The Woman of Excellence

(Transcript of Mother’s Day Message 2008) 

Proverbs chapter 31 and its instruction on the subject of an excellent wife covers a broad spectrum of the model or image of a biblicaly oriented mother.

The book of Proverbs is a collection of wisdom that fathers and mothers were to give to their children. It was common in a Jewish family for a father to teach his sons the truths of this book. And not only a father, but also a mother, for on several occasions it says, “Not to forsake the instruction of your mother.” This was basically the composite practical manual for living that Jewish parents taught their children.

One of the very most important things that children needed to learn was directed, in particular, at the young boys - how to select the right woman to marry. In fact, earlier on in the book of Proverbs young men are warned against the antithesis of the “excellent wife”, the wrong kind of woman, the adulteress who flatters with her lips, who forsakes her own husband, breaks covenant and entertains a union with someone else, whose lips drip honey but who brings about death and destruction, the smooth-tongued adulteress who hunts for the precious life to make him her prey. Proverbs warns against the noisy woman, the quarrelsome woman, the rebellious woman, the foolish woman. And the sons of Israel were to be warned to stay away from and avoid all such women.

In chapter 12 of Proverbs and verse 4 it says, “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.” Find an excellent wife, stay away from anything less is the seeming imperative.

In chapter 19 and verse 14 comes a hopeful truth. It says, “House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.” So all the way through this book of wisdom there is instruction about what kind of woman to avoid contrasted with the excellent woman or the excellent wife who is a gift from God.

The consumption of this teaching is in the final chapter of Proverbs. Chapter 31 is the final lesson from a parent to a child, from a mother to her son on the essential qualities of an “excellent wife and mother”. Contrasted with the qualities emulated by our society, many of these are in opposition to what the general public considers an “excellent woman and mother”

Why “A Blokes Blog”

This is a blog by a bloke. Unlike another blog with a similar name and address this is by an Australian Christian bloke.

Contemporising Theology

When approaching theology, there is a distinct difference between contemporising your message and contextualising it. The concern of a theologian is how to maintain balance in presenting the message of Christianity from scripture amidst (and often against) the constant flux of culture and technology whilst avoiding obsolescence (i.e. contemporising) and compromise.

The abiding essence of Christian theology regardless of culture and context is the doctrine or teaching of scripture. i.e. the core biblical principles which are applicable regardless of time, location and background. Within this essence theology is not dependent upon the experience of the communicant or the extent of their sociological impact. Not everyone will have the contextual framework in which to receive those abiding timeless elements. (See Piper’s treatment of this) To attempt “contextualisation” in that event is impossible without changing the actual content of the teaching. The task of the theologian is to use contemporary language, the role of the Holy Spirit is to provide the context or framework. That’s (one reason) why preaching is considered “folly” to those that do not believe the gospel. You may be using all the current, trendy phrases you can conjure, but without the context set by the Holy Spirit in the heart and mind of the hearer, your words will be as a sounding brass and tinkling cymbal. The theologian needs to be contemporary in their language. However, they must avoid changing the content of the message in order to adapt it to (or sometimes force it into) the context or framework of a hearer that “has ears but does not hear”. The point of making theology contemporary is to guide discernment on the part of the audience and elicit their commitment, but ONLY as illuminated by The Holy Spirit.

One concern I have with striving excessively to contextualise theological content is that undue attention is given to the communicator instead of the WORD. Christians have become, in my opinion, a little too ‘celebrity-oriented’ towards gifted speakers and communicators. This endangers the average person from being willing to attempt communicating the gospel due to personal fear that they won’t do as good a job as “Person X”. Those speakers are great to listen to and can inspire and motivate, but at the end of the day they are merely ‘tending the garden’. Only Godcan change someones heart or understanding where spiritual comprehension is concerned.

The Method of Theology

Whilst the true or pure content of the theological cannon does not change (or should not) the method of delivery or communication of that content will be adapted to suit the culture and audience in order to convey, as accurately and succinctly as possible, the truth of that content without diluting the authority of Scripture.

