Redeeming The Time

The Practical Implications of the Sovereignty of God - Part Thirteen

2012-01-20T11:03:00.001-05:00

Conclusion
The doctrine of the sovereignty of God is another example of the practicality of the Bible when rightly interpreted and understood. It is a part of the biblical message that has been breathed out by God and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). It will keep us from making mistakes at a theological level as well as at a personal and ministerial level. It is an area of biblical truth that John Reisinger rejoiced in and spent his life communicating so effectively to others; including myself, for which I will be forever grateful. Why God should have had mercy on me I will probably never know beyond his gracious intention to glorify himself by saving this lost son of Adam. When it comes to the sovereignty of God our response should be that of the apostle Paul after one of the most sustained treatments of the subject in the Bible. Paul is not inflated with pride, nor is he argumentative. Rather he is lost in wonder, love and praise, and he cannot help but offer himself afresh to such a great and awesome God.

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is true worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 11:33-36; 12:1-2).

The sovereignty of God is indeed a “soft pillow for a weary head.” How thankful we should be that God is in control of all things. Trying to find comfort anywhere else but in him is futile. It is never good or wise to resist the Lord. At all times we should run to him and receive the mercy and grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16). And when we come to him we do not have to fear that he cannot or will not help us. In God, sovereign power, love and goodness are perfectly combined. Those who come he will receive, and those he receives he will keep to the very end to the praise of his glorious grace. The more we grow in the sovereignty of God the greater our comfort, stability and usefulness as Christians.

Dear Reader: I hope you have enjoyed this series of posts on the implications of the sovereignty of God.

The Practical Implications of the Sovereignty of God - Part Twelve

2012-01-15T13:28:00.000-05:00

Continued from working and resting in God...

Still another example of the biblical balance between our work and resting in God’s work is found in 2 Timothy 2:10 where Paul says that he “endures everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal joy.” Paul’s knowledge that God has a people whom he will surely bring to himself does not lead him to sit around doing nothing. Rather it moves Paul to action. He was willing to endure whatever God had determined would be his portion, in order that they may be saved.

In Romans 10:13-15 Paul carefully balances the need to believe the gospel with the need to send out preachers who will announce the good news. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, but people cannot call on one they have not believed in. And they cannot believe in one of whom they have not heard. And they cannot hear without someone preaching to them. And they cannot preach unless they are sent. Thus, the same apostle who has so much to say about God’s gracious choice that results in our salvation, understands that God’s salvation does not come about in a vacuum of non-involvement on behalf of his people. We have a job to do. We are to pray and to give and to share what we have learned; and to go, if God calls us to go, to the land that he will show us.

So on the one hand, the sovereignty of God calls forth the greatest exertion on our part; it stirs us to action. But on the other hand, it allows us to rest in and wait for the Lord. We do what he calls us to, and we do it to the very best of our ability but we leave the results to him. We labor, but he gets all the glory because although we are not always aware of it, without him we can do nothing. God’s sovereignty is never an excuse for indolence. In every area of our lives we must continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in us to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose (Philippians 2:12-13).

To be continued in my next post...

The Practical Implications of the Sovereignty of God - Part Eleven

2012-01-13T12:25:00.002-05:00

Another ministerial implication of the sovereignty of God is that we can work and rest in God. Both things are important. We are not balanced biblically if we are working ourselves to death because we think that everything depends on us. Nor are we balanced if we are resting and waiting for God to act on our behalf. There must be a combination of work and rest. Both aspects are presented in the Bible as compatible with each other. This is another way of saying that God has ordained the means as well as the end. His will embraces both, and we need to include both in our thinking. For example, Acts 27 tells the story of a shipwreck, that might well have cost Paul and his traveling companions their lives, were it not for the fact that it was God’s will that Paul testify in Rome. But because God had ordained it, Paul was headed to Rome no matter what the weather report, and in addition, God had chosen to graciously spare the lives of those traveling with Paul. However, God had not only ordained the end results but he had ordained exactly how they would come about. So in the middle of the storm an angel of God appeared to Paul and told him that he would survive the sea and stand before Caesar in Rome, and all those traveling with him would also be saved, provided they stayed with the ship (27:31). In other words, God had ordained the saving of Paul and those traveling with him, but God had also ordained that this would only happen if everyone did what they were told.

This point will be continued in my next post...

The Practical Implications of the Sovereignty of God - Part Ten

2012-01-07T10:06:00.002-05:00

The sovereignty of God is also a glorious truth when it comes to world evangelism. In the “Great Commission” at the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus says: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (28:18-20). Taking the teaching of Jesus into the nations of the world has never been easy. It is all the more challenging today with the prevalence of philosophical ideologies like post-modernism and the revival of religions like Islam and various new forms of the old natural religions. But we know that God has given the Son “authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those he has given him” (John 17:3). Since Jesus goes on to tell us that this eternal life involves knowing the only true God and himself as the Christ sent into the world (17:3), this means that God will draw such people to himself. No power in heaven or hell can prevent the Lord from claiming his own. Even when there is great opposition, we should not be cast down. If, as Paul learned when he was ministering in Corinth, the Lord has many people in a city or country, he will bring them to himself through the preaching of the gospel (Acts 18:10).

The Practical Implications of the Sovereignty of God - Part Nine

2012-01-03T13:40:00.001-05:00

The sovereignty of God also assures us that he is able to change the human heart. The “heart” in the Bible is the center of the human personality. Proverbs 4:23 tells us: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” However, the Bible also tells us that our hearts are corrupt by nature. Paul’s sober assessment is both gloomy and accurate. “There is no one righteous; not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Romans 3:10-18). Given such a pessimistic evaluation, unless God changes the human heart, our ministries are a complete waste of time. Heart change takes more than clever arguments, a certain style of music, the right atmosphere, or the eloquence of a polished communicator. Given the moral and spiritual darkness that dwells in our hearts nothing short of the sovereign life-giving power of God is able to make human beings new creations in Christ Jesus. And this is what we find emphasized in the Bible time and time again.

Thus we are told that Peter was the first of the Twelve to begin to grasp the truth about the person of Jesus in a clear substantial way because the Father, in heaven, revealed it to him (Matthew 16:17). When some of the Gentiles believed as a result of the preaching of Paul and Barnabas it was because they had been appointed for eternal life (Acts 13:48). And when Lydia responded to Paul’s message it was because unknown to her the Lord came and opened her heart (Acts 16:14). Nor are these examples exceptional. This is what always happens when people come to faith in Christ. God is at work opening the eyes and the ears of the heart and liberating the will from its bondage of sin, so that people can see and hear and therefore come most freely to Jesus. What Paul says of the Christians in Thessalonica is true of all believers everywhere. “For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction” (1 Thessalonians 1:4-5). And again: “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).

This point will be be continued in my next post...

The Practical Implications of the Sovereignty of God - Part Eight

2012-01-02T16:22:00.000-05:00

3. The Sovereignty of God and Our Ministries

When it comes to Christian ministry, the sovereignty of God is a great encouragement in at least three ways. First, it assures us that in the end, God will win the battle. Victory is never in doubt, even though we are up against some fearsome opponents. If God were not sovereign, or if he gave up his sovereignty in certain areas in order to allow for human freedom, then we could never be sure that he would actually defeat his foes and usher in the new heavens and earth as predicted and pictured in Revelation 21-22. In fact, the bulk of the book of Revelation would be nothing more than wishful thinking on God’s part, or at best a sketch of how he would like to see the future unfold. But this is not how Revelation begins or ends. At the start we are told that what we are about to read is “the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near” (Revelation 1:1-3). There is no suggestion of uncertainty in these introductory words. The revelation is set forth as genuine and sure. We are encouraged to listen and obey and to allow the prophecy to regulate our lives. God knows what is going to happen because he has ordained it. And on the basis of his decree he can give us instructions as to how we should live.

The characteristic certainty of Revelation as it progressively reveals by means of pictures and symbols what will happen during the church age, between the advents of Jesus Christ, comes to a triumphant conclusion at the end of the book. In chapter 19 we hear what sounds like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments… Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready” (vs.1-2, 6-7). Then we are told about the triumph of the heavenly warrior, the king of kings and lord of lords who defeats the beast and the false prophet and throws them alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur (19:11-21). After this, we are shown the gospel age from another perspective under the symbolism of a 1000 year period of time (20:1-6). When this period has run its course, Satan is destroyed and the dead are gathered before the great white throne of judgment where their eternal destinies are settled (20:7-15). Then we have the revelation of the new heavens and earth, and the Holy City, the new Jerusalem who is at one and the same time the bride of the Lamb, and a picture of the new world as Eden restored and made even better because of the salvation of God which has been experienced by all its residents (21:1-22:5). After this there are a series of assertions that ground the hope of all Christians who are waiting for the return of Jesus from heaven. “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who keep the words of the prophecy in this scroll” (22:7). “Then he told me, ‘Do not seal up the words of this prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near” (22:10). “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (22:12-13). “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” (22:20).

The book of Revelation leaves no doubt as to the eventual triumph of the Lord Jesus Christ over all of his foes. In 1 Corinthians 15:25 we are told that he (Christ) must reign “until he has put all his enemies under his feet.” This is precisely what we see portrayed for us in Revelation. Although many times we might wonder if that day will ever come, especially when we are in the thick of the battle, Scripture assures us that it will. It must come because God is God. No one can successfully stand against him. We can plod on knowing that at the right time God will bring an end to the “old order of things” (Revelation 21:4).

To be continued in my next post...

The Practical Implications of the Sovereignty of God - Part Eight

2012-01-01T09:13:00.000-05:00

God's sovereignty also has implications when it comes to the very personal matter of self-acceptance. It is very important to understand that God has made each of us as unique reflections of his image. David speaks of God’s knowledge of himself and God’s involvement in his life from the very beginning in Psalm 139:13-16. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” This kind of all-encompassing sovereignty even extends to traits that we might view as liabilities. When Moses was reluctant to speak to the children of Israel in God’s name because he did not consider himself eloquent but slow of speech and tongue, the Lord reminded him that he was the one who gave human beings their mouths and made them deaf or mute, and he gives them sight or makes them blind (Exodus 4:11). The same is also true of any gifts and abilities that we have. When Israel was entering the Promised Land, Moses reminded them that it was the Lord who gave them the ability to produce wealth in keeping with his covenantal faithfulness (Deuteronomy 8:18). And in the New Testament, the apostle Paul links the presence and distribution of spiritual gifts to the sovereign working of the triune God in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” We are who we are because God has made us that way. And no matter who we are, if we yield to him we can glorify him and enjoy him forever.

Thus, God’s sovereignty is personally liberating for those who understand it. None of us are called to serve him in precisely the same way as those who have gone before us. As believers we stand before the Lord as individuals and we present ourselves to him as the one who made us the way he did for a reason. He has something for us to do that only we are able to accomplish. Instead of looking around at everyone else or trying to imitate them, we should be asking the Lord to help us realize our own unique purpose. Sometimes people can feel that there is nothing they can do to contribute to the cause of Christ. But nothing could be further from the truth. God does not make mistakes. And he does not make junk. We have value as his creatures and we have even greater value as those redeemed by his Son. In fact, salvation enables us to enter into our true purpose as human beings. Paul brings salvation and our service as Christians together in Ephesians 2:8-10 in a way that grounds them both in the sovereignty of God, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast, For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

To be continued in my next post...

The Practical Implications of the Sovereignty of God - Part Seven

2011-12-30T09:58:00.000-05:00

The doctrine of the sovereignty of God also stabilizes our lives in many practical ways. As finite beings, our perspective on life is often very limited. Consequently, we worry about many things, sometimes to the point of being paralyzed by our anxieties and fears. If God were not sovereign we might have something to worry about! How can we be sure that he will triumph in the end? How can we know that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28)? We can know because our confidence lies in God himself, the creator and sustainer of the universe. He is the one who never slumbers or sleeps. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explicitly forbids an unbelieving kind of worry that takes our minds away from what is most important. He tells us not to worry about our lives, what we will eat or drink; or about our bodies, what we will wear, not only because we are more important than food, drink and clothes, but because our heavenly Father knows that we need them and he promises to provide for us if we seek first his kingdom and his righteousness (Matthew 6:32-33). When he was speaking on the subject of the sovereignty of God I often heard John Reisinger say, “the sovereignty of God is a soft pillow for a weary head!” Indeed it is. Life can be difficult. Sometimes it is best described as a “veil of tears.” There are many disappointments and discouragements. Terminal pronouncements that would drive us to despair if it were not for the fact that God is sovereign and he reigns in heaven and on earth.

Divine sovereignty also rules out luck or chance. Things may appear to happen “by accident” but ultimately this is not the case. This universe in which we live is a personal universe because behind everything that happens is the triune God who is not only all-wise, all-powerful and all-knowing, but infinitely personal. Nothing just happens. Things come about because they have been decreed by our Father in heaven. This is the difference between various forms of pagan superstition and the Christian faith. Superstitious people try their best to appease the “forces” of the universe in the vain hope that this will cause things to go well with them. Today many people consult horoscopes and fortune-tellers hoping to discover hidden information that will help them plan for the future. But Christians who understand the sovereignty of God do not need any of these things. If we need wisdom we go to the word of the God who cannot lie. When things come into our lives that we do not understand we know that they have come from his wise and loving hand and that they serve a purpose in our lives. Although we may not be able to see it at the time and may never understand God’s dealings with us until we stand before him in glory, the fact that he is there directing all things for his glory and our good is profoundly comforting. Our knowledge of God’s sovereignty keeps us from being tossed back and forth like the waves of the sea. As Edward More wrote in his hymn Solid Rock: “His oath, his covenant, his blood, support me in the whelming flood; when all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay.” There is no greater stability than this. When we are mindful of his sovereignty, the world is a different place for the Christian, no matter what is going on around them.

The Practical Implications of the Sovereignty of God - Part Six

2011-12-26T11:34:00.000-05:00

2. The Sovereignty of God and Our Personal Lives

In terms of our personal lives, the doctrine of the sovereignty of God anchors our prayers. Some people think that belief in the sovereignty of God chokes off prayer. They do not see the need to pray if God is in complete control of the situation and his will is ultimate. Fortunately, the Bible does not reason in this way; in fact, the Bible goes in the opposite direction. For example, after being released by the Jewish authorities in Acts 4:23-31, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that had happened to them. This in turn caused the people to raise their voices together in prayer to God. In the prayer that followed they reflected upon God as the Sovereign Lord who made the heavens and the earth, and everything in them. He is not only the creator God, but he is a speaking God who has revealed himself by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of his servant, their father David. Long before Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in the city of Jerusalem to conspire against God’s holy servant Jesus whom he anointed, God predicted what would take place. And when they acted for their own reasons, as an expression of the corruption of their hearts, they did exactly what his power and will had decided beforehand should happen. So rather than discouraging prayer, Luke tells us that the sovereignty of God actually inspired their prayers and motivated them to ask for more power so that they might speak the word with boldness accompanied by miracles of healing, signs and wonders. Their corporate recollection of the sheer majesty of God in accomplishing salvation in spite of the venomous opposition of the powers of darkness did not stifle a spirit of prayer; instead it gave their prayers wings that lifted them up and carried them to the throne of God’s grace.

The same is true of our prayers. There is no reason to pray to a God who is merely doing his best to make sure things work out for his people somehow. While prayer may have some physiological and psychological benefits for the practitioners, that is not why we pray. We pray as Christians because we want to express our love and gratitude to God for all he has done. We also want to find healing for ourselves and for others. We want to see things happen. We long to see the kingdom of God expand, churches established and congregations built up in the most holy faith, the lost converted and brought to a saving knowledge of Jesus. We understand there is no sense praying at all if God is not sovereign and he is not able to intervene in this world and in our lives. But because he is sovereign we can pour out our intercession with bold confidence knowing that he who reigns over the universe is able to break into human history, including our history, without in any way violating our freedom and responsibility as human beings.

To be continued in my next post...

Merry Christmas Everyone

2011-12-25T09:15:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas to all the readers of this blog. I trust you will all have a wonderful day with family and friends and that you remember the greatest gift of all whose birth we celebrate today. In a fast-moving world that can be so complicated the good news of Christmas is really very simple - "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests" (Luke 2:14). So amid the competing voices and in spite of those who never cease to make the simple unnecessarily complicated remember what was said to Mary many years ago - "And you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). A Merry Christmas indeed!

