Hey Everyone,
Please find attached a sermon I wrote on Acts 19:17-20.
Acts 19: 17-20 - Religion, Irreligion, and the Gospel
How the Gospel Overcomes Addictions
Martin Young
February 27, 2011
Acts 19:17-20 [ESV] 17 ... And fear fell upon them, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. 18 Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. 19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
In July last year (2010), Terry Jones, the Pastor of Dove World Outreach Center announced “International Burn a Koran Day” to be commemorated on September 11th. Given that Jones led a small congregation of only 50 members or so, Jones’ proclamation probably did not deserve much intention. But, the media grabbed hold of it and in a Wall Street Journal Article, General Petraeus condemned the planned event, worried that such actions would jeopardize the lives of American Soldiers by inciting the Taliban and other enemies of the United States. Thus, in early September 2010, this little known sect in Florida had ignited an international firestorm, as protests began erupting all over the Moslem World. Fortunately, through a large public response, from both the religious and secular, Jones called off the event. But, emotions ran high in the Middle East and during protests in Afghanistan, 3 Afghanis were killed. Perhaps, some of you saw the impact of Jones’ stunt firsthand in Afghanistan.
Why would Jones do such a thing? Well, to use Jones’ own words: “What we are doing, you actually find in the Bible. In Acts 19:19. As the people converted to Christianity, they brought books, books of magic they brought books that they felt were damaging, dangerous and they burnt those books.”
Is this what the Bible says? No. Jones’ exegesis of the Acts text is poor. Those who formerly practiced sorcery and accepted Christ, confessed their evil deeds, and then burned their own books, books they already had owned. They did not go out and spend the astronomical sum of 50,000 pieces of silver to buy books to burn, like Jones was planning to do. Amongst Biblical objections to Jones’ plan was his misuse and appropriation of Church money. In any regards, this incident is very helpful to us in helping us understand the Acts text and the nature of Religion, Irreligion and the Gospel.
Jones’ religion follows the typical pattern of Religion, which is governed by an underlying theology that works like this:
1. Sacrifice: In order to meet God, I must offer up some sort of a sacrifice.
2. Righteousness: This sacrifice makes me acceptable to God.
3. Relationship: Once I am acceptable to God, I will encounter Him.
For example, in Jones’ case, his view is that the Koran is “full of lies” and that so it should be burned, thus offering up a sacrifice to God. Doing this makes him acceptable to God and thus able to encounter him. This is the pattern of Man’s Religion.
The Religious person must sacrifice something in order to make himself acceptable to God and so able to meet Him. Thus, Religious conflict is easily traced to different flavors of how one Sacrifices, becomes Righteous, and enters into Relationship with God. In extreme forms, this is the theology of the suicide bomber, such as the terrorists that took down the World Trade Center. The suicide bomber sacrifices his life to obtain a sort of perfection and then meet the divine. In ordinary forms, we see Religion in everyday behavior, as people sacrifice their time, resources, and relationships to justify themselves before their gods.
Irreligion looks at Religion as foolishness. Atheists and Agnostics look at Jones and the spectrum of Religious responses as idiocy. To a great degree, Irreligion is right. Man’s attempts to reach for God fail, time and time again, with expensive and sometimes tragic consequences. As a result, after failing to meet the true God on their own terms, Religious people generally settle for made up gods that simply project their own fallen desires or become Irreligious people. Sophisticated Atheists and Agnostics see the scam of man’s Religion for what it is.
Within the framework of Religion, Religion and Irreligion have equal and opposite points of view. The only difference is that the Religious believe that Religion works and the Irreligious believe that Religion does not work. However, whether Religious or Irreligious, all of us are Religious to various degrees… depending on who or what we perceive our god to be. We know this because of the sacrifices we offer daily to appease our own personal gods, which are idols and the fallen desires of our hearts, which are also idols.
