(July/August 2004 Edition)
At the Lord's Table
Immortality through the Gospel
In the sixteenth century, Ponce de Leon landed in Florida convinced that somewhere in that land he would find a fountain of eternal youth. Since then, millions have followed him to that state inspired perhaps by the same dream, but although it has many famous springs, their waters have so far failed to convey immortality.
Modern
efforts to extend life
Yesterday, however, newspapers all over the world proclaimed with banner
headlines: End of aging. How to never be old. Scientists discover how
to stop aging in humans. According to the media, Lithuanian scientist
Dr. Madalena Tarsounas, based in London, claims to be able to “protect
the genetic DNA contained in cells so they can divide indefinitely,”
effectively making us immortal. “This could mean,”
she asserts confidently, “our skin, organs, everything in our
body, do not age at all.” The BBC World Service followed with
a program entitled Why do we die?, during which another scientist wagered
a large sum of money that there are people alive today who will still
be alive in the year 2150 (he admitted that he will have a long time to
wait to get his money!).
The usual response of Bible believers is to dismiss such scientific research. But we did this with air travel, then space travel, and then cloning. Now there are mouse factories, manufacturing genetically engineered mice by the thousand. Galileo was ridiculed for saying that the earth went around the sun. It is wise not to be hasty in judgment. Maybe young people today will live as long as Methuselah, if you can avoid accidental death. But eventually Methuselah died (Gen. 5:27). His grandson Noah also lived a very long time, but although he found grace in the eyes of the Lord and survived the flood, afterwards he got drunk and made a fool of himself. And then, sadly, he died too (Gen. 9:20-29).
True
immortality available
Amazing though Dr. Tarsounas’ research is, it does not compare with
the work of him whom we remember at this table. Of Jesus of Nazareth it
was written two millennia ago that he abolished death and has brought
life and immortality to light through the gospel (II Tim. 1:10). Twenty-eight
centuries ago Isaiah offered the prospect of eternal youth (Isa. 40:31).
The gospel truly is “good news” because it promises
more than extended longevity and even more than a cure for cell decay
due to the aging process. We share the bread and wine because they promise
a time when our Lord, already the thankful and blessed possessor of a
divine and “glorious body,” will return to “change
the body of our humiliation” into one like his own (Phil. 3:21).
We do not look for longevity with cells engineered by Dr. Tarsounas and her colleagues. We look for a “celestial” body, energized by the “glory” of God (I Cor. 15:40-41). We long to shine as the stars for ever and ever (Dan. 12:3). We pray for the day when there will be “no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying.” And, in my own case, having been for eight years alongside my beloved wife in hospitals in four countries, I am comforted to know that there “shall be no more pain” (Rev. 21:4). During those years I have wept often, for many reasons, and I thrill at the amazing promise that God, yes, the Almighty Himself, will wipe away all our tears (Rev. 21:4). How wonderful it will be!
Yes, indeed, all of you who love the Lord, share this bread and this cup – until he comes.
Alan Eyre
Love is a word that is heard many times every day. It is used to express intimate feeling between individuals, toward family members, in poetry, in songs and in hymns. It is one of the most commonly used words in our daily experience. People use this word to convince others of their loyalty, devotion and affection. A young man trying to win the affections of a young lady might say “Darling, you know I love you!”
The
meaning of love
The word “love” may be used to convince another person
to commit his/her life to someone or something. Wars have been fought
over the love of freedom. There have been some definitions of different
levels of love with God’s love toward man being the highest and
most important. A dictionary defines “love” as: To
be fond of, desire, a deep and tender feeling of affection, or attachment,
or devotion to a person. There are so many definitions attached to this
one word it may take several minutes just to read about its meaning and
usage. This is an indication of the breath and depth of the small but
deeply profound word – LOVE.
God’s
love
The greatest demonstration of love in the history of mankind is found
in the Bible, John 3:16. God was so fond of the people in His creation,
He had such a deep desire, a deep and tender feeling of affection, He
was so merciful to the people of this world that He gave his only son
to die for us. God does not want us to perish; He wants us to have eternal
life.
While we were yet sinners, God loved us so much that He sent His only son to die for us (Rom. 5:8). Jesus was made sin for us; he knew no sin, but he came and conquered sin that we might be made righteous through him (II Cor. 5:21).
Our
Heavenly Father
God loved us so much and wanted to communicate and be one with us so strongly,
that He sent His son to redeem us from sin. Sin is the force that blocks
mankind from being in fellowship with God. For we were made in His image;
we were made to communicate with Him and worship Him. We are to God as
a child is to its father (Psa. 103).
