Righteous Sinner

Communion Meditations & Prayers

2010-03-11T16:49:00.000-08:00

There is no meal like this meal

For the Christian, nothing in this world compares to this meal. In it we are reminded of the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ - His dying in our place; taking the wrath that we deserve, so that we might receive forgiveness and favor with God. As in the Old Testament practice of Passover, the blood covers, God’s wrath is averted, and the sacrifice is eaten. Likewise, we partake of our sacrificial lamb, and remember and receive His grace freely given to us. We eat the bread and drink from the cup and we are brought near, by God’s Holy Spirit, to Jesus.

There is no meal that satisfies our emptiness like this meal. No comfort food reminds us of Jesus and ministers to our aching souls. No other food and drink strengthens and sustains our spirits. No other meal gives us true and lasting hope. No other meal convicts us of sin, and reminds us of God’s grace. No other meal takes our heart-breaking circumstances and tells us not to lose heart. No other meal points us to the reality of Christ; where burdens that seem too heavy and too long are comparatively slight and momentary; where we focus on the unseen and eternal, instead of the visible and transient things of this world.

This meal is good news for sinners, and because it is so precious we are told to approach it with great respect. The Apostle Paul tell us, “Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.” He goes on to say, “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.”

There is no meal like this one. No other meal that causes us to stop and examine our hearts before we eat. No other meal that corrects our doubts and reminds us of our eternal hope.

This morning, many of us come to the Lord’s Table with heavy hearts, with earth-shaking news; yet by this meal we are given sustaining grace, and the hope of glory, because Christ is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Prayer:

Father,

Knowing the nearness of Jesus both now and at His second coming … it is only reasonable that we be a people who rejoice.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.”

We give thanks for this meal that reminds us why we ought to continually come back to joy. We give thanks for your Son, Jesus, our savior and friend. All that burdens us can be brought to you by prayer and supplication and with thanksgiving because Jesus is our savior and friend – interceding on our behalf. Thank you for supplying us with your peace, for guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus; for graciously sending your one and only Son to die in our place, and for resurrecting Him from the dead, so that we might have ever-lasting life.

We pray, with joy, in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Feeding on Jesus, Our Bread of Life

As we prepare to eat the bread and drink from the cup, let us remember, and receive afresh … Jesus.

Jesus said,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven (speaking of the manna given in the wilderness), but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

Concerning himself, Jesus declared:

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

Are you, or were you hungry this morning? That hunger communicates more than your reliance on food to satisfy your craving, or to remind you to fuel-up for the day. Your physical hunger is a picture of your real, spiritual hunger; and this hunger can only be satisfied by a steady diet of the bread of life. We need food to survive physically, and we need Jesus to survive in every way.

For those who do not know Jesus, this meal is nothing special. To them it is only a tiny rectangle of bland bread, a thimble of juice, and some weird talk about eating Jesus’ body and drinking His blood.

But for those who know and love Jesus, this meal continually reminds us that apart from Him there is no genuine satisfaction, there is no nourishment for our souls, and there is no true and everlasting life. He is the bread that satisfies our hunger and strengthens us for each day. His shed blood is our source of life. In this meal we remember, celebrate, and continue to rely upon the one who said, “my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink … whoever feeds on me … will live because of me.”

We need this meal because Jesus is life. Only He can satisfy our cravings. Only He gives us eternal life. Those who do not know Jesus seek everything but Him, and are never satisfied. Those who belong to Jesus continually feed on Jesus, and will always be satisfied.

As we pause, and give thanks, before eating any ordinary meal; let’s pause now, before this precious meal, and give thanks to God for His Son, the bread of life.

Prayer:

Our Father,

What a precious and wonderful idea … that You would have us eat of this meal often so that we would remember the life-giving provision of Your Son, Jesus. What a wonderful plan to gather your family, the church, around a meal where there is unity and fellowship, and where we remember our continual need to feed on Jesus – keeping our eyes fixed on the one who is our eternal satisfaction, instead of earthly pleasures that will not last. Thank you for the wonderful truth given to us in this meal – our continual need to have Jesus in us, by Your Holy Spirit, until the day we see Him face-to-face – either when we die, or at His glorious second-coming. We look forward to that day, and we give thanks now for this meal, and the way in which You have pointed us to Jesus, our means of grace and eternal life.

We pray together, as your grateful, adopted, children … in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Knowing Who is Better than Knowing When

2009-02-19T10:56:00.000-08:00

Have you noticed the renewed emphasis on end times teaching? In particular, the point of view that follows the Left Behind novels (dispensational premillennialism) tends to grow in interest with every new crisis, war, or rise of a powerful world leader. Although we ought to joyfully anticipate the Lord’s coming, I wonder whether we look forward to it for the right reasons. Do we look forward to His coming because we’re growing more and more in love with Him, as we study His Word, or do we fear the times and anxiously look for His rescue?

Being the book-buyer for a chain of Christian bookstores for over 25 years has enabled me to see a repeated pattern of end-time highs and lows. When a war breaks out in the Middle East, the prophecy sales go through the roof, and when Saddam Hussein was captured and executed nobody wanted to read about the “biblical” connection to his construction work in ancient Babylon. Are bar-codes and credit cards signs of the end? What happened to the math that confidently calculated the Lord’s coming by interpreting Jesus’ reference to a generation (40 years) as being connected to the rebirth of national Israel in 1948? 1988 came and went, and all 88 reasons for His coming during that time were proven to be false.

Over the years, and even today, I hear people longing for the Lord’s coming in relation to their trials or fears. It’s natural to long for better days, but we need to be careful that Jesus remains the object of our affection, and not simply the one who gives us our idols of relief, security, and comfort. There is a connection, and yet there is a subtle difference. For, when Jesus comes again, things will be set right, which will result in our joy; but the subtle difference becomes clear when we examine the object of our joy. Is it found in the absence of trouble, or is it found in the prince of peace?

Yes, Jesus is coming again someday, but instead of putting our hope in the timing of His coming (something we cannot know – Mt 24:36) shouldn’t we instead trust in the revealed truth of God’s sovereign control over every event of every day of our lives? With this, there will be no let-down. He knows how to give good gifts to his children (Jas 1:17). He knows what is best, and we are told not to worry, because he sovereignly cares for us (Mt 6:25-34). His word reveals that the events of each day occur only because he sovereignly wills them to occur (Jas 4:13-17). Our God, who is in absolute control of every event, has promised to work ALL things for our good – defining good as our being conformed to the image of Jesus (Rom 8:28-29).

Paul says (in Phil 3) that in comparison to knowing Christ, everything is garbage. His sight is primarily set on the person of Jesus Christ, not the day of his coming. The surpassing worth he spoke of was not in the hope of future relief, but in the present, and ongoing, relationship with Jesus. Yes, we look forward to his coming, but it should have to do with seeing the one we have grown to love, and not simply for the relief of our current circumstances. I’m sure Paul wasn’t saying, “I can hardly wait till Jesus gets here so that I can finally get rid of this thorn.” No, what he did say was, “For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (v.8).” Like the psalmist, Paul’s desire and treasure was in the person of God. He says,

“Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
– Ps 73:25-26

Shouldn’t this be our example? Shouldn’t our growing love for Jesus overwhelm all other desires so that we say, “There’s nothing I want instead of you, or even along with you. You’re everything I need.”

So, instead of focusing on the news and what may or may not be signs, let’s focus on Jesus. Instead of getting caught up into things that come and go, why not get caught up in the beauty of Christ revealed to us in Scripture? I suspect that if we do, we’ll rejoice not so much in the earthly troubles Jesus saves us from, but in the treasure that is the Son of God. And, if he does come in our lifetime, we’ll be ready.

God's Most Loved, and Hated, Attribute

2009-01-27T16:41:00.000-08:00

"There is no attribute of God more comforting to His children than the doctrine of divine sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe troubles, they believe that Sovereignty hath ordained their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that Sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children of God ought more earnestly to contend than the dominion of their Master over all creation---the kingship of God over all the works of His own hands---the throne of God, and His right to sit upon that throne.

On the other hand, there is no doctrine more hated by worldlings, no truth of which they have made such a football, as the great, stupendous, but yet most certain doctrine of the Sovereignty of the infinite Jehovah. Men will allow God to be everywhere except on His throne. They will allow Him to be in His workshop to fashion worlds and to make stars. They will allow Him to be in His almonry to dispense His alms and bestow His bounties. They will allow Him to sustain the earth and bear up the pillars thereof, or light the lamps of heaven, or rule the waves of the ever-moving ocean; but when God ascends His throne, His creatures then gnash their teeth, and when we proclaim an enthroned God, and His right to do as He wills with His own, to dispose of His creatures as He thinks well, without consulting them in the matter, then it is that we are hissed and execrated, and then it is that men turn a deaf ear to us, for God on His throne is not the God they love. They love Him anywhere better than they do when He sits with His scepter in His hands and His crown upon His head. But it is God upon the throne we love to preach. It is the God upon the throne whom we trust."

-Spurgeon, delivered May 4, 1856 in a sermon titled "Divine Sovereignty"

Grieving for our Future Scouts ... a letter to a friend

2009-01-16T08:43:00.000-08:00

Dave,

What are they teaching our boy scouts these days? Sure, “snow camping” sounds adventurous, but come on … tents? sleeping bags? air mattresses?

Back in my day (if I actually were a “boy scout”) they would blindfold us and drive us out in the middle of a blizzard, strip us naked and leave us for a week to survive in sub-zero conditions. We learned: which plants were edible; how to make snares to catch rabbits; how to start fires with some rocks and a couple of sticks … or that our teeth with crowns could be pulled and knocked together to get a spark. We’d make shoes from the rabbit hides; we’d sneak up on deer and kill them with our bare hands and bodies, and bare teeth (those that were left). We’d make wind-breakers from the lining of their intestines, drink the water from their stomachs (yes, there was plenty of snow, but you still need to know this is a possibility), eat their hearts, bathe in their blood (yes, again … snow), and we’d sleep inside of their steaming carcasses. We’d make sling shots with their guts and shoot their frozen eyeballs. Yes, there were plenty of rocks, but you need to know these things if ever you are stripped naked and dropped in the middle of a desert with no rocks, and only sand. It’s hard to shoot sand, you know. I’ll describe that to you another time. Yes, those were some good times (if I actually were a “boy scout”), and some lessons that will serve me well … if ever I find myself lost and naked in the woods. You never know … it could happen!

Well, have “fun” in your “tent,” snuggled in your “sleeping bag,” with “thermal underwear,” on top of your “air mattress,” with “food,” and your “portable, private latrines,” while “fully clothed,” and knowing your “actual location.” Have “fun,” while I stay home and grieve for the future of our boy scouts (in my 70 degree home) as I recall the good old days where I imaged doing such things if I actually were a boy scout.

Respectfully (grrrr) yours,

Brian

Considering the Reproach as Greater Wealth

2008-11-05T15:19:00.000-08:00

I read a very inspiring article written by an African American preacher who is apparently being persecuted for voting according to his conscience, and not his race.

Amazing! While watching President-elect Obama deliver his acceptance speech, I found myself caught up in the emotion of seeing our country elect its first black President. What an incredible moment; and what a sad moment. It's incredible when you realize it was only a few hundred years ago that our country enslaved people of his race and that we're only a few decades removed from horrible racism, and the civil rights movement. And yet, this same pinnacle moment is combined with great sadness because it comes in a man whose beliefs will promote the evil of abortion ... to ALL races.

I'm thankful for Pastor Redmond's stand against evil. It says a lot about his faith in Christ. He reminds me of Moses (mentioned in the Hebrews 11 hall of faith) who, by faith, chose to be mistreated with the people of God rather than enjoying the sinful pleasures of Egypt. He did this because he considered the reproach of Christ to be a greater pleasure.

Unlike Pastor Redmond, I saw bishop T. D. Jakes (also an African American preacher) interviewed this morning on a national talk show. It was apparent that he supported President-elect Obama, and I just couldn't help but wonder how a Christian (or, even more so, a pastor) could prefer race to life. Because I expect an "evangelical" preacher to be bothered by abortion, gay marriage, and leaders who support such things (maybe I'm naive), I assume his support of Obama comes down to race. Shouldn't our support be determined by a candidate's thinking and beliefs?

I don't want to minimize the difficult decision this is for so many African American believers, as Pastor Redmond's article clearly shows this struggle, but when it comes down to it our allegiance should always land on the perfect law of God, and we should always oppose unrighteousness.

Redmond writes:

"If a person would allow himself to be pigeonholed into becoming a person of a nationalistic or ethno-centric thought out of the fear of being viewed as an Oreo or Uncle Tom, then Reformed Theology is not for that person. But neither is the Gospel, for the Gospel calls each of us to stand against an ethnic-centered philosophy of one's own race, for such a philosophy is naturally conformed to this present world and is in need of redemption. If you cannot stand against your own culture where it does not square with the Scriptures, you are the one who is ashamed of Christ, and such shame has nothing to with philosophical or ontological Blackness; it only has to do with your view of the majesty of the God who calls you to deny yourself in order to follow Christ." ("Sovereign in a Sweet Home, Schooling, and Solace," in Glory Road: Our Journey Into Reformed Christianity, ed. Anthony Carter [Wheaton, IL: Crossway, Wheaton, forthcoming])

But now that Obama has been elected, how should we, as believers, respond? Can we live for the glory of God alone while he is our leader? Actually, we have even more opportunity to do so when times are tough. The people of God were given specific instructions concerning their governing authorities, and it's helpful to remember that believers were told this while their leaders were persecuting and killing them.

Pastor Redmond writes,

"The question for me at this time is this: Can I continue to live Soli Deo Gloria under a President whose moral judgment already is questionable before he takes the oath of office? Yes I can, for I can be obedient to Scripture, praying for the one in authority (I Tim. 2:1-8), honoring the one in authority (1 Pet. 2:13-18), submitting to the one in authority (Rom. 13:1-7; Tit. 3:1), and seeking righteousness for the entire citizenry (Prov. 14:34). These I will seek to do by grace. I will "honor the good appointment of God."Moreover, I can follow the admonition and example of Calvin, who ... preached that believers should impute to themselves the ills of government and recognize the common grace given to mankind through human governing authorities."

Click here to read the entire article

Thank you, Pastor Redmond, for your Moses-like, Christ-like, example to believers of all races. God is glorified when our words and actions prove that He is our greatest treasure.

Thoughts on 1 Peter 1:1-2

2008-10-22T10:45:00.000-07:00

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Peter begins by addressing his letter to believers, quickly acknowledging God’s role in their salvation. The first description is "elect." God is the one who has mercy on whom He has mercy (Rom 9). We are elect not because of anything we do, but because this is the will of God. It is His choice to have mercy (by electing) those He chooses to have mercy upon. If His choice is based on anything outside of His own sovereign will, then it ceases to be grace and becomes a favor that is in some way merited by those who draw God's merciful attention. Peter writes to those whom God has chosen, and he also acknowledges that they are exiles. Spiritually speaking, they no longer belong to an earthly kingdom, but are spiritually like Jews who are scattered in a dispersion and without a homeland. As Christians we are exiles in a dispersion because our citizenship is a heavenly one - one in which we do not currently reside.

Peter describes the basis for our election in verse 2, when he says that it is "according to the foreknowledge of God the Father." Again, our election is not according to our free choice that draws God's merciful attention, but it is instead according to God's foreknowledge. To say that foreknowledge is God seeing our future, good choice, which then determines His choice, is to destroy the very meaning of grace - making God's favor merited by our good decision. No, foreknowledge speaks to God's action in knowing us in intimate relationship. He is the initiator of our knowledge of Him. To know God is to love God, and apart from God’s intervention we do not love Him. We love Him only because He first loved us. Knowing God is more than intellectual awareness or emotional experience. Knowing God always involves God first loving us by revealing Himself to us in a saving way. We love Him because He first loved us. We know God because He foreknew us. He chose to reveal Himself to us in such a way that we would be in intimate relationship with Him. In foreknowing us, God determines to give us intimate relationship with Himself by being the initiator who overcomes our hard hearts. He determines to know us, even though we do not want to know Him.

Just as God came and revealed Himself to a pagan named Abram- making him an elect exile - so we become a people without a homeland because of God’s decision to reveal Himself to us in a way that brings us into relationship with Him, forever changing our allegiances.

This also agrees with John 6, which shows that God the Father gives a certain group of people to the Son, and entrusts him to save them all. It begins with the Father’s choice, then the Spirit sanctifies or sets apart these for the holy purpose of obeying Jesus, and Jesus is the one whose blood is shed - making this intimate relationship with God possible.

"May grace and peace be multiplied to you."

God already has been gracious to us through His decision to be in relationship with us, giving us the Spirit to set us apart for seeing Jesus as our atoning sacrifice, which brings peace between God and us - a relationship that previously was not one of peace, but one of our rebellion and His coming, just wrath. We already have been given grace and peace, and yet our ongoing relationship with God is a continual multiplying of God's unmerited favor toward us, which brings continual peace with God and peace in hearts that are continually reminded of the fact that our biggest problem has been remedied.

May grace and peace be multiplied to you this day, and every day, because of the Father’s choice, the Spirit’s work to set us apart, and because of all that Jesus has made possible through His life, death, resurrection, and glorification.

The Message ... from Calvin

2008-10-20T13:43:00.000-07:00

"Let us ... remember, whenever each of us contemplates his own nature, that there is one God who so governs all natures that he would have us look unto him, direct our faith to him, and worship and call upon him. For nothing is more preposterous than to enjoy the very remarkable gifts that attest the divine nature within us, yet to overlook the Author who gives them to us at our asking." - John Calvin

Translation:

When you're thinking about yourself it's only reasonable that you'd also think of the one who made and sustains everything that exists. You can't separate yourself from the one who maintains your very existence. Shouldn't we worship, trust, and appealed to Him for our every need? Yes, and nothing would be more ridiculous and outrageous than enoying gifts that are designed to show the worth of God ... while ignoring God, the generous giver.

The Lord Will Provide

2008-08-22T09:24:00.000-07:00

I was just listening to the album "All I Owe," by Matthew Smith, where he takes several old hymns and puts them to his own music. I was encouraged by the hymn, "The Lord Will Provide," which was originally written by John Newton, who many of us know as the writer of "Amazing Grace."

It's amazing to think of the lasting power of a well-written song, and how it can be used hundreds of years later to encourage a brother or sister in the body of Christ. If we are truly in the faith; that is, if we are united to Christ, then we are also connected to both contemporary believers, and people like John Newton, whose work reaches into the future and is used to point our hearts toward God in worship.

I am grateful to brothers like Newton because so much of our contemporary worship is shallow and repetitive. Not all of today's music is lacking. Thankfully, God continues to bless us with modern-day writers whose songs may one day lead saints in the year 2208 to sing glorious truths about our awesome God.

It seems that the modern church has built a false dichotomy between our heads and our hearts. I recently heard of a comment made on Christian radio that sang the praises of a modern worship song because of its simplicity. The speaker said that what made this song so great was the repetition of just a few simple words. He said that this was freeing to the worshipper because he or she wouldn't have to stop and think about what lyrics are coming next; they could just repeat these words over and over again and be led into a state of worship.

Jesus said that our worship is to be in Spirit and truth. There are incredible depths to be plumbed in God's Word - using the minds that He gave us so that we might know Him and, in this knowledge, respond in an expression of grateful, reverent worship to the truths revealed to us. True worship will have no dichotomy between the head and heart. Yes, we can know true things about God and not be moved to express them in worship, and we can also be emotionally moved by hype, and not truth. Neither of these honor or love God. We are to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and so true worship will involve both the mind and the heart.

The following words come to my mind, are discerned to be true by God's Spirit-inspired Word, and my heart rejoices in worship. I pray these will likewise point you to Christ, and cause you to rejoice.

Though troubles assail,
And dangers affright;
Though friends should all fail,
And foes all unite,
Yet one thing secures us,
Whatever betide:
The Scripture assures us,
“The Lord will provide.”

The birds, without barn
Or storehouse, are fed;
From them let us learn
To trust for our bread;
His saints what is fitting
Shall ne’er be denied,
So long as ’tis written,
“The Lord will provide.”

