2009: What a Year!!

It has been quite a journey on the third rock from the sun this 2009 ... personally and for our world. I entered the year still emerging from the dark days of being divorced by Pamella. But 2009 is the year I learned to laugh again.

In January I moved back into my house after a year in exile in an apartment. My focus has been throughout most of the year to be a good dad for Rachael and Talya, this has been no small task. I have learned to loath the custodial arrangements invented by some lawyer and imposed by family courts. But we make the most of the time we have together. The girls and I have gone camping this year in New Mexico, we have visited family in Alabama, we have gone see movies like Transformers, New Moon and Harry Potter. We have traveled to see band performances, volley ball and soccer games. We have rode through the mountains on Ghost and done other things. We have even continued to Learn to Cook with dad ... and on the grill! Hopefully we have had some enduring memories. Rachael entered HIGH SCHOOL this year!! Talya is in middle school!! Rachael excels in her band and Talya at her sports.

Somewhere along the earth's orbit around the sun my path crossed a lady named Tifani. I had gone out with a few other fine ladies prior to Tif but this purple diva sort of put a spell on me. She has burrowed her way into the lives the Gang of Three (Rachael, Talya and me). She has in fact become a major part of our lives. Now we are trying to wait on the Lord to work out the details ...

I attempted to lay out a course for my preaching and Palo Verde where we would discern God's task for us in the world. To do that I envisioned a series of lessons on "Who Needs PV?" with the stress on the communal nature of the Christian walk and it was "ME" that needed PV. The problem with many of us, both congregationally and individually, is that we have no real sense of "identity" in the core of our being. We go through life like an automaton never coming to terms with who we are and what we are hear for. So it was my intent to both help us find ourselves (again individually and collectively) in the Story of God's Love by figuring out who "I" am, who "You" are, and what "Love" means. We confessed to "Things Surely Believed" as a group. Things about God, his Son and Spirit, the church, forgiveness and hope. We tried to understand ourselves and our task by exegete our culture and seeing how we can be a witness in our postmodern world. As the year closed we came full circle by going back to that Story of Love ... spending 120 Days going from Genesis to Revelation asking two very simple but powerful question of every line in the book: 1) What does this reveal about our God; and 2) What does this say about God's People and who we should be.

For the year i have seriously curtailed speaking engagements to focus on other priorities. I have agreed to a few more for this coming year though. I was honored to contribute to a book published in memory of Pepperdine Professor Dr. Mike Casey edited by Tom Olbricht and David Fleer. And i have slowly but surely plodded along on my K. C. Moser research. Currently I am writing a case study on how John 3.16 was interpreted and preached between Moser, Whiteside and J. D. Tant.

Life is never boring as we wait patiently (or IMpatiently) for the coming kingdom of God. Overall it has been a good and exciting 2009. I have been mad. I have been sad. I have been blessed. I have been joyful. I pray that 2010 that God will continue to reveal his will and to bless my family as he has. If the last two years are any clue there is no telling where we will end up by the end of another orbit on the third rock from the sun.

My two most meaningful blogs this year have been ...

Three Crises: An Evening Chat ... World, Church, Life

S.R. Cassius: A CofC Booker T. Washington

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David Lipscomb, Proper Translation & Rebaptism

The following article, “The Revised Testament and Rebaptism,” appeared in the Gospel Advocate near the end of David Lipscomb’s career. It is significant in showing the continuity of his rejection of rebaptism throughout his life. I will place in parenthesis () when the text moves onto p. 922. The brackets [] are in the original article. The "Common Version" is the KJV, the Revised Version is the 1881 revision, the American edition is known as the American Standard Version 1901. The American Bible Union was an organization that sought to replace the faulty KJV. Campbell, and many others were deeply involved in this organization. [sic] means that is the way it appears in the article. I have previously shared Lipscomb's more systematic debunking of the "rebaptist" error here: Rebaptism Reviewed.

DAVID LIPSCOMB, "THE REVISED TESTAMENT AND REBAPTISM," Gospel Advocate 55 (September 25, 1913): 921-922.

"The expression 'for the remission of sins' is used in the Common Version of the Scriptures. Of the cup he said: 'This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.' (Matt. 26:28). 'John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.' (Mark 1:4) Luke 3:3 gives the same. 'And thou, child [John the Baptist], shalt . . . go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins.' (Luke 1: 76,77). 'Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.' (Luke 24:46, 47). 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Chirst [sic] for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.' (Acts 2: 38). 'Whom [Jesus] God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God." (Rom. 3:25). "Without shedding of blood is no remission.' (Heb. 9:22).

