Sabbath Day  (Part 3 of 3) – International Date Line and Christianity 

Let’s see if we can tie my two previous blogs on the International Date Line together.  Let’s ask some questions: 

Which of the two Sabbath-keeping Jews living within an hour of each other was keeping the wrong day?  Which was keeping the right day?  When the US took over Alaska from Russia and people changed the day they kept the Sabbath, were they wrong to do this? 

And most importantly, in whatever way you answer these questions, how do you back your answer with Scripture? 

The answer is:  You can’t.  The Bible tells us nothing about international date lines.  The Bible doesn’t tell us the spot on earth where each day begins.  We find ourselves in a position where we humans not only have a right to make determinations as to where on earth the day begins, we actually are forced by God to make these decisions. 

Yes, these decisions are in the hands of men!  These decisions have not been made for us by God. 

And this principal goes further than just the Sabbath Day.  This principal also applies to the calendar! 

Some feel that God has given us a calendar in the Bible.  He hasn’t.  Instead, he has told us that the determination of the calendar is in the hands of men!  Not just any men though.  He tells us that the Jews are the keepers of the oracles.  One of these oracles is the calendar which determines when we observe God’s annual days. 

The Jews have created a calculated calendar.  They made it a calculated calendar so that there would be calendar unity among all the Jews scattered throughout the world.  Every Jew (no matter where he lives) knows when each annual high day will take place years in advance. 

Some in the church object to this calculated calendar.  They object to any mortal man making any decision whatsoever on the calendar.  They say we must go to Scripture alone and should never leave this to humans.  The problem with this statement is that every “observed” calendar is based on a decision made my men. 

For example, when does the new year begin?  If you feel it begins with the first new moon after the spring Equinox, you have made a decision because the Bible nowhere says the new year is calculated after the spring Equinox.  Using the Equinox as a starting point may be right, but you have to be honest and admit that it is not taught to us by Scriptural.  

No matter what you base your calendar observations on, you are making a man-made decision—one that is not biblical, but is man-made. 

The church has no business getting into the oracle business.  The church has not business trying to take control of the oracles away from the Jews.  I say this because the church does not have a great track record when it comes to the calendar as it relates to the annual high days.  For example, the church taught for years that Pentecost could only be on a Monday.  We said the Jews were wrong in how they calculated Pentecost.  Actually, the church was wrong.  

We made the same mistake when we described the timing of the original Exodus and the events of that first Passover.  We said the Jews were wrong.  The Jews weren’t wrong.  We were. 

When it comes to doctrine, I don’t go to the Jews.  But when it comes to the calendar, if I have a choice of following an observed calendar created by a nitwit or choosing the calculated calendar created by the Jews, I am going to go with the Jews.  And I include myself in the nitwit category.  As a nitwit, I am not going to make any attempt to create a calendar.  I’ll leave that to the keepers of the oracles. 

Finally, whatever calendar you decide to follow, just follow it.  The important thing is for us not to fight about it.  Let’s not argue and debate over the calendar.  Just do what you feel you need to do.  And then don’t condemn others if they feel the need to do something different. 

Love is more important than any calendar or any international date line.  We weren’t called into the ecclesia to argue calendars and international date lines.  We were called to preach the Gospel, feed the flock, and help the poor.  And the only sign that we are God’s people is the love we have for one another.

Sabbath Day  (Part 2 of 3) — International Date Line and Alaska

After the discovery of the new world by Columbus, nations such as England, France, Spain, Holland, and Portugal began expanding their empires westward.  About the same time, Russia was expanding its empire in the opposite direction–eastward.  After the Moscovites had annexed Siberia, they kept going.  They soon took control over what is now Alaska as well as the western coast of Canada, and parts of what is now Washington state, Oregon, and northern California. 

