I hope many of you will go to the link below and read this post by Tom Ascol, the Executive Director of the Founders Ministry. Dr. Ascol provides some good insights into the recent Baptist Press article by SBC President Frank Page.
Enjoy!
http://www.founders.org/blog/2007/12/frank-page-on-calvinism-and-southern.html
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Thoughts on: "A Common Word Between Us and You"
Well I hope and pray that everybody has had or is having a great Christmas! My family and I had brunch with our best friends and enjoyed a time of fellowship and discussion. It’s always such a pleasure to get together with people who enjoy chatting about the Word! And what better day to spend chatting about the things of God than on the day we set aside to observe the birth of Christ? :)
My post today will be relatively short. I was going to wait until tonight to post anything else but as I read this afternoon about the open letter from Muslim clerics to Christians I could not help but sit down to write out these thoughts.
First of all, in case you have not heard, in October of 2006 about 138 Muslim clerics wrote the above-mentioned open letter in which they called, basically, for peace and unity of purpose with Christians. Now then, I’m all for peace with the Muslims among us, but unity? No. How can there be unity when there is no common theological ground between us? We must, out of obedience to the Bible, seek to convert the Muslim! So while we can reach out a hand in friendship to them, and while we can live in peace with them, we cannot have any type of ecumenical unity with them. After all, can we truly say that we love them if we don’t at least try and tell them about Jesus?
For those of you who are curious, the letter can be found at http://www.acommonword.com/
The reason I am writing this post right now is not because of the letter from the Muslims. It is because of the response by some who identify themselves as Christians. And to be completely honest, it is because of the presence of two specific names on the response: Rick Warren and Brian McLaren.
Rick Warren is someone I have had strong reservations about for a very long time. He is, in fact, one whom I would identify as a wolf among the sheep of God. That may sound harsh and judgmental but I can find no other way of referring to him in light of all he has done, whether it be his Purpose Driven drivel, his tolerance of sin among his tithe giving members (if you’re curious about this one, email me and I can get you information), or his basic endorsement of anti-life politicians (he recently allowed Hillary Clinton the use of his pulpit!). The fact that so many churches, especially SBC churches, embrace him as their guru is saddening and sickening at the same time…it shows just how much will be forgiven so long as attendance numbers are high…
Brian McLaren is a champion of the emergent movement, also among the latest evangelical fads. When discernment in the church is practiced so little, the church becomes filled with the blasphemy that oozes out of the emergent churches.
The reason it should shock us to hear of all these men signing the letter response to the Muslim call for peace and unity is because of the content of the letter itself. Compromise runs rampant throughout the letter…see for yourselves at http://www.yale.edu/faith/abou-commonword.htm
I will briefly point out one example. The letter begins with the following words:
"In this response we extend our own Christian hand in return, so that together with all other human beings we may live in peace and justice as we seek to love God and our neighbors…we want to begin by acknowledging that in the past (e.g. in the Crusades) and in the present (e.g. in excesses of the “war on terror”) many Christians have been guilty of sinning against our Muslim neighbors. Before we “shake your hand” in responding to your letter, we ask forgiveness of the All-Merciful One and of the Muslim community around the world. [emphasis mine]
Did you note whom these good Christians are asking for forgiveness? The “All-Merciful One”! In other words, Allah! They are using the language of Islam…but dear brethren, Allah and Jehovah are NOT the same! And unless you think this is not shocking enough, I tell you that the signers well understand what this means since later on in the letter we find the following:
"We find it equally heartening that the God whom we should love above all things is described as being Love. In the Muslim tradition, God, “the Lord of the worlds,” is “The Infinitely Good and All-Merciful.”
Do you grasp the significance? This letter acknowledges in its body that the phrase “All-Merciful” is well within the “Muslim tradition” understanding of whom their god is. And it is this god whom the men signing the document ask for forgiveness. Talk about selling out on your convictions.
Brothers and Sisters…read the letters and see for yourselves what is happening here. Does your church idolize men like Warren and McLaren? If so, start asking the tough questions and begin calling for a repudiation of their teachings! And above all, stay true to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Today is the day we celebrate His birth, don’t do it just as a tradition…do it out of love and appreciation for what He has done for us, and never compromise on His truths!
Amen?
My post today will be relatively short. I was going to wait until tonight to post anything else but as I read this afternoon about the open letter from Muslim clerics to Christians I could not help but sit down to write out these thoughts.
First of all, in case you have not heard, in October of 2006 about 138 Muslim clerics wrote the above-mentioned open letter in which they called, basically, for peace and unity of purpose with Christians. Now then, I’m all for peace with the Muslims among us, but unity? No. How can there be unity when there is no common theological ground between us? We must, out of obedience to the Bible, seek to convert the Muslim! So while we can reach out a hand in friendship to them, and while we can live in peace with them, we cannot have any type of ecumenical unity with them. After all, can we truly say that we love them if we don’t at least try and tell them about Jesus?
For those of you who are curious, the letter can be found at http://www.acommonword.com/
The reason I am writing this post right now is not because of the letter from the Muslims. It is because of the response by some who identify themselves as Christians. And to be completely honest, it is because of the presence of two specific names on the response: Rick Warren and Brian McLaren.
Rick Warren is someone I have had strong reservations about for a very long time. He is, in fact, one whom I would identify as a wolf among the sheep of God. That may sound harsh and judgmental but I can find no other way of referring to him in light of all he has done, whether it be his Purpose Driven drivel, his tolerance of sin among his tithe giving members (if you’re curious about this one, email me and I can get you information), or his basic endorsement of anti-life politicians (he recently allowed Hillary Clinton the use of his pulpit!). The fact that so many churches, especially SBC churches, embrace him as their guru is saddening and sickening at the same time…it shows just how much will be forgiven so long as attendance numbers are high…
Brian McLaren is a champion of the emergent movement, also among the latest evangelical fads. When discernment in the church is practiced so little, the church becomes filled with the blasphemy that oozes out of the emergent churches.
The reason it should shock us to hear of all these men signing the letter response to the Muslim call for peace and unity is because of the content of the letter itself. Compromise runs rampant throughout the letter…see for yourselves at http://www.yale.edu/faith/abou-commonword.htm
I will briefly point out one example. The letter begins with the following words:
"In this response we extend our own Christian hand in return, so that together with all other human beings we may live in peace and justice as we seek to love God and our neighbors…we want to begin by acknowledging that in the past (e.g. in the Crusades) and in the present (e.g. in excesses of the “war on terror”) many Christians have been guilty of sinning against our Muslim neighbors. Before we “shake your hand” in responding to your letter, we ask forgiveness of the All-Merciful One and of the Muslim community around the world. [emphasis mine]
Did you note whom these good Christians are asking for forgiveness? The “All-Merciful One”! In other words, Allah! They are using the language of Islam…but dear brethren, Allah and Jehovah are NOT the same! And unless you think this is not shocking enough, I tell you that the signers well understand what this means since later on in the letter we find the following:
"We find it equally heartening that the God whom we should love above all things is described as being Love. In the Muslim tradition, God, “the Lord of the worlds,” is “The Infinitely Good and All-Merciful.”
Do you grasp the significance? This letter acknowledges in its body that the phrase “All-Merciful” is well within the “Muslim tradition” understanding of whom their god is. And it is this god whom the men signing the document ask for forgiveness. Talk about selling out on your convictions.
Brothers and Sisters…read the letters and see for yourselves what is happening here. Does your church idolize men like Warren and McLaren? If so, start asking the tough questions and begin calling for a repudiation of their teachings! And above all, stay true to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Today is the day we celebrate His birth, don’t do it just as a tradition…do it out of love and appreciation for what He has done for us, and never compromise on His truths!
Amen?
Monday, December 24, 2007
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
"Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged Him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and struck Him with their hands. Pilate went out Again and said to them [the Jews], "See, I am bringing Him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in Him." So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Behold the man!" When the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him."
…So he delivered Him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is Called Golgotha. There they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them….After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), "I thirst." A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to His mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished," and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit."
(Summary of John 19:1-30)
You may well be thinking to yourself…”huh?” After all, tomorrow morning is Christmas
Day and here I am writing about the crucifixion of our Lord rather than His birth! Well
don’t fret too much…I’ll get there!
I thought it would be appropriate for us to look at this passage in John because if we are
to remember and celebrate the birth of Christ then we must keep in mind as we give each
other presents that this joyful day happened for a reason. Jesus was not born just so we
could give each other presents. If we focus on the materialistic aspect of the celebration
then we are no different than all of secular society and the unbelievers who are ignorant
of the significance of this day.
Brothers and sisters, WE must remember that Jesus came into the world for a purpose…and that purpose was to “seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10)
So as we contemplate the baby in the manger…as we consider the joy of Joseph and
Mary…imagine that beautiful Child, that adorable Baby wrapped up and lovingly held in
a mother’s arms; and read again the passage above. Because that sweet Baby came for
the specific purpose of dying that horrible death on the cross. Did you know that? Jesus came to die on the cross!
And guess what?
He did it willingly!
The only hesitation ever entertained by our Lord was the thought of bearing our sin, NOT our punishment. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says that God “made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Can you fathom that? I sure cannot! Yet the Word is clear on this point…One who knew no sin, BECAME sin…for our sake…so that we could become adopted members of the family and so that we would not have to be punished
for our sin!
So again…Jesus came to be our sacrifice. What a wonderful day indeed! What a gift we
have received from our Lord!
But you know what? Let’s make sure this is a gift we tell everyone we know about!
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in theinn.
(Luke 2:1-7)
…So he delivered Him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is Called Golgotha. There they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them….After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), "I thirst." A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to His mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished," and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit."
(Summary of John 19:1-30)
You may well be thinking to yourself…”huh?” After all, tomorrow morning is Christmas
Day and here I am writing about the crucifixion of our Lord rather than His birth! Well
don’t fret too much…I’ll get there!
I thought it would be appropriate for us to look at this passage in John because if we are
to remember and celebrate the birth of Christ then we must keep in mind as we give each
other presents that this joyful day happened for a reason. Jesus was not born just so we
could give each other presents. If we focus on the materialistic aspect of the celebration
then we are no different than all of secular society and the unbelievers who are ignorant
of the significance of this day.
Brothers and sisters, WE must remember that Jesus came into the world for a purpose…and that purpose was to “seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10)
So as we contemplate the baby in the manger…as we consider the joy of Joseph and
Mary…imagine that beautiful Child, that adorable Baby wrapped up and lovingly held in
a mother’s arms; and read again the passage above. Because that sweet Baby came for
the specific purpose of dying that horrible death on the cross. Did you know that? Jesus came to die on the cross!
And guess what?
He did it willingly!
The only hesitation ever entertained by our Lord was the thought of bearing our sin, NOT our punishment. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says that God “made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Can you fathom that? I sure cannot! Yet the Word is clear on this point…One who knew no sin, BECAME sin…for our sake…so that we could become adopted members of the family and so that we would not have to be punished
for our sin!
So again…Jesus came to be our sacrifice. What a wonderful day indeed! What a gift we
have received from our Lord!
But you know what? Let’s make sure this is a gift we tell everyone we know about!
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in theinn.
(Luke 2:1-7)
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Acts 18:7-17
Read Acts 18:7-17
One interesting note brought up by John Gill is that this man may have been the same man (full name Titius Justus) to whom Paul wrote a letter, the very short book of Titus that we find tucked between 2 Timothy and Philemon!
Regardless though, Paul enters his house and there preaches...and whether this Crispus came in to hear him or whether he overheard because of the closeness of the house to the synagogue...he believes and is saved...along with his family! And the testimony of his faith is used by God to bring in many other Corinthians to saving knowledge.
Keep in mind the words of Paul in verse 6, "your blood be upon your own heads."
The Bible quite clearly teaches the doctrine of human responsibility! Nobody is SENT to hell by God...they choose to go there! Acting in full accordance with the nature they have, they willingly reject God and stupidly jump into the fires of hell!
I mention this because we must stop to consider the ways of God here...Crispus was ruler of the synagogue! A man with authority and whose words and decisions would greatly impact the synagogue...Imagine this if you will: here is a man that we must assume is well versed in Scriptures...a man of knowledge...and he believes!! What excuse do the rest of the Jews have if one of their leading men converts? NONE!!
Therefore, they are without excuse for rejecting the precious truth of the Gospel!
Crispus, incidentally, had a very rare honor in that he was one of the few people whom Paul baptized (1 Corinthians 1:14)!
v9-10)
It is probable that Paul was in danger here...that the Jews were pretty upset over the conversion of one of their chief men and laid the blame directly at his feet...
And Paul receives a vision from the Lord...and what a promise he receives as well!
Was Paul afraid of the crowds? He will not be harmed is what he is told...
Did Paul perhaps consider moving on already? He is told to be bold and not to be silent...
Did Paul think nobody would pay attention? He is told that Jesus has many people in the city!
"I have many people in this city"
You can choose to believe, wrongly, that Jesus meant there were so many Believers in Corinth that they would protect him from harm...
But what the Word is saying here is that Paul was to be bold in preaching BECAUSE God planned a work in this city...there were those for whom there was an appointment with the grace of God...and so God forbid Paul to remain silent! There was a harvest in Corinth and it MUST be brought in!
Matthew Henry:
"though [Corinth] be a very profane wicked city, full of impurity, and the more so for a temple of Venus there, to which there was a great resort, yet in this heap, that seems to be all chaff, there is wheat; in this ore, that seems to be all dross, there is gold. Let us not despair concerning any place, when even in Corinth Christ had much people."
Brothers and sisters...if there is any comfort to be had when we encounter opposition to the preaching of the Word of God, it is that God has His people everywhere! When the time comes that we stand before our Living God there will be people from "all nations, tribes, peoples, tongues," all of them standing before the throne! Revelation 7:9
Having received such a vision and such a promise, Paul stays in Corinth for a VERY long time...and for all its faults, we well know that a church is established in this city!
v 12)
Enraged, probably because of how many people were being converted to the faith, Paul is brought before the proconsul of Achaia...once again likely dragged to this place. And it bears mentioning here that now Paul knew that he was being used mightily by God, for he is provoking people to anger!! :)
But notice the reaction of Gallio...what cares he for the internal struggles of a conquered people? Rome cared about one thing: keep the tribute rolling in and don't try and rebel!
So even though Paul is ready to give a defense, Gallio dismisses the case!
A word here: note verse 13: "this fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law."
Even though Gallio lightly dismisses the charges here...there would be a time when Rome would not react such to this charge against the followers of Christ.
Later on there would be rumors of cannibalism...of drinking blood, of sacrificing children, of sexual perversions...all of these aimed against the Christians...but none would upset the power of Rome more than the refusal to say that the Emperor was a deity!
So even though at this time the Christians are persecuted by people...it has not yet reached the point of official, state sanctioned persecution. That will come later.
But look now at verse 17:
Here we see the apathy of Rome at work. Gallio would not prosecute Paul when falsely accused, but neither would he intervene when Sosthenes is beaten by the Greeks before his very judgment seat!
Why beat on poor Sosthenes?
Likely, after the dismissal of charges against Paul, he was taken to safety by his followers...so the crowds turned against someone known to be a Christian...Sosthenes.
This is conjecture on the part of the commentators, of course, but it seems to fit the bill. Sosthenes is referred by Paul in his letter to the Corinthians as a brother...
Matthew Henry:
"As for the Greeks that abused him, it is very probable that they were either Hellenist Jews, or Jewish Greeks, those that joined with the Jews in opposing the gospel and that the native Jews put them on to do it, thinking it would in them be less offensive. They were so enraged against Paul that they beat Sosthenes; and so enraged against Gallio, because he would not countenance the prosecution, that they beat him before the judgment-seat".
It was not an easy thing to call yourself a Christian in these early times!
One interesting note brought up by John Gill is that this man may have been the same man (full name Titius Justus) to whom Paul wrote a letter, the very short book of Titus that we find tucked between 2 Timothy and Philemon!
Regardless though, Paul enters his house and there preaches...and whether this Crispus came in to hear him or whether he overheard because of the closeness of the house to the synagogue...he believes and is saved...along with his family! And the testimony of his faith is used by God to bring in many other Corinthians to saving knowledge.
Keep in mind the words of Paul in verse 6, "your blood be upon your own heads."
The Bible quite clearly teaches the doctrine of human responsibility! Nobody is SENT to hell by God...they choose to go there! Acting in full accordance with the nature they have, they willingly reject God and stupidly jump into the fires of hell!
