On Saturday as I was trimming some of the shrubs in my yard, I was reminded of the grace and mercy that God daily bestows on us. Not only does trimming bushes help me relax and enjoy the creation, it paints a picture into some of the wonders of our Savior. Shrub trimming can be the absolute perfect analogy for how God shelters, disciplines, and causes us to grow. Not only can we see the ways that He does this for us, we can see the results and the measures by which we bear fruit.
Sometimes a shrub needs to be given a "haircut" and lightly trimmed in order to help it to keep it's shape and continue to flourish. This is not really noticed on the part of the shrub and it continues to grow and flourish without a struggle. However, sometimes a shrub needs to be cut way back. To be brought low, in order to give it a chance to regain some strength and fullness. Not only do you cut off the amount needed to reshape the plant, but instead you cut it back so far as you can without killing it.
So it is with us sometimes. God sanctifies us and makes us holy by giving us a small pruning and keeping us growing strong and healthy. In other times we need to be either disciplined or corrected in our theology and cut back so far that in that moment it hurts tremendously. Yet, as we begin to recover from this drastic trimming of all the excess in our life, we begin to grow anew. Not only do we put forth new shoots of growth, but the ones that have been left continue to grow more full and healthy. Sometimes, the only way that God can lovingly care for us, is to cut us and cut us deeply. He does not do this in order to hurt us, but in order to love us to the fullest.
If I were to leave the shrubs in my yard alone, and only occasionally trim them lightly, they would grow into monstrous, ugly, and stringy bushes that are an eyesore. However, if I occasionally give them a hard trim, cut them way back, they will continue to grow and flourish and be something that is beautifully created. How then can we blame God for anything? Does He not use both the good and the bad to grow His children into the people that He has called us to be? We are called to be holy, therefore should we not then rejoice instead of curse when we receive a hard trim and are forced to rely more wholly upon Jesus for our daily needs? Often, we think that we are better off sending out shoots, showing off something that we think we have done well or that we boast in, and instead of it being beautiful, God looks at it and says that it needs to be cut off.
Our beauty and majesty is only found in Christ. If we claim anything else, may we receive these hard, deep cuts of sanctification. And then in the good times when we are portraying the majesty of Jesus, let us grow into a person who oozes forth the holiness of our God and continues to grow in every aspect in the Lord.
Monday, April 20, 2015
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Resting
Today as I was reading a book by Andrew Murray, he began to talk about the creation and the way that God's holiness was so intertwined with it. As I read, I was reminded of the time of Jubilee from the Old Testament. This was designed to be a time that people of God were to follow His example and to rest, every seventh day, and every seventh year. The people of Israel never did this. Not once did they trust God enough to rest from their work for an entire year. Sure, they rested for the Sabbath, but really how hard is it to do something for one day? If we really look at what it meant to rest for an entire year, we can begin to see the overwhelming nature of what it would mean to truly rest.
Well, as I was reading Murray's book, "Holy in Christ: Thoughts on the Calling of God's Children to be Holy as He is Holy", this one line hit me; "Where God rests in complacency and love, He makes holy." Wow, what an amazing thought. That maybe sometimes when we think that God isn't doing anything that we can see the results of right away at our fingertips, it's because He is using that time to work on us, to mold us, to shape us into the people He has created us to be. Not only then do we need to see the value in being patient and listening to God, but are we not also then called to the same? In an earlier chapter in his book, Murray mentions the verse over and over again, "be holy as I am holy". This has got me thinking. So much of the time people refuse to rest, to take time to search scripture and other theological writings for truth, and to merely absorb God. How much more rested, both physically and spiritually, do you think we would be if we truly took time and set it apart for just God?
I think we would be blown away by the results. If we truly believe that God sanctifies us and makes us holy throughout our walk of faith, then why don't we ever just take the time to just be with Him and to soak in the glorious majesties that He so desires for us? Sure, some people would say that this is what they do by attending church services. To that, I say hogwash. It is the same excuse that the nation of Israel used in the Old Testament. "We don't want to take hold of all of you blessings Lord, we would rather work and toil for something else." This is the same thing that those people who claim merely going to church services is their way of setting apart time to be made holy as He is holy.
I don't think that there a set time that God calls every one of us to set apart. But if the only time that we are setting apart is one or two services a week, what a horrible way to seek after the Lord. We need to daily seek His face and I also think that we periodically need to step away from the busyness of life and to drink deeply from the fountain that God will indeed meet us with. Maybe it's a long weekend once a month, a week every couple of months, or maybe even a whole month once a year. Whatever it is that you feel God calling you to, do it. Do not put it off.
