Genesis 1:7 || Meditate the Scripture daily verse by verse
Victimization and Abuse
1. Psalm 22, John 1:1-4,10,11
Single Parent’s Retreat, Dec 4, 2010
Stillwood Conference Center
Barry Neufeld
2. 1. People were so wicked that God could have
nothing to do with them.
2. God was holy and he hated sin so much that
he had to punish the sinner.
3. Instead of punishing us for what we deserve,
he decided to punish his own son instead.
4. Once Jesus “took the rap” God could forgive
us,
5. Problem solved: gulf between me and God
now had a bridge. All is joy & happiness!
8. IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word
(Christ), and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God Himself.
John 1: 1 (Amplified Bible)
9. 1-2 God, God...my God! Why did you dump me
miles from nowhere?
Doubled up with pain, I call to God
all the day long. No answer. Nothing.
I keep at it all night, tossing and turning.
3-5And you! Are you indifferent, above it all,
leaning back on the cushions of Israel's
praise?
We know you were there for our parents:
they cried for your help and you gave it;
they trusted and lived a good life.
10. 6-8 And here I am, a nothing—an earthworm,
something to step on, to squash.
Everyone pokes fun at me;
they make faces at me, they shake their heads:
"Let's see how God handles this one;
since God likes him so much, let him help him!"
9-11And to think you were midwife at my birth,
setting me at my mother's breasts!
When I left the womb you cradled me;
since the moment of birth you've been my God.
Then you moved far away
and trouble moved in next door.
I need a neighbor.
11. 12-13 Herds of bulls come at me,
the raging bulls stampede,
Horns lowered, nostrils flaring,
like a herd of buffalo on the move.
14-15 I'm a bucket kicked over and spilled,
every joint in my body has been pulled apart.
My heart is a blob
of melted wax in my gut.
I'm dry as a bone,
my tongue black and swollen.
They have laid me out for burial
in the dirt.
12. 16-18 Now packs of wild dogs come at me;
thugs gang up on me.
They pin me down hand and foot,
and lock me in a cage—a bag
Of bones in a cage, stared at
by every passerby.
They take my wallet and the shirt off my back,
and then throw dice for my clothes.
19-21 You, GOD—don't put off my rescue!
Hurry and help me!
Don't let them cut my throat;
don't let those mongrels devour me.
If you don't show up soon, I'm done for—
gored by the bulls, meat for the lions.
13. 22-24Here's the story I'll tell my friends when
they come to worship, and punctuate it with
Hallelujahs:
Shout Hallelujah, you God-worshipers;
give glory, you sons of Jacob;
adore him, you daughters of Israel.
He has never let you down,
never looked the other way
when you were being kicked around.
He has never wandered off to do his own
thing;
he has been right there, listening.
14. 25-26Here in this great gathering for worship
I have discovered this praise-life.
And I'll do what I promised right here
in front of the God-worshipers.
Down-and-outers sit at GOD's table
and eat their fill.
Everyone on the hunt for God is here, praising him.
"Live it up, from head to toe. Don't ever quit!"
27-28From the four corners of the earth
people are coming to their senses,
are running back to GOD.
Long-lost families
are falling on their faces before him.
GOD has taken charge;
from now on he has the last word.
15. 29 All the power-mongers are before him
—worshiping!
All the poor and powerless, too
—worshiping!
Along with those who never got it together
—worshiping!
30-31Our children and their children
will get in on this
As the word is passed along
from parent to child.
Babies not yet conceived
will hear the good news—
that God does what he says.
(The Message)
16. Jesus is both DIVINE and human. He was there in
the beginning in two ways: He was GOD
ALMIGHTY, but he was also from the "Seed of
David"
Romans 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our
Lord, which was made of the seed of David
according to the flesh;
17. We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of
the Father before all worlds (æons), Light of Light, very God of very
God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father;
by whom all things were made;
Whoo for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and
was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made
man;
he was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was
buried, and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures,
and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father;
from thence he shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the
dead;
whose kingdom shall have no end.
And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from
the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped
and glorified, who spake by the prophets.
In one holy catholic and apostolic Church; we acknowledge one baptism
for the remission of sins
18. we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the
life of the world to come. Amen.
19. No contrary purposes here between GOD and Jesus.
Jesus was with GOD when the world began: HE is
the Creator. Jesus was still with GOD when he
died and rose again.
IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word
(Christ), and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God Himself. He was present originally
with God. All things were made and came into
existence through Him; and without Him was not
even one thing made that has come into being. In
Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men.
John 1:1-4 (Amplified Bible)
20. He came into the world, and though the world
was made through Him, the world did not
recognize Him [did not know Him].
11He came to that which belonged to Him [to
His own--His domain, creation, things, world],
and they who were His own did not receive
Him and did not welcome Him.
John 1:10-11 (Amplified Bible)
21.
22. Gossiping about me
Pokes fun at me
Make faces at me
Shake their heads!
