Stephen W. Hiemstra's Blog, page 56

Caution: Monday Monologues (podcast), October 30, 2023

 By Stephen W. Hiemstra

This morning I will share a prayer and reflect on A Cautionary Tale. After listening, please click here to take a brief listener survey (10 questions).

To listen, click on this link.

Hear the words; Walk the steps; Experience the joy!

Caution: Monday Monologues (podcast), October 30, 2023
Also see:
The Face of God in the Parables
The Who Question
Preface to a Life in Tension
Other ways to engage online:



Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net
Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com




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Cautionary Prayer

By Stephen W. Hiemstra

Blessed Lord Jesus,

All praise and honor, power and dominion, truth and justice are yours because you have given us your Holy Spirit and the scriptures for our guidance.

Forgive us when we seek the enhance our own social position in the church, find excuses to divide into factions, and lean on our own understanding.

Thank you for sound teaching, ears that hear and eyes that see. May we never wander from the faith.

In the power of your Holy Spirit, draw us together in unity and revive the faith of our friends and family who have wandered off.

In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Cautionary Prayer
Also see:
The Face of God in the Parables
The Who Question
Preface to a Life in Tension
Other ways to engage online:



Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net
Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com

Newsletter at: https://bit.ly/Ready_Oct23 ,  Signup
 
 

 

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Cautionary Tale

Our fathers were all under the cloud, 

and all passed through the sea, 

and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 

and all ate the same spiritual food, 

and all drank the same spiritual drink. 

(1 Cor 10:1-4)

By Stephen W. Hiemstra

In the context of discussing the eating of food offered to idols, his rights as a worker in the church, and personal discipline, the Apostle Paul tells a most curious tale about the people of Israel during their time in the wilderness. During this time, they followed the Shekineh cloud, they were collectively baptized in crossing the Red Sea, and they ate spiritual food (manna) and drank spiritual water (from the rock). Yet, still they sinned and came under God’s judgment (1 Cor 10:6-14).

The immediate lesson that Paul offered this passage was about food sacrificed to idols, but the implications extend further. In spite of the advantages of good genes and a spiritual life, the people of Israel sinned and came under judgment. The obvious parallel is with the church in baptism and communion and other blessings. In the case of food offered to idols, Paul concludes: “All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up.” (1 Cor 10:23)

Paul mentions law twice in his conclusion. Righteousness under law is a matter of not breaking the law—a measure of holiness—but Paul measures conduct in this statement with the words “helpful” and “build up.” These are measures not of holiness (being set apart by law), but of godliness (being set apart by grace). Sacrificing food to idols is meaningless for a Christian, but it is not helpful—others might see you and be led astray—and it does not build up the church—what are you doing in a pagan temple? Paul again concludes: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor 10:31)

Communion

This discussion of food sacrificed to idols and the caveats implicit in the tale of the people of Israel functions as a lengthy prologue to Paul’s discuss of communion:

“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, this is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Cor 11:23-26)

The key phrase that introduces the Lord’s Super is: “Do all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor 10:31) Just like the Israelite people were not saved by their genealogy and spirituality, neither are Christians. In taking communion, we remember Christ Jesus and glorify God according to Paul. Salvation is through faith in Christ by grace. Again Paul offers this advice subtly through analogy to the experience of the people of Israel in the wilderness and a discussion of food offered to idols.

Baptism

Paul’s reference to baptism cited above is fascinating. He writes: “And all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” (1 Cor 10:2) The people of Israel were baptized both by the (Shekineh) cloud and the sea. This ties baptism to the Holy Spirit much like the Apostle Peter did on the day of Pentecost: 

“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

This same link between baptism and the Holy Spirit appears elsewhere in Paul’s writing: 

“There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Eph 4:4-6)

I used to think that the Holy Spirit came into our lives like a direct telephone connection to God—God’s omnipresence became more real—but I gave up that idea because the first instance of prayer in Genesis was with a gentile king, Abimelech (Gen 20), who obviously had no previous connection.

