Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Apr 9 2020 - 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 – Knowing God

“Knowledge leads to arrogance whereas love builds others up” says Paul at the beginning of 1 Corinthians 8. Some Christians in Corinth seem to have argued that since there is only one God, idols are of utterly no significance. They proudly paraded their knowledge by joining in feasts in idol temples and seem to have been encouraging others to join them. Their conduct was damaging the faith of others; they are wounding and destroying others for whom Christ died.

Paul condemns such behaviour. Their theology of idols may be correct, but their conduct demonstrates that they have failed to understand the gospel with its focus in a crucified Lord. They are too keen on their own rights, loudly insisting on what they have the power to do rather than being concerned for others. They need to learn the lesson of love; love which is always concerned for the other; love which builds up and does not tear down.

Theology has become a bit of a dirty word in contemporary society. The term can be used to trash the arguments of an opponent as ‘just so much theology’ – meaning that it is pointless theory, like arguing over the number of angels that can dance on the head of a pin. But in his book, Christ, the Meaning of History, Hendrikus Berkhof writes that theology is a form of loving God with the mind. God calls us to understand the things he has revealed in his word, but not with the cold and proud grasp of logic but with the devotion of our hearts – with wonder, love and praise.

To know God is to know the love he has displayed for us in Christ. God has displayed his wisdom and power not in a crushing display of his glory but in the broken body of a crucified Saviour. To know God is to know him as self-giving love. Such knowledge transforms us into the likeness of his Son. It cannot make us proud to display our superior knowledge before others; it will break us and humble us and will empower us to love and serve others, just as Christ gave himself entirely for others – for us.

We see this pattern in the life of the apostle Paul. He had once been a leading member of the Pharisees, proud of his understanding of the Scriptures and determined to crush those whose views were not in line with his own. But then he met the Lord Jesus Christ and was transformed by that encounter. The love of Christ now shapes his life, making him ready to forego anything that could be a barrier to making Christ known; “if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall” (1 Corinthians 8:13).

Have we so learnt Christ? Are there times when we are more concerned to win an argument than to encourage a brother or sister in devotion to Christ? Proud knowledge is both ugly and toxic; it can damage your health – and that of those around you who breathe it in.

Father God, forgive me that there are times when I can be proud in my pretended knowledge of you and look down on those who do not yet understand things as I do. In this I confess that I do not know you at all. Help me to learn more of Christ and to be transformed into his likeness. Help me to love you with my mind and to serve you with all that I am and have. Help me by your Spirit to follow Christ and give myself to the service and blessing of others.

Apr 9 2019 - Judges 7:1-25 – The defeat of Midian

Gideon had been chosen by God to deliver Israel from their Midianite oppressors. So he gathered together an army of 32,000 men. But the Lord told him that his army was too large – even though the Midianites are described as being as countless in number as the sand on the seashore (see Judges 7:12). With an army of 32,000 the Israelites might just have been tempted to boast that they had won the victory by their own power.

So began the process of whittling down Gideon's army to the size of a school outing. All manner of explanations have been given for the way in which the majority are sent home, but the simple explanation is the one given in the text; God is determined to defeat the Midianites by his own power – "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty" (Zechariah 4:6). The reduction of the numbers to a ridiculously small band of 300 was not to isolate the best soldiers but to demonstrate God's power to give victory to his people despite their weakness.

Gideon was given encouragement when, directed by the Lord, he overheard someone in the Midianite camp recounting his dream concerning a large barley loaf that rolled down the hill and flattened a tent. His companion responded by saying, "This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands" (7:14). Whether this answer is given in fear or in jest we are not told, but it is evident that the Midianites have heard of Gideon and of his plans to attack their camp. One can assume therefore that they were not entirely unprepared for battle.

Gideon's tactics involved surrounding the Midianite camp during the cover of darkness. Then, at midnight, they caused as much confusion as possible with blazing torches, trumpets and shouts – reminiscent in some ways of the fall of Jericho. In their panic and confusion the Midianites end up fighting one another in the darkness. Those that managed to flee the camp were picked off by the cordon of Gideon's men.

The surrounding tribes of Israel were then recruited to mop up the scattering Midianite army and put them, and particularly their leaders, to the sword. In this way, the Midianites were utterly defeated.

The story of Gideon teaches us that God does not require vast armies to accomplish his purposes: he did not require large numbers to defeat the Midianites; he did not require large numbers of disciples after Christ's resurrection to transform the Mediterranean world of the first century; he does not require overwhelming human power today to extend his kingdom. God accomplishes his purposes, "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty" (Zechariah 4:6).

"And now it is our turn... It is our turn to rediscover the beautiful, dangerous, compelling idea that a group of people, surrendered to God and to each other, really can change the world." (Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis, p.164)

Great God, forgive me when I am so overwhelmed with a sense of my own inadequacy that I retreat from the work of your kingdom. Give me the faith of Gideon who went out against a great army with only 300 men knowing that he was going with your promise, your presence and your power. Help me to know that Christ has already secured the victory over the kingdom of this world and that there can be no doubt concerning the ultimate triumph of his kingdom.

Give me the faith which can remove
and sink the mountain to a plain;
give me the childlike praying love,
which longs to build your house again.

Peter Misselbrook