The Practical Implications of the Sovereignty of God - Part Five

2011-12-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

The sovereignty of God in our salvation also gives us confidence as we face the future. We can stand our ground against spiritual opposition because we know that he who has begun the good work will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). As Christians we quickly become aware that there are many difficulties that we are called to go through as we make our way to heaven. There are formidable foes who try to keep us from persevering with the Lord and who discourage us time and time again. It is no wonder then that doubts and fears arise about the ultimate outcome of our commitment. We sometimes wonder if we will make it to the end. Will we be able to hold on to Jesus amid the twists and turns of life? Will we prove to be valiant soldiers or will we turn back in disgrace?

Although we have a very important role when it comes to keeping in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25) and keeping ourselves in the love of God (Jude 21), we are not kept by our own efforts alone. God, who called us by his grace in the beginning, will keep us by his grace until the end. So Paul can say with great assurance, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). And then a little later in the same letter he adds, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (2:12-13). God is on our side. He has brought us to himself and he will not abandon us along the way. He will keep us to the end. We are safe in the hand of Jesus and in the hand of the Father who gave us to him. As Jesus said, “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” (John 10:27-29).

To be continued in my next post...

The Practical Implications of the Sovereignty of God - Part Four

2011-12-20T09:51:00.000-05:00

The sovereignty of God in our salvation also humbles our naturallyproud hearts. We tend to think too highly ofourselves and our abilities. However, when we come to see that we would neverhave surrendered to God if he did not first work in us, we are greatly humbled.There is something in every fallen child of Adam that wants to contributesomething to their own salvation. We want to add a little of our own works andeffort so that salvation is viewed as a co-operative effort between ourselvesand God. But this is not what the Scriptures teach, nor will they allow us tomove in that direction.

Paul writes, “For by grace you have been saved throughfaith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not the result ofworks, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). His meaning is clear. Thereis nothing we can add. We contribute nothing but our own sinfulness andunworthiness. Instead, we rely on the gracious gift of God to save us. Thismeans that we are at the mercy of God. We are not saved because of anything wehave done, or because we are somehow better than our neighbors, or moredesirable to God when considered apart from Christ. God’s sovereignty insalvation melts away our pride and leaves us no room for boasting. And in itsplace there grows a deep thankfulness for such a great salvation that has cometo lost sinners such as we were and at such a great cost.

To be continued in my next post...

The Practical Implications of the Sovereignty of God - Part Three

2011-12-19T10:30:00.000-05:00

It is important to understand this because it means that all the glory for our salvation belongs to God. Even though it is true that we repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, we only do so because of his grace. This is significant because we live in a man-centered age in which human achievements are praised and celebrated and God rarely gets so much as an honorable mention. This is wrong. This world and everything in it was made for his honor and glory. But the world is not what it once was. Human beings have rebelled against God and fallen into sin. As sinful creatures we live for ourselves and not for the one who made and sustains us. But when God comes to us in salvation, everything changes at the most basic level. He opens our eyes so that we understand who he is, who we are and what he has done for us. As a result our whole perspective is revolutionized. Now we understand that we were made for God; made to love him and enjoy him forever. And we also understand that this is the reason we have been redeemed. We have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness and brought into the kingdom of his dear Son so that we might bring praise and honor to his holy name forever. All Christians instinctively know this at some level because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but those who understand the sovereignty of God as it has been revealed and exercised in their salvation are in the best position to praise him for his wonderful love and grace.

To be continued in my next post...

The Practical Implications of the Sovereignty of God - Part Two

2011-12-18T15:00:00.000-05:00

The practical implications of the sovereignty of God is a vast subject that could be approached in a number of ways because it touches on so many areas of life. I have decided to gather some of these diverse strands of thought together and examine them under three main headings: the practical implications of the sovereignty of God when it comes to our salvation, our personal lives, and our ministries.

1. The Sovereignty of God and Our Salvation

The fact that God is sovereign in the salvation of his people is a truth that is indelibly stamped on the Scriptures. Although the biblical data is vast, there is one key text in which the apostle Paul masterfully sums up what the Bible teaches on this great theme. In Ephesians 1:11 Paul tells Christian believers in Ephesus that they have obtained an inheritance in Jesus Christ, “having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.” According to Paul, the salvation of those who call on the Lord Jesus Christ was not an accident and it was certainly not something that caught God off-guard. Earlier in the same passage, Paul tells these same believers that they have been chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined them for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given them in the One he loves (1:4-6). This means that God is at work in the salvation of believers. He is the one who brings us to himself. When we come to him, we come most freely, but only because he has taken the initiative and sought us out. In his first epistle, the apostle John confirms what Paul teaches throughout his writings when he states: “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

The sovereignty of God and our salvation continued next post...

The Practical Implications of the Sovereignty of God - Part One

2011-12-16T10:15:00.000-05:00

Over the next while I will post an essay I wrote in honor of John G. Reisinger which is published by New Covenant Media in a book called, Ministry of Grace: Essays in Honor of John G. Reisinger. The book is edited by Steve West and is available from New Covenant Media. I was asked to write on the practical implications of the sovereignty of God as someone who greatly benefited from and appreciated John's ministry.These issues continue to be relevant today in spite of the increased acceptance of the concept of God's sovereignty in Christian theology. It is one thing to intellectually apprehend this truth, quite another to live it out. To help Christians do just that I am posting this essay.

The Practical Implications of the Sovereignty of God

I first heard of John Reisinger in connection with the doctrine of the sovereignty of God. It was at a time in my life when my parents were coming to understand what are popularly known as “the doctrines of grace.” Although I had been involved in evangelical circles since I was a boy, and I had heard many wonderful things about God and his way of salvation, I distinctly remember the summer when the “sovereignty of God” became part of my theological vocabulary forever. For me, from the very beginning, the sovereignty of God was something glorious to be celebrated. The mind-expanding idea that God was in control of all things, that he had a plan that embraced all things, that he was working out all things according to that plan, and that nothing would ever frustrate that plan; came home to me with clarity and power. And even though I was not yet a Christian, it seemed entirely reasonable to me that if there was a God, this is what he must be like. In fact, anything else seemed completely unworthy of the one who made the universe in the beginning and continues to sustain it now by his infinite power.

My next recollection of John Reisinger is the time some years later when he was staying at my parents’ home in Burlington, Ontario, while he was preaching in the area. By this time I was a Christian and attending Bible School. I had started to read various theological books and was struggling with the place of the Mosaic Law in the life of a Christian. When I told John about my struggles he sat me down and we talked at length about the relationship between the Old and New Testaments. To this day, I look back on that time as a turning point in my life. Several key features of the biblical revelation fell into place and I began to see and understand in a new way how everything in the Bible finds its focus in Jesus Christ. Since then it has been my joy to read the Bible christologically, and as I have reflected on these two incidents over the years, I have often thought how they themselves illustrate the great truth that God is sovereign in all of his dealings with us. He leads and directs us according to his own will in his own time. Furthermore, as I have gone through life, I have also discovered that the sovereignty of God is a very practical doctrine. Not only is it something that is clearly revealed in the Scriptures from the beginning to the end, but it is something that every Christian needs to understand if they are to reach maturity in Christ and be useful in the kingdom of God.

To be continued in my next post...

The Doctrine of Providence - Part Five

2011-12-12T13:00:00.000-05:00

Governance. The Bible teaches that the same God who preserves the world and is involved with every action of his creatures is also governing the world according to his wisdom. Sometimes the world can seem like a chaotic place. From the weather to political events to terrorist activities we do not know what a day will bring. To the casual observer it may appear that there is no God who is ruling over all. But appearances can be deceiving and things are not always as they appear. Take for instance, the flood that took place in the time of Noah (Genesis 6-9). Those caught in the flood thought that the world was going to come to an end, but they were wrong. During the Babylonian captivity as described in Daniel 1 it appeared as though Nebuchadnezzar had triumphed over the God of Israel. But in reality God was using the Babylonians to judge his people and further the establishment of his kingdom in the world. Governance is consistent with the frequent biblical assertion that God is king and that he reigns over all. Nothing happens that he does not know about because he ordains all things. The Bible speaks of God as “working out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:11).

God’s rule has particular relevance to his people. It reminds us that God is in control and that he is moving human history forward to the end that he has ordained. It means that we can trust him with our lives and know that nothing happens by accident. If, as Paul says in Romans 11:36 that, “From him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever” – then the promise of Romans 8:28 stands firm that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” In these days this is precious indeed.

So whether we think in terms of God’s preservation of all things, his concurrence in all that transpires, or his governance of the world, the providence of God gives the Christian comfort, strength and confidence as he or she lives their life and works hard for the glory of God.

The Doctrine of Providence - Part Four

2011-12-10T09:45:00.001-05:00

Concurrence (continued). In the Bible there are many passages that illustrate the relationship between God’s actions and human actions, or what we call primary and secondary causes. But there are two passages that stand out in this regard. In the Old Testament the interaction between Joseph and his brothers is classic example of this interaction. After the death of their father Jacob, Joseph’s brothers are worried that he will now enact revenge on them for their cruel betrayal. Joseph, however, speaks to them with kindness and reassures them that he will not turn against them. He says, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:19-20). It should be noted that Joseph recognizes both the actions of God and the actions of his brothers. His brothers did what they did for their own wicked reasons and God is not responsible for their sinful actions. But that does not mean he was absent and not involved in what was happening. He was there working out his holy purposes in the lives of everyone involved by taking what was evil and overruling it for good. This is concurrence.

The classic passage in the New Testament is one that has to do with the death of Jesus. In Acts 2:23-24 Peter says: “This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from death, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” In a similar passage in Acts 4:27-28 the early Christians pray: “Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.” Both passages speak of the evil intentions of men for which they are responsible. But neither passage suggests that God is not involved at the same time in some way. In both passages God is described as accomplishing his purpose which involved the greatest possible good, without doing anything wrong or evil himself. Thus men are active and God is active. But they could not do anything if he does not empower them, and yet, he is not the author of sin, their actions are real, and they are responsible for them all. This is concurrence.

To be continued next post...

The Doctrine of Providence - Part Three

2011-12-06T19:30:00.000-05:00

Concurrence. The word concurrence means ‘working together’ and I am using it here to refer to the relationship between divine and human activity in the events of life. Or in other words, seeing that both God and human beings are active in the world, what is the relationship between their actions, do they act independently of each other, or do they act together? In the Bible God is always the primary actor. This means that he is always at work or nothing would happen. Conversely, human beings are always secondarily actors. As such their actions are real, and they are always responsible for what they do. But the distinction between primary and secondary actors means that they could not do a thing if God did not sustain them. It also means that there is no such thing as an action in which God is not involved.

At this point, however, we must be careful or it will appear as if God is responsible for bad actions as well as good ones. But this is never the case. The Bible never directly attributes sin or evil to God. It is always the direct action and responsibility of the one who actually sins. But just because God is not directly involved and is not guilty of wrongdoing does not mean that he is inactive. God is working simultaneously, but indirectly, to accomplish his purposes. As the God of providence his actions are concurrent with those of his creatures though he is always good, upright and holy.

The rest of "concurrence" in the next post...

The Doctrine of Providence - Part Two

2011-11-28T16:15:00.001-05:00

Preservation. The Bible teaches that only God is self-sufficient. He is “from himself” in that he does not depend on anything outside of himself for life, or happiness, or anything else. The triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – has life in himself and he existed in eternity before the creation of time, space and matter. This means that everything else that exists has been created by God and is dependent on him for its continued existence. Nothing exists independent of God and nothing would continue to exist if he were not actively sustaining it. The universe, and all that is in it, continues to exist and to function in predictable ways because of God’s continuous preserving activity. This is one reason why scientists are able to do their work and to test their theories and hypothesises in the world. And this is why we are able to make calculations that are the same today as they were yesterday and as they will be tomorrow.

Biblical evidence for the preserving work of God is abundant. For instance, when the Israelites returned to their own land after the Babylonian captivity they confessed that the Lord, their God, is from everlasting to everlasting, and that he alone is the Lord who made the heavens and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. He gives life to everything and the multitudes of heaven worship him (Nehemiah 9:5-6). When the apostle Paul is speaking before to the Athenian philosophers at the Areopagus he presents God as one in whom “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). In his letter to the church at Colossae he describes Jesus as the Son of God who is “before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). The writer of Hebrews begins his magisterial exposition of Jesus Christ by articulating his conviction that “the Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word” (Hebrews 1:3). And when Peter is warning about sceptics who scoff at the promise of Christ’s return at the end of the age he reminds believers that God who created the world by his word is the same one who reserves the present world for the fire of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly (2 Peter 3:7).

The preserving work of God reminds us that we are dependent on him for life and breath and everything else. We owe our allegiance to him and he is the one we should worship and obey. It rebukes our spirit of self-sufficiency and discredits the mistaken idea that we are ultimately self-made individuals. It also reminds us that God is nearer to us than we think. Sometimes it seems as if God is far away and his presence undetectable. But he continually works to sustain the universe and our lives within it. As Paul said to the Athenians, “God is not far from any one of us” (Acts 17:27). His preserving work and close proximity means that we should seek him and find rest in him.

To be continued next post...

The Doctrine of Divine Providence - Part One

2011-11-26T11:01:00.001-05:00

Over the next few posts I want to share something I wrote on divine providence. Not so long ago "providence" was a concept that many people understood, but it is largely unknown and even the word seems archaic. But there is a reason why Christians in the past used and treasured the word and we would do well to rediscover it in our day.

The world is a big complicated place. It is full of life and living creatures. It is vast in its dimensions and varied in its topography. There are a multitude of things going on at once—big things that everyone can see, smaller things that are only locally visible and tiny things that can only by seen when the normal abilities of the human eye are enhanced. Some things seem meaningless and random whereas others are deliberate and choreographed. Some have only a momentary impact, while others change lives forever. The doctrine of providence is the biblical teaching that God is ruling over all and he is directing all things according to the good purpose of his will even though his hand may not be clearly seen nor his purposes understood at this time.

Theologically, the providence of God is tied to the fact that he is the creator of all things. As the Bible tells us, “In the beginning God made the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). It also tells us that he made all things “good” in that they conform to his will and express his creative genius. But God was never an absentee landlord. He was always involved with the world and the creatures he made. This was true in the beginning and it is true now even though sin has defiled all that God has made. God has not given up on the world but continues to work in time to bring all things back under his authority in Jesus Christ. God’s involvement can be defined by three words: preservation, concurrence and governance – and these three words nicely sum up the biblical doctrine of divine providence (cf. Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology, 315-332). In the following series of posts I want to briefly discuss each of these three aspects of providence.

To be continued...

Living In Light of the Kingdom - Part Ten

2011-11-24T12:00:00.000-05:00

The Conclusion of the Matter (Matthew 7:28-29)

The end result of the Sermon on the Mount was amazement. Those who heard it were amazed at Jesus’ authority because He taught as one who had authority and not as their teachers of the law (7:28–29). If we live according to the teaching of Jesus—which is another way of saying, if our living is kingdom living—people will continue to be amazed. In many ways there is no more pressing need today. The world is looking for the church to practice what it preaches. They do not care about many of the things that we think are so important, but they will still be amazed by the sweet and awesome power of the kingdom of God when that kingdom is lived out in the lives of God’s people.

In this regard, we must remember that it is not enough to merely resolve to live better or differently in light of the Sermon on the Mount. If we are to have a righteousness that surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, we must follow the Preacher of the sermon to the cross where He died in order to secure this kind of life. Not only that, but we must walk in the light of His resurrection from the dead and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which makes it possible for us live to the honour and glory of God until we see Jesus face to face.

Living In Light of the Kingdom - Part Nine

2011-11-23T09:20:00.000-05:00

The Dangers of the Kingdom Age (Matthew 7:1-29) - Part 3

Fifth, there are dangers associated with self-deception (7:21-23). Perhaps the worst form of deception is self-deception! Jesus knows this and so He tells His listeners not to trust in anything but knowing God and doing His will. Extraordinary insight, spiritual power, or sacrificial service are not a substitute for a saving knowledge of God. Many will arrive at the final judgment unprepared to face the Judge. They can think they are ready or that their fervency will influence the Judge’s decision, only to make the horrific discovery that there is a final judgment and they have been rejected as evildoers. So great are the issues at stake that we must be brutally honest with ourselves, or we may find that we have deluded ourselves into thinking that all is well with our souls.

Sixth, there are dangers associated with building on an alternative worldview (7:24-27). Jesus brings His sermon to a close by stressing once again the nature of the issues at stake. In His final illustration, He speaks of two builders building two houses on two different foundations. The foundation of sand is anything other than Jesus. The foundation on rock is Jesus and a correct interpretation of His teaching. Only the rock foundation can bear the weight of the building that is erected on it no matter what is going on around. Rains can come, streams rise, winds blow, and they can beat against the house but it will not fall because it is founded on the rock. The lesson is obvious: we are only safe as we hear the words of Jesus and put them into practice.

Final installment in my next post...

