Lenten Devotional (12), Gary Demar Controversy, and George Foreman
How Not To Bite
It is interesting that the law of mutual destruction is a consistent biblical doctrine:
“If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” -Galatians 5:15
Sometimes we think we gain by devouring others with our words. After all, we certainly don’t want others to escape true justice. Of course, we happen to be the devout judges in this affair.
The ‘biting’ can reference offensive language, false accusations, slander, etc. To ‘devour’ someone is to consume their well-being, leaving them defenseless and ashamed. These methods vary significantly from the biblical remedy of speaking the truth in love. Love protects one another. Yet, according to Paul, when church members engage in such activities, they are digging for themselves their own graves.
The end of devouring someone is that you are consumed by your own appetite. It is a profound idea to remember this Lenten Season that Jesus could have quickly devoured those nearest to him, yet, he fulfilled the commandments (Gal. 5:14) and loved them even to the point of death.
As the Lenten Season carries its blow to our pride, let us repent of biting and devouring one another. May we rightly repent and turn from the addiction of destroying others, for that addiction leads to death.
Prayer: O gracious Lord, you do not look upon us in your fierce anger, nor do you devour us with your consuming wrath, but you love us as a Father loves his little children and you serve us with unfailing mercy. We pray that we may seek to love others because you first loved us through Christ our Lord, Amen.
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Notations:
*I made a small contribution to the ongoing discussion about Gary Demar. As you recall, Andrew Sandlin and many others (myself included) sent an open letter to Gary Demar concerning his theological transitions. We posed a few straightforward questions for him to consider. Gary offered an initial podcast response today.
In this episode of the Perspectivalist, I address the gravity of the matter and whether this is simply a topic for dialogue or whether this trespasses historical boundaries. While Gary Demar has done much good in his public ministry, we hope that these exchanges with several of his friends and this season will draw him back to the biblical and historical position of the Church and happily seal his many years of good labor.
**John Frame says that Lordship is how we harmonize the Bible, but Lordship operates most clearly through the lens of Covenant. The Covenant follows a five-fold pattern:
a) Identification of the King; b) A Historical Prologue, c) Stipulations, d) Sanctions; and e) Continuity.
***I had the opportunity to attend a screening of Big George Foreman here in Pensacola. The theater was almost empty, with a few folks showing up to hear the story of a two-time heavy-weight champion more known for his grills than his iconic punches today.
While the movie put effort into portraying a Christianized Foreman who left everything to become a self-ordained preacher, it became clear that you must accept a Charismatic version to find the premises compelling. I am eager to suspend my dogmas on matters regarding cessationism temporarily. It was hard, but I managed for 90 minutes.
Seeing Forest Whitaker on screen was the highlight of the movie. He was fresh and sharp as in The Last King of Scotland.
I recommend the movie and hope it debuts well next month. I see it as a happy incremental movement in this industry. There is certainly a demand.
Lenten Hymn: Abide With Me
