Hebrews 6:1-8: Commentary Search Project

I took a class on the Letter to the Hebrews during the first part of this summer. I had to do a commentary search project on a highly debatable passage in Hebrews. I chose (unoriginally) Hebrews 6:1-8. I will paste my paper to this post. You will want to have a Bible next to you as you read--it will help you follow along. If you want to study the meaning and implications of the warning passages in Hebrews (and the 6:1-8 is one of them) further I suggest reading "Perseverance and Assurance: A Survey and a Proposal" by Thomas R. Schreiner. Schreiner's article is excellent. You will not waste your time by reading it. You can access it by clicking here. This is one of the most debated passages in the New Testament. Enjoy!

Hebrews 6:1-8: A Commentary Survey

Introduction

Hebrews 6:1-8 is one of the most controversial passages in the entire Bible. This section of scripture is not controversial only because of its difficulty, but also because it has to do with paradigm-shifting concepts. George Guthrie suggests that the only way one can objectively deal with this passage is if their primary concern is a passion for truth as opposed to hearing an echo of already held convictions.[1] In this (short) essay the author will survey how three different commentators (F. F. Bruce, George H. Guthrie, and Philip E. Hughes) have dealt with this controversial passage. Although all three of the commentators adequately handle the text in view, Guthrie’s approach, while not being perfect, is much more hermeneutically sound than that of Bruce and Hughes.

Hebrews 6:1-3

The author, in Hebrews 6:1-2, exhorts his hearers to do something about the spiritual immaturity unveiled in 5:11-14. Bruce finds irony in the author’s progression from 5:11-14 to 6:1-3. Considering the fact that he has just told his hearers that they cannot handle the food that he thinks would be helpful for them, one would think that he would condescend to what they are accustomed to. But he doesn’t. Bruce explains: “their particular condition of immaturity is such that only an appreciation of what is involved in Christ’s high priesthood will cure it.”[2] Hughes and Guthrie point out the fact that the verb for “let us press on” is passive. The passive suggests “that it is not a matter of learners being carried forward by their instructor, but of both being carried forward together by God.”[3]

Both Hughes and Guthrie point out that the author has no intention of leaving the elementary teachings behind as if they were dispensable. Rather, he wants to build upon the foundation set by the “elementary teachings.”[4] In 6:2a, the author identifies what he means by “elementary teachings” by laying forth a non-comprehensive list of things considered “elementary.” Bruce asserts that the each of the teachings listed in 6:1b-2 “acquires a new significance in a Christian context; but the impression we get is that existing Jewish beliefs and practices were used as a foundation on which to build Christian truth.”[5] Because of this, Bruce focuses much attention on the Old Testament (and other pre-Christian writings) as he explains what the author of Hebrews meant by each of the things mentioned in the list.[6] Guthrie, holding to much the same position, quotes Donald Hagner:

this may suggest that the readers were attempting somehow to remain within Judaism by emphasizing items held in common between Judaism and Christianity. They may have been trying to survive a minimal Christianity in order to avoid alienating their Jewish friends or relatives.[7]

On the other hand, Hughes pointedly says,

It would no doubt be attractive, and ease some of the exegetical problems of the passage, if the readers are being encouraged to abandon beliefs that are distinctly Jewish rather than Christian, but it is impossible to believe that ‘the elementary doctrines of Christ’… can be anything but specifically Christian doctrines, as the tenor of the immediate context seems to require.[8]

Hughes ultimately considers the “elementary teachings” to be “the first simple presentation of the gospel message” in Acts 2.[9] Although he is correct in identifying these teachings as Christian teachings, only a cursory reading of the Old Testament would be enough to establish the fact that these teachings are scattered throughout the Old Testament as well. Thus, Bruce and Guthrie’s position holds much more weight. After all, their point is not to say that that the New Testament has no influence on how these teachings ought to be interpreted. Rather, their emphasis is on the fact that these teachings are foundational, in their own respective ways, for both Judaism and Christianity.

