Atonement, Blood, Church Today, Faith, Repentance, Spiritual Warfare, Worship

Sing with Me..

Posted by admin on September 7, 2010 at 10:03 pm. No comments

Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you (Ps 66:3).

 

For many years the Church has sung of God’s greatness, but in recent years it seems that there has been an explosion of songs that extol this virtue. While we used to sing only “How Great Thou Art” and “I Sing the Mighty Power of God,” we now regularly hear “How Great is Our God,” “Our God is an Awesome God” and “Great and Mighty Is the Lord Our God.” (Those who are more conversant with contemporary Christian music will realize quickly that I am not because there are likely many newer songs even than these!)

 

There is nothing wrong or theologically false about these songs, and I don’t want to suggest that there is, but let us not be duped into believing that everyone who sings them is a believer in Jesus. The text that I quoted above makes it clear that just to see the awesome power of God does not always elicit a response of true worship and repentance. In fact, one English translation (NASB) says that, upon seeing His power, God’s enemies will give “feigned obedience” to Him.

 

When I read that phrase recently, my thoughts carried me to those many times when at a public funeral the audience would sing “Amazing Grace,” even though clearly there were plenty that did not believe in that grace or that they needed it themselves. Yet these people will be shown singing His praise fervently, as if to suggest that they really did believe it. I think that’s what the Psalmist meant by “feigned obedience.”

 

It is interesting that most of these songs that extol the greatness of the Creator fail to mention the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps it is difficult to weave the two themes together. Often when we praise His greatness it is because we are awestruck by some aspect of His creation while the theme of redemption necessarily must bring out our sinfulness and the cross as the answer. Both, though true, are tough to combine.

 

But this gives the pseudo-Christians an opportunity to offer their praise at a distance, without becoming uncomfortable by the mention of the cross and their sin. Perhaps these were in our Lord’s mind when He told the crowd, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt 7:21).

Church Today, Eastern thought, Idolatry, Isaiah 66:1-2, Repentance, Scripture, Sovereignty, Truth, judgment, warnings

Unwise Men From the East

Posted by admin on August 28, 2010 at 10:27 pm. No comments

You have abandoned your people, the house of Jacob. They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and clasp hands with pagans (Is. 2:6).

 

                As if God needed anything else to bring judgment, Isaiah identifies Eastern mysticism as one of the reasons for it. Since the 1960s America also has been filled with the influences of Eastern religions, some of which have come through the use of illegal drugs.  The series of movies known as “Star Wars” have introduced us here in the West to the Eastern idea that there are two equal “forces” at work in this world – one for good and one for evil. Yoga has become so common an exercise that many churches today sponsor classes, not to mention the Young Men’s CHRISTIAN Association (YMCA). This, despite the fact that it originated from and is an integral part of Hinduism. Some view the martial arts as merely a form of exercise, but it is clear that many others see a relationship between them and Eastern thought.

 

                But these ideas stand opposed to the worship of the Triune God. People who practice the various Eastern religions in most cases set up shrines in their homes with gods of wood and stone, directly violating the commands to make no graven image and to have no other god but the Lord. The forces of good and evil are not equal in Christian thought – the Triune God is supreme and sovereign while the devil must seek His permission to afflict us (see Job 1:6). In addition, it is clear that the “Force” of Star Wars is just something to be used or manipulated while Christians are called to serve their God, not manipulate Him for their own ends.

 

                Just as Eastern superstitions contributed to the judgment that God brought upon His people in ancient times, so it will contribute to judgment in our day as well. We in the West have drifted from the worship of the Triune God as revealed in our Scriptures and have set every other religious system on an equal footing. It is no wonder that the Lord who declared, “I am, and there is no other” (Is. 45:5) would be offended that we have entertained, and even set as equal, what is beneath Him. Truly we are worshiping “the creature rather than the Creator” (Rom. 1:25).

 

                The call that Isaiah issued is the same for us – repentance. Nothing else will save us. The one He esteems is the one who is “humble, contrite and trembles at His Word” (66:2).

