One of the sweetest confessions from a sinful man is in Luke 18. The publican stood afar off and said, "...God, have mercy on me, a sinner."(Lk. 18:13)(N.I.V.) What a transparent person he was! It is almost a given that the proud man in the parable Jesus told, a Pharisee, was not impressed with the publican's openness and frankness about his sinfulness. For the Pharisee, you see, was too enamored with his own personal perfection to give this publican the time of day. He told God simply that he was thankful he was not like this publican.(Lk. 18:11) Notable that Jesus said that the transparent man was the one who "...went home justified before God..."(Lk. 18:14)(N.I.V.) And Jesus further said the Pharisee would eventually be humbled for his exalted idea of himself.(Lk. 18:14)
There are two words in the early Greek language, exomologeo and homologeo, which mean, according to Zodhiates, "...confess..." "...assent..." "...concede..." "...admit..." These words speak directly to and volumes about the openness and transparency of men.
Initially all men being saved confess Jesus as Lord and confess their sins. "...they were baptized in the Jordan by him, confessing(exomologoumenoi) their sins."(Mt. 3:6)(Amplified) "...if you confess(homologeses) with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." "For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth you confess(homologeitai) and are saved."(Ro. 10:9-10)(N.I.V.) "If anyone acknowledges(homologese) that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God."(I Jn. 4:15)(N.I.V.)
Yet we are not perfect, so those who live within the realm of reality and outside the Pharisaic self-righteous state, become transparent, confess their sins and allow others the equal right to look to the throne of God and go to the altar of forgiveness.
God expects confession, not only initially at conversion, but subsequent to conversion. And He honors the confession of His Son's name initially and the confession of sins thereafter by His children. And confession is necessary for obvious reasons. "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us."(I Jn. 1:8)(N.I.V.) "If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar,...'(I Jn. 1:10)(N.I.V.) Yet He says: "If we confess(homologomen) our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."(I Jn. 1:9)(N.I.V.)
We are even encouraged to be expectantly transparent with one another. "Confess(exomologeisthe) to one another therefore your faults--your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins; and pray(also) for one another, that you may be healed and restored--to a spiritual tone of mind and heart..."(Ja. 5:16)(Amplified)
Jesus taught us that our transparency will not go unnoticed. "Whoever then will acknowledge(homologesai) me before men, I will acknowledge(homologeso) him before My Father in heaven;..."(Mt. 10:32)(N.E.B.) "...he who conquers(is victorious) be clad in white garments, and I will not erase or blot out his name from the Book of life; I will acknowledge him (as Mine), and confess(homologeso) his name openly before My Father and before His angels."(Rev. 3:5)(Amplified)
Ultimately the Bible teaches us that confessional transparency will occur even among the Pharisees of this world and those who self-righteously cast a disgusting glance at others' sincere transparency. "For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess(exomologesetai) to God--that is, acknowledge Him to His honor and to His praise."(Ro. 14:11)(Amplified)
It would be far better to place our hope in Him now through confession. We all have that right. "So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess, and our acknowledgement(homologian) of it, for He who promised is reliable(sure) and faithful to His word."(Heb. 10:23)(Amplified)
That is about all I know the N.T. says about confession. Wouldn't it be wonderful if men were as reliable as God in honoring the transparency of the lost, the broken, the hopeless?
The Holy Spirit knew men would be negative about their brothers' transparency. So He gave us a long list of possible negative responses toward others' transparency.
sigma negative responses
skolios--"...bent..." "...warped..." "...unjust in contrast to gentle, tolerant..."
"...masters..." "...who are harsh..."(skoliois)(I Pet. 2:18)(N.I.V.)
"...masters..." "...who are surly-overbearing, unjust, and crooked."(Amplified)
stenazo--"grumble from impatience..." "...ill humor..."
"Don't grumble(stenazete) against each other, brothers,..."(Ja. 5:9)(N.I.V)
sukophanteo--"...to inform against..." "...accuse falsely..." "...to extort by false accusation..." "...calumniate..."
"Receive thy servant for good: let not the proud accuse me falsely."(sukophantesatosan)(Ps. 119:122)(Septuagint)
"He that oppresses(sukophantou) the poor, increases his own substance..."(Prov. 22:16)(Septuagint) (...will only come to poverty..."(Prov. 22:16)(N.A.S.B.)
sumbouleuo--"...to plot..."
"...they plotted together(sunebouleusanto) to seize Jesus by stealth and kill Him."(Mt. 26:4)(N.A.S.B.)
"...from that day on they planned together(ebouleusanto) to kill Him."(Jn. 11:53)(N.A.S.B.)
sunomosia--"...to swear together..." "...conspiracy..."
"...the Jews banded together and took an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty in this conspiracy..."(sunomosian)(Acts 23:13-14)(N.E.B.)
tau negative reponses
tameion--"...any place of privacy, a room, closet..." "...where one cannot be easily seen..."
"Whatever you have spoken in darkness shall be heard and listened to in the light, and what you have whispered in (people's) ears and behind closed doors,(tameiois) will be proclaimed upon the housetops."(Lk. 12:3)(Amplified)
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
TRANSPARENCY #14
My childhood and life have been spent hearing messages to support truth with truth. How many times have we heard scripture quoted to this effect:
"Study to show thyself approved..."(II Tim. 2:15)(K.J.V.) "...all scripture is given by the inspiration of God...that the man of God may be perfect..."(II Tim. 3:16-17)(K.J.V.) "His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness..."(II Pet. 1:3)(K.J.V.) Sermon after sermon were intricately pieced together by masters of the language, the method and the Book. No fact was left uncovered. The Great Bible Doctrines were skillfully attested to by great Bible scholars, rich and deep in Scriptural concepts, men of depth and immense knowledge. Thank God for men like that who were loving and caring.
