Monthly Archives: March 2018

Baptist

Women Leaders Baptist World Aid

by Stephanie Dobbin

In January, I was privileged to host the third annual Baptist World Aid Women in Leadership trip. This year, the trip took us to Bangladesh and was attended by eight incredible leaders of Australian Christian women.

I count it such an honour to travel with these amazing ladies, all of whom have platforms to influence and inspire our Christian community across the nation – so, even though I’m the one “leading” the trip, I’m always very aware of the company I’m keeping.

When it comes to discussing difficult topics, like understanding God and suffering, I have to be honest… I feel very under equipped to lead these ladies in that space!

But I think that’s the value that they bring to these trips themselves… and, for me, sitting under their leadership is always one of my favourite parts of our travels together.

But the thing which seems to resonate the most for me every year, is that moment when these leaders – these women – begin to see some of themselves in the stories they are told in community.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my time here at Baptist World Aid, it’s that we are not so very different from one another… and it’s a real joy to witness the women that I travel with discover the same thing.

That moment of shared commonality could be as simple as the number of children that they have, or as important and undefinable as the love they feel for their family. Whatever it might be, that shared understanding always deepens the impact of the next, inevitable realisation:

These women are just like us. They’re poor through no fault of their own. It’s simply the circumstance they were born into.

Baptist World Aid is so fortunate in its partnership with the national Baptist Women ministry.

Every year, Baptist Women uses its women’s conference platform to fundraise and bless vulnerable mums and their precious children living in poverty… and it’s making a real difference!

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and burdened by the complexities and challenges of the stories we hear, but hope in those same stories is also incredibly encouraging… take Mossammot, for example.

Mossammot was married as a little girl. Heartbreakingly, a generation later, her elder daughters also suffered the same fate… but when she became involved in a project generously supported by loving women, here in Australia, she learned the importance of keeping her youngest girl in school.

Now she is determined to make sure that little *Anbini will never know the same horror of becoming a child bride!

I walked away from the Women in Leadership trip feeling hopeful for the future of these women, their children, and their communities… and incredibly thankful for our partnership with Baptist Women, which is helping make this work possible!

So many of the women we met on our trip had been robbed of their childhood when poverty forced them to become child brides… but thanks to the loving support of women, here in Australia, their daughters will never have to.

To find out more about the work supported each year by Baptist Women, or to give to this work yourself, go to: baptistworldaid.org.au/vulnerable-children-fund.

Source: BUV News

Baptist, News

Women Leaders Baptist World Aid

by Stephanie Dobbin

In January, I was privileged to host the third annual Baptist World Aid Women in Leadership trip. This year, the trip took us to Bangladesh and was attended by eight incredible leaders of Australian Christian women.

I count it such an honour to travel with these amazing ladies, all of whom have platforms to influence and inspire our Christian community across the nation – so, even though I’m the one “leading” the trip, I’m always very aware of the company I’m keeping.

When it comes to discussing difficult topics, like understanding God and suffering, I have to be honest… I feel very under equipped to lead these ladies in that space!

But I think that’s the value that they bring to these trips themselves… and, for me, sitting under their leadership is always one of my favourite parts of our travels together.

But the thing which seems to resonate the most for me every year, is that moment when these leaders – these women – begin to see some of themselves in the stories they are told in community.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my time here at Baptist World Aid, it’s that we are not so very different from one another… and it’s a real joy to witness the women that I travel with discover the same thing.

That moment of shared commonality could be as simple as the number of children that they have, or as important and undefinable as the love they feel for their family. Whatever it might be, that shared understanding always deepens the impact of the next, inevitable realisation:

These women are just like us. They’re poor through no fault of their own. It’s simply the circumstance they were born into.

Baptist World Aid is so fortunate in its partnership with the national Baptist Women ministry.

Every year, Baptist Women uses its women’s conference platform to fundraise and bless vulnerable mums and their precious children living in poverty… and it’s making a real difference!