Baptism is said to be 'for the remission of sins' in the Common Version. 'John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.' (Mark 1:4). Luke 3:3 gives the same. Peter told the people: 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

In the Revised Version, the expression, "Be baptized [or anything else man can do] for the remission of sins,' is not found. In that version the participles, prepositions, and other secondary words have been more carefully translated, and the American Revised Version is regarded by those competent to judge, the best version or translation [p.922] in the language. The Revised Version translates 'for the remission of sins,' in each of these cases, 'unto the remission of sins.' The difference in the meaning is, 'for the remission of sins' suggests the idea that the baptism is to pay for remitting the sins as a man pays for a horse. It is giving value received; that we are entitled to if for the service rendered. The human heart is prone to run to this extreme. The proneness to run to this extreme has caused God to especially guard against permitting it in any of his dealings with man. Even Moses, the meekest of men, was uplifted with personal pride, took to himself the honor of giving blessings which belonged only to God and forfeited an entrance in the land of Canaan. (Ex. 17:1) In Deut. 9:4, God through Moses, gives the Jews the terrible warning that he does not give them the land of Canaan on account of their merits, but on account of the wickedness of those he drove out. It is such a sin to assume to merit the blessings God bestows that no encouragement to the position in doubtful translation should be given.

To be baptized into Christ, into the name of Christ, teaches plainly and truly that in entering into Christ we come to and enjoy the remission of sins: because of and by virtue of our entrance and union with Christ, we become children of God. This is the expressive
declaration that we are saved by the blood of Christ, and not because we have been baptized for the remission of sins -- a selfish end. To be baptized into Christ is an expressive declaration that baptism is the step, the last step a man takes in entering Christ. So when he is baptized, he is entitled to all the privileges of a child of God -- to all the blessings that oneness with Christ, our Lord, brings. The only sense in which baptism is 'for the remission of sins' is, it is the act appointed by God to test our faith, and the act that puts one into Christ, in whom we enjoy all the blessings and favors of the redeeming and purifying Son of God. The English Version of the revised text gives the same translation of the word that the American Revision does. The expression, 'for the remission of sins,' as connected with what man does or can do, is not found in the book. The translation made by the Bible Union in 1879 agrees with these. This translation forbids the idea that man pays for or purchases the remission of sins. It harmonizes with and carries out the idea that we come into union with Christ, are made one with him, and in and by him we are justified.

Take it from the standpoint that the leading thought is, we are baptized into Christ and made a member of his body, explains things that need explanation. Our rebaptist friends maintain, rightly, that the belief of the things not true in connection wit h the mission of Christ could not secure the forgiveness of sins. To this we heartily agree, and say the belief of the errors we all (rebaptists and others) hold could not secure the remission of sins. We must be in a state or condition that we will be saved in spite of the evil influences of our many mistakes and errors. What is that state or condition? Our rebaptist brethren practically say, to believe and understand that baptism is for the remission of sins cures the evil of ignorance and doubt.

There is a ground on which we may believe God accepts us and gives us assurance of richest blessings despite the darkness and mistakes of our hearts. That ground is, we become members of the body of Christ and are one with him, enter into Christ, appropriate the blood of Christ, and thankfully receive him, who can cleanse and bless and save us. Our service puts us into a partnership with Jesus, by which he becomes as one of us, and appropriates and cleanses us from all sins, despite a thousand errors that on subsidiary questions we may hold. On the one side, it is Jesus Christ, with his blood covering the many mistakes and errors by us; one with the power on his side of pardon and union and peace with God. On the same side there is the sinner baptized into Jesus Christ, clothed with his name, mistaking the point at which God promises to forgive sins, just as a man going from Kentucky from Tennessee may mistake the time and place of crossing the line. The mistake does not affect his rights after he has entered the State.

There is but one example of rebaptism given to us in the Bible. That was not to teach us baptism is into the remission of sins, but to teach us we must be baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In him is pardon and peace to the sinner. I had much prefer following the example of Paul and rebaptize those who had not understandingly been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 'And when they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.' (Acts 19:5). When a man is baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, he has a strong Brother and helper in the Lord that can rescue him from man errors and mistakes."

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Stoned-Campbell Christmases: Campbell on Christmas

Greetings from the "wintery" land of Saguaros and Scorpions. It just doesnt seem like winter when you are in short sleeves and flip-flops!! Most of my life within Churches of Christ Christmas has been the object of scorn nearly worthy of the ACLU and other secularist folk. I have long since been quite convinced that such an approach was neither wise nor even called for from a biblical standpoint. It seems to me that Christmas is not about a specific day (as in Dec 25) but in the awesome redemptive fact that God became incarnate in human flesh!! That is enough to blow my mind. And it is enough to make me celebrate.

Several years ago as I was reading through the Millennial Harbinger I came across a short piece written by Alexander Campbell on Christmas morning in 1844. I have been so impressed by the piece that I have frequently reprinted it in church bulletins on an annual basis. I share it with you in the hope that we can move beyond a fixation upon the calendar (which Paul declares to be misguided in Romans 15 and 16) to an appreciation of the significance of what took place. Here are the words of Campbell published in the Millennial Harbinger January 1844, pp. 30-32 ...

"MUSINGS ON CHRISTMAS MORNING.

THIS morning being Christmas, and, as the Roman superstition would have it, the nativity of man's Redeemer; assuming it as true, my thoughts naturally lead me to Bethlehem, Calvary, and the sepulchre of Joseph. And what mysterious, sublime, and animating associations cluster around those three places! How near the point of distance! Eight short miles measured the whole space from the manger to the cross! And how short the interval of time between the first birth from Mary, and the second birth from Joseph's tomb, of Arimathea! Not quite the half of three-score- years-and- ten completes the labors and the life of Heaven's and Earth's First Born! And yet what scenes and transactions crowd this narrow space of earth, and this short interval of time!

Other children, earth's noblest sons, her proudest benefactors, were born to shed a few scattering rays of science over the benighted mind of man; or to wipe a few tears of sorrow or of anguish from the cheek of human woe; or to rescue man from some heartless tyrant that doomed his victims to abject slavery; or to confer some transient honor on some little circle of kindred friends and favorites. But this blest child of a thousand hopes and promises--this wonderful offspring of [30] Divinity and humanity--this Son of God and Son of Man, was born to be a light of all nations, and of all ages--to scatter night away from all eyes within the realms of mercy--to break forever its dark sceptre and annihilate its power over all his friends and brethren--to dry up the tears of a weeping world by washing away its sins and sorrows in a fountain filled with his own blood--to deliver man from that fiercest of all tyrants, Death; and to bestow honors on a ransomed race, bright as the throne of God and lasting as the ages of eternity.

And how was all this accomplished! Born in a stable--circumcised the eighth day--dedicated on the fortieth, at Jerusalem, in the Temple--persecuted into Egypt--nursed in the land of Ham--brought back to Bethlehem--removed to Nazareth, where he lived subject to his parents till he completed his thirtieth year, living so obscurely, too, as not to be mentioned but once after his return till about the time of his immersion; and at that time he is found in the Temple amongst the teachers, listening to their discourses and propounding to them questions.

After his baptism, commenced his public life. And what a period was that between his two baptisms! Did ever so many deeds of renown, so many demonstrations of divine eloquence, majesty, and power, cluster together in such a bright interval around the person of any son of woman! What temptations and triumphs! What miracles of mercy! What words of grace! What acts of condescension fill up the moments of this brightest epoch of Time's career! A busier or more active life was never spent. "He went about continually doing good." What multitudes were instructed, healed, relieved, fed, feasted! How many discourses, both public and private--how many questions answered--how many parables spoken--how many controversies and debates decided--how many triumphs gained--and with what travails, privations, fatigues, exhaustion, fasting, praying, and personal consecration! If all that he did and all that he said had been fully written, the world could neither read nor remember it.

But yet the two greatest victories were not won during his life. He had, indeed, foiled and vanquished Satan. But Death still reigned over all, and the Grave devoured all. The former he killed by dying, and the latter he vanquished by rising out of it and carrying with him its gates and bars up the hill of God.

'Tis here that immortality lifts its matin ray over a slumbering world. 'Tis here, a second time, that light is the offspring of darkness, and from the sorrows of death spring up eternal joys. What a plot! The Prince of Life submits to be killed, that he might destroy [31] him that had the power of death! He is carried into Death's strong prison, which, till that moment, held secure all that ever entered it. But it was not possible that the Prince of Life could be long held under its sway. Like Samsom with extinguished eyes, he stretched forth his hands to seize the pillars, that he might once more try his strength. The third morning came, and with it his almighty power. It was the operation of God. What a victory! The light of the upper world entered the grave--the shrouds of death were lifted up--and a bright ray gleamed through all the charnel-house. But the dead knew it not. It was consolation to all the living saints. It healed the wounds and dried up the sorrows of six thousand years. It promised a bright day of immortality to all the saints. Its shout of victory was heard by the ear of faith. It echoed through all the regions of the dead--Grave, where now thy victory!

The whole earth is sown with men. Sea and land make but one extended burying ground. What treasures lie hidden in the dust! Diamonds of the richest ray are but ashes compared with the remains of saints incorporate with the soil. What trophies has Death gained in six thousand years. But he will soon be divested of them all. The grave will be left without a tenant before many centuries shall have run their rounds.

Bat the most pleasing reflection of all is, that all that sleep in Jesus are to be awakened by the noise of his coming. He has many reasons to hasten his return. The earth is yet the receptacle of the bodies of his friends. Its precious mines of precious metals, its richest minerals of every species, with all its varied tenantry--its living beauties, vegetable and animal, when summed up fall infinitely short of equalling, in his eyes, the ashes of a Noah, a Daniel, or a Job.

We have many strong pledges of our Saviour's return to this planet, but none that strikes more forcibly so many feelings of our nature than that the earth retains so many of our Lord's dear kindred, whose ashes are still mingled with its soil. We have not only David's sepulchre still with us, but those of the grandees Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Samuel, Daniel, Job--all the Prophets--all the Apostles--all the Saints and all the Martyrs. They are yet with us; and precious is their dust in the eyes of our kinsman Redeemer. Come he will--come he must.

How far my musings have led me from my first design! But now when I think of retracing my steps, the cock's shrill clarion admonishes me that the hour of worship is near; and here I must lay down my pen for the present.
A. C."

Thank you brother Campbell for your voice on Christmas morn.


Another Stoned-Campbell Voice ...

Since some have been debating whether or not it is ok to observe Christmas (and we know that it is not because I heard sermons most my life saying so! :-).

Sometimes our views are shaped drastically by our culture and history. Rarely do American Churches of Christ realize that our fellowship is actually world wide! Sometimes it is helpful to step out of our own southern USA dominated culture and see from beyond that perspective. There is a segment of the Restoration Movement in Australia that refers to themselves as "Churches of Christ" but they often have a far more gracious point of view than their American counterparts. I enjoy reading some of their material. P.E. Thomas was an influential preacher among our brothers "down under" and he shared this sermon with his congregation in the mid-20th century (1958)entitled THE DEEPER THINGS OF CHRISTMAS. It is worth looking at.

You will find the entire sermon at:

The Deeper Things of Christmas

May the Shalom of God, pronounced by the Angels to shepherds on the day of the Incarnation of the Word fall on you and yours.

Bobby Valentine

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Anatolius of Constantinople: Ancient Christmas Hymn 3

In our previous two posts on ancient Christmas hymns we have looked at key figures in the history of Christian hymnody and now we move a century down to another pivotal figure: Anatolius of Constantinople (died 458). Anatolius is a significant figure just about anyway one slices Christian history (even apart from his impact on hymnody). He became bishop of Constantinople in 449 three years before the Council of Chalcedon (451) that has been seen as a turning point in the history of Christian thought (for good or ill). But his contributions in those matters are a different post altogether. In terms of practical worship Anatolius was a key figure in ushering in what may be called the classical period of Greek or Byzantine hymnody. He accomplished this by being something of a musical rebel. He rebelled against what was thought of as the "tyranny" of classical meter and created a new path . . . ironically as with so many other breakthrough's Anatolius' style also became to viewed as tyrannical centuries later. Anatolius wrote some truly beautiful hymns for the church two of which focus upon the Incarnation are reproduced below: "For Christmas" and "In Bethlehem."

For Christmas

A great and mighty wonder!
A full and holy cure!
The Virgin bears the Infant,
With Virgin-honor pure!

The Word becomes Incarnate
And yet remains on high:
And cherubium sing anthems
To shepherds from the sky.

And we with them triumphant
Repeat the hymn again:
'To God on high be glory,
And peace on earth to men!'

While thus they sing your Monarch,
Those bright angelic bands,
Rejoice, ye vales and mountains!
Ye oceans, clap your hands!

Since all he comes to ransom,
By all be he adored,
The Infant born in Bethlem,
The Saviour and the Lord!

And idol forms shall perish,
And error shall decay,
And Christ shall wield the scepter,
Our Lord and God for aye."


In Bethlehem

In Bethlehem is he Born!
Maker of all things, everlasting God!
He opens Edens gate,
Monarch of ages! Thence the fiery sword
Gives glorious passage; thence,
The severing mid-wall overthrown, the powers
Of earth and heaven are one;
Angels and men renew their ancient league,
The pure rejoin the pure,
In happy union! Now the virgin-womb
Like some cherubic throne
Containeth Him, the Uncontainable:
Bears him, whom while they bear
The seraphs tremble! bears him, as he comes
To shower upon the world
The fullness of his everlasting love!

My personal favorite of Anatolius is his "On Christ Calming the Storm" which I might share sometime in the future. What is evident from these hymns and the ones in previous posts is that the Church, even when she was less than God intended, could sing some wonderful theology. In fact when one digs in Greek sources it will not take long to discover that for Greek Christians theology is worship. They even define it as such explicitly. No one can study scripture and come to a "sound" understanding (according to them) unless he/she first bows the heart and head in humble worship. And you know what . . . that is probably not far from the mark. Hope you enjoy the hymns, they are among the greatest of the great and are still sung in Greek churches after fifteen hundred years.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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Dark Side of Christmas: Loneliest Time of the Year

(I placed this on my blog last year, partly because of my own situation. My life has changed drastically in the last year but I know from experience that Christmas is not all joy for many. So I offer this once again for the hurting in our midst and for the churches to minister to them)

What do you think of around Christmas? What do you normally see at a Nativity ... even one at a church? There are usually animals. Mary, Joseph, Wise men all have there place. There is usually a star of some sort. And of course there are angels. Most Nativity's are a whole lot of Luke with a little bit of Matthew thrown in for good measure.

The opening of Matthew's Gospel is considerably different than Luke's. He opens with that seemingly irrelevant genealogy (its not by any means!). We are then confronted with a scene that is horrific in nature. It is a crime that Tom Mueller in the December 2008 National Geographic declares "Herod is almost certainly innocent of" (p.40). In Matthew there are no angels that welcome the baby Yeshua rather we are confronted with "Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more" (Mt 2.18). This is what is missing from every Nativity I have ever seen in my life. There are no mothers crying for their children.

But there it is right at the beginning of the "good news" about Jesus. I too used to overlook that scene from the real Christmas ... but not anymore. Matthew acknowledges something that needs to be acknowledged: Christmas is painful for many people. With the emphasis on family, friends, parties, giving gifts ... we need to see the "Rachel's" in our churches and our communities that "refuse to be comforted."

These Rachel's have suffered loss. Loss of loved ones. Some to disease. Some to death. Some to divorce. This time of year can be merciless for some, so much so that many even end their own lives.

At Palo Verde last Sunday we had a worship service centered around "Christmas: The Loneliest Time of the Year." We began by reading Psalm 22 which confesses intense agony. Then the service was divided into three parts we read scripture that allowed us as a church family to embrace those who have suffered loss. We invited everyone to write down a name of some one and bring it down to the communion table. I was not prepared for the outpouring ... people streamed to the table of brotherhood. Psalm 88 was read for the loss of our loved ones. Every piece of paper was read. We prayed and lamented together. After the third lament was over ... with all those cards still on the table ... we decided to take the Lord's Supper and "discern the body" ... perhaps for the first time. We were family and we were all one before the Lord. It was powerful. We closed the service with a congregational reading of Psalm 23. We began with embrace of loss and left with the comfort of the Lord.

This coming Sunday we are doing the "other side of the coin." We will have a happiest time of the year ... but first we need to see the Dark Side of Christmas. I encourage my readers out there to embrace those hurting. Sometimes Christmas really is almost unbearable ... but we can be the very comforting presence of Jesus for them. The response to our service last week has been overwhelming.

May the Shalom of our dear Lord rest upon us all.

Bobby Valentine

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Narsi: Mary, Christmas, Poetry and Theology

I have shared two early Christian hymns (and more on the way) that focus on the Christmas season but now I want to share an early Christmas sermon by an eastern Syriac Christian named Narsai who lived about 1500 years ago. Narsai (ca. A.D. 399-503) has been called “the Harp of the Holy Spirit” for his gift of doing theology in poetry. He did not believe doctrine was dry, boring or irrelevant; rather vibrant and full of life. I thought it would be appropriate here in light of the hymn that saw Christmas from Josephus' point of view ... Narsai helps us think about Mary.

Narsai has a reputation for his homiletical poetry. His preaching is of the highest order and from a theological standpoint he is regarded as one of the greatest of Nestorian thinkers. There was really laser thin hair splitting among some of these great thinkers of days gone by but most today would regard Narsai as “orthodox.” Narsai was a disciple of Theodore of Mopsuestia in biblical interpretation and supported Antiochene Christology. He was head of the school in Edessa during the Council of Chalcedon (451), and he bore the brunt of that controversy. He had to flee Edessa and settled in Nisibis outside the Byzantine Empire.

What attracts us to Narsai, however, is not any of that boring stuff. Rather it is his ability to bring poetry and theology together like none other. He was like an ancient Charles Wesley!

Christmas as a season seems to have started during the time of Constantine. However, earlier than this “Epiphany” was celebrated in the East and these two started to get mingled together. Theologically the shift from celebrating Easter to Christmas and Epiphany was a shift from Jesus’ death to incarnation (which also was the hot button issue of the day). Christmas was used to teach theology. “Christmas, as has been often been put before, is the celebration of Nicene orthodoxy every bit as much as it is a celebration of the birth of Jesus” (Hughes Oliphant Old). That Narsai should choose Christmas as a time to make clear one of the central doctrines of the Christian faith is not surprising. Here is part of Narsi’s Christmas sermon.

“Refrain: Blessed be the Messiah who on the day of his birth
gladdened the earth and made heaven rejoice.

My Brothers:

‘The Coming of the Divine Word’

In love and mercy the Creator was pleased to give life to the universe,
And (so) He sent His Son to restore the universe to His knowledge.
There went forth from the Father the Word of the Father – though
He did not depart;
And He came to our dwelling place, though He was in our
Dwelling place and in all things.
There went forth His (good) pleasure, and He came in His love to
Earthy beings
But His Nature remained unchanged in what It was.
(It was) not according to His Nature (that) the Almighty went forth or departed,
because there is no place for the (Divine) Essence to go to within
what It has finished.
For He does not go forth in (the sense of) moving away from what He is,
Because, in what He is, He remains forever unchanged.

In Syriac the lines are perfectly balanced (since I am not a Syriac scholar I will trust the judgment of others on that point); the words are carefully chosen. All the art of the poet is used to make the cadences of the language appropriate to the high seriousness of the thoughts expressed.

Narsai proceeds to set forth the divine plan and recounts the biblical narrative, which seems to have been typical in Syrian preaching. Here we begin the story of Gabriel visiting the Virgin Mary. Mary is pictured as the New Eve who believes and obeys the word given her: she is to become the “temple” of human flesh in which the image of God is to take human form. Narsai, as we can see, is a master at typology.

The annunciation, is to be sure, one of the crucial points of the day. Nestorius had doubts about the propriety of calling Mary theotokos, that is “God-bearer.” Gabriel’s salutation, “Hail Mary, full of grace” is one of the texts significant to those who grant her this title. This passage, as Narsai understands it, has to be understood properly.

A second time our Minstrel picks up the biblical narrative recounting at length the visitation, the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the announcement to the shepherds, the journey of the wise men, the fear of Herod, the slaughter of the innocents, and the presentation in the temple. Irony and paradox are used throughout. Narsai calls attention to God’s gracious condescension in revealing himself to the Assyrian astrologers in terms their astrology would understand. One gets the impression that Narsai sees in the wise men his own people. Finally the story comes to its conclusion with the presentation of Jesus at the temple. We notice that Mary is once more at the center of the nativity narrative just as she was at the beginning.

With this Narsai begins his conclusion, which is just as long as the introduction (over a hundred lines) and just as theological. Narsai now asks “who” it is that presented Jesus at the temple. The questions so dear to the Nestorians is once more broached: who is Mary? The Nestorians wanted to affirm the confession that Christ is both true God and true Man, but they could not go along with calling Mary the theotokos. The way Narsai tries to solve the problem is by interpreting the whole narrative through John 1.14. It is not that the eternal Word became flesh in such a way that the Word lost its characteristics or divine nature, but rather that it became flesh in the sense that it dwelt in human flesh, the flesh of Jesus. Let me quote from his sermon at length:

The Word of the Father has abased Himself by means of His (good) pleasure;
And His power dwelt in the pure body which Mary bore.
(It was) not His (Divine) Essence (that) He abased Himself and came to a birth;
the (good) pleasure of His love abode in another and called him by his Name.
(It was) not the (Divine) Essence which is hidden from all that Mary bore;
a man she bore who is entirely like the members of his race.
(It was) not the spiritual One who has no structure (that) hands have circumcised;
it was a corporal being whom the hands of corporeal beings circumcised.
Mary is a human being from the humanity of Adam’s race;
And like to her is the child who is from her in body and soul.
Mary is equal to (other) females because of her fashioning;
Her offspring, on the other hand, is greater than all offsprings
Of the daughters of Eve.
Her offspring is like to (other) corporeal beings in body and soul, but holier and
More glorious than corporeal beings because of his fashioning.
His nature is like that of his mother from whom he exists,
But he is more exalted than she because it is not from seed (that he has
Acquired) his bodily structure.
He is entirely a man because of the wholeness of (his) body and soul; but he is also
God because he became the dwelling place for the God of the universe.
He is the son of a woman because from her is the nature of his bodily structure
But he is the Son of the Divine Essence because he is equal to this by the power
Of his Assumer.”

Narsai was quite willing to honor the Virgin Mary. For him the doctrine of the virgin birth was of major importance, for Mary plays a key role in the history of salvation. From the standpoint of Christ’s humanity she is the woman who brought the Savior into the world. Besides this Narsai was willing to recognize the biblical types for Mary: Mary is the second Eve, and the temple enshrining the divine presence.

(Quotes taken from Frederick G. McLeod’s translation of Narsai’s Metrical Homilies on the Nativity, Epiphany, Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension, Patrologia Orientalis, vol 40).

Narsai through his poetic preaching challenges us to see Christmas as a decisive moment in God’s Plan of Salvation. He also use the occasion to talk about Mary . . . just who was she? He suggests that she is not theotokos and yet she is more than in most Evangelical thinking today. She is the Second Eve. Christmas, for Narsai, was a time to reflect on the most important themes in the Christian faith. I recommend Scot McKnight's Real Mary for my readers.

The Poet has given us a lot to think on . . . doctrinally . . . this Christmas. May your thinking be blessed.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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Ephraem the Syrian: Another Ancient Christmas Hymn

One of the giants of early Christian hymnody is a man known as Ephraem the Syrian. Ephraem thrived in the 300s and died in the year 379. Ephraem rescued the practice of singing from an ill reputation because the Gnostics had seized upon the art form as a way of promoting their heretical views on Jesus. Ephraem who apparently had a spiritual gift in hymn writing turned the art form back to the faith. His songs are characterized by a deceptive childlike simplicity in capturing deep devotional feeling, beautiful in the images used and the teaching conveyed. His favorite themes are Christmas and stories of children in the Gospels. The hymn presented here is titled "On the Nativity of Our Lord." One unique element of this hymn is that it presents the Christmas story from the point of view of Joseph rather than Mary as in most modern poetic presentations.

"Into his arms with tender love
Did Joseph take his holy Son,
And worshiped him as God, and saw
The babe like any little one.
His heart rejoiced above him there,
For now the only God had birth;
And pious fear upon him came
Before this Judge of all the earth.
Ah, what a lofty wonder!

Who gave me then this precious Son
Of highest God, to be my child?
For I against thy mother here
Had almost been by zeal beguiled;
And I had thought to cast her off --
Alas, I saw not truly then
How in her bosom she should bear
The costliest treasure known to men,
To make my poverty, so soon,
The richest lot in mortal ken!

David, that king of ancient days,
My ancestor, had placed the crown
On his head, and there it lay;
But I sank deep and further down;
I was no king, but in its stead
A carpenter, and that alone.
But now may crown my brow again
That which befits a kingly throne,
For here upon my bosom lies
The Lord of lords, my very own!"

As we enter into the Christmas season perhaps Ephraem the Syrian (who lived one thousand seven hundred years ago) can help us remember what the season is about. Perhaps we can even reflect on what Joseph experienced and we can join him in worshiping the "little one" from heaven.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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Aurelius Clemens Prudentius: An Ancient Christmas Hymn

We are setting out our Christmas decor this evening, that along with the "cool" wintry weather just sort of puts one in the "mood" for Christmas ... after all it was a frosty 70 something today! And since I am home alone doing that which is communal by nature I thought I would share an ancient Christmas hymn dating to around 400 A.D. It is nice to know that over the course of one thousand six hundred years we still have some "fellowship" with the saints through joyous song.

One of the most highly regarded Latin poets of Christian antiquity, Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, left a prominent government position at the age of 50 to enter a monastery and dedicate himself to writing hymns to God. One of his hymns, "Corde natus ex Parentis" (i.e. Of the Father's love begotten) expresses his faith in babe of Bethlehem. Some Christian fellowships are blessed to still sing this hymn.

"Of the Father's love begotten
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending he,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see,
Evermore and evermore.

O that birth for ever blessed!
When the Virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
Bore the Saviour of our race;
And the Babe, the world's Redeemer,
First revealed his sacred face,
Evermore and evermore.

O ye heights of heaven, adore him;
Angel hosts, his praises sing;
Powers, dominions bow before him,
And extol our God and King;
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert ring,
Evermore and evermore."

May that Babe bring blessings to all this year as well ... Thank You Father for the gift of the Child in the manger.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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Santa Bring Me a Blessing ... A Good Book

First I want to express thanks to all those who have sent notes expressing a desire for new editions of my blog. I am pleasantly surprised in fact by the number of those I have received. I have needed a break actually as I continue to reorient my life. Two years ago Hell rather than Christmas arrived. Today my life looks so different than it did then. Second I get requests for book recommendations frequently so I offer a few for the Christmas season ... here are some great quotes on reading ...

The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it. ~James Bryce

Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~Author Unknown

A good book should leave you... slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it. ~William Styron, interview, Writers at Work, 1958

If you resist reading what you disagree with, how will you ever acquire deeper insights into what you believe? The things most worth reading are precisely those that challenge our convictions. ~Author Unknown

These books cover a variety of aspects of life under the Son. Perhaps they will help us understand (or exegete) our world a little more and give us greater sensitivity to the unending message of God's steadfast love in the Scriptures. I have chosen to list works that are not that difficult to read and yet thoughtful and reflective of deep thinking on the matter under consideration.

