de Dios (2 Tes. 3:6; 2 Tes. 2:2; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). El canon estaba perfectamente bien definido desde el siglo primero siendo autoridad y regla de fe para la Iglesia. Si uno ha de apelar al orden es contundente que la palabra estuvo primero en los apóstoles, después, en los apóstoles y sus escritos, y luego, sólo en sus escritos. Uno puede confiar en la infalibilidad de esa palabra hablada por los apóstoles pero no en la persona de los apóstoles como hombres pues seguían siendo falibles almas imperfectas luchando por Cristo y su evangelio. Pedro por ejemplo, quienes los católicos aclaman como el primer papa infalible estuvo errado en su actuar cuando Pablo tuvo que reprenderlo (Gál. 2:9), pero sus enseñanzas e instrucciones eran movidas por el Santo Espíritu (Jn.16:13).

Note cuidadosamente como el Señor dijo que toda autoridad  se le había dado en los cielos y en la tierra (Mat. 28:18-20). Dijo que el mundo iba a ser juzgado por sus palabras. “El que me rechaza y no recibe mis palabras, tiene quien lo juzgue; la palabra que he hablado, ésa lo juzgará en el día final” (Jn.12:48). Seremos juzgados por las palabras de Cristo, e incluso por los escritos de los apóstoles y profetas, y no a través de las enseñanzas de hombres  o concilios no inspirados que contradicen a Cristo, y se contradicen a sí mismos.

La tradición y la norma oral no tienen lugar en la Iglesia verdadera del Señor. Cristo no comparte su trono y gloria con nadie (1Tim.1:17). El hermano Billy Bland explica:

Dios dio a los hombres su Palabra misma (no simplemente sus pensamientos). David declaró; “El Espíritu de Jehová ha hablado por mí y su palabra ha estado en mi lengua” (2 Samuel 23:2). Tome nota del hecho que la Palabra de Dios estaba en la lengua de David. No que los pensamientos de Dios estaban en la cabeza de David. Si Dios hubiera dado al hombre simplemente sus pensamientos y luego hubiera dejado que el hombre pusiera los pensamientos de Dios en sus propias palabras, entonces la Biblia no sería doctrinalmente perfecta. El hombre podría haber escogido las palabras equivocadas para los pensamientos de Dios. Dios se aseguró que no hubiera errores en eso Él dio cada palabra al hombre. (Conferencias, la verdad en Amor, East Hills Church of Christ Pulaski TN, 2006).

Por supuesto que estamos en acuerdo con el hermano Billy. La escritura solamente debería ser la única autoridad en religión puesto que no necesita nada más. El ser humano que aboga por las tradiciones realmente está dándole la espalda a la inspiración de Dios (2Tim.3:16-17) y en la gran mayoría de veces porque está lleno de supersticiones y aman las fábulas humanas. Esto no es nada nuevo Pablo se lo advirtió a Timoteo en 2Tim.4: 3-4.  “Sola scriptura” continua siendo un grito de protesta contra los abusos y las dogmas humanos absurdos que rodean al catolicismo. Pero también es nuestro ruego y suplica de amor para todos aquellos que no se conforman con la sencillez de la Palabra de Dios sino que necesitan añadirle; sueños, visiones y profecías modernas  que no tienen lugar alguno para nuestra era. Necesitamos confiar solamente en la escritura y ella sola puede salvar nuestras almas. “Por lo cual, desechando toda inmundicia y abundancia de malicia, recibid con mansedumbre la palabra implantada, la cual puede salvar vuestras almas.” (Santiago 1:21).          

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Having Patience Under Stress

Having Patience Under Stress

“Patience is a virtue” was an expression I heard a lot growing up! Now that I am almost 50 years-old, I have an inkling of what my parents meant. There are times in life when all that can be done is to wait and that is a good thing. Sin can create in us a sense of urgency that isn’t necessary. This urgency motivates us to act when we don’t need to act. Acting in such situations sometimes creates more problems than it solves. What is needed is a little patience. It takes self-control to hold oneself back from acting when all that can be done is wait. In Psalm 40:1 David wrote, “I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry.”

patient stress

Don’t let a feeling of urgency cause impatience.

Lack of patience can also cause us to use our tongues incorrectly by saying things that we should not say. Sometimes a person may feel like he just must say something. He feels awkward when there is silence among others. So, he blurts out the first thing that comes to his mind. Maybe it’s innocent, but maybe it isn’t. Patience will help one to keep one’s tongue in check. James 3:2 says, “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.” Alas, there are no perfect people, so James states, “But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8).

So the next time you feel motivated to “do something,” ask yourself, “Do I need to wait and see what happens first?” Psalm 37:7 says, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.”

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The Fire of Adonai

The Fire of Adonai

In this Christian-based fantasy, two young girls embark upon a quest of biblical proportions as they navigate through the world of the book of Revelation, a.k.a. Calypsion. Ruth’s parents, Enoch and Naomi, are avengers who pursue criminals and bring them to justice, but their work takes a turn for the worse when they are enslaved in the city of Mizraim governed by the greedy Zelophehad. Katabe is a girl from the midwest United States who is magically transported to Calypsion to help in its most desperate hour. With the Red Wyrm as their enemy, the two will join together to gather the needed materials to seal the 144,000. But how did these two very different people meet in the first place? In The Fire of Adonai, they will learn that friendship can begin under the most difficult circumstances, and that relationships are not built on doing evil, but good.

If you are looking for good clean fiction to read to your family, then you will enjoy reading Katabe and the Seven Seals: The Fire of Adonai. Written with the Christian worldview in mind, this book will provide a wealth of opportunities for you to have spiritual discussions with your loved ones about the differences between right and wrong. Christian families, home school groups, and youth educators will also enjoy the rich vocabulary and biblical references contained throughout this work.

Kevin Cauley (contributing author at Church of Christ Articles), writing under the name pen name Marion Merriweather is a husband, father, and biblical scholar. He has a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree from St. Edward’s University. He currently resides in Northeast Texas. He is an avid reader of fantasy and biblical literature. His literary inspiration derives from C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, and numerous other fantasy authors.

Note: Church of Christ Articles does not receive compensation for posting this invitation to you for your reading pleasure.

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