All three commentators agree that, although the six teachings listed can be organized into 3 separate pairs,[10] it is “best to interpret the word ‘instruction’ as in apposition to ‘foundation.’ When read in this manner, teachings ‘about baptisms, the laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment’ fill out the content of the foundation of repentance and faith.”[11] While Bruce deals with “repentance from dead works and faith in God” in a general sense,[12] Hughes and Guthrie suggest that these two refer to the negative (repentance) and positive (faith) steps of conversion.[13] Either way, both are to be a consistent mark of the Christian life.

After wading through a mass of historical interpretations regarding what the author of Hebrews means by “ablutions,” Hughes states, “our author is referring here to instruction regarding washings and baptisms, but quite naturally, with particular respect to Christian baptism, by which all others are surpassed and replaced.”[14] Both Guthrie and Bruce object to this emphasis because the author speaks of “baptisms” (plural) and not “baptism” (singular).[15] On another note, Bruce highly suggests that the plural usage, “baptisms,” might be a reference to the Hippolytean Apostolic Tradition.[16] Hughes disagrees with this, naming it a “supposition built upon a supposition.”[17] Guthrie takes a much more preferable approach. Rather than postulating guesses without a point of reference, he remains uncommitted to any one particular view (he merely offers suggestions). After all, the text does not provide any clues which aid the reader in nailing to exact precision what he is referring to.

Although Bruce and Guthrie suggest that the “laying on of hands” refers to the coming of the Holy Spirit and empowerment for ministry,[18] Hughes helpfully adds to this list the ministry of healing by pointing to Mark 6:5, Luke 4:40, and Acts 28:8. While Bruce emphasizes the Old Testament in his discussion of the last two “instructions” in 6:2, both Guthrie and Hughes generalize the last “two ‘instructions’ into a similar category: “‘resurrection of the dead’ and ‘eternal judgment’ provide theological cornerstones related to the end of the age.”[19] Guthrie suggests that the author, in 6:3, expresses his confidence in the original hearers—he optimistically states that they are going to, in essence, press on to maturity.[20] Hughes helpfully sees a connection between 6:3 here and the passive verb “let us press on” (6:1): “It is God who enables us to make progress toward the maturity of those who are well instructed in the deep truths of the faith, but always, as our author repeatedly emphasizes, in conjunction with our own earnest effort and application.”[21]

Hebrews 6:4-6

Guthrie’s commentary on these three verses is, by far, much more helpful than Bruce or Hughes’. One of the most crucial aspects of biblical interpretation is identifying the genre of the passage under inspection. Interestingly, only Guthrie consciously factors the literary genre of the passage into his interpretation of it. He correctly identifies the genre to be exhortation: “Of course, theology underlies the author’s hortatory material in Hebrews, but the primary purpose of 6:4-12 is to motivate to action rather than to offer theological instruction.”[22]

Guthrie also points to the fact that the author uses “ambiguous phrases (such as ‘once been enlightened,’ ‘tasted the heavenly gift,’ etc.)” without defining them.[23] This does not mean that it is a waste of time to attempt an accurate understanding of these ambiguous phrases, but it does mean that the questions asked of this text must not primarily be theological. Guthrie suggests that the reader ask the following two questions: “‘In what way did the author intend this particular passage to challenge his hearers to change their attitudes and actions?’ and ‘What are the dynamics here that could be misinterpreted if we do not keep the ‘hortatory factor’ in view?’”[24]

All three of the commentators in view agree that the author is laying forth a real warning, and thus the recipients are in real danger.[25] They all hold to what Guthrie identifies as the “phenomenological unbeliever view.”[26] Hughes states, “The danger of apostasy, it must be emphasized, is real, not imaginary; otherwise this epistle with its high-sounding admonitions must be dismissed as trifling, worthless, and ridiculous.”[27] At the same time, however, all three of the commentators assert that this warning in no way calls into question the doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints. They all call attention to the fact that those who “fall away” were never truly converted in the first place.[28] Bruce explains the warning by saying:

he is stating a practical truth that has verified itself repeatedly in the experience of the church. Those who have shared the covenant privileges of the people of God, and then deliberately renounced them, are the most difficult persons of all to reclaim for the faith.[29]