But is it possible to be so filled with such acumen with respect to facts of the letter of the law and miss the Spirit of it? Jesus addressed the scholars of His day and chastised them for just that attitude. For He said they had forgotten the "...weightier matters..." such as equity, compassion, sincerity.(Mt. 23:23) So it has therefore been my experience that some of the most intelligent and well read have been the meanest people I have ever known. And they come straight out of the ranks of Biblical scholarship.
At the hands of such teachers broken folk are made to feel so unworthy, so lost, so sinful, so fallen, so guilty, so inadequate, so useless, so hopeless. Sad that in such circles "When I am broken..." "He lives to take away my sins..." "...runs to the weary, the worn, the weak..." "I know My Redeemer lives..."are impossible phrases and hidden from men by such harsh judgmentalism.
I have often wondered how a Bible genius can be so negative. How can one so intricately understand the plan without truly understanding the Man. How can a perfect church be preached while refusing the broken the right to be "called out" of brokenness? How can such great lessons be preached on forgiveness and the proclaimers be so unforgiving? How can confessional transparency hit them right between the eyes and they smugly turn away?
The Holy Spirit knew that spirit would exist among men. So He gave us an extensive list of behaviors such attitudes generate.
pi negative respones
panourgia--"...shrewdness..." "...cunning..." "...the employment of any means necessary to realize an end..."
"...the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness."(panourgia)(I Cor. 3:19)(K.J.V.)
"We have renounced disgraceful ways--secret thoughts, desires and underhandedness, methods and arts that men hide through shame; we refuse to deal craftily(to practice trickery and cunning)(panourgia) or to adulterate or handle dishonestly the Word of God; but we state the truth openly-clearly and candidly..."(I Cor. 4:2)(Amplified)
periergazomai--"...bustle about..." "...be a busybody..."
...we hear that some of your number are idling their time away, minding everybody's business but their own..."(periergazomenous))II Thess. 3:11)(N.E.B.)
periergos--"...people who scurry about..." "...meddling..." "...in other peoples' affairs..." ...overwrought with unnecessary care..." "...also a standard term for black arts or magic..."
"...they learn to be idle going around to the houses, not only and idle but also gossips and busybodies,(periergoi) speaking the things they ought not."(I Tim. 5:13)(Interlinear)
"A number who had practiced sorcery(perierga) brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly..."(Acts 19:19)(N.I.V.)
pleonektes--"...defrauder for gain..."
"...you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is...greedy..."(pleonektes)(I Cor. 5:11)(N.I.V.)
"...nor greedy ones(pleonektai)...the kingdom of God will inherit."(ICor.6:10)(Interlinear)
"...no...greedy person...(pleonektes) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."(Eph. 5:5)(N.I.V.)
pleonekteo--"...take advantage of someone..." "...defraud..."
"...we have exploited(epleonektesamen) no one."(II Cor. 7:2)(N.I.V.)
"For this is the will of God, that you should be consecrated..." "That no man transgress, and overreach his brother and defraud(pleonektein) him in this matter or defraud his brother in business..."(I Thess. 4:3,6)(Amplified)
propetes--"...rash..." "...careless...""...headlong or out of control..."
"...in the last days..." "...people will be..." "...treacherous(betrayers), rash(propeteis) inflated with self-conceit..."(II Tim. 3:1,2,4)(Amplified)
prophasis--"...pretense..." "...outward show..." "...pretext put forth to cover one's real intent..."
"...we never resorted either to words of flattery or to any cloak to conceal greedy motives or pretexts(prophasei) for gain..."(I Thess. 2:5)(Amplified)
"Study to show thyself approved..."(II Tim. 2:15)(K.J.V.) "...all scripture is given by the inspiration of God...that the man of God may be perfect..."(II Tim. 3:16-17)(K.J.V.) "His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness..."(II Pet. 1:3)(K.J.V.) Sermon after sermon were intricately pieced together by masters of the language, the method and the Book. No fact was left uncovered. The Great Bible Doctrines were skillfully attested to by great Bible scholars, rich and deep in Scriptural concepts, men of depth and immense knowledge. Thank God for men like that who were loving and caring.
But is it possible to be so filled with such acumen with respect to facts of the letter of the law and miss the Spirit of it? Jesus addressed the scholars of His day and chastised them for just that attitude. For He said they had forgotten the "...weightier matters..." such as equity, compassion, sincerity.(Mt. 23:23) So it has therefore been my experience that some of the most intelligent and well read have been the meanest people I have ever known. And they come straight out of the ranks of Biblical scholarship.
At the hands of such teachers broken folk are made to feel so unworthy, so lost, so sinful, so fallen, so guilty, so inadequate, so useless, so hopeless. Sad that in such circles "When I am broken..." "He lives to take away my sins..." "...runs to the weary, the worn, the weak..." "I know My Redeemer lives..."are impossible phrases and hidden from men by such harsh judgmentalism.
I have often wondered how a Bible genius can be so negative. How can one so intricately understand the plan without truly understanding the Man. How can a perfect church be preached while refusing the broken the right to be "called out" of brokenness? How can such great lessons be preached on forgiveness and the proclaimers be so unforgiving? How can confessional transparency hit them right between the eyes and they smugly turn away?
The Holy Spirit knew that spirit would exist among men. So He gave us an extensive list of behaviors such attitudes generate.
pi negative respones
panourgia--"...shrewdness..." "...cunning..." "...the employment of any means necessary to realize an end..."
"...the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness."(panourgia)(I Cor. 3:19)(K.J.V.)
"We have renounced disgraceful ways--secret thoughts, desires and underhandedness, methods and arts that men hide through shame; we refuse to deal craftily(to practice trickery and cunning)(panourgia) or to adulterate or handle dishonestly the Word of God; but we state the truth openly-clearly and candidly..."(I Cor. 4:2)(Amplified)
periergazomai--"...bustle about..." "...be a busybody..."
