On reading the Bible

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Thomas Edison once said, “There is no expedient to which a man will not go to avoid the labor of thinking.” My grandfather would have agreed.

Conversations with my grandfather were always entertaining. Although he did not go to college, he was quite smart—he could read and write in seven languages. As a journeyman tool and die maker he often worked with college graduates. Grandpa was astonished that though some of them were graduate engineers who studied calculus, they were unable to set up the tool and die machinery on which they worked. He would say that their years in college made them “educated idiots.”

Some of my relatives worried that Grandpa was dissuading me from going to college. They warned me that he was “old school.” Actually, he encouraged me to pursue higher education, but he did not want me to become an educated idiot.

I did go to college, eventually earning a doctorate. Rather than learning to use machine tools, I learned to use the most valuable tool of all—Holy Scripture. I’m not saying I have it all figured out, but I learned that there are right and wrong ways to read the Bible. Some of this I learned through academic training—so I am not denying the value of that. However, the most important lessons about reading the Bible have come through experience.

I learned that one of the wrong ways to read the Bible is what I call the Robert’s Rules approach. Robert’s Rules as you may know, is the recognized authority governing the conduct of meetings and assemblies according to parliamentary procedure. It covers just about every contingency, allowing a meeting to be conducted with order and fairness. Some people look at the Bible like that. They see it as God’s Rule Book, and believe all the problems of humanity stem from not following those rules.

Of course, the Bible does contain rules. There are commands to wash one another’s feet, to remain isolated for a month after childbirth, to not wear jewelry, to trim one’s beard in only a certain way, and many more. Of course, you can’t keep all these rules even if you can remember them. How many of us greet everyone with a “holy kiss”? How many of us build parapets on our roofs?

All of us are selective about which rules we obey and which we ignore. At some level, we realize that certain rules are more important and applicable across all time and for all people than others. But some who worry about this try to specify exactly what is required so as to avoid violating any of the rules. The problem with that approach is that it leads to losing touch with the heart and character of God, thus failing to see God’s overriding purpose to be in close, loving relationship with his people. That legalistic approach leads to think that a relationship with God can be reduced to a list of rules. Reading the Bible from that perspective is a sure-fire way to miss the point.

Another wrong way to read the Bible is what I call the Nostradamus approach. It presumes that the Bible’s purpose is to give us detailed prophecies of how world events will unfold in the next few years (it’s always “the next few years,” no matter when you live). You take the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other, and try to interpret the “signs of the times” from the news of the day. This too leads to missing the point, which is that the purpose of prophecy is to point to Jesus Christ and his work of reconciling all humanity, in every age, to God. The point of prophecy is to help us hope and trust in God, knowing that all of history is in his hands.

Another wrong way to read the Bible is what I call the Rubik’s Cube approach. It sees the Bible as a giant puzzle to be decoded. Just as a Rubik’s Cube has several color cubes that must be twisted and turned until they go together properly, some mistakenly think the Bible should be contorted into systematic topics, such as a divinely approved diet, the only correct “sacred calendar,” or a universal dress code. Some actually take this to the extreme of looking for coded messages buried within the Bible’s text.

Of course, the worst way to read the Bible is to combine these wrong approaches. I need not elaborate—many reading this have personal experience with viewing Holy Scripture through this terribly distorted lens.

God’s story—our story

So how do we correctly read and use the Bible? The key, I believe, is viewing Scripture as an encounter with God in history. We have to understand that the Bible uses many literary devices and genres, with multiple layers and mini-stories that yield a single Grand Story telling us who God is and the relationship he desires with us.

Some of this can be learned academically, and we should value sound scholarship. However, it is not just a case of knowing ancient languages, or being able to ponder and argue profound philosophy. Do that and you run the risk of becoming one of my grandfather’s educated idiots.

What I have come to learn from experience is that to really understand the Bible, I must become a part of the story—seeing God’s story as my story and finding my place in it. The Bible is not just a collection of stories and prophecies from another age. It is about our relationship with God—here and now. It isn’t just a story to read, but a story that we live.

Gary Deddo is preparing a series of articles on how to study and read the Bible from this perspective. We will begin to publish the series here in GCI Weekly Update, beginning after Easter. I think you will find it eye-opening and inspiring.

