Down an Unfamiliar Road

HOLDING ON, NOT HANGING ON

Although David yielded his devastation over Absalom’s rebellion to God, he still struggled with the grief and remorse it brought him. Wounds like that do not heal overnight; they must be bathed in the balm of forgiveness. It’s one thing to deal with treachery coming from an enemy, but the heart and mind are not prepared to handle deceitfulness coming from your own flesh and blood. Perhaps those around him often heard him crying out inside his palace, “How could this happen to me!” So after a long sleepless and tearful night he composed this prayer for God’s strength to help him cope.

“Don’t let my lack of faith upset You O LORD Eternal, so that You punish me out of disappointment and frustration. Be lenient with me O LORD Eternal; for I feel weak inside, my knees are knocking, and I’m completely stressed out, so don’t wait too long before You answer me. O LORD Eternal, don’t let this go on any longer. Because You are so loving and caring, please get me out of this somehow. If I die like this and end up in the grave, there’s no way I can testify of Your goodness. I’m completely worn out with moaning and groaning, that’s why every night I drench my bed, and every day I soak my couch with tears. My eyes have turned blood red and I can hardly see anymore because of the heartbreak I feel. That’s why I’m turning a deaf ear to those who tell me I won’t make it, because I believe the LORD Eternal will hear my sobbing, and my cries will touch His heart. He understands what I’m going through, and I believe my critics will end up being sorry and ashamed they didn’t support me, and it will be a huge embarrassment to them.” Psalm 6:1-10

Reflection: In 1883 engineer John Röbling was inspired to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with Long Island. Bridge experts throughout the world told Röbling to forget the idea; that it was not practical and had never been done before. But Röbling could not erase his vision. He convinced his son, Washington, to help him construct it. So they hired a crew and began building their dream bridge. After only a few months a tragic accident took John Röbling’s life. His son Washington was also injured with partial brain damage and total paralysis. Everyone felt the project was jinxed and should be scrapped. Yet in spite of his handicap, young Washington refused to give up his father’s dream. He was able to move only one finger and slowly developed a code of communication with his wife. Suddenly he had an idea, so he touched his wife’s arm telling her to call the engineers; he wanted to keep the construction going. For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man’s indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. Since Washington Röbling held on to the end with the picture of a bridge in his mind, how much more should we be able to hold on with the picture of the crown of righteousness in our mind.

RESIST BEING RESENTFUL

The pain of Absalom’s deceit, and anger against those who joined him still burned in David’s mind. But he decided to take it to God in prayer and seek His guidance on how to avoid becoming resentful. He knew that such resentment could become hatred, and hatred could result in doing something evil, that he would later regret. So he penned this prayer in the morning to pour out his heart before the LORD in order to get God’s guidance and strength. The wisdom of David’s prayer involves his looking for ways to deal with himself to find his areas of necessary change. He believed that such changes might produce a greater impact on his adversaries than just criticizing them for being vain and destructive.

“O LORD Eternal, would You take time to listen to what I’m trying to say so that You can better understand what I am thinking. Since You are my King and my One True God, I want to convince You that I am serious when I cry out to You. I ask You to listen to my prayer this morning as I lay my request before You at daybreak to await Your answer. I know that You are not the type of Sovereign King who wants to see wickedness, for evil ideas do not meet with Your approval. That’s why conceited people don’t last long in Your presence, because You detest those who operate with evil intent. You also condemn those who mislead others with lies, and You, O LORD Eternal, especially despise those who try to ruin other people’s lives with deceit. But because of Your abundant grace I plan to go to Your house and reverently bow down at Your altar. I will ask You, O LORD Eternal, to treat me fairly and guide me because those who oppose me watch my every move, that’s why I want to do things Your way. A person cannot believe anything these people say because their hearts are so filled with spite that they will eat you alive; they really know how to mislead people. Deal with them, O One True God; and because they are so openly defiant in their rebellion against You, let them fall into their own trap and lose their influence. But let those who really believe in You live positive lives; yes, let them continue with joy in their hearts because they know You are ever with them; for loving You for who You are is enough to make anyone dance for joy. For You will see to it that the faithful get what is rightfully theirs, O LORD Eternal, by wrapping them up in Your favor like a blanket.” Psalm 5:1-12

Reflection: After less than four months in office, on Saturday, July 2, 1881, President James A. Garfield was shot in the back with a revolver by assassin Charles J. Guiteau. At a hospital in New York City a doctor unsuccessfully probed the wound with his little finger trying to locate the bullet. When that didn’t work, Garfield was then transported back to Washington D.C., where teams of doctors tried but failed to retrieve the bullet. Even Alexander Graham Bell was called to try and locate the slug with a metal detector. But on Monday, September 19, 1881 President Garfield died – not from the bullet, but from the infection caused by repeated probing. What the physicians tried to do to save him ended up killing him. So it is with people who continually probe their wounds caused by others instead of releasing it to God. There is no need to educate God on the character of such miserable people, He already knows who and what they are. But we should admit to Him how it affects us, because He wants us to confess our hurt and embarrassment. This will show our trust in Him to help us survive such pressure and conflict. In the words of the song by Dr. Charles Hayes: “Are you carrying heavy burdens, and you don’t know what to do? Are you sad and despondent, wondering how you’ll make it through? Is your heart laden with many, many cares? Why not do like many others, oh, take it to the Lord in prayer.”