In preparing or planning a theological methodology there are some basic steps that can be beneficial as sound guidance as noted by Erickson and can also double up as a basic hermeneutic philosophy:

1. Collection of Biblical Materials
This, at first, seems obvious. However it is as much concerned with the text as it is with lexicographical tools. This stage concerns basic or initial exegesis of the text. i.e. What does it say? Take the original language in so far as you are able and translate it into the context of the culture and audience that you intend to communicate it. This, depending on your skill and training in languages, may be the longest step or the shortest. However it should be the first step. There’s no point in determining your interpretation, application or theme until you have a level of confidence in what the text actually said.

2. Unification of Biblical Materials
Consider the broader context of the text, i.e. author, date, original audience etc, as well as how, in the broad sense, it fits systematically into Scripture. In other words check that you don’t treat it in complete isolation and apply some “private interpretation” that results in serious error.

3. Analysis of the Meaning of Biblical Teachings
Now you get to the interpretation part. Although at this point, you really should be considering the original context. e.g. Consider what Paul said specifically to the Christians living in Corinth in the 1st century before you consider how it applies to Christians living anywhere or at anytime.

4. Examination of Historical Treatments
This might involve consulting a commentary or two. How did our predecessors view and apply the text contemporaneously? What elements of their treatment was specific to their time? What elements are abiding and relevant now?

5. Consider Other Cultural Perspectives
With Internet access this is becoming increasingly easy. However with globalisation it also is becoming increasingly important, especially if you are communicating cross culturally. Learn to appreciate other perspectives. e.g. the Asian tradition of filial piety influences family relationships differently to Western society where “the needs of the child” are paramount and children can subpoena or divorce their parents if unsatisfied.

6. Identify the Essence of the Doctrine
By now you should be able to objectively segregate the main teaching and be ready to make a contemporary application.

7. Allow for Illumination from Extra-Biblical Resources
Whether they be language, cultural, historical, sociological, scientific or psychology, there may well be something that can serve to further explain or illustrate the text. e.g. consider the Roman concept of Adoption and how that influenced Paul’s explanation of our relationship to God in Romans 8.

8. Develop a Contemporary Expression of the Doctrine
Here’s where the current buzz-word comes into play - contextualise it I have frequently referenced my own adoption as well as our adoption of Lily as a means to explain, illustrate and understand the Biblical doctrine of adoption.

9. Develop a Central Interpretive Motif
This relates back to the concept of Systematic Theology. How do you order your understanding of theology? What is the underlying emphasis you employ to provide consistency or unity in your teaching?

10. Stratification
I think this point is very important. This is a really basic exercise, but it serves to prioritise the doctrine of the text both from a Systematic and Biblical perspective. It can also mitigate unhealthy preeminence being given to minor teachings or speculative conclusions. e.g. The doctrine of Scripture supersedes the identity of the “two witnesses” in Revelation 11. We all have our bias’ and ‘hobby horses’ which are fun to debate and speculate with friends but we need to guard against them dominating our theology and communication of truth.

The Starting Point of Theology

Erickson raises a valid point in the first chapter of ‘Christian Theology’ when discussing The Starting Point of Theology. There is a dilemma in choosing whether to start with the idea of God or with the means of our knowledge of God. If you opt for one or the other it is easy to get trapped in circular reasoning.

If you start, as Aquinas did, with the assumption that God is readily proved by reason, then you justify the bible as a special revelation to be read and understood in order to know the nature of God and his relationship to man etc. To do this though involves a certain ‘leap’ from the idea of God to the idea that this same God has revealed himself specifically through the bible.

Alternatively if you insist, as Barth did, that knowledge of God only comes from the special revelation given in the bible. The problem with this is a flimsy foundation for any authority to be placed in the bible as the specific special revelation of God. Adherents of this view are more likely to appeal to evidentialism to argue that the internal evidence of the scripture demonstrates not only a supernatural origin but that it is in fact the specific and special revelation of God and is the means through which you can know God. As Erickson notes though you could, through the study of any well written literature establish an extensive study of the subject matter they deal with. For example, in the writings of J. K. Rowling you could produce a considerable detail on the nature and form and existence of “Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry”. Without any objective status, the Harry Potter books could represent reality. The bible, if represented with this line of argument, would present no better alternative.

