Monthly Archives: May 2024

BIBLE, COLOSSIANS

PLATO’S CAVE ALLEGORY — BOB PRICHARD

Greek philosopher and teacher Plato used his real life teacher Socrates to share his philosophical views. In The Republic, he records a scene of Socrates describing a cave where a group of men are tied down so that all they can see are the shadows reflected on the wall as objects are held up before a fire behind them. They see the shadow of a book, and think they see the real thing. When a man escapes from the cave, he is at first blinded by the bright sunlight, but soon realizes he is seeing the real thing for the first time. When he tries to tell the others, they reject him and hold to their own shadow reality.

Paul encouraged the Colossians against the Judaizing teachers, telling them that as Christ gave his life for us, he was “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, nailing it to his cross” (Colossians 2:14). Since they were no longer under the Law of Moses, Paul said, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17).

The Jews thought that their holy days, new moons and Sabbath days were the real thing—but they were in fact only shadows of the greater reality of the New Covenant and the heavenly kingdom. “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect” (Hebrews 10:1). How privileged we are to live under the new covenant of Christ, and to look forward to being in the heavenly kingdom! We have not the shadow, but the real thing.

CHRISTIAN LIVING, CHURCH

AMUSING OURSELVES TO DEATH — BOB PRICHARD

Neil Postman described serious problems in modern culture in his insightful 1985 book Amusing Ourselves to Death. His thesis was that public discourse has been reshaped to such an extent by television and entertainment that thoughtful discourse has been replace by “show business: hype, affecting advertising, politics and religion. Postman’s conclusion was that none of these changes have made for improvement. And he wrote, of course, before the internet social media revolution.

The problem with the modern entertainment orientation in religion is that the very object of worship is forgotten. God, who created and commanded worship is the “audience” for worship. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). To worship God in spirit and in truth means that worship is from the heart, not just outward acts, and that it is done in exact obedience to God’s commands. Worship must be directed to Him, not to whims and desires of the worshipers.

God’s regulations for worship as set out in the New Testament are neither boring nor out of date. They are God-centered, while modern entertainment innovations in worship are men-centered. The most often used words related to worship in the New Testament denote the concepts of bowing down or kissing toward deity, offering devotion and love. This is what our worship must include.

There is nothing wrong with the worshiper enjoying worship. God intended the blessings of worship for all His children. But when worship is merely the window dressing for an entertainment performance, it cannot be pleasing to God. The apostle warned, “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God” (2 John 9). Paul condemned things that “have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship” (Colossians 2:23). “Will-worship” is worship fashioned after man’s desires, which God must reject. Worshiping God in spirit and in truth is more important than catering to man’s desire for entertainment.

BIBLE, CHRISTIAN LIVING

SECOND ONLY TO THE BIBLE — BOB PRICHARD

It was required reading in Jr. High School. I can still remember trying to slog through it, and not appreciating it at the time. It is the story of a fifty-year-old man setting off on a quest to do great deeds and right all wrongs. Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes was quite innovative when first published (part one in 1605, and part two in 1615). The exploits of this man of La Mancha have inspired many, whether he is a tragic hero, a non-conformist, or simply a buffoon. According to The Intellectual Devotional (2006), “of all the books published throughout history, Don Quixote is second only to the Bible in terms of total number of copies printed.”

With time, I have come to have more appreciation for Don Quixote—appreciation that I lacked when I was in Jr. High. With maturity, I have learned to appreciate many things that I saw little reason for at 13.

Consider the accolade for Don Quixote, “second only to the Bible in terms of number of copies printed.” Have you noticed how often comparisons are made to the Bible? With all of the great and not so great books published every year, the Bible is the perennial best-seller. Perhaps it does not generate the same media frenzy as a new Harry Potter book, but the Bible continues to outsell every other book.

We know why this is so. It is because there is no other book like the Bible. Although other books make similar claims, it is the only book that is truly inspired—“God breathed.” No other book can offer what it offers.

We should join with the psalmist in praising the Bible, which is second to no other book. “For ever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. They continue this day according to thine ordinances: For all are thy servants. Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction” (Psalm 119:89–92).

BIBLE, CHRISTIAN LIVING

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED — BOB PRICHARD

Robert Frost’s 1916 poem, “The Road Not Taken,” is one of the most often quoted poems of all time. The poet speaks of two roads, each “just as fair,” but the traveler chose one, concluding “I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” Frost indicated that most have misunderstood the poem. The choice was actually random—the traveler didn’t know which was best. The difference wasn’t from a wise choice, but a random choice.

In life, we often have to choose between two roads that seem equally good or bad. We don’t know which road is better, because we cannot see the end of the road with either choice. We just have to choose. But what we must always remember is that when we choose the beginning of the road, we also choose the end of the road. That is why it is so important that we  not only choose the right road in life, but that we periodically evaluate the road we are now on, to see if we should change roads.

Saul of Tarsus was on the road to Damascus to persecute Christians. He entered the city as a blind man, and exited as a follower of the Christ he persecuted. The Lord told Ananias, “Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake” (Acts 9:15-16). As Ananias taught him, Saul counted the cost (Luke 14:28) of starting on the road of service to Jesus Christ, and immediately obeyed when Ananias commanded him to be baptized (Acts 22:16).

Jesus warned that there are two ways—the broad way of the world and the narrow way of following Him. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). The narrow way is definitely “the road less traveled.” But it makes all the difference—not only in this life, but in the world to come. Are you on the right road today? Is it time for a change?