The Help Meet

I was listening to a sermon by R.C. Sproul recently in which he was discussing the Temptation of Christ in the wilderness. I always enjoy his sermons and books and mostly agree with what he has to say. Mostly.

In this instance, he said something that really captured my attention. Something that he passed over very quickly. I've no idea if he had given any particular thought to what I noticed, but, though I listened to the rest of the sermon and feel I gained much from it, his initial point, to me, was the salient one.

He began by describing the circumstances of Jesus baptism, including the argument against it by John, the descending of the Dove and then the call into the wilderness. He pointed out that Christ, being the second Adam, faced temptation with the difference being that the first Adam had a mate for support, but Jesus was all alone when facing the devil. 

A mate for support? That didn't work out so well for Adam.

Incidentally, what would've happened had Eve succumbed and Adam had not? This requires more time and words, but, in short, Eve would've been banished and Adam would've been alone. Remember, God said, "It is not good for man to be alone." (Gen 2:18)

This part of his discussion really set my mind to thinking. I wondered, why didn't Jesus have a mate and why was he alone? What was the point in the devil's questions, other than the obvious, and why did he go after these particular areas of our Lord's life? Yes, I have heard many valuable sermons on this matter, but they, I suppose, always lacked in something for me.

My father loved the Church! He was a pastor and his job, his family, his life revolved around supporting, promoting and edifying the Body of Christ. He taught me so many things in this regard and, though I might not recall his exact wording, he taught me to always look for two people when studying the Scriptures: the Bride and the Groom.

If you look for them, they are on every page of the Holy Bible. From Genesis and the first wedding to Revelation when the "Spirit and the Bride say, "Come!" (Rev 22:10) They are there, hidden in this wondrous and sometimes mysterious tome.

So, it occurred to me, why isn't Satan going after the bride first, like he did with Adam? Is there a bride to attack yet? A bride who would lead her mate into a fall as the first bride did?

Now, we know, if we know anything, that trying to line God up with time and bind him into any sort of chronology is a fool's errand. God created time and is not bound by it, but is all through it or outside of it or around it or wherever and whenever He chooses to be.

So, if I say, there was not exactly a Bride of Christ yet, I'm in dangerous territory. No, I don't suppose there actually was because Christ had not yet washed Her in His blood and there was yet no death, burial and resurrection, so I'll just say, tentatively, that Christ was truly alone in the wilderness with no one by His side. (Though I also remember He was a "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Rev 13:8)

Sadly, the Bride has become so diminished and so overlooked due to the Fundamentalist storming of  fairly all of our American Christian denominations, that She is almost an anachronism in current theology. The problem is, there is nothing and no one as important as She is to the Groom! She is His one True Love. She is His heart's desire. She is the One washed in His blood and presented blameless before His Father. She is the One Whom Jehovah declared would ensure that the man was not alone. She would be his "help meet"!

His "help meet." His helper. Or as one description even says, "one comparable to him." 

This was why the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. He had a wedding to attend. His own!

Don't forget, His first miracle was at a wedding. The party was about to crash because they had nothing to drink. Not until He provided it, at least.

I am just trying to emphasize the importance of the Bride of Christ to the Bridegroom here. As my father always said, a wife is more closely related to her husband than their own children. The twain are one flesh.

Okay, so, did the tempter know this? Did he understand this? Did he comprehend this? I'm going to say, no, but he is a master at finding the weak points. Certainly, he doesn't understand love, commitment or attachment, but he does see the importance of it in our lives and is an old hand at using such unknowns against us.

Now, here is Jesus, ragged, tired, hot and hungry. Searching for communion with His Father. I love to ask, I wonder what He was talking to His Father about on day thirty-nine. 

Along comes old slue-foot and, in short order, hits him hard with three temptations. Our Lord of course, passes the test with flying colors, the devil flees, for a time, and the angels come to minister to Him.

You know the story, how He is tempted in three things. (No, you can't be tempted if it doesn't cause you to desire it.) Sustenance, adoration and recognition. These were all things our Lord desired, though He knew He couldn't trust the one making suggestions to Him.

Okay, so where is the connection?

All the things that Christ was tempted with were things that a husband should expect from his spouse. 

Now, these concepts I present will be very old fashioned, but, I think, Jesus was an old fashioned guy.