His call we obey,
Like Abram of old,
Not knowing our way,
But faith makes us bold;
For though we are strangers,
We have a good Guide;
And trust in all dangers:
“The Lord will provide.”

When Satan appears
To stop up our path,
And fills us with fears,
We triumph by faith;
He cannot take from us,
Though oft he has tried,
The heart-cheering promise,
“The Lord will provide.”

He tells us we’re weak,
Our hope is in vain;
The good that we seek
We ne’er shall obtain;
But when such suggestions
Our faith thus have tried,
This answers all questions,
“The Lord will provide.”

No strength of our own,
Nor goodness we claim;
Our trust is all thrown
On Jesus’ dear name.
In this our strong tower
For safety we hide;
The Lord is our power,
“The Lord will provide.”

When life sinks apace,
And death is in view,
The word of His grace
Shall comfort us through;
Not fearing or doubting,
With Christ on our side,
We hope to die shouting,
“The Lord will provide.”

You can listen to a recording by Matthew Smith, from his CD All I Owe by clicking here.

When Good Things Become Bad Things

2008-08-19T23:08:00.000-07:00

Good things always become bad things when they become the main thing. Our political involvement, educational choices, strategies for purity, and love of country are a few things that we so confidently glorify, yet they so easily become objects of division. They divide us when they define us - when they are valued to the point of becoming our identity. Our only remedy to this is Christ who is our life - our singular, dominant affection. I use the words “singular,” and “dominant,” to emphasize that Christ must be our only identity. There is no room for another identity. If we are ever to experience and give the love of Christ then we cannot have competing affections … even good ones. Jesus didn’t give us this option. For he said,

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” – Lk 14:26

Jesus is not instructing us to hate something as wonderful as family; and when he also tells the rich young ruler to sell everything in order to inherit the kingdom; he likewise is not demonizing money. Family and money are not bad things, but they become bad - they become idols - when they compete with what should be our singular and dominant affection. Nothing should compare to the treasure of Christ. In comparison we ought to joyfully sell everything in order to have that treasure hidden in the field.

Our problem is no different than the Pharisees we so easily villanize in the gospel accounts. We think highly of purity … and they were the champions of avoiding outward corruption. We love reading about the dedicated, self-disciplined lifestyle of successful Christians … and none would compare to the “good” lifestyle of the Pharisees.

We villanize the Pharisees because of their self-righteous, unloving judgmentalism; but we are blind to the Pharisee in us that looks down on families that educate their kids out of the home. Don’t get me wrong; my wife and I have chosen to home-school our kids, and we’re very grateful to do so. But as soon as we make this our identity we cannot possibly love others with the love of Christ because, if this is our identity, we will either feel superior or threatened.

As soon as we make politics our identity, we cannot help but be threatened by the other party … and even feel justified in despising them. When our identity is in our family we cannot help but slight others as we prefer relatives. When our identity is in a sub-culture of Jesus apparel, Christian music, and anointed salad dressings that guarantees a “blessing when you try our dressing” (No, I’m not making this up), then we become distracted with a false sense of security, and our preferences silently (and sometimes, not-so-silently) attack people who appreciate the God-given gifts of “secular” musicians, or even Paul Newman’s “ungodly” balsamic.

There are many good things, causes, and relationships to enjoy, but if we do not hate them (in comparison to Christ) then we will hate those who do not share our wrong affections.

I love how Tim Keller describes this in his book, “The Reason for God.” He writes:

“In ‘The Nature of True Virtue’, one of the most profound treatises on social ethics ever written, Jonathan Edwards lays out how sin destroys the social fabric. He argues that human society is deeply fragmented when anything but God is our highest love. If our highest goal in life is the good of our family, then, says Edwards, we will tend to care less for other families. If our highest goal is the good of our nation, tribe, or race, then we will tend to be racist or nationalistic. If our ultimate goal in life is our own individual happiness, then we will put our own economic and power interests ahead of those of others. Edwards concludes that only if God is our … ultimate good and life center, will we find our heart drawn out not only to people of all familes, races, and classes, but to the whole world in general.

… If we get our very identity, our sense of worth, from our political position, then politics is not really about politics, it is about us. Through our cause we are getting a self, our worth. That means we must despise and demonize the opposition. If we get our identity from our ethnicity or socio-economic status, then we have to feel superior to those of other classes and races. If you are profoundly proud of being an open-minded, tolerant soul, you will be extremely indignant toward people you think are bigots. If you are a very moral person, you will feel very superior to people you think are licentious. And so on.”

There is no way out of this conundrum. The more we love and identify deeply with our family, our class, our race, or our religion, the harder it is not to feel superior or even hostile to other religions, races, etc. … The real culture war is taking place inside our own disordered hearts, wracked by inordinate desires for things that control us, that lead us to feel superior and exclude those without them, and that fail to satisfy us even when we get them.”

I am both the perpetrator and the victim. I have thought more highly of myself than those who chose a different way. I have avoided people who threaten what I believe to be wise. I am guilty … and, in Christ, I am both forgiven and (ever so slowly, and by God’s grace) I am being transformed into the humble, loving, sacrificial image of Christ.

I have also been on the other side. I have felt the stinging realization of rejection. Sometimes our own sin can be the cause, and other times it is just plain, old legalism. But if Christ is our singular, dominant affection then the sin of others will not threaten us. Instead, we will seek to lovingly show mercy to others by pointing them to the one who had mercy on us. If Jesus were everything to us, then we would not be threatened by those with different convictions because we would realize that our unity is not in right or left, home or public, dating or courting, contemporary or traditional, democracy or communism, black or white, rich or poor, secular culture or sacred culture. No, our unity is in Christ alone. Good things need not be abandoned, but good things always become bad things when they compete with Jesus who must be our singular, dominant affection.

We are far too easily pleased

2008-08-12T10:26:00.000-07:00

"If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." - C.S. Lewis

I love this quote. It forces me back to the realization that I am so often distracted with both sin and even good things that keep me from the best thing. I am that child who settles for making mud pies. What an amazing point of view! How often do we think that the problem is the intensity and strength of our temptations, when the reality is that we are ignorant and weak in the knowledge that God is a far superior pleasure? As Christians, we know this sounds right but, in practice, we so often prove that we don't believe it.

This is why we need to continually hear and preach (to others, and ourselves) the gospel. The gospel is at the core of everything; when we hear it we are reminded of what God has done for us in Jesus, and we also hear what He promises us now and in the future. There is grace in the past, present, and future; and faith hears the promise of God for our growth in holinesss and believes He is at work in us. Faith hears, believes, receives, and acts accordingly - knowing that God will accomplish His work of making us into the image of Jesus. Maybe even more importantly, faith believes that God is a better pleasure than the mud pies of sin; and sin can be both obvious and disguised as good gifts that become our idolatrous identities. Christ is our life. He alone is our identity and anything that distracts us from the joy of God is a mud pie that we settle for as ignorant children who are far too easily pleased.

Will The Shack Stand?

2008-07-18T16:55:00.000-07:00

Books are powerful. They have the power to change our opinions and the way we live. They can bring tears and laughter, and inspire both evil and great good. We are changed by many kinds of books, whether they are biographical, social commentary, humor… and yes, fiction. In fact one of the most influential books ever written was a work of fiction by pastor and prisoner, John Bunyan. His book, “Pilgrim’s Progress,” is the second best-selling book of all time. It has taught millions about the pitfalls of sin, the glory of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, and the joy of living fully accepted by God, free from the burden of sin.

Words are powerful, and fiction is an effective means of shaping people’s opinions. Our opinions can be shaped to conform to truth or they can pull us further away from truth. “Pilgrim’s Progress” has been mightily used for the cause of truth because of its solid, biblical grounding in God’s Word; and other books, such as Dan Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code” have caused others to doubt if the Bible is God’s Word at all.

I’m concerned about a new bestseller, “The Shack,” by William P. Young. When I have voiced that concern, what I’ve heard most often is, “It’s only a story.”

Yes, it is only fiction, but fiction is powerful. Take a look at these mind-changing comments taken from Amazon reviews concerning The Shack:

“It really changes the way I view God, and the way I can relate with him. My relationship is so much deeper now.”

“I truly believe that ‘The Shack’ has the potential to shake up and alter the entire Church. This book will seriously mess with your theology – and you will be GLAD. Yeah, it’s really that good.”

“It has changed me or rather I should say that God has used this book to alter my thinking as to who He is and who I am in His eyes…”

“Never will I look at the Trinity in the same way again.”

"Honestly, I don’t think that there is a book other than the Bible itself that has influenced the dimension of my love for my Father, Jesus, and Sarayu (this is the name of the Holy Spirit personified by an Asian woman in ‘The Shack’)… The visual imagery that the author has been able to convey through the eyes of Mack will forever impact my visions of my Trinitarian guardians.”

Fiction’s ability to inspire, the use of it in Jesus’ own ministry, and these powerful testimonies all speak to the fact that we cannot downplay the importance “The Shack,” or any work of fiction because they are “only stories.” Fiction can be used of God to draw us closer to Himself, and fiction can also deceive people into thinking they have grown closer to God … when in reality they are further from the truth. We shouldn’t assume either about “The Shack.” We shouldn’t assume it is true merely because it was a fascinating read, because it was exciting, or because it overwhelmed us emotionally. We shouldn’t assume it is good because it is sold in Christian bookstores, endorsed by a respected author, or recommended by a believing friend. Likewise, we also shouldn’t criticize the book simply because it is a big seller or because it was not written by a theologian with whom we are familiar. Instead, we should evaluate “The Shack” and all other works in light of the only book worthy of helping us to discern all other books, and that book is God’s Word, the Bible.

It is my prayer that God will use “The Shack” as a wake-up call to: our utter dependence on God’s Word for discerning truth; our susceptibility to being strongly influenced by the things we enjoy; a humble recognition that error should be repented of and not defended; and that our highest priority is the first thing Jesus taught us to pray – that our heavenly Father’s name is to be hallowed, or greatly honored.

God reveals Himself to us in many ways. We learn many things about Him in creation, history, and in our own, daily experiences. We see His power and beauty in creation, and by it we know that we are accountable to Him, our Creator. And all throughout history, and in our own lives, we see evidences of His sovereignty through His constant care, provision, and providential interventions. God has revealed Himself to us, but we need to be careful that we do not define God in ways that He is not. If we are left alone to our own imaginations (or the imaginations of fallible authors), or the things we see and experience, then we know what will happen. We don’t have to guess at the results because history tells us of men creating gods as they desire him to be, based on: creation, personal desires, and experience. This is why God has also revealed Himself in His written, infallible Word. The Bible is the only trustworthy revelation of God that rightly interprets all other general revelations. We can see truths about God in creation, life, and books; but we only know they are true by looking at them through the Bible, which is God’s only written, authoritative revelation.

“The Shack” has a lot to say about God. It is a story, but because it gives us a revelation of God (one that has powerfully changed real people’s thinking about Him) then we ought to discern its truthfulness with the only Word of Truth. My purpose in writing this is not to examine “The Shack,” but to instead point you to someone who has done so in the light of Scripture. Tim Challies originally wrote a good review, but then later (because of the book’s growing popularity) he wrote a more extensive article that takes William Young’s various “revelations” and compares them to the truths of Scripture. Some of these “revelations” include: The Trinity, God’s holiness, salvation, roles of authority within God and His world, sin and its punishment, the exclusivity of Christ as Savior, and the nature of revelation. As you can see, these are not small, insignificant (if there could be such things concerning God) topics, but essentials of the historic Christian faith.

I pray that out of a love for God and a trust in His Word that you will humbly read this article, learn (and, if necessary, be corrected) about the truths of God’s nature and character, and that as a result you will truly grow more in love with our God who desires to be worshiped in spirit and truth.

To read Tim’s review you may download it from the following link:
http://www.challies.com/archives/book-reviews/the-shack-by-william-p-young.php

What's Your Motive?

2008-07-04T12:37:00.001-07:00

What motivates you to live a good, unselfish life? Nobody simply lives this way without any external cause. I say this because Scripture tells us of our sinful nature, and that none of us are good - no, not one. Sure, we see lots of people doing a lot of good, unselfish things, but why; what’s their motive?

Celebrities once saved whales (when it was popular to do so), and now the trendy, good deed is to be green and save the planet. Those with a view toward karma (also trendy among the Hollywood crowd) are working to either undo some current bad luck, or to assure a future life of ease and prosperity. The motive behind karma is fear and a desire to control life’s circumstances - either now, or in a future, reincarnated state. By doing good deeds, and being unselfish, they work to control their current and future joy with a belief that what they do comes back around – hopefully in a life walking the beach instead of being cannibalized by your mantis mate.

No matter how you look at it there is always an incentive for why people do what they do. Our good deeds are never done as an expression of a pure, uninfluenced, good heart because apart from God we are sinful, not good. Our minds can be renewed and our lives transformed, but this transformation only occurs when something outside of us comes upon us and works a change. The gospel of John tells us that Jesus understood this state of man. In chapter 2, verse 25, we read that Jesus did not entrust himself to the people because he “knew what was in man.” Later on we read that Jesus also taught that something outside of man must cause a change in order for him to see and enter the kingdom of God. Jesus said that flesh left to itself remains flesh and that a spiritual transformation only occurs when the Spirit of God brings about a new birth. He goes on to remind us that we have no more control over this than we do in controlling the wind. This transformation is not initiated by something within us, but is an act of God outside us, freely choosing to change those He determines to change.

Tim Keller, in his book “The Reason for God” said, “If we are sinners saved by grace we are more subject to the sovereign Lordship of God. If Jesus has done all of this for me, then I am not my own. In realizing the great cost to God, I am left belonging to Him with joy and gratefulness.”

In other words, when I rightly view my salvation as completely, 100% the work of God and not 99% God, and 1% me, then I realize that there is also not a single percent of me that does not belong to God. I realize that His lordship is over every area of my life and not 99%, with a little left for me to do as I please. Because I needed a 100% Savior I have a 100% Lord. Realizing that the cost was great, and completely paid by Him, leaves me without any fear-based motives that strive to either prevent punishment or gain acceptance. Why? Because the punishment has been completely paid and my acceptance is eternally full. I don't turn over a new leaf because my leaves will always be insufficient to cover my shame, and God has already covered me in the righteousness of Jesus, my perfect sacrifice.

God’s wrath has been removed from us, and only His promise of continued love and blessing remains. So, if we live consistent to this truth then there shouldn’t be a need to perform good deeds in order to prevent punishment or gain blessing. It's already done. The only thing that remains is responding to God’s grace and mercy with a grateful heart that desires to continually enjoy glorifying Him for the rest of our days. And this enjoyment of God that brings Him glory is a life lived believing in the sufficiency of Christ for a salvation that endures and bears fruit as a result of His, 100% work.

What Did Jesus Do ... and should I?

2008-07-03T08:26:00.000-07:00

We often look to Jesus as an example for how we should live, but in Luke 14 we read something that is clearly not meant to be a model for our behavior.

When Jesus was at the house of Simon the leper a woman came and poured a very costly flask of ointment over Jesus’ head. Some were upset that she used up something that was worth nearly an entire year’s wages, saying, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.”

This seems like a reasonable question. After all, we should be thoughtful of those in need; we should care for the poor, and this woman completely used up something that would have relieved many poor people’s suffering. It’s not a bad question. Doesn’t Jesus tell us to love our neighbor, and that when we care for the least of these we serve Him? Did Jesus really need this much spent on Him? Would she have better served Him by selling the ointment and helping the poor in Jesus’ name?

This all seems reasonable … and then Jesus surprises us with a statement that seems so selfish, so uncaring. He says, “Leave her alone … For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me.”

Jesus places her act of affection for Him in higher regard than caring for the poor. In essence He says that He is more important, that He is a higher priority than the poor … which is not an example to be duplicated.

If I were to follow this example I might go to a local drop-off point for charitable donations, such as our local “coats for kids” campaign where people give coats to needy kids who wouldn’t otherwise have something warm to wear during our cold winter months. If a donor were to give me a beautiful leather coat, and then one of the volunteers said, “Why are you giving him that coat? You could buy several coats for the needy kids in our area for the price of this coat.” Responding like Jesus I would say, “This is a very nice thing being done for me. You have this campaign every year, and this program will go on way after I’m dead. There’s always going to be poor kids who need coats, and you can go on helping them, but you won't always have me around. Leave her alone. What she's doing for me is a good thing."

No, I don’t think this would be honoring to God, and ultimately there lies the difference. Jesus is the eternal Son of God, who should be honored above all people ... and I’m not. Not everything Jesus did or said is meant for us to duplicate because many things He did were intended to reveal that He is unique, that He is the Son of God who is worthy of greater affections than all people, even the poor. And as the unique, Son of God who came to give His life as a ransom for many, Jesus did do the most loving thing. Don't misunderstand His words to be uncaring because the burial for which He was being annointed came because of His infinitely greater gift on the cross. He became poor in order that we might be heirs of God's eternal wealth.

So what is our response? Do we focus on Jesus and neglect the poor? This also misses the point because Jesus told us that whatever we do for the least, we do to Him. Jesus is our focus, and if Jesus is our treasure in all things we will not focus on the poor without affection for Jesus, and we will also not focus on Jesus and neglect the poor. No, all that we do will be done as a result of our love and affection for Jesus. So we help the poor not in addition to our love for Jesus, but because of our love for Jesus, and for His glory, not ours.

Be Strong

2008-06-19T16:00:00.000-07:00

Christian, be strong. What kind of strength? A Lance Armstrong, "live strong," kind of strength? A physically, mentally, and emotionally strong kind of strength? These are good and fine, but why should you have this strength? What’s the purpose? Well, 1 Peter 4:11 says that whoever serves ought to serve by the strength that God supplies so that in everything God will get the glory. After all, the creator of everything should get the glory, right? We, being a part of His creation, exist for the purpose of glorifying God by enjoying Him forever; so be strong. Be strong so that He gets the glory. Be strong in the things of the Lord so that you’ll rightly understand that all of your various strengths actually come from Him for the purpose of glorifying Him. He gives you gifts so that He may be seen as good and mighty in being the source of your strength. When you do this you’re functioning as He designed and nothing brings you more joy than doing what you were made to do.

Okay, here's the kind of strength I really had in mind. Be strong in the things of the Lord, and let the source of this strength be His mighty strength. Sounds a little circular, but I think this is what Paul is saying in the 6th chapter of Ephesians. He says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” In other words, our strength ought to be in the things of the Lord, and this strength is supplied by the Lord. Take a look through Ephesians 6:10-20 and you’ll see that the things of the Lord, the things that we are to have strength in, are: truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, and the Spirit of God through the Word of God, which produces prayer for the saints and for bold preaching of the gospel.

We are to be strong in all of these areas, and the source of all of these strengths is God. God is truth. God's Word is truth. God’s Holy Spirit is truth and we are to worship God in spirit and truth. Those who do not know God suppress the truth, and those who do know God have been granted repentance that leads them to a knowledge of the truth. This truth is the glory of God, and we were once blind to it. But all praise be to God, for in His grace He said, "Let there be light," and now we see His glory in the face of His Son, Jesus Christ. And now, as Christians, we are to grow in the knowledge of the Lord, and even this is given to us by God. This is why Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus. He prayed that their eyes would be enlightened to the truth of God, His glory, and His power toward those who believe. We are to be strong in this most glorious truth, and we should pray that our brothers and sisters in Christ would continue to grow in the truth of God.

We are to be strong in righteousness. Apart from God, none of us are righteous, no, not one. We do not have a righteousness of our own, but are declared righteous because Jesus perfectly obeyed the law and possesses a righteousness that is ours only by grace through faith in Jesus. God is the God of righteousness, and unless we are strong in His righteousness alone we will never stand against Satan’s attacks, and we will never ultimately stand before a Holy God, but will receive His just, eternal condemnation and wrath.