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and burdened by the complexities and challenges of the stories we hear, but hope in those same stories is also incredibly encouraging… take Mossammot, for example.

Mossammot was married as a little girl. Heartbreakingly, a generation later, her elder daughters also suffered the same fate… but when she became involved in a project generously supported by loving women, here in Australia, she learned the importance of keeping her youngest girl in school.

Now she is determined to make sure that little *Anbini will never know the same horror of becoming a child bride!

I walked away from the Women in Leadership trip feeling hopeful for the future of these women, their children, and their communities… and incredibly thankful for our partnership with Baptist Women, which is helping make this work possible!

So many of the women we met on our trip had been robbed of their childhood when poverty forced them to become child brides… but thanks to the loving support of women, here in Australia, their daughters will never have to.

To find out more about the work supported each year by Baptist Women, or to give to this work yourself, go to: baptistworldaid.org.au/vulnerable-children-fund.

Baptist, News

Meeting the Challenge of Church Finance & Admin Support

The BUV has assisted churches with financial and administrative information for many years

As regulations become more complicated and non-compliance has greater consequences, our BUV is helping churches become more proactive

In February 2018 the BUV employed Andrew North to be the first point of contact with churches in matters of business and finance

Andrew has an Accounting background, and has worked on school and church executive teams as both Administrator and Business Manager and has been using Excel and small business financial packages since they were invented!

He has a lifetime in Baptist Churches and been on the BUV Audit and Risk Committee from 2013 to 2018

The BUV has no intent to impose methods and regulations on churches, but can guide and provide support in the following areas:

  • Accounting & Finance information and training
  • ACNC registration and compliance
  • Tax – BAS, GST, PAYG, FBT
  • Information about the BUV and services offered
  • Good governance guidance
  • Payroll transactions advice (incl. super, LSL, PAYG and exempt benefits)
  • Mandatory reporting and best practice reporting
  • Help with software implementation and training
  • Policy guidance
  • Resources

Much of the Financial Consultant services will be provided to the churches at no cost. If the services are of a more ongoing nature a fee plan will be discussed

Church Treasurers are not always Accountants and even if they are they shouldn’t have to start from scratch when they take on the role.

If our BUV office team can be of assistance please contact Andrew at andrew.north@buv.com.au

 

Baptist

Meeting the Challenge of Church Finance & Admin Support

The BUV has assisted churches with financial and administrative information for many years

As regulations become more complicated and non-compliance has greater consequences, our BUV is helping churches become more proactive

In February 2018 the BUV employed Andrew North to be the first point of contact with churches in matters of business and finance

Andrew has an Accounting background, and has worked on school and church executive teams as both Administrator and Business Manager and has been using Excel and small business financial packages since they were invented!

He has a lifetime in Baptist Churches and been on the BUV Audit and Risk Committee from 2013 to 2018

The BUV has no intent to impose methods and regulations on churches, but can guide and provide support in the following areas:

  • Accounting & Finance information and training
  • ACNC registration and compliance
  • Tax – BAS, GST, PAYG, FBT
  • Information about the BUV and services offered
  • Good governance guidance
  • Payroll transactions advice (incl. super, LSL, PAYG and exempt benefits)
  • Mandatory reporting and best practice reporting
  • Help with software implementation and training
  • Policy guidance
  • Resources

Much of the Financial Consultant services will be provided to the churches at no cost. If the services are of a more ongoing nature a fee plan will be discussed

Church Treasurers are not always Accountants and even if they are they shouldn’t have to start from scratch when they take on the role.