Living In Light of the Kingdom - Part Eight

2011-11-21T13:05:00.000-05:00

The Dangers of the Kingdom Age (Matthew 7:1-29) - Part 2

Third, there are dangers associated with the absolute nature of the kingdom (7:13–14). According to Jesus there are only two gates—a narrow one and a wide one. There are only two ways—a narrow and a broad one. And there are only two destinations—life and death. Such absolutes are not looked on with approval today. This kind of theological construction is considered bigoted and narrow-minded. In such an environment we may be tempted to soft-peddle the truth, or to round off its sharp edges, or to blunt its impact. But Jesus will not allow us to do so. The kingdom stands over against the world. We are confronted with a choice. We can only enter through one of the gates and walk on one of the roads. In the end it is a matter of life and death. While many may not like the absolute nature of the choice, Jesus leaves us with no alternative. Faithfulness to Him requires that we obey His word.

Fourth, there are dangers associated with false teaching (7:15–20). Unfortunately, false teaching will always be a problem until the consummation. Tragically, it is often exacerbated by the fine outward appearance and clever sounding words of the false teachers. In fact, they are dangerous precisely because they are so believable and convincing. But the true state of their hearts will be evident by their fruit. What they are cannot remain hidden forever. Eventually it will come out. There is a connection between what we believe and how we live and what we teach. “Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

To be continued in the next post...

Living In Light of the Kingdom - Part Seven

2011-11-20T14:00:00.000-05:00

Dangers of the Kingdom Age (Matthew 7:1-29) - Part 1

The kingdom age is the time between the first and second advents of Christ. The kingdom is good—the dangers I have in mind arise from the world in which we live. They are also present because of the progressive way that God has chosen to apply salvation to His people. We are not yet all that we will be. We continue to struggle with sin in our own lives and so we face many dangers as we live in expectation of the parousia. In chapter seven, Jesus highlights six of these dangers.

First, there are dangers associated with increased light and understanding, so Jesus warns us not to apply to others a standard we are not willing to apply to ourselves (7:1–5). This, however, does not mean that all judgment is suspended. We must be discerning and not give sacred things to those who have no appreciation of them (7:6).

Second, there are dangers associated with waiting for God while living in the world (7:7–12). One such danger is that of passivity, or sitting around doing nothing, while we wait for God to act. This is not appropriate behaviour for disciples of Jesus. He wants us to ask, and knock, and seek, and assures us that God will respond to our requests for help. Sometimes passivity is joined to a harsh view of God and His goodness. We do not seek help because we think that He will not answer. But this is not the case. God is good and He knows how to give good gifts to His children. Therefore we should be actively pursuing Him and we should believe that He delights to care for His people.

To be continued next time...

Living In Light of the Kingdom - Part Six

2011-11-17T12:52:00.001-05:00

The Implications of the Kingdom's Arrival in our Lives (Matthew 6:19-34)

The kingdom of the Lord Jesus is not of this world—it comes from another realm, and, therefore, does not operate according to the principles of this fallen order. But the arrival of the kingdom in advance of the final consummation has many practical implications for us. And it is to these that Jesus turns in the last half of chapter six. As disciples of the Lord Jesus we have new treasures and a new place to store them based on a whole new set of kingdom values and realities. What we treasure is important because Jesus knows that what holds our hearts and captures our affections moulds our lives. If we set our sights on the things of the world, we will be blinded to what is truly important as determined by God’s timetable and what He is doing in our lives. Therefore we must choose carefully who we will serve because we cannot serve two masters at the same time – we cannot serve God and money.

One of the wonderful things about being a disciple of Jesus is that we do not have to worry about our lives in this world. Jesus tells us that our heavenly Father is in control and He will look after us and give us what we need. Worrying, does not change a thing. It is a futile practice because there are so many things that are beyond our control. And besides all that, the material things of this life are destined to perish one day. They will not last forever, and even if they did, we mere mortals cannot hang on to them forever. Given these realities, we are commanded to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. We are to live by faith in the goodness of God and take one day at a time. The priorities of the kingdom must shape our priorities, and these kingdom priorities are in turn shaped by the changes that have been introduced by the coming of Jesus and the wonder of His person and work.

Living In Light of the Kingdom - Part Five

2011-11-14T13:18:00.000-05:00

The Practice of Righteousness in the Kingdom (Matthew 6:1-18)

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus focuses on 3 areas of religious practice: (1) giving to the poor (6:1–4); (2) prayer (6:5–15); and fasting (6:16–18). He assumes that these expressions of righteousness will be ongoing in the lives of His people. However, it is important to note that in every case His instruction has to do with performance and competition. Giving, prayer and fasting that are done for the applause of the audience will go unrewarded by God. This kind of “performance” or “competitive” righteousness is indicative of a deeper problem, namely, hypocrisy. The practice of kingdom righteousness is not the same as participation in sports, politics, or business. In these endeavours public opinion is king—and it is all about numbers, profits, and ratings; not so in the kingdom of God. In this realm, it is about honouring and serving God. And so when it comes to the practice of righteousness, we are to do it “in secret.” This is one way we show that our aim is His honour and glory and not our own.

It should be added that Jesus’ words do not prohibit all public giving, prayer, or fasting. What they require is that our public acts of righteousness are part of a larger practice of righteousness that is known only to God. His instructions rebuke the insane competition that often exists over who can plant the most churches, attend the most conferences, gather the largest crowds, have the most Twitter or Facebook followers, the most read blog, the right endorsements, etc. The non-Christian world does not care about these things because by their standards the biggest Christian stars are small potatoes and the crowds we gather to our biggest conferences do not begin to rival people that attend high school football games in Texas! What the watching world often wants to see is spiritual reality and authenticity. They want to see something different from the kind of competitive “look-at-me” attitude that is ubiquitous in the media, politics, business, sports, the entertainment industry, and so much of our i-culture. The kingdom of God is not a franchise that we buy into and then develop in terms of our own brand and audience. God is looking for people who delight in Him more than anyone or anything else and who are more concerned with what He thinks than they are with receiving the adulation of the crowd. Thus He rewards what is done in secret. Those who crave the attention of others will get what they desire, but they will never know the sweetness of God’s approval.

Living In Light of the Kingdom - Part Four

2011-11-12T14:00:00.000-05:00

The Centrality of Christ in the Kingdom (Matthew 5:17-48) continued...

The hermeneutical importance of Jesus is illustrated in the rest of the chapter. In the connection between murder and anger and the need for swift reconciliation, Jesus and His teaching have far-reaching implications (5:21–26). The same is true with regard to adultery and lust and the related matters of divorce and marital unfaithfulness (5:27–33). Outward purity is not enough because He asserts authority over our hearts. When it comes to oaths and truth-telling, He demands simple straight-forward language that does not twist or evade honesty (5:34–37). Even the need for justice in matters of right and wrong comes under the sway of Jesus (5:38–42). So pervasive and revolutionary is the influence of Jesus that He calls on His followers to love their enemies as well as their friends (5:43–48). In so doing, He redefines what it means to be God’s children and shows us that one way we demonstrate our new paternity is to imitate God’s love for all of His creatures.

Ultimately, Jesus governs our understanding of the Old Testament. This is true whether we are talking about the ultimate meaning and direction of the Old Testament law, or about Pharisaic interpretations or misinterpretations of the law. Jesus unifies the scriptures. The dispensations, or distinct periods of time in which God reveals His saving purposes, are not the key to understanding the scriptures. The covenants which God uses to structure His relationships with human beings are not the key either. The key is Jesus. We must read and interpret the Bible as Christians committed to Him. We will never live in the kingdom as we should if we do not grasp the centrality of Christ. Issues of Sabbath, baptism, spiritual gifts, the nature of the church, leadership in the church, the place of the law, the definition of the gospel, and so much more, are ultimately connected to Him and a proper understanding of His work.

Next time: The Practice of Righteousness in the Kingdom (Matthew 6:1-18)

Living In Light of the Kingdom - Part Three

2011-11-10T10:48:00.000-05:00

The Centrality of Christ in the Kingdom (Matthew 5:17–48)

It is difficult to overstate the importance of these verses—particularly 5:17–20. In them, Jesus is presented as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, or what we call today the Old Testament scriptures. This means that everything in the Old Testament is about Him in one way or another. For instance, the law of Moses points to Him and His teaching and His work on the cross that makes kingdom living possible. The history of Israel as God’s firstborn son anticipates the coming of a greater Son who, unlike Israel, is faithful to God in all that He does. The Levitical priesthood and the sacrificial system teaches the people about holiness and what is necessary to live in the presence of a superlatively holy God. King David leads Israel in battle against her foes while at the same time he is the sweet psalmist of Israel and he intercedes for the people in prayer. In these ways he foreshadows a greater king, prophet and priest to come who would transcend David without any of his weaknesses and liabilities. And with many voices, yet one message, the prophets of the Old Testament foretold the coming of a new day in which God’s messianic servant would restore the fortunes of Israel, vanquish his foes, establish the kingdom of God, and inaugurate a new covenant that would be characterized by the abundance of the Spirit, the personal knowledge of God, and the complete forgiveness of sins.

The centrality of Christ in the kingdom also means that everything that comes to us in the New Testament is ultimately grounded in His person and work. We cannot read the Sermon on the Mount without the realization that the preacher is on His way to the cross to die in the place of His people. He is the one who makes it possible for us to live as the sermon describes. And what is true here is true throughout the New Testament. The strength to live the Christian life is tied to his death and resurrection and to the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. There is no other way, and we must understand this if we are to move forward in our walk with God. This is one of the things Jesus means when He speaks of a righteousness that surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law (5:20). As “righteous” as the Pharisees and teachers of the law were, they did not see their need of Jesus. And they did not understand that kingdom righteousness is forever tied to Jesus and what He died to accomplish on the cross. It is only as we are humbled and empowered by the Christ-centered gospel that we can begin to live the kind of lives that God requires of His people.

To be continued next post...

Living In Light of the Kingdom - Part Two

2011-11-09T15:00:00.000-05:00

The Importance of Character in the Kingdom - Matthew 5:1-16

The importance of character can be seen by the fact that it comes first in the sermon. Character is important because the kingdom is about salvation or deliverance from sin that must inevitably change and influence character. In the sermon, Jesus emphasizes character by giving us eight beatitudes and two metaphors. Jesus pronounces a blessing on the poor in spirit, on those who mourn, on the meek, on those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, on the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted.

According to Jesus, people who are characterized in these ways are “blessed” in that they know the approval of God and His grace is evident in their lives. The beatitudes do not describe natural personality traits, but rather evidence that the kingdom of God has come in life-changing power. As a result, those who are citizens of the kingdom are light and salt in the world. Both metaphors presuppose that the world is not all that it should be—it is a dark and flavourless place that needs the moral and spiritual “light” and “salt” that is provided by Jesus’ disciples.

Once again we should note that it is character and not education that Jesus emphasizes at the beginning of His kingdom sermon. It is character, not having the right friends and connections. It is character, not having the right study Bible, or a fancy home, or car, or boat, or vacation property, or six-pack abs, or whatever, that matters. In the kingdom, character matters—character comes first—character that is developed over a lifetime as we walk with Jesus through this world.

Living In Light of the Kingdom - Part One

2011-11-08T14:58:00.000-05:00

Over the next while I will be posting the written version of a much longer presentation given at the Grace Pastor's Fellowship in Toronto in September 2011. I trust that those who read it will find it interesting and helpful.

The “kingdom” that I am writing about is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the kingdom that God promised in the Old Testament—a kingdom in which He would deliver His people from their sins and bring them into an eternal relationship with Himself. The kingdom dawned when Jesus came to seek and save the lost. His death on the cross established this kingdom on an unassailable foundation. Jesus’ resurrection proclaimed His kingship and the reality of His salvation. His ascension took Him to the right hand of God where He now reigns over the world for the good of His church, and Christians await His return and the establishment of the New Jerusalem at the end of the age.

The interval between the first and second advents of Christ is more than two thousand years and counting, and no one knows how long it will continue. But the kingdom that Jesus inaugurated many years ago changes everything and casts a shadow over this world. Though the world does not know that Jesus reigns, He does—and He will complete what He has started. The kingdom is entered by grace through faith, but this does not mean it is without demands. It demands submission to King Jesus for all eternity, and this submission is most glorious because of who He is as our Lord and Saviour. This is the biblical-theological background for the topic: living in light of the kingdom.

When many today think about computers, they think of Apple. When they think about searching the internet, they think of Google. And when they think about books, they think of Amazon. When we want to learn about the kingdom biblically, we should think about the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5–7. This sermon is a kingdom sermon given by Jesus. In Matthew’s gospel it is the first of five major discourses that highlight Jesus’ teaching. It must be interpreted in light of the whole ministry of Jesus the “Christ” or the “Anointed.” He is our anointed prophet, priest and king who is teaching us about the kingdom in this sermon. In this article, we will look at the Sermon on the Mount as a whole and highlight some of the things that Jesus wants us to know about life in the kingdom.

Next time: The importance of character in the kingdom (Matthew 5:1-16).

Happy Thanksgiving Canada

2011-10-10T16:00:00.001-04:00

We who live in this beautiful country of Canada have much to be thankful for. We enjoy peace. prosperity and freedom. These, and many other things, are blessings that come to us from the hand of God. We should be thankful everyday but it is good to have one day in particular when we remember how richly God has blessed us. With blessing comes the responsibility to make the most of what we have and to share with others so that their lives might be better. Thanksgiving reminds us that for all our hard work we are the recipients of grace and this should humble and inspire us to honor the one who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His love endures forever.

Psalm 136:1-3

The Bible - Magic Book or Holy Book?

2011-09-24T11:53:00.000-04:00

In a previous post I wrote about how religious fundamentalism is terribly disappointing in the end. I would like to take up that theme in this post. I am a Christian, and I am writing as a Christian, but I think there is a difference between Christianity and Christian fundamentalism that is not appreciated as much as it should be. In my thinking Christian fundamentalism treats the Bible, the Christian scriptures, as if it were a magic rather than a holy book. And there is a difference between the two. The Bible is treated as a magic book when it is made to speak authoritatively on every topic. The Bible is a holy book in that it is primarily about God's plan of salvation and how human beings can be reconciled and restored to him through Jesus Christ. In disclosing this salvation God has revealed many things that touch in one way or another on many areas of life. One of the tasks of Christian theology is to organize all of this material and to know how it applies to life in this present age. But this is a far cry from turning the Bible into a textbook on law, or politics, or economics, or education, or science, or counseling or marriage and family life... just to name a few. It is not enough to find a verse that more or less sounds like our idea, we must read the Bible as a whole and let it speak to us as God intended and not turn it into something that merely authorizes our personal ideas and prejudices.

In the end I find religious fundamentalism disappointing because it proposes simplistic solutions to complex problems. Now I realize that we can make things unnecessarily complicated when they are simple, but the world is a big place and our own perspective is often very parochial. This is not to say that there are not clearly delineated boundary lines established in scripture. The lines are there and not difficult to identify. But there is often freedom given within those boundaries that is not always understood. When this fails to happen there is a rigidity that manifests itself along with a self-righteousness that looks down on others and enshrines its version of 'truth' as the only possible way to go. Worst of all is the assumption that God sees it the same way! The whole concept of divine revelation presupposes a divine point of view, but we only know what that is as we interpret the scriptures in context and then apply them as God intended. Where his intentions are not clear, we should be very careful and tentative. When they are clear, we should proceed carefully as well, with humility and thankfulness, accompanied by a readiness to make corrections if we or those around us come to see things even more clearly. Christianity is one thing, Christian fundamentalism is another. The Bible is a holy book not a magic book!

A Life Is A Terrible Thing to Waste

2011-09-18T21:05:00.000-04:00

There are many ways to waste a life and lots of people could explain how that is possible. But in this post I have in mind a particular way of squandering the wonderful gift of life. I am thinking about the mistake of paying too much attention to the advice and counsel of others no matter who they are, how sincere they are, or how much they think they know what they are talking about. I am not saying that advice and counsel are unimportant, but merely that such things are not ultimate when it comes to making decisions about how we live our lives. I am saying that in the final analysis we have to make up our own minds as individuals before God and then do what we think is best.

This is frequently difficult because it is scary. We are making decisions that will shape the rest of our lives. Oftentimes it is easier to turn such decision-making responsibilities over to someone else. And frequently there are no shortage of helpful busybodies who are ready to step in and do our thinking for us. But if we allow this to happen we have to live with the regret of not deciding for ourselves what to do. As I get older I appreciate more and more the value of freedom to think and act as I see right before God without having to explain myself to those who second nature it is to run everyone else's life. There is something truly exhilarating about thinking and acting for oneself, living by faith not sure what will happen next. Whatever is lost in security is more than repaid as we walk one step at a time into the future knowing that come what may each step we take is our own.

