Christmas faith

   It has been a tough year for me.  And in my opinion, it has been a tough year in various manners for my home country, the U.S.A.  I prepare for and anticipate an enjoyable Christmas for one reason: a believer in Jesus can have joy and peace as he or she relies on the love of Jesus.  Thus it does not even mean my Christmas will be filled with fun or romance.  Yet come what may, my Christmas can be filled with the love of Jesus.
   Talking about the joy and peace of Jesus is easy to express but hard to live, yet I take this moment to recall there have been many occasions when I have had joy and peace in the past twenty-seven years of following Jesus in the midst of crummy circumstances, which I believe was solely due to the love of Jesus I knew in my heart.
   My ministry calling has been a unique one, and though I like kids, I was never blessed with my own children.  Yet I have been tremendously blessed to be true friends and like an uncle to the two children of my dear friends who are like family.  When the boy was very young, I frequently took him and his sister on walks.  My little buddy was quick to let go of my hand to examine things I would point out such as bugs or mushrooms.  Yet whenever I would start walking again, he was quick to say, “Hand!”  I would always stretch my hand out to him and he would clasp it.  In following Jesus for over twenty-seven years, I have learned I am never too old to exclaim to Jesus, “Hand!”
   There is a Father in heaven who loves everybody.  God the Father sent his one and only Son, the babe born to a virgin in a manger in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago.  Jesus was Immanuel, which means God with us.  Though a helpless little baby, He was the Christ, and though about thirty-three years later He submitted to being helpless on a cross as He was crucified by Roman soldiers, He was the Christ.  In fact, Jesus died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone.  He was the atoning sacrifice for sins.  Then He was resurrected.  If you believe in Jesus, you will have eternal life in heaven with Him.
Merry Christmas, love, Hunter

(Three friends, a picture taken just under a decade ago.)

500 years ago on October 31, 1517

   In one week from today, 500 years ago on October 31, 1517, a monk named Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses on a church door in Wittenberg.  Issues involved were critical, and the result was epic.  Here I simply state the denomination which dominated in the West had distorted Biblical soteriology teaching to the tragic point of insisting that salvation involves buying forgiveness.  Yet Martin Luther courageously took the stand that the Biblical truth is salvation is a loving gift from God, as Jesus was the sacrifice for the sins of people.
   One Saturday this early fall, I went to the library at my Alma mater Colorado Christian University where there are over fifty volumes of Luther’s writings.  Having only read excerpts from him, I wanted to see what was in the depths of those volumes.  I was surprised how brash and degrading he could be.  It was not what I was expecting.  Yet in what little I read, he was making key Biblical points, convictions which went against the church authority.
   Regarding gaining a good historical overview of Luther’s ministry, I recommend chapter seven of the book Turning Points by Mark Noll.(1)  This was one of three textbooks assigned for my History of Christianity class with the superb Dr. Megan DeVore at CCU.  Though I have some disagreements with Dr. Noll in the first chapter, his chapter on Luther gives a wonderful overview, and he is gracious in his treatment.
   I remain in utter disagreement with numerous Roman Catholic doctrines even in this age in the wake of their Second Vatican Council.  Granted I am also in disagreement with certain doctrines of certain Protestant groups, such as certain doctrines of “TULIP Calvinist” theology.  Yet just this year my friend Dave, who is Roman Catholic, has blessed me more than I can describe, being a caring friend and supporting my ministry calling.  I am thankful for the love today between Christians who have major theological differences.  We are to care about everybody, while not compromising our convictions.  May we Christians rely on the Holy Spirit to continue to courageously stand firm in our Biblical convictions!  And may we Christians rely on the Holy Spirit to tell the truths of Jesus Christ to everyone in love!
Hunter

(1) Mark Noll, Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1997), 151-174.

Ask

Luke 11:9-13   “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.  Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?  Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?  If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (NIV).

   It is imperative we put this verse into context.  Jesus is teaching there is something specific which will be given to all who ask the heavenly Father, and that is the Holy Spirit!
   When I was a new Christian, I was a bit confused about why there are some teachings recorded by Matthew which are similar to teachings recorded by Luke, but which have some differences also.  Many scholars attribute these differences to their claim Luke copied some of Mark and Matthew.  If that had been the case, Luke the doctor was a poor copier.  Yet if you look closely, Jesus simply gave teachings on different occasions which had similarities, yet differences also.  His teaching was not rote!
   For example, in Matthew, Jesus gave what is popularly termed the Sermon on the Mount.  Preceding that teaching, Matthew tells: “Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down…” (Matthew 5:1 NIV).  Whereas before giving similar teachings recorded by Luke in chapter 6: “One of those days, Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God” (Luke 6:12 NIV).  Then in verse 17, Luke states: “He went down with them and stood on a level place.”  The teaching in Luke is a different location, thus a different occasion.
   Going back to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:7-11, Jesus gives a similar teaching to the passage we are pondering, then goes on in verse 12 to give what people often term the “Golden Rule;” do to others what you would have them do to you.  But can anyone truly live the “Golden Rule” without help from God?  I think Jesus wanted to get people thinking here.
   The teaching captured by Luke gives us a more direct statement about what, actually “who,” we are able to receive: the Holy Spirit.  What Jesus was teaching on both occasions is that people need to ask to receive Him, the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.
   There have been plenty of times in my 27 years of following Jesus when I have asked our heavenly Father for something, and I never got it.  Yet God will always give Himself to anyone who asks!  And that gift results in eternal life, and results in more and more blessings to come.
   Receiving Jesus results in eternal life, because Jesus died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone.  He was the substitute for the wages of sin, which is spiritual death.  If you believe in Jesus, He will forgive you of your sins, He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and He will be your forever Father.
Hunter Irvine

Fulfillment

Luke 9:28-36   About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.  As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.  Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus.  They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.  Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.  As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here.  Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)
   While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.  A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”  When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone.  The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen (NIV).

