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The Problem Isn't Old Vs New

9/22/2021 1 Comments

Today's post is by guest writer Matt Bassford, and was originally printed in the emagazine Pressing On edited by Mark Roberts. Contact me (left sidebar) for subscription information.

For years, I’ve been an advocate of using quality hymns in worship. Not surprisingly, there are plenty of folks who disagree with me, particularly when I get to picking on contemporary praise songs that I don’t think are useful in congregational worship. They’ve even been known to get upset about it. It’s like I called their dog ugly or something.

One of the most common countercharges is that I don’t like the contemporary songs I don’t like because I’m stuck in the past. According to this way of thinking, I believe the only good hymns are the ones written in the 19th century, filled with “Thee” and “Thou”, and possessed of syntax so convoluted that only Yoda could love it. Oh, and the music has to sound like it was born on a pipe organ too.

There are certainly people who believe such things, but I’m not one of them. I think “Abide with Me” is a wonderful hymn, but not every hymn has to sound like “Abide with Me” to be good. Instead, my usual indictment of many modern worship songs is that 1) they lack strong Biblical content, and 2) the music is too complicated for a congregation to learn easily.

Neither one of these things is a necessary attribute of sacred songs written in the past 50 years, though such songs often fail on one or both counts. Rather, they are frequently problems because modern authors and composers generally don’t make good content and congregationality their priorities, particularly the latter.

Chris Tomlin doesn’t write music for me and my modest range. He writes music for Chris Tomlin, Chris Tomlin’s wonderful range, and Chris Tomlin’s backup band of professional musicians. Most brethren, however, have musical gifts much more like mine than like Chris Tomlin’s. Is it any wonder when they struggle with the Chris Tomlin repertoire?

However, when contemporary writers pay attention to content and the musical abilities of ordinary worshipers, they can turn out some excellent work that is eminently suitable for use in our assemblies. By now, most brethren are familiar with “In Christ Alone”, written by Stuart Townend and Keith and Kristin Getty. Together and separately, they’ve written plenty of other hymns that are comparable in quality and usefulness. The same goes for Bob Kauflin and the many writers who have been associated with Sovereign Grace through the years.

Recently, the Australian group CityAlight has attracted my attention (the tagline on their website is “Christian worship music with Biblically rich lyrics”, which is a good sign). Yes, they use drums and guitars, but brethren have been adapting denominational hymns for a-cappella use since the Restoration. We can do it here too.

Consider, for instance, the CityAlight song “Jesus Strong and Kind”, which I recently encountered for the first time. Its lyrics are:

1. Jesus said that if I thirst
I should come to Him;
No one else can satisfy;
I should come to Him.
2. Jesus said if I am weak
I should come to Him;
No one else can be my strength;
I should come to Him.
Chorus:
For the Lord is good and faithful;
He will keep us day and night;
We can always run to Jesus,
Jesus, strong and kind.
3. Jesus said that if I fear
I should come to Him;
No one else can be my shield;
I should come to Him.
(Chorus)
4. Jesus said if I am lost
He will come to me;
And He showed me on that cross
He will come to me.
(Chorus)

That’s good. It doesn’t look like the hymns Isaac Watts wrote, nor yet like the hymns I write. It’s still good. It reveals Biblical study and contemplation, it is focused, and it is deeply meaningful to the believer, especially those who also have spent time in study of the word.

If I may indulge in hymn-geekery for a moment, it’s also good because of its structural strength. Like many modern praise songs, it doesn’t use a strong rhyme scheme and can’t develop structure that way. Instead, it employs repetition, mixed with a few powerful word changes, as its structural element. The change from “thirst” and “satisfy” to “weak” and “strength” makes v. 2 meaningfully different from v. 1, even though most of the words are the same. However, the whole still has unity because of those similarities.

The music is also (or should be, at least) congregationally accessible. The use of verses means that brethren who learn music by rote don’t have to learn as much. The range is limited to a congregation-friendly octave, C to C in the original sheet music, though I’d probably raise it to D or Eb for four-part a-cappella use. I like the tune, too. Churches of Christ should be able to sing this one easily.

When was this fine piece of hymnody written? 2019. All it takes is somebody in the denominational world who cares about the Bible and congregational singing, and they’ll hand us something we can use.