Some of the most Religious people I know are addicts. The Bible teaches us that “covetousness is idolatry,” [Col 3:5] covetousness in all its forms. We covet those things that satisfy the desires of our fallen hearts, the things that we raise up as idols and our own personal gods. Because we desire these idols, God gives us over to our desires and we become addicted, sacrificing our time, resources and relationships to appease our addictions. Here is a common list of addictions in four categories:
1. Greed Addictions, for example shopping, gambling, or workaholism
2. Sex Addictions, such as pornography, promiscuity, homosexuality, and other unhealthy infatuations
3. Substance Addictions like drug, alcohol, or even food addictions
4. Adrenaline Addictions
a. Some people are addicted to anger or even hatred.
b. Others are addicted to the rush of reckless behaviors
c. Some engage in destructive behaviors like cutting, extreme body art, etc.
Every addiction follows the pattern of Religion. I must sacrifice my time, resources, and relationships to make myself ready to meet my fallen god. For example, the alcoholic will sacrifice his marriage, his job, and his health in order to meet the god of his heart. The workaholic will sacrifice his marriage, family, and health to satisfy his god of work. In New York City, my general experience is that the question isn’t so much about whether or not you have an addiction, it’s a question of how many do you have?
The Religion that governs addiction is powerful. Addictions have real power and the addict is powerless to break it because the addictions are intimately connected to the fallen condition of his heart. As a result, many addicts in their “state of sin and misery” will pursue all sorts of other Religions to try to break the bindings of addiction, often even pursuing other addictions, as they pursue other false gods. For example, it’s not uncommon for a workaholic to become an alcoholic, as their family falls apart. And so, these attempts at Religion will fail because the addict, like every other human being, is unable to make him or herself acceptable to the true God. So, the pattern of getting back on and falling back off the wagon doesn’t only continue but increases in ferocity as the addiction’s power manifests greater hold on the miserable addict. Thus, miserable, frustrated addicts are also some of the most Irreligious people I know, as they bounce back and forth between Religion and Irreligion, trying to break the bonds of the addiction.
This powerlessness is real, for example notice the first of the 12 Steps in alcoholics anonymous:
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
However, then the next steps in the 12 Step Program falls back into the pattern of Religion, for example:
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
In other words, here is a solution to my problem. And, for those interested, I would advise examining the 12 Steps against the Ordo Salutis, the Order of Salvation… so that you can see it for what it really is…
Anyway, Religion is what we, as fallen human beings turn to solve our problems, whether temporal or eternal, or whether material or spiritual. And so, its no surprise many addictions are rampant in our culture, as are all sorts of Religious and Irreligious solutions to solve them, the approaches of which are also generally fallen.
What is the solution? The solution for the problem of Religion and Irreligion is the Gospel.
Recall, that the typical pattern of Religion is:
1. Sacrifice
2. Righteousness
3. Relationship
Irreligion observes man’s Religion and simply says that it doesn’t work. Then, there is Gospel. Gospel is the reverse order of Religion.
1. Relationship: Through Jesus Christ, God enters into a relationship with me as I am, full of sin and unclean in every aspect of my life.
2. Righteousness: Through Jesus Christ, God makes me Righteous in every aspect, by taking the blame for my sin, paying the debt of my sin, and covering over my sin with His own blood so that it is remembered no more.
3. Sacrifice: Through Jesus Christ, I sacrifice my fallen idols and those things that led me to sin, in loving response to what God through Jesus Christ has done for me.
This is the pattern in the Acts 19 text and throughout the entirety of the Bible:
1. Relationship: Christ is exalted and fear falls upon all those in Ephesus, both Jew and Greek [Acts 19:17] as they enter in the presence of God through Jesus Christ.
2. Righteousness: Because Christ atoned for their sin and made them Righteous in every aspect, they no longer atone for their own sin and thus Righteously confess and divulge their evil practices [Acts 19:18], as proof of the Righteousness through Christ alone.
3. Sacrifice: And so now those who Christ has made Righteous sacrifice those things that caused them to sin and so stop practicing their magic arts and burn their books as a whole burnt offering up to the Lord [Acts 19:18].