...we hear that some of your number are idling their time away, minding everybody's business but their own..."(periergazomenous))II Thess. 3:11)(N.E.B.)
periergos--"...people who scurry about..." "...meddling..." "...in other peoples' affairs..." ...overwrought with unnecessary care..." "...also a standard term for black arts or magic..."
"...they learn to be idle going around to the houses, not only and idle but also gossips and busybodies,(periergoi) speaking the things they ought not."(I Tim. 5:13)(Interlinear)
"A number who had practiced sorcery(perierga) brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly..."(Acts 19:19)(N.I.V.)
pleonektes--"...defrauder for gain..."
"...you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is...greedy..."(pleonektes)(I Cor. 5:11)(N.I.V.)
"...nor greedy ones(pleonektai)...the kingdom of God will inherit."(ICor.6:10)(Interlinear)
"...no...greedy person...(pleonektes) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."(Eph. 5:5)(N.I.V.)
pleonekteo--"...take advantage of someone..." "...defraud..."
"...we have exploited(epleonektesamen) no one."(II Cor. 7:2)(N.I.V.)
"For this is the will of God, that you should be consecrated..." "That no man transgress, and overreach his brother and defraud(pleonektein) him in this matter or defraud his brother in business..."(I Thess. 4:3,6)(Amplified)
propetes--"...rash..." "...careless...""...headlong or out of control..."
"...in the last days..." "...people will be..." "...treacherous(betrayers), rash(propeteis) inflated with self-conceit..."(II Tim. 3:1,2,4)(Amplified)
prophasis--"...pretense..." "...outward show..." "...pretext put forth to cover one's real intent..."
"...we never resorted either to words of flattery or to any cloak to conceal greedy motives or pretexts(prophasei) for gain..."(I Thess. 2:5)(Amplified)
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
TRANSPARENCY #13
For every negative there is a positive and visa-versa. In language we call these negatives of positives and positives of negatives antonyms. Perhaps the antonyms of the negative ways we treat the transparency of our neighbors would be a rewarding study sometime. For every negative way we view one another there is a positive way we should view one another. And the Holy Spirit is just as thorough from the positive viewpoint as He is from the negative as he describes through inspiration the ways we should or should not treat one another.
lamda negative responses
lestes--"...one depriving another of his property openly..."
"And he, determined to acquit himself of reproach, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor?" "Jesus taking him up replied, A certain man was going from Jerusalem down to Jericho and fell among robbers,(lestais) who stripped him of his clothes and belongings, and beat him, and went their way(unconcernedly)..."(Lk. 10:29-30)(Amplified)
"..."My house shall be called a house of prayer"; but you are making it a robbers'(leston) cave."(Mt. 21:13)(N.E.B.)
Zodhiates makes a sobering point on this word in his Word Study. There are two words for thieves or robbers in the early Greek, lestai and kleptai as seen in John 10:8. Zodhiates says that a kleptes is one who "...does his work in a secret manner so that he may not be discovered..." and lestes has as its characteristic violence. His very interesting comment about the penitent thief on the cross is that he "...may have been a person who turned insurgent for some presumed righteous cause, thus seeking by the wrath of man to work out what he presumes to be God's righteousness." What a blow to human relations that rationale would be!
loidoria--"...reproach..."
"...give the enemy no opportunity for slander."(loidorias)(I Tim. 5:14)(N.I.V.)
"Not rendering...abuse(loidorian) for abuse(loidorias)..."(I Pet. 3:9)(Interlinear)
me negative reponses
mache--"...fighting..." "..legal battles..."
"...avoid stupid and foolish controversies and genealogies and dissensions and wrangling..."(machas)(Titus 3:9)(Amplified)
miseo--"...to hate..." "...implying active ill will in words and conduct, a persecuting spirit..." "...equivalent to not loving..." "...to slight..."
"The one claiming in the light to be and the brother of him hating(mison) in the darkness is until now."(I Jn. 2:9)(Interlinear)
"But he who hates(detests, despises)(mison) his brother(in Christ) is in darkness and walking(living) in the dark; he is straying and does not perceive or know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes."(I Jn. 2:11)(Amplified)
"Whosoever hateth(mison) his brother is a murderer:.."(I Jn. 3:15)(K.J.V.)
"If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates(mise) his brother, he is a liar."(I Jn. 4:20)(N.I.V.)
omicron negative responses
orge--"...wrath as the outburst of a vengeful mind..."
"I desire therefore that in every place men should pray, without anger(orges) or quarreling or resentment or doubt(in their minds), lifting up holy hands."(I Thess. 2:8)(Amplified)
orgizo--"to...become...provoked..."
"...anyone who is angry(orgizomenos) with his brother will be subject to judgment..."(Mt. 5:22)(N.I.V.)
orgilos--"...prone to anger..."
"Do not associate with a man given to anger, or go with a hot-tempered(orgilo) man,..."(Prov. 22:24)(N.A.S.B.)
lamda negative responses
lestes--"...one depriving another of his property openly..."
"And he, determined to acquit himself of reproach, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor?" "Jesus taking him up replied, A certain man was going from Jerusalem down to Jericho and fell among robbers,(lestais) who stripped him of his clothes and belongings, and beat him, and went their way(unconcernedly)..."(Lk. 10:29-30)(Amplified)
"..."My house shall be called a house of prayer"; but you are making it a robbers'(leston) cave."(Mt. 21:13)(N.E.B.)
Zodhiates makes a sobering point on this word in his Word Study. There are two words for thieves or robbers in the early Greek, lestai and kleptai as seen in John 10:8. Zodhiates says that a kleptes is one who "...does his work in a secret manner so that he may not be discovered..." and lestes has as its characteristic violence. His very interesting comment about the penitent thief on the cross is that he "...may have been a person who turned insurgent for some presumed righteous cause, thus seeking by the wrath of man to work out what he presumes to be God's righteousness." What a blow to human relations that rationale would be!
loidoria--"...reproach..."
