Archives by: Gary Hoag

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11

This Scripture represents on of the famous “creed” texts in the New Testament. However, let familiarity cause you to miss how it opens however. God wants us to have this same self-giving mindset.

To continue what we learned yesterday, remember that the Council of Ephesus ruled that the mystery of Jesus was that He was simultaneously fully God and fully man. The council agreed on 12 anathema statements drafted by Cyril of Alexandria in contrast to the heretical views of Nestorius of Constantinople.

We viewed the first 6 yesterday and find the remaining 6 below.

“7. If anyone says that as man Jesus was activated by the Word of God and was clothed with the glory of the Only-begotten, as a being separate from Him, let him be anathema.

8. If anyone dares to say that the man who was assumed ought to be worshipped and glorified together with the divine Word and be called God along with Him, while being separate from Him, (for the addition of “with” must always compel us to think in this way), and will not rather worship Immanuel with one veneration and send up to Him one doxology, even as “the Word became flesh”, let him be anathema.

9. If anyone says that the one Lord Jesus Christ was glorified by the Spirit, as making use of an alien power that worked through Him and as having received from Him the power to master unclean spirits and to work divine wonders among people, and does not rather say that it was His own proper Spirit through whom He worked the divine wonders, let him be anathema.

10. The divine Scripture says Christ became “the High Priest and Apostle of our confession”; He offered himself to God the Father in an odor of sweetness for our sake. If anyone, therefore, says that it was not the very Word from God who became our High Priest and Apostle, when He became flesh and a man like us, but as it were another who was separate from Him, in particular a man from a woman, or if anyone says that He offered the sacrifice also for Himself and not rather for us alone (for He who knew no sin needed no offering), let him be anathema.

11. If anyone does not confess that the flesh of the Lord is life-giving and belongs to the Word from God the Father, but maintains that it belongs to another besides Him, united with Him in dignity or as enjoying a mere divine indwelling, and is not rather life-giving, as we said, since it became the flesh belonging to the Word who has power to bring all things to life, let him be anathema.

12. If anyone does not confess that the Word of God suffered in the flesh and was crucified in the flesh and tasted death in the flesh and became the first born of the dead, although as God He is life and life-giving, let him be anathema.”

The Council of Ephesus (A.D. 431) confirmed these statements to bring clarity to the church and to address heresies that had emerged causing division and dissension. Again, here is where this council falls in the bigger picture looking back.

1. Council of Nicea (A.D. 325)
2. Council of Constantinople (A.D. 381)
3. Council of Ephesus (A.D. 431)
4. Council of Chalcedon (A.D. 451)
5. Second Council of Constantinople (A.D. 553)
6. Third Council of Constantinople (A.D. 680)
7. Second Council of Nicea (A.D. 787)

And don’t miss the header photo from the cathedral at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra that dates back to A.D. 1050. It illustrates the third of the seven councils.

Notice how it portrays the proceedings. You see Emperor Theodosius II in the middle, Cyril of Alexandria on the right, Nestorius of Constantinople on the left, and about 250 bishops looking on.

As stated yesterday, Cyril prevailed, and the victory was not for him or his camp but for Jesus, who offered Himself for us as statement #10 states. The One who needed no offering become the offering.

As this syncs with today’s Scripture, we get to follow this example in our relationships. Even as Christ emptied Himself and took the form of a servant, we get to do likewise.

Only when we empty ourselves do we realize that God is our never-ending source of provision and blessing for living, giving, serving, and loving sacrificially.

For whom has God called you to offer yourself?

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

While this Scripture may be the most famous attestation of the generosity of God, it contains a loaded expression that led to a heated debate about the identity of Christ. As the “only begotten Son” of God, some questioned the combined humanity and deity of Christ.

The answer that orthodox Christians say is simply, both, but getting there took some work.

The Council of Ephesus ruled that the mystery of Jesus was that He was simultaneously fully God and fully man. The council agreed on 12 anathema statements drafted by Cyril of Alexandria in contrast to the heretical views of Nestorius of Constantinople.

We view the first 6 today and the remaining 6 tomorrow.

