Much has been said since Michael Richards's meltdown a few weeks ago. Personally, I have found very little of it helpful in terms of understanding what took place and finding a way forward; that is, until I read "Kramer's Sins--and Ours" by Edward Gilbreath.
Although the author is an African American, and could be tempted to dismiss Richards's as just another tormented racist, he writes as a Christian who has personally experienced the grace of God which changes our perspective no matter what our racial or ethnic background.
I especially appreciate his grasp of the larger theological issues which are usually overlooked when people respond to this kind of incident.
In my mind, Gilbreath responds as I expect a disciple of Jesus to respond to such provocation. He embodies that Jesus said in the 7th beatitude: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9).
And by so doing he shows us a better way, the way of the Christ, who died to undo all the terrible consequences of sin, including what sometimes reveals itself in our bitter animosity towards one another.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
He Is There and He Is Not Silent
Recently a friend of mine sent me to a video of a "Clown Eucharist" held at Trinity Church in New York City. That's right... you read it correctly... a Clown Eucharist! It is one of those videos that you have to see to believe! If you ever needed proof of the pathetic state of Christianity in the West and a demonstration of why proponents of Islam believe that Christianity is bankrupt; look no further, this is it. Although there are many things that could be said about this sad performance in this post I want to focus on just one element.
At the very beginning of the "service" we are told that "mime and sign rather than speech are going to be used because this allows us to visually participate in worship in a profound and intentional way that does not rely on spoken language". Unfortunately, this is not that unusual. Today there is a growing aversion to words in many difference circles. This in spite of the fact that the climax of redemptive history involves the very word of God himself becoming flesh and revealing the Father to us by speaking to us in human language. His incarnation is then joined to the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the apostles to that they are able to understand and communicate the truth of God to us, and this is tied to the giving of the Spirit to the New Covenant community so that the law of God is written on our hearts.
Christianity without words is impossible. It is theologically absurd because the biblical God is a talking God who reveals himself by means of words. The gospel is not a mime or a sign! It is a declaration of the good news of God. It tells us who he is and who we are and our great need of a Savior. God has not left us to wander in the dark. Nor has he merely acted without explanation. He has spoken and he has given us the task of going into all the world and telling what he has done. He tells us to give attention to the reading of Scripture, to teach others to observe everything that he has commanded us and to preach the word in season and out of season. We must not miss the fact that according to the apostle Paul faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God!
If the church has lost its voice, it is because it has wandered from the truth as it is in Christ. We are not called to play games and leave people to fill in the blanks for themselves. We are called to rightly divide the word of truth and to pass on to others what has been entrusted to us at great cost. Revival will never come as a result of mime. But it will be found where and when the Holy Spirit blesses his own word so that it comes home with power to the human heart as it did on the Day of Pentecost which ushered in the New Covenant era. Different forms of artistic expression may be used to communicate the gospel message at some level, but none come close to the foolishness of the message preached by the heralds of God. May God have mercy on us so that "clown eucharists" do not become the next fad of the church. Let us pray that he will not send us the worst kind of famine: a famine of hearing the words of the Lord (Amos 8:11).
At the very beginning of the "service" we are told that "mime and sign rather than speech are going to be used because this allows us to visually participate in worship in a profound and intentional way that does not rely on spoken language". Unfortunately, this is not that unusual. Today there is a growing aversion to words in many difference circles. This in spite of the fact that the climax of redemptive history involves the very word of God himself becoming flesh and revealing the Father to us by speaking to us in human language. His incarnation is then joined to the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the apostles to that they are able to understand and communicate the truth of God to us, and this is tied to the giving of the Spirit to the New Covenant community so that the law of God is written on our hearts.
Christianity without words is impossible. It is theologically absurd because the biblical God is a talking God who reveals himself by means of words. The gospel is not a mime or a sign! It is a declaration of the good news of God. It tells us who he is and who we are and our great need of a Savior. God has not left us to wander in the dark. Nor has he merely acted without explanation. He has spoken and he has given us the task of going into all the world and telling what he has done. He tells us to give attention to the reading of Scripture, to teach others to observe everything that he has commanded us and to preach the word in season and out of season. We must not miss the fact that according to the apostle Paul faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God!
If the church has lost its voice, it is because it has wandered from the truth as it is in Christ. We are not called to play games and leave people to fill in the blanks for themselves. We are called to rightly divide the word of truth and to pass on to others what has been entrusted to us at great cost. Revival will never come as a result of mime. But it will be found where and when the Holy Spirit blesses his own word so that it comes home with power to the human heart as it did on the Day of Pentecost which ushered in the New Covenant era. Different forms of artistic expression may be used to communicate the gospel message at some level, but none come close to the foolishness of the message preached by the heralds of God. May God have mercy on us so that "clown eucharists" do not become the next fad of the church. Let us pray that he will not send us the worst kind of famine: a famine of hearing the words of the Lord (Amos 8:11).
Sunday, November 26, 2006
The Superlative Joy of Knowing God
This morning I was preaching on 1 John 2:12-14 and the encouragement that John gives to Christians at various stages in their relationship with the Lord. One of the things that emerges from the passage is the fact that believers know the Lord. They come to know him in a personal way at the beginning of their Christian lives when God comes to them in the power of the new birth and makes them alive in Christ Jesus. They continue to grow in their relationship with him as the draw upon his power to overcome the evil one in their daily lives. And when they look back over their lives at the end of it all, they can say that "they have known him who is from the beginning'.
There is no greater blessing, because there is no one greater or more glorious than God. To know him is to experience eternal life that will never slip through our fingers as time so often does today. In fact, I believe it is true to say, that regeneration and repentance and faith which are bound up with the experience of forgiveness are only means to this great end; that we might know the true and living God and enjoy him forever and ever.
We must not forget this in all of our studies and labors. They are worthless if they do not lead us to him in love and adoration and faithful service. He is the prize. He is ultimate. There is nothing more wonderful. He is life himself and we were made for him. No wonder those who do not understand this are constantly restless. Peace will never be the portion of those who look to anyone or anything else. Satisfaction will never soothe the minds and hearts of the wicked and unbelieving. Even in this life they are doomed to look in vain for that deep rest of soul that defies all human attempts to acquire it apart from God. At every point the Bible encourages us to seek after God and we would do well to listen.
There is no greater blessing, because there is no one greater or more glorious than God. To know him is to experience eternal life that will never slip through our fingers as time so often does today. In fact, I believe it is true to say, that regeneration and repentance and faith which are bound up with the experience of forgiveness are only means to this great end; that we might know the true and living God and enjoy him forever and ever.
We must not forget this in all of our studies and labors. They are worthless if they do not lead us to him in love and adoration and faithful service. He is the prize. He is ultimate. There is nothing more wonderful. He is life himself and we were made for him. No wonder those who do not understand this are constantly restless. Peace will never be the portion of those who look to anyone or anything else. Satisfaction will never soothe the minds and hearts of the wicked and unbelieving. Even in this life they are doomed to look in vain for that deep rest of soul that defies all human attempts to acquire it apart from God. At every point the Bible encourages us to seek after God and we would do well to listen.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Right Doctrine From Right Texts
Sometimes waiting for my son Seth's basketball games to start gives me an opportunity to catch up on some reading. Recently, I have been reading an article by G.K. Beale published in Themelios entitled "Did Jesus and the Apostles Preach the Right Doctrine from the Wrong Texts?" It is an excellent bit of writing that interacts with a book by Peter Enns called "Inspiration and Incarnation".
