The Sacred & the Profane
By John Boda
I'd like to address something in this grace note that I have been aware of, and have thought much about, and have also struggled with personally. Although I have struggled with it in the past, largely due to God's amazing grace, I now see it much differently, and have even gained some helpful insight and conclusions. I humbly offer those insights here and sincerely hope that these words can help lead others out of this dark and binding worldview.
What the heck am I speaking about? OK, here it is:
Christian Schizophrenia! (The twisted mindset of dividing everything into two camps, the sacred - and the secular, and living your life making sure that never shall the two meet)
Is there such a thing as separate Christian and secular arenas? Are there actually sacred days, events and places which are more holy than the other ordinary ones?
Before you read any farther, so you know where I stand, let me say that I firmly believe that the answer to the above two questions is - NO! If you continue to read, I will make the case for the need to make distinctions about the sacred and the profane, but never to make divisions! I also will try to show that anyone who does live in this dichotomy has little or no grasp and understanding of grace, and little or no understanding of the differences of the two covenants. Hopefully, you are still with me.....if not...as Clarence Oddbody the third said to the bridge keeper who fled after discovering Clarence was an Angel...."Cheerio my good man!"
( "It's a Wonderful Life")
Biblical Support
Is there a sacred - secular division
in the Bible? Is there a sacred - secular distinction in the Bible?
The answer to both questions is - yes. However, the answer to the first question really is a two part one - yes and no.
There was very much a secular -sacred division in the Bible under the Old Covenant. But, I submit, you will not find any such divisions in the Bible within the New Covenant. Of course, today, we all live under the New Covenant, so why is it that so many Christians, and so many churches teach and preach that we must divide and separate these arenas? I believe the answer is simply that many people, and sadly, many teachers and preachers, don't grasp the New Covenant life and freedom!
The New Covenant began, and was initiated by Jesus in what is known as "The last supper". We celebrate this event every week where I worship during communion. When they drank the wine (It was really wine) Jesus said, “This cup that is poured out for you is the New Covenant of my blood". (Luke 21:20) ESV
The exclamation point of this New Covenant could be when God himself tore and ripped the thick veil which covered the entrance to the Holy of Holies. This was done at the moment of Jesus' death on the cross, and is extremely significant! Previously, only the high priest could enter once a year to make atonement for sins, and then even with much fear and trembling for his own life. But now, under the New Covenant, this once special super holy place was now open to everyone! It didn't matter if you had education of not, if you were rich or poor, if you were Jewish or Gentile, everyone could enter the same way - by faith in God's grace as provided by his son Jesus Christ.
This veil tearing event is written in all three synoptic Gospels so no one would miss it! (The synoptic Gospels are Matthew-Mark-Luke as they have many similar accounts and are seen together, John is very much set apart.)
Think of all the sacred - secular divisions in the Old Covenant. Moses taking off his shoes because the ground by God's presence was holy - Jacob making a big deal about the spot where he slept overnight and dreamed of the ladder to heaven, and considered that spot holy, even naming it "Bethel", the house of God. The accounts go on and on about the Ark of the Covenant, the feast days and Sabbaths, and many other passages. But they are all in the Old Testament under the Old Covenant!
The New Testament has almost no such account or command. In fact there are scriptures which address this and command us NOT to go back under this mindset and system. (I will list these scriptures soon)
There are a few exceptions in the New Testament which I must address now, along with some brief comments on each one;
1. Holy Handkerchiefs! (Batman)
"And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them."