“1. If anyone does not confess that Immanuel is God in truth, and therefore that the holy virgin is the mother of God (for she bore in a fleshly way the Word of God become flesh), let him be anathema.

2. If anyone does not confess that the Word from God the Father has been united by hypostasis with the flesh and is one Christ with hHis own flesh, and is therefore God and man together, let him be anathema.

3. If anyone divides in the one Christ the hypostases after the union, joining them only by a conjunction of dignity or authority or power, and not rather by a coming together in a union by nature, let him be anathema.

4. If anyone distributes between the two persons or hypostases the expressions used either in the Gospels or in the apostolic writings, whether they are used by the holy writers of Christ or by Him about Himself, and ascribes some to Him as to a man, thought of separately from the Word from God, and others, as befitting God, to Him as to the Word from God the Father, let him be anathema.

5. If anyone dares to say that Christ was a God-bearing man and not rather God in truth, being by nature one Son, even as “the Word became flesh”, and is made partaker of blood and flesh precisely like us, let him be anathema.

6. If anyone says that the Word from God the Father was the God or master of Christ, and does not rather confess the same both God and man, the Word having become flesh, according to the Scriptures, let him be anathema.”

The Council of Ephesus (A.D. 431) confirmed these statements to bring clarity to the church and to address heresies that had emerged causing division and dissension. Here again is where this council falls in the bigger picture looking back.

1. Council of Nicea (A.D. 325)
2. Council of Constantinople (A.D. 381)
3. Council of Ephesus (A.D. 431)
4. Council of Chalcedon (A.D. 451)
5. Second Council of Constantinople (A.D. 553)
6. Third Council of Constantinople (A.D. 680)
7. Second Council of Nicea (A.D. 787)

Today’s header photo comes from the cathedral at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra that dates back to A.D. 1050. It illustrates the third of the seven councils.

I really like the mural for this council and how it portrays the proceedings. You see Emperor Theodosius II in the middle, Cyril of Alexandria on the right, Nestorius of Constantinople on the left, and about 250 bishops looking on.

Cyril prevailed. But the victory was not for him or his camp but for Jesus. So to celebrate, let’s reflect again on today’s Scripture. It’s one of the most beautiful statements in the Bible about generosity and the identity of Jesus.

God loved you and me so much He gave His only Son. Jesus was born in human flesh of Mary, fully man. And yet He Himself attested to His oneness with the Father, fully God.

God did what He needed to do to make a way to life for me and you. He did not send help, He came.

Take a moment today to pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to your attention someone who may not know or believe in Jesus. Pray for an opportunity to share Christ with them. Just like Mary played a part, you and I can too. Otherwise, they may end up anathema.

Don’t send help to them. Move toward them and ask the Spirit to lead and guide you.

Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. 1 Timothy 3:16

While most call this the Nicean Creed, it’s actually the revised edition from the Council of Constantinople.

“We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

And [we believe] in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through Him all things were made.

For us, humans, and for our salvation, He came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and became fully human.

For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried. He rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.

And [we believe] in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.”

The Council of Constantinople (A.D. 381) made revisions to the Nicean Creed of (A.D. 325) to address heresies that emerged in the timeframe in between related to the deity of Christ and about the Holy Spirit.

See the two editions side by side in English and Greek here. Remember, this council represents the second of the seven major councils in early church history.

1. Council of Nicea (A.D. 325)
2. Council of Constantinople (A.D. 381)
3. Council of Ephesus (A.D. 431)
4. Council of Chalcedon (A.D. 451)
5. Second Council of Constantinople (A.D. 553)
6. Third Council of Constantinople (A.D. 680)
7. Second Council of Nicea (A.D. 787)

Today’s Scripture describes our faith using the powerful word, “mystery,” saying, “the mystery from which true godliness springs is great.” The mystery is so great that many people debate the implications.

That’s why Emperor Theodosius called the Council of Constantinople in A.D. 381, to clarify the mystery in response to heresy. This was not a small task. As only the Eastern bishops attended, the group numbered only about 150.

