² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. ⁴ As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, ⁵ you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

⁶ For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” ⁷ So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” ⁸ and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

⁹ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Over the past several weeks, I have read this passage probably twenty times or more. Every time, one sentence brings me up short—the end of v. 8. Did you notice it? “They stumble because they disobey the word.” Okay, no problem there. Disobedience leads to stumbling. That makes sense to me. It’s the last phrase that gets me, “as they were destined to do.” Destined to what? Destined to disobey? Destined to stumble?

Here’s the irritating part… Honestly, we don’t know. This is one of those phrases that can be interpreted more than one way. Our theology has a lot to do with how we deal with this. The assumptions we bring to the text tend to determine what we think it means. That’s because “as they were destined” can refer either to stumbling or disobedience. Even scholars who have devoted their life work to understanding verses like this one are pretty evenly divided.

Interpretation boils down to one question: Are you comfortable with the idea that God chooses who will be saved and, in doing so, who will disobey him? To be fair, not all of those who think God chooses who will be saved believe that God chooses who will disobey him. Many predestinarians believe people are disobedient on their own. However, only God can cause people to be obedient and, thus, saved.

Personally, I am not comfortable with the idea that God chooses who will be saved and, at least by implication, who will not. Instead I believe salvation is a result of human choice. So, if anyone is destined—I’ll take up the use of that word in just a moment… If anyone is destined for anything, it’s to stumble; it’s not to be disobedient.

The difference may seem subtle. Neither option is all that great—that people are either destined to stumble or to disobey. Still, I think the difference is important. If Peter is attributing “destined” to stumbling, as I think he is, this passage takes on a different tone. Instead of saying that God makes people stumble or wants people to stumble or intends for people to stumble, Peter is saying that those who disobey Jesus will stumble. God doesn’t make anyone fall. We fall or don’t fall because of our own choices, specifically one choice: What are we doing with Jesus? The living stone that gives us life can also be the stone we stumble over. The difference is based on our choice. And the choice is up to us.

If that’s the case, why is Peter so forceful? Destined is a strong word. I have been reading up on this now for weeks, and I’m not sure why this word is translated as destined in so many of the translations. This word actually means to set, place, or appoint. It’s the same word used in v. 6, “I am laying a stone in Zion.” This paragraph is about the stone God set, or appointed or placed, in Zion. Having discussed it, Peter then talks about those who stumble over the stone and literally says, “to which also they were appointed.” In setting the stone in place, God has, to put it directly, placed it smack in our way, right in the middle of our path. Appointing Jesus as the stone means that some will accept him and others reject him. Two paths have been set, or appointed or placed, before us. As I said earlier, we now have to decide what we’re going to do with the stone.

Paul from I Heart the Mart is coming to Springfield to gather up the items for distribution and a work day on Saturday morning, June 18, which is being organized by KOAM TV in Joplin. We are hoping to send a team from the church as well. If you would like to join the crew, please let us know by contacting the church office or commenting below.

We continue our work packaging meals and shipping them to countries with the greatest need and that need may be Joplin very soon.  I have had several inquiries regarding the victims and recovery of the Joplin Tornado.  We will be ready to ship food to them if and when they can use it.

We are accepting donations for Joplin Tornado Victims via checks dropped off during our packaging sessions or mailed to our PO Box 7108, Springfield, MO 65801 – Please write “JOPLIN” in the memo portion of your check.

We are also collecting items that can be used right now by the people trying to recover from the damage of the storms. We are collecting items such as work gloves, paper towels, plastic trash bags, hygiene products, diapers, wipes, and toilet paper. Please drop off items during our packaging sessions.

Check out their website for information on volunteering tonight and times and days to drop off supplies.

For financial donations, collections are being taken at various banks in town and at Hope Community Church this evening from 5pm to 7pm. You can also text Convoy of Hope at 50555 or the Red Cross at 90999 to donate $10 for Joplin relief. (When giving money, please be cautious and only donate to established and reputable organizations. Unfortunately, there are those who try to take advantage of our good will even in such tragic circumstances.)

One of our church members, who works at OTC, sent me the following from OTC as an opportunity to serve here in Springfield this weekend.

Missouri State University is hosting the 2011 Missouri Special Olympics this Wednesday through Friday.  One of their area offices located in Joplin was totally destroyed and members of their “Special Olympics Missouri Family” are among the fatalities.  Many of their volunteers who were committed to volunteer this week for the Special Olympics are now involved in search and rescue efforts in Joplin and are unable to assist, leaving Special Olympics in need of additional volunteers.

Consider volunteering part of your time over the next three days at the Missouri Special Olympics.  Volunteers are needed Thursday from 7am-4pm and Friday 7:30am-1:30pm. Volunteers can check in at the volunteer services tent located in MSU Parking Lot #22 (Grand in between National and Kings).  No pre-registration is necessary – just show up at the tent and they will assign you a location.

We are also looking at other avenues for support and service. I’ll continue to update this blog as things develop.

Stuff a Truck for Joplin

Midwest Family Radio stations (Q102, 104.7 The Cave, Star 92.9 & 105.1 BOB fm)  need your help loading a Prime Trucking Semi for those in Joplin who lost almost everything in Sunday’s tornado.

We will Stuff the Truck from 7am to 7pm Tuesday in our radio station parking lot in the Food 4 Less shopping center on Battlefield (319 East Battlefield) starting Tuesday till we fill it!

When it’s full, Prime will graciously take it to the Forrest Park Baptist Church in Joplin, a large shelter & distribution spot.

THE ITEMS WE ARE ACCEPTING:

·         Diapers

·         Wipes

·         Clothes

·         Hygiene/toiletry

·         Non perishable food

·         Water – boil order and they need it. Most without electricity to boil even if they have water.

• Hand sanitizer
• Socks & shoes
• Water, water & water

I’m tempted to give more context for this, but it may not be needed. So, I’d prefer to see what you think about it first.

Your thoughts?

If you have seen pictures of Wimber, he looks different here. This is just a couple of years before he passed away and after he lost a lot of weight. According to Carol Wimber, he was so sick, they didn’t even know if he’d be able to do the interview.

I remember there being a bit more to this interview. If anyone knows where I can access the remainder, please let me know.

How do you think Wimber did in answering Jennings’ questions? Does anything in the video make you uncomfortable or nervous? Anything inspire you? What are your thoughts?