Hello Everyone,
Today, the New York Times, in their “Room for Debate” series, had five interesting takes on Mormonism. Of course, many people are concerned about presidential candidate Mitt Romney being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints (LDS or Mormon). Here is the link:
What Is It About Mormons?
I grew up out west and many of my friends were Mormon, including a girl I tried to date in 10th grade. I learned a little bit about Mormonism and was never convinced of their faith claims. Mormons, in many respects, should be admired by most Americans: 80% tithe to their church, most serve a year or two in mission between high school and college, the divorce rate is very low, and family values are held in highest esteem (if only our churches and their people could live up to those standards). Their social ideals, whether you agree with them or not, are not much different then the Catholic Church or many conservative evangelical Protestant churches.
So, should people not vote for Mitt Romney solely because he is a Mormon? No. If you agree with his politics, his being a Mormon should not be an impediment.
A bigger question being raised by many is, “Are Mormons Christian?” If you define “Christian” as simply being a follower of Jesus Christ, as the Mormon Church says it is, then yeah, maybe. However, the theology and basic tenets do not match the historic creeds, Nicene Creed and Apostles’ Creed, espoused by all Christian Churches - Orthodox, Catholic, and the denominations of the Protestant Churches. For instance, we believe that God and Jesus have a relationship of Father-Son AND we believe that Jesus is one with God, that is Jesus is God. Mormons believe the first but not the second. This is but one of many points of difference.
So, are Mormons Christian? In my opinion, no. But that should not preclude anyone from supporting and voting for a politician with whom they agree who also happens to be Mormon.
Enough of my soapbox! On to the texts!
Isaiah 40:21-31 – I often use part of this passage, verses 28-31 along with verses 1-8, in funeral services. After a series of questions in verses 12-20, the prophet begins to offer the answer: God. The main question is asked in verse 27: where is God in all our troubles (many Israelites are exiled in Babylon)? Verses 28-31 are the reply: God has not forgotten his people and he will strengthen them so that they may soar like eagles.
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c – A psalm of praise for God who creates all things. You may as well read the entire psalm because it continues the list of all that God does. My main question: despite all of these great things, in whom does the Lord delight and take pleasure?
1 Corinthians 9:16-23 – Following his discussion on the eating of meat sacrificed to animals Paul defends the rights of apostles to be supported by the church. Beginning in verse 15 Paul argues that he has not made use of that right. His one duty/obligation is to proclaim the gospel and if something he does would subtract from that message then he won’t do it. When proclaiming the Gospel to Jews then he will live up to their standards so as to not appear a hypocrite and thus push them away from the Gospel. The same holds true for other people: those outside the law (Gentiles), the weak, and others. The ultimate goal is to win some people to the Gospel. Is there anything in your life that would cause others to reject Christ?
Mark 1:29-39 – Whose house did they go to spend the night? Who was there and was sick? What does this tell us about Simon (Peter)? After sundown (that is, after the Sabbath) who came to the house? What did Jesus do for them? Before sunrise where did Jesus go and for what reason? Why do you think everyone was searching for Jesus? Where did Jesus want to go and why? What was the message Jesus wanted to proclaim (see 1:15)?
May the good new, the Gospel, fill you up and may you share the Good News with all you meet this week!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Readings for January 29 2012
Hello Everyone,
BK sends out a weekly email to the members of the GE Choir and it usually contains a pun. The pun this week is “Atheism is a non-prophet organization.” I don’t know about you but I chuckled.
And speaking of “prophets” the Old Testament (also known as the Hebrew Scriptures or the Tanakh; see here for the meaning and derivation of the word) lesson in Deuteronomy is all about the prophets that come after Moses.
Deuteronomy 18:15-20 – This passage actually finishes with verses 21 and 22 which concerns discerning true and false prophets. Who is speaking here (the majority of the book is essentially his last will and testament)? Why is it necessary for the people of Israel to have prophets? What should the people do when they hear the words of a prophet and what will happen if they don’t? What will happen to a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods? What will happen if they speak false words claimed to be God’s?
Psalm 111 – Where will the psalmist give thanks for the Lord? Describe the “Works of the Lord”. What has the Lord done? In verse 4, how is the Lord described? In verse 9, what did the Lord do?
1 Corinthians 8:1-13 – This is the entire chapter. What is the main concern for Paul and the Corinthians in this passage? The primary source of meat in Corinth in those days was from the animals slaughtered at the many temples to the false gods of the Greeks and Romans. Why would this be a problem? What is Paul’s rationale? What is his ultimate decision? How would this apply in our lives today? What should we do?
Mark 1:21-28 – Where does Jesus and the first disciples go? What did they do on the Sabbath? What did Jesus do first and why was the congregation amazed? Who interrupts the proceedings and what does he say? What was the response of Jesus? Again, what was the congregation’s response? What are the demons of our times? How should we respond?
Have a great week studying the Word of God and may that study bless you in all you do.
BK sends out a weekly email to the members of the GE Choir and it usually contains a pun. The pun this week is “Atheism is a non-prophet organization.” I don’t know about you but I chuckled.
And speaking of “prophets” the Old Testament (also known as the Hebrew Scriptures or the Tanakh; see here for the meaning and derivation of the word) lesson in Deuteronomy is all about the prophets that come after Moses.