Unrealized Dreams

2011-09-17T20:24:00.000-04:00

The summer is over and another academic year is underway at Toronto Baptist Seminary. When school wraps up for the summer it seems as though there is lots of time before everything starts up again in September, but the summer manages to slip by all too quickly. Still it is good to take a break from the routine and good to return to it in the fall. And this fall we are thankful to have a new group of students eager to study and learn.

Back in one of my summer posts I wrote about some "northern reflections" that I wanted to take up when I had the time to do so. I have already written about one of those reflections -- the fact that nothing stays the same forever. In this post I want to reflect on unfulfilled dreams. Everyone dreams about life and what it will be like. Sometimes those dreams actually become reality but many dreams never materialize. We think we know how things will work out but reality does not always conform to our expectations or desires.

Unrealized dreams can be a source of frustration and discouragement. They can leave us very disappointed and if left unchecked they can become a source of bitterness and cynicism. However, it need not be that way. Unrealized dreams can motivate us to make changes in our lives and move in a different direction. We do not have to sit and feel sorry for ourselves, we can take action to change our situation. When looked at in this light unrealized dreams can force us take stock of our lives and push us to change. And so it is that what initially seems like an obstacle can actually become strong motivation to move us forward in another direction.

Students who have come to seminary this fall have many dreams, goals and ambitions. Some will move ahead just as they have planned, others will not. Many think that they know how life will unfold for them in the future but only time will tell. Whatever happens they need to work hard, to pray, and to seek the counsel of others. And where they encounter twists and turns in the road of life they need to stop and re-evaluate their lives and then have the wisdom and strength to respond accordingly. Truth is, that life is rarely straight-forward and some of life's most interesting moments come when we are not quite sure what will happen next.

Eyes to See

2011-08-12T20:50:00.001-04:00

One of the nice things about summertime, especially in more northern climates, is the chance to get outside and enjoy the wonders of the creation around us. With all the tragedies that we are confronted on the news and in the media it is important to remember that all is not lost and certainly not as bleak as it might first appear. For all the troubles in the world - market fluctuations, government incompetence, riots, violence and famine - this world is still full of breathtaking beauty if one knows where to look. Included in this post is a picture I came across recently that reminded me of all these things without speaking a single word. I wanted to share it with you because it is good to remember that there is always more going on around us then is captured by the headlines and discussed by the experts of our day. There is a larger story unfolding before our eyes and those who recognize this are truly wise.

Realism and Responsibility

2011-07-27T12:06:00.000-04:00

It's been a busy summer and I have not been able to post as often as I would have liked but here is a little something from Helen Keller that nicely balances realism with responsibility. Our world continues to be shaken by terrorist type events and in the face of such hatred and violence we can feel very small and helpless. This quotation reminds us that while there are many things we cannot do, there is always something we can do to make a difference. Passivity is never an option. We must speak the truth in love and refuse to be bullied by human prejudice and ignorance.

Change and Decay

2011-07-05T12:26:00.000-04:00

Over the next few posts I will expand on the "Northern Reflections... One Last Time" of July 4. As someone pointed out in the comments section that was a cryptic post - deliberately cryptic! The first thing I mentioned is that nothing lasts forever. This is something we all know as creatures of earth but largely ignore as we go about our daily lives. It is not something that we dwell on otherwise we would get little done conscious that we are merely building castles of sand. We strive for immortality by making our mark, living so as to be missed, making a difference... or so the story goes. Truth is, that nothing lasts forever. Times change, people change, life changes. What we have today may be gone tomorrow, and if not tomorrow, sooner or later the day will dawn when what we know today is no more.

I was reminded of that this past week as I contemplated the changes on the channel where my parents cottage has been located for many years. People I once knew have come and gone. Places that were well maintained have fallen into disrepair. The wind, the rain, the sun and the forest would eventually reclaim everything if we humans did not fight to keep them at bay. But strive though we may we are fighting a losing battle for the elements continue their assault long after we have breathed our last. It has been that way for who knows how long, and it will be that way until the end of time.

Given this state of affairs, we can either roll up and die or make the most of the time we have. The choice is ours. How to go about it is another matter for another day...

Northern Reflections... One Last Time

2011-07-04T23:29:00.000-04:00

Nothing lasts forever. Many dreams go unfulfilled. A life is a terrible thing to waste. Religious fundamentalism is horribly disappointing in the end. The time has come to chart a new course.

Reality Check

2011-06-17T12:30:00.000-04:00

Here is simple reminder that many of us a very blessed. We can forget that in a consumer society that equates life with purchasing power and success with the number of toys we have stuffed into our over-sized houses and garages. There is more to life that material possessions and although they are certainly useful and fun and a distraction from the boredom of life they cannot satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart. We were made for something greater.

Chasing Creativity

2011-06-11T17:22:00.017-04:00

Here is a little something I stumbled across recently entitled, "33 Ways To Stay Creative." As you will see some of the ideas are better than others but overall it makes for some interesting reading. Creativity over the long haul is not easily attained and although it sounds counter-intuitive, it must be worked at diligently. But the rewards are many and almost everyone appreciates those who are not only concerned with what they say but how they say it!

Here, see what you think... personally I found #33 particularly insightful!

Searching for the Historical Adam

2011-06-04T12:02:00.000-04:00

The cover article in the June 2011 issue of Christianity Today is entitled, "The search for the historical Adam." I tweeted the other day, that this search and the debate it has engendered is more important than the contentious discussion about the new perspective on Paul. (That is the full version of my much shorter 140 character tweet!) In fact, this particular issue makes much of the new perspective discussion irrelevant unless there is a way to interpret the scriptures in a way that is consistent with the findings of science or vice versa.

In terms of Christian theology it is not enough to forge ahead as if science does not exist, nor can Christian scientists, or those who are interested in science, ignore the biblical and theological issues raised by the present state of the research. We are, or should be, interested in truth, and in this debate there is still a lot of work to do. So far there is plenty of heated rhetoric but little light. There are all kinds of facts on the table but no agreed upon way of integrating the data into a coherent system.

Christians who have thought about the issues know the challenges that are attached to almost every interpretive decision. The questions are complex and have far-reaching implications on all sides. But regardless of the difficulties this issue is not going away. It cannot be ignored or downplayed. The time has come to roll up our collective sleeves and get to work. And maybe this is a blessing in disguise - maybe, just maybe, it will finally get us past the rather silly preoccupation with certain elements of ecclesiastical correctness that has become an all too common shibboleth in some circles today.

Deja Vu All Over Again

2011-06-01T15:52:00.000-04:00

Christian Reconstruction is an attempt to reconstruct the world according to Christian principles. Or to put it another way, it is an attempt to Christianize the world. It is not new and has appeared numerous times in history although it has not always been called by that name. It is often, although not always, wedded to a post-millennial view of biblical prophecy which believes that Jesus will return to the earth at the end of a thousand year period known as the millennium during which the world will be Christianized but not necessarily converted. From a Christian point of view it tends to be very optimistic and triumphalistic about what they see as 'triumph of the gospel,' even though the mere Christianizing of the world does not sound to me like much of a triumph.

Of course, in our world people can believe what they want, including Christian reconstructionists. But that does not mean we have to accept their ideas or even their implicit claim that what they believe is 'Christian' at all or resembles the gospel taught by Jesus and his apostles. From a biblical and theological standpoint I think that Christian Reconstruction fails to understand the nature of the Bible as a library of books that find its ultimate meaning and significance in Jesus Christ. They try to squeeze out of the Bible a Christian political or economic or educational or legal system, and much else besides. These they package as a Christian worldview over against other worldviews. But although the Bible has important things to say about politics, economics, education, law, and indeed all of life, it does not give us a definitively Christian way of doing these things that is absolute and can therefore be explicated in exhaustive detail.

At a more practical level, Christian Reconstructionism is divisive, elitist, and more critically, it distorts the gospel message and distracts people from the tasks that the risen Lord gave to his people. In what is known as the great commission, Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:18-20). Only by the most incredible rhetorical sleight of hand can these words of Jesus be interpreted to mean "Christianize" the world, or can his command to teach them to observe everything he has commanded result in the imposition of a 'Christian' political or economic or legal system!

One of the darlings of Christian Reconstructionists is an author named Rousas John Rushdoony. In his day, Rushdoony was a prolific writer whose works could never be described as bland! But for all of his literary output the careful reader with a basic grasp of historic, Christian orthodoxy will quickly realize that Rushdoony is a mixed bag at best. While he has some genuinely fascinating insights here and there, by in large his works are a hodge-podge of theology, politics, economics, law, sociology, and cultural commentary that is all mixed together and served up with his own idiosyncratic slant. For all his writing he does not understand the flow of redemptive history and the role of Israel in God's plan of salvation. Even more ironic is his misunderstanding of biblical law and its place in salvation history even though he wrote two large volumes on the Decalogue. In these works he makes the error of making "law" the hermeneutical grid through which he reads and interprets the Bible - an exegetical commitment that distorts the meaning of scripture over and over again.

Rushdoony is worth reading as an academic curiosity but beyond that great caution should be exercised. And yet he continues to be quoted with approval today by men who, frankly, should know better. I first read Rushdoony more than 35 years ago in my late teens and I was surprised way back then when he expressed his doubts, of all things, about the numbers of Jews killed in the holocaust. Incredibly, in one of his larger works, The Institutes of Biblical Law, he shares his views on the holocaust with the reader in section 10 of a chapter on the ninth commandment under the title, "The Lying Tongue" (585-590). All this to say that if the title of his book - The Institutes of Biblical Law - is an attempt to imitate John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion he is sadly delusional. The reader would do well to read Calvin and would be missing very little if Rushdoony is forgotten. Reviving Rushdoony in our day is inexcusable and completely unnecessary. There are much better treatments of every subject on which he writes, and this overall theological framework is deeply flawed. Christian Reconstructionism should not be confused with the Christian gospel and Christians have much better things to write about and to work on. Let's not repeat the mistakes of the past but learn from history and work together for a better tomorrow.

Twitter Reconsidered

2011-05-31T15:30:00.002-04:00

Sometimes it takes time to appreciate a new development in technology. Take "Twitter" for example, when it first appeared I, for one, could not see how it would be of much value since messages were restricted to 140 characters. But over the past few months I have taken another look at this popular form of social media and I have changed my mind. Twitter is overflowing with information from a wide variety of sources. Like the online world in general, however, you have to be selective. Not everything is good and valuable or even true. The internet gives everyone a chance to express themselves which is both its great strength and weakness. But amid the scads of information there are some really fantastic resources if one searches diligently and selects carefully.

Least impressive are those who tell me what they had for breakfast or how tired they are because they have been doing some noble task. Nor am I interested in those who toss me obvious trivialities in the name of wisdom, or those who like to drop names in an attempt to get more followers. One of the great things about Twitter is that people can do such things can express themselves however they want and I do not have to follow them - instead I can look elsewhere for information that stimulates and challenges. And thankfully there is plenty of that. Twitter brings the world to my desktop or my smart phone in real time. It has news stories, things of academic interest, updates and public opinion on an endless array of topics. Blogs are great - and I still enjoy writing this one and reading ones written by others - but they are not as immediate as Twitter and I often have to sort through a lot of superfluous material to get to things that really matter or make a difference in my life.

And that 140 character limit I mentioned earlier - well, it turns out to be a wonderful challenge when it comes to writing concisely. Like so many preachers, teachers and writers being concise is not always easy. In fact, I have observed that sometimes the less one has to say the longer it takes them to say it - me included! Twitter, on the other hand, forces me to think about what I want to say and then to do so as efficiently as possible. There is certainly nothing wrong with that, and who knows, maybe it will spill over into other areas of my life and make me use words more carefully and appropriately. So by all means, keep reading those blogs, but take a look at Twitter and you may find that you learn as much, or even more, in just a fraction of the time.

Thoughts of 'Spring'

2011-05-23T16:49:00.000-04:00

It's Victoria Day in Canada - the unofficial beginning of the summer season. After a long winter Canadians emerge and try to make the most of late spring, summer and fall, before winter overtakes us again. This spring has been particularly wet and overcast - or so it seems - not as a portent of the end of the world (this is after all May 23), but because that is the way it has been this year. To some it is a sign of climate change indicative of environmental damage, while others seem to think we can do whatever we want to the environment and it is none the worse for wear. Alas, such is life. But my mind is elsewhere this Victoria Day.

Today, I am thinking about those I encounter in my travels who attend church regularly only to be disappointed time and time again. Sadly, these sincere Christians often suffer in silence. And to make matters worse they often find that the church experience and especially the pulpit ministry do them more spiritual harm than good. Rather than leaving church encouraged and joyful, they are heavy hearted and often feel beaten up. This is not a new problem. It has appeared before in some of the most 'orthodox' places. When people begin to talk and to open up about their experiences it makes me realize that something needs to be done. Passivity only plays into the hands of those autocrats who are in the center of many of these difficulties. I have also come to see that this problem is not merely one of personalities. There are theological deficiencies that lead to the kinds of situations that make a mockery of the righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit that marks the kingdom of God (Romans 14:17).

As I have time I want to post some more thoughts on this theme... so, if you are interested... stay tuned.

Same World, Another Place

2011-05-20T11:33:00.000-04:00

Here is a very, very sad picture. It was taken by Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Kevin Carter, who committed suicide 3 months after the picture was taken. It shows a Sudanese child crawling towards a United Nations food camp while being stalked by a vulture who is just waiting for him/her to die. It is a powerful photographic reminder that there are many inequities in the world and there are tremendous needs that are not being addressed. I think it also puts life in perspective in our consumer driven culture that is obsessed with having the latest and greatest toys. Although we will "always have the poor with us" (John 12:8) this does not mean that we should not do what we can to alleviate their suffering and change the religious, social and political structures that perpetuate this kind of unacceptable situation.

Imagine...

2011-05-08T21:28:00.001-04:00

While I believe there are excellent reasons to encourage seminary graduates to go in and rebuild old churches there are times when it is necessary to plant new ones as well. Rebuilding older congregations is a lot of hard work and requires patience and exceptional leadership abilities because it involves understanding where people are at and knowing how to move them forward to where they need to be. But there are times when the needs of the present hour require a different course of action. Personally, I believe we live in such a time particularly in urban regions like the greater Toronto area, but I am convinced the same need exists elsewhere in Canada.

My reasons, however, for starting new works are not the usual ones. This is not about bringing a reformed American style evangelicalism to Canada. There is too much of that already and it only serves to divide churches and it frequently fails to understand the Canadian context. Nor is it about starting churches where leaders can do what they want because they are set up according to their tastes and prejudices with few checks and balances beyond the leaders themselves. Nor it is about catering to people who have confused Christianity with a whole array of 'convictions' that have nothing whatsoever to do with the heart of the faith. There are plenty of these to chose from already.

I am talking about the need to establish normal churches where normal people can come and worship and be challenged in their Christian faith and encouraged to make a difference in the real world in which they live. I am talking about places where the sermons are intellectually cogent and do not just reflect the views of a strange Christian subculture that is clearly misinformed or out of touch with the surrounding culture -- so out of touch in fact, that normal Christian people are uncomfortable bringing their friends and neighbors because of the strangeness going on around them. We need churches inhabited by people who live and work in the real world and who know what they are talking about when it comes to the Christian faith. We do not need caricatures of the Christian faith but a theologically and practically balanced Christianity that has something to say to everyone.

I do not think I am alone in longing for these things. If you see and feel what I do I would love to hear from you. The time has come to think outside the box and to recover a Christianity that is authentic, attractive and, for lack of a better term, balanced! We can to better! We must do better! I can imagine such a thing - can you?

The Most Influential 50 Books in the Last 50 Years

2011-04-28T12:31:00.001-04:00

The website SuperScholar has produced a list of the 50 most influential books in the last 50 or so years. It is an interesting list and it provides some valuable insights into our present culture and the intellectual ideas that have shaped it in the past and continue to shape it today. Those who are trying to speak to the culture in a meaningful way would do well to have a working knowledge of these works. Nothing is gained by just reading people we agree with or those who tout the same old party-line come what may.

Take a look and see how many of these books you have read and then make some time this summer to visit your local library and get up to speed on the world in which you live. I am not suggesting that this is all you read but it would not hurt to work through such a the list in between reading things that you would read without prompting from anyone else. Whether or not you agree with the list or the books it mentions is immaterial, it will not hurt to know what others are reading and thinking about life in our world today.