Erickson proposes a thesis though that enables belief concerning God and the bible to be both reasonably established and scrutinised. Both God and his self-revelation are presupposed together as a single presupposition. There is no single antecedent. He quotes Bernard Ramm:

“There exists one Triune God, loving, all-powerful, holy, all-knowing, who has revealed himself in nature, history, and human personality, and in those acts and words which are now preserved in the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.”

From this a theology is formulated which in turn reflects in an adherents’ worldview and can be tested for veracity. On the basis of this thesis the Christian Presuppositionalist can stand with confidence as having a reasonable basis to present the reality of God as presented in the bible and account for man’s responsibility towards God. This means the Christian is not a self-appointed authority on matters of faith and also means the reality of God is not something left to the judgement of an individual non-believer or believer who wants to argue against the thesis. It also provides a freedom for a Christian to not be obligated or forced to feel shame that they do not have an exhaustive knowledge of God. Rather they are able to pursue the development of elaborating their systematic theology which will grow and develop as their knowledge and experience of God through the bible deepens over time.

Christ’s Superiority

A recent study in the New Testament book of ‘Hebrews’ has given rise to consideration of why anyone should accept Christ as superior to other religious leaders and their teachings and beliefs. ‘Hebrews’ is written, predominantly, to first century Jews struggling with how their new faith fulfilled or superseded their previous Mosaic system and also to those who for a variety of reasons had opportunity to research the life and claims of Christ and yet still decide to reject him as their Lord and were opting instead for another religion (usually some form or variation of Judaism). It is also written to those who for whatever reasons were indifferent to Christ, this provides the parallel or contextualisation if you will to current 20th-21st century culture.

The author asserts that Christ is superior in his person and work in every aspect. This is not just applicable to ancient and modern Judaism but also to modern main stream religions, (Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc) but also to any number of mystical or new age alternatives and to the ever popular secularism. What follows are some condensed notes (borrowed largely from a MacArthur Study Guide) introducing the discussion of Christ’s superiority. Hopefully they will provide some incentive for further thought and debate.

The How & Why of Receiving Christ – Matthew 20:17 – 21:17

(The following is a transcript of a talk I presented at Allowera Baptist Church on Palm Sunday 2008, March 16)

For several hundred years, Palm Sunday has held a place of significance in the Christian Calendar. It precedes Easter Sunday and in some tradition it also marks the end of a 40 day period of fasting and contrition known as Lent. Growing up as a Catholic, I distinctly remember Palm Sunday celebrations. All the children were given small palm leaves to wave as the procession of Christ into Jerusalem was celebrated and we marked the end of our sacrifice in Lent. I remember asking the priest to bless my palm leaf and rosary in order that by some means unknown I might receive some special grace through association and contact with these items.

Historically, the first Palm Sunday also held supreme significance in the Jewish calendar. For on this exact day a prophecy taking 483 years to complete would be fulfilled by the revelation and presentation of the messiah to Israel. This was foretold by Daniel the Prophet in Daniel 9:24 – 27. The seventy weeks are understood to be weeks of years and the end of the 69^th week, when the messiah would be identified, came exactly to the day that Christ entered Jerusalem. The reaction of the people to Christ seems at first to be opposed to receiving him as messiah until you carefully read verse 26 and understand, that by rejecting and crucifying Christ, scriptural prophecy was fulfilled further confirming him as the promised messiah.

The section of scripture in Matthew provides a juxtaposition of the reasons behind why people seek Christ and their subsequent response once Christ is presented to them. In these comparison’s we can analyse our own motivations for seeking and serving Christ.

