Thursday, July 17, 2025

The Rough Roman Road

 I lived in Italy in the very early 1980s. The army stationed us at Camp Darby outside Livorno. That's where you'll find the Leaning Tower.  Yes, I got to climb the tower, and I visited a beautiful church and baptistry there. I even walked some Roman roads. For a month, I stayed in Rome with Leroy and Hazel Gee, missionaries to Rome. 

This week I began reading the Book of Romans. I say this with a touch of pride. Let me explain. Twice in my life, I've read the entire Bible. I entertained the idea of a third reading, however; I elected to concentrate on the substance of the text rather than the number of readings. 

For a long time, I've read either devotionals or some kind of study guide. Honestly, I learn a lot more doing this than wading through a required daily list of chapters. This past month I started reading the letters to the Church. My goal is to pay close attention and grasp a thorough understanding of them. I mean, they're written to Christians. We need to understand them. 

I started with the shortest letters first. One thing I know about myself is that I get bored/tired quickly reading scripture. Bless your heart, if you don't. But let's face it, the book of Numbers is a lot like counting sheep. I began with Jude. It's actually good, so no problem. 

Here is where I'll tell you why I'm proud I began Romans today. I dread reading Romans. I will avoid reading if I can. 

Why? Because Paul was verbose and the KJV translators made amazing strides in translating every single word. Furthermore, they did it in the King's English and a grammatical structure that requires an English PHD to make sense of. The text's complex structure demands multiple readings. 

Look, I have a BA in history and I studied journalism. I graduated with a 3.8 GPA. If I had to guess, I've read close to a million books and the complete works of Shakespeare and several classics!  Shakespeare, for heaven's sake. Have you read Shakespeare? 

I was a few pages into Romans when I pulled out my online Amplified Bible. I've been using it off and on when I ran across something that I wanted a bit more clarity on. I love it, so much so that I'm considering buying one. It has provided tremendous help, and it's a lifesaver in Romans. 

Yesterday I reached the 13th chapter of Romans. I've read this chapter and heard it preached many times. It contains the most favorite passage of ministers everywhere. I will let you look it up and see if you've heard it. Please, please do let me know with a comment!

When I began the chapter, I thought, "Oh, I know what this is. I won't need the Amplified Bible." 

Wrong. I needed it; and I pulled it up. And I'm so glad I did. Because as I read it, I realize that this scripture is not what I made to understand it to mean. I read it twice to be sure I was reading it right. I compared verses. And since I'm using my new Thompson Chain Bible, I read the index at the side of the scriptures. 

The first heading in the side index said "Duty of Government". "Authority of Government" follows this. Next is "Duties of Citizenship". This all covers the first seven verses of the chapter. And then, a light goes off in my head. 

Paul is writing this letter to the church in Rome. They are Roman citizens. I really wanted to beat my head at this realization. I studied Roman history for an entire semester! Stupid! Paul is talking to a group of "Roman Citizens". I should know this! Cindy, what is Rome known for at this period of history regarding government and citizenship? 

I could tell you, but let's use the KISS  method. Here is the excerpt from a Google search: How did Romans feel about citizenship? 

Roman citizenship in Biblical times was highly valued and carried significant legal and social privileges. It was a status that provided protection, rights, and opportunities that non-citizens did not have. (Google AI)

The concept of citizenship was central to Roman identity, and it evolved over time, expanding from a narrow definition focused on the city of Rome to a broader, more inclusive system that incorporated people from across the empire.

This chapter is speaking to Romans about the proper attitude toward their government and how they are to behave in that respect. Verse 7 sums it up nicely. Devoted Roman citizens were to live in accordance with the laws of Rome but as Christians. Paul reinforces teaching on morality and various other topics. But my point for this post is that this chapter is not about church authority. You can get that elsewhere. Romans 13 is to Romans about obedience to government leaders, something Jesus was very clear about as well in Matt. 21:22. 

Can you use this chapter to press home church authority? I guess so. It has been all my life. No one ever said it's about how citizens were to behave themselves to their government and one another. It wasn't taught that this was to Roman citizens who became Christians and had some confusion on whether their Christianity trumped the Caesar. 

Reading these letters this month has taught me a lot about the use and misuse of scripture. I've experienced that issues. Forty years ago, I had a conversation with a minster who asked me about a private matter. I told him I couldn't tell him about that because it was private and I didn't gossip. He told me that he was my head and I had to obey him. I very politely pointed out that my husband was my head. 

He informed me, "Well, I'm his head." 

I said, again politely, "No, the Bible says Christ is his head." 

He said, "Well, I'm the head of the church." 

"No sir," I said, "Christ is the head of the Church." 

His final statement was that I might as well tell him, since the Lord had already told him. 

