Studying in and outside the bible!

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2Tim 2:15 KJV

I have read many Evangelical authors that refer to the peace symbol as a "anti-christian" symbol. Many Christians simply take this to be a fact and see the peace symbol not as a modern creation for the anti-nuke movement but as a "falling" cross.

I think 2 Timothy is right; we all should study more, not just the bible but when someone makes claims about something, like the peace symbol, we would be better for it to study the origins of such a symbol.

I will admit I really don't understand when or how this misunderstanding came about in the realm of Christianity, but I do think it is a wrong assumption to place a label on the peace symbol as "anti-christian", especially without taking some facts into consideration.

Facts such as the inventor of the symbol:

1a*"Rewind back to 1958 when London textile designer, Gerald Holtom, wanted to create a symbol for marchers to carry on banners and signs at a "Ban the Bomb" march planned by the Direct Action Committee Against Nuclear War (DAC."

Holtom created the symbol by combining flag signals, or an alphabet signalling system where flags are waved in a pattern to symbolize different letters. This system was used in the maritime world to convey information at a distance.

Holtom used the signals for the letters "N" for nuclear and "D" for disarmament and put them in a circle. The symbol is essentially a logo for the concept of nuclear disarmament and not some anti-christian hidden agenda (sorry folks).

Of course in the 60's it became more abundantly used by war protesters who sort of got the idea from the UK (Music was not the only thing we stole from the UK!).

2 Timothy of course is instructing Timothy to increase his knowledge of the scriptures and the traditions of the early church. However we can apply it to ourselves as students of not only the gospel but of knowledge in general; higher education for example. And of course to fact check claims about symbols, doctrines etc.

God gave you and I each a mind to think and reason, lets use them!

Go in peace (Insert peace symbol)!

1a http://shine.yahoo.com/event/green/where-did-the-peace-sign-come-from-2392559/

What’s the deal with communion?

What’s the deal with communion?

Every denomination in the world celebrates communion with few exceptions; so what’s the deal? Why do we place so much trust or faith or “regulations” on an act that happen thousands of years ago? Several churches lay claim to this celebration, err uh remembrance, err uh, memorial, err uh sacrament, err uh ordinance? Which is it? What is an ordinance?

An authoritative command or order. A custom or practice established by long usage. A Christian rite, especially the Eucharist. A statute or regulation, especially one enacted by a city government.[1]

What is a sacrament?

Augustine of Hippo defined a Christian sacrament as "a visible sign of an invisible reality." A sacrament is a religious symbol or often a rite which conveys divine grace, blessing, or sanctity upon the believer who participates in it, or a tangible symbol which represents an intangible reality; examples include baptism and communion.[2]

I see some similarities there don’t you? So, which is it?

Well obvisouly in the new testament, we see the church gathering for a special purpose, communion espeically in Acts and Paul’s instructions to the Corithinians. Of course throughout our Christian heritage many theologies exist more especially of who can or can’t “partake” of communion even in prostestant churches!

Prostestants? Regulations? Huh? Yep, in many baptist traditions only baptized members of that particular church may partake; including some Lutheran and Presbyterian Churches. Why? Well cuz God just might come down and kill you! Or give you cancer or some other illness.

Many prostestant churches have “open” communion, meaning anyone in the house can partake; although sometimes in some fellowships or denominations you may have a stern warning about being worthy(better meet the age requirement as well). Yes, we must be worthy of this “symbol” which generally is most of us prostestant folks consider communion; only a symbol.

If it’s only a symbol then why a warning? Why do I have to be a member of a particular church if it’s just a “symbol”. You ever wonder what we could be doing with communion rather than employing thoughts of how to exclude others for any reason from it?

In my faith, nothing is more meaningful, more Jesus, than Holy Communion. My congregation knows this especially when we celebrate it. I welcome, yes welcome the stranger to sit down with Jesus at His table and eat; I welcome the sinner to sit down with Jesus and drink. Just as Jesus welcomed me into His arms the first time I met Him and poured his grace over my soul; like the blood that poured on the altar in the hebrew scriptures. If Christ is truly present in our lives as Christians, as the body of Christ; how much more would Christ be present at His own table?

If Jesus is not present then it’s just bread and juice[3]; then there should be no “requirement”. If Jesus is truly present in the bread and juice, there is more there than simply some bread and juice; what we have is the real presence of God through Jesus Christ visible in the bread and juice, along with His mercy and grace, thus there should be no requirements.

A congregant once told me that “Communion is what you have right in front of you!”, how right he is!