"...give the enemy no opportunity for slander."(loidorias)(I Tim. 5:14)(N.I.V.)
"Not rendering...abuse(loidorian) for abuse(loidorias)..."(I Pet. 3:9)(Interlinear)
me negative reponses
mache--"...fighting..." "..legal battles..."
"...avoid stupid and foolish controversies and genealogies and dissensions and wrangling..."(machas)(Titus 3:9)(Amplified)
miseo--"...to hate..." "...implying active ill will in words and conduct, a persecuting spirit..." "...equivalent to not loving..." "...to slight..."
"The one claiming in the light to be and the brother of him hating(mison) in the darkness is until now."(I Jn. 2:9)(Interlinear)
"But he who hates(detests, despises)(mison) his brother(in Christ) is in darkness and walking(living) in the dark; he is straying and does not perceive or know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes."(I Jn. 2:11)(Amplified)
"Whosoever hateth(mison) his brother is a murderer:.."(I Jn. 3:15)(K.J.V.)
"If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates(mise) his brother, he is a liar."(I Jn. 4:20)(N.I.V.)
omicron negative responses
orge--"...wrath as the outburst of a vengeful mind..."
"I desire therefore that in every place men should pray, without anger(orges) or quarreling or resentment or doubt(in their minds), lifting up holy hands."(I Thess. 2:8)(Amplified)
orgizo--"to...become...provoked..."
"...anyone who is angry(orgizomenos) with his brother will be subject to judgment..."(Mt. 5:22)(N.I.V.)
orgilos--"...prone to anger..."
"Do not associate with a man given to anger, or go with a hot-tempered(orgilo) man,..."(Prov. 22:24)(N.A.S.B.)
Friday, August 14, 2009
TRANSPARENCY #12
I have often wondered what would occur if we held ourselves to the same expectations the we do others. Do we ever cut ourselves any slack in our evaluations of ourselves? Do we give ourselves leeway for mistaken behavior and weaknesses? Do we excuse ourselves at times? Do we say of ourselves: "...everybody makes mistakes..." "...nobody is perfect..." "...all men have shortcomings..." and then view others in quite a different light.
If we viewed others like we view ourselves, then perhaps our negativism toward others would simply "...go away..."(Jn. 8:9) Perhaps we would be more willing to be more lenient of our transparent or maybe not so transparent brothers.
What would happen to us if God treated us as we treat our brothers? What if he withdrew His love, His care, His concern, His grace, His forgiveness everytime we made a mistake and did not meet His expectations?
Do I hear someone in the self-righteous corner shouting that there are scriptural standards to live by. If so, you need to know that they apply to you too. And you don't meet them perfectly.(Ro. 3:23)(I Jn. 1:8-10)
The Holy Spirit knew that there would be captious, carping, unforgiving and negative people in our lives. So He in His wisdom just gave us a whole list of the negative ways we could and would treat one another.
Among some of them are:
kappa negatives
kathairesis--"...demolition..." "...destruction..."
"...I boast rather freely about our power and authority, which the Lord gave for your upbuilding and not for demolishing you,..."(kathairesin)(II Cor. 10:8)(Amplified)
kakia--"...malice..."
"...away with all malice(kakian) and deceit, away with all pretence and jealousy and recrimination of every kind!..."(I Pet. 2:1)(N.E.B.)
kakos--"...evil done to anyone..." "...injury..." "...harm..."
"Never return evil(kakon) for evil(kakou) or insult for insult-scolding, tongue-lashing, berating; but on the contrary blessing-praying for their welfare, happiness and protection, and truly pitying and loving them. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing (from God)-obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection."(I Pet. 3:9)(Amplified)
katadikazo--"...condemn..." "...give judgment against..."
"Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not(katadikazete) and ye shall not be condemned:(katadikasthete) forgive and ye shall be forgiven:"(Lk. 6:37)(K.J.V.)
katadunasteuo--"...to tyrannize..." "...oppress harshly..."
"...you have insulted the poor man. Moreover, are not the rich your oppressors?(katadunasteuousin) Is it not they who drag you into court and pour contempt on the honoured name by which God has claimed you?"(Ja. 2:6)(N.E.B.)
katakrino--"...condemn...""...pronounce sentence against..." "...adjudge guilty..."
"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning(katakrineis) yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things."(Ro. 2:1)(N.I.V.)
"...It is God who justifies..." "Who is he who condemns?"(katakrinon)(Ro. 8:33-34)(N.I.V.)
katalaleo--"...to speak evil of..."
"Do not speak evil(katalaleite) against one another, brethren. He that speaks evil(katalalon) against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil(katalalei) against the law and judges the law..."(Ja. 4:11)(R.S.V.)
katalalia--"...slander..."
"...I fear lest perhaps having come not such as I wish I may find you and I may be found by you such as you do not wish; lest perhaps(there be) strife, jealousy, anger, factions, slander,(katalaliai) gossip, conceit, commotion;"(II Cor. 12:20)(Interlinear)
katalalos--"...to speak against..."
"Gave over them God to a disapproved mind to do the things not being proper..." "...backbiters..."(katalalous)(Ro. 1:28,30)(Interlinear)
kataraomai--"...wish anyone evil or ruin..."
"With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse(katarometha) men who were made in God's likeness!"(Ja. 3:9)(Amplified)
krima--"...to go to law..." "...lawsuit..."
"...there is utterly a fault among you, because you go to law(krimata) one with another..."(I Cor. 6:7)(K.J.V.)
krino--"...to judge...""...express an opinion as to any person..."
"...you, sir, why do you pass judgement(krineis) on your brother? And you, sir, why do you hold your brother in contempt?..."(Ro. 14:10)"(N.E.B.)
kubeia--"...trickery..." "...fraud..."