I mention this because we must stop to consider the ways of God here...Crispus was ruler of the synagogue! A man with authority and whose words and decisions would greatly impact the synagogue...Imagine this if you will: here is a man that we must assume is well versed in Scriptures...a man of knowledge...and he believes!! What excuse do the rest of the Jews have if one of their leading men converts? NONE!!
Therefore, they are without excuse for rejecting the precious truth of the Gospel!
Crispus, incidentally, had a very rare honor in that he was one of the few people whom Paul baptized (1 Corinthians 1:14)!
v9-10)
It is probable that Paul was in danger here...that the Jews were pretty upset over the conversion of one of their chief men and laid the blame directly at his feet...
And Paul receives a vision from the Lord...and what a promise he receives as well!
Was Paul afraid of the crowds? He will not be harmed is what he is told...
Did Paul perhaps consider moving on already? He is told to be bold and not to be silent...
Did Paul think nobody would pay attention? He is told that Jesus has many people in the city!
"I have many people in this city"
You can choose to believe, wrongly, that Jesus meant there were so many Believers in Corinth that they would protect him from harm...
But what the Word is saying here is that Paul was to be bold in preaching BECAUSE God planned a work in this city...there were those for whom there was an appointment with the grace of God...and so God forbid Paul to remain silent! There was a harvest in Corinth and it MUST be brought in!
Matthew Henry:
"though [Corinth] be a very profane wicked city, full of impurity, and the more so for a temple of Venus there, to which there was a great resort, yet in this heap, that seems to be all chaff, there is wheat; in this ore, that seems to be all dross, there is gold. Let us not despair concerning any place, when even in Corinth Christ had much people."
Brothers and sisters...if there is any comfort to be had when we encounter opposition to the preaching of the Word of God, it is that God has His people everywhere! When the time comes that we stand before our Living God there will be people from "all nations, tribes, peoples, tongues," all of them standing before the throne! Revelation 7:9
Having received such a vision and such a promise, Paul stays in Corinth for a VERY long time...and for all its faults, we well know that a church is established in this city!
v 12)
Enraged, probably because of how many people were being converted to the faith, Paul is brought before the proconsul of Achaia...once again likely dragged to this place. And it bears mentioning here that now Paul knew that he was being used mightily by God, for he is provoking people to anger!! :)
But notice the reaction of Gallio...what cares he for the internal struggles of a conquered people? Rome cared about one thing: keep the tribute rolling in and don't try and rebel!
So even though Paul is ready to give a defense, Gallio dismisses the case!
A word here: note verse 13: "this fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law."
Even though Gallio lightly dismisses the charges here...there would be a time when Rome would not react such to this charge against the followers of Christ.
Later on there would be rumors of cannibalism...of drinking blood, of sacrificing children, of sexual perversions...all of these aimed against the Christians...but none would upset the power of Rome more than the refusal to say that the Emperor was a deity!
So even though at this time the Christians are persecuted by people...it has not yet reached the point of official, state sanctioned persecution. That will come later.
But look now at verse 17:
Here we see the apathy of Rome at work. Gallio would not prosecute Paul when falsely accused, but neither would he intervene when Sosthenes is beaten by the Greeks before his very judgment seat!
Why beat on poor Sosthenes?
Likely, after the dismissal of charges against Paul, he was taken to safety by his followers...so the crowds turned against someone known to be a Christian...Sosthenes.
This is conjecture on the part of the commentators, of course, but it seems to fit the bill. Sosthenes is referred by Paul in his letter to the Corinthians as a brother...
Matthew Henry:
"As for the Greeks that abused him, it is very probable that they were either Hellenist Jews, or Jewish Greeks, those that joined with the Jews in opposing the gospel and that the native Jews put them on to do it, thinking it would in them be less offensive. They were so enraged against Paul that they beat Sosthenes; and so enraged against Gallio, because he would not countenance the prosecution, that they beat him before the judgment-seat".
It was not an easy thing to call yourself a Christian in these early times!
"Velvet Elvis" by Rob Bell
ISBN (10): 031026345x
I have intended to put this review up for some time now and here it is. A little background first though…Rob Bell, author of this book, is the founding pastor of Mars Hill church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
I first heard of Rob Bell at a church I used to attend, where his Nooma videos were shown (Nooma is a play on the Greek pneuma, which means spirit). The videos were quite disturbing to me and I decided to find out more about them and their creator. It turned out that Bell is part of a movement commonly referred to as the emergent church, a movement that embraces the idea that we cannot really know what Scripture teaches and that to say you know what it teaches is arrogant. That, I know, is a very simplistic explanation for it but it’s all I’m willing to do at the moment. If you want to know more, just Google the term and you’ll find out much more about it, including the fact that Rob Bell and Brian McLaren are some of the bigger proponents and defenders of the movement.
At any rate, my intention was to read the entire book and write up a lengthy review of it, but in only the first couple of chapters I grew tired of it and nauseated by its theme.
Philippians 4:8 tells us that “whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things.”
With this admonition weighing heavily on my mind, I decided to stop reading the book and concentrate my energies on something else! I am still writing a mini-review because I know there are those out there who might wonder what is so bad about the book. I will tell you because I too am one of those people…I identify with Thomas because of this; being myself the type of person that would have said, “prove it.”
To begin with, I confess that I read the book with a prejudiced mind, already knowing plenty about Rob Bell and his videos and being far less than impressed by them. So bear that in mind as well…I make no apologies for it.
Rob Bell states very clearly in the beginning of the book that he believes we must always be reforming the faith. He cites Martin Luther and the other reformers as examples of this and then identifies himself with them (though they would beg to differ I think). He then takes the idea of always reforming to the extreme by saying on page 012 that he does “not mean cosmetic, superficial changes like better lights and music, sharper graphics, and new methods with easy-to-follow steps. I mean theology: the belief about God, Jesus, the Bible, salvation, the future. We must keep reforming the way the Christian faith is defined, lived, and explained.”
Though Bell thinks he’s a successor of those worthy men that brought about the Reformation, his goal is really to overturn all that they actually taught. He would find no adherents among the men who fought and died for the idea of “sola scriptura” since he disdains those who hold to the Word as truly authoritative.
He says, for example, “Jesus at one point claimed to be the “way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus was not making claims about one religion being better than all other religions. That completely misses the point, the depth, and the truth.”
Hmmm….Is that true? Jesus did not mean that all other religions were false? He was not speaking of eternal life here? I don’t know dear reader…why don’t you turn to the Bible and read John 13-17? Then decide whether or not Jesus wasn’t talking about how to be saved!
On page 026 we find the following passage:
“What if tomorrow someone digs up definitive proof that Jesus had a real, earthly, biological father named Larry, and archeologists find Larry’s tomb and do DNA samples and prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the virgin birth was really just a bit of mythologizing the Gospel writers threw in to appeal to the followers of the Mithra and Dionysian religious cults that were hugely popular at the time of Jesus, whose gods had virgin births? But what if as you study the origin of the word virgin, you discover that the word virgin in the gospel of Matthew actually comes from the book of Isaiah, and then you find out that in the Hebrew language at that time, the word virgin could mean several things. And what if you discover that in the first century “born of a virgin” also referred to a child whose mother became pregnant the first time she had intercourse?…Could a person still love God? Could you still be a Christian?…if the whole faith falls apart when we reexamine and rethink one spring, then it wasn’t that strong in the first place, was it?”
What do you think of that one?
The reference to the spring, by the way, is an analogy Bell uses of a trampoline…he says that doctrines are like the springs on a trampoline and they help you to understand God but they are not the point…the point is the jump (page 022). In other words the experience is what matters…not the doctrines!
Oh I don’t know…I think I’ll stick to 2 Timothy 3:16 on this one, you know, where it says that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine…”
And while we are on the point of Scripture being inspired, should we try and remember that the virgin birth is not JUST a spring but a foundational Truth of the faith? Yeah…I think we should! If Bell thinks Christianity can exist without it he is wrong. You see, if we truly believe what 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, then we must assume that includes passages like Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-35.
Guess what?
These passages affirm a literal virgin birth! So regardless of what kinds of questions Bell comes up with, and regardless of his repetition of what are by now common and tiresome attacks upon the doctrine of the virgin birth, his faith is the one that needs to be tested for validity and strength because no true believer can possibly entertain the thought that the virgin birth is anything other than a foundational Truth of the faith.
Bell takes pains to assure his readers that he “affirms the historic Christian faith, which includes the virgin birth…” but then he makes the comment cited above about the strength of ones faith if the spring is reexamined.
Allow me to say before moving on…we do NOT reexamine the virgin birth…we do NOT reexamine the Trinity! We study the Word to find out what it true and we affirm what is taught there, but to reexamine these truths with an eye towards rethinking them is what used to be called heresy. I don’t know…does anyone think differently?
Well, I still have pages and pages of notes but I just do not have the stamina any longer…I think I will go study the Bible now! My final thought on this book is that it is dangerous in the sense of how many people will embrace what it teaches. The true Believer will read it and set it aside, being warned about the wolf among us. But so many others will be drawn into a false sense of faith and die in their sins…and that is truly sad. To me, as I read the parts I did, what made me sad was to think of how many people I once respected actually look to Rob Bell as an inspiration…our Lord truly said that many will one day refer to Him as Lord and He will say He never knew them!
You have been warned brothers and sisters.
“…the time will when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers ; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4
I have intended to put this review up for some time now and here it is. A little background first though…Rob Bell, author of this book, is the founding pastor of Mars Hill church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
I first heard of Rob Bell at a church I used to attend, where his Nooma videos were shown (Nooma is a play on the Greek pneuma, which means spirit). The videos were quite disturbing to me and I decided to find out more about them and their creator. It turned out that Bell is part of a movement commonly referred to as the emergent church, a movement that embraces the idea that we cannot really know what Scripture teaches and that to say you know what it teaches is arrogant. That, I know, is a very simplistic explanation for it but it’s all I’m willing to do at the moment. If you want to know more, just Google the term and you’ll find out much more about it, including the fact that Rob Bell and Brian McLaren are some of the bigger proponents and defenders of the movement.
At any rate, my intention was to read the entire book and write up a lengthy review of it, but in only the first couple of chapters I grew tired of it and nauseated by its theme.
Philippians 4:8 tells us that “whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things.”
With this admonition weighing heavily on my mind, I decided to stop reading the book and concentrate my energies on something else! I am still writing a mini-review because I know there are those out there who might wonder what is so bad about the book. I will tell you because I too am one of those people…I identify with Thomas because of this; being myself the type of person that would have said, “prove it.”
To begin with, I confess that I read the book with a prejudiced mind, already knowing plenty about Rob Bell and his videos and being far less than impressed by them. So bear that in mind as well…I make no apologies for it.
Rob Bell states very clearly in the beginning of the book that he believes we must always be reforming the faith. He cites Martin Luther and the other reformers as examples of this and then identifies himself with them (though they would beg to differ I think). He then takes the idea of always reforming to the extreme by saying on page 012 that he does “not mean cosmetic, superficial changes like better lights and music, sharper graphics, and new methods with easy-to-follow steps. I mean theology: the belief about God, Jesus, the Bible, salvation, the future. We must keep reforming the way the Christian faith is defined, lived, and explained.”
Though Bell thinks he’s a successor of those worthy men that brought about the Reformation, his goal is really to overturn all that they actually taught. He would find no adherents among the men who fought and died for the idea of “sola scriptura” since he disdains those who hold to the Word as truly authoritative.
He says, for example, “Jesus at one point claimed to be the “way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus was not making claims about one religion being better than all other religions. That completely misses the point, the depth, and the truth.”
Hmmm….Is that true? Jesus did not mean that all other religions were false? He was not speaking of eternal life here? I don’t know dear reader…why don’t you turn to the Bible and read John 13-17? Then decide whether or not Jesus wasn’t talking about how to be saved!
On page 026 we find the following passage:
“What if tomorrow someone digs up definitive proof that Jesus had a real, earthly, biological father named Larry, and archeologists find Larry’s tomb and do DNA samples and prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the virgin birth was really just a bit of mythologizing the Gospel writers threw in to appeal to the followers of the Mithra and Dionysian religious cults that were hugely popular at the time of Jesus, whose gods had virgin births? But what if as you study the origin of the word virgin, you discover that the word virgin in the gospel of Matthew actually comes from the book of Isaiah, and then you find out that in the Hebrew language at that time, the word virgin could mean several things. And what if you discover that in the first century “born of a virgin” also referred to a child whose mother became pregnant the first time she had intercourse?…Could a person still love God? Could you still be a Christian?…if the whole faith falls apart when we reexamine and rethink one spring, then it wasn’t that strong in the first place, was it?”
What do you think of that one?
The reference to the spring, by the way, is an analogy Bell uses of a trampoline…he says that doctrines are like the springs on a trampoline and they help you to understand God but they are not the point…the point is the jump (page 022). In other words the experience is what matters…not the doctrines!
Oh I don’t know…I think I’ll stick to 2 Timothy 3:16 on this one, you know, where it says that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine…”
And while we are on the point of Scripture being inspired, should we try and remember that the virgin birth is not JUST a spring but a foundational Truth of the faith? Yeah…I think we should! If Bell thinks Christianity can exist without it he is wrong. You see, if we truly believe what 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, then we must assume that includes passages like Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-35.
Guess what?
These passages affirm a literal virgin birth! So regardless of what kinds of questions Bell comes up with, and regardless of his repetition of what are by now common and tiresome attacks upon the doctrine of the virgin birth, his faith is the one that needs to be tested for validity and strength because no true believer can possibly entertain the thought that the virgin birth is anything other than a foundational Truth of the faith.
Bell takes pains to assure his readers that he “affirms the historic Christian faith, which includes the virgin birth…” but then he makes the comment cited above about the strength of ones faith if the spring is reexamined.
Allow me to say before moving on…we do NOT reexamine the virgin birth…we do NOT reexamine the Trinity! We study the Word to find out what it true and we affirm what is taught there, but to reexamine these truths with an eye towards rethinking them is what used to be called heresy. I don’t know…does anyone think differently?
Well, I still have pages and pages of notes but I just do not have the stamina any longer…I think I will go study the Bible now! My final thought on this book is that it is dangerous in the sense of how many people will embrace what it teaches. The true Believer will read it and set it aside, being warned about the wolf among us. But so many others will be drawn into a false sense of faith and die in their sins…and that is truly sad. To me, as I read the parts I did, what made me sad was to think of how many people I once respected actually look to Rob Bell as an inspiration…our Lord truly said that many will one day refer to Him as Lord and He will say He never knew them!
You have been warned brothers and sisters.
“…the time will when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers ; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Genesis 1:1
We had the boffer group again today and we had 10 kids come out to fight in the cold! We had a great time and I came away unscathed...except for the fat lip my son gave me when my face got in the way of a sword swing from him! Oh well...such are the risks we take when we take up the sword! :)
Today's lesson was on Genesis 1:1 and I really enjoyed discussing this one with the boys...we had some good comments and some good discussion! For all of you dads who couldn't come, I would encourage you to come on out and spend some time...it is a great time for us as men to spend some quality time with our sons and other men, that they might see how Christian men interact and also be encouraged by the presence of godly men. I have a great time fighting with all of the boys but would not mind some other men being present to help me fight them off! :) Seriously though...any of you who read this should feel free to come join their sons...the fighting is fun but the devotion time is exhilirating too!
Anyhow...here is today's lesson:
Read Genesis 1:1
When we think of God and whom He is, we often forget to look at this part of Him…His role as the Creator! Look with me real quickly at Job 38:1-11
And then, we find the clincher in Isaiah 48:12-13
Little brothers…the revelation we see in these passages is the uniqueness of God!
Ask) What does it mean to say that something is unique? (discuss)
There is nobody like God…and nobody could have done what God has done in creating the heavens and the earth…if anyone says anything different than this then they are lying to you and you should not listen to them!
There are those who would teach that God was once a man like us…and that those who believe as they do will someday be gods themselves! This is blasphemy pure and simple!
Let us look now at what we can learn from our chosen verse:
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
In this verse alone we can learn much…someone tell me some of the thing that we can learn (discuss)
1. We learn that God is eternal: there is a beginning to all things around us…but God existed before that beginning! He stands outside of time. This is something our human minds are incapable of totally understanding…but God has always existed! Our Triune Lord is not a creation…He always has been just as He is. (remember what we spoke about before? If He always has been as He is then it is not possible that at one time He was a man just like us except in the Person of Jesus Christ!)