Trying to keep this PG, most men, firstly, expect a woman to fulfill his physical needs. Cooking, caring, etc. They expect their wife to sustain them physically and mentally. Even to the point of producing offspring for them.

The second thing a husband might expect would be recognition. He's been out all day fighting the dragons and the traffic and when he brings home the bacon for his lovely wife to cook, he wants to know she'll recognize his value as a bread-winner and protector and the "man of the house." Why do you think men whine and cry about how hard their job is?

Thirdly, and these last two are closely related,) men seriously expect worship for what they do. (It's no small thing that in King James' English, "worship" means "respect." He wants his wife to tell him how great he is and how strong and virile. Yes, he wants to be put on that pedestal that men think they've earned.

Yes, these are likely over generalizations. And let's be clear, the Lord was not a selfish, arrogant man. Still, we are a reflection of Him and His Bride, so the parallels are obvious if we look for them.

So, Satan, in essence, was telling Him that He really didn't need His Bride. He could achieve everything that He needed without Her.

"Feed yourself. Jump off the temple roof and, when the angels catch you, everyone will know who you are. Just give me a little worship, and the entire world will worship you too."

Yeah, simple enough. Big problem! It wasn't God's plan. Worse yet, it would've meant that the Son of God would be alone, never knowing true love as God intended it.

Incidentally, that last bit was a bridge too far for the devil for sure. He betrayed his own desires by asking for worship from Him Who deserves all glory and praise. Yes, Satan is envious of God! He is, unlike our Savior, all alone.

Scripture says that, while Eve was deceived, Adam was not. (I Cor 2:14) He purposely chose his Bride over his Father. And rightly so. (Yes, I've written about this elsewhere.)

Yes, there are many lessons to be derived from this story, but, as Moses said, "The twain shall become one flesh." So, I suppose, the devil, by design or by instinct, went after the heart of our Lord. His aim was to cause Him to do the opposite of what the first Adam did. To choose Himself over His Bride.

To Eschatology or not to Eschatology!

I was asked a question regarding a question of eschatology on Facebook. I had to pray a lot about it and this was the best answer to a question I've been mulling over for years.

The names have been changed to protect the guilty. 

*****************************************************************************

Brother, speaking of eschatology what is your view point on that subject? My views have changed dramatically since I've been doing some research and study about it. I am prayerfully asking God to settle me on that issue. I am no longer pre-trib, mid- trib or even post-trib anymore. Could you PM me and bless me with a little of the [Aaronism] knowledge and I will share with you my Tonyism thoughts. Philippians 2:12 my brother ??

Have you ever danced with the devil in pale moonlight? Well, asking my opinion on a matter, any matter, perhaps especially eschatology, is a little like that! 

In my very young days, I thought I could speak for Christianity. I was wrong.
I was still foolish enough to try to speak for Southern Baptists. They proved me wrong.
Once upon a time, I may have even feigned to speak for the Davis family in general. Time, though, has made a change in my family.

So, I'll just talk about what I think. I'll preface this with the obvious: I don't have all the answers. Still, I know enough to generally recognize when something is wrong. Obviously, you are seeing errors in things you have heard preached for decades. To publicly say you are not "pre-trib" is anathema to Fundamentalists today. I never heard what is often called pre-millinialism preached as I was coming up, but I was fortunate enough to have my father as my pastor. I can also testify that my brother Joe, who was my pastor for several years, easily found meat from the Gospel that was fresh and neither stale nor rotten. I can further testify that my grandparents, who lived in the post-bellum South, testified to me that neither they nor their parents believed it, neither was it preached from pulpits of their churches. Further, if a preacher had tried to preach pre-millenialism back then, even up into the sixties locally, he would've been escorted by the pastor/deacons to the pew to learn or out the door. My how things have changed!

That little story is almost unimportant, but, dealing with this delicate matter, I thought it might be important to let you know where I come from. Having said all that, as my dad taught me, I had to examine these things, "work out my own salvation," for myself. Time and study has, for me, confirmed my perspective.

Now, to the point:

The Book of Revelation is, in my never to be humble opinion, one of the most read and studied and most misunderstood books of the Bible. Yet, it is one of the most beautiful!

I've sat through so many sermons, attended study courses, read books on the matter from the "pre-trib" perspective and, frankly, all I hear is a bunch of hooey! I hear no hope for the Church or salvation for the lost in the any of it.
Let me sum up:

A couple of verses, not to diminish others, in Revelation are the two keys to having any understanding of it. 

