DO YOU BELONG TO ENTERTAINMENT CENTRAL?

I don’t want anybody to get me wrong with this blog but I do want people to think and think very clearly about what we do and to what we belong. I came to Christ in April of 1981. It was a great time in my life as I met the Maker of my soul and Ruler of the universe. The guy who led me to Christ belonged to a small Baptist church in the Pleasant Grove section of Dallas. At that time Pleasant Grove was just getting into the stages of being very rough and violent. The church property was well taken care of by the members and the staff worked hard to tend to the needs of the membership. This church belonged to the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas (BMAT). It was a conservative church which preached the undeniable gospel and attempted to disciple those who were lead to Christ. I was there for nine years and it was hard to see churches across town (North Dallas, Rockwall, Rowlett, Seagoville, ect.) grow into giant churches with thousands and thousands of members, great music, and cutting edge technology. I often envied them, as did many who worked in similar situations. If we had 200 on a given Sunday morning we thought we were in Heaven. I moved my membership from that small church to another small BMAT church in Mesquite only a few blocks from where I lived in 1989. It was a difficult move, but one I felt needed to be made. I was there from 1989 to 1993 and returned in 1994 and stayed until 2000. I continued to feel the need to grow big so that we could do more. The pastor of this church showed the same wisdom and restraint of my first pastor, encouraging me to look at the traps many larger churches fall into. I also noted that small churches can fall into traps as well.

I went through a divorce in 2000 and after about a year of staying in that small BMAT church in Mesquite I decided I needed to branch out. Just down the road was a larger Southern Baptist Church named Sunnyvale First Baptist. I was there from 2002 until 2006. I met my wife there and we were married there. However, about six months after we were married I let Mary know that I felt something was wrong regarding the staff. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something was not right. Even being good friends with Wayne Wible, the Membership Pastor (now the Pastor of Ferguson Road Baptist), didn’t let on that things were not well among the staff. Regardless I could tell things weren’t right. In 2006 after Wayne Wible became the Pastor of Ferguson Road Baptist he called us to come help. My original title was Singles Minister, which became Young Adult Pastor, then Minister of Adult Education and finally morphed into the Minister of Education. The last title has held. Now I’m back to a small, urban church which struggles to survive every day.

During this time I have gone from being a member of a small urban church, to a small, but thriving suburban church, to a large church, back to a small urban church. So what is my beef and why did I tell this story? Because through the years I have watched young, enthusiastic people flock to larger, seemingly fit churches, while passing by smaller and often unattended churches. Inside, something says things are not right. So through the years (way back in 1989) I began to look at and study large churches. What you are going to read is my thoughts about the mega church empire which I call “Entertainment Central”.

First, allow me to say there is nothing wrong with large churches. Second, there is often nothing wrong with people who attend large churches. Third, there is often nothing wrong with what large churches do and how they do it. But, my problem stems from the idea that only large churches can be effective and that excitement in a service has to be generated rather than allowing it to be a true work of the Holy Spirit.

This last Sunday while Mary and I were in Houston we attended one of the five campuses of Second Baptist Church. This has been pretty much the normal for Mary and I when we visit her parents. However, about three years ago I noticed a shift, one which really turned me off. Rather than having the campus Pastor preach they started showing satellite feed from the Main campus of the Senior Pastor preaching, Dr. Ed Young. Now I have always enjoyed Dr. Young and had the chance to briefly meet him while working an evangelism conference in Kansas City back in the 1980’s. The first time this happened I thought maybe it was a special occasion. The second time it happened I thought maybe it had something to do with the series he was preaching through. But the third time I realized (as I had feared) this was the norm. Then I heard that Lake Point Church in Rockwall had taken Baptist out of their name (but not their doctrine) and started doing the same thing with their satellite campuses. And so did Fellowship Church in Grapevine and then I heard of others. This began to disturb me. I know what the claim will be, “Pastoral authority. It is up to the pastor to make sure that the proper message gets out to the congregation.” In the 1980’s I took evangelism under Dr. R. Alan Streett at the Criswell College and he had a saying I would like to quote from, “Hang it on your beak.” The pastoral authority argument is a fraud. It has nothing to do with what is going on.