Guthrie states, “the author places the term translated ‘impossible’ (adynaton) first in the passage for emphasis.”[30] The author then lists six things that characterize those who are in danger of the “irremediable” effects of apostasy.[31] First, the author describes those in danger of apostasy as having “once been enlightened.” Although Hughes and Bruce strongly suggest that the author is, at least in part, referring to baptism,[32] the author simply does not detail what enlightenment entails. Thus, it may be best to, with Guthrie, consider it as reference “to their initial exposure to the gospel or early instruction to Christian doctrine.”[33]

Guthrie and Hughes prefer a metaphorical meaning behind the word “taste.” For example, Guthrie asserts that “tasted” means “to experience something.”[34] Thus the original recipients have “experienced the heavenly gift.” With this rendering of “taste,” “the heavenly gift” most likely does not refer, even in part, to the Eucharist as Bruce suggests.[35] Rather, it refers to, as both Hughes and Guthrie point out, “the blessing of God surrounding salvation.”[36] All three of the commentators approach this differently: (1) Bruce, using Simon Magus in Acts 8:9, suggests that this refers to those who had hands laid on them but were not truly converted;[37] (2) Guthrie takes a much safer approach by merely defining the word “companions”: ‘to have a close association with’ or ‘participate in’”;[38] (3) Hughes suggests that it refers to the bestowal of the gifts of the Spirit evidenced in 1 Cor 12:4.[39] Although Guthrie’s approach may seem too easy for its own good, simply defining the terms while remaining open to the possible interpretations is best.

The author once again uses the word “tasted” but this time in regard to the “goodness of God’s word and the powers of the age to come.” Guthrie points to the fact that, in the book of Hebrews, “the Word of God and his power are closely linked.”[40] They, just like those in the Exodus generation, had received the word of God, witnessed supernatural miracles, and yet failed to enter the “Promised Land” because of unbelief. Ultimately, this passage points back to 2:3-4: they have received the word of Christ which was “testified” to them by supernatural miracle-signs.

“At the climax of this string of participles comes the clause ‘if they fall away.’”[41] Hughes identifies this act of falling away not as a passive action, but “a deliberate and calculated renunciation of the good he has known.”[42] Bruce explains: “to say that they cannot be brought back to repentance so long as they persist in their renunciation of Christ would be a truism hardly worth putting into words.”[43] Ultimately, those who have turned from the grace of Christ unto a life of renouncing and shaming his name disqualify themselves from being recipients of his grace (having turned from embracing Christ to crucifying him “to themselves” and putting “Him to open shame”). After all, “there is nowhere else to go for repentance once one has rejected Christ.”[44] They are in danger of rejecting their only hope of salvation (Acts 4:12). Hughes unhelpfully places much emphasis on baptism: “verses 4 through 6 describe the irremediable state of those who, having publicly confessed allegiance to Christ in baptism, subsequently turn their backs on the gospel and thereby renounce their baptism and all that is implied in it.”[45] Surely, baptism should be a part of the equation, but there is not sufficient evidence to postulate that it is central to the passage.

Hebrews 6:7-8

The author concludes his exhortation by using an agricultural metaphor. Guthrie points out the fact that this passage is characteristic of “widely used wisdom form in both biblical and extrabiblical literature, which depicts the blessing associated with fruitfulness over against the curse associated with barrenness.”[46] Thus, although the agricultural metaphor points to spiritual realities, it does not directly refer to the spiritual realities.[47] Although Guthrie and Hughes point to Genesis 3:17-18 as they deal with this text, the author of Hebrews is most notably must be referring to Isaiah’s vineyard song (Isa 5:1-7). In Isaiah 5, the Lord speaks of himself as a vintner who has, in essence, pampered his vineyard, Israel. However, in spite of his gracious and meticulous care of his vineyard it has produced nothing but thorns and rotten fruit. Because of its failure to produce good fruit, God promised to come upon the vineyard in judgment. Hughes explains the parallel:

“the man who has been brought within the sphere of the blessings of the gospel so graciously showered on mankind by Almighty God and has publicly professed faith in Christ crucified and associated himself with the company of the redeemed, and whose life then produces the baneful crop of ‘thorns and thistles… invites not the blessing but the curse of God upon himself.[48]

Conclusion

While Hughes’ commentary dealt much more in the realm of historical theology, his exegesis was not as hermeneutically informed as Guthrie’s; While Bruce’s commentary had it’s high points (and especially in regard to his emphasis on the Old Testament in 6:1-2), Guthrie’s commentary evidenced not only a faithful explanation of the text, but also an entire philosophy of hermeneutics which protects one from over-theologizing the text. Each commentator essentially ended up with the same conclusions in regard to the larger aspects of the text (for example, they all held to the phenomenological unbeliever view, suggested that the warning issued is not hypothetical, etc.). Without a doubt, each commentator made their own unique contributions to the passages in view. However, Guthrie’s general approach proved to be much more sensitive to principles of biblical interpretation. Surely, sifting through the possibilities of what each phrase refers to is not purposeless activity (in fact, it is necessary activity), however one must remember that the author may not have had an eye on specific realities, but on general, over-arching concepts.

---

End Notes:

[1] George Guthrie, Hebrews (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998), 223-24.

[2] F. F. Bruce, The Epistle to the Hebrews (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1990), 138.

[3] Guthrie, Hebrews, 204.

[4] Hughes, A Commentary on the Epistle Hebrews (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), 194-96; Guthrie, Hebrews, 204-05.

[5] Bruce, Hebrews, 139.

[6] Ibid.,139-143. For example, he refers to the Didache and the Epistle of Barnabas in his discussion on “repentance from dead works,” Gen 15 and Hab 2:4 in his discussion on “faith in God,” Num. 19 and Ezek. 36 in his discussion on “ablutions,” Num 27 in his discussion on “laying on of hands,” Isa 26 and Dan 12 in his discussion on “resurrection of the dead,” and Dan 7:9-14 in his discussion on “eternal judgment.”

[7] Guthrie, Hebrews, 205.

[8] Hughes, Hebrews, 195.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Bruce, Hebrews, 138-39; Guthrie, Hebrews, 205; Hughes, Hebrews, 196.

[11] Guthrie, Hebrews, 205.

[12] Bruce, Hebrews, 139-41. Bruce suggests that “repentance from dead works” are “works which issue in death because they are evil.”

[13] Guthrie, Hebrews, 205; Hughes, Hebrews, 196-97.

[14] Ibid., 202.

[15] Bruce, Hebrews, 141; Guthrie, Hebrews, 205.

[16] Bruce, Hebrews, 142.

[17] Hughes, Hebrews, 200.

[18] Bruce, Hebrews, 142-43; Guthrie, Hebrews, 205.

[19] Guthrie, Hebrews, 206.

[20] Ibid.

[21] Hughes, Hebrews, 206.

[22] Guthrie, Hebrews, 224.

[23] Ibid., 223.

[24] Ibid., 224.

[25] Bruce, Hebrews, 144-45; Guthrie, Hebrews, 230; Hughes, Hebrews, 206, 212.

[26] Guthrie, Hebrews, 230-31.

[27] Hughes, Hebrews, 206.

[28] Bruce, Hebrews, 144; Guthrie, Hebrews, 231; Hughes, Hebrews, 222.

[29] Bruce, Hebrews, 144.

[30] Guthrie, Hebrews, 218.

[31] Bruce, Hebrews, 144.

[32] Ibid., 145-46; Hughes, Hebrews, 208-09.

[33] Guthrie, Hebrews, 218.

[34] Ibid.

[35] Bruce, Hebrews, 146.

[36] Guthrie, Hebrews, 218; Hughes, Hebrews, 209.

[37] Bruce, Hebrews, 146-47.

[38] Guthrie, Hebrews, 218-19.