"...(the prey of) the cunning(kubeia) and cleverness of unscrupulous men, (gamblers engaged) in every shifting form of trickery..."(Eph. 4:14)(Amplified)
koluo--"...cut off..." "...hinder..." "...prevent..." "...restrain..."
"So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops(koluei) those who want to do so and puts them out of the church."(III Jn. 10)(N.I.V.)
If we viewed others like we view ourselves, then perhaps our negativism toward others would simply "...go away..."(Jn. 8:9) Perhaps we would be more willing to be more lenient of our transparent or maybe not so transparent brothers.
What would happen to us if God treated us as we treat our brothers? What if he withdrew His love, His care, His concern, His grace, His forgiveness everytime we made a mistake and did not meet His expectations?
Do I hear someone in the self-righteous corner shouting that there are scriptural standards to live by. If so, you need to know that they apply to you too. And you don't meet them perfectly.(Ro. 3:23)(I Jn. 1:8-10)
The Holy Spirit knew that there would be captious, carping, unforgiving and negative people in our lives. So He in His wisdom just gave us a whole list of the negative ways we could and would treat one another.
Among some of them are:
kappa negatives
kathairesis--"...demolition..." "...destruction..."
"...I boast rather freely about our power and authority, which the Lord gave for your upbuilding and not for demolishing you,..."(kathairesin)(II Cor. 10:8)(Amplified)
kakia--"...malice..."
"...away with all malice(kakian) and deceit, away with all pretence and jealousy and recrimination of every kind!..."(I Pet. 2:1)(N.E.B.)
kakos--"...evil done to anyone..." "...injury..." "...harm..."
"Never return evil(kakon) for evil(kakou) or insult for insult-scolding, tongue-lashing, berating; but on the contrary blessing-praying for their welfare, happiness and protection, and truly pitying and loving them. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing (from God)-obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection."(I Pet. 3:9)(Amplified)
katadikazo--"...condemn..." "...give judgment against..."
"Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not(katadikazete) and ye shall not be condemned:(katadikasthete) forgive and ye shall be forgiven:"(Lk. 6:37)(K.J.V.)
katadunasteuo--"...to tyrannize..." "...oppress harshly..."
"...you have insulted the poor man. Moreover, are not the rich your oppressors?(katadunasteuousin) Is it not they who drag you into court and pour contempt on the honoured name by which God has claimed you?"(Ja. 2:6)(N.E.B.)
katakrino--"...condemn...""...pronounce sentence against..." "...adjudge guilty..."
"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning(katakrineis) yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things."(Ro. 2:1)(N.I.V.)
"...It is God who justifies..." "Who is he who condemns?"(katakrinon)(Ro. 8:33-34)(N.I.V.)
katalaleo--"...to speak evil of..."
"Do not speak evil(katalaleite) against one another, brethren. He that speaks evil(katalalon) against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil(katalalei) against the law and judges the law..."(Ja. 4:11)(R.S.V.)
katalalia--"...slander..."
"...I fear lest perhaps having come not such as I wish I may find you and I may be found by you such as you do not wish; lest perhaps(there be) strife, jealousy, anger, factions, slander,(katalaliai) gossip, conceit, commotion;"(II Cor. 12:20)(Interlinear)
katalalos--"...to speak against..."
"Gave over them God to a disapproved mind to do the things not being proper..." "...backbiters..."(katalalous)(Ro. 1:28,30)(Interlinear)
kataraomai--"...wish anyone evil or ruin..."
"With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse(katarometha) men who were made in God's likeness!"(Ja. 3:9)(Amplified)
krima--"...to go to law..." "...lawsuit..."
"...there is utterly a fault among you, because you go to law(krimata) one with another..."(I Cor. 6:7)(K.J.V.)
krino--"...to judge...""...express an opinion as to any person..."
"...you, sir, why do you pass judgement(krineis) on your brother? And you, sir, why do you hold your brother in contempt?..."(Ro. 14:10)"(N.E.B.)
kubeia--"...trickery..." "...fraud..."
"...(the prey of) the cunning(kubeia) and cleverness of unscrupulous men, (gamblers engaged) in every shifting form of trickery..."(Eph. 4:14)(Amplified)
koluo--"...cut off..." "...hinder..." "...prevent..." "...restrain..."
"So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops(koluei) those who want to do so and puts them out of the church."(III Jn. 10)(N.I.V.)
Monday, August 10, 2009
TRANSPARENCY #11
It has been said that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Yet there are glasshouse churches and glasshouse people who do throw stones.
Paul would say to such folks "...in posing as judge and passing sentence on another you condemn yourself, because you who judge are habitually practicing the very same things(that you censure and denounce)."(Ro. 2:1)(Amplified)
Jesus said to a bunch of glasshouse folks one time: "...Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone..."(Jn. 8:7)(Amplified)
Thank God that there are some churches and people who are loving, forgiving, accepting and demonstrative of a merciful Savior and Lord.
The Holy Spirit describes for us in detail the glasshouse folks.
Zeta negatives
zelos--"...envy..." "...jealousy..." "...anger..."
"Let us live and conduct ourselves honorably and becomingly as in the (open light of) day;..." "...not in...quarreling and jealousy."(zelo)(Ro. 13:13)(Amplified)
"...ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying(zelos), and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?"(I Cor. 3:3)(K.J.V.)
zetesis--"...an exchange of words rather than a true search..."
"...if any one...does not assent to the sound and wholesome messages of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and the teaching which is in agreement with godliness--piety toward God--" "He is puffed up with pride and stupefied with conceit,(although he is) woefully ignorant. He has a morbid fondness for controversy(zeteseis) and disputes and strife about words, which result in (producing) envy and jealousy, quarrels and dissension, abuse and insults and slander, and base suspicions."(I Tim. 6:3-4)(Amplified)
theta negatives
thlipsis--"...trouble..." "...affliction..."
