In my view, developing an accurate understanding the Bible relies not only on taking the Scripture in context of other scriptures, but in also in the context of the goal being undertaken at the time they were written. In this case, that goal was the building of a nation and the establishment of a lawful and ordered society.
A recurring thought upon hearing so much criticism of God's Old Covenant laws is, none of us is capable of creating this world, this earth, the solar system, the sun. Which of us could have created the concept of gravity, even conceived setting in motion the laws of physics that govern our existence? Who among us is wise enough to establish "from scratch" the laws and principles that would govern nations?
Arrived in Knoxville at approximately 4:30 and checked
into the hotel. We then proceeded to the Thompson Boling
Arena at the University of Tennessee where we spent
the necessary $180 to become guests of ATI and the UT.
Dr. Jon Morgan spoke next on becoming an effective
church instead of a successful one. He compared and
contrasted the two types of church in many ways. For
instance, a successful church pays for full-page ads
in newspapers. An effective church makes front-page
news with their generosity and assistance to the
community. The successful church tries to keep all the
salt (the "members") in the salt-shaker (the church
building). When they get too much salt to fit in the
shaker, they build a bigger shaker, instead of sending
out members to be salt to the community. The effective
church works to show Christ's love to the community by
helping in times of trouble, such as floods or other
natural disasters, or accidents such as apartment
buildings burning down. Anyway, I found his thoughts
and experiences very interesting.
The next day we lounged around a bit in the morning.
Met a couple people that I knew through the day and
then in the evening we heard Joni Eareckson Tada speak
about how the neglect by the church of people with
special needs was the "comely" parts of the body
shunning the more important, but less comely, parts
of the body. About how she, after 35 years of being
incapacitated wakes up some mornings and says to the
Lord, "I just want to go home..." But instead,
He gives her strength for that day and she shares her
story, her inspiration, her energy and her love with
more people.
The last thing of interest (that I will tell to you,
the general public) was the "3000 member choir."
(Photos to follow.) I estimated 2600-2700, but at any
rate, it was a lot of modestly-dressed, perfectly-
behaved children singing very well for such a large
choir.
I was impressed throughout by the excellent demeanor
and happy spirit of nearly all the children. There was
a little crowd of about ten who sat up at the top of
the arena and listened to their cd players and chatted
during the speakers. I couldn't help but think of them
all as little Brians. :-) Other than that, the children
were marvelously content, cheerful, and well-behaved.
Should I have children, I only ask that they turn out
half that well.