Incredible Pictures of Devastation

2011-04-27T12:44:00.001-04:00

A friend recently sent me this link to some incredible pictures that appeared in the Online Edition of the Daily Mail in the U.K. I am posting one of them here but there are more if you click on the link provided in this article. They show the devastating power of the earthquake and the tsunami that struck Japan last month. Even with these pictures it is impossible to fully appreciate the scale of the destruction and the troubles which lie ahead for the people of Japan because of the subsequent failure of the nuclear power plant and the release of radiation. These pictures remind us that we are still very small as human beings and that the best laid plans of men are easily overthrown. I hope that Japan can recover from this tragic series of events and that lessons will be learned by all of us.

Language Study

2011-04-25T23:27:00.001-04:00

One of the challenges of seminary is the study of biblical Greek and Hebrew. For most students this will be the most time consuming and difficult part of their studies. A few days ago I came across an interesting chart that ranked languages that are easiest and most difficult for English speakers to pick up. As it turns out, Greek and Hebrew are in the middle of the pack. So seminary students should take heart. If you are an English speaker just be thankful that the Bible was not written in Arabic, Chinese, Korean or Japanese! When all things are considered maybe biblical Greek and Hebrew are not that bad after all!

Something to think about...

2011-04-19T12:54:00.001-04:00

You only have power over people as long as you don't take everything away from them. But when you've robbed a man of everything, he's no longer in your power -- he's free again. -Alexander Solzhenitsyn, novelist, Nobel laureate (1918-2008)

Taken from Wordsmith.org

"From Himself" And Me

2011-04-17T11:00:00.022-04:00

When this is posted to Redeeming The Time I will be speaking at Newcastle Fellowship Baptist Church on the subject of the aseity of God. As I said on my Twitter post announcing the message (April 16), this is not your usual churchy stuff! By this I mean that it is not a message about politics or the Golden Rule or about living a happy little life, but about a little known characteristic of God. The word aseity comes from Latin and means from himself. It refers to the independence of God or to what is sometimes described as the self-existence or self-sufficiency of God. It reflects a strain of biblical teaching to the effect that God is complete within himself and does not need anything external to himself in order to exist or to be whole. This often comes as a shock today when many espouse a practical agnosticism which imagines that God is just a bigger version of themselves and therefore because we are needy, so is he. But this is not the view of the biblical writers.

In Acts 17:24-25, when the apostle Paul is speaking to a group of Athenian philosophers in the Areopagus, he begins his presentation with the assertion that, "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else." This was shocking in Paul's day and it continues to raise the eyebrows of thinking people in our own. One reason it elicits a reaction is that it raises questions about the place and value of created things including our own place and value as human beings. Simply put, if God does not need anything outside of himself why did he make us and how can we be said to have value and significance?

Many today are trying to find value and significance without evoking the divine. But this is not easy to do. Without the transcendent it is difficult to speak in meaningful ways about the uniqueness of human life. It is also difficult to explain the meaning of life in general and our own lives in particular. Questions like who are we, why are we here and what is life all about have always challenged those who think beyond the mundane activities of everyday life. Our time on earth is brief and there is no agreement as to what comes next. But there is a nagging sense inside those who have not snuffed it out that we were made for more than this life. If we are prepared to listen to the wisdom of the biblical writers we will find that they connect these great questions to God himself, but not just any God --- theirs is a God who is a se, or from himself.

Is Hell Dead?

2011-04-14T10:55:00.003-04:00

Here is a link to to a Time Magazine article by Jon Meacham on Rob Bell's latest book which is all the talk of the National Conference of the Gospel Coalition that is going on in Chicago. This gives some interesting background to Bell and his book, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. Long after the folks at the Gospel Coalition have had their say this book and the issues it raises will continue to be discussed. Unfortunately the Gospel Coalition largely speaks to itself and its band of loyal supporters while people like Rob Bell have the ear of a much wider audience. If we do not understand that Bell speaks for many, many people in our society and engage his position carefully we will miss out on a valuable opportunity to speak into our world today. Trashing him and his arguments, even if we do not agree with them, will only confirm the widely-held belief that evangelicals are insensitive and self-righteous. Truth never fears scrutiny and so we should not be afraid to patiently tackle any question, especially those that have such awesome, far-reaching consequences.

Libyan Lessons

2011-04-14T09:27:00.001-04:00

For some time now I have been following with interest the events in Libya as ruler Moammar Gadhafi tries to hang on to power. Rebel forces propped up by NATO are trying to oust Gadhafi and those loyal to him in what has become a protracted civil war. Depending on the success of the rebel uprising and the prospect of so-called regime change, Gadhafi and his family will try to cut a deal that will allow them to retain control over their wealth and find refuge in another country where they will not be held responsible for their actions while in control of Libya. If that takes place he will try to trade the end of military action and the establishment of peace under a new government for safe passage out of the country and immunity from prosecution. The real question, however, is whether such an exchange should be allowed.

A Gadhafi-free Libya seems inevitable. No dictator retains power forever. They merely impose their wills on the people until the frustration of the populace reaches a boiling point at which time they are swept from office. While they may enjoy the adulation of the adoring crowd for a time, history will refuse to give them the honor they crave and once people are free from the bully-factor everyone will wonder how such persons ruled for so long and why they were so feared. Regime change will come to Libya sooner or later. Gadhafi's time at the top will soon be over. Libya will have to rebuild and reorganize itself and hopefully with the help of other nations it will move forward and enjoy a time of peace and prosperity.

But that still does not solve the problem of what to do with the Gadhafi's of the world once they have been driven from office. Should they be allowed to live out their days in a faraway place enjoying their wealth? Or should they be brought to trial and required to answer the charges brought against them? These questions could also be asked of all political and business leaders who have managed to enrich themselves by abusing positions of power and influence. Sometimes these prosecutions are so messy and threaten to incriminate so many people that it is easier to send known offenders off into exile. But in the long run this kind of pragmatism solves little and leaves untouched a desire for justice that will continue to fester long after the offending person has been forgotten.

Peace versus justice. The issues surrounding them are often complex. But they are worth thinking about in a world like ours.

Down But Not Out

2011-03-31T10:22:00.002-04:00

As I mentioned in my last post the month of March has been an interesting one. Now in addition to all the other things that have happened there is a new report by the American Physical Society telling us that religion is heading for extinction in nine western societies including Canada. This conclusion is the result of a mathematical analysis of census data stretching back over the past 100 years. Besides Canada, the countries of Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland and Switzerland are all named in the report as places where religion is in serious decline. Reaction to the report has been predictable. Atheists rejoice and tend to see the predictions as vindicating their religious non-faith, many people are not sure what to make of the data, and still others recall that this is not the first time that the extinction of religion has been confidently predicted and yet it remains in a wide variety of forms to this day.

Without a doubt there is a rise in the number of people who are not practicing their faith in the traditional ways. And, there is a palpable disappointment in the failure of religion to engage our world and point us to solutions to long standing problems. From a Christian perspective there is significant slippage and disarray as well. Traditional denominational distinctives and loyalties have been pushed aside and new denominational-like structures clustered around Christian media personalities have rushed in to fill the void. But it has not taken long to realize that these personalities offer up a self-centered, dumbed-down version of the faith that is practically irrelevant in the world in which we live. This failure of leadership and intellectual engagement has turned many people off and left many Christian refugees, but, that does not mean they have forsaken the faith altogether.

People today are desperately looking for real community and for Bible teaching that speaks to the issues they face in the 21st century. Questions about the relationship between scripture and science, and the proper application of scripture to life over 2000 years after they were written and gathered together in the biblical canon must not be ignored or skirted. I continue to be amazed at the fervor with which some Christians debate relatively minor secondary issues, such as baptism, the Sabbath, the roles of men and women, and Bible versions (just to pick a few among a host of similar issues), that should have be resolved years ago if only the combatants would stop being so obtuse and face up to the biblical facts. No wonder so many who observe this kind of endlessly fanatic bickering have had enough and turn elsewhere for help. If we cannot reach a consensus on these kinds of issues after all this time how can we provide leadership in our world today. The truth is, we cannot.

In my opinion, religion and the questions it raises will never become extinct. Disenchantment must not be confused with the disappearance of religion altogether. And from a Christian perspective, the history of the church has always been one of ups and downs. This should not come as a surprise. There are times of blessing and times of decline. Times of revival and reformation and times when it looks as though all the lights have gone out. Our task is to be faithful to what God has made known to us in Jesus Christ and to follow that truth wherever it leads us no matter what the prevailing winds of fashion and opinion. But in so doing we must make sure that it is Christ we are following and not someone or some group who is misrepresenting him or using him to further their own ideological agendas.

If you would like to read more here are a couple of links to the report referenced above: CNN Blog and Sympatico Coffee Time.

The Sovereignty of God

2011-03-26T13:24:00.002-04:00

It has been quite a month on planet Earth. There have been earthquakes, tsunamis, nuclear problems, political unrest and revolution, new military intervention on the part of the UN, and now news this morning of a federal election here in Canada. Who says that life is dull? The truth is that for all the routine that marks our lives we never know what is right around the corner. No one really knows that this week will bring let alone the next.

This is one reason some Christians have found comfort in a strange sounding teaching known as the sovereignty of God. In certain Christian groups this kind of terminology is commonplace. And yet, as I travel around to different churches and speak with students at school it is apparent that there is confusion surrounding this concept.

The sovereignty of God captures the biblical teaching that God is ultimately in control of all things. It does not rule out human freedom or human responsibility but instead teaches that behind all secondary actors and actions is the action of God. There is a mysterious element and tension that cannot be explained with the information presently at our disposal. Acknowledging this is not a cop-out. If too much stress is laid on either side of the equation we must deny or alter significant amounts of biblical data.

The idea that God is ultimately in control is meant to comfort those who entrust themselves to him. The level of comfort depends on what we believe about the character of God and his plan for the universe. And while many things could be said about both God's character and his plan neither can be properly assessed without contemplating the cross of Christ which speaks eloquently about who God is and what he is doing in the world.

In a world like ours, the sovereignty of God is a strand of biblical teaching that we need to study and think about time and time again. Even though it is beyond our ability to grasp or explain completely it is still a rock on which to stand when everything around seems so unstable.

Seismic Shifts

2011-03-12T14:22:00.001-05:00

The disaster in Japan is truly heartbreaking. The enormous loss of life and property is beyond words. It is impossible to imagine what a massive earthquake must be like, not to mention a destructive tsunami like the one that followed the earthquake in Japan a few days ago. In the face of such devastation human beings seem so helpless and all the technological sophistication in the world seems inadequate. Mankind has come a long way and yet it still has such a long way to go. We have accomplished many wonderful things but we have not tamed the world around us nor have we found a way to return to the safety and peace of paradise.

One thing that did occur to me as I heard reports of world leaders pledging money and support for the people of Japan is how much has changed since the second world war. Nations that were once at war with one another are now working together to help each other and there is a real sense of solidarity and human connectedness. This is a good thing. It is encouraging to see that we can move on from conflict and work to help each other solve problems that we all face as human beings regardless of our different backgrounds. We need to remember that we have more in common than we do things that separate us.

And we need to remember what the apostle Paul said to a group of Athenian philosophers many years ago - "From one man he (God) made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'" (Acts 17:26-28)

Contemplating Omnipresence

2011-03-07T21:39:00.001-05:00

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, 'Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,'
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

Psalm 139:7-12

Bellwether

2011-03-04T10:19:00.004-05:00

The evangelical world is abuzz over the forthcoming release of Rob Bell's latest book, Love Wins: A Book about Heaven, Hell and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. I will have to read the book before commenting further on its content but the Facebook frenzy, the blog-wave of protest and the Twitter storm of comment both positive and negative is sadly amusing to say the least.

While a predictable cast of characters scramble to take stake out their positions and people on all sides are assured that their theological heroes will speak to the issue and reassure them of their beliefs, modern technology has enabled this to become more than it ought to be. I, for one, doubt that Bell is saying anything really new. From what I have seen thus far he raises some interesting, perplexing and even troubling issues that need to be discussed carefully, humbly and rationally if anything good is to come from this latest kerfuffle.

In the meantime the Facebook, blog and Twitter wars will continue and the rhetoric will no doubt grow in 'loving,' not to mention, 'righteous' intensity. Isn't nice to know that what is true will prevail in the end? Let's be quick to listen, slow to talk and slow to become angry, for as the biblical writer James reminds us, our anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires (James 1:19-20).

Hermeneutical Confusion

2011-03-03T21:51:00.001-05:00

Ah, the pseudo-theologians are at it again. The latest question brought to my attention has to do with collective bargaining and the Bible. Does the Bible condemn collective bargaining? Is it a form of theft? And on and on...

The problem is that the Bible is not a legal or political textbook and does not address the question. The Bible is full of principles that apply to every area of life but it does not give us a political agenda that is either right or left wing.

Why do well-meaning people keep making this basic mistake? One reason is that they want to ground their political ideas in something authoritative and in that way claim superiority for their positions. While understandable in the long run it only confuses the issue and short-circuits intelligent debate and conversation about the issues that we face in our world today.

If the Bible is not interpreted in a way that is consistent with its own teaching it is being abused even by those who think they are honoring it and taking its teaching seriously. Much more attention needs to be given to 'rightly dividing the word of truth.'

Worldometers

2011-02-17T19:00:00.001-05:00

Worldometers is a site that my youngest son brought to my attention. It contains statistics on things that are going on in the world in real time. There are stats about the population of the world, government and economics, society and media, the environment, food, water, energy, and health. It enables us to track the kind of changes that were the focus of the video in my previous post (February 14, 2011).

A website like this gives us some idea of how big the world is and how much is going on at any one time. In many ways it is almost impossible for us to fathom the kind of activity being captured by these statistics. But it gives us an appreciation of the complexity of human life and of the amount of knowledge that is available to us today.

Did You Know?

2011-02-14T08:47:00.002-05:00

A friend recently sent me this link to a very interesting video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY

Apparently the video was made a couple of years ago and so the information in it is already out of date.

Nevertheless, it is still fascinating and illustrates the incredible changes that are taking place all around us.

However, beyond the 'wow-factor' are bigger questions - what does it all mean for the inhabitants of planet earth and where are we headed as human beings?

Something to think about in the middle of February 2011.

Of "Reformation"... so-called.

2011-02-13T15:34:00.003-05:00

I have lived long enough to see some things go around for the second or third time. The 'things' I am referring to are overly zealous attempts to organize and re-organize congregations according to New Testament teaching. In the 70's there was an attempt in some Baptist circles to 'reform' church practice that had mixed results. At best there was a recovery of a more expository teaching ministry and a recognition of the role of elders and deacons in a local congregation, but beyond that there was a lot of legalistic nonsense about what constituted a proper worship service, the kind of music that was appropriate, and the right relationship between a local church and other local churches and denominational bodies. By in large this attempt at 'reformation' was divisive and self-righteous and it gave rise to an authoritarian leadership structure that proved disastrous when the elders did not have the ability or the common sense to know how to deal with the most basic human problems. Fortunately it petered out over time as people began to question the creative exegesis supporting the whole enterprise and the authority of those who thought they were called by God to tell everyone else what to do.

But, as often happens in history, generation after generation tend to make the same mistakes and we are in midst of such a phenomenon again! Once again there are those who are calling for the reformation of the church. Now while there is nothing wrong with this in and of itself, the specifics of their reformation are troubling from a variety of perspectives. For one, too much power is being concentrated in the hands of too few. Just because the Bible talks about elders in a church does not mean that they have absolute authority to govern the church with little practical regard for the thoughts and feelings of other church members. The biblical norms of leadership are sufficiently flexible to allow for give and take in these relationships. A leadership structure that does not have checks and balances built into it will stumble and fall. Too often those who are attracted to this kind of hierarchical structure are immature and insecure as persons and leaders. They do not want to lead people by example and the hard and patient work of persuasion and biblical argument but by simplicity of unquestioned fiat and the unquestionable authority attached to their office.

These 'reformers' who subscribe to all of the 'marks' that are currently all the rage - since such marks have received the imprimatur of the current band of ecclesiastical experts - think they are doing God's work in God's way. This sense of self-importance and divine mission makes them all the more dangerous because they are convinced they are right when most of them have never thought through the issues for themselves. The fact is that this current crop of enthusiasts is deeply discouraging to those in long established churches who have a wisdom that can only be gained through time and experience. Even those with a little real world experience understand that we need to build consensus and teach people the truth so that they gladly receive it rather than impose it on them from above. If we want strong churches where people are free to think for themselves guided by the scriptures we need to empower the people by teaching them the truth and encouraging them to put that truth into practice in all areas of life. We do not need to rule over them like tyrants nor shepherd them as if they are simpletons instead of people filled with the Holy Spirit.