This is the Gospel. By definition, the Gospel is at conflict with Religion, which is a perversion of the Gospel. Religion is a false gospel operating directly opposite to the true Gospel. This is why man’s Religion generally doesn’t work, other than perhaps as a Placebo Effect, as the Irreligious astutely observe.
But, then you say, how do I grasp hold of this Gospel in my state of sin and misery? Well, the Good News is that God, condescended Himself to Man. God, in fact, through Jesus Christ, endured the humiliation of man’s Religion by redeeming us through the wretched curse of the cross.
1. Sacrifice: Jesus Christ offered Himself up as a sacrifice to appease the wrath of God due to us for our sin.
2. Righteousness: Jesus Christ’s death on the cross makes us Righteous, by taking the blame for our sin, paying the debt our sin, and covering over our sin with His own blood so that it is remembered no more.
3. Relationship: Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, did these things so that we may have relationship with the true, Triune God.
Thus, now it is obvious to see why Gospel works:
1. Relationship: Through Jesus Christ, God enters into a relationship with me as I am, full of sin and unclean in every aspect of my life.
2. Righteousness: Through Jesus Christ, God makes me Righteous in every aspect, by taking the blame for my sin, paying the debt of my sin, and covering over my sin with His own blood so that it is remembered no more.
3. Sacrifice: Through Jesus Christ, I sacrifice my fallen idols and those things that led me to sin, in loving response to what God through Jesus Christ has done for me.
How do I grasp hold of the Gospel? Focus on Jesus Christ and Him alone as He is offered in the Gospels, crucified on the wretched cross.
1 John 4:2-3: By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
If you come to believe that Jesus Christ is God come in human flesh, crucified on the cross for your sin, then the Spirit of God is operating in you and you are beginning the Gospel filled life, made free from the bondages of Man’s Religion and Irreligion. And so, as the former sorcerers did in Acts 19, we extol the Word of the Lord, which is Jesus Christ, and increase and prevail mightily over the highly addictive bondages of sin leading to death in this life and the next.
Romans (September 26-November 7)
In his epistle to the Romans, Paul outlines many of the coredoctrines of the Christian faith. Understandably, many of thesedoctrines are difficult, but well worth the effort to analyze andunderstand. In fact, as Peter wrote concerning Paul’s letters: “somethings in them… are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstabletwist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures” [2Peter 3:16]. This class is designed to provide a broad survey of Paul’sepistle, in order to help orient a student towards future study andreflection on Romans as well as the Scriptures as a whole. This classwill also provide an excellent opportunity to identify and discusscertain Reformed doctrines through key biblical texts.
We will use Scripture to analyze itself, so we will examine passagesin Romans through the writings of various biblical authors. A moreliteral translation of the bible [RSV, ASV, or ESV] is recommended, butby no means required. The instructor will also post handouts here:
Class #1 Slides
Class #2 Slides
Class #3 Slides
Class #3A (Atonement)
Schedule: Sundays, September 26 through November 7 from 12:10PM to 1:30PM.
Location: Hunter College, West Building (Southwest Corner of 68 & Lexington).
Childcare: Childcare is provided by RSVP only forchildren 3 and under. To make arrangements for childcare, please emailBethany at bethany.griffith@redeemer.com at least 4 days prior to thestart of the class (Wednesday).
Registration is open. Limited enrollment. There is no fee for this course.
Please click here to register.