So what happened last Sunday? Well Mary and I arrived about ten minutes before service began. We found a seat and noticed in the bulletin that Dr. Ed Young was going to be there at that campus speaking. The rostrum was set up in the middle of the stage; there was a live orchestra (no piped in music) and a worship team. I was really hoping that they were changing their philosophy, but was quickly disappointed as he announced that we were going to watch a video about the youth retreat. It gave some cool testimonies from some of the youth, it showed Dr. Young speaking to their youth and the positive way they responded to this 70 something year old. But it went on for forty-five minutes, then Dr. Young got up to speak for another twenty. He gave a very cool invitation and we watched as about a hundred people walk the isle as he himself greeted them. However, I still felt disconnected. Even though he expounded the scriptures on the video, he didn’t in life. I went away with a bitter/sweet taste in my mouth.

Here is what I have recognized about mega churches. First, they depend on technology. Don’t get me wrong, every church in America does, even if they say they don’t. If you meet in a building, then the building itself is the technology you are depending on. However, large, mega, and emergent churches often seem to go to the extreme. They would rather “e-mail” the sermon to the next campus via satellite than have someone live make a connection with the people. Technology which is used wisely can be effective; technology which is used excessively is dishonest. It’s all about building hype rather than building the Kingdom of God. By the way this does not let smaller struggling churches off the hook. We often have a tendency to rely on the piano and song book while wallowing in our own self pity. Second, they throw money at it. Funny, isn’t that what we accuse the liberals of doing, yet we do it and call it ministry. Humm, do you see a problem with this picture? Always needing to have bigger and better, but often forgetting that the small things are what counts eternally. It’s about drawing the crowd in, with the excuse of sharing the gospel. If reality were to be known it’s more about pri…wait I’m shutting my mouth, I’m just not going there. Again, small churches should not use the argument of lack of funds to keep from taking care of what God has given them. Third, it’s about the party. There is nothing wrong about having fun, nor having fun in church, but when it is about “the show” and not the scriptures, I think that we have drawn a line in the sand which is not good. There is nothing wrong with illustrations, Scripture is full of personal illustrations; the potter in Jeremiah, the farmer in Matthew, the widow in Luke, but those were illustrations at the moment. There was nothing outside of the righteous, sovereign hand of God which did it. Last, it all seems so planned down to the detail. The music and the way it moves, the message and the way it’s timed, the invitation and the way it’s couched. Again, don’t get me wrong, the services should be planned. Just look at the Old Testament and how God told the people their services were to be presented. Also, we should expect the very best from those who lead in worship and the preaching of the Word. Paul wrote in Colossians 3:16-17, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” In other words our very best should be done in all that we do for His sake and His glory. However, too many times we use this as an excuse. One of the best ways for any of us in ministry (large/mega church or small church) to know if we are in true reliance upon God is to let the technology fail. How we respond to the situation, both publically and personally, will show who is really receiving the glory.
My real beef with many of the large/mega churches is simply with the whole satellite church thing. I know that this has been a slow on growing thing but it really disturbs me and I often feel that it may even be unbiblical. How? Note the fact that I struggle with it and do not out and out call it wrong, but let’s look at the issue. First, why spend the money, technology and effort for satellite hook ups and extra staff to duplicate something else, somewhere else? Why not develop a mission church instead? Why not duplicate the effect through outreach and mission work locally? If people are joining because of the name of the church then they are joining for the wrong reasons. Spin the satellite campuses off into missions and allow new fresh ministries to develop while reaching the community around it. Second, satellite campuses cause the church to become regional rather than local. In some ways I’ve already hit on this, but the more localized a church is the more in tune it can become with the needs around it and with the needs around the world. Third, this whole streaming the message in thing really urks me to no end. If I want to watch television I’ll stay at home. If you televise the service into another building then people loose connection with the message. Why not use a preaching staff and if you are going to keep your satellite campuses, make a monthly visit to each campus and preach what God has laid on your heart. Now I know the argument for this, and it doesn’t work. The argument is that people make connection through Sunday Morning Bible Study Groups. This argument is a joke! I can start a weekly Bible Study at home and then have people meet in my home on Sunday morning and watch TV and still have as legitimate a worship service as most mega/multi campus churches have. My point is; one, human responsibility is lost in this; two, human contact with the message is lost with this; third, it is easily manipulated through the technology; and fourth, name and prestige becomes more important than Jesus.