For the early church, baptism apparently posed some problems both because of interpretation and association. Paul writes:

“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Rom 6:3-4)

Here Paul sees Jesus’ baptism as part of a template that we, as Christians, must follow (e.g. Phil 3:10). Elsewhere, Paul finds some thinking that baptism implied following the baptizer:

“Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius.” (1 Cor 1:13-14)

Unity of the church required careful instruction, as in the cite from Ephesians above.

Between the quote from Peter in Acts 2 and that of Paul in Romans 6, we see the two primary interpretations of baptism: Baptism as the symbolic washing away of sin and as participating in the death and resurrection of Christ. Both are widely held views today.

Cautionary Tale

Also see:

The Face of God in the Parables
The Who Question
Preface to a Life in Tension
Other ways to engage online:



Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net
Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com

Newsletter at: https://bit.ly/Ready_Oct23 ,  Signup
 

 

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Tennant Highlights Five Gifts

Carolyn Tennant. 2016. Catch the Wind of the Spirit: How the 5 Ministry Gifts Can Transform Your Church. Springfield: Vital Resources.

Review by Stephen W. Hiemstra

Statistical estimates show that Pentecostals (including Charismatics) are one of the fastest growing Christian groups. Their growth through evangelism in Asia, Africa, and Latin America swamps that of North American and Western European Christian groups that appear to be in decline. While such statistics can explain what has happened, theology is required to explain why.

Introduction

In her book, Catch the Wind of the Spirit, Carolyn Tennant points in an interesting direction, writing:

“Catch the Wind of the Spirit grew out of the context of need and emanated from a deep study of Ephesians 4. After pondering the five ministry gifts for years, I’ve come to the conclusion that our emphasis has been all wrong. The vast majority of teaching on this has focused on church leadership. I’m firmly convinced, however, that God is focused upon the ministry currents that each person is supposed to oversee. He means for the whole church to get involved.” (5)

Currents Demonstrate God’s Power

Tennant focuses on “currents” as a concept in the electrical sense, where God himself provides the power that flows through believers to accomplish his will for our lives and the lives of those we come into contact with. The “currents” of evangelist, teacher, pastor, prophet, and apostle (6-7) are in view here and are certainly not titles of church leaders in the manner that she uses them. Clearly, Tennant’s focus on the work of the Holy Spirit, as suggested by her title, marks her as a Pentecostal.

Tennant cites an old Yiddish proverb: “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.” (16) She then begins her exposition with a curious analogy for being led by the spirit offered by the early Celtic church. Celtic monks would sail in coracles, small boats shaped like a walnut, taking neither a rudder not paddles, but allowing the wind to blow them where it may: “believing that God would take them where they were supposed to go to share the gospel.” (9) The idea of current is also analogous to flow of water as it, much like the wind, carries a coracle along.

Ephesians 4

The key verses in Tennant’s exegesis are:

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service…” (Eph 4:11-12 NAU)

Tennant highlights the verb, gave, making the point that these currents inform the ministry of the entire church; they are not titles given to leaders set apart from the body of the church to undertaken these currents independent of the church (26-27).

Structure of the Book

Tennant structures the chapters of her book around five pairs of discussions. In each discussion, she first introduces a chapter on a current; then she follows that current with a discussion of the leadership role that focuses on that current. In the first pair, she writes about the “Powerful Wooing Current”, then discusses the role of an Evangelist. The second pair starts with the “Radical Forming Current” and is followed by a discussion of the Teacher. These five pairs therefore outline ten chapters with summary material before and after for a total of fourteen chapters.

Example of The Radical Forming Current

Because my own ministry focuses on teaching, Tennant fascinated me with her outline of sixteen different roles where teaching was the primary focus. They are: counselor, mentor, life coach, facilitator, luncheon discussion, training leaders, leading a new converts class, blogging, leading workshops, leading Sunday school, leading retreats, youth ministry, facilitating small groups, Bible quizzes, leading a men’s or women’s group, developing curriculum, and teaching seminary students (78-79). Tennant admits that her listing is incomplete, yet she shows that teaching goes beyond Sunday school. A lot of teaching takes place, for example, in a thoughtful sermon.

