Ephesians Five

Be Imitators of God

Ephesians 1-6

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

There is this idea out there in Christendom, that it really doesn't matter how we behave. We take sin rather cavalierly, no one really preaches that sin will land us in hell. But God's Holy Written Word tells us that NO IMPURE person "has an inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God." These are strong words. WE MATTER, what WE DO MATTERS!

Most former Adventists don't really need this lecture. We need hope, not fear. We have spent a lifetime fearing our names would come up in judgment and would be stricken from the book of life because we taped a bracelet under our watch, or we drank a Coke. We have been religiously terrorized by Satan over things that weren't sin, so we would be blinded to what real sin and its consequences are. Former SDAs need a great deal of healing first, lots of soothing, warm milk before we can get onto the meat.

But there are formers who go finally extract themselves from one deception just to fall prey to the next. And that is, it doesn't matter what you do. Since we are not saved by our good works, that we are not condemned by our bad works. Well, that is kinda true.... IF you repent. But we are not saved from sin, so that we can continue wallowing in it.

Ephesians 5: 7-12

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things [see above] the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth ), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

Note that certain sins should not even be spoken about they are so disgraceful! Are we, as those representing Christ to the world, carefully watching our words so that they will always show the utter horror of sin? Again, this is not about fearing our salvation, for we have Christ who is merciful and ready to forgive when we fall. Confess and repent, and do not allow the Devil to get a stronghold in your life because of un-repented sins. Do not allow shame and guilt to corrode your foundation. Stand with courage, for greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. But keep in mind that those who teach you that we can live an un-repentent life of impurity and debauchery and it doesn't matter, you are going to heaven anyway--ARE DECEIVING YOU! (As the above text clearly indicates.)

Ephesians 5: 13-21

But all thingsbecome visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you." Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Marriage Like Christ and the Church

Ephesians 5: 22-31

Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing ; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body.

There is so much in this passage that is just staggeringly beautiful. Get past the whole women's rights offense, and see the richness of love in God's words. Husbands are to love us--their wives AS Christ loves His church. What did Christ do for His Church? He suffered and died for her. He gave His own body to intercede for the effects of sin. How POWERFUL is His love. Our dearest husbands should love us like that and all we are asked is to be submissive. Seems in comparison that isn't much to ask.

Then read what is NEXT!! Our beloved husbands are to wash us IN THEIR WORDS. They are to treat us in such a way, verbally as well as physically, that THEY CAN PRESENT US before God one day in glory without spot or wrinkle. He is to nourish us and cherish us. What a gift to women. What a glorious submission that we are given. I hunger and thirst for that type of relationship with my husband, and rejoice in the submission.

Here, again, is one of my passions. That Jesus DID come to start a church. Church is not the enemy, just as husbands are not the enemy. We naturally balk at abusive authority. That is right. However, when our authorities are truly godly, when they follow the Word of God, the glory and joy is beyond anything we have ever envisioned. There is a real church, just as wives have real husbands. Christ set up real authorities that we must submit to. We don't get an option, if we are obedient to Christ, he commands"wives ought to be obedient to our husbands in everything."

Ephesians 5: 31-33

FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. This mystery is great ; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

Paul doesn't add, "this is not a big deal, do what your conscience tells you..." In fact, Paul says a man and his wife becoming one flesh is a "mystery that is GREAT!" This is a titanic, stupendous mystery that shows that the oneness of marriage, the beauty, the dance of love, really is a shadow and example of Christ and His Church! I love Ephesians!

My Review of Babylon Rising, SDA Prophecy Seminar

For four nights in Las Vegas, SDA Pastor John Bradshaw of It is Written (now that Shawn Boonstra stepped down) held a prophecy seminar. It's format was SDA cliché-a dramatic animated, techno build-up promo video... (you are expecting something somewhat cool or edgy was about to happen.... at least a B movie with Kirk Cameron playing a naive reporter shocked at the sudden rapture.)

Then, it opens up with a bald, Swiss Lawrence Welk welcoming watchers from all over the planet (smile) starting a running gag about his accent versus the New Zealander John Bradshaw's. (Which by the way--is a great resonant voice, adding the down-undah accent-wow! His voice alone makes the whole seminar seem brilliant no matter what he actually says). Then the Swiss warm-up act jokes around about the feud between those who think Switzerland is more beautiful than New Zealand. Which by the second or third night they actually poll everyone.... (New Zealand won! Oh the homey repartee as a time filler. I couldn't quite decide if this was a religious meeting or a talent show.)

Then the obligatory special music. Then a poll, with the results being showed in real time on a huge screen, indicated that everyone watching is Adventist--(the 9% who thought that the Lord wasn't coming in our lifetimes was me.... I voted several times....)

Then the expected titillating rundown of current disasters, which nature and the economy and Arnold Schwartzeneggar and Lady Gaga have so amply provided. The theme being of course: Babylon rising. So for four nights Bradshaw does the impossible, he doesn't breathe the word Adventist, or anything remotely Ellen Whitish. The whole seminar is the build up to who or what is Babylon.... Babylon Rising...

Babylon, the Great, the whore of Babylon, the sea beat and the dragon--all the code words found in Daniel and Revelation-- but Bradshaw doesn't yet offer any solution to the puzzle.... Just a dramatic buildup with the gospel awkwardly interspersed.

The New Bablyon is like the Old Babylon, full of rebellion; it is a righteousness by works (a fairly new addition to the SDA theological view of the anti-christ), it is spiritual confusion which worships the sun and the dead and is steeped in paganism and will be a world-wide religious threat. I noted that Bradshaw was very careful to point out that Babylon would be found within Christianity--(I am guessing so that we would NOT accidentally think he was speaking of Islam.)

