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Treasure Digest
Welcome to a new column designed to feature short items of wisdom, humor and practical information. As part of the "From the Word" section of United News, these pieces are intended to provide brief biblical bits in a way that readers can relate to, readily apply and remember. We hope some of them will be valuable to you. If you would like to share something or have any suggestions, please contact United News, P.O. Box 541027, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1027 or mike_bennett@ucg.org. The column title is based on the "hidden treasures" of Proverbs 2:4. In our trials we can take comfort in knowing that God is watching closely. The analogy of the refining of silver and gold illustrates this. During the refining process the heat of the furnace is critical. If it is too severe, the silver or gold will be vaporized and lost. If it is not hot enough, some of the lead will remain and the metal will be impure. During the refining process the smith watches the temperature closely, making sure that it stays exactly right. In the same way the severity of our trials is important to God. He wants us to be pure but never to be lost. God promises He will not test us beyond what we are able to bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). As the silver or gold nears the final stage of refining it experiences a reaction known as brightening. When the last of the impurities are consumed, the now pure molten metal emits a bright flash of light and solidifies. Similarly, as Christians, we all eagerly look forward to the brightening of God's chosen people. (This is excerpted from United News—Australia, October-December 2002, page 17—download the PDF at www.ucg.org.au/content/una.asp. The author, Russell Barnett, attends the Brisbane, Australia, congregation and is completing the final year of a Ph.D. in aluminum casting.) There is an interesting nugget hidden in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles 4. Verse 10 records what has become famous as the prayer of Jabez, because of the best-selling book. Though the book may have its biblical inaccuracies, the prayer itself is instructive. At first glance his four requests seem selfish, but a deeper reading shows why God honored his request. God does want us to diligently seek His blessings, especially the spiritual ones (Matthew 7:7-8; James 4:2). God had also promised to enlarge Israel's territories, and Jabez was claiming that promise (harking back to Genesis 28:13-22). Jabez also recognized his need for God's gracious hand to be with him (as did Ezra in Ezra 7:9). These requests build to his final one: "That You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" Considering that Jabez's name means "He Will Cause Pain," this was an honorable request, to become different than he started. Instead of causing others pain, we can seek God's help to heal, to serve and to bless others. (This material is from a sermon Richard Pinelli gave July 20, 2002, in Cincinnati East, Ohio. The video and the audio of the sermon and the transcript are all available on the UCG Web site through www.ucg.org/sermons/.) Do Messianic Jews believe and live as we do in the Church of God? Although their beliefs are quite varied, research by ABC instructor Ralph Levy showed three of the main areas where their teachings differ from the Church of God. The Godhead: All of the Messianic groups Dr. Levy examined accept the classic Trinity doctrine. Ambivalence about the law: Dr. Levy found a lack of clarity among various Messianic groups about the law, which led to a variety of practices. Some go to church on Sunday, some observe the weekly Sabbath and Holy Days, and some feel the Holy Days are recommended, not required. The identity of modern Israel: Dr. Levy found Messianic Jews generally do not accept the Church of God's understanding of the identity of the United States and Britain as Manasseh and Ephraim. The article "About Messianic Judaism" appeared in the Fall 2002 issue of Ministerial Quarterly, pages 2-4. To read a copy, check with a UCG elder in your area, or write mike_bennett@ucg.org. Surprising Archaeological Find: Proof of Jesus' Existence? A limestone burial bone box, called an ossuary, has come to light bearing the names of Jesus, James and Joseph—three of the most prominent persons in the New Testament. The ancient Aramaic words inscribed on the limestone box state that it belongs to "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus." In late October 2002, André Lemaire, a specialist in ancient inscriptions and professor at the Sorbonne in Paris, announced the discovery. Much to the chagrin of archaeologists and scholars, the box was not excavated by a trained archaeologist from its resting place for the last 2,000 years. Instead it was illegally removed and sold on the antiquities market. Regrettably, this prevents the box from being analyzed in its proper archaeological context and eliminating all possibilities of it being a