If our BUV office team can be of assistance please contact Andrew at andrew.north@buv.com.au

 

Source: BUV News

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

CULTURE WAR PART 05: A HANDY COMPARATIVE GUIDE BETWEEN PROGRESSIVES & CONSERVATIVES

Progressivism (P) Vs. Conservatism (C)
When you understand a problem, you are halfway towards a solution!
As we have learned, there are two sides of the on-going, half-century old ‘culture war:’ The left-leaning secular progressives (sometimes called ‘liberals’), versus the right-leaning traditional values conservative (also known as ‘social conservatives’). The secular progressives dominate our political parties, mainstream media, academia, big business, some parts of the judiciary, and the entertainment industry. Many mainstream people and some cultural leaders subscribe, at least in part, to the traditional values side.
This handy guide will help distinguish between progressives (P) and conservatives (C).
1. Worldview
P: Concerned with economic material side of man;
C: Concerned with the entire person, including moral & spiritual.
2. Identity
P: Identity Politics;
C: Character (Martin Luther King Jr., in his epic 1963 speech, I Have A Dream, said he wanted his children to be judged by content of their character, not the colour of their skin).
3. Size of Government
P: Large government is the solution (Obama);
C: Large government is the problem (Reagan).
4. Human Nature
P: Human nature is good;
C: Human nature is good & evil, hence the need for ‘checks’ and ‘balances’ in government.
5. Issues of Life & Death
P: Supports abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide;
C: Thoroughly pro-life.
6. Attitude towards Change
P: Change for change’s sake;
C: Only change for the better will do.
7. Immigration
P: Believes in open door, unfettered migration. Borderless;
C: Believes in sustainable, controlled migration. Borders matter.
8. Definition & Redefinition
P: Everything is subject to redefinition, including time-honoured things like marriage, family, gender, mother & father, husband & wife;
C: Prove all things; hold fast to what is good
9. Multiculturalism
P: Multiculturalism: All cultures are equally benign, beneficial, and no culture is superior to any other. Integration into the new country is not encouraged;
C: Melting Pot: Migrants blend into the culture where they now reside. Some cultures are better than others, otherwise, immigration would be two-way traffic between main cultures.
10. Gender
P: Transgenderism: Gender is a social construct, changeable and fluid;
C: Male & female: gender is fixed.
11. Definition of Marriage
P: Marriage redefinition;
C: Marriage integrity. Retains traditional definition.
12. Attitudes towards Wealth
P: Wealth redistribution (Obama: spread the wealth around);
C: Wealth creation
13. Religion & Conscience
P: Freedom of worship (you are free to do as you like only in your home and house of worship);
C: Freedom of religion & conscience (you are free to express and live your convictions, publicly and privately).
14. Freedom of Speech
P: Controlled speech: including political correctness, self-censorship, hate speech legislation, sensitivity lessons;
C: Freedom of speech.
15. Government Regulations
P: Regulations are important;
C: Cut the red-tape, unshackle the economy.
16. Liberalism
P: New ‘liberalism’ where ‘equality is everything’ and the individual’s rights more important than community welfare;
C: Classic liberalism: open to other views, values individualism, freedom and human rights.
17. Welfare vs. Charity
P: Believes in an expansive (and very costly) welfare state;
