A Flood of Criticism

by | Mar 19, 2014 | Popular Culture

Opinions are already swirling around Darren Aronofsky’s  upcoming movie “Noah,” starring Russell Crowe and due for release in the United States on March 28.  The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar have already announced they will ban the movie in their countries; Kuwait, Egypt and Jordan are also expected to ban the film.  Several Christian individuals have spoken out against it, though some have apparently not yet seen it. Other Christians who have seen early releases feel that the film is a very positive attempt to portray the biblical story of the Flood.

Despite the controversy, the movie is drawing many positive early reviews.  Access Hollywoood describes it as “The First Must-See Blockbuster of the Year” and The Washington Post states, “If you liked ‘Braveheart,’ ‘Gladiator,’ ‘Star Wars,’ ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ ‘Indiana Jones’ or ‘Titanic,’ you will like ‘Noah.’ If you liked two or more of the above, you will love ‘Noah.’ Your enjoyment increases exponentially with each movie checked above …”

Although I have only seen the movie trailer, it certainly looks like a well-made film and one which seems (judging only by the trailer) to have a respectful attitude toward its subject. The Washington Post review quoted above says, “It Glorifies Virtue In The Highest,” but how biblically accurate it is remains to be seen.  Actually, while the Bible carefully describes the Ark and certain details of the Flood story, it gives few details regarding the background situation, so some artistic or cinematographic license is probably unavoidable in making a movie such as this.

At this point we have only another ten days to wait to get more first-hand reports on the movie, but we can already think about whether we wish to see it, what our standards will be in judging it, and how we might use it in conversations with others.  We may have mixed feelings or assessments of the movie, but either way, it looks as though theatres will be deluged by moviegoers wanting to see “Noah” when the doors open on March 28.  It is certainly a film that will be a natural topic of conversation for the coming weeks. You can see the trailer for the movie here.

Stranger in a Strange Land

Stranger in a Strange Land

by | Mar 16, 2014 | Fellowship

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The title of Robert A. Heinlein’s 1961 science fiction novel Stranger in a Strange Land is reportedly an allusion to Exodus 2:22 where Moses says “… I have been a stranger in a strange land,” but the title also brings to mind  the statement that Abraham sojourned  “like a stranger in a foreign country” (Hebrews 11:9).  Either way, it’s a concept that doubly applies to the Christian walk.  Once a person’s outlook and way of life changes to God’s way, two significant things may happen; and we too may feel like strangers in a strange land.

Read this week’s article “Stranger in a Strange Land” to see what these changes are and how to deal with them – and the responsibility that those already established in the faith have in this regard.  It’s a topic that applies equally to those new in the faith and to those who are further along in the Way.
Was Paul Told Not to Go to Jerusalem?

Was Paul Told Not to Go to Jerusalem?

by | Mar 13, 2014 | Difficult Scriptures

 

Scripture in Focus:   Acts 21:4-14 

The twenty-first chapter of the Book of Acts presents what at first is a somewhat confusing picture of the warnings Paul received, apparently from God, regarding not going to Jerusalem  – where he was arrested and eventually taken to Rome and executed.

On first arriving back in Palestine, we are told that “… through the Spirit [the disciples] were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem” (Acts 21:4).  Further, “…a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, ‘Thus says the Holy Spirit, “This is how the Jews  at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”’ When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem” (Acts 21:10-12).

So it is clear that through the Spirit of God, Paul was warned repeatedly that going to Jerusalem would result in his arrest, and that the disciples, also being led by the Spirit, told him not to proceed.  But to understand this situation we need to go back to Acts 20 where Paul says specifically: 

“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.  I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:22-24).

This fact, that Paul was apparently warned before going to many cities that he would be endangered (as Acts clearly shows he was),  helps us to understand the situation in Acts 21.   It is as though God warned Paul before each dangerous situation he entered. This was a First Century “Your mission, if you choose to accept it …”. Paul was given clear warning before each danger but chose to accept the mission he was given.  Notice that in Acts 19:21 and Acts 20:22 Paul specifically states that “through the Spirit” and “compelled by the Spirit,”  he was going to Jerusalem.

With this in mind we can better understand Paul’s reply to the disciples urging him not to go to Jerusalem  in Acts 21:  “Then Paul answered, ‘What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus’” (Acts 21:13).

So while the disciples may have understood the warning as a prohibition, Paul understood that he had, in fact, been led to go to Jerusalem.   He was certainly not disobeying the influence of the Spirit of God, rather, with great faith and courage, he was accepting the Spirit’s mission, despite the warning of impending danger that came with the mission.

* For explanation of other difficult scriptures, see other posts in this series.

Studying through BibleGateway

Studying through BibleGateway

by | Mar 10, 2014 | Bible Study, Tactical Articles

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BibleGateway.com is, of course, one of the leading Bible translation websites used to provide hyperlink scripture references on this and many other sites.  If you only use BibleGateway occasionally to look up a verse or an alternative translation, you are missing out on the use of a tremendously helpful full-fledged (and free!) Bible study tool.

If you take the time to learn a little bit about the BibleGateway site, you will find it an amazingly flexible and powerful  tool for online study.  Today, we reproduce, from our sister site,  a new article on “Effective Bible Study through BibleGateway” – which shows some of the ways in which you can use the many features of BibleGateway in productive personal Bible study. 

How’s that Good Resolution Doing?

by | Mar 7, 2014 | Character, Growth

“Character is the ability to carry out a good resolution  long after the excitement  of the moment has passed.” – Cavett Robert

“How’s the resolution doing – you know, the one you made in January?” That’s a question many of us might cringe at, but it’s good to remind ourselves of Cavett Robert’s old truism.  The character we build in following through on resolutions is often just as important as the resolution itself.

The Bible shows that God’s servants often made resolutions, and  in each case these resolutions were faithfully carried out.  Notice just two examples from the Old Testament and New Testament, Daniel and Paul:   “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine…” (Daniel 1:8); “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

In fact, the Bible shows that God Himself makes resolutions. Notice in the Book of Zechariah, where God says:   “So I have resolved again in these days to do what is good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah…” ( Zechariah 8:15 HCSB).  Not only does God make resolutions that we can all be thankful He keeps, but also He reminds us of the responsibility to make and keep good resolutions: 

“ ‘If you do not listen, and if you do not resolve to honor my name,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me’” (Malachi 2:2).

While this statement may sound negative out of context, God simply points out that we need to be firm in our resolve to do what we need to do.  He knows that when we do not, we lose His blessings and, as a loving parent, He warns us against that outcome.  That is why God’s word frequently stresses the need to give our full resolve to doing what we come to understand we need to do.  That guidance can energize and inspire us to follow through. 

While some minor physical  resolutions may not have widespread effect in our lives, our major resolutions can have major effects on us, our marriages, our families and our relationship with God.  So let’s remember the resolutions we do make and maintain them.  The fact is, the more we follow through with our resolutions, the easier it will become to keep them. 

God is certainly aware of what we resolve to do in regard to the way of life that He reveals to us, and He will help us follow through if we are serious and ask for His help.  That is why the Psalmist could write, as confidently as he did:  “I am resolved to obey Your statutes to the very end” (Psalm 119:112 HCSB).