Daily Struggles of Life, Divorce, Healing, Marriage, Prayer, Reconciliation, Repentance, Scripture, Spiritual Warfare, Struggles

Holding the Ropes

Posted by admin on August 21, 2010 at 10:34 am. 2 comments

And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ (Eph 1:9).

 

                Some friends of mine are struggling in their marriage, and there is a possibility of divorce. It is a stain upon the God that we believe in and Who revealed Himself in Christ that Christian people get divorced. Just like the four men that lowered their paralytic friend to Jesus in Mark 2, I am going to “hold the ropes” for my friends and call upon God to bring real healing and reconciliation. After all, the whole purpose that He came was to reconcile men to God and each other (Eph 2:14-18). To that end, I am praying through the book of Ephesians for them, confident that since the Scriptures are His revealed Truth, He is more likely to answer prayers based upon them than those that are based just simply on my own ideas.

 

                The verse above guides my prayer today. First, I want God to reveal “the mystery of His will” to them. While He has made it known in some ways, my friends haven’t fully grasped that His will is reconciled relationships. The reconciliation that we enjoy with God through Christ is to be extended to human relationships as well. Just as we necessarily must be humble in our dealings with God the Father, so we must exhibit humility in our human relationships as well. When there is the threat of divorce, someone, at least, is allowing pride and self to govern their lives.

 

                The second aspect of my prayer is that they would realize the purpose God has for their lives. He brought them together; they recognized that it was His will that they marry; and they vowed before Him to stay together through all of life’s troubles. Now they think they want to renege on that vow. Is God’s purpose for our lives something that changes with every whim of emotion? Certainly not, but their children might think so if Satan wins this and they divorce.

 

                Now, divorce is not the ultimate or unforgivable sin. But it is a concession to our weakness and not His perfect plan. And since it is a picture of the relationship of Christ and His Church, Satan delights to step in and suggest that our Lord is not Who He claims to be when He can’t keep His own children together in a covenant of marriage.

 

                I have no guarantee that these friends won’t divorce, but I can’t let Satan win without a fight. Perhaps a key to their reconciliation will be when they realize His larger plan and purpose for their lives. Tomorrow, I’ll read further in Ephesians and pray about the ideas that are included in the next few verses of the text. Perhaps you would join me…  

Bewilderment, Daily Struggles of Life, Doubt, God's care, God's goodness, Humility, Perseverance, Prayer, Psalms, Scripture, Struggles, Suffering, hardship

The Trust Fund

Posted by admin on August 18, 2010 at 4:06 pm. No comments

 

How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you (Ps 31:19).

 

                Unanswered prayer is the grief of many Christians today. There are usually no answers to the questions of “Why does He delay to answer me? Doesn’t He see how much I am suffering?”

 

                As one who has wrestled with these questions many times, I have taken great comfort in Psalm 31:19. It seems that the Lord has a “savings account” of His goodness toward me that I will one day be able to cash in. Perhaps a better illustration would be a “trust fund,” because it is an account that cannot be drawn from whenever I would like. Someone else determines when I will receive it.

 

                To access this “trust fund” of God’s goodness to me I must exercise the same kind of faith that a child with a financial trust fund would exercise. It is only a matter of time before I will receive my store of God’s blessing. I must trust that the Word of the One that is managing this fund is true. The only difference is that the time for me is uncertain while the child will know when his inheritance will be given to him.

 

                While I am waiting for the display of His goodness the verse tells me the two things I must continue to do: fear Him and take refuge in Him. These are not passive, but active verbs. “Fear” carries the idea of seeking Him wholeheartedly, rather than in just a perfunctory way. “Taking refuge in Him” is an admission of our own weakness and inadequacy.

 

                Some believe that this verse suggests that the display of God’s goodness to us will be apparent to all at the Judgment, but my opinion is that the phrase, “in the sight of men,” is that it will be here on earth, just at a later time. David had earlier stated, “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living” (Ps 27:13).

 

                The Lord has His goodness in store for those who trust Him. We don’t always understand why He tells us that we must wait, and it sometimes distresses us when people around us are looking for external evidence of His reality, but He has His purposes, and those purposes are perfect.

 

                Spirit of God, descend upon my heart. Wean it from earth, through all its pulses move;

                Stoop to my weakness mighty as Thou art, And make me love Thee as I ought to love.

 

                Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh; Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear:

                To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh, Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

(George Croly, 1780-1860)

Abortion, Children, Idolatry, Repentance, Scripture, Unborn Children, judgment, warnings

Settled Institutions of Sin

Posted by admin on August 11, 2010 at 9:19 pm. No comments

He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, as his fathers had done. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit (2 Kings 15:9).

 

                There were 20 kings of the Northern tribes of Israel from the time the kingdom divided until the Assyrians carried them away to exile. We are told that each of these kings continued in the sin of Jeroboam, who had set up two altars – in Dan and Bethel – to divert the people from traveling to Jerusalem for worship. These altars were established in defiance of God’s explicit command not to bow to any idol.

 

                These 20 kings reigned over a period of about 212 years, sometimes in very good economic and political conditions, sometimes in troubled conditions, but at the end of the nation’s existence, this sin is mentioned as one of the primary reasons for God’s judgment (2 Kings 17:16). Even though it was likely that for most of the years of Israel’s existence these idols were settled institutions in the national life of the northern tribes, God never forgot His Word and the failure of Israel to properly deal with them was the root cause of their demise.

 

                For the past 37½ years the United States has ignored God’s specific command not to kill. We have justified the murders of our most innocent citizens in favor of “a woman’s right to choose.” If the truth were known the vast majority of the 50 million babies killed have been because the mother (or the parents or the grandparents) “couldn’t afford” a baby. They may have used the excuses that “the timing wasn’t right” or “we’re between jobs” or “the baby’s quality of life would be limited,” but these all boil down to the same excuse. The idol of materialism has caused us to sacrifice our most precious resource – our unborn children.

 

                Almost 20 years ago the U. S. Supreme Court heard a case that might have led them to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision. But by that time, the swing justice whose vote could have reversed that decision justified abortion because it had become a settled part of our lives. He wasn’t willing to create the upheaval that would surely rise from such a decision.

 

                But, just like in ancient Israel, God hasn’t forgotten our idolatry. It will ultimately be the cause of our demise as a nation. Even if we were to get political and judicial leaders that had the courage to reverse this decision, this would animate the political left in our country like nothing else ever could leading to the deepest division imaginable. While I pray daily for the reversal of the Roe v. Wade decision, I am prepared for it to signal the end of our nation’s influence in the world. God’s judgment in this way is to be preferred to the judgment we will receive if it is never reversed.

God's Standard, God's people, Maturity, Promise, Scripture, Struggles, Truth, Walk with Jesus

The Anchor

Posted by admin on August 4, 2010 at 2:22 pm. 2 comments

Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near (Rev 1:3).

Theologians and Bible teachers have debated for centuries what “this prophecy” refers to. Does John promise blessing for reading the twenty-two chapters of the Book of Revelation or is the blessing for those who read the whole of the Scripture? We won’t resolve this debate in this blog, but we will testify to the blessing that reading either this book or the whole of the Scripture brings.

For more than 30 years I have been committed to reading the Bible, cover to cover, each year. It started with merely reading five minutes a day. My reasoning went something like this, “If God created me and has a purpose for my life, should I not set apart – at a minimum – five minutes each day to listen to Him?” Certainly He deserves much more than a mere five minutes, but since I could not predict how my life would go and what demands would be placed upon it over the course of time, I vowed only to this small amount. Still, that vow has kept me in the Scripture daily – usually for more than five minutes. On the rare occasion when I have failed, I have been conscious that the Holy Spirit has awakened me – sometimes from a very deep sleep – and has prompted me to fulfill my vow.

This vow to read the Word has created stability in my life like nothing else could. It has comforted me in trying times; it has reminded me of the Source of every blessing when times have been good, keeping me from thinking too highly of myself. When the world around me has been uncertain, whether due to politics, economics or personal loss, the Word has brought assurance that it will remain and that He is my refuge.