Acts 19:11-12
God really must have a great sense of humor, because I suspect that he may have included this verse in the Bible for one reason: That many modern T.V. preacher/evangelists would focus on it and do all sorts of silly things making their shows so much more entertaining! Seriously, this is an incredible account of God working through Paul within the early church, and THAT is the key! We can never form Biblical principles of how God works based on one verse! There are exceptions (possibly placed there just to confound the seemingly wise). I challenge you to try and find another account of this happening in the pages of the New Testament. It could have happened again, we just don't know, but we know that it is not recorded again and this account seems to be an isolated exception. Once again, this was the very early church; this was the Apostle Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament! God was doing extraordinary miracles seemingly daily through men like Paul, Peter and other key Apostles.(Acts 5:12)(Quoted next)
2. Holy Shadows! (Batman)
I just listed Acts 5:12, which states that "many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the Apostles"
Now within this context, in the same breath, it says that even Peter's shadow was sought after by the sick in the streets that they might get healed by some power within it. Notice it doesn't say that Peter said anything about this, or that it even worked, but people had hopes it would and tried seeking even his shadow for healing. The fact that it is recorded implies that there might have been reason for people to do this, and possibly people were healed by crossing his shadow.
But again, look at the context! It also says that many were afraid to join Peter and a few other Apostles, and the people all held them in high esteem. Also those multitudes were added to following the Lord! Extraordinary miracles, extraordinary times, and extraordinary results! This does not mean that God doesn't work miracles today. But once again this was within the very early church and Peter was one of the chief Apostles who was not only with Jesus, but was part of his inner core! Anyone who is a member of The Holy Handkerchief or Holy Shadows church should consider visiting some others and reconsidering things a bit.
3. Holy Mountains! (Batman)
Finally, here is one more exception to my thesis of no sacred space or time today.
When Peter is defending the validity of the Lord as opposed to following fairytales or myths, he brings up the time when he was with Jesus during the transfiguration. Jesus was glorified and was seen speaking with Moses and Elijah, and Peter heard God say, "This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased". Peter says that he heard this while he was with Jesus....
"on the holy mountain”. I Peter 1:18
So we have established that there are no holy handkerchiefs or holy shadows, but are there holy mountains today?
We must remember that Peter, along with many others at this time, were direct links from the old to the new and struggled with the change over! Peter, at one time had to be openly rebuked by Paul about this very thing, about slipping back into the old way of thinking. If we go back to the original text of Peter on the mountain with Jesus during the transfiguration, we see that Peter again has this little problem manifested. It is seen clearly when he blurts out, (paraphrased)
"Hey, this is way cool! Let's stop right now and try to bottle this up. We can build three containers, one for Moses, one for Elijah, and one for Jesus. God's glory is too awesome to let escape without others seeing it, we'll contain it here and make this spot a holy shrine, we can even charge admission!" OK, that last part is a stretch, but it is also clear that God was not too pleased with Peter's idea. (Another paraphrase, from God's voice)
"Peter, shut up now and listen to my son OK?
Yes it was a holy moment! Yes it was a very holy sight! But after it was gone and done, that spot and that mountain were not anymore holy or sacred than before, even though it may have been in Peter's head!
There IS a holy and sacred mountain. We read about it in Hebrews 12:18-24 where the writer compares the awesome Old Testament holy mountain as only a shadow to the real holy Mount Zion! But this holy and sacred mountain is spiritual and is not found on this earth! There is also a "true holy place" where Jesus entered and offered his blood as an eternal sacrifice!
(Hebrews 9:12, 24) This is the true and real holy place, once again it is not found anywhere on the earth today.
Honest Questions
If there are holy and sacred places and times on earth today in the New Covenant, then here are some very open and honest questions. If you have any good answers for any of them, let me know!
1. Why wasn't Skull Hill, the spot where Jesus was crucified, turned into a sacred and holy shrine by the early church? I have visited that place; it is in the midst of an old, dirty, noisy Arab bus station!
(I realize that the Roman Catholic Church attempts this very thing with many other places in Israel, and I believe that they are very wrong in doing so!)
2. What about the Garden Tomb?
This is almost certainly the spot where Jesus rose from the dead, located right next to Skull Hill. It was hidden and covered in dirt until just over 150 years ago! This place would have been near top of the list for making a holy-sacred shrine by the early church, and yet we see these places seemingly not holding any significance.
