Triumphs through suffering January 31, 2008
Posted by reformedville in : Theology , add a commentDo you have a place in your theology or in your world-view for suffering — not only Christ’s suffering, but yours? Or is your aim in life to avoid suffering at all cost? I am not implying that it is healthy to seek suffering, or that suffering is an end in itself. That would be an aberrant and masochistic misunderstanding of Christianity. But it is impossible to have a biblical world-view and fail to understand something of the value of suffering in disciplining our bodies and shaping our souls, just as it is impossible to follow Jesus Christ and still run from pain and suffering. Anyone who teaches that a Christian whose life is pleasing to the Lord will generally live a life free from pain is teaching a lie.The glory of the Christian life is not that it avoids suffering, but that it triumphs through suffering, making even the things that would hurt and destroy us to be instead the very means God uses to free us of our bondage to this world and its false promises, to mature us in our faith, to strengthen us in our obedience, and to prepare us for eternity. Our supreme example in all of this is Jesus himself, who lived a life of poverty and suffering, who was betrayed and abandoned by those whom he loved most, and who endured the painful and shameful death of crucifixion. His death was a scandal to his contemporaries, and still today it is, in the apostle Paul’s words, “a stumbling-block to Jews and folly to Gentiles.”
Too often, Jesus’ rejection by his contemporaries is seen as a tragedy, his suffering and death as a near-defeat, and the resurrection as a picture of God’s making the best out of a bad deal, snatching victory out of the jaws of defeat. But, in fact, Jesus came into the world in order to face all of this. He set his face like a flint towards Jerusalem for this very thing. And as you and I enter this season of Lent, we will be helped if we think on these things, realizing that Jesus did not endure what he endured simply so that we might live the American dream. He did not call us to follow him so that we could spend our lives trying to avoid following him into the places where life becomes hard.
This goes against the grain of much popular teaching in church circles, which remains after years of criticism by biblical theologians still mired in the notion that the gospel is essentially therapeutic, in the popular sense of the word: God going to whatever extent he must in order to get us feeling better about ourselves without ever demanding radical change on our part, and seeking above all to meet our perceived needs. The gospel is far more radical in its diagnosis of our real needs and in God’s determination to transform us by the power of grace.
The passion of the Christ was always God’s plan for freeing us from the consequences of our sin (Isa 53), the fear of death (Heb 2), and from the pride of life (Mark 10).
Stop waiting for others January 31, 2008
Posted by reformedville in : Theology , add a comment“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above … [and] set your minds on things that are above.” How are we to do this? Because, if we are children of God, then we have died with Christ, been raised with Christ, and our life is “hidden with Christ in God.”There are things within us — old patterns of thinking and acting — that we must put to death if we are to be, in daily life, what we are in Christ ( Col 3:5-11). The Lust of the Flesh: Sexual Sin ; The Lust of the Eye: Materialism ; The Pride of Life: Broken Relationships There are new patterns of thinking and acting that we must embrace if we are to be, in daily life, what we are in Christ (3:12-14). The Mind of Christ: Compassion, etc. ;The Forgiveness of Christ ; The Love of Christ
Paul shows us how to start (3:15-17). Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart, with thanksgivings.; Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, with thanksgiving. Let the name of Christ be the key to everything you do, with thanksgiving.
The life that Paul describes is the life we all desire at the end of the day. Even those who run wild for a while begin to long for home and wonder if they’ll ever find their way back. We all want relationships marked by compassion and kindness; we want people to be patient with us and to forgive us when we have wronged them; we want to be loved. It is time for us to stop waiting for others to treat us this way and to realize that Christ has called us to take him into the world, to love the unlovable, forgive the guilty, to live lives ruled by Christ’s peace, indwelt by Christ’s word, and lived in his name and for his sake. Thus, our lives become a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God for the glory of his grace. “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above.” If you are in Christ, then be what you are!
“The Church That Troubles” January 31, 2008
Posted by reformedville in : Theology , add a commentPart of the mission of Reformedville from the beginning has been to challenge the status quo of the stagnant church and challenge the comfort zone we have all grown into at one time or another. In doing some research on this topic, I found sermon notes of Howard Vanderwell that I felt expressed this rather well.
Let’s focus on the challenge for the Christian church to be a redemptive tool in the hand of the risen Christ. How was the early church obedient to Christ’s call when faced with the challenge to do the same?
The idea of a Christian church that “troubles” is one that can either be a help or a hindrance in engaging listeners. There is a risk that it will be a hindrance because many today expect the church to be a conveyor of comfort and assurance, and this concept may sound strange and disturbing to them. It also may be a hindrance because some may have had previous painful experiences with churches that have been trouble spots of divisiveness and quarreling. It may be wise to straightforwardly say that this concept of the church is not very popular and follow with “…but the Bible leads us to believe that, given the state of society today, the church which never troubles anyone may be unfaithful to its calling!” At the same time, it will be very necessary to clarify that we are not talking about causing trouble by insensitive personalities, excessive rigidity, divisive quarreling, or offensive abrasiveness. We are talking about what a church does in the course of carrying out its faithful mission for God in the world by the proclamation of the gospel of Christ and confronting evil with the truth of God’s new Kingdom.