If someone were to say to you, "here, I am freely giving you one million dollars." Would you not drop everything that you are doing to accept that million dollars? It is the same with Christ, He is calling to His children. Beckoning to them, saying, "Come child, drink from My cup which runneth over with new mercies and grace." Why are we so afraid of letting God take hold of our hearts and minds, even for the smallest period of time? I think that it has to do with our enjoyment of sin and it's pleasures. We are afraid that by being alone with God, just like Adam and Eve were after they sinned, that He will somehow then condemn us. Children of our Lord and Savior, wake up!! He already knows everything that you have ever said, thought, or will do! Why do you think that you know better than your Savior? Run to Him for comfort and peace. Run to Him for sanctification and new mercies. Run to Him for refreshing, everlasting joy that will never cease!
Those of you who believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior, take joy in knowing that you are God's chosen child. Beloved from before the foundation of the world. Run to Him for rest, peace, and the warmth comfort that only a Father's embrace could bestow.
Well, as I was reading Murray's book, "Holy in Christ: Thoughts on the Calling of God's Children to be Holy as He is Holy", this one line hit me; "Where God rests in complacency and love, He makes holy." Wow, what an amazing thought. That maybe sometimes when we think that God isn't doing anything that we can see the results of right away at our fingertips, it's because He is using that time to work on us, to mold us, to shape us into the people He has created us to be. Not only then do we need to see the value in being patient and listening to God, but are we not also then called to the same? In an earlier chapter in his book, Murray mentions the verse over and over again, "be holy as I am holy". This has got me thinking. So much of the time people refuse to rest, to take time to search scripture and other theological writings for truth, and to merely absorb God. How much more rested, both physically and spiritually, do you think we would be if we truly took time and set it apart for just God?
I think we would be blown away by the results. If we truly believe that God sanctifies us and makes us holy throughout our walk of faith, then why don't we ever just take the time to just be with Him and to soak in the glorious majesties that He so desires for us? Sure, some people would say that this is what they do by attending church services. To that, I say hogwash. It is the same excuse that the nation of Israel used in the Old Testament. "We don't want to take hold of all of you blessings Lord, we would rather work and toil for something else." This is the same thing that those people who claim merely going to church services is their way of setting apart time to be made holy as He is holy.
I don't think that there a set time that God calls every one of us to set apart. But if the only time that we are setting apart is one or two services a week, what a horrible way to seek after the Lord. We need to daily seek His face and I also think that we periodically need to step away from the busyness of life and to drink deeply from the fountain that God will indeed meet us with. Maybe it's a long weekend once a month, a week every couple of months, or maybe even a whole month once a year. Whatever it is that you feel God calling you to, do it. Do not put it off.
If someone were to say to you, "here, I am freely giving you one million dollars." Would you not drop everything that you are doing to accept that million dollars? It is the same with Christ, He is calling to His children. Beckoning to them, saying, "Come child, drink from My cup which runneth over with new mercies and grace." Why are we so afraid of letting God take hold of our hearts and minds, even for the smallest period of time? I think that it has to do with our enjoyment of sin and it's pleasures. We are afraid that by being alone with God, just like Adam and Eve were after they sinned, that He will somehow then condemn us. Children of our Lord and Savior, wake up!! He already knows everything that you have ever said, thought, or will do! Why do you think that you know better than your Savior? Run to Him for comfort and peace. Run to Him for sanctification and new mercies. Run to Him for refreshing, everlasting joy that will never cease!
Those of you who believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior, take joy in knowing that you are God's chosen child. Beloved from before the foundation of the world. Run to Him for rest, peace, and the warmth comfort that only a Father's embrace could bestow.
Monday, February 9, 2015
Familial Ties
What does it mean to be a family? This is a questions that our country seems to have created an unconnected and meaningless response to. Instead of actually examining the qualities and parts needed to declare something a family, our country has merely claimed that it is anything that that lives together under one roof, even if there are truly no components of a family included there. Our country has taken the meaning of what a family is and has turned it into a disgusting joke that should be the outcry of every Christian. Instead, most churches today merely look at our nations description of a family and shrug, or applaud it.
"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."