However, in reading it I was saddened to see how someone like Peter Enns teaching at Westminster Theological Seminary, once a bastion of evangelical Presbyterian orthodoxy, could move away from the biblical theology of Geerhardus Vos, who did so much to teach us how the Old and New Testaments are organically related to one another.
Even more disconcerting than this bit of theological meandering are the implications of Enns' understanding of NT hermeneutics for those who are called to preach the word of God. Like so many in our day, he seems to have difficulty with the idea of a faith "that was once for all entrusted to the people of God" (Jude 3). He does not want to conceptualize Christian truth as "a fortress we defend" but rather as "a path we walk".
In my mind, it goes without saying that Christian truth is both a fortress we defend and a path we walk and there is no need to pick between the two unless, of course, there are some aspects of Christian truth that we don't want to maintain, or we are seeking to find a "biblical" way to transcend the meaning of biblical texts so that we can reshape Christianity in an creative exercise of theological theorizing. I am not saying that this is conscious Enns' desire, but I am always concerned when biblical and theological uncertainty is seen as a great achievement and it is worn as a badge of honor. Because in my experience uncertainty often leads to a situation in which everyone does what is right in their own eyes!
The relationship between Old and New Testaments is vital. How the New Testament authors use the Old Testament in their presentations of the gospel is absolutely crucial if we are to guard against theological speculation that is unorthodox not merely because it jars 21st century postmodern sensibilities but because it departs from the "pattern of sound teaching" and "the good deposit" that Paul and the other inspired apostles faithfully communicated to the church (2 Timothy 1:13-14).
However, in reading it I was saddened to see how someone like Peter Enns teaching at Westminster Theological Seminary, once a bastion of evangelical Presbyterian orthodoxy, could move away from the biblical theology of Geerhardus Vos, who did so much to teach us how the Old and New Testaments are organically related to one another.
Even more disconcerting than this bit of theological meandering are the implications of Enns' understanding of NT hermeneutics for those who are called to preach the word of God. Like so many in our day, he seems to have difficulty with the idea of a faith "that was once for all entrusted to the people of God" (Jude 3). He does not want to conceptualize Christian truth as "a fortress we defend" but rather as "a path we walk".
In my mind, it goes without saying that Christian truth is both a fortress we defend and a path we walk and there is no need to pick between the two unless, of course, there are some aspects of Christian truth that we don't want to maintain, or we are seeking to find a "biblical" way to transcend the meaning of biblical texts so that we can reshape Christianity in an creative exercise of theological theorizing. I am not saying that this is conscious Enns' desire, but I am always concerned when biblical and theological uncertainty is seen as a great achievement and it is worn as a badge of honor. Because in my experience uncertainty often leads to a situation in which everyone does what is right in their own eyes!
The relationship between Old and New Testaments is vital. How the New Testament authors use the Old Testament in their presentations of the gospel is absolutely crucial if we are to guard against theological speculation that is unorthodox not merely because it jars 21st century postmodern sensibilities but because it departs from the "pattern of sound teaching" and "the good deposit" that Paul and the other inspired apostles faithfully communicated to the church (2 Timothy 1:13-14).
Thursday, November 23, 2006
How Long, Sovereign Lord, Holy and True
Today is "Thanksgiving" for our American friends and I have been reminded twice this morning that we should be very thankful for the freedoms we enjoy as Christians in Canada and the United States. I say that because going through my email I came across a copy of Charles Colson's Breakpoint (from November 7th) where he reports on the troubles of Christians in Iraq with the removal of Saddam's government. While the former dictator was in power the Christian population peacefully coexisted alongside the Muslim majority but now they face threats from Sunni, Shia, and Kurds alike. Although these groups do not like each other, they dislike Christians even more (to put it mildly) and according to Lawrence Kaplan writing in the New Republic they have "made a sport of brutalizing their Christian neighbors".
After reading Breakpoint I took a quick look at the VOM (Voice of the Martyrs) Persecution and Prayer Alert that is regularly sent to my inbox. In this edition it tells of 1) Attacks on Christians in Ethiopia, 2) The murder of a prominent church worker in India by Muslim militants, 3) Dubious charges that have been brought against a Cuban pastor for allegedly aiding emigrants to leave the country, 4) Indian families who are driven from their homes when they convert to Christianity, and 5) continuing harassment of Christians in Sri Lanka.
Persecution is part of following Christ. We all face it in some form or other. But some of our Christian brothers and sisters face the overt threat of persecution everyday of their lives. This Thanksgiving we need to remember to pray for them and to ask God to bless their testimony for his honor and glory.
And it would also do us good to ponder the 5th seal in the book of Revelation. "When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, 'How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?' Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants and brothers and sisters were killed just as they had been" (Revelation 6:9-11).
After reading Breakpoint I took a quick look at the VOM (Voice of the Martyrs) Persecution and Prayer Alert that is regularly sent to my inbox. In this edition it tells of 1) Attacks on Christians in Ethiopia, 2) The murder of a prominent church worker in India by Muslim militants, 3) Dubious charges that have been brought against a Cuban pastor for allegedly aiding emigrants to leave the country, 4) Indian families who are driven from their homes when they convert to Christianity, and 5) continuing harassment of Christians in Sri Lanka.
Persecution is part of following Christ. We all face it in some form or other. But some of our Christian brothers and sisters face the overt threat of persecution everyday of their lives. This Thanksgiving we need to remember to pray for them and to ask God to bless their testimony for his honor and glory.
And it would also do us good to ponder the 5th seal in the book of Revelation. "When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, 'How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?' Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants and brothers and sisters were killed just as they had been" (Revelation 6:9-11).
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Come Quickly Lord Jesus
Earlier this week my oldest son Caleb drew my attention to a piece done by the CTV news program W5 on the Dominion Christian Centre in Hamilton, Ontario. Today I finally got a chance to read a summary of the investigation that was posted on the CTV website as well as view the accompanying videos. Needless to say the whole story is very sad. The so-called "pastor" Peter Rigo is anything but a godly Christian man. He is a foul-mouthed miscreant who will one day have to stand before the Jesus he so arrogantly misrepresents and give an account for his pathetic bullying of weak and foolish people. He is an example of the kind of false prophet that Jesus and the apostles warned about time and time again in the New Testament.
As I read the report and watched the videos I wondered to myself how someone like Peter Rigo can get anyone to listen to him. What is it that makes seemingly rational people surrender their better judgment to an abusive control freak? His answer is that it is the will of God. But there is nothing about his conduct nor his words to suggest that he is in any position whatsoever to speak for God. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned about false prophets, and by legitimate extension, false pastors. He described them as coming in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. And then we are told that by their fruit we will recognize them because a good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit (7:15-20). Rigo's fruit is as rotten as his tirades are infantile and he is therefore self-condemned.