2. We learn that atheism is false (here I borrow from Henry Morris): You will note that the writer of this verse does not first explain God because there was no need to! This was written during a time when everyone believed in God or a god…only in our so-called advanced age has the idea of God as false been so largely embraced! Yet Psalm 14:1 says what? (discuss)
3. We learn that evolution is false: God created…not random chance and not some pool of gooey stuff! And if God created, then it is not all some accident! No…out of nothing, God made everything! And just so we don’t get confused, God does not just tell us that He made all things, but in the remainder of the chapter as well as in chapter two, we are told exactly how He created! And how did He do it?
Let us close in prayer.
Today's lesson was on Genesis 1:1 and I really enjoyed discussing this one with the boys...we had some good comments and some good discussion! For all of you dads who couldn't come, I would encourage you to come on out and spend some time...it is a great time for us as men to spend some quality time with our sons and other men, that they might see how Christian men interact and also be encouraged by the presence of godly men. I have a great time fighting with all of the boys but would not mind some other men being present to help me fight them off! :) Seriously though...any of you who read this should feel free to come join their sons...the fighting is fun but the devotion time is exhilirating too!
Anyhow...here is today's lesson:
What Creation Teaches us about God
Saturday
December 8th, 2007
Saturday
December 8th, 2007
Read Genesis 1:1
When we think of God and whom He is, we often forget to look at this part of Him…His role as the Creator! Look with me real quickly at Job 38:1-11
God is asking a rhetorical question here…could anyone else have done what I have done?
He Himself then gives us the answer through the prophet Isaiah. Look with me at the following passages:
Isaiah 43:10-13
Isaiah 44:6-8
Isaiah 45:5-7
He Himself then gives us the answer through the prophet Isaiah. Look with me at the following passages:
Isaiah 43:10-13
Isaiah 44:6-8
Isaiah 45:5-7
And then, we find the clincher in Isaiah 48:12-13
Little brothers…the revelation we see in these passages is the uniqueness of God!
Ask) What does it mean to say that something is unique? (discuss)
There is nobody like God…and nobody could have done what God has done in creating the heavens and the earth…if anyone says anything different than this then they are lying to you and you should not listen to them!
There is but one God, there is but one Creator! God alone is All Powerful…God alone is Sovereign and stands supreme!
There are those who would teach that God was once a man like us…and that those who believe as they do will someday be gods themselves! This is blasphemy pure and simple!
Let us look now at what we can learn from our chosen verse:
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
In this verse alone we can learn much…someone tell me some of the thing that we can learn (discuss)
1. We learn that God is eternal: there is a beginning to all things around us…but God existed before that beginning! He stands outside of time. This is something our human minds are incapable of totally understanding…but God has always existed! Our Triune Lord is not a creation…He always has been just as He is. (remember what we spoke about before? If He always has been as He is then it is not possible that at one time He was a man just like us except in the Person of Jesus Christ!)
2. We learn that atheism is false (here I borrow from Henry Morris): You will note that the writer of this verse does not first explain God because there was no need to! This was written during a time when everyone believed in God or a god…only in our so-called advanced age has the idea of God as false been so largely embraced! Yet Psalm 14:1 says what? (discuss)
No matter how intelligent they seem…those who doubt there is a God are fools! So do not be intimidated by someone’s education or knowledge…if they do not know God then we know what God says of them right? There is an example I’d like to point out to you…Nietsche was a man who declared the death of God! Yes indeed, he is from whom the quote “God is dead” comes from. But you know what? He died. He died a crazy man! At the end of his life, Nietsche was insane. And God still sits on His throne! The foolish words of a foolish man did not cause our Master to fall off His throne any more than a single ant could ever hope to move us even one inch by pushing on us!
3. We learn that evolution is false: God created…not random chance and not some pool of gooey stuff! And if God created, then it is not all some accident! No…out of nothing, God made everything! And just so we don’t get confused, God does not just tell us that He made all things, but in the remainder of the chapter as well as in chapter two, we are told exactly how He created! And how did He do it?
He spoke and there was;
He molded with His hands and breathed life into man.
This helps us see how foolish are those who would compromise with the “knowledge” of the world and say that God created through evolution! No…God does not allow for this explanation at all…He created!
Let us close in prayer.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
The Nativity Story
New Line Cinema
2006
Those of you who know me well also know that I do not like films that depict Jesus Christ, mainly because I do not think films do justice to that which the Scripture reveals to us but also because I get an uncomfortable feeling that I am walking on the line and coming close to a violation of the Second commandment. The movie that most arouses my ire, of course, is “The Passion of the Christ,” that Mel Gibson production that was more an ode to Catholic traditions than to the Word. About the only redeeming thing that movie holds (in my humble opinion) is the bloody depictions of the whippings and the crucifixion…but as I’ve written in another post, the Word of God alone should be sufficient to strike our hearts with love and awe at what Jesus did for us on the cross. And yet, I do not judge my brothers and sisters for watching the film. I will never watch it, and my sons will have to wait until they leave the family home if they wish to see it, but to each his or her own! I do, however, reserve the right to have my own opinion as well!
Anyhow, back to the subject at hand…and another disclaimer! There is a movie that came out in 2003 called “The Visual Bible: The Gospel of John” which from all reports is supposed to be a great Protestant representation, by which I mean faithful to Scripture. I will probably never watch it due to my own personal biases, but if someone MUST watch a mere man portray our Lord, then at least I can say that they should watch that one rather than the one approved by the Vatican.
About a month ago I watched “The Nativity Story.” Mainly because my sons had watched it with some dear friends of ours and I wanted to see whether I should address any misleading aspects of the film. I watched the movie on my computer with my Bible in front of me and my notebook ready! Anyhow, I must confess that I was impressed by it and while I cannot go so far as to say everyone should watch it, I thought it was well done. Obviously there was much speculation in the movie, for the actual narrative in the Word does not a two hour movie make! The speculation, however, was extra-biblical though certainly not UN-biblical. We all speculate on matters where the Bible remains silent…like wondering how Mary felt carrying our Lord in her womb…or what Joseph might have thought as he beheld his wife and her baby. Nothing wrong with that. But how does this movie do as far as Scriptural accuracy and proper portrayal of the main characters?
The movie does a good job of positively portraying the biblical characters and as I’ve already mentioned it gives us a peek into what Mary and Joseph MIGHT have thought as they went through all of the experiences they did.
What kind of people were they?
There is a scene, during the annunciation, when Mary kneels to the angel Gabriel…and she is not rebuked by him. She is not told not to kneel before a messenger nor is she told to never bend the knee to him again. However, her kneeling does NOT necessarily imply worship. Kneeling before a king, for example, does not imply worship so much as acknowledgment of power. In any case, I was bothered by this scene but cannot say for sure that the film makers intended to show Mary worshipping an angel.
In another scene, Mary is traveling to visit Elizabeth and along the way some men are seen running as they attempt to escape from the soldiers of Herod. The men are aided by other Jews who block the path to prevent the Herodian troops from catching the runners. The crowds shout out their trust that Messiah will come to deliver them from such oppression…I thought this scene did a good job of demonstrating exactly what it was the Jews of that age were expecting; a conquering, temporal, political redeemer rather than the Savior that was in their midst (within the womb of Mary).
A few other powerful scenes in the film include:
When Zechariah is struck dumb in the holy of holies
When Mary’s family finds out she is pregnant
There is also a scene where Joseph and Mary are sitting around talking…wondering what it will be like to be parents to the Son of God. Joseph wonders whether he will ever be able to teach anything to the child and Mary wonders at what point they will know that He knows that He is the Son of God…as I watched this scene I could well imagine them having had such a conversation in real life…for how could they not!
The worst scene for me, and it only lasted for a few seconds so even now I don’t know exactly what I saw…but it was when Joseph and Mary make their way into a city. This woman takes Mary by the hand and appears to read her future. As I said, the scene lasts seconds and from Mary’s puzzled look it is clear she herself doesn’t submit in any sense to what might have been a palm reading, but I found the scene totally unnecessary and I’m sorry that it was included. Without being able to read the script I cannot say what the director’s intention was with this scene but, again, it lasted all of 3 seconds so the reader must determine for him/herself whether to watch or not watch the film. I would not dare say to someone “don’t” because I myself am not sure what happened in that scene, and as I’ve said, the scene is pretty clear that Mary in no way sought nor approved of what the woman did to her.
This being December and with all of us preparing to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, I know many will turn to this movie. All I want to say is that I exhort every one of you, if you choose to watch the film, that afterwards you go to the Gospels and read them. Even though it was almost midnight when I finished watching the film, I stayed up an extra hour ‘cause I couldn’t stop reading! May the Lord bless each and every one of you and may you have a wonderful Christmas Day!
2006
Those of you who know me well also know that I do not like films that depict Jesus Christ, mainly because I do not think films do justice to that which the Scripture reveals to us but also because I get an uncomfortable feeling that I am walking on the line and coming close to a violation of the Second commandment. The movie that most arouses my ire, of course, is “The Passion of the Christ,” that Mel Gibson production that was more an ode to Catholic traditions than to the Word. About the only redeeming thing that movie holds (in my humble opinion) is the bloody depictions of the whippings and the crucifixion…but as I’ve written in another post, the Word of God alone should be sufficient to strike our hearts with love and awe at what Jesus did for us on the cross. And yet, I do not judge my brothers and sisters for watching the film. I will never watch it, and my sons will have to wait until they leave the family home if they wish to see it, but to each his or her own! I do, however, reserve the right to have my own opinion as well!
Anyhow, back to the subject at hand…and another disclaimer! There is a movie that came out in 2003 called “The Visual Bible: The Gospel of John” which from all reports is supposed to be a great Protestant representation, by which I mean faithful to Scripture. I will probably never watch it due to my own personal biases, but if someone MUST watch a mere man portray our Lord, then at least I can say that they should watch that one rather than the one approved by the Vatican.
About a month ago I watched “The Nativity Story.” Mainly because my sons had watched it with some dear friends of ours and I wanted to see whether I should address any misleading aspects of the film. I watched the movie on my computer with my Bible in front of me and my notebook ready! Anyhow, I must confess that I was impressed by it and while I cannot go so far as to say everyone should watch it, I thought it was well done. Obviously there was much speculation in the movie, for the actual narrative in the Word does not a two hour movie make! The speculation, however, was extra-biblical though certainly not UN-biblical. We all speculate on matters where the Bible remains silent…like wondering how Mary felt carrying our Lord in her womb…or what Joseph might have thought as he beheld his wife and her baby. Nothing wrong with that. But how does this movie do as far as Scriptural accuracy and proper portrayal of the main characters?
The movie does a good job of positively portraying the biblical characters and as I’ve already mentioned it gives us a peek into what Mary and Joseph MIGHT have thought as they went through all of the experiences they did.
What kind of people were they?
There is a scene, during the annunciation, when Mary kneels to the angel Gabriel…and she is not rebuked by him. She is not told not to kneel before a messenger nor is she told to never bend the knee to him again. However, her kneeling does NOT necessarily imply worship. Kneeling before a king, for example, does not imply worship so much as acknowledgment of power. In any case, I was bothered by this scene but cannot say for sure that the film makers intended to show Mary worshipping an angel.
In another scene, Mary is traveling to visit Elizabeth and along the way some men are seen running as they attempt to escape from the soldiers of Herod. The men are aided by other Jews who block the path to prevent the Herodian troops from catching the runners. The crowds shout out their trust that Messiah will come to deliver them from such oppression…I thought this scene did a good job of demonstrating exactly what it was the Jews of that age were expecting; a conquering, temporal, political redeemer rather than the Savior that was in their midst (within the womb of Mary).
A few other powerful scenes in the film include:
When Zechariah is struck dumb in the holy of holies
When Mary’s family finds out she is pregnant
There is also a scene where Joseph and Mary are sitting around talking…wondering what it will be like to be parents to the Son of God. Joseph wonders whether he will ever be able to teach anything to the child and Mary wonders at what point they will know that He knows that He is the Son of God…as I watched this scene I could well imagine them having had such a conversation in real life…for how could they not!
The worst scene for me, and it only lasted for a few seconds so even now I don’t know exactly what I saw…but it was when Joseph and Mary make their way into a city. This woman takes Mary by the hand and appears to read her future. As I said, the scene lasts seconds and from Mary’s puzzled look it is clear she herself doesn’t submit in any sense to what might have been a palm reading, but I found the scene totally unnecessary and I’m sorry that it was included. Without being able to read the script I cannot say what the director’s intention was with this scene but, again, it lasted all of 3 seconds so the reader must determine for him/herself whether to watch or not watch the film. I would not dare say to someone “don’t” because I myself am not sure what happened in that scene, and as I’ve said, the scene is pretty clear that Mary in no way sought nor approved of what the woman did to her.
This being December and with all of us preparing to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, I know many will turn to this movie. All I want to say is that I exhort every one of you, if you choose to watch the film, that afterwards you go to the Gospels and read them. Even though it was almost midnight when I finished watching the film, I stayed up an extra hour ‘cause I couldn’t stop reading! May the Lord bless each and every one of you and may you have a wonderful Christmas Day!
Monday, November 26, 2007
Acts 17:16-34
Read Acts 17:16-21
We see that as usual Paul must speak of His Lord. This is the One to whom he has given his life...this is his Lord and Savior...of course he will speak about him!
So he's waiting and he passes his time reasoning with those around him...
Notice how the learned ones respond in verses 18-20:
Now then...who were the Epicureans and the Stoics?
Epicureans:
Epicurus, the son of Neocles, who was born 342 years before Christ, and taught philosophy at Athens, in his garden; the principal tenets of which were, that the world was not made by any deity, or with any design, but came into its being and form, through a fortuitous concourse of atoms, of various sizes and magnitude, which met, and jumbled, and cemented together, and so formed the world; and that the world is not governed by the providence of God; for though he did not deny the being of God, yet he thought it below his notice, and beneath his majesty to concern himself with its affairs; and also, that the chief happiness of men lies in pleasure. His followers were called "Epicureans"; of which there have been two sorts; the one were called the strict or rigid "Epicureans", who placed all happiness in the pleasure of the mind, arising from the practice of moral virtue, and which is thought by some to be the true principle of "Epicureans"; the other were called the loose, or the remiss Epicureans, who understood their master in the gross sense, and placed all their happiness in the pleasure of the body, in brutal and sensual pleasure, in living a voluptuous life, in eating and drinking, &c. and this is the common notion imbibed of an Epicurean.
Stoics:
the author of this sect was Zeno, whose followers were so called from the Greek word "Stoa", which signifies a portico, or piazza, under which Zeno used to walk, and teach his philosophy, and where great numbers of disciples attended him, who from hence were called "Stoics": their chief tenets were, that there is but one God, and that the world was made by him, and is governed by fate; that happiness lies in virtue, and virtue has its own reward in itself; that all virtues are linked together, and all vices are equal; that a wise and good man is destitute of all passion, and uneasiness of mind, is always the same, and always joyful, and ever happy in the greatest torture, pain being no real evil; that the soul lives after the body, and that the world will be destroyed by fire.
One thing to realize about this passage is that the men questioning Paul are not just idly curious about what Paul believes...far from it. Note verse 18 in which they wonder whether Paul is a "proclaimer of foreign gods." Centuries before Paul, Socrates was charged with introducing new gods and corrupting the youth and was killed for it. So this was a very serious charge they contemplated against Paul...it also shows how clever Paul is in how he responds to them later on.
But for now...they certainly don't need to prod Paul very much to get Paul to speak about the One whom he loves, right? :)
So they ask him to explain himself and he proceeds to do so...
Read Acts 17:22-34
In vv. 22-24 we see that clever response right? How can they accuse him of proclaiming foreign or new gods when they themselves had an altar to the One whom He spoke about?
But Paul does not just point this out to escape death...we already know he's quite willing to die for his faith!
No, Paul also intends to truly preach to them the unknown God that has chosen to reveal Himself now through Paul!!
We see in vv. 24-31 the power of the Word preached!! O for such sermons from our pulpits! O for preachers who would not hesitate to proclaim our Lord! Regardless of their audience!
Let me touch on a topic we spent some time on last week...here Paul preaches powerfully and with conviction and with the attitude that the chips will fall wherever they will fall! But he does this to an audience that he knows may not agree with him!.
Why then does he do it? Is it not because of his desire to obey Christ? Did Jesus tell his disciples to bring salvation to people? Or did he tell them to proclaim the message of the cross and to call ALL people to repent? So Paul carries out his orders and trusts that the work of God will be done!!!
THEREFORE he does not care whom his audience is...because his marching orders did not tell him to worry about that!
As we discussed last week...it is one thing for us to be bold in a room full of people whom we know agree with us...try it when surrounded by those whom you are unsure of or whom you know will oppose you!!!
At any rate, Paul proclaims:
the omnipotence of God (v. 24)
the omnipresence of God (v. 27)
and
the omniscience of God (v. 31)
In short, Paul proclaims a Sovereign God...
And see now the response in verse 32:
The response is always the same isn't it? Some mock but some listen more closely...
This is why it is the message of the cross that is so important and not the messenger!
This is why it is so important for us to ground ourselves in the Word and not worry so much about methods...
Even though Dave is not here I know he would agree wholeheartedly with me when I say that Christianity is NOT a business and business models will NOT help the church to grow even ONE bit!! [to expalin...brother David is a business professor at a local college]
Why?
Because our job is to proclaim the message...God will do the growing!!
This is why Paul states the following in 1 Corinthians 3:5-7:
"Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase."
Note now how this chapter ends...we mentioned two responses above...those who mock and those who listen...and here in verse 34 we see the other one...those who believe.
If the conversion of men and women depended upon our own poor abilities...then we would have good reasons for despairing...
But brothers and sisters...WE are called to proclaim the Word and to call people to repent...let us strive to do so obediently. And to know that there is one book above all that we need to know...the Word of God! Our sword.
Amen?
Close with prayer
We see that as usual Paul must speak of His Lord. This is the One to whom he has given his life...this is his Lord and Savior...of course he will speak about him!
So he's waiting and he passes his time reasoning with those around him...
Notice how the learned ones respond in verses 18-20:
Now then...who were the Epicureans and the Stoics?
Epicureans:
Epicurus, the son of Neocles, who was born 342 years before Christ, and taught philosophy at Athens, in his garden; the principal tenets of which were, that the world was not made by any deity, or with any design, but came into its being and form, through a fortuitous concourse of atoms, of various sizes and magnitude, which met, and jumbled, and cemented together, and so formed the world; and that the world is not governed by the providence of God; for though he did not deny the being of God, yet he thought it below his notice, and beneath his majesty to concern himself with its affairs; and also, that the chief happiness of men lies in pleasure. His followers were called "Epicureans"; of which there have been two sorts; the one were called the strict or rigid "Epicureans", who placed all happiness in the pleasure of the mind, arising from the practice of moral virtue, and which is thought by some to be the true principle of "Epicureans"; the other were called the loose, or the remiss Epicureans, who understood their master in the gross sense, and placed all their happiness in the pleasure of the body, in brutal and sensual pleasure, in living a voluptuous life, in eating and drinking, &c. and this is the common notion imbibed of an Epicurean.
Stoics:
the author of this sect was Zeno, whose followers were so called from the Greek word "Stoa", which signifies a portico, or piazza, under which Zeno used to walk, and teach his philosophy, and where great numbers of disciples attended him, who from hence were called "Stoics": their chief tenets were, that there is but one God, and that the world was made by him, and is governed by fate; that happiness lies in virtue, and virtue has its own reward in itself; that all virtues are linked together, and all vices are equal; that a wise and good man is destitute of all passion, and uneasiness of mind, is always the same, and always joyful, and ever happy in the greatest torture, pain being no real evil; that the soul lives after the body, and that the world will be destroyed by fire.
One thing to realize about this passage is that the men questioning Paul are not just idly curious about what Paul believes...far from it. Note verse 18 in which they wonder whether Paul is a "proclaimer of foreign gods." Centuries before Paul, Socrates was charged with introducing new gods and corrupting the youth and was killed for it. So this was a very serious charge they contemplated against Paul...it also shows how clever Paul is in how he responds to them later on.
But for now...they certainly don't need to prod Paul very much to get Paul to speak about the One whom he loves, right? :)
So they ask him to explain himself and he proceeds to do so...
Read Acts 17:22-34
In vv. 22-24 we see that clever response right? How can they accuse him of proclaiming foreign or new gods when they themselves had an altar to the One whom He spoke about?
But Paul does not just point this out to escape death...we already know he's quite willing to die for his faith!
No, Paul also intends to truly preach to them the unknown God that has chosen to reveal Himself now through Paul!!
We see in vv. 24-31 the power of the Word preached!! O for such sermons from our pulpits! O for preachers who would not hesitate to proclaim our Lord! Regardless of their audience!
Let me touch on a topic we spent some time on last week...here Paul preaches powerfully and with conviction and with the attitude that the chips will fall wherever they will fall! But he does this to an audience that he knows may not agree with him!.
Why then does he do it? Is it not because of his desire to obey Christ? Did Jesus tell his disciples to bring salvation to people? Or did he tell them to proclaim the message of the cross and to call ALL people to repent? So Paul carries out his orders and trusts that the work of God will be done!!!
THEREFORE he does not care whom his audience is...because his marching orders did not tell him to worry about that!
As we discussed last week...it is one thing for us to be bold in a room full of people whom we know agree with us...try it when surrounded by those whom you are unsure of or whom you know will oppose you!!!
At any rate, Paul proclaims:
the omnipotence of God (v. 24)
the omnipresence of God (v. 27)
and
the omniscience of God (v. 31)
In short, Paul proclaims a Sovereign God...
And see now the response in verse 32:
The response is always the same isn't it? Some mock but some listen more closely...
This is why it is the message of the cross that is so important and not the messenger!
This is why it is so important for us to ground ourselves in the Word and not worry so much about methods...
Even though Dave is not here I know he would agree wholeheartedly with me when I say that Christianity is NOT a business and business models will NOT help the church to grow even ONE bit!! [to expalin...brother David is a business professor at a local college]
Why?
Because our job is to proclaim the message...God will do the growing!!
This is why Paul states the following in 1 Corinthians 3:5-7:
"Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase."
Note now how this chapter ends...we mentioned two responses above...those who mock and those who listen...and here in verse 34 we see the other one...those who believe.
If the conversion of men and women depended upon our own poor abilities...then we would have good reasons for despairing...
But brothers and sisters...WE are called to proclaim the Word and to call people to repent...let us strive to do so obediently. And to know that there is one book above all that we need to know...the Word of God! Our sword.
Amen?
Close with prayer
Acts 17:10-15
Read Acts 17:10-15
Let us focus for a moment on v. 11)
The Bereans are here lauded for questioning, for searching the Scriptures to test the words of the apostle...
An aside:
I was raised a nominal Catholic, by which I mean that I considered myself Catholic but rarely went to church. I remember, however, asking the adults questions about different things, such as the “holy water” or the need to go to confession, and being told to be quiet…to not ask questions. As a teenager, I studied with the Jehovah’s Witnesses because one of my sisters was a member of Watchtower. Same deal with them…I’d ask questions and be told to just be quiet. My sister once even told me I was possessed by Satan! I share this only because I want to tell you how important it is to question things…one of the things the Lord used to draw me to Himself was the fact that in real Christianity I have never been told to just shut up…and the more I study the Bible the more answers I get. This is a healthy thing because I have made this faith in Christ my own. He is my Lord not because my parents told me He was (they didn’t) but because He drew me to Himself!
Realize this:
We do not come to church, that is, we should not come to church, with a lazy attitude...even if you do not take notes from the pastors sermon...pay attention...not because you want to catch someone saying something wrong but because we cannot assume that everyone at all times will teach correctly. And do not take slips of the tongue as examples of bad teaching...but be sure to approach...to ask, to hold accountable those who teach and preach...do not be lazy Believers!
We do not come to church, indeed we should not come to church, with a lazy attitude...even if you do not take notes from the pastors sermon...pay attention...not because you want to catch someone saying something wrong but because we cannot assume that everyone at all times will teach correctly. And do not take slips of the tongue as examples of bad teaching...but be sure to approach...to ask, to hold accountable those who teach and preach...do not be lazy Believers.
Look now at verse 13...
These POOR men!! Those from Thessalonica HEAR about what's going on at Berea and go there...that's how much they hate the preaching of the Word!!! Wherever Paul and Silas (and Timothy) go they encounter persecution! What is most amazing is that this does not stop them from continuing their ministry!
Ask) Why not? Do they care so little for their own lives? What is motivating these men to press on in the face of beatings and the very real possibility of death? (Discuss)
Read Philippians 1:19-24; 17-18
These men continue to do as they do because they serve the Risen Christ!
What is death when one serves such a God? Wherever they go, they plant seeds and start churches!!! And they do it because it is their joy in the midst of tribulation to serve such a God!
Therefore, why fear death?
Therefore, hy fear the animosity of man?
Such fear is set on the back burner BECAUSE of the character of the One whom they proclaim to the people!!! And guess what? We serve the same God!!!
Where then is our boldness?
See now again, however, the manner in which the Jews reacted when they "learned that the word of God was preached..." They are mad! They stir up others against those who preached God's Word!
Recall Genesis 3:15
"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed."
Realize this: wherever the Word of God is preached...there Satan will have his forces ready to oppose and to sow deception and ill will towards those who proclaim the truth!
Again, we cannot help the fact that even as people are saved from their sin...others will oppose our efforts to evangelize them...so trust in God for your protection and be bold for His name's sake!! After all, remember what kind of God we serve!
Amen?
Let us focus for a moment on v. 11)
The Bereans are here lauded for questioning, for searching the Scriptures to test the words of the apostle...
An aside:
I was raised a nominal Catholic, by which I mean that I considered myself Catholic but rarely went to church. I remember, however, asking the adults questions about different things, such as the “holy water” or the need to go to confession, and being told to be quiet…to not ask questions. As a teenager, I studied with the Jehovah’s Witnesses because one of my sisters was a member of Watchtower. Same deal with them…I’d ask questions and be told to just be quiet. My sister once even told me I was possessed by Satan! I share this only because I want to tell you how important it is to question things…one of the things the Lord used to draw me to Himself was the fact that in real Christianity I have never been told to just shut up…and the more I study the Bible the more answers I get. This is a healthy thing because I have made this faith in Christ my own. He is my Lord not because my parents told me He was (they didn’t) but because He drew me to Himself!
Realize this:
We do not come to church, that is, we should not come to church, with a lazy attitude...even if you do not take notes from the pastors sermon...pay attention...not because you want to catch someone saying something wrong but because we cannot assume that everyone at all times will teach correctly. And do not take slips of the tongue as examples of bad teaching...but be sure to approach...to ask, to hold accountable those who teach and preach...do not be lazy Believers!
We do not come to church, indeed we should not come to church, with a lazy attitude...even if you do not take notes from the pastors sermon...pay attention...not because you want to catch someone saying something wrong but because we cannot assume that everyone at all times will teach correctly. And do not take slips of the tongue as examples of bad teaching...but be sure to approach...to ask, to hold accountable those who teach and preach...do not be lazy Believers.
Look now at verse 13...
These POOR men!! Those from Thessalonica HEAR about what's going on at Berea and go there...that's how much they hate the preaching of the Word!!! Wherever Paul and Silas (and Timothy) go they encounter persecution! What is most amazing is that this does not stop them from continuing their ministry!
Ask) Why not? Do they care so little for their own lives? What is motivating these men to press on in the face of beatings and the very real possibility of death? (Discuss)
Read Philippians 1:19-24; 17-18
These men continue to do as they do because they serve the Risen Christ!
What is death when one serves such a God? Wherever they go, they plant seeds and start churches!!! And they do it because it is their joy in the midst of tribulation to serve such a God!
Therefore, why fear death?
Therefore, hy fear the animosity of man?
Such fear is set on the back burner BECAUSE of the character of the One whom they proclaim to the people!!! And guess what? We serve the same God!!!
Where then is our boldness?
See now again, however, the manner in which the Jews reacted when they "learned that the word of God was preached..." They are mad! They stir up others against those who preached God's Word!
Recall Genesis 3:15
"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed."
Realize this: wherever the Word of God is preached...there Satan will have his forces ready to oppose and to sow deception and ill will towards those who proclaim the truth!
Again, we cannot help the fact that even as people are saved from their sin...others will oppose our efforts to evangelize them...so trust in God for your protection and be bold for His name's sake!! After all, remember what kind of God we serve!
Amen?
Acts 17:1-9
Read Acts 17:1-9
We see in this section Paul the evangelist at work. He does not hold back from telling the message that he carries...regardless of his audience! No, he reasons (dialegomai) with the Jews in their own synagogue, and you will note that of course his main message is Christ...
Brothers and sisters...the focus and the purpose of all true evangelical work is to bring the sinner face to face with the Person of Jesus Christ!
And by what method does Paul do this?
"He reasoned with them from the Scriptures..."
In other words, he used sacred text to show how Jesus was the One whom they should have recognized! He used sacred text to show that the suffering, the death, and the resurrection of Christ were foretold! Verses such as these demonstrate to us why it is so important to rely on the Word of God for all of our witnessing. We don't need silly gimmicks or anything other than the Word of God! Do you know why? Because it is the Word itself that is "living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword..." I have said it before and I will say it ever more...it is NOT our presentation of the gospel that works in the heart of people, it is the Word! But today we have chosen too often to rely on other things. My wife attended a women's gathering at a church we used to belong to where they had a missionary share his experiences. This saint was called to the Middle East and shared his experiences there. During the question and answer session, one of the ladies asked him what tools he used in order to share his faith...after a temporary moment of puzzlement, this worthy Believer responded that he used the Bible (i'm sure in his mind he was thinking, "DUH!"). Some of the ladies present seemed put off by the fact that he did not use one of the myriad of tools available for "reaching the lost" such as the evangi-cube, or some other silly thing.
But you know what? Relying on the Bible means more than just having it with you so that you can open it up...we should also know what the Word of God says and be intimately familiar with it so that we too can reason from it!!
Getting back to our text, we see the result of Pauls' reasoning with the Word:
Some believe, come to faith, and the church at Thessalonica is born! See however, what happens in verse 5)
[We don't know much about Jason, but we must assume that he was a Believer and the one hosting Paul and his companions.]
Once again, those who do not come to faith are angry! And so they seek the men to try and drag them into the clutches of the aroused mob...a lynch mob if ever there was one.
Realize this brothers and sisters: When we teach the Word, when we share the Gospel with family, friends, and neighbors...by the grace of God some will believe...but not all of them. And of those who don't...many will feel animosity towards you. Not because you have been out of line, but simply because the truth is a "stumbling stone and a rock of offense" to those who don't believe (1 Peter 2:8). It dares to challenge their view of themselves as inherently good...you know this to be true.
Pastor Kevin L. Smith delivered a sermon at Southern Seminary in which he exhorted the student body to be bold. He challenged them by telling them that they had nothing to lose by being bold in sharing their faith...he said that those who are true Believers that love the Lord are ALREADY thought of as different anyhow! People are going dislike us anyway...why not be disliked while being bold and never hesitating to tell the Truth of Jesus Christ??? I myself at work have a co-worker who seems to enjoy putting down the Christian faith...so what do I have to lose right? He already has a hostile attitude towards me...why then should I ever hesitate to be anything less than bold with him? Amen?
But note now verse 6)
Since the ones they want cannot be found...they turn on Jason and others and take them before authorities...
But look at what they say..."These who have turned the world upside down..." Here they are referring to Paul, Silas, Timothy, and possibly others whom they have heard of...who are passionately preaching the Gospel wherever they are at...
In what way was the world being turned upside down?
The message of the cross was radical...and it was a call to a radical style of living...we are called to a different mindset! Read Romans 12:1-2
We need to be so very different than the world around us and if we are not...then in what way are we turning the world upside down?
But to return to the question above: In what way did these men turn the world upside down?
Matthew Henry wrote the following:
In one sense it is true that wherever the gospel comes in its power to any place, to any soul, it works such a change there, gives such a wide change to the stream, so directly contrary to what it was, that it may be said to turn the world upside down in that place, in that soul. The love of the world is rooted out of the heart, and the way of the world contradicted in the life; so that the world [is] turned upside down there. But in the sense in which they meant it, it is utterly false; they would have it thought that the preachers of the gospel were incendiaries and mischief makers wherever they came, that they sowed discord among relations, set neighbours together by the ears, obstructed commerce, and inverted all order and regularity. Because they persuaded people to turn from vice to virtue, from idols to the living and true God, from malice and envy to love and peace, they are charged with turning the world upside down, when it was only the kingdom of the devil in the world that they thus overturned.
