>> This is the January 2015 issue containing the February Bible Study Lessons

BETHLEHEM: Not so little town of great challenges 30

baptiststoday.org ISRAEL: Faith, friction and firm foundations

SEE ROCK CITIES: Indeed, these stones can talk 5

WHERE WAS JESUS? Historical evidence vs. holy hype 28

NARRATIVES: Voices from both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian divide 34

MODERN ISRAEL: Politics, peoples and prophesies 36

PILGRIMAGE: Images and reflections from Israel and the West Bank 38

FA TH™ BIBLE STUDIES for adults and youth 17

John D. Pierce Executive Editor [email protected] Julie Steele Chief Operations Officer [email protected] Jackie B. Riley Managing Editor [email protected] PILGRIMAGE: Tony W. Cartledge Contributing Editor IMAGES AND [email protected] REFLECTIONS Bruce T. Gourley Online Editor FROM ISRAEL [email protected] AND THE WEST David Cassady Church Resources Editor BANK [email protected] Terri Byrd Contributing Writer Vickie Frayne Art Director 38 Jannie Lister Customer Service Manager [email protected] Kimberly L. Hovis PERSPECTIVES Marketing Associate [email protected] For good or bad: the witnessing dilemma 9 Gifts to Baptists Today Lex Horton John Pierce Nurturing Faith Resources Manager [email protected] Remembering Isaac Backus and the IN HONOR OF Walker Knight, Publisher Emeritus importance of religious liberty 16 BETTIE CHITTY CHAPPELL Jack U. Harwell, Editor Emeritus Leroy Seat From Catherine Chitty

DIRECTORS EMERITI Thomas E. Boland IN HONOR OF R. Kirby Godsey IN THE NEWS Mary Etta Sanders CHARLES AND TONI Nearly one-fourth of American families Winnie V. Williams CLEVENGER turn to church food pantries 10 BOARD OF DIRECTORS From Barry and Amanda Howard Donald L. Brewer, Gainesville, Ga. (chairman) Court rejects atheists’ demand to end Cathy Turner, Clemson, S.C. (vice chair) tax break for clergy housing 10 Edwin Boland, Johns Creek, Ga. IN MEMORY OF Mary Jane Cardwell, Waycross, Ga. Nonbelievers’ ‘commandments’ Bob Cates, Rome, Ga. NATHAN BYRD JR. Jack Causey, Statesville, N.C. not written in stone 11 From Frieda Byrd Anthony D. Clevenger, Pensacola, Fla. Kenny Crump, Ruston, La. Evangelicals give mixed reactions to Doug Dortch, Birmingham, Ala. Obama’s immigration move James M. Dunn, Winston-Salem, N.C. 11 Jack Glasgow, Zebulon, N.C. Frank Granger, Athens, Ga. Pastors opposed to same-sex marriage vow Cynthia Holmes, St. Louis, Mo. not to participate in any civil ceremonies 12 David Hull, Watkinsville, Ga. Becky Matheny, Athens, Ga. Tommy McDearis, Blacksburg, Va. FEATURE Andrew McGill, Chattanooga, Tenn. William T. Neal, Stone Mountain, Ga. Roger Paynter, Austin, Texas Kathy B. Richardson, Rome, Ga. Teaming with Oprah Charles Schaible, Macon, Ga. Charlotte Cook Smith, Winston-Salem, N.C. Rob Bell keeps pushing Sarah Timmerman, Cairo, Ga. evangelical envelope David Turner, Richmond, Va. Clem White, St. Petersburg, Fla. By Sarah Pulliam Bailey Vickie Willis, Murfreesboro, TN Cynthia Wise, Birmingham, Ala. 13 Donna Wood, Macon, Ga. Cover photo READERS SERVICES

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The sunset over Nazareth is nothing short distinctively dressed Jewish men rush through been so frequent and intense for so long, how- the Muslim Quarter of the Old City in order ever, that no part of the shared facilities can of spectacular when viewed from high atop to reach the Western Wall before sunset. There be rearranged without the consent of all the Mount Precipice. Every turn of the head gives they pray fervently and faithfully — and, as groups. the night grows late, yeshiva students and This conflict-over-cooperation environ- a worthy perspective on grandeur. young soldiers break into joyful dances in the ment is most subtly noted in a wooden ladder he gathered Christian pilgrims ponder expansive plaza. that has remained unmoved from a church the words — taken from the prophet Physically, this ancient retention wall is as window ledge since 1852 — out of fear that T Isaiah — that Jesus spoke in a syna- close as one can get to the beloved Temple that someone’s view of hell might break loose. gogue below some two millennia ago to launch was destroyed in 70 CE. Spiritually, it is the The drive from Jerusalem down to his public ministry: holiest site in Judaism. Bethlehem is just six to eight miles — depend- “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Just above, on the Temple Mount, rises a ing on which Christmas Eve sermon you’re because he has anointed me to preach good golden dome with colorful mosaic features that listening to. But access is not easy. news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim defines the landscape of modern Jerusalem: the A stark, towering, prison-like wall — arbi- release to the captives and recovering of sight Dome of the Rock. trarily placed with little regard for accepted to the blind, to set at liberty those who are It is the flashpoint for ongoing conflicts territorial boundaries — isolates Palestinians oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of between the Muslims who have long occupied from work and travel. Even their own vine- the Lord” (Luke 4:18-19). the space and some Jewish leaders seeking the yards and other sources of livelihood can As the melon-like sun disappears, the right not only to visit but also to pray at the become inaccessible. reverberating sounds of the Islamic Call to site considered sacred by both religious groups Christians are disappearing from the Prayer rise from the many minaret-topped — as well as many Christians. birthplace of Jesus — due to Islamic pres- mosques scattered below. The city looks and Friday evening activities also occur within sures from within and political pressures from sounds little if anything like it did when the the Church of the Holy Sepulchre — regarded without the West Bank. These Palestinian young Jewish family of Mary, Joseph and Jesus by many as the crucifixion site called Calvary Christians say they are further isolated and called it home long ago. or Golgotha. Conflict among the multiple offended by the supposedly divine cover that Sabbath approaches in Jerusalem, and Christian groups that occupy the church has their American evangelical brothers and sisters provide to overreaching Israeli officials. Holy Land, at times, seems to be a mis- nomer. Yet this place is so foundational to religious faith for so many that it cannot be ignored. From its rugged, rocky hills to its fertile fields and lakeshores to its sparking coastline to its numerous and historic places of worship, this place tells story after story of faith that has endured. Such faith is often made more real for vis- iting longtime Bible readers and believers who now find a fresh context for the divine stories embedded in their minds and hearts since childhood. Whether envisioning a giant of a combatant in the Valley of Elah, a violent storm on an angry sea, or a much-needed savior praying in anguish in a hillside garden of olive trees, this place is dif- ferent from all others in the world. BT

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SEE ROCK CITIES: Indeed, these stones can talk here’s an old rabbinic tale that goes part-goat, part-man deity playing a flute. Dan was so close to the northern border something like this: When God sent out Temples to various Greek deities were built — a border that has moved about from war T an angel with 10 bags of rocks to scatter into the rugged setting with niches carved into to war — that biblical writers would speak over the earth at the time of creation, the angel the stone walls to hold images of the gods. of the entire country by saying “from Dan to dropped nine bags on Israel and the remaining The ancient worship site became known Beersheba” (the southernmost city). one on the rest of the world. as Panyas (or Panias), also known by the Arabic A nature trail leads to the remains of the Rocks are everywhere in Israel, providing pronunciation “Banyas.” The flowing stream infamous temple built by Jeroboam after Israel such sturdy building materials that the remains is one of three tributaries forming the Jordan split into northern and southern kingdoms of ancient civilizations can be uncovered thou- River, which flows into the Sea of Galilee. in the 10th century BCE. One of Dan’s most sands of years later. impressive features is an ancient city gate con- Many archaeological sites in Israel NORTHERN ISRAEL structed of mud bricks atop basalt stones. have been developed by the National Park Tel Hazor and Tel Dan also provide archaeo- Given the popular name of Abraham’s Gate Authority, while other tels and digs dot the logical evidence of life in northern Israel. — because Abraham traveled to Dan to rescue map of Israel and the West Bank as well. Hazor was a major city that controlled the Lot according to Genesis — it is estimated by Tels — flat-topped mounds layered with main road from Egypt to Mesopotamia. The archaeologists to have been built around 1750 history — tell much when properly excavated. large site testifies to a rich Canaanite and BCE, during the time of the patriarchs. Israelite history, but is often ignored by tour UPON THIS ROCK groups and other visitors. Continued on page 6 Caesarea Philippi, near the northern Golan Heights, rings a bell with Bible readers as the place where Jesus queried his disciples about his identity. Simon answered: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). In turn, Jesus responded: “… You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (v. 18). A massive rock setting across from the city seems most fitting for such an affirmation — and the giving of a new name (in Greek) that means rock. Some scholars believe “the gates of hell” was a reference to a deep grotto beneath the rock. A strong stream used to flow from it, which some believed connected with the myth- ical river Styx, which led to the underworld. The stark, cliff-faced area with flowing springs was known for the frenetic worship of the god Pan — usually represented as a

5

hidden spring that provide visitors with a cardio workout. Strategically located along the Via Maris — the ancient Egypt-to-Mesopotamia trade route — Megiddo saw many kingdoms come and go throughout its long, rich history. While the archaeological evidence is most impressive, some people are primarily capti- vated by the town’s Greek name: Armageddon. The city was associated with so many battles in its history that it came to symbolize the final first-century basalt foundation — included a battle in some end-time prophecies. school and likely a second-floor balcony where women would have been seated. ROMAN RUINS Sepphoris (or Zippori in Hebrew) was a STILL DIGGING bustling Roman city when nearby Nazareth In Migdal — known in biblical times as was but a small village and the hometown of Magdala — the digging continues. Best known Jesus. Therefore, some scholars believe it likely as the hometown of Mary Magdalene, this that Jesus and his father, Joseph, would have recently discovered town on the north shore worked in Sepphoris. of the Sea of Galilee also has a noteworthy Joseph was said to be a carpenter synagogue. (a tekto–n according to Mark 6:3, which also Excavations continue as private funding is can mean “craftsman”). Such work could have SYNAGOGUE FINDS acquired to do so. The dig began in 2009 after included stone masonry. efforts to build a hotel and shopping center near The capital of the Galilee region during Finding remains of a synagogue is a highlight the shoreline led to the discovery of the ancient Roman times, Sepphoris featured fine streets of archaeological quests. Sites around Galilee town that had been hidden for two millennia. afford several views of such success. lined with shops, elaborate government build- Archaeological connections to Mary Korazim is a fourth-century Jewish village ings, and villas for the rich atop the acropolis, Magdalene, a close friend and supporter of built on a first-century village that Jesus likely or highest part of the city. Jesus, have not been recovered, but an archae- visited when traveling in Galilee. It is one of Elaborate mosaic floors — many featuring ologist who has worked at the site remains three places — with Capernaum and Bethsaida Egyptian or mythological motifs — have been hopeful. In the meantime, she sells shirts and being the others according to Matthew 11:20- uncovered in numerous buildings. other souvenirs in an effort to keep the ground 24 — upon which Jesus pronounced “woe” for On the eastern side of the Galilee, moving. the peoples’ lack of repentance. Scythopolis was an impressive Greek/Roman/ The name Migdal means “watchtower” Wrecked by a massive earthquake in 749, Byzantine city built at the foot of a many- — in reference to the lookout towers that the ruins include an impressive synagogue and layered tel known as Bet She’an, where the fishermen would build in the area to search for other structures made from darkened volcanic Philistines reportedly hung the bodies of Saul schools of fish. basalt. Some visitors are surprised by the Greek and his sons. symbols and architecture found in the ancient Excavations have uncovered a well- Jewish synagogue there. MEGIDDO preserved theater, elaborate bathhouses, and But as veteran guide Doron Heiliger Talk about layers of civilization: Megiddo was two main streets running at right angles, each noted: “If you live with another culture, you destroyed 25 times and rebuilt 25 times. Did lined with shops, administrative buildings and get influenced by another culture.” anyone think of remodeling? temples. There is even a public latrine — very An even more impressive synagogue At Megiddo, 7,000 years of history lie public. (fourth to fifth century) is found in Capernaum stacked, layer upon layer. Archaeological Those with enough energy can hike to — the hometown of Peter where Jesus lived for finds include imposing gates from both the the top of the tel for a view back down on the a few years. Its columns of limestone rise high Canaanite and Israelite periods, Canaanite ancient city. An imposing cross-like tree on against the blue sky. temples and altars, a grain silo, stables for the tel is not ancient history, but a movie prop This newer synagogue — built atop a horses, and a deep water shaft and tunnel to a from the 1973 film, Jesus Christ Superstar.

6 OLD AND OLDER “Herod was the great builder,” said guide Doron Heiliger. “Nothing was big before Herod.” The grand-scale harbor construction at Caesarea Maritima on the Mediterranean — the most modern port in the world at that time — would attest to such a statement. Marble was imported from Turkey and columns from Egypt. At the beautiful waterfront now, a few columns and lower walls of Herod’s palace and the outline of a spectacular pool serve as reminders of what grandeur once welcomed ships loaded with riches from distant places. The regal theater has been refurbished and is still used for entertainment today. To students of the Bible, the site is known as the headquarters of Pontius Pilate and as the place where Peter, in Acts 10, encountered the centurion Cornelius — opening the gospel to persons of all nationalities. It was also the city in which Paul defended himself before the Roman officials Felix and Festus. Many miles to the south and east is Jericho, the oldest known city in the world. It is now part of the West Bank, near the Jordanian border and the north end of the Dead Sea. Dig for a day Here Kathleen Kenyon uncovered a could dig, bringing to light pottery, bone, watchtower she dated to 10,000 BCE, making It’s not every day that novices get to dig and other finds unseen for more than two it the earliest structure of its kind ever found. up 2,200-year-old pottery pieces and millennia. Many buildings in ancient Jericho were made bring history to light, but the 48 partici- Participants then formed a bucket bri- of mud brick, making their remains difficult to gade and schlepped the buckets of finds, along distinguish. pants in Baptists Today’s Nurturing Faith with those filled with dirt and rocks, to the And, no, no one’s found exactly where Experience to Israel and the West Bank surface. At the top, sifting the debris through “the walls came tumbling down.” In the got that opportunity in November. wire screens uncovered smaller treasures. Old Testament, the book of Joshua refers to Not all valuable finds are easily noticed. Jericho as the first Canaanite city to fall to the el Maresha, part of Bet Guvrin A gold earring bearing a winged figure was invading Israelites when they came into the National Park, welcomed eager and found earlier at the site. Amazingly, the Promised Land, but excavated remains don’t inexperienced hands in the excavation T matching earring was found as well. match the story. of bell-shaped caves created by an Idumean The figure on the earring is likely repre- A large sycamore tree in town reminds community that lived there in the second and sentative of the Greek goddess Nike, said one Bible students that this is where Jesus called the third centuries BCE. archaeologist. If so, she added with a smile, it outcast tax collector Zacchaeus down from the Following the Maccabean Revolt, in would be the oldest and most valuable pair of limbs and shared dinner and salvation with him. which the Jewish people regained control of Nikes in the world. BT New Testament Jericho was a mile or two the land for about 100 years, the Idumeans from the older city. It featured multiple palaces were required to convert to Judaism or move. built by Herod the Great as a winter retreat. Many of them threw their possessions — the Reportedly, he gave the city to Cleopatra as a ones they could not carry — into the caves wedding gift when she married Mark Anthony. they had dug into soft chalk beneath their homes. Then they collapsed their houses into *** the caves. Much of the rich, multi-layered history of More than 5,000 such caves have been Israel and the West Bank have been and are found in the area, all filled with the detri- continually being uncovered thanks to careful tus of those who once lived there. Because archaeologists — and construction material the site is not layered but rather from the that lasts and lasts and lasts. same time period, our untrained volunteers But as Doron Heiliger often quips to tour guests: “If you want to take a rock home with you, it’s OK. We have plenty.” BT

7 quotation remarks

—From a declaration signed by leaders of Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu and other faiths who gathered at the Vatican last month to call for an end to slavery by 2020 (RNS) —Josh Packard, a sociologist at the University of Northern Colorado, on recent data concerning the growing number of Christians (called “dones”) who are leaving church (Baptist News Global) —Larry Eubanks, pastor of First Baptist Church of Frederick, Md. (ethicsdaily.com) —Colin Harris of Stone Mountain, Ga., professor emeritus of religious studies at Mercer University, writing at ethicsdaily.com —Pastor Michael Sares of Denver’s Scum of the Earth Church, an evangelical congregation known for welcoming persons that other churches might turn away (RNS) —Michelle Acker Perez, who hosts short-term mission teams in Guatemala, on the importance of participants knowing the cultural context in which they’ll serve (Relevant) —Columnist David Brooks in The New York Times Mark your calendar! —Alan Bean, executive director of THE JUDSON-RICE AWARD DINNER Friends of Justice (BNG) HONORING BILL LEONARD Friday, April 24, 2015 Bridger Field House Winston-Salem, N.C. Baptists Today —Bible scholar Walter Brueggemann (onbeing.org)

