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John

There are those with whom we can immediately identify as needing our compassion. There are those we have a tendency to push into the margins of our lives. We are challenged to live lives that are aware of those around us; the quiet, the ones who hang around the outer edges of the social gatherings. We are to include them in our lives also.

The body of Christ has been challenged commanded to be an inclusive community. It is unacceptable to allow those with a relational need – not just a physical need – to be left out! 1 Cor. 12:14 says, “Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.” If we become exclusive, we are saying that some parts of the body are not needed. When we remain consistently inclusive, we are demonstrating that we value every member of the body!

In the Truth Project this week, Del Tacket reminds us that work is not part of the curse, it is actually God’s gift to us! He also addresses the topic of sabbath-keeping. Taking a day off each week to show that we trust God enough to provide for us is a discipline we all need to work on. With the technology world we live in, it is way too easy to get to some work done. It is also hard for us to take the day off fro doing the errands that need doing around the house. And yet, we need to!

How do you guard your Sabbath?

In Romans 13, Paul makes a very interesting statement in v.2: “Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” (NIV)

We live in a culture that does not honor authority. My kids tell me the way some of their classmates act toward their instructors at school and I am amazed that more teachers don’t throw in the towel. There is blatant disregard for law enforcement personnel in Philly. The way children talk to their parents, and the way parents let their children talk to them is mind-blowing to me!

Why is it that we humans chaff at authority? The answer is easy to identify, it is more difficult to correct. We have a sinful nature that tries to train us to believe that we are actually the center of all things.

When Paul tells us to submit to government he doesn’t tell us to do it when we agree with them! Let’s remember that when Paul wrote these words to the early church, he was writing to a group of individuals who were being targeted for death because of their belief and allegiance to Heaven! It wasn’t political ideologies that Paul was addressing, it was issues of life and death. And yet, Paul said, submit to the government!

Here is why we are to submit to the government, not because of WHO they are, but because of WHOM instituted their role. If we rebel against the government, we are rebelling against God. Some will ask, “But do I have to submit if they are disobeying God?” I think their focus is on the wrong person, I would ask, “Are you living the way God wants you to live?”

As I said, I’m a relatively new citizen in the USA. What I have found in the more than 15 years of living here: The governments pass laws that I don’t believe are in line with godly, biblical principles, but they’ve not passed any laws that prevent me from living the way God wants me to. I am thankful that I live in a country that does have religious freedom!

Once again, my own group’s discussion turned to the realization that if we really believe what we believe about God living in us, that would affect our behavior… in every area! What part of this weeks study struck a cord with your group?

There is significant time allotted to the fact that the only time during the Creation Week that God said, ‘not good’ was centered on the fact that Adam – alone – was not good. It wasn’t a judgement of quality, but of the fact that Adam being alone was not good…

We are created to live in community. From the very beginning God knew that a relationship with Him was critical, but relationships with other humans is essential.

How have the relationships in your life, in your group, helped you see more of God?

The fact that historians are constantly rewriting the history books is no surprise, nor is it new information. Del Tackett does a wonderful job of showing that the pattern of rewriting history is not something that has come to light in the modern era. In fact, from the beginning of creation, there has been the tendency of rewriting history. Lies are by definition an attempt to rewrite history.

When one of the gals in my group mentioned that watching the video was the very first time that she had heard the pilgrims had set out on a religious quest to start a nation under God, I had two simultaneous reactions: 1) shock and disbelief, 2) a feeling of being old. :)

As our group discussion continued one of the gals made a great point, and it is one that I wish to challenge you with this week:

We have a tendency to focus ourselves so much in the routines and pace of our lives that we tend to forget that God has a bigger plan for our lives that we can miss by failing to acknowledge God’s active participation in our life. Are we not “rewriting history” when we fail to glorify God in the daily relationship we have with Him?

One of the discussions that took place in my group focused on the fact that God is Spirit and that is one way in which we are made in his image. One of the people in my group realized that if we are spiritual beings, and heaven is a real place, there must be another option. It was cool to see the ‘ah ah’ moment he was experiencing!

Another segment of our group discussion focused on the fact that when we “gaze upon the face of God” we are exposed. I often hear people express the desire for Jesus to come and sit with them at their kitchen table so they can have a face to face discussion with him. I stopped thinking that a few years ago when it occurred to me that his agenda and mine wouldn’t be very similar. While I would want to focus on knowledge and understanding Scripture, he would be more interested in how I am living… I would be exposed!

How are those in your group coming to grips as they honestly face the question: Do you really believe that what you believe is really real?

The view we have of Mankind has such an impact on so many positions and opinions we hold it is almost immeasurable. Abortion and issues surrounding are a political hotbed in our world. Animal rights activists can care more about whales than they do about human life. It is an intriguing study.

A fundamental question has to do with mankind’s starting point. Do we have a predisposition to do right, or a predisposition to do wrong?

Also of importance, How do you feel about Dr. Tackett’s assertion that a great deal of the radical social and political activism we see in the world today is driven primarily by secular man’s sinful desire to throw off the shackles of “God’s social design”?

From the time I initially watched this session back in the fall, I have been acutely aware of the “assumptive language” that is prevalent in society and the media in particular. I am finding myself first and foremost seeing the assumptions, but then questioning them. Clearly it’s not possible to question the talking head on the TV screen, but having the questions in my own mind are certainly helping me make sure that what I believe is being formed by Scripture and not by cultural popular assumptive thinking.

Dr. Tackett points to the fact that people have a view of the “cosmic cube.” Why is it more comfortable for people to keep thinking that everything fits into that box?