C: Private charity, family support, and individual responsibility.
18. Interpretation of Key Texts
P: Deconstruction;
C: Let the text speak for itself.
19. Judeo-Christian Morals, Values, Ethics
P: Rejects or minimises Judeo-Christian ethics, values, and morality;
C: Upholds the values of Judeo-Christianity.
20. Social Justice
P: Social justice, which includes radical politics and income redistribution;
C: Justice: rewarding the righteous and punishing the wicked.
21. Palestine & Israel
P: Supports Palestine (and hard-left supports radical Islam);
C: Supports Israel. Some can also simultaneously care for Palestinians.
22. Victimhood
P: Focus on victimhood;
C: Focus on victory.
23. Equality
P: Equality of outcomes;
C: Equality of opportunity.
24. Beneficiaries of the System
P: Central planners, bureaucrats & welfare recipients benefit;
C: Innovative, hard-working people and society as a whole benefit.
25. Coercion vs. Cooperation
P: Coercive; cooperation is not optional when enacting the progressive agenda;
C: Cooperative.
26. The Narrative
P: The narrative matters – no matter what is the reality or truth;
C: The truth matters – no matter what is the narrative
27. Marriage & Family
P: Marriage & family are lifestyle options;
C: Marriage & family is the building block of a sound, solid society: a duty and delight.
28. Affirmative Action
P: Believes AA levels the playing field and brings equality;
C: See AA as state sanctioned (reverse) racial discrimination, counterproductive.
29. Wealth
P: Social injustice;
C: Reward for enterprise and/or hard work.
30. Wealth Redistribution
P: Social justice;
C: Theft.
31. Human Condition
P: Views people as ‘have’s’ and ‘have nots;’
C: Views people as ‘cans’ and ‘cannots’ and ‘wills’ and ‘will not.’
32. Attitude to Goodness
P: Likes to ‘feel good’ regarding a particular action;
C: Wants to ‘do good’ and ‘be good’ regarding a particular action.
33. Religious Liberty
P: Takes second place to anti-discrimination;
C: Fundamental to freedom and must be fully preserved.
34. Purpose of Government
P: Give fairness of outcomes; bestows human rights; take care of our needs;
C: Life, liberty, and property; infrastructure and defence.
QUOTES TO PONDER
Equality/Inequality: ’The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal’ – Aristotle
Deficits: ’We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much’ — Ronald Reagan
Capitalism vs. Socialism: ’The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries’ – Winston Churchill
Social Justice: ’The idea of social justice, as Friedrich Hayek observed long ago, is a mirage, a social fiction of the left. There is no ‘society’ that distributes income unfairly, and no ‘society’ that could make the distribution just. Social justice is the rationale for a political elite to appropriate what others have earned and distribute it to their own constituencies to increase their power’ – David Horowitz
‘The Strange Age?’ Consider the following:
•Good is called evil and evil is called good;
•The exception is the rule;
•Fantasy is chosen over facts;
•Rhetoric is deemed more valuable than reality;
•Charisma is cherished more than character;
•Style is preferred over substance;
•Minority rules – and to hell with the welfare of the majority;
•Individual rights trump community welfare;
•The abnormal is declared normal and normal is treated like a disease;
•Intolerance has now become the ‘new tolerance’ & classic tolerance is relegated to the museum;
•Nonsense is now the new ‘common sense,’ while true ‘common sense’ is beaten senseless, survives on a life-support machine, and the knob is about to be turned off.

