Tag-Archive for » thlipsis «

High Blood Pressure

Saturday, March 17th, 2012 | Author:

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations; knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint . . .  Romans 5:3-5  NASB

Tribulations – Can you think upside-down?  Putting on the “new man” requires more than a change of clothes.  It requires a renewal of the mind.  That means seeing what is happening in the world with different eyes, recognizing the fingerprints of God in places most people attempt to avoid and hearing His voice when the rest of the world is shouting blasphemy.  And it all begins with afflictions.

Paul chooses the Greek word thlipsis.  What a wonderful word!  Here is just a taste of the imagery.

To be pressed – Did you think of discomforting pressure?  In one Greek play, the word means “to kiss.”  But of course it does.  Kissing is pressing the lips together, isn’t it?  Can you imagine that afflictions are God’s kisses?

To squeeze – The sense is making a space smaller and smaller.  Is your world being compressed?  But don’t forget the other picture.  The narrow gate is the only way into the Kingdom.  Have you thought of afflictions as signposts on the way to the narrow gate?

To oppress – Greek philosophy taught that the last great oppression is death, and that the goal of Mankind is to assert freedom through stoic endurance, to die as we choose.  But the Hebrew word for oppression, anaw, is a powerful sign of those whom God loves beyond measure.  It is at the heart of the third Beatitude (Matthew 5:5 quoting Psalm 37:11).  The ones who experience forced oppression have a guarantee from God.  Did you realize that your affliction as one of the saints is God’s seal of your worthiness in the olam ha’ba?

To be treated hostilely, as an enemy – Are your tribulations separating you from others?  Are one-time friends estranged because you follow the King?  Are you the outsider these days?  Those painful experiences connect us with another double meaning.  The mark of agape is the love of an enemy, and how will we learn such love if we are always among friends?  Do you experience your afflictions as God’s training camp in agape?

How you understand and deal with afflictions probably says more about who you are in Christ than any other living statement you could make.  Are your afflictions the highlights of your witness to the world?

Just a few thoughts about “the fellowship of His suffering.”

Topical Index:  thlipsis, afflictions, honor, oppression, anaw, Romans 5:3

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The REVISED Winepress

Sunday, September 18th, 2011 | Author:

On September 11, we looked at John 16:33, the well-known verse about having trouble in the world.  I said that since Yeshua spoke Hebrew, not Greek, we should look at the Hebrew word behind the Greek text.  The Greek is thlipsis.  I incorrectly stated that the Hebrew word is the Delitzsch gospel was ‘arah.  Fortunately, Andre Roosma caught my mistake.  I misread the Hebrew Tsade as an Aleph.  The correct word in Hebrew should be tsarah, not ‘arah.  Tsarah means “enemy, rival, distress,” so it is certainly in alignment with thlipsis, but this means the suggestion that Yeshua was taking about being poured out isn’t correct.  Too bad because it is a nice nuance on the meaning of having trouble.

Thank Andre for keeping my eyes on the text.

Now I will have to rewrite the Today’s Word about John 16:33

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The Winepress

Sunday, September 11th, 2011 | Author:

“You have trouble in the world, but let your heart be brave; I have overcome the world.  John 16:33  Delitzsch Hebrew Gospels

Trouble – Look, I don’t want any more trouble.  I’ve had enough.  I’m tired of the “my fair share” politics and the “everyone has to sacrifice” social correctness.  So  I’m not happy with Yeshua’s pronouncement of impending (and continuing) distress in life.  I need a vacation.  Maybe you do too.

Is there really enough reward on the other side to keep us going day-after-day in the treadmill of life?  Do we really have to have all these trials in order for God to finally say, “Now I know you love Me”?  Frankly, while I might intellectually understand the concept of future reward, it often doesn’t feel like it’s worth it.  If the truth be told, I am often afraid to make a deeper commitment because I expect that deeper commitments will bring more suffering.  Job reminds me that I want to stay under the radar.  What good is it to have God extol my righteousness if it results in personal disaster?

The Greek version of this verse uses the word thlipsis for “trouble.”  That word is about tribulation and affliction.  It comes from a root meaning “to crush, to press, to break.”  Not exactly appealing.  Nevertheless, it seems an accurate description of a good deal of life.  Scattered joy and victory between the pages of silence and stress.  It’s hard to be Braveheart when the end is dissection by quartering.  Maybe the only reward is to die courageously.  But that doesn’t seem to be what Yeshua is suggesting.  A look at the Hebrew helps us.

The Delitzsch reconstruction of the text in Hebrew uses the word tsarah.  Tsarah means both a rival (a threatening enemy), and a time of extreme affliction or stress.  Perhaps both nuances are needed to understand Yeshua’s statement.  In the world followers of the King will experience stress.  The paradigm of the world opposes God’s righteousness.  In addition, we will face the enemy, the one who is a threatening source of despair, whether we find him in other human beings or in the person of ha-satan.  Since Yeshua spoke Hebrew, not Greek, perhaps we need to revise our thinking about His statement. It is certainly true that those who seek the Lord encounter hostility, but the emphasis in this statement is the fact that all hostility has been overcome.  The focus is eschatological.  Righteousness will prevail.  We might not see it in our span of years, but it is guaranteed by the life, death and resurrection of the Son.  Yeshua exhorts us to look beyond the immediate and realize that we are on the winning side.   We are encouraged to live within the context of victory.  We are asked to conform our lives to the inevitable result.