THE MORE WE PULL TOGETHER

The hurt caused by Absalom’s treacherous conniving with others to remove him as king left scars on David’s soul. But he decided to seek reconciliation instead of revenge. He did not want to become like those who attempted to end his reign. From what David said in Psalm three, and now what he shares in Psalm four, he never wanted to end his day without taking his needs to the Lord to receive guidance and understanding. David was not looking to get even but simple to stay balanced emotionally and mentally. This tempered his thought process and softened his plea for God’s help. So in this psalm he had a message for anyone facing the same dilemma:

“O One True God, You were the One who taught me how to live right so I could cope with stress, so I’m asking You to be patient with me and give attention to my prayer as I call out to You. For I have asked the elders, “How long will you continue to question my integrity? Will you carry on without a purpose? Will you continue acting on unfounded accusations? Remember this: the LORD Eternal chose godly people for Himself and He listens when they call out to Him. Show some respect, don’t do anything stupid. Take a break, take a deep breath, and think things over. Give the LORD Eternal the respect He deserves and learn how to trust in Him. Many are asking if we would ever be respected as a people. O LORD Eternal, You have directed Your smile of approval toward us. You have made me glad, and I rejoice with my brethren in their success. That’s why I can put my head on my pillow with peace of mind, O LORD Eternal, for I know Your loving arms are around me.” Psalm 4:1-8

Reflection: The story is told of a man named Yada who found himself in peril. Yada’s boat was sinking, and as the water rose up around his legs he begin to blame the boat builders for using inferior materials and creating a badly designed craft. Then he berated the weatherman for not precisely predicting the path of the storm while simultaneously criticizing the Coast Guard for not forcing him to dock even though he ignored their warnings not to sail. Finally he blamed God for not sending the storm to another area to keep it from interrupting his spur-of-the-moment plans. The phrase “Yada, yada, yada” certainly applies here to this man’s endless complaints instead of taking responsibility. Troubles and trials may come our way but this does not mean we should resign to our fate instead of relying on our faith by holding on to the promises of the Promise Maker. Even though our difficulties may be due to someone else’s actions, there is no need to take ownership of how they are handling their predicament and incur the same grief and anxiety their actions will bring them. Rather, contemplate on how to be an inspiration for others to talk about, instead of being an imbecile others will jest about. In the words of a chorus we used to sing as children, “The more we pull together, together, together; the more we pull together the happier we’ll be.”

DOWN BUT NOT DEFEATED

David knew he had enemies both inside and outside of Israel, but when his own son Absalom tried to assassinate him in order to become king, it was almost more than he could bear. How could anyone to whom he had given many privileges return his generosity with such evil? Yet he needed to keep hope alive in the midst of fear and danger. So David took his concern to God in prayer so he might find peace of mind. This gave him a reason to express himself in song despite his circumstances. By believing that help was on the way, it helped David to rejoice because he knew he was not carrying his burden alone.

“O LORD Eternal, it seems that my enemies have increased day by day; yes, the crowd that opposes me is growing larger. Many of them are questioning whether or not my One True God will deliver me this time. But You, O LORD Eternal, You give me such blessed assurance that it helps me keep working on what I’m doing while keeping my head held high. That’s why I’m calling out so fervently to you O LORD Eternal, for I know You will respond to me from where You are on high. Now I can lay my head down on my pillow and go to sleep knowing I’ll wake up again to a brand new day because the LORD Eternal will help me make it through all this. It gives me a reason why I don’t need to fear these people anymore, no matter how many don’t like me. So I await Your response, O LORD Eternal my One True God, on how You plan to rescue me. Do something so spectacular that my opponents will be silenced. You are the only One who can order such deliverance, O LORD Eternal, let them see how much favor You have for Your children. ” Psalm 3:1-8

Reflection: Paul Laurence Dunbar, a boyhood friend of Orville Wright, was one of the first African-American poets to gain fame and prove popular among white and black readers alike. He died at the age of 33, and his mother kept his room exactly the way he left it for the rest of her life. On his desk lay this brilliant man’s final hand-written poem. Upon his mother’s death, his friends decided to preserve his works. But when they went to collect his final poem, they discovered that his mother left it where the sun shone on it each day, and bleached the ink until it became invisible. As a result, his last work disappeared forever. When we turn our anguish into a memorial instead of a commemoration, we stand to lose so much of what God has invested in our lives. Grief might come to even God’s most dedicated servants, but it need not control their lives. Sharing what God did for us in life is much better than placing it out of reach with a sign that reads, “Do Not Touch.” No matter how high the mountain, how low the valley, how cold the water, or how hot the fire, how tough the battle, or how egregious the wounds; God goes through it all with His children. That’s a testimony that should not be lost because it gets bleached out over time because we leave it unexpressed due to the heartache we endured.

DON’T LOSE TOUCH

After David became king of Israel and Judah, there were many who were not impressed with a man who spent so many years in the hills and caves like a fugitive running for his life. He was more like a monk than of a monarch. Many did not go along with all of David’s decisions. They especially disliked his aggressive and combative ways against the Philistines, and his overzealous worship of God as ruler and king of the land. They wanted a more secular king, one who did not wear his religion on his sleeve and make them look bad because of his dedication to all that was Godly. But David knew who stood by him and brought him through again and again. So he dedicated himself to pleasing his Master rather than man.

“Why are so many nations experiencing civil unrest; why have their unbelieving leaders lost touch with reality. These leaders have become so arrogant that they are united in their efforts against the LORD Eternal and His Anointed. ‘Let’s get rid of their power over us,’ they say; ‘let’s free ourselves from their influence.’ But the One sitting on His throne up on high, our Divine Master, just laughs at their foolishness. ‘Listen, all you leaders, wise up; start disciplining yourselves if you expect to continue governing your people! Submit yourselves to the LORD Eternal with reverence and awe as you kneel trembling before Him. Treat Him with all the respect He deserves; don’t cause Him to be upset with you, even for a moment, thereby running the risk of losing everything. Then count your blessings because you’ve made Him the One you depend on for your life and safety’.” Psalm 2:1-4, 10-12

Reflection: A prairie farmer in a small town café boasted openly in the presence of a local pastor as to why he didn’t need to attend church. “This year I plowed my fields on Sunday, planted my seeds on Sunday, sprayed the weeds on Sunday, and harvested my crops on Sunday. As a matter of fact, this past October I brought in my best harvest ever!” The minister knew the farmer was trying to provoke a response, so he replied gently to him, “You know, God is not limited to showing His displeasure just during harvest time.” We must remember that not everybody is going to applaud and fully support what God has called us to do. People hate giving up ground they feel belongs to them, even though the Spirit of God may say otherwise. Following God’s guidelines, even at the expense of some personal wants and wishes cannot be compared to the heavenly reward awaiting those who remain faithful. Keep in mind, whatever goals we may select in life, when they have God’s approval they are worth every hardship that may come.