We are to be strong in the gospel. If we are weak in the gospel then we have no strength to fight against the attacks of Satan. For, he surely wants to distract us from the good news of Jesus’ work on the cross that defeated death and Satan. If we are in Christ there is therefore now no condemnation. If we are in Christ we have died with Him and have likewise been raised with Him in new life. We are to be strong in the gospel because the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. We are to be strong in the gospel because we are all bent toward the law. We like our lists. We like to “just do it.” We love to focus on practical applications we can do, and we love to tell others what to do. The gospel is not something we do, but is only what has been done for us, by Jesus. The law is "do", and the gospel is "done." If we focus on what we must do and neglect what Jesus has done then we will either end up self-righteously confident in our own abilities, or we will realize our continual failure that leads to despair. Instead, we must be strong in the gospel because we are always dependent on what God has done for us, and never are we to focus, apart from the gospel, on what we are to do. Don’t get me wrong, we are to do things. We are to be obedient to God’s law - for this is what pleases Him. But the only proper motive for this doing of the law is in responding with grateful joy to the gospel. Telling ourselves to love God and love people will never empower us to love God and love people. But if we focus on God’s love for us in the gospel, we will find ourselves loving God and loving people – and on these all the law and prophets depend.

We are also to be strong in faith, salvation, and in God’s Spirit; and our strength in the Spirit is through the Word, and in prayers both for the saints and for the those saints who boldly proclaim the gospel.

More to come on these, but what they all have in common is that we are not to be ignorant of them, or even have some general idea about them, but we are to be strong in them. This means that we need to know what they are, how they apply to us, and that God is the giver, that is, the source of strength for all of these so that He alone gets the glory.

Be strong.

The Prodigal Sons?

2008-06-02T11:11:00.000-07:00

And [Jesus] said, "There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
"But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate. – Luke 15:11-24

Most of us, if not all of us, have heard the parable of the prodigal son, and a lot of us have heard it, but not really heard it. We see some true things but, if you’re like me, you’ve missed a lot of the truths that are here for us to see. We know the parable of the prodigal son is about a rebel who repents and is forgiven by his father. We know that the father represents God, and the prodigal represents those who have turned away from God and are pursuing a life of sin. We know the reunion is a precious and joyous part of the story where there is great celebration, and some who hear this story relate to it and long for someone they know and love to turn from their sin and be reconciled to God. There’s a lot of emotion in this story because many of us do relate to it in one way or another.

Some of you know that you were that prodigal, and you know God’s grace and mercy. And so, when you hear this parable, you identify with its character. You shudder at the thought of your sin, and you are filled with grateful emotion when you hear the words, “But while he [the prodigal] was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” You know the embrace and kiss of God. You have been forgiven, and you will live the rest of your days in grateful celebration because of God’s incredible mercy and forgiveness.

Some of you long for a loved one to experience this joy and grateful celebration. You love a prodigal, you relate to the father in this parable because your greatest prayer is that they turn and seek God’s mercy.

Some of you only relate to this story from a distance. You may know and pray for someone with a prodigal, and because we are a part of this family called the body of Christ we should weep with those who long for their loved one to turn, and we should rejoice with those who celebrate God’s good embrace of a rebel’s homecoming.

Some of you parents only worry that this will one day be your trial. For those who worry about the future, know that God cares for you and that you are to cast all your anxieties on Him. Know that He has promised to work all things for the good of those who love Him. Know that God will give you the grace to endure any trial, but that you are not to create a trial that exists only in your mind. Instead, we are to continue pointing our kids to the gospel, and trusting God for the outcome.

Some of you may relate to this story because you know you’re in rebellion. You want the benefits of Heaven, but you also love the “far country” and its reckless living. If this is you, understand that these are two different places. The father is not in that country and you cannot be in two places at the same time. God commands you to repent and trust that Jesus is a better pleasure than anything this world has to offer.

Some of you don’t relate to this story at all. You don’t have a close friend or relative who looks like this prodigal. You’re in a good Christian home, and you never pursued any of these really big sins. For you, there’s much more to this story than you realize. In fact, there may be more here for you than anyone else.

Jesus intended for us to have an emotional connection to this story. He knows the love a father has for his son. He knows the heartache of sin. And He wants us to feel all of the emotions that this story can bring. But He wants us to see more than our earthly relationships. He wants all of us to get a clearer picture of His grace toward sinners, like us.

The Younger Son has many Blessings

Let’s take a close look at the younger son and see if he looks familiar to us. First of all, we see that this younger son has many blessings available to him. Nowhere in this story are we given the impression that the father is harsh, demanding or abusive. In fact we can see that the opposite is true because of how the father blesses his son even though he is under no obligation to do so. The father is rich in blessings – wealthy enough to have hired servants, hired musicians and dancers for the party, and to even have a calf set aside being fattened for a special occasion. In this culture all of these are evidences of great wealth, and when you combine them with the father’s generosity we are given the picture that he enjoyed his father’s wealth.

All of us are like this younger son. In Matthew 5:45 Jesus describes God’s general goodness to all of mankind, irregardless of how we treat Him. He says,

“For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

The Younger Son Despises his father’s authority

The description Jesus gives of the younger son includes much more than his desire to go out and pursue his sinful lusts. We’re also given a picture of despicable, shameful dishonor and hatred for the father. In our culture we think of an inheritance as something that will help our children with the life they’ve made for themselves. But in this Jewish culture, family property stayed … family property; and inheritances were designed to keep the family together, building a strong core for future generations. This is why the eldest son typically got a double portion. It wasn’t considered unfair to the younger siblings, in fact it was to their benefit because the eldest son would assume the role of leadership and his double portion gave him a better foundation to build on and establish a stronger family core. Inheritances were not given prior to the father’s death, so for this younger son to ask for his share now communicated: that he wished his father was dead; that he wanted nothing to do with his family; and that he had no appreciation for all of the previous generations that worked to benefit his father … and now, him. This son’s request shows incredible rebellion and, in this culture, it wouldn’t be unheard of to execute him by stoning him to death. Jesus’ audience would have at least expected the father to take his son and publicly shame him with a hard slap across his face. Any self-respecting father would not allow such shame to come upon his family. He would likely announce this son to be dead (maybe even holding a funeral); he would be disinherited, kicked out, and considered … dead.

So, to ask for his inheritance was no careless request; it was a show of absolute rebellion and hatred toward his father’s authority and person.

Before God’s good embrace, this is how Scripture describes us. We were alienated and hostile in mind … doing evil deeds. None of us were righteous, no, not one: no one understood; no one sought for God. All of us turned aside; we were all worthless; not doing good, not even one of us. All of us, like sheep, went astray; we turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all.

This is a description of a prodigal. We do not just know prodigals; the prodigal is a picture of every sinner who has ever lived … including you, and me.

The Younger Son's mind is set on sin, no matter the cost

The prodigal is desperate to pursue his sinful lusts, no matter the cost; and that he was on his way only a few days later, tells us that he sold his property for pennies on the dollar. And when we see where it led we are reminded that sin leads to death.

Romans 8:5-8 tells us:

“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.” – (Rom 8:5-8)

The prodigal was so caught up in sin that he recklessly squandered all that he had. Part of his recklessness is seen in the fact that he went to a “far off country.” Jesus’ listeners would have understood this to mean that he, a Jewish boy, did the unthinkable by going to live with Gentiles. In the minds of the Pharisees, this was one of the worst things he could do. This is where his desperation took him, and when a famine arose … it only got worse.

His mind was so set on sin that he was: blind to the goodness of his father; he hated and shamed him; he would not submit to his authority; and he was irrational and desperately running after sin. He even used his father’s gifts as a means to pursue his lusts, and now, because of the great severity of this famine he was at the point of starvation. It was so bad that he begged and tried to find any kind of work, but the famine eliminated the typical work in the fields. That he would take a job caring for pigs is evidence that there was nothing else available. By taking this job he shamed not only his family, but also his Jewish community and faith. To live with Gentiles was unthinkable, but to become a pig-feeder was unconscionable because to Jews pigs were unclean, and any kind of contact was considered spiritually defiling; and to participate in raising them for others to eat would be highly immoral.

Understand that Jesus is telling this parable to a strange mix of people. At the beginning of chapter 15 we read that the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear what Jesus was saying; and the Pharisees and scribes were also there grumbling and saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

If this was their mindset (that it was awful of Jesus to be eating with some sinners) image how they felt when Jesus describes layer upon layer of this prodigal’s unthinkable, shameful, outrageous behavior that then leads to not only being around pigs, but feeding them to help some Gentile sell them for human consumption! If they hated Jesus because he ate with sinners, think of how they must have felt when Jesus describes the prodigal as longing to eat the pig’s food? It just gets worse and worse. Jesus has intentionally developed the worst possible character in the minds of these Pharisees. He is so unbelievably bad on so many levels that there is no modern-day equivalent to our western culture. Maybe a serial killer … but even then we lack the high value of generational honor, and tight-nit community. To understand this parable we need to see the prodigal not as a careless, out of control teen, but as the worst of all sinners in the minds of these Pharisees. We need to understand that the Pharisees weren’t rooting for him to be reconciled with his father. In fact the Pharisees thought the father was a pathetic weakling because he gave up his family’s livelihood that was built by the generations that came before him. In their minds the father may have been even worse because he gave all of this away and allowed their good name to be shamefully trampled.

The Younger Son comes to the end of himself - counting on his father's mercy

But here’s the part of the story where we gain hope.

"But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.' And he arose and came to his father." – Luke 15:17-20

Finally, he’s broken. The phrase literally means that he has come to the end of himself. He’s no longer pursuing his own sinful desires. He hit a dead end, he’s come to his senses, and now he’s turning from his sin and to the father that he now recognizes as good and merciful. He doesn’t presume that he’ll avoid the hard consequences that he deserves. He doesn’t expect to go back where he left off; he only hopes that he’ll be accepted as a hired servant. This is what true repentance looks like. There is no blame-shifting – he clearly sees that he alone is responsible for his sin. He recognizes that his sin is against God and before people. When he says, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,” we think of David’s contrite words after Nathan the prophet revealed his sin of adultery and murder. He said,

“Have mercy on me, O God … Against you, you only, have I sinned” - (Psalm 51:1,4a)

The prodigal does not minimize the severity of his sin; and we see this in the hard consequences that he expects. We see this simply by the fact that he is going back home. He’s willing to go where he expects to receive both verbal and physical abuse. In our culture we might expect some discomfort, but in this culture he is going back to a people he has shamed, and their welcome will be anything but warm.

In this story, Jesus is making it clear that the prodigal is not going back because he is self-serving and has no other option. We know this because we are shown a change of mind concerning his father. Yes, he comes to the end of himself, but now he no longer despises his father … now he sees him as good.

The prodigal is repenting, and counting on his father’s goodness, but the Pharisees listening to this story are not expecting the good reception that Jesus has in mind. Jesus knew their hearts, and His purpose is to reveal their hardness. Earlier on Jesus tells some other parables to show their works-righteousness, self-exaltation, and their lack of love for the banquet of Jesus that God offers. At the beginning of this 15th chapter of Luke, the sinners gather and the Pharisees grumble and judge Jesus because He socializes with these sinners. This was nothing new for the Pharisees; for in the 5th chapter we read their response when Jesus and his disciples are enjoying a great feast at the home of Levi, a tax collector.

“And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ And Jesus answered them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.’”

This is clearly a sarcastic remark that reveals the Pharisees’ self-righteous and judgmental hearts. They think of themselves as “righteous,” but Jesus knew that “there none righteous, no, not one.” When Jesus responds to the same judging comment in the 15th chapter He does so by telling parables. He tells the parable of the lost sheep, and He reveals the following as its teaching:

“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

The next parable of the lost coin also speaks of the heavenly joy when a sinner repents. And right after these He goes right into the parable of the prodigal son. His purpose in all of these parables is to reveal the hard, judgmental, self-righteous hearts of the Pharisees; and their hearts are revealed all the more when Jesus describes the father in this story.

The Father

Before we read about the prodigal’s return, what do we already know about his father? This father did not owe his son anything, but he was kind nonetheless. He didn’t have to, but He humbled Himself and gave away His riches. For such incredible rebellion, He could have had him executed, but instead he was patient and did not give him the punishment he deserved. He could have had him publicly humiliated, but he resisted, and as a result He was humiliated.

Let’s pick up the story at verse 20:

“And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.” – Luke 15:20-24

The Father bears the shame that his son deserves

The Pharisees were already sickened that the father shamefully gave away the inheritance, so when they heard this part of the story they must have groaned with greater irritation and disgust. Everything Jesus tells here just continues to push button after button, and the hearts of the Pharisees are revealed as bitter, self-righteous, and hateful.

What more does this father do? The last thing they expected is that the father would grant a face-to-face meeting. If anything he should have sent a servant to tell the son to wait a few days in the village where he would be publicly humiliated. Not only does the father come, but he humiliates himself by running. In this culture a grown man did not run anywhere, let alone run to such a wicked person. Instead of the son lying prostrate on his face, the father embraces and kisses this stinking, defiled, pig-feeder.

Why did this father run and embrace his son? Many think that he ran because he was overjoyed at the sight of his son. This is certainly part of it, but I’m convinced that he ran (as the text says) because he felt compassion for his son. He knew that he was about to enter the village and that it would be fitting for the townspeople to abuse and humiliate someone who so wickedly shamed not only his father, but the entire community. All of the father’s actions brought incredible shame upon himself. He ran to shield and protect his son from the abuse that would certainly come. He became the object of scorn so that the son would not have to bear it. Not only did he bear his shame, but he quickly made it know that he was accepted as his beloved son.

The Father honors him as a beloved son

“Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” And before he can say the words “Treat me as one of your hired servants,” the father interrupts and has his servants quickly bring the best robe to put on him, and a ring for his finger and shoes for his feet. All of these gifts make a public declaration that this is my son whom I love and accept. There will be no talk of being a servant; no working for my approval. The father has taken the shame upon himself and now covers the sin of his son with a robe that would have been saved for a once-in-a-lifetime event. This son (who had just arrived from a long, grueling journey; who was considered a defiled Gentile; and who was probably covered in stinking, crusted pig-slop) is now covered in the most precious garment there is. Immediately, there is no question about his sonship, for his sins have been covered and he is instantly made right. Hired servants and slaves went barefoot, but the shoes that only masters and sons wore, were put on his feet. He is publicly honored when he deserved shame. He came to be a servant, and is recognized as a son. And now he wears a ring – a symbol of authority that gives him legal rights as a part of the father’s family.

In all of these things we see the prodigal’s father as a powerful illustration of Christ, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Phil 2:6-8)

The Father joyfully celebrates

Here is the theme of Luke 15. The Pharisees show their hatred for mercy and grace, and Jesus responds by telling three parables that all speak of the heavenly, joyous celebration when a sinner is redeemed. When we recognize that the son has done nothing to deserve this honor, and that the father has done everything, we realize that this celebration is not in honor of the prodigal son, but is a celebration of the father’s goodness. When a sinner repents the celebration does not honor him, it honors their redeemer. We have done nothing praiseworthy, but Jesus has done everything. He was stripped of His dignity, and we are robed in His righteousness. He came as a servant in order that we might be sons. He did not exercise His authority over Pilate, and we have been given the right to pray in His name. God has done everything to redeem us, and the joyful celebration honors … Him.

What a great place to end this story. This is the part we like; the part we tend to focus on the most. But in reality, the rest of the story is really the main point. The reason Jesus told this parable to begin with was to reveal the Pharisees’ hated of redemption. Instead, they loved to boast in their own works – works they thought deserved a celebration in honor of all they had done.

Jesus built a perfect story with a character that represents all sinners – a character that he knew the Pharisees would despise. Jesus then creates a father who represents himself - showing his own mercy and grace. His purpose was to reveal their hatred for God’s redeemer, their hatred of grace, their hatred for sinners, and their desire to be praised for the righteousness they thought they deserved because of their own works. They were spiritually blind to the fact that they were sinners in need of a savior, and Jesus shows in this parable what He had been saying to them all along – “I have not come to call the ‘righteous’ but sinners to repentance.” Now, he exposes the “righteous” elder brother who is a picture of these self-righteous, hard-hearted Pharisees. Jesus exposes them as the real villain of the story; the one who is even more rebellious and hateful toward his father; the one who refuses to celebrate his goodness in redemption.

“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him! And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’” - Luke 15:25-32

The Elder Brother

Many people read this parable and think of the elder brother as a true believer who is caught off guard by the father’s generosity and who is in need of a little attitude adjustment. This misses the whole point of the parable. The elder brother represents the religious hypocrite who in reality has no relationship with his father, no genuine respect, no desire to please him, no love for what he loves, and certainly no concern for his wayward younger brother.

When Jesus introduces the elder brother who has been working out in the field, the Pharisees probably thought, “Finally, somebody’s going to make things right.” The Pharisees wanted justice, and they weren’t going to get it from the father in the story. Their only hope for this was the elder brother.

The Elder Brother is resentful

The elder brother’s resentment shows that he had no relationship to his father. When you love someone and you’re aware of a situation that brings them great sorrow, and then their sorrow is replaced with rejoicing … you rejoice. Scripture tells us that we are to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. It’s clear that the elder brother didn’t shed a single tear over what brought his father great sadness, and now he even refuses to celebrate in his father’s greatest joy. That the elder brother was out in the field while the party was going on tells us that the father knew of his son’s resentment, and that he would certainly disapprove of what was going on. Normally the eldest son would be in charge of overseeing the preparation for such a party, but the father did this himself because he didn’t want a wet blanket on such a joyous time. If the elder brother had any love and any concern for his family we would have seen a different reaction when he heard the great celebration from a distance. We would expect him to run directly to his father, knowing that something wonderful has just occurred and that he’d embrace him and ask, “What’s going on? Why are we celebrating?” Then the father would have told him the great news of his brother’s homecoming and there would be hugs and tears and the entire family would celebrate together.

Instead of relief that his father’s sorrow was over, he’s angry and won’t even go in. Instead of respectfully and lovingly addressing him as “father,” he addresses him in a way that reveals his lack of respect and love. Instead of beginning with “Father,” he says, “Look, these many years I have served you …” Instead of truthfully acknowledging that he had free access to everything; he lies and says that his father won’t even give him some goat meat. Instead of there being a relationship with family, wanting to celebrate with them, he wants his own party with his own friends. Instead of trying to prevent his brother from doing this in the first place, he silently stands by, not attempting to talk some sense into him, and not even defending his father’s honor. We can imagine that he was happy to benefit from his brother’s request because he also would have received his share of the inheritance, and he did so without having to expose his rebellion. Both sons had hearts that were far from their father. The younger son’s rebellion was obvious, and what we see now concerning the older son reveals that he was just as rebellious - he just hid it and worked to maintain an illusion of his own respectability.

The Elder Brother is self-righteous

The Pharisees liked to maintain an image of religious respectability, but inside they were as sinful as anyone. Jesus spoke of this when He compared them to whitewashed tombs, that were beautiful on the outside, but inside they were filled with unclean, decomposing bodies. Ironically, the elder brother spoke of his loyal service and perfect obedience, while he angrily pouts and refuses to go into the party. His self-righteousness is revealed as he mentions his own deeds, thinking that they should be celebrated with a party. He compares himself to his brother and bitterly thinks the party celebrates and honors something his brother has done, instead of it being a celebration of the grace and mercy of the father. This is self-righteousness – working and obeying to gain favor and to be exalted. But the favor received by the younger son had nothing to do with his own works. He received favor in spite of his works, and only because of the father’s work. True righteousness is completely the work of Jesus, and we receive it by faith – that is, we trust that Jesus, and all that He has given us, is sufficient for all of our days, and all of eternity.

The Elder Brother has grace offered to him

It’s easy for us to view the Pharisees as the bad guys, and as soon as we do, we become like them – looking down on them and feeling superior. The fact is … both the younger son and the older son were rebels. In the younger son we see a sinner in open rebellion who desires sin more than the admiration of others. And in the older son we see a sinner who is equally as rebellious, but we are fooled by his outward show of religiosity and service. He cares greatly about the admiration of others, and so he keeps his rebellion under cover – enjoying his secrets sins while benefiting from the admiration of others.

With the younger son, the father was generous and mercifully forgave his offenses. He then graciously provided undeserved gifts that could never be earned by any hired servant, but were joyfully given to his son. This son received and celebrated his father’s goodness and grace.

With the older prodigal, the father was equally generous, offering all that he had. He did not wait for this rebellious son to come to him, but, as he did with his younger son, he humbled himself and came out to meet him. In offering all that is his, he offers the same undeserved gifts that cannot be earned by service or obedience. He, in essence, is offering to cover his shame with the best robe; he is telling him that he does not have to be a barefoot servant, but that he can wear shoes and a ring that only his sons wear. Unlike the harsh, disrespectful way in which he was addressed, the father affectionately calls him “son,” and graciously offers all that he has. This son’s only hope is the same grace that was given to his younger brother.

Whether our sin is shocking and obvious (like the prodigal), or common and respectable (like the elder brother); the fact is we are all rebellious sinners in need of God’s grace.

The prodigal’s father reminds us of the work of Jesus to save sinners. We are reminded of Jesus’ humility, and of the shame he bore. We are reminded of how Jesus willfully receiving the punishment that we deserve. We are reminded of being robed with the righteousness of Christ, which covers our filth. And we are reminded of the joy that is ours to be made children of God. All of this is available only by grace, only in Jesus, received only by faith, and so that God alone is celebrated as great.

Lastly, I am convinced more and more that Christians need to remember the gospel every day of their lives. The response to the father’s provision was a celebration of the father’s goodness. In the same way, we ought to respond to the saving work of Jesus with lives that joyfully celebrate Him. We are to be a people who never forget our sinful rebellion and that we have been graciously declared: forgiven, righteous, and highly honored as children of God. Living the Christian life never moves past this, because if we do we become elder brothers who seek to earn or maintain God’s goodness shown to us. Instead, living the Christian life is a never ending celebration of what God has done. There is nothing greater to move to. The celebration has begun, and it will go on forever.

Acknowledgement:

If you were at all blessed by this article you will be even more blessed to read John MacArthur’s book, “A Tale of Two Sons.” The majority (if not all) of the insights were gained from this wonderful book, and I am grateful to have read it because I have grown in my love and appreciation for Jesus and the gospel.

The Blazing Center

2008-04-28T12:45:00.000-07:00

I recently went through John Piper's video series, "The Blazing Center." Through this study I have learned (relearned, and realize that I need continual reminding) that God’s main purpose is to glorify Himself, and that this is not at odds with my own desire for happiness. In fact, not only are these not opposed to one another, but they must go together. I exist (as do all people) for the glory of God (Isa 43:6-7) and if I do not taste of God as good and satisfying, but instead turn to something other than God for my satisfaction, then I am not only not glorifying God but I am committing a great evil (Jer 2:12-13). Because God is the greatest possible treasure I ought to pursue Him as such, and by doing so I fulfill the purpose for which I was made (glorifying God), which also brings me the greatest level of joy. God is not glorified by non-emotional, joyless, dutiful obedience. Instead, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”

I love the example Piper gives of glorifying God as a telescope, and not a microscope. If we magnify God like microscopes (making little things appear bigger than they really are) then we blaspheme. But if we magnify God like a telescope (letting people see something that appears small to them, but in reality is massive) then our lives are used to bring God glory because the eyes of others are opened to the reality of God’s greatness.

If genuine love desires to give others what will bring them the greatest amount of satisfaction for the longest time, then genuine love cannot occur apart from God. It is possible for generosity and self-sacrifice to not be acts of love (1 Cor 13:3). Genuine love begins with the grace of God that creates joy, which then overflows in loving acts to others so that they also might experience God’s grace (2 Cor 8:1-8). John Piper defines this biblical love as, “the overflow of joy in God that meets the needs of others.”

Similarly, God loves us by giving us what is most satisfying for the greatest amount of time. The only thing that can do this is God Himself. Therefore, God must show us all of His glory and not hide Himself from us or point us to anything other than Himself.

With this in mind, we gain a better understanding of suffering. Suffering is often an instrument of love that removes fleeting pleasures from us so that we cling to God, who alone is able to please us for all eternity. Growing in our appreciation for Christ empowers us to endure suffering because Jesus is ever before us – making us like Paul, who said, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

As the sun is the center of our solar system, with everything else revolving around it, so God needs to be the glorious, blazing center of our lives. This is where we must begin. Everything revolves around Him, not He around us; and nothing will make sense until this is rightly understood and lived.

But He also made me fast

2007-11-16T12:45:00.000-08:00

Our church recently began a new Bible memorization program. This week’s passage is a great reminder of how our faith ought to permeate all of life - especially as parents teaching and modeling the truths of Scripture to our children. Living the Christian life is hard enough, but when you’re instructed to “diligently” teach this to your children, then (if you weren’t already) I’m sure you’ll be on your knees.

Deuteronomy 6:4-7
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

What I love about this passage of Scripture is that it doesn’t settle for a simple, 15-minute devotion-time. God’s Word is at the center of what we are to know and teach, but it is also relevant in all of our waking hours. It seems we’re not only challenged to avoid compartmentalizing the time for Scripture, but also our lifestyle.

I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 10:31, which says:

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Because there are so many pleasures and “innocent” distractions in our culture, it’s tempting to isolate and encourage our children to become mini-monks. As a home school family, some may think this is exactly what we’re doing, but I try and correct this error by letting people know that we do purchase clothing in a store, believe that make-up is ok (except for me), and that we never refer to the land surrounding our house as “the compound”. Like everyone else, it’s a “yard”.

We shouldn't look like the world, but we should be salt and light in it. We can, and should, enjoy some of the same things, but with a different purpose … that purpose being, to glorify God.

Is it possible to teach our kids to play soccer and ride horses to the glory of God? I think so. What's hard is preventing these from becoming idols, and they become this when their enjoyment ends with us, and not with their Maker and Giver.

The movie “Chariots of Fire” gives us a great example of this as we look at the contrast between its two main characters: Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell. Abrahams lived and breathed running, and his obsession was in the glory of winning, but Eric Liddell sought a glory that did not end with himself. Instead, it ended with his Creator.

We are tempted to classify things as either “Christian” or “secular” – living the “Christian” life as if avoiding the “secular” were the goal. “Chariots of Fire” demonstrates how the same activity can be done for different purposes. The activity itself is neither Christian nor secular. No, it’s having a right attitude toward them that makes the difference, and these attitudes are taught to our children as we’re sitting around the house (watching a movie, perhaps), or driving to soccer practice.

So if you’re watching “Chariots of Fire”, pay close attention to the scene where Eric’s sister scolds him for wasting his time running, when it’s obvious (so she thinks) that God wants him to give more of himself to preaching. Eric replies with the best line of the movie – one that perfectly illustrates 1 Corinthians 10:31. He says, “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.”

O, that we all might enjoy God’s gifts like this. That we might diligently teach and model Eric Liddell’s attitude, and see all of the various ways in which we can bring glory to God.

The writers of the Westminster Shorter Catechism saw it. They understood that we exist to glorify God, and they didn’t disconnect enjoyment from our main purpose.

The question reads:

“What is the chief end of man?”

Answer: “The chief end of man is to glorify God, and enjoy Him forever.”

God has made you for a purpose, but he may also have made you fast (or smart, artistic, compassionate ...), so run the race of life in such a way that you feel His pleasure. This is what you were made for … and teach this diligently to your children throughout the day.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

2007-11-12T15:43:00.000-08:00

Sunday, my dad told me that his friend, Pastor Croy, went early in the morning to be with Jesus. Though friends, my dad usually referred to him as “Pastor Croy”. I rarely heard him called by his first name, “Dave", and when I did it just didn’t sound right, because, well … he was “Pastor Croy”.

He and my dad were friends. I could tell because they both liked to laugh. There was plenty of joking between them, and they regularly looked for opportunities to play a practical joke, or to tease that one was older than the other. So I know there was a part of my dad that thought of Pastor Croy as “Dave”; yet in our presence there was respect. He was not referred to as “Dave”, or even “Pastor Dave”, and I expect that when I meet him in Heaven I will call him “Pastor Croy”.

It is a good thing to be remembered as “Pastor”; and I hope, in eternity, that I will still call him this. To me it is a title that recognizes his calling, his faithful service to God, and his usefulness in ministering to the saints. Pastor Croy was my pastor for nearly 20 years, and he showed me Jesus both through the preaching of the word and with his hands and feet … his words and tears.

I remember his gentle hand-shake; yet when it came to preaching God’s word there was a firm grasp of truth, and a bold proclamation of grace found through faith in Jesus Christ.

I also remember him walking to my side, and his hand on my shoulder. I remember tears and words of comfort to my wife Jennifer, and I.

It was a precious, providential meeting; a gift from the Lord that meant the world to us. Jenn and I had just returned home from Portland after losing our 4 month old daughter, Lindsey, the night before. Not knowing what to do with ourselves, we found ourselves out for a walk, or, more accurately, aimlessly wandering the neighborhood. To our surprise Pastor Croy came walking toward us with Bible in hand and tears in his eyes. He said he was out walking and praying for us. I will never forget his arms around us. Though he had not been my pastor for several years, he continued to care for us through tears, words, prayers, and a comforting embrace that felt very much like the hands and arms of Jesus on our weary shoulders.

When I think of Pastor Croy, I also think of the song “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”. It must have had a special place in his heart; for nearly every Sunday service ended with the words:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

I write these lyrics from memory because, after all, I probably sang them over 500 times. I never grow tired of this song, and I will always think of Pastor Croy when I hear it. I expect, and hope, that it will be sung at his funeral. How appropriate to sing what he must have loved and what is now a reality. For as I write this I know Pastor Croy has his eyes fixed on his savior like never before – looking full in his wonderful face. To him, the things of this world are completely and perfectly overcome by the real presence of God’s glory and grace.

Don’t you look forward to that day? I think of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 4; words that remind us not to lose heart, even though our outer self is wasting away. Why? Because our inner self is being renewed day by day, and though this affliction may be hard, it is light and momentary. It is light and short in comparison to eternity, and better still, these afflictions are preparing us to experience an eternal weight of glory. A glory beyond anything we can imagine. I imagine that right now, in Heaven, Pastor Croy is saying, “Oh, I see the connection! I see how all of those sufferings have enabled me to better see and appreciate the glory of God. Thank you Lord!”

When I think of this song, I think I will always recall how God ministered to me through Pastor Croy, and for the reality he now experiences.

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Do not grow weary. Look at the Savior, and follow Pastor Croy’s good example by pointing other weary souls to Christ.

Our Greatest Joy is in What We Value the Most

2007-11-06T18:42:00.000-08:00

I’ve been thinking about the book of James, and how the goal spoken of is our maturity - a growing, real faith that bears fruit. It hit me recently that when James talks of "counting it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds," that this is only possible if we have a strong desire for this genuine faith … and not take it for granted.

I tend to take it for granted, and because I do, I end up lacking joy. Why should I be joyful when I'm reassured of what I assume, and have grown accustomed to? Those who lived through the Great Depression probably don’t take a home and food for granted. Our country's greatest generation is likely more thankful for the freedom we all enjoy because of their sacrifice. Those who don’t know what it means to endure in war tend to take freedom for granted. Those who have lost a spouse will likely cling tighter to the one they are now joined with. Parents who have lost a child rejoice more intensely when their newborn cries its first cry.

The author of the book of Hebrews warns us to “pay much closer attention to what we have heard (concerning our great salvation), lest we drift away from it.” Don’t take Jesus for granted. And if you grow in your affection for Him, I think the joy spoken of in James will make sense. It comes when we are reminded of the reality of what is eternally valuable.

My favorite parable is the shortest one. It reads;

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

I want to be this man. I want to treasure Jesus, and His kingdom, so much that nothing else compares. I’m tired of taking my salvation for granted. I want to so value Christ that all else can be joyfully given for His sake. This is what James is talking about. Not that I strangely have joy in hard times, but that the endurance through hard times is evidence that my faith is real. Is there any better news!? James tells us;

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised those who love Him.”

Joy is connected to the level of value I place on the object of my affection, and the more I grow in my affections for Jesus, the more joyful I will be when I stand firm in the things that could destroy my faith. It’s real! I’m getting closer!

I pray that you keep growing in your affection for Jesus, and that the trials in your life (though hard) will lead you to joy because you’re assured that God is really at work. And let your endurance be a loud reminder that this proves you will someday experience an eternal weight of glory – better than anything this life has to offer.

All Saints' Day

2007-10-31T11:10:00.000-07:00

This morning Chuck Colson's commentary on "All Saints' Day" reminded me to take some time this evening, the 31st, to remember the great cloud of witnesses that came before us, and to remind my family of the same.

Speaking of great cloud of witnesses, let me finish the rest of this quote from Hebrews 12 … “let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The first chapter of James reminds me that our trials can be tricky (yes, a Halloween pun is intended) in that they are more subtle than what the early Christian martyrs faced. Colson reminds us of Polycarp, who was given the option of denying Christ, or being burnt alive. This trial is like that of the rocky soil Jesus spoke of in the parable of the sower, where those who do not have a genuine faith cannot withstand the heat. The typical trial we face in the United States is more like that of the thorny ground, where the riches and pleasures of life choke out the word, and we do not persevere. Neither heart, represented by these two soils, describes the genuine faith James 1 describes as those who remain steadfast, and receive the crown of life.

I pray that we will so desire Christian maturity, and the steadfastness required, that we can actually say our trials have brought us joy. Not that we are strangely happy with the problem, but that we are encouraged to see God at work in our lives, causing us to grow, and assured that our faith is real. One practical way to work this out in your life is to get God’s word in your heart. Try adding scripture memorization to your daily time in the word, and then make it a goal to recite it some Sunday morning. We encourage this at Bear Creek Church, with our weekly "vital verse". You won’t get a Sparky badge, but you may (like little Elijah Murphy did last week) encourage others to grow in this way.

The New Me! ... or, My Updated "About Me" (1200 characters or less) on Blogspot

2007-10-26T18:25:00.000-07:00

The more I learn about God, the more humbled I become. After all, God is The Creator. The more I see His perfection, the more I realize my own sinfulness, and it is Reformed Theology that has taught me this. The arrogant ones are so, not because of their theology, but because of their sin. Reformed Theology ought to encourage just the opposite - grateful worshippers who exalt our sovereign God, and recognize their own inability to contribute to salvation. We have no room for boasting (Eph 2:8-9). Growing more and more convinced of this is why I now do what I do. At the beginning of 2007 I left my life-long career as book-buyer for my family's Christian bookstore. The tidal wave of man-centeredness in Christian publishing was too much to hold back, so I followed God's call to help teach right theology in the church. I now work for Bear Creek Church, in Medford Oregon, where I serve as an on staff elder. BCC is theologically Reformed, yet light-hearted. In other words, by taking God and His word seriously we are transformed into a people who better recognize the mercy of God, and thus are more likely to be gracious and friendly with each other.

My Puny Little Brain

2007-07-21T15:57:00.000-07:00

I’m realizing more and more that Scripture possesses categories that my mind does not. Instead of twisting the text to fit into my little brain compartments (yes, both my brain and their compartments are tiny), I’ve decided to let them be. Even if I am incapable of understanding them, I think I can understand why I can’t understand them. The reason (so, I think) I can’t understand them is because I realize my understanding and endorsement is not required for something to be true. God is bigger than me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating ignorance, nor do I think it is arrogant to hold the clear revelations of God to be absolute. I believe God’s word is truth and that He gave us a brain to be used in the pursuit of our greatest joy, which is only satisfied by knowing Him. So with this in mind I’ve decided to begin a list of biblical truths that do not fit inside my puny little brain. I may eventually come to understand them, but for now I’ll simply gather them and marvel at God’s magnificence.

I ran across one just this morning and decided to resurrect my blog (at least, this one post) for this purpose. I don’t think the infamous question of, “Can God make a rock so big that even He can’t lift it?” comes from the Holy Bible, so I’ll leave this out and stick with texts from Scripture.

Because we have such a strong desire to understand, it’s tempting to force the meaning of a text; but there are times when we just need to let the text say what it says. Don’t ignore it, or change its meaning because it doesn’t fit with your presupposition, or tiny brain compartment. For example; don’t ignore Christ’s beatitudes because you assume Jesus spoke to people in a different dispensation. Yes, there really are Christians who believe this. Ignoring Jesus is never a good idea, so if your theological structure tempts you to do so, I’d suggest sticking with the words of Jesus, and ignoring Ryrie’s.

A category my brain cannot handle is the truth of God being sovereign over the actions of men, while man is justly held responsible for his actions. The typical presupposition that “explains” away this true, biblical category is to assume that love is only love if it freely chooses. I am amazed at how often a biblical text is butchered because this “truth” (which is not found in Scripture) is assumed. Again, better to let Scripture speak for itself (even if you’re left wondering) instead of interpreting away the truth through man-made, presuppositions.

When it comes to the truth of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility, I usually think of the following two passages:

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him." So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, "Your father gave this command before he died, 'Say to Joseph, Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.' And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, "Behold, we are your servants." But Joseph said to them, "Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
– Gen 50:15-20

for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
- Acts 4:27-28

In both passages men are shown to do evil acts, while God is said to have predetermined them. There is no hint of God restraining Himself because of man’s free will, and man is shown to freely do what he desires to do.

This morning I ran across the following, similarly brain-pounding passage.

“And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”- 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12

Ok, here are the facts stated:

1. The lawless one comes as a result of Satan
2. The lawless one deceives those who are perishing.
3. The people are perishing because “they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”

The next sentence begins with the word “therefore”, which means that what follows is a result of what was just said. It reads; “Therefore God sends them a strong delusion”. From this we can conclude the following:

4. The lawless one ultimately came as a result of God, who is sovereign over Satan.
5. The reason God sent this delusion was “so that they may believe what is false”
6. The reason God sent this delusion to cause their false belief was “in order that all may be condemned”
7. The people to whom God sent the delusion, to cause the false belief (so that they would be condemned), were those “who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

Ok … who’s on first?

Does this seem circular to you? I get the fact that Satan can be the middleman – sending the lawless one, but ultimately doing what the sovereign of the universe ordains. But what really stumps me is that the people’s condemnation is based on their not believing the truth; yet God is the one who sent Satan to bring about the strong delusion, so that they would not believe. We know God justly judges sinful men, but how can He do so if He is the one who brings about their unbelief? We see God’s sovereignty in this passage; yet we also know that God is not the author of sin, so His sovereignty must be such that sin does not originate in God while man is also not autonomous.

Maybe my mind will one day get this, but until then, I need a category for these biblical truths that would otherwise hurt my puny little brain.

Devynne's Heart

2006-06-28T11:33:00.000-07:00

Some of you know that our daughter Devynne (pronounced Devin) had another heart exam yesterday (6/27/06). God's mercy is obvious as, on one hand, we know of her immaturity, and yet on the other hand we see her react to difficult situations with a calm that must be God-given. The news wasn't good. She'll need some type of surgery within 2-3 months - most likely another open-heart surgery to replace her conduit - one that we pray will last longer than the 2 1/2 years her last one gave her. She told Jenn that God is giving her peace. Unlike her parents, she didn't shed a tear at hearing the news. Instead she grabbed her Chris Tomlin CD and listened to "Indescribable". We thought of the line in this song that says "Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go?" AND likewise, as Jenn said, "who has told every bit of scar tissue and calcium deposit where it should go?" Devynne then forwarded to the song "You Do All Things Well", and was comforted with the knowledge that God is at work, knows exactly what He's doing, and because He does all things well, felt His peace in the midst of hard news.

We often thank God for His provision, and we know that this is also His good provision that will bring us our greatest joy, which is another short peak through the crack that reveals His glorious all-sufficiency. Thanks for your prayers. Here we go again. We know from the past that this is very good. Funny how we never want what's eternally best.

Here's something we'd appreciate you to be praying about. Dr. Rice (Devynne's cardiologist) will be meeting with the doctors at Dornbecker Children's Hospital in two weeks to discuss whether they should attempt placing more stints via cardiac catheter or if it would be best to do another open-heart surgery to replace the conduit. Eventually this will need to be done, and since the last stint has only lasted a year, it seems more likely they'll decide to replace the conduit. Dr. Rice will be contacting other hospitals throughout the country to see if they are finding success with any other type of conduit. We're seeing that the newer "better" materials are actually worse for Devynne's particular problem, and that returning to an older more ridged material may be our best option. Please pray that God grants wisdom to our doctors in deciding the very best option for Devynne's next surgery. We should find out more in 2-3 weeks.

