Bible Archives - Mark Conner

August 14, 2019August 14, 2019 Mark Conner Bible, Contemporary Culture, Current Issues

ORIGINS: Genesis Re-Visited

The book of Genesis is a narrative of the origins of the world, but in particular the family of Abraham. Three major world religions trace their roots back to Abraham – Christianity, Judaism and Islam. The first 11 chapters cover what is often referred to as ‘pre-history’: from the beginnings of the universe through just after Noah and the flood. The rest of the book tells the story of Abraham and the eventual birth of the nation of Israel.

Back in 2013, I helped to lead a series of messages called ORIGINS, drawing themes from these early Genesis stories. You can read a summary of three of these messages, including a link to a podcast of the messages as follows:

ORIGINS: Genesis. In this message, I share an introduction to the book of Genesis, helping us understand and apply this ancient text to our lives today.
ORIGINS: Creation. Science and faith, dinosaurs and the big bang. These just a few of the kinds of questions people come to book of Genesis for, hoping to find some answers. In this message, I takes an in-depth look at the story of creation, which clearly shows us who created the world and why.
ORIGINS: Noah and the Ark. In this message, I look at the classic Sunday School story – Noah and the Ark. Humans fail to be faithful covenant partners in God’s world resulting in chaos and destruction but in God’s mercy he promises that “never again” will there be a flood that destroys the earth.

Sometimes it helps to look backward before you move forward, so you live your life from a much bigger perspective. I love the idea of an ‘ancient future’ faith. By going back to the beginning, we can glean some amazing insights about God’s original purpose for this world, all of which are incredibly relevant for our lives today in the 21^st century. History really is HIS-story and you and I are called to play a significant part in the unfolding redemptive narrative. As you explore some of the early stories in Genesis, I hope that the gift of hindsight creates in you a fresh vision (foresight) of who you truly are.

June 20, 2019June 20, 2019 Mark Conner Bible, News

Kevin Conner’s Legacy

It’s hard to believe my dear dad, Kevin Conner, is gone. He passed away peacefully just over 4 months ago. He had recently turned 92 years of age.

I miss him. However, his legacy lives on in our hearts and lives … and in his contributions. Dad was a well-known Bible teacher. He wrote over 60 books, all of which continue to speak to people all over the world – in paperback format and many also in eBook format. Visit his web site for a list of all of his books, listed alphabetically and by category.

Dad didn’t only study the Bible, then teach and write about his insights. He loved to train others to do the same for themselves. His “Key of Knowledge” Seminar was attend by 100s of people and empowered them to do their own Bible research, interpretation and application. This week-long seminar is now available as an online course, with over 13 hours of video teaching, downloadable textbooks, and step-by-step instructions on how to apply the teaching. There are two parts:

Visit the links above to find out more and also to take advantage of some special deals on right now giving you lifelong access to these materials. These can be used by yourself or by a small group of people who want to do the course together. The first lesson in Part 1 is free, so you can see if this course is for you.

Thanks dad for your example and for your ongoing contribution to the church world-wide.

October 21, 2017 Mark Conner Bible

Psalm 23

Psalm 23 is one of the world's most well-known Psalms, written by King David. It has been a source of comfort and encouragement to people from all ages and generations.

Below is the entire Psalm from The Message Bible translation. I encourage you to read it through slowly, taking in every word and phrase. The words in bold were meaningful to me today …

God, my shepherd! I don't need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
Even when the way goes through
Death Valley,
I'm not afraid
when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd's crook
makes me feel secure.
You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.
Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.
I'm back home in the house of God
for the rest of my life.

August 22, 2017 Mark Conner Bible, Spirituality

Reflections on Psalm 139 (Part 4)

As we said when we began these reflections, the writer of Psalm 139 was facing many challenges from unjust people and oppressors. In this context, a hymn of adoration was crafted, declaring that (1) God is always with us, (2) God's affections are towards us, and (3) we have a unique purpose.

In concluding this journey, the psalmist offers a prayer to God:

An Open Book
Vs. 23-24. Investigate my life, O God,
find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
get a clear picture of what I'm about;
See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong—
then guide me on the road to eternal life. The Message Bible

When life is difficult and we are in the midst of stormy weather or huge challenges, it is easy to become overwhelmed. It is also common to get caught up in blaming God and others for our circumstances. We tend to want to ask that every-hungry question, always searching for an answer -"Why!?"

In contrast, this spiritual pilgrim looks in the mirror and invites God to conduct some self-examination.

That's a good thing to do – for people and for leaders.

Business expert Jim Collins, in his extensive research on effective leaders, writes about what he calls a 'Level 5 Leader'. When things are going great, Level 5 leaders look out the window and give the credit to others. When things are going wrong, they look in the mirror and examine themselves as to what they can do better. In stark contrast, when things are going wrong, ineffective leaders look out the window and blame others. When things are going well, they look in the mirror and congratulate themselves. Ah, what a world of difference between these two kinds of leaders!

Many followers of Jesus have found it beneficial to have a daily time of self-examination. It is so easy to get caught up in the external world of what other people are saying and doing. There is great wisdom in first having a deep look at ourselves. After all, if you really want to change the world, change yourself first.