fake. Prior to the announcement of the discovery, the limestone box was subjected to rigorous scientific tests to rule out the possibility of fraud. A team of experts of the Geological Survey of Israel examined the box and the inscription under a microscope and found no evidence of modern tools or tampering. For more details, read Mario Seiglie's article on this find, scheduled for the January-February 2003 Good News. This notice was posted in a field: The Farmer Allows Walkers to Cross the Field for Free, but the Bull Charges. Reminds you of Proverbs 22:3: "A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished." Shopping for Faith—a Longing for Belonging Religious trends in society can be fascinating, if contradictory. They have an impact on those who are hearing the gospel preached and coming in contact with United. Richard Cimino and Don Lattin wrote about these trends in their book Shopping for Faith: American Religion in the New Millennium: "Many Americans say they want to become 'more spiritual' but have little interest in 'organized religion.' Nevertheless, many of today's spiritual seekers do get involved in religion that's organized; it's just organized differently, or may be another religion... "Some things do not change. Now, as before, the spiritual quest is often a search for community, a longing for belonging" (1998, page 5). The book highlights trends toward do-it-yourself religion, but also toward more-demanding (and perhaps more satisfying?) groups. "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). Bible Study Course lesson 10 tells the readers, "The United Church of God prays eagerly for new people to become part of the divine fellowship that exists between God and His Church...[We extend] a warm welcome to all those who honor God and His living principles of life." Many congregations are warm and welcoming examples, and are praying and seeking growth. If a stranger came through judging for the "Warmest Church" award, which congregation would win? Make it yours! Belief in Three Resurrections: A Long History We have record of very few groups throughout the years teaching about three resurrections (covered in the Fundamental Beliefs booklet). However, an article in Biblical Archaeologist sent in by George Meeker showed the long history of this belief. Eric M. Meyers wrote about the development of Jewish-Christian groups in the early centuries after Christ's death. "These Jewish-Christian groups, referred to by Epiphanius (see Williams 1987) as Nazarenes or Elkasaites, professed the following beliefs: They proclaimed Jesus as prophet-Messiah; insisted upon the validity of the Torah and laws of ritual purity; spoke of three resurrections; professed a millenarian eschatology; looked forward to the restoration of the Temple; observed the feast of Sukkoth (Tabernacles), celebrated Easter at Passover, and observed the Sabbath..." ("Early Judaism and Christianity in the Light of Archaeology," Biblical Archaeologist, June 1988, page 71). Author Charlie Shedd shared his marriage counseling advice with his children in the best-selling books, Letters to Karen and Letters to Philip. Since disagreements are inevitable in marriage, he revealed what he and his wife called "Our Seven Official Rules for a Good, Clean Fight." 1. Before we begin we must both agree that the time is right. 2. We will remember that our only aim is deeper understanding. 3. We will check our weapons often to be sure they're not deadly. 4. We will lower our voices one notch instead of raising them two. 5. We will never quarrel or reveal private matters in public. 6. We will discuss an armistice whenever either of us calls "halt." 7. When we have come to terms, we will put it away till we both agree it needs more discussing. (Letters to Philip: On How to Treat a Woman, 1968, pages 84-87.) At the Feast in France, Joel Meeker explained that developing godly character requires that we do what is right anyway—no matter what others do. We want things to be fair, but life in this world is not fair. We are called on to do what is right anyway—whether others slap us, curse us, spitefully use us or persecute us (Matthew 5:39-44). Mr. Meeker illustrated this with a list of "Paradoxical Commandments" written by Kent M. Keith of Harvard University. Here are a few of them:
Without God's help, this can seem a depressing and impossible task. But in the end doing things God's way—anyway—builds in us the beautiful, godly character—God's way of thinking and acting—that will last forever. Eventually all will practice God's way, and everyone will treat everyone right. But in the meantime, we must try to treat everyone the right way—anyway. It's Funnier in the Old King James Helping his wife wash the dishes, a minister protested, "This isn't a man's job." "Oh yes, it is," his wife retorted, quoting 2 Kings 21:13 (KJV): "I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down." (Source: www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh.) |
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