   What was really going on with this “transfiguration?”  Fulfillment is what was taking place!
   First, the final book of the Old Testament Scriptures is Malachi, and that prophet concluded with the statement: “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes.  He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse” (Malachi 4:5-6 NIV).
   Elijah came!  In this passage Elijah came and talked with Jesus.  Plus I am convicted Elijah was the one who talked with John the Baptist (see John 1:32-33 and Luke 1:17).  The prophecy of Malachi was fulfilled!
   And the mission of Jesus which resulted in eternal fulfillment was prophesied here!  Jesus would fulfill the Law and Prophets.  Jesus stated, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17 NIV).  Only Jesus, who never sinned (see 2 Corinthians 5:21), was completely obedient under the Mosaic Law.
   And Jesus completely fulfilled the Mosaic Law and Prophets by being the substitutionary atonement on the cross.  How?  The Mosaic Law demanded sacrifice for sins.  Jesus was the Lamb of God.  The Prophets spoke of the need a Savior.  Jesus was the Savior.  This is what Jesus, Elijah, and Moses were talking about; they were talking about Jesus’ coming death on the cross.
   Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone.  He was the perfect sacrifice, accomplishing what animal sacrifice under the Mosaic Law was unable to accomplish - the permanent atonement for sins.  Because Jesus was God the Son, because He had perfectly obeyed the Law, and because He died in the place of all people as their substitute, He was the Lamb of God.  If you believe in Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord, you will have eternal life in heaven.
Hunter Irvine

Forgiveness of sins

Luke 7:36-50   Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.  When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears.  Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.  When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
   Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
   “Tell me, teacher,” he said.
   “Two men owed money to a certain moneylender.  One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both.  Now which of them will love him more?”
   Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.”
   “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
   Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman?  I came into your house.  You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.  You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.  Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much.  But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
   Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
   The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
   Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (NIV).

   Wow.  Jesus was frequently criticized and persecuted by Pharisees, yet He accepts the invitation of a Pharisee named Simon to have dinner at his house.  That was nice of Simon to have Him over for dinner.  But then Simon the Pharisee doubts Jesus is special because Jesus allows a “sinful” woman to touch Him.
   After telling a short parable, Jesus emphasizes how much the woman has done for Him.  First, Simon the Pharisee did not give Jesus water to clean His feet.  A dinner host in those times in the Middle East would often do so since people’s primary transportation was good old fashion walking, people were in sandals, and people wanted clean feet when “reclining” at the dinner table, which was near ground level as people sat on pillows.
   The woman however, cleaned Jesus’ feet with her tears and hair.
   Second, Simon the Pharisee did not greet Jesus with a kiss.  The common greeting in the Middle East two thousand years ago among men was kissing on the cheek, first on the right and then on the left.  Ironically ancient kissing is an area of expertise, not because of experience; no woman ever kisses me unfortunately.  Rather I did a paper on the “holy kiss” when studying at Colorado Christian University.  In my Research Writing class, our great professor, Dr. Petrie, said she wanted each student to come up with a thesis which was original.  I sure did, picking a Biblical topic I had never heard any Christian discuss, the “holy kiss” mentioned in Romans 16:16, I Corinthians 16:20, and I Thessalonians 5:26.  And in I Peter 5:14, Peter mentions the “kiss of love.”
   Today in “Western” culture, a common greeting is shaking hands.  But two thousand years ago it was not common in the Middle East, rather men would greet one another by kissing on the cheek.  But it was not done between men and women as a casual greeting.  This was a difference between the “holy kiss,” which was done in corporate worship between both genders as brothers and sisters in Christ, to express the love of Christ.
   So appropriate to Middle Eastern culture, it would have been a caring greeting by Simon the Pharisee to greet Jesus with a kiss on both cheeks, but he did not.  The woman however, kept kissing Jesus feet!
   Third, Simon the Pharisee did not pour oil on Christ’s head.  Last year CCU hosted a speaker, Dr. Eric Welch from the University of Kansas, who gave a talk on olive oil.  An entire talk on olive oil?  Yes, and it was fascinating because olive oil was crucial in the Middle East daily life in ancient times.  On top of olive oil’s numerous uses, it was apparently common to pour a bit on the head of a dinner guest.
   But no such action by Simon, yet the woman poured perfume on Jesus’ feet!
   After this whole wild scene of this woman pouring out expressions of love at the feet of Jesus, Jesus does the ultimate.  Jesus states, “Your sins are forgiven.”  Only God can forgive sins, and Jesus is God the Son, and He forgives the sins of the woman.
   Scripture states the woman had lived a “sinful” life.  We also know from Scripture that all of us people have sinned.  This week I did some Scouting work.  In my youth, I was utterly devoted in Boy Scouts.  I did more activities than any other Scout in my troop from 1978 until 1985.  I am an Eagle Scout, I earned 36 merit badges, and I was quite “decorated.”  Most importantly in retrospect, I learned some skills and principles I have utilized throughout my life!  Yet I never perfectly lived up to the Scout Law.  And I sinned against our perfect God; I needed salvation for my soul.  Jesus reveals here that faith in Him results in the forgiveness of sins and salvation.
   Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone.  He was the perfect substitute for the consequences of wrongdoings, which is spiritual death in hell.  If you believe in Jesus, your sins are forgiven, and you will have eternal life in heaven.
Hunter Irvine

To do good or to do evil

Luke 6:6-11    On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled.  The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath.  But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.”  So he got up and stood there.
Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”
He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”  He did so, and his hand was completely restored.  But they were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus (NIV).