"...ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions..."(thlipsesin)(Heb. 10:33)(K.J.V.)
theatrizo--"...expose to public scorn..." "...make a public spectacle..."
"...a great struggle of suffering you endured, sometimes both to insults and to persecutions being made a public spectacle,..."(theatrizomenoi)(Heb. 10:32-33)(Interlinear)
thlibo--"...afflict..." "...compress..."
"It is surely just that God should balance the account by sending trouble to those who trouble(thlibousin) you..." "...and relief to you who are troubled..."(thlibomenois)(II Thess. 1:6-7)(N.E.B.)
thumos--"...bursts of anger..."
"...behavior that belongs to the lower nature..." "...fits of rage..."(thumoi)(Gal 5:19-20)(N.E.B.)
"...Get rid of all...anger..."(thumos)(Eph. 4:31)(N.I.V.)
Paul would say to such folks "...in posing as judge and passing sentence on another you condemn yourself, because you who judge are habitually practicing the very same things(that you censure and denounce)."(Ro. 2:1)(Amplified)
Jesus said to a bunch of glasshouse folks one time: "...Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone..."(Jn. 8:7)(Amplified)
Thank God that there are some churches and people who are loving, forgiving, accepting and demonstrative of a merciful Savior and Lord.
The Holy Spirit describes for us in detail the glasshouse folks.
Zeta negatives
zelos--"...envy..." "...jealousy..." "...anger..."
"Let us live and conduct ourselves honorably and becomingly as in the (open light of) day;..." "...not in...quarreling and jealousy."(zelo)(Ro. 13:13)(Amplified)
"...ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying(zelos), and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?"(I Cor. 3:3)(K.J.V.)
zetesis--"...an exchange of words rather than a true search..."
"...if any one...does not assent to the sound and wholesome messages of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and the teaching which is in agreement with godliness--piety toward God--" "He is puffed up with pride and stupefied with conceit,(although he is) woefully ignorant. He has a morbid fondness for controversy(zeteseis) and disputes and strife about words, which result in (producing) envy and jealousy, quarrels and dissension, abuse and insults and slander, and base suspicions."(I Tim. 6:3-4)(Amplified)
theta negatives
thlipsis--"...trouble..." "...affliction..."
"...ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions..."(thlipsesin)(Heb. 10:33)(K.J.V.)
theatrizo--"...expose to public scorn..." "...make a public spectacle..."
"...a great struggle of suffering you endured, sometimes both to insults and to persecutions being made a public spectacle,..."(theatrizomenoi)(Heb. 10:32-33)(Interlinear)
thlibo--"...afflict..." "...compress..."
"It is surely just that God should balance the account by sending trouble to those who trouble(thlibousin) you..." "...and relief to you who are troubled..."(thlibomenois)(II Thess. 1:6-7)(N.E.B.)
thumos--"...bursts of anger..."
"...behavior that belongs to the lower nature..." "...fits of rage..."(thumoi)(Gal 5:19-20)(N.E.B.)
"...Get rid of all...anger..."(thumos)(Eph. 4:31)(N.I.V.)
Thursday, August 6, 2009
TRANSPARENCY #10
The question is not have I sinned, but the question is wherein have I sinned. If it were possible that I not sin I would be different from all other men. And if I say I have not and do not sin, John tells me I am a sinner and I have deceived myself and the truth is not in me.(I Jn. 1:8) And if I say I do not sin I call God a liar because He said I do sin. Further I have missed the whole message of the gospel.(I Jn. 1:10)
The person who thinks he has no sin will see no need for transparency.(I Jn. 1:9) And because he majors in his own perfection he will likely belittle the transparency of others and denigrate their spiritual character and disparage their attempts to be open about their shortcomings. And of course that behavior towards others all amounts to sin. And is it at all possible that some folks act in negative ways towards others. The Holy Spirit says it is
Epsilon negatives
ekdikeo--"...avenge..."
"Beloved, never avenge(ekdikountes) yourselves, but leave the way open for (God's) wrath;..."(Ro. 12:19)(Amplified)
exoutheneo--"...despise..." "...treat with scorn..."
"...one man will have faith enough to eat all kinds of food, while a weaker man eats only vegetables." "The man who eats must not hold in contempt(exoutheneito) the man who does not, and he who does not eat must not pass judgement on the man who does; for God has accepted him."(Ro. 14:2-3)(N.E.B.)
"And He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised(exouthenountas)) others:"(Lk. 18:9)(K.J.V.)
eritheia--"...strife..." "...rivalry..."
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition(eritheian) or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."(Phil. 2:3)(N.I.V.)
"...if you have bitter jealousy(envy)and contention(rivalry, selfish ambition)(eritheian) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the Truth."(Ja. 3:14)(Amplified)
eris--"...contention..." "...wrangling..." "...love of strife..."
"Some, it is true(actually) preach Christ, the Messiah(for no better reason than) out of envy and rivalry(party spirit);(erin) but others are doing so out of a loyal spirit and goodwill."(Phil. 1:15)(Amplified)
"...God gave them over to a reprobate mind..." "Being filled with unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate(eridos) deceit, malignity; whisperers,"(Ro. 1:28-29)(K.J.V.)
epereazo--"...insult..." "...accuse falsely..." "...misuse..."
"...Keep your conscience clear, so that when you are abused, those who malign(epereazontes) your Christian conduct may be put to shame..."(I Pet. 3:16)(N.E.B.)
echthra--"...hatred..." "...hostility...""...enmity..."
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest..." "...hatred..." (echthrai)(Gal. 5:19-20)(K.J.V.)
ekballo--"...throw out..."
