Coronado Bible Church

Some dismiss the Bible as ancient and arcane, but for me it is alive and contemporary. This past week’s Bible reading reminded me that all the maladies of modern society are present in the opening chapters of Genesis. When Adam sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, innocence, transparency and personal responsibility were all casualties of his Fall.

 

It was Adam’s sin that derailed humanity. The prohibition about the fruit was given to Adam prior to Eve’s creation. God entrusted Adam with the role of spiritual leader and his was the greater and damning sin. No change is reported until the man ate of the fruit … “Then,” the Bible says, “the eyes of both of them were opened and they realized they were naked.” (GENESIS 3:7) When Paul wrote about the coming of sin and then salvation, he did not contrast Christ to Eve. He said, “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ will all be made alive.” (1 CORINTHIANS 15:22) Every human is born into Adam’s sin and so are destined to die. But every human who is, by faith, born into Christ is granted eternal life.

 

Adam’s spiritual fall had an immediate and tangible impact on his relationship with his wife and his God. The two great commands of love for God and love for your fellow human were shattered:

• Shame replaced innocence … “they … made coverings for themselves.”
• Hiding replaced transparency … “I was afraid … so I hid.”
• Blame replaced responsibility … “The woman you put here with me.”

Eons have passed, and these instincts of sin still wreak havoc in our relationships. Praise God for the curse reversing work of Jesus Christ. We still live in a fallen world and struggle against sin, but God has opened the door to restoration.

 

 

 

 

Why was that moment so special to me? Maybe because I had good pastors. I never doubted that the men who served our little congregation really loved me and desired God’s blessings to rest on my life. It was obvious in how they preached and shook my hand and taught me in Bible class and prayed for me. So when they pronounced God’s blessing … I felt blessed.

 

Now, almost 40 years later, I have the privilege of closing each service with a blessing. My calling as a pastor gives me no special power to bless … only God can do that. What I do is announce that God desires to bless you. I earnestly believe that and long for it to be true in your life. Fallen man that I am … I hope that’s obvious in how I preach and teach and greet you and pray for you. Let me share two of my favorite Scriptural blessings … and I pray that by God’s grace they will be true for you in the coming year.

 

May the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:7 

 

 

 

I watch the Frank Capra film “Meet John Doe” almost every Christmas. It never became a hit like Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The aforementioned film is darker and even cynical at times. It takes on issues like big government, corrupt politics and the erosion of free speech.

 

What do I like about it? It’s well acted by an all-star cast; Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Walter Brennen, James Gleason, etc. It’s got great lines; a mayor tells a mob pressing into his office to see John Doe,

“No stampeding. Walk slow, like you do when you come to pay your taxes.” What I like most is that it has a Christian worldview. The film unashamedly promotes the idea that our world would be a drastically better place if people treated their neighbors with a Christian ethic.

 

In a radio speech, John Doe (Cooper) steals lines from Jesus, “Your neighbor — If he’s sick, call on him. If he’s hungry, feed him. If he’s out of a job, find him one.” When the “Be a Better Neighbor” movement is coopted and nearly destroyed by the villain, John Doe becomes despondent. The movie ends on Christmas Eve with an impassioned plea for John not to end his life. Ann Mitchell (Stanwyck) says, “Oh, John, if it’s worth dying for, it’s worth living for. Oh please, John … you don’t have to die to keep the John Doe ideal alive. Someone already died for that once. The first John Doe. And He’s kept that ideal alive for nearly 2,000 years. It was He who kept it alive in them. And He’ll go on keeping it alive for ever and always — for every John Doe movement these men kill, a new one will be born. That’s why those bells are ringing, John.” Consider what she said; Jesus’ death launched a movement of love, He has kept it alive for 2,000 years and will keep it alive for ever. The movie takes seriously that Jesus lived and died in history, is currently alive and continues to directly influence our world with unstoppable power.

 

The movie’s theology isn’t perfect, but it’s not bad for Hollywood.

 

 

Marvin fretted about Christmas. Thelma would know what the grandkids wanted, but she’d been gone for almost a year. Would Emily like a doll or be offended … she was at that age. Henry would love hunting boots, but the way that boy was growing they wouldn’t fit by spring. Ernest loved books, but what hadn’t he read? Marvin also had his daughter’s five to buy for. Finally in desperation, he sat down at his desk and wrote out eight generous checks and eight cards. In each he wrote exactly the same message beneath the appropriate name:

 

 

Marvin drove to Seattle where his family had gathered for the holidays. He was greeted with warmth and enjoyed Christmas with family, but the entire time passed with no mention of his gifts. In fact, the grandchildren all seemed a bit distant. Once Emily looked at him, burst into tears and ran from the room … she was at that age.

 

Marvin went home puzzled and a little depressed. Setting down at the old desk, he pulled out his checkbook to pay some bills. From it fell the eight checks he’d written for his grandchildren’s Christmas. Suddenly, “Buy your own gift” had an entirely different sound to it.

 

When God sent the gift of his Son Jesus into the world that first Christmas … He didn’t leave anything out. He not only offered new life in Christ, he supplied everything needed to live it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clarence the simple-minded angel second-class is a wonderful work of fiction. Just be sure you know the difference between fiction and fact.

 

Here’s one thing the movie got right: Angels are sent by God to help us. Scripture teaches that angels are ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14). These angels are aware of us, have constant access to God, the Father (Matthew 18:10) and sometimes function as guardians (Psalm 91:11).

 

The movie got this mostly right: Angels do, at times, appear in common human form. Clarence and George are getting eyed suspiciously by Nick the bartender because they are talking about angels. Clarence asks, “What’s wrong? They believe in angels, don’t they? Then why should they be surprised to see one?” Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” If you ever see an angel, you probably won’t know you’re seeing an angel. So … you might want to rethink being rude to strangers.

 

Here’s one thing the movie got totally wrong: Angels are not deceased humans. Clarence is referred to as a clock-maker and wears a dressing gown given to him by his wife before he passed away … 293 years ago. The implication is that humans die and become guardian angels. Some people find this fiction comforting, but it’s not Biblical. The Bible teaches that we will be “like” angels in only two ways; 1) we will not be able to die (Luke 20:36) and 2) we will not be married (Matthew 22:30). We will be “like” angels, but we will not become angels. The truth is far more glorious and comforting! If your loved one was a believer in Jesus Christ, they are currently in His presence (2 Corinthians 5:8) and will one day share more in common with Him than the angels. Our resurrections bodies will be like His (Philippians 3:20-21) and Jesus is far superior to the angels (Hebrews 1:4-6). Now that will be a wonderful life!