A WORD TO THE WISE

After David crowned his son Solomon as king, and before the LORD lowered the curtain on his life, he offered young Solomon a quick course on spiritual virtues and ethics. David knew from experience that bad analysis, biased counseling, and self-serving ideas were all too plentiful from people who want be noticed and gain influence. His advice to Solomon is just a relevant now as it was back then. Perhaps this inspired Solomon to ask God for more wisdom when he became king. He wanted to learn how to use God’s wisdom in assessing life’s situations. Before a person makes a choice they must be aware of all the options available to them. God may have given man a free will to decide, but He also gave him clear guidelines to follow.

“The person who doesn’t allow evil-minded people to influence their thinking; permit immoral people to dictate their lifestyle; or grant conceited people sway over their attitude, can count their blessings. Instead, delight in living by the Teachings outlined in the Word of the LORD Eternal, and recites those guidelines constantly. They are deeply rooted like a tree growing next to a river; always producing good fruit without growing tired and weary; and successful in all their endeavors. But people who don’t think this way are a different story; they are like the husk on an ear of corn that you throw away. That’s why these evil-minded people and immoral sinners will never be judged by the same standards or allowed to represent those who live right. The fact is, the LORD Eternal has placed His stamp of approval on those who live right, but the evil-minded are destined for complete ruin.” Psalm 1:1-6

Reflection: There was an old fisherman who kept getting lost every time he went out to sea. So his concerned friends bought him a compass so they wouldn’t have to worry so much. However, the next time he went out to fish he took the compass along, but he got lost again. After his friends finally found and rescued him they asked why he didn’t use the compass. “I tried,” he replied with frustration, “but I couldn’t get the needle to aim in the direction I wanted to go.” The old sailor felt so certain he knew which direction was east he tried to force his personal will on the compass. When it didn’t respond the way he wanted it to, he threw it away as worthless and lost any benefit its guidance offered. In the same way our spiritual choices become important because first we need to know in what direction we are headed and compare it to the way God wants us to go. Remember, any frustration or disappointments we experience in trying to follow God’s guidelines cannot be compared to the grief and sorrow awaiting those who get rid of God’s compass and go their own way.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN (Part XII)

IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD

Sometimes it helps to be reminded of certain blessings so that we increase our appreciation for what we take for granted. Hopefully this will give you a new admiration for that Bible you hold in your hand or having lying on your desk or nightstand.

For the first several hundred years after the church was born in Antioch in Syria and spread throughout Galatia and Greece, there was no published New Testament. The churches would copy letters received written in Greek from the Apostles, copy them and pass them on. Printing was not yet invented so it took time and money to copy a manuscript, so there were few. The apostles would used Old Testament Scriptures to prove the deity of Christ and the right to call Him the Messiah.

Furthermore, Greek began to wane as a universal language, especially in Europe, so Pope Damascus I commissioned St. Jerome in 382 to take all of the known manuscripts used by the Roman Catholic Church that had been translated from Greek into Latin, called Vetus Latina (Old Latin), and provide a translation more suitable to the language of the day. So St. Jerome provided a new translation called the Latin Vulgate (Common Latin), which by the 16^th century would become the Catholic Church’s official version of the Bible.

This was the Bible that a Dutch Catholic priest named Desiderius Erasmus used for his studies of theology. Erasmus was also caught up in the Renaissance movement, and became a social critic and teacher. One key factor of the Renaissance was the resurgence of the Greek language, because true Renaissance participants were driven to go back to the original of anything in search of the truth, whether it be the writings of Pluto or Aristotle. For Erasmus, his vision was the New Testament because he was drawn to the Word of God as a source of undisputed truth.

However, when Erasmus began to read the Greek manuscripts he found that the Latin version by Jerome was not loyal to the original Greek, and unclear on many passages because it followed church teachings rather than Scripture. So in 1512, he began his work on his Latin New Testament. He collected all the manuscripts available to find the best ones. Then in an effort to be fair and open, he wrote his new Latin version side by side with the Greek. Said Erasmus, “It is only fair that Paul should address the Romans in somewhat better Latin.”

But something else began to stir in Erasmus spirit. Like many before him, he saw the necessity of making comments along with the text to explain what the writer of the New Testament manuscript was trying to say. This led to his taking the opportunity of pointing out where the writings of Paul and the other Apostles differed from what the Roman Catholic Church was teaching and practicing during that time. So Erasmus used a form of paraphrase to develop his commentary on theology in the New Testament.

It was at this same time that a great invention was born called the printing press. Without this press, most of the work by Erasmus would have lain around in handwritten manuscripts to collect dust, except for those who might have any interest in the long tedious task of copying them to pass on. But the two came together and that would result in one of the greatest spiritual revolutions in the history of the church. So Erasmus’ work was first published in 1516 with a second edition in 1519.

This second edition of Erasmus’ parallel Greek/Latin translation with commentary fell into the hands of a German monk, Catholic priest, and professor of theology at the University of Wittenberg named Martin Luther. From 1510 to 1520, Luther lectured on the Psalms, the book of Hebrews, Romans, and Galatians. As he studied these portions of the Bible, he came to view the use of terms such as penance and righteousness by the Catholic Church differently than the way they were being taught. Over time, Luther became convinced that the path taken by the Catholic church had led it’s followers astray from the core truths of what Jesus taught.

One of the most important factors for Luther was the doctrine of justification by faith. The one scripture out of Erasmus’ translation/commentary that impacted Luther most deeply was Galatians 3:11, how the just shall live by faith. In other words, justification was an act of God in declaring a sinner righteous by faith alone through God’s grace, not through any works done by man to gain salvation. So Luther began to teach that salvation is a gift of God’s grace and is obtained only through faith in the work of Jesus as the Messiah.