People like Peter Rigo and "churches" like the Dominion Christian Centre reveal how vulnerable some people are and how susceptible they are to manipulation and a dominant personality. Sin enslaves people and affects them in different ways. Some try to sinfully dominate others while some allow themselves to be dominated. Jesus sets us free from the domination of sin and allows as to live as free individuals under his lordship. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and through the study of God's word we are able to discern those who would take away our liberty and bring us into bondage once again. Our freedom has been secured at great cost and it is something we should treasure and not allow anyone to take from us.
The greatest tragedy of a story like this one is the way that the name of Jesus is disgraced by those who misrepresent him. It reminds us of our need to pray everyday that God will "hallow his name" by furthering the spread and development of his kingdom and the doing of his will on earth as it is done in heaven (Matthew 6:9-13). One day his name will be honored by all when every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father! What a glorious day that will be!
As I read the report and watched the videos I wondered to myself how someone like Peter Rigo can get anyone to listen to him. What is it that makes seemingly rational people surrender their better judgment to an abusive control freak? His answer is that it is the will of God. But there is nothing about his conduct nor his words to suggest that he is in any position whatsoever to speak for God. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned about false prophets, and by legitimate extension, false pastors. He described them as coming in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. And then we are told that by their fruit we will recognize them because a good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit (7:15-20). Rigo's fruit is as rotten as his tirades are infantile and he is therefore self-condemned.
People like Peter Rigo and "churches" like the Dominion Christian Centre reveal how vulnerable some people are and how susceptible they are to manipulation and a dominant personality. Sin enslaves people and affects them in different ways. Some try to sinfully dominate others while some allow themselves to be dominated. Jesus sets us free from the domination of sin and allows as to live as free individuals under his lordship. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and through the study of God's word we are able to discern those who would take away our liberty and bring us into bondage once again. Our freedom has been secured at great cost and it is something we should treasure and not allow anyone to take from us.
The greatest tragedy of a story like this one is the way that the name of Jesus is disgraced by those who misrepresent him. It reminds us of our need to pray everyday that God will "hallow his name" by furthering the spread and development of his kingdom and the doing of his will on earth as it is done in heaven (Matthew 6:9-13). One day his name will be honored by all when every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father! What a glorious day that will be!
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Bringing Every Thought Captive To Christ
It is important for Christians to penetrate the culture and to strive in the words of the apostle Paul "to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). Not everyone is called to what is often labeled "full-time Christian ministry", if by that is meant serving as a pastor or teacher or missionary. These are vital callings indeed and we need more of each category to serve the Lord Jesus in these days. But these are not the only legitimate Christian callings. Believers need to function as Christians wherever they are and in whatever they are doing. This involves having a good Christian testimony and being ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, but it also means that we think as Christians and seek to apply the teaching of the Bible to every area of endeavor.
Here is a link to an article that appeared in the business section the Globe and Mail yesterday about my brother Jonathan. He was recently appointed as the CEO of AIC, a Burlington based financial company. Over the years Jonathan has tried to think and act as a Christian in an environment that can sometimes be hostile to Christian values and yet it is an important area of life that is under the sovereign control of God whether those participating in it realize that or not. The Christian church needs to learn from the example of those, like Jonathan, who are trying to fulfill the injunction of Paul to bring every thought into captivity to Christ. We need to encourage all Christians to glorify God in whatever they are called to do (1 Corinthians 10:31). And we need to pray for our brothers and sisters as they labor for our Lord across the spectrum of human life and experience.
Jonathan will be speaking at our student and faculty chapel at Toronto Baptist Seminary this Tuesday on the topic: "Faith, Risk, and Sovereignty".
Here is a link to an article that appeared in the business section the Globe and Mail yesterday about my brother Jonathan. He was recently appointed as the CEO of AIC, a Burlington based financial company. Over the years Jonathan has tried to think and act as a Christian in an environment that can sometimes be hostile to Christian values and yet it is an important area of life that is under the sovereign control of God whether those participating in it realize that or not. The Christian church needs to learn from the example of those, like Jonathan, who are trying to fulfill the injunction of Paul to bring every thought into captivity to Christ. We need to encourage all Christians to glorify God in whatever they are called to do (1 Corinthians 10:31). And we need to pray for our brothers and sisters as they labor for our Lord across the spectrum of human life and experience.
Jonathan will be speaking at our student and faculty chapel at Toronto Baptist Seminary this Tuesday on the topic: "Faith, Risk, and Sovereignty".
Saturday, November 18, 2006
2006 Sovereign Grace Fellowship Assembly
The last two days I have been busy with the Sovereign Grace Fellowship Assembly which this year was held at Sovereign Grace Community Church in Sarnia, Ontario. Although some of the churches in the fellowship have been in existence for a while, others have not, and so we are still in the process of hammering out how the fellowship will help the individual member churches fulfill their responsibilities. This year we spent quite a bit of time talking about how to respect of the autonomy of the local churches while at the same time working together to accomplish strategic goals and objectives. At the end of the day, I thought there was a healthy exchange of ideas and hopefully the group as a whole has a better understanding of some of the issues involved.
We also enjoyed the faithful ministry of David Daniels from the Toronto Jewish Mission who challenged us to think about why we were engaged in ministry in the first place. He reminded us that we must love God supremely and we must love people sincerely if we are to serve in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. He also spoke about our service costing us something and demanding humility on our part. But this was balanced by the reminder that we never know what God will do with our acts of service. Though small and insignificant in themselves, he is able to use them in wonderful ways to advance his honor and glory.
One new church, Grace Baptist Church, Ottawa, was received into membership. And we heard reports from Trinity Baptist in Burlington, Bethesda Baptist in Delhi and Churchill Baptist in Tottenham. Written reports from the other SGF churches we also made available to those in attendance. A new budget was passed and presentations were made by Carey Outreach Ministries and Toronto Baptist Seminary.
I am thankful for the good spirit and the times of singing and praying and hearing the word of God. Sovereign Grace Community Church did a superb job hosting the event from start to finish. Friday night's meal which they prepared as a fundraiser for Roland and Susan Seiler, missionaries to Africa with Wycliffe Bible Translators, raised over $3000. It is my prayer that God will bless the work of the SGF and that the initiatives we talked about will actually become realities here in Canada. As in Jesus day, the size of the harvest is greater than the number of workers. May the Lord of the harvest thrust us out as harvesters to his glory.
We also enjoyed the faithful ministry of David Daniels from the Toronto Jewish Mission who challenged us to think about why we were engaged in ministry in the first place. He reminded us that we must love God supremely and we must love people sincerely if we are to serve in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. He also spoke about our service costing us something and demanding humility on our part. But this was balanced by the reminder that we never know what God will do with our acts of service. Though small and insignificant in themselves, he is able to use them in wonderful ways to advance his honor and glory.
One new church, Grace Baptist Church, Ottawa, was received into membership. And we heard reports from Trinity Baptist in Burlington, Bethesda Baptist in Delhi and Churchill Baptist in Tottenham. Written reports from the other SGF churches we also made available to those in attendance. A new budget was passed and presentations were made by Carey Outreach Ministries and Toronto Baptist Seminary.
