Church Ordinances: Blessing the children

CHURCH ORDINANCES:
The Children's Blessing
Mark 10: 13-16
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Dr. Paul Manuel—2013

I do not know if this was your experience, but growing up with a brother and a sister, it became clear to me that unlike boys, girls rarely do anything wrong and, so, rarely get into trouble. Linda and her sisters rarely did anything wrong—so I have been told; not so her brothers, who got into considerable trouble. I have heard stories about some of Elder Eddie's youthful antics. Yet, the next generation brings his daughter, Katrina, the perfect angel.

Two little boys, ages 8 and 10, who were excessively mischievous. They were always getting into trouble, and their parents knew that, if any mischief occurred in their town, their sons were probably involved. The boys' mother heard that a local clergyman had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys. The minister agreed, but asked to see them individually. So the mother sent her 8-yearold first, in the morning, with the older boy to follow that afternoon. The clergyman, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, "Where is God?" The boy's mouth dropped open, but he made no response, sitting there stunned and wide-eyed. So the minister repeated the question in an even sterner and louder tone, "Where is God!?" Again the boy made no attempt to answer. So the clergyman raised his voice even more, shaking his finger in the boy's face and bellowing, "WHERE IS GOD!?" The boy screamed and bolted from the room, ran directly home and dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him. When his older brother found him, he asked, "What happened?" The younger boy, gasping for breath, replied, "We are in BIG trouble this time. God is missing...and they think WE did it!"

Unlike girls, boys are almost destined for trouble. Whether or not any of the boys that parents brought to Jesus were like the two in this story, they were not coming for any disciplinary reasons but to receive from him The Children's Blessing.¹

The Roman Catholic Church has a series of seven practices it terms sacraments, so-called because the Church believes that through them God actively conveys a measure of grace to the participant, grace necessary to a person's relationship with God.² Protestant churches, in particular Baptist churches, observe two of those practices, although not as sacraments but simply as ordinances, so-called not because they convey a measure of grace but because Jesus commanded his followers to keep them. The two ordinances are The Disciple's Baptism and The Savior's Banquet or communion. German Seventh Day Baptists recognize a third ordinance, The Children's Blessing, a practice Jesus commended to his followers. Unlike sacraments, the three Church Ordinances, while they accord with Jesus' instruction and example, are not necessary for a relationship with God. Those who had no part in them can still go to heaven, because God makes that determination on other grounds. Again, the primary difference between a sacrament and an ordinance is that with a sacrament, the Lord is supposedly active, dispensing His grace; with an ordinance, the participant is active, displaying his obedience.

The Children's Blessing was a ceremony common among rabbis during the first century, one Jesus also practiced. In the late Second Temple Period, it was customary for parents to bring their children to a respected teacher that he might beseech God's favor upon them. As Jesus' reputation grew, parents came to him with their children that he might petition God on their behalf.³

Theology Series Chapter 4: The Holy Spirit

Chapter IV: Pneumatology
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Dr. Paul Manuel—2013

In A "Reader's Digest" Approach to Theology, we come to pneumatology, a study of the Holy Spirit. We will approach this topic as we have the previous two, surveying the nature and work of the Spirit. After that, we will examine in more detail a particular aspect of his work that theologians often neglect. We will begin by considering three common opinions.
[The end notes can be found in the linked pdf]

Theology Series Chapter 3: Who was Jesus?

Chapter III: Christology
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Dr. Paul Manuel—2013

After theology proper, the next section in A Reader's Digest Approach to Theology is Christology. More than any other area of doctrine, this one has generated the most diverse interpretations, and a religious group's stance on this subject is often the main determinant to its orthodoxy. The more a group deviates from what the Bible says about Jesus, the less likely it is to be Christian.

As in theology, we will divide the material into who Jesus is and what he does, comparing what others say with what the scriptures say. Again, we begin with at least one presupposition, an assumption that might not be appropriate in a non-church or in an apologetic setting: the historicity of Jesus. Because we agree on the reliability of the text, we will not spend time establishing whether or not he was a real person.
[The end notes can be found in the linked pdf]

Theology Series Chapter 2: God

Chapter II: Theology
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Dr. Paul Manuel—2013

We established the basis for our study of theology by examining the Bible, how we got it and what the Bible says about itself. Because we believe the Bible is inspired and records reliable information about God and His activity, we now consider what the it says on that topic.

