The Old is New

After many years of work, the Codex Sinaiaticus is (mostly) on line. The story of how it got there is fascinating.

Count Von Tischendorf was on a trip to the middle east to secure ancient biblical manuscripts. He managed to meet and stay with the monks of St. Catherine's monastery. One morning he awoke and it was cold so he warmed himself by a fire that another monk had started. He happened to notice the material the monk was burning... it turned out to be pages from ancient codexes in Greek. He quickly rescued what he could. What is interesting at this juncture is that some sources say Tischendorf stole the leaves of what became Sinaiaticus. Nevertheless, pages were scattered around the world. Until now.

One can go to http://www.codexsinaiticus.org/ (the link is down right now) and view these historical finds.

Atheist Camp

Atheists are back in the news. There are several articles in various newspapers about the rise of summer camps for kids whose theme is atheism. Camp Quest is one among many. Richard Dawkins, the British atheist, is said to help fund these camps. What I find so fascinating is the clear lack of the fear of God in these men. The youtube video here features an interview with Christopher Hitchens, another British and very vocal atheist.


The Apostle Paul wrote,as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; (11) no one understands; no one seeks for God. (12) All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." (13) "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." (14) "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." (15) "Their feet are swift to shed blood; (16) in their paths are ruin and misery, (17) and the way of peace they have not known." (18) "There is no fear of God before their eyes." Rom 3:10-18 ESV.

It seems to me that if someone didn't want to hear about God the natural reasoning process would be to not send one's child to a church camp. Jonathan Edwards used to tell young people that they had better be very, very careful because if they heard the gospel and refused Christ that they were in great danger, storing up for themselves a greater punishment for the day of wrath. One young girl said that when she went to the Christian camps she felt "pressured" to pray. At the atheist camp she stated she wasn't pressured at all. While one cannot force faith it is important to expose children to the claims of Christ. If those claims are true (they are) then it stands that the Christian has an obligation to tell the truth to those who will hear. Paul wrote elsewhere, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (11) Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.2Co 5:10-11 ESV.

Click here for an excellent article on atheism.

The Ark...revealed?

The head of the Orthodox Church of Ethiopia has stated that the Ark of the Covenant will be revealed to the public. There are many who believe that the Ark was secreted away in Ethiopia and that it rests there today. The priests in the area also point to the Jewish artifacts present in the area as proof; i.e., tongs for removing a sacrifice from the fire, basins and other elements.

Curiosity was raised when Spielberg did his first film in the Indiana Jones series. Claimants like Ron Wyatt have said they found the ark under the temple mound in Jerusalem. But Wyatt's claims (finding the ark of Noah) are suspect and many of the facts simply do not fit his claims.

But what if the Patriarch in Ethiopia makes good on his promise? I doubt that it will be brought to light though it may well be in Ethiopia. And I doubt that it would make little difference to most people who are not Christians. There has been so much written on the historicity of the bible, even when some of its claims, at the time, were unable to be verified. Years later those claims were vindicated (such as the presence in history of Pontius Pilate, when a large inscription was found at Caesarea Philippi bearing his name), it still made little difference to those with closed minds. The same is true for the ark of the covenant. Even if there was a stamp on the bottom saying "made by Moses" (though another craftsman made it), along with Moses thumbprint it would make little difference. Arguments would be raised about it as a religious icon and many would dismiss it as a "battery" to generate electricity, a pagan symbol designed to rally the oppressed Jewish people, or just one religious symbol among many. The ark itself does not testify or witness to anything. It just "is."

What if they find it? Historically it would be marvelous to find such an ancient relic. Religiously it would show the practices of the Jews during the time of Moses. Spiritually, some may even decide to worship it. But biblically, God no longer dwells over the ark. Christ is the ark of God and in him all the fullness of the Godhead resides. We have Christ. Pretty boxes are just that.

The Quick and the Dead

There is an interesting article over at the Baltimore Sun about a woman who was healed of cancer, supposedly by praying to Seelos, a 19th century Maryland priest. That she has no present cancer is true and according to her doctors, unexplainable. That she prays to the dead...well that's another issue.

There are three tacts that one can take to this issue. Firstly, that she was healed by praying to Seelos. Experience is a hard wall to argue against. The issue though is whether this really is a straight-line, cause and effect issue. I'm pleased that this woman is healed. I've watched many a person die from cancer and wouldn't want anyone to die from it.