   When studying this passage this morning something hit me: How could religious leaders be “furious” after viewing the healing of a damaged hand?  I have a few physical challenges, including some eye challenges.  Our bodies are so important.  Our bodies are so delicate.  Imagine if you did not have use of one hand.
   There in a synagogue a man with a damaged hand was healed by Jesus.  How awesome.  The man’s life was drastically improved, and he must have gone home with much joy and having an appreciation the rest of his days in this world for the use of his hand.
   But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious, because Jesus was not following their rules according to their interpretation of Scripture, of which they liked to add much legislation.
   In reading this passage, I am saddened as I realize the tragedy of such fury remains today.  There are plenty of instances when goodness done by Christians elicits anger by some.  And oftentimes we Christians simply get heaped with much criticism.  In my 27 years of being a follower of Jesus, I have exponentially improved as a person, more than I can express, however criticism has mounted tremendously.  That seems totally illogical.  Yet Jesus illustrates the reason.  The call of God is to do good rather than evil.  The ministry of Jesus involved physically healing people, yet it ultimately concerns saving the souls of people.  But the call of God is not the mission of all people.  People not adhering to the call of God sometimes do not even consider the spiritual need of salvation.
   Jesus saves souls so that people He has redeemed can be in heaven, and that is what we Christians should be proclaiming.  That message will sometimes be ill received by people who do not want to hear about heaven and hell.  And some people will disagree about the morality of physical issues such as sex outside of marriage and drugs.  More and more as a Christian I feel like I am in the minority regarding questions of Biblical morality.  I need to remember that Jesus had the ultimate opposition.
   Our sad fallen world contains much fury.  What can we do to improve things?  My suggestion is that you and me start today with this Bible passage.  Jesus healed the hand of a man because Jesus loved that man.  Let us praise God that He healed his damaged hand.  Let us be thankful that Jesus does good.  And though Jesus is in heaven, let us walk by faith today realizing Jesus can do healing in the hearts of willing people through the Holy Spirit even today.
   Thus I suggest that now you think of one person who needs some healing in his or her heart, and say a prayer that person would turn to Jesus for healing.  It is a start.
+ Heavenly Father, I think of a person I know who recently was hurt, and who needs to open up to You for love and healing.  May she be encouraged that You are her Savior and Lord, and may she be reminded that You are her best Friend.  It is through the loving name of Jesus that I pray.  Amen.
Hunter

The Lord's Prayer - 4

And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil
   For thine is the kingdom,
   and the power,
   and the glory, forever and ever.  Amen.

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13 NIV).

   Scripture teaches we can trust God.  He has never led anyone into sin!  “…God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (I John 1:5 NIV).
   But we humans are, to use a nice term, human.  We need deliverance from evil.  Jesus is willing to do so for you and me.

   The conclusion is referred to as a doxology, giving praise to God.  Many Bible translations do not contain this verse, while some do.  This is a rare instance where there is a major discrepancy in earlier manuscripts.  Yet the earliest manuscripts do not contain it.
   If not in the original autograph of Matthew, and I do not think it was, this doxology still may have been expressed by some Christians early on.  “The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles,” (also coined the Didache), is an anonymous Christian writing possibly written in the early second century.  The complete copy we have is from 1056 A.D., but could have corruption, yet there are a number of fragments.  And in that old manuscript, the eighth chapter contains the Lord’s Prayer, and there is a similar version of the doxology, though lacking the word “kingdom.”
   For me this debate is a reminder the Lord’s Prayer was not meant to be the official prayer practice.  Jesus was giving us a foundation.  And how appropriate to conclude by giving God the glory.
   To God be the glory indeed!
Hunter Irvine

The Lord's Prayer - 3

Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us

“Give us today our daily bread.  Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:11-12 NIV).

   My understanding of the Lord’s Prayer increased a great deal when I realized the bread spoken of here is more than physical food.  Jesus said, “For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:33 NIV).  And in John 6:35, Jesus stated He is the bread of life.  Thus the need here is not physical food, though obviously we need such, rather for spiritual sustaining, which only Jesus can provide.  We need Jesus!
   Some people think “our daily bread” is referring to the Bible, based on Jesus’ statement in Matthew 4:4.  We listen to God through Scripture so it ties in with needing Christ.
   Central in the mission of Christ was His death on a cross as the sacrificial atonement to offer the forgiveness of sins to anyone.  Jesus offers forgiveness.  And Jesus tells us to forgive anyone who has sinned against us, no exceptions.  He enables!
Hunter Irvine

The Lord's Prayer - 2

Thy kingdom come
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven

“...your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10 NIV).

   Jesus is a King.  He revealed this as is recorded in John 18:36-37.  He said His kingdom is not of this world, yet He desires that it merge and transform this world.  God desires transformation!  He is never satisfied with things being in a state of continued sin.
   Doing the Father’s will is mandatory for the person who is within His kingdom, a child of the Father, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 7:21.  With this teaching He is not negating mercy and grace, rather we need to receive His mercy and grace to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit to be enabled to do the will of God.
Hunter

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father
who art in heaven
hallowed be thy name

“…Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (Matthew 6:9 NIV)

   My definition of prayer: talking with God.  Talking “with” involves listening, so listening to God through the messages of the Bible are in a sense tied in with prayer.  Yet prayer always involves a person speaking to God.
   Jesus taught what is often termed “The Lord’s Prayer” as recorded in Matthew 6:9-13 and 
Luke 11:2-4.  This was not a formula for talking with God.  Rather it is a foundation which gives some basics for prayer.  For example, who should we address?  What should be our primary focus?
   Who do we address in prayer?  The Father!  All of us have or had an earthly father, yet this Father is in heaven; He is God.  How did God become our Father?  For those who believe in Jesus, they are adopted into the family of God, as it states in John 1:12.  Believers in Jesus are forgiven of sins and thus united with God in a relationship as intimate as father – son.  How incredible.
   Sometimes followers of Christ open a prayer addressing Jesus or the Holy Spirit.  This is a point of Christian dispute.  I think such is fine, because all three Persons of the Trinity are One.  Yet since Jesus gave His disciples this lesson, addressing the Father is always a good thing.
   Jesus taught the name of the Father is hallowed, which means holy.  When we pray to the Father, we are praying to God who is Holy!  This calls for reverence of the heart.
   Now I have known people who had abusive fathers, or criticizing fathers, or negligent fathers, or abandoning fathers.  And I have never known anyone who had a perfect father.  Yet this Father is perfect, as Jesus taught in Matthew 5:48.  So again, reverence is demanded.  Yet in addition, we know this Father is loving.  Thus you and I can come to our Father in heaven in a more intimate way than we would anyone else.  Wow.
   My church does not recite the Lord’s Prayer in worship.  Most churches I have ever been a member of did.  Saying it every week, a person can slide into saying it without meaning.  However, that need not be the case.  I say it often, sometimes when I am on a long walk, or sometimes alone in my room at my window, especially at dusk.  I want to always say it in sincerity.  Yet again, remember the purpose is not mandatory recital, rather to get us rolling with talking with God.
Hunter Irvine

God and Caesar Tiberius

Matthew 22:15-21   Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.  They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians.

“Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.  You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are.  Tell us then, what is your opinion?  Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?  Show me the coin used for paying the tax.”

