Thursday Humor

Here is a funny clip from Anthony Griffith.  I hope it makes you laugh.

How Do You Respond to the Word of God?

"And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe" (1 Thes. 2:13, NIV).

Here Paul teaches us that there is two basic responses to the Word of God.  We can treat it like it is a word from men, merely a man's opinions.  Or we can treat it like it actually is the Word of God.  Now specifically, Paul is addressing the gospel proclamation, but his statement can be taken in a more general sense to refer to the whole of God's Word.  Paul makes it clear in his other writings that his message wasn't something he dreamed up, but it was a direct revelation from Jesus Christ.  Peter says,

We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. . . . Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation.  For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God, as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:16-21, NIV).

Not everyone recognizes God's Word.  Some hear it, but fail to grasp its meaning.  Jesus teaches this in the parable of the sower in Mark 4.  He relates three ways people treat the Word as if it were merely the word of men.  He tells us:

• They ignore it, often with the devil's help (the seed on the hard path)
• They rejoice over it without commitment (the seed on the rocky soil)
• They all other things to drive out the word (the seed in the weeds)

When we respond to the Word of God in these ways, we are treating it as a word from man.  James warns, "Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you" (Jas. 1:21, NIV).

Other, like the Thessalonians, receive the word as it actually is-as the Word of God.  These individuals are like the good soil which receives the seed and bears fruit.  Only when we receive the Word with obedience that comes from faith, can we really say we are receiving it as the Word of God.

In fact, Paul's gratitude for and confidence in the believers in Thessalonica rests in the fact that he is witnessing fruit in their lives.  Paul saw how the Thessalonians responded with faithful perseverance in the face of opposition, and he commended them.  What is more, Paul found in their endurance the evidence of their faith, and he praised God for it.  He went on to explain that those who did not receive God's Word, like the Thessalonians, were under God's wrath.  Their enemies were God's enemies first, but God would take care of them.

The passage, 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16, can teach us many things.  I want point out four implications of this passage.

1. How we respond to the Word of God reveals the true nature of our heart.  We are called to trust and obey the Word of God, because the God, who spoke it, is trustworthy and true.
2. We are to accept the Word of God with both deep conviction and deep affection.  Some people want to over-intellectualize faith, and other want to over-emotionalize it.  True faith combines the best efforts of our (sanctified) hearts and minds.
3. When one tries to take a "middle of the road" approach to Scripture, he usually ends up rejecting it as the Word of God.  When some suggests that the Bible is spiritual book, but not a work of the Spirit; or suggests that it contains the Word of God, but also has the erroneous thoughts of man, they are on a slippery slope towards rejecting most of the truths of the Bible.  The right response to the Word of God is whole-heart trust.
4. Confidence in the Word usually generates faith.  Even when we don't fully understand something, our default position should be to trust the Scriptures because they are not the words of men, but the Word of God.

It's Not About Us

"For my name's sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off.  Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.  For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned?  My glory I will not give to another" (Isa. 48:9-11, ESV).

It is difficult for most of us to hear words like this and not think the worst.  In this passage, God is telling Israel it isn't about them.  And by extension, he is telling us that it is not about us either. 

When Abraham was called out of Ur, it wasn't about him.  When God chose Jacob over Esau, it wasn't about Jacob.  It was about God.  God created a universe through which, in which, and to which he would display his glory.  He formed, for his own purposes, mankind (male and female) to bear his image.  He did not do this because it had to be done.  He did it because he wanted to do it.  So when he showed favor to Noah or Abraham or Jacob or David, it was because the choice pleased him by fulfilling his purpose.

In these verses, we see God's chief purpose-that his name be honored.  Because he promised to make Israel into a great nation, he does so.  He also restrains his anger, preserving a remnant, to keep his name from being profaned.  The concept of God's name being profaned means that his character is called into question.  God will not have his character questioned.

What he says he will do, he will do.  There is no weakness in God.  He is completely able to do all that he says he will do.  There is no gap in his knowledge, and no flaw in his wisdom.  He is holy, righteous, and just.  His word is trustworthy and true.  When his character is called into question by sinful humanity it is a great affront to his character.

It should not surprise us, nor shock us that God functions, primarily, to preserve his name.  God is perfect.  He cannot put anything above himself, or he would be guilty of idolatry.  This he cannot do.  He is not a megalomaniac.  He isn't obsessed with himself, like some vanity crazed narcissist.  God's self-love is holy and righteous.

Thus, these verses hint at the answer to the question: "How could God love a sinner like me?".  These verses tell us that God can love sinners like us, because that is who he is.  It also tells us that God rescues sinners like us, so that his name might be glorified.  It is grace offered freely, to undeserving wretches like us.  We owe our allegiance to God because he made us, and yet, apart from Christ we rebelled against him.  We owe him the deepest gratitude, because he ransomed us from our sin debt, yet most of us act as if he owed it to us.

When we love ourselves, so that we press for our interests above others, we think in natural.  We shrug off any guilt and develop elaborate explanations as to why it is right that we should seek our own preferences.  If someone questions our character or accuses of lying, we instantly try to defend ourselves.  We feel justified in our defensive maneuvers.  With all our sins and shortcomings, we find ourselves easily offended when someone questions our character or motives or trustworthiness.  But we seem equally offended that God would be offended when sinful human beings call his holy character into question.

We shouldn't be offended by the truth that salvation isn't about us.  It is about the One with the power to create us, the power to sustain us, and the power to redeem us.  Jesus died for us, because it was his Father's will that he take our place.  The Father loves us, because it is his will to do so.  He sent his Son to die in our place because it manifested his glory to all creation.  In Christ, we glimpse, the height, depth, width, and breadth of God's love and graciousness.  Because God's chief end is to glorify his name, we live to glorify his name, as well.

FAQs Mondays: What is the Eighth Commandment?

Last week, we answered the question, "What is the seventh commandment."  You can view that post here.  This week we turn our attention to the question, "What is the eighth commandment?".

Which is the eight commandment?

The eighth commandment is, "You shall not steal" (Ex. 20:15).

What is required in the eight commandment?

The eight commandment requires that we pursue lawful and useful work to provide for our needs and for those unable to provide for themselves.  Deuteronomy 15:10 states, "You shall give to him [the poor] freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake." Leviticus states, "If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you" (Lev. 25:35).  Paul states, "Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need" (Eph. 4:28).

What is forbidden in the eight commandment?

The eight commandment forbids whatever would unjustly withhold or diminish a person's possessions or attainments.  Romans 13:7 states, "Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed."  The Lord said, "Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me.  But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions" (Mal. 3:8).

Summary

The eight commandment expressly forbids taking, in an unlawful manner, what rightly belongs to another.  Yet it implies much more.  The eight commandment requires that we work diligently, give generously, and protect the poor.  Next week, we turn our attention to answering the question, "What is the ninth commandment?".

