There's A Hope

I've been thinking a lot about lately about being broken at the foot of the cross and finding healing there. The amount of people that I see an interact with on a daily basis that express their brokenness and need for healing is truly remarkable. So many people are unashamed in proclaiming the many ways that they are broken. However, most of the time, it isn't in a search to find healing or comfort, but more a proclamation of how they believe that they have overcome this brokenness on their own, or how they stand even though life seems to be trying to destroy them every day. I'm constantly seeing people who are single parents, clinging and grasping to every bit of what they see as hope, a life built differently through their efforts to achieve an advanced degree. I see those who believe that if they can just fulfill their parents desires, then they can make them proud, proud enough that they don't need to happily live, but merely scrape by with family approval. For losing that approval would result in a sort of disowning. I see students that believe higher learning is the path to leading them to all their wildest dreams; the fancy job with the great salary, the beautiful spouse, the house that no one else can afford, the joy that they believe those people have. I see people who merely scrape through life, day by day by day. Just trying to make it to the next, hoping that it will be different than the day before, never understanding how their thoughts and beliefs impact this mindset. I see students crushed by student debt, unable to eat for days on end, only desiring to continue the quest to become someone who has achieved the "American Dream".

Everyone is broken. Broken in such a way that there is really no cure or fix that can be found by man. All of these people that I see every day live each and every day hoping that they will find a cure doing something. However, that cure doesn't exist. There is no cure procured by man for the brokenness seen all around me, but there is a hope. A hope that stems from the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Because He lived perfectly, we have hope. Because He died perfectly, we have hope. Because He was buried perfectly, we have hope. Because He rose perfectly, we have hope. Man cannot make his way to the peace received only in Christ, it must stem from Christ reaching out and grabbing hold of that individual and drawing him unto Himself.

Those who believe in the Lord, must rely on Him solely. This is how we offer hope to those around us. Not by claiming to be perfect unblemished people, this never works, for everyone knows how broken and in need of something more they themselves are. When Christians live in such a way to take all the strife of life and yet continue to be joyful, that is noticeable. When joy comes from suffering, people want to understand why. They want to learn what they need to do in order to leave their brokenness behind, to experience hope each and every day.

Christians don't have perfect lives, but we do have One who mediates on our behalf, upholding and sustaining us every step of the way. When we experience someone who is broken, we should rejoice that we have hope to offer, that we have been given a gift that we could never have achieved, a gift that is not available to the natural man. Every person that receives this gift must be born again, receiving a new heart and mind. One that seeks after God, for the natural man can never seek after God. We should take courage that though we may be afflicted, we no longer fight alone.

Today, if you encounter those who are broken, which you are sure to do, do not feel sorry for them and move on afraid to speak about their pain, it will exist whether you talk about it or not. Instead, live your life in such a way that God works mightily through you to bring the Gospel to them, offering hope and joy for those without any. You never know when God will use you to bring another of His children into His kingdom, so never turn away an opportunity to speak about why you are filled with hope, for there is nothing that can be done to you that your Father who is in Heaven will not sustain you through.

This song by Hollyn has truly been speaking to my heart, offering hope and healing to all who run to the cross. I pray that it speaks to you as well.

Dort, A Rich Heritage Celebrated

On November 13, 1618 over a hundred men assembled in Dordtrecht of the Netherlands. Their main purpose was to examine and rebut the heresy of Arminianism. It was called Arminianism because it was linked to one of the men who espoused its doctrines most abundantly, not because it originated with him. Rather Arminianism was merely a restated version of Pelagianism, which had long before been condemned by the church as a heresy. Arminianism was presented as different from the teachings of Pelagius, though in reality it based its teachings from those of Pelagius with very little to distinguish itself as being set apart, merely a re-purposed ideal. After about six months of deliberations and examinations, on May 9th in 1619, the Canons of Dort were born.

Not only are the canons the greatest defense given against Arminianism, they also provide a context and background for the length of time that this controversy was examined. It was not something that was examined lightly and then pushed aside. It was not an issue that these men gathered so that they could figure out how to manipulate the truth. Rather, it was a sacrifice of love for the truth that led these men to examine this issue for such an extended period of time. Men (mostly pastors) were called from most corners of Europe to convene together about this issue. This was not something that these men were able to go home every night, sleep in their own beds, and be with their families. These men sacrificed for half of a year in order to best present the doctrinal position of Scripture in regards to this issue.

Personally, this means a lot. To step away from everything that would be normal, to pray, discuss, even argue the varying issues at stake, would have taken a deep reliance upon God for strength and mercy. Knowing this background is what leads me to so deeply appreciate the work that my 10th great-grandfather (Herman op den Graeff) took part in. He was one of the several delegates to join the synod from Germany. Through his actions and those of his descendants, God worked to preserve the truth of Scripture. Not only through their lives and actions, but through the working of the Spirit in leading several of his descendants to join him in pastoring God's flock.

I do not take pride in my 10th great-grandfather the man, for he would have been the first to proclaim that he on his own was unworthy of any praise. Rather, I take a deep pride in knowing that God has been at work since at least the early 1600's in my family to shine His truth and light to others. I pray that if one day I need to make a sacrifice like Herman did to stand for the truth, that God would give me the strength to do so. The way that America is currently headed, I could see that coming sooner than later.

It is when thinking about my ancestral heritage that I begin to think about one of the biggest issues of our day, the murder of millions of unborn children. I think about Herman and the stance that he made to make sure that the Church understood that all people are born with a sin nature, completely depraved. I think about the fact that so many children have been torn to pieces before they could ever hear the Gospel preached to them. (I do not believe that every child murdered in the womb faces hell and eternal destruction, for God may work in the hearts and minds of anyone of any age.) To think that God still works in these situations amazes me. He takes the hateful, sinful actions of men and uses them for His glory. Thankfully, God is sovereign over all. Not just some, but all.

Even though He uses abortions for His glory, He does not leave those committing the sin of murder unaccountable. For them, there are two options. The first is that they will be held accountable for the life they have taken and will be destroyed for all eternity in hell for what they have done. The second option, is one wherein they receive mercy. Jesus has already paid for their sin and forgiven them, for they are His. These are the only two options that exist. Knowing that Herman helped to preserve this truth brings me joy. Knowing that God is the One to uphold His Word, brings me strength and courage, the same that I believe He gave to Herman. If we are unwilling to stand against sin, then we have failed in the very calling given to us. We cannot make disciples if we are not leading and standing for righteousness. If we back down from the popular opinion, we will abdicate everything that we claim to believe in.