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

CULTURE WAR PART 05: A HANDY COMPARATIVE GUIDE BETWEEN PROGRESSIVES & CONSERVATIVES

Progressivism (P) Vs. Conservatism (C)
When you understand a problem, you are halfway towards a solution!
As we have learned, there are two sides of the on-going, half-century old ‘culture war:’ The left-leaning secular progressives (sometimes called ‘liberals’), versus the right-leaning traditional values conservative (also known as ‘social conservatives’). The secular progressives dominate our political parties, mainstream media, academia, big business, some parts of the judiciary, and the entertainment industry. Many mainstream people and some cultural leaders subscribe, at least in part, to the traditional values side.
This handy guide will help distinguish between progressives (P) and conservatives (C).
1. Worldview
P: Concerned with economic material side of man;
C: Concerned with the entire person, including moral & spiritual.
2. Identity
P: Identity Politics;
C: Character (Martin Luther King Jr., in his epic 1963 speech, I Have A Dream, said he wanted his children to be judged by content of their character, not the colour of their skin).
3. Size of Government
P: Large government is the solution (Obama);
C: Large government is the problem (Reagan).
4. Human Nature
P: Human nature is good;
C: Human nature is good & evil, hence the need for ‘checks’ and ‘balances’ in government.
5. Issues of Life & Death
P: Supports abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide;
C: Thoroughly pro-life.
6. Attitude towards Change
P: Change for change’s sake;
C: Only change for the better will do.
7. Immigration
P: Believes in open door, unfettered migration. Borderless;
C: Believes in sustainable, controlled migration. Borders matter.
8. Definition & Redefinition
P: Everything is subject to redefinition, including time-honoured things like marriage, family, gender, mother & father, husband & wife;
C: Prove all things; hold fast to what is good
9. Multiculturalism
P: Multiculturalism: All cultures are equally benign, beneficial, and no culture is superior to any other. Integration into the new country is not encouraged;
C: Melting Pot: Migrants blend into the culture where they now reside. Some cultures are better than others, otherwise, immigration would be two-way traffic between main cultures.
10. Gender
P: Transgenderism: Gender is a social construct, changeable and fluid;
C: Male & female: gender is fixed.
11. Definition of Marriage
P: Marriage redefinition;
C: Marriage integrity. Retains traditional definition.
12. Attitudes towards Wealth
P: Wealth redistribution (Obama: spread the wealth around);
C: Wealth creation
13. Religion & Conscience
P: Freedom of worship (you are free to do as you like only in your home and house of worship);
C: Freedom of religion & conscience (you are free to express and live your convictions, publicly and privately).
14. Freedom of Speech
P: Controlled speech: including political correctness, self-censorship, hate speech legislation, sensitivity lessons;
C: Freedom of speech.
15. Government Regulations
P: Regulations are important;
C: Cut the red-tape, unshackle the economy.
16. Liberalism
P: New ‘liberalism’ where ‘equality is everything’ and the individual’s rights more important than community welfare;
C: Classic liberalism: open to other views, values individualism, freedom and human rights.
17. Welfare vs. Charity
P: Believes in an expansive (and very costly) welfare state;
C: Private charity, family support, and individual responsibility.