Even though they disagreed on other matters and doctrines, Martin Luther was so impressed by what Erasmus had done to start this debate through his translation and commentary, that he wrote him a letter that contained this expression of gratitude: “My dear Erasmus… I praise and commend you highly for this also, that unlike all the rest you alone have attacked the real issue, the essence of the matter in dispute, and have not wearied me with irrelevancies about the papacy, purgatory, indulgences, and such like trifles (for trifles they are rather than basic issues), with which almost everyone hitherto has gone hunting for me without success. You and you alone have seen the question on which everything hinges, and have aimed at the vital spot.”

With the Protestant Reformation gaining steam, Martin Luther was now confronted with the same dilemma Erasmus had. There was no Bible in the German language for the common person to read and study. So Luther took Erasmus’ new Latin translation and translated it into German. There were many Germanic dialects leading up to Luther’s day, so the one he chose for God’s Word would become the official language that tied the German people together through a common dialect in 1522.

English scholar and leading reformer in England William Tyndale wanted to use the same 1516 Erasmus text as a source to translate and print the New Testament in English for the first time in history. Tyndale showed up on Luther’s doorstep in Germany in 1525, and by year’s end had translated the New Testament into English. Tyndale had been forced to flee England, because of the wide-spread rumor that his English New Testament project was underway, causing inquisitors and bounty hunters to be constantly on his trail to arrest him and prevent his project from going forward. But God foiled their plans and in 1525-26 the Tyndale New Testament became the first printed edition of the scripture in the English language.

So anyone who passes off the development of our Christian faith as a matter of happenstance or the effect of karma, does not understand that God has been at work from the start. He does not react to situations because He has already prepared in advance before the circumstances occur. God foreknew that His church would need the written Word, so He arranged every part of this beautiful story. Therefore something planned by our heavenly Father many thousands of years earlier to provide a reformation for His church through the study of His Word, all took place in the span of 10 years. Does God know what He’s doing or do you still have doubts?

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN (Part XI)

MISDEEDS LIKE SEEDS CAN PRODUCE A LOT OF WEEDS

With all the turmoil in our world today, especially between the Jewish state of Israel and Islamic territory of Palestine, every Christian should have a biblical and clear understanding of the basic causes. I hope this posting will give you the information you may desire.

Should any of this surprise us? Not really! In Genesis 16:12 we read what the angel of the Lord said to Hagar, Ismael’s mother: “He will be wild and free like a wild donkey. He will be against everyone, and everyone will be against him. He will be like a nomad moving from place to place, but always in the vicinity of brothers.” But Abraham had compassion for Ishmael and sought God’s blessing on him. So in Genesis 17:20 God told Abraham, “As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.” Then again in Genesis 25:18 Moses records this about Ishmael: “His descendants settled throughout the desert area from Havilah to Shur. This area begins near Egypt and goes toward Assyria. Ishmael’s people were often at war with the other descendants of Abraham.”

Born in about 570 CE in the Arabian city of Mecca, was a child named Muhammad. Some claim that he was a descendant of Ishmael through the prophet Adnan, yet others disagree. But one thing for sure, he was an Arab. He was orphaned at an early age when both his father died six months before he was born, and his mother died when he reached the age of six. According to the law among the tribes on the Arabian peninsula, he was not eligible to inherit anything. So he was sent to his paternal grandfather. For the next two years, he was under the guardianship of his paternal grandfather Abd al-Muttalib of the Banu Hashim clan. But when Muhammad turned eight his grandfather also died. He then came under the care of his uncle Abu Talib, the new leader of the Banu Hashim clan.

As a young man, Muhammad worked as a camel driver between Syria and Arabia. Soon he established a career managing caravans on behalf of merchants. Through his travel first with his uncle and later in his career, Muhammad came into contact with people of many nationalities and faiths, including Jews, Christians, and pagans.

As a youngster Muhammad used to accompany his uncle on his business trips to Syria. When this future self-proclaimed messenger of Allah reached the age of twelve, he journeyed with his uncle Abu Talib and traveled as far as Busra. There he met an heretical Christian monk named “Sergius,” who according to tradition foretold the adolescent Muhammad of his future prophetic career, because of the young boy’s interest in the bible stories he told him. According to Christian tradition, Sergius and his errant views inspired Muhammad’s writings which became the holy book of Islam, the Qur’an. Even certain Arabist authors maintain that Seregius’ works formed the basis of those parts of the Qur’an that conform to the principles of Christianity, while the rest was introduced either by subsequent compilers such as Uthman Ibn Affan or contemporary Jews and Arabs. In addition, John of Damascus (d.749), a Christian writer, states that Muhammad “having chanced upon the Old and New Testaments and likewise, it seems, and having conversed with an Arian monk (Sergius), devised his own heresy.”

Muhammad learned from Sergius about Jesus, Joseph and Mary, whom he later venerated. But as a hermit, Sergius sought directions straight from God and spent long periods of time in places of isolation such as caves, seeking wisdom and guidance. Since Muhammad could neither read nor write, all of his instructions and knowledge came by way of stories told to him by Sergius.

A somewhat wealthy widow in Mecca persuaded Muhammad to marry her and work in her business. It wasn’t until the age of 40, long after the monk Sergius was not around, that Muhammad decided to try the same technique of meditating in isolation, in order to receive further wisdom from God. So following Sergius’s example, he went to a cave just outside Mecca for such meditation. There he reports that the archangel Gabriel came and spoke to him. He reported that he was both humbled and amazed at such visitations. When Muhammad begin to share his visions, his wife was one of his first converts. As he won several converts, they began to write down what Muhammad was saying so they could share it with others.

This method served Muhammad well, because he found it easy to offer insights and instructions that he supposedly received from the archangel Gabriel, whenever he was confronted with a decision or the need to judge. One thing clearly seen in the difference between Judaism, Christianity and Islam, is that Islam does not require repentance, nor are there any required sacrifices for sin. Good works are the basis for living a righteous life.