Dearly beloved

Recently I had the honour of being invited to counsel with a young couple from our Church. I also spoke at their wedding ceremony last weekend. What follows is an amended version of my talk. The names of any potential guilty parties have been removed
Prior to this the last time I spoke at a wedding it was the “shotgun type” and we were in the tropics of Kenya, East Africa. Certainly not the case today with this young couple (D&M) as both came together out of a strong devotion to Christ and love to each other to make this public and legal commitment to each other before God in the presence of witnesses. For it is as witnesses they had come, not just to observe the wonder of an amazingly beautiful bride or to check the form of the handsome groom, but to witness and support this couple as they take this step of faith and enter into a covenant of marriage.

This was something I want the congregation to consider as they observe the proceedings, took photos and enjoyed the celebration, particularly those of whom were married. Can you recall the nervousness and anxiety you had on your own wedding day? Can you still conjure the sensation of excitement and elated love you had towards your future spouse as you went through the ceremony? Most importantly, do you remember the vows you exchanged and how you really focused on each and every word because you wanted to be deliberate and sincere before you proclaimed, “I do”? At that point you felt invulnerable, you felt as though there was nothing that would defeat your love. What does it take to reignite that and regain what perhaps may have grown cold or indifferent over time? How do ensure, and how do you intend to encourage any couple venturing into the world of marriage to ensure they maintain their passion, commitment and love? Will you pray for them? Will you hold them accountable in this most important of earthly contracts? Will you stand by them when the tough times come? Will you provide them an example of how a real passionate marriage not only gets through trials but smashes them and comes up stronger and deeper and more madly in love than previously?

The beat of a “different” drum

Our Church just recently started a new service called “Sunday Nite Live”. Not such a big deal you might say. However in conservation circles we move in, it’s quite revolutionary. Especially when one of the features of the service is the music played by the band. That’s right a band! Including, *shudder* a drum kit! Now this might seem quaint and out dated for many, but again in cconservative evangelical Australia the use of drums is still viewed by many as taboo. After all they’re evil and they drown out the spirit of God and definitely aren’t found in the Bible! … or are they?!

First, just to clarify, in case anyone thought otherwise… I thought the new Sunday evening service went very well!

Now… I had always been one of those that held the “drums were not mentioned or used in the Bible” position. Not necessarily naively, I had looked into it before (briefly) - especially whilst in Kenya as drums featured prominently in African music. However I had not formulated a strong opinion or defence either way. Certainly the concept of the modern drum is not found in scripture. When you consider the cultural and ethnic differences of the Middle East 2-3000 years ago and modern Western Society this is not that big a deal and doesn’t prove or justify in the slightest a defensible position either side of the “drum debate”.

However a bit of a search in a few different translations (uh-oh I guess I’m already in trouble eh?!) shows the term “hand-drum” used to translate the Hebrew word “toph” in Exodus 15:20 as one of the instruments used to accompany Miriam’s psalm. Most versions however translate it as a “timbrel”.

Burn Out or Rust Out?

Either way you are still out!

It has been a long time since I heard anyone speak on the topic of Christian workers becoming burnt out. There was a time when the issue was only discussed negatively, brow beating those feeling pressured to ’shape up or ship out’. I once heard the phrase used, “I would rather burn out than rust out”. This mindset ignores the fact that either way you are out and of no use to yourself, others or God.

However, even when most are conscious of the western (capitalist) culture distinctives of being time-poor, having to work extra long hours to make ends meet etc, little is said from the pulpit on burn out. The corporate environment has focused on work-life balance and for large companies seeking to expand their workforce, advantages of flexible work hours, working from home and part time opportunities are touted as benefits to assist in reducing pressure on employees and helping them maintain a balance between their work and non-work life and responsibilities. There are also claims that having work-life balance measures in place results in improved morale, increased productivity and longer tenure of valuable employees. The companies I have worked for within the IT&T sector in Australia have both had attractive life benefits that made the job more enjoyable. Whilst not the number one priority when looking for a job, it has caused me to pause when considering a job change. When I look for another job, aside from the career and salary benefits I will also weigh up the other intangible benefits. Can I manage my own start and finish times? May I freely work from home when I need to look after my daughter? Can I take flexible time off in lieu of overtime without having to reduce my paid annual leave entitlement? Etc. When it comes to participation in Church activities and ministries though there does not appear to be the same advantages or benefits.