I pondered this in light of yesterday’s post in which we learned that Council of Nicea in A.D. 325 had 318 present. The Nicean Creed was good but it left the door open for heresy, so a group half the size convened to tighten it up.

Our generous service may often take shape as addressing problems or clarifying areas of confusion. Such work is often neither popular nor pleasant, but may be vitally important in the long run.

In what way might God want you to serve to address problems or help people in areas of confusion? How might your generous sacrifice bring unity or refute heresy in the face of mystery?

Ponder today the unique part God might have for you to play as part of the larger Church united by this creed.

When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people. Genesis 14:14-16

“The confession of faith of the three hundred and eighteen Fathers, who were assembled at Nicaea in Bithynia, shall not be abolished, but shall remain, and every heresy shall be anathematized, especially that of the Eunomians or Anomoeans, the Arians or Eudoxians, the Semi-Arians or Pneumatomachians, the Sabellians, Marcellians, Photinians, and Apollinarians.”

Council of Constantinople (A.D. 381) “Canon 1” in History of the Councils of the Church, Volume 2 by Charles Joseph, 282.

Today’s header photo comes from the cathedral at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra that dates back to A.D. 1050. It illustrates the second of the seven councils. This first of three in Constantinople.

1. Council of Nicea (A.D. 325)
2. Council of Constantinople (A.D. 381)
3. Council of Ephesus (A.D. 431)
4. Council of Chalcedon (A.D. 451)
5. Second Council of Constantinople (A.D. 553)
6. Third Council of Constantinople (A.D. 680)
7. Second Council of Nicea (A.D. 787)

The canons of this council begin with this statement today. For some reason, the statement about the 318 Fathers really hit me.

At Nicea, 318 fathers made a confession of faith despite the host of heresies that aimed to destroy Christianity. At Constantinople, they started the council meeting by affirming that confession. Their action demonstrated boldness in solidarity.

Long before this council, back in the days of Genesis, in the early part of Abraham’s story, he rallied the same number, 318 trained men, to assist him when his relative and resources had been stolen. They pursued the wrongdoers and recovered everything.

The lesson here seems twofold today as it relates to our generosity. Doing good might mean rallying others to make right what is wrong. And it also appears as standing together for what is true and good in a world filled with lies and evil.

Who might you rally with you to do good? Consider what 318 people did in these two stories. It inspires me to pray for 318 givers to support the purpose and programs of GTP this year. Let me explain.

Our fiscal year runs 1 July through 30 June each year. In 2021-2022, God supplied $611,614 from 209 givers from 47 countries. In 2022-2023, He provided $818,864 from 243 givers in 53 countries.

Today, GTP serves workers in 123 countries, so I pray God moves 318 givers from 100 countries to this year to advance a common purpose: “In obedient service to Jesus Christ, GTP multiplies faithful stewards and mobilizes peer accountability groups (like ECFA in USA) to build trust and grow local generous giving to God’s work.”

That’s how I want to rally 318 people this year. What about you? How might you either catalyze 318 people or join a movement to make a difference?

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Acts 4:32-35

“The early Christians knew this loan at interest but little; they also kept themselves from it conscientiously, so long as that brotherly love prevailed from which had come a community of goods. But unhappily other Christians became apt scholars of the heathen in this matter. It was most blame-worthy in the clergy, whose savings, according to canon law, belonged to the poor and to the Church, and least of all ought to be abused to usurious gain through the oppression of the poor. Therefore the forty-third and forty-fourth apostolical canons gave this order: “A bishop, priest, or deacon who receives interest for money lent, must cease from this traffic under pain of deposition.”

Council of Nicea (A.D. 325) “Canon 17” referencing “Apostolic Canon in History of the Councils of the Church, Volume 1 by Charles Joseph, 351.

As I stated yesterday, for the next week or two, I want to explore the canons and comments linked to the Seven Councils of the early church. I am doing this because on our last day in Kyiv, Jenni and I visited the cathedral at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra that dates back to A.D. 1050. On the wall are seven stunning murals portraying the seven councils.