A Word of Explanation

2011-01-31T10:40:00.000-05:00

Those who have been reading my blog these past years will know that I have tried to post things of interest at regular intervals. I want to continue to do so but at a much more modest pace due to some academic work that I am trying to complete as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding and patience. I will continue to post as I have the opportunity and when I have something that I think is worth saying. The world is certainly an interesting place with the possibility for many changes looming on the horizon. For me, time is of the essence.

Words About Words

2011-01-16T22:10:00.004-05:00

As I was walking in the cold and the darkness this evening and wrestling with a deep sense of emptiness I started listening to an audio version of the Charles Dickens classic, A Tale of Two Cities, which was published in 1859. I often listen to podcasts on many subjects while I drive or walk or just sit quietly but I was immediately struck by the beauty and majesty of his words. His grasp and use of the English language is superb and as a result I found myself drawn into the story from the opening sentence. My experience reminded me of the power of language. Words can wound or heal, they can break down or build up, they can discourage or inspire. There is something powerful about the spoken word especially when it is employed by a master who has a story to tell and something of value to share with others.

This is why I often like to listen to the Christian scriptures being read. It is one thing to read them for oneself but it is something different to listen to them being read and to focus attention on listening to what is being said. Ours is a very busy and noisy world full of information. But for all of the noise and all the activity, for all the words that bombard us each day, there is so little of lasting value. There is much talk but little actually being said. In a word full of sound bites and sidebars there is little that challenges the mind and the imagination. This is all the more reason to listen to those who have something to say - a reason to listen to what the scriptures say and to listen to others who have been given the ability to speak and write so as to open our minds to new possibilities.

Looking for Reality (Part Four)

2011-01-15T17:39:00.001-05:00

Still another problem is personal kingdom building or the franchising of the church. The church is not McDonald's or Tim Horton's which is to be franchised out in the name of advancing the gospel. Old style denominations like Anglican, Presbyterian, Baptist and Pentecostal have often been criticized but at least they represented core beliefs that people thought worth articulating and preserving. Today's independent churches or franchise operations that are centered around different personalities are a completely different animal. Too often they represent strong leaders and their followers who cannot get along with anyone else. Other times they represent those who are convinced that they are right and everyone else is wrong. Either way they are full of trouble.

There is nothing wrong with ambition if it is channeled in the right direction. But religious ambition or using religion as an outlet for personal ambition is downright dangerous. How many times have we seen those who could never succeed in any other field try to throw their weight around in churches. Their manipulative bullying would never be tolerated in areas of endeavor but they get away with it because they take advantage of emotionally weak and vulnerable people who are afraid to speak for themselves. Definitive leadership is a good thing, but the kind of people who surround themselves with those who are not perceived to be a threat to their leadership are weaklings.

The church is about a body of truth that has been entrusted to it. It is supposed to be a community of redeemed people working and worshiping together under the leadership of the Lord Jesus as it is mediated through the scriptures and leaders who understand that the true church is marked by catholicity of spirit as well as apostolic doctrine. The endless dividing and subdividing that is too often evident in countries, provinces and even cities and towns is a sad testimony to the failure of people to talk to one another and to build meaningful relationships across party lines. We do not need more denominations or more personality cults. We need to strive for a real unity based on a common commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. For this to become a reality there is much work to do.

Looking for Reality (Part Three)

2011-01-10T18:29:00.001-05:00

One of the problems we face in churches today is that we are merely talking to ourselves. I don't think most regular church attenders have any idea how much they have adopted the vocabulary and norms of their particular group. To some extent this is a common human experience since we human beings like to find ways of distinguishing ourselves from everyone else. But if we have a message that is truly universal then it is important to at least try to understand those around us and to speak to them in a way that they can understand. If we are speaking in a 'foreign religious language' then we should try to interpret our words to those who are listening.

One of the benefits of really thinking through what we are saying is that we come to understand it ourselves. Another benefit is that it gives us a chance to really reflect on what we believe - or think we do - in light of scripture. Some positions only make sense within the confines of a group that is constantly reinforcing their truthfulness. Once these same positions are examined from a more objective point of view they are seen to be full of holes and logical contradictions. If we are going to make an impact in our day as Christians we need to know what we are saying as well as how it is being heard by those around us. What we think we are saying may not be coming across as clearly as think.

When all is said and done there are many mysteries that we do not understand. We need to be honest enough to admit that. There are also many questions that have not been answered and while it is fine to have opinions about such matters, opinions and verifiable answers are two different things. Leaders need to encourage their people to think. But this assumes that the leaders are thinking from themselves and not just parroting Pastor So-in-So from Whatchamacallit Coalition. Such people always have an opinion about everything but closer scrutiny often reveals that many of them are half-baked with only a veneer of superficial wisdom that leaves those who are looking from something more substantial and useful scratching their heads.

To be continued...

Looking for Reality (Part Two)

2011-01-01T13:44:00.002-05:00

The world is full of things that are a testimony to God's artistic majesty. A survey of our surroundings reveals that he delights in a variety of shapes and colors, textures and smells, sights and sounds. If this is the way it is with nature generally it is somewhat surprising that things should be so monochrome when it comes to the church. And yet, some who make the most noise about how church should be done are the most rigid and inflexible, and if the truth were told, boring when it comes to providing an interesting context in which to worship God. This rigidity is one reason for the tremendous restlessness that exists today. People move around from church to church looking for something authentic that does not involve stepping out of their 'normal' world into an artificial 'religious' world where uniformity and submission to colorless leaders hold sway who could not influence anyone in the real world to follow them.

Just think of the parochial debates that take up so much time in some circles. We have theonomist types who 'rediscover' some version of 'theonomy' again - a rediscovery that occurs in every generation only to be abandoned once the implications of this position are really understood. It is easy to spot with its self-righteous denunciation of what its proponents like to call 'pietistic' Christianity. Initially it all sounds so good and it appeals to the those who want to see Christianity make a difference in their lives, but unfortunately, in spite of its promises, it cannot deliver anything that is consistent with the biblical ethic when the Bible is read Christocentrically and interpreted as a whole from beginning to end.

Then there are those who try to turn the Christian scriptures into a counseling textbook as if the Bible were a manual that answers all of our questions about marriage and child-rearing and family life. In terms of principles there are all kinds of things in the Bible that will help us navigate these areas of life, but there is not the kind of educational or relationship uniformity that makes many congregations feel like a cult to those who do not buy into their assumptions.

To be continued... reality calls...

Looking for Reality (Part One)

2010-12-29T11:26:00.003-05:00

Another year is quickly coming to a close and I am feeling unsettled as I reflect on what is going on around me. Lurking in my mind are thoughts about what Jesus intended when he founded the church and what exists now as the church in the world. I cannot help think about these things even though there are many who are confident that they know what church should be like - they know and if you ask them they will tell you in great detail. Yet for all their incredible self-assurance I remain skeptical and those who are the most self-assured trouble me the most because they seem the most blind to themselves and the situation around them.

If Jesus were to return to the earth today and do a tour of the churches what would he say? In many ways we already have the answer to that question in Revelation 2 and 3. In those chapters we are told about 7 churches that existed in the 1st century that are representative of churches that will exist until the end of the gospel age. Some of the churches were doing very well, others were not. Some were moving forward, others were threatened with extinction. Some were fulfilling their calling in the world, others were smug and self-satisfied. In one way or other all churches that now exist are pictured in their ancient prototypes and we would do well to work out the implications of this presentation.

If Jesus wanted all churches to look alike, they would. Here we are, twenty-one centuries after the founding of the church, and anyone can see that there is tremendous diversity. Some of the diversity is inevitably due to disobedience. If there is one thing that the Bible makes clear it is the fact that we live in a world that is not what God originally made it to be. Humanity, in particular, is fallen, which is a theological way of saying that it is not true to God's original intention and that it must be redeemed if it is to be once again right with God. But beyond diversity caused by disobedience - which is true of all of us to some degree - there is a diversity that is a reflection of God's artistic majesty...

To be continued... beyond blogs, Facebook, Twitter... etc... there is real life that must be lived. The digital, electronic world is great but it is a cheap substitute for real life interaction... so until next time do something bold and courageous... talk to someone face-to-face in real time, someone who does not share all your precious 'shibboleths' and who might even think you are a little weird for some of the strange and wonderful things you believe. Who knows... you might do them good, but more than that, they might do you good.

The Christmas Gospel

2010-12-25T09:20:00.000-05:00

Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:

He appeared in the flesh,
   was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
   was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
   was taken up in glory.

1 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)

Have a wonderful Christmas!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T10:06:00.006-05:00

I want to wish all those who read my blog a Merry Christmas. I am thankful for the interest that many of you have shown in the issues discussed and for the willingness of many of you to think with me outside the box. In the spirit of the season here is something you might want to check out.

If you have an iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, Android, or Symbian Series 60 smartphone you might want to check out Olive Tree Bible Software and in particular the latest release of the New International Version Bible (2010) which is called the NIV Plus on the Olive Tree site. This new version is available electronically for Christmas although you will have to wait for March for printed versions.

You can also check it out at BibleGateway.com where it can be selected from a number of English Bible translations. From what I have seen thus far this new version looks excellent and continues the fine tradition of the NIV and TNIV. This new version provides a wonderful alternative to some of the English versions out there that are not as readable as they could be no matter how much they are hyped by high profile members of the evangelical establishment. Do yourself a favor and don't believe the hype! Read this new version for yourself and you will see what I mean. All the best, not only at Christmas but every day of the year.

The More Things Change

2010-12-20T13:22:00.001-05:00

"The more things change, the more they remain the same" is a popular saying that grapples with the superficiality of change. I have been thinking about that lately as I reflect on the evangelical church world around me. Superficially there have been lots of changes down through the years. Today it is popular to talk about the sovereignty of God whereas 30 or 35 years ago such language was not a large part of popular evangelical vocabulary. "Arminian" type preaching was common back then whereas today it is much harder to find even if one is trying to find it. More Calvinist or Reformed type preaching and teaching has slowly become more accepted wherever the Bible is taken seriously as divine revelation. Not surprisingly a whole new set of leaders have arisen that are different from those before them, or are they?

This is where the word "superficial" seems apropos because I am not convinced that these leaders are much different than those who have gone before them. They like to think they are different but all too often they have merely substituted one set of doctrines for another. They pay lip service to the sovereignty of God and having done so they get on with business as usual in program driven, entertainment oriented, culturally naive churches. In terms of thinking deeply about the biblical message and applying it to the world in which we live there is precious little progress and as a result they cannot hold those who are more educated than themselves or who are looking for a reality that transcends the current offerings. More is need than just more of the same with a slightly different doctrinal configuration. We need to pursue truth and genuine community while seeking to make a difference in our world. In this regard, we have only begun.

The Current Malaise

2010-12-10T12:25:00.001-05:00

Recommending a church to someone who asks is not as easy as it used to be. This is not because there is a shortage of churches out there, or a lack of variety. There is one to suit almost every niche and sensibility. There is everything from the very traditional, to the hip and with-it, and everything in between. We have churches run by benevolent dictators and some that are not so benevolent! We have churches check off all the boxes which they believe are mandated in the New Testament. We have churches with fancy facilities and those with none. And yet, there is a palpable malaise, a restlessness, a sense that the much vaunted differences are superficial and something is missing.

This something is more than music or small groups or more intrusive types of shepherding. It is more than carefully choreographed sermons and very predictable responses to the same old questions. This something is genuine life and vitality and a vibrant Christianity that engages the surrounding culture in meaningful ways. Too often churches have been become refuges for social misfits and paranoid type personalities who are convinced that everything is a plot of some dark force somewhere. They have become very strange social subcultures that lack the depth of vision found in the scriptures which speak of a savior whose people come from all the nations and whose redemption touches those around them in tangible and helpful ways.

We do not need to encourage any more strangeness in order to set ourselves apart from those around us. We need people who are living, working and going to school in the real world and those who are attempting to bring the grace of the gospel to real people. If we do not wake up and realize this our numbers and influence will continue to shrink. If we fulfill the commission of Jesus to make disciples by bringing them to God by accurately and winsomely teaching them to observe all that he, as the great mediator between God and humanity has commanded, then, there is much that can and will be accomplished.

Finding Our Way In The World

2010-12-06T19:54:00.001-05:00

Last night on the CBC show the Passionate Eye, I watched a program on the tsunami that devastated Indonesia on Boxing Day 2004. The damage to property and the tragic loss of human life was horrible to see. Although the video footage did not begin to adequately convey all that the people went through on that occasion, it was difficult to watch so many people of all ages caught off-guard and swept away never to be seen alive again. For me it was another reminder that the world can be a very dangerous place. For most of us that is not normally the case, or if it is, we are unaware of it. But every now and then, there are reminders like this tsunami that we are foolish to take the gift of life for granted because we never know what a day will bring.

At Christmas, Christians celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ into the world. According to the Bible he is the fulfillment of prophetic expectation and he has come on a mission of mercy. He has come to redeem those who are held in captivity, to forgive those who have gone astray, to renew those who are lifeless, to transform those who are not living up to their divine calling as divine image bearers. In a world like ours these are real blessings. They are things for which we should all be thankful. And they impose on us an obligation to live for God's glory which means we are live out the reason for which we were created in the first place and to do so as those who have been set free by the payment of a great price. This Christmas we should strive to make a difference in our world. We are not put here just to think and celebrate but to do something to make this world a better place.

Going Forward

2010-11-24T23:45:00.000-05:00

Life has been busy and I have not had a lot of time to work on this blog but I hope to post more material in the days and weeks ahead. There has been so much going on at the school here in Toronto and many discussions about the church situation in the GTA and beyond. The evangelical world is never dull but often seems to lack direction. There are many areas that seem to be without viable works with solid expository ministries. As usual, the need is greater than the number of available workers. But if there is one thing we learn from the scriptures is that it is often darkest before the dawn. The Bible assures us that the Lord is in control of all things and in the end he will keep his promises and do all that he has determined so it is wise to reserve judgment until all the facts are known. Until then, we press on by faith.

The Importance of Theological Education (Part 6)

2010-11-11T15:00:00.000-05:00

Continued from my last post...

In my own experience I did not realize how much information I had stored away over the years, information that became more and more valuable as time went on and I was confronted with the responsibilities and challenges of pastoral ministry in one location over an extended period. The lessons I learned in school were a large part of that reservoir of knowledge that I continue to draw on to this day. In my role as principal of Toronto Baptist Seminary I am committed to doing all that I can to prepare a future generation of Christian leaders and workers by helping them “dig their wells deep” so they can draw on them throughout their ministries. If you believe in what we are doing please support our efforts in prayer and financially as you are able. This is not a day for ministerial amateurs or hobbyists but for those who are properly trained in the scriptures as those who know the power of God in their lives. The theological education provided by biblically-based seminaries is not the total answer but it is an important piece of the puzzle that must be in place to insure the long term usefulness of Christian workers.

This brings to a close this series of posts on the importance of theological eduction. From here I will turn my attention to other matters in the days ahead.

The Importance of Theological Education (Part 5)

2010-11-10T17:30:00.001-05:00

Continued from my previous post...

The third advantage of theological education is richness of theological conception and expression. How many times are congregations subjected to the same basic message preached from a variety of texts? The message may be a good one but there is an inability on the part of the preacher to bring out the unique nuances of the text he is expounding and so the end result is a bland uniformity in which every message sounds the same or ends up in the same place no matter what the starting point. A related problem is lack of growth in understanding how the Bible is put together and a failure to appreciate the relationship between the Old and New Testaments and how all of the scriptures find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Most preachers understand that they need to “get to Christ” no matter where they are preaching in the Bible. But not all realize that there is a legitimate and an illegitimate way to get to Christ. Passages cannot be allegorized to suit our exegetical predilections. There must be contextual justification for our interpretations no matter how clever they may be in our own eyes or in the view of our supporters. The same is true when it comes to the application of a biblical passage to our lives. The Bible should not be used as a springboard to justify our latest church endeavour or building program. Instead we must exercise great care so that we understand the scriptures in their original context before we apply them to our own circumstances.

Richness of theological conception and expression grows out of a personal walk with God that is informed by a careful reading and study of the scriptures. It will not happen by accident and the passage of time does not guarantee that it will characterize a person’s ministry. We must be aware of our own setting and then reflect on our lives in light of scriptures interpreted as a whole. This is not easy and theological education provides exposure to the tools needed to mature in our understanding over many years of ministry. Not only should those we minister to grow in their love and passion for the Lord, but as time goes on our own growth and development should be evident to those who hear us. The process that brings this about is a combination of life experiences and a growing appreciation of God’s word that deepens the more we study and live our lives in light of it.

To be continued...

The Importance of Theological Education (Part 4)

2010-11-09T12:01:00.000-05:00

Continued from my last post...