8 Editorial By John Pierce For good or bad: the witnessing dilemma

No one can argue with your “personal to be “Christian.” Through the years I’ve continued to When someone prefaces his or her pro- struggle with what faithfulness looks like when testimony.” It’s you telling what God nouncement with a claim of offering “the it comes to sharing one’s faith and “making dis- has done in your life. Christian” perspective or position on an issue, ciples.” Too often the emphasis seems to be on it induces severe cringing. What now will be getting others to think and act like me — rather hat was some of the advice — or urg- blamed on Jesus? than to experience the grace needed by all. ing — that was part of my Christian Pointing fingers at others and expressing “You can be like me” is not very appeal- T upbringing that highly valued the embarrassment over their words and deeds, ing, however — especially when coming from notion of being faithful witnesses. however, are less produc- those of us who consider ourselves to be the To witness was to tell others — in a most tive than looking inward more faithful Christian witnesses. persuasive way — of God’s good working in at our own ways of mis- Too often, the result is more harm than one’s own life in hopes that listeners would representing the faith that good. Ignorance, arrogance, inflexibility and want some of the same. Various resources were we claim to hold so dear. worse often provide very good reasons for available to get those persuaded through the It’s painful but others to not want any part of that which is proper steps of salvation. appropriate to ask: How deemed “Christian.” The intent was noble: If you find some- do those whose under- What might be more appealing — as well thing that’s good for you, share it with others standing of the gospel is as more authentically Christian? because it will be good for them as well. Pass it shaped by their experi- Perhaps it would be unexpected selfless- on. It only takes a spark …, remember? ences with me feel about it? ness and compassion, an openness to change It never dawned on me through the earlier Honestly, if all I knew of the Christian without fear, a stronger dose of humility and decades of my life that a “personal testimony” gospel were what comes through social media grace, or a quicker and clearer confession of might come across more like: Look what Jesus and the larger media, as well as casual conver- “I don’t know” when it comes to life’s many has done for me — and you should be so lucky. sations overheard and public pronouncements mysteries. Now it is much easier to see how and why about social issues of the day, I’d be on the A friend of another faith tradition inter- many would not find such faith to be very constant run from it. acts closely with church groups in his work. attractive if the best case is one’s own goodness Grace, humility and those apparently Recently, he told of hearing these participants and winsome ways. irrelevant “fruits of the Spirit” often take a constantly degrading people of religious faiths Honestly, many of the more vocal and backseat to theological and political certainty, and nationalities other than their own. higher profile representatives of Christianity disrespect for those who differ, and shallow, So much of what he picks up from them, today are not the life models that others might uncritical thinking. he said, is both unloving and untrue. It is quite find appealing. It’s not that they don’t live up Publically, Christianity is too often unappealing. to some unreasonable standard of perfection defined by pseudo claims of persecution, However, a woman with one church — but that they seem to view themselves more the spread of outright false information and group was simply astonished to learn that he highly than others. accusations, silly defensiveness over holiday was not a Christian — having had so much This applies not to some fringe group that greetings, and all sorts of fear-mongering when exposure to the faith. It seemed incomprehen- markets hatred in the name of Christianity. facing any and all social change. sible to her that he had not made that decision. They are easily dismissed. And these “Christian testimonies” are With great sincerity and apparent con- No, the challenge is the much broader advanced with the ease of a few keystrokes or cern, she asked him incredulously: “Why don’t public witness of evangelical Christians that simply hitting a “share” button, or parroting you become a Christian?” seems so unlike the One to whom listeners are them in daily conversation. His actual response was kind, but dismis- being asked to commit their lives. The evangelical subculture of my upbring- sive. But his silent reaction was: “You! It’s Through formal communications, social ing put a strong emphasis on overt (even because of people like you!” media and daily interactions, harsh and aggressive) “witnessing” — regardless of one’s There is an old preacher line that goes disrespectful political ideology, false accusa- personality type or gifts. It was not enough to something like this: “It’s not a question of tions and other expressions of ignorance, and be responsible for one’s own spiritual course whether you are going to be a witness — but even hostilities rooted in hatred are often and condition; the “gospel” was to be shared rather what kind of witness.” advanced as part and parcel of what it means with, if not imposed on, others. That seems to be true. BT

Honestly, many of the more vocal and higher profile representatives of Christianity today are not the life models that others might find appealing.

9 Nearly one-fourth of American families turn to church food pantries

West (28 percent), compared to 20 percent in Feeding Baptist News Global the South and 17 percent in the Northeast. America, a nation- Americans least likely to receive food from wide network of 200 n an online survey of 1,158 adults last year, a church (11 percent) are 65 and older. food banks, provides 22 percent said they are in families who have Scott McConnell, vice president of food assistance to an I received food from a church-run food pantry LifeWay Research, said while churches have estimated 46.5 million in the past. a reputation of providing coffee and donuts Americans a year. Among churchgoers, the percentage is 26 and covered-dish suppers for church members, “There is an abun- percent, while just 18 percent of those who they are also supplying food to many people in dance of food in the never attend have gone to a church for help. need. U.S., but plenty of More than one-third of African Americans According to Bread for the World, about people still go hungry,” (37 percent) answered “yes,” compared to 19 one in seven American households is not McConnell said. “Many churches respond by percent of whites and 25 percent of Hispanics. always sure where their next meal is coming faithfully following the biblical principle of being Americans with no college degree are more than from. The USDA uses the term “food inse- open handed to the poor and needy by maintain- twice as likely as college graduates to say yes. curity” to distinguish those who are literally ing well-stocked food pantries to share.” BT Thirty-five percent of those who say they starving from people who miss a meal, worry have used a church-run food pantry identify as about running out of food or sometimes go to —With reporting by Bob Smietana evangelical Christians. The rate is higher in the bed hungry. of LifeWay Christian Resources.

Court rejects atheists’ demand to end tax break for clergy housing

pursued the case since 2011, vowed to fight The exemption is worth about $700 Religion News Service on. million per year, according to the Joint “We are disappointed but we are not Committee on Taxation’s Estimate of Federal federal court of appeals rejected a giving up,” said Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF’s Tax Expenditure. case brought by an atheist orga- co-president. “We are so clearly right and the Supporters of the tax break say it helps nization that would have declared law is so clearly unconstitutional.” alleviate government costs for social services A th tax-exempt clergy housing allowances The Chicago-based 7 U.S. Circuit by routing that assistance through houses — often a large chunk of a pastor’s compen- Court of Appeals overturned Crabb’s rul- of worship. Tony Perkins, president of the sation — unconstitutional. ing in favor of the atheists because it found Washington-based Family Research Council, “This is a great victory for fair treat- Gaylor and FFRF lacked “standing” — said “society has tried to relieve the clergy’s ment of churches,” said Luke Goodrich, meaning they had no right to sue because the housing burden because of the tremendous deputy general counsel for the Becket Fund law did not affect them. social benefits churches offer the culture.” for Religious Liberty, which filed an amicus Gaylor and Dan Barker, her co-president Most clergy, he said, “despite their brief on behalf of pastors from several major and an ordained minister, did not seek a hous- exceptional educations, receive only modest denominations. ing allowance for themselves under the law. salaries.” “When a group of atheists tries to cajole “Dan took the allowance when he was The Orthodox Union, which represents the IRS into raising taxes on churches, it’s a minister, but now that he is head of the Orthodox Jews, noted that the housing bound to raise some eyebrows,” he said. largest atheist and agnostic organization in allowance helps many rabbis live in homes “The court was right to send them packing.” the country, he cannot take it,” Gaylor said. they might not otherwise be able to afford The Nov. 13 ruling overturns a 2013 “That clearly shows preference for religion.” because “congregational rabbis and other decision by U.S. District Court Judge Churches routinely designate a portion clergy members must reside within walking Barbara Crabb, who had ruled that the of a pastor’s salary as a housing allowance. distance to their synagogues” because obser- exemption “provides a benefit to religious So, for example, a minister who earns an vant Jews do not drive on the Sabbath or persons and no one else, even though doing average of $50,000 may receive another third most holidays. so is not necessary to alleviate a special bur- of income, or $16,000, as a tax-free hous- Gaylor said FFRF was reconsidering den on religious exercise.” ing allowance, essentially earning $66,000. its legal options and would not drop the But the Freedom from Religion Having to pay taxes on the additional case. The only venue left to hear the case Foundation, a Madison, Wis.-based First $16,000 ($4,000 in this case) would mean a would be the U.S. Supreme Court. “We are Amendment watchdog group that has 6 percent cut in salary. regrouping,” she said. BT

10 Guide for nonbelievers offers 10 commandments not written in stone

Religion News Service

STANFORD, Calif. — An atheist, a humanist and an agnostic walk into a restaurant. The hostess says, “Table for one?” An old joke, yes, but its essence lies at the heart of Atheist Mind, Humanist Heart: Rewriting the Ten Commandments for the Twenty-First Century, a new book by Lex Bayer and John Figdor. Bayer, 36, is a Stanford grad and longtime humanist, and Figdor, 30, is the new humanist Evangelicals a mixed bag on chaplain at Stanford University. The two met when Bayer, a venture capitalist and engineer, wrote a Obama’s immigration move news story about Figdor’s arrival at Stanford. The two soon discovered they liked hashing out difficult Southern Baptist ethicist Russell ideas about the way people live. Religion News Service Moore, who has pushed Obama to act on They began meeting regularly for coffee, immigration, said in a Time op-ed that brought along their computers and were soon WASHINGTON — While Republican executive action is the wrong approach. on their way to drafting a book — a kind of leaders blast President Obama for taking “We can debate whether the President philosophical roadmap to essential beliefs for executive action on immigration reform, has the authority to undertake these actions nonbelievers. some prominent evangelical leaders are wel- unilaterally, but, regardless, this is an unwise “There are lots of books out there about why coming the president’s plans to keep about and counterproductive move,” he wrote. you should not believe in God,” Bayer said. “But 5 million undocumented immigrants from A recent LifeWay Research survey there aren’t any about what do secular people being deported. found that while 91 percent of evangelicals believe in. I think that’s the question John and I felt Evangelicals are a key voting bloc for said the U.S. should be responsible for hadn’t been adequately addressed.” the GOP, but on immigration some are stopping illegal immigration, 77 percent In exploring that, the two men — both of taking a pragmatic step away from the agreed that “Christians have a responsibil- whom have studied philosophy and logic — came party. They include Hispanic leaders such ity to assist immigrants, even if they are in up with 10 essentials. For the extra-nerdy, there’s as Samuel Rodriguez who say the time has the country illegally.” even “a theorem of belief” in the appendix that looks come to manage what has become a “de Florida megachurch pastor Joel Hunter, like something a mathematician might scribble. facto humanitarian crisis” for millions of an evangelical who is also Obama’s spiritual The result is 10 “non-commandments” — immigrants. adviser, said he celebrates the “partial step” the authors’ irreducible statements of atheist and “This merciful action takes place Obama is taking, even as he must still work humanist belief. because for years our government, under with Congress on comprehensive reform. First up: “The world is real, and our desire to the leadership of both parties, failed mis- “I welcome this incremental step,” understand the world is the basis for belief.” erably as it pertains to immigration,” Hunter said. “I don’t look upon it as No. 2 on the list: “We can perceive the world said Rodriguez, president of the National amnesty. I look upon it as a partial solution only through our human senses.” Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. to an ongoing problem and I do see the Halfway through, at No. 5, the authors con- Likewise, Noel Castellanos, CEO of need in human terms, in terms of keeping clude: “There is no God.” Once over that hurdle, the Christian Community Development families together and bringing people out the non-commandments become less controversial Association, and Gabriel Salguero, presi- of the shadows.” — an ethical society is good, as is moral behavior. dent of the National Latino Evangelical Other Christian groups, such as Church But it is the last non-commandment that Coalition, welcomed the executive action World Service, welcomed the president’s move makes these maxims very different from the biblical on immigration. but questioned whether it goes far enough. version: All of the above is “subject to change in the “As pastors, we welcome the relief of “However impressive 5 million people face of new evidence.” They are, quite literally, not action and call on Congress to provide long- sounds,” said John L. McCullough, CWS’ written in stone. term solutions,” said Salguero, who has made president and CEO, “the fact of the matter The goal of the book, the authors say, is to visits to Capitol Hill to push for reform. is that there still are 11 million … who wait encourage atheists and humanists to define what But not all evangelicals praised the with anticipation and have a deep concern they believe so they can articulate it better, both president’s action, even as they embrace the about what will unfold over the course of to themselves and to a broader society that often need for immigration reform. this day.” BT regards atheists as immoral and untrustworthy. BT

11 Religion News Service Pastors opposed to same-sex marriage vow not to participate in any civil ceremonies

hat’s the surest way conservative a definition of marriage that explicitly rejects the marriages?” And writer Len Woolley raised simi- pastors can avoid any government age-old requirement of male-female pairing,” lar questions at the Mormon-run Deseret News. W mandate to perform same-sex the pledge says. “In a few short years or even But the idea isn’t just limited to conser- marriages? According to one prominent months, it is very likely that this new defini- vatives. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay religious journal and a growing number of tion will become the law of the land, and in all Episcopal bishop, proposed the idea as early as ministers, the answer is not to perform any jurisdictions the rights, privileges, and duties of 2009. civil marriages at all. marriage will be granted to men in partnership By 2011, three North Carolina church First Things, a conservative religious pub- with men, and women with women.” pastors and at least one in Virginia quit sign- lication, has launched a movement encouraging The document concludes: “we, the under- ing marriage licenses as a way of opposing state pastors to refuse to perform marriages as rep- signed, commit ourselves to disengaging civil and bans on same-sex marriages. resentatives of the state. A signing statement Christian marriage in the performance of our And in July of last year, Paul Waldman called “The Marriage Pledge” has been posted pastoral duties. We will no longer serve as agents argued at The American Prospect, a progressive to the journal’s website, where ministers can of the state in marriage. We will no longer sign publication, that religious couples should fill out affix their names electronically. government-provided marriage certificates. … state-mandated marriage forms and then have The pledge was drafted by Ephraim We will preside only at those weddings that seek the religious ceremony of their choosing. Radner, an ordained Anglican and professor to establish a Christian marriage in accord with “The wedding, in other words, should be of historical theology at Toronto School of the principles articulated and lived out from the a ritual with no content prescribed by the state, Theology’s Wycliffe College, and Christopher beginning of the Church’s life.” no ‘By the power vested in me by the state of Seitz, an ordained Episcopal priest and senior The concept that civil and religious mar- Indiana’ at all.” research professor at Wycliffe. riage should be separate is not entirely novel. Waldman added: “The state doesn’t tell you “In many jurisdictions, including many of At U.S. Catholic, columnist Bryan Cones has how to celebrate Christmas or Ramadan, and it the United States, civil authorities have adopted asked, “Is it time to separate church and state shouldn’t tell you how to get married.” BT

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12 Religion News Service Teaming with Oprah Pastor Rob Bell keeps pushing evangelical envelope

Rob Bell was once the evangelical It Boy, the hipster pastor with the thick-rimmed glasses and the skinny jeans whose best-selling theology was captured in books with names such as Velvet Elvis and Sex God. y 2006, the Chicago Sun-Times won- dered aloud whether the Michigan B mega-church pastor could be the next Billy Graham. And then he went to hell. In 2011, his book Love Wins pushed the evangelical envelope on the nature of heaven, hell and salvation. Many dismissed him as a modern-day heretic, unwilling to embrace tradi- tional evangelical beliefs about the hereafter. on a “Life You Want Weekend.” gay members and allow them to be ordained. While evangelicalism has always wrestled In many ways, some elements of typical “This is a justice issue,” Bell said. “We with the pull of its fundamentalist roots and a evangelicalism are a good fit for Oprah’s lineup believe people should not be denied the right to desire for a modern-day openness within certain of public confession and personal transforma- have someone to journey with.” boundaries, for many Bell had gone too far. tion, said Kathryn Lofton, author of Oprah: Books & Culture, a journal published by “Farewell, Rob Bell,” retired mega-church The Gospel of an Icon. The difference, however, Christianity Today, mocked Bell’s latest work, pastor John Piper famously tweeted. is that The Church of Oprah incorporates as inventing a fake publishing executive to push Now, the man who built a church of an many religious concepts as possible, while the man behind the Gospel of Zimzum. estimated 10,000 people isn’t even attending an evangelicalism commits to exclusivity. “He won’t talk about the cross, or sin, or the organized church. Instead, he surfs the waves “I think an interesting way to think about idea that marriage represents Jesus and his bride near Hollywood and has teamed up with the Bell and Oprah here is to observe how easily she or God and Israel. So he’s not a Bible Christian, goddess of pop theology, Oprah Winfrey. incorporates him into her pantheon of spiritual but really a Christian, then. Our new kind of Exchanging his evangelical bona fides for advisers. She remains, as ever, the determining Christian. Our evogelical,” the piece said. the blessing of Oprah may yet prove to be his corporate deity,” said Lofton, a professor of Bell co-authored Zimzum with his wife, most unforgivable sin, at least in some circles. religious studies at Yale. Kristen, and he said “she’s generally three steps Which is not to say that Bell cares very much “One way of looking at this is less a merger ahead of me” in his evolution. what anyone says these days. of two equal powers than it is the acquisi- Now resettled near Los Angeles, the couple “I never spent a minute wondering tion by one large corporation of another small no longer belongs to a traditional church. “We whether I’m in or out.” business.” have a little tribe of friends,” Bell said. “We have Does he still consider himself an evangelical? To be sure, Bell still holds his evangelical a group that we are journeying with. There’s no “If we mean Jesus’ message of God’s revo- credentials, with degrees from Wheaton College building. We’re churching all the time. It’s more lutionary love for every person, and we can and Fuller Theological Seminary. For anyone of a verb for us.” surrender and give our life to acts to loving looking for any hints to his theological shift, He’s still a fan of churches — depending kindness, then man, sign me up,” said Bell, 44. however, his new book, The Zimzum of Love: on the context. After the initial battle over Love Wins died A New Way of Understanding Marriage, is likely “Churches can be places that help people down, Bell seemed to disappear from the pub- to disappoint. grow and help people connect with others and lic eye. He left his Mars Hill Bible Church in He came out in favor of same-sex marriage help people connect with the great issues of our Grand Rapids and headed out to California to in 2013, and few evangelicals seemed surprised. day,” Bell said. “They can also be toxic, black work on TV projects. If he could question the existence of hell, they holes of despair. My thinking is, it depends on The Rob Bell Show premiered recently on said, why wouldn’t he shift on his views about where you are in your life. One of the most the Oprah Winfrey Network, a one-hour show sexuality? extraordinary things I’ve done since I left Mars that features Bell and is co-produced by him. He Bell says he would conduct a same-sex cer- Hill is be with people and engage with people also recently toured the country with Winfrey emony, and he encourages churches to welcome who would never step foot in a church.” BT

