Transformed Mind

When looking at marriage in the New Testament there are not many examples per se of the actual marriage covenant between two people, but the synoptic authors did have much to say on the institution and clarified much on what was to be expected in the bond that unites two people.             Although Jesus was not married, at least not in the sense that we may visualize today, for he was and is married to the church which is made up of the whole of Christian believers, he made certain that the institution as we may define it today was to be crowned in permanence, faithfulness, and unity.   In quoting Genesis Jesus stated that, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?   So they are no longer two but one flesh.   What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” [1]   Obviously Jesus thought marriage to be a perma...

Quote from a psychiatrist named Dr. James Fischer, made after 50 years of mental health experience. It was excerpted from A Few buttons Missing  (1951, p. 273): "If you were to take the sum total of all authoritative articles ever  written by the most qualified of psychologists and psychiatrists on  the subject of mental hygiene; and if you were to combine them and  refine them and cleave out the excess verbiage; and if you were to  take the whole of the meat and none of the bones; and if you were to have these unadulterated bits of pure scientific knowledge concisely  expressed by the most capable of living poets; you would have an  awkward and incomplete summation of the teachings of Christ,  particularly the Sermon On The Mount; and it would suffer immeasurably  in comparison."

The Old Testament, containing 39 books, paints an amazing account of creation and for purposes of this discussion shows the relationship of the Israelites to God the creator in terms of covenants.  Throughout the pages, marriage is seen as a permanent relationship, paralleling the relationship God has to his peoples.  “As the history of Israel develops, a new dimension is added to covenant in the prophetic literature, and a new relationship established.  The covenant is still one of fidelity (to God), but it is expressed now in the terms of marriage.” [1]   In times past a covenant was made to show fidelity to one another.  For example, God made a covenant with Noah, that He would not destroy humanity again as he did in the great flood narrative.  A rainbow was a reminder of this covenant and shows God’s love and compassion for humanity.  Just as God created covenants with his people, so did individuals create covenants with each other when enter...

In today’s society liberal secular thought is seeping into even the most Christian homes and watering down the beliefs of many.  Not until recently has the debate of same-sex marriage gotten so heated and tense.  Many young adults, including many Christians, see marriage as a dying institution and opt to cohabitate with significant others instead of committing to a lifelong, monogamous relationship.  Our instant gratification lifestyle has deadened our senses so that we continually want more, faster, with no real end in sight.  As Scott Stanley of the University of Denver’s Center for Marital and Family Studies writes, “The dominant culture no longer has as broad of support for marital longevity, and Christians’ behavior often mirrors that of the dominant culture.” [1] So is marriage under attack from outside secular forces?  Yes, would be the easy answer, but in truth the Christian is also to blame for trust in God is severely lacking.  This is why tha...

Authority In all of the verses discussed in the last post, there is one element that hints at how checed (mercy) should be perceived and how it is used. Given that mercy is compassion bestowed upon the undeserving, it makes sense that the people that receive mercy are subordinate to the giver, in the above cases, God. However, people are not just subordinate to God, but also to His angels. Genesis 19:19, the first time checed is used in the Old Testament, Lot says to the visitors or angels, “Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life…” Lot was obviously in a debt of gratitude for the angel’s actions at that very moment was saving his life. Lot was in a subordinate position and knew it. This brings up another interesting point, which is that the object of mercy often recognizes mercy for what it is, compassion for the undeserving. This is especially the case in Psalms, where the u...

Checed, or as one of the translations mercy, is a powerful word. Its meaning conveys power and authority, yet, it also demonstrates compassion and love by the giver. Mercy is always welcomed, but given sparingly in today’s society. In the Old Testament, the word mercy is used many times to convey thanks to God in His showering of undeserved graciousness upon humanity and is a character trait that God urges humanity to mirror as the process of sanctification shapes and forms our being. Attribute of the Father God, as God, is omniscient, omnipotent, omnibenevolent, and omnipresent. As such, there are certain attributes that belong to Him that are immutable, that is, unchanging. They are a part of His intrinsic worth and define whom He is. Along with love, patience, transcendence, and many others, God is also merciful or has mercy. And because it is an attribute of His nature, it is abundant and overflowing as is seen in Numbers 14:18 where it states that, “The Lord is ...

Do not be anxious, rather pray.   Jesus made it possible for us to do so.   There was a giant chasm between God and us because of sin.   He is so holy, that sin cannot be in his presence, but Jesus has covered this sin, this stain, making us able to once again have communion with God.   Jesus is our mediator, our advocate.   When preparing this post and looking at what prayer is, it reminded me of a book I read called, The Necessity of Prayer by Edward Bounds.   His largest section and most influential was his work on prayer and faith.   As it should be, faith is the Christian anchor in prayer and touches every other aspect of our life.   Faith is obedient, trusting, and every other positive aspect.   Not only influential but also instructive in his writing, Bounds shows how Christians should pray by stating that, “faith must be definite, specific; an unqualified unmistakable request for the things asked for.” [1]   How true...