Through the method of private and public teaching Muhammad spread these visions and messages from the angel Gabriel in Mecca. A minority of people accepted him this way. They were not compelled to do so, but were impressed by his teaching and accepted him freely. But in Mecca his followers became a “despised minority.” The vast majority of the Arabian tribes did not accept him. Since he was monotheistic, he opposed all the gods and idols venerated in Mecca, so some of those living there devised to assassinate him in order to get rid of him. When Muhammad heard about it, he and his small band of followers fled to the northern city of Medina.

However, not all the tribes in the city of Medina accepted Muhammad’s messages either after he moved there for protection. Therefore, since Muhammad could not spread his new religion peacefully, he began to exert influence and power by forming an army, and began to raid those villages around him in order to convert them to Islam. One Arab writer named wrote in Bukhari, “The Prophet sent us as an army unit of three hundred warriors under the command of Abu ‘Ubaida to ambush a caravan of the Quraish. This was not only to spread the message of Islam, but also to plunder for needed financial assistance.

Muhammad was also involved in defensive and offensive battles. The Arabian tribes who had previously rejected Muhammad were now confronted again and ordered to submit to him. For most of the tribes he wanted to conquer, this was done by sending a military delegation to them. According to one source, before Muhammad’s armies would attack a tribe they would invite them at least three times to accept Islam first. If they accepted, Muhammad would stay among them to teach them Islam, its regulations, the Book of Allah and the sunnah (the traditional portion of Muslim law, based on the words and acts of Muhammad himself. If they did not accept, they were attacked and forced to submit to Muhammad and Islam. This type of missionary effort by Christians would be totally unacceptable in any country today.

We have a first hand account of such an event from Ibn al-Musaffa: “The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) sent us on an expedition. When we reached the place of attack, I galloped my horse and outstripped my companions, and the people of that locality received me with a great noise. I said to them: “Say ‘There is no god but Allah,’ and you will be protected.” So they said it. My companions then ridiculed me by claiming: ‘You deprived us of the booty.’ Later, when we came to the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him), they told him what I had done. So he called me in and said he appreciated what I had done, and said: ‘Allah has recorded for you so and so (a reward) for every man of them.’ Apparently this method has fallen out of use by Muslim extremist today.

Also, according to Anas b. Malik, Muhammad used to attack the enemy at dawn. But first he would would wait outside the village and listen for the Islamic call to prayer. If he heard such a call to prayer he would not attack, but if there was no such call, then he would attack in the name of Allah. Muhammad told his followers that he was commanded by Allah to spread Islam this way: “I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah’s Apostle, and say their prayers correctly, and give him the obligatory offering. If they performed all these things, then they would save their lives and property from being taken by me. Then anything else that might be taken would be done so by Allah according to Islamic law.

This then became the battle cry of Muhammad and his followers, “Fight those who believe not in Allah and until the last days. It is Allah who has sent his messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, that He may uplift it above every religion, even if these unbelievers do not like it.” As we can see, it was easy to become one of Muhammad’s enemy. If you did not acknowledge him as your ruler and prophet then you were his enemy. Those who joined Muhammad joined the fight against those who did not accept Muhammad’s religion.

This time of conquest was a great source of pride to Muhammad and his companions. Many poems were composed to celebrate their victories. Here is a section of a poem that Ka’b b. Malik composed before the Islamic conquest of Al-Ta’if.

If you offer peace we will accept it
And make you partners (with us) in peace and war.
If you refuse we will fight you doggedly. …
We shall fight as long as we live
Till you turn to Islam, humbly seeking refuge.
We will fight not caring whom we meet
Whether we destroy ancient holdings or newly gotten gains. …
And we cut off their noses and ears
With our fine polished swords from India,
Driving them violently before us to the command of God and Islam,
Until religion is established, just and straight.

(Ibn Ishaq, Sirat Rasul Allah, pp. 587-588)

How did Muhammad spread Islam? As this survey demonstrates he used many methods. These included teaching Islam, reciting the Qur’an, warfare, money and gifts, assassinations, compulsion, torture, removing other religious options and incorporating much much of what he learned from the heretical monk Sergius into Islam. After Muhammad’s death his companions continued some of these methods. It is was considered wrong to exaggerate any one of these methods, because Muhammad used all of them to spread Islam. However, extremists today have chosen to ignore this advice.

So any politician or world leader who is naïve enough to think that extreme Islamic fanatics can be persuaded to sit down at a peace table and agree to live in harmony with Jews and Christians, do not comprehend the ingrained hostility bred into them by the teachings they receive based on the word of Muhammad the prophet from Allah. They are committed to turning the world into the domain of Islam by force and violence, even to the death. There is no giving up; there is no going back; there will be no compromise in order to live in peace with the descendants of Isaac. But unlike Muhammad, even these fanatics will not stop outside a village when they hear the call to prayer from the mosque inside, they will attack anyhow killing fellow Muslims who do not adhere to their line of thinking and interpretation of the Qur’an. So what chance do non-Muslims have?

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN (Part X)

IF GOD COULD USE PHARAOH, WHY NOT USE CAESAR?

St. Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus is not the only epiphany that influenced the course of Christianity, there was another one you may want to know more about. After the Day of Pentecost mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles 2:1 between 30-36 AD, the Gospel began to spread across Asia and the Middle East. Churches were established and their numbers increased daily. This was aided by the freedom and safety of travel provided by the Roman Empire and facilitated by the universal language of Greece. Between 62-68 AD the Apostle Paul traveled to Rome to appeal to Caesar concerning the charges brought against him by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. Between 95-100 AD John would have his great revelation on the Isle of Patmos and the second generation of Christian leaders would began to take the reins of the church.