With love in Christ’s service,

Joseph Tkach

Larry Wooldridge

Larry Wooldridge, who pastors GCI churches in Meriden and Stratford, Connecticut, was born in Buena Vista, Georgia, a farming community of about 1500 people. “It was very much an ‘Andy of Mayberry’ type existence. Our town was built around a square with the courthouse, which looked like an old antebellum home, at the center. Family-owned businesses surrounded it. There were mercantile stores that were a combination of food and clothing, a barber shop, two pharmacies, movie theater, bank, drycleaners, law office, three hardware stores, a furniture store, two car dealerships and a cotton gin. A couple of churches were just down the street.”

Larry’s dad was a pharmacist and Larry worked in his store after school and during the summer. “I loved horses and owned several growing up. When I had the chance I would ride, sometimes for hours, over the fields and valleys in the countryside. My parents never worried about where I was. They knew I’d always be home in time for supper. One thing that comes to mind when I look back is how safe it was. Everybody knew everyone and we looked after each other. Many people left the doors of their homes unlocked and keys in their car. I look back on those days with fondness and appreciation.”

It wasn’t all work and horseback riding for Larry; he became interested in the Bible and the “fascinating news concerning Christ” as a young child. “I’ve always been interested in history and the historical record of Israel, and Jesus was a strong attraction for me. When I first discovered what Jesus said in John 5:39, that the Scriptures are a testimony of him, the Bible became even more fascinating to me. To this day, over 50 years later, I have never tired of reading the testimony of Jesus in the Old Testament scriptures.”

Larry began listening to the World Tomorrow program and eventually applied for Ambassador College. He was accepted and attended in Big Sandy, Texas, where he met his future wife, Joan Mulley. “We married in August, 1972 and eventually moved to New England where she was from. I love this area and have had a long relationship with the churches here, even after her death in 1992. I stayed in this area because of its natural beauty and my love for the brothers and sisters in Christ I know here.”

Larry has been married to Connie for 15 years. “We met while she was working at GCI’s headquarters after the death of her husband. My first wife, Joan, had died in 1992 from breast cancer. Joan and I had two children together, Kathryn and Lester. Connie has one daughter, Janelle. Together, Connie and I have three grandchildren, Crystal, Derek and Madison.

While attending Ambassador College, Larry was asked to accompany pastors on local church visits. “I also began to speak in area churches, my senior year. Toward graduation, I was told the church wanted to hire me to go out into the ‘field’ to serve fulltime as a ministerial assistant. That was over 41 years ago. I was ordained on Pentecost 1973.”

That wasn’t the only event Larry celebrated that day. “My daughter, Kathryn, was born on the day I was ordained into the ministry. Both were a surprise. Kathryn had to be born at home in the evening and the next day was our Pentecost service. I asked the pastor if I could stay home with Joan, but he wouldn’t let me. His mother-in-law stayed with Joan instead and I had to go to church. I didn’t understand until being surprised with ordination. It was a whirlwind day!”

When asked what he enjoys most about being a pastor, Larry shared that his passion is seeing people grow in Christ. “I love the people whom I am privileged to serve. It’s a wonderful experience to see them embrace Jesus and let him work in their lives. I’ve seen them in their good times and their bad. I’ve baptized many of them, officiated marriages, buried their loved ones, been with them at the moment of death, celebrated with them their successes and shared in their sorrows. I just love to see people prosper spiritually and physically. My personal mission is to help them along the way.”

Larry loves to study the Bible and preach, but he considers himself more of a teacher than preacher. “I look at our worship service as a ‘meal out’ for the members. They’ve been ‘eating’ at home all week. Sunday worship is a time to go out, have a good meal and enjoy fellowship. I have two congregations that have a solid foundation on Jesus Christ. They expect to be ‘served’ Jesus when they come. He is the only thing, the manna, which keeps us going in the spiritual wilderness of this world.”

Connie is also involved in the ministry. Larry said, “She helps me and the congregation in three important ways. First, she manages my appointment calendar, making sure I know what’s coming and preparing for it. Second she coordinates the visiting, making sure people are not overlooked, or making sure a need is met. And third she is great in giving me advice and feedback. She helps me keep an ‘ear’ to the church, which helps with sermon ideas and needs.”