In John 15:12-17, Jesus attempts to explain the intimacy of his feelings and his Father’s feelings toward us. He told us to love each other as he and the Father in heaven have loved us. Jesus called us friends and as such we should respond as true friends. As brothers and sisters we are to love each other with this same interest and devotion. We must genuinely look to the needs of one another, in openness, concern and persistence. Only then can we help each other effectively and sufficiently. Let us continue in brotherly love and unity—that is the way God has taught us how to live through the example of His dear son.
Kendris Hield
These questions require thoughtful consideration and will be interesting to discuss. There are no simple answers.
- Did manna “taste like wafers made with honey” (Exodus 16:31) or “as the taste of fresh oil” (Numbers 11:8)?
- Was blind Bartimaeus healed as Jesus “went out of Jericho” (Mark 10:46) or “as he was come near to Jericho” before he “entered and passed through” (Luke 18:35; 19:1)?
- Why did Jesus call Judas “Friend” when he knew he was his enemy (Matthew 26:50)?
- Why did Paul address the mob in Acts 21 and 22 as “brethren” when he knew that they were not believers and were howling for his death?
- Why does the record in II Kings 21 not record the humble repentance and restoration of Manasseh as described in II Chronicles 33?
- Why did Jesus “love” the rich young ruler who would not follow him (Mark 10:21)?
- Did both robbers crucified with Jesus revile him (Matthew 27:44) or only one (Luke 23:39)?
- Was Jesus given the sponge with vinegar on a “reed” (Mark 15:36) or on hyssop, which is not a reed (John 19:29)?
- Did the women go to the garden tomb “when the sun had risen” (Mark 16:2) or “when it was still dark” (John 20:1)?
The story of Amnon and Tamar, two of king David’s grown-up children, does not make pleasant reading. It is worse than a typical celebrity scandal on the front pages of the tabloid press. Whatever can we learn about love from this base and sordid episode? There are four surprises in the Bible’s account of the tragic relationship between these two young people.
1st
Surprise
The first surprise is that nothing at all is said about incest. Yet there
can be little doubt that Amnon’s infatuation with his half-sister
was incestuous. According to the Levitical code, whoever shall take
his sister by his father or by his mother and shall see her nakedness,
and she see his nakedness, it is wickedness; they shall be destroyed;
they shall bear their sin. Whoever shall take a near kinswoman, it is
uncleanness; they shall die childless.
Amnon was destroyed, but was it for incestuous love? It is interesting that although these sexual prohibitions in Leviticus seem so absolute, and almost savage in their penalties, there are recorded exceptions. Sarah was Abraham’s half-sister, although it could be said that this was prior to the Mosaic code. But Ruth was a near kinswoman to Boaz, and they certainly did not die childless! Indeed, the law in Deuteronomy actually required a man to marry his deceased brother’s wife.
In Amnon’s case, Tamar begs him to speak to their father, king David, for, she insists, surely he will not keep me from you. Is Tamar implying that royal prerogative could override the Levitical law? There is abundant evidence that in the ancient world of that time, royal families such as the Egyptian Pharaohs, married within degrees of close relationship that would be forbidden as incestuous among commoners.
2nd
Surprise
We might think from the end of the story that there is nothing worthy
in Amnon’s desire for Tamar, and that it was simple, uncontrolled
lust. But the second surprise is that the Bible plainly says about Tamar
that she was very beautiful and that Amnon loved her.
The word used for that love is agape in the Greek text and ahabah
in Hebrew, so it was genuine love, not eroticism, for which there
are quite different words. Personally, I cannot discern much that is spiritual
in Amnon’s love, and I think I would have been less enthusiastic
about seeking David’s approval to cozy up to and marry her immature
brother than Tamar seems to have been. Clearly, Amnon’s love was
of the popular romance type, and he showed little real affection in his
love, but the Biblical author says it was love so we must accept it. It
seems he became physically love sick: he was distressed even to sickness,
for she was a virgin, and it seemed very difficult for Amnon to do anything
to her. So at least he had a conscience, even if it wasn’t
very tender. This reminds us that God is always more understanding of,
and merciful toward, carnal weakness than deliberate sins committed presumptuously,
or with a high hand.
3rd
Surprise
The third surprise in the record is the most remarkable. In my opinion,
it is the key to understanding at least one important reason why this
sordid drama is in the Bible.