As a result, we had an interesting situation regarding the Sabbath in the 1700s.  Let’s pretend we have two Jews living in the new world at this time.  One is English and lives on the far western frontier of the British Empire.  The other is Russian and lives on the far eastern frontier of the Russian Empire.  They could have been as close as an hour from each other.  Yet, each kept the seventh-day Sabbath on a different day!  The Brit kept the seventh-day Sabbath one day AFTER the Russian!  And they were only an hour from each other. 

That’s right.  Each Sabbath keeper was very close to a de facto international date line.  At that time, an international date line ran through the western portion of North America.  Once the Russians receded back to Russia and gave up their North American possessions, this international date line moved into the Pacific Ocean and these North American inhabitants changed their days of the week. 

For example, in 1867 the US purchased Russia from Alaska.  The official date of the changeover was Friday, October 18, 1867.  When this took place, people who lived in Alaska had to change their days of the week.  For anyone in Russian Alaska, the day of the handover started on a Saturday morning.  But then, that afternoon, the day turned into Friday.  

Why do I bring this up?  It really does have something to do with the Sabbath.  And the calendar.   Check back and we’ll tie this all in together.

Looking In the Mirror

David Gergen has an interesting take on the horrible political infighting has overtaken the US.   (Gergen has served in the administrations of the following Presidents: Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton.)                 

In Gergen’s on-line CNN article today, he says that politicians (our civil leaders) are a reflection of us.  He says that if they are jackasses, it is because that’s what we are.

This principal probably applies to the Church of God.  If you are disgusted with the leaders in your church, chances are that you are a big part of the problem.  If the guys running your church corporation are of a wrong mentality, it’s probably because you have let them get away with stuff for years.

The UCGaia/COGWA fight is a good example.  For years, UCGaia brethren have told me of the following horror stories going on in that group:

 == A local church can’t have a Sabbath school program until HQ approves it.  Apparently, the local pastor is not smart enough to review and approve a Sabbath school program.

 == A person can’t sing in a local church choir unless that person is a “member of the Church.”

 == A person can’t help out with the literature table unless that person has “been baptized properly.”

I realize not all UCGaia churches practiced the above.  But things like this have taken place enough that someone needs to make the statement, “This is all nuts.”  When UCGaia people have told me of this stuff like this over the years, I have expressed shock.  I asked, “Does this really seem right to you?”  Invariably, they would just shrug and say something like, “Well, that’s just the way we do things.”

Then, after the big split, these same brethren were flabbergasted and disgusted.   They shouldn’t have been.  As long as the brethren allowed the leaders to implement stupid policies such as the above, the brethren shouldn’t be flabbergasted and disgusted when their leaders got into a fight over a big bunch of nothing such as Leon Walker’s unwillingness/inability to cancel his airline tickets so he could go to meet with the big shots in Cincinnati. 

One of our biggest problems with Congress today is that, while most people have a high disapproval rating for Congress overall, they like their own House representatives.  In other words, when most people are surveyed, they say, “I hate how the House is run, but I do like my guy who I elected.” 

I find a similar sentiment with a lot of UCGaia/COGWA people.  Many of them rant against the national leadership of their church, but insist that their local minister is a good guy.  Well, who do you think puts the national leadership into power?  Your local minister!

The Church of God has a long way to go when it comes to understanding that leadership is not what is important to the church.  We should be putting more emphasis on the service of the elders.  So many of our brethren don’t seem to understand plain English.  The word “minister” does NOT mean leader.  It means servant.

If more of our leaders were to truly minister and quit worrying about leading, the Church of God would be in much better condition.   Will they ever change?  That’s up to you.  If you don’t make them change, they never will.

Sabbath Day  (Part 1 of 3) – International Date Line and Magellan

In 1519, Ferdinand Magellan set out with five ships and 270 men in an effort to sail around the world.  The voyage did get completed, but most of these men (including Megellan) died during the journey.  When the circumnavigation expedition was finally completed after about three years, only 18 men and one ship made it back to Spain.

