Jesus

They say, “Jesus emptied himself of his ‘God-ness’ to be born, live, and die on earth.”

/ Joan C. Thomson / Leave a comment

Is it true? No.

I’ve heard it said that this was so he could do miracles as a man, because if he did them as God, it would mean that we, as humans, couldn’t do them. When Jesus sent out “the twelve” and “the seventy/seventy-two,” they were fully human and did many miracles, as did Paul, enabled by the power and authority that Jesus conferred on them. No mere human would carry that power and authority.

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;  Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. Matthew 10:1-8

“When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you.  Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ Luke 10:8,9

The Bible says Jesus was born fully God and fully human—at the same time. The entire time.

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Colossians 1:19,20

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form… Colossians 2:9

When Paul wrote that Jesus “emptied” or “humbled” himself, he didn’t mean Jesus was no longer God, but that he was willing to restrain himself so that he could experience what we experience, and ultimately die for us.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8

They say, “Every Christian is a missionary.”

/ Joan C. Thomson / Leave a comment

Is it true? No.

Is everyone then, a pastor? Of course not.

The word missionary means “to be sent,” not to stay. (Though there are certainly missionaries, who work in their home country as vital support for those going out.)

Acts 13:2 The Holy Spirit said to set apart Barnabas and Saul for being missionaries. Missionaries are required to go through a lot—intense vetting with multiple references, background checks, signing safeguarding policies every year, much experience in evangelism and ministry, months of training, proof of sufficient support, many prayer meetings, reports, planning, focus on the task—mostly full-time, and accountability. They most often live in a different culture and are often required to learn a new language in a year, as well as generally living on small incomes. Most Christians, for various reasons, aren’t able to put that kind of full-on focus and expense into evangelism.

However, as God’s ambassadors, every Christian is to be a continual witness for Jesus and the Kingdom of God.

In the Great Commission, Jesus commanded us to “go.” The word translated as “go,” means “go”– or travel. Not everyone can travel to other countries or cultures, though these days, through short-term missions and local ministries to refugees and diaspora cultures, that’s becoming easier. Still, these are not the same as actually living in another culture—those who can go, should, and should be supported by those who can’t. Every Christian is called to be a part of the Great Commission—to go, send, pray, and/or give.

They say, “It’s acceptable for Christians to be in the military because the Old Testament characters fought wars.”

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Is it true? No.

They certainly did fight wars, and God sometimes* told them to. However, they were under the Law of Moses and the Old Covenant, and we who are Christians are not. God also told them to marry their dead brother’s wife to have children for him if he didn’t have any—I have never yet heard any Christian clamoring to do that!

We are under the New Covenant with teachings by Jesus that are more profound and far-reaching. Jesus commanded his followers, “Love your enemy” (Matthew 5:43-48).

“My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” (John 18:36)

Thank God, we’re not back in the Old Covenant! Jesus’ ways are different.

*At other times, he told them not to engage in physical warfare.

“To show proper reverence to God, we must be quiet and somber.”

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They say, “To show proper reverence to God, we must be quiet and somber.” Is it true? No.

There will certainly be times to be quiet before God, but the Bible says we are to “rejoice in the Lord always.”

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4 The Greek word translated as “rejoice,” chairó, means to rejoice, be glad, be cheerful.* We are to rejoice “always;” the Greek word, pantote, means, at all times. That would include when we’re in church. And yes, we’re to rejoice even in the face of suffering and persecution.

The Hebrew word translated as praise, from which we get hallelujah, means to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate; also to stultify:—(make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool(-ish, -ly), glory, give (light).”**–even dance and spin around! No straight faces and sitting still!

*https://biblehub.com/greek/5463.htm

**https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h1984/kjv/wlc/0-1/

“Jesus is the Great Physician”

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Is it true? No.

Shocked? But doesn’t the Bible say he is? No, Jesus quoted mockers who had no faith in Capernaum, who would taunt him with a local proverb, “Physician heal thyself.”

Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’” Luke 4:23.

Jesus didn’t use medicine to heal people—he used supernatural power! Even in the advanced medicine of the twenty-first century, physicians admit, “Medicine isn’t science—it’s an art. We only practice.” They also often say, “I don’t know. We don’t have a treatment for that.”

Jesus always knows what to do; his healing is free and is available to everyone. It does no harm and has no bad side-effects. He and his healing are way above any physician. That is good news!

“Christians aren’t different from anyone else, we’re just beggars telling other beggars where to find bread.“      

/ Joan C. Thomson / Leave a comment

They say, “Christians aren’t different from anyone else, we’re just beggars telling other beggars where to find bread.“      

 Is it true? No.

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Those who follow Jesus are redeemed and transformed by the Holy Spirit and adopted into the family of God! We are no longer beggars but are daughters and sons of the Most High King. Jesus promised that we could ask anything in his name and he would do it.

Yes, we offer Jesus, the Bread of Life–not as beggars, but as co-heirs with Jesus.

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

Romans 8:15

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:13,14

They say, “Jesus Never Said That He Was The Son of God.”

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Yes, he did.

At his trial, when Jesus was asked by the high priest if he was “the Son of the Blessed One,” he answered, “I am.”

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

“I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Mark 14:61,62

When Jesus asked Peter who he said he was and Peter answered that Jesus was “the Son of the living God,” Jesus blessed him and said that he got that understanding from God, the Father in heaven.

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” Matthew 16:15-17

When Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God,” Jesus encouraged him as a believer (John 1:48-50).

Jesus further acknowledged that he had directly proclaimed, “I am God’s Son.”

…what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? John 10:36