What does Larry love most about GCI? “The wonderful truth, the good news of Jesus, which is the gospel we proclaim. I’ve never been refreshed so much as when we, as a denomination, gained our sure footing on Jesus. We’ve a story to share with the nations, and that story is Jesus.”

Larry said he owes a lot to his good friend and mentor John Adams, who pastored in New Jersey until his recent retirement. “John became a friend over the years and we helped each other through some difficult times. We got together often to laugh, talk theology, scripture and how best to serve our churches and each other. We had a lot in common. I’ve never had a physical brother, but John became one to me. I couldn’t speak more highly of him. He is a dedicated servant of Christ.

When asked when he feels closest to God, Larry replied: “It’s becoming all of the time, but especially when I am ‘facing’ him and not ‘turning away’ from him. By ‘facing’ I mean personal/church prayer time, singing hymns, Bible study/reflection and meaningful fellowship with like-minded believers.”

Tammy Tkach visit

On March 10, Tammy Tkach visited the worship service of GCI’s congregation in Tucson, Arizona. She gave the sermon, entitled Freedom in Christ (and the Responsibility That Goes With It). Members and guests appreciated how she melded the two aspects together. After the service the congregation enjoyed a potluck meal.

Pastoral internship

A primary GCI goal is to multiply young pastoral leaders. An important tool toward that end in the US is GCI’s Pastoral Internship Program. One of our interns, Carrie Smith, recently completed her internship under the direction of her mentors Mark and Anne Stapleton, who pastor Cornerstone Community Church, the GCI congregation in the San Diego, California area.

GCI president Joseph Tkach recently visited the congregation, now meeting in a new location in Lemon Grove, California, to participate in Carrie’s ordination as an elder. Other participants in the ordination included District Pastor Glen Weber and Pastor Mark Stapleton (see picture below). Carrie is moving to Pikeville, Kentucky where she will be part of that congregation’s pastoral team.

Here are other pictures from this special service, which included presentations from Dr. Tkach and his wife Tammy, Carrie’s ordination and a baptism.

Church planting summit

A key goal for GCI in the US is to see church planters, congregations and district networks starting and then multiplying new kinds of churches, for all kinds of people, in all kinds of places. That significant progress is being made was evident at this year’s church planting summit hosted by GCI’s Church Multiplication Ministries (CMM) in Memphis, Tennessee on March 8-9.

Forty-three summit participants (pictured below), including church planters, pastors, Church Administration and Development team members, and others celebrated several newly planted churches and the establishment of church planting networks in about half the US. Through these networks, groups of small churches are working together to identify, prepare and support church planters. Existing networks are now supporting church plants in Los Angeles; Randolph, Massachusetts; and Staten Island, New York.

The featured speaker at the summit was Hal Haller (pictured at right). Hal, who has planted several churches and now trains church planters, challenged summit participants in several areas: developing church planting networks, finding church planters and supporting newly planted churches.

Church Administration and Development director Dan Rogers shared GCI’s vision for new leaders, new ministries and new churches that reach those who are different from us. He encouraged participants to pray that God will bring new church planters to us, and give us the discernment and infrastructure needed to identify, recruit, equip and support them.

For more information about GCI’s US church planting initiative, see CMM’s website at cmm.gci.org.

Sermon outline

From time to time here in Weekly Update, we’ll provide sermon outlines for the use of pastors and others in their preaching/teaching responsibilities. The outline below is from John Kossey, a GCI member in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. If you have a sermon outline you would like to share here, email it to Ted.Johnston@gci.org.

Sharing in God’s love for people

(Luke 10:25-37)

Introduction: Christians rightly focus on loving God. But what about loving people? In our culture, it seems that tolerating people has replaced truly loving them. In contrast, our Triune God, who is love, has through the atonement, made self-giving love of neighbor a new-creation distinctive:

Because of his limitless love, the Father gave up his Son to the world to save the world, not to condemn it (John 3:16–17). Salvation is an expression of our Triune God’s love.>

1 John 4: 9–11 NRSV “God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.”

Jesus remains faithful to the Father even through death on the cross to “draw all people to myself” (John 12:32).