Sunday Recap 9-26-10

Morning: The message, "Look Up!," focused on Ecclesiastes 2:17-25.  This passage begins with Solomon at rock bottom.  In this passage, Solomon explores the lessons his life had taught him.  He was grieved by the reality that he could not take his accomplishments with him when he died.  He was grieved by the thought of someone who hadn't worked for it getting all of his stuff.  He was burdened by work that was painful and wearisome.  Yet in this passage, we find a message of hope.  Solomon's focus shifts from life under the sun to a life under God's blessing.  Solomon's message is a reminder that work is not something that should be shunned or worshiped.  Work has its place within God's good creation.  Work can be done to the glory of God, and bring enjoyment to man as he does it. Only when Solomon turn his focus toward God does he begin to hope.

Evening:  Tonight, we went through Foundations part four, "The Descent of Mankind."  The focus was on Genesis 4-5.  Chapter four describes the downward spiral of sin.  Chapter five gives us the genealogy from Adam to Noah and his sons.  Here are the principles we looked at:

• Attitude, especially the attitude of faith, matters (see Heb. 11:4).
• Hatred and its cousin, anger, are dangerous.
• God desires repentance.
• Sin becomes our master quicker than we think.
• We are responsible for our brothers (fellow human beings).
• Murder is an abomination because it is an attack on the image of God.
• There is a high cost for taking human life.
• Disobedience always spirals downward.
• Genesis 5:1-2 link Genesis 1:26-27 and Genesis 2.  It demonstrates that both accounts are really one account.
• Genesis 1:14 teaches us that the sun, moon, and stars were given as signs to tell the seasons, days, and years.  In light of Genesis 5:3, we know that the time between the creation of Adam and the birth of his son, Seth, is 130 years.

Some questions addressed:

Where there other people?  1 Corinthians 15:45 refers to Adam as the first man.  Romans 5:12-21 expresses that Adam brought death upon his descendants (the human race).  Acts 17:26 informs us that the nations were all made from one man.  Genesis 3:20 tells us that Adam named his wife, Eve, because she was the mother of all the living.  The strong implication of all these facts is that Adam and Eve were the first and only people created by God.

Where did Cain get his wife? Since the Bible teaches that Adam and Eve were the humans created directly by God, we must conclude that Cain married his sister (or a niece).  Genesis 5:4 tells us that Adam and Eve had many sons and daughters.  Even Abram (Abraham) married his half-sister.  It isn't until the Law is given at Sinai that humans are forbidden from marrying their close relatives.

Why did they live so long?  There are many possible explanations.  Most likely their lifespans were longer because they had less genetic mutations than later generation.  It could also have to do with diet and climate.  Although, it is not clear why they lived so long, we should understand the ages as accurate.

Jesus Loves the Nations

"And they sang a new song: 'You are worthy to take up the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.  You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to server our God, and they will reign on the earth'" (Rev. 5:9-10).

Delia, Sophia, and I had the opportunity to enjoy the International Festival in Bowling Green today with some friends.  Upon arriving we greeted with a cacophony of sights, sounds, and smells.  A miniature world bizarre stretched out before us.  Many of the cultures present in Bowling Green had set up tents to sell food, clothes, trinkets, ect.  There were also many booths that offered the opportunity to learn more about the cultures of our neighbors.

I have always assumed that the goal of such events is to foster tolerance of other cultures by elevating fears of the unknown through education and experience.  We are less likely to distrust someone from another culture, if we have taken the proverbial walk in their shoes.  The sharing of cuisine is often instrumental in building bridges between cultures.  For me, it is enjoyable to experience new foods.  I don't always enjoy what I try, but when I do, I want to go back for more.  A visit to a really good buffet will teach you that the kitchen is often the first place cultures begin to blend.

Tolerance is a noble goal.  The world would be a better place, a safer place, if people were genuinely tolerant.  But tolerance isn't love.  I can tolerate my neighbor without loving him.  I can look at the beautiful clothing that adorns the outward man and marvel at it without ever giving a thought to the inner person.  I can devour their marvelous food and wonder how I had managed to live so many years without it, but never think about the hunger deep within my neighbor.  What does he hope for? What are his dreams?  Will I see him again in heaven? 

I can and must learn how to live alongside of people different than me.  I can learn to move beyond tolerating them to appreciating them.  I can learn to to appreciate pieces of their culture: music, food, dance, poetry, and art.  But Jesus requires more.  He requires that I learn to love them.  I do not mean in some vague, hard-to- define-way, but in the very real, very ordinary way.  We learn to see them as people, like us, although not exactly like us.  They eat, sleep, bath, work, play, etc.  They love and want to be loved.  They have dreams and ambitions.  They have fears and worries.

We must learn to see them as individuals forged in a particular cultural background.  Culture has shaped an molded them (just like our culture has shaped and molded us).  We must learn to assume that they have the best of intentions, until they prove otherwise.  We need to see them as people who have needs, some they are acutely aware of, others they are completely oblivious to.  We need to see them as people, not projects; potential friends, not numbers.

In order to love them, we must seek first to understand them, and then to serve them.  When tolerance is the end goal, then question becomes: "How do we know our culture is any better?" or in a more religious context, "How do we know we are the only ones who are right?".  Questions like these, on their face, seem very difficult to answer.  Why?  Because if you press your own opinion you have failed to achieve tolerance.  Is one culture better than another?  A better question would be, "Is there a perfect culture?"  We all know the answer to that, it's no.  So much of our cultures are relative.  Each culture has different tastes, but most can come to enjoy food from another culture.  Each culture has different music, but most people can learn to appreciate other types of music.

However, it becomes dangerous to assume that all elements of culture are relative.  This is especially true of religions.  The International Festival did have some religious presences, but religion seemed to be on the back burner.  It could be because the organizers wanted to avoid potential hostilities that would have undermined the festival.  It could be that the prevailing cultural wisdom, that all roads lead to heaven, influenced the decision.  It could even be that local religious organizations chose to avoid potential conflicts.

For the Christian to love his neighbor, he must share the gospel with him.  He cannot sit idly by, while his neighbor slips into hell.  The Christian faith is clear: God made all mankind, and thus mankind owes God their obedience.  However, man has rejected God's authority and forged their own path.  This rebellion brings death and judgment.  God in his grace did not will for mankind to die in their rebellion, so he provided a way for them to be at peace with him.  He sent his Son, Jesus the Christ, to die in their place.  As a sinless substitute, Jesus paid the debt we owe.  He was buried and raised to life on the third day.  He ascended into heaven from where he is reigning even now.  For this reason, God commands all mankind, everywhere to repent of their rebellion and to put their trust in Jesus.  We call this the good news.  Those without it live under the bad news of death and judgment.  So we have to share the message.

Further great news, for us, is that Jesus is saving people from among the nations.  Revelation looks down the road into the future.  John, who recorded the Revelation, sees a multitude to large to count made up of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.  Each individual purchased by Jesus' blood, for without the shedding of blood sin cannot be forgiven (see Heb. 9:22).