3. This list could go on and on - Bethlehem, Nazareth, The Jordan river? Have you ever considered why we even call it The Holy Land? What is especially holy about the ground, the grass, and the trees? I loved my trip to Israel and was one of the most enthusiastic Pilgrims who ever visited it! I want to return as it was a very enriching experience, just knowing some of the history, in both the Old and New Testaments! But, as much as I loved it, as much as I encourage everyone else to visit, I also realize that the dirt, rocks, and trees there are no more holy and sacred than the dirt, rocks and trees in my backyard in Illinois! I even brought some of those Israel rocks home as personal mementos, but that is what they are, nothing more as far as having any intrinsic sacredness about them!
OK, you should have a grasp of my point by now, but there is still more! As I do in many of the writings on this site, I want to link this idea with a similar one in science, to help us understand and grasp it better, even if you don't have much of a science grasp, please stay with me! It is no wonder that many of these spiritual ideas link and relate to science because, if they are correct, they both reflect the same author and creator.
The Spiritual Theory of Relativity
In 1905, Albert Einstein came up with, what is called; The Special Theory of Relativity. This was a radical departure from established classical physics that had been firmly in place for hundreds of years, finalized by Isaac Newton. Then, as if that wasn't enough, ten years later in 1915, Einstein built upon his first theory and came up with something even more brilliant, even more radical; The General Theory of Relativity. Although I do have an understanding on these theories, (which are now established facts), I don't want this to be a boring science class!
But I must give a panoramic overview look into what these new ideas brought, especially his first, The Special Theory of Relativity.
I named this segment, "The Spiritual Theory of Relativity" to throw one more concept into the mix, although this theory is not firmly established yet, and in no way is even close to matching the brilliance of Einstein's!
Space & Time
One of the main ideas that Einstein introduced in 1905 was
that space and time were not absolute entities! Previously, Newtonian physics believed that both space and time were absolute, everywhere in the universe. It was believed that there was an absolute NOW of time everywhere, and that time ran exactly the same for everyone, everywhere, always!
So it was very radical to suggest that both time and space can be bent, and warped, and they are flexible depending on speed, gravity, and one's point of reference. (Hence the name - Relativity)
But Einstein was never happy with the names of his theories! He never named them what we now know them as, theories of relativity! In fact, at one point, he sided with a group of physicists who wanted to change the names to theories of invariance! (But the names stuck and now always say relativity.) Why did Einstein want to call it Invariance? What was absolute and invariable, if both time and space weren't?
The answer is plenty! Einstein proved there was something else that was truly absolute. Instead of time and space - what now became absolute was a completely new entity called - Space-time!
Even though it may not seem much different, in science the difference is enormous! Now there was no longer absolute space and absolute time....but rather one huge entity which combined both in four dimensions - Space-time! (In addition to Space-time, the speed of light and the laws of physics are considered to be absolute also.)
So what does all this mean to my Theory of Spiritual Relativity?
OK, here goes:
1. Previously both space and time were considered to be absolute -
Likewise, previously, in the Old Testament, both space and time were considered holy and sacred.
(There were all sorts of holy days as well as holy garments, utensils, and everything dealing with the ark in the temple)
2. Now - after Einstein - there is no longer absolute space and time but rather a new idea of Space-time. Likewise - after Christ - there are no longer any sacred and holy days and things, but rather a complete new concept -
Everything is sacred and holy, all of life, every person, and very moment!
Yes there were many holy things and places within the Old Covenant, but we live within the New Covenant today! (There ARE holy places today, but it is two-fold: First it encompasses everything in our physical world now, Secondly, spiritually speaking there are true holy places only in Heaven. Heb. 9:12, 24)
Einstein may have been radical, but Jesus was even more! But one thing they both have in common - their ideas and teachings are both very hard to accept as reality! They are both very counterintuitive, which means that they go against the grain of how we naturally think!