(Ephesians 5:22 - 6:4 ESV)
This is about as clear of a description of what a family should look like as you will ever be able to find. Paul in his letter to the church in Ephesus paints a beautiful picture of what a family looks like and how it should reflect Christ and His love for the church. From this passage, I would argue that in order for there to be a family, there has to be at least two parts. First, a man. Second, a woman. Now, it is not just that there needs to be a man and a woman living together. Rather, as Paul states, there will be a man who has left his father and mother who will be bound fast (through marriage) to his wife. That is a huge distinction here. Not only is marriage something that is for a man and a woman, but it is the only way that there is family. It has to be between a man and a woman or else there can be no foundation by which to build upon.
Husbands are called to love their wives and wives their husbands. These verses in no way call for the perversion of homosexuality. It is impossible for two people who declare themselves to be homosexuals to form a family. God made sure of this through creation. In the garden He created Adam and then when there was no companion for him, God created Eve. Through them all of the rest of creation has come. And with that, a created order that can be seen very clearly. Men (boys) are born with male genitalia and women (girls) are born with female genitalia. God created people this way on purpose. It is through this design that children are created. When a man and a women have sex, God either breathes life into a new creation or does not. However, this is not something that can be done between two men or two women.
God calls children to obey their parents. And if Paul had just left it there, I am sure that some people would even try to use this passage to argue the approval of their perversions. However, Paul does not leave it there. Instead, he quotes one of the ten commandments. "Honor you father and mother." This is a big distinction. Children are designed and created to have both a mother and a father. There are circumstances in life where a child may lose one or both parents. Yet, that does not mean that they are not designed to have both a mother and a father. It does however mean that children are designed to not have two men or two women as their parents.
A family is supposed to reflect the relationship that Christ has with the church, and by distorting families, we are distorting the gospel. It is not about people's feeling or whether or not we are judging them. Rather it is about sin, the gospel, and the glory of Christ. Anything that is done that takes away from that glory, is completely and utterly wrong and sinful.
Two homosexuals cannot live in sin and yet claim to share what God has designed. To quote one of the most quoted verses in scripture, "God is love". Therefore, those who are apart from God cannot love and do not know what love looks like. I pray that the church would rise up, to proclaim the gospel and share the true picture of what a family is supposed to mean.
"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."
(Ephesians 5:22 - 6:4 ESV)
This is about as clear of a description of what a family should look like as you will ever be able to find. Paul in his letter to the church in Ephesus paints a beautiful picture of what a family looks like and how it should reflect Christ and His love for the church. From this passage, I would argue that in order for there to be a family, there has to be at least two parts. First, a man. Second, a woman. Now, it is not just that there needs to be a man and a woman living together. Rather, as Paul states, there will be a man who has left his father and mother who will be bound fast (through marriage) to his wife. That is a huge distinction here. Not only is marriage something that is for a man and a woman, but it is the only way that there is family. It has to be between a man and a woman or else there can be no foundation by which to build upon.
Husbands are called to love their wives and wives their husbands. These verses in no way call for the perversion of homosexuality. It is impossible for two people who declare themselves to be homosexuals to form a family. God made sure of this through creation. In the garden He created Adam and then when there was no companion for him, God created Eve. Through them all of the rest of creation has come. And with that, a created order that can be seen very clearly. Men (boys) are born with male genitalia and women (girls) are born with female genitalia. God created people this way on purpose. It is through this design that children are created. When a man and a women have sex, God either breathes life into a new creation or does not. However, this is not something that can be done between two men or two women.
God calls children to obey their parents. And if Paul had just left it there, I am sure that some people would even try to use this passage to argue the approval of their perversions. However, Paul does not leave it there. Instead, he quotes one of the ten commandments. "Honor you father and mother." This is a big distinction. Children are designed and created to have both a mother and a father. There are circumstances in life where a child may lose one or both parents. Yet, that does not mean that they are not designed to have both a mother and a father. It does however mean that children are designed to not have two men or two women as their parents.
A family is supposed to reflect the relationship that Christ has with the church, and by distorting families, we are distorting the gospel. It is not about people's feeling or whether or not we are judging them. Rather it is about sin, the gospel, and the glory of Christ. Anything that is done that takes away from that glory, is completely and utterly wrong and sinful.
Two homosexuals cannot live in sin and yet claim to share what God has designed. To quote one of the most quoted verses in scripture, "God is love". Therefore, those who are apart from God cannot love and do not know what love looks like. I pray that the church would rise up, to proclaim the gospel and share the true picture of what a family is supposed to mean.
Friday, November 28, 2014
Faith to Believe
Every year when this holiday season rolls around, I begin to ponder what it means to live for the Lord. In our family life, our churches, or jobs, and even in the things we do for pleasure. I begin to think about the ways that so many of us push aside what truly matters to put other things such as family, church, and pleasures in the place that only God should hold. The holidays start to roll in and instead of growing closer to God, so many people say "praise God for this" or "that" and yet they really don't mean it. Instead they merely want people to see what a great thing they have going for them. It is during this time of year that so many people try to reach out to the communities around them and it seems like efforts to "reach" others for Christ becomes the call of most Christians.
Yet, what is actually the point? So what if we live in this way for two months or so? Two different things are occurring. First, those that are praising God for the things they have just so others can see what they have display the true issues that they have with pride that they probably struggle with all year long. Since they don't get the opportunity to display it publicly throughout the whole year, they use their faith and means to fuel their sinful desires for praise and honor for themselves rather than what the creator deserves. So instead of praising God, they are actually spitting in His face and letting all those around them see. This is the first way that Christians begin to distort what this whole season is even about.
Secondly, people begin to serve dinners, have clothing drives, food drives, and many other such material need driven events for those in their communities. I do want to clarify that there is nothing whatsoever wrong with doing these things for our communities, in fact it is something that is commanded of us by God. The issue that I am dealing with here is that so many churches and Christians do these things only for the "holidays". They don't do these things because they feel led by God to minister to people, but they do it out of guilt and from a place of pride. I guess that I am saying that both of these issues stem from the same issue. Our pride is our biggest stumbling block. Dinners are served because "people should be able to have a Thanksgiving" or "Christmas". It isn't, in most cases, because we want to share the gospel with strangers, no that would be too dirty. Instead we want to give them a warm meal, clothes, and say "oh look at us, look at the wonderful things we have done to help those in need." If this is the way that we "minister" to the community, we may as well let them suffer and perish.
Without the gospel there is no hope, none. If we do not purposely share the truth of scripture with those people we are ministering to, then it is a useless task. A warm meal or clothes will never save a person's soul and yet so many Christians think that if they do the material/physical things to help others, then they are doing what they were commanded by God to do. This is completely the opposite. Jesus talked about our Heavenly Father's love for us and the way that He cares for His children. He said that earthly fathers love their kids. So how much more so does our Heavenly Father love us! In the same way, people that are in need, they don't need us to be their earthly fathers. They have those and in most cases they at best were a pitiful example of what a father should be. No, God calls us to show others His love. That means that we need to love others in such a way that they do not see an earthly father or mother, something that they know and see the faults and flaws. But rather we are to show others the love of God that surpasses all understanding and reference.
This is what it means to minister to those in need. Jesus did not merely heal people of their physical needs, but spoke life and joy into them. Saying things like; rise and walk, your faith has made you well. It was never about merely healing people so that they would no longer have a physical problem, it was about ministering to people's souls and redeeming His bride for His glory. If we do not minister to people in the same way, so as to present the gospel of Jesus to them, then we have absolutely failed in what we have been called to do.
There are so many people that believe that if they do the right things, say a prayer, and live a good life that they will go to heaven. While at the same time, there are many people that would say that they are Christians that believe the exact same thing. If we do not repent of our sins and give our lives wholly over to God, then are we truly believers? In the book of James we see a discussion about faith. It hinges on two key points. Faith without works means absolutely nothing and works without faith are as equally futile. They go hand in hand. It it not a one or the other, it is both or none. If we have faith in Jesus as our savior, then we must proclaim that faith from the rooftops through our deeds and actions and testimonies of God's glory and grace. And if we minster to those in need, MUST proclaim the gospel to them. If we do not proclaim the gospel then we are telling those same people that we are claiming to love that their eternal damnation does not matter and that all that they need to worry about is this earthly life. Oh how grievously wrong they would be to think such a thing.
"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead."
(James 1 - 2 ESV)
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Autumn
Looking outside, one can see the different shades of colors shining forth from the surrounding trees. Their brilliant reds, oranges, browns, and yellows. It all looks make believe, like a vision from a child's mind, at least that's how I see it each year. I was listening to a song as I drove to work the other day, seeing the sun glisten off of the changing leaves. It was called "Beautiful Broken World" by Warren Barfield. As the song played I couldn't help but sit in wonder at the majesty that was sitting right before my eyes. The song begins with; "Wonderfully arrayed on a bright Autumn day, The leaves set the trees ablaze, I'm sitting here beneath, This decaying canopy, Sunlight sitting through the shade, It won't be long, Until they're gone away, That's the price we pay, In this beautiful broken world, We laugh and then we cry, There's a wonderful pain and joy, In death and in life yeah, yeah (Yeah this is life),Oh, we are living in this beautiful broken world". In listening to that song I began to think about the ideas written below. I hope that they bring a new joy and hunger into your life this autumn as they have into mine.