When Paul came to Thessalonica preaching the gospel, he offended two large groups of people: the Jews who believe that the Messiah has not yet come and the Romans who were taught that only the Emperor is to be worshiped. The result was “trouble,” and Paul and Silas were viewed as the perpetrators. A careful examination of the term indicates that Bible translators have struggled with how to deal with this phrase. The NIV calls them “…men who have caused trouble all over the world…” whereas the NRSV follows many earlier translations by referring to them as “…these people who have been turning the world upside down….” There is an entire world-view in that phrase that needs to be exposed. God created the world “right side up” in the beginning. The fall into sin turned this “right side up” world “upside down.” Now the church that faithfully follows Christ and carries out his mission in the world is trying by God’s power to turn an “upside down” world “right side up” again. This world, however, has become very comfortable in its “upside down” position. The Jews are correct in claiming that the apostles were going to cause trouble. Many other illustrations from Scripture can be used to show the church causing trouble. For example, Elijah was called the “troubler of Israel” when he confronted them about their idolatry (cf. 1 Kings 18:17). Consider also Haggai 2:6-9; , Matthew 5:11-12, Matthew 10:34ff, 2 Timothy 3:12 and 1 Peter 4:12-16 among many others. The people who are disturbers of the status quo will often be considered troublers. Yet, the very mission of the church of Christ is to come to a world that has become very comfortable in its sinfulness and disturb its status quo!
This sermon also needs to go the next step and raise the question of why so few people perceive of the church and its mission this way today. Have we tried to redefine the mission of the church? Have we forgotten about the pervasiveness of the evil that exists in our society, or have we become too comfortable with this evil? Have we lost our courage to confront evil? This message about the mission of the church begs for clear, sensitive, and challenging application. What are the evils of our society and our community that the church must confront in the name of Christ? As the church, we should be disturbing the status quo. “Here come the troublers” should be a mighty fine compliment!
Home first January 30, 2008
Posted by reformedville in : Theology , add a commentHusband and wife form the most fundamental and foundational community in any culture, a community that is meant by God to reflect and display his own loving and self-giving life within the unity of the Trinity. If the picture of a healthy marriage is about as close as humans can get to a picture of the life of God then we should not be surprised that one of the supreme marks of our rebellion against God, and of our resulting alienation from him, is the difficulty that we all experience in being the kinds of husbands and wives who make marriage a blessing and joy for our partners.
Unlike Paul’s marriage advice, the advice of a bachelor who considered the single life preferable for serious Christians, Peter writes as one who knew both the joys and difficulties of marriage. In the gospels, the first time we read of Jesus visiting Peter’s home, we learn that Peter’s mother-in-law lived with them (Mark 1:30). Paul would speak of Peter taking his wife with him on his travels (1 Corinthians 9:5). So Peter understood from the inside out the challenges of being on mission with a wife and family.
At first, his words sound strange and even disquieting to modern ears: the language of submission, particularly of wives submitting to their husbands, and the description of a woman as “the weaker vessel,” sound terribly outdated, prejudicial and even unjust. However, if we understand Peter’s cultural setting, we will realize he is actually speaking words that are moderate and gracious, intended to liberate, not enslave. The women and men of his day would have been astonished at his words, because he affirms the rights and worth of women in a way that no one outside the church would have thought to do in the first century.
Women in the Roman Empire were owned by their husbands, just as children were owned by their fathers and slaves by their masters. The Roman husband had the right to do with his wife as he wished. He was empowered by Roman law to be, literally, the potentate of his home. So for a woman who had become a Christian to oppose her pagan husband in the name of her newfound freedom in Christ was to sign her own death warrant, to bring Christianity into even greater disrepute, and to subject other Christians to even greater persecution than they were already facing under Nero. And, more importantly, it was to fail to understand how spiritual power really works within God’s kingdom.
As for the woman being “the weaker vessel,” this was simply an undisputed truism in cultures that evaluated strength physically, and it was the very reason that women were less valued than men. Peter turns this on its head by calling on Christian husbands to honor their wives as weaker vessels, for the crucial reason that – unlike the surrounding culture where women had no inheritance rights, except through marriage, and then it was her husband who inherited – in God’s family, men and women are heirs together of the grace of life (3:7).
The counter-cultural, even subversive, nature of the gospel is too easily missed by those of us who live in societies whose views of justice were shaped by the biblical view of things, cultures that stood in stark contrast to the surrounding cultures in the value that they placed on those whom the world did not value, and for the dignity and honor that they demanded be shown to all people within the household of God, whether Jew or Gentile, male or female, rich or poor, slave or free.