Revelation 1:1 KJV
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ." Christ Who was revealed to us through the man Jesus. Who revealed Himself to John in a vision on Patmos. We know so much about Him, but we understand so little. 

Preachers drone about computer banks, plastic strips on credit cards, Russia and the "state of Israel," quickly forgetting that John said, first thing, that this book is about Jesus Christ! To even hope to begin to understand that revelation, we must not lose sight that it is He we should be looking for.

Actually, there is another that we should look for in this book. Someone who, sadly, is repeatedly overlooked and passed over. Someone whose idea and image has been distorted by both ignorance and intent for nearly two millennia now. This One is the second key.

Revelation 21:9 KJV
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

"The Lamb's wife." We see the angel specifically introduce to, or "shew," John the Lamb's Wife, the Bride. The Bride of Christ!

Preachers fill their congregants' ears with talk about Heaven and streets of gold, jasper walls and gates of pearl completely ignoring that the angel is not showing John Heaven, but the most important Person in Heaven. The One that the Bridegroom gave His life to purchase, to prepare and, as any loving husband, spend an eternity with. It's like attending the wedding of strangers and when someone there points out the bride, we only see the flowers and candles, but never the pretty lady in the white dress.

We have eyes, but we don't see. Like the Bible in general, I believe more especially the Book of Revelation, this is a love letter from the greatest lover in history to His One and Only! Without this, I believe we can never even begin to grasp the love story that our God and Father is desperately trying to get us foolish souls to ever so slightly comprehend. 

We are so caught up in looking at the hands of God, we never look up to see His face or that of His Bride. We see the dragons, the plagues, the wars and the seas, but we miss the wedding party.

Tragically, I hear very few preachers talk about the "Bride of Christ." They only speak of the Church as if it's a different entity. It's all about Her identity! 

One more thing: I'll paraphrase my Uncle Ulis who, referring to the Wedding Supper spoken so much of by so many preachers, said, if there has not yet been a wedding, that makes us all bastards!

Well, I confess I am a little short on specifics here. My point is always, when asked this basic question, to try to help the questioner find a way to come closer to the truth than to continue to hobble along with those who seem to be, well, missing out on the party.

Yes, I have been long, but you did ask! ha! ha!

p.s. I'm going to tag you in a link for Youtube. It's a sermon by Mark Rutland. It's ninety-plus minutes, but well worth your time!

Christ's Ten Commandments to His Bride

My father, my favorite Bible scholar, taught me many things concerning the Holy Scriptures. I would love to have half the knowledge and insight that Floyd Davis had concerning the will of God.

One of the things he taught me, though I couldn't quote him on it, was to a have certain attitude concerning Bible study and to approach this Scriptures with an understanding that God, above all else, considers His inestimable gift to man as, first and foremost, a love letter to His Bride. So, when reading the Book, I try to keep my eyes open for Her, the One Who gave His life to save Her and the love they two truly share with each another.

Thus, while rereading the Ten Commandments, I got to wondering exactly what it was the Father was trying to say and to whom He was trying to say it. Ergo, here are the commandments, set of vows, if you will, that I suspect He mandated would consummate the bond between the Bridegroom and the Bride.

(Exodus 20)

1. I am your first love; love Me and Me alone.

2. All other loves are false, so do not create anything to love other than Me.

3. You bear My name; do not misuse or abuse it.

4. Spend time with Me.

5. Remember those who brought you to Me.

6. You were meant to give life, not take it

7. Do not give yourself to other lovers.

8. I have given you all that you need, so do not take what I have given others.

9. Do not misrepresent others or Me.

10. I gave you my best, do not yearn for whatever others may seem to have.


Exodus 20

Even More Ways to Spot a Fundamentalist

1. They believe there was no Bible before 1611

2. They have an enormous chip on their shoulder

3. They believe the King James Bible is the "Mind of Christ."

4. They will say the Bible warns against changing the words of the Bible, then they'll change those words, but say they are right to do so.

5. They worship Jesus, not Jesus Christ!

6. They think Jesus existed in Heaven before the manger.

7. They think God, (they don't think about Christ,) is more loyal to Israel than to His Church/Bride.

8. They can't find the Bride of Christ in the Bible.

9. They don't really believe in the Bride of Christ.

10. They think Jesus is God.

Remember, not all of these apply in every case, but only act as flags to point toward these aabrasive people.