Suggestions:

Start a journal.
Make use of a daily awareness examen.
Take time each day to pause and reflect, asking yourself a few key questions.
Find a good counsellor and talk through some of your personal challenges. Outside input with accountability can be truly life-transforming.
Practice the art of authenticity. It is quite counter-intuitive, but you will find that vulnerability has a way of freeing us from the shame of our own failures.

We go about self-examination in a legalistic manner. God's Spirit never comes to condemn us (knock us down) but always to encourage us (lift us up). Condemnation is this general negative feeling of never being good enough while conviction is always specific and aimed at positive change.

Making our life an open book can be scary and even risky but when it is done in the context of an awareness that (1) God is with us, that (2) he loves us, and that (3) he has a purpose for our lives, it can be one of the most transformative things we ever do. After all, God loves us too much to leave us as we are. That's why the essence of life is never about what we have achieved but rather about who we are becoming. You may have already discovered that God is more interested in your character than your comfort 🙂

Be the change you seek.

August 21, 2017April 30, 2020 Mark Conner Bible, Spirituality

Reflections on Psalm 139 (Part 3)

Psalm 139 not only reminds us that (1) God is with us and that (2) we are objects of his affection. It also shows us that we have been crafted for a specific purpose.

Crafted for a Purpose
Vs. 15. You know me inside and out,
You know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
How I was sculpted from nothing into something.

Vs. 16. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
All the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
before I'd even lived one day. The Message Bible

Think about it. You are not a product of chance or accident. Even if your parents didn't want you, the truth is that you were shaped by design and for a purpose. Just like there is no snowflake or no fingerprint alike, so you are completely unique. No one is exactly like you. So why try to be like somebody else? Why try to copy or initiate others? You are a one-of-a-kind original. Tread your own path. Discover who you are and then be yourself. Live inside out. Let your true colours come shining through. You will feel better and the world will be a much better place as a result.

No one's story is quite like your story. Quit following the scripts that other people have imposed upon you. Stop being dependent on your environment to tell you who you are or who you are meant to be. Dig deep inside and draw out who God has crafted you to be – nothing more and nothing less. Like an onion, peel back the layers that other people and circumstances have projected on you and discover who you really are – at your very core.

You are not your surname, you are not your post code, you are not your educational results, you are not your ancestry, you are not your birth order, you are not your career or your job title. Sure, all of these aspects have contributed to your life and have been influential factors BUT you are not dependent on them nor do you have to be defined by them alone.

Here are some reflections questions that might be of hero as your journey further towards the full discovery of YOU:

What did you love to do as a kid?
When you were young, who did you want to be when you grew up?
What is happening or what are you doing when time seems to stand still?
If you could be or do anything you wanted to, what would it be?
What would you do, even if you didn't get paid for it? [You might also like to read Discover for some more thoughts around how God has shaped you]
What makes you angry? Sometimes this is insightful in discovering what problem you are called to solve.
What energises you the most?
What do other people tell you that you are really good at?
Draw a timeline of your life so far, noting various stages and the transitions between them. What were your most enjoyable events? Most painful? How did these shape who you are today? What could the future hold?
If you life was a story, what genre would it be? A comedy, a drama, a tragedy, a romance or an epic narrative? How would you describe yourself as the main character? [Check out The Story of Your Life for more on this way of looking at your life]

Here's to you being the best you, you can be!

August 20, 2017 Mark Conner Bible, Spirituality

Reflections of Psalm 139 (Part 2)

As we continue our reflections on Psalm 139, we move on from the awareness that God is always with us to the understanding that you, like every other human being, are made in the image of God.

Let's read on …

Vs.13-15. Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
You formed me in my mother's womb.
I thank you, High God — you're breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration —what a creation!

Your Identity – A Child of God

We all long for a sense of identity and significance. We often search for these things through our achievements, through acquiring material possessions, or through seeking forms of fame or popularity. Sadly, most of these pursuits end up being fleeting when it comes to a lasting sense of personal value. They so easily fade and leave us feeling empty on the inside.

The good news is that we can have a lasting sense of identity through the realisation that we are a unique creation of God – formed by his hand even before we were born. Our true value is in who we ARE not what we DO.

Imagine if we could live every day, not only with a constant awareness of God's presence but with a strong belief that we are valuable, precious, unique and special – because we have been created by God. What a difference that would make!

And then imagine if we treated every other human being the same way – realising they too are crafted in God's image and are greatly valued by God. It's true, you have never locked eyes with anyone who is not deeply loved by God.

Later in the Psalm, we read …

Vs. 17-18. Your thoughts — how rare, how beautiful!
God, I'll never comprehend them!
I couldn't even begin to count them —
any more than I could count the sand of the sea.
Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you!

How amazing is that! YOU are the Object of God's Love and he thinks about you all the time. In fact, the quantity of his thoughts about you are uncountable, like the sand of the sea.

No wonder Brennan Manning, author of the best-selling book Ragamuffin Gospel, said:

“Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion.”

“My deepest awareness of myself is that I am deeply loved by Jesus Christ and I have done nothing to earn it or deserve it.”

Today, I pray that God's Spirit would keep you constantly aware that God is with you AND that His orientation towards you is one of love and goodwill. That's really good news!

