The Bible Teaches Capitalism or Socialism?

Excellent opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal this last Monday. These are just snippets so please read the complete article here:

http://tinyurl.com/6lgm2kl

Capitalism makes possible entrepreneurship, which is the realization of an idea birthed in human creativity. Whereas statism demands that citizens think small and bow to a top-down conformity, capitalism, as has been practiced in the U.S., maximizes human potential. It provides a home for aspiration, referred to in the Bible as “the spirit of life.”

Furthermore, only a prosperous nation can protect itself from outside threats, for without prosperity the funds to support a robust military are unavailable. Having radically enlarged the welfare state and hoping to further expand it, President Obama is attempting to justify his cuts to our military by asserting that defense needs must give way to domestic programs.

The motive of capitalism’s detractors is a quest for their own power and an envy of those who have more money. But envy is a cardinal sin and something that ought not to be.

Rabbi Spero has led congregations in Ohio and New York and is president of Caucus for America.

More Power Than an Atom Bomb: John 3:16

George MacDonald: A Child the Image of God?

And he came to Capernaum: and, being in the house, he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves who should be the greatest. And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me; and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.–MARK ix. 33-37.

If there is in heaven a picture of that wonderful teaching, doubtless we shall see represented in it a dim childhood shining from the faces of all that group of disciples of which the centre is the Son of God with a child in his arms. The childhood, dim in the faces of the men, must be shining trustfully clear in the face of the child. But in the face of the Lord himself, the childhood will be triumphant–all his wisdom, all his truth upholding that radiant serenity of faith in his father. Verily, O Lord, this childhood is life. Verily, O Lord, when thy tenderness shall have made the world great, then, children like thee, will all men smile in the face of the great God.

But to advance now to the highest point of this teaching of our Lord: “He that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.” To receive a child in the name of God is to receive God himself. How to receive him? As alone he can be received,–by knowing him as he is. To know him is to have him in us. And that we may know him, let us now receive this revelation of him, in the words of our Lord himself. Here is the argument of highest import founded upon the teaching of our master in the utterance before us.

God is represented in Jesus, for that God is like Jesus: Jesus is represented in the child, for that Jesus is like the child. Therefore God is represented in the child, for that he is like the child. God is child-like. In the true vision of this fact lies the receiving of God in the child.

The Unspoken Sermons by George MacDonald are available as free download on Amazon.com for your Kindle.

Read much more here: http://www.online-literature.com/george-macdonald/unspoken-sermons/1/

Jesus in the Year 12 (2012)

Just thought this was thought provoking. Who would Jesus hang-out with in this day and age?

Love to hear your comments and reflections . . .

C.S. Lewis: Obedience Lesson / Submitting Your Will for God’s Best

The dog eagerly scampered down the sidewalk, followed by his master holding his leash. The dog sniffed all the way around a sign-post, then tried to continue on ahead, not realizing he’d looped his leash around the post. His master gently pulled back on the leash, trying to get his dog to retrace his steps and get the leash unsnarled. The dog strained forward with all its might, wanting to move on ahead and not understanding why he was being asked to halt.

Now this was a dutiful dog, and he soon realized he must submit his will to his master, even though it made no sense to him. If the dog had any theological training, he might have even labeled his desire to go forward as a “sin,” and to yield himself to the inscrutable will of his master. The owner, if he knew how, might wish to expose this as false dogma, to explain that he too wanted to continue moving forward. He might add that he had to deny his dog’s will to pull forward on the leash in order to grant him his true wish, to resume their walk together.

Prior summary is from a C.S. Lewis Letter to his friend Arthur Greeves a few years after his conversion to Christianity. (Based on Collected Letters of CSL, Vol 2, 122):

http://booksbycslewis.blogspot.com/2008/11/parables-for-pilgrims.html

Please read 85% of the letter itself here: http://tinyurl.com/82q8j3z

Mary, The Mother of Jesus – The First Disciple (Teacher Guide)

Who was Mary, the mother of Jesus?

 

Most if not all of us are very comfortable with granting Mary the essential role of Jesus’ mother, while regarding anything additional as veering towards “Mariolatry.”

It seems obvious to us that she should not be regarded as a co-redeemer or “Co-Redemptrix” with our Lord Jesus Christ. Mary was as human─maybe more obedient─ than you and me, starting with a normal human birth, in a place and time, with a subsequent death.

How many of us have one or more Nativity sets we carefully bring out in late November or December as a reminder of that blessed event? Mary is typically represented kneeling and in a few sets, with arms outstretched in awe, joy or adoration. Then, around New Years she is carefully added to the box and put out of sight and mind for another year. Is this where our thoughts should end?

Rosaries and “Hail Marys” take it too far; but one beautiful thing is her total submission to God and His will.

The name Mary occurs 51 times in the New Testament and its use has been attributed to the popularity of Marianne as the last rep of the Hasmonean family who was the second wife of Herod the I.  It traces back to the meaning of bitterness. She is the best known woman in the Old or New Testaments.  Mary was a humble village woman and likely not affluent.

What a beginning for the greatest man ever to be born of a woman.

WWMD? (What Would Mary Do?)

1. The Annunciation-she said yes! ─ Luke 1:26-38
2. Jesus’ Birth in Bethlehem ─ Luke 2:1-7
3. The presentation of Jesus at the temple ─ Luke 2:21-24
4. Jesus at 12 discussing the Law with the Elders the ELuke 2:41-52
5. Mary’s Special request at the wedding in Cana ─ John 2:1-12
6. Jesus brothers and Mary say Jesus is Nuts ─ John 7:1-5, Mark 3:20-35
7. Mary is present when Jesus Christ is crucified ─ John 19:25-27
8. Mary waits for the Holy Spirit with Others at Pentecost ─ Acts 1:14

Was Jesus an only child and did Mary remain a virgin in perpetuity?

We find in Matt 13:55, 56 & Mark 6:3 James, Joseph, Judas, Simon and other unnamed daughters.

^NLT Matthew 13:55 Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers– James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. ⁵⁶ All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?”

Why was she picked from among all women from all of history?

• Her race and religion and through Joseph her lineage back to King David.
• Her sanctity, she gave herself as a living sacrifice to her Lord.
• She was set apart for a mission ─ Luke 1:29-33,

^NIV Luke 1:29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Luke 1:46 suggests Mary was not without sin herself

Highly favored of the Lord Luke ─ 1:28, 30

^NKJVF28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”  ²⁹ But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.  ³⁰ Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Mary found favor with God. What did that favor cost her?

^NET Luke 2:34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “Listen carefully: This child is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected. ³⁵ Indeed, as a result of him the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed– and a sword will pierce your own soul as well!”

Who else in the O.T. or N.T. would you consider greatly favored by God?

 

Any costs involved?  Any suffering experienced?

 

Where do we sign up to be in God’s good favor?

 

Finally, who only deserves our full allegiance and worship?

 

Let us end by obeying fully the words of Mary the Mother of Jesus found in John 2:5:

^NET John 2:5 His mother told the servants, “Whatever he tells you, do it.”

Mary, The Mother of Jesus – The First Disciple (Student Guide)

Who was this woman Mary, the mother of Jesus? Luke 1:26-56

WWMD? (What Would Mary Do?)

1. The Annunciation-she said ____! ─ Luke 1:26-38
2. Jesus’ Birth in Bethlehem ─ Luke 2:1-7
3. The presentation of Jesus at the temple ─ Luke 2:21-24
4. Jesus at 12 discussing the Law with the Elders in the Temple ─ Luke 2:41-52
5. Mary’s special request at the wedding in Cana ─ John 2:1-12
6. Jesus brothers and Mary say Jesus is nuts ─ John 7:1-5, Mark 3:20-35
7. Mary is present when Jesus Christ is crucified ─ John 19:25-27
8. Mary waits for the Holy Spirit with Others at Pentecost ─ Acts 1:14

Was Jesus an only child and did Mary remain a virgin in perpetuity?

Why was she picked from among all women from all of history?

Her race and religion and through Joseph her lineage back to King David

Her sanctity, she gave herself as a living sacrifice to her Lord

She was set apart for a mission ─ Luke 1:29-33

Luke 1:46 suggests Mary was not without sin herself

Highly favored of the Lord ─ Luke 1:28, 30

Mary found favor with God.  What did that favor cost her?

 

Who else in the O.T. or N.T. would you consider greatly favored by God?

 

Any costs involved?  Any suffering experienced?

 

Where do we sign up to be in God’s good favor?

 

Finally, who deserves our full allegiance and worship?

 

Let us end by obeying fully the words of Mary the Mother of Jesus found in John 2:5: