A Compassionate Measure

If I were about to walk off a cliff, I'd hope somebody would say something. This is what Jesus meant by His words," judge not lest ye be judged...for in the same measure you judge you too shall be judged." It is about the measure you use.

The Blessings of the Passover

In the next couple of weeks I will be writing some blogs concerning this season up to Shavuot. In the meantime, I wish to any reader the blessing of this day and what it means.

The Intellectual Faith of Thomas

So often we hear the phrase doubting Thomas, but did he really doubt or was he just more of a rationalist? It is quite possible that he was aware of the visions that some people had of seeing their relatives after they had past on and he wanted to be sure that Christ really did rise. He may not have been contending against the reality of Christ's resurrection but rather he wanted to be sure that he was not losing his mind in his mourning of Christ's death the days before. And how did Christ respond? He did not chastize him for doubting, rather He let him touch His wounds.

Sanctified Through Adversity: Part 1

More often we are sanctified through adversity than that of our own doing. I was pondering on this idea this morning. I was thinking that if I did everything right and lived according to the rules of holiness, I find that in some ways that I may have actually removed myself from ministry toward others. In the sense of being holyI would have actually pursued the avenue of self-sanctification. God indeed wants us to be holy, by all means, but we need to remember that other commandment to love our neighbor as ourself. Often there are objective lessons we teach others in making decisions in doing the right thing. It is not about us, it is about showing them Christ. Every aspect of the world will challenge the believer as it is, too often we will pursue holiness when we need to stay put and let adversity reveal our character to others. I am convinced that this is the way Christ wants to truly sanctify the believer.

I came across this verse tonight because I heard someone talking about this song by The Kinks awhile back. It fits very well following the C. S. Lewis quote....Where are the men with chests these days?? Oh , it is from the song Living on a thin Line.

"All the stories have been told Of kings and days of old, But there's no England now. All the wars that were won and lost Somehow don't seem to matter very much anymore. All the lies we were told, All the lies of the people running round, They're castles have burned. Now I see change, But inside we're the same as we ever were".....Ray Davies

C. S. Lewis Quote

This is one of my favorite C. S. Lewis quotes, I had to add it.

"We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and then bid the geldings to be fruitful."

Passive Sinners

There is a doctrinal fallacy that promotes the idea that all are sinners saved by grace and it does not matter what state of sin they are in. By other Bible passages this is unsound and a distorted doctrine. We are indeed sinners saved by the mercy and grace of God, but sin is never is to be an active role in the believers life. As the Apostle John writes in the passage of I John "if anyone says he is without sin he is a liar," also writes in the same passage, " I write these things so that you may not sin." This sound confusing but the New Testament encourages walking in the Spirit and to not follow the old pattern of the flesh. The sin nature is take on the passive role as we walk in the newness of life basically the regenerated life has taken over. There are times we may sin but dominant patterns and desires are to be broken before the true fruits of the converted life can take place.

Reason For Changes

Originally, I posted the blog as Foundations for Reformation. A couple of days after the blog was started, I just did not feel that this was the right foundation for the blog. When one studies the Reformation, they will soon found out several aspects that are quite dissapointing as well as inspiring. Luther and Calvin started down the right track but in other ways began to stray. Luther's rantings about Jewish synagogues are quite unsettling to the post WWII Christian, as they should be. Calvin's treatment of Servetus is dissapointing as well. I renamed the blog The Ancient Path because it is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. We stray often because we seek something new and in wondering from the path, we lose value of walking in the wisdom and the shadow of Christ. I hope this blog will be a blessing for many. I intend to share insights, historical perspectives, and perhaps personal events. I dropped the name lex de luther from the post and left abbreviated form along with my nickname. My last name is too uncommon to post at this time.

The Early Church Did Celebrate Festivals

Another prominent minister blogger has stated that there is no need to observe festivals and feast and although he is partly right by virtue of God's Grace, he misses the point. An example in Scripture reveals that he is actually misled by a common mistake in the interpretation of Colossians 2:16 & 17. The interpretation in this passage by some is in somehow that in observing festivals Grace has been turned away. Most likely in maintaining the harmony of Paul's letters that this is not the case. For even Paul observed the days as mentioned in his letter to the Corinthians, "But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost (I Cor 16:8)." Most likely in the letter to the Colossians that Paul was admonishing those that were prescribing how the festivals were to be celebrated in accordance to the Old covenant codes and regulations. They were those most likely going around judging how the day was to be celebrated in detail of food and drink and therefore burdening the joy of others that were celebrating it in fulfillment of Christ.

Luther's Blindspot

There is a needed post before moving onto other subjects:
Although Martin Luther illustrated very well the doctrine of justification, he never percieved the importance of illustrating the Jewish connection in regards to their celebrations. For example, many of Reformers failed to understand the Lord Supper's connection to the Passover for there was a constant debate on what "This is my body" meant. The Passover had been celebrated year after year and the night before the crucifixion Jesus Christ would reveal what it represented. "This is my body" is in relationship to the Passover. Something missed by the Reformers but something important to point out to others. Why is this fundamental to foundations of Reformation? Because all Scripture must show its fulfillment, whether past, present, or future.
This week there is no Passover in fact it will not be here for another month. This is calendar discordance happens in some years due to the fact that the Jewish Calendar is on a lunar cycle. In researching the history the early church, Oskar Skarsaune (In The Shadows of the Temple) illustrates that it was not uncommon for some congregations among the early churches to celebrate the Passover season up to Pentecost. Now it was a common debates among the assemblies whether the Resurrection should be in coordination to the Passover day or the following Sunday after Passover. This debate will continue I know even today. But in seeing that Passover is a month away, should there not be some attempt to reconcile this anamoly?

The Need for Bottom-up Reformation

In observing the conservative movement of late, I have noticed that there is tendency by some assemblies to over correct. When reclaiming a conservative position, it is important to get back toward the aim of ministry lest the purpose of sound teaching is lost as well. This blog was started to point out where the conservative movement (in some churches) is in a state of overcorrection and falling into the trap of compulsive legalism. Remember that Christ's yoke is light!