If we look to our past, we can gain great insight into the actions that we should and should not take. I am thankful to God that many of those in my ancestry fall within the 'actions that should be followed' category. Some of the very first and greatest abolitionists in our country are among my family tree, many pastors, city officials, and even royalty. But my family tree is not what gives me faith, or the ultimate example to follow (there are many in my tree that were horrible people). My hope is in Christ alone. This is what Herman and the other men met at Dort to determine and produce. A knowledge that no matter how horrible a person you are, there is hope found at the cross. At the cross one may lay down all of their worthless baggage and kiss the feet of He who was hung for their transgressions. Mankind is evil, by every definition. But we do have hope. However, it is only through the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus that we find this hope. It can be found by no other means.

T

U
L
I
P

Five simple letters. Yet, months were spent to make sure they were formatted correctly to reject and repute the teachings of Pelagius/Arminius. My hope and prayer is that we may find the time and courage through leaning on the Holy Spirit to reject and refute any considerations for the murder of unborn children. I truly believe that it is only when a high view of God is held that we may begin to see real change in our cultures and world. It is when God is seen as Almighty that His Word is seen as valuable. If we do not stand upon His Word, then nothing we do will hold any weight.

Let us have hope in the One who lives. Let us live for the One who suffered. Let us suffer for the One who brings life. And let us bring life to those who are helpless.

Peace In This Place: A Poem

My sins You already know

And yet You call me to confess them so

I lay them down at Your feet

As I lay on the ground and weep

Your love is written across the sky

Bidding me to come and die

I’m only a sinner saved by grace

So give me the peace that fills this place

You came to earth and died

All I can do is constantly hide

A crown of thorns You did not pass

So all my sins You’d pay in their mass

Your love is written across the sky

Bidding me to come and die

I’m only a sinner saved by grace

So give me the peace that fills this place

Your law revives my soul

How could You die to make me whole

Your love was displayed on the cross

So all my sin could be counted as loss

Your love is written across the sky

Bidding me to come and die

I’m only a sinner saved by grace

So give me the peace that fills this place

Written: 10/2/2010

His Splendor: A Poem

© On Lincoln Drive

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His Splendor

The grassy fields and flowery meadows Show the peace of God when you rest in His shadows The mountains high and rolling hills Show the greatness of God when you follow His will So sing with all that you have For nothing on earth will ever last Store up your treasures on high Looking to the One whose coming is nigh The gentle breeze ruffling the leaves Shows the tenderness of God when we come on our knees The flowing river molding the rocks Shows how a lump of clay can become something that sparks

So sing with all that you have For nothing on earth will ever last Store up your treasures on high Looking to the One whose coming is nigh The deer dancing in the field Show the grace of God and what it’s like to be healed The sunset in all its array Shows the beauty of God when His love is on display

So sing with all that you have For nothing on earth will ever last Store up your treasures on high Looking to the One whose coming is nigh

Do You Build Walls or Bridges?

One of my favorite songs recently has been "Walls", by Derek Minor. I think that he nails a lot of the issues going on in our country right on the head. You can find the song on just about every music site; itunes, youtube, spotify, etc. Below are the lyrics for the song, and I would highly encourage you to look it up to listen as well.

[Chorus: Jordan Frye]
We build walls
All around us, all around us
Try to keep what we don't know
At a distance, at a distance
We don't listen

[Verse 1: Derek Minor]
Now if I stood on a corner and asked you for $2 for a Whopper
Would you let your cynicism stop you? Would it stop you? Would it stop you? I mean would you?
I mean we spend $9.99 on Spotify, but hearing my stomach rumblin', not worth a dime?
Not worth a dime? Not even one?
Look, or if I had suit and tie, maybe I’d be worth your time?
Only money on your mind, cuz we are so selfish
Jesus walked with the poor
Are we too good for that?
Kissing up to God in our prayers to get a promotion
To make more money and buy more things, that we don’t need
That we just buy to show off for the next guy and still feel poor inside
Still feel homeless as the person that we just denied
By the way, how have you treated the least of these?
Pride and money, are you a slave to them?
Cause you ain't gotta be black to pick cotton off a shelf of an
H&M

[Chorus: Jordan Frye]
We build walls
All around us, all around us
Try to keep what we don't know
At a distance, oh, at a distance
We don't listen

[Verse 2: Derek Minor]

Pray to God for the day that we can
Put our guns down and see Him in all of our faces
Can't you see with the hands of the master we made?
But we don't enjoy the creation of art on display
So blind when we look at each other
I don't want you not to see my color
See our differences are not the weakness
And in this puzzles we gon' need the master's master pieces
Feel like we all conceited thinking you'd be better if you was more like me
Not knowing it was God that made you more like you
Made in His image, we are all His kids
So if I look down on you, I look down on Him
I'm a sinner, you a sinner, what's the difference?
We all need love, joy, Jesus, and healing
We got a lot in common if we would just listen
Instead of building more walls, let's build more bridges
Let's build more bridges

[Chorus: Jordan Frye]
We build walls
All around us, all around us
Try to keep what we don't know
At a distance, at a distance
We don't listen

Allegiance

As July 4th approaches, I have been thinking a lot about what it means to be loyal or to have allegiance to someone or something. My mind continues to return to a piece of Scripture, Mark 12:13-17. It is here that we see Jesus' response to being asked if people need to pay taxes. But this passage speaks to much more than this. It helps us to see that whatever country we belong to, that country only deserves the things that are theirs. They are not owed the things that belong to other nations, or peoples, or are God's. They do not have the right over our thoughts, desires, and hopes. Whichever country we are a part of deserves to get what it is due, but not everything that we have and are.

When we look at what the Bible has to say about who Christians are called to be, we do not find instructions on how to be the most loyal subject or on how to hold allegiance to our country (though both of these things may be done when we are living out godly lives). However, what we do find is beautiful and simple, while also being deep and complex.

In Matthew 22:34-40 (just following the events from Mark 12) we see the Pharisees ask Jesus about what the greatest commandment is. His answer is very simple, but also so complex that He covers everything that could be thought of from the OT commandments. Jesus said, "[37] You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. [38] This is the great and first commandment. [39] And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. [40] On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (ESV)

Now, one may wonder why I would bring up these two passages when speaking about loyalty and allegiance. The answer is quite simple. If we as Christians do not have our priorities straight, we end up making an idol out of something else. If we do not love God first and foremost, then we are commiting idolatry. If we do not love our neighbors and fellow man second, we are failing to live in a Christlike manner.

We can love our countries and the unique aspects that they each have. We can spend the 4th of July celebrating the beginning of a land that tries to exemplify freedom and justice, though many times fails to do so. There are many times when our country shakes its fist at God and declares that it knows better than He does. It is for this reason that we must hold the first and second greatest commandments above our allegiance to any land or place. Before we pledge allegiance to a country, may we first and foremost devote our lives to the service of the One who instilled our country's claimed values in the minds of its founders. The ideals of liberty and justice are not merely the social foundations upon which this country has been built, but are rather divine truths taken from God's Word. God is just, and because of His justice, we should strive to see justice reign among all situations. God sets the captives free from sin and lives of misery, and only He can sustain freedom. Therefore, we should strive to bring freedom to those who do not have it, in any situation or experience, even if their experience and situation is not our own. God creates all people, and therefore we need to live in such a way as to reflect that truth. There is no one on earth that has been created less than another. We are all created equal. Not in the eyes of a country, but in the eyes of God!

This July 4th, my hope and prayer is that the Church in America would begin to reflect and display the glories of Christ that are uniquely written into our constitution. Not because our country is the fountain of these glories, but because those that wrote it saw the beauty and majesty of a God who redeems those who are unredeemable and frees those that are dead in their chains. To care about our fellow man is not politically based propaganda, it is the second greatest commandment given to us by God. And it can only be done when we are fully committed and faithful to the first commandment.

May the Church rise to the occasion and shine light upon areas of darkness and bring hope to those who have none.

Happy 4th!

I Will Give You Rest

What does it mean to rest? To live life contentedly? What is it that causes one to rest? Such simple and yet deep questions. The very thought of which can cause one to ponder and become lost in thought for hours at a time. Or, one may simply glance at the question and become bored with the realization that they do not rest and have no idea how to achieve it.

To rest, something that most people refuse to do even on the most basic of levels. They would rather be on the go continuously, rather than provide for a physical rest; even for a mere moment. However, physical rest is just the beginning. It is when we rest physically that we can begin to rest emotionally and spiritually. We cannot rest in the knowledge that those who have been called by God are firm held by His love and mercy, if we believe that our physical actions will carry us further and more true than God has already promised. How foolish are we. God declares that He will give us rest. Yet, so much of the time we spend trying to gain rest on our own. We fail to truly understand what it means to be firm held by the Savior.

[28] "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” ( Matthew 11:28–30, ESV)

If we live in such a way to be content with every situation that we are placed in, would we not learn to trust God more? If He is the One who has planned our entire lives, knowing everything about us and forming us in the womb, should we not rest in His plan for us?

[11] For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. [12] Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. [13] You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. [14] I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. (Jeremiah 29:11–14, ESV)

However, the reason that we cannot rest is because we do not believe/trust in God's promises. He has promised to never leave or forsake us. Yet, we seem to refuse to believe this simple truth, even in its most basic forms. We doubt that we will be provided for, loved, nurtured, and even live another day. If God has not called those who love Him to His side, then He will provide for, love, nurture, and sustain us every single day. Many times we refuse to believe this, but its not because we do not see the evidence for it, but rather because we want to control our lives instead of surrendering everything that we are to our Savior.

[25] “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? [26] Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? [27] And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? [28] And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, [29] yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. [30] But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? [31] Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ [32] For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. [33] But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. [34] “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:25–34, ESV)

The only rest that can be found in life is through belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It is only through this simple surrender that hope, joy and grace may be found.

May we all surrender who we are in favor of resting in who He is.

All the Poor and Powerless

Over the last several months, I have felt burdened and heavy under the weight of life and the struggles that come from living in a world filled with sin. I have struggled to find the joy and desire to write, not only within this blog, but also in the book that I have been working on "A Land of Shadows". It is hard to know that while in the midst of trying to write about the shadows and pictures seen in this life that reflect God and His beauty that my eyes continue to find the taint of sin. The taint of sin isn't found anywhere in God, for He is just, pure, and holy. The taint comes when we begin to examine those who are supposed to reflect His glory and yet fail miserably to do so. I have been so discouraged that even the thought of beginning to write another chapter or refine an already established one sounded like the worst chore and burden that someone could lay upon me. How could I write about the glory of God when those who are supposed to reflect His love and grace display such horrid actions of hatred, contempt, self-righteousness, and a lack of mercy? How could I begin to proclaim the glories of God when my soul felt crushed by this world, by the actions and deeds of those who would attempt to proclaim that they are children of God? How could I express thankfulness, when so much in this life was bringing me sorrow and pain? How could I show others the love of God, when I felt so low and broken?

Over the last month, God has been good. He has been gracious and kind to me. He has provided me with comfort and care, and I want to be clear that in all of my struggles over the past few months, God has never been the one to let me down or fail me in any way. His mercies have been sweet, and are the only thing that has carried me through. God has used many things to carry me through this time, and I am so very thankful for that. He has caused me to become more reliant on Him and to understand how horrid we are on our own.
I am so thankful for music. It has always been one of my greatest joys in life. It can lift the soul to heaven, all while causing self to be laid very low. There have been several songs that have brought me peace and have been used by God to carry me throughout the past several months. I would like to share them, and to share the reasons that they have been so merciful to me.
The first song is, "Cry for You", by Lecrae. This song has been the perfect reflection for so many of my thoughts. If you haven't listened to it because you don't like rap music or just because you haven't had the chance to, I would highly encourage you to do it today. It is an expression of what God has been doing in Lecrae over the past year or so. It also reflects the brokenness that I have felt and also the peace that resting in Jesus brings. When we rest and cry for God to draw near to us, we draw near to Him. It is a very emotional song, one that often brings tears to my eyes as I think about how sinful I am, and yet how loving and merciful God is and has been to me. The second is also by Lecrae, entitled: "I'll Find You". It expresses the joy of knowing that we can't do anything on our own, but we have a God who will never leave us or forsake us. He fights for us, even when the pain is so deep that we feel like it would be impossible to carry on.
The third song is "Worn" by Tenth Avenue North. It expresses the deep pain and burden of living in a world filled with sin, but follows that by expressing the joy found by resting in the only thing that we can rest in; the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, who sits on the throne and intercedes for us before the Father.
The fourth song, "After You", by Britt Nicole is one that continues to provide me with encouragement that all I need to do is seek after God and everything else will fall into place. When we hold Him first and foremost, nothing else can draw away our joy. For all true joy is found in Christ and only in Christ. It is a reflection of the truths expressed by Solomon, that nothing in this world is worth anything, that it is all vanity and worthless. The only thing of worth is found in Christ.
The next few songs have brought me encouragement and hope. Broke and 8:28 by Lecrae, Get Through, Bring You War, Sing to You, and Not Today Satan by KB. All of these songs have pieces that have helped me and given me strength. Broke speaks about the way that being brought low, physically and mentally can actually help us grow. 8:28 is from Romans 8:28, speaking towards that fact that God always works everything for the good of those who love Him. The songs by KB are anthems of hope and resistance to temptation and sin. Satan has no hold over us, for those who believe Jesus is God, because Christ has already conquered the grave and holds the bounds to what Satan can do.
So, to answer the questions that I posed at the beginning of this post, I have been blessed to be called by God. I have been given a gift, that only means something when used for Him. He is the one that carries and upholds His children, we cannot do it on our own accord. When we are weak, He is ever strong. When we are hurt, He heals. When others seek to destroy us, He fights our battles. When we feel crushed, He restores.
May we all seek to live in a manner that glorifies God alone. When others fail to do so, may we have an overabundant amount of mercy and grace, for have we not all been given much! The Lord is good and His love endures forever.

Let Us Love One Another

It has again been several months since my last post. It seems that life gets busier with each passing day. I have been trying to find what I wanted to write about and have been left pondering what it means to love those around us. In Scripture we have several examples of how we are to love those around us, not only those whom we love, but also those who are strangers or those who consider themselves to be our enemies. When the Bible speaks about the love that we are supposed to have, love that is meant to reflect Christ and His character, it is not given to us as a suggestion. Rather the love that we see throughout the Bible, is commanded of those who would proclaim Christ as Lord.

Jesus said to His disciples: "[34] A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. [35] By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34–35, ESV) Jesus is calling the disciples to live in such a way that everyone who sees them will know instantly that they deeply care for one another. This is not a surface love that is only seen one or two days a week. But rather this is more along the lines of the love that should be readily visible between a husband and wife. There are difference in the intimacy shared, but the love that Jesus is calling for them to share with one another is the same. They are to care for each other in a way that only a Christian can, by the Spirit and with grace and mercy.

Later in 1 John, God writes through John:

[7] Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. [8] Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. [9] In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. [10] In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. [11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. [12] No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. [13] By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. [14] And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. [15] Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. [16] So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. [17] By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. [18] There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. [19] We love because he first loved us. [20] If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. [21] And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 4:7–21, ESV)

These verses stood out to me and caused me to think about the manner by which we walk through our daily lives. Do those around us see the love of God? Can they tell that we actually love one another? If we fail to live in such a way that people can see that we love fellow believers, then how deeply have we sinned and failed to bring the gospel to them? Every day that we do not love each other, we are proclaiming to the world that God does not abide in us. If we claim to love God, we must love those around us. For if we do not we are liars. In verse eighteen it talks about there not being any fear in love. This is something that I have been thinking about a lot recently. What does it mean when it mentions not having fear? Is it referring to being physically afraid? I don't think that it is, it may be in part speaking about physical fear, but I do not think that it is the primary focus. Love is something that must be expressed or physically demonstrated, and therefore the fear spoken of in these verses would seem to not only concern physical fear, but also emotional. If we truly love one another, we should not fear slights, offenses, neglects, or the sins of others. Why? Because the love that we experience does not flow from another person, but rather from God. Therefore, if someone does something that may cause us emotional pain, we should not fear because that does not represent the love of God. God's love is pure and just, never the cause of pain. It is during these times that we must show the love of Christ working in us, forgiving without needing to be asked. For God's love for us does not change because we sin after coming to faith, but rather it remains the same, steadfast, holding us, caring for us.

Matthew 5 says:

[38] “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ [39] But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. [40] And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. [41] And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. [42] Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. [43] “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ [44] But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45] so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. [46] For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? [47] And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? [48] You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:38–48, ESV)

We are to forgive anyone who mistreats us, let alone those who are among the children of God. Love that flows from the believer should be perfect. Not perfect when we are able, because we never are, but we should strive for perfection because He is able to make our love perfect. Again, there should be forgiveness and peace whenever possible, keeping no record of wrongs done against us, for did not Jesus suffer more than any one of us ever could?

[12] Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, [13] bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. [14] And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. [15] And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:12–15, ESV)

[32] Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. [1] Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. [2] And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 4:32-5:2, ESV)

[21] Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” [22] Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. [23] “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. [24] When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. [25] And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. [26] So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ [27] And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. [28] But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ [29] So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ [30] He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. [31] When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. [32] Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. [33] And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ [34] And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. [35] So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18:21–35, ESV)

Matthew 18 does not say that we are only to forgive once a brother repents to us, but rather that we are to forgive, truly and sincerely. As Christians, we are not to hold grudges towards anyone, especially not one in the family of God. We are called to forgive readily and willingly, for have we not already been forgiven more than we can even comprehend?

Let us strive to live with one another in the manner and means that God has prescribed for us to live. Let us live in harmony, not with strife and pettiness determining our actions. Let us strive to love as He has loved us.

Dear America

Dear America,

I have been pondering for almost a week now about what I wanted to say, or if I wanted to say anything at all, in response to the events that have occurred in our country over the past couple of weeks. After much prayer and consideration, I have come to the conclusion that I cannot remain silent when so many of my brothers and sisters in Christ are suffering, while also considering the general suffering of my fellow Americans.

It is with a heavy heart that I type these words, debating over which issues to address and which to not address. I could write about the suffering in our country for days on end without covering everything that has gone on and is going on. Therefore, please do not take this simple letter to show the full extent of my thoughts and struggles on these issues that we currently face.

The first thing that comes to my mind is suffering. Our country is suffering deeply and in many different ways. We have millions of fellow citizens who are living displaced lives, currently not having a single thing left from what their lives were about a month ago. Their homes have been destroyed and their belongings ruined by flooding and the destruction of property. Texas, Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands (speaking only towards those areas that are American) among others have been ravaged by three significant hurricanes one after the other, seemingly with little respite between storms. Families have been torn from their homes, left with nothing.

The Bible calls Christians to love others, and yet instead of love, I have seen indifference and in some cases a hatred toward these people who one day were living their lives and the next had absolutely nothing left to live with. Now, many of the responses of hate have I am sure come from those who do not believe in Jesus as Lord, and yet there have also been many who would claim to trust in God that have made statements that show everything but that.

As I look at the amount of people who have been displaced (over 5 million), either temporarily or permanently due to the destruction of their homes my heart breaks. Instead of striving to figure out how to honor an egotistical degenerate who lived and, by all reports, died in his sin, we should be striving to bring comfort and rest for those who are living with nothing. We should be reaching out and doing everything that we can to help these people. Not only because they are our fellow Americans, but because many of them belong to the body of Christ and therefore are our brothers and sisters (those who believe that Jesus is Lord are brothers and sisters). Not only do we need to help those in need physically, but also spiritually. There are so many who are full of despair and see nothing left for themselves. So instead of celebrating a degenerate, let us bring them the news of Christ crucified!

During this horrible crisis in which so many have lost their lives and others everything that they own, our country has become even more of a powder keg surrounding issues of racial hate and misunderstanding. Major cities have erupted in riots and we have seen those who are suffering take the brunt of the demonstrations.

This past weekend our president and the NFL (as well as other athletes from other sports) came to a tipping point. The president said things that should never be said by the president who is supposed to care for and look after the well-being of all his citizens. The NFL responded, for the most part, as a unified front. Proclaiming that they (as individuals) have the right to actions that are peaceful in protest to many of the racial tensions and sufferings that are occurring within the United States.

As I watched these events unfold, I was deeply saddened by the reactions that I saw from friends as well as strangers. Men who play a game for the entertainment of many spoke out in order to make a statement that shows their viewpoint on an issue that can only be resolved through the love that Christ brings. Instead of having people come together to try to understand these men, to understand why they felt the need to make a demonstration in the manner that they did, people attacked the NFL and its players. Instead of seeking to understand the viewpoints of those who feel oppressed in this country, they were admonished by people based on the opinion of what their stance meant to those admonishing them, rather than upon the viewpoints of those making the demonstration.

So many of the conversations that I hear and the comments that I saw turned the conversation into whether or not these men were patriotic or not. Meanwhile, there were statements from numerable people on each team that protested stating why they did what they did, none of which were for unpatriotic reasons. People want to claim that these men hate their country, simply because they have not conformed to the status quo.

Yet, so many have simply forgotten that these same men and organizations quickly gave of their own time and money to support those affected by the hurricanes. These same men that have been villainized for taking a knee are ignored when they donated their paychecks to help ease the pain of those trying to bring their lives back together. They are called horrific names, that I will not repeat, just because they took a stand for what they believed was right, just shortly after raising millions of dollars in a very short amount of time in order to give it all towards the rebuilding of homes for those who cannot afford to, the provision of food and water for areas that no longer have enough. This same organization and the men that work for it gave freely of the wealth that so many hold against them, even amidst the strife that they felt going on in their communities and the nation as a whole.

Why are these men responding this way?!?! Because, they are Americans. Many of the men within the NFL and its organizations have responded to the natural tragedies that have occurred with swift action, ready to sacrifice what they have for those in need.

Instead of an outcry of hatred towards them, projecting reasons for their actions on them that they themselves have denied and have provided clear reasoning to the contrary, maybe we should begin to try to understand where they are coming from. To stand with them against injustice, for are these not the same men that less than a week ago we were praising for their efforts in assisting their fellow Americans? Can we not begin to understand that every person in this country sees situations differently? How many of those who poured their hate onto social media after Sunday's demonstration donated their time and money to helping their fellow Americans who are suffering? How many have taken the time to break bread with those they don't understand or disagree with in an effort to learn about their struggles and convictions?

Brothers and sisters; we serve a righteous God whose name is Jesus. It is through His blood and work on the cross that we can hope to gain any ground in this struggle that has a strangle hold on our country. Jesus didn't just stay with the Jews that he grew up with. No, He went to Samaria, spoke with the Romans, and interacted with all sorts of different kinds of people throughout His time on earth. This is how He showed God's love to others, He laid down His life for all those who would believe in Him, not just certain people groups.

Instead of breathing hatred towards one another, I pray that we would enter into deep conversations about the love of God and try to understand the viewpoints of those who have felt oppression for far too many years in a country that claims to have freedom for all. Instead of taking offense when someone feels mistreated, may we yearn to learn why and how we have mistreated them in order to correct the grievance.

May the love of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you,

Steve

The Nashville Statement

This week as I have seen and heard many different responses to the Nashville Statement, I feel compelled to write about the document that was released earlier this week. The responses have been wide and varying, seeming to come from every part of "Christianity" and the secular. There have been those who have praised the statement, and those who have denounced it. In reading these responses and seeing the ways that people are responding to the statement, you can see two paths being taken.

The first path, which is the loudest - due mainly to their methodology and manner, is that taken by those who are opposed to the statement. These range from those who don't like the name, because they do not understand the historical traditions of the church - whereby creeds and statements have been named after the place they were written for thousands of years, all the way to people who hate God to begin with and therefore are understandably opposed to the document.

In this first path there seems to be an immense amount of hate and malice towards anyone who supports the document and it's theological statements. All while not understanding that the document reflects the beliefs and doctrines of the Church since the beginning, namely since creation. They refuse to take passages of Scripture for what they are, namely, the very Word of God. (Examples include: Hebrews 13, Romans 1, Jude 1, I Timothy 1, Genesis 1, Mark 10, I Corinthians 7, I Corinthians 6, Leviticus 18, Leviticus 20, etc.)

Because the people taking the first path refuse to acknowledge the design that God put in place for men and women, they are refusing to acknowledge Him as creator. This is very dangerous ground, especially for those who claim to know Him. By refusing to acknowledge Him as creator they are in fact declaring that they do not know Him, or at the very least they are extremely confused as to who God is.

The people on the second path, those who have affirmed/signed the statement, have for the most part done nothing to specifically target individuals, but having simply attached their name to beliefs that have been held by the church since its very foundation. For their efforts they have been maligned and hated by many of their fellow community members. For affirming statements that are by-in-large found directly within the pages of Scripture, they have been called horrible things and have had to deal with the hate, disrespect, and slander of those taking the first path.

When a doctor calls to tell a patient that they have received the results of their cancer screening and lets them know that they do or do not have cancer, this is loving. So, in the same way, if Scripture tells us that something is sin or that someone is living in sin, we must relay that message to them. This is loving. To remain silent on this issue, or on an issue that deals with another sin, would be to disregard the direct commands of God, namely to spread the Gospel throughout the entire earth.

Those who have chosen to sign/support/affirm the statement have not done so because they hate those involved in sexual sin, but rather they have done so because they love them and desire to see them come to a knowledge of their sin through repentance, thereby turning from their sin to the saving work of Jesus Christ. To support truth cannot be unloving. To remain silent and allow someone to remain in ignorance is neither loving nor caring. When a teacher corrects the work of a student, they do not do so because they hate the student, but rather because they want the student to develop and grow into a well rounded individual who is able to think for themselves in a manner that correctly reflects the situation that they find themselves.

There are so many example that can be drawn from different situations in life that reflect the same thing as the doctor and teacher analogies do. Yet, there are those who will refuse to listen, those who will refuse to acknowledge truth. This is because they refuse to hold to God's Word as the foundation upon which all truth must be built. Scripture must interpret all things that we believe. If what we believe is not based upon what Scripture tells us, then we either are not Christians, or are very confused and need to change what we believe.

May we all interact with those that we come in contact with to discuss this issue, as well as others like it, with love, mercy, and grace. May we refrain from responding to hate with hate or disdain. May we all take the love that we have been shown by Christ and allow it to shine through us to others.

Bleeding Hearts

A few weeks ago I watched a video that a pastor named Jeff Durbin shared on Facebook. It was a video showing an abortion support conference. This video, is enough to make me sick and extremely saddened all in one. The people in the video talk about tearing babies apart, even if they are about to be born. It shows a sickness and evil in laughing about body parts falling into their laps. It is disgusting. The very fact that these things happen is enough to show us the grave error of our ways in America.

Abortion is evil. One hundred percent evil. The only reason that any person has an abortion is for their own selfish gain. Abortions are not done in humility or love. They are done out of hate and selfish preservation.