Maybe Yeshua meant something a bit different than days of ‘atsav (sorrow).  Maybe He was talking about reversing the results of the Fall.  What would life be like if we took up this challenge instead of bewailing expected strife?

Topical Index:  thlipsis, trouble, tsarah, John 16:33

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Understanding the Paradigm: Inevitable Consequences

Monday, January 07th, 2008 | Author:

“In this world you have affliction” John 16:33

If you knew the whole picture, you might change your mind.

Christianity as commonly presented in the Western world is a religion of reward.  We hear about the blessings of being a Christian.  We are exhorted to enter into the abundant life, to experience God’s gracious provision, to be successful examples of purposeful living.  We parade our own versions of celebrities before fawning audiences.  Admired, powerful, important, perhaps wealthy, we hold these men and women up as shining symbols of the full Christian life.  Now, I ask you, who wouldn’t want to be a Christian like that? All that life has to offer here.  Then you die and get even more in heaven.

But this doesn’t seem to be Jesus’ point of view.

“In this world you have thlipsis“, says Jesus.  The Greek word means crushing, back breaking, heart stopping affliction.  It’s trouble with a capital T.  It’s the squeeze when you are caught in the vise grip of circumstances that don’t go your way.  Thlipsis is a scary word.  It brings on images of pressure, evils, distress and calamity.  It’s the boxed in, no exit loss that Job knew only too well.  Jesus says that you (plural – meaning all of his followers) are going to have the privilege of experiencing Job’s encounter with the devil.  As a follower of the Way, you are in for the ride of your life – and it’s not going to be fun and games.  Remember what Jesus said to Peter.  “Satan has asked permission to sift you like wheat.”  That is not good news.

Please notice that Jesus does not say, “Some of you will have a few hard times”.  Notice that Jesus considers thlipsis to be the inevitable consequence of discipleship.  This is not optional.  It is to be expected.  If you are following Him, you are at war with the world and the world will come after you with all that it can muster.  Don’t spiritualize this.  Jesus doesn’t say that you will have spiritual persecution.  He doesn’t restrict the agony to just being religiously mistreated.  The world is your enemy and it will use anything possible to break your hold on God’s way of life.  Just ask Job.

This is not the “gospel” we hear from pulpits today.  No wonder.  Who would sign up for a life of hardship and crushing distress?  Most pastors are quite aware of the detrimental effect that such teaching would have on attendance.  So, we give the more accommodating version, the one where being a Christian is really nothing more than a better plan for personal success and happiness.  We preach the gospel of the really good news – you can have God’s help to make everything fabulous.  Just settle the eternity issue and let God give you the life you always wanted here and now.

Of course, Jesus’ point of view is shocking.  You were not designed for satisfaction here and now.  This world is not the place where you will find your true destiny.  As James Bond said, “The world is not enough.”  God made you for eternal purposes.  If you fix your attention on fulfillment here and now, you never understood the paradigm.  If you thought that God would reshape a world antagonistic to His holiness so that you would discover tranquility and success on this side of the grave, you have been duped.  The world is your enemy.  Did you imagine that the enemy would grant you God’s  desires?

Jesus’ point of view is radically different.  In this world, in the world at war with God, you are going to be treated like an enemy combatant.  You can expect to be shot at, ambushed, betrayed, bombed, strafed, wounded and blitzed.  That’s what it means to be at war.  Whenever you discover that you have set your agenda on finding a nice peaceful hide-away in this world, you are moving across enemy lines.  God is not interested in making peace with the world.  If you live with the goal of finding peace and harmony in this world, you are not on the track God is taking.  If all you want is “a little peace of mind” (thank you, John and Paul), then your attempt to find inner tranquility will only be one more stop on the journey to emptiness.  God designed you for deliberate holy restlessness.  Only He can fill the bill.  And if you thought that His intention was to give you heaven on earth, you never understood what heaven really is.

Wait!  Don’t despair!  Jesus has one more vital piece of intelligence to offer you in this battle.  He has overcome the world!  It is not possible to escape thlipsis – crushing affliction – in this world, but it is absolutely certain that you can have peace in the midst of the battle.  Jesus promises peace.  Why?  Because the world has been defeated.  Jesus has overcome the world.  It is no longer the last word on the subject.  It will no longer hold its prisoners captive.  No matter how bloodied you are in this battle, you win.  Even if you die, you win!  Nothing can prevent you from reaching your God-determined destiny and purpose because He will gather you to Himself after the battle is done.  You will find your reward, not here, not now, but with Him.

Shift!  Stop being seduced by the false gospel of earthly gain.  Take up your armor and fight!  This world is not your home.

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