They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this?  And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” (NIV).

   Ironically the passage discussed in my last piece involved Greeks and this passage involves a Roman emperor.  The Roman Empire, a history subject I was weak on, has been contemplated by me this week since I have been reading a book about it by Dr. Thomas Burns, footnoted below.  The author is a longtime scholar and expert on the subject.  Though quite cold towards Christianity, from his expertise I have gained some Bible context.

   I learned from Dr. Burns why Roman taxation incited anger from a number of people of conquered countries.  “Taxes were not uniformly imposed.  Until late in the second century, citizens paid less, and those in Italy paid hardly at all.” (1)  Also, their cruelty against newly conquered countries is shown as they often enslaved many people from their new territory. (2)  And their all-encompassing label of people from other countries as “barbarians” is dehumanizing in my opinion.

   Also, the emperor at the time of the ministry of Christ was Caesar Tiberius, and emperor worship was already established.  Dr. Burns mentioned emperor worship taking place within the military. (3)

   Thus we have the background for this passage.  The Pharisees and Herodians thought they could trap Jesus, because if He said they did not need to pay taxes to Caesar, He would have been committing a crime against the ruling Empire, and the Herodians would have probably been quick to report that.  And if Jesus merely said they should pay taxes to Caesar, He would seem to be betraying His fellow Jewish people who were ruled and suppressed by a foreign country which even practiced blasphemous emperor worship.  The Pharisees would have probably been quick to spread that around.

   Yet Jesus went to work to reveal the true God.  Brilliantly using a coin to aid His point, Jesus in one sentence denied the deity of Caesar, and divided the issue of money verses true love.  Money could be given to Caesar.  Love, to the ultimate extent of worship, is to be given to God.

   Israelites knew the Shema: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.  Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5 NIV).  And this command continues for all since Jesus taught it as is recorded in Matthew 22:37-38.  (And the teachings of Jesus are for everyone – Matthew 28:20.)  First and foremost, the call of a believer in Jesus is to love God to the degree of worship.  We are to love people also, as Jesus went on to teach in Matthew 22:39.  Jesus was not teaching they could forgo loving the human being Tiberius.  Jesus was saying worship is due to God, a true love which is proper for God, and God only!

   Obey what Jesus states here, and devote your entire heart to our Holy God, the One who first loved us.

Hunter Irvine

(1) Thomas S. Burns, Rome and the Barbarians, 
100 B.C. - A.D. 400

(Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 

2003), 31.

(2) Thomas S. Burns, Rome and the Barbarians, 
100 B.C. - A.D. 400

(Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 

2003), 105.

(3) Thomas S. Burns, Rome and the Barbarians, 
100 B.C. - A.D. 400

(Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 

2003), 154.

Revelation to the Greeks

 John 12:20-29   Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast.  They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request.  “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”  Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.  Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.  But if it dies, it produces many seeds.  The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.  My Father will honor the one who serves me.  Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say?  ‘Father save me from this hour?’  No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.  Father, glorify your name!”  Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”  The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him” (NIV).

   Why did Jesus refrain from talking with these Greek gentlemen?  Seems like the perfect opportunity to show His divine wisdom.  Yet Jesus did not talk with the Greeks, rather after this event which included some more interaction with the crowd, He “hid himself” (verse 36).
   The Bible never records Jesus discussing Socrates, Plato, or Aristotle, though those philosophers were still huge in the culture of His day.  This seemed to be Jesus’ chance to be a witness for the truth in the face of the world’s great philosophers.  Seems like a prime opportunity for Jesus to rock the philosophical world.  Instead Jesus reiterated His mission, which involved death, and then He opened an opportunity for God to be audibly revealed.
   Greek discourse, which I was raised on, involves question and answer sessions, and strives towards logical statements of an “if –then” nature.  Yet in telling of His mission Jesus used an “Oriental” style.  This style involves a bit of a vague discourse, usually containing metaphors, where the main message may be tucked away in the middle of the address rather than stated upfront or in the grand conclusion.  “Oriental” discourse was the culture of the Ancient Near East, thus it fit the culture of Judah.  In this manner Jesus talks about His mission to the Cross.
   After Jesus affirmed and exalted His mission, God the Father spoke from heaven.  Wow.
   I do not think Jesus was ignoring the Greeks, rather He took the opportunity to have the living God directly reveal Himself from earth and from heaven.  God does want us to engage in discourse with folks.  When studying at Colorado Christian University, I did some research on the writings of early Christians.  A topic of interest to a number of early Christian writers was Greek philosophers.  Makes sense because the early Christian writers were usually highly educated.  Sometimes these early Christians would try to explain that the wisdom of Christianity did not contradict certain Greek wisdom rather was a real life fruition.  And look at Paul’s great statement in Athens to the Greeks regarding the altar to the “To An Unknown God,” in Acts 17.
   Yet the foundation of discourse must be that God revealed Himself.  We fallen humans are not able to obtain the wisdom of God on our own accord.  We fallen humans could never have discerned God had He not revealed Himself to us.  (I learned that from John Stott.)  God revealed Himself that day in an audible voice from the Father in heaven to all who were willing to listen.  And God revealed Himself in Jesus Christ.  Jesus was Immanuel, which means “God with us.”  The truth of the person of Jesus is He was God incarnate, which means God in the flesh.
   His divine nature was expressed more and more throughout His ministry as He continued performing miracles.  This may be the reason even Greeks wanted to talk with Him.  But this is also the reason why He threatened many religious leaders who expressed their concern they were going to lose their lofty positions, since the Empire had a history of squashing countries or territories they perceived to be insubordinate.  Or maybe their secret fear was Jesus was going to defrock them.  So they worked to murder Jesus.  Yet Jesus allowed Himself to be murdered, the result of which was that Jesus was the atonement for sins for anyone.  Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic Law and the Prophets by being the sacrificial atonement on the Cross for the wages of sins, which is spiritual death.  Then the Father resurrected Jesus, and He lives today.  If you believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you will not perish, rather you will have eternal life with Jesus forever.
Hunter Irvine

Marriage

Matthew 19:3-6   Some Pharisees came to [Jesus] to test him.  They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”  “Haven’t your read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?  So they are no longer two, but one.  Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate” (NIV).