Upon their arrival, they looked at their logs and proclaimed the date to be Friday, September 5.  But everyone in Spain insisted the date was Saturday, September 6.  The returning seamen were adamant that they had kept accurate records.  And indeed they had.  They were not mistaken in their daily logs.

Then why the discrepancy?  Why did the returning mariners believe it was Friday while all of Spain thought it was Saturday?

The church took a shot at trying to explain the dilemma.  Fortunately, they didn’t get too deep into the problem or it might have ended up with the crew being examined under torture.  Instead, the scientists researched the problem and send a report to the Pope.  Everyone soon realized that there existed (for all practical purposes) an international date line.  Magellan’s men had crossed it and, as a result, their reckonings caused them to lose track of the proper date.

Why do I bring this up?  It really does have something to do with the Sabbath and the calendar.   Check back and we’ll tie this all in together.

Biblical Politics 

I received an email from a friend this week.  It contained an article entitled, “Biblical Politics,” by Jim Wallis. 

The article stated the importance of Christians getting involved in politics so that good things can happen.  It contained the following statement:  “To change injustice, you must confront politics.  British abolitionist William Wilberforce, for example, didn’t just call upon English Christians not to possess slaves, he wanted to end the slave trade, and that required a long political campaign.” 

Here’s where we have to be careful.  So many times we are told that we face an either/or decision.  We are told by many that we have a choice of either backing a certain political party/candidate or doing nothing.  It’s as though there is no third option. 

It’s one thing to be involved in a movement to abolish an evil like slavery.  In today’s world, how could we condemn a Christian for being involved in trying to stop abortion?  Killing unborn children is evil.  

The problem comes when (in an effort to save unborn children) I then join a political party that promotes things that are not Scriptural.  The problem comes when (in an effort to save unborn children) I then promote some candidate who advocates things I know are not Scriptural.  (One pastor’s wife told me, “We must promote this one political party because they are the lesser of two evils.”  Oh, that’s a good way for a Christian to live his life!) 

Once I join a political party that promotes things that are not Scriptural or promote a candidate who advocates things that I know are not Scriptural, I have crossed the line.  I have become part of the world.  After coming out of Babylon at conversion years ago, I have today gone back into her. 

Yes, we should do what we can to help the weak and oppressed.  But we should not compromise in our efforts.   And we should never allow our political efforts to become an excuse to neglect preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. 

Finally, suppose one of our brethren wants to help the poor and oppressed, so he joins the Democratic Party.  Another one of our brethren wants to fight abortion, so he joins the Republican Party.  Another one of our brethren wants to promote religious liberty, so he joins the Libertarian Party.  

What happens then?  During the election cycle, all three are battling each other!  God’s people battling each other in an election process.  When we do this, we are not much different than the Catholics and Protestants who end up being in all the different parties—all battling their fellow church members for votes.  Can you spell “counterproductive”? 

Why would I want to invest time and money competing with another member of the body of Christ who is in another party?  This is nothing less than ludicrous. 

Any Christian who is involved in politics should ask himself, “How much time do I spend on political stuff and how much time do I spend on preaching the Gospel and helping the poor?”  Time is quantifiable.  You can determine where your heart really is.  But, before you attempt this effort, be cautious about deceiving yourself.  Don’t think that practicing certain actions such as watching world news count as a Christians act.  (I wonder if COG people will ever quit misusing Luke 21:34-36.)   If you test yourself in this matter, the test must be objective and accurate. 

If we in the church want to change the hearts and minds of the world, we can’t do it through politics.  Our success comes by preaching Jesus to the world.  This is our calling.

Feast of Tabernacles 2011 

We’re only about four weeks away from the first day of the Feast.  

I hope your plans for the Feast are going well, that is, if you have even made them!  In a way, I’m just kidding.  But I’ll bet there are some folks who haven’t made their Feast plans yet.  And that’s too bad because I have found that, the earlier I plan and the more I plan, the better the Feast turns out.  And you can serve better if you have planned well.  