I saw a small sampling of the nations today, several hundred people or maybe as many couple of thousand, from dozens of countries.  I enjoyed many of the sights, sounds, and flavors I experienced today.  I felt that my life had been enriched by the experience.  Yet, I grieved.  I grieved because I came into contact with good people, sincere people, but people who needed Christ, yet knew little or nothing about him.

I can appreciate their culture.  I can enjoy their music and dance.  I can delight in their food.  I can long to know them better.  But I cannot tolerate their lostness.  By lostness, I mean they are like sheep who have gone astray, and need to be brought back into the fold.  They are lost apart from Jesus. The good news is that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who goes looking for the lost sheep.  The Bible teaches that we all need to turn from wrongdoing and seek forgiveness through Jesus.  As a Christian, I believe this, so it would be act of hatred to withhold the message of Jesus.

I don't mean that we have to jam the message of Jesus down the throats of every person we meet, every time we see them.  We should never try to force-feed people the message of Jesus.  But we do need to live in a winsome way and share what Jesus is doing in our lives today.  When the opportunity arises in conversation, we should share the message of Jesus.  We should be prepared to answer their questions.  We should listen to their stories, and allow them to share their faith with us.  We should ask good questions that reflect a genuine interest in understanding their beliefs and who they are.  In the end, are task is to love them--not as a prospect, but as a person.  We are to love them enough that we share the good news of Jesus Christ with them.  And we are to love them whether or not they accept our testimony.  We love them because Jesus loved them enough to die for them.  We love them because he has purchased the nations to be a kingdom and priests for his Father.  We love them because we have been loved.

Jesus loves the nations.  Do you?  Are you trying to build relationships with non-Christians, so that you can share Jesus? I loved to hear how you are building bridges. 

Developing New Tastes

There are many things in the world that are unpleasant to do.  There may be several things within your own life that you don't enjoy doing.  Then tendency for many people is to put off unpleasant things, and to fill their time with things they enjoy.  Even good things, like reading or talking to a friend, can be used as a means of avoidance.

Sometimes, we might need to have a heart-to-heart talk with someone close to us, but find it easier to sit in the same room watching t.v.  Feelings, especially painful ones, are not pleasant to deal with.  This kind of "putting off" has a name, procrastination.

One of the best ways to deal with procrastination is to develop new tastes.  If you don't like doing something, like taking out the garbage, then you need to develop the habit of doing it.  Start your day by tackling at least one thing you don't enjoy.  In the case of the garbage, get into the habit of gathering it every day and taking it outside to the trash bin.  Never give yourself "the day off."  Stick with it until your day feels weird if you have to miss it.

Learn to overcome your knee-jerk reaction to unpleasantness, and you might find your day's more productive and your life less cluttered.  Sure, developing these habits might mean you miss a day or two of playing games on Facebook.  However, it may also mean that you find more time in your life to make lasting memories.

How do you deal with unpleasant tasks?  Are you a procrastinator?  Are you a recovering procrastinator with some great tips you can share?   I would love to hear some suggestions.

Thursday Humor

Here is a funny clip about Pop Tarts by Brian Regan.  He really cracks me up.  I hope you enjoy.

Theology Is Practical

In other words, Theology is practical: especially now. In the old days, when there was less education and discussion, perhaps it was possible to get on with a very few simple ideas about God.  But it is not so now.  Everyone reads, everyone hears things discussed.  Consequently, if you do not listen to Theology, that will not mean that you have no ideas about God.  It will mean that you have a lot of wrong ones--bad, muddled, out-of-date ideas.  For a great many of the ideas about God which are trotted out as novelties today, are simply the ones which real Theologians tried centuries ago and rejected (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, 136-137).

C. S. Lewis is always good for a turn of phrase.  He had a way with words to which few have attained.  Here we see him put forth the idea that theology, the study of God, is practical.  Many in his day did not agree, and now fifty-some years later, the opinion hasn't changed much.

However, he was correct.  Theology is practical.  It is not an abstract study, as some would have you to believe.  Yes, there are some difficult concepts for us to explore within the study of God.  There is mystery and paradox.  How could we expect less from a God who is incomprehensible?

I don't mean that we cannot understand God at all.  God can be understood, or else theology would not be practical.  In fact, God must be understood, if our lives are to have meaning and purpose.

We don't "feel out" God like a blind person in a movie tries to get a "feel" for what a person looks like.  Theology is not a jump into the unknown.  We can know God, and study him, because he has made himself know to us through his Word and his world.

The world around us, often referred to by theologians (people who study God) as natural revelation, can teach us many things.  It can teach us that God is there.  It can teach us something of his power, his wisdom, his intelligence, his vastness, his beauty, etc.  But natural revelation is limited in what it can teach.  It is not a perfect guide, because it has been affected by the Fall (Adam's rebellion to God's will which brought all of creation into subjection to death).

To know God, we need a perfect guide.  We find that perfect guide in the Scriptures.  In the Bible, God reveals himself to mankind.  The Bible is the story of God, and as we read and study it, we learn about God.  Sometimes God gives us straightforward truth concerning his nature: "Be holy, for I am holy."  Sometimes, we must infer things about his nature from the narratives.  For example, Joseph's response to his brothers, "You meant it for evil, God meant it for good" (rough paraphrase), teaches us that God, who is not the author of sin, can turn a sinful situation into vehicle of grace and redemption.

The next time your tempted to shy away from theology or doctrine, remember that theology is practical.  It is especially practical for a follower of Christ, because the goal of our existence is to worship God in spirit and truth.  We worship the Father, through the Son, in the power of the Spirit.  Theology is wear the rubber meets the road, it is the life-blood of faith, because as followers of Jesus, we are students of God.  It is also good to remember: if you aren't studying good theology, you're probably absorbing bad theology.

Inner Nerd Unleashed

I had a chance to unleash my inner nerd today.  I got to meet Stephen Lawhead tonight at the Barnes and Noble in Brentwood, Tennessee.  He is a fantastic author of historical fiction and fantasy, and he just released a new book.  The book, The Skin Map, is first in series called Bright Empires.

I had an enjoyable time listening to the reading, and getting to meet him.  He was a very gracious host, and spent time talking to each person in line.  I went just to get an autograph, so it was pretty exciting to actually talk to him, as well.

I have been a fan of his work since I read Taliesin in '96 or '97.  It was the first in a series of books about King Arthur.  At the time, I believe it was the longest book I had ever read.  I remember staying up all night to finish it.  It was so good I spent the next several days reading Merlin and Arthur.  Since then, I have read several of his books, and I really have enjoyed them all.  When ever I get the chance to read fiction, Stephen Lawhead's work is at the top of my list.  If you like historical fiction, fantasy, or science fiction, Stephen Lawhead has something that will enjoy. 

 

Thank you, Mr. Lawhead for taking the time to greet your fans and to share part of yourself with us.

FAQs Mondays: What is the Seventh Commandment?

