Killing vs. Murder

February 25, 2013 Monday Message:

We’ve been studying the 10 Commandments, and this week it’s #6 - "Do not murder." Ex. 20

There’s not much commentary available on this. It’s a God-thing, one of those things that everyone already knows. Even if there were no Ten Commandments, we would  know that we shouldn’t murder, we shouldn’t steal, and we should stay away from our neighbor’s spouse. Paul says that God has written these things on our hearts.

Some older Bible versions read, “Thou shalt not kill,” while most of our modern translations refer to the prohibition as “murder.” There’s a huge difference between the two words, which we can sort out by understanding the character of God.

We have been commanded to “love our neighbors” so much that we would give our lives for them. That’s what Jesus did for us. Sometimes we may have to defend our neighbors, our families, our property, or ourselves, or we may find our country at war. Unfortunately, these scenarios may involve killing. God’s people need to protect themselves, and while I don’t believe God ever really likes killing, he has called us to mount an appropriate response to whatever sort of evil is coming our way.

What is prohibited in this commandment is the capital crime, maliciously taking the life of another. Murder is what is prohibited.

Next week: Family Values – God’s Master-plan.

Norton Lawellin

We’ll worship this Sunday, March 3, 10:30am, Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF), in the North end of the Oliver Ministry Building, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue, Minneapolis. Jesus lights a lamp, calms a storm, and describes his true family as we continue in Luke Ch. 8.

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Ancestral Accolades

February 18, 2013 Monday Message:

We’ve been looking at the 10 Commandments. Ex. 20 The first four are about our relationship with God, and we wrapped up that section last week.

Jesus also taught us, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” Matt. 22:39 and the remaining six commandments deal with exactly that: Our relationships with others.

#5    "Honor your father and your mother..."

If I had understood this sooner, I could have done a better job with it. As a know-it-all young adult, I felt my parents were hopelessly old-fashioned and no fun at all. After all, I was young, hip, better looking, had more hair and less weight, and, frankly, I was cool. Or so I thought.

As I grew older and wiser myself, I discovered that my parents had been full of wisdom all along. But now my eyes were opened and I could see. I came to realize that those who once appeared fatally square were actually the ones on a solid path. I have been able to discern, not just in my parents, but also in all elders, much perennial wisdom. Gaining that knowledge had a lot to do with thinking less of myself, and caring more about others. It’s been a gradual learning process; progress, not perfection.

I don’t think I’m alone in this. Elders throughout our country are routinely discarded in favor of the tragically hip. Instead of valuing senior wisdom as a resource, and giving elders a place of honor, it seems we can’t be troubled by their presence.

The Bible says that even though walking with the Lord might make us unpopular in the short run, it will work out in the long run. We should all be intentional about this good, God honoring thing, lifting up our parents.

This is the only commandment that comes with a promise. God will grant you abundance and a long life in the land He is giving you.

Next week, #6: Killing vs. Murder!

Norton Lawellin

We’ll worship this Sunday, Feb. 24, 10:30am, Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF), in the North end of the Oliver Ministry Building, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue, Minneapolis. Jesus explains the Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed as we open up Luke Ch. 8.

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God is God; We are Not!

February 11, 2013 Monday Message:

We’ve been looking at the 10 Commandments; last week was #4. The first four are about the relationship between mankind and God. Jesus said that the most important assignment for us is to “Love the Lord our God.” Therefore we should do our best to honor God’s plan for this relationship.

Remember that God said, “I will be your God, and you will be my people.” Lev. 26:12b NLT He never said that we could become Gods too. Confusing this relationship has been at the heart of the human sin-problem ever since the Garden of Eden. Satan tempted Eve to eat fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, explaining, “You will be like God…” Gen. 3:4b NLT This is the grandfather of all lies. You and I will NEVER be like God.

This whole Garden of Eden scenario is a metaphor for mankind saying, “Thanks for creating us, God, but I can handle everything now. I don’t need your help - I can take it from here.” And we couldn’t be more wrong. As much as we are to exalt the Lord, we should also be diligent about not exalting ourselves. Stay off the podium. “Don’t think more highly of ourselves than we ought.” Rom. 12:3b NIV God is God, and we are not. It’s always going to be that way, and that’s good, because life goes better when God is in the driver’s seat.

Next week we’ll move on to God’s instructions for our relationships with other people.

Norton Lawellin

Join us this Sunday, Feb. 17, 10:30am, Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF), in the North end of the Oliver Ministry Building, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue, Minneapolis, as Dan Pilla wraps up Luke Ch. 7.

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Remember the Sabbath

February 04, 2013 Monday Message:

We’re visiting the Ten Commandments, and today we’ll look at #4, "Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy."

Everyone benefits from a little time off, a vacation, or a sabbatical. God’s instruction is to rest every seventh day, and to dedicate that day to Him. Spend time in the Word. Don’t just go to church; think about who you can invite, who you can take to church. Stay away from work. That includes your cell phone and your email.

Shabbat is a great day to spend with family; if not your biological family, then your church family. The Bible says we are to enjoy three festive meals, and to study scripture together. But above all, abstain from productive work on the Sabbath. You may have to re-think this if you work for a church!

Muslims gather on Friday, Jews on Saturday, and Christians on Sunday. Technically the Jewish Shabbos is from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday. Technically the word Shabbat means Saturday. Christians celebrate the day Jesus conquered sin and death, walked away from the tomb and was seen alive by His disciples. As you recall, Jesus was crucified and placed in the tomb on Friday, and reappeared on the third day, Sunday, fulfilling prophecies.

My 2¢: I feel it’s way more important to make a special time, worship together and honor God than to split hairs over which day it is. (Some may disagree.) Since I work for a church, I’m always busy on Sunday mornings. So my family and I often attend a Saturday night service at a church close to our home.

There is also the Sabbatical year, every seventh year. God says, “For six years you may plant your fields and prune your vineyards and harvest your crops, but during the seventh year the land must have a Sabbath year of complete rest. It is the Lord’s Sabbath.” Lev. 25:3-4a Following God’s lead, Pastors and Professors often take a Sabbatical Year, a time for study and enrichment without day-to-day obligations.

Next week we’ll summarize the first four commandments, those dealing with the relationship between God and mankind.

Norton Lawellin

Join us this coming Sunday, Feb. 10, 10:30am, Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF), in the North end of the Oliver Ministry Building, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue, Minneapolis. I’ll do my best to explain John the Baptist, just as Jesus explained him to his followers. Luke 7:24-35

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