18. Interpretation of Key Texts
P: Deconstruction;
C: Let the text speak for itself.
19. Judeo-Christian Morals, Values, Ethics
P: Rejects or minimises Judeo-Christian ethics, values, and morality;
C: Upholds the values of Judeo-Christianity.
20. Social Justice
P: Social justice, which includes radical politics and income redistribution;
C: Justice: rewarding the righteous and punishing the wicked.
21. Palestine & Israel
P: Supports Palestine (and hard-left supports radical Islam);
C: Supports Israel. Some can also simultaneously care for Palestinians.
22. Victimhood
P: Focus on victimhood;
C: Focus on victory.
23. Equality
P: Equality of outcomes;
C: Equality of opportunity.
24. Beneficiaries of the System
P: Central planners, bureaucrats & welfare recipients benefit;
C: Innovative, hard-working people and society as a whole benefit.
25. Coercion vs. Cooperation
P: Coercive; cooperation is not optional when enacting the progressive agenda;
C: Cooperative.
26. The Narrative
P: The narrative matters – no matter what is the reality or truth;
C: The truth matters – no matter what is the narrative
27. Marriage & Family
P: Marriage & family are lifestyle options;
C: Marriage & family is the building block of a sound, solid society: a duty and delight.
28. Affirmative Action
P: Believes AA levels the playing field and brings equality;
C: See AA as state sanctioned (reverse) racial discrimination, counterproductive.
29. Wealth
P: Social injustice;
C: Reward for enterprise and/or hard work.
30. Wealth Redistribution
P: Social justice;
C: Theft.
31. Human Condition
P: Views people as ‘have’s’ and ‘have nots;’
C: Views people as ‘cans’ and ‘cannots’ and ‘wills’ and ‘will not.’
32. Attitude to Goodness
P: Likes to ‘feel good’ regarding a particular action;
C: Wants to ‘do good’ and ‘be good’ regarding a particular action.
33. Religious Liberty
P: Takes second place to anti-discrimination;
C: Fundamental to freedom and must be fully preserved.
34. Purpose of Government
P: Give fairness of outcomes; bestows human rights; take care of our needs;
C: Life, liberty, and property; infrastructure and defence.
QUOTES TO PONDER
Equality/Inequality: ’The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal’ – Aristotle
Deficits: ’We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much’ — Ronald Reagan
Capitalism vs. Socialism: ’The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries’ – Winston Churchill
Social Justice: ’The idea of social justice, as Friedrich Hayek observed long ago, is a mirage, a social fiction of the left. There is no ‘society’ that distributes income unfairly, and no ‘society’ that could make the distribution just. Social justice is the rationale for a political elite to appropriate what others have earned and distribute it to their own constituencies to increase their power’ – David Horowitz
‘The Strange Age?’ Consider the following:
•Good is called evil and evil is called good;
•The exception is the rule;
•Fantasy is chosen over facts;
•Rhetoric is deemed more valuable than reality;
•Charisma is cherished more than character;
•Style is preferred over substance;
•Minority rules – and to hell with the welfare of the majority;
•Individual rights trump community welfare;
•The abnormal is declared normal and normal is treated like a disease;
•Intolerance has now become the ‘new tolerance’ & classic tolerance is relegated to the museum;
•Nonsense is now the new ‘common sense,’ while true ‘common sense’ is beaten senseless, survives on a life-support machine, and the knob is about to be turned off.