As I said in the Prologue, we use the term "theology" in two ways. In the broad sense, it means the study of religion, as in the title of our series, A Reader's Digest Approach to Theology. In the narrow sense, it means the study of God specifically, and that is how we are using it in this section. Today, we will consider who God is, His nature. Next, we will look at what God does, His work.

The Bible does not set out to prove God's existence; it assumes that He is: "In the beginning, God..." Since we accept the authority of scripture, we too start with that premise and can proceed directly to the next level of inquiry: Who is God?¹  [The end notes can be found in the linked pdf]

Theology Series Chapter 1: The Bible

Chapter I: Bibliology
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Dr. Paul Manuel—2013

The first aspect of theology to consider is the Bible. Why start there rather than with God? ...Our entire system of theology comes from information in the Bible. Therefore, it is necessary to establish the reliability of that source before we can proceed confidently that information we gather about other topics is trustworthy.

The whole process of validating a belief system is actually more complicated than this. If we were being thoroughly rigorous, we would have to begin with certain philosophical questions, such as "Does God exist?" We can skip those preliminary issues in this group; all of us agree on that point. If you were talking to someone who did not believe in the existence of God, however, you would not be able to jump straight to what the Bible says. Instead, you would have to start by explaining why you believe there is a God and convince your listener to admit the possibility of God's existence at least. Only then could you consider what that God might have communicated about Himself in the Bible.
[The end notes can be found in the linked pdf]

Theology Series: Prologue

Today we begin posting a series Paul calls "A 'Reader's Digest' Approach to Theology" [obviously not related to the magazine]. I will progressively link each successive chapter to this page as it is posted on this site.

A User-Friendly Guide to Basic Christian Doctrine
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Dr. Paul Manuel—2013

Table of Contents

• Prologue

I. Bibliology

A. The inspiration of scripture
B. The canonicity of scripture

II. Theology

A. The nature of God
B. The work of God

III. Christology

A. The nature of Christ
B. The work of Christ

IV. Pneumatology

A. The nature of the Holy Spirit
B. The work of the Holy Spirit

V. Angelology

A. The nature of angels
B. The work of angels

VI. Anthropology

A. The nature of man
B. The destiny of man

VII. Soteriology

A. The purpose of salvation
B. The procedure of salvation

VIII. Ecclesiology

A. The design of the church
B. The leaders of the church

IX. Eschatology

A. The reign of Christ
B. The re-creation by God

• Epilogue

• Bibliography

Prologue

During the next few months, we will examine the basis for what we believe. As I thought of possible titles for this study, the first and most obvious was the standard seminary one, Systematic Theology, but that sounded a little too technical. Then I considered one more "user friendly," similar to recent computer guides, like DOS for Dummies, this could be Doctrine for Dummies; but that was too condescending. There was also the Ridiculously Simple series for medical students that uses a comic book format to teach complex medical procedures; so instead of Gall Bladder Surgery Made Ridiculously Simple, we could study Religious Dogma Made Ridiculously Simple; but I do not have the artistic skills to illustrate such a text. I needed something between the intellectual and the infantile, so I settled for A Reader's Digest Approach to Theology.

You may have covered some of this material before, but I want to fill in gaps and pull together various elements in a single course that helps us see the "big picture." Our belief system is not some shapeless mass of random notions about God; it has a structure and coherence that allows us to think and speak about the One we worship and serve. God reveals Himself in two primary ways:

• He makes general (or natural) revelation available to all people.¹

• Through the creative work

Ps 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

 [The end notes can be found in the linked pdf]

What is of first importance?

EASTER
What Is Most Important?
1 Corinthians 15
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Dr. Paul Manuel—2013

A minister may face many challenges, both in and out of the pulpit. While prevailing in one of those challenges can be gratifying, even that experience may remind him of others he has yet to overcome.