Through the agency of the Holy Spirit, the Father raises the dead-and-entombed Jesus. That act—vindicated by the Spirit (1 Timothy 3:16, margin), displays divine oneness and togetherness as the standard for human oneness and togetherness:

John 17:20–23 NRSV “I ask not only on behalf of those, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one. I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

1 John 1:3 NRSV “We declare what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

Body: In Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan, recorded in Luke 10:25-37, we’ll see how God’s loving gift of atonement relates to the lawyer who tried to provoke Jesus. Then we will integrate other passages to understand how atonement has both a “vertical” dimension with our Father and the risen Jesus Christ and a “horizontal” togetherness bonded by mutual love that is Spirit-led and empowered. (We can envision these two dimensions as cross-shaped.) [Read Luke 10:25-37]

A lawyer tested Jesus about identifying actions for inheriting eternal life. Both the lawyer and Jesus acknowledge the priority of loving God fully and neighbor as oneself as a summary of the Law. The context is looking forward to eternal life. Loving God and neighbor is the essence of self-giving togetherness both in the world to come as well as here and now.

Jesus responded to the lawyer’s question, “And who is my neighbor?” (v29), with the example of the merciful actions of a Samaritan contrasted with the hands-off avoidance of the priest and Levite. Society’s despised and rejected outcasts paradoxically set the pace in exercising authentic togetherness. According to the prophet Micah: “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8, NRSV).

Much like the Samaritan, God exercises divine initiative in graciously giving up his Son, reaching out and touching humanity with his love to deliver humans from sin and death. The very possibility of everlasting togetherness begins with the Father’s outreaching love for the world.

Jesus, for his own love of neighbor, bears the sin of the world to rescue and deliver humanity. Self-sacrificial love of Jesus brings about a new-creation reality of at-one-ness and togetherness.

The Spirit leads those whom God calls into union—becoming one—with the risen Christ Jesus. And because we share solidarity and status of children of God and thus co-heirs with Christ Jesus, we also enter into a unity of togetherness with one another through the Spirit. Unity in togetherness and mutual love for one another witness the Gospel to the world. The Holy Spirit is the divine agent that advances communion, participation and togetherness—both with God and with neighbor.

The Spirit of God (and of Christ as another Paraclete) acts to transfer retrospectively our life into transformed death and resurrection life we share together in union with our Lord Jesus Christ.

The atonement does not conclude with the death of Jesus on the cross. Paul writes, “For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life” (Romans 5:10). His resurrection life includes our living in and by the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8). We engage in neighborly love through the personal presence, leadership and fruit of the Spirit.

Jesus learned obedience through suffering. He lived fully and authentically human because he was filled with and constantly led by the Spirit. Likewise, believers have the presence and power of the Spirit to keep growing in grace gifts that foster extended togetherness and oneness in the here and now. Communion of faithful, Christ-like togetherness constituted by the Holy Spirit does not indulge in exclusiveness or competition but reaches out to honor the poor, blind, rejected. According to Paul: “This is right and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:3-4, NRSV).

“Communion of the Holy Spirit” instills vitality, boldness, and fire-in-the-belly passion in our self-giving, love-directed relationships with one another (2 Corinthians 13:13). Think of the Holy Spirit as a personal “soul mate” through whom the Father pours out his love to us (Romans 5:5) and enables that love to flow with our Spirit-empowered love to our neighbors.

Left alone, humanity tends to be fractured, confused, hateful and self-consuming. The atoning action of God in Christ through the Spirit inaugurates a contrasting alternative of at-one-ness, neighbor-love, and expanding togetherness. In the words of Paul, life “in Christ,” “through the Spirit” is with and for neighbor—an outreaching, joint participation more than isolated individual perspective:

“faith working in love” (Galatians 5:6)
“bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2)
“new creation” life (2 Corinthians 5:17)
“all one in Christ Jesus” and free from enslaving social boundaries (Galatians 3:28)
“lived” and “guided by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25)
“led by the Spirit of God” (Romans 8:16)
encountered “through the rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5)

Conclusion: The self-giving love of our Triune God, made evident in the atonement and in the humanity of Jesus, defines for us both the vertical and the horizontal dimensions of love. The Holy Spirit is at work, conforming us to the image of Jesus made evident in our love for people both inside and outside the church. Through the Spirit, we are drawn into, and thus enabled to share in God’s love for our neighbors. It is this love, made real for us in the humanity of Jesus, that fulfills the Law.

La Verne Wyatt-Paige

Last July, LaVerne Wyatt-Paige, wife of Michael who pastors the GCI church in Phoenix, Arizona, had a medical emergency (click here for the earlier report). While doing tests, the medical staff determined that she had advanced breast and brain cancer. Surgery was performed to remove as much of the brain tumor a possible and she began a regimen of chemotherapy and radiation. Her health has continued to decline to the point of unconsciousness about two weeks ago. The doctors informed Michael that La Verne had “hours or days to live.” Prayers when out and after a few days she returned to consciousness, began to speak, regained her sense of humor, eventually began to eat and after a few days was dismissed from the hospital to a care facility for continued recovery.

God has intervened in LaVerne’s life. For that we are extremely grateful! Thank you for your ongoing prayers for her complete recovery.

Cards may be sent to:

Mrs. LaVerne Wyatt-Paige

1928 E Highland Ave #104 PMB 200

Phoenix, AZ 85016-4626

Pam Horchak

GCI district pastor Mike Horchak requests prayer for his wife Pam. She has not been feeling well for several weeks, and has grown progressively worse. She is experiencing back pain in her upper left back along with swelling and pain in her left breast. Her mother died just 15 months ago due to a spinal tumor that produced similar symptoms. Pam will be having an MRI soon. Please keep her, Mike and their two children in your prayers—they all are deeply concerned.

Cards may be sent to:

Mike and Pam Horchak

41120 Adelle Dr

Hammond, LA 70403-7539

US field structure changes

Dr. Dan Rogers, director of GCI Church Administration and Development (CAD) in the US, recently announced changes to CAD’s US field structure. As of April 1, there are four Regional Pastors (RPs) partnered with four Associate Regional Pastors (ARPs):

Lorenzo Arroyo (RP) with Heber Ticas (ARP) in the western region
Randy Bloom (RP) with Rick Shallenberger (ARP) in the north-central region
Ted Johnston (RP) with Mike Rasmussen (ARP) in the south-central region
Greg Williams (RP) with Paul David Kurts (ARP) in the eastern region

In addition to their new regional pastoral responsibilities, these leaders will continue serving in their various existing leadership roles.

Dr. Rogers also announced that several US districts are being modified, with the total number of districts reduced from 28 to 21. These district changes are underway and will be completed by late summer. Pastors will be notified of any changes to their district as they occur.

In each region, the RP and ARP partner to support, equip and supervise the District Pastors (DPs). The DPs then support and supervise the pastors within their respective districts. The RP and ARP partner with the DPs for training pastors within each region.

The goal of these changes is to provide church development (training/consulting) and church administration (support/supervision) services to US pastors and other congregational leaders in ways that are effective, flexible and efficient as we work together to participate in the ministry that Jesus is doing in and through GCI in the US.

Grandchildren born

Here are three recent birth announcements.

Millhuff great grandchildren — Easton and Reagan

Pastor Ted and Lila Millhuff of Tucson, Arizona are pleased to announce the March 5 birth of their great grandson Easton Owen Millhuff. Easton’s parents are Ted and Lila’s grandson Tyler Millhuff and his wife Kaila. Easton came into the world weighing 8 lbs 5 oz and 21 inches long.

Tyler’s twin brother Thales Millhuff and his wife Katelyn gave birth to a daughter, Reagan, last September.

Ted and Lila feel blessed to have their name continue with these two great grandchildren.

Terry and Nancy Akers, long-time GCI home office employees, are pleased to announce the March 13 birth of their granddaughter Briella Grace whose parents are Jeremy and Alyssa Truman.

Briella weighed 8 lbs. 15 oz. and was 20 inches long at birth.

Mom and Dad are recuperating nicely and big sister, Mikayla, thinks her new sister is pretty special.

Retired pastor Paul and Pat Kurts of Alabama are pleased to announce the birth of their third grandson Maxwell Wesley Meadows born on February 27.

The son of Paul and Allison Meadows of Hoover, Alabama, Max weighed 6 lbs. 9 oz. and was 19.75 inches long at birth.

Mother and son are healthy and the Kurts family rejoices over another child of God born into the world!