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

Scripture Love Blog

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

In the arms of Jesus

   When I was eight years old, my mom had a third child.  My baby sister had to stay in the hospital in an incubator for a week because she was struggling to get oxygen when born.  I could not see my baby sister at the hospital since kids were not allowed in that area.  It was hard on me waiting to see my sister.  Yet the time came when she was able to come home.  My grandparents were in town, and they had taken me and my other sister out to dinner.  I was told that when we returned home, my mom would be back from the hospital.  Getting out of the car in the parking lot of our townhouse complex, my dad was there to greet us and said Mom and the baby were inside.  I immediately ran toward our townhouse.  I ran fast.
   Entering the townhouse, I ran up the flight of stairs.  Going into my parent’s bedroom, there was my mom with the baby.  I was so excited, and I told my mom I wanted to be the first one to hold the baby.  Mom had me sit on the edge of her bed, which was rather low to the floor.  Then she unwrapped the blanket a bit from the baby, and placed my baby sister in my arms.  Looking at that baby was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen.
   Every Christmas is an opportunity to “look” upon the baby Jesus lying on hay.  Every Christmas is an opportunity to imagine holding the Savior of the world in your arms.  Looking at that baby, I go from being reminded of the miracle of life to being reminded of the overwhelming fact that Jesus, God the Son, came to us as a baby.  And that baby whom Mary held in her arms in a manger over two thousand years ago is now God who holds me in His arms when all hope seems lost.  Jesus was a man, yet He was no mere man, rather Jesus was the Christ, fully human and fully God.
   Christmas is a special opportunity to remember the birth of Christ, yet we now know the full story since that birthday.  Because of the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, there is hope offered to all people.  Jesus died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone.  He was the substitutional atonement for the wages of sin.  If you believe in Jesus, you will have everlasting life, and be held spiritually by Jesus forever.

Hunter Irvine

Scripture Love Blog

What if I do not feel like giving thanks?

I Thessalonians 5:18   “…give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

   Recently I have not felt thankful much.  First, I have been unemployed for a marathon long time, which has been awful.  Second, it has been a longtime dream to be married, and this summer I attended a Christian singles group hoping to find a dating opportunity, but most in the group were older than myself, and I did not even come close to one date.  And further attempts to find a singles group for people in my age range in the Denver area came up empty.

   Jesus, when He was being crucified on the cross, did not give thanks He was saving numerous people.  Instead He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34).  That is because as He took the sins of all people upon Himself, He suffered the consequence of separation from God the Father.  There was actually a separation in the very being of God for a period of time for the sake of people.

   Even Christians are not always going to feel thankful in this fallen world where separation has taken place, and due to our own sinfulness.  Yet we followers of Jesus are united with God, indwelled with the Holy Spirit, thanks to that sacrifice by Jesus.  Thus we can always be thankful in our hearts, if for only one thing, for the fact Jesus died for us.  Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone.  He was the substitutional atonement for the consequence of sins, which is spiritual death in h-ll.  Then He was resurrected.  If you believe in Jesus, you will be forgiven of sins, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit, and you will have eternal life with Him.

Hunter

Colossians 4:18

Colossians 4:18    I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.  Remember my chains.  Grace be with you. (NIV)

   In doing this study on Colossians, I have grown to admire Paul more as I have further realized he went all out for proclaiming the gospel.  That passion ended up getting him “under chains” for a long time.  When he wrote this letter, he was under arrest in Rome where he had been transported in Roman custody from Caesarea.  Previously, he had been in prison in Caesarea for two years, from 57 to 59 A.D. (Acts 24:27).  The reason: for preaching the gospel, as is shown in Acts.

   Before being sent to Rome, there was a new governor in Judea.  That new governor had a king, King Agrippa, listen to Paul.  Paul gave a defense to the king, including a testimony.  After being interrupted by the governor, Paul addressed the king: "'King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets?  I know you do.'

   Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?'

   Paul replied, 'Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains'" (Acts 26:27-29).

   Paul, after so much misery, could have quit.  Yet he continued proclaiming Christ crucified and resurrected before governors and kings, before common people, and in letters such as this one to Colossians.  And incredibly, his desire was for all to be saved, even those who had him in chains!  Because of his faithfulness, God used Paul to write Scripture which we are blessed by today almost two thousand years later.

   Tragically, a few years after writing this letter, Paul was executed for his witness of Christ under the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero.  Paul is in heaven now.  After studying this letter to the Christians at Colossae, if Paul were in the room I would give him a hug and say, “Thank you brother.”  And I conclude this personal commentary on Colossians by saying, “Thank You Jesus!”

Hunter

Colossians 4:7-17

Colossians 4:7-17    Tychicus will tell you all the news about me.  He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.  I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.  He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.  They will tell you everything that is happening here.  My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)  Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings.  These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.  Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings.  He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.  I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.  Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.  Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.  After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.  Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.” (NIV)

   I like the closings to Biblical epistles!  Many contain the names of people and places which give an exclamation mark to the fact Christianity consists of the family of God.  That is why the terms brothers and sisters are used.  True Christianity necessitates a relationship with Jesus, and receiving Jesus means being adopted into the family of God (John 1:12-13).  And Jesus enables us to be in loving family relationships.  A number of those family relationships are challenging, sometimes even hurtful, yet they are legit.

   A key insight into the family of God here concerns Onesimus.  That man left Colossae as a runaway slave, yet thanks to Jesus he returned to Colossae a brother in Christ.  Paul calls him a brother, going so far as to state Onesimus is “one of you.”  We learn further of how Paul stated Onesimus was no longer a “slave” rather a “brother,” in the letter which is Scripture which Paul gave Onesimus to give Philemon when they arrived in Colossae.  Christianity is about the dignity of every human being, since we were all made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).  The Bible is not advocating slavery.  The Bible is giving an invitation to join a forever family.

   I close by stating the obvious: Christianity is not one big happy family in this world.  Among Christians, there are sadly ample divisions and ample sins, which always lead to hurt.  Yet all people who have received Jesus in their hearts are ever growing in the love and knowledge of Jesus.  And one day when we are all in heaven, the family of Jesus will be perfectly loving, for real.

Hunter Irvine

Scripture Love Blog