I am thankful for the good spirit and the times of singing and praying and hearing the word of God. Sovereign Grace Community Church did a superb job hosting the event from start to finish. Friday night's meal which they prepared as a fundraiser for Roland and Susan Seiler, missionaries to Africa with Wycliffe Bible Translators, raised over $3000. It is my prayer that God will bless the work of the SGF and that the initiatives we talked about will actually become realities here in Canada. As in Jesus day, the size of the harvest is greater than the number of workers. May the Lord of the harvest thrust us out as harvesters to his glory.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Getting to the Root of the Problem
Yesterday when Zondervan's newsletter "To The Point" arrived in my inbox I was reminded again that Christianity is struggling, at least in this part of the world. One of the most noticeable headlines read: College-age Exiting Church The Church Is At Crisis Levels. The accompanying news blurb went on to talk about how youth leaders are preaching the alarming exit of college students from the church and yet churches don't seem to be grasping the significance of the loss of even one youth. Later they mention that according to some youth ministry groups 70% to 80% of youth involved in Christian ministry in high school walk away from their faith within one year of graduation. In response to these very sad statistics, there are a number of high profile youth organizations who are coming together to help youth "transition from high school to college so that they more readily retain their Christian faith".
As I have thought about this report there are a number of things that come to mind. First, the statistics are tragic because behind each one is a real person who has been exposed to Christianity and has walked away thinking that it is not all that it was presented to be. This in spite of specialized youth ministries, campaigns to save them from dating, an endless array of Christian educational options, the rearrangement of church services to cater to the younger generation, special music and camps and programs and on and on. And the fact that they have walked away like this means they will be even more difficult to reach again because now they will have a "been there, done that attitude toward Christianity."
Second, this is not just a structural, organizational problem. The use of language borrowed from the business world like "helping youth transition from high school to college so they more readily retain their Christian faith" is theological nonsense and perhaps begins to reveal the real heart of the problem. Genuine Christian faith cannot be lost. If teens or anyone else has not come to participate in the New Covenant there is nothing that anyone can do to help them more readily retain their faith. Our problem today is with inadequate views of the gospel and the Christian life. What we are facing is a situation where far too few have experienced the life changing power of the Spirit of God in which he writes the law of God upon the hearts of those in whom he comes to dwell. It is time to face the fact that too many who participate in church programs are not Christians.
Third, I am fully aware that there are ups and downs in the Christian life. I know all too well that believers can backslide and sometimes fall into grievous sins. But these experiences must not be allowed to warp our understanding for the gospel and the change Jesus makes in our lives. Otherwise, we are left with a very inadequate message indeed. A telling example of the point I am making can been seen in some of the things that have been said about the recent revelations of Ted Haggard. There is no denying that his difficulties are tragic and the damage done is profoundly disturbing. But equally disturbing in my mind are commentaries in which the writer/speaker laments the fact that we are all totally depraved and then reminds us that except for the grace of God we are all in the same boat. While it is true that by nature we are totally depraved, if we are Christians we have known the liberating, life-changing power of the grace of God! We are not what we once were! Sin is a contradiction to the work of grace within us. As Christians we know the "exception" of grace and this makes all the difference in the world! This is precisely why situations like Haggard's are so remarkably sad.
Personally, I think the time has come to look seriously at New Covenant Christianity. The demands of the New Covenant are far-reaching. We are told that without holiness we will not see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14) and that is not speaking about our positional holiness or the righteousness of Christ that has been imputed to us. The holiness in view is that righteousness of life that is produced in us; that's right, in our lives and hearts as a result of our experience of God's grace and our subsequent and inevitable battle against sin. We are not perfect, nor will we be until glory. But we must not give the impression that we are all wallowing in sin and uncleanness as if we have not known God's amazing grace. As Christians we are supposed to know joy and victory over sin now, in this life. In glory God's work in us will be complete and every last vestige of sin will be removed, but that should not take away from the fact that something significant has happened to us now!
Returning to where I started, all of this is significant for youth ministry because it means that what needs to be recovered is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in all of its New Covenant splendor! This is what needs to be taught to young people. The need for repentance and faith. They must be told that while it is a privilege to have Christian parents, that in itself does not make them little Christians. They are not the "King's Kids" unless they have personally known that regenerating work of God. And if they have known that work they will live for the glory of God through all the ups and downs of life including the time when they "transition between high school and college". Jesus is a powerful Savior! And if we have not known his power and are not continuing to know it, it is because we do not know his salvation! We must stop distorting the biblical presentation of salvation to fit our weak, backslidden and disobedient lifestyles. We must not give false comfort to the people of God by speaking as though the only difference between us and famous fallen preachers is the fact that we have not been caught. Unfortunately, that is probably true more often then it should be but if that is the case it merely shows how far we have wandered from the truth and experience of the gospel. It should not be this way. No wonder the world is unimpressed. If this is the way it is with us then we have seriously misrepresented Jesus when we speak about him as the Savior who saves his people from their sins!
"Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace."
"Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are lead by the Spirit of God are the children of God."
Romans 6:13-14 and Romans 8:12-14
As I have thought about this report there are a number of things that come to mind. First, the statistics are tragic because behind each one is a real person who has been exposed to Christianity and has walked away thinking that it is not all that it was presented to be. This in spite of specialized youth ministries, campaigns to save them from dating, an endless array of Christian educational options, the rearrangement of church services to cater to the younger generation, special music and camps and programs and on and on. And the fact that they have walked away like this means they will be even more difficult to reach again because now they will have a "been there, done that attitude toward Christianity."
Second, this is not just a structural, organizational problem. The use of language borrowed from the business world like "helping youth transition from high school to college so they more readily retain their Christian faith" is theological nonsense and perhaps begins to reveal the real heart of the problem. Genuine Christian faith cannot be lost. If teens or anyone else has not come to participate in the New Covenant there is nothing that anyone can do to help them more readily retain their faith. Our problem today is with inadequate views of the gospel and the Christian life. What we are facing is a situation where far too few have experienced the life changing power of the Spirit of God in which he writes the law of God upon the hearts of those in whom he comes to dwell. It is time to face the fact that too many who participate in church programs are not Christians.
Third, I am fully aware that there are ups and downs in the Christian life. I know all too well that believers can backslide and sometimes fall into grievous sins. But these experiences must not be allowed to warp our understanding for the gospel and the change Jesus makes in our lives. Otherwise, we are left with a very inadequate message indeed. A telling example of the point I am making can been seen in some of the things that have been said about the recent revelations of Ted Haggard. There is no denying that his difficulties are tragic and the damage done is profoundly disturbing. But equally disturbing in my mind are commentaries in which the writer/speaker laments the fact that we are all totally depraved and then reminds us that except for the grace of God we are all in the same boat. While it is true that by nature we are totally depraved, if we are Christians we have known the liberating, life-changing power of the grace of God! We are not what we once were! Sin is a contradiction to the work of grace within us. As Christians we know the "exception" of grace and this makes all the difference in the world! This is precisely why situations like Haggard's are so remarkably sad.
Personally, I think the time has come to look seriously at New Covenant Christianity. The demands of the New Covenant are far-reaching. We are told that without holiness we will not see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14) and that is not speaking about our positional holiness or the righteousness of Christ that has been imputed to us. The holiness in view is that righteousness of life that is produced in us; that's right, in our lives and hearts as a result of our experience of God's grace and our subsequent and inevitable battle against sin. We are not perfect, nor will we be until glory. But we must not give the impression that we are all wallowing in sin and uncleanness as if we have not known God's amazing grace. As Christians we are supposed to know joy and victory over sin now, in this life. In glory God's work in us will be complete and every last vestige of sin will be removed, but that should not take away from the fact that something significant has happened to us now!
Returning to where I started, all of this is significant for youth ministry because it means that what needs to be recovered is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in all of its New Covenant splendor! This is what needs to be taught to young people. The need for repentance and faith. They must be told that while it is a privilege to have Christian parents, that in itself does not make them little Christians. They are not the "King's Kids" unless they have personally known that regenerating work of God. And if they have known that work they will live for the glory of God through all the ups and downs of life including the time when they "transition between high school and college". Jesus is a powerful Savior! And if we have not known his power and are not continuing to know it, it is because we do not know his salvation! We must stop distorting the biblical presentation of salvation to fit our weak, backslidden and disobedient lifestyles. We must not give false comfort to the people of God by speaking as though the only difference between us and famous fallen preachers is the fact that we have not been caught. Unfortunately, that is probably true more often then it should be but if that is the case it merely shows how far we have wandered from the truth and experience of the gospel. It should not be this way. No wonder the world is unimpressed. If this is the way it is with us then we have seriously misrepresented Jesus when we speak about him as the Savior who saves his people from their sins!
"Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace."
"Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are lead by the Spirit of God are the children of God."
Romans 6:13-14 and Romans 8:12-14
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
The Stones Will Cry Out
In my last post I mentioned Christmas... and it is only November! Yes, it seems that Christmas comes upon us sooner every year thanks in large measure to a commercial marketing juggernaut that tries to bring about the "Christmas experience" by an act of its manipulative will. Having said that, my intention is not to rail against the evils of Christmas; there are enough people who like to replay those tired old arguments year after year. Normal social interaction in our society requires some engagement in the seasonal festivities for even the most Scrooge-like among us. Personally, I don't think Christians who fuss about Christmas do themselves or the Lord much good. They merely come across as miserable souls for whom too much joy and happiness are disconcerting. I am content to leave them to their own celebrations or lack thereof.
Christmas is a wonderful time of year, when in spite of all the attacks that have been made on Christianity and all the attempts to cleanse the Christmas season of its Christian heart, the world still stops to remember the birth of the King of kings and Lord of lords! I know full well that many do not believe the biblical record. But I still find it remarkable that nonetheless the birth of Jesus continues to be celebrated. It is as if this event and all of the other events that are tied to the coming of God's Messiah must be celebrated. God will see to it no matter what. It reminds me of what Jesus said to the religious leaders of his day when they objected to the praise he was receiving from his disciples when he entered Jerusalem: "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out" (Luke 19:40). Every Christmas, in all sorts of ways, the stones cry out and even in the temples of commercialism carols of joy can be heard announcing the birth of the one who in the end will bring Babylon and its merchants to ruin.
So in celebration of Jesus the Messiah, the Savior of the world, the Lamb who was slain, and yet the Lion of the tribe of Judah, I will try to focus on that which is most important this Christmas season. In a secular society like the Canadian society in which I live, I am glad that I still have the opportunity to openly proclaim the birth of Jesus and my attachment to him as the Lord who has rescued me by his grace. It is my prayer that he will enable me to honor him in the days leading up to Christmas and in the ones that lie beyond.
Christmas is a wonderful time of year, when in spite of all the attacks that have been made on Christianity and all the attempts to cleanse the Christmas season of its Christian heart, the world still stops to remember the birth of the King of kings and Lord of lords! I know full well that many do not believe the biblical record. But I still find it remarkable that nonetheless the birth of Jesus continues to be celebrated. It is as if this event and all of the other events that are tied to the coming of God's Messiah must be celebrated. God will see to it no matter what. It reminds me of what Jesus said to the religious leaders of his day when they objected to the praise he was receiving from his disciples when he entered Jerusalem: "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out" (Luke 19:40). Every Christmas, in all sorts of ways, the stones cry out and even in the temples of commercialism carols of joy can be heard announcing the birth of the one who in the end will bring Babylon and its merchants to ruin.
So in celebration of Jesus the Messiah, the Savior of the world, the Lamb who was slain, and yet the Lion of the tribe of Judah, I will try to focus on that which is most important this Christmas season. In a secular society like the Canadian society in which I live, I am glad that I still have the opportunity to openly proclaim the birth of Jesus and my attachment to him as the Lord who has rescued me by his grace. It is my prayer that he will enable me to honor him in the days leading up to Christmas and in the ones that lie beyond.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
"Inspired by... The Bible Experience"
This week my copy of "Inspired by... the Bible Experience" arrived in my mailbox sent directly from Chapters-Indigo online bookstore. For those of you who have never heard of it, "The Bible Experience" is a new, fully dramatized reading of the TNIV New Testament done by an array of over 200 "all-star actors, musicians, and personalities." I have not had a chance to listen to all of it yet, but what I have heard is really, really good and definitely worth listening to over and over again. This series of high quality audio recordings brings the New Testament to life and has the potential of making the Bible accessible to a whole new group of people who may never have read it or heard it before. In my opinion, the TNIV is the most readable of the current crop of English translations, and the multi-media format of this presentation makes it easy to use in car audio systems, computers, and personal electronic devices such as IPods and the latest generation of cellphones.
One concern that will no doubt be raised in some of the more "precise" quarters of the evangelical church is the use of some performers whose Christian status and testimony is questionable to say the least. My response is two-fold. First, it would be wonderful if everyone who participated in this project and other ones like it was true and genuine in their profession of faith. But that is unlikely to ever happen until such recordings are made in glory itself! In the meantime it is great to have music like Handel's Messiah and recordings like "The Bible Experience" available for us to enjoy. Secondly, I would rather have a recording like this well done by the most talented people available (within reason of course), then have them poorly done by well-meaning but less talented believers who know how to dot all the "i's" and cross all the "t's". I know, of course, that not everyone will agree with me, but I would rather have the best possible presentation of the Bible available for people to listen to and then pray that God would use it in the lives of the performers themselves and their audience.
Whatever you think... check it out... and think about adding this top-notch bit of work to your list this Christmas!
One concern that will no doubt be raised in some of the more "precise" quarters of the evangelical church is the use of some performers whose Christian status and testimony is questionable to say the least. My response is two-fold. First, it would be wonderful if everyone who participated in this project and other ones like it was true and genuine in their profession of faith. But that is unlikely to ever happen until such recordings are made in glory itself! In the meantime it is great to have music like Handel's Messiah and recordings like "The Bible Experience" available for us to enjoy. Secondly, I would rather have a recording like this well done by the most talented people available (within reason of course), then have them poorly done by well-meaning but less talented believers who know how to dot all the "i's" and cross all the "t's". I know, of course, that not everyone will agree with me, but I would rather have the best possible presentation of the Bible available for people to listen to and then pray that God would use it in the lives of the performers themselves and their audience.