August 19, 2017 Mark Conner Bible, Spirituality

Reflections on Psalm 139 (Part 1)

This beautiful Psalm begins by boldly declaring that God knows all about us, will never let us go, and has been involved with us from our earliest beginnings (vs.1-18). The latter part of the Psalm provides the context – one of feeling the injustice of people who go about doing wrong and need to be held to account (vs.19-23). When we are faced with life's contradictions, with personal challenges, or opposition from others, it's good to remind ourselves of these truths about God:

God With Us

Vs.3-5. I'm never out of your sight …
I look behind me and you're there,
then up ahead and you're there, too —
your reassuring presence, coming and going. The Message Bible

The truth of God's 'omnipresence' is taught everywhere through the Bible. God is everywhere at once. There is nowhere you can go that he isn't already there.

Unfortunately, a lot of the language that Christians use today has hints of Greek 'dualism' – the separation of the world into sacred and secular spaces. We often hear statements during church services such as, "Isn't it good to be in God's presence today?", as if we weren't beforehand and won't be when the church meeting is done! Another classic is, "Isn't it good to be in God's house today", as if God lives in the church building and will be waiting all week, hoping we will return next week! Of course, there is often something special that happens when followers of Jesus gather together but let's not let that result in a mindset that assumes that God is not with us unless we are with other believers. Another common prayer phrase is, "God, please be with us today", as if he is somewhere else and we need to call him to come hang out with us.

The truth is that we are always in God's presence. He is Emmanuel – "God WITH us". WE are God's house. He dwells, or lives, inside of us as his people. What we need is not more of God's presence. We need a greater awareness of His presence.

I love the story of Jacob who came to a certain desert place. Once asleep, he had a dream of angels ascending up into heaven and and descending back down to earth on a ladder. When he woke up he declared, "God is in the place and I did not know it!" What turned a desert place into 'Bethel' – the place where God lives? Awareness of God's presence.

God is with us – always. Imagine if we could live with this reality.

Of course, it's worth considering whether this is good news or bad news. This truth can be both solemn, realising that God sees everything and we are accountable for our words and actions, and encouraging, knowing God is always near.

It reminds me of one of the prayers believed to belong to St Patrick, the 5th century Irish missionary. He is widely celebrated as being the one who brought the good news of Christ to what was, at the time, a largely pagan island. By the time of his death he is said to have established over 2,000 churches in Ireland. The prayer is written in the style of a druid chant. Legend has it that St Patrick recited these words before encountering a number of druids who had been plotting against him.

Here are a few stanzas. As you read them slowly, may they be your prayer as you live each day in the presence of Almighty God – wherever you are and whatever you may be doing. Remember, God IS with you.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendour of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.

Read: Part 2

August 6, 2017 Mark Conner Bible, General Interest, Personal Development

Living with JOY

Over the last month or so, I have been gradually reading through the book of Psalms in The Message Bible translation. It's a wonderful collection of songs and poetry, expressing the full range of human emotion: disappointment, frustration, anger and hope, as well as praise, worship and joy.

One of the most well known Psalms is Psalm 100 – which is a call to worship. It begins by declaring, "Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!" The next line is "Serve (or worship) the Lord with gladness (or joy)."

Every day, as we go about our life, we are serving someone – at home, through volunteering, or at our workplace. Those of us who are people of faith are challenged to do everything we do … as unto God (see Paul's instructions in Colossians 3:23). However, serving, in and of itself, is not the only thing that God is interested in. How we serve is very important. The way we go about doing our work matters. Here, the Psalmist tells us to “serve … with gladness (or with joy).”

There will be a lot of people going out to work or serve this week … but how will they serve? How will you serve and add value to the people around you? Let's make a choice to serve others with JOY.

What does JOY look like to you? Being joyful is not about being someone you are not (e.g. introverts trying to be extroverts!). However, it is about the attitude we bring to the task we are engaged in at any given moment and the atmosphere we create through our presence.

In the Bible, we are told that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10), that joy is an infallible sign of God’s presence (Psalm 16:11), that joy is the essence of life (Ecclesiastes 3:22; 5:19), that joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22), that joy is an attribute of God's kingdom rule (Romans 14:17), and that joy can inspire people who are looking at our lives (1 Kings 10:1-13).

Joy is also a key to effectiveness in work. In his best-selling book Managing to Have Fun, Matt Weinstein shows why a company that 'plays' builds a business that works. Many people think that work is not supposed to be fun. That’s why they call it work. Work and Play are supposed to be opposites, like Love and War. “Make love, not war.” “Quit playing around and get back to work”, is an often heard saying. Traditional wisdom says that if you see someone having fun on the job then that person is slacking off. This time, traditional wisdom is dead wrong.

Other people say, “I never mix business with pleasure”. However, if you want a successful team at work you should always mix business with pleasure. Be always on the lookout for finding new ways to bring pleasure and joy into your business for yourself, your employees and your customers.

For too many companies, building a team means creating a high-powered, smoothly functioning organisation that has plenty of muscle, but not much heart. It is the absence of the human side of a business or organisation that depletes employee morale, and contributes to job dissatisfaction and burnout. By adding an element of fun and celebration to a team-building program, you can take an important step towards humanising your workplace, and creating a sense of heart and soul.

Some managers, however, weaned on a “never mix business with pleasure” attitude, have a difficult time buying into the value of humor. “You can’t be serious?” is the incredulous response to the suggestion to lighten up. And they’re absolutely right. You can’t be serious, at least not if you’re interested in improving staff morale or motivating employees to new heights. And if you want to spark creativity, strengthen teamwork, facilitate open communication, minimize stress levels, reduce employee turnover and absenteeism rates, improve trust between management and employees, offer dynamic customer service and improve productivity, then you can’t be serious. You can’t be serious, because humor can help any organization achieve all those goals.

Adding humour is about celebrating work, not trivializing it. And it’s about mixing humour in an appropriate manner to improve workplace productivity. Learn to take yourself lightly, while still taking your job seriously. When you laugh at yourself, you demonstrate your humanity and openness and encourage others to do likewise. As an added bonus, you take away anyone’s ability to laugh at you. Remember, as a leader, people look to you to set the tone for the office. You have the power to decide whether you’re going to be a roadblock on the inspiration highway or a catalyst for creativity and positive energy.

I've found it beneficial to think about the things that come to steal away my joy. What are your joy-robbers? Maybe it's worry, or frustration, or busyness, or negativity (focusing on what is going wrong) or uncertainty (which often occurs during times of transition). We can learn to be on guard against these things that steal our joy.

It also helps to remember that happiness tends to be based on what 'happens' to us. It is circumstantial and is influenced by things outside of ourselves. Joy, in contrast, comes from the inside and is often a choice – and can occur regardless of our circumstances. Of course, that's easier said than done!

Habakkuk was a farmer living in pre-Christian times. It hadn't been a very productive year on his farm. Yet look what he chose to do:

"Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains." Habakkuk 3:17-19. NLT

The apostle Paul was in prison (for no fault of his own), yet he wrote this:

"Rejoice in the Lord and again I say, rejoice!" Philippians 4:4.

Jesus' brother, James, wrote this in the first century:

"Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything." James 1:2-4. NLT

There's some challenging attitudes about life and choices to be joyful … no matter what.

So how can we be more joyful … beginning today?

Here are three simple things I have found helpful:

1. Choose an attitude of gratitude. Focus on the good things in your life that you can be thankful for. An old hymn puts it this way: "Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done." How easy it is to count our problems or our challenges, rather than our blessings. Gratitude fuels joy.

2. Smile! A smile welcomes people and warms the atmosphere in a room or space. Plus, we usually look better with a smile on our face. [Read more on the importance of a smile]

3. Maintain a sense of wonder. GK Chesterton once said, "The world will never lack for wonders, only for wonder." Like a child, never lose the wonder or the specialness of what is actually precious in your life – like your very breath.

I pray that you will be filled with joy today as you live your life and serve others with the amazing gifts God has given to you.

Cheers!

June 1, 2017 Mark Conner Bible, Theology

The Book of Job and the Question of Suffering (Part 3)

Today, we conclude our reflections on the book of Job.

What the book of Job CAN do for us:

1. It teaches us to be careful and compassionate in how we respond to people who are suffering. When people are suffering, they don’t need theological debates (“maybe this is an attack from the devil”), personal accusations (“maybe God is punishing you for sin in your life”) or advice for a ‘quick fix’ to their calamity (“if only you had more faith in God …”). They need our empathy, our support, and our friendship. In the end, Job’s friends became his enemies and ‘worthless physicians’ who crushed him with their words. Can we do better than Job’s friends?

2. It shows us that the world does not operate by justice. This world is broken and incomplete. It still needs attention. Injustice is still part of the system as it is. This means that suffering should not lead us to look back on our behavior in search for a cause; rarely is there any identifiable one-to-one connection. The world, though under the control of God, is fallen, and as it awaits redemption it is often more chaotic than ordered and coherent. Like humanity, God’s world is a work in progress. Alleviating a measure of suffering, when and where we can, is part of our mandate to 'subdue and rule' the earth. God will eventually align all of Creation with his attributes and establish absolute order in the new heavens and new earth. Until then, we should expect continued manifestations of disorder, which include pain and suffering.

3. It reminds us that God rules the world with a wisdom that is beyond our understanding. When we begin to blame him for our suffering or think that we could do a better job of running the world than him, we move into dangerous territory. God's wisdom is far beyond our ability to comprehend.

4. It raises the question of 'why' we place our faith in God. Is our choice to believe in God only for reward and blessing, either in this life (prosperity) or the next (to gain heaven and avoid hell)? Is it for self-interest, as the Challenger believed it was for Job? Is our faith sustained when our desires are not fulfilled, when healing does not come, when broken homes are not restored, when the goals we pursue remain beyond our reach? Is Christianity merely a 'benefits system' of incentives that results in us losing motivation when there is nothing in it for us? Job shows us that true righteousness should have its desired end in a relationship with God not in gaining reward from God. That is a huge challenge in our consumer driven world.

5. It teaches us to trust that God loves us even when we go through painful situations and we do not understand the reasons why. Like Job did, we can direct our confused questions and perplexing musings to him. During suffering, choose to trust God and believe that he is good and that he loves you … even when you do not understand. Trust is the way through the struggles of life.

Conclusion

Pain and suffering enter every one of our lives from time to time. I have only lived 55 years and yet I can look back at the death of family members (my own mother died of a sudden heart attack in 1990 and Nicole’s mother died quite suddenly from cancer in 2007), car accidents, personal sickness, mental and emotional challenges, stress and burnout, disappointment, criticism, gossip, slander, conflict and many other challenges that have touched my life and our family. Of course, some other people suffer far worse and much more deeply.

I still don't understand ‘why’ all of these things have happened. Yes, I have grown and they have developed character in me, as well as empathy for the struggles that other people go through. But I don't fully understand the reasons behind them nor God’s purposes through their occurrence.

Like Job, I have many unanswered questions. Yet I choose to place my faith in God, regardless of my feelings or the perplexity in all this. It’s not easy but I truly believe that God is good, that he loves us and therefore I choose to trust him even when I do not understand. I feel just like the apostle Paul did …

“Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:12-13. NLT

May you too be encouraged in your faith – in the good times and the bad.

P.S. Read Part 1 if you missed it.

May 31, 2017 Mark Conner Bible, Theology

The Book of Job and the Question of Suffering (Part 2)

Today, we continue our reflections on the book of Job.

What the book of Job does NOT do for us:

1. It does not answer the question as to 'why' there is suffering in the world today. Theodicy (the search for the origin and nature of suffering and evil) remains an unsolved mystery. Suffering is not merely a theological or philosophical problem, it is a human problem that no one is immune to, though some people suffer more than others. Yes, God does intend our good (Romans 8:28) but that doesn't mean that we will always figure out how our experiences benefit us (Ecclesiastes 6:12) and our "good" cannot be always defined by our comfort or our success.

C.S. Lewis once said, "Pain insists on being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts to us in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world." True, suffering and pain can serve to draw our attention to God, to rely on him and perhaps to engage in self-evaluation. However, we should be cautious to suggest that suffering is always to be viewed as God's instrument for accomplishing any of those goals. We cannot know or assume that there are reasons for our suffering though God does have purposes, though we may never know them fully.

2. It does not validate the long-held ‘retribution principle’ which states that the righteous will always prosper and the wicked will always suffer. In Israelite theology, this principle was integral to the belief in God's justice. Since God is just, they believed that he would always uphold this principle. This also led to the belief that if a person prospered, they must be righteous (i.e. favored by God) and those who suffer must be wicked (i.e. experiencing the judgment of God). However, the retribution principle is too simplistic. Yes, it serves as the basis for general trends in human experience (as presented in the biblical books of Deuteronomy, Psalms and Proverbs) but there are no guarantees and there are always exceptions (Job being a prime example). A person’s sinfulness cannot be inferred when one is suffering nor can a person’s goodness be inferred when one is prospering.

Jesus confronted the retribution principle on two specific occasions. A man born blind was seen by the disciples as caused by sin (John 9:1-3). Jesus shifted their focus from causes (actions in the past) to purpose (God's ongoing plan), offering an expanded theology. As in the book of Job, no explanation for the suffering was given, possible or necessary. More important is the need to trust God's wisdom and to seek out his purpose.

In Luke 13:1-5, the issue concerns whether those who have died in recent tragedies should be considered to have deserved their death. Again, Jesus turns the attention away from the cause and even states that there is not a one-to-one correspondence between sin and punishment. As an alternative, Jesus tells his audience to view the incident as a warning. Once again, as in John 9, he refuses to engage the question of cause and concentrates instead on purpose.

3. Job is not a perfect model of how to respond to suffering. Yes, he never cursed God and he persevered through his trials (James 5:11). He also had a more accurate understanding of God than his friends but he did not have a totally clear perspective on his situation nor a full understanding of the nature of God and his ways, any more than we do today.

4. Although God is the central subject of this book (not Job, his friends or the Challenger), it does not fully explain how God is involved in his world. We have to continually maintain the tension of believing that God is not distant (as in deism) nor does he micromanage everything that occurs in our daily lives. There really is no language adequate enough to describe God’s involvement or lack of involvement and simplistic generalisations can lead to flawed theology. John Walton uses the example of gravity: it was created by God from the beginning through his wisdom but each expression of gravity is not necessarily 'caused' by God though it does not operate without him. In the same way, God’s activity is beyond our comprehension and powers of explanation.

Next – Part 3: What the Book of JOB can do for us and concluding thoughts.

May 30, 2017 Mark Conner Bible, Theology

The Book of Job and the Question of Suffering (Part 1)

Over the last few months, I have been slowly reading through the book of Job in The Message Bible translation, reflecting on it, and also reading John Walton's excellent commentary on Job in the NIV Application Commentary series, as well as Tremper Longman III's book on Job in the Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms.

The book of Job is a 'classic' in ancient literature and one of the most intriguing books in the Bible. It outlines the story of a man named Job who was one of the wealthiest people in the ancient Near East. Suddenly, a series of tragedies flood into his life, resulting in the loss of his herds and flocks, the death of all of his children, and finally a severe skin disease of some sort afflicts Job himself.

The prologue to the story (Job 1-2) shows us some behind the scenes dialogue between God and his divine council, one of whom is called 'the Satan', or better 'the Challenger' (though he does nothing evil in this particular story). God's policies for running the world are under debate and the Challenger states that Job only serves God because of the blessing he has experienced. God disagrees and so the challenge begins.

Job is unaware of any of this dialogue and responds to his tragedies with appropriate grief and mourning (Job 3, 29-31). Three of his friends soon gather and they mourn with him in silence for seven days. Finally, they begin to speak and so begins the dialogues and debates that make up most of the book (Job 4-27). Each of the friends draws upon a variety of sources, including reason (logic), life experience, tradition and spiritual experiences, to try to solve Job’s problem of suffering. After an intriguing poem or hymn about wisdom (Job 28), another friend, Elihu, appears and adds his two cents worth to the dialogue (Job 32-37). He is a raging, young man, directing his passionate speech towards Job because of his apparent self-righteous attitude and towards the friends for their philosophical incompetence. He defends God's justice and views himself as speaking on behalf of God.

Despite the suggestion from his friends that his suffering is a result of his sin and arrogance, Job continues to declare his innocence (not that he is sinless) and wants a response from God. As in a court of law, if Job is guilty, he expects God himself to show up and prove this.

Finally, God does show up (Job 38-41). Speaking from the midst of a storm, he rebukes the friends for their flawed thinking about God and how he runs his world. But he doesn't answer any of Job’s questions. Instead, he declares his power and the wisdom of his creation. Job's response to God's first speech is one of awed silence (Job 40:3-5). God speaks again, highlighting two unfathomable creatures – Behemoth and Leviathan. Job's response to God's second speech is one of humility and repentance (Job 42:1-6). He distinguishes between a second-hand experience of God ("my ears had heard") and first-hand experience ("now my eyes have seen"). As a result, he is ashamed of his presumption in challenging God's ways and he regrets his previous statements, his distorted characterization of God, his presumptuous belief in his own understanding, and his arrogant challenges.

The epilogue then details the repentance of Job’s friends (42:7-9) and the restoration of Job to a place of prosperity (Job 42:10-16).

We don't know the author of Job (literary works in the ancient world were often anonymous) or it's date of composition. Most likely it is from the patriarchal period, due to the absence of any reference to covenant or law (although this is understandable as Job was not an Israelite; he was from the land of Uz – 1:1). We also don't know whether the book is based on historical events (a real person named Job) or whether it is purely a literary construction – a 'thought experiment'. This does not affect our interpretation of the book, nor its authority and inspiration as sacred text. Most scholars believe that Job was a real historical person who was righteous and suffered greatly. The story of Job still speaks to us today in profound ways.

Next – Part 2: What the Book of Job CAN'T do for us.

April 20, 2017 Mark Conner Bible, Relationships, Theology

The Greatest Love Song of All Time (Pt.2)

Hopefully, you’ve had a chance to read through the Song of Songs – an extraordinary love poem.

How can we apply the insights from this love poem to our own lives today?

What efforts are you making to keep the romance of your love relationship alive? What things can you do to cultivate a greater desire for the one who you love?
In what ways can you further affirm the value and dignity of the opposite sex/gender?
Wisdom calls us to loving and exclusive commitment, not to a rampant promiscuity which turns sex into a mere commodity. Read Proverbs 5:15-19 and reflect on the impact of more readily available pornography on genuine love.
In the beginning, men and women were made as equal partners in life and vocation, both being given involvement in the reproduction and dominion mandates (Genesis 1:26-28). What steps can you take to work against the embedded hierarchy and patriarchy that still dominates our culture, including within the Christian church?
Society today often demeans sex from it's God given purpose while the church often suppresses open conversation about sexuality. How can we contribute to a more healthy openness about sex and love, in our families and communities?

April 18, 2017 Mark Conner Bible, Relationships

The Greatest Love Song of All Time (Pt.1)

Everyone likes love songs. They fill the radio waves throughout the day. I can still remember enjoying the crooning voice of Lionel Richie singing "Hello, is it me you're looking for?" in my late teens. There is something deeply profound about the desire and yearning of one person for another. We call it love.

The Bible contains many diverse types of literature, including poems, prophecies, narratives and of course, songs. The book of Psalms is literally a psalter, or collection of songs, expressing the full range of emotions of the human heart. But then we have that small little book at the end of the Wisdom Literature section called Song of Songs. That title means it is being declared as the best song of all. It's a bit like the phrase "holy of holies", which means the holiest of all holy places. This is the greatest song of all songs – and it's a love song, a sensual and erotic one at that!

That's pretty remarkable. This book is also unusual in the Bible in that it mentions God indirectly perhaps once (8:6), and most likely not at all. It also does not refer to the main Israelite traditions of the Exodus, the Torah (law), the covenants or the ancestors. Its central concern is about sexual love. It joyfully celebrates physical love and a couple's committed relationship. That should serve as a rebuke to Christians who find no place for love and sex in their Christian thinking and living.

Of course, conservative interpreters throughout the centuries found all of this a bit too embarrassing so resorted to an allegorical approach, rather than a literal one, declaring this as a love story between God and his people. One interpreter even declared the woman's breasts as representing the Old and New Testaments! Now there is some creative, mental gymnastics.

