Today, I want to talk about the Bible. The Bible is a complex and challenging book. In fact, it’s not even a book by today’s standards. It’s a compilation of many books, genres, eras, and authors. So keeping that in mind, reading the Bible and making sense of the Bible can really be overwhelming. The complexity of the issue only increases when you factor in that Christians don’t even agree on how many books should be in the Bible. Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox Bibles all contain a different number of books.
When you look at it as a Protestant, 76% of our entire Bible is the Old Testament and yet, we are a new covenant people. So what is our relationship to the Old Testament? I wanted to explore this and I could think of no one better than Professor Jim Adams from Life Pacific University. I first got to know Professor. Adams while getting my master’s degree there at LPU. He was both my favorite and most hated professor because he really challenged us. But I will have to say, he was my favorite in the whole program. The Old Testament is an area he specializes in. I hope you enjoy this episode!
If you’re enjoying this podcast, spread the word by sharing it with your friends and leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. I encourage you to send me your feedback or suggestions for an interview. Help me help you. You can email me at jroper@foursquare.org, or direct message me on Facebook. You can also submit any feedback or questions here. Don’t forget to subscribe in Apple Podcasts or where ever you get your podcasts.
As always, you can connect with me on Facebook or Twitter. It’s your life, now go live it!
Last week I spent a few days in downtown Seattle hanging out with my daughter, Victoria. I had not been in downtown since before the pandemic. And the protests. And the riots. It was sad to see businesses closed due to COVID-19. It was heartbreaking to see stores boarded up for protection against rioters. It was heartrending to see peaceful protests seeking social justice hijacked by criminals claiming violence as their right. Cries of the spirit for economic justice, social justice, and criminal justice are being drowned out by the screams of fascist agitators and provocateurs of both the radical right and the extreme left.
As distressing as all this is, the most distressing thing I was dealing with was the overflowing crowds of homeless people. It seemed every street was strewn with the homeless: Overpasses serving as shelter from the elements; Green spaces intended to beautify the city and give respite to the soul of the city-dweller have become homeless camps of weather-beaten tents and stolen shopping carts.
I was not angry. I was broken over their condition. And I was overcome with the feeling of helplessness in the face of such overwhelming need. What can I do to fix homelessness?
Homelessness is a complex ecosystem that includes unemployment, poverty, mental illness, family and societal alienation, drug addiction, criminal acts, anti-social behavior, free will, economic injustice, bad luck, and bad choices, all emerging together in lockstep to beatdown and dehumanize image-bearers of God and to further the alienation of human beings from one another. Not knowing what to do, I did nothing, even when a homeless man asked me, “can you help me get something to eat?” I did nothing…
I felt overwhelmed by the immediacy of the perfect storm we are facing: Health care, race-relations, immigration, social justice, police and legal reforms, poverty, and economic justice, all summing a day of reckoning. I simultaneously felt like throwing my hands up in surrender, running to the mountains to hide, and jumping into this mess to make a difference.
The chaos and confusion around me were equally matched with the chaos and confusion within me. I wanted to throw up my hands and say, “What can I do? Am I my brother’s keeper?”
While I was walking around Seattle and thinking these dark thoughts, I was also being haunted by Matthew 25:31-46: You know, that passage that says, “in as much as you did it to the least of these, my brothers, you did it to me.” I have always wrestled with this passage because it is about God judging the nations. Individual judgment I understand, but how will God judge nations? Do we get in the “individual judgment” line, then once we are judged individually, do we get into the “Nation judgment” line? What if I am a dual citizen? Do I get into the line for the United States and then Canada? Lame, I know. But those are some of the questions running through my mind.
Early on that Friday morning, I was sitting in my hotel room drinking coffee and thinking about these societal ailments and the judgment of nations. I was not thinking about them being connected. I was bouncing between the two issues, like flipping between channels on the TV, when suddenly they snapped together like two magnets: God will judge the nations on how they treat the poor, the powerless, the accused, the incarcerated, the stranger (those “other” than “us” in nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, religion), and the sick because it requires the nation to fix these areas.
Economic, social, and legal justice, along with caring for the sick, are not only current pressure points in society: they are the cries of Jesus to the nations, “in as much as you have done it unto the least of these you have done it unto me.”
The whole nation is accountable because no one individual or group can fix poverty, homelessness, race relations, criminal justice, and health care. It will take the entire spectrum of human participation to bring about justice and healing in these areas. The full spectrum: Liberal to conservative; free-markets to government taxation and regulation; for-profit businesses and not-for-profit institutions; families; churches; synagogues; mosques; community centers; private initiatives; government programs, all working together for economic, social, legal, and health care justice for the poor and the powerless.
This is not a liberal thing, a conservative thing, a political thing, or a religious thing: It is a human thing. And Jesus takes it very personal, “for in as much as you have done it unto the least of these, my brothers, you have done it unto me.”