Crazy Ex-Wife

Imagine ladies, that you meet your husband somewhere publicly, and, as you embrace the love of your life, somehow, you notice his eyes are not closed, as yours are, in full enjoyment of the moment. Worse yet, you notice he seems distracted and distant. You can feel that he's not hugging and holding you the same way you are him. Even worse, you open your eyes and look in his face to find that his eyes are wandering and, moreover, wandering to someone else. Then, just when you think it can't get any worse, you notice that the “someone else” is his ex-wife.

Now, depending on how brave and brassy or shy and timid you are, you might confront him. You might question why he was looking at her while holding you. Depending on how fast he is on his feet, he might possibly respond with some paltry excuses about her merely being in his line of sight or that she looked at him first.

Then, depending how good he is at deception or how gullible you are, you might walk away from this incident feeling more or less secure. Also, it might be greatly dependent how good he is at lying or how good you are at lying to yourself.

Then, some while later, when you thought this little episode is a thing of the past, you stumble on the two of them, your husband and his “ex.” You see him looking, what can only be called, longingly into her eyes. Frozen in terror of what this appears to be, joined with hope that it is anything but, you stand, watching and listening to these two former lovers.

“You know, I haven't forgotten you or how beautiful you are. Yes, I'm married to someone else, but I remember you. I haven't forgotten you. I even have a plan so that you and I can be together one day. You, my new wife and myself. Yes, it'll just be the three of us. We'll be so happy together. I promise you! Just be patient. I know I put you away for her, but you will be with me again. I haven't forgotten my original promises to you. I'll keep them all!”
 

Your stomach becomes Gordian knot as he continues.
 

“And don't worry. She'll understand. I'm sure that, once I explain how important you were to me and how much I loved you and how I just can't abandon you or forget you or our vows, she'll understand. She's a very understanding person.”

About now, a million thoughts are rushing through your mind! Your head is swimming and your feeling woozy and dizzy. Among the numerous thoughts jumping into your consciousness are the many, many stories your husband told you about her. About all the fussing and the fighting. About how unfaithful she was! About all the men! About how she wasted all of his possessions! About the disrespect! About how crazy she is!
 

As you try to catch your breath and still your reeling mind, you see him slowly walk away from this melodrama. You turn your head in an attempt to prove, against hope, that the insanity you saw happen, did not actually happen. As you do, you note that the “ex” wags her head with a dark look of contempt in her eyes for her former, forlorn lover. You feel certain, though said lowly, you see the words form on her lips, “How pathetic.” Yes, it seems neither of them have changed their feelings for one another.
 

Now, this is the scene of lunacy I have painted for you. I'm sure you're thinking, there is no way any self-respecting wife would tolerate this! Yes, I would agree. Still, ever so sadly, this is the view of the average Baptist/Fundamentalist regarding the Bride of Christ and Israel.
 

Without delving too deeply in the fact that Baptists today neither can identify the Groom or Bride, most, in reality, believe in neither. If they did, they would realize that the entire Bible is a sermon about the wedding of the Bride and the Groom and that all the teaching about marriage in the Bible is by God's own design. You don't have to wonder which came first: it was the plan.
 

Still, many have a death grip on their own preconceived ideas. They hold onto, what can only be called, “Jew Worship.” Yes, they truly seem to worship the supposed recipients of the blessings of God rather than God Himself. They worship the creature rather than the Creator.
 

Now, very quickly, there is no problem with being a Jew. Also, there is no advantage.
 

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
 

Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.  
 

I must've read that Scripture a hundred times over the years. One day it hit me. Jesus was taking Himself! He was trying to tell us, "I am a one woman man!"


Yet, to be a part of the crowd, to avoid the contempt of the like-minded and lock-stepped, many swallow horrid accusations against Jehovah that will not bear the weight of Scripture. Their stubbornness blinds their eyes and they ignorantly accuse the God of Heaven of no less than adultery!

Now, before you say, “Hold on a minute! I would never accuse God of anything like that!”


Wouldn’t you? Don’t you? Isn't that exactly what you are doing when you say that the Church is His Bride, but He is still in love with and pining for his first bride, Israel? Yes, she was His first love, the apple of his eye, but she was adulterous and backsliding. So, even though it broke His heart, he had to put her away. He was forced to divorce her.