There is a song that the artist Trip Lee does called Beautiful Life (he has two parts to it) that lends a great description of what life is and what it should mean to us. Most Christians have failed miserably in stating these simple facts. We have forsaken God's call to defend the weak and needy. Instead we have given approval for one reason or another to those who commit such atrocities against the Lord our God.

There are many who would make excuses for reasons why it is ok to have an abortion, but these are merely that, excuses. God gives life, men do not. If we refuse to believe this, we easily fall into Satan's trap to destroy the life which God has begun. Two people can have sex their entire lives and no matter how hard they try, until God gives life to the eggs and sperm as they join together, there will never be life. It is He who gives life to everyone, no one becomes pregnant without God granting life to the baby growing in their womb.

Abortions should be stopped at all costs, no matter what. They have produced the biggest genocide in the history of the world, and yet people pay to have them done. Satan clearly is influencing people to do what their flesh desires, to attempt to destroy any recognition of God as the Creator.

May we all seek forgiveness for this evil we have wrought upon our country and may we stand up to injustice and try to stem the flow of evil being done to unborn children.

When Christ Calls

There are two calls that can be described when talking about calls of Christ (God). The first is a general call, one that goes forth from those who preach the Gospel. This call is general because the Gospel is preached to everyone without discrimination. The second call is specific to only certain people that God chose before the foundation of the world to become heirs of His kingdom.

These individuals receive this specific call through the work of the Holy Spirit during the preaching of the Gospel (first type of call). This second type of call cannot be resisted, for when the Holy Spirit calls, those chosen by God answer.

God does not restrict this calling to only those who have lived perfect lives, for there isn't a person who has lived or will live that could live a perfect life except for Jesus Christ. Therefore, this call goes out to those whom God has chosen and not to those who have any merit, for no one has any.

There is no sin too big or offensive that this call cannot conquer. It brings into the kingdom of God sinners from every vein of life. People who used to live in sin; lust, murder, adultery, theives, liars, those living out their sinful desires within the LGBT community, haters of God, and many others. None of these sins is enough to keep you from being able to resist the calling of the Holy Spirit.

However, all of these sins must be repented of and laid at the feet of Christ. We must repent of the things that keep us from Him, even the things that the world has worked so hard to make acceptable. Our lust, both sexual and our desire for more of everything. Our hatred of our fellow man. Our desires to pervert God's design for gender and sex, these too must be repented of, even though the current culture tries to make them "natural".

The Church has been called to preach the Gospel and through doing so, the Holy Spirit works in the hearts and minds of those who hear to bring about salvation and repentance. There isn't a sin too great, not even for those who have answered the call of Satan (see previous post).

Let us love one another as Christ loves us and has called us to be lights in a dark world. May we be bold to stand for truth, knowing that doing so is to be loving. For allowing someone to believe a lie is only going enable them and encourage them to continue living in sin.

When Satan Calls

I am more and more sadden to turn on the news, look at social media, or talk with friends or colleagues. I continually hear all the many stories about how the LGBTQ community is being discriminated against or how wronged they are for not having certain "rights". It makes me sick to my stomach to hear so many people that claim to be Christians turning their favor and support towards that community.

Scripture is very clear about what God thinks about that community and the things they stand for, so why are so many throwing their support behind it? It comes from years of attacks that Satan has thrown against the church, and instead of standing strong against his attacks, the church has capitulated at most every turn. Allowing Satan to pick away at the foundational issues of what it means to be a Christian.

God created male and female. He created them good, not needing to be changed or distorted into something that is neither good or right. Every person who supports the LBGTQ community falls under the judgment listed out in Romans 1:18-32.

Not only is the church called to preach against what the LBGTQ community is and stands for, it is called to demonstrate to this community what is the right and good manifestation of God's design for sexuality and gender. I Timothy chapter one tells us that we are to use the law of God to rebuke and to guide the unrighteous.

Satan has called and the American church, in large, has answered his call with shouts of joy and excitement. There is nothing with the LBGTQ community that is good or that points to God, but rather there is only evidence of a masterful plan, created by Satan to deceive and mislead those unwilling to stand upon Scripture alone.

Scripture is the foundation upon which all knowledge and understanding of God must be built. If we reject this premise, we open the door for Satan to offer us new solutions and foundations that can at best be built upon the sand, ready to crumble with the first storm that he well throw at us. That storm is the war being raged against God and His church by the LBGTQ community. They do not want peace and equality, but domination and servitude.

They will not rest until they deem that they have sufficiently destroyed God's design for gender and sexuality. In order to resist Satan's deception the church must return and stand upon Scripture alone for the foundation of what we are supposed to believe and how we are to live.

Quivers of Arrows

Recently I've been pondering family and what that means to me. The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that on this earth (outside of our ministry and gospel sharing to others) it should be the most important thing for Christians. Now, many people might think that I am referring to the closeness of a family or the fact that they share the same DNA. But this isn't why family is the most important thing. While having those relationships that enable you to know a person for their entire lives is part of it. The real reason that family is so important is because it is meant to be a picture of Christ's love and relationship towards His children.

What does an earthly family have to do with a heavenly one? That is a question that I have heard asked many times. Our earthly families are meant to demonstrate certain things about God to us. However, most of the time we pervert and destroy any resemblance that they might have of the Father's love for His children. Instead of demonstrating unconditional love to one another, we hold grudges and bemoan our situations. Instead of directing our homes as Christ directs His bride, we allow chaos and strife to reign supreme.

There are many ways that we destroy the picture that God has designed in order to point to Himself. Yet, there are times that the picture and structure He has designed comes to full light and breaks beautifully upon the eyes of all who see it. The times when a child is running, falls headlong and smashes into the ground, and their parent rushes to lift them up and comfort them. The times that a child disregards what they know they are supposed to do and their parent disciplines them in a way that instructs and guides them to know and understand that their actions have consequences. The times when a spouse is overcome with love and treats their spouse to something special, just because. The times when a sibling offers to share their toys with their little brother or sister, just because they know how much they enjoy playing with it.

The New Testament is laden with images about the family and it's relationship to the church and to God. However, most of the time we either ignore them or just pretend that they don't matter that much. The images that God lays out in Ephesians of how each part of the family is to treat the other is beautiful and yet can only be understood when we look at it in the light of what God has done for His children and His relationship with them. God's love for His elect is deeper than any love between husband and wife, siblings, or child and parent. Yet, without these relationships, we cannot know what Paul means when he writes about Christ's love for His bride/body.

Therefore, the more Christlike men are when they lead their homes, the more Christlike their families and churches will become. The more that a husband and wife realize that their children reflect their own relationships with God, the more they understand how sinful they are and how utterly dependent they are for His grace and mercy to carry them. Just as a child falls and bruises a part of their body, we fall many times as God's children. He doesn't leave us in the dirt to lick our wounds, but raises us up, showing us where we went wrong and lovingly guides us forward.