Just before this period in history occurred, on March 15, 44 BC, the Roman world was shaken to it’s foundation with the assassination of Julius Caesar. Though the effect would prove to be staggering, no Roman was as profoundly affected as Gaius Octavius. Octavian served under Julius Caesar in the Spanish expedition of 46 BC despite his delicate health. And he was to take a senior military command in Caesar’s planned Parthian expedition of 44 BC, although at the time being only 18 years old.  But Octavian was with his friends Marcus Agrippa and Marcus Salvidienus Rufus in Apollonia in Epirus completing his academic and military studies, when news reached him of Caesar’s assassination.  At once he returned to Rome, learning on the way that Caesar had adopted him in his will. No doubt this only increased his desire to avenge Caesar’s murder.

Augustus was undoubtedly one of the most talented, energetic and skillful administrators that the world has ever known. The enormously far-reaching work of reorganization and rehabilitation which he undertook in every branch of his vast empire created a new Roman peace with unprecedented prosperity. Following in the footsteps of Julius Caesar, he won genuine popular support by hosting games, erecting new buildings, and by other measures to the general good. Augustus himself claimed to have restored 82 temples in one year alone. But further there were grand new buildings like the Theater of Apollo, the Horologium (a giant sun dial) and the great Mausoleum of Augustus. But during his final years Augustus withdrew more and more from public life. Intending to travel with Tiberius to Capri, and then on to Beneventum, he left Rome for the last time in AD 14. He fell ill on the way to Capri and, after four days resting on Capri, when they crossed back to the mainland Augustus at last passed away. He died at Nola on 19 August AD 14, only one month away of his 76th birthday. The body was taken to Rome and given a stately funeral and his ashes were then placed in his Mausoleum.

The Roman Empire then limped along with various successes and setbacks until 161 AD when Marcus Aurelius became emperor of the Roman Empire. He brought stability and prosperity back to the great nation. Some historians called it the happiest time to be Roman, and rightly so. It was the center of a world economy, the bastion of the greatest fighting force on earth, and it had influence over a great part of the civilized world. It would be termed by some as the “Golden Age” of the Roman Empire.

But when Marcus Aurelius died in 180 AD the nation was plunged back into squabbling and discord with some 38 different politicians vying to be the next emperor over the ensuing 100 years. It resulted in economic chaos, higher and higher taxes for a swelling bureaucracy and national debt that taxed the middle class out of existence. Rome ended up with a large but inefficient army because of no leadership or vision.

Then in 284 AD Diocletian became emperor. He was able to stabilize the situation and bring it back to some normalcy, but at a great price. He ordered a career freeze. In other words, no one could change career fields. If your father was a baker, you would be a baker; if your father was a carpenter, you would be a carpenter, and so on. There was a price fixed on all products. Consequently, the profit margin was good for some but bad for others. All individual rights were eliminated, the government was in charge of every aspect of the Romans life. Diocletian also removed all religious tolerance, and ordered, much like Nebuchadnezzar had done, that only the gods of Rome were to be worshiped and venerated. And along with this came severe persecution of Jews and Christians.

Diocletian didn’t like being cooped up in Rome, he liked being out and about conquering. So he divided the Empire into regions and appointed leaders over these areas. One of these was Flavius Valerius Constantinus, a Roman army officer, and his consort Helena who was a Christian. He became the deputy emperor in the west in 293 AD. He had a son named Constantine, who was sent east, where he rose through the ranks to become a military tribune under emperors Diocletian and Galerius. In 305 AD Flavius Constantius was raised to the rank of Augustus, senior western emperor, and Constantine was recalled to campaign under his father in Britannia. When his father Flavius died, Constantine was acclaimed as emperor by the army in 306 AD.

Constantine didn’t like what was going on back in Rome, so he followed in the footsteps of Julius Caesar and decided to march on Rome and conquer it so that he could help return it to glory. But unlike Julius Caesar who crossed the Rubicon River on the east side of the Italian peninsula, Constantine headed out of Britain down through France and over the alps along the western side of the peninsula. And instead of reaching the Rubicon River, he came to the Tiber River in order to cross the Milvian Bridge. But much to Constantine’s surprise, the current emperor of Rome, Maxentius, decided to leave Rome and come out to Milvian Bridge to engage Constantine.

The great historian Eusebius tells us, “Being convinced…that he needed some more powerful aid than his military forces could afford him, on account of the wicked and magical enchantments which were so diligently practiced by the tyrant, he sought Divine assistance, deeming the possession of arms and a numerous soldiery of secondary importance, but believing the co-operating power of Deity invincible and not to be shaken. He considered, therefore, on what God he might rely for protection and assistance ….While he was…praying with fervent entreaty, a most marvelous sign appeared to him from heaven… He said that about noon, when the day was already beginning to decline, he saw with his own eyes the trophy of a cross of light in the heavens, above the sun, and bearing the inscription, CONQUER BY THIS. At this sight he himself was struck with amazement, and his whole army also, which followed him on this expedition, and witnessed the miracle. … And while he continued to ponder and reason on its meaning, night suddenly came on; then in his sleep the Christ of God appeared to him with the same sign which he had seen in the heavens, and commanded him to make a likeness of that sign which he had seen in the heavens, and to use it as a safeguard in all engagements with his enemies.

So while Constantine waited and contemplated what to do, he prayed as his mother Helena had taught him. He reported that he had a vision and looking up into the sky he saw the Greek letters Chi = X superimposed over the letter Rho = P which formed the symbol ☧. As a result, he ordered that all of his troops paint this symbol on their helmets and carry banners with it boldly displayed.

So on October 28, 312 AD they engaged Maxentius at Milvian Bridge. Constantine was victorious and Maxentius who had built a temporary bridge made out of boats to get across and surprise Constantine, was drowned along with many in his army as they tried a hasty retreat.

When Constantine reached Rome, the entire Senate went out to greet him as conqueror. They wanted to build a monument to him, but he allowed it only if they did not include any names of Roman gods or other deities. He declared himself a Christian and proclaimed that the Roman Empire would become a Christian nation. So the Arch of Constantine was erected in celebration of the victory, and in the center over the arch were inscribed the words: To the Emperor Caesar Flavius Constantinus, the greatest, pious, and blessed Augustus: because he, inspired by the divine, and by the greatness of his mind, has delivered the state from the tyrant and all of his followers at the same time, with his army and just force of arms, the Senate and People of Rome have dedicated this arch, decorated with triumphs.