For God's glory and our good,

Brian and Jennifer Phelps

2 Strychnine and Call Me in the Morning?

2006-06-09T15:50:00.000-07:00

On a recent radio program, I heard the show’s host wonder why Christians are so culturally apathetic while simultaneously our world's history has never come close to today's amount of Christian teaching. He mentioned teachers filling stadiums and yet we scratch our heads in confusion as to the lack of moral change. His question caused me to wonder not at the quantity but the quality of today's teaching. For if the gospel were truly being taught (either in stadiums or one-on-one evangelism) wouldn't there be guaranteed growth in holiness? As Philippians 1:6 says, "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

In other words, we can be sure of change in those who are genuinely saved because God is both the author AND perfecter of our faith. We are not left alone to finish the work He began. He is faithful to continue working in us and will complete this redemptive work that began at the cross.

Along the lines of quantity versus quality: do we wonder why there are so many health problems in our country when we've never before seen so many restaurants and people consuming food? No. We realize that it's not the amount of food, nor the appetites of those who consume, but that the real problem lies with what they are eating. There is healthy food out there, but the majority are poisoning themselves with fast food. Likewise, there is good teaching out there, but we have to realize that there is also a glut of teaching that waters down and distorts the powerful life-changing gospel of God. I believe the polls that show no moral distinction between "Christian" and non-Christian are due to an abundant diet of unhealthy fast-food teaching that does not save yet gives false assurance to many.

The church finds itself in a crazy cycle. We hear about the moral decay within the church (or society) and respond with moralistic teaching instead of the gospel, and this teaching never solves, and either perpetuates or disguises the rotting. Moralistic teaching (without the gospel) simply tells people how they ought to behave, and either leaves them forever frustrated with their inability, or deceived by their own self-righteousness. In this we are left with two types of people. There are those who have tried and given up (apathetic) and maybe embrace a cheap-grace that assures them of salvation yet makes obedience optional and a fear of God forgotten. The other category is made up of either hypocrites who knowingly are inconsistent with what they say and do, or the self-deceived proud who think they really are able to do (by their own efforts) what God requires.

The contrast to this crazy cycle is the gospel, which does not tell us to try harder, but instead tells us what God requires (law), reveals our inability to keep what He requires (guilt), shows us what we deserve (the wrath of God), so as to reveal the good news of Christ's righteousness to those who have faith in Him. We first need a spiritual heart transplant, and because God has performed this (the good work He began) we are now empowered by the Spirit to respond as Romans 12 says, “By the mercies of God, to present [our] bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is [our] spiritual worship." With this new heart we are then able to apprehend what God has done (pure gospel), which produces the motivation for right response. This is a God-produced transformation that (Romans 12 again) “renews our minds, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." And only by this will we resist conforming to this world - bringing the only genuine and lasting moral change.

If we faithfully present the gospel, and God decides to use our faulty words, it works. My criticism is against my own industry (Christian publishing), and I am becoming more concerned as I actually see (more and more) the following false representation of the gospel - that being, "God wants your full potential". Much of today's gospel completely ignores sin, guilt, and the fear of a holy and just God who never sweeps sin under the carpet. Thank God that He has justly poured out His wrath, not on us, but mercifully on Jesus in our stead. He is both just and the justifier.

We need the fear of God and a right view of what Christ has saved us from. For apart from Christ we stand naked in the storm of God's wrath ... and are doomed. God doesn't want our full potential. God wants to break us of our pride by exposing the depths and consequences of our sin. He wants to glorify His Son by revealing Him as our only hope. As Psalm 2:11-12 says,

Serve the LORD with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him

May God bless us, not only with quality teaching, but also in the quantity of people who hear the genuine, life-giving gospel.

You're Probably a Heretic if ...

2006-05-23T15:42:00.000-07:00

Have you heard the jokes that begin by saying "You're probably a redneck if ..."?

Along this line - You're probably a heretic if "God" gives you an interpretation of Scripture unique to human history.

Feel free to add your own "You're probably a heretic" comments, and be certain that I'll delete your comment if you say "You're probably a heretic if you create a blog post with the title "You're Probably a Heretic if ...".

Additions:

You're probably a heretic ... if you insist everyone call you Benny, you start wearing a wig that is wave-like, and you study back-masked recordings of your dog because you believe "Crouchy" is barking in the spirit.

You're in danger of being a heretic ... if you're a dyslexic preacher who's taken a part-time job as a dog groomer.

You're probably a heretic ... if you take a recorder to church, transcribe "prophetic utterances", and have taped into your Bible the book of 1 Joyce.

You're probably a heretic ... if you think the members of the trinity are named Paul, Jan, and T. D.

You’re probably a heretic … if your view of foreknowledge says God is a risk-taker who only knows what currently exists. Exceptions to this rule include: men’s retreats that involve bare-chested drumming, and if someone will soon be hit by a golf ball. Get it? FOUR! knowledge

2006-05-09T06:03:00.000-07:00

To my faithful readers, this should explain why I've not been blogging, and it should also explain my recently orange-stained fingers.

A Confessed Spiritual Crisis

2006-04-25T16:33:00.000-07:00

A recent article in our local paper titled "Confessions of a Misspent Youth: Reading" bemoaned the fading love for reading among today's youth. In it, the author confesses his own love for books as well as the following confusion concerning the Westminster Confession, and a resulting "spiritual crisis". Concerning the spiritual crisis, he says,

Because my family was Presbyterian I read the "Westminster Confessions," which was how I discovered that reading could be a subversive activity. This led, at age 11 or 12, to my first spiritual crisis as I tried to suss out why God was "pleased" that Adam and Eve wound up "dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body." And not only that, but the whole serpent-and-apple thing had been a set-up job, orchestrated by God, "according to his wise and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to his own glory" (!).

I couldn’t get my mind around the assertion that my family and friends and I had somehow inherited this defiled state from Adam and Eve, "and the same death in sin and corrupted nature," and it freaked me out. Our minister did not relish discussions of God’s more inscrutable attributes with sixth-graders, so I turned to our youth leader, Roger, who was a college football player and therefore a popular guy. He gave me a hail-fellow slap on the back and changed the subject to the church’s new pingpong table, even as a pleased, wise (but vengeful) God was poised to hurl my wholly defiled self into hell!

I hope to send him the following letter:

Bill,

I read your article in the Tribune and was amazed first that you tackled the Westminster Confession at such a young age. I was equally disappointed then in both your pastor and your youth leader for failing to answer your sincere questions. They are questions many people have even without reading the Confession. Christians like myself have pondered the very questions you posed and like you have had unsatisfying answers.

It does seem upon a cursory reading that God must be sadistic and cruel if He orchestrated the fall, and that any mercy that comes afterward is no real act of love because He is the one who created the original problem to begin with. How is it loving of God to “save” those whose wandering He not only could have prevented, but actually planned? I asked myself the same question, not as a boy but as an adult, never hearing until recently a satisfying answer.
A typical answer given by Christians is to disagree with the Confession’s teaching of God being sovereign over the fall of man. This “answer” assumes that, in order for God to love, He must allow us to freely choose. Like the caged animal, love is only love if we set the animal free and, by its own choosing, it returns. I find this answer unsatisfying because it treats love as some force outside of God that sets boundaries by which God must function. Isn’t God the creator of all things … including love?

It seems the biblical phrase “God is love” is reversed to “love is God”, making the creator the obedient subject to Love. Because man creates this definition of love, God ultimately becomes our servant, and we his ruler.

Maybe (after some ping-pong) you heard this answer, and (like me) were unsatisfied? I believe there is an answer that does not reject the Confession: one that speaks to our innate desire to be satisfied, and one that points us to infinite beauty and thus brings us pleasures forevermore.

It seems the only genuine answer is found when we ask, "What is most loving?" The biblical God, as described in the Confession, is most loving when He reveals what is most beautiful; and giving what is most beautiful is also most loving because anything less would fail to eternally satisfy. Some pleasures last only seconds, others … hours, days, or maybe years. All of these lesser pleasures give us only a small, quickly-fading taste of what never disappears. These cannot satisfy us eternally, and are meant only to point us to the one who thought of the concept of pleasure, namely God.

Pastor and author John Piper sums it up with this saying, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” To make this point, Piper often uses this quote from C. S. Lewis:

“If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit that this notion has crept in from Kant and the Stoics and is no part of the Christian faith. Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

The problem is not that God was unloving to plan the fall of man. The problem is that we settle for our own definition of love - one that has God giving us only pleasures that fade, instead of a pleasure that grows and lasts forever. As Lewis said, we are far too easily pleased. God is the only thing big enough. He is the beauty that all other beauties point toward weakly, and as the creator of pleasure He is not only the source, but also our greatest experience of pleasure.

So how does this make the fall of man necessary? Simply that apart from the fall we would have no context for understanding attributes of God that are beautiful and eternal. Some things are only revealed to us by contrast. For example, what is a shadow apart from light? Likewise, how do we comprehend the eternal attribute of God's mercy without knowing sin and guilt? Apart from the fall would we know what is just, or see the depth or lengths to which love sacrifices?

The short answer is to say the fall was planned by God to enable us to experience what is most pleasurable, which is a greater revelation of God. In order for God to be most loving He must give us what is most satisfying, and when He shines the light of His beauty on a dark and guilty heart we experience His love and mercy that, apart from the cross, would otherwise settle for the fading pleasures of mud pies, and only be the contrast to forgiveness.

I hope this answer has at least a small faint ring of truth. I also hope, being a book-lover, you’ll explore what others have written at length such as John Piper’s Desiring God, or Chris Tiegreen’s Why a Suffering World Makes Sense. Thank you for honestly expressing your “first spiritual crisis”. The question is valid and shared by many, and the pleasure found in the answer is well worth investigating (Matthew 13:44).

A Good Healthy Diet of Ears

2006-03-15T08:48:00.000-08:00

I’m inconsistent. I go through spurts of healthy eating, morning workouts, long devotions, getting to work early (and getting much accomplished), coming home to a warm meal with a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment, enjoying conversation at the dinner table, helping with the dishes, leading the family in God’s word, tucking the kids in with prayer - followed by the goofy tradition (learned from my dad) of gobbling their ears with a cookie-monster-type-of-voice as (of course) the “Ear Monster”. And then comes a different, and probably my favorite pleasure of all. I sit, listen to my wife as she tells me about her day, we engage in a theological discussion, pray, and then go to bed.

Oh, how I wish this really described my typical day - even if I could be consistent with the ear gobbling and praying. But instead I am overwhelmed, worn-out, selfish, passive, wasteful of my time, neglectful of my wife and kids, and (least of all) a coffee addict, and Sausage Egg McMuffin junkie. I’m kicking myself again. I hear you Paul, when you say, “For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.”

Get behind me McDonalds!

So with this in mind, I’m reading a book about Sabbath rest. Sounds funny for a lazy guy to be reading about more rest! Already, I’m seeing that the approach of this book concerning a Sabbath rest is to have a right view of work. I’ll try and pass along any insights gained … that is, if I can pull myself away from watching American Idol while consuming a bag of Cheetos. But for now I’d like to share a couple of insights already gained from this book – “The Rest of God” by Mark Buchanan.

"There is no end of advice on how to endure work we don’t like. The cartoon character Dilbert, lampooner of workplace politics, offers his counsel: 'Eat one live toad the first thing in the morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.'
Or there’s this:

When you have had one of those take-this-job-and-shove-it-days, try this. On your way home, stop at your pharmacy and go to the section where they have thermometers. You will need to purchase a rectal thermometer made by the Q-tip Company. Be sure that you get this brand. When you get home, lock your doors, draw the drapes, and disconnect the phone so you will not be disturbed during your therapy. Change into something comfortable, such as a sweat suit, and lie down on your bed. Open the package containing the thermometer, remove it, and carefully place it on the bedside table so that it will not become chipped or broken. Take the written material that accompanies the thermometer. As you read, notice in small print this statement: 'Every rectal thermometer made by Q-tip is personally tested.'
Close your eyes. Say out loud five times, 'Thank you, oh thank you, that I do not work in quality control at the Q-tip Company.'"

Lord give me the strength to do the things I know are better, and to be thankful for what you have provided. And might you grant my kids more visits from the Ear Monster.

Are You God-Centered or Man-Centered?

2006-02-21T06:35:00.000-08:00

John Piper has written much about God being "uppermost in his own affections." In us, of course, this attitude would be arrogance, simply because it is an overestimation of our own worth. We should never be uppermost in our own affections. But with God, there can be no overestimation of value. God prizes his own glory because there is nothing higher to prize. It isn't conceit; it's realism. Piper gives extensive biblical evidence that "God's ultimate goal in all he does is to preserve and display his glory." The belief that God created a world that would fall specifically as a means to display his merciful character is simply a logical conclusion from this fact that his glory is the worthiest of all goals for him and for us.
There should be no great mystery to the presence of evil if, by context and by contrast, it reveals the manifold character of God. The highest value is always worth lesser costs. And, according to the Bible, suffering is always a lesser cost. - Chris Tiegreen, "Why a Suffering World Makes Sense", pgs 85-86

Let’s face it, all of us are exposed to suffering. It may be small, like getting sick the day of a party, or more distant, such as 9/11, or maybe it comes close to home in the form of cancer. However close or severe; we all are acquainted with suffering, and will only become more so as we continue living in a sinful world. Because of the unpleasant and often depressing nature of this subject many will “cope” by following the example of the proverbial ostrich sticking his head in the sand. Ignorance is bliss you know, that is, as long as you are able to remain in the dark; but eventually we all must come up for air, and now that we’re no longer ignorant, our reaction to what we see will determine whether we are centered on man or on God. Of course all believers think of themselves as God-centered because being man-centered sounds so obviously wrong. But knowing what sounds right doesn’t prevent the truth from being revealed by the attitude of our heart; and suffering, like no other subject, shines the light on our attitude toward, and expectations of, God.

As I said, no one admits to having a man-centered Christianity, yet I hear it over and over again; praising God for comforts, and questioning His presence in the midst of trials. A man-centered faith gravitates to comfort and forgets that the word is choked out not only by tribulation but also by the deceitfulness of riches and the desire for other things (Mark 4:19). When God is absent a man-centered faith creates thoughts of disillusionment and despair because God is seemingly displeased or uncaringly oblivious to our troubles. Like a frog unaware of the increasingly warmer pot of water, we are lulled into a performance-based relationship with God. We make a name for ourselves … and He “loves” us with comfort and prosperity. We begin in a cool pot of grace and slowly the temperature rises until we’re left cooking in an evangelical stew that has forgotten God’s favor was never based on our ability to perform. Our mouths say “God-centered”, but our attitudes so obviously reveal who is in the center as we judge God’s love for us according to the outcome we desire.

So what is God-centeredness? It is recognizing that in order for God to be loving He must give us what is most beautiful, most pleasurable, and most enduring. There is nothing more beautiful than God, nothing more pleasurable, and God alone is eternal … granting His children everlasting joy. To experience the glory of God is certainly the ultimate gift of love, and the Westminster Catechism agrees by acknowledging man’s primary purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

So if our experience of the glory of God is God’s greatest gift of love, then certainly a world of sin and suffering makes sense. For how does one fully know the love and mercy of God without first understanding the context of a people who deserve His just and holy wrath? There is a necessary context of sin, and some characteristics of God are incomprehensible to us unless we see them in contrast to one another. This does not turn the meaning of sin on its head and somehow redefine it as good, it only makes it purposeful, and that purpose is our being able to understand and experience the glory of God.

Test your reaction to the following passage of scripture. You may react with humility and trembling, or you may wrestle with the plain reading because your god, or definition of love, just doesn’t seem to fit.

What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory-- even us whom he has called – Romans 9:22-24

Are you a vessel of mercy? Do you see His glory? What was necessary in making His mercy known to you? Are you trembling and humbled as you recognize the purpose of those prepared for destruction, or are you hanging on to your tradition’s definition of love and missing the riches God intends to reveal? Are you God-centered, or man-centered?

The Dove Book Club

2006-02-03T17:13:00.000-08:00

My pastor (Dale Meador) and I host a call-in radio show every other Friday morning, and I usually follow it with an e-mail that recaps the books we recommended. If you're outside the S. Oregon area, and care to listen, you may do so via the web at www.thedove.us. It's not archived, so you'd have to listen live. The next show will be 2/17/06 at 8am PST. Here's the text header (not the recap) from my e-mail.

If you’re looking for a theme to this morning’s show I’d say the title of John Piper’s latest book, “Contending for Our All”, sums it up. In it we peer into the lives of Athanasius, John Owen, and J. Gresham Machen; all shining examples of why standing for truth, though controversial, is critical to defending and maintaining the purity of the church. I love what Piper says on page 20 …

"When you believe that soul-saving truth (our all) is at stake in a controversy, running away is not only cowardly, but cruel. These men never ran."

To help our children know the truth for which they are to contend, we recommend a wonderful tool developed by the church many years ago … The Westminster Shorter Catechism. In it they will learn basic Christian doctrine so that, when confronted by error, they will spot it as easily as a banker recognizes Monopoly Money. Starr Meade’s book “Training Hearts Teaching Minds” takes the WSC and puts it in the perfect format for family devotions.

I have recapped all of our recommendations below, but the one I’ll be recommending to those going through difficult times is Jerry Bridges’ newest book “Is God Really in Control?” I guarantee, while reading this book, you’ll be thinking of others that must read this book.

I pray that we lovingly “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” – Jude 1:3

“Men tell us that our preaching should be positive and not negative, that we can preach the truth without attacking error. But if we follow that advice we shall have to close our Bible and desert its teachings. The New Testament is a polemic book almost from beginning to end.” - J. Gresham Machen

If You Think Infant Baptism Is Crazy ...

2006-02-01T08:37:00.000-08:00

You're not alone. I was just reading at the Reformation 21 Blog (yes, I not only "want to", but sometimes do read), and Justin Taylor (the loan Baptist) brought up the subject of infant baptism. It's a very friendly discussion, and worth looking into. Raised a Baptist, I've always thought infant baptism was crazy, but several years ago (after listening to R. C. Sproul on the subject) I realized I ought to at least consider this. I have much to learn, no longer think it's crazy, and realize my need to study covenant theology and what it means to be in covenant with God.

If you think this subject is a no-brainer and that those who baptize infants are liberals, you really ought to start by reading some of the posts on this blog. You'll get a small taste as to why some Reformed Churches baptize their babies. I think you'll also realize they're neither liberal nor crazy, and (like me) it may cause you to do a little investigating.

Your Neighbor is Either an Immortal Horror or an Everlasting Splendor

2006-01-26T06:05:00.000-08:00

I’m still chipping away at the book “Created in God’s Image” by Anthony Hoekema, and especially enjoyed the following. I thought it was profound and worth sharing here.