I am not advocating a specific policy, but for an over-arching value system that shapes all policies and practices. If we get the value-system right and we have open, honest discussions and debates based on truth, integrity, transparency, and accountability, we can become a more perfect union, a more just society. It is what He requires of the nations. It is what He requires of me, “For He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8),
Fools should be avoided at all costs. And just so you know what a fool looks like, the book Proverbs provides a very clear description so that you can spot a fool and avoid them and the destruction they cause:
A fool is unteachable because he will only listen to himself and those who agree with him (Prov. 12:15). The fool will not listen to God (Pro. 1:7), to parents (Pro. 15:5), or to wise, educated, and informed people (Pro. 15:12). The fool will not learn from his mistakes (Pro 26:11). In fact, the fool refuses to listen (Prov. 13:1; 15:12) and attacks any who try to correct him (Pro. 9:7-8) Sadly, A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion (Proverbs 18:2 ESV).This is because fools do not seek knowledge and understanding, but rather he feeds on folly (Prov. 15:14).
A fool is uncontrollable. A fool cannot control his mouth (Pro. 10:8,10,14). His words are folly (Pro. 15:2; 13:16), rash and hasty (Pro. 29:20), and filled with lies and slander (Pro. 10:8). The fool is big on words but small on deeds (Pro. 10:8,10). The fool cannot control his emotions (Pro. 12:16), his anger (Pro. 14:16,29; 29:11), or his impulses and appetites because he despises discipline (Pro. 1:7).
A fool enjoys his sin (Pro. 10:23) and will not give up his foolishness, regardless of how destructive it is (Pro. 26:11; 27:22). Strife, quarrels, and insults are his stock in trade (Pro. 22:10).
A fool is proud and arrogant (Pro. 21:24; 28:26; 26:12). Because fools are proud and arrogant, they like to meddle and stir up controversy. They are argumentative and combative. Their pride and foolishness create problems and brings sorrow (Pro. 10:1; 11:29; 15:20; 17:21; 27:3). It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly (Prov. 17:12).
A fool places no value on wisdom, no value on discipline, no value on the moral life. The fool is his own authority. Correcting a fool is pretty much impossible and his normal pattern in life too not receive correction. If something goes wrong, it is because someone else “blew it.” If his plans fail, it is not his fault: He is the victim of someone else’s corruption or incompetence. He’s a blamer. He repeats the same mistakes and failures over and over, and rather than changing he blames his failures on others. Yet, the reality is the fool suffers because of his own choices (Pro. 9:12).
A fool has so blinded himself with his arrogance and folly he cannot find wisdom even when he seeks for it (Pro. 14:6; 24:7). After all, he will not concentrate on wisdom (Pro. 17:24) but thinks he can just buy his way out (Prov. 17:16).
A fool squanders his resources (Pro. 21:20; 29:3; 14:24; 19:10) and cannot be trusted with responsibility (Pro. 26:1,6,7,8,10). Eventually, his foolishness will be revealed in full display and he will be detested by all (Pro. 24:9).
So, do us all a favor, if you see a fool, avoid him at all cost. And by all means, do not hire him to do a job or entrust him with any responsibility (Prov. 26:10). If you made the mistake of hiring or befriending a fool, cut your losses, and move on.
Hey everybody! This week I have the privilege of interviewing Matthew Croasmun who wrote the book The Emergence of Sin: The Cosmic Tyrant in Romans. It is rare for me, these days, to read a book and go “Wow!” I generally read 1-2 books per week, I spent 2 weeks going through this book because it is that good. I’m so excited to interview Matt to explore this book more with you.
In this episode, we explore a little bit about the emergence theory, sin, systemic racism, white supremacy and the gospel, and how the church should address issues of sin. I highly encourage you to check out his book The Emergence of Sin.
Matthew is the Associate Research Scholar and the director of the Life Worth Living program at the Yale Center for Faith & Culture at Yale Divinity School. He also is a pastor at Elm City Vineyard Church. To learn more about Matthew be sure to visit his website.
If you’re enjoying this podcast, spread the word by sharing it with your friends and leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. I encourage you to send me your feedback or suggestions for an interview. Help me help you. You can email me at jroper@foursquare.org, or direct message me on Facebook. You can also submit any feedback or questions here. Don’t forget to subscribe in Apple Podcasts or where ever you get your podcasts.
As always, you can connect with me on Facebook or Twitter. It’s your life, now go live it!
Welcome to a new season of the podcast! I wanted to start this season off with a deep dive into an area of leadership that has fascinating me for my entire adult life. What does it mean to lead in turbulent times? Here is one of my favorite quotes:
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
Theodore Roosevelt
Today I want to dive deep into this topic. I could think of no one better to discuss this with than Rev. Glenn Burris. Glenn is a dear friend and pastor and has recently retired from his time as president of The Foursquare Church. I have witnessed him lead exceptionally well through turbulent times. I think you will enjoy our conversation.
If you want to connect with Glenn Burris, you can find him on Facebook.
If you’re enjoying this podcast, spread the word by sharing it with your friends and leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. I encourage you to send me your feedback or suggestions for an interview. Help me help you. You can email me at jroper@foursquare.org, or direct message me on Facebook. You can also submit any feedback or questions here. Don’t forget to subscribe in Apple Podcasts or where ever you get your podcasts.
As always, you can connect with me on Facebook or Twitter. It’s your life, now go live it!
Debbie and I serve as the FMI Global Associate Director for MENACA and Europe. We focus on cultivating disciples, leaders, and church planting movements.
Debbie and I serve as the FMI Global Associate Director for MENACA and Europe. We focus on cultivating disciples, leaders, and church planting movements.