The second advantage of theological education is the maintenance of orthodoxy. Critics and sceptics will immediately point an accusing finger at seminaries as places where people lose their faith or where Christian orthodoxy is questioned. Sadly this has sometimes been the case, but it need not be nor is it an inevitable by-product of theological education. Where a theological institution is biblically sound and its professors are held to a definite statement of faith, it can be a powerful force for good in the lives of its students and the constituency of churches that it serves. Pastors are busy people and they do not always have the time or the resources to contend with the latest distortions of the faith that sooner or later threaten to find their way into the lives of their people. It is also easy for preachers to get off on a tangent or to ride their favourite theological hobbyhorse to the detriment of their regular hearers. Those who are young and inexperienced, as well as those who have many years of experience, can be influenced by books they read, or famous preachers they listen to, or they may even become so enamoured with their own interpretative abilities that they begin to inadvertently hold and teach idiosyncratic views of the Christian life and doctrine that threaten the life and health of the church.

In many congregations there is a level of trust and respect that is rightly afforded “the pastor” that makes it difficult to challenge or refine his views even if some suspect a problem or find that his teaching does not ring true. One way to avoid these problems is what is known in the academic world as “peer review.” This is what happens when students must articulate and defend their positions in an academic context. Then it is not enough to say “this is what I think” or to hide behind the privileged authority of the ministerial office – in this context assertions must be proved in light of the scriptures and the history of Christian interpretation which has been entrusted to the whole church and not just a one pastor or elders board. The maintenance of orthodoxy requires vigilance and an overall grasp of the truth that must be re-examined constantly in the presence of many witnesses. A properly functioning seminary can provide such a context in a world in which so much information, both good and bad, is readily available to the people who frequent church at the click of a computer mouse or television remote.

To be continued next time...

The Importance of Theological Education (Part 3)

2010-11-08T18:00:00.002-05:00

Continued from my previous post...

There are three particular advantages to “digging the wells deep” when it comes to theological education and training that I want to highlight in this article. The first is ministerial longevity. During my 19 years of ministry at Sovereign Grace Community Church in Sarnia I preached approximately 1,900 sermons, not to mention weekly Bibles Studies in connection with prayer meetings or men’s meetings or other gatherings of the church. There is no way that I could have preached all of those messages if I had not dug my wells deep and learned the skills necessary to continue to feed myself and the people I was called to serve. The sheer amount of work involved in preparing new messages week after week is lost on those who have never done so. I suspect that one reason why many churches have abandoned Sunday evening services or if they still continue to have them they have turned them into discussions or ‘family time’ is because it is too difficult for pastors to prepare two new messages a week that will nourish the people of God as indicated by the attendance, or lack of it, at such services. And this may also explain the growing phenomena among relatively small churches with a membership of 200 or less, who move to a multiple staff model of ministry which decreases teaching workload on the ‘senior’ pastor by either allowing him to specialize or to share the burden with others. Ministerial longevity that is more than an endurance test for longsuffering congregations, or that results in the minister staying while the congregation is recycled, requires training and the discipline that comes from being required to read and write extensively in a wide variety of areas.

To be continued...

The Importance of Theological Education (Part 2)

2010-11-06T18:00:00.002-04:00

Continued from the previous post...

Unfortunately not everyone believes that today. From time to time evangelicalism falls prey to a spiritual sounding anti-intellectualism that suggests that formal theological study is unnecessary for pastoral ministry. Advocates of this viewpoint portray the seminary as an arid, academic environment that is removed from the practicality of real life and ministry, and as such, does not provide the best atmosphere for the training and development of pastors and Christian workers. Without glossing over the well-documented weaknesses of seminaries I am not at all convinced of the superiority of the alternatives. While there are notable examples of men who exercised powerful ministries without formal theological training – John Bunyan, Charles Haddon Spurgeon and Martyn Lloyd-Jones immediately come to mind – these exceptions prove the rule that a formal theological education is desirable and necessary in the vast majority of cases. While ministry has never been easy there are peculiar challenges today that call for rigorous training, clear thinking, and the ability to express oneself theologically over the course of a lifetime.

It is my contention that properly trained professors with significant pastoral experience can prepare students for ministry in a way that others cannot. In this regard two things must be kept in mind: 1) the seminary and its instructors are not a substitute for strong local churches. In fact, seminaries are only as strong as the churches they serve, and they depend on churches to send them those God has called and gifted to serve. We cannot work miracles, nor make up for the deficiencies of local churches, nor turn those with meagre gifts into great champions of the faith. 2) Seminaries are specialist ministries that make it possible for skilled teachers to focus their attention on the study of the Bible, theology, the biblical languages, church history, hermeneutics, homiletics, spirituality, apologetics, missions, counselling and many other things.

Few pastors and local churches can provide the level of instruction and expertise that seminary professors can provide if those local church pastors are doing what God has called them to do in their individual settings. Seminaries can also provide a breadth of practical experience and theological vision that transcends the more narrow vision of individual congregations who serve in a particular locale in a way that meets the needs of specific congregations. Furthermore, the influence of a dominant personality or a particular way of doing ministry is mitigated by the variety of biblical perspectives that is represented in a larger academic community of Christian scholars and practitioners.

To be continued...

The Importance of Theological Education (Part 1)

2010-11-05T13:00:00.005-04:00

Over the next while I will be posting an article which appears in the October 2010 Gospel Witness magazine on The Importance of Theological Education. I hope that the readers of my blog will find it informative and helpful.

Before I became the principal of Toronto Baptist Seminary I spent 24 years in pastoral ministry. My ministry experience gave me an appreciation for theological education that I did not have when I started out as a pastor many years ago. As a child I was raised in a Christian home with parents who took me to church and sought to instruct me in the things of God, including Christian theology. I also spent my formative years in churches where I received instruction in Sunday School, youth groups, and from the pulpit. My decision to attend Bible College was a last minute one as I was originally contemplating a career in law. But I enjoyed my studies so much that I decided to pursue full-time ministry. At Bible College I had many fine instructors who took me further into the scriptures and instilled in me a love for biblical studies and systematic theology which continues to this day. Yet with all of these influences, I did not fully appreciate the value of theological education until I spent a number of years in pastoral ministry.

When I was a teen, one of my youth sponsors told me to, “Dig your wells deep because you will draw on them for many years to come.” At the time I thought it was an odd thing to say because I knew that I would continue to study the Bible and Christian theology after I left school and therefore I did not think that my formal education was all that significant. But there have been many times since when I reflected on the wisdom of his counsel. There is something about formal education that shapes and moulds the life the way self-study cannot. Ongoing study is part of the minister’s life – as it is the Christian life in general – but the intellectual rigor of attending lectures, completing reading assignments, writing research papers and taking exams sharpens the thinking and gives the student the skills necessary for a lifetime of study long after they have left the classroom behind.

To be continued...

The Problem of Divisiveness (Part 7)

2010-11-04T07:50:00.002-04:00

Continued from my last post...

The problem of divisiveness and the deliberate action that must be taken when it manifests itself requires us to search our own minds and hearts. It is all too easy to pick a fight or to squabble and argue and debate for no good reason. All of us need to ask God to continue to teach and lead us into his truth. We must be humble enough to acknowledge that there is much we do not know and that we are not the only ones among whom God is working. Unity in the truth of the gospel is precious and it is not easy to achieve or to maintain. But it is worth striving for because it brings glory to God by revealing the power and beauty of the gospel to ourselves as God’s people and to the watching world around us. And in addition, a deep desire for unity on our part shows that by God’s sovereign grace we are embraced in the intercessory prayer of the great high priest and the only saviour of sinners who prayed:

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one – I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:20-23).

May God give us the wisdom to know what is essential and what is not, and may we do everything in our power to unite the church in the truth of the gospel. It is easy to destroy relationships, dismantle churches and tear apart organizations but it is more difficult and much more satisfying to work for unity and to build others up in the Christian faith. This is what is required of us while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. And far more than a requirement, it is our joy to devote ourselves to doing what is good because we have come to know the renewing power of God.

This concludes this series of posts on Titus 3:9-11.

The Problem of Divisiveness (Part 6)

2010-11-03T10:30:00.000-04:00

Continued from my last post...

Any remaining doubt about the seriousness of divisiveness, or lingering concern that removal from the church is too harsh a penalty, should be silenced by Paul’s reasoning in Titus 3:11. There he writes: “You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.” In other words, divisive people, no matter how much they may profess to love the Lord and his cause, have evil, unbelieving hearts and they do not know the Lord. Defiant divisiveness is not just a personality quirk. It is a sign of an unregenerate heart. This way of reasoning from a person’s conduct to the state of their heart is part of a larger strand of biblical teaching in which our conduct reveals who we really are. So for instance, “Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7), and “forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). In these cases mercy and forgiveness are not things we earn by our being merciful or forgiving, rather we extend mercy and forgiveness to others because these graces have already been extended to us by God in Christ. Our willingness to be merciful and forgiving is evidence that we know the Lord and are being renewed by him. Conversely, here in Titus 3:11, divisive persons who will not cease and desist reveals that they are strangers to God’s saving grace that makes all his people eager to do what is good. This is a matter of life and death. Action must be taken not only for the good of the church but for the sake of the offender in the hope that “God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:25).

To be continued...

The Problem of Divisiveness (Part 5)

2010-11-03T07:24:00.000-04:00

Continued from my last post...

Where and when divisive people are encountered every effort should be made to lovingly correct them. It is significant that they are not ignored. Too often the only sins that receive disciplinary attention in the church are sexual ones. As grievous as such sins are they should not be the only ones that draw the attention of the church. In Titus 3:10 Paul says that divisive people should be warned once, and then if they continue in their divisive ways, warned a second time, and then after that, the church is to have nothing to do with them. His instructions mirror the pattern established by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-17 when it comes to dealing with those who sin against us, and it is safe to assume that the same desire to recover the offender seen in the words of Jesus carries over into this situation as well. The tendency is to give up on divisive people too quickly. They can be offensive and hurtful to others and once a saturation point is reached, and those around them have had enough, they are quickly discarded. But Paul will have none of this. Every effort is made to maintain the unity of the body. Patience and wisdom are required. If possible we want them to turn from their divisive ways and become the “peacemakers” that Jesus speaks about in the beatitudes (Matthew 5:9).

If there is repentance, then no further action is necessary, but if not, they must be removed from the church. There is some debate among commentators as to the meaning of “have nothing to do with them.” Some believe Paul is talking about “shunning” and others about “excommunication.” Given the parallel with Matthew 18:15-17 I think Paul is commanding the latter. Divisiveness is a serious sin and those who will not repent after two warnings must be removed from church membership. This does not mean that we should no longer pray for them or interact with them on any level, but it means that they are no longer considered part of the church.

To be continued...

The Problem of Divisiveness (Part 4)

2010-10-29T13:29:00.000-04:00

Continued from my previous post...

It is worth noting Paul’s description of foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments and quarrels as “unprofitable and useless.” They are a waste of time because only the gospel of Jesus Christ can save and sanctify human beings. The gospel is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile (Romans 1:16). When Jesus prayed for his people in John 17:17 he prayed that the Father would sanctify them by the truth, which he then specified as the truth which is centered in him. When we get distracted by other “truths” we traffic in the realm of the “unprofitable and useless.” This does not mean that we cannot have opinions about things that are not clearly revealed in scripture – it simply means that we must know what is scripture and what is not, what is speculation and what is bedrock truth, what is personal preference and what is essential and non-negotiable. Today we need to bring Christians together in a shared understanding of larger portions of scripture and not drive them apart with idiosyncratic interpretations, or the status quo maintenance of default theological positions that need to be re-examined and adjusted in light of God’s word.

To be continued...

The Problem of Divisiveness (Part 3)

2010-10-24T08:44:00.002-04:00

Continued from the previous post...

Today’s silliness would include, but is not restricted to, highly speculative theorizing about the timing of Christ’s return based on minimal biblical evidence. Or attempts to reinterpret the nature of Christ’s second coming and the resurrection of his people based on the notion that these events have already taken place when Jesus came by means of the Roman armies in judgment on Jerusalem in 70 AD. Also troubling are well-intentioned but often misguided attempts of various Christian preachers and teachers and publishing houses to exalt one version of the English Bible above all others as that which brings us closest to the original text. And beyond the Bible wars I would be remiss if I did not mention the so-called “worship wars” that have divided congregations and spoiled the worship experience. Another controversy that fits into the category of the unprofitable and useless is the ecclesiastical extremism which so emphasizes the autonomy of the local church that cooperation between churches for the purposes of theological education, missions or outreach is deemed unbiblical. And then there are the naive fans of various high profile ministries who try to implement the ministerial theories, models and organizational patterns of their heroes without regard for broader biblical principles and the specific cultural context in which they are living and serving.

Some of the things that divide Christians are just plain unbiblical and should be rejected immediately and it is tragic when these are allowed to fragment the body of Christ. But more often than not we get hung up on matters of emphasis, or in areas of Christian freedom where there is no definitive biblical legislation now that the new age of the Spirit has come. When personal or pragmatic viewpoints in these areas are made tests of faith, fellowship and orthodoxy, or where they are vociferously pursued with a loyalty that should only be reserved for the gospel, nothing but trouble ensues. Fellowships are fractured, churches lose their focus, pride rears its ugly head, and the real work of the gospel is left undone. Perhaps most tragic of all is the fact that when these issues are turned into causes they can keep people busy and give them something to do and talk about, but unfortunately, they are not busy with what should be occupying their time and energy, and inspiring their imaginations.

To be continued next time... stay tuned for more common sense, which as someone has said, is very uncommon!

The Problem of Divisiveness (Part 2)

2010-10-19T05:47:00.004-04:00

Continued from yesterday's post...

It is important to keep in mind all that precedes Titus 3:9-11 regarding divisive people. These words do not suddenly appear without a context. Paul is working out the demands of the gospel. He is concerned that the churches who bear Christ’s name honor and glorify him. Divisiveness is antithetical to the gospel. It takes away from the gospel message. Beyond the harm done to the feelings of others, it is the reputation of our God and Savior Jesus Christ that is uppermost in Paul’s mind and this accounts for his pointed instructions in these verses. In other words, Paul links his instructions in 3:9-11 to the gospel, and this makes them become far more critical than we might think if our thinking is simply based on how divisiveness is handled in the church where it is often tolerated and excused instead of corrected.

When Paul writes about “foolish controversies” he is not suggesting that all controversies are frivolous. Sometimes we are called to stand and defend the truth. The Bible never advocates peace at all costs. There are certain fundamental gospel truths such as the triune nature of God, the inspiration of the scriptures, the deity of Jesus Christ, the substitutionary nature of his atonement on the cross, the reality of his physical resurrection from the dead, his ascension into heaven and his return at the end of the age, that we must contend for even though divisions may result. But that is not what Paul is talking about here. He is writing about “foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law because these are unprofitable and useless.” In Paul’s first century context the kind of debates and teaching he has in mind would involve attempts to force Christians to live as Jews under the tutelage of the Mosaic law covenant. Or they would involve making major issues out of minor, obscure genealogical details that could not be substantiated – details that would lead people away from the foundational teaching of the apostles. While today’s issues are not exactly the same there is still lots of foolish controversy around just as there was in the first century.

To be continued... in the next post we will mention some current examples of "foolish controversies..."

The Problem of Divisiveness (Part 1)

2010-10-18T11:00:00.001-04:00

Over the next while I am going to sharing an article on Titus 3:9-11 that I originally published in the Gospel Witness magazine earlier this year. I hope it is helpful and contributes to a better understanding of this passage of scripture. KMW

The Problem of Divisiveness – Titus 3:9-11

There are many wonderful themes in Paul’s letter to Titus so why choose to write on the problem of divisiveness? I have chosen this theme because it is a practical problem that all churches must deal with sooner or later and therefore one that we need to consider. In the ideal sense Christian churches are assemblies of God’s people where the grace, mercy and peace of the gospel are experienced and lived out in the lives of the members. But this side of the new heavens and earth the experience is never all that it should be and many times it is shattered and torn apart by the kind of people Paul describes in Titus 3:10 as “divisive” (TNIV), or those who “stir up division” (ESV). It is not only the prevalence of divisiveness that makes discussion necessary but other serious issues swirl around it – issues that have to do with the gospel itself, and the specific, decisive action that needs to be taken by the church whenever it comes face to face with the spiritual darkness of the divisive heart.

In Titus 3:9-11 Paul begins by warning Titus, as a leader in the church, to “avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.” Paul’s warning comes at the end of a relatively short letter in which he has given Titus instructions about a number of important things. For instance, Paul has described what church elders should look like (1:5-9), he has counselled Titus about rebellious people full of meaningless talk and deception who must be silenced (1:10-16), and he has given age and gender specific instructions to older and younger men and older and younger women (2:1-8). And, in addition, he has told Christian slaves how to conduct themselves so as to make the teaching about God our Savior attractive (2:9-10).