The possibility of future perdition for those who are not in Christ should constrain us to cut off the offending hand or to pluck out the offending eye, as Jesus counseled us to do, rather than to spend eternity in hell. The thought of such a future destiny for people whom our lives touch should be a strong incentive for us to witness to them about Christ and his salvation. At the same time the prospect of “the glory that will be revealed in us” should help us to bear “our present sufferings” with patience (Rom. 8:18), and encourage us to “press on toward the goal” (Phil. 3:14). And the thought that our brothers and sisters in Christ are likewise on their way to ultimate perfection should help us to think of them not just as poor, stumbling sinners who have many irksome faults but rather as those who shall some day shine as the sun.
C. S. Lewis expresses this thought vividly and concretely:

It is a serious thing … to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or the other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. …
It is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit – immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. – The Weight of Glory (Eerdmans, 1966) pp 14-15

And then, later in the chapter, Hoekema writes:

As the church does its evangelistic or missionary work, it must keep alive the conviction that every person on this earth is an image-bearer of God. Every person whom we encounter as we seek to bring the gospel is someone who bears God’s image. He or she is therefore a person in whom we should respect and recognize that image. If this person is outside of Christ, he or she has been using God-imaging gifts in the service of sin. Though this person is now, because of his or her sinful life-style, unworthy in God’s sight, he or she is not worthless. God can still use that person in his service. God can by his transforming power enable him to use his God-reflecting talents to the praise of his Creator. Because she has been created in the image of God, there are tremendous potentialities in this person. Therefore we now bring the gospel, urging him or her to be reconciled to God in the hope that these potentialities may yet bear fruit for God’s kingdom. Our concern, then, in evangelizing people is not just to “save people’s souls,” but to restore the image of God to its proper functioning in all of life, to the greater glory of God.
In the life to come the fruits of the church’s evangelistic and missionary work will be fully revealed. Then God will be honored in the final gathering together of those whom Christ has purchased by his blood out of every tribe and nation. Then the gifts and talents of all those blood-bought saints will be used everlastingly to God’s praise. Our evangelistic and missionary work should be done with a view to that great future. - Created in God's Image (Eerdmans, 1994) pp 96, 99

Wow! Do you think about the severity of hell and the beauty of heaven, and what every person will become? Do we realize the value of the image of God and that this makes every person worthy of honor? And this is why we ought not to curse (James 3:9) anyone? And do we evangelize not only because we recognize the horror of a Christ-less eternity, and what that person will become, but primarily because we value the image of God in that person and seek to restore this image (and its proper functioning) so that he or she may do what they were created to do … bringing glory to God?

Brief Meditation on Deuteronomy 7:9

2006-01-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

Deuteronomy 7:9
“Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.”

Prayer:

Father you are God. And I know you are God because you are faithful in keeping your covenant to those who have loved you in the past, in the present, and for as many generations you have ordained until your coming. I know you are God because you have kept your word and loved all who love you and keep your commandments. Your mercy is incredible. I say this because I recognize my inability to love you and keep your commandments, and yet you have provided your Son to do this perfectly on my behalf so that I might stay in covenant with you, being loved by you. And now that I have been justified through the work of your Son I am empowered by your Holy Spirit to enjoy loving, serving, and obeying you. O God, cause me to persevere in love for you and your law, staying in covenant relationship with you, and enjoying your constant and continual love all the days of my life and forevermore. You deserve all glory and honor, and because of these things I know that the LORD my God is God.

little Words Make a BIG Difference

2006-01-13T08:57:00.000-08:00

I was reading in Luke’s gospel about the man full of leprosy who, when he saw Jesus, fell on his face and begged him, saying “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean”. And I wondered … are we to identify with this leper? Being a leper in that day was as good as being dead. Leprosy was incurable and contagious and thought to be a result of sin. Thinking of it like this, how can we not identify? For, prior to Jesus’ healing touch, we all were incurable, dead, and unable to do anything to change our diagnosis. We all were contagious; infecting everything we touch with our disease. And of course, there have always been those unaware of their leprosy, avoiding the “unclean” with their self-righteous and superior attitude, but nonetheless, a member of the walking dead.

I am reminded that all are in need of a miracle. We all need to be cleansed by Jesus because our disease is incurable, our existence is hopelessly set in death, and there is no other physician capable of healing us. So we come to him and cry out, “Lord, if you will, you may make me clean.”

Is that what he said? Contrary to popular belief, the word, along with its wrong implication, is not “may”, but “can”. “You can make me clean.” Did you ever raise your hand as a grade-schooler and ask the teacher, “Can I go to the bathroom?” Only to hear, “Well, I’m sure you can.” Then realizing your grammatical mistake, and your growing discomfort, you correctly ask, “May I go to the bathroom?”

The word jumps out at me and shouts, “Yes Jesus, I have faith in you, for only you are able to save me. Will you? Please?”

I suspect the outcome would have been completely different (revealing a different attitude of the heart) if he had said to Jesus, “You may …”, or … “I give you permission, to heal me.”

So did this poor leper simply reap the benefits of fortunate grammar? No. It's amazing how one little word can reveal a great deal about our hearts. And yet there is another perspective in which this little word goes unnoticed by some. Can all men come to Christ? Or ... are all men capable of coming to God?

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. - John 6:44

Did it jump out at you? Do you see what this says? Jesus here says that no person is capable of coming to Him unless the Father draws. So thinking back to the leper we now see a different perspective; one that asks (and answers) how the leper knew to come to Jesus in the first place. It appears there were two miracles that day. And I do use the word “miracle” on purpose, for miracles would not be miracles if they were common, and we cannot look at John 6 and say that the Father’s drawing is common to all men. For if the Father drew all men, then all men would be raised at the last day. So either you embrace universalism, or recognize the first miracle … the one that enables us to see, respond in faith, and ask “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”

What, In Hell, Has God Ever Done For Us?

2006-01-12T21:36:00.000-08:00

by Philip Ryken - see the full post at the Reformation 21 blog

Like many Americans, I have been watching with keen interest as the tragic events have unfolded at the Sago mine in West Virginia. Miner family member John Casto has been widely reported as saying that after the first report (12 miners were alive), people at Sago Baptist Church "were praising God," but after the second report (12 miners were dead), "they were cursing." As I heard these words, I couldn't help but think of Job, who had praise to give both when God gave and when God took away (Job 1:21).

One television report was more explicit about the cursing. Apparently, when the worst of all news had come, the pastor of the church told people to keep looking to God. But one man shouted, "What in hell has God ever done for us?"

Read More

A Revealing Gift

2006-01-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

“Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” So Jesus says to Simon. Simon’s response is seasoned with irritation; “We toiled all night and took nothing!”, and then a resigned appeasement, “But at your word I will let down the nets.” But when Simon saw the great catch, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

Do you identify with this? I do. What I say I believe about God and what my actions reveal do not always line up. I know Jesus is the Son of God, mighty and powerful, merciful and kind, but I often live without any expectation of his provision and care. I worry, living as if I’m in the boat alone, and the fish just aren’t biting ... but then He provides, and does so way beyond my expectations … and I am ashamed. Oh, I would argue that I cannot presume upon the Lord by having “faith” in a particular outcome, an outcome I arrogantly define as what is best for me, instead of having faith that He will define the good and work it in my life. I do believe this. I do believe that God will always do what is best in my life, and I do believe that my definition of what is best does not always line up with His. But there is still this disconnect as I only end up doubtful of the results I desire, thinking they are less good than the good of sanctification that comes by suffering. So again, I assume what is best for me (suffering), and yet sometimes the good given to me is a pile of money. Seriously, there was a day when I woke early because of money anxieties and, after being tortured all morning, left for work and later that day received a call from my wife about a large debt being generously forgiven by the person owed. We were not behind in paying, we had every intention of paying, and we did not say a word that influenced this person’s generosity. And what was my reaction? You’d expect me to jump out of my chair and do a little dance, but instead my reaction was a bit like Simon’s. I recognized the ease in which God provided, and I was ashamed. God does reveal Himself in ways I cannot predict. Sometimes it is in a shattering loss, and sometimes it is in a shattering gain. I suppose it’s the shattering He’s after.

Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Prayer and the Victory of God

2006-01-10T14:16:00.000-08:00

The victory of God is the coming of his Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords, to punish all who have rejected his grace, to banish all ungodliness and unbelief from the earth into hell, to gather his elect from all the nations, to establish justice and righteousness and peace and joy on the earth forever, and to be worshipped with white-hot affection without end.

This is our “blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). This is going to happen. It could happen in our lifetime. But it is far greater than any of our lives. God cares about the little details of your life—even a lost key or the earache of a little child. But O how much greater is our God and his victory than your and my little life!

… The connection that I want you to see today between your life and the victory of God is the connection of prayer. Your prayers are God’s way of accomplishing the victory of Jesus Christ over this world. I know that for many of you this is way beyond what you usually pray about. I think God wants to change that. I hope that praying for the victory of God in this world will become part of your life. Don’t object by saying, “I’m too small. I’m unsophisticated. I’m not educated. I’m just an ordinary, simple person.” God chose a simple, peasant virgin to bear his Son. And he chooses simple people of faith to bring his victory by prayer. O don’t rule yourself out of this great calling. - John Piper (From his message "Prayer and the Victory of God", given 1/1/06)

Oh, God help me come to you with every little burden, recognizing my absolute dependence on You, and yet also having my desires change so that I might request even greater victories.

May Your name be hallowed.

God Is Good

2006-01-04T10:59:00.000-08:00

My daughter's check-up went better than we expected. I suppose we've grown accustom to hearing hard news, so yesterday was a breath of fresh air. Her cardiologist said that things appear to have stabilized for now - no change since her last exam in September. September's exam showed an increased blockage since the surgery, which if it continued would require more surgery, but as it was did not cause her any problems. So knowing things have stabilized gives us hope that it may stay this way for hopefully a year or two, or might we request of God 5? Thanks for praying. her next exam will be in June.

After news such as this people often say, "God is good", which I completely agree with, but it forces me to ask, "Do we only say this when God gives us what we want, or would we reassure ourselves with this same truth if the news were hard?" God's goodness is defined in His giving us what is most valuable, and this does not always fall in line with what we desire. God is faithful and promises to work ALL things for the GOOD of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose; and we know His purpose for us is not our comfort, but instead ... our holiness. So I am again reminded to trust in God, giving me what is best, and this time being thankful that this good has also been merciful.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
Psalm 20:7

I Trust _____

2006-01-02T09:39:00.000-08:00

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? … Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. – Matthew 6:25, 31-34

I often hear this passage as a reminder to not worry. I notice that it is a direct response to money in particular. I suspect money is the focus because this, more than anything else, reveals who we trust. Do I trust my ability to earn and provide, and even make good decisions, or do I trust God and His great love for me. The application goes way beyond money in particular, speaking to our God (or god) and whom we trust. Is it the sovereign Lord of the universe, or our own ability to make and do and control? Who do I trust?

I confess that I am anxious about tomorrow. For tomorrow we take our daughter for her latest heart check-up. Her last exam in September showed that the stints placed in her heart last June are not holding up. We do not know how long these will last, and tomorrow’s check-up will reveal the immanency of another surgery. It is times like these that I wonder if I’ve grown in any measurable way; for God has brought us through so many pains and surgeries, and death, and yet I experience incredible anxiety right now. What is my remedy? I’d love to say that I always turn to scripture and fall on my knees praying for hours, but I confess that my remedy is often to distract my mind with TV and work. I pray this will become less and less, and that in seeking first God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness I will learn to trust.

Who, or What, Do You Love?

2005-12-31T15:07:00.000-08:00

“One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple” (Ps. 27:4). Beholding the beauty of God has always been the supreme desire of those who know him best.
The upshot of saying this is that the love of God and the gospel of God are radically God-centered. God loves us by giving us himself to enjoy. The gospel is good news because it announces to us that God has acted in Christ not just that we may have heaven, but so that we may have God. “Everyone who … does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God” (2 John 9). The greatest good of the gospel is “having God” as our treasure forever.
The God-centered love of God is foreign to fallen human beings, especially those who, like most of us, have been saturated for decades with doctrines of self-esteem. We have absorbed a definition of love that makes us the center. That is, we feel loved when someone makes much of us. Thus the natural, human definition of love is making much of someone. The main reason this feels like love is that it feels so good to be made much of. The problem is that this feels good on wholly natural grounds. There is nothing spiritual about it. No change in us is needed at all to experience this kind of “love”. This love is wholly natural. It operates on the principles that are already present in our fallen, sinful, and spiritually dead souls. We love the praise of man. It feels good. Praise is to the ego what sex is to the body. It just doesn’t get any better – as long as we are spiritually dead.
The ground of natural love is finally me, not God. If you make much of me, I feel loved, because I am the final ground of my happiness. God is not in that place. He should be, but he is not. That is what it means to be unconverted and natural. The deepest foundation of my happiness is me.
The astonishing thing is that people in that condition can become religious without being converted. That is, they join churches and start reading the Bible and doing religious things, with no change in the foundation of their happiness. It is still themselves. They are the ground of their joy. Being made much of is the definition of love that they bring with them into church. Therefore what feeds the need to be made much of is felt to be loving. Some churches are so misguided in their theology, they actually nurture that need and call it love. They interpret all the good feeling in the church as coming from the grace of God, when in fact natural principles can account for most of it.
Other churches may not nurture the craving to be made much of, but unconverted people may interpret everything that is happening through that lens. So when the love of God is preached, they hear it to mean simply that God makes much of us. They may even have a strong affection for God as long as they see him as the endorsement of their delight in being the foundation of their own happiness. If God can be seen as the enabler of their self-exaltation, they will be happy to do some God-exaltation. If God is man-centered, they are willing to be, in a sense, God-centered.
None of this is spiritual. It is purely natural. God has been reinterpreted to fit the fallen categories of human selfishness. This is hard to spot, because man is capable of many good deeds while in the glow of human praise. In other words, whole systems of imitation Christianity can be built on distorted images of the love of God and the gospel of God. Jonathan Edwards learned this to his own heartache as he studied the permutations of hypocrisy in the fallout of the Great Awakening…

This is … the … difference between the joy of the hypocrite, and the joy of the true saint. The [hypocrite] rejoices in himself; self is the first foundation of his joy: the [true saint] rejoices in God. … True saints have their minds, in the first place, inexpressibly pleased and delighted with the sweet ideas of the glorious and amiable nature of the things of God. And this is the spring of all their delights, and the cream of all their pleasures. … But the dependence of the affections of hypocrites is in a contrary order: they first rejoice … that they are made so much of by God; and then on that ground, he seems in a sort, lovely to them. – Religious Affections

So it is possible even to see God as “in a sort, lovely” when we are not even genuine Christians. If he can be seen as a servant of our self-love, then we can see him as lovely. If he will make much of us, then we will be willing, up to a point, to make much of him. – God is the Gospel (Crossway Books), 148-150

------------------------------------

Why do I love God? Being raised in the church, I recognize that the contrast is hard for me to spot. Being a self-centered sinner (all of my life) it is doubly hard to recognize my motivations for “loving” God. I certainly love the thought of being spared from Hell. As Piper points out, this is not a spiritually empowered love, but instead a love that any unregenerate sinner possesses. So what are some evidences that we truly love God, and not simply (and naturally) love the gifts we think we have been given? Since John is the apostle of love I’ll look at 1 John.

Evidences for a Genuine Love of God

Those Who Confess Their Sins – “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1:8-10)

Obedience - “Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (2:4-6)

Love for people - “Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. (2:9-10)

Not Loving the World (defined as … the desires of the flesh, desires of the eyes, pride in possessions). – “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (2:15)

Doing the Will of God - ... “but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (2:17)

Perseverance – “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.” (2:19)

Revelation Knowledge Concerning the Truth of Jesus – “But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. … and … no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? … he who denies the Father and the Son. (2:20-23)

Abiding in the Truth – “If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us – eternal life.” (2:24-25)

Those Who Practice Righteousness – “If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.” (2:29)

Growing in Holiness (Those being Sanctified) – “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.” (3:4-6 … read on through v.10)

Love (in action not only in words) For Others – (3:11-24) also 4:7-12, 16-21

Those Who Listen to God’s Word – “We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” (4:6)

Confessing Jesus is the Son of God – “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” (4:15) also 5:1

Those Who Overcome – “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.” (5:4)

Those Who Believe God’s Testimony (Baptism & Death of Christ, & Spirit) – (5:6-12)

I think of Augustine who said, "Grant what thou commandest and then command what thou wilt."

Dear Lord, please grant me these evidences of your work.

The Humility of God

2005-12-30T09:30:00.000-08:00

What were the circumstances of our Savior’s birth? He was born in the city of David because of the decree of Caesar Augustus, requiring people to be registered in their own town. Yet Joseph and Mary did not go and stay with family, but were forced to take shelter in a manger because the inn was full. Seems there was no family in Bethlehem, otherwise, why would they go to the inn? It’s also interesting to know the place of our Savior’s birth had been prophesied (decreed by God) hundreds of years prior to “the decree of Caesar”.

What humbling circumstances for the birth of the Son of God! Could it be that there was family in Bethlehem, but because of Mary’s “shameful” pregnancy they were shunned? I don’t know … just wondering. No matter, it was certainly not comfortable to travel as a pregnant mother only to give birth in a stall. What was God thinking? Was He being cruel to Mary? Couldn’t He have booked a reservation or brought about another’s cancellation? Why so much discomfort and humility? Then again … why do we think the best of accommodations would be "fitting" for Almighty God? Wouldn’t even the most elaborate earthly surroundings be equally lacking for the King of Kings? It seems we miss the point when we focus on the humility of their being out of town, in a manger, wrapping Jesus in cloths, laying him in a feeding trough, and being visited by lowly shepherds instead of high and mighty dignitaries. These would be a step down for men, but I suspect the difference between the best and the least of earthly environments are immeasurably insignificant, and that the real humility was simply becoming a man. I think of Philippians 2:6-11, which says,

Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Our greatest of humblings do not begin to compare, yet the great purpose is the same … the praise and glory of God.

My Hope My Experience My Desire

2005-12-29T08:47:00.000-08:00

My hope is in Christ and that His death on the cross has defeated my enemy, and that because of this my death will not take me, but will actually pass me along to a greater life; a life of even more clarity; no longer seeing through a glass darkly, but seeing Him clearly.

My experience is a struggle with guilt of sin that is fought as I continually remind myself of the gospel. This reassures me of the enemy’s defeat, and of mercy forgiveness and peace. The experience of this life is a continual God-enlightening of my eyes so that I might see Him a little more clearly, desiring more and more, knowing that the elimination of my sin (glorification in Heaven) will bring great satisfaction as I currently receive small tastes of His glory.

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. – 1 Cor 13:11-12

Both Creature and Person

2005-12-28T08:47:00.000-08:00

… “the understanding of man as a created person is both important and relevant. Theologians like myself (Anthony Hoekema) who stand in the Reformed or Calvinistic tradition have commonly emphasized the creaturely aspect of man (his total dependence on God), and therefore the ultimate sovereignty of God in every area of life, particularly in the work of saving his people from their sins. Arminian theologians, on the other hand, usually lay all the stress on man’s personhood. Hence when they speak of the process of salvation they will emphasize the importance of man’s voluntary decision and continuing faithfulness to God. Keeping in mind the paradox that man is both a creature and a person will help us do full justice to both the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man. Those of us who stand in the Reformed tradition must not neglect or deny the responsibility of man; those who stand in the Arminian tradition should not neglect or deny the ultimate sovereignty of God.” - pg.10 Created in God's Image by Anthony A. Hoekema

Most (if not every) disagreement concerning who and how God saves comes back to a right understanding of total depravity. Likewise, I’m beginning to have a light bulb experience in the area of anthropology; realizing that having a proper understanding of what it means to be human, or created in the image of God, sheds a lot of light on the supposed contradiction of God being sovereign over the actions of man, vs. man being responsible for his choices. Is it one or the other, or do we attempt a “Geisler” and say we’ll meet somewhere in the middle? By the way, I don’t recommend Geisler (on this subject) and I don’t believe the answer is a compromise on both sides. I believe the answer lies with correctly understanding that man is not only creature, and that man is not only person; and that the answer does not involve giving up a little of each, but instead recognizing that we neglect the other and must embrace both. The embrace of both creates a paradox. I don’t understand how these can relate, but I know Scripture describes both. My mind has a new category and now I attempt to study and understand … hopefully making this less of a mystery.

It’s important that we humbly recognize the existence of categories that we did not previously realize. We need to let our minds be blown, create a new category, and search the Scriptures for revelation. The paradox of anthropology ought to be in a similar category as the incarnation. It is a paradox that Jesus is both God and man, and the answer is not to meet in the middle – giving up a little deity and a little humanity. No, the answer lies in embracing both. We recognize that Scripture teaches both, and so we embrace both and struggle to understand how these co-exist. Likewise, the Calvinism vs. Arminianism debate will never be reconciled by only focusing on one aspect of man. Here’s a relevant saying; a half truth presented as a whole truth is an untruth. So … man being described as only creature is not true, and man described as only person is also untrue. The truth is, we are not only creatures that are absolutely dependent upon God for every action and breath we take, and we do not only possess personhood, which enables us to choose and be responsible for our actions, but somehow we are both. And thus begins a new category and a new pursuit of understanding.