[39] Hughes, Hebrews, 210.

[40] Guthrie, Hebrews, 219.

[41] Ibid.

[42] Hughes, Hebrews, 216.

[43] Ibid., 149.

[44] Guthrie, Hebrews, 220.

[45] Hughes, Hebrews, 221.

[46] Guthrie, Hebrews, 224.

[47] Ibid

[48] Hughes, Hebrews, 222-23.

Nadal Does it Again!

That my friends is a picture of Rafael Nadal celebrating (in his own strange way) his championship victory over Roger Federer at Wimbledon yesterday (6-4, 6-4, 6-7. 6-7. 9-7). I happily report that Nadal ended Federer's five-year reign at Wimbledon. I have been waiting for Nadal to beat Federer at Wimbledon for the past 3 years.

My devotion and loyalty to the church won out against tennis once again. Eternal victories are much more sweet than temporal championships. However, I wish I didn't have to miss it. This match is going down as one of the greatest tennis matches of all time. It lasted four hours and 48 minutes, making this the longest men's final in the history of the Wimbledon tournament. I will be interested to see if this win gives Nadal the #1 spot. Either way, I will be watching tonight when they replay it on ESPN Classics.

More Tennis!

I am sure that all of you have been waiting with baited breath for another post about tennis. Wait no longer! This is your official reminder that Wimbledon is underway. I know... I know... it started over a week ago. Leave me alone, I have been a bit busy.

Things are starting to get exciting. It is looking like Rafael Nadal (the one serving in the picture) and Roger Federer are going to, once again, meet in the finals. Both of them still have to win their semi-final match to get there, but they are both at the top of their game right now. I think that Nadal might be able to beat Federer this year. Although Nadal put up a good fight against Federer in the finals last year at Wimbeldon, it was clear that Federer had the upper hand. I am not so sure if that is the case this year. Nadal has been so good as of late. If both Nadal and Federer make it past the semi's (and they should), you won't want to miss the final.

I haven't been able to watch much of the tournament because of everything that has been going on with James. I call it "sacrificial love." One day he will understand how much I sacrificed for his care. My greatest fear is that the final will be during church again. I think I am already getting a cold. I just don't know if I want to contaminate all those poor saints at church with my ailments. I think I might have to stay home this Sunday--I call it a labor of love. I'm kidding.

We're Home!

Well, James got released from the hospital yesterday around 5:00 pm. He is doing much better. Last night both Kristal and I realized how much more comfortable our bed is than the pseudo-beds at the hospital.

They are still not exactly sure why James was throwing up so violently. They pretty much sent us home saying, "There is nothing else that we can do here. James no longer needs an IV, he is holding his food down, and he seems like he is back to normal."

James still has extreme vomiting in the morning. We are going to be working with his Primary Care and Gastroenterologist doctors to come to further conclusion.

I do have a number of prayer requests regarding James.

1. They gave him medicine to stop his wild saliva-making abilities. Apparently, James cannot handle the large volume of saliva he creates. The downside of this medicine is that it causes him to overheat. Yesterday on the car ride home James looked like he took a 24 hour nap in the desert--he was about as red as a cracker can get! Kristal and I decided to not give him his next dose of this medicine because of the dangers of heat stroke. Well, he has been struggling with his saliva all morning this morning. He has been throwing up, gagging, and choking as much as he was before we brought him into the hospital. Because of this we gave him another dose of his medicine this morning. Pray that the Lord would give us discernment regarding the pros and cons of each medicine. We are sort of "between a rock and a hard place" (props to my Mom for this phrase) on this one. We don't want to take him off of it because his vomiting comes back when we do. We don't want to keep him on it because if we take him out (to his doctor visits, chiropractic visits, etc.) he will over heat (and we have no AC in our car).

2. Pray for us and the doctors as we continue to get at the root of James' issues. Pray for healing. Pray that the Lord would show us how to stop James' vomiting.

3. Praise the Lord for his goodness. It is so nice to be home. Although hospitals are a blessing from the Lord, they are hard to live in.