These are as radical today as when Peter first wrote them, and see how understanding and embracing what he is writing here would still help Christians on mission turn our little worlds upside down, not to mention experience far greater joy in our marriages.
Don’t focus on being in charge but on serving (3:1).
Don’t focus on how you look but on who you are (3:2-6).
Don’t focus on differences but on shared humanity (3:7a).
Don’t focus on praying to live but on living to pray (3:7b).
What at first may sound archaic, a word from the ancient past, becomes a fresh and challenging word to us when we read it in context and understand that Peter is calling us to live countercultural lives for the sake of the mission God has entrusted to each of us: the mission of reclaiming the world for him, beginning with the most basic social unit in every culture, the family. Our personal mission field always begins at home, and we neglect it to our peril and put at risk our own effectiveness every in every other circle of relationship. To both men and women the word is clear: “let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart and the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight in very precious” (3:4).
Feast January 30, 2008
Posted by reformedville in : Theology , add a commentThroughout human history religions, myths and ideologies have sought to make clear and compelling a metanarrative that explains what human life is all about. But for the past fifty or so years, and especially for the last half of that period, there has been a widespread failure of intellectual nerve, a willingness to throw up one’s hands and settle for the meaninglessness of it all, while still encouraging people to be kind and good and moral – as if there were any compelling reason or basis for morality other than personal taste, if in fact life is essentially meaningless.
The Christian faith still believes and proclaims the most enduring and life-changing message the world has ever heard, the great good news that God made us human beings in his own image for intimate and loving relationship with him and with one another, and that when we ran from him and from his love, forfeiting our right to be his children, our loving heavenly Father sent his Son to find us and lead us home.
This story of God’s redeeming love is told in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, in a form available to every one of us here today. Many of us have studied the Bible a little bit, and some have studied it a lot. Bible study is valued highly, and so it should be. But simply studying the Scripture is not enough; it is insufficient for introducing us to the deeper reality and power of the central character in the story, the One whom this story is all about.
Such an age as ours leaves the human soul hungry, longing for food that our culture cannot supply. We need soul food, but instead we stuff ourselves full of the pleasures and hopes and dreams and spiritualities on offer all around us, but always come away disappointed and aching even more deeply for the food that satisfies. Bible study helps, it is a necessary place to start; it points the way. But for too many of us, the Bible becomes the substitute for the One whom the Bible was written to reveal to us. The Bible does not save – God alone can save. But the Bible, rightly handled, introduces us to the God who saves, who feeds us with himself and who alone can satisfy the hunger of our souls. In the Scripture, David invited those of his age to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). Look with me at how we are to “taste and see,” to tend and feed our souls.
Three times in the Bible, the Word of God is represented in the form of a scroll that is given to a prophet with the command that he “eat the scroll.” The point is that the Word of God means to get inside us and transform us as surely as the food we eat fills, nourishes and transforms our bodies. The Bible is not an end in itself, nor does it work transformingly in those who use it as a theological lexicon, or as a book of rules, or as a magic book filled with magic words which can be memorized and used to get what we want from God. It has one great purpose: to tell us the true story of the origin and destiny of human history, of history’s central figure – Jesus Christ – and of how we may know him and become part of his story of rescuing humanity and all creation.
We only enter the story when we stop reading merely to be informed, and read instead to be formed and shaped – as we digest. Because the book was written under the Spirit’s guidance, it must be read under the Spirit’s guidance. This is the aim of lectio divina (spiritual reading): to read, meditate, pray, and contemplate the Scripture into life.
The aim of lectio divina is that we encounter the living Word of God, Jesus Christ, and enter his story. Jesus put this as arrestingly as possible, using language that offended the sensibilities of the religious people of his age. Just as the Bible itself is a scroll to be eaten, so too Jesus said that it is only those who feast on him who have eternal life. In other words, we do not read the Bible merely to have right beliefs about Jesus. We come to encounter him and be transformed by the encounter. He wants to enter us, to become one with us (remember his “high priestly prayer” in John 17:22f). He wants to fill us with his Spirit and make us like him. This is the aim of it all: union with Christ. In this is our salvation, our joy and our eternal destiny.
What God has prepared for us is something far more glorious, far more astonishing and wonderful than our bloodless theologies and spiritualities ordinarily comprehend. God’s messenger still stands with arm outstretched, offering God’s Word with the command, “Eat this book.” Jesus Christ still offers himself and says, “Feast on me.” Here at last is our life, our health, and our salvation.
Forget Milk. Got Intestinal Fortitude? January 30, 2008
Posted by reformedville in : Theology , add a commentIn His going-away message to the disciples, Jesus warned them of the certainty of persecution. He said, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you” (John 15:20). Who are they? Who is it who will persecute the most intimate followers of Christ?