Indeed, this happens frequently. This year, I wrote a workbook called Singing with Understanding for a Bible class I taught. Each lesson of the workbook pitted an unfamiliar hymn I liked against an unfamiliar hymn I didn’t so that the class could analyze the qualities of good and bad hymns. For the sake of fairness, I segregated hymns by time period: old good against old bad, new good against new bad. Of the four categories, I had by far the easiest time filling out the “New Good” category because so many of the best worship songs being written now are unfamiliar to the church.

That’s a shame. Rather than allowing CCM icons and praise teams to drive the additions to our repertoire, we ought instead to be looking for songs that are written for and will benefit the congregation. If we seek, we will find, and our song worship will benefit immeasurably thereby.

Matthew Bassford

Emergency!

9/21/2021 0 Comments

It started the night before, a strong pain in my lower abdomen, a little lower than an appendix might be, I thought, so I ruled that out, and slowly it began to subside and I managed a little sleep that Saturday night. The next morning all was fine, but just as I finished dressing for morning services, it started again, even stronger this time and it gradually spread up over my right hip and around to my back. Suddenly memories came flooding back to me. I had two 9+ pound baby boys, one 21 inches and the other 22, and they were both posterior—“sunny side up.” That meant all my labor was back labor, and here for the first time in over 35 years, I was having it again.
            “Kidney stones,” my doctor told me and sent me straight to the emergency room. Notice that: “emergency” room. Doesn’t that mean everyone should be hustling around to make this pain go away? But no, I had to answer a couple dozen questions, then list medications, then get the vitals, all while leaning over trying not to groan too loudly, before I even got my own little room in the back.
              And what happened there? More waiting while people strolled around, talking to one another about their Saturday night fun, ostensibly giving orders on my behalf but no one treating it like orders. And while I lay curled in a fetal position in that sterile little room on that narrow gurney, surrounded by stainless steel trays on which stood clear glass jars of cotton balls and swabs, pink plastic tubs, bedpans, blue open-backed hospital gowns, and plastic squeeze bottles of clear, blue, and orange liquids, up on the wall for my amusement hung a television. SpongeBob SquarePants cavorted soundlessly with his fellow weirdos. Really? SpongeBob? This is how you treat an emergency? I lay there strongly tempted to start my Lamaze breathing—if I could only remember how to do it. Maybe if I actually gave birth, someone would notice.
             Of course that was not a life-threatening emergency, even if it did feel like one. I am sure if my heart had stopped, someone would have come running. At least I hope so. But isn’t that exactly the way we treat soul-threatening emergencies all the time? No big deal. We’ve got time to talk to him. We’ve got time to teach them the gospel. We’ve got time to bring that lost sheep back to the fold before a wolf gets him for good. Do we?
             I understand “speaking truth in love” and I do my best to do that all the time. But some people define that so narrowly that sin-sick people do not get the treatment they need for their desperately—terminally—ill souls. Our culture has raised a generation that cannot take correction of any kind unless it is so camouflaged it completely slips past them as correction. “Woe is me. Someone dared to tell me I was wrong about something. Someone actually hurt my feelings by rebuking me. Poor little me.” And in society in general, that means the corrector is rebuked, usually unjustly, and the one in the wrong gets off scot free—in fact, he usually becomes a hero. “Look at the poor mistreated miscreant who stands against injustice!” And let’s riot a little if such doesn’t occur. Don’t think for a minute it doesn’t happen in the church.
             And so instead of treating him like someone in need of emergency care, we give him a comfortable little room with SpongeBob prancing on the TV, followed by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as I recall—I was in there for both of those two shows and the beginnings of another before my problem was even diagnosed (even though we already knew what it was) and dealt with. Good thing it was kidney stones. I wasn’t likely to die of that. But there are souls out there who need a good dose of medicine to even have a chance of saving them, and we’re just patting their hands and watching TV with them while they fade off into an eternity in Hell.

And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Jude 1:22-23

Dene Ward

September 20, 1814 The Star Spangled Banner

9/20/2021 0 Comments

I imagine everyone knows the story of our national anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner," or, its original title, "The Defense of Ft. McHenry." You know the story of a battle besieged Baltimore, hit on September 13, 1814, by a 27 hour bombardment from British troops who had already burned both the White House and the Capitol. Francis Scott Key, an attorney, was on board an American truce ship, tethered to a British naval ship after successfully negotiating a prisoner exchange when the shelling began. The British did not want him to reveal anything he might have overheard so he was forced to stay there. He could only watch through a spy glass, being several miles away, as the city was hit again and again. It seemed it could not help but fall. Yet when morning came, the American flag still flew over Ft McHenry and Key was moved to write the lyrics to a song he already had in mind, it seemed. Over the next few days the British gave up their assault and released him.
            The song was passed on to the Baltimore Patriot and Evening Advertiser, printed on September 20, and immediately became popular. It may have been 1931 before Congress officially declared it our national anthem, but it had been treated so almost from the beginning, certainly by the 1820s and 30s. It had already become the national anthem of the US Army and Navy by the beginning of World War I. I can understand why. It may be one of the most difficult songs to sing for ordinary people (or even some professionals!), but it never fails to send a thrill or two down my spine. There is just something about it. Which is why people become highly offended by anyone who disrespects this symbol of our country.
            This is NOT something new. God knew exactly how music effects the beings he created. His people have always sung. And in at least two dispensations, they were commanded to do so, sometimes in very specific ways. What is it exactly that singing does for us?
            1) Singing teaches. How did you learn your alphabet? How did you learn the twelve apostles, the sons of Jacob, and the books of both the Old and New Testaments? You sang them. If you are like me, you sometimes have to sing them under your breath still to find the one you want! Singing can teach in other ways than lists too. "Psalm 19" will help you memorize a portion of that great psalm.
            2) Singing admonishes. Even pop music has been known to carry serious messages. Do you remember "The Cat's in the Cradle" by Harry Chapin? I imagine I am giving away my age, but if you have never heard it, google the lyrics. If pop music can do it, surely the spiritual songs and hymns we sing can not only admonish us, but bring us to our knees. "Follow Me" and "Angry Words" come immediately to mind. Similar to a sermon, if a hymn can't cause repentance, I wonder if it is worth singing.
            3) Singing comforts us. Did you know that the majority of psalms are laments? It's David or Solomon or Moses or Asaph or some other writer casting his complaints before God in the plainest of words, words that sometimes make me cringe. Can I actually talk to God that way? Since he saved those songs and prayers for us, I think so. And notice this, in those laments when the complaining is over, the praise begins—even before God has fixed the problem. The psalmist is so comforted that he treats the answer to his petition as already having been received. Talk about faith! "In the Hour of Trial" and "Be with Me Lord" seem to fall into this category.
            4) Singing encourages. It moves us to fight harder and never give up. I read an article once in which the writer made it obvious that he hates songs that call us soldiers. Well, Paul calls us exactly that. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus (2Tim 2:3). And what do soldiers often do as they go off into battle? They sing! It raises the spirits and gives inner strength. It reminds us that trials make us stronger and buoy our spirits when the going is hard. "Count Your Many Blessings" and "The Battle Belongs to the Lord" are great examples. Did you ever exercise or run to music? Sometimes that is how I make those last ten steps when otherwise I would have stopped long before. Singing spiritual songs can do the same for us.
            5) And singing unifies. If "The Star Spangled Banner" can make for instant camaraderie in a highly partisan crowd of spectators at a sporting event, surely "Marching to Zion" and "Blessed Be the Tie" can do so in our spiritual assembly. If we can all sing the same words, it means we are all in this together, fighting the same enemy, spreading the Word, and holding one another up as we do so. We are one people headed for the same place.
            Is it really so amazing that our Creator knew how this activity would affect us? If it isn't affecting you that way, maybe you should pay more attention to what you are singing. If it's all about you, all about what you think, all about how you feel, and nothing about the God we worship and the gratitude and reverence we should have for him, maybe that's the problem.

And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD (Ps 27:6).

Dene Ward
For myths concerning the writing of our national anthem, which I have tried to correct in this article, see www.constitutioncenter.org.