So the world is turned upside down by the radical manner in which the Holy Spirit changes lives, and I say without any reservation that whenever a lost person is found and saved...that one is never the same again! Not only positionally (as in headed to heaven rather than hell) but also in practice of life...because for the Believer, the practice of holiness is an essential part of the new life in Christ!
Look now at v. 7)
"acting contrary to Caesar..."
Because our first and foremost allegiance is to Christ our Lord...the authorities that demand our allegiance will always suspect us.
Because Christ is our only King, the world will have reason to suppress our faith. (mention Am. rebellion's motto "No King but King Jesus!")
Because we obey God rather than man, there will always be Christians in the prisons of the world.
While I have often said that we as American Christians have it rather easy...I do not believe it will always be the case...and one of the things that will set our countrymen against us is that our motto is NOT "My country right or wrong" but "Christ Alone!"
Amen?
Let us pray
We see in this section Paul the evangelist at work. He does not hold back from telling the message that he carries...regardless of his audience! No, he reasons (dialegomai) with the Jews in their own synagogue, and you will note that of course his main message is Christ...
Brothers and sisters...the focus and the purpose of all true evangelical work is to bring the sinner face to face with the Person of Jesus Christ!
And by what method does Paul do this?
"He reasoned with them from the Scriptures..."
In other words, he used sacred text to show how Jesus was the One whom they should have recognized! He used sacred text to show that the suffering, the death, and the resurrection of Christ were foretold! Verses such as these demonstrate to us why it is so important to rely on the Word of God for all of our witnessing. We don't need silly gimmicks or anything other than the Word of God! Do you know why? Because it is the Word itself that is "living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword..." I have said it before and I will say it ever more...it is NOT our presentation of the gospel that works in the heart of people, it is the Word! But today we have chosen too often to rely on other things. My wife attended a women's gathering at a church we used to belong to where they had a missionary share his experiences. This saint was called to the Middle East and shared his experiences there. During the question and answer session, one of the ladies asked him what tools he used in order to share his faith...after a temporary moment of puzzlement, this worthy Believer responded that he used the Bible (i'm sure in his mind he was thinking, "DUH!"). Some of the ladies present seemed put off by the fact that he did not use one of the myriad of tools available for "reaching the lost" such as the evangi-cube, or some other silly thing.
But you know what? Relying on the Bible means more than just having it with you so that you can open it up...we should also know what the Word of God says and be intimately familiar with it so that we too can reason from it!!
Getting back to our text, we see the result of Pauls' reasoning with the Word:
Some believe, come to faith, and the church at Thessalonica is born! See however, what happens in verse 5)
[We don't know much about Jason, but we must assume that he was a Believer and the one hosting Paul and his companions.]
Once again, those who do not come to faith are angry! And so they seek the men to try and drag them into the clutches of the aroused mob...a lynch mob if ever there was one.
Realize this brothers and sisters: When we teach the Word, when we share the Gospel with family, friends, and neighbors...by the grace of God some will believe...but not all of them. And of those who don't...many will feel animosity towards you. Not because you have been out of line, but simply because the truth is a "stumbling stone and a rock of offense" to those who don't believe (1 Peter 2:8). It dares to challenge their view of themselves as inherently good...you know this to be true.
Pastor Kevin L. Smith delivered a sermon at Southern Seminary in which he exhorted the student body to be bold. He challenged them by telling them that they had nothing to lose by being bold in sharing their faith...he said that those who are true Believers that love the Lord are ALREADY thought of as different anyhow! People are going dislike us anyway...why not be disliked while being bold and never hesitating to tell the Truth of Jesus Christ??? I myself at work have a co-worker who seems to enjoy putting down the Christian faith...so what do I have to lose right? He already has a hostile attitude towards me...why then should I ever hesitate to be anything less than bold with him? Amen?
But note now verse 6)
Since the ones they want cannot be found...they turn on Jason and others and take them before authorities...
But look at what they say..."These who have turned the world upside down..." Here they are referring to Paul, Silas, Timothy, and possibly others whom they have heard of...who are passionately preaching the Gospel wherever they are at...
In what way was the world being turned upside down?
The message of the cross was radical...and it was a call to a radical style of living...we are called to a different mindset! Read Romans 12:1-2
We need to be so very different than the world around us and if we are not...then in what way are we turning the world upside down?
But to return to the question above: In what way did these men turn the world upside down?
Matthew Henry wrote the following:
In one sense it is true that wherever the gospel comes in its power to any place, to any soul, it works such a change there, gives such a wide change to the stream, so directly contrary to what it was, that it may be said to turn the world upside down in that place, in that soul. The love of the world is rooted out of the heart, and the way of the world contradicted in the life; so that the world [is] turned upside down there. But in the sense in which they meant it, it is utterly false; they would have it thought that the preachers of the gospel were incendiaries and mischief makers wherever they came, that they sowed discord among relations, set neighbours together by the ears, obstructed commerce, and inverted all order and regularity. Because they persuaded people to turn from vice to virtue, from idols to the living and true God, from malice and envy to love and peace, they are charged with turning the world upside down, when it was only the kingdom of the devil in the world that they thus overturned.
So the world is turned upside down by the radical manner in which the Holy Spirit changes lives, and I say without any reservation that whenever a lost person is found and saved...that one is never the same again! Not only positionally (as in headed to heaven rather than hell) but also in practice of life...because for the Believer, the practice of holiness is an essential part of the new life in Christ!
Look now at v. 7)
"acting contrary to Caesar..."
Because our first and foremost allegiance is to Christ our Lord...the authorities that demand our allegiance will always suspect us.
Because Christ is our only King, the world will have reason to suppress our faith. (mention Am. rebellion's motto "No King but King Jesus!")
Because we obey God rather than man, there will always be Christians in the prisons of the world.
While I have often said that we as American Christians have it rather easy...I do not believe it will always be the case...and one of the things that will set our countrymen against us is that our motto is NOT "My country right or wrong" but "Christ Alone!"
Amen?
Let us pray
Sunday, November 25, 2007
"Why Government Can't Save You: An Alternative to Political Activism" by John MacArthur
ISBN #0-8499-5555-6
I finished reading this book a couple of weeks ago and it gave me much to think about. I highly recommend it to everyone who professes Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives, but especially to those who have immersed themselves in political activism.
The main objective of the book is to confront the Believer with what Scripture says about the things that should take up most of our time. Along with this is a call to a zealousness for Christ rather than a zeal for causes. MacArthur says: "...well-meaning Christians have founded a number of evangelical activist organizations and put millions of dollars into them in an ill-conceived effort to counteract the secular undermining of American culture. They have used these groups...to lobby hard for a "Christian" political viewpoint and fight against the prevailing anti-Christian culture. Sadly, those believers have often displayed mean-spirited attitudes and utilized the same kinds of worldly tactics as their unbelieving opponents. The problem with this overall approach should be obvious-believers become antagonistic toward the very lost people God has called them to love and reach with the gospel." [emphasis mine]
I have personally observed what MacArthur describes. At my place of employment there was a controversy over some material and what made me the saddest was to see the manner in which those of the faith represented themselves. Things were said and done that led my non believing co-workers to ask me why Christians would behave in such a manner. I defended what I thought was worthy of defending and apologized for my fellow Believers where I felt it was appropriate to do so. And do you know what? At no time did my c0-workers have any doubt as to how I felt about the material in question. Sharing my faith did not require me to become political any more than it require me to compromise on my standards.
Anyhow, MacArthur does well in pointing out that Jesus and the early church lived in a time when the government was a tyrannical oppresive form...yet nowhere did Jesus or the early church fathers call for a revolution against such a government...on the contrary, they called upon Christians to submit to the authorities! To obey the laws of the land. Now then, before someone gets too upset...do we not have a right to protest or tell our government how we feel about its policies? Of course! That is not the issue here...the issue is HOW we do so. Do we do it while submitting to their authority in respect? Let me close with an example that I've been giving much thought to.
Everyone in the Treasure Valley well remembers the controversy over the removal of the Ten
Commandments monument in Boise i'm sure. There were protests and there were people who locked arms to attempt to prevent the removal of the monument by the authorities. Think about this...was it necessary to break the law in order to communicate to the authorities how we felt about this? Imagine how greater the impact would have been on our community if those worthy Believers had instead gone on their knees to the side of the monument and bowed in audible prayer...prayed for the salvation of the people in authority, prayed for those who had demanded the removal of the monument, prayed for the blessings of God upon the city, prayed for a civic change of heart, and prayed God to forgive all those involved...all the while also asking blessings upon the workers who were removing the monument. What kind of positive impact do you think this would have made? What would the world have seen? Christians obeying the governing authorities while at the same time protesting their policies! And you know what? God did not suffer a setback with the removal of the monument. God's game plan did not suffer! So let us stop pretending that He needs our help and go about the task of witnessing to our friends and family, our co-workers and neighbors...doing the work that He has called us to do. Because THAT is what will change our society in the end!
Amen?
Oh yeah...read the book! :)
I finished reading this book a couple of weeks ago and it gave me much to think about. I highly recommend it to everyone who professes Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives, but especially to those who have immersed themselves in political activism.
The main objective of the book is to confront the Believer with what Scripture says about the things that should take up most of our time. Along with this is a call to a zealousness for Christ rather than a zeal for causes. MacArthur says: "...well-meaning Christians have founded a number of evangelical activist organizations and put millions of dollars into them in an ill-conceived effort to counteract the secular undermining of American culture. They have used these groups...to lobby hard for a "Christian" political viewpoint and fight against the prevailing anti-Christian culture. Sadly, those believers have often displayed mean-spirited attitudes and utilized the same kinds of worldly tactics as their unbelieving opponents. The problem with this overall approach should be obvious-believers become antagonistic toward the very lost people God has called them to love and reach with the gospel." [emphasis mine]
I have personally observed what MacArthur describes. At my place of employment there was a controversy over some material and what made me the saddest was to see the manner in which those of the faith represented themselves. Things were said and done that led my non believing co-workers to ask me why Christians would behave in such a manner. I defended what I thought was worthy of defending and apologized for my fellow Believers where I felt it was appropriate to do so. And do you know what? At no time did my c0-workers have any doubt as to how I felt about the material in question. Sharing my faith did not require me to become political any more than it require me to compromise on my standards.
Anyhow, MacArthur does well in pointing out that Jesus and the early church lived in a time when the government was a tyrannical oppresive form...yet nowhere did Jesus or the early church fathers call for a revolution against such a government...on the contrary, they called upon Christians to submit to the authorities! To obey the laws of the land. Now then, before someone gets too upset...do we not have a right to protest or tell our government how we feel about its policies? Of course! That is not the issue here...the issue is HOW we do so. Do we do it while submitting to their authority in respect? Let me close with an example that I've been giving much thought to.
Everyone in the Treasure Valley well remembers the controversy over the removal of the Ten
Commandments monument in Boise i'm sure. There were protests and there were people who locked arms to attempt to prevent the removal of the monument by the authorities. Think about this...was it necessary to break the law in order to communicate to the authorities how we felt about this? Imagine how greater the impact would have been on our community if those worthy Believers had instead gone on their knees to the side of the monument and bowed in audible prayer...prayed for the salvation of the people in authority, prayed for those who had demanded the removal of the monument, prayed for the blessings of God upon the city, prayed for a civic change of heart, and prayed God to forgive all those involved...all the while also asking blessings upon the workers who were removing the monument. What kind of positive impact do you think this would have made? What would the world have seen? Christians obeying the governing authorities while at the same time protesting their policies! And you know what? God did not suffer a setback with the removal of the monument. God's game plan did not suffer! So let us stop pretending that He needs our help and go about the task of witnessing to our friends and family, our co-workers and neighbors...doing the work that He has called us to do. Because THAT is what will change our society in the end!
Amen?
Oh yeah...read the book! :)
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Suffering and His glory
Last night I finished reading through the book of Job and I just had one thought I wanted to share with all of you:
None of us deny that Job was an amazing man, and I for one look forward to meeting him. One thing that really touched me was the classic verses in Job 1:21, in which Job reacts to news that his children have perished..."Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away: Blessed be the name of the LORD"
Did you catch that? ..."the LORD has taken away, Blessed be the name of the LORD"!
You know I've thought much on this matter, and all I can say is that the loss of my children is THE most terrible loss that I can imagine experiencing...in the flesh, I know that I would lose my mind with grief. Yet my prayer, dear brothers and sisters, is that God will not find me wanting if He ever chooses to test me in this matter. I pray that I will echo the words of Job, that while my children lie in their graves I will turn to Him for comfort and for solace. I pray that my hope is not a shallow one, that my confidence in eternity and in His promises is not so meaningless that the flesh will win out and my mind be lost to grief.
All of you, I'm sure, are familiar with the story of how "It is well with my soul" was written. Wheneve I think of it I cannot help but shed tears because there was another man who exhibited by his testimony that He had real and true confidence in the Lord. For those of you who don't know the story, here goes:
This hymn was written after several traumatic events in Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his only son in 1871, shortly followed by the great Chicago Fire which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer). Then in 1873, he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the S.S. Ville Du Havre, but sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with another ship, and all four of Spafford's daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, "Saved alone." Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.
It Is Well With My Soul
When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,Is nailed to the cross,
and I bear it no more,Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Horatio Spafford
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Is_Well_With_My_Soul]
Isn't that amazing? God grant that, in all things, every one of us would give you praise, and glory, and honor. And may our lives be so in line with your Word that whatever comes our way, we can say together with the saints that have gone before us, "Blessed be the name of the LORD"
There is another thought, however, that I wish to share with you. Throughout the book of Job he must endure the advice of his friends. Yet after Elihu's words, God Himself addresses Job. Beginning in chapter 38 and continuing through 41, God does not explain Himself to Job...He does not reveal to him why he has had to endure the suffering that he has...NO! Far from it. God questions Job and says, if I may paraphrase, "who do you think YOU are to question Me?"
What is Job's response to the revealed majesty of God? In Job 41:2-6 we find the following:
"I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, "Who is this who hides counsel without knowledege?" Therefore I have uttered what I do not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You said "I will question you, and you shall answer Me." [here comes the best part!] I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor [or despise] myself, and repent in dust and ashes."
Do you get that? Job does not say, "fine then! don't answer my question, see if I care!" NO! Upon hearing God and witnessing through His words the revealed majesty of Almighty God, Job says "Therefore I abhor myself, and repent..." Why does he despise himself? Hint: See Isaiah 6:1-5
How can we who are sinful creatures stand before a Holy God? We cannot! Stnading before the majesty, the glory, the holiness of our Master we recognize how terrible indeed our sin is...and we recognize what a terrible thing it was for God Himself to come down from heaven, take human flesh upon Himself, live a perfect life, and suffer the penalty that we should rightly suffer! We recognize what a terrible thing and what a beautiful thing that is as well...do we not? Brothers and sisters...do we love our Redeemer? May the answer of every heart be yes...may we never fail to appreciate what it was that was accomplished on that terrible cross when the One True God was put to death by mankind! What a glorious, merciful and loving God we serve!
Amen?
None of us deny that Job was an amazing man, and I for one look forward to meeting him. One thing that really touched me was the classic verses in Job 1:21, in which Job reacts to news that his children have perished..."Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away: Blessed be the name of the LORD"
Did you catch that? ..."the LORD has taken away, Blessed be the name of the LORD"!
You know I've thought much on this matter, and all I can say is that the loss of my children is THE most terrible loss that I can imagine experiencing...in the flesh, I know that I would lose my mind with grief. Yet my prayer, dear brothers and sisters, is that God will not find me wanting if He ever chooses to test me in this matter. I pray that I will echo the words of Job, that while my children lie in their graves I will turn to Him for comfort and for solace. I pray that my hope is not a shallow one, that my confidence in eternity and in His promises is not so meaningless that the flesh will win out and my mind be lost to grief.
All of you, I'm sure, are familiar with the story of how "It is well with my soul" was written. Wheneve I think of it I cannot help but shed tears because there was another man who exhibited by his testimony that He had real and true confidence in the Lord. For those of you who don't know the story, here goes:
This hymn was written after several traumatic events in Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his only son in 1871, shortly followed by the great Chicago Fire which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer). Then in 1873, he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the S.S. Ville Du Havre, but sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with another ship, and all four of Spafford's daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, "Saved alone." Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.