13 Online Editor In their own words

AND THE AMERICAN

Celebration, chagrin and defiance alternatively 150 years ago so than the Georgia residents who only weeks greet the dawning of the new year. ! ago witnessed Sherman’s brutal march through For free black Baptists who until recently the state. Many remain defiant, insisting that were slaves, the first day of the year is a time of January 1865 slavery is God’s will for the black race. great celebration. North and South alike, black Samuel Boykin, editor of the Georgia Baptist churches, having held watchnight vig- Baptist Christian Index, expresses the senti- ils the night before in commemoration of the ments of many. “The war which afflicts us has Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, worship, a manifest connection with slavery … the rela- pray and praise God. Many cities, including tion between the master and the slave has the Vicksburg and Memphis, feature community divine sanction,” Boykin warns those who may parades. be wavering. Whereas 1864 was “one long year In Savannah, the newest liberated city, of disaster and distress to the Confederacy,” black clergy, many of whom are Baptist, form better days lie ahead if the people of God the Savannah Education Association that will humble themselves, submit to providence, and in the weeks and months ahead create schools honor God’s Confederate nation and his holy for blacks, taught by blacks. name. “Have faith in your God and your cause: Also in Savannah, on Jan. 12, Union the one is kind and benignant — the other General William T. Sherman meets with 20 worthy of all effort, all sacrifice, all suffering.” of the city’s black ministers. The appointed enlist in the service of the Government, Fight “for all that is right, holy and just; have spokesman for the ministers is 67-year-old and serve in such manner as they may faith in the nobility of your cause.” former Baptist pastor Garrison Frazier, a slave be wanted. (The rebels told us that A writer for the South Carolina until eight years prior. Sherman and Secretary they piled them up and made batteries Confederate Baptist insists the war is going well, of War Edwin M. Stanton pose questions to of them, and sold them to Cuba, but evidenced by army revivals in the South and an Frazier. As transcribed, a few of the questions we don’t believe that.) We want to be increase of evil in the North. The future bodes and answers are: placed on land until we are able to buy well for the white people of the Confederacy, it and make it our own. to whom will be “entrusted the custody of pure Second. State what you understand by Fourth. State in what manner religion as well as constitutional liberty.” Of the slavery, and the freedom that was to be you would rather live, whether scat- abolitionist North, “God has judged them. The given by the President’s proclamation. tered among the whites or in colonies prophecy of their doom is it not written in their Answer. Slavery is receiving by by yourselves? own acts.” irresistible power the work of another Answer. I would prefer to live The editor of the Virginia Baptist man, and not by his consent. The by ourselves, for there is a prejudice Religious Herald also voices confidence in the freedom, as I understand it, promised against us in the South that will take Confederacy. “If a feeling of despondency with by the proclamation is taking us from years to get over, but I do not know that regard to the issue of the struggle for Southern under the yoke of bondage and placing I can answer for my brethren. [All but independence has gone abroad among our us where we could reap the fruit of our one express agreement with Frazier.] people, we do not share it. There is no sufficient own labor and take care of ourselves reason for this gloom that we can see.” and assist the Government in main- Four days after the interview with Frazier, Perhaps the eyes of many white Baptists taining our freedom. Sherman orders that each freed family be of the South are willingly closed to the reali- Third. State in what manner given 40 acres of tillable land along the South ties at hand. On Jan. 15, Fort Fisher in North you think you can take care of your- Carolina coast. Carolina near Wilmington falls to the Union. selves, and how can you best assist Enslaved Baptists, their numbers declining Four days later, Sherman begins moving north the Government in maintaining your each passing day, hear the good news and are ever into South Carolina. And on Jan. 31, the U.S. freedom. more confident that their own freedom is nigh. House passes the 13th Amendment (the Senate Answer. The way we can best White Baptists of the North, certain that already having done so) abolishing slavery, take care of ourselves is to have land, God intends freedom for all, celebrate with opening the way for the amendment to be sent and turn in and till it by our labor black Baptists. to the states for ratification. BT — that is, by the labor of the women, White Baptists of the South, however, and children, and old men — and we have mixed feelings. A growing number are —Bruce Gourley is executive director of can soon maintain ourselves and have ready to welcome a United States victory over the Baptist History & Heritage Society. something to spare; and to assist the the Confederacy. Others yet harbor deepseated For a daily log of “This Day in Civil War Government the young men should anger against the North, perhaps none more History,” see civilwarbaptists.com.

14 Classifieds In the Know

C. Welton Gaddy retired in December as Associate Minister for Music and president of the Interfaith Alliance. For 16 Worship: years, he commuted between Washington, D.C., and Monroe, La., most weeks. He will continue as pastor of Northminister Church, a Baptist congregation in Monroe. Jennifer Hawks is staff counsel of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. She is a graduate of Mississippi College, University of Mississippi School of Law and Baylor University’s Truett Seminary. Previously she was director of advocacy and outreach for the Family Abuse Center in Waco, Texas. Roger Paynter has retired as pastor of First Baptist Church of Austin, Texas, where he had served since 1996. Erling C. Valerius died Nov. 18 in Columbiana, Ala., at age 86. He was a ADVERTISE WITH Baptist missionary to Brazil for 30 years. BAPTISTS TODAY Malcolm O. Tolbert died on Thanksgiving Day 2014 in Baton Print or Web Classified Ads Rouge, La. Regarded by many as one of Baptists’ finest New Testament schol- ars, he had a long and varied ministry as a pastor, missionary and professor. Web Display Ads Price (per week) After serving in the Army Air Corps, he graduated from Louisiana College and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary before answering a call to mis- sion service in Print Display Ads Price (per month) Brazil. Later he returned to the seminary to complete his doctorate after which he joined the faculty to teach courses in Greek, New Testament and theology. In 1977 he became pastor of First Baptist Church of Gainesville, Ga., where he served until joining the fac- ulty of Southeastern Baptist Seminary. He taught there for 10 years before retiring in 1989. His excellent writings, gentle spirit Information / Ad Space: and insightful thinking attracted many. [email protected] He was honored in a memorial service Dec. 13 at Broadmoor Baptist Church (478) 471-9274 in Baton Rouge. BT

15 Guest Commentary By Leroy Seat Remembering Isaac Backus and the importance of religious liberty

The New England Puritan Isaac Backus Congregational churches. or traditionalists like those in 18th-century Even those who opposed the beliefs of the Massachusetts, generally don’t like social was born in 1724 and died in 1806. As Congregational churches were required to pay change when that means giving up their an outstanding advocate of religious the tax, and those who refused to do so had privileged position. Thus, we hear clamor freedom and the separation of church their personal property seized. Many people for upholding the religious convictions of the were even imprisoned because of failure to pay nation’s founders. and state, he is well worth remember- the tax, including several members of Backus’s Without question, the Massachusetts Bay own family. Colony formed in 1630 was based on Puritan ing and honoring 208 years later. Backus’s strong advocacy for freedom of religious convictions. In a sermon even before ackus was the most influential Baptist religion is best articulated in his published landing, John Winthrop, the colonists’ spiritual in British North America after Roger sermon of 1773, “An leader, proclaimed a vision of a Christian society B Williams (1603-83), founder of the first Appeal to the Public for that was to be an exceptional “city on the hill.” Baptist church in the “new world” in 1638. Religious Liberty, Against Such a society, however, could not toler- Backus became a Christian as a teen- the Oppressions of the ate even the dissident Puritan minister Roger ager in 1741. Five years later he became a Present Day.” Williams, who was banished in 1636. Nor preacher, and at the age of 24 was ordained as Religious liberty could it tolerate the outstanding, but unusual, a Congregationalist minister. is always a problem for Puritan religious leader Anne Hutchinson, who In 1748, however, he was baptized by minority groups — such was also banished from Boston in 1636. immersion and became a Baptist. as the Baptists in New But it was the freedom of religion and In 1756, Backus started a Baptist church England during Backus’s separation of church and state established in in Middleborough, Mass., where he served as lifetime and religious groups in the U.S. now, Rhode Island by Williams and then bravely pastor until his death 50 years later. such as American Muslims. backed by Backus more than 135 years later Backus joined with others in 1764 to Thus, being an advocate of religious lib- that became a part of the U.S. Bill of Rights found the first Baptist institution of higher erty today means supporting the freedom of ratified in 1791. learning in the colonies, the school now known Muslims and all other minority groups. That I am grateful for Baptists like Backus and as Brown University. It was the third college in liberty includes freedom from the heavy-hand- their emphasis on religious liberty for all. Let New England and the first Ivy League school edness of the religious majority. freedom ring for all religious groups in the to accept students from all religious affiliations. Those in the majority usually don’t U.S. today! BT As a Baptist pastor, Backus became easily give up their position of privilege. involved in the lengthy battle for separation of Massachusetts didn’t amend the state consti- —Leroy Seat is a retired Baptist missionary church and state in Massachusetts, opposing tution to give religious freedom to all people to Japan who lives in Liberty, Mo. He blogs at the “ecclesiastical tax” that had been imposed until 1833, some 27 years after Backus’s death. theviewfromthisseat.blogspot.com, where this upon all citizens of that state to support the At present, some religious conservatives, commentary first appeared.

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16 The Bible Lessons that anchor the Nurturing Faith Bible Studies are written by Tony Cartledge in a scholarly, yet applicable, style from the wide range of Christian scriptures. A graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div) and Duke University (Ph.D.), and with years of experience as a pastor, writer, ™ and professor at Campbell University, he provides deep insight for Christian living without “dumbing down” the BIBLE STUDIES richness of the biblical texts for honest learners.

Teaching resources at nurturingfaith.net

February lessons in this issue HOW TO USE THESE BIBLE STUDIES One Step More 1. Order a copy of Baptists Today news journal Feb. 1, 2015 for EACH MEMBER of the class. The Bible Inspiring Deeds Lessons are found only here. Psalm 111 2. Teachers can go to nurturingfaith.net to access all of the free resources needed for presentation. Simply Feb. 8, 2015 click on “Adult” or “Youth.” Missional Plans Teaching the Lessons Mark 1:29-39 After reading The Bible Lessons by Tony Cartledge starting on page 18, teachers can access Feb. 15, 2015 helpful teaching resources (at no charge) at Mountaintop Moments nurturingfaith.net. These include: Mark 9:2-8 * Tony’s video overviews * Adult teaching plans by Rick Jordan Heavy Days * Youth teaching plans by Jeremy Colliver Feb. 22, 2015 * Tony’s “Digging Deeper” notes and Healthy Regret ”The Hardest Question” Psalm 25:1-10 * Links to commentaries, multimedia resources and more How to Order The Bible Lessons in Baptists Today are copyrighted and not to be photocopied.

* Orders may be placed at baptiststoday.org or Adult teaching plans by Rick Jordan of the 1-877-752-5658. Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina are available at nurturingfaith.net * The price is just $18 each for groups of 25 or more — for a full year — with no additional costs. Thanks, sponsors! * All online teaching resources are available at no These Bible studies for adults and youth are sponsored through generous charge and may be printed and used by teachers of gifts from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (Bo Prosser, Coordinator of the Nurturing Faith Bible Studies. Congregational Life) and from the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation. Thank you!

© Nurturing Faith Bible Studies are copyrighted by Baptists Today. DO NOT PHOTOCOPY. Order at: baptiststoday.org | 17 Psalm 111

with Tony W. Cartledge

Feb. 1, 2015 Inspiring Deeds

o you know anyone who is perpetually cheerful, or who D manages to make the best of every situation and be thankful to God people greet each morning with groans and moans, while others make a habit of thanking God for something before aris- ing to meet the day. be an energizing opportunity to express thanks, or do you see it as a grudging Psalm 111:1 The author of today’s text was one “Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole of those cheerful and thankful people. If heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.” we pay attention to what he has to say, we might just become thankful, too. It’s also possible that the psalmist one, unless you’re singing along with wanted to suggest comprehensiveness: Leonard Cohen’s popular but depress- Praise God! Why? that the psalm’s truth stretched from ing song by the same name. (v. 1) “A to Z,” as it were. Both motivations When we say “hallelujah,” we’re Psalms of praise such as this one were would have been particularly helpful if speaking Hebrew. In translation, it means designed for use in corporate worship, the psalm was used in an educational set- “Praise Yah!” with “Yah” being short- though some may have been recited in ting. We know that ancient Israel had a hand for Yahweh, the covenant name by strong “wisdom tradition” that was prob- which Israel learned to address God. cally begin with a call to praise God, ably passed on through formal schooling, After the opening word of praise, though probably for elites only, and per- the psalmist declares that he intends to why God is worthy of our praise. haps through informal training at home. thank God with a whole heart, and to This hymn is one of eight psalms Psalm 111 is primarily a hymn of do so “in the company of the upright, that are written as acrostics. After the praise, but it speaks of studying God’s in the congregation” (v. 1). True grati- introductory word “hallelujah,” each works (v. 2) and closes with a distinc- tude is not limited to saying grace at the of the following 22 lines begins with a tive wisdom saying (“the fear of the table out of a sense of obligation, but sequential letter of the Hebrew alpha- LORD is the beginning of wisdom,” arises from a wholehearted appreciation bet, from alef to tau. v. 12) that would have made it apropos for what God has done. Furthermore, Why, we ask, would the writer for use in a school setting. The psalm expressing thanksgiving to God is not could have been paired effectively with just a private affair, but something done suggestion is that the acrostic form is the following one: Psalm 112 is also best in the company of others. an aid to memorization. Anyone who an acrostic, and it shows how charac- This truth addresses an inherent knew the Hebrew alphabet and wanted to teristics attributed to God in Psalm 111 fallacy in the popular desire to “be spiri- memorize the psalm would have a built- tual without being religious,” a common person’s life. excuse for not attending church or Bible The psalm begins with a shout: study. As we join others in offering Additional background information “Hallelujah!” Hebrew doesn’t use thanks to God, at least three things hap- online where you see the “Digging exclamation marks, but it’s hard to pen: We actively engage in relationship Deeper” icon imagine speaking the word without with God, we encourage others with