Secondly, a second possibility is that God sovereignly chose to heal her despite prayers to a deceased priest. God often answers prayers despite our theology.

Thirdly, one might look for natural explanations whose causes we simply do not know.

The modernist in me looks to the third answer and that is my demerit. Miracles are intrusive and they don't fit our (my) molds well, despite the fact that I believe in miracles. It just shows you how swamped we are in the streams of our culture.

The postmodernist in me is satisfied to call it a mystery and dance with her in joy over her healing. Let's face it- she's healed.

But the Bible student in me balks at the first tact- praying to the dead. The Westminster Confession of Faith (ch.32) clearly states, IV. Prayer is to be made for things lawful, and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter; but not for the dead, nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death. While this specifically prohibits prayer for the dead the implication is also that it includes prayer to the dead. The Confession states in chapter 8 concerning Christ, Which person is very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man. Therefore prayer to a dead priest is prohibited by the Bible itself (assuming the Confession rightly interprets the Bible). There is only one mediator, not many. The idea that a holy priest, no matter how holy he is, has more influence with God because he is holy undermines the biblical idea of Christ's unique relationship to the Father.

Having grown up Catholic I understand the reasoning behind these types of prayers and relics. It is based on the idea that those who are "holy" and righteous accumulate a treasury of merit with God. The holier the person, the more merit they accumulate, often more than they themselves can use. And God is said to be gracious in allowing people to draw upon the holy stature of these "saints," the highest among them being Mary, the mother of Jesus. These works are called "supererogatory." Combine them with the supererogatory works of Christ and it is believed that the Christian can draw upon them while on earth.

The Bible knows no such understanding of 'good works.' In fact, it teaches the exact opposite. Christ himself said

"Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come immediately and sit down to eat'? (8) "But will he not say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat, and properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink'? (9) "He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? (10) "So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.'"Luk 17:7-10 NASB

I rejoice that this woman was healed. I don't know how she was healed. But it wasn't by praying to a dead priest. Perhaps it is evidence of God's grace to her through Jesus Christ. Shouldn't God alone get the honor and glory?

Glary Utilities Free

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I discovered that my computer was slowing down repeatedly, being bloated with all sorts of entries in the Windows registry. I tried at least 10 different "shareware" utilities to alleviate the problem from Registry Mechanic to Reg Run. Using Reg Run it did clear up some problems but added others such as changing the way the computer started up, adding a longer boot period, etc. Others were obviously trick ware: they stated on their sites that you could try it for free...but locked the user into a "fill in the credit card" information loop of screens. It was a clear bait and switch. But Glary utilities- I found it at ZDNet downloads, (see the address above) but it is a great utility.

It scans your registry and with one click fixes the problems.

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Over time with an Overtime God

"Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome." Neh.4:14a

The past couple of days I have been re-reading my journal. This particular one began in the middle of the Iraq war (July 03). Over the years I began to write down particular prayers and specific prayers alongside of those events that were part of my days. And as I read, I took particular note of the prayers God answered and those that he didn't.

As I've been preaching through Nehemiah, one of those areas that some of us Presbyterians are not really comfortable with is the "subjective impressions" that God will lay on our hearts. I know, because having spent 6-7 years as a card-carrying Pentecostal/charismatic I have watched people's faces when I tell them that biographical anecdote. Nehemiah, in Chapter 2 goes and surveys the walls. THEN he gathers together the nobles, priests, lay people, etc., and tells them what God laid on his heart and recalls what favor God had poured out on him...and them.

Jonathan Edwards called these impressive moments "illuminations," and said they do not happen often. Edwards was well known for spending 11 hours in study which included meditations on his studies in the word of God. While I am definitely not in the "Emergent" church or "postmodern" church camp, I think our Christian church in that area is more comfortable with mystery. By mystery I mean being comfortable with coming up to the brink of an idea and stopping there, saying to ourselves that knowledge and the Spirit have brought me to this point and no further. We look into a chasm and must be content to stop alongside of the Spirit. John Calvin cautioned us in his Institutes that if we sought a will (reason) for something, or some event higher than God himself (what he already has revealed in Scripture) then we would be guilty of idolatry. And when we do look back on these moments, and prayers that were made with their answers in varying degrees we discover that God is always faithful.