If you have any questions, please contact: foundations@redeemer.com
| Romans (September 26-November 7) |
| Date/Time |
Class |
Description |
| Sep 26 12:10PM - 1:30PM |
Romans 1:1-7 Undeniable Proof |
We will kick off this class with a broad survey of the many prophecies and messianic typologies found in the Old Testament concerning Jesus Christ. Paul incorporates some of these into his Roman epistle to provide overwhelming and incontrovertible proof of the Good News of Jesus Christ. This is the foundation by which any reasonable theology of Romans must be built. |
| Oct 3 12:10PM - 1:30PM |
Romans 1:18-3:20 No One is Righteous |
In this class, we will carefully examine Paul’s argument in Romans 1:18-3:19, deftly summarized as the doctrine of Total Depravity. This doctrine is often misunderstood because Depravity is total in Extent, but not Effect. We will discuss this liberating concept as the Truth works to set us free from the bondage of sin and death. |
| Oct 10 12:10PM - 1:30PM |
Romans 3:21-5:11 Grace Alone |
In God’s sovereign wisdom, He chose to save us through faith in Jesus Christ and nothing else. The reason He did this is so that we would be saved by His grace alone, not works. This is the essence of the Good News of Jesus Christ: while we were enemies of God, He reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is the center of the doctrine of salvation. |
| Oct 17 12:10PM - 1:30PM |
Romans 6 Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ |
In this class, we will discuss the mysterious union we have with Jesus Christ through faith. Christians are dead to sin but alive in Christ. It is in Christ that we experience true freedom and cast off the bondage of sin and death. It is in Christ that we experience all the blessings of the freedom which God has given us. |
| Oct 24 12:10PM - 1:30PM |
Romans 7:1-8:16 Law and Grace |
In this class we will address the so-called contradiction between biblical law and grace in order to help Christians understand that through Christ they are no longer condemned. To understand this, we will explore the two legal codes that Paul mentions in his epistle: the Law at Sinai and the Law of Spirit. Both of these God given legal systems operate within a covenantal framework, and it is through this framework we can better understand how Christians should live under the Law of the Spirit. |
| Oct 31 12:10PM - 1:30PM |
Romans 9-11 The Church Invisible |
Sadly, many commentators have divorced Romans 9-11 from Paul’s argument in Romans 1-8 and synthesized completely unrelated and even false theologies. For example, dispensationalists have crafted complex eschatological theories to explain Romans 9-11 and in so doing have distorted the Gospel message itself in Romans 1-8. On the other extreme, some overly zealous self-proclaimed so-called Calvinists have ignored Romans 9-11 altogether to sustain an idolatrous and perverse sort of false election theology. The Confessors realized this danger and developed the Reformed doctrine of the Visible and Invisible Church. This crucial and helpful doctrine is an excellent summarization of Romans 9-11 to help God’s Elect not to presume upon their salvation in arrogance and conceit, but rather to work out their salvation in fear and trembling through faith in Jesus Christ. |
| Nov 7 12:10PM - 1:30PM |
Romans 12-16 Living Sacrifices |
Romans 12-16 is the logical result of the arguments outlined in Romans 1-11. If we believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ and rest on Jesus Christ alone, then we should offer ourselves up as living sacrifices, as we work out our salvation in fear and trembling. Herein, lies the center of the Church ethic: loving God and our neighbors as ourselves. |
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Location: Hunter College - West Building (directions) 5th Floor
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Instructor:
Marty Young
Marty Young and his wife Sandy joined Redeemer after moving to NYC from Boston where they met and attended Park Street Church. Marty works in Times Square as a financial restructuring and turnaround professional. He is currently a Presbytery Intern pursuing ordination towards military chaplaincy, having graduated from Gordon Conwell with an MDIV (Urban Ministry) and ThM (Biblical Theology). A graduate of West Point, Marty serves in the NY ARNG as a Chaplain Candidate and is currently developing counseling tools and programs for the military. In addition to his theological degrees, Marty earned an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business and MS (Operations Research) from Georgia Tech. Marty and his wife Sandy have two young children, James and Amanda, and reside in Hoboken. They are expecting their third child in September.
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“Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs" explores the
figures who guided ancient Egypt more than 3,000 years ago. The
exhibition focuses on the 18th Dynasty, a 100-year period when Egypt
was at the height of its power and the "golden age" of Egyptian
artistry. This was the era when Tutankhamun and his ancestors reigned.