Three men went hunting: a lawyer, a doctor, and a minister. While they were in the woods together, all three spotted a deer and fired at the same time. The deer went down, at which point the lawyer immediately claimed responsibility: "It was my shot that got it." The doctor said, "Since I have medical training, I'll examine the deer and determine which bullet made the kill." He traipsed off, while, the lawyer continued to make his case to the minister. After a short time, the doctor returned with his diagnosis: "The minister got the deer" he said. "How could you tell it was the minister's bullet?" the lawyer asked. "Because," the doctor replied... "it went in one ear and out the other."

I am under no illusions that everything I say finds a reception in the minds of a congregation. Much probably does go in one ear and out the other. I only hope that some of it, preferably the most important of it, lingers a bit before passing out of people's consciousness.

As you look back over your experiences, you can probably recall many 'firsts' in your life.

• Your first teacher
• Your first date
• Your first car
• Your first job

There were others—other teachers, dates, cars, jobs—but these marked your initial experience or encounter in such areas and, as such, stand out in your mind. It is in that sense they are first, but they were not necessarily your most important encounters in these areas. That list might be quite different.

• Your best teacher
• Your best date
• Your best car
• Your best job

There were probably other memorable teachers, dates, cars, jobs, etc., but these are most important because, in some way, they had a significant influence on your life, and someone who knows you well, who has seen their influence, might be able to identify them even if you never actually formulated such a list.

Suppose you made a similar list about your essential beliefs, not just the ones you think are important but those that determine your eternal destiny. What would be on that list? Would it include...¹

• Being part of a Seventh Day Baptist church
• Belief in baptism by immersion
• Keeping the Sabbath

There are other important matters, but these are essential because they determine your eternal destiny.... Right?

Death is swallowed up in victory

GOOD FRIDAY
Mission Impossible
Acts 2:23-24
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Dr. Paul Manuel—2012

There was a television program in the 1960s and 70s with Peter Graves called Mission Impossible about a secret team of government agents that took on especially difficult assignments, which they accomplished through a combination of intelligence, technology, deception, and daring. (The TV show spawned a quartet of recent movies starring Tom Cruise.) Despite the title, each TV episode showed how the team met and overcame a challenge that seemed at first to be insurmountable. The end of Jesus' earthly ministry also presented an impossible situation.

At several points, Jesus tells the disciples what lies ahead for him. After Peter correctly identified him as the messiah (Mat 16:16)...

Matt 16:21 ...Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed.., and on the third day be raised to life.

This was not something the disciples wanted to hear.

Matt 16:22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"

Sometime later,

Matt 17:22 ...[Jesus] said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. 23a They will kill him...and on the third day he will be raised to life."

Despite the hint of hope ("raised to life"), news of their teacher's premature death was still not welcome.

Matt 17:23b And the disciples were filled with grief.

"No servant is greater than his master"

MAUNDAY THURSDAY
Different from All Other Nights
John 13:16
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Dr. Paul Manuel—2013

We are here to re-create, in abbreviated form, the events of an evening two thousand years ago, when Jesus and a small band of his followers met to observe the LORD'S Passover in obedience to God's command through Moses.

Exod 12:14 This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD—a lasting ordinance.

As the disciples gather with Jesus to celebrate the Passover seder, they know that this night is different from all other nights. The liturgy reviews God's deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt. The participants eat bitter herbs to remind them of the bitterness of bondage and matzah (unleavened bread) to recall the haste of Israel's departure. It is not a somber occasion, though, for the evening has a festive atmosphere, with four cups of wine representing different aspects of divine intervention. The participants recite the exodus story, sing psalms, pray, and discuss the significance of God's grace.

On this particular Passover, though, Jesus will do things a little differently. He will take the matzah and the third cup of wine, and he will give them an additional significance that points to God's deliverance from another kind of bondage. At every Passover thereafter, his disciples will remember their physical redemption from slavery and their spiritual redemption from sin. This night is different from all other nights, even from other Passovers.

God doesn't need you

PALM SUNDAY
"God Doesn't Need You"
(Luke 19:37-40)
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Dr. Paul Manuel—2013

Some people have an inflated view of their own importance. Whether it is because of good looks, unusual talent, or social status, they imagine they have an advantage that warrants them special treatment from others... until they meet someone whose importance is not imaginary.