Bringing this back to journals and prayers. I had prayed that God would give me a particular pastorate while I was praying for being in the pastorate in general. God didn't answer positively for two specific churches. At the time I was disappointed, but as I look back at the two men who were selected, I can't think of a more perfect fit for those churches.

I know that in some quarters, journaling is viewed as some sort of odd, out of step, introspective means of getting in touch with your "inner __________" (fill in the blank). But the memory is a faulty thing- you will forget many of the details surrounding that which caught your attention, especially over a period of years. Writing your concerns, prayers, etc., will keep your mind in tune to remember God's faithfulness to you in those moments of doubt and discouragement.

Christians and the Arts

Dallas Jenkins over at Breitbart has a significant and insightful article as to why Christian movies are so bad. Now before many of you send me Christian hate mail about "Fireproof" (one of the latest "you've got to see this movie" says the Christian at church) please...wait. There are three things you need to know first.

First, I love movies. I always have- from being a kid and watching the B horror flicks, musicals, Dr. Doolittle (the original) to the great films such as The Roaring Twenties (Jimmy Cagney) and White Heat (my favorite). Secondly, I have lots and lots of education: no bragging, just that I'm over-educated in Christian circles. Thirdly, I'm a performer/artist- I've been doing magic, sleight of hand and ventriloquism since I was six (46 years). I've said the last because magic is often shoved by Christians into the same vein that Jenkins talks about.

One of the significant reasons he offers is that in the 60's Christians had virtually vacated Hollywood by creating their own Christian culture. As Michael Horton (Professor at Westminster Theological Seminary) has said, Christians attach the word "Christian" in front of the noun and somehow that "sanctifies" the product. With magic, some slap a picture of Jesus on a piece of equipment and do a very, very bad trick. But with Mel Gibson's the Passion, Jenkins note Hollywood turned its eyes towards an untapped market: Christian or faith-based films.

Jenkins also notes that young Christians are not encouraged by their churches (or at least in the modernist sense) to become quality artists themselves; i.e., to learn what good filmaking (or magic) is. This, I think, is largely due to the animosity against "worldliness" (redefined from the bible). The Christian-sub-culture swims in values that are not necessarily biblical and therefore the product (film, magic, painting, music) is tepid at best.

Some of the best offerings lately have been the films Luther and Amazing Grace (The story of Wilberforce who lobbied for 25 years to eliminate slavery in the British empire).

Its time Christians, young Christians, took up the gauntlet and become artists in all the fields.

Ehrman Smoked on Colbert

Self-proclaimed agnostic Bart D. Ehrman appeared on a recent episode of the Colbert Report. I'm not a big fan of Colbart but this is a good take on the historical accuracy of the New Testament. Ehrman has a long list of impressive credentials, to be sure. What I find interesting is that he raises old arguments and puts them in new clothes. For example, he states that the ending of Mark 16 is not original to the gospel of Mark. While many present day scholars would agree, there is something that is being left out. Codex Siniaticus, discovered by Tischendorf greatly disagrees with Codex Vaticanus, some of the earliest manuscripts (4th century) of the New Testament. Siniaticus leaves out the Mark 16 extended ending. If you'll look below, I have an extended discussion of the theories surrounding textual criticism; i.e., how we know what parts of the New Testament were original to the text or added later.

Shack 2- The defining quality

One thing, and its a big thing, I left out below on The Shack, was the foundational presupposition of Open Theism, which finds its way into the Shack. In Open Theism its adherents believe that the defining quality or characteristic of God is love. This characteristic, it is said, is at the forefront and affects all other characteristics almost (for practical purposes) squeezing out the others. This is why, then, that God finds the expression of love in relationships with us.

Theologian John Frame, in his Doctrine of the Knowledge of God and Doctrine of God, notes that the defining characteristic of God as revealed in the Bible is his sovereignty. This sovereignty is eschewed by The Shack. There, as with Open Theism, sovereignty is viewed as power, control and a violation of God's creatures' wills. It is said that no true relationship is possible where there is one person seeking to exercise authority, power, and control over another.

Here, I think, is where we stand on the brink of a mystery. God is sovereign and purposed before time began to have a relationship with mankind (1 Peter 1:2, 3) and where implementing this plan began with covenanting with Christ to be the "lamb slain before the foundation of the world." The Bible does NOT explain how this is just that it occurs.

But God's sovereignty and man's acceptance of Christ as Savior are not mutally exclusive since it is God who enables us with faith to place trust in him alone.