"Blessed--happy (with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, apart from your outward condition) and to be envied-are you when people despise(hate) you, and when they exclude and excommunicate you(as disreputable),(ekbalosin) and revile and denounce you, and defame and cast out and spurn your name as evil(wicked) on account of the Son of Man."(Lk. 6:22)(Amplified)
"All whom My Father has given(entrusted) to Me will come to Me; and him who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out-I will never, no never reject one of them who comes to Me."(ekbalo)(Jn. 6:37)(Amplified)
eulogia--"...commendation..." "...Rom. 16:18 refers to false teachers who for personal gain flatter people..."
"...such people are servants not of Christ our Lord but of their own appetites, and they seduce the minds of innocent people with smooth and specious words..."(eulogias)(Ro. 16:18)(N.E.B.)
epiorkos--"...perjurer..."
"...liars, perjurers(epiorkois) and whatever else is opposed to wholesome teaching and sound doctrine..."(I Tim. 1:10)(Amplified)
epiorkeo--"...to swear falsely..."
"...You shall not swear falsely..."(epiorkeseis)(Mt. 5:33)(Amplified)
The person who thinks he has no sin will see no need for transparency.(I Jn. 1:9) And because he majors in his own perfection he will likely belittle the transparency of others and denigrate their spiritual character and disparage their attempts to be open about their shortcomings. And of course that behavior towards others all amounts to sin. And is it at all possible that some folks act in negative ways towards others. The Holy Spirit says it is
Epsilon negatives
ekdikeo--"...avenge..."
"Beloved, never avenge(ekdikountes) yourselves, but leave the way open for (God's) wrath;..."(Ro. 12:19)(Amplified)
exoutheneo--"...despise..." "...treat with scorn..."
"...one man will have faith enough to eat all kinds of food, while a weaker man eats only vegetables." "The man who eats must not hold in contempt(exoutheneito) the man who does not, and he who does not eat must not pass judgement on the man who does; for God has accepted him."(Ro. 14:2-3)(N.E.B.)
"And He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised(exouthenountas)) others:"(Lk. 18:9)(K.J.V.)
eritheia--"...strife..." "...rivalry..."
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition(eritheian) or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."(Phil. 2:3)(N.I.V.)
"...if you have bitter jealousy(envy)and contention(rivalry, selfish ambition)(eritheian) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the Truth."(Ja. 3:14)(Amplified)
eris--"...contention..." "...wrangling..." "...love of strife..."
"Some, it is true(actually) preach Christ, the Messiah(for no better reason than) out of envy and rivalry(party spirit);(erin) but others are doing so out of a loyal spirit and goodwill."(Phil. 1:15)(Amplified)
"...God gave them over to a reprobate mind..." "Being filled with unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate(eridos) deceit, malignity; whisperers,"(Ro. 1:28-29)(K.J.V.)
epereazo--"...insult..." "...accuse falsely..." "...misuse..."
"...Keep your conscience clear, so that when you are abused, those who malign(epereazontes) your Christian conduct may be put to shame..."(I Pet. 3:16)(N.E.B.)
echthra--"...hatred..." "...hostility...""...enmity..."
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest..." "...hatred..." (echthrai)(Gal. 5:19-20)(K.J.V.)
ekballo--"...throw out..."
"Blessed--happy (with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, apart from your outward condition) and to be envied-are you when people despise(hate) you, and when they exclude and excommunicate you(as disreputable),(ekbalosin) and revile and denounce you, and defame and cast out and spurn your name as evil(wicked) on account of the Son of Man."(Lk. 6:22)(Amplified)
"All whom My Father has given(entrusted) to Me will come to Me; and him who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out-I will never, no never reject one of them who comes to Me."(ekbalo)(Jn. 6:37)(Amplified)
eulogia--"...commendation..." "...Rom. 16:18 refers to false teachers who for personal gain flatter people..."
"...such people are servants not of Christ our Lord but of their own appetites, and they seduce the minds of innocent people with smooth and specious words..."(eulogias)(Ro. 16:18)(N.E.B.)
epiorkos--"...perjurer..."
"...liars, perjurers(epiorkois) and whatever else is opposed to wholesome teaching and sound doctrine..."(I Tim. 1:10)(Amplified)
epiorkeo--"...to swear falsely..."
"...You shall not swear falsely..."(epiorkeseis)(Mt. 5:33)(Amplified)
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
TRANSPARENCY #9
Near the time of His crucifixion Jesus told His disciples that He would send the "...Counselor, the Holy Spirit..."(Jn. 14:25)(N.I.V.) And He told them of the Holy Spirit: "...He will guide you into all truth..."(Jn. 16:13)(N.I.V.) And He said of Him: "...He will bring glory to Me by taking from what is Mine and making it known to you."(Jn. 16:14)(N.I.V.) After the resurrection of Jesus that happened. Therefore Paul was able to write: "...I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you:..."(I Cor. 11:23)(N.I.V.) During a conversation with Festus Paul was also able to say: "...I..." "...speak forth the words of truth..."(Acts 26:25)(K.J.V.)Because of the Holy Spirit Peter could say to his readers that they should "...be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:..."(II Pet. 3:2)(K.J.V.)
In our study of the negative ways men treat one another we are reminded that the Holy Spirit is the author of these words. We must remind ourselves too that not all men are negative in the ways the Spirit conveys at all times. But we must also remind ourselves that we are dealing with divine truth and the words should not be ignored. They are real and they convey real meanings, sentiments, actions. And all men should be careful how they treat their fellowman.
Please let me continue to remind you that I am indebted to Spiros Zodhiates for the definitions of the Greek words used by the Holy Spirit.
Delta negatives
dusphemia--"...defame..."
"When we are slandered and defamed,(dusphemoumenoi) we (try to) answer softly and bring comfort. We have been made and are now the rubbish and filth of the world--the offscouring of all things, the scum of the earth."(I Cor. 4:13)(Amplified)
diabolos--"...false accuser..."