Last week, we answered the question, "What is the sixth commandment?".  You can read that post here.  Now we turn our attention to answering the question, "What is the seventh commandment?".

Which is the seventh commandment?

The seventh commandment is, "You shall not commit adultery" (Ex. 20:14).

What is required in the seventh commandment?

The seventh commandment requires that we preserve our own and our neighbor's chastity in heart, speech, and behavior.  Paul states, "Flee from sexual immorality.  Every other sin a person commits is outside of the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body" (1 Cor. 6:18, ESV).  Later he states, "But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband" (1 Cor. 7:2, ESV).  Paul told Timothy, "Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with all those who call on the Lord from a pure heart" (2 Tim. 2:22, ESV). 

What is forbidden in the seventh commandment?

The seventh commandment forbids all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions.  Jesus said,

You have heard it said, "You shall not commit adultery." But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown in hell.  And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.  For it is better that yo lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell (Matt 5:28-32, ESV).

Job said, "I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?" (Job 31:1, ESV).  Paul urges, "Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy" (Rom. 13:13, ESV).  Elsewhere, Paul states, "But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among the saints.  Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which is out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving" (Eph. 5:3-4, ESV).

Summary

We have seen that the seventh commandment is designed to protect marriage.  Although the command only expressly forbids adulterous relationships, it extends far beyond the physical act alone.  The command to marital fidelity is designed to express God's covenant faithfulness to his people, as well as protect society for collapse.  Next week, we answer the question, "What is the eighth commandment?".

Sunday Recap 9-19-10

Morning:  The sermon, "Wisdom Is Better, But," focused on Ecclesiastes 2:12-16.  After failed attempts at finding meaning through examining wisdom, madness and folly, and pleasure, Solomon find's himself at back at square one.  After a thorough examination, he concludes that wisdom is better than folly because it allows you to see where your going.  Wisdom give you vision and focus, whereas folly keeps you stumbling in the dark.

However, the wise and fool both face the same fate.  In the end, Solomon fears that all his earthly endeavors will be forgotten.  The only hope for escaping this it to turn to the Lord. Our lives need a heavenly perspective to deliver us from death.

Evening:  We looked at the Fall (Genesis 3) in our Foundations class tonight.  We focused on these principles:

• God has an enemy.  The serpent in Genesis 3 is identified by John in Revelation 12:9 as the devil or Satan.  Traditionally, Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:11-19 have been understood to be addressing Satan.

• The chief tactic of the enemy is create doubt.

• Mankind chose their own wisdom over God's wisdom.

• Sin entered into the world through Adam, and death with sin. Paul explores this concept in Romans 5:12-21.

• It appears that dominion passed from Adam to Satan.  In Luke 4:5-7, Satan states that he has the authority to give away all the kingdoms of the world.  Jesus doesn't deny the truthfulness of the statement.  It also explains why he is called the "ruler of the kingdom of air" (Eph. 2:2, NIV); "the god of this age" (2 Cor. 4:4, NIV); and "prince of this world" (John 12:31; 16:11, NIV).

• Normal human leadership (government) reflects (dimly) God's character.

• Corrupt human leadership (government) reflects Satan's character.

• God condescends to man.  God speaks to us in ways that we can understand.  Although he is all-knowing, he asks questions.

• God is interested in real relationships.  Although God already knows the future and has numbered our days, he walks with us in time.  He interacts with his people in a very real way.  His presence is an inescapable reality.

• Disobedience is costly.

• The gospel was promised early in the human experience (see Genesis 3:15).  Jesus is the offspring of woman who crushed the serpent's head (authority), by stripping of his power through the cross.  The cross on which the serpent struck Jesus' heal.

• In distinctions, designed into mankind, will now cause conflict.  Humanity was made male and female.  They are distinct in their roles, and equal in value.  Man and woman complement each other, but now the structure is strained by the presence of sin.

• The Lord provides.

• The Lord is merciful.

• God willed to redeem mankind.  God was not willing to let all of humanity exist in an eternal state of death.

Godly Training

"Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths.  Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come" (1 Tim. 4:7-8, ESV).

It turns out that there is a lot of things in this life that are not worthy of our time.  Paul tells us that there are categories of knowledge that are not worthy of investigation (irreverent, silly myths).  He also instructs that bodily training, while of some merit, has limited value.  Bodily training does the body good in this life, making it healthier and thus last longer, but these bodies will turn to dust.

Godliness is the place in which we must spend most of our efforts.  "Godliness," Paul states, "is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."  I'm not suggesting (neither is Paul) that we should neglect physical exercise.  There are spiritual reasons we should eat right and exercise (however, this post is focused on the training in godliness).  Daily exercise may prolong one's life, but it only postpones judgment.

Godliness may also prolong one's life, and it prevents judgment.  We enter into godliness when we place our faith in Christ.  From that first moment of faith, we should begin to build our lives in such a way that we are growing in godliness.

Paul's point here is that people (even ministers) pursue the wrong things.  They pursue knowledge for the sake of having knowledge, but they fail to discern whether it is true knowledge or not.  They pursue physical fitness, because they are dissatisfied with their size.  Yet, most of those same people are rarely disturbed by an atrophied spiritual state. 

They look at pride in their life and shrug it off.  They struggle with lust, and think "nobody knows."  They hate their neighbor without cause, but at least they haven't killed him.  They haven't "really" prayed in a long time, but they still rest easy.  They are so caught up in the business of life that they don't even realize that their love for Jesus is diminishing day by day.

It should be that way for us Paul says.  It is as if Paul said, "Nope. Not you, Timothy. You have to be different."  He is saying it to us as well.  Nope, not you.  You can't let your spiritual life languish.  Don't let it die.  Your called to be different.

Godliness is the path we are to follow.  When we imitate God, by trying to emulate his character, we are walking in godliness.  If we focus on moral uprightness, humility, grace, and mercy; then we can say we are living a godly lifestyle.   This is the kind of life to which we should devote ourselves.

All training that leads to godliness is worth the effort.  It is worth the blood, sweat, and tears it will cost.  Godliness comes with a promise for this life and the one to come.  Will you reach out and take hold of that promise?

Kept in Peace

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you" (Isa. 26:3, ESV).

What does it mean to be kept "in perfect peace"?  The term perfect is clear enough to understand.  It means that it is a full and flawless peace, it is utterly complete.  But what is peace?  The term translated "peace" in this passage is the Hebrew word, "shalom."  Strong's concordance says it is often translated as peace, but can include the ideas of prosperity, health, well-being, rest, safety, etc.

Peace is the state of existence where the individual is living within the context of a relationship with God where animosity is no longer present.  To be at peace with God means that we no longer abide under his wrath.  His anger towards our sin has been erased, through Jesus' death and resurrection, and now he is free to look upon us in favor.  Therefore, this peace with God affects the whole of our life. 