18 | © Nurturing Faith Bible Studies are copyrighted by Baptists Today. DO NOT PHOTOCOPY. Order at: baptiststoday.org Resources to teach adult and youth classes the testimony of both our presence and think the phrase “commanded his cov- are available at enant forever” should be interpreted as shared faith of those who sing or speak nurturingfaith.net a divine instruction that the covenant words of praise along with us. When should be observed or remembered forever in the form of annual festivals. At such times, the Hebrew people were especially important – and spiritual Israel pledged to live with God in a to celebrate the saving acts of the one “Lone Rangers” miss out on that. relationship that promised divine bless- whose name is “holy and awesome.” ing for human obedience. As the covenant commands given Because of God’s works to Israel provided needed structure and (vv. 2-6) Abraham and incorporated into the order for both agrarian and urban life If you were writing a poem designed to in ancient Canaan, so Jesus’ command motivate thanksgiving in others, what to Israel “the heritage of the nations” that his followers love God and love one aspects of God’s work would you bring by routing other peoples before Israel another furnishes guidance for life in our as they entered and settled the land of own rural, suburban, or city settings. beauty of creation, the turn of the sea- promise (v. 6). Christian believers no longer live echoes Israelite wisdom traditions. “The Perhaps you would express thanks for under the covenant between Israel and fear of the LORD is the beginning of good health, for the miracle of children, Yahweh, but that does not mean we wisdom” is a recurring theme in the or for the grace shown to us through cannot gain inspiration from this psalm. wisdom literature, found in Job 28:28, Christ. We could offer thanks in a similar pat- Prov. 1:7, 9:10, and 15:33 (see also Isa. The author of Psalm 111 spoke tern, remembering the wonder of how 11:2 and 33:6, as well as the apocryphal within his own cultural and religious Christ was born, of how his mighty context as he recounted God’s mighty works showed God’s power, and how The phrase “fear of the LORD” works in Israel’s behalf, a perpetual his compassionate actions and pointed does not suggest that we are to pros- source of delight to those who “study” teaching revealed the depths of God’s trate ourselves before God in quivering them (the word literally means “to seek mercy and grace. We also have stories fright, but that we exhibit a healthy out,” v. 2). of God in Christ providing food for sense of reverence and respect before While other psalms praise God for multitudes and offering a new covenant the God whose name is “holy and creating the fertile earth, the crashing relationship that makes us citizens of awesome.” When we harbor a proper seas, and the soaring heavens (Pss. 9, the Kingdom of God who can look sense of respect for God who calls us 19, 104, and 139, for example), Psalm forward to an eternal inheritance. in Christ to a higher way of life, we are 111 focuses mainly on God’s acts of well on the way to living wisely. deliverance and care toward Israel. Because of God’s covenant An important marker of wisdom The psalmist does not enumerate (vv. 7-10) in the life of the believer is the kind of a catalog of God’s acts in delivering In vv. 7-10, the psalmist turns from grateful humility that manifests itself in Israel from Egypt or other enemies, but deliverance to covenant. As God’s thanksgiving to God. Thus, the psalm praises the wonder of them: They are works (vv. 2-6) are “faithful and just,” closes with a neat frame: It began with “full of honor and majesty,” wrought by so the covenant precepts of God – the an exuberant call to praise Yahweh, and a God whose righteousness never ends commands, teachings, or rules for liv- it closes by proclaiming that “His praise (v. 3). They are “wonderful” gifts from ing that God expects Israel to obey – are endures forever.” Yahweh, who is “gracious and merciful” “trustworthy,” that is, reliable and for Think again about your typical day. (v. 4). humanity’s good (v. 7). How often do you stop to take stock of The language of these verses recalls God’s commands are not random your blessings – whether physical, rela- the oft-repeated credo found in Exod. rules, but are designed for human tional, or spiritual – and to thank God 34:6, where Yahweh declared to Moses well-being. Yahweh’s precepts “are the divine characteristics of being “mer- established forever and ever,” the Do you make time to praise God in the ciful and gracious, slow to anger, and Psalmist says, to be performed faithfully company of the faithful, lending your abounding in steadfast love and faithful- by God’s people (v. 8, see “The Hardest presence and your voice to the work of ness.” Question” online for more on this). God in ways that build your own faith God’s provision of food (v. 5) brings to mind Israel’s wilderness v. 9, a reminder that God had delivered If you don’t like your answers, per- wandering, when God provided daily the Israelites and instituted an eternal haps this psalm came along at just the rations of manna both before and after right time. BT

LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 1, 2015 | 19 Mark 1:29-39

with Tony W. Cartledge

Feb. 8, 2015 Missional Plans

o you ever behave in compulsive Dneed to work long hours, eat food that you don’t need, keep the house per- fectly clean, or binge watch the latest hit Jesus taught many important les- sons during his brief time on earth, and one of them dealt with the value of bal- anced living. Today’s text includes three connected stories that describe part of “a day in the life of Jesus.” Taken together, these texts underscore the bal- Mark 1:31 anced life Jesus lived and that he desires “He came and took her by the hand and lifted her for those who follow him. up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.” Willing work (vv. 29-32) “immediately,” or “at once” (vv. 12, Despite his newfound fame, how- The gospel of Mark crams a lot of 18, 20, 29, 30). We have the impression ever, Jesus remained calm and went information into a small space. Within that the events beginning with Jesus’ about his work. After leaving the hub- visit to the Capernaum synagogue and bub of the synagogue, they walked of Jesus’ baptism by John (vv. 1-11), ending with a late night healing session the short distance required to reach his temptation in the wilderness (vv. at Peter’s house occurred on the same 12-13), and the beginning of his preach- seeking a bit of quiet, some rest, and ing ministry in Galilee (vv. 14-15). lowing story taking place early the next certainly lunch – but on arriving they During a visit to Capernaum he called morning (vv. 35-39). discovered that Peter’s mother-in-law had been taken ill with a fever. taught in the synagogue (vv. 21-22), The family quickly turned to Jesus, and performed miracles of healing as disciples, followed by the brothers who “came and took her by the hand (vv. 23-27). James and John (vv. 16-20). The four of and lifted her up.” The fever disap- As a natural result of this whirl- peared, we read, “and she began to wind of activity by one who taught from small boats they sailed across the serve them” (v. 31). Lunch at last! with authority and healed with divine We note from the story that despite unction, “his fame began to spread No doubt, the freshly minted dis- his newfound celebrity, Jesus remained throughout the surrounding region of ciples would have accompanied Jesus to concerned for the needs of others. Galilee” (v. 28). the synagogue. There they heard Jesus Fevers are not uncommon, and Mark relates these stories with a teach “as one having authority, and not Peter’s mother-in-law’s condition was breathless pace, often transitioning as the scribes” (v. 22). They would have probably not life threatening. Yet, Jesus from one event to the next with the watched as he healed a man everyone took the time to heal her. word euthus, which we translate as believed to be possessed by an unclean A more important lesson is found in spirit (vv. 23-26). The disciples would the note that “she began to serve them.” Additional background information have been as astounded as the others We are not to suppose that Jesus healed online where you see the “Digging who saw Jesus saying and doing things Deeper” icon beyond their comprehension. she could wait on him and the disciples.

20 | © Nurturing Faith Bible Studies are copyrighted by Baptists Today. DO NOT PHOTOCOPY. Order at: baptiststoday.org Resources to teach adult and youth classes prayed from the heart, expressing in-law, grateful for what Jesus had are available at concerns and seeking guidance. done, responded with service. nurturingfaith.net The disciples had yet to understand In the larger picture, very few of us this. They tracked Jesus down and tried will experience physical healing as a to bring him back to Capernaum, where direct work of Jesus, but all of us who more sick people were undoubtedly come to faith in Christ experience the writers shared this worldview, and waiting. “Everyone is searching for spiritual healing of forgiveness and hope. Jesus worked on the level of the people, you,” they said (v. 37) – but Jesus knew Do we respond with service, as Peter’s speaking the vocabulary that was famil- that he could not stay and become the wife’s mother did, or do we go about our iar to them. Indeed, Jesus used their resident healer of Capernaum or any beliefs to his advantage. While they other town. His mission was bigger than feared demons greatly, Jesus’ ability to that. As much as Jesus felt compassion Overtime work heal persons by “casting out demons” for those who suffered, he had to remain (vv. 33-34) was a clear demonstration of his power focused on the larger picture. As word got out, the crowds rolled in, and authority over evil. swamping Jesus with requests for heal- What threat constitutes your great- with him into other towns through the ing from a variety of diseases. If we region “so I may proclaim the mes- had been there and had suffered from a problem infection or loss of sight, we out to do” (v. 38). It was the message would probably have done the same: Jesus was preaching – that in him the underserved people naturally seek help As Jesus saw avenues for service Kingdom of God was at hand and that when it is available. Perhaps you have in daily life, so we are called to “life- all could come into relationship with participated in a mission medical clinic style service,” always being open to God – that was most important. in some poverty-stricken area, either that person who needs a helping hand, a Miracles of healing, feeding, and locally or abroad. People will start comforting word, a challenging witness. other mighty works had their place as lining up the night before to receive metaphors of the message, and they medical or dental treatment that they Replenishing work served to bring attention to Jesus so (vv. 35-39) otherwise couldn’t get. people would have the opportunity Mark notes that people waited until We are called to serve Christ with gusto, to hear his words of forgiveness and but also with care. Without proper challenge, but Jesus did not become ended, to bear their sick friends to preparation, our service may be active incarnate in order to gain fame as a Jesus. Jews were not allowed to carry miracle worker for a few short years. habits that undergird effective service: Jesus came to proclaim the mes- walk only limited distances. As dark- time with God and time to rest. sage of good news to all people, though ness fell, though, “they brought to him After a long day of ministry and some took offense at the open and all who were sick or possessed with a short night of sleep, Jesus arose forgiving spirit that led him to hang demons,” so that “the whole city was “a great while before day” and went out out with tax collectors, prostitutes, and gathered around the door” (vv. 32-33). to pray in the quiet countryside (v. 35). other folk that the religious elite classed Capernaum was more of a village than a Jesus knew the importance of taking a as “sinners” to be avoided. city, but that could still mean hundreds breather from the crowds and even from - of people gathered about, all seeking his disciples. Quiet time apart from the ciples grabbed their travel cloaks, said access to Jesus. demands of others not only refreshes their goodbyes, and followed Jesus Jesus responded to the mass of the spirit, but also opens a window for down the road to other towns and vil- human need with both patience and conversation with God. lages throughout Galilee as he went compassion. The text does not say that Does it seem surprising that Jesus “proclaiming the message in their syna- he healed everyone, but “he cured many – who we believe to be co-equal with gogues and casting out demons” (v. 39). who were sick with various diseases,” Jesus knew what his mission was, and he “cast out many demons” (v. 34). and he knew how to keep his batteries It was common in the ancient world earth, Jesus voluntarily took on the form charged so that he could do the work he for people to believe that certain mala- of humankind, including our human had come to do. Do you have a sense of dies, especially mental illnesses, were limitations. He grew tired, weary, how God wants you to live and serve in caused by demons, conscious spirits even cross at times. He felt a sense of that could enter a person’s body and distance from the Father. Even Jesus example of spending quiet time in prayer cause trouble. Mark and other gospel found strength and encouragement as he would be a good place to start. BT

LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 8, 2015 | 21 Mark 9:2-8

with Tony W. Cartledge

Feb. 15, 2015 Mountaintop Moments Mark 9:7 “Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the f there have been any children around cloud there came a voice, ‘This is my Son, the your house in the past 30 years, you Beloved; listen to him!’” I are probably familiar with a series of toys called “Transformers.” The toys, along with cartoons and movies based on them, have remained popular because they are innately fascinating to children and frustrating to adults. Children seem to have little trouble twisting and turning the toys to trans- form them from a robot to a dinosaur or an airplane. Adults may struggle more in making the transformation. Mark 9:2-8, like the parallel stories in Matthew 17 and Luke 9, describes the fascination and frustration of the disciples when they learned that Jesus was a living, breathing Transformer. heart-warming love, and had puzzled led them higher up the mountain so they A little back story (8:27-33) over his parables. Jesus may have could go deeper in understanding. wondered if they would ever really There was a day when Jesus led his dis- understand, but when he asked them The transformation of Christ ciples north to the region near the city (9:2-8) of Caesarea-Philippi, and they rested spoke up with the correct response: When they arrived at the place the there near the foot of Mt. Hermon in “You are the Christ” (8:27, 29). teacher had in mind, Jesus underwent a beautiful and fertile area. The city Peter knew the answer, but he was a mind-blowing transformation. Both boasted a temple dedicated to the wor- like a six-year-old who can answer Matthew and Mark describe the change ship of the Roman Emperor, and on its questions about the “plan of salvation” with the Greek word , outskirts was an area devoted to the but who has no concept what salvation the root of our word “metamorphosis.” nature-god “Pan.” Jesus had brought really means. He knew that Jesus was Mark says that Jesus’ clothing became his disciples there to strengthen their God’s own messiah, but he did not yet radiantly and dazzling white in a way faith and to help them learn who truly understand that Jesus had a different no earthly laundry could accomplish. deserved their worship. Perhaps he idea of what that meant. Like most Jews Luke adds that “his face changed,” and also led them to that place of retreat in of their day, the disciples appear to have Matthew says that “his face shone like order to strengthen his own resolve for expected a military messiah who would the sun.” restore a Jewish kingdom. It was as if Jesus, who had been dis- The 12 disciples had been with Jesus used that moment to explain guised as a Galilean peasant, threw off Jesus for some time. They had heard that he expected to suffer and be exe- his human form and reverted to a more him teach with authority, had seen him cuted before rising from the dead. Can perform mighty works, had felt his you imagine what a shock that must his clothes were shining so brightly because his body, like his face, was Additional background information disciples understand, Jesus took the shining through. online where you see the “Digging Jesus was transformed Deeper” icon ential – Peter, James, and John – and some way, something miraculous

22 | © Nurturing Faith Bible Studies are copyrighted by Baptists Today. DO NOT PHOTOCOPY. Order at: baptiststoday.org Resources to teach adult and youth classes happened. A window opened between and follow him. It may be hard for us heaven and earth, allowing eternity to are available at to believe this when we are surrounded penetrate our world and time, granting nurturingfaith.net by reminders of this world: our homes the disciples an amazing vision. That vision included two surprise know what to say, “for they were tax forms and monthly bills. It’s hard to heroes of Jewish antiquity: Moses and see beyond present realities to eternal Elijah suddenly appeared, as if they In our text, Jesus did not actually hopes. had “beamed down” from a heavenly respond to Peter’s request, for as he In this life it is unlikely that we will starship in order to have a conversation was speaking, a cloud descended with see Jesus, Moses, and Elijah in the way with Jesus (v. 4). surprising suddenness. Perhaps that had that the three disciples saw them. But Moses and Elijah serve as a sym- something to do with the disciples being as that astonishing vision reached out to bolic presence in the story. Jewish scared stiff. In the Old Testament, when them across space and time, it continues traditions held that both of them would Yahweh appeared, it was often in a to call us beyond the centuries. When return to earth before the “Day of the cloud. A thick cloud had led the people we listen to Jesus, he calls us to take Lord.” Moses represented the Law, and of Israel in the wilderness and had up our cross and follow him. When we Elijah the Prophets, the twin traditions settled over the tabernacle when it was listen to Jesus, he calls us to be trans- upholding Israel’s faith. Now they were consecrated as a place to meet God on formed, to become new people who standing before the disciples, the Law earth. Now, a cloud had descended over love and give and serve as he did. and the Prophets, upholding Jesus the Jesus, Moses, and Elijah – as well as This does not happen immediately messiah and giving way to him. When Peter, James, and John. God was pres- for us, but it can happen. We can experi- Moses and Elijah departed, Jesus was ent. They could feel it. And they had to ence God’s saving grace in a moment, left alone: the Law and the Prophets have been shaking in their sandals. but transformation as disciples is a life- As if that were not enough, when long process. Paul understood that, and Christ. the three disciples thought their senses challenged believers to a lifetime of All three synoptic Gospels say that couldn’t possibly get more overloaded, transforming growth, as in these words Jesus and Moses and Elijah carried the voice of God sounded, and the three to the Christians in Corinth: “And all on a conversation for some time, but disciples fell to their faces as God’s of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the only Luke hints at the content of their words reverberated through the mist: discussion. He says they talked about “This is my beloved Son: listen to him!” a mirror, are being transformed into the what was yet to come for Jesus, about (v. 7). same image from one degree of glory to his “departure” to be accomplished at And then the voice was still, and the cloud departed, and all was back to Luke used the Greek word “exodus” to normal (v. 8). When the bedazed and Just think about that: all of us … describe it. bedazzled disciples peeked out through being transformed … into the same In the - image of Christ … from one degree of through Moses to set the people of ting on the grass, waiting for them. Had glory to another. It’s enough to leave Israel free from their slavery in Egypt. In Jesus, God would work through the disciples. suffering and death of Jesus to set all have had the same Consider trying this experiment in people spiritually free. to believe it was real, shockingly real. prayer: Begin by getting comfortable When it became apparent that the Just as God’s voice had spoken at and closing your eyes. Using the power conversation was drawing to a close, Jesus’ baptism, validating his call and of your own imagination, transport and that Moses and Elijah would soon his ministry, so now God’s voice had yourself to that mountain in the mist. spoken again to impress the disciples Crouch down in the pine straw beside tongue. As if with embarrassment, he with the truth that Jesus knew who Peter, James, and John. Breathe deeply offered to cut down limbs from the trees he was and what he was doing, and of the fresh, cool air. Look through the and build temporary shelters for Jesus that they had best give attention to his cloud and behold the shining radiance and Moses and Elijah (v. 5). words. It’s almost comical to think that you aware of what obstacles and temp- after Moses and Elijah had blinked The transforming power of Christ tations cloud your vision and make it The awesome truth of this story is that they would have any use for a hillside Jesus’ transformation carries with it the lean-to. At least Mark was kind enough promise of our own inner and ultimate Listen, for God speaks. “This is my to add that Peter and the others didn’t transformation if we will listen to him BT

LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 15, 2015 | 23 Psalm 25:1-10

with Tony W. Cartledge

Feb. 22, 2015 Healthy Regret

enitence. Contrition. Regret. P and for cause. We’ve disappointed God, disappointed others, and disappointed Psalm 25:7 ourselves. We’ve made bad choices, “Do not remem- taken wrong turns, and generally ber the sins of messed up. my youth or my We’ve sinned, to use a good bib- transgressions; lical term. And, unless we’re one of according to your those very rare sociopaths who have steadfast love no conscience, we’ve felt guilty. We’ve remember me, for experienced shame. your goodness’ And we don’t like it. We want to sake, O LORD!” be forgiven – forgiven by those persons we’ve wronged, and if we have any reli- advantage, for the unspoken nature of and understand our innermost fears, gious compunction about us, forgiven the psalmist’s guilt makes it easier for thoughts, or confessions – even our by God, as well. us to apply his situation to our own doubts. That’s what today’s text is about: lives – and all of us have sinned. The psalmist appears to have sought Psalm 25 is a prayer for forgiveness, Have you ever “poured out your some outward sign of divine favor that offered in trust to a gracious God. would silence the smug criticism of That makes it an ideal text for the psalmist’s opening words, “To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.” The psalm- sorrow. The word for “put to shame” ist’s use of God’s covenant name appears three times in vv. 2-3. The poet celebration of Easter. pleads that God would not bring shame to those who patiently trust (“wait”) in Hear me … personal nature of the prayer. The word God, but would humiliate those who are (vv. 1-3) translated as “soul” is nefesh, a Hebrew word that describes one’s essential deceitful, or disloyal. Like several other psalms, Psalm 25 is being, the source of life and identity. To Do you think the psalmist had expe- an acrostic poem, written so that each lay bare our nefesh before God is to go rienced hurt or embarrassment at the couplet begins with a sequential letter as deep as we can go. of the Hebrew alphabet. And, like The psalmist can present himself to many psalms, this one begins with the Yahweh so freely and deeply because edly, have you ever been the person who e Hebrew expression l dawîd, which can he trusts God to hear his prayer and betrayed another’s trust and caused them mean “of David,” “by David,” or “to/for respond with care. Perhaps you have David.” had the experience of sharing deep both sides of that divide. All of us could The psalmist seeks forgiveness, but thoughts or confessions with some- do with a good dose of divine guidance offers no clue as to what sins he has one who either didn’t understand or to help keep us on the right path. committed. That works to the reader’s who told other people what you had Guide me … (vv. 4-5) Additional background information ing comforted, you felt embarrassed or online where you see the “Digging ashamed. Untrustworthy friends may let The psalmist prayed for God’s guid- Deeper” icon us down, but God can be trusted to hear ance in no less than four different ways,

24 | © Nurturing Faith Bible Studies are copyrighted by Baptists Today. DO NOT PHOTOCOPY. Order at: baptiststoday.org Resources to teach adult and youth classes asking Yahweh to “make me to know with what he deserves. your ways,” to “teach me your paths,” are available at The poet’s request that Yahweh to “lead me in your truth,” and, simply, nurturingfaith.net would not remember his youthful sins, to “teach me” (vv. 4-5a). but would “remember” him according All four expressions acknowledge to the divine nature of steadfast love that the poet is not only willing but also get immediate answers. The psalmist and goodness, involves more than just anxious for God to teach him. “Your expressed his trust in Yahweh as “the hoping God will keep him in mind. In ways,” “your paths,” and “your truths” God of my salvation,” for whom he was texts such as this, “to remember” is were favored terms among Israel’s willing to “wait all day long” (v. 5b). As an internal act that has external conse- teachers of wisdom. These terms could we read the psalm through the lens of quences: God might remember someone refer to any commandments and laws the New Testament, we naturally think because punishment is in order, or to be found in biblical teaching, but go of God’s salvation as being an eter- remember the obedient by bestowing beyond that. nal pardon through Jesus Christ. The blessings. The psalmist knows he has One could learn the commandments psalmist’s idea of “salvation,” however, and the rules of community living by would have involved deliverance from to God’s mercy, love, and goodness. reading or listening to a teacher, but the psalmist seeks more. He longs for God’s Both acts of deliverance involve a Believe me … guidance as he deals with everyday situ- change of course. We can’t count on a (vv. 8-10) ations or makes life decisions that aren’t The psalmist turns from prayer to testi- covered by written laws. point us in the right direction, but as our mony in vv. 8-10, no longer addressing We are constantly faced with souls remain open to God’s leadership, God but whoever might read his poem choices: where to attend college, what we are more likely to sense what path or hear it recited in worship. Believing job to pursue, who (or whether) we would be most pleasing to God – and that God has heard his prayer, he will marry, whether we want to have or thus most appropriate for us. declares to all that Yahweh is indeed adopt children. We make daily choices “good and upright,” a God who will- about how we will spend our time, Forgive me … ingly “instructs sinners in the way,” as (vv. 6-7) our money, and our energy. Do we run he has asked (vv. 4-5). through these choices without a thought After humbly beseeching God to hear beyond our personal preferences, or do and to guide, the psalmist turns to a who respectfully seek it, for “He leads theme he will repeat in vv. 11 and 18: the humble in what is right, and teaches may not care whether we have spaghetti a plea for forgiveness. We do not know if he has any particular sin in mind. the poet’s own reverential approach as - Indeed, his request that God not remem- expressed in the previous verses. tion. If we want our choices and our ber the sins and transgressions of his The psalmist does not envision a lives to honor God, and if we want to be youth may suggest that he is no longer revolving-door relationship of repetitive known as upright and faithful people, young, but looking back over his life sin and forgiveness, as if our wrong- we need to consider what God might and hoping God will overlook his sinful doing doesn’t matter so long as we can have us do. forays and remember his better days. call upon God’s mercy. While he insists Those who teach that God has a The psalmist does not claim to that “All the paths of the LORD are - deserve forgiveness: his plea is based steadfast love and faithfulness,” he also state the case. Whether we work for on Yahweh’s constancy of mercy holds that such love and faithfulness are company A or company B may not be and steadfast love, which “have been intended “for those who keep his cov- of much divine consequence as long from of old” (v. 6). This is covenant enant and his decrees” (v. 10). The more as we work faithfully and ethically. language, a clear echo of God’s self- the psalmist learns about God’s ways, description to Moses: “The LORD, the more he trusts and the more faithful from now or never may not concern the LORD, a God merciful and gra- he becomes. God, but how we behave clearly does. cious, slow to anger, and abounding in As the psalmist has come to believe The point is, if we don’t lay impor- steadfast love and faithfulness, keep- these things about his relationship with tant decisions before God and remain ing steadfast love for the thousandth God, he wants others to believe that open to whatever impressions God generation, forgiving iniquity and trans- they can also turn from their transgres- may lay upon our hearts or minds, we gression and sin” (Exod. 34:6-7). sions and experience undeserved but increase the chance of making a wrong Thus, the psalmist appeals to God’s wondrous grace. turn. faithfulness rather than his own worthi- This is not to suggest that we will ness: to bless him with grace rather than one of them.

LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 22, 2015 | 25 Editor’s note: This article in the series “Transitions: Helping churches and church leaders in changing times” is provided in partnership with the Center for Healthy Churches (healthy-churches.org). The acrobatics of congregational leading By Larry L. McSwain

The biggest entertainment event from Likewise, in ministry one must balance Trust your team. maintenance with vision. Constant attention my childhood was when my family to responding to all of the expectations of those No acrobat works alone. It requires practice for attended the Ringling Bros. and Barnum you serve unbalances the effectiveness of minis- perfection, preparation of equipment and rou- try into stale routine, harried responsiveness to tines, and careful timing of when to move on & Bailey Circus. I was enthralled with the all requests, and loss of passion for the calling. the wire and when to stay. clowns, elephants, lions, horses and act Too much attention to vision generates Multiple partners work together in a team to set up the rigging, build a net, think about after act of theatrics. change that exceeds the support of the people, and the weight of resistance will cause you to every move, and cheer one another across owever, my favorite act was when the lose your balance and fall. the wire. So in ministry the choreography of acrobats took center stage and engaged One must balance dreaming and executing each experience of H in death-defying routines of riding a personal needs and values worship, each learning opportunity, every bicycle on a high wire as the trapeze artists with the need to provide mission event is a team effort. twirled through the air. I never forgot the caring support to those we Solo pastors are at the greatest risk in try- euphoria of watching that performance. serve. Failure to be avail- ing to do all of the thinking, praying, dreaming Congregational leaders remind me of those able and present in times and caring for the people. Gathering a team of acrobats. If you want a good picture of what it of crisis and even routine persons to work together with the congrega- is like to be a leader in today’s church, imagine anxiety for congregants tion is an essential ministry skill — volunteers, yourself riding a bicycle on a thin wire a mile can pull us out of balance. part-time staff and full-time staff. long with no net underneath to catch you if you Yet, we need to main- fall, juggling three spinning plates while some- tain our true selves and provide appropriate *** one is trying to shake the wire so you will fall attention to our personal needs. It is a balanc- Karl Wallenda was perhaps the most accom- off. ing act: too much weight given to either side plished acrobat of the 20th century. He was What will you do to stay on the wire? and we can fall. often quoted as saying, “Being on a tightrope Webster defines acrobatics as “a spectacular, is living; everything else is waiting.” showy, or startling performance or demonstra- Stay focused on the outcome. Yet, at least four of his family members tion involving great agility or complexity.” Tightrope walkers must have intense concen- died from falls from the wire and others were Leading congregations, whether as pastoral tration on every step of the walk. They practice seriously injured. He died at the age of 73 staff or lay leaders, increasingly involves “great routines, maintain intense concentration, and in a fall from 10 stories high in Puerto Rico agility or complexity.” That can be exhilarating focus on the destination on the other side. because a team member failed to install prop- or frightening, depending on who you are. So it is in healthy churches. Leaders erly the rigging for the wire he planned to Here are a few suggestions from the explore routinely the focus of their work walk. acrobats to make the challenge safer. through careful processes of evaluation, iden- One incompetent, uncooperative, inatten- tifying new ministry outcomes needed in their tive or poorly trained team member and the Keep your balance. setting, and giving focus to changes that will acrobat cannot stay on the wire. Staying on the high wire of leadership is a mat- make a difference in achieving their mission. Ministry leaders do not walk high wires ter of making adjustments to maintain balance. Too many church leaders focus their out- literally. But the same euphoria as a child at a Acrobats often use a horizontal pole to help comes on the same ones of a decade or two ago circus can be ours when the multiple dimen- provide balance with small shifts in the weight without understanding how important a changed sions of ministry are engaged and the outcome of the pole from one side to another. context alters what is needed for ministry. is all that God intends in our setting. None of them happens without the acrobatics of ministry. BT

—Larry L. McSwain is a retired professor of leadership from Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology and a consultant with the Center for Healthy Churches.

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‘TRADITIONAL’ SITES Historical evidence versus holy hype Historical tradition blankets the top holy sites in Israel, tradition that hearkens from post-New n 2014, approximately 3.5 million tour- FOLLOWING JESUS Testament times. ists descended upon the small nation of Christians in the second century, speculat- Israel. Visitors from the United States com- Underlying these numbers is the enduring leg- I ing as to the locations of significant moments prised the largest percentage, while the Israeli acy of the man named Jesus whom Christians, in Jesus’ life, began christening certain sites as economy received an $11.5 billion boost from currently numbering about two billion world- holy. The establishment of holy sites continued tourism at large. wide, revere as the Son of God. Some 2,000 years ago Jesus lived and walked in present-day through the Middle Ages. The top five cities tourists visit (according The Jesus story begins with his birth, and to 2013 Israeli government statistics) are: Israel, and today tens of millions, perhaps hun- dreds of millions, of Christians have followed there is a site for that. In 327 CE the emperor or hope to follow the footsteps of Jesus. Constantine and his mother Helena built a 1. Jerusalem (The holy city is visited by 75 basilica (later christened the Church of the percent of tourists.) Although Jews consider Jesus at best a rabbi who was a good man but a failed mes- Nativity) over a cave in Bethlehem that some 2. Tel Aviv (The major city of entry for those Christians as early as the second century consid- siah (he did not restore Israel to its former flying to Israel is traversed by 64 percent of ered to be the birthplace of the Christ. glory) and some 80 percent of Jews are secular tourists.) Many modern scholars dispute this claim, (absent from synagogues but typically believ- 3. Dead Sea area (Famous resorts and the pur- citing a lack of solid evidence. Nonetheless, ing in God), the Israeli government (which ported healing powers of the Dead Sea lure hundreds of thousands of pilgrims wind their owns some 90 percent of the nation’s land) 51 percent of tourists.) way through the soaring, mosaic-laden sixth heavily markets the land of Jesus to Christians 4. Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee century Greek Orthodox church that sits atop a worldwide. (Some 44 percent of tourists visit this series of underground passageways and rooms Licensed tour guides must successfully sea-that-is-really-a-lake.) that does include a cave in which we know that complete an intensive two-year university 5. Nazareth (About 35 percent visit this city Jerome (347-420) spent some 30 years translat- program that requires graduates to have an that was the biblical childhood home of ing the Latin Vulgate Bible. extensive knowledge of archaeology, history, Jesus.) As with his birth, the place of Jesus’ death religions, geography, flora, fauna, art and archi- and burial is also unknown. Nonetheless, several tecture of Israel. Many tour guides (currently PILGRIMAGE sites since the time of Christ have served as the there are approximately 2,000) specialize in traditional locations of Jesus’ crucifixion (the The top five most visited sites in Israel are all in Christian tours. biblical Golgotha) and grave, none of which Jerusalem: the Western Wall (68 percent of tour- A typical Holy Land experience for bear certificates of authenticity. ists), Jewish Quarter (64 percent), Church of the Christian visitors takes the form of a tour For much of Christian history, the fourth Holy Sepulchre (57 percent), Via Dolorosa (55 group headed by an American pastor, trans- century Church of the Holy Sepulchre within percent) and the Mount of Olives (52 percent). ported on a large touring bus, accompanied by Jerusalem’s Old City was the designated site of These statistics suggest, correctly, that a knowledgeable and experienced Israeli tour Jesus’ death and resurrection, as proclaimed by religious pilgrimages command a significant guide (most likely a secular Jew) and focused Constantine’s mother. share of the tourism market. Some 54 percent on an itinerary of traditional holy sites com- Yet for the past century or so, tourists of tourists are Christians and 28 percent are monly associated with the historical Jesus, have also been routed to “Skull Hill,” a cliff Jewish, while only a tiny percentage have no many of which are in or near Jerusalem. just outside the Old City of Jerusalem that religious affiliation. Whether the typical Christian tour group features an indention that resembles a skull Religious pilgrimages proper comprise 22 actually walks where Jesus walked, however, is (equated by many with the Matthew 27:33 percent of all visits to Israel, with sightseeing another matter. More often than not, most of reference to “a place of a skull”) and the nearby and travel (typically including visits to holy the prominent holy sites visited by such groups “Garden Tomb,” a burial cave that some eager sites) the agenda of an additional 27 percent of can muster only dubious claims to Jesus’ his- guides assure visitors is the place where Jesus’ visitors. torical presence. body was laid to rest.

28 Evolving convictions aside, however, specu- man (Mark 8:22-25). upon the open-air courtyard on the Temple lation surrounds any attempt to identify the Likewise, the locations of the biblical Mount. locations of Jesus’ final days. Mount of Beatitudes (Matthew 5) and the feed- Hereabouts Jesus walked and taught and, ing of the 5,000 (recorded in all four Gospels) according to all four Gospels (Matthew 21, TRACING STEPS — the sites of arguably Jesus’ greatest teach- Mark 11, Luke 19, John 2), confronted religious In addition, while visitors to Israel can generally ings and greatest miracle, respectively — are leaders who were shortchanging the people. follow Jesus’ wanderings of old, attempts to pin- murky. While each is now adorned by a church Within the Old City, one can walk the point the exact steps of Jesus during his ministry (Church of the Beatitudes and Church of the stations of the Via Dolorosa, or “way of sor- years are also problematic. Multiplication), the specific locations are based rows,” the path that Jesus supposedly trod while A case in point is the region of Galilee, an on tradition alone. he physically carried his cross on the way to area that remains similar to ancient times and is Probably more authentic is Qasr el Yahud Golgotha. While many Christian pilgrims tread quite accessible today. Here the landscape looks in the southern desert of Israel, believed to this route, the history of the Via Dolorosa can th much as it would have 2,000 years ago, modern have been the site of Jesus’ baptism by John the only be traced in fullness to the 16 century, cities aside. Baptist (Matthew 3). Here on the Jordanian albeit with some roots from centuries earlier. Basaltic rock, remnants of ancient volca- border a modern Eastern Orthodox church By way of contrast, underneath the Old noes prior to the time of Christ and commonly towers over the reedy, grassy banks of the City one can find a small area of exposed pave- serving as building materials in city structures, slow-moving, muddy water of the Jordan, the ment from the time of Jesus. lies strewn about seemingly everywhere. Jesus remnant (thanks to modern agriculture and pol- More authentic in larger Jerusalem is the undoubtedly saw these same rocks, and perhaps lution) of what was once a much larger, clearer probable location of the Garden of Gethsemane. sat upon some of them. river that in biblical days coursed several hun- Upon the Mount of Olives across the Kidron The Sea of Galilee, more properly a lake dred yards to the east. Valley from the Old City is a grove of olive trees, some 13 miles long and seven miles wide, is as Pilgrims descend into the water daily, some some reportedly up to 2,000 years of age. prominent in this region as it was in Jesus’ day. to be baptized, others to capture a few ounces of Near the garden is the alleged rock where Some of the villages in which Jesus spent time river water in a bottle, and still others to stand Jesus prayed in agony the night before his have been uncovered by archaeologists. for a few moments on this holy site in proximity betrayal, although the true location of the bibli- Most prominent of the ancient Galilean of where Jesus may have been baptized. cal rock is far from certain. And as the case with towns associated with Jesus is the fishing village many traditional holy spots in Israel, there is a of Capernaum. Frequently mentioned in the OLD CITY church there — the Church of all Nations, an th biblical Gospels and Jesus’ center of activity dur- Also bearing authenticity is the Old City of impressive early 20 -century edifice built upon ing his Galilean ministry, the town site is now Jerusalem, a mountain city some 20 miles the foundations of two previous churches long an archaeology park in which lie the ruins of the distant and 4,000 feet higher than the humble ago destroyed. local synagogue (referenced in the Bible) and, banks of the Jordan in the southern desert. Here quite possibly but not certainly, the home of Jews of Jesus’ day were encouraged to attend LIVING FAITH Peter (see Matt. 8:14). three festivals each year: Passover, Hannukah While far from exhaustive, this representative The shoreline is not now where it would and Succoth. listing of holy sites reflects the historical fuzzi- have been 2,000 years ago, but here Jesus Today the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa ness surrounding most Jesus-touted tourist sites walked and taught and ministered. Mosque, Islamic holy sites controlled by in Israel. “Where was Jesus?” is a question that Muslims, sit upon the Temple Mount (the is often hard to answer with certainty. MAYBE, MAYBE NOT “Noble Sanctuary” to Muslims). While not Nonetheless, while visitors to the Holy Land On the other hand, the archaeological site of allowed inside, visitors may, however, walk upon will find few specific sites where there is near- et-Tel (near where the Jordan River empties into the steps leading to the Huldah Gate (the south- certainty that the biblical Jesus walked or taught the Sea of Galilee) may or may not be that of ern approach to the temple), touch the western or ministered, the land itself carries forward the the biblical Bethsaida where Jesus healed a blind retaining wall constructed by Herod, and stroll past, providing a witness to the earthly sojourn of the man Christians consider the Son of God. When gazing upon the Sea of Galilee or taking a ride in one of the many tourist boats, one vividly experiences the area where Jesus walked and sailed. Beneath two centuries of growth and expansion of Jerusalem’s Old City, Jesus strode. And somewhere in the now-muddy waters of a diminished Jordan River near Qasr el Yahud, Jesus was baptized. Knowledgeable Christian pilgrims to Israel — while recognizing the lack of historical certainty concerning Jesus’ precise footsteps — yet find themselves marveling and pondering anew the wonder and mystery of the Son of God. BT

29 !"#$% &'( )*#"#! +% ,#*' )-.$/.

A not-so-little town Bethlehem of great challenges ETHLEHEM, West Bank — It was an unlikely place for the Word to become B flesh. And it seems even more so today. Yet this once-obscure village — with just the right genealogical connections — found itself in the spotlight (or starlight) of biblical history two millennia ago. Images conveyed by Gospel writers, storytellers and Christmas pageants are last- ing: an inn with a “no vacancy” sign, a stable of animals surrounding a fluffed-straw food trough-turned-bassinet, and wide-eyed shep- herds hustling into town from their fields to share in the greatest of news.

NATIVITY Today, Bethlehem is a bustling Palestinian city of about 25,000 with a majority Muslim population. The percentage of Christians here continues to fall despite being the birthplace feel squeezed by both the pressures of Islam of Jesus. BIBLE COLLEGE and the heavy-handedness of the Israeli Christian pilgrims who still make government. Awad himself left his homeland many years their way here may be surprised by a place A tall, stark wall that separates ago to live in the U.S., where he and his wife, that hardly resembles “O Little Town of Palestinians from jobs and other opportuni- Brenda, were teachers in Georgia. There he Bethlehem” — as penned by American clergy- ties in Israel is both a symbol and a reality of also served as pastor of a Southern Baptist man Phillips Brooks in 1868 after a visit to the oppression. congregation. Holy Land. “We feel almost like we are in prison,” One day his brother called to share a However, there is the Manger Square said Alex Awad, a Baptist minister who along dream — a calling, he believed — to start a Hotel, gift shops galore and plenty of sidewalk with his brother, Bishara, founded Bethlehem Bible college in Bethlehem. As principal of a salesmen eager to offer olive wood Nativity Bible College. Christian school there, Bishara had watched figures at bargain prices. The Israeli government erected the wall to students who leave for theological training not Commissioned in 327 by Helena, mother protect its citizens from terrorist activities. Yet return. He wanted to stop the ministerial brain of Constantine, the Church of the Nativity is the wall, said Awad, is often arbitrarily located drain. the focal point of Christianity in Bethlehem. with political intent. Alex said he and Brenda “resigned every- Many additions and alterations have been “Israel is building the wall inside thing” and moved to Bethlehem to help start made to the Byzantine basilica erected in 565. Palestinian territory rather than the actual the Bethlehem Bible College, which opened The church — administered by Greek border of the territory,” he said. in 1979. They assembled leaders from various Orthodox, Roman Catholics and Armenian Some Palestinians have even had their evangelical groups to ask for help. A Nazarene Christians — sits above what has long been property — including olive or fruit groves that pastor in Jerusalem made the first gift. claimed as the grotto where the Christ child provide their income — divided by the mas- “Twenty dollars,” said Alex with an appre- was born. sive wall, he said. Christians in Bethlehem, he ciative smile. Christmas Eve draws thousands of visitors added, have lost significant land from the wall’s Awad said he was unable to find mission — though crowds vary with the political envi- placement. support for the work from his own Baptist ronment — who sing in the Manger Square As a result, tensions continue to grow, he denomination but was able to find sponsorship plaza and then celebrate the birth of Christ said. And Palestinian Christians often feel the from the United Methodist Church. during midnight services. need to flee the very land where so much of the “We started the Bible college with bless- biblical story was played out. ings from God …,” said Awad. WALLS “Because of wars, tension, forced conver- Volunteers carried much of the early load, Political and economic challenges abound in sions and economic turmoil, many Christians he said. But now the college has mostly local- and around Bethlehem. Palestinian Christians have left the Holy Land,” said Awad. based teachers.

30 After “moving like nomads” in the forma- Awad often writes and speaks about the An Arab, he noted, is anyone who speaks tive years, the college found empty buildings Palestinian church in an effort to clear up Arabic and identifies with Arab culture. belonging to another Christian organization. much confusion — especially among evangeli- Therefore, an Arab state is any place where the They were given use of the facilities for five cal, American Christians who tend to offer people speak Arabic. years — free of rent. wholesale support for the modern State of A Jew, he added, is anyone born of a After an additional year — a “grace Israel. Jewish mother or who converts to the Jewish period,” said Awad — the college purchased Approximately 50,000 Christians now faith. (Different Jewish groups have different the campus through “a series of miracles” for live among the 3.9 million Muslims in the rules for conversion, however.) $1.8 million. Palestinian territories, he said. About 2,000 of The ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict, said those Christians are in the Gaza Strip. Awad, causes much harm in what many call EXPANSION Israel, he added, has about 154,000 Arab the Holy Land. And Christians often suffer Christians who are Israeli citizens. More than from both sides of the struggle. “We focus on Bible education,” said Awad, two-thirds of the Palestinians in the world live “We’re sandwiched in between Israeli who teaches homiletics. elsewhere — in diaspora, he said. pressure and Islamic pressure.” The college, which has smaller branches in There are also 10,000-15,000 Messianic Christians have long been in the Holy Nazareth and Gaza, graduates between 15 and Jews in Israel, he said. Land, he said, noting that Christians were 40 Palestinian Christian students each year “to The dwindling population of Christians there 500 years before Mohammed was born. be a blessing in the Holy Land,” he said. Their in the Holy Land faces additional challenges of Awad said his family — longtime backgrounds are “Catholic, Greek Orthodox, denominational divides. Greek Orthodox Christians — lived in West Baptist, Lutheran, Pentecostal, whatever.” “We have a lot of denominations but few Jerusalem until pushed out in 1948 at the end However, much more than a typical Bible Christians,” said Awad. “We need less denomi- of the first Arab-Israeli War. college curriculum is offered and many more nationalism and more Christians.” “For us Palestinians, 1948 was a disas- ministries are carried out through the school’s trous year,” he said. Nearly 800,000 people initiatives. became refugees. “We do a lot of tour-guiding,” he said. CLARIFICATIONS His own family suffered the death of “We even teach tour-guiding.” In good professorial style, Awad offers clear, his father — killed when caught in crossfire The Shepherd Society, which Awad concise information for a group of visit- between British and Jordanians forces — leav- directs, is the effective charitable arm of the ing Baptist Christians from the U.S. He ing his mother with seven children to raise college that was formed in 1996 to assist strug- gives helpful definitions to thwart common alone amid political oppression. gling persons in the West Bank with all kinds misconceptions. “We are really hungry for peace — espe- of health and economic needs. Community “A Palestinian is an Arab who lives in the cially Palestinian Christians,” he said. ministries include opening the library to the Holy Land,” he said. They are “a mixed group” public, teaching literacy and English as second that descended from those who invaded the language classes, and job creation efforts. land over thousands of years. “Muslims and Christians come to this col- And, no, he said, Palestinians are not lege to study English together,” said Awad. Philistines. Continued on page 32 The college benefits greatly from vol- unteers who come to help carry out its educational and service missions, he said. They help in the library, garden, bookstore, offices and other places of need. “God has been good to us,” said Awad of the many supportive persons who assist Bethlehem Bible College with funding and volunteer hours.

CHALLENGES Awad, who serves as dean of students as well, is also pastor of East Jerusalem Baptist Church. He admits that it is “very tough” to oper- ate a Bible college and its related ministries in the current political climate. And he fears for the future of the Palestinian church — which is struggling to survive. “We don’t want the church to die in its birthplace,” he said. “That’s why we have a Bible college in Bethlehem.” Baptists Today

31 EVANGELICAL OFFENSE is claimed as “annexed” when actually taken from However, he added, “… There is another Palestinians. party that is hurting for lack of security. Many Awad said the birth of Zionism provided Divine claims of the land by Israel — sup- here wonder why the United States and some advocates with a way to use the Bible for a ported by many evangelical Christians from Western nations are totally oblivious to the secular political purpose to Israel’s advantage. the U.S. — mask much of the resulting oppres- security needs of Palestinians.” “Guilt feelings over the Holocaust,” he added, sion, he said. Awad calls for a lasting peace that is kept European nations from expressing con- “How can you argue with a person who rooted in both justice and security. It will cerns over how Israel’s policies would impact steals your land and then says God gave it to require less demonizing and more respect. Palestinians. me?” Fellow Christians, he noted, can help And a United Nations resolution saying “Yes, I’m personally offended,” said bring about peace by overcoming misconcep- that Palestinians should be allowed to return to Awad, when asked about his fellow Christians tions about Arabs and overturning theological their homes or be compensated for the loss was in America who ignore the oppression of constructs that confuse a modern Israeli state never fulfilled. Awad said he and his siblings Palestinians and urge blanket support for the with the biblical people of Israel. are grateful, however, for a Christian mother Israeli government based on some scriptural He calls for a better biblical understand- “who helped us through the most difficult claims. ing of the “nation” of God as having no ethnic period of our lives.” “They [Christian Zionists] are putting or geographical boundaries and that the people Political clashes between Palestinians and eschatology ahead of justice, righteousness and of God are identified by their faithfulness and Israelis continue with great complexities, said peace,” he said Awad. “The West Bank is the biggest problem Christ-like behavior. Despite the many challenges, Awad believes in the world.” He points to Colossians 3:12 as speak- peace — though very challenging — is possible. He calls Jewish settlements in the West ing to this matter well: “Therefore, as God’s Bank “the biggest obstacle to peace.” These chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe POSSIBILITIES settlers, he said, want to be Israeli citizens, yourselves with compassion, kindness, humil- serve in the Israeli Army and pay Israeli taxes Awad confesses that peace requires more than ity, gentleness and patience.” but live in the West Bank.” one side in the conflict to act responsibly and To those ends, Awad and others continue Bethlehem, part of the West Bank, fairly. their ministries of education, cooperation and has seen Jewish settlements creep closer. “Israelis have real security needs that no compassion in Bethlehem — believing it to be Condominiums of Jewish settlers now domi- rational person could dismiss,” he wrote in an a challenge, a calling and a unique blessing. nate Shepherd’s Fields, the traditional site article titled “Security Fence or Barrier to Peace?” “We are blessed to be a Bible college in where angels brought tidings of Christ’s birth. (AlexAwad.org). “These needs for security must the place where the Word of God was born,” In East Jerusalem, land for new settlements be met before a lasting peace can take hold.” he said. BT

Want to better understand the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Read this book

marked as an offense to God. as well as a grasp of the complexities that make Media often tosses around terms that are peace so elusive. hile clearing off the desk in my familiar to many listeners but not fully under- Simply dividing the conflict into good home study recently, I uncovered stood: Middle East, West Bank, Palestinian guys vs. bad guys only fuels the fire — and W several review copies of books Territories, Zionist, Green Line, Jewish state, American Christians are some of the greatest including The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: settlements, separation barrier, Price Tag flame fanners. Tough Questions, Direct Answers by Dale movement, Law of Return vs. right of return, Those who post in social media about Hanson Bourke (2013, InterVarsity Press). administrative detention, etc. (the modern state of) Israel being “the apple of Having just returned from Israel and the There are often God’s eye” and demonize anyone who opposes West Bank with a group of 48 Baptists Today misconceptions that injustices carried out by the government readers, the book didn’t leave my hands until I’d all Arabs are Muslims (including many loyal Israelis) would benefit read it completely. My only wish is that I’d read and that Jews in well from reading this book. It also would help it before the trip and recommended it to others. Israel are all in one for them to at least listen to some Palestinian It lives up to its subtitle by giving clear, accord. (Many Arabs Christians. concise and accurate answers to the hard and are Christians, and However, anyone interested in better often confusing questions related to the Israeli- some are Jewish. And understanding the conflict in that part of the Palestinian conflict. It is a most helpful resource the various Jewish world — that impacts much of the world — for anyone seeking an intelligent, balanced groups are often at should read this book. understanding of the multiple issues at play. odds, especially with Bourke is careful to provide solid infor- Fundamentalist preachers and those who the Ultra-Orthodox.) mation here rather than attempt to persuade blindly follow them often toss around theolog- To grasp some understanding of the readers to join a particular fight. As she con- ically faulty claims that equate unquestioned Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires at least an cludes, “We need to listen more. Yes, we need support for the Israeli government with the awareness of the long history of warring in to advocate, but out of knowledge, not will of God. Any criticism of modern Israel is what is often still called the Holy Land — emotion.” BT

32 Religion News Service Are Jews better off outside Israel? Author Alan Wolfe reconsiders the Diaspora

ews exclaim “Next Year in Jerusalem!” like Alan M. Dershowitz, Abraham H. Foxman non-Jews alike, both inside and outside Israel. at the conclusion of the Passover seder, and William Kristol — also tend to be passion- Yehuda Kurtzer, president of the Shalom J an acknowledgment that Israel is their ate believers in America’s hospitability to the Hartman Institute of North America, which spiritual home. But since the Babylonians Jews.” studies issues facing Israel and the Jews world- invaded Jerusalem in 586 B.C., most Jews have Speaking at a book talk at Washington’s wide, found much to praise when called upon lived outside of Israel. Brookings Institution in November, Wolfe to critique the book at the Brookings discus- Today, Diaspora Jews, as they are called, agreed that the terms “particularist” and “uni- sion. He admired Wolfe for standing up to account for 8 million of the approximately versalist” are undefinable, overlapping and, in those who consider Jewish life outside Israel 13 million Jews worldwide; the remaining general, “hopeless.” less authentic, and for calling out Diaspora 5 million live in Israel. But he added that he still finds them use- Jews who use their devotion to Israel as a Alan Wolfe, director of the Boisi Center ful: “There really are two basic different kinds shortcut to developing a more full and mean- for Religion and American Public Life at of Judaism that have persevered throughout ingful Jewish identity. Boston College, ponders this split in his newly- Jewish history since the Book of Deuteronomy But Kurtzer said it was simplistic to sug- released book At Home in Exile: Why Diaspora was written.” gest that Zionism is particular and parochial Is Good for the Jews. One type of Jew sees the dispersal of Jews and the Diaspora is universal and moral, and In the Diaspora, writes Wolfe, Jewish around the world as God’s punishment. The he argued that for all Jews, looking deeply life can more easily embrace universalism — other sees the Diaspora as a positive thing, into Judaism and its moral teachings is the key applying Jewish values to make the world a “because a relatively enlightened religion asso- to embracing others — the universalism for better place, for Jews and non-Jews alike. In ciated with Judaism can be spread to the world which Wolfe seems to long. contrast, “Jewish particularism” describes the as a whole, and not just confined to the Jewish He pointed to the Bible, which starts with defensive, inward posture of Jews in Israel. people.” God creating not a Jew, but a person, and later “As it increasingly becomes clear that the The Holocaust and the creation of Israel charges Abraham and Jewish people to be an Diaspora is not a disaster and that the security in 1948 turned the tide toward the particular- example to others. offered by statehood has proven to be pre- ist vision, but it’s time to turn the tide again, “This moral challenge,” Kurtzer said, “runs carious, the lost universalism that has been so Wolfe argued, and this will benefit Jews and through particularism and not around it.” BT much a part of Jewish tradition may well be prepared for a comeback, this time on firmer soil,” Wolfe writes in his introduction. Thoughtful Christians need relevant, reliable Some readers and critics have responded with a collective “duh” to Wolfe’s assertion information that connects them to good ideas, that Diaspora is good for the Jews. And they take issue with his “particular” vs. “universal” quality resources and one another. approach to Judaism. Yes, the Jews of the Diaspora for most And Baptists Today needs you! To fulfill its unique and important of history lived in danger. Centuries ago, the mission, Baptists Today relies on generous giving. Jewish population of Europe was forced into ghettos and killed in pogroms. Only two gen- urturing the Future of Baptists > Make a pledge in writing erations ago, the Holocaust wiped out most of Today is a three-year campaign (and include first gift if you wish) to Europe’s Jews, convincing the U.N. that the to provide the funding needed Baptists Today, P.O. Box 6318, Macon, GA survivors could not live safely in the Diaspora N 31208-6318. to move forward in publishing a trusted, and should be granted a state of their own. high-quality news journal, maintaining a > Or give online at baptiststoday.org, But today most Diaspora Jews live in daily-updated web presence and producing and email [email protected] to indi- North America, where they feel safe and free cate your pledge. innovative new resources. and take pride in their contributions to the > Or call (478) 301-5655 to let us know societies that have accepted them. To do so with confidence and vitality, how you want to support Baptists Today. “Even the staunchest American Zionists we ask you to make a generous three-year do not claim that Jews cannot live secure, pledge. We need you! Thanks! authentic, fulfilling lives in the United States,” wrote Peter Beinart in his review of Wolfe’s book in The New York Times. “To the contrary, Baptists Today, Inc. is a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a strong commitment America’s most prominent Zionists — people to stewardship. Your gifts are both needed and appreciated.