Whatever you think... check it out... and think about adding this top-notch bit of work to your list this Christmas!
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Remembrance Day Reflections
November 11th is a day when we remember those who gave their lives so that we might enjoy the freedom we do in this part of the world. Many have suffered and died to secure our release from oppression at least a little longer. I am always moved when I see those who are prepared to put their lives on the line for others. Talk is cheap and talkers are plentiful. But men and women of action, resolve and commitment are rare treasures. I am thankful for the military defeat of those who would like to subjugate us. I'm thankful, for instance, that the Nazis were defeated in World War II. And as a citizen of the so-called "free world" I never want to see Islam conquer anyone by means of the sword, and if they try I support all legitimate efforts to crush them as completely as possible. What is true of Islam is true of any person or group with imperialistic intentions. In a fallen world we need governments and military forces to keep human avarice and folly in check, and we should be thankful for them. The Bible indicates, in passages like Romans 13, that God has ordained governments and that he has given them authority to "bear the sword." This "authority" is not an unlimited authority to use anyway they see fit but the right to do good and protect their citizens as defined by God.
But having said that, I think it is also important for Christians to realize that biblically speaking all of the countries and kingdoms of this world, including the western world, are part of eschatological "Babylon" that will be destroyed by God himself one day. Wars waged by sinful human beings, even though they may have the authorization of God during this time in human history, will never bring lasting peace because they are never pure in their purpose or execution, and because lasting peace cannot be achieved by human efforts no matter how noble. We are always dealing with greater or lesser amounts of evil. Besides that, the cross of Jesus Christ eloquently testifies to the fact that all of us need divine grace and forgiveness if we are going to enter the new heavens and earth that will last forever. So this Remembrance Day, let us be thankful for the relative peace and prosperity we enjoy. Let us be thankful for the sacrifices that have been made. but let us also remember that this world is not our home we are just passing through. There is a hell to be shunned and a heaven to be gained through the ultimate sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest and King.
But having said that, I think it is also important for Christians to realize that biblically speaking all of the countries and kingdoms of this world, including the western world, are part of eschatological "Babylon" that will be destroyed by God himself one day. Wars waged by sinful human beings, even though they may have the authorization of God during this time in human history, will never bring lasting peace because they are never pure in their purpose or execution, and because lasting peace cannot be achieved by human efforts no matter how noble. We are always dealing with greater or lesser amounts of evil. Besides that, the cross of Jesus Christ eloquently testifies to the fact that all of us need divine grace and forgiveness if we are going to enter the new heavens and earth that will last forever. So this Remembrance Day, let us be thankful for the relative peace and prosperity we enjoy. Let us be thankful for the sacrifices that have been made. but let us also remember that this world is not our home we are just passing through. There is a hell to be shunned and a heaven to be gained through the ultimate sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest and King.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Battling Spiritual Oppression
The week has almost slipped by and I have not posted to this blog since Monday. Things have been busy, but then again life is like that. This week I have been thinking about spiritual oppression. There have been a number of things that have happened that have reminded me that there is often more going on than meets the eye. In Ephesians 6:10-12 the apostle tells us to "be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Paul's exhortation does not mean that there is a devil behind every tree. Nor that exorcism is necessary as a kind of pre-evangelism as has sometimes been portrayed in popular evangelical novels. But neither does it mean that we can push the matter of spiritual warfare into the background or relegate it to a bygone era. Until Jesus comes back again we will find ourselves in a war and from time to time the struggle may be particularly intense even though we are assured that we will overcome in the end.
Over the years I have come to believe that spiritual oppression is more common than many people think. When Christians pray or read the word they often find themselves fighting weariness or mental distraction or even discouragement of one kind or another. Sometimes we can wonder about the effectiveness of our efforts and for no good reason at all, feel that all is lost. We can be afraid of the future or made to feel guilty about the past, when there is no rational reason to feel fear or guilt. We can even wonder whether or not the Bible is true and Christianity real or is it just some giant illusion meant to mislead the weak and naive. I am also convinced that some of the complaints made against churches and people in them by other church members also have there origin in dark realms. I say this because when you press people on their comments there is often very little substance to them whatsoever.
In the fight against spiritual oppression, half the battle is to be forewarned and thus not caught off-guard. We need to remember that the devil goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). We are called to resist him, standing firm in the faith, knowing that all Christians have to put up with the same kind of suffering (1 Peter 5:9). Personally, I find that it helps to stop and think before reacting to something that is said or some thought that has just gone through the mind. We need to ascertain what is happening. Is this from God or from somewhere else? This pause can make all the difference in the world. It can be the difference between resisting the devil and falling under his power, even if it is for a brief moment. Wherever anything is going on in which God is glorified and his gospel proclaimed you can be sure Satan is planning a counter-offensive. We must be ready. And we must remember that greater is he who is within us than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
Paul's exhortation does not mean that there is a devil behind every tree. Nor that exorcism is necessary as a kind of pre-evangelism as has sometimes been portrayed in popular evangelical novels. But neither does it mean that we can push the matter of spiritual warfare into the background or relegate it to a bygone era. Until Jesus comes back again we will find ourselves in a war and from time to time the struggle may be particularly intense even though we are assured that we will overcome in the end.
Over the years I have come to believe that spiritual oppression is more common than many people think. When Christians pray or read the word they often find themselves fighting weariness or mental distraction or even discouragement of one kind or another. Sometimes we can wonder about the effectiveness of our efforts and for no good reason at all, feel that all is lost. We can be afraid of the future or made to feel guilty about the past, when there is no rational reason to feel fear or guilt. We can even wonder whether or not the Bible is true and Christianity real or is it just some giant illusion meant to mislead the weak and naive. I am also convinced that some of the complaints made against churches and people in them by other church members also have there origin in dark realms. I say this because when you press people on their comments there is often very little substance to them whatsoever.
In the fight against spiritual oppression, half the battle is to be forewarned and thus not caught off-guard. We need to remember that the devil goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). We are called to resist him, standing firm in the faith, knowing that all Christians have to put up with the same kind of suffering (1 Peter 5:9). Personally, I find that it helps to stop and think before reacting to something that is said or some thought that has just gone through the mind. We need to ascertain what is happening. Is this from God or from somewhere else? This pause can make all the difference in the world. It can be the difference between resisting the devil and falling under his power, even if it is for a brief moment. Wherever anything is going on in which God is glorified and his gospel proclaimed you can be sure Satan is planning a counter-offensive. We must be ready. And we must remember that greater is he who is within us than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
Monday, November 06, 2006
The Yeast of the Pharisees
Yesterday morning at Trinity Baptist Church I heard an excellent sermon on hypocrisy. The text was Luke 12:1-3, "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs."
Hypocrisy! One of the amazing things about hypocrisy is that people immediately recognize it in others, but not in themselves. Jesus' words are so convicting because there is not a human being on the face of the earth who is not guilty of play-acting at some time or other. Ever since our first parents tried to hide behind fig leaves, we have all constructed public personas that hide what is going on deep down inside.