Before you start reading Song of Songs, maybe for the first time, here are a few pointers:

The date of composition is uncertain and the author of this song in unknown. Solomon has been thought to be the author by some but the inclusion of his name (most references are in the 3rd person and he never speaks in the text) could refer more to sponsorship or dedication. His reputation for womanising does not harmonise with the apparently exclusive devotion of the lovers in this text. Some have even proposed a female author, but it remains impossible to prove.
There are two main characters in the text – one man and one woman. There is no narrator intruding into the conversations. These persons are in love and the dialogue is charged with emotional content.
This is love poetry. The sequence of lyric poems form a series of episodes with some plot and theme development, but there are some abrupt shifts of scene and audience, which can be confusing and yet engaging at the same time. Poetic images abound – with heaps of simile and metaphor (many of them mixed!). There is much imaginative activity here. And the language can seem quite foreign to Western ears. There is military language (bodily parts being likened to towers, troops, banners, shields and warriors), architectural imagery (a house and a wall), family images, natural and agricultural imagery, wild animal images (the gazelle, stag, lion and leopard), specific geographical imagery (places as diverse as Kedar, Mount Gilead, Lebanon, En Gedi, Damascus, Hernon and Jerusalem), landscape elements (mountain, valley, garden, vineyard, orchard, pools and fountain), spices and incense, metals and gems, and frequent references to wine, suggesting the intoxicating nature of this love relationship. The regular blurring of a distinction between image and association (for example, shifting between an actual landscape and the landscape of the human body) only heighten the growing emotion of this love poem.
This book promotes a positive view of human sexuality, as a normal part of God's "very good" creation. These lovers express their desire for each other and speak of delight in each other's presence. Together or apart, each admires the other's body. As originally portrayed in the garden of Eden, they are "naked and unashamed" before God and each other (Genesis 2:25). They issue repeated invitations to each other. They are single-minded in their devotion to each other and their relationship. Most remarkable is the fact that there is no mention of procreation, showing that child-bearing is not the only legitimate aim of sexual relations.
There is a mutuality in this love relationship. In fact, this book is also unusual in the biblical library, in that it gives the central place to a woman's voice unmediated by a narrator. She is the speaker in the majority of verses and has the first and last words. There is no hint of hierarchy or patriarchy here. The man and woman are equals – in value and personhood. In fact, there is an interesting reversal to the Eden statement "your desire shall be for your husband" (Genesis 3:16) with the woman's declaration, "I belong to my lover, and his desire is for me" (7:10). [It is disappointing that some English translations have chosen the words "Lover" and "Beloved" to represent the male and female characters in this love poem since this implies male initiative and female passivity, which is exactly the opposite of what this love poem portrays.]
There is a time for love to awaken. The woman in this love poem speaks to "the daughters of Jerusalem" several times, repeating this advice/warning: "Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires" (2:7; 3:5; 5:8; 8:4). Love requires restraint at times, saying 'no' to the immediate in order to say 'yes' to what may be even better in the longer term. Yes, waiting and delayed gratification are part of a maturing love. Don't be too hasty in love.
Human love is a picture of the love God has for his people. The apostle Paul likens marriage to the relationship between Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:22-33). Therefore, we can include allegorical readings with literal readings of the Song of Songs, though it is not the sole purpose of the book.

Enjoy your reading! I love the Message Bible translation.

Part 2 tomorrow …

April 8, 2017 Mark Conner Bible

The Quest for Life’s Meaning (3)

Ecclesiastes is a controversial book – is it a positive affirmation of the joy of life or a deeply pessimistic view of the world? Either way, it resonates deeply with the existential struggles of people today. The book takes us on a roller-coaster ride as the main character sets out to explore the meaning of life. We too are to wrestle actively with the difficult questions and real issues of life.

Throughout the Quester’s journey, there is a constant tension between the 'utterly enigmatic' nature of life as he discovers it under the sun and the call to 'seize the day', eating and drinking and enjoying what God has given to us. These can be referred to as the carpe diem passages (which increase in emphasis throughout the book’s journey), such as the following:

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20. Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past. NLT

Here is a transforming vision of eating and drinking, of enjoying one's work and one’s wealth, and of sustaining joy. This is to be seen as a gift from God (see also 2:24-26; 9:7-10 and how the apostle Paul picks this theme in Colossians 3:17) who created all things for his pleasure (Revelation 4:11). As Irenaeus once said, “The glory of God is the human person fully alive.” This involves joy even in the midst of the contradictions and enigmas we experience in life (see 1 Peter 1:8).

All of this is a mystery that needs to be held in tension, being difficult to resolve. Like chasing the wind, we know that the wind is real but it is impossible to grasp. So life has meaning but it can be hard to get a handle on. The resolution to the paradox is found in "the fear of God" which enables one to rejoice and apply oneself positively to life in the midst of all that one does not understand, including especially death. It is a call to rejoice and remember our Creator by enjoying his good gifts and obeying his laws (see 11:7-12:7). We can wrestle with reality at its darkest points and still testify to the joy of God. Like the Quester, we can affirm joy over despair while still struggling with how to relate the two. As Craig Bartholomew writes, “His autonomous epistemology takes him toward skepticism but his Jewish background and faith provide him with an undeniable shalomic perspective on life” (p.355). Enigma remains but it is enveloped with meaning. It’s a meaning that comes from refusing to forget the God who created everything. Despite the difficulties, paradoxes, unanswered questions and mysteries of life, life can be lived on a firm foundation of faith and trust.