The Hebrew Bible (Old Testament to some)

Christopher J. H. Wright's Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament (IVP) is an outstanding book. Wright actually uses the Gospels (especially Matthew) to demonstrate how the New Testament pictures are thoroughly rooted in the "OT" story, promise, and mission. I would love to get this book into the hands and then the minds of all students of the word. We just might be surprised not only how "Old Testament" Jesus is but how "Old Testament" the "New Testament" is. This is a book that can be read with great profit by ministers, elders, teachers and anyone that wants to understand the Christian faith better.

John Walton over the last few years has published a couple of very important books. His newest book, The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate (IVP) is quite simply the best book I have ever read on Genesis one. Walton immerses Genesis one completely in its ancient near eastern context ... in a remarkably readable way. Drawing on the "cosmic temple" cosmology that pervaded the near east he demonstrates beautifully how an Israelite would have heard Genesis one. This book of less than 200 pages deserves the book of the year award for 2009.

New Testament

Scot McKnight's A Community Called Atonement is a lively and creative look at the cross or atonement. McKnight argues against the frequent reductionism of the past by embracing the wealth of NT metaphors. His golf club illustration is memorable and communicates clearly. Refreshingly atonement is about community, God's Community. Our mission, our task is rooted in atonement. Chapter 19 of this small volume focuses on baptism, Lord's Supper and prayer are needed in the wider evangelical community.

We all know N. T. Wright is probably the world's most influential NT scholar but his Christians at the Cross, Finding Hope in the Passion, Death, and Resurrection oCf Jesus reveals him not only as a man of deep faith but one who moves from the ancient world of the NT to applying its message to postmodernity with felicity. This is a collection of 8 sermons Wright delivered during "holy week" in 2007 in Easington Colliery in the Northeast of England. I was blessed, you will be too.

Wrestling with Faith

Christopher J. H. Wright's The God i Don't Understand is a faith filled meaty book. This small book is divided into four sections of questions that Wright and many other folks through the years have struggled with: What about Evil & Suffering?; What about the Canaanites?: What about the Cross?; and What about the End of the World? Who has not had someone after reading the book of Joshua not ask some questions? Wright's discussion in What about the End of the World is wonderful. He offers a loving yet trenchant critique of dispensational premillennialism as embraced by many in the Left Behind series ... but Wright is not so interested in polemics as he is in getting at the teaching of the Bible. His exposition of the new heavens & new earth are worth listening too. You will be blessed by reflecting on the God i Don't Understand ... we are not called to exactly understand everything but to have faith. We praise him ...

Christian History

Though my name (not alone though, following John Mark Hicks and Johnny Melton on GP) appears on both the next works I believe they have something to offer to the fellowship of believers. Kingdom Come: Embracing the Spiritual Legacy of David Lipscomb and James Harding I believe plugs us into a vibrant kingdom theology that makes for exhilarating Christian living. A Gathered People: Revisioning the Assembly as Transforming Encounter presents a methodology for thinking about Christian subjects in a wider biblical context illustrating this through the idea of God's Gathered People in corporate worship. I'm prejudiced but I think it is worth reading.

American History/Christianity in America

Cormac O'Brien has blessed us with The Forgotten History of America: Little-Known Conflicts of Lasting Importance from the Earliest Colonists to the Eve of the Revolution. Lavishly illustrated with period artwork, O'Brien is a very talented storyteller. O'Brien firmly believes that the history prior to 1776 is just as significant for the identity of our nation. How many know the story of Panfilo de Narvaez or are conscious that St. Augustine was half a century old by the time Pilgrims set sail or the story of Anne Hutchinson or King Philips War. Throughout O'Brien asks us to reflect on how things could have been different. Not everyone will agree with his perspective that comes out (I don't) yet the work will help us remember. A very good and enjoyable book.

Richard T. Hughes formerly of Abilene Christian University, Pepperdine and now Messiah College has become recognized as a leading historian on the America and the deeply difficult question of Christian American and Christianity in America. His latest book, Christian America and the Kingdom of God is a work that does not settle for platitudes or easy answers. It is the work of a person deeply "infected" with Christian faith in the Scriptures and one who has reflected on the matter deeply. I can't help but believe serious reflection on this book can help America be a better nation and help Christians be better Christians.

Many other works could be recommended. But I wanted to include a variety from works that have encouraged or challenged me. I hope if you are looking for a book for someone ... consider one or more of these.

See you soon ...
Bobby Valentine

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