I believe all churches play a part in Kingdom building. Regardless if we are a small/struggling church or a large/mega church, we are still called to depend on God. Just as I feel that established thinking in smaller churches needs to be challenged, I also believe that large/mega/emergent churches need to have their philosophy challenged as well. God calls us to pray and think things through. We should do our very best for His glory alone and leave the results up to Him, not up to our manipulations and technology.

Your comments are welcomed!

God Bless You,

Steven Swaim

(All passages are quoted from the New American Standard Bible)

Death Is Not Dying

I would like for you to get ready to take the ride of your life. When you click the link to the side (deathisnotdying.com) you will need two things: 1) About an hour and 2) A box of tissues. This will change your life regarding life and suffering. The lady you will meet is a Christian and is dying of cancer. I want to thank my professor, Todd von Helms, at Dallas Baptist University who shared this with us this morning in our study of the Book of James. This class has been awesome and part of the reason is because my professor has so diligently shared resources like this. I do not know how long this will be up. From my understanding she had only a few weeks to live and is still alive right now.
Also, some have e-mailed me regarding my thoughts about the North Korean issue going on right now. Sometime next week I will comment since I have not had time to study the situation and since it is still an on-growing issue. I do have some thoughts but since I'm in class this week I cannot get to it yet, which is probably good in the mean time.
I hope you enjoy and learn from this video feed. Believe me, this young lady really gets it, to bad so many of us do not.
You will need to hit the link to the side at www.deathisnotdying.com.

Lord Bless,

Steven Swaim

This Week

I'll be out of touch for a few days because I am taking an intense class which is only a week long. So when I say out of touch I mean out of touch. I'll attempt to watch the news wires while working on the next devotional in order to try and post my next blog. I am also attempting to work on a recorded commentary for quick access on emergency and entertaining basis.

God Bless,

Steven

The Good Hand Of God Through Active Faith-Part 2

Ezra 3:1-7

1Now when the seventh month came, and the sons of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem. 2Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers arose and built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God. 3So they set up the altar on its foundation, for they were terrified because of the peoples of the lands; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, burnt offerings morning and evening. 4They celebrated the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered the fixed number of burnt offerings daily, according to the ordinance, as each day required; 5and afterward there was a continual burnt offering, also for the new moons and for all the fixed festivals of the LORD that were consecrated, and from everyone who offered a freewill offering to the LORD. 6From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, but the foundation of the temple of the LORD had not been laid. 7Then they gave money to the masons and carpenters, and food, drink and oil to the Sidonians and to the Tyrians, to bring cedar wood from Lebanon to the sea at Joppa, according to the permission they had from Cyrus king of Persia.

I deal with depression in a unique way…everyday. Since I was in my mid-twenties I have suffered from some form of depression or another. Sometimes it’s the results of my own doing but a lot of times it is more of just not getting enough rest, exercise and watching my diet. While that all may seem to be something I can control, guess again. I’m an unpaid staff member with a small urban church who is attempting to get out of survival mode into a growth stage. I study for Sunday School and am presently preaching through the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, which includes an incredible amount of study as well as preparation time. I counsel people who are dealing with real life issues. I have just finished taking my second semester of New Testament Greek, which takes about fifteen to twenty hours out of my week. My job is also very intense and stressful because of my position as a supervisor over an area which is constantly scrutinized by auditors. And somewhere in there is the need of my family which includes my wife, both of our parents, siblings, and of course Malley our weimaraner, and Patches our cat. Does the word exhausted come to your mind? Well, if it does then you’re on the right track. In fact if you say depressed because of lack of down time, you have the clearest picture of them all. There is however, one thing which helps me reset and refocus. That one thing is daily private and weekly corporate worship of our Lord.

When the Jews begin to return to Jerusalem with the blessings of Cyrus king of Persia (Ezra 1:1) the first thing that do is reestablish worship. Notice some of the things they do to re-establish this worship. First, they rebuild the altar of sacrifice in its original place (v. 3a). The words “they set up the altar on its foundation” means they literally found were the altar was originally and rebuilt it there. Second, they began to make sacrifices (v. 3b). These sacrifices were not a one time deal but a constant thing which was done in accordance with what Yahweh had instructed them in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. It also can be seen in the re-establishing of the Feast of Booths and the following the instruction directly from Scripture itself (v. 4-6). Verse 3 notes that they did this despite the fear and threat they felt from those nations which surrounded them.