Search The Scriptures

2005-12-27T09:05:00.000-08:00

So here comes the New Year, and all of our good intentions. Looking back on 2005 I find myself discouraged once again for being so inconsistent in my Bible reading routine. I think we all have similar struggles. We desire to read the Bible, but the busyness of life distracts, and when we do set aside the time we lack direction. This is why a good reading plan or study guide is important. Well, I found something. It’s not new to some of you, but it’s new to me, and I think I’ve found something that will be helpful because it answers some of the problems I face in being consistent. Such as:

1. I enjoy spending lots of time reading and contemplating, but lack large chunks of time where I am both free and able to focus.
2. Quick short readings do not stick in my head, so instead of doing this, I just don’t.
3. When I have the time I often waste it figuring out where I should read.
4. I enjoy reading the various genres of scripture, but find it distracting to mix un-related portions in one reading.
5. I get bogged down and hunger for other portions while attempting to read the Bible from beginning to end.
6. I want to do more than just read. I want to study. But this takes time … and so I don’t.

I think I may have found a guide that fits me, but I suppose I will not know until next December. The book I’ll be using this year (and hopefully in years to come) is “Search the Scriptures: A Three-Year Daily Devotional Guide to the Whole Scriptures” edited by Alan Stibbs. “Search the Scriptures” combines not only a guide for reading, but also helps the reading stick by asking questions that are to be answered in a journal entry. If you have similar struggles, you might take a look at this book. It doesn’t skip around in each reading, and it doesn’t bog you down by working straight through from Genesis to Revelation, but instead spends a couple of weeks in one genre and then moves on to another. My preference is to spend a lot of time reading, writing, and memorizing, but I tend to do less because I just don’t have the time. Yes, I could get up at 4am, but staying awake is also important for retention. So instead of infrequent lengthy times of study, I’m resigning myself to short and consistent … and hoping for a long study mixed in.

Please feel free to keep me accountable by asking how I’m doing, and let me know if I might do the same for you.

Praying for consistency in 2006,

Brian

You Can't Handle The Truth!

2005-12-26T08:50:00.000-08:00

Several weeks ago I spent some time dialoging with some Mullinists on Julianne’s blog about (of course) the supposed “conundrum” of man’s responsibility and God’s sovereignty. I’m not sure I want to revisit my comments, as I was under the influence of percocet and too much time on my hands while recovering from a fall off a ladder. Yes: I’m doing much better now (percocet free), the ladder was broken, my back was not, and no I will not be winning any money from America’s Stupidest Videos as I neglected to set up my video camera before ascending my propped-on-a-rug-on-a-wood-floor-in-the-hallway ladder. I have to admit that the motivation of some of my entries only involved getting Julianne’s post over the 100 mark, which did occur, and I’m happy to say did not cause the world-wide shutdown of computers that control electrical companies and oil refineries. By the way, does anyone need some powdered lobster and a guide to digging your own latrine?

I did enjoy the Mullinist dialog; however I never did get an answer to why Rich Mullins thought God had so many alternate plans before settling on this current creation? Also, I did find it a bit difficult having a serious conversation with a guy whose comment picture combined philosophy with Tom Selleck’s hairy chest.

Seriously, these guys were very nice and I did enjoy myself … probably too much. And yes, I know it’s spelled Molinist. But I wonder if any good came from this blogging time? I know I am not the first to ask this question. Near the end of the 101 comments someone even reprimanded us all for a complete waste of time. I did not agree with his tone, but it did apply to many, not all, but definitely many. I think the reprimand was appropriate to those arguing with a close-minded defense of their tradition. I’m not willing to specifically label another, and at times I could certainly pin this on myself. So I ask myself (and you); Am I on a pursuit for truth, or am I only interested in defending my tradition? I am convinced that the Word of God is my absolute authority and the best specific revelation of truth, but how am I handling it? Am I twisting it to fit my traditions? Am I afraid to abandon years of teaching? Can I handle the truth? So I remind myself of one of the cries of the Reformation – “Always Reforming”, and more importantly the words of Jesus … "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

2005-12-07T09:28:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I'm stealing Julianne's (dog reading a good book) idea, but the title goes with my blog, and I couldn't resist taking it with Piper. Yes, I did name my dog after one of my favorite authors, but she doesn't appear to be glorifying anyone with that sullen expression.

2005-12-06T22:45:00.000-08:00

Fantasies about the past have consequences. If we think that clothes from a century or two ago will keep our daughters safe. If we think that abortion wasn't a problem before Roe v. Wade, maybe we think that if only we get a 5-4 Supreme Court originalist majority - which I hope we do - all will be well. But I demur again, because sin does not come from what we wear or who wears black judicial robes. It comes from within. - Marvin Olasky (From his article "The good new days", World Magazine, December 3, 2005)

Paraphrases from the Mind of Jeremiah Burroughs

2005-11-30T06:57:00.000-08:00

Desiring the earthly treasures of a pagan
is like coveting the last meal of a man on death row.

That you think of any sin as “little”
reveals your misunderstanding of the infinite God
and the joy of union with Him.
Anything that breaks this union
would be the greatest evil in the world,
and a “little” sin does exactly this.

Condemned people made aware of the reality of sin
become afraid of everything because they see
the wrath of God in all of creation.

Holiness and grace are connected.
Grace not only brings a blessing
but is what separates us for a blessing.
Likewise, we think of sin as deserving punishment,
but miss that the separation from God,
brought about by sin,
is itself the worst of all punishments.

Theological Litmus Test

2005-11-29T07:30:00.000-08:00

I suspect a good test to validate the truthfulness of a theological belief is to look at the end goal. You might call this a theological litmus test, with the determining factor being the glorification of God. So if the main emphasis of a belief is the value of anything other than God then I would conclude that you’re either on the wrong road, or you need to continue to the end of the road where you’ll realize the real main point is God.

For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen. - Romans 11:36

My Struggle With Comfort

2005-11-24T09:21:00.000-08:00

Each Thanksgiving it is customary to ask the question, “For what are you thankful?”, and inevitably you will hear thankful comments about family, friends, a home, health, and that we live in a country where we are free to worship God. In the Christian home you will hopefully hear an additional declaration of thanks to God for not sparing His Son who died on our behalf. I am truly thankful for all of these, and I know I am to be thankful for Jesus most of all, but I know my sinful heart tends to give thanks primarily for the comfort found in all of these things.

I am comfortable sitting in a nice warm home eating a huge variety of delicious snacks, turkey, customary turkey-food accessories, and a plethora of pies; while others are cold, alone, or in line for a free meal. I am comfortable talking about football and contrasting my bounty with the pilgrims’ first kernel-sucking winter. I am comfortable with my free access to Christian literature and music while those in communist prisons covet a single torn page from the Bible. I am comfortable with avoiding the pains of Hell for the pleasures of Heaven. I am comfortable and I love my comfort, and wonder, “Is it a sin to enjoy the comforts of God?” Certainly being more mindful, giving, and conscientiously prayerful would help, but is this simply to ease my conscience or make me feel better about myself? Can I get away from sinning? For even in “right doing” I am tainted with sin; made evident by my conscience-easing motives or, worse yet, blind self-righteousness. My sin is a desire for the comfort more than the comfort-giver. I take for granted the cost that bought my comforts, and I struggle to avoid serving and praying with wrong motives.

Doesn’t it feel like a trap? We are guilty for taking advantage of our comforts, and guilty for serving with motives that comfortably maintain the image we desire others to see. How do we avoid this trap? I think of Romans 12 and its appeal to holy living as a result of the transformation brought about by minds that have been renewed … rightly recognizing and responding to the many mercies of God. This glimpse of God frees me from the trap. For when I am transformed my service becomes a response to the mercies of God, not sinfully trying to pay Him back, but joyfully embracing and sharing His grace.

Comfort is a struggle. We all desire various forms of comfort, God brings comfort and, in-and-of-itself, it is not wrong. Yet comfort becomes a struggle with sin in that we prefer comfort to the avoidance of sin or (in a positive sense) loving God. Comfort is “My Precious”, and I am mesmerized by its power. In his book “The Evil of Evils”, Jeremiah Burroughs wrote,

Many of you, when it comes to it, will be more loathe to loose a coin than commit a sin, more loath to endure the least shame or a nick-name than to commit a sin. Are there not many servants here, or children, who will tell a lie (when they have done an evil) rather than suffer a little shame in the family from their parents or masters, fellow-servants and children? What a difference is there between your hearts and the heart of the martyrs!
They could endure all the tortures on their bodies that could be devised rather than to commit any known sin against their consciences, and you will venture to commit a known sin against your conscience rather than to be found out in some fault and have an angry word or a little shame! If it is only to gain two pence, they will tell a lie, and are willing to choose sin rather than endure the least trouble. A mighty difference between you and them.

Ouch! God grant me a better understanding of the gravity of sin. For in understanding its evil I’ll rightly appreciate God’s holiness and incredible merciful grace. The conviction does me good, and that good is a greater appreciation and Thanksgiving for God’s grace.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Who said ...?

2005-11-04T16:16:00.000-08:00

He loves Thee too little
who loves anything together with Thee
which he loves not for Thy sake.

i repent

2005-10-26T14:29:00.000-07:00

i repent, i repent of my pursuit of america's dream
i repent, i repent of living like i deserve anything - of my house, my fence, my kids, my wife - in our suburb where we're safe and white
i am wrong and of these things i repent
i repent, i repent of parading my liberty
i repent, i repent of paying for what i get for free and for the way i believe that i am living right - by trading sins for others that are easier to hide
i am wong and of these things i repent
i repent of judging by a law that even i can't keep, of wearing righteousness like a disguise, to see through the planks in my own eyes
i repent, i repent of trading truth for false unity
i repent, i repent of confusing peace and idolatry - by caring more of what they think than what i know of what we need, by domesticating you until you look just like me
i am wrong and of these things i repent

- Derek Webb (lyrics of song "i repent" from CD "i see things upside down")

Seeing Suffering With New Eyes

2005-10-21T18:46:00.000-07:00

Life is hard and people suffer, and at some point we all move from spectator to participant. At first hearing this may seem negative, and without a God-centered faith it is negative … but it’s also realistic. So if suffering is inevitable, shouldn’t we (believers) prepare for it by straining to see the one who intends it for our good? Do you see His good purpose? He’s transforming us! And being transformed is far from negative. Focus on God as the ultimate treasure and you will find yourself with new eyes that are able to catch a glimpse of the eternal weight of glory, a glory so beautiful that even our worst sufferings become comparatively slight and momentary. But if you buy into a man-centered Christianity, one that believes God loves us by making much of us; you’ll of course focus on … yourself. And with these shortsighted eyes you’ll be incapable of seeing the joy that overwhelms our real, painful, yet momentary sufferings. I pray you experience a God-centered Christianity that understands the ultimate aim of the love of God to be His own glorification. And when God reveals His glory to us, it is then we are truly loved, for now we have been given the most valuable and precious gift possible … God.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.- 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12:2

Give me your book recommendations

2005-09-24T08:38:00.000-07:00

God is the Gospel. This, the title of John Piper’s latest book, is a profound truth. For the meaning of gospel is “good news”, and how we define this news often stops short of the best news of all. Spiritual blessings, heavenly reunions, and the absence of Hell are certainly good news, but the satisfaction of our greatest desire is found only in God. I excitedly started to read, “God is the Gospel” last night, and even though I’m only a few chapters in, I just couldn’t wait to recommend it. I reserve the right to recommend this again … after finishing. Another unfinished book, of which I’ll have more to say, is T. M. Moore’s “Consider the Lilies: A Plea For Creational Theology”. If you love worship, (which all believers do, whether they realize it or not) then you’ll want to grow in your ability to see and appreciate God, and “Consider the Lilies” is a helpful tool to do just that.

Aren’t books great? Learning certainly doesn’t end with school, and a measure of a book’s greatness is its ability to reveal the greatest object of all … God. My pastor (Dale Meador) and I do a Friday morning radio show every other week where we recommend good books and take calls from listeners who also want to talk about what they're reading. Hopefully this encourages godliness, and a passion for the pleasure of knowing and worshiping God. Yesterday we recommended the following. Feel free to post a book recommendation or review. Who knows, maybe I'll read it over the S. Oregon airwaves.

What a Daughter Needs from Her Dad
by Michael Farris

To encourage and guide men in becoming the dads they want to be, Michael Farris addresses issues common in all families with daughters: friends, dating, personal appearance, and preparing for the roles she’ll have as a woman. Michael Farris challenges fathers to take their unique opportunity to train daughters for life’s challenges—in ways that only a dad can. Originally published as "How a Man Prepares His Daughters for Life", it now includes new material on relating to an adult daughter.
– From the publisher

God Is The Gospel
by John Piper

Most people, when they ponder what it means to be loved by God, think of the things that God does for us. John Piper writes that what is most loving about God is not his making much of us, but his enabling us, at great cost to himself, to enjoy making much of him forever.

– From the Publisher

The Problem of Pleasure
by Dr. John H. Gerstner

The question we are often prone to ask in our day is, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" But Dr. Gerstner draws our focus to the proper question, "Why do good things happen to bad people?" The presence of evil and suffering in this sinful world should not surprise us. What is truly surprising is that there is any pleasure at all in this world. This is simply because God is a good God, and has given us all things richly to enjoy. This booklet, also contained in Primitive Theology, will help you gain perspective and ask the right questions about life. – From the publisher

The Heart of the Bible
by John MacArthur

John MacArthur's personal selection of verses reflects what he considers to be the most significant thoughts to be found in God's Word. MacArthur speaks directly to the reader about the background of each verse and encourages their memorization. Reading the book will be almost like listening to a radio interview with MacArthur. The book allows him to do what he does best - make the Bible come alive for people today. – From the Publisher

Salvation through Judgment and Mercy
Gospel According to the OT Series - Jonah

by Bryan D. Estelle

Though simple enough for a child to grasp, the book of Jonah is an extremely subtle and complex work full of wonderful literary artistry mixed with many layers of meaning. This study presents the book of Jonah as part of the unfolding, unified story of redemption pointing to Christ. – From the Publisher

Treasures in Darkness: A Grieving Mother Shares Her Heart
by Sharon Betters

Grief can be so crippling that it blinds you to God's presence. Many who grieve struggle to face the sudden loss, much less embrace it and rest in it. In this remarkably honest book, Sharon Betters tells us the full story of her teenage son's sudden death at the hands of a drunk driver. Excerpts from Sharon's journal express the raw grief, anger, and hunger to understand how God can be good and loving, and still take away her youngest child. Sharon Betters draws readers to a passage from Isaiah that carries God's promise to provide treasures for his people in the very midst of darkness and trouble. All readers that have experienced the loss of a loved one will see how they can feel God's presence and love even during the darkest times. – From the publisher

Trouble Sleeping?

2005-08-11T08:51:00.000-07:00

Ok, it's been a while (2 months!) since I've written anything. I started blogging in hopes of it being an exercise - forcing me to write without excessively laboring over the finished product. In other words, I tend to make a little article a huge project instead of just getting my thoughts down on "paper". And please understand that I'm under no illusion that my words are profound, or that people hungrily await the next bit of wisdom from the Buckwheat sage. No, selfish as this may sound, I mostly write as an exercise for my own brain, helping clarify my emotions and beliefs. Well, if this is the case then my mind has been mush for the last 2 months. Thanks to Julianne for reminding me to get with it. (Julianne writes the Semper Reformanda Blog I recommend and link to on my blog) So hopefully the mushy brain is getting a little firmed up.

Speaking of mush, I had the privilege of preaching at my church last Sunday, as our pastor is away teaching in S. Africa. This was my second time ever, and being one whose greatest fear has always been public speaking, I had to isolate myself - creating some pain in my flabby brain. This experience definitely creates in me a new appreciation for my pastor's ability to give wonderful messages while also spending most of the week actually shepherding and loving the church body. Unlike Pastor Dale, I was out of sight, invisible to most every living creature. My family was even away for 3 days at the coast while I desperately tried to land on a text and topic, let alone organize the message. As the week went on I began to panic and plead with God because nothing was coming together. I was simply overwhelmed with the enormity of the topics I thought I would preach, revealing my ignorance and inability. I wanted to preach on the gospel, and even listened to a lot of R. C. Sproul's messages on justification. Instead of helping, this only revealed the topic to be way too daunting for me. I also hoped to speak of the gospel as not being something we move away from after salvation (only revisiting if we evangelize), but something that is very relevant and necessary to be preached to ourselves every day as a follower of Christ. This wasn't coming together either. Maybe someday I'll speak at length on this, but it just wasn't what God wanted.

Finally, Thursday night, I came across a book titled "Today's Gospel" by Walter Chantry, and this gave me the text and message that eventually became my sermon. I highly recommend this book, and maybe in another post I'll summarize this message. I am amazed that God has called me to be an elder and now to preach (every once-in-a-while), because I have never been the leader, and certainly not a speaker; but I can testify to God working in my life, changing me, causing me to trust Him, and (I pray) using me for His glory.

Sunday seemed to go well. I was actually very comfortable. I didn't throw-up or even faint! I do not take for granted that just because I have been called to preach I am guaranteed a good outcome. You see, God may want to use me as an object lesson for humility, so being revived and drug off the stage is not out of the question. This is becoming less and less a thought in my mind, as I'm becoming more and more comfortable and confident as I experience the process of preaching. I do have a couple of funny things to share. Saturday night (before preaching) I was preparing and practicing what I was going to say. My daughter Brenna happened to be in the room and I stopped and said something like, "O that was terrible". She responded with, "No Dad, I thought that was great". I asked why she thought so. "Well", pausing and thinking for a while, "Because you're my daddy!" Precious as this was, I knew others wouldn't so easily affirm my message, but help did come as one of our pastors (Jim) reminded me to look to the Lord and realize that apart from Him I can do nothing.

Another funny memory occurred in the middle of the sermon, and it must of appeared to everyone that I had thought of something very funny only to decide this joke was not right for this particular sermon. I smiled, and for a few seconds, fought off laughter, desperately trying to focus and move on. What everyone didn't know is that as I panned the congregation my eyes stopped on a person sitting dead-center, head back, eyes closed, and mouth wide open. I nearly busted up. For a nanosecond I thought of ways to embarrass him, but thankfully gathered my thoughts and moved on. Joking afterwards, the guilty party assured me that he was only trying to make me feel at home, as this was his normal practice. I'll blame this, and the site of many other people desperately fighting off heavy eyelids, on the heat. Certainly it wasn't my preaching! From that point on I tried to only focus on the few people who were paying attention and quickly scribbling notes. Unfortunately, these were only my family members. So if you're not a member of my family, are struggling with insomnia, and are ever in Medford, just let me know and I'll ask if I may give the message.

Clarification on God's Goodness

2005-06-13T11:49:00.000-07:00

I talked with Dan and he did intend to say exactly what he wrote. I'm just literal to a fault and the wording confused me. Dan's comment concerning God's goodness was,

"So, He doesn't need us to be declared good by bestowing good gifts upon us. Right?”

In other words, God doesn't require people, on whom to bestow good gifts, in order to be declared good. I made the following comment that, after talking with Dan, I realize needs (as Ricky Ricardo would say) some esplainin. I said,

"Right, God's goodness is not dependant upon His actions. However, because He is good He cannot help but do good. I'm not sure what Dave Hunt has said (A man can only take so much!), but anyone who passes judgment on God's character based on what they deem is good or loving would be the equivalent of a slug in my garden passing criticism on a judgment made by our supreme court. Actually, this comparison is more understandable than any person defining whether or not God's actions are good or loving."

Dan was concerned that my comment, specifically "because He is good He cannot help but do good", sounded a lot like something Dave Hunt said. The reason I titled this post "Slug Critiques Supreme Court Decision" is because I realize no man defines good and then judges God's goodness based on his definition of good. Dave Hunt would be extremely arrogant to define “good” and then say God must do this in order to be good. It would be even more absurd than a slug critiquing a decision made by our highest court.