1. Council of Nicea (A.D. 325)
2. Council of Constantinople (A.D. 381)
3. Council of Ephesus (A.D. 431)
4. Council of Chalcedon (A.D. 451)
5. Second Council of Constantinople (A.D. 553)
6. Third Council of Constantinople (A.D. 680)
7. Second Council of Nicea (A.D. 787)

I shot seven photos. The header photo above depicts the Council of Nicea (A.D. 325). The murals inspired me to mine these ancient documents. Today’s post comes from the canons of that council.

Like yesterday’s post, today’s except comes from the one of the canons. Again, a canon represents an ecclesiastical or church rule that came out of the council. In this canon or rule, after calling clergy to avoid charging interest to the poor (see yesterday’s post that cited the Old Testament mandate), this canon echoes the New Testament call for a community of goods.

With brotherly love, the savings of the clergy belonged to the poor and to the Church.

What’s the significance of this for modern times? Pastors (and ministry administrators) should model the way for the people of God.

Sadly, to many pastors in the pulpit (or ministry administrators) try to wear designer clothes, live lavish lifestyles, and look like the people in the pews instead of modeling simplicity and generosity.

The church set such rules to make sure influential Christians set an example for those they served rather than gain from them.

Whom do you serve? What example do you set for them?

He does not lend to them at interest or take a profit from them. He withholds his hand from doing wrong and judges fairly between two parties. Ezekiel 18:8

“As many clerics, filled with avarice and with the spirit of usury, forget the sacred words, ‘He that hath not given his money upon usury,’ and demand usuriously (that is, every month) a rate of interest, the great and holy Synod declares that if any one, after the publication of this law, takes interest, no matter on what grounds, or carries on the business (of usurer), no matter in what way, or if he require half as much again, or if he give himself up to any other sort of scandalous gain, he must be turned out of the clergy, and his name struck off the list.”

Council of Nicea (A.D. 325) “Canon 17” in History of the Councils of the Church, Volume 1 by Charles Joseph, 350.

For the next week or two, I want to explore the canons and other comments linked to the Seven Councils of the early church. Why do this? On my last day in Kyiv, I visited the cathedral at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra that dates back to A.D. 1050. On the wall are seven stunning murals portraying the seven councils.

1. Council of Nicea (A.D. 325)
2. Council of Constantinople (A.D. 381)
3. Council of Ephesus (A.D. 431)
4. Council of Chalcedon (A.D. 451)
5. Second Council of Constantinople (A.D. 553)
6. Third Council of Constantinople (A.D. 680)
7. Second Council of Nicea (A.D. 787)

I shot seven photos. The header photo above depicts the Council of Nicea (A.D. 325). As you may know, I wrote a book entitled, The Council: A Biblical Perspective on Board Governance, to help modern boards regain their biblical roots. Let me know if you’d like a digital copy of this book.

The murals inspired me to mine these ancient documents so here we go.

Today’s except comes from the one of the canons or the ecclesiastical rules that came out of the council. I looked to located canons linked to generosity. This canon or rule echoes the charge from Ezekiel that clergy must not lend at interest but must live open-handed, generous lives and avoid putting others into their debt.

And if you charged interest to another, your name was struck off the list. Your ministry service was over.

Imagine if we had such rules today. The church would certainly be purified of charlatans who serve others to make money from them. “No matter on what grounds” and “no matter in what way. There was no gray area here.

What is the lesson for us today? Ask yourself, would my name be struck from the list?

We must not serve for gain but with generosity. We must not take advantage of others but put ourselves in a place and posture of service, administering justly and fairly.

In what place do you find yourself? How can you serve others justly, fairly, and generously? 

So that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:4

“Let us love to pray and labor unseen, and cherish in the secret of our hearts the graces of God and the growth of our immortal souls.”

Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 13 June reading.

Sometimes the shortest meditations pack the most punch.

Jesus desires that we pray and labor unseen. Anthony reminds us that when we do, we experience the graces of God and growth in our souls. We experience Him in powerful ways and grow spiritually.

Who might you pray for at length with only God as your audience?

Pause and ask the Spirit to guide you. Consider taking a block of time today or over multiply days to pray for this person or group of people as God leads you in an unseen way.