It Is Well With My Soul
When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,Is nailed to the cross,
and I bear it no more,Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Horatio Spafford
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Is_Well_With_My_Soul]
Isn't that amazing? God grant that, in all things, every one of us would give you praise, and glory, and honor. And may our lives be so in line with your Word that whatever comes our way, we can say together with the saints that have gone before us, "Blessed be the name of the LORD"
There is another thought, however, that I wish to share with you. Throughout the book of Job he must endure the advice of his friends. Yet after Elihu's words, God Himself addresses Job. Beginning in chapter 38 and continuing through 41, God does not explain Himself to Job...He does not reveal to him why he has had to endure the suffering that he has...NO! Far from it. God questions Job and says, if I may paraphrase, "who do you think YOU are to question Me?"
What is Job's response to the revealed majesty of God? In Job 41:2-6 we find the following:
"I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, "Who is this who hides counsel without knowledege?" Therefore I have uttered what I do not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You said "I will question you, and you shall answer Me." [here comes the best part!] I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor [or despise] myself, and repent in dust and ashes."
Do you get that? Job does not say, "fine then! don't answer my question, see if I care!" NO! Upon hearing God and witnessing through His words the revealed majesty of Almighty God, Job says "Therefore I abhor myself, and repent..." Why does he despise himself? Hint: See Isaiah 6:1-5
How can we who are sinful creatures stand before a Holy God? We cannot! Stnading before the majesty, the glory, the holiness of our Master we recognize how terrible indeed our sin is...and we recognize what a terrible thing it was for God Himself to come down from heaven, take human flesh upon Himself, live a perfect life, and suffer the penalty that we should rightly suffer! We recognize what a terrible thing and what a beautiful thing that is as well...do we not? Brothers and sisters...do we love our Redeemer? May the answer of every heart be yes...may we never fail to appreciate what it was that was accomplished on that terrible cross when the One True God was put to death by mankind! What a glorious, merciful and loving God we serve!
Amen?
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
My Letter was Published!
Hello everyone!
In the July 15th, 2007 edition of the Library Journal there was a letter to the editor that lambasted Christians for challenging books in a library somewhere in the South. The writer, a professor at a local college, was pretty upset over this and the following is what he wrote:
-- Library Journal, 7/15/2007
Red State “Christians”
It seemed rather insane when Southerners overreacted to John Lennon's statement about Jesus. After recently reviewing his remarks on a video, I have concluded that he was stating a fact and never intended to elevate the Beatles to a divine level. Those of us who grew up in the “Blue” states were reasonable enough to realize this.
Today, we have supposed Christians in the South overreacting to material in public libraries. The most recent is a father claiming his sons had “sleepless nights” after reading a public library book about lesbian sex (“'Obscene' PL Book on Lesbian Sex?” LJ 5/15/07, p. 19). I recall having sleepless nights as a child, after reading or viewing thriller, suspense, or mystery books and movies. No one thought anything about that. I recall having sleepless nights when a video depicted a live decapitation. These scenes are played over and over on the Internet, but I hear nothing about this. Yet a book about sex and love? How absurd.
This is not government censorship but censorship by private groups, so there is nothing we can do? That is, until the Christian right wing wears us all down (and the government, too), so that we all abide by their viewing habits? I resent what these narrow-minded Red State “Christians” are doing to America.—Douglas W. Cornwell, Assoc. Prof., Palm Beach Community Coll., Lake Worth, FL
The link to the online letter is: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6457210.html
Anyhow, for the obvious reasons I took exception to the letter and its tone and so I wrote in my own letter to the editor, which I was pleased to have published in the October 15th, 2007 edition of the magazine. The letter was not published in its entirety, but that is understandable due to space constraints. The following is what was published:
Patrons have the right
I take exception to Douglas Cornwell's angry and...intolerant views toward “Christians” (“Red State 'Christians,'” Feedback, LJ 7/07, p. 10).... Why are Christians considered “narrow-minded”? Is it merely because they hold an opinion that is contrary to his own? I fear for the day when librarians and library support workers are unable to hold a normal conversation with those with whom they disagree....
Library patrons...have the right to question material, and we should not become defensive or angry when they do so. If we don't want the public to have any input in what we...do, we should remove the process that permits them to do so and be intellectually honest enough to stop accepting public funds....
Whatever we may think of him and his claims...a patron, a taxpayer, and a fellow citizen has every right to hold and voice his opinions....—Ezequiel Luna, Lib. Assoc., Nampa, ID
In the July 15th, 2007 edition of the Library Journal there was a letter to the editor that lambasted Christians for challenging books in a library somewhere in the South. The writer, a professor at a local college, was pretty upset over this and the following is what he wrote:
-- Library Journal, 7/15/2007
Red State “Christians”
It seemed rather insane when Southerners overreacted to John Lennon's statement about Jesus. After recently reviewing his remarks on a video, I have concluded that he was stating a fact and never intended to elevate the Beatles to a divine level. Those of us who grew up in the “Blue” states were reasonable enough to realize this.
Today, we have supposed Christians in the South overreacting to material in public libraries. The most recent is a father claiming his sons had “sleepless nights” after reading a public library book about lesbian sex (“'Obscene' PL Book on Lesbian Sex?” LJ 5/15/07, p. 19). I recall having sleepless nights as a child, after reading or viewing thriller, suspense, or mystery books and movies. No one thought anything about that. I recall having sleepless nights when a video depicted a live decapitation. These scenes are played over and over on the Internet, but I hear nothing about this. Yet a book about sex and love? How absurd.
This is not government censorship but censorship by private groups, so there is nothing we can do? That is, until the Christian right wing wears us all down (and the government, too), so that we all abide by their viewing habits? I resent what these narrow-minded Red State “Christians” are doing to America.—Douglas W. Cornwell, Assoc. Prof., Palm Beach Community Coll., Lake Worth, FL
The link to the online letter is: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6457210.html
Anyhow, for the obvious reasons I took exception to the letter and its tone and so I wrote in my own letter to the editor, which I was pleased to have published in the October 15th, 2007 edition of the magazine. The letter was not published in its entirety, but that is understandable due to space constraints. The following is what was published:
Patrons have the right
I take exception to Douglas Cornwell's angry and...intolerant views toward “Christians” (“Red State 'Christians,'” Feedback, LJ 7/07, p. 10).... Why are Christians considered “narrow-minded”? Is it merely because they hold an opinion that is contrary to his own? I fear for the day when librarians and library support workers are unable to hold a normal conversation with those with whom they disagree....
Library patrons...have the right to question material, and we should not become defensive or angry when they do so. If we don't want the public to have any input in what we...do, we should remove the process that permits them to do so and be intellectually honest enough to stop accepting public funds....
Whatever we may think of him and his claims...a patron, a taxpayer, and a fellow citizen has every right to hold and voice his opinions....—Ezequiel Luna, Lib. Assoc., Nampa, ID
The link to my letter is: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6490642.html You'll need to scroll down as it is the third letter published.
Here is the full text that I sent in to the editor:
I would like to address the letter submitted by Mr. Douglas W. Cornwell of Lake Worth, Florida:
I take exception to Mr. Cornwell’s angry and, ironically enough, intolerant views towards “Christians” (his use of quotation marks speaks volumes about his attitude). First off, why are Christians considered “narrow-minded”? Is it merely because they hold an opinion that is contrary to his own? I fear for the day when Librarians and library support workers are unable to hold a normal conversation with those whom they disagree with…or is that day already here?
At any rate, library customers or patrons (whatever term you use for them!) have the right to question material and we should not become defensive or angry when they do so. If we don’t want the public to have any input in what we as information professionals do, then we should remove the process which permits them to do so, and while we’re at it we should be intellectually honest enough to stop accepting public funds from the very people whose input we seem to resent.
Ultimately, the issue here is not whether that gentleman had a valid concern over the book that supposedly caused his son’s “sleepness nights,” but whether he had/has the right to bring those concerns to the attention of library personnel. Whatever we may think of him and his claims, his religion or lack thereof is irrelevant. He is first and foremost a patron, a taxpayer, and a fellow citizen with every right to hold and voice his opinions.
At any rate, the content of Mr. Cornwell’s letter made it pretty obvious what his attitude is towards Christians, but his divisive comments have no place in a public library. As a Christian myself, I recognize my job is to help a customer/patron find the information s/he needs or wants. If and when I am asked to assist someone find information that I find personally offensive, I direct them to it in as pleasant and professional a manner as with ANY other person. Isn’t that what we claim is our job?
Ezequiel Luna
Library Associate
Nampa, Idaho
I think it was pretty cool that it got published and I'm sure that in the next few issues I might get some uncharitable feedback from others but oh well. I said what I needed to say and that's that right? May He receive the honor and the glory through it all.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Iniquity in the Body stains us all
This morning I read the book of Ezra and this evening I shall begin reading Nehemiah.
As I ponder the words of the prophet I was struck by his anguish at the sin of his brethren. Upon hearing that the people have disobeyed the Lord, we read his words as follows, "So when I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and plucked out some of the hair of my head and beard, and sat down astonished" (Ezra 9:3). Later, as he stands before the people who have sinned, he writes the following, "At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God. And I said: "O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens..." (Ezra 9:5-6).
The first thing I thought about as I read this portion was how Ezra suffered personal anguish over the sin of those around him. How judgmental of him don't you think? That, at least, is what too many Believers today would have us think. When we express anguish today at the sin of brothers and sisters in the Lord we are immediatly accused of judging or of having a critical spirit. The crowds will surround the unrepentant sinner and envelop him within their protective clutches, all the while sending wounded glares at the one who has dared point out the sin. Trust me, I've seen it happen time and time again. But you know what? There is nothing wrong with being disappointed in the sin of those around us who profess our Lord and Savior as their own. It is not judgmental to do so. We SHOULD be astonished at the sin around us...the sin of the Believers because the sin of the world is to be expected! We do no wrong to approach the one in sin.
Do you know what the key thing is? When we anguish over the sin of another Believer we don't do it because it offends our own sensibilities...no, we feel the anguish...we tear our robes...we pull the hairs from our beard and our hair because it is an offense against the One and True Living God of the universe! We should love God so much that sin against His precious Person drives us to anguish! Like Ezra, we too should be astonished when we witness the sin of brothers and sisters in the Lord....how could such a people, delivered from bondage to sin and now joyfully enslaved to righteousness...how could such a people embrace sin? And have no doubts my brethren...when the Believer sins he does it with eyes wide open.
Ezra says "I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift my face to You, my God..." Ezra is ashamed and humiliated! Why? Brothers and sisters...understand this well: For us to condone sin in our midst is for us to spit in the face of God!! Ponder that thought for a moment. To condone iniquity in the Holy Body of Christ is to take His sacrifice on the cross lightly. We should be ashamed and humiliated when a local body of Believers embraces the unrepentant rather than reprove them. What a terrible witness we bear to the lost when we say to them that they must repent of their sin, yet we elevate sinners in our midst to positions of authority and then protect them at all costs. Shame on us all!!
But note the words of Ezra again..."our iniquities have risen higher than our heads and our guilt has grown up to the heavens..."
"OUR iniquities"..."OUR guilt"
Do you see why there is anguish in Ezra? Do you see why we too need to express remorse, anguish, and humiliation? Brothers and sisters...I say it again, iniquity in the Body stains us all!!!
The sin of one in our midst reflects badly on us all...it stains us all. We must exhort, reprove, and encourage one another because when one of us stumbles it brings a reproach upon the name of God if we don't pick him up as best we can...through exhortation or through reproval. Let us not glare at the one picking up the one who stumbles while we pretend he did not stumble...to do so is a reproach to our God.
Lest any of you think I speak as if I think I am without sin...let me assure you this is not the case. I speak as one who has sinned and sinned and has had at least one person hold me strictly accountable. My life is quite frankly an open book...what you see is what you get. See me in sin? Come to me as you should and confront me with it. Be an Ezra to me. God forbid that I fail to repent.
Be jealous for His glory my brethren.
Amen?
As I ponder the words of the prophet I was struck by his anguish at the sin of his brethren. Upon hearing that the people have disobeyed the Lord, we read his words as follows, "So when I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and plucked out some of the hair of my head and beard, and sat down astonished" (Ezra 9:3). Later, as he stands before the people who have sinned, he writes the following, "At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God. And I said: "O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens..." (Ezra 9:5-6).
The first thing I thought about as I read this portion was how Ezra suffered personal anguish over the sin of those around him. How judgmental of him don't you think? That, at least, is what too many Believers today would have us think. When we express anguish today at the sin of brothers and sisters in the Lord we are immediatly accused of judging or of having a critical spirit. The crowds will surround the unrepentant sinner and envelop him within their protective clutches, all the while sending wounded glares at the one who has dared point out the sin. Trust me, I've seen it happen time and time again. But you know what? There is nothing wrong with being disappointed in the sin of those around us who profess our Lord and Savior as their own. It is not judgmental to do so. We SHOULD be astonished at the sin around us...the sin of the Believers because the sin of the world is to be expected! We do no wrong to approach the one in sin.
Do you know what the key thing is? When we anguish over the sin of another Believer we don't do it because it offends our own sensibilities...no, we feel the anguish...we tear our robes...we pull the hairs from our beard and our hair because it is an offense against the One and True Living God of the universe! We should love God so much that sin against His precious Person drives us to anguish! Like Ezra, we too should be astonished when we witness the sin of brothers and sisters in the Lord....how could such a people, delivered from bondage to sin and now joyfully enslaved to righteousness...how could such a people embrace sin? And have no doubts my brethren...when the Believer sins he does it with eyes wide open.
Ezra says "I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift my face to You, my God..." Ezra is ashamed and humiliated! Why? Brothers and sisters...understand this well: For us to condone sin in our midst is for us to spit in the face of God!! Ponder that thought for a moment. To condone iniquity in the Holy Body of Christ is to take His sacrifice on the cross lightly. We should be ashamed and humiliated when a local body of Believers embraces the unrepentant rather than reprove them. What a terrible witness we bear to the lost when we say to them that they must repent of their sin, yet we elevate sinners in our midst to positions of authority and then protect them at all costs. Shame on us all!!
But note the words of Ezra again..."our iniquities have risen higher than our heads and our guilt has grown up to the heavens..."
"OUR iniquities"..."OUR guilt"
Do you see why there is anguish in Ezra? Do you see why we too need to express remorse, anguish, and humiliation? Brothers and sisters...I say it again, iniquity in the Body stains us all!!!
The sin of one in our midst reflects badly on us all...it stains us all. We must exhort, reprove, and encourage one another because when one of us stumbles it brings a reproach upon the name of God if we don't pick him up as best we can...through exhortation or through reproval. Let us not glare at the one picking up the one who stumbles while we pretend he did not stumble...to do so is a reproach to our God.
Lest any of you think I speak as if I think I am without sin...let me assure you this is not the case. I speak as one who has sinned and sinned and has had at least one person hold me strictly accountable. My life is quite frankly an open book...what you see is what you get. See me in sin? Come to me as you should and confront me with it. Be an Ezra to me. God forbid that I fail to repent.
Be jealous for His glory my brethren.
Amen?
Friday, November 2, 2007
Daniel 3:13-18: What Trusting in God Really Means
Tomorrow afternoon we are hosting the boffer group once more. The following is the lesson I plan on presenting during our break. Keep in mind the kids vary in age from 6-15, and I think tomorrow we will have about 10-12 rambunctious boys!
Anyhow, this is the lesson:
********************************
I. Prayer
Summarize Daniel 3:1-12
Read Daniel 3:13-18
Ask: Being totally honest…what do you think you would done had you been one of these young men? (Discuss)
It is hard to imagine being in their place, and we may think that we would fail the test…and were we doing it through our own power we would indeed fail. But as Believers, were we to have such an opportunity to bear witness, the Lord would work in you to see you through such a test. In fact, the Lord works NOW in the Believer to prepare you for whatever tests may be in store for you.
Think about it: How often do we face temptation even now…the temptation to bow before an idol of our modern day society.
You know what I mean…the shows that we watch, what we do with our time, the friends with whom we don’t mention Christ ‘cause we are too embarrassed. To fail in these things is to bow before the idol of modern society.
But wait…didn’t I say God would work in us to help us pass this test?
How can we possibly fail then?
The key to all things now as always, is in your walk with God. Can you imagine that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were just naturally able to withstand the oppression of Persia?
NO!
It was their relationship with God that sustained them…and brothers I tell you now that if you are not in a close relationship with the Lord, you will fail when the time comes. What is scary about all of this is that the Word tells us in Philippians 1:6 that “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” In Romans 8:29 we read that we have been “predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.”