Oracles to Women 5 Snobs

9/17/2021 0 Comments

“Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to your husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink!’ The Lord GOD has sworn by his holiness that, behold, the days are coming upon you, when they shall take you away with hooks, even the last of you with fishhooks. And you shall go out through the breaches, each one straight ahead; and you shall be cast out into Harmon,” declares the LORD, Amos 4:1-3.
            “Cows of Bashan”—that has to be one of my favorite lines in the Bible. I can just see the faces of these haughty women when that rough old country boy Amos spun that one out. There they lay on their silk cushions commanding even their own husbands to wait on them. These spoiled women have many sisters in spirit today. Just check out these other passages in Amos:
            Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals— Amos 2:6. Translation: I will punish you for not looking after those in need just so you could buy yet another pair of new shoes.
            I will strike the winter house along with the summer house, and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall come to an end,” declares the LORD, Amos 3:15. Translation: I will destroy not just your upscale houses but also the cabin in the mountains, the condo on the beach, and the time share you visit every summer.
            “Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music, who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away.” Amos 6:4-7. Translation: Disaster will come on those with the best and most expensively decorated homes, who eat lamb and veal—the most expensive meats in the market—who like to be entertained lavishly, who use the most expensive perfumes and makeups and judge their haircuts by who paid the most, yet are not concerned one iota over the spiritual state of this nation.
            If you cannot see our culture in these verses, it may just be that you are one of these people, more concerned about what you can have here and now, about your status among the rest of the snobs, about your comfort and convenience than about your relationship with God. Those people broke their covenant with God, thinking that sacrifices and tithes (4:4) could make up for trampling on the needy in order to make even more money (5:11), or just ignoring them and blaming them for their own problems as we tend to do.
            And they judged greatest among them those who spent the most on clothing and jewelry and perfume and homes and probably even manicures, while God’s Word shows us that great women are known for purity, for love, for strength of character, for teaching, for serving the poor, the ill, the weak, or even those who don’t deserve it at all.
            We have now seen all four of the oracles God sent specifically to women—the manipulators, the high maintenance, the weak who cannot face facts, and the snobs who judge by society’s standards instead of God’s. I have known all four of them. The goal for me—and you--is to make sure we are never counted among them.

She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens… She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong… She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy… Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness… “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Prov 31:15,17,20,25-27,29.

Dene Ward

Oracles to Women 4 Living in Denial

9/16/2021 0 Comments

Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear my voice; you complacent daughters, give ear to my speech. In little more than a year you will shudder, you complacent women; for the grape harvest fails, the fruit harvest will not come. Tremble, you women who are at ease, shudder, you complacent ones; strip, and make yourselves bare, and tie sackcloth around your waist. Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine, for the soil of my people growing up in thorns and briers, yes, for all the joyous houses in the exultant city. For the palace is forsaken, the populous city deserted; the hill and the watchtower will become dens forever, a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks; Isa 32:9-14.
            The women of God’s people would not face facts. They were going to be destroyed. “Complacent” Isaiah calls them. “Careless” the King James Version says. That word means bold and confident. Despite the facts, despite the preaching of God’s prophet, they did not believe they would be destroyed. What I call it is “denial,” the haven of fear for some of us, and I have seen it often in my sisters.
            When they do not want to believe that a loved one will soon die, they blame everything on the doctors. “They” are wrong, they don’t know what they are doing, they listen to the insurance companies too much, they are simply cogs in the big business of modern medicine and don’t care about patients anyway.
            When they don’t want to believe there is a financial problem, they place their confidence in how things have always been. It never crosses their minds that times might have changed and they might need to cut down their costs of living, actually sacrificing a few things. They believe that it will only last a few days and then things will be back to normal.
            When a family member or friend, especially when a child has gotten themselves into trouble, the accusers are lying, the teacher just doesn’t like my baby, the police have made trumped charges. It cannot possibly be that someone I love actually broke a rule or committed a crime.
            Women used to be the strong ones. When I think back to those hearty pioneers who traveled west, who left most things behind and lived on beans, bacon and flour for months at a time, who built fires for every bit of housekeeping from cooking to cleaning, who carried water several times a day, who worked dawn to dusk, then sat by a dim lamp to darn socks and mend shirts until they could no longer stay awake, I wonder what they would think of the spoiled women of luxury we have become—even those of us who don’t live in mansions and wear designer clothes. I hear too many say, “I could never do that,” to think we are as strong as they were. Too many seem unable to face facts, recognizing what needs to be done and doing it without a second thought, no matter how difficult it may be.
            What has happened to us? At one of the places I spoke several years ago, I mentioned something that had befallen my family, something I had to do that I had never done before and wasn’t sure I could even do. It was supposed to be an application of Prov 31:25: “Strength and dignity are her clothing.” One of the women actually spoke up and said, “That’s where I draw the line. No one could make me do that.” What? And so something that needed to be done and no one else was there to do it, would not get done? And everything would be all right?
          Denial, false confidence, indifference, complacency, carelessly assuming things would go on just fine. That’s what those women in Isaiah were doing. Sometimes you have to be strong. Sometimes you have to face the facts, no matter how awful they are. Sometimes you are the one who has to act. Don’t be the weakling who wrings her hands in despair or sits there confident that nothing is wrong when everything is. Don’t let this oracle be meant for you.

