The Song of Solomon, contains explicit sexual imagery and yet is beautiful at the same time, describing the sexual relationship between a husband and wife. Should this book even be in the bible? Should unmarried or single people read this, would it make them lust? Lastly, some interpret this book as an allegory of Jesus relationship with His church. Since the church is called the bride of Christ, and by default this means Jesus is the groom. Should we interpret this book as the relationship between Jesus and His church? My only problem with this interpretation is that this could make Jesus like some kind of sexual person. What is the right way of looking at this?
The Song of Solomon is a difficult book to interpret. You can see various ways people have interpreted this via http://bible.org/article/introduction-song-songs. To be sure, allegory is not the proper interpretation. From a logical perspective, the verses do not make sense if we read it as an allegory between Jesus and his church. Perhaps the best way to interpret it – then – is by reading it as love poetry. Song of Solomon affirms the pains and pleasures of sexuality and love between a husband and wife. While the book cannot be read as allegory (nor is it proper to attribute sexuality to God), it does reveal three qualities of love between a man and a woman: self-giving, desire and commitment. This kind of selfless, sacrificial love reflects the greater and more powerful love of God. In other words, there is an analogy between the love we experience in marriage (Eph. 5:21-22) and the love God has for us. I’d also recommend reading this article.
[Answered by Pastor HM]
A place for couples to grow together!
Who: For committed couples (engaged, married and pursuing marriage)
When: Every Wednesday for 7 weeks. We will be studying and exploring The 2nd Service’s new series “The Missional Church” from Oct. 30-Dec.11, 2011. In 2012, we plan to do a series focusing on relationships together.
Where: TBA
How: Sign-up with Elvin Wong (elvinwong@mac.com) Oct. 28th
Fight-Clubs Round 2: Know Your Sin. Fight Your Sin. Trust Your Saviour.
We’re starting a second cohort of Fight Clubs: Gospel-Centered Discipleship Training. Register with Pastor Ho-Ming, homing.tsui@rhccc.ca by November 10.
Dates: November 13, 20 and 27, 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Location: Room C35 (RHCCC basement)
Material will be provided, after registration.
…So the winner of last week’s contest is @littlemscrystal! You can pick up your brand new SHANE & SHANE CD at 2nd Service this Sunday! Onto the review of the week!
Switchfoot. What can I say? Arguably the most popular alt-rock Christian band on the scene today. Although they do not like the label “Christian Band”, their lyrics nonetheless shows how much their faith affects their music. I think part of the allure of this “mainstream crossover” band is that they are able to authentically and relevantly communicate issues such as: depravity, a need of a Savior, and the call to live presently and not just for the future, etc. Of course their frontman, Jon Foreman, is a big reason behind the creative lyricism in their songs. And musically?
… they simply ROCK!!!
Winners of their first Grammy Award last year for “Hello Hurricane”, they proclaimed that this year’s “Vice Verses” album would be a release of many great songs that didn’t make the “Hurricane” album. With that being said, I’m sure most of us were hoping this wouldn’t be some cheesy B-Sides album that they would drop for hardcore fans. Well, I’m here to say, we hoped RIGHT!
Starting with the first Single, “Dark Horses”, we are immediately treated to a wall of sonic GREATNESS in soaring guitar riffs and arena-rock drums. The song, written to raise awareness of homeless youth in San Diego, calls them to get off the streets even though they’re the “Dark Horses”. When I first heard this lead single played before the album came out, it smacked me in the ear drum and left me wanting more!
So now as the album has come out, there is definitely MUCH to look forward to. The first track “Afterlife” reminisces vintage Switchfoot: (“and I wonder, ‘Why would I wait ’til I die to come alive?’ I’m ready now, I’m not waiting for the afterlife.“) A great song to challenge us Christians come alive in Christ NOW versus waiting for some kind of falsely understood eternal afterlife. ”The Original” has musical traces of “Hello Hurricane” on it. The energetic pace of the song makes it a great driving song, while the lyrics calls for us to find our own personal uniqueness in the world vs. being trapped as a “copy” of someone else.
There’s also some introspective slower songs such as “Souvenirs”, “Restless” and the title track “Vice Verses”, (“You got your babies, I got my hearses, every blessing comes with a set of curses. I got my vices, I got my vice verses“). With all the natural disasters, diseases and death going on in the world, this quiet and epic song expresses the conflicted inner struggle that we all have had, in that even though, as Christians, we know there’s a reason for it all, we just want God to comfort and be with us in some tangible way.
Although there is much that shines on the album, not every track is created equal. I loved many old Switchfoot songs that had catchy tongue-in-cheek references in “Gone” or “Company Car”, but “Selling The News” is the track I usually skip on the album because I can’t keep listening to the spoken word parts of the song! Sorry!
Conclusion: This album was totally worth it. Switchfoot/Jon Foreman fans will not be disappointed. It’s not their BEST album, but it is definitely a great anthemic rock album that challenges its listeners to live for something more and sing your own “Vice Verses”.
I’ve answered a similar question in a previous post. I’ll remind you of a few things about communion:
I’ve found a chart that is helpful. Please note:
Hope this answers your question.
[Answered by Pastor HM]
As creator of all things, God did – of course – create music. Why did he create music? Music is an expression of the soul. When we create, play and sing music, we express our heart’s desires, intentions and longings. God created music so we can express ourselves in a powerful and creative way. But there is a deeper reason why God created music. Psalm 69:30 tells us to “praise the name of God with a song … and magnify him with thanksgiving.” The ultimate reason why God created us with the ability and desire to express ourselves through music is to praise and worship Him. When we worship God, we are ascribing ultimate value to Him. When we ascribe ultimate value to something or someone, it means that something or someone is our treasure. It is what we long for; what we desire; what satisfies our hearts; what we are passionate about; what we are willing to sacrifice for. Jesus understood this very well. He said (Matthew 6:21), “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Ascribing ultimate value to God means there is nothing more valuable, more important, more worthy of your soul than God. One of the ways to ascribe value – or worship God – is to sing about God and sing to God in music.
Thanks for asking.
[Answered by Pastor HM]
Of course not! Please read this previously-posted article about doubts and Christianity. Thanks for asking!
[Answered by Pastor HM]
The Bible says the day of judgment cannot be known in advance. In fact, Scripture tells us that it will come like a thief in the night (Matthew 24:42-43) and like lightning (Matthew 24:27). The only thing we know for sure is that Christ will return one day to judge the world. For those who have repented and put their faith in his salvation, they will be taken to heaven in glory at this time. For those who have not, however, only eternal separation from God awaits them.
What this all means is that predicting the exact time of judgment is not important. What is important is ensuring that you do delay the time of your salvation (2 Cor. 6:2). Whether final judgment happens in 2011 or 2012 or 3012 is not crucial; faith in a true savior is.
[Answered by Pastor HM]
