THE BIBLE ANSWER BABES' CORNER

So named in honor of Mark Driscoll, who publicly stated that "It is not uncommon to meet pastors' wives who really let themselves go." What a guy!

Just doing our job, as women, to bring glamor to the church.

(Please see addendum)

 

 

“Perfect humility dispenses with modesty.”

–C.S. Lewis:  The Weight of Glory

 

When I was a child, Palm Sunday was one of my favorite days. All church attendees got a palm to hold, although the real meaning of said palms was lost on this child. My brother and I would have sword fights and tickle each other with them. 

 

One Palm Sunday during my college days, I attended a Palm Sunday service. Afterwards, while I was talking with a friend, an irate, elderly lady came up to me and told me I was dishonoring God in the way I was holding my palm. She then went on to demonstrate the “godly” way to hold the palm in which the frond was held in open hands, no lower than waist level.   This made no sense to me, for by that time, I was minimally aware that the crowds waved their palms, triumphantly and vigorously, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem. I was taught that the Jews were celebrating their “king.”  So how could I wave it while cradling the palm in my open hand?

 

As time went on, I became aware of the history behind the palms. But, that was my first introduction to “rules” of behavior and belief within the Christian community that would make no sense to me.   The Apocryphal Books of 1+2 Maccabees cover the history behind the significance of the palms. Although Protestant evangelicals do not accept the Apocrypha as divinely inspired, these books are exceedingly useful as history texts.   Upon the death of Alexander the Great, the conquered territories (which included Judah) were divided into separate kingdoms. In 323 B.C., Judah would come under the rules of two dynasties — Ptolemy and Seleucid.

 

For a time the Jews were allowed to practice their faith freely. In 175 B.C., the Seleucid King Antiochus IV (175-163) decided to impose Greek culture on the Jews and to destroy the Jewish religion and culture. This would give rise to a revolt, led by members of the Maccabaeus family.

 

To make matters worse, Onias III, the last legitimate high priest of the line of Zadok, was assassinated.  Tensions were high. The famed Qumran community that produced the Dead Sea Scrolls formed during this time in opposition to the illegitimate high priest who replaced Onias.  

 

In 168 B.C., Antiochus IV, tired of the mutinous Jews, marched into the Temple’s Holy of Holies and had a pig sacrificed on the altar. He then erected an altar and statue of the Greek god Zeus whose worship would replace the God of Israel. This is the "abomination of desolation"  prophesized by Daniel and was the final straw for the occupied Jews.  

 

In 166 B.C., the Maccabean Revolt began, and the Jews were eventually successful in the endeavors to rout their oppressors.   In 165 B.C. the Temple was purified and rededicated.  According to some sources, the palm fronds were used to sweep clean the Temple floors in a ritual sense.  

 

When Simon Maccabaeus, the leader of those who liberated Jerusalem from the Greeks, rode triumphantly into the Jerusalem, he was feted "with praise and palm branches." (1 Maccabees 13:51) Hanukah remembered events that surrounded this triumph.   There are many good online sources that discuss this history. The following site had some easy to follow information.

  http://www.agapebiblestudy.com/SalvationHistory/_L23_REVOLT%20OF%20THE%20MACCABEES.htm  

So, although the crowd celebrated Jesus when He came into Jerusalem, they quickly deserted Him. The answer as to why is readily apparent. They wanted an earthly king who would overthrow their Roman oppressors. Jesus would not live up to their expectations. They waved palms expecting Jesus to be a Simon Maccabeus. They didn’t expect, want, or understand a king who would die for their sins. So, this King conquered death and, one day, may it be soon, He will also come again and establish a physical kingdom that will have no end.  

 

It is so sad that many churches barely pay lip service to this event. One church I attended in the past didn’t even celebrate Good Friday or other events of this wonderful and tragic week.  When I inquired about it, I was told that the pastors were just too pressed for time to add one more thing to the calendar. They claimed that Easter Sunday embodied all of this. They wouldn't even allow a group of of church members to put on a simple service during the week. Guess only honest to gosh ordained pastors are allowed to do such things.

 

I used to buy palms and hand them out to random members of that church on Palm Sunday.  Church attendees remarked that they missed such a tradition and so many wanted them that they had to be torn into tiny pieces so that everyone would have a small piece of one.

 

By the way, let me anticipate a usual, ho-hum response that the money would be better served elsewhere. A whole bunch of palms only cost around $15. Didn’t Jesus commend the woman who poured expensive oil on His feet?  My guess is that churches could spring for this item.   Perhaps that church might reconsider their priorities and make Easter week a bit more important in their "busy" calendar.

 

Meantime, my new church hands out palms on Sunday, and I'm looking at the one I recently received as I write this. Come soon, King Jesus.  

We look forward to your thoughts.

 

 

ADDENDUM BY DEB

 

In case you didn't understand Dee's explanation about Mark Driscoll above, here's his infamous  remark which he made in the aftermath of Ted Haggard's indiscretion.  I echo what Dee wrote – WHAT A GUY! 

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/september/30.44.html?start=4

From the CT article "Pastor Provocateur" :

"It is not uncommon to meet pastors' wives who really let themselves go; they sometimes feel that because their husband is a pastor, he is therefore trapped into fidelity, which gives them cause for laziness," Driscoll wrote. "A wife who lets herself go and is not sexually available to her husband in the ways that the Song of Songs is so frank about is not responsible for her husband's sin, but she may not be helping him either."