Articles, Bible, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Is Life in Vain? Why Study the Book of Ecclesiastes

One respected conservative scholar called the ‘strangest book in the Bible.’ It speaks in terms that are high and low, mostly the latter. Written by an older man who ‘had it all,’ made some bad moves, and now speaks as one who is in the depths of depression. It’s famous phrase is vanity of vanities, all is vanity? Is this really the case?
Vanity: def. futile, lost, a waste of time, worthless
The book in question is called Ecclesiastes and it is part of the Bible’s wisdom literature. Perhaps the best way to understand this book is to remember that it is describing life ‘under the sun,’ a phrase used 27 times and apparently no where else in Scripture. Life ‘under the sun’ is talking about natural, carnal living in a fallen world; this is the antithesis of a born-again, fruit-bearing, Spirit-filled life.
If a person’s perspective is 100% under the sun, in the natural, valuing the things of the world, and not living though to the Almighty, the transcendent, then our future will not just be vain, but eternally lost.
It is of interest how many of the philosophies of today’s world have some sort of reflection in Ecclesiastes. These include:
Pessimism: Things will definitely get worse;
Hedonism: Living for the moment in pleasure, often excessively so;
Existentialism: Living for the moment because tomorrow may not come;
Cynicism: A deep distrust of human nature to the point that even the good is not as good as it seems;
Chauvinism: One group thinks and acts as if they are better than another;
Fatalism: It is as it is, you cannot change it. ‘The stars’ have determined it.
All of this is the world’s wisdom ‘under the sun.’ Unless the God-element is introduced, it will all be vain. The author of Ecclesiastes ought to know.
HEBREW NAME FOR ECCLESIASTES
The Hebrew name for Ecclesiastes is qoheleth ‘a preacher,’ one who speaks to a congregation. Can also be likened to the speaker in a house of parliament or congress. In the Septuagint (LXX), the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, the word is ekklesiastes (preacher) from ekklesia ‘assembly, congregation.’ The name Ecclesiastes comes from the Latin and is about a ‘speaker before the assembly.’
AUTHOR OF THE ECCLESIASTES
Not explicitly mentioned but answer the following questions:
1.   The author was ‘the son of David’ (1:1);
2.   He was ‘king over Israel in Jerusalem’ (1:12);
3.   He had ‘more wisdom than all they that have been before me’ (1:16).
Only one man fits description: Solomon.
PORTRAIT OF CHRIST IN ECCLESIASTES
•    The portrait of Christ for Ecclesiastes is simple. If vanity means ‘meaningless,’ ‘futile,’ ‘in vain,’ then Jesus Christ is the antidote to these things.
•    When we choose Jesus, we are choosing life, light and blessing for us and our descendants (Deuteronomy 30:19; John 1:4)’
•    We have purpose in life – we are God’s handcraft, created in Jesus Christ for good works (Ephesians 2:10);
•    We are ordained for abundant life (John 10:10ff);
•    We are ordained for eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 6:23);
THEME OF ECCLESIASTES
Life without God, lived for the now in this present fallen world, is not only vain, but vanity of vanity. Only through Godly fear directed to the living God does life have wholeness and meaning. The word ‘vanity’ is used 29 times.
KEY VERSES AND PRINCIPLES IN ECCLESIASTES
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. 3What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? — Ecclesiastes 1:2-3
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: — Ecclesiastes 3:1
Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. — Ecclesiastes 11:1
Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. — Ecclesiastes 12:1; 13-14
SUMMARY OF ECCLESIASTES
The king seeks after the things of the world which are ‘under the sun’ but finds that all of it is vain. Even lofty, desirable things like education, work, fun, mirth, everything is still vanity. He also laments at how unfair life ‘under the sun’ can be: a person will live, work, and die, leaving possessions to someone else (who didn’t work for them). The wicked prosper, the righteous suffer, and the poor are downtrodden. Yet, there is ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ – fear God and keep His commandments, for one day there will be the judgement: God will judge will right every wrong and reward every right. Stop living ‘under the sun’ and take the long-view, spiritual view, and divine perspective.
OUTLINE OF ECCLESIASTES
I.         Meeting Vanity (1:1 – 1:11)
A.    ‘The Preacher’ introduced (1:1-3
B.     Seeking for meaning in science (1:4-11)
II.      Vanity in Daily Living (1:12-6:12)
A.    Seeking meaning through philosophy (1:12-18)
B.     Through mirth and pleasure (2:1-11)
C.     Through building construction (2:4)
D.    Through possessions (2:5-7)
E.     Through wealth and music (2:8)
F.      Through materialism (2:12-26)
G.    Through fatalism (3:1-15);
H.    Through deism (3:1-4:16);
I.        Through religion (5:1-8)
J.        Through wealth (5:9-6:12)
III.    How to Handle Vanity (7:1-12:14)
A.    A good name is better than precious ointment (7:1)
B.     Curse not the king because he will find out (10:20)
C.     Cast your bread on the waters; you shall find it again (11:1)
D.    Remember your creator in the days of you youth (12:1);
E.     Death: body returns to dust, the spirit to God who gave it (12:7);
F.      Fear God and keep His commandments (12:13).
CONCLUSION: If a life is only lived ‘under the sun,’ it is heading for vanity and a lost eternity. If it is lived ‘under the Son,’ then there is forgiveness, salvation, hope and a future.