Without parents, there wouldn't be children. Without children we would never see a majestic part of the picture that family represents. May we rejoice that we have been given families. May we grow to to understand the importance of seeing our families as mirrors for the world to see the reflection of God in.

A Bird's Song

I am always filled with joy by the little things in life. It is these things that can cause us to see God in new and more beautiful ways than we ever have before. Whether it is something we have seen before and just now have noticed it's beauty, or whether it is something new and grand. God's creation is truly beautiful.

As I was walking to work today, about 20 minutes in total, I couldn't help at marveling at the beauty of what surrounded me. The sun had just come up, the sky still lit with brilliant colors that seemed to be commanding the earth to arise from it's slumber, glistening through the trees wet with the nights dewy frost. It warmed not only my skin, but also my soul knowing that the sun represents the light and glory of the Son. Birds were chirping everywhere, as if there was a diet of worms being offered and consumed by all (500th anniversary of the reformation shout out!). And there was actually a warmth to the breeze, unlike the blistering wind that seemed to attack us over the weekend.

God seemed to be calling to me and to everyone who would listen to wake up, to realize that our faith means something. As we approach October, there will be many references made to the Reformation amongst Christian circles. However, how many of us actually still believe in the principles that started it all? Are we willing to rise as they did, standing only upon Scripture no matter the cost? Will we join with Jonathan Edwards in bringing a great awakening to our country? It was because of the Reformers that Jonathan Edwards had a foundation upon which to stand. Can we not follow suit and preach the Scriptures in grace by faith in Jesus for His glory alone?

We must rise to the occasion. We have seen 500 years of decay and rot within our culture and many times sadly within our churches since the Reformation began. There have been great and glorious victories in the church, but there has also been a turning away from truth and the foundation of believing in the Bible as the sole authority on life and godliness. Instead, many have turned to popular opinion and look for applause.

Let us return to our roots as Christians. Let us believe what Jesus and the apostles taught throughout the New Testament. Let us examine the beliefs that we hold and why we hold them. Let us forsake earthy reconciliation for that which satisfies the soul and lasts for eternity. Let us join with creation in singing that our God reigns upon His throne. That He commands the earth to arise each and every day with new beauties. Let us rise with creation in joining their song and let us eat at the table of Martin Luther by standing upon Scripture alone.

God is Good

It has been a few months since I last posted, during which time exciting things have been happening. My wife and I found out that we were expecting our third child coming this spring. I published my second book, "Truth or Fiction" on Reformation Day (October 31st). I had a third knee surgery just last week. And my wife and I are in the process of getting a house to call our own. It has been a crazy past few months, and yet every single thing that has happened has caused me to see and experience God in new and more beautiful ways.

First, the joy of learning about new life entering the world is truly amazing. To know that God has blessed me with another child is both wonderful and humbling. I am humbled that God has placed a child into my care to teach and train up in the ways of the Lord. I am amazed that God chooses to use me to carry truth to new people each and every day, including my children. Children truly are a gift from God, bringing both joy and training to a parent. My children are full of such joy and cause my heart to soar with their laughter and giggles. They also cause me to see just how far I have to go in becoming more like Christ when I lose my patience or fail them in any way.

My second book is out, and I am very excited about it. It has been a long time in the making and I am very happy to see all of my hard work come to fruition. I pray that the Lord would use it to bless many people and open the eyes of many others. It was released on October 31st because I wanted to follow along with the theme of that day among protestants. Many do not know or remember the significance of that day, but the Protestant Reformation still is causing ripples today and should be remembered for the truth that the men and women who were a part of it stood for.

My third knee surgery went well. I am already walking around. God was very good to me and allowed the surgery to go smoothly and be the least intrusive that it could be. His mercies are new each and every day.

Lastly, the home that we are in the process of getting is such a blessing. We have been blessed beyond measure to be able to stay with my family while we looked for a home that we could afford. God, in His abundant wisdom, caused this to take longer than we would have liked. Yet, He has provided us with a home that we should be able to stay in as long as we would like, which is truly a blessing with our growing family.

I can't wait to see what the next few months hold and hope to post again soon. If I don't get one out for a few months, may the Lord bless you during these holiday seasons and bring the light of truth to shine through you as we come to celebrate His blessings and the birth of His Son!

Be Holy, For He is Holy

I have been reading a book by Andrew Murray entitled: ‘Holy in Christ: Thoughts on the Calling of God’s Children to be Holy as He is Holy’ (which I would highly recommend). While I was reading today riding the train in to work, I was struck by something that Murray said. He said that while we, Christians, can search for holiness, and very well we should, that those who are often the most holy are those who do not think about it. At first I was puzzled by what he could mean, but as I continued to read I came to better understand his statement and the meaning behind it. He states that while we should strive to be holy here on earth, it should not be our goal. He says that even though we are called to be holy as Christ is holy, it is not holiness that we must seek. Rather, we should seek Christ, first and foremost.

Holiness is not developed and cultivated by a desire to be holy in and of itself. It is developed through an insatiable desire to become more like Christ, to fill oneself with nothing but the Holy Spirit. Murray says, “As you hear the command, Be holy, as I am holy, let faith claim the promise, and answer, I will be holy, O Most Holy God! if Thou, the Holy One wilt dwell with me.” It is only through our sanctification that we become holy, or more Christ-like. It is because Jesus is the God-Man that He is able to save us and provide for us a path to holiness. If He were only a man He could only save Himself, however, since He is the God-Man He is able to save to the utmost.

Murray, in discussing holiness, reflects on those who are humble and the ways that their humbleness is caused and affected by Jesus’ holiness. He says, 

“The humble find the Holy One. Just when the consciousness of sin and weakness, and the discovery of how much of self there is, makes you fear that you can never be holy, the Holy One gives Himself. Not as you look at self, and seek to know whether now you are contrite and humble enough – no, but when no longer looking at self, because you have given up all hope of seeing anything in it but sin, you look up to the Holy One, you will see how His promise is your only hope. It is in faith that the Holy One is revealed to the contrite soul. Faith is ever the opposite of what we see and feel; it looks to God alone. And it believes that in its deepest consciousness of unholiness, and its fear that it never can be holy, God, the Holy One, who makes holy, is near as Redeemer and Saviour. And it is content to be low, in the consciousness of unworthiness and emptiness, and yet to rejoice in the assurance that God Himself does take possession and revive the heart of the contrite one. Happy the soul who is willing at once to learn the lesson that, all along, it is going to be the simultaneous experience of weakness and power, of emptiness and filling, of deep, real humiliation, and the as real and most wonderful indwelling of the Holy One.”