The extensive array of more than 130 extraordinary artifacts from the
tomb of Tutankhamun and other ancient Egyptian sites features 50 of
Tutankhamun's burial objects, including his royal diadem and one of the
four gold and precious stone inlaid canopic coffinettes that contained
his mummified internal organs.
For the Christian, this exhibit provides a once in a lifetime
opportunity to interact with Egyptian artifacts from the Mosaic era.
These artifacts will help illuminate the Egyptian focus on the
afterlife and therefore help frame and explain the biblical
perspective. From this exhibit, the Christian should better understand
why Egypt, the land of slavery, is called the iron smelting furnace.
Schedule: Saturday, July 10, from 10:00AM to
1:00PM will consist of a lecture, a question and answer session and a
light lunch. At 1:00PM, groups will depart for the exhibit in Times
Square for a self guided tour.
Location: Redeemer Offices, Main Conference Room (1359 Broadway, 4th Floor, btw. 36 & 37).
Registration is open. There is a $40 fee for this seminar that includes admittance to the King Tut exhibit.
Please click this link to download the class slides
Please click here to register.
If you have any questions, please contact: foundations@redeemer.com.
| Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs (July 10) |
| Date/Time |
Class |
Description |
| Jul 10 10:00AM - 1:00PM |
Session 1 |
Please see the above information for details. |
|
Location: Redeemer Church Offices (directions) Main Conference Room
|
|
Instructor:
Marty Young
Marty
Young and his wife Sandy joined Redeemer after moving to New York from
Boston where they met and attended Park Street Church. Marty works in
NYC as a financial restructuring and turnaround professional. He is
currently a Presbytery Intern pursuing ordination towards military
chaplaincy, having graduated from Gordon Conwell with an MDIV (Urban
Ministry) and ThM (Biblical Theology). A graduate of West Point, Marty
serves in the NY ARNG as a Chaplain Candidate and is currently
developing counseling programs for the military. In addition to his
theological degrees, Marty earned an MBA from the NYU Stern School of
Business and MS (Operations Research) from Georgia Tech. Marty and his
wife Sandy have two young children, James and Amanda, and reside in
Hoboken, NJ. They are expecting their third child in September.
|
The Gospel of John (April 18-May 9)
For the seeker or new believer, the Gospel of John is probably the
best starting point to learn about Jesus Christ. John's Gospel provides
a brilliant overview of doctrinal truths concerning Jesus through a
cohesive, easy to understand narrative. This class will provide a broad
overview of the book using some of John’s powerful thematic streams
related to Jesus' identity, such as the Word, the Light of the World,
the Lamb of God, the Son of God, the Christ, the Prophet, the Teacher,
and the Son of Man (amongst others). While examining John’s Gospel
through these various lenses, we will also attempt to frame the Good
News by focusing on three concepts:
- Being Born Again
- Death and Resurrection
- The Church of God.
We will use Scripture to analyze itself, so we will examine passages
in John through the writings of various biblical authors. A more
literal translation of the bible [RSV, ASV, or ESV] is recommended, but
by no means required. The instructor will also post handouts here.
Schedule: Sundays, April 18 through May 9 from 12:10PM to 1:30PM.
Location: Hunter College, West Building (Southwest Corner of 68 & Lexington).
Childcare: Childcare is provided by RSVP only for
children 3 and under. To make arrangements for childcare, please email
Bethany at bethany.griffith@redeemer.com at least 4 days prior to the
start of the class (Wednesday).
Registration is open. Limited enrollment. There is no fee for this course.
Please click here to register.