This vow has also brought real direction to me over the years. It has been – in the words of David – “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105). There have been many times when my daily reading schedule has brought me to a passage of Scripture that was clear direction for that moment, if not that day. Most of these have not been profound, out-of-body experiences, but the quiet confidence that I had heard from God.

Whether you regularly read all sixty-six books or just the last one, John’s promise is true – you will be blessed. Nothing can be an anchor to our lives like reading this Book.

Children, Church Today, Fatherless, God's care, God's people, Orphans, Scripture

Look After the Orphans

Posted by admin on July 22, 2010 at 3:23 pm. 2 comments

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world (James 1:27).

                The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines an “orphan” as “a child whose parents are dead.” This is an accurate definition in the minds of most people in America today. But the Bible expands that definition to include all who are “fatherless,” whether or not Mom is still living. A cursory survey of the word “fatherless” in a Bible concordance shows that most of the references lump these people together with others who are considered by the given society to be severely disadvantaged. And one of the cardinal social principles established by the Mosaic Law was to show compassion for the less fortunate. (Consider Jesus’ classic Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30ff.)

                In our Western society it is easy to overlook the orphans because a child that tragically loses his parents is usually taken in by the extended family or placed by the government in foster care. As such, the Church as a whole has lost the sense of urgency that James’ letter commands us to have for orphans. But there are plenty of orphans in non-Western countries around the world that the Church can and should be caring for. Evangelical organizations like Compassion International have as their mission to aid children, particularly orphans. In addition, local churches can contact their favorite missionary sending organization to find a place to minister to otherwise helpless children.

                But to understand the idea of “orphan” as a child that is “fatherless” is to greatly expand the scope of our Biblical responsibility. Many children today need the care of a loving male role model because their parents are divorced. In some cases the father is in prison or has just abandoned the family. The sad statistic is that the vast majority of people in our American prisons had no male role model growing up. The Church can, and should, be making a difference in this area. And some are, with after-school programs and other “mentoring” programs.

                The social concern that James advocates in this verse does not constitute the essence of what it means to be a Christian, but it must not be forgotten either. Sadly, many in the Church in America today have forgotten it. To my shame, I admit that I have failed. But I have been changing my perspective as our local church has become involved with an orphanage in Thailand. It’s small, just like we are, but we have resources that they can use and that we need to give. The result is that God is pleased, and I want His pleasure to increase.

Church Today, God's people, Scripture, angels, warnings

Heed the Warnings!

Posted by admin on July 17, 2010 at 6:22 pm. 3 comments

For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? (Heb 2:1-3).

For the past decade or more, my wife has had a problem with her gall bladder. There is a sense in which she has not ignored it because she would feel it when she ate too many fatty foods. But her desire was to ignore it as long as possible. This week it became impossible to ignore it any longer. I learned long ago that I cannot ignore bills and financial details. Those things always force themselves upon us. And I have learned by experience not to ignore the warnings that my car gives me.

The writer to the Hebrews makes the same argument about salvation. The Jewish tradition was that God delivered the Scripture by the agency of angels. In chapter 1 of Hebrews, Jesus is shown to be greater than the angels. So, if the Truth delivered by the angels was absolutely binding, how much greater is the salvation provided by the Son of God Himself! The sacred writer is right.

Yet we live in a world that chooses to pursue its own desires while it ignores the Truth of the Scripture. The enemy of our souls has very successfully filled our lives with so much “fluff” that really won’t matter in eternity that we have forgotten to take time to consider Him and His Truth. The technology that fills most of our lives is wonderful and makes our lives so convenient. Some of it even helps us to study Scripture more efficiently or reminds us to keep our thoughts centered upon Him, but this generation of Americans has reduced their Christianity to sound bites instead of real meditation. Despite our time-saving devices, we spend less time in meditating on the Word than any previous generation.

The answer is not more technology; it is to take seriously the warning of the writer to the Hebrews: don’t ignore the message of God through Jesus and the Scripture. It’s a warning each of us individually must heed!