Let’s face it.  Going to the Feast without serving is no fun at all.  Anyone who goes to the Feast to be served instead of serving others is losing out so much for themselves and for their families.  I don’t care how ill you are or how old you are or how young you are, you can serve to some degree.  And you should.  The Feast is not about taking a vacation.  The Feast is about convocation, worship, fellowship, praise, love, gratitude, and service. 

Nancy and I will be in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, with United Christian Ministries for the first six days of the Feast.   We will be in Land Between the Lakes, Kentucky, with Church of God International for the last two days of the Feast.  If you attend either one of these Feast sites, please be sure to say hi to me and Nancy.  If we don’t know you, it will be a pleasure to meet you for the first time. 

Where ever you go to the Feast, have a good one!

Hate or Forgiveness?

 Oh barf.  A friend pointed out to me that one of the COG websites has an article which promotes teaching kids “right lessons” about 9/11.  The writer says to “know your enemy and name your enemy.”  I notice he fails to say, “Forgive your enemy.”  When friends forward me stuff like this, I ask, “With friends like this…”   Never mind.  

I am told that, in certain parts of the Middle East, children are taught to hate Jews from an early age.  I suppose the writer of the above article would have us teach our children to hate our enemies from an early age.  For the life of me, I don’t know how a person can promote these writings and be a believer of Matthew 5, 6, and 7 at the same time.

Do you remember the Amish school house that got shot up by a deranged criminal on October 6, 2006?  Five innocent little girls were murdered in that horrible incident.  Then the shooter committed suicide.   I don’t know how I would react if I had a daughter who was killed in that way.   But I can relate to you how the Amish in that community reacted. 

Immediately after this awful, hellish situation took place, the Amish reached out to the family of the shooter!  They raised money for the shooter’s family.  They knew that the family was hurting as they were, so they did what they could to assist them.  The funeral of the shooter had many Amish who were there to show comfort. 

Why did the Amish do this?  Because they know how to forgive.  This is an excellent example of practicing Matthew 5, 6, and 7.  

One website pointed out that “the ability to forgive an unspeakable crime sets the Amish apart from mainstream America, where families of murder victims routinely stand up in court and plead with the judge to invoke the death penalty.  While the outside world marvels at their compassion, the Amish see it as a natural outgrowth of their way of life.” 

Those who preach hating terrorists want you to believe there are only two choices in this world:  You can either follow their way or be a pacifist simpleton who allows everyone and anyone to harm you and your family.  No.  There are alternative approaches where protection and forgiveness can go hand in hand. 

We in the Church of God need to follow the teachings of Jesus.  We don’t need to be indoctrinating hate to our children.  Let’s learn how to forgive.  Let’s teach our children how to forgive.

A person is either a nationalistic patriot first and a Christian second.  Or he is a Christian first and a nationalistic patriot second.  There can never be a tie on this.  Those who erroneously claim there can be a tie unknowingly fall into the first category.  They deceive themselves.  Where do you fit?

Little Rock on September 24           

 Do you live near Little Rock?  Do you know anyone who lives near Little Rock?

 Nancy and I will be visiting the LittleRock/Jacksonville CGI on September 24.  We’d love to see you, so please stop by.  My sermon will be on God’s High Days in Due Season.  Sorry, no puppet show that day.

 Services will be held at 11:30.  The location is Best Western In at 1600 John Harden Drive.  The host and hostess for this group are Julius & Eunice Reed.  Feel free to email me if you need any other information.  Wdwhite49@yahoo.com.

Abraham Lincoln       

 We recently got to take a quick trip to Illinois to visit the Lincoln Library and Museum in Springfield.  I also wanted to keep on driving north to visit the world-famous Brookfield Zoo near Chicago, but there wasn’t enough time.  As I kid growing up in Indiana, I visited the Brookfield Zoo many times.   When I became an adult, I took my nieces and nephews there on many occasions.  It’s a great place.

