Holy Is Your Name

Does holiness seem to be more of a religious word in our day? About the only time you expect to hear the word holy is in a religious service or in a silly exclamation such as, “Holy Cow!” However, God is holy. We are to be holy. His name is holy. So, what does it mean to be holy?

By definition, something that is holy is set apart from or separated from common things. So, in reality, museum artifacts are holy because they are separated from common items that are in current use. They have an important connection to our past, a unique quality, or great value. These special objects are guarded from casual contact, protected from the elements, and given a place of honor in a museum. Visitors are expected to give the artifacts proper respect.

God is holy. He is deserving of honor and respect, no, reverence and awe. We show reverence, not by admiring God as an artifact in a museum, but by our worship and by our devotion to his ways. He is holy because he is, by his very nature, separate from mankind and all that is created. He is holy; man is common. He is righteous; man is unrighteous. He is eternal; man is finite. He is creator; man is created.

When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he taught them that the name of God is holy (hallowed). It is not enough to accept that God himself is holy, his name is also holy. 

At some point in their history the ancient Jews stopped saying the name of God. It is said that they reasoned that if they did not say God’s name then they would not break the command:

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.” 

--Exodus 20:7

It appears that the ancient Jews put God’s name up on a shelf as if it were an artifact. Yet, that was not God’s intent.

When God revealed his name to Moses it meant something. God told Moses to tell the Israelites that the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob was about to deliver them from Egypt. He told Moses to tell Israel His name and it was packed with meaning. He is the one who Is:

“I AM Who I AM.”

God expected his name to be spoken but with reverence and honor. His name was not to be on an equal level with the names of foreign gods. His name was above them, because he is real, and he is supreme. His name is not a common name like that of any man or woman throughout history. His name is not to be used as the punch-line of a joke or the subject of humor. His name is not for meaningless exclamations of surprise. God’s name is not to be shouted as a explicative when experiencing sharp pain or anger.

God’s name has meaning and it uniquely identifies God as deity, as one who is self-sufficient, eternal in existence, and changeless. No other single descriptor is capable of encompassing his identity. His is not a name that must not be spoken but one that must be revered. The name of God can only be attributed to Him, for no other name can make such a claim as does the name of God: 

I AM.

“Our Father in heaven...HOLY IS YOUR NAME.”

Mark Stinnett

October 29, 2023

'Again' or 'Above,' How Can You Know??

We live at a time when there are many English translations of the Bible. Perhaps you have read from more than one version of the Bible. If so, you might have noticed that, at times, the wording is so different in one translation that you get a completely different impression of the meaning than from another. For example:

The question presented in the title comes from John 3:3 where Jesus was speaking to a ruler of the Jews named Nicodemus. Quoting from two different translations, Jesus said…

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.

I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

The first quotation is from the New American Standard Bible and is similar to most modern translations. The second quotation is from the New English Translation or NET Bible. Surely you noticed the difference which I placed in italics: Born again vs born from above.

Naturally, we want to ask the question, “Which is correct?” or “Which is best?”

The answer is: Translators have a challenging task. In this case translators encounter a Greek word that was used in two different ways and both meanings make sense. Of course, only one word can be chosen for an English text.

Instead of arguing over word meanings it might be wise to consider where each meaning leads. So, what does it mean to be born again? And how is that different from being born from above? After carefully examining the entire passage, it is clear that person must be born again AND that the new birth is best understood as being born from above, that is, born of the Spirit of God. Both meanings are accurate at the same time! Jesus was brilliant! We just don't have an English equivalent.

Another example is found in Ecclesiastes 5:9. The Hebrew text must be difficult to translate because there are three or more English variations that paint very different pictures. Since I am not an expert in biblical Hebrew, I cannot determine which version is more accurate or best. So, how do I approach this verse?

I do not wish to casually dismiss scripture, as some do, just because it is difficult to understand. So, after reading the entire passage I discovered that greater emphasis is placed on the previous verse. The difficult verse (5:9) is meant to be an explanation of the clear instruction from the previous verse which urges, don’t be surprised at the injustices of life. So, even if the explanation is fuzzy, the main point is clear.