"...their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers(diabolous) but temperate and trustworthy in everything."(I Tim. 3:11)(N.I.V.)
dialogismos--"...contention..."
"I desire therefore that in every place men should pray, without anger or quarreling or resentment or doubt (in their minds),(dialogismou) lifting up holy hands."(I Tim. 2:8)(Amplified)
diaseio--"...harass.." "...oppress..." "...extort..."
"...No bullying; no blackmail;..."(diaseisete)(Lk. 3:14)(N.E.B.)
In our study of the negative ways men treat one another we are reminded that the Holy Spirit is the author of these words. We must remind ourselves too that not all men are negative in the ways the Spirit conveys at all times. But we must also remind ourselves that we are dealing with divine truth and the words should not be ignored. They are real and they convey real meanings, sentiments, actions. And all men should be careful how they treat their fellowman.
Please let me continue to remind you that I am indebted to Spiros Zodhiates for the definitions of the Greek words used by the Holy Spirit.
Delta negatives
dusphemia--"...defame..."
"When we are slandered and defamed,(dusphemoumenoi) we (try to) answer softly and bring comfort. We have been made and are now the rubbish and filth of the world--the offscouring of all things, the scum of the earth."(I Cor. 4:13)(Amplified)
diabolos--"...false accuser..."
"...their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers(diabolous) but temperate and trustworthy in everything."(I Tim. 3:11)(N.I.V.)
dialogismos--"...contention..."
"I desire therefore that in every place men should pray, without anger or quarreling or resentment or doubt (in their minds),(dialogismou) lifting up holy hands."(I Tim. 2:8)(Amplified)
diaseio--"...harass.." "...oppress..." "...extort..."
"...No bullying; no blackmail;..."(diaseisete)(Lk. 3:14)(N.E.B.)
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
TRANSPARENCY #8
Eight of the Ten Commandments are negative commands. Five out of those eight have reference to possible negative relationships with one's fellowman. Jesus said that the most excellent positive ,love of God and our fellowman, sums up the Law and the Prophets.(Mt. 22:40) So negatives exist when love is disregarded.
Agape towards our fellowman is an action of the will. Negatives towards our fellowman are also actions of the will. Their existance is no happenstance; they are products of our will.
The Holy Spirit's omniscience about all this is illustrated in the way attention is given by inspiration to the various negative responses one might have to his fellowman. And these various negatives are enumerated and explained in scripture.
Beta negatives:
blasphemos--"...rumor..." "...to be abusive..." "...destroying one's good name..."
"...in the last days..." "...people will be..." "...abusive(blasphemous, scoffers)..."(blasphemoi)(II Tim. 3:1,2)(Amplified)
blasphemia--"...verbal abuse against someone which denotes the very worst type of slander...""...wounding someone's reputation by evil reports..." "...with false witnesses..."
"But what comes out of the mouth has its origins in the heart; and that is what defiles a man. Wicked thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, perjury, slander--..."(blasphemiai)(Mt. 15:18-19)(N.E.B.)
"Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath(passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment(anger, animosity) and quarreling(brawling, clamor, contention) and slander(evilspeaking, abusive or blasphemous language)(blasphemia) be banished from you, with all malice, (spite, ill will or baseness of any kind)."(Eph. 4:31)(Amplified)
"But now put away and rid yourselves(completely) of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slander and foulmouthed abuse(blasphemian) and shameful utterances from your lips!"(Col. 3:8)(Amplified)
blasphemeo--"...to blaspheme..." "...to hurt the reputation or smite with reports or words..." "...to slander..."
"...speak evil(blasphemein) of no man,...be no brawlers,...gentle...shewing all meekness unto all men."(Titus 3:2)(K.J.V.)
barus--"...burdensome..." "...heavy burdens..." "...burdensome precepts..."
"...they do not practice what they preach..." "They tie up heavy(barea) loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them."(Mt. 23:3,4)
"...His commands are not burdensome..."(bareiai)(I Jn. 5:3)(N.I.V.)
Agape towards our fellowman is an action of the will. Negatives towards our fellowman are also actions of the will. Their existance is no happenstance; they are products of our will.
The Holy Spirit's omniscience about all this is illustrated in the way attention is given by inspiration to the various negative responses one might have to his fellowman. And these various negatives are enumerated and explained in scripture.
Beta negatives:
blasphemos--"...rumor..." "...to be abusive..." "...destroying one's good name..."
"...in the last days..." "...people will be..." "...abusive(blasphemous, scoffers)..."(blasphemoi)(II Tim. 3:1,2)(Amplified)
blasphemia--"...verbal abuse against someone which denotes the very worst type of slander...""...wounding someone's reputation by evil reports..." "...with false witnesses..."
"But what comes out of the mouth has its origins in the heart; and that is what defiles a man. Wicked thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, perjury, slander--..."(blasphemiai)(Mt. 15:18-19)(N.E.B.)
"Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath(passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment(anger, animosity) and quarreling(brawling, clamor, contention) and slander(evilspeaking, abusive or blasphemous language)(blasphemia) be banished from you, with all malice, (spite, ill will or baseness of any kind)."(Eph. 4:31)(Amplified)
"But now put away and rid yourselves(completely) of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slander and foulmouthed abuse(blasphemian) and shameful utterances from your lips!"(Col. 3:8)(Amplified)
blasphemeo--"...to blaspheme..." "...to hurt the reputation or smite with reports or words..." "...to slander..."
"...speak evil(blasphemein) of no man,...be no brawlers,...gentle...shewing all meekness unto all men."(Titus 3:2)(K.J.V.)
barus--"...burdensome..." "...heavy burdens..." "...burdensome precepts..."
"...they do not practice what they preach..." "They tie up heavy(barea) loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them."(Mt. 23:3,4)
"...His commands are not burdensome..."(bareiai)(I Jn. 5:3)(N.I.V.)
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