In Spirit, John ascends to the sky and steps through an open door into the throne room of God (Revelation 4). Like the hovering Spirit of Genesis 1:2, the Spirit that carries John unveils a sevenfold scene: 1) A throne and one sitting on it, Revelation 4:2b-3a. 2) An emerald rainbow around the throne, 4:3b. 3) 24 elders enthroned around the throne, 4:4. 4) Lightning, sounds, thunder, torches from throne, 4:5. 5) Before throne, a sea of glass like crystal,... Read more
From Wesley’s Journal, December 1, 1767: “Being alone in the coach, I was considering several points of importance: and thus much appeared as clear as the day: That a man may be saved who cannot express himself properly concerning imputed righteousness. Therefore to do this is not necessary to salvation. “That a man may be saved who has not clear conceptions of it: (yea, that never heard the phrase). Therefore clear conceptions of it are not necessary to salvation; yea it... Read more
In their study of race and evangelicalsm (Divided by Faith), Michael Emerson and Christian Smith observe that “in the context of a pluralistic society, social groups construct and maintain collective identities by forming symbolic boundaries.” These boundaries are essential to the group. Every group defines itself, to some degree, negatively, by distinguishing itself from some other group: “Groups must symbolize and utilize symbolic boundaries to both create and give substance to shared values and identities. Thus, an ingroup always has... Read more
In their study of evangelicals and race, Divided by Faith, Michael Emerson and Christian Smith found that white evangelicals attribute American race problems to three causes: “prejudiced individuals,” “other groups – usually African Americans – trying to make race problems a group issue when there is nothing more than individual problems” and “a fabrication of the self-interested – again often African Americans, but also the media, the government, or liberals” (74). Emerson and Smith think these are simplistic responses to a... Read more
My colleague James Jordan likes to say that the tabernacle is made out of hearts. He cites Exodus 25:2: “Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; every man whose heart moves him shall raise my contribution.” And Exodus 35:21: “Everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose heart moved him came and brought Yahweh’s contribution for the work of the tent of meeting.” What Israel brings flows out of the heart; what craftsmen make arises from... Read more
Over at Slate, Reiham Salam explains why Trump isn’t going away: He’s not merely the focal point for GOP anger. He represents the American version of a global phenomenon, the rise of populist-nationalist movements. Salam compares Trump’s appeal to that of the Danish People’s Party, which has become “Denmark’s second-largest party by combining anti-immigration sentiment with a commitment to protecting social programs that serve native Danes. In neighboring Sweden, the Sweden Democrats are trying to pull off a similar feat, which... Read more
The disappointment of Go Set A Watchman isn’t the disappointment in the character of Atticus Finch. By the end of the book, Jean Louise has recognized that she’s as much a “states rightist,” just as offended and outraged by the Supreme Court’s meddling in the South, just as much a bigot as her father. Atticus has been normalized, humanized, and that’s good for Scout, who has always put him on an impossible pedestal. She’s reconciled to Maycomb and her father. One... Read more
Daniel 3 tells the famous story of the three men in the fiery furnace. It’s an image of Israel’s experience in exile. They are sent into the furnace of Babylon, but they survive the fire – more than survive, they come out unsinged and are elevated to higher positions than ever. It’s a sacrificial process. As Pastor Rich Lusk pointed out in a recent sermon on the passage, the whole set-up is liturgical. Nebuchadnezzar makes a giant gold image, calls... Read more
When the Lamb opens the fifth seal, John sees martyrs under the altar crying out for vindication (Revelation 6). It’s a recapitulation of the plea of the oppressed in Psalm 79: “Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’ Let there be known among the nations in our sight, vengeance for the blood of Your servants, which has been shed. Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You; according to the greatness of Your power preserve those who... Read more
When Israel was deported to Babylonian exile, it would have been natural for Israelites to reason that they ought to limit the size of their families and wait for a return to the land. It might even be best to avoid marriage/ After all, who wants to support a wife or raise children in virtual slavery? Jeremiah’s instructions were the opposite. In a letter to exiles (Jeremiah 29), he told them to “build houses and live; plant gardens, and eat... Read more
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