Now what do those verses mean?
Think about it carefully…if you are a Believer, will you fail to grow and bear fruit? NO!
So then no true Believer can fail! We may be killed, beaten, mocked, but if we are truly His then our walk with God can only get stronger and stronger, and when we face temptations or persecution then we will honor and glorify His name by our submission to His will.
Now please don’t misunderstand me…we cannot be perfect even though we are called to perfection. We will undoubtedly fail and sin and compromise at times…but no true Christian is characterized by this manner. We grow through our experiences, we learn from our mistakes, and the Word teaches us how to grow. The child of God, a title I hope all of you own, will not habitually sin without remorse!
I want us to spend a few moments looking at some of the key phrases in this passage.
Read Daniel 3:14-15
Note what Nebuchadnezzar is doing here: he is placing a temptation before these men of God.
What is that temptation? To betray God! To compromise their standards and their beliefs in exchange for life!
If they bow down, then all is good. They are forgiven and all is forgotten, right? But if they don’t…then a wicked death is in store for them!
Do you see the parallels here?
Have you not had friends or family that have attempted to tell you to live like them or suffer an end to friendship? Have you not been told that living the life of a Christian, obeying the Bible is stupid? That you are uncool?
If not, be patient…the time will come!!
Read Daniel 3:16-18
What a testimony these men bear! NO…they will not bow down! And why not? Because God can save them from the fire!!
And guess what? Here God WILL save them, though they did not know whether He would or not! They did know, however, that He had the power to do so.
What is of utmost importance here is verse 18 (reread it):
Though they were confident that God could save them…that is NOT what they based their hope on!! They understood that for the glory of God they may need to give their lives here…and they were willing to do that!!
Little brothers…God can save you from persecution…He can save you from poverty…He can save you from being mocked by friends and family members.
But He does not have to and He does not promise that He will.
He is the Sovereign God of the Universe and our trust in Him comes from the fact that He is trustworthy! He is the covenant keeper of Genesis 15 (explain)!
To have this kind of faith means that yes we understand that God can save us from anything and everything…but guess what? If we die in His service we lose nothing and gain paradise! We will all die regardless.
But, if you have placed your trust in Christ….if you have turned to Him for forgiveness of your sin…and the Bible in Romans 3:23 says all of us “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”…then you have already been saved from the punishment you deserve (read Romans 6:23).
Let us serve Him because we love Him…let us turn to His Word because we want to know how to serve and love Him even more. And let us be ready, if that day comes when we are faced with the choice of rejecting Him or dying, let us be ready to say, as did these wonderful men, “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us…but if not…we do not serve your gods.”
Amen?
Before we pray…let me encourage you to be in the Word. Not because I ask it of you, but because you claim to love God. If you love Him truly, then spend time with Him…and little brothers…be certain of your salvation. Be aware that no little prayer will get you into heaven if you don’t mean it…
Paul says in Romans 10:9 that “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” The key word here is “believe.” You can move your lips all you want…but believing is something that changes the heart.
Let us use as our prayer this confession to God (repeat after me):
I believe in God, the Father Almighty
the Creator of heaven and earth
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit
born of the Virgin Mary
suffered under Pontius Pilate
was crucified, died, and was buried.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty
[from where] He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit
the holy church
the communion of saints
the forgiveness of sins
the resurrection of the body
and life everlasting.
Amen.
Anyhow, this is the lesson:
********************************
I. Prayer
Summarize Daniel 3:1-12
Read Daniel 3:13-18
Ask: Being totally honest…what do you think you would done had you been one of these young men? (Discuss)
It is hard to imagine being in their place, and we may think that we would fail the test…and were we doing it through our own power we would indeed fail. But as Believers, were we to have such an opportunity to bear witness, the Lord would work in you to see you through such a test. In fact, the Lord works NOW in the Believer to prepare you for whatever tests may be in store for you.
Think about it: How often do we face temptation even now…the temptation to bow before an idol of our modern day society.
You know what I mean…the shows that we watch, what we do with our time, the friends with whom we don’t mention Christ ‘cause we are too embarrassed. To fail in these things is to bow before the idol of modern society.
But wait…didn’t I say God would work in us to help us pass this test?
How can we possibly fail then?
The key to all things now as always, is in your walk with God. Can you imagine that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were just naturally able to withstand the oppression of Persia?
NO!
It was their relationship with God that sustained them…and brothers I tell you now that if you are not in a close relationship with the Lord, you will fail when the time comes. What is scary about all of this is that the Word tells us in Philippians 1:6 that “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” In Romans 8:29 we read that we have been “predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.”
Now what do those verses mean?
Think about it carefully…if you are a Believer, will you fail to grow and bear fruit? NO!
So then no true Believer can fail! We may be killed, beaten, mocked, but if we are truly His then our walk with God can only get stronger and stronger, and when we face temptations or persecution then we will honor and glorify His name by our submission to His will.
Now please don’t misunderstand me…we cannot be perfect even though we are called to perfection. We will undoubtedly fail and sin and compromise at times…but no true Christian is characterized by this manner. We grow through our experiences, we learn from our mistakes, and the Word teaches us how to grow. The child of God, a title I hope all of you own, will not habitually sin without remorse!
I want us to spend a few moments looking at some of the key phrases in this passage.
Read Daniel 3:14-15
Note what Nebuchadnezzar is doing here: he is placing a temptation before these men of God.
What is that temptation? To betray God! To compromise their standards and their beliefs in exchange for life!
If they bow down, then all is good. They are forgiven and all is forgotten, right? But if they don’t…then a wicked death is in store for them!
Do you see the parallels here?
Have you not had friends or family that have attempted to tell you to live like them or suffer an end to friendship? Have you not been told that living the life of a Christian, obeying the Bible is stupid? That you are uncool?
If not, be patient…the time will come!!
Read Daniel 3:16-18
What a testimony these men bear! NO…they will not bow down! And why not? Because God can save them from the fire!!
And guess what? Here God WILL save them, though they did not know whether He would or not! They did know, however, that He had the power to do so.
What is of utmost importance here is verse 18 (reread it):
Though they were confident that God could save them…that is NOT what they based their hope on!! They understood that for the glory of God they may need to give their lives here…and they were willing to do that!!
Little brothers…God can save you from persecution…He can save you from poverty…He can save you from being mocked by friends and family members.
But He does not have to and He does not promise that He will.
He is the Sovereign God of the Universe and our trust in Him comes from the fact that He is trustworthy! He is the covenant keeper of Genesis 15 (explain)!
To have this kind of faith means that yes we understand that God can save us from anything and everything…but guess what? If we die in His service we lose nothing and gain paradise! We will all die regardless.
But, if you have placed your trust in Christ….if you have turned to Him for forgiveness of your sin…and the Bible in Romans 3:23 says all of us “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”…then you have already been saved from the punishment you deserve (read Romans 6:23).
Let us serve Him because we love Him…let us turn to His Word because we want to know how to serve and love Him even more. And let us be ready, if that day comes when we are faced with the choice of rejecting Him or dying, let us be ready to say, as did these wonderful men, “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us…but if not…we do not serve your gods.”
Amen?
Before we pray…let me encourage you to be in the Word. Not because I ask it of you, but because you claim to love God. If you love Him truly, then spend time with Him…and little brothers…be certain of your salvation. Be aware that no little prayer will get you into heaven if you don’t mean it…
Paul says in Romans 10:9 that “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” The key word here is “believe.” You can move your lips all you want…but believing is something that changes the heart.
Let us use as our prayer this confession to God (repeat after me):
I believe in God, the Father Almighty
the Creator of heaven and earth
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit
born of the Virgin Mary
suffered under Pontius Pilate
was crucified, died, and was buried.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty
[from where] He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit
the holy church
the communion of saints
the forgiveness of sins
the resurrection of the body
and life everlasting.
Amen.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Acts 15:41-16:5
Read Acts 15:41-16:5
Last week we looked at the contention that arose regarding John Mark. It appears then that they have agreed to disagree and go their separate ways...so Paul and Silas now go on their way and the Word tells us that they pass through many areas, encouraging the churches they encounter...
But note in this section what it says of Timothy...we are introduced to this future evangelist and pastor and are told that he is only half Jewish...however, since his mother was the Jewish one, he would have been Jewish according to the law...HOWEVER...it is apparent that he was not circumcised and so we see the interesting little drama here played out where Timothy is circumcised! And he is circumcised at Paul's behest, "because of the Jews who were in that region."
Now I don't know how old Timothy would have been at this point...but certainly he was not a child!
In Genesis 34 we have the account of Jacob's sons convincing a whole village to become circumcised...and the Word tells us in verses 24-25 that 3 days later the men are still in such pain that the sons of Jacob come right into the village and slaughter all the men!
So this was not something Timothy could have done and act as if nothing had happened...this was a serious operation being done on him!
Yet remember that Paul had only recently addressed the Jerusalem council and spoken out against requiring circumcision...and we know that in his Corinthians letters as well as in Romans he reiterates that true circumcision is of the heart!
So why the circumcision of Timothy?
One likely answer for this is found in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (read)
Keep in mind that unless Timothy had been knocked out and tied up...he most likely was in full agreement about what was to be done to him...so the purpose of the circumcision was not to bring Timothy into some inner sanctum and full membership in the Church...it was to make him acceptable to those among whom he was to preach..."the Jews who were in that region."
Timothy would preach to the Gentiles and to the Jews and neither would have any reason to reject his ministry...the Jews would see him as clean, the Greeks would know he was of their blood.
So long as no sin was committed then, so long as the circumcision was not entered into as a means to denote salvation or requirement thereof....then what was done should not be seen as a flaunting of the Jerusalem decree...after all...this was the very decree Paul and Silas were engaged in announcing, as we see in verse 4!!
Note now verse 5)
"the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily"
I will never tire of addressing this following point since it is obvious from the frequency of its mention in the Word that it is very important!
So this is what comes to mind as I read verse 5:
It was necessary for the church leadership to bring about a decree and settle dissension in the ranks...and having proclaimed the decisions of the elders and apostles, the church was solidified, strengthened, and encouraged by Paul, Silas, and now Timothy...and the church grew!
It was the soundness of the church...it was the focus on correct teaching, if you will, that led to growth of the church...
Now I realize, trust me, that it was the Holy Spirit that caused this growth to occur...but what I am saying is that the kind of healthy growth a church needs is that which comes when sound doctrine is taught...and when the practice of holy living is encouraged...required even.
Growth WILL come to a church that compromises with the world...growth WILL come to a church that fails to stand on God's Word...we have only to look at the cults for proof of this...But that kind of growth, without any sound doctrine to cause it...without the encouragement and presence of holy living, of exhortation, and of accountability...that kind of growth is NOT an indicator of a successful church...no matter how huge the numbers...such a church is NOT successful and should not be emulated! Look to Acts for a church worthy of emulation...look especially to Acts 2:42.
Let us pray
Last week we looked at the contention that arose regarding John Mark. It appears then that they have agreed to disagree and go their separate ways...so Paul and Silas now go on their way and the Word tells us that they pass through many areas, encouraging the churches they encounter...
But note in this section what it says of Timothy...we are introduced to this future evangelist and pastor and are told that he is only half Jewish...however, since his mother was the Jewish one, he would have been Jewish according to the law...HOWEVER...it is apparent that he was not circumcised and so we see the interesting little drama here played out where Timothy is circumcised! And he is circumcised at Paul's behest, "because of the Jews who were in that region."
Now I don't know how old Timothy would have been at this point...but certainly he was not a child!
In Genesis 34 we have the account of Jacob's sons convincing a whole village to become circumcised...and the Word tells us in verses 24-25 that 3 days later the men are still in such pain that the sons of Jacob come right into the village and slaughter all the men!
So this was not something Timothy could have done and act as if nothing had happened...this was a serious operation being done on him!
Yet remember that Paul had only recently addressed the Jerusalem council and spoken out against requiring circumcision...and we know that in his Corinthians letters as well as in Romans he reiterates that true circumcision is of the heart!
So why the circumcision of Timothy?
One likely answer for this is found in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (read)
Keep in mind that unless Timothy had been knocked out and tied up...he most likely was in full agreement about what was to be done to him...so the purpose of the circumcision was not to bring Timothy into some inner sanctum and full membership in the Church...it was to make him acceptable to those among whom he was to preach..."the Jews who were in that region."
Timothy would preach to the Gentiles and to the Jews and neither would have any reason to reject his ministry...the Jews would see him as clean, the Greeks would know he was of their blood.
So long as no sin was committed then, so long as the circumcision was not entered into as a means to denote salvation or requirement thereof....then what was done should not be seen as a flaunting of the Jerusalem decree...after all...this was the very decree Paul and Silas were engaged in announcing, as we see in verse 4!!
Note now verse 5)
"the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily"
I will never tire of addressing this following point since it is obvious from the frequency of its mention in the Word that it is very important!
So this is what comes to mind as I read verse 5:
It was necessary for the church leadership to bring about a decree and settle dissension in the ranks...and having proclaimed the decisions of the elders and apostles, the church was solidified, strengthened, and encouraged by Paul, Silas, and now Timothy...and the church grew!
It was the soundness of the church...it was the focus on correct teaching, if you will, that led to growth of the church...
Now I realize, trust me, that it was the Holy Spirit that caused this growth to occur...but what I am saying is that the kind of healthy growth a church needs is that which comes when sound doctrine is taught...and when the practice of holy living is encouraged...required even.
Growth WILL come to a church that compromises with the world...growth WILL come to a church that fails to stand on God's Word...we have only to look at the cults for proof of this...But that kind of growth, without any sound doctrine to cause it...without the encouragement and presence of holy living, of exhortation, and of accountability...that kind of growth is NOT an indicator of a successful church...no matter how huge the numbers...such a church is NOT successful and should not be emulated! Look to Acts for a church worthy of emulation...look especially to Acts 2:42.
Let us pray
Acts 14:1-18
Read Acts 14:1-7
We see in these first couple of verses that Paul and Barnabas reach Iconium and there enter the synagogues again…and the Holy Spirit used them in a mighty way yet again, for we read that many Jews and many Gentiles come to faith…and even in the midst of this triumph discord is brought about by the unbelieving Jews…seeking to turn the people against the messengers of God we are told that they begin to poison the minds of people.
Why this response from the Jews?
Well realize this my brethren: we should not be surprised to see these things recorded here because we see the same thing today whenever the Word of God is obediently preached!! People respond to the truth by embracing it or hating it! And believe me whenever a preacher focuses on teaching the Word of God and stops worrying about what people think of him then both these responses will take place!! Because those whom the Spirit draws will respond with faith, the Believer will respond with joy or repentance, and the non believers in the congregation who are hardened will respond with annoyance and anger at a sermon that does not make them comfortable where they are at!!
So the response we read about here is commonplace even today where His Word is preached. Again, do not be surprised when people respond with anger to the preachign of the Word of God!
But look carefully at verse 3)
“Therefore, they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord…”
What does the “therefore” refer to?
I am convinced it refers directly to verse 2! What can we, what should we, learn from this?
If nothing else, we should be led to be bold ourselves!! Bold in our preaching of the Word and in our proclamation of the Good News! It means that little things such as opposition should not deter us!
Look now at 2 Timothy 4:1-2
Some would say that this is an example of prescriptive verses to pastors and teachers. I respectfully disagree with this view…I am convinced here that this exhortation is for all Believers in the sense that we are all to be about the business of God…we present the truth to our neighbors, to our family, to our friends, to our children! When you do it, do it like Barnabas and Paul did, without any thought to what the negative reaction might be! Be faithful to the presentation and then let God do the work of salvation! And when we do encounter opposition, all the more we should be willing to proclaim truth!
Look now again at the text)
The city is divided and physical harm is threatened…and they move on. But notice verse 7...”And they were preaching the gospel there”
You would think that Paul and Barnabas would begin taking it easy…but they do not.
Everywhere they go they encounter opposition…yet they don’t say to themselves, let us rethink how we are doing this…no they continue to preach the gospel…they did not need, with all due respect, to contemplate any 40 days of purpose…they did not need to canvas the communities to see what it was they would want included in any preaching done there…they did not need to spend some time learning and practicing oratory…no...all they needed they already had…the Holy Spirit! They went with one intent only…to preach the gospel that is Jesus the risen Lord!