Paul then anchors his instructions in the saving grace of God that has appeared and that teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ (2:11-13). The gospel is not merely some sort of “hell insurance,” it changes people’s lives because Jesus did not come to merely bring forgiveness but to deliver us from our sins and to remake us into his image (2:14). This fundamental theological assertion also becomes the basis for his exhortations in the last section of his letter. In light of these things Titus is to teach and to encourage and to rebuke with all authority and not let anyone despise him (2:15). God’s new covenant people must not live as they once did before they knew the grace of God. They have experienced the washing of rebirth and they have been renewed by the Holy Spirit who has been generously poured out on them through Jesus Christ their Savior (3:1-7). God’s work of grace, in fulfillment of what was promised in the Old Testament, makes a difference in the lives of his people and therefore they have no other option but to devote themselves to doing what is good (3:8).

To be continued...

Conference Review

2010-09-28T13:01:00.005-04:00

This past Friday and Saturday, TBS and Jarvis Street Baptist Church hosted the Toronto Baptist Conference which was followed by convocation on Sunday evening. The theme of this year's conference was "Spirituality" and we looked at the subject from a variety of perspectives. Dr. Stephen Wellum from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary began with a look at the biblical and theological foundations of spirituality. This was followed by historian Dr. Michael Haykin's address on new age spirituality. I looked at the impact of technology on spirituality and Dr. Glendon Thompson led us to think about spirituality in the life of a Christian. And in the last session, Tony Costa, a popular local apologist, helped us understand the appeal and essence of Islamic spirituality. All in all I thought the presentations complimented one another and fit together very well. The subject of spirituality is a vast one and one that is getting lots of attention today. Human beings are spiritual creatures and in spite of the influence of modernism continue to look for meaning beyond themselves. As Christians we believe that meaning is ultimately found in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and we tried to articulate that in the various sessions at the conference. At convocation Dr. Stephen Wellum brought a clear and timely challenge based on Colossians 2:6-15. We also had 8 students graduate and many friends and family members present to celebrate their accomplishments. Convocation is now past and the current semester is well underway and it is time to turn our attention to the task at hand. Thanks again to everyone who participated in the conference and in convocation this past weekend.

Conference Schedule

2010-09-20T12:07:00.001-04:00

This week the Toronto Baptist Conference will take place at Jarvis Street Baptist Church and Toronto Baptist Seminary in conjunction with our convocation exercises. The schedule for the conference and convocation is as follows.

Friday September 24, 2010

Biblical Spirituality Part 1 by Stephen J. Wellum 4:00-5:30 PM

New Age Spirituality by Michael A. G. Haykin 7:30-9:00 PM

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Technology and Spirituality by Kirk M. Wellum 9:00-10:15 AM

Biblical Spirituality Part 2 by Glendon G. Thompson 10:45-12:00 Noon

Islamic Spirituality by Tony M. Costa 1:15-2:30 PM

Everyone is welcome to attend one or more of the presentations.

For registration details see the Toronto Baptist Seminary Website.

Convocation will take place on Sunday, September 26 at 6:30 PM.

Stephen J. Wellum from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary will be our guest speaker on this occasion.

Balancing Past and Present

2010-09-13T18:54:00.001-04:00

As another school year begins I am conscious of the need to learn from the past while continuing to learn in the present. This need is closely tied to striking a balance between learning from the past without becoming stuck in past in the same way that it is possible to get stuck in the mud. The right balance is not always easy to find. Some want to live today as if no one has ever lived before or wrestled with the problems that we confront today. Others live in the past as though nothing ever changes and as if human beings have not continued to learn as a result of their studies. Both ways of living are artificial and both will keep us from moving forward as we should. Those who live in the present without an understanding of the past have no foundation beneath them, and those who live in the past without an appreciation of the present are stymied in their attempts to engage the culture as they should. Once again balance is critical if real work is to be done and people are to move forward. Hopefully we will achieve that balance this year in our studies, lectures and discussions, at least this is our aim.

Benefiting From The Bible

2010-09-12T17:30:00.000-04:00

I heard a great message this morning in church on benefiting from the Bible. Actually it is the first in a series of messages on this theme. What struck me as I listened was how much the Bible has become a battleground over the years. Even those who do not believe that it is a unique book still refer to it. If it were just another book one would think that it would be ignored by now, but instead we find as much controversy swirling around the Bible today as we ever have. That in and of itself is amazing given all the books that have been written about the Bible and the degree to which it has been scrutinized from all sides. Christians have always believed that the Bible is the word of God in a very special sense, that even though it was written by about 40 human authors over a period of 1500 years, it contains what God wanted to communicate to us in written form.

However, believing this does not mean we have instant answers to all of our questions. The words must be interpreted in their context and then carefully applied to our situation today. There is more to this process than is often appreciated and mistakes made in the name of God can have devastating consequences. This is one reason why people must be willing to work hard when it comes to reading and understanding the scriptures. We need to take into consideration all that God has said and not just our favorite verses or doctrines. I believe that everyone can benefit from the Bible if they are willing to study and seek wisdom from God and from others who have gone before as well as from others who are studying it today. Schools like TBS exist to help those who would like to be part of a community of people who want to know what the Bible says and how its ancient message speaks to the world today. If you would like to know more please check out our website at www.tbs.edu.

A Heart For God Conference

2010-09-03T13:29:00.001-04:00

It is September already and the start of school is just around the corner. This September, Toronto Baptist Seminary and Jarvis Street Baptist Church are also hosting the Toronto Baptist Conference and the theme of this year's conference is A Heart for God. At the conference we are going to explore themes connected with spirituality including what is biblical spirituality and how it differs from other forms of spirituality that are popular in the world today. We will also tackle some of the issues raised by technology when it comes to spirituality. Everyone is invited to attend one or all of the sessions. For more information please see the TBS website. Come and hear Tony Costa, Michael Haykin, Glendon Thompson, Stephen Wellum and yours truly. We believe the sessions will be informative and helpful and we would love to see you there. Also, if there is anyone interested in taking evening courses at TBS it is not too late to sign up. As with the conference please consult the website for more information on times and what is being offered this fall. Our evening courses are specially designed to meet the needs of the Christian constituency around us. At TBS you will find top level instruction at a very reasonable price.

Long, Dry Summer

2010-08-31T22:58:00.000-04:00

"The days are coming," declares the Sovereign Lord, "when I will send a famine through the land - not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it." Amos 8:11-12

While it is important to understand the historical setting of this ancient prophesy it is worth asking whether such a thing could ever happen again in our day. I know that some would find it hard to believe given all the books that have been published, all the conferences have been organized, all the coalitions and bands of brothers that have been formed. But still, for all that, I cannot help but wonder if this is not largely a day of spiritual famine where there is much learning but little power; and even where there is learning, it is impractical and does not connect with those who are looking for answers. Even the bigwigs are not take seriously except by their own fans. For all their books and messages, when you boil it all down, there is little substance. They repeat the same tired old things over and over and then wonder why no one is listening. There is no freshness or what in times past was called 'unction,' no sense that God is speaking in new and fresh ways that are consistent with the established givens of biblical revelation. No amount of hype or worship music can make up for this deficiency. When God owns his word it is undeniable, and when he remains distance, there is nothing we can do but pray and ask him to be gracious. I cannot speak for the world because I have not traveled around it, but in this part of world it is dry.

Of course, God can change this situation in a moment. He can give strength and energy to his word and bring it home to the heart with life-changing power. This is what we need. This is what we should seek. It is difficult to live in a dry and dusty place where there is little water. We need something that comes from without, a divine visitation that focuses our minds and hearts on what it truly important. Kingdom building is tedious work if God is not in it, but his presence makes all the difference in the world. And this is what we need more than anything else. We need to see the difference that the gospel makes in people's lives which is far more than the proliferation of books, sermons and church groups that measure up to what are often artificially created standards. Never have some segments of evangelicalism been so educated and organized, and never have they been so barren. Let's pray for rain.

Such Good Little People

2010-08-28T09:59:00.003-04:00

It has been almost a month since the Apple iPhone4 became available in Canada, or so the story goes. Truth of the matter is that it has been almost impossible to find one unless you are buying an unlocked phone from the Apple Store. Retailer Best Buy advertises that the iPhone4 has changed everything, again, and that it is available in their store - but alas there is not a phone to be had. It's hard not to believe that this is intentional on Apple's part, part of a strategy to hype the phone and maintain interest in the phone as long as possible - but I will never know for sure and big corporations always spin the facts to their own advantage. My question is at what point does it become false advertising to say that the phone is available at specific stores when it fact it is not. But I suppose the real point is the passivity of consumers. We just take it like good little people and wait for our wealthy benefactors to bless us when they get around to it. Oh the woes of the little guy.

This may also explain the passivity in Ontario, at least, when it comes to the HST (Harmonized Sales Tax). In British Columbia that are signs of "rebellion" (at least by Canadian standards), but in Ontario everyone has rolled over and allowed the government to increase our tax burden yet again. Sometimes I wonder what it will take before someone says "enough is enough." I also wonder how long this kind of thing can go on - how long can taxes go up and up and up before the entire system unravels. I am not trying to be conspiratorial for the simple reason that over the years I have heard so many nut cases propounding conspiracy theories - conspiracies that are nothing more than the products of their unstable personalities and overworked imaginations. I do not believe everything is doom and gloom, nor do I think that history will come to an end until God has accomplished all he is going to do. But I do wonder what lies ahead for the world as we know it especially when so many are content to sit on the sidelines as spectators. So whether it is the iPhone or the HST it would be nice to hear someone make a little noise or at least to start asking questions like: "Hey, what's going on here? And, who came up with this brilliant idea?"

Proverbial Wisdom

2010-08-24T21:18:00.002-04:00

Something to ponder...

"One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

Proverbs 18:24

Expanding Our Horizons

2010-08-23T12:20:00.002-04:00

When I speak in churches I am sometimes asked for reading recommendations or I am asked what I like to read. I usually respond by asking the questioner to tell me about their reading preferences and I have found their responses interesting. Now don't get me wrong, I am always happy to hear that people are reading or are at least interested in reading. That is important in a day when reading is becoming a lost art and the ability of people to read well in public is more the exception than the norm. One thing that concerns me, however, is that too many are reading from a narrow group of authors. If they read anything at all it is always the same group of names that are trotted out. Again, I am glad that people are reading anything, and I understand that everyone has their favorite authors, but I do think that the pool of authors is too shallow and tends to tell them over and over again what they already know and want to hear, rather than challenging them to think and grow in their understanding of the Bible and the world around them.

It is important that individual Christians learn to think for themselves. We must not delegate the responsibility to think and to apply the word of God to a group of men who crank out book after book that basically says the same things over and over from a slightly different perspective. Christian leaders in particular need to read widely and to talk advantage of the wealth of materials that are available. Once we have our basic moorings it is our own interaction with our surroundings that makes us interesting and helps us break new ground in our own situations. Parroting the points of others will never excite anyone. Just as we need a personal relationship with God so we need to seek wisdom to do what is right in our own unique situations. So by all means read your favorites, but every once in a while, read someone you have never read before, challenge yourself, think. stretch and grow.

Bobbleheads

2010-08-16T12:00:00.000-04:00

Ever seen a Christian bobblehead? They do exist I'm told. A sign of the times. Why anyone would want one I don't understand but alas there are many things I don't understand about the state of the church today. The problem is that there are too many bobbleheads that wag their heads at the latest musings or tweets or blog posts of people who say absolutely nothing of any substance or significance once you stop and think for a few seconds about what they have said. No wonder people in churches are restless and those on the outside are not the least bit interested. People should not have to check their brains at the door when they gather to worship nor should they be subjected to the musings of those who themselves need therapy. I heard of one such individual who recently preached for 3 hours! That is incredible enough. What is more incredible is that anyone sat there and politely listened to such a self-centered rant!

We are to love the Lord our God with all our minds, hearts, souls and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves. This, according to Jesus, sums up the law and the prophets. Such worship is more than abstract thought and certainly more than emotional manipulation. It can only be produced by a work of God's Spirit that cannot be faked or manufactured. It happens when people are humbled by the grace and mercy of God, when they realize how much they do not know and they desire to learn and then to put into practice what God's says in his word. People like this are real and attractive to others, even those who do not agree with them. I am convinced that many today are looking for spiritual reality and they are not finding it in those who advertise its presence. In today's world we don't need more bobbleheads but disciples who are prepared learn and grow as they seek God with all of their minds and hearts.

'Prophetic' Reflections

2010-08-15T14:19:00.000-04:00

This morning in church the scripture reading was from the prophet Habakkuk. As I listened I thought about how little is known about the Old Testament prophets, the times in which they lived and the burden of their message. This lack of awareness needs to be addressed because the prophets have important things to say about issues that are still being debated today. Even though the prophets spoke years ago there are basic human problems and conflicts that human beings have always struggled with, and they have something significant to contribute to our understanding of life.

Biblical revelation is the most amazing thing. It is simple enough for children and yet so profound that the greatest scholars will never learn all that there is to know. It can be read and studied with great profit but never exhausted. There are always new things to learn, new connections to make, new applications that shed light on our path.

When the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy he told him to "devote himself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching" (1 Timothy 4:13). Careful reflection on the nature of scripture will make evident the wisdom of Paul's instruction not only for Timothy but for us today.

Calm Resolve

2010-08-13T10:58:00.000-04:00

The world is an interesting place. Last evening I was watching television and came upon a program about Pearl Harbor. It contrasted Pearl Harbor, the movie, with Pearl Harbor, the reality. Personally, I found it very interesting and as I watched I could not help but think how that world had changed since those days when America and Japan were at war with one another. I thought about all the Japanese cars and products that have become commonplace today and reflected on the reluctance of my parent's generation to initially purchase Japanese goods given the military conflict they had lived through. It was all quite understandable, and the change in attitude since those days, quite remarkable.

After that program was over I surveyed the array of news channels at my disposal, everything from CBC to CTV here in Canada, the BBC World Service in the UK, and CNN, MSNBC and good old Fox News in the United States. As usual they were all abuzz about the latest goings on in the world. Talking away like there was no tomorrow about all of the troubles in the world, and in the case of some of the American stations, so wrapped up in their own politics that you would think the rest of the world did not exist. Then I thought about Pearl Harbor again. I imagined what that would have been like if it had happened today. The news coverage would have been incredible and justifiably so. But time goes on, the present set of movers and shakers will pass from the scene just as people have in the past most of whom will not even be remembered by history. Life is like that. Such is this world.

I mention these things because it helps us keep things in perspective. We need to remember that kingdoms will come and go, nations will rise and fall, and yet life will go on as long as God ordains it. We should be involved in life and try to make a difference but we need to do so with a calm and steady resolve that is not easily shaken. The world is full of alarmists and sensationalists. They do little, if any, good. Rather those who understand that their times are in God's hands and who act accordingly, are not only able to move forward, but they can enjoy the ride.

Of Making Books... No End

2010-08-12T11:54:00.000-04:00

According to the Official Google Blog, last Sunday, there were 129,864,880 books in the world. If you want more information as to how they came up with that figure you can find it here. However, by anyone's calculations that is a lot of books! And, of course, the number is increasing every day. But this statistic makes me wonder how many of these books have actually been read. Along the same lines, a few weeks ago I was listening to a CBC podcast and someone said that the average academic journal article is quoted less than once, which the presenter saw as an indicator that few people are reading these articles and that academics are increasingly writing for one another more than anyone else. So we live in a world full of books and journal articles, more and more with each passing day, most of which will never be read in spite of all the time, energy and money that goes into their production.

But amid the pessimism I think it is important to remember that some books and articles will be read. Some will exert a great influence on people today and in days to come. What makes the difference? Who has the best chance of being read? And more importantly, who is most likely to influence people for years to come? The key is to write about important subjects, to write well, and to write in a way that people can understand. Those who do this are much more likely to get a hearing and to have their thoughts and ideas discussed and debated not just for a day or two but on into the future. This is also true when it comes to Christian books. So few stand the test of time. So few say something that needs to be said and say it well. Too many are just written to increase an author's visibility in the Christian marketplace or to enable the author to say that they have written a book.

Good books are wonderful and we have all enjoyed them. But they are not easy to find. I don't want to waste my time reading someone's half-baked ideas about anything and I suspect that others feel the same way. As with the rest of life, it is ultimately not quantity but quality that counts. Many years ago a biblical writer who has been read with profit over and over again put it this way: "Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and search out and set in order many proverbs. The Teacher search to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails - given by one shepherd. Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body" (Ecclesiastes 12:9-12).