The idea that we must be holy is not a suggestion from Scripture. It is a command. However, there is nothing that we can do to be holy in and of ourselves. We must be changed and filled with something completely foreign to our own selves; otherwise we would never become holy. In discussing the way that God is holy, Murray says this, 

“Holy, the Father, God above us, High and Lifted up, whom no man hath seen or can see, whose Holiness none dare approach, but who doth Himself in His Holiness draw nigh to make holy. Holy, the Son, God with us, revealing Divine Holiness in human life, maintaining it amid the suffering of death for us, and preparing a holy life and nature for His people. Holy, the Spirit, God in us, the Power of Holiness within us, reaching out to and embracing Christ, and transforming our inner life into the union and communion of Him in whom we are holy.”

Therefore, let us strive to be holy as God is holy, yet without human strength. Let us lean upon the mercies of our Savior as the Father pours out the Spirit in and through us. It is only through searching for Jesus that we will become holy, for we have nothing to bring to the table in order to partake of any holiness or to become such in our own standing.

The Soveriegnty of God's Decree

Recently I have seen and heard many posts and comments from people stating that they believe that it is possible to be neither a Calvinist nor an Arminianist in their doctrinal beliefs about salvation and justification. My first response is disbelief, quickly followed by sadness. Disbelief that someone that is trying to claim to believe in the God of the Bible is so easily persuaded that a doctrinal stance is not necessary. Sad that this proclamation, or lack thereof, is so readily accepted by the masses and hailed as wise and deeply thought out. It is neither wise, nor deeply thought out. It is foolish to think that you do not believe in one or the other of these two doctrinal stances. Frankly, you have to believe in one or the other if you call yourself a Christian. One is born out of a small view of God and the other out of a great, or large, view of God. 

Calvinists believe that God is Sovereign and has ordained all things to be and upholds them by the power of His Word. They believe that God died only for the elect and therefore His work on the cross is perfect and complete. There is no necessary atonement needed for those whom God has called other than the one that Jesus has already made. They believe that because Christ's work is perfect and complete, no one holds the power over salvation, that power remains in the hands of God. They believe that God must first break the sinners heart and give them repentance through salvific faith before they would ever turn to Him. Salvation is in God's hands alone.

Arminians believe that God died for every single human being to ever live. They try to claim the sovereignty of God, but leave Him weak and unable to complete the goal that He set out to do through Jesus, His Son, because He lacks the ability to save sinners without their permission. They believe that all sins have been paid for except for the sin of unbelief, thereby merely stating that they believe no one's sins have been paid for. They believe that God only knows who will be saved because He knows all things, not because He has decreed them to be. Salvation is to be shared, or at least they would claim, by both Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and man's choice to follow His voice. If men are left to choose, why would they ever do so? If they were asked to leave their sin, why would they? Mankind enjoys their sin and despises anyone who tells them that it is wrong, including God, and this is something that the Arminianist would never agree to, for they would claim that men are mostly good.

These are the two positions that so many people refuse to acknowledge. They want to claim that they hold to neither position, and yet, if they hold to neither position, what exactly do they hold to in regards to salvation? Do they believe Jesus' work on the cross did anything? Do they believe that there is another way to salvation other than through Jesus? Or, is it merely a lack of gumption, a refusal to attest to one viewpoint for fear of mortal man's opinion?

These are the two places that Christians find themselves. One cannot be a half Calvinist or half Arminianist, it is impossible. For to be one or the other mandates that you cannot believe what the other teaches and believes. You cannot be a two point Calvinist as some would say, for there is no such thing. The very meaning of Calvinist is to believe a certain set of doctrines and biblical statements. A person may believe one thing and be struggling with changing their beliefs about a topic, but you cannot believe two opposing views to be true at the same time.

Lastly, I would like to mention the simple fact that God's decrees are final. Scripture says that God chose us, the elect, in Him before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4-10) How could He do so, before we were even created, and yet not be able to actually carry out this choosing? I am attesting to the Calvinistic viewpoint. Not because I think that the man Calvin is so much holier or wiser than others and should be followed, but because I agree with C.H. Spurgeon, that to preach the doctrines called Calvinism is to preach the gospel. 

Therefore, I challenge anyone who claims to hold to neither one viewpoint or the other to examine themselves to see what they truly believe. Because I guarantee that when push comes to shove, they believe either one view or the other about God. They will either see Him for just and merciful towards sinners who don't deserve salvation or they will see Him as a pleading old man, begging to be let into their sinful heart so that He can save them. I am thankful that God has opened my eyes to see Him as the sovereign King of the universe, perfectly God and perfectly able to save those whom He has chosen unto Himself.

I pray that those who read this post, though extremely brief in dealing with the topic of man's salvation and the sovereign glory of God, will have their eyes opened to the beauty of the doctrines of grace as well as to be refreshed and renewed in their belief of them if already held dear. May the truth of God bring forth a fire in the spirits of those who claim to be His children.

The Limitation of the Truth

I am saddened this morning to see the news that last week Russia passed new laws regulating the manners and situations by which my brothers and sisters can share the Gospel of our Lord. Those that know me, know that I lived for almost two years in Russia. I lived among the people and grew to love them deeply. This news saddens me deeply, knowing that a situation that was already difficult to deal with due to the pressure of the Orthodox Church has gotten even more difficult.

During my time in Russia, I spent many a Saturday out with my friends sharing the Gospel and handing out Bibles. It would seem that these times are now at an end for believers in Russia that do not share the view that the Orthodox Church is the only church. My heart aches knowing that many of those that I lived among could be arrested for simply sharing the Gospel with their neighbors and co-workers. This is an attempt by those who hate God to limit His reach among the people of Russia.

While this places new and harsh restraints on Christians in Russia, it also shows just how much their country has forsaken God in every way and what we as a nation (America) have to look forward to if the Church continues to remain silent on issues of justice and truth. The people of Russia are hungry for real truth to be brought to them, many having clung to what they remembered before communism and fearing that they would never worship the God of the Universe in public again. That ban was lifted for a time, but it would appear that time is coming to a close.

This should serve as a warning to all of those "Christians" who wish to stand by ignoring God's word while millions of children are killed and the very institution of marriage, designed by God, is destroyed. Our brothers and sisters in Russia are being persecuted and oppressed. This same persecution will soon be coming to America because in general the American church has failed to stand upon truth and justice. It has been tossed by the wind, floating whichever way the majority of public opinion desires.

Let us pray for those in Russia that God will give them a boldness that resembles that of Peter in the book of Acts. May we never be afraid of what man can do to our earthly bodies. Let us pray that the people of Russia will be blessed with the hearing of God's Word proclaimed among those believers who choose to defy the decrees of men and may we weep and mourn with and for those who will undoubtedly pay for their defiance with much sorrow and distress. There will be those who lose their jobs, money, homes, and even lives for their defiance of this new decree and sadly most of the world will never hear about their sacrifice for the Gospel.

May God be merciful to us and bless those who give freely the only hope and life that has the power to save, Jesus.