Under Diocletian and his successors, Jews and Christians had been so persecuted and viciously treated that if something was not done soon, they would be driven to extinction. And just like the Apostle Paul on his way to Damascus who saw a great light and heard a voice that introduced him to Jesus Christ and gave him directions for his life, so Constantine saw a light and heard a voice that encouraged him to finish what he had set out to do.

So we must ask ourselves, what would have happened to Christianity if Paul had not had his Damascus Road experience, and Constantine had not had his Milvian Bridge experience? We don’t need to ponder it because we know what happened as a result of these two divine encounters. So much of what has become the great movement of Christianity today has at times boiled down to the actions of one person, such as Jesus of Nazareth, Saul of Tarsus, and Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine who was a Christian in a pagan society. I’m sure that when the books are open in heaven, we will find out that there were many, many more.

So ask yourself, in your family, in your neighborhood, in your town, in your city, in your state, in your school, in your work place, if God ever wanted to use you to make sure the chain is not broken, would you be willing to risk it all and be obedient.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN (Part IX)

A CLASSIC CASE OF FAULTY JURISPRUDENCE

When ardent proponents of separation of church and state turn to the constitution for support of their anti religious stance, and quote the first amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,” they often fail to quote the entire line that goes on to say, “or prohibit the free exercise thereof.”

After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the religious leaders in Jerusalem knew they had to do something to stop this worker of miracles who was becoming more and more looked on as the Messiah. So they turned to their constitution (the Law), and found an amendment to the Ten Commandments that read, “Any prophet who falsely claims to speak in my name or who speaks in the name of another god must die” (Deu. 18:20).

So they set out to prove that Jesus was illegally claiming to speak on God’s behalf and was therefore deceiving the people. Being religious leaders, if they did not stop this self-appointed prophet from succeeding they would be held accountable for their inaction. But like the proponents of separation of church and state of today, they too did not read the whole text. Because in Deuteronomy 18:18-19 it says clearly, “I will raise up a prophet like you (speaking to Moses) from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell the people everything I command him. I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on my behalf.”

Thus the religious leaders found themselves between a rock and a hard place. If this truly was the Messiah then they would be held accountable by God for not listening to His message. On the other hand, if He was a false prophet, they needed to make sure He paid for it with His life.

Most Christians know about Jesus’ trial before Pontius Pilate, but many do not realize that this was a case of double jeopardy. Before He ever went before Pilate, Jesus had another trial before the Jewish Council in Jerusalem, and it has some interesting turns and twists.

John tells us that after Judas marked Jesus as the man they were looking for, which was done so they would not be charged with making a false arrest, the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards tied Jesus’ hands, or as we would say today, they handcuffed Him. The first thing they did was take Him to Annas, the father-in-law of the current High Priest Caiaphas. Within most criminal justice systems a preliminary hearing, or evidentiary hearing, is a proceeding after a criminal complaint has been filed by the prosecutor to determine whether there is enough evidence to require a trial. In such hearings the judge must find there is probable cause that a crime was committed. This was a crucial moment in the religious leaders’ attempt to silence this Jesus of Nazareth who was a growing threat to their authority and power within the Jewish community.

This hearing took place at the residence of Annas the son of Seth. He had been appointed as the first High Priest of the newly formed Roman province of Judea by the Roman legate Publius Sulpicius Quirinius in 6 AD. Annas officially served as High Priest for ten years (6–15 AD), when at the age of 36 he was deposed by the procurator Valerius Gratus because he wasn’t pro-Roman enough. Yet, even though he had been officially removed from office, he remained as one of the nation’s most influential political and social individuals. Some also believe that Annas was behind the attempt to kill Lazarus after Jesus raised him from the dead (see John 12:9-11). That’s why other scholars also believe that Jesus chose Annas as His “Rich Man” in the parable about the rich man and the beggar Lazarus. Annas had five sons, but in the parable they were portrayed as the five brothers.

Once inside the residence, Annas began asking Jesus about his followers and what he had been teaching them. Jesus was a genius at handling such open-ended questions thrown at Him on the spur of the moment. They were designed to trip Him up; to have Him say something that was self-incriminating. That way they wouldn’t need any witnesses or other evidence.

But Jesus took it in stride and responded, “Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people gather. I have not spoken in secret. Instead of asking me this question, ask those who heard me. They know what I said.” Then, one of the Temple guards standing nearby slapped Jesus across the face. “Is that the way to answer the high priest?” he demanded. Annas approved of this slap in the face, they did the same thing to Paul (see Acts 23:2). In response Paul confirms the fact that Annas was not the High Priest (Acts 23:5).

By doing this, the Temple guard had openly proven the bias and injustice that this hearing represented. It only made sense to request witnesses. That was how the process of justice was supposed to work. The Jewish law only required two witnesses to agree and it would be accepted by the court. So Jesus does not allow the guard’s indiscretion and bad behavior make Him defensive or say something that could be held against Him, so He looks back at Annas and says, “If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I’m speaking the truth, you have no reason to punish me.”

Annas realized he was totally unprepared to find any witnesses or gather evidence, especially at this hour when the Passover Feast was coming up shortly and something had to be done before then. So John tells us Annas had Jesus handcuffed again and sent him to his son-in-law Caiaphas, the current High Priest (John 18:12-24). Caiaphas was his Greek name, his full Hebrew name was Yosef Bar Kayafa. But this really put Jesus in real danger of not receiving justice, because as a Sadducee, Caiaphas did not believe in the resurrection. So he was especially dumbfounded when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. He preferred to destroy this man who challenge to his beliefs, instead of supporting justice under the law for a falsely accused individual.