Assessment

Carolyn Tennant is an adjunct professor at the Assembly of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri and professor emerita from North Central University in Minneapolis. Her doctorate is in Educational Administration and Supervision, University of Colorado at Boulder. Carolyn Tennant’s Catch the Wind of the Spirit highlights the work of the Holy Spirit. This is through the Christian church from a Pentecostal perspective based on an exegesis of Ephesians 4. Because the Pentecostal church has grown rapidly over the past century, we might be led to believe that it has done a better job of balancing the five gifts of the spirit than other Christian groups.

Footnotes

Status of Global Christianity, 2017, in the Context of 1900–2050. Summary Data Abstracted from: Todd M. Johnson and Gina A. Zurlo, eds. World Christian Database (Leiden/Boston: Brill, accessed October 2016), www.worldchristiandatabase.org.

The underlying Greek manuscripts offer no punctuation, but scholars have offered their best guess and the English translation offers a second guess.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-tennant-58209452. @CaTennant

Tennant Highlights Five Gifts
Also see:
Books, Films, and Ministry
The Who Question
Preface to a Life in Tension
Other ways to engage online:



Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net
Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com

Newsletter at: https://bit.ly/Ready_Oct23 ,  Signup
 

 

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Leaders: Monday Monologues (podcast), October 23, 2023

 By Stephen W. Hiemstra

This morning I will share a prayer and reflect on the Selecting Church Leaders. After listening, please click here to take a brief listener survey (10 questions).

To listen, click on this link.

Hear the words; Walk the steps; Experience the joy!

Leaders: Monday Monologues (podcast), October 23, 2023
Also see:
The Face of God in the Parables
The Who Question
Preface to a Life in Tension
Other ways to engage online:



Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net
Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com




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Leaders Prayer

By Stephen W. Hiemstra

Almighty Father,

All honor and praise, power and dominion, truth and justice are yours because you set aside your divine prerogatives to come down and dwell among us.

Forgive us when we get knotted up obsessing about our own rights and privileges, fighting among ourselves  rather than paying attention to the example of humility set in Christ and the Apostles, especially Paul.

Thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit and the holy scriptures given to us that we might draw closer to you in our daily lives.

In the power of your Holy Spirit, grant us ears that hear and eyes that see that we might form a church more fitting to your example.

In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Leaders Prayer
Also see:
The Face of God in the Parables
The Who Question
Preface to a Life in Tension
Other ways to engage online:



Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net
Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com

Newsletter at: https://bit.ly/Ready_Oct23 ,  Signup
 

 

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Selecting Church Leaders

There is one body and one Spirit—

just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—

one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, 

who is over all and through all and in all.

But grace was given to each one of us 

according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 

(Eph 4:4-7)

By Stephen W. Hiemstra

One distinctive of the Apostle Paul is to view the church through the lens of spiritual formation whose originator and sustainer is the Holy Spirit. The church itself is composed of all members of God’s household to whom the Holy Spirit grants gifts without discrimination.

Thus, we are not surprised to read: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal 3:28) Nor are we surprised to find Paul writing a treatise on leadership to Timothy, whom he describes “my true child in the faith” (1 Tim 1:2). In her commentary on Paul’s five ministry gifts—”apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers” (Eph 4:11)—Carolyn Tennant (2016, 5) sees Paul’s guidance to the Ephesians addressed to the entire church, not just elders and deacons.

The Christian Family

Paul’s advice to families starts with the admonishment: “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” (Eph 5:1) This admonishment silently calls to mind—“Be holy, for I am holy” (Lev 11:44)—which Paul echoes in saying: “Walk as children of light” (Eph 5:8). Note the allusion to children in both passages so as to suggest that parents and other adults should be mindful of their influence in the family and their own formation.