The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless, Prov 14:15-16

Dene Ward

Oracles to Women 3 High Maintenance Women

9/15/2021 0 Comments

The LORD says, “The women of Zion are proud. They walk with their heads high and flirt with their eyes. They skip along and the jewelry on their ankles jingles. So the sovereign master will afflict the foreheads of Zion’s women with skin diseases, the LORD will make the front of their heads bald.” At that time the sovereign master will remove their beautiful ankle jewelry, neck ornaments, crescent shaped ornaments, earrings, bracelets, veils, headdresses, ankle ornaments, sashes, sachets, amulets, rings, nose rings, festive dresses, robes, shawls, purses, garments, vests, head coverings, and gowns. A putrid stench will replace the smell of spices, a rope will replace a belt, baldness will replace braided locks of hair, a sackcloth garment will replace a fine robe, and a prisoner’s brand will replace beauty. Your men will fall by the sword, your strong men will die in battle. Her gates will mourn and lament; deprived of her people, she will sit on the ground. Seven women will grab hold of one man at that time. They will say, “We will provide our own food, we will provide our own clothes; but let us belong to you – take away our shame!” Isa 3:16-4:1.
            God’s people had simply become too wealthy and they were proud of it. They felt they had earned it. The women’s obsession with expensive clothing and jewelry, with the self-centered cultivation of their beauty, showed in their facial expressions, in their strutting and flirtatious walks and looks, and were products of an upper class that had never known hard times and hard work. Somehow, they simply “deserved” it all.
            God promised them punishment suitable to their attitude—diseases that would rob their good looks, the indignity of baldness and stink, and horror of horrors!—not a thing to wear! Their craving to be noticed would not be satisfied, even if they begged men to take them in, promising to see to their own needs instead of expecting support from him. Do you see what really mattered to them? The attention of man instead of God; the carnal pleasures of life rather than the spiritual blessings of being a child of God. High maintenance women indeed—a man could work himself to death and not satisfy a one of them.
            You see them in the church all the time—high maintenance members—and, in my experience, most of them are women.
            Every need is an urgent need to this drama queen. She demands more visits, more phone calls, more cards, more mention from the pulpit, in the announcements, in the bulletin, on the webmail, than any ten other people combined. And what she gets seldom satisfies her. Instead of telling you how many have visited or called, she will greet you with a list of all who have not. In fact, she will always call attention to herself when others are mentioned, even if their need is obviously and by far more than hers.
            She is never content, and will carry a list of wrongs against her that goes as far back as her childhood, and mention them whenever the opportunity arises. Forgive and forget, or simply letting something go, as in “love covers a multitude of sins,” is not in her repertoire.
            She is especially conscious of status—all of “those people” have it and she doesn’t. And because “they” look down on her, everyone is against her or “has an agenda.”
            She resents authority, particularly when it tries to correct her, and is highly critical of others. She will judge your motives as surely as if she dwelt inside your heart, and dare you to question her conclusions about them. She will even tell you what you would have done in any given situation—whether you know what you would have done or not.
            If you want her to remain a Christian you have to hold her hand in every situation, comfort, console, pray for, talk to, and serve her every minute or she simply won’t make it—and it will be all your fault! And by the way, don’t you ever expect any of the same help from her. It isn’t her “talent.”
            No, you don’t have to be a luxury lover to be high maintenance. All you have to be is self-centered and shallow, with all the wrong priorities and a sense of entitlement.
            These people, men and women, think they are unique and that only God can really understand them. They think one of these days He will come and show everyone else who is really in the right. He didn’t do it for those proud women of long ago. Why should He start now?
            What these high maintenance people really need is a good dose of Philippians 2: Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
            Be careful, ladies. It is far too easy to fall into this bad habit, especially as wealthy and luxury-conscious as we have become in this culture. And we are oh, so good at it.

…with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love…submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ, Eph 4:2; 5:21.