If you have any questions, please contact: foundations@redeemer.com
| The Gospel of John (April 18-May 9) |
| Date/Time |
Class |
Description |
| Apr 18 12:10PM - 1:30PM |
Who is Jesus? |
Son
of God, a prophet, a good man, a great teacher – over time, people have
described Jesus in many ways. While all of these descriptors are true,
they are woefully incomplete. In fact, without a full picture of Jesus
Christ, these individual truths may become stumbling blocks that
portray idolatrous views of Jesus Christ, and these idols are useless
to save. In this class, we will survey the various ways in which John
witnessed the Person of Jesus Christ and why it is so important to
believe in the Jesus Christ of the Gospels which the entirety of
Scripture proclaims. |
| Apr 25 12:10PM - 1:30PM |
Born Again |
In
John 3, Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night and engages Him to understand
how it is possible that Jesus, a teacher, should be able to perform
such amazing miracles and signs. Jesus explains to Nicodemus that the
reason that he cannot understand the significance of these miracles is
that he cannot see the Kingdom of God because he has not been born
again. What does it mean to be born again? And, why must one be born
again to be saved? In this class, we will discuss this critical
Christian doctrine using the background of John 3. |
| May 2 12:10PM - 1:30PM |
Lazarus |
In
John 11 and 12, we read the Lazarus narratives. This lengthy narrative
in John’s Gospel is likely meant to give additional color to the
Lazarus story found in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 16), but clearly stands on
its own merits. The resurrection of Lazarus is the lynchpin event which
incites the Sanhedrin to put Jesus to death. In this class, we will
explore this rich narrative towards developing a death and resurrection
theology. |
| May 9 12:10PM - 1:30PM |
I am the Vine |
In
John 15, Jesus proclaims that “He is the Vine,” shedding perfect light
on the diachronic biblical metaphor of the tree as the people of God.
In this class, we will undertake a deep examination of John 15 to equip
the Christian in understanding the theology of the Church, using both
Old and New Testament material. |
|
Location: Hunter College - West Building (directions) 507
|
|
Instructor:
Marty Young
Marty
Young and his wife Sandy joined Redeemer after moving to New York from
Boston where they met and attended Park Street Church. Marty works in
NYC as a financial restructuring and turnaround professional. He is
currently pursuing ordination towards military chaplaincy, having
recently graduated from Gordon Conwell with an MDIV (Urban Ministry)
and ThM (Biblical Theology). A graduate of West Point, Marty serves in
the NY ARNG as a Chaplain Candidate and is currently developing an
ethics training program for the military. In addition to his
theological degrees, Marty earned an MBA from the NYU Stern School of
Business and MS (Operations Research) from Georgia Tech. Marty and his
wife Sandy have two young children, James and Amanda, and reside in
Jersey City, NJ.
|
Genesis: Pre-History (March 7-28)
This course provides a broad overview of Genesis 1-11 (alsocalled the Pre-History), paced over four classes. This class will beslightly different than previous versions because it will focus on the5 primary covenants founds in the Genesis pre-History: The CreationCovenant, Marriage Covenant, Adamic Covenant, Covenant of Brotherhood,and Noahic Covenant. The intentions of the class are as follows:
- to increase the student’s biblical literacy
- to help establish a framework for understanding reformed theology
- to review and understand the pre-history covenants which continue to operate today
Please click these links to download the class slides:
Class #1 Slides
Class #2 Slides
Class #3 Slides
Class #4 Slides
Schedule: Sundays, March 7 through 28 from 12:10PM to 1:30PM.
Location: Hunter College, West Building (Southwest Corner of 68 & Lexington).
Childcare: Childcare is provided by RSVP only forchildren 3 and under. To make arrangements for childcare, please emailBethany at bethany.griffith@redeemer.com at least 4 days prior to thestart of the class (Wednesday).