It is the religious crowd! Those with outward forms of godliness without the power of total heart surrender - these will persecute those who glory only in the Cross of Christ. The godless, humanistic Romans were not the real persecutors of the Master. His greatest abuse was at the hands of the most steeped in the Law; the hierarchy of the church, and the masses who boasted that God was their Father. All their cunning energies were set on discrediting Him.
So it is today - the greatest, most ferocious persecution against God’s people comes from religious leaders and their followers who reject the offense of the Cross of Christ. All persecution of God’s people centers on the Cross. Paul said, “As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ…” (Galatians 6:12).
Multitudes of Jewish converts found a way to avoid the offense of the Cross. It was by preaching and practicing circumcision. They would cut the flesh rather that crucify it. Paul said, “If I preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the offense of the Cross ceased” (Galatians 5:11). In other words, you can avoid all the suffering and persecution resulting from dying to this world by settling for reform in the place of resurrection. You can enjoy the fellowship and good will of the entire religious system if you will simply conform to all their bland, lifeless, middle-of-the road standards. The harlot church still preaches about the Cross as an historical fact, but its demands on the flesh are rejected. And this same backslidden church will thrash and persecute those who go on to be personally identified with Christ’s crucifixion.
Paul was constantly harassed by the party of the circumcision. These were Jewish Christians who followed him everywhere, teaching new converts that God still demanded their flesh be cut, and that they conform to the lifeless traditions and rules of men. They had much scripture to prove their doctrine, especially the writings of Moses. They refuse to accept the glorious truth that the Cross was the end of all flesh in the eyes of God. Now, a new resurrected man - one who is dead to the world - is the only one God will deal with.
Why is there such fair show of the flesh in the church today? It is because the Cross has been rejected. You can present to the Lord the most sincere, dedicated, renovated flesh possible - and it will still be a stench. That which is tainted by the least amount of flesh will not be accepted by a holy God. He has once and for all condemned the flesh at the Cross.
If the demands of the Cross were truly faced by modern Christianity, most of the religious activities would be shut down. Judged in the light of the demands of the Cross, God would have to stamp on most of the religious activity - “FRIVOLOUS! MEANINGLESS!” It is because flesh has been brought in and leavened the whole lump. What was once pure and holy is now mixed with the spirit and manners of this world.
I know that at this very hour there are multitudes of praying, God-fearing Christians who weep and grieve over the conditions in the church. Not only in the church at large, but their home church or body where they worship. Either their shepherd is too soft on sin, or he whips them, or he puts unbearable burdens upon them. Or their body whips and runs off faithful shepherds instead preferring, no demanding, ear ticklers.
Jesus strode into the temple one day, with whip in hand, and drove out all the merchandises. He thundered, “It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:13).What would Jesus say today if He were here in the flesh, beholding all that is being done in His name? How long do you think He would permit His Father’s name to be corrupted? How long would He endure the waste, the mixture, the shallowness, the perversion of His truth. How long would He withhold judgment upon millions of Christians who send hundreds of thousand of dollars to build entertainment complexes, tall gilded towers - while more than half the world starves.
Jesus would tell it like it is! No protecting men’s reputations. No false unity screens! The truth is - these dreams, these projects, did not originate in God’s mind - they are the schemes of lying spirits! Some have said. “God told me” when it was not God at all. It was a lying spirit sent to deceive. We have been duped, manipulated. God has just begun the final shaking! He is going to let the whole world know that He is not in the entertainment business. He does not permit evangelists to portray Him before the world as a hard taskmaster who kills His bondservants over lack of cash. It’s all over! It’s all coming down! What survives the exposures will fall in the economic crunch.
We have evangelists today who would have charged into the temple to rebuke Jesus for carrying a whip and for calling money-mad religious leaders thieves. They would rally their forces in the name of unity and say to our Lord “Don’t judge! Mercy! Compassion!” How horrifying to them to hear those harsh words - “You have turned my house into a den of thieves!” But why - oh why - do we not have as much concern about the honor of Christ as we do for the reputations of our preachers? Why are so many trying to screen “brothers” from the righteous rod of the Lord, when that very rod is their only salvation.
This is the source of the final persecution of a holy remnant. Not the Communists, or the humanists, or the liberals, or the secular press! Satan will use a backslidden, lust-riddled, man-centered, religious union to persecute those who deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Christ in absolute submission to His will.
I ask you - are you discerning these times? Are you sitting back grieving over the sins of the famous, or are you judging you own sins before His holiness? Are you willing to judge righteous judgment and take a bold stand in defense of the honor of His name? Are you prepared to walk alone if necessary to bear the reproach of a separated walk of holiness? Do you still send money to ministries and man-made empires which are coming under God’s holy judgment? Oh, how we need discernment!