Although Jesus is particularly concerned about religious hypocrisy, religious people do not have a corner on this attempted illusion. Hypocrisy is found everywhere. How few are really authentic and transparent! Of course, religious hypocrisy is all the more repulsive because if we are Christians we claim to believe in a God who knows all things. Yet hypocrisy operates as though God were blind, or if he can see, he does not care.
However, nothing could be further from the truth. God does care! And he warns that there will come a day when all secrets will be exposed; if not in this life then certainly at the judgment at the end of the age. In this piercing light it is far better to come out from hiding and stand in his glorious presence and ask him to forgive and cleanse and renew so that we might be all that we should be. God is gracious. He calls to us to turn to him today and not run away. Today, if we hear his voice, we should fall into his arms. Since hypocrisy will not be found in the new heavens and earth, we need to put it to death today in anticipation of the glory to come.
Today is your day,
This is your "now".
Come out from behind the mask,
Stand in his glorious light.
Let his blood make you clean,
Let his love fill your heart.
There's no going back to the shadows,
We must run after him... forever.
Hypocrisy! One of the amazing things about hypocrisy is that people immediately recognize it in others, but not in themselves. Jesus' words are so convicting because there is not a human being on the face of the earth who is not guilty of play-acting at some time or other. Ever since our first parents tried to hide behind fig leaves, we have all constructed public personas that hide what is going on deep down inside.
Although Jesus is particularly concerned about religious hypocrisy, religious people do not have a corner on this attempted illusion. Hypocrisy is found everywhere. How few are really authentic and transparent! Of course, religious hypocrisy is all the more repulsive because if we are Christians we claim to believe in a God who knows all things. Yet hypocrisy operates as though God were blind, or if he can see, he does not care.
However, nothing could be further from the truth. God does care! And he warns that there will come a day when all secrets will be exposed; if not in this life then certainly at the judgment at the end of the age. In this piercing light it is far better to come out from hiding and stand in his glorious presence and ask him to forgive and cleanse and renew so that we might be all that we should be. God is gracious. He calls to us to turn to him today and not run away. Today, if we hear his voice, we should fall into his arms. Since hypocrisy will not be found in the new heavens and earth, we need to put it to death today in anticipation of the glory to come.
Today is your day,
This is your "now".
Come out from behind the mask,
Stand in his glorious light.
Let his blood make you clean,
Let his love fill your heart.
There's no going back to the shadows,
We must run after him... forever.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
The Need For Clean Hands And A Pure Heart
Last week I reflected on Psalm 23 as a psalm for all seasons. One area that needs more study is the arrangement of the psalms and the connections between them. That is true of the Bible generally. There is a structure built into the Bible that we need to be aware of as we read and interpret it. In terms of the psalms, we go from Psalm 23 and the presentation of the Lord as our Shepherd King, to Psalm 24 and the celebration of the Lord as the King of glory. The two psalms go together because there is not much comfort to be derived from Psalm 23 if the Lord is not the Almighty Sovereign of Psalm 24. His glory as the owner and ruler of everything enhances his revelation as our Shepherd and means that we can have complete confidence in him no matter what our situation.
It is noteworthy, that David moves from rejoicing in the sovereignty of the Lord to contemplating his holiness. The sovereignty of God and the holiness of God must never be separated. They flow together. God is holy. This speaks of his transcendent sovereignty and his moral purity. Both are bound together. And if we are to enjoy fellowship with him we must be cleansed and purified. This cleansing of our lives, symbolized by clean hands and a pure heart, is not something that we can do for ourselves as a result of our own enlightenment, will-power or religious resolve.
Psalm 24 is part of the Psalter which includes, among other things, Psalm 118 in which we find the psalmist saying, "I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done. The Lord has chastened me severely. but he has not given me over to death. Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad" (vs. 17-24).
When we see how these verses are quoted in the New Testament, and when we remember that they are part of the Hallel (Psalms 113-118) sung in connection with the Jewish Passover; words that Jesus most likely sang the evening he forever changed the Passover feast and instituted the Lord's Supper as a New Covenant ordinance, then the words overflow with new significance. Yes, we need clean hands and a pure heart to ascend the mountain of the Lord (Psalm 24:3), but that is only possible as we seek the God of Jacob and we find the cleansing and inner renewal we need in the one he has appointed, even our Lord Jesus Christ.
Only then can we join the happy throng who say: "Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty. the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty--he is the King of glory" (vs.7-10).
It is noteworthy, that David moves from rejoicing in the sovereignty of the Lord to contemplating his holiness. The sovereignty of God and the holiness of God must never be separated. They flow together. God is holy. This speaks of his transcendent sovereignty and his moral purity. Both are bound together. And if we are to enjoy fellowship with him we must be cleansed and purified. This cleansing of our lives, symbolized by clean hands and a pure heart, is not something that we can do for ourselves as a result of our own enlightenment, will-power or religious resolve.
Psalm 24 is part of the Psalter which includes, among other things, Psalm 118 in which we find the psalmist saying, "I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done. The Lord has chastened me severely. but he has not given me over to death. Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad" (vs. 17-24).
When we see how these verses are quoted in the New Testament, and when we remember that they are part of the Hallel (Psalms 113-118) sung in connection with the Jewish Passover; words that Jesus most likely sang the evening he forever changed the Passover feast and instituted the Lord's Supper as a New Covenant ordinance, then the words overflow with new significance. Yes, we need clean hands and a pure heart to ascend the mountain of the Lord (Psalm 24:3), but that is only possible as we seek the God of Jacob and we find the cleansing and inner renewal we need in the one he has appointed, even our Lord Jesus Christ.
Only then can we join the happy throng who say: "Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty. the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty--he is the King of glory" (vs.7-10).
Friday, November 03, 2006
Interesting Read In Light of Today's News
As I was sipping my coffee and watching the morning news I saw CNN's tickertape carry the story of the resignation of Ted Haggard as the President of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) amid allegations of involvement with a male prostitute. Later when I was going through my email I read more about the story in Christianity Today's Daily Newletter where they linked to a November 2005 cover story that had been done on Ted Haggard in Christianity Today by Tim Stafford called, "Good Morning, Evangelicals!"
I sincerely hope that the allegations against Haggard prove to be untrue. Time will tell. But regardless, it is very interesting to read Stafford's glowing account of Haggard's new style evangelicalism in light of what is being reported today. Unfortunately, however, it reinforced in my mind what I have thought for some time: mega-churches and mega-pastors often command more attention than they deserve. This is because there are too many naive hero-worshipers who mindlessly copy whatever they are doing and tend to pick up their mannerisms and vocabulary in the futile hope that they too will succeed in growing their ministries like so-in-so superstar. What they often fail to remember is that these men are but men. They do not walk on water, nor do they often contribute much of lasting value to the church.