If you have any questions, please contact: foundations@redeemer.com
| Genesis: Pre-History (March 7-28) |
| Date/Time |
Class |
Description |
| Mar 7 12:10PM - 1:30PM |
Creation, Covenant and Controversy |
Not only is Genesis 1:1, the starting point of the entire Bible, but it is also the starting point in the public debate of Biblical authority. If the Bible is true, how does it reconcile with important scientific discoveries and theories in the 19th and 20th centuries? Although this class will not provide an exhaustive overview of the many views on this intense debate, it will examine critical biblical passages to understand how and why God made the Universe. |
| Mar 14 12:10PM - 1:30PM |
The Marriage Covenant and the Image of God |
The idea that Humanity is made in the image of God is absolutely foundational to Christianity and any sound biblical theology, so we will attempt to understand Adam’s (and Eve’s) significance and role in the Universe, as image bearers of God. |
| Mar 21 12:10PM - 1:30PM |
The Adamic Covenant and the Fall |
Genesis 3 introduces Satan. In addition to researching the Scriptures about Satan, this session will be an intense analysis of the Fall narrative, specifically the events leading up to the Fall, the moment of the Fall, and the consequences of the Fall. |
| Mar 28 12:10PM - 1:30PM |
Anti-Christ Crisis and the Noahic Covenant |
Versions of the biblical Flood Narrative may be found throughout many ancient cultures, particularly in the ancient near east. We will examine some of these pagan flood traditions to better understand the biblical flood narrative. By comparing and contrasting the various traditions, we hope to create a basic theology of condemnation, judgment and salvation. After we quickly trace the progress of human repopulation of the earth in the post-deluge era, we will spend time studying Noah’s sons, the Tower of Babel, and the Messianic lineage to Terah. We will then finish the class with a study of the structure of the Noahic covenant towards building a foundation for a covenantal worldview. |
|
Location: Hunter College - West Building (directions) Room 507
|
|
Instructor:
Marty Young
Marty Young and his wife Sandy joined Redeemer after moving to New York from Boston where they met and attended Park Street Church. Marty works in NYC as a financial restructuring and turnaround professional. He is currently pursuing ordination towards military chaplaincy, having recently graduated from Gordon Conwell with an MDIV (Urban Ministry) and ThM (Biblical Theology). A graduate of West Point, Marty serves in the NY ARNG as a Chaplain Candidate and is currently developing an ethics training program for the military. In addition to his theological degrees, Marty earned an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business and MS (Operations Research) from Georgia Tech. Marty and his wife Sandy have two young children, James and Amanda, and reside in Hoboken, NJ.
|
Question:
What is Love?
Response:
As a follow-up to the discussion regarding the concept of biblical love, I thought it would be helpful to post a document that outlines the argument that Paul uses to define love in his epistles. The Greek words commonly used at the time of the Apostolic writings to define the biblical concept of love (in Hebrew - chesed) were somewhat loaded terms because they came out of pagan traditions that did not comprehend what true love was at all. So Paul works to convey the meaning of love through his exhortation that we should "love one another" [Romans 12:10 - notice the placement in Paul's argument in Romans].
If you look at all Paul's commandments concerning how we should "______ one another" then the concept of love becomes clear. A summary of this is as follows:
F - Forgive - "forgive one another"
A - Accept - "accept one another"
C - Care - "care for one another"
E - Encourage - 'encourage one another"
S - Support - "support one another"
and
S - Submit - "submit to one another as to the Lord"
In short, think *FACES-S." So, Biblically, one can think of a loving person as a forgiving,accepting, caring, encouraging, and supporting person who submits him or herself to God's commandments. Hate is simply the antithesis: being an unforgiving, unaccepting, uncaring, unencouraging, and unsupporting person living in rebellion to God's commandments.
For those of you who are interested in doing the research yourselves, please use the following document to hopefully help you get started:
Click here to download the materials
In Christ, Marty
Question: In Ruth 3:1-5, it seems like Naomi's plan is dangerous at best, but also manipulative, as it looks like she is urging Ruth to use her sexuality to "capture" Boaz. What is going on?
Response: I think that the right way to understand this is in terms of call. So, let me walk you through some general guidelines in discerning call and perhaps this will help you discern what both Naomi and Ruth were thinking and why.
1. Do the Scriptures prohibit it? No, in fact they actually commend it.
Deuteronomy 25:5 "If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband's brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. 6 And the first son whom she bears shall succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. 7 And if the man does not wish to take his brother's wife, then his brother's wife shall go up to the gate to the elders and say, 'My husband's brother refuses to perpetuate his brother's name in Israel; he will not perform the duty of a husband's brother to me.' 8 Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak to him, and if he persists, saying, 'I do not wish to take her,' 9 then his brother's wife shall go up to him in the presence of the elders and pull his sandal off his foot and spit in his face. And she shall answer and say, 'So shall it be done to the man who does not build up his brother's house.' 10 And the name of his house shall be called in Israel, 'The house of him who had his sandal pulled off.