Here’s the narrator’s conclusion:

Ecclesiastes 12:8-14. Keep this in mind: The Teacher was considered wise, and he taught the people everything he knew. He listened carefully to many proverbs, studying and classifying them. The Teacher sought to find just the right words to express truths clearly. The words of the wise are like cattle prods — painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep. But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out. That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. NLT

Anything we pursue on this earth in order to find meaning and satisfaction from tends to disappoint, as least in the long run. But when we discover a peace and a joy in a connection with the God who transcends yet pervades this world, we are able to express and experience that joy even in the daily aspects and routines of our life. We live more content, we are more attentive to all that is talking place around us, and we understand that everything belongs and everything is a gift.

Ultimately, it is Jesus who redeems us from the futility of life and ushers in the great feast of the kingdom of God. Yes, all of creation continues to groan but with a hope that death is not the end and that the story of redemption is yet to be finished. In the meantime, like Jesus, we can celebrate the life that God has given us and feast in joy, living fully present in each moment of our day. After all, Jesus literally ate his way through the Gospels, bringing joy and hope to whoever he encountered along the way.

May we do the same.

April 7, 2017 Mark Conner Bible

The Quest for Life’s Meaning (Pt.2)

The book of Ecclesiastes is a fine piece of inspired literary work, carefully crafted to convey an important message about the quest for the meaning of life. There is a Narrator who frames this royal story (1:1-11 and 12:8-14), a story which is made up of the actual words and thoughts of someone we will refer to as the Quester (1:12 – 12:7). The Quester is also called the Preacher, the Teacher, the Wise Man or Qohelet (Hebrew for 'preacher’).

Solomon is the stated identity of the Quester (1:1) but some biblical scholars now choose a later date and see this as royal Solomonic fiction, though based on actual historical experiences. See Craig G. Bartholomew's excellent commentary on Ecclesiastes in the Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms series (Tremper Longman III, Editor) for more background detail.

The theme of the book is stated loud and clear right up front (1:2) – "Utterly enigmatic, utterly enigmatic, everything is enigmatic.” This Hebrew word hebel is used 38 times in the book and can be translated as vanity, absurdity, futility, transience, uselessness, vapor/breath, chasing the wind, and meaninglessness. Enigmatic or 'chasing after the wind' are alternative translations.

This provocative summary of the Quester's search for meaning (his epistemology) is shocking coming from the ruler of God's people (1:1), but anticipates the journey he will embark on and the conclusions he will come to. He is talking about human life and experience (anthropology), not God and or the universe in general (cosmology). This summary statement does not close the debate but rather opens it – the shock of the statement engages the reader in the Quester's own struggle as they begin to wrestle with how a wise person akin to Solomon could make this sort of statement.

After stating the theme of the book, the key question being pursued is presented (1:3) - "What is the benefit for humankind in all one's labor at which one labors under the sun?"

The word translated “benefit” is used 10 times in the book and refers to advantage, profit, benefit, additional edge, or meaning for our labor (work). The word “humankind” is used 49 times and shows how the pursuit is about fundamental questions about the nature of human existence. The phrase “under the sun” is used 29 times, showing the Quester’s concern with the whole range of the human experience. The word “labor” is used 22 times and "to labor" 13 times, referring to work, toil, labor, struggle and pain – all sorts of human endeavor.

Although this is the main question being pursued, there are actually 32 questions in the book of Ecclesiastes. That’s 12% of the book’s entire content! Questions drive the intellectual challenge, inviting the reader to participate in the struggle to find the meaning of life. Never be afraid to question.

The Quester considers all of life under the sun. Here is a brief overview of his quest:

Pleasure and the good life (2:1-11) – abandoning himself to the pleasures of wine, extensive building projects, gardens and parks, the accumulation of wealth and treasures, music, sex, and so on.
The problem of death and one's legacy (2:12-23) – the repetitiveness of history, the end of life for all in death, and one's lack of control over one's legacy,
The mystery of time (3:1-15) – the limits of human life, namely birth and death, and the range of activities that make up human culture, including agriculture, war, reconciliation, medicine, grief, celebration, and so on.
The problem of injustice and death (3:16-22) – if death is just the end, then humans are no better than animals, and there will never be a time for judgment,
Four problems – oppression, rivalry as the motivation for work, isolation in work and life, and the problem of government (4:1-16).
Public worship (5:1-7).
Oppression and profit, along with its dangers (5:8-17).
The problem of riches and wealth (6:1-12).
Knowing what is good for one (7:1-13) – the nature of the good life.
Moderation in folly and wisdom (7:14-22).
The enigma of political rule (8:1-9).
The problem of delayed judgment (8:10-17) – including the lack of observable justice and the longevity of people favoring evil.
The fate of death and the gift of life (9:1-12).
The example of a city (9:13-18).
Wisdom, folly and rulers (10:1-20).
Living with the uncertainties of God's providence (11:1-6).

There is no sacred/secular dualism here. It is a comprehensive survey of the variety of areas of human life and experience.

Tomorrow: Part 3 of The Quest for Life’s Meaning