Prodigals.Online

5-10 min answers to Christian and cultural topics.
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An online-first approach to planting and building a cross-denominational fellowship of Christians in Central Kentucky. Return to our first love in God through concise and convicting messages. Available in text, audio, and video formats. Find out more or support the cause at www.prodigals.online prodigalsonline.substack.com

  1. 06/11/2024

    44 - When did Israel begin to care more about laws than God?

    One of the hallmarks of Jesus’ ministry was His reproach of the religious leaders in His day. The Sadducees and Pharisees were his frequent adversaries. Modern believers know these groups by name, though they may not know the difference between them. That exploration is for another message. Suffice it to say that BOTH religious groups vehemently defended the Word of God–albeit incorrectly. Both interpreted the Torah differently, yet they each held incredible societal influence. Though their understanding was erroneous, at least they tried, right? Compare their zeal to that of the Old Testament Israelites. Generations did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.  Various minor prophets predicted and lamented the oncoming wrath to no avail. Their indifference or blasphemies resulted in their exile across the Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian empires. Compared to the generations of lax observance, one might think a stricter overreaction in Jesus’ day would be a welcome reprieve.  For over 1,000 years, the Israelites struggled to adhere to God’s rules, but NOW (...err… around 0 CE), the Jews are too observant. How? And why? It’s important to revisit the cultural context. As the Jews tried to rebuild Israel, there were three post-exilic prophets–Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Their messages had a strong influence on the fledgling Jewish community. Haggai’s words implored the imperiled Israelites to “Give careful thought to your ways.” (Haggai 1:7, NIV) in how they rebuilt the temple. God promised the high priest, Joshua–through Zechariah–a heavenly standing “If [he would] walk in my ways and keep my requirements.” (Zechariah 3:7, NIV) Zechariah also contains admonitions of the Israelites’ intentions during fasting (7:5), warns how obstinance resulted in wrath (7:14), and condemns the selfishness of wayward leaders (11:6). When paired with Malachi’s question-and-answer revelation of poor faith and stewardship, the apocalyptic prophecies in the rest of Zechariah certainly loomed large in their minds. For a community surrounded by enemies (Nehemiah 4 & 6) and familiar with the brink of destruction (Esther 3), faithful obedience was literally life and death. These Israelites were constantly surviving miraculously as the overwhelmed underdogs. There was no other explanation for their salvation beyond God. In their weakness, God’s power was made perfect. (ref. 2 Corinthians 12:9). The fear of the Lord was their regular hope. This zeal, however, manifested itself in cruel ways. The first recorded example comes from Ezra 9 and 10. Ezra was a well-taught descendent of the priestly line of Aaron, Moses’ brother (Ezra 7:6, 7:10). Though the temple had been rebuilt, Ezra led the people into more serious observance through public Scripture reading and restoration of ritual sacrifices (Nehemiah 8). This culminates in Ezra chapters 9 and 10, where Ezra leads the other priests in public mourning for the ways in which the Jews had intermarried with surrounding nations. By mingling the “holy race,” as some leaders claimed in Ezra 9:2, many were accused of leading the people astray. With Zechariah’s warnings fresh in their mind, fear swept through. The reaction was swift and severe. Every man who had returned to Israel had three days' notice to assemble in Jerusalem, or he would forfeit his property. (Ezra 10:8) As one mass congregation, Ezra commanded them to separate themselves from their foreign wives (10:11), and their intercultural children (10:44). Few could refute Ezra’s renowned and studied understanding of Scripture. So, his command stood, dividing families in the process. If we callously read the Bible with an implicit endorsement from God, then the casual observer may feel indifferent about this or may applaud the Israelites' desire to “purify” themselves to the Lord. After all, believers are called to forsake their own families for their faith, if necessary (see Luke 14:26). However, biblical records are not a categorical endorsement from God. In fact, much of it contains the history of those opposing God’s will. God does not give Ezra, or anyone else, this instruction. So, we must look at this event for what it is: systematic racism that destroyed families and lives under the name of God.  This–I contend–is the first written example of Israel’s extreme overcorrection toward piety over peace and manipulation over mercy. Ezra’s edict ignores the intention of the originating law. Found in Exodus 34:16, God warns, “when you choose some of their daughters as wives for your sons and those daughters prostitute themselves to their gods, they will lead your sons to do the same.” (Exodus 34:16, NIV) God’s desire is not to preserve the “holy race,” as Ezra’s fellow leaders desired. God’s desire was to protect their faith. These families had been exiled from Jerusalem for 70-120 years. Much of the population had been decimated; who else would they marry? These families braved a dangerous journey (Ezra 8:21) to resettle in a destroyed nation. They contributed offerings and labor to rebuild the temple and city walls. Nothing suggests that these now-divided families worshipped idols. Their acts of faith in returning to Jerusalem suggest the opposite. Only a strict interpretation of Scripture, without context, mandated this severe sacrifice. The leaders ignored God’s word through Moses to “not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.” (Exodus 22:21, NIV) They ignored God’s word through Isaiah to “Let no foreigner who is bound to the Lord say, ‘The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.’” (Isaiah 56:3, NIV) They ignored God’s word through the then-living Zechariah against the oppression of the foreigner. (Zechariah 7:10) The religious leaders used the fear of death and wrath to coerce obedience. They did not lean on God’s words of love, mercy, and justice–they chose segregation and power cloaked in the name of ”faith.” They did not care how few rights women and children had. This overreaction set the stage for Jesus to arrive with the ultimate message of love–not only for the Jews but also for the Gentiles. (see: Galatians 3:28) Now, there were two leaders who disagreed with Ezra’s command (Ezra 10:15). Like Joshua and Caleb before them, they could not convince the crowd to make the right choice, and the larger population paid the price. Are we not living in similar times? Politically, religiously? Fear of loss–whether profession, finances, freedoms, or life–drives us to rallies and ballot boxes. Fear of damnation puts excessive pressure of holiness on believers. I applaud holiness as a means for spiritual growth but not as a weapon for group obedience. Christians have to tread the tension between love and fear carefully. We are called to love our enemies so that they may believe. We are called to fear the Lord’s awesome power. When we start judging other’s specks of sin in their eyes, the logs in our own grow.  The Pharisees and Sadducees got it wrong and led the people in condemnation for 400 years. We must heed the warnings Jesus gave those leaders and instead seek the justice, mercy, and humility that God calls us to. Let’s leave the judgment in God’s hands. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit prodigalsonline.substack.com

  2. 06/07/2024

    43 - What is the role of blood in Christianity?

    Symbols make it easy for people to come together for a common cause. Take national flags, for example. You may not know every country’s flag, but you know yours. At the Olympics, millions of people are singularly identified by one colorful rectangle. Though countries are distinct through their traditions, geographies, laws, and languages, none of those are as easy to latch an identity onto. For those who hold those identities dearly, flags concisely encompass all they hope–or dread–their country to be. Flags can also be used by opposing forces for drastically different causes. Revolutions will waive their country’s flag while trying to dismantle its own governance. Some US citizens stormed the Capitol building to stop what they understood to be a false election, desecrating a cherished institutional symbol while waving the same flag flying on top of it. Ironically, the same flag may represent drastically different futures to different people. Therefore, symbols like flags more accurately represent what people hope for more than what they may actually be. This is reminiscent of the imagery of blood throughout the Bible. Human beings come in different shapes, sizes, colors, and languages, but the presence of blood binds us all in a common experience. Man can be represented through his common share of blood. God declared, “For the life of a creature is in the blood.” (Leviticus 17:11, NIV). We now know that DNA separates species from one another, but our blood is heavily loaded with that DNA. We all can visualize blood. We easily recognize it. The symbol of blood represents our life–and, therefore, our species’ identity–just as a flag represents our country’s heritage. Like flags, “blood” can also represent corporate identities. We are reminded of family bloodlines–this was certainly important in biblical contexts across priesthood and kingship. We can also see it in national identities, especially when the Israelites were forbidden to intermarry with surrounding cultures. So powerful is the concept of blood in national contexts that the Assyrian empire would exile half the population of conquered nations and “import” different nationalities into the region to intermingle the bloodlines. Biblically, this is most evident in 2 Kings 17. Blood binds man, nations, and families together. It is safe to say, then, that blood is a most precious symbol of God’s creation. That must be why God explains the ritual sacrifices as, “I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” (Leviticus 17:11, NIV) The offering of an animal’s blood is the closest symbol that correlates to the death of man’s life due to sin. As our poor actions steal the promise of our lives, the Israelites must exchange one life for another. Each atoning sacrifice was a reminder of the death of our potential perfection. Though the Israelites had not yet received the laws included in Leviticus, they experienced atonement through the blood firsthand in Egypt. During the Passover in Exodus 12, the Hebrews took a young, unblemished male lamb and prepared it roasted fully over a fire. Having saved some blood, they smeared it on the sides and top of their doorposts. God told them, “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you.” (Exodus 12:13, NIV) Little could the ancient Israelites know just how precious the blood of atonement would one day be through Jesus, but it set the stage for them to be united by blood–both the lambs’ and their own. It’s also the sensitivity of this symbol that made any interaction with blood so rigorously unacceptable. When Cain slays his younger brother, Abel, God hears Abel’s spilled blood cry out from the ground (Genesis 4:10). Though Abel died, his blood carried his identity. Like our identity, our blood was not meant to be stolen by another.  When Old Testament men came in contact with a woman’s menstrual blood or a dead animal or a dead person, they remained unclean until evening (Leviticus 15). Blood was not to be shared with another. No one was to consume any blood. God would set His “face against that person.” (Leviticus 17:10) Whether for health reasons or symbolism, blood was not to be consumed by another. Blood is the sacred identifier of an individual, whether a person or a beast. Their DNA is a unique imprint, given by God in accordance with His will on their life. Anyone attempting to steal, share, or consume it aims to destroy what God held precious.  Yet, Jesus arrived with opposite intentions. In both literal and metaphorical ways, Jesus came to have His blood spilled on Calvary by others, instruct His disciples to “consume” His blood through Communion, and share His blood with us in one final atonement. Jesus’ blood equally symbolized everything He is: His identity as God and Man, His provision of Salvation, and His hope for what man could be. But just as His blood offers atonement for all who take refuge in it, it similarly condemns those who don’t. When God commanded the sacrificial rules, He warned, “Any Israelite who sacrifices…in the camp or outside of it instead of…the Tent of Meeting…that man shall be considered guilty of bloodshed.” (Leviticus 17:3-4, NIV) The angry Jewish mob that demanded Jesus’ life sent Him outside of the city–to Calvary–to die. Their oblivious sacrifice and obstinance cursed them within the Old Covenant as well as the New.  Like a flag torn between two opposing sides, Jesus’ spilt blood represented retribution for the Jewish leaders, whereas Christians now know it to mean reconciliation; it was always meant to. Though the Israelites were anointed to welcome the Suffering Savior, they were also the ones to spill His blood. However, for those of us who choose to see His blood as our atonement, that must be what we rally around—not a dynamic speaker or our favorite church brand. The blood alone. As Jesus poured out His life—His blood—for us, we must give our lives for everything It represents. His identity as the one unblemished Lamb is the only one worth uniting around as one nation under the blood.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit prodigalsonline.substack.com

  3. 06/04/2024

    42 - Why is the Western Church shrinking?

    There are a dozen ways to answer a question like this–many of them correct, many more incorrect, and none of them comprehensive. Especially within a ten-minute delivery limit (I steer towards five if I can), there simply isn’t enough time to discuss all the sociological themes at play. There are many books written about it for those craving all the knowledge. Is it postmodernism? Is it social media’s influence? Is it the new generation? Everyone has a culprit to blame, but what if the blame belongs to the Christians?  They say (whoever they are) that those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it. Some of history’s greatest figures were indeed historians themselves who knew which way to pave forward instead of repeating well-trodden arcs. Specifically, within a bible-centered perspective, I suggest we look at our failing Western church through a historical lens–a biblical historical lens–to draw conclusions and even solace in ways that our survey statisticians and modern philosophers simply cannot. So, let’s try that. At the height of ancient Israel’s power, “King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.” (2 Chronicles 9:22, NIV) Kings sought his audience and offered him gifts of weaponry and fine metals for it. His throne was completely overlaid with ivory and gold. His was “the good life.” It would appear to any observer that God had fully delivered on His Abrahamic promises. 30 years later, God’s chosen nation is divided into two. In eight more generations, both were conquered, and Solomon’s majestic temple to God was ransacked and ruined. Not so good anymore.  How did it all fall apart so quickly? Historians will discuss the ascendency of the global empires, as Assyria gave way to the Babylonians, who gave way to the Persians, with ultimate influences of Greek and Roman conquests. Anthropologists may cite the further development and defense of nations over city-states, the rise of Greek philosophy, or the influence of Eastern ethos on Mediterranean cultures. But make no mistake–the ancient Israelites brought catastrophe upon themselves. Secularly, a nation divided and warring with its former brothers is much more vulnerable than one united. Religiously, the Bible records the people’s continual descent into sin and error, inviting God’s wrath. No matter how you slice it, the people of Israel sealed their own fate. Perhaps the Western church has done the same. Both ancient Israel and the modern Western church (MWC) had lost their divinely appointed purpose as they leaned into behaviors of the surrounding cultures instead of being the antidote. Both ancient Israel and the MWC ascended to prestige, wealth, and influence on the back of God’s Word, only to opt for more through political means. Ancient Israel and the MWC were plagued by poor leadership that was particularly overcome by sin, whether it be Ahab and Jezebel of antiquity or the terrible sexual exploitation of children and church staff we read so frequently about. Israel and the MWC both gave up their God-given identities for political and secular indulgences. When this happened, the world saw them for what they truly were–vulnerable humans no longer protected by the grace of their God. But in God’s plan, there’s always a remnant. When Elijah is despondent about being God’s only faithful servant left, God replies, “Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal” (1 Kings 19:18, NIV) When the ancient Hebrews were more fearful of the Canaanites than trusting in the Lord, two men–Joshua and Caleb–remained faithful (Numbers 14). As the world’s leaders bowed to a golden image of Nebuchadnezzar, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah remained standing (Daniel 3). When the odds are stacked against God’s elect, He strengthens the few. At the height of Solomon’s earthly glory, he alone had 12,000 horses at his command (2 Chronicles 9:25). 422 years later, when the Jewish people returned to rebuild the temple, the entire population only had “736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.” (Ezra 2:66-67, NIV) Israel had ascended to power like a flash in the pan, only to be decimated through war, famine, and exile.  Yet, a remnant remained. This is our history. Jewish history is Christian history, up until a point (Jesus). The MWC is repeating that history. It has enjoyed the height of its secular fame and political power but now sees its numbers decline and its median age rise as it offers no salt to those lost in the muck and mire that is our culture. As the Assyrians and Babylonians dismantled all that the ancient Israelites secularly leaned upon, today’s culture has now similarly turned its ire on the church for its hypocrisies, moral failings, and pursuit of power. God, as He has historically done, allowed the MWC to chase the fleeting winds of power to its own demise.  Sure, this message does not break down all the philosophical trends of modern man to understand how an ancient religion no longer jives with current luxuries and choice, but those studies squarely focus on the MWC while ignoring the growth of Christianity in the global south. Yes, there are many socioeconomic differences between Western standards of living and 2nd-world countries, but the Father, the Son, the Spirit, and the faith are all the same. They grow in one place while the MWC stumbles in decline. Maybe the fault isn’t with the faith–maybe it is with the faithless. This message reveals our repeating role in our faith’s troubles. The MWC has not read the Bible as it should, meaning it does not know its history. The MWC has chased legislated morality through elections over personal piety. The MWC is afraid to speak of sin because it measures itself by the worldly standards of property size and attention through attendance. Instead, if the MWC “will humble themselves and pray and seek [God’s] face, then will [He] hear from heaven and forgive [our] sin and heal [our] land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV, adaptation mine). God spoke these words to Solomon at the height of Israel’s fame and power. It’s almost as if God knew where they–where we–would one day end up.  All it takes is a remnant. It can begin with us right now through prayer, fasting, reading, and seeking. Yes, for us Western Christians, we appear to be losing the culture war as postmodernism rips our children’s identities away, and numbers of our brethren ride the coattails of a political despot. The numbers are overwhelmingly against us, yet God’s power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Like Paul, let us rejoice in our weakness as we wait for God to rebuild His church through our true deep faith. If we hold up our end of the bargain, He’s promised both Solomon and us that He will keep His. He knows our history, yet He’s merciful enough to repeat His.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit prodigalsonline.substack.com

  4. 05/31/2024

    41 - Why did God create evil?

    I have previously argued for rational thought proving “good” must have existed before “evil.” This is in line with what the Bible tells us; however, we are still left to reason why evil exists. Why would the good Creator make anything capable of being–or turning–evil? It’s important to note that there is no definitive biblical answer to this. The Bible records how man first became aware of the concepts of good and evil (Genesis 3), but neither the story of Satan nor the “invention” of evil are canonical. Some mysteries are meant to be hidden (see: Matthew 24:36). With that disclaimer, I will do my best. First, let’s prove the condition. Ephesians helps us argue that God knew what would happen within creation. “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” (Ephesians 1:13, ESV) The promised Holy Spirit is the inheritance Paul declares believers receive and is God’s will, according to verse 11. Verse 5 cites our predestination of adoption through Jesus. We were appointed to salvation before the foundation of the world in verse 4. By working backward like this, we see that the will of God was–always–for man to receive the Holy Spirit after responding to the Gospel, which is the story of Christ. Being saved through Jesus was God’s plan of salvation, before the world, before the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil, and before man was ever created. Man’s salvation through Jesus was always the plan. If salvation through Christ was God’s will before creation, this must mean that God created everything while knowing evil would rise. God knew His creation would attempt to usurp His power. Satan would revolt. Man would fall. Therefore, God knowingly created those who would bring sin–evil–into the world. In essence, He created the conditions for evil. But, why? As I like to do, let me begin with experience. My son loves to wrestle. The bigger and stronger he becomes, the more he likes to exert that energy. As a dad, I have the pleasure of bearing the brunt. Our wrestling usually involves stuffed animals, imagined superpowers, and silly storylines. We even hold onto an old mattress to reduce hard landings. One particular time, my son had help from his two sisters. They all ganged up on me. In return, I “took off the governor,” so to speak. My shoves were stronger. My flips were more perilous. My priority was speed and strength rather than safety and fun. Within short order, all three of my children had cried; no one was abused or injured but were jostled uncomfortably. Perhaps it wasn’t my best parenting moment. However, each of the kids learned something about Dad’s strength that day. Though my son’s many previous experiences might suggest that he was an even match, that day was a glimpse of just how far he still had to go. My former concern for how softly he landed had not prepared him for what a true confrontation might look like. He was unaware of my full strength. Now he knew. My children recognized the existence of my previous restraint only after it was absent. The absence of my careful control revealed their necessity for it. Until then, they thought they were in control. The same could be said for any of us; none of us know what we don’t know until we learn it. Then, we can look back on our naivete and understand the world better in the present. This, I posit, is the reason God created creatures that could–that would–choose sin over peace: so that we may better know the scale of His power, love, and grace. Experiencing evil makes us yearn for the day it’s finally gone and for the One who will defeat it. Yet, not everyone sees it that way. We see the Israelites routinely forget their history as new generations questioned God’s existence despite the stories of their forefathers. American generations are similar. When His power is evident, man still assumes we can either equal it (Exodus 7:22), doubt it (2 Kings 18:30), or control it (Acts 8:19). In Jesus’ day, the religious leaders demanded a sign at their discretion, to accept Jesus’ authority. Jesus declined to bow to their will in Matthew 12:39. Never mind the increasing accounts of miracles and the investigations they had conducted themselves (John 9); because their hearts did not want to believe in God’s dominion over them, they would not accept God’s dominion. Man’s hard hearts remind me of my son’s wrestling tears. To him, it was unfair for me to wrestle him so strongly–he expected himself to be an equal to my strength and size. While my son punched me with closed fists and with all his weight, my undefeatable dominance injured his innermost pride. He simply wasn’t strong enough on his own. His disappointment convinced him something was unfair. He would rather stop playing than accept reality. Does that kind of pride sound familiar? That is the position humans remain in, all these millennia later. When we truly understand our powerlessness contrasted with God’s power, we can either claim He is unfair or honor His previous protections, blessings, and restraints. We can only make that assessment if we experience evil. Those who live fully for Christ have seen–and accepted–God’s true power contrasted against evil. Perhaps we made a mess of our own lives, and our pleas to God changed things inexplicably. Perhaps our child could not walk, but in deep, humble faith, we asked and saw a miracle. Sin, death, and evil set the stage for God to steal the show. The existence of evil brings about the revelation of good. Those who accept God’s position will forever appreciate His grace, love, and power, so that when He finally defeats evil, we will be all the more glad for it. When I wrestle with my full strength, my children understand the blessing of my previous–and future–protection. Similarly, when we experience evil, we understand the ways in which God has and can bless us. Those of us willing to live in that humility will spend eternity doing so. Evil serves God’s purpose of drawing our hearts into Him. To be sure, He does not delight in our suffering, just as I did not delight in making my children cry in our family cage match. The existence of evil suggests that some–many–may eternally reject Him, yet we read God “is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, NIV) and  “our Lord’s patience means salvation” (2 Peter 3:15, NIV) As God promised Solomon at the dedication of the first temple, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV) He wants to heal our land. He wants to bless you. He simply wants your heart more. Reflect on the miraculous events in your life–the things you could never naturally explain. What made these moments so impactful? Their improbability within a selfish, hateful, death-riddled world. When we recognize that evil and unfairness only exist because God allows them to, we can open our eyes and appreciate the blessings He has given us in spite of them. We can also desire more passionately the perfect eternity He has prepared that is entirely separate from our current experience. The curse of evil helps us understand the blessing of grace. To the unbeliever, Jesus freaks appear fanatical, gullible, or unreasonable. However, we have simply seen the depths of evil within ourselves and others. Therefore, we recognize the inverse heights of God’s love, grace, and power. Because of this, we declare, “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.” (Psalm 145:3, NIV) The Lord is great, and the existence of evil proves it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit prodigalsonline.substack.com

  5. 05/28/2024

    40 - Why were there so many Old Testament rules?

    I’ve written about Old Testament laws in the New Testament context before. In short, these days, we need to keep it simple: Love God, love people. But why wouldn’t God simply say that upfront? What’s the deal with those rules about animal sacrifice and interwoven fabrics? If those laws no longer apply today, does that mean all rules no longer apply? Let’s start with the familiar and work our way into the ancient. Today, legislating morality is a tricky subject. In our postmodern era of “subjective truth,” the concept of prohibiting certain activities faces strong cultural resistance. Advocates for abortion, legalized drug use, and prepubescent gender changes clamor for the government to stay out of private affairs. The Western winds of culture are blowing decisively in that direction. Yet, at the same time, Western culture forgets how other community standards exist. Take speed limits, for example–they are solely instituted for the communal safety of other drivers and pedestrians. A speeding driver has no intention to hurt anyone else–much like the addict’s fix–but the police are given the authority to punish the driver preemptively for endangering the public before anyone is actually hurt. With the support of statistical data, speed limits institute order on the roads and attempt to prevent injury and damage. In this case, personal choice must submit–against its hurried will–to the preemptive safety of the community, and culture mostly accepts them. I want us to think about such communal standards when reading and understanding the Old Testament Law. There are many laws across Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. A careful study will reveal they are split into multiple categories–religious, civil, and moral. This nuance helps us better understand their modern-day implications. Like our parents’ imposed curfews, some rules are simultaneously meant to protect the subject and respect authority. The Israelites’ many rules reinforced their humility in spirit and recognized God’s superiority. Before the sacrifice of Christ, the Israelites would routinely forget the ways in which God miraculously provided for their ancestors. Being intentionally set apart from the surrounding culture–in worship, diet, or fashion–was a reminder of their blessings.  It’s important to remember that not only was God the leader of the ancient Hebrews’ faith, but also their society. This was a Theocracy. Tithes were the taxes for public good. The dietary restrictions protected the growth of the country’s wealth and standard of living. The clothing restrictions were a reminder–a pledge, of sorts–of their allegiance. God’s “laws” were more than laws–the civic and religious ones set the tone for society’s structure. So, let’s revisit those opening questions. Why were God’s OT laws so complicated? They were a societal toolkit to remind the ancient Hebrews how–and why–they were to be set apart from their surrounding cultures.  Why were there so many prescribed sacrifices if Jesus was the eternal plan for atonement? Because man needed to understand his inability to achieve righteousness on his own.  Why could the Jews not eat pigs and animals with uncloven feet? It protected the success of the community. Herding sheep is far less destructive than keeping pigs. Sheep also provided wool in addition to their meat–it was a wiser investment for the people to survive and build wealth in an arid land.  Why could the Israelites not wear clothes made of multiple materials? This forced them to separate themselves from surrounding cultures, which ultimately put pressure on them to trust in the Lord’s provision that much more.  In all these things, God was instituting rules to remind the Israelites to remember the Lord daily. These were preemptive measures to prevent the Jews from forgetting their God. It was a restriction of personal preference to benefit the communal good. These were their ancient “speed limits.” Deuteronomy 6 answers our overarching question more bluntly. Beginning in verse 20, the book suggests that when our children ask why these rules exist, we should tell them, “The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.” (Deuteronomy 6:23-25, NIV) Like speed limits, the laws may feel oppressive, but were established for the benefit of the community and the safety of the individual’s health, wealth, and faith.  As Judeo-Christian morality influenced governments, the OT civil laws were no longer required. When Jesus finally atoned for our sins, the religious laws were fulfilled. As Gentiles were welcomed into the community, the laws protecting national identity were no longer necessary. Does this mean that all laws are now null and void? No, the laws concerning morality still stand. These can be summarized as the two greatest Commandments from Matthew 22:36: to love God and love others. Loving God requires us to adhere to God’s intention for us. This includes our identity, body, faith, and purpose. Loving others sacrifices our pride. Humility is the prerequisite to living in God’s will. These moral laws are eternal, and offenses like murder, blasphemy, and sexual immorality still count as rebellion, as sin.  Theological debate rages over Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. In it, He declares, “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:18, NIV) He also defends His disciples for breaking the Sabbath laws of the time (Mark 2:27) and the kosher laws (Matthew 15:11, Acts 10:11). To understand this nuance, Paul reveals, “But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.” (Romans 7:6, NIV). The Law remains–in its entirety–for those attempting to be justified by it through their works; yet by accepting Christ, we are free from that measuring stick (see Galatians 5). Faith is, and has been, the truest barometer, beginning with Abraham (Genesis 15:6). Paul, the learned and accomplished Jew, wrote to the Colossians, “Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules” (Colossians 2:20, NIV) Sacrificing animals wasn’t loving God–it showed us something about ourselves. Wearing a single type of fabric didn’t improve our relationship with others–it reminded the Hebrews of their separation from the world. If a rule doesn’t affect God’s design for us or our relationship with others, it has been satisfied by our democracy or our Savior.  And when our culture questions and abandons that moral code, the Bible’s records anchor us to God’s truest desire: to set ourselves apart from the world and align ourselves with Him, no matter the costs. Just as our infant faith is formed by spiritual “milk” (1 Corinthians 3), the nascent Israelite society needed stricter Fatherly oversight. Like teenagers, the Bible records man’s rebellious stages–many of them. Now, with the new covenant firmly in place, it is time for us to leave behind the curfews of our historical past and present ourselves fully mature in Christ alone (Colossians 1:28). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit prodigalsonline.substack.com

  6. 05/24/2024

    39 - Why is the Sabbath important?

    In our fast-paced, always-on world, it can feel like a disadvantage to take a break from work. The power of cell phones with matching cellular networks allows us, encourages us, convinces us to always remain digitally connected to our profession or responsibilities. While the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically shifted the work environment, that change further blurred the lines of work-life balance. Especially in America, our lives are becoming evermore consumed by work, effort, and toil, constantly. It is with this cultural lens that we now look at the most curious of the 10 Commandments. Commandment number 4: Keeping the Sabbath. Exodus 20 says, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.” (Exodus 20: 8-10, NIV) Woof, not only does it indict our continuously working lives, but it also perceivably condones slavery. That’s not necessarily the case, but we’ll put that aside for another message–I try to keep these short. Still, the Sabbath stands in stark contrast to our American way of life, where we control our own destiny by giving ourselves wholly over to our professions. But we aren’t really in control of our destiny through our careers, are we? In one of the many jarring generational shifts, GenX and Baby Boomer Americans have been side-swiped by the likes of the automotive layoffs in the early 2000s. Lavish pension programs that were once expected for company loyalty were cut short because of the expense–they were a broken promise. Millennials, like myself, entered a difficult job market in the early 2010s and–after seeing the way our parents were treated by companies–have been much more mobile in our careers. Yet even we, with our heavier preference for technology jobs, have been hammered by large-scale layoffs. Now, generative AI stands to eradicate many more jobs. Company loyalty does not equal job security. Small business owners don’t fare much better. Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 20% of them fail within two years, and 65% fail within ten. Those aren’t great odds of security, either. So, what are we to do when our livelihoods are not guaranteed, even with continual sacrifice? Do we just work harder to outperform everyone else? No, we are to trust the Lord. Otherwise, things go haywire when we opt to take things out of His hands and into our own. We see examples of this in the Bible. Not only were the Israelites to observe the weekly Sabbath individually, but their land was to enjoy regular resting as well. Leviticus 25 requires, “But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards.” (Leviticus 25:4) After seven of these seven-year cycles, an extra year of rest was added–the year of Jubilee. These years were to allow the nutrients to return to Canaan’s rocky soil, as well as remind the Israelites of their need to trust in the Lord. In Leviticus 26, God even gives a specific warning if we ignore Him and His commands (including observance of the Sabbath). He warns “‘If in spite of this you still do not listen to me but continue to be hostile toward me…Then the land will enjoy its sabbath years all the time that it lies desolate and you are in the country of your enemies; then the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths. All the time that it lies desolate, the land will have the rest it did not have during the sabbaths you lived in it.” (Leviticus 26:27,34-35, NIV) Spoiler alert: generations of Israelites refused to listen to God. Over the next several hundred years, Sabbath years weren’t regularly observed, and God’s providential warning comes to pass in 2 Chronicles. The priests who wrote it undoubtedly had Leviticus in mind when they wrote, “[Nebuchadnezzar] carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power. The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah.” (2 Chronicles 36:20-21, NIV) When God says something, it comes to pass. This experience of the Babylonian exile is one reason for Israel’s overcorrection during the Second Temple era–the era in which Jesus was born. Strict Sabbath observance was religiously enforced. The Sadducees and the Bible-literalist Pharisees both condemned anyone who attempted to do any work–or exert any effort–on the Sabbath. Indeed, the city gates of Jerusalem and other walled cities would be literally closed to merchants on the Sabbath. Gentile sellers would arrive and camp outside the city gates, waiting for the Sabbath to pass to enter the city and begin selling again. This is the background for the accusations against Jesus’ disciples for ignoring the Sabbath by breaking the stalks of grain to eat. Jesus retorts, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27-28, NIV) We can imagine how controversial Jesus’ statement was for the religious leaders simply trying to prevent another exile. Spoiler #2: it didn’t work. This has been a lot of Bible history, but for what purpose? Hopefully, we can see that the Sabbath was–and still is–important. Keeping a day holy unto the Lord does not mean that we cannot prepare a meal, but it does mean we need one day of our week to set aside and meditate on the Law of the Lord (Psalm 1). Keeping a Sabbath does not mean it must be on a Sunday, but it should be once a week. To not observe a weekly Sabbath is a selfish sin, foolishly trusting in ourselves more than our God of provision. The Sabbath was made for man, so we should appreciate its implications. The recurring recessions and small business failure rates have proven we do not control the fate of our profession or provision. Try as we might, the economic forces are stronger than our resolve. So, what’s stronger than the economy? The Lord. Prove your trust in Him by observing a regular Sabbath. It will be good for your faith, for your family, and for your pocket. Proverbs says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV) In all our ways, even our professional ones. So, keep the Sabbath. Lean not on your own understanding. Offer your newfound time to the Lord. Trust me, it will pay off. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit prodigalsonline.substack.com

  7. 05/21/2024

    38 - What’s so bad about nepotism?

    Succession is one of the most popular and critically successful television shows in recent history. A story of conniving children vying for the corporate power of an abusive and manipulative father, the comedy softens the deep-seated sadness of grown adults groveling for acceptance and power through entitlement and nepotism. No wonder Americans loved it! At first blush, this may not seem like an overly Christian topic. Western morality of fairness naturally indicts nepotism–the act of the wealthy or powerful in providing special privileges to their family. However, as Christian nationalism aligns itself closely with a political party exalting a man known for favoring his relatives with power while the other political party successfully elected a different president embroiled in similar nepotic drama, it seems poignant to address it in biblical terms. So, here we are. According to the publication Fortune, 60% of wealthy families lose their riches within one generation, while 90% lose them within two. Something important is lost in translation between the generation that earns the wealth and those who come to feel entitled to it. The same could be said for political power, as history is littered with progenitors passing dictatorship or monarchical power to their bloodlines, only for the next generations to be more severe, more hated, and more likely to lose their grip on their rule.  Perhaps this is why the Bible is so adamant about the responsibilities of parents to teach their children about faith matters. Deuteronomy 6:7 instructs adults to impress the biblical rules upon their children. Proverbs 22:6 assures us that teaching a child the way they should go will pay off as the child grows. I’ve addressed the importance of generational faith in an earlier message, but the same is valid for leadership–for both civil and religious forms. The Bible has much more to say about this, too. The failures of nepotism fill much of Israel’s political history. David’s kingly reign was marked by his faith and military victories, as well as some high-profile scandals; however, his son Absalom grew impatient and proud, ultimately attempting to usurp the throne for himself before dying in battle (2 Samuel 15-17). David’s appointed successor, Solomon, starts well but kills many of his half-brothers and ultimately leads Israel astray in their faith due to his many pagan wives (1 Kings 11). The rough hand-off between David and Solomon was made worse between Solomon and his son, Rehoboam. The latter chose to be even more severe on the people than his father. This erupted in a civil war and a split kingdom, setting the stage for generations of fallen faith and political leaders to lead the nation to death and enslavement. The entitlement of succession begets generations of poor leaders chosen because of their blood rather than God’s anointing. The same could be said for religious leaders. The prophet Eli was respected, though perhaps was a little presumptuous. His sons, on the other hand, were corrupt priests who greatly distressed the Lord (1 Samuel 2). God eventually ends Eli’s lineage. Even Samuel, who was tapped to judge Israel instead of Eli’s sons, attempted to instill his own sons as judges as he neared death, but even they “turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.” (1 Samuel 8:3, NIV). At this point, the elders ask for a king to be chosen, against God’s original wishes (Deuteronomy 16:18). This sets the stage for much of Israel’s impending apostasy and drama. The dangers and consequences of nepotism in faith leadership are just as dire as those in the political realm. There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with younger generations assuming the mantle of responsibility and authority from their forefathers, but there is undoubtedly an additional risk that must be acknowledged and confronted. In contrast, some of the most successful exchanges of faith or political power happened outside of family ties. For instance, the handoff of leadership between Moses and Joshua (Joshua 1) led to many military victories and years of religious devotion; God chose Joshua for the job. Similarly, Samuel was divinely called to judge Israel, much to Eli’s disappointment (1 Samuel 3). If that wasn’t enough, God directed Elijah to specifically anoint Elisha as his prophetic successor (1 Kings 19:16), with the latter receiving a “double portion” of his mentor’s spirit. Though not preferred by Saul, David’s ascension in power stands in stark contrast to the paranoia of Samuel’s surviving son, Ish-Bosheth (2 Samuel 3). Other appointments, such as Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon, suggest that God knows what he’s doing. When God, not men (much less parents), hand-picks the successor, the chance of success is much higher. These overwhelming data points all suggest one thing: Man’s appointment fails where God’s anointing succeeds. Try as we might to safeguard our companies or ministries by passing them on through our bloodlines, there is nothing we can do to replicate God’s providence. This should inspire us to confirm our succession plans with the Lord. We should look for biblical ties in our next leaders, not family ties. Unrelated successors have as much to prove as the founding generation of wealth or ministry. While family succession is possible, it is precarious–there are many more biblical examples of failed nepotism than successful ones. This is merely a cautious survey of the Bible, but one that could be easily overlooked. My hope is that our boards of directors or elders bear these examples in mind when choosing who will assume the mantle of leadership as an older generation steps down. Though God chose Israel’s bloodline to bring about the Savior, it was touch-and-go in the Exodus wilderness, during the age of Judges, and certainly through and since the Babylonian exile. Now, salvation has been offered freely for all, regardless of heritage. There is no more Jew or Greek (Galatians 3:28). God could instantaneously create blood relatives from rocks if He so chose (Matthew 3:9). The only favoritism now is through Christ. His blood, alone, is the only dependable sort. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit prodigalsonline.substack.com

  8. 05/17/2024

    37 - Is it ok to ask God for a sign?

    Discerning someone’s tone is difficult in today’s digital communications because how something is said can carry wildly different impressions. We see this in our body language and vocal tones–the same thing could be said genuinely, literally, sarcastically, or ironically. With text, then, how the recipient inserts the unspoken intention can easily lead to misunderstandings. I know I have been guilty of misinterpreting plenty of uncommunicated intentions. Intentions are the crux of our Christian faith. If speaking to God, I might ask God, “show me a sign” and have drastically different intentions. We see this throughout the Bible, as well. While the ancient Israelites were wandering the desert after leaving Egypt, they camped at a place named Rephidim in Exodus 17. Unfortunately, there was no water; the Israelites were rightfully concerned but lacked appropriate faith. They accused Moses of leading them to their death–which becomes a recurrent theme in Exodus–and ultimately grumble, ”Is the Lord among us or not?” (Exodus 17:7, NIV) This leads to Moses striking a rock to spring forth water, but the episode must have been particularly bad because Moses named the place “Massah” and “Meribah,” respectively meaning “testing” and “quarreling.”  When creating the legal and cultural laws for the Israelites, God declares in Deuteronomy, “Do not test the Lord your God as you did at Massah.” (Deuteronomy 6:16, NIV) This is the same verse that Jesus cites during His temptation at the hands of Satan, when the devil quotes Scripture to suggest Jesus throw Himself off a cliff to reveal the power of God to protect Him. Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:16, and the devil eventually flees. But is asking for a sign really a form of “testing”? Is Satan’s provocation different than the Israelites’ demand for water? In this sense, they are much the same. Remember that the Israelites were antagonistically looking for God, through Moses, to prove Himself faithful and real. They asked, “Is the Lord among us or not?” Satan equally questioned God’s faithfulness in front of Jesus. Not only that, but we see similar behavior when religious leaders ask Jesus for a sign in Matthew 12. Jesus replies to them, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” (Matthew 12:39, NIV) So, case closed? Testing God or asking for signs are prohibited, right? Not so fast. A favorite verse for instructing believers in tithing comes from Malachi. God speaks through him, “‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.’” (Malachi 3:10, NIV) Did you catch it? Test me in this. OK, that seems like an anomaly or maybe a contradiction.  But that’s not all. In Judges, Gideon is so fearful of his anointed assignment that he asks for a sign from God multiple times with an offering and his famous wet and dry fleece (Judges 6:17, 6:37, 6:39). Also in Judges, Jephthah attempts to bargain with God, offering a sacrifice of whatever meets him in victory “If you give the Ammonites into my hands,” (Judges 11:30, NIV) Samuel’s mother, Hannah, makes a similar bargain that if God blesses her with a son, she will commit him to the Lord’s service. (1 Samuel 1). These conditional offerings hardly differ from grumbling or doubt in structure but are wildly different in their intention. And that is the key to understanding what God seeks from us or condemns in us: what is our intention with Him? Are we looking for means to disprove His existence, like the thirsty Israelites or the conniving devil? Or are we looking for a confirmation of our existing faith, like Gideon or Hannah? Those whom God blesses already believe and are looking for encouragement to believe more. Their binary answer of belief or disbelief is not in the balance; instead, they are seeking to know God and His will more deeply. Even Abraham, the father of the Judeo-Christian faith, asked for a sign of confirmation. God promised him the land of Canaan, but Abraham (then named Abram) responded, “O Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?” (Genesis 15:8, NIV) This is right after his faith was credited to him as righteousness (15:6). God saw Abraham’s faith but also eased his worry. It is our intention that makes the difference. Being a stubborn human attempting to make God bend to our resistant will is not going to elicit sympathy from the Great Creator. However, a humble servant revealing my weakness of faith or expressing my worry is met with love, tenderness, and confirmation. I’ve had similar experiences in my own life, specifically with the birth of my son. I’ve heard other testimonies where confirmation was also graciously given. I know God’s gentleness and faithfulness lead Him to meet us in earnestness but not in our obstinance. Are you looking for a sign of God’s existence? Start with your intentions. Will you only believe in Him if He bends to your will and desire? He won’t. Or are you simply hoping, in weakness, to know how much your Creator cares for you? He’s much more interested in that–His Word proves it. Like the man whose sick son was dying in Mark 9 cries out, “help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23), we are also allowed to seek the Lord in desperate humility. As Jesus opens in His Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8, NIV) Our intentions make all the difference–they impact what God will reveal to us. So, what are yours? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit prodigalsonline.substack.com

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About

An online-first approach to planting and building a cross-denominational fellowship of Christians in Central Kentucky. Return to our first love in God through concise and convicting messages. Available in text, audio, and video formats. Find out more or support the cause at www.prodigals.online prodigalsonline.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    5-10 min answers to Christian and cultural topics.
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2024
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Brad Farley
  • Show Website
    Prodigals.Online