The second thing they did was to start rebuilding the temple. Verse 6 goes out its way to make note that “the foundation of the temple of the LORD had not been laid.” They paid those who going to do the work and supply the material (v. 7).

The key note is that worship was important to the Jewish community and serves as an example to us today in Christianity. You and I will show faith in what we worship. We will continue doing those things which are important to us. If private and public worship is important to us then we will daily meet with God in prayer and His word. If public worship is important to us then we will meet with God along with other fellow believers at the local church we belong to for the sake of praying and seeking God through the teaching of His word. The key is that both must be important not just one or the other. When we truly worship God then He will open our eyes up to what He is doing and how He is working. It takes sacrifice, time, possible humiliation, and laying a foundation worthy of praise to our Father.

How about you, do you worship God in truth and spirit? Do you draw to God daily in personal and weekly in corporate worship? Do you know that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation and true worship of God? Do you understand that the reason we don’t sacrifice today the way the Jews did during those days is because Jesus Christ took our sins on Him at the cross? That He sacrificed Himself so that we would not have to suffer the agony of an eternity without Him. Worship starts with sacrifice. The only sacrifice we have is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. The only way to truly worship God is through Jesus.

God Bless,

Steven Swaim

(All quotations is from the New American Standard Bible)

WHERE ARE THE PARENTAL RIGHTS?

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”

Hosea 4:6 (NASB)

When growing up my parents would tell you that I was less than an accommodating child. I was often rebellious, argumentative, and downright hard headed. Anyone reading my blogs can tell that some (if not all) of these has a tendency to bleed through. Rebel with a cause often yakking about something the establishment is doing. Always ready for the next fight, almost certain that the world will end if my thoughts are not heard and explained. Constantly hard headed, to the point that my wife has probably thought about getting my golf clubs out and play a round or two with my head. One of my favorite lines when I was a child to use on my parents was, “I’m going to sue you.” Now don’t ask me where I got the idea or the phrase. I watched a lot of Perry Mason but that was criminal law, not civil. On top of the fact that I was another ten to fifteen years from working for law firms. Of course my parent’s response always had that “yeah/right” smirk on their face, “Go ahead and try.”

While that story sounds ridiculous and funny, unfortunately in today’s atmosphere that story may be truer than we wish. I worked for almost fifteen years for attorneys before I came to work for the Southern Baptist Convention. I have seen and read my far share of ridiculous cases through the years. I also came in contact with a world that was sorted with the reality that all was not as it appears. One of those things I came in contact with was the erosion of parental rights and authority. Now I have a theory which I believe if anyone took the time to look into sociologically and politically they would find interesting. I plan on expounding on this theory with the devotionals at the end of Ezra/Nehemiah. But I believe that the erosion started in the 1960’s with no fault divorce. It was during this time that we began to allow judges to tell how families were going to be split up and how they were going to work because a couple of knuckleheads who could not get along. Now before you start throwing stones in regards to what I am saying, I have been through a divorce. Because of the no fault clause in our laws people can choose not to work it out, announce they are leaving, walk out and ruin parts of your life without a thought. Regardless, the parental authority issues began at that point because the child became the focus not the salvation of the marriage.

What is bringing this up? Several months ago on the Live From Criswell radio show, which took the place of Jerry Johnson Live, on KCBI, 90.9 FM in Dallas, Dr. Barry Creamer the host (and Professor of Humanities at Criswell College) brought a topic up dealing with a children’s rights treaty which the United Nations was pushing for ratification in the U.S. Senate. On the surface it sounds okay, but as always all things are not as they seem. A couple of weeks ago this same discussion about this same thing came up on the Mike Huckabee show where he interviewed the founder and president of www.Parentalrights.org , Mike Farris. A week later Dr. Barry Creamer brought it back up on the show he host with Dr. Brian Webster from Dallas Theological who is a member of www.Parentalrights.org.

In each situation the reasons for having such a document were understood with good reasons: child abuse and child neglect. However at the same time these formats also discussed why this was not necessary here in the United States primarily because there are laws already in place regarding these issues. While this may be something that other nations need which do not have child protection laws in place, our nation does not need to ratify such a treaty. They also made note of what this means in regards family relationships on a family to person level.