There, THAT is my point! But if you are still unconvinced, here are a few scriptures. I could be wrong, and my interpretation of scriptures could be wrong, so read them for yourself and see if I'm on to something. Some of these scriptures are very plain and straightforward and cannot have more than one meaning. (I have looked at them all within context also.) The following scriptures are from The Message Bible;
I'm convinced - Jesus convinced me - that everything as it is in itself is holy." Romans 14:14
"....a basic holiness permeates things and people". Galatians 5:23
“So don't put up with anyone pressuring you in details of diet, worship services, or holy days. All those things are mere shadows cast before what was to come - the substance is Christ."
Colossians 2:16-23
"You've come to Mount Zion, the city where the living God resides. The invisible Jerusalem is populated by throngs of festive angels and Christian citizens. It is the city where God is judge, with judgments that make us just. You've come to Jesus, who presents us with a new covenant, a fresh charter from God." Hebrews 12; 18-24
A New Perspective
Just like Einstein ushered in a brand new way to view the cosmos, (A much more accurate and realistic way) so also, we need to allow Jesus to lead us into this New Covenant perspective panoramic view!
Paul struggled with imparting this mindset to the churches he began, he says in II Corinthians 6:11-13;
"Dear, dear Corinthians, I can't tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide open spacious life. We didn't fence you in, the smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way. I'm speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!"
"...there's far more here than meets the eye!” II Corinthians 4:18
Or Paul speaking to the Colossians;
"So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ - that's where the action is, see things from his perspective! “Colossians 3:2
Lesson from Cain & Abel
In speaking of Abel in Hebrews chapter eleven, the author includes Abel as one of the great men of faith and says that his blood continues to speak today!
What is his blood saying?
The obvious is that it speaks, figuratively speaking, of better things, the better blood of Christ, the better sacrifice of Christ, and the better New Covenant brought by Christ! These things are all true and right, but I'd like to add one more item to the list that Abel's blood speaks of, even now - The principal and means of worshipping God in the Old Covenant - and the better means and principal we have now under the new Covenant!
I just recently studied, once again, Genesis chapter four as I led a bi-weekly small group/class in Genesis. As often happens, I glean new things and fresh insight! (This is no wonder since the Bible is "living and active".)
I noticed a clear principal of worship established;
1. Place Both Cain and Abel went to a specific place to bring the sacrifice. We don't know where it was, but probably it was east of Eden, where God's presence remained, in one place and spot.
2. Time It also states that they both came at the specific time. There was not just any day or time to come to God, there was appointed times.
3. Means Although the Bible is not specific in Genesis four, we can clearly extrapolate and conclude that God had made known a clear specific means, or method by which they were to approach God. This was by a blood sacrifice, which was clearly first demonstrated by God himself, when he killed an animal and made skins for Adam and Eve in the chapter before, discarding their makeshift fig leaves.
This same worship principal was continued all through the Old Testament;
Place - they all had one spot to come to God and bring the sacrifice, the temple in Jerusalem
.
Time - these times were all commanded in detail in Leviticus with al the feast and Sabbath days.
Means - this was the same, commanded by God, a blood sacrifice was required.
What about today in the new Covenant? Do we observe and follow the same approach to God? No! This was vividly portrayed by God physically tearing the veil, from top to bottom, upon Jesus' death. This veil separated people from the Holy of Holies, the very place where God's presence was manifested on earth. God himself opened the door (The veil) and declared a bold new approach was now available because of Christ!
Place - this was changed from one holy spot to be everywhere! There was a new special place and spot for God's presence in the New Covenant - it is called -EARTH! God would not be confined to one holy place, but now his presence would cover the entire earth! (Of course, his presence actually fills, and goes beyond the entire universe, but the earth and close area nearby is all that pertains to us)
More insight into a worship place change is clearly seen in John chapter four when Jesus is found speaking with the woman at the well. She is concerned about the specific place to worship God, the Jews said only in Jerusalem, the Samaritans said in Samaria. Jesus totally ignored taking either side! He said, paraphrased, "it doesn't matter where you worship! What is important is how you worship, you must worship God in Spirit and Truth from your heart, the specific place is unimportant."
Time - How did this change in the New Covenant?
"So don't put up with anyone pressuring you in details of diet, worship services, or holy days. All those things are mere shadows cast before what was to come; the substance is Christ."