To Greeks, this children-centric language would be shocking because the ancient family household normally tuned into the authority of the patriarchal father, male, head of household, who controlled all resources and protected family honor at the expense of other virtues. The closest relationship with the patriarchal father would be blood relatives, especially siblings, not marriage partners. The hierarchical relationships in the family funneled all power up to the father (Hellerman 2001, 30-41).

The egalitarian structure of the family promoted by Paul radically departed from the ancient family norm (Hellerman 2001, 113). Relations between husband and wife (ephemeral 5) , children and parents, slaves and owners (Eph 6) were subject to reciprocity (respecting, loving and sharing not dominating) in Paul’s framework and this new framework then became a model for the church. Paul’s admonishment, however, began with a call to imitate God—father, son, and Holy Spirit—living in perpetual harmony.

Church Leadership

The parallel between Paul’s guidance on family and church leaders is obvious and cross-referenced with the family. For elders (overseers), Paul admonishes:

“An overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?” (1 Tim 3:2-5)

Note that Paul begins his admonition for elders with general ethical guidance and then proceeds to cross-reference the family. His guidance for deacons follows the same template, starting with ethical criteria followed by household management fidelity (1 Tim 3:8-12).

Missing from these criteria are characteristics more representative of an honor culture. An elder (or deacon) need not, for example, be a family household head, tribal leader, or civil leader, such as the elders of Israel (Exod 24). No licenses or other credentials are mentioned. If Paul (or someone else) were appointing leaders, loyalty requirements would be prominent. The guidance might look more like a covenant with between a lord and his vassals or, in contemporary terms, like a franchising agreement with rules about consultation, training, royalties, and/or purchases from approved suppliers.

By contrast, Paul’s leadership criteria flow from what we know from Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus where he talks about Christian relationships within the household that flow from our relationship with God.

References

Hellerman, Joseph H. 2001. The Ancient Church as Family. Minneapolis: Fortress Press.

Tennant, Carolyn. 2016. Catch the Wind of the Spirit: How the 5 Ministry Gifts Can Transform Your Church. Springfield: Vital Resources.

Selecting Church Leaders

Also see:

The Face of God in the Parables
The Who Question
Preface to a Life in Tension
Other ways to engage online:



Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net
Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com

Newsletter at: https://bit.ly/Ready_Oct23 ,  Signup
 

 

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Thompson: Paul’s Ethics Forms Community

James W. Thompson. 2011. Moral Formation according to Paul. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.

Review by Stephen W. Hiemstra

Being created in the image of Holy God poses a special problem for Christians because of original sin. Sin not only mucks up the workings our lives like molasses poured into a car’s gas tank, it stinks up the place polluting our emotions and minds much like molasses as it burns. We love the wrong things like an addict lusting after drugs and think like criminals avoiding the sunlight that might expose their crimes. In the midst of our fallen state, Christ redeems us and the church aids in our formation as Christians. But how?

Introduction

In his book, Moral Formation according to Paul, James Thompson begins with this goal:

“Although I hope that this book has contemporary relevance, my primary task is not to ask the hermeneutical questions about the many moral questions that now confront us, but to grasp the specific shape and inner logic of Paul’s moral instructions.”(ix)

Thompson observes that Paul never uses the word, ethics, and only once uses the common Greek term, virtue. (2-3, 59, 107) Instead, Paul stands alone among ancient writers in arguing for the concept of original sin (Rom 3:10; 155, 208) and focusing on sexual immorality in his vice lists. (17) Unlike the Greeks, he did not advocate that sin could be overcome through human effort. (148) Like other Diaspora Jews (those outside of Israel), Paul turned to the Holiness Code (Lev 17-26) for guidance (133).

Paul Focuses on Formation

Paul’s teaching stands out from most ancient writers. Thomson writes:

“Paul’s major challenge as a missionary and planter of churches was to ensure the moral transformation of his communities. His task was not only to make converts, but to re-socialize them and provide a common ethos and shared practices.”(207)

Rather than emphasize the static view of Rudolf Bultmann (before and after faith), Thompson sees Paul teaches that we stand between conversion and the return of Christ (the end), an emphasis on the journey of faith (1, 61). Thompson writes: “Paul does not speak of ethics as such, but of how to walk, the primary term for ethical conduct.” (61) This suggests that telos, not identity or duty, drives Pauline ethics.