Let’s look at some of the ways in which our laws have already been used as an intrusive matter. First, as I have already noted, since the 1960’s divorce laws have been loosened. Before then you could still get a divorce it just had to be proven that adultery and neglect had occurred. From that point until now families are being told how the relationships can be built, who they can be built with, when they can be built and how they can be built. The courts also tell the parents how much can be spent each month for child care through child support payments. Today I still praise God that there were no children involved in my first marriage. The courts even demonstrate the strong arm of sovereignty by telling the primary parent were they can or cannot live. And the parent with visitation rights may be told where they can and cannot go with the children. This is the first area of intrusiveness.

Now enters CPS (Child Protection Services). While many of these people work hard at what they do and do it with skill, class and a great deal of understanding socially. Many of them are also very aware of what they are doing and the dangers which are involved if they make a mistake. They are often overloaded with case files and have a hard time making sure those who really need intervention, get it. However, at the very top of the pyramid there are those who have guiltless ambition about being intrusive into the lives of families who do not do anything. In some cases just an overstress mother yelling at a child in public for misbehaving can cause the child legal advocates to press abuse charges against otherwise model parent.

Those are just two examples of the intrusiveness which goes on under our laws that have watchdog groups keeping an eye on them. This treaty being discussed is even worse than that. As a treaty it will subvert the Constitution of the United States. Any laws in a treaty which are ratified immediately become the law of the land. Treaties are meant to show cooperation among nations. Unlike other nations we cannot pick and choose which part of the law we will obey. For us we have to take the treaty in entirety or reject it in its entirety. There is no middle ground.

So what does this mean for us as a nation, communities and family? In a socialistic nation the government often poises communities against one another; the same tactic would be used here. In a way we already have some of this kind of activity going on with home owner associations, statutory laws, and hate speech legislation. The treaty, turned law, will require us to turn each other in.

The scenarios of how this could affect us are astronomical. First, spanking your child, even with a proper motive, understanding and personal reflection would be illegal. If your child goes to school and complains that you spanked them, even if it’s not true, you’re in trouble. Some have noted that this could even mean if you yell at your child then abuse charges could be filed. Imagine a situation where your child is about to run into the street with a car coming down the road. Do you yield at the child in risk of having charges pressed against you for abuse? Or do you risk the child’s life and get put in jail for neglectful behavior and endangerment of a child? Either way you lose. For the school system this is even a double concern. Already many school districts have their hands tied regarding corporal punishment leaving many teachers and administrators in a lurch with discipline problems. (I will actual blog on the punishment and school situation in a week. There is an article from Newsweek, of all people, which looks at this.) Let’s say you attend church, but you eight year old doesn’t want to go. There is a religious clause in this treaty which does not allow you to force your child to attend services even if you want too. Perplexing or disturbing? What if they don’t want to take the vaccine or go to school or brush their teeth? It may be crazy to imagine but you won’t have the authority to make them do any of this without the possibility of having abuse charges placed against you. And if you choose not to have them do these life/health saving things then you could easily be charged with neglect and endangerment of a child. I’m telling you, you lose either way. Don’t worry, just in case you think that your child won’t know about this, there will be a campaign in the public schools, internet and television to help educate them of the fact. ( www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/19/rosemond-treaty-abolishes-rights-of-parents/ ) (www.parentalrights.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={81C1F260-4A9F-4013-8164-68A360E295A5}&DE= ).

Another problem would be the courts. Now the courts (from a local municipal judge to the Supreme Court) would be obligated to rule based on international law not Constitutional law. Your rights as an individual and not just as a parent will be eradicated. Here is the clincher…this will not show up all at once. It will be slow in coming about to the point that the quantum leap can be made with very little opposition. Believe me when I say that in the 1980’s I warned Christians and churches of the on-coming danger and possible laws regarding homosexuality and was met with stiff necks and hushing mouths which said, “This is America. Nothing like that can happen here.” And what is happening on Capitol Hill?

What can be done? There are several things which can be done. First, pray for our leaders. This is a command in Scripture. It is something we should always do. Second, go to www.Parentalrights.org and learn more about this subject and the possible ramifications. Third, the Senate is due to vote on this bill sometime in September, start making your voice known by phone, e-mail, and letter. Forth, make people aware of what is going on by sending them here or to www.Parentalrights.org , www.barrycreamer.com or www.mikehuckabee.com . The more people who hear and act the better the out come. Fifth, listen to news sources very closely. As the vote gets closer ramp up more activity against it. Sixth, make your opposition know to the President by phone, e-mail, and letter. Seventh, keep sharing what is going on. Last, pray! We must continue to pray for the grace and mercy of God on our homes, communities and nation. Pray!