4. The Lord has been very gracious to me in regard to school. This past Sunday was the first time I have ever fell behind in a class as a seminarian. I was super nervous about it. However, on Monday the Lord helped me accomplish twice as much as I usually do. I feel that I am "up to speed" again.

4. Continue to pray for sleep for both Kristal and I.

5. Thank you all for your persistent prayers for us. I know that so many people have been pleading with the Lord on our behalf. We cannot thank you enough. Doctors are only effective as the Lord allows them to be. God is the mover and shaker behind "Operation Heal James." This is why prayer is so essential--more essential than pills, iv's, and smart, geeky doctors.

6. I just want to stress again how great Jesus is. He is such a kind savior. He is not a petty little fairy in the sky. No! He is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, and yet, he is full of compassion. We do not serve a God who is easily manipulated. But we do serve a God who is passionately in love with his children. God does not answer our prayers because he wants a friend. God answers our prayers because of his great love. He doesn't need you or I. He doesn't even need your prayers. But he loves you and I. He does take your prayers seriously. He is no genie in a bottle. He is the King. He is my King. He is a good King. Don't for one moment question the fact that he is in absolute control of everything that is going on with James. Don't for one moment question the fact that everything that he is initiating and allowing comes from a hand of infinite goodness. If you lose either one of these, your outlook will only lead to despair. We pray to him because he is in complete control (he can do something about it) and because he is merciful (he wants to do something about it).

James Update 6/27

I know that many of you are probably waiting for an update regarding Jamesy Poopy Pants. Sorry for not updating sooner (things have a been a bit hectic). To make things simple I will number each item.

1. James' vomiting has gotten much better. The docs put him on a certain type of medicine which dries up his saliva. They are thinking that his vomiting is, at least in part, due to his inability to handle his saliva (and he has a lot of it). Ever since they put him on this medicine things have gotten much better. It is not as if James is not throwing up at all now. He is still throwing up, spitting up, and gagging much more than normal. However, it has gotten much better.

2. They wanted to see if he could handle a full feeding at normal pace a few hours ago. Kristal and I were both skeptical about it. Anyway, he ended up throwing it up in the first few minutes of the feed. It was pretty extreme. They now have him on a continuous feed (10 ml's an hour--that's not that much). He is breathing much heavier after having thrown up--pray that he didn't get anything in his lungs.

3. Tomorrow they are going to replace his g-tube (feeding tube) with a jg-tube. A jg-tube is like the g-tube in that it feeds him through his belly. However, the jg-tube's tube goes into the belly and dumps his food into his intestinal tract. They want him to get the jg-tube so that if he needs to throw up he will dry heave. This is important because he cannot protect his air way. The jg-tube also helps with reflux and thus will prevent esophagitus. Since his food will be directed to his intestinal tract it won't sit in his stomach. Thus, there will be no food to reflux.

4. Pray that the Lord would grant healing to James' little body. Pray that the placement of the jg-tube goes well tomorrow. He has to be sedated for it. Also be praying that the Lord protect him from all of the radiation he is exposed to from all of the x-rays and everything else.

5. Continue to pray for rest for Kristal and I. Last night we both got good sleep (well... good as far as hospital sleeping goes). However, we are both still very tired.

6. I am really having a hard time keeping up with my schooling. Not only am I tired, but I have found very little time for studying in the midst of all the errand running, puke cleaning, and doctor visiting. It is not that I have fallen way behind, however I am taking accelarated (8 week, as opposed to 16 week, courses). Getting behind is not an option. On another note, I have been learning a lot. I am sure you will, as usual, get some posts regarding some of the things I have been learning.

7. The Lord has provided many opportunities for us to share the goodness of Christ with the doctors and nurses. Pray for boldness. Pray for evangelistic opporunities.

8. Lastly, and most importantly, pray that the Lord would grant both us and the doctors discernment regarding James. There are just no clear diagnosis. Nothing seems to add up. We still have come to no clear reason as to why James' vomiting has been this drastic. Pray for wisdom. The sooner we know what is causing it, the sooner we can know how to treat it. Pray also for his heavy breathing. It has been getting worse and worse since I started this post.