Something strange happens every autumn, instead of the warmth of summer giving way to immediate cold and death that we see every winter, there is a pause within God's created order of creation. Instead of merely creating the trees to turn brown and have their leaves fall off as a sign of death and barrenness, God created the trees to scream forth His glory and majesty. "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." (Romans 1:19-20 ESV) God not only declares that He is God through creation, He declares the gospel. Think about it. Most of the time we think about trees as being full of life when they are growing and green, yet we forget to think about what the leaves mean when they change color and paint the most glorious pictures. Instead of the leaves falling limply from all the trees as the seasons change and merely creating a picture of the death and destruction that has so immensely invaded our world due to sin, God gives us a small glimpse into the glorious mysteries of what He has actually done for His children.
Who would have thought that something as simple as a tree could relay such an amazing message of grace and salvation? Let's break it down further. In the spring and summer months, the trees are all green and luscious and look as if they are thriving. Yet, because of the way that the seasons work, we know that their time is short. Soon, winter will come and there will death. However, there is a break in this cycle. Autumn. Instead of the leaves merely dying and falling to the ground to return to the dust from which they came, God grants them the ability to experience a new life, one full of color and majesty. And yet, the only way that these leaves can experience this new brilliance for all to see, if to actually die. A leaf must first begin to die, before it will change colors. You don't see leaves in the spring being displayed with the wonderful colors of autumn, because there isn't any death in the spring. Yet, this glorious display of God's goodness and mercies that He shows to His children, can only be experienced through death. And so it is with Christians. No one can come unto Christ until the human sinful nature is put to death and a person is called by God to come unto His side. Just as the leaves cannot merely change color at any time that they wish, so it is with people. We cannot merely come to Christ by our own power or will, but rather follow the designed order and structure that God put into place at the foundation of the world.
We must wait for the season in our life that God has planned for us. We cannot choose what season we want to be in. We cannot choose how strong we want to be. We cannot choose the tests and hardships that we will have to face. Rather, we must wait on Lord for His timing and call. So pray for those you know and love and all those that you do not know that God would bring the season of autumn into their life. That they would be able to experience the gospel in a new and glorious way then they have ever seen before. For without death and a season of autumn, there can be no hope of a coming spring.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
LGBT Support in the Church
Over the past year we have seen an immense increase in the support of LGBT ideologies and their place within the "church". There have been many people who have joined the side that claims that we need to just love everyone. There have been many people who have joined the position of saying that those who are LGBT are not in sin, and therefore should be accepted into the "Christian" community and given the same rights and privileges as those who are heterosexual. And there has been a decline in the number of people who hold to the position that those who are LGBT are in sin and need to repent. We even have seen this within the "Christian" music scene. Over the past year it has come out that Vicky Beeching has declared that she herself is a lesbian and therefore believes that it is possible to be a LGBT and yet still be a Christian. She has written several blog posts on the topic. Stating that she wants discussion and conversations to be started to help the Church to gain a better understanding of the issues that surround LGBT ideologies. However, in asking for these discussions to happen, she asks Christians to set aside the Bible, to leave it out of the conversation so that lines are not drawn in the sand. She provides links and videos to all of these other people who think along the same lines that she does, and yet she does not provide any scriptural reference to anything about the issue.
In a section that she labels "So… WHAT DOES the Bible say about sexuality?" she talks about everything but what the Bible actually says about sexuality. She states,
"The Bible is a complex book. A beautiful, holy and authoritative one. But one requiring illumination from both mindful study and the Holy Spirit (our God-given guide as we read it). There is no such thing as one ‘plain, obvious reading of the Bible’. Everyone reads through a lens. Everyone interprets. Many people argued that the Bible supported slavery until they put time into prayerful study and realised they were wrong. Many used to (and some still do) argue the Bible says women should have no place within the priesthood, and should never preach or teach in church. Lots of people have realised from prayerful study that this is not what the Bible actually says. Superficial readings of texts should never be the foundation of our arguments. Nor should parroting off the things we’ve simply been told by others in church. What’s the Bible’s model for figuring out truth? To study, pray and question! Just look at the Book of Acts where it describes the Christians who lived in the city of Berea: “Now the Berean people were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness andexamined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:110). That’s right – even the teaching that came from Paul himself was something they put to the test. They questioned it. They studied the Scriptures “to see if it was true”. And as a result the Book of Acts says that behaviour made them “of more noble character“. It didn’t make them ‘less spiritual’ as they questioned and studied. It didn’t make them less full of faith. It was an approach that is praised by the New Testament itself! So we have that model as our guide. We should never be afraid to question what we are taught in church. Follow the example of the Bereans and dig into this topic and re-examine it.