As I get older, I am more and more skeptical of the plans and schemes of individual men, or boards of elders, or church management committees; the organizational labels do not matter much, in the end it all comes down to the same thing: kingdom building! But the question that needs to be asked is: who's kingdom? I know that those persuasive men at the top tells us over and over again with great sincerity and emphasis that it is about God's glory! But I am convinced that some of them can talk themselves and anyone listening to them into almost anything as long as they push the right buttons and employ the right phrases. I worry that they, as well as their followers, actually believe their own rhetoric until they are so removed from reality that they confuse God's glory with their own ministries, books and conferences. The kind of power and respect some of them command is frankly too much for any mere mortal, and disaster lurks around the corner sooner or later no matter what the denomination or theological commitments.
Let's face it, what we need today are not pushy, talented innovators and communicators but holy men and women who love the Lord and the gospel and are willing to live it out all the time wherever they are and whatever they are doing. There is something to be said for slow and steady. For fighting the good fight with perseverance and running the race that God has called each of us to, right to the very end. May the Lord help us to do so with humility and grace, so that the glory may go to him now and forever. In the meantime we need to pray that God will have mercy on all of us. Sometimes bigger is not better and we need to deliberately work at keeping things small and intensely focused on the Lord Jesus Christ.
I sincerely hope that the allegations against Haggard prove to be untrue. Time will tell. But regardless, it is very interesting to read Stafford's glowing account of Haggard's new style evangelicalism in light of what is being reported today. Unfortunately, however, it reinforced in my mind what I have thought for some time: mega-churches and mega-pastors often command more attention than they deserve. This is because there are too many naive hero-worshipers who mindlessly copy whatever they are doing and tend to pick up their mannerisms and vocabulary in the futile hope that they too will succeed in growing their ministries like so-in-so superstar. What they often fail to remember is that these men are but men. They do not walk on water, nor do they often contribute much of lasting value to the church.
As I get older, I am more and more skeptical of the plans and schemes of individual men, or boards of elders, or church management committees; the organizational labels do not matter much, in the end it all comes down to the same thing: kingdom building! But the question that needs to be asked is: who's kingdom? I know that those persuasive men at the top tells us over and over again with great sincerity and emphasis that it is about God's glory! But I am convinced that some of them can talk themselves and anyone listening to them into almost anything as long as they push the right buttons and employ the right phrases. I worry that they, as well as their followers, actually believe their own rhetoric until they are so removed from reality that they confuse God's glory with their own ministries, books and conferences. The kind of power and respect some of them command is frankly too much for any mere mortal, and disaster lurks around the corner sooner or later no matter what the denomination or theological commitments.
Let's face it, what we need today are not pushy, talented innovators and communicators but holy men and women who love the Lord and the gospel and are willing to live it out all the time wherever they are and whatever they are doing. There is something to be said for slow and steady. For fighting the good fight with perseverance and running the race that God has called each of us to, right to the very end. May the Lord help us to do so with humility and grace, so that the glory may go to him now and forever. In the meantime we need to pray that God will have mercy on all of us. Sometimes bigger is not better and we need to deliberately work at keeping things small and intensely focused on the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Comfort of Divine Sovereignty
Yesterday, I was reading some of the reader response to a recent Christianity Today article entitled, "Young, Restless and Reformed". I was reminded afresh that for all the biblical and theological debate that has raged across the centuries, the old Arminian/Calvinistic divide still remains. It does not seem to matter what is said and how carefully the Scriptures are exegeted, some refuse to bow to what I believe is the clear teaching of the Bible. This does not mean that we necessarily understand everything the Bible has to say on the subject of divine sovereignty and human responsibility, but it does reflect my conviction that things are sufficiently clear that we can understand enough of what God wants us to know about these two important subjects.
In saying that, I am not for a minute justifying all that has been said in defense of "Calvinism", even though, in the main, I think it best represents the proper interpretation of Scripture. All systems, including some that like to attach themselves to the great Reformer, need to be brought to the Bible and examined in light of what it says as a whole from beginning to end. But all this is not the main point of my post. What I want to say is that as I read, it occurred to me again that the sovereignty of God is a robust doctrine especially designed for tough times.
When one is floating on the sea of uncertainty, not sure what is going to happen next, there is nothing like the truth that God is completely sovereign to calm the wind and the waves that are swirling around. This doctrine is what one has called "a soft pillow for a weary head". If God is nothing more than a grand chessmaster, comfort goes out the window. But when we see that he knows exactly what he is doing with our lives, that he loves us and is working out all things for our good and his glory, everything changes. All of a sudden there is stability beneath our feet. We have a place to stand. In a moment prayer becomes more than just an exercise that benefits our spiritual fitness, it is our way of interacting with our sovereign and yet personal God.
I guess what I am trying to say at this late hour is that people can rail against God's sovereignty when things are going good, but it is much more difficult to do so when the going is tough and nothing seems secure but him who is from everlasting, the creator and sustainer of this world, and the king who will triumph in the end. His unrivaled sovereignty makes all his promises glow with new splendor and power. Our God can not only speak comforting words, but he can make sure that his word does not return empty but accomplishes the purpose for which he sent it. And that is something I need, when all around everything else seems so uncertain.
In saying that, I am not for a minute justifying all that has been said in defense of "Calvinism", even though, in the main, I think it best represents the proper interpretation of Scripture. All systems, including some that like to attach themselves to the great Reformer, need to be brought to the Bible and examined in light of what it says as a whole from beginning to end. But all this is not the main point of my post. What I want to say is that as I read, it occurred to me again that the sovereignty of God is a robust doctrine especially designed for tough times.
When one is floating on the sea of uncertainty, not sure what is going to happen next, there is nothing like the truth that God is completely sovereign to calm the wind and the waves that are swirling around. This doctrine is what one has called "a soft pillow for a weary head". If God is nothing more than a grand chessmaster, comfort goes out the window. But when we see that he knows exactly what he is doing with our lives, that he loves us and is working out all things for our good and his glory, everything changes. All of a sudden there is stability beneath our feet. We have a place to stand. In a moment prayer becomes more than just an exercise that benefits our spiritual fitness, it is our way of interacting with our sovereign and yet personal God.
I guess what I am trying to say at this late hour is that people can rail against God's sovereignty when things are going good, but it is much more difficult to do so when the going is tough and nothing seems secure but him who is from everlasting, the creator and sustainer of this world, and the king who will triumph in the end. His unrivaled sovereignty makes all his promises glow with new splendor and power. Our God can not only speak comforting words, but he can make sure that his word does not return empty but accomplishes the purpose for which he sent it. And that is something I need, when all around everything else seems so uncertain.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
A Psalm for All Seasons
As Christians we never know what is around the corner, or what challenges the Lord has for us. But we do know that he is with us in a way that transcends understanding. Psalm 23 has long been a favorite of Old and New Covenant believers, and for good reason. It reminds us of something that we must never forget as we make our way through this veil of tears. The Lord is with us. Not just in terms of his omnipresence, but personally with us as our Shepherd King. Knowing this does not make our trials any lighter, but it does give us what we need to carry on. Our hope is not in this world but in the world to come where sin and the curse are removed. It is such a comfort to know that God is with us now and when this life is over we will dwell in the new heavens and earth forever.
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your road and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will
follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23 (TNIV)
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your road and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will
follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23 (TNIV)
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