 Let’s get back to Lincoln.  Many people think Lincoln was an abolitionist when he was elected President, but he wasn’t.  Today, most Americans are abolitionists.  That is, very, very few people think it’s all right to forcibly take ownership of a person with the right to treat that person like property in the same way you treat a cow or a horse or a car. 

 While Lincoln hated slavery, he thought it was legal because of the wording of the Constitution.  Further, he made it clear that his first priority as President was to preserve the Union—not to end slavery.  He made it clear that, if it meant keeping slavery intact in order to preserve the Union, he would keep slavery intact.

 When asked about this point, most historians tend to justify Lincoln’s actions by saying that “he was a product of his time.”  That is, he had to live in the 1800s and that’s just the way things were back then.

 No Christian should ever “be a product of our times.”  We should not hold views that may be socially acceptable today if those views go against God’s Word.  Our views shouldn’t show that we are products of our times, but instead our views should show that we are products of our conversion and our relationship with Jesus.

 How about some examples of wrong behavior that gets justified with “He was a product of his time”:

 There was a time when many of us accepted marking and disfellowshipping for offenses such as a person’s not accepting a doctrine of the church leadership.  I used to accept this.  Instead of my saying, “I was just a product of my time,” I say, “I was wrong and have had to repent of supporting this system.  I am sorry I ever was part of this.”  I say this because I am embarrassed and ashamed that I once helped promote this system.  And, although God has forgiven me, I still deserve to be embarrassed and ashamed.   This was an awful thing I did.

 Racism is another example.  We still have people in the church who have racist beliefs.  Yes, each one of them is a product of his time, but he should reject this non-biblical belief and instead embrace the love that is shown for all races in both the Old and New Testaments.   There is no racism in the Bible.  God’s Word teaches us to love all persons as equals.  It is wrong to use the N-word because of the hurt that it causes.  It is wrong to say that interracial dating and marriage go against Scripture.

 We were not called into the ecclesia to conform to the ways of this world.  We were not called to be products of our times.  We were called to follow the example of our Savior.

Let’s not look at society to determine whether or not our actions, words, and beliefs are acceptable.  The minute we do that, we become products of our time.  Instead, let’s look at the example of Jesus.  He is our benchmark.  It is He that we are to measure ourselves against—not humans and their standards.  When I measure myself against others, I can sometimes come out looking good.  However, the minute I measure myself against Christ, I fail every time.  And that’s the way it should be.  Looking to Christ as our standard helps us to grow and overcome.  Looking to others as our standard will only bring us down.

 Let’s look at the Scriptures to determine for guidance.   Let’s be more Christ-like.  We don’t want to be a product of our times.

Does God Punish With Bad Weather?

Am I the only one who remembers that, when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, so many Christians were claiming it was divine retribution on that city. They said, “God is punishing New Orleans because it is so filled with sins like drunkenness, homosexuality, Mardi Gras debauchery, etc.”

I wonder what those folks think of this summer’s drought that is doing so much horrible damage to East Texas. We have experienced something like 60 straight days of over 100 degree temperatures with little or no rain this summer. Over the last few days, we have been experiencing horrible wild fires that are destroying homes.

Church brethren that I worship with are in fear of losing their homes. Some have had to flee because the air in their area was too dangerous to breathe. Too much smoke.

Is it possible that the horrible weather has been caused by of our collective East Texas sins?

No. And neither was New Orleans pummeled by Katrina because of sins. What we experience too many times is this:

== When something bad happens to people I don’t like, I want to feel like it is God’s punishment on them because they are evil.

== When something bad happens to people I like, I want to feel like it is Satan trying to tempt them because they are righteous.

Let’s put this kind of thinking behind us. God hates things that go on in the coastal cities of New Orleans, San Francisco, and New York. But he also hates some things that go on in the heartland of America, places like Wichita, Paducah, and (yes) East Texas. Since the Bible doesn’t give us any formula to know when bad weather is caused by sins, let’s not try to read His mind. Instead, let’s have compassion for those who are suffering. Let’s help them no matter what their sins are.