I responded, "Well, in that case, I don't need to tell you anything. You already know." 

This was a very toxic situation and the only thing that helped me was my knowledge of the Word. He misused the Word to manipulate me into revealing a personal matter. Specifically, the scriptures in Romans and this one in 1 Corinthians,  

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

The Bible tells us that Satan is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. If we're not armed with the Word, which is our sword, we will not survive the attack. The enemy will attempt to deceive us by misusing the Word. The Bible gives us examples of the devil using scripture. He always prepares for an attack. So should we.

We can use every reading plan out there, and there are many, to read the Bible through in any amount of time. They will make you familiar with the Word, but not knowledgeable. After the second read through of the Bible, I was very dissatisfied. I wanted depth. You only find depth by diving into deep water. I want to swim in it. 

I will reach the end of the Roman Road this week, and I'll be glad. It's a rough trip, but I'm enjoying it. But please pray for me. I still have 1st and 2nd Corinthians and Hebrews to finish. I don't know where I'll head then, but I hope the roads are better.





 

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Questions That Drive Me Crazy In a Good Way

I never know what will come into my head when I turn off the lights. This will amuse some people. Some will find it shocking. Some will be curious. I don't need to know into which category you fall. 

> When were Heaven and Earth created? (Everyone is gonna miss this one. )

>  How long was it from the creation of the heavens and the earth until the creation of time?

You can find the answers in Genesis 1. But don't cheat. And there is no rush. Time, after all, doesn't matter.

My brain operates like an earth mover. It digs down into the core. I love it when it happens, but I sure wish it didn't happen when I'm short of sleep. 

Thirty years ago, I'd sit up all night playing with this stuff. Now? I have to write it down if I can remember it in the morning. I remembered these, and I know if I remember them, they were important. Perhaps not important to you. You may believe they're frivolous questions. I'm so glad God doesn't mind my questions. I'm glad he gives me the hard ones, too!

So, if you want to play along, write your answers. Opinions will vary and some are incorrect. However, there is no grade. If you'd rather see what other answers are, that's OK. 

We're all learning, and we learn at different rates. Sometimes I think I have the answer and I go skipping along, secure in that knowledge. Then, I trip over a boulder and realize that my original understanding was faulty. Now, here's this big old rock in the middle of the road that exposes my error. I like that rock. It has character and I can examine it in depth, every crack, crevice, and hole. I can climb all over that thing, wearing safety gear, of course.

I don't expect anyone to share my views. I am content to treasure them to myself, discussing them with the Lord, sharing only when called upon. Because some people get ugly when you share your views. When questions challenge the concepts we've adopted, our genuine nature reveals itself. As if by attempting to see, hear, and understand from a different perspective, we'll catch some dread disease. God forbid we ask God for the blueprints. How dare we! And who do I think I am to pose such questions?

I'm not afraid to ask the hard questions. I'm not afraid of answers that challenge my views. I'm not afraid to disagree, nor am I afraid to concede.Rocks are cool. They tell a story. I examine every rock placed on the path. I think God liked rocks, too. 

Why? Well....

Deut 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. 

2 Samuel 22:1-7 And David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: 

2 And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

4 I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

 1 Corinthians 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

I'm sure someone far more educated than I will have answers. 🙄

Thursday, March 20, 2025

The Things That Keep Me Awake At Night

 Don't say I didn't warn you. The following is unedited and was the brain dump that woke me up. I have NO idea what this is all about. Apparently, it doesn't matter what I think. It is.

Truth is truth, whether you believe it or not. Truth is not dependent on your belief. It will be truth even if you don’t accept it. And it will be truth, if you accept it. 

You can disbelieve in the wind, but your unbelief will not affect the direction it blows. Neither will your belief in the wind. The wind and truth are unaffected by your view of it. 

Truth is reality and is perfect. As such, you can not change it. If you attempt to change truth, it is no longer truth nor perfect. You will have created a construct that is flawed and is not truth.

You can’t prove the truth, neither can you disprove it. No matter what you do or think, the truth is unaffected by you. It remains when all else does not. Truth IS.

Jesus said he was the way, the truth, and the life. No matter what you believe, you can’t change it. You can’t prove it. Neither can you disprove it. You can only believe or disbelieve and neither of those things will alter the truth. It will still be Truth when you and I are dust.

You can deny truth. But your denial is irrelevant. Truth is not dependent on your belief. It is still truth.

Pilate said, “What is truth?” when he stood before it. He could not recognize it because he did not recognize truth. His failure to recognize truth did not affect it. When he washed his hands, his actions made his question irrelevant. Belief and disbelief both do not affect truth.

Truth does not depend on your understanding. It is truth, even if you don’t understand it, recognize it, or believe it. Truth is outside your influence.