Bible Speaks by Rev. L. Althouse 

 

Nov. 16, 2014

Background Scripture: Ezekiel 47:1,3-12

The focus in Ezekiel 47 shifts from the emphasis upon the Temple and its altar to a spiritual tide that will flow from the Temple to transform the world and its people. Water is the natural resource mentioned most frequently throughout the Bible. From the earliest Old Testament times it was recognized as essential to human life (Numbers 20:2), flocks (Gen. 29:2,7) and plant life (Job 8:11).

Water was a gift of God (Psalms 104:13). Water made “holy” by Levitical formula became “holy water.” For a sampling of biblical references to water, see Genesis 1:1,6,7; Gen. 6-8; Exodus 14:21-31; Num. 20:1-11; Psalms 23:2; Amos 5:24; Isaiah 55:1; Matt. 3:11; 10:42; John 4:10,14; John 7:37,38; and Rev. 7:17.

As noted in some of the above references, water is also used as a metaphor for God’s life-giving and life-transforming grace and power. It is in that sense used in Ezekiel’s ecstatic vision. For example, the vision speaks of the “water” as coming from beneath the altar of the Temple, but, of course, there is no spring there and there has never been recorded as one being there.

So, the “water” that flows from the Temple and brings transforming life to all the lands surrounding Jerusalem is a spiritual, rather than a physical, force. It is a metaphor that symbolizes the unfathomable grace and power of God.

Philip Jenkins tells us: “Whatever Europeans or North Americans may believe, Christianity is doing very well indeed in the global South – not just surviving but expanding.” By 2050, Christianity will still be the largest religion in the world (three Christians for every two Muslims), but “only about one-fifth of the world’s three billion Christians will be non-Hispanic whites.”

One reason for the amazing growth of Christianity below the equator is the growth of Pentecostal Christians focused on the power of the Holy Spirit.

Christian revival

If there are any implications for “standard-brand” Christians – Protestants, Roman Catholics and Orthodox – it is that they/we do not manifest spiritual power, as once we did. In the 19th century Protestants grew at an amazing rate because of the power of the revivals. But, while revivalism served a purpose then, it is no longer effective in the 21st century.

In 1955, when I enrolled in seminary there seemed to be two distinct groups of ministerial students in the East Pennsylvania Conference of the then-EUB (Evangelical United Brethren) Church. One group had come out of the camp meetings at Highland Park, a church campground. The other ministerial students were products of the church camp at Perkasie Park.

The Highland Park camp meeting was largely a conversion experience that was quite emotional-revivalist in style. The Perkasie Park group was the product of the Christian nurture or education experience, more cognitive than emotional. So our conference was somewhat split between two parties.

Today, looking back, I think both experiences served their purpose and were effective. Probably neither of these two methods would be sufficient today. We live in a world that is either dismissive or hostile to Christian teachings.

One reason, I believe, is we have allowed the world to transform our churches rather than the churches transforming the society in which we live. David McKay has said rightly: “True Christianity is love in action.” But much of the Christianity I see in action today is “Hatred in action.”

If people’s impressions of Christianity are dependent upon what they read about their political opinions and pronouncements of people who identify themselves as followers of Jesus Christ, is it difficult to understand that the most harmful attacks against Christianity are those that come from within?

Preying on our enemies

In America today many Christians in both parties believe that those in the “the other party” are their enemies, not fellow Christians. And what was the crystal-clear pronouncement Jesus made about our enemies?

In the Beatitudes, did Jesus say or even suggest: “Blessed are those who attack their enemies”? Or “Blessed are those who teach others to hate their enemies”?

No, what Jesus unequivocally says in Matt. 5:44 is: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy,’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Was there ever a clearer, less ambiguous statement by Jesus than that? Transformation takes place when we truly turn ourselves over to Jesus Christ.

Is Christian revival still possible? Can our Christian image be transformed to represent the Person and Way of Jesus Christ? Or are we satisfied with the way things are now?

In his book, The Art of Being A Sinner, John M. Krumm writes: “One of the most famous sermons of the 19th century, by Thomas Chalmers, was called ‘The Expulsive Power of a New Affection.’ His point was that just as some of the dead leaves of a tree never fall to the ground all winter long, but cling to the branches and are only discarded by the new sap rising in the spring and replacing them with new leaves, so the dead instincts of man’s soul can only be expelled and overcome when something new and powerful and alive takes possession of that soul.”

I remember a story about a young man who was converted at a revival meeting. The next day he left to work three months in a rough lumber camp. The people of his church were quite concerned the rough environment might cause him to lose his new faith.

So, they had daily prayer meetings to give him support in his absence. When he returned at the end of three months, they anxiously asked, “How did you get along? How did they treat you?”

“Fine,” he assured them, “they never suspected a thing!”

He had joined the ranks of “Secret Christians.” Does anyone suspect you?

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Those with questions or comments for Rev. Althouse may write to him in care of this publication.