Again I ask, what does it mean to be kept in perfect peace?  It means that we are favored by God.  His loving grace rests upon us.  Because he favors us, we are preserved from his wrath.  This promise, spoken through Isaiah, comes in the context of judgment.  The city (most likely Jerusalem) is about to be left in ruins, and the inhabitants humbled.  However, the righteous have found a refuge, a strong city.  Salvation had become their impregnable fortress.  When his judgment is poured out on the wicked, God shields his people.

So then, who are his people?  His people are those whose minds are stayed on him.  That is, God's people are the ones who prove loyal to the end.  They have fixed their hopes on the Lord, and trust him to see them through.  Because they trust him, the Lord will not let them down.  He holds them, so they trust him.  As they trust them, he keeps them in perfect peace.  God's loyalty (steadfast love) generates loyalty (steadfast love) within his people.

Do you have peace with God?  Is your mind "stayed" on Jesus Christ?  Are you continuing to place you trust in Jesus as the sole source of your hope and righteousness?

Lead Your Heart

"The heart of a man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps" (Prov. 16:9, ESV).

There is a line in the movie, Fireproof, that says something like, "You can't follow your heart, because your heart can be deceived.  You have to lead your heart."  We want to believe that our heart is unaffected by the Fall, that it wants what is best for us.  But the human heart has been affected by the fall, and has its own interests at heart.

If we follow the plans of our heart, without serious reflection, we can get into deep trouble.  I'm not saying that we cannot trust any of our desires, but that we need to be cautious.  When we plan, we need to ask ourselves to what end we are planning.  Are our plans about self promotion and self interest? Or are they about glorifying God in our lives? Or do we say they are about glorifying God, so he will bless us?

He's not fooled by our clever tactics.  He sees through our charade.  It is wiser to turn to the Lord, and to ask him to establish our steps, to allow him to show us the plans he has for us.  His plans always turn out for his glory our our good.

Sit down with the Word and ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand it.  Read it. Study it. Meditate on it.  Pray it back to God.  Read it again.  Study it more.  As you do these things, allow the Word to form you, to shape you, and to challenge you.  Allow the Word to teach you God's plan, and then make it your plan.  Otherwise, the plans of your heart will come to nothing.

The Lord is ordering your steps, so step wisely.  Step up, and lead your heart.  If you don't, your heart will lead you, but not always to the place you want to go.

Becoming Worthy of Imitation

"You know how we lived among you for your sake.  You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit" (1 Thes. 1:5b-6, NIV).

It seems that the Christian motto these days is, "Don't look at me."  In an effort to appear holier or humbler than we are, we deflect attention away from our life.  However, Paul kept pointing to his life as a pattern which should be followed.  He even goes further by saying that following his pattern is the same as following Jesus.  To the Thessalonians he states, "You became imitators of us, and of the Lord."  He isn't saying they imitated both himself and Jesus, he was saying that by imitating him they were imitating Jesus.

It may be that our reluctance to use ourselves as an example stems from our dissatisfaction with our own person walk with Christ.  We don't believe we are good enough to be an example, and sometimes we are right.  But maybe we need to raise the bar a little higher.  Maybe we need to hold ourselves accountable for drawing nearer to God.  Maybe we should stop being satisfied with our anemic devotional lives, and start pursuing the Lord like he is the only good thing in the universe.

Some might counter, "But Paul was an apostle!"  That is true, and it provides a greater reason for obeying what he says.  It is apparent that Paul expects his audience to live in a manner worthy of imitation.  Our life should be so in tune with Christ that others can find him by walking in our footsteps.

The other side of Paul's statement, "You know how we lived among you for your sake," suggests that he immersed himself in the lives of the people he evangelized.  He was with them as a parent with a child.  He hovered over them, teaching them, in the faith, how to walk and talk.  He stood by them, correcting them, and encouraging them.  Paul used patterns deeply ingrained in the human experience (such as the parent/child relationship) as a structural bases for his interactions.

I came to faith in a context where I was supposed to ferret-out answers on my own.  I was given a King James Bible, a book on Baptist doctrine, and a lucky rabbit's foot.  Preaching centered on a clear-cut call to be "born-again," but often lacked further instruction concern what came next.  I am sure that most of the people I went to church were sincere.  They read their Bibles, the believed in Jesus, they prayed, but they often struggled to train new Christians to walk in obedience to Jesus.  I believe they loved Jesus and wanted others to love him, but they assumed people would learn the ropes without any hands-on training.

There are many churches in a similar situation today.  I find myself tempted to prepetuate this same kind of hands-off approach.  At times I have allowed myself to assume that new believers will take to the Christian walk like a fish takes to water and that they will be able to instinctively know how to do the right things in the right way.  But that runs counter to the biblical teaching.  Jesus commissions us to teach them everything he commanded.  We are taught to view new believers as babes.  Thus, the analogy that should drive our discipleship efforts is a parent with a baby, not a fish in water.

Paul acknowledged that their response to and growth in the gospel was the work of the Holy Spirit.  However, he appears to feel very comfortable with seeing himself as an instrument the hand of the Spirit.  Paul's walk in the Spirit, and the Spirit's fruit in Paul's life, provided the example the Thessalonians needed.  As the Spirit took a hold of them, they took a hold of Paul's example, and became a model for others to follow. 

What about you, could people walk like Jesus by following your example?  Are you nurturing those individuals you helped to come to faith in Jesus?  Who taught you how to pray? Study your Bible? Memorize Scripture?  Who are you teaching?

Note:  They didn't really give me a lucky rabbit's foot.

He Remembers You

"You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle.  Are they not in your book?" (Ps. 56:8).

I am wondering how many times these words have passed before my eyes without the recognition or understanding of the full weight of their message.  Even now, they are just beginning to settle in my mind.  Slowly, I am beginning to glimpse their beauty and majesty.

This psalm is a record of David's confidence in the Lord during a time of great upheaval.  David had fled from Saul to Achish the king of Gath.  The Philistines had seized him, because they recognized David a potential threat. So David had to improvise, and play the madman.  During this time, David was a man without a country.  He had no earthly refuge.

But he was not without hope.  David was confident that his captures would show him no mercy, so he rested in the One he knew would.  David's motto became: "In God I trust; I shall not be afraid.  What can man do to me?" (Ps. 56:11, ESV).  In the midst of his grief, that had arisen due to this conflict, David remained confident that the Lord would deliver him and strike down his enemies.

His expression in verse 8, "You have kept count of my tossings," may allude to several things.  It may mean that God has kept a record of the way he had been mistreated.  It may mean that God has counted the times the David has tossed and turned through the sleepless nights of the ordeal.  It may mean that God has kept track to the emotional ebb and flow of David's heart throughout his ordeal.  The NIV translates this phrase as, "Record my lament."  The KJV translates it as, "Thou tellest my wanderings."  Even as we sort through the different translations, the point is clear.  David is convinced that God has been watching with great interest and has taken note of his situation.