Abandoned by friends
Tortured by enemies
Cheated on by my spouse
Lost my children
Laid off my job
23. Psalm 22
From the four corners of the earth
27-28
people are coming to their senses,
are running back to GOD.
Long-lost families
are falling on their faces before him.
GOD has taken charge;
from now on he has the last word.
24.
25. Psalm 22
22-24 ….
He has never let you down,
never looked the other way
when you were being kicked around.
He has never wandered off to do his own
thing;
he has been right there, listening.
Hinweis der Redaktion
IntroductionWe have all heard the standard Sunday school explanation of the Gospel. 1. People were so wicked that God could have nothing to do with them. 2. God was holy and he hated sin so much that he had to punish the sinner. 3. Instead of punishing us for what we deserve, he decided to punish his own son instead. 4. Once Jesus "took the rap" God could forgive us, 5. Believe that and the problem is solved: the gulf between me and God now had a bridge. My divorceNot much.a God who would kill his own son?
For 25 years professional life, addiction issues, abused children, battered wives, shattered men. lost their marriages children. Victims lost property, health dignity. no idea how to apply the Gospeltangled web of evil forces: controlled by outside forces.ask pastors for advice. –uncomfortable--“I don’t know how you can do that work.” pity. people who had it all together?I thought Jesus came to save the lost! --The sick who needed a physician.25 years in the CJS, shortcomingspunishing people makes worse! GOD was Just and merciful, why punish? Restorative Justice, power of forgiveness change livesCJS is too awkward and clumsy effective in serious cases like murder.
Then I discovered that B.C.'s attorney-general $102.8-million since April 2001 Robert Picton, the Port Coquitlam farmer, pictured, behind bars. Picton admitted 49 murdersAn additional 20 murder charges stayed. Additional RCMP services, which is about $30-million. Taxpayers ¾ million to keep Picton in jail. Something is seriously wrong with what we call justice in Canada. magistrates governed the Church as representatives of Divinely appointed kings. Respect for the Law Courts But today, disillusioned with JusticeThere has to be a better way.forgive people seventy times seven I have to turn the other cheek when they slap me around, then why does there have to be torture and murder before God can forgive me?
Prodigal son was the Father rejoices at the return of wayward sinners, Doesn’t seem to fitwhy didn’t the old man sacrifice the grumpy older brother? I searched for answers and rediscovered an old way of understanding the gospelMy conclusions may sound novel to you, but believe me:1. They are taken directly from the Bible2. I began to learn a this original understanding of the gospel from a Professor at the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Sem
3. Early Church fathers understood the Gospel. For the first 1000 years of Christianity, this is what all Christians believed and what many Christians still believe, so it is nothing new. 1000s Martyrs Were they totally wrong?4. It is going back to the ROOTS of the Early church
The Listener's QuestionIf God is a God of love, why would he arrange to have his own son murdered? Why does he have to punish? take responsibility for my actions, forced and tricked bad choices. I am an unmarried single parent and I am a divorced parent. Is that a bad sin? Is that so bad that God had to allow his son to be tortured and crucified so I could be forgiven?
1. The WORD is Jesus and Jesus is GOD. It was NOT GOD who killed his son. It was GOD HIMSELF on the cross. GOD did not kill himself, Evil, wicked humanskilled Jesus Christ, GOD Almighty.So why did Jesus say when he died:"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?David’s Psalm 22READ THE REST OF THE CHAPTER.NOT take the verse out of context. The Jews knew their scriptures so well that I am SURE they understood he was starting to quote PSALM 22. LET’s read the whole chapter together:
1-2 God, God...my God! Why did you dump me miles from nowhere? Doubled up with pain, I call to God all the day long. No answer. Nothing. I keep at it all night, tossing and turning. 3-5 And you! Are you indifferent, above it all, leaning back on the cushions of Israel's praise? We know you were there for our parents: they cried for your help and you gave it; they trusted and lived a good life.
6-8 And here I am, a nothing—an earthworm, something to step on, to squash. Everyone pokes fun at me; they make faces at me, they shake their heads: "Let's see how God handles this one; since God likes him so much, let him help him!" 9-11 And to think you were midwife at my birth, setting me at my mother's breasts! When I left the womb you cradled me; since the moment of birth you've been my God. Then you moved far away and trouble moved in next door. I need a neighbor.
12-13 Herds of bulls come at me, the raging bulls stampede, Horns lowered, nostrils flaring, like a herd of buffalo on the move. 14-15 I'm a bucket kicked over and spilled, every joint in my body has been pulled apart. My heart is a blob of melted wax in my gut. I'm dry as a bone, my tongue black and swollen. They have laid me out for burial in the dirt.
16-18 Now packs of wild dogs come at me; thugs gang up on me. They pin me down hand and foot, and lock me in a cage—a bag Of bones in a cage, stared at by every passerby. They take my wallet and the shirt off my back, and then throw dice for my clothes. 19-21 You, God—don't put off my rescue! Hurry and help me! Don't let them cut my throat; don't let those mongrels devour me. If you don't show up soon, I'm done for—gored by the bulls, meat for the lions.