---

[1] Answers.com

[2] Wikipedia.com

[3] Bread or Crackers or Wafer; Juice or Wine(with or without alcohol)

Change A Chance For Grace

Summer has arrived and all the gardeners are out doing their thing. Now for many United Methodists, this is of course a time of pastoral change. For those that may not know, United Methodist pastors are appointed by the Bishop and appointive cabinet. So, for many pastors like me and for congregations this is a time of change.

I think we as human beings detest change not for the "changes" it brings but because we fail to see the grace of God in that change. Grace does allow us to bend but it also allows us God to bend us as well; I know that for me that is a difficult thing to allow. I believe very much in the appointive system; that is to say, I believe in the theology behind it. In theory the appointive system is suppose to allow 1 church 1 pastor at least. However the theology behind it, the process of appointments is very much a God thing, very much a prayer thing, very much a chance for grace. And with that grace, allowing the Spirit to move us to new and better things, we get moved by God to do more with little in some instances.

About a year ago I started to collect my change. Each time I would get coffee or after any purchase I would always save my change, I put it into a coffee can. The goal was to fill that can however it never seem to get filled; so after it was about half full I would take the change into the bank and donate that money to the church as an offering. I used this idea as a stewardship illustration because we don't realize how much money we waste throwing out our change.

Yes, I think "change" is definitely a chance for GRACE!

Blessings,

Pastor Jeff Bixby

Born Again Mormons?

Shawn McCraney after 40 years of life in the LDS church had an experience; what John Wesley referred to as a "warming of the heart" and Shawn knew that he had finally met Jesus Christ for the first time in his life, thus becoming a Born Again Mormon.

Now for those of you that know me, I for years have often ministered among Mormons; LDS, Community of Christ, among other sects looking for those who have had a call from the spirit to come out of Mormonism.

Many have thought it crazy of me; "How could someone be born again and a Mormon?" My United Methodist self would refer to something called "convincing grace". Grace that God has certainly poured out on humanity in hopes that spirit would woo us to God through Christ on the cross. Pentecostals may refer to a similar act that when a missionary would go out into the field and meet a tribe, the tribe had some prophecy of a messenger. In reality the tribe was convinced that it's sin needed something more than the tribes current "God". It's the same with Shawn, he knew within his soul that Mormonism could not meet his souls need for the sin in his life.

Shawn's book "I was a born-again Mormon" is a great example of God's grace to humanity; that grace in action to restore an individual to righteousness through Jesus Christ. Many folks ask me to explain what John Wesley meant when he said this or that; and truth be told I am not a scholar on John Wesley but I suggest this book to them. I suspect not many of them read it especially with our fast food Christianity we have today. We want an answer and we don't care if it's even close to the right one, a sad aspect.

Are there more Mormons like Shawn? I would think so, just like there are more Muslims, Buddhists, Wiccans and general plain ol sinners.

The question is this; Is the church ready to receive them?

Colossians 3:14-15 "Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful"

For those of US who WORK on Sundays

I tried to look up a percentage of Americans who must work on Sunday's however there were no numbers to work with, the only thing that came close was a LDS article on members of their denomination working on Sundays. Although the article did not say an exact number, I'm certain that today in America many families miss out on the "traditional" trek to Sunday worship services.

In fact about 3 or 4 church members on the roll of the congregation I pastor can't attend worship on Sundays because of work. Many churches even pastors see this becoming more and more of an issue and I wonder if it's for all the right reasons.

Prior to my pastoral appointment I use to work a secular job on Sundays; not every Sunday but every other Sunday. Our church we attended at that time had a Saturday evening service which would supplement my Sundays I would have to work. I was just as blessed to be apart of that service in worship and was still able to fellowship like it was Sunday. We grew our circle of friends by at least 50% because we had two services to draw from.

I think the body of Christ must ask itself if the "Sunday only" theology is what God would really have us to do as His Church. Does God only work on Sundays? Certainly not and believe it or not the King James Bible IS NOT THE ONLY BIBLE. Now I know that the scripture say's that we should keep the sabbath but which one? Who is it for? As a pastor I work on Sunday's; I know that is not what we pastors want to think of it as but that is really what it is. Due to that fact we MUST take a sabbath day other than Sunday. Jesus in Matthew 15:39 sends the crowd away after feeding them and even goes so far as to take a boat to Magdala.

What is one to do that works on Sunday and can't attend worship?

Gather others like yourself into the church on a day that nothing is going on and start opening, reading and praying the scriptures. If there is no one to lead it approach the the pastoral staff or a experienced lay person. The truth is churches will not simply start another service unless the needs of the community demand it.

I will leave you with this from Mark 2:27 "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath."

Pastor Jeff