It takes work to assess the historical context of verses – like when Paul said ‘women should be silent in Church’. When we look at their historical context, and assess the original language they were written in, some of these verses they make sense in a completely different way than they do from a first scan. The deeply entrenched views of the church on any topic are unlikely to change overnight. They have changed regarding slavery. They have changed, in many places, regarding the role of women. But it requires work to get there; to prayerfully examine the Bible. If you’re willing to do that, I’m going to recommend great places to start reading."
This is the total extent of her discussion of what the Bible says on sexuality. The only part that even remotely comes close is her brief mention of a scriptural foundation that men are supposed to be the leaders in the home as well as the church, which is an idea that she scoffs at. She uses the argument that people believed that slavery was supported by the Bible for a long time. Yes, some people believed that, but it was not a universal belief nor one that was right. It is reasoning like this, one where you take something that people claimed the Bible stated and yet it does not, that causes people to become dualistic. You cannot take something that the Bible declares to be wrong, even though certain people twisted scripture to believe that it was right (slavery) and use it as a basis for claiming why something else should be viewed differently even though scripture is very clear on the issue. Vicky claims that there "is no such thing as one plain obvious reading of the Bible", and while I would agree with her on a whole. Meaning that the Bible is not something that you can completely understand without the guiding of the Holy Spirit to open your eyes. However, this issue is not one of those times.
In I Corinthians 6:9-11 we see Paul very clearly lay out what God thinks about LGBT people. "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV) If a sentence that says "nor men" (meaning all mankind) "who practice homosexuality will not inherit the kingdom of God" is not clear, plain, obvious reading of the Bible then I am afraid nothing and no one will ever be able to actually have a discussion with Vicky about this issue.
She not only refuses to provide a reference within scripture to back up the claims that she is making, but she also fails to use the Bible as the "places to start reading". For her, it is not about the mysteries that are contained within scripture and the glory of God that explodes from it's pages, but rather she finds her comfort in recommending others to read the works of men as a starting point for this issue. I would also like to point out that so many like her would like you to read works by other mere men and use their views and thoughts as the background to reading scripture. This goes directly against the one verse that she does mention. That of Acts 17. The Berean people searched scripture to find out if what Paul had to say was true. This wasn't because there was no one else to ask or to read their work, but because scripture is the basis for all things that we know to be true. If we do not first start with scripture, then we have nothing to stand on and are reliant on what mere human beings have to say about an issue.
This sadly is where so many people have gone over the past year or so. They have given in to the idea that mere man has the answer instead of Holy Scripture. That a "reinterpretation" of scripture is needed to "actually" understand it's meaning in our present time. I would argue that this is absolute heresy. God has kept scripture so pure and exact over the years that it constantly amazes scholars around the world. Not only has God protected it and kept it from changing, but there are hundreds of other old books that this has not happened with. And with the immense amount of Bibles that have been printed over the years and in so many languages, to see that much consistency is absolutely amazing. Instead of forsaking the gospel to try to incorporate a group of people into our congregations, why don't we first examine what scripture actually says and rely on God and not men to be the foundation upon which we stand.
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them."