There was a hierarchy among the university faculty that dictated how long students were to wait for the teacher before leaving if he were not there for the class at the appointed time. A full professor rated fifteen minutes. An associate professor only ten. A mere instructor was expected to be on time, if not early. This system worked only one way, however; and students were afforded no such grace. One professor, the foremost authority in his field—by his own admission—registered distinct annoyance when a certain student, recently out of the military, was late to class for the third day in a row. "Tell me," the professor asked, "exactly what did they say in the Army when you sauntered in late like this?" "Well," the student replied... "first they saluted, then asked, 'How are you this morning, sir?"

Some people have an inflated view of their own importance... until they meet someone whose importance is not imaginary. It was so in Jesus' day among the religious elite, who thought God had given them an indispensable role in Jewish society, and they were probably shocked to hear him say, "God doesn't need you."

Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem during the last week before his death. There is no thought yet of that unhappy event. This is a joyous occasion when the disciples proclaim openly their belief that Jesus is the messiah. As they draw close to the city, others join the procession, lining the pathway with palm branches, which symbolize a leader's victory¹ and anticipate the deliverance from foreign oppression the messiah will bring. It is a festive atmosphere as Jesus'...

I. Disciples praise the Lord (Luke 19:37-38).

Luke 19:37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" [Ps 118:261 "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

On the third day

THE DAY OF JESUS' RESURRECTION ACCORDING TO MATTHEW
Contradiction or Approximation?
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Dr. Paul Manuel—February, 2001

The New Testament provides several details of Jesus' final days that enable modern readers to reconstruct a relative chronology of that fateful period. He was crucified on the "Preparation Day," which refers to Friday, the day before the Sabbath, and each of the gospel writers uses this phrase.

Matt 27:62 Now on the next day, the day after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate,

Mark 15:42b it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,

Luke 23:54 It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin....56b And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

John's use of this phrase has made some wonder if it referred to the day before the Passover.

John 19:14a Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour.... 31 Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and [that] they might be taken away.... 42 Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

The power of praise

THE POWER OF PRAISE
2 Chronicles 5:1-14; 20:1-24
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Dr. Paul Manuel—2013

One of life's challenges is knowing when to speak your mind and when to hold your tongue; especially in marriage, and especially early in that relationship.

Late one night, the wife of a newly married couple thought she heard a noise downstairs. Nudging her husband, she whispered, "Wake up, wake up!" "What's the matter?" he asked. "There are burglars in the kitchen. I think they're eating the tuna casserole I made tonight." As her husband rolled over, she heard him mutter... "That'll teach 'em!"

In marriage, it is usually best for a husband to praise his wife; otherwise he should probably hold his tongue, especially early in their relationship. In worship, it is always best to praise the Lord, including early in the relationship, as the Israelites do during the reign of King Solomon, when they also learn The Power of Praise.

The writer of Hebrews understands the importance of praise and exhorts his audience, saying...

Heb 13:15 ...let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise....

Why should we do that? ...The NT author does not give a reason, probably because it is obvious to his readers. They are familiar with the reason the author of
Ps 33 gives, that...¹

Ps 33:1b it is fitting [or warranted] for the upright to praise him.

This is the primary reason, of course. We praise God because He deserves our praise, in part, because He does wonderful things for us.²

• He delivers us from evil.
• He forgives us our sin.
• He heals us of disease.
• He provides us with food.

These and other divine blessings give us countless reasons to praise our God,³ but praise is usually after the fact. That is, we are usually extolling God's goodness to us in response to what He has done for us. Is there such a thing as praise before the fact, (proleptic) praise that anticipates or invokes God's response. In other words, does our general praise of God ever bring a response from God? If so, then we may actually be missing a blessing by waiting for Him to act before we express our appreciation.

Two judgments

TWO PERIODS OF JUDGMENT
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Dr. Paul Manuel—2013

The Bible speaks about two periods of judgment. The first period of judgment ("particular judgment") is after death. The author of Hebrews says,

Heb 9:27 [M]an is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.