The bride of Christ will come forth out of great persecution - victorious, without spot or wrinkle! Now is the time to weep between the porch and the altar - to mourn for sin - to humble ourselves and seek the true Word of God. To live our life unto the Almighty God, perpare ourselves for spiritual warfare, and equip ourselves with the message of hope to this world, no matter the cost.
Are you up for it? Just a hint, He wants it all. You willing to give it? Or are we going to continue to play church?
Saved from what? January 30, 2008
Posted by reformedville in : Theology , add a commentSo you say you are saved? Saved from what?
What does Jesus ultimately save you from? Hell? Sin? No. Jesus’ death on the cross saves us from God. Yes, Jesus does save us from many things: our sins, eternity in hell and even dissatisfaction in this life, but who ultimately set forth the rules and consequences of sin, thus earning us an eternity separated from Christ’s glory and joy? Because sinful man’s ultimate punishment lies with God and His wrath, then when Jesus died on the cross, He was dying to save us from His justice. The book of 1 Thessalonians says, “They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath” (1 Thes. 1:9-10, NIV). And whose wrath is it that Christ is saving us from? God’s.
Although the modern evangelical church rightly tries to avoid the stigma of preaching only “fire and brimstone,” the Bible is clear that God’s wrath is a fearsome reality. Plenty of verses show us this: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them” (Romans 1:18-19, ESV). And, “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient” (Ephesians 3:6, ESV). Revelation 19:15 says this about Jesus displaying the wrath of God during the end of this world: “From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty” (ESV).
Oftentimes, we may describe God’s punishment for our sins as merely being separated from Him for eternity. This is correct, but that picture is incomplete. God cannot tolerate sin in any form because of His holiness, and He is directly involved in the acting out of punishment against the unrighteous. Revelation says God’s wrath is like a winepress. A similar picture is seen in Isaiah 63:3-4. “I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their lifeblood spattered on my garments, and stained all my apparel. For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption had come” (ESV).
The text in Isaiah 63 should cause us to tremble—to know that God would so ferociously destroy those who reject Him that His garments will be stained with blood—but it should also make us fall down in thankfulness that we do not have do endure His wrath.
His Son already has.
If Christ merely saved us from a horrible life in this world or from merely being annihilated out of existence, then His death is belittled. But the more we understand the severity of the punishment for our sins and the catastrophic and violent results of a sinful, unrepentant life, the more precious the cross of Christ becomes.
While Jesus was here on earth He ushered in the Kingdom of God with many miraculous acts like healing the sick and giving sight to the blind. He fed the poor and taught that we should love our enemies, which were groundbreaking for that time and culture. We all ought to follow His example, and this is where the current emergent church is excelling. But may we not lose sight of Christ’s most radical act of all—taking on the curse of sin and the full wrath of God even though we were completely deserving of it.
When we turn on the evening news and see the plight of Sudan, the tragedy of a government not feeding its countrymen in North Korea or the selective abortions of millions of babies around the world, it should make tears well up in our eyes and move us to act. However, if we address these issues but do not tell of the impending wrath that has been laid upon us due to our sinfulness and the hope of Christ’s redemption, what have we accomplished? If we feed millions and stop global violence but do not preach that God’s Son came into this world to redeem them from the torment of hell, they may be rescued in this life but our efforts ultimately will have been for naught.
As Christians we should have a burning passion for correcting social injustices by helping the poor and sick and repressed, but we must not ignore clear Biblical truths, including being saved from God’s wrath. Yes, it may make the Gospel seem unattractive to some of our friends or neighbors, but it is the reality of the situation we all find ourselves in. It is not for us to hide truths we think will turn people off. We have been commanded to preach the Gospel to all nations and let God handle the results.
Because of God’s love toward His enemies (Romans 5:10), He sent His Son into the world to not only heal and feed, but to take on His Father’s justified wrath against them—the most radical thing Jesus accomplished. That is what we must tell the world. Law, Gospel, Christ and Him Crucified. What better message can we give the world this Christmas season?
The Orange County Chopper Church ??? January 30, 2008
Posted by reformedville in : Theology , add a commentMy brother-in-law and former business partner’s favorite program is Orange County Choppers. Dave is one of those guys who will look at an item and study it for years before he buys it. He made a decision two years ago that he was going to buy a motorcycle that fit his needs and he studies every option to see if it is worth it or not.
Every time I go and visit we sit around and watch the Orange County Chopper Show and see how these bikes are built. I was just down this past weekend and after watching a couple episodes I said, you know for all they put into those bikes in design, options, and cash, how much do they really get used? I think I spoiled the show by asking the question. We talked about all the special equipment that goes into it for high performance, etc. He was telling me many of the bikes just get put in a company showroom, as they have so much investment in them, they are not meant to be ridden, just showcased. Many aren’t really practical for everyday use.
In historic Protestantism the view of the job of the pastor was different than that of many modern evangelical churches. Many churches today focus on worship and evangelism/conversion, however, some have such a high emphasis on the latter aspect, that while many are converted we saw a real epidemic of milk Christians who never developed into mature Christians and really knew God’s Word. A neighbor introduced me to historic Protestantism where there was an extremely heavy focus on teaching and the catechisms and I was amazed at how biblically literate these folks were. I spent hours a day reading and could not get enough of this knowledge. In a couple years I felt like before I had really known very little about God’s Word. I was being equipped and couldn’t believe how much I was growing in the Lord.
We had excellent teacher’s dissecting the Greek and the Hebrew and studying the Institutes and the catechism. We wee up to date on the six day/period debates, the trends in Christianity, the distinctives between denominations and why we were right. Seemed like we had the best equipment and fantastic teachers to boot! I learned how teaching was one of the most important attributes of an elder, in fact one could not even qualify to be an elder if they could not teach a class and equip the saints.
But over a period of time I started to notice that the focus on the teaching was academic. In fact so heavily academic I questioned several times what is a job of the teacher? And again got the same answer to equip the saints. I listened to many studies on how the modern church was grooming pastors to be “ear ticklers” and to just preach what would be accepted by the congregation, never challenging them with the Word of God. We studied the mechanics of how God operates in salvation over and over and over again. Many times I asked, when are we going to put this on the street and have some evangelistic outreach? Several times I got the same answer, the people were not ready yet, they had to be taught more.
I was speaking to a good pastor friend of mine from another denomination I hadn’t seen for a few years and was telling him about my new church and how excited we were about it. I told him how different it was and how we had grown and how happy we were to be eating meat weekly rather than on a milk diet. We were by the pool enjoying a nice day when he asked me, are you sure you are eating meat? I said of course, and talked about all the new theological material we had covered. I told him of the great teaching and how proficient several were in the original languages. Then he asked me how they were in English? I didn’t understand. He said to me, well you said this is a church that has been around for thirty years and they have forty members. You believe in covenant theology, so how many second or third generations are there in the church? I was stumped, because I did not get what he was trying to tell me.
He said John, if the teaching is really good, how equipped are the saints to do the work of the gospel? You tell me that your services do not focus on evangelism or salvation, but equipping the saints correct? I said yes. He said well are the saints doing the work of the gospel evangelizing? What outreaches do you have in the community? How many new members have you had in the last year? How many people have come to know the Lord? I began to slowly admit we were not ready to evangelize yet, as we were not equipped. He kindly said, perhaps your teachers are not as good as you or they think they are. Sure they pass along all kinds of new knowledge, but they are not teaching you the basics of how to be salt and light and tell others about the joy and hope you have inside you.
I discounted some of it, maybe because of hurt, pride, and reasoned well, this was a retirement area; we were the youngest family in the church. But over the years I have noticed this to be a trend in historic Protestantism. We gain much knowledge, and can have intense, enriching theological discussions, and walked away really blessed. But sometimes others will look on and look at you like a deer in the headlamps.
I have reflected over time that we seek what is comfortable for us in the way of worship many times. It is great to learn something new and to be as the Berean’s, challenge each other with the Word of God and be well equipped. But is historic Protestantism, and for that fact the church in general becoming like the Orange County Chopper Gospel? Having all the theological bells and whistles, the top of the line sermons and understanding the mechanics of how God works; yet remaining on the showroom floor because as well equipped as it is, few know how to operate it on and in the street. I have had to start asking myself if we have been guilty of tickling our own minds with new knowledge, the newest book, the newest controversy, yet have not been instructed and challenged how to fulfill the day to kingdom work of putting this knowledge into action with the person who does not know the Lord. Are our houses of worship more academically geared than geared to the work of the gospel?
I learned to ride a cycle when I was 13 when I got my first dirt bike, I had a ton of spills, broke a couple cam chains, learned how to jump, lay into corners and accelerate out of them, how to speed slide, as well as how to ride an unknown trail. Once I had a dirt bike and how to operate it under almost any condition, I learned how to ride a street bike and it was rather easy. The lessons learned on the dirt bike made riding a full size motorcycle second nature. Riding a dirt bike was on the trail training so to speak. Unlike an Orange County Chopper it was something I could use and became very comfortable with.
There used to be a show on called “News you can use”. It wasn’t just news and facts, but news that affected you. Perhaps it is time as teachers we start truly teaching our people how to spread the news that the world can use- the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is time we learn how to equip the flocks to fulfill their assigned task of being the priesthood of believers in the real world and be salt and light in the Kingdom of God.
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Note: Recently some have misunderstood my current posts. I belong to a group called reformation42day. There are groups such as ACE, CURE and the like out there on the national scale as well. There has been a new reformation movement going on for a couple decades but today we are coming to some crucial points in the evangelical and reformed community. Our group is mostly pastors and some lay people. We even have a “private blog” among ourselves so others can not see it and we can discuss things freely.
