We have been united as follows concerning the oath

VII. We have been united as follows concerning the oath. The oath is a confirmation among those who are quarreling or making promises. In the law it is commanded that it should be done only in the name of God, truthfully and not falsely. Christ, who teaches the perfection of the law, forbids His [followers] all swearing, whether true or false; neither by heaven nor by earth, neither by Jerusalem nor by our head; and that for the reason which He goes on to give: "For you cannot make one hair white or black." You see, thereby all swearing is forbidden. We cannot perform what is promised in the swearing, for we are not able to change the smallest part of ourselves.

Now there are some who do not believe the simple commandment of God and who say, "But God swore by Himself to Abraham, because He was God (as He promised him that He would do good to him and would be his God if he kept His commandments). Why then should I not swear if I promise something to someone?" The answer: hear what the Scripture says: "God, since he wished to prove overabundantly to the heirs of His promise that His will did not change, inserted an oath so that by two immutable things we might have a stronger consolation (for it is impossible that God should lie"). Notice the meaning of the passage: God has the power to do what He forbids you, for everything is possible to Him. God swore an oath to Abraham, Scripture says, in order to prove that His counsel is immutable. That means: no one can withstand and thwart His will; thus He can keep His oath. But we cannot, as Christ said above, hold or perform our oath, therefore we should not swear.

Others say that swearing cannot be forbidden by God in the New Testament when it was commanded in the Old, but that it is forbidden only to swear by heaven, earth, Jerusalem, and our head. Answer: hear the Scripture. He who swears by heaven, swears by God's throne and by Him who sits thereon.

Observe: swearing by heaven is forbidden, which is only God's throne; how much more is it forbidden to swear by God Himself. You blind fools, what is greater, the throne or He who sits upon it?

Others say, if it is then wrong to use God for truth, then the apostles Peter and Paul also swore. Answer: Peter and Paul only testify to that which God promised Abraham, whom we long after have received. But when one testifies, one testifies concerning that which is present, whether it be good or evil. Thus Simeon spoke of Christ to Mary and testified: "Behold: this one is ordained for the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign which will be spoken against."

Christ taught us similarly when He says: Your speech shall be yea, yea; and nay, nay; for what is more than that comes of evil. He says, your speech or your word shall be yes and no, so that no one might understand that He had permitted it. Christ is simply yea and nay, and all those who seek Him simply will understand His Word. Amen.

+

And that's it. There's some surrounding matter like letters and such, but that's the last article of the Schleitheim Confesion. It'simportant to remember that all creeds, confessions, and statements of faith are the works of men. They're good as far as they match up to the word of God, but ultimately they'll fail. Only the Bible is the infallible word of God.

This seems like a good place to thank my wife, who not only puts up with me doing this blog but has done most of the copying and pasting work the last few months. I don't know how I could have done these posts, or been the kind of person who cared about these posts, without her. You're the greatest blessing I've ever received, and I'm ashamed of the way I've treated you. I love you, sweetheart, and I can't imagine you not being there.

Unless someone writes to me with another idea, I plan on doing one more post next Wednesday about Anabaptism, and then starting over with the Ten Commandments.

Job 15

Eliphaz reminds me of Caiaphas in this chapter.

For those who don't remember, Caiaphas was the high priest in charge of Jesus' illegal trial. At one point he declared the accused condemned by his own words. Eliphaz says the same thing to Job.

Review : THE HOBBIT by JRR Tolkein

it's hard to think of another book short of the Bible that's meant as much to me. I used to think that The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was my favorite book. It's not. It's a very good book, but it's a distant second to this one.

As far as I'm concerned, The Hobbit is review-proof. I'm not even going to try.

Job 14

Since we all die anyway, says Job, there's no hope. This chapter is a continuation of the speech/prayer from the last chapter. Taken all together, it's possibly the most hopeless, depressing thing ever written.

There's more hope for a tree stump than for a man, says Job.

Review:CHURCH HISTORY IN PLAIN LANGUAGE by Bruce L. Shelley

Thiis has become a classic in its field, and it's easy to see why. It's very good.

Church history is an interesting subject that is too often obscured by layers of theology and jargon. It can be very difficult to dig down to what actually happened. What Shelley does so well is to strip away most of those layers and present the most unvarnished church history I've ever seen.

Of course, everyone has biases, including Shelley and I. He works hard to keep his out of the way, though, and I recommend this book.

Job 13

Job wanted to follow God, but he also wanted his questions answered.

Sometimes we just have to trust God, because we aren't going to get all our answers in this world. It can be difficult to trust in someone you can't see, but we can trust the Lord of Justice to do what's right.

We have been united as follows concerning the sword

VI. We have been united as follows concerning the sword. The sword is an ordering of God outside the perfection of Christ. It punishes and kills the wicked and guards and protects the good. In the law the sword is established over the wicked for punishment and for death and the secular rulers are established to wield the same.

But within the perfection of Christ only the ban is used for the admonition and exclusion of the one who has sinned, without the death of the flesh, simply the warning and the command to sin no more.

Now many, who do not understand Christ's will for us, will ask; whether a Christian may or should use the sword against the wicked for the protection and defense of the good, or for the sake of love.

The answer is unanimously revealed: Christ teaches and commands us to learn from Him, for He is meek and lowly of heart and thus we shall find rest for our souls. Now Christ says to the woman who was taken in adultery, not that she should be stoned according to the law of His Father (and yet He says, "What the Father commanded me, that I do") but with mercy and forgiveness and the warning to sin no more, says: "Go, sin no more." Exactly thus should we also proceed, according to the rule of the ban.

Second, is asked concerning the sword: whether a Christian shall pass sentence in disputes and strife about worldly matters, such as the unbelievers have with one another. The answer: Christ did not wish to decide or pass judgment between brother and brother concerning inheritance, but refused to do so. So should we also do.

Third, is asked concerning the sword: whether the Christian should be a magistrate if he is chosen thereto. This is answered thus: Christ was to be made king, but He fled and did not discern the ordinance of His Father. Thus we should also do as He did and follow after Him, and we shall not walk in darkness. For He Himself says: "Whoever would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." He Himself further forbids the violence of the sword when He says: "The princes of this world lord it over them etc., but among you it shall not be so." Further Paul says, "Whom God has foreknown, the same he has also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son," etc. Peter also says: "Christ has suffered (not ruled) and has left us an example, that you should follow after in his steps."

Lastly, one can see in the following points that it does not befit a Christian to be a magistrate: the rule of the government is according to the flesh, that of the Christians according to the Spirit. Their houses and dwelling remain in this world, that of the Christians is in heaven. Their citizenship is in this world, that of the Christians is in heaven. The weapons of their battle and warfare are carnal and only against the flesh, but the weapons of Christians are spiritual, against the fortification of the devil. The worldly are armed with steel and iron, but Christians are armed with the armor of God, with truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and with the Word of God. In sum: as Christ our Head is minded, so also must be minded the members of the body of Christ through Him, so that there be no division in the body, through which it would be destroyed. Since then Christ is as is written of Him, so must His members also be the same, so that His body may remain whole and unified for its own advancement and upbuilding. For any kingdom which is divided within itself will be destroyed.

Job 12

Job again asserts that despite his innocence, God has done this to him. Since God is so powerful, though, he can do whatever he wants. In a way he's right. God is all-powerful, and he can do as he pleases, and nothing happens without his say-so.

He's still missing the biggest piece of the puzzle, though.

Review: THE ANABAPTIST VISION by Harold Bender

This is a transcript of a speech made by Bender in the 1940s, which has been reprinted many times since. It was recommended to me as "essential" by a friend, and I'm inclined to agree.

Unfortunately, I've spent a good deal more on an Anabaptist theology that taught me a good deal less. Though not intended as a systematic theology, Bender's small book teaches more about what Anabaptists believe than some much longer books.

If you have any interest in modern Anabaptism, I highly recommend it 

Job 11

In this chapter Zophar finally speaks, and says essentially the same thing as Job's other friends.

According to Zophar, Job didn't deserve what happened to him. He deserved much worse. If Job was going to malign God, Zophar was determined to defend him. He never seemed to wonder if God needed defending, though.

Who am I anyway?

It's been a while since I've done any sort of introduction here, so I'm going to give it a shot.

My name is Leslie Chritopher Bloom. I'm 41, and have been married to my lovely wife for over 16 years now, and with my lovely wife, whose name is not Flo, I have two beautiful daughters, ages 13 and 9, who are not named Hazel and Gertrude, respectively.

I was ordained as both a deacon and a pastor by a small Southern Baptist church, but over the last year I've decided that I can no longer believe in the doctrine of eternal security. Since that's about as basic as it gets for Baptists, I don't consider myself one anymore. By conviction I'm a Mennonite. Besides, where else can a man with a beard and a thing for hats go?

One last thing: I had a stroke a few years ago that left me with locked-in syndrome, which means that though my mind and body are both healthy, there's almost no connection between the two. That's left me paralyzed from the eyeballs down.

Job 10

Job pleads with God, as completely different from man, to act on what he must know is the truth.

At some point every person has to come to the realization that God is wholly other. He isn't just a big person, and he certainly isn't just the man upstairs. He's God, and deserves to be treated as such.

Review: COMMON SENSE by David Bercot

This is one of Bercot's early books, and lays out his approach to Scripture. As the title indicates, it's an approach that's based on common sense. The Bible doesn't need much interpretation: it means what it says, and what it says is right there in black and white.

It's a logical way to approach Scripture, and I think it's the right way. I highly recommend this book.

Job 9

Job maintains his innocence, yet knows it's no good against God. After all, he's the biggest and strongest thing in existence, so no one can stand against him. If there's no point, Job figures, why even try?

That would be scary if God were unfair.

Review: MENNONITES by Edison Einstein

This is interesting, but it's also very short. It reads more like a paper with a few photos added than an actual book.

And "Edison Einstein" sounds like a supervillain's name.

Ordinarily I wouldn't recommend it, just because of the length, but it was free, so I have no reason to complain.

Job 8

Bildad says much the same as Eliphaz. 

At this point I don't have much to add. Job's friends said he'd sinned, and he said he hadn't. None knew the truth.

We have been united as follows concerning shepherds in the church of God

The Schleitheim Confesion is very concerned with the separation of the people of God from the world, so it makes perfect sense that it would be worried about that of pastors. This article makes it clear that it is.

I'm actually torn on this one. While it is clear about pastors deriving all their incomes from their flocks, I haven't found that to be a New Testament concept. It's a reminder that creeds, confessions, and statements of faith are manmade and fallible.

 V. We have been united as follows concerning shepherds in the church of God. The shepherd in the church shall be a person according to the rule of Paul, fully and completely, who has a good report of those who are outside the faith. The office of such a person shall be to read and exhort and teach. warn, admonish, or ban in the congregation, and properly to preside among the sisters and brothers in prayer, and in the breaking of bread, and in all things to take care of the body of Christ, that it may be built up and developed, so that the name of God might be praised and honored through us, and the mouth of the mocker be stopped.

He shall be supported, wherein he has need, by the congregation which has chosen him, so that he who serves the gospel can also live therefrom, as the Lord has ordered. But should a shepherd do something worthy of reprimand, nothing shall be done with him without the voice of two or three witnesses. If they sin they shall be publicly reprimanded, so that others might fear.

But if the shepherd should be driven away or led to the Lord by the cross, at the same hour another shall be ordained to his place, so that the little folk and the little flock of God may not be destroyed, but be preserved by warning and be consoled.

Job 7

Job defends himself. This is what made his friends so angry: he always claimed innocence. Because of their worldview, they thought that anyone who suffered must have done something to deserve it. By refusing to confess, Job seemed to be saying that God was unfair.

That was something that they apparently couldn't tolerate.

Review: THE DIVINE CONSPIRACY by Dallas Willard

This was a very popular book when it came out several years ago. It seemed like everyone was reading it.

You'll have to ask one of those people what they thought of it, because I don't remember anything about it. At this point, I'm reviewing books I read just a few months ago, and in that short a time I've completely forgotten everything about it, which probably means it wasn't a good book in the first place.

So I guess by not reviewing it, I am reviewing it.

Job 6

Job begins his defense, but not by talking about Job.

In this chapter, it seems like Job talks about everything but himself. In the West, we're the most self-absorbed people in history. In the Middle East, they're less so, and were definitely so a few thousand years ago.

A little unsolicited advice for young men

I'm in my 40s, and turning grey, and I've been married to my only wife for over 16 years now, so I figure I'm entitled to give a little marriage advice. Since I'm not a woman, I don't dare try to give them advice, so here are three things I wish I'd been told before I get married.

01. You won't always feel this way. When you get married, you're what's known in a technical sense as "crazy", and that's fine. One day you won't be, and that's also fine, because no one can live that way indefinitely. Once the hormones slow down, you have to live with her for the next 50 years or so, and that's what really matters.

02. Marriage won't solve everything. If you're screwed up before you get married, you'll still be screwed up after you get married. All you're doing is adding someone at least as screwed up. That's like putting out a fire by throwing a hand grenade on it.

03. Talk to her before marriage. Specifically, talk about marriage. You each have a right to know and correct the other's expectations. (The only thing more insane than not doing this beforehand is expecting her to read your mind afterward.) Most importantly, make one hard and fast rule: divorce is not an option. And talk to her after marriage, too.

There are several more, but I'll save them, because those are the most important and they took much longer than I'd anticipated. If I'm going to post anything tonight, I'd better stop with these three.

Job 5

Eliphaz said a lot of true things about God, but he was still completely wrong. It all came down to presuppositions. Eliphaz had already decided that God always rewarded good and punished evil immediately. Since Job was suffering, he must have done wrong.

We should never assume anything.

Review: COMPLETE WORKS by Euripides

Eurpides is the last of the Greek tragedians in the Great Books series. Having read his complete works, I'm left with three major questions,

1. What are a strophe and an antistrophe?

2. Why did Victorian translators feel like need to be intentionally archaic?

3. How is this a great book?

If it weren't for Aeschylus' and Sophocles' complete works, this would easily be the most boring thing I've ever read. If you like this, you are probably a very dull person who should be killed with fire.

I don't recommend it.

Job 4

This chapter introduces Eliphaz the Temanite, the first of Job's friends to speak. Let me say something about those friends: they were right. If you bought into their premises, their logic was nearly perfect. In their own eyes, they were right.

If you bought into their premises. 

Review: WILL THE THEOLOGIANS PLEASE SIT DOWN by David Bercot

I've never made a secret of the fact that I'm a fan of Bercot's work. God used him to bring about my own salvation, and he's continued to influence me since. Even I have to admit, though, that this isn't his best book.

It's not because the information's no good. Bercot's main point -- that in trying to explain everything or fit it into a system, theologians have encrusted the Christian faith with many elements that are both foreign and contradictory to it -- is a valid one, and worth considering.

The problem is with the tone. Bercot has never seemed angry, but he does here. It could be argued that he has plenty of reason to be, but he just comes across as a bitter old crank.

I'm torn about this one. I recommend what it says, but not how it says it.

Job 3

Job was at rock bottom, but he still refused to blame God.

He wished he were dead, or that he'd never been born. He cursed the day of his birth in a long, lyrical passage. But he never cursed God 

Job 2

It seems like God threw Job under the bus, but his conversation with Satan actually shows how different they are. Satan wanted to take everything from Job to break him and make him curse God. God knew Job wouldn't and let Satan try.

One difference is that Satan tempts us to see us fail. Yahweh tests us to watch us succeed.

We are united as follows concerning the separation

IV. We have been united concerning the separation that shall take place from the evil and the wickedness which the devil has planted in the world, simply in this; that we have no fellowship with them, and do not run with them in the confusion of their abominations. So it is; since all who have not entered into the obedience of faith and have not united themselves with God so that they will to do His will, are a great abomination before God, therefore nothing else can or really will grow or spring forth from them than abominable things. Now there is nothing else in the world and all creation than good or evil, believing and unbelieving, darkness and light, the world and those who are [come] out of the world, God's temple and idols. Christ and Belial, and none will have part with the other.

To us, then, the commandment of the Lord is also obvious, whereby He orders us to be and to become separated from the evil one, and thus He will be our God and we shall be His sons and daughters.

Further, He admonishes us therefore to go out from Babylon and from the earthly Egypt, that we may not be partakers in their torment and suffering, which the Lord will bring upon them.

From all this we should learn that everything which has not been united  with our God in Christ is nothing but an abomination which we should shun. By this are meant all popish and repopish works and idolatry, gatherings, church attendance, winehouses, guarantees and commitments of unbelief, and other things of the kind, which the world regards highly, and yet which are carnal or flatly counter to the command of God, after the pattern of all the iniquity which is in the world. From all this we shall be separated and have no part with such, for they are nothing but abominations, which cause us to be hated before our Christ Jesus, who has freed us from the servitude of the flesh and fitted us for the service of God and the Spirit whom He has given us.

Thereby shall also fall away from us the diabolical weapons of violence--such as sword, armor, and the like, and all of their use to protect friends or against enemies--by virtue of the word of Christ: "you shall not resist evil."

Review: BEOWULF trans. by Gerald Davis

I've read a lot of versions of this story since I I first heard of it 30-some-odd years ago. The prospect of a new one made me excited, though for the life of me I don't know why.

It's not a Christian story, despite a thin veneer of Christianity. It's most similar to Norse hero-legends, which makes perfect sense, since that's exactly what it is. When it comes down to it, Beowulf is about how awesome Beowulf is.

While I don't endorse the paganism, I do love the book, and of the transitions I've read, this is one of my favorites. It's written as prose instead of poetry, which I prefer, and is neither trendy intentionally archaic, I highly recommend it.

Job 1

Job painted a target on himself.

When you do what's right, it's noticed. The rest of the world notices that you don't go along with it. Satan notices that you're a threat to him. And most importantly God notices that even in a fallen world there are a few people who want to serve him.

Show, don't tell

One of the biggest and most important rules of writing is, "Show, don't tell." Don't tell your readers that a character is upset; show him being upset instead. I must have been told that a thousand times. Unfortunately, I never heard it from a pulpit.

It's unfortunate because it also applies to a Christian's life as well.

God isn't looking for people who will just tell him they love him. He wants people who'll show him, too. There are plenty of people who are perfectly willing to say it to God, but precious few who will prove it by the way they live.

I won't go so far as to say that God doesn't care what we say, because he clearly does. There's a big difference, though, between saying you'll do something and doing it. They're not even similar.

Show, don't tell. Prove to God you love him, instead of just saying it. After all, actions matter.

Esther 10

In this very short chapter, we learn how high Mordecai rose and how powerful he became.

He did very, very well.

Review: THE SEVEN STOREY MOUNTAIN by Thomas Merton

This is Merton's autobiography, the story of his life prior to entering a Trappist monastery. Given that he lived what might be called a Bohemian life growing up, the first half of the book shouldn't be so boring, but it is. The second half, in which he feels himself drawn to scholasticism and the life of a monk, is more interesting but no more edifying.

I found this book neither entertaining or useful, which has a lot to do with my very serious doubts about the Church of Rome. I don't recommend it.

 

Esther 9

Here's what bothers me about the book of Esther. First, these were Jews who didn't return to the Promised Land. Second, as far as we know their plans were made entirely independent of God. As an example, Queen Esther's marriage was forbidden under the law. Third, the killings in this chapter were revenge, and that's something God reserved for himself.

I'm not saying Esther doesn't belong in the Bible. I'm saying that I don't understand.

Review: AMISH: BORN AGAIN THE SAME WAY AS OTHERS? by Joe Keim

In this short book, Keim shows that the Amish not only have a peculiar lifestyle, but a peculiar theology as well. Because few of us know or will ever know any of the Amish, I can recommend for the curious.

Another question for Pentecostals

Why does God only speak when we've decided it's acceptable ?i'm not being funny or facetious. I've been in a lot of different kinds of services, and only seen charismatic gifts in places you would expect to see them.

Again, I'm not making fun of anyone. I'm respectively asking for information. 

Esther 8

Hating Mordecai was a waste of time.

Everything Haman had became Mordecai. From his home to his job, everything he had was given to his worst enemy. Even his plan to destroy the Jews failed.

Concerning the breaking of bread

III. Concerning the breaking of bread, we have become one and agree thus: all those who desire to break the one bread in remembrance of the broken body of Christ and all those who wito drink of one drink in remembrance of the shed blood of Christ, they must beforehand be united  in the one body of Christ, that is the congregation of God, whose head is Christ, and that by baptism. For as Paul indicates, wecannot be partakers at the same time of the table of the Lord and the table of devils. Nor can we at the same time partake and drink of the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils. That is: all those who have fellowship with the dead works of darkness have no part in the light. Thus all those who follow the devil and the world, have no part with those who have been called out of the world unto God. All those who lie in evil have no part in the good.

So it shall and must be, that whoever does not share the calling of the one God to one faith, to one baptism, to one spirit, to one body together with all the children of God, may not be made one loaf together with them, as must be true if one wishes truly to break bread according to the command of Christ.

Esther 7

It's good to keep some eunuchs around. They're a near-inexhaustible source of useful information. In this chapter, it's a eunuch who knew that Haman had built a gallows and who he planned to hang.

It's still no excuse for gelding people, but it is a nice side-effect.

Review: IN GOD WE DON'T TRUST by David Bercot

I didn't know I'd be reviewing this on Veterans' Day, but it seems appropriate. It's essentially an antihagiography, an antidote to what we were taught in school. It's also effective against the things we hear about the Founding Fathers these days,which are nonsense at best and bald-faced lies at worst.

I long ago decided that according to Romans 13 and other texts, the American Revolution was unchristian. This book backs up that somewhat obvious assertion, but goes far beyond it. Everything is carefully documented, and while I haven't checked it all personally, I've learned over the years to trust Bercot.

Every American Christian should read this book. If nothing else, it should be a counterweight to what we were taught. I highly recommend it.

Esther 6

Be careful what you wish for. Someone else might get it.

In his arrogance, Haman assumed the king was talking about him. But the king really wanted to honor the one person Haman hated most in the entire world. And Haman had to carry it out.