Dene Ward

Oracles for Women 2 Manipulators

9/14/2021 0 Comments

“And you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own hearts. Prophesy against them and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the women who sew magic bands upon all wrists, and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature, in the hunt for souls! Will you hunt down souls belonging to my people and keep your own souls alive? You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, putting to death souls who should not die and keeping alive souls who should not live, by your lying to my people, who listen to lies. “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against your magic bands with which you hunt the souls like birds, and I will tear them from your arms, and I will let the souls whom you hunt go free, the souls like birds. Your veils also I will tear off and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand as prey, and you shall know that I am the LORD. Because you have disheartened the righteous falsely, although I have not grieved him, and you have encouraged the wicked, that he should not turn from his evil way to save his life, therefore you shall no more see false visions nor practice divination. I will deliver my people out of your hand. And you shall know that I am the LORD,” Ezek 13:17-23.
            This oracle has caused a lot of consternation among scholars. Many of its details are unfathomable beyond educated guesses, and some of them not so educated. Suffice it to say, these false prophetesses use pagan methods of some sort to deceive people into believing them. And by their devious methods they “hunt souls.” Souls who “should not die” die, and souls who “should not live” live. They are as “prey” in the hands of these women. In short, these women are master manipulators, and women are oh, so good at it.
            If you haven’t seen that in your lifetime, you are either unobservant or very young. Even while claiming submission, women can get exactly what they want with the crook of a finger. I’ve seen “Mama’s boys” tied to their mothers’ apron strings, husbands actually afraid of their wives, and preachers taken down a peg by a loud woman right on the church house steps. Sometimes there isn’t even a half-baked reason for it; it’s simply women who enjoy exercising their power over others, while at the same time batting their eyelashes and saying, “What? Little ol’ me?”
            No one should be walking on eggshells around me. No one should live in fear of my reaction to something they do or say. Yet I have seen young brides give in to things they did not want on their wedding days just to avoid “hurting” someone—someone who should have asked a bride what SHE wanted instead of just up and doing and expecting it to be accepted gratefully, or someone who simply insisted that she knew best. Sometimes, often in fact, it is even a member of the family.
            I have seen daughters-in-law practically groveling for a little acceptance from mothers-in-law who were disappointed in their sons’ choices and made it obvious.
            I have seen grandmothers pitting grandchildren against one another for her affection.
           And all this is as old as the women in the Bible who did the same—Delilah, Jezebel, Athaliah, and Herodias, among others. Clearly we have a problem with this, ladies, and it’s time we faced up to it and cleaned up our acts.
            We may not be false prophetesses out there to “hunt souls,” but we are certainly false wives, mothers, and grandmothers when we have ulterior motives to our actions. If I “dishearten” my husband with nagging, with catty responses, with complaints, I am not the wife “who does him good and not evil all the days of his life.” If I push my children with guilt trips and innuendo, I am not the mother who “opens her mouth with wisdom.” If I am the woman in the church who is so quick to tell everyone what they need to be doing for her, and in exactly what way or I’ll leave, I am not the servant of the church the apostles so often commend. If I have to stoop to manipulation in order to be content with who I am, I am not the woman for whom “strength and dignity are her clothing.”
           Submission does not act this way. Respect does not. Certainly, love doesn’t.

The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down. Whoever walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but he [or she] who is devious in his/her ways despises him, Prov 14:1-2.

Dene Ward

Oracles for Women 1

9/13/2021 0 Comments

I’ve always found a certain measure of comfort in 1 Tim 2:14: for Adam was not beguiled, but the woman being beguiled has fallen into transgression. Comfort, you ask? Sure. At least Eve had to be tricked into sinning. Adam knew it was a sin and did it anyway.
            But I think the bigger point is this: no matter what our culture tries to tell us, men and women are different. We have different strengths and different weaknesses. As you age, dealing with more people in all sorts of situations, it becomes more and more obvious. In fact, I have come to believe this: there is nothing worse than a bad woman, but there is nothing better than a good woman. Women seem to have the capacity for both infinite cruelty and infinite compassion.
            It should also be comforting that most of the oracles in the prophets are aimed squarely at men—they were the ones in control, the leaders who bore the responsibility for how a nation behaved. So I found it interesting when one commentary pointed out that we do have four oracles specifically to women, and I thought it might be good to explore those oracles and make application to ourselves. After all, people really haven’t changed. We are still men and women with the same strengths and the same weaknesses.
            This week I will post “Oracles to Women 2 through 5” here on the blog. Let me warn you: this will not be comfortable. In order to make an application we can relate to, I will be specific and sometimes brutally honest. I guarantee you will recognize these women. You see them around you every day—sometimes in the mirror. Yet I hope we can all learn to be better by these inspired words from God’s prophets.

Every wise woman builds her house; But the foolish plucks it down with her own hands, Prov 14:1.