Next he states, "[You have] put my tears in your bottle."  David is telling us that God views the tears we shed as worthy of preservation.  In every circumstance of the believer's life, God is present.  He remembers our pain.  He captures our tears in his bottle, so that none of them are wasted or forgotten.  A day is coming when God will extract the price for every tear of the righteous from those who caused them.  But for us who believe, our tears will be wiped away.

He concludes this verse with the words, "Are they not in your book?"  That is to say, God has recorded all of this in his book of remembrance.  He cannot, nor would he, forget the sorrow of his children.  All the days of our life are recorded in his book.  He delights in remembering us.  He is bringing about the right and fitting conclusion to all things, even the tears.

I am not sure what kind of hardships you have endured in your lives, but I am confident that not one tear has escaped God's notice.  He has seen, and he remembers.  Have you made the Lord your refuge?  Are you confident he will deliver you?  Is your heart breaking? In faith, ask him to show you mercy.  Here is a song that will help you to do just that, "He Knows My Name":

FAQs Monday: What is the Sixth Commandment?

Last week, we answered the question, "What is the fifth commandment?".  You can read that post here.  This week, we continue our look at the Ten Commandments by looking at the sixth commandment.

Which is the sixth commandment?

The sixth commandment is, "You shall not murder" (Ex. 20:13).

What is required in the sixth commandment?

The sixth commandment requires all lawful efforts to preserve our own life and the life of others.  In the Psalms, we are called to "Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.  Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked" (Ps. 82:3-4, ESV).  Solomon warns,

Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.  If you say, "Behold, we did not know this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?  Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work? (Prov. 24:11-12, ESV).

We should be mindful that other Scriptures imply that suicide is wrong (see Acts 16:28; Eph. 5:29-30).

What is forbidden in the sixth commandment?

The sixth commandment forbids the taking of our own life, or the life of our neighbor unjustly, including whatever acts tend to this loss.  In his confrontation with Cain, the first murderer, God states, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand" (Gen. 4:10-11, ESV).  The Lord said to Noah, "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image" (Gen. 9:6, ESV).  Jesus said,

You have heard that it was said to those of old, "You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment." But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, "You fool!" will be liable to the hell of fire.  So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave you gift there before the altar and go.  First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.  Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put into prison.  Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny (Matt. 5:21-26, ESV).

Summary

The sixth commandment is against murder, the unlawful taking of life.  Human life is sacred, and should be treated with the utmost dignity.  Human life; therefore, should be prized, and every effort should be taken to preserve it.  Next week, we answer the question, "What is the seventh commandment?".

Sunday Recap 9-12-10

Morning:  The message, "An Experiment in the Pursuit of Happiness," was an exposition of Ecclesiastes 2:1-11.  In this passage, Solomon reports the results of an experiment he conducted in which he tested his heart with pleasure.  A life lived in the pursuit of happiness, without obedience to God, is meaningless.  Solomon had experience with all the avenues of pleasure, but nothing lasting came from it.  To pursue happiness, without pursuing Christ, is like chasing after the wind--you never catch it.

Evening: We looked at the creation of mankind in Genesis 1:26-27, and 2:7ff.  We looked at the reality of man's uniqueness.  He is unique in his relationship to God and unique in relation to the rest of the created order.  Man was created with the goal of bearing the image of Christ, both in creation and through redemption.

A Saturday Meditation

But he said to me, 

"My grace is sufficient for you, 

for my power is made perfect 

in weakness."

Therefore, I will boast 

all the more gladly 

of my weakness,

so that the power of Christ

may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

The Power of a Story

I don't get to read much fiction.  I enjoy it, but I view it like cake for the mind.  A little will brighten your spirits, but a diet of only fiction might leave the brain a bit flabby.  The mind is amazing in its nearly infinite ability to stretch.  That is not to say, that stretching the mind is an easy thing.  Fiction has the ability to stretch the mind by introducing it to new places and new people.  It exposes the mind to events and experiences that would otherwise be unavailable.

I think the reason many of us enjoy fiction is because we get caught up in the story.  Often I find myself drawn into the story I am reading.  It pulls me along, with the characters, toward the climax.  It is often a bittersweet moment when I close the cover on a good story.  The characters have grown on me, some I love others I love to hate.  A fitting conclusion sweetens the connection.

I think this is why so much of the Bible is written in narrative form.  Our love of story is a God-given gift.  It is ingrained into the human experience.  Sure, some of people don't enjoy fiction, but you would be hard pressed to find an individual who doesn't enjoy a good story.  Well, maybe Sgt. Joe Friday, but just about everyone else wants a good story.

Life is enriched by the stories that surround us.  We want to hear stories about our kinfolk.  We want remember "that time" we did something-or-other.  Sometimes we pursue others' stories, because we feel our own story is dull or worthless.  When we get too caught up in the stories of others, we forget that God has written us into his story, and that means our story matters.

As we read the story of God, as it is revealed in the Bible, we realize that he is writing our story as well.  We learn that these people, who lived and died so long ago, are our people.  The central message of the Bible is that God our creator became our redeemer through the person and work of Jesus.  Jesus is the promised "anointed" one, who was to come and deliver God's people, and so he did.  The whole of the Bible points us to Jesus.  The power of the story of Jesus rests in the fact that it is true.  The gospel isn't just another story--it's history, and his story. 

So, do you have a part in his story?  Look at all the stories you hear in the day from the newspaper, magazines, t.v. shows, the news, conversations with friends or family, etc.  What role do stories have in your life?  What's your story? I love to hear it.

I Believe

I taught about Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Shintoism in my Contemporary World Religions class this evening.  It is an interesting and diverse study.  But its good to remind myself about the core of my own faith.  And this about sums it up:



I hope you enjoyed it.

Sending the Wrong Message

I am sure by now you have heard of  Pastor Terry Jones.  He and his church plan on burning the Quran on September 11, 2010 to mark the 9th anniversary of 9/11.  He hopes that by burning the Quran that the radical fringe of Islam will know to stop being radical, and that it will show the world just how radical those radical Muslims can be.  As we would expect, Muslims all around the world are outraged.  Yet they are not alone, many spiritually open-minded people are outraged, too.  But how should we respond to this event.

This event raises important questions for us to consider.  Will burning the Quran communicate the desired message to the desired audience, and therefore have the desired result?  Should Christians burn the religious books of non-Christians?  How should we respond to our non-Christian neighbors?

The stated goal of burning the Quran is for Muslim extremists to realize that "we" don't want their kind of Islam in America.  However, will burning the Quran make such a statement? No, it won't.  It will send a message that says, "Those infidels are worse than we thought."  Almost every Muslim will understand the act of burning the Quran to be an act of blasphemy.  It is an act that stops ears, not opens them.

Not only will it cut off fruitful dialogue, but it will endanger many lives.  Gen. Petraeus has already warned that such action would increase the danger to troops in combat situations.  Others have suggested that burning the Quran would endanger missionaries, humanitarian aid workers, and other Americans in Muslim countries, too. Burning the Quran not only endangers lives, but an idea, as well.