Then a curious thing occurred. Both Arthur and I looked at each other with surprise. Bradshaw teased those who have thought the Mark of the Beast's number 666 was found in numerology (Ronald Reagan and Henry Kissinger) and conspiracy theorists who think the Trilateral Commission or the Illuminati have anything to do with the last days. (I mean... come on.. for years the church has found the number of the beast in pope numerology.)

He said something to the effect of "Let me tell you, anyone who says they know what the mark of the beast is... (Bradshaw looks the ground with a smiling shake of his head and snickers.) No one knows what the mark of the beast is."

WHAT? I wish we could have rewound and listened to that again. An SDA Revelation Seminar preacher claiming that no one can know what the mark of the beast is? I thought that was plainly written in the Great Controversy by the prophetess Ellen White. It is worshipping on Sunday! That is what I was taught in SDA sabbath school, church, church school and in their writings.

Four hours of build up--Babylon Rising! Beware. But don't worry if you love Jesus. But it is going to deceive, but only those who don't keep the commandments and know their Bibles. This great enemy of God, this idol-embracing, persecuting, idolatrous spirituality--(whisper: that sits on seven mountains) IS RISING!

Then the fourth night Babylon falls--mene, mene, tekel, upharsin--and in the end, the Lord wins. Over and goodbye. Closing special music, closing prayer. A total triumph for progressive Adventists. Nothing whatsoever controversial or mean-spirited or... when you think about it.... what Bradshaw did say could have easily been compressed into a ten-minute sermon. The rest was... fluff. What happened?

1. Our prayers were answered. I thanked the Lord with all my heart. No Apostate Protestantism bashing, no anti-catholicism, no Ellen White, very little fear-mongering, nothing bad said about Sunday, nothing good said about Sabbatarianism or vegetarianism.....basically very little of anything was said other than there is a great controversy and God wins, be on God's side. Hallelujah!!

2. Was this seminar throwing a bone to the Progressive Adventists by the new powerful orthodox Adventists?

3. Arthur believes the whole seminar was a loss leader strategy used in marketing to drum up business because at the end Bradshaw announced a January seminar in which details would be given as to who this Babylon is--specifics of Bible prophecy.

Are Adventists changing their beliefs, are they going mainstream Christian theology as this seminar appeared? Perhaps they have just bent to pressure and political correctness, perhaps it is real. However until the doctrines themselves change, until the announcement is made of disassociating itself from Ellen White's visions and prophecies, (like the Lutherans did concerning Luther's anti-semitic writings) I will go directly to the source--the 28 fundamental beliefs to find out what the church is about.

Whatever the motivation or strategy, the facts are that nothing remotely harmful to the human soul was said. And for this I thank the Lord. Baby steps are good, keep walking Adventists!! GOOD FOR YOU!! Hats off to Bradshaw. It was enormously difficult to say so much and so little at the same time. To be walking such a tightrope and not fall off. I will be watching in January to find out if this was an ecumenical blip on the SDA radar screen or a real change of direction.

The Neo Investigative Judgment

Harold Camping says May 21, 2011 was ‘invisible judgment day,’ world will end October 21, 2011

By Elizabeth Tenety

An organization run by Harold Camping of Oakland, Calif. has purchased billboards all over the country proclaiming May 21st would mark the end of the world. (Chris Pietsch)You’ve been warned.

Radio evangelist Harold Camping said in a special broadcast Monday night on his radio program Open Forum that his predicted May 21, 2011 Rapturewas “an invisible judgment day“ that he has come to understand as a spiritual, rather than physical event.

“We had all of our dates correct,” Camping insisted, clarifying that he now understands that Christ’s May 21 arrival was “a spiritual coming” ushering in the last five months before the final judgment and destruction.

In an hour and a half broadcast, Camping walked listeners through his numerological timeline, insisting that his teaching has not changed and that the world will still end on October 21, 2011.

“It wont be spiritual on October 21st,” Camping said, adding, “the world is going to be destroyed all together, but it will be very quick.”

Camping had previously pointed to October 21 as the last day on earth for all humanity.

His former assertion was that a faithful three percent would be physically pulled into heaven by God through the Rapture on May 21, to be followed by a five month period of great suffering known as the Tribulation, ending, finally, on October 21. On Monday’s broadcast, Camping speculated that perhaps a merciful God decided to spare humanity five months of “hell on earth.”

Camping’s belief system is one part mainstream Christian teaching and another part pure Camping. While many Christians accept similar teachings on the end times, (Pew has found that 41 percent of Americans think Jesus will “definitely or probably return to Earth before 2050”) most reject the idea that you can either know God’s exact timeline or that the Bible is embedded with secret codes.

My Commentary: Adventists need to open their eyes and see that this is almost a replay of the October 22, 1844 Millerite Movement reoccurring in front of their own eyes. It is good though that the devastation of hunger, murder, suicide is absent. Adventists AWAKE! God has allowed this for some reason, perhaps a part of it is to wake you up and shake you into reality. This was the beginning of your own sect! A false prophecy. Don't romanticize and make excuses for SDA pioneers, they were just like Pastor Camping, sincere but wrong! President of the Adventist Church, Ted Wilson, televangelists like Doug Batchelor, Mike Tucker and (former tele) Shawn Boonstra need to honestly address this. Time to put childish things away.

If I were the SDA president, I would cancel the Babylon Rises prophecy seminar, encourage all SDAs to get on their knees and repent for their stubbornness, their pride and their continuing of false information that led to a break with Christ's body of believers in other denominations. Gods LOVES YOU ADVENTISTS!! Repent and walk in both the Spirit and in Truth. God bless you!