Read Acts 14:8-18
I love this passage very much because of how indirectly Paul and Barnabas teach us to whom the glory must always go and how they so emphatically give credence to John the Baptist’s words “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30) But more on that later…
For now, look closely at the first couple of verses here:
We see the stage set here for the mighty response from the people…here was a man well known to be a cripple from birth…he had NEVER walked. There was no possible way that the miracle could be explained by any rational manner…Paul speaks to him and says stand up…and the man leaps up! And he walks…a man who from birth had never taken a step, this man jumps up and begins to walk…likely he did not just walk calmly but he walked quickly towards the apostles and thanked them and rejoiced…
Note now the reaction of those around…those who knew this man…those who would be in a position to know that this man was not faking his handicap…(read again verses 11-13)
Such is the amazement, such is the power of God before these people, that the apostles are proclaimed to be Greek gods!!!
But what is even more wonderful…what I so love about this passage, is how Barnabas and Paul react…(read again verses 14)
Do you understand this? Hearing themselves proclaimed gods because of the manifested power of God…they tear their clothes…they are wounded…they are filled with sorrow…and they quickly run in to correct this error as we see thru verse 17...
Brothers and sisters…this must always be our first and foremost desire…to reflect His glory…for His glory!
If you preach well, make sure you point to Christ…
If you teach well, make sure you point to Christ…
Anything and everything we do should point to Christ and never should we be tempted to boast in anything but our Lord who gives us the abilities that we have…
Listen closely brothers and sisters...any preacher, any teacher, any missionary, any deacon…if they are in it for their own exaltation then they are doing it for the wrong reasons!
Take pains, brothers and sisters, to make sure that all that we do points to Him and Him alone!
Amen?
Let us pray
We see in these first couple of verses that Paul and Barnabas reach Iconium and there enter the synagogues again…and the Holy Spirit used them in a mighty way yet again, for we read that many Jews and many Gentiles come to faith…and even in the midst of this triumph discord is brought about by the unbelieving Jews…seeking to turn the people against the messengers of God we are told that they begin to poison the minds of people.
Why this response from the Jews?
Well realize this my brethren: we should not be surprised to see these things recorded here because we see the same thing today whenever the Word of God is obediently preached!! People respond to the truth by embracing it or hating it! And believe me whenever a preacher focuses on teaching the Word of God and stops worrying about what people think of him then both these responses will take place!! Because those whom the Spirit draws will respond with faith, the Believer will respond with joy or repentance, and the non believers in the congregation who are hardened will respond with annoyance and anger at a sermon that does not make them comfortable where they are at!!
So the response we read about here is commonplace even today where His Word is preached. Again, do not be surprised when people respond with anger to the preachign of the Word of God!
But look carefully at verse 3)
“Therefore, they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord…”
What does the “therefore” refer to?
I am convinced it refers directly to verse 2! What can we, what should we, learn from this?
If nothing else, we should be led to be bold ourselves!! Bold in our preaching of the Word and in our proclamation of the Good News! It means that little things such as opposition should not deter us!
Look now at 2 Timothy 4:1-2
Some would say that this is an example of prescriptive verses to pastors and teachers. I respectfully disagree with this view…I am convinced here that this exhortation is for all Believers in the sense that we are all to be about the business of God…we present the truth to our neighbors, to our family, to our friends, to our children! When you do it, do it like Barnabas and Paul did, without any thought to what the negative reaction might be! Be faithful to the presentation and then let God do the work of salvation! And when we do encounter opposition, all the more we should be willing to proclaim truth!
Look now again at the text)
The city is divided and physical harm is threatened…and they move on. But notice verse 7...”And they were preaching the gospel there”
You would think that Paul and Barnabas would begin taking it easy…but they do not.
Everywhere they go they encounter opposition…yet they don’t say to themselves, let us rethink how we are doing this…no they continue to preach the gospel…they did not need, with all due respect, to contemplate any 40 days of purpose…they did not need to canvas the communities to see what it was they would want included in any preaching done there…they did not need to spend some time learning and practicing oratory…no...all they needed they already had…the Holy Spirit! They went with one intent only…to preach the gospel that is Jesus the risen Lord!
Read Acts 14:8-18
I love this passage very much because of how indirectly Paul and Barnabas teach us to whom the glory must always go and how they so emphatically give credence to John the Baptist’s words “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30) But more on that later…
For now, look closely at the first couple of verses here:
We see the stage set here for the mighty response from the people…here was a man well known to be a cripple from birth…he had NEVER walked. There was no possible way that the miracle could be explained by any rational manner…Paul speaks to him and says stand up…and the man leaps up! And he walks…a man who from birth had never taken a step, this man jumps up and begins to walk…likely he did not just walk calmly but he walked quickly towards the apostles and thanked them and rejoiced…
Note now the reaction of those around…those who knew this man…those who would be in a position to know that this man was not faking his handicap…(read again verses 11-13)
Such is the amazement, such is the power of God before these people, that the apostles are proclaimed to be Greek gods!!!
But what is even more wonderful…what I so love about this passage, is how Barnabas and Paul react…(read again verses 14)
Do you understand this? Hearing themselves proclaimed gods because of the manifested power of God…they tear their clothes…they are wounded…they are filled with sorrow…and they quickly run in to correct this error as we see thru verse 17...
Brothers and sisters…this must always be our first and foremost desire…to reflect His glory…for His glory!
If you preach well, make sure you point to Christ…
If you teach well, make sure you point to Christ…
Anything and everything we do should point to Christ and never should we be tempted to boast in anything but our Lord who gives us the abilities that we have…
Listen closely brothers and sisters...any preacher, any teacher, any missionary, any deacon…if they are in it for their own exaltation then they are doing it for the wrong reasons!
Take pains, brothers and sisters, to make sure that all that we do points to Him and Him alone!
Amen?
Let us pray
Saturday, October 20, 2007
The Importance of Expository Preaching
Why rewrite what someone else has already excellently addressed right? I hope everyone takes a moment to visit the link below. It is to Dr. Mohler's blog and it addresses the title of this post. Enjoy!!
http://almohler.com/blog_read.php?id=1025
http://almohler.com/blog_read.php?id=1025
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Youth Group at Heritage Bible Church
Hello everyone! Tonight I wish to share a little about the youth group at the church we are attending. Since the youth group meets on Thurday nights when the only other thing going on is practice for the music worship team, I don't just drop off my boys but actually sit in on the event, which is from 7pm to 8:30pm.
Back before the cold weather set in, the evening would start off with an outdoor activity, whether it be volleyball, bocci (sp?), or slip and slide. Now, however, the evening begins with some billiards or ping pong or some other inside game. This lasts for about 30 minutes and then the group gathers around for some singing followed by a lesson. Two weeks ago the group started in on a study book called "Fundamentals of the Faith" which is put out by Grace Community Church (John MacArthur). I am very impressed with it so far. Anyhow, what I like the most about the youth group is the attitude of the leaders, which was summed up by some comments I heard today. Our youth leader is actually one of the elders of the church (the associate pastor) and he has a passion for teaching kids the Word of God. He focused today on what the Scriptures say about Jesus Christ...how the OT promises, anticipates, and presents Him, while the NT manifests, reveals, and explains Him.
In the midst of all of this he told the kids present that what he wants most of all is for them to love and treasure the Word of God because it is the only way to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He then told them bluntly and without apology that the purpose of a youth group is not to have fun but to study the Word of God. He asked them whether or not they spend all day having fun or not...and then asked them how much actual time they spend studying their Bibles. Therefore, he said, it should not be too much of a burden to come together for about an hour once per week and focus on Him. Not that having fun was bad, and that the games we start out are okay, but that the main focus is not the games but the Word. He told them that if because of the focus on the Word of God some feel that it is too boring and they don't want to come that he is okay with that. And trust me, he wasn't being rude...just trying to get across to them how much he values obedience to God (in his case obedience meaning the teaching of His Word).
He told the kids that when he was young he attended a youth group that focused mainly on having fun...occasionally opening up the Bible for a few minutes. He said how so many of his friends were into drugs...kids who were attending youth group! The failure of those leaders was that they thought bringing these kids into the youth group and keeping them there was more important than actually teaching them! Boy, did that bring to my mind the youth group at the church I previously attended!
Anyhow, I was so impressed by his words, as I've been impressed since we began attending this church regularly. It's funny how a few months ago my wife and I had been having semi-serious discussions about moving to Spokane to be near family...but only a few days ago I told my wife that there is no way I can leave the area now...because I have finally found a church where His Word is pre-eminent in the pulpit and in the youth group. I haven't felt so well fed in many many years and I cannot leave this area in order to go somewhere else where I might not find the same thing!
That's all I wanted to share! :)
Back before the cold weather set in, the evening would start off with an outdoor activity, whether it be volleyball, bocci (sp?), or slip and slide. Now, however, the evening begins with some billiards or ping pong or some other inside game. This lasts for about 30 minutes and then the group gathers around for some singing followed by a lesson. Two weeks ago the group started in on a study book called "Fundamentals of the Faith" which is put out by Grace Community Church (John MacArthur). I am very impressed with it so far. Anyhow, what I like the most about the youth group is the attitude of the leaders, which was summed up by some comments I heard today. Our youth leader is actually one of the elders of the church (the associate pastor) and he has a passion for teaching kids the Word of God. He focused today on what the Scriptures say about Jesus Christ...how the OT promises, anticipates, and presents Him, while the NT manifests, reveals, and explains Him.
In the midst of all of this he told the kids present that what he wants most of all is for them to love and treasure the Word of God because it is the only way to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He then told them bluntly and without apology that the purpose of a youth group is not to have fun but to study the Word of God. He asked them whether or not they spend all day having fun or not...and then asked them how much actual time they spend studying their Bibles. Therefore, he said, it should not be too much of a burden to come together for about an hour once per week and focus on Him. Not that having fun was bad, and that the games we start out are okay, but that the main focus is not the games but the Word. He told them that if because of the focus on the Word of God some feel that it is too boring and they don't want to come that he is okay with that. And trust me, he wasn't being rude...just trying to get across to them how much he values obedience to God (in his case obedience meaning the teaching of His Word).
He told the kids that when he was young he attended a youth group that focused mainly on having fun...occasionally opening up the Bible for a few minutes. He said how so many of his friends were into drugs...kids who were attending youth group! The failure of those leaders was that they thought bringing these kids into the youth group and keeping them there was more important than actually teaching them! Boy, did that bring to my mind the youth group at the church I previously attended!
Anyhow, I was so impressed by his words, as I've been impressed since we began attending this church regularly. It's funny how a few months ago my wife and I had been having semi-serious discussions about moving to Spokane to be near family...but only a few days ago I told my wife that there is no way I can leave the area now...because I have finally found a church where His Word is pre-eminent in the pulpit and in the youth group. I haven't felt so well fed in many many years and I cannot leave this area in order to go somewhere else where I might not find the same thing!
That's all I wanted to share! :)
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
"The Dawkins Delusion?" by Alistar McGrath and Joanna Collicutt McGrath
ISBN #978-0-8308-3446-4
I'm sure that most of you have heard of the rabidly anti Christian book, "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins. In "The Dawkins Delusion?" (97 pages) we find a reasonable and intelligent rebuttal to the rantings of Dawkins. Before going any further, I must point out to whomever is reading this review that Alister McGrath is certainly no fundamentalist Christian and definitely not a Creationist. There are few places, however, where he says anything negative as regards the two groups previoulsy mentioned (I would clump the two into one group but with such men as Hugh Ross about I suppose it is possible to be a self described fundamentalist and still not believe in the traditional, and correct, view of creation).
Alister McGrath (whom the book jacket describes as the main author) is a professing Believer, and takes exception to Dawkins' attack upon religion as a whole and Christianity in particular. In his four chapters (1: Deluded About God? 2: Has Science Disproved God? 3: What Are the Origins of Religion? and 4: Is Religion Evil?) McGrath engages Dawkins point by point and gives a worthy defense of religion.
The following is a lengthy quote that will serve to give the reader a taste for what the book is like. It is in regards to a portion of Dawkins' book in which he accuses religon of being evil:
"...A worldview is a comprehensive way of viewing reality that tries to make sense of its various elements within a single, overarching way of looking at things. Some, of course, are religous; many are not. Buddhism, existentialism, Islam, atheism, and Marxism all fall into this category. some worldviews claim to be unversally true; others, more in tune with the postmodern ethos, view themselves as local. None of them can be "proved" to be right. Precisely because they represent "big picture" ways of engaging with the world, their fundamental beliefs ultimately lie beyond final proof.
And here is the point: worldviews can easily promote fanaticism. Dawkins treats this as a defining characteristic of religion, airbrushing out of his accound of violence any suggestion that it might be the result of political fantaticism -or even atheism. He is adamant that he himself, as a good atheist, would never fly airplanes into skyscrapers or commit any other outrageous act of violence or oppression. Good for him. Neither would I. yet there are those in both our constituencies who would. Dawkins and I may both disavow violence and urge all within our groups to do so. But the harsh reality is that religious and antireligious violence has happened, and is likely to continue to do so..."
One other quote to whet your appetite; this from the last page of the book:
"Dawkins seems to think thast saying something more loudly and confidently, while ignoring or trivializing counterevidence, will persuade teh open-minded that religious belief is a type of delusion. Sadly, sociological studes of charismatic leaders--religious and secular--indicate that Dawkins may be right to place some hope in this strategy. For the gullible and credulous, it is the confidence with which something is said that persuades rather than the evidence offered in its support. Yet the fact that Dawkins relies so excessively on rhetoric rather than the evidence that would otherwise be his natural stock in trade clearly indicates that something is wrong with his case. Ironically the ultimate achievement of The God Delusion for modern atheism may be to suggest that this emperor has no clothes to wear. Might atheism be a delusion about God?"
Good stuff huh? :) Read it for more!
I'm sure that most of you have heard of the rabidly anti Christian book, "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins. In "The Dawkins Delusion?" (97 pages) we find a reasonable and intelligent rebuttal to the rantings of Dawkins. Before going any further, I must point out to whomever is reading this review that Alister McGrath is certainly no fundamentalist Christian and definitely not a Creationist. There are few places, however, where he says anything negative as regards the two groups previoulsy mentioned (I would clump the two into one group but with such men as Hugh Ross about I suppose it is possible to be a self described fundamentalist and still not believe in the traditional, and correct, view of creation).
Alister McGrath (whom the book jacket describes as the main author) is a professing Believer, and takes exception to Dawkins' attack upon religion as a whole and Christianity in particular. In his four chapters (1: Deluded About God? 2: Has Science Disproved God? 3: What Are the Origins of Religion? and 4: Is Religion Evil?) McGrath engages Dawkins point by point and gives a worthy defense of religion.
The following is a lengthy quote that will serve to give the reader a taste for what the book is like. It is in regards to a portion of Dawkins' book in which he accuses religon of being evil:
"...A worldview is a comprehensive way of viewing reality that tries to make sense of its various elements within a single, overarching way of looking at things. Some, of course, are religous; many are not. Buddhism, existentialism, Islam, atheism, and Marxism all fall into this category. some worldviews claim to be unversally true; others, more in tune with the postmodern ethos, view themselves as local. None of them can be "proved" to be right. Precisely because they represent "big picture" ways of engaging with the world, their fundamental beliefs ultimately lie beyond final proof.
And here is the point: worldviews can easily promote fanaticism. Dawkins treats this as a defining characteristic of religion, airbrushing out of his accound of violence any suggestion that it might be the result of political fantaticism -or even atheism. He is adamant that he himself, as a good atheist, would never fly airplanes into skyscrapers or commit any other outrageous act of violence or oppression. Good for him. Neither would I. yet there are those in both our constituencies who would. Dawkins and I may both disavow violence and urge all within our groups to do so. But the harsh reality is that religious and antireligious violence has happened, and is likely to continue to do so..."
One other quote to whet your appetite; this from the last page of the book:
"Dawkins seems to think thast saying something more loudly and confidently, while ignoring or trivializing counterevidence, will persuade teh open-minded that religious belief is a type of delusion. Sadly, sociological studes of charismatic leaders--religious and secular--indicate that Dawkins may be right to place some hope in this strategy. For the gullible and credulous, it is the confidence with which something is said that persuades rather than the evidence offered in its support. Yet the fact that Dawkins relies so excessively on rhetoric rather than the evidence that would otherwise be his natural stock in trade clearly indicates that something is wrong with his case. Ironically the ultimate achievement of The God Delusion for modern atheism may be to suggest that this emperor has no clothes to wear. Might atheism be a delusion about God?"
Good stuff huh? :) Read it for more!
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