It endangers the idea of freedom.  Since the foundation of our country, men and woman have battled for this cherished principle of freedom.  They battled their enemies at home and abroad to protect freedom.  They have battled their consciences and their prejudices until freedom spread to men and women of every race and creed.  We are a people proud to defend freedom--even the freedom to be wrong.  Burning the Quran not only endangers freedom, it endangers the Bible, too.

There is no doubt that many Bibles will be burned in response to the burning of the Quran.  However, that response is not what endangers the Bible.  Fear of the Quran endangers the Bible.  Why burn a religious book unless you fear it's power?  Burning the Quran doesn't send the message that we believe the Bible is superior to the Quran.  It sends the message that we fear what will happen if people read the Quran.  It suggests that we think that the Quran can lead Christians (and others) into Islam.  Wasn't fear of the Bible's power to convert individuals the reason why so many have tried to suppress and destroy it?

Do we need to fear the Quran? As followers of Christ, we are committed to the authority, inspiration, and sufficiency of the Bible.  We are people of "the Book," that is, the Bible.  We do not recognize the authority of other religious texts.  We believe that the law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul (Ps. 19:7, KJV).  We believe that the Bible is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12).  We believe that every word was breathed out by God (2 Tim. 4:16).  And we believe that the Bible alone contains God's revelation to mankind.

So, while we may disagree with a Muslim about the nature of the Quran, we do not fear the Quran (or any other book).  God's will is able to triumph without the unnecessary showmanship of burning a Quran.  Pastor Jones is not Elijah on Mount Carmel battling the prophets of Baal.  This matter isn't really a contest between the Bible and the Quran.  It isn't even a contest between America and radical Islamic fundamentalists.  It's most likely the cry of a frustrated and beleaguered people who have mistaken their culture with Christianity.  They fear the changes in the culture signal the undermining of their faith.  But Christianity is greater than our culture.

So go ahead and burn that Quran, but know it won't send the message you hope to send.  As an American, you're free to burn a Quran, a Bible, or an American Flag, but the freedom to do so doesn't make it right.  Respect and civility are not a compromise, they're biblical principles, and they used to be American principles, too.

Weakness's Better Purpose

"Weakness with watchfulness will stand, when strength with too much confidence fails.  Weakness, with acknowledgment of it, is the fittest seat and subject for God to perfect his strength in; for consciousness of our infirmities drives us out of ourselves to him in whom our strength lies." Richard Sibbes, from The Bruised Reed.

Weakness is often despised, because its purpose is not known.  Often, it appears that weakness serves only to invite oppression or to force someone to bear our burdens for us.  Yet weakness serves a greater purpose for the believer.  Weakness forces the follower of Christ to acknowledge his dependence upon the Lord.  For if Christ could do nothing without the Father, it is foolish to think that we can do somethings on our own.

Pride is a vicious predator.  It lurks in the deep, dark places of the soul.  Often, it masks its scent with the air of false humility.  For example, a man is in desperate need of help, but he doesn't want to call his neighbor for help, because his neighbor might not think he knows what he is doing.  Although, it is his fear of what his neighbor thinks that keeps him from dialing the phone, he comforts himself with a "I wouldn't want to bother anyone."

What if the person in need called up his neighbor, and asked for help.  What if during their time of working together they discovered they had more in common than they previously realized?  What if a lasting friendship sprang out of the moment of weakness and need?  What if that friendship made them both stronger people?  Then they would discover that weakness is often a springboard to greater things.

When we know we have a weakness, we need to be watchful, especially when it is a moral or spiritual weakness.  The building up of one's character is a long, slow process.  Tearing down the same character take much less time and effort.  Just as a man who lacks knowledge of electrical wiring seeks the assistance of a trained electrician, so to must believers seek assistance from the Righteous One.

The Lord is both willing and able to provide what we lack.  Our weakness becomes a beacon directing us to God.  How do you perceive weakness?  Are you afraid people will find out you're weaknesses?  Are you running to Jesus for strength?

FAQs Mondays: What is the Fifth Commandment?

Last week, we answered the question, "What is the fourth commandment?".  You can read that article here.  This week, we are going to answer the question, "What is the fifth commandment?".

Which is the fifth commandment?

The fifth commandment is, "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you" (Ex. 20:12).

What is required in the fifth commandment?

The fifth commandment requires that we preserve the honor and perform the duties which belong to every one in their various roles as authorities, subordinates or equals.  The Lord states, "You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the LORD" (Lev. 19:32).  Peter exhorts, "Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor" (1 Pet. 2:17).  Paul states, "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God" (Rom. 13:1).  Paul even explains how this culture of honor is to displayed among God's people in passages like Romans 12:1; Ephesians 5:21-6:9; Colossians 3:18-4:1; and 1 Thessalonians 5:12.  The author of Hebrews reminds us that such honor should be shown to leadership within the church as well (see Hebrews 13:7, 17).

What is forbidden in the fifth commandment?

The fifth commandment forbids the neglecting or offending the honor and duty which belongs to everyone in their various places and relations.  Proverbs warns, "The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vulture" (Prov. 30:17).  Paul states, "Pay to all what is owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.  Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law" (Rom. 13:7-8).

What is the reason added to the fifth commandment?

The reason added to the fifth commandment is a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve God's glory and their own good), to all who keep this commandment.  Moses encouraged Israel with these words, "Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin" (Ex. 20:20).  Paul instructs, "'Honor your father and mother' (this is the first commandment with a promise), 'that all may go well with you and that you may live long in the land' (Eph. 6:2-3).

Summary

So we see that the fifth commandment deals with the proper relation to authority.  God appointed oversight into the created order.  These relationships of authority and accountability are designed to bring about his glory and our good.  When we break this commandment, we dishonor God's governing authority over all things.  When we dishonor God's authority, we are rejecting his authority over us.  The fifth commandment promises long life to those who obey it, because in keeping it, one is honoring God, as well as their parents.

Sunday Recap 9-5-10

Morning: The sermon, "More Knowledge, More Sorrow," explored Ecclesiastes 1:12-18.  In this passage, Solomon explains the vanity of pursuing wisdom and knowledge without reference to God.  Human wisdom is at a loss to explain what is really wrong with the world.  The pursuit of knowledge as an end in itself is a trivial pursuit.  The pursuit of knowledge is a means to a end, knowing God and how to do his will.

Evening: Business meeting.

The Benefits of Friendship

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up.  But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" (Eccl. 4:9-10).

As in all Scripture, there is much truth in these verses.  Solomon is here lamenting the foolishness of friendlessness.  It is a sad thing to have no friends.  A person without friends is not only destined for loneliness, but grief.  Their life lacks the joy of socialization. 

Solomon says, two make quicker work of a job with half of the energy spent.  He goes on to say, "If you fall in a pit and no one is there to help you, you're stuck.  However, if you have someone there, rescue is more likely.