33

Editor’s note: Steve Pressley, associate pastor of First Baptist Church of Greensboro, N.C., recently completed a three-month sabbatical leave, his second, at Tantur Ecumenical Institute for Theological Studies, on Hebron Road between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Voices from both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian divide

Jamal Khader, rector of a Catholic warranted because of security concerns. Besides, and the entire West Bank and Gaza from Israel his settlement rests on land that was already proper. seminary in Beit Jala, next door to in Jewish hands prior to the 1948 War of Pat had listened to Palestinian taxi driv- Bethlehem, grew impatient when a Independence and the partitioning of the ers rehearse their narratives. He had observed country by the United Nations. the inconvenience of beleaguered workers with group of visiting American bishops Narratives are what you call the divergent fragile permits, who must negotiate the military met at Tantur and announced that viewpoints that you encounter in today’s Israel checkpoints every day to reach better-paying they found the political situation in the and in what some believe should become a new jobs in Israel. state of Palestine. You hear them everywhere. But then came the surprising rejoinder Holy Land to be both discouraging and From classroom professors to cabbies, from from our lecturer: “Well, no, it’s not so easy. In “complicated.” politicians to purveyors of oranges and olive fact, pretty much everybody around here is a wood, everyone has his or her narrative. Most victim.” ecause he is an Arab living in the West do not mind repeating their stories endlessly. Murray Watson, a Canadian Ph.D. Bank, Fr. Khader believes the situation And to those with narratives, very little about who directs French Biblical Programs for the Bthere is not complicated, but straight- the situation seems so complicated. Ecce Homo Center along the Old City’s Via forward. People suffer daily under an oppressive But maybe it is, nonetheless. Fr. Pat, a Dolorosa, recalled his undergraduate study years Israeli occupation of land that rightfully belongs priest from Alabama, said in class one day, “It’s in Jerusalem. It was then that he became aware to the Palestinians. pretty clear who the victims are around here — of the dangerous neighborhood that today’s Meanwhile, David, an Orthodox rabbi they’re the Palestinians.” Israel inhabits, a region where hostile Arab from the U.S., commutes several times a year Pat had been in the country on sabbatical states lie in every direction. between his homes in Ohio and Efrat, a Jewish for a couple of months. He had dined daily in a “Israelis are understandably guarded and “settlement” just south of Bethlehem. Matters glass-walled room that overlooks the unsightly fearful,” he said. aren’t so complicated for him, either. “security barrier” (Arabs call it the “separation Referencing the Second Intifada (an Arab An Israeli presence in the West Bank is wall”) that divides Bethlehem from Jerusalem, word usually defined as “uprising,” which really means “to shake off”) of 2000-2005, the young professor remembered the spate of bombings carried out by Palestinians at pizza parlors, Jewish weddings and especially on crowded city buses. “In a real sense, Israelis are victims, too.” Many now fear a third Intifada. In an article in the online Jerusalem Post, published two days after the Nov. 18 murder of four rabbis and a policeman in a synagogue in the western part of the city, an Israeli named Ofer expressed his apprehension: “I’m not feeling good about yesterday because when I walk outside I now look in every direction — in front, behind, to my sides.… I feel fear. I think [the violence] will stop at some point, but it’s very difficult to stop. And even if it does, it will start again.” In a policy renewed from 2005, the Israeli government responds with “a heavy hand” when Palestinians carry out the variety of “lone wolf” attacks on civilians such as the “kitchen knife”

34 assaults on rabbis and the “run-over intifada” incidents where cars have plowed into crowds of people waiting to ride the light-rail system. Multiple fatalities have occurred, including the death of a 3-month-old baby in a stroller. Police have usually shot and killed assail- ants on the spot, and once their identities are known, the army has been ordered to enter East Jerusalem and destroy their homes. The policy, which is controversial, is known as “collective punishment.” Whether it deters future assaults from the ranks of a clan-oriented Arab culture depends on whom you ask. The motivation for the fury that many young Palestinian men feel — and sometimes act upon — is hard to pinpoint. Sometimes it is attributed to a sense of hopelessness, owing to high unemployment, widespread poverty and the perception that the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, along with continued apartment maintaining the al Haram al Sharif (“Holy to the highest point since the recent war in Gaza construction in mostly Arab East Jerusalem, is Sanctuary,” as Muslims know the Temple and the threat of tunnels and rockets. to blame. Mount), and from Palestinian Authority One might be tempted to say the situa- Often it relates to an incident that is President Mahmoud Abbas came swift condem- tion is indeed not complicated, for the solution interpreted in radically different ways by the nation and implied threats to retaliate if the is simple. From the one side, Israel just needs opposing sides of the conflict, as when an Arab status quo is abrogated. to stop doing those things that its government bus driver was found hanged inside his vehicle. Abbas — whom Netanyanu calls by his claims are necessary for its defense, because they An ostensibly impartial autopsy ruled it a sui- informal name Abu Mazen — was particularly disregard the rights of Palestinians. cide, but the man’s family and friends were not acerbic, employing language of “a declaration of From the other side, the Palestinians just persuaded that the Israelis weren’t responsible. war,” calling for “days of rage” and summoning need to come to terms with the reality and the More recently the flashpoint has been the Palestinians to rise to the defense of their sacred right of Israel to exist as a Jewish nation, and attempt by some elements of the Jewish reli- sites. determine to stop resisting and to get along. gious community to enter the Temple Mount Through an agreement between my study But how to reconcile these conflicting per- compound and perform prayer rituals similar institute and the controlling Muslim Waqf, our ceptions of problems and solutions is far from to those that are carried out at the Western Wall group visited the Temple Mount on the very simple. The bishops were right: It is indeed below. morning of the synagogue slayings in West complicated. Last November a well-known activist-rabbi, Jerusalem. We even toured the interiors of the When they met at Tantur, the bishops who had argued for the right of Jews to do such Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock. called for the conventional “fix” — a two-state praying, was shot four times when he emerged Apart from occasional cheers of “Allahu solution. But how do you bring about two from the Menachem Begin Cultural Center near Akhbar” (“God is great”) from groups of 20 to states, wondered Fr. Khader, when you look Mt. Zion. Jerusalem police pursued the gunman 30 men or women huddled in various places, at today’s map and realize that the entire West and killed him in a reported shootout at his there was no sign of unrest. Bank — owing to impressive Israeli “settle- home. Even the military police, who have treaty ments” that are unlikely to go away — looks Meanwhile, the government of Prime responsibility for maintaining order on the like “a piece of cheesecake” (he meant “Swiss Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered Israeli Mount, admitted our group to the “Temple cheese”)? Jews, who — along with Christians — have the Platform” without asking to see identification No, for the bishops and other people of right to visit the Temple Mount, nevertheless to — only peering inside handbags and backpacks. faith, whatever the side, any answer appears to maintain a 1994 “status quo” treaty agreement Despite widespread awareness of the be beyond human fathoming. It may be that the to avoid inciting Muslims by praying there. synagogue slayings, a relative calm somehow answer can come only from the God to whom Still, what the prime minister views as continued. Meanwhile the Arab community all parties claim to pray. incitement from the other direction came watched in anger as the homes of the Palestinian For, said one member of the Har Nof syna- swiftly. From Jordan’s King Abdullah II, who murderers were demolished, while the fear and gogue that buried four of its rabbis, “We are in under his treaty with Israel is responsible for misgiving of Jewish Israelis across the city rose God’s hands.” BT

‘Narratives are what you call the divergent viewpoints that you encounter in today’s Israel and in what some believe should become a new state of Palestine. You hear them everywhere.’

35 Modern Israel Politics, peoples and prophecies Quick! Name the most holy place in the world, and name the most tension-filled place in the world.

our response may very well be Israel, where Jerusalem, the self-proclaimed Y capital of the nation, is crowned with a temple area that is one of the holiest sites of all three major world religions — Judaism, Christianity and Islam. And it just so hap- pens that the temple site is arguably the most contested acreage in the world (as many Israeli tour guides are quick to note).

BEGINNINGS Why do religion and conflict collide in 21st- century Israel, and particularly in Jerusalem? Any legitimate answer begins and ends some- where in the entanglement of centuries of geographical, religious, cultural and political history. The beginning is nothing less than a land controlled the hill above Megiddo and the David’s son Solomon built the First positioned at the geographical crossroads of Jezreel valleys — including the Israelites under Temple about 957 BCE, solidifying Jerusalem ancient peoples and civilizations. What would kings David and Solomon. as both the religious and political center of become known as Megiddo and the surround- So critical is this piece of land (upon ing Jezreel valleys sat astride the only viable Israel. Throughout the following millennium which the last city perished about 500 BCE) land route between Africa and Eurasia, the Jerusalem retained an exalted status, albeit that some 30 wars in the past 3,500 years have literal place where early humans, some 1.8 mil- with exilic disruptions during the Assyrian and been fought in and around Megiddo, the lat- lion years ago, migrated out of Africa and into Babylonian captivities. est being the Six Days War of 1967. Against the larger Western world. Following the fall of Jerusalem to the the backdrop of such seemingly continuous Nearby the earliest organized religions Roman Empire, including the destruction of the violence, it comes as no surprise that the emerged during the first agricultural revolution Second Temple, in 70 CE, Jerusalem remained biblical book of Revelation (16:16) points to some 12,000 years ago. And a short distance under foreign control for almost two millennia. Megiddo as the place where earth’s final battle away the oldest city in the world (according to Only when Israel was restored as a nation — Armageddon — will take place, bringing to some experts), Jericho, was established some in 1948 did the Jews once again obtain control full circle the beginning and the end. 10,000 years ago. of their holy city. As a testament to the nation’s The land of Israel, in short, is a time cap- historical identity with Jerusalem, today’s Israel sule of ancient human history itself, a story of CONTESTED LAND considers Jerusalem, its signal holy city, as its beginnings. Ancient Megiddo had long been contested land political capital. This beginnings narrative of humans, when Jerusalem, less than 100 miles distant, Modern Israel, accordingly, can broadly be however, has in some ways never ended. In arose to a greater prominence. understood as a nation whose identity is deeply and throughout the biblical Old Testament, When David was chosen king of biblical rooted in a 3,000-year narrative of religion Megiddo remained a crossroads of humanity, a Israel, his overriding task was that of unifying a and politics intersecting in Jerusalem. The city place where trade and travel routes intersected divided Hebrew kingdom. His choice of Jebus proper today, while far larger than the City of and a place that ancient nation states strove — a nondescript neutral town accessed by a David’s original acreage and awash in modern mightily to control. side road and perched on a 10-15 acre hillside conveniences and technology, retains an Old Excavations have revealed that at least — as Israel’s capital was designed to unify the Testament heartbeat that permeates much of 25 civilizations, over thousands of years, Israelites. The city became known as Jerusalem. Israel at large.

36 AMALGAMATION the nation of Israel. Confined to Gaza and Many Jewish tour guides point to the the West Bank (including the biblical city of Muslim-controlled Dome of the Rock on the Although the Temple Mount is the holiest of Bethlehem), the Arabs and Christians who site of the former Jewish temples as the site of places for Jews (ironically, too holy for many comprise the Palestinian population exist at the the next world war, should the delicate balance contemporary Jews to visit, lest they inadver- mercy of Israel, often eking out a hardscrabble of religious interests thereupon be upset. Some tently step on the site where the Holy of Holies living and disallowed from venturing beyond American fundamentalist-dispensationalists was located), the religious views embodied in the walls within which they are confined by who want to see the end times set in motion the historical temples permeate the modern restrictive regulations, fences and force. provide funds and support to ultra-Orthodox nation of Israel. The “Palestinian question,” as it is Jews who advocate the building of a third While Israel is technically a democracy in sometimes phrased, boils at the center of temple, despite Jesus’ insistence that his resur- which 80 percent of Jews are secular, theocratic contemporary Israeli politics. Palestinians, hav- rection constituted a rebuilding of the temple. Old Testament religious laws and customs ing few rights and forced to live under Israeli remain in place, often legally enforced. law, live in constant discontent in apartheid COMPETING PROPHECIES An amalgamation of national, regional conditions. Ever practical, Israeli government and Jewish and local religious laws, by-laws, regulations Uprisings sporadically take place, some- commercial interests welcome the many mil- and rules exist throughout Israel, effec- times in the form of terrorist acts. The Israeli lions of dollars that American evangelicals tively limiting commerce and enforcing Old government typically responds with further channel into Israel (via tourism and funds Testament religious customs on the part of oppressive measures, reinforcing the cycle of aimed at building a new temple), along with business customers, clients and owners. violence. Even as many Jews claim to seek the political influence that Christian conserva- In general, supermarkets are barred from peace in Israel, at the same time the govern- tives wield within national American politics, selling pork and shellfish (Old Testament ment shows no intention of granting freedom while privately scoffing at their theology and prohibitions, today referred to as “kashrut” of movement to Palestinians. in Hebrew, or “kosher”), elevators are pro- quietly noting that a new temple will never be built. grammed to function differently on Sabbath TENSIONS (“Shabbat”), and restaurants cannot serve both For their part, fundamentalist Christians milk and meat at the same meal (Exod. 23:19). In part due to the religious and ethnic tensions seem largely unaware of the deep-seated antip- Of the latter, meat is not allowed for endemic to Israel, Jewish youths are required athy that most Israeli Jews have toward them, breakfast, and dairy is prohibited for dinner, to serve in the military for two to three years. while ignoring the fact that many Palestinians requiring the use of separate plates for each Their uniformed presence, replete with are Christians — much to the simmering anger AK-47s, is pervasive, including at many street of Palestinian Christians. meal. Sabbath laws in particular intrude into corners, parks, commercial districts and tourist On the other hand, many Israeli Jews the life of all Israelis, religious or not. attractions. embrace their faith’s own biblical prophecies Not all Israelis, however, are Jews. The The ever-present soldiers seek to keep the of God one day redeeming the world through literal sons of Abraham along with those who peace between Jewish and Arab Israelis, while the Jewish people. For many Jews, God will self-identify with one or the other, Jews and ensuring that Palestinians stay behind desig- make Israel and the world right when Jews love Arabs reside together as citizens of Israel. One nated walled perimeters. humanity enough and become truly faithful to in four Israeli citizens are Arabs. Observing the The Jewish and Palestinian conflict, in Torah laws. same Old Testament dietary laws, often work- turn, roils international politics. The United At such a time the land of Israel will ing together, sometimes living alongside of but Nations routinely condemns Israel over human greatly prosper and peace will reign, first in rarely intermarrying, Jews and Arabs alike call rights violations, as do many Islamic nations Jerusalem and then in the larger world. How the land of Israel their home. (although some view Hamas, a militant faction Israeli persecution of Palestinians fits into lov- Nonetheless, the divisions between the two of Palestinians, as less desirable than Israel). ing humanity and faithfulness to God is a bit peoples are readily apparent. Towns tend to be Churning this volatile political cocktail is fuzzy. either Jewish or Arabic, residential construc- the legacy of the Holocaust. Played by Israel as Competing fundamentalist Christian and tion is distinctive (Jewish houses having peaked a trump card for protecting its land and people Jewish prophecies, as such, feed a larger nar- roofs, Arabic residences featuring flat roofs so against all who oppose them, the timeless and rative of early religious texts intertwined with that husbands may expand their homes upward haunting memory of Hitler’s campaign to oppression. to accommodate their future sons’ families), and exterminate the Jewish race serves to muddle So complex, often misunderstood and fre- mosques are as common as synagogues. the otherwise harshness of Israel’s own oppres- quently exploited is the intersection of politics, sive actions against the people who formerly peoples and prophecies in Israel that the nation PALESTINIANS resided upon land now occupied by Israelis. is unlike any other on earth. In this land of Amid the functional and religious-centric, if Adding yet further agitation to the ancient pathways, aged religious traditions and bifurcated, harmony, live hundreds of thousands political impasse are biblical prophecy-centric contemporary divisions, hope is halting and of Palestinians, former citizens and descendants fundamentalist American Christians who are peace is spoken of wistfully against the back- of the nation of Palestine who existed in the convinced that the end of the world, now near, drop of routine violence. land hundreds of years prior to the formation of will be ushered in with the construction of a Modern Israel, on the one hand pros- modern Israel. new Jewish temple in Jerusalem and capped perous and multicultural, seems nonetheless Conquered by Israel in 1948, the off with a final earthly battle at Megiddo unable to escape the divisive legacy of its Palestinians live in walled communities within (Armageddon). conflicted beginnings. BT

37 )*#"#! +% ,#*' )-.$/.