Articles, Bible, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Is Life in Vain? Why Study the Book of Ecclesiastes

One respected conservative scholar called the ‘strangest book in the Bible.’ It speaks in terms that are high and low, mostly the latter. Written by an older man who ‘had it all,’ made some bad moves, and now speaks as one who is in the depths of depression. It’s famous phrase is vanity of vanities, all is vanity? Is this really the case?
Vanity: def. futile, lost, a waste of time, worthless
The book in question is called Ecclesiastes and it is part of the Bible’s wisdom literature. Perhaps the best way to understand this book is to remember that it is describing life ‘under the sun,’ a phrase used 27 times and apparently no where else in Scripture. Life ‘under the sun’ is talking about natural, carnal living in a fallen world; this is the antithesis of a born-again, fruit-bearing, Spirit-filled life.
If a person’s perspective is 100% under the sun, in the natural, valuing the things of the world, and not living though to the Almighty, the transcendent, then our future will not just be vain, but eternally lost.
It is of interest how many of the philosophies of today’s world have some sort of reflection in Ecclesiastes. These include:
Pessimism: Things will definitely get worse;
Hedonism: Living for the moment in pleasure, often excessively so;
Existentialism: Living for the moment because tomorrow may not come;
Cynicism: A deep distrust of human nature to the point that even the good is not as good as it seems;
Chauvinism: One group thinks and acts as if they are better than another;
Fatalism: It is as it is, you cannot change it. ‘The stars’ have determined it.
All of this is the world’s wisdom ‘under the sun.’ Unless the God-element is introduced, it will all be vain. The author of Ecclesiastes ought to know.
HEBREW NAME FOR ECCLESIASTES
The Hebrew name for Ecclesiastes is qoheleth ‘a preacher,’ one who speaks to a congregation. Can also be likened to the speaker in a house of parliament or congress. In the Septuagint (LXX), the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, the word is ekklesiastes (preacher) from ekklesia ‘assembly, congregation.’ The name Ecclesiastes comes from the Latin and is about a ‘speaker before the assembly.’
AUTHOR OF THE ECCLESIASTES
Not explicitly mentioned but answer the following questions:
1.   The author was ‘the son of David’ (1:1);
2.   He was ‘king over Israel in Jerusalem’ (1:12);
3.   He had ‘more wisdom than all they that have been before me’ (1:16).
Only one man fits description: Solomon.
PORTRAIT OF CHRIST IN ECCLESIASTES
•    The portrait of Christ for Ecclesiastes is simple. If vanity means ‘meaningless,’ ‘futile,’ ‘in vain,’ then Jesus Christ is the antidote to these things.
•    When we choose Jesus, we are choosing life, light and blessing for us and our descendants (Deuteronomy 30:19; John 1:4)’
•    We have purpose in life – we are God’s handcraft, created in Jesus Christ for good works (Ephesians 2:10);
•    We are ordained for abundant life (John 10:10ff);
•    We are ordained for eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 6:23);
THEME OF ECCLESIASTES
Life without God, lived for the now in this present fallen world, is not only vain, but vanity of vanity. Only through Godly fear directed to the living God does life have wholeness and meaning. The word ‘vanity’ is used 29 times.
KEY VERSES AND PRINCIPLES IN ECCLESIASTES
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. 3What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? — Ecclesiastes 1:2-3
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: — Ecclesiastes 3:1
Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. — Ecclesiastes 11:1
Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. — Ecclesiastes 12:1; 13-14
SUMMARY OF ECCLESIASTES
The king seeks after the things of the world which are ‘under the sun’ but finds that all of it is vain. Even lofty, desirable things like education, work, fun, mirth, everything is still vanity. He also laments at how unfair life ‘under the sun’ can be: a person will live, work, and die, leaving possessions to someone else (who didn’t work for them). The wicked prosper, the righteous suffer, and the poor are downtrodden. Yet, there is ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ – fear God and keep His commandments, for one day there will be the judgement: God will judge will right every wrong and reward every right. Stop living ‘under the sun’ and take the long-view, spiritual view, and divine perspective.
OUTLINE OF ECCLESIASTES
I.         Meeting Vanity (1:1 – 1:11)
A.    ‘The Preacher’ introduced (1:1-3
B.     Seeking for meaning in science (1:4-11)
II.      Vanity in Daily Living (1:12-6:12)
A.    Seeking meaning through philosophy (1:12-18)
B.     Through mirth and pleasure (2:1-11)
C.     Through building construction (2:4)
D.    Through possessions (2:5-7)
E.     Through wealth and music (2:8)
F.      Through materialism (2:12-26)
G.    Through fatalism (3:1-15);
H.    Through deism (3:1-4:16);
I.        Through religion (5:1-8)
J.        Through wealth (5:9-6:12)
III.    How to Handle Vanity (7:1-12:14)
A.    A good name is better than precious ointment (7:1)
B.     Curse not the king because he will find out (10:20)
C.     Cast your bread on the waters; you shall find it again (11:1)
D.    Remember your creator in the days of you youth (12:1);
E.     Death: body returns to dust, the spirit to God who gave it (12:7);
F.      Fear God and keep His commandments (12:13).
CONCLUSION: If a life is only lived ‘under the sun,’ it is heading for vanity and a lost eternity. If it is lived ‘under the Son,’ then there is forgiveness, salvation, hope and a future.