I have walked the path of the loner.  Throughout much of my youth, I didn't have a lot of friends.  I was well acquainted with several people, we talked at school, we had some of the same interests, but I never really entrusted myself to them.  I was always afraid of being betrayed or getting hurt.   I'm not saying I didn't have friends I could trust.  I did, but not many of them.


Solomon says that isolation tends toward self-destruction, not self-preservation.  Pride often keeps us cut off from others, because we fear how they will perceive us.  We fear their judgment more than we value their friendship.

Friendship is a gamble, but it is a glorious one.  When you venture out into the world you have the chance to know and be known in a way binds you to others.  You get the opportunity to enjoy a fabulous meal with good company (which foreshadows heaven).  You get to share your load with others.  And yes, you risk the dangers of betrayal and pain, but what you gain in the bargain is worth the risk.

I grateful for the friends with whom Jesus has blessed me.  What about you?  Have you found some really good friends that you count on?  Or have you tried to protect yourself from the potential heartache friendships might bring?

The Rusty Lock

I am reading a collection of sermons entitled, Gospel Fear, by the Puritan pastor, Jeremiah Burroughs (1599-1646).  In a message preached June 15, 1644 from 2 Kings 22:19, Burroughs states,

Many men's hearts are like rusty locks.  It takes a great deal of work to open them, especially if the key is not the right key and fitted to every notch.  But now come to a lock where the key is fitted to every notch fully and a child may turn it.  You can turn it with one of your fingers.  So the Lord sometimes, indeed, so speaks the Word to many men's hearts which are like rusty locks, so that the Word does not fit.  There are many notches in their hearts.  Many objections lie in their hearts against the Word so that the Word does not fit them, and so their hearts are not opened.  But at another time, the Lord is so pleased to direct His Word that He makes the key as fit for such a man's heart as can be, and then He opens it immediately.  In an instant, the heart of this man is opened that has been shut against God all the days of his life (page 89).

I think the thing that we have to remember in all of this is that God moves as he pleases.  When it pleases the Lord to "fit" the Word into a heart, it will fit.  The lock, rust or not, will open, and the soul will be free to serve.

This does not mean that we have nothing to do in these situations.  On the contrary, our actions are either pouring more water on the lock so that it rusts more, or they are oil the lock so that the key turns more easily.  When we listen to a message, or prepare to listen to one, we must keep in mind our objective.  Our objective is to hear from God.  We are to listen with attentiveness, we are to shake off distractions, we are to have our minds prepared for the event.

If we do not read the Bible throughout the week, it makes it much more difficult for us to understand the sermon.  We need to study it, as well as read it.  We need to search out the meaning of words we don't understand, or we may confuse the meaning of the passage we are reading.

Cherishing sin in our heart also causes the lock to rust more quickly.  If we are caught up in sin, it is more difficult for us to listen to messages that call us to righteousness.  Pride scoffs at humility.  Self-righteousness grits its teeth at grace.  We must continually ask the Lord to open our hearts to understand where sin is present in our lives, and how we can get rid of it.

Fellowship with God's people oils the lock.  By fellowship, I mean living in mutually encouraging and accountable relationships.  When we know one another, it is easier to confront sin or offer a word of encouragement it difficult times. 

Prayer is also vital to loosing the rusted lock.  As we pray for others our heart becomes tender toward them.  As we confess our sins, we remember that grace is needed by all, and that we should give it as readily as we seek it.  Prayer conforms to God's will (if we do it right). 

So what shape is your heart in?  Do you find the Word of God turning your heart toward him with great ease? Or our you an immovable fortress of self-reliance?  May it be, by his good pleasure, that he crack the lock of your heart with ease either way.

Be Still, and Know

"Be still, and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" (Ps. 46:10, ESV).

I find these words both convicting and comforting.  They convict me because deep inside is a tempest of doubt raging.  I see a culture on the downward slide of the slippery slope.  I see my own half-heartedness.  I see a unbelievers listening to the message of Jesus without flinching.  I see all these things and I wonder how it's all going to work out in the end.

I'm so caught up looking at the trees that I don't see the forest.  I fail to see the bigger picture.  Sometimes, it is easy to think God isn't at work, because we don't see any immediate results.  We are wanting a burning bush, but God is moving in subtler ways.  We want to hear a still small voice, but God is speaking through message of Christ.

"Be still," he says.  Stop struggling. Stop squirming.  Let your mind take a breather.  Relax. "Be still, and know I am God," he commands.  Stop fretting and realize that he alone is God.  He is in control.  There is nothing going to slip past him.  There is nothing that God cannot handle. 

This passage comforts me with the words, "I will be exalted among the nation! I will be exalted in the earth!" He will be exalted.  There is no stopping it.  The devil may rage, and the nations with him, but to no avail.

We can pray with confidence, as Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father in heaven, hollowed be you name.  Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."  We are confident because we know that his will, ultimately, will be done. 

We don't have to worry when we don't have all the answers.  God is in control, and he will be exalted.  Be still, and rest in the knowledge that he is God.

Warning: Knowledge Increases Sorrow

"For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow" (Ecc. 1:18, ESV).

The pursuit of wisdom and knowledge can never be ends in themselves.  It is not sufficient to "be wise" or to "have knowledge."  These sorts of pursuits leave one puffed up with pride.  With knowledge comes the expectation of correct response.  Or to quote Uncle Ben, from Spider-Man, "With great power comes great responsibility."

Solomon initially pursued wisdom with the end of rightly leading God's people fixed in his sight.  However, after his wisdom became known, he began trying to increase his wisdom for the sake of having wisdom.  His focus shifted from glorifying God to glorifying himself.

His knowledge of the proper response to God, burdened him with guilt.  Solomon's disobedience was costly, not only to himself, but his family and his nation.  The more you know, the more you have reason to grieve.  Knowledge burdens the learner with expectations, but the pursuit of knowledge often floods the mind with contradictory information that must be sorted out, and which can blind you to the truth.

That is not to say that one should never study or never seek to learn.  I believe Solomon is saying that we need to know why we are learning (for God's glory), how it will help us to serve him, and why study should be approached with great care.  Failure to discern between truth and opinion disguised as "fact," can be very destructive.

Let's say that you don't know that starving children are dying in Karzy*.  One day you come upon a startling statistic that says 65% of all the children in Karzy will die of malnutrition before they reach the age of three.  You check all the references and discover that the statistic is true.  Now you have knowledge that increases your sorrow. 

There are at least two ways it increases your sorrow.  First, you are made aware of the fact that children are starving to death in a foreign land.  Unless you're some kind of heartless monster, that fact should disturb you in some way.  Second, you now have the responsibility to do something.  Prior to discovering the fact you were blissful in your ignorance, and you had no moral duty.  However, upon learning about the situation you become morally responsible, before God, to help the starving children.

Knowledge is power, and power brings responsibility.  If we are to live in a way that please our King, we will continue to learn, and act upon what we learn.  Learning for any other purpose, will only weary the learner.


*Karzy is a fictional place, however starving children are a reality in our world.