   Marriage was God’s plan in the beginning.  In this passage in Matthew, Jesus quotes Genesis!  Marriage has been carried out in most cultures throughout history.  Marriage was God’s intention from the start.
   But marriage has been frequently degraded at various times throughout history, and is being rapidly degraded in my country, the United States, now.  Just in my lifetime, marriage is less common and more frequently degraded.  Also the divorce rate is high.  Even in some Christian communities in my country, ministers are teaching it is fine to engage in sex outside of marriage, which is tragic.
   In my opinion, the disagreement within the Christian community and in society regarding the sanctity of marriage, tied in with the disagreement over same gender marriages, has been the most divisive dispute since the Civil War.
   Yet marriage between a man and a woman is good!  Now marriage is not a requirement.  Singleness being chaste is an option.  Personally I have accomplished much ministry work which probably would not have been possible or best had I been married.  Yet I still have the dream of being married.  And marriage is an opportunity for many.  Yet for continued happiness, a marriage needs both partners to live by the love of Jesus.  Why?  Because Jesus’ true love is needed by everyone, single or married.  His true love was manifested in that Jesus died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone.  Jesus was the atoning sacrifice for the consequence of sins, which is spiritual death.  If you believe in Jesus, you will have eternal life with Him.  And you will be changed throughout your life to be more and more loving.  Enabled by Jesus, you can even be more and more loving to a spouse, if you gain one.
Hunter

Love

   Sometimes I struggle.  Recently I celebrated my birthday.  Every year in the past I have cherished birthdays.  Even as I get older, I continue with thanksgiving for how God has blessed me during another year.  But this past year, I have been so unsuccessful in gaining employment there have been rare feelings of diminished hope.  Also marriage has been a dream ever since my youth, but it has not happened after a half century.
   Working to stay encouraged by God, invitations were sent to a few friends for a birthday event.  The people who came: my dear friend who is like my sister and her children, of whom I am like an uncle.  Had they not been available, I would have been lonely on my birthday.  With such pathetic circumstances recently, I would have been crushed.  Instead, because of their expression of love, I had one of the best birthday parties I have ever had!
   Over the past 27 years of following Jesus there have been some occasions when I needed, truly needed, an expression of His love in some personal way.  This past birthday is an example where God gave me needed hope through the love of my three genuine friends.  Jesus Christ commanded we love God and love people.  My friends love Jesus, and they loved me on my birthday, and I am immensely thankful.
   So today, simply a statement from a teary eyed follower of Jesus saying if you love someone even this week, you may influence their life more than you can imagine.
Hunter

Why is Good Friday good?

   Yesterday afternoon I was driving to a park to go for a walk.  Turning on the radio to a Christian station, the D.J. was talking with a woman.  She said she had worked a job for fifteen years, but then in 2014, she was laid off.  Then she went to a temp company, and they placed her in a job.  It turned out to be her favorite job ever.  She woke up at 5:00am every weekday morning looking forward to her job.  But yesterday morning the temp company informed her the job was ending.  In one week it will be over.  Speaking to the D.J., she sobbed.  Then the D.J. started praying for her.  His prayer touched me.  And I prayed for her on my walk.
   Walking in the park my thoughts were flowing.  Like that woman, I have been in a job which I loved which came to an abrupt halt, actually several times and for various reasons, and each time it was extremely hurtful.  After working so hard and being so devoted to Jesus through it all, it hurts, and it can seem unreasonable.  If a job is enjoyed so much, why does God allow it to come to a premature or abrupt end?  If a child of God is working hard at a position, should not God reward that person by allowing her or him to continue in that employment?  And as I have mentioned previously, I have been unemployed for a long time, and that has been hard.  God keeps encouraging me, but no door has yet opened.
   After all of that thinking in the park while I walked around and around, the whole subject was rather overwhelming.  Yet I was blessed to acknowledge after my time thinking that because of sin, this world is full of daily tragedy, yet God will bring goodness from tragedy for those who turn to Him.  Regarding tragedy, God allows people to make their own choices, day after day.  When those choices are not within the will of God, people get hurt in some manner.  Yet praise be God, if you turn to God in the wake of being hurt in a tragedy, He can bring goodness for you.  This is revealed in the Bible: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 NIV).
   This does not mean that all things are good.  The Bible teaches sin is bad and hurts people.  However, for those who love God, and thus are willing to do His will, He will work in their lives to bring goodness.
   Today is “Good Friday,” when Christians remember the crucifixion of Jesus.  Why was it good Jesus was murdered?  It is the ultimate event where God brought the ultimate goodness out of the ultimate tragedy.  The ultimate tragedy is that Jesus, who was Immanuel which means God with us, was murdered.  Yet His plan was to be the substitute for the consequences of sins, which is spiritual death in hell.  When Jesus was murdered, He became the atonement for sins which is available for anyone.  Shedding His blood for the salvation of people was the ultimate goodness.
   Jesus could have chosen not to suffer death.  He did so because He loves us.  Many of us have gone through tragedies we could not avoid.  There are times when I have suffered or when I have seen someone else suffering when I have considered God does not love us.  I think, “How can God love us if He allows us to experience such extreme tragedy and suffering?”  Suffering all started because of the disobedience of people against God.  Yet Jesus suffered the atoning death on a cross to makes it possible for us to one day suffer no more, since believers in Jesus will be with Him for eternity in heaven.  If you do not know Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you can believe in Him right now and be saved!
   I hope you can say with me this “Good Friday,” “Thank You Jesus!”
Hunter