The point. If we always approach questions and problems within the church the same way and walk away with the same answers we are most likely going to get the same results. We have in many ways lost critical thinking and linear thought. We have in many ways lost our ability to think outside the box. We will do it in our private lives but not when it comes to the church.
There are those of us in the church who love her and are not only willing to die for her, but to live for her too. And we see things in terms of more than just one local congregation but as trends in the church in general. I am one of the people, being a preacher son first and then a church planters son, who has seen the church from most angles, as well as being outside of it, who has determioned to ask the questions that have not been asked, asked the questions that makes us self examine what we are doing, asking the uncomfortable question. Offend the stock answers but questioning them. See in many ways we have lost the whole art of honesty, including within ourselves and stayed with the known and the comfortable.
I challenge people all the time in this aspect. The majoirty of my blog readers “know where I am coming from” as a mindset, and know this is not some childish rant of where I didnt get my way on something, or thaat I am advocating lone ranger Christianity. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am challenging God’s people with our mission as memebers of His Kingdom and am asking people, (considering most people who come to the blog are between 25-60), to think on issues both local and to think in Kingdom terms.
Thanks, John
Originally posted on uprisingyouth 10/06
Revival January 30, 2008
Posted by reformedville in : Theology , add a commentHaving been exposed to pentecostalism and what I will charitably describe as some “abuses therrof”, I will be honest when I hear the term revival, especially the word revival meeting(s), I run for cover. Like a friend of mine who paints picture stories vividly with his writing style, I vividly picture the end of the service singing twenty choruses of ‘just as I am’, and the “revivalist’ calling every one to the altar if they committed any sin since they last met .
Pictures come to mind of the” man with the charts” up front with his teloscopic pointer telling us how this seven dispensations deal worked and how we were going to be left behind unless we came to his altar call, we could lose our salvation like our car keys, and what to do if we were left behind. They had anticipated dates that Jesus would return to snatch them away from the trials and tribulations all the sinners who didn’t respond to the altar call were going to face.
But as I have matured in the Lord I have come to understand that to run from the word revival is a knee jerk reaction, going to the polar opposite because some have drifted from the truth into a “type” or “another” gospel. I know what revival is NOT. It is not a circus act, it is not standing at the mike doing a confessional to man, it is not pressuring or scaring “the devil out of” people ; just to to produce numbers at the end of the day of ‘how many you saved’ at your service. Notably in that list of number tallyied, I never noticed a list of the names, addresses and telephone numbers to follow up with them if they didn’t come back the next week, so that the church could follow up with and potentially shepherd them.
The Word does speak of us being revived though and I think we are commanded as such in that matter. Revival is a renewed interest after a period of indifference or decline. Revival is getting back on the path, getting the goal in view again and pursuing Him through His word and prayer with a new passion . Scripture commands us to seek ye first the kingdom of God, and search the scripture and to study God’s Word and to spend time with Him in prayer. In our busy, distracted daily lives, it is very easy to get off track and lose sight of our goal. How many marriages suffer from the same things?
So just as with marriage, where there has to be a concerted, self concious effort to renew interest, or apologize, or just get back in tune with each other after a period of indifference, to revive and renew it, we must be even more diligent to do the same self concious checks on how our relationship is with our God.
One of the key elements in our walk with God and in our marriage is honesty with both onesself and the other and a trust in them. We seek revival and renewing in our relationships so they are balanced and not marked by mountains and valleys. While mountains and valleys occur the steady plateau of the daily life is where we should be at on a regular basis. That only comes about by being dedicated to the relationship you have.
One would not be honest with themselves, God or their spouse if they said there were not times we were not as close we should be. The key is doing something about it once we notice the signs so as to maintain a healthy balanced relationship. Reviving the relationship and then maintaining it, keeping the eye on the goal, so as not to need continual revival. The Word becoming laborous to read? Not looking forward to worship? Not able to find time to commune with God in conversation? These are warning signs that you may have your eye off the goal and that you need to get back on tract.
While we have all seen abuses of different types of precepts that are biblical, we must always use care not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Lets make a concious effort to maintain our relationships so they do not need reviving; but also be concious enough of where our relationships are at all times to notice when they are not where they should be.
Adopted January 30, 2008
Posted by reformedville in : Theology , add a commentI knew a family who had adopted three children into their home and raised the children as their own. The children were all different, and were raised through adulthood. They took the family name. They became part of that family, though not born into it biologically. The sons could legitimately claim they were sons of the father because they were adopted. They all have rights to inherit the property and land of the father after the parents pass away. In fact, they were purposely chosen by the parents, not an accident of some back seat romance, they were chosen to be part of the family and given all the rights of the family.