I know saying that God is divorce' causes Fundamentalists to cover their ears and go, “la, la, la, la, la!” Prejudice causes the best of us to sometimes hide from the truth.
 

Jeremiah 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
 

Not to digress here, but when the Bible says, “God hates divorce,” it’s mostly because he has been through one himself. No pain like the pain you’re in!
 

Malachi 2:16 For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
 

Oddly enough to me, many think that our God looks lustily at His former wife, Israel, and dreams of a time when He can be with her again. He thinks of all the promises He made to her and all of the promises she made to Him and sighs with remorse. He pines away for the old days, crying over the loss of his first love, a love that betrayed Him in every way. Yes, He did divorce her, finding Himself a new love that He swore to Himself would be delivered chaste and pure to Him.
 

Revelations 21: 11 Having the glory of God…
 

Genesis 22:16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:　

Was the law of Moses God's ultimate plan? Was salvation and the Church an afterthought? Perhaps, Plan B? Did God not see it coming? Was he caught unawares?
 

They talk as if it was always God’s intent that Israel should be His closest love and, after she fouled it up, He had to go off and find another way. I suppose these same people think that God intended man to live forever in the Garden of Eden and, after Adam fouled that up, God had to go off and find another way. Actually, entire “Christian” denominations as well as other religions are founded on these very concepts.
 

The Church was not an afterthought! It was always God’s design to employ Israel, the Law and the failure of both to bring about the Church age. Israel, like Adam, was never intended as a permanent solution, but as a means to an end. Does that lessen God’s love for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? No, because they too rejoiced to see His day. It was never about the branches; it has always been about the Vine.
 

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
 

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.　
　

For God to have multiple brides, is contrary to the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. Yes, God allowed multiple wives and concubines but, if you follow the trail, it was always a headache for all concerned. Many men will think more than one wife is great! But remember, more than one wife means more than one mother-in-law. Like they say, two's company, but three's a crowd!
 

Still, God like Adam, is happy with one wife at a time. Amazingly, of course, God always gets good from our evil.
 

Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
 

Now, back to our adventuresome guy with the roaming eyes. He is a man who has everything he has ever longed for in the beauty, loyalty and fertility of his current glorious bride. Sadly, like some men, he thinks the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. He forgets the bad things from his earlier relationship and only remembers the lust that burned in his heart for a woman who, basically, hated him. He doesn’t think about the relationship. He only thinks about her physical splendor.

Yes, it’s true. All men are pigs!
 

Disgustingly, our little anthropomorphic egos assign attributes to God that should make our skins crawl. We think He is just like us, only bigger and stronger. You know, like Superman.

We muse, admit it or not, “After all, God does it!” We justify so much of what we believe by imputing our God with ideas and concepts that are more foreign to him than the surface of mars is to us.

Remember Esther? The woman who became queen because another, the first queen, was disobedient to her husband. You might almost defend the thought process of the former bride. She just didn’t want to be paraded before a bunch of desirous, disorderly, drunken men. On the surface, I’d agree with her point of view. I mean, what woman would want to be put in such an embarrassing situation. She was the ultimate trophy wife. Frankly, she did not care to be. Sadly, she did not realize her place in the chain of command.

Still, isn’t that what God wanted from Israel? He placed them in the best land of all, at the virtual center of the world where all mankind would have to travel through their borders. They thought He put them their so they could be spoiled and fattened and showered in His love. In actuality, it was not God’s intent that they should shut the gates to the city, locking the world away. I think he put them their to show them off to the world. He put them there that they might be a testimony to all the heathens encompassing them of the power and righteousness of God Almighty. God put them there to be missionaries!
 

Isaiah 56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

This new Bride of God is, like Jerusalem, a “city of peace.” Even more so, it is a new “city of peace.” It is a city that has its gates open to all points of the compass. Unlike Hell, it fears no danger of being prevailed against because the Lamb is present and He is the light of that city. Only citizens are allowed in this city and they can only be naturalized, adopted, by the edict of the King of Kings! This city contains no murderers, drunkards or liars, simply because once they are allowed in this city, they are no longer any of those!
 

Revelation 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

Upon trying to explain this concept to a Fundamentalist friend of mine, his only argument was to decry, “What about the 'Tribulation?' God still has a plan for the Jews!” He even claimed desperately, “It's not a marriage like we have marriage.”