Summary of Paul’s Teaching

Thompson views 1 Thessalonians as a window into the content of Paul’s teaching, which he refers to as catechesis (preparation for baptism). He makes three points:

“This catechesis involved first the memory of the death and resurrection of Jesus (Thes 4:14) …
Second, Paul consistently places the story of Jesus and the readers’ own experience within the narrative of Israel, providing a symbolic world and an identity (e.g. 1 Thes 4:5) …
Third, Paul appeals not only to the story of Jesus to shape the moral conduct of his communities, but also to the Torah. (207-208)

Paul stands alone among ancient writers in arguing for the concept of original sin. (Rom 3:10; 208)

Holiness as a Pauline Distinctive

While the Jewish community set itself apart from gentile communities through its dietary laws and Sabbath practices, Pauline communities distinguished themselves through holiness. Thompson writes:

“Having provided the community with an identity as God’s elect and holy people, Paul extends the sphere of holiness from the cult to matters of sexuality, distinguishing the holy people from the gentiles.”(76)

Paul’s use fo the term, saints, and referring to the church as the called out ones (ekkesia) furthermore distinguishes Christians a the holy ones and identifies them with ancient Israel (54-55). 

Background and Organization

James W. Thompson received his doctorate from Vanderbilt University, teaches at at the Graduate School of Theology at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, and is the author of numerous books. He writes in eight chapters:

“Ethics in Hellenistic Judaism: Maintaining Jewish Identity in the Diaspora.
Shaping an Identity: Moral Instruction and Community Formation.
From Catechesis to Correspondence: Ethos and Ethics in 1 Thessalonians.
Pauline Catechesis and the Lists of Vices and Virtues.
Paul, the Law, and Moral Instruction.
Paul, the Passions, and the Law.
Putting Love into Practice.
Ethics and the Disputed Letters of Paul. (vii)

These chapters are proceeded by a preface, abbreviations, and an introduction. They are followed by a conclusion, works cited, and several indices.

Assessment

James Thompson’s Moral Formation according to Paul is a scholarly assessment of Paul’s ethics. It is well-written and documented resource for pastors, seminary students, and scholars of Paul’s work.

Thompson: Paul’s Ethics Forms Community



Also see:
Books, Films, and Ministry
The Who Question
Preface to a Life in Tension
Other ways to engage online:



Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net
Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com

Newsletter at: https://bit.ly/Ready_Oct23 ,  Signup
 

 

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Walking: Monday Monologues (podcast), October 16, 2023

 By Stephen W. Hiemstra

This morning I will share a prayer and reflect on the Walking in the Spirit. After listening, please click here to take a brief listener survey (10 questions).

To listen, click on this link.

Hear the words; Walk the steps; Experience the joy!

Walking: Monday Monologues (podcast), October 16, 2023
Also see:
The Face of God in the Parables
The Who Question
Preface to a Life in Tension
Other ways to engage online:



Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net
Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com




Newsletter at: https://bit.ly/Ready_Oct23 ,  Signup
 

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Praying in the Spirit

By Stephen W. Hiemstra

Holy Father,

All praise and honor, power and dominion, truth and justice are yours because you have established and sustained your eschatological community with your Holy Spirit who walks with us and grants us spiritual gifts. Be ever near.

Forgive us when we wander off the spiritual path that you lay before us and focus on other things. Be ever near.

Thank you for the many gifts of the spirit and your grace when we wander. Be ever near.

In the power of your Holy Spirit, draw us to yourself. Open our hearts. Illumine our thoughts. Strengthen our hands in your service.

In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Praying in the Spiri
Also see:
The Face of God in the Parables
The Who Question
Preface to a Life in Tension
Other ways to engage online:



Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net
Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com

Newsletter at: https://bit.ly/Ready_Oct23 ,  Signup
 
 

 

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