Drayton Sanders, M.D., of Dalton, Ga., in devotional time at the Lithostrotos, beneath the Via Dolorosa

IMAGES AND REFLECTIONS FROM ISRAEL AND THE WEST BANK

“While we are here near the very spot where Jesus called Peter and Andrew, James and John, I would suggest that we all try to find a quiet moment to listen carefully. Quite possibly we, too, might hear Jesus saying to us: ‘Leave behind whatever you have been doing, and come, follow me.’”

—Joel Avery, M.D., of Signal Mountain, Tenn., in a devotional time in Galilee

—Les Hill of Lexington, Ky., retired missionary to the Philippines, on the archaeological dig at Tel Maresha

38

—Tony W. Cartledge, from his article “Walk about Jerusalem: Protestant Pilgrims and the Holy Land” in Archaeology, Bible, Politics and the Media (Eisenbrauns, 2012)

“All I can say is that Jesus, the man, is more of a reality to me, and ’neath the old olive trees has implanted a new vision of how he suffered for me and all the world.”

—Lavelle Rollins of Little Rock, Ark.

—Susan Graham of Fredericksburg, Va., noting the abundance of rock in Israel when referencing John the Baptist’s charge (“I tell you, God can raise up children for Abraham even from these stones” Luke 3:8) in a devotional time at the Jordan River

—Jewish guide Doron Heiliger on continuing religious conflicts

—Mary Etta Sanders of Dalton, Ga.

39 The Lighter Side By Brett Younger

Movies in English with subtitles in Spanish Películas en Inglés con subtitulos en Español

Carol and I have gone to see seven But when we are at the movies, I’m for no good reason, similar to Begin Again. Einstein. I understand everything the actors Most of my attempts at being bilingual movies in the last five months — are saying. I laugh two seconds before anyone have not gone well. I hiked in the Andes with seven times our normal rate of else. A couple of times I have been the only seven-year-old Armando to have him help me one laughing — which indicates poor work by with my Spanish, but he insisted on sharing his movie-going — for several reasons: the translator. (Sometimes the crowd laughs knowledge of Spiderman. I performed a wed- 1. The movie theater with 12 screens is two and I don’t know why, but this is rare.) ding in English before a congregation in which blocks from our home in Santiago. I am the one who knows that the two-thirds of the crowd spoke no English. Carol 2. The theater has 2-for-1 days. subtitles tone down the swear words. and I then shared a table at the reception with 3. We do not mind seeing movies after they Matthew McConaughey did not say three couples who do not speak English and had have been out for a couple of months. “Cielos!”/“Heavens!” when his spaceship already listened to me for too long. You don’t 4. Cable TV in Chile is almost completely crashed in Interstellar. If the film is not that really believe that only 9 percent of the world Spanish, and the accents on BBC News get good (Jersey Boys), I focus on the subtitles and speaks English until you can’t tell the repairman old faster than you would think. learn a little Spanish. that you didn’t pour water on the carpet and the 5. The movies are in English with subtitles in If the theater would provide a translator, leak must be coming from somewhere. Spanish. I could share my knowledge as a U.S. citizen. Not knowing the language has been good I could explain that Interstellar is accurate. for me. I have learned to treasure the moments Actually, the first four reasons above do not Our space program is close to sending space- beyond language. Carol and I went to a classi- matter much. It is all about #5. The movies are ships through worm holes to other galaxies. All cal concert and tried to follow the conductor’s in English, so the tables are turned. of our grandmothers look like Jane Fonda in introduction. I believe he said, “Our solo vio- We have been living in a country where This Is Where I Leave You. Our teenagers are linist is really good. She played with her first 99 percent of the population speaks Spanish. I as smart as the ones in Fault in Our Stars. Our rabbit when she was six years old. She and her am solidly in the 1 percent. marriages are pretty much like the one in Gone four brothers played duets. She obtained her After I had worked on my Spanish for a Girl. Men in the United States often leave driver’s license from the Julliard School in few weeks, we were at an outdoor market women like Keira Knightly New York.” pretending to know something about I was lost until the orchestra began to the fish at which we were looking. play. They played Mozart with a sadness that I clearly asked, “Cuanto cuesta?” made you want to cry without knowing why. (which means, “How much?”) They played Bach with anger and hope. and got the response, “What part They played Vivaldi with joy deeper than of the States are you from?” I was any description of joy — as though not wearing an American flag pin, Vivaldi had just seen the Peanuts a USA T-shirt or a backwards base- characters dance for the first time. ball cap. What’s the problem? The music helped us experience After two months I mustered something bigger and better than up the courage to go to a Subway what can be described. Sandwich Shop. I answered every Sometimes the church speaks question, but came home with a sand- a language that many do not under- wich that was not at all like what I stand. We need to offer moments wanted. beyond language, and point to God A few weeks ago I felt like I was who defies explanation. We have to making progress. I was having a fine open our hearts to a hope beyond conversation in Spanish with the church words. BT caretaker about the weather and our fam- ilies only to be interrupted by the church —Brett Younger is associate professor administrator saying, “You do know she’s of preaching at Mercer University’s asking you to move your car.” McAfee School of Theology.

40 Reblog

Selections from recent blogs at baptiststoday.org Simple questions made harder by being Baptist

By John Pierce that many families must face. Kindly, my subject. I pointed her to two resolutions (1992 daughter redirected me to the matter at hand: and 1996) in which messengers to the annual ur daughter had an ethics class assign- the position held by her own faith tradition/ meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention ment on euthanasia. The teacher denomination. expressed their opposition to euthanasia and O instructed students to interview two That would be an easier answer were we assisted suicide. persons on the subject: a medical professional not Baptists — at least our kind of Baptists, SBC resolutions, I explained, record the and someone with theological training. That I explained. For example, I noted, the Roman majority opinion of the persons voting at that first appeared to be a shortcut provided by Catholic Church has a clear position: it time and place — but are not imposed (at least having both resources within our home. strongly opposes physician-assisted suicide in theory) on congregations or individuals. The assignment also called for students to and euthanasia. Because fundamentalist leaders of the SBC tell how their own faith traditions or denomina- I thought of turning to an in-depth 2013 over the past few decades often try to impose tional groups come down on assisted suicide and Pew Research Project on religious groups’ views their doctrinal and ethical positions on all oth- related issues. It was one of those times when it’s on end-of-life issues. But it was time to pull the ers, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship chose a harder to be a Baptist — or at least to explain plug on my lecture, or at least sharpen its focus. different approach. CBF “does not issue ‘official’ Baptists who are still rooted in their history. My daughter helped by asking (again): positions on … social issues out of respect for I expounded (in more words than needed) “But what about Baptists?” congregational and individual autonomy …” that Christians in general hold to an ethic that Before I could answer, she added that It’s not that Fellowship Baptists don’t think life belongs to God alone — and that there is “We’re not Southern Baptists” — and that she such issues are important, I said. It’s that they strong biblical evidence of suffering being an wanted to know especially about the Cooperative think the rightful place for reaching final conclu- important aspect of spirituality. Then I added Baptist Fellowship with which our church sions about such issues is within congregations the word that every note-taking student dreads: affiliates. or individuals. “BUT…” Baptists (traditionally, though not always “Sooo …,” I said in finally reaching the Advancements in medical technology that in practice) are not hierarchal, I noted. Church answer to her question, “our kind of Baptists can extend life have complicated the issue, I said. law is not imposed by bishops, councils or any- will discuss and debate the subject but leave the Therefore, good, thoughtful Christian people one else. final decisions up to individual churches and have disagreements regarding assisted suicide. I suggested she make that point in her own Christians.” Then I added my own concern about such words — and then note how Southern Baptists I’m sure she wishes the teacher had simply serious and personal decisions being made (even though our congregation is not part of asked her to interview a medical professional on apart from the actual, individual experiences that denominational group) have addressed the the subject. BT

1941, in which he insisted that Americans Will we ever be postwar? should cherish, promote and preserve the essential human values of freedom of speech, By Tony W. Cartledge Though born into wealth and power, freedom of worship, freedom from poverty Roosevelt had a deep concern for the hard and and freedom from fear. weekend at First Baptist Church of miserable life faced by the poor. His initiatives Near the end of his life, Roosevelt Manchester, Ga., provided an oppor- brought electricity at affordable rates to farm reflected on life in a postwar world. Con- Atunity to revisit Franklin Delano families, built new roads and established the quering enemies is not enough, he wrote, Roosevelt’s Little White House in Warm Social Security Administration. but Americans would need to “cultivate the Springs. FDR was working on a speech pro- While programs such as these endure science of human relationships — the ability moting the formation of the United Nations and continue to make life better for of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together and and sitting for a portrait when he died there. Americans, perhaps Roosevelt’s greater gift work together, in the same world, at peace.” Roosevelt came to office in the midst was his ability to instill hope and allay fear. In our day when American political of the Depression, inheriting a total train His first inaugural address set the stage with agendas are more concerned with demon- wreck of an economy, but managed to turn his memorable statement that “The only izing opponents than helping the nation, things around through creative “New Deal” thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Roosevelt’s words seem both prophetic and programs that used government spending to Roosevelt tirelessly promoted values eternally true. It’s no good to go around put people back to work and rebuild a solid that were crystalized in his famous “Four pounding enemies in other lands if we can’t economy in which everyone could participate. Freedoms” speech, delivered to Congress in live in peace with each other. BT

41 Nurturing Faith: Texts and Themes for 2015 Baptists Today

Season of Epiphany Mar. 8 – John 2:13-22 May 17 – 1 John 5:7-13 July 26 – Ephesians 3:14-21 “Righteous Anger” “Testimony” “It’s All Beyond Me” January 6-February 15 Jesus had a temper, and was not afraid These could be the original “wonderful God’s riches are above understanding – One Step More to use it. words of life.” but not beyond imagining.

Jan. 6 – Matt. 2:1-12 Mar. 15 – John 3:14-21 Season of Pentecost August 2-August 23 “Meaningful Gifts” “Light Living” May 24-July 5 The Trouble with Kings What wise folk do when knowledge is Darkness may be familiar, but life is in Spiritual Matters, OT Style not enough the light. Aug. 2 – 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a “You’re the Man!” Jan. 13 – Acts 19:1-7 Mar. 22 – John 12:20-33 May 24 – Ezekiel 37:1-14 Nathan sets a trap for a royal miscreant, “Powerful Hands” “Dead Wheat” “Can These Bones Live?” and bags his prey. With God, our driest days are not What the Spirit does when water is not Some things have to die before they beyond hope. enough can live. Aug. 9 – 2 Samuel 18:1-33 “Paying the Price” May 31 – Isaiah 6:1-13 Jan. 20 – 1 Samuel 3:1-20 Mar. 29 – Mark 14:32-42 Sin happens, trouble follows, and no “You Want Me To Do What?” “Listening Ears” “Hard Praying” one is immune. Did God really want Isaiah to encour- What followers do when eyes are not Sometimes it’s easier not to know age bad judgment? enough what’s next. Aug. 16 – 1 Kings 2:1-3:15 “Redeeming a Shaky Start” June 7 – Genesis 3:1-19 Jan. 27 – Jonah 3:1-10 Season of Easter Solomon’s prayer for wisdom was badly “The Inevitable Apple” “Surprising Acts” needed. Apr. 5 – 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Can we really put the blame on Adam What penitents do when words are not and Eve? enough “Of First Importance” Aug. 23 – 1 Kings 8:1-61 Paul knew that everything hangs on the “Prayers for Now and Later” resurrection. June 14 – Ezekiel 17:1-24 Feb. 1 – Psalm 111 A dedication prayer designed for people “Cedar Mountain High” “Inspiring Deeds” who weren’t there April 12-May 17 Could fallen humanity really climb a What believers do when awe is not The Book of Love holy mountain? enough August 30-September 27 Serious Church June 21 – Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32 Feb. 8 – Mark 1:29-39 Apr. 12 – 1 John 1:2-2:2 “Gratitude Squared” Aug. 30 – James 1:17-27 “Missional Plans” “Walking in the Sunshine” John speaks of truth, light and the Being lost and found calls for a special “Real Religion” What Jesus did when our efforts were Christian way. kind of thanks. not enough “Religion” doesn’t sound so unsavory when it’s done right. June 28 – Lamentations 3:22-33 Feb. 15 – Mark 9:2-8 Apr. 19 – 1 John 3:1-7 “Children of God” “Goodness – and Grief” Sept. 6 – James 2:1-26 “Mountaintop Moments” Troubled people need a God who God knows, children can turn out good “True Faith” What to do when human perception is won’t give up. or bad. Faith understands that mercy triumphs not enough over judgment. July 5 – Ezekiel 2:1-3:11 Apr. 26 – 1 John 3:16-24 Season of Lent “Eat My Words!” “Real Love” Sept. 13 – James 3:1-12 February 22-March 29 God’s command puts a sweet twist on “Pure Speech” Jesus’ kind of love involves much more a common saying. Heavy Days than words. James unleashes a tongue-lashing about tongue-taming. July 12-July 26 Feb. 22 – Psalm 25:1-10 May 3 – 1 John 4:7-21 Mind-Stretching Matters Sept. 20 – James 3:13-4:10 “Healthy Regret” “Deep Love” “Highborn Wisdom” Penitent tears are a good start for the Knowing deep love means knowing July 12 – Ephesians 1:1-14 season of Lent God, too. Wise believers understand that selfish- “An Amazing Inheritance” ness is a dead end. Paul leaks a mysterious secret, and it Mar. 1 – Mark 8:31-38 May 10 – 1 John 5:1-6 boggles the mind. Sept. 27 – James 5:13-20 “Self Denial” “Water and Blood” “Fervent Prayer” Matching two words that don’t like Can believers really conquer the world? July 19 – Ephesians 2:1-22 each other The true power of prayer goes deeper “A Sacred Trio” than the surface. Grace, faith and reconciliation: what’s not to like?

42 October 4-October 25 Nov. 15 – 1 Samuel 1:1-28 Following Jesus on Highway 10 “Transformational Tears” A painful prayer, a baby boy, a promise kept Oct. 4 – Mark 10:1-16 “Hard Words and a Soft Heart” Nov. 22 – 2 Samuel 23:1-7 Jesus speaks about marriage, adultery and children. “Thanks for the Promises” Not really David’s last words, but maybe the last Oct. 11 – Mark 10:17-31 happy ones “Of Treasures and Troubles” Wealth and discipleship can make for a difficult Season of Advent combination. November 29-December 20 Hope Waits Oct. 18 – Mark 10:32-45 “First and Last” Nov. 29 – 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13 When cherished notions are turned upside down and “A Time for Anticipation” inside out A reunion with friends is a foretaste of future things.

Oct. 25 – Mark 10:46-52 Dec. 6 – Luke 1:68-79 “What Do We Really Want?” “A Time for Praise” When a mute man speaks, it’s good to listen. Jesus’ question to a blind man sparks helpful “Seeking Justice: introspection. Dec. 13 – Zephaniah 3:14-20 Baptists, Nashville, and Civil Rights” November 1-November 22 “A Time for Joy” Patience pays: long waits do come to an end. APRIL 20-22, 2015 A Time for Gratitude Dec. 20 – Micah 5:2-5a Nov. 1 – Ruth 1:1-2:23 American Baptist College “You’re All I Have” “A Time for Peace” First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill The book of Ruth is really about Naomi, who should Big things can come from small towns. Nashville, Tennessee be grateful. Season of Christmas Nov. 8 – Ruth 3:1-4:21 Dec. 27 – 1 Samuel 2:18-26 Information: [email protected] “An Odd Road to a Happy Ending” “A Time for Growth” 406-600-7433 Naomi’s scheme was risky, but Ruth made it work. Good growth can happen, even in bad company.

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