The voice of the Good Shepherd

   Back in the early nineties, I worked in Washington D.C. for three and a half years commuting on the subway from northern Virginia.  My dad commuted to Washington D.C. on that same subway line from Virginia, though he lived in a different town than myself once I was an adult.  We rarely saw each other on the subway.  One point about the D.C. subway is there are certain lines which overlap for a certain length, and then split.  Thus before you get on a train you need to look to see if it is the correct line you want.
   Once I was at a subway station which is a junction for two different lines, the orange line and the blue line.  I was waiting for an orange line.  A long blue line train came to the station and slowed to a halt.  Suddenly I saw my dad in a seat in the car just to the right of me.  He was sitting reading a book.  The doors opened and people immediately departed the train.  Then I jumped in the doorway and said, “Dad!”
   My dad, who was bent over reading, after a moment, raised his head.
   “You’re on a blue line,” I stated as he looked at me.
   He grabbed his briefcase and walked off the train.  As the train pulled away, we were both glad and amused I happened to be just at the right spot on a rare time when dad happened to be on the wrong train.
   And though there may have been a number of fathers on that train, my immediate reaction was to call him what I always call him.  And my dad said in the midst of reading, when he heard someone loudly say “Dad,” he recognized my voice.  Before he looked up, he thought, “That’s Hunter.”
   In a sermon in a church where I worshiped this past Sunday the pastor was teaching on John 10 and made the statement that all followers of Jesus are in one flock.  He said there is only one flock and there is only one Shepherd.  Sounds obvious, but sometimes we Christians are so enamored by our human institutions we do not act like there is one flock.  Jesus does not divide the sheep based on denomination membership or ethnicity.  There are no sub-flocks.  The flock of God started out with Jewish believers within the Mosaic Covenant, and in the time of Christ was expanded to consist of people from all ethnic groups of all nations who believe in Jesus.  Jesus has one flock, children of God who have been adopted into the forever family of God.  Those of us who truly believe in Jesus have God as our Father in heaven.  People are not in the flock if Jesus is not their Savior and Lord, however active they are with a church institution.  Membership in the flock is not based on human merit or family history.
   Jesus stated, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand” (John 10: 27-28 NIV).
   Have you heard the voice of the Good Shepherd?  The Bible records teachings, discourses, and discussions by Jesus.  In my Bible, His words are even in red letters.  Though words on a page, the longer I follow Jesus, the more I hear the “voice” of Jesus as I read what He stated.
   I started with an old subway story, and I conclude with one.  When I was a rather new Christian, I got that job in Washington D.C.  Every day after work, I read the Bible on the way home.  Having only read a small amount of the Bible from the Old Testament in high school, I started by reading the entire New Testament for the first time.  Months in the future I shifted my Bible reading to the morning subway ride so I would read when more rested.  As my learning journey continued, Bible reading became more of a “study.”  Then came the ultimate; Bible time on the subway involved personal reflection and meditation.  All this happened on a subway over the course of six years.  And all along I grew in my understanding that when reading the Bible, Jesus was talking to everyone, including me.
   Soon after those six years of Bible learning and much other education at my special church, I became a youth pastor.  Though I had only been a Christian for seven years, time listening to and learning from the Good Shepherd predominantly on a subway train of all places, resulted in me being able to discern His voice.  And throughout all these years, I have been able to follow Jesus because I have listened to His voice in Scripture.
   To hear the voice of the Good Shepherd, you simply need to read the Bible trusting God that you will hear from Him, the One who loves you.
Hunter Irvine

Teach

   What is the name of a teacher who had a large impact in your life?

   My dad had a life changing teacher in junior high school.  Over forty years later, standing in an airport my dad heard two people talking behind him.  Without seeing either person, my dad recognized the one voice as that influential teacher.  The man was working as a volunteer at the airport information desk.  My dad went to him, introduced himself, and then told his former teacher what a great influence he had been in his life.  That story is one of my favorites because I think it is incredible my dad recognized the voice of a teacher he had not heard in over forty years.

   I have had some great teachers over many years of schooling, and two professors at Virginia Tech, Professor Ed Falco and Dr. J.W. Tubbs, had a life long influence.  Yet the personal story I will share here is from my freshman year at Virginia Tech.  The university was still on the quarter system, and the general education requirement for all students, besides engineering and math students who had even more advanced freshman math classes, included a quarter of Algebra, a quarter of Trigonometry, and a quarter of Calculus.  Not being a math person, they were hard for me.  (General education requirements are different at Tech these days.)  For those three classes, and a required entry level English class, Tech used graduate students as teachers.  My teacher for Calculus for the spring quarter was a graduate student from Tennessee.  That man turned out to be one of the best teachers I have ever had.  A Calculus expert, he would go through an equation problem on the chalk board at a nice pace for our sake.  Each step was explained!  Then he would ask if everyone in the class understood how he carried out the equation.  If only one person in the class did not understand, he would do it over again.  A few times he even went over a tricky step three times.  His patience was epic.

   One day around noon I was in the dining hall as usual.  Normally I sat with friends, but none of my friends were around that day.  Sitting alone at a large round table, I saw the Calculus teacher.  After he got a milk, he came over to my table and asked if he could sit with me.  I was honored to have my teacher sit with me and I enjoyed talking with him during lunch.  No other teacher had done that before, and none has done it since.

   We all have different gifts, and each of us prefer some subjects to others.  Whatever the subject, if your teacher was great, I speculate he or she has a passion for that subject.  And if your teacher was life changing, I speculate he or she cared about you.

   The last point Jesus instructed in the “Great Commission” is for followers of Jesus to teach everything He commanded.  Just as most of us have been aided by others in our Bible education, Jesus wants us disciples to be a part of the teaching process and assist in the education of others.  First we must learn from Him.  Preaching, teaching, and healing were grand aspects of the ministry of Jesus, and now His teachings are recorded in Scripture.  I personally am always learning from daily Bible study.  Second we must truly teach.  I love teaching, and promoting discussions by asking questions and being open to questions are one mode of teaching I employ to keep folks engaged.  Yet the call to teach is not only for those of us with a teaching gift.  You parents teach your children simply by how you live your life.  And if teaching is not your thing you can still foster Bible education by buying someone a Bible, treating your Sunday school teacher to lunch, or aiding the tuition of someone engaged in ministry studies.

   For twenty-two years of my life, though I had some prime education experience, I did not know the Gospel, I could not have named the first five books of the Old or New Testament, I had only read a small bit of the Bible, and I had never taken a theology class.  Boy has my life been radically different the past twenty-six years!  May that encourage us both when I say that right now education is more widespread and accessible than ever in history due to technology, however Bible unfamiliarity is common.  As education accessibility increases, Bible expertise seems to be diminishing.  Possible reasons might include the fact information overload is common, and our culture is more complicated.  Our duty remains, thus followers of Jesus need to keep learning from the Bible, and then share our knowledge in appropriate manners.

