Bionic man / Carol comfort / Holiday (alcoholic) cheer? / Help wanted

Author

Douglas Jacoby
December 11, 2024

Good morning from Atlanta!

First off, thanks to everyone for your prayers and notes concerning my surgery. I’d had that knee for 65 years, and was quite fond of it. But soon I’ll have some huge advantages: the ability to bend my leg all the way back, like a sprinter warming up; even better, being partially bionic, I can tease my non-bionic (fully human) friends; and of course the certainty (all guesswork removed) that I will always set off the alarm at airport walk-through metal detectors.

 

Levity aside, we hope you’ve been enjoying the daily Christmas Carol devotionals. For many, these are a nice variation on the typical morning “quiet time.” In today’s bulletin we also consider the matter of alcohol, with a nuanced guest article by Wayne Grudem. This should be a seasonally relevant piece. We’re also wrapping up our observations on Volume 1 of the Ante-Nicene Fathers. As always, these ancient writers are full of faith, suggestions, and (sometimes) surprises. Last, we ask you to consider making an end-of-year donation.

Christmas Carol Comfort

If you haven’t had a chance to be inspired by our Carol series, it’s easy to access (and free). For the YouTube series. click here. Special speakers for the daily Advent Carol reflections so far are:

I’ve watched every one of my fellow speakers. These brothers and sisters talks’ are well done, and informative—and lift our spirits! Currently over 2000 are following our series.

Should Christians
Practice Total Abstinence from Alcoholic Beverages?

Article by Wayne Grudem

This is a personal question, and the answer will vary from individual to individual. It will depend in part on knowing one’s self, one’s personal history, one’s family history, and one’s cultural context. Many people who have come to realize that they are alcoholics find that they must practice total abstinence in order to avoid being drunk again. One of these people is former President George W. Bush, who quit drinking at the age of 40 and has not touched a drop of alcohol since 1986.

Others practice total abstinence because they have seen alcohol addiction destroy some member of their family.

Many people in positions of Christian leadership (such as many pastors) practice total abstinence because they do not want their example to lead others astray into harmful patterns of conduct.

But many other Christians drink alcoholic beverages in moderation and have never been drunk or even close to drunk. Because the Bible does not prohibit all use of alcoholic beverages, my view is that they have the freedom to do this.

KEEP READING systematic theologian Wayne Grudem’s article.

Note: during recovery from surgery, I am abstaining, as this promotes faster recovery.

The Giving Season & Our $hortfall

Our projected shortfall this year is significant. This is somewhat to be expected—it’s a tough economy in many countries. There have also been numerous rumors circulating about the ministry, which have caused an erosion of trust in some circles. So anything you are able to donate will make a difference. Thanks for your support for IBTM.

TRAINING—Over $75,000 still needed
TEACHING Fund—Nearly $50,000 still needed
NEPAL school (winter clothes, heaters, teacher’s salary)—$3500 still needed
MATERIALS: ASIA—Sri Lanka—$1747, Bangladesh—$500, Philippines—$484, Jordan—$418, Pakistan—$68
MATERIALS AFRICA—Nigeria (Lagos)—$733, Nigeria (Jos)—$675, Uganda (Kampala)—$346
FUTURE—Burundi—$500, Kenya—$1000, Underground Asia—$500

Please reply to this bulletin if you decide to donate at the site, indicating how your gift is to be applied.

Early Christian Writings (19)

Irenaeus Against Heresies, Book V

Today’s excerpts should challenge the common notion that we proceed directly to heaven or hell at the point of death.

  • Will our bodies still be resurrected if they have been destroyed—cremated, eaten by sharks, etc? This is a question pondered by ancients and moderns alike. Irenaeus: “And surely it is much more difficult and incredible, from non-existent bones, and nerves, and veins, and the rest of man’s constitution, to bring it about that all this should be, and to make man an animated and rational creature, than to reintegrate again that which had been created and then afterwards decomposed into earth…” (iii.2).

  • “… The elders who were disciples of the apostles tell us that those who were translated were transferred to that place [the Garden of Eden] (for paradise has been prepared for righteous men, such as have the Spirit; in which also Paul the apostle, when he was caught up, heard words which are unspeakable as regards us in our present condition), and that there shall they who have been translated remain until the consummation [of all things], as prelude to immortality” (v.1). In other words, no one at death goes directly to heaven, but rather to some intermediate state.

  • “As our master, therefore, did not at once depart, taking flight [to heaven], but awaited the time of his resurrection prescribed by the Father… so ought we also to await the time of our resurrection prescribed by God and foretold by the prophets, and so, rising, be taken up, as many as the Lord shall account worthy of this [privilege]” (xxx.2).

  • The heretics, however, affirm that immediately after death they ascent above the heavens (bypassing the resurrection), going directly to the Mother or the Father (xxx.1). KEEP READING

This is the end of my comments on Volume 1 of the Ante-Nicene Fathers. I’ll tackle Volume 2 in spring 2025. There is so much to learn from church history! Thanks for your interest in this important material for understanding early Christianity.

Access all 19 units here.

Goodbye for now!

Again, thanks for your support!—D.J.

Next week: 
- The Nativity: Fact or Fairytale?
- Gift subscriptions available for the website.
- More carols.
- Special thanks to ministry supporters.

Happy Holidays!