Colossians 2:17
Within the Old Covenant there were very specific days and times that had to be observed to worship God. Today, within the better New Covenant, we have no such regulations! We are commanded to give thanks and worship God, but not just at certain days and times, but rather every second, every minute of every hour and every day! We should have a mindset of God's presence both along side us, and within us. This is a radical change from the one specific place, and specific days and times before God tore the curtain and opened it for everyone, all the time.
Means - The means by which to worship God, within the Old Covenant, was by sacrifice. Once again, this was clearly specified in detail, to be brought during specific days, times, and to a specific place. What about today?
The means to approach God has not changed, we still come by sacrifice. What has changed is our sacrifice! The only sacrifice we bring now is one of praise and worship. A blood sacrifice continues to be required for sin, but it has been made and paid forever by the Lamb of God - Jesus!
“Earlier there were a lot of priests, for they died and had to be replaced, but Jesus' priesthood is permanent."
"..Jesus' priestly work far surpasses what these other priests do, since he's working far better plan. If the first plan - the Old Covenant - had worked out, a second wouldn't have been needed."
"By coming up with a new plan. a New Covenant between God and his people, God put the old plan on the shelf. And there it stays gathering dust."
Selections from Hebrews chapters 8 & 9
This aspect of the change from the old to the new, is probably the most understood and well known, so I won't go much further. But the point is made; there has been a change in all three aspects of worship, place, time, and means.
Blessing Food?
Where did the idea and practice of "blessing the food" come from before meals? Is it really Biblical to bless food? I never knew that food ever needed blessing, of even if it could receive one!
OK, I have your attention, and you are scanning your memory banks right now for scripture passages that relate. Let me help;
" And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes". And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them saying," This is my body given for you,. Do this in remembrance of me." Luke 22:17
Read it again, carefully, I ask you does it say that Jesus blessed the wine and bread? No! It says he took each one and "gave thanks", he did not give thanks to a cup of wine, nor did he give thanks to a loaf of bread! The common sense interpretation of his text is clear, Jesus took the bread and wine and gave thanks to the father God, who not only supplied the elements, but planned, directed, and willed Jesus to lead this "last supper" and then go on to the cross and then resurrection! Let's look at another;
"Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated." John 6:11
Once again, there is no mention of Jesus blessing the food. Instead, he holds up the bread and gives thanks, to whom? Jesus gives thanks to his father God who once again supplied the fish and bread and the miracle to feed the people!
Remember the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray? He started it off by saying, "Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name". Or holiness be ascribed to the name of the father God. It invokes praise and thanksgiving to God. Then, in the same short prayer, Jesus mentions food by telling us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread". (Matthew 6: 9-13)
Again, there is no mention of blessing food! But rather, the same template of acknowledging and thanking God, who prepares and supplies all our needs, which of course includes food!
Summary
I have shown how it is imperative to see and understand the distinct differences from the Old Covenant as compared to the New Covenant. It is a radical new viewpoint that is difficult, at first to grasp, but with God's grace we can do it.
I have linked this radical and counterintuitive new view to what happened in science, specifically physics, with Einstein. He developed a theory, which is now fact, of relativity that showed light, space, time and gravity in vastly new and different terms. Previously, both space and time were considered absolute and un-bending. After Einstein, it was seen that they were just the opposite! Both space and time were flexible, relative, and warp and bend. But also, he showed that a new absolute entity emerged, one that combines both called, space-time.
Everything now in science must look at things through this grid! It was truly revolutionary!
Likewise, we must now view everything in a new revolutionary grid of God's New Covenant!
Previously, we had sacred space, sacred time, and sacred things. Now, we have only one absolute entity - literally EVERYTHNG! Radical, revolutionary, and counterintuitive, just like the new modern physics, continues to be to those who grasp its concepts.
There is more on some of these same thoughts in my on line e-book “The Magnificent Mundane” posted here as well. Thanks for reading, comments welcomed, John Boda.