(Romans 1:16-32 ESV)
In a section that she labels "So… WHAT DOES the Bible say about sexuality?" she talks about everything but what the Bible actually says about sexuality. She states,
"The Bible is a complex book. A beautiful, holy and authoritative one. But one requiring illumination from both mindful study and the Holy Spirit (our God-given guide as we read it). There is no such thing as one ‘plain, obvious reading of the Bible’. Everyone reads through a lens. Everyone interprets. Many people argued that the Bible supported slavery until they put time into prayerful study and realised they were wrong. Many used to (and some still do) argue the Bible says women should have no place within the priesthood, and should never preach or teach in church. Lots of people have realised from prayerful study that this is not what the Bible actually says. Superficial readings of texts should never be the foundation of our arguments. Nor should parroting off the things we’ve simply been told by others in church. What’s the Bible’s model for figuring out truth? To study, pray and question! Just look at the Book of Acts where it describes the Christians who lived in the city of Berea: “Now the Berean people were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness andexamined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:110). That’s right – even the teaching that came from Paul himself was something they put to the test. They questioned it. They studied the Scriptures “to see if it was true”. And as a result the Book of Acts says that behaviour made them “of more noble character“. It didn’t make them ‘less spiritual’ as they questioned and studied. It didn’t make them less full of faith. It was an approach that is praised by the New Testament itself! So we have that model as our guide. We should never be afraid to question what we are taught in church. Follow the example of the Bereans and dig into this topic and re-examine it.
It takes work to assess the historical context of verses – like when Paul said ‘women should be silent in Church’. When we look at their historical context, and assess the original language they were written in, some of these verses they make sense in a completely different way than they do from a first scan. The deeply entrenched views of the church on any topic are unlikely to change overnight. They have changed regarding slavery. They have changed, in many places, regarding the role of women. But it requires work to get there; to prayerfully examine the Bible. If you’re willing to do that, I’m going to recommend great places to start reading."
This is the total extent of her discussion of what the Bible says on sexuality. The only part that even remotely comes close is her brief mention of a scriptural foundation that men are supposed to be the leaders in the home as well as the church, which is an idea that she scoffs at. She uses the argument that people believed that slavery was supported by the Bible for a long time. Yes, some people believed that, but it was not a universal belief nor one that was right. It is reasoning like this, one where you take something that people claimed the Bible stated and yet it does not, that causes people to become dualistic. You cannot take something that the Bible declares to be wrong, even though certain people twisted scripture to believe that it was right (slavery) and use it as a basis for claiming why something else should be viewed differently even though scripture is very clear on the issue. Vicky claims that there "is no such thing as one plain obvious reading of the Bible", and while I would agree with her on a whole. Meaning that the Bible is not something that you can completely understand without the guiding of the Holy Spirit to open your eyes. However, this issue is not one of those times.
In I Corinthians 6:9-11 we see Paul very clearly lay out what God thinks about LGBT people. "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV) If a sentence that says "nor men" (meaning all mankind) "who practice homosexuality will not inherit the kingdom of God" is not clear, plain, obvious reading of the Bible then I am afraid nothing and no one will ever be able to actually have a discussion with Vicky about this issue.
She not only refuses to provide a reference within scripture to back up the claims that she is making, but she also fails to use the Bible as the "places to start reading". For her, it is not about the mysteries that are contained within scripture and the glory of God that explodes from it's pages, but rather she finds her comfort in recommending others to read the works of men as a starting point for this issue. I would also like to point out that so many like her would like you to read works by other mere men and use their views and thoughts as the background to reading scripture. This goes directly against the one verse that she does mention. That of Acts 17. The Berean people searched scripture to find out if what Paul had to say was true. This wasn't because there was no one else to ask or to read their work, but because scripture is the basis for all things that we know to be true. If we do not first start with scripture, then we have nothing to stand on and are reliant on what mere human beings have to say about an issue.
This sadly is where so many people have gone over the past year or so. They have given in to the idea that mere man has the answer instead of Holy Scripture. That a "reinterpretation" of scripture is needed to "actually" understand it's meaning in our present time. I would argue that this is absolute heresy. God has kept scripture so pure and exact over the years that it constantly amazes scholars around the world. Not only has God protected it and kept it from changing, but there are hundreds of other old books that this has not happened with. And with the immense amount of Bibles that have been printed over the years and in so many languages, to see that much consistency is absolutely amazing. Instead of forsaking the gospel to try to incorporate a group of people into our congregations, why don't we first examine what scripture actually says and rely on God and not men to be the foundation upon which we stand.
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them."
(Romans 1:16-32 ESV)
Thursday, July 24, 2014
God's Sovereignty
I recently listened to a new cd by the author Tedashii. It is a very moving and deep piece. It is a demonstration of what he wrote in his journal over the past year. For him, it was a year of pain, grief, joy, disaster, and comfort. Sometimes I hear people talking about the many things that make their life so miserable and make it so that they don't want to go on anymore. Yet, here is a man who, met with extreme grief and sorrow, turned to the only One who can heal and preserve. I came across this statement from Tedashii,
"“From Below” is a collection of my thoughts, prayers and reflections from the past year of life. Step in to these Tumblr journal entries to experience all I felt, learned and grew from as I sought to understand life and God, below paradise.