   For those of you who are not followers of Jesus, I invite you to take the opportunity to learn what Jesus taught.  His teaching can have even more than a “life time” influence; His teaching can have an eternal result.  Jesus, God the Son, gave teachings which reveal the Way to eternal life.

Hunter Irvine

Why does God let people die?

   I am compelled to write about a difficult topic: death.  This is a hard piece to write.  A few weeks ago as I was looking forward to Easter, I learned Easter is on April 16, 2017, which will coincide with the ten year commemoration of the 32 people murdered at my Alma mater Virginia Tech.  It will be a day where Christians need to proclaim the life available from Jesus, the One who rose from the grave.

   Having grown up in a TV generation, early on there was exposure to the reality of death, but it was not personal.  Gradually through my early years, death became a reality to face.  My first close confrontation with death was when I was a sophomore in high school.  There was a student in my Algebra class my freshman year who was a truly nice guy, and we were casual friends.  One day after school our sophomore year, he went to his friend’s house and smoked much pot.  Then he told his friend he was going to borrow his mini-bike.  The friend told him “no,” stating he was in no condition to ride it.  But he insisted, wrestled the motorized vehicle away, and went riding.  Going down a street perpendicular to my house, he ran into a poll at top speed.  I was doing homework, and I heard an ambulance.  When I went out, paramedics were frantically doing things huddled over his body.  He died on the way to the hospital within the hour.  Weeks of mourning followed at Falls Church High School.

   Also at my high school, there was a teacher I liked who died of cancer.  Yet during my four extremely active years at Virginia Tech, death seemed distant.  Yet even at Tech, a haven for me in sense, death did not disappear into history books.  For example, a fellow Resident Advisor’s dad died.  That same year a freshman died in a caving accident two days before I was scheduled to give a talk on caving safety.

   I will not get into my testimony here, however I want to state it was less than one year after graduating from Virginia Tech when I received Jesus, truly believing He had been resurrected from the dead, and that He was the way to everlasting life.

   Since becoming a follower of Jesus, having been far more involved in the lives of people, I have been exposed to many friends and church family members physically dying.  In my first church, Kathy was a person everyone loved.  She was in our church singles group.  She and I once attended a baseball game, and I had such a fun time.  In April of 1996, only in her late twenties, she died in a plane crash overseas.  I had so much trouble doing work the next day.
   I could continue on regarding the death of friends and family members.

   Why does God allow people to die?  Why does God allow such tragedy?  From the start, death is not what God wanted for people.  The first two people God created had the opportunity to choose the “tree of life.”  God gave them a complete invitation to eat the fruit of that tree (Genesis 2:16).  However they disobeyed God.  They indulged in the fruit of the one tree which they were unable to handle, the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil,” which God had forbid them from eating from.  Know that the sin of Adam and Even had nothing to do with apples or sex.  The Bible does not say what kind of fruit was on the trees, and there was a spiritual nature to those trees whatever fruit was on there.  And the tree was not a metaphor for sex.  God had given a general blessing after His creation of human beings to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28).  Multiplying involves you know what.  The sin was the disobedience to God by Adam and Eve.  Disobeying God, they brought about the separation between God and people, and the result of being separated from the Creator of all things is not only physical death, but also spiritual death.  Death is not what God wants for people, yet God granted Adam and Eve free will to obey or disobey Him.  Their disobedience brought about a state of hardship, pain, and physical death for the history of human beings to the present.  Yet God started working immediately to save people from spiritual death.

   Thus we all have the opportunity to make a choice today regarding having spiritual life.  All people still physically die, with few exceptions such as Elijah.  Yet eternal life is offered by Jesus, and any person can receive or not.  Jesus made eternal life possible by dying on a cross.  Seems odd a death would bring an opportunity for life.  Brace yourself for this: Jesus was Emmanuel, God with us.  Trinity is the term we use frequently today, a term which identifies Jesus for who He is, God the Son.  Being divine, God the Son allowed Himself to be crucified!  Death was experienced by Jesus, who never had to die.  Jesus willingly suffered death to be the substitute for people.  The consequence of sin is death, yet Jesus willingly took our place, because He loves all people.  Jesus died physically and spiritually, and it is the Sacrifice of all history for the spiritual salvation of people.

   Even when a follower of Jesus dies, we can still mourn.  For example, after the Virginia Tech murders, I cried and wailed.  God never desired death; it goes against the creation of God.  And even if the person is in heaven, we will miss them for a short period of time.  Yet when someone has been saved by Jesus, we can have the assurance the person is not dead, rather in heaven with God.  In 1996 was the only time I was with someone who died, and it was my dear friend, Grandma.  I had done much to help Grandma in the last five years of her life.  My grandma went much of her life not opening up to Jesus, yet in her 70’s, in the wake of my grandpa’s death, Grandma believed in Jesus.  I have never seen Jesus change someone so much in a short period of time.  When she passed away, I was the only other person with her besides God.  During her final minutes here, I held her hand and sang a song to her about how we would meet in heaven.  Once she was physically dead, I cried hard.  I even mourned in my heart for several months.  Yet deep in my heart I had the peace she is in heaven.

   Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins.  God the Son, Creator of the universe and the entire spiritual realm, died, yet there was a purpose in His death.  He was the substitutionary atonement for the forgiveness of sins of anyone.  And then He was resurrected and is alive in heaven today.  If you believe in Jesus, you will have eternal life.  You will still physically die, if Jesus does not return first, yet your soul will be immediately ushered into the kingdom of God, and you will be with our loving God for all eternity.  Jesus Christ is Risen!  He wants you to join Him for all eternity.  You need to believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord.

Hunter Irvine

A pastor

   Searching for a pastor position this past fall and winter I had interviews with three churches, (one in person and two on the phone), but I did not get the position in any of the three.  Questions asked of me were drastically different in all three interviews.  I started to ponder, “What questions would I ask if I were interviewing a pastor candidate?”

   First, in seeking a pastor, a suitable doctrinal fit is crucial in my view.  I would request a “faith statement” be included with the resume packet.  This does not mean every single interpretation of the Bible needs to be a match.  That is never going to happen even among long time members of a non-cultish church.  Yet “primary” doctrine needs to be determined, and the candidate needs to be in agreement, and even passionate about his or her doctrine.  Keep in mind there is the need for all of us to keep learning from the Bible.