Perhaps the most beautiful statement about adoption concerns Michal, the wife of King David. According to the Bible, she never had children all her life (2 Samuel 6:23); yet the Bible also mentions her five sons (2 Samuel 21:8). (Noticing this appearance of discrepancy,) the Talmud remarks, “Her sister Merab gave birth to them and she raised them, therefore they are called by her name. This teaches that whoever brings up an orphan in his home is regarded, according to Scripture, as though the child had been born to him.” (Sanhedrin 19b) A similar passage occurs in the midrash, where the question arises about what Hebrew name to use for a woman raised by a foster father. The decision is to use the foster father’s name, because “he who brings up a child is to be called its father, not he who gave birth.” (Exodus Rabbah 46:5) Despite the importance of lineage, ultimately the true parents are the ones who raise the child, imparting their values and wisdom, their nurture and their love. By Jewish law, the child is called by their name.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:3-6)
Now this family as they grew up with their adopted father, growing up in communion with him, adopted traits and likenesses of their father from their interactions. Unfortunately many of the traits were personality disorders due to lack of discipline, but that is not the issue or point. These children from different cultures, all grew up reflecting the father because of the time they spent in communion with him.
Again, we must understand the bible in historic and redemptive perspective to get the picture of our adoption and who we are in Christ.Under Jewish law, if a child is born of a gentile birth mother, many adoption issues among tribes do not hold. However, the child will need formal conversion to Judaism. This includes brit milah or a symbolic brit for a boy, and immersion in a kosher mikvah for both a boy and girl. Most rabbis prefer to arrange the conversion at a very young age, even infancy, long before the child has understanding as to what is happening. The Talmud questions why the rabbis have the right to convert a child before the age of consent. The answer is based on the Talmudic principle, zachin leadam shelo befanav, “we can act to someone’s advantage even without their permission.” (Ketubbot 11a) However, at the age of Bar/ Bat Mitzvah, the child has the right either to reaffirm or to protest the conversion. Many rabbis see the Bar/ Bat Mitzvah ceremony itself as a reaffirmation, thus giving it special significance for an adopted child.
Our adoption into the family of God has taken away the birth rights of Adam and Eve, even though we are of their bloodline, and when born from above (John 3) places us legally into the family of God. Many resist adoption and election, but even the Jewish customs (therefore the Jews themselves would glean what this adoption in Christ means) perform the right of conversion before the child can act on its own. This is the very picture that transcends both time and space constrictions, in our being hand selected by the Godhead before the earth was formed, for his purposes and ‘acting to our advantage even without our permission’. When the Jews came into adulthood, they acknowledged the covenant or rejected it. These compartives are examples of how the Jewish converts would have understood the salvation process of election and adoption in a historical first century setting and their application to redemption. In a time when new theories are circulating twenty centuries later, it is important we go back and view the historical customs and understanding of that culture to better equip ourselves from a historic redemptive approach.
I believe we could consider this also in historical perspective of why we claim the promise of our children in baptism at their infancy, as baptism now included both male and female, as circumscision was only males on day 8. But when a non-Jew was adopted into a Jewish household(grafted into the vine correlative) they were coverted as infants declaring them as of the Jewish faith without their assent or consent. When they became of age they affirmed by taking the rites or not. We claim our children for God as children in baptism, believing in His covenental promises, and raising them in a godly home and instruction. When they come of age they affirm by joining the church or rejecting Christ and leaving the church.
Now the family I tell the story of may or may not outlive their children, each child may or may not get their inheritance due to death prior to the parent, the parent could lose everything, there are many circumstances involved in earthly matters and the outcome is predicated on that.
But our adoption in the Lord is final. Our inheritance has been laid aside. He lives forever and is on the throne until He comes back for the saints. We will never outlive the living God, yet we will get our inheritance in Christ, and will not receive our earned reward in Adam (our works).
John 10:27-ff speaks to the permanent nature of our adoption/election 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.”
Joh 17: 6-10 in Christ’s Priestly Prayer says, “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. “.
Understanding who we are in Christ is such joy. I can’t lose my salvation like my car keys or wallet. I have an inheritence that can not be corrupted. Think being adopted by Bill Gates would make you the most fortunate person in the world? No, because whatever you”own” here you just leave for someone else or consume and is temporal. This adoption is into the owner of the universes family and He has gone before us to prepare a place for us that is eternal.
Everytime I think about who I am in Christ I am humbled. I think of the works I won’t be rewarded for. I think of all I have contributed to my salvation out of my own free will, all for naught. (Praise God!) And I am overcome with joy that my works of sin and need for salvation have been forgiven and satisfied and I am part of His family. When God looks at me He will see me through the prism of His son, cloaked in His righteousness, purchased by His Son who imputed His righteousness to my account. This brings joy unspeakable to the soul!
“How lovely on the mountains are the feet of Him who brings good news, Who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, and says to Zion, YOUR GOD REIGNS!” (Isaiah 52:7).
Christ Alone!