How might you labor generously for God today or in the days ahead?

Again, pray and follow God’s leading on this. Perhaps start by assessing your giftedness. Make margin in your schedule to use it, saying no to some things so you can say yes to this unseen labor.

Then pause and examine the graces God gave you and the growth in your soul.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23

“All perfection consists in keeping a guard upon the heart. Wherever we are, we can make a solitude in our hearts, detach ourselves from the world, and converse familiarly with God.”

Margaret of Scotland (1045-1093) in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 10 June reading.

There’s a lot in this short verse and short post.

We must start by reminding ourselves that perfection in biblical terms relates to maturity. From Margaret charges us to guard our hearts. As Solomon notes, everything flows from there.

Then she mentions three powerful ideas which might come together to encompass everything: solitude in our hearts, detachment from the world, and conversing familiarly with God.

Think about it.

Only when we make solitude in our hearts and detach from the world can we experience that rich relationship with God.

About a month and a half ago I made solitude by having a surrender novena weekend. It was a few days where I determine to detach from the world and trust Jesus to take care of everything.

That mindset stayed with me. It purified my communion with him.

This positioned me to live, give, serve, and love generously. If your life is crazy. Pursue solitude, detach from the world, and commune with God. This positions you to serve as a conduit of blessing.

And I am learning this way of thinking and living puts you on the path to maturity.

I have a way to go but thankful for people in my life modeling perfection.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:7

“A soul which truly loves God regards all the things of this world as nothing. The loss of goods, the disgrace of the world, torments, sickness, and other afflictions are bitter to the senses, but appear light to him [or her] that loves. If we cannot bear our trials with patience and silence, it is because we love God only in words.”

Primus and Felician (died c. 297) in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 9 June reading.

Primus and Felician were both early church martyrs. The kind of people remembered on the archways of St. Sophie Cathedral in Kyiv (pictured above).

We remember them for their deep and true love for God which empowered them to endure trials with patience and silence and give their lives in service to Christ.

Today I want to honor my wife. We’ve been married for 31 years (And yes, I plan to take her to Baskin Robbins to taste one of their 31 flavors tonight).

But life has not always been sweet. I’ve failed her more times than I can count. Yet because of her love for God, she’s exhibited patience and silence.

While Jenni not a martyr, I am sure she would past the test. Why? She exhibits deep love through detachment to things and attachment to God.

Re-read today’s post. Do you know anyone who exhibits deep love through detachment to things and attachment to God? If so, thank them for modeling love for God.

If not, perhaps your greatest act of generosity might be to deepen your love for God, and resolve to give your life in service to Christ to inspire others.

Happy Anniversary Jenni.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

“A cloud of witnesses, a noble army of martyrs, teach us by their constancy to suffer wrong with patience, and strenuously to resist evil. The daily trials we meet with from others or from ourselves are always sent us by God, Who sometimes throws difficulties in our way on purpose to reward our conquest; and sometimes, like a wise physician, restores us to our health by bitter potions.”

Pamphilus of Caesarea in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 1 June reading.

As I continue through this classic work, The Lives of the Saints, quotes like this one from an early church martyr provide rich insight and inspiration for my Christian journey and my generosity.

And the header photo comes from inside the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine, where the names and faces of martyrs like Pamphilus line the arches of the 1,000 year old church.

Firstly, Pamphilus calls us to “resist” evil. It’s a draw for all of us to move toward the flesh. We must not succumb. Instead, we must suffer wrong with patience and strenuously resist evil.

Secondly, he says us that often God allows difficulties to “reward our” conquest. Another way to say this would be that trials cause our true colors to shine in victory. This was the case with martyrs.

Thirdly, God throws challenges our way to “restore” us to health by bitter potions. To take us from nominal Christians to committed disciples. In that sense, they come into view as good medicine for us.

Where do you find yourself today? Strenuously resisting evil? Facing difficulties put in your path to reward your conquest? Or facing challenges to restore you to health?

Regardless of your answer, remember that a cloud of witnesses is both watching and cheering you on. Don’t grow weary in resisting evil, embracing suffering, and living generously knowing a crown awaits you.