One more example is found in Acts 2:38 where baptized believers are promised “the gift of the Holy Spirit.” There is no translation issue, but rather a long-standing debate over the meaning of the gift. Is the promised gift the Holy Spirit Himself or something that the Holy Spirit gives?

After remembering what Jesus said about the promised Spirit, I had my answer. Jesus called the Holy Spirit our comforter or helper. (See John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7.) The Spirit was the one to be sent to come alongside and help the disciples of Jesus after He left the earth. So, whether that help IS the Spirit or is given by the Spirit, we are assured help. That’s what matters.

The Apostle Paul instructed us to dwell on “whatever is true,” not uncertainties. (Philippians 4:8) Let me encourage you to apply that to your Bible study. It is more important to focus on what we confidently know, than to obsess or argue over uncertainties. 

Study wisely.

Mark Stinnett

October 22, 2023

Finding Harmony

We recognize dissonance at our child’s band concert when a clarinet squeaks, a trumpet plays a wrong note, or the timpani is out of tune. The overall sound is no longer pleasant and meaningful. In music, dissonance is the opposite of harmony.

When we sing together, the lead, or melody, is generally sung by soprano voices. Other vocal parts (alto, tenor, and bass) add depth and richness to the melody. Each vocal part may sing a different note, yet the notes are arranged to blend together for a pleasant sound...harmony.

The word harmony has been used to describe relationships beyond that of musical notes, such as people living in harmony with nature. Again, harmony is the idea of different things blending together with a pleasant result.

Some people have rejected the Bible saying that it is full of contradictions, so a lack of harmony. Anyone who has spent time studying the Bible has most likely run into passages that seem to conflict, or facts that seem to contradict. However, one should not be too quick to judge.

For example, the Bible advises, “Answer not a fool according to his folly.” Yet, in the very next verse we read, “Answer a fool according to his folly.” These come from Proverbs 26:4-5 (from the King James Version). Understanding comes by reading both verses in their entirety. The Bible is harmonious by teaching a person to be wise in dealing with a foolish person. There are circumstances that call for a verbal response and other circumstances that call for silence.

Another difficulty is found in 2 Samuel 24:1 where “the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and incited David” to count the army. Yet, in a parallel verse in 1 Chronicles 21:1 we read that it was Satan who stood against Israel.

A footnote in some Bibles explain that “satan” is a Hebrew word that literally meant adversary. So, in 1 Chronicles, it was not the evil one we know as Satan. Rather, God had become an adversary to His own people. So, no contradiction.

Other examples could be presented, but the simple point is that rational explanations exist for alleged Bible difficulties. The Bible IS a harmonious revelation from God.

Let me offer one other example involving statements written by the Apostles Paul and Peter:

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 

—Ephesians 2:8-9

Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

—1 Peter 3:21

Ignoring Peter, you have salvation by an affirmation of belief alone. Ignore Paul and it sounds like salvation by religious ritual. The question is not, “Which is correct,” but “How do we find harmony?” God has not contradicted Himself in His divine revelation to mankind, especially not concerning the salvation of the soul. So, in our Bible study we would be wise to learn the principle taught by the psalmist in Psalm 119:160:

The sum of Your word is truth….

We must not pit one passage against another. We must seek harmony in God’s word by avoiding the mistake of emphasizing one verse or passage of Scripture above another. We must embrace the entirety of God’s revelation. In doing so, we will find harmony.

Mark Stinnett

October 15, 2023

The Right Perspective

The story is told of five blind men who had never encountered an elephant, but had the opportunity to inspect one in their village. One found a leg of the elephant, another the elephant’s trunk, another an ear, another its tail and the last, a tusk. Each blind man described the elephant differently because of his limited experience.

The story illustrates differences in individual perspectives. Each of the five men were influenced by their experience. They could report truthfully, yet each report was incomplete.

People process and understand what you say based on their perspective. For example, when you use the word family, those listening to you will naturally picture in their mind their own family. Consider how different the perspective of an only child would be compared to a person with several siblings; or compare a person who regularly engages with extended family to someone who sees her family only on occasion.

A person’s perspective is also affected by his/her values. For example, a person who values saving money will have a different view of money than a person who loves to spend money. A person who loves all little fuzzy creatures will view animals differently than a hunter.