9. Praise the Lord for his grace. He is a good God. He is such a good Father. If you don't know my God, I want you to know that you are missing out. If you have rejected my God and his love, you are a fool. I hate to be blunt, but how can anyone but a fool reject infinite love? I encourage all of you (and not just those who do not know my Jesus) to run to him and be embraced by him. He will not do everything you think he should, but he will do everything that he knows is best for you. And he knows what is best for you much more than you do. Lean on Him, he will not disappoint you. Let his ideas (they can be found in the Bible) shape everything you do, say, and hope for. He is such a good God. He is such a good Father.

James Update 6/25

Well, the Docs decided to admit James into the hospital. We are not sure how long we will be here. James' vomiting has gotten much worse even since this morning. He is now throwing up around 5-10 times an hour. The Docs are pretty convinced that his issue involves more than just reflux. They will be doing trial and error stuff with him to figure out why he is reacting so drastically. For now they are putting him on medicine to help with nausea. There just seems to be no good external reason for why James is reacting the way he is.

Continue to pray for healing for James, sleep for Kristal, and help for me and my studies.

I will update again once we know what is going on.

Romans 5:3-5: "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

I used to wrestle when I was in highschool (I hated it by the way). I always knew when my dad came to watch because whenever I was in a position to score against my opponent I could hear him yelling to me from the edge of the wrestling mat , "USE IT JIM!! USE IT!" I can hear the Lord in the midst of this trial yelling, "USE IT JIMMY!! USE IT!" Pray for Kristal and I as we actively seek to let the Lord do his work on us. Pray that this trial not go to waste. Pray that we proactively "use it" for the good. Pray that the Lord use it to conform us into the image of his Son.

Urgent Prayer Request 6/25

As many of you know, James (our 1 year old) has been struggling with reflux for quite some time now. Well, a few weeks ago we had to change his formula in order to meet his one year old nutritional needs. We have him on a double dose of two different acid reflux medicines and yet the reflux continues. James has been violently vomiting anywhere from 5 to 10 times a day for the past 7 days. For every one vomiting episode, he chokes and gags and spits up 10-20 times or so (literally--no exaggeration). He will often times turn all sorts of shades of red and blue while throwing up. It takes him quite a while to catch his breath. He has been gagging and choking in his sleep throughout the night as well.

Yesterday we went to the Doc to make sure his throw up was not getting in his lungs (he has never been able to protect his airway well and so has chronic aspiration). Miraculously, nothing got into his lungs! Well, this morning everything has gotten much worse. He hasn't eaten since yesterday in the early evening, and yet is throwing up (nothing) about once every 6 or 7 minutes. The weird thing is that he is not sick, and his vomiting in no way correlates with his eating schedule. We called the Doc this morning and are preparing for whatever they might tell us. Our greatest concern right now is James getting fluid in his lungs. We are also concerned about him getting dehydrated. Lastly, the Doc expressed concerns about esophagitis (where the esophagus gets damaged from reflux stomach acid).

We will probably be talking to the Doc today about the possibility of getting a nissen. In essence, a nissen is where they wrap the upper part of the stomach around the esophagus to keep fluid from going up.

Pray for the James: Pray for complete healing and comfort. He is overly tired and way uncomfortable.

Pray for the Docs: That the Lord would grant them good decision making abilities.

Pray for Kristal: We haven't been getting much sleep lately. This morning we got up at 4 am.

Pray for me: I have to stay up with my studies in the midst of all of this.

Thank you for your urgent prayers.

Who's the Pharisee? Part II

Luke 18:9:

"And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:"

The New Religious Pharisaism: "Oh Gosh Lord, I just thank you that I am not like those who heap up rules. I thank you that I do not walk around like I have a corn cob stuck in my buttocks. Frankly, I am just thankful that I am not like those who live with conflicted consciences. Oh Lord, grant me opportunities to show them the silliness of their actions. Grant me opportunities to expose their self righteousness. I thank you that my worship is driven by my heart. I thank you that my worship is not tainted by evil desires to be seen as righteous."