God bless you and your family!

Steven Swaim

Pray For Me

I'm going to ask for you to pray for Mary and myself this week. I am studying for finals which I will be taking on Wednesday in my Greek class. It is always an interesting time when studying for test, especially finals. This is another dream come true. Learning Greek has been a dream since my days at Criswell College. For the last two semesters I have gone through the grueling task of learning this language and have many doubts about how much I learned. But now I have the tools and knowledge to reinforce that learning through practice and plan on using it quiet a bit. The reason I'm asking for you to pray for Mary is because she has to endure the onslaught of stupidity which comes from me during this time. Also be aware that we attempting to get my pastor, Brother Wayne Wible's sermons on you tube. I'll link it when it's available. Hopefully there will be a lot of them.

God Bless,

Steven

I Am The Resurrection And The Life

Today is special because at Easter time a year ago I posted my first real blog. Of course it was in regards to the celebration of the risen Lord. Today with that keeping I am going to discuss the resurrection in light of the Greek word which is used in John 11:25. This is a paper I just handed in to my Greek professor. It's not technical so please read it with ease. For the sake of copy write laws I must let you know that the English Standard Version was used regarding English Bible translation. I did remove the actual Greek text, but in the report I used the Aland Greek New Testament. God bless each of you, I hope you will enjoy and be bless by what is said.

Steven

ἀνάστασις I AM THE RESURRECTION

Introduction

In their book How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart start by discussing an argument which is common to them. It is an argument about Bible interpretation verses just reading and doing what the Bible says. Fee and Stuart readily agree with the line of reasoning regarding doing what is read. However, they conclude, this also brings with it a whole new set of issues if interpretation is not involved. One of which is the inability of the reader of modern English Bibles to understand what is meant by certain words or statement.[1]

The same concern can be made regarding the statement from the Lord Jesus Christ in John 11:25b, “…I am the resurrection and the life.” In the English what is said is not as apparent as it is in the Greek. It is the Greek word ἀνάστασις which is of interest; it is this word which is rendered resurrection.[2] ἀνάστασις is a noun. Nouns in Greek mean the same as they do in English, person, place or thing.[3] However it is also in the nominative case meaning it is designating or naming something or someone.[4] As will be seen in this discussion this word unpacks something which cannot be observed immediately in the English. This is not to say that it cannot be understood, but it is difficult to see up front. A simple reading of the English translations will not bring this out.

Range of Meanings For ἀνάστασις

This particular rendering of ἀνάστασις is used three times in the Greek New Testament. In Matthew 22:23 it can mean a raising, rising up or resurrection. In Luke 2:34 it is employed in a metaphorical sense denoting rising up “into a state of higher advancement and blessedness.” Finally it is used here in John 11:25 where William Mounce states that it means, “the author of resurrection.”[5] The definition which Mounce gives for John 11:25 can be argued as an incomplete view.

ἀνάστασις in a Passage

Anyone who is reading the book of John will arrive at chapter 11 having seen several things which have already occurred. John has declared the divinity of Jesus Christ immediately in chapter 1:1-18. This is an important establishment especially for chapter 11. In chapter 1:19-28 John the Baptist is introduced, in verses 29-34 Jesus is baptized and once again his deity is affirmed (v. 32) while in the remaining passage Jesus chooses his disciples (vv. 35-51). Chapter 2 has Jesus performing his first miracle (vv. 1-12), another confirmation of his deity and He cleanses the temple (vv. 13-25). Chapter 3 has the discussion between Jesus and Nicodemus, in chapter 4 he talks to the woman of Samaria and heals the official’s son. In chapter 5 he heals the man at the pool on the Sabbath, equates himself with God (v. 17), and has his second dialogue with the Jewish authorities. Jesus in chapter 6 feeds the five thousand, walks on water, and in verse 22 makes the first of seven “I AM” declarations, “I am the bread of life…” (v. 35). [6] Jesus dialogue turns to disagreement with the Jewish officials in chapter 7, resulting in the people being divided. In chapter 8 Jesus is set up and deals with the adulterous woman. He also makes his second “I AM” declaration, “I am the light of the world…” (v. 12), which leads to the third “I AM” declaration, where he just simply states that “…before Abraham was, I am.” (v. 58). This almost leads to him being stoned. Chapter 9 has the Lord healing the blind man. In chapter 10 he makes his fourth and fifth “I AM” declaration, “…I am the door of the sheep.” (v. 7) and “I am the good Shepherd…” (v. 11).