In exasperation, I asked, “Then what kind of marriage is it? God could've used any number of metaphors, but he chose marriage! But we say, it's not like 'our' marriage”?
 

What can you really say to a death grip religion like that? God on his throne can't move them! How can I?

Here Comes the Bride!

There is, sad to say, much confusion these days, as there has been for, well, probably the last century at least, concerning Biblical ecclesiology. Especially in my lifetime, the past fifty plus years, it has only waxed worse. Even the SBC itself has become embroiled in this bewilderment, spurned on by Fundamentalists who have persistently increased their stranglehold on a denomination that once believed in not only the security of the believer, but also the priesthood of the believer.

So much of the confusion has come from a basic misunderstanding of who we are. If you don’t know who you are, nothing else can fit into place. Like my dad used to say to me, “Remember whose child you are.”


Not saying whether they are right or wrong, but I have heard many, many stories of adopted children, upon reaching adulthood, setting out to find their natural parents. I too have spent much time researching my family’s genealogy. The desire to know where we came from seems to be an innate characteristic of human kind.


Ergo, there has been much confusion about even our very relationship to God. Furthermore, much confusion about our relationship to our Savior. (Not that the two are different, although they are, but that’s another blog.)


Fundamentalists avoid the term “Bride” like the plague! (Name rather than term.) Preferring to use the word “church” almost exclusively. “Church” has become, even at that, interchangeable with “religion.” (Thank you Thomas Jefferson!) “Church” has been applied to everything from Hinduism, Muslimism, Christianity and even the “Church of Satan.”


Now, what could be worse than that? Only one thing I can think of. The misuse, brought on by the misunderstanding, of the word “church” by the very ones who once claimed to be the very “Church of Christ.” (Remember Missionary Baptists?) Many, sadly, especially, specifically, Baptists, have forgotten what the word “church” means. Baptists not only stand guilty of misinterpretation, but of propagating this repugnant misnomer.


Furthermore, any scholar can tell you the Greek word ecclesia is the precise word from which we get “church.” They’ll further explain that the very word means “congregation.” Strangely, many will go on to say that it means both “universal” and “local” seeing no contradiction whatsoever in their polar opposite uses of the word. Now, at best, we may only have a shadow of the mystery of Christ’s Church, but even a poor mathematician like myself knows one plus one equals two.


Much of the confusion seems to come, of course, from our own prejudices, but also from the fact that we ignore what the Bible itself says about the matter. As one preacher I know said, “The Bible is its own best dictionary.” Much of our, (by “our,” I mean, “their,”) misunderstanding comes from clinging to what we were taught by mom & dad, our church or what we learned in our initial walk with God. (Somehow, we think we got it right on the first try.) We cling to our prejudices and preconceptions like a dog bothering a bone!


Peradventure, we walked into a wedding ceremony. Wouldn’t it be easy enough to spot the bride and groom? Aren’t they the ones, holding hands, making promises and standing before the minister? Aren’t they the ones all dressed up as if they are getting married? If we’re unsure, can’t we ask a friend to identify them for us?


Rev 21:9…Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.


The problem for many is, they have their own ideas about the wedding couple and, even when the Scriptures explicitly identify them, they argue, “Oh, no, that’s not them! They don’t look like I was taught to believe they should look.” Even though a mutual friend may point out the two, we still can’t see them when we have our eyes closed.


How can you know the Bride if you don’t even recognize the Groom? How can you know the Groom if you don’t even recognize the Bride? It’s a conundrum! (Though it should not be.)
So, what does the Holy Bible say about who the Bride is? To begin, let’s ask who the Groom is.


Matthew 9:15
And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.


It seems apparent, probably no Christian would argue, that Christ is the Groom. “Christianity 101.” Doesn’t seem complicated.


To continue, if there is a Groom, is He married? (Should be simple, but, oddly enough, some disagreement here.) Yes, but what does the Scripture say?


Romans 7:4
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.


Mysteriously, the Scripture says we are “married” to Him and each other. Not to oversimplify, but if we recognize the Church is one body, to me that illuminates this apparent ambiguity. (I love oxymorons!)


To continue, who is the Bride? “Who” being the operative word here, as opposed to “what.” This is where things always seem to get sticky!


Revelation 21:
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.


9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
If I told you of the beauty of my bride and said, she was as clear as sunshine and tall like the trees and fresh as a cool mountain spring, would you think her to be a forest? If I introduced her to you, would you see only the description and not the person? What if I had a friend introduce you to her? Would that help?


Shamefully, Fundamentalists, et al., have stubbornly interpreted, professed and proclaimed that the very city in the book of Revelation is an actual, literal city. It matters not one iota to them that the angel actually calls this the “Lamb’s wife.” They cling with a death grip to their teaching that this is some literal city that will one day miraculously drop on top of Jerusalem. To what purpose, I cannot say. I can only imagine they have some twisted desire to sit and gloat over the millions of souls going to Hell around them for a thousand years. Sheesh!


How many times have we used the “streets of gold” and “gates of pearl” as descriptions of Heaven? It pains me to say it, but I have fallen into that trap myself.


So much of the analysis of Scripture can be argued and it is possible to have two different viewpoints on the same scripture and both interpretations be correct. (Remember, if it’s not wrong, it’s right.) Still, some Scripture is painfully obvious and self-defining. At least it is to those with open eyes and open minds.


The best rationalization for why Fundamentalists cling to this interpretation is one given by a particular preacher I know. (I have quoted him on many occasions.) He said, “It’s a Jim Dandy way to sell books about end time prophecy!”


Matthew 19:6
Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.


Genesis 2:21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.


Genesis 2:24
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.


Scholars, (guys with books for sale,) credit Moses with Genesis 2:24, saying he inserted it to teach God’s lesson about marriage. Still, if you believe the Bible, you’d be sore pressed to say this statement was incorrect whatever the reason for its insertion at this point. Even our Lord quoted this Scripture in the Gospel. When a man and a woman marry, they become “one flesh”…one body.
Eve was made from Adam’s rib. She became his helpmeet. His mate. Eve came from him. She was bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. Today, when a man and woman become “one flesh,” the offspring of that relationship is truly, literally, the two becoming one flesh!


John, et al., teach us that the Body of Christ is the Church. He taught that we are even Her children. (Mysterious, is it not?)


2 John 1:1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth


He taught us that it is Christ who sanctifies the Church and cleanses Her. He presents Her to Himself, a chaste, pure Bride. This is something she is incapable of doing Herself. He chose Her. She is His Elect!


Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.


More than one someone has asked if the Bible should be taken literally or metaphorically. One brilliant response given was that it should be taken seriously. Much of what the Holy Scriptures has to say, we try to moralize, allegorize, literalize or seek some other way of dealing with the puzzles that it has to offer us. Often, more than we can sometimes easily admit, it speaks plainly.


Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.


As surely as He is our Head, we are His Body. Christ had a body while He walked this earth. His body was filled with the Holy Ghost. He was resurrected and raised to Heaven. He left a Body behind, filled with the Holy Ghost, to do His work, greater works than He, works that He could no longer do. His Body is still “of His flesh, and of His bones.”


Ephesians 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.


That Body is resurrected, married, filled with the Holy Ghost and pregnant with the life thereof! The Church of God, the Bride of Christ, is not a harlot who produces offspring with a Man to whom She is not married! She is no mere concubine, brought in for a one night stand, with no rights, privileges or rank and no Covenant with her Spouse. To quote my late Uncle Ulis, “If there has been no marriage ceremony, we are all bastards!”


Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.


Ben Franklin said, “You are what you read.” He has been paraphrased, and I think accurately, “You are what you eat.” Now, this would be consistent with the Holy Scripture’s teaching on what the Church eats and drinks. Someone else said, “Garbage in; garbage out.” We would well remember that, as Christians, what we take in is makes us what we are.


When we consume that “living bread,” we consume that which is not only healthy for us spiritually, but that which makes us part of Him. It becomes part of our DNA; part of our blood.


John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.


I Corinthians 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.


We who take of the “Lord’s body” worthily, do so to our own health. If we do it in order, in His authority and that of His Bride, we become “one flesh” with Him and with His Congregation. Then, those who are of His will, shall be “added to the Church.”


Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.


I Corinthians 11 is some of the most preached out of context Scripture in the Bible. It is normally treated as if Paul is merely meandering from subject to subject. These verses are generally treated as a suite, but should be treated as a segue.


I don’t mean to defame the Apostle’s name, but he and I do have one thing in common. We both often go around the barn to make a point, but we are definitely trying to make a point.


Paul spent this entire chapter discussing order in the family and order in the Church of God. The scripture contained therein referring to the Lord’s Supper is one of the favorites used by many pastors when having a Communion Service. In my opinion, which is what this blog is all about, it would behoove them to both read and preach this entire chapter or avoid it entirely. They certainly shouldn’t pull those few verses out that refer the “Lord's supper” and use them as nothing more than a club with which to bludgeon their congregation.


Our pastors tell their congregants to “examine themselves.” The listeners flee the pew and fill the alter. They then return to their pews, proudly believing, “Yeah, I’m alright with God now.” The truth of the matter is, they can’t make it back to their seats without sin creeping back into their hearts!
Fundamentalist pastors specialize in filling their parishioners with guilt and shame and fear. After all, we’re Baptists. Isn’t that what we do?


I Corinthians 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body


What of those who partake “unworthily“? A word about that: There have always been those who come to the Lord’s table, not for the Lord, but for what is on His table. Like a cat, rushing to its food bowl, never looking up to see from whence the food comes, but only burying its face selfishly in its meal.


They know not the Lord of Hosts! These are cowans and usurpers! Their desire is only to steal the birthright of the Children of Light! Those pretenders who care not for the Lord of the feast, but only for the feast. What is food to the Church of God is poison to all others. What is sustenance for the Bride is detriment to those unbidden.


Neither the King nor the Queen has invited them and, yes, therefore, they drink and eat “unworthily.” Only those summoned by the Bride and the Bridegroom are welcome at His table. One might even say, R.S.V.P.!


Is my table so different from my Lord’s? I don’t allow just anyone to walk through my door and sit at my table with my family. Do you?


No, not all are welcome at the Table of our Lord. Yet, the Children of His Bride are not only welcome, but also commanded to be present and partake. He did not merely suggest it; He expects it.
When my drill sergeant told me that whenever I do a particular thing, whatever that thing may have been, I should do it a certain way, he was expecting me to do as much. I knew an order when I heard one.


1 Corinthians 11:25
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me


“As oft as ye drink it…” A recommendation? A good idea? A proffering? It seems to me that when the Lord said these words, He expected us to do as much. In my mind, if the Lord expects something, that qualifies as a command.


He does not want His commands to be disregarded. He does not want Himself to be forgotten!
Of course, this begs the question: Do crackers and juice the Lord’s Supper make? In other words, is the presence of the furnishings of Communion and the performance of the ceremony all that is required of us? Most would say obviously not, but how many would still insist that the old, rotten, stinky, dried up, cold, lifeless, stale, habitual ceremony their church goes through, is somehow pleasing to God?


Isaiah 1:11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.


Churches go through this performance, thinking they are doing big business and supposing they are doing exactly what God wants. They do it in a haphazard way with no real thought or attention to the implements they use or the ritual itself. They do it on the cheap! Many even sink so low as to buy those musty prepackaged crackers and the cheapest grape juice they can find. After all, does it really matter? Isn’t it the thought that counts? As my father was fond of saying, “If any way will do, then no way will do just as well.”


If you stop and ponder, you may realize that on any given Sunday when this service is exercised in your church, the reason is simply because it is written into the church bylaws. Can you think of many things more repugnant than going through the motions of this precious ordinance of the Church of Christ than doing it simply because it is ON THE SCHEDULE!


Where is the love? Where is the passion? Where is the romance?


1 Samuel 15:22
And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.


I’m reminded of when Abraham and Isaac went to make sacrifice in the mountains of Moriah. We all know the story how Isaac, unbeknownst to him, was to be the sacrifice. At one point, he looked around himself, taking note of all that they had brought with them. He then said to his father, in so many words, “Father, we have everything for the sacrifice, but the sacrifice.”


Genesis 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?


Sadly, we go through the motions and have all the implements of the Lord’s Supper, and, for that matter, worship in general, but we never ask ourselves, “Where is the sacrifice?” We do the things we think we’re supposed to do, but where is the offering? Where is the sacrifice? Frankly, there is only one sacrifice that will suffice. Something, or someone, has to die!


I imagine we will continue to argue and debate within and without concerning this matter, but it is His blood and His body and He gives it to whomever He chooses. All are invited, but not all are welcome!