   Second, there needs to be a vision.  For me vision includes what is termed “The Greatest Commandment,” based on the teaching of Jesus recorded in Matthew 22:34-40, and “The Great Commission,” based on Jesus’ statement recorded in Matthew 28:18-20.  All followers of Jesus should be carrying out both, and pastors should be in the lead.  I have always considered my primary duty as a youth minister to love God and to love people.  Loving people can be expressed in countless ways, yet it should be rooted in obedience to Jesus, who commanded us to tell the Gospel, baptize, and teach everything He commanded.

   Character is of upmost importance, since someone struggling with sin is hampered in loving people.  Stipulations for a pastor are found in 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9, and 1 Peter 5:1-4.  For starters, a pastor is to be an example and to live a life of holiness!  Truthfully, we are all called to a life of holiness as is stated in 1 Peter 1:15-16.  We are all called to be like Jesus.  Pastors must be examples, yet realize even pastors sometimes make mistakes, at least I do anyway.  Some of the prohibitions are a pastor is not to be power hungry, not to be devoted to money, and not to be recently born again.  But for a successful interview, I think the character of the candidate should be learned ahead of time.  References are the best source for learning about the character of a potential pastor, and they should be questioned before an interview.

   Also, in addition to getting a doctrinal statement up front and talking with references, the candidate’s ministry education should be investigated ahead of time, and finally, whether in search of a head pastor, associate pastor, youth pastor, or deacon, everyone on the committee should have carefully read his or her conversion testimony.  Then members of a committee are prepared to interview.

   In an interview, I would want to know a key question: “What are your gifts?”

   Some churches come up with a big list of things they want the pastor to do.  The problem is, if by slim chance they are able to find a person who can do that long list, they are probably hiring a poor leader.  A big lesson I learned in Scouting was that no person can do everything, rather success comes when a group works as a team.  A great leader is someone who is capable of delegating roles to the proper people.  Ministry work should be team work, and a pastor needs to be a leader.

   Thus if I interviewed someone, I would want to know what his or her gifts are!  I would look for someone whose gifts fit the major duties of the pastor which would not be delegated.  And I would be searching for someone who can work successfully with brothers and sisters of the congregation.

   Also in an interview, I would want to know if the person is going to be able to make himself or herself at home in the church and community.  If a move is involved, there needs to be consideration about whether it will be a culture shock, and whether the candidate, and their family, if they have a family, will thrive in the new place.

   After such pondering, I developed seven questions I would ask a potential pastor candidate in an interview after a character inquiry was completed.  Granted if the search committee was large, each committee member would probably only get to ask several questions, yet my questions then would be ones which I felt had not been addressed by other members of the committee.

1.   When was a recent occasion you told someone the Gospel?

2.   If you could only do one thing as a pastor, what would it be?

3.   A follow-up: What are some other gifts you have?

4.   If you were able to preach a sermon in one week, what passage of Scripture might you preach about?

5.   If you could change one aspect of your current worship service, what would it be?

6.   What is your favorite thing about our city/town/area?

7.   When was a recent time you laughed with someone doing ministry work?

   I hope this pondering might be of benefit if a reader happens to be on a pastor search committee one time in the future, and I hope I get asked some of these questions in an interview real soon.  After doing ministry work for many years in ministry positions and as a “volunteer,” I have learned the only way I can be a good pastor is to keep relying on the Chief Shepherd.  May you and I rely on Him even today.

Hunter Irvine

Why is the Bible called the Bible?

   Where does the term Bible come from?  Bible means “the Book,” being originally derived from the Greek language, and originally the word was plural.  Comprising of a set of writings numbering sixty-six “books,” there are thirty-nine books in the “Old Testament,” and twenty-seven books in the “New Testament.”  Most often, the full term used is “Holy Bible.”
   Yet from the days of Jesus and from the days of the early Church, there is no record these sixty-six books were referred to as the Bible.  These writings were called Scripture!  Also, “word of God” was another term used by Jesus, Paul, Luke, and others; not capitalized to be distinguish between the "Word of God" who is Jesus Himself.  Jesus frequently referred to what today is termed the “Old Testament” as Scripture or the Scriptures.  One example: “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him’” (John 7:37-38 NIV).  Another example is John 5:39-40.  Can you think of an example?
   In the early Church, the term Scripture was expanded to include the writings we call the “New Testament.”  For example, the apostle Peter referred to the writings of the apostle Paul as “Scripture,” which is stated in 2 Peter 3:16.  And the apostle Paul stated, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:14-15 NIV).
   What is this “Scripture?”  The word scripture means “writings,” and the word Scripture, capitalized, is applied to the books of the Old Testament and New Testament meaning “sacred writings.” (1)
   Lastly, why are the Scriptures sacred?  As stated by the unknown author of the book of Hebrews, “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe” (Hebrews 1:1-2 NIV).  The thirty-nine books of Old Testament Scripture record God speaking to the prophets, which in a sense included priests and kings who were devoted to God.  And the twenty-seven books of the New Testament Scripture record God speaking in Christ, and via apostolic witnesses.  Such a witness through human authors over a time span of over 1500 years could only be an accurate record with God’s involvement.  God inspired authors of the Scriptures, as stated by Paul in 2 Timothy 3:16.  These books contain revelations from God, and the revelations from God reveal Himself, the Holy God we could never discover on our own effort.  Thus the Scripture contains messages from God.
   I will close with a verse seldom cited, Hebrews 2:3: “…This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him” (NIV).  The witnesses of Scriptures were people who heard from God, all the way from Moses who wrote the first five books of Scripture, to the apostles of Jesus who heard the Messiah preach and teach, who witnessed His death and resurrection, and who became indwelled with the Holy Spirit.
   I like the name of my blog, because Scripture reveals true love.  Jesus loves everyone, and that is why Jesus died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone.  Jesus was the sacrificial atonement for the consequence of sins, which is spiritual death.  If you believe in Jesus, you will be saved from eternal death, and you will have everlasting life as Jesus promised.
   As authority for the Church, Scripture is a gift from God for us to listen to God, and be blessed.
Hunter Irvine

(1) Joel Green, ed., Hearing the New Testament: Strategies for Interpretation (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1995), 230.