This judgment determines a person's intermediate state (i.e., between death and resurrection) and coincides with a degree of reward (in the form of comfort) for the righteous or a degree of punishment (in the form of torment) for the unrighteous. Jesus notes the difference in a story about two individuals.

Luke 16:23a In hell, [the rich man] was in torment.... 24 So he called... 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' 25 "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.'"

This preliminary judgment also determines (but does not officially finalize) a person's ultimate state, either of continued existence with God or of continued existence apart from God. Having reached this point, however, it is not possible to revise one's fate.

Later, the dead will be raised, a change from their intermediate state, albeit in the order Paul indicates.

1 Cor 15:22 [A]s in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Investigative Judgment?

INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT¹
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Dr. Paul Manuel—1995

In examining the person and work of Jesus, we noted how certain groups deviate so much from clear biblical teaching that they cannot be classified as Christian, because they do not hold to what we would consider essential (orthodox) beliefs. That implies there are non-essential or marginal beliefs, areas in which Christians can disagree without jeopardizing or compromising their faith.

One such tenet for Seventh-day Adventists is investigative judgment. It is a complex idea that is not always clear to those who espouse it and often generates misconceptions among non-Adventists.² According to SDA doctrine, part of Jesus' present work consists of three phases (Representative Group 1957:422).

It is our understanding that Christ, as High Priest, concludes His intercessory ministry in heaven in a work of judgment. He begins His great work of judgment in the investigative phase. At the conclusion of the investigation, the sentence of judgment is pronounced. Then...judge Christ descends to execute, or carry into effect, that sentence.

This particular notion has its roots in three suppositions: one about Jesus' ministry, one about man's destiny, and one about biblical prophecy. I will list them, indicating their significance for investigative judgment, and then we will evaluate them.

I. Suppositions of this belief

A. Regarding Jesus' ministry³

• The Old Testament sacrificial system was a type of Christ's sacrifice.⁴

• Typology, at least the way many Christians use it, implies a kind of revelation—"God intended this to mean that."

According to this view, the reason God instituted the sacrifices was to prefigure Jesus' atoning work. Consequently, by studying what took place in the earthly sanctuary, we can understand what took place in the heavenly sanctuary. Proponents appeal to New Testament writers, especially to the author of Hebrews, who use the temple service to explain what Jesus achieved. Investigative judgment depends heavily on typological interpretation, especially for the Day of Atonement.

B. Regarding man's destiny⁵

• Believers do not enter God's presence immediately upon death but sleep until the resurrection.

Thus, is it possible for Jesus to leave the investigation of their lives until the end of his heavenly ministry, just prior to his return, rather than having to make a decision at the moment each person dies.

C. Regarding biblical prophecy

• In 1844 Jesus fulfilled the prophecy to re-consecrate the heavenly temple (Dan 8:14; Heb 9:23).

A particular interpretation of Dan 8:14 fueled messianic expectation in Europe and America during the first half of the nineteenth century.

Dan 8:13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, "How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host that will be trampled underfoot?" 14 He said to me, "It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated."

Calculating one day as equal to one year, 2300 years would pass from the construction of the second temple, which began in 457 B.C., to its re-consecration when Jesus would return in 1844. The expectation seems to have been that Jesus would use the temple site as headquarters for his millennial reign. One of the advocates of this view in the U.S. was the Baptist preacher William Miller, whose followers increased as the time drew near.

Belief and baptism

BELIEF AND BAPTISM
Mark 16:15-16
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Dr. Paul Manuel—November 10, 2012

We are here to witness Jim's baptism. A variation of this event took place much earlier in his life. In the New Testament, however, there are no instances of infant baptism. That is because baptism accompanies decisions a child cannot make and his parents cannot make for him, such as confession of sin and repentance from sin.¹ Another personal decision baptism accompanies is belief, which raises two questions.

• First, what must a person believe?

• Is there a prescribed subject for this faith, or can he believe anything he wishes?

• Second, when must a person believe it?

• Is there a proper sequence to these steps, or can he do them in any order he wishes?

Jesus answers both questions with the final instructions he gives the disciples before his ascension.²