To the sound of cicadas

To the sound of the cicadas this unusually cool (67ºF), clear morning, I'm writing an overdue article for a monthly that circulates among the Guarulhos churches, on the difference between the world and the church and the opposition the latter suffers for its commitment to God. Going from 1 John to Psalm 119. Maybe I'll use the material for my FMag editorial next week.

The Missus and The Maiden left yesterday on their way to a national ladies' meet at the Christian camp, several hundred expected as usual. So I'm left to fend for myself. (Any lunch offers out there?) Did I mention they took the car?

Three big things to write today. First one almost there.

Ekklesia does not mean 'called out'

This from my old blog, ten years back, bears repeating:

"It is quite true that the Greek word comes from two roots which mean literally 'called out.' Many preachers have made use of this fact to point out helpful spiritual implications, and yet by New Testament times the word carried no such denotation as 'called out.' It was simply the word for 'assembly' or 'congregation.' It so happened that in the Greek city-states an assembly of the citizenry resulted from the people being called out of their city and summoned from their farms to participate in such gatherings. Even though the etymology of the word remains, its real meaning is just 'assembly,' and a Greek-speaking person of New Testament times would be no more inclined to understand ekklesia in its original etymological value of 'called out' than we today would recognize 'God be with you' in 'good-by,' which, as we may learn from the dictionary, was derived from the longer phrase."

—Eugene A. Nida, God's Word in Man's Language [1952]

I do believe I transcribed it myself from my copy of the book.

The Missionary Mentality of the Local Church | Christianpost.com

Paul understood that to be inwardly focused was to be outwardly blind. To be a missionary means meeting, learning and embracing those outside the family of God. Paul even likens it to becoming them; this was not a dry interpretation of an even dustier research project. This was a living, personal change based on wanting to see people become followers of Christ.
via christianpost.com

Follow the money trail, says the author, to see why a church exists. He has denominational language and examples, but is mostly spot on in terms of a church's outreach. Some saints have no idea why they were planted on this earth. Time to shake the tree!

What I love about the church

The follow was written for Chris Gallagher’s preacherspen.com site, as part of a series of guest blogs on the subject. Mine was published earlier in the month of August.

In my bedroom is a relic. Not a religious artifact, but a family heirloom of sorts. On a shelf sits a carved turkey caller that my grandfather made years ago with his own hands. It is precious to me not only because it was his, but because he made it, he carved it with his own hands.

My sentiments about that turkey caller echo in a terribly weak way my feelings and convictions about the church of God. I made a list of what I love about the church, but the points are but swirls around the center. I love the church because my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ created it, not merely with his own hands, but with his precious blood.

The Church of His Choice, a old poem by Dick Edgar, rescued by David Lemmons

 
The Church of His Choice
by Dick Edgar

NOTE: David Lemmons transcribed this from Firm Foundation, 30 June 1959, page 411, and published it in the July 18 issue of his congregation's bulletin, "The Dublin Dew."

He searched everywhere, with the greatest of care, as he studied the doctrines of men,
His Bible, neglected, could soon have corrected, if only he'd read it, but then—
From a creed and tradition he took his position and he said with a confident voice:
"I am saved by faith only."  No more was he lonely, for he followed the church of his choice.

There once was a Teacher, the world's greatest Preacher, and in sacred pages we read
Of the church: how He sought it; He built it, and bought it, to give the salvation we need.
And this church can be found, (It's truth's pillar and ground), and those added by Jesus rejoice.
For by Heaven's conditions, and not by man's traditions, we are saved in the church of His choice.

Its members are those who believe He arose, who repent of their wickedness done;
And next, we must stress, "With the mouth" they confess that Jesus, the Christ, is God's Son.
Into Him they're baptized, from the water they rise in newness of life to rejoice.
And these are the souls who have left earthly goals to belong to the church of God's choice!