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Promised Land Symbolism

June 16, 2011 by Fritz

[Y]e shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it. – Joshua 1:11b

Israel’s entry into their “Promised Land” has long been seen as symbolic. The church has many hymns, like “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand“ equating the “Promised Land” with Heaven. But while Heaven is a promise, the “Promised Land” symbolizes something else.

In heaven our fighting will be over but in this life, as in Israel’s Promised Land, there are “giants” to defeat, crops to plant and harvest, successes and failures based on our obedience and partnership with Christ.

Taking over the promised land, driving out the sinful inhabitants, and occupying in faith is the same process of kicking out our old habits and sins, establishing Christ’s rule over our lives, and living for Jesus in the power of God’s Holy Spirit.

See it that way as you read the biblical book of Joshua and it takes on a whole new relevance.

– fritz@langgang.com

Posted in Experience, Explanations, Faith, Symbolism | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

Noticing Details

June 15, 2011 by Fritz

But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

Many are familiar with Jesus’ story of the “Good Samaritan” — a foreigner proves himself neighbor to a man in need when others don’t — but few notice why Jesus told it.

Luke noticed. A man who already knew the Bible law was trying to justify his views by asking “Who is my neighbor?” — just who was he required to love?

His culture distinguished between people groups.

His people kept their own as hard luck slaves no more than seven years but foreigners forever. His people couldn’t charge their own loan interest but they could foreigners. His ate no unclean animals but sold them to foreigners. His called foreigners “Dogs”. This man was seeking justification for his cultural view of justice.

But Jesus told of a foreigner who held no such distinctions — He had compassion on anyone in need, not just his own. As a Samaritan, that man’s religious beliefs were way off target but his heart was spot on.

This tells us at least two (2) things:
1. Everyone deserves compassion, not just our own;
2. Jesus doesn’t justify our views on anything — he offers forgiveness, healing, and change of heart.

fritz@langgang.com

Posted in Compassion, Explanations, Good Samaritan | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

Ecclesiastical Pornography

June 14, 2011 by Fritz

Eugene Peterson, Presbyterian pastor and author of “The Message Bible”, writes of his desire for the perfect congregation — one where the people are holy, alert, responsive to God’s word and experiencing glorious revival.

He decided that kind of place doesn’t exist, and he has a term for keeping that kind of image in our minds:

“Parish glamorization is ecclesiastical pornography — taking photographs (skillfully airbrushed) or drawing pictures of congregations that are without spot or wrinkle, the shapes that a few parishes have for a few short years.

These provocatively posed pictures are devoid of personal relationships…

Ordinary congregations are God’s choice for the form the church takes in locale, and pastors are the persons assigned to them for ministry.” – Eugene Peterson, Under the Unpredictable Plant, page 22

God uses real people and real relationships, not airbrushed images, to grow us and his kingdom.

– fritz@langgang.com

Posted in Church, Committment, Eugene Peterson, Quotes | Leave a Comment »

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