| November 29, 1998 |
Vol. I, No. 31
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Peter J. Gomes is a professor at Harvard University and the minister at Harvard's Memorial Church. He is an admitted homosexual who has attracted considerable attention of late because of his new book: READING THE BIBLE WITH MIND AND HEART (William Morrow & Co., 1996). Gomes is the current "darling" of the talk show circuit, and his book is receiving rave reviews in the liberal press. In this odious volume the professor states: "Few women, blacks, homosexuals, or Jews are very fond of Paul, and it is easy to see why on the basis of the reading of the Pauline letters..." (P. 221).
Let us briefly analyze this statement. It presupposes that Paul has abused each of these groups, and so they do not care for the apostle.
WHY SHOULD WOMEN HATE PAUL? He elevates them to a status that was unknown in the ancient world. Yes, he argues that they have a submissive role, but that does not denigrate them. The apostle obligates men to treat women with respect and dignity. Consider, for example, the number of women listed by name, or alluded to, in the concluding chapter of Romans. There was Phoebe, who had faithfully served the church in Cenchrea and who was commended to the saints in Rome (1-2). Prisca (Priscilla) was a fellow worker in the Lord (3-5). Mary had been a great benefit to the brethren in the imperial city (6). Tryphaena and Tryphosa were tireless laborers for the cause, as indeed was Persis, a "beloved" friend of Paul's (12). The mother of Rufus had also "mothered" the apostle, and he was obviously thankful for that (13). Julia and the sister of Nereus were also worthy of mention (15). These references demonstrate that women were held in high regard by the apostle; he valued their service to Christ.
SUPPOSEDLY BLACKS SHOULD DISDAIN PAUL BECAUSE HE ALLEGEDLY ENDORSED SLAVERY. Again, implication is incorrect. It is true that Paul taught Christian slaves how to live so as to reflect godly principles that would honor Jesus. However, the apostle's inspired teaching contained the seeds that would eventually cause this horrible institution to be abolished in civilized countries (cf. Gal. 3:28). Read the book of Philemon and see what it does for the slavery business!
THERE IS NO DOUBT BUT THAT THE INSPIRED PAUL CONDEMNED HOMOSEXUAL CONDUCT (Rom. 1:26-27). Only a totally distorted view of this context can reach any other conclusion. Go Gomes, with a personal agenda to defend, exhibits great disgust for the apostle's admonition. The "Pauline" literature, however, offers forgiveness and hope to any homosexual who will abandon that destructive lifestyle and seek the Lord's pardon through obedience to the gospel plan of redemption (1 Cor. 6:9-11). But perverts like Gomes really do hate Paul because he condemns their depravity.
PROFESSOR GOMES ARGUES THAT THE WRITINGS OF PAUL ARE ANTI-SEMITIC. One chapter in his pathetic book is titled: "The Bible and Anti-Semitism: Christianity's Original Sin." Paul was hardly anti-Semitic. He himself was a Hebrew! Yes, the apostle taught that the Mosaic regime had fulfilled its purpose when the Lord died on the cross (Rom. 7:4; Col. 2:14). It is true that he taught that salvation is found only in Christ (2 Tim. 2:10). But his heart throbbed with love for his Jewish brethren (Rom. 9:1ff). It is absurd to suggest that the apostle was an anti-Semite. He sought the Jews' highest good.
It is tragic that religious trash, such a Gomes' book is circulated under the guise of respectable literature. Such, however, is the provision of the First Amendment. But the First Amendment won't mean "diddle" on the Day of Judgment.
--Wayne Jackson
"With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:6-8)
The question the prophet Micah poses in this passage has always intrigued me. It is one that probably all of us at one time or another has asked. How can we properly approach God? How can we give Him the respect, the adoration, the praise of which He alone is worthy? Do we treat Him as political entities acknowledge heads of state? What gift or offering is appropriate? What sacrifice will please Him? Would the burnt offering of my most precious material possessions be fitting? Would my children be the proper gift? NO! Absolutely not, says the prophet. "He has showed you, O man, what is good." God has already communicated the correct approach to Him and it does not consist of offering only things, or sacrificing others to appease Him.
God says there are three things that are appropriate in order to come to Him: "To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." The answer given requires daily living in harmony with God. Act justly, and you are offering the sacrifice God requires. When we uphold the righteousness of God we carry out the type of behavior that is pleasing to God. Notice that Micah does not say that others must act justly but rather that you are to act justly. That means self examination, judging our own acts and measuring our own deeds to see that we do "act justly." We must be just if we desire God's approval.
Micah tells us to "love mercy." We all love mercy for ourselves, but that is not what Micah means. He wants us to love being merciful. To be eager to be merciful. We claim justice in regard to our own behavior, but we must also be merciful to others. Love mercy! Examine your conduct toward others and grant mercy to them. Offer this as your sacrifice to God for your entrance to His presence.
"Walk humbly with your God." The first two sacrifices concern our actions toward others. This sacrifice is our God-directed sacrifice, meaning we learn what it is to walk humbly. Humble does not mean having a bad self-image, nor is it about a positive self-esteem. It is about an honest appraisal of relative goodness. Relative to God's goodness, we ought to be humbled! He is good, as Jesus said, God alone is good. This is our final sacrifice, the giving up of ourselves to the glory of God, for He alone is worthy. "What does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
--Tom L. Merritt
In Matt. 7:21-23, Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'"
There are some passages, like Acts 2:21 and Rom. 10:13 that tell us that "whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved," but we learn from Jesus' words in our text that there is more to calling on His name than simply saying, "Lord, Lord." Another verse that tells us so is Luke 6:46, "And why do you call me 'Lord, Lord' and do not do the things which I say?"
To call on the name of the Lord for salvation is to go beyond mere words, thus to do the will of God. Note how in Romans 10, when Paul writes about calling on the name of the Lord for salvation, he shows in the context that calling on the name of the Lord is equivalent to obeying the gospel. He asks, How then shall they call on Him of whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?... Then he goes on to remark regretfully that "they have not all obeyed the gospel." Those who have not obeyed the gospel have not properly called upon the name of the Lord.
Likewise in Acts 2, as Peter promises his audience salvation to those who call upon the name of the Lord, many respond to his preaching by asking what they must do. His inspired answer was, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (verse 38). No one can call upon the name of the Lord unless he has heard about and believed in the Lord. Once he has heard and believed, he is ready to repent of his sins and call upon the name of the Lord by being baptized in the name of the Lord for remission of his sins.
Another passage that shows us that calling upon the name of the Lord is equivalent to obeying the gospel is Acts 22:16. After Saul of Tarsus had come to believe in Jesus as the Christ, he spent three days in penitent prayer. An inspired spokesman of God came to him and said, "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord."
Thus, again we recall the words of Jesus in our original text: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'"
--CRJ