In chapter 11 both sorrow and befuddlement occur. Sorrow because the Lord has received the news that his closet friend Lazarus is on his death bed (vv. 1-4). The befuddlement comes in verse 6 where it states, “So when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.” “Why?!” might be the question most people would ask and was possibly in the minds of both Mary and Martha when Jesus finally arrives. After all the healings, all the miracles, all the declarations of deity, all the dialogue, discussions and disagreements regarding his person, why didn’t he go to help his best friend.

Martha is the first out to greet the Lord when he arrived, while Mary stayed behind to console her loss (v. 20). The exchange between Martha and Jesus is the center of the moment. In verse 23 Jesus states to her, “… ‘Your bother will rise again (Ἀναστήσεται).’” Martha evidently attempting to show faith says, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection (ἀναστήσεται ἐν τῇ ἀναστάσει) on the last day.” It is in verse 25 where Jesus makes his sixth “I AM” declaration, “…I am the resurrection (ἀνάστασις) and the life…” When he makes this statement he is saying for more than he has at any other point during his earthly ministry, and saying something greater than he does with any of the other “I AM” declarations. J. H. Bernard states in his commentary this stresses that the Lord Jesus Christ is not only the “… ‘quickener’ of the dead…” but he himself really is the resurrection.[7] He is the embodiment of the title which is being given. Bernard brings out the fact that while the other “I AM” declarations are “…similitudes by which Jesus describes Himself…which marks the style of Deity…” this “…differs from the other pronouncements in this respect, that it is not a similitude.” (Italicize belongs to Bernard)[8] William Hendriksen also affirms this thought by stating, “Jesus is the resurrection and the life; the resurrection and the life, that is Jesus….Jesus is the resurrection and the life in person…” (Italicize belongs to Hendriksen)[9] Gary Burge in, The NIV Application Commentary, John, shows the importance of this statement. While Mary may have handled the resurrection as a future event, Jesus wanted her to know that it was not just an event but a person and that person was standing there in front of her.[10] At the moment of her deepest grief a future occasion could not consul her but the very Resurrection and Life himself could.

Conclusion

As Easter approaches, many Christians and non-Christians will make their way to church, even though those numbers are falling every year. It has become a time for Easter egg hunts and family gatherings. If they do go to church they do so out of obligation, a time of reflection on what Jesus has done for everyone through his suffering of the cross and his bodily resurrection. And it has become a time for dressing up in the spring clothing and styles. It has become a Martha, a simple statement of thought or reverence. What is lacking? Why are the numbers falling on Easter services? Why are churches losing thousands every year to the organized cults and the cultic activity of self based religions? Why is it that Christians seem to be so less effective in society and seem almost powerless in regards to self control? Why? Could it be that Christianity has fallen into the Martha syndrome, the resurrection is viewed as an event? The resurrection is something which Jesus did, something which happened to him, and something which will happen to all believers one day. Maybe what Christians need to do is stop just reading the Bible and doing it. Maybe what is needed is a deeper understanding that the Lord which is being served has not only been raised from the dead and will one day raise all believers from the dead, but is the very Resurrection and Life himself. Living in light of his presence will change lives and affect those who need the Savior.

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[1] Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart, How to read the Bible for All Its Worth. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1993, 13-27.

[2] Thomas Sheldon Green, A Greek-English Lexicon To The New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1970, 11.

[3] William D. Mounce, Basics of Biblical Greek. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003, 25.

[4] H. E. Dana and Julius R. Mantey. A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament. Toronto, Ontario: The Macmillian Company, 1955, 68-69.

[5] William Mounce, The Analytical Lexicon To The Greek New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1993, 72.

[6] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker. New Testament Commentary, John. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, Reprint 2007, 149.

[7] J. H. Bernard, The Internatinal Critical Commentary: John, Volume II. Edinburgh, NY: T&T Clark, 386.

[8] Ibid, 387

[9] Hendriksen, 150

[10] Gary Burge, The NIV Application Commentary: John. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2000, 316.