Deuteronomy 18:15-20 – This passage actually finishes with verses 21 and 22 which concerns discerning true and false prophets. Who is speaking here (the majority of the book is essentially his last will and testament)? Why is it necessary for the people of Israel to have prophets? What should the people do when they hear the words of a prophet and what will happen if they don’t? What will happen to a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods? What will happen if they speak false words claimed to be God’s?
Psalm 111 – Where will the psalmist give thanks for the Lord? Describe the “Works of the Lord”. What has the Lord done? In verse 4, how is the Lord described? In verse 9, what did the Lord do?
1 Corinthians 8:1-13 – This is the entire chapter. What is the main concern for Paul and the Corinthians in this passage? The primary source of meat in Corinth in those days was from the animals slaughtered at the many temples to the false gods of the Greeks and Romans. Why would this be a problem? What is Paul’s rationale? What is his ultimate decision? How would this apply in our lives today? What should we do?
Mark 1:21-28 – Where does Jesus and the first disciples go? What did they do on the Sabbath? What did Jesus do first and why was the congregation amazed? Who interrupts the proceedings and what does he say? What was the response of Jesus? Again, what was the congregation’s response? What are the demons of our times? How should we respond?
Have a great week studying the Word of God and may that study bless you in all you do.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Readings for January 22, 2012
Yeah!!!! Jonah’s Back. So here we go.
Jonah 3:1-5, 10 – PLEASE, Please, please read all of Jonah. It is only 4 chapters long. Here is the synopsis and with only one question: Jonah is called to go east to Nineveh but hops a ship to go west. Ship runs into a nasty storm and as a last straw the crew throws Jonah overboard. Jonah is swallowed by a (pay attention here) large FISH, not a whale. Jonah prays to God. Fish vomits Jonah up on a beach. Jonah goes to Nineveh as prophesied “Forty days more and Nineveh will be overthrown.” All of Nineveh repents, from the king to all the people to even the animals and God has mercy. Jonah pouts and pouts (he hates Nineveh). God makes a bush grow and die and then chastises Jonah. What does Jonah do? That is the question for us today.
Psalm 62:5-12 – Verses 5 and 6 are a repeat of verses 1 and 2. Verses 3 and 4 tell us that the psalmist is suffering at the hand of others. Who is the psalmist waiting for and why? Who is the psalmist speaking to in verses 8-10? What does he want them to do? What 2 things belong to God in verses 11-12? What does the last part of verses 12 say to you and how do you resolve it with Paul’s teaching that all are saved by faith alone?
1 Corinthians 7:29-31 – This is the second week of five we will spend in 1 Corinthians. This can be a difficult passage to understand. What is Paul asking believers to do and why? What is Paul’s expectation when he wrote the letter? What about our times? How should we behave?
Mark 1:14-20 – Mark is in a hurry to tell his story so he doesn’t elaborate on the details. Verses 12 and 13 are about Jesus’ temptation with no details. So too verses 14 and 15 about the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Just a brief mention. Matthew 4 and Luke 4 give more detail to both. Where is Jesus in verse 16? Who were the first two disciples and what was their occupation? What did Jesus say they will do? Who were the next two disciples? Who was their father? What were they doing at the time?
One more thing. Please keep my father in your prayers. He has had a rough 3 weeks and has been in and out of the hospital 3 or 4 times. It seems that when the doctors figure one thing out something else goes wrong. Thank you.
Jonah 3:1-5, 10 – PLEASE, Please, please read all of Jonah. It is only 4 chapters long. Here is the synopsis and with only one question: Jonah is called to go east to Nineveh but hops a ship to go west. Ship runs into a nasty storm and as a last straw the crew throws Jonah overboard. Jonah is swallowed by a (pay attention here) large FISH, not a whale. Jonah prays to God. Fish vomits Jonah up on a beach. Jonah goes to Nineveh as prophesied “Forty days more and Nineveh will be overthrown.” All of Nineveh repents, from the king to all the people to even the animals and God has mercy. Jonah pouts and pouts (he hates Nineveh). God makes a bush grow and die and then chastises Jonah. What does Jonah do? That is the question for us today.
Psalm 62:5-12 – Verses 5 and 6 are a repeat of verses 1 and 2. Verses 3 and 4 tell us that the psalmist is suffering at the hand of others. Who is the psalmist waiting for and why? Who is the psalmist speaking to in verses 8-10? What does he want them to do? What 2 things belong to God in verses 11-12? What does the last part of verses 12 say to you and how do you resolve it with Paul’s teaching that all are saved by faith alone?
1 Corinthians 7:29-31 – This is the second week of five we will spend in 1 Corinthians. This can be a difficult passage to understand. What is Paul asking believers to do and why? What is Paul’s expectation when he wrote the letter? What about our times? How should we behave?
Mark 1:14-20 – Mark is in a hurry to tell his story so he doesn’t elaborate on the details. Verses 12 and 13 are about Jesus’ temptation with no details. So too verses 14 and 15 about the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Just a brief mention. Matthew 4 and Luke 4 give more detail to both. Where is Jesus in verse 16? Who were the first two disciples and what was their occupation? What did Jesus say they will do? Who were the next two disciples? Who was their father? What were they doing at the time?
One more thing. Please keep my father in your prayers. He has had a rough 3 weeks and has been in and out of the hospital 3 or 4 times. It seems that when the doctors figure one thing out something else goes wrong. Thank you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)