Compare the perspectives of school teachers with businessmen, or the perspective of a factory owner with an assembly line worker. Each one’s vocation influences his/her perspective.

Have you ever thought about how your personal experiences, values, and choices have affected your perspective of the Bible?

On one occasion Jesus was tested by a lawyer asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Instead of answering directly, Jesus asked…

“What is written in the Law? How does it read to you? 

—Luke 10:26

Notice that Jesus asked the man two questions. The first had nothing to do with his perspective. It was simply a question about what was written in the Law of Moses. Regardless of the man’s experiences, personal values, or choices, the Law of Moses said something. This man’s existence had no bearing on what the Law said.

The second question had more to do with the man’s perspective. It was about how he understood the Law. Even so, Jesus responded to the man’s answer by telling him, “You have answered correctly.” We must see that there was a correct answer. He could have had a wrong perspective. The validation Jesus gave tells us that the man had the same perspective as God.

Someone who loves fuzzy animals and then frowns on God for animal sacrifices in the Law of Moses judges God with a subjective perspective that limits understanding of the Bible.

A person whose attitude is all love and tolerance, and who declares, “No one should ever hate anyone,” holds to a naïve perspective that is sure to clash with divine perspective.

To understand the Bible, you must consider God’s perspective because it is His word and He meant something specific when He revealed it. You adjust your perspective by accepting God’s perspective and allowing His values to mold your own. By looking at life through the eyes of God you gain understanding regarding life and your place in this world. A change in perspective will increase understanding.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. 

—Isaiah 55:8

Mark Stinnett
October 8, 2023

Dots and the Big Picture

"She reads her Bible every day, but she never really studies.” That was one husband’s assessment of his wife’s Bible reading. Of course, he was pretty sure his study was better.

Anyone who wishes to understand the Bible needs both.

We use expressions like, “You can’t see the forest for the trees,” or “A bird’s eye view.” In both cases the idea is that a person has to step back and view things from a distance to gain a proper perspective.

The famous French painter Georges Seurat gave us a splendid illustration in his masterpiece Sunday on the Island of La Grande Jatte. It is one of the most famous examples of pointillism, a style of art in which Seurat used tiny dots to compose his painting. Up close, you see dots...just dots; but when you step back at a distance you see many people enjoying a sunny day beside a river in a beautiful park-like setting.

More sobering is the example of the Pharisees of Jesus’ day who scrutinized over details in the Law of Moses. Jesus rebuked them saying…

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 

—Matthew 23:23 (NASB95)

The Pharisees had focused on the details of tithing (even their spices!) while overlooking more important people matters. They were focusing on the dots and could not see the big picture.

When we study the Bible it is imperative that we see the big picture. We need to understand God’s overall plan for man, the overall purpose and general content of His revealed word. Only then will individual books of the Bible make sense. Only then will we begin to see the relevance of the many events and characters recorded in Scripture. Only then will we be able to understand some of the imagery in the New Testament that is rooted in the events of the Old. Only then can we fully embrace the value of prophecy and its fulfillment. You get a bird’s eye view by reading large portions of scripture in one sitting, entire books when possible.

Of equal importance is detailed study. This may involve reading the same chapter or passage or verse many times while giving yourself time to process and ponder its meaning. You may choose to commit portions of it to memory. You will also consider personal application.

In this kind of study you might spend time in a Bible dictionary. If possible, you might locate resources that provide additional insight on Hebrew and/or Greek terms.

This kind of study may focus on a specific Bible concept such as redemption or judgment or the Sabbath. It might focus on a specific chapter or shorter passage or just a phrase.

As an example, I was surprised to read that God forgave us “for His name’s sake.” (1 John 2:12) Again, surprisingly, I found similar expressions in other passages. I gave careful attention to when and how this expression was used and It opened up to me a whole new perspective about God.

There is wisdom in getting a broad, big picture understanding. Yet, concentrated, focused study yields many benefits. You might consider alternating between longer readings and focused study.

Getting the big picture is imperative, but the dots provide rich substance.

Mark Stinnett

October 1, 2023