Now Matthew and Mark give us the scene that took place at Caiaphas’ residence. Matthew says, “Then the people who had arrested Jesus led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and the elders had gathered. Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance and came to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and sat with the guards and waited to see how it would all end.” Mark writes, “They took Jesus to the high priest’s home where the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law had gathered. Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance and went right into the high priest’s courtyard. There he sat with the guards, warming himself by the fire.”

But what about this Caiaphas? Was he going to be an impartial judge? Was he going to listen to both sides of the case? If so, he’d have to listen to Jesus who serving as His own defense lawyer. John gives us a clue. He tells us that Caiaphas was the one who told the other Jewish leaders earlier, “It’s better that one man should die for the people.” Oh yes! That’s right! Preceding this account in his Gospel John tells us that after Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead (11:47), “the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together. ‘What are we going to do?’ they asked each other. ‘This man certainly performs many miraculous signs. If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.’ Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about! You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.‘”

It appears that Jesus’ request for witnesses had been conveyed to Caiaphas, because Matthew goes on to say, “Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put him to death. But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, they could not use anyone’s testimony.” Mark had the same record, “Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find evidence against Jesus, so they could put him to death. But they couldn’t find any. Many false witnesses spoke against him, but they contradicted each other.”

Things were getting desperate by this time, but the prosecution seemed to catch a break when Matthew tells us, “Finally, two men came forward who declared this man said, ‘I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” Mark reports the same incident, “Finally, some men stood up and gave this false testimony: We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this Temple made with human hands, and in three days I will build another, made without human hands.’ But even then they didn’t get their stories straight!” This was especially frightening to Caiaphas, because as high priest and chief religious authority in the land, among his many important responsibilities was having control of the Temple treasury, managing the Temple police and other personnel, as well as performing religious rituals. If Jesus did succeed in destroying the Temple it would leave Caiaphas and his cohorts penniless and powerless.

Now it was crunch time for the prosecution, even with the advantage they had in the fact that Jesus did not have a lawyer and was representing Himself. Matthew describes it: “Finally, the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, ‘Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?’ But Jesus remained silent.” Mark noted the same questioning, “Then the high priest stood up before the others and asked Jesus, ‘Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?’ But Jesus was silent and made no reply.”

By this time things got heated, tempers began to flare, so Matthew writes, “Then the high priest yelled at Him, ‘I demand in the name of the living God – tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.’” Mark gives a more demure exchange, “Then the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?‘” What more evidence did Jesus need than the crowds who followed Him, the miracles He performed in healing the sick, walking on water and calming the storm on the sea, casting out demons, and raising the dead. He knew they wanted to find Him in violation of Deuteronomy 18:20. Matthew informs us that Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Mark records, “Jesus said, ‘I Am. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.‘” Here we have the opportunity of putting what Matthew recalls and what Mark remembers together. After He was asked by the high priest if he was the Messiah, Jesus replied, “You said it, yes I am.”

That was all the high priest was looking for. Now he had his evidence, he had what he needed to procure a conviction. So Matthew lets us know that in typical religious indignation, “The high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, ‘Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy.’” Mark has the same story, “Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, ‘Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy.’”

Then turning to the Council and those gathered there as ad hoc jury members, Matthew and Mark both report that the high priest asked them, “What is your verdict? ‘Guilty!’ they shouted. ‘He deserves to die!‘” Then a most unprofessional and undignified scene unfolds. Matthew says, “Then they began to spit in Jesus’ face and beat him with their fists. And some slapped him, jeering, ‘Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you this time?‘” Mark heard a little bit more about what happened, “Then some of them began to spit at him, and they blindfolded him and beat him with their fists. ‘Prophesy to us,’ they jeered. And the guards slapped him as they took him away.”

But wait a minute, what about cross examination. Did not Jesus have the right to bring up Deuteronomy 18:18-19 in his defense? What about His witnesses? The cleansed lepers; the widow of Nain’s son; the Centurion’s servant; the blind man at the pool, the woman at the well in Samaria? But it was not to be. Luke tells us that “at daybreak all the elders of the people assembled, including the leading priests and the teachers of religious law.” John who was there remembers, “Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning.”

It was time for sentencing. Luke says, “Jesus was led before this high council, and they said, ‘Tell us, once again, do You claim to be the Messiah?’ Jesus knew the plan God had laid out for Him, but He also knew how cold and hard their hearts were. So he looked back at them and said, “Even if I tell you, you won’t believe me. And if I ask you a question, you won’t answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated in the place of power at God’s right hand.”

Luke says, “They all shouted, ‘So, are you claiming to be the Son of God?’” Jesus replied, “That’s your charge against me.” The smug religious leaders turned to each other and said, “We don’t need any more witnesses, we heard Him say it ourselves.” John remembers, “Then he was taken to the headquarters of the Roman governor.”

Now they had to prove to Pontius Pilate that they had a blasphemer on their hands. However, He would now be tried under Roman Law, not Jewish law. They never got their wish to have Him pronounced guilty. Instead, Pilate tried a little maneuvering with a Passover tradition of releasing one convicted criminal and they chose Barabbas over Jesus. This is no mystery. They couldn’t have chosen Jesus anyhow because Jesus didn’t qualify. He was not a convicted criminal. Pilate found Him not guilty. So they had really only been given one choice, and that was Barabbas!

When Pilate asked somewhat sarcastically, what am I going to do now with this man who calls Himself your king? They crowd responded almost as if it had been choreographed, “Crucify Him!” That cry and subsequent crucifixion changed the course of history and the world forever. It was not a moment of defeat, it was a moment of triumph. The prosecution did not win the case, nor was the defense given a win due to a mistrial. Jesus came to die on the cross for the forgiveness of sin and nothing would stand between Him and His destiny. Even though Annas and Caiaphas continued to persecute the fledgling church (see Acts 4:5-7), it was said later among those in the Syrian Church that Caiaphas had been converted to Christianity. It seems that the resurrection of Jesus, the testimony of Peter, and the miracles that continued in Jesus’ name was enough to convince him that this man truly was the man from heaven, the Messiah, the Son of God.