The entire premise of Naomi's plan is this: Boaz is a kinsman-redeemer. According to the Law, Naomi has every right to invoke the Law to acquire a suitable husband for Ruth.
2. Can she do it in good conscience? Yes.
According to Ruth 3:3, Naomi instructs Ruth: "Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak." In Hebrew, the almost exact same language is used of David when he ends his mourning for his first born son by Bathsheba. I think that commentators are correct in that these actions are less about Ruth making herself desirable, and more about announcing that her time of mourning is at an end. In other words, the reason that Naomi and Ruth had not earlier sued for a husband under the Law is simply that they were still in their mourning and were not ready to do it. So, now Ruth is ready for remarriage and her time of mourning is at an end. In other words, she can now remarry in good conscience.
3. How does this relate to God's covenants? It deeply relates to the Marriage and Sinai covenants.
a. Under the Marriage Covenant, both Boaz and Ruth understand that sex outside of marriage is wrong. Although Ruth 3 is charged with sexual innuendos, it's clear that Boaz does not violate the covenant but rather will now seek to enter into it. This is of course "dangerous" but Naomi has taken a calculated risk that Boaz is truly a man of God, not based on his mere words but in his actions. It is also clear, that Ruth is suing for marriage. In other words, her marriage proposal is absolutely unmistakable. Boaz doesn't reject it nor her, but will now work diligently to respond to it and her.
Ok, you may say, but still it seems really dangerous. It is, but think about it like this: Naomi's life was essentially destroyed because she married a man that seemed like a believer, but wasn't. Naomi and Ruth are going to quickly find out whether or not Boaz is a genuine believer. If he is, he will do what is right. If he isn't, he will succumb to temptation and do wrong. In other words, this is very much a test. And, as it was then, it is today. God is constantly testing us to see if we will obey Him or not, both individually as well as the Church collectively. From time to time, we fail, but God is still faithful. In this case, because of God's faithfulness, both Boaz and Ruth are able to endure the test. I could speak about this much more within the text of the Book of Ruth, but needless to say, it is a test and like all tests, there is the possibility of failure, but Naomi can do it in good conscience because it is a marriage proposal under the guidelines of God's law.
b. Under the Sinai Covenant, Boaz quickly realizes that someone else is before him, although now it is clear that he desires Ruth. He diligently works to satisfy the requirements of the Law, yet in grace, going far beyond its requirements. Boaz and Ruth are obedient to God's Law, despite whatever the outcome may be. In so doing, they honor God and His covenants.
4. What group of people are they to minister to? In short, Ruth and Boaz are called to minister to one another, as well as Naomi. Through them, God will ultimately minister to all His people through Jesus Christ.
5. Has God equipped them with the necessary spiritual gifts? Yes!
It is remarkable that the word "love" doesn't show up in the book of Ruth at all. However, what does show up are the expressions of the spiritual gift of love: forgiveness, acceptance, care, encouragement, support, and submission. So, take notice that both Ruth and Boaz demonstrate love in action to one another, the dead, Naomi, and others. But most importantly, they show their love of God in their firm obedience to His commandments, under His covenants.
6. What does the Church have to say? The Church approves in this case, overwhelmingly.
Where 2-3 are gathered in His name, Christ is with them. Ruth and Naomi think that the marriage is a good idea and within God's will according to the commandments. Boaz does too, and eventually so do all the elders of their town.
7. How will God shape their character? God shapes Ruth and Naomi through out the book. Ruth and Naomi go from being idolators living in disobedience to becoming children of God redeemed through the Seed of Ruth and now living under obedience to God's commandments.
In Christ, Marty