Church, Church Today, God's people, Jesus' Teachings, Scripture, Truth

Pillar of Truth

Posted by admin on July 8, 2010 at 12:43 pm. One comment

If I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 Tim 3:15-16).

                I still recall the pictures in my 6th grade Social Studies book of the ruins of ancient Greece and Rome. They are among only a very few places in the world where pillars are left standing, even when the building they were supporting was destroyed, although the same might be said in our day of the Church!

                Paul describes the Church in this passage as “the pillar and foundation of the truth.” Its purpose is to be the place where the Truth is sought and found. Sadly, though, the Western Church is more concerned with impressive “pillars” than it is with the promotion of the Truth. It’s no wonder that we are making no difference in the world at large – we’re concerned about the wrong things! The pillars at the Parthenon in ancient Greece are impressive, but they don’t support a building! They are a relic of a bygone era, and many in our world think of the Church in the same way.

                But it is not the pillar that will set people free. Jesus told us that it was the Truth (John 8:32). The Church’s job is to proclaim the Truth, to stand for the Truth in a world that has chosen to believe a lie. The freedom that Christ wants to provide for us is not a magical thing, as if simply by attending a Church we could be freed. Freedom is an internal thing that comes as we read, listen and apply the Truth to our hearts. The Church is that assemblage of believers that are also committed to the Truth. Their love and support of one another is what will attract the world to the Truth – not the fancy programs that make the pillars shiny and beautiful (John 13:35).

                The Western Church needs to return to the Truth. It is the Truth that attracts many to Christ in places where there is severe persecution – not the programs or the impressive edifice. But here in the West, the more we try to preserve the “pillar” the more the “building” will crumble around us. Pretty soon, just like in ancient Greece and Rome, all that will be left will be some beautiful pillars.

Church Today, Eternal Life, God's Standard, God's people, Restoration, Righteousness, Sin

In the Church but not of the Church

Posted by admin on June 30, 2010 at 12:07 pm. No comments

For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things (Phil 3:18-19).

                Every time I read these verses from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, I wonder if the people he describes are among the body of the local church or if they are outside it. Having been in ministry for almost 3 decades, I lean toward them being in the church. Of course, they could be in either place, but he is writing this portion with tears, suggesting that there is a nearer and dearer relationship with these people than would develop with unbelieving people. While I am sure that Paul consciously developed relationships outside the local body, the deeper relationships would grow within it, among people that he was discipling and teaching. These, I would expect, would create more emotion in him if he needed to characterize their lives in this way.

                It’s not much different today. There are people in the church that are Christ’s enemies. Oh, they give lipservice to His Truth, but their lives are so lukewarm that the people of this world cannot see any significant difference in them from themselves. These “Christians” are the ones that are uncomfortable when conversations at work turn to spiritual things. They feel guilty when a friend or co-worker boldly proclaims what these “Christians” say they believe. Sometimes in private, they will try to minimize the things that their bold friend had proclaimed.

                These are the people that Jesus referred to when He said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 7:21). As Paul says it, “Their end is destruction.”

                Often the people Paul describes here will try to compartmentalize their lives – Sunday is for God and the other six days are for the things I want to do. They are reluctant to see their decisions to spend money or to indulge in their favorite pastime or dessert as spiritual decisions, and certainly not sin. After all, they can “worship” God just as easily on the golf course or fishing lake as they can in a church building! Their “appetite” may mean food, literally, or it may mean their favorite indulgence.

                When Jesus wrote to the Church in Laodicea in Rev. 3, He observed that the lukewarm people in that church saw themselves as rich and not in need when they were really poor and blind and naked. They gloried in what really was to their shame. So it is among so-called Christians today who assume the prosperity of their lives must imply God’s favor with them. There is often a smug sense of self-righteousness, a “righteousness” that God tells us is like the rags stained with a woman’s menstrual impurity (Is 64:6), as far as He is concerned.

            How do we respond to such people in the Church? First, make certain that we are not among them! Be sure that sin is confessed and the core truths of the faith are true at the deepest level in our hearts. In addition, we should pray and weep – as Paul did – for these who are our friends whose faith is so shallow and whose hearts are so deceived.