I am with you…..

We all live in trying times. They test us to the max. And, on top of life’s normal problems which come our way, we also must deal with problems we did not cause, yet are placed on our lap. We easily understand the LORD when he says “I am with you” even though he is not physically there, we understand that he is always with us in spirit. We know God is omnipresent. People try to ascribe to dead humans, this omnipresence. It cannot be. We are bound by space and time. We can be only present at one place at a time. Also, we know when we die our spirit returns to God who gave us this life Ecc 12: 7. So, when we are on earth, that is alive, we are only at one place at a time. And when we die, our spirt immediately leaves our body. So how could Paul say in 1 Cor 5: 3- even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit; In fact three times he makes it clear he is not there physically, but he is there in spirit. How can this be? Is Paul advocating some new custom? Acts 17: 20 people asked Paul, what is the strange customs he is bringing? Yes, strange indeed. A new teaching? Not physically present in Cebu, but on Mactan, yet, spiritually present in Cebu? This is strange indeed. And then baptism for the dead? What? Not baptism into death Rom 6:4, but baptism for the dead- 1 Cor 15:29. What are these strange teachings of Paul? Only Jesus can say I am with you always. Omnipresent. How can Paul say that? There are many such things in Scripture, that people read again and again, and yet make no effort to understand what they read. They want someone else to study and give them the answers. On the one hand, that is good. And the other hand, never ever forget- get OPPOSING points of view, for a difficult verse. Everything sounds good, but, kindly study opposite meanings from opposing commentators. So, you are saying I can turn my dead relative, into a Christian? Wow, I am getting baptised each week 20 times, for 20 dead relatives...so they all get to heaven. Well, in one cult, yes- but only of the same gender. Sorry, no dead baptism for male to female or vice versa. That is if you believe that cult, based on this verse. Anyway, I got off track. How can Paul be with them in spirit, if he is not physically there? Did he dissociated his body from soul, and his spirit hovered away, like John Carter…of Mars? Well,, it wouldn’t be right of me to give all the answers. I mean, we must study too. Brining these up to you, may or may not be the right thing at the right time. But then again, “do you understand what you are reading Acts 8: 30b? Grapple with the thoughts. Warning: be careful what your answer is, it could lead you astray.

MCC Admin

13 Kislev 5781