"But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!'

"I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 18:13-14).

Who is it that the Lord esteems? Those who keep all the rules? Those who heap up the rules? Those who don't heap up the rules? Those who wouldn't touch a Pharisee with a 20 foot poll? Those who can detect self-righteousness like a new GPS unit? None of the above.

"But to this one I will look: To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word" (Isaiah 66:2b).

Who's the Pharisee?

Many theologians have suggested that there is no new sin under the sun. Rather there are merely the same old sins that men have always struggled with, expressing themselves in new ways. The more I study church history and the more I see the cultural changes around me, the more I realize the truth of such thinking. Generally, when we think of religious pride our thoughts generate to those who think they are more righteous than the next because of all of the extra rules they keep--we associate pride with self-righteousness and legalism. However, without surprise, our anti-legalism, anti-rules, freedom-craving culture has found a way to evidence the same pride evidenced by the legalists of yesterday.

I cannot even begin to count how many modern day Christians I have met who think themselves superior because of their ability to not be bound by rules. For many it is almost a game--"How uncomfortable can I make legalists feel while I am around them?" That's right, people today get cocky (self-righteous) in their own ability to not fall prey to a self-righteous disposition. Let me fill you in on something: you are probably less novel and more annoying than you think if you surmise that your lawless actions are that which is going to "fix" Christianity.

Don't get me wrong, legalism is wrong. Heaping up rules for the sake of... heaping up rules is wrong. Heaping up rules for the sake of appearing more righteous than you actually are is wrong. But so is fleeing from rules for the sake of... fleeing from rules. So is fleeing from rules for the sake of appearing more righteous than you actually are. So is fleeing from rules for the sake of teaching your legalistic brethren a lesson on "true" righteousness.

Jesus did not go about fixing the legalistic Pharisees by getting a big head about how much beer he could drink without it effecting his conscience, how many dirty movies he could watch without it making him feel less spiritual, or how many dirty words he could spew out of his mouth without it effecting his righteousness. Rather, he sought to show up the Pharisees by not allowing the lesser laws dealing with externals to get in the way of the more important laws of love, mercy, and justice. Do you want to teach the legalists a lesson (and they probably need one)? Obeying less rules is not going to do the trick, but love, a love which cannot be bound by rules involving externals, will.

I do not in any way want to communicate that extreme legalism should not be countered. It should! However, we must be careful about how we counter it. We must be afraid of going to the same place of self-righteousness that they are at. In the same way that we should counter those who add laws to the Scriptures, we ought to be concerned to not extract principles laid down in the Scriptures. I hate to say it, but really... it all boils down to love. Loving others to the point of self-forgetfulness. So, who's the Pharisee? Well, if you think your life, as opposed to your love, is what people need--if you do what you do for the sake of making a point rather than doing what you do out of love--you're the Pharisee.

"For you are called to freedom, brothers; only don't use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love." (Gal 5:13).

Rafael Nadal Makes History

As a good, biblically-minded Protestant I do not believe in any form of salvation by works. However, if I did, I would have an unhindered, straight-shot right to heaven. Do I have your ear? Well, yesterday I sacrificed the French Open final on the alter of going to church. There was a slight temptation to fake a cough. But then I realized that I had agreed to preach the Sunday morning message. Was I to do the unthinkable and miss watching one of the most historically significant matches in the history of the game of tennis, or do I fulfill the calling of the Lord? Talk about persecution; talk about suffering.

As expected, #2 in the world, Rafael Nadal, squared off against #1 in the world, Roger Federer. Nadal has won the French Open the past three years in a row, but Federer has always given him a run for his money. This year things were a bit different. Nadal smoked Federer 6-1, 6-3, 6-0. If you don't know what 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 means, just understand that it is a "good, ol' fashion whoppin." Nadal is now the second man to ever win four consecutive French Open titles (the only other is Bjorn Borg).