Dene Ward

Hannah and Eli

9/10/2021 0 Comments

I am sure that most of my readers are familiar with the story of Hannah, a barren woman who prayed for a child and vowed to give him back to God. And she vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head (1Sam 1:11). Hannah also included in that vow taking her child to the tabernacle to serve as soon as he was weaned. And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. And the child was young (1Sam 1:24).
            Granted, weaning in those days took place much later than in our culture. Age three to five was the standard, but I have read in one source that it could occasionally be stretched to age 8. (I don't remember where I read that.) I would never ascribe my own feelings to Hannah, but I would say that if I were her, I would have not been in too much of a hurry!
            But here is something to think about today: Who was she leaving this young child with? Eli, the high priest. Sounds like an excellent mentor, doesn't he? But Eli himself had not done such a good job with his own sons. Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD (1Sam 2:12). These men were priests mind you, who disobeyed God's directions on dealing with the sacrifices that people brought. Chapter 2 goes on to describe that and then says this, Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the LORD, for the men treated the offering of the LORD with contempt (1Sam 2:17). And this might not have been the worst of it. Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting (1Sam 2:22). Notice: everyone knew what they were doing.
            In case you were wondering, Hannah and her family lived in Ramathaim (1:1), the Old Testament name for Arimathea in the New. My Bible map shows it to be less than 20 miles from there to Shiloh where the sanctuary stood in those days. Certainly close enough for news to travel. Now you are Hannah and you realize the kind of men Eli's sons are, men he raised himself. What are you going to do with the child you have promised to take and leave there?
            The first thing to notice is that Hannah did not use this as an excuse to go back on her vow to God. She made the vow, her husband allowed the vow to stand, and that settled it. But I bet not a day went by that young Samuel did not hear the Pentateuch quoted in his home. I imagine his mother and father both taught him every moment they had, and even made sure to make those moments happen. They knew that not only would they not be there to teach him, but the influence he would be surrounded by would be less than optimal, to put it mildly.
            After Samuel arrived, God required the lives of those three men within a few short years, the father and his two wicked sons. (I am not certain how old Samuel was at that time. Josephus says he was 12 when Eli died, but Josephus did not live then and, although he is considered reliable in the period between 100 BC and 100 AD, for the very early Jewish history he only repeated the historical traditions. Numbers 4:3 says that a man could not serve as priest until he was 30, and Samuel was not only prophet and judge, but also priest eventually. That might mean that the people lived without a high priest for a period of time or perhaps another Aaronic descendant stepped up. We simply do not know.) Samuel lived several years in that wicked atmosphere after his mother took him there. Yet he turned out a righteous man. Hannah, unlike Eli, did her job and did it well.
          What we seem not to realize is this—we are in exactly the same situation as Hannah. Sooner or later we will turn our children over to other influences, whether public school or even a religious private school, and eventually a university probably. And that does not count the even earlier influences of society in the things they see on television, or the things they read, or the video games they play, or any number of other things. Are you diligently preparing them for that time? Will they be able to see wrong and know it is wrong? Will they be strong enough to be different from their peers, even revel in the difference as Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did?
            Time flies faster than you think. I am sure those early years flew for Hannah. They are flying by for you as well. Remember that before it is too late.

Then the LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them (1Sam 3:11-13).

Dene Ward

Essential Oils Are Not Essential

9/9/2021 0 Comments

Imagine my surprise when I went to a workshop on essential oils and the speaker opened her presentation with that statement. Quickly she went on to explain, and I have appreciated her even more as a sister in Christ since then.
            This young woman uses the oils. She enjoys them in her bath, on her skin, and diffused in the air around her. However, she does not believe that they imbue people with spiritual powers.
            “I am a Christian,” she said. “What some people claim these oils do for you is done for me through Christ and the Word. Period.” Once she began to list the claims, and once I did my own research, I have uttered a hearty amen.
            So what do they claim? The following is only a partial list, and remember, each of these things is supposed to be “spiritual,” so, for example, when it lists “strength,” it means spiritual strength, not muscular strength. Keep everything in that context.
            Fennel—perseverance
            Grapefruit—generosity
            Helichrysum—patience
            Myrtle—ability to forgive
            Palmarosa—faithfulness
            Parsley—purification
            Sandalwood—unity
            Pine—humility
            Juniper—sincerity and enlightenment
            Myrrh—spirituality
            Cedarwood—regeneration
            Agrimony—protection
            Chamomile—spiritual awareness, inner peace
            Bay laurel—confidence
            Bergamot—joy
            Cinnamon—love
            Angelica--comfort
            (www.mauldinfamily1.wordpress.com, “mama bear musings”)
This isn’t even half the list, but it contains most of the “spiritual blessings” these oils are supposed to impart.
            Some people also ascribe “magical” powers to essential oils. Magic? Yes, as in potions to protect you and grant you good health and good luck or to put a hex on one’s enemies. This is exactly how the pagans used oils in ancient times, as indicated by many of the Bible verses that condemn the practice of such “magic.”   Remember too, that most of the verses used to claim Biblical authority for using “essential oils” at all are referring to plain old olive oil, the stuff you and I cook with. Yes, other oils are mentioned by name, but with the exception of the table of incense in the tabernacle and the Temple, I could find none used in the worship of God. (Please show me if I am wrong.)
            Before we get to this matter of spiritual benefits, let’s clear up a couple of other things. Proponents of essential oils say that they were used in Biblical times and were even found in King Tut’s tomb. Let me quote: “…aromatic materials were used in Biblical times…but these materials would not have been essential oils, at least not by today’s definition of being steam distilled products.” Steam distillation was not even invented until the 11th century, over 2000 years after King Tut’s death. (www.weedemandreap.com, “10 Essential Oil Myths vs Fact” by Dr Robert Pappas)
            Others lean heavily on the fact that the wise men brought frankincense and myrrh to the house where the toddler Jesus was living in Bethlehem. Besides these gifts having more to do with the nature of the Messiah as the future king, priest, and sacrifice, it probably financed, along with the gold, the flight to Egypt that the poor, newly married couple had to make to save their child’s life. And, as quoted above, it wasn’t even the same thing as those two materials today.
            As for the “magical” properties, I seriously hope I don’t have to say much about that. Those things are condemned in both the Old and New Testaments not just as sins, but as “abominations to the LORD.” No Christian should ever believe such things or use these oils in that way.
            For those spiritual properties, let’s examine the scriptures. In no particular order:
2 Cor 5:17—God has made us new creatures in Christ (regeneration)
Rom 12:5—we have unity in Christ (and many more passages)
2 John 1:3—we have grace, mercy, and peace through God and Jesus Christ
2 Cor 2:17—sincerity shows when one speaks in Christ
Phil 2:1—encouragement and comfort are found in Christ
Eph 3:12—we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him
Eph 1:18—Paul prays for our enlightenment, in this context, in him
1 Pet 1:22—we are purified by our obedience to the truth
Gal 5:22-26—the fruit of the Spirit (love , joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) comes when we put to death the deeds of the body and are led by the Spirit, a very good definition of spirituality.
And should anyone still be doubtful, Eph 1:3—God has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing. “Every” should cover anything I missed in the lists above.
            If I need these oils in order to be able to forgive someone, why didn’t God make sure I knew about it in His Word? In fact, He does tell me that if I do not forgive I will not be forgiven, so this is a serious matter. If I need some sandalwood in order to have unity, why weren’t the first century Christians told to find some and use it? Their unity, Jesus said, would make the world believe. Are we consigning people to Hell because we don’t have any sandalwood in our assemblies? If I need parsley for purification, surely God would have told us that it wasn’t just the blood of Jesus that purified us. I think you can probably see my point by now.
            When the Jews started relying upon horses, chariots, political alliances and false gods, God destroyed them. I think you can add essential oils to the list if they are being touted as “necessary to purification and spirituality.” Even if we believe they just “help,” we are on dangerous ground. When God supplies something, it’s enough.
            If you enjoy using essential oils in your own home, please do so. I enjoyed passing them around and smelling them. And it certainly was an eye-opener to me about how generous those wise men were with their gifts. One ounce of frankincense (that’s 2 tablespoons) was listed at $97.00. I believe they brought Jesus far more than one ounce (and remember it was NOT exactly the same thing).
            But if you claim to be a disciple of our Lord, you need to be careful what you believe about these things. You owe it to Him to make sure that your companions do not tar you with the same brush as those who make unscriptural claims. They need to hear that while you may enjoy these oils you worship the Creator, not the creation.
Do not undermine the all-sufficiency of Christ by claiming that these oils can do for anyone what he does for those who are “in him.” It’s nothing less than blasphemous to say that “essential oils” can impart the same spiritual blessings that He can.

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Heb 13:20-21

Dene Ward