It was the morning of a very cloudy and dreary Saturday - March 23, 2013. My son Chase passed away. On that day everything changed for me, for my family. Everything about me changed.
But the Lord did not change.
Isaiah 26:4 - “Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.” (NASB)
My flesh is tempted to believe that on that horrific Saturday morning, God messed up. He failed me. He forgot to love me. But the Lord is an everlasting Rock - constant, immovable, the same yesterday, today, and forever. So when I begin to forget that, I run to these truths, replaying them over and over in my mind:
His goodness towards me did not change, and it never will.
His faithfulness did not change, and it never will.
His love did not change, and it never will.
His intimate understanding of my circumstances did not change, and it never will.
He did not fail me, and He never will."
This is the cry and belief of a man who has placed all of his trust in a God who is sovereign. If he did not believe that God was in control and ruler of everything, even the death of his son, then how could he ever believe the things that he states? It would be impossible for him to state that the Lord did not change, even though his son had been torn out of his life. It would be impossible if he did not believe that the Lord would not and cannot ever fail him, that He will never change, and that He knows exactly what He is doing for the benefit and strengthening of His body, the church. If by his son's death Tedashii is able to have a greater witness and impact on the world, then who would we be to say that this was not a beautiful and glorious work of God? Not that the death of Tedashii's son is beautiful, for that is a painful and extremely trying experience to go through, but the fact that Tedashii now has this amazing platform from which he can exalt Christ and lead others to the throne of grace through solid and biblical teachings is truly a blessing from the Lord.
God is always in control, and when trials come our understanding of this truth always comes out. In Tedashii's case, hurt and sorrow have given way to joy and peace in a sovereign Lord who does not ever change and continually holds Tedashii in His loving hand. Providing him with everything that he needs for this life.
May we never rejoice in the sufferings of our brothers and sisters in such a way as to take joy in the pain that they are experiencing, but let us always rejoice that the Lord is good and cares for His children in a more sovereign way than anyone could ever think or imagine. God is good and loves those whom He has called unto Himself.
"“From Below” is a collection of my thoughts, prayers and reflections from the past year of life. Step in to these Tumblr journal entries to experience all I felt, learned and grew from as I sought to understand life and God, below paradise.
It was the morning of a very cloudy and dreary Saturday - March 23, 2013. My son Chase passed away. On that day everything changed for me, for my family. Everything about me changed.
But the Lord did not change.
Isaiah 26:4 - “Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.” (NASB)
My flesh is tempted to believe that on that horrific Saturday morning, God messed up. He failed me. He forgot to love me. But the Lord is an everlasting Rock - constant, immovable, the same yesterday, today, and forever. So when I begin to forget that, I run to these truths, replaying them over and over in my mind:
His goodness towards me did not change, and it never will.
His faithfulness did not change, and it never will.
His love did not change, and it never will.
His intimate understanding of my circumstances did not change, and it never will.
He did not fail me, and He never will."
This is the cry and belief of a man who has placed all of his trust in a God who is sovereign. If he did not believe that God was in control and ruler of everything, even the death of his son, then how could he ever believe the things that he states? It would be impossible for him to state that the Lord did not change, even though his son had been torn out of his life. It would be impossible if he did not believe that the Lord would not and cannot ever fail him, that He will never change, and that He knows exactly what He is doing for the benefit and strengthening of His body, the church. If by his son's death Tedashii is able to have a greater witness and impact on the world, then who would we be to say that this was not a beautiful and glorious work of God? Not that the death of Tedashii's son is beautiful, for that is a painful and extremely trying experience to go through, but the fact that Tedashii now has this amazing platform from which he can exalt Christ and lead others to the throne of grace through solid and biblical teachings is truly a blessing from the Lord.
God is always in control, and when trials come our understanding of this truth always comes out. In Tedashii's case, hurt and sorrow have given way to joy and peace in a sovereign Lord who does not ever change and continually holds Tedashii in His loving hand. Providing him with everything that he needs for this life.
May we never rejoice in the sufferings of our brothers and sisters in such a way as to take joy in the pain that they are experiencing, but let us always rejoice that the Lord is good and cares for His children in a more sovereign way than anyone could ever think or imagine. God is good and loves those whom He has called unto Himself.
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