The distinction I would make in saying, "because God is good He cannot help but do good", is to say that this goodness is not defined by people, but instead by God. To clarify, I would argue that (biblically) the ultimate goodness is for God to glorify Himself, and not simply give us what we desire. I think of Jesus' response to hearing of Lazarus sickness. He responded by saying that because He loved Lazarus he would wait. This "love" demonstrates that God's idea of love was not to do as we think, which would be to hurry along and eliminate our friend's suffering. Instead, this love was to reveal His glory. So when I say God cannot help but do good, what I mean is that God's strongest desire is to glorify Himself to the highest extent, and THIS is good.

Some would think that the most loving thing for God to do would be the salvation of everyone. But is this our definition of love or God's? In answering this I would say, "What reveals God's glory to the fullest extent?" If God were to save everyone who ever existed, would He neglect to reveal His holy justice? Would this be grace? It seems without this right contrast we would have no comprehension of His mercy. It also seems that grace would be meaningless because our very existence would "earn" salvation. What if God were to condemn everyone to Hell? He would be just to do so, but would He then neglect to reveal His inherent mercy?

So yes, God is good and loving by nature, and His good works do not achieve this title, but His works are done to most fully reveal His glory. And goodness and love are not determined by us, but ultimately is seen in this full revelation of God's perfection. With this I understand that there is a purpose for Him preparing vessels for destruction (Romans 9) "in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory-- even us whom he has called - verses 23-24a. Yes, God is good, and this goodness overflows, revealing ultimate goodness, which is His glory.

Masquerade

2005-06-10T18:01:00.000-07:00

On an open stretch of freeway
Underneath the canvas clouds
The blackness after midnight
Swallowed everything around

But just up ahead on the open horizon
We caught the faintest glow
And as we drew near
it seemed so clear that the dark would have to go

In the center of the city
Comes the illusion of the day
When everything looks pretty
It's easy to think you've found the way
But it's all just a big masquerade

It was thirty-six months earlier
On that same old lonesome road
And that same old darkness lingered
Just before the lightning show

And the thunder cracked down
And His lightning conquered everything around
The dark had to flee

Now the light of the little town
Was as dark as the night compared to His light

In the center of the city
Comes the illusion of the day
When everything looks pretty
It's easy to think you've found the way
But it's all just a big masquerade
- by Ed Cash from Caedmon's Call CD "long line of leavers"

There are many illusions of pleasure and rightness in this life, but then God shines brightly, causing the darkness to flee. I think of Hebrews 11:24-26 which says,

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

Sinful pleasures are not an illusion. The experiences are real, and they do work in numbing the pain or boredom. This is not the illusion, but instead it is the belief that the pleasure will endure. The reality is that all sinful pleasures fade. They do not last. They are fleeting. With this in mind I think of C. S. Lewis' quote from The Weight of Glory:

Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

There are real pleasures. The child is enjoying making a mud pie in the slum, but when God lights up the sky then this much lesser light is realized to be darkness. We then see Him for who He is. We see Him as our lasting pleasure, and the lights of the city are realized as only a masquerade. Don't settle for mud pies and florescent lights when there's a holiday at sea under a never ending and greatly pleasurable light.

God My Only Happiness

2005-06-08T18:08:00.000-07:00

My God, my portion, and my love,
My everlasting all!
I've none but Thee in heaven above,
Or on this earthly ball.

What empty things are all the skies,
And this inferior clod!
There's nothing here deserves my joys,
There's nothing like my God.

In vain the bright, the burning sun,
Scatters his feeble light;
'Tis Thy sweet beams create my noon;
If Thou withdraw, 'tis night.

And while upon my restless bed,
Among the shades I roll,
If my Redeemer shows His head,
'Tis morning with my soul.

To Thee we owe our wealth, and friends,
And health, and safe abode;
Thanks to Thy name for meaner things,
But they are not my God.

How vain a toy is glittering wealth,
If once compared to Thee!
Or what's my safety, or my health,
Or all my friends to me?

Were I possessor of the earth,
And called the stars my own,
Without Thy graces and Thyself
I were a wretch undone.

Let others stretch their arms like seas,
And grasp in all the shore;
Grant me the visits of Thy face,
And I desire no more.

Watts, Isaac. The Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts.
Morgan: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1997, pp. 470-471

Slug Critiques Supreme Court Decision!

2005-06-08T11:35:00.000-07:00

I started replying to Dan Mann's very good comment on my post "God is Good All The Time" and instead decided to make this a new post.

Dan said,

"Was God good before He created anything? Well of course. He is immutable. So, He doesn't need to do anything to be good, He is GOOD. Right? So, He doesn't need us to be declared good by bestowing good gifts upon us. Right?”

I'm assuming you meant to say, So, He doesn't need to bestow good gifts in order for us to declare Him good - or something like that.

To ask if God was good before creating anything is a great point. I assume people would quickly say yes. Then bringing up the attribute of immutability (unchanging) is excellent. Here's an example of the importance of theology, knowing God's attributes, and what logically flows from this revelation. God is good before creation AND God is unchanging THEREFORE God's goodness is not dependant on WHAT He does, but instead WHO He is. With this said, we ought to recognize God's goodness all the time and not simply when He does what we like. We ought to also recognize that if "all things work for good to (His elect) those who love Him", then all events brought from a sovereign and good God are meaningful, purposeful, and good. Our definition of good is then forced to conform to what God is doing and not what we want. We know He is sanctifying His elect, and we know this is often accomplished through suffering, thus even the evil intentions (Joseph's brothers) of others may be seen as under God's sovereign control and intended for good. The evil done is still evil, but God sovereignly uses it for His good purposes. With this knowledge we can trust God is at work and doing what is eternally best.

You then said,

"So God is not in need to do good to be good? Right, Unlike us? So, When someone like Dave Hunt says, I mean Dr.Dave Hunt says that God is good and loving, he therefore means If God withholds good gifts from someone, He is not Good and loving. Would this be true, or untrue?"

Right, God's goodness is not dependant upon His actions. However, because He is good He cannot help but do good. I'm not sure what Dave Hunt has said (A man can only take so much!), but anyone who passes judgment on God's character based on what they deem is good or loving would be the equivalent of a slug in my garden passing criticism on a judgment made by our supreme court. Actually, this comparison is more understandable than any person defining whether or not God's actions are good or loving.

God is Good All the Time

2005-06-04T15:14:00.000-07:00

We are thankful to God for mercifully granting a successful heart surgery for my daughter Devynne. My parents were gone when the doctor first came to tell us of the successful surgery. We were thankful they did not arrive immediately after this news because they would have likely been scared at the sight of everyone gathered in a tight circle praying and crying. Of course these were tears of joy as we immediately broke into prayers of joyful thanksgiving and praise to our great God.

A few hours afterward, Jenn and I spoke about what each of us were thinking as we cried and thanked God. We were both mindful of not tying God's goodness too closely to our preferred outcome. We are certainly very very thankful for this mercy, but we also know outcomes that were not desired, and know these to be good gifts from God as well. It's hard to express this feeling, but I think Corrie Ten Boom summed it up pretty well when she corrected Brother Andrew's expression of God's good gift by saying, "Andrew, God was also good when Betsie died in the concentration camp. God is always good." So we are both overwhelmed with another mercy of God, but mindful of our need to consistently call God's providence good, even if it's not what we desire. In this case, God's goodness and our desires came together, and for this we are very thankful.

They released us from the hospital Thursday afternoon and we arrived home late that night. Devynne has been wobbly, but the next morning she got out of bed, walked by herself and greeted me with a big hug. I will always remember this hug.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

2005-05-31T08:02:00.000-07:00

I can’t believe it! Every news source is reporting about the voice in the sky proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is miraculously heard in every person’s native language. All agree this must be the voice of God! The gospel is being embraced by millions as they respond to this booming voice coming from a massive churning cloud by day, and a swirling ball of fire by night.

This could be a line from a really bad Christian novel, but, as fanciful as this may seem, have you ever wondered why God doesn’t act like this? If you believe God loves every person in the same way, sacrificing His Son for all of mankind, then why does He allow millions to die without hearing the gospel? Why wouldn’t He shout from the sky so that every ear hears, turning from sin and joyfully embracing Jesus? Is there a law that prevents Him from doing so? God creates laws, He is not bound by them. Would this violate man’s supposed free will? Is He incapable? Maybe He hasn’t thought of it, and we should recommend an advertising agency? No, God doesn’t need our help, and I don’t think it’s a matter of me being more imaginative than the creator of all things. Don‘t get me wrong, I’m glad to have a part in sharing the good news, but wouldn’t more be saved if God participated in a God-like fashion? Certainly He knows He could be a more effective evangelist than His people. Does He value our participation at the expense of someone’s eternal damnation? This doesn’t sound loving to me. If my child were standing in the street, and a large truck was speeding toward her, would it be loving of me to say nothing because her sister is suppose to be the one to warn her? No! I’d shout with all my might to save her. I’d like it if her sister cared enough to shout a warning, but if I were the only one to see (as God is the only one who sees the native who has never heard) I’d instinctively shout a saving message. We know this is the case. We know there are those who have never heard, and whom God sees but never speaks. This hardly seems like the love in which He has poured out on me.

No, the most loving act would be for God to do all that He can do to save all that He loves. Therefore it is inconsistent to say, “God loves everyone in the same way“, and to also believe He passively stands by while leaving the communication of the saving gospel to inadequate people.

Ok, I certainly don’t mean to be irreverent, but have you ever wondered about such things? I did, but then I grew up and graduated to my inconsistent adult mind, brushing such thoughts aside as those of a fanciful child. But why not? Why wouldn’t God do this? Like many, I believed God needed my help in getting the word out. I believed He desired the salvation of every person, and inconsistently, I also believed He was God. You know, omniscient and all-powerful to name a few. Don’t you think this inconsistency relegates God in the minds of many to that of a Santa Claus-like figure? Oh, it’s a good thought. A jolly fat man who loves children, making enough toys for all the good boys and girls and delivering them all in one night. Do we place God in the same category when we believe His will is for everyone to be saved, and yet out of the other side of our mouths proclaim Him as limitless in knowledge, power, and love? Do you see the inconsistency here? Ok, maybe speaking out of the sky wouldn’t save everyone, but certainly millions. Thousands? Ok, hundreds. What about one? What if doing so would make the difference to just one? Wouldn’t it be loving of God to do so? After all, it’s not that He doesn’t know the result, or is incapable of doing so. It wouldn’t add to His work on the cross. It doesn’t violate man’s supposed free will. Is there something I’m missing here? I suppose there may be one good answer that would make this article a complete waist of time. One that would cause me to respond with, “Uh, ok, never mind”. Maybe I have a mental block. Does He save everyone who doesn’t hear the gospel because they didn’t hear? No, that would make, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”, meaningless. Tell me what I’m missing. I’m open to your suggestions. Are you open to mine? Here’s a few verses that shed some light.

At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. - Matthew 11:25-27

Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. - Matthew 13-10-11

Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." - John 3:5-8

Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. - John 8:42-44

If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God." - John 8:46b-47

Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one." - John 10:25-30

Do you hear what I hear? The Father gives to the Son, the Spirit blows, and we hear as if He were shouting from the sky.

Infant Baptism?

2005-05-26T08:56:00.000-07:00

I know my blog is new and probably read by 2-3 people at the most (including myself), so asking for comments and then having a big zero may be a bit embarrassing. Thanks to Challies for the information on adding my daily Heidelberg Catechism. So any takers on #74? Knowing that this will go away tomorrow, I'll post the question and answer here. Being raised Baptist I've always (until recently) thought this was absolutely weird, and could not imagine how any Christian would be so... well, lets just say I thought the concept of infant baptism was odd. Now I understand that, excluding Catholics and non-reformed protestants, this is not thought to guarantee one's salvation, but is a sign of faith similar to circumcision in the Old Testament. Well, there's more that could be said, but I'll stop in hopes of hearing your comments. Don't leave me with a zero. I may have to create some other blog personalities so that I can comment on my own post.

"Here's what I think Brian ...." - Sammy

"Incredible insight! Where do you get this stuff?" - Ginger

Help me so that I don't fall prey to such desperation.

Here's # 74:

Q. 74. Should infants, too, be baptized?

A. Yes. Infants as well as adults belong to God's covenant and congregation. Through Christ's blood the redemption from sin and the Holy Spirit, who works faith, are promised to them no less than to adults. Therefore, by baptism, as sign of the covenant, they must be grafted into the Christian church and distinguished from the children of unbelievers. This was done in the old covenant by circumcision, in place of which baptism was institued in the new covenant.

For His Glory And Our Good

2005-05-25T15:28:00.000-07:00

As we near Devynne's surgery (see May 17) we're reminded of people asking how to pray. We are grateful to God for granting us peace and an increasing faith that all His gifts are good. Thank you for your prayers. Some days have been harder than others, but ultimately we are reminded of God's trustworthiness. If successful, a cardiac catheter procedure may delay open-heart surgery for years. This news lifted a massive weight from our hearts, but as the day gets closer (June 1st) we grow in our need of God's comfort and His gracious and powerful gift of faith. We are reminded of our inability to control the outcome, and of God's absolute ability to do His sovereign will. This reminder causes us to pause, cling to Him, and not assume the outcome we so desperately desire. There is fear, but not like that of an unbeliever who has neither control nor assurance of a good outcome. This fear exists because we do not know the future and cannot control the outcome, but right along side this is a confident assurance that, though out of our control, we belong to the one who never strains to accomplish His perfect will. Though fearful, there is assurance of God working for His glory and our good, and this brings peace for today and confidence for the future. With this in mind, here's what you can be praying about.

Pray for a successful surgery that delays open-heart surgery for many years.
Pray for the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, and that it will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Pray this specifically for Devynne, so that she might be calm in the midst of her storm, and confident in her sovereign God.
Pray that we all grow, and continue growing in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank you for your love and prayers. It's good to be in the body of Christ!

For God's Glory and Our Good,

Brian

The Aisle is No Marathon

2005-05-22T08:24:00.000-07:00

Do you know a person, who responded to an invitation to accept Jesus, said the prayer, shed some tears, and then continued to live an unchanged life? How does scripture refer to such people? Are they “baby Christians”? Is there a probationary period of 3-5 years (depending upon the age of the person) before graduating them to the terms “backslidden” or “carnal”? I suppose we use the term “backslidden” when a person responds with fruit, but then falls back into worldly living because sliding back implies progress was, at some point in time, being made. "Carnal" probably fits both the one sliding back and the one who never grew. But why would we call the person who has never grown a "baby Christian"? Don't babies grow? Is there life if a baby does not grow?

I was reading Hebrews 10 this morning, specifically verses 35-39, which say,

“Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For,

‘Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.'

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls."

What does it mean that we have need of endurance? I think specifically of those who have responded to Christ and then do not even start the race, or start but do not continue producing fruit. Does endurance only mean that we continue to fall back on the emotional day we said “the prayer”? There’s much more said here, and I don’t think the aisle qualifies as a marathon race. The result of this needed endurance is a reward. It is the will of God that we endure, and if we do so, we receive the reward that is promised. So if we do not endure do we not receive the promise? What is this promise? Read on. We know that those who do endure until the coming of the Lord (or coming before Him after our death) will find a father who is greatly pleased with them because of our right standing with God, and this righteousness is by faith. But if we do not live by faith, and in this context it seems this is the same as not enduring, or as verse 38 says, “shrinks back”, we must conclude that God has no pleasure in him. Does this mean God is like a parent who, though loving and accepting his child, is displeased with their poor performance? Do we think heaven is granted but these are on God’s "naughty list"? Read on and see that those who do not shrink back are not “destroyed”, and “preserve” their souls. Certainly this likewise communicates that those who do shrink back are destroyed and their souls are not preserved. We must take scripture seriously. It doesn’t take endurance to walk the aisle. Endurance is needed if we are to receive the reward given to those who do the will of God. And when we endure we will hear our Father say, “Well done, good and faithful servant”. Only then will we know our endurance was a gift from God, for a God-produced endurance never stops short of the finish line, and the course run is much longer than the aisle. When we cross that line we will have endured until the end, preserved and knowing God’s pleasure. The race is long. Keep running.

How to Spend the Day with God

2005-05-18T06:11:00.000-07:00

I found the article by Richard Baxter concerning my post "Good Morning?". To see the entire article go to Baxter Sermon. Much could be said about the other instructions in this sermon, but this part in particular stood out to me, as I often struggle with this time of the day. Ok, now I want to read more of Richard Baxter, but for now, here's that portion.

First Thoughts

Let God have your first awaking thoughts; lift up your hearts to Him reverently and thankfully for the rest enjoyed the night before and cast yourself upon Him for the day which follows.

Familiarise yourself so consistently to this that your conscience may check you when common thoughts shall first intrude. Think of the mercy of a night's rest and of how many that have spent that night in Hell; how many in prison; how many in cold, hard lodgings; how many suffering from agonising pains and sickness, weary of their beds and of their lives.

Think of how many souls were that night called from their bodies terrifyingly to appear before God and think how quickly days and nights are rolling on! How speedily your last night and day will come! Observe that which is lacking in the preparedness of your soul for such a time and seek it without delay.

Believing "To Die is Gain" Enables Christian Living

2005-05-17T05:47:00.000-07:00

This question of what happens when we die has a sobering, wakening effect on our minds. It forces us to ask whether our faith is real, substantial, biblical. It forces us to deal with whether our faith is an objective, external reality outside ourselves, namely, in God, or whether our “faith” is a mere subjective experience of feelings and thoughts inside ourselves that function as an emotional cushion to soften the bumps of life and give us a network of friends. Facing eternity has an amazing effect of sobering us out of religious delusions. It helps keep God as the center of our lives by testing whether we are more in love with this world than we are with God himself. Does the thought of dying give us more pain at losing friends than it gives us joy at gaining Christ? Thinking of death helps us prove whether we are prizing God.
But when the future grace of dying in Christ takes hold of you, it frees from fear and gives courage to live the most radical, self-sacrificing life of love. The person who can truly say, with the apostle Paul, “To die is gain,” will be able to say, like no one else, “To live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21). But if we can’t say, “To die is gain - to die is future grace!” then we will probably say, in one degree or another, “Let us eat, drink and be merry.” Which means we will be enslaved to our own private earthly comforts. That’s all we will have to look forward to. So we will feel the compulsion to deny the truth of dying and to maximize the kind of pleasures we can get now without God. Therefore, being sure of what happens when we die as Christians is indispensable for a life of joyful, loving sacrifice, and for not losing heart through the pain and the diminishing health of this life. - From FUTURE GRACE by John Piper pg. 357

The thought of dying is real to me. Probably not so much for myself, but it is very real as I think specifically of my 11 year old daughter Devynne (pronounced Devin). Devynne will be undergoing heart surgery in a couple of weeks. This surgery will be performed by a cardiac catheter instead of the much more invasive open-heart surgery, which she has already endured 3 times in her life. Any time a loved one requires surgery we tend to have a fear of dying, but death has become very real to my wife and I because of the death of Devynne's twin during heart surgery. Each surgery has been excruciating, but this time it's different. Yes, we're still fearful of losing her, but mixed with this is a growing realization of God's goodness for the past surgeries, his goodness in knitting hearts that require surgery, and His goodness even in the death of a daughter. What is growing, and what we have seen growing in Devynne, is a faith being refined by fire. The fire is the circumstances brought about by God for a good purpose. And the end result is a burning away of sin and doubt, and a growing trust in God. Not a trust that everything will turn out as we desire, but instead a trust that what occurs comes from the sovereign hand of God for His glory and our good. Realizing this brings joy and begins to push out fear. For these light and momentary afflictions pale in comparison to the gift that we are experiencing more and more, and some day completely - His glory.

Good Morning?

2005-05-16T07:33:00.000-07:00

Last night a friend read something from the great puritan author and pastor Richard Baxter. I'll search for this another time so that you might read it as well. I also need to read and re-read this often because I found myself rightly convicted by one comment concerning the state of mind as we wake. He spoke of the thankfulness that ought to flood our minds each morning, realizing the great mercy of a good night's sleep while others have no home, are being persecuted; and worse yet, while multitudes suffer in the fires of Hell. This morning I woke with a thankful heart for the mercy I always take for granted. This morning I did not awake with my typical dread for the day. Thank you God for this undeserved mercy. I am not simply thankful because of the comparison. I am thankful because I am mindful of what I deserve, and for another mercy of which I am more aware.