Rape and carnal abuse are considered by most of us to be serious and appalling sins, only one step short of murder. They are violations of our basic selfhood and individuality. Some disgusting and disgraceful examples of sexual sins are given in horrible detail in Scripture. Amnon’s rape of Tamar is certainly one of them. The surprise in Amnon’s case is that he followed it up with what turns out to be a much greater sin. He calls a slave: Put this woman out and lock the door.
The research of social psychologists confirms our gut feeling that date rape is not a good beginning for any permanent relationship, and is a poor omen for marital success. It is well known that the extravagant love that demands abuse soon turns to hate. Guilt and self-loathing are fixated on the poor victim. Of Amnon is it written: the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her, for the last wickedness was greater than the first. Tamar herself agrees: Sending me away is a greater mischief than what you have already done to me. We have got to understand how God views things.
The
evil of abandonment
Think deeply on this. God and Tamar are telling us that abandonment of
a relationship sealed by a sexual bond, or by serious promises of one,
is a worse sin (and crime) than rape or carnal abuse. Since Augustine
of Hippo, most Christians have treated sexual sins as the worst of all.
With God, this is not so. The worst sin of all is hate. It was
hate, not sexual abuse, that sealed Amnon’s doom. And remember,
we don’t have to touch a person to hate them. The most terrible
words in this story are Amnon’s to the woman he had deceived and
violated: Arise, be gone.
The reason why this is so is the horror of the consequence: Tamar remained desolate. Carnal abuse may be revolting and its aftermath can be devastating. But to God, abandoning someone who should be close to us, permanently desolating the human spirit, destroying the standing and reputation of someone, is a far more grievous act of human pride and selfishness than a brief act of uncontrolled passion.
We have abundant evidence that this is God’s view. It helps to explain the seeming harshness of Moses’ law: If anyone should find a young virgin who has not been betrothed, and should force her and lie with her, and be found, she shall be his wife; he shall never be able to put her away. Evidently, abandoning a violated girl is a far worse sin than the abuse itself. Joseph, betrothed to Mary, even before they came together, must have been shocked by her evident pregnancy. But for him, public abandonment was not an option. His love for Mary did not turn to resentment and revenge. That was because he was a just man. The book of Hosea also shows us how God wants us to repair shattered relationships. In short, it is the consequences of our sinful acts, and the way we handle them, that reveal our true inward character in the eyes of God.
As a woman, deep down I know why God views hate crimes, especially secret ones, as worse than sex crimes. I am glad He does. During my Christian pilgrimage, I have known several very prominent church brothers who abandoned their fiancées in a hurtful manner and left them, like Tamar, desolate, sometimes for life. I have known others who have abandoned their wives, divorced and remarried. The church focuses on the physical remarriage, God on the hateful abandonment. And I have known many church elders who have abandoned their women in their spirit, abused them and treated them like dirt. The church may overlook it, but God will not. I realize that there are many women who abandon their menfolk too, with equally painful consequences. Sadly, we Christians focus so much on fornication and sex, and treat so lightly much worse sins that stem from hate. Take heed, God does not.
4th
Surprise
The fourth surprise in this story is more subtle. What about David? This
is what we are told: King David heard of all these things, and was
very angry; but he did not grieve the spirit of his son Amnon, because
he loved him (agape), for he was his firstborn. To me, this is the
saddest part of the whole story. Of course, David would love his son.
But this tells me that David, by raising Amnon as a spoiled child, and
by unwise favoritism afterwards, warped the young man’s character,
and contributed to the disaster. Genuine parental love can easily excuse
reprehensible behaviour. Without divine guidance, through very practical
advice in the book of the Proverbs for example, and unchecked by the truth,
even love can lead to awful catastrophes.
So this story is about love. It is a warning to young people. It is a warning to parents. And, like all scripture, it tells us that God knows and tests the heart.
Mary Eyre
In
the old days of world travel by ocean liner, I was sailing
from New Zealand to England by the Rangitoto. I was sharing a cabin with
three other travelers. We made three stops: at Panama City at one end
of the Canal, Colon at the other end, and Kingston, Jamaica. To the surprise
of my cabin mates, in Panama I was met by a group of Spanish speaking
Panamanians who joyfully took me to their meeting. I rejoined the ship
at Colon accompanied by another group of English speaking Panamanians.
Then at Kingston a brother Walter Draper, along with a dozen other Jamaican
brothers and sisters, formed a welcome party on the quayside and took
me off for a happy day of fellowship. As we sailed out of Kingston harbor,
my three shipmates formed a barrier to my cabin. “Just who are
you,” they demanded, “please tell us.”
It gave me a wonderful opportunity to preach the truth.