22-24 Here's the story I'll tell my friends when they come to worship, and punctuate it with Hallelujahs: Shout Hallelujah, you God-worshipers; give glory, you sons of Jacob; adore him, you daughters of Israel. He has never let you down, never looked the other way when you were being kicked around. He has never wandered off to do his own thing; he has been right there, listening.
25-26 Here in this great gathering for worship I have discovered this praise-life. And I'll do what I promised right here in front of the God-worshipers. Down-and-outers sit at God's table and eat their fill. Everyone on the hunt for God is here, praising him. "Live it up, from head to toe. Don't ever quit!" 27-28 From the four corners of the earth people are coming to their senses, are running back to God. Long-lost families are falling on their faces before him. God has taken charge; from now on he has the last word.
29 All the power-mongers are before him —worshiping! All the poor and powerless, too —worshiping! Along with those who never got it together —worshiping! 30-31 Our children and their children will get in on this As the word is passed along from parent to child. Babies not yet conceived will hear the good news— that God does what he says.
2. Jesus was there in the beginning of timeJesus is both DIVINE and human. there in the beginning in two ways:GOD ALMIGHTY, "Seed of David"Romans 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
The Nicene Creed AD 381We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisibleAnd in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds (æons), Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father;by whom all things were made;Whoo for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man;he was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father;from thence he shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead;whose kingdom shall have no end.And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spake by the prophets.In one holy catholic and apostolic Church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins
we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
3. Jesus was with GODNo contrary purposes here between GOD and Jesus. Jesus united GOD when the world began: Creator. Jesus was still with GOD When he died When rose again.John 1:1-4 IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. (Amplified Bible)
4. Humans did not recognize that Jesus was GODnot recognize didn’t want him to be GOD, so uncomfortable.John 1:10 He came into the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him [did not know Him]. 11He came to that which belonged to Him [to His own--His domain, creation, things, world], and they who were His own did not receive Him and did not welcome Him.
Answer to the Listener's QuestionNOT abandon his SON on the cross. HE was on the CrossProof HE was experiencing what we all feelhard times ---abandoned by friends --- troubled by enemies. GOD fully identified squished out a very tight birth canal (bones bent out of shape.)fear of child abuse? kill them and their family?Herod -- wise men --- soldiers Bethlehem murder innocent babies. flee to Egypt for safety. YOU? Criticized for fleeing to safety?Jesus –God-- understands GOD incarnate – weariness – hunger -- loneliness --faithless friends.…DEATH Everyone experience death. Not looking looking forward family or friends approach death. Not experience. No ideaBUT GOD did. ALL of human life final chapter writingcelebration ceremony all planned.
Application of Insights GainedAbandoned -- spouse or lover Challenge -- a single parent, -- weekend parent, -- devastating.gossiped -- Christians: David Psalm 22. "Everyone pokes fun at me; they make faces at me, they shake their heads: "Let’s see how God handles this one; since God likes him so much, let him help him!" Have you ever felt that way?GOD did!GOD abandoned by friends, -- tortured by his enemies. GOD understands: He said on the cross: I’ve been there, done that. We --had it rough – no one understands victims.Gut GOD went all the way: give me your best shot, your hardest blow: I can take itCrucifixion – cruelest But GOD endured --didn’t stop -- triumphed -- came back.Fixed death: destroyed forever – captain -- winning team.big party celebrate. Read to the end of the chapter! Verse 27-28:
27-28 From the four corners of the earth people are coming to their senses, are running back to God. Long-lost families are falling on their faces before him. God has taken charge; from now on he has the last word.
ConclusionMany Christians are rediscovering the original way of looking at Gospel. God the Father in a different light. a diamond under a different angle of light. --dazzled by new images of beauty. Instead of angry and punishment , -- Loving father prodigal son.Ultimate victim – human cruelty. excruciating pain and the dizziness of loss of blood. to your pain.He understands you — He identifies with you.GOD has abandoned us? He understands Friends have deserted us. Jesus was deserted too.Some times we feel like dying, not sure what happens afterward. By taking the worst GOD destroyed power of death forever. He rose again and that resurrection power is now available to you. Because of Jesus, you too will conquer death and live forever.GOD never abandoned his SON and he won’t abandon you. So why delay? Turn to him now.
Psalm 22 declares: When people really begin to grasp how faithful and dependable God is , they will turn to Him. No place theme of punishment by GOD. Jesus was innocent: It was just senseless cruelty. self righteous Jews and the power hungry Romans who killed GOD’s own son. If anyone is still holding a "smoking gun" at Calvary it is me, not God. I am so like Jews and Romans. GOD wants you to be at the victory celebration at the end